Well…for that last couple chapters, I haven't done shoutouts. I mean…what's the POINT?! But I think poor Kia needs recognition…I give you recognition, Kia! ^^ *gives small box filled with recognition* Enjoy! Bah…I think when Inuki came back, my purple Lapras left…;-;…I'm having the hardest time with this story. RRRRGH! *beats characters to a bloody pulp*…meep? ^^;;
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~Draika~
Chapter Seventeen: Breaking Out
The Great Hall was decorated to its Christmasy best. Candles were practially everywhere…a giant tree stood at one end of the hall, framed by lots of little circular tables. The teacher's table had remained unmoved, but the House tables were gone, in their place a wooden dance floor. Draika twitched, hoping no one would want to dance with her. She quickly chose an empty table and sat down, studying the menu in front of her. It all seemed rather over-the-top, she thought to herself as a reindeer-drawn sleigh was seen zipping across the cloudy ceiling.
Draika sighed, shaking her head. Most of the students had found places to sit by the time she started to really think about food. For lack of any other open places, a nervous-looking Ravenclaw boy took the other chair at her table, turning it around so he could talk to his friends. She rolled her eyes, tapping a claw on the menu's laminated front. After what seemed like a very long time, the Great Hall fell silent as the teachers all sat down. Dumbledore gave no opening speech, simply nodded towards them and smiled, like he was saying "please, continue."
The chatter quickly picked up again as students placed orders from their menus. Draika squinted at hers, not noticing when the Ravenclaw boy finally picked up the chair and moved it to his friends' table, too stupid to be polite anymore. To her surprise - and even horror to a point - Draika realized the words were much too blurry for her to read. But everything else was perfect…why couldn't she read the damn print? Nearly chucking the menu onto the just-waxed dance floor…but she didn't, for the sake of maintaining dignity.
"Steak." She addressed the object, having observed the students long enough to not be ignorant about the process of ordering. "And water." No reason to say please. It was just a stupid piece of laminated paper.
A moment later the food appeared on her plate and in her goblet. Draika hadn't really realized how starving she was…she hadn't eaten anything all day. The steak was juicy and red; thus gone in a brief period of time. She watched couples drift onto the dance floor as she sipped at the tall glass of water, crunching the cubes of ice between her teeth like paper through a shredder. The soft, relaxing music had no obvious source, but no one seemed to care.
After she was done with her plate, Draika began the monotonous task of watching everyone. Some were on the dance floor, some were sitting with friends, and a few were sitting just like she was…watching. Swallowing the last of the ice - it burned her stomach like fire - she stood. Not because she wanted to dance, or to talk to anyone. It was Crevyl. She couldn't see him, but he was close.
-What are you doing?- She tried to speak to him, sitting back down shakily. -Where are you?- The thought didn't seem to want to go through, like a busy signal. In the background, the indifferent, euphonius music continued. So annoying…
-Stay out of my mind.- The thought was harsh, a whip to her brain. Draika nearly fell out of her chair, but clung to the table's soft wood with her claws. -It is no place for you.- Slowly the presence in her mind receded, the cold hatred of Crevyl's presence gone.
Something was happening, she knew it. Couldn't ignore it. Different minds drifted around her, each more unfamiliar than the next. Sraelyth was there, and Domar. Drokaal and the other thestrals. An innocent-hearted unicorn paraded proudly with them. Many, many other things…evil things, things that lurked in shadow and slithered on the ground and…
"Hey." Blaise pulled up a chair, having no idea of what might be going through Draika's head. "Pretty boring, huh? Maybe later they'll play something other than this dreadful cacophony." He winced, grinning. "Do you dance?"
"I don't think I do." She replied, staring at her empty glass. A moment later it was filled with iced water. Draika blinked, surprised. "Smart house-elves." She commented, crunching another unfortunate ice cube in her mouth.
"They'd better be, or else they wouldn't be at Hogwarts." Blaise leaned back, watching the couples. "It's too bad you don't dance, it would really be nice to be more than a wallflower, hm?"
"Yeah." A swift-moving form that hinted at being lupine ran low to the ground, darting into the shadows. Werewolf? Draika shuddered. Owls, crows, snakes…everything was alive, moving…the gryphons down below were restless too, they knew something would happen…
Blaise was saying something. "…haven't seen you around…"
"…haven't spent a lot of time in the dormitories." Draika offered lamely. Spiders and other many-legged things were crawling along the ground..she could almost feel them on her skin. And Blaise kept talking. And talking. He talked while she heard the creatures whisper, felt their terror and loathing. It was coming.
