The Girl No One Knew (7) “Anyway, it’s almost time for bed. Should we stay here? I don’t feel like leaving just yet, im kind of fond of this room you know.” Draco said smiling as the island disappeared. “Yeah, lets stay the night.” Saeko agreed. “Alright, but we have school in the morning.” Hermione reminded them. “Yeah thanks for reminding us.” Ron scowled jokingly. They all closed their eyes and imagined their own personal things in a particular part of the room. When they opened them again, they’re four poster beds, trunks, drawers, and dressers were where they imagined them. They changed behind their hangings into their pajamas and then climbed into bed as the room slowly went down to a low glimmer of light above their heads. Some where in the middle of the night, Saeko awoke and walked quietly to Dracos bed. Drawing back the hangings, She sat on his bed and closed them once more. Sitting there she looked at his sleeping figure for a while. Then she shook him lightly to wake him. “Draco wake up.” She said softly into his ear. “Huh? What?” he whispered turning onto his back and opening his eyes slightly. “What’s wrong?” he asked sitting up and rubbing his eyes. “I’ve been thinking, how will we get to the island and how will we get off? What will happen on the island? It’s all a mystery.” Saeko whispered. “Exactly. Its all a mystery, what will come will come, and we’ll deal with it when it gets here, so stop your worrying, and get back to sleep.” Draco comforted in a soft voice sitting up and smiling softly at her putting a hand on her shoulder. “Yeah, I guess your right, but I can’t help wondering, and worrying about what will happen. I don’t want to kill anyone.” Saeko whispered almost to herself. “Hey, you didn’t kill anyone remember?” Draco whispered comforting her a bit. “I almost killed someone Draco…I don’t want that to happen again.” Saeko said worriedly. “It wont, so don’t worry about it. I will always be there to get in the way first.” He said rubbing her shoulder and smiling softly in the soft glowing blue light. Saeko sighed and nodded smiling softly at him. “Thanks. Sorry for waking you.” She added suddenly noticing how dark it was. “That’s alright. Just go back to sleep,” he said smiling at her and kissing her forehead lightly before lying back down. “Alright, night.” She said smiling as she climbed out of his bed and walked back to her bed. ~*~ The next morning they woke up at around the same time, somewhere near 7:00 a.m. As they rushed around to get ready they talked through it all. “OK, we were never here.” Harry said as he rushed past Hermione who was putting on her shoes. “And we where never in our dorms either.” Ron over heard him and called out. “Tell them to mind their business.” Draco shrugged before starting to brush his teeth. “Oh that might work for you but we actually got friends.” Ron laughed on the other side of the room pulling his shirt over his head. “Hey!” Saeko broke in glaring at them both. “We won’t say anything about it. We were just not there.” “Yeah, never there. Don’t tell anything.” Hermione agreed as she looked at her wristwatch. “OK we are about to be late! Time to go!” She suddenly called out flinging on her backpack and jumping off her bed. Then they rushed out of the room, harry locking it as they left. ~*~ The rest of the day went by smoothly, with no questions asked. They wondered if Dumbledore took care of it before hand. As that day passed they finally understood why no one spoke to them, and it wasn’t just because Dumbledore told them not to. “Did you notice the weird stares we’re getting?” Ron finally whispered. “Not just me then is it.” Draco muttered. “No not just you…me too they have been whispering,” Saeko growled glaring at a pair of 7th year girls who shivered and ran off down the hall. “Bad things.” “Yeah, I hear them sometimes too.” Harry agreed. “And they were none to quite and didn’t care really.” He said. “I think its because of Draco.” Hermione acknowledged. “Hey, what did I do?” Draco said angrily. “Nothing.” Saeko cut in as Hermione upend her mouth to talk and then closed it again. ”Aren’t you two supposed to be enemies not allies?” Saeko added jerking her chin in Harry’s direction. “Remember I told you that I was supposed to be ‘nice’ now.” Draco scowled. ”Besides they will have to get used to it and learn to like it, I don’t trust you aren’t red head over there.” He added looking at Ron who was only just stopped with Saeko’s right arm as he made a move. “Whoa. Calm down their boy’s, no need to get rough.” Saeko joked seriously. “But that does remind me; Ron how about some lessons in fighting? After that night that we fought I think you a worthy opponent and fast learner. What do you think?” she asked. “That would be great! What time? When where?” he asked excitedly momentarily forgetting about Draco who sat scowling in the back round. “Eh, how about every Saturday night n the pitch, that would be nice.” Saeko nodded her own approval. “Great!” Draco started sarcastically. “Im trying to protect you from him and you go and offer free acceptance of him!” he scowled even more. “Fine then, you got lessons also if you want to be so whiny about it.” Saeko said. “I think harry will need training the most, Voldemort is trying to kill him to you know.” Hermione informed. “Alright harry your in too.” Saeko said smiling warmly at him. “Thanks Hermione.” Harry smiled hiding back a fierce urge to frown. “Ha! Don’t worry about it Harry, I am not that hard an instructor!” Saeko assured him grinning. “Ahem, and if it wont mind Misty, I mean Saeko could I join in? I mean we are going to the island together, so it might be best if we all had some training