Double-O-Dolly: Hm…what happened to your cousin, Dana? I miss her reviews! :P Hehehe…no, I appreciate yours too. As to your thingy about forgetting hostility…Ron wasn't really hostile, and Harry was too busy being freaked out to be hostile. And…(another 'and', o.o) remember, Hermione and Draika were almost sort of friends before the attack, so that would make it easier for her to believe Harry. ^__^ Can you tell I really like explaining stuff? Ehehehe…
I'm sorry that some of you didn't like Draika being friendly with those three, but the Gryffindors are too goody to be mean for long. *sigh* Don't worry, I didn't plan for it to last. Just wanted to see where it would take the story.
----------------------------
~Draika~
Chapter Twelve: Failed Attempts From Thirty Feet
Draika was really in a situation, oh yes. She quickly thought out her options, although her draconian aggressiveness was beginning to surface again. The fear of being cornered was greater than ever.
She could run…again. She didn't like running, but it was a very nice choice. She could get to the dungeons and into the common room before any of them caught up… Or she could attack, make them back off. Right away, that was a definite 'no'…as long as she kept her human mind above her animal one. And that was getting increasingly difficult. Stupid Gryffindors. Didn't they know anything about cornered beasts?
Of course…there was always the most obvious solution: the truth.
~Oh, sure. Tell them the truth, that'll really make 'em like you!~ Draika growled to herself.
All this contemplation had taken more time than she thought it would. ~I should have never…never EVER…~
"So?" Hermione was starting to get that snobby tone in her voice again…Draika didn't like it…she clenched her jaw, looking at the others.
Ron looked at Harry, who looked over at Hermione.
"Maybe some other time." Draika said curtly, turning to go.
Or she would have…but something had seized her shoulder. Whirling around with fury in her eyes, Draika found herself facing Ron.
"You let me go." She growled. Ron was a nice boy, he really was, but he must have been hanging around Hermione too long, or something… "I don't want to hurt you."
"You mean like you hurt Harry?" Hermione said, an air of triumphance in her voice.
"She didn't, I told you!" Harry nearly shouted, surprising everyone. "Why won't you listen to me?"
"Nay, why won't YOU listen to ME?!" Draika shouted back, throwing off Ron's hand and turning around again.
It's still not clear exactly how everything happened, but I'll try to inform you to the best of my abilities. Ron lunged forwards to grab both her arms, intent on getting whatever information Draika was witholding. After all, it seemed like serious stuff. Linwe snarled, leaping at the red headed boy to drag him away from Draika; who was clearly the one she felt more loyalty towards. Hermione gave a shout, trying to drag the enraged gryphon child off her friend. Harry couldn't do much to help, but he did manage to stun the great feathered beast with his wand.
Seeing her chance, Draika ran, but not to the dungeons. She ran up three flights of stairs and down a secret passage, arriving very suddenly at the castle's back entrance. It was a little trick Linwe had showed her not too long ago. Her mind flashed to the incident before. Why the hell was she so afraid to tell anyone? She felt awful, like she was going to be sick. She had left Linwe there, and Stunned top top it all off. Whomever found them would certainly come looking for her next.
Sraelyth. She needed Sraelyth. He could help. He'd understand. Tightening her cloak, she darted out the door towards the forest.
As Draika ran, she felt something poking her side. She halted, gasping for breath while feeling the inside of her cloak. After a moment, her talon hit a sheet of rolled-up parchment…the letter.
"Oh…." Draika breathed. Her heart leapt. The letter! She'd almost forgotten. Taking the chance of being seen, she quickly unrolled it with numb digits.
'Draika-
What do you think you are doing? The most dangerous thing for you to be doing--in my mind--is consorting with those people. They mean you no harm, but they are extremely persistent. They will not stop bothering you until they know. You have a strong will, but I still fear it may give under constant interrogation.
Still, I cannot end this letter on such a harsh note. Come see me tonight, after sundown. I have nothing of importance to tell you, but it would be nice to talk again.
-Friend'
Draika stared, quickly repocketing the message as vicious winds tore at it, threatening to sweep it out of her grasp. It was hours until sundown…but she wouldn't…no, simply couldn't go back to the castle while there was a chance of being caught. It was funny how she had had just those thoughts minutes ago.
