VII – Year of the Dragon
Hu Li awoke out of a pleasantly dreamless sleep to find herself in a strange room. She was
confused and slightly frightened for a few minutes until she recalled the events of the previous day. It seemed so much like some fantastic reverie of hers that she wondered for a moment if indeed she did have dreams – about falling from a broom and breaking her back and being dead and awaking to mourners at her bedside. Then she remembered where she was – the hospital wing. She also seemed to recall Madam Pomfrey giving her something for her back when she was still in the dregs of exhaustion, because her back didn't hurt and there was a small green vial next to her bed.
There was also a large pile of brightly colored cards and gifts. Hu Li was startled at first and then realized they must be for someone else.
Then Madam Pomfrey bustled in. "Oh good, you're awake," she said briskly. "Breakfast will be in soon, and I want you to take a spoonful of that with your tea. It will help your bones to regenerate properly, if they were sprained. I couldn't detect anything, but you never know. It seems to be hard to tell with you." She gave Hu Li a look and then said, "Oh yes, and perhaps opening all your cards would make you feel better as well."
"Me?" said Hu Li incredulously. "Those are for me?"
Madam Pomfrey stared at her. "Why yes, from several concerned students and teachers. I believe Professor Snape came here himself early this morning to deliver a card."
Hu Li suppressed a giggle at this and set to work on the cards. Fred and George Weasley had sent her a giant case of Honeydukes candy and she wondered briefly how they got it. It came with an exploding card that left her sheets slightly singed. Hermione has sent her a card that read, Get well soon, Hu Li, and I've got all your schoolwork for you to bring up later. Love, Hermione. There were small blotches where the ink had run because of teardrops landing on Hermione's careful letters. Harry and Ron had sent her photos taken by someone called Colin Creevey. They were of her on her broom at the Quidditch try-outs, and she was surprised at how fierce she looked. Harry's card read, Hu Li, you kicked ass at Quidditch and you made Gryffindor! Get well so you can come play with us. Harry. Ron's was the longest and read: Hermione's collecting all your schoolwork and taking extensive notes for you, so don't worry. I'm being sarcastic - she didn't believe me when I said you'd be more interested in the study of dust particles than in your homework. Get well and enjoy it while you can, Hermione's bringing your stuff up this afternoon. Your friend, Ron. There was a card from someone named Cho Chang. Hu Li had no idea who that was until she read it: Hu Li, I'm so sorry about what happened, I hope it wasn't because I was talking to you. Marcus Flint should be kicked out of school – out of the country! Get well. Cho. Dumbledore's said simply, I am very much relieved at your recovery and I wish you swift recuperation. Get well, Professor Dumbledore.
Finally there were but three left. The top was written in a cramped, irritated handwriting. Hu Li could feel the aura on it – it was Snape's card. She grinned and opened it. It read, Miss Zhang, you are far more than what you appear to be. I do believe the Headmaster knew what he was doing when he let you transfer – he has told me of your recent success as an emissary. You have my deepest sympathy and I wish you good health. Professor Snape, Potions. The next was Draco's. It read simply, Get well, Hu Li. I'm sorry about what happened – I was horrible. Please forgive me. Draco Malfoy.
The last was a bulky package wrapped in parchment. It had been delivered to the school from the outside world and was postmarked Egypt. Hu Li hoped for a millisecond that it was her father, but she realized that the news probably hadn't even reached him yet. She also could sense that the aura wasn't his – it was as if the sender had masked his or her aura so Hu Li wouldn't be able to identify it. She opened the package with caution.
The aura that had been trapped in the small package came hissing out and hit Hu Li like a fierce, icy wind. "Oh no," she whispered, staring at the package in her hand, at the swift, sure, foreign handwriting. "Oh, God."
She pulled out the letter. It was written in Chinese characters. She knew immediately whom it was from.
The letter read: My daughter, I heard
of your fall at your school and wish to convey my deepest relief that you did
not die. It would be a shame indeed if I was denied the pleasure of your blood
on my hands. I sent you a small token of my affection. I believe it will come
in handy someday soon, for I am much closer than you realize. I look forward to
the day that we meet again as mother and daughter and as hunter and quarry.
