A/N: Ahh…so long since last update. Thank you for all of you who got on my case. Here you go, a really GOOD chapter for all your waiting. And it's relatively long too!
Enjoy!
Nichole spent the entire morning in the library with Sarah and Meghan, scouring every possible book in search for the 'fable' Malfoy had spoken of and any information that might have anything to do with her necklace. Though Sarah thought the idea was ridiculous ('I don't see why you want to believe the molesting twit in the first place, and besides, it sounds rather far-fetched. What do you want to know so badly anyway?') To which Nichole would answer 'Everything.' Which was true, Nichole wanted to know everything she could about this strange necklace and the story behind it, as it was becoming clearer every minute that it must be very much related to, if not the source of all of her troubles.
Meghan reached across the table to grab the necklace which was resting next to Sarah's right hand. She squinted at it, as if willing it to give her answers. "I don't get it. It just looks like a flowery shield thingy with a birdie on it-hey! You two ever thought that it might have something to do with Ravenclaw, I mean, you are in her house."
Nichole frowned. "No, Ravenclaw's symbol is an eagle, not a raven. It's a common misconception because of her name. More important though, is the fact that I am definitely muggle-born. I mean, don't you think an artifact so prestigious as this would be kept in a wizarding family? I mean, what could my grandmother possibly have been doing with something that belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw a thousand years ago?"
"Yeah, I guess." Meghan grinned. "But I'd be cool!"
"Oh, honestly Meghan! You really don't know anything do you?" Sarah slammed shut Common Magical Jewels and Treasures.
Meghan simply rolled her eyes. Sarah's cross behaviour was a normal trend for a weekday morning. And considering they had dragged her out of bed early on a Saturday morning, her temper was even more touchy than usual.
She rubbed her temples and sighed. "You don't talk so lightly of things like that! Do you not understand that such an object would be imbued with powerful and ancient magicks beyond our comprehension? Things like that aren't just found by old muggle ladies, they travel in bloodlines. And I'm sorry Nichole, but a muggle would not ever be able to possess something like that-often they are…armed shall we say against falling into the wrong or unworthy hands. Besides, Rowena Ravenclaw is the sole founder that is assumed to have no heirs. Not a lot is known of her after she left Hogwarts, but it is known she died alone in the countryside at quite a young age."
"Even so, there must be some kind of magic in this thing to make Nichole have those whacky visions and stuff, right?"
Sarah nodded. "I was thinking maybe a seer charm of some kind, but we'll need to find a spell that will let us figure out exactly what kind of enchantments there are surrounding it. And unfortunately I don't plan on going ahead and casting spells on potentially dangerous objects we really know nothing about." She glanced at both Meghan and Nichole. "I'll go and look for a spell or anti-jinx of some sort if you two keep trying to figure out exactly what it is we're dealing with here. Nichole, your grandmother lived in York her whole life right? Well, I found some records of magical objects that were known to be found in Saskatchewan in her lifetime, you can take a look through those and see if anything looks familiar. Meghan, you keep trying to find this legend you remember your uncle telling you."
"Yes sir!"
Sarah disappeared off into the shelves and left Nichole and Meghan sitting at their table. Nichole pulled the folder of records Sarah had mentioned towards her while Meghan popped open From Helen to Hanzel: Magical Myths and Fairytales. Nichole's head slipped in her palm and threatened to fall onto the table as the hard-to-decipher words ran together in her mind.
"Hey, I found it! Aww…nah this can't be it. She ends up cheating on both of them and marrying the prince. That's too bad, the stable boy was quite fetching. There's nothing about any kind of jewelry. But I do see why my mother got upset, the King gets very jealous of the other two men and orders them tortured, then killed in some very brutal ways…"
Nichole sighed. Who was she kidding? They were searching for a myth that Malfoy had mentioned. They didn't know what the legend was called, or even what it was about.
"Say, I guess you haven't ever read any wizard stories, have you?"
