Enchantress of the Day and Night
Kneazle
Disclaimer: All characters/ideas belong to JK Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastics, etc, K.A. Applegate's EverWorld, Fern Gully: the Last Rainforest, Mist of Avalon (the movie), Aladdin, Chocolat and from Enchantress of the Stars by Sylvia Louise Engdahl, Cirque De Soliel. Also, mostly my odd dreams take some ideas, Princess Mononoke by Hayao Miyazaki, "Escaflowne", "Rayearth" and other fantasy animes, and from "Disney's Atlantis", Sweep by Cate Tiernan, and Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce. Most information that is for the covens is based on Wicca, Sweep, The Dragon's Tapestry, The Prism Moon and The Taker's Key by Martine Bates, Circle of Three by Isobel Bird, and most clan information is from Sweep, Young Wizards Series by Diane Duane, Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones and Daughters of the Moon by Lynne Ewing. Information I use can be found at the following websites: Bibliomania, Wiccan.com and Feri.com. You can find other information just by surfing the net and looking for information on historical witches and wizards, and Wicca sites.
Author's Note: please note that this story is an alternate universe and therefore, some characters MAY act out of character. They act according to their surroundings, or to the role they play, or to their history. ^_^. This story is also mostly MIXED COUPLES, but I promise that it will end up H/Hr, for sure. There will also be a couple of odd couplings, and because of the rating, there is some adult content in the story (sexual bantering, language, adult issues… etc).
Summary: AU – In a world where witches and warlocks battle over slavery rights, where no sex is seen as an equal, a precious few gather to change the races' views before the war between the two escalates into something that could be the beginning – or end – of an era. Previously titled "Of Witches and Warlocks".
Genres: fantasy, romance, action/adventure, and drama
**-**
Chapter Five
Ginny screamed as she clung tighter at Draco's waist. They were racing over the water so fast that her vision was blurred. Ginny was beginning to feel sick when she opened her mouth to ask him, "Do you always go this bloody fast?" before burying her head in his back.
Scowling, though without her seeing it, he replied carefully and cheerfully, "Oh, always. This is the newest and richest way around Talamanca and the Mystical Lands, Weas—Ginny."
Ginny seemed doubtful of that, but kept quiet. She didn't like this mode of transportation… where was the good old fashioned ride a griffin around when you wanted one? No, instead, she was sitting sidesaddle, hugging Draco tightly on a narrow piece of wood that seemed to be unbalanced. Bristles stuck out at the end for that balance that Draco said there was, but Ginny seriously doubted him that something only a few inches wide could hold them up.
"Um… what are we on again?" she asked timidly.
"A broomstick," he replied absently, not turning around or tilting his head back to show he was listening.
Ginny pursed her lips in impatience, but rolled her eyes and began to think of the Mystic Lands. Apparently, that was where all magical beings came from, in the days of old. She wondered what the Mystic Lands looked like. For, she had only been on the island of Talamanca, and had not been anywhere else in her life. Of course, this Draco Malfoy seemed to know everything of the "outside" world (she referred to it as), and she felt honored to be in his presence.
Well… slightly.
Her companion didn't seem to be much of a talker, so she figured that was just his nature – though it did not do much to her growing curiosity of the Mystic Lands, and of her brother and his companions.
She wondered what she would say to Harry when she saw him again. She fantasized that she would run into his arms. It would be twilight, and they would be standing on a grassy plain in the Mystic Lands. Stars would shine above them, lighting the way to the Heavens above.
When he turns, he would see her and open his arms wide, welcoming her into his life. He would twirl her around in his arms, and she would lean down to kiss him –
"We'll rest here for the night," interrupted Draco, his voice cool and soft. Ginny sighed; not only was her daydream interrupted, but also it was so good!
"All right," she agreed. She always agreed.
**-**
Below her, the shiny waters of the Ocean of Ino reflected the fading light. Hermione would've enjoyed all this, seeing the shadows below of the two water griffins soaring above the blue depths, but she still couldn't seem to get her fight with Harry out of her mind.
