DISCLAIMERS: I own Lili, her family, and the plot. Thats it. I don't even know who owns Harry and the rest, J.K Rowling probably sold the rights, and I just didn't bother to hear about it.
CHAPTER TWELVE: THE WATER TEMPLE
The five Hogwartians got an early start the next morning. Lili was eager to get away from Dana, and no one could blame her.
Lili kissed her parents goodbye, hugged her sister, and stepped out the door. Dana smiled cheerfully at her, and Lili smiled back. It was one of the few times when the sisters got along, and Lili felt as if it mean good things for their mission. Smiling, Lili closed the door behind her.
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Dana sat at the table in the center of her room, an ornate gold mirror propped up in front of her. In the mirror were the images of her sister, and her sister's friends. Dana watched them fly across the countryside, her chin in her hands and her black eyes sparkling with a strange look.
"The time will come, dear sister," she murmured. "The time will come."
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Lili and Draco were fighting again. For one who was representing the most stable element, Lili had a suspiciously titchy temper. Draco had made a sarcastic comment about Dana, and she had once again broken his nose. Harry had to wonder about her, for all she insulted Dana herself, she hated others doing it.
Hermione was flying in the lead, a dreamy look on her face. Harry knew it well. Hermione was following the Call that each Elemental Mage got when they were needed, the Call that guided them to their Temple. Hermione was headed straight towards the Water Temple.
She landed on a deserted strip of beach along Lake Superior. As the others landed behind her, she turned and shook her head at them, an irritating look of supremacy on her face.
"You can't come. The Temple is underwater, and since I'm the Water Mage, I can breathe underwater. You can't. You'll have to stay up here." She turned and slipped into the water with out waiting for them to reply. They had a moment to look at her as she began to swim out to the center of the lake. She was incredibly graceful in the water; her strokes were quick and powerful, she moved through the water like a dolphin. They watched her swim until she disappeared under the surface.
Lili pulled out a deck of Muggle cards. "Poker, anyone?"
***********************
One hour and forty minutes later, Lili had just managed to win her seventh hand in a row, and her winnings were now up to thirty-five galleons, 23 knuts. Ron threw his cards down.
"Screw it, I give up. I don't have any more money."
Lili grinned at him and gave him a portion of her winnings. "Here. Now you're required to keep playing. Make your bet."
"Hmmm... I don't want to bet it all at once... two galleons."
"I see you two galleons and raise you four sickles." Harry slid four sickles to the center of the group.
At just that moment, Hermione emerged from the lake, sopping wet and holding a shining silver shield. She shook her hair out in a manner reminiscent of a dog, and Ron jumped up and offered her his cloak.
"Thanks," she sniffled, wringing water out of her jeans. "The water itself is wonderful, but once I get out, it's freezing. But I got the shield!" She held it out proudly.
The shield was just as gorgeous as the other three Tools had been. It was silver, and polished until simply looking at it made your eyes hurt. It had a complicated design painted on it in blue, silver, green, and gold, involving a lot of triangles. Around the edges was a design of sapphires and gold wire inlay. The straps to hold it to it's bearer's arm were white dragon leather. Hermione looked at it like it was her baby.
The others oohed and ahhed as they had done over the other weapons. Once Lili felt the admiration was adequate, she hushed them all. "Okay, we now have all the tools. So, d'you want to try to make that 'Light' that is supposed to defeat Voldemort?" she asked exictedly. Hermione looked disgruntled at this, but the other three mages looked at each other and nodded.
Lili felt again that strange instinct, the one that had led her to the Earth Temple, and the one that had guided her past the barriers. She drew the Earth Sword and held the blade straight out in front of her.
"Power of the mighty Earth, Mother of Life, She who supports us, feeds us, homes us. The Earth Power joins Air, Fire, and Water now to create the cleansing Light." Lili said this, but could not help feeling that there was something missing.
