Rosie
Pokémon Master
Posts: 1,259
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Post by Rosie on Nov 27, 2005 21:37:52 GMT
At first Ziarre was quite shocked at Dwyn getting so worked up about her leaving, but soon realized that it was her friend speaking, and the one she should listen to. "Aw thank you!" Ziarre grinned happily, throwing her arms around the girl. "Ok, I'll stay but you've got to promise to stay my friend" she added with another smile before letting go and noticing the book under Dwyn's arm. "So, what have you got there?" the fairy said curiously, looking at the book. "Dragons" she read from the spine "Oh, I love dragons. They have a special reserve for them in Wales. It's fantastic! Many of them are Welsh Greens but there are a few other species in there." Suddenly Ziarre noticed the people emptying out of the hall, looking worried. "Oh, rats we're gonna be late." and grabbing Dwyn's arm dragged her off to Transfiguration.
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Post by Hana-san on Nov 28, 2005 21:32:32 GMT
"My god, Ziarre!" Kohana said and jumped on the two girls, hugging them, "You gave me a scare! I don't want my first friend here to leave! It's hard enough being american in an english school, but we can work through this together k? The three of us!" She skipped the rest of the way to transfiguration and then walked into the classroom and found the seats together waving at Dwyn and Ziarre to join her there.
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Post by Linkachu on Nov 29, 2005 3:08:39 GMT
Dwyn smiled softly to herself as she followed Kohana into the classroom and took a seat beside her. Kohana seems just as kind as Ziarre. I hope the three of us do become closer... It's good to have friends.
Proffessor Granger was already standing ready at the front of the class, greeting students as they entered the room and calling out, "Good morning, class! Please take your seats quickly and get out your textbooks so that we can get the class underway."
Pushing the dragon book off to the side of her desk area, the Canadian retrieved her transfiguration text from her backpack (OOC: Trying to remember if they actually have packs... I'll edit it if they don't) and set it infront of her. During her time in the library she'd done a bit of reading on the art of transfiguration and couldn't wait to actually start learning it. Oh man... I almost forgot! My wand still doesn't work right... Dwyn suddenly groaned weakly to herself. After all of yesterday's "excitement" she completely forgotten about it. I have to figure out what's up with it, and fast, or I'll be flunking every course that includes actual incantations!
The girl's spirits fell a bit at that, but she tried hard to convince herself that even without a working wand the class would offer lots of interesting information. Besides, she had her friends near her, and there was no better feeling than that.
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Post by Prof. Cinders on Nov 29, 2005 13:18:27 GMT
Ed sat grumpily through Herbology, having to endure several mutterings about his antics on the broom the day before. The lesson dragged on, and finally ended. The necromancer glimpsed Arienne almost running from the lesson, maybe wanting to get away from him? What had he ever done? And what was happening with the others? Ziarre seemed to be having trouble fitting in - as well as trouble with practically every student anyway. Sighing, the first year made his way back to the castle, idly kicking rocks and leaves in front of him.
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Rosie
Pokémon Master
Posts: 1,259
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Post by Rosie on Dec 1, 2005 22:03:27 GMT
After the normal introduction to the subject Professor Granger set the class to work on turning matches into needles, or at least reading about it. About halfway through the lesson some students started using their wands and attempted the practical task set, but most failed. Ziarre did not. By the end of the lesson she had turned about ten matchboxes full of matches into needles and was starting to get bored. While the rest of the class were leaving Professor Granger pulled Ziarre to the side "I'm extremely pleased with your obvious ability. Would you like to drop by during lunch for some more advanced work?"
"That'd be great " Ziarre replied "but I don't need help with spells, more controlling my magic."
"I'm sure I can help you with that too" the professor smiled kindly. Ziarre slipped out of the door and off to find her friends.
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Post by Linkachu on Dec 2, 2005 0:43:10 GMT
OOC: Clearwater? Don't you mean Granger?
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Post by Hana-san on Dec 7, 2005 15:59:00 GMT
Kohana jumped out on top of Ziarre, "BOO!" she shouted as she and her friend toppled onto the floor. "So, what did she want? C'mon, you can tell us!"
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PMJ
Administrator
I'm back!
Posts: 1,400
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Post by PMJ on Dec 7, 2005 23:15:55 GMT
OOC: Ryan got scrapped! Meet Euan!
"She wanted to do some "advanced work" with her little star pupil," Euan Goldstein replied to Kohana's question, "I don't see why you get all the credit, I was working my *** off in there!!". He gave Ziarre a jokey pissed look, and patted her shoulder. "Well done though!"
OOC: I'm creating Euan to be a potential rival/love interest for Ziarre, if u dont mind Rosie!
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Rosie
Pokémon Master
Posts: 1,259
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Post by Rosie on Dec 8, 2005 14:24:41 GMT
OOC: umm..... yes.... that's good but..... yes....she's not the kind of person who'd get an enemy though and love interest.... you'll find out later.... hehe
BIC: Ziarre was quite shocked by the boy's comments, and sudden mood change. "Thanks" she said cautiously with a smile, before walking off towards her next lesson with Kohana.
