Chapter 13
I was nervous. Should I be this nervous!? Probably, we were currently venturing in the chamber of secrets. Every Slytherins dream come true. Neville was with us because I had to test him. It also helped that we needed a fourth person (The Gypsy had a freakish superstition with even and odd numbers corralling with the days) and he was the only one who knew most of our situation. Being Pans BF had its perks, apparently. Plus, anything that ups his Gryffindor bravery and strength was fine in my books!
If only it wasn't so...dirty! Dust is one thing. Dark and dank is another. But corpses! That's a complete new level of disturbing. ..and a bit fascinating... What, this is my first time seeing a Basilisk! Even if it was killed. It would still be able to give some potion ingredients. Course a live one would be better; I always did want one as a familiar. And freely given ingredients are really the best working. For living beings anyway.
"Okay, what are we supposed to do?" Neville was the impatient type. Who knew?
I hummed. "I'm not sure..I suppose I'll just sing. Mind helping me, guys." We had decided before to use my soul song. The others would just be the instruments, in case they actually had to do something instead of standing around like a bunch of gargoyles. Neville got serious points for being able to play several instruments. His singing wasn't horrible either, suprises sure cloak this guy! Anyway,...
Follow Me by Uncle Kracker, with a few addition changes. 'Ring you wear' is now 'past you bear'. 'Baby' too 'really'. Ladies and gentlemen be reminded that a soul song is a confusing thing. I still don't get why the gods chose that particular song as mine; it doesn't even change for anything like it was supposed too. And let me tell you I have had a few life changing moments where my song was guaranteed to change. Let me me tell you We-ee-eird! The others songs certainly changed.
When the songs and a few random lights ended, it took a while to get my baring. For some reason singing my SS always brought me flashbacks. Makes no sense really, but oh well. Somethings are just to complicated to think about. I only had a minute to see the glazed look on my companions faces. Huh, maybe I'm not the only one to get flashbacks.
I heard the clapping. In retrospect I should have heard it earlier. BUT, I already stated my muddled reasons. I looked around; trying to pinpoint where it was coming from.
"You know i've only ever heard of the rumored spirits voice. Never met someone baring one, though. I was starting to think it was just a myth. You must be very important to your people, your highness." The little girl that came out of the was blond, chubby and oh-so adorable. She even had the expected teddy bear clutched in her arms. Her eyes were wide and yet, contained experience and knowledge still far older than her years.
Not so surprising considering the Gypsys rumored elemtal-vampireness. So unfair. They could grow so old yet stay wrinkle free!
"Hi, sweetheart. My name is Hermione. Her-my-oh-nee. What's your name. And where are your parents? You really shouldn't be down here, you know. It's not safe for kids." She even crouched; as if the little girl couldn't tell who was talking if she didn't have visual aide.
...I really don't blame the girl (I'll just call her mini-bear, she was just sooo cuddly!) for taking a momemt to stare at Mione. Probably to see if she had something mentally wrong with her. Even I stared. Mione did realize the difference betwen a child and a crup, right. Not to mention from her speech alone, I could tell this kid is only childish in looks. If anything I bet my favorite hairpiece that she was older than me. Despite looking like an average 8 year old.
"This IS home and I'd thank you not to converse as if I was a babe still learning of the loo." Hmm, that was abnormally violent and cold for someone so cute. I sighed, it just goes to show you the cute ones always have a bit of danger lurking within.
"We're looking for The Gypsy. Do you know where she is?" I asked over Miones spluttering.
She looked at me. I held her gaze, refusing to back down or underestimate her. She had already proved to be of the not-ordinary group... and besides, she was a child-look-alike in, for all intents and purposes a dungeon. With a dead snake! Yeah she's not normal in any sense of the word. And that's coming from me.
"What do you want with my mother?" Her mother!
