Possum Kingdom
I'm not gonna lie
I want you for mine
My blushing bride
My lover, be my lover yeah...
Don't be afraid
I didn't mean to scare you
So help me Jesus
I can promise you
You will stay as beautiful
With dark hair
And soft skin, forever
Forever
"Now, ladies, there's no cause for argument," Saxon smoothed over.
"Tell me, Saxon," Vala started, pointing her wand at the glaring witch. "What connection do you have to this girl? A Solitaire," she spat, "What is your relationship?"
He sighed lazily. "We're simply acquaintances. Now lower your wand."
"Oh, simple acquaintances? Well then," she began craftily, not letting her intentions yet known. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind if she were excommunicated."
"Pardon me?" he asked. He wondered what she meant, but quickly decided it must be a form of an insult. "I will not let you talk to my guests like that."
"Guests? I thought she was only an acquaintance," she sneered. She motioned her wand upward. "Get out, Solitaire." She moved closer. "I'll give you five minutes to get out of my sight… And if you fail that simple task, well…" her voice lowered to a whisper as she held her face four inches from Gale's face. "I'm quite unstable, and who knows what I'm capable of? Living in such a world I often lose grasp of what's fantasy and what's real. Why, I believe the thin line separating them is already erasing itself." She stood back and pointed her wand at Gale's face. Closing one eye, she positioned herself to curse the witch.
Gale sat unmoving. Mentally, Vala began counting. 5, 4… Gale shot a few glimpses, one long one in particular at Saxon. 3, 2… Gale held her purse close to her bosom. 1… Gale shot to her feet and dashed from the hall. Vala closed her eyes and lowered her wand, a cemented smile plastered to her lips.
She picked up the fallen cigarette, quickly burning a hole in her good white tablecloth, and pressed it between her lips. She inhaled, half-lidded her eyes, and said with the air of someone commenting on the weather, "Well, what are you all waiting around for?"
~+~+~+~
Buckbeak watched from his hideout in the Forbidden Forest. Through the thick foliage, he dug for worms. He wasn't tied to the fence post anymore, and there weren't any pumpkins around. Just when he was starting to enjoy himself some kid had crept up, untied him, and led him away. His master and those men were still inside. He dug deeper. Depression hinted at his disappointment. He'd found a good bundle of worms over in the pumpkin patch, but over here… Over here were things odder than overgrown pumpkins, and yet no worms.
A spider crawled over some damp leaves. He contemplated about eating it, but then he heard something. The back door of his master's hut had opened. All was quiet, even the fidgety bushy-haired one.
A short argument and notes of amazement followed. The tall brute threw his ax into the fence, and Hagrid began sobbing. His master. Buckbeak pulled against the rope. He had to get to his master. Blasted! Why the restraints? He could break them. But the obnoxious little kids pulled on his leash, and wouldn't him let free. Didn't they understand? He had to get back!
Dumbledore exchanged a word with the rude men, and then he and Hagrid reentered the hut. The sun was beginning to set. There was a short and anxious conversation, and then the brats led Buckbeak away.
~+~+~+~
"That was most unnecessary," Saxon drawled, closing the bedroom door. The party had been shortened when the guests got wind of the Hippogriff's fate. Turned out he got away. Walden Macnair had contacted the party via fireplace. He'd told them someone had stolen the Hippogriff and escaped, and worse of all, Dumbledore was playing up to the idea without releasing any information. The guests had groaned, shared another drink, and retired to their homes.
"Threatening young Solitaire like that."
Vala sat on a padded stool in front of her vanity mirror. She tilted her head to one side, carefully unclipping her right earring.
"Quite unnecessary," he repeated, drawing closer. "But don't let me to be the last to admit…" he trailed, bending on one knee, and bringing his hands against her triceps. He kissed the exposed neck. "… that is was also quite sexy."
She stared emptily at their reflection. She could only see the thick tresses of his obsidian hair as his lips traveled up her neck. He kissed the crook behind her jawbone, his hands trailing the length of her biceps and reaching her shoulders. His smooth fingers tightened around the straps of her dress gown, a soft laugh escaped him.
Vala closed her eyes, blocking out the image presenting itself to her. And the night began in a tearing of silk and exposing of skin.
~+~+~+~
Buckbeak busied himself in the new surroundings. Maybe he'd have better luck finding worms over here. The male of the two said something excitedly. Buckbeak glanced up. A tall boy was sprinting across the lawn. Then he was accompanied by a couple parallel to the two standing next to him. The matching couple near the Whomping Willow was... well, they were whomped.
"Ouch--look, I just got walloped by the tree--and so did you--this is weird--"
If Buckbeak could understand more human than his name and a few random commands he would have nodded and replied, "You're telling me, brother."
The couple disappeared into a hole while the same couple stayed next to Buckbeak. Talk about a mind psyche. Buckbeak stirred, and resumed his search for worms with the hopes of perhaps coming across a small mouse.
"Here comes Lupin!"
Buckbeak looked up lazily. This was really getting old fast. Everything was a little drama to these two. Why, they were worse than Hagrid. Another argument unrolled. One even tried to escape. Buckbeak couldn't blame him. If he weren't tied up he'd try to escape from that bushy-haired beast too. But then his attention was redirected--Hagrid! The half-giant was making a slow waltz up to the castle. He had to get free, but those bloody brats! They were holding on too tightly! And he was gone. Buckbeak stopped tugging and let his head droop. How depressing, he was stuck with these brats for good.
