~Draika~
Chapter Eleven: Winter Memories
The first thing Draika did upon awakening from her resting place in the armchair was get the book. It still sat on the floor, where she had put it as she dozed off. Flipping through the pages, it took her awhile to find the page that was readable. It came quicker than the day before.
'I cannot make it. They grow suspicious--I am somehow being tracked. Wait for another notice, and remember to please keep this HIDDEN!'
She stared at the words on the page, or more at the script. It was bold, definite; final. It was so familiar…she'd seen it somewhere…ugh. Leaning back into the chair, she sighed. It was Sunday…or Saturday. All she really knew was that it wasn't a school day, or the torches in the common room would be lit brightly, not dimmed. It was obviously still considerably early, as no sounds could be heard from the other dormitories. Draika sighed, closing the book and ambling off to her own room.
~So…..tired….~ She thought sleepily before falling asleep, still clutching the book.
The weeks that followed were extremely uneventful. Classes were class-like, and the students continued to ignore her, although sometimes that Ron person would say hi when Hermione wasn't there to scold him. Harry was slowly on the mend, but his injuries had been to an extent that he might not be able to play Quidditch ever again. When news of that got out, even the normally tolerant Hufflepuffs turned nasty.
Sometimes there were pranks. Most of them Draika could spot, but she took them in stride on the rare occasion when she was caught off guard. Her stubborness and resilience to all forms of mockery were further puzzling to the students, which only made them more resentful.
And more time passed. Strange, animal dreams came to Draika as her mind changed with her body, bringing her deeper into the being of the creature. She checked the book every day for messages from Sraelyth--for it was obviously him…who else would want to meet her?
Somewhere around the middle of December, things started to pick up a bit. It all started with Potter's release from the infirmary. As soon as she heard, Draika had rushed to find him, checking every classroom and corridor possible. She finally found him with Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall, just about to go outside.
"Hey!" She ran after them, accidentally knocking over a chair with one of her talons. She made a note to set it right when she was finished. "Wait!"
Harry turned around, and Draika saw him for the first time in ages. Nearly half of his face was in bandages, and one arm was still in a sling. He didn't look afraid or angry, even though Hermione obviously became concerned at Draika's appearance. Ron showed no emotion, averting his eyes to the floor.
"Yes?" Hermione broke the awkward silence, giving Draika a venomously questioning look.
"It's not true. You've got to tell them it's not true." She looked Harry in the eyes. "Tell them."
He sighed. "I don't want to talk about it. If I say it's not you, there's going to be more pestering about who it is."
"But you can at least say it wasn't me! I was at the banquet."
"You left." Hermione said matter-of-factly.
"I…had to go somewhere." Draika said haltingly.
"Oh?"
"Okay, I had to go throw up my entire stomach because I ate some noodles, is that okay with you?! Ask Myrtle. She teased me the entire time."
Hermione's gaze turned to Harry.
"It's…it's not true. Whatever attacked me…it moved on four legs." He shook his head, and Hermione looked at Draika a little friendlier than before.
"Well…I suppose…" She smiled. "Want to come with us?"
Draika gave a half-smile. "If only it were that simple. I can't go anywhere outside the castle witho--"
"Without me. Either me or my mom and dad, I s'pose!"
Draika nearly jumped a foot in the air. "Linwe?!" She exclaimed.
All three Gryffindors grinned guiltily.
"She's been there for some time now." Ron said, the first words he'd spoken during the exchange.
"C'mon! C'mon c'mon c'mon!" Linwe hopped anxiously. "Let's go play in the snow!"
"Slow down." Hermione warned. "Harry still can't do that, I'm afraid. We were just going to walk around quickly and come back for cocoa."
"Oh. Okay…" The gryphon looked a little put out, but Draika laughed.
"Don't worry…you'll like chocolate."
Then they all headed outside. The wind was harsh and cold, so they barely even got down the steps before Draika's talons were frozen; Harry had tripped and would have banged his head open on one of the ornamental stone gargoyles if Linwe hadn't caught him. Everyone then hastily agreed to go inside and get their cocoa.
"Mmmm…" Linwe dipped her beak into Hermione's mug. "Good!"
"Linwe." Draika raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry…."
"Oh, it's okay, I guess." Hermione smiled. "I've never met a gryphon before. Is it true that you really got to ride one, Draika?"
"Er…yeah." She curled her long 'toes' up and uncurled them, looking around.
