– Chapter Twenty Five –
Signs of War
Romi woke then next morning with that comfortable feeling of tiredness and extreme cosiness in her bed. She turned over and cuddled up to the blankets again. Zhi, seeing that she had woken up, starting purring loudly as she stretched herself out along Romi's shoulder.
It wasn't for another half an hour or so when the rest of the girls in Romi's dormitory started to wake up that Romi got out of bed.
She made her way into the common room in her pyjamas, enjoying the comfyness of the day. She met up with Neville and Ginny, both who looked very tired, but content. Romi told them how her night went, including the conversation with Phoebe and Ron and Hermione's fight.
"I wondered why she looked so angry this morning," Ginny said with a yawn. The three were still sprawled out on the chairs by the fire, "the three of them went down to Breakfast like five minutes ago, and Ron and Hermione looked peeved."
"Yeah," Romi replied. "It was quite a fight. You should have seen it."
"I'm surprised you went up to talk to Phoebe Capello," Neville said, stretching in his chair, "I thought you didn't like her."
"I don't particularly," Romi replied, "I'm not sure what possessed me to talk to her. It was kinda awkward, she kept talking about her brothers who had got themselves into trouble. I didn't stay very long."
"Oh well," Ginny said, "come on. Let's go meet Luna for breakfast."
It was time now to think of the homework they had neglected during the first week of holidays. Everyone seemed to be feeling rather flat, now that Christmas was over.
Romi didn't think much of it, and she felt fresher than ever before. It was only when she had noticed that her dream catcher was full did she realise the reason why she was having better nights. The dream catcher was sparkling with energy and undreamed dreams. She took the hand sized disk down from over her bed and looked it over. Her mother's letter had enclosed instructions from the medicine woman who made the dream catcher.
She fished it out and opened it up. It explained the simplest way to get rid of the dreams caught in the web. Take the dream catcher, shake the dreams into a jar and then take the jar underwater, a river or lake, and when far enough down, unscrew the lid and the dreams will escape with the air bubbles. However dreams were heavier than air and therefore would be pulled down by the water.
It seemed simple enough to do and so Romi shed her over robe and walked out of the dorm. She knew where to ask for a jar, and so headed down to the dungeons and Severus' office. She knocked twice before Severus called for her to come in.
"Hi," Romi said walking in. "Do you have a jar that I can borrow?"
"A jar?" Severus asked, clearly not anticipating her question.
"Yah," Romi answered. "I need to empty my dream catcher." She held up the contraption. "It's full."
"I didn't know you had a dream catcher," Severus replied standing up and retrieving a jar for her. "Are you having bad dreams?"
"Not anymore," Romi answered and went to Severus' desk to shake the dreams into the jar. It was a lot more difficult that it was described. Severus finally took it from her and with a quick flick of the wrist deposited all of the dreams into the jar and screwed on the lid before they could escape.
"When did you get it?" Severus asked, handing Romi both the dream catcher and the jar.
"Christmas," Romi replied taking them.
"What? And it was full already?" Severus questioned raising an eyebrow.
"I get a lot of dreams," Romi said, "I guess."
"Alright," Severus replied, "Come down for tea tonight?"
"I will," Romi answered and with a little wave and smile, she left the office. She hurried up the stairs, and then out into the lawns. Snow was starting to fall again. She hurried to the lake side, placed the dream catcher on a rock beside it and bent down to take off her shoes and socks.
The water was utterly freezing, and all Romi could do for a moment was stand at the edge of the rock and look out towards the cold black surface of the lake. The very edges, closest to where she was standing, was covered in a thin layer of ice. She shuddered and then took a depth breath ignoring the anxiety she got around ice. Ever since she almost drowned under the ice when she was five Romi was petrified of ice. Though, after the events of the Astaroth last year, she wasn't as terrified. It still made her extremely uneasy however. She took a breath, looked to the dreams that were sparkling brightly in the jar and then dove head first into the water.
It hit her, sending a violent shock through her system, but it wasn't much different in temperature to going lake jumping back home in January.
She certainly felt extremely awake while floating in the deep black water, and she looked around. She couldn't see anything, so unscrewed the lid of the jar.