She felt guilty for saying the things she did, but she couldn't take it back. Also, she worried that Ron, the Seer and Harry would think too deeply into her bubble shield. Minerva never warned her that only she could do it. Letting out a gust of air between her two front teeth, she resisted the urge to snort. She was such an outcast and here she was, soaring over the gorgeous waters, the stillness of everything around her, and all she could think of was whether or not they'd find out she was the Enchantress. So what if they do find out? It's not like they could really do anything to her…
Instead, she adjusted her rump on the seat of the griffin, hoping to become more comfortable. She saw Harry turn his head slightly, looking back at her, but as soon as she glanced up, his head was straight ahead again. Goddess above, what is so hard in flying a griffin? You don't have to steer them in any direction, wondered Hermione, clucking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Instead, she focused her anger and attention out towards the horizon. Somewhere… somewhere out there was the Isle of Marquis. Located in those islands, was the mystical Castle Lorien. In that castle… were the secrets of previous Enchantresses and Priests, with the knowledge of the years stored there. Shrouded in a mist, surrounded by the most beautiful gardens in the world – that was where Hermione was suppose to learn all her final training that Minerva could never supply her with. That was where Hermione would begin to ready herself for the battle she knew she was destined to fight. Sighing, she realized that thinking wasn't going to get her anywhere, so she might as well go ahead and try to be nice to Harry. "Um… how much longer until we reach the Mystic Lands?" she asked, trying to be polite.
"We'll be there by morning," came the static reply.
"Oh. I see," she said. "Will you be awake the whole time then?"
"Yes."
Again, Hermione fell silent. Hermione thought, annoyed, fine! He's just a silly little second-in-command to the Talamancaians who love to torture my people. I can live with his hatred. The thought gave her pause and she realized that maybe living with his hatred was something she didn't want after all. She looked at him once, just studying his face, before she sighed and let her mind wander to less strained topics.
**-**
Ruins. Crumbling makeshift buildings and decaying flesh greeted Dean and Seamus when they landed in the now deserted village of Wycliffe. That coven had been completely wiped out, and it was pretty much their clan's fault. The two of them walked through the maze of fallen stone, their leather boots making no sound as they carefully stepped over charred bones.
"Any signs of the Knights?" asked Seamus in a whisper. He seemed to avoid the main question, the one that was on his mind.
Dean shook his head. "None whatsoever. Mayhap they left a trace?"
"No," shook Seamus's head, "They are far too smart for that. They would not leave anything behind to show they were here, when it is apparent that the Nights had stormed through.
A tiny scuffle made both teen warlocks draw their blades quickly from their sides, and begin to walk towards the noise in small steps. Seamus motioned Dean to go 'round the left side while he took the right. As Seamus crept, he counted to three, and jumped out from his spot. Dean, on the other side did as well.
"ARGHH!" they shouted, trying to frighten whatever the scuffling being was. However, the only thing they managed to scare was a tiny rat that squeaked and ran away.
Sighing, out of relief and disappointment, Seamus pocketed his blade, as did Dean. "Well," Seamus began, "that was a complete waste of time—"
He was cut off as vines wrapped themselves around his ankles and Dean's, lifting them high into the air. They dangled above the sharp rocks of the buildings, their shirtsleeves flipping upside down and their arms waving in the breeze.
"Bloody hell!" roared a voice. "Those aren't Death Eaters – let 'em down, lads – easy does it now…"
Seamus and Dean were carefully lowered, and when they were standing upright on their wobbly feet once more, did they glance around and inquire about their attackers.
The men around them all wore deep green and brown pants and tops that acted as camouflage when they were in the thickly wooded lands of the Talamanca. All possessed swords, and each carried staves with beautifully carved designs that ran down their lengths. They were also noticeably older than Dean and Seamus.
The one who yelled them to be let down stepped forward and introduced himself. He was slightly burly, but had a thick accent and a handsome face.
"Me name is Oliver Wood, Captain of the Fifth Regiment of the Priest's Knights," he said, bowing slightly at the two, baffled, teens. "And who might you be?"
"S-Seamus Finnigan and D-Dean Thomas," stuttered Seamus. "Dumbledore – er, the Priest – sent us to find you. He wants to send you on a quest."
"A quest?" asked Oliver, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Well, mind we'd best be here to watch over the Priest… but did he say what kind of quest?"
Dean nodded, swallowing. "He wants you to protect the Enchantress."
At this, the warlocks around the three began to mumble and whisper amongst themselves. Oliver's face paled for a minute, but then he raised a hand to silence his troop. "The Enchantress, eh?" he asked. "Did he say what her true name be?"
Seamus and Dean shared a look. Even though the Knight's were under Dumbledore's Order, they were given more leeway then normal warlocks ever had. After gaining whatever knowledge they wanted from Dean and Seamus, they could kill the two without so much of a wince.
