Legend
Chapter XIX: Sir Best Knight
by Marie McKinnon
A/N: Anyone who listens to CoS on tape will hear that Ginny's eyes are green. I was about to apologise for having read it wrong, but I checked, and they're brown (CoS pg. 35, UK edition), so there's really no reason for this note, is there?
*
Ginny sat on the huge stone steps of Hogwarts, playing with the chain of her opal. Warm sunlight beat down on her hair, giving it an even more firelike tinge. A pure-white cotton-candy cloud floated in front of the sun so she could have a temporary rest from its rays. Noticing the lack of sunlight, her eyes flicked skyward, but before getting there were captured by a pair of metallic ones. Instead of seeming surprised, she gave him a calm smile and kept turning the chain over and over in her hands.
"You found it," he breathed, sliding onto the step beside her. "What about Excalibur?"
"I think Harry had a job hiding it, but we've got it."
Draco was speechless for a moment. He stared, mesmerized, at the flickering colors embedded in the opal. Only his token was left. Ginny had her opal, Harry had his sword, and he had nothing. Well, liquid assetts and power wouldn't help him defeat the most evil wizard to ever threaten mankind. She leaned on his shoulder, closing her eyes briefly. During that milisecond he saw everything he wanted to save and knew, without any disagreement, that he had to defeat Voldemort. Protecting those moments when his sweetheart could lean on him, shut her eyes, and forget that she had destiny hanging over her head was so important to him that before he realized it, his arm was draped over her side.
She smiled into his shoulder. This was what she was fighting for. Not defeating evil or winning glory and fame, but being able to relax with him, whoever he was. Every her had a him she wanted to win or keep, and if Voldemort won, no him would ever hold his her gently or kindly again. Snuggling closer, she envisioned her vengeance, then found herself wondering if her power would make her evil. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, her mind told her. I won't let it, she responded. If I have someone to love, evil can't touch me. And I have so many people to love. Her thoughts had brought her out of the hazy doze, and she sighed, sitting up and resuming her study of the opal.
"Let me put it on you," he said softly, closing a hand over hers and gently pulling the pendant out of her grip.
Facing away to make it easier for Draco to do the clasp, she sucked in her breath involuntarily. Cold, smooth silver glided over the sensitive skin on her neck. It slid to the base of her neck, dangling lightly against her collarbone. His delicate fingers moved nimbly and deliberately behind her. Finally finished, he allowed the chain to slither down until the opal hung right above the neckline of her shirt. She touched it hesitantly, stroked it, and smiled fiercely as her power surged towards the gem. It was only with much restraint that she kept most of the magic in her blood. She didn't want to rely on the opal for her power, she just wanted it to enhance her abilities and maybe strengthen her magic when she used it. With a thought she focused a tiny ball of light through the gem, watching tensely as the magic formed itself into a glittering sphere. Extending slowly, a hesitant finger prodded its side. Ginny bit her lip to prevent the screech of shock from escaping. It looked the same as it always had, but it was so much stronger! She absorbed the magic again and could tell that just by adding that little bit she could handle maybe one more complicated spell.
"Good God," she whispered. "It's like the opal put a multi-vitamin in my magic. It's amazingly strong."
"Did you do anything -- I don't know-- different when you took the magic back?"
Ginny looked puzzled. "No, why? Am I glowing or something?" She looked at her hands and arms, but they were the same golden colour as they always had been.
"It's just that the magic came out of the opal, but when you took it back it went into your blood again. I would've thought you'd put all of your power in the opal."
"If I did that I'd be asking for trouble. What if someone took the opal and my wand? I wouldn't be able to do anything at all, and if we were captured, that would be a bit of a problem, don't you think?"
"True," he said, looking her over. She seemed different. The opal gave her an even more powerful aura than she'd had before. Powerful or not, she was beautiful, with her fiery curls, smooth skin, and enticing smile. She wasn't writhing uncomfortably under his stare, but he could tell that she was wondering what he was doing. "I just wanted to look at you for a moment," he explained.
"You've not done that in a while," she responded sarcastically He always stared at her for a few seconds, taking in every part of her, before he took her books or belongings so she wouldn't have to carry them.
