As the Eagle Flies

Chapter Ten

"C'mon, Ari. You need to wake up." Jamie was sitting next to Ari's bed, talking her heart out. "I'm so lonely without you, you know. I guess you wouldn't perceive this in there but you've been gone a week. Ronnie and Ema still aren't friends. Ema insists she wants to be - friends, I mean - and so does Ronnie, but they apologize all coldly to each other which, of course, sets them off again."

She stopped for breath, not caring that even if Ari could hear her, she probably couldn't understand.

"We won the Gryffindor match and guess who played Seeker? Kenzie! ... Yeah, I know, it was wicked. We really hope you'll be there to play for the Cup, sounds like you're having one hell of a time in there. If you can hear me somehow, just know that you have a reason to wake up."

Jamie had taken to telling Ari about the days events for the past week. She couldn't believe that it had been a week! A week with the Founders must be hell ...

"Exams are coming. I'm pretty nervous. I think Ema is too. Who'd've thought it? I mean, who'd have thought that Ema paid any attention to grades? Anyway, I don't see much of Ronnie and Ema. It's really painful remembering the four of us together. Do you dream in there? Do you dream in a dream?"

She wondered about this for a moment, then said, "Remember what Flitwick said, if you do. Dreams don't tell the future. They tell the past, and our deepest desires and fears. They also give advice. Maybe that'll help you through. Maybe not. We all miss you, Ari. We all want you back."

* * *

Ari didn't hear much of what Jamie had said to her. She often heard Jamie, Ronnie and Ema in her dreams. It seemed that was the only time they could communicate. Well, at least they could communicate with her. Ari, on the other hand, couldn't get them to understand.

That night - was it night? It all looked the same in there - she heard Jamie telling her about dreams, how they didn't tell the future ... Jamie's voice drifted off and the last thing that she heard was, "We all miss you, Ari. We all want you back."

"But how do I get back?" she mumbled through sleep.

She was walking down a hill. At the bottom of the hill sat a small cottage with flowers so abundant they seemed to be eating the house alive. From the cottage came a song sung by a lonely voice. Once in a world full of love and glee, now in a world full of lust and sorrow; leaving me to die drowning in despair and leaving me to go to the land of Nowhere ...

"Nienne?" Ari called. "Nienne?"

And then she woke up to Slytherin's voice.

"Is she broken yet?"

"I'm beginning to think it can't be done," said Gryffindor. "She's clearly too strong."

Ari mulled over her dream. Gryffindor and Slytherin always conversed before they commenced their torture. As long as she kept an eye on their wands, she had time to think. Dreams tell the past ... but nothing had happened, they tell our deepest fears and desires ... but ... there was no emotion there ... no emotion of longing or fear at least. Dreams give advice ... but what could it mean? Nienne ...

* * *

The remaining three of the Ravenclaw Four were getting ready for their first exam, History of Magic.

"How am I going to concentrate through this?" griped Ema to Jamie. It was unusually hot; all students were feeling groggy and tired. Not at all good conditions for working.

"Ema!" scolded Jamie. "Pay attention!"

"Huh?"

"You asked me to quiz you for the exam!"

"Oh, right ... what was the question?"

Jamie sighed. "What was the first official date that Merry Dragon Day was celebrated in Zimbabwe?" she asked, rolling her eyes.

"Jamie! Will you be serious?"

"Fine! What was the name of the first renowned Dragon breeder and when did he live?"

"Oswald DeThorn and he lived in 1453," said Ema listlessly.

Ronnie came by. "Ema, I'm sorry," she said lazily. It had become routine for the two of them to apologize whenever they passed.

Ema ignored her.

"You two!" shrieked Jamie. "Won't you stop it?" And, unable to take it any longer, she ran out of the common room.

* * *

Jamie knocked timidly at the door. When there was no response, she knocked again and said, "Professor?"

"What?" was the sharp response.

Jamie felt uncertain, not to mention slightly annoyed at herself. Professor Flitwick had gone out in Hogsmeade, at a Charms meeting - at least Jamie thought so - and who, of all people, was she about to see?

"It's Jamie Lastroni," she said quietly. "I hope I'm not disturbing you ..."

The door opened and Snape came out, looking rather unpleasant but not as unpleasant as usual, which is not saying much. "May I help you?" he snarled.

"Yes," said Jamie, eyes beginning to tear. "Professor Flitwick's not in right now and I don't know what to do."

