Once again…terribly sorry for the lack of quick updates. I try to make each chapter to the best of my abilities, and that takes awhile. I know at first I updated once or more every week, but that's because I had an idea of where those chapters were going already set in my head. ^__^ Now, onwards!
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~Draika~
Chapter Ten: Hogsmeade
"Please try to pay attention!" The shrill voice of Flitwick echoed sharply in Draika's ears as she looked around the Charms classroom. It was nearly a month later, and not a whole lot had changed after Halloween night. Well sure, the Slytherins practically worshipped her for supposedly attacking Potter and the rest of the school feared and hated her to extreme lengths, but nothing really big. Nope. She didn't encourage the rumors, but see…she didn't exactly discourage them, either. The more she was left alone, whether in reverence or fear, the more she could try to enjoy her time at Hogwarts.
~At least there's the Quidditch match tonight…~ she thought as the students were dismissed. She'd grown to halfway like the sport, especially since the Slytherin team was clearly the best. That night she joined the multitudes in flocking to the pitch. Even though others surrounded her, there was somehow a wide berth given to her. Draika grinned, leaning back to enjoy the match. Madam Hooch flew into the air, and blew her whistle shrilly.
"The Gryffindors have forfeited to Slytherin!" She said, somehow heard over all the voices.
Magic, Draika supposed, as she walked quietly back to her dormitory. If this kept up much longer, Gryffindor would be out of the tournament altogether! But more important was the little matter of the upcoming Hogsmeade trip…she knew she had been forbidden to leave the castle, but Aerisan, Linwe's mother, had spoken to Draika earlier. So all Draika had to do was work Snape around…not an easy task.
"…and Aerisan has promised to go with me, she doesn't seem to mind at all." Draika finished. It was the next morning, in Snape's office. Some students called it spooky, but she rather liked it. A décor of animals in jars of formaldehyde was really quite intriguing.
Snape paused, black eyes glittering. Draika did not draw back; he had to give her credit for that.
"Wait outside." He said, sitting down to think. He had to think. She wanted to get out, that was understandable. But what might happen….many things, and none of them good. They were keeping her in for her safety; did that mean taking away her freedom as well? Well…yes, but not entirely. He strode out into the dark dungeon corridors.
"You will meet Aerisan at ten in the morning on the twenty-ninth of November. If she wishes to leave Hogsmeade, you must return to the castle with her. You will stay in town, and not venture off into the bluffs or countryside. Do I make myself clear?" He hoped so. If the girl tripped up again, he might very well have to pay with his job.
Draika nodded. "Yes, Professor." She turned and walked the few hundred feet to the Slytherin common room, responding to the usual stares and whispers with a fierce glare that sent one first year girl scurrying off to her room.
Grinning, Draika sat back in the recently vacated armchair by the fire. Not until its roaring flames were just embers did she retreat to her dormitory. After the attack on Harry Potter all the other girls had found excuses to sleep in a different dormitory, so Draika had the whole place to herself. It made things so much easier. The scales spreading on her back and her appendages were itching like heck, and the open air helped.
~
The next day was the twenty-ninth, so Draika actually went to bed "on time". In the morning she woke extra early, trying without much success to get the dead skin from under her rapidly growing scales even though she spent nearly two hours on it. She slipped on an ashen gray robe and hurried down to the main entrance, a small bag slung over her shoulder.
Aerisan was waiting for her, golden eyes kind unlike her mate's. Draika smiled--she WAS pretty, the ash-colored gryphon. Silvers and grays all blended, with hints of foggy greens and blues glinting in the morning sun. For once in her life, she felt almost happy. The sun was shining brightly over the snowy grounds, turning the shallower parts into puddles of slush. It would be a warm day.
"Draika!" Aerisan called, standing to shake her wings out of their folded position. "Are you ready?"
Draika almost laughed. Now she could see how Linwe got to be so friendly. Bowing, she nodded. "Yes, Aerisan."