Till then, my darling, I wait. Love, your Niang.
Hu Li was scared – scared stiff. Her mother was close by – close enough to hear about her fall within less than twenty-four hours. She had signed the letter Niang, the formal Chinese word for "mother." Hu Li felt sick.
Hu Li did not want to open the package, but her hands seemed to have taken on a life of their own. They tore off the paper and string and something bright and shiny fell out.
Shaking, Hu Li picked it up. It was the same dagger of which she had dreamt: the same silver handle carved with the word Lugala, the same handle with the jade tiger and phoenix locked in an eternal battle, the same cold beauty and power that lay in her hands.
Hu Li fondled it almost reverently. The blade was cold to the touch. Sou Mei was coming closer. She had to be prepared. Despite her years of training in combat with Muggle weapons such as knives, swords, machine guns, bows and arrows, crossbows, poisoned darts, and revolvers, not to mention several rigorous courses in the more powerful curses, she was still afraid. She still felt in her heart that she would not be left standing.
She pulled up the hem of her robe and tore a large strip off. Then she secured the knife to her thigh with the ripped cloth. It will do for now, she thought. You can never be too prepared.
Hu Li's sharp ears picked up footsteps, and she dove back under the covers and stuffed Sou Mei's letter in her pocket just as the door swung open and Draco staggered in with an enormous breakfast balanced on a little silver tray.
"Hey," he murmured, swaying back and forth with the weight of the tray. "I thought to make up for my rudeness last night, I'd be your personal servant – for a few minutes, anyway. Then I have to get to class. Did you hear you made Gryffindor? Madam Hooch wasn't sure if you'd fancy getting back on a broomstick any time soon so the position is there for you only if you really want it. No pressure." He sat down on a chair next to her bed and balanced the tray on his knees.
"If I want it? Of course I want it!" Hu Li exclaimed. "I only died trying, so why on earth would I pass it up?"
He grinned slightly. "Well, no one else knows you died. Everyone else thinks you just live a charmed life. Have some sausage, it's magnificent this morning."
"I find it remarkable," she commented dryly, "that you talk about death and sausages in the same breath. Is that the level I am on – breakfast food?"
"Not quite yet," he replied lightly. "Breakfast food is an important three-fourths of my life and has been there for me for nearly sixteen years. I barely know you."
"You know me a lot better than any of the other people at this school," she reminded him. "At
least you do now." She took a bite of sausage. "It is good," she admitted. "Hey, if you're my personal servant, why didn't you come wearing one of those little French maid outfits?"
"It was in the wash," Draco responded. "So I know you better than the Three Caballeros?"
"If you refer to Harry, Ron, and Hermione . . . I would say yes," she said guiltily.
Draco leaned back and raised an eyebrow. "There's an interesting development. They don't
know – erm – "
"No, they don't," she muttered. "How could I possibly tell them I am half-vampire? I wasn't even going to tell you but you found out yourself."
"I have had a bit of experience with vampires," he said matter-of-factly. "One of Lucius' good friends is an Argentinean vampire. He and Lucius were dueling once and I was watching. Luis was distracted by something and my father accidentally skewered him like a shish kabob. Luis would have been as dead as my fifteen-greats uncle if he had been human, but he just pulled the sword out and we watched the wound close up within a minute. I knew that if you survived your injury yesterday, there could be no possible way you were human. Add to that the fact that I knew you looked like a vampire Death Eater I have seen before . . . and it wasn't hard to add two and two for the rest of the puzzle."
So Luis Perone was friendly with Lucius Malfoy, a Death Eater! Hu Li told herself she would have to watch that man. Then she said worriedly, "I'm mostly concerned about Hermione. She is very clever. She is already suspicious of me because of some other things, and now that I am back from the grave, she may put two and two together the same way you did. Oh, God." She put her head in her hands. "I don't think I'll be able to deal with that."
Draco's hand rested on her shoulder with a barely perceptible pressure, but she felt comfort
spread through her nonetheless. He inquired, "What are the other things that have made Hermione suspicious of you?"
