AN: I disclaim everything except Hei, Aurek, Portia, and Romeo. The characters to JKR and the plot, how ever loosely to Joss Whedon.
RANDOM JKR FACT!! Ignatia Wildsmith is the witch who created floo powder
Italics=Ginny's Thoughts
Bold=Draco's thoughts
Underline=Chronological Order
It's so cold. What's on my face? It feels like pin drops. Oh. It's water. There are people all around me. I can feel their eyes boring into me. I can't see them, but they're there. Silence. No one speaks. Everyone is too afraid, too shocked. What happened to me? Why am I lying on a bed ? What's the last thing I remember? Taking the potion. Have to stop the pain, heal my heart. Did I heal it? Is whole? Complete? I think I remember now...
Five Hours Prior
A slender young woman stood by Ginny's bed. Her clothes shimmered in the rising sun and her ornate jewels looked out of place in the dorm room. Three peacock teardrops hung from the earring she wore.
"Young one, I shall keep you in my care," Her words were spoken in language of the ancients as she reached out and stroked Ginny's long hair changing the color from the red orange that marked her as a Weasley to a deep wine red.
"You shall be my first chosen one, the scorned lover," The tall woman with hair of the purest gold bent down and placed a single finger on Ginny's forearm watching a peacock feather appear. Placing a sweet kiss on the mark it sprung to life, the colors of the feather seemed to bleed into one another in a constantly moving pattern and they sparkled like the ocean.
"My first, you will need some one to watch out for you, to feel for you," The goddess trailed off before snapping her fingers. A shadowy image of Ginny as a 12 year old appeared.
"You will watch out for her, make sure she knows what is going on, and keep your eyes out for more of my chosen. Help Athena's chosen one find the spell to reverse the potion," The image nodded at Hera's words before fading away.
"Stay strong Ginny, I will be watching you," Placing one last comforting stroke across Ginny's face she began to climb the sun rays looking for Apollo.
_______
"Ebony and emerald, that is all I see in them. A person with eyes of emerald and hair of ebony," Pansy let out a sigh as she sat in the black leather armchair.
"Can you tell if it is a man or a woman?" Draco asked flipping through the current student picture directory to see if anyone matched that description. These dreams, or perhaps nightmares, had kept Pansy awake for the past few days.
"No. Have you any luck?" Pansy questioned seeing that he was already on 3rd year Hufflepuffs.
"The only person to match your description is Potter," The blonde said slamming the old book shut.
"It's not Potter," Pansy said into her hands.
"How can you be so sure? How do you know your not just beating a dead horse?" Draco accused making the other girl spring to life. Wild fire rushed through her eyes giving them a dangerous glow.
"I am positive it isn't Potter," She whispered fingering the small sack around her waist that contained black dueling crystals.
It was a bad habit Pansy had, always rushing into a duel to defend her honor.
"I mean you no harm my friend," Draco said holding his hands up in a defensive stance.
"I know Draco," Pansy said sitting back down in the chair. "I'm just so tired." She said with a quite sigh placing her head in her hands.
"Have you tried the dreamless sleep potion? I hear Blaise has some in his stock," The older boy quietly said slowly running his fingers through her hair.
"It doesn't work," The raven-haired girl sobbed into her hands letting go of all her dignity. "Nothing works and I am so tired."
"Then sleep my friend. Sleep. I will protect you."
_______
Ginny sat up in bed as water trickled onto her face. At first she saw colors and people and faces swirling all around her, but now. Now everything was in black and white. With out sound.
The gray Hermione sat on the bed and pulled her in to an awkward hug as she mouthed words that seemed to get lost in the void of silence.
Ron had puffy eyes. Dark grey puffy circles around dark gray eyes. She saw for the first time that there was a different between grey and gray. She wanted to reach out and touch the difference, but her arms felt so heavy.
Harry stood behind Hermione and wrapped her in a backwards black and white hug. The gray Hermione let her head fall forward as she sobbed. But Ginny felt nothing. No pain no sadness. No love no happiness. Nothing. Empty. Broken.
_______
Lavender Brown sat at the small square wooden table in her empty dorm room. Today was a happy day for her and her kind, the descendants of the first Olympian goddess worshipers. Today for some unknown reason the altar of Hera, her patron mother, flowed again for the first time in over a thousand years.
Her older sister had owled her this morning telling the good news and for once, her religion seemed real. Her goddess had once again made her presence known and Lavender would never again doubt her.
Taking the needle she ran it through another peacock feather. Her nimble fingers worked quickly at stringing the feathers together in a short chain. Casting a short spell the feathers turned to crystal and she tied the chain around her neck. She had to show homage to the mother.
Extinguishing the white candle she was working by Lavender quickly offered a quick prayer up to Hera before leaving the room.
Today was going to be a happy day indeed.
______
Hermione walked down the hallway to Dumbledore's office. She might get expelled, but she needed to do this. She needed to save Ginny.
