Chapter Eleven
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(AN: In this chapter, I use references to The Complete Guide to Divination, by Cassandra Eason)
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The next morning Persephone woke Endaira up by splashing cold water on her.
"What was that for?!" Endaira cried.
"We have Herbology, if you recall. Now get dressed."
Grumbling, Endaira rolled out of bed and went to freshen up. Ten minutes later, she and Persephone made their way downstairs. However, when the opened the door to the common room, a bucket-full of ice-cold water splashed down on them from above. They shrieked and ran forward into the common room, where they slipped in a pool of green slime and fell flat on their asses.
Having heard their screams, people came running down the stairs. The girls who came down were once again splashed by the automatic re-filling bucket. The boys were getting caught in a web of some sticky substance. Finally, Percy shouted for quiet as he side-stepped the web of boys and moved to stand in the middle of the room.
However, as he stepped on a certain spot, a bucket above him over-turned and molasses poured down on his head, drenching him. Then there was a loud BANG! and white feathers fell all over him. Once they had all fallen down, Percy spit out a mouthful of feathers and glared at everyone.
"Hey, that's a good look for you, Perce!" Fred Weasley called from where the boys and girls not caught had gathered.
"Was it you two who did this?" Percy asked, turning on the twins.
"Sorry, Perce, but no," Fred said.
"Though, we do wish we had thought of it," George added.
"Who did this?" Percy yelled. No one spoke. "I swear, if someone doesn't-"
"Look!" a girl shouted, pointing over Percy's head. Everyone turned to look at what she was pointing at. There were several gasps.
A large banner had fallen down above the fireplace. Painted on it in red paint were the words:
With Compliments From,
Sirius Black
There were murmurs in the crowd. Sirius Black did this?
"Somebody get Professor McGonagall," Percy said. A second year separated from the crowd to do just so, but before he got anywhere, several more people gasped. Endaira looked at the banner and saw that words had been added. They read:
And now, for the finale.
And as if an invisible giant hand was writing it, words appeared beneath.
If you would be so kind to as look up?
Fearfully, Endaira looked up. There was nothing for several seconds. In that moment, everyone held their breath.
And then hundreds of Filibuster's Fireworks went off. With bangs, whizzes, and beeps the flew about the common room in a racket. The commotion must have been loud, for McGonagall appeared, shouting over the din.
"What is going on in here?!"
Percy just pointed to the banner. McGonagall looked at it and gasped.
"All right. All of you. Out!"
They followed her command and filed out of the portrait hole. Those caught in the web had to be cut out by McGonagall first, and Endaira and Persephone had trouble getting up from the slime pool. Finally, they were all out in the corridor.
"I want somebody to explain how Sirius Black could get into the Gryffindor common room and pull this shenanigan!" McGonagall said, glaring at them.
The Gryffindors shifted and glanced at one another. Endaira timidly raised her hand.
"Yes, Ms. Rezagrats?"
"Perhaps . . . perhaps you should ask Sir Cadogan . . ."
Professor McGonagall turned around to face the portrait of the knight. "Sir Cadogan, did you let a man enter Gryffindor Tower last night?"
"Certainly, good lady!" cried Sir Cadogan.
"You did, did you?" said Professor McGonagall. "And what about the password?"
"He had 'em!" said the knight, proudly. "Had the whole week's, my lady! Read 'em off a little piece of paper!"
Professor McGonagall turned back to the Gryffindors.
"Which person," she said, "which abysmally foolish person wrote down this week's passwords and left them lying around?"
Endaira watched as Neville Longbottom, shaking all over, raised his hand slowly into the air.
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"On the bright side, we now have the Fat Lady back," Darren pointed out.
"Yes, but poor Neville has to pay the consequences," Endaira reminded him.
They, were in the Great Hall, seated at the Gryffindor table. Because of the fireworks, they were not allowed back into Gryffindor Tower until they died out. And because the castle was being searched, they were not allowed to leave the Great Hall. This meant that the Gryffindors were still in their pajamas, Endaira and Persephone were still covered in green slime, and Percy still looked like Chicken Little.
Persephone sighed. "We should talk to, uh, Snuffles about this."
"Yeah," Endy agreed. "That prank was good and all, but it will make no sense to the authorities."
"Remember, Endy," Persephone said, "it was Darren's idea in the first place."
"Oh, so now you're blaming it on me?" Darren asked.
Persephone nodded. "Yeah, basically."
Endaira sighed and cradled her head in her hands. Just then Ron and Harry came over.
"What was the deal with the prank?" Ron asked. "I mean, Sirius Black is a criminal on the run. Why would he take the time to sneak into Gryffindor Tower just to pull a prank?"
