DISCLAIMER: I don't own hp or any of the characters.
Human
Human. Hu-man. Noun. A member of the genus Homo and especially of the species H. sapiens.
This is the dictionary's description of human, but is that really true? What depicts a human exactly? When one hears the word 'human', what does that mean? Does that make them real? Does that make the senses true? That everything tasted is truly there? That all smells have a distinct scent? That hearing remarkable sounds aren't fake? The sights seen by the human eyes aren't an invention of the brain? The soft touch of smooth, creamy fingers upon the skin isn't just a fantasy? Are they really there or are they figments of the human mind?
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She runs swiftly away from the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She hears her heart pumping in her ears but her footsteps even louder. Thump thump thump-thump-thump! She can't see what's in front of her, not that she cares at a time like this. Her nose is blocked from smelling the newly blooming flowers among the grasses below her feet. She feels numb' in other words, she can't feel her feet hit the Earth nor can she feel the emptiness within her heart but she knows it's there.
She runs into the forest not bothering to heed the warning of danger. She hears the sounds of the dark night, the hoots of owls and the howls of wolves and yet nothing seems frightening at all. She knows she's straying too far into the forest but that doesn't seem to faze her in the least. It's like she doesn't care.
Up ahead she notices a body of water, the school lake. She trips on a root that had conveniently grew up out of the ground. With scraps and gashes she trudges on. She stops at the lake's edge and drops unceremoniously to the muddy earth. Even though her clothes are stained with mud she doesn't care.
The sky is overcast and it begins to rain. Within minutes the rain drenches her and yet she still doesn't care. Her hair is plastered to her head. She begins to lose her body heat and shivers slightly but the shake never quite reaches inside. She is numb.
Her silent tears mix with the rain. She supports herself by leaning over the water with her hands clenched in the squelching mud. Her hair shades her face from everything around her. Her breathing, irregular from sprinting so hard and so far. Then a broken cry splits the long silence.
A letter passes through her mind. She can't dare to reread it in her mind. It will only make her cry harder. Only now does she dare to feel. An abyss, a deep dark, black hole is the result of a death. Her mother's.
She's done it. She remembered that her mother died. Recalling the letter only makes it worse. Reliving the feeling of misery of the knowledge that the letter contains only makes the fact true. She fights with herself. One side wishes to push it all aside and deny her mother's death. The other wishes to weep until the end of the world over her loss. No matter which she chooses she grieves the loss of her role model, of her hero.
She hears a twig snap behind her but she doesn't turn to see who it is. Nothing in the world matters but this devastation on her mind. She hears no footsteps so she assumes the person or thing hasn't moved. She's oblivious to the fact that the thing could hurt her. At this point in time her alertness is gone.
She hears hesitant footsteps towards her. The rain has not stopped and neither have her tears. Although now they are merely the trickling of salty water down her cheeks. Curiosity wants the better of her. She wants to know who or what it is. A thought comes to mind. It tells her what does it matter anymore? Her reason to live has vanished. The water works begin again; she wasn't able to say good bye.
The mud in her hands turn runny. Her appearance, she guesses, must be horrifying. Her ugly hair with scattered dirt clumps, her filthy skin, and her soiled clothing must be a terrifying sight. Suddenly she feels lightheaded. She brings her dingy hands to cradle her head before she loses consciousness.
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She knows she's awake. She feels the warmth of blankets covering her but they don't warm her soul. She hears the soothing breathing of another in the room. She doesn't want to wake up. She wishes to stay asleep. Reluctantly she cracks her eyes open. The first thing she sees is green. Green walls, green sheets, green, green, green.
She bolts up into a sitting position and takes in her surroundings. She's still wearing her muddy blouse and school skirt but they and her skin are cleaned up a bit. Her shoes are placed beside the bed neatly in addition to her jacket and stockings. The room is obviously well kept but foreign to her. At the edge of the bed she notices a head of brilliant blond and pale skin to match. Her face contorts into a confused and feared expression. She knows who it is, but why is she here? Why is she apparently in his bed? Was he the one who saved her in the forest?
She shoves back the covers to find two things. One, her left pointer finger is wrapped and in a splint. Second, her legs are covered in healing cream of a bluish tint. She looks more closely at where the cream is applied. Huge scraps and little gashes scar her tanish skin. Her toes look deathly pale as she assumes the rest of her does.