"No, can't say I have."
"Not even The Great Tale?"
"The Great Tale?" Nichole asked quizzically.
Meghan nodded. "Yes, it's called The Great Tale because it's believed to be the first wizarding legend to ever have been recorded. It's very good, every midget hears it!"
"Like, the original fairy tale? Hm, that's neat. What's it about?"
Meghan smiled. "Well, you'll just have to hear for yourself. You can't go to Hogwarts and not have ever heard The Great Tale! Why, it's probably just as old in fact!" Meghan jumped up and rummaged on a shelf nearby until she found a small, old book with a title written in gold-plated letters saying 'The Great Tale'. She sat down with the book in her lap and began reading aloud:
"One day, long, long ago, a young witch gazed into the large mirror hanging on the stone wall of her tower bedroom. It told her that she was the fairest of all witches in the kingdom, as it always did, for this young girl was very beautiful, with a pale, moon-like face that entranced all who looked upon it. Her long black hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, while her clear blue eyes caught sight of the dress hanging in her open wardrobe. The dress was translucent white with lace trimming its neckline and long, loose sleeves. It was her bridal gown.
She was to be married to-day, at sunset.
Her groom was a very prestigious and wealthy wizard. The girl herself was accomplished; however, her achievements often went unacknowledged as she was but a lowly woman. Her groom was a wealthy lord from England. He would provide for her well, she would be comfortable and live in comfort the rest of her life. She knew a better match could not have been made for her, even in the heavens, and she was pleased to oblige to her duty to serve as wife to such a man.
However, the young witch loved another.
She had been promised his since the young age of eleven. They had grown up being told that they would one day be husband and wife, and love had come naturally to them, something rare and treasured in that time. This wizard was a great knight, and came from a family of warriors. When they were fifteen years of age, they were separated while they specialized and attuned their skills in the magical arts. When the young girl returned from her studies, she learned that in her absence, her betrothal to the knight had been broken in favour of another, wealthier candidate, the lord.
The girl was heartbroken, but agreed as a good daughter should, to the marriage to the lord. She understood that marriage was not about love, but about alliances. She understood that love was to come later in life; that she had been lucky. Could she be so lucky again? Would her heart turn so easily?
It did. However, it would no longer be called luck, but dilemma.
As she spent more and more time with the wealthy baron, she came to know how kind and gentle he was. He brought her lovely gifts so fine she had never seen before in her life. He was interesting and gave her wits a challenge. So after a period of a few years, she could say that yes, she loved him. Their wedding was to be in the autumn of the year ten hundred and three.
A fortnight before the wedding was to take place, the girl heard the voice of the knight, whom she had tried to forget for the longest time calling to her from below her tower window. He begged her give him one last time to see her alone before she should be married, and lost to him forever. She obliged willingly, slipping silently out of the large castle to meet him under the cover of an ash tree on the shores of a beautiful lake. They spoke quietly through the night of their love for one another, for although the witch's heart was now saved for another, it did not cease it from sharing the same feelings for the knight, who she had first loved. As the sun rose early in the morning, the witch rose to return lest they be discovered. As she turned to walk back towards the castle, back towards her husband-to-be, the knight held her in his arms and embraced her.
He whispered to her, 'I always will love you, no matter it be that you belong to another. I know you feel the same. I beg of you, choose now whether or not you truly want this marriage, for it is forever. Know that I will wait for you. Unto the ends of the earth I will wait for you.'
A clear blue tear slipped down her cheek, and he brushed it away with his hand. 'Thank you,' she said, as she slipped from his grasp, and floated back to the castle. True, though she did love him, she also loved the man she was to marry.
And so the young woman sat at her vanity while her handmaiden braided her hair into a beautiful style that encircled her brow. She had slipped on the muslin slip to go underneath the bridal gown. Her feet rested in white slippers that were bejeweled with pearls and the smallest diamonds.