"All right." Snape sighed, looking slightly harassed but kinder than Jamie had ever seen him. "What is it?"

"It's Ema and Ronnie. They won't stop fighting. I can't figure out what to do about it."

"They haven't come back together over Miss DeLingues?" said Snape, looking rather shocked.

"No, that's just it! If that can't bring them back, what can?" sobbed Jamie.

"Her recovery?" suggested Snape.

"But we don't know when that'll happen!" said Jamie despairingly.

"We don't know when much will happen," agreed Snape. "We especially don't know when sobbing girls will show up in one's office begging for advice. That's why I keep this around." He handed her a bottle of tension-calming potion. "I know it'll make you sad," he said, "but at least you can stop worrying for a while."

"Thank you, Professor," said Jamie, suddenly shy. "Sorry to have bothered you."

"I'll live," said Snape curtly. He turned and swept her out of his office, slamming the door shut.

Jamie smiled slightly at the closed door. It seemed that Snape wasn't half as bad as he tried to make himself out to be.

* * *

"This is all your fault!" Ema screamed, rounding on Ronnie. People looked up in bored manners. It seemed they were by now far too used to the two girls rows to be greatly interested.

"My fault! What about you?!" shrieked Ronnie.

"Why the hell did you apologize like that?" bellowed Ema. "Now you've upset her again!"

"It's not my bloody fault!" screeched Ronnie. "You were the one who started this whole thing."

"I bloody well did not."

"You did so, and just because you're too bloody blind to see what's in front of - get back here, I'm not finished!"

For Ema had just run upstairs to their dorm, with every appearance of defiance. But if Ronnie had looked more closely as Ema had left, she might have noticed the tears that had welled up in one who used to be a friend.

* * *

"Well, if she can't be broken, what are we to do?" asked Gryffindor.

"Everyone can be broken, living through torture every day."

"Very well, then, Crucio."

Ari screamed as loudly as she could, writhing and shrieking. Wait for the right time ...the perfect moment ...

Gryffindor raised his wand. "What is your name?" he asked Ari.

Ari thought quickly. If she was not broken, he would keep 'torturing' her ... and that was what she wanted. She took a deep breath and said quickly, "Arwen DeLingues, one twenty-four LittleBee Drive, Ottery St. Catchpole, mother Alexa Parker, best friend ..." she stopped; thinking about her 'best' friend was painful. The right moment ... wait for the correct time ...

"Will you give up your destiny?" asked Slytherin coldly.

"Nope," said Ari casually, still waiting. C'mon ... torture me some more ...

"Very well, if you insist," said Slytherin as though he'd heard her thoughts. He hadn't, of course ... at least, Ari really hoped not.

"Crucio,"

As usual, Ari rolled and shrieked on the floor while all the while listening for a break in the conversation. The proper time ...

* * *

Exams were upon them. The three remaining girls were stuck in the hot musty History of Magic classroom, attempting to remember all the Dragon breeders' names. Ema in particular found the atmosphere horrible for thinking. She and Ronnie sat on either side of Jamie, avoiding each others' gaze.

* * *

Jamie, for her part, was now spending all of her free time in the Hospital Wing, often joined by Ema or Ronnie but never the two of them together.

"C'mon, Ari," she said, holding Ari's hand. "I know you can do it. Just wake up for me, right? We had our History of Magic exam. I think I did okay. Ronnie thinks she failed, and Ema wont' talk about it. Ema's feeling really guilty that she's not seeing you as much as me, but I told her not to worry."

Jamie brushed a few tears out of her eyes. "She's afraid she's going to fail the Charms exam. You're really good at Charms, she told me, and she wishes you were here to help her. I didn't know you were really good at Charms. I wish I'd gotten to know you better before this happened."

She burst into dry sobs. "I'd help her - Ema, I mean - but I'm not all that great either. Besides, I already promised Ronnie I'd help her with Defense against the Dark Arts. Who says Ravenclaws are perfect at everything? I've got to go now. I hope you come back soon. I'll be here when you wake up. I promise." She left slowly.

* * *

Madam Pomfrey watched Jamie leave, sighing slightly. It seemed the girl had aged ten years in the past three weeks. It wasn't right.

* * *

Back in the common room, Jamie found Ema and Ronnie arguing again.

"How could you just walk upstairs and take my stuff?" Ronnie was shouting.