"It's just Aeris. And don't be so formal. Let's go!" The gryphon laughed like a child, scampering out of the castle doors.
"Where are you going?" Draika ran after her. "The carriages are…over there…" She slowed as Aeris allowed her to catch up.
"Why would we take those things?" Aeris asked. "Get on. We haven't all day."
Draika's eyes widened when she realized they were going to FLY. Actually fly! She grinned like an idiot, not being able to help herself any longer.
"Tell me if I'm hurting you, okay?" She asked, situating herself just in front of the spot where the wing joints connected to Aeris' back.
"Don't worry!" With barely a pause she leapt into the air. The ground nearly disappeared. Draika could almost imagine the looks she was getting from the other students…
"Wow…" She gasped, looking down without fear. She could see for miles in every direction! It was everything she'd imagined and more…the soaring sensation in her stomach, the thrill that passed through her heart as the wind rushed over her. She didn't care how much longer it took to fly than with the carriages, but it was worth it, every moment.
Aeris smiled, turning so the sun shone on them. It would be warmer that way, as body temperature was often lost at these high altitudes.
"Want to try a dive?"
"A what?" Draika yelled. With the wind rushing in her ears, she couldn't hear a thing. "Sure!" She said, hoping that whatever Aeris had asked, her answer had made sense.
Aeris nodded, streamlining her wings with her sleek body, heading towards the ground at an unbelievably sharp angle.
"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Draika shouted out of pure excitement, eyes wide as the wind picked up speed. "Awesome!" She leaned back, watching the clouds pass at unbelievable speeds.
Only when Aerisan landed with a bump did Draika notice they were there. She rolled off onto the grass, grinning.
"That was the best thing ever." She said, looking up at the sky. She felt slightly dizzy, like she'd been spinning.
"Gryphons get used to it, but every time we fly, there's still a little bit of that first thrill." Aeris smiled as well as someone with a beak could mimic a smile, walking with Draika towards the shops.
It was wonderful. Draika mostly looked in through the windows, because she had no spending money of her own. She couldn't help wandering into Honeydukes, however. Aerisan seemed to enjoy it as much as she.
"Yuck. I'll bet you won't eat this, even for a Galleon." A first-year Gryffindor held up a large chunk of Cockroach Cluster to his friend, who grimaced and stuck out his tongue.
"Gimme that." Draika studied the Cluster for a moment before wolfing it down. Not bad--the bugs were a form of meat, so her stomach wouldn't reject it. "Pay up." She smiled as the Gryffindor hastily plunked a Galleon into her waiting palm, amazed. "Thanks, kid." She smiled, walking out as she tossed the coin from one hand to another.
Aeris laughed. "I haven't had this much fun in years…" She sighed happily.
"Well, thanks for going with me, or neither of us would be here." Draika eyed the shops. "Post Office, Zonko's, a magical creatures store, some old building…" But her gaze was most drawn to the foothills on the outskirts of the market. "Let's go!" She said, running towards them. So what if she had been forbidden to climb them? What could possibly happen? Grinning, she clasped her hands tight around the first boulder, pulling herself up. Before she could go any further, though…
"What do you think you're doing?" Aeris had grabbed the collar of her cloak. "You're not allowed. No one is in the winter. It's too icy, especially since the sun will melt the snow on top." Her face was creased into a frown, her tail swishing.
"Fine." Draika scowled. "Let's go to the Post Office, then." She sulked for a bit, but sulking really wasn't something Draika could do well for long. Especially in the Post Office.
Owls of almost every color imaginable, every size imaginable, sat on what seemed like hundreds of perches all around the building. Owls hooting, shrieking, napping. One large tawny owl was perched importantly on the counter. He stared at Draika before hooting softly, fluttering his wings.
"Good, good…" She smiled, reaching out a hand to gently stroke his feathered chest.
-I was the first owl here.- He told her proudly. -My name is Artemis.-
"What a handsome name." Draika smiled. "How far away can you deliver letters?"
