Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
.
Chapter XVI: Black Rubies
.
It was mid afternoon when the train stopped. And believe me, the only thing I hate more than a train ride was flying.
I hate heights and I hate snakes. And spiders and scorpions and traps and ancient evils. In short, I hate a lot of things that could threaten my further existence.
In other words, I hate anything that could get me killed. I once faced a mummified alligator. Who the hell mummifies gators? Their skin was tougher than dragon hide. The worst day of my life.
No. Strike that. Diana's passing was the worst day of my life. But looking at Luna's sleeping form, I would face all my fears and nightmares just to keep her safe.
I can't believe I just said that.
I gently shook her awake although I was reluctant. I hate ruining a perfect picture. She stirred and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw me, she smiled. I wish I had a camera right there and then.
"Are we already there?" she asked.
" 'Here' is the correct term," I smiled. "Better wake the pussy cat." Smiling, Luna shook Sophia awake, who stirred and stretched cat-like and then stood.
"Let's go," she said casually and left the cabin. Luna blinked at she looked at me while having this confused look in her face.
"Better do as she says," I said and followed. But I paused and gave Luna a smile. I offered her my hand to her, which she took, but not before blushing. What made me do that?
Whatever the reason was, I was glad I did it.
***
I was surprised when Sol offered his hand to me. It was like seeing a different side of him. He wasn't the brash arrogant man he was when I first met him, and he was not the pained, tortured soul I saw in the Vault of fate. That was what Sol called it.
What I am seeing now was something different. And something that I liked. He had this sweet angelic smile that seemed so innocent and filled with mirth that it seemed that he hasn't seen any hardships in his life.
That smile was heartwarming.
We exited the train and Sol seemed confused. He should be for he hasn't been here before. But I was concerned that I can't find Sophia anywhere.
"She's fine," he assured me after he saw my worried expression. "She can find us. She needed to stretch. Shall we?" he smiled at me again. It was quite distracting for him to smile at me.
"Let's go," I smiled back. "We still need to find those rubies."
"Where to?" he asked. I walked towards the exit of the station. His hand never left mine.
I was burning up in embarrassment. Nearly everyone in Hogsmeade was looking at us. And most of them I knew because every I took every Hogsmeade weekend that was available.
It was a matter of time before I met someone I really knew.
"Hey Luna!" a VERY familiar voice called out. Immediately, I felt Sol's hand left mine. But I was more concerned of the owner of the voice that has called me. Turning slowly around, I looked at his face and smiled. His green eyes were what I remembered them. But his long bangs hid the very prominent scar that made him the target of evil during his years in Hogwarts.
"Hello. Harry Potter," I greeted.
***
I released her hand as soon the man named Harry Potter, so I heard her called him, near her.
I saw the look in her eyes when she saw him. It was like a rekindled flame that has been ebbed of time apart. It would not be right for me to interfere with their conversation. Discretely, I walked away.
But my heart aches with every step I took away from them. It was distracting and it was a distraction I cannot have.
I need a drink.
Taking a deep breath the smell of alcohol filled my lungs and when I looked around, I found its source.
The Three Broomsticks. It looks like a decent place. The aura of the place told me it was.
I never liked alcohol, aside from the type that I pour onto my wounds. But I felt that I really needed it for reasons unknown to me.
As I entered the establishment, I was greeted by the sight of students, I would guess from their uniforms, chatting lively at each other as their drank their liquids. Taking a deep breath, I made my way towards the bar and the keeper, a nice lady, smiled ay me.
"You're an unfamiliar face," she greeted me. "Unfamiliar but welcomed."
"I bet you say that to all the men," I smiled making her laugh.
"Those words were only reserved to those who earned it," she said.
"And how did I earn that honor?" I was intrigued.
"I'm a sucker for rugged men," she smiled. Looking at my self, I checked what she meant. I was wearing my cleanest exploration uniform. Khaki pants, whit shirt and leather jacket. I still wore my hat that I politely took off. Clipped to my belt was my whip and tied to my calf was my pouch.
Was I really that rugged?
"Stop teasing the lad, Rosmerta," I heard one of the customers come to my rescue. She wore an old type of clothes like it was the 18th century. She had her hair tied to a knot and had an air of authority when she moved.
"Just playing with him, Minerva," the keeper smiled. "So what it will be?" I smiled as I leaned on the bar. I thought of a drink that was at the top of my head. Actually, Diana introduced me to it.
"Black Rubies," I smiled. Hey, it was a long shot. But the two ladies' expression became shocked as if they weren't expecting me to say that. "What is it?" I asked. It was unnerving that they were looking at me like that. The barkeeper smiled at me sullenly and sighed.
