Chapter 5
Hiya! This is my favorite chapter so far because I get to introduce two very lovely characters of my own, but don't you dare use them, cuz i'm very protective of my characters, you know? Aiko and her grandmother are MINE MINE MINE. If you do, I will come after with something sharp and unpleasant. bwa ha ha. just you wait and see. everybody else (there's only two people, Snape and mweh heh heh-i'm-not-gonna-tell-you who) are property of J.K.Rowling, whom we all love and adore.
Note: This chapter contains a few Japanese words. You can get along without knowing their meanings, but here is a handy-dandy translation guide for all of them:
-Obaasan: Grandmother
-Watashino tebukuro wa doko desu ka?": Where are my gloves? (i think. somebody check me on that watashino' grammar. arigato!)
-Konohana-chiru-hime: Princess of the Falling Tree Blossoms
-kimono: (i hope most of you know this one): a traditional Japanese robe
-bonsai (hope you know this one too, but maybe some of u don't): carefully sculptured miniature trees that can live for a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time. they're very beautiful and hard to take care of. i got one from the mall once, but it died. -_-
-(name)-chan: tacked on at the end of someone's name as a sign of affection. means baby' or sweet-heart'. heh heh
#V_V#
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Chapter 5
The old woman did not speak as she took the ring in her gnarled hands. Her coarse white hair was wound tightly around her head and fastened with two elaborately carved ivory combs. Her golden skin was faded, like sand, and the wrinkles that covered her face were like dragon scales. She wore a shapeless robe of blue silk, embroidered with excessively detailed gold butterflies. She was not a tall woman, but large enough to retain a certain aura of power about her. She moved with a startling grace, unknown to today's youth, her woven sandals making soft tapping sounds as she walked. She held the ring close to her lips, whispering to it now and then in a language that might have been Japanese, or something completely different.
At last she came to a stop beside Snape, slid the ring once over every bony finger, then cast it down onto the table, where it blazed, bright and yellow as the moon. She did not speak until its glow faded completely, leaving nothing but an awkward tingling in Snape's eyes.
"It is a woman's ring," she told him. "It brought her much grief and suffering. She could not bear to wear it or bring herself to take it off. It slipped, purely by chance, from her finger as she slept and rolled into the ashes of a fire."
Snape opened his mouth in astonishment to demand how she could possibly know such details, but then hastily decided not to as the old woman continued.
"It is not an old ring, forged sometime within the past year. It has a twin, somewhere in the world, an exact copy. Both rings were made for a specific purpose, but I cannot tell what."
Snape's eye widened. "Then it is magic?"
"I did not say that," she told him. "This ring was made for a reason, but it is not magic. Do you understand the difference? It is exactly what it appears to be--- an iron ring. If I had to guess, I would say that it was intended to be a gift for someone. A gift that turned out to be a curse. There is no power in the ring itself, but perhaps in the motive of its creator."
"Meaning what?" asked Snape.
"What do you think?" she chided him.
He considered. "You said two rings were made. One can exchange rings to represent a vow or a promise. Like wedding rings, for instance."
"Perhaps," she said, closing her eyes. "Vows are dangerous things. I suspect you may be close to the truth, but unless you find the owner of this ring, we will never know for certain. And I doubt she should welcome its return, for she shed many tears over this ring. Yes, she must be glad to be free of it."
"Bards. . . " Snape thought. "Always causing trouble or getting themselves into it." Who knew what kind of mess Narcissa had found. Not that it was his concern.
As he counted out his money to pay her, he glanced around the shabby jeweler's shop. A small table draped in a brightly colored cloth stood beside a door at the far end. A sign beside it read: "Tarot Readings, 1:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday."
"My granddaughter," explained the old woman. "She does it for my Muggle customers, to pick up a few pounds on the side."
"Indeed," was Snape's only comment. The woman placed the ring back in the small box he had brought it in and handed it to him.
"Thank-you," he said swiftly and turned to go.
At that moment, the back door burst open. "Obaasan! Watashino tebukuro wa doko desu ka?"
