Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. He and anything else you recognize is the property of JKR, and I lay no claims to. I make no money from writing this and am only borrowing.

AN: Man, I'm glad for long weekends. Because I get a nice little break before mid terms I've been able to continue this a lot faster then I would have been able to otherwise. I'd like to thank every one who's reviewed so far. Some have said that the prophecy seems confusing now, to which I reply prophecies always are. Everything will come full circle though, you'll just have to wait and see how, I like keeping my plots secret, it making reading it that much better. Anyway, keep reviewing, it makes me happy.

Chapter 10

A shadow no more

It had been raining for three days now, the storm stretching out over the coast, blurring the line between night and day. By the fourth day Rose was more then grateful to be able to step outside the cottage. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy spending her days indoors and surrounded by books but her companions words from earlier that week still stung and being in such confined spaces weren't helping.

Setting by her window, watching the over cast sky, she lazily levitate a paper bird, mind barely on the task. She truly had spent too much time studying recently, wandless magic wasn't even requiring effort anymore. She'd managed to conjure breakfast that with out even saying the spell. Still levitating the bird around the room she gestured towards a book, watching with little interest as it floated towards her, opening to the page she needed. Making a swooping motion with her hand the paper bird landed gracefully on her dresser, a relief to Rose since the book was heavier and needed more concentration.

Her thoughts had recently been revolving around the mysterious girl they had met earlier in the week. Something about her unsettled Rose, but at the same time she somehow knew she was important. "A girl who's name has no meaning." she mused quietly to herself as she browsed through the columns on the page. In the three volumes of name meanings she had found, Nim had not been mentioned once, it was almost as if the girl's name was made up. Snorting slightly Rose supposed that could be the case as well, she distinctly remembered attending school with a Huffelpuff named Artiminus, but at least that had a base and ending she recognized.

Snapping the book closed with a flick of her wrist her gaze once again returned to the window. If the rain didn't stop soon she wasn't sure if she would survive the boredom. Leaning back in the window seat she flicked her wrist again, a silent accio sending the next book in her direction. She could only hope there would be some help in this one.

By Thursday of the following week the rains had finally lessened, at least enough to venture outside the confines of the cottage. The three had ventured out early that day, intending to spend as much time outdoors as possible before the storm returned. Al had discreetly dropped hints all morning that a walk to the village would be nice. Rose honestly didn't know if he was meaning those points or if he just wanted to perchance run into the girl from the week before. By noon however the rain had started up again, driving them back inside, all thoughts of the village drifting to the back of her mind.

Setting next to the fire, drenched to the bone, Rose stared blanking into the cup of coffee Gabrielle had given her to warm up. Shaking some of the water out of her lightening hair she muttered a drying spell for her cloths. Some of the things she'd learned in the past few weeks were proving to be very useful. Glancing over at the shivering, glaring Scorpius Malfoy she hide a smirk and turned away. Served both him and Al right, a small vindictive part of her whispered. They'd been mean to her, lied to her, and countless other things since they had begun this whole stupid ordeal, they deserved to be a little cold. Al was moping too much to seem to care about being wet anyway, apparently he had been hoping they'd walk to Port de chaudron that day. Taking a sip of her drink she stared into the fire. The storm couldn't last forever, and there would be other days to walk there. A shiver ran down her spin at the thought of it. She wasn't in any hurry to get acquainted with Nim Riley.

True to her thoughts the night before the storm finally cleared off the next day and ten o'clock saw them making the trek to Port de chaudron under the pretenses of buying fresh produce for that evenings dinner. The air was pleasantly mild even though October was nearing half done. The weeks had been flying by at the Cottage, something that Rose was both grateful for and fearful of. It had been such a long time since she had heard from Vic, and with each passing day her worry for her cousin's safety grew. Gods only knew where they were at, they could have been captured weeks ago for all the information Rose had.

Glancing up at the sky the unbelievably bright blue of it unsettled her. It had been so dark for so many days that it seemed such a stark contrast. Trying to once again shack the feelings that had plagued her for the past few days she pushed on, hoping the trip to the village would be short. The walk took far less time then Rose had wished it would, and she had parted ways with the others to head towards the produce stalls.