The next few weeks were full of jeering (especially from the Slytherins), stares, silence and false friends. Eyes would watch her ever move and shouts of "Fly away fairy!" and "You don't belong here!" would fill her ears. Ziarre blocked out all the unpleasantness though, her friends staying by her side, and her at theirs.
Almost every night she would open the windows wide and breathe in the cold night air before jumping right into it and soaring above the clouds for an hour or so. Every so often she would change her wings, blue, purple, pink, red and every other colour and shape imaginable. The fairy would often visit Duke in the stable the kind Game Keeper had provided. At weekends she would ride him but more and more of her time was taken up with the mounting homework. Of course Ziarre didn't have any problems with the practicals, but written homework took time. Often she had seen and pitied the higher years, who sat in the common room until the small hours, desperately trying to finish their homework. Lessons did get more interesting though, as more and more practical was introduced. All Ziarre worried about were the Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons, especially when they would become practical lessons. They brought back dark thoughts and memories the fairy had tried to suppress since she was born.....
Halloween slowly came. Many students had been counting down the days until the feast, remembering the beginning of term and the luxurious food. The evening was cold and the sky stained a pale orange, after the dramatic sunset. Slowly a full moon rose up into the sky, mirrored onto the ceiling of the Great Hall. As usual the Hall was lit with hundreds of pumpkins floating above the students' heads, creating a somewhat spooky atmosphere.
Ziarre solemnly walked down the steps from Griffindor Tower. She had never liked Halloween but felt that it was compulsory for her to attend the feast, thinking all the time about her relatives and the fairy race.
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Post by Prof. Cinders on Dec 8, 2005 17:18:00 GMT
Ed glared out of his window, killing any insects that buzzed nearby. He'd just finished a particularly nasty Potions essay, sending him into a spiral of unhappiness. Everything seemed to be getting worse by the day - and he still knew nothing of his sister. The full moon glared back at him, winking when a stray cloud wandered in front of it. Ed sighed, and swung a thick cape around his shoulders. The night air pulled at it, trying to tug it from his hands, but failing. He secured it with a vampire bat clasp at his throat, and threw it back from his shoulders. Leaving the dormitory, he slumped down the stairs. The rest of the tower was empty, everyone else having gone to the Feast already.
Arriving in the Great Hall, Ed immediately went to his usual place at the end of the Ravenclaw table. Conversation filled his ears; laughter, cries and shouts of joy filtered down to the young necromancer. Swinging gently onto the bench, he pulled a bat-shaped cookie from his cape pocket. Nibbling politely on it, he scanned the room for Ziarre and Arienne. The Gryffindor, he felt, was about to enter the Hall, but the Slytherin hadn't arrived yet. Sighing, he slumped down to rest his weary head on his hands, his eyes slipping shut as exhaustion swept through him. He should be enjoying this; after all, it was celebrating many deaths for his family. His home would be filled with Deathday celebrations, with expensive yet mouldy food lying everywhere. A tear slipped down his cheek. Next year he would celebrate his sister's Deathday on Halloween, it's what she had always wanted. But he doubted she had wanted to die this young, her life... Pointless? Was that even true? Ed's only joy in his life had been her. Maybe her life wasn't for nothing, then. Maybe, maybe...
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Post by Hana-san on Dec 8, 2005 21:25:58 GMT
Kohana, who had been walking very slowly behind Ziarre so that she could sneak up on her, had just tripped over her robes and fallen head first into her friend, "Okay, that was stupid..." she said, getting up and pulling Ziarre up with her. They were now at the bottom of the stairs, having fallen down about ten of them, "and it hurt too, man, I shouldn't do that!" Ko, had never been a 'big' fan of halloween, infact, she hadn't been planning on going to the feast, "Sorry 'bout that Ziarre, I didn't mean to make us fall down, I just wanted to see where you were going." Ko brushed down her uniform to get the dust off, "I thought you said you weren't going to the feast? You said that yesterday."
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Chloe
Pokémon Master
lost in thine eyes
Posts: 1,438
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Post by Chloe on Dec 9, 2005 22:47:40 GMT
OOC: Just a quick warning. This post is not for the faint of heart. I wouldn't have spent practically the whole of last week thinking it up, as well as practically the whole afternoon today actually writing it, if I had anything vaguely resembling a life. If you can't understand a word of it, well, tough.
And Rosie? I wasn't joking when I said this could have been an essay.
BIC:
Arienne trudged down to her dormitory in the dungeons, planning her Potions homework essay in her head. In the past few weeks, she’d discovered a talent for finishing homework at an alarmingly fast rate, leaving her plenty of time to explore the secrets of Hogwarts. Normally this involved casting a quick Concealment Charm on herself and slipping out of the Slytherin Common Room to find out exactly what was behind that tapestry on the fifth floor, or tapping tirelessly on the walls in an attempt to make them dissolve away to reveal another passageway, and Ari’s triumphant face; sometimes, however, she spent the evening in the Library or crouched beside the dusty shelves of the History room, scanning every book she could lay her hands on for one name…Riddle…
“Hey! You there! Snape!” Ari jumped out of her essay plan and realised she was being called out of a dim, candle-lit corridor by the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, Simon Zabini. Arienne remembered his restrained delight at giving her a place on the team as a Chaser – “of course, first-years normally only go on reserves, but I think we can overlook that this time,” he whispered as he handed her the green and silver robes, glaring over her shoulder at the two Malfoys already on the team – and nodded cordially at him. “Aren’t you coming to the Halloween feast? Can’t have my players wasting away while Mud – Muggle-borns out-fly them next week,” he said smoothly. Arienne shrugged, suppressing the urge to hex the handsome but highly prejudiced fifth-year. Zabini looked slightly taken aback at her cold response, but recovered his smile and walked away quickly.