What are you doing? A voice asked. It felt like strength and moonbeams flittering over a dark forest, yet when she turned around no one was there.
"Hello?" Hermione asked hearing her own voice echo off the empty hallway before continuing on once more.
Where are you going? The same voice asked, but it didn't echo down the hall as Hermione's had.
"Who are you?" Hermione asked the air expecting to see someone step out from an invisibility cloak. She was shocked when something else happened.
As you wish Wise Hunter. In front of Hermione a young woman in ancient hunting attire appeared. She had midnight black hair in a braided coil around her head holding a crown with the crescent moon in place.
"Who are you?" The brunet asked the beautiful huntress in front of her.
"I am Artemis, and you are my chosen," Her words seemed to weave through the air enticingly. Reaching out in a fluid motion she grabbed Hermione's arm and drew her close. Bending down she placed a kiss on it and a crescent moon intertwined with a silver arrow appeared.
"You need to find Athena's chosen, the Imperfect Reflect, with her help you can save the Scorned Lover," Artemis said this very languidly using her hand to create different images such as that of a peacock feather and a silver helmet.
"How will I know them?" Hermione asked watching this amazing woman, no goddess, who grace Hogwarts with her presence.
"Ebony and Emerald, Vermillion and slate," With that said and a blown kiss, Artemis seemed to shimmer away in the light making Hermione feel suddenly bereft.
Looking down she saw her mark shimmer in the light before turning around.
Maybe Dumbledore didn't need to know.
_______
One thing Draco always found odd about his father was his father's fascination in incorrect muggle religions.
Lucius always found it humorous to torture Christians and quote their bible against them.
However, in his father's old age, Draco found the fascination beginning to brink on obsession. The man he used to look up to now spent hours a day trying to decode this bible. Apparently it was supposed to help Voldemort.
Draco hated Voldemort.
That creature was the reason his parents lived on separate estates. It was the reason his father had gone to Azkaban, the beginning of his insanity. It was the reason so many of his friends were going to die.
In no way shape or form was Draco a supporter of the light. He believed in Voldemort's main concepts, freedom of wizards and elimination of muggles, but he would rather commit suicide then call someone else master.
"Father, I am wondering if this meeting was completely necessary," Draco said sitting down at the table. His father had asked him to come to a meeting today in Hogsmead to discuss his…future.
"It was, there is news coming in that a certain son of mine has recently denounced his lord," Lucius had a calm unnerving sort of presence. His long silver hair was held back with a simple ribbon making his eyes stand out that much more.
"I never thought you one to listen to gossipers father," Draco waved the waiter over and ordered a cup of coffee. Black. This was going to be a long meeting that he needed mass quantities of caffeine to stay awake for.
"I never thought you were one to talk so openly when you are in such a….precarious position," The older man shot back taking a sip of tea.
"Are you referring to the deal you made regarding my loyalties?" Draco asked letting out a hiss as the warm liquid trickled down his throat.
"What ever are you talking about dear son of mine?" Lucius asked feigning innocence as he tapped his cane against the leg of the table.
"Abraham threw Isaac on the pyre to prove his faith to God - what is your excuse?" Draco threw a galleon down on the table and rose fastening his cloak. He didn't need to sit here and listen to his father ramble about misplaced loyalties and blood traitors. He had heard it all before.
Walking to the door he stopped when his father called his name.
"Draco, remember, Judas hung himself with his own rope," Draco let out a scoff and continued on his way. This man wasn't his father anymore. Just his shell and the remainder of his mind.
_______
Ginny sat in her bed still unmoving from the position she was in this morning. Nothing seemed to matter anyways.
"Ginny?" A slender blonde girl walked up to her bed and sat down.
"Would you like some tea now?" Ginny didn't turn to look at her, didn't even give an indication that she heard the words.
"Your hair looks very pretty today," Aurek said reaching out to touch the ruby waves.
"Like spun fire," She added with a sigh pulling her hand away. Ginny continued to stare forward, unmoving, unblinking. The only indication that she was still alive was the slight rise and fall of her chest.
Up. Down. Up. Down. Up Down Up. Down Up Down. UpDownUp. It seemed that the two motions seemed to fade into each other becoming one long motion, never ending never ceasing.
"Aurek?" Hei stood in the doorway watching Aurek watch Ginny.
"How is she doing?" The timid voice asked daring to take another step. Sinking a little farther into the madness.
"She is still the same. Like a very pretty statue…" The blonde trailed off before standing and smoothing her scarlet and gold plaid skirt.
"Collin was looking for you. Talking about a project in Potions or something. He looked kind of anxious," Hei said to the unspoken question. In their dorm they seemed to walk on tiptoes around each other. There were no best friends among them. No good friends, or even friends for that matter.
They were acquaintances who shared a room and had disputes. Yes, that was a good way to put it.
True, they cared for each other, but they had no emotional attachment.
Sadly enough, it didn't seem to bother any of them.