-What is it?- She tried to reach out to them, but they didn't hear. -Tomonari? What's happening?- For the first time in her life, she could say she was truly afraid. As the happy students milled around ignorantly in the Great Hall, she alone feared the outdoors that night.
-It is very bad. Very bad…don't go anywhere, stay inside, Sraelyth's coming…-
-Sraelyth? Is he coming to help?- All the animals were skittish, frightened..even the tough ones.
-It's bad, Draika…stay inside, don't try to find out…- Tomonari's voice was hurried and fragmented. -…I'm going, the owls…we..-
-Hey! HEY!- Draika squinted, trying to keep focus with the owl…but he was gone somewhere Draika couldn't reach him.
"…see that?" Blaise laughed, pointing at someone who had probably just fallen on their face. For once, Draika didn't care.
"Would you shut the hell up?!" She shouted, leaping up. Her hands shook so badly from anger; fear; annoyance…the list only grew. "I don't care. So just be quiet…quiet." If looks could kill, and I'm pretty sure they could if anyone had enough power, Blaise would have been a pile of ashes in moments. "Just…stop it."
-I'm sick of you all.- She said, trying to broadcast to every single animal in range. -All of you. Die, for all I care. Just…leave me alone.-
Draika must have been something awful to look at, because Blaise nearly choked on his next mocking sentence. His mouth opened and then shut again. For once, the great smartass was lost for words.
"Get - out - of - my - sight." She snarled, still glaring. Many other students had stopped to watch the commotion, some of them beginning to drift away as they anticipated something horrible to break out.
-Cowards.- Draika thought as she noted their rereatings. She could still feel it…the horrible, wonderful sensation of connection with the creatures. Individuals, now. She felt Drokaal's reserve, Sraelyth's rage, even Hedwig's scolding nature. They were coming…or something…
"It's coming." She whispered, forgetting all about her earlier temper. She felt the adrenaline begin to rush through her veins….very soon…
She was deaf to the first crash, lost in a dizzying spiral of mist. It was impossible, however, for even her to ignore the horrible sounds..outrage, fear, danger…sounds only she could hear. Shattering glass and screams reverbrated the very air around her, the more tangible aspects of sound making her head pound. But who…? She blinked, vision blurring momentarily as her pupils dilated, heart pumping. What was the new threat?
-Sraelyth?-
"RUN!" The cry seemed to be unanimous. Students scattered everywhere as the dragon roared his fury, shooting bursts of flame at their retreating backs. Dumbledore had immediately abandoned the plate of pork chops, anger glinting in his crystal blue eyes. Though the Peruvian Vipertooth was the smallest specie of dragon, the largest topping twenty feet by maturity, Sraelyth was an impressive sight.
Draika stood there, immobilized. She felt the same fury running through her blood, though nowhere near as dangerous as her friend. Someone crashed into her, sending her over a table laden with food and onto the floor behind Sraelyth.
That did it. Draika leapt up, scanning about for the offender…he would pay.
"Look out!" Someone grabbed her, dragging her away from Sraelyth. "That thing'll kill us all if we don't get out!" Miaka held her friend's arms tightly, and Draika reflected once again on Dumbledore's words.
"Get away!" She shoved the…the thing. "You…you don't exist!" Even in the midst of the deafening roars and panicked shouts, she was able to look past all else to what she wanted to see. "…you're not real…" She wanted to die, to curl up in a little ball and sink into obscurity.
-Don't go anywhere, Draika.- Sraelyth told her, shooting a warning jet of flame in the headmaster's direction. The other teachers were trying to keep order, the Heads of houses attempting to group their students together. Some of the older students were standing silently as Draika had been, and she knew they wanted to help fight the beast.
Miaka looked sad. As her big expressive eyes welled up with tears, Draika felt a twinge of remorse…but quickly pushed it away.
"You heard me." She choked out, deaf to her own words. "…get."
"But.." Miaka blinked, still so childlike. She began to drift apart, as thin as mist…her last word lingered in Draika's mind for what could have been ages.
"Why?"
Draika shuddered. It seemed so surreal all of a sudden…the dragon, the Great Hall, the screams…like a dream.
"V'tana, get out of it!" Someone was trying to get her attention. "Are you crazy?"
She turned, irritated at being interrupted.
"Back off, Draco." She scowled, intentionally irking him by use of his first name. Since the food fight, she'd grown to dislike the boy, in a way she couldn't quite fathom. "Why don't you go fight him, save us all some trouble?"