Ari turned her attention back to the portrait at the end of the corridor. “Lumos,” she whispered: the light revealed no witch or wizard, but a large intimidating snake, posing as if to strike the poor painter before it. Intrigued, Arienne stepped closer and boldly touched the silver frame – suddenly the snake hissed violently and, in a flash of green, transformed into a tall, elegant looking man. His clothes were from the 12th century and his slight paunch implied he was middle-aged; but his piercing green eyes gave him, at a glance, the appearance of being only in his 20s. Ari shivered, abruptly aware of the frost creeping up the walls. The man yawned, straightened, and looked straight into her dark eyes.
“State thy name and purpose.” The deep voice seemed to echo round the corridor instead of from the portrait, and Ari looked nervously behind her before answering, “I am Arienne Snape, of the House of Slytherin; I seek my heritage and my true name.” The man nodded slowly, and gestured to the door which had just appeared beside the portrait. Shaking, Arienne pushed it open.
And walked through the man in the portrait.
Ari gasped as she shook off her first experience of walking through a ghost, and realised that she was in the same room depicted in the portrait. Translucent shelves lined the walls, with simple but elegant sofas and tables also in ghostly form. The only solid object in the room was an enormous book, each page a foot wide, complete with a beautiful white quill hung stationary above a half-filled page. As Arienne drew closer, she saw that the feathers were in fact of every colour imaginable: azure blues, sunset reds, luxurious plums, all blending perfectly with each other; the half-page was filled with names and dates, hundreds of them in miniscule writing. She looked behind her, but the ghost had disappeared; carefully, Ari hovered her wand over the names and gingerly touched one.
The blank page on the other side glowed for a moment, then displayed a relatively short family tree: evidently there had been many Muggle-borns in two-month-old Amanda Randall’s history. Adrenaline rushing, Arienne quickly scanned the page for her own name – but it was not there, and she didn’t want to turn the page for fear of ripping its millennium-old parchment…
“My, you are a fast learner,” the deep voice came from behind her. Ari wheeled around to face the ghost, who had a pleasant grin on his pearly face. She bit her lip, unsure of what to say to the dead wizard, when he gestured politely to an armchair by a fire that had sprung up seconds before. As she approached the still ghostly seat, the man raised his wand. “Finite Incantatem.” Ari gasped again as the chair soldified in a flash of white light, and she sank down in shock into the comfy green and silver cushions. The ghost chuckled softly. "A handy trick, is Perluceo," he said, taking the sofa opposite Ari's. "Lets me keep up with the times, y'know - and to think they never wonder where that extra delivery of Daily Prophet goes..." Ari noticed the pile of newspapers by the hearth.
"So this spell, Perluceo, makes objects go ghostly, so that ghosts can pick them up but the living can't?" she said, finally finding her voice. He clapped silently and beamed. "I can always tell the quick ones when I see them - not that there have been many down here," he added, a touch resentfully. Ari said nothing, letting her curiosity show on her face. The ghost sighed and carried on, "I suppose I ought to introduce myself.
"My name is Percival Griffindor. Yes, no need to stare," he waved off the flash of surprise on Ari's face, "there was never anything wrong with Griffindor snake animagi, or Parselmouths for that matter - I assume you've heard of young Mr Potter's schooldays?" Arienne nodded, wondering exactly how much information she could get out of him before someone came to fetch her - "They won't find you down here." She jumped, realising that she hadn't been shielding her thoughts properly: it had seemed that only Vernard could penetrate her natural barriers, so she was out of practice. Percival chuckled again. "Only descendants of the Hogwarts founders are allowed past the portrait," he explained, ignoring Arienne's burst of realisation and leaning forward. "Tell me child: what do you know of the Founders Four?"
Ari's head was reeling. Me? A descendant of Slytherin himself? No wonder the Hat said it was pointless trying to sort me elsewhere...damn he's talking to me! "Um..." She racked her brain for the opening chapters of Hogwarts, A History. "Well, in short, they built this castle to teach youngsters of magical potential, but then Salazar Slytherin protested against the inclusion of Muggle-borns -"
"- And quite rightly too," Percival interjected, to Ari's slight horror. He regarded her gravely, stopping her retort before it left her mouth. "Slytherin was not the only Founder who saw the eventual effects of Griffindor's noble scheme - no matter what the history books say, I was there!" He was pacing around the room now, his footsteps silent on the rich carpet. After a few moments he seemed to have calmed, and returned to his seat opposite Arienne. "I'm not saying that Muggle-borns had no potential," he said gently. "It's just that if you look back at history - recent examples being Grindelwand, Voldemort - at least half of wizarding wars woud not have come about if so many Muggle-born witches and wizards had not existed." He looked deep into Arienne's eyes, knowing that she wasn't convinced. "Look, it's a long story, one that I'll save for another time, alright?" He continued staring into Ari, who found it deeply unnerving that a dead person could have such penetrating eyes.
