The Lady's Apprentice

Chapter II: Portkey to Fantasy Lands

She was running as fast as her legs would carry her, but she knew they were gaining. She was tired now, and couldn't take much more; she'd already stumbled more than a few times, giving them a chance to catch up. The pyramid in her pocket now felt like a heavy burden, and she almost wanted to throw it away to save herself.

As she stumbled over her feet again, she panicked excessively, causing herself to lose all balance. She tripped and fell, feeling warm tears of frustrated fear sliding down her cheeks.

She couldn't get to her feet; something was holding her down. She wanted to cry out, but she couldn't. She was trapped, and her pursuers were nearing; she could hear their footsteps louder, closer.

She closed her eyes, not daring to open them, knowing she'd see their evil faces if she dared look.

Then, much to her dismay, a pair strong hands grasped her around the middle and raised her up. She was shocked to learn that she had been raised up onto a horse. She looked at the man who had picked her up off the ground. He looked intent on riding forward, away from Ginny's pursuers. He had a stern, yet kindly face, with hair sheared just below chin-level, the golden colour of honey, although this was almost impossible to see in the dark. On his face, he bore a faint goatee, a darker shade than the colour of the hair on his head. He was dressed in some sort of armour, but Ginny didn't get a chance to study it closely, because the horse jumped and Ginny fell into an abyss...

***

Ginny awoke with a small cry. Her head was spinning and the memory of her dream slipping. Her breathing was shallow and her face was cold with sweat. She rubbed her eyes with her hands, sitting up in her bed.

The dormitory was empty of course, as it was about time for supper.

Ginny felt around underneath her pillow for her little glass pyramid, and when she retrieved it, stuffed it into her robe pocket. Then she got up and left the dormitory, heading to the Great Hall for supper.

The Great Hall was packed, as it so often was at mealtimes. Ginny took an empty seat beside her brother, Ron.

"Where have you been all day?" Ron asked.

"Around," Ginny replied. "Pass the potatoes, please, Harry."

Harry, who was staring towards the Ravenclaw table, passed Ginny a dish of potatoes without even looking at her.

"Thank you," said Ginny, receiving no reply in turn.

"I think we ought to be going," said Hermione, standing up on Ron's other side. "Ron, you've got a detention, and Harry and I have a ton of homework."

"Yeah, you're right," said Ron. "See you later, Ginny. Come on, Harry."

Harry and Ron rose to their feet and followed Hermione out of the Great Hall, Ginny scowling after them.

Ginny was angered by Hermione's hastiness. Lately, Ginny was becoming greatly annoyed by Hermione, who always left a room when Ginny entered, always found an excuse to avoid talking to Ginny, at all costs. It was almost as though Hermione was afraid of Ginny.

Then a thought struck Ginny: what if Hermione knew about the little glass pyramid Ginny carried everywhere with her? And what if Hermione had some connection with the pyramid?

Ginny shook her head and continued eating, feeling all alone in a room filled with people.

"Hiya, Ginny!" said a jolly voice off to Ginny's left. "I didn't see you there before!"

Ginny turned her head to Colin Creevey. "Hullo, Colin," she said grimly.

"So what have you been up to, Ginny?" Colin asked, sliding into the seat immediately to Ginny's left. "I didn't see you at all today, I was almost getting worried."

"What's there to worry about?" Ginny asked. "You barely ever see me as it is."

"So that's it then, Ginny?" said Colin. "You were just up in your dormitory all day?"

"No, that's not it," said Ginny. "It's really none of your business where I was all day."

"Well, what are you doing tomorrow?" Colin asked. "A few of us were thinking of-"

"I'm busy," said Ginny. "Lot's to do."

"But you look like you could use a little fun," said Colin, play-punching Ginny in the arm.

Ginny glared at the mousy haired boy. "Look, I've got to be off," she said coolly. "Don't expect to see me, and don't go looking for me either." And with that she rose to her feet and strode out of the hall.

"Where are you going, Ginny?" Colin called after her.

Ginny emerged into the Entrance Hall to find a couple of loitering Ravenclaw second and third years.

She passed them and stepped out of the oak front doors into the open night. She wasn't certain where she was going but she felt she needed some fresh air.

