Time sure is annoying. It goes by fast when you want it to go slow and it goes by slow when you want it to go fast. Like grades, it's never really what you want. And it sure makes you feel selfish talking about it.
For the past two months, time has been going by fast. I want it to slow down, just a little bit, so I can make sense of what is going on around me. Or, rather, what went on around me the first day of school.
Things have been going on normally, just a simple, boring school year. The lively chatter at meals, the dull lectures in classes, and the reactions to the Halloween dance; groans from the boys and excited giggles from the girls. And nothing from me.
By listening in on conversations, I've learned that I am now described as 'lifeless' and 'dead-silent'. It's true though, I've barely talked since arriving. Not even to argue with the trio. I would have talked to Luna all the time, but she's been avoiding me since the incident in Divination. Now that event is seriously puzzling me. Every night, I've stayed pondering about it. But all my contemplating has done me no good, I haven't figured anything out at all.
On the morning of October twenty-fifth, I emerge from the depths of silence during a very hectic breakfast. I'm just sitting there, minding my own business and eating pancakes, when Hermione Granger appears, a stack of books in her hands as always. I expect the worst as she takes a deep breath, as if she's preparing for a long rant. Which she probably is.
"I deserve an explanation, and you know it! Thanks to the help of a certain contributing figure, I have uncovered the truth!"
"Wicked, Holmes." I've read my fair share of Muggle books.
"Shut your damn piehole! This morning, I was confronted by none other than Alicia Thomas!" Uh oh, this can't be good. "She told me something that, in my opinion, is quite startling. She said that the reason you've been so out of it is because you are a masochist, and you get your daily dose of masochism from Hannah Abbott's innocent sisters!"
Oh damn, masochism? What a naughty girl you are. Believe it or not, it's actually a turn on for me. Tom's comment makes me chuckle softly. Luckily, Hermione doesn't notice.
"You honestly thought that I wouldn't find out? I know everything! I know what you've been doing, and you won't get away with this! I order you to stop this instant, or you will be severely punished!"
At this point, I am nearly exploding with laughter. Masochism? Where does Alicia come up with this stuff? It's disturbing. Almost as disturbing as how far off Alicia's theory is from the truth.
Since Hermione obviously doesn't know what she's talking about, though she thinks she does, I remain silent. She stares at me, all agog, until she realizes that I won't answer. Then she slams her books into my pancakes, splattering maple syrup all over me. She storms off.
Ten seconds later, she returns to retrieve her books. Then she continues her no-longer-anymore exit.
I frown as I dab at my maple syrup-soaked robes with a napkin. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't leave my wand in my dormitories during meals anymore. I mean, breakfast has always been disaster-prone. What an idiot I've been.
Then the next odd thing in store for the day happens: Luna actually approaches me. I almost gasp. I gasped, says Tom. Did I mention she'd been avoiding me? Well, this includes escaping to the Astronomy Tower at night so she doesn't have to sleep in the same room as me. What does she think I'll do, use her sleep-talking weakness to get information out of her? Pathetic.
Anyway, the first she does is take out her wand and mutters a spell under her breath. My robes are immediately dry again. Before I have time to thank her, I am being strangled by Luna. I think she's attempting to hug me. Just as my lungs are about to explode, she pulls away and smiles at me.
"I am so so so sorry, Ginny," she says quickly. "I should've never ignored you! There's just been so much going on, and I promise I'll tell you about it as soon as it's safe, okay? Oh my, there is so much you have to learn! I told him, but would he listen to me? Noooo, he just has to follow the rules."
By now, I am thorough shocked for two reasons. One, because she talking to me in the first time for almost two months. Second, her usual dreaminess is gone and replaced with a more focused-looking Luna that I'm not accustomed to.