Finally, she nodded. But another issue had raised itself: "So if you were there at the time of Salazar Slytherin's walk-out, that must make you..."
"His illegitimate grandson, to be precise," Percival finished, perfectly aware that Ari had been about to assume otherwise. "History books only record the facts, twisted by viewpoints or otherwise. There is no explanation for great people's actions, no emotion..." Ari listened in awe: she had found just the same with her textbooks, informative as they were. Percival hesitated, then continued, "Rowena Ravenclaw was the other Founder who realised the consequences of Griffindor's dream - even though she was very much in love with him, and he with her. She tried to persuade Godric and Helga to share Salazar's view, but to no avail: eventually, she was forced to side against Salazar, who in a fit of rage and jealousy - for he too had set his sights on the quick-witted, charming beauty - dueled her, emerged victorious, then -" and here Percival's voice wavered - "took advantage of her, as it were.
"That was really the final blow for Godric, who promptly hexed Salazar across the North Sea, where he travelled down and settled in France. Rowena, in due course, bore his child - Godric raised her as his own, and she grew up to marry the son of Helga, who happened to have married Godric's younger brother, Cedric." Percival stopped here, gazing keenly at Arienne.
She thought for a few moments; then the look of awe came back onto her face. "You're related to all four founders? You entwine the lines of all four great wizards and witches of the age?"
"Well, that's one exceedingly eloquent way of putting it, yes," the ghost nodded, pleased with Ari's grasp of the power he had held in life. She allowed a quick smile to emerge, then quickly masked her feelings, unsure of how much power he had retained in death. "So, I assume you returned from death for a reason, I mean, wizards like you wouldn't be afraid of death...unless you were forced to stay?" she asked, and was rewarded with another ghostly grin.
"It was decided that I, with strong connections to all four Houses, was to stay and protect the Book of Generation and Promise." Ari followed Percival over to the book, where the magical quill had just inscribed another name into the page. They both gazed at the fresh Black ink for a moment, then Ari looked up at the ghost, eyes unusually bright with anticipation. He understood immediately, and guided her wand to the blank page. "Your name, if you please," he whispered, then stood back.
Ari took a deep breath, and let her wand touch the parchment. "Arienne Snape," she breathed, and a flash of green-tinged light flashed out from the tip of her wand, making the page glow once again. The process took a little longer this time, but after a few seconds, a vast family tree presented itself on the page, filling the whole space except for a conspicuous gap on the right-hand side. She looked down the page at awe, noticing her name in tiny handwriting at the very bottom.
And Salazar Slytherin's at the top.
A distinct feeling of pride entered Ari's heart - then she realised something else. She turned in slight confusion, but Percival was already back at her side. "It seems you are descended from Slytherin on both sides of your family," he explained. "You see this space -" he ran his finger down the right-hand side "- this is because this Book only records those of magic potential born in the British Isles."
And not in France, where Slytherin was exiled to, Arienne thought - then memories of her mother, singing cheerfully away in a foreign tongue as Ari played on her toy broomstick, came rushing back to her. She tore her gaze down to the end of her tree, and examined the names directly above her.
Severus Snape, son of Eileen Prince - he never told me he was a half-blood! Arienne pushed back the few years she'd spent with her father, and perused the other side of her tree. Illyria, daughter of Sylvie D'Espoir and - her heart jumped - Tom Riddle. A half-manic grin escaped as she stared at the name that had eluded her for all those weeks, the key to her heritage. Quickly she span around, meaning to thank Percival profusely for his assistance - but he was back in his armchair, staring at her with a sad smile on his face.
For the second time that evening, the words caught in her throat as he stood and walked towards her, life-like kindness in his eyes. "I am afraid I can help you no more," he said in his gentle tone of voice. "There are some things that you must discover for yourself - which I'm sure you'll have no trouble in doing, being my descendant and all," he said cheerfully, grinning at Ari, who fought the urge to try and hug him. "Now, I believe you have a feast to go to," he said, smoothing his ghostly robes. Arienne sighed, but her stomach betrayed her, allowing Percival to let out a huge Ha! of a laugh, echoing off the walls far too strongly for a normal ghost. Arienne hesitated, then joined in, wiping a few tears from her cheeks. It had been such a long time since she'd had anyone to lean on, even if it was merely metaphorical...
"Can't you come with me?" she asked, as Percival led her to the door. He shook his head. "I am bound to obey the wishes of my ancestors, serve my eternal destiny, blah blah blah, and all that jazz," he said cheerfully, and Ari couldn't help but smile. "So you'd better come visit me often," he said in mock sternness, opening the door for her, "and your friends will be able to come in too, as long as you invite them," he added with a wink. Arienne assured him that she would bring Ed and Ziarre next time - hang on: when did I start thinking of them as my friends? - and almost skipped down the corridor, strolling up the winding pathway to the Entrance Hall and then the large doors that told her she was in front of the Great Hall.
