Chapter 6
Days after Neon Genesis: Goddess R
Constantine peered around the corner.
"Well?" came a voice behind him.
Constantine glanced back at his wife.
"Well what?"
Angela crossed her arms and glared.
"Is it safe to step out of the bedroom?" she shook her head, "I swear, you've become very paranoid."
"Well excuse me." Constantine grumbled, "But I'm still a bit concerned about your safety."
"My safety? John, the entire WORLD was plunged into darkness."
"I'm not married to the world now am I?"
Angela frowned.
"Does this have anything to do with that mysterious phone call you got a week ago? When the world was in darkness?"
Constantine shifted slightly.
"Maybe." He answered.
Angela crossed her arms.
"Well?"
"It was Ellie."
Angela raised an eyebrow. "Your ex-girlfriend slash demon?"
Constantine shifted his feet.
"Well, yeah."
"And what did she want?"
Constantine pointed up.
"The Darkness was the result of the Fall of Heaven."
Angela blinked.
"What?"
"Apparently," Constantine explained, "About half the Demons in Hell decided to invade the Heavens against the Queen's orders."
"Mammon?"
"No."
"Mana?"
"Now you're being silly." Constantine muttered, "That girl……"
Angela raised an eyebrow again.
"Yes?" she asked curiously.
"Never mind." He knew what she was trying to get him to say. He had decided not long after meeting the half demon that she wasn't all that bad. But he wasn't about to share that with Angela. She'd only say 'I told you so'.
"So Heaven was taken over by Demons." Angela said, urging her husband to continue.
"Yeah." Constantine said, "A few gods and goddesses escaped. Last word Ellie had, they were going to retake Heaven, alongside the demon's loyal to the Queen."
"So what does that have to do with us?"
"Ellie was afraid that some of the Rogue Demons would come after me."
Angela pointed to the sky.
"The sun is back though. Doesn't that mean they won and the Rogue Demons are defeated?"
Constantine shrugged.
"Better safe then sorry."
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The alley was like typical alleys, dark, damp, and full of trash. It also contained a homeless person, snoring in an old TV box. All in all, it was rather peaceful.
That peace was shattered as a breeze began to blow through the alley. The breeze became a strong wind, scattering trash about the alley. It soon became strong enough to blow the box the homeless man was sleeping in over.
"What the hell!" he shouted as he looked around.
The wind whipped around the alley, creating a small tornado of debris. Then with a roar, flames shot out of the asphalt. The Homeless man rose to his feet, watching the flames dance skyward. Then just as quickly as they appeared, they vanished, leaving behind a woman with long black hair in black leather with a cape.
"Uhh Miss?" the Homeless man asked, "Are you ok?"
The woman looked up. The man took a step back. Red eyes and facial markings glowed brightly, her eyes staring back at him. She raised her hand out. An energy bolt slammed into the Homeless man, slamming him hard against the alley wall. The man's body gave, the wall didn't.
She then turned and looked around the alley. She then closed her eyes. When she reopened them, she took off down the alley, leaving the shattered mortal body in her wake.
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"Did you feel that?"
Constantine looked up from the morning paper.
"Feel what?" he asked.
Angela frowned. "I'm not sure. It felt……well…like Darkness."
"It's New York." Constantine said, "It has Yankee fans. Of course it's dark."
"No." Angela said, shaking her head. "This was more……. spiritual."
Constantine frowned, then closed his eyes and reached out with his psychic feelers. Like Angela had said, there was a Darkness out there, just at the edge of his senses.
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The woman paused in her tracks, annoying several people walking behind her. She turned her head slightly. Something was reaching out to her………
Something not of Heaven nor of Hell.
Within a moment, she knew exactly what and who it was. She reached back and squeezed.
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Constantine stared at the Darkness a moment, trying to identify it. Then red eyes appeared, staring right back at him. Above the eyes appeared two red slash marks, with more markings below each eye. Constantine realized what they were just as something seized him through the psychic link.
"I see you……" came a very evil voice.