Before Malfoy could reply, a loud shout from the once solid wall. Snape stood there, trying to restrain a tall boy…but that couldn't be Snape…he was different…shorter…different…it made her head spin.
-It's not right!- She cried to Sraelyth. The Great Hall was in a shambles. Dumbledore stared Sraelyth down on the dance floor. Draco seemed to be frozen in mid-sentence, a frightened look on his face. The Snape-thing held Blaise tightly…Blaise, who was fighting tooth and nail to get free, to get at Sraelyth. He was yelling something quite undecipherable. Though they tried, teachers could not group the students together…and they seemed to be avoiding the fight…why?
-Nothing will ever be right again.- Sraelyth replied, sighing. His lust for battle seemed to have diminished, the great beast now held stance wearily, both eyes fixed on the headmaster. Draika hurt for him. -I can't let them win.- He snarled, making a lunge for the old wizard.
Dumbledore leapt back, nimble for one so old. Draco decided to flee, edging behind a table with a group of skittish second-years. Only a few older students remained unhidden, still thinking they would be the hero, that they could save the school...
~Foolish!~ Draika thought contemptuously. Time seemed to slow…achingly slow…another scream pierced the fog seeping into her mind…Blaise had broken loose from the Snape-thing somehow…he dashed at Sraelyth, wand out… ~Idiot!~
"IDIOT! FOOL! YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!" Draika heard herself shrieking in a pitch unlike her own gravelly voice. It was all wrong…it couldn't be…
Sraelyth turned to face the new threat. His large size prevented him from doing that very quickly, but he was still ready when Blaise reached him. Someone screamed at him, Draika didn't know who. No one rushed forward to stop him…was that supposed to be her job, as someone considered to be his friend? She leaned forwards in an attempt to move, but found her legs unwilling to cooperate. Sraelyth bared his teeth…Draika could almost imagine him laughing.
Blaise had stopped, wand pointed straight at the dragon's face. His eyes were wide, hair mussed…he looked quite mad, Draika thought. Mad with anger…why? He took a staggered breath, raising his wand.
"Lyr--"
"…foolish human." Sraelyth grinned a horrible grin, something that might send a five year old to therapy for twenty years.
-SRAELYTH!- Draika yelled, but he wouldn't listen…she made herself look on.
A sudden flare of heat and light, an agonized scream…a roar of triumph accompanied the smell of charred flesh as the world fell apart.
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~Draika~
Chapter Seventeen: Breaking Out
The Great Hall was decorated to its Christmasy best. Candles were practially everywhere…a giant tree stood at one end of the hall, framed by lots of little circular tables. The teacher's table had remained unmoved, but the House tables were gone, in their place a wooden dance floor. Draika twitched, hoping no one would want to dance with her. She quickly chose an empty table and sat down, studying the menu in front of her. It all seemed rather over-the-top, she thought to herself as a reindeer-drawn sleigh was seen zipping across the cloudy ceiling.
Draika sighed, shaking her head. Most of the students had found places to sit by the time she started to really think about food. For lack of any other open places, a nervous-looking Ravenclaw boy took the other chair at her table, turning it around so he could talk to his friends. She rolled her eyes, tapping a claw on the menu's laminated front. After what seemed like a very long time, the Great Hall fell silent as the teachers all sat down. Dumbledore gave no opening speech, simply nodded towards them and smiled, like he was saying "please, continue."
The chatter quickly picked up again as students placed orders from their menus. Draika squinted at hers, not noticing when the Ravenclaw boy finally picked up the chair and moved it to his friends' table, too stupid to be polite anymore. To her surprise - and even horror to a point - Draika realized the words were much too blurry for her to read. But everything else was perfect…why couldn't she read the damn print? Nearly chucking the menu onto the just-waxed dance floor…but she didn't, for the sake of maintaining dignity.
"Steak." She addressed the object, having observed the students long enough to not be ignorant about the process of ordering. "And water." No reason to say please. It was just a stupid piece of laminated paper.
A moment later the food appeared on her plate and in her goblet. Draika hadn't really realized how starving she was…she hadn't eaten anything all day. The steak was juicy and red; thus gone in a brief period of time. She watched couples drift onto the dance floor as she sipped at the tall glass of water, crunching the cubes of ice between her teeth like paper through a shredder. The soft, relaxing music had no obvious source, but no one seemed to care.