"Yes," Seamus answered slowly. "In fact, we saw her before she left for the Mystic Lands."
"Mystic Lands!" exclaimed one of the men. "Would she be heading towards Castle Lorien, pray tell?"
Oliver turned and cracked a grin. "O' course she would be. Hermione has no where else to go, Cedric."
Dean felt his jaw drop. "Y-You know the Enchantress?"
Oliver turned his attention back to the two younger warlocks and let out a loud bark of laughter. The other men also laughed. "O' course I do," he chuckled. "She was the one who fed us and took care of us while we were 'eld captive here. She was also the one to crack us outta the prison that those damn Days placed us in."
"She did all that for a stranger?" whispered Dean in awe.
"That she did," shouted another Knight. Dean and Seamus were surprised. They hadn't expected that Hermione was that well known between the Knights and that they would readily go into battle for her.
"Then you will help us find her? And protect her?" Seamus asked, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
Oliver leaned forward a bit, enough that Seamus couldn't see behind the Captain. Oliver spoke quietly, "Finnigan – all of these warlocks pledge their lives to the Priest and Enchantress. If Dumbledore says we should go out and die for the Enchantress… we'd do it. No questions asked."
Seamus nodded, swallowing a lump of something in his throat. No questions asked, says Oliver. Well, no questions asked, thought Seamus, I think you warlocks are hiding something.
**-**
Draco had lit a fire nearly an hour ago, when the sun had just set below the watery horizon line. There were roof marks in the ground, and footmarks too – evidently Harry had been here not too long ago.
"We're making good time," said Draco, his gray eyes fixated on the dancing embers. Ginny said nothing, but wrapped her knees close to her chest. He hadn't noticed she was cold. He hadn't noticed anything about her, but his obsession with getting near Hermione. Why? Because he wants to be near her… that was something Ginny didn't buy for a ray of light.
Then again, all she could think about was getting near Harry before Hermione did something with him, something that would make him hers forever.
Like bonding.
Ginny shivered some more, but fixed her eyes on the fire. It danced, an erotic and sensual thing that hypnotized all who watched. Ginny once had the power to do the same in the way she danced, but then she forgot and her "Fire Faerie" nickname was lost, just the like talent was.
"Have you been to the Mystic Lands before?" asked Ginny.
"Twice."
"Why?"
"Once to my mother's death – she lived there and killed herself to be released of her bonding with my father. The other because of a meeting of warlocks there that my father wanted to see," he answered in the same cool voice he used for everything else.
"Oh. Is it nice there?"
"The same as here."
"No difference?"
"Many differences," he sighed.
"But you just said"—
"You'll see!" he snapped, and the conversation was over. Ginny ventured no more questions that rode on her curious mind, and Draco remained quiet, poking at the wood in the fire with a long stick. He seemed deep in thought and Ginny didn't want to be snapped at again. He seemed to have a bad temper, and was very narrow-minded about the topics she brought up. Of course, they were very female-influenced questions, and hearing a male's perspective on bonding and magick was interesting to her. Hermione and she had run out of those philosophical topics long ago.
"I'm going to find us some food. Stay here," said Draco abruptly. He stood in a fluid motion and was off in the forest before Ginny opened her mouth to say something.
She closed her eyes in sadness. She was alone now, and that feared her greatly. She never was afraid of the dark, no – it was the fear of being alone, with no one around. Now with Draco off to find food, she was sitting vulnerably out in the open of a beach by a fire. She clutched her pendant, before jumping up and running through the woods for Draco. She felt tears of frustration building up when she couldn't find him. A shuddering sob came through her parted lips, but she bit down hard on them and pushed through the branches that blocked her way.
She stumbled forwards, through a small grove of trees before she heard it: a voice. She sighed, and stepped through the branches, saying, "Draco, I"—
She broke off. Draco stood alone in the clearing, but his shirt was off. His back was to Ginny, so she saw nothing but the milky white skin, with the contrasting red slashes that ran in many lines across his back. That wasn't what stopped her though. His head was bent towards his left shoulder. He had it stuck out slightly, the skin reflecting the moonlight. There, high upon his shoulder, was a face – it was a simple skull, but with a snake protruding out of the open mouth and winding around the skull.
Ginny had seen that mark before – once in her life, long ago…
A young Ginny of five years clutched her mother's skirt, blinking and sucking contently on her thumb while the witches walked stealthily and quietly through the ruins of another town.