She started as a raven suddenly flew in through her window. It landed directly in front of her and stood, starting at her. It was then, she noticed that a small piece of parchment was attached to its leg. The letter was beautifully written, in the most artistic style, however short.
Know that I wait for thee.
And know that as I cannot describe in any material way my love for thee. I ask you keep this, the finest, most beautiful, and the most loyal specimen that I own. She will keep your most precious secrets secret and aid you in the most impossible tasks. It appears not much, but I promise it will surprise thee.
The girl stared at the bird. It was relatively common, a raven. Pure-black, and quite plain in comparison to the eagles and falcons that resided in the castle keeps. But this gift had truly come from the knight's heart, a better one she could not ask for. That he would give up such a precious specimen, did it not show that she could be equally as well cared for as his wife?
Just as the girl was re-reading the letter, there was a knock on her door. She tucked the note into a book and placed it into a drawer in the vanity. She bade the visitor enter, and enter did her groom. He swept her up in the happiest of embraces and smiled down into her eyes.
'Our day is here at last! I shan't think I can have waited any longer for you, my beautiful! You are all that I love in the world! I promise I shall make you the happiest woman in the world if you should let me. Starting with this lovely present I have for you.' He bade her sit herself on the stool in front of her vanity. From his pocket, he removed a small silver box. He opened it, and upon the cushion laid the most beautiful jewel that the girl had ever laid eyes on.
It was a clear blue sapphire. A moon's tear it was called; one of the most rare and lovely jewels in the entire world. It was also one of the most powerful. The moon's tear sapphire fed upon one's love and enhanced their magical ability. He joined the silver clasp at the base of her neck and stood back to admire. The girl smiled and thanked him most gratefully, though inside her heart was weeping.
Two wizards loved her more than the world. To them, she was their world. She had been promised to both, but only one would receive. How to choose? To follow her heart would lead her to nowhere, or in two directions at once, for she truly believed she loved them both equally. So she had the same to lose and the same to gain each way she could turn. One broken heart, one joyful.
She confided in her handmaiden, her dire situation as she braided vines and lily-of-the-valley flowers into her tresses. The handmaiden said to her.
'You alone can decide. It is impossible to love two the same, for in the end, the heart must either chose, or break. Will you let your heart break? For if it does, it shall be only of your own doing.'
The girl wept. 'But I cannot choose! I shall live alone with a broken heart for the rest of my life!'
'Rest your eyes child. The sun is just beginning to set, pray take a stroll outside to calm thy nerves before the ceremony.'
And so the girl walked from her chamber, bouquet in hand and her dress light as air, flowing behind her. In the corridor, she encountered her groom. A smile she plastered upon her face to hide her distress, but to no avail.
'Why be you so indisposed on this joyful evening? Pray, tell, what troubles thee my beautiful?'
'My heart tremors is all, my liege. I shall see thee in good time, and I shall be thy wife.' She broke from his grip and strode out the doors of the castle in which she and her groom resided. She sat under the tree beside the lake, pondering events of her life, reflecting on her time with both wizards.
After about a quarter of an hour, she rose to walk to the chapel, for the sun was setting. Her wedding was upon her. As she was walking towards the village, to the chapel, she was intercepted by the knight. He bore his arms, the warriort he was.
'So you go to marry him. Can I offer you, a fine lady, my arm on her journey?'
The girl smiled and grasped the knight's forearm.
They were walking along peacefully towards the chapel, when from behind a voice shouted, shrill and wild. The girl turned in terror, and saw to her horror, her groom speeding towards them, screaming vows of revenge and treason. His wand was aimed at her walking partner's chest.
Her groom had discovered the knight's letter in her vanity drawer.
'Wretch! Shrew! How dare you desert me! I who love you more than anything or anyone! You wish to leave me for this lowly knight? You swore your love to me many a times over! If you love him so, than I shall kill him without hesitation, for without you my world is nothing!'
She gasped for breath, trying to explain before it should be too late. 'No! You don't-'
'FROUMA HEOLFORES!!!!!!!' shouted the enraged wizard.
