A/N: well, questions are good I guess. Chad, hun, I'm continuing for you. Now, I'm going to get to it, be patient. I could stop completely, you know. Listen, I'm gonna get into it NOW. So just sit tight, okay?
Disclaimer: well, I think we know by now whether or not if I own anything.
---CHAPTER EIGHTEEN---
As soon as the class ended, Harry and Brenna used their free hour before dinner to go to the library. Ron and Hermione asked questions, but when Harry and Brenna both gave weary looks, Hermione understood, and promptly dragged Ron off, the redhead still complaining about leaving the two alone.
Brenna and Harry went to the third floors, and quickly found a vacant balcony, overlooking the courtyard and part of the lake. Harry closed the doors, and then turned to Brenna. She was leaning against the rock wall, eyes distantly glazed as she watched the sparkling waters, the sun casting reds, purples, and pinks on the waters and in her eyes. Her ebony hair fell from the ponytail, framing her flushed face. Was she angry? No, she was just frustrated. Harry wanted to embrace her, comfort her, but there was too much that hadn't been said.
"Okay," he said finally, walking over and leaning against the rock railing. He too, gazed at the lake, and said; "What's the deal between you and Malfoy? Why are you always defending him, then wanting to kill him the next turn around?"
"It makes meh frustrated," Brenna responded wistfully; "He took the mark, when he didn't want ta. I'm confused by it all..."
Her voice was almost as clear as Harry's; she was either anxious as hell or so frustrated she was completely sober in thought. This worried Harry, but he willed — no, forced it down.
"How?" he asked calmly.
Brenna sighed; "He's... a mystery. Kingsley was telling me how evil and vile his father was, how his mother was too scared to do anything, how Draco just... wanted love..."
/Oh hell, we're too deep/ Harry's inner voice screamed, but he ignored it and only waited for her to continue.
"I remember first meeting him. He was a prat, but... I saw through it. He was just another scared, emotionally damaged kid, like a lot of us... he was a shadow, of his father... he only wanted Lucius to be... proud of him..."
"You saw all this, in his eyes?" Harry asked, now turning to look at her skeptically.
Brenna nodded, eyes never leaving the lake; "Don't doubt me, Harry," she said, "I can't stand that..."
"I wasn't doubting you!" Harry said.
Brenna looked at him, briefly, then turned to the waters yet again. There was a lengthy silence, then; "We think we can conquer anything," she said suddenly; "Yet our minds are clouded by our own desires, least without intentions. We hid behind masks, build up walls, set up barricades to any entrance to ourselves, and become lost to the outer-life, forgetting to regard our inner souls. Our flames, they flicker and die, blown away from the gust we've created around our islands of secrecy..."
Harry just stared. He wasn't at all confused, for once Brenna's ramblings made perfectly clear sense; "Brenna..." he said, at a loss for words.
"And then, some become imprisoned by their lies," Brenna continued, her voice so distant it was almost haunting; "They find no solace in truth and compassion, redeeming their souls for a moment of command and an inch of freedom... they run from righteousness, hide and cower from the light... fight for misguided untruths and betrayed hearts..."
Harry saw her eyes glaze over, and Brenna began to slide down the wall to slump against it on the ground. Harry caught her midway, gently easing her slide.
"Brenna?!" he asked, waving his hand in front of her face. Brenna's eyes were an almost clear-blue, and the pupils were barely there, as if the light caused them to disappear. Harry began to get anxious; "Brenna!!!" he said loudly.
Just then, the door opened. Harry looked up, only to see the orange blur come through. In a flash, Crookshanks, or Orion, was at Brenna's side.
"And I thought it was just a tale!" he exclaimed; "Quick, Harry, is she speaking Ancientriss yet?"
"No, just some complex rambling!" Harry said, gently shaking Brenna's shoulder.
"Don't touch her!" Orion hissed, jumping into his lap and shoving him back.
"Get off me!" Harry roared, throwing the cat back.
"You don't understand!" Orion shouted, landing on his side and scrambling back over. Eh jumped into Harry's lap again, claws fixed firmly into his sweater to prevent further removal; "This is part of her destiny!" the cat said, watching Brenna.
