By Adaia Swordmaiden
Disclaimer: Nope. Not mine. Bugger.
A/N: geez, I'm sorry for taking so long to update! At any rate, here's Guin's explanation. I'm sure you don't want to hear mine of why I haven't updated in so long…
Chapter 8: Explanations
"The simplest way to start this is to explain my mother," Guinivere started. "She wasn't a witch. She wasn't even human. She was a Selkie.
"Papa found her on the beach, in human form, seventeen years ago. She had been injured by a shark and come to shore to rest. As usual, she shed her skin upon reaching land. But she fell asleep and so Papa found her. He instantly fell in love with her. Hiding her skin and taking her to his house, he woke her and, within the month, married her. At first she searched at every chance she could get for her seal skin but, by the time a year had passed and she had found the skin, she had fallen in love with him too and so didn't return to the sea.
"About a year after that, I was born. Mama always had a bad feeling about leaving me on my own and so, after discussing it with Papa, they decided that I wouldn't be sent to a normal school when I was eleven but home tutored. So I grew up always being watched carefully by Mama.
"She and Papa never told me about my Selkie heritage. But very soon before I turned ten, a manticore appeared in the area. Mama was one of its first victims. She wasn't killed but very badly injured. She lived for 24 hours before dying in the local hospital. But that was long enough for her to tell me all about her being a Selkie and everything. She died on my tenth birthday.
"I didn't talk at all for over six months afterwards. I found her seal skin and found that I could don it and become a seal. So I often spent days on end out at sea. But even that didn't ease the pain. I even tried to drown myself but Uncle Albus found me in time. I made friends with the local merpeople and after a while I began to talk to them. Then I met Charlie. She was the first human I had talked to in a year. Then I turned eleven and I started being home tutored. But that was fine with me because then Charlie and I could do our schoolwork together. So from then up until the end of September, I was home schooled.
"Then, one night, I was out swimming with Mama's seal skin on. I went to shore and there was a man there. I didn't think that he'd be any trouble as Dendura is an all wizarding town. I said hello and asked him if he had come to see Papa. He didn't answer. Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind and the man grabbed Mama's seal skin. I tried to break free but they froze me with a hex. I was terrified. But then Uncle Albus turned up and saved me. The people managed to get away with Mama's seal skin but I was safe. Uncle Albus took me home and he and Papa decided that I should go to Hogwarts until they were positive that I was safe." Guinivere finally fell silent. She looked on the verge of tears but also relieved. Remus, Sirius and James were looking shocked, staring at her.
"Any questions?" Dumbledore asked, patting Guinivere on the back. Remus shook out of it.
"Why did they want the skin?" he asked.
"I only have a slight idea," Dumbledore said. "But I am afraid none of you, even Guinivere, can know right now." Guinivere rolled her eyes and they all, except Dumbledore broke into nervous laughter.
"Are you okay?" Remus asked Guinivere. She nodded.
"I'm actually glad that I don't have to hide it from everyone now," she said. "Uncle Albus isn't always the best one to talk to about it." Dumbledore, in a very childish gesture, stuck out his tongue at her. She replied with the same.
"Now, I must ask you to tell absolutely no-one else about what you have just heard," Dumbledore said to the three boys. They nodded, perfectly serious. "Now, off you go and no more saving people who have fallen through the ice." This last part was aimed at Guinivere who rolled her eyes and made for the door. Remus, Sirius and James also headed for the door. Once outside, Guinivere avoided their glances as the stairs moved back down.
"What's wrong?" James finally asked.
"You guys are alright with it?" she asked, not looking at them.
"Alright with what?" Sirius shot back.
"With me being…not human. I'm a half selkie witch. I'm practically a different species." Remus let out a short bark of laughter.
"You're just as human as I am. Just because you're different than most witches and wizards doesn't mean that you're a freak. I should know," he said, slightly bitterly. She looked strangely at him.
"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
"I'm a werewolf," Remus said. Guinivere stared at him.
"So you were-" Suddenly she smiled. "Well at least I know it's safe to go out to see Murcus every other night."
"Who is Murcus?" Sirius asked as they walked out of the stairwell. The gargoyle slid closed behind them.
"She's a mermaid," Guinivere said as calmly as if she was talking about an essay due the next week. "Her father's the Chief of the Merpeople in the lake."
"There're merpeople in the lake?" James exclaimed.
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Guinivere glanced at the Hogsmeade notice, scanning it, before going on up to the girls' dormitory.
"Guin!" Lily exclaimed. "Did you really fall in the lake?" Guinivere couldn't help it. She laughed.
"Yes," she laughed. "But it was deliberate. I melted the ice beneath me."
"Are you crazy? You melted the ice and jumped in?"
"Well what else was I supposed to do? That girl nearly died! Sirius and Jason wouldn't have gotten there in time!" Guinivere was getting agitated. Lily was a little taken aback.
"What girl?" With a sigh, Guinivere began to relate what had happened at the lake.
"Happy?" Guinivere finished.
"No but I take back what I said about you being crazy. You're crazy and brave. You're a true Gryffindor." They laughed.
"So, you going to Hogsmeade? They're a bit late in putting up the sign, aren't they?" Lily nodded.
"Yeah, I'm going. Vanessa and Alice aren't coming either. I dunno about Vanessa but I think I heard that Frank Longbottom isn't going either. Hope Alice has fun." They laughed again.
A/N: well there you have it - she's a half-selkie. Anyway, you'll have to wait a while to find out the reason why she's in danger. Btw, does anyone know what month school finishes at Hogwarts? And also, I'm having trouble passing the time between events. Suggestions are welcome.
Metamorphmagusgirl: heh, what were you gonna say? it doesn't really matter now!
IamSiriusgrl: glad ya like it.
Hippielover459: there, updated. happy? heh.
Fk306 animelover: another to-the-point reviewer! heh.
And downright thanks and cookies to you all!