The air escaped and wobbled quickly upwards, while there was this glittering mist that was stuck in the water, hanging suspended. She watched it sparkle in the sun from above and thought that it was remarkably beautiful for bad dreams.
Suddenly they were burst apart and a face appeared in the middle of the dreams. It was wild looking with long stringy hair and a slightly green tinge to its skin, but it definitely looked like a humanoid face.
"What business have you here, White Witch?" it spoke to her harshly.
Romi was too startled and feeling her lungs having the need for air, she shot upwards and broke the surface of the lake. She took a few deep breaths, and then noticing that the creature had followed her. Now that she was above water and having more oxygen, she could tell that it was a merman. She had met them during her first year, but she didn't remember this particular one. Looking around, she ducked under again to look at it.
"What business?" he asked her again.
Romi pointed to the jar, and tried to make a hand motion about a dream catcher.
"Your dreams are deadly," the merman said. "You cannot just dispose of them anywhere in the lake."
"I'm sorry," Romi tried to say, but it just came out like a load of bubbles and then she had to go up for another breath of air. She was starting to get really cold. She came back underwater and the merman was still waiting for her.
"As asked," the merman said. "We will assist you in any way, but you cannot deposit your dreams here. They will harm our youngest."
Romi nodded, she pointed to the dreams that were already falling away.
"I will dispose of them," the merman said. "But you cannot leave anymore here. Leave the jar there," the merman replied, pointing to the edge of the lake. "We will take them away for you."
Romi nodded again and then had to break the surface for air again. When she went back down, the merman was gone and she couldn't see him anywhere. Deciding that it was past time that she should be getting out of the lake, she started to swim for the edge of the lake, and thanked herself that she decided to where pants today for the extra warmth, not that she ever wore her skirt anyways.
The wind had picked up outside and Romi shivered violently as she got her socks and shoes and dream catcher then headed back up to the castle. Romi went straight for her dorm and had a long warm shower then changed and spent the rest of the day by the fire sitting wrapped up in her only sweater and a pair Draco's sweat pants she had stolen from him during the summer.
Snow was thick on the grounds, and the greenhouse windows were covered in condensation so thick that they couldn't see out of them in Herbology on the first Monday back. Nobody was looking forward to Care of Magical Creatures much in this weather, though, as Ron said, the Skrewts would probably warm them up nicely, either by chasing them or by blasting off so forcefully that Hagrid's cabin caught on fire.
When they arrived at Hagrid's cabin, however, they found an elderly witch with closely cropped grey hair and a very prominent chin standing before his front door.
"Hurry up, now, the bell rang five minutes ago," she barked at them, as they struggled towards her through the snow. Romi exchanged a concern glance with Neville who was looking confused.
"Who're you?" said Ron, staring at the woman. "Where's Hagrid?"
"My name is Professor Grubbly-Plank," she said briskly, "I am your temporary Care of Magical Creatures teacher."
Romi exchanged a worried glance with Neville as Harry, beside her said loudly. "Where's Hagrid?"
"He is indisposed," said Professor Grubbly-Plank shortly.
Soft and unpleasant laughter reached Romi's ears and she turned to see Draco and the rest of the Slytherins were joining the class. All of them looked gleeful and none of them looked surprised to see Professor Grubbly-Plank.
"This way, please," said Professor Grubbly-Plank, and she strode off around the paddock where the huge Beauxbatons horses were shivering. Harry, Ron and Hermione followed her, looking back over their shoulders at Hagrid's cabin. Romi gave a squeeze to Neville's arm and then manoeuvred her way so that she was walking beside Draco.
"What's happened?" she asked. Without saying anything Draco merely held up a newspaper, trying not to grin. Romi took it from him and unfolded it, looking for the page that made the rest of the Slytherins so happy.
Professor Grubbly-Plank led them past the paddock towards a tree on the edge of the Forest, where a large and beautiful unicorn was tethered.
Many of the girls 'ooooohed!' at the sight of the unicorn. Romi glanced up quickly at it and then turned her attention back to the newspaper.
