By: Gemin16
Disclaimer: I sadly don't own Harry Potter. It belongs to the wonder goddess J.K. Rowling. However all characters that aren't mentioned in any of her books are mine (i.e. Kitrina, Kalvin, Lady). Thank you.
P.S. I don't own Shakira either, but I would like to get my hands on some front row tickets. *Grin*
A/N: Well, well, another chapter and another step closer to the end. In all honesty I have no clue when this thing will end (MAWHAHAHAHAHA). I had one reader who commented that they saw a hint of the Neverending Story in this one but to tell ya the truth I've never seen it. Maybe I should take a hint from the title though. Okay, maybe not. And I was joking about not knowing when the story will end. It will eventually end, and boy do I have an ending for you! (More evil laughing). For all of you who are in high school, don't take the essay class! It's evil, pure evil! Okay I'm going to calm down now and put away my sugar stash. (inner me: BUT I LIKE MY GOOBERS!)
I hope most of you enjoy this chapter. It took me a few good weeks and 3 cases Diet Pepsi to come up with it.
Chapter 8: Dance of Eyes
***********************************************************************************************
"You know, fox, I still can't believe there was an easier way to get out of that cave," Ron said as they crossed the Forbidden Forest. "And you knew about it all this time."
Kitrina snickered from her fox form as she trotted along in front of Ron and Hermione. The group was in a good mood except for Ron's bickering about Kitrina knowing an alternate route into the dwelling of the pixies and fairies.
"Stop laughing. Mione and me could have seriously gotten hurt."
Kitrina rolled her eyes.
Ron growled and swiftly took out his bow and arrow. "I think you actually did that to us on purpose!" Kitrina turned around to stick her tongue out at him but was met by an arrow six inches away from the tip of her nose. She yelped and jumped back, looking at Ron with a malicious stare.
Hermione glared at Ron. "That wasn't very nice, Ron," she scolded.
Ron shouldered his bow. "Little runt deserved it, if you ask me."
**
No more than thirty feet away, Kalvin sat up in a tree collecting eggs for one of his potions. He was always sneaking into the forbidden forest for this and that, ever since he was five. He most likely new it better than anyone else, except for the caretaker, that is. He wasn't afraid of any of the dangers and knew how to protect himself from all the dangers that the forest provided against him. Just like Ron Weasley, he was an expert archer, and rarely missed his target.
That particular morning, he had nothing to do so he decided to leave Lady at home and take a trip into the forest to gather some rare and much needed items for his line of work. As usual he enjoyed the solitude of the task but a random thought roamed around in his head. Ever since the other day, he couldn't get that little fox out of his head.
It was true, and he almost hated to admit it, but the vixen had made a big imprint on his mind from their first meeting. It was her eyes that stunned him the most. Their deep black color left him lost and confused. Just like lady's hazel eyes. How could something so dark contain so much warmth? It wasn't only her eyes but her facial expression. She didn't seem like any normal fox and he could tell there was something totally unique about her.
For one of the very few times in his life, Kalvin smiled. It wasn't a sarcastic or wry smile, like usual. It was a true genuine cheerful smile.
**
Also no more than forty feet away from the trio and Kalvin stood another figure with something shorter than him standing right by his side. He shivered as he remembered his master's words.
Remember Wormtail, it's up to you to spy on them, if they retrieve an item then you must fetch it from them. I WON"T TOLERATE ANY FAILURES!
Wormtail shivered even more as his master's last statement rang through his head. He stared at the subdued werewolf at his side. He smiled weakly. The girl and boy were in front of him, along with that pesky fox. He was so close. If the wolf could chase them away and they would drop the item in their haste. He would succeed! He had too.
Taking out his wand he pointed it at the serene animal that was under his spell.
**
"Ron, that wasn't very nice of you," Hermione said.
"An eye for an eye. Because she lead us through that hole and down that cliff, I ended up with a bruise the size of a pumpkin on my chest when you la-." He cheeks turned pink at the thought of how that happened but Hermione's cheeks were four times as red as his.
Kitrina sat on a rock, grinning like a Cheshire cat (or more like a fox) at the two. They are just too cute, she giggled to herself.