Luna opens her mouth to talk again, but then snaps it shut. Her eyes are locked on something behind me. As I turn to see what, or who, it is, she hisses, "Don't look!" She seems to force a distracted look on her face and pulls a copy of The Quibbler out of her robes. She shoves it into my hands, like the former Luna would do. But she isn't fooling me. I can see the worry in her eyes. Then she winks at me and hurries out of the Great Hall.
That was...strange.
A confused look appears on my face. Stop looking so confused! They, whoever they are, will see! Puzzled, I change my expression to that of boredom. Then, it dawns on me. If there's one thing certain about Luna's most recent behavior, it's that someone was near us that she didn't want to overhear our conversation. And I don't want he, or she, to extract something from my facial expression.
Smart, Tom.
Suddenly, a weird sensation enters my mind. It feels like my brain is being violated, touched by something. No, scratch that, some one. It's as if someone is reading my mind...
No! Don't let them, Ginny!
The unexpected voice in my head nearly causes me to fall over in shock. I'm used to voices, thanks to Tom, but that wasn't Tom's voice. It was Luna's.
God dammit, fight them! Put up your barriers!
Then it hits me like a knife in my gut. Someone is using Legilimens on me! I immediately throw my barriers up, and the sensation disappears. I expect that I won't be able to hear Luna anymore, but she surprises me yet again.
That was close. Listen to me, go to our dormitories, and stay in there. Don't let anyone in, no matter what! In an hour, meet me in the Astronomy tower.
After that, her voice is gone for good. Now it's just me and Tom. Well, that was interesting, he says. I sigh contently. Tom never fails to soothe me.
Now I realize that a quite a few people are staring at me. After all, I have been standing here for ten minutes, fighting in invisible battle in my mind. That is quite perplexing, even to me. I need to find out what is going on.
I know that I follow Luna's instructions and go to my dorm, but I'm just too damn baffled by everything.
By the time I'm out of the Great Hall, I have decided on three things.
First, there is a threat to me inside the walls of Hogwarts that even fearless Luna is afraid of.
Second, I need to keep my mind barriers up at all time. Luna has already proven she can communicate with me even with my barriers up, so that won't be a problem.
Third, there is another side to Luna that nobody knows about. No, not nobody. Someone does.
I glance at a clock on the wall. 8:05. I'm meeting Luna at 9:00. I have time to hurry up to the North Tower and have a chat with a certain somebody.
Most people are used to saying 'Thank God it's Friday!' I'm no exception, but today, it's more like 'Thank God it's Sunday,' because there are no classes today. Which means I can talk to Sybil Trelawney.
Ah, ol' Sybil. I am nearly certain that she and Luna know something that I don't. I remember the first day of classes and how odd they were acting. I need to get some answers out of Trelawney. I can't wait an hour. Or rather, 50 minutes now.
I should probably be scolding you for your haste, but I just can't. I grin. Tom can be so silly sometimes.
I haven't completely disobeyed Luna. I go back to my dorm, but just to get my wand. Then I head to the North Tower. Who knows what will happen with Trelawney? It's best I prepared.
I don't bother knocking as I burst through the trap door and storm up to her desk. Trelawney doesn't appear startled, she merely peers up at me through her huge glasses.
"Can I help you, my dear?" She asks sweetly. I scoff.
"Listen, I know something's going on, and you have something to do with it," I accuse. Do I detect a flicker of fear in her eyes? "It's been almost two months since the first day, and I still have no answers! Now, I'm going to be very candid with this; you will tell me what enigma is going on between you and Luna and who knows who else? Oh wait, you do! Now tell me!"
Trelawney blinks, her wide eyes betraying her distress. "I don't believe I know what you're talking about, dear."
"You know what I'm talking about!" She doesn't say anything. I decide to prompt her. "What about those voices? What's up with that? I mean, it's no serendipity that that I just happen to stumble across a mysterious exchange that seems to have nothing to do with me!"
"Calm down, dear," she says nervously. I'm getting really sick of this whole 'sick' thing.
"Calm down? Calm down? I think I have the right to get the answers I want!"