It had been this way for many days now, village over village, being burnt and decimated. Ginny didn't know what was going on, but understood the message clear enough: stay quiet.
Their coven leader, Minerva, was leading the group, her hands outstretched and ready to fire of nature's deadliest when she stopped moving and looked up, her back arrow-straight.
Many other witches followed her example, before crowing with fear.
There, high above the ruins of the houses, and stakes with bodies screaming silently from them, was a mark. Ginny thought it to be the ugliest thing she ever saw. Black, blacker than the nights sky it was. It was a skull with a snake coming out of the open mouth.
Who would eat a snake? The young girl thought at that moment, but when her mother covered Ginny's eyes with her hand, she knew it was bad. Very bad, and she should never see it again, as long as her mother lived to prevent it.
She never did she it again while her mother was alive. But her mother was dead. And the Dark Mark was in front of her, on Draco's shoulder. Ginny stepped backwards, trying to make her way back silently to the fire when her foot snapped a twig. Draco's body spun as he turned and spotted her cowering in fear.
They're evil. All who wear this mark have sold their soul to their Lord. Her mother's voice echoed in Ginny's head.
Ginny's blue eyes widened as she saw Draco's own gray ones narrow. "You!" he hissed, not bothering to hide his coldness.
Ginny stumbled back. "I-I'm s-sorry, I d-didn't mean…" Within seconds, she had turned around and began an all–out run through the woods, but Draco seemed more skilled at the maze of fallen logs. Many times, Ginny tripped but quickly picked up again, running.
Her heart beat wildly against her ribs, but she pushed out. Sighing, she leaned against a tree when she no longer heard Draco's footsteps behind her.
She closed her eyes; she could see the fire merely a few steps ahead of her. Then –
"Got you!"
Ginny screamed as Draco's hands grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and spun her around. His gray steel eyes bore into her frightened blue ones, making her shiver. His hand covered her mouth, and he held her so roughly she was forced to look at him.
"Listen to me, Weasley," he snarled, his face close to hers. "I've got a job to do and you're here as an excuse to do it. Stay out of my way or I will kill you. Understand?"
Ginny let out a tiny squeak. Draco took that as a yes and glared at her. "Good. Now, you will do as I say, or there will be some serious punishments going on. And you wouldn't want to get hurt, would you?" Ginny shook her head no. "Right. Didn't think so. Now – why don't we just get back on the broom and head towards the Mystic Lands, hmm? The sooner we get there, the sooner I'll have the Enchantress in my grasp and the sooner you can have Potter to your self."
Enchantress? Wondered Ginny. Who? Hermione? Surely not.
But she went along with Draco. He had her this far from everything she knew, and she might as well go along with it now. He was stronger; stronger than her in magick and strength, and she knew if she were to beat him, it would have to be at the right time… the right moment…
And that was all she needed.
**-**
Hermione was startled awake. She had fallen asleep against Harry's back, and had a strange vision of Ginny.
She was with the warlock she had tried to save from the water, claiming he couldn't swim, and that she had seen something wrong in the moonlight. The same moonlight she was under at the moment.
Then – she had run. Run so fast Hermione could still feel her heart beating fiercely against her own ribs. She had felt Ginny's fear and smelt her sweat, and heard the crash of the leaves and branches around her.
Ginny had seen something that frightened her and that frightened Hermione. What was she to do, here over the Ocean? She could do nothing but send her prayers. Even the Enchantress has limits.
"Goddess above, protect thy friend from all harm, may you watch over her in her times of need and send her comfort when it is most needed. Be thy friend and guide when thee is not near, Goddess above, wish you be near," repeated Hermione, mumbling the words as softly as she could. She didn't want anyone to be concerned of why she was praying, or ask any questions. Finally, when she was done, she yawned and looked around. Behind her, there was nothing but the dark waters of the Ocean. She could not make out the small mountain range that had separated her coven from the Talamancaian clan anymore. Before her lay more water, but, there in the dark distance, she could swear she saw some twinkling.
She even pointed this out to the insomniac Harry. He nodded. "Those are the watch lights of the guards," he informed her. "They're… merchants, really. They guard the coast line so that no Death Eaters would find there way into the richest cities on the Mystic Lands."
She nodded, the small history lesson over and let her mind divulge the information. Finally, she left that enough time had passed between Harry and her that she could apologize correctly.