Snap!
Kitrina stopped, her cheerful expression changing faster than the naked eye could see. Her black eyes wavered around not seeing anything new. She had heard it loud and clear but where was it? Something was coming near them and it was big as well as dangerous. Her ears moved quickly as she tried to figure out where it was coming from and her nose sniffed as she tried to sense what it was. Her eyes opened wide! She knew exactly what it was!
Knowing she didn't have enough time to warn them, she quickly barked and grew to a slightly larger size. Ron and Hermione looked at her wondering what caused her to grow. A low sounding growl caused Ron to look behind him and two large yellow eyes greeted him. He grabbed Hermione and pulled her behind him. The wolf stepped closer, snarling and growling. All of a sudden it leaped and headed straight for him.
It was instinct that over came his fear. Ron immediately threw himself and Hermione down on the ground, his right shoulder striking against a sharp rock, digging in. He winced in pain but pulled Hermione closer towards him expecting the wolf to pounce upon him and attack. The wolf never got within a foot of them.
The second that Ron threw himself and Hermione down, Kitrina jumped and attacked the wolf head on. Biting and clawing with all the strength, she pushed the wolf back down to the ground and bared sharp fangs at it. But unfortunately for her, she was at her full size limit and she was about half the size of the wolf, giving her a small disadvantage. Of course that didn't stop her. Full animal instinct had taken over and she was ready to kill.
Now angry and provoked, the wolf tossed its paw across Kitrina, throwing her ahead. Catching herself on the ground she ran back and attacked. She aimed at its front foreleg and bit as hard as she could. She tasted the blood in her mouth and felt her opponent grab the back of her head and trying to rip her off his leg. The wolf managed to break her grip and threw her again, making her strike a rock backside.
Ron and Hermione winced as they heard Kitrina's painful yelp. Ron looked and saw the fox trying to stand up, having a difficult time doing so. He cursed at himself for not being able to help. If only he could reach his bow and arrows or his wand, but his wand hand and shooting arm all hurt too much from the injury to his shoulder. Blue eyes watched as Kitrina shot a quick glance at them and immediately went to attack the wolf head on again.
The vixen's second yelped pulled at Hermione's heart. She couldn't help her friend in any single way, her wand was somewhere inside her robes but she couldn't reach it. Her arms were wrapped around the gourd, protecting it, and her tears fell upon it.
Kitrina winced in more pain, her leg and back were killing her. She had to protect her two friends from the wolf, even if it meant her death. They were the only ones that could protect the world from Voldemort. With only three more items to find and one to recover, they couldn't die. If she died it would be okay, Hagrid and the other animals would vouch for Hermione and the others as the chosen ones. She panted as she stood face to face with the wolf, which was all scratched and cut from their scuffle and it was holding its paw close to its body. Kitrina was sure that it was broken. Of course she was much worse.
The wolf growled again and was ready to pounce again when an arrow flew through the air and landed in the wolf's injured paw. It yelped in pain and jumped back as three more flew and landed next to it. The wolf growled but stepped further back as more arrows came flying, one of them being a fire arrow produced by a spell. Finally succumbing to the army of arrows the wolf turned around and limped away.
Ron and Hermione looked up as they heard the whoosh of the arrows zip through the air. Seeing that the wolf was gone, they sat up, Ron wincing at the pain in his shoulder. Hermione saw the blood through his robe.
"Ron, are you all right?" She went for her wand.
He shrugged it off. "I'm all right. Where the hell did those arrows come from?"
"I don't know." Hermione looked but couldn't see anyone or anything around. A sudden sound interrupted her thoughts. It was low but high pitched, like a squeak. She gasped and looked in front of her. Kitrina stood in front of them, a foxy smile on her face, her eyes warm with happiness. But what shocked Hermione were the numerous injuries on her friend.
Kitrina was bleeding from many spots on her shaking body and her front leg was heavily damage. A large spot were the wolf had bitten her was bleeding from on top of her neck. The fox coughed, blood dripping from her fangs. Hermione honestly couldn't tell if the vixen was shaking from pain or weariness or maybe even both. Both Hermione and Ron sat there silent as they looked at her. Kitrina tried to take a step forward but her pain was too great and she was more exhausted than she thought. Her legs gave way and she fell to the ground.