Harry held the Air Bow and a single arrow to touch Lili's blade. "Power of the mighty Air, Element invisible and strong, He who strengthens our hearts and destroys all unnatural. The Air Power joins Earth, Fire, and Water now to create the cleansing Light."
Ron held the Fire Spear to meet the other two Tools. "Power of the mighty Fire, strong and virtuous, He who warms us, and gives us Light. The Power of Fire joins Earth, Air, and Water now to create the cleansing Light."
Hermione looked at the circle formed by her three friends, and immediately joined them, holding the Water Shield to meet the spear, bow, and sword. A drop of water from her hair dripped onto Harry's shoulder. "Power of the mighty Water, flowing, Mother of Change, She who gives us drink. The Power of Water joins Earth, Air, and Fire now to create the cleansing Light."
And together, they called out. "So mote it be!"
Nothing happened. The four Mages lowered their weapons slowly, looking at each other with faces full of horror, disappointment, sorrow, and other emotions Draco couldn't name. He looked at them in confusion as Lili sat down heavily on a rock.
"What? What happened?"
"Nothing," she answered hoarsely. "That's the point. It's didn't work." She looked up at him, her eyes full of anger and sorrow. Suddenly, she pounded a fist on the rock. "Gods damn it! It didn't frigging work! Why the hell didn't it work?" She buried her face in her hands, and all the grass surrounding the rock she was sitting on wilted.
Lili was probably taking it the worst out of all the Mages. Hermione was crying into her hands, Harry was staring into space. Ron was looking at the spear as though it were something vile. Draco looked from one to the other. If the Mages all had nervous breakdowns... well, it wouldn't be good.
"Hey, come on," he said desperately. "If at first you don't suceed, try, try again. Right?"
Ron looked at him with contempt, and Lili laughed scornfully. Harry and Hermione didn't even look up.
It felt like hours later, although it was really only about twenty minutes, when Harry shook out of his stupor and took charge. "Right, people, we have to get back to the Grey house," he said blandly. "Let's go."
No one moved. Harry got up and shoved at the others, one by one. Hermione dragged herself slowly to her feet, and Ron glared at his best friend. Lili swung a fist at his knees, and Harry jumped backwards. Shaking his head, Draco stunned her.
Ron boarded his broom like a zombie, and, within seconds of his takeoff, crashed into a tree. Fortunately, this had the effect of waking him up a bit. Lili, however, was in no condition to fly. It was decided that Ron, Lili, and Hermione would share a carpet, Ron piloting, and Hermione and the unconcious Lili as passengers.
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When they got back to the Grey household, both Carmen and Mr. Grey raced towards their eldest daughter and her friends, checking all five for injuries. Dana stood in the background, leaning against the steps, a well-placed smirk on her dainty face. Draco, glancing at her, saw a flash of something in her black eyes, so quick he didn't know for sure what it was. But he was pretty sure he didn't like it.
"We're fine, Mom," Lili said tiredly. Ron had woken her up about ten minutes before they landed, and Hermione had been stuck with the unenviable task of explaining why she had been stunned before she attacked someone. "Hermione just stressed out a little, we're not hurt."
"Liliana, are you sure? Hermione's soaked."
"She fell in the lake we visited. It was shallow, though. Three feet, about. She just got wet, didn't almost drown, didn't hit her head. We're just tired, Mom. I'm going to go take a nap." Lili staggered up the stairs. The others followed her past her worried parents, the boys eyeing Brian Grey nervously. Draco was at the rear.
As he passed Dana, he turned and looked at her. Her black eyes looked back at him mischeviously, but he could sense something, lying just underneath. But he couldn't tell just what it was. She winked at him and strutted up the stairs, swaying her hips. He shook his head, and followed her.
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The Mages and Draco woke up the next morning with their energy replenished, feeling ready to face the world. After a hearty breakfast of pankcakes, sausages, eggs, hash browns, and anything else Carmen could persuade them to fit down their throats, Lili suggested they go hiking in the woods.
