38. On the Edge of the Forest

Blaring rays of the sun brightly slanted through the branches of the trees, blisteringly hitting Mora's eyes. She sat alone on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, merely looking straight ahead at whatever may lay behind those trees.

It had been three days since she was released from that prison others like to call a hospital wing. For two weeks straight Mora had been drilled and drilled with tests and examinations by healers, all desperately attempting to find some illness, some charm, some physical imperfection that could have caused Mora's sudden change of heart.

Some even demanded Mora be shipped back off to St. Mungo's for further "observation," yet much to Mora's relief, were denied each time by Dippet. Despite their determination, whether to help or for profit, each healer came up with nothing, bitterly accepting their defeat.

Mora refused to tell anyone of what happened while she slept, what she saw, even what had triggered it. Again and again she had been questioned, like she was being interrogated for some unspoken crime.

But she remained silent, only answering questions like "how are you," and "how do you feel," with the same bitter response. To everyone's amazement, even Professor Dumbledore couldn't get through to Mora, coming up with the same empty questions with no answer.

The warm May breeze played with a stray strand of Mora's piercing blonde hair, dangling it in the wind. It seemed like yesterday Mora would appreciate this long awaited sprit of weather after braving the cruelties of winter.

But now the warm air just seemed to sift through her, not making much of a difference if any to Mora's undeniable unhealthy mentality that had seemed to consume her for the worst beyond anyone's help.

When we get out there, run as fast as you can and don't look back.

Mora snapped her eyes closed, unwanting for the misery laced between her sister's final words to her. Mere minutes of knowing of her sister's very existence, she had been snatched out of the picture, the last of her eaten away into mere ashes before Mora's eyes. And an elder brother too. Joshua. Just as determined and sometimes stubborn as Mora could be now a days.

Josh, look at you. Sixteen and you expect you can save us all.

Sixteen. Joshua had been sixteen when he was murdered. Sixteen when he fought for vengeance on his sister's death. Sixteen. Now a year younger than Mora was, barley grazing past her coming of age.

Yesterday Mora could never imagine dying at sixteen. But now, death seemed more of a blessing than a curse.

It had been Mora's fault. All of it. Her sister died trying to protect her, her eldest brother died in a battle forged by her, her older brother died in an attempt to spare her life, her father died to lead Mora to freedom. And now Mora knew even her mother had died to protect her daughter.

Then let's not make her sacrifice, and the ones dad and all of us are making, go in vain

That's all any of Mora's family members had ever done for her. Protect her. Save her. Shield her.

Try in a desperate attempt to love her through all the hardship and pain tearing them so far apart. Each one died in the desperate fight to free Mora.

Mora had been the one all along who they had been searching for. Mora was the one who deserved to die. And in return, each person who ever loved her gave up their life.

They don't deserve to die…I don't deserve to live...

Where those wizards who had hunted down and demolished her family still out there? Would their murderous appetites not be appeased until their hands were drenched in her blood?

Was that the ultimate end of Mora Cartea? Was it destiny for her to die at their hands, or would fate push her to fight?

Fight. Oh, sure. Mora thought sarcastically, her attitude shining through her destitute.

How could Mora fight when she lacked the will to live? How could she go on when there was nothing that laid ahead? How could she live when already she was half dead?

When we get out there, run as fast as you can and don't look back. I will follow you.

"But you didn't, did you?" Mora whispered hoarsely, tears begging to track down from her swelling hazel eyes. "You never followed me," she said solemnly into the trees, rising from her spot on the ground.

Clenching her hands into tight fists, Mora felt all her anguish, all her anger unleashed towards this forest, resembling far to well the one she had seen in the memory.

"YOU NEVER FOLLOWED ME!" she bellowed, shaking from head to toe. Unable to contain herself any more, Mora let out shrilled, anguished scream into the trees, the sound of her voice carrying deep within the woods.

Losing control of her legs, Mora felt her feet slip out from under her. As she crashed to the ground, Mora felt another come up behind her, catching her before she made the painful impact.

"Easy there," a hearty voice soothed. Mora turned to face Hagrid, a worried and frazzled expression deep within his eyes. Losing all composure, Mora clung to him, releasing out all her sobs. "It's all right," he cooed, even though he was unaware of what exactly caused the girl to reach this point. "It's all ok."

Pulling away, Mora looked back up to Hagrid, ashamed of letting herself come to this pathetic point in front of him. "How…how did you know I was out here?" she asked, stuttering through her words as she tried to tame her quickened breath.

"I, er…please don't get mad," he said nervously, twitching the back of his neck. "I followed you….I'm sorry Mora, I really am! I'm just…. worried." The word slumped from his mouth, as if he were expecting Mora to practically slap him for using it. She didn't instead stood in awe.

"It's just…" he continued, "You haven't talked to me in at least a month. I'm just so, so…"

"I guess there's a lot of explaining to do," Mora sighed, sitting back onto the ground.

"Mora," Hagrid started, resting beside her, "If ye' don't want ter, you don't have to tell me anything, really. Just tell me yer gonna be okay."

"No, Rubeus," Mora interjected. She took a deep breath, releasing the anxiety from her throat. "I have to tell you. I don't know why I waited so long. Its just….I need someone I trust to know."

There was no turning back now. Something inside Mora just knew, she needed to tell him. Everything. From the moment she had arrived in Hogwarts.

