Morgan took it upon herself to stop her Chosen from making a bigger ass of himself; then he already did. She just went and stood in front of him, while Dasher shrugged out of the crowd of people forming around them trotting after his Chosen. : Leave her be, Chosen.:
Harry just sighed. :All I was trying to do was give her a compliment:
: By telling her, she's a goddess? That's not a compliment, that's just sheer stupidity, Chosen.: Morgan states, shaking her mane.
He stares at his Companion. :You know what I mean by that and she does to I hope.:
: You two might be lifebonded; you're a thick as to short planks, brother-in-soul.: Morgan replies
Harry just groans, "I'm such an ass right now I'm surprised I'm not pulling a cart."
:Would you like my bridle?: Morgan questions, she then stamped her hoof, Harry knew it was just like a shrug, :I think it's more to it than your idiocy when it comes to paying compliments.:
:You're right, Morgan; I don't think when I talk I really need to stop it.:
:Not what I was talking about, I mean, if I'm understanding her correctly, she has pent of energy that she's not doing anything about, she's using her Gifts mostly but not her body aside from wearing you to a shadow.: Morgan states
:Fine then what do you suggest we do I hate seeing her like this.:
Morgan didn't have an answer for that question.
During all this Hermione slipped by to catch up with Corina.
Corina wasn't really angry at Harry for his compliment, but out of the pair of them, it seemed like she was the one who used her brain most of the time.
"Corina, slow down please I'm not as fit as you." The witch huffed
Corina stopped and wondered why the young girl was chasing after her; she patted Dasher's neck, and reassured him that she was fine.
"I don't want you to wander too far on your own there's no telling what may happen." Hermione states
"That sounds like you doubt my ability to protect myself." Corina states
"No not at all im more than sure you can don't mean to go looking for trouble."
"I never go looking for trouble. If I did, the Healers would have threw up their hands in protest and refused to treat me." Corina answers
Hermione giggled at that. "Fine then how about we just walk around and leave Harry to himself for a while."
"It's not Harry that's the problem, it's me." Corina responds
"Well then tell me about it, it might help to get an outsider's view." Hermione replies
"I feel like bow string that has been tuned to tight, I have been using my Gifts more than my other skills." Corina answers, "There isn't anyone even remotely like Kero or Jeri, or even Alberich. Of those three; they can understand me more than anyone else."
Hermione thought for a minute then snapped her fingers "I have an Idea but we need to speak with Hagrid. See he's wanted someone to help out with his patrols of the grounds near the forest some of the things there have been getting restless."
Corina raised an eyebrow, but didn't reply.
"Or maybe not." She added after seeing Corina's face.
Corina shrugged, "This place is great, but it seems like it's all about study." She continued to walk until they reached the forest.
"I know maybe could animate one of the suits to be a sparring partner."
Corina shrugged then her hand flicked sideways then forward, and a dagger was quivering up to the hilt in the truck of a tree.
Hermione gave a small eep in surprise. Then they both saw a shadow flicker from behind the tree and move further in to an alleyway.
Corina went up, pulled the dagger out, wiped the sap off, and put it back in sheath hidden by her sleeve. "I don't know what that was, but I do not like it."
"Neither do i, i think word about you two has gotten out." Hermione replied
"Hopefully, they tread with caution." Corina replied
Dasher moved up and nudged his Chosen.
"I agree, Dasher. We need to get back up to the castle." Corina agreed
Corina pulled herself up into the saddle, and waited but Dasher didn't move, he was looking at Hermione, as if he was having an internal debate with himself.
:Tell her get on, I'm going to have to gallop, and there is no way she would be able to keep up.: Dasher states
Corina grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her up behind her in the saddle "Hold on tight." Was the only warning she got.
Dasher started to gallop, faster than even a Nimbus 2000, which most of the Quidditch team had.
Within minutes, they were back at the castle Hermione looking paler for the ride.
Corina for the most part was able to be at one with the Companion, she did feel sorry for Hermione though.
Dasher was polite enough to lie down so that Hermione could slide off.
Hermione stood on slightly shaky legs and leaned against the wall.
"You'll get used to it." Corina encouraged "But we need to find Harry and report this."
Hermione took a breath and quickly joined Corina.
They both went through the halls and found Harry waiting by the strange door once more.
Corina went into full report mode, leaving nothing out.
"Why didn't you check your surroundings?" Harry questions, technically, he was senior Herald on this mission.
