Fire and Ice, Wind and Earth, Flesh and Spirit
By Deep Shadows and EckoStalker
Author's Note: Dude wasn't the last chapter trippy. Hold on and buckle your seat belts. The Trippyness has just begun. Enjoy.
Alexis awoke the next day, already a feel of irritation lingering in her head for no apparent reason. She had gone to her dormitory the night before after seeing Artimis safely tucked away, and with many angry and curious glares from Professor Snape. He was very distant, not even bothering with any scathing comments as she left him that night. Very strange indeed...
She had fallen asleep, restless and with a terrible migraine; and every time she thought of chocolate, she wanted to puke.
But overall, the party had been the best ever. Though she couldn't remember why she had awoken in an abandoned classroom with Snape lingering over her and all her few possessions slightly crispy and blackened on the edges.
Number one on the annoyed list... she thought after dressing quickly and falling off her bed in the meantime, cracking her head on the tabled next to her bed. The first event that started to trigger her steadily worsening day.
She wandered into the Great Hall for a spot of breakfast, rubbing her head and cursing softly, weirded out by why it bothered her so much. She sat near the Weasley Twins, who, of course, were rambling on and on about the party to anyone who cared to listen. Turned out, almost the entire school had been there, and most all were feeling like they wished they hadn't, for almost no one was touching the array of food dishes set in front of them. Alexis was famished and dug in. Harry had come up behind her and hit her back in a friendly manner. It caused her to jump, spilling orange juice all down her robes and onto her half eaten eggs. She grumbled a hello, and got up, stalking back to her dorm to change again. She was a bit confused, for when Harry touched her, she felt a streak of hot anger flash through her, making her sweat slightly. Why? Harry's my buddy...?
She hurried away from the Gryffindor Tower, already late for Care of Magical Creatures. She raced out to Hagrid's Cabin, where every one was bunched near a table. Out of breath, she weaved through the crowd, searching for Artimis. She didn't notice Draco snickering and sticking out his foot as she passed, tripping her and sending her headlong into the table. She was attacked by something winged and very angry. She yelped in pain as a dozen or so Cornish Pixies swarmed her, biting and scratching viciously. Draco and his goons rolled on the floor in laughter, as Artimis rushed forward. But she stopped short, knowing it would be very suspicious if she helped the troubled Gryffindor. So she stayed back and forced a laugh, while everyone else joined in. I hope she understands, she didn't seem happy when she got here. Hagrid ambled forward, quickly pulling her up out of the small army of angry pixies. Alexis glared viciously at Draco, her eyes blazing in a barely controlled anger. Draco's laughter faltered and he became silent. Though snickered to keep face. Hagrid set her down and sent an escort with her to the Infirmary to heal the numerous cuts on her face and arms. Artimis watched her go in unease, noticing how quickly she became angered.
The day wore on for Alexis, her leaving the Hospital wing to return to Transfiguration. To annoy her further, she received a 'P' for poor on her foot long parchment on the spell to turn pigs into stools. She needed a better grade, but didn't know how to bring it up at the moment. So sat down huffily, shoving the parchment in her bag and commencing onto the subject at hand. She also noticed Ron Weasley paying a bit too much attention to her throughout the class -stealing quick glances and staring dreamily at her while she worked. Please tell me I didn't go near him during the party... please, please, please...
Next class was double Potions with the Slytherins and was sorely tempted to return to her Common Room, not wishing to encounter Snape at this present time. Her day was slowly going from bad to worse, and Alexis was on the verge of tears at her frustration. She showed up late, but oddly she received no look of disdain and no remarks dripping with sarcasm. Since she had been late, her normal partner Artimis was paired with Neville Longbottom and she was trying to keep him from exploding the whole seeing as they had begun work on a highly volatile potion. Alexis ended up being paired with Pansy Parkinson, something she was none to happy about. They began on the instructions quickly; Alexis ignoring the scathing looks from Pansy. Then Pansy, not liking Alexis in the first place, made a big mistake. "So Whyte How is our dear Artimis in the sack? You must be rather good if she hasn't dropped you yet."