"There's a forest around here?" Draco asked dubiously.
"Sure. They guy who owned this house way back in eighteen-something was a major nature enthusuast. He bought a whole bunch of woodland to go with it, so we own a plenty of acres of woodland. Come on, I know the trails around there better than I know myself. We won't get lost."
The others agreed eagerly (although not without a few snide comments about how well Lili knew herself), but Draco couldn't help but feel as though something was about to go very, very wrong.
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Lili danced along the trail as the others stumbled and groaned about rocks in their sneakers. Lili laughed.
"Come on, slowpokes. You can't handle a little three-mile hike? You'll never get to the lake."
"Where's the lake?" Ron puffed.
"About an hour away." The others groaned, but Lili ignored them. "But it's worth it. The only thing I have ever seen in my life that words could not describe. Crystal-clear water, a waterfall on the far side, flowers overgrowing this side. It's the most beautiful thing you will ever see in your life, trust me."
It took them an hour and a half to reach the lake. But, in the end, they all agreed it was more than worth it. It was everything Lili had described to them, and more. No words could be written that would describe it adequately. It was nature in all her glory.
"Hey, wait a minute, okay you guys? I'm going back into that section of the trail for a moment." She waved absently to a part of the trail they had just hiked. "I think I saw some of those flowers Mom likes, she asked me to pick some for her if I ever saw them again." The others nodded tiredly. Ron and Hermione were soaking their feet in the water, and Harry and Draco had taken off their sneakers and were playing a two-person game of Chicken in the water, doing their best to dunk each other. Lili trekked back under the cover of the trees.
Draco had just shoved Harry underwater when they heard it. A scream, high pitched and feminine. Not the type of thing one would expect from Lili, but somehow, they all knew it was her. Draco instantly let go of Harry's shoulders, and they all jumped up and ran towards the sound. What they saw shocked them like an electrical charge.
Lili was surrounded by a group of Death Eaters, who were snarling and trying to pull her down from the tree she had climbed into to escape. She saw her friends, and screamed at them.
"Run! Run, gods dammit, get away! I don't have my wand!" Draco noticed a single Death Eater holding two wands, one of which he recognised as belonging to Lili.
The Death Eaters spun around. "Potter!" one snarled.
"And Young Malfoy," another added, in an oily voice. Then, to his companions, "There they both are. Get them, and let's go." Harry drew his wand, refusing to go down without a fight. But then the Death Eater truned, pointing his wand at Lili.
"Accio!" he shouted, and Lili came flying out of the tree, a few leaves clutched in her hand. "Stupefy!" Lili went limp. Draco shouted and took a step forward, and a second later, he was Stunned and hs body in the hands of a Death Eater. And before Harry, Ron, or Hermione could make a move, they were gone, Apparated away.
Death Eaters had kidnapped Lili and Draco.
(A/N): Oooh, I'm evil, aren't I? To leave it at this for a whole three weeks... you are all going to hate me for this. As a matter of fact, I hate me for this too. But whatcha gonna do, huh? When the Muse says write, I write. That's how it works. Blame Dr. Bojangles. Okay, since I'm posting both Chapters 11 and 12 on the same day (you people are lucky!), I have only recieved one review for Chapter 11. My thanks to Rogue 15. Lili isn't sure who she wants, but whoever she picks, the other one still has a chance. Lili likes to keep all her options going. And thanks for the compliment!
So you have to wait three weeks for Chapter 13 (unless my muse strikes and I manage to write Chapter 13 tomorrow, probably not, I need to pack). In the meantime, write lots of reviews! Lots and lots of reviews! I'm getting near the end, and it's picking up a bit, I want to know what you think. SO WRITE THE FREAKING REVIEWS!!! GIVE ME SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN I COME BACK FROM CAMP, GOSH DARN IT!! Ahem... sorry there... Decaf, MW, decaf...