Hu Li let out her breath. "Nightmares. I have been having horrible nightmares – they have plagued me my whole life but they seem to grow worse and more frequent here at Hogwarts." She thought a moment. "Maybe – yes, I have heard of this before – a vampire that sends a psychic demon to afflict you with bad dreams. Perhaps my mother has decided that before she kills –" She caught herself too late.
Draco's sly face grew very grave. "Sou
Mei is coming to kill you?" he breathed. "My God, Hu Li, this is serious."
"You honestly think I am unaware of
that?" she snapped. "I have known that since I was five years old when
my father began training me for that day. I am very serious about this. But until
that day, I don't know what I can do about anything."
Draco thought. "Here's what you can do, Hu Li. Have you ever had one time in your life where you had been so happy that nothing seemed to bother you and the whole world seemed to be your friend?"
"Never," Hu Li said miserably. "Not once. And I can't think what that has to do with doing something about Sou Mei. "
"Have you ever had fun – ever?"
"No," she said. "Stop it, you're depressing me."
Draco said deliberately, "It's time you got out of the house, Hu Li dear. All you do is sit around and worry. There's more to life than that."
"Not for me, there isn't," she said firmly. "Sou Mei is going to murder me when she comes for me. I know it."
"Well, with that negative attitude," he said flippantly, but she noticed his skin went slightly
paler. "Hu Li, you and me are two of a kind. I've been miserable most of my life too. And it's gotten me absolutely nowhere. So you know what we're going to do – you and me?"
"What," she said listlessly and without interest.
"We are going to go have some fun in Hogsmeade tonight. It's the weekend. We deserve it."
Hu Li stared at him. "You mean – sneak out?"
Draco nodded solemnly.
She felt the edges of a smile twitching her lips. "Really," she said. "Sneak out to Hogsmeade. And do what?"
Draco shrugged. "Ah, you know, the joke shop, the sweet shop, the Three Broomsticks, maybe the Shrieking Shack if we can fit it in. You've never been there before, and I should show it to you – Hogsmeade the way it should be. "
I have seen it, she thought to herself. You just don't know it. But despite her misgivings, her fascination grew. "I don't know," she said slowly. "What if – "
"Stop. Just stop agonizing about this. We will be gone maybe five hours, we won't even be missed, and everything will be fine."
Hu Li leaned back in bed. He's right, she thought, I deserve a little break, a few hours in Hogsmeade – hell, after everything that has happened in the past twenty-four hours, I deserve a year in south of France. "All right," she said reluctantly. "I suppose I could."
He sat back with a look of satisfaction on his face. "Great. Don't tell anyone where you're going – they'll never notice you're gone anyway."
"That's usually the way it happens," she said softly, staring into space.
A funny look came over his face and he said, "You know, I was really worried when – when I thought you had died. I was – I guess I was sort of sad."
Hu Li did not look at him for fear that she would break down and cry again. "Sad? Draco Malfoy, sad? I suppose I should consider this cause for celebration – I have been told you never
show any emotion but arrogance and hate."
"True," he said bitterly. "Very true. I have never been taught any emotions but those – how
was I to feel them? Monsters do not always come in the shape of a vampire, you know. Indeed, the worst kind of monster is the one who comes dressed as a loved one – as a parent."
"Yes," Hu Li said compassionately. "You understand me better than anyone, Draco. You have had it worse than me, I fear – at least Sou Mei has the excuse of being a vampire. Your father is just . . ." She trailed off, unsure how to finish her sentence.
"Just plain evil, you mean," he said terribly. "I know it as well as you." He sighed and looked
at his watch. "Damn, I'll be late to Snape's if I don't run. Okay – meet me behind the greenhouses at five o'clock. We'll get dinner in Hogsmeade, all right?"
"Sounds good," Hu Li said. "Have fun with Severus."
Draco grinned at her and hurried out the door with a passing wave.
Hu Li sat looking after him for a minute. Draco wasn't that bad, she decided. True, he could be a little arrogant and a little cold sometimes, but she had a feeling that it was not so much as his true personality as what his environment had shaped him to be. She knew Lucius Malfoy was a horrible person. And yet she still considered Draco a friend – never at the level that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were, but someone that understood her – almost. Just then Madam Pomfrey came sweeping in.
"Why are you awake?" she demanded of Hu Li. "You've just injured your back and fallen fifty feet through the air and you're not sleeping?"
