The Sight
Chapter One
The rain fell in dense, gray sheets, blurring everything within three feet into oblivion. Verity Rasmussen started out of the window of her grandmothers' home as if mesmerized by the silvery droplets cascading down the glass pane. In her hand she clutched a crystal tear drop pendant. Her grandmother had given it to her minutes (or was it hours?) ago, making her promise to keep it safe and never give it up. As Verity had made the vow, her grandmother had squeezed her hand, and, closing her eyes, slipped away.
Tears now fell softly from Verity's sapphire eyes, echoing the weeping sky. First her parents and now her grandmother was gone. She didn't know what to do now, without any family, without anyone, really. As she lamented the loss of her beloved grandmother, she clutched the pendant more and more tightly, welcoming the pain it brought, for it meant that she could still feel. Even after her tragic loss, she could still feel, still love.
A fresh wave of grief washed over Verity, causing her to grasp the pendant even more tightly, and, with a gasp, she felt the stone cut into her hand. She opened her palm and stared in disbelief at the blood, bright red, shining on her palm. Then, as the blood mingled with the pendant, a curious sensation came over her. It was as if someone had grabbed her around the waist and pulled her straight into the air. The world was spinning madly around her, making her want to be sick-and then she was falling…
X X X
"He's done it! Harry Potter has caught the snitch! Gryffindor wins!"
A grin stole over Harry's face as he held the hand containing the snitch high over his head. A victory lap seemed to be in order, so he took off around the Quidditch pitch, reveling in the cheers of his fellow schoolmates (except the Slytherins, who were booing). He looked into the sky-and frowned. There was something up there, falling-and fast. A girl! Switching directions, Harry sped towards the falling girl and, with complete disregard to his own safety, grabbed her out of the air. The crowd was now gasping as Harry soared back to the ground and placed the dark haired girl tenderly on the grassy ground.
X X X
The room was dark, save for two distant lights. They looked to be candle flames. Verity tried to move towards them, but she felt as if she were moving in water. The harder she tried to move, the harder moving became. Panicking now, Verity fought, as if against invisible people. She had to make it to the light! Terrible things were going to happen…
X X X
"Who is she, do you think?" Ron Weasly asked to the room at large.
Harry and Hermione both shrugged. Madame Pomfrey just continued to examine her unconscious patient.
"Nothing seems to be broken." She concluded at last. "I can't seem to detect any internal injuries. It appears that she has simply fainted from shock.
As Madame Pomfrey made the pronouncement, the door opened and in walked Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall. Madame Pomfrey busted over to them, leaving the three teenagers with the mystery girl.
"That was quite the catch, anyway, Harry." Hermione finally said.
"Which one?" Ron asked wryly.
"Well, both, I guess."
They lapsed again into silence as they studied the girl laying on the bed.
She was…interesting, Harry finally concluded. Not pretty, exactly, but not bad looking, either. Long dark brown hair framed a pale, heart shaped face. Black lashes lay in crescents on her smooth cheeks and dark eyebrows added character to her face, like two decisive brushstrokes from an artist.
Suddenly, the girl began thrashing about violently, as if struggling attains unseen hands. Ron and Harry looked at each other wildly, not knowing what to do, as Hermione ran to bring the grown ups over.
And, as suddenly as it had started, it was over. The girl was laying, quit still, staring wide eyed up at everyone gathered around the bed.