Skia took a seat between Lavender and Dean and looked up at Dumbledore. The old man was standing, waiting for everyone to come in.
Hermione sat in front of Skia, flanked by Harry and Ron. They said their hellos and waited even longer. Finally, the last Slytherins stalked in and took their seats.
"Welcome to this year's Halloween feast. I have an introduction to make before you tuck in. Please welcome Ms. Krystia Duval." Light applause rose as Krys stepped up, smiling.
"Hey, everyone. Please call me Krys, it's much easier for me to recognize. I'm here at the bidding of my overprotective mother. The crazy she-dragon insists that I come here to make sure my insane sister isn't blowing up the Potions lab. She always did like making bombs." A few chuckles rang through the hall at that. "Anyways, like you, I'm starving, so back to Dumbledore." Everyone applauded as Krys took a seat.
"Thankfully, I agree with Krys. Tuck in!" Food magically appeared on the golden plates and everyone dug in eagerly.
Harry rubbed his stomach regretfully; maybe he had too much to eat. Ron and Hermione were behind him, while Skia and Krys were in front, talking seriously. They turned a corner, only to stop abruptly.
The corridor was jam-packed with students who were milling about confusedly. Skia tried to push her way through, to no avail.
"Why isn't anyone going in?" Ron wondered. Harry saw the two sisters glance at each other.
"Fire?" Skia asked lazily Krys threw a stern glance at her younger sister.
"Just enough to move them aside," She warned. Skia smiled wickedly, sending chills down Harry's spine. Somehow, that smile seemed foreboding. Her eyes flashed red for a moment, and she turned to face the crowd. Krys turned as well, taking her place at Skia's side. Harry gulped.
"You three might want to step aside for a moment, we're opening a path with rather unusual means," She tossed over her shoulder. Harry immediately took a step back. Whatever these two sisters planned, it probably wasn't something he wanted to get in the way of.
"Bomb's away," Skia laughed. Together, they snapped their fingers. A tiny flame popped into existence, hovering over their fingers. Harry relaxed, thinking that it was over.
Suddenly, with a roar, the flame grew, coating the two sisters. Skia became a fiery angel with wings to complete the picture. Krys was more subdued; she became a slim pillar of fire that lightly singed those who were too close. Together they were moving steadily towards the Fat Lady. Everyone moved aside, screaming and pointing at the inferno.
The fire made a path through the students, and Harry took advantage of it. Ron and Hermione followed, still shell-shocked. Finally, the fire died down, leaving a rather pleased looking Skia. Krys wasn't as happy.
"Skia, I thought I warned you, no dramatics!" She scolded. Skia grinned up at her sister.
"No, you warned me not to do anything more than to move them aside," she said impishly. Krys huffed, but subsided.
"Move aside!" She snapped at a few staring seventh years that were blocking their view of the portrait. They moved eagerly, not wanting her wrath.
What they saw made them gape. The portrait was slashed into ribbons. The Fat Lady was nowhere to be seen.
"Move aside, move aside, I'm Head Boy, move aside!" Percy pushed his way through. A silence fell, and even the whispers about Skia and her sister were halted in the sudden chill.
"Someone get Professor Dumbledore. Quick," Percy said in a sharp voice, recollecting his thoughts. Krys snapped her fingers and a tiny flame blossomed in her hands. She brought it near her mouth and whispered, then sent it on its way. The tiny dart of flame zipped through the air, disappearing around a corner.
"He's coming," She said, looking pale. Krys glanced at Skia, and a look passed between them. Harry felt a frown appear on his face. For some reason, he got the feeling that the two sisters knew what happened already.
Dumbledore arrived on the scene and took only a glance at the ruined portrait. He turned to the arriving teachers with a somber look on his face.
"We must find her. Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once. Tell him that I need him to search every painting in the castle." A sudden cackle rang in the air.
"You'll be lucky!" Peeves hung upside down, watching everyone with a wicked look.
"What do you mean, Peeves?" The poltergeist dropped his mocking tone and adopted an oily tone.
"Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen, Sir Headmas- ACK!" Peeves spun frantically in a cage of fire, while Krys glared at him with narrowed eyes.
"Speak plainly, Peeves, or I'll scorch your little outfit," she said flatly. A tongue of flame flickered dangerously near Peeves eyes and she released him. Secretly, Harry cheered. Peeves had it coming for a long time.
"She's crying something dreadful," Peeves said hastily. "Up on the fourth floor, dodging between trees."
"Did she say who did it?" Dumbledore asked calmly. Peeves seemed to regain a bit of his mischievous spirit as he flipped in the air.
"Oh yes. He got very angry when she didn't let him in," Peeves snickered. Catching Krys's eye, he adopted a more somber tone. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."
Whispers broke out. Neville Longbottom even managed a terrified squeak.
"Will all the Gryffindors kindly go to the Great Hall, as the teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Dumbledore called. He lowered his voice to speak privately with Ski and Krys. "Ms. and Ms. Duval, I believe your assistance will be helpful." Krys nodded briskly.
