Iuga Sortis (Bound By Destiny)

Six

"I've sent my men to look down the Nile. There are also some searching Meroeand southern Nubiaas well. Do not fret, my Queen, we will find your brother . . . your husband . . ."

She started at that, hearing the longing and sadness in his voice.

"My lord, please . . ." she sighed as she turned to face him. He was in his human form, which was every bit as impressive and beautiful as his warrior one. His sword remained ever ready at his hip, however, reflecting the light of the moon.

"I know you are loyal and faithful, my Queen. I am here to help, nothing more."

She hugged herself and closed her eyes. But what if I want more? she thought against her wishes.

"Yes, my lord, I am faithful to him. He is my king and my brother. I love him."

He nodded his head in reluctant acceptance as he locked eyes with her.

"Yes. You love him. But can you deny you love me as well?"

She turned away again, the passion and love in his gaze overwhelming her. "I need to find my brother. I need to find Osiris."

"My Queen, surely he is dead by now."

"Not if I have anything to do about it."

She heard him sigh and imagined he was looking to the heavens for help, a gesture done in irony.

"My Queen, Set nailed him alive in a coffin and put it in the Nile. That was days ago. I know he is a god, but even he must die," he said wisely.

She nodded and walked to the indoor pool, her golden eyes taking in the water lilies and fish swimming in the water.

"Set has always been horribly jealous of our brother; he's been trying to get the kingdom away from Osiris since we were children."

"He also wants you for himself, my Queen, surely you know that."

She shuddered, the thought repulsing her. Set was ugly and foul in every possible way. She didn't know how Nephthys could deal with him day in and day out.

"We cannot always have what we want," she said unapologetically.

"This I know well."

She choked back a sob as she heard his pain, for it echoed her own. "Apedemak . . ."

"Isis . . ." He whirled her around and pulled her into his arms. Isiswent willingly, holding him as close as possible.

"It's bad enough that he went after Osiris, but I know for a fact he's coming after you as well."

"I can take care of myself, my Queen," he chuckled.

Isis smiled. "I can take care of myself, as well, but that doesn't mean I don't want you to take all the necessary precautions to stay safe." She broke away from him, but he kept his arms around her, not wanting to totally let her go.

"I do not care about that imbecile. I can handle Set," he said confidently. Isis shook her head, her braids rubbing against his hands as he caressed her back.

"Set is more powerful now than ever before. If he managed to trick Osiris, I cannot imagine what cunning he has at his disposal. I fear my allies are dwindling before my eyes. You are my most trusted confidant, I couldn't bear it if something happened to you, as it did to Osiris," Isis said, her voice growing thick.

"I will do everything in my power to bring him back to you, my Queen. I will not fail you." He moved his hands from her back and grasped hers, bringing them to his lips and kissing them tenderly. Isis closed her eyes at the emotion that simple action caused before opening them again.

"I know you will, my lord. I trust you." I love you . . .

Apedemak smiled softly, his green eyes sad and tender in understanding. "I know you do, my Queen. I know you do."

Nia opened her eyes slowly, stretching her arms over her head. The dream felt so real to her, and she stared at the backs of her hands which still tingled with the sensation of lips being pressed against them. Nia shook her head, hoping this wasn't one of those dreams she'd been having off and on for three years--dreams that turned out to be real. She flipped over and hugged the cushion, hoping she could find her way back to sleep, but she knew instinctively sleep would not return.

It was a Saturday morning, three weeks after term started, and since it began, her life had been hectic. She had finally got used to the classes, the moving staircases--even Peeves' pranks. It was starting to feel like a home away from home. Of course, she missed her grandmother and Charleston's warm weather, but she wouldn't trade her experiences here for the world. That's not true, she thought, knowing she would gladly trade any experience she had with Professor Umbridge for something less horrible, like rotting in hell perhaps. But much to Nia's annoyance and dread, the British Ministry of Magic appointed her High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. To Nia, all that meant was that Umbridge was a tattletale with power.

Overgrown rat, she thought, chuckling slightly.

The other experience was hurting Draco's feelings. He'd been her first friend, and she had to go and put her foot in her mouth. Luckily she'd made more friends, most notably Pansy Parkinson and Gregory Goyle, in spite of Draco's vow of silence towards her. Had it not been for them, her house life would be miserable.