"I'm sorry, okay?" screamed Ema. "I needed to look something up!"

"Then you lost it!"

"I know! I'll buy you another one!"

"What's going on?" said Jamie wearily.

"She went and bloody lost my Standard Book of Spells!" shouted Ronnie.

"Ema. You didn't!"

"I said I was sorry," said Ema looking very annoyed. "I'll buy her another one."

"She just thinks she can take my stuff and lose it!"

"You guys. Please. Just ...just shut up for a bit, okay? I know you're all annoyed and everything, but can you be angry quietly?"

"Girls! Girls!" Professor Flitwick tumbled through the portrait hole. "There's been a change in Miss DeLingues! It looks like she might be waking up!"

Jamie didn't even hear the whole message; she was already sprinting towards the Hospital Wing, Ronnie and Ema running behind her.

Jamie's brain was rushing at seventy miles an hour. She'd just been there. Just held Ari's hand, just spoken to her. How could a change have happened so quickly? Or was it all in their imagination? Or, worse, what if they were merely seeing what could be Ari's last minutes? Jamie pushed the chilling thought out of her head.

"Not so fast!" scolded Madam Pomfrey as they skidded to a halt beside Ari's bed. "She needs quiet if she's going to make a full recovery."

Jamie found Ari's hand and clung to it. Ema was doing the same with the other hand. Ronnie was playing absently with Ari's hair.

"C'mon, Ari ..." muttered Ema. "You can do it ..."

"Ni-Ni-Ni-" muttered Ari thickly.

"Oh, come on, Ari," said Ema, rolling her eyes. "It's not time for Monty Python!"

"Ni-Nienne-" said Ari, eyes still closed. And then she was silent.

* * *

"Will you submit?" Slytherin asked Ari yet again.

That was not the right question! She was beginning to get impatient - it had, after all, been two days since her dream - but she knew she had to discipline herself. She shook her head.

"Another dose of pain, then?" said Gryffindor.

Finally, Ari thought.

"No!" she shrieked. "No! I'll do anything! Don't! I-" she pretended to struggle for a moment. "I know where you can find Nienne."

"What? The Squib? Tell me child and I will not harm you again!" said Gryffindor.

"Down at the bottom of the hill, near the stream," said Ari, "There's a little cottage and that's where Nienne lives."

"Come!" shouted Slytherin. "The Mudblood can wait; we will go to Nienne now."

They left.

Ravenclaw burst into tears. "Why?" she sobbed. "Why did you give my daughter to them?"

"Don't cry," said Ari. "I know something about her. Listen. Nienne possesses a special gift that makes no magic work on her. They can't do anything to her. Don't worry. Can you send me back now?"

"Of course I will," said Ravenclaw, sniffling but smiling now. "You are truly one from my own house. Before you go, I'd like you to promise me you'll remember this song. It will come to you at a special time. It may even come to those close to you ...farewell."

* * *

Ari opened her eyes. She saw Ema, Jamie and Ronnie standing over her muttering, "C'mon Ari, you can do it." None of them seemed to have noticed that she was awake. Wait for the proper moment ...

"What do you think she'd say now?" asked Ronnie quietly. "Ari? Can you hear me?" That would be the right moment.

"Yup," said Ari.

The uproar was immediate. Jamie's head shot up so quickly it appeared that she broke her neck.

Ronnie shrieked in shock and then started to laugh.

Ema started to cry. She ran over to Ronnie and hugged her to pieces.

"Snape was right," said Jamie.

"What?" said Ari, sitting up.

"He told me that if your being Summoned didn't bring those two idiots back together, your recovery would. Ari, what's up?"

Ari had just scrunched up her face as though trying to remember something. "I ... hm ... Ravenclaw told me, just before I came back, to remember a song ... only, she said it would come to me at a special time ... but she didn't tell me the song. That's weird."

"Well, I guess we'll have to wait for that special time to know, won't we?" said Jamie, happier than ever. "But Ari, how did you get out of there?"

"I gave them Nienne," said Ari simply.

Jamie gasped. "Ari!" she cried in dismay. "How could you?"

"Jamie," said Ari sternly. "Are you forgetting about Nienne? What gift did she possess?"

Comprehension dawned on Jamie's face. "Ari, you're brilliant!" she shouted, earning herself a reproving glare from Madam Pomfrey.

