Dark World
CHAPTER TEN: NIGHT BLIND
"George!" I cried as he headed towards the lake. I broke into a run as he walked faster, "George! Listen to me!" I caught up to him and grabbed his arm and twirled him around. His eyes danced with unshed tears. He glared at me and tried to get out of my grip.
"Go away!" He yelled at me. I flinched at the volume and tone of voice. He broke out of my grip.
"Fine! Be stubborn! I was only to trying to be nice!" I shouted after him. My eyes began to form with tears. I growled at myself. I didn't even start a romantic relationship with him so why am I crying over it? I glared at his lonely figure and started back towards the castle before a deep rumble came from the near-by forest.
I glanced at the dark trees and saw something large move. A blood-curdling scream came from the foliage. I saw something leap from the depths of the black shadows.
"SARI!" George's voice screamed.
The next thing I saw was the sky and hot breath was pressing against my neck. I looked down to see a large dog-ish looking creature panting over my neck. It nibbled delicately at my throat as I heard heavy footsteps in front of it.
"Hey you big oaf! Get away from her!" I heard George's voice command shakily. I saw the dog look up and suddenly I realized what it was. It leapt of me and I scrambled to my feet.
"GEORGE!!" I screamed as the nightmarish creature bounded towards him. I fumbled for my wand but saw it far away, lying on the ground. I closed my eyes as spell suddenly popped in my mind and without thinking of what it was I screamed it, "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" The dog froze and fell to the ground. I grabbed my wand, which lay about twenty feet away and dashed towards George. I grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the castle.
"Come on!" I urged as we reached the doors to the west entrance. I threw George in first and followed afterwards. Spinning on my heel I turned and slammed the door shut.
I sunk to the ground as my body shook from the adrenaline rush. I turned to see George sprawled over the cold stone floor.
"What was that thing?" He demanded.
"A grim I think." I whispered hoarsely rubbing my temples. He sat up and scooted towards me.
"Are you alright?" He asked. I nodded.
"Just a little shaken up." I said, "Not every day one stares death in the eyes, literally." I told him still shaking slightly. He wrapped his arms around me and rocked me back and forth.
"I'm sorry." He whispered after a few minutes of silence.
"Me too." I told him. We sat there like that for a few more seconds.
"It's just the Weasleys have hated the Malfoys for generations and vice versa. It will be hard to get used to . . . Fighting with a Malfoy and not being at opposite ends." I smiled at the redhead.
"I'm glad you're willing to try." I told him getting up. He stood next to me and for a moment our faces were inches from each other. That was before footsteps echoed from the steps leading to the entrance.
"Ms. Carter?" Hermione's voice called.
"George?" Ron's uncertain voice followed.
"Yes?" We answered at the same time and then grinned at each other. I grabbed George's hand and trotted towards them.
"We heard screaming!" Hermione said as Harry, Dumbledore, and Draco hurried down the steps. George and I pointed towards the door where something was now banging at the door.
"Grim." I said.
"Ah, well then time to deal with him." Dumbledore said and made an opening motion. The doors flew open and the dog demon burst in. We screamed and all started up the stairs. Harry looked back.
"PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE!" Harry cried and we turned back, we saw our headmaster standing there facing a growling dog. Harry started bounding back down the stairs taking them two at a time. The rest of the group followed.
"Ugh . . . Here we go with the hero shit." I grumbled taking off after the others.
"Dumbledore?" Harry asked as they came up to stand beside the old wizard. The headmaster didn't acknowledge us but stared at the creature. The two magical creatures' eyes were locked in a silent, wordless, non-violent battle. After about twenty minutes of frantic yelling and spells to snap them out of it, a smile spread across Dumbledore's face. The grim lay down and rolled over in submission.
My jaw dropped to the floor and stared in awe with the other students while Dumbledore went to pet the large dog.
"Mister Malfoy, why don't you and Miss Granger go get Hagrid?" The old wizard asked. Hermione nodded and Draco followed silently the two obviously dumbfounded at the turn of events.
"What is going on down here?" McGonagall's voice echoed through the rather silent hall. She stopped when the scene came into view a few of the other fifth, sixth, and seventh year students behind her, "Albus? What in Merlin's name?!?!?" She trailed off. Dumbledore smiled at the old witch.
"Mervina, this is Trumpet." He said. I groaned.
"Good God, he's named the wretched thing." I grumbled and began to walk up the stairs.
"Miss Carter?" I turned.
"Yes, Headmaster?" I asked, Dumbledore smiled so brightly that his eyes were squeezed shut.
"I'm putting you and Mister George Weasley in charge of Trumpet." I almost fell down the stairs.
"B-b-but Headmaster! That thing nearly killed both of us!" I protested, Dumbledore turned to face the dog.
"But this will help you learn to trust all that change sides." I looked at George who buried his face in his hands.
"He's gone batty." I muttered under my breath and made my way back down the stairs, "Very well, Headmaster." I said summoning a leash from thin air.
"I'm proud of you, Miss Carter. Hagrid will instruct you and George on proper care." Dumbledore turned as Hagrid lumbered into the hall followed by a panting Hermione and Draco.
"These two said 'ya needed me." Hagrid said.
"Yes, you will be instructing Miss Carter and Mister Weasley, here, on how to take care of a grim." Hagrid's eyes lit up when his gaze fell on Trumpet, "His name is Trumpet, Hagrid and I want him to be in the intense care of these two students." Hagrid nodded enthusiastically.