Corina felt rebuked and knew it, "I wasn't thinking about followers, I believe they were trying to test if I was the weakest one out of the two of us."
"Harry, you can't blame her; that thing was still 10 meters away from us and as soon as Corina noticed, it ran off."
"It's alright, Harry has every right to ask that question, I should have checked." Corina answers, "In addition, I'm sure that was human."
"If that was human then it was the creepiest thing ever." Hermione shuddered.
She found her a few minutes later in one of the bathrooms leaning over a toilet.
Corina bent over and held Hermione's hair, as the younger girl retched.
"Most animals, don't have human emotions." Corina states, then looked at Harry, "Do you think it's possible…"
Harry nods, "It is possible that wizards here can change their appearance."
Hermione nodded as well there are wizards and witches that can shape change as well as some potions and spell but all that are very, very rare.
"So this blood-path is a Changechild as well." Harry muses, then began to pace back and forth, thinking, "That puts another complexity on things."
"A what-child" Hermione asked her curiosity peeked once more.
"Changechild, it's a magic-user who chooses give up their human features in trade for an animal of some kind." Harry explains, "Heraldic-Mages don't really go for that style of magic, it's normally reserved for the hermit mages, or the mentally unstable."
"Why would anyone do that no matter the advantage they might gain?" Hermione wondered looking a bit green.
"We're not sure, some changechildren, do not have a choice, I heard of a Changechild that her father wrought the changes upon her, if they worked, he would adapt the changes to himself." Harry answers, "And that is the less horrible of what this creature had down to his daughter."
Hermione's eyes shot opened at that "Excuse me please." She ran out the room.
Corina followed sensing that Hermione was going to lose the contents of her stomach.
Hermione looked back at the Herald "You probably think I'm a weak little girl now don't you."
"No, I don't. I did the same thing, after I killed my first bandit." Corina replies, "Heralds do not like killing, we would prefer peace, but that can never happen, the Four Kingdoms are peaceful but there are still rogues who will never settle and earn an honest living."
The Herald gathered Hermione to her, and held her, as if she was a little child.
Hermione continues to shake" How can a parent do that to their child it's barbaric."
"From what I heard, this creature wasn't a parent, he just used people for his own agenda, and he didn't give a rat's tail about what happened to them." Corina answers, "Trust me, if that monster was alive today, I would put a blade to his throat. "
Hermione just shook letting Corina hold her like an older sister.
Corina knew Hermione didn't need her Gift, only someone to hold her and a shoulder to cry on.
Hermione took a deep breath to calm herself and look over at Corina" Thank you I really needed that." She slowly stood and walked over to the sink to try to clean herself off.
"You're welcome, I have been known to cry on someone's shoulder as well, and its not Harry's." Corina replied
The witch gave a short laugh "Sometimes boys just don't understand some times."
"The more experienced ones do, but I agree. I don't remember my Uncle –Herald Kris, but I am told so many times, I look like him, that its painful for some people to look at me." Corina replies, "I normally cried on Talia or Dirk's shoulders, those two knew my Uncle rather well."
"It's good to have someone to lean on I guess I don't know yet."
"I can guess that when you talk about your school year here, your parents just nod and smile and have no idea what you are talking about." Corina states
"Yes and there are some things, I still couldn't tell them." She sighed as she washed her face again.
"If I was given the task of choosing between my blood-family and my Heraldic Family, I will choose the Heralds everytime." Corina replies, "Don't get me wrong, I will always care for my family, but they never understood me."
"I understand but I just wish I could get them to see things the way I do but these forsaken laws won't let me." She said while slamming her hand on the sink edge.
"Is that way, you are considering leaving this world?" Corina questions "I can understand why Draco, Snape want to leave but why you?"
"It's part of the reason that and I just don't feel like I fit in any part of this world anymore , because I have magic I can't stay a muggle, but my views won't let me fit in the wizarding world."
Corina thought about something, and decided that she should ask the Heads of House to deliver letters to those who have firmly decided to leave this world to meet her in the courtyard. She let Dasher know of her plan and he could pass on the plan to Harry via Morgan.
"Think I'm gonna lay down for a minute at least till my stomach settles a bit more." Hermione said as she slowly left the bathroom.
Corina went out to her tent, got her writing supplies, and wrote notes for each of the people who decided to come to Valdemar with Harry and her.