In the words of the Greats, Bill, Ted, and Ady:
Be excellent to each other!
-Moon Warrior
CHAPTER TWELVE: THE WATER TEMPLE
The five Hogwartians got an early start the next morning. Lili was eager to get away from Dana, and no one could blame her.
Lili kissed her parents goodbye, hugged her sister, and stepped out the door. Dana smiled cheerfully at her, and Lili smiled back. It was one of the few times when the sisters got along, and Lili felt as if it mean good things for their mission. Smiling, Lili closed the door behind her.
******************************************************************************
Dana sat at the table in the center of her room, an ornate gold mirror propped up in front of her. In the mirror were the images of her sister, and her sister's friends. Dana watched them fly across the countryside, her chin in her hands and her black eyes sparkling with a strange look.
"The time will come, dear sister," she murmured. "The time will come."
******************************************************************************
Lili and Draco were fighting again. For one who was representing the most stable element, Lili had a suspiciously titchy temper. Draco had made a sarcastic comment about Dana, and she had once again broken his nose. Harry had to wonder about her, for all she insulted Dana herself, she hated others doing it.
Hermione was flying in the lead, a dreamy look on her face. Harry knew it well. Hermione was following the Call that each Elemental Mage got when they were needed, the Call that guided them to their Temple. Hermione was headed straight towards the Water Temple.
She landed on a deserted strip of beach along Lake Superior. As the others landed behind her, she turned and shook her head at them, an irritating look of supremacy on her face.
"You can't come. The Temple is underwater, and since I'm the Water Mage, I can breathe underwater. You can't. You'll have to stay up here." She turned and slipped into the water with out waiting for them to reply. They had a moment to look at her as she began to swim out to the center of the lake. She was incredibly graceful in the water; her strokes were quick and powerful, she moved through the water like a dolphin. They watched her swim until she disappeared under the surface.
Lili pulled out a deck of Muggle cards. "Poker, anyone?"
***********************
One hour and forty minutes later, Lili had just managed to win her seventh hand in a row, and her winnings were now up to thirty-five galleons, 23 knuts. Ron threw his cards down.
"Screw it, I give up. I don't have any more money."
Lili grinned at him and gave him a portion of her winnings. "Here. Now you're required to keep playing. Make your bet."
"Hmmm... I don't want to bet it all at once... two galleons."
"I see you two galleons and raise you four sickles." Harry slid four sickles to the center of the group.
At just that moment, Hermione emerged from the lake, sopping wet and holding a shining silver shield. She shook her hair out in a manner reminiscent of a dog, and Ron jumped up and offered her his cloak.
"Thanks," she sniffled, wringing water out of her jeans. "The water itself is wonderful, but once I get out, it's freezing. But I got the shield!" She held it out proudly.
The shield was just as gorgeous as the other three Tools had been. It was silver, and polished until simply looking at it made your eyes hurt. It had a complicated design painted on it in blue, silver, green, and gold, involving a lot of triangles. Around the edges was a design of sapphires and gold wire inlay. The straps to hold it to it's bearer's arm were white dragon leather. Hermione looked at it like it was her baby.
The others oohed and ahhed as they had done over the other weapons. Once Lili felt the admiration was adequate, she hushed them all. "Okay, we now have all the tools. So, d'you want to try to make that 'Light' that is supposed to defeat Voldemort?" she asked exictedly. Hermione looked disgruntled at this, but the other three mages looked at each other and nodded.
Lili felt again that strange instinct, the one that had led her to the Earth Temple, and the one that had guided her past the barriers. She drew the Earth Sword and held the blade straight out in front of her.
"Power of the mighty Earth, Mother of Life, She who supports us, feeds us, homes us. The Earth Power joins Air, Fire, and Water now to create the cleansing Light." Lili said this, but could not help feeling that there was something missing.
Harry held the Air Bow and a single arrow to touch Lili's blade. "Power of the mighty Air, Element invisible and strong, He who strengthens our hearts and destroys all unnatural. The Air Power joins Earth, Fire, and Water now to create the cleansing Light."