She could go to the forest and wait. Yeah, right. It was freezing in there, and she'd probably get attacked by half a dozen something-or-others before night fell. Going back to the castle was indeed an option, no matter how much she insisted to her mind that it wasn't. Of course that would probably mean being dragged to several different offices and endless corridors as she waited for whomever got stuck with dealing with her. She could also stop being silly, trying to think everything out. It hadn't gotten her very far, now had it?
With an air of resolution, Draika began the walk to the forest's edge, leaving very irregular prints in the snow. She hoped her feet wouldn't freeze, but you never really know. It was a price she was willing to pay. Five minutes later and some very numb feet, she had reached the foremost tree….a great forked one. Looking down at her claws, Draika smiled. A moment later she was high in the boughs, hanging easily with her claws in the soft bark.
~Now THIS will work.~ She grinned, reaching for the next tree. It was only too easy! No horrible 'monsters' could possibly hide in the bare branches of all the trees. It was like flying! Grab…leap! Swing! She grinned giddily, latching onto the trunk of a gnarled oak with her feet while her hands searched for another hold.
~Just like a monkey.~ She mused. ~Or a flying squirrel.~
Flying.
She paused again, wondering. Maybe….hm. Another grin spread across her face, but this one was mischievous instead of happy. She climbed up to the tree's fork, resting. The sky was nice and blue, with little grey clouds. Snow soon….
Reaching back, she tore at her robes. Which would have been embarrassing if she hadn't done it carefully…with a sigh of relief, the two wings extended themselves, each about only three feet long when extended.
~Six-foot wingspan…~ She thought, trying to dredge up all that horrid math the muggles had taught her. Or tried to teach her. ~It should be enough. Enough to glide.~ She tossed the strips of fabric to the ground…black lines clearly visible against the white powder.
Heart pounding with excitement, Draika began to climb again. Up and up and up and up…until the only things left were tiny twigs that would surely break under her weight. There were other trees much taller, but this was a good one, still about thirty feet up. It had occurred to her that this was very hazardous, don't worry. Not yet, anyway. She flexed the bronze-scaled wings' muscles, flapping them a few times.
~This could be it…~ She looked around for anyone. No one. But who would be in the forest, anyhow? Once she could fly…well, nothing could keep her anywhere. She would be free. Totally free. If it worked. Holding her breath, she gathered her legs beneath her and jumped into the air. She panicked for a moment, flailing her arms. But then…something just sort of..happened. Like another mind in her own. The mind knew how to fly.
Draika relaxed, letting her other mind take over. Her wings spread, catching every draft. The thin membranes were actually quite tough, letting her glide like a kite, ever closer to the ground. Strong winds began to blow, howling lost souls seeking vengeance on those who wronged them.
"YAAAAAAAAAAH!" She yelled. Pure exhilaration. Flapping for more altitude that was quickly slipping through her fingers like sand in an hourglass, she panted for breath. Hard work. She couldn't stay up in the air much longer…she'd have to catch onto a tree or drop…landing would probably break her neck. She braced herself, knowing she was going far too fast to ever hope to catch onto a tree. She'd have to drop.
Faster! Draika put her arms to her sides, folding her wings to all but closed. She dove like a bullet. Tree! Left! Right! Tree! Tree! Treetreetreetreetreetreetree!!! Ten feet! Too high up? No time to think, go! GO! She folded her wings, tumbling through a world of sharp little twigs and dead leaves. The entire flight had lasted less than a minute.
"What the--" A figure! She tried to open her wings, to steer, but there was no time, no altitude… "Aaaaah!"
*FWUMP*
"Gaaaah…"
Draika looked up at the sky, massaging her head. What had she hit? Or, more precisely…what had she fallen onto? The figure shifted under her weight, and she rolled off onto the cold snow. A small sack was nearby; some strange-looking plants had fallen out of it.
The person sat up, quickly regaining his composure.
"What do you think you are doing out here?!" He stood, angrily turning to the still-kneeling Draika.
