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Here's the second part to my "story" (it's more like a elongated whim, really). ^_^ Disclaimer applies here, as always…
Sorry this is so short - I wanted to get the next chapter out so you guys wouldn't have to wait any longer. I did it for you, I promise. *winks*
Oh, yeah, before I forget…
The Moerae is a real kind of fairy, thanks for asking!
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Hermione grabbed onto Harry's arm, and the little blue-eyed girl's lips curled into another strange, mysterious smile.
"Welcome, my friends," said the girl, nodding her head appreciatively, "We are pleased to see you well."
A cold wave of uncertainty passed over him, but the process of his arm going numb soon distracted him; Hermione's nails burrowed deeper into his forearm.
"Er, thanks," said Harry hesitantly, gently prying Hermione's fingers away from his blood-drained arm.
The girl bowed. "Let me introduce myself. I am Metagenês, The Youngest."
"Are you -?" started Hermione, but she was interrupted.
"Yes," the girl, Metagenês, said mistily, "I am a fairy, so to speak. But only One of the Three."
She watched them closely.
"We have been observing your school, Hogwarts, from afar, and we have come to believe that those that dwell within are in need of urgent aid."
Harry and Hermione glanced at each other.
"Why do you want to help people now?" asked Harry curiously, "I mean, you haven't before…"
Metagenês turned to him. "We do not help, Mr. Potter, we determine." Her eyes drifted to his forehead, "And our determinations are not distributed casually. The persons involved have to be in need of - as I said - urgent aid."
Harry felt slightly uncomfortable, standing the middle of a pitch-black cavern with nothing but a turquoise flame to sustain his heat. He watched as Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and watched Metagenês with a kind of spiteful annoyance.
He noticed that Metagenês' cloudy eyes drifted over to a side of the cavern whose depths were uncertain, and felt a chill, which had nothing to do with the dwindling warmth.
"My sisters and I pondered over whether matters were too trivial to concern ourselves…"
Hermione looked full out furious now.
"Of course, we knew that if we did not make an accurate determination, these persons would live their lives together, yet apart…"
"Well, I think that these determinations are a load of rubbish!" burst Hermione hotly, glaring at the young girl, "It sounds like guesswork to me! And I think that it's wrong of you, to involve yourselves in people's lives like that!"
"Touchy subject, perhaps, Miss Granger?" said Metagenês indifferently, "Though I see no harm in our conclusions. I have merely come at the time of my calling, when the spirits have awoken, and my presence is vital. For when we come, it has to be important - we cannot use our valuable time nonchalantly…"
Her eyes burned. "Usually fate is unforeseen, my friends, yet this particular case it is quite clear…"
She paused dramatically, and breathed, "My sisters have arrived."
Harry, who had brought to a stupor by this strange girl's talking, blinked. Hermione tugged his arm to get his attention and hissed, "Harry, look, over there!"
Out of the darkness, two people walked towards them, embedded in shadows. When they reached the three, Harry noticed that the first woman's skin was glowing an eerie peach color, and her long auburn hair fell down to her waist. Her face was kind and tolerant, without marks and creases of age, and when she smiled, the smile lit her whole face.
The last woman came slowly, for she was very old - perhaps the oldest person Harry had ever seen - and it struck him strange for a second that these two other women were Metagenês' kin, her sisters. The elderly woman also had a beautiful smile, but it was not so young and full, and her hair fell past her shoulders in gray, silver-streaked wisps.
Both women faced their third sister, inclined their heads slightly, and turned to smile vaguely at Harry and Hermione. The elderly woman stared at Harry for a particularly long time.
Harry waited, but the two newly arrived women did not state their names; instead, they stood behind Metagenês.
"It is time." The elderly woman's voice was barely distinguishable, raspy and thin as the air in the cavern.
Hermione backed away, pulling Harry with her. She whispered, "We have to go. Now."
But Harry couldn't move. His limbs felt as if they had given up on him altogether. By the look on Hermione's face, so had hers.
