A/N: This chapter is written and dedicated to the remembrance of September 11. To those who have lost loved ones, our prayers are with you. America is a strong and powerful nation, we may have been shaken, but we will not be defeated.
~Kandimoon
Chapter Nine
"The Earth is in tune to all elements and all living creatures. It keeps nature in balance and gives life or takes life away. She nurtures and provides, she's wise and strong and motherly." Hermione read as she sat down in the nearly deserted Gryffindor Common room. The only other person was a small blonde haired first year girl working on an assignment on the other side of the room.
"My powers are wisdom, but can I also tune into Earth and its creatures?" She thought to herself. "It would require a powerful spell and a great amount of energy to try, I would need Ginny's help to make sure nothing went wrong during the ritual."
"Hermione, you are reading way too much these days," a voice called from behind her; not expecting the noise she jumped slightly in her chair. She turned to face her two best guy friends.
"Are you coming to Hogsmeade with us this time? You didn't go last trip, you could really use a Butterbeer." Harry stated.
"You know what, I think I will. Just let me get my cloak, I'll be back down in a minute." Hermione told her friends as she got up to leave the room.
"She's acting really unusual lately." Ron announced as soon as she was out of hearing range.
"I know what you mean. Ginny's been acting odd too. It almost seems as if they're keeping something from us, but Hermione never keeps anything from us, not since fourth year and that surprise with Victor Krumm." Harrry replied.
"Do you think it could be…"
"Are you ready to go?" Hermione cut Ron off in mid sentence, both boys nodded in agreement and the trio headed out of the portrait and to the carriages with the other students.
Ginny watched the three leave Hogwarts from her window up in Gryffindor Tower. Wishing forlornly that she could join them, she turned back to her opened book and continued her reading.
"Fire has the ability to cause great destruction, or to save lives. Given to the mortals by the Goddess Fire herself, humans have used it for cooking, for warmth, and to destroy. Controlling the power of Fire takes great mental concentration and dedication." Ginny read from the book she found in the restricted section earlier that day.
'If I can control my power, then I will be tempted to use it for evil.' She thought to herself.
Four candles burned in a circle around her, each marked by a specific element and placed at its rightful spot. Holding her staff in her right hand, she turned towards the southern candle marked with the symbol for fire. She tightened her grasp on the staff and closed her eyes in deep concentration.
"Goddess of Fire, powerful flame of light, by my will and my desire, this candle now I light tonight." She chanted lowly and threw her hand and staff out towards the candle. A small spark but nothing more was her saddened result.
She closed her eyes again and reached deep within herself, "Goddess of Fire, powerful flame of light, by my will and my desire, this candle now I light tonight." She chanted again, this time without her staff, she threw her hands towards the red candle. It sparked once then burst into a brilliant flame.
"The power comes from inside you, not from objects, they only direct your magic when needed." A voice replied from the shadowy window. Seconds later the dragon from before walked into small patch of sunlight that peeked through the drawn curtains.
"How will I know when to use the staff and when to use my hands?" She asked the small dragon.
"You will know, you will feel it, in time. You must work on your meditation and concentration, your mind will know when to use such techniques."
"Why have you come?" Ginny asked in a slightly timid manner.
"I have come to warn you, and to help you. The Goddess Fire sends you a message, young flame. To Water, Fire is easily drawn, but to Fire, Water is forcefully sent."
"I do not understand what the message is saying."
"You will in time, young flame, but for now I have helpful advice. To gain knowledge of your powers look only to the power of your inner voice."
"You mean to go into a deep meditation? Is that not dangerous, I'm still learning."
"She will protect you. Always."
The dark dragon left seconds later, just leaping out of the open window and taking flight. 'Odd, though' Ginny thought to herself, 'No one else seems to notice him.'
She turned back towards the three unlit candles and repeated the chant from before. After her circle was burning brightly, she knelt as if in prayer and closed her eyes tight. Her body slowly felt like it was floating, possibly on a river of clouds, all billowy and soft and relaxing. She felt as if she were in a trance of some sort, possibly a coma, for her physical body seemed so far away from her. Suddenly an image formed, she was standing by her cliffs again, wearing her traditional robes and cloak.
"You are fearful, daughter." A voice called from behind her. Ginny turned around quickly and looked at the beautiful woman in front of her. Red hair flowed down her back like a waterfall, smokey eyes focused intently on her, a dress of crushed red velvet clung to her thin body in a Medieval style cut, red cloak perched high on her shoulders.
"Am I dreaming?" Ginny asked the woman timidly.
"No daughter, you are not dreaming. You are awake but not awake, dreaming is often unsteady and unstable, you will remember everything when you leave this place."
"Why am I always drawn here? My cliffs, are they important?"
"So many questions my child. You are drawn here because it is your elemental place. Let me explain, Earth is drawn to the beauty of the forests, the freedom and protectiveness of them. Air to open fields, where she can fly swift and free. Water is drawn to the ocean below, which is why you have your cliffs. They were once my favorite place to go to, but for you it's an inner need. Your cliffs border the ocean, and the forest, you are standing in the middle of waging battle, Water is drawn to you, so the waves will crash high, the forests will call out your name to join them, the fields beyond the forest will blow and whisper your name. Your decisions will not be easy to make, daughter."
"I know, but I need to know how I can help, what other powers I have."
"First and foremost daughter, you control the flame, the very heat and power of it. You can start it and you can take it away, you do not need such chants or magic tricks, just reach deep within yourself and with time you will accomplish it. Your mind and concentration are your most powerful aspects within you, because of such depth, your mind can expand to others, can listen and hear."
"You mean I'm a telepath?" Ginny asked amazed.
"You can pick up traces of thoughts and fragments of images, however, though they can communicate with you through mind, they cannot communicate with each other. You are the one, your mind, they can respond in thought but they can only respond to you."
"Your words confuse me. Do you mean that I can talk to them, and they can answer back to me, but people can't talk to each other, just me?"
"Yes child, that is exactly what I mean. Now that you have learned your talents, refine them, tune them, practice and cherish them. If ever you need me, just come here, I will find you."
"Thank you, for everything."
"You are much welcomed my child, my beautiful daughter."
Ginny awakened from her trance feeling very much alive and excited. She felt as if she had just won first place in a race and was pumped full of adrenaline. Thinking back to her 'dream', Ginny took the woman's advice and started practicing her techniques, expanding her mind towards others, refining her power of flame.
"Thank you again, Fire Goddess."
"The Goddess has spoken with her." The voice told their companion.
"She knows her powers." The companion replied.
"And you? Do you know yours?" The first voice asked sneeringly.
"I have always known my power, fool. It was taught to me since I was a child." The second angrily replied.
"And what good will they do you now? He doesn't want your power you know."
"I know what he wants, what about yours?"
"What about me?"
"Your power you fool."
"I know my talents."
"And will you use them?"
"I will get my revenge, with or without them."
"Will you join?"
"I would never follow such filth."
"Then you'll die, just like the rest of us."
"I do not care about anyone else but myself, and it will stay that way." The first voice replied with biting hate. He stalked off in anger, golden cloak billowing around him.
"You will join, Air, it is in your genes." Water replied aloud to himself as he turned to walk back to his dormitory.
A/N: Well? Like or Hate? I kinda rushed this chapter cause I have loads of work to do, so if there's any mistakes, I'm sorry. Can't wait to read all the great reviews I hope to get! (hint hint)