Alcestis Draconis
Chapter III~Atrum Roseus
It was Hermione who awoke first as a solitary ray signaled the winter's dawn, shining upon her face from the window. Quickly she looked over to the grandfather clock in the corner and saw it just about to chime six o'clock in the morning. Very much worried she started up only to fall off the sofa and land with a thud upon the floor. She shook Ron, and then Ginny and Harry, waking them up, and then ran off to her room.
The remaining three rubbed their eyes groggily, and groaned at Hermione's enthusiasm for the morning. Ron grunted at her retreating figure, "Morning to you too, sweet," he muttered, full of sarcasm for his first words of the day. Ginny and Harry were in a sort of zombie state. Harry had in fact only gotten about half an hour of sleep as it were. The three trudged up the staircases, heading to their rooms.
When Ginny entered the dormitory that seventh year Gryffindors shared, she found Lavender and Parvati grooming themselves carefully, putting little spells on themselves to make their hair more shiny or whatnot, not even giving a look to Ginny. She could hear the water pounding inside the bathroom, and saw the steam escape under the door. No clear thoughts ran through Ginny's head. Only her body functioned, doing what was necessary and menial. She found her small bed and fell through the curtains of deep red, and no light then touched her body as she wrapped herself up in blankets and darkness and fell immediately back to sleep.
Hermione promptly got out of the shower, making a new record of three minutes flat, and put on her robes in a scurry. She looked around the room for Ginny and scowled, "She must still be down on the sofa, with Harry. Abysmal gits they are at times." Making sure she had her quill, her books, her wand, and every other essential she should have, Hermione looked around at the empty room, and then rushed out the door.
Upon reaching the common room she found Harry and Ron, hair still wet, sitting at a table, doing their very last minute divination homework. Hermione rolled her eyes at the display. She did a quick charm on both of them, magicking their hair dry. "Honestly."
Neither of the boys spoke a word, so Hermione seated herself at the table next to Ron. She looked over at their predictions, apparently predicting the apocalypse. Ron's was something about mermaids and crustaceans, while Harry's was about the 'dreaded llama.' It was all Hermione could do to stay composed at the utterly absurd spectacle.
She drawled, an odd habit that Hermione had picked up after having to deal with the two of them, "We're going to be late for breakfast, and then you'll be late for class. I promised that I wouldn't let you be behind schedule this semester. So, whether you're done with your work or not we're leaving." With that Hermione reached over and shut both of their books, and made her way towards the portrait. She looked back over her shoulder and called in fake cheeriness, "Coming?"
"Oh, I suppose that she's right," Ron muttered. Harry, still in the zombie state said nothing, but picked up his book and followed Hermione, walking right past her and out the portrait hole. Quickly Ron ran after and walked with Hermione, both of them keeping an eye on Harry.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Ron asked Hermione with hopeful despair.
Hermione shook her head, her eyes fixedly upon Harry, who was ten meters in front of them. "I don't know, Ron. It seems that this is the worst ever of his nightmares, and knowing of how bad they were, I don't see how he'll just bounce right back from this." A shudder passed over her, "Especially if it's recurring."
Ron tried to put on a half-smile, but found himself unable to, "It seems like he knew more of the dream than Ginny, like he knew something even she didn't. I just hope that he won't hide anything from us, and go through it alone again. We can't end up back at that point again, 'Mione. It's too dangerous, for him and everyone else."
Hermione nodded in solemn agreement, but made no move to further the conversation. Sadness was in her eyes, and concern in her brow as they came to the dining hall. Ron sat next to Harry, and Hermione next to Ron, leaving the seat on the other side of Harry for Ginny.
"Ginny." Harry said flatly. "Where is she Hermione?" His voice was not really a question, just a dreadful monotone.
Hermione looked puzzled for a moment, having forgotten about her friend. Then she shook her head, and not wanting to admit her fault said, "She said she'd skip breakfast, she wanted to take a long shower." Hermione's face twisted at the lying bit. But no response came, except for a nod of understanding.
Ron was busy eating hastily, in the last fifteen minutes allotted for lunch. Hermione was eating a buttered muffin, and Harry was merely staring at a piece of toast, poking it with his fork. After awhile Hermione stood up and said, "Time for class. Charms." Ron took a last blueberry muffin and followed her, pulling Harry up with him. The three walked in a row through the corridors and stairways, and made it to class with time to spare.
Ginny groaned and turned over in her sleep, and then sat up as suddenly as she had the night before, memories flooding back to her of the dream. She shook herself and remembered having come up to the dormitory, waiting for Hermione to get out of the shower. 'Oh no,' she thought, 'I'm late.' But before the thought of jumping up could get to her head, she opened a curtain just slightly, and saw on the pillow next to her a perfect rose of midnight, and a letter beside it.
