Shades Of Gray

By princessofplanets

E-mail: princessofplanets@hotmail.com

Part 7 / 9

When Alex awoke, everyone in her dorm had already gone to breakfast, but even the slight thought of food made the girl's tightly clenched stomach turn. Though she hadn't worn the black robes required at Hogwarts since she learned in second year that she wasn't a witch, she now found an old set in her trunk and magically altered it to fit. She closed her eyes and shaped her magic into hands, ordering them to reform the now-tight and short fabric into a more comfortable uniform.

She twisted her hair up and clipped it back before turning her attention back to her trunks. The blonde quickly unearthed the honey jar sized container that was full with her blood. "I'm glad it's done," she murmured before tucking it into one of the large pockets of her flowing robes. Glancing at the clock and realizing she would be late if she didn't hurry, Alex grabbed her copy of the Divination and Care for Magical Creatures books and quickly raced toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. When she reached the room, there was twenty-five minutes left until class starts, and Professor Karr was nowhere in sight.

She frowned for a moment before ripping a piece of parchment carefully off her homework. She set the canister on his desk, casting a spell that wouldn't allow anyone to lift it but him. She scribbled out a note before rushing out the door through the long, winding trip to the tower where the Divination class was held.

Malachi ~

Here's the 'invention' I told you about. Test it out and tell me if it works, okay?

~ Alex

When the blonde made it to Divination, she found that she was the only one there, though she was soon joined by her classmates. As Professor Trelawney started her class in her usual fashion, stepping out of the shadows, Alex attempted to focus on the particularly boring class. Because *she* could see into the future if she chose to – or if the future chose for her, she admitted irritably – she didn't have a large amount of respect for the thin teacher. Despite that she could sense that the older woman had the *capability* of foresight, even though it didn't appear often.

The end of the class was nearing – they were doing fire readings – when the insect-like professor started helping Harry with his. "Oh, dear!" she gasped.

"What is it?" the raven-haired boy asked, sounding bored, knowing what to expect.

"I see death!" the teacher proclaimed. "A terrible death where – "

"STOP IT!" Alex ordered. Fear coursed through her veins, and the power of her emotions caused the fire to rise and cackle in the room. Her classmates were shocked at her outburst, and Professor Trelawney was angry. Before the woman could say anything, however, Alex added, "No one would let Harry die!" Her pent up nerves exploded, making an outlet for her fears. As Trelawney reprimanded her, Alex calmed her breathing and silently ordered the fire to lessen. "Pax pacis," she murmured to the flame inside her head. Peace.

"If you think I'm wrong, then what do you see?" Professor Trelawney's lecture, which Alex heard none of, was ended with that challenge. Glancing into the flame, the blonde studied it for a moment before turning away.

"I see fear," she murmured. "A great battle, a greater sacrifice. I see love discovered and unfulfilled, I see shattered dreams." She was silent for a moment before continuing in the same soft tone, "I see great sorrow. A life hanging on the edge of death… And I see people debating the truth and the shades of gray of things done long past." When Alex looked up her irises were a solid, bright gold. "I see a clashing of powers and darkness so great it swallows up the light." She blinked, and her eyes returned to their normal blue shade as a feeling of déjà vu swept through her body.

The feeling was soon replaced with immense pain. She heard screaming, and though she was on the floor writhing in agony she knew it wasn't her. She felt like her head was being split in half by an ax. She moaned slightly as the pain lulled for a moment then swept over her once again. The blonde forced her eyes open to see who the other injured person was, staring through strands of her thick hair. It was Harry.

Carefully, whimpering when she moved too fast, she managed to move her fingers to his forehead, brushing his livid scar with her magic as the gentle touch eased his pain. A strange golden light was filling the room and she knew it was from the five-point star on her own forehead. Coldness overcame her body. Voldemort was near, and his plans were coming together quickly. The girl moaned softly once again before working quickly to sever her sensitive connections to the darkness that was growing.

When the last strand was cut she managed to breathe a sigh of relief, the light from her mark fading as she slowly made it disappear. Her ragged breathing seemed to fill the room as she weakly sat up.

Ron and Harry each grabbed an arm and yanked, carefully supporting her until she found her feet. Professor Trelawney frowned, though out of confusion or frustration or something else Alex wasn't sure. "My dear boys, if you could please escort this dear girl to the infirmary I would greatly appreciate it," she murmured. The two nodded, thankful to get out of the class.

"What the heck WAS that?" Ron inquired.

