Chapter Three: Raistlin, Meet Krista. Krista, Raistlin.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter characters, books, merchandise, copyrights, stock, or anything else in such a manner. I also do not own any of the Dragon Lance characters, books (unless you count that I bought copies of DLChronicles...), merchandise, copyrights, etc. I wish desperately that I did own Raistlin Majere, as he is only the coolest character ever, but unfortunately I don't... yet... but that could change... seriously anything is possible... I made an extra HP character that doesn't exist whom I do own... possibly more later on too. muahahaha You can't have everyone Rowling! Hmm.... anyway on with the story... so far it is still PG, but it might not stay that way for too much longer. Don't know yet. Some Harry/Draco slash hints in this chapter. Perhaps, you'll get something good to chew on next chapter. Also I am really setting the scene for Krista and Raistlin. What will happen?
The next morning at breakfast, neither Professor Dumbledore nor Professor Majere was present. Harry didn't wonder long at this. Professor Dumbledore was rarely present at breakfast, and obviously this Professor Majere wanted to keep to himself. Each guardian was there, though, and this basically meant that all four of them were sitting with Harry and his friends at the Gryffindor table. Fred and George came over to talk to Remus and to meet Sirrus, or so they said. Ron privately thought it was to get a closer look at Krista because they kept blushing brilliant red when she spoke or her name was mentioned. She was as cold as ever and only spoke to Sirrus, Remus, Mad-Eye, and Harry. Harry decided that now was as good as ever to ask Sirrus again why he hadn't heard about his godmother before. "Sirrus, why had I not been told about Krista or even my having a godmother prior to yesterday?" He asked loudly enough for the entire group to hear her. Krista seemed not to hear. She and Mad-Eye continued their conversation on magical smoke cloud spells, but a very slight flush did cross her pale cheeks. Remus also ignored the question and continued to speak with Fred and George about what it was like being a werewolf. So it was left to Sirrus, but he didn't seem inclined to answer. His eyes went from his twin sister to Harry to his plate and back to his sister. "Well-um Harry. erm." He cleared his throat several more times before speaking again. Hermione and Ron were listening closely for the answer, but they weren't the only ones. A hush fell over the whole group, as Sirrus tried to place something very controversial to words and his sister scowled darkly at him. "Harry, breakfast is not the best place or time or company to discuss this." Sirrus finally concluded his many throat clears lamely. "But Sirrus." Harry began to object when the class schedules were passed down the table, saving Sirrus from the uncomfortable situation. "Look Harry," Hermione pointed to their schedule. "Defense against Dark Arts first. Oh no! A double period with Slytherin!" She cried in dismay. Ron turned white. "A-a-are you sure that you're reading that thing right, Herm?" He gulped past a knot in his throat. "Yeah Ron, she is. Here look." Harry pointed it out on Ron's own schedule. He groaned loudly. "Well look at it this way." Harry said, trying to sound pleasant. "No more double potions with Slytherin." He grimaced. "But it is still a double with Slytherin!" Ron lamented. "Relax Ron," Grinned Sirrus. "Krista's going with you guys for your class. We are to sit in on dear Professor Majere's class." He lowered his voice apprehensively. "Apparently Professor Dumbledore doesn't trust this guy. We were told-" "Sirrus!" Snapped Krista sharply. She reminded everyone present of Professor Snape. "You'll do well to remember what Professor Dumbledore said about telling the students." "But it's just Harry and his friends. They can handle this stuff." Krista shook her head, swiftly flinging her pure white hair about her. "You're an idiot, Sirrus. A pure bloody idiot." Her expression was dark as she stood up. "Classes are about to start." Harry commented to Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George. They all nodded and hurriedly gathered up their things. The three friends and the rest of their class made their way to the Defense against Dark Arts class with Krista leading. They were joined too quickly by the Slytherins. "Oh Harry, feeling the need for some extra protection? Is that why your dear godmother is coming to class with you?" "Go to hell, Malfoy." Muttered Harry lowly. "Oh, don't worry Potter. You'll being going there before I do." Draco sneered cheerfully. Krista seemed deaf to the entire transaction as she entered the Defense against Dark Arts room. She took at seat at the back of the room as the students moved to their own seats. The class was filled with a low murmur. Everyone's thoughts converged on similar paths. Where was their teacher? What did he look like? Etc. These questions were soon to be answered. Slowly the door at the back of the classroom was pushed open by a thick staff with a disembodied dragon's claw clutching a crystal. This staff was then followed by Professor Majere, who was heavily cloaked in his black velvet robes