Harry blinked, reaching up his good arm to pluck a loose feather from Linwe's head. She smiled.
"Thanks!"
"Uh…you're welcome…" He replied, not that used to talking to animals.
Ron had gotten up a while ago to get a schedule from the Events table some third-years had set up.
"Overachievers…" He grumbled. "Looks like the regular Christmas Banquet….some sort of gathering in March…and a dance." He blinked at the text on the page until Hermione grabbed it.
"I guess the teachers liked the turnout last year, so they decided to do it again!" She smiled, getting a far-off look in her eyes. "It was so much fun last year…but I don't expect it will be so fancy this time."
"Huh?" Draika looked at the three.
"Oh, last year for the Triwizard Tournament there was a Yule Ball." Ron explained, emptying the dregs of his cocoa into his mouth. "You've probably heard about it…."
Draika nodded. "..and…?"
"For the visiting schools, mostly. Just to show them a good time." He shrugged. "It was…okay."
Harry nodded in agreement. "Yeah…our dates weren't….the best, really." He looked embarrassed.
"No kidding." Hermione said. "You two weren't much better."
"Ow." Ron rolled his eyes. "Thanks a lot, Hermione."
Draika listened to them talk with unobserved interest. It was funny, how they could insult each other so freely, and yet be such good friends.
~Must be some part of being friends…~ She mused, her thoughts wandering.
The other three continued to talk about other things. Draika mostly listened, commenting every so often when she knew something about the subject. She itched her back….damned wings…she would have to find something to do about that dead skin underneath, it was driving her crazy. Maybe there was some sort of spell…
"Hello?" Ron waved a hand in front of her face.
"Hm? Oh, sorry. What?" Draika asked, trying not to sound irate at being yanked out of her thoughts.
"I meant to ask you earlier…why do you wear those things on your fingers?" She realized he was talking about her claws. "I've seen other people with them when we went traveling to Egypt. I tried some on, and they hurt like heck. And don't you get hot, always wearing that heavy cloak?"
Draika shrugged, sighing inwardly. She knew this would happen sooner or later…it always did.
"Because…I just do…" She looked up at Linwe. "I have to go." She said shortly, standing and half-running out of the hall before anyone could stop her. She could distantly hear Hermione berating Ron about upsetting her…
-That's just like Hermione, isn't it?-
"Wh-what? Who's there?" Draika heard a voice in her head. An animal…but where? She was alone. Looking around, she saw a snowy owl perched on a brick that jutted out from higher up on the wall.
"Is that you?" She asked the owl.
-Yes.- The owl hooted, shaking some dander off her wings. -I'm Hedwig.-
"Harry's owl?"
-The very same. Don't let Ron bother you, he's got no tact. As for Harry, he's been rather shaken up about this whole episode.-
"I don't blame him."
-Hermione always means well, even if she seems to be a little standoffish.-
"Uh…I'll keep that in mind…" Draika nodded.
-Oh, and one last thing, before they come looking for you.- Hedwig fluttered down onto Draika's shoulder, holding out her leg, which Draika had not realized until now, had a note tied to it.
"For me?" She untied it. "From who?"
-The man in the forest.- Hedwig's head turned quickly back to the hall. -They're done. Farewell!- She took off easily and silently, rising like a ghost to the faraway ceiling.
Draika nodded, dashing down a large staircase as she heard her new friends approach. She wasn't trying to avoid them…well, sort of…but she really didn't feel like she could tell them, not yet. She barely knew what happened herself, all that she knew of the incident was what Cirrus Lambaskian had told her...
---
"So you are Draika." The young headmaster said solemnly, looking her in the eye. Cirrus had short black hair and soft blue eyes to match his quiet demeanor.
"Yes…" It was a Draika of four years ago, younger and a whole lot more scared. "You said…you had some things to tell me…."
Cirrus sighed.
"Yes, as much as I would like to avoid it. You are still very young, but I want you to try to understand what I am telling you."
Draika nodded, eyes wide.
"This…thing, this affliction you have. You must know it's not natural."
Another nod.
"It shames me very much to say this, but it was wizards that did this. Very long ago. I knew each and everyone of them…or thought I did." He said bitterly. "They were all the worst kinds…the ones without any regards for the law. They were convinced they could actually make a new species…or, more specifically, re-engineer humans. It was only natural that they would seek a child, to keep track of her growth and how she reacted to the spells and potions…"
"So…wizards did all this…" Draika bit her lip, looking at the floor.
