CHAPTER 6
Notes: Marie wrote this chapter, not me. You'll be able to tell when it's me because I absolutely do not leave the 4th wall intact at all. I break it by doing much more than just put ANs in parentheses. Ehehehe… again, Marie, if you're reading this, I did not put this up to spite you. If I did, my screen name would be "pigshatapult" or something like that _
The next morning, D was more than a little surprised when a small winged snake–-no more than half a foot long–-fluttered over to the teachers' table and landed on Umbridge's plate. Its scales and bat-like wings were the color of ivory, with evenly distributed bluish speckles on them that glittered like a hundred polished blue quartz shards. Jasper eyes glinted dully in the early morning light as they sized up the toad-like human. It fluttered into the air to be at eye-level with her, and a sparkling blue, inverted vortex half a yard in diameter appeared behind it. Thousands of indistinct whispering voices poured out of the portal.
"I am Shinja. I come bearing a message from Count D," she hissed in sibilant English, eyes glowing. A loud, clear voice rang out from the vortex:
"You made my son bleed, woman," the voice said angrily. "None but I am allowed to make my son bleed even a drop. His blood is too precious to be spilt for a petty purpose such as your idea of 'discipline.' I shall let you get away with it this time, for you are ignorant, but should it happen again... I shall send much worse than Shinja after you." There was a pause. "And believe me... I have my ways of knowing."
The vortex collapsed in on itself and Shinja flew over to D, looping herself snugly around his right wrist.
Silence reigned in the Great Hall. It was finally broken by a thud, as Umbridge fell over in a dead faint. (AN: I'm surprised she didn't start an earthquake.) Whispers abruptly began flying back and forth.
"Hey, D, what is that thing?" Draco asked, noticing that D looked about ready to faint as well.
"Father's way of monitoring me," the young kami answered miserably. "Shinja has a constant telepathic link with him."
Meanwhile, at the Gryffindor table, The Golden Quartet were whispering among themselves.
"'Count?' His father's a Count?" Leon asked incredulously. "But that's a Western title!"
"Perhaps his father lives in Europe, or did at one time," Hermione reasoned.
Ron huffed. "What does the title matter? Did you see that swirly thing? They're definitely Dark wizards!"
Harry frowned, looking across the room at D, whom Malfoy was attempting to comfort. "I don't know..." he mused.
Most of the day went uneventfully, until Care of Magical Creatures with the Slytherins.