She stood on the front steps for a while, enjoying the cool breeze of the night fluttering by. The sun had almost completely set in the sky, and the stars were beginning to glimmer through the veil of night.

After a couple of minutes, she ran down the steps, her robes fluttering in the wind behind her. She walked out onto the grounds in the direction of the lake. As she walked, she slipped her hands into her pockets. Her right hand clasped something: the little glass pyramid. Holding the pyramid offered a strange sort of comfort to the girl, and she smiled to herself.

Ginny walked onwards, absent of mind, not watching where she was going. For some peculiar reason, she was drawn to the Forbidden Forest, and after about twenty minutes of mindless walking, she found herself lingering on the outskirts of the forest.

Still, her feet wanted to carry her forward, into the depths of the forest. She let her feet carry her into the shadow of the trees. She stepped cautiously on the forest path, watching her feet fall to the ground with each step.

After some time, Ginny found herself further along the forest path at a place she had never been before. Twisted tree roots protruded up from the path and a low mist hung over the branches of the many varied trees, small and big, thick and thin.

Ginny had always enjoyed the wilderness, and though most Hogwarts pupils would be terrified to death of the Forbidden Forest, Ginny actually liked it. Although she'd never been quite this far into the forest except in dream. Nevertheless, she felt right walking in the forest in the dark, when nobody else would dare enter it by choice.

Suddenly, as a twig snapped beneath Ginny's left foot, she heard fast, heavy running behind her. This event had occurred in her dream. Actually, more than just one of her dreams, quite a few of them. The forest was always haunting her dreams, and in every vision, she was running, just the way she was now, away from someone, or something, chasing after her.

She was growing tired swifter than she ever did in her dreams. Usually, she'd run much further before weariness claimed her, but that was the dreaming world. And here, fear trapped her heart causing painful exhaustion.

She could tell there was only one person behind her, which meant the others were probably waiting for her to approach...if there were others. Why was she running further into the forest? Ginny had much pondered this question after waking from a dream: why did she always run forward, into the depths of the forest, rather than out of the forest, where she could find safety?

Of course, it was too late now, her pursuer was gaining, and she'd run right into him, should she turn back. But she couldn't keep going, not forever. She'd slow down sooner or later, and then she'd be doomed. Perhaps someone would come to her rescue, save her from whatever danger awaited.

But then again, this wasn't a dream, this was reality. And why was she running? She didn't suppose a werewolf was after her. Just as she thought this over, she staggered over an erected branch sticking from the ground and stumbled to her knees.

And then she heard a cold, taunting laugh from behind her.

Ginny's face burned with anger as she realised Draco Malfoy had chased her all this time, making her afraid of nothing. She turned her head, face mingled with fury. "Draco Malfoy!" she shouted. "You stupid... you..."

Draco laughed. "Aw, is ickle Weasley scared that big bad Draco's going to hurt her?" he mocked. "You're really subtle you know, nobody would ever suspect you were up to something by the way you were running."

Ginny glared at the blonde boy.

"Do you enjoy it lying there on the floor?" Draco asked. "I suppose it's a real improvement to accommodations at your house. Do you even live in a house?"

Ginny dug her hand into the dirt, scooping up a pile of soil and flinging it at Draco's forehead.

The evil grin quickly disappeared from Draco's face.

Ginny rose to her feet. "Yes, I do live in a house," she said. "And what if I do enjoy lying on the floor? What'll you do about it?"

Draco opened his mouth as though to speak, but seemed at a loss for words.

Ginny was about to say something when the sudden sound of galloping filled the air.

"Look what you've gotten us into," said Draco. "Those are probably the killer horses coming to get us now. How could you have been so stupid?"

"Me?" said Ginny. "You're the idiot who chased me in here."

"You ran here, I only followed," said Draco. "And what are you doing in the forest anyway? You aren't supposed to be in here."

"Neither are you," said Ginny.

"I have a detention," said Draco, rather grudgingly. "They made me come in here."

"We're wasting time!" said Ginny. "The horse, or whatever it is, is coming closer!"

"That's your problem," said Draco. "How are you planning on getting us out of this one?"

"I can't believe you still want to argue with me at a time like this!" said Ginny.