Huh, in a way I really think I should have known that. The Gypasy was rumored to be immortal. Comes with the whole elemental-vampire living beneath the earth underneath the castle thing. Though it does make you wonder just how she managed to get a kid down here. Not alot of prospects as far as I could see... then again..What do I know?
"Well, we need her help." I chewed my lip and looked at her. For some strange reason I felt like I could trust her; as if I could bare all my fears and secrets without a care to any concequences. A few beats pass. She just sat there, her head cocked to the side in a way that reminded me of an eager badger set loose in an entirely new library. A bit strange really, but oh well, what the hey. In for a sickle. In for a galleon. I sat in front of her, once again ignorong my so-called companions.
"She can find my sisters. They were captured and it's my wish to save them."
"Just your sisters?" I blinked. I blinked again. Huh, looks like someone did have the ability to strike me speechless! Excluding Harry. Occasionally. Maybe just every now and then.
"I've been here a long time Dragon. I have seen and heard things near and far. Yiu need not know the 'how' of it; simply believe my words to be true. It also wouldn't hurt to know your Maha practically raised me." Great, just great. Just how many people am I gonna meet that can arch thier brow with no. Bloody. EFFORT! Ok, I might be a little hysterical.
"I don't..I don't understand. How... What do you know?" Will wonders never cease? She just looked at me.
"You have many siblings, none through blood. Magic has brought you together and added to your inherent power. I feel all kinds of magic. Some old; some forgotten and thus declared new. But, it takes a certain person to create a new form of magic entirely. Those few are called the souls of many songs. They are said to be devoid of a SS, simply because one could never be found. Instead, they had a voice, music. A song to see what best descibes him or her. A melody to open your eyes to the past they bear. I felt the music and heart you created. It pulsed and already there are those who find their heads in new harmony. New ideas and spells are worming thier way in those very same people. It is powerful. You truly are unique, Dragon."
I was quiet. "Open your eyes to the past they bear. Does that apply to everyone, mini-bear?" I looked around and I was stunned at the looks I got. Or rather the looks that refused to meet mine. I closed my eyes and had to breath for a moment. Ok, okay! Its not that bad. I can get through this. One thing at a time Dray. One thing at a time. Focus, Aleta. Arella. Focus on them. I felt a hand on my knee.
"You do not know if it caused problems till you collide with it head on." I had a gut feeling she wasn't talking about my mild panic attack. At least not just my mild panic. I swear, do masks mean nothing to these people. But, it helped. Strange as that is.
"They're my family. I won't abandon them..." I closed my eyes and leaned back on Harry. When did he even get there. "I healed Suri, but I don't. I dont even know where the others are. I can't feel them and I have my doubts sometimes.I know, I KNOW, it was Him. The evil Maha was planning to tell us of. It was the only time I ever heard her scared and. Alone. Maha was immortal. She is pure magic given humanity! How powerful does one have to be to make her so scared. Oh, and that's not even the best part. Some prophecy says we're supposed to defeat this, this person. We. Kids that just wanted freedom. A chance to be accepted and able to walk without hatred in every direction, simply bdcause of the roves we chose to wear." For a minute there was quiet. I haven't told anyone about this. It makes me wonder why i'm spilling my guts to a CHILD, for all that she looks.
"I protect them from the worst and they try to repay in kind. We're family, together till the end... but I'm scared. We don't even know how to control our powers, let alone our magic." I whispered. I never once opened my eyes. If I did I would see the others and the illusion I crafted to say this will be shattered. I even blocked out Harrys arms, thier soothing strokes on my stomach. Eveything but me and this child-look-alike didn't exsist. Probably, why I didn't notice the shimmering or the gasps.
"... open your eyes Dragon."
...That was NOT a childs voice. Nor was it my mini-bears voice. I looked up. Wow! She was really pretty. Tall with a inner beauty that enhances her outer grace. She had gold eyes witj red flashes here and there. Pale was the only color I can use to describe her skin, with ruby red lips and pink curls cascading down her shoulders. White cherubs wings beat a innocent melody on her back. Though, naturally I was still a little cuter. Besides, that smile creeped me out just. A. Smidge.