With a yell, Constantine pulled back his feelers and closed the psychic link. In doing so he fell backwards in his chair. Angela was by his side in seconds.
"John!" she shouted, "Are you alright? What was it?"
Constantine shook his head.
"A Demon." He said.
"A Demon?" Angela repeated, "But Ellie and Balthazar never felt like that. Not even Mammon…….."
"Not one of those." Constantine replied, rising to his feet. He started towards the back room where he kept his Exorcist supplies. "One of the others."
"Others?" Angela repeated. Her eyes went wide. "Like Mana?"
"Yes." Constantine said. He opened a box and pulled out his holy shotgun. "But this isn't Mana. She's at least double in strength."
"By why would she…" Angela began to ask, "Never mind, dumb question."
Constantine quickly grabbed several bottles of Holy water as well as several other Holy Relics he owned. He slammed a clip into the shotgun and cocked it.
"Better get ready honey." He said, "Our guest will be arriving soon."
Angela nodded and hurried back to their bedroom. She returned a moment later, shoving a necklace into her shirt before grabbing her handgun and several other items.
Constantine frowned slightly. He knew of only one necklace that Angela wore and that had her crucifix. She never took it off. Unfortunately, before he could ask about it, he heard a loud crash and shouting from the street.
"Damn Demons." He muttered, "Always arrive early."
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The Demoness walked over the shattered door to the apartment building and past the bleeding bodies on the ground. She glanced for a moment at the stairs, before turning to the elevators. With a wave of her hand and the doors parted, revealing an empty shaft.
The Demoness stepped out over the shaft and floated there a moment.
"Going up." She muttered as the doors closed. She then began to rise within the shaft.
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Constantine peered out of the apartment doorway towards the stairs. The apartment door was just barely cracked open. Theoretically, the Demon wouldn't be able to see them.
Theoretically.
The elevator behind him then let out a ding. Constantine frowned and moved to look back up the hall towards the elevators. The doors of the elevator suddenly blew out and slammed into the wall across from them, causing Constantine to jump.
The Demoness stepped into view then. Like Mana, this Demoness wore black leather and a large flowing skirt over what looked like steel toe boots. Completing the image was the standard black cape. Unlike Mana, this Demoness had long black hair.
She strode down the hall, walking past the door Constantine stood behind, her cape fluttering behind her. She paused in front of an apartment door.
That door seemed to bend inward a moment before shattering into pieces. She then entered the apartment.
"Told you we needed a second apartment." Constantine muttered softly.
"Did I argue?" Angela asked, "What now?"
"Well, she should be finding the surprise right about….."
The sound of splashing water and a shout of surprise came from the apartment the Demoness had entered.
"….now." Constantine finished. "If everything works right, she'll be down and….."
The entire building shuddered. Smoke began to fill the hall. It's source was the Constantine's apartment.
"Ok," Constantine muttered, "It didn't work right."
The Demoness stepped back into the hall. She turned her head, looking back and forth, apparently trying to determine where her prey went. She started heading further up the hall.
"What now?" Angela asked.
"We get to the roof." Constantine replied.
"Why the roof?"
"Fire escape. Runs right down to the street." He looked back into the hall. It was empty. "Now go."
The two opened the door and started towards the stairs. Other people were now entering the hallway, trying to figure out where the smoke was coming from. Constantine was almost at the door when he spotted the Demoness coming out of another apartment.
Their eyes locked on each other. Constantine noted that she was still covered in Holy Water. The Demoness hesitated only a moment, her eyes going wide with glee. This glee vanished when Constantine raised his Holy Shotgun and fired two quick rounds. He didn't even wait to see the result, pushing Angela immediately into the stairwell. He'd barely entered when the wall beside him shattered as an energy bolt hit it.
Husband and wife ran up the stairs. As they ran, they tossed a few bottles of holy water behind them. The bottles shattered on the stairs, coating them in the holy fluid. Reaching the top, Constantine lowered his shoulder and slammed into the roof door. The door crashed into the wall as Constantine and Angela stepped out onto the roof.