She sat up, noting that her roommates were still sleeping. Nia had always been an early riser, much to her mother's chagrin. Nia remembered waking her mother by jumping on the bed and singing "It's Saturday! It's Saturday!" at the top of her lungs. This only served to force her mother to tickle her to silence, and the two would fall back to the bed in peals of laughter. Nia sniffled at the memory, realizing she'd never get to share those moments again.

Sighing, she pulled on her housecoat and put on her slippers to go see if her father was awake. The common room was empty as she left, a further testament that it was a Saturday morning. She pulled her housecoat tighter around her, trying to ward off the chill of the cool dungeon halls. Nia opened the door to the Potions classroom. It had a calming quality to it, despite the fact that during the week it was full of melting cauldrons, exploding potions, and the occasional mysterious vapor. She shook her head, wondering how Snape did it day in and day out. She muttered the password to his office door and entered, going to the shelves of potions on the left wall. Pulling out her wand, she tapped on three specific flasks and muttered another password. Nia stepped back, letting the shelves slide away to reveal Snape's private quarters. She heard voices as she stepped inside; clearly she wasn't the only one who wanted his company so early in the morning. Crestfallen, she turned, prepared to go back to her dorm room.

"It's all right, Little One. You can come in," Severus said gently.

She turned back and walked further into the room to see Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall there as well, having a meeting of some sort.

"Mornin'," Nia mumbled, shuffling inside. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily, and he presented his cheek to her, tapping it with a finger. Nia lost some of her shyness and grinned, walking to the headmaster and kissing his cheek. "Mornin', Grandpa Albus," she whispered in his ear.

He hugged her tightly. "Morning, my dear Nia. Did you sleep well?" She nodded.

"Good morning, child," McGonagall said kindly.

"Morning, Professor."

The sternness Nia was so used to seeing seemed to melt away at the greeting, and McGonagall offered a smile.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" Severus asked sardonically.

Nia leaned against Dumbledore's easy chair, inspecting her fingernails. "I dunno," she said, looking at him through her lashes. "Maybe." Dumbledore and McGonagall chuckled at that, and Severus growled in his throat.

"Come here, you little hellion!" he ordered, grabbing her hand and pulling her into his lap, kissing her face and tickling her sides. Nia squealed with laughter, glad to spend some time with her father.

"C'mon, Daddy! Stop it!" she shrieked, trying to still his hands. He finally relented, readjusting her so she could sit in his lap more comfortably. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she reclined against him, feeling very safe and loved.

"You look so much like Malika, child. It's uncanny," McGonagall murmured.

Nia gave a small smile. "Thank you, Professor."

"Are your classes well?" Dumbledore asked, putting a Lemon drop into his mouth.

Nia shrugged. "They're fine."

"But . . ." Severus drawled out, hearing the unspoken conjunction.

"I miss Grandma . . . and Mommy," she said.

Severus cradled her head in the crook of his neck and kissed the top of it tenderly.

"Your grandmother misses you, too, but you can always owl her," Dumbledore offered. "And your mother is with you always."

"I know," Nia mumbled.

Severus cleared his throat, wanting to steer the conversation into more pleasant waters. "What are you doing today?" he asked his daughter.

Nia shrugged again. "I dunno. Me and Megan are meeting after breakfast to think of something."

"Who is Megan?"

"She's a Hufflepuff in my year. We were partnered together in Herbology."

"Do you have any other friends, my dear?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yeah, but they are all going to Hogsmeade. I told Pansy and Angelina to get me some Chocolate Frogs," she said with a grin.

"Sneaky girl! Now you're going to get two cartons of it!" Severus said, tickling her side.

Nia giggled. "I'm not in Slytherin for nothin'!" she exclaimed. The adults laughed.

"Well, Miss Slytherin, since you have to meet your friend, I suggest you get a move on. Breakfast will start soon," Severus said, kissing her forehead.

"'Kay." Nia hopped down from his lap and stole a Lemon drop from the table. Dumbledore winked at her, and she grinned. "Bye." She waved and left the quarters.

"Goodbye, Little One," Severus called.

She went back into the room, showered, and changed into jeans and a long-sleeved top, grateful they didn't have to wear uniforms on the weekends. Walking back into the common room, she made to open her Lemon drop but bumped into someone in the process.

"Dangit!" she muttered. She bent to pick it up, quickly snatching her hand away as a large foot stepped on it.

"You should watch where you're going, Roberts."

Nia suppressed a shudder, standing up and glaring at the boy. Not bothering to comment, she tried to walk around his left, but he grabbed her right bicep--hard.

"Why don't you go back to your Mudblood life? You don't belong here."