Not wanting to make a rather-too-late-to-even-be-fashionable entrance, Ari slipped down another corridor and came in behind a suit of armour a few feet away from the Slytherin Table. She quickly took a seat at the end of the table, nodded to Ed and Ziarre, then took a bit of whatever was left - which wasn't much. Still, the scattered cauldron cakes and drops of pumpkin juice were more than enough for her: her head was too full to allow her body to take anything else.
Then it happened.
A flash of harsh green light tore into Ari's head, spreading like panicked flies into her arms, legs, everywhere... Spots appeared before her eyes as she threw herself off the seat and writhed in pain, her limbs in spasms, as the screams in her ears shrieked even louder, each accompanied by an excruciating explosion of anguish not just in her weak body but in her mind, her soul, her very being... She felt her skin being ripped apart, bones snapping, every nerve ending aflame, blood pouring out of her eyes and ears, her face mutilated with hatred and rage, nothing left except the agony, wanting it to stop, just make it stop, anything to make it -
And she was lying on the ice-cold stone floor of the Hall, breathless and heart pounding so fast she thought it would surely burst. Her body surrendered to the sudden release, as much a form of torture as that which she had just suffered, and as she began to lose consciousness a sentence formed itself in her mind, searing itself on her soul:
He will return.
But who? Ari thought before she let herself fall into the comforting darkness, is he?
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Post by Prof. Cinders on Dec 10, 2005 16:07:19 GMT
Ed nodded back at Arienne as she appeared from behind the suit of armour, his senses picking up an unusual flavour of happiness about the Slytherin. Glancing around the Hall again, he tried to find the source of this, but to no avail. Maybe she'd just finished a particularly long or hard piece of homework or something. Suddenly, the girl flung herself from the chair, her face contorting with pain. Ed threw himself up immediately, knocking the whole bench over - and everyone on it. Squeals of annoyance followed him as he swept over to Arienne, whipping his long, thin, pure black wand from his sleeve. 'Out of my way!' he yelled at some Slytherins who gathered around the girl. They opened before him, allowing him to point his wand at the girl. Something was here, something else was doing this, something separate.
As the spasming slowed and eventually finished, Ed fell to his knees beside her. 'Get the Nurse! NOW!' he yelled at the gathering crowd, his own face contorted in panic, shock and anger. Several people fled at once to the Hospital Wing to get the Nurse. Grabbing the Slytherin's hand, he felt for a pulse. He found it with some difficulty, and the shock dug further down when he realised how faint it was, and how cold the girl's hand was. Pointing his wand at her, he muttered, 'Medicor.' A faint purple light fed into Arienne's wrist, spreading up her body to the heart. The healing spell was quick to work, but took its energy from the wizard who cast the spell - exhausting Ed. Slipping the wand back into his sleeve, he gasped for breath as the girl before him looked in slightly better health.
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Chloe
Pokémon Master
lost in thine eyes
Posts: 1,438
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Post by Chloe on Dec 14, 2005 9:24:11 GMT
At Ari's first cry, Professor Granger had stood up sharply, nodding to Professor Weasley to fetch Madam Pomfrey, "and quickly," she whispered, a trace of panic in her voice. This was not the kind of thing she'd imagined happening in her first year... She and Professor Lupin rushed over to Ari, both breathing a sigh of relief that Vernard, as opposed to any other first-year student, had been able to get there first. A few seconds later, Madam Pomfrey arrived, hindered by the score of students who had run to the Hospital Wing on Ed's command. Wordlessly, the two women levitated Ari and Ed onto stretchers, leaving Ginny and Remus to sort out the rest of the Hall.
Ari awoke to the sudden absence of whispers, and as she propped herself unsteadily up, the small group of teachers in the corner rapidly dispersed until only Madam Pomfrey and the Headmistress remained. Ari shut her eyes desperately as the events of the previous night came rushing at her...Percival...Tom Riddle...He will return...
"Miss Snape?" Her eyes snapped open, empty, emotionless. No more chances until I know what's happening. Madam Pomfrey showed no signs of surprise, but tilted her head up firmly and inspected her eyes for half a minute. Finally, she nodded. "No signs of possession. Confundus unlikely." She straightened up and turned to Hermione. "Her father's daughter," she added quietly. Hermione nodded and conjured a chair next to Ari's bed, as Madam Pomfrey set down a few potions on the table and left the Wing.
Ari kept her face closed to Professor Granger, staring at the somewhat dulled crescent moon through the high window. The professor sighed and discreetly pulled out a letter from her robes. "Miss Snape, I understand that you've been through quite an ordeal, but I need to know what you remember," she asked quietly.
"I don't remember anything, Professor," Ari answered in a cold, detached tone. This is my problem. Keep your bushy head out of it. Hermione sighed again and stood up. "Very well. But I am afraid I have some bad news for you." Ari looked up, finally noticing the letter in her hands. The Headmistress bowed her head, then looked into Ari's cold eyes.