After she was done with her plate, Draika began the monotonous task of watching everyone. Some were on the dance floor, some were sitting with friends, and a few were sitting just like she was…watching. Swallowing the last of the ice - it burned her stomach like fire - she stood. Not because she wanted to dance, or to talk to anyone. It was Crevyl. She couldn't see him, but he was close.
-What are you doing?- She tried to speak to him, sitting back down shakily. -Where are you?- The thought didn't seem to want to go through, like a busy signal. In the background, the indifferent, euphonius music continued. So annoying…
-Stay out of my mind.- The thought was harsh, a whip to her brain. Draika nearly fell out of her chair, but clung to the table's soft wood with her claws. -It is no place for you.- Slowly the presence in her mind receded, the cold hatred of Crevyl's presence gone.
Something was happening, she knew it. Couldn't ignore it. Different minds drifted around her, each more unfamiliar than the next. Sraelyth was there, and Domar. Drokaal and the other thestrals. An innocent-hearted unicorn paraded proudly with them. Many, many other things…evil things, things that lurked in shadow and slithered on the ground and…
"Hey." Blaise pulled up a chair, having no idea of what might be going through Draika's head. "Pretty boring, huh? Maybe later they'll play something other than this dreadful cacophony." He winced, grinning. "Do you dance?"
"I don't think I do." She replied, staring at her empty glass. A moment later it was filled with iced water. Draika blinked, surprised. "Smart house-elves." She commented, crunching another unfortunate ice cube in her mouth.
"They'd better be, or else they wouldn't be at Hogwarts." Blaise leaned back, watching the couples. "It's too bad you don't dance, it would really be nice to be more than a wallflower, hm?"
"Yeah." A swift-moving form that hinted at being lupine ran low to the ground, darting into the shadows. Werewolf? Draika shuddered. Owls, crows, snakes…everything was alive, moving…the gryphons down below were restless too, they knew something would happen…
Blaise was saying something. "…haven't seen you around…"
"…haven't spent a lot of time in the dormitories." Draika offered lamely. Spiders and other many-legged things were crawling along the ground..she could almost feel them on her skin. And Blaise kept talking. And talking. He talked while she heard the creatures whisper, felt their terror and loathing. It was coming.
-What is it?- She tried to reach out to them, but they didn't hear. -Tomonari? What's happening?- For the first time in her life, she could say she was truly afraid. As the happy students milled around ignorantly in the Great Hall, she alone feared the outdoors that night.
-It is very bad. Very bad…don't go anywhere, stay inside, Sraelyth's coming…-
-Sraelyth? Is he coming to help?- All the animals were skittish, frightened..even the tough ones.
-It's bad, Draika…stay inside, don't try to find out…- Tomonari's voice was hurried and fragmented. -…I'm going, the owls…we..-
-Hey! HEY!- Draika squinted, trying to keep focus with the owl…but he was gone somewhere Draika couldn't reach him.
"…see that?" Blaise laughed, pointing at someone who had probably just fallen on their face. For once, Draika didn't care.
"Would you shut the hell up?!" She shouted, leaping up. Her hands shook so badly from anger; fear; annoyance…the list only grew. "I don't care. So just be quiet…quiet." If looks could kill, and I'm pretty sure they could if anyone had enough power, Blaise would have been a pile of ashes in moments. "Just…stop it."
-I'm sick of you all.- She said, trying to broadcast to every single animal in range. -All of you. Die, for all I care. Just…leave me alone.-
Draika must have been something awful to look at, because Blaise nearly choked on his next mocking sentence. His mouth opened and then shut again. For once, the great smartass was lost for words.
"Get - out - of - my - sight." She snarled, still glaring. Many other students had stopped to watch the commotion, some of them beginning to drift away as they anticipated something horrible to break out.
-Cowards.- Draika thought as she noted their rereatings. She could still feel it…the horrible, wonderful sensation of connection with the creatures. Individuals, now. She felt Drokaal's reserve, Sraelyth's rage, even Hedwig's scolding nature. They were coming…or something…
"It's coming." She whispered, forgetting all about her earlier temper. She felt the adrenaline begin to rush through her veins….very soon…
She was deaf to the first crash, lost in a dizzying spiral of mist. It was impossible, however, for even her to ignore the horrible sounds..outrage, fear, danger…sounds only she could hear. Shattering glass and screams reverbrated the very air around her, the more tangible aspects of sound making her head pound. But who…? She blinked, vision blurring momentarily as her pupils dilated, heart pumping. What was the new threat?