"There!" Constantine pointed towards the railing for the fire escape. They started to run for it when an explosion tossed them to the gravel.
Constantine rolled over to see the Demoness now standing on the roof top, slowly walking towards him.
"So…." She said, "The Great Constantine lays at my feet. Get ready mortal, for soon you shall meet the Lord of Darkness himself. And I shall return to the Queen's good graces."
"Isn't that kind of impossible?" Constantine asked, "I mean, does the Queen of Hell have good graces?"
The Demoness frowned for a moment. Constantine used that moment to fire off several shots from the Holy Shot gun.
None of the shots hit. Each slammed into a red shield before striking the Demoness.
"Is that the best you can do?" the Demoness asked.
"Well there is this." Angela's voice came.
The Demoness turned just in time to see something small, white, and furry hurtling towards her. It slammed into her. Almost immediately sparks spat off of the Demoness. Her eyes went wide as she screamed in pain. Lightning flickered over her body as if she was being electrocuted.
"Come on John!" Angela shouted as she ran for the fire escape.
Constantine stared at the shrieking Demoness. Whatever Angela had thrown had finally landed on the gravel. The Demoness followed a moment later, sparks and smoke wafting off of her body. The two raced down the fire escape. The Demoness raised her head and dragged herself to the roof edge. Looking down she watched as Constantine and Angela hit the street and vanished into the crowds.
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"What did you throw at her?" Constantine demanded as they walked quickly through the crowds.
"Lucky Rabbit's foot." Angela replied.
"Please tell me you're kidding."
"Nope."
"How did you know?"
"Mana." Angela said, "She told me that most, if not all the High Level Demons react badly to Lucky Charms and such. So……"
Constantine shook his head.
"Saved by a dead rabbit."
"The problem is that was my only one."
"It should be alright. We seem to have….." Constantine's voice trailed off.
"It's her isn't it." Angela asked, feeling the same thing her husband was.
Constantine ignored her question and pulled her down another street. They were walking very fast now, despite the other pedestrians.
"She's getting closer John." Angela said.
Constantine took a chance and glanced behind them. He couldn't see anything but the crowds of people. Then he caught sight of movement above the crowds. It was a slight haze, or shadow, like something was there, but wasn't. It seemed to be moving from street lamp to street lamp, keeping pace with them. One street lamp actually snapped and fell. People around it shouted and looked up and around.
But none could see the shadow, even though they were looking right at it.
Constantine felt his stomach lurch. The shadow was the Demoness. And she was still after them.
"Move faster." He muttered.
"It is her, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"What are we going to do?" Angela asked, "We can't run forever."
Constantine looked ahead. They were approaching an Alley.
"I'm going into the Alley." Constantine said, "You keep moving."
Angela stared at her husband.
"Are you crazy?" she asked, "She'll go right after you."
"That's what I'm counting on." Constantine said.
"But John…."
"No buts Angela." He said softly, "You keep going."
He gave her a quick kiss, then vanished into the Alley. Angela stopped in the sidewalk, staring at where her husband had just gone. A pedestrian behind her didn't notice that she'd stopped and slammed into her, sending her tumbling to the ground.
He offered an apology, but kept moving. Angela lay on the sidewalk a moment. She felt a dark presence move over her. She knew the Demon had passed her by, going right after her husband. As she started to rise, she noticed that the necklace she'd picked up at the apartment before they'd left had come out from under her shirt. She stared a moment at the stone and the rune inscribed upon it. She quickly grabbed it into her hand and held it tightly.
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Constantine stood patiently in the alley. He was now far from the street and Angela. Thus no one would be hurt in the battle he knew was about to occur. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a stick of gum.
"Knew I never should have quit smoking." He grumbled as he put the stick in his mouth and began to chew.
Then he felt it.
The alley seemed to grow colder and a bit darker. He looked around. The shadows were definitely growing longer, but of the Demoness, there was no sign.
Constantine pulled his sleeves up, revealing the conjuring tattoos that covered his forearms. He then slammed them together as he shouted.
