|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Author: GryffindorDragon Story: The Hex of Your Life Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-DH Status: WIP Reviews: 3 Words: 16,273
He was walking aimlessly down the stairs into the Great Hall. It was quiet in the castle and eerily empty, and Harry pondered what he should do with himself. Perhaps a walk on the grounds of Hogwarts, he mused. As he headed out of the castle, he felt the warm sunshine on his back. He paused just outside the entryway. The hair on the back of his neck prickled, as if someone were watching him. He looked around but didn’t see anyone about. He pondered where he should go? Perhaps a jaunt down to the lake on this fine day would be in order. Harry tilted his head, Did I hear something? No, it must just be the wind in the trees. Harry decided a visit to Hagrid might be better after all. He had missed those ‘delicious’ rock cakes. He whistled a merry tune as he made his way down the path. Suddenly a giant wooden fist slammed into the ground where he had just been. He jumped to the left as another branch of the Whomping Willow tried to mash him into the ground. As he spun to his right, he noticed that the leaves of the tree didn’t look quite right. They were red, not green. He fell to the ground and rolled to the left to escape another branch. Sweat was beginning to pour down his face at the exertion of dodging the branches that seemed aimed at snuffing out his life. He twisted to the right and then somersaulted backwards as two more branches narrowly missed their target. He looked more closely at the tree and saw a face framed in the trunk by the flowing red leaves. He inadvertently stopped, dumbstruck, I know that face… He didn’t complete his thought. Instead the world went spinning as a tree branch connected with his gaping mouth. The mouth in the trunk opened, and as he slowly faded into blackness, he heard Ginny’s voice, ‘I told you I wasn’t finished with you, Potter…’ Harry groaned and tossed fitfully in his sleep. Harry was zooming over the Quidditch field, the wind in his face. He always felt free and alive in the air, as if flying put him in a world apart from everyone else. Hearing a whistling in the air, he quickly pushed his broom down into a dive. He felt a wind across the back of his head and turned to see a Bludger zoom past. It quickly turned and zoomed down into his path. He swerved to the right and then corkscrewed upwards. The Bludger creased the end of his broom twigs, causing his broom to wobble and almost bucking him off. He quickly regained control and shot higher up into the air. He could hear the whistling of the Bludger as he strained to get the broom to go faster. It was acting just like the rogue Bludger that Dobby has set on him back in third year. He turned to look back at it and almost lost control in shock as he saw a freckled face grinning back at him from the Bludger. Was it a trick of the light or was it red on the top and sides, almost like hair? He turned the broom into another dive in an attempt to escape, but the Bludger had a mind of its own and anticipated his move. Suddenly he found himself falling and that same voice echoing in his ears. ‘Didn’t I tell you it wasn’t over yet, Harry Potter?’ Harry muttered in sleep, as he tossed and turned, ‘I’m sorry, Ginny. I didn’t mean to push you away. I only wanted to keep you safe.’ He was standing in a familiar, dimly lit chamber. He stared at the columns. The last time he had been here, he had barely noticed the serpents twisting around them up towards the ceiling. Now he could see that there were various kinds of snakes represented. He wondered what their names were. As he looked among the columns at the various snakes, he found he could remember their names. That one there to the right was a Russell’s Viper, one of the deadly, big four snakes in India. And on that column over there near the entrance was a Copperhead, found in North America. Closer by on the pillar to his left was the Egyptian cobra, famous for helping Cleopatra escape the Roman warlock, Marc Antony. Strange that none seemed to be found here in Britain. No, wait, over there on the other side of the chamber was the common European Adder, but, while painful, the bites were rarely fatal. As he pondered over the various snakes, he kept hearing a rasping sound, a sound he had heard once before in this chamber. Now he pulled himself out of his musing and looked around to locate the source. He caught a glimpse of a large snake slithering through the columns. It had a strange reddish hue to the top of its head, stretching partway down its ‘back.’ Hmm, I don’t seem to recognize that species. Unlike the other snakes, as he watched this one, no name popped into his thoughts. As it drew near, he could hear a whispered hissing. ’Harry, Harry…why did you leave me? It was supposed to be forever.’ Strange, he thought, that isn’t Parseltongue. But that voice is so familiar. Suddenly the serpent lunged at him, mouth gaping and fangs bared. In shock, Harry barely had time to dodge to side. He began to race among the pillars. Haven’t I done this before? Why do I have to do this again? He found himself coming up against the wall of the chamber. He turned to face the snake, knowing what, or rather who, he would see… Then, he felt the fangs sink into his shoulder. ********************************************************************** Ginny tossed and turned in her sleep. Even though she had been so exhausted, she hadn’t slept well. Yes, she had been asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow on the bed Madam Pomfrey had led her to in the hospital wing. But all too soon the Headmistress had shaken her awake to take her back up to her office. She had dozed off and on ever since she had settled into that heavily-cushioned chair in her office. She woke briefly when her mother came to fetch her home. But the comfort of her mother’s arms had lulled her back to sleep. She’d woken again as her mother settled her into bed. And she couldn’t help thinking of Harry. He was the reason she tossed and turned. He was such a prat – he even plagued her dreams. She was strolling by the lake on Hogwarts’ grounds. It was a beautiful, sunny day, nary a cloud in the sky. There were birds wheeling over the lake, dancing in and out amongst themselves in what must be sheer joy. There was only one thing missing to make the setting perfect. And there he was, coming out of the castle now. She waved at him, but he didn’t seem to see her. She shouted his name to get his attention. There was no response; maybe her words were being swallowed by the breeze. She started towards him. But he turned in another direction. Was he oblivious to her? Or was he avoiding her? As she watched him move away, her mood started darkening. Wasn’t that just like him? For years he seemed to barely know she existed – let alone that she was an attractive, fanciable (and fancying) female. Then, when he had finally noticed her and returned her affection, and her life began to seem sheer bliss, he had pushed her away – to keep her safe. Oh, the nerve of him. She was angry, no, furious now. She wished she could hit him. She swung her fist in anger. Suddenly the world changed. She felt enormous, and her arms were covered in some sort of strange, brown scales. No, not scales. What was it? And her hair, it didn’t flow nicely down her back and around her face. Instead, it seemed to be splayed around her head in every direction, as if held up by sticks. Her arms – she seemed to have grown several more than the two she was supposed to have – sung in wrath as they whistled through the air at the pale-skinned creature that rolled and jumped before her. He looked familiar. Who was that small person she was trying to smash? Just as the dark-haired boy peered up into her face, the answer to both her questions flashed into her mind simultaneously. Bark…Harry. ‘I told you I wasn’t finished with you, Potter…’ What am I doing? I’ll kill him. She tried to stop her swing, but it was too late. Tears filled her eyes as her tree-branch fist connected and sent Harry flying through the air like a rag doll. Ginny muttered in her sleep, ‘No, Harry, what have I done?’ Tears leaked down the sides of her face. She moaned for several moments and then subsided back into her fitful sleep of nightmares. She was zooming with the Quaffle down the Quidditch pitch. The chasers from the Slytherin team gathered to block her path to the goals. They raced towards her, clearly intending to Blatch. She feinted down and then looped upwards and to the right. They swerved to follow. She dodged the Bludger the nearest Slytherin Beater had bashed at her and quickly zagged to the left. One Slytherin tumbled off his broom, her sudden move causing him to lose his balance as the tail of the broom he was reaching towards in an attempt at Blagging suddenly wasn’t there. She continued zigzagging down the field in a well-executed Woollongong Shimmy. Only the Keeper was left. She feinted to the right and then dove to the left, throwing the Quaffle as hard as she could. She punched the air in satisfaction as she heard the bell clang, announcing the score. She turned to catch Harry’s eye, hoping he shared her excitement. He soared above with a look of bliss on his face – a bliss that was totally oblivious to her accomplishment. How could he? He’s ignoring me – AGAIN! She turned her broom in his direction and raced after him. I’ll teach him. She bent low over her broom, straining to make her body as compact as possible. She tried to curl into a small ball. The world shuddered, and it suddenly seemed she was a ball. She watched as Harry seemed to sense her approach and dove downwards on his broom. She pulled herself into a tight turn, the wind screaming in her ears, and chased after him. Just as she was about to catch him, he dodged to the right and spun upwards. She only managed to crease the tail of his broom. She turned to follow him as he shot skywards. She saw him look back at her and couldn’t help but grin at the look of shock on his face. I’ve got you now, Potter. But suddenly he was diving again. Straining with all of her energy, she cut the corner on the curve and smashed into his broom. ‘Didn’t I tell you it wasn’t over yet, Harry Potter?’ As she watched him plummet to the ground, she recoiled in horror. What have I done? He’ll be killed. She pushed herself (What happened to my broom anyway? she wondered) into a steep dive in an attempt to catch him, but it was too late. She sobbed openly as she watched him crash into the ground in a mangled heap that was barely recognizable as a body. Ginny tossed in her sleep, unconsciously wiping at the wetness on her face. She moan out a single word, ‘Harry!’ Now she was lying on the floor of a dark chamber. She stared up but could not see the ceiling in the inky blackness. She knew she had been here before, lying in this same spot. Her heart thrilled at the thought of who would be coming for her. But aren’t I supposed to be unconscious? She dismissed the thought in her excitement. She heard soft footfalls in the chamber. She raised herself and looked around. Certainly it was Harry, coming to her rescue. She caught a glimpse of dark, unruly hair. Strange, she thought, he’s not coming this way. He’s just wandering among the columns, staring at them. She struggled to get up off the ground. Well, if he won’t come to me, I’ll go to him. But she was to weak to lift herself. She began to drag herself along the ground towards Harry. I have to get to him. If I can get to him, I’ll be alright… He’ll be alright… everything will be alright. ‘Harry, Harry,’ she gasped out, panting heavily. Slowly she crawled toward him. As she did, it became easier and easier, almost as if she were gliding along the ground. Her body seemed to flow across the surface, twisting itself among the pillars. As she drew closer to Harry, she found her anger rising. Does he find the stupid serpents more interesting than me? What do they have that I don’t? Doesn’t he know I’m here? Doesn’t he know what he means to me? ‘Why did you leave me? It was supposed to be forever.’ As she closed the distance, she picked up speed and rose up off the ground to strike at him. But she found herself crashing to the ground as he darted out of the way. She twisted to give chase. He dodged among the pillars, but she knew she had him. He was running towards the wall. He began to turn around. Again she lunged. In horror she realized her fangs were extended. Before she could stop herself, she was sinking them into his shoulder… ********************************************************************** Harry woke up disoriented. He was unsure of his surroundings until he noticed the orange glare of the walls. He reached over to the nightstand to get his glasses. After he put them on, he could clearly see the Chudley Cannons’ Seeker vigorously shaking a fist at him out of the poster on the wall. Why did the Seeker seem to have freckles sprinkled across his – no, her face – and red hair? Harry groaned. ‘Why is it that the only thing I can seem to think about is Ginny Weasley being mad at me?’ The ache in his chest pounded painfully once more. He decided he wasn’t going to get any more sleep. His stomach rumbled loudly, and he remembered something about eggs, pudding, sausages, and toast. He decided to go down to the kitchen and see about the meal he apparently hadn’t got a chance to eat any of. As he came down the stairs, he looked at the closed door of Ginny’s room. He wondered what her dreams were about. Maybe she was dreaming she was the Whomping Willow bludgeoning Harry. He sighed and continued on down to the kitchen. He could hear voices inside talking. He didn’t want to be rude and listen in on the conversation, but he couldn’t help himself. He stopped himself before he entered the kitchen and quietly stepped behind a cabinet by the door. He wished he had the twins’ Extendable Ears with him. ********************************************************************** A/N: I want to thank Sherylyn for her hard work in betaing this. Everyone, please give her a round of applause for all she does for PS. I also want to thank hwimsey for again taking the time to read and comment. These two challenged me to make this story much better than I first wrote it. Any weaknesses that remain are due to my own stubbornness and ineptitude. Canon, as far as I can find, only describes Ron has having freckles. I don’t think that necessarily means that he is the only one in the family with freckles (Don’t freckles and red hair fit together?). So I have taken the liberty (no surprise in AU) to describe Ginny as having them, too. Are you wondering why Ginny and Harry’s dreams are so closely related? Think on it; it’s a little clue as to why Ginny is so angry and rather out of control. Can’t figure it out; well, keep reading. You’ll find out. Please review.
|