with the hood drawn over his entire face. He slowly made his way to his desk, leaning heavily on his staff. His gaze scoured the class, causing each student to shrink back as the unseen eyes crossed over him or her. Finally, Professor Majere's hooded eyes came to rest on the guardian present, Krista. "So," His voice was little more than a hoarse whisper as if that was all he could manage without collapsing from the effort. "Headmaster Dumbledore doesn't trust me so much that he is having guardians sit in on my class." He mused aloud. "You could say that, and you know the reason why as well." Krista crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair. "Now get on and teach your class." A slight chuckle, horrible to hear, emanated from the depths of the black velvet hood. "Well I have a lesson for all of you. Looks can be deceiving. and deserving." Everyone glanced at each other apprehensively. What did that mean? They soon found out. Professor Majere carefully leaned his staff against the desk, making sure it wouldn't fall over, and then raised his hands to the edge of his hood. This small action gained him a resounding gasp from the class as they saw his metallic gold skinned hands for the first time. Their gasp was followed by an even deeper and more profound silence as the deep black hood fell from the face and head of their new Defense against Dark Arts teacher. Draco, who had sat down just behind Harry so he could torment Harry all class, found himself moving closer to Harry for some reason, and only caught himself as he began to reach out to touch Harry's shoulder. Draco glanced about quickly to make sure no one had seen this, but no one was looking at him. All eyes were turned to their professor. Majere's skin glittered and shined in the torchlight light polished gold, his eyes flashed and flared with molten gold flames, but his pupils! Clear for everyone to see were two black hourglass shaped pupils. Draco found himself caught in those pupils along with the rest of his classmate, and once again he moved closer to Harry. Professor Majere moved his gaze across the students and then focused them on Krista. Everyone in the room he had seen aging, old, and dying, but her! She was still beautiful, positively radiant. Raistlin couldn't understand this. His cursed vision should see her effected by time. She should be old and dying in his eyes, but she wasn't. This puzzled him, but he didn't brood upon it. Turning back to the class, his long white hair that was so much like hers falling about his shoulders, he back to commence his lesson. "You see me here before you. I am weak, frail, sickly-" He began to cough violently, doubling over. Wiping the blood from his lips, he continued. "My skin is gold, as are my eyes, and my pupils are hourglasses. I even see time as it effects all things. I see each of you aging slowly as time flows." His eyes again rested upon the guardian, who sat as impassively as if she were deaf to his every word. "Now I might seem, with my weak heath, weaker body, and bizarre appearance to be very weak in magic to you." This gained a general consensus of head nodding from the class. "This is how looks deceive. You see I am extremely powerful in magic. Upon my own home world of Krynn, I am the most powerful mage to the date I left. None have the mastery of magic or the knowledge of the art that I possess. Now I am here to teach you to defend yourself from the evils of the world about you. It just so happens that I am the most evil thing you will probably ever encounter." A vicious sneer spread across Professor Majere's lips. "But Professor, what about He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named?" questioned Hermione quickly. Harry felt he needed to pipe in as well. "Yes, what about Lord Voldemort?" "Lord Volde-who?" Raistlin quirked an eyebrow. Stillness descended upon the room. Draco stood up. "Lord Voldemort is the most powerful, most evil, most vicious wizard ever to have walked the earth!" He shouted, forgetting about his reputation of never speaking in a class that wasn't Potions, unless to sneer at Harry. Raistlin moved toward the pale, blonde boy. His skeleton hand closed over Draco's thin shoulder. "No," the word was little more than a hiss of breath in the shivering boy's ear. "I am the worst thing you will ever meet, and you will do best to remember that." Raistlin moved back to his desk. Harry's cheek felt strangely hot where the black velvet robes had caressed his skin. The rest of the class passed slowly. Professor Majere, oddly enough, didn't use a wand, but instead used his staff and certain "spell components" such as sand, herbs, etc. Finally as the class filed out for lunch, Raistlin called to Krista. "Guardian, I wish for a word with you. Will you please stay behind?" "Certainly Professor." Krista stepped aside as the last students left. Krista remained standing where she was as Raistlin moved about the room, picking up his spell components and replacing them into his pouches. He was trying to figure out how best to ask her what he wished so desperately to know. Finally, knowing no other way to ask her, he whispered his question from across the room. "Do you perhaps have some immortal or extremely long lived blood in running