"I cannot make that drink for the ingredients were lost with its creator years ago," she said. "It became a myth. A legend in these parts."
"Why is that?"
"One of the founders of the school never revealed her creations to the world," Minerva said. "That particular drink was especially special to her."
"For the bond between Guardian and Chosen will never be severed even by death and eternal damnation," I recited from my mind. Diana's words. This surprised them even more.
"Have you ever tasted it?" Rosmerta was envious.
"Once, a long time ago," I said softly. "She said that the bond would strengthen when the two love each other."
"Did it?" Minerva asked.
"We didn't have time to know. She died shortly after that."
"I'm sorry," Minerva looked at her glass.
"But she's still with me, one way or another," I smiled as I looked at her.
"I'll be right back," the keeper said as she tended another customer. A thought suddenly occurred to me and I reached over and felt the outlines of a secret compartment underneath the bar. I smiled played on my face as I opened the compartment and felt the smooth velvet in my hand.
Taking it out, my newfound companion gasped out in surprise.
"What is that?" Minerva asked. It was a rectangular object covered in blue velvet cloth. Uncovering it, it revealed a velvet bound book with the carving of a raven. Minerva gasped in shock.
"That belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw," she said in awe. "How did you know it was there?"
"I just had a feeling, that's all." In truth, I hadn't got the faintest idea. Then, her eyes were not on me but to the entrance.
"Oh my," she said as I turned to face what made her gasp. When I did, I smiled. "Is that Luna Lovegood?" Luna looked at us when she heard her name and smiled in relief.
"There you are," she said as she took my arm. "I've been meaning to introduce you to one of my best friends. Oh hello Professor," she smiled at Minerva.
"My God," she said in mild shock. "It's not possible."
"What's not, Professor?" Luna asked, growing concerned.
"Luna," Minerva McGonagall took a deep breath. "I don't know why I haven't noticed it before."
"Is there something wrong?" I asked. There was something in her voice that made me uneasy and I wish she would just say it out loud.
"Luna. In that dress, you are a dead ringer for Rowena Ravenclaw," Minerva said much to the surprise of Luna.
.
End of 16
.
A/n: The plot thickens. Sorry for the delay. Haven't got enough time.
.
Chapter XVI: Black Rubies
.
It was mid afternoon when the train stopped. And believe me, the only thing I hate more than a train ride was flying.
I hate heights and I hate snakes. And spiders and scorpions and traps and ancient evils. In short, I hate a lot of things that could threaten my further existence.
In other words, I hate anything that could get me killed. I once faced a mummified alligator. Who the hell mummifies gators? Their skin was tougher than dragon hide. The worst day of my life.
No. Strike that. Diana's passing was the worst day of my life. But looking at Luna's sleeping form, I would face all my fears and nightmares just to keep her safe.
I can't believe I just said that.
I gently shook her awake although I was reluctant. I hate ruining a perfect picture. She stirred and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw me, she smiled. I wish I had a camera right there and then.
"Are we already there?" she asked.
" 'Here' is the correct term," I smiled. "Better wake the pussy cat." Smiling, Luna shook Sophia awake, who stirred and stretched cat-like and then stood.
"Let's go," she said casually and left the cabin. Luna blinked at she looked at me while having this confused look in her face.
"Better do as she says," I said and followed. But I paused and gave Luna a smile. I offered her my hand to her, which she took, but not before blushing. What made me do that?
Whatever the reason was, I was glad I did it.
***
I was surprised when Sol offered his hand to me. It was like seeing a different side of him. He wasn't the brash arrogant man he was when I first met him, and he was not the pained, tortured soul I saw in the Vault of fate. That was what Sol called it.
What I am seeing now was something different. And something that I liked. He had this sweet angelic smile that seemed so innocent and filled with mirth that it seemed that he hasn't seen any hardships in his life.
That smile was heartwarming.
We exited the train and Sol seemed confused. He should be for he hasn't been here before. But I was concerned that I can't find Sophia anywhere.
"She's fine," he assured me after he saw my worried expression. "She can find us. She needed to stretch. Shall we?" he smiled at me again. It was quite distracting for him to smile at me.
"Let's go," I smiled back. "We still need to find those rubies."
"Where to?" he asked. I walked towards the exit of the station. His hand never left mine.
I was burning up in embarrassment. Nearly everyone in Hogsmeade was looking at us. And most of them I knew because every I took every Hogsmeade weekend that was available.
It was a matter of time before I met someone I really knew.
