AN: READ!!! Ok. These chapters have been done for.oh, three days now, and I
e-mailed them to my beta reader, but she might be on vacation now or
something, so I'm posting these un-beta-ed because I can't wait any longer.
I've made you wait long enough, and I'm sorry, but between work and school
I've had no free time that wasn't spent completely worn out on the couch,
but spring break is here and I have these 5 chapters plus a few more before
the end of break to put up. (I have through 22 written)..so I won't take up
any more of your time. Read.
Chapter 12
The students were all seated and waiting when Adam entered his classroom. Today, they were having a guest speaker, an actual immortal. Most of the class was confused, therefore, when Adam walked in with MacLeod. Some light bulbs did go off, however. (Hermione)
"Hello, class," greeted Methos cheerfully. "As promised I have brought you a guest speaker on immortals. Go ahead, Mac. Tell them your story." Methos stepped aside as Mac muttered something profane at him in Gaelic. Seamus, the only other person in the room to understand the language, turned pink.
"What you must realize is that by hearing my story, I'm breaking the tradition of silence and secrets kept for hundreds of years."
"Never stopped you before," Methos commented dryly from behind his desk, MacLeod made a face at him and continued.
You all probably know my story already. Adam said you covered immortals last year, but please just listen.
"I am Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod. I was born in 1592 in the highlands of Scotland, on the shores of Loch Shiel in the village of Glenfinnin. I died at the age of 28 for the first time in a battle against the Frasiers. I was found by my cousin Connor, and he was my first teacher.
"My first lesson was you are an immortal and you cannot die.
"The second was watch you head.
"So there I was, in the year 1630, 28 years old. I had died, come back to life, and met a ghost. Conner was just a myth at that point to my clan. My mother was dead, my father had disowned me, and I was seen as a demon to my kin. Such was the start of my immortaly, So many immortals begin their life. Cold. Confused. Scared. It's very disorienting to die."
The students were captivated. The fact that this was their teacher blew many minds. He went on to discuss his training, sharing amusing anecdotes from his days with Connor. He tried, but could not fully tell of the heart wrenching loss that the years provided. There simply were not words enough. He moved on through history until he came to the early nineties.
"That was when I met a man named Joe Dawson. He's the head of the US West Coast division of a secret organization called the Watchers. The Watchers observe and record the lives of immortals, but never interfere with immortal lives and affairs."
"That was," Adam added, "until Mac Here showed up in Watchers HQ. Caused quite a ruckus and almost got Joe killed." Mac made a face.
"It's true that Joe was persecuted heavily for knowing his immortal (he was assigned to watch me, you see) but they eventually saw reason. I mean, the man has no legs. How is he supposed to follow me across the country side when I'm bringing about justice?" Methos rolled his eyes.
"Simple. Stop being a damned superhero. Not your problem, remember? You'll live longer. Joe will too." Mac simply rolled his eyes.
"Adam just in a snit because he used to be a watcher."
"They kicked my out just because I have a nasty habit of not dieing." Methos groused as he held up his forearm, showing the blue tattoo on his wrist. It was a circle with stars and a V shaped like a child would draw a flying bird.
"This is the symbol of the Watchers. This means I know, in an official capacity, about immortality and all it entails. I have access to safe houses and libraries. Now, when I was forced to resign I should have had this removed, but there are still some outposts who do not know that I am now on the other side of this little organization, and it is useful, sometimes." Hermione raised her hand.
Yes, Mrs. Granger?"
"Why were you forced to leave?" Adam shrugged.
"I died. Quite publicly, too. I was shot by a hunter (a watcher who hunts immortals) who wanted our esteemed professor MacLeod here. I decided the best way to disappear for a while was to return to my wizarding roots, so here I am."
The class was in shock. Had their teacher just told them he was an immortal? Adam smirked and raised his wand. From then on, while the students knew the information, whenever they were to tell it to another, they suddenly forgot what they were going to say.
***
Draco quickly walked through the halls of the Dungeons, alone. He had stayed after potions to talk to Snape and now he was alone in Slytherin territory.
It used to be his territory.
That's what hurt the most.
Draco was once the lord of these halls. Everybody followed him because everybody feared him, or rather, they feared his father. Without Lucius behind him, Draco was a primary target.
So if Draco squeeked when his path was suddenly blocked by Crabbe and his retreat cut off by Goyle, it's understandable.
Draco put on his best haughty sneer and drawled at his former shadows.
"What is it? Can't you see I'm busy?"
