He awoke with an odd sensation, as if a metaphysical blackness had been cast over his head. He felt his nose rubbing against some material that felt foreign. Even the smell was different, but familiar at the same time, as if he had smelt it briefly before, but had not distinguished its essence. His mouth was parched and still tasted like the oddly metallic pills that she had forced into him; he felt half awake, groggy, and even in the blackness, his vision seemed to trail. He stirred, and immediately, a corner of the veil was lifted.

You're finally awake.

Her voice sounded calm, but with an undertow of panic; perhaps she had believed she had accidentally poisioned him. He snorted at the thought, then reached up to massage his eyes, which were sore from the rude introduction to light. He was laying down, splayed across the seats in a macabre parody of a grecian god enjoying the spoils of his victory. The only thing different in this case, was that this own bounty was a very hard, very cold and very unpredictable weapon pressing into his right breast. He gave a small groan of pain as he turned over to face her.

What did you give me? I feel as though my head's been shoved under water for three hours.

She nodded sympathetically, and offered him an entirely leathal looking, clear contraption that housed what appeared to be water. When he appeared wary, she rolled her eyes and tossed it at him, catching him in his shoulder. The thing was also heavier than it appeared, and it went crashing to the floor.

It's water, professor. I assure you that I wouldn't poison you. As for the pills, they're...um....non magical sleeping draughts.

She looked confused, searching for parallel word, and bit her lip.

.

He croaked the word, suddenly finding a fiery thurst sprouted in his throat. The water, though cool, tasted refreshing, but fabricated. As if weren't real water, as if these muggles had found ways to duplicate the crudest natural resource as well. He wiped the corners of his mouth, looking amused at the flushed, angry colour that rose in her cheeks. Obviously, she wasn't aqquainted with the wizarding dialect.

Muggles are non magical peoples. You could say the vast majority of this earth. Most unfortunately for your kind, you have no magical aide, and are forced to salvage whatever desperate measures you can to survive.

There was an odd gleam of triumph, replaced by an insulted pride. Judging from the venemous glint that suddenly faced him, he knew he had singed a nerve.

We've done quite well,thank you very much. I don't find myself running away from an institution that's pretentious enough to think it could protect everyone in need.

Her voice was tightly controlled, and one more caustic comment from his direction and he knew her resolve would snap. He regarded with half closed, predatorily roving eyes; she shifted oddly in her seat, trying to find another object as darkly enigmatic to stare at in the small compartment. He suddenly leaned forward.

Don't ever, ever insult things you don't understand, little girl. You'll find that your tongue will cause you far more trouble than it's worth.

This was uttered in a low, langorous hiss, a far more dangerous sound than if he had shouted at her. He forced her gaze to level his, and she flinched, retreating as far back into her seat as possible. She nodded, and was noticeably paler.

The journey was an uncomfortable one, and several times she had gone outside to pace. Although regret was not exactly what he felt, he knew he shouldn't have gone off and scared her like that; it would certainly lessen her reason to protect him, as well their rappaport. If you could call it that.

He ran the fingertips along the jawline of his face, dwelling briefly on her touch. He wondered how many others would have been brave enough to do such a thing; not even Harry Potter, boy wonder, would have summoned the nerve. He took a piece of hair between his hands, and absently ran his fingers down the length.

She had warm fingertips, even thought the rest of her hand was cold.

He turned his mind from this and settled his sharp chin into the cup of his scaly hand and stared out the window, into the increasingly blackening sky.













A/N: Haven't been getting many reviews for this one, even though it's my personal favourite. Hoped you all enjoyed that, and do not be afraid to offer suggestions. I know my grammar and spelling have a lot to be desired.