"I know," Trelawney sighs. "Just remain...stoical, dear. All will come to you within time."
"That's what you always say!" I cry. "You know what's going to happen because of your idiotic auguries!" Calm down, Ginny. Please. You're overreacting. I huff. I thought that Tom would always understand.
"I know that everything has been rather unclear lately, but believe me when I say this; you will be answered today. Just not know. Believe me, dear, because this is what my 'auguries' have told me." I'm starting to get very vexed.
"Maybe I should just consult the voices for answers, yeah?" I don't mention that I have no idea what's up with the whole 'voices' thing. But then again, Trelawney's auguries aren't exactly helping, so by now I need to take risks.
Trelawney's eyes widen and now look like the size of pancakes. "Oh no, please don't! You can't jeopardize your safety! It's most preeminent that you don't dabble in your powers!"
Now it's my eyes' turn to widen. My anger is replaced by curiosity. Oh thank god You have no idea how scary you are when you're angry. I've officially decided to ignore Tom from now on. "What powers?"
"I've said to much!" She exclaims, shaking her head. I cross my arms. I hate it when people say that. "Isn't it time you got to class, dear?"
"It's Sunday," I say irritatedly.
"Well, hurry down to your little friends! Go!" I have a feeling that she's trying to get rid of me.
"But-" Before I have time to finish my sentence, the voices come back.
"Let go of me!"
I lose my balance and fall forward, gripping the edges of Trelawney's desk so hard that my knuckles turn white. Yes, that was definitely my voice.
"Get back here, you little bitch!"
I let out a sharp cry of pain and lurch forward, banging my head on the desk. A dull throbbing on my forehead now accompanies the agony I feel inside my mind. That voice is worse than nails on a chalkboard.
"Get the fuck away from her!"
That's a voice I've heard in my head before. Malfoy.
"Draco, get out of here! You'll get hurt! GO!"
"Silence!"
That was the voice again. It's sinister and cruel. Even worse than Voldemort's high-pitched tone. It's unfamiliar to me, but it still seems to cut right through my soul. That voice is pure evil.
The voices stop after that, and I slump to the ground, feeling exhausted. The voices had never had this kind of affect on me. It's not long before I black out.
A burning sensation jolts through me, and my eyes fly open. This only makes the feeling more painful, and I quickly close my eyes. But not before I see Trelawney leaning over me, holding a handful of salt.
"What was that for?" I exclaim, eyes still closed. I hear a rustling and guess that she's hiding the remaining salt.
"It's a trick I learned some time ago. Salt in the eyes always helps, my dear."
"Yeah, it helps burn like hell," I mutter under my breath. She doesn't respond, which I don't mind. I don't think I'll be able to put up with her anymore.
After a few minutes, the pain fades away and I'm able to open my eyes. I reach up and touch them, discovering that they're swollen. No doubt red, too. I scowl at Trelawney for doing this for me, then lower myself through the trap door. I realize now that I won't get what I want out of her. Just before my head disappears behind the trapdoor, I look at the clock in Trelawney's room. 8:55. Time to go.
I walk quickly, wringing my hands, not from anxiety but from excitement. One of the things I'd decided on before what that something important will happen at the Astronomy Tower.
I'm a floor below my destination when I realize I'm being followed. My follower is clever, stepping in time with me to match his/her footsteps. Their heavy breathing is what gives them away. I stop and pretend to admire a suit of armor while I slowly reach into the folds of my robes and pull out my wand. Maybe this isn't such a good idea. Humph. Tom usually agrees with me. He must be having an off day. I sense danger.
I spin quickly, trying to catch my follower by surprise, and yell, "Expelliarmus!" He dodges the spell and smirks at me.
"Honestly, I'd expect better from you than 'expelliarmus'. Who are you, Potter? Then again, you are a Weasley." I make a fist with my free hand. Malfoy.
"What do you want?" I ask defeatedly, not looking for a fight. I just want to see Luna. I lower my wand.