A compact girl in her early twenties with jet black hair in a shaggy boyish cut appeared in the doorway. She was dressed in a soft pink kimono, with white cherry blossoms embroidered at the hem and along her floor-length sleeves. A yellow sash bearing the same design was tied about her waist. Unlike her grandmother, her body was not lost amongst the silk layers, but her exquisite curves were carefully suggested through the folds of the material. She carried a traditional fan in one hand and a package of chocolate frogs in the other. She looked, aside from the frogs that was, like a porcelain doll, beautiful and fragile as lace. However, there was an irrepressible spark burning in her in her black eyes, proving she could be nothing but alive.
"Konohana-chiru-hime," commented Snape icily, but, when she recognized him and answered, "Severus!" with such genuine delight, he decided to be civil.
Aiko Nishimiya. She'd transferred to Hogwarts from Japan in his last year. They'd shared a number of classes together at school, then a few drinks when they kept running into each other after graduation. They'd been friends for a number of years, then, briefly, lovers, then quarreled bitterly and had not spoken since.
She came forward, delicately, careful of the long folds of silk that trailed after her.
"Hello, Aiko," he said, folding his arms to dissuade her from offering the welcoming embrace she'd been about to give him.
She looked down at the floor, a little disappointed. Then she laughed ruefully. "You still haven't forgiven me, have you?"
He saw no need to reply, which amused her for some reason. "Ah well," she said. "I suppose that would be too much to ask. If it does any good, I am sorry. And it was all my fault."
"What a useless thing to say!"
"Do you think so? I really do mean it."
He relaxed a little in spite of himself. "I think that part of you means it, but another part of you isn't sorry at all. Am I right?"
She smiled. "Yes," she admitted. "I think that was the trouble with us, you know? You could always tell what I was thinking and I could never read you at all." She paused. "Do you think perhaps a very small part of you has forgiven me, Severus?"
"It helps to hear you take responsibility," he told her, which was still evading the question, but it was probably as close as she would get.
"You cut your hair," he said, reaching out to run his fingers through the feathery wisps of black.
"Yes. It was getting too long to manage." She touched his sleeve. "Severus, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see your grandmother about a ring I'd found. She----" his voice trailed off as he looked about the shop. The old woman was no where in sight, but he did not recall seeing her leave.
Aiko chuckled. "She does tend to vanish like that, if you're not careful."
"She's amazing," said Snape. "She reminds me of those miniature sculptured trees, bonsai. Small, but wiser than anything. Where did she learn to---"
"Instinct. From what I gather, she does it all by feel. Never had any proper magical training in her life. It runs in the family, but we're always encouraged to develop our skills on our own, without any guidance."
He nodded. "I remember you telling me how you had to fight with your parents to go to Hogwarts. When did you decide to return to tradition?" He gestured at her attire.
Aiko faded suddenly. Mechanically, she retreated back to the little table by the door and sat as if to prevent herself from falling. Snape followed, not understanding her behavior.
"My mother," she said in a strange voice, "was never what you could call normal, but she was still technically a Muggle." She took a deep breath. "My parents had a house in Southend; I was living in an apartment here in London. I was going to visit one weekend, but decided to cancel so I could go to this party. . . Meanwhile, some Death Eaters broke into their house. My parents were killed and my little brother Yukida has been in serious condition at St. Mungo's for the past four months." The last few sentences came out in a rush.
"Aiko. . . " Snape whispered. He took her hand; it felt like ice.
She shook herself. "I'm all right now--- pretty much. My friends and family have been here for me. I've gotten especially close to Obaasan--- my grandmother." She smiled faintly, looking at her hand in his. Then she withdrew, reaching under the table to produce a deck of cards with strange Celtic designs on the back. "A stranger in Diagon Alley gave these too me the first week after it happened. She told me that she'd done a reading earlier and seen me in it. She told me my brother was going to recover. The next afternoon I got an owl telling me he'd passed through the most dangerous times and had a good chance at surviving. He's slowly making progress, I think he's going to make it." She bit her lip. "I've never been a big fan of divination, but I've kind of gotten into it since then. Would you like me to do a reading?"
Snape, who had suffered through Professor McGonagall ranting about divination fraudulence on more than one occasion, was also rather dubious about the subject. But something in Aiko's hopeful expression made him agree.