"Oh, it's so beautiful!" whispered Lavender Brown. "How did she get it? They're supposed to be really hard to catch!"
"Boys keep back!" barked Professor Grubbly-Plank. "They prefer the woman's touch, unicorns. Girls to the front, and approach with care. Come on, easy does it…"
Romi ignored Professor Grubbly-Plank and flipped the page in the Prophet again.
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Romi," Draco said, taking the paper out of her hands and flipping to the front page. Harry and Ron turned around just in time to see Romi glare at Draco and take the page from him.
"What d'you reckon's wrong with him?" Harry had started to say. "You don't think a Skrewt–"
"Oh, he hasn't been attacked, Potter, if that's what you're thinking," said Draco softly. "No, he's just too ashamed to show his big ugly face."
"Oh, you're such a liar, Draco," Romi interrupted, as she read the page.
"I'm not lying," Draco replied, looking at her startled.
"'I was attacked by a Hippogriff and my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite off a Flobberworm'?" Romi said, quoting a line from the article she was reading, and glancing up to him.
"That's not a lie," Draco replied, trying not to grin.
"Bullshit," Romi said. "Flobberworms don't bite."
"What's it say, Romi?" Harry asked.
Romi straightened the paper and then read it out loud.
DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKEAlbus Dumbledore, eccentric Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has never been afraid to make controversial staff appointments, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. In September of this year, he hired Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, the notoriously jinx-happy ex-Auror, to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. A decision that caused many raised eyebrows at the Ministry of Magic, given Moody's well known habit of attacking anybody who makes a sudden movement in his presence. Mad-Eye Moody, however, look responsible and kindly, when set beside the part-human Dumbledore employs to teach Care of Magical Creatures.
Rubeus Hagrid, who admits to being expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, has enjoyed the position of gamekeeper at the school ever since, a job secured to him by Dumbledore. Last year, however, Hagrid used his mysterious influence over the Headmaster to secure the additional post of Care of Magical Creatures teacher, over the heads of many better qualified candidates.
An alarmingly large and ferocious looking man, Hagrid has been using his new-found authority to terrify the students in his care with a succession of horrific creatures. While Dumbledore turns a blind eye, Hagrid has maimed several pupils during a series of lessons which many admit to be 'very frightening'.
"I was attacked by a Hippogriff, and my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite off a Flobberworm," says Draco Malfoy, a fourth year student. "We all hate Hagrid, but we're just too scared to say anything."
Hagrid has no intention of ceasing his campaign of intimidation, however. In conversation with a Daily Prophet reporter last month, he admitted to breeding creatures he has dubbed 'Blast-Ended Skrewts', highly dangerous crosses between manticores and fire crabs. The creation of new breeds of magical creature is, of course, an activity usually closely observed by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical creatures. Hagrid, it seems, considers himself to be above such petty restrictions.
"I was just having some fun," he says, before hastily changing the subject.
As if this were not enough, the Daily Prophet has now unearthed evidence that Hagrid is not – as he has always pretended – a pure-blood wizard. He is not, in fact, even pure human. His mother, we can exclusively reveal, is none other than the giantess Fridwulfa, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
Bloodthirsty and brutal, the giants brought themselves to the point of extinction by warring among themselves during the last century. The handful that remained joined the ranks of He Who Must Not Be Named, and were responsible for some of the worst mass Muggle-killings of his reign of terror.
While many of the giants who served He Who Must Not Be Named were killed by Aurors working against the dark side, Fridwulfa was not among them. It is possible she escaped to one of the giant communities still existing in foreign in mountain ranges. If his antics during Care of Magical Creatures lessons are any guide, however, Fridwulfa's son appears to have inherited her brutal nature.
In a bizarre twist, Hagrid is reputed to have a developed a close friendship with the boy who brought about You-Know-Who's fall from power – thereby driving Hagrid's own mother, like the rest of You-Know-Who's supporters, into hiding. Perhaps Harry Potter is unaware of the unpleasant truth about his large friend – but Albus Dumbledore surely has a duty to ensure that Harry Potter, along with his fellow students, is warned about the dangers of associating with part-giants.