"Hey Luna!" a VERY familiar voice called out. Immediately, I felt Sol's hand left mine. But I was more concerned of the owner of the voice that has called me. Turning slowly around, I looked at his face and smiled. His green eyes were what I remembered them. But his long bangs hid the very prominent scar that made him the target of evil during his years in Hogwarts.
"Hello. Harry Potter," I greeted.
***
I released her hand as soon the man named Harry Potter, so I heard her called him, near her.
I saw the look in her eyes when she saw him. It was like a rekindled flame that has been ebbed of time apart. It would not be right for me to interfere with their conversation. Discretely, I walked away.
But my heart aches with every step I took away from them. It was distracting and it was a distraction I cannot have.
I need a drink.
Taking a deep breath the smell of alcohol filled my lungs and when I looked around, I found its source.
The Three Broomsticks. It looks like a decent place. The aura of the place told me it was.
I never liked alcohol, aside from the type that I pour onto my wounds. But I felt that I really needed it for reasons unknown to me.
As I entered the establishment, I was greeted by the sight of students, I would guess from their uniforms, chatting lively at each other as their drank their liquids. Taking a deep breath, I made my way towards the bar and the keeper, a nice lady, smiled ay me.
"You're an unfamiliar face," she greeted me. "Unfamiliar but welcomed."
"I bet you say that to all the men," I smiled making her laugh.
"Those words were only reserved to those who earned it," she said.
"And how did I earn that honor?" I was intrigued.
"I'm a sucker for rugged men," she smiled. Looking at my self, I checked what she meant. I was wearing my cleanest exploration uniform. Khaki pants, whit shirt and leather jacket. I still wore my hat that I politely took off. Clipped to my belt was my whip and tied to my calf was my pouch.
Was I really that rugged?
"Stop teasing the lad, Rosmerta," I heard one of the customers come to my rescue. She wore an old type of clothes like it was the 18th century. She had her hair tied to a knot and had an air of authority when she moved.
"Just playing with him, Minerva," the keeper smiled. "So what it will be?" I smiled as I leaned on the bar. I thought of a drink that was at the top of my head. Actually, Diana introduced me to it.
"Black Rubies," I smiled. Hey, it was a long shot. But the two ladies' expression became shocked as if they weren't expecting me to say that. "What is it?" I asked. It was unnerving that they were looking at me like that. The barkeeper smiled at me sullenly and sighed.
"I cannot make that drink for the ingredients were lost with its creator years ago," she said. "It became a myth. A legend in these parts."
"Why is that?"
"One of the founders of the school never revealed her creations to the world," Minerva said. "That particular drink was especially special to her."
"For the bond between Guardian and Chosen will never be severed even by death and eternal damnation," I recited from my mind. Diana's words. This surprised them even more.
"Have you ever tasted it?" Rosmerta was envious.
"Once, a long time ago," I said softly. "She said that the bond would strengthen when the two love each other."
"Did it?" Minerva asked.
"We didn't have time to know. She died shortly after that."
"I'm sorry," Minerva looked at her glass.
"But she's still with me, one way or another," I smiled as I looked at her.
"I'll be right back," the keeper said as she tended another customer. A thought suddenly occurred to me and I reached over and felt the outlines of a secret compartment underneath the bar. I smiled played on my face as I opened the compartment and felt the smooth velvet in my hand.
Taking it out, my newfound companion gasped out in surprise.
"What is that?" Minerva asked. It was a rectangular object covered in blue velvet cloth. Uncovering it, it revealed a velvet bound book with the carving of a raven. Minerva gasped in shock.
"That belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw," she said in awe. "How did you know it was there?"
"I just had a feeling, that's all." In truth, I hadn't got the faintest idea. Then, her eyes were not on me but to the entrance.
"Oh my," she said as I turned to face what made her gasp. When I did, I smiled. "Is that Luna Lovegood?" Luna looked at us when she heard her name and smiled in relief.
"There you are," she said as she took my arm. "I've been meaning to introduce you to one of my best friends. Oh hello Professor," she smiled at Minerva.
"My God," she said in mild shock. "It's not possible."
"What's not, Professor?" Luna asked, growing concerned.
"Luna," Minerva McGonagall took a deep breath. "I don't know why I haven't noticed it before."
"Is there something wrong?" I asked. There was something in her voice that made me uneasy and I wish she would just say it out loud.
"Luna. In that dress, you are a dead ringer for Rowena Ravenclaw," Minerva said much to the surprise of Luna.
.
End of 16
.
A/n: The plot thickens. Sorry for the delay. Haven't got enough time.