"The last person I deigned to help decided I was better kept caged. Since then I felt it was just an omen that wizards have lost their right to have that help. It finds me curious that I would here you for so long. I don't understand why but I am not in the habit of questioning my very self. I can not interfere but I can talk and teach, Dragon. Go and save your sisters from the land of thier birth. Bring them to me and I will teach them what they need to know. Hogwarts, though asleep is still the safest place. I will add my power to make it safer still. But beware, lies can be found anywhere so trust your soul first and foremost. And do not disappoint me."
; P:]:]:]:]; P
It was a quiet walk back to the dorms. I was still bunking with the Gryphs and Ron didn't comment as I followed them. I suppose we all had a lot to think about. Course I didn't know what Ron or Nev or even Harry could be thinking about. Who does? And as far as i'm concerned Harry can think what he wants so long as he keeps holding my hand. Though, he doesn't nessassarily need to know how much I like it, does he? Hermione I could guess. She did get scolded by a we-don't-know-how-much-older-she-really-is elemental immortal VAMPIRE in kid form! Yeah, I'd have a lot tl think about too in her shoes.
We climbed through the portrait, the fat lady oh-so casually looking the other way when it was my turn. It wasn't till I got a hug and 'night' from a still occupied Mione that I realized that maybe the silence wasn't that normal. I barely got under the covers before Harry shocked the magic out of me.
"My relatives abuse me. They don't feed me. They lock me in a cupboard for most my life. Hagrid had to scare them into giving me a room bjg enlugh to actually fit me. You already guessed most of that though." I opened my mouth to say I didn't know it was that bad but he leaned into my ear before I could even get a meep out. He breathed out, then in. "They also beat me, sometimes. It wasn't bad, it never got to far but I was scared. At times I was terrified. Always making sure I played by their rules. I was so afraid of pushing them to thier worst. I prayed every night for someone to see and care enough to save me. I'm glad I met you, Dragon."
"I hated having so many siblings. I always had to share. Always had to use the old and worn things. Rarely did I get anything new and sometimes it scared me to admit how much I resented that. I get it now, but sometimes. Back then, I'd dream of running. Running far away. Finding a family that will always remember me. A family that, for once only focused on me. I don't understand you, but I guess I get you. A bit, now. I still hate what you did and said and you'll get no pitu from me...but I still think I can see you as a mate, like Harry. Whether you like it or not, Ferret." Ron did not make me cry, he didn't! I still..sniff..hated him.
"I used to dream of Bellatrix when I was younger. Used to hear her insane laugh and wake up screaming for my gran. She'd come and tell me not to cry. Not to worry. I'd grow up and honor thier memory. I'd be just like them and never let anyone forget... She even gave me my dads wand, said 'this, this Neville. This is what we will aspire to. You will be the splitting image of your da and make him proud.' I'm sure it was supposed to make me feel better, but it just made me feel worse. As if I didn't just loose my parents. I lost myself. For so long I went with it. I tried to be a fighter, to get my spells right and powerful. Too be the quickest and most agile. But no matter how I tried I failed. When I finally put my foot down I went and got a new wand. Entered a dojo and only did what felt right to me. The look on my grans face made me question my choice. That look made me feel like the worlds smelliest dung and it was only some special words that kept me firm. In a way I was finally free. Back in primary school, you were my first friend. I hated you for betraying that for some time. Believe it or not though, I also forgave you for the longest time." What was this? A sharing circle. Because I don't remember signing up for one.
My mouth was opened so wide I was sure to catch a few flies. I had to blink several times and no matter how much I opened and closed my mouth, no words escaped. I felt tears wanting to gather with much more force and I had to force them down. I could only respond with one thing under such circumstances.
"You are sooo lucky we're the only ones here." A tighness I wasn't even aware exsisted diminished somewhere inside of me.