in yours?" The strange question took Krista by surprise, even coming from a man so strange as this professor; she was utterly unprepared for it. "Well, no." She shook her head. "Not that I know of, and if I am the same blood would flow in my twin brother Sirrus' veins." The golden head jerked up. Her eyes caught in deep pools of molten gold. "Twin brother?" Raistlin hissed, slowly moving closer to her. "Yes, twin brother." She muttered startled to confusion. "He is here? One of the other guardians perhaps?" "Yes, Sirrus Black. The big guardian with jet black hair and two good eyes." "Ah, yes. I though perhaps it was the wolfish figured one or even that other one with the crazy blue eye, but no. It is the one you would least expect, just like me and my twin brother." All was silent for many moments before Majere shook his head slightly as if coming out of a dark revere. His eyes flicked over Krista, who stood still as stone beside him. He started to reach out his hand to touch her cheek, but stopped himself before the move was perceptible. "Please, I am being inconsiderate. Here I am keeping you from going to lunch, and yet I offer you nothing. Come and sit with me. I take my meals in my chambers, and would be honored if you would join me today." She blinked almost blankly, and then smiled a sweet if bitterly cold smile. "Certainly. That is most considerate of you." The two moved, with Raistlin leading, into his spacious office. Krista seemed inclined to halt here, but the black mage beckoned her into his private chambers beyond. A small table was set beside the window of the room. White linen lay draped across the surface, hanging far below the tabletop. Silverware and dishes of silver were placed upon the table for one, and from certain covered dishes alluring aromas spread. Raistlin's gold hand gently lifted the small silver bell beside his bed, which Krista was watching with apprehension. The tinkling of the silver tongue brought a small house elf, the same house elf as Raistlin had first seen, scampering. "Yes, sir?" It asked humbly. No longer daunted by the mage's appearance, it had come to learn that there were worse things than this mage's skin and eye to fear. "Set the table for two, quickly. I would like to eat before my next class." The young mage hissed, causing the house elf to bolt from the room. It returned moments later with some extra food and set a place for the female guardian. Raistlin noted with interest that she was watching his bed nervously. "There is no need to fear the bed, Madame." He murmured quietly. "There are no snakes in it." Krista started slightly. "No," she flushed. "But snakes have been known to live in some odd places." "Surely one snake bite isn't enough to cause one to fear every bed you see." "No, but multiple snake bites are enough to make me fear any person's bed." She snapped at him. Turning her back to him, she took a seat at the small table and gazed out the window. So she has been "bitten" by several snakes. Raistlin mused to himself as he sat in the seat opposite her. But surely it had to be someone close to her. Someone she trusted it would seem. Raistlin uncovered the food, and began to serve himself and his guest. After sometime of silent discourse, in which Krista seemed unwilling to speak, the black mage decided his surmises would do little to no good. "I don't mean to intrude where I am not wanted, but I seem to do a lot of that as I am not truly wanted anywhere." He muttered over the lip of his teacup. "It would seem to me that you are having trouble releasing your past. Perhaps the reason my curse sight doesn't see time effecting you is because it cannot do any greater damage to you than has already been done." The hourglass pupils lifted to the guardian's face, but she remained looking at the tablecloth. "Perhaps I am wrong in this assumption, but you seem to wish to speak about something when there is no one for you to speak to." The molten gold pool lowered from her troubled visage back to the feathery leaves that made up part of the tea. Raistlin began coughing, but this time it was not as bad as usual. The tea was easing it away for a time. "It was my father." The guardian's hoarse voice caught Raistlin by surprise. Her voice was so melodious, but now it was like his brother, Caramon singing; a horrible thing to hear. "And my brother." Her eyes lifted for a fraction of a second. "And James Potter." "Three completely different snakes it would seem." "Yes, I was very weak when I was little. With my father, I didn't know any better. With Sirrus, I didn't know it was wrong. With James, I thought I was in love. As I said, I was weak and foolish when I was young." "It would seem time has inflicted horrible wounds upon you that you feel will never heal. Am I correct?" "Time has done nothing to heal these wounds." She snarled angrily. She started for the door when an unnaturally hot skeleton hand closed over her upper arm. She felt more than heard the quiet whisper in her ear and the sand falling upon the floor beneath her feet. The last thing she remembered was falling, and then beginning caught and lifted up by strong golden arms. As Raistlin lay her among the soft cushions of quilts upon his bed blackness descended magically upon her, and she knew no more.