Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Harry Potter, but I do own Simone Malfoy!
(A/N) Thanks to all my reviewers!
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Dragonsbane: I'm sorry, but you knew I was going to kill one of them, but unlike you, I'm not bringing her back! Hopefully, I won't need the squirty gun!
Starry: Thanks for putting me on your favorites list and I can't wait until you read the rest of this story! Thanks for saying that the names were cool! I like them too; otherwise I wouldn't have used them!
HarryPotterFanFicGirl: I know this is sad, but she'll be happy eventually.
Cinnamon: Thanks! The tone will lighten up eventually!
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Any other people I forgot to mention? No? Okay then ON WITH THE STORY!
The dream sequence might be a little weird, but aren't dreams weird to begin with?
Chapter Thirty: Voices From the Past
"Simone?" a female voice whispered.
I looked around my surroundings. I didn't recognize a thing! Silver trees glistened in the warm sunlight. Funny, I never saw silver trees before. A brook flowed with light blue water. The sky was a brilliant green. Wait, the sky is green? When did that happen?
"It's me, Simone," she whispered to me. "It's me."
"Arissa? Where are you?" I whispered, as not to disturb this serene habitat around me.
"I'm right here," she whispered back, coming into my line of vision.
She looked like an angel, dressed in white robes. Her short hair was moved by a gentle breeze. Her silver eyes were filled with hope.
"Are you all right?" I asked.
She smiled. "Yes, I'm fine."
"Then why are we here?" I asked.
"I need to ask you something, Simone," she said. "Please hear me out."
I nodded.
"Don't seek revenge on Lucius for what happened to me."
I stepped back, like she had slapped me in the face. "You can't ask me to do that! I will have my revenge."
She took a step towards me. "You need to listen to me, Simone! Let the Ministry bring him to justice! Don't die because of me. Remember our parents and our unborn brother."
My eyes glittered with tears. "How can I just stand there and not let Lucius get what he deserves?"
She smiled weakly. "Just do what I asked."
I sighed. "Fine, I won't go after him."
"I'm off, Simone. It's time for me to go and live in peace."
I woke up, crying. Arissa was going to be okay, wherever she is. I'll let the Ministry deal with Lucius. I glanced outside into the predawn light. I knew I would never get back to sleep. Bianca was at my window, a letter tied to her leg. I let her in, and after I took the letter from her leg, she took off again. I opened the letter, only to find Jordan's neat handwriting.
Dear Simone,
Professor Lynch told us what happened to Arissa. We're so sorry it happened. Of course, Christina told us that it was going to happen anyway. Lisa told her to shut up and they're not speaking to each other for now.
Everyone here in Gryffindor Tower is upset that one of our own was killed. Professor Dumbledore is giving some of us here permission to attend Arissa's funeral. The 1st year Gryffindors, Jessica, and the Gryffindor Quidditch team are going. We'll see you in a few days.
Professor Snape has cancelled our Potions classes, but no one knows why. All the other teachers are wearing black with a silver star attached to their robes.
We all hope that you're not going to go after Lucius.
I snorted at her last comment. Why is everyone telling me that?
Adrian and Alexander told me to tell you that they're thinking about you.
I smiled. Those two boys were like my brothers.
We can't wait until you come back. Maybe then this sadness we're all feeling will pass. I know you're still alive, *"Thank you, Captain Obvious!" I thought.* but since your parents took you from school, it's like we're mourning for 2 people.
Anyway, I just wanted you to know what was going on around here. We'll see you soon.
Your friend,
Jordan
I held her letter in shaking hands. I never knew they thought of Arissa and me as one person. We were opposites in some areas, but still, we were not the same person!
I gazed back outside. Soon, the world would wake up all happy. It was something I couldn't bear.
I silently went downstairs for some hot chocolate, but someone had already beaten me to the kitchen.
Dad was sitting at the table, a mug in his hands, his back facing me.
I guess he heard me because the next thing I heard was, "There's some water on the stove if you want hot chocolate, Simone."
"How did you know it was me?" I asked, putting my arms around his neck.
He sighed. "You always came downstairs early when you were a little girl. You would never sleep."
I giggled. "And you were always downstairs, waiting for me, with a mug of hot chocolate," I remembered.
"You remember that?" he asked, his eyes wide.
"Yeah, I do. You'd magic up some cookies and we'd sit at the table and eat them until someone else woke up."
He removed my hands from his neck and wrapped me in a giant hug. I managed to look up into his face where I saw tears fall down his cheeks. I couldn't believe it. Normally, Dad hides his sadness. He'll show everything else but that. I guess Lucius' lessons were still with him whether he liked it or not.
"It'll be okay, Daddy," I whispered. "Arissa is fine, wherever she is. She wouldn't like us to mourn for so long. Think of your unborn son."
"Words of wisdom from such a little girl," he finally said.
"I'm growing up, Dad."
"I know. I know," he said, running his fingers through my long hair.
"Can we have some cookies? Like old times?" I asked.
He smiled for the first time in two days. "Of course we can."
He floated a plate of sugar cookies to the table and together we ate them. If I didn't feel safe when I walked through the door, I felt safe now with my father, the dragon.
"How are you feeling?" he asked me after a few minutes.
"I don't know what to feel," I confessed. "I'm angry at Lucius for killing her. I'm sad because half of me is gone. Arissa was more than my sister, Dad. She was my best friend! Now I have to go on without her! It's not fair!"
"Life is never fair, Simone."
"I know that, but why did it have to happen to her? She did nothing to Lucius! Nothing!"
"I know, Simone. I miss her, too." He took a deep breath. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Well, your mother and I were wondering if you would deliver Arissa's eulogy. We would understand if you didn't want to do it, but since you and Arissa were so close…"
Fresh tears started brimming in my eyes. In a choked voice, I said, "Of course."
(A/N) Okay, there was one of THE longest chapters I've ever written! Please don't forget to REVIEW!
