Dark World
CHAPTER ELEVEN: NIGHTMARE POSTPONED
I forced my eyes open and saw a blinding light. Squeezing my eyes shut I tried to turn away and searing pain coursed through my body. I whimpered and fell back to my previous position. I felt something cold and wet on my face.
"Trumpet?" I heard a familiar voice in the room. I heard footsteps and the wet thing left my face, "What's the matter?" A dog like whine came and I felt a hand caress my cheek.
"She's not awake, Trumpet. You must have imagined it." I gave a small murmur of protest and tried to turn again. The pain flooded back through my body like a thousand knives stabbing my body repeatedly.
"Sari?" It was George. I didn't know exactly how I could tell it was him and not Fred but something told me it was. I tried to open my eyes again but the bright light hadn't faded, "Sari, are you awake?"
"Bight." I croaked and tried to open my eyes again it was dimmer. It wasn't nearly as hard to open my eyes then. The room spun out of focus for a bit and steadily became clearer.
"Sari!" It was George, his crooked smile was in front of my face and I cracked a small grin.
"Hey."
"Hey! How are you feeling?" I gave him a skeptical look, "Okay, stupid question!" He grinned, "One a scale of one to ten one being crappy and ten being like hell what'd you give yourself?"
"Twenty-five." I said, "I can't move!" I complained. I saw the grim jump up on my bed and wag his tail expectantly. I looked at it wearily, "By the way, what the hell happened? All I remember is a scream and you didn't answer. Then I grabbed for the tree and it wasn't there and the next thing I saw was deep red. Now I'm here."
"Oh . . . well the buck kicked me in the gut before I could slit its throat but it ran into Trumpet who killed it but came after me. It was weird; he took back it to Hagrid and then bounded into the forest.
"A little while later he start howling and Hagrid went with Snape to look for the dog. I had to go Pomfrey and I couldn't contact you. I got really worried and then they came in here carrying you on a stretcher." George looked away and petted Trumpet absentmindedly, "You were covered in blood and so pale. Pomfrey almost had a break down. I don't know what she did but it took them forever to fix you up."
"How long has it been?" I asked.
"About a week, tomorrow's Halloween." He smiled, "They're still planning on having the ball, too." I raised an eyebrow.
"Well, see," George looked away and then looked at me but not in my eyes. He purposely avoided my gaze, "Dumbledore found You-Know-Who and a couple of his goons in the forest near where Trumpet had been. Anyway, Dumbledore and Harry had a big fight with them, of course lots of people went to kill the Death Eaters, but it was Harry and Dumbledore against You-Know-Who. Harry got hurt real bad and Dumbledore vanished with Voldemort. Nobody knows where they went but nobody's heard of their death or traces of them living." He looked into my eyes finally, "So McGonagall took over and called all the students back last Wednesday. Everything is rather back to normal, but meals are different. Not as cheery so McGonagall thought the Halloween Ball should go on. We get tomorrow off and until two we're allowed to go to Hogsmeade." My head spun. That was a lot of information to digest at once. So the lovable, old, batty, Dumbledore was gone and Voldemort with him and nobody knew if they were dead or alive. McGonagall was the Headmistress and was still arranging the Halloween Ball for tomorrow.
"So is McGonagall still teaching Transfiguration?" I asked, still a little confused. George nodded.
"Yea, until they get a replacement." He said. He looked awkwardly at me, "Anyway you've got so much stuff! Your RavenClaw friends wouldn't stop leaving stuff every time they came." I looked over at the surrounding tables holding everything from baskets full of candy and knick-knacks to brightly wrapped boxes.
"Come on and see!" He said trying to pull me out of bed. I gave a sharp cry and grimaced as pain swept through my body and I collapsed breathing heavily on the bed.
"Sorry!" George was by my side whispering words of comfort and helped me sit back up.
"It's okay . . . You didn't know." I said and he looked at me, concern radiating from his blue eyes. I smiled, "Why don't you bring over some candy and you can feed me some. I'm starved and I can't move a muscle!" I said he nodded and grabbed a bag of Bernie Bott's Every Flavor JellyBeans.
"You evil creature." I told him as he held up an ugly green colored one.
"Eat it." I pursed my lips together.