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter characters, books, merchandise, copyrights, stock, or anything else in such a manner. I also do not own any of the Dragon Lance characters, books (unless you count that I bought copies of DLChronicles...), merchandise, copyrights, etc. I wish desperately that I did own Raistlin Majere, as he is only the coolest character ever, but unfortunately I don't... yet... but that could change... seriously anything is possible... I made an extra HP character that doesn't exist whom I do own... possibly more later on too. muahahaha You can't have everyone Rowling! Hmm.... anyway on with the story... so far it is still PG, but it might not stay that way for too much longer. Don't know yet. Some Harry/Draco slash hints in this chapter. Perhaps, you'll get something good to chew on next chapter. Also I am really setting the scene for Krista and Raistlin. What will happen?
The next morning at breakfast, neither Professor Dumbledore nor Professor Majere was present. Harry didn't wonder long at this. Professor Dumbledore was rarely present at breakfast, and obviously this Professor Majere wanted to keep to himself. Each guardian was there, though, and this basically meant that all four of them were sitting with Harry and his friends at the Gryffindor table. Fred and George came over to talk to Remus and to meet Sirrus, or so they said. Ron privately thought it was to get a closer look at Krista because they kept blushing brilliant red when she spoke or her name was mentioned. She was as cold as ever and only spoke to Sirrus, Remus, Mad-Eye, and Harry. Harry decided that now was as good as ever to ask Sirrus again why he hadn't heard about his godmother before. "Sirrus, why had I not been told about Krista or even my having a godmother prior to yesterday?" He asked loudly enough for the entire group to hear her. Krista seemed not to hear. She and Mad-Eye continued their conversation on magical smoke cloud spells, but a very slight flush did cross her pale cheeks. Remus also ignored the question and continued to speak with Fred and George about what it was like being a werewolf. So it was left to Sirrus, but he didn't seem inclined to answer. His eyes went from his twin sister to Harry to his plate and back to his sister. "Well-um Harry. erm." He cleared his throat several more times before speaking again. Hermione and Ron were listening closely for the answer, but they weren't the only ones. A hush fell over the whole group, as Sirrus tried to place something very controversial to words and his sister scowled darkly at him. "Harry, breakfast is not the best place or time or company to discuss this." Sirrus finally concluded his many throat clears lamely. "But Sirrus." Harry began to object when the class schedules were passed down the table, saving Sirrus from the uncomfortable situation. "Look Harry," Hermione pointed to their schedule. "Defense against Dark Arts first. Oh no! A double period with Slytherin!" She cried in dismay. Ron turned white. "A-a-are you sure that you're reading that thing right, Herm?" He gulped past a knot in his throat. "Yeah Ron, she is. Here look." Harry pointed it out on Ron's own schedule. He groaned loudly. "Well look at it this way." Harry said, trying to sound pleasant. "No more double potions with Slytherin." He grimaced. "But it is still a double with Slytherin!" Ron lamented. "Relax Ron," Grinned Sirrus. "Krista's going with you guys for your class. We are to sit in on dear Professor Majere's class." He lowered his voice apprehensively. "Apparently Professor Dumbledore doesn't trust this guy. We were told-" "Sirrus!" Snapped Krista sharply. She reminded everyone present of Professor Snape. "You'll do well to remember what Professor Dumbledore said about telling the students." "But it's just Harry and his friends. They can handle this stuff." Krista shook her head, swiftly flinging her pure white hair about her. "You're an idiot, Sirrus. A pure bloody idiot." Her expression was dark as she stood up. "Classes are about to start." Harry commented to Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George. They all nodded and hurriedly gathered up their things. The three friends and the rest of their class made their way to the Defense against Dark Arts class with Krista leading. They were joined too quickly by the Slytherins. "Oh Harry, feeling the need for some extra protection? Is that why your dear godmother is coming to class with you?" "Go to hell, Malfoy." Muttered Harry lowly. "Oh, don't worry Potter. You'll being going there before I do." Draco sneered cheerfully. Krista seemed deaf to the entire transaction as she entered the Defense against Dark Arts room. She took at seat at the back of the room as the students moved to their own seats. The class was filled with a low murmur. Everyone's thoughts converged on similar paths. Where was their teacher? What did he look like? Etc. These questions were soon to be answered. Slowly the door at the back of the classroom was pushed open by a thick staff with a disembodied dragon's claw clutching a crystal. This staff was then followed by Professor Majere, who was heavily cloaked in his black velvet robes with the hood drawn over his