Draco felt like he was snorkelling. He could see a mass of sponges, seaweed
and even microscopic phytoplankton. A school of silvery grey fish swam
past. And then peeking from the seaweed came a little red head.
It was a fish.
For some reason, Draco felt that this red fish was familiar. He watched it as it gently nibbled on a piece of wet, green, slushy sponge.
Suddenly a picture swam into his view. It was a familiar mob of brown, turning around it became beautiful hazel circles in the middle of a delicate face.
Hermione?
Swimming closer to the fish, he saw that it looked mournful and longing for something that had apparently not been given to it. It had a large scrape on the side of its belly and its tail looked badly beaten.
This can't be Hermione! Draco thought wildly. Hermione's a happy girl with nothing to worry about except her schoolwork. How would she suffer pain with this depth? A nasty voice fought back his statements from inside his head. How do you know? You never knew her properly, you were too shy!
The fish cocked its little head at him, as if she knew who he was. He did not know himself what he was, but he guessed that he too was a type of sea creature. Suddenly a large hook sank down from above the water and rested straight above their fish like faces. Hanging from the hook was a small fish and Draco heard his fishy belly rumbling with hunger at the smell of this fish.
Resisting the urge to reach forward and bite the hook, he looked at Hermione. He could see she was fighting as well, and he knew what it felt like to be so hungry but to not be able to eat, even if food was staring you right in the face.
Suddenly another hook reached down towards them. This time it held a large fish. A more tastier fish. Draco found himself licking his lips, even if he knew that fishes did not lick lips.
Busy concentrating on his own worries of not lunging forward and grabbing the food, he did not notice Hermione dart forward next to him until the last minute when he knocked her over and landed painfully on one of the hooks.
As the sharp point pierced him in his scaly flesh, he was able to see the owner of the monstrous hook. The owner had an unusually familiar face with long blonde hair and steel grey eyes.
Father! Father! Draco's vision steered unpleasantly and he felt himself being lifted from the water.he was rising higher and higher - doing so drawing nearer and nearer to his fate.
*
Jumping up from his sleep, Draco realised he had been dreaming. Sweat tingled his brow and he rubbed at it, relieved to find himself safe in the hospital wing, the warm covers draped over his tired body.
Why had he had that dream? What had Hermione got to do with fish or even worse his father?
It hit him straight in the middle of his head. Of course! It was the Black Ring! Why hadn't he realised all this before?
Jumping up and changing into his Slytherin uniform, he grabbed his robe and hurried out of the hospital wing, careful not to wake Madam Pomfrey who was asleep in the corner. Finding the staircases and hurrying to the Entrance Hall, he could only think of one thing filling his head.
Hermione. Hermione. There is a Black Ring meeting tonight. I was supposed to attend it. I need to go to it. I need to stop my father. NOW!
It was a fish.
For some reason, Draco felt that this red fish was familiar. He watched it as it gently nibbled on a piece of wet, green, slushy sponge.
Suddenly a picture swam into his view. It was a familiar mob of brown, turning around it became beautiful hazel circles in the middle of a delicate face.
Hermione?
Swimming closer to the fish, he saw that it looked mournful and longing for something that had apparently not been given to it. It had a large scrape on the side of its belly and its tail looked badly beaten.
This can't be Hermione! Draco thought wildly. Hermione's a happy girl with nothing to worry about except her schoolwork. How would she suffer pain with this depth? A nasty voice fought back his statements from inside his head. How do you know? You never knew her properly, you were too shy!
The fish cocked its little head at him, as if she knew who he was. He did not know himself what he was, but he guessed that he too was a type of sea creature. Suddenly a large hook sank down from above the water and rested straight above their fish like faces. Hanging from the hook was a small fish and Draco heard his fishy belly rumbling with hunger at the smell of this fish.
Resisting the urge to reach forward and bite the hook, he looked at Hermione. He could see she was fighting as well, and he knew what it felt like to be so hungry but to not be able to eat, even if food was staring you right in the face.
Suddenly another hook reached down towards them. This time it held a large fish. A more tastier fish. Draco found himself licking his lips, even if he knew that fishes did not lick lips.
Busy concentrating on his own worries of not lunging forward and grabbing the food, he did not notice Hermione dart forward next to him until the last minute when he knocked her over and landed painfully on one of the hooks.
As the sharp point pierced him in his scaly flesh, he was able to see the owner of the monstrous hook. The owner had an unusually familiar face with long blonde hair and steel grey eyes.
Father! Father! Draco's vision steered unpleasantly and he felt himself being lifted from the water.he was rising higher and higher - doing so drawing nearer and nearer to his fate.
*
Jumping up from his sleep, Draco realised he had been dreaming. Sweat tingled his brow and he rubbed at it, relieved to find himself safe in the hospital wing, the warm covers draped over his tired body.
Why had he had that dream? What had Hermione got to do with fish or even worse his father?
It hit him straight in the middle of his head. Of course! It was the Black Ring! Why hadn't he realised all this before?
Jumping up and changing into his Slytherin uniform, he grabbed his robe and hurried out of the hospital wing, careful not to wake Madam Pomfrey who was asleep in the corner. Finding the staircases and hurrying to the Entrance Hall, he could only think of one thing filling his head.
Hermione. Hermione. There is a Black Ring meeting tonight. I was supposed to attend it. I need to go to it. I need to stop my father. NOW!
