CHAPTER TEN

ENIGMA REBORN

            The teaching staff, along with the rest of the school, had given up their search for Colin Creevey.  Dumbledore explained the whole story, leaving out minor details, and declared a dance in celebration of their victory.  As Orion was preparing for the party, she heard several taps on her window.  A small owl was carrying a message for her.

Dear Orion,

            Thank you so much for everything you've done for me.  You are an amazing woman, and I am so glad we have become friends.  I'm sorry I won't be attending the dance tonight, but I have received good news from an old friend of ours.  I'm currently off to find the one person who might be able to save me.  Then maybe one day I can be true to myself also.

            Sincerely and always yours,

            Sirius Black

Orion smiled for her friend.  She then turned to the dress she had picked out for such an occasion.  It was a dark purple with more gold trim, a low cut square neckline, and a slit up the leg--for easy access to her dagger.

            When Orion Avery entered the Great Hall, now decorated with all four house colors and flowers of every kind, the entire student body turned to stare.  She didn't look at any of them, but walked up to the staff table and took her seat next to Dumbledore.  "What's wrong with them?" she whispered.

            "They have never seen an Enigma before," he told her.  Orion laughed to herself and then stood to address them. 

            "Well," she said with great power behind her voice, "as you were."  Everyone instantly returned to dancing.  Orion giggled as she sat back down.  Then she saw him.  A tall dark man approached the table and stopped in front of her.

            "May I have this dance?"  It was Severus Snape.

            "But of course." He held her hand as she stepped over the table and on to the dance floor.  The music was slower now, and Severus held her tight as they glided across the floor.  The music enveloped them, and they were lost in their own world when three long wooden arrows struck Orion in the back.  She fell into Severus, he stumbled back, and the world turned, once again, to stare. 

***

            Colin Creevey stood at the doorway of the Great Hall, still holding up his bow.  Everyone stood still except for Professor Avery, who turned to face him. 

            "Colin!  We've missed you," she lied as she stalked toward him.  He pulled another arrow from his pouch and strung it.

            "My master might not have been able to stop you.  But he didn't know how.  I do."

            "How Colin?  How are you going to kill me?" she teased.

            "'The only way to kill an Enigma is to plunge an arrow into his or her eye.  Damaging their purest sense with weapons made of the purest material, and therefore destroying them'" he quoted.  Professor Snape made a move to jump him, but Orion held him back, still with three arrows protruding from her chest.

            "No Severus, let him have his fun," she turned to Colin, "well boy?  What are you waiting for?"  And it happened.  He had perfect aim, Orion thought, as the arrow pierced her right eye and she fell to the floor.  The girls screamed; the guys pulled out their wands.  Only Albus and Orion knew what was really going on. 

            "SILENCE!" he boomed at the students and teachers alike.  Severus was down with Orion, holding her, and...was that...a tear?  She tore away from him.

            "What's the matter with you Severus?"  He looked at her with a confused and sad expression.  "Just watch."  A warm glow enveloped her and raised her into the air.  The arrows that punctured her were disintegrated, leaving only scars behind.  She floated back to the ground, and got up.  Severus noticed that she had shut her eye just before Colin struck, and now she had a scar that ran from above her eyebrow to slightly below her eye.  Colin was furious.

            "WHAT!?  That was supposed to KILL YOU!" he shouted as he threw his weapons at Orion.  Severus grabbed Colin and threw him against the wall as the Enigma walked stealthily toward him.

            "'Damaging their purest sense with weapons made of the purest material', isn't that what you quoted, Colin?" he struggled against Severus, but the professor was too strong for him.  "Gold, my dear boy.  Only an arrow made out of gold can kill me.  But I do applaud your efforts."  Snape threw him on the ground, and then dragged him to the dungeons.  Orion turned to face the students.

            "Well," she started once again, "as you were!"

            When Snape returned, Avery was comparing scars with Harry Potter.  It seemed as though the three arrows that had hit her first hand left her with a lightning bolt scar of her own. 

            "Now we truly are connected, Harry."  They both laughed.  Severus came up to them and Harry turned away.

            "So?  Are you going to stick around for another year?"

            "Of course!  This is much more entertaining than wandering around Europe." 

            Severus smiled, a most sincere smile, and brushed passed her on his way to his seat at the professor's table.  Orion watched him as went, noticing a definite change in the way he walked.  It seemed they had all changed, in one way or another.  And Orion couldn't have been happier.

***

Yeah!  It's done!  I hope you enjoyed this very first fanfiction of mine.  Thank you to any and all that reviewed.  Now that you've read this, may I suggest:

Visions: The sequel to "Enigma"—not yet complete.

The Stranger: Another fanfiction by me about a very interesting new student; a very good read.

The Return: The sequel to "The Stranger", but can be read by itself—not yet complete.