-Continental only. No transatlantic letters. Up to fifteen pounds.- He puffed out his chest importantly. -Do you have something you want me to carry?- He sounded so hopeful that Draika couldn't refuse.
"Sure, just a second." She yanked a spare bit of parchment from the manager's vacated desk and a quill, scribbling a quick note. "Can you find a nundu for me? He lives in the forest. Don't worry about him attacking you, just say it's from Draika."
-Yes. I know your name.-
Draika raised her eyebrows, folding the parchment in fourths. "Here you go."
-Pay first. Two sickles.- He gestured to a box. -Change is in there.-
She walked over to the box, lifting the lid to put in her galleon, drawing out her change. She wouldn't dare take any than was rightfully hers--the owls were smarter than most people knew.
Artemis clicked his beak, holding out his leg obediently for her to tie the letter on.
"There. Is that too tight?" She asked.
-No. Just fine. Can you bring me outside?-
Draika offered her forearm, and Artemis stepped onto it, still looking around like he owned the place. She walked outside to where Aeris waited. The sun was wavering from the cloud cover, but there were still hours to go before it set. The big tawny owl took off.
-Goodbye!- He screeched, flapping laboriously to catch one of the day's last thermals.
Aeris smiled. "Ready to go somewhere else?"
Draika nodded. "Yeah. How about that one?" She pointed to a dusty-looking store. The sign on the roof was long stripped of its paint by the elements. Its contents were hidden because of all the grime that coated the windows, but something told Draika it would be worth visiting.
"Okay…" The gryphon looked unsure, but followed her anyway.
As Draika pushed open the wooden door a cloud of dust billowed down on her. Aeris flapped her wings, sending it across the room.
"Wow…thanks." Draika once again thought about how much easier it would be not to have to hide her differences….but for now it was probably the best thing to do. Looking around, there seemed to be no one else here. Several tables were arranged haphazardly in the back, covered in a thick layer of dust like everything else.
"No problem." Aeris walked forwards, inspecting several items.
The shop was the size of a large classroom, but somehow managed to seem cluttered. Ceiling-high bookshelves lined every bit of wall space. A cobwebbed chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling, brass finishing tarnished. The floor underneath Draika's talons was hardwood. It looked just as dusty as everything else.
"Some of these texts are very rare." Aeris made a sound of amazement, paging through a large volume. "I'm surprised this place wasn't ransacked by now…"
"Yeah…" A large trunk wedged under one of the tables caught Draika's eye. She bent down to open it, but it was locked.
"Here. Let me try…" Aeris padded over and raised a talon. For a moment Draika thought she was going to strike it off and flinched, but then the gryphon stuck one of her claws in the keyhole, rummaging around inside for a moment before it came open with a click.
"Will you never cease to amaze me?" Draika whistled, then coughed several times as a new wave of dust rose. There was nothing in the chest but a bunch of old books, and someone's wand. "Huh." She picked up the foot-long piece of wood, twirling it between her claws. Aeris was busy looking at the books, piling several on the table. Draika picked up one of the books curiously, and for lack of anything better to do. Most of the pages were blank, but on several near the back there was some ornate handwriting in a rust-colored ink.
'One fortnight from now, midnight. Astronomy tower.'
Draika blinked. That phrase had jumped out at her almost, standing out from all the other nearly unreadable letters.
'No, you're not crazy.'
What?
'Do not be late.'
She shook her head, flipping to other pages. Pages that had previously been blank were now filled with the same writing. But although it was written in the same style of the words that had jumped out at her, none of them were readable. She suddenly realized Aeris was watching her. Not suspiciously, but enough in that direction to make her uneasy. Draika pocketed the book and the wand, carrying Aerisan's books as well.
"What an odd place." Aeris remarked as they left. "I wonder how long it's been empty?"
Draika shrugged and looked back.
The shop wasn't there.
"Hey!" She almost yelled. "Aeris."
"What?"
"We were just in a shop."
"How observant of you."