He pulled her closer until she was almost nose to nose with him. "You know what else we've not done in a while?" Letting the question hang in the air, he gave her a heart-stopping smile and prayed that his heart would stop jumping out of his chest.
"Enlighten me," she said, although she knew very well what he meant.
His hands slid down her sides to her waist, making her shiver slightly. She linked her arms behind his neck and felt him relax when her heat touched his skin. In less than the time it takes to write it, he was kissing her. It was a gentle kiss, not so frantic and passionate, but very sweet. She had been prepared for something very different, and when he pressed down very softly, she practically melted in his arms. His hands burned with her heat as his mouth trailed down to the base of her neck. Coming back to her lips for another sweet kiss, he felt her relax completely.
They separated deliberately, as slowly as possible, and Ginny's contented expression urged him to kiss her until he was too tired to move his head. Her eyes had more sparkle in them than they'd had when he'd met her on the steps.
Draco put his arm around her shoulders, steering her towards the castle. "Let's go inside. We're not going to find my sword out here."
"You're brilliant!"
"Thank you, but what--" He looked more befuddled than his two ignorant henchmen combined when the girl dragged him in the direction of the lake.
"I know where your sword is! It's been right here in front of us for years, I'm so stupid!"
Now looking at the lake, he stared at her with confusion written all over his face. "It's in the lake?"
"No it's-- yes it is, what am I saying?" She threw her hands up to a high "v," palms outward, and planted her feet solidly on the ground. "Watch and learn," Gin said cockily. Her hair whipped backwards in a wind that didn't seem to affect anything else as a silvery haze enveloped her. "MY LADY OF THE LAKE!"
The surface of the lake bubbled violently, the powers in its depths seemingly in turmoil. "RETURN TO ME THE TOKEN OF SIR BEST KNIGHT, LANCELOT DU LAKE!" Its smooth facade broke into thrashing waves, then formed itself into a powerful whirlpool rising steadily into the air.
A watery sprite was revealed as the maelstrom fell away. Her black locks literally swam about her pale face, framing the ovaline shape, aqua eyes, and deep red mouth. Clothed in the frothy spray of the ocean, she rippled with the laziness of a slow-running stream.
Ginny's shout, though powerful in a reckless way, was no match for the Lady of the Lake's deep, reverberating reply. "Who demands it?"
"VIRGINIA WEASLEY!"
Her rebuke was disappointing. "There is no Virginia Weasley."
Draco elbowed her. "She wants you to say you're Morgan," he whispered.
"I DEMAND IT! MORGANA LE FAY COMMANDS YOU TO RELINQUISH YOUR TREASURE!"
Head bowed, the Lady of the Lake slipped back into the water. Moments later a shining sword burst free of the water and slowly but surely floated to Draco, who had his arms outstretched as if he were dreaming. It came to rest at his feet.
*
Looking out of the window of his office, Dumbledore spotted the Lady of the Lake rising out of her domain. His vision switched to the land around the lake and was not surprised to see Virginia and Draco. A few tense moments later, a sword lay on the ground in front of the Slytherin.
"So it has begun," he said softly, then began composing a message.
*
Draco saluted the lake with his sword, then studied it. Its blade was razor sharp and silver, as was the hilt, which fit perfectly into his hand. An emerald sparkled in the pommel.
"I dub thee Fear," he said in a deep, powerful voice that belonged to Lancelot du Lake. "You pierce the strongest armor and cut through the bravest exterior. Serve honorably and well."
"Amen," Ginny whispered. It was a bit unorthodox for someone to name their sword "fear," but he had a point. Fear was a far more powerful weapon that a sword, and whoever wielded it had half won the battle already.
He turned on his heel, still carrying the sword, and marched up to the castle. An invisibility spell from behind him stole Fear from sight, but he didn't care whether or not everyone saw him with it. He was going to find the bloody Gryffindor and show him exactly why he was the best knight.
Disclaimer: That was quick, wasn't it? I don't own Harry Potter. All names, ideas, and related indicia are copyright J.K. ROWLING (take that, Warner Brothers), and since she and I are different people, I don't own any of it. Please review, even if you don't like it. Next: they duel. Will Excalibur save Harry, or will Fear triumph? Find out next time, on "Legend, part 19!"
