Brave Knights

Part 1

I can't say I wasn't lucky. If you examine the facts, one by one, carefully, you might think all the Gods of Chance decided to help me. Oh, but the circumstances ! This is where it hurts - where you would believe I was doomed from the very beginning. I mean, it is wonderful to get out of a life-threatening situation without so much as a scratch, but how come I even got into a life-threatening situation ?

See what I mean ?

When it all became, I had exactly three jobs, each of which promised to be successful, and I enjoyed them deeply. I had fought too long and too hard to obtain them , and they were my raison d'etre. I was a Fantasy Author, read by people who 'usually didn't read that kind if stuff' ; I was a musician, with a name in the right circles - but no real fame, just a regular audience. And last - and least too, I was either translator or french teacher.. I couldn't remember my last vacations, but since I spent my vacations writing and practising anyway, I guess that didn't matter.

One day, I was writing in StDio, alone for everyone had left me in my creative peace, someone came to see me. Life would never be the same again.

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Tante Aline knocked at the open door, I was cooking some noodles (my speciality), and called : "Marine, tu es la ?"

"Ah, Tante Aline. Entre, entre. Qu'est ce que tu dirais d'un verre ?" She shook her head, but not because she was against the idea - I had grown to know her since I enclosed myself here often, and my mother's Aunt lived there, alone since her husband had died.

"Non, merci. Dis-moi, il y a des gens dans mon hall, et comme ils parlent anglais, je pense que c'est pour toi." I played and wrote for a frenglish audience, so it was possible, but I wasn't expecting anybody : I had made it clear that I wasn't to be disturbed in StDio, my sanctuary.

I stood up. "D'accord, merci." She followed me on the way to her home, and indeed, I could hear english voices muttering furiously. I did not know these voices, of that I was certain, and it completely rose my curiosity.

I entered the aforementioned hall, and smiled to the little delegation of young adults in the corridor. One of them - the leader, obviously, returned my smile. "Are you Marine Delaudel ?" I stiffled a giggle. My name with an English accent always sounded horrible, and the way she called me by my full name revealed that they weren't here about anything linked to my artistic career - or they would have known me by my pseudo, May.

I nodded, she smiled again and gave me her hand, that I shook.

"We have been sent here in order to raise some serious matter to your eye. Would it be possible that we talk to you ?" Now, that sounded a little bit too mafia-ish for my taste. I could have been scared, but it is not in my nature, and I had the curiosity of a writer. I was very eager to hear what they had to tell me.

"Not unless you tell me your name."

"Oh, of course ! How rude of me !" I smiled again. British sounds so posh ! "My name is Hermione Granger, and my companions are Draco Malfoy, Padma Patil, and Justin Finch-Fletchey." None of these names mean anything to me, but I nod anyway.

"Please follow me, and just so you know, this is the house of my Great-Aunt, whom you just had the incredible pleasure to meet. I live next door." Mademoiselle Hermione Granger's cheeks redden a little bit at my suggesting they don't really know where to find me, and they follow me when I step out of Tante Francine's house.

We go through the little stone park to the Patio, where everything is open to my parents' house. Right on time ! I stop the noodles in the kitchen, and get rid of the water. Then I turn to my guests.

"Sit down. Do you want something to drink ?" They don't answer, too busy to find a sit, and I grab a bottle of my Godmother's cousin's wine. I sit down, open the bottle. Miss Hermione Granger decides to talk.

"We are here for a mission, and we need your help."

I decide to show some authority. I am in my territory, and they are going to act here by my rules, not theirs. "I'm sure it can wait after wine." It makes the blonde called Malfoy smirk. He doesn't seem to like Granger. Nor the two others. In fact, he doesn't even seem to enjoy being here. What a charming character.

I pour wine for everybody, and they all look a bit confused. My turn to smirk. I really love these mind games.

"You don't have to drink it. But we are in a country that takes pride in the quality of its wine, and this land was one big wineyard not so long ago. My ancestor grew grapes, and this wine is made by a relative, down in the valley." I show the walls around us. "Before my parents changed it into a residence, this house was where they used to store the wine. The walls still have the memories of these traditions, and those who wish to ignore them insult the remains of... Oh, it doesn't matter. History is heavy in this place. In this house, when guests arrive, you pour them a glass of wine to welcome them."