Hermione and Ron ran up to her. "Kitrina!" Hermione gently lifted her off the ground; she was as limp as a noodle. Tears came to her eyes. Was she dead?
But a small rise and fall of Kitrina's chest answered her question. No, but she was close to it if they didn't act fast.
She looked at Ron. "We have to get her back to Hogsmeade now, she'll die if we don't. I don't know any advanced healing spells that can treat her wounds and the gourd doesn't cure physical wounds!"
Ron slipped off his cloak and wrapped it around the vixen's body. "I can't believe she tool on a full grown wolf," he muttered to himself. Stupid fox. He looked at Hermione. "Do you mind carrying her? I know a shortcut but I need to keep an eye out." He whipped out his wand. "Lets go!" With their friend wrapped up, they ran into the forest towards Hogsmeade.
**
Kalvin watched them run from his tree. He didn't' know that the vixen that Hermione was the same one that he had met yesterday but it was Kitrina's impact on him, that made him save her today.
He looked at his hands, which held the bow that he used to shoot the arrows. He normally would have let fate take its course and let the wolf kill the fox but his heart told him otherwise. Why? Why did he do it? He was a cold-blooded mercenary; he wasn't supposed to care about others like that. Especially people he didn't like much less know.
Kalvin shook his head and climbed down the tree with everything he had collected and went home.
**
Wormtail cursed loudly as he saw the wolf licking its leg. He had failed again. What would his master do to him now?
***
"Kitrina!" Hermione ran and hugged her friend when she saw that she was alive and well. As soon as her and Ron had reached the castle, they went straight to Remus and Sirius to have them attend Kitrina. After closely examining the vixen's bloody body, Remus said that he would do what he could for her and that she was most likely going to live. As he was doing that, Sirius rushed Ron and Hermione to the hospital to give the magical water of the gourd to Harry. As Kitrina had informed them, the water acted as a cure-all and healed Harry of the pernicious effects of the dart bird's poison and he was recovering quickly.
As soon as they returned to the castle, the first thing that Hermione and Ron went for was the house where Remus, Sirius, and Harry lived. Inside they found Remus wrapping bandages around a human Kitrina who was wincing with every inch of pressure that was put onto her injuries.
"HERMIONE!!!!!!!!! THAT HURTS!!!!"
Hermione quickly let go and let Kitrina fall to the ground. "Owey! Owey! Owey!" she cried out as she looked at Hermione with a pained expression.
"I'm sorry," she said as she wiped the tears away. "I'm just so happy that you're okay."
Ron walked up and stood next to her. "So am I, fox, you really gave us a scare." He gave her a weak smile, which Kitrina understood. Her response was a simple smile.
"So how's Harry?"
"He'll be just fine," Sirius said. "He's recovering as we speak and should be out of the hospital within a week. If it wasn't for that pushie Madam Pomfrey, he'd be back here tomorrow."
"Told ya, it would work."
Remus smiled as he finished administrating her bandages. "And we didn't doubt you for a moment. You ARE the student of the great Merlin." He shot a quick wink at the other three.
Of course as Remus planned, the statement boosted up Kitrina's demeanor from slightly cheerful to all out happy. Kitrina's fox ears and tail features returned and wiggled back and forth. "Of course and as Master's sole student and loyal companion, I will henceforth protect all the searches of the items. Even if it means my death!"
"We can take care of ourselves you know," Ron said dryly.
"Not that we're not grateful that you protected us from the wolf, Kitrina," Hermione said, giving Ron an evil looked while she hugged her friend more gently. "We're just glad that you're not dead."
Kitrina just winced as she tried to hug Hermione back but her injured arm was killing her. Remus' skills were excellent but she was still soar from all her wounds. It had been a close battle, that it had.
***
A few days later Hermione noticed that everyone was getting into the cheerful mood. People were smiling more and children were getting excited. She had even heard school was being lead out for the next two weeks. Even the people around the castle were slightly more joyful and greeting each other with a gay and merry smile. It was like they were all on prosac.