you know just in case something wrong happens…” Hermione said a bit bashfully looking down at her shoes. “No big Herm!” Saeko grinned even more showing her white cat like fangs to them. “How about we meet at around 9 o clock at night…but first we need to get admittance of Professor Dumbledore. It would be sort of stupid to go about blindly at night you know.” Saeko said and they all grinned back, knowing that they had already stumbled thrice into the pitch later then 9-o clock at night. “Good thinking.” Harry said shaking with silent laughter. The rest of the day passed restlessly and soon they where walking up to Dumbledore as everyone was leaving to go back to their dorms. Hermione, being the spoke-woman she was, spoke for the group and told of their plan. “ah, that is smart of you all, yes very smart indeed, but I am dearly sorry that I can not let you on to the grounds after dark with no supervision, so Remus will of course escort you himself. I shall owl him tonight to let him know.” Dumbledore told them and walked off. “Remus!” Harry, Ron, and Hermione whispered in chores of surprise and happiness. “Remus?” Saeko answered them in confusion. “Remus.” Draco’s voice was flat and he seemed not to care. After that the week passed slowly and their fellow students finally started asking questions of where they were that one-day. Of course they did not answer and went with their daily business as usual. Finally the Saturday came and they met at Dumbledores office, all either excited to meet their escort once again, or most politly confused. “Ah! And they are here at last.” Dumbledore welcomed them warmly and told them not to get too comfortable. When He was done speaking a man who looked around his mid Forties entered the room and greeted them all lightly even Saeko and Draco, who where not accustomed to him. “Alright Harry?” Saeko heard him whisper into Harry’s ear. Harry answered with a nod. “Now remember not out past mid night!” Dumbledore called after them as they left. As they entered the grounds, they noticed that it had become chillier since their last visit to the pitch. They walked across the grounds to the pitch, all the while pulling their robes around them to keep warm. When they reached the pitch, Remus nodded to them and went up the steps to sit in the stands to watch. “Alright, first off, I hope you all wore comfortable clothing under your robes.” Saeko smiled pulling off her own robes as she spoke. “I thought that it would be like that, so I wore comfortable clothing anyway.” Hermione smiled back and also started to strip out of her robes. Draco shrugged and pulled off his robes also pulling off his shirt as he did so. Ron and harry looked at each other and followed Draco’s lead. “Now, I am not responsible for any injury, but I will try my best not to hurt you to seriously.” Saeko said seriously as they followed her on to the field. “Alright, line up infront of me, oldest to youngest.” She ordered facing the stands Remus sat in. she winked at him and turned back to her students. Draco was standing before Hermione, and at her side stood Ron and at his side stood harry. “Alright, first we will be stretching, and then we will take one lap around the field.” She told them, and Draco and Hermione groaned. Although harry and Ron have been running around the pitch since they where Quidetch players for their house, they haven’t ran I a long time. “Don’t worry, it will be a nice slow pace jog.” Saeko assured them. Then they began to stretch. First they did jumping jacks, then leg stretches then arm stretches and then a few push ups and sit-ups. “Alright,” Saeko said, jumping in place a few times before turning around. “A nice slow pace, not to fast, just fast enough to get your adrenaline pumping.” Then she started off infront of them, flinging off her cap and doing a few cart wheels t get started and then ran off faster the sound its self. Well, not exactly faster, but that’s what it looked like to them. In a few seconds, she was standing behind them, little beads of sweat dripping down her face and her chest heaving up and down. “Whoa, now that was a rush.” She sad, picking up her water bottle as she stood infront of them again. “Alright, get running. Don’t go as fast as I did, I just need to talk to Remus for a few seconds, so I got it over with fast. Ready, get going.” Saeko said and bounced off the track as they started to jog in a steady pace. “I wander what Saeko needs to talk to Remus for.” Ron asked them as they ran. “Who knows? Probably about their transformations or something.” Harry answered and they continued their jog in silence. As Saeko jumped up the stadium wall and plopped down next to Remus, the four trainees where just rounding the field. “Hi, im Saeko. You must be Remus?” Saeko asked extending a hand. “Yes I am Remus.” He smiled. “Oh, then I was just wondering, I mean I couldn’t help overhearing a conversation, I mean…” Saeko’s ear twitched uncomfortably. “What I mean to say is, that maybe we don’t have to transform alone.” she finished. Remus raised an eyebrow at first a bit confused. Then he smiled warmly at her and nodded. “Ah, yes. I understand now. Of course, your half demon aren’t you.” He said, his Question ending in something more of a statement. Saeko just nodded. “I understand. But I must ask Dumbledore first before we transform though.” He informed her. Saeko nodded again “I understand.” She said looking up to see Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Draco coming to a stop breathing hard and laying on the grass heavily. “well, got to go. Nice talking with you remus.” Saeko smiled at him and jumped down from the stands. She ran across the field and