"Tell me what you're up to," Malfoy commands. I raise a brow.
"Excuse me?"
"I heard about how odd you and Luna and Trelawney were acting on the first day. And this morning was quite strange. I obviously need confirmation that you're not plotting my downfall."
"Your downfall?" I scoff. "What's going on is none of your business, kapeesh?"
"Are you scared that big bad Malfoy is gonna stumble across your dangerous plans?" God, that smirk is so annoying.
"No, just leave me alone. Please."
"Begging? Is that how low the Weasleys are nowadays?"
"Shut up, Malfoy." My hands are shaking.
"Actually, you Weasleys are much lower than that. Six feet under, I believe, thanks to your dear brother, yes?" That dirty bastard... It seems Tom and I are on the same page again.
"Shut up!" I yell. "Don't talk about Fred!"
"Touchy subject, I see."
"Shut it, or I will wipe that smirk off your face and shove it up your-"
BANG! The sudden sound makes us both jump. It sounds like someone has just been thrown against the floor - ceiling for me. The Astronomy Tower is above me. Luna!
No! Don't come! It'll put you in danger!
I can't help but be shocked by Luna's voice again. I should probably take her warning seriously, but I'm just too worried. What if she's in danger?
I don't hesitate as I rush to the stairs and race up them. I hear Draco yelling in confusion behind me, but I ignore him. I run up the final flight of stairs and freeze at what I see.
There are two men in black. And when I say black, I mean ALL black. Black coats, black shirts, black pants, black shoes, black hats, and black masks. The only part of them that's showing is their eyes, and even those are black and wolflike. They have no wands, but they are holding they're hands up as if they're performing wandless magic. Red and black lights shoot out of their hands.
I gulp. Only the most dangerous wizards can master wandless magic.
I look down and find Professor Trelawney on the floor. She must have caused the bang. She's knocked out cold. I'm about to help her, but then I see Luna.
She's standing in front of the two men, her face eerily calm. Her hands hang loosely by her sides. She has no wand, she must have forgotten it again. I raise my wand quickly and am about to jump in.
Then I realize that Luna doesn't need a wand. She seems to know exactly what to two men are going to do a moment before they do it. She dodges spells, sidesteps punches, and ducks under knives without breaking a sweat.
Wait...knives?
Knives. The men are throwing knives. That's not fair.
As soon as I realize weapons are involved, I snap out of my frozen stance. Luna sees me and her eyes widen slightly. I point my wand at the two men.
No, Ginny, don't-
"Reducto!" I shout. A blue light fires out of my wand. The men, now aware of me, block it easily.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" The first man says, squinting his cold, black eyes. A shiver goes down my spine. I heard that man in the voices in Trelawney's voice. Again, his voice cuts through my like steel. I swallow tensely.
"She looks familiar, Donovan," the other says. I know his voice, too, from one of the first voices I heard. I remember him saying something about trying to get somewhere, but he was being blocked...
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a knife float off the ground and hover in midair. My jaw nearly drops.
Stay there, don't move. One knife should be enough.
It's Luna who's moving the knife! But she doesn't have a wand...and she isn't doing wandless magic, her hands aren't moving...so how is she moving it?
I don't have time to answer my question because the second man jumps forward and grabs me, binding me with his insane wandless magic. I'm able to scream Luna's name before a silencing spell is placed upon me. I struggle helplessly.
NO!
I thrash wildly, but with no avail. I remember the wand in my hand, and I think the counterspells to un-silence and un-bind me. I break free.
"Clive, grab her!" The first man, Donovan, screeches.
Clive lunges for me. This time, he doesn't use magic, but tries to grab my wand. Donovan slides a knife out of his black belt.
Oh no.
I writhe even more, screaming as Donovan nears me. He presses the point of the blade against my exposed throat, and I swallow fearfully.