One day Hermione asked Professor McGonagall about it after one of their lessons.
"Oh you didn't know?"
Hermione shook her head. "Know what, Professor?"
"The city is getting ready to celebrate Yule Festival. Twelve days of festivities that begin in three days on the sunrise."
Hermione blinked. "Yule Festival?"
Professor McGonagall smiled a very rare smile. "It's a wonderful event, Ms. Granger. You'll love it."
For the rest of the day Hermione thought about it. A festival that lasted twelve days? She wondered what someone could do with twelve days of holiday. Of course she asked Kitrina about it while she was in her room.
"Yule Festival," Kitrina said as she layed on Hermione's bed with Crookshanks lying next to her. "It's been a good three to four hundred years since I've been to one, but it's so wonderful you'll just love it. It's filled with-"
Knock Knock Knock"Hermione?"
Hermione smiled from the book she was reading. She winked at Kitrina and the girl changed into her fox form and ran under the bed. "Come in, Ginny."
The youngest Weasley came bouncing in carrying the same buoyancy as everyone else. "Are you doing anything important?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I'm studying. Why?"
Ginny rolled her eyes and grabbed Hermione's cloak and reached for her arm. "Don't start with that. Grab all your money and let's go."
"Go where?" Hermione asked.
"Shopping!"
Hermione stopped. "Shopping?"
Ginny's brown orbs did a 360 yet again. "Yes, shopping. Madam Malkin's is having a major sale on festival robes and we need to find decent party clothes."
Hermione sighed. More Yule things. She was starting to get curious and annoyed now. Deciding that she better humor Ginny, she grabbed her savings (which was a lot) and headed out the door with Ginny and Crookshanks following her.
After she had closed her door, Kitrina popped her head out from under the bed and smiled. We all need some fun, after all we've been through, she thought to herself. Deciding that she better play on her own agenda, she trotted out the door.
***
Harry sighed as he sat in the hospital bed, only one more day and he would be let free from his prison. He felt much better and was walking fine but Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let him leave until she found him perfectly fit. Sure he was a little weak but that was common after being what he went through.
He turned another page in his book and looked out the window. What he wouldn't do to have a visitor. Ron, Uncle Sirius, Uncle Remus, Hermione, Malfoy………..no cancel that thought Harry told himself. He wasn't that desperate. Only one more day and he would be out of here. One more day, just one more day…..
Harry slammed his book shut. He could not last one more day that was for sure. Not when there were adventures to explore, items to be found, Quidditch games to be won. How could someone as active as him stay still for so long?
"Knock, knock."
Harry snapped out of his brooding and looked at his window, where sure enough, he had a visitor. It was Kitrina. He sighed, not exactly who he had in mind but she would do. He nodded his head and she opened his window and jumped in. She smiled as she brought forth from under her cloak a big box with the words "HONEYDUKES" on it.
"Special delivery for one Mr. Harry Potter," she said with a smile, she jumped unto his bed and set the box down right in front of him. Harry just sat there. Kitrina's eyebrows narrowed. "Well don't just sit there, open the box for goodness sake!"
"Thanks, Kitrina," Harry said softly. He opened the box and discovered it full of all the sweets that ever existed. Bertie Bott's beans, Chocolate Frogs, Flavored Pops, Live Gummi Worms, everything that Harry loved from Honeydukes. "You honestly didn't have to do this you know."
Kitrina shrugged it off, wincing in pain. "But I wanted to. Besides sweets help you heal, not that you need it, but you're too skinny anyways."
Harry just laughed as he took out a package of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and handed Kitrina a chocolate frog. She accepted it with a heavily bandaged arm. Harry looked at her. Besides her arm, her face contained a few bandages on it and he suspected that under her robes, there was a couple more. He had heard all the details from Ron about the vixen's battle with the wolf. "Shouldn't you be in bed too? You look like you're still healing."
Kitrina took a big bite out of the frog and looked at her card. "I already have three of these," she mumbled. She looked at Harry, "Well yeah, I may be healing but I can't sit still. Remus made me stay inside for two whole days before I was aloud to walk around again. My arm's pretty bad but it's healing slowly. Besides with the Yule Festival coming up, how can I possibly stay still? Only two more big days till it begins!"