"We need to talk to you, Draco," Goyle said and Draco spun to face him.
"OH? About what?"
"Why aren't you in the dorm anymore?" Asked Crabbe, causing Draco to, once again, spin around.
"What do you care?" Draco snapped. Oh, no, they weren't getting his new room's location from him.
"If you're not in the dorm, then we can't protect you." Draco spun to Goyle, snide reply on his lips. The acid remark died, however, when Goyle's words registered.
"What? Protect me?" Goyle nodded.
"From Pansy. We don't like the way she's running thins, we being the whole of Ax Serpens. We like you better. You, at the very least, know how to keep things running smoothly. You handle power well. Pansy doesn't. She's acting the spoiled brat part too well. The house is in shambles and it's all her fault." Draco looked skeptical.
"Why should I believe you? You follow Pansy now. How do I know it's not a trick?"
"Because you know us, Draco. You know where our loyalties lie. They lie with you. They always have, they always will. But if we don't at least, pretend to go along with the winner, we wouldn't be in Slytherin. Besides, can you think of Pansy thinking a scheme like this up?"
Draco smirked. Pansy couldn't plan her way out of a wet paper bag. The logic was pure, simple, and precise. Classic Vincent Goyle.
"But why aren't you in the dorm anymore? Are you with another house?" Draco shook his head.
'No, I have a private room."
"But why?"
"For protection," Said Goyle. "You know how vicious Pansy can be, for all her faults. She would never let you live if you slept there, correct?" Draco nodded.
"I would never let anyone kill you Draco! WE would never." Crabbe stated with conviction.
"You buffoon! It would be on our heads to see him killed, if not do the deed ourselves." Goyle turned back to Draco. "As always you're a step ahead of the rest. You would be dead if you slept in Ax Serpens. Nothing we could do could protect you. I can see that now. We could only help you so far, no, it's better that you're away."
"We couldn't kill you anyway," said Crabbe, "You're still Prince by majority vote and to kill the Prince is the highest sin you could commit, in defense or attack. You are our leader." Draco smiled softly.
Thank you, Crabbe, Goyle. It's nice to know all of Slytherin hasn't abandoned me." Goyle smiled as well.
"WE cannot stay any longer, but we want you to know. When the time is right, come to Ax Serpens. Challenge Pansy. You will have the whole of Slytherin behind them." Draco nodded and the three embraced. The slender form of Draco, looking delicate and pale in the behemoths' arms.
"Thank you." He smirked. " I shall return." Crabbe and Goyle nodded and lumbered off. Draco went on his way, a soft smile on his lips and his chin a fraction higher. The Slytherin Prince would soon return to reclaim his throne.
***
Ginny sat at the window in the Medical wing. There were, currently, no patients, and Madame Pomfrey had left to get replacement potions from Snape. She, Ginny that is, was left alone in the Medical Wing.
Often in the past few weeks she had found herself in that window. It had become a favorite place of hers during her long stay at the end of her first year, as she thought about Tom and the Chamber and what had happened.
She was back there now, thinking about family and relationships and love.
The other girls in the dorm talked and gossiped all the time about every body, everything, and everybody's everything. Relationships were the big issue now. Who was dating who, who got dumped, and who was crushing. Sometimes, when she had some information she joined in, otherwise she simply sat and listened.
The other day one of the girls was going dreamy-eyed over Percy, and had asked her if she minded people mooning over her brother. She had shrugged and said,
"Not really. But it's not me you should worry about. It's Oliver Wood."
"Professor Wood?"
"Yeah."
"Whatever for?" Ginny looked astounded.
"There together, you know. Have been for almost three years. Didn't you see them dancing?" The other girl looked slightly ill and replied that she hadn't. Later on the same girl had made a vuagely anti-gay comment in reference to her brother. Ginny had told her then in no uncertain terms to stuff it. Everybody said it was because of the Weasley pride, or the Weasley drive to protect and defend each other to the end.
Ginny wasn't so sure that was the only reason.
She saw Ron and Hermione together, kissing and holding hands. She wanted that closeness, that connection. She saw Percy and Oliver and envied them as well for each having found the other's mate. She saw professors Snape and Pierson, glad they cared for each other. They deserved each other. They also didn't know she knew about them, like Harry and Draco. They were the ones she envied the most. For their love to be tested and pulled like that every day and for them to still be together was amazing. She wanted love like that.
As she sat there thinking, she realized what she had been dancing around and messing around for so long. She wanted closeness. She wanted affection. She wanted a love that would last.