"Who knows?" Darren said, glancing at Persephone and Endaira. "It was a rather good prank, though, don't you think?"
Endaira and Persephone just rolled their eyes at each other.
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The next day in class, Endaira could barely keep her eyes open. The night before had been a restless one - she had had the same dream over and over again, each time waking up with the sheets twisted around her. And yet, she was never able to remember the dream when she woke up. That morning, she had almost fallen asleep in her bowl of oatmeal.
Endaira yawned as Professor Odin talked about the ancient rune tiwaz. Usually she paid attention in this class - it being one of her favorites - but today she just couldn't.
She felt a poke in her side. Glancing over at Hermione, she saw her point to a bit of folded parchment on Endaira's desk. Endy unfolded the note and read, Would you like me to take notes for you?
Picking up her quill, she wrote back, No, that's okay. Just as long as I can copy your notes later. She refolded the parchment, and when Professor Odin wasn't looking, passed it back to Hermione.
" . . . tiwaz is the rune of justice, altruism, self-sacrifice, following a chosen path, or keeping faith even in dark times," Professor Odin was saying. "Sometimes called the Spirit Warrior, it is the constant pointer in the northern skies . . ."
The note was back. Endaira opened it and read, Of course you can. Why are you so tired?
Later, Endaira wrote back, indicating that she would tell her later. She passed the note back and folded her arms on her desk, laying her head on them. She yawned and closed her eyes for a second.
"Ms. Rezagrats!" Professor Odin snapped. Endaira opened her eyes and sat up straight.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Is my class so boring that you feel the need to sleep during it?" he asked.
"I wasn't asleep, sir." There were several titters from the class and Endaira frowned.
"I have called your name three times now, Ms. Rezagrats."
"Oh. I'm sorry, Professor. I had only closed my eyes for a second. I didn't mean to fall asleep," Endaira told him. "It's just that I didn't sleep well last night."
"And might I inquire to as why you had trouble sleeping?"
Every eye was on her. She couldn't very well tell the whole class about the mysterious dream that she couldn't even remember. Instead, she lied and bluntly said, "Allergies."
Just then the bell rang and the class was dismissed. Endaira quickly gathered her things and left with the rest of the class. She and Persephone headed back to the common room, where Darren was waiting, while the rest of the class headed off to Charms.
Endaira plopped down at one of the tables and pulled out her Transfiguration essay and worked on finishing it for that night's lesson. Persephone sat down next to her and Darren took a seat opposite them. They worked in silence, save for Endy's many yawns. Finally, Persephone broke the silence.
"Why are you so tired, Endaira?"
Endaira yawned before answering. "I couldn't sleep last night."
"I know that already. Why couldn't you?"
"I kept waking up from the same dream and had trouble getting back to sleep," Endaira replied.
"Well, what was the dream about?" Darren asked.
Sighing, Endy put her quill down and rubbed her tired eyes. "That's the problem," she said. "I can't remember."
Darren and Persephone looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Why don't you skip the rest of your classes?" Darren advised.
"I can't do that!" Endaira exclaimed. "I'd be missing notes. And what would the teachers say about me playing hooky?"
"Don't worry, Endy," Persephone said. "We'll cover for you. You just take a mental health day, and we'll get your notes."
"You're sure?"
Both of them nodded.
"Thanks, I guess."
The bell rang, signaling the end of classes for the morning. Persephone and Darren left to go to lunch, leaving Endaira alone in the common room.
Sighing, she went back to work on the essay, instead of going upstairs to sleep. In truth, she had no intention of going back to sleep. She was afraid. Even though she couldn't remember the dream, it had left her with a sense of foreboding and fright so overwhelming, it had taken all her strength not to scream.
She yawned again and decided to give up on the assignment. She wasn't getting very far anyway.
Putting her books away, Endaira went upstairs and put her bag on her bed. Then, opening her trunk, she rummaged through until she found what she was looking for - a book of famous poems. She took it downstairs and curled up on an armchair. She opened it to the first page and began reading, the rhythmic lines of the poems lulling her into a sense of calm.
The Tiger
William Blake
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Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
--
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
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And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?
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What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
--
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
--
Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Endaira turned the page.
The Lady of Shalott
Lord Alfred Tennyson
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On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And through the field the road run by
To many tower'd Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.
--
Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the wave that runs for ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four grey walls, and four grey towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.
--
By the margin, willow veil'd,
Slide the heavy barges trail'd
By slow horses; and unhail'd
The shallop flitteth silken sail'd
Skimming down to Camelot:
But who hath seen her wave her hand?
Or at the casement seen her stand?
Or is she known in all the land,
The Lady of Shalott?
--
Only reapers, reaping early,
In among the bearded barley
Hear a song that echoes cheerly
From the river . . .
Endaira's eyes drooped. Her head nodded, and the book fell out of her hands. It landed with a thud on the floor. Sleep overtook Endy, as did her dream.
There is a silence, such as that of late night, when the moon is high and the stars bright. The silence is broken only by gusts of wind that blow through the meadow that she is in. The crescent moon hangs high in the sky, casting a white light on the world below. Stars sparkle in the sky. Numerous stars that fill the sky. To her left, the meadow stretches on forever, until it is stopped in the far distance by a faint line of dark trees. To the right it stretches on just as far, perhaps even farther.
There is a man. He stands in front of her. His face is in shadow, so she cannot discern any features. He wears a black cloak, which adds to the shadows.
For a long time they stand there facing each other. Then the man steps forward, closer to her. Her breath catches in her throat.
"What do you want?"
Her voice is a whisper, but it sounds foreign in the silence.
He does not answer, only moves closer. She takes a step back, the grass brushing against her bare ankle. She asks again, louder this time.
"What do you want?"
Still no answer. He takes another step forward. She moves backwards.
"Who are you?"
He stops moving and she breathes easier. She asks once more.
"What do you want?"
His answer comes across the gap that separates them. It is so quiet, she can hardly hear it.
"Endaira."
Her heartbeat quickens as terror fills her soul. This man wants her. She swallows past the lump that's formed in her throat.
"Why?"
No answer. He moves closer to her, reaching a pale hand into the folds of his robes. She turns on her heel and runs, fright urging her on, not wishing to see what he was going to pull out. She runes through the dewy grass, away from the man. Dark clouds suddenly pass over the moon and she is plunged into darkness. Terror squeezes her heart as she runs. She does not know where she is going. She does not know if he follows.
Her breath comes in short gasps. Her lungs burn, her legs ache, but she keeps running. She runs for what seems forever. She runs for an eternity. Until she can run no more.
She stops, breathless. There is a stitch in her side. Her legs feel as if they are on fire. Taking deep breaths, her heart rate slows down and she can breathe again. She looks around herself and sees nothing. There is only darkness. It presses down upon her, suffocating her, blinding her.
And then a hand reaches out and grasps her arm-
"Endaira!"
Endaira blinked her eyes open. Staring at her was the worried face of Persephone, and behind her, Darren and Hermione.
"What?" she asked groggily, sitting up and wiping sleep away from her eyes.
"You fell asleep," Hermione said.
"Obviously," Endaira replied. She stretched and stifled a yawn.
"Yes, but - were you dreaming, Endaira?" Darren asked.
Endy nodded.
"Do you remember the dream?" he pressed on.
Again she nodded.
"Well?" Persephone asked.
"I . . . I don't want to talk about it." Standing up, Endaira bent down to retrieve her book. Pushing past her worried friends, she headed to the portrait hole and exited it. As soon as she was past the security trolls, she broke into a run, heading for the Astronomy Tower.
Selena was already there, waiting for her. Endaira didn't stop to ask how she knew, just climbed on and tightened the leg straps. Selena immediately lifted off.
The sky was a deep blue streaked with pink, orange, and purple. As Selena turned, the setting sun turned her pearly scales into a colorful array of blues, pinks, purples, oranges, and yellows. A cool breeze blew across Endaira's face, tugging at her hair and turning her cheeks pink.
You are crying, Endaira. Why?
Endaira reached up a hand to touch her cheek and found it we. She wiped away the tears and told Selena about the dream.
. . . and then a hand reached out and grabbed my wrist. Oh, Selena. What does is mean? It scares me so much . . .
Selena was silent.
Selena?
The Opaleye turned on her right wing as they passed over the dark lake. Finally, she answered.
I, too, have been dreaming.
What of?
Well . . . I'm flying over a meadow not unlike the one in your dream - one that stretches as far as the eye can go. The sky is black with nothing to see save for a faint yellow streak on the horizon, signaling the approach of dawn. As I am flying, I look down and see something. I fly down closer and I see that it is a figure lying on the ground. As I get closer, the world around me suddenly turns bright as the sun climbs above the horizon and I can see the figure more clearly. It is a girl, lying on the ground, her eyes closed. She's not sleeping. She is dead.
Selena paused and then said, The girl was you, Endaira.
Endaira was silent for a while. Slowly, the sun set beneath the horizon, leaving behind a faint glow of pink and dark blue skies. Stars began to appear in the sky. There was a bright one hanging over the Forbidden Forest. A quarter moon hung low in the eastern sky.
She felt a tear trickle down her face as she gazed at the twilight sky above.
Oh, Selena, Endaira thought as another tear fell. What does it all mean?