"Your mother is dead."
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Rosie
Pokémon Master
Posts: 1,259
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Post by Rosie on Dec 14, 2005 13:14:34 GMT
Ziarre immediately sensed the great magical presence as it seized Ari. She shot into the air, trying to escape the the dark magic sweeping through the Great Hall, her translucent wings flapping wildly. She watched helplessly as her two friends were carried away, too afraid to go any closer, in case the magic came back. She kept remembering her parent's faces when she saw them the last time.... pain... horror.... dark magic....
The two professors sent all the students back up to their common rooms, trying to stop rumors spreading, but knowing that they would get out anyway. Ziarre slipped over to the Hospital wing in the confusion, sliding through the door just in time to hear the Professor's last words.
As the Professor left Ziarre made herself invisible, covering her guilt as well as her self. Stepping forward, and into vision again, the fairy spoke, knowing full well that what she had to say wouldn't make a difference at all, but knowing exactly how Ari felt. "I'm sorry"
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Post by Prof. Cinders on Dec 14, 2005 13:31:20 GMT
Ed threw the sheets off of his lithe form, exposing pale flesh and pyjama trousers. 'Bloody hell, I don't need this treatment! I'M NOT HURT! Get the hell off my head, you stupid woman!' The nurse promptly stood back, holding her hands up in submission. 'Bloody hell...' the necromancer muttered, swinging off and staggering to Arienne's bedside. The world was peculiarly silent, although from what he could see, people were talking all around him. There were really too many people in here- Wait. Why were there so many people?
Realising the worst, Ed hurried back to the bed. Grabbing the covers, he stood on the cushion lightly, groping for the wand that wasn't there. Swearing, the boy waved the sheet at the nearest person. It went completely through the form, revealing it to be a ghost. As I feared... Jumping off the bed again, the first year ran through the forms, shuddering as he passed through each one, knowing what awaited him...
A shadow.
A knife.
Blood.
Light.
Ed jerked awake, yelling incoherently, trying to swipe the nightmare from his eyes. Eventually, he calmed down, and the nurse politely waited for him to be comfortable before announcing that he had a severe headache. Realising she was right, Ed groaned as his head began to throb painfully. 'Bloody hell...' he muttered, and then looked over at the two girls by a nearby bed. 'Hey, guys,' he said, his voice strangely hoarse. 'My head bloody hurts. What's the matter?'
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Chloe
Pokémon Master
lost in thine eyes
Posts: 1,438
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Post by Chloe on Dec 14, 2005 22:29:48 GMT
Ari hadn't moved a muscle since Professor Granger had left the letter in her now clenched fist. Her face remained shut to the world, her whitened lips tight and untrembling, eyes darker than ever without a trace of tears.
The truth was, she was too shocked to cry.
Her thoughts tumbled about in her normally crystal-clear mind...snatches of memory, the awful din of silence, nothing and everything at the same time...
Why me? What did I do to deserve this? Whatever I do, whatever I say, it always always goes so wrong, whenever I take a step forward I hurtle so far back, there's no point anymore...
A single drop of water - it's not a tear, I am not crying, I will not cry - fell off her cheek, soaking through the thin, hastily conjured parchment on her lap. Suddenly she realised both Ed and Ziarre had said something, but their voices were so far away, and everything was cloudy, nothing left for her now...
They're staring at me, Ari thought vaguely. They're staring at my weakness...
"NO!" she screamed, throwing off the clean white sheets. Everything so white, so perfect, I can't be here, I won't taint the world any longer with my failure, I don't deserve the chance, I don't deserve anything -
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" She found herself at the door, barefoot, who cares about the cold, when there is nothing left in me to heat, all semblance of control lost to the rain that slammed against the windows, loss of control is weakness, is incompetence, is worthlessness...
She screamed again. Her mind exploded, and her energy poured out, knocking Ed, Ziarre and even Madam Pomfrey in her office to their feet, making the stone walls shiver, the rain flow backwards.
And she ran. Faster and faster until it hurt more than the gashes in her soul, consumed more of her mind than the thoughts whispering bitterly in her sore ears, leaving no room for her wretched mourning that ached more with every passing second, or the terrible icy hatred that threatened her twisted sanity...
Frost under her feet. A small hut nestled in the forest, untouched by moonlight.
She'd never really appreciated how high the Astronomy Tower was.
Ari stepped onto the parapet.
How easy it would be...
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Post by Prof. Cinders on Dec 14, 2005 23:37:24 GMT
Ed crumpled under the enormous power of the Slytherin's mind, falling to his knees and clutching his head in his hands. His mind immediately threw up defenses to protect itself, sacrificing reason for protection. The boy started to scream, the enormous entity of his mind battling against the ferocity of the Slytherin's, giving him tremendous pain and suffering as he strived to protect his sanity...
