Loralei fell back slightly, but the veela caught her before her head hit the ground.
The chief, Atli Vale, spoke to the male veela behind Loralei in their language. He sounded upset, while the other sounded defensive. Atli didn't even know for sure if that was his grandchild. Loralei and Katie were still drugged, and falling over themselves. Their muscles felt like jelly. What did they use on them? They knew they were drugged since their minds were sharp, but their bodies couldn't function yet.
The chief stood, all sharp features and stormy blue eyes. "They used too much Dust on you. Your bodies are smaller than normal for your blood. They should have known." He told them. "They are going to take you to a tent so you can sleep, and then you will be brought to me when you are well."
Loralei tried to thank him, but the only thing that came out was a a tired moan.
"Go, sleep. We will speak when you are better." He promised her, touching her cheek softly.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Can you move?" Loralei asked Katie a few hours later. They were in a grand tent in the center of the camp, with a bit of embers in a large copper pit to keep them warm. Loralei felt sorry for Katie. Katie was a good bit shorter than her, and the powder that they were drugged with effected her much more than Loralei.
Her head flopped back and forth, she was still unable to speak.
Loralei took a metal cup and filled it with water, before sitting Katie up and giving her a sip. "Swallow."
It took some effort, but Katie could swallow. Loralei hoped that it would help get the drug out of her system. Katie fell asleep again after a few more sips while Loralei laid back on her bed.
Loralei was unable to sleep, but at the same time felt too tired to do anything else. Her body ached and her head was pounding. Her parents always told her to never do any muggle drugs, but they never said any about magical. Her first experience was not very good.
Two veela women came in the tent an hour later, and got them up. They wore silky gowns with a fur cloak. A bronze chain around their necks. They had dark hair and bright hazel eyes and copper skin. They were both older than Loralei and Katie, though Loralei wouldn't try to guess their ages. They were still young. They were too beautiful to describe, but they did look like sisters.
"Princess Snow?" One said as she shook her. "We have drawn you both baths, and we've found some clothes that should fit you."
Loralei smiled, sitting up. "Thank you so much. You speak English?"
"We have been taught from a young age." The woman told her. "Does your friend need help standing?"
"Katie?" Loralei looked over to her friend.
"Yeah." She groaned, pushing herself up into a sitting position.
"Can you walk?"
"I think so." Katie stated.
"Then we shall show you to the bathing rooms." The one who didn't wake up Loralei said.
"What are your names?"
"Ainslee." The woman who woke Loralei up said.
"Alina." The other said.
"Thank you, Ainslee and Alina." Loralei told them, helping Katie get up. Loralei could tell she was still out of it, so she put her arm around Katie's waist, supporting some of her weight as they walked to a tent next door. There were two copper tubs filled with steaming water and flower petals floating on the surface. It smelled sweet in the room, but not sickeningly so. There was a soft light from the candles on tables throughout the tent. There was a towel folded on a small stool beside each of the tubs with bottles of soaps.
"I think we can take it from here." Loralei told the two veela girls.
"You will need help dressing." Ainslee told her. "We will return when you call for us."
"Thank you." Katie and Loralei said at the same time as the veelas left.
"Do you need help?" Loralei asked Katie.
"No, I'm just going to move slowly." Katie said, grasping the side of the tub, and releasing Loralei. "I don't think that I like that powder stuff." She said as she bend down to undo the lacings of her boots.
"No one does." Loralei agreed, pulling off her own and taking off her thick sweater, and putting it on the ground by the bath. She pulled off the layers of clothing she had and got into the bath slowly, expecting it to be too hot. It wasn't. It was the perfect temperature.
"Katie, I suggest you hurry up because this is so nice." Loralei groaned, massaging the muscles of her back, trying to get her tense muscles to relax.
Loralei looked over to Katie, seeing her only down to her underwear. "Why the hell did they drug us? We weren't even doing anything. As far as they knew we were camping."
"No idea." Loralei said, tilting her head back to get her long hair wet. "My grandfather didn't seem happy, though. Were you awake enough for that?"
"Not really." Katie told her, shredding off the last of her clothes and step into the water. Loralei could see the scars Bellatrix had left on her chest, and had to look away. She still blamed herself for that.
"What do you think is in store for us?" Katie asked, settling slowly into the water.
"It can't be too bad." Loralei muttered. "He recognized me."
"Of course he did. I told you, part veelas look mostly like their veela parent." Katie said. "Those two who just brought us here are from a different tribe. I think they're from America by their accents."
"Do you study veelas?" Loralei asked.
"When I was a child." Katie told her. "Something must have stuck from the books I read."
Loralei laughed. "Then you should know what is going to happen. Apparently you're full of information."
Katie laughed shakily. "With all this information, I'm still really scared. They never let humans leave the camp alive."
Loralei looked at her. "I guess it's a good thing we're not human, then."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After they were dressed in the finest silks and furs that Loralei had ever seen-and she's a Potter!-they were brought before the chief, and Loralei finally got a good look at him. They did look alike, as far as families go. He had high cheekbones, but they were sharper than hers. His eyes were blue, but that wasn't the only color in them. He stood at least a foot taller than her, thin yet muscled. He looked far younger than he really was. He looked more like a father than a grandfather, but veelas did age differently than humans. He was beautiful.