"Got it 'edmaster. Follow me." He nodded to the two. I hooked the leash to a collar that was now around the grim's neck. I led him out and George hurried up with Hagrid. I grumbled and walked behind them.
"Now then, yer going ta need some good raw meat." He handed us bow and a quiver of arrows with a dagger for both of us.
"Uh, what are these for?" I asked suspiciously.
"Ta catch his food." I looked at Hagrid as if he was insane, "You'll be going into the Forbidden Forest, and I'm sure Dumbledore's okay with that."
"The Forbidden Forest?" George almost squeaked, "At night?" Hagrid shrugged.
"Best time to catch vermin." He replied and took the leash from me, "I'll get him some water while yer gone." We watched Hagrid disappear around the side of his hut and then looked at each other.
"Well?" I asked turning to go up to the castle.
"Aren't we supposed to catch stuff for him to eat?" George asked hurrying after me.
"Yes, but if you think I'm going to do it in these robes, you're nuts." I said heaving the door open and heard is slam behind us, "I'll meet you back here in fifteen minutes." He nodded and we went separate ways.
*****
I was walking back in a pair of soft, leather pants, dyed black, and tucked into soft leather boots that fit snuggly. A tight, black tank top with a tightly fitting jacket was my on my upper body and my dagger hung at my hip in a blue scabbard. As I made a turn to walk down to the main hall I heard someone crying softly in the shadows.
"Lumos." I whispered walking into the shadows. I saw a younger boy sitting in the shadows. His legs were pulled to his chest and he was crying into them. I recognized him as a fifth year that often walked with Harry.
"Is something wrong?" I asked softly. The boy started and looked up scared. I smiled gently and handed him a handkerchief. He wiped his eyes and blew his nose.
"Thanks." He said, offering the dirty thing back. I looked at it uncertainly and then smiled at him.
"You keep it." I told him, "Is something wrong?" I asked again. He looked away.
"It's that stupid ranking thing." I raised my eyebrows.
"Oh? Why is it stupid?" I asked sitting beside him. I was early so I could spare a few consoling minutes.
"Because we had to perform a really technical spell that I really haven't understood yet." He said kicking his feet in the dust of the corner, "I messed up and Snape ranked me as 61." I chuckled, "It's not funny." He said obviously very upset.
"Sorry. But you're a Gryffindor right?"
"How did you know?" He asked nodding.
"I've seen you with Harry Potter sometimes in the halls. But anyway, you know Snape probably didn't let you do it over again or do a simpler spell because you were a Gryffindor." I told him. He looked at me, "By the way, what'd your name?" I asked.
"Seamus Finnigan." He said. I smiled at him.
"Sari Carter . . .but you probably knew that." I smiled at him. I nodded and I stood up.
"Look, Snape's a cranky old coot who thinks he needs to get back at Gryffindor for something that probably happened while he was at Hogwarts. Trust me, Seamus, it's personal. But go back and ask Flitwick or McGonagall to re-rank you, okay?" I smiled he nodded and I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze and glance at my watch.
"Oh jeez! I gotta go meet George. I'm late now. I'll see you around!" I called and hurried off down the corridor.
George was standing impatiently at the front door holding the bow and quiver. I took the quiver from him and slung it on my back.
"Let's not waste anymore time." I said before he could open his mouth.
"Whatever." He grumbled obviously still sore about having to take care of a grim that have almost killed him earlier. We reached the edge of the forest and looked at one another. I took George's hand and took the first step onto the soft ground.
Following no particular path we trekked through the dark forest until I stopped. George ran into me and before he could say anything I shook my head and put a finger to his lips.
"Memoria connexion." I murmured softly. Placing the tip of my wand on his forehead and then on mine he gave me a puzzled look.
*What the hell did she just do?* His voice echoed in my mind.
*Linked our minds Genius.* I rolled my eyes. He gasped and looked at me, *Now shut up and look over there.* I pointed to a clearing where a buck, a doe, and a fawn all stood out in the moonlight.
*What about them?* I gave a mental sigh of impatience.
*That buck is our ticket out of here.* I mentally reprimanded him. He grumbled mentally.
*So how do you plan on getting it.* I shrugged.
*Shoot it.* I said simply and hook my bow around my back and then grabbed a branch to a near by tree. Heaving myself up I looked back at George. *Stay there, you'll probably have to slit it's throat and maybe defend it if it runs off and I can't follow you quick enough.* He gulped and the remaining color on his face drained. I smiled down at him.
*I'll tell you how. I can see through you're eyes enough.* I told him. He nodded, *Now hide somewhere.* He did so and I climbed to a good vantage point. I sighed and drew a simple arrow from my quiver and knocked it.
Keeping steadying with my legs wrapped firmly around the large branch so not to fall, I pulled the end and string back until it was to tight to move anymore.
"Fly true." I whispered to the bow and let it go. A quick 'whoosh' was followed by the scream of the buck. It took off towards the school and a flash of red signaled George following it.
*Sari! I can't see it!*
*Follow the blood!* I commanded. I dashed after them through the tree tops. All of a sudden I leapt onto a tree and heard a sickening crack echo through the forest.
*George?* I called through my mental link. *GEORGE?!?!?!* A wave of pain flooded my body and I felt the world sway I reached for the tree trunk but grabbed thin air.
I screamed as wind howled in my ears and I saw the branches fade out of view above me. I felt the ground beneath me with a sharp pain through my back and then it was a deep red.