Chapter Nine: Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place
The flapping of the birds wings felt like just another breeze from the open library window to Nicci. Until she heard it squawk.
Nicci groaned. She had been in that wonderful place just before she fell asleep. Damn bird.
She pushed herself up, and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes before glaring at the raven, who cocked its head and flew away. Nicci closed her Defense book with a snap and picked up the letter. Nothing was written on the front. Flipping it over, she saw that the wax was imprinted with the Lestrange crest. Odd.
After breaking the seal and removing the parchment, she realized that it was her mother's handwriting. She had to remind herself to breathe.
My Dearest Daughter,
A new power will soon be rising. Apparate to the Manor as soon as you get this; we have wonderful things to discuss.
All my love,
Your Mother
She pushed her chair out from under the desk while crumpling the paper up and began to pace. Perfect timing. Her cousins, Nathan and Ann, and she were getting along great. No, better than great. They were like second parents to her. They had helped lead her to the Light Side, which she now believed in with all of her mind, heart and soul. The Dark Side held no appeal to her.
She couldn't go back to that; to the person she was when she believed in the Dark Side. That person scared her. That person was an evil, dangerous person. She liked who she was now, who she had become. This was why she had stopped being friends with the Slytherins in the first place, so that she wouldn't become that person again.
But she had to go back to the manor. If she didn't, her parents would kill her. She had no idea how they would succeed, but they would.
She wanted to help the Light Side, though. The Light Side was her side, the side where all her beliefs lay.
She started to pace faster. She was trapped. How was she going to get out of this one? If she didn't go, she would die. If she went, she risked forfeiting all that she believed in.
Icy cold realization came over her, making her stop dead in her tracks.
She knew what she had to do. She was probably the only one who could. But could she pull it off? In the end, it would most likely mean her death but what other choice did she have? This was the only way she could think of to remain alive for the time being while still remaining loyal to her beliefs.
She snatched up her Defense book, and headed out the library for her dorm. She would set down her book and grab her cloak. The walk between the apparition boarders, Hogwarts, and her house would be a cold one.
A/N: Thanks to my beta HarryEstel and my wonderful roomie, Justine.
A/N2: Are you guys confused as to what Nicci's going to be doing? Well, you'll have to wait several more chappies to find out, but treats to whoever can guess it!