stood infront of them sternly. “Never sit down after running, walk around a bit first, and then we will get to the real stuff.” Saeko informed them and picked up her water bottle, passing it to Hermione who gulped some down before passing it to Ron, and then harry then Draco. When Draco got it though, the bottle was almost empty. He glared at them as they stood up and started to walk around. Saeko sighed and smiled before flicking her wand and refilling the water bottle. Draco smiled thankfully at her and gulped the whole thing down. “Now,” She called and they got back into line. “We will start with basics.” Saeko paused and looked up at the night sky. “We have about one hours left, so make this worth our time.” She told them and then pulled off the sweater around her waist, taking off her sweats and throwing them to the side. Hermione also took off her sweats and pulled off her sweater. ”OK, lets start with stances. Every thing you do has to do with your stance, when you have your feet in the wrong place, it is more times then most that you will trip.” She demonstrated quickly, and then showed them the correct way to stand. “With your right foot out and your left foot pointing out ward, you’re right straight forward.” Saeko said, doing as she spoke, and they followed her carefully. “Stop, Hermione, you have your foot to far back, and Ron your foot is to far to the side.” Saeko said standing up right again and studying them. “Now, you need to have your hands in the right place too, ready to block or send blows, like this. One arm to one side, not to low, and the other right where your stomach is.” She demonstrated once more, and Hermione spoke out. “Um, Saeko, wont this leave your side wide open for a hit?” she asked standing up right once again. “Good observation Hermione.” Saeko smiled warmly and went on. “Yes, it will.” “Then why are we doing it?” asked Ron. “Because you will be able to do this faster then anything, and that will counter the spot that most enemies will go to.” Saeko got into her form once more and stared at Draco. “Attack me where I am open.” She commanded. Draco looked at them all, and then shrugged before aiming a very powerful punch at her side. Saeko swirled away from his fist, and grabbed his wrist with the arm she let hang low. “See the mistake he just made?” She said. “Brace yourself.” She added to Draco, and he gulped. She twisted his wrist slightly then flipped him around in a circle, with him ending up on his back with a very full thud echoing in his chest. “Oh…” He groaned sitting up slightly. “Any more questions?” she asked, helping Draco to his feet; they all shook their heads as Draco took his place in line. “Now, the next move I will show you is a bit easy. How to dodge a kick to the head and counter it with a blow to the back of the head…Hermione?” Saeko said stepping back Hermione smiled nervously and stepped forward. Their training session was just about up as Saeko ended her demonstrations with every one very sore. “Now, last but not least, Ron please come back up here for a moment.” She said. “Yeah?” he asked stepping forward as the others stepped back. “I want to put on a show for them, have a small fist fight you know. Don’t hold back, because if you do you will end up on the floor.” Saeko told him faintly, circling him slowly before standing to the side. “now,” she said louder this time “since this is a more of death or life combat, we wont have any rules, none of that silly nodding heads or shaking hands…well, maybe shaking hands among us but I don’t think a demon will let you shake their hand.” Saeko chuckled softly as she shook hands with Ron. They took their places infront of each other. “When ever your ready Ron.” She whispered almost to herself, and then he charged forward, jumping to the side as she put up a fist. He jumped behind her, but she was to fast, and Ron ended with a black eye. He grunted and grinned. “Oh, that kind of fighting.” He whispered, and they took their forms once more. This time Saeko charged forward with intensity, almost making him take a step backward and trip over his own two feet. But he refrained from doing so and just as Saeko made a blow to his stomach, he jumped out of the way and caught her arm, bringing it behind her and making her make a low pitch cry of pain. She glared at the ground before working her leg behind his knee and making him fall to the floor, setting her free. She jumped over his head and got him in a headlock. He gasped a few times before holding his breath. Saeko released her grip on him a bit, and then he broke free, giving her a blow to the stomach and making her fly a few before sitting up. As she sat up, she didn’t have time enough to think as he ran headlong into her and bulled her to the ground once more. He pinned her into the sand and looked her into the eyes. “Ron you’re making this easy for me.” She informed him. And then Ron noticed his mistake to late, but this time Saeko brought her feet up to his stomach and pushed him off her with so much force she almost knocked him Unconscious as he hit the floor. “Alright, I think that’s enough for the night.” Saeko told them, looking up at the night sky and shivering. ”I want to sleep in tomorrow.” She added pulling all her clothes back on as Ron made his way back over to her. “Yeah, same here. I don’t think I will have the strength to even get up anyway.” He said as they made their way back into the castle. “We are just going to head back alright Remus!” called harry as they walked out of the pitch. “Sure! See you next weekend!” they heard his voce echo. CHAPTER SEVEN A Talk About Elf Island, and a Travel Around The World
Copyright © 2000 Nicole M Laster |