"Harry?" she asked. He gave a slight, "hmm" to indicate he was listening. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you earlier… it's just… I'm really in tune to nature and I prefer being surrounded in it rather than cowering in a tree trunk. It's not the way I grew up."
"I understand. I'm sorry for getting so worried over you," he turned back slightly and offered her a grin. "Though, you must understand, when Dumbledore gives me orders to protect you, I take them very seriously. I had no idea that witches were that harmonious to nature's way."
"Not all," Hermione whispered.
"Not all witches are?" asked Harry incredulously.
"No. Didn't you notice the Seer? She was very afraid of the weather. I believe she doesn't trust her eyes as much as she trusts her inner senses," replied Hermione.
Harry left out a chuckle. "So do I."
They fell silent, watching the horizon bob up and down with the beat of the griffin's wings. Soon, they would be arriving at the coastline of the Mystic Lands, and then they would begin their journey to find Castle Lorien. Of course, with morning coming, and with magic running more wild and free there, Hermione would have to be extra careful. Some might sense her powers and notice her to be the Enchantress. She couldn't risk that.
"You seem tense."
"Just thinking about when we'll arrive at the Mystic Lands. And how we'll find Castle Lorien," admitted Hermione. Harry nodded.
"I know. It seems so difficult. I don't even know why the Priest wanted us to go there. Perhaps the Enchantress will be there, and we shall be her guards?" he mused aloud. "Seems plausible."
"Also pretty implausible," replied Hermione. "If the Enchantress was there already, wouldn't everyone know about it?"
"Probably. Maybe the Priests there can help us find the Enchantress."
You wouldn't need to by then, Harry, thought Hermione, but she said nothing. Together, they rode in silence, watching the sunrise.
Today was a new day, and today was the day when they would finally reach the Mystic Lands, where anything was possible.
**-**
They landed just a few hours after the sun rose. Of course, it would be far too conspicuous to travel into a city with blue griffins, but Harry decided that they were too tired to walk the ten miles. While they rode, Hermione took in the wonders of this, strange new place.
Trees were still the same, but the smell of the ocean was something different. The air held the smell of spices and salt, while other smells wafted in the wharf. Men were shouting things at each other, hellos and how much is a quarter pound of fish? Hermione could hardly believe it – men that weren't warlocks! It was something she never knew before.
"Surprised?" asked Ron.
"A little, yes," she admitted. Ron chuckled and nodded.
"I was too when I first learnt of non-magical folk," he offered. Hermione, however, was still taking everything in.
The street into the city was dirt at first, but the closer they got, the more cobbled stones there were, before they were walking on a modern street. Houses rose high above them, two stories, then four – all packed together, without any spaces breaking between them, unless a new block started. Women leaned out of windows high above them, dumping barrels of water onto the street. Rowdy men laughed as they hung out in groups outside pubs, and the street became filled with more people as they neared the city square.
It was a wide, open space, with grass and trees off to one side, and booths set up everywhere.
As the four slid off of their water griffins, they began to look around from a hint, or anything that could lead them into knowing where Castle Lorien might be.
"I must be off," said Lavender, in her soft voice. "I shall return here in two hours. I pray tell that shall give you enough time to gather what you need?"
Without a reply, she took off, disappearing into the crowd. Ron wanted to go after her, stepping forward, but then drew back.
"Where to then?" he asked, looking around. "Not exactly the best place to start…"
Harry nodded. "Well… I am a bit hungry. How about we get something to eat?"
The other two agreed, all the while looking out for some warlock or Priest that could help them. Hermione found herself being overloaded with all this information. This place was something new to her. She had never seen so many non-magical people in one area, living their life from day to day.
She walked down the narrow strips of street between venders, listening to voices shout out, "Fish for sale – get yer fish for sale!" and "How about a nice Shepard's Pie, there's a luv!"
They quickly decided that fruit would fill them up the most and stopped at a fruit cart. Hermione had never even heard of such delicacies that were mentioned. Papaya, watermelon, bananas, pineapples. She hungrily stared at the pineapples, wondering what they tasted like. Would she have their sweet juice running down the side of her chin? Would she savor the first bite?
She was about to reach for one and inquire how much it would cost when a group of voice reached her ears. They were singing gaily, dressed in the oddest clothes she had even seen and were growing steadily closer towards where she stood.
They wore patched clothes, though it resembled the current human fashion, and seemed to cause a ruckus amongst the folk in the city. They would sneer and curse at the group, and refuse to sell them anything.