"Don't answer back then," said Draco. "Now what are we supposed to do?"

"I don't know," said Ginny, looking around frantically. "Run?"

"Let's run then," said Draco, charging forward through the trees.

Seeing no other escape, Ginny followed him down the forest path, supposedly away from the galloping, which seemed to be going in the other direction. Shortly, they came to a clearing in the forest of which neither knew of.

"Now where are we?" Draco asked, stopping.

Ginny shrugged, looking around at the clearing in the woods. It was almost a perfect circle cut amidst the trees. "I don't feel safe here," she said.

"So what?" said Draco. "Did you feel safe in there with the killer horses speeding towards us?"

Ginny put her hand in her pocket and clutched the little glass pyramid. "We were safer there than we are here," she said. "I just know it."

"And how would you know?" said Draco. "Are you a seer or something?"

Ginny didn't answer, but instead stared into the trees. "They're coming this way," she said. "We've run right into their trap."

Draco eyed her cautiously, noticing she had her hand in her pocket. "What's that you've got in your pocket?" he asked.

Ginny took a deep breath, contemplating whether or no she should tell him. Finally, she decided it couldn't hurt just to show him, so she carefully took the little pyramid out of her pocket, wondering again what this object might be.

Draco's eyes widened at the sight of it. "It's glowing," he whispered. "It wasn't glowing like that last night..."

Ginny look down at the object in her palm. It was true, it was glowing. A reddish glint shone through the glass, illuminating the surface.

"What is that thing?" Draco asked. "And where did you get it?"

"It came to me," said Ginny. "For my birthday."

"Came to you?" said Draco. "Who gave it to you and what the Hell is it?"

"I don't know," Ginny murmured. "But it belongs to me."

"I don't want to take it from you," said Draco. "I just want to know what it is."

"But I don't know what it is," said Ginny.

"Are you blooming stupid?" said Draco. "Does anyone else know about it?"

Ginny shook her head, feeling stupid indeed.

"Then why'd you keep it?" Draco demanded. "It might be anything! It'll probably kill you, like I said."

"It won't kill me," said Ginny. "It's protecting me."

Draco looked startled. "It's a piece of glass," he said. "And it gave you a nasty cut last night, but still you think it's protecting you? That's like saying Voldemort's protecting Potter."

Ginny scowled. "It isn't evil," she said. "I know it."

Draco rolled his eyes. "You have issues, Weasley," he said. "And I almost wouldn't blame you, considering what happened in your first year, but since you're a Weasley, I might just have to blame you. You're all disturbed, you Weasley's."

"We're disturbed?" said Ginny. "You're father takes up killing people as a hobby!"

"What's wrong with that?" Draco asked, sincerely confused.

"What isn't wrong with it?" said Ginny. "It's horrible!"

"No it's not," said Draco. "It's all a part of life; living and dying. It shouldn't be horrible at all."

"This is absurd," said Ginny. "I'm going; we aren't safe here."

"How aren't we?" said Draco. "The horses are in the trees."

"The horses aren't necessarily bad," said Ginny. "Besides, I'd be safer alone in there, than here with you."

"Not if I come with you," said Draco. "Then you'd be safer here with me, rather than in there with me."

Ginny rolled her eyes and began walking back towards the trees, when a horse and rider burst through into the clearing. Ginny screamed, backing into Draco.

The horse stopped in the middle of the clearing, before Ginny. The rider, geared in armour and helmet, jumped off the horse's back, taking a step towards Ginny.

Ginny's eyes widened as her body froze with fright. Behind her, Draco looked wary, though he didn't feel it.

"How I have waited," said the rider, removing his helmet. He had hair sheared just below chin-level, the golden colour of honey; his face was stern yet kindly. He was the man Ginny had seen in her dream, the man who seemed to have rescued her.

Now he bowed to her. "Lady of Perimonath," he said, "it has been long."

"L-long since w-what?" Ginny asked, voice shaky with fear.

To Ginny's utter surprise, the rider laughed. "We have summoned you here several times," he said. "Ever and anon you come near, but then refrain, and go back. Finally, after all these days, you come to us directly."

"Us?" Ginny asked, voice barely a squeak.

