Chapter Eighteen

Echoes

Reign looked from the woman to the Headmaster, who winked at her before taking a sip from his goblet.  Her wide eyes drifted back to the woman, and her feet followed their path.  As she slowly approached, the new teacher caught sight of her and dropped her napkin.  She rose from her seat as the elf leapt gracefully over the table and embraced her.

            "Reign," she whispered into the white hair of the elf, "I thought you had left us forever."  Reign pulled back and held the woman at arms' length.

            "Never," she said with a smile.  She took a good look at the woman opposite of her.  "Goodness, who ever thought Helena Saxon would become a professor at Hogwarts.  I am thoroughly impressed."  Helena blushed.  Reign wrapped her arms around the woman again.  "It's good to see a familiar face," she said with a sorrowful voice.

            "Indeed it is."  Helena pulled back and tilted her head when she noticed Reign's eyes had begun to water.  "What is it?"  The elf brought her arm up to wipe away her tears. 

            "It's nothing.  I've just been through a lot the past week.  All these emotions are starting to catch up with me."

            "I understand.  We'll have to catch up soon."  Reign nodded.  Inside she felt so childish.  How could she let Helena see her like this?  What was the matter with her?  "Reign?" 

            "Hmm?"

            "I said, 'how about we talk after dinner?'"

            "Oh, that sounds wonderful."  The two women hugged one last time before they took their respected seats.  Reign was about to leap over the staff table again, but thought better of it after noticing the odd looks from students and staff alike.  So she walked slowly all the way around the table and down to wear the Gryffindors sat.  There were many pairs of eyes who watched her go—none as intently as Snape's.

Reign took an empty seat next to Hermione and stared helplessly at the breakfast foods.  She didn't know where to begin.

            "Reign?"

            "Hmm?"

            "I said, 'How do you know Professor Saxon?'"  Reign felt as if an echo floated through the room as Hermione repeated her question.

            "Oh, we went to school here together," she said absent-mindedly as she reached for the fruit bowl.  The trio paused in their eating to gaze at her.

            "What do you mean, you went to school together?" inquired Ron.  Reign dropped a bundle of grapes onto her plate and froze.  They didn't know.  Of course they didn't know. 

            "Um, well, you see..." she began, only to freeze again at her loss of words.  She looked from one curious face to the next, and decided to tell a very short and sweet version of her tale.  "Eighteen years ago I came to Hogwarts to seek refuge from the Dark Lord--"

            "What?  Why was Voldemort after you?" Harry asked.  Ron punched him for saying the dreaded name.

            "He was after a potion that I created."  She provided no other explanation before continuing on.  "Professor Dumbledore took me in and suggested I pose as a student.  So I did."  The three Gryffindors were fixated on her as she told them her story.  "But only for a few months.  The Dark Lord found out I was here, so I left and went back to my village."  She plucked a grape from the bundle and popped it into her mouth.

            "That's it?" Ron asked, slightly disappointed.  Hermione gave him a death stare.  "What?" he shot at her.  Reign ignored their confrontation and continued eating her grapes.  After consuming three of the fruit, the bell rang, signaling the end of breakfast and the beginning of the school day.  The elf watched as the students and teachers rose from their seats and exited the halls.  She had slept in later than she thought—any later and she probably would have missed breakfast altogether.  After saying their goodbyes Harry, Ron, and Hermione disappeared through the steady stream of students flowing out of the Great Hall.  She looked up as the teachers came her way, most of them smiling at her, one totally ignoring her.  She could feel the tension passing between them as he walked swiftly passed her and out into the foyer.  His black robes billowed as he floated along the stone floor, and Reign watched with sad eyes when he did not look back.

Albus was the last to leave.  He stopped in front of Reign, who gazed at her plate, oblivious to his presence.  The Headmaster took a seat across from her and folded his hands.  Only after clearing his throat did Reign look into his twinkling eyes, masked by his half-moon spectacles. 

            "What are your plans today?" he asked.  Reign was rubbing her neck again—even though she realized it was hopeless to rid her muscles of their soreness.

            "I'm not sure.  I'll probably just take it easy," she said as she stretched her arms over her head.  "I had a long night last night."  The look in his eyes told her that he already knew.  He always knew.