I see Malfoy raising an eyebrow and taking a sip of the wine. Then he looks at me, and says : "A very old bottle, is it not ?"

I smile again. This one knows to play by the rules. I relax in my chair, and glance at the group, the three others still slightly uncomfortable and awkward with the glasses in their hands. They look around, the computer and the piles of paper, the paintbrushes, the sanguines, the paints hanging on a laundry wire, and the novels, the dictionaries, the guitar, the pile of scores, the Hi-Fi and the CDs, my life in objects.

Hermione Granger feels better now she knows stuff about me thanks to her observation of my dwelling place, and she takes a sip of the wine too. Justin looks at her and decides to do the same. Padma looks at the glass with complete disgust. Hermione smiles too. "Please pardon us if we have insulted your ways."

"Oh, no, not at all, I just enjoy being annoying." By now, she is completely confused. I see Malfoy smirk again. Oh, I can't deceive him, but the others are easy to play with. "I am ready to hear why you came now." The power is in my hand, I am the one to guide the conversation, and I love every second of it.

"We were sent by an english school named Hogwarts, and each of us represent one house of this school."

"House. So you come from some english boarding school ?"

"Yes. Miss, do you believe in Magic ?" I can't help it : I laugh. They all stare at me.

"Why, yes, of course, I believe in Magic. More than in God, that is. It seems infinitely more likely." Obviously, it doesn't give them an answer, so I decide to develop. "Have you ever wondered whether you exist ? I mean, what proves you you exist ? Really exist ? That this is not some kind of dream, that maybe someone is writing you, and you are just living in someone else's imagination ?" Now the staring is getting worse. "You probably think I'm nuts, and I won't contradict you on that one. But when you write, you need some imagination. And imagination is not a thing I am lacking. I strongly believe that anything exists for those who believe in it."

Malfoy enters the conversation, earning a Hermionish glare - I'm glad I am not the one getting it, the girl could kill with that glare ! "Then you just got lucky, Miss Delaudel, because we are about to prove you that magic does indeed exist." With me, he is the only one to have fun.

"Please, do. I am very much like St Thomas." He raises an eyebrow as if he didn't understand the reference, and takes a wooden stick out of his pocket. He mutters something, and points what can only be a wand on my guitar, which instantly reduces and turn into a vase with red roses in it.

I stand up, and go touch the flowers. They are real. The vase is one of crystal, very much like a Svarowzky. I turn around.

"I'm convinced. Please, turn it back." He complies without a word, and I sit back in my chair. The implications of what they have just shown me are myriads, and I don't really want to start thinking about it now. "What do you want from me ?" I wish I hadn't said that in such an aggressive tone.

Hermione takes hold of the power yet again. "We need you to come with us in our school, and help us -" I raise a hand to stop her.

"I'd need a very good reason to do that. So be careful of what you are going to say, if you want to have a chance to convince me."

She nods, stops a second to think, and it is Justin Finch-Fletchey who talks instead of her. "We are at war, and you are an indispensable piece. We need you." I hear Malfoy and Granger hiss with anger at his careless words : he just revealed that I could give any condition I wanted. He just gave me back the power. I smirk again. This is really interesting.

"That is not a good reason." He pales. I think I am scaring him.

They are trying to find a way to convince me, and suddenly I hear a loud BANG, and the house shake on its foundations. Instantly, the four young adults grab their wand, Padma Patil gulps audibly, and Malfoy and Granger run to the windows. They instantly creep down, as lights flow through the window. Malfoy swears. I get quick out of the windows' way, and I try slowly to peek out. What I see, is a group of masked people in black cloaks, and it really doesn't make me feel well. They seem to get ready to attack.

"I can't believe you guys come here and mix me in your problems ! There's gonna be payback for that !" The four wizards throw curses by the window, and I decide that if I don't act quite fast, they are going to wreck my parents' house. I need a weapon. Think, quick, think...

There has got to be something in my mother's stuff, she is a book binder and has lots of very sharp objects, as well as dangerous liquids. But going in her office would require me to go throught the Patio, and so be totally exposed - not a very clever situation.

I hear Malfoy shout. "What do we do, now, Granger !? Use your brains !"