"Well, you're really the one who gave me the idea," said Ari. "You told me - reminded me, really, of what Flitwick said regarding dreams. Then I had this dream about Nienne. It was giving me advice, Jamie, it really was. It reminded me of her whole history and everything. And I realized that if I could just get those bastards - Slytherin and Gryffindor, I mean - out of the room, I could get Ravenclaw or even Hufflepuff to send me home. It worked, Jamie, it really did!" Ari's eyes swam with tears and she remembered all they'd been through together - and all she'd been through alone.

* * *

There was a party that night in the Ravenclaw common room such as they had never seen before. Jamie and Ari sat in one corner, laughing and talking while Ronnie and Ema sat in the other, talking like they'd never talked in their lives. They had so much to catch up on; so much to learn about each other.

Professor Flitwick came in at around eleven to see Ari. "The only thing to be decided," he said, "is what to do about your exams."

Ari went pale. "Sir ... I haven't studied in two weeks! What ... how ..."

"I was only joking!" said Flitwick. "You've been through too much to be burdened with exams now. Enjoy yourself these last two weeks of school and by all means feel free to win us the Quidditch Cup, eh?" He grabbed a piece of pumpkin pastie and left.

"Wow," said Ema, who had just appeared with Ronnie, "No exams for you, Ari. Do you feel deprived?"

"Shut up, Potter," muttered Ari.

Ronnie grinned too, nudging Ema slightly.

"Glad to see you two are back together again," said Jamie. "Like I said, Professor Snape was right."

"What's with your sudden obsession over Professor Snape?" said Ronnie, eyebrows raised.

"Jamie fancies him," said Ema in a very audible whisper.

Jamie looked stunned. Then, without even blinking she dumped her pumpkin juice on Ema's head and went off to get another goblet full.

"Nice one, Potter," said Ari laughing while Ema wrung out her red hair and then stormed off to take a shower.

* * *

The night before the last match was a very difficult one for Ari. She'd only played in one game this year after all.

"You'll be fine, Ari," said Ema sleepily for the thousandth time.

"How'd you know I was awake?" Ari hissed back.

"Because you're thrashing around in bed. It's driving me nuts. Please stop. Thank you."

* * *

"Mount your brooms." Everyone did. "Three ... two ... one ..." The whistle sounded and they were off!

Ari rose higher than anyone else, tailing the Slytherin Seeker, Audrey Little, who happened to be Kenzie Little's little brother.

"DeLingues! Will you knock it off?" he shrieked as Ari cut him off for the fifth time.

"Can't, sorry," said Ari aimlessly.

Ravenclaw were behind in the tournament by one hundred points, which meant that Ari couldn't catch the Snitch unless Ravenclaw was either winning or tied. At the moment, Slytherin was winning.

"And it's Moralez with the Quaffle. Ducks behind Potter, dodges two Bludgers, two Beaters, the Keeper and she scores! Damn. 20-10 to Slytherin."

Audrey dived.

"Nooo!" screamed Ari, diving as well. "Ema!"

Ema saw what was happening and wacked a near-by Bludger straight at Audrey's head.

"Thanks!" said Ari as the Snitch disappeared.

"Think nothing of it!" Ema called back.

Ari dodged a Bludger and continued searching.

"And it's Jacobsen with the Quaffle, neat pass to Moralez. Drop-pass to Letina who ... scores again! DAMN IT!"

"Miss Jordan, if you cannot commentate in a slightly less biased mood, I'm afraid someone else will have to take over," interrupted Professor Snape's voice, though Ari could tell that he was amused.

"Right. Sorry Professor. So that's 20-20 to Ravenclaw."

And Audrey had dived again.

Damn, thought Ari, diving with him. This time, though, she saw the Snitch. It was hovering near the base of the Ravenclaw goalpost. And it was just her luck that Audrey was in a much better position for catching it. Ari looped so that she was heading around Audrey and screamed for Ema's help.

Ema sent Audrey off-course with more excellent Bludger work and Ari seized the opportunity to go almost straight into the stands of Hufflepuffs - nearly killing a few - turn sharply and grab the Snitch.

Ravenclaws poured onto the field. They had won. For the first time since Quidditch had begun, Ravenclaw had won the Cup. Ari was in shock. She had done it. Ema had helped, of course, but this time she'd really done it!

Then she was tackled by Ema, Ronnie and Jamie, who were all hugging her so hard she felt she might die.