"Mmm-ummm!!!" I protested as he tried to force it in my mouth. He grinned and popped in his mouth and then made a gagging noise and gulped with a great deal of trouble.
"Gross! Grass!" I chuckled as he made faces. He set the jellybeans aside and he picked up a package of Chocolate Frogs. Breaking off a leg he fed me the delicious treat and we sat there chatting aimlessly and eating Chocolate Frogs and Pumpkin Pastries.
After a few hours Jill and Amy came crashing in followed by a furious Madame Pomfrey.
"SARI!!" Jill squealed and hugged me forcefully knocking Trumpet and George out of way.
"OWWW!! JILLL!!!" I protested as she crushed me oblivious to my pain. She held me back and bit her lip.
"Did that hurt?" I growled at her with my eyebrows furrowed in a glare. She grinned with guilt, "Sorry." She said, Amy popped up on the other side of me petting Trumpet absentmindedly.
"You know he stayed with you all the time. McGonagall told Pomfery to make an exception," She leaned closer, "And George stayed here all the time too. Barely left for food and to go to the lavatory." I raised my eyebrows and looked at the boy who was fiddling with the forgotten Chocolate Frogs. I smiled slightly.
"Hey! Sari, what's between you and Seamus Finnigan?" Jill demanded pointing to a whole cart full of candy and gifts.
"Oh! The fifth year Gryffindor right?" I asked her, I saw George stiffen at the mention of his name but shrugged it off as nothing. Jill nodded eagerly, and I tried to shrug, "He was feeling bad about his rank and how Snape cheated him out. I just told him he shouldn't be sad and stuff. He seems like a good kid." I said.
"What?!?! He came in and looked at you like you were an angel almost everyday!" The girl cried. I rolled my eyes.
"It's nothing . . ." I eyed the cart and added under my breath with great uncertainty, "I think."
*****
"Come on!!" Violet said grabbing one arm and Amy grabbed another. My body still ached this morning but upon McGonagall's insistence Madame Pomfery had allowed me out of the hospital wing. Amy grabbed my other arm and dragged be down the long dirt path towards Hogsmeade.
Jubilant cries rang out in the streets and shop doors opened and closed with tinkling of bells.
"To Madame Keldary's!" Jill cried leading us. I whimpered as we were stared at. Three RavenClaws dragging along a fellow RavenClaw down the street. We passed the 'Dream Team' and they laughed before I threw them a silencing glare. They walked off towards the joke shop still snickering.
They dragged me in a high-end robe shop and I felt my heavy bag of money suddenly feel light. The place reeked of old, expensive perfume and a large three-sided mirror for examining stood at the far end of the stood. An excessively large woman came around the corner of a large rack of robes and faked a smile at us.
"Hallo little Hogwarts-y girlies." I gave her a disgusted look as Violet, Amy and Jill forced smiles on.
"Hallo Madame Lugine. Is Madame Keldary here?" Amy asked. Madame Lugine chuckled.
"No, no. She's out to New York again. Fashion week you know." I gave an inward sigh. New York Fashion Week, one of my favorite things to watch. My friends and I would tape the shows on enchanted VCRs and watch them every night; that is before . . .
"Oh . . . Well, we'll just look around. Thanks." Jill said dragging us in the opposite side of the store that held the women's dress robes. We began to shuffle through the many dress robes, holding up various prints, shapes and colors to each other and ourselves.
"This is perfect for you, Amy!" I exclaimed. It was a pale blue with small flecks of silver in it. The dress had a 'V' cut neckline with stitching holding it together in the low cut and a hood falling back. The long bell sleeves stretched so it could cover almost the entire hand and the ends of the robe swished the floor gently. I forced it into her hands.
"But, what would my theme be?" She protested. I shrugged.
"We could charm some angel wings on your back and halo above your head!" I told her pushing her towards the dressing room, "Go!" She went and we continued browsing not really looking for anything inparticular now that someone had found something. She emerged a few minutes later blushing profusely.
"It's so revealing!" She whimpered standing in front of the mirror. I grinned.
"It's perfect!" I said twirling her around, "And who is your date?" I demanded, the blush rose again.
"Lee Jordan." We all squealed.