~*~
Hermione stood still as she and Ginny were getting fitted for festival robes. "Twelve days of nothing but celebrating? What about work and school?"
Ginny laughed. "Well work is limited to only a few hours a day so only what's necessary at the moment is done, and school is let out for the next two weeks. This is a time for fun and games. Each day is filled with nothing but laughter and everyone is divided up into pairs. But it's the first, middle, and last day that are the best."
~*~
"The first day is always the one I like the best," Kitrina said throwing a gummi worm into the air.
"I don't' know," Harry said. "I still don't like that dance."
Kitrina raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? The Dance of the Eyes is always fun."
~*~
Hermione blinked. "The Dance of Eyes?"
Ginny nodded as they walked the through the streets. "Yep, it's the starting point of the festival. Groups get together and you drink this weird potion. Then standing in a certain formation with boys facing girls, this lady starts to sing a mystical song and you start dancing. The funny thing is that even though you don't know the steps or the tune, you just start dancing and you go into this trance. Once the dance is over, you're looking face to face with your partner. And he will stay with you for the rest of the festival. It's the number one rule for those who participate in the dance. They say that at least one pair that is chosen to be together stays together forever." She sighed. "I wonder if it will be me this year?"
Hermione nodded. A dance that decided your partner? It sounded so weird to her. "So what happens on the sixth day?"
~*~
Kitrina smiled. "And then on the sixth day, it's the Yule Ball." She sighed happily. "It's so romantic."
Harry rolled his eyes. "It's okay, I guess."
~*~
"The Yule Ball," Ginny said as she and Hermione sat at the corner store, eating ice cream. "It's the highlight of the whole festival. Everyone, from young to old celebrates in the middle of the city and they stay up the whole night partying. Couples get closer together and it's just totally romantic."
~*~
"And then the very last day," Kitrina said. "The parade."
Harry smiled. "That's probably my favorite part. They always have the top Quidditch team ahead of the rest."
Kitrina rolled her eyes. "Quidditch freak."
~*~
"So what's in the parade?" Hermione asked as they passed by the park.
"Well it's really just a show off of all the fun things in Hogsmeade. They say that Hogsmeade's festival is the best in the land so people from all over come and watch and help celebrate. So really, it's nothing but a show."
"What happens in between those three events?" Hermione asked.
"Oh all sorts of things," Ginny said.
~*~
"Contest," Kitrina said.
"Quidditch matches," Harry commented.
~*~
"Different shows," Ginny said.
~*~
"Singing." Kitrina's eyes were shinning now.
"Quidditch tournaments," Harry sighed contentedly.
~*~
"Shopping."
~*~
"Romance."
"Quiddi-"
"I GET THE IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!" Kitrina yelled, hitting Harry over the head.
Harry laughed as he rubbed his head. "Sorry," he mumbled.
~*~
Hermione was only half listening to Ginny's ramblings about the Yule festival. With each little detail, she was becoming more and more excited. Twelve days of fun, merry making, and hanging out with friends.
Hermione smiled. Hanging out with friends. The last time she had ever really hung out was with Amber but that was only at their houses, never in public. She honestly had to say she had never really been to something that sounded as big as the Yule Festival especially with people that she enjoyed being with. Ginny, Harry, Kitrina,
Ron….
Hermione's cheeks turned a slight pinkish tone. That thought had been completely random.
Or had it?
***
Two big days later, the start of the Yule Festival had begun. At the first drop of Sunlight appeared people ran into the streets and started celebrating, throwing everything from paper, to flower petals, to other people around. Everyone was completely exuberant in their actions. Children were running around with their best play robes on while adults walked around showing off their most fashionable robes and greeting everyone as if they were old friends.
From her window at the top of the tower, Hermione watched, as she got ready for the festival herself. While shopping with Ginny she had found the perfect color robe for the first day and even had other robes to last her out for the other eleven days. She looked at the sets of hair clips, ribbons and bows that she had bought for herself and looked at her hair that she normally kept loose. How would she wear it today? She had never really felt so self-conscious about her hair in such a way.
