Chapter 26: A New Mark?
Andilynne sat bolt upright in bed and her shoulder was throbbing. She had had another one of those dreams again, but this time was different. In the dream, Andi acted as the spectator and watched. She could see her mother kneeling at the feet of a cloaked figure, begging for forgiveness but the figure just cackled in a high feminine voice. The figure raised both its hands, one holding a wand and the other pulled back the hood of the cloak. To Andilynne's surprise (and her mother), stood Andi staring back at her with her wand raised. She muttered the killing curse and her mother was dead. Then she turned to Andi and started to chase her. Andi ran hard but was hit in the shoulder by something and she abruptly woke up.
God, I hate these dreams. Why do I have to go through the agony? My mother's dead and I had nothing to do with it. I need a shower. Andi crawled out of bed, slipped on her dressing gown, and grabbed a towel, heading directly to the bathroom where a hot shower awaited her. As she rinsed out her hair and dried off, Andi felt the throbbing in her right shoulder again. She slipped her pink fuzzy pajamas back on and went to the sink to brush her teeth. Andi turned to see if she had anything on her shoulder and there it was. On her shoulder, gleamed a delicate dragonfly. What could it mean? I should ask Hermione or Ashley. She finished in the bathroom and walked out into the dorm room. Nicole was on her bed cleaning and polishing her broom and Ashley and Hermione were at a desk they conjured up between their beds, doing this week's homework. (So they had none over break)
Andi walked over and sat down next to Nicole. Nicole was wearing her navy blue hoodie and lime green pants with her hair braided in pigtails. She looked up to see Andi's shocked face. "What's wrong, Andi?" said Nicole as she put her polishing rag down. Andi pulled down the side of her dressing gown and showed Nicole the mark. whistle "Wow, where did that come from?" Andi looked at her and explained.
"So…that was a weird dream. I had a weird one too. I was flying on my broom during practice and it started to rain. Lightening struck and it hit me in the back. Then I woke up and my shoulder throbbed." Andi's ebony eyebrows shot up into her hairline and she quickly asked, "Can I see your shoulder?" Nicole just stared but pulled off her hoodie and rolled down her tank top strap. On Nicole's shoulder, was the same mark as her own. "Ashley… Hermione…Can you come here?" said Andi in a scared voice. Hermione and Ashley got up from their desk and came over, Ashley by way of climbing over the bed but Hermione walked around. "What's wrong, Andi?" said Ashley, pushing her black rimmed glasses back up her nose. Hermione pulled on her dressing gown, "What's that on your shoulder, Nicole?" Ashley and Hermione gasped when they saw the mark. "I have one too," said Andi, showing them her mark, "Do you have one Hermione?" She rolled down the sleeve of her dressing gown and there was a dragonfly too. Ashley walked over to the window, to ponder the mark when they asked if she had a mark too. She pulled off her green hoodie, and on her shoulder was the same gleaming dragonfly. "Oh boy…" they all said in unison. "Speaking of boys," said Ashley, "Don't you think we should get ready for breakfast and classes? Remember we only have class today and tomorrow, then its break." "YEAH!" They all screamed and when they were finished, got ready for class.
They all ran out the door when they were done, but Ashley and Hermione were the last ones. Ashley looked over at Hermione, as she stuffed her Divination book in her bag, "Do you want to come with us over break, to my place?" "Yeah that would be great but I think I going to stay with my parents." said Hermione. "That's cool. The offer is always open." They reached the bottom of the stairs, where Ron and Harry were already talking to Andi and Nicole.
They walked out of the common room in a large group. "Uhmm…Nicole do you want to see what I found the other day?" Harry said nodding his head in the direction of the Room of Requirement. Nicole nodded and they slipped off from the group. Ron and Andi peeled off too, walking in the direction of the Trophy Room. "Well, I guess we won't be seeing them until half way through breakfast." Hermione remarked and both girls broke into hysterics. They reached the Great Hall doors and Ashley had yet to see Draco that morning. All off the sudden, Ashley stopped, her vision went black but she could feel the warmth in the pair of hands that covered her eyes. It's Draco, you ditz. Turn around and kiss him…No I think I'm going to play with him a bit…Your funeral…
"Harry…..stop lets just go eat breakfast," said Ashley. She could hear Draco sigh; Just kiss him…Not yet. "Ron, is that you? Come on cut it out."
Draco had had enough. He leaned his head close to her ear and whispered, "If you know what is good for you, you would kiss me." Ashley giggled, his drawl always got to her. "Okay Draco…" she replied, pulling his hands from her face. Ashley turned around and looked deep into his eyes. Draco wound his arms around her waist, pulling her body close, and kissed her deeply on her lips. "Mmm… you taste like mint, love," whispered Draco, softly, as he pulled away. Ashley smiled sweetly and took his hand, as they walked into the Great Hall.