* * *

After the very long party the night before, none of the girls really felt like getting ready to go. Usually they had about a week after the final Quidditch match before exams, but this year, thanks to the 'bloody baby Gryffies' as Ema said, the match had taken place the day before the end of term.

So, naturally, it was time to pack. And, naturally, Jamie was close to tears. And, naturally, half of Ema's stuff was lost in what seemed to be a black hole under her bed.

The end of term feast seemed to be unusually long for the Ravenclaws. They'd won the Quidditch cup but they did not yet know if they'd won the House Cup. "C'mon. How bloody long does it take her to eat?" muttered Ari impatiently, watching Professor Katkin.

"I bod do. Eby oo dood porm da eeder's ager," said Ema with her mouth full.

"Ema, you do know what I'm about to say to you, right?" said Jamie in disgust.

"Yup. And I said, I don't know. Maybe you should storm the teachers' table."

"Not smart," said Ari. "Don't want to get expelled our last day, eh?"

Just then Professor Katkin stood up.

"About time!" said Ronnie who looked as though she was about to die.

"Well," said Katkin with a sigh, "it's the end of the year. There are just a few things that need doing now. The House Cup, for instance, needs awarding. As you know, the Quidditch Cup this year goes to Ravenclaw house!"

There were many cheers at the Ravenclaw table but they died down quickly.

"Get on with it," muttered Ari, voicing the opinion of all Ravenclaws. They knew they'd won the Quidditch Cup; they wanted to know if they'd won the House Cup.

"And the House Cup is yet to be awarded," continued Katkin. "In fourth place, with three hundred thirty-four points is ... Gryffindor!"

"Ha, they haven't won since my dad left," said Ema.

"In third place," said Katkin, "with four hundred fifty-eight points, is Slytherin!"

"My, what a surprise," said Ari sarcastically. "For once it's between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff."

Jamie looked confused. "Isn't it always?" she asked.

"Jamie, you need to learn the meaning of sarcasm," said Ema.

"In second place," said Katkin - the hall held its breath - "with five hundred and twelve points is ... Ravenclaw! And first place, with five hundred thirteen points, is Hufflepuff."

"Damn IT!" shrieked Ema as the Hufflepuffs exploded into cheers.

There were resigned sighs all the way along the table. "Well, no change there," sighed Kenzie. "And it's my last year too."

"Calm yourself, Potter," said Jamie sadly. For Ema was smashing her pudding with all her might.

* * *

Because Ravenclaws were so used to losing the cup, the depressed air disappeared by the next day, on the train. The Ravenclaw Four got a compartment to themselves to celebrate the end of term. Ema treated them all to lots of food while they played 'Fetch the Toy Mouse' with Magic and Shadow.

"Which reminds me," said Ronnie, watching Shadow's futile attempts to wrestle the mouse out of Magic's beak, "I'm most unfortunately going home now and Magic needs somewhere to stay. Ari, or Ema, who'll take her?"

"We live on the same street," said Ari quickly. "She can fly back and forth, yeah?"

"What, really?" said Ema. "We get her over the summer?"

"Ema, if you hadn't been in such a snit over me getting her in the first place you'd know this!"

"Well, sor-ee," said Ema. "Are you serious, though? Ronnie I love you!" The two of them hugged.

Jamie and Ari sat back, sighing happily.

"You know what, Jamie?" said Ari. "I think this is the good time Ravenclaw told me about."

Ema moved over and sat next to Ari, holding her hand, and reaching out for Ronnie's. Ronnie took it and grabbed Jamie's while Jamie took Ari's other hand. For a moment, they were quiet, savoring the moment.

Then the song came to all four of them and, reunited at last, they sung the original Ravenclaw song for the first time, not heard nor sung for nearly a thousand years.

Mists, from the river rise,
Over seas and under skies,
I follow as the rainbow ties
Whichever way the Eagle flies ...

The path I took was the path I chose
Nothing is if nothing shows
Doors that were open now have closed
I go where the Eagle goes

Rich living over the poor,
Water staying away from the shore
Wanting less and needing more
I look where the Eagle soars

Water staying in a sieve
Having nothing, wanting to give
We do nothing, only drift,
I'm hopeful long as the Eagle lives

The old ones live; the young ones die
Meaningless life and painless cries
The truthful ones are beginning to lie
I go as the Eagle flies ...

As the Eagle flies ...

Finis