            "Sounds splendid.  I wish I could join you."  The old man stood up and reached into his pocket.  "This may help you feel better."  He pulled out a chocolate bar and placed it in Reign's open palm.  "Have a very merry unbirthday!" he cried as he scooted away from the table.  He laughed.  "Those muggles...you've got to hand it to them..." he drifted off as he skipped out of the room.  Reign giggled when she caught wind of him whistling a silly tune as he danced through the castle. 

Now it was just her in the Great Hall.  Places like this always seemed bigger when they were empty.  Reign sat the chocolate bar down next to her plate and drew a deep breath.  She closed her eyes and breathed even deeper; and then she caught the familiar scent of a man.  When she opened her eyes he stood before her, that devilishly handsome smile gracing his face and his eyes swirling in their sockets.  His hair was pulled back to the nape of his neck and tied with a black ribbon.  His gloved hands rested on top of his serpent cane as he supported himself on it.

            "Back already?"  Lucius laughed at her question and took the seat previously occupied by Albus.

            "One can never stay away for too long when their business is at Hogwarts."  Reign took another grape and placed it in her mouth.  The sweet juice oozed from its container and filled her cheeks as she chewed.

            "And what exactly is your business at Hogwarts?" she asked after swallowing.

            "To ensure that the students of this school receive the best and safest education the wizarding world can offer," he recited as he took a grape from the elf's plate.

            "And do you enjoy your job?"  Lucius swallowed.

            "Thoroughly," he grinned.  All at once Reign despised him.  She loathed the way he enticed her, the way he toyed with her, and she despised herself for almost enjoying it.

            "Reign?"

            "Hmm?" 

            "I asked how you slept last night?"  There it was again—that same echo.

            "Absolutely dreadfully," she recounted with the most bitter of tones.  Lucius laughed.  The sound bounced off the walls and rang in her ears long after he was finished.  He leaned over the table to grab another grape.

            "Perhaps you're not sleeping in the right bed," he whispered.  Reign was appalled, and her face showed it.

            "And what, pray-tell, do you mean by that?"  Lucius sucked the fruit into his mouth as a child would, his eyes laughing at Reign.

            "What do you think I meant?"  The elf glared at the man as he raised his eyebrow and took on an innocent look about him.  They engaged in a staring contest; Reign was famous for them—not because she always won, but because she always resorted to them when she was either trying to figure someone out or was at a loss for words.  The contest was left unfinished as a small green object flew between them and broke their concentration.  Lucius leaned back and stared cautiously at the toad sitting comfortably on the table. 

            "What the--" Malfoy began as he lifted his cane to rid the world of the hideous reptile.

            "Lucius!" Reign gasped.

            "TREVOR!"  Neville Longbottom came galloping to the rescue and threw himself between Lucius and his sacred pet.  "This is my toad, Mr. Malfoy.  I lost him this morning when I left for breakfast."  He pulled Trevor into his hands and away from the weapon in Malfoy's hand.  Lucius snarled at the trembling boy.

            "Longbottom, you fool!  Perhaps if you kept better track of your toad, he could keep better track of your head!" he spat.  Reign glared at him, but he did not see.  Neville saw the look, however, and was grateful when Reign cleared her throat and held the man's attention long enough for him to slip out without any further insult. 

            "Where did that come from?"  Reign's eyebrows were drawn together as she awaited his reply.

            "He had it coming.  No one just loses a pet as frequently as that fool.  He's just like his parents--"

            "Lucius," Reign snapped, "stop."  Malfoy closed his mouth and repositioned himself in his seat.  It was the first time in a very long time that he had let a woman tell him what to do.  "He's just a boy."

            "Yes, well, if he stays just a boy, he'll never make it out in the real world."

            "Oh come off it," the elf laughed, "I'm sure he's not completely brainless."  Lucius did not laugh with her.  "What's gotten into you?"

            "Life, Reign.  Business—no games, no pity."  Reign didn't know whether he was referring to Neville or her.  "I have to go speak with the Headmaster."  He rose from the table and bowed to the elf before leaving.  He, too, did not look back as he strode out of the Great Hall.  

And once again, as with so many times before, Reign felt very, very…alone.