"So he can be a devil!" I giggled and pushed her back into the changing room, "Now change and help us look for some more things for us!" I told her, "You're getting it. End of discussion."
"Fine." She tried to sound disappointed but the sparkle in her eyes gave it away.
"I'll be fine, Ron! Go along now! You too Harry!" We heard Hermione say heading towards us. I turned and smiled brightly.
"Hey, finally ditch the boy toys?" I teased. She rolled her eyes.
"Yes." I laughed at her prompt response.
"Well come shopping with us, if that's okay?" I looked at the girls, Amy just came back out of the dressing room and smiled.
"Of course, she needs to get away from those boys of hers sometime." We laughed and started looking for a dress for Hermione as well.
"This is PERFECT!" Jill cried triumphantly an evil gleam in her eye. She held up a short, forest green dress robe. She shoved it into Hermione's hands and shoved her into the dressing room. Hermione grudgingly came out a few minutes later. Her face was the color of Ron's hair.
The dress was spectacular, and it was perfect on her. It had an off the shoulder neckline, and long bell sleeves from the shoulder down that covered Hermione's hand up to her knuckles. The dress part itself two inches from the collarbone to her mid-thigh. A 'V' line of ribbon of gold ran around the waist separating the fabric into five thick pieces that would cover from the waist down. Leather strings laced the piece's together at their edges about half-way down getting wider all the way until finally tying off and leaving the rest to expose her slender legs.
"Every sixth year boy and younger is going to stare at you all night!" Violet giggled as Hermione folded her arms.
"I'm not wearing it."
"Yes, you are!" Jill said, "You'll be a woodland fairy and you are due at the Prefect's bathroom at 6:00 PM tonight!" She told Hermione. The girl groaned.
"Awww, you know you wanna get Draco's attention!" If it was possible, Hermione's face turned redder than before at my comment.
"I-I do not!" I laughed.
"Sure that's why you say it so forcefully." I told her and pushed her gently back into the dressing room, "Now get changed, you don't want to ruin the surprise before it's time!" My friends looked at each other and giggled and went back to looking for dresses for ourselves.
I held up a dark burgundy-purple dress with a high, Chinese neckline. The sleeves like all the other's so far were long but made of the same colored, semi-transparent chiffon. The skirt was long and swirled at the floor covered in silver Chinese-style embroidery with flowers. At the buttons there was a single silver bird. My mind wandered back to Renowa's outfit and I smiled. My black cloak with the silver sun clasp would go perfectly. So my theme would be ancient Chinese meets Medieval, not really a theme but oh well.
"Let's try this." I said and swept into the dressing room. I came out of the dressing room a few minutes later and the group gasped. I turned to the mirror. "Not bad, but not exactly what I was hoping." The dress was beautiful true but on me it looked like a rotten plum. The purple was to light to do anything for me and while it was a perfect fit it wasn't what I had hoped.
"It's gorgeous!" Violet exclaimed.
"It's nice. But I think it'd look better on you. This shade would look better with your eyes." I said smiling at her. She grinned.
"I wasn't going to say anything." I grinned back. And soon the dress switched owners. When she came out it made all the difference. It brought out the strange purple flecks in her eyes and made her look fuller in the curvy areas.
"Absolutely fantastic!" I grinned and then looked at Jill.
"We're the only ones left!" She said, "NO!" And she mock fainted. I laughed and she looked at Hermione and Amy who were holding up dresses in our direction. A sudden gasp from Hermione and we all looked at her. She pulled out a long, blood red robe made of what must have been silk. The sleeves had two closed bells and then a bell sleeve from the mid-biscep down, the first bell was a dark red and the other matched the dress. The upper part of the dress was like a vest made of black dragon-hide with a piece of red fabric stretched underneath the extremely small space between the two ends of hide. The two edges were laced with black dragon-hide strings. The skirt of the dress flowed out gently and danced along the floor.
"It was made for you." She breathed still rather in awe that she had found it and in awe of the dress itself. I went to the dressing room and fumbling with the dress clumsily put it on. I came out and stood in front of the mirror.
It was, to put it bluntly, extremely provocative. I grinned and winked at my reflection.
"This will do it." I giggled imagining myself with a medieval witch style of hair and my skinny sword hanging from my hip with it's red, dragon-hide belt.