"Where is it now?"
"Hm?" The ashen gryphon turned to look. "How odd. But then again, those things happen."
"I've never seen anything like that!"
"Oh, sure. Expiration on buildings? Wizards pay taxes, too. I guess that particular shop's time had run out. Good thing we weren't still in it."
Draika had to stop for several moments to think about that. Then she shrugged, jogging after Aeris. They briefly stopped in the Three Broomsticks, just to sit and warm up. The chatter died down for a few moments, but then struck back up again in a moment. Aeris folded her wings and laid by the fire while Draika took off her gloves to warm her hands.
"Finally. I've been wanting to talk to you for ages." Draco sat down across from her, smirking. "Really…who was it?" For once, he was unaccompanied by Crabbe or Goyle.
"Who was it what?"
"You know…who's got it in for Potter?"
"I don't know and I don't care."
"Come on…what happened? What did he do to get you so angry?"
"I told you I didn't do it." Draika growled, digging her claws into her chair.
"Like hell." He scoffed. "You know!"
"I don't." She repeated, looking past him at the next table. Two Gryffindors…Hermione and Ron. She briefly caught their gaze, but Hermione glared and she looked away, back at Draco.
"Come off it! Everyone knows." He grinned. "Why deny it? If it were me, I'd be wanting people to know."
"I guess I'm not you."
"No kidding. Say, how is that, being stuck with the feathered freak?" He gestured towards Aerisan.
"Aeris? Oh, she's wonderful. Look at this." She tried to divert the conversation, drawing the wand she'd found out of her pocket. Draco took it, unimpressed.
"So? Just a wand. Who's is it?"
"Not mine. I found it in a locked trunk in some store."
"So you stole it?" He smiled. "Maybe there's hope for you yet." Draco tossed her the old wand, standing to leave. "See you later."
Draika watched him go. Did everyone seriously think it could've been her? It wasn't…at least she didn't think so. She stood and walked over to Hermione and Ron, but Hermione whispered something, yanking Ron off his chair and quickly out the door. She shook her head. She saw them in classes, there'd be plenty of opportunities to talk.
Aeris stood and stretched, padding over to Draika.
"Let's go see the Shrieking Shack." She said eagerly. "It's my favorite."
"What's so great about this place?" Draika crossed her arms, observing the run-down shack that Aeris had been so insistent on seeing..
"They say it's haunted." Aeris grinned. "Isn't it great?"
"Uh..yeah. Sure." Draika looked around for something to do. "I'm gonna go see what's around back."
"Okay." Aeris sat back on her haunches as Draika walked around to the back. She tried the door--locked. All the windows were boarded up with magic, too.
She sighed and sat down on the old fence, swinging her legs.
"Hey, you!"
Draika looked up to see a group of students heading towards her. Maybe three or four. They all wore robes with the Gryffindor crest on them, except for the oldest--a Ravenclaw.
~Great. Just what I need. Little students thinking they can avenge the great Harry Potter.~ She eyed them casually. They were not a threat.
"You. Why don't you just go back where you came from?" The Ravenclaw, probably in his sixth year, pushed Draika's shoulder. She clenched her teeth. Ooh, they were gonna get it.
The others looked littler, maybe first or second years. All of them clustered behind the sixth year, whispering.
"Now why would I do that?" She raised an eyebrow. "I think I like it here."
"Yeah? Well we don't like you here."
~Great. He's just soooo intelligent.~ She scoffed mentally. ~I know billywigs that could banter better than you do.~ She said nothing, but shrugged. "Too bad."
It didn't look like they were going to leave, so she jumped off the fence and turned to go. The little Gryffindors shifted again, moving away from her. She rolled her eyes. So much for a good fight.
Aeris was waiting.
"You want to go now?" She asked.
"Yeah, sure."
Even though the fly home was just as wonderful, Draika didn't enjoy it. She nodded to Aeris as they parted in the dungeons, watching the fire in the common room for what seemed like ages before falling asleep.