Chapter XIX: Sir Best Knight
by Marie McKinnon
A/N: Anyone who listens to CoS on tape will hear that Ginny's eyes are green. I was about to apologise for having read it wrong, but I checked, and they're brown (CoS pg. 35, UK edition), so there's really no reason for this note, is there?
*
Ginny sat on the huge stone steps of Hogwarts, playing with the chain of her opal. Warm sunlight beat down on her hair, giving it an even more firelike tinge. A pure-white cotton-candy cloud floated in front of the sun so she could have a temporary rest from its rays. Noticing the lack of sunlight, her eyes flicked skyward, but before getting there were captured by a pair of metallic ones. Instead of seeming surprised, she gave him a calm smile and kept turning the chain over and over in her hands.
"You found it," he breathed, sliding onto the step beside her. "What about Excalibur?"
"I think Harry had a job hiding it, but we've got it."
Draco was speechless for a moment. He stared, mesmerized, at the flickering colors embedded in the opal. Only his token was left. Ginny had her opal, Harry had his sword, and he had nothing. Well, liquid assetts and power wouldn't help him defeat the most evil wizard to ever threaten mankind. She leaned on his shoulder, closing her eyes briefly. During that milisecond he saw everything he wanted to save and knew, without any disagreement, that he had to defeat Voldemort. Protecting those moments when his sweetheart could lean on him, shut her eyes, and forget that she had destiny hanging over her head was so important to him that before he realized it, his arm was draped over her side.
She smiled into his shoulder. This was what she was fighting for. Not defeating evil or winning glory and fame, but being able to relax with him, whoever he was. Every her had a him she wanted to win or keep, and if Voldemort won, no him would ever hold his her gently or kindly again. Snuggling closer, she envisioned her vengeance, then found herself wondering if her power would make her evil. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, her mind told her. I won't let it, she responded. If I have someone to love, evil can't touch me. And I have so many people to love. Her thoughts had brought her out of the hazy doze, and she sighed, sitting up and resuming her study of the opal.
"Let me put it on you," he said softly, closing a hand over hers and gently pulling the pendant out of her grip.
Facing away to make it easier for Draco to do the clasp, she sucked in her breath involuntarily. Cold, smooth silver glided over the sensitive skin on her neck. It slid to the base of her neck, dangling lightly against her collarbone. His delicate fingers moved nimbly and deliberately behind her. Finally finished, he allowed the chain to slither down until the opal hung right above the neckline of her shirt. She touched it hesitantly, stroked it, and smiled fiercely as her power surged towards the gem. It was only with much restraint that she kept most of the magic in her blood. She didn't want to rely on the opal for her power, she just wanted it to enhance her abilities and maybe strengthen her magic when she used it. With a thought she focused a tiny ball of light through the gem, watching tensely as the magic formed itself into a glittering sphere. Extending slowly, a hesitant finger prodded its side. Ginny bit her lip to prevent the screech of shock from escaping. It looked the same as it always had, but it was so much stronger! She absorbed the magic again and could tell that just by adding that little bit she could handle maybe one more complicated spell.
"Good God," she whispered. "It's like the opal put a multi-vitamin in my magic. It's amazingly strong."
"Did you do anything -- I don't know-- different when you took the magic back?"
Ginny looked puzzled. "No, why? Am I glowing or something?" She looked at her hands and arms, but they were the same golden colour as they always had been.
"It's just that the magic came out of the opal, but when you took it back it went into your blood again. I would've thought you'd put all of your power in the opal."
"If I did that I'd be asking for trouble. What if someone took the opal and my wand? I wouldn't be able to do anything at all, and if we were captured, that would be a bit of a problem, don't you think?"
"True," he said, looking her over. She seemed different. The opal gave her an even more powerful aura than she'd had before. Powerful or not, she was beautiful, with her fiery curls, smooth skin, and enticing smile. She wasn't writhing uncomfortably under his stare, but he could tell that she was wondering what he was doing. "I just wanted to look at you for a moment," he explained.
"You've not done that in a while," she responded sarcastically He always stared at her for a few seconds, taking in every part of her, before he took her books or belongings so she wouldn't have to carry them.