The knight was ripped apart from his knave to his chaps. He ceased from crying out in agony, but fell to the ground, blood pouring out like milk from a full pitcher. The girl screamed and her tears were shed onto his wounds. As her groom shouted another curse, she quickly grabbed the man's warrior's shield and raised it into the magic's path.
But how was she to escape certain death?
Just as she was sure she was about to meet with one of her groom's deadly curses, her raven appeared, soaring from her window. Time seemed to stop as the bird swept in front of the curse. It absorbed the magic, unharmed by its power, unscathed at all. It hovered above the girl's head, and above the bloody knight.
The girl did only what she could guess to do, she grasped the knight's hand in her right, and the bird's claws in her left.
The bird soared away into the horizon, carrying the two away from death. It placed them down gently on a crag far from the danger of the castle. Here the girl brought the knight back to good health with the aid of the raven, who had wisdom surpassing any human's. The raven had been present on earth since before humans, since when birds and fish were created to roam the earth. It taught her the wonderful spells that allowed her to heal the knight. The raven also told the girl that the lord would be back once more, for it knew these things, it had the power of sight. In preparation for the wizard's return, it taught the girl defensive spells more powerful than any she had ever known in all her years of studying. It taught her how to draw on magicks deep inside the human soul, legendary magicks that but a select few could harness. It taught her how to use her most powerful magic, how to use love to channel her magical powers, and how to use the moon's tear she had received from her groom to her advantage in her defensive powers. When the lord finally appeared on the horizon one evening, the girl was gathering water from the nearby river.
He approached their camp slowly, with his robes pulled over his frame. He stopped and conjured a deadly scythe from thin air. The knight rose from beside the fire and withdrew his own sword, ready for battle. As their weapons clashed, the girl came over the hill from the valley below. She dropped her baggage and ran towards the battle, the gauze of her white dress flowing behind her in the evening wind. As she reached the crag upon which the great men fought for her, whom they both loved more than the world, she raised her arms.
She drew upon all magic within her being, upon her knowledge, upon her strength, and upon her love for both men. A clear blue wave flowed from her hands and encircled the three of them. The men, in awe of the magic around them, dropped their weapons to their sides. A wave shot through the sphere from both of the girl's hands, dividing the dome into three sections, each containing one being.
Her body shook, and her clear blue eyes disappeared into blackness. And the girl spoke, her voice quavering under the influence of such great power. 'To prevent war, to prevent bloodshed, to stop the world from being released from balance and falling to its end, this I shall do: You," she said, acknowledging the knight, her first betrothed, "You shall return home, live as you have always. You shall prosper, marry, and have many sons, this I see through my guidance from the Great Being. You," she said, acknowledging her second betrothed, the lord, 'For what you have done, I banish you from this place forever. You too shall marry, and have many sons, but your descendents' lives shall always be tainted! You shall pass onto them the resent you harbour for this man and all who share his blood, for your love has turned bitter and spawned true evil, this I see through the guidance of the Great Being. Between you, I cannot choose, it is impossible, and so I choose to break my own heart instead. To stop your battles, this I also cannot do, for to do so, one must die, and this I cannot endure, for both of you I love equally. Your descendants will share enmity as Eve shares enmity with the serpent. It is said in the Scriptures that the serpent shall bite the woman's heel, but the woman shall crush his head. This, in the end will be true, as all I have told. For, there will be another, another greater than all who precede her. She will deliver our world from destruction, unite the broken fragments to stand against the evil that exists-'"
"Meghan! Why on earth are you reading that? Honestly, I thought I could trust you to actually WORK!" Sarah slammed a large pile of books down onto the small table.
"It's The Great Tale! Nichole hasn't ever heard it, growing up a muggle and all, so I thought I'd read it to her. We were just taking a break is all!"