"INTO THE LIGHT I COMMAND THEE!"
Something fought against him, trying to separate the tattoos.
"INTO THE LIGHT I COMMAND THEE!"
With a roar as the spell shattered, the Demoness appeared in the alley. She shielded her face with her arms as the darkness that had hidden her was blown away. Her arms were lowered a moment later, allowing her to glare at him with bright red eyes.
"Hi," Constantine said as he raised the holy shotgun, "I don't believe we've met. I'm John."
"You're dead!" the Demoness replied. She raised her hand and sent an energy bolt hurtling towards Constantine.
Constantine moved out of the way. The bolt ripped through his coat just as he opened fire on the Demoness with the shotgun. As he expected, a red shield flared up, blocking the shells.
"You know, I might be mistaken." Constantine said as he and the Demoness slowly circled each other. "But I thought you Demons weren't allowed to directly kill anyone. Especially you High Level types."
"Times change." The Demoness stated, her eyes narrowing.
Constantine nodded his head.
"So I'm guessing by what you said before, you're one of those rogue Demons."
The Demoness didn't reply.
"So how does it feel to get your ass kicked by not only Heaven, but by Hell too?"
The Demoness hissed at Constantine and flung out another energy bolt. Constantine ducked the bolt, and tossed a bottle of Holy Water at the Demoness. The Holy Water had little effect on the Demoness, only making her wet and more annoyed. Constantine had already decided that the Holy Relics he was carrying probably wouldn't help him either. His only weapon really was the shotgun, but unless he could get a shell past the Demoness' shield, the gun was only good for a distraction.
That's when he felt the pulse.
It came from somewhere towards the street. It was like a pebble being dropped into a lake, creating ripples. Only these ripples were full of darkness.
The surprising thing was that the Demoness seemed distracted by the pulse as well. Constantine used this distraction to fire off several more shots.
Again, the Demoness' shield flared into existence. She responded by hurtling an energy bolt at Constantine. This time he couldn't get out of the way. Instead, he moved the shotgun in front of it. The bolt shattered the gun in a powerful blast, sending Constantine flying into the alley wall.
He lay there stunned, holding the remains of the Holy Shotgun in his hands. The Demoness smiled.
"Now Exorcist," she said, "The Dark Lord awaits you……"
She sent forth another Energy Bolt. Constantine couldn't move, and could only watch it move closer. It was just a foot away when a red shield flared in front of him, blocking the bolt.
"WHAT!" the Demoness shrieked.
Then something burst out of a nearby shadow and slammed into the Demoness. The two figures tumbled a moment, before there was a violent explosion, sending both figures flying away from each other. The new figure leaped to her feet quickly, revealing her face to Constantine.
It was Mana, her eyes and demon markings flashing a brilliant red.
"Anyone tell you that you suck Proserpine?" Mana asked the other Demoness.
"Half-breed." Proserpine snarled, "You have brought about Hell's downfall!"
"You did that when you and the others attacked Heaven." Mana replied, "We only restored the balance."
"We had Heaven in our control!" Proserpine screamed, "We had control of the Universe! We had won!"
"No." Mana stated, "We didn't. For without the Light, there can be no Darkness."
"You're wrong!" Proserpine screamed. She pulled out a sword and charged at Mana.
Mana blocked Proserpine's attack and the two began to fight, the sound of sword's crashing together echoed throughout the alley.
Constantine watched the two Demons fight each other as he slowly backed away towards the street. As he watched though, he began to realize something.
Both Demons weren't holding back. They were out for blood.
"John!"
Constantine looked behind him to see Angela running to him. She fell to her knees beside him. He pointed to Mana.
"How'd she get here?" he asked.
"Don't be mad." Angela said. She held up the necklace with the stone and carved rune. Constantine recognized it from when they had first met Mana.
"That's her mark." Constantine said.
Angela nodded. "I held on to it just in case. Somehow…..I called her."
"You summoned a Demon?" Constantine asked.
"Well….yes….."
Constantine's mind reeled at the possible implications.