Alexis dropped the ingredient she was holding and stared at he ground, her face becoming hot as anger seethed within her. Pansy smirked, knowing it got to her. Alexis looked up in a deathly calm, glaring at Pansy with glazed over eyes. "Take it back." She spoke, almost whispering as her voice deepened strangely.
"Why? Everyone knows it's true. I was just asking. So, what's your answer?" Pansy commented casually as she idly stirred the potion. Alexis suddenly stood up, Snape glancing over in bewilderment. The room was steadily getting warmer, which was very bad during this particular class. Artimis looked up also from reading the instructions, staring at the pair.
The oddly familiar anger coursed through Alexis's body as she glared at Pansy, all the frustration and annoyances that bothered her that day building up inside her. She felt as if she was detached from her body, watching this episode from somewhere else. Now everyone was staring at them as Pansy stood up also, stating," What are you going to do about it, midget!"
Artimis stood, telling Neville not to touch the potion. She prepared for the fight that would soon come and she nodded to Ron and Harry who looked at her. She undid the buttons on her cloaks and prepared to jump into the oncoming fray.
Snape stood up, reluctant to jump into this but knowing he had to. Damn, and I have been trying to ignore her all class!
Suddenly, the room became sweltering and everyone felt very uncomfortable. Snape stopped, his forearm tingling and steadily growing painful.
Alexis had a look of intense concentration on her face as she tried to control herself. But it was too much. She threw her head back as she burst into green flames, scorching the desk and Pansy's robes. Everyone started screaming and Snape yelled out in pain as his arm felt as if on fire also.
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Artimis's instinct was to remove her cloak and toss it on Alexis. Next thing she knew she was taking Snape's cloak off of him and wrapping Alexis in it also, tossing Pansy to the side with a glare. Then she picked up the bundle that was Alexis and tossed her out the door. The cloak started to singe and Artimis picked her up again wincing in pain as she became burned. The yells from Snape had ceased and Artimis threw Alexis down the hall. Then rushing to Alexis she simply grabbed her and hollered in pain as she rushed Alexis to the nearest source of water, the bathroom. Then dropping Alexis on the floor she turned on the tap to cold, ignoring the pained sensation in her arms. Then picking Alexis up she drew her close and placed her in the tub. Then knowing that Alexis was safe she screamed and shoved her burned arms in the water. She screamed and screamed, not stopping when she felt hands on her shoulders, not stopping when she felt her arms pulled from the semi-comforting water. She didn't even stop when she passed out, screaming in pain in her unconscious mind.
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Alexis was lost in her confusion and anger. She remembered flaring up at Pansy as all her problems crashed together and exploded. She heard screaming, but everything was hidden behind an almost solid wall of green flame. What scared her was that she didn't feel a thing.
Then there was blackness. She crumpled into whomever was holding her as her anger continued to fuel the magical flames. She felt herself hitting the floor, but all pain was smothered, it being forced away, and making room for the insane anger. She didn't protest as she felt herself lifted, and being rushed down a hallway. The whole time an echoing laughter ringing in her ears, the same whispers of a promise. Suddenly, she felt water, freezing water, and her anger died away into surprise and shock. Then she heard the screaming, and the cloaks fell away partially to show Artimis yelling in pain, her arms blackened and burned. Alexis sat up, sputtering in the frozen water and saw she was in a bathtub, and distantly saw Snape's fleeting form as he raced down the hallway with a screaming Artimis.
Alexis was shivering as dozens of overwhelming emotions coursed through her -sadness, confusion, shock, and fear. Then she felt a few wisps of anger, but shuddered, trying to push them aside, knowing it was bad.
