~Draika~
Chapter One: Packing
Draika sat up, groaning. What time was it? Looking out her window, it seemed to be very early in the morning. So much the better--she didn't care for the stares she now got in the commons of the Leaky Cauldron. For the past four years, after her…incident…her life had been changed forever.
---
That very morning she collapsed of shock on her bedroom floor, a very peculiar thin happened. Three owls had flown in her open window, two carrying letters, and one carrying a small package. At first Draika had been afraid…after all, she'd certainly gone through enough ordeals to last her several lifetimes. But she had always loved animals, and soon she had accepted their parcels, and they were off. One handsome grey fellow even let her stroke his breast before taking off.
Hands trembling, she carefully opened the first letter, afraid of what she might find. To her relief, it was an ordinary letter, written on ordinary paper in ordinary red ink.
What she would read next would send her on a path she would have never dreamed.
'Draika V'tana-
It has come to my attention that last night you experienced a large advancement in your mysterious disease. Do not tell anyone. This is serious stuff, and the muggles would just stuff you in a circus tent. Go to the Marlith's Ferry at 6 pm tonight.'
Draika stared at the word 'muggles'. Shaking her head, she read on:
'On a the bright side, this disease only affects wizarding folk. I am pleased to inform you that you are accepted into Lambaskian's Academy For Young Witches And Wizards. The ferry leaves at the time said before. Your supplies will be provided for you-I understand this is very short notice, but it is of utmost importance you make contact with the wizarding world as soon as possible.'
"What?" Draika had asked to no one. "A…witch? Me?" she'd heard of such things from the workmen in the bar, but had paid no heed-even they thought they were just spinning fairy tales.
'Please wear your longest cloak, and bring only foodstuffs for one meal. I look forward to talking with you upon your arrival, as there are many important things you need to know.
Sincerely,
Cirrus Lambaskian, Headmaster'
---
Draika reread the letter…she had kept it until even now as a reminder of what her life had been like before. She hadn't had a clue as to what was wrong with her, and the many doctor's visits were only more and more shaming. She hated being different. Hated it!
---
As she opened the second letter, Draika found it was written on a yellowed piece of parchment in emerald ink.
'Draika V'tana-'
"Here we go again…"
'You should be happy to know you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. I have considered your condition, and nevertheless found you to be an excellent aspiring witch. The train leaves at eleven from King's Cross in London. Don't worry about what to bring-I'll make sure you have everything you need.
-Professor McGonagall,
Transfiguration Professor'
Draika was stunned. TWO schools wanted her? Or were these just choices she could make-maybe every witch and wizard in England was offered more than one school. Turning over McGonagall's letter, she found a PostScript:
'PS-I hope Canon didn't bother you too much for praise-he can be very insistent.'
She smiled. Canon was a perfect name for the big gray owl. At the moment, she was still very much stricken with the thought of her being a witch and going off to school to learn magic…and to find help; she thought she'd go to Lambaskian's-it was much closer than London!
---
Draika folded up both letters and placed them in her trunk, trying to remember why she'd decided to switch schools.
"Ah well.." she muttered to herself. "No going back now…"
Then she lifted one more item off her nightstand…
---
Looking nervously at the parcel the third owl had left, Draika lifted it gingerly. It wasn't very large, maybe four inches long, one inch wide. Tiny, in fact. Opening it curiously, a necklace clattered onto the floor. A glowing white stone the size of her big toe…well, if she had HAD a big toe anymore, it would have been about the size of it. The stone was hung on a leather cord. Looking inside the box for anything else, Draika found a note:
'Wear this always during the day. It will help.'
And that was all.
---
Now, Draika slipped the cord easily over her head, hiding the glowing stone under her sweeping black cloak. She'd attached a hood to it earlier that year, in case anything happened to her face…
Turning to look in the mirror, she tucked a strand of long sandy hair behind her ear, steely gray eyes now flecked with yellow going over every little detail. Satisfied, she dragged her now-full trunk out the door and into the hall. She would eat breakfast, then get an early start to King's Cross.
"I just hope I'm doing the right thing."