Looking through piles of carrots and fresh pumpkin she slowly became aware of the feeling of being watched. Trying to shack it off it persisted. Glancing around discreetly she saw no one looking at her. Closing her eyes for a second she slowly reached out with her magic, hoping to see if some one was looking at her through magical means. Nothing stood out, no magic eyes or other gadgets spying on her. Just as she was about to open her eyes however, something shifted from behind her. Concentrating harder she focused in to a figure inside one of the nearby buildings. Whoever it was they were staring straight at her. Snapping her eyes open she quickly grabbed what she needed, not caring for freshness. Thrusting them at the stalls owner she murmured a slight "Bonne journée." before hurrying off in the direction she had last seen Al and Scorpius heading.

Stopping near the Magasin d'astronomie she spotted a familiar head of platinum hair. Quickening her steps she pushed her way through the crowds, barely stopping to utter apologizes for pushing past. Rushing forwards she grabbed Scorpius' shoulder, garnering his attention. Before she could open her mouth to utter another word, however, she noticed who else was standing there. Glaring openly at Nim she had to force herself to turn her attention back towards her friends. "I have everything on the list. We can head back now." she bit out, giving Scorpius a forceful yet discreet look.

"Why? We just got here!" Al exclaimed, obviously upset with leaving the girl's presence anytime soon. Rose let out a low growl, gaining a look from Scorpius. Shooting him another look she tried to get her point across.

"Right, um," Scorpius started, looking as though he didn't know what to say next. Stealing a glance at Rose, who gave him a pointed look, he pressed on. "Right, don't want anything to spoil, and we said we'd be back soon. We should be going Al." Al openly glared at Scorpius before returning his attention to Nim, who seemed oblivious to everything going on around her.

Resisting the urge to stomp her foot Rose took the last option. "She can walk with us, but honestly Al, we said we'd come straight back." Rose said, exasperated. This seemed to placate Al for some reason because they were heading out of the village a few moments later. Walking in back of the whispering pair she stayed close towards Scorpius. "I was being watched." Her whisper drew his eyes toward her, question in his eyes. Sighing Rose nodded, understanding what he wanted to know. "I think so. The girl is a liability. Even more then me." His eyes widened marginally at her words but his face stayed nurtural. "I am a Ravenclaw. Honestly, did you think you could keep it from me forever?"

He didn't respond, Rose knew he wasn't going to. The silence grew thick between them with every step they took. Just as Rose was going to give up on getting anything out of him, his hand lightly brushed hers. Eyes widening, she looked at him, but he stared straight ahead, not even glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. 'Maybe it was an accident.' she rationalized before pressing on a head.

The sky seemed to darken with each step they took, swirling into the storm clouds they had known for so long. Feeling her heart sped up with fear Rose walked faster, silently urging Scorpius to do so as well. What ever this was, it wasn't a storm.

A quick succession of loud crakes resounded around them before Rose even had time to process anything. At least eight cloaked figures surrounded them, faces covered by their hoods. A shrill giggle drifted from the front of the group. The figures parted to allow another through. "So these are the children who think that they can stop me." the figure said, it's feminine tone surprising Rose as she jerked around to look at her. A beautiful woman with long blond hair stared down her slightly upturned nose. Taking in their appearance she giggled again. "How... cute." Snapping her fingers the cloaked figures drew their wands, poised to fire. "You actually belive you can stop me, the coming storm?" Rose felt a vice clentch around her gut, this was it, this was who they had all feared. Not a dark lord, a Lady.

"Now," she began, pulling out her own wand. "Who wants to tell me where your little flock of birds is hiding?" No one made a sound as she smiled coldly. "No one?" Her voice sounding as though she were talking to a child. "Oh, that is a shame. It seems we'll have to do this the hard way." Raising her wand to point as all she began to speak. "Cru-."

Reacting as quickly as possible Rose through a vial on the ground, a brilliant flash of light engulfing everything. Landing hard on the ground Rose felt all the air leave her lungs. Coughing violently she pushed herself off the ground. Turning towards the others, still disoriented, she spoke in a deathly calm voice. "Run." Not waiting for their response she took off at a sprint, following the well remembered path towards the cottage.