Romi finished reading aloud and looked up to the Gryffindor boys that were staring at her.
"'We all hate Hagrid?'" Harry spat at Draco. "What's this rubbish?"
"Well, I think this should out an end to the oaf's teaching career," said Draco, holding out a hand to take the paper back, but Romi didn't give it to him, just folded it up and put into her robes, angry. "Half giant," Draco continued, putting his hand down when it was clear that Romi wasn't going to give back the paper. "And there was me thinking he'd just swallowed a bottle of Skele-Gro when he was young… and none of the mummies and daddies are going to like this at all… they'll be worried he'll eat their kids."
"You–" Harry started as Romi whacked Draco hard in the ribs causing him to double over winded.
"Are you paying attention over there?"
Professor Grubbly-Plant's voice carried over to the boys; the girls were all clustered around the unicorn now, stroking it. Romi jumped behind Draco so that Professor Grubbly-Plank wouldn't see her.
"What? First you're going to hit me then hide behind me?" he asked, looking over his shoulder, with an expression of pain still on his face.
"What else are you good for?" Romi replied and Professor Grubbly-Plank turned away from the boys, even though her voice carried over their heads.
The boys didn't talk the rest of the lesson and Romi moved away from Draco and stood behind Neville, rereading the paper, until the girls rejoined the group and then they headed back up to the castle.
"I hope she stays, that woman!" said Parvati Patil, when the lesson had ended. "That's more what I thought Care of Magical Creatures would be like… proper creatures like unicorns, not monsters…"
"What about Hagrid?" Harry said angrily, as they went up the steps.
"What about him?" said Parvati in a hard voice. "He can still be gamekeeper, can't he?"
"That was a really good lesson," said Hermione, as they entered the Great hall. "I didn't know half the things Professor Grubbly-Plank told us about unicorns. Why didn't you come down, Romi?"
Romi pulled the newspaper from her robes and passed it over. Hermione's mouth fell open as she read it. "How did that horrible Skeeter woman find out? You don't think Hagrid told her?"
"Not likely," Romi answered.
"No," Harry enforced, leading the way over to the Gryffindor table and throwing himself on to a seat. "He never even told us, did he? I reckon she was so mad he wouldn't give her loads of horrible stuff about me, she went ferreting around to get back at him."
"Maybe she heard him telling Madame Maxime at the ball," said Hermione quietly.
"We'd have seen her in the garden!" said Ron. "Anyway, she's not supposed to come into school any more, Hagrid said Dumbledore banned her…"
"It's not like that stopped her before," Romi pointed out.
"Maybe she's got an Invisibility Cloak," said Harry, ladling chicken casserole onto his plate and splashing it everywhere in his anger. "Sort of thing she'd do, isn't it, hid in the bushes listening to people."
"Like you and Ron did, you mean," said Hermione with an eyebrow raised.
"We weren't trying to hear him!" said Ron indignantly. "We didn't have any choice! The stupid git, talking about his giantess mother where anyone could have heard him!"
"We've got to go and see him," said Harry. "This evening, after Divination. Tell him we want him back… you do want him back?" he shot at Hermione.
"I – well," she looked to Romi for help, but Romi hadn't exactly paid attention to Professor Grubbly-Plank. "I'm not going to pretend it didn't make a nice change, having a proper Care of Magical Creatures lesson for once – but I do want Hagrid back, of course I do!" Hermione added hastily, quailing under Harry's furious stare.
They were joined a few minutes later by Ginny, who sat beside Neville. She seemed to quickly understand what exactly was making the other three so annoyed.
Romi, Neville and Ginny parted with Harry, Ron and Hermione and headed towards the study hall to meet up with Luna, while the other three went down to Hagrid's cottage to try and get him to come out.
Apparently it didn't work because they didn't see a sign of Hagrid all week. He didn't appear at the staff table at meal-times, they didn't see him going about his gamekeeper duties in the grounds and Professor Grubbly-Plank continued to take the Care of Magical Creature classes. Draco, as always, gloated to Harry whenever possible.
