A Sirius Unicorn
Chapter 11. Eclipse of Reason
Lily stood motionless for a second in shock while James calmly looked at her waiting for an explanation. Finally, appearing rather nervous, her voice an octave above its usual pitch, Lily squeaked, "I, uh, well that is to say, Rose and I, ugh...were in the Commons the other night, doing that Potions essay on the Drought, and we heard this noise. It sounded sort of like a wolf, but different, so we feared a werewolf and have been trying to research about them." By the end of her little speech, Lily almost seemed to believe her own story.
Athena scoffed. "Yea right Lily. Why don't you just tell James the truth? You owe him and all of us that much for saving you last night."
Lily turned her glare on Athena, her green eyes ablaze, and hissed, "Like I said before, Sky-dancer, I can handle myself. You and your boys need to just butt out of everyone's business. And I only came here this morning because Dumbledore asked me to." James' face fell and he looked away disappointed.
Athena saw this and frowned. Her emphatic senses were screaming out to her the plight of James' breaking heart. A powerful rage swept over her. "What is YOUR problem Lily! Can't you see that this smart, funny, handsome, sweet boy LOVES you! I've never seen him be anything but generous and kind to you, and you treat him like dirt." Lily's face turned a shade redder, either out of embarrassment or rage, Athena couldn't tell. "And now you're lying to him and saying that you checked out ALL those books just to RESEARCH! Tell him the truth, -that you suspect Remus of being a Lycan." Lily gasped and James spun around betrayed to gape at Athena. In a kinder voice, one reminiscent of the golden notes of wisdom and resonance synonymous with that of all Unicorns, Athena whispered to James, "If you love her so much, than be truthful as well and respect her intelligence."
Something seemed to click in James' mind and he gave an earnest nod to the Unicorn Princess before turning resolute to Lily. "Lily, maybe you should have a seat, we could be here a while."
Lily, instead of sitting, backed away. "NO! I don't care what you have to say to me Potter! Just leave me alone and tell your snotty friend to stay out of my business and the heck away from me!" She was very red and near tears. She looked about ready to bolt, but suddenly, her panic ceased. She sniffled, wiped her eyes, and said in her calm, commanding Head girl voice, "You're taking the third and fourth floors tonight. Don't be late." And with that, she whirled around and quickly fled the hospital wing.
Just as the doors closed behind her, Sirius, Guinevere and Remus entered. By the looks on their faces, it was obvious that they had encountered the distraught Head girl on their way in. All three gave James an exasperated look.
"Hey! It wasn't me this time! It was Athena. I solemnly swear!" James exclaimed, giving the two boys the sacred Marauder vow. He then perused his attire and used his wand to transfigure his hospital clothes into a t-shirt and jeans.
Athena grew jealous at his clothes and did the same for herself as Sirius came up to her.
She looked up to him, glad to see him after all the trouble they'd had yesterday, but something was wrong. His normally mischievous gray eyes were glum and a frown marred his face.
"What's wrong Sirius?"
"What?" He seemed startled by the question. He was obviously worried about something. "Oh, nothing. How you feeling?" And naturally, he would deny it.
James gingerly arose from his bed and ambled over to his best friend, slinging his arm over Sirius' shoulder. "Come on Paddy. What's up? You look like you've just had a visit to the vet."
Instead of retaliating, Sirius just shrugged. "It's really nothing."
Remus, looking antsy, spoke up, "Well come on, let's get going guys. Madam Pomphrey will keep you two another week if we don't get out of here pronto." Athena looked sympathetically at the prematurely lined face of Remus. The poor boy had to spend so much time here, for something he had absolutely no control over. She hoped to the Goddesses that Lily and her thorned friend wouldn't rat on him.
Guinevere sensed Lupin's unease as well. She ran a tender hand through his sandy locks and let it drop into his hand with a reassuring squeeze. She was about to go over to her friend's bedside, when Remus cupped her face and gave her a soft kiss. It lingered some time before Guinevere finally came up for air and smiled adoringly at her boyfriend. Athena couldn't help but smile too. As sickeningly sweet as their display had just been, she couldn't help but warm in the love they radiated.
Guenivere finally came up to Athena's bed and offered her a hand up. "How are you feeling? I couldn't get much from Remy, but it sounded like you four fought a death eater last night?"