Ron held the Fire Spear to meet the other two Tools. "Power of the mighty Fire, strong and virtuous, He who warms us, and gives us Light. The Power of Fire joins Earth, Air, and Water now to create the cleansing Light."
Hermione looked at the circle formed by her three friends, and immediately joined them, holding the Water Shield to meet the spear, bow, and sword. A drop of water from her hair dripped onto Harry's shoulder. "Power of the mighty Water, flowing, Mother of Change, She who gives us drink. The Power of Water joins Earth, Air, and Fire now to create the cleansing Light."
And together, they called out. "So mote it be!"
Nothing happened. The four Mages lowered their weapons slowly, looking at each other with faces full of horror, disappointment, sorrow, and other emotions Draco couldn't name. He looked at them in confusion as Lili sat down heavily on a rock.
"What? What happened?"
"Nothing," she answered hoarsely. "That's the point. It's didn't work." She looked up at him, her eyes full of anger and sorrow. Suddenly, she pounded a fist on the rock. "Gods damn it! It didn't frigging work! Why the hell didn't it work?" She buried her face in her hands, and all the grass surrounding the rock she was sitting on wilted.
Lili was probably taking it the worst out of all the Mages. Hermione was crying into her hands, Harry was staring into space. Ron was looking at the spear as though it were something vile. Draco looked from one to the other. If the Mages all had nervous breakdowns... well, it wouldn't be good.
"Hey, come on," he said desperately. "If at first you don't suceed, try, try again. Right?"
Ron looked at him with contempt, and Lili laughed scornfully. Harry and Hermione didn't even look up.
It felt like hours later, although it was really only about twenty minutes, when Harry shook out of his stupor and took charge. "Right, people, we have to get back to the Grey house," he said blandly. "Let's go."
No one moved. Harry got up and shoved at the others, one by one. Hermione dragged herself slowly to her feet, and Ron glared at his best friend. Lili swung a fist at his knees, and Harry jumped backwards. Shaking his head, Draco stunned her.
Ron boarded his broom like a zombie, and, within seconds of his takeoff, crashed into a tree. Fortunately, this had the effect of waking him up a bit. Lili, however, was in no condition to fly. It was decided that Ron, Lili, and Hermione would share a carpet, Ron piloting, and Hermione and the unconcious Lili as passengers.
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When they got back to the Grey household, both Carmen and Mr. Grey raced towards their eldest daughter and her friends, checking all five for injuries. Dana stood in the background, leaning against the steps, a well-placed smirk on her dainty face. Draco, glancing at her, saw a flash of something in her black eyes, so quick he didn't know for sure what it was. But he was pretty sure he didn't like it.
"We're fine, Mom," Lili said tiredly. Ron had woken her up about ten minutes before they landed, and Hermione had been stuck with the unenviable task of explaining why she had been stunned before she attacked someone. "Hermione just stressed out a little, we're not hurt."
"Liliana, are you sure? Hermione's soaked."
"She fell in the lake we visited. It was shallow, though. Three feet, about. She just got wet, didn't almost drown, didn't hit her head. We're just tired, Mom. I'm going to go take a nap." Lili staggered up the stairs. The others followed her past her worried parents, the boys eyeing Brian Grey nervously. Draco was at the rear.
As he passed Dana, he turned and looked at her. Her black eyes looked back at him mischeviously, but he could sense something, lying just underneath. But he couldn't tell just what it was. She winked at him and strutted up the stairs, swaying her hips. He shook his head, and followed her.
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The Mages and Draco woke up the next morning with their energy replenished, feeling ready to face the world. After a hearty breakfast of pankcakes, sausages, eggs, hash browns, and anything else Carmen could persuade them to fit down their throats, Lili suggested they go hiking in the woods.
"There's a forest around here?" Draco asked dubiously.