"What?" Harry asked, "Explain, Orion, I'm no elf!"
"Part of being the Soul Beacon, Harry!" Orion said, letting go of Harry and jumping down; "We have to wait it out," he walked over and sat beside Brenna, turning her right hand over to where the palm was facing up.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked.
"There's a mark that's supposed to come to her palm," Orion replied, delicately tracing one of the lines of Brenna's palm; "But it's not here. Check her hand..."
Harry reached over to take Brenna's hand, but could feel some sort of warmth, even fro ma few inches away. He held his head there, staring at her flesh, when Orion said; "Hello, check her hand, wizard!"
"I have a name," Harry muttered, coming from his thoughts and taking Brenna's hand and turning it over.
No mark.
"Her skin's so warm," Harry mumbled, letting go; "Is she sick?" he asked worriedly.
"No," Orion said; "I remember my father and grandfather discussing it, a while before he died. Brenna managed to blow up a bookshelf that day, and both were concerned about it all. To make a long story short, they went into a big discussion about the Torch, and what the symptoms were. We must have missed the first, there isn't an odd mark... wait," he said suddenly, crawling onto Brenna's lap.
He climbed over her chest and onto her shoulder and arm, staring at her temple; "Didn't you have a birthmark?" he mused quietly, pawing at Brenna's hair; "Ack, she's wearing that wretched covering!"
"It's makeup," Harry mumbled, moving over to Brenna's other side. Taking his the end of his shirt sleeve, he gently rubbed against her temple, removing the cover-up. His work revealed a dark tan, cross shaped mark, starting at her hair line, and ending above her cheekbone. The horizontal line went from her hairline near her ear, almost to her eyebrow.
"Hmm, so lightening bolts aren't the only interesting marks;" Orion mused, "But why her temple?"
"A tap?" Harry suddenly blurted out.
"A what?" Orion asked, staring at the youth worriedly.
"A tap, you know, a mental one," Harry said, "Voldermort can was once able to get into my mind through my scar, it was like a bond. Maybe, Brenna's mark is genetic. It could be because of what she is..."
"Very clever," Orion said; "I doubt Hermione could have thought that," he smirked, but it faded when he looked at Brenna; "We need to get her away from here, Potter..." he whispered; "Now is not the time for her to be found by anyone..."
"We can't get through the library without being seen;" Harry said; "And I'm not up for a seventy-foot drop."
Orion gnawed on his lower lip in thought, then jumped from Brenna. He quickly slipped through the door, and a few moments later, returned, dragging a cloak with him by his teeth. Harry recognized it immediately as his Invisibility Cloak.
"Where in hades did you get that from?" he asked incredulously as Orion spat it out by Harry's side.
"Well, the librarian won't let animals in here, so of course I thought of this handy cloth," Orion said casually, lifting the cloak up with a paw and looking it over thoughtfully before setting it down; "I remember you using it during last year. Now, can you carry Brenna, or should I alert the redheaded oaf?"
"I can carry her," Harry said, "Quidditch has been good to me."
"Bloody sport, I'm amazed you all haven't lost your heads completely," Orion mused darkly as Harry put the cloak on. He watched as Harry gently lifted Brenna into his arms, and concealed them both.
"She's mumbling," Harry whispered worriedly, brushing Brenna's hair from her face; "Where should I go?"
"That room of yore, the one of Requirement," Orion said, "Everything will be there waiting for you."
"What about you?" Harry asked.
Orion sighed; "I think that Hermione needs to know that her pet isn't who she thinks. I've been meaning to for a while now, but I told you first so my plans have changed."
"Plans?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Orion said, thinking himself crazy for speaking to thin air. He was relying on his senses now, not knowing where Harry was standing; "You are still there, right?"
"By the door," Harry said, chuckling.
Orion growled as he turned around, and glared at the vacant doorway. "Very funny," he growled.
Harry smiled, "I'm going," he said quietly, then he was gone, and within minutes, out of the library.