Suddenly, I'm not being held anymore. I stumble backwards, tripping over the body of Clive. I catch my breath as I land in a pool of blood. A knife is sticking out of his back. Luna's hands are bloody.
I never knew Luna could kill.
The metallic stench of blood fills my nose, and I start to gag. Luna is running towards the remaining man, but he is running towards me. I am paralyzed by the overwhelming amount of blood and can't make any attempt to move out of the way. Donovan hauls me to my feet and puts the knife against my throat again. This time, it slightly cuts through the skin. A single drop of blood leaves a trail down my neck and chest.
I realize that I had dropped my wand in the blood puddle. Great.
Luna stops immediately. Her eyes are dilated.
"You want to bring me down," Donovan snarls wickedly, "fine, but she goes down too."
He has Luna trapped. She stares at me, obviously unsure what to do.
Don't move.
I'm sick of being told that! But Luna's seriousness makes me willing to obey. I close my eyes. Donovan will kill me no matter what. And to think that just this morning, I was disappointed about not bringing my wand to breakfast.
Then, he appears. He may have been here the whole time, I have no idea. He stares at the scene in shock, then his eyes find mine.
Draco.
His appearance gets me going. I start to flail my arms around, careful to not move my neck.
"Let go of me!" I shriek.
Draco makes a confused sound, alerting Donovan of his presence. He heads towards Draco, wielding the knife as if it were a sword. I use Donovan's distraction as an escape and start to run in the other direction. Donovan turns his attention back to me.
"Get back here, you little bitch!" He bellows.
Draco seems to have gotten rid of his confusion and whips out his wand. Donovan realizes he's outnumbered, and curls his lip. He approaches me, waving his hands as he mutters a complex incantation under his breath. I nearly freeze in fear, but stop myself just in time and start to back away.
"Get the fuck away from her!" Draco yells, the steel tone in his voice shocking me. His face is dark and murderous. If looks could kill, Donovan die five times.
Donovan turned to Draco and whipped another knife out of his sleeve. He threw it, but Draco moved out of the way just in time. The knife impaled itself into a crack in the stone wall. No, wait, it made a crack in the wall. Oh.
"Draco, get out of here," I scream. "You'll get hurt! GO!" I don't understand what takes hold of me. I feel an urgency to protect Draco. I shake my head to clear it. Must be the effects of the battle.
"Silence!" Donovan points a finger at me and fires a curse. I try to move out of the way, but the curse hits my arm. I cry out in pain as I start to bleed, the crimson liquid staining my robes. I attempt to seal it with a healing spell, but it doesn't work. My head starts to spin as the blood seems to take over.
My head throbs as well as spins as I realize the vision I heard in Trelawney's office had just happened.
Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit.
I fall to the ground in shock from my revelation. Donovan towers over me, his lip curled in disgust.
"I wish I could destroy you right now," he hisses. I stare up at him in fear. He ducks a spell that Draco shot at him, then continues as if nothing had happened. "But I have to follow orders." He sneers. "See you in hell."
I try to get up, but I'm losing too much blood. My eyesight is becoming blurry. I make out Luna hunched over Trelawney's fallen body, trying to wake her. Donovan pushes Luna out of the way, grabs Trelawney, and Disapparates away. Draco's face appears, creased with worry.
"Holy shit," I mutter. "Holy pile of cow manure."
I shiver, then I pass out.
Yay this chapter is longer! Three cheers for me!
Stop stalling.
Whatchoo talkin bout? Oh yeah. I am soooo sorry guys, I know it's been months! Everything's just been so crazy with school starting and whatnot, and then I just...well, I forgot.
Talk about a facepalm moment.
Yeah, I know. I'll make it up to y'all by posting the next chapter within the next week!
Here comes the catch
But y'all have to review! Now! If you don't...demon monkey-elephants will command evil lion-lizards to steal your favorite pair of pink socks!
What if they don't own pink socks?
Then the lion-lizards will steal the purple socks! BEWARE! Kay, bye!