"I am Haltan," said the rider. "Haltan of Perimonath. We've awaited the arrival of our lady for many a day."

"The Perimonath?" said Draco. "I thought that was a myth. Don't tell me it's real."

"We are just as real as you are, young sir," said Haltan. "I suppose you are the Lady's apprentice?"

"Apprentice?" said Draco in disbelief. "No, I'm nobody's apprentice."

"Then who are you?" Haltan tested.

"I don't have to tell you that," said Draco stubbornly.

All the while, Ginny studied the little glass pyramid, fingering the engraving, 'Perimonath.' In some way, everything seemed to make absolute sense; this pyramid made her the Lady of Perimonath, and this Haltan of Perimonath and his people were searching for her. This also explained her dreams; perhaps the riders had tried to summon her through dream.

"Lady, who is this young sir?" Haltan said to Ginny.

"This is Malfoy," said Ginny.

"Shut up, Weasley," Draco snapped. "Did your mother never teach you not to talk to strangers?"

"He bears your mark," said Haltan. "He is your apprentice, is he not?"

"I'm not certain what you mean," said Ginny. "We just happened to come into the forest, and then we found this clearing. After that, you found us."

"And a good thing that is, too," said Haltan. "The Port Key grows weary with time, but I see it has reached you." He looked at the glowing pyramid in Ginny's hand.

"This is a Port Key?" said Ginny. "Where does it go?"

"To the Castle Perimonath, of course," said Haltan. "And there we must go."

"The Castle Perimonath?" Ginny asked. "Where's that?"

"In a silly children's myth," said Draco. And then his voice turned mocking. "In a land none but the Perimonath will find lies the Castle Perimonath where magic charges through the very stone of the walls. The Perimonath will some day fight the darkness, find the peace, and carry it out to the world."

"So you know all about us, Malfoy," said Haltan. "This is a good thing to find in the apprentice of the Lady."

"It's a children's story," said Draco. "My mother told me it, and she also told me it was a complete joke because nothing can defeat darkness; it's impenetrable."

"But young sir, this is not the truth," said Haltan. "The Perimonath will one day defeat the darkness, all darkness, and that day is soon to come."

Draco snickered.

"We will defeat Nargarorth, once and for all," said Haltan.

"And I'll fall in love with a poor girl," said Draco. "It isn't going to happen."

"Nargarorth?" Ginny asked.

"It's a part of the story," said Draco. "It's like the evil place. The Queen of Nargarorth is sort of like Voldemort, only a female version, and more powerful. She ends up killing all the Perimonath, except for one, who ends up joining the darkness."

"But you tell the story incorrect," said Haltan. "This has not yet come to pass, though he of who you speak is a dark wizard who may or may not give into the ever falling darkness. But even those who think of themselves as dark know better than to give in to the Lady of All Darkness."

"No it hasn't happened yet," said Draco. "But my mother knows everything, and that's how she told me the story. Besides, it seems the obvious end."

"But if it hasn't happened, how would she know?" Ginny asked. "This isn't making sense at all."

"All right, all right," said Draco, rather reluctantly, "so the story was never quite complete. But my mother made an ending for it."

"So then this is the story?" Ginny asked. "And we're going to live it out?"

"You and this crackpot are going to live it out," said Draco. "I'm going back to the castle. See you later. But careful, Weasley, men like this are perverted." Then he made as if to leave, but Haltan drew his sword, causing Draco to stop dead in his tracks.

"You shan't leave," said Haltan. "You will come with us, you know too much, and you bear the Lady's mark."

"What are you talking about, you fool?" Draco snapped.

Haltan raised his sword to Draco's face and placed the tip on the boy's cheek. "The Lady's mark," he said.

"This blood stain?" said Draco, raising his hand to his own cheek. "This stupid thing? Do you know a way to get rid of it? I've tried just about everything, but I can't get it off."

"It shall not be removed," said Haltan.

"Yes it shall," said Draco. "Take it off! I don't want it!"

"Come back with us to the Castle Perimonath," said Haltan. "I cannot guarantee its removal though."

"Then what's the point?" said Draco. "Move aside, I'm going."

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of green light, which filled the clearing.