They came near the stall where Hermione stood, watching them. Harry and Ron were too bust, engrossed in the low prices of food they could get with their money, when one of the girls in the loud group stopped beside Hermione.
" 'Allo, there," she said, with an accent Hermione had never heard before. "Ah'm Parvati Patil. And ya are ta be?"
"Hermione," the Enchantress replied, smiling at the young girl, who seemed to be her own age.
" 'Ermione." The girl repeated, the first part of Hermione's name being cut off. "Whut a name! Where are ya from?"
"Talamanca."
"Talamanca!" Parvati crowed. She turned around and waved to her friends, "Oy – Justin, Padma! Getta loada this – 'Ermione 'ere is from Talamanca!"
The three now crowded around Hermione, who looked helplessly back at Harry and Ron, who were still oblivious to the three around her, beside all the noise.
They began rapidly firing questions at Hermione, who didn't know how to answer them. Finally, she asked what was on her mind the whole time since she saw the dark colored girl, who had turned out to be Parvati Patil.
"What are you?" she asked, looking at each of them in turn. There was a brief moment of silence before the three burst out laughing. Their other members came close, looking at stalls but not buying anything.
"Why, we'd be nomads!" giggled Padma, Parvati's identical twin.
"Nomads?" asked a puzzled Hermione. "Um… what exactly are nomads?"
Justin Finch-Fletchley turned to Parvati. "Whut should we say? Well… 'Ermione, we travel 'round. Nevar stay in one place, y'know? Should we tell 'er?"
Hermione felt her head twirl – their odd talk was making her go cross-eyed. She was about to open her mouth when the man minding the stall behind her shouted, "BLOODY GYPSY – STEALING OFFA ME, I'LL SHOW YOU!"
He reached forward and grabbed the nearest person to him, who happened to be another male gypsy named Colin Creevey, and pulled out a knife. At this moment, all the gypsies began to yell and swear at the stall owner, who began yelling back at them. City officials rounded the corner at all the noise and began grabbing the gypsies, who were biting, kicking and spitting on the city's watch.
Hermione watched in fear and surprise. What prejudice these people showed! She mused, but her thoughts were reined when a guard grabbed her upper arm.
"C'mon, Missy – inta the cell you go," he snarled, smelling of stale beer and other horrible odors.
"I'm not one of them! I just wanted a breakfast!" she began to protest. She yanked on her arm, trying to get out of the man's iron grip.
"That's what they all say," he growled.
Hermione finally lost herself into fatigue, and called out weakly, "Ron! Harry! HELP!!"
The two turned around, saw Hermione being pulled off by some guard, and jumped forward to attack him, their staffs out and ready to hex anyone, alas – not everything goes according to plan.
They were grabbed from behind, and swung into the air by two very heavyset guards. These two began to pull Ron and Harry through the crowd, which had gotten a free show. Not every day you see such a large number of gypsies be taken to the cells where they'd be executed tomorrow.
**-**
Hermione sighed and crossed her legs, trying to get more comfortable. The dampness of the cell was chilling her, and she wondered why she hadn't started sneezing yet.
Harry was pitifully working on picking the lock, while all the gypsies that had been caught watched on.
"Ya know, ya're nevar gonna get that," commented Colin, the one who nearly had his hand chopped off.
"Sure I will," muttered Harry, never taking his eyes off the lock.
"Nah," continued Colin. "Ah tried that on thata lock couple years back. Didn't do ta good."
Harry stopped now, staring at Colin. He blinked, but then sighed and rested against the wall his back was to. "So what now?"
"We wait," replied Parvati, who sat, piling stones on top of each other.
"For what?" asked Ron.
"For tomorrow."
"What so special about tomorrow?" Ron asked.
Parvati Patil looked up, shock written all over her features. "Ya mean ya don't know? Have ya evar been in a city cell?"
The trio shook their heads.
"Well," she swelled, looking important, "then itsa best ta tell ya now, s'pose. At dawn, tomorrow, they take us outta here an' inta the courtyard. Then… they execute us."
**-**
Kneazle here, folks. How's it all going?? Hope you're all having a marvy time, if you're out of school, and if you're not, I feel your pain. I hope everyone liked this long-awaited chapter of "EDN"! Oh, and by the way – wish me luck on my exams all next week! Well, with that said, leave a review, tell me what you thought! PS – no offenses towards anyone with the gypsy/nomads. I had said earlier that they are based on movie gypsies from the 16-century, etc, so take no offense!