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Good? One question: Should there be a Christmas Dance/Yule Ball type thing? Please put that in your review, if you can…^__^
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~Draika~
Chapter Ten: Hogsmeade
"Please try to pay attention!" The shrill voice of Flitwick echoed sharply in Draika's ears as she looked around the Charms classroom. It was nearly a month later, and not a whole lot had changed after Halloween night. Well sure, the Slytherins practically worshipped her for supposedly attacking Potter and the rest of the school feared and hated her to extreme lengths, but nothing really big. Nope. She didn't encourage the rumors, but see…she didn't exactly discourage them, either. The more she was left alone, whether in reverence or fear, the more she could try to enjoy her time at Hogwarts.
~At least there's the Quidditch match tonight…~ she thought as the students were dismissed. She'd grown to halfway like the sport, especially since the Slytherin team was clearly the best. That night she joined the multitudes in flocking to the pitch. Even though others surrounded her, there was somehow a wide berth given to her. Draika grinned, leaning back to enjoy the match. Madam Hooch flew into the air, and blew her whistle shrilly.
"The Gryffindors have forfeited to Slytherin!" She said, somehow heard over all the voices.
Magic, Draika supposed, as she walked quietly back to her dormitory. If this kept up much longer, Gryffindor would be out of the tournament altogether! But more important was the little matter of the upcoming Hogsmeade trip…she knew she had been forbidden to leave the castle, but Aerisan, Linwe's mother, had spoken to Draika earlier. So all Draika had to do was work Snape around…not an easy task.
"…and Aerisan has promised to go with me, she doesn't seem to mind at all." Draika finished. It was the next morning, in Snape's office. Some students called it spooky, but she rather liked it. A décor of animals in jars of formaldehyde was really quite intriguing.
Snape paused, black eyes glittering. Draika did not draw back; he had to give her credit for that.
"Wait outside." He said, sitting down to think. He had to think. She wanted to get out, that was understandable. But what might happen….many things, and none of them good. They were keeping her in for her safety; did that mean taking away her freedom as well? Well…yes, but not entirely. He strode out into the dark dungeon corridors.
"You will meet Aerisan at ten in the morning on the twenty-ninth of November. If she wishes to leave Hogsmeade, you must return to the castle with her. You will stay in town, and not venture off into the bluffs or countryside. Do I make myself clear?" He hoped so. If the girl tripped up again, he might very well have to pay with his job.
Draika nodded. "Yes, Professor." She turned and walked the few hundred feet to the Slytherin common room, responding to the usual stares and whispers with a fierce glare that sent one first year girl scurrying off to her room.
Grinning, Draika sat back in the recently vacated armchair by the fire. Not until its roaring flames were just embers did she retreat to her dormitory. After the attack on Harry Potter all the other girls had found excuses to sleep in a different dormitory, so Draika had the whole place to herself. It made things so much easier. The scales spreading on her back and her appendages were itching like heck, and the open air helped.
~
The next day was the twenty-ninth, so Draika actually went to bed "on time". In the morning she woke extra early, trying without much success to get the dead skin from under her rapidly growing scales even though she spent nearly two hours on it. She slipped on an ashen gray robe and hurried down to the main entrance, a small bag slung over her shoulder.
Aerisan was waiting for her, golden eyes kind unlike her mate's. Draika smiled--she WAS pretty, the ash-colored gryphon. Silvers and grays all blended, with hints of foggy greens and blues glinting in the morning sun. For once in her life, she felt almost happy. The sun was shining brightly over the snowy grounds, turning the shallower parts into puddles of slush. It would be a warm day.
"Draika!" Aerisan called, standing to shake her wings out of their folded position. "Are you ready?"
Draika almost laughed. Now she could see how Linwe got to be so friendly. Bowing, she nodded. "Yes, Aerisan."
"It's just Aeris. And don't be so formal. Let's go!" The gryphon laughed like a child, scampering out of the castle doors.