Madame Pomfrey re-entered the hospital wing then, arms laden with vials and jars. Ginny sprang up to help her and Ginny's personal thoughts were pushed to a back burner
TBC
Chapter 12
The students were all seated and waiting when Adam entered his classroom. Today, they were having a guest speaker, an actual immortal. Most of the class was confused, therefore, when Adam walked in with MacLeod. Some light bulbs did go off, however. (Hermione)
"Hello, class," greeted Methos cheerfully. "As promised I have brought you a guest speaker on immortals. Go ahead, Mac. Tell them your story." Methos stepped aside as Mac muttered something profane at him in Gaelic. Seamus, the only other person in the room to understand the language, turned pink.
"What you must realize is that by hearing my story, I'm breaking the tradition of silence and secrets kept for hundreds of years."
"Never stopped you before," Methos commented dryly from behind his desk, MacLeod made a face at him and continued.
You all probably know my story already. Adam said you covered immortals last year, but please just listen.
"I am Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod. I was born in 1592 in the highlands of Scotland, on the shores of Loch Shiel in the village of Glenfinnin. I died at the age of 28 for the first time in a battle against the Frasiers. I was found by my cousin Connor, and he was my first teacher.
"My first lesson was you are an immortal and you cannot die.
"The second was watch you head.
"So there I was, in the year 1630, 28 years old. I had died, come back to life, and met a ghost. Conner was just a myth at that point to my clan. My mother was dead, my father had disowned me, and I was seen as a demon to my kin. Such was the start of my immortaly, So many immortals begin their life. Cold. Confused. Scared. It's very disorienting to die."
The students were captivated. The fact that this was their teacher blew many minds. He went on to discuss his training, sharing amusing anecdotes from his days with Connor. He tried, but could not fully tell of the heart wrenching loss that the years provided. There simply were not words enough. He moved on through history until he came to the early nineties.
"That was when I met a man named Joe Dawson. He's the head of the US West Coast division of a secret organization called the Watchers. The Watchers observe and record the lives of immortals, but never interfere with immortal lives and affairs."
"That was," Adam added, "until Mac Here showed up in Watchers HQ. Caused quite a ruckus and almost got Joe killed." Mac made a face.
"It's true that Joe was persecuted heavily for knowing his immortal (he was assigned to watch me, you see) but they eventually saw reason. I mean, the man has no legs. How is he supposed to follow me across the country side when I'm bringing about justice?" Methos rolled his eyes.
"Simple. Stop being a damned superhero. Not your problem, remember? You'll live longer. Joe will too." Mac simply rolled his eyes.
"Adam just in a snit because he used to be a watcher."
"They kicked my out just because I have a nasty habit of not dieing." Methos groused as he held up his forearm, showing the blue tattoo on his wrist. It was a circle with stars and a V shaped like a child would draw a flying bird.
"This is the symbol of the Watchers. This means I know, in an official capacity, about immortality and all it entails. I have access to safe houses and libraries. Now, when I was forced to resign I should have had this removed, but there are still some outposts who do not know that I am now on the other side of this little organization, and it is useful, sometimes." Hermione raised her hand.
Yes, Mrs. Granger?"
"Why were you forced to leave?" Adam shrugged.
"I died. Quite publicly, too. I was shot by a hunter (a watcher who hunts immortals) who wanted our esteemed professor MacLeod here. I decided the best way to disappear for a while was to return to my wizarding roots, so here I am."
The class was in shock. Had their teacher just told them he was an immortal? Adam smirked and raised his wand. From then on, while the students knew the information, whenever they were to tell it to another, they suddenly forgot what they were going to say.
***
Draco quickly walked through the halls of the Dungeons, alone. He had stayed after potions to talk to Snape and now he was alone in Slytherin territory.
It used to be his territory.
That's what hurt the most.
Draco was once the lord of these halls. Everybody followed him because everybody feared him, or rather, they feared his father. Without Lucius behind him, Draco was a primary target.
So if Draco squeeked when his path was suddenly blocked by Crabbe and his retreat cut off by Goyle, it's understandable.
Draco put on his best haughty sneer and drawled at his former shadows.
"What is it? Can't you see I'm busy?"
"We need to talk to you, Draco," Goyle said and Draco spun to face him.
"OH? About what?"
"Why aren't you in the dorm anymore?" Asked Crabbe, causing Draco to, once again, spin around.