She said nothing as she shuffled through the cards with deft hands until she found the one she looked for "You're a Libra," she told him. "The King of Swords is your signifier card." She placed it on the table, facing her. The card showed a tall man with dark hair standing against a stormy sky. His arms were crossed and he carried a sword. He wore a golden crown and a cape, with clouds on the outside and the night sky within.
Aiko rose, the silk whispering like roses at dawn. She dimmed the lights of the shop and lit several candles instead, as well as a stick of incense.
"Is all this really necessary?" asked Snape, but she did not reply. The honey light of the flames faded and almost disappeared. Aiko frowned at them and they returned with a new energy. She looked as beautiful and mysterious in their red-gold light as she had when he'd first met her.
He'd cared for her a great deal, probably more than she would ever guess, but never loved her. There had been something between them, something powerful, but it hadn't been love. He'd known this, even when they were together and was reminded of it now, though he never knew why.
Aiko sank into the chair and spread the cards out before him, face down. "What answers do you seek?" she asked. He didn't know what to say, so she prompted, "Something that lies in you past. . . your future. Anything."
He searched his thoughts, found nothing practical to say. At last he took the small black box from his pocket. "What is the significance of this ring?" he asked.
She raised an eyebrow. ". . And what role will it play in your life?"
He shrugged. "Why not. Aiko, this is preposterous."
"Come on, Severus," she pouted. "Just for fun." She caught his hand and laid it down on the cards. Startled, he felt a shock of power from somewhere. "Choose," she told him.
"Which one?" He looked at the strange designs, swirling in the flickers of the candle light.
"Any of them. The cards will do the work themselves, if there is an answer to be told."
Snape chose.
A blonde woman in a dress of flame, standing in a desert, lifted a long staff into the air before a yellow sky. The Page of Wands.
"This card crosses you," Aiko said. She placed it horizontally across the King of Swords. "Choose again."
Snape drew The Seven of Swords: The Thief. Aiko placed the card above the first two. "This card lies before you," she told him. "Again."
The Moon.
"This card lies behind you." She placed it beneath the first two.
He chose again, not needing to be told.
The card was upside-down. It depicted a woman, dressed in a red colored robe. In one hand she carried a sword, the other, a scale.
"Justice, reversed," she said. This card went to the right of the first two.
The next showed a figure dressed entirely in black. His face was bowed and hidden beneath his hood. Only his white hand could be seen. Three goblets lay at his feet, their contents spilled, the wine shimmering like blood. Two others remained upright at his side. The sky was cold and gray. The Five of Cups.
Aiko placed it on the left of the first two. Snape looked at her, wondering at the meaning of the dark card, but her expression never wavered.
Another upside-down card: The Six of Pentacles, reversed.
This card was put to the far right of Justice, reversed. She nodded for him to draw again.
A silver chalice, overflowing with sparkling water. A great hear shown it the middle. The sky was warm with dawn or sunset. The Ace of Cups.
This went directly above The Six of Pentacles.
A blonde woman sitting up in bead, her hand clutching her face, as if just awakening from a nightmare. White swords hung on the dark wall above. Her blankets dark blue with silver stars. The Nine of Swords.
She placed it above the previous card. "This next one shall be your last," she told him as his fingers came to rest on one.
He turned it over.
Amongst a forest of white birch trees, a faceless being stood, dressed in a scarlet robe. He carried a black flag with a white rose, pure and luminous as a skull in moonlight. Death.
Snape made a disgusted noise as Aiko set the final card above The Nine of Swords. "This is nonsense," he said, dismissively.
"Wait," she said frowning. "And don't worry. Death doesn't necessarily represent the end of life. It's a reminder of mortality, perhaps the beginning of a new era in the seeker's life." She took the ring from the box and studied it, then turned back to the cards.
"What do you see?" he asked impatiently.
"Shhhh. Let me think. I might actually have something here." He scowled. "Will you listen to what I've go to say?" she demanded. "Then make your decisions. I get the feeling. . . " Her voice trailed off, she glared at him until he gave her a curt nod. "Good. Now please don't interrupt until I'm done.
"This ring has no direct effect on your life, but someone else's. The Page of Wands. Her life will cross yours, briefly. She will appear into it, unexpectedly, uncalled for, but with good intentions. However, her presence will force you to make intense choices." Her finger pointed to The Five of Cups. "You will endure a great loss, but do not give up hope. You and another. . . a man. . . two men will stand in your way because of jealousy--- yours or theirs I cannot say. You will love and you will suffer, but you will prevail----" at this she tapped the reversed Nine of Swords, "even if it means death," her fingers glided to rest on the cloaked figure.