"Where are you going?" Draika ran after her. "The carriages are…over there…" She slowed as Aeris allowed her to catch up.
"Why would we take those things?" Aeris asked. "Get on. We haven't all day."
Draika's eyes widened when she realized they were going to FLY. Actually fly! She grinned like an idiot, not being able to help herself any longer.
"Tell me if I'm hurting you, okay?" She asked, situating herself just in front of the spot where the wing joints connected to Aeris' back.
"Don't worry!" With barely a pause she leapt into the air. The ground nearly disappeared. Draika could almost imagine the looks she was getting from the other students…
"Wow…" She gasped, looking down without fear. She could see for miles in every direction! It was everything she'd imagined and more…the soaring sensation in her stomach, the thrill that passed through her heart as the wind rushed over her. She didn't care how much longer it took to fly than with the carriages, but it was worth it, every moment.
Aeris smiled, turning so the sun shone on them. It would be warmer that way, as body temperature was often lost at these high altitudes.
"Want to try a dive?"
"A what?" Draika yelled. With the wind rushing in her ears, she couldn't hear a thing. "Sure!" She said, hoping that whatever Aeris had asked, her answer had made sense.
Aeris nodded, streamlining her wings with her sleek body, heading towards the ground at an unbelievably sharp angle.
"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Draika shouted out of pure excitement, eyes wide as the wind picked up speed. "Awesome!" She leaned back, watching the clouds pass at unbelievable speeds.
Only when Aerisan landed with a bump did Draika notice they were there. She rolled off onto the grass, grinning.
"That was the best thing ever." She said, looking up at the sky. She felt slightly dizzy, like she'd been spinning.
"Gryphons get used to it, but every time we fly, there's still a little bit of that first thrill." Aeris smiled as well as someone with a beak could mimic a smile, walking with Draika towards the shops.
It was wonderful. Draika mostly looked in through the windows, because she had no spending money of her own. She couldn't help wandering into Honeydukes, however. Aerisan seemed to enjoy it as much as she.
"Yuck. I'll bet you won't eat this, even for a Galleon." A first-year Gryffindor held up a large chunk of Cockroach Cluster to his friend, who grimaced and stuck out his tongue.
"Gimme that." Draika studied the Cluster for a moment before wolfing it down. Not bad--the bugs were a form of meat, so her stomach wouldn't reject it. "Pay up." She smiled as the Gryffindor hastily plunked a Galleon into her waiting palm, amazed. "Thanks, kid." She smiled, walking out as she tossed the coin from one hand to another.
Aeris laughed. "I haven't had this much fun in years…" She sighed happily.
"Well, thanks for going with me, or neither of us would be here." Draika eyed the shops. "Post Office, Zonko's, a magical creatures store, some old building…" But her gaze was most drawn to the foothills on the outskirts of the market. "Let's go!" She said, running towards them. So what if she had been forbidden to climb them? What could possibly happen? Grinning, she clasped her hands tight around the first boulder, pulling herself up. Before she could go any further, though…
"What do you think you're doing?" Aeris had grabbed the collar of her cloak. "You're not allowed. No one is in the winter. It's too icy, especially since the sun will melt the snow on top." Her face was creased into a frown, her tail swishing.
"Fine." Draika scowled. "Let's go to the Post Office, then." She sulked for a bit, but sulking really wasn't something Draika could do well for long. Especially in the Post Office.
Owls of almost every color imaginable, every size imaginable, sat on what seemed like hundreds of perches all around the building. Owls hooting, shrieking, napping. One large tawny owl was perched importantly on the counter. He stared at Draika before hooting softly, fluttering his wings.
"Good, good…" She smiled, reaching out a hand to gently stroke his feathered chest.
-I was the first owl here.- He told her proudly. -My name is Artemis.-
"What a handsome name." Draika smiled. "How far away can you deliver letters?"
-Continental only. No transatlantic letters. Up to fifteen pounds.- He puffed out his chest importantly. -Do you have something you want me to carry?- He sounded so hopeful that Draika couldn't refuse.