"Missing your half-breed pal?" he kept whispering to Harry whenever there was a teacher around, so that he was safe from Harry's retaliation. "Missing the elephant man?"
Thankfully, Romi didn't have to hear much about Hagrid when she spent her evenings in the Slytherin common room. Though it was probably because she made it exceptionally clear she didn't want to talk about it on the first night she was there after the article came out. Pansy had started to talk about it and Romi chucked her ink bottle at her.
After that they talked, or worked on homework, and even played a very violent game of Exploding Snap, in which Romi managed to get the whole deck and then have it explode in her face, singeing the ends of her hair. Which in turn caused the rest of the group and Romi, to laugh uncontrollably for the next ten minutes.
There was a Hogsmeade visit halfway through January and Ginny and Luna were very excited about it. Neville agreed to go again, despite having this lingering fear of Hogsmeade, and they all made their way out together on Saturday.
"Let's get a butterbeer," Neville said, rubbing his hands together.
"That sounds great," Romi agreed and the four of them made their way to The Three Broomsticks. They entered the extremely crowded pub and made their way over to the bar. Romi got there first and ordered four butterbeers for them.
"Hello, Romi!" said a cheerful voice beside her. She turned to see that Ludo Bagman was squeezing his way up to the bar, grinning widely.
"Hello, Mr Bagman," Romi replied. "Fancy seeing you here."
"Yeah, I had some business to deal with, just waiting for my partners to arrive," Ludo answered. "So how are you? Your dad talks non-stop about that Healership you started."
Romi smiled, "yeah, I bet he does," she said, "it's going well. Started learning neurological disorders, and Madam Pomfrey thinks I can write my Level 1 exam during the summer."
"That's excellent, that's excellent," Ludo Bagman looked around, his smile was falling slightly, like he was nervous.
"Are you alright?" Romi asked.
"I'm fine, Romi!" answered Ludo Bagman, hitching his smile up again, and grinning down at her. "I'm always fine."
"Okay," Romi replied, and Madam Rosmerta delivered four butterbeers to Romi.
"Excuse me," Ludo Bagman said, his eyes alighting on a group of shady looking goblins that were sitting in a face corner and were staring him down. "I'll see you around, Romi," he said and disappeared into the crowd.
"Sure," Romi answered. Neville squeezed into Ludo Bagman's spot and took two of the Butterbeers.
"Ginny's found us a spot," he replied, "was that Ludo Bagman?"
"Yup," Romi replied. "I have no idea why he is here."
Neville led the way to where Ginny and Luna were sitting, and slid in beside them. They were in there barely ten minutes when Harry, Ron and Hermione came in. Romi watched her brother for a little while, and saw that he was accosted by Bagman before they could sit down. Romi glanced at the goblins he had been sitting with and they looked furious.
"Does Dittany grow in full sun or shade?" Ginny asked, "I was having a debate with this really annoying girl in Herbology and she said it grew in full sun."
"It doesn't," Neville replied, "Shade or half-shade. Otherwise it withers."
"Romi," Luna said, looking over Romi's shoulder, "looks who's just come in."
Romi looked behind her to see that Rita Skeeter and Phoebe Capello had just entered the Three Broomsticks. Rita was wearing banana yellow robes today; her long nails were painted shockingly pink, and she was accompanied by her paunchy photographer. Phoebe was wearing a gentle shade of purple robes, and seemed to be as charming and pleasant as ever. Rita bought drinks and she, Phoebe and the photographer made their way through the crowds to a table nearby. Romi watched her carefully, and realised that a few tables over, Ron, Harry and Hermione were glaring at her as she approached them.
Rita was talking fast to Phoebe who just smiling while Rita looked very satisfied about something.
"… didn't seem very keen to talk to us, did he? Now, why would that be, do you think? Phoebe, any insights? And what's he doing with a pack of goblins in tow anyway? Showing them the sights… what nonsense… he was always a bad liar. Reckon something's up? Think we should do a bit of digging? Disgraced Ex-Head of Magical Sports, Ludo Bagman… snappy start to a sentence, Bozo. We just need to find a story to fit it–"
"Trying to ruin someone else's life?" said Harry loudly.