_______
"You know, some days I just feel like I'm fading away into nothing," Pansy whimpered clutching the pale satin sheet up to her equally pale face.
"Just tell me what is wrong," Blaise prodded slowly rubbing circles on her back.
"If I did fade away would anyone notice?" Pansy asked like a lost child. Like a deer caught in the headlights. "Would anyone care?"
Draco opened the door and walked to the bed. His breathing was harbored and his usually pale face had a rosy tint.
"What is it this time?" He asked Blaise as Pansy started to shiver in bed.
"I am just so cold," She said with a lone tear falling down her cheek marring her glacial perfection. The façade she always held up. The mask she always wore.
Around Blaise and Draco she didn't have to pretend.
"Something about fading away, I don't know Draco. We were laughing and then she just started crying. It all happened so fast," Draco swore under his breath at Blaise's words and made his way to the bathroom.
"Do you love me Blaise?" Pansy asked sniffling a little. "Even the parts you can't see?"
"Yes Pansy I love every part of you, even your pancreas," He said with a small smile rubbing a damp cloth across her forehead.
Draco reemerged holding a pewter ladle in one hand and a new cloth in the other.
"Pansy, you need to drink some fresh water," Draco slowly said extending the hand with the ladle while watching the clear water slosh around inside it.
She plucked it out of his hand and spilled the water all over herself. Lettiong out a half hearted sob Pansy sank back down into her bed.
Letting out a sigh Blaise summoned the cloth in to his hand and began to sop up the mess.
"Blaise you giant ponce. Use a drying charm," Draco had an evil glint in his eyes as he walked back into the bathroom.
Blaise slowly shook his head realizing how bad the meeting with Draco's father went.
_______
A young red headed girl skipped across the icy path enjoying the way her feet never seemed to feel the chill.
It seemed like forever since she was allowed to go out and play. Since she had been let out Ginny seemed to have gotten too mature to play with her. It got boring being all by herself all the time.
"Come all ye maidens young and fair
all you that are blooming in your prime
and always beware to keep your garden fair
let no man steal away your thyme"
The little girl closed her eyes and began to twirl in circles. She remembered when her Mum used to sing that song and Ron used to pretend to steal her thyme.
"For thyme it is a precious thing
and thyme brings all things to my mind
Thyme with all its flavours,
along with all its joys
Thyme brings all things to my mind"
She could remember her mum making all these different recipes from the garden thyme. To teach them all of its distinct and wonderful flavors. She called to the front of her mind the time they made thyme ice box cookies and how they were so light they melted on your tongue.
"Once I had a bunch of thyme
I thought it never would decay
Then came a lusty sailor
who chanced to pass my way
and stole my bunch of thyme away"
In her mind she pictured Ron taking her little bouquet of thyme and running around the garden saying he was a 'dusty sailor.' A small chuckle escaped her lips and then the sun shined on her path making her fade away into nothing but a memory like those she loved so much.
_______
Harry sat in the back corner library with Ron. It was the only place where no one would look for the two of them.
"Mum is going to kill me. Portia told me that Gin is still in the same place where we left her. Didn't even move a muscle. She swore by it. Swore by it," Ron whispered as his head fell into his hands. He loved his sister more than he cared to admit, but she was like a puppy to him.
When he remembered she was there she was cute and he enjoyed her, but after a while she just began to fade into the background. Until one day he would be walking about and remember, 'Oh yeah. Don't I have a sister?' Then the cycle would start all over
"Do you think we should go to Dumbledore?" Harry asked using a quill to carve his initials into the soft, pliable wood.
"I dunno Harry. If we do, Hermione will get in trouble. If we don't then well, then my sister is broken. This is risky business. That was a risky potion Hermione made and now…Now we are going to have to deal with the results I guess," Ron had no sound of finality and just let his head sink from his hands down onto the table.
For once in their Hogwarts years they were stuck.
_______
Padma Patil awoke to a pulling feeling in her stomach, similar to that of a portkey. Sitting up, she brushed aside the old, faded blue bed hangings and walked to the mirror. Sleepily she rubbed her face but the second she looked into the mirror all signs of sleepiness dissipated and were replaced with horror.
Her beautiful waist length brown hair was cut to just below her shoulders and dyed raven black. Her beautiful caramel colored eyes that she prided her self on were a deep emerald green, similar to that of Slytherin robes. None of that, however, was remotely as horrifying as the tattoo that had appeared on her left arm. A battle helmet sat there inked in enchanted inks, the silver seemed to sparkle in the light.
Racking her brain she tried to think of what the metal helmet symbolized.
"Padma? Why are you awake so early?" A muffle yawn came from a plump brunette sitting up in a bronze toned bed. Turning around Padma grabbed her button up jumper and pulled it on.
"Nothing, nothing at all," She didn't want to share this new mystery, not yet at least.
Prop where props are needed:
The quotes about religions Lucius Malfoy says are from Smallville
Bunch of Thyme- Celtic Folk song