entire face. He slowly made his way to his desk, leaning heavily on his staff. His gaze scoured the class, causing each student to shrink back as the unseen eyes crossed over him or her. Finally, Professor Majere's hooded eyes came to rest on the guardian present, Krista. "So," His voice was little more than a hoarse whisper as if that was all he could manage without collapsing from the effort. "Headmaster Dumbledore doesn't trust me so much that he is having guardians sit in on my class." He mused aloud. "You could say that, and you know the reason why as well." Krista crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair. "Now get on and teach your class." A slight chuckle, horrible to hear, emanated from the depths of the black velvet hood. "Well I have a lesson for all of you. Looks can be deceiving. and deserving." Everyone glanced at each other apprehensively. What did that mean? They soon found out. Professor Majere carefully leaned his staff against the desk, making sure it wouldn't fall over, and then raised his hands to the edge of his hood. This small action gained him a resounding gasp from the class as they saw his metallic gold skinned hands for the first time. Their gasp was followed by an even deeper and more profound silence as the deep black hood fell from the face and head of their new Defense against Dark Arts teacher. Draco, who had sat down just behind Harry so he could torment Harry all class, found himself moving closer to Harry for some reason, and only caught himself as he began to reach out to touch Harry's shoulder. Draco glanced about quickly to make sure no one had seen this, but no one was looking at him. All eyes were turned to their professor. Majere's skin glittered and shined in the torchlight light polished gold, his eyes flashed and flared with molten gold flames, but his pupils! Clear for everyone to see were two black hourglass shaped pupils. Draco found himself caught in those pupils along with the rest of his classmate, and once again he moved closer to Harry. Professor Majere moved his gaze across the students and then focused them on Krista. Everyone in the room he had seen aging, old, and dying, but her! She was still beautiful, positively radiant. Raistlin couldn't understand this. His cursed vision should see her effected by time. She should be old and dying in his eyes, but she wasn't. This puzzled him, but he didn't brood upon it. Turning back to the class, his long white hair that was so much like hers falling about his shoulders, he back to commence his lesson. "You see me here before you. I am weak, frail, sickly-" He began to cough violently, doubling over. Wiping the blood from his lips, he continued. "My skin is gold, as are my eyes, and my pupils are hourglasses. I even see time as it effects all things. I see each of you aging slowly as time flows." His eyes again rested upon the guardian, who sat as impassively as if she were deaf to his every word. "Now I might seem, with my weak heath, weaker body, and bizarre appearance to be very weak in magic to you." This gained a general consensus of head nodding from the class. "This is how looks deceive. You see I am extremely powerful in magic. Upon my own home world of Krynn, I am the most powerful mage to the date I left. None have the mastery of magic or the knowledge of the art that I possess. Now I am here to teach you to defend yourself from the evils of the world about you. It just so happens that I am the most evil thing you will probably ever encounter." A vicious sneer spread across Professor Majere's lips. "But Professor, what about He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named?" questioned Hermione quickly. Harry felt he needed to pipe in as well. "Yes, what about Lord Voldemort?" "Lord Volde-who?" Raistlin quirked an eyebrow. Stillness descended upon the room. Draco stood up. "Lord Voldemort is the most powerful, most evil, most vicious wizard ever to have walked the earth!" He shouted, forgetting about his reputation of never speaking in a class that wasn't Potions, unless to sneer at Harry. Raistlin moved toward the pale, blonde boy. His skeleton hand closed over Draco's thin shoulder. "No," the word was little more than a hiss of breath in the shivering boy's ear. "I am the worst thing you will ever meet, and you will do best to remember that." Raistlin moved back to his desk. Harry's cheek felt strangely hot where the black velvet robes had caressed his skin. The rest of the class passed slowly. Professor Majere, oddly enough, didn't use a wand, but instead used his staff and certain "spell components" such as sand, herbs, etc. Finally as the class filed out for lunch, Raistlin called to Krista. "Guardian, I wish for a word with you. Will you please stay behind?" "Certainly Professor." Krista stepped aside as the last students left. Krista remained standing where she was as Raistlin moved about the room, picking up his spell components and replacing them into his pouches. He was trying to figure out how best to ask her what he wished so desperately to know. Finally, knowing no other way to ask her, he whispered his question from across the room. "Do you perhaps have some immortal or extremely long lived blood in running in yours?" The strange