Chapter 4 – Jeniva
"G-Godric…Gryffindor?" Ron asked weakly.
"Yes…" said the boy, looking politely puzzled at Harry and Ron's astonishment.
Harry suddenly came back to his senses.
"I'm Harry Potter," he held out his hand and shook Godric's hand. "And this is Ron Weasley."
Ron was still staring at Godric in disbelief, but he managed to mutter, "Hi…"
A very awkward silence followed. Hermione nervously tried to start a conversation.
"So, is Merlin teaching you, Godric?" she asked, trying desperately to sound politely curious, rather than nervous.
Godric turned to her and said, "Oh no, not just me."
"Oh-oh really?" Hermione smiled nervously.
"There is Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, Salazar Slytherin, and me," he answered, ticking each of them off with his fingers.
"Is he a good teacher?" Hermione asked, her teeth chattering.
"Well, in my opinion, he could possibly be the greatest…" Godric glanced at the Hogwarts badges on Harry, Ron, and Hermione's robes. "'Hogwarts', is it? What a curious name…is that where you come from?"
"Well ~"
"Er ~"
"You see ~"
"Yes," Harry said quickly.
"Is it nice there?"
Ron gurgled, weakly.
"It's…um…wonderful," Hermione said.
"Yes, marvelous," Ron added.
"Well, for a pig's skin condition, it sounds quite lo ~"
Suddenly, a loud 'C-CRACK BOOM!' echoed throughout the banquet hall, and a giant puff of smoke appeared in front of the table. Many women screamed, and all the men drew whatever weapon they had (even if it happened to be a butter knife). Godric stopped talking abrubtly.
The smoke cleared a little and Harry and Ron were able to make out a woman's tall, slim figure in the haze. A cold voice filled the hall.
"A farewell party, Arthur? Why was I not invited? Am I not but a loyal servant of your kingdom?" asked the voice in mock sadness. A woman in a long velvety black dress stepped out of the smoke. Harry's first thought was, of course, that she was beautiful. After all, she had her golden hair up in an elegant bun and her neckline was very low. Her face features were soft and perfect. Her skin was white as snow, and her eyebrows arched delicately over her eyes. Ron must have thought that she was beautiful as well, because his mouth fell open.
And then the woman looked at him.
The woman's eyes were cold, hard, empty, and black. Pure black. Her eyes pierced through him like lasers. Harry couldn't help it ~ he looked away. He could feel the woman's smile burning on his cheek.
"Go back where you came from, witch!" yelled a man at the far side of the table. Harry turned to see the woman point her finger at the man, who flew into the air and was thrown against the wall. His wife hurried over to him.
The woman smirked.
"Witch, am I? Do you not have two witches in this castle?" she said, amused.
"You were not asked to come here! Go!" Arthur yelled. The woman turned to face him.
"Oh…tsk, tsk Arthur…I've only just arrived! Surely you'll let me have a little bit of fun?" She shook her finger at him. Arthur's hand lowered to the sword hilt on his belt.
Jeniva laughed merrily. "Silly boy, with your silly little sword," she said, smiling evilly. Merlin stood up.
"Good evening, Jeniva," he said, calmly.
"Why, Merlin! Dear, dear, how long has it been? Still alive, I see," she commented, sneering at him.
"Yes, unfortunately for you. You have no business here Jeniva. Please, pay us a service and leave at once," Merlin asked patiently.
The woman let out a cold laugh.
"A service, Merlin? Why in God's name would I want to pay you a service?"
Merlin simply looked at her and said, "You will be the one begging for a service soon enough, Jeniva. Behold the three that will defeat you." Merlin gestured at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Jeniva eyed them down bemusedly. She then threw back her head and laughed.
"You old fool! You chose three children to destroy me? This must be some sort of joke!" Even though Jeniva laughed, her eyes stayed the same ~ cold and cruel.
"It is no joke, Jeniva," Merlin said.
Jeniva laughed even harder at this. "Fools! All of you ~ fools! These are children, not great warriors! You might as well send your little students after me, Merlin, for all the good it will do!"
Harry saw Godric's tan skin grow red with anger.
"I would not laugh, Jeniva," Merlin shouted calmly at her. Jeniva continued to laugh, and then she yelled, "Oh Merlin, you old fool! No one can defeat me! No one!"
And then, in another puff of smoke, she was gone.
Arthur cleared his throat and spoke across the hall saying, "I think that will be enough feasting for tonight. I suggest you all bundle up and head for home."
There were scattered nods and everyone stood up and walked off. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were confused and looked up at Merlin for guidance.
He smiled warmly and gestured for them to follow him.
"I expect you would like to know what that was all about, eh?" Merlin asked as they started to climb a staircase.
Hermione nodded weakly, her eyes catching on Godric as he left the hall.
"That was Jeniva. She's always making those big flashy entrances, and she loves to come here and torment the people when we're all together," Merlin said, sighing and shaking his head sadly.
"Is it…is it true that she's impossible to defeat?" Ron asked.
Merlin shook his head.
"No, no…you must have learned that everybody has some weak point, whether it be a weak heel or a tender spot for a certain lover. It is never fully impossible to defeat someone, no matter how strong and powerful they are."
They all walked in silence for awhile, until Merlin came to hall that had three doors ~ one on the right side, and two that were about twelve feet apart from each other on the left side.
Merlin gestured at the doors and said, "Pick a room, and do try to get some sleep. Tomorrow you will begin your training."
Harry looked surprised at this.
"Training?" he asked.
"Yes, young Harry, training. You don't very well want to face Jeniva with just a few magic tricks, do you? No…you must at least have a sword to fight her with; Jeniva is not only powerful in her magic, but in her physical strength, as well.
"Oh," said Harry, dazed.
Harry chose the first door on the left side, opened it, and entered the Land of Green.
Everything was green. Or at least, everything seemed to have some type of green theme to it. The king-size, four-poster bed's quilt and curtains; the carpet; the tapestries on the walls…It made Harry dizzy…so he laid himself down on the bed and stared out of the window, thinking about everything that had happened to him so far, and whether or not this was all just a dream…
A/N: Fun, fun fun…toodles,
Ron Weasley's Cutie