"There was a witch, too, if my memory serves me."
"Do you know…where I was before?"
"I believe you were living with your parents….your father was a wizard and your mother a muggle. I am ashamed as I speak this, but your father was the very one who delivered you into the hands of those criminals…" His eyes were like icy fire as he broke off, clenching his fists.
"You okay….headmaster?"
"Oh, yes….I'm sorry.." He rubbed his head.
~~~
"You have her?" A rough voice echoed out of the makeshift watchtower, inexpertly patched with magic onto the roof of a lone house.
"Yes. She's sleeping, so hurry."
"Let 'em in."
Two lanky men rushed forwards to take the child, leading the man in as well.
"It was almost impossible to get her out of there." He said. "I had to finally stun the mother…" He looked sad for just a moment before resuming his expressionless mask. "Are you sure this will work?"
"Positive." Another man stepped forward. From the way the others acted around him, he seemed to be the ringleader. "It will cause her no harm, although it will be painful…do you want me to stun her, V'tana?"
"That might be best, Jaggery." Mr. V'tana nodded curtly, taking several potion ingredients from a locked trunk. "How long will the changes take?"
"We have no precedent. It is impossible to tell. It could take months, years…we don't know how far it will go, or what will happen. Your sacrifice may change the wizarding world forever!" He grinned, showing yellowed teeth. "Birch, Karmigan! Get a small table, and some better light. I can hardly see Mr. V'tana."
The two minions scuttled off, soon returning with a lamp and a table. Several more wizards and witches had come back with them, solemn expressions on their faces.
"My friends and allies…" Began Jaggery. "You will all soon be part of one of the greatest moments in wizarding history. Each and every one of us has discovered something absolutely vital to our purpose, and will not be forgotten if we should indeed find success. Should we fail, none of you will ever be tried or convicted. We are all faithful to each other."
They all nodded.
The next couple of hours were filled with various spells, mixing complicated potions, and making sure the child was still alive. Finally, they were done.
~~~
"They didn't know where to put you, so they left you on the step of the boarding house. The note contained one word. Draika. That was what they named you. Your father never went home, and hasn't been heard from since. Your mother died shortly afterwards, I believe…"
Draika sat there, nearly frozen.
"Draika?" Cirrus leaned forwards. "Are you all right?"
"Yes…yes." She nodded slowly, feeling dizzy. "You're sure of all of this?"
"Quite."
"Do…do you know my real name."
Cirrus thought. "No…I've never heard, no…"
"Well…then…" She looked up. "May I go now?"
"Yes, it's nearly midnight. You may leave."
---
Draika's heart pounded as she relieved the memory. It had never occurred to her until much later how suspicious it was that Headmaster Lambaskian had known so much about the incident…but it had been too late, and he had fled. The school had shut down, and she had been sent here. And all this was the cause of it.
She could still hear the three looking for her.
"Maybe she went to her common room…"
"It's in the dungeons, right?"
"Down those stairs?"
"I know where it is!"
The last one had been Linwe, eager to please her new friends. Although she loved the young gryphon dearly, Draika couldn't help but curse her for her friendliness. Quickly leaping down the next flight of stairs she ran to the dungeons, hoping she wouldn't be caught.
And obviously, that was too much to hope for.
"Wait!" It was Hermione. "Please?"
Draika clenched her teeth. Pesky Gryffindors…how could she have been so stupid? They were always sticking their noses in where they weren't wanted. But Linwe? She was only a little kid. So she slowed, chest heaving as she labored for breath.
It didn't take long for the three to catch up, even Harry could still run fairly well.
"What was that all about?" Ron asked her.
"I had to go." She said, looking at the ground. Who were they, to interrogate her? But she held her tongue, for once in her life.
Hermione, being Hermione, took this opportunity to further question her. "We've noticed some odd things about you." She said, crossing her arms. "I don't know about Harry or Ron, but friends don't keep secrets."
Draika looked up at them, unable to find words to speak with. Ron looked nervous, but held his ground. Hermione glared her in the eye, as if she could read the answer in those two cold grey-turning-yellow orbs.
"Well?"
------------------------
Ooooh….^__^ I rather like the way this chapter turned out. Took me long enough, eh? Well, school gets out on June 2nd for me, so my chapters should become a lot more frequent. Like? No like? Please Review!
