Revelation II-Lycantor

REVELATION II-LYCANTOR

CHAPTER 12-THE TRIP.

The week went by. Annabelle and Ginny were getting ready to head to Cheviot Hills for the Oliut flower. They met Professor Dumbledore down in the Great Hall with brooms.

"You will fly as far as Manchester. From there, you will be met by several members of the order just to get you to Cheviot Hills. Once you hit the hills, I'm afraid you're on your own," Professor Dumbledore said.

Ginny and Annabelle nodded.

Professor Dumbledore saw me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"We'll look after her while you're gone. Plus, I'm sure she can handle herself," he said, as his blue eyes twinkled behind his half moon spectacles.

I gave Ginny and Annabelle a hug before they headed outside the castle. I just stayed back as another nagging feeling arose in me.

GINNY.

I felt bad for leaving Hermione here to deal with Harry, but if there was any chance of helping them, that flower would be the only key.

Annabelle and I tightened our hooded cloaks around us as the cold blast of December air blew around us. The snow was still covering the ground and a bit of ice had formed.

We mounted our brooms and kicked off the ground.

Professor Dumbledore told us the direct root. He didn't want to say exactly what route incase Harry would be listening before we left.

We knew to fly at least 300-400 feet above the Muggle street so it would be hard to see us.

I tightened my grip on the handle and shifted my weight slightly. The cold air blew against my face and whipped strands of my hair under my chin.

My hands were freezing from the cold.

"The only thing we have to worry about now are 747's," Annabelle joked.

We giggled.

We reached the meeting point at Manchester about 4 hours later. We were able to get warm and stayed overnight in Tonks' place. We told her about Harry and she said that she hoped the flower would work.

Early the next morning, we set off again. This time, we really were on our own. We reached the hills 3 hours later.

They were rolling hills and richly green. They actually looked like small mountains.

The Oliut plant or flower was said to be on top of the largest hill.

Sure enough, we spied it.

It was basically a small mountain.

Annabelle and I touched down under the cover of the morning dew.

Our shoes crunched in the snow as we began walking toward the hill.

Suddenly, a voice came out of nowhere.

"Who are you?"

We turned around. It was a boy about our age on a beautiful dark brown horse with a white blaze and four white socks. He was riding English.

The horse stood calmly in the snow which was just above the fetlocks as the mane and tail blew in the wind.

We had quickly hid our brooms behind our backs.

"We need to get to the top of that hill," Annabelle said.

The boy narrowed his eyes at us for a second.

"Wait. Aren't you witches?" he asked.

Annabelle and I looked at each other nervously. Suppose this was a Muggle? Would he tell on us? Would the mission be ruined?

I slid the hood off of my head lightly exposing the Gryffindor colors on the collar of my gray V-necked vest.

"You're from Hogwarts, aren't you?" the boy continued.

"Y-yes," Annabelle said nervously.

"My younger sister goes there. Amy Davis," the boy said.

My throat tightened. He had no idea that Amy was killed last semester by the Lycantor Professor Solaris.

"Oh," Annabelle said. "I heard she..."

"Is doing well there. Good in all her classes," I cut in.

Annabelle looked at me questioningly but I glared at her, then at the boy.

Realization dawned on her face.

"My name is Rob Davis," the boy introduced as he took one foot out of the stirrup and slid off the saddle. "And this is Nathan."

He patted the horses' neck affectionately.

"Hi. I'm Ginny Weasley and this is Annabelle Solaris," I introduced sticking my hand out.

He shook my hand then Annabelle's.

I had to admit, Rob was cute. He had short, wavy, thick dark brown hair and honey brown eyes. He was dressed in a winter riding outfit with a wool jacket over it.

He was holding a riding crop in one hand. I've read about horses and things in Muggle books.

"You live here?" I asked.

Rob turned his eyes onto me. "Yes, just beyond that fence there. Why do you need to get to the top of the hill?"

"We need a special flower," Annabelle said. "The Oliut flower."