Hu Li laughed out loud. "Can I have some of that green stuff, Madam Pomfrey? My back's starting to ache."
Madam Pomfrey gave her a funny look but obeyed. Hu Li didn't mind the look – she was starting to get used to it.
Hu Li tossed down the bad-tasting potion and her back did start to feel better. She said, "When can I get out of here?"
Madam Pomfrey squinted at her. "I would say not until tomorrow."
Hu Li heaved an exaggerated sigh. "All right, then. I'm going to sleep." She reached out to pull her bed curtains shut and then added, "And I think I'll go to bed pretty early tonight as well – about five or so. After all," and here she put on a martyred look of bravery, "I did nearly break my back – and it certainly was exhausting. Please don't disturb me after four-thirty."
"Of course," said Madam Pomfrey, her features softening. She swept off to the other end to tend to the flu-ridden Hufflepuff.
Hu Li lay down. She had set her alibi for tonight; even if Madam Pomfrey did look in her curtains, she could maybe put a charm on her bed sheets to look as if there were a living person in them. Yes, she decided, that was the way to do it. She rolled over and promptly fell asleep.
***
Ten minutes to five o'clock found Hu Li creeping down to the greenhouses. She had run up to the Gryffindor dorm when no one was in it and had changed her robes. Hu Li had grabbed her nice black traveling cloak and her wand. She had Transfigured one of her shoelaces into a real knife leg-strap – who knows what could happen in Hogsmeade? She was extremely skilled in hand-to-hand combat, but nothing felt safer than a cool knife in her sure hands.
Hu Li looked around for Draco and found no one. She began to worry – maybe he had forgotten about her, or he had been caught, or he had just decided to play a cruel joke on a gullible girl. She was just starting to get angry when she heard very soft footsteps behind her. She did not turn.
"Arghh, Malfoy," she muttered. "I was afraid you wouldn't show."
"I had to go out the back," he said, sounding slightly disgruntled. "Snape caught me, but I told
him I was heading for the kitchens and lost my way, and he let me through with a sinister smile for his pet student. That guy irritates me sometimes."
Hu Li turned. "He's not bad," she said, and watched Draco's mouth fall open in shock.
Draco said incredulously, "Not bad? We're talking about the same person, right?"
Hu Li peered at her nails. "I believe so," she said. "Draco, you of all people should know to look behind the mask. Snape masquerades as something he's not, just like you."
"And you," he reminded her.
Hu Li chose to ignore this. "Are we going or not?"
Draco gave an exaggerated bow and swept one hand magnanimously toward the direction of Hogsmeade. She walked in front of him.
On the way down, Draco said casually, "How can you stand hanging out with the Gang of Three? I mean – "
"To whom do you refer?" she asked coldly.
He said, "Well, Potter, Granger, and Weasley, of course. How do you do it?"
Hu Li stopped still, causing him to bump into her. "What do you mean?" she hissed.
Draco stared at her. "Well – don't they kind of get on your nerves - sometimes?"
Hu Li stared back at him. "No," she said vehemently. "You get on my nerves sometimes. If you had but half the intelligence Snape thinks you have, you wouldn't go insulting my friends in front of me."
Predictably, Draco's look of confusion began to relax and assume his superior smirk. "Now, now," he said languidly. "Let's not get defensive."
"I damn will get defensive!" she exploded. "I don't appreciate your insults!"
Draco put his hands in his pockets and rolled his eyes. "Relax," he said. "Don't get your knickers in a twist."
Hu Li glared at him and for a moment almost wished she had her father's brass knuckles in her hand. "If I didn't know what a fiend your father was, I would wonder where you learned your manners. But I think I know– Lucius Malfoy's Dark Arts Charm School?"
Draco's eyes grew very cold. "Look," he snapped. "Let's just go down and eat dinner, we can't go back until at least seven because everyone would notice if we went back." He stomped ahead of her down to the village. Hu Li could feel the anger emanating from him like heat. Well, good, she was pissed too.
She followed him as he skulked down to Hogsmeade. She didn't even bother pretending to let him lead her to the Three Broomsticks – she walked ahead of him into the pub. She could feel mild surprise from him that she knew where it was but she was too angry to care. She went directly to a small table in the corner and took a seat facing the door with her back to most of the pub. Draco sat reluctantly across from her and looked at her expectantly.