question took Krista by surprise, even coming from a man so strange as this professor; she was utterly unprepared for it. "Well, no." She shook her head. "Not that I know of, and if I am the same blood would flow in my twin brother Sirrus' veins." The golden head jerked up. Her eyes caught in deep pools of molten gold. "Twin brother?" Raistlin hissed, slowly moving closer to her. "Yes, twin brother." She muttered startled to confusion. "He is here? One of the other guardians perhaps?" "Yes, Sirrus Black. The big guardian with jet black hair and two good eyes." "Ah, yes. I though perhaps it was the wolfish figured one or even that other one with the crazy blue eye, but no. It is the one you would least expect, just like me and my twin brother." All was silent for many moments before Majere shook his head slightly as if coming out of a dark revere. His eyes flicked over Krista, who stood still as stone beside him. He started to reach out his hand to touch her cheek, but stopped himself before the move was perceptible. "Please, I am being inconsiderate. Here I am keeping you from going to lunch, and yet I offer you nothing. Come and sit with me. I take my meals in my chambers, and would be honored if you would join me today." She blinked almost blankly, and then smiled a sweet if bitterly cold smile. "Certainly. That is most considerate of you." The two moved, with Raistlin leading, into his spacious office. Krista seemed inclined to halt here, but the black mage beckoned her into his private chambers beyond. A small table was set beside the window of the room. White linen lay draped across the surface, hanging far below the tabletop. Silverware and dishes of silver were placed upon the table for one, and from certain covered dishes alluring aromas spread. Raistlin's gold hand gently lifted the small silver bell beside his bed, which Krista was watching with apprehension. The tinkling of the silver tongue brought a small house elf, the same house elf as Raistlin had first seen, scampering. "Yes, sir?" It asked humbly. No longer daunted by the mage's appearance, it had come to learn that there were worse things than this mage's skin and eye to fear. "Set the table for two, quickly. I would like to eat before my next class." The young mage hissed, causing the house elf to bolt from the room. It returned moments later with some extra food and set a place for the female guardian. Raistlin noted with interest that she was watching his bed nervously. "There is no need to fear the bed, Madame." He murmured quietly. "There are no snakes in it." Krista started slightly. "No," she flushed. "But snakes have been known to live in some odd places." "Surely one snake bite isn't enough to cause one to fear every bed you see." "No, but multiple snake bites are enough to make me fear any person's bed." She snapped at him. Turning her back to him, she took a seat at the small table and gazed out the window. So she has been "bitten" by several snakes. Raistlin mused to himself as he sat in the seat opposite her. But surely it had to be someone close to her. Someone she trusted it would seem. Raistlin uncovered the food, and began to serve himself and his guest. After sometime of silent discourse, in which Krista seemed unwilling to speak, the black mage decided his surmises would do little to no good. "I don't mean to intrude where I am not wanted, but I seem to do a lot of that as I am not truly wanted anywhere." He muttered over the lip of his teacup. "It would seem to me that you are having trouble releasing your past. Perhaps the reason my curse sight doesn't see time effecting you is because it cannot do any greater damage to you than has already been done." The hourglass pupils lifted to the guardian's face, but she remained looking at the tablecloth. "Perhaps I am wrong in this assumption, but you seem to wish to speak about something when there is no one for you to speak to." The molten gold pool lowered from her troubled visage back to the feathery leaves that made up part of the tea. Raistlin began coughing, but this time it was not as bad as usual. The tea was easing it away for a time. "It was my father." The guardian's hoarse voice caught Raistlin by surprise. Her voice was so melodious, but now it was like his brother, Caramon singing; a horrible thing to hear. "And my brother." Her eyes lifted for a fraction of a second. "And James Potter." "Three completely different snakes it would seem." "Yes, I was very weak when I was little. With my father, I didn't know any better. With Sirrus, I didn't know it was wrong. With James, I thought I was in love. As I said, I was weak and foolish when I was young." "It would seem time has inflicted horrible wounds upon you that you feel will never heal. Am I correct?" "Time has done nothing to heal these wounds." She snarled angrily. She started for the door when an unnaturally hot skeleton hand closed over her upper arm. She felt more than heard the quiet whisper in her ear and the sand falling upon the floor beneath her feet. The last thing she remembered was falling, and then beginning caught and lifted up by strong golden arms. As Raistlin lay her among the soft cushions of quilts upon his bed blackness descended magically upon her, and she knew no more.