"Having werewolf problems?" Rob asked.

We couldn't tell if his tone was teasing or serious.

"Actually, yes we are," I said indifferently. "What's it to you?"

Rob smiled. "Relax. I didn't mean anything by it. I believe you. I know what that flower is used for,"

I relaxed.

"We'll have to get there by horseback and camp over night. It'll take us a day or two to reach the top," Rob continued. "You can store your brooms in the barn. I have two horses you can use."

Annabelle and I looked at each other again and then at him.

"Thank you," Annabelle said.

"You welcomed," Rob said smiling at me and not really looking at Annabelle.

I felt my face flushing with color despite the cold.

"We'd best get going," Rob said as he grabbed the horses' reins and began leading it back to the barn. We followed.

Rob saddled up the other two horses for us. One was a large 17 hand light bay shire mare named Jules and the one Annabelle was riding was a 17 hand Clydesdale named Bart.

He also got camping gear ready. Two tents. One for himself and one for Annabelle and I to share. Surprisingly, the shire and the Clydesdale could hold a lot even with Annabelle and I riding them.

We began riding toward the hill.

I bundled the cloak tighter. I was warm now. I shifted my weight in the saddle and tightened the grip on the reins. I was a little off riding a horse. I was more used to a broom. But I had to admit there was more to grab on on a horse.

Annabelle seemed totally comfortable on the Clydesdale. All three horses walked side-by-side in rhythm.

Their breaths coming out of their nostrils in puffs of steam. Each time Annabelle, Rob and I exhaled, it was the same thing.

I was riding in between Annabelle and Rob. I knew I had to tell Rob about Amy.

"Ginny? Do you know Amy?" Rob asked suddenly.

My stomach wrenched.

"I did," I said slowly.

"Did?" Rob asked confused. "She still goes there."

"I'm afraid something has happened. You see, last semester our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher turned out to be a Lycantor werewolf. She killed Amy," I said swallowing a lump of tears.

Rob was silent for a while.

"My parents never told me anything...they never told me the truth," Rob growled angrily. "They told me that Amy was fine and okay."

"I'm so sorry," Annabelle said quietly.

I could see tears in Rob's eyes. I felt so horrible.

"It's not your fault," Rob said. "It's my parents. They owe me an explanation."

Soon, that conversation fell silent until Rob spoke again 30 minutes later. We were just a few yard from the base of the hill.

"So Ginny? What year are you in now?" Rob asked.

"Sixth," I replied.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked.

That question caught me off guard, but I figured it was his way of dealing with what happened to Amy.

"No," I replied glancing at Annabelle.

She mouthed "Shock and denial,"

I nodded that I understood.

"That's a good thing for me," Rob said smiling as he clicked his tongue and spurred Nathan ahead.

Once Rob was out of ear range, but not eye range, Annabelle reached over and poked me in the shoulder.

"He's in shock and denial," she replied.

"I kind of got that," I replied.

"Poor guy," Annabelle said sadly, shaking her head. "Imagine telling your own son that your sister was alive even though you knew that she had been killed. That was not a smart thing to do."

"I know," I said.

"But on a lighter side, I think he likes you," Annabelle said grinning at me goofily.

"What makes you say that?" I asked leaning forward and rubbing Jules' neck. The horse whiffed softly.

"Didn't you hear what he said before going a head? 'That's a good thing for me?'" she asked.

"Oh yeah," I said.

"Just keep looking for the signs huh?" Annabelle grinned.

I grinned too.

We nudged the horses to move faster and they took up a canter. We reached Rob.

"Okay. This is the base of the hill. We climb halfway up leading the horses because it is a little steep. Then we set camp," Rob said.

So Annabelle and I dismounted and took the reins under the horses' chins. Jules was playfully chomping on the bit and she nudged me.

I stroked her silky mane and the three of us began heading up the hill.

About halfway up, I ended up losing my footing and slid down a few feet. Jules whinnied and yanked her head up. Rob immediately slid down on his stomach and stretched out his hand.