Chapter Eleven: Winter Memories
The first thing Draika did upon awakening from her resting place in the armchair was get the book. It still sat on the floor, where she had put it as she dozed off. Flipping through the pages, it took her awhile to find the page that was readable. It came quicker than the day before.
'I cannot make it. They grow suspicious--I am somehow being tracked. Wait for another notice, and remember to please keep this HIDDEN!'
She stared at the words on the page, or more at the script. It was bold, definite; final. It was so familiar…she'd seen it somewhere…ugh. Leaning back into the chair, she sighed. It was Sunday…or Saturday. All she really knew was that it wasn't a school day, or the torches in the common room would be lit brightly, not dimmed. It was obviously still considerably early, as no sounds could be heard from the other dormitories. Draika sighed, closing the book and ambling off to her own room.
~So…..tired….~ She thought sleepily before falling asleep, still clutching the book.
The weeks that followed were extremely uneventful. Classes were class-like, and the students continued to ignore her, although sometimes that Ron person would say hi when Hermione wasn't there to scold him. Harry was slowly on the mend, but his injuries had been to an extent that he might not be able to play Quidditch ever again. When news of that got out, even the normally tolerant Hufflepuffs turned nasty.
Sometimes there were pranks. Most of them Draika could spot, but she took them in stride on the rare occasion when she was caught off guard. Her stubborness and resilience to all forms of mockery were further puzzling to the students, which only made them more resentful.
And more time passed. Strange, animal dreams came to Draika as her mind changed with her body, bringing her deeper into the being of the creature. She checked the book every day for messages from Sraelyth--for it was obviously him…who else would want to meet her?
Somewhere around the middle of December, things started to pick up a bit. It all started with Potter's release from the infirmary. As soon as she heard, Draika had rushed to find him, checking every classroom and corridor possible. She finally found him with Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall, just about to go outside.
"Hey!" She ran after them, accidentally knocking over a chair with one of her talons. She made a note to set it right when she was finished. "Wait!"
Harry turned around, and Draika saw him for the first time in ages. Nearly half of his face was in bandages, and one arm was still in a sling. He didn't look afraid or angry, even though Hermione obviously became concerned at Draika's appearance. Ron showed no emotion, averting his eyes to the floor.
"Yes?" Hermione broke the awkward silence, giving Draika a venomously questioning look.
"It's not true. You've got to tell them it's not true." She looked Harry in the eyes. "Tell them."
He sighed. "I don't want to talk about it. If I say it's not you, there's going to be more pestering about who it is."
"But you can at least say it wasn't me! I was at the banquet."
"You left." Hermione said matter-of-factly.
"I…had to go somewhere." Draika said haltingly.
"Oh?"
"Okay, I had to go throw up my entire stomach because I ate some noodles, is that okay with you?! Ask Myrtle. She teased me the entire time."
Hermione's gaze turned to Harry.
"It's…it's not true. Whatever attacked me…it moved on four legs." He shook his head, and Hermione looked at Draika a little friendlier than before.
"Well…I suppose…" She smiled. "Want to come with us?"
Draika gave a half-smile. "If only it were that simple. I can't go anywhere outside the castle witho--"
"Without me. Either me or my mom and dad, I s'pose!"
Draika nearly jumped a foot in the air. "Linwe?!" She exclaimed.
All three Gryffindors grinned guiltily.
"She's been there for some time now." Ron said, the first words he'd spoken during the exchange.
"C'mon! C'mon c'mon c'mon!" Linwe hopped anxiously. "Let's go play in the snow!"
"Slow down." Hermione warned. "Harry still can't do that, I'm afraid. We were just going to walk around quickly and come back for cocoa."
"Oh. Okay…" The gryphon looked a little put out, but Draika laughed.
"Don't worry…you'll like chocolate."
Then they all headed outside. The wind was harsh and cold, so they barely even got down the steps before Draika's talons were frozen; Harry had tripped and would have banged his head open on one of the ornamental stone gargoyles if Linwe hadn't caught him. Everyone then hastily agreed to go inside and get their cocoa.
"Mmmm…" Linwe dipped her beak into Hermione's mug. "Good!"
"Linwe." Draika raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry…."
"Oh, it's okay, I guess." Hermione smiled. "I've never met a gryphon before. Is it true that you really got to ride one, Draika?"
"Er…yeah." She curled her long 'toes' up and uncurled them, looking around.