I adjusted the medallion around my neck and looked over at Jill who emerged in her dark blue dress with a strapless top as well as arm bands to run from the back of her hand to where her dress would start. At her hips rested a white band of cloth that held a golden shield in middle and downwards flowed a long scarf like white band. She looked like the perfect heir to the RavenClaw throne, and who knew, maybe she was. I smiled at myself in the mirror and then tinkered with the hilt of the skinny sword.
It was too small for me now but now it was just for show rather than to fight with. It was my first sword and the rubies and gold in the hilt shined as if it had been bought yesterday. It rested in a jet-black, leather scabbard that hung off a thin, red dragon-hide sword belt. My hair was swept into a nest of a thousand curls and black rosebuds were placed randomly in. And of course I had the black eye make-up and the blood red lipstick going on. I grinned, I was the perfect devil's advocate and I brought my black eye-mask up to my face and place it on with a hold spell.
I looked over at Hermione who was being pawed over by Violet and Amy who places a crown of flowers, ivy and willow branches in her hair. She was the perfect wood nymph, straight out of a Greek mythology book. Amy had put not too much, but just enough of glitter on her face and Violet had twisted white roses into her hair which fell down to her waist. I walked over and picked up the mask Jill and I had worked on earlier.
"Now for the finishing touch." I announced and placed the green eye-mask up to her face and whispered a hold spell. Small feathers and twigs were on the outside and baby's breath over the rest barely allowed the dark green to show itself.
"Perfect!" We chorused and let Hermione look at herself in the mirror. I grinned.
"Nobody will know it's you!" Jill grinned hugging the girl, carefully minding the glitter on her exposed skin.
"Those Athenian sandals of Violet's were perfect." She said, turning slowly to take it all in.
"Not even a dragon could resist you!" I quipped winking. Jill grinned at me her hair was put in a style like Renowa's and she looked stunningly graceful as she swept the others out of the room. She looked at me.
"Now when we go down to the main hall, nobody will recognize any one they haven't seen before then. Like you'll still know who Hermione, Amy, Violet and I are and recognize us. But say if you see Harry or George, you won't know it's them until McGonagall lifts the spell at midnight." I nodded understanding.
"Well don't want to keep Lee and Greg waiting." I grinned with my friend, Greg was a seventh year Hufflepuff who was taking Violet to the dance. We walked out and saw Amy's halo bobbing above the rest of the RavenClaw crowd.
"Come on! I told them we'd meet them on the lower stair case!" Amy said and dragged us out of the common room her wings bumping everyone out of the way. We closed Hermione's eyes and lead her down to the lower staircase and saw the boys waiting for us. Letting go of the younger Gryffindor we headed for the Great Hall.
"Wow!" I breathed as we walked in. Pumpkins floated in the air with the candles dimming the light considerably. Due to the low rehearsal factor McGonagall had chosen a witch bad called Witches Four. They were mix between alternative and hard punk rock. Their vintage prom dresses were slashed and torn in a very sharp manor making them look rather well, dead.
With the pushing and shoving I found myself separated from the others. I searched for Amy's halo but with all the wizard and witch hats it was a hard task. Giving up I wandered to the punch bowl and found Professor Snape handing out the bright brass goblets. I smiled at him as he handed me the steaming concoction.
"This isn't made to kill non-Syltherins is it?" I asked cautiously. Snape shrugged.
"Sounds tempting, thanks for the idea." He said and slid me an odd smile. The smile was genuine but it looked odd as if he didn't practice the action much. I grinned and moved away.
"And so, like, she said 'No way!' and he said, 'Uh-huh!' . . ." Bits of conversations followed me as I moved through the dining room unaccompanied. A sudden scream ended the song and the group began an abnormally slow beat. I looked around as couples crowded the dance floor and the other single people were forced to the side. From near the tables I spotted Hermione's crown dancing with a Roman emperor, whom I assumed would probably turn out to be Draco.
I took a long sip of the steaming potion and looked at it licking my lips carefully. Holding it up I raised my eyebrows.
"Yummy!" I exclaimed and giggled at my own brilliant deduction. Of course, if Snape had to make something for the entire school it would be nothing but the best. I felt a tap on my shoulder and met two boys with fire red hair. I was almost certain I knew them, but that damn spell wouldn't let me remember.