'A rose for you on the 'morrow.' The words came to her so clearly now, hours after the dream, and dread filled every bone in her body. Slowly, her hands shaking, she took up the letter.
In a scrawling, but printer perfect handwriting were words written in silver: ~ As promised, Queen of fire. May all that you touch turn to ashes. ~
No name was signed upon the letter, but Ginny knew whom it was from even as the paper fell into ashes that disappeared before they reached her lap. She looked at the raven rose, feeling as if miles not a couple feet were between her and it. She closed her eyes and reached over timidly and fearfully. As she touched the stem of the rose, she pricked her finger upon a sharp thorn, and a dot of blood rose on the tip of her finger, marked perfectly with a background of porcelain.
The drop of blood fell upon the rose petals, and she felt compelled to pick the flower up. She brought it towards her and smelt it, wondrously. It didn't have a pretty essence per say, but it drew her in. She felt weaker by the minute as she was near it. Finally she flashed opened her eyes, the spell broken, and as she did, the rose fell to ashes just as the letter had. Ginny felt that a part of her was drained as she got up from her bed slowly.
Draco Malfoy sat in his bed, curtains drawn, not caring that he was late for class. He was the head boy; he would make up some lame excuse that the teachers would believe. He smiled queerly as a letter materialized in his hands, and a blood-touched rose did the same. Silver eyes flashed, and a deadly voice of silk spoke.
"So, Virginia, you've gotten your gift."
A/N : All of the latin words can be found on an online translator. The one I use is the first thing that comes up at google when you type English Latin Translator. If you look up some of the words you can find foreshadowing and the more hidden meanings.
Also, I'd like to thank those of you who reviewed!
Cherries - You hate Harry?? Why! He's so sweet, even if he doesn't have the Draco dead sexy evil appeal.
Creamy Coco - Thank you! I'll try to update as often as I can.
Lucius - Thanks ( The title means.well.as the a/n says. ;)
Ditzy Spacecadets - I will write.I will write, I will!
Pimptress - Thanks for the tips, you made me go back and edit the first two chapters, which are better for it. I fixed the wholes in them.
Tommy Devinette - You'll see. ;)
Anyanka - I was going for different! I'm glad that I've got a new idea. (
Black Pearl - Sure thing!
Chapter III~Atrum Roseus
It was Hermione who awoke first as a solitary ray signaled the winter's dawn, shining upon her face from the window. Quickly she looked over to the grandfather clock in the corner and saw it just about to chime six o'clock in the morning. Very much worried she started up only to fall off the sofa and land with a thud upon the floor. She shook Ron, and then Ginny and Harry, waking them up, and then ran off to her room.
The remaining three rubbed their eyes groggily, and groaned at Hermione's enthusiasm for the morning. Ron grunted at her retreating figure, "Morning to you too, sweet," he muttered, full of sarcasm for his first words of the day. Ginny and Harry were in a sort of zombie state. Harry had in fact only gotten about half an hour of sleep as it were. The three trudged up the staircases, heading to their rooms.
When Ginny entered the dormitory that seventh year Gryffindors shared, she found Lavender and Parvati grooming themselves carefully, putting little spells on themselves to make their hair more shiny or whatnot, not even giving a look to Ginny. She could hear the water pounding inside the bathroom, and saw the steam escape under the door. No clear thoughts ran through Ginny's head. Only her body functioned, doing what was necessary and menial. She found her small bed and fell through the curtains of deep red, and no light then touched her body as she wrapped herself up in blankets and darkness and fell immediately back to sleep.
Hermione promptly got out of the shower, making a new record of three minutes flat, and put on her robes in a scurry. She looked around the room for Ginny and scowled, "She must still be down on the sofa, with Harry. Abysmal gits they are at times." Making sure she had her quill, her books, her wand, and every other essential she should have, Hermione looked around at the empty room, and then rushed out the door.
Upon reaching the common room she found Harry and Ron, hair still wet, sitting at a table, doing their very last minute divination homework. Hermione rolled her eyes at the display. She did a quick charm on both of them, magicking their hair dry. "Honestly."
Neither of the boys spoke a word, so Hermione seated herself at the table next to Ron. She looked over at their predictions, apparently predicting the apocalypse. Ron's was something about mermaids and crustaceans, while Harry's was about the 'dreaded llama.' It was all Hermione could do to stay composed at the utterly absurd spectacle.
She drawled, an odd habit that Hermione had picked up after having to deal with the two of them, "We're going to be late for breakfast, and then you'll be late for class. I promised that I wouldn't let you be behind schedule this semester. So, whether you're done with your work or not we're leaving." With that Hermione reached over and shut both of their books, and made her way towards the portrait. She looked back over her shoulder and called in fake cheeriness, "Coming?"