Draika whipped her head around from gazing at the bag of plants, suddenly very afraid. More afraid than when she had leapt out of the tree, felt the ecstasy of flying..or something like it. All her previous joy was disintegrated, albeit temporarily by the cold words of one Severus Snape.
"Get in the castle." He growled, hauling Draika to her feet after retrieving his sack of plants. "Now."
I'm sorry that some of you didn't like Draika being friendly with those three, but the Gryffindors are too goody to be mean for long. *sigh* Don't worry, I didn't plan for it to last. Just wanted to see where it would take the story.
----------------------------
~Draika~
Chapter Twelve: Failed Attempts From Thirty Feet
Draika was really in a situation, oh yes. She quickly thought out her options, although her draconian aggressiveness was beginning to surface again. The fear of being cornered was greater than ever.
She could run…again. She didn't like running, but it was a very nice choice. She could get to the dungeons and into the common room before any of them caught up… Or she could attack, make them back off. Right away, that was a definite 'no'…as long as she kept her human mind above her animal one. And that was getting increasingly difficult. Stupid Gryffindors. Didn't they know anything about cornered beasts?
Of course…there was always the most obvious solution: the truth.
~Oh, sure. Tell them the truth, that'll really make 'em like you!~ Draika growled to herself.
All this contemplation had taken more time than she thought it would. ~I should have never…never EVER…~
"So?" Hermione was starting to get that snobby tone in her voice again…Draika didn't like it…she clenched her jaw, looking at the others.
Ron looked at Harry, who looked over at Hermione.
"Maybe some other time." Draika said curtly, turning to go.
Or she would have…but something had seized her shoulder. Whirling around with fury in her eyes, Draika found herself facing Ron.
"You let me go." She growled. Ron was a nice boy, he really was, but he must have been hanging around Hermione too long, or something… "I don't want to hurt you."
"You mean like you hurt Harry?" Hermione said, an air of triumphance in her voice.
"She didn't, I told you!" Harry nearly shouted, surprising everyone. "Why won't you listen to me?"
"Nay, why won't YOU listen to ME?!" Draika shouted back, throwing off Ron's hand and turning around again.
It's still not clear exactly how everything happened, but I'll try to inform you to the best of my abilities. Ron lunged forwards to grab both her arms, intent on getting whatever information Draika was witholding. After all, it seemed like serious stuff. Linwe snarled, leaping at the red headed boy to drag him away from Draika; who was clearly the one she felt more loyalty towards. Hermione gave a shout, trying to drag the enraged gryphon child off her friend. Harry couldn't do much to help, but he did manage to stun the great feathered beast with his wand.
Seeing her chance, Draika ran, but not to the dungeons. She ran up three flights of stairs and down a secret passage, arriving very suddenly at the castle's back entrance. It was a little trick Linwe had showed her not too long ago. Her mind flashed to the incident before. Why the hell was she so afraid to tell anyone? She felt awful, like she was going to be sick. She had left Linwe there, and Stunned top top it all off. Whomever found them would certainly come looking for her next.
Sraelyth. She needed Sraelyth. He could help. He'd understand. Tightening her cloak, she darted out the door towards the forest.
As Draika ran, she felt something poking her side. She halted, gasping for breath while feeling the inside of her cloak. After a moment, her talon hit a sheet of rolled-up parchment…the letter.
"Oh…." Draika breathed. Her heart leapt. The letter! She'd almost forgotten. Taking the chance of being seen, she quickly unrolled it with numb digits.
'Draika-
What do you think you are doing? The most dangerous thing for you to be doing--in my mind--is consorting with those people. They mean you no harm, but they are extremely persistent. They will not stop bothering you until they know. You have a strong will, but I still fear it may give under constant interrogation.
Still, I cannot end this letter on such a harsh note. Come see me tonight, after sundown. I have nothing of importance to tell you, but it would be nice to talk again.
-Friend'
Draika stared, quickly repocketing the message as vicious winds tore at it, threatening to sweep it out of her grasp. It was hours until sundown…but she wouldn't…no, simply couldn't go back to the castle while there was a chance of being caught. It was funny how she had had just those thoughts minutes ago.