They were silent for a long time. Severus fingered the ring. The metal felt cold in his hands. Ever since he'd stepped into the shop and given it to the old woman, he'd had the strangest, unbidden feeling that Narcissa was in trouble, and he was going to get involved whether he liked it or not.
Aiko ran her hands through her soft hair. She looked tiered, worn out. "Are you all right?" he asked her in a tone that surprised them both.
"I think so," she sighed. "Life's been rough lately."
"It is for many of us." He paused, then inquired: "Are you still with him?"
"Who? Rupert?" She shook her head. "Never get involved with a bard, Severus. Nothing but trouble can happen. We broke up about six months ago. It wasn't because he was a bard thought. He wanted to quit and join the Ministry. Rupert. . . wanted to become an Auror. He was really pushing for legalization of the Unforgivable Curses, and considering----"
"Considering you're a pacifist, you wouldn't stand for it," Snape finished for her. "I wondered if it was you writing those protest columns for the Daily Prophet."
She grinned. "The Ministry gets pretty annoyed about that. Rupert knows it's me, but I don't think he'll tell. He's a pretty fair person, I suppose." She saw the question in Snape's eyes and shook her head. "No, I wasn't in love with him either. I don't believe in love anymore. Just life. And the right to live peacefully. But don't pass any of that on to. . ." she paused, a pleasant flush creeping onto her face. "You wouldn't like him at all. In fact I'm sure of it. But he was very kind to me after my parents died."
Snape shrugged. Aiko was rarely without a lover.
She looked at him imploringly. "What about you? Anyone in your life? The cards. . . " When he shrugged again, she smirked. "Whose ring is that, dare I ask?"
He glared at her. "I'm not exactly sure," he said crossly. "I think it belongs to a bard by name of Narcissa Grae, but I could be wrong. I ran into her last month and found this not long after. What is it?" he added, noticing a peculiar expression on her face.
"You think this ring belongs to. . . Narcissa Grae? Oh, Severus, haven't you heard, a couple of months ago Rissa got----"
Snape frowned. "Aiko, don't you dare finish that sentence with she got killed in a tragic accident. I know for a fact she wasn't a ghost. She was altogether too lively."
"I wasn't going to say anything of the sort. It's just that she's not---"
She was interrupted again, but this time it wasn't by Snape. A loud roaring, buzzing sound that suddenly filled the street drowned out her words. It got closer and more intense every second. Aiko let out an almost inaudible squeak, then hastily began to dash about, blowing out candles.
"Turn on the lights," she hollered at him over the din. "That switch by the front door. Oh, this is dreadful!"
He did as she asked, confused. The roaring came to stop as suddenly as it had started.
Through the window, Snape could see a black motorbike slid to a stop right outside the jeweler's show. Its rider sprang off and strode towards the door.
Snape turned to fix Aiko with a cold stare, incredulous that she would do such a thing.
The door opened just as the rider, carrying a bouquet of sunny chrysanthemums, was taking off his helmet. But Snape already knew perfectly well whose face he was going to see.
"G'morning, Aiko-chan," said Sirius Black.
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A/N: okay, for those of you who decided to skip my little intro or have just plain forgotten..... "chan" means baby' or sweet-heart'. YES! Sirius Black is Aiko's new boyfriend! ooooooo. Snape not going to be happy about this, no da? hey, i'd probably pick sirius over snape too. he's got better looks, charm, sense of humor, nice pony tail. yeah..... but Snape has his good points too. With luck, we'll get to see some of them as time goes on. eeeeeee!
Aiko is using the Robin Wood tarot deck and doing a Celtic Cross. now, please don't jump to conclusions...... I, like Snape and Professor McGonagall, believe divination isn't worth a whole lot. however, it's a more interesting plot device than a crystal ball. Many thanks to Gypsycat and Elfprincess for helping me out with the meanings and all that.
kk. hope to see you all again soon in the next chapter, in which, i do belive, we shall see some fireworks go off..... oh, yeah, and Narcissa will be back (finally!)