Illaera
By Draicana
Author's Note: Please note that there may be inconsistencies in this Chapter as I am editing all of what I have so far. I haven't changed every Chapter posted here yet so there will be things that are different. Sorry I took forever to post this Chapter and I'm sorry it's a little dodgy. However, certain people were nagging at me to post something so here you all are. Read the disclaimer on the previous pages if you can't work out for yourself the things that don't belong to me. Same goes for the dedications as I'm far too lazy. Enjoy.
Ginny walked quickly across the lawn to the Owlery, Ron and Hermione still tagging along behind. Harry was leaning against the doorjamb, talking, apparently, to himself. He blinked when he saw Ginny and quickly stood up straight, shooting accusatory glances at Hermione and Ron.
"Hi Harry. I assume you're talking to Illaera?"
"I...er...what?"
"Who is she? What is she doing here? Is she dangerous?"
'I...er...what?"
"You already said that."
"We couldn't stop her Harry. She ambushed us. And look what she has!" Ron pointed to the pendant around Ginny's neck and Harry's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open slightly.
"Er..."
"Harry. It's okay."
Illaera removed the cloak and smiled at Ginny.
"I am Illaera. Please hold out your hand."
"No. Not until you tell me who you are and why you're here."
Illaera blinked. Nobody had ever been able to say no to her before. Not when she was mindbonding them to her will. It was a serious offense amongst her people to use mindbonding for anything other than secrecy, but she had never before met anybody who could resist her.
"I...uh..." Illaera glanced at Harry then back at Ginny. "I don't know what to do...I think we should speak with Professor Dumbledore."
"No! Nobody is moving until I find out what is going on!"
"I can't tell you," Illaera said simply. "Not unless you allow me to scar you."
"Scar me? You must be joking!"
"Well...no. I wasn't. If you wish to know about me you must be scarred. Otherwise, I cannot tell you anything."
"This is ridiculous." Ginny turned on Ron. "You allowed her to scar you? To cut you?"
"Yes...well...she did it without my knowing. It only hurts a little."
"I don't believe this. Harry? Hermione? You too I assume?"
Harry and Hermione shifted uncomfortably. Ginny glared at Illaera.
"You have hurt my brother and my friends. You cut them without them knowing. And you expect me to allow you to do the same to me? Are you psychotic? Mentally unstable? If I don't find out what is going on RIGHT NOW..."
Ginny left the threat unfinished, mainly because she couldn't think of anything to say. Illaera gazed at Ginny, her crystal green eyes appraising the young Weasley.
"There is something...something about you..."
Ginny waited.
Illaera seemed to be lost in a world of her own, gazing at Ginny unblinkingly.
"I trust you. I do not need to scar you."
Illaera sounded puzzled, as if such a thing had never happened before.
"I need to think. Surely this trust cannot be my own..."
Illaera frowned and closed her eyes. Suddenly they snapped open.
"It is! But...but only because...everybody else trusts you. Your family, Hermione, Harry, all the animals...all your friends...every one of them would trust you with their lives...You are like no person I have ever met before..."
Ron gaped at his sister, then at Illaera, then back at Ginny who was holding Illaera's gaze steadily.
"Ginny, please. We cannot talk here...but I make a blood oath to you," Illaera said as she drew her dagger slowly across her arm, slicing through the flesh and drawing blood, "That you will hear my entire life story, what I am doing here, and the history of my people at a time and place which is more appropriate. For now, please take my word and that of your friends and brothers that I am not here to do harm to Harry or anybody."
Ginny gazed in disbelief at the blood running down Illaera's arm and then glanced at her.
"I'm not saying I trust you...but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I agree.
****
"So, do you trust her?" Harry asked Ginny.
Ginny glanced around at the people who sat with her near the Whomping Willow (at a safe distance of course) a few days later. Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, Harry and Illaera were all gazing at her apprehensively and hopefully...as if everything rested upon her approval, or disapproval.
"Yes. I trust her."
Suddenly Ginny found she couldn't move or breathe. First she was pulled into a fierce bear hug by Harry, then wrenched away by Hermione, before being squashed by both Fred and George at once and then lastly enfolded in a warm brotherly embrace by Ron. Illaera smiled at her throughout the scene, silently but clearly thanking her.
"Oh no!" Fred cried.
"Quidditch!" Harry and George exclaimed, leaping to their feet.
"Angelina's going to kill me," Fred groaned.
"Oh come on, celibacy's not so bad," George teased.
Ginny's mouth dropped open. "Eww! Yuck! That's my brother you're talking about! Ewww!"
"That is really disturbing," Ron said, shuddering as Harry, Fred and George raced towards the Quidditch Pitch. Illaera quickly donned her Invisibility Cloak and (Ginny assumed) hurried after Harry. Ron, Ginny and Hermione slowly stood up and brushed themselves off and headed back to the Castle.
"Oh, Hermione, I forgot to ask, did you spend any time with Viktor Krum over the Holidays?"
Ron shot Ginny a look that could have killed a dragon and Ginny tried to keep a smile from her face. If Ron wouldn't even admit his feelings to himself he deserved to suffer.
"No, not this summer, but we exchanged letters. We wrote to each other almost every day...He's so sweet Ginny! I mean I never would have thought it until I got to know him."
"That's great Hermione!"
"Oh and how about you Ginny...Colin Creevey still asking you out every time he sees you?"
Ginny groaned. Two weeks ago Colin had professed his 'undying love' for her and as she hadn't wanted to hurt his feelings by saying 'no' she'd said 'maybe'...which had proved to be a very large mistake.
Ron muttered to himself as he began to fall behind the girls. He really had no interest whatsoever in their gossip...luckily Hermione and Ginny were not as gossipy as Lavender and Parvati, but the gossip sessions they did share drove him crazy; especially when Harry wasn't there to talk to.
"Well, well. A Mudblood and two weasels...but where's Potty?"
"Go away Malfoy," Hermione was saying as Ron caught up. Ron quickly grabbed his sister's arm before she could slap the blonde-haired Slytherin.
"Don't call her that Malfoy," He said icily.
Malfoy smirked at Ron.
"Oh...how sweet...the weasel is sticking up for his Mudblood girlfriend..."
Ron flushed and Hermione spluttered as Malfoy's lackeys sniggers amongst themselves.
"Please call her that again."
Ron glared daggers at Ginny who'd managed to step away from him, out of his reach.
"Why? Didn't hear me clearly the first two times? Mudblood, mudblood mudbl-"
Everybody within sight gaped at Malfoy where he lay, blood streaming from his nose.
"Ginny!" hissed Ron. "As much as I wanted that to happen, you shouldn't have done it! Snape will have you expelled for sure!"
"I don't think Malfoy wants to admit that Little Ginny Weasley broke his nose."
"I won't have you expelled weasel. But you'll pay..." Malfoy sneered as Crabbe and Goyle helped him to his feet.
"I'm shaking in my shoes!" Ginny called after him, grinning widely.
****
"Ginny did what?" Harry exclaimed, gaping at Ron.
The entire Gryffindor Common Room was silent, as they stared open-mouthed at the petite fourth year girl.
"I don't believe it!" Fred gasped. "My little sister! Beat up Malfoy! She deserves a medal!"
One or two Gryffindors giggled, breaking the tension in the room.
"Ginny, knowing Malfoy you had better watch your back. Better still, we should all watch her back."
Kylie and Andra nodded in agreement to the sixth year student who had spoken up.
"I only broke his nose."
Harry was still gaping at Ginny. "You beat up Malfoy?"
"Yes, I thought we'd established that."
"You broke Malfoy's nose?"
"Again, already established."
"You beat up Malfoy?"
"Yes!"
"You broke Malfoy's nose?"
"Yes Harry! I broke Malfoy's nose!"
"Wow. You broke Malfoy's nose."
Harry blinked. Ron had just pushed him off his chair.
"What was that for?"
"You were repeating yourself. A lot."
Harry grumbled as he clambered to his feet.
"So how do we go about making sure Ginny doesn't suffer the wrath of Malfoy?" Hermione asked, wisely changing the subject.
"Guard of honour!" Fred and George cried out, both snapping to attention with comically serious expressions.
"Actually, that isn't a bad idea..." Ron began, before having to burst out laughing at his brothers who were still standing at attention. All they were missing were the tall black furry hats.
"I don't understand," a small first year girl piped up.
"Okay, basically Ginny will never be left alone. Kylie and Andra can stick with her during classes and the rest of us won't leave her alone during breakfast, lunch and dinner.
"And there's also Illaera," Harry whispered in Ginny's ear. "You're now included among the people she will protect. Especially if you stick by me."
Ginny smiled gratefully then noticed Colin Creevey gazing at her with a hurt expression on his face. Ginny groaned inwardly.
****
"Harry," Colin said, drawing Harry aside.
Oh no, what does he want now? Me to autograph his socks?
"I'd just like to say that I'm glad it was you."
"Huh?"
"Well, if it couldn't be me, I'm glad it was you."
"Huh?"
"Ginny!"
"Huh?"
"Well I'm glad it's you she's going out with."
"What?!" Harry's jaw almost hit his toes.
Colin wrinkled his brow, obviously confused. "Well...I saw the way you were looking at each other...and then you whispered in her ear..."
"Colin, she's my best friends sister. She's just a little girl."
As soon as the words left Harry's mouth he regretted it. Ginny may be younger than he was, but she was no longer the little girl he had first seen. The little girl he had first seen would not have just broken Draco Malfoy's nose...
****
Ginny set her jaw and hurried to her dormitory room. Performing their 'Guard of Honour' duties, as well as being good friends, Kylie and Andra were close on her heels.
"Ginny? What's wrong? Are you afraid? Because I would be..." Kylie began.
"Kylie, didn't you hear him?" Andra scoffed. "Ginny, forget about it. I'm sure he didn't mean it."
"Forget about what? Who didn't mean what?"
"Never mind. Ginny, I thought you liked somebody else now?"
"I do. I don't still like Harry. But I thought I was his friend, not just his friends little sister. I'm not a little girl. I'm the age he was when he was competing in the TriWizard Tournament last year. I'm older than he was when he defeated you-know-who in his first year. I'm older than he was when he saved me...back in my first year. I'm older than he was when...when Sirius Black was after him..." Ginny forgave herself the small lie she told in order to protect Harry's Godfather. "And I'm not much younger than he was when he defeated you-know-who again last year," Ginny finished angrily.
"We know that Ginny. I still don't think he meant it though."
"That's beside the point...it was a nasty thing to say."
****
Ginny hurried to breakfast, Andra, Kylie, Fred, George and Colin at her heels. It had been a week and the Guard of Honour was still in place. Hermione, Harry and Ron were walking a few metres in front of them and Ginny wished she could walk with them and join in their whispered conversation, but things were still awkward between her and Harry. Harry wouldn't talk to Ginny because he was embarrassed and Ginny wouldn't talk to Harry because she was hurt. Ron and Hermione were oblivious to the awkward silence that occurred whenever Ginny and Harry were forced by some cruel game of fate to greet and talk with each other, lost in their own thoughts it would appear. Ginny secretly guessed and hoped their thoughts were about each other as she had long since tired of them not admitting to their feelings.
As for Malfoy, his attempts at revenge seemed half-hearted and nowhere near as cruel as he was capable of, which led Harry and his friends to believe that he had an evil master plan yet to be executed.
****
History of Magic was dull as usual, and most of Harry's class found it difficult to remain awake. That is until Professor Binns announced the Excursion to the Museum of Magical Artifacts and Enchanted Antiquities. It was a combined excursion, for History of Magic and Defense Against the Dark Arts years 4 and up.
"Oh I can't wait!" Hermione squealed, her eyes alight with excitement. "I hear they have the most amazing displays-"
"Oh it's not so great," Seamus Finnigan dismissed. "My mother used to drag me along...it gets boring after the fifth or sixth time."
"I've never been," Ron mumbled, his ears turning red. "We couldn't afford it."
Neville spoke up. "My grandmother would never let me go. She was afraid I'd break something."
"You? Break something? Never!" Dean exclaimed in mock disbelief, winking and grinning and nudging Neville to show him he meant no harm.
"Dean," Hermione began sternly. 'Hermione's sticking up for me!' was Neville's first thought, then, 'She thinks I need protecting! I'll show her!'
"Oh, he was only joking Hermione," he said bravely, lifting his chain.
"Do you mind? You lot are blocking the entire corridor," a cold voice drawled behind them.
Harry turned to face Malfoy and stared back at him, bright-green eyes locked with cold grey ones. He suddenly thought of Ginny, and the fact that Malfoy was most likely planning something to harm her and his blood boiled. Malfoy, as though reading Harry's mind, smirked.
"Worried for the little red-headed brat?"
"Malfoy," Harry growled warningly.
"Aww…looks like little Ginny's love is reciprocated after all…how sweet…"
Harry narrowed his eyes, aware of the invisible hand holding him back.
"Harry," He heard in his mind and started slightly, causing Malfoy to laugh and mention something about Harry being scared, but Harry didn't pay attention – he was too busy listening the Illaera's voice, speaking softly in his mind.
"Harry, that little ferret isn't worth it. You can't get expelled Harry. Hogwarts is the safest place for us. You can't get expelled! If anything does happen to Ginny I'll deal with Malfoy, but don't do anything stupid."
"Forget it Malfoy. You aren't worth the trouble."
"Coward."
"Ferret," Harry smirked.
"What's going on here?" the icy voice of Professor Snape asked.
"We were just talking about Ginny, sir. Ginny Weasley."
"Indeed," Snape murmured, unconvinced. "Well Potter, I'd be on your very best behaviour if you plan on attending the school excursion. I'll be chaperoning and I don't want any trouble. Especially not from you."
Snape sneered before turning and walking down the corridor. Malfoy grinned evilly at Harry, his usually pale eyes sparkling, before turning and scurrying after Snape. Harry hissed in anger and balled his fists.
'Harry!'
He calmed down and turned away heading for an empty corridor. "Alohomora Dissimulo Cenaculum!"
"Harry, don't let him bug you," Ron advised, as he appeared in the room beside Harry.
"What am I supposed to do, hug him?" Harry spat. "He's going to stop me from going. It's so unfair. He's always so mean to me. He hates me, and I hate him! But why does he hate me so much? What did I ever do to him! I hate him!"
Ron glanced nervously at Hermione. Hermione rolled her eyes and jerked her head, leaving the room in an instant. Ron followed suit.
"Leave him Ron. He doesn't want us there."
"But we're his friends!"
"Trust me Ron. I think I know better than you do. You're not exactly known for your ability to identify your emotions, how do you expect to identify Harry's? Honestly!" With that, Hermione stalked off leaving a bewildered Ron scratching his head.
****
"Potter!" Severus Snape cried, glaring at the adolescent. "Fifty points from Gryffindor, detention and don't think for a moment that you're going on that excursion!"
"But Professor-"
"All he did was get a question wrong!"
"Silence!"
****
"Severus, this isn't like you. Usually you have a good reason for being a-"
"Marcus…" Dumbledore intoned warningly. "Now Severus, I don't think this is necessary. After all, he only got a question wrong. That is hardly worth the punishment. You know the old saying. Two Muggle musicians…'Let the punishment fit the crime, the punishment fit the crime'. The boy has done nothing to deserve such a punishment."
"Professor Dumbledore-"
"No Severus, you have been overruled. The boy will go on the excursion. Provided, of course, he has permission."
****
"Permission? The Dursley's will never give me permission to go on an excursion…"
"Umm…hello? Are you forgetting a certain godfather?" Hermione gazed at Harry meaningfully.
Realisation dawned. "Sir-"
Hermione and Ron both started coughing very loudly at once, to cover what Harry had been about to say.
"Uhh, yeah. I need to write that letter."
****
"He said no!"
"What?" Ron exclaimed, snatching the letter from Harry's hand. "I don't believe it. He said no."
"That's what I just said."
"Did he give a reason?" Hermione asked, glancing up from her pile of books.
"Yeah. It might be dangerous. Everywhere is dangerous. Being alive is dangerous. And I was really looking forward to this. Two whole days without school, staying overnight at L'hotel de Musee. It would have been a blast!"
"Well, Colin's going, I'm sure he'd take pictures for you."
"No he's not," Ginny said grimly, having just entered the private common room. "Nobody is. The excursion has been cancelled."
"What? They can't!"
"It's not fair!"
"Why?"
"Professor Dumbledore won't say."
"That's not like him…"
"There are a few rumours going around," Ginny told them, settling into an armchair. "Most involve Voldemort. Dumbledore would only say he wasn't willing to risk the lives of any more students."
Harry frowned and reread his letter, hoping Sirius might have mentioned something else. There was no clue he had an inkling of what Dumbledore had done. With a sigh he tossed the letter into the fireplace and was about to do the same with the envelope when something caught his eye. He pulled a smaller envelope out of the first and turned it over. "Illaera, it's for you."
Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny watched Illaera's face carefully as she read her letter. Her face gave nothing away. "You should all be getting to class. I'll follow soon, I have to reply to Sirius and talk to Professor Dumbledore." She was gone in a second.
"I wish she wouldn't disappear on us like that. And I wish I knew what was in that letter. It may have been a reason why the excursion was cancelled."
"She was right about class though," Hermione reminded them, tapping her watch. "It Defense Against the Dark Arts. Perhaps Professor Vapid will give us a reason."