Sirius perked up at Guen's comment and said incredulously, "Remy?!" A truly evil grin erupted across his face. He swiped back his long black hair and said in a squeaky, high pitched shrill, "Oh, Remy, darling! How smashing that we finally know what to call you!" He started advancing on the red-faced Remus, puckering up his lips and making highly noxious smacking noises.
Everyone broke out in laughter at the scene, except Remus of course. Guinevere shot him an apologetic smile, but it didn't deter her from laughing at Sirius's smacking.
"Padfoot, is THAT how you kiss? No wonder you can't hold onto a girl for very long," Remus managed to say with a straight face. Sirius's laughter immediately died and a pout formed.
"Sorry Moony. My kissing methods are confidential and highly sought after. If you want some pointers, it'll cost you some of your Honeyduke's chocolate." Smirking at his friend, Sirius added, "But practice is free of charge."
A look of comical horror adorned Remus's face. He theatrically panicked and reached for Guinevere. The two made a mad dash out of the hospital wing in mock terror.
James watched the two go and laughed. "Wow, outdone by Moony. I think you're losing your touch Pads."
Sirius hung his head in shame and sighed. He slowly looked up and wiped away a nonexistent tear. Giving a rather large, fake sniff, he said, keeping with the facade, "I'm so proud of our little Wolfy Prongs. He's immatured so much under our careful tutelage. Dare I say? The student has exceeded the master?"
"No you may not Padfoot, seeing as I'm the master, and no one has yet to exceed me."
"I don't know either of you." Athena laughed, swinging off the bed. She did it a bit too fast though and felt a little dizzy as she stood.
Both James and Sirius were there to offer a steadying hand to her at the same time.
Before she could thank either of them, however, Madam Pomphrey's matronly squawk could be heard emitting from her office, "YOU TWO BETTER NOT BE LEAVING! I'VE YET TO GIVE YOU YOUR LAST PEPPERUPS!"
The three Marauders made disgusted faces at the thought of the vile tasting potion. They made a scramble for the door and made it out just as Pomphrey's white medical hat could be seen peeking out her office door.
"That was a close call," Sirius said as they strolled down the hall toward their Commons.
Athena saw something up ahead that made her gasp. "Speaking of close, is that who I think it is?" She gestured up ahead of them at a small alcove near the library veiled in shadow.
Both boys had to squint to see what she had easily discerned, but once they found what she was talking about, their disbelief was evident. "That's just wrong," James said. He looked like he was about to puke.
Sirius, a little on the green side as well, said, "Let me please state again for what is probably the thousandth time, I have been and have disowned my family, AND, she's not directly related to me anyway!"
"Maybe if we're very quiet, they won't notice us passing?" Athena said as she tried to look away.
"By the looks of it, they're not going to notice much."
"Jamsie has a point. So, if we could PLEASE press on, I have to go to the loo and scratch out my eyeballs." With that, Sirius grabbed a hold of the gaping James and Athena and dragged them past the small dark alcove where none other than Narrsissa Black and Severus Snape stood, rapped up in each other, making out.
Once they were safely away from the scene, Athena looked at Sirius. "I'm really trying to understand your ways, but all this saliva exchange and groping looks really disgusting."
Sirius put a comforting arm around her shoulders and said, "Don't worry. It doesn't usually look that nasty. That was just because it was Snivilly and Sissy." He paused, a thought lighting up his eyes. "Hang on, Sissy is betrothed to lovely Lucius, whom we incarcerated last night. You think they're celebrating? How would they know?"
"How does anyone know anything that goes on here? Secrets are like giant announcement banners these days. Who knows?" James glanced at Athena. "Hey Silver, hmm…that sounds kinda weird, guess it'll take some getting used to…anyway, when's slave day. Whatdaya say?"
"Oh right, I'd nearly forgotten, thanks for reminding me." James hit his forehead.
"You mean that I could of gotten out of this if I had just kept my big mouth shut?"
"Don't be ridiculous mate, we all know your mouth is far too big to keep shut."
Athena made an attempt to wipe the smirk off her face before she apologized. "Sorry James…well," she thought of the best way to do what she had intended. "I think it was for Sunday, but if you're so eager to do it, I was going to have you leave Lily alone for the rest of the day."
Both boys turned in shock to Athena. James looked confused. "The ENTIRE day?" She gave him a nod. "Why ever would you want me to do that?" He shot Sirius a sideways look. "Maybe Remus was right. If all of them keep coming over to me."