She screams back : "It's your father, Malfoy ! Your responsibility !"

In the kitchen, there's bound to be many knives, but I'm not so good at throwing them. However, it is a good idea to have one, just in case.

I crawl to the kitchen, open the knives drawer, and notice the brochettes spikes. That is a wonderful idea. Let's spar, yay ! I take three knives, and all the spikes, and then, when I am going to go ask the wizards if they have a backup plan - which I really doubt, inspiration strikes. There is a lighter. And there is a hair spray, that my sister forgot (why in the kitchen ? See what I mean when I talk about luck ?). Combine the two, and you have a big flame. I take both, and go back to my retreat under the window. Malfoy crosses quickly a window, throwing a curse or two, and sits on the floor next to me.

"What's that ?" He points the spray with his chin.

"This, my dear, is going to hurt very bad whoever comes too close. I'm gonna have a two-feet flame with it." His face lightens.

"Good, very good. We are thinking about trying to get out of here, and if you have means to defend yourself, that's very good."

"What do they want ?" He smirks.

"You, of course. Oh, and kill us."

"And what about your father ?"

He smirks again. "We are a very much divided family." He frowns. "Listen, I'll cast a shield on us, it will protect us from most curses, but they will be able to walk in, it's that easy. So your job is to burn and stab whoever comes in, moreover if the bastard looks a lot like me. He's the most dangerous." I nod. He turns to the other side of the room. "Granger, Finch-Fletchey and Patil, Apparate ! When you are in Hogwarts, have Dumbledore send someone you know where. We'll be there !"

She shakes her head furiously. "How do I know you aren't going to give her away to your father and his master ?"

"You don't trust me at all, do you ?"

Hermione snorts. "Well, I'll tell you what. You make it through tomorrow without killing anybody, especially me, or yourself, then I'll start trusting you." Apparently, no one trusts Draco Mafoy.

"For God's sake, Hermione, haven't I proved my loyalty engough by saving your poor excuse of a life ?" Aouch, that is low. She pales, nods, and she suddenly disappears, followed by the two other youngsters.

Once they are gone, Malfoy turns to me again. I grab the Hair Spray, feeling very much like MacGuyver.

"Is there is a car somewhere that you can drive ?"

I nod. "In the street. The keys are..." My purse ! Oh, here it is, right on the counter. I stand, grab it, and sit back down, all in a second, but ten curses almost reach me. I tie the purse on my belt, not willing to occupy my hands with it. He nods in appreciation. There is the issue of getting to the car, and the cloaked people are in our way...

"All right. Ready ?" I nod again. He starts chanting and waving his wand at the same time, and a blue light suddenly surrounds us. As soon as we are both engulfed in it, he stops chanting and stands. I imitate him, though he is breathless.

I follow him out, where the masked people watch us both, wands drawn out, and ready to strike. A man gasps. "A Shielding Chant !" I clutch the Hair Spray and the lighter. I am fully aware of all the knives on my belt, and they look at it too.

One of them smiles, a woman. "Knives. And what is the thing she's holding ? Hair Spray. How cute, she is going to try and make us blind." I grind my teeth. Draco, we can leave whenever you are ready ! The mean people in black walk towards us, and one of them takes off his hood. I gasp : That is the Malfoy father, undoubtedy !

Draco spits. "Try us, Father. Dare do that." The man smiles dangerously and does just that : he steps inside.

"You are not able to hurt me, Draco, I know that. And the pitiful Mudblood is no match for me." I glare at him. I don't like to be insulted, moreover when I don't understand the insult.

"Mudblood, me ?" I spray him in the face, but he shelters his eyes with a vitriolic laugh. He is in the shield, oh no !

"Yes, Mudblood."

"Try that, asshole !" And this time I add the lighter. When his arm starts to burn, he screams in painand rage, and steps back. Draco holds my arm and starts running out of here, my cursed heaven.

They all run on us, and I burn whoever comes too close. The smell of burning flesh makes me want to throw up. One woman jumps on me, and my eyes widen when I realize that the Hair Spray is empty. I reach for a knife, she reaches for her wand, from inside the circle, we strike together and fall together. Damn that hurts, I think, before the darkness swallows me.