Seconds stretched into hours. The pain all around him engulfed him in a never ending stream of pain, gripping him tight, not letting him go. However, a voice started saying something. 'It's not over yet. You have a purpose. Don't give up. Accept the pain...' It took Ed a while to realise that the voice was his own, speaking out loud, whispering to himself. Knowing this let the boy accept the pain, knowing that it would all be over soon if he didn't. Everything, his whole life, the sacrifices his family had made, would be worthless then. He couldn't let his sister's death be in vain... Not now. The pain dropped away at the thought, allowing the boy to get up and throw himself after the girl... How long was I in pain? Not that long... Coming to the Astronomy Tower, he stopped. Arienne was standing there, on the parapet, looking as distraught as ever. 'Oh, damn...' he muttered, taking a tentative step towards the girl. 'Ari, what's the matter? What's wrong?' he said, out loud. Then, as an afterthought, 'Sometimes you just have to... accept the pain.'
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Chloe
Pokémon Master
lost in thine eyes
Posts: 1,438
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Post by Chloe on Dec 15, 2005 13:08:04 GMT
Arienne heard the boy even at the foot of the stairs, her senses overloading in her distress. Everything...and nothing...all the time...and never at all... She shivered as Ed stepped forward, toes slipping an inch further to the edge.
Why? she said to him. Why would you care about someone - no, something - so worthless, when it would be so much easier to let it go...let me go... She swayed unconsciously, aware of the rain soaking her slender body.
To accept the pain is to give up, to let it all flood in...I will be dead in spirit, if not in body...either way I will be a lifeless shell...the line of Slytherin is no more...
Ari's eyes suddenly flew open, a terrible, beautiful chaos of colours, emotions, power. I can't let them down, she realised. I must...find my own destiny.
Her foot slid backwards on the frost.
With a last helpless glance at Ed, only shock in her eyes now, Ari fell.
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Rosie
Pokémon Master
Posts: 1,259
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Post by Rosie on Dec 15, 2005 20:27:17 GMT
Ziarre lifted herself up with her wings, putting her head down, and trying to stay on her feet again as the energy pushed past her, using her wings to help. When she lifted her head again she saw that both Ed and Ari had gone, astonished and confused she immediately darted out of a half open window and into the pouring rain. Thunder and lightening clashed above the dark forest as the thick, hard rain pounded down on her shoulders. Her hair was soon full of water, weighing her light body down. The fairy used her sharp eyes and ears frantically, trying to find the other two.
Then she heard it.
A scream.
A blood curdling, piercing scream coming from the astronomy tower. Suddenly it was like the rain wasn't there, the fairy dived, she could see the slender girl's body fall, helplessly. Her wings beat furiously, her dive becoming quicker and quicker until she could hardly be seen. Ziarre felt the body hit her outstretched arms and the weight suddenly jerk her back to a sensible speed. When she had managed to bring Ari back up to the astronomy tower and the fairy's feet had daintily touched the cold and frosty stone Ziarre took her slytherin friend, and tried to help her to stand. Arienne was freezing cold and wet though to the bone, but Ziarre felt no cold, instead only the normal warmth, added to that of saving someone's life.
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Chloe
Pokémon Master
lost in thine eyes
Posts: 1,438
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Post by Chloe on Dec 15, 2005 21:10:30 GMT
More than a little embarrassed, Arienne found her balance and stopped to gather her thoughts for a few seconds. Finally, she turned to face her two friends. "Thanks," she said quietly, her voice only just audible above the rain. "I...I need some time...to think. Once I've...once it's...well, I'll tell you. Just...give me space. Okay?" There was no point in trying to be eloquent or proud. Still, her eyes pierced through the sheets of rain, first to Ziarre, then - and longest - to Ed.
Suddenly, she broke away, hugged the fairy, kissed the necromancer lightly on the cheek, and ran down the many staircases and passageways to the dungeons, making sure to avoid the Potion Mistress's office. No doubt the Professor - if she deserved that title - would want an explanation.
Ari survived the following weeks in a daze. She had refused to cry at her mother's funeral - her pride would not allow her to break down in front of all her French relatives, gazing coldly at her and what she represented: the fateful marriage of her grandmother. She still hadn't figured out who Tom Riddle was - all she'd found was an engraving on a dusty trophy, thrown roughly aside in the Caretaker's office - but she knew she'd crossed the line when she hinted at the name in a short conversation with the Headmistress. Definitely not bringing that up again, she'd decided as Professor Granger rushed away.
Her schoolwork, surprisingly, had not suffered - if anything, she was thriving on the other consequence of that event: virtual excommunication from Slytherin House. No-one would associate with that stupid girl who freaked out in her first term, so Ari spent her time in the library, working or researching. The only thing she regretted was being shunted to the reserves on the Quidditch Team, Zabini and co. regarding her with cold disdain every time they passed.
Eventually, two weeks before Christmas, Professor Granger announced at breakfast that the Yule Ball would be taking place on Christmas Eve, and that all years were invited to attend, with or without partners. Ari shrugged off this information and returned to the transfiguration textbook she'd "borrowed" from a third-year. Like anyone in their right mind would ask me, she thought moodily. I suppose it's for the better though - I'm pretty sure parties and me don't mix... At this point she caught Ed's eye across the Hall, and quickly looked away, uncomfortably aware of a blush creeping onto her face.