"Grab hold!" he yelled.

Annabelle was holding Rob's horse, my horse and her own. She was watching with fear.

I stretched a bit further and finally my hand closed around his. He pulled me to safety.

I was breathing heavily.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.

"Yeah. Thanks," I said smiling.

He smiled back.

Once Rob made sure I was okay, he took over for Annabelle holding the horses. She rushed over to me and gave me a hug.

"Thank God you're okay," she gushed squeezing me tightly.

"Annabelle? Breathing is becoming an issue here," I gasped.

"Sorry," she smiled and released me.

I was surprised to see tears shimmering in her eyes.

I caught Rob's shy look as Annabelle had hugged me.

"Let's get going. We have about 14 minutes to go yet,"

So I got to my feet and we continued to head up the hill.

When we reached where we were supposed to reach, Rob set up camp. For someone in the wizarding world, he sure knew a lot about Muggle camping and riding. I was in awe over him.

He set up the two tents and built a fire. The horses were un-tacked and then put heavy blankets on them to keep them warm as well. Annabelle and I sat in front of our tent and Rob sat in front of his directly across from us.

He started dinner. He heated them over the fire and then handed them to us.

"These taste like paper," Annabelle said grinning. "What are they?"

"Pre-packaged meals," Rob replied. "MRE's. You see, my dad is a Muggle and my mum is a witch. My dad is in the Muggle army."

"Oh yes. I've heard of that," I said. "My parents are both from the wizard world. My dad though loves Muggles. He talks about them all the time and even collects plugs and things."

I felt a warm rush of affection for my dad. I loved him very much...and mum...Fred, George, Bill and Charlie. I loved everyone.

And I missed Ron like crazy.

Rob smiled.

"May I ask the real reason you're up here? I mean I know you need to get that flower, but that flower means that you've got werewolf problems,"

Annabelle and I looked at each other. We had to trust him. He got us this far.

"After the werewolf that killed Amy also scratched Ginny's best friend, Harry Potter. He has now changed and become the evil werewolf demon Lenxaz. Her other best friend, Hermione Granger, was bitten by Harry but I had given her a special medallion that put the good werewolf demon in her, Zanix. We need that flower to stop the transformation. That is the only thing that can. No medallions will work," Annabelle said. "And now Harry wants an army of werewolves to start a war with humans. A war that we will not win."

"Wow," Rob breathed. "Sounds like you've got your hands full."

We nodded.

We finished dinner and then went to bed.

The next morning, Rob tacked up the horses and we proceeded to the top of the hill.

There was a small patch of grass and flowers that had not been covered with snow. It was a little weird considering the entire hill was.

"There it is!" I cried and dismounted Jules.

Annabelle dismounted Bart and Rob hopped down off of Nathan.

Annabelle and I rushed forward. The flower was a bright pink color with white petals and a blue stem. It was about the size of a sunflower...sort of close to it. Annabelle reached forward and broke off a section of the stem. She tucked it into her bag and then we headed back to the horses.

"Let's get back," I said eagerly. "I'm so excited and I hope that this potion works."

"Me too," Annabelle said nodding.

We mounted the horses and then headed back to camp. We had to stay overnight one more time and then early in the morning, headed down the rest of the hill to Rob's house and barn. We gave him back the horses and then stood for a bit and got our brooms.

"Thank you so much for helping us," Annabelle said holding out her hand to him.

"You welcomed," Rob said. "Erm, may I come with you? I would like to help even though I lost Amy to the werewolves you talk about. I'd like to do something."

"Why not?" I said shrugging.

"Great," Rob grinned.

I grinned back.

"Mount broom," Annabelle said.

Rob slid onto the broom behind me. We kicked off the ground and flew at the same height we did before.

I looked over at Annabelle.

"I hope nothing has happened back at Hogwarts,"

Annabelle just looked at me.

"I know. I hope things didn't get too crazy and I'm sure Hermione handled herself if it did,"