"Sure, just a second." She yanked a spare bit of parchment from the manager's vacated desk and a quill, scribbling a quick note. "Can you find a nundu for me? He lives in the forest. Don't worry about him attacking you, just say it's from Draika."
-Yes. I know your name.-
Draika raised her eyebrows, folding the parchment in fourths. "Here you go."
-Pay first. Two sickles.- He gestured to a box. -Change is in there.-
She walked over to the box, lifting the lid to put in her galleon, drawing out her change. She wouldn't dare take any than was rightfully hers--the owls were smarter than most people knew.
Artemis clicked his beak, holding out his leg obediently for her to tie the letter on.
"There. Is that too tight?" She asked.
-No. Just fine. Can you bring me outside?-
Draika offered her forearm, and Artemis stepped onto it, still looking around like he owned the place. She walked outside to where Aeris waited. The sun was wavering from the cloud cover, but there were still hours to go before it set. The big tawny owl took off.
-Goodbye!- He screeched, flapping laboriously to catch one of the day's last thermals.
Aeris smiled. "Ready to go somewhere else?"
Draika nodded. "Yeah. How about that one?" She pointed to a dusty-looking store. The sign on the roof was long stripped of its paint by the elements. Its contents were hidden because of all the grime that coated the windows, but something told Draika it would be worth visiting.
"Okay…" The gryphon looked unsure, but followed her anyway.
As Draika pushed open the wooden door a cloud of dust billowed down on her. Aeris flapped her wings, sending it across the room.
"Wow…thanks." Draika once again thought about how much easier it would be not to have to hide her differences….but for now it was probably the best thing to do. Looking around, there seemed to be no one else here. Several tables were arranged haphazardly in the back, covered in a thick layer of dust like everything else.
"No problem." Aeris walked forwards, inspecting several items.
The shop was the size of a large classroom, but somehow managed to seem cluttered. Ceiling-high bookshelves lined every bit of wall space. A cobwebbed chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling, brass finishing tarnished. The floor underneath Draika's talons was hardwood. It looked just as dusty as everything else.
"Some of these texts are very rare." Aeris made a sound of amazement, paging through a large volume. "I'm surprised this place wasn't ransacked by now…"
"Yeah…" A large trunk wedged under one of the tables caught Draika's eye. She bent down to open it, but it was locked.
"Here. Let me try…" Aeris padded over and raised a talon. For a moment Draika thought she was going to strike it off and flinched, but then the gryphon stuck one of her claws in the keyhole, rummaging around inside for a moment before it came open with a click.
"Will you never cease to amaze me?" Draika whistled, then coughed several times as a new wave of dust rose. There was nothing in the chest but a bunch of old books, and someone's wand. "Huh." She picked up the foot-long piece of wood, twirling it between her claws. Aeris was busy looking at the books, piling several on the table. Draika picked up one of the books curiously, and for lack of anything better to do. Most of the pages were blank, but on several near the back there was some ornate handwriting in a rust-colored ink.
'One fortnight from now, midnight. Astronomy tower.'
Draika blinked. That phrase had jumped out at her almost, standing out from all the other nearly unreadable letters.
'No, you're not crazy.'
What?
'Do not be late.'
She shook her head, flipping to other pages. Pages that had previously been blank were now filled with the same writing. But although it was written in the same style of the words that had jumped out at her, none of them were readable. She suddenly realized Aeris was watching her. Not suspiciously, but enough in that direction to make her uneasy. Draika pocketed the book and the wand, carrying Aerisan's books as well.
"What an odd place." Aeris remarked as they left. "I wonder how long it's been empty?"
Draika shrugged and looked back.
The shop wasn't there.
"Hey!" She almost yelled. "Aeris."
"What?"
"We were just in a shop."
"How observant of you."
"Where is it now?"
"Hm?" The ashen gryphon turned to look. "How odd. But then again, those things happen."