"What are you looking at," she snapped.
Draco said, "Aren't you going to apologize to me?"
Hu Li resisted the urge to throw him out the door by his shirt collar. "No, and not ever," she said, disgusted. "You insulted my friends. I insulted you. An eye for an eye, Malfoy."
A faint look of sadness came into his face. "So," he said softly. "You're going to call me Malfoy now, too?"
"That's right," she said belligerently. "And I don't give a good goddamn what you think of
it."
Draco looked around the pub and avoided her gaze. Then Madam Rosmerta came tripping merrily over in silver heels. "Are you going to order drinks or dinner?" she inquired cheerfully.
"Both," Draco told her imperiously. "I'll have a butterbeer and the prime rib."
Hu Li said sulkily, "Cherry soda water and the steamed vegetables."
Madam Rosmerta nodded and went off to fill their orders. Hu Li was left staring at the table. Neither of them spoke. Slowly, a background voice became audible and made itself stand out of the rest of the noise in the pub.
"Well, I don't really care about her mother," said the voice with a Spanish or Portuguese accent. "She'll probably thank me from getting rid of Little Miss Zhang."
Hu Li raised her eyes in shock to see Draco looking back at her with a horrified expression on his face. They both leaned forward to listen.
Another harsher, rougher voice replied, "I don't know, Lu. The Phoenix has her heart set on killing her daughter. They say the girl's very strong in her own right, anyway."
The accented voice said impatiently, "I have tasted the blood of half-vampires and I know for a fact that they are not only the sweetest and most potent liquor on earth but they also reinforce your own strength. I must have her." He chuckled. "She is rather cute as well. She looks like her mother – although Sou Mei never would take notice of me."
The second man said, "Luis, I'm telling you, it's going to get you killed. The Phoenix won't be pleased and she'll come after you."
Luis replied, "How can it get me killed if she doesn't know I did it?" He laughed.
The other guy sounded worried. "You don't know what she is like, Luis. She knows everything. She will track you down and not rest until you are dead."
Luis sounded bored. "How tragic. Harrison, good fellow, I know a lot more than you imagine. I have lived for a thousand years – certainly longer than that stupid fool Niccolo. He thinks he knows more than me? Hah! Doddering old man doesn't know his ass from his elbow – how can he tell me what to do?"
Harrison said, "Old Niccolo is very wise."
"And that's where you're wrong, Harrison my boy. I am afraid of nothing and no one. I care not for the wandering opinions of weak old men who should have died centuries ago. Albus Dumbledore's another one –" Luis lowered his voice slightly. "And when the Dark Lord comes back into his full power, I will see to it that -"
Just then Madam Rosmerta came back and cheerily plunked down their drinks. They both glared at her and she took a step back, evidently wondering what she had done to procure their annoyance.
Luis and Harrison were quiet now; their dinners had just arrived. Draco and Hu Li stared at each other, all arguments forgotten for the moment.
Hu Li whispered, "Luis Perone?"
Draco took a quick look over her shoulder and then nodded. "How do you know him?" he breathed.
Hu Li lied, "You heard him – he knows my mother. He is a very powerful vampire – he wasn't merely bragging. But he is the world's greatest fool if he thinks Sou Mei will not kill him in the most brutal way if he destroys me before she has a go at me."
Draco nodded. "Seems like everyone's out to get you, Hu Li, doesn't it? Your mother, Luis Perone, Marcus Flint – how about the Dark Lord to liven things up?"
Hu li said absently, "Sorry to disappoint you. All I am to Voldemort is Sou Mei's pathetic daughter. He has better things to worry about."
Madam Rosmerta came sailing out with their dinners and a cool look on her face. Hu Li
managed a tiny smile at Madam Rosmerta, who sniffed but smiled back.
They ate in swift silence, both neither saying but both understanding that they needed to get out of the Three Broomsticks before Luis spotted either of them.
Draco wolfed down his prime rib and darted up to the bar to pay so they could get out fast. Hu
Li kept her back to Luis and did not dare turn around for fear that he would spot her. However, he seemed to be intent upon his dinner – probably an extra-rare steak.