"What do you care?" Draco snapped. Oh, no, they weren't getting his new room's location from him.
"If you're not in the dorm, then we can't protect you." Draco spun to Goyle, snide reply on his lips. The acid remark died, however, when Goyle's words registered.
"What? Protect me?" Goyle nodded.
"From Pansy. We don't like the way she's running thins, we being the whole of Ax Serpens. We like you better. You, at the very least, know how to keep things running smoothly. You handle power well. Pansy doesn't. She's acting the spoiled brat part too well. The house is in shambles and it's all her fault." Draco looked skeptical.
"Why should I believe you? You follow Pansy now. How do I know it's not a trick?"
"Because you know us, Draco. You know where our loyalties lie. They lie with you. They always have, they always will. But if we don't at least, pretend to go along with the winner, we wouldn't be in Slytherin. Besides, can you think of Pansy thinking a scheme like this up?"
Draco smirked. Pansy couldn't plan her way out of a wet paper bag. The logic was pure, simple, and precise. Classic Vincent Goyle.
"But why aren't you in the dorm anymore? Are you with another house?" Draco shook his head.
'No, I have a private room."
"But why?"
"For protection," Said Goyle. "You know how vicious Pansy can be, for all her faults. She would never let you live if you slept there, correct?" Draco nodded.
"I would never let anyone kill you Draco! WE would never." Crabbe stated with conviction.
"You buffoon! It would be on our heads to see him killed, if not do the deed ourselves." Goyle turned back to Draco. "As always you're a step ahead of the rest. You would be dead if you slept in Ax Serpens. Nothing we could do could protect you. I can see that now. We could only help you so far, no, it's better that you're away."
"We couldn't kill you anyway," said Crabbe, "You're still Prince by majority vote and to kill the Prince is the highest sin you could commit, in defense or attack. You are our leader." Draco smiled softly.
Thank you, Crabbe, Goyle. It's nice to know all of Slytherin hasn't abandoned me." Goyle smiled as well.
"WE cannot stay any longer, but we want you to know. When the time is right, come to Ax Serpens. Challenge Pansy. You will have the whole of Slytherin behind them." Draco nodded and the three embraced. The slender form of Draco, looking delicate and pale in the behemoths' arms.
"Thank you." He smirked. " I shall return." Crabbe and Goyle nodded and lumbered off. Draco went on his way, a soft smile on his lips and his chin a fraction higher. The Slytherin Prince would soon return to reclaim his throne.
***
Ginny sat at the window in the Medical wing. There were, currently, no patients, and Madame Pomfrey had left to get replacement potions from Snape. She, Ginny that is, was left alone in the Medical Wing.
Often in the past few weeks she had found herself in that window. It had become a favorite place of hers during her long stay at the end of her first year, as she thought about Tom and the Chamber and what had happened.
She was back there now, thinking about family and relationships and love.
The other girls in the dorm talked and gossiped all the time about every body, everything, and everybody's everything. Relationships were the big issue now. Who was dating who, who got dumped, and who was crushing. Sometimes, when she had some information she joined in, otherwise she simply sat and listened.
The other day one of the girls was going dreamy-eyed over Percy, and had asked her if she minded people mooning over her brother. She had shrugged and said,
"Not really. But it's not me you should worry about. It's Oliver Wood."
"Professor Wood?"
"Yeah."
"Whatever for?" Ginny looked astounded.
"There together, you know. Have been for almost three years. Didn't you see them dancing?" The other girl looked slightly ill and replied that she hadn't. Later on the same girl had made a vuagely anti-gay comment in reference to her brother. Ginny had told her then in no uncertain terms to stuff it. Everybody said it was because of the Weasley pride, or the Weasley drive to protect and defend each other to the end.
Ginny wasn't so sure that was the only reason.
She saw Ron and Hermione together, kissing and holding hands. She wanted that closeness, that connection. She saw Percy and Oliver and envied them as well for each having found the other's mate. She saw professors Snape and Pierson, glad they cared for each other. They deserved each other. They also didn't know she knew about them, like Harry and Draco. They were the ones she envied the most. For their love to be tested and pulled like that every day and for them to still be together was amazing. She wanted love like that.
As she sat there thinking, she realized what she had been dancing around and messing around for so long. She wanted closeness. She wanted affection. She wanted a love that would last.
Madame Pomfrey re-entered the hospital wing then, arms laden with vials and jars. Ginny sprang up to help her and Ginny's personal thoughts were pushed to a back burner
TBC