Harry blinked, reaching up his good arm to pluck a loose feather from Linwe's head. She smiled.
"Thanks!"
"Uh…you're welcome…" He replied, not that used to talking to animals.
Ron had gotten up a while ago to get a schedule from the Events table some third-years had set up.
"Overachievers…" He grumbled. "Looks like the regular Christmas Banquet….some sort of gathering in March…and a dance." He blinked at the text on the page until Hermione grabbed it.
"I guess the teachers liked the turnout last year, so they decided to do it again!" She smiled, getting a far-off look in her eyes. "It was so much fun last year…but I don't expect it will be so fancy this time."
"Huh?" Draika looked at the three.
"Oh, last year for the Triwizard Tournament there was a Yule Ball." Ron explained, emptying the dregs of his cocoa into his mouth. "You've probably heard about it…."
Draika nodded. "..and…?"
"For the visiting schools, mostly. Just to show them a good time." He shrugged. "It was…okay."
Harry nodded in agreement. "Yeah…our dates weren't….the best, really." He looked embarrassed.
"No kidding." Hermione said. "You two weren't much better."
"Ow." Ron rolled his eyes. "Thanks a lot, Hermione."
Draika listened to them talk with unobserved interest. It was funny, how they could insult each other so freely, and yet be such good friends.
~Must be some part of being friends…~ She mused, her thoughts wandering.
The other three continued to talk about other things. Draika mostly listened, commenting every so often when she knew something about the subject. She itched her back….damned wings…she would have to find something to do about that dead skin underneath, it was driving her crazy. Maybe there was some sort of spell…
"Hello?" Ron waved a hand in front of her face.
"Hm? Oh, sorry. What?" Draika asked, trying not to sound irate at being yanked out of her thoughts.
"I meant to ask you earlier…why do you wear those things on your fingers?" She realized he was talking about her claws. "I've seen other people with them when we went traveling to Egypt. I tried some on, and they hurt like heck. And don't you get hot, always wearing that heavy cloak?"
Draika shrugged, sighing inwardly. She knew this would happen sooner or later…it always did.
"Because…I just do…" She looked up at Linwe. "I have to go." She said shortly, standing and half-running out of the hall before anyone could stop her. She could distantly hear Hermione berating Ron about upsetting her…
-That's just like Hermione, isn't it?-
"Wh-what? Who's there?" Draika heard a voice in her head. An animal…but where? She was alone. Looking around, she saw a snowy owl perched on a brick that jutted out from higher up on the wall.
"Is that you?" She asked the owl.
-Yes.- The owl hooted, shaking some dander off her wings. -I'm Hedwig.-
"Harry's owl?"
-The very same. Don't let Ron bother you, he's got no tact. As for Harry, he's been rather shaken up about this whole episode.-
"I don't blame him."
-Hermione always means well, even if she seems to be a little standoffish.-
"Uh…I'll keep that in mind…" Draika nodded.
-Oh, and one last thing, before they come looking for you.- Hedwig fluttered down onto Draika's shoulder, holding out her leg, which Draika had not realized until now, had a note tied to it.
"For me?" She untied it. "From who?"
-The man in the forest.- Hedwig's head turned quickly back to the hall. -They're done. Farewell!- She took off easily and silently, rising like a ghost to the faraway ceiling.
Draika nodded, dashing down a large staircase as she heard her new friends approach. She wasn't trying to avoid them…well, sort of…but she really didn't feel like she could tell them, not yet. She barely knew what happened herself, all that she knew of the incident was what Cirrus Lambaskian had told her...
---
"So you are Draika." The young headmaster said solemnly, looking her in the eye. Cirrus had short black hair and soft blue eyes to match his quiet demeanor.
"Yes…" It was a Draika of four years ago, younger and a whole lot more scared. "You said…you had some things to tell me…."
Cirrus sighed.
"Yes, as much as I would like to avoid it. You are still very young, but I want you to try to understand what I am telling you."
Draika nodded, eyes wide.
"This…thing, this affliction you have. You must know it's not natural."
Another nod.
"It shames me very much to say this, but it was wizards that did this. Very long ago. I knew each and everyone of them…or thought I did." He said bitterly. "They were all the worst kinds…the ones without any regards for the law. They were convinced they could actually make a new species…or, more specifically, re-engineer humans. It was only natural that they would seek a child, to keep track of her growth and how she reacted to the spells and potions…"
"So…wizards did all this…" Draika bit her lip, looking at the floor.