"What did you offer her?" he asked, "You're soul? My soul? What?"
Angela shrugged. "I actually didn't have a chance to speak with her. I just felt another Demon going into the alley and recognized her presence."
A crash and a shout brought Constantine back to the Demon fight. Both Demons looked particularly battered, but Proserpine seemed to have lost. Her sword lay several feet away from her and she was clutching her side. Mana stared at the other Demoness, breathing heavily and holding her sword at the ready.
Proserpine backed away several steps into the shadows.
"Another time…." She said just as she completely vanished into the darkness.
The alley grew brighter and things returned to the way they had been. Mana put away her sword and walked over. Her markings vanished and her eyes returned to green as she knelt beside Constantine.
"There is a vast difference," she began, "between fighting a Low Level Demon and a Demoness First class. Don't you agree?"
"First Class?" Constantine asked.
"She had enough power to vaporize the planet." Mana stated.
"Why didn't she?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Mana held out her hand and helped Constantine to his feet. "I'm impressed you lasted that long against her."
"Thanks." Constantine looked back to the spot where Proserpine vanished. "Will she return?"
Mana looked at the spot as well.
"I don't know." She said, "She's on the run, along with several hundred others."
"Several hundred?" Angela repeated in shock.
Mana nodded. "They are the survivors from the Rogue's that attacked and controlled Heaven. They ran when their leader and most of their forces were killed."
"Killed?" Constantine asked, "What about the Doublet system?"
"Gone." Mana murmured, "Many Demons now lay dead, as do many Gods." She looked back at Constantine. "This will probably be good for you. With Hell that depleted, you'll most likely be forgotten, except by him."
"Suppose Proserpine comes back?" Constantine asked, "Or some other Demon?"
"Like I said, it probably isn't likely." Mana sighed, "Personal survival takes precedence over everything else to a Demon. They're more worried about their own skins then anything else." Mana looked at the two mortals. "Since she knows you can contact me, she probably won't be coming back."
"I suppose I should say thanks." Constantine said after a moment.
Mana smirked. "How much did that cost you to say?"
"You have no idea." Constantine then glanced at Angela. She was still fingering the necklace. He looked back at Mana. "Now what did it cost us?"
Mana blinked and looked at him confused.
"Cost?" she asked.
"Summoning you." Constantine replied, "There has to be some price for summoning a Demon like you."
"I'm not a normal Demon though." Mana said.
"True."
Mana waved her hand in dismissal.
"No cost." She then looked at the two mortals. "Should Proserpine or any other Demon come near you, don't hesitate to call again."
"I won't." Angela replied, "Regardless how good John thinks he is, this is out of his league."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence Honey………" Constantine murmured.
Mana chuckled and started off down the Alley.
"Where are you going?" Angela asked, "Couldn't stay for a bit?"
"There are a bunch of Rogue Demons out there." Mana stated, "Right now they don't have a thing in this world to fear. I'm going to give them something to fear." She then turned and vanished.
"Somehow I find that rather comforting." Constantine murmured.
"Oh do you?" Angela asked.
"Yeah."
The two turned and headed out of the alley. Constantine paused and looked back.
"Good luck Mana." He said.
'Thanks John.' Came her reply in his head.
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PREVIEW: Harry Potter and the Demonic Fate
It seemed like an hour later when Ron and Hermione finally turned up.
"Oi!" Ron said, "There you are Harry. You won't believe this but Crabbe and Goyle are…" he paused when he spotted Parkinson. Almost immediately his wand was out and pointed at the Slytherin.
"What's she doing here!" Ron shouted.
"What's who doing…..?" Hermione asked, peering over Ron's shoulder. Her eyes widened at the sight of Parkinson.
"She is reading a book." Harry stated simply.
"She's also a lot quieter then you." Ginny grumbled from where she was leaning against Harry. She glared at her brother. "Now either leave, or sit down and shut up."
"What!" Ron shouted, his face turning red.
"Careful Weasley." Parkinson said, not even bothering to look up from her book. "You don't want to wake up the Professor. She can be really crabby when she wakes up."