-Sraelyth?-
"RUN!" The cry seemed to be unanimous. Students scattered everywhere as the dragon roared his fury, shooting bursts of flame at their retreating backs. Dumbledore had immediately abandoned the plate of pork chops, anger glinting in his crystal blue eyes. Though the Peruvian Vipertooth was the smallest specie of dragon, the largest topping twenty feet by maturity, Sraelyth was an impressive sight.
Draika stood there, immobilized. She felt the same fury running through her blood, though nowhere near as dangerous as her friend. Someone crashed into her, sending her over a table laden with food and onto the floor behind Sraelyth.
That did it. Draika leapt up, scanning about for the offender…he would pay.
"Look out!" Someone grabbed her, dragging her away from Sraelyth. "That thing'll kill us all if we don't get out!" Miaka held her friend's arms tightly, and Draika reflected once again on Dumbledore's words.
"Get away!" She shoved the…the thing. "You…you don't exist!" Even in the midst of the deafening roars and panicked shouts, she was able to look past all else to what she wanted to see. "…you're not real…" She wanted to die, to curl up in a little ball and sink into obscurity.
-Don't go anywhere, Draika.- Sraelyth told her, shooting a warning jet of flame in the headmaster's direction. The other teachers were trying to keep order, the Heads of houses attempting to group their students together. Some of the older students were standing silently as Draika had been, and she knew they wanted to help fight the beast.
Miaka looked sad. As her big expressive eyes welled up with tears, Draika felt a twinge of remorse…but quickly pushed it away.
"You heard me." She choked out, deaf to her own words. "…get."
"But.." Miaka blinked, still so childlike. She began to drift apart, as thin as mist…her last word lingered in Draika's mind for what could have been ages.
"Why?"
Draika shuddered. It seemed so surreal all of a sudden…the dragon, the Great Hall, the screams…like a dream.
"V'tana, get out of it!" Someone was trying to get her attention. "Are you crazy?"
She turned, irritated at being interrupted.
"Back off, Draco." She scowled, intentionally irking him by use of his first name. Since the food fight, she'd grown to dislike the boy, in a way she couldn't quite fathom. "Why don't you go fight him, save us all some trouble?"
Before Malfoy could reply, a loud shout from the once solid wall. Snape stood there, trying to restrain a tall boy…but that couldn't be Snape…he was different…shorter…different…it made her head spin.
-It's not right!- She cried to Sraelyth. The Great Hall was in a shambles. Dumbledore stared Sraelyth down on the dance floor. Draco seemed to be frozen in mid-sentence, a frightened look on his face. The Snape-thing held Blaise tightly…Blaise, who was fighting tooth and nail to get free, to get at Sraelyth. He was yelling something quite undecipherable. Though they tried, teachers could not group the students together…and they seemed to be avoiding the fight…why?
-Nothing will ever be right again.- Sraelyth replied, sighing. His lust for battle seemed to have diminished, the great beast now held stance wearily, both eyes fixed on the headmaster. Draika hurt for him. -I can't let them win.- He snarled, making a lunge for the old wizard.
Dumbledore leapt back, nimble for one so old. Draco decided to flee, edging behind a table with a group of skittish second-years. Only a few older students remained unhidden, still thinking they would be the hero, that they could save the school...
~Foolish!~ Draika thought contemptuously. Time seemed to slow…achingly slow…another scream pierced the fog seeping into her mind…Blaise had broken loose from the Snape-thing somehow…he dashed at Sraelyth, wand out… ~Idiot!~
"IDIOT! FOOL! YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!" Draika heard herself shrieking in a pitch unlike her own gravelly voice. It was all wrong…it couldn't be…
Sraelyth turned to face the new threat. His large size prevented him from doing that very quickly, but he was still ready when Blaise reached him. Someone screamed at him, Draika didn't know who. No one rushed forward to stop him…was that supposed to be her job, as someone considered to be his friend? She leaned forwards in an attempt to move, but found her legs unwilling to cooperate. Sraelyth bared his teeth…Draika could almost imagine him laughing.
Blaise had stopped, wand pointed straight at the dragon's face. His eyes were wide, hair mussed…he looked quite mad, Draika thought. Mad with anger…why? He took a staggered breath, raising his wand.
"Lyr--"
"…foolish human." Sraelyth grinned a horrible grin, something that might send a five year old to therapy for twenty years.
-SRAELYTH!- Draika yelled, but he wouldn't listen…she made herself look on.
A sudden flare of heat and light, an agonized scream…a roar of triumph accompanied the smell of charred flesh as the world fell apart.