Neville, Ginny and Luna stopped their conversation and stared over at Rita, along with a few people. Rita Skeeter's eyes widened behind her jewelled spectacles as she saw who had spoken.
"Harry!" she said, beaming. "How lovely! Why don't you come and join–?"
"I wouldn't come near you with a ten-foot broomstick," said Harry furiously. "What did you do that to Hagrid for, eh?"
Rite Skeeter raised her heavily pencilled eyebrows. "Our readers have the right to know the truth, Harry, I am merely doing my–"
"Who cares if he's half-giant?" Harry shouted. "There's nothing wrong with him!"
The whole pub had gone very quiet. Madam Rosmerta was staring from behind the bar, apparently oblivious of the fact that the flagon she was filling with mead was overflowing.
Rita Skeeter's smile flickered very slightly but she hitched it back almost at once; she snapped open her crocodile-skin handbag, pulled out her Quick Quotes Quill and said "How about giving me an interview about the Hagrid you know, Harry? The man behind the muscles? Your unlikely friendship and the reasons behind it. Would you call him a father substitute?"
Hermione stood up very abruptly, her Butterbeer clutched in her hand as though it was a grenade.
"You horrible woman," she said through gritted teeth, "you don't care, do you, anything for a story, and anyone will do, won't they? Even Ludo Bagman–"
"Sit down, you silly little girl, and don't talk about things you don't understand," said Rita Skeeter coldly. Her eyes hardening as they fell on Hermione. "I know things about Ludo Bagman that would make your hair curl… not that it needs it," she added, eyeing Hermione's bushy hair. Her eyes then slid to Harry, who was also on his feet. "Well, Harry–?"
"Leave them alone," Romi said, loudly. "No one is here for interviews today."
"Miss Black, I didn't see you there," Rita said snapping her eyes to Romi. "Sure you can't change your mind and give me one? Your father never lets me talk to you!"
"There's a good reason for that," Romi replied. "I'm sure if he could manage it, he wouldn't let anyone talk to you."
Beside her Ginny and Neville sniggered a little bit. Rita gave them a little glare and looked back to Harry, Ron and Hermione's table; but the three of them were just walking out the door, giving it a slam for good measure. Rita gave a little annoyed sniff, and then looked to Pheobe and started talking again.
Romi glanced back at her friends, all of who which were smiling.
"Let's get out of here," Neville said, sliding out of his seat. "I feel like people are still looking at us."
"People are always looking at us," Ginny replied, but she got up with the other two. They made their way out of the Three Broomsticks and walked down the street. It wasn't terribly cold today, and it was bright and sunny.
They had walked past several stores, when Romi noticed something in what should have been an empty lot. She stopped and grabbed Neville's arm, he stopped to look at her.
"Neville, is that…?" she pointed to the little rickety old shack set farther back on the lot. There were lots of weeds and plants growing all around the path up to the shop, sticking out of the snow, and there was a display of luck and happiness charms in the front window.
"It is!" Neville said after a moment, staring at the building.
"What is it?" Ginny asked, looking from Neville and Romi to the store.
"Remember that store we went into last year, and so how saw a memory of Hogwarts Founders fighting an Astaroth?" Romi said.
"Yes," Ginny and Luna said.
"That's the shop," Romi continued, pointing again. "I'm sure of it."
"I thought that shop disappeared afterwards?" Luna asked.
"It did," Neville said, "but that's definitely it."
"Well, then," said Luna, "Let's go in."
She walked straight up the path towards the front door. The other three glanced at each other and then followed her up.
Inside was warm and almost completely silent. There were tons of candles burning, filling the air with the sound of hissing from the wicks. All around there were large leather bound books, heaps of spices and potion ingredients, and charms and amulets everywhere, even hung from the ceiling.
The four separated as they looked all around the store. There was a feeling of power in the store, and they all were quiet, with the floor boards creaking under their feet.
Romi bent down to look at a stack of books that was piled onto the floor.
"I was wondering when you were going to come," said an old crackly voice right beside Romi. Romi jumped and looked to her left. The old crone who had shown them the story of the four Hogwarts Founders defeating an Astaroth was squatting beside Romi, a little too close for liking. Romi took a moment to calm her heart rate, and then spoke.