Nia forced herself not to reel back from the hostility in his voice, determined not to let it get to her.

"Let me go, Crabbe," she said lowly.

"You know what? Three's something I don't get about you. You're all of a sudden a second year, but you weren't here last year. Snape is actually nice to you, and he's rarely nice to anyone, except for people with money like Draco. So either you're filthy rich, which I doubt, seeing the way you dress, or there's something else. I personally think there's more to you than meets the eye, and I will find out what it is," Crabbe promised. He squeezed her arm against tightly before jerking her away. Nia began to quickly walk away, not daring to rub her arm to give Crabbe the satisfaction of knowing he'd hurt her.

"Do that again, Crabbe, and I'll be forced to give you a detention."

Nia's steps faltered a bit at the threat, but she kept walking. She'd left the room before she heard Crabbe's reply, but she really didn't care what the boy said. All she knew was that her arm was probably bruised, as she placed an hand on her arm to inspect it. Draco stood up for me, she thought, her pace slowing again. As her mind wrapped around that revelation, she didn't hear the fast-approaching footsteps until it was too late. She quickened her pace again, half-fearing Crabbe was coming to attack her again for getting him into trouble. A hand grabbed her left arm.

"No!" she yelled, whirling around and placing a well-placed punch into his abdomen with her injured one. She gasped at the pain shooting through her arm, and he grunted, slumping to the floor. Though his body was doubled over in pain, Nia knew she made a mistake when she saw a head of platinum blonde hair instead of muddy brown. Draco crawled to the wall, resting his back against it.

"Dangit!" she exclaimed again, crouching down in front of him.

"Bloody hell, Little One! Where did you learn to throw a punch like that?"

Nia chuckled in spite of herself. "My cousin Caleb. He said a lady should learn how to protect herself. My grandmother was so mad at him for doing that though. I got into trouble in fifth grade for beating up this boy trying to put mud down my skirt. The idiot," she said.

"Well, he bloody taught you well!" he ground out, cradling his abdomen.

She looked at him shyly. "Sorry about punching you." she mumbled.

Draco smirked, despite the pain. "Nothing less than I deserve, I daresay."

Nia looked confused. "How d'you mean?"

Draco patted the space next to him, and Nia sat down, waiting for his response. "I've been treating you rotten, and I'm sorry for it."

Nia looked shocked. "What? Draco Malfoy apologizing? There are pigs flying somewhere . . ." she muttered.

"Very funny, Little One," he said sarcastically, but he grew serious. "When you reminded me we'd only known each other for a few days, it both shocked and frightened me because . . .well . . . it felt like we'd known each other forever. It never occurred to me that you were American, or you were a second year, or even that you were raised Muggle. I just knew that you were, really, my very first friend that I'd chosen--not of my father's choosing or of people choosing me because of the Malfoy money." He sighed then, resting his head against the stone wall. Draco stared at a candle fixture on the opposite wall and continued to talk.

"Very few people take the time to know me beyond a superficial level, but you did, Nia--even through my faults. The way I was leaning on you for support really unnerved me, and when you said what you did, it brought it all home for me. I know you didn't say it out of malice, but I hid behind it, trying to blame you for making me feel the way I did. I shouldn't have, and I apologize for it."

Nia grabbed his hand and squeezed it affectionately. "I know what you mean 'cause I feel the same way," she admitted. "I didn't like you being mad at me, and when you stopped speaking to me, I felt so alone. If it weren't for Pansy and Goyle, I would've been so miserable."

Draco wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore. I'm here, and I don't plan on leaving again." He stood then, offering her a hand to help her up. "Besides, I know not to get on your bad side. You throw one hell of a punch!" he teased, moving his hands to squeeze her muscles. Nia winced and let out a hiss as his hands reached her injured bicep.

Draco's eyes hardened. "He hurt you." The statement was barely heard, but the anger was apparent. He turned to go back to the common room.

"Just let it go, Draco. I'll live," she said, grabbing his arm and turning him back towards her. She linked her arm through his and walked them to the Great Hall.

"Nia . . ."

She sucked her teeth. "Yes! It hurt where he grabbed me, but it's fine now!" she insisted.

He sighed. "You'll tell me if he pulls another stunt like that again, won't you?" Nia nodded her assent. Draco looked unconvinced, but he let it drop.

They entered the hall and sat at their table, helping themselves to breakfast.

"So," Draco began, changing the subject, "what do you want me to get you from Hogsmeade, then?"

She grinned. "Lemon drops."