Kitrina watched her in her human form from the bed, next to Crookshanks. The vixen smiled. Hermione looked very nice in her new sky blue robe and she had fixed her hair so it wouldn't a normal frizzy but a lovely brown wave of hair using a new hair product that she had bought. Kitrina herself had fixed up a decent looking robe for herself, that of an orange tinge that contrasted nicely with her tan skin tone. Her black curly hair was put up into her normal ponytail and held together with a nice orange ribbon that she had borrowed from Hermione. Since her ears were pierced, she also wore a nice set of hoop earrings that she had bought with some money that she had borrowed from Hermione. And of course, she had a nice scar going along her arm from her battle, although it was hidden well from the long sleeves of her robe.
Kitrina giggled as Hermione sighed holding all of her hair in one hand. "What's so funny?" Hermione asked letting go of her hair.
"You," Kitrina said flatly.
Hermione's eyebrows narrowed and she looked in the mirror once again. What was she going to do? "What, Kitrina?" she asked after she heard the fox-girl make a fake cough that sounded like "let me do it".
"Excuse me?"
Kitrina walked right up to her. "Would you like some help?"
Nodding in defeat Hermione obeyed to Kitrina's sitting gesture and sat still as the vixen did all sorts of things with her hair. Wincing as her hair was tugged and pulled, Hermione wondered what her friend was doing. She watched as Kitrina grabbed a hair tie and winced yet again as her hair was pulled and separated. Kitrina then stepped in front of her and frowned.
"Is it that bad?" Hermione asked.
"No, but something is missing." She grabbed a blue ribbon form the dresser and arranged it around the tie and stepped back to look at her. She then grabbed a thing of lip-gloss and applied just a little to Hermione's lips. "Perfect. What do you think, Crooks?"
The cat looked his owner up and down and nodded with a meow. Hermione stood up and looked in the mirror. Kitrina had done her hair into a wide ponytail that spread over her shoulders. The ribbon in her hair was lopsided but yet it gave a nice accent to her hair. Her eyes were wide with amazement; she had never felt or looked so pretty before.
Kitrina smiled at Hermione. She just looked so cute looking at herself with shock and amazement. "I would have done it half up, half down but you'll need to have it pulled back for the Dance of the Eyes. It'll get in your way if its let loose."
Hermione smiled. "Oh I don't think I'll be participating in that. I wouldn't know anyone."
"Don't give me any of those silly excuses," Kitrina said with her hands on her hip. "You're going to dance if even if I have to personally push and drag you out there." Besides you might just get paired up with the man of your dreams, she thought to herself with a foxy smile.
Hermione smiled weakly seeing the sneaky smile and look in her eyes. "Are you going to dance?"
Kitrina's fox ears popped up. "I honestly haven't thought about it. Maybe, maybe not."
Hermione frowned. "I'm not going out there, if your not."
"Oh stop it already. I'm not the one with a social problem. Besides Ginny's going out there so you'll know at least one person. I know she's going to meet you there, so get ready to dance your shoes off. It starts at three o'clock sharp and no one is late for that dance."
Hermione turned red. "I'll get paired up with a perfect stranger and make a fool of myself."
Kitrina sighed. This girl was being too difficult.
That was the last straw.
No more Ms. Nice Vixen.
She winked over in Crookshanks direction, who seemed to give a kitty wink back. Fox ears and tail popped out and Kitrina marched straight over to Hermione, while Crookshanks ran over to the desk. While he was jumping off, Kitrina tapped over to Hermione.
"Oh, Hermione."
"Yes?"
"Crookshanks stole your Arithmancy workbook." Truth to her word, Crookshanks had Hermione's miniature Arithmancy workbook set firmly in his jaws.
Frowning, Hermione stuck out her hand. "Crookshanks, give it back."
Crookshanks walked out the door.
"Crookshanks."
And he didn't turn back.
"CROOKSHANKS!"
Yep, Kitrina thought to herself and also trying her best not to laugh. That kitty was long gone.
Hermione ran after her cat. "CROOKSHANKS THAT HAS ALL OF MY HOMEWORK PROBLEMS IN THERE!"