"I've never seen anything like that!"
"Oh, sure. Expiration on buildings? Wizards pay taxes, too. I guess that particular shop's time had run out. Good thing we weren't still in it."
Draika had to stop for several moments to think about that. Then she shrugged, jogging after Aeris. They briefly stopped in the Three Broomsticks, just to sit and warm up. The chatter died down for a few moments, but then struck back up again in a moment. Aeris folded her wings and laid by the fire while Draika took off her gloves to warm her hands.
"Finally. I've been wanting to talk to you for ages." Draco sat down across from her, smirking. "Really…who was it?" For once, he was unaccompanied by Crabbe or Goyle.
"Who was it what?"
"You know…who's got it in for Potter?"
"I don't know and I don't care."
"Come on…what happened? What did he do to get you so angry?"
"I told you I didn't do it." Draika growled, digging her claws into her chair.
"Like hell." He scoffed. "You know!"
"I don't." She repeated, looking past him at the next table. Two Gryffindors…Hermione and Ron. She briefly caught their gaze, but Hermione glared and she looked away, back at Draco.
"Come off it! Everyone knows." He grinned. "Why deny it? If it were me, I'd be wanting people to know."
"I guess I'm not you."
"No kidding. Say, how is that, being stuck with the feathered freak?" He gestured towards Aerisan.
"Aeris? Oh, she's wonderful. Look at this." She tried to divert the conversation, drawing the wand she'd found out of her pocket. Draco took it, unimpressed.
"So? Just a wand. Who's is it?"
"Not mine. I found it in a locked trunk in some store."
"So you stole it?" He smiled. "Maybe there's hope for you yet." Draco tossed her the old wand, standing to leave. "See you later."
Draika watched him go. Did everyone seriously think it could've been her? It wasn't…at least she didn't think so. She stood and walked over to Hermione and Ron, but Hermione whispered something, yanking Ron off his chair and quickly out the door. She shook her head. She saw them in classes, there'd be plenty of opportunities to talk.
Aeris stood and stretched, padding over to Draika.
"Let's go see the Shrieking Shack." She said eagerly. "It's my favorite."
"What's so great about this place?" Draika crossed her arms, observing the run-down shack that Aeris had been so insistent on seeing..
"They say it's haunted." Aeris grinned. "Isn't it great?"
"Uh..yeah. Sure." Draika looked around for something to do. "I'm gonna go see what's around back."
"Okay." Aeris sat back on her haunches as Draika walked around to the back. She tried the door--locked. All the windows were boarded up with magic, too.
She sighed and sat down on the old fence, swinging her legs.
"Hey, you!"
Draika looked up to see a group of students heading towards her. Maybe three or four. They all wore robes with the Gryffindor crest on them, except for the oldest--a Ravenclaw.
~Great. Just what I need. Little students thinking they can avenge the great Harry Potter.~ She eyed them casually. They were not a threat.
"You. Why don't you just go back where you came from?" The Ravenclaw, probably in his sixth year, pushed Draika's shoulder. She clenched her teeth. Ooh, they were gonna get it.
The others looked littler, maybe first or second years. All of them clustered behind the sixth year, whispering.
"Now why would I do that?" She raised an eyebrow. "I think I like it here."
"Yeah? Well we don't like you here."
~Great. He's just soooo intelligent.~ She scoffed mentally. ~I know billywigs that could banter better than you do.~ She said nothing, but shrugged. "Too bad."
It didn't look like they were going to leave, so she jumped off the fence and turned to go. The little Gryffindors shifted again, moving away from her. She rolled her eyes. So much for a good fight.
Aeris was waiting.
"You want to go now?" She asked.
"Yeah, sure."
Even though the fly home was just as wonderful, Draika didn't enjoy it. She nodded to Aeris as they parted in the dungeons, watching the fire in the common room for what seemed like ages before falling asleep.
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Good? One question: Should there be a Christmas Dance/Yule Ball type thing? Please put that in your review, if you can…^__^