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Snape didn't know what had happened. One moment he was about to break a fight up between Parkinson and Whyte, the next he was on the floor with third years looking oddly at him as he was stripped of his long billowing cloak. Then he unmistakably heard Artimis screaming in agony and pain. Without a word to his startled students he dashed out the door towards her voice. What he saw frightened him beyond belief. Apparently without regard to herself, Artimis had wisped Alexis to the tub and now that Artimis felt Alexis was safe, she realized her pain. Alexis looked in disbelief at Artimis's blackened charred arms. Artimis screamed, even as she passed out. Snape picked her up in his arms holding her close without flinching and rushed to the Infirmary. She screamed the whole way even though she was unconscious. Madam Pomfrey was at the door when he entered. She tried to take Artimis from him but he simply walked past her and sat on a hospital bed, holding her. She still screamed but her putting her face in his chest muffled it. Madam Pomfrey quickly extracted a cream from her cabinets, and rushed over. Severus moved her arms so Poppy could put the salve on. Artimis's screaming ceased and she breathed a sigh of relief. Then she opened her eyes and looked up at him. In her eyes he saw a great suffering and below that a hint of adoration. Then her arms went rigid and her screaming returned but she quickly dove her head towards his chest, fighting every scream as it came but the pain was to great for her to overcome. He simply held her up and let her use him for what little strength he provided her. He watched as her arms began to heal. Then he realized, She saved my class, if the flames had heated the cauldrons, there would be twenty people in here. She didn't do it just for Alexis; she was saving everyone else as well. With that he leaned back and held the sleeping trembling figure close to him, silently thanking whoever had granted this child with some common sense.
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Lupin heard the yelling from about twenty students coming from the Potions classroom. He ran towards the door, just as Artimis ran out, holding a flaming green, cloaked body.
He skidded to a halt as he watched her run towards the bathroom shower stalls and bathtubs. He turned as he heard Snape running out the door, cloak less and looking as if he just got into a fight with You- Know -Who and barely escaping. He ran past a very confused Lupin without a second glance, following Artimis. Lupin checked the students then followed, reaching the bathroom doors again as Snape rushed out, holding a screaming Artimis. Trusting, Snape had in under control, he burst into the bathroom, seeing Alexis sit up in a filled bathtub, green flames slowly dancing and disappearing around her body, a look of complete horror and confusion on her face. Lupin stood stock still, at a total loss for words.
He knelt by the tub, looking into Alexis's eyes. "What happened?" he asked disbelief in his voice.
Alexis jumped at his voice as if she didn't even see him kneeling there. She remained silent, mouth slightly open and looking afraid. Lupin, not waiting any longer, put his hands on either side of the tub leaning down, only a foot away from her face. "What, happened." he asked again in a deathly calm voice.
She looked in his eyes and saw much of what she felt, though it was mostly concern for the two girls. There was also anger there, and Alexis was scared. Alexis swallowed and opened her mouth to speak, but she found she didn't know what to say. He waited silently, never taking his eyes away from hers. Finally, she squeaked in a lost kind of voice," I... I don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know. You were the cause of it."
Alexis expected him to yell this, but he remained oddly quietly, as if holding everything back. He strongly reminded her of an angry father scolding his daughter. Angry with her, but loving her just the same. It was a very strange feeling for her.
Alexis started shivering; for she still sat in the tub of freezing water and she was at a loss, scared of her own self. What did really happen?
Lupin watched the struggle-taking place through her eyes. He had to put her through this, had to find out what the hell had happened.
Alexis stared mutely back at him, her eyes dulling, and water dripping down her face.
Lupin put a hand on her shoulder, and shook her. "Alexis! Talk to me!"
She bolted up, Lupin jumping back; she flung off the cloaks and, tears brimming in her green eyes, rocketed over the side of the tub and sprinted out the bathroom.
Lupin, worried, quickly followed.
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Artimis felt a pain in her arms that she couldn't explain the cause, but she felt something odd. Then she automatically realized what it was. She was enveloped in a loose embrace. She knew she wasn't pressed up against the smaller form of Alexis, for this person was way larger than Artimis, but she knew it was not her father, because the person smelled differently and their chest was softer. She looked up and saw the last thing she ever expected to see. She was curled in the lap of and in the arms of Professor Snape and he had been sleeping, but now he looked at her with concern. Afraid of him pushing her away she preceded to do it for him, but when she moved her arms a wave of excruciating pain hit her and she nearly collapsed off the bed. Snape swiftly moved and caught her, placing her back in his lap as she felt drowsy and tried to go back to sleep. He whispered something and she fell into a deep sleep.