Kitrina ran after her closing the door and grabbing Hermione's purse. "Now let's get this party started," she said slyly to herself, her fox ears wiggling with pleasure.
***
The festival was a stunning sight, Hermione thought to herself as she walked along with Kitrina. Kitrina was showing Hermione all the different sights and telling her what they were about, since the neither boys nor Ginny around to do it. The three of them said they would meet them for the Dace of the Eyes.
"OH OH! There goes the Exploding Snap table! I have to stop by there later. I'm a pro at that game."
Hermione laughed. "But it's completely random."
Kitrina winked at her. "I have some of the best luck in the world."
"I'll take your word for it," Hermione said with a smile.
"Mione! Fox!"
Both girls turned around to face a running Ron and Harry followed by Ginny. All three were wearing some of their best robes. Harry was wearing a pine green colored one, Ginny was in royal lavender, while Ron was in a nice maroon robe with black around the edges. Ron was the first to reach them but just stopped and stared silently, his eyes filled with awe. Harry and Ginny had caught up and were about to say something when the air was filled with the sounds of bells and drums.
Ginny shrieked. "The dance is about to start. COME ON!" She grabbed Hermione's hand and dragged her over to the main square.
Kitrina laughed and nudged Ron in the stomach as they watched the two girls walked away. She narrowed her eyes and her smile became slightly evil. "Better go catch her before someone else does, lover-boy," she quietly so that only he would hear.
Ron turned red and shot her a look that would kill one hundred dragons. He walked off muttering something about an extra moving target.
Harry caught on and smiled. "Are you going to dance?"
Kitrina shook her head. "No."
"Why not?"
Kitrina just looked up at him and smiled. "I have a feeling that I shouldn't, that's all. Shouldn't you be off too?"
He shrugged and went to go join the crowds leaving the vixen by herself. Kitrina sighed and looked around. "I wonder if he's here?" She simply giggled and went to go skip around for the best seat in the house. She couldn't miss this little show.
Hermione was very
lost and very confused. Wizards and Witches from teenagers to adults were
running around to the front of the giant area that was completely bare except
for a stage gathered at the front set up with all sorts of drums and other
instruments. But what confused her even more was that people were gathering
around in lines before the bare area and doing something.
"Ginny, what are we doing?" Hermione yelled through all the noise of the crowd.
"We have to drink the potion first, if we don't then we won't be able to do the dance."
They reached one of the shorter lines and waited their turn. Hermione realized that it was a certain minority of wizards that were passing out the drinks. They were adult women, who had flowing dirty blond curls and tan skin like Kitrina's. They had ribbons falling from their hair and their robes were designed differently from everyone else's with different kinds of charms and bells hanging off of them.
"Who are they?" Hermione asked Ginny.
"They're the gypsies that live on the outskirts of town. They come in every once and so often and always appear for the festival. They coordinate the Dance of the Eyes and make the potion themselves." She stepped up and took a sip of the drink from the goblet that one of the women gave her.
Next was Hermione, she slowly took the goblet and sipped from it. It tasted like rich chocolate with hints of raspberry, one of her favorites. She handed it back to woman, who motioned for her to step in one of the numerous lines of witches. Hermione found herself positioned in-between two girls just about her age and waiting what seemed like an eternity for something else to happen.
Finally after the last drop had been drunken, the gypsies moved from their spots and began to assemble upon the stage. Bystanders stood at the sides as the hundreds of wizards standing in the lines looked at the stage to see a tall figure walk to the front. She was wearing a shiny gray robe with silver along the edges. Her dirty blond locks fell about her back and eyes sparkled around the crowd. More gypsies, men, women, and even a few children gathered upon along with the woman and gathered instruments in their hands.
Hermione stood still and silent like the others around her as the woman looked around. She placed a small spell upon herself and then raised her hands up. "Are you ready to start the Yule Festival?" Her voice was clear and loud carrying on about the crowd.
Hundreds of yells and cheers filled the air and then quieted down as she got into position along with her fellow gypsies.
(A.N. For all of you Shakira fans, I'm sure u know what song I'm talking about and for those of you who don't, I highly suggest you download or buy this song. "Eyes Like Yours" is a very good song.)