Orion then sat, contemplating on how he could pass the librarian and her awful temper.
A/N: I know, short, but I had to get it out. So there.
Disclaimer: well, I think we know by now whether or not if I own anything.
---CHAPTER EIGHTEEN---
As soon as the class ended, Harry and Brenna used their free hour before dinner to go to the library. Ron and Hermione asked questions, but when Harry and Brenna both gave weary looks, Hermione understood, and promptly dragged Ron off, the redhead still complaining about leaving the two alone.
Brenna and Harry went to the third floors, and quickly found a vacant balcony, overlooking the courtyard and part of the lake. Harry closed the doors, and then turned to Brenna. She was leaning against the rock wall, eyes distantly glazed as she watched the sparkling waters, the sun casting reds, purples, and pinks on the waters and in her eyes. Her ebony hair fell from the ponytail, framing her flushed face. Was she angry? No, she was just frustrated. Harry wanted to embrace her, comfort her, but there was too much that hadn't been said.
"Okay," he said finally, walking over and leaning against the rock railing. He too, gazed at the lake, and said; "What's the deal between you and Malfoy? Why are you always defending him, then wanting to kill him the next turn around?"
"It makes meh frustrated," Brenna responded wistfully; "He took the mark, when he didn't want ta. I'm confused by it all..."
Her voice was almost as clear as Harry's; she was either anxious as hell or so frustrated she was completely sober in thought. This worried Harry, but he willed — no, forced it down.
"How?" he asked calmly.
Brenna sighed; "He's... a mystery. Kingsley was telling me how evil and vile his father was, how his mother was too scared to do anything, how Draco just... wanted love..."
/Oh hell, we're too deep/ Harry's inner voice screamed, but he ignored it and only waited for her to continue.
"I remember first meeting him. He was a prat, but... I saw through it. He was just another scared, emotionally damaged kid, like a lot of us... he was a shadow, of his father... he only wanted Lucius to be... proud of him..."
"You saw all this, in his eyes?" Harry asked, now turning to look at her skeptically.
Brenna nodded, eyes never leaving the lake; "Don't doubt me, Harry," she said, "I can't stand that..."
"I wasn't doubting you!" Harry said.
Brenna looked at him, briefly, then turned to the waters yet again. There was a lengthy silence, then; "We think we can conquer anything," she said suddenly; "Yet our minds are clouded by our own desires, least without intentions. We hid behind masks, build up walls, set up barricades to any entrance to ourselves, and become lost to the outer-life, forgetting to regard our inner souls. Our flames, they flicker and die, blown away from the gust we've created around our islands of secrecy..."
Harry just stared. He wasn't at all confused, for once Brenna's ramblings made perfectly clear sense; "Brenna..." he said, at a loss for words.
"And then, some become imprisoned by their lies," Brenna continued, her voice so distant it was almost haunting; "They find no solace in truth and compassion, redeeming their souls for a moment of command and an inch of freedom... they run from righteousness, hide and cower from the light... fight for misguided untruths and betrayed hearts..."
Harry saw her eyes glaze over, and Brenna began to slide down the wall to slump against it on the ground. Harry caught her midway, gently easing her slide.
"Brenna?!" he asked, waving his hand in front of her face. Brenna's eyes were an almost clear-blue, and the pupils were barely there, as if the light caused them to disappear. Harry began to get anxious; "Brenna!!!" he said loudly.
Just then, the door opened. Harry looked up, only to see the orange blur come through. In a flash, Crookshanks, or Orion, was at Brenna's side.
"And I thought it was just a tale!" he exclaimed; "Quick, Harry, is she speaking Ancientriss yet?"
"No, just some complex rambling!" Harry said, gently shaking Brenna's shoulder.
"Don't touch her!" Orion hissed, jumping into his lap and shoving him back.
"Get off me!" Harry roared, throwing the cat back.
"You don't understand!" Orion shouted, landing on his side and scrambling back over. Eh jumped into Harry's lap again, claws fixed firmly into his sweater to prevent further removal; "This is part of her destiny!" the cat said, watching Brenna.
