I do not own Harry Potter
...***...
I trudged through the thick forest, following Hagrid to where he was leading us. Mud squished under my feet as I walked.
Today we had our first Care of Magical Creatures class, and I was actually excited. It'd been two weeks since what happened in Defense Against the Dark Arts and rumors were in full force, circulating throughout the school. Oddly enough though very few of them were bad. Most of them were how cool it was or how strong I probably am.
Yet there are always the ones that originate from Slytherin that called me an out of control monster, or that I was mentally unstable and that they already had me a special room in St. Mungo's.
Every single time we passed them I tried my best to not let them get to me but they got worse.
Malfoy was horrid though. He would call me a monster, a murderer and a danger to every single person in the school. Harry tried to comfort me by holding my hand to reassure me.
As we walked through the forest I could hear Malfoy talking with his cronies behind me. He was mainly complaining about how Hagrid was going to be teaching and it was really getting on our nerves.
"I can't believe they're letting this big oaf teach. It's disgraceful. I mean, my father already said this school was going downhill but this is just horrible." Malfoy complained loudly behind Harry, Ron and I.
I clenched my jaw and turned around, glaring at him.
"Oh shut up Malfoy. Nobody cares what you or your father think." I growled. He stopped talking and looked directly at me. Shock was written all over his face, not use to being spoken to like that.
He shook his head and sneered, "Nobody cares what a monster like you says. Your just filth like that little mudblood friend of yours."
I raised an eyebrow and Harry grabbed my hand, dragging me away. Even as I was pulled away I could hear Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle laughing at their 'smart' reply.
"Harry why didn't you let me at least punch him in the nose?" I asked in disbelief.
"Because you would have gotten in trouble! Just ignore them." He said and gave my hand a squeeze.
I gave a small smile and we continued on with walking until we reached a clearing.
Hagrid was already standing in the clearing along with two large creatures. They were covered in multi-coloured feathers, one red, orange and brown and the other grey, white and light blue. They had the hind legs of a horse, but the beak, wings, front legs and steely eyes of an eagle.
"What are those?" I wondered out loud, not really expecting an answer.
"Hippogriff. Half griffin half mare." Hermione said, suddenly appearing beside me. I jumped slightly and stared at her.
"When did you get here? I didn't see you in the group!" Harry and Ron were both surprised to see her there as well.
"What are you talking about? I've been here the entire time." She scoffed and turned her attention to Hagrid.
I opened my mouth to retort but Hagrid cleared his throat and began the lesson.
"Alrighty. So, uh, welcome to yer' first lesson. We're goin ter have a hands on lesson first, with these two Hippogriffs." Hagrid said, shifting uncomfortably. "Now, Hippogriffs are very proud creatures, and aren't ones to cross. Don' go insultin 'em cause it might very well be the last thing you do." Hagrid warned, looking directly at Malfoy. "When you approach them you have ter bow, very low too, and wait for them to bow back ter you. If they bow back you are allowed to approach them and give their beak a pat." He said and demonstrated with the grey and white Hippogriff. "These two, Buckbeak and Azia are mates. To approach one, you have ter get permission from both. Volunteers... volunteers... how about 'Arry and Mia! You two come here." Hagrid said.
I hesitated, but felt Ron give me a slight shove forward.
Hagrid put a hand on each of our shoulders in a form or reassurance.
"Mia, yer goin' with Azia and 'Arry yer wit Buckbeak. Go on now, bow both of you." Hagrid said and we both bowed deeply.
Wow, she's so pretty. Her feather's remind me of flames in a way.
Thank you child. A melodical voice said in my head. I almost jumped, but knew better than that. I didn't want to startle them.
Are you Azia?
Yes. You may approach, but slowly. She replied. I moved up from my bow and to see that she was bowing deeply in front of me. Taking small, slow steps I stepped up to her. She lowered her head and allowed me to stroke her beak.
Thank you for allowing me to approach you. Is it possible for me to talk to Buckbeak as well?
Your welcome child. And yes, I believe it is. I felt another presence enter my mind that I assumed was Buckbeak.
Hello child. He said, and I smiled.
Hello Buckbeak. Thank you for allowing my friend Harry to approach you.
Buckbeak gave a slight nod and I could see Harry staring at me oddly. I shrugged and smiled. Suddenly I felt Hagrid behind me, lifting me into the air and onto Azia.