The music started off with a loud gong and Hermione could feel her body with the music. Her arms lifted into the air along with everyone around. Her body turned three-hundred and sixty degrees in a jump and she spun around again along her line. Her mine felt blank but she could clearly hear the song in the background. The gypsies voice was different. Instead of sweetly flowing it was a harsh voice that gave the song a life of its own.
Oh, you know I have seen
A sky without a sun
A man with no nation
Saint's captive in chains
A song with no name
For lack of imagination
Hermione felt her hands clasp along with others as she weaved her way among the chains of people participating. She felt like she was in a trance, hearing the voice flow along with the background music.
Ya he……And I have seen
Darker than ebony
Ya he……
And now it seems, that I
Without your eyes could never be
Kitrina watched from her spot from a rooftop. The Dance of Eyes was truly one of her favorite things to watch. It was amazing how the people coordinated themselves along with the beat of the music. The music itself was unique and different, upbeat and full of rhythm. If it weren't for the fact that she was on another mission, she would have joined herself. But-,she thought to herself, I'd rather watch the scene playing right before my eyes.
She sighed.
"Kitrina, you are just to much of a romantic!" she said to herself laughing.
My one desire, all I aspire
Is in your eyes forever to live
Traveled all over, the seven oceans
There is nothing that I wouldn't give
Came from Bahrein, got to Beruit
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours
Hermione felt as light as air as she twirled again and touched someone else's hand. Her brown eyes met that of some hazel ones and for a spilt second they seemed to be studying each other. It felt so weird to her. The music sounded so Arabian with the beats of the drums and the sound of the horn in the background. She could hear the jingling of various chains and the ringing of bells.
Came from Bahein, got to Beruit
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours
It was like the music was guiding her somewhere, to a certain location of the stage. But to who? And where were they?
Oh, I have seen
A woman of means
In rags and begging for pleasure
Crossed a river of salt
Just after I rode
A ship that sunk in the desert
Ya he...
And I have seen
Darker than ebony
Ya he…
And now it seems, that I
Without your eyes could never be
My one desire-
Who do I desire? Hermione asked herself.
All I aspire-
Is for your eyes forever to live
Traveled all over the seven oceans
There is nothing that I wouldn't give-
What would I give? Hermione thought.
Came from Bahrein, came from Beruit
Looking for someone comparing to you-
Who am I searching for? Hermione's mine screamed out at her.
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours
All of a sudden the music slowed, with every dancer slowing along with it. Instead of blurred figures with still eyes, Hermione saw people passing by her. Her hands grasped at theirs and they traveled slowly in a circle. All of a sudden three loud beats caused them to let go and the yet again went into that fast pace beat that carried her to some unknown destination. The final verse chorused out loud as Hermione felt herself go faster grasping and spinning and traveling. If it weren't for the potion, she surely would have felt ill.
[A.N: Okay here there would be a verse in Arabian but since I couldn't find the translation or the words written in the roman alphabet I couldn't insert them. T_T I'm sorry]
Came from Bahein, got to Beruit
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doorsAnd I could not find eyes like yours
All of a sudden Hermione hand clasp that of someone else's and she felt her head drop down as the music suddenly stopped. Hermione breathed lightly. Despite the speed and numerous turns she felt fairly well and could easily walk. It had gone by so quickly, she thought to herself.
But…..
Whose hand was she grasping?
She lifted up her head slowly.
And brown eyes quickly met with blue ones.
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LOL, I wonder if I could call this a cliffhanger. I'm sure all of you know whose hand she's grasping. Right? Actually this scene right here was the part that I've wanted to write this forever but it just took me a while to get to it. (school, moving halfway across the country, finding a cure for cancer{I wish…..}). So for all of you romance junkies I guess you know what this means. Hehe.
Okay I have these people to thank for reviewing and I'm all set to write off the next chapter:
Bladed Devil: Oh wow. I'm very excited that you think so.
Just Another Weasley: I'm very happy that you love it. Please provide me with any advice and commentary that you can.
Pansy Potter: I'm actually taking that into consideration. I guess you can say that Kitrina tries to play matchmaker for those two and she'll have a major part to play with it also.
Esther and Mal: thank you