"Sure. They guy who owned this house way back in eighteen-something was a major nature enthusuast. He bought a whole bunch of woodland to go with it, so we own a plenty of acres of woodland. Come on, I know the trails around there better than I know myself. We won't get lost."
The others agreed eagerly (although not without a few snide comments about how well Lili knew herself), but Draco couldn't help but feel as though something was about to go very, very wrong.
******************************************************************************
Lili danced along the trail as the others stumbled and groaned about rocks in their sneakers. Lili laughed.
"Come on, slowpokes. You can't handle a little three-mile hike? You'll never get to the lake."
"Where's the lake?" Ron puffed.
"About an hour away." The others groaned, but Lili ignored them. "But it's worth it. The only thing I have ever seen in my life that words could not describe. Crystal-clear water, a waterfall on the far side, flowers overgrowing this side. It's the most beautiful thing you will ever see in your life, trust me."
It took them an hour and a half to reach the lake. But, in the end, they all agreed it was more than worth it. It was everything Lili had described to them, and more. No words could be written that would describe it adequately. It was nature in all her glory.
"Hey, wait a minute, okay you guys? I'm going back into that section of the trail for a moment." She waved absently to a part of the trail they had just hiked. "I think I saw some of those flowers Mom likes, she asked me to pick some for her if I ever saw them again." The others nodded tiredly. Ron and Hermione were soaking their feet in the water, and Harry and Draco had taken off their sneakers and were playing a two-person game of Chicken in the water, doing their best to dunk each other. Lili trekked back under the cover of the trees.
Draco had just shoved Harry underwater when they heard it. A scream, high pitched and feminine. Not the type of thing one would expect from Lili, but somehow, they all knew it was her. Draco instantly let go of Harry's shoulders, and they all jumped up and ran towards the sound. What they saw shocked them like an electrical charge.
Lili was surrounded by a group of Death Eaters, who were snarling and trying to pull her down from the tree she had climbed into to escape. She saw her friends, and screamed at them.
"Run! Run, gods dammit, get away! I don't have my wand!" Draco noticed a single Death Eater holding two wands, one of which he recognised as belonging to Lili.
The Death Eaters spun around. "Potter!" one snarled.
"And Young Malfoy," another added, in an oily voice. Then, to his companions, "There they both are. Get them, and let's go." Harry drew his wand, refusing to go down without a fight. But then the Death Eater truned, pointing his wand at Lili.
"Accio!" he shouted, and Lili came flying out of the tree, a few leaves clutched in her hand. "Stupefy!" Lili went limp. Draco shouted and took a step forward, and a second later, he was Stunned and hs body in the hands of a Death Eater. And before Harry, Ron, or Hermione could make a move, they were gone, Apparated away.
Death Eaters had kidnapped Lili and Draco.
(A/N): Oooh, I'm evil, aren't I? To leave it at this for a whole three weeks... you are all going to hate me for this. As a matter of fact, I hate me for this too. But whatcha gonna do, huh? When the Muse says write, I write. That's how it works. Blame Dr. Bojangles. Okay, since I'm posting both Chapters 11 and 12 on the same day (you people are lucky!), I have only recieved one review for Chapter 11. My thanks to Rogue 15. Lili isn't sure who she wants, but whoever she picks, the other one still has a chance. Lili likes to keep all her options going. And thanks for the compliment!
So you have to wait three weeks for Chapter 13 (unless my muse strikes and I manage to write Chapter 13 tomorrow, probably not, I need to pack). In the meantime, write lots of reviews! Lots and lots of reviews! I'm getting near the end, and it's picking up a bit, I want to know what you think. SO WRITE THE FREAKING REVIEWS!!! GIVE ME SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN I COME BACK FROM CAMP, GOSH DARN IT!! Ahem... sorry there... Decaf, MW, decaf...
In the words of the Greats, Bill, Ted, and Ady:
Be excellent to each other!
-Moon Warrior