One was dressed in an ancient Grecian toga and was looking impatient. The other was dressed as a medieval squire, without the armor of course. Black, riding breeches were tucked into soft, brown leather boots. His large tunic with the Gryffindor symbol embroidered in the corner completed the old look. His dark red mask covered around his eyes and nose but the crystal blue, eyes sparkled in the shadows of the mask.
"Go on, I don't care." The squire told the Greek. I smiled as the Greek shuffled off and I turned to face the squire again.
"May I have this dance, milady?" He asked holding out in his hand and I smiled placing my hand in his. Upon contact a familiar surge of fire shot through my hand but we kept our hands locked.
He led me out onto the floor as the first chorus of the song started. I place my other hand on his shoulder and he wrapped his other hand around my waist bringing me close. We danced gently to the soft music and I felt the other couples melt away as my imagination put us in a dream world.
"It's over." His quite words cut sharply through my world like a knife as I felt my feet stop and the audience clapped at the end. I sighed and clapped as well. That had ended too fast. He smiled down at me, for he must have been around five inches taller than me. I gave a small smile in return.
"I don't want to give you up so quickly, care to accompany me for a bit?" He asked holding out his arm. I felt unable to do anything but smile back and nod with that gorgeous smile flashed at me. Soon we were sitting and joking at a table by ourselves.
I had this tugging feeling that I knew him so well and then a guilty feeling for not trying to find George or the other girls. But then he'd smile and I'd melt and the process would start all over again.
All too McGonagall stood up and the room feel silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you have had a fun time but now let us see the people behind the masks. Have you been able to chose the one you admire without seeing their face?" She asked, a small smile creeping on her face, "Reveal yourselves!" She commanded the spell and everyone took off their masks.
I pulled mine from my face and looked up to see George staring at me, a look of amusement and surprise mixing on his face. I smiled at him.
"I was hoping it would be you." I grinned at him. George opened his mouth to say something before an orange rose was laid on the table. I looked up to see a grinning Seamus.
"I was looking for you all night. I wanted to give you this!" He said as a slow dance started up. I looked at the beautiful orange rose and then noticed George looking rather annoyed at the younger boy.
"T-thank you, Seamus." I stammered not sure what to say. Three ribbons were tied around the stem; one was red, another blue, and the last gold. I smiled slowly at him and took the rose.
"Your welcome. I was hoping it would match your dress, but I guess not." He said sitting down between George and me. George faced me and Seamus sat at my right and both together were making me uncomfortable. I glanced over at George whose eyes were shooting daggers at the fifth year Gryffindor.
"Seamus, why don't you go ask Lavender to dance?" George suggested through clenched teeth, but Seamus obviously hadn't heard him.
"You know, Sari, you look gorgeous in that dress." I blushed as Seamus showered me with compliments. I still felt rather uncomfortable and was beginning to worry for Seamus' safety as George began to shred the paper napkin angrily.
"Well, it's time to say good night." McGonagall began after the song finished, George looked like he could kill Seamus and Seamus looked rather put out. He stood and clasped my hand in his. He placed a kiss on the back of mine and smiled at me.
"Good night, Lady Sari!" He smiled and swept off. I relaxed a bit and looked at George who was glaring at Seamus' retreating figure.
"Well, I think I should be off." I said, George started at the sound of my voice and then looked at me almost crushed.
"Yea . . . me too I guess. But I'll see you in the morning, right? I mean you're still planning on staying with us right?" He asked. I smiled.
"Of course." I replied as we stopped at the entrance to the Great Hall. The hall was now deserted as people had been leaving all night and the last couples had finally taken off for a more secluded place or chosen to retire for the night. Trash littered the floor and the candles were slowly putting themselves out as we stood at the halfway closed doors.
"Good night." I said moving towards the door and opening it a little more. I turned to see him standing there. He looked at me and then to the table where we had just sat, where the orange rose lay abandon and then back to me. I smiled and walked back to him. In one swift motion I placed my lips on his cheek, kissing it softly.
"Sweet dreams." I whispered in his ear and then turned. I left the hall not looking back, it wasn't a time to turn back. I had to move on, in my relationships, in school. I had to move on in my life.