"That was one time! I'm sure Athena doesn't mean this like that." It was Sirius's turn to look perplexed. "Err…you don't fancy Prongsie, do you?" Athena almost laughed at his whiney tone.
"No," She turned to James. "Truth be told, I originally adopted the slavery deal so that I could get you and Lily together."
"Well, I didn't need to be your slave for that!"
"Would you have left Lily alone for any given length of time if you weren't?"
Sirius interrupted. "If Quidditch were involved."
Athena rolled her eyes. "Not counting Quidditch or Marauder outings." Both boys opened their mouths, "And yes, that includes pranking."
They closed their mouths and James seemed to mull this over. "Alright. Yes, I suppose you have a point. So…that's it? Just leave my Lilykins alone? Doesn't seem very effective. Considering that when I leave her alone, and she ALWAYS avoids me, we'll never see each other."
Sirius nodded his head. "Prongs, rare as it may be, does have a point."
"Doesn't matter does it? He's my slave, and this is what I'm going to have him do."
James gave her a puppy dog pout and whined, "But it's cruel and unusual punishment."
Athena grinned. "No, that would be rooming with Lily and Rose."
"You think he'll be able to do it?" Sirius asked Athena later that day as the two relaxed under the oak beside the lake. The autumn chill in the air made them both wrap their robes a little tighter around themselves. Athena noticed that the great tree shading them was beginning to change it leaves. Hints of orange, yellow and red were evident. They glowed in the early afternoon sunlight and stood out against the green. If she were home now, her herd would probably be starting the long journey toward Autumn Acres about now. She wondered how they were faring.
Turning to look at Sirius, she thought of Aramos. Another pang of loss hit her. They'd be racing the wind, ducking the falling leaves and each other on their way to the Acres. The homesickness threatening to consume her, she answered Sirius's question, "I think…No, I'll bet, that James is more than up to the task."
"Hmm…betting against my own best friend on whether he can win the girl of his dreams? Sure, I'll take that bet."
Athena looked over to the lake and noticed some dark clouds gathering. An ominous feeling was heavy in the air. "You never told me what was bothering you this morning." At Sirius's lost look, she went on. "In the hospital wing, something was obviously troubling you. After all, you never manage to look that…serious…for very long."
Sirius dropped the book he had been skimming and sighed. His gaze turned toward the thunderhead as well and his eyes mirrored the approaching storm as he said, "It was when you were unconscious last night." Athena snorted.
"You're not going to get all mushy on me are you? I'm fine now, and Malfoy didn't even hurt me, it was that awful tree."
"Oh no! Not that. It's just that…" He stopped. Were her eyes mistaken, or was Sirius Black actually at a loss for words?
"What?"
"When I saw you last night. In your real skin, I guess I finally just came to the realization."
"And that realization would be?" Her heart was a traitorous beast indeed. It's pounding could probably be heard all the way in the Black Forest.
"That we're too different for anything to ever happen between us…as much as I think I would have wanted it to."
A great wave of disappointment washed over Athena and she was momentarily rendered speechless. Rejection was not something drilled into a Unicorn Princess. Well, actually any Unicorn for that matter. On a whole, they were a very vain race. She swallowed her hurt. "Oh. I see."
Sirius looked pained. He turned away from her and made to get up. "I'm sorry."
Athena shook her head. "No no. Sit down silly. We can still hang together right?" She hated the sound of her own pleading, but it was there non-the-less.
Sirius gave a hollow grin and nodded, retaking his seat. He pointed to the storm, but his eyes remained on her as he said, "We should probably head back inside anyway. Knowing James, he'll probably be on life support by now from his lack of Lily, and that storm looks bad."
"You go ahead. I retain my position, James will get through this spectacularly, you'll see. I want to see the rain."
Sirius stood up and looked down on her. "Can you even catch a cold?"
"Guess we'll find out."
"Don't go getting caught by anymore Death Eaters ok? I want to get something from my winning bet."
"What's the pay up?"
"Whatever we agree to when we have a winner?"
"Sure. See you in DADA."
"Don't be late, Regulus has been complaining to Slughorn how lax McGinnis has been on his late students. The little bugger." Athena nodded and watched him go until he disappeared behind the heavy oak doors of the castle.
Athena watched the lake for a few more minutes until the first drops began to fall. She got up to run to the castle, but the Dark Forest caught her eye. She knew it wasn't long until McGinnis's class started, but she really felt like running. She felt like hurting. No, she shook her head, that wasn't right. She just felt hurt.