"Granddaughter," he said, holding out his arms to embrace her. "How did you find us?"
"Katie and I came to find you." Loralei told him, embracing him lightly.
"How did you find out about your mother? Rayna told me that you would never know." He pulled away to look at Loralei. "You look just like her. Just like her."
Loralei smiled. "Really?"
"Maybe a little smaller." He told me. "I looked for you, you know. Where did you live, Snow?"
"I started out in an orphanage until the Potter's adopted me. I was raised Loralei Potter. I have a brother."
He turned to Katie. "And you? I can see that you're a part veela too."
Katie smiled and nodded. "Yes. My mother left her tribe and married my father. I am Katharina Greene, but everyone calls me Katie."
"How did you know how to find us?" He asked.
"We didn't." Katie told him. "I knew the general area. We were sleeping when your scouts kidnapped us."
"I am sorry about that. They were out of line, they have been reprimanded." He told them.
"And what happened to our things?" Katie asked. "They took our wands when they got us."
Alti looked at them a moment. "I have them. I will have someone fetch them." He nodded to one of two guards at the opening of the tent and said something in the Veelian tongue. "They will be here in a minute."
"Thank you." The two aurors said at the same time.
"We also came here for another reason." Loralei continued, sneaking a glance at Katie. "There's a war going on in the Wizarding world, and we need help."
"My people do not fight human wars." He told her.
"Then just promise that you won't fight for Voldemort either." Loralei told him. "We either want you to stay out of it completely or join our side."
"I can promise that." He told her.
Loralei smiled. "Good. That's good for us." She looked over at Katie. "I guess we should get back to Hogwarts to tell them."
"Not yet." Alti said. "Please, stay for a while."
Loralei and Katie looked at each other. "I guess we can stay the night." Katie stated. "Get to know your grandfather." She turned to the chief. "Can I wander around while you get to know each other?"
"Of course." He nodded to the other guard. "Olaf can speak a little English. He will show you around."
"Thank you." Katie smiled, before leaving with the guard.
Loralei was left alone with her grandfather.
"Come, let's dine. You must be hungry." He told her, putting his hand on her back and leading her farther into the tent to a table adorned with fruits and vegetables and some roasted meat. There was some small yellow grain in a pile. Loralei didn't realize how hungry she was until she smelled the food.
Loralei ate the food hungrily, careful not to eat too much. She'd been living off dried food for the last week, this was so much better.
"When was the last time you ate?" Alti asked her.
"Before I was brought here. We only had dried food so it wouldn't go bad, and there aren't many hotels around here, so it's what we had." Loralei told him.
He nodded. "Are you fighting in the war?"
Loralei nodded, swallowing a mouthful of food before speaking. "Yes. I am an auror. I protect people for a living, and right now I'm stationed at the school for young witches and wizards."
"Why do you fight?" He asked. "You are so young."
She shrugged. "That makes me a perfect candidate. I can do things that older people cannot. Like go camping for example."
"You could stay here, you know." He told her. "Be a princess."
Loralei smiled and shook her head. "I can't. I have a fiancé back home, and a life, and my godsons and a nephew on the way. I have to protect my family."
"But this is your family." He said.
"I don't know you, I don't know anyone here." Loralei told him. "My place is back home."
"How are you so sure?" Alti asked. "You have only been here a day."
"I can't drop my responsibilities and life to stay in the mountains. I also don't even speak the language."
"You can be taught." He told her.
She shook her head. "It's not possible. I mean, I could, and maybe I will, but I can't stay. I can visit. I can't stay."
"Your mother wanted to be chief after me." He told Loralei.
She shook her head. "I'm not her. I'm happy where I am. I can visit, but I can't promise more."
He sighed. "You're just as stubborn as she was."
Loralei smiled. "So you should know it's better than to argue with me."
A/N: So, I'm back in class! I would like to take this moment to tell everyone that my English professor is crazy. I have stories and so far there have only been three classes and apparently he yelled at the class after mine. I just wanted that for everyone to know that I have a bad streak with English professors. My last one hated me, and this one's insane...great.
I doubt anyone just read that, but at least I was able to vent a bit. Haha.
IMPORTANT TO STORY: I update every Friday-or Saturday depending on time zones-for those that do not know. It takes me about a week to write a chapter with everything that's going on in my life right now. If I do not update I will try to warn you all. If I do not, it means something came up, such as lack of internet connection.
Griffinclaw and Padfoot19: I have just came to a realization that "Lorius" is the ship name of Sirius and Loralei. I'm sorry that I am so ingorant. I'm also sorry that I cannot answer that question...yet. Haha.
PookyBinky: I will keep updating it regularly unless something comes up! I promise! It really means a lot to me that you took the time to read this :) and in only one weekend! Don't worry, I curse at some of the characters too...sometimes they give me some trouble. Haha. Thank you!
Guest 1: Thank you so much!
blue luver5000: Thank you :)
Guest 2: Nope! There still are a few things that need to be done! Thank you!
Please review!
Kat