Then she heard him mutter to Harrison, "Maybe I wouldn't be so interested in the Chinese half-blood if she didn't shame me in front of all the other diplomats. She treated me like a four-year-old – I, Luis Perone! I'm ten centuries older than her and she treats me like a child? No one attacks me with impunity – not even Sou Mei's daughter."
Hu Li sat still, hardly daring to breathe. What an idiot she was – she should have known not to disgrace him – even Professor McGonagall warned her! Now he wanted her dead – just another name to add to the list that was growing steadily longer, she thought bleakly.
Draco came sneaking back, going the long way around so as to avoid giving Luis Perone a direct view of him. Hu Li put down her fork and left her meal half-finished, having lost her appetite.
"You know, you really have to start eating properly," Draco informed her.
Hu Li said distastefully, "Is this really the time?"
He thought about that. "Later," he muttered, and tugged at her sleeve. They both slipped their hoods over their heads and slunk out of the pub. When they were out into the chilly September winds they both relaxed slightly.
"Come on," said Hu Li. "I'd like to see the joke shop and Honeydukes."
Draco stared at her as if she was just slightly loony. "Hu Li," he said patiently. "There is a mad Argentinean vampire in there who desires nothing more than to drain you dry and send pieces of you through owl post around Britain. I really don't think it would be advisable to wander around Hogsmeade. We can go back later. It will be here for quite a long time – you won't."
"How encouraging," she said. "It'll take two minutes, Draco, I just want to see the shops. He won't go in them – he's probably going find a real dinner after the Three Broomsticks." She stamped her foot. "Ooh, I knew he was still in with Voldemort! He's been forming alliances with the younger vampires for a few years – I bet he's getting ready to organize something evil and underhanded. I'll have to tell Old Niccolo."
"Hu Li," he said sternly. "Let's go. I'll leave you here to wander around lost for years if you don't come back to school – I mean it."
Hu Li heaved a long-suffering sigh but followed Draco reluctantly up to the castle.
When they were making their way up to the main gate of the castle, she wasn't exactly watching where she was walking. A tree root was sticking out of the uneven ground in a place that a tree root had no business being. She tripped over it, flying forward with a cry. She ended up saving her face from total annihilation with her hands, but it hurt – not to mention her back had been broken not twenty-four hours ago.
Draco said, "Nice one, klutz. Are you okay?" He held out a hand and helped her to her feet.
"Oww," she said, wincing. "My knees."
Suddenly Draco's attention was drawn to Hu Li's throat. His forehead furrowed and he said, "What is this?"
Hu Li looked down at herself. Lamia's medallion, normally tucked into her robes, was hanging out, its fine gold chain tangled in a piece of her hair. It must have fallen out when she tripped, she realized.
"Oh," she said, trying to stuff it back in her robes before he asked where she got it. "That. Yes. Er -"
A curious look came over his face. "No," he said softly. "Let me see that."
Draco turned it over to the front – the side that read "Morituri te salutamus." His eyes widened and he drew in his breath. "Where did you get this? Why are you wearing it?" he asked sharply.
Hu Li lied nervously, wondering why he was acting so strange, "Somewhere in London." She couldn't possibly tell him Dumbledore gave it to her; he'd want to know why, and that was a secret. "Why?"
Draco turned and looked into the leaden sky. He said quietly, "The phrase on the front – it's Latin. It means, 'we who are about to die salute you.' "
Hu Li swallowed unpleasantly. Had Dumbledore known what a wrong thing he had done in giving it to her? Or had he wanted her to come to terms with the inevitable?
Draco added blandly, "It's what the Roman gladiators used to shout when they entered the arena."
Hu Li's mind was blank. Was it a mistake – or a prediction?
Before they went in the door, Draco stopped and said gravely, "Hu Li, I know that you think anything after Sou Mei is nothing, but I know this: Luis Perone is every bit as evil he thinks himself to be. He believes he wields more power even than the Phoenix and he will not hesitate to kill you. Stay away from him and watch your back."
Then he turned and walked in the door. Hu Li followed him in, but she paused on the threshold and turned to look behind her before going in the door.