Chapter One: Packing
Draika sat up, groaning. What time was it? Looking out her window, it seemed to be very early in the morning. So much the better--she didn't care for the stares she now got in the commons of the Leaky Cauldron. For the past four years, after her…incident…her life had been changed forever.
---
That very morning she collapsed of shock on her bedroom floor, a very peculiar thin happened. Three owls had flown in her open window, two carrying letters, and one carrying a small package. At first Draika had been afraid…after all, she'd certainly gone through enough ordeals to last her several lifetimes. But she had always loved animals, and soon she had accepted their parcels, and they were off. One handsome grey fellow even let her stroke his breast before taking off.
Hands trembling, she carefully opened the first letter, afraid of what she might find. To her relief, it was an ordinary letter, written on ordinary paper in ordinary red ink.
What she would read next would send her on a path she would have never dreamed.
'Draika V'tana-
It has come to my attention that last night you experienced a large advancement in your mysterious disease. Do not tell anyone. This is serious stuff, and the muggles would just stuff you in a circus tent. Go to the Marlith's Ferry at 6 pm tonight.'
Draika stared at the word 'muggles'. Shaking her head, she read on:
'On a the bright side, this disease only affects wizarding folk. I am pleased to inform you that you are accepted into Lambaskian's Academy For Young Witches And Wizards. The ferry leaves at the time said before. Your supplies will be provided for you-I understand this is very short notice, but it is of utmost importance you make contact with the wizarding world as soon as possible.'
"What?" Draika had asked to no one. "A…witch? Me?" she'd heard of such things from the workmen in the bar, but had paid no heed-even they thought they were just spinning fairy tales.
'Please wear your longest cloak, and bring only foodstuffs for one meal. I look forward to talking with you upon your arrival, as there are many important things you need to know.
Sincerely,
Cirrus Lambaskian, Headmaster'
---
Draika reread the letter…she had kept it until even now as a reminder of what her life had been like before. She hadn't had a clue as to what was wrong with her, and the many doctor's visits were only more and more shaming. She hated being different. Hated it!
---
As she opened the second letter, Draika found it was written on a yellowed piece of parchment in emerald ink.
'Draika V'tana-'
"Here we go again…"
'You should be happy to know you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. I have considered your condition, and nevertheless found you to be an excellent aspiring witch. The train leaves at eleven from King's Cross in London. Don't worry about what to bring-I'll make sure you have everything you need.
-Professor McGonagall,
Transfiguration Professor'
Draika was stunned. TWO schools wanted her? Or were these just choices she could make-maybe every witch and wizard in England was offered more than one school. Turning over McGonagall's letter, she found a PostScript:
'PS-I hope Canon didn't bother you too much for praise-he can be very insistent.'
She smiled. Canon was a perfect name for the big gray owl. At the moment, she was still very much stricken with the thought of her being a witch and going off to school to learn magic…and to find help; she thought she'd go to Lambaskian's-it was much closer than London!
---
Draika folded up both letters and placed them in her trunk, trying to remember why she'd decided to switch schools.
"Ah well.." she muttered to herself. "No going back now…"
Then she lifted one more item off her nightstand…
---
Looking nervously at the parcel the third owl had left, Draika lifted it gingerly. It wasn't very large, maybe four inches long, one inch wide. Tiny, in fact. Opening it curiously, a necklace clattered onto the floor. A glowing white stone the size of her big toe…well, if she had HAD a big toe anymore, it would have been about the size of it. The stone was hung on a leather cord. Looking inside the box for anything else, Draika found a note:
'Wear this always during the day. It will help.'
And that was all.
---
Now, Draika slipped the cord easily over her head, hiding the glowing stone under her sweeping black cloak. She'd attached a hood to it earlier that year, in case anything happened to her face…
Turning to look in the mirror, she tucked a strand of long sandy hair behind her ear, steely gray eyes now flecked with yellow going over every little detail. Satisfied, she dragged her now-full trunk out the door and into the hall. She would eat breakfast, then get an early start to King's Cross.
"I just hope I'm doing the right thing."