She could go to the forest and wait. Yeah, right. It was freezing in there, and she'd probably get attacked by half a dozen something-or-others before night fell. Going back to the castle was indeed an option, no matter how much she insisted to her mind that it wasn't. Of course that would probably mean being dragged to several different offices and endless corridors as she waited for whomever got stuck with dealing with her. She could also stop being silly, trying to think everything out. It hadn't gotten her very far, now had it?
With an air of resolution, Draika began the walk to the forest's edge, leaving very irregular prints in the snow. She hoped her feet wouldn't freeze, but you never really know. It was a price she was willing to pay. Five minutes later and some very numb feet, she had reached the foremost tree….a great forked one. Looking down at her claws, Draika smiled. A moment later she was high in the boughs, hanging easily with her claws in the soft bark.
~Now THIS will work.~ She grinned, reaching for the next tree. It was only too easy! No horrible 'monsters' could possibly hide in the bare branches of all the trees. It was like flying! Grab…leap! Swing! She grinned giddily, latching onto the trunk of a gnarled oak with her feet while her hands searched for another hold.
~Just like a monkey.~ She mused. ~Or a flying squirrel.~
Flying.
She paused again, wondering. Maybe….hm. Another grin spread across her face, but this one was mischievous instead of happy. She climbed up to the tree's fork, resting. The sky was nice and blue, with little grey clouds. Snow soon….
Reaching back, she tore at her robes. Which would have been embarrassing if she hadn't done it carefully…with a sigh of relief, the two wings extended themselves, each about only three feet long when extended.
~Six-foot wingspan…~ She thought, trying to dredge up all that horrid math the muggles had taught her. Or tried to teach her. ~It should be enough. Enough to glide.~ She tossed the strips of fabric to the ground…black lines clearly visible against the white powder.
Heart pounding with excitement, Draika began to climb again. Up and up and up and up…until the only things left were tiny twigs that would surely break under her weight. There were other trees much taller, but this was a good one, still about thirty feet up. It had occurred to her that this was very hazardous, don't worry. Not yet, anyway. She flexed the bronze-scaled wings' muscles, flapping them a few times.
~This could be it…~ She looked around for anyone. No one. But who would be in the forest, anyhow? Once she could fly…well, nothing could keep her anywhere. She would be free. Totally free. If it worked. Holding her breath, she gathered her legs beneath her and jumped into the air. She panicked for a moment, flailing her arms. But then…something just sort of..happened. Like another mind in her own. The mind knew how to fly.
Draika relaxed, letting her other mind take over. Her wings spread, catching every draft. The thin membranes were actually quite tough, letting her glide like a kite, ever closer to the ground. Strong winds began to blow, howling lost souls seeking vengeance on those who wronged them.
"YAAAAAAAAAAH!" She yelled. Pure exhilaration. Flapping for more altitude that was quickly slipping through her fingers like sand in an hourglass, she panted for breath. Hard work. She couldn't stay up in the air much longer…she'd have to catch onto a tree or drop…landing would probably break her neck. She braced herself, knowing she was going far too fast to ever hope to catch onto a tree. She'd have to drop.
Faster! Draika put her arms to her sides, folding her wings to all but closed. She dove like a bullet. Tree! Left! Right! Tree! Tree! Treetreetreetreetreetreetree!!! Ten feet! Too high up? No time to think, go! GO! She folded her wings, tumbling through a world of sharp little twigs and dead leaves. The entire flight had lasted less than a minute.
"What the--" A figure! She tried to open her wings, to steer, but there was no time, no altitude… "Aaaaah!"
*FWUMP*
"Gaaaah…"
Draika looked up at the sky, massaging her head. What had she hit? Or, more precisely…what had she fallen onto? The figure shifted under her weight, and she rolled off onto the cold snow. A small sack was nearby; some strange-looking plants had fallen out of it.
The person sat up, quickly regaining his composure.
"What do you think you are doing out here?!" He stood, angrily turning to the still-kneeling Draika.
Draika whipped her head around from gazing at the bag of plants, suddenly very afraid. More afraid than when she had leapt out of the tree, felt the ecstasy of flying..or something like it. All her previous joy was disintegrated, albeit temporarily by the cold words of one Severus Snape.
"Get in the castle." He growled, hauling Draika to her feet after retrieving his sack of plants. "Now."