Blowing off her Defense class, Athena ran to the forest and slipped off her ring. She eagerly banished all her belongings and began tearing through the trees, her quick strides becoming longer and longer as she galloped.
It was raining full force now and soon enough, her whole coat was soaked. She didn't stop though. As the ground turned to mud, she continued to plow on.
So lost was she in her running, that she didn't notice the black figure until it was too late.
As they both lay there, the wind knocked out of Athena and the legs knocked out from the Thestral, Athena began to apologize. "Forgive me. I wasn't paying attention and-
"Athena I presume?" The Thestral's deep, imposing voice rattled in her head and she had to repress wincing.
"Yes. I suppose you're Naomi?" He nodded airily. Athena gave a stiff bow and leered. "Not a very intimidating name is it?"
Naomi looked less than thrilled at her. "I don't need an intimidating name," he nimbly rose to his feet and glared down at her. "Do I?"
Athena, a little less smug, scrambled up and shook off the lingering mud on her otherwise luminous white coat. Nonplused, she replied, "No, I don't suppose you do."
Naomi looked ready to explode at her insolence, but he shook it off with a smirk. "You're very amusing your highness. Now follow me, I'll not let it be said that I didn't respect Arabella's last wishes." He started away from her but halted when he saw she wasn't going anywhere. "What is it now?" He was not shy about hiding his annoyance.
"I'm not heading back just now."
"Oh, and where do you think you're going? You do realize that every hit Wizard, snake, Death Eater, and the Dark Lord himself are after you?"
"Are they really? Hadn't noticed." Naomi's red eyes glinted rage at her sarcasm.
"Your mother died for you. And this is how you're going to repay her?"
Athena's defiant air deflated for a second and in that moment she truly did look ashamed of herself, but it was short lived as she shook her head and whispered, "I'm sorry, but I have to see my herd. I have to make sure they're ok, and I have to see Aramos."
"So many I's. Tell me, are you normally this self-involved?"
Athena lifted her proud head in anger. "You would speak this way to ME?"
Naomi glared. "So sorry. Please, go on and mess everything up. Don't mind me, the cursed one. What do I know?"
A look of confusion graced Athena's equine features and she couldn't help but ask, "Cursed?"
"You mean to say," Naomi began with surprise, "that you, the royal heir to the throne of the Unicorns, does not no the curse placed upon her own kind?"
At her look of shock, an evil grin broke out on his leathery face and he quickly went on, "Nearly five centuries ago, black Unicorns inhabited the Earth. Have you never questioned why there are none today?" Naomi began to circle Athena, hatred filling his eyes as long kept memories surged forth. "It was all because of love, the love of your mother. When Anikon left her, it tore her apart. Not able to stand the suffering of her only daughter, Alanair had a curse brought upon every Black Unicorn in existence. I was a young colt at the time. Only a century or so, but I remember the cursed day well. A dark fire arose in the pit of my stomach, burning me alive, from the inside out. It burned my flesh till I was left with nothing but the leathery exterior you see before you. Great, painful bones arched out of my withers and spread like a giant canopy over my head. My skin followed the bones portrusal until I felt as though it would tear. I'll never forget the pain of that day, for it lives with me still, it is seen in the redness of a Thestrals' eyes, and felt in are ability to only be seen by those who have witnessed death. For that is what we are- Dead Unicorns walking."
Athena looked in horror at him and slowly backed away. Naomi's evil grin only widened as he mocked, "Does my history bother you my lady?"
Athena attempted to rein in her emotions and as steadily as she could muster said, "I'm sorry, I had no idea."
Naomi gave a humorless laugh. "It matters not to me that you regret, something a Unicorn fails at exceedingly well…No. I don't want your pity. I'm well over that day. Arabella has already made up to me and mine for her mother's wickedness and thus my allegiance is secure. But you will heed me when I say we're going back to the castle now."
Athena stood motionless for a moment. Her statuesque splendor seemed to attract the last of the sun's rays as it peeked out through the gray clouds. Tossing her head, her silvery mane glistening and her diamond horn glowing threateningly, Athena snorted. "I think not. Twas a pleasure my lord." Before he could think to stop her, Athena had bolted from the clearing and sped off into the woods.
Naomi could have followed her, but he was too annoyed by her juvenile behavior. Sorry Arabella, he thought to himself with a sigh. At least he had tried.