"Yer can trust me," he said softly.

"And then, they let me out again, and here I am." Mora finished.

It had been the most grueling, yet at the same time, refreshing hour of her life. For the past sixty minutes, Mora finally let it all out. Everything from her abrupt arrival here, to the last, painful memory that had been bestowed upon her. The entire hour, she had just talked.

She had never really done that before. Just rant on and have someone listen respectfully. Whether because Hagrid thought she was simply crazy and belonged in a mental institution, or he really and truly cared about Mora, he had just sat there the entire time. Taking in every word Mora had said, one by one.

Mora felt, strangely enough, as if this huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders, literally. A huge wave of relief fell over her, maybe even for a moment at least. For the first time in months, she felt peace.

True, real peace.

She had never really discussed much of her memories with Tom. Did she tell him of them, sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes not in entirety. But it never really felt as if Mora was releasing any pain or anxiety of the burden the visions had placed on her through this.

Tom never brought the subject up, fearing it would only hurt Mora through discussing them. But it the end, his silence ended up hurting her anyway.

Turning to face Rubeus, Mora feared whatever response he would give her, most likely negative, as she speculated. But, much to her relief, Mora saw now confusion, nor anger, nor guilt, nor disgust, nor any other of those bad emotions you can stick after the word 'nor.'

Instead, in his eyes were real sorrow, pain dashed into his expression. This is exactly what Mora dreaded the most. But yet, there was more. In his eyes, Mora could see compassion, something that she had not been familiar with in a very long time.

"And, yer sure," he began, coughing through his suddenly hoarse voice, speaking over the rest of the Cartea family, "yer sure they're all…"

"Dead?" Mora finished with grievance. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"Mora," Rubeus started after sitting in an awkward silence for far too long, "why didn't yeh tell me?"

"I guess…I guess I was, afraid, really," she replied softly, the words sinking into her just as much as they were to him. "Wow," she whispered, suddenly raising her voice back to a hearable level, "I've never really said that all aloud, to anyone."

"Yeh know, Mora," Rubeus started, "That I will always be here for yer. And nothing will stop me, yeh hear?"

"I know," Mora said, another gust of summer like wind ripping through the trees. "Thank you, Rubeus. So much. You have no idea…"

"Hey," Rubeus chuckled, "That's what friends are fer, right?"

"Right. Rubeus," Mora started, "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"Actually," he said, timidly at first, but then he gained confidence quickly. "I need to show yeh somethin'." Nodding in agreement, Mora followed as Hagrid as he lead her back into the castle, unaware that someone had been lurking behind them the entire time.

"Come on in," Hagrid whispered as he and Mora shuffled into a dark room on the edge of the castle.

"Rubeus, what is this place?" Mora asked curiously as Hagrid promptly shut the door.

Moving the opposite end of the tiny, dust layered room, Hagrid stood beside a chest. "Yeh promise not to tell anyone?"

"Of course, Rubeus," Mora replied quickly.

"Whatever yer do," he said heartily, unlatching the box. "Don't be scared."

"Scared of what?" Mora asked, but she got her reply the entire well, but not from Hagrid.

Sliding off the lid of the box, a giant, shadowy creature lurched from the box, coming aside Hagrid. Mora felt her heart race as she backed away into the wall. A giant spider now perched beside Hagrid, looking fierce, as if it were ready to strike at any given moment.

"Yeh said yeh wouldn't get scared!"

"Who…who said I was scared?" Mora choked out as Hagrid gave her a disbelieving look. "Okay fine, I'm scared, only because you just unleashed a giant spider!"

"I prefer Aragog, if you ask me."

Mora felt her jaw drop in shock, close to hitting the cold stone ground. "Did…" she stuttered, "Did he just…?"

"Talk? Yeah, he can do that," Hagrid laughed. "Mora, yer don't have ter be afraid. Aragog's completely harmless! Wouldn't hurt a fly, he wouldn't, no sir!"

"Well, maybe a fly," the spider, apparently named Aragog muttered under its breath, "But never a friend of Hagrid's. You have my trust." With this, the spider kneeled into what appeared to be a bow in Mora's direction.

"Uh, thank you," she said shyly. "Rubeus, how long, how long has he…?"

"Been 'ere? A year about. He's been good though, hasn't been seen by anybody. And a good friend too!" he explained cheerfully.

The spider's beady, black eyes gazed upon Mora, scrutinizing her every move. "I sense much pain in this one," he said softly, "Just as I."

Mora store back to Aragog, her hazel eyes softening upon him. Maybe this creature she had suddenly judged to be dangerous wasn't half bad after all?

"Well, Aragog, I'll be back later to feed yer," Hagrid said happily.

"Very well," the spider replied as he curled back up into his box. "Until next time I suppose, Hagrid, Miss."

With this, Hagrid placed the lid over the box, twisting a lock on it. "Sleep tight old buddy," he smiled, patting the top of the crate.

As Hagrid and Mora shuffled back into the light, lively parts of the castle, Mora felt her heart yearning to see the spider again.

I sense much pain in this one…just as I.

What did he mean by this? Could he possibly relate his own situation to Mora's? Could Mora parallel her life to that of Aragog?

"So, what did yer think?" Hagrid beamed cheerfully.

"He's amazing, Rubeus," Mora smiled.