"I'll talk the way…" Ron began before Hermione put her hand over his mouth and pointed at the snoring lump seated beside Ginny.
"Who is it?" Hermione asked, "Is it Professor Lupin?"
"No." Harry replied, "It's Kirishima." He looked over at Parkinson. "Or so she says."
"It is Kirishima." Parkinson said, looking at Harry. "And I was telling the truth about her being crabby when awakened."
Harry nodded, then turned back to Hermione and Ron. Both were still staring at the Slytherin.
"What about Crabbe and Goyle?" he asked.
Ron glared at Parkinson as he and Hermione sat on the same bench as her, though they kept as much distance from her as they could.
"Well," Ron said, "Those two lunkheads were wondering around the end of this car, mumbling to each other."
"Something about how they were supposed to get someone," Hermione added, "But they couldn't remember who told them or who they were supposed to get."
Ginny, Harry, and even Parkinson laughed.
"Well," Parkinson said, "I suppose it's a miracle they remembered that much."
"What?" Hermione asked.
"They came looking for her." Ginny said, pointing at Parkinson, "But when she asked who had sent them, they couldn't remember."
"So she told them to go for a walk and think about who wanted her and why." Harry finished.
Hermione and Ron both stared at Harry, then at Parkinson. Ron then began to laugh.
"No wonder they looked so lost." Ron said between laughs, "They were trying to think!"
The others soon joined in the laughter. They paused when Kirishima let out a particularly loud snore.
"Is she always that loud?" Ginny asked.
"Not really." Parkinson replied, "She only snores when she's sitting. Unfortunately, she's been falling asleep a lot while sitting. Silencing Charms are a blessing."
"Why are you staying with her if she isn't your Aunt?" Harry asked. Hermione and Ron looked at the Slytherin curiously.
Parkinson closed her book and stared at her lap. Hermione noticed the book.
"You're reading a MUGGLE book!"
"Kirishima loaned it to me." Parkinson replied, "She's been very kind to me, much more then I really deserve." She let out a sigh and looked out the window. "I was a wreck when I found out my parents didn't live. I couldn't get the sight of my home burning out of my head, knowing it my parents were inside." She looked at the sleeping form of Kirishima. "She talked to me. In some ways we're alike." Parkinson looked at Harry. "She's a lot like you too Potter. She told me her mother……"
The door to the compartment opened, revealing Millicent Bulstrude. Behind the hulking girl stood Crabbe and Goyle.
"Pansy." Millicent said with a slight nod.
"Millicent." Parkinson replied, her face frozen in a neutral expression. "What do you want?"
Bulstrude glanced over her shoulder at Crabbe and Goyle.
"I sent these two to fetch you. The rest of the Slytherins are near the front."
"I'm fine here." Parkinson replied. "Now go away."
Bulstrude's face scrunched up in anger.
"You are not fine Pansy! All your friends are in Slytherin! You need to come up front! Now!"
Parkinson glared at Bulstrude.
"I'm staying HERE!" she growled.
"FINE!" Bulstrude snapped. "Stay here with Potty, the Mudblood and the Bloodtraitors!" She leaned forward. "You'll end up just like your parents!"
Parkinson flinched at the comment. Harry noticed this, and decided to come to her aid. He quickly pulled out his wand.
"Get out of here Bulstrude if you know what's good for you." He growled.
Bulstrude stared at Harry.
"And just what are you going to do to make me Potty?"
"In case you haven't noticed," Hermione said, "You and the gorillas are outnumbered."
Bulstrude started to snap back at Hermione, but paused a moment to look around. Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron all had their wands out. In the hall, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood stood there, having been attracted by the shouting. The two also had their wands pulled.
Bulstrude turned back to Parkinson.
"You've made a big mistake Pansy." She said, "One you won't live to correct." She then turned and left, Crabbe and Goyle following right behind her.
Neville and Luna walked up to the compartment door and peered in.
"Everyone alright in here?" Neville asked.
"We're fine." Harry replied.