A week later, Leo Scrimgeour smoothed his robes as he paced around the courtyard, hoping to catch a certain fairy before they went to Herbology. "Hi! Ziarre! I was just wondering...no, that's not it," he muttered angrily to himself. I can't get this wrong. I won't let myself...and I can't let Father down...
Suddenly the girl who had been occupying most of his thoughts for the past month drifted through the large doors, accompanied, as always, by Kohana and Dwyn. Leo took a deep breath, and strolled casually over to the trio. "Umm...hey...err...Ziarre? I was just...well, I have been for...um...the point is," he stuttered, trying to ignore the pointed looks from his Griffindor mates. "I...well...Would you...Will you go to the Ball with me?" he asked finally.
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Rosie
Pokémon Master
Posts: 1,259
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Post by Rosie on Dec 16, 2005 19:27:24 GMT
A small smile slipped onto Ziarre's face as the tall boy stuttered before her. "That would be... fantastic" the fairy said, searching for the right word. She had been wondering who would ask her, if anyone at all, for a while now. Sadly the only reason that has prevented most of the boys in the year from asking Ziarre was her wings. Before her secret had been revealed she might have been spoiled for choice, but since then many days had passed when she has wondered if she would ever be accepted in Hogwarts. Then came the days when she almost knew that she wouldn't be asked to the ball. But in the following week she noticed Leo watching her during classes and the common room. She guessed that he has only just managed to pluck up the courage to ask her, and she was probably right.
Most girls had been asked now, so a popular conversation in corridors was "what are you going to wear?" Ziarre, however, had the perfect dress, hopefully for the perfect night.
After agreeing to meet in the entrance at eight, Leo triumphantly returned to his friends as Ziarre giggled her way to her next lesson.
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Post by Prof. Cinders on Dec 16, 2005 19:41:14 GMT
Ed paced the corridor outside the library, thinking of his problems. Number one: the Yule Ball. Who the hell was he going to ask? There were only two girls he was considering of asking, Ziarre and Arienne. But which one? Number two: he still had to get home at some point. If the Yule Ball was over the holidays, he wouldn't be able to go home for a while. Number three: what the hell was Arienne going through at the moment? Was he to blame - no, that was impossible. Then what was wrong with her? Could he help her?
The boy continued to pace for a few more minutes, finally coming to a decision. Turning to the library, he pushed open the doors. He had seen Arienne come in here earlier, and he knew this was one of the first chances he'd get at catching her alone. Approaching the History section, his breath caught. Would she yes? What if she already had someone? What if something happened to her again? What if...
He turned into the aisle. Arienne sat there, peacefully reading a large History book. Gulping quietly, Ed walked up to the girl, trying to keep his knees from knocking. All the calm demeanor of the necromancer had vanished, and the first year wondered if this was it. Clearing his throat, he looked at his feet uncomfortably. 'Erm... Arienne... I was wondering...' he stuttered, afraid of what she might say. 'I... Wouldyouliketocometotheballwithme?!' he blurted, shutting his eyes in preparation for the blow that would surely follow.
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Chloe
Pokémon Master
lost in thine eyes
Posts: 1,438
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Post by Chloe on Dec 16, 2005 20:46:33 GMT
Would I WHAT?
After a few seconds, a carefully masked face emerged from the book, which was closed almost silently and Banished to the nearest shelf. The girl stood up, smoothed her robes, and stared at Ed, hiding all her conflicting emotions behind her piercing eyes.
Finally, she gave up the struggle with her feelings and reverted to the one form of communication she knew would be vaguely coherant.
Sarcasm.
Ari straightened up, now fully matching Ed's height and looking coldly into his face. "Well, well, well. Poor Venard hasn't got a date for the dance, so he comes running to the nearest female as a hilarious last resort." She spat the words out, careful to keep her voice audible, but not quite enough to attract the Librarian's attention. "How incredibly masculine and pathetic. Or is this an act of pity?" She was circling him now, keeping up her aggressive exterior. "In any case, the answer to your pitifully inarticulate request is..."
Ari glanced at Ed's face, and couldn't quite bring herself to torture him much longer.
"...One dance," she finished haughtily. "Not that you deserve it," she added, before stalking down the aisle.
And opening the connection between their minds.
Ed? she asked frantically, betraying the confusion that had been building up for the past two minutes. I'm...really sorry. It's just I started, and I couldn't stop, and what I wanted to say was...well...yes. She finally let the small glow of happiness light up her mind, neatly folding away all the worries and fears, her head properly clear for the first time in months.
Apart from one.
"Circe!" she muttered under her breath, hurridly narrowing the mental connection. I...might be late. Don't wait for me. Ari closed the link, hoping that this would be enough to convince Ed that she was sincere - well, relatively sincere. When was the last time a Slytherin had been completely genuine?
Ari hurried down to her dormitory and Summoned two books from a roommate's shelf. Throwing herself and the miserable contents of her wardrobe onto her four-poster, she shut and warded the hangings before staring glumly at the list of Beauty Charms and Robe Transfigurations in the well-worn books sitting on her pillow. Ari sighed and drew her wand.
She was not looking forward to the next three hours.
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