Bursting inside Rose sprinted up stairs, grabbing her expandable bag, stuffing anything that was not already packed. "Gabrielle!" she called out, rushing off to find their host. Stopping in the library she looked at the older woman, fear in both their eyes. "They've come." Acknowledgment barely dawned in her eyes before the other three burst in to the room. "Transportation potion, slightly modified." She answered at their questioning look.

Scorpius nodded, rushing out of the room to collect his and Al's things. "You don't 'ave much time." Gabrielle said, ushering them into the kitchen. Taking some parcels out of the cabinet she thrust them into Rose's bag. "A port key will be safest, Germany perhaps. They won't expect you there. Or maybe Sweden. Somewhere far away." Scorpius had arrived back downstairs, thrusting Al's things at him none too gently.

Not paying any attention to Nim, Rose spoke up, "Romania, our uncle lives there." Nodding Gabrielle picked up an old cloth, tapping it once with her wand. All three grabbing a hold of it they waited for the second tap.

"What's goin' on?" Nim finally asked, large, frightened eyes staring them down. Not paying any attention to her they kept their eyes trained on Gabrielle. So many questions hung in the air but they didn't dare ask them. Somehow it would make it that much more real.

"I vill be fine." she replied to Rose's unasked question. Tapping the town again the room began to spin, Gabrielle's last words echoing around them. "Gods' speed."

The trip was a blur, the spinning blurring their surroundings and the magic buzzing around them. Falling hard to the ground for the second time that day, Rose sputtered, looking up into the clear night sky that shone above them. Wrapping her arms around herself to stay warm Rose took in the woods that surrounded them. They'd made it somewhere at least.

The sound of flesh hitting flesh drew her from her thoughts as she watched Al stagger backwards. Scampering to her feet she stepped forward, intent on interfering but Scorpius' words stopped her. "'She'll be fine.' 'Stop worrying, everything will work out.' 'We won't be in any real danger.' Well how's this for danger now, Al? We're on the run, again!" he shouted, pulling back his fist to hit him again. Meeting his target with a loud crunch, a cold, vindictive scowl slid across his face. "I told you to send her home! I told you we should never have brought her! It wasn't safe, we knew that from day one!"

Spitting out blood, Al turned towards Scorpius, fists at the ready. "She's a grown woman, Scorpius! It was her choice to come, I didn't force it! She's not a little girl that needs your protection anymore! When are you going to realize that she's outgrown that? Outgrown that type of relationship?" Al screamed, sending a punch towards Scorpius' face.

Quickly blocking it, Scorpius pushed him back. "I'll always protect her!" With that final scream he tackled Al to the ground, the fighting intensifying. Leaning against a tree she took in the two of them, wrestling on the mudding ground. Trying to keep Scorpius' word from affecting her she closed her eyes and concentrated.

"Séparé!" she called out, moving her hands outward. The two fighting boys were forcefully pulled apart, both struggling to get at the other. Moving closer she glared at them. "Enough! If you too would stop acting like children there are more important things to occupy our time with! Like finding out exactly where we are at!" Their straggles lessened but they continued to glare at one another. "Well that's something at least. Dégagement!" The two fell to the ground sputtering.

Not really paying them too much attention, Rose saw an unknown emotion reflect in Scorpius' eyes as he stared at her. Not wanting to dwell on anything she straightened herself. "Well?" she asked, staring down her nose at them. "Are you going to get up sometime tonight? Good." As both of them collected themselves from the ground she heaved a sigh. Stretching her limbs out she tried to relax. "Now to find out were we are. Des dieux des vents je demande votre aide, me montre la manière à la sûreté, oncle Charlie." A small blue light formed in her hands, floating out from her and down the path slightly.

Nodding to herself she began to follow it, her companions staring at it with shock. Looking back over her shoulder she lifted a single, well shaped eyebrow. "What? While you too were so busy keeping secrets I was studying. There are so many good wandless spells in French." Not waiting for either of them to respond she started walking. With any luck her little faye light would take them there as quickly as possible.

tbc.

Next: The Dragon Camps: Say 'hi' Uncle Charlie!

French:

Des dieux des vents je demande votre aide, me montre la manière à la sûreté, oncle Charlie- Gods of winds I ask your aid, show me the way to safety, Uncle Charlie.

Dégagement- release

Séparé- sepreate.

AN: Once again, please review, it may make me update faster.