Her attention is brought back to the male sleeping in a slouching position alongside her. She has a sudden urge to reach out and run her fingers through his soft hair but she resists. He looks so peaceful while he sleeps, greatly contrasting from during the day. Speaking of day, Eos hasn't awoken yet. It's still dark outside so she thinks she has a chance of escaping his room before he wakes.
She tries to move but can't feel her legs. They feel paralyzed; she's unable to move. She begins to panic. What if he were to wake up and she was still there? What would he do? She couldn't take any of his taunts at the moment.
"You shouldn't move." A low voice growls at her. She turns her head towards the only other body in the room. His piercing steel eyes cause her to look away. They remind her of her mother's blue ones. Her mother. Only then does she realize the reality of her mother's death. Her guardian, her idol, her best friend, she is dead. She can feel the tears start to form but doesn't want to cry in front of him. It would only give him reason to taunt her, push her further below the surface of depression than she already is.
She hangs her head, purposely wanting her hair to veil her tear stained cheeks and her watery eyes. What catches her off guard is the nudge of two soft and slender fingers pushing her chin up. Obediently her head tilts to his touch. Her eyes again collide with his. Staring at those eyes of his frightens her. It's like gazing upon two cold pools of hard silver.
The sunlight from Aurora's rays bounce off his blonde locks creating a ring around his head. His skin is illuminated; it glows a crème sort of color. Fear, she is certain, lurks right on the surface of her features. She has no doubt that he knows its there. Yet, he does nothing. She tries to push away from him but he clasps her hands in his. She looks to their combined hands in confusion. She doesn't dare to glance into his eyes.
He opens his mouth many times. If she wasn't so melancholy or so puzzled she would have laughed at him for looking like a fish out of water.
"You're probably wondering why you're here aren't you?" he finally mutters. She nods. He slowly and waveringly releases her hands and rakes one of his free hands through his hair.
"You must also be thinking why you can't move your legs?" Again she shakes her head in agreement. He stands up and begins to pace the room.
"Do you remember? Do you remember last night?" he asks hesitantly. He waits for her answer. Once again she concurs. Obviously he's edgy about something for he combs through his fair hair a second time.
"You tripped," He looks at her, "when you blacked out somehow you were able to walk with my help but tripped. The fall was bad enough that I had to temporarily paralyze your legs…"
A long silence occurs. He has stopped pacing and just stands in the center of the room unsure of everything. Of what to do, what to say, everything.
"I suppose I could take the spell of huh?" he questions more of himself. He mumbles the counter-curse and immediately she regains feeling in both her legs.
Just like him, she is uncertain of what to say and do. She swings her feet over the bed and flexes her leg muscles. Of course they're stiff and sore but she figures that it's better than being broken. Meanwhile, he bows his head as he watches her movements.
"You know-" he starts to say but shakes his head, "nevermind." He shakes his head.
Slowly she sets her feet on the ground and tries to stand up. At first she's wobbly but becomes stable. Sadly as soon as she takes her first step, she stumbles and expects to hit the floor but doesn't. Her tightly shut eyes flutter open and is met by the sight of his feet. Recuperating her strength she attempts yet again to walk away.
No such luck. He doesn't let her go. There she stays, in his arms, which are tightly wrapped around her middle with her chest facing his.
"I'm sorry." Two simple words are enough to send her bawling. She clutches her arms close to her body and leans into his embrace. Her fingers grasp his shirt as she presses her face into his sculpted chest where she sobs, unable to contain the loss of her mother.
Unusually he brushes her hair with one of his hands as a gesture of comfort her while the other rubs her back in small, soothing circles. He hushes her quietly. Eventually her cries calm to a stop where she ends up hiccuping uncontrollably. He smiles a weak smile at this, which she sorrowfully returns as a means of thanks.
"You're human after all." She states in her cracked voice, "That's comforting to know."
Rizahawkeye21A/N: Hey! Wow, it's been awhile since I've updated. I had trouble with this rambling but I think it went ok. Longer than I expected that's for sure. It didn't end exactly how I wanted it so I may change it. In any case I hope you like it. Please review!