This is going to be a short chapter because I need it for the suspense. :) ohh, don't you all just love me? Also, this chapter is going to be a bit confusing. To break it down, the underlined is once voice, the italics is another voice, and the regular text is third person Hermione's perspective. The last voice will be bolded and underlined. It won't make sense at first, but you'll get used to it. I couldn't use quotes cuz that would mess up the effect. You'll see…. And the bold… it's just there.
Disclaimer: Only the plot line is mine. The characters are all from the genius that is J.K. Rowling.
Everlasting Rain
Chapter 4
In the Depths of Her Mentality
Wake up! Granger! Wake up!
Huh? Why is it so dark? Where am I?
Granger! Hurry up! We don't have much time.
Who is that?
She was floating against the backdrop of a vortex of colors, swirling and mixing. No, she wasn't floating. Her body was no where to be seen. Rather, her soul was bobbing along a turquoise-gold blob. The colors seemed to part for her. With a gasp, she realized that she wasn't looking at some distant wall. The sickly colored goop (she didn't know what it was because her soul couldn't exactly reach out and feel it) was part of the air. She screamed, and with a choke, realized that no sound came from her throat.
Never… never… never….
The voice rang all around, and then faded.
What the?
As soon as she thought it, her voice- it had to be hers. No voice was quite so irritating to her- trilled the words out. Her words, they vibrated around the place, and then faded.
Good, Granger. You finally got it.
Who are you?
AS the words left her brain, she made a connection.
No, her brain mused, it can't be.
Oh, the voice said, but it is.
When the voice faded, it took with it the colors, leaving the place momentarily black. Then, a huge picture appeared. Everywhere she turned, that picture was right in front of her face.
Malfoy.
Yes.
Why are you here?
You played a very mean joke on me today.
What? What are you talking about?
Projecting your image in my mind. Brilliant. But how? How did you know I was a shadowstalker? How did you make the connection?
I, she gulped, picking her words carefully. I felt your conscience, and I reached out and touched it. I felt so much fear and anger. I saw through your eyes. I saw… me. I guess it just came to me to envision myself as a ghost, haunting you. You saved me.
Yes. I suppose I did. I really don't know why, though. Listen, we have less than two minutes. When you wake, you won't remember any of this. I have brought you into my conscience for a reason. Granger, do you see that vase?
What v… before she finished her sentence, a vase appeared next to her. She touched it tentatively, and shrieked as the vase leaped at her outstretched hand.
Don't touch it yet! When I count down to one, I want you to deposit some of your mind's essence into that vase. This will forge a connection between us so we can communicate at any time.
I… she hesitated.
Granger, now is not the time to doubt.
She felt trust in his mind. She somehow knew that it was a risk for him, also, to forge this connection. He would not betray her.
Three… two…
She had to decide. Now or never.
One.
She reached out a piece of her mind and grabbed the vase (A/N how she can do that will come in a later chapter). It hissed angrily, and turned to her. Only instinct kept her holding on.
Those red eyes, so snakelike, red, glowing slits. That reptilian snout. That pale, pale skin.
What did you see last summer, Granger? What did you see in the Ministry Of Magic? the vase taunted her, spinning spidery fingers around her tendril of thought. You saw me. You saw Lord Voldemort, your greatest fear. You saw death. Now you will know me. Now, you will know DEATH.
The vase raised her "wrist" up to its mouth and sand its basilisk fangs into it. Liquid squirted forth: bright, red, rich, thick blood splashed into the vase's waiting depths.
She felt a tremendous pull on the edge of her conscience and a tiny piece being torn off. All around her, projected like Draco's picture was, was a puzzle, shaped in a heart. She watched, in a trance, as a piece in the center of the golden heart floated away. She watched, as a silver piece replaced it. Then, she watched as the silver piece grew, bloating and pushing the other pieces of her heart away.
Then, with sickening satisfaction, she saw her heart exploding.
Ok you guys, I hope you like this chapter, because I worked REALLY hard to come up with this / I had a few roadblocks but they're all clear now… that wasn't really a cliffie, was it? LOl I hope you guys enjoyed that.
Thanks to winesjunkie, xxobriTtAnyxoxo13, Zappy Monkey, leftarrow, blaiselover, Hpfreakout, Mango-Burst13, and Drakulya for reviewing. You guys are the best. :)