Sarah slumped down into her seat and began tediously pouring over the spell books she had brought back to the table with her. Nichole turned back to her archives, and Meghan returned to searching through various books of fairytales and myths. As Nichole glanced up from her work, she caught sight of a familiar face, flanked by two others entering the library.
Her stomach lurched, as she ducked behind an old newspaper quickly debating what to do.
What did Harry think of her if he had really saw Malfoy…molesting her? For, certainly the scene must have appeared different to a spectator. Nichole groaned and rose quickly, planning to escape into the shelves before she might be noticed.
"I'm going to go put some of these back, it's getting a bit crowded." She said, taking a stack of books to hide behind. She slinked behind the shelves quickly, and walked along the isle.
She peeked through the gaps in the shelves. The trio settled down into a table just beyond the bookshelf, in plain earshot of her. She set the books down onto the shelf and was about to sneak off to a farther corner, when she heard something that interested her.
"Oh, honestly Harry, I'm sure it can't be what you think! You know what this school is like with gossip and all! You of all people should know that!"
Nichole smiled. That Hermione sure was smart! At least someone else was on her side.
"Come off it, Hermione, he saw the whole thing himself. It's not just gossip. Cut him a little slack!"
"Well, Harry's said himself that he didn't actually see what was going on before! For all we know, Malfoy could have been being his usual self and using his usual…force…you haven't heard some of the stories I have. Malfoy likes to get his way, as we all know."
"Yeah, but, I mean…" Ron trailed off.
"All I'm saying, Harry, is that you shouldn't jump to conclusions! Have you even spoken to her about it? I mean, she's looked quite upset and lonely the past few days, what with all the rumors I can't blame her."
"Bloody hell, Hermione! You really think he wants to talk to her! I'm sure that's the last thing he wants to do right now, right mate?"
Harry gave a nonchalant shrug and grunted in answer.
Nichole slouched against the book shelf, and crossed her arms over her chest. Just look at the big mess Malfoy had caused. And left her to clean it up too! If she could get her hands on that-
"I'm going to go find some books on conjuring spells." Harry rose from the bickering Ron and Hermione and walked off…towards the bookshelves!
Nichole quickly rounded the next row, hoping against hope not to be discovered. If Harry knew she was eavesdropping! If she ran into Harry…think how awkward! She rounded the next shelf and looked back.
He was browsing through the transfiguration section two rows up.
Nichole sighed and moved to round the next shelf and go back the long way to her table with Sarah and Meghan.
Nichole was in the depths of the library among the shelves when some titles on the spines of some rather old books caught her eye. She had came upon the histories and encyclopedia section, something oddly enough, that the girls had not yet explored. A large book with a gold-leafed title on its crumbling spine caught her eye.
The Most Ancient and Powerful Jewels of Wizarding Time
As she pulled it off the shelf, she noticed that it was falling apart; she carefully opened it to the table of contents. It appeared interesting and possibly useful as she scanned down the column: Scarabs, Turquoise of the Nile Valley, The Quar' znkt Ruby and-
"Hey, we wondered where you'd ran off to!" Meghan had popped up from around the bookshelf. "That looks…old." She said, staring at the book that Nichole had balanced between her hip and the bookshelf.
Sarah read silently over her shoulder. "We were just going to leave, I have a headache, and this is honestly like looking for a needle in a haystack-hey, go to that, The Most Powerful."
Nichole turned to page 1003. The girls read silently and when they simultaneously reached the bottom of the page, even Meghan remained silent.
Sarah broke it. "Huh, well that's absurd. Obviously something like that could never exist in the natural world…could it?"
The other two girls remained silent, in awe.
Sarah continued, in a low, scared voice. "To strip generations, possibly hundreds, of their magic, that alone is certainly an impossible feat. To combine them and concentrate such power into a little stone-that is truly unspeakable. Such spells, no-such power to do something like that does not and has never existed! I can't even comprehend why or have the faintest idea how one would go about constructing such a jewel!"