"You were expecting us?" Romi asked, standing up.
"Of course," the crone replied. She held up a hand indicating that she needed help to stand again. Romi took the old woman's hand and arm and helped her to a standing position. For just a moment, as she held this woman's frail old hand, Romi had the feeling like she had held it before, that it was familiar.
But then her friends appeared, having heard the conversation, and the old crone took her hand out of Romi's.
"Thank you, my dear," she said, and then sighed and looked at the four of them. "Oh look at you all!" she said, "You're all so young still! And with what a journey ahead of you!"
She started to walk around them towards the counter with the register.
"Um, who are you?" Ginny asked, as the crone passed her. The old woman stopped, and took Ginny's hand, patting it and smiled.
"My name is Elyssa, my dear," Elyssa replied. "But you can call me Grandma, every does."
She let go of Ginny's hand and wattled off to the counter. Ginny looked at the other three, slightly confused.
"Uh – Grandma," Romi said, testing it slightly, "You said you were expecting us…?"
"Did I?" Elyssa said, "Ah, yes, I did, I was expecting you. Time gets to be a bit funny when you get old. You have challenges ahead of you."
"I think we've had a few already," Romi said. Elyssa looked back up at them with a very proud smile.
"Yes, and you've done so well! I'm so proud." Elyssa continued to behind the counter and pulled out a large book. "But you're not done yet."
She opened the book and an explosion of fine golden coloured dust poofed upwards and circled around above the book. For a moment it just swirled around, and then it started to take shapes. Romi walked closer to the counter to look at them, slowly Neville, Ginny and Luna joined her.
There were little soldiers with long rifles, shooting at other little soldiers who were hiding behind ruined stone walls. The scene shifted, and there was a long stretch of a desert like field, with little explosions going off. Then there was a ruined city, with people picking their way through rubble and garbage that had been through on the streets, for something to salvage. Then there was little pellets exploding at the people's feet and they all ran; Romi was certain that they were screaming even though there was no sound.
Then there was a large field, the end of a battle; for every one living soldier there were twenty dead ones. Luna looked away, her hand over her mouth.
Elyssa closed the book, and they stood in silence for a little while.
"Your last two," Elyssa said, "War and Death."
"Do you know when they are coming?" Romi asked. Elyssa shook her head.
"They got distracted in the Middle East, but War is making his way here, and wherever War goes, Death follows."
Romi exchanged a tense glance with Neville, Ginny and Luna.
"I wanted you to know that you will not have much time left before they arrive, and when they do, you will either defeat them or you won't. If you defeat them, and the False Prophet, then everything will go on as if nothing had changed. If you don't defeat they will raise their two brothers, Pestilence and Famine, and it will be like you never tried to oppose them."
Elyssa paused looking them in the eyes. "You have had help with the other two. You will not for the next two. Nia has made her intentions too known, and the White Witches are working to keep her from coming back to help you."
"Who is she?" Romi asked. "I feel as if I know her."
Elyssa smiled. "She is my granddaughter," the old crone replied. "She was born several years from now, but not born at all."
"What…?" Romi said slowly.
"There are some believe that Nia is the source of all the problems," Elyssa said, "she played with time, and things changed. That's all you really need to know right now – that, and she cannot help you directly anymore. You must do the rest on your own."
"Thanks, I guess," Neville said, with a sigh.
"Don't worry," Elyssa said, smiling, "I know you all have the strength to defeat them."
Romi sighed and closed her eyes to rub them, she opened her mouth to speak again, however when she opened her eyes the four of them were standing in an empty lot with no building and no Elyssa.
Romi looked around at the other for a few moments.
"Okay," Ginny said, finally, "That was odd."
"It was weirder the first time," Neville answered, "with the jumping back in time and everything."
"Yeah, no kidding," Ginny replied. "Well," she said looking at them all, "I could do with something stronger than Butterbeer."
"Agreed," Romi replied and was silent for a little while. "How about chocolate?" she added.
"Yes," said the other three firmly.