Neville raised his hand and pointed at Parkinson.
"What about her?" he asked.
Harry turned to see Parkinson with her head in her hands. Ginny, being one of the closest and not as repulsed by the Slytherin as her brother, reached out and put her hand on Parkinson's shoulder.
"Pansy?" she asked softly.
"I'm fine." Parkinson replied, sitting up and wiping her eyes. "But Millicent is up to something."
"She was really determined to get you out of here." Ginny said softly.
"She was a friend." Parkinson admitted, finally looking at the others "But after what she said about my parents……" She paused.
Harry started to wonder why when he followed her line of sight. Luna seemed to be staring very intensely at the Slytherin.
"What?" Parkinson asked.
"Oh," Luna replied, her voice very faraway, "I'm sorry. The Horned Snorcack hiding over your shoulder was distracting me. Did you know it has black wings?"
Parkinson blinked and looked over her shoulder. She then turned back and stared at Luna even more confused then before. The others in the room began to chuckle at the Slytherin's confusion.
"But then Snorcacks don't like Hellions do they?" Luna said with a sigh, "Maybe that's why it's hiding."
Parkinson's eyes went wide and she looked to Harry and Ginny for help.
"Luna." Ginny said, "Don't worry. We'll watch out for the Snorcack."
"Oh I'm not worried about the Snorcack." Luna said, "I'm more worried about the Hellion."
Before anyone could respond, the brakes of the train slammed on full. With a loud crash, students, luggage, and other items were flung forward. Neville and Luna vanished as they flew forward up the hallway. Ginny and Harry suddenly found Hermione and Ron on their laps, while Parkinson slammed into Kirishima.
"OW!" Kirishima shouted, "Bloody Hell!" Her head popped out from under the cloak. Unlike the previous times, her hair was pulled back in tight ponytail, thus revealing all of Kirishima's facial features.
Including the fact she wore an eye patch over her right eye.
"What going on!" Kirishima shouted angrily.
Her response was all the lights on the train to go out.
"Someone forget to pay the bill?" Kirishima's voice came through the darkness.
"Funny." Parkinson replied, "You know you said 'Bloody Hell'?"
"I did? Oh man…..I'm talking like Celes."
"Hermione? Could you get your foot out of my face?"
"Sorry Harry."
"What the hell is poking me?"
"That's my knee, quit grabbing it."
"Hey!" SMACK! "Watch your hands!"
"That wasn't me!"
"QUIET!" Kirishima shouted.
Everyone went silent.
"Good.. Now if everyone can quietly separate themselves……"
"Umm.,… Mana?" Parkinson said softly.
"What?" Kirishima replied.
"There's something moving outside."
Harry heard a rustling noise and assumed Kirishima was looking out the window. This was confirmed a moment later when he heard the window open. A very cool breeze drifted into the compartment.
Much cooler then it should this time of year.
"Oh hell." He heard Kirishima muttered. A second later he felt someone leap over him and into the hallway.
"Everyone stay here." Kirishima stated in no uncertain terms. "Do not leave this compartment until it reaches Hogsmeade."
"But….." Parkinson began to protest.
"No buts." The door slammed shut. It opened a moment later and two bodies were pushed in, then it slammed shut again.
"Umm… hello?" came Neville's voice.
"We're here Neville." Hermione replied.
While the others began to talk softly amongst themselves, Harry moved over Ginny to the still open window. Parkinson was there, looking out into the darkness.
"What did you see?" he asked, looking out the window. His breathe fogged in the cold air.
"I don't know." Parkinson replied, "It really didn't have a definitive shape."
Harry leaned further out the window and looked around. He could just make out the outline of the train and the surrounding countryside.
Then he saw the shadows.
There were at least a dozen of them, all moving to surround a figure walking away from the train. At first he thought it was Death Eaters from the dark robes, but then he saw how the figures floated above the ground.
"It's Dementors." Harry whispered. He glanced at Parkinson. She was looking at him with wide eyes.
"And they've surrounded Kirishima." He finished.