Silent Year

Well, it's almost Thanksgiving, I can't wait! Of course you're all going to leave me reviews, right? ~_^. Right, anyway, no questions, let's get on with the story! This chapter is rather short, I apologize for that.


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Chapter Fifteen: Lucky Little Fairy

The claws never came. There was no pain, no ripping, and no shredding. No sounds of the beast devouring Quiari. Instead, the sounds that graced the area were those of a whinny, a thump, and a crack. Quiari opened her eyes and they instantly went wide. There stood Ben, his hind hooves hit the ground with a soft thud. “You’re right, little human, fairies are prettier.” Ben turned with a smirk. Quiari gave a light smile back and then groaned slightly. The adrenaline was gone, and now the pain set in. She looked at her leg, the actual wound was healed already, but the blood had caked around it and had stained her clothes. Her back was tender to the touch, after being ripped open twice, and though it had healed already, the ache of muscles rebuilding themselves lingered. The beast lay on its side, after having its head split open by being flung into the cliff wall. It lay limply on its side, no longer a threat. Quiari groaned as she stood up and she wobbled over to the beast. She fell to her knees beside the beast and then reached out and stroked is fur. “Don’t worry, human, its dead.” Ben’s tone was full of triumph. Quiari frowned and again stroked the beast’s fur.

“You’re lucky I was here! I really gave that foul beastie a good knock!” Quiari stayed silent and then sighed and stood up. She didn’t look at Ben. “I thank you for the help.” Quiari said quietly and she scooped up the little dragon from where it lay on the ground, and she stroked the little dragon’s head. “Come, little one, we must be going.” The dragon’s wings twitched slightly and then the dragon opened its eyes. Quiari situated the dragon under her shirt, its favorite place to ride, and she picked up the tattered remains of her cloak. She put this around her shoulders and then walked off into the forest. Ben growled and gave chase, sliding to a halt in front of Quiari.

“Are you not even going to smile at me? I saved your life, you know.” Quiari looked at him and gave a small smile before looking to the ground.

“For what reason? I am nothing.” Her voice was soft, barely audible. Ben looked slightly taken aback.

“Do I need a reason to save a pretty little fairy?” Quiari didn’t look up. She took a step to the side and started walking away.

“You need a reason to save nothing.” The dragon squeaked and Quiari stroked its head as she continued into the forest. Ben gave chase, slowing to a trot next to her.

“Nothing? You remind me a lot of myself, you know!” Ben gave off a chuckle, but Quiari kept walking. The two walked together for a long while in silence, and then it started snowing. The trip to Hogwarts had taken two months; the trip back would be maybe a month and a half. By that time, it would only be a month until her year was up. And then…what would become of her? She traveled far into the night, Ben slowing slightly, and then he requested a rest. Quiari looked back at him and nodded to him before she again set out into the night. Ben swore beneath his breath several times and then started following her again. It was about half an hour more it took until Ben finally fainted. Quiari stopped in her tracks at the crunch of the snow as Ben fell to his knees and then tipped over sideways in the snow.

Quiari moved like a shadow towards Ben, kneeling quietly beside the fallen centaur. She put her hand gently to his forehead, and then his neck, checking for a pulse. She sighed quietly and then lifted her hand. The snow swirled about the two, rising