The Gathering Part One
When Danny reached the lake she was greeted by Hagrid who had indeed gathered more than enough wood for the fire she would build..
"I cant thank you enough Hagrid...this really means alot to me. "
The big man rubbed his beard and flushed. "Think nothin' on it,
Was glad to do it, very glad indeed!" He laughed softly and she
settled her satchel down and waved at him as he left.
She went about building her meager camp, she started the fire, set out her bear furr throw, which was huge enough to be a bed comforter...and set out her pouches of herbs before her. She Rose and as the sun set she began to sing and dance, she leapt around the fire, it was graceful, and her voice was strong...the light of the fire caught on the beads in her hair, and she looked even more beautiful than before, she danced and sang until full dark...she knelt by the lake filled a bowl with water and carried it back drinking the water slowly...she settled on the furs and began to reach into the various bags of herbs, chanting softly beneath her breath as she threw handfuls of the herbs one at a time into the fire.
Curiosity had gotten the better of him and he had followed her, hidden beside a huge conifer nearby, he watched her sing and dance, she was truely different from anything he'd known...and again, he was still drawn to her. But he settled himself comfortably on the ground to watch her until he got bored.
His eyes turned to the fire, it had turned a strange blue, most likely from the herbs, but he felt power and he leaned forward, eyes transfixed upon the blue flames.
She stared into the fires and whispered a single name. But the pain in her voice was unmistakeable.
"Ragingbear..."
The fire flared to life and slowly a smiling, young man of her Origin appeared within the flames. Danny gave a soft whimper and covered her mouth.
Ragingbear reached out to touch her, but stopped. He could not.
"Do not cry Brightfeather. I am glad you have chosen me to
Speak to...for there is much we must discuss"
Severus was startled, he'd never known of such magics before, and he couldnt have left if he had wanted to, which, he did not. His chest tightened at her voice..and then his eyes trained on the young man in the flames.
"Your training is of the utmost. You are the hope of bringing Magic back to our people...but you have tasks that must be completed, while you are there, training."
Danny let her hands fall to her sides. "Tasks? Here? At Hogwarts?" Ragingbear, with his ever loving smile nodded.
"There are many who require your talent of healing, but most importantly, two such persons. One you already know of, and the healing has started, albeit slowly. The other, is very troubled, and will require the gentle hand of a mother who shelters her eggs from all harm. But you cannot complete these tasks if you do not heal. "
She shook her head with denial. "Im not ready! Its too soon, the wounds are raw still!" His smile turned soft and sad. "It has been 5 years Brightfeather. You must share it with someone, and you must let it go. I am dead. What we had can never be again." His voice was sad. "I love you still, and I will love you for all of eternity. But you cannot live life loving a Spirit who cannot heal you, hold you, or kiss you. "
She hugged herself and trembled. "I cant! Who could possibly understand my loss? It is too hard, it hurts too much...dont ask this of me, I cannot! " She was crying, Severus could hear it in her voice.
But Ragingbear continued. "You will, and you must. Once you heal, you can heal those who need you. The one You know of, and the Boy, Draco."
That captured both their attentions. "Draco? What of him?" She brushed away her tears, reached into her satchel and pulled out a peice of bread to nibble on.
Ragingbear's voice was sadder still. "If you do not heal, and heal him. He will become like Silence, and his sorrow will never end...nor will his pain."
She gasped dropping the bread. "Silence? How can this be? What do you know of the boy?" She demanded suddenly protective. Ragingbear smiled in triumph.
"There is the Brightfeather I love. We know only that if he is not healed, he will be lost. That is all we can tell you..." She bowed her head and nodded.
"You will stay with me for the Sunrise?" She asked softly, hope creeping into her voice. But he shook his head with a smile, and looked 'directly' at Severus, met his eyes and nodded slightly in recognition.
"No Brightfeather, I will not. Your Night will be spent with the one who watches. Be at Peace my love. I am happy in the Starpaths of our people, and I watch over you everyday, with love in my heart for the woman you are, and will become. Heal. Heal, and love. And All, will be well."
The Fireflared blue bright, then returned to red, and Danny turned...she knew, it had to be Severus.. her voice shook and she reached her hand out..."Severus? Dont lurk.. "
The Spirit had LOOKED right at him! And Noticed him! Now she knew he was there. Fuming silently at this turn of events he sighed rose and went to her outstreched hand...he slid his hand into hers and sat with her.
They were silent for a very long time...before she spoke. "You saw it all then I take it?" Her voice was strangely strained. He nodded, and spoke. "I did. " She didnt question him, didnt yell at him...she simply squeezed his hand lightly, then let it go. "That was Ragingbear. The man who would have been my husband, had he not been killed. "
He was silent...then tenatively..."Do you wish to speak about it?" She sighed deeply and began to drop herbs into her bowl of water, she drank deep and shook her head.
"No, I dont. But I should and I have to. He was right..as much as I dont want to face it. It has to be faced in order for me to heal." She turned and crossed her legs looking up at him. She was heartbroken, tears lingered behind her eyes.
He lifted his hand and forestalled her. "Are you certain you wish to tell this, obviously private and painful experience to someone like me?" Despite her pain she smiled, sat up and reached out to brush her fingertips along his face lightly.
"You are my friend. As much as I irritate you, and vice versa. You are probably the only person Id be able to tell this too..." He rose a brow, but closed his eyes when her fingers touched him.
"Not even Dumbledoor?" He opened his eyes and she made a made. "No, especially not Uncle Albus... the last thing I need is him cosseting me about this..."
He was touched by her words...she considered him her friend.
despite how he treated her most of the time, and he
nodded. "Alright."
She sat back and folded her hands nervously in her lap..
"It was 5 years ago...and Ragingbear and I had run off to practice for the Summer Gathering in a wheat feild about 2 miles from where we were staying for the Gather..."
End Part One.