Chapter 2: Decisions
"You." She pointed to Ron.
"Me?" Ron squeaked.
"Yes, you. You seem well enough."
"Antonia, Mr. Weasley is still in his seventh year. Going into his NEWTS. He cannot spare this year if he is to become what he wants."
"I could teach him. I learned all this stuff from Mama and Papa years ago. Dumbledore, although this goes against all that I stand for. . . I am begging you to help me. We are overrun. Mama and Papa are too busy right now to help me. I could teach him the art of fighting. Or someone else, just someone, please!"'
"Ron, would you be willing?"
"To do what?"
"Antonia, tel him."
"Alright. Ronald, is it?"
"Ron."
"Ron, back home, in Transylvania, we had a problem two hundred years ago. His name was Count Dracula, and still roams to this day. He is immortal. He and a whole band of vampires live in a stream of castles of the west coast. I am a vampire slayer, as was my mother and father, and their ancestors before them. Since these new 'Death Eaters' are walking on my land, it is my responsibility to make sure everything is kept in order. I have reason to suspect that the men that came, are reasoning with the vampires, and are making them more lethal, but biting them and adding more to the population. The thing is, if we kill Dracula, everything that was made by him will also die. But, since he has so many minions, it is hard to even get a glimpse of him. I need someone to help me, and no one is willing. They are afraid. Will you help me?"
"I. . . uh. . don't know."
"You may talk this over with your parents, and your family and friends. Just remember, you won't be alone if you choose to go." She stood, waiting.
Ron's heart plummeted. "How can you make someone feel so guilty when it wasn't even their fault?"
"It's a gift." Antonia smirked.
"I'll talk to mum and dad." Ron announced.
"Great. I shall just floo home, and come back"-
"Antonia, whenever have I made you leave? You will stay with the Gryffindors, in their tower. There is an extra room there that's not used."
"She will?" Asked Harry.
"Yes, she will, Mr. Potter. Please, will you three show her to the Tower?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Uh. . ." Ron started, earning a stamp on the foot from Hermione. "We'd love too."
As they walked, no one spoke. The Golden Trio were a little intimidated by Antonia. She seemed so. . . mature for her age. Harry and Hermione left Ron to walk her to the room, and as she started to unload her weapons.
"So. . .Antonia?"
"Call me Tone. I hate my name."
"Okay, Tone. Why do you carry so many weapons?"
"One must be ready for battle at all costs back home. If you choose to come, I'll have to teach you."
"What would you teach me?"
"Oh, everything. Hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship skills, archery, dagger fighting, how to aim, how to kill a vampire, werewolf, you understand."
"All of that?"
"Yes." She propped her leg up on the dresser that was next to the wall to take the knives from them.
"What are they?"
"Why don't I just show you know?"
"That'd be good." Ron leaned against the doorframe.
"Okay." She took out the largest knife and opened it. "This is a knife."
"I noticed."
"They come in all different styles, these are for quick slashing, say like a claw or something similar to that. These. . ." She twisted her arms and loosened the ties on the sheaths on her arms. Ron watched amazed as two daggers met her hands, and she assumed a battle position. "are daggers. Good for if your sword is whisked away in battle." She put them on the dresser as well. "This is a pistol. It fires bullets, mine is usually filled with silver bullets, to kill a werewolf." It went on the table. "This is my sword, Gong." She clasped her fingers around the hilt, and unsheathed it, the blade ringing.
"You named it?"
"Everyone names their swords. It's tradition." She said plainly. The last was the club. "This is a club, you can do anything with this. Mine is made of silver, so I can hit it with a vampire or werewolf. For desperate measures, I once pounded meat with it. Very useful."
Ron laughed.
"Hey, when you're out in the wilderness you learn to work with what you've got. You don't sleep, since no one else is with you. You are always alert. It's terrifying to some people."
"To you?"
"No. It isn't." She turned, and went to the mirror. "Master Weasley, you speak as if you think what I do is easy. I will tell you, here and now, that my job is not an easy one. Here in this safe world, where you have cures and a working government is a happy place most of the time. Our city and country is on the rocks of rebellion."
"What you do just goes against everything I believe in."
"You believe in letting vampires and werewolves roam the land as pick of people as they go along?"
"No. One of my old professor's was a werewolf."
"Yes, but he uses the cure to make himself safe during transformation, correct?"
"Yes."
"We do not have that, Master Weasley. If you think we have not tried to reason and make peace, you are sadly mistaken. Our city revolves around death. It is and never has been a happy place to live."
"Then why don't you leave?"
"I cannot."
"Why?"
"It is complicated, Master Weasley."
"Try."
"I've lived there for as long as I can remember. Once you live somewhere for a long time, you can't just pick up and leave all the things behind. Not if things are wrong and you are desperately needed. It is just not done."
"I would've done it." Ron muttered.
"We all have our opinions, Master Weasley."
"My name is Ron." He corrected.
"Men at home are referred to as 'Master', Master Weasley. It is a habit." She closed the drawer she had been peering into sharply, startling him. "Deal with it."
I love that last line. I think it's hysterical.
Toodles. Cala