"Well, isn't that why nearly nothing is known about it? Where it came from, who made it, who has it now, even whether or not its supreme power can be used for good or evil?" Nichole said.
"It's just another legend anyway, and there's no possible way that it could be your necklace if that's what you're worrying about. I expect only an extremely powerful witch or wizard would be capable of being in such close contact with such an object." Sarah concluded.
Nichole nodded. "And, you know, it would have only been courteous of my grandmother to inform me that she was giving me the most powerful object in the world." The girls laughed in agreement, but there giggles were silenced by voices coming their way.
"Merlin Parkinson, will you lay off already! Why would I be dating a mudblood?"
"Well, I'm not saying that you were dating her, everyone is saying something completely different, if you can believe it of course," a girl's voice whined. "I'm just saying, that you should pick your toys more carefully. Ones that are approved for your own safety, if you know what I mean."
The voices grew louder and louder as they neared the girls. Nichole really did not desire another encounter with Malfoy, let alone this horrid girl he was apparently with.
"Parkinson, my toys as you have so wonderfully dubbed them, are none of your business, so stuff it!"
Nichole had moved to turn around, but promptly smashed into Meghan. The three girls tumbled to the floor just as Malfoy rounded the bookshelf. He crumpled onto Nichole's back. Sarah, at the bottom of the pile howled in pain. Malfoy jumped up and stared at Nichole.
"Were you eavesdropping? How dare you!"
"No! We were-"
"You were eavesdropping!" Shouted the girl, scandalized. "See Draco, she is so mudblood scum."
"Just who the hell do you think you are? Yelling at people you don't even know like that! And listen here missy, I ever hear you call Nichole a mudblood again I'll kick your pretty little bum all the way back to the fires of hell where it belongs!" Meghan had drawn herself up to her full height, which was quite impressive, seeing as she was normally relatively slouchy, and was cowering over the girl baring a death glare in her brown eyes. Meghan was not one to get mad usually, so Nichole was surprised at her reaction. "And YOU! You, Malfoy! How dare you treat her like that, then speak of her like this! If anyone has a right to speak so poorly of one, it's her to YOU! YOU'RE the scum if anyone is! You've no idea the mess you caused and what you've put Nichole through, what she's been through already before having the misfortune to meet the likes of you!"
Malfoy had narrowed his eyes and glared at her. "You're speaking to a Malfoy, you realize that?"
Meghan rolled her eyes in amusement and mockery, "Oh, do you need me to bow three times before I speak in your presence, your Highness."
Malfoy whipped out his wand and sneered, "You know, it's real nice having all you extra Potty-lovers around this year, more of you to hex!"
When Meghan made to remove her wand as well, Nichole stepped to the front of the group and spoke quietly, making eye contact with only Malfoy. "Leave, now. We were here doing research, you can take your petty arguments elsewhere, there's no need for a scuffle."
The girl spoke again. She was rather irritating, Nichole noted. "Oh, doing research? We're so sorry to have interrupted you! Merlin, as if we need another mudblood bookworm in this school."
Nichole spoke again, this time louder, gaining confidence. "Who are you anyway?"
The girl sneered. "Parkinson, Pansy Parkinson. I already know you, Mudblood Calligan."
Malfoy had glanced at the heavy book that had fallen from Nichole's hands onto the floor. He gave Nichole a quizzical glance. His eyes bored into hers as Pansy and Meghan continued squabbling. "Interesting topic of research, He whispered.
"Just curious."
"Yes, you are a curious one, aren't you. Couldn't just take Potty, could you?"
Nichole narrowed her eyes. "What exactly are you implying Malfoy?"
"Well," he answered, "I'm just saying, even though I'll admit it was me who initiated our little session the other day, you didn't exactly protest."
"Maybe that's because you had me pinned to the wall!"