In the Trophy Room…
"Ron, what are wearing to the Dance?" pondered Andilynne. "Ehhhm, I guess whatever. Why do you ask?" said Ron, with a shrug of his shoulder. "I was just wondering do you want to know what I'm wearing." "Sure…" said Ron, as he looked at Andi and brushed a stray strand of ebony hair off her face. "Well, I think I have a black skirt that flares out at my knees…" Andi demonstrated about where it would come to and Ron nodded, "with a red off the shoulder shirt. My hair…" started Andi but Ron objected. "How about I wait until you come down the dormitory stairs, so that I can see?" "Okay, Ron. Should we head down to breakfast?" said Andi, as she started for the door. "Not just yet, Andi," said Ron, as he grabbed her hand and stopped to face her. He leaned in slowly and kissed her gently on the lips. "Now, we can go," he whispered as he took her hand again and lead the way out of the Trophy Room.
In the Great Hall…
Andi slid into the seat next to Ashley, and Ron sat across from her. "You two look like you enjoyed one another's company." chimed Hermione. Ashley shoved her with her elbow and shook her head in the form of a definite 'NO!' Nicole and Harry came in soon (Nicole's face redder than normal) and they finished their breakfast in peace. "Well, I'm going to head to Divination. Have fun during your free period without me…" said Ashley as she grabbed her satchel and got up to leave. "Don't worry we will!" they said in unison. Ashley rolled her eyes, "Sure you will. Make sure you get your DADA done so you don't have to do it at my house over break." " I'll walk with you, Ash. I have Ancient Ruins this morning," said Hermione, grabbing her stuff as well. "OK…"
Slytherin Table…
Draco watched as Ashley got up from the table and saw her say something to her friends. They must not have class this morning. Lucky…I have Ancient Ruins. Fun, fun, fun… he finished his pumpkin juice and got up from the table grabbing his bag from under the bench. Maybe I'll walk her to class…Darn…we'll have company. Draco watched Hermione join Ashley from across the hall. He swung his bag on his shoulder and headed for the door. "Wait… Malfoy," hollered Blaise Zambini from the table. Draco stopped and waited, "What do you need?" he replied agitated. "Don't mind if I walk with you and Ashley to class?" Well there is a definite chance now that there won't be any snogging. Draco looked across the hall again but this time he followed Zambini's gaze and saw that it landed on, Granger? Why- Oh… "Yeah… I guess," said Draco as they had just reached the door and walked into the Entrance Hall. Ashley and Hermione came up next to them; Draco slid his hand into Ashley's and smirked. "Morning Blaise… fancy seeing you here." "Yeah well I thought I might head to class early." Ashley nodded and then it dawned on her, He likes Hermione…Oh… Draco looked over at her, with and odd expression on his face. Ashley looked like she had just had the light bulb come on in her head. "Did it just dawn on you about them…" he whispered in her ear. She nodded again.
They reached the Ancient Ruins classroom and Hermione went inside. Draco stood there with Ashley for a couple of minutes. "I want to kiss you but Blaise is here," he whispered soft enough that Blaise couldn't hear. "He doesn't mind…He would rather be kissing Hermione." Draco quirked an eyebrow at her then she said, "I have a mental thing with him…that's why we are Divination partners. Oh… and don't ask why 'I didn't you tell me' because you never asked." Draco was flabbergasted. He rolled his eyes but planted a gentle kiss on her lips, "See you later." He turned and walked into the classroom. Ashley caught up Blaise, "You didn't mind." "Of course not you know that, but I was thinking…" Ashley cut him short, "If I would ask Hermione to go to the dance with you." He nodded. "The answer is yes and she will say yes to…I love being able to mind read." They both started to laugh and headed for the North Tower and the ladder to Divination.
In the Library…
"Gosh, Snape makes Defense Against the Dark Arts so boring. Why can't we hex him again like Harry did in third year?" complained Andi as she dipped quill in her favorite color, cerulean blue. Ron leaned over Andi's shoulder and kissed her on the cheek, "Don't worry DADA can only get a little worse." Andi smiled back at him and continued to scribble on her parchment. Nicole came back to the table with an arm load of books, "Man, are those books heavy." Harry looked up when the books came crashing down next to his arm, "Since when did you pull a Hermione. 'I picked this up weeks ago for a bit of light reading.'" The four of them laughed loudly but quieted shortly after a stern look from Madam Pince.
Divination…
Ashley and Blaise met up with Draco and Hermione after their first period classed. Draco walked next to Ashley as the other two walked slightly ahead of them. "What are you planning?" Draco asked Ashley for she had her usual conniving look on her face. "Nothing…" Draco looked at her with a smirk, "Ok…Blaise told me that he likes Hermione…" Ashley stopped her jabbering and looked forward. Blaise had slipped his hand in Hermione's and then they were talking animatedly. "See, I told you…" she replied with a triumphant smile. "Well I bet you didn't see this coming…" he grabbed her around the waist and started to tickle her. "Stop… high pitched squeal No…no…" laughed Ashley. Draco put her down and gripped his side, "God… you make me laugh, Ash."