The eyes of Winter

Chapter 10...Dungeon room

Winter wasn\'t seen by the students of Hogwart\'s for almost a week. Talk had flown
in each common room about the display that had transpired in the Great Hall.
Rumors abounding about what she was, and the power she held. Not one actually
knowing the truth. She was never referred by name, only by \'freak\', or simply
the \'Karhem.\' Even whispers that she was gone or dead.

The first week of class had ended and everyone was glad of the weekend
to rest. Most enjoying the warm near Fall air and the sun that still shone
warmly. Some in their common rooms doing their homework early to get it done
and out of the way, but almost all still wondering about the strange girl
who had infiltrated their masses.

Winter had been moved to her own room early that first Saturday morning. Nearly
recovered from the violent release of energy, and certainly even more grouchy
from the week of confinement in the infirmary. Mostly in solitude and left alone
with her thoughts, her only activity had been watching the rose float and spin slowly.
Watching it sparkle and shine as the sun rays came through the stained
glass windows.

Winter had first woke as dusk was ending the day. She ached and her whole body felt
like it had been pounded repeatedly with a heavy object. Looking around, making sure
she was alone, she sat up. Her body screamed in protest, and a groan escaped her
dry lips. Finding it hard to make a sound.

\"God damn\", she cursed and tried to push through her pain. Wanting only a glass
of water, but upon inspection of the bed table there was only one thing there. It took
her breath, and it took her more by surprise.

A single long-stemmed black rose. In bloom and spinning slowly in the air a few
inches off the table. The fading light still catching the green and silver sparkles
that seemed to a part of the petals. Not sprayed on like a cheap florist, but softly
flickering in the light as it rotated.

She watched it for a few minutes, almost transfixed with the colors. Until a card
on the table caught her eye. She picked it up, trying to read the small but neat writing.
Nothing else, no stupid poem, or get well wish. Just one simple word....Mistress.

Winter had known it was him. She dreamed of him sitting next to her and mumbling
softly to her. Not knowing what he was saying only watching him hurriedly cast a
spell and kiss her hand. Then he was gone. Slipping silently through the dark shadows.

Now here she sat. Her new room looking much like the old. Only instead of cream
colored paneling, it was cold dungeon blocks. Gray and lifeless...she enjoyed it.
The cold radiated from it, making it feel she was living inside a air conditioner.

Snape has brought her here early, before anyone was awake. Not wanting her to
cause a stir among the students. He had been less cold, but was it from pity or fear?
He had led her down twisting and turning silently until he reached a large portrait
of a unicorn dipping his horn into a steam, no doubt purifying it.

Snape stopped and turned to face her finally, eyes dark and not betraying
anything to her. \"I had the house elves bring this down for you. I thought it might
help to *calm* you.\" He said calm like he was expecting her to burst any
moment. He flicked his wand and entered explaining as he walked in front of her
once again. \"You\'ll have to put your own charms on your doorway. Do as you
wish,\" he stopped as the short stairwell opened into a good sized room. Turning
to her once again. \"But don\'t think you may come and go as you please, you follow
the same rules as the other Slytherins. Regardless of what you think you are not so
special, Miss VaShawn.\"

Winter only ignored his snide remarks as she searched the room with her eyes.
Like a small apartment, with a kitchen and bathroom.

\"What is this place?\" She questioned him, as she continued to look. Walking
around like he wasn\'t there.

\"This is my assistants quarters, and your new domicile since I don\'t have one
this year. Dumbledore, for some reason,\" he sneered. \"Thought it best you stay
here. But just know this, I\'m closer than you think. No special treatment! NONE!\"

He turned in a swirl of black cloak, and was climbing the steps. He slammed the
door and all was silent again, still as a tomb. The room was lit by wall sconces,
full of candles spouting eerie green flames, and shadows were cast in strange places.

Winter spent the day, waving her wand and using the old fashioned way of setting
up her room. Only finding enjoyment when she unrolled her posters and where her once
still band members stood were smiling moving faces. Blowing kisses and looking around
in wonder. She spent several hours trying to cover the bleak walls, not understanding what
had happened, but welcoming the surprise it had been. She covered the bleak walls until
the room was alive with color and movement of the silent paper reminders of her muggle life.

She sighed as she finished unpacking, finally getting everything in its place.
Walking over to the bed she sat on the edge and opened the drawer of the nightstand.
Empty except for a white envelope with her name scrawled on it. Winter broke the purple
seal and read,

Dear Winter,
I hope you find everything to your liking. I took the liberty
of using a bit of magic on the contents of your traveling trunk.
Consider it an apology for not telling you the truth about your
sleeping arrangements sooner. I hope you can enjoy your year here, and
if you need to, come to my office for a lemon drop. Maybe tell
me more about Muggle music, I\'m curious now.
What ever you think, or what ever you feel know this...you
belong here. Don\'t let anyone tell you different. Trust me child,
you are needed here.
Sincerely,
Professor Dumbledore


She put back the note and threw in her smuggled cigarettes, which she was
dying for one, and shut the drawer.

\'Old devil\' she thought fondly.\'I should of known it was him.\'

She began to hear noises above her and her stomach growled. Both signaling
it was time for dinner. A pang of fear caught in her throat at the thought of
going up there. She would rather starve than to see the faces of her so called
classmates. She was used to staring and gaping looks, but now their was something
different. They knew, they all knew she was not in control, and that was just
something she refused to accept.

Ignoring her stomach, she undressed and made for the shower. Trying to run a
brush through her matted hair. Finally giving up and just getting in. Letting
the shampoo do the rest. Staying in as long as she could stand, it had been almost
a week. Way too long for her liking.

When she returned someone, no doubt a house elf, had left a silver plate with
ham and bread with some fruit. Winter was thankful, and ate in front of the
small fireplace while her hair dried. She had set the rose on the mantel, where
it had began to spin somewhat slower now, losing some of its magic. Still beautiful, and
still making her mind wonder about the one who had made it that way.

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