Chapter 10
After what seemed years instead of hours a stiff jerk awoke me. I
rolled on to my stomach to realize Dameon was gone. Aries sat beside
me and was nudging firmly. I batted at him to get him to stop.
"Alright enough! I'm awake," I sat up grumpily.
"Well, it took long enough. You humans have no sense of time. It's
about twenty minutes till dawn and we haven't even started on the
journey back," Aries spoke perturbed.
"Oh stuff it! I'm getting up." I paused to look about hoping to see
Dameon sitting by the fire or another dark corner of the burrow.
Aries must have sensed that I was searching for him because he
automatically said, "Dameon had a few errands to complete. He said to
tell you he would come for you in a week to begin your training."
He bounded out of the hole ahead of me and gruffly grabbed my sleeve
to help me up. I boarded his back just barely in time before he struck
out into the misty woods. The ride was extremely jerky and I was
almost flung off twice after he leapt over fallen logs. What a way to
travel. It took a matter of minutes to return to the school's steps
where Aries abruptly halted. I slid off and was starting to climb the
flights of stairs when Aries called out to me.
"Raven! In the time following you must decide on those you wish to
trust. Be warned of you friends. I fear there mortal weaknesses will
betray you... and as odd as it may seem, those most distant from you may
be your biggest allies. Also, as you harness your abilities your
thoughts towards others and yourself will change in ways unimaginable
to you. Although these times will frighten the strongest of men do not
run from that fate your self. Your destiny has been etched into the
stars and will not change so there is no reason to fear it. If the
stress does echo too agonizingly on you call upon Dameon or me. Where
ever we are we will come to your aid, but do not give into the
temptation of death." My faced blanched at the definition of my life
to come. Aries stood silently before fading into the haze. My friends
betray me? That's not possible. They wouldn't... at least I don't think...
I trudged up the rest of the stairs and into the giant building. I
arrived tiredly in the common room. I walked into the girl's
dormitory. Hermione was asleep with several books littering her
bedspread. Typical Hermione. She seemed so peaceful. How I wish I
could be you Hermione. You know where you're going in life. That seems
so hard for me. I grabbed my book bag and walked out on to the
balcony. I could see a silver line accent the horizon. The sun will be
up soon. I know I'm going to have to tell Dumbledore, but how? I took
a lighter from the carrier and began to flick the cap on and off.
Finally I got a cigarette out and lit up. The smoke curled off into
the crisp morning air. The nicotine wasn't really addictive to me but
extremely relaxing. Although I hadn't smoked in so long that it stung
my lungs when I inhaled causing me to cough. I heard a muffled noise
from inside the room that made me instinctually stiffen and strain to
hear what was moving about. Silence.
"I didn't know you smoked." The voice scared me so badly I almost fell
off the railing I had been perched on.
"Holy hell Hermione! Don't do that!" Hermione stood in the pending
dawn with her hair extremely ruffled holding her night robe tightly
around her shoulders.
"That really isn't good for you."
"Would you just stop bothering me!"
"So you're in one of those moods again," Hermione said jokingly. I
glared at her benevolence, "Anyways I just wanted to talk to you about
yesterday..."
"I can't... not now," I interrupted a bit more calm. Hermione looked
hurt by my answer.
She turned and ambled back towards her bed, but paused at the doorway,
"We were all really worried when you didn't come home last night. I
just wanted to let you know that." I stood alone the wind playfully
tossing my hair. I'm sorry I have to act as if I don't trust you
Hermione, but I'm afraid. I can't let anyone be too close to me. Not
after today. Now that I know the destruction I can cause. I don't want
to hurt you, and you may never know it but your kindness is greatly
appreciated.
After what seemed years instead of hours a stiff jerk awoke me. I
rolled on to my stomach to realize Dameon was gone. Aries sat beside
me and was nudging firmly. I batted at him to get him to stop.
"Alright enough! I'm awake," I sat up grumpily.
"Well, it took long enough. You humans have no sense of time. It's
about twenty minutes till dawn and we haven't even started on the
journey back," Aries spoke perturbed.
"Oh stuff it! I'm getting up." I paused to look about hoping to see
Dameon sitting by the fire or another dark corner of the burrow.
Aries must have sensed that I was searching for him because he
automatically said, "Dameon had a few errands to complete. He said to
tell you he would come for you in a week to begin your training."
He bounded out of the hole ahead of me and gruffly grabbed my sleeve
to help me up. I boarded his back just barely in time before he struck
out into the misty woods. The ride was extremely jerky and I was
almost flung off twice after he leapt over fallen logs. What a way to
travel. It took a matter of minutes to return to the school's steps
where Aries abruptly halted. I slid off and was starting to climb the
flights of stairs when Aries called out to me.
"Raven! In the time following you must decide on those you wish to
trust. Be warned of you friends. I fear there mortal weaknesses will
betray you... and as odd as it may seem, those most distant from you may
be your biggest allies. Also, as you harness your abilities your
thoughts towards others and yourself will change in ways unimaginable
to you. Although these times will frighten the strongest of men do not
run from that fate your self. Your destiny has been etched into the
stars and will not change so there is no reason to fear it. If the
stress does echo too agonizingly on you call upon Dameon or me. Where
ever we are we will come to your aid, but do not give into the
temptation of death." My faced blanched at the definition of my life
to come. Aries stood silently before fading into the haze. My friends
betray me? That's not possible. They wouldn't... at least I don't think...
I trudged up the rest of the stairs and into the giant building. I
arrived tiredly in the common room. I walked into the girl's
dormitory. Hermione was asleep with several books littering her
bedspread. Typical Hermione. She seemed so peaceful. How I wish I
could be you Hermione. You know where you're going in life. That seems
so hard for me. I grabbed my book bag and walked out on to the
balcony. I could see a silver line accent the horizon. The sun will be
up soon. I know I'm going to have to tell Dumbledore, but how? I took
a lighter from the carrier and began to flick the cap on and off.
Finally I got a cigarette out and lit up. The smoke curled off into
the crisp morning air. The nicotine wasn't really addictive to me but
extremely relaxing. Although I hadn't smoked in so long that it stung
my lungs when I inhaled causing me to cough. I heard a muffled noise
from inside the room that made me instinctually stiffen and strain to
hear what was moving about. Silence.
"I didn't know you smoked." The voice scared me so badly I almost fell
off the railing I had been perched on.
"Holy hell Hermione! Don't do that!" Hermione stood in the pending
dawn with her hair extremely ruffled holding her night robe tightly
around her shoulders.
"That really isn't good for you."
"Would you just stop bothering me!"
"So you're in one of those moods again," Hermione said jokingly. I
glared at her benevolence, "Anyways I just wanted to talk to you about
yesterday..."
"I can't... not now," I interrupted a bit more calm. Hermione looked
hurt by my answer.
She turned and ambled back towards her bed, but paused at the doorway,
"We were all really worried when you didn't come home last night. I
just wanted to let you know that." I stood alone the wind playfully
tossing my hair. I'm sorry I have to act as if I don't trust you
Hermione, but I'm afraid. I can't let anyone be too close to me. Not
after today. Now that I know the destruction I can cause. I don't want
to hurt you, and you may never know it but your kindness is greatly
appreciated.