By then, their voices had escalated in volume and the rest of the group had stopped arguing and was now watching their shouting match. It was then, that suddenly Nichole recognized why the voice of Pansy had sounded familiar. She had heard it before…the night when Malfoy had…she smiled. "You should really just be honest and tell Pansy that you don't like her and have no desire for her affections instead of using ME as a scapegoat!"
Malfoy's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed. His jaw hardened, displaying his anger. "Oh, don't you dare go there Mudblood!"
"Oh, why not? Don't want to let her know the truth? Don't want to take responsibility?"
Draco sneered. "Shut Up! SHUT UP MUDBLOOD!"
"MAKE ME!"
"OH, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT? YOU WANT ME TO MAKE YOU SHUT UP? ALRIGHT THEN MUDBLOOD!" Malfoy had now withdrawn his wand and had it pointed at Nichole's chest, ready for action.
"GIMME YOUR BEST SHOT WHY DON'T YOU!" Nichole pointed her wand at the ready as well, ready to defend herself. She barely noticed her necklace emitting a cooling feeling against her collarbone as adrenaline rushed and she tried to think of what she would do if Malfoy actually threw a curse at her. She had really just been trying to get him to apologize, that's all that she had wanted really…
Then, out of no where, a second male voice joined the couple. "Honestly, Malfoy, what is it with you and picking on girls? You really are a coward." Harry swept past the staring girls to stand at Nichole's side, his wand pointed at Malfoy. His expression made him seem like he was ready to curse Malfoy into oblivion.
"Oh, what, Potty's come to save the damsel in distress! How very Gryffindor of you. Just can't keep your nose out of others' business can you?"
"I'm making this my business, so you'd just better back off Malfoy!"
Nichole was now quite distressed. "Please…please…"
They both ignored her.
"Why don't I just finish off what I started here, I really don't give a shit if you're standing here or not!"
Malfoy raised his arm to shout a curse, his face contorted in an expression of anger. Nichole cringed in anticipation. Her chest tightened as if bound by cords, and she scrunched her eyes closed, fearing what, she didn't know. She had never been so scared in her life, as she had never encountered any kind of fight in her life in the muggle world, let alone an actual curse being thrown against her.
Please, Please, Please save me! Protect me from whatever it is that's going to explode from that wand within the next second. Save me from harm, save me from him.
Nichole's breath caught in her chest her eyes opened wide suddenly and the life from her being felt as if it were ripped from within her. She was going to die, and die horribly, as if she had been drowned and squashed at the same time. The pain was unbearable; her body felt as if it were burning without flames, as if it were disintegrating spontaneously.
In the instant that Malfoy opened his mouth, he was thrown backwards in a flying arc with a flash of blue light just as Harry threw himself in front of her with his wand aimed at Malfoy. Nichole started to the sound of a bookshelf crumpling under the impact of Malfoy's body coming into contact with it, for all the previous events had occurred within a second, and silently at that, without a single word uttered. She opened her eyes to blackness, for she was pressed against Harry's chest, safe.
Her eyes widened at the sight of Malfoy crumpled in a heap below a dismantled bookshelf. He was a bloody mess and some of his limbs appeared at an odd angle. Her necklace now felt as if an ice cube had engrained itself into her skin. She stared down at it and noticed it was glowing and electric blue that matched the colour of light that had cause Malfoy to be thrown backwards in such awesome reagard. She clutched it in her left hand to hide it from the other bystanders, horrified.
Had she done this?
Had she killed him?
How was it possible that such an innocent object had such power? She hadn't uttered a word…
Was that what the purpose of this pendant was, to destroy? To harm others?
Tears rolled down Nichole's cheeks as she stared at Malfoy's unconscious form. Her chest convulsed as she sobbed into Harry's chest.
What kind of monster was she? Is this why everyone had hidden so many secrets from her, because they were afraid of her, afraid that she would discover the secret of this 'gift'?
It was then, that Nichole fainted.
A/N: Well, you better have liked it cause I worked long and hard on this key chapter in the fic! Things will be picking up speed FAST from here on in.
I heart reviews!