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Alexis ran on and on, not knowing where she was heading. She just knew she had to get away from everyone. She had already hurt her best friend, and she didn't want to be the cause of it again. Nor for anyone else. She realized she had been crying, and also that she was running across the bridge and towards the Forbidden Forest. The perfect place, no one will follow me there, and I hope Snape will keep hold of Artimis enough that she won't be following me. For her own safety.
She tried to keep running, trying to breathe, but her anger, fear, sorrow, and her race to leave had drained her of most of her energy. She slowed to a walk, gasping for breath and trying to think why this has happened to her.
Of all people, why me? I finally get accepted and now I get a trait that could kill everyone who comes near me!
She was walking briskly past the lakefront, heading for the dark trees, hoping to be swallowed up in the darkness. She argued with herself for leaving, but knowing it was the best thing to do.
Then, she halted, hearing a faint whisper. She looked around for the source but saw no one. Then she heard it again, a cold chuckle, whispering through her head. Soon, very soon, I'll have you... it echoed viciously.
"Leave me alone!'' Alexis cried out, tears streaming down her face as she gripped her head. It chuckled again, and then faded away.
She was at the edge of the trees, breathing heavily. She started walking into them, when a hand fell on her shoulder, spinning her around. She stared into the warm, confused face of Professor Lupin.
"Let go! I have to leave..." she struggled, choking on tears. Lupin held on, placing his other hand on her other shoulder. "No, you don't. It's not your fault. Whatever it is."
Alexis broke down and fell to her knees, exhausted and looking into the forest. Lupin pulled her to him and embraced her, closing his eyes.
Alexis curled up and sobbed into his robes, both kneeling in the grass. The Forbidden Forest leering down in all its malice.
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Artimis felt it, a jolt of pain and agony. Immediately she jumped up and landed back in Professor Snape's lap, making him exhale in pain. She got up yelling about Alexis leaving and needed to stop her and lots of things that made no sense. Suddenly Snape was up and holding her. She didn't understand it, why is he hugging me. Am I dead? Is this my heaven? Then pushing the thought and Snape away painfully, she turned summoning her wand to her. Then with great pain she looked to Snape, who nodded as she turned and ran towards the place her heart called her, The Forbidden Forest. She nearly forgot about her scorched arms until she tried to open the door to get outside. She yelled in severe pain and shoved the door open. Wincing as the cold assaulted her exposed skin, she prayed that transforming would allow her to move with less pain. So she stepped down the stairs and changed. She was once again Prancer, the onyx black horse with ivory mane and tail. The pain was lessened but still there as she stretched her legs. She ran in a few circles, and then she noticed a black shadow at the door. She walked toward Professor Snape lowering her head praying he understood. It took him a few minutes but he reluctantly raised himself and threw a leg over her back. This was not a normal sensation for her, she shuddered and then she took off. He grasp her silky mane and it felt weird, but she continued to push forward, willing her legs to carry them both to Alexis. They dashed madly off, her tail and his cloaks flowing behind them contrasting deeply.
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Lupin and Alexis remained in the embrace, Alexis gradually calming down. Lupin spoke in a quiet voice, eyes still closed, chin resting on her small head," We should leave. Let's go to the Infirmary. We can take it from there."
Alexis looked up, a look of terror on her face. "No, not there. Please. I don't want to see anyone else. I can't... Th, that's why I...I... I have to le, leave..."
"No, your not leaving, it'll make thing worse."
Alexis remained quiet, clutching his robes. He stood up carefully, shifting to get a better hold on Alexis's trembling form. "We'll go see Dumbledore then..."
"No, no one."
Lupin looked down at her in sympathy. He was totally lost. Alexis bursting into green flames, Snape and his look of extreme pain, and Alexis's comment to herself not to long ago... as if talking to someone in her own head. Lupin thought on it and thought it best to let her rest first, walking slowly back into Hogwarts.
Alexis tensed anxiously and asked fearfully," Where are we going?"
"You need to sleep. I'll let you rest in my quarters while I speak with Dumbledore... don't worry, I won't let anyone bother you."
Alexis relaxed, then whispered tiredly," Thank you."
Lupin smiled to himself and kept walking.
As they walked a black blur came towards them growing in size as it approach. Alexis recognized it as Prancer, but there was someone on her back, something she had adamantly demanded would never happen. Lupin looked on and gasps "No way! Alexis is that who I think it is?" Alexis looked and nodded. Artimis's horse form was almost upon them.