Harry glanced at Alex, who seemed in no mood to answer questions as she focused on making her way down the stairs without collapsing. "It was Voldemort," he told his friend, who shuddered at the name.

"Are you guys sure? I mean, nothing strange has been happening recently…" Ron said doubtfully.

"It was him," Alex said firmly. "But it's okay…"

Ron paled. "This isn't good. Harry, after we drop Alex off to Madame Pomfrey we should go see Dumbledore!"

"I already did," Alex informed him, finally reaching the main part of the school. "He's taking care of it." Ron and Harry gaped at her as they reached the Infirmary ward.

"Why didn't you tell us this?!" Harry demanded.

"Look, guys, it's nothing bad. Just a few nightmares, nothing to worry over," she assured her friends. She turned and entered the room. After she explained to Madame Pomfrey what happened, she watched the woman head into her office leaving only the orders to rest before she fell back onto the bed with a sigh. "This is going to be a LONG afternoon."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

By now Alex was screaming curses in her head. Madame Pomfrey hadn't allowed her to see the Weasleys when they came, and she wasn't allowed to leave the Infirmary ward until dinner started. So now the blonde was racing to Gryffindor tower to change and try to eat some of the dinner before she had to go 'backstage' – leaving dinner early, of course – to warm up her voice and get ready to sing. Her dorm room's door opened under her frantic magic and slammed shut behind her. She breathed slowly, attempting to calm her heartbeat as she dug carefully through her trunk. At the bottom of it she found what she was looking for.

The blonde gently pulled out the gown she used in place of dress robes. It was a pure white dress that shimmered in the light and swept the floor when she put it on. She smoothed the loose skirt and straightened the straps used for sleeves before she grabbed her hairbrush. Alex combed her hair until it shone, pulling the top layer into a braid while the rest fell to her shoulders. Now satisfied with her appearance she made her way to the Great Hall.

When she entered the large room, she realized just how similar the Great Hall was to the ball during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Blue eyes scanned the room for the table she would share with the Weasleys and her friends. When she spotted it she was surprised and confused to realize that she didn't recognize one of the occupants.

"Hey," she greeted softly as she joined the table, slipping into the open seat. "Sorry I'm late."

"'S no problem," Ron mumbled through a mouthful of food. Immediately Hermione and Mrs. Weasley started berating him for it, much to the blonde's amusement. Looking around again, she saw Bill engaged in a conversation with Mr. Granger, while Mrs. Granger and Mr. Weasley talked. Charlie and the male she didn't know – she suspected he was an elf from his slightly pointed ears and beauty. He had pale blonde hair and startling brown eyes. Malachi seemed to be the only one who noticed her, since Harry and Draco were making eyes at each other and Percy, Fred, George, and Ginny weren't present.

"How have you been?" she inquired after she ordered her food. It appeared magically on her plate and she started eating as Malachi responded.

"Fine. From what I hear it was you who hasn't been doing so well," he replied.

"It was nothing," she dismissed easily. Malachi looked about to argue with that, but all protests were cut off by Professor Trelawney.

"Professor Dumbledore, I must sit here!" she declared. "Look! This table seats thirteen! The first one who rises will die."

Alex looked up at the teacher and the slightly harried looking Dumbledore. "I have a seat for you at the head table, Sibyll, there's plenty of room there."

"But Professor -- !" Trelawney protested.

"Professor, you don't have to worry about the table members," the blonde murmured. "I'll be the first one leaving."

The silence that followed that statement was uncomfortable, and in it Dumbledore led the Divination teacher to the head table. Alex continued eating when Malachi said nothing, stopping only when he asked, "Tell me, have you met the Elven prince?" Alex shook her head and Malachi rose. "Let me get him for you then. He's a very interesting person."

"Cool," the fifteen-year-old replied. The vampire nodded and left the table, while Alex ate quickly, knowing that she would soon have to leave to warm up. When she felt a tap on her shoulder, she turned and stood.

"Alex, this is Taren Keigo. Keigo, this is Alexandra Star," Malachi introduced. Intense storm blue eyes bore into the blonde's. A sense of déjà vu from this person she had never met overwhelmed her. Her eyes examined his tall, muscular frame and dark hair as she silently wondered, If I've never met him how can I *KNOW* I know him?

TO BE CONTINUED…

AN: ^_^ . Short, I know. But I can be *SO* evil. By the way, Teran means prince in some form of Elvish. Ja!