He turned and did the same to Harry. The difference was Harry protested, while I was happy to get to ride her.
Please don't drop me Azia!
Don't you worry child, if I did that Hagrid wouldn't be too happy. She said and gave what I assumed was a slight chuckle.
"Hold on tight Harry!" I shouted as the two Hippogriffs sprinted off and stretched out their mighty wings, taking off into the air.
Harry closed his eyes and gripped Buckbeak's neck, and shouted back, "I don't have much of a choice!"
I laughed and lightened my grip on Azia's neck.
The sensation of flying is incredible. It's like being weightless, soaring through the skies and reaching for the clouds. I glanced over at Harry and grinned, seeing he was enjoying this just as much as I was. As we flew over the water Azia went into a steep dive, pulling up feet away from the water.
She lowered one of her feet, skimming the water with it. Buckbeak was doing the same thing with Harry, and I saw Harry was sitting up, arms stretched out to the side, hollering. I laughed and did the same thing as him, throwing my head back and yelling as loud as I could.
Having fun? Azia asked sounding rather amused.
Yes! You're so lucky you get to do this often.
She laughed and I held onto her neck again.
If you thought that was fun, try this. Hold on very tightly child. She instructed and I held on.
Before I knew it she shot up, climbing in altitude. When we reached the peak of it she went leveled out before going into a corkscrew dive, plummeting back down to the earth.
I screamed in a mixture of joy and fear. This lasted for ten seconds she pulled up, flying side by side with Buckbeak. I looked down and saw the clearing, everybody looking up at us in awe.
Here we go. We're about to land. She said and we glided down. Hagrid rushed over to us once we landed and first pulled Harry off, then me.
I went to go back into the crowd, but saw Malfoy rushing over, going right to Buckbeak.
"This is easy. If Potter can do it, then anybody can. You're rather ugly aren't you? Nothing scary about you." Malfoy sneered as he practically ran up to Buckbeak. Buckbeak boiled with anger and reared onto his hind legs, clawing at Malfoy's arms.
Before Buckbeak could do further damage I ran in front of Malfoy.
"Buckbeak no!" I shouted at him, squaring my shoulders.
Move away child! I must kill him! Buckbeak roared in my head and reared back. I didn't back off though, not allowing him to intimidate me.
"Buckbeak, if you hurt him Hagrid will get in trouble!" I shouted again, and this time he calmed down a bit more.
He deserves to die! Buckbeak was still angry, but I could tell that he wouldn't get Hagrid in trouble for it.
"No. He's not worth it Buckbeak!" I said, lowering my voice. He pawed at the ground in frustration but backed away nonetheless.
Hagrid ran up behind me and picked Malfoy up, running towards the school with him.
I turned around to see that every single person was staring directly at me. Blushing slightly I walked back into the crowd, standing in between Harry, Ron and Hermione.
...***...
"What happened back there?" Hermione asked me the second we entered the common room.
I sighed, knowing that they would ask me. Ron and Harry were both looking at me expectantly, wanting to know this too.
"I don't really know," I looked around the room to make sure it was empty, "but all that I know is that the Hippogriffs were talking to me in my head."
When I said that it hit me how odd that sounds. I sounded absolutely mental.
To be honest, I didn't actually expect them to believe me.
"That's so cool! How come you never told us that you could do that?" Ron exclaimed looking rather excited.
I frowned at him and rolled my eyes and Hermione smacked him in the arm.
"I just found out when I was approaching Azia. She just suddenly entered my thoughts and we started talking. It's also how I was talking to Buckbeak when he attacked Malfoy." I explained, making my way over to the plush velvet couch.
Harry sat down beside me, putting an arm around my shoulders.
Ever since that night we hadn't really been alone at all. Hermione started giving me all my lessons because Quidditch started, so Harry has no more time to teach me.
I smiled and pulled my legs to my chest, resting me chin on my knees.
"I wonder," I murmured, "if this has anything to do with my gift."
Harry looked over at me.
"It's possible. Have you been looking for it in that book?"
"Yeah. I'm half way through the book and I haven't found a thing yet."
There have been a few things, but this new development might make it easier to distinguish it. My eyes widened when I remembered.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked sounding worried. I shot up to my room, grabbed the large book and brought it back down with me.
"This. I think this might be it, even though it's not really a gift." I said and pointed to one I'm thinking of.
The Aura
The Aura is where a witch has been blessed by Mother Nature herself.