~+~+~+~
The candlelight made images flit across the glossy ceiling. Vala watched the images, occasionally closing her eyes and breathing a moan. She scratched at Saxon's shoulder, tilting her head up and against his bare skin. Sparks flew and sparks glittered, but sparks disappeared as quickly as they appeared, and though he was having fun, no child would be conceived.
~+~+~+~
Another tall, malicious looking man showed up, skimming across the grass and picking up a disregarded cloak. Tension rose in the atmosphere, and the man disappeared under the tree. So that was it. That was what they were waiting for?
The female tied the end of his leash around the nearest tree, and took a place on the ground. Buckbeak laid his head between his forelegs; it was going to be a long night.
The male sat down as well. And then began the long monologue of one hero to another.
Again, he began his endless search of worms.
Over an hour later, an excited whisper exclaimed, "Here we come!" Buckbeak raised his head. One by one everyone who had once disappeared under the Whomping Willow was now making a reappearance. And another argument rolled around.
Buckbeak would have rolled his eyes, if he had the knowledge to. What was it with these two? They never quit. And he was growing more and more restless of the snappy, furry one.
Another urgent distress, and they untied him. They squeaked and they complained, and then they dragged him back to Hagrid's. It was about time. He was ready to go home to his master. They swung the door open, Buckbeak hustled in, and they slammed the door. Oh, was he content to be home… but, where was his master? Ahs well, at least he was home. He stepped towards the fire, spread his wings to their full wingspan, and folding them up just as easily. He lay down and prepared himself for a nice, relaxing nap.
~+~+~+~
Vala lay alongside Saxon, who slept on his stomach. The candle had long since burned out, but she continued to stare at the ceiling. Was this the price I had to pay, she thought, to save my Remus? She sighed and rolled on her side, away from Saxon. Was this the way it was supposed to be, she continued to ask. Things had been so perfect… my life had been so perfect. Damn Voldemort and his corrupting of men's hearts… My life would have been so different. But I can't help thinking… would it have been better? Sure, the Potters would still be alive, but what difference would that make? I wouldn't have even known them. I would never have met Remus, or Peter, or even Sirius… and Saxon would still be a kind and loving person. My parents would still be alive, but I'd still have married Saxon. I wouldn't have these regrets, that's for sure, but would I have ever met Grant or Fae? With my parents alive, I wouldn't have needed help carrying my trunk aboard, and Fae would have had no reason to speak with me… Then her thoughts took another turn. Why did Fae ever talk to me? It was something about Mrs. Norris… but what? That's right, Raissa wanted me to know about she and Filch, but why? Hmm…
~+~+~+~
The snappy brat pulled on his leash, and tugged him towards the male. She scolded him, and then they retreated behind a bush. There the couple talked, and Buckbeak waited. He waited, and he waited… Well, then. He sat down, and began ferreting for worms again. It was turning out to be an uneventful night while being a chaotic night at the same time, if that made any sense to his feeble mind.
Another lone figure crept out into the night. Seemed everyone was sneaking out of their dwellings tonight. The female brat placed her hands on his back, and the male helped her up unto his back. Then the male crawled up unto him, pulled the rope across Buckbeak's neck and strung it into the other side of his collar. The digging of a rider's heels into your side would make any animal start, and they flew off into the night.
~+~+~+~
A black sheet loosely wrapped around her, Vala sat at the window. Bright beams of moonlight fell across her pale skin and chestnut hair. Slowly, she tilted her chin up, looking into the bright orb. A hand reached her necklace.
He always promised to be there for me, even in death, she remembered. But he was killed, and broke his promise… Then he was replaced. How quickly things change… Before I knew it positions changed, and I became the parent. She brushed a loose strand from her eyes. "Where are you now, Remus? I worry for you so," she whispered.
~+~+~+~
Gale strode through the night. "A Solitaire," she mimicked. She rose her chin haughtily, "If only she knew what we Solitaires are capable of…" Yes, the Solitaire's were known for standing their ground, and the Solitaires were known for fighting well. Gale did not break this tradition. She was neither the oldest or youngest Solitaire, and little attention was paid to her, so she was not worried about word getting around about her defeat.
She kicked at a stone. "I could have killed her," she cursed. And she could have… had the circumstances been different. Vala was a thin, sickly looking woman, who had turned the simple thumb wrestle of childbirth into a full-fledged boxing match. Gale could have dueled with her and won any day… any day but today. Today she stood up. Today she threatened someone. Today she had an evil glint in her eye. She was determined, and though the odds were strictly against her, she would have won.
Gale sneered; it just about figured. The one day she had to fight was the one day she was put up against an unconquerable component.
A shadow shot behind her like a blackened bullet. She spun on her heel.
She hesitated, then she narrowed her eyes; one loss was acceptable, but certainly not two. "Who's there?" she demanded.
The shadow dashed behind her again. As she was turning, he leapt out into view. Landing in a preying position, he slowly rose to his feet, staring into her eyes with a steady bronzed gaze.
(A/N: Finally, my exams are over and I'm out of school! I planned to get this chapter up during exams, but I got a little preoccupied. Sorry to keep you waiting!)