"What?" Harry asked, "Explain, Orion, I'm no elf!"
"Part of being the Soul Beacon, Harry!" Orion said, letting go of Harry and jumping down; "We have to wait it out," he walked over and sat beside Brenna, turning her right hand over to where the palm was facing up.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked.
"There's a mark that's supposed to come to her palm," Orion replied, delicately tracing one of the lines of Brenna's palm; "But it's not here. Check her hand..."
Harry reached over to take Brenna's hand, but could feel some sort of warmth, even fro ma few inches away. He held his head there, staring at her flesh, when Orion said; "Hello, check her hand, wizard!"
"I have a name," Harry muttered, coming from his thoughts and taking Brenna's hand and turning it over.
No mark.
"Her skin's so warm," Harry mumbled, letting go; "Is she sick?" he asked worriedly.
"No," Orion said; "I remember my father and grandfather discussing it, a while before he died. Brenna managed to blow up a bookshelf that day, and both were concerned about it all. To make a long story short, they went into a big discussion about the Torch, and what the symptoms were. We must have missed the first, there isn't an odd mark... wait," he said suddenly, crawling onto Brenna's lap.
He climbed over her chest and onto her shoulder and arm, staring at her temple; "Didn't you have a birthmark?" he mused quietly, pawing at Brenna's hair; "Ack, she's wearing that wretched covering!"
"It's makeup," Harry mumbled, moving over to Brenna's other side. Taking his the end of his shirt sleeve, he gently rubbed against her temple, removing the cover-up. His work revealed a dark tan, cross shaped mark, starting at her hair line, and ending above her cheekbone. The horizontal line went from her hairline near her ear, almost to her eyebrow.
"Hmm, so lightening bolts aren't the only interesting marks;" Orion mused, "But why her temple?"
"A tap?" Harry suddenly blurted out.
"A what?" Orion asked, staring at the youth worriedly.
"A tap, you know, a mental one," Harry said, "Voldermort can was once able to get into my mind through my scar, it was like a bond. Maybe, Brenna's mark is genetic. It could be because of what she is..."
"Very clever," Orion said; "I doubt Hermione could have thought that," he smirked, but it faded when he looked at Brenna; "We need to get her away from here, Potter..." he whispered; "Now is not the time for her to be found by anyone..."
"We can't get through the library without being seen;" Harry said; "And I'm not up for a seventy-foot drop."
Orion gnawed on his lower lip in thought, then jumped from Brenna. He quickly slipped through the door, and a few moments later, returned, dragging a cloak with him by his teeth. Harry recognized it immediately as his Invisibility Cloak.
"Where in hades did you get that from?" he asked incredulously as Orion spat it out by Harry's side.
"Well, the librarian won't let animals in here, so of course I thought of this handy cloth," Orion said casually, lifting the cloak up with a paw and looking it over thoughtfully before setting it down; "I remember you using it during last year. Now, can you carry Brenna, or should I alert the redheaded oaf?"
"I can carry her," Harry said, "Quidditch has been good to me."
"Bloody sport, I'm amazed you all haven't lost your heads completely," Orion mused darkly as Harry put the cloak on. He watched as Harry gently lifted Brenna into his arms, and concealed them both.
"She's mumbling," Harry whispered worriedly, brushing Brenna's hair from her face; "Where should I go?"
"That room of yore, the one of Requirement," Orion said, "Everything will be there waiting for you."
"What about you?" Harry asked.
Orion sighed; "I think that Hermione needs to know that her pet isn't who she thinks. I've been meaning to for a while now, but I told you first so my plans have changed."
"Plans?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Orion said, thinking himself crazy for speaking to thin air. He was relying on his senses now, not knowing where Harry was standing; "You are still there, right?"
"By the door," Harry said, chuckling.
Orion growled as he turned around, and glared at the vacant doorway. "Very funny," he growled.
Harry smiled, "I'm going," he said quietly, then he was gone, and within minutes, out of the library.
Orion then sat, contemplating on how he could pass the librarian and her awful temper.
A/N: I know, short, but I had to get it out. So there.