"There was a witch, too, if my memory serves me."
"Do you know…where I was before?"
"I believe you were living with your parents….your father was a wizard and your mother a muggle. I am ashamed as I speak this, but your father was the very one who delivered you into the hands of those criminals…" His eyes were like icy fire as he broke off, clenching his fists.
"You okay….headmaster?"
"Oh, yes….I'm sorry.." He rubbed his head.
~~~
"You have her?" A rough voice echoed out of the makeshift watchtower, inexpertly patched with magic onto the roof of a lone house.
"Yes. She's sleeping, so hurry."
"Let 'em in."
Two lanky men rushed forwards to take the child, leading the man in as well.
"It was almost impossible to get her out of there." He said. "I had to finally stun the mother…" He looked sad for just a moment before resuming his expressionless mask. "Are you sure this will work?"
"Positive." Another man stepped forward. From the way the others acted around him, he seemed to be the ringleader. "It will cause her no harm, although it will be painful…do you want me to stun her, V'tana?"
"That might be best, Jaggery." Mr. V'tana nodded curtly, taking several potion ingredients from a locked trunk. "How long will the changes take?"
"We have no precedent. It is impossible to tell. It could take months, years…we don't know how far it will go, or what will happen. Your sacrifice may change the wizarding world forever!" He grinned, showing yellowed teeth. "Birch, Karmigan! Get a small table, and some better light. I can hardly see Mr. V'tana."
The two minions scuttled off, soon returning with a lamp and a table. Several more wizards and witches had come back with them, solemn expressions on their faces.
"My friends and allies…" Began Jaggery. "You will all soon be part of one of the greatest moments in wizarding history. Each and every one of us has discovered something absolutely vital to our purpose, and will not be forgotten if we should indeed find success. Should we fail, none of you will ever be tried or convicted. We are all faithful to each other."
They all nodded.
The next couple of hours were filled with various spells, mixing complicated potions, and making sure the child was still alive. Finally, they were done.
~~~
"They didn't know where to put you, so they left you on the step of the boarding house. The note contained one word. Draika. That was what they named you. Your father never went home, and hasn't been heard from since. Your mother died shortly afterwards, I believe…"
Draika sat there, nearly frozen.
"Draika?" Cirrus leaned forwards. "Are you all right?"
"Yes…yes." She nodded slowly, feeling dizzy. "You're sure of all of this?"
"Quite."
"Do…do you know my real name."
Cirrus thought. "No…I've never heard, no…"
"Well…then…" She looked up. "May I go now?"
"Yes, it's nearly midnight. You may leave."
---
Draika's heart pounded as she relieved the memory. It had never occurred to her until much later how suspicious it was that Headmaster Lambaskian had known so much about the incident…but it had been too late, and he had fled. The school had shut down, and she had been sent here. And all this was the cause of it.
She could still hear the three looking for her.
"Maybe she went to her common room…"
"It's in the dungeons, right?"
"Down those stairs?"
"I know where it is!"
The last one had been Linwe, eager to please her new friends. Although she loved the young gryphon dearly, Draika couldn't help but curse her for her friendliness. Quickly leaping down the next flight of stairs she ran to the dungeons, hoping she wouldn't be caught.
And obviously, that was too much to hope for.
"Wait!" It was Hermione. "Please?"
Draika clenched her teeth. Pesky Gryffindors…how could she have been so stupid? They were always sticking their noses in where they weren't wanted. But Linwe? She was only a little kid. So she slowed, chest heaving as she labored for breath.
It didn't take long for the three to catch up, even Harry could still run fairly well.
"What was that all about?" Ron asked her.
"I had to go." She said, looking at the ground. Who were they, to interrogate her? But she held her tongue, for once in her life.
Hermione, being Hermione, took this opportunity to further question her. "We've noticed some odd things about you." She said, crossing her arms. "I don't know about Harry or Ron, but friends don't keep secrets."
Draika looked up at them, unable to find words to speak with. Ron looked nervous, but held his ground. Hermione glared her in the eye, as if she could read the answer in those two cold grey-turning-yellow orbs.
"Well?"
------------------------
Ooooh….^__^ I rather like the way this chapter turned out. Took me long enough, eh? Well, school gets out on June 2nd for me, so my chapters should become a lot more frequent. Like? No like? Please Review!