"Miss Granger has already guessed our preparations," the middle-aged woman said slowly, "Such a smart young girl."
"Intelligent," agreed Metagenês.
"But books can only take you so far, love," the elderly woman rasped. The two sisters nodded their heads.
"We have a power much greater than books and cleverness," she said.
Hermione was at her wit's end. "I read about you! All of you! You can't do anything to us!"
"Do anything?" said the middle-aged woman softly, "Of course not."
"That's bloody right!" Hermione screeched, "Let us go, then!"
But the strange hold on Harry's arms and legs did not cease. In fact, the three sisters just smiled brighter.
Mock surprise. A smile. "But what's this?"
Harry suddenly felt the turquoise flame lift off his warm palm and into the air. The elderly woman flicked her wrist and the flame flew to her hand. She covered it in her gnarled hands.
"A gift, perhaps?" said Metagenês smilingly, "An offering?"
The elderly woman opened her hands and stared into the flickering flame. "A wonderful spell. Fit for that of a Goddess."
"Thoughtful and precise." The middle-aged woman's eyes met Harry's, and he felt a strange feeling in his chest… he felt like he was flying…
Hermione said in a dizzy and unearthly voice, "That's… not… yours…" She smiled dreamily, and swayed drunkenly. Her legs stood straight, rooted to the spot.
"Oh, but it is now," said Metagenês, caressing the flames so that it licked against her fingertips. "And we do appreciate your hard work…"
Her voice seemed to melt out of existence…
Harry could no longer feel anything… The sisters' faces floated before him, smiling mischievously… The only part of their faces he could distinguish were their eerily flashing eyes, boring into own… He turned towards Hermione; saw her own outline swaying beside him… Happiness like no other coursed through him… A longing… a raw longing…
He saw her coming closer, and smiled in jovial pleasure. Why hadn't he seen her before? She was so beautiful, like… yes… like a flower… Blooming…
She approached him. Saw the same raw longing. He wanted to tell her everything he felt… he wanted to pour out his heart to her… Wouldn't he feel so much better? Free… like he was flying… again… Why not? Why not tell her? …
It was on the tip of his tongue when she suddenly threw herself at him, kissing him with such a fierce passion he was knocked backwards into the cavern wall.
He kissed her back just as fiercely, releasing his passionate longing, the feelings that were buried deep inside of him… She buried her hands in his hair, grinning tipsily against his mouth… He grabbed her waist and urged her closer… closer…
Was this how it felt to be floating? Without a cause… just floating in mid-air, smiling down at the people below… Waving back at you… They called your name… voices… voices calling your name…
"Harry Potter! Hermione Granger!"
Why is everyone so angry? They should be happy… happy and happy and happy… floating…
"What is - MR. POTTER!"
Harry's eyes opened. Met two brown ones. Tried to talk.
The only problem was, his lips were already preoccupied.
At exactly the same time, he and Hermione jumped back from each other, stunned. Harry's eyes were wide. Hermione's hands went to her mouth.
They glanced quickly at each other. Hermione turned away first, flushing crimson.
"Well!" said an agitated voice. "Now that Mr. Potter and Miss Granger have decided to join us…"
Harry knew that voice. He turned, only to see a clearly horror-stricken Hagrid, accompanied by the last person he wanted to see right then.
Professor McGonagall.
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A/N: HAHAHA, for some reason, this chapter cracked me up. *shrugs* Maybe I'm just being weird…
I'm going to have one more chapter at least. McGonagall and Ron reactions, probably… hee hee hee… I'm so evil…
How much worse can you get though, with that cliffhanger? *sigh* And it's so short! *bangs head against computer*
Thanks for reading, and if you have time, could you guys please read my new story, In the Hour of Darkness? I posted it yesterday, but everyone posted their stories at the same time, and I don't think many people read it. I would really appreciate if you did! ^_~
Love,
-Lauren
Yay! It's my birthday! ^.^