"Oh, I suppose that she's right," Ron muttered. Harry, still in the zombie state said nothing, but picked up his book and followed Hermione, walking right past her and out the portrait hole. Quickly Ron ran after and walked with Hermione, both of them keeping an eye on Harry.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Ron asked Hermione with hopeful despair.
Hermione shook her head, her eyes fixedly upon Harry, who was ten meters in front of them. "I don't know, Ron. It seems that this is the worst ever of his nightmares, and knowing of how bad they were, I don't see how he'll just bounce right back from this." A shudder passed over her, "Especially if it's recurring."
Ron tried to put on a half-smile, but found himself unable to, "It seems like he knew more of the dream than Ginny, like he knew something even she didn't. I just hope that he won't hide anything from us, and go through it alone again. We can't end up back at that point again, 'Mione. It's too dangerous, for him and everyone else."
Hermione nodded in solemn agreement, but made no move to further the conversation. Sadness was in her eyes, and concern in her brow as they came to the dining hall. Ron sat next to Harry, and Hermione next to Ron, leaving the seat on the other side of Harry for Ginny.
"Ginny." Harry said flatly. "Where is she Hermione?" His voice was not really a question, just a dreadful monotone.
Hermione looked puzzled for a moment, having forgotten about her friend. Then she shook her head, and not wanting to admit her fault said, "She said she'd skip breakfast, she wanted to take a long shower." Hermione's face twisted at the lying bit. But no response came, except for a nod of understanding.
Ron was busy eating hastily, in the last fifteen minutes allotted for lunch. Hermione was eating a buttered muffin, and Harry was merely staring at a piece of toast, poking it with his fork. After awhile Hermione stood up and said, "Time for class. Charms." Ron took a last blueberry muffin and followed her, pulling Harry up with him. The three walked in a row through the corridors and stairways, and made it to class with time to spare.
Ginny groaned and turned over in her sleep, and then sat up as suddenly as she had the night before, memories flooding back to her of the dream. She shook herself and remembered having come up to the dormitory, waiting for Hermione to get out of the shower. 'Oh no,' she thought, 'I'm late.' But before the thought of jumping up could get to her head, she opened a curtain just slightly, and saw on the pillow next to her a perfect rose of midnight, and a letter beside it.
'A rose for you on the 'morrow.' The words came to her so clearly now, hours after the dream, and dread filled every bone in her body. Slowly, her hands shaking, she took up the letter.
In a scrawling, but printer perfect handwriting were words written in silver: ~ As promised, Queen of fire. May all that you touch turn to ashes. ~
No name was signed upon the letter, but Ginny knew whom it was from even as the paper fell into ashes that disappeared before they reached her lap. She looked at the raven rose, feeling as if miles not a couple feet were between her and it. She closed her eyes and reached over timidly and fearfully. As she touched the stem of the rose, she pricked her finger upon a sharp thorn, and a dot of blood rose on the tip of her finger, marked perfectly with a background of porcelain.
The drop of blood fell upon the rose petals, and she felt compelled to pick the flower up. She brought it towards her and smelt it, wondrously. It didn't have a pretty essence per say, but it drew her in. She felt weaker by the minute as she was near it. Finally she flashed opened her eyes, the spell broken, and as she did, the rose fell to ashes just as the letter had. Ginny felt that a part of her was drained as she got up from her bed slowly.
Draco Malfoy sat in his bed, curtains drawn, not caring that he was late for class. He was the head boy; he would make up some lame excuse that the teachers would believe. He smiled queerly as a letter materialized in his hands, and a blood-touched rose did the same. Silver eyes flashed, and a deadly voice of silk spoke.
"So, Virginia, you've gotten your gift."
A/N : All of the latin words can be found on an online translator. The one I use is the first thing that comes up at google when you type English Latin Translator. If you look up some of the words you can find foreshadowing and the more hidden meanings.
Also, I'd like to thank those of you who reviewed!
Cherries - You hate Harry?? Why! He's so sweet, even if he doesn't have the Draco dead sexy evil appeal.
Creamy Coco - Thank you! I'll try to update as often as I can.
Lucius - Thanks ( The title means.well.as the a/n says. ;)
Ditzy Spacecadets - I will write.I will write, I will!
Pimptress - Thanks for the tips, you made me go back and edit the first two chapters, which are better for it. I fixed the wholes in them.
Tommy Devinette - You'll see. ;)
Anyanka - I was going for different! I'm glad that I've got a new idea. (
Black Pearl - Sure thing!