Chapter Seventeen---

Well, I'm GOING to try to post 16 and 17 pretty close together. You guys, sorry if this story sucks major, but hey, 'tis only my first fic. So sue me. I already have a much better idea for a story but I want to wait until I have about half of this one up. I also have the revised version of this up on if you need the link; just tell me on my xanga or here.

Read on my lovelies!—

Oh, I'm also going to fast forward a tad, ya know, to keep the story flowin' along nicely…

'Ahh…sleep is so good…Ow. Ow. Ow.'

"Ow! Hey! What the fuc—ow!" I rapidly swatted a fluffy object to the ground with a thud as it the foot of my bed.

"What in the hell…" I daintily picked up the now squawking owl hanging from my index finger and my thumb. "Serves you right you little bugger. What did you wake me up for?" I rubbed my abused left temple with my free hand. 'That's going to leave a mark.'

The owl screeched while freeing itself from my grasp and flying away, leaving behind a letter that bore a familiar wax seal on the back.

"What in God's name now?" I broke open the seal and pulled out the parchment.

Dearest Alexsis,

I noticed that you haven't replied to my letter in three days, so I just wanted to send this letter in worries that you didn't receive the previous letter. If you have received my letter, please, and I can't stress this enough, don't tell that bastard of a man Dumbledore. The crimes he has committed are utterly unfathomable.

So, if you get this letter reply quickly so I won't worry so much.

Missing you response,

Auntie Jenus

"Argh, enough of this.' I yanked open the drawer near my bed and grabbed the handful of letters sent by none other than my dear 'Auntie Jenus'.

It was now two weeks since she had sent the first letter, then not receiving my response, sent one every day reminding me of her original offer and how bad of a man Dumbledore was and still apparently is.

Grabbing my bag and forcing the letters in, I briskly left the dorm of heavy-sleeping girls and made my way towards Dumbledore's office. Stalking up the winding stairs, I rapped on the oak door, creating a dull pain in my knuckles.

"Yes? Alexsis what can I do for you this fine Tuesday morning?" A night cap adorned Dumbledore's bearded head as he was clad in sleeping robes and bunny slippers. My eyebrow rose at the sight of Dumbledore in such attire when I remembered that it was roughly around six thirty in the morning. 'Oops…'

"Sorry to have awakened you in the morning—" Dumbledore waved it off as nothing.

"I wasn't sleeping well anyways. Actually, I was having a particularly disturbing dream about giant bees and a wonderful tasting jar of honey…" He drifted off with a glazed look in his eye. We stood in an awkward silence; it wasn't until I cleared my throat unnecessarily loud did he wake from his reverie. "Right, anyway. What were you saying?" Dumbledore gave me his trademark amused smile.

I pulled out a wad of letters and set them on his desk. "Um…I've been getting these letters. Say they're from my 'Aunt Jenus'?" Dumbledore sighed and sifted through them skimming through them whilst doing so. He didn't speak for a while so I took that as my queue to continue. "They say not to tell you about them, but after the seventh on I tired of them quickly." He nodded sympathetically.

"Yes, I will take care of them. You can be assured that you won't receive another letter. If that's all, I will tend to these and you can catch up on some sleep or do some reading." He tilted his head towards me in the 'all-knowing-way' he does along with a grim smile lacing his wrinkled face making him look older than I remember.

What? Read up?

Wait, I have that one book…what was it…? Oh, um…'Deadly creatures: Feared by wizards and half-breeds alike'. Yup that's the one. (a/n: if you don't remember, go to chap.15 -)

I nodded and took my leave to go get said book.

'I don't want to read inside…' Using muscle I didn't know I had, I pushed open the front doors and headed outside for some reading and relaxation. "Although those clouds don't very welcoming." I stared up at the forming storm clouds above my head to see the many multitudes of gray rolling and swimming together into one huge mass.

I scanned my surroundings to find a good place to sit when my eyes came across this blooming dogwood. I placed the spine of the book carefully in my mouth as I began to climb the tree and find a comfortable place to sit. Scarce students wandered near this spot and for that I was relieved; at the moment it I wanted to just be alone, like how I wanted whenever I read.

A smell of musty oldness reeked from the book as I opened it, its pages yellow from use. I flipped over skipping the table of contents and dedication titles and settled on chapter one, Distinguishing Half-breeds from Full-blooded monsters.

It told about how to tell which are which, frequently giving examples like half-giants, werewolves, centaurs, and mer-people. Already knowing this I turned through a few chapters and stopped at one that caught my eye.

Dangerous Elves: Erians 'Keepers of the Sky'

'…Dangerous…wha-?' I crouched lower over the book, my head resting on my closed fist and my left hand holding the page from fluttering closed.

There are many varieties of elves, many thought to nice, welcoming creatures. But with every good comes a bad.

There are also quite a few races that dictate themselves back to common elves, them being the dark elves, ones who are not welcoming and feast upon other creatures. A few are such as: Nooks, Erians, and Fweshers; Erians being the most dangerous one can encounter.

Erians have been feared by wizards, pure and half-blooded, as well as half-breeds; half-breeds in particular. Erians have been known as 'Keepers of the Sky' simply because when in form, fly through the sky with watchful eyes to catch any prey that may fall under its gaze. They have the over powering desire for half-breed blood, hence the wary half-breeds. Half-breeds include werewolves, half-giants, mere-people, veela, centaurs, vampires, sirens, and leprechauns. There is no law against killing Erian—

The book continued to tell of gruesome stories of found half-breed carcasses supposedly killed by a rogue Erian and of Erian trialing that were immediately sentenced to death.

I couldn't stand reading the rest and vile burned the lining of my throat. I threw the book down to the ground as I jumped from the dogwood and rushed behind it.

Once the vomit was cleared of my mouth I went over to the book and picked it up, thoughts whirring about my head. I clenched the book with shaking hands as I stared down intensely at the cover. Raging thunder clouds roared before letting fall sheets of rain like a blanketing covering everything.

So this is what I am.

So this is what is to become of me.

This is what I become.

A monster.

Thoughts of paranoia spilled into my mind. They will come after me. They'll know what I am. And then I'll be executed.

The sky above me blackened as lightening cracked through the swift wind and more rain fell in a storm, covering me and the book with water, soaking through.

Suddenly, it was as if my soul was empty. Void of emotion, void of thought. And I stood there, eyes blank fixated upon the book in front of me just…staring at it.

Anger. Anger towards the book flowed through me like an electric bolt. It told me things I knew I wanted to know, but at the same time wanted to be kept from me.

I tucked the book away in the crook of my arm and headed towards the castle.

A/N

I know it's short and I know that it was late but eh. It happens. I'm tired, and I thought this was a good stopping place.

R&R!