"I'll take the third floor. Skia, you take the grounds. Get Morgan and Jake."
"Krys, you know the nighttime is the hunting hour," Skia protested weakly. Harry stared. He had never seen Skia so scared. In fact, he had never seen Skia scared. It worried him. She was pure white and her lips were trembling. Krys softened her voice.
"I know, I know, but we have to. I've got a blood pack to help with the hunger. Chances are, he won't be able to get out of the castle anyways." Krys laid a reassuring hand on Skia's shoulder. "Don't forget the forest as well, though just check the borders."
"Ms. Duval, I cannot risk a student around the forest. Surely-" Krys cut Dumbledore off with a look.
"If there's anyone who can go into a forest and come out in one piece, it's Skia. She's the only one who knows the animal etiquette," she said flatly. Dumbledore nodded reluctantly.
"Very well. If you encounter any trouble, I want you to raise red sparks," he said to Skia. Skia nodded, then squared her shoulders.
"Might as well get started," she said. Her eyes hardened and she seemed to regain her usual fire. She grinned at Harry.
"Don't worry about me," she said, winking. She strode off in the direction of the entrance with wave. Harry blinked, then jumped as a hand rested on his shoulder.
"She's scared," Krys said without looking at him. "Don't pressure her when she comes back. Just…be her friend." She nodded at him briskly and started to move away.
"Wait," Harry called. Krys paused, and his bravery weakened. "Why is she scared?" He asked quickly, before the last of his courage left him completely.
Krys was silent, and Harry thought that she was going to ignore him until she suddenly spoke.
"That's her business. Maybe she'll tell you someday." With that, Krys left, sending globes of flame ahead to scout for Black.
Skia lifted her face to the moon and sniffed long and hard. She sifted through the various scents in the air, searching for an unfamiliar one. She left off when she heard the soft sounds of padded feet.
Skia turned to meet Lupin in his wolf form. He was tall and strong, but she saw the ribs showing.
"Nothing?" she asked. The wolf shook its head and looked sadly at the forest. Lupin turned and trotted over to the Whomping Willow. He glanced back at her once with sad eyes and vanished into the roots.
Skia felt sorry for her teacher. Dumbledore would have gotten Lupin to check the forest, but the werewolf refused, saying that the potion could not stop the natural love of the forest.
Skia breathed in one last time and started for the forest. Black wasn't on the grounds, that was for sure. What wasn't sure was whether he was in the forest.
The trees pressed in around her, and even her night eyes couldn't see through the gloom. A terrified mouse darted away from her feet. With a muttered curse, Skia lighted her wand. Magic was not an advisable tool if you were trying to enter a magical creature's realm without harming anything.
A brief rustling of wings was the only warning she got as an enraged hoot owl dove down on her. Skia ducked and frantically sifted through her memory. Owl speech, owl speech, why couldn't she remember!
Intruder! Featherless fledgling, you shall pay for chasing away my prey! The owl screeched, wheeled away for another attack. Skia concentrated fiercely on remembering.
Forgive me, night-rider! Skia cried out, relieved that she had not forgotten owl-speech. Owls were aloof and proud, but they listened if you spoke the right words. The owl soared over her head and landed on a nearby branch.
You are a night-talker. There was surprise in the owl's words as he regarded her sternly. If you are a night-talker, you should have known better than to use your magic light to scare away my game. Annoyance crept into the owl's tone. I am hungry, and prey has been scarce of late.
Deepest apologies, night-rider. I had no knowledge of that. Do you know why the prey has vanished? Skia asked, dousing her wand's light. Animals considered it to be bad manners if you used magic in front of them.
A strangely shaped human. He has no manners, and he is filthy, even for your kind, the owl sniffed. Skia pricked her ears up at this.
He is a kin-slayer, she said, giving the name for an animal that kills one of his own kind. He has slain many, and comes to slay more. Do you know where he roosts?
The owl shifted on his branch slightly as he noticed a slight movement. Skia held very still for him as he dove. When he came up again, there was a wriggling tail in his beak. Turning his back on Skia, he swallowed, then turned round again.
I do not know, he informed Skia. He comes and hunts eagerly, then vanishes. The owl turned to go, then paused. You are a good-mannered fledgling for holding still while I hunted. I would not mind a second meeting, though you'd better not chase my prey away a second time. He flew away regally. Skia hid a slight blush as she moved further into the forest. It was a very high compliment for an owl.
Skia struggled to stay alert as it grew later. Glancing at her hands, she saw that they were as white as the moon hanging over her. Something hard tickled her lip. Taking out the blood pack Krys had given her, Skia drank it and felt alertness rush back to her. It was good thing, because an arrow flew over her head at that moment.
Hehe, I'm evil for leaving AGAIN. :P I'm going to US for the rest of the month, and I don't think a computer will be available. Well, at least I updated!
Pwetty pweeeeease click the cute lil button over there on the left! If you do, I'll give you a hug :P