Lupin laughed, "Oh my, is that Snape on her?" Alexis looked again and nearly laughed. It was indeed a windswept Severus Snape on Artimis. Alexis clung to Lupin as they approached.
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Severus could not understand what had awoke Artimis so suddenly, but then again, the blinding pain of having a tall 13 yr olds full body weight crush his groin was not helping his thinking any. She stood abruptly, yelling about Alexis leaving and her needing to find her. Snape did the only thing he could think would calm the hysterical girl. He rushed and embraced her, something he had not much experience with. She froze in his arms and after a moment pushed him away. She put her back to him and summoned her wand, then turning to him she looked into his eyes and in that instant he glimpsed a love and determination in her eyes. He nodded to her and she rushed out of the room. He summoned the cloak he had had brought to him and followed. When she forced the door open in pain he wanted to help her, but knew it would truly be no help. Then he watched her transform, he watched agony fill her face as she stretched and ripped, becoming a fierce mustang. She ran in circles, obviously cause she had not shifted in a while and it would do no good to trip. Then he notices she had seen him. She walked to him and lowered her head. Surely she can't mean... She does... With that he walked to her side and lifted himself to her broad back feeling her shudder and readjust for his added weight. Then she took off and he braced himself, gripping her mane as she rushed to the quickly approaching Forbidden Forest. Damn I hate riding bareback... he thought as he saw two forms coming from the woods. Apparently Artimis had seen them too and increased her speed, but he could tell it hurt her beyond belief. He didn't know what was fueling Artimis, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he envied her for it. She whined as she reached them, stopping abruptly to the point of him almost falling off. He leapt off and she slowly shifted. The pain on her face was apparent during this change and he knew she would be a two-legger on her way back. Then she stood, looking to Alexis and ignoring her burned and scarred arms she dashed for her enveloping her in a hug as she cried into her hair. Alexis tried to pull away but Artimis just winced and held her close.
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Alexis struggled to pull away from her friend, but it was no use. Artimis held her in a death grip. Alexis was afraid to hurt her again, which was the reason she struggled so. But for some reason, she didn't feel that way around Lupin, it was very odd. It wasn't that she trusted him more, but she thought he understood her to some strange degree that she had no clue of. Gradually, Alexis stopped struggling, relaxing comfortingly in her friend's arms and starting to cry. She needed the hug from her, needed to know it was alright, that the pain didn't matter. Alexis continued to cry, now also not wanting to let go. She wanted to forget everything that happened, to start over again. But she knew that was impossible, so she continued to cling to Artimis.
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Artimis felt Alexis's internal struggle, having had the same battle with herself several nights before. She felt Alexis shudder and against all the pain, she remained, hugging her tightly, never wanting to let go. Then she too cried, the tears falling like unspoken fears. She knew that Alexis was going through the same thing she had gone through the night she attacked her. Artimis finally raised a aching arm and dried her friend's tears. "It's alright, I'm here, your not getting rid of me that easily," she cooed to her distraught friend noticing Alexis's eyes lingering on her arms. Alexis began to pull away from her. She simply grabbed Alexis's hand and placed it on her scarring arm. "Do you feel this? You did not do this, just like I did not attack you in the Infirmary. Do you understand? You did not do this. This happened because I love you enough to protect you. My foolishness did this, not you." Alexis looked at her with her green eyes full of gradual understanding. Alexis was silent and Artimis chuckled, sighing "I think I may have to be carried back to the castle I drained myself making sure I didn't lose you again." A slight giggle left Alexis lips as Artimis tried painfully to push herself up. Lupin reached out and absentmindedly grasped her arm. She yelled in prominent pain and Snape walked up, putting his hands under her arms and lifting her. Lupin helped Alexis up and Artimis tried walking but only succeeded in proving she was injured beyond what she was willing to admit. Snape sighing picked her up and she didn't flinch which Alexis found very, very odd. She clung to Lupin's side walking with him back to the school, still wishing to be back in the woods but knowing the bull-headed, no horse-headed, Slytherin would hear no such nonsense.