Said witch will be gifted with an extraordinarily large amount of magical power, more so
than the average witch. It is a very rare gift, but is also very difficult to control the
immense power that comes with it. The only known way to control it is by wearing
one of the six elemental sapphires, but only one of them is known to still exist.
In old times people given Her blessing would be referred to as royalty, and in some
places were even worshipped at times.
Witches with her blessing are able to mentally talk with animals, but once it gets
stronger they can talk out loud with animals and understand what they are
saying.
A mental connection can also be established with whoever shares true love
with a somebody gifted with this. In rare cases the mental connection goes
as far as sharing dreams with one another.
I finished reading it, closing the book quietly.
All three of them were staring at me with their mouths hanging open.
"I think I need to talk to Dumbledore." I murmured before standing up and walking out of the common room.
...***...
I strode through the halls of the school directly to where Dumbledore said his office was. Outside of it I found Professor McGonagall on her way out of the office, and she turned to me.
"Miss Denery, why might you be here?" She asked.
"I need to see Dumbledore Professor," I said, but explained further when she gave me a doubtful expression, "it has to do with my gift."
She automatically nodded and went back towards the office and approached the gargoyles.
I wonder if Dumbledore warned them that this might happen.
"Lemon Drops." She said and the wall disappeared, revealing a large winding stairwell. "Go on now, it's just up those stairs." She said and gave me an encouraging smile. This is the first time I've ever seen her smile. I nodded and walked over to the stairwell, the wall appearing behind me again when I was at the stairwell.
I made my way up the large amount of stairs and found myself at a large oak door. Lifting my hand I went to knock, but let it fall back at my side when I heard somebody say 'come in' from inside the office.
Slowly I opened the door and saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk, looking expectantly at me. I walked in and sat down in the chair across from him.
"I assume you've already figured out why I'm here." I stated.
"Yes. I'm guessing that you've figured out my guess and wish to speak to me about it?" He folded his hands on his desk and peered at me over his half-moon glasses.
"What is the last remaining elemental sapphire?" I blurted out, the question being the first thing that entered my mind.
I felt that it was rather important I knew this.
This sapphire is the only thing that could help me with controlling this power and whether or not I control it isn't an option.
"Ah, the final sapphire. Its most commonly referred to as the dark sapphire. Back when the sapphire were first created darkness was considered an element like fire, earth, water and air." He explained.
"But, in the book it says six elemental sapphires. What's the last one?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows together.
"What few people know is that there are actually two remaining. Just as darkness was considered an element, so was light. Many people believed that the light sapphire was destroyed along with the others, but it was not. A young witch who was also blessed stole it and used it herself. It's still in existence today, but very few people are aware of this."
I nodded, feeling my confusion fade.
How was I going to get one of these though? Considering that the world knows it as the last remaining elemental sapphire, it's likely in a museum or guarded.
I voiced my concerns to Dumbledore, but he smiled.
"When the time is right, you will be given this answer." He said. "That book of yours is very useful you know. When did you manage to figure your gift out?"
"Not very long ago. This afternoon at Care of Magical Creatures I found myself able to talk to the animals. When I got back to the common room it dawned on me that I'd actually completely passed over it." I smirked but it faded. "How did you know about the book?"
He chuckled and picked up a small picture, showing and turning it towards me.
The old woman who I met at the store and gave it to me was the woman in the picture!
"The woman who gave it to you is an old friend of mine. She's also a well-known Seer, a very good one too. She told me about meeting you the day after you were there and about the book. It confirmed my suspicions of what your gift was too." He sighed and looked at the clock. "You should be getting back to your common room now, your friends might be getting worried."
He smiled and nodded towards the door. I hesitated but I stood up and walked over to the door.
"Thank you." I said over my shoulder before I walked out, practically running back to my common room.
...***...
I approached the Fat Lady, and saw she was already asleep.
Gosh, could it really be that late?
"Hello?" I asked, tapping on the painting.
She snorted in her sleep, jumping slightly at hearing me.
"Password?" She asked lazily.
"Fortuna Major." I replied and waited for the painting to swing open.
She frowned and swung open, revealing Harry.
He was sitting on the couch, fast asleep.
Had I really been gone that long?
I walked over to him and gave his shoulders a slight shake, waking him up. He stirred and looked around.
"Wha?" He mumbled. I giggled and sat down beside him, pulling my knees to my chest again, closing my eyes.
"Sorry for waking you up. Just figured you might want to sleep in your bed tonight." I said and gave a lazy smirk.
He looked at me and shook his head.
"I think I'm going to stay down here for a while." He said and peered down at his paper on the table. "Oh... I still have to finish this anyways." He muttered and picked up his quill, beginning on the essay before him.
I smiled to myself as I listened to the scratching of the quill traveling across the parchment.
Every few minutes it would pause for a second before resuming until he had finished.
"And now to re-write it." He muttered but I held his hand, pulling out my wand.
"Cultus." I murmured, pointing my wand at the parchment. Instantly all the writing on it became much neater and all the mistakes were corrected.
Harry stared at me in awe, knowing that the spell I just performed is a year ahead of ours.
"How did you know that?" He asked as I put my wand away in its pocket.
I shrugged, not feeling like giving a proper answer. To be truthful I wasn't exactly sure myself. I likely just read it while I read my book and memorized it.
"I dunno." I murmured, my eyes still glued to the fire.
I loved watching the flames sizzle and crack, licking the log eagerly.
The mix of colours always peaked my imagination and I had a lot of really interesting drawings of flames in my sketch book.
For a few minutes we sat in silence, each one waiting for the other to say something. It wasn't exactly awkward, but it's not what I'd call comfortable either really.
"You alright? You seem sort of depressed." He finally asked. I sighed and looked over to him, a frown on my face.
I didn't feel like explaining everything that went on. It was still important for him to know though considering he's my friend.
"To be honest, no I'm not exactly alright. I just have a lot on my mind right now." I said and the frown disappeared from my face. He looked into my weary eyes and pulled me into a hug.
Whoa, not expecting that.
After a second I hugged him back, and we sat there in that position. I rested my head on his shoulder while he placed his chin on my head. This is a lot like our positionthat night. Like I said, we hadn't exactly had much time alone ever since then.
"You can talk to me you know. I make a very good listener." He mused. I looked up at him, raising my eyebrow. I couldn't tell whether or not he was being serious.
I placed my head back on his shoulder and explained everything I Dumbledore told me, finishing with the sapphires. "He talked about it like he knew exactly where both sapphires were located, and that frustrates me! I need one of those, otherwise... otherwise I might lose control at any second."
I'd never really ever felt insecure with myself like I do now. The only time these feelings surfaced were when I talked about my life at home, or about my gift. All those times with Harry.
To him I probably look like an insecure teenage girl.
"Somehow I don't think you will. Since you came to Hogwarts you haven't lost control once. You haven't even come close." He said thoughtfully, gazing at the fire like I do sometimes.
"Doesn't mean I won't." I whispered and gazed down at my hands on my lap. Harry grabbed one of them, holding it tightly in his own.
"I don't think you will."
I couldn't help but smile at this.
My crush on him hasn't faltered at all.
"Thanks. It's just so confusing. I don't ever want myself to do what that boggart did in Defense Against the Dark Arts." I felt the tears pricking my eyes at the thought of that happening to me.
If I ever lost control and started hurting people, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
"You won't. That boggart showed your worse fear, doesn't mean it's possible." He said in an attempt to reassure me.
"But it is possible, I just have to face it. Getting one of those rings is a priority now." I sighed and noticed something. I actually felt better after talking with Harry. My chest felt lighter and I liked it. I felt more at peace than I had in a while.
For the next ten minutes we sat in silence again, but it was a nice silence. One I could live with. But I did have one question nagging at me, and I blurted it out before I could stop myself.
"Harry, are you worried about Sirius Black?" I asked. He stiffened under me at the question, and I immediately regretted asking him.
"Sometimes. I find it best to keep him out of my mind." He replied, and noticed the expression on my face and he relaxed again. "Don't feel bad about asking. It's alright." He smiled and I nodded.
Without realizing it, I drifted to sleep.
I was vaguely aware of somebody guiding me softly into my bed, but figured it was just a dream.
...***...
A/N:
So I need your help. I don't really like the name of her gift and some ideas would be ULTRA helpful! Just tell me what you think it should be, and I just might change it if I like it.
If you can make it so that it still matches what the gift is about that'd be wicked.
THANKS YA!
Oh, and if you noticed I am adding a few of my own spells to the mix, but I'm mainly keeping them with the ones J.K. Rowling created ;D
Rose xx