He pulled her closer until she was almost nose to nose with him. "You know what else we've not done in a while?" Letting the question hang in the air, he gave her a heart-stopping smile and prayed that his heart would stop jumping out of his chest.
"Enlighten me," she said, although she knew very well what he meant.
His hands slid down her sides to her waist, making her shiver slightly. She linked her arms behind his neck and felt him relax when her heat touched his skin. In less than the time it takes to write it, he was kissing her. It was a gentle kiss, not so frantic and passionate, but very sweet. She had been prepared for something very different, and when he pressed down very softly, she practically melted in his arms. His hands burned with her heat as his mouth trailed down to the base of her neck. Coming back to her lips for another sweet kiss, he felt her relax completely.
They separated deliberately, as slowly as possible, and Ginny's contented expression urged him to kiss her until he was too tired to move his head. Her eyes had more sparkle in them than they'd had when he'd met her on the steps.
Draco put his arm around her shoulders, steering her towards the castle. "Let's go inside. We're not going to find my sword out here."
"You're brilliant!"
"Thank you, but what--" He looked more befuddled than his two ignorant henchmen combined when the girl dragged him in the direction of the lake.
"I know where your sword is! It's been right here in front of us for years, I'm so stupid!"
Now looking at the lake, he stared at her with confusion written all over his face. "It's in the lake?"
"No it's-- yes it is, what am I saying?" She threw her hands up to a high "v," palms outward, and planted her feet solidly on the ground. "Watch and learn," Gin said cockily. Her hair whipped backwards in a wind that didn't seem to affect anything else as a silvery haze enveloped her. "MY LADY OF THE LAKE!"
The surface of the lake bubbled violently, the powers in its depths seemingly in turmoil. "RETURN TO ME THE TOKEN OF SIR BEST KNIGHT, LANCELOT DU LAKE!" Its smooth facade broke into thrashing waves, then formed itself into a powerful whirlpool rising steadily into the air.
A watery sprite was revealed as the maelstrom fell away. Her black locks literally swam about her pale face, framing the ovaline shape, aqua eyes, and deep red mouth. Clothed in the frothy spray of the ocean, she rippled with the laziness of a slow-running stream.
Ginny's shout, though powerful in a reckless way, was no match for the Lady of the Lake's deep, reverberating reply. "Who demands it?"
"VIRGINIA WEASLEY!"
Her rebuke was disappointing. "There is no Virginia Weasley."
Draco elbowed her. "She wants you to say you're Morgan," he whispered.
"I DEMAND IT! MORGANA LE FAY COMMANDS YOU TO RELINQUISH YOUR TREASURE!"
Head bowed, the Lady of the Lake slipped back into the water. Moments later a shining sword burst free of the water and slowly but surely floated to Draco, who had his arms outstretched as if he were dreaming. It came to rest at his feet.
*
Looking out of the window of his office, Dumbledore spotted the Lady of the Lake rising out of her domain. His vision switched to the land around the lake and was not surprised to see Virginia and Draco. A few tense moments later, a sword lay on the ground in front of the Slytherin.
"So it has begun," he said softly, then began composing a message.
*
Draco saluted the lake with his sword, then studied it. Its blade was razor sharp and silver, as was the hilt, which fit perfectly into his hand. An emerald sparkled in the pommel.
"I dub thee Fear," he said in a deep, powerful voice that belonged to Lancelot du Lake. "You pierce the strongest armor and cut through the bravest exterior. Serve honorably and well."
"Amen," Ginny whispered. It was a bit unorthodox for someone to name their sword "fear," but he had a point. Fear was a far more powerful weapon that a sword, and whoever wielded it had half won the battle already.
He turned on his heel, still carrying the sword, and marched up to the castle. An invisibility spell from behind him stole Fear from sight, but he didn't care whether or not everyone saw him with it. He was going to find the bloody Gryffindor and show him exactly why he was the best knight.
Disclaimer: That was quick, wasn't it? I don't own Harry Potter. All names, ideas, and related indicia are copyright J.K. ROWLING (take that, Warner Brothers), and since she and I are different people, I don't own any of it. Please review, even if you don't like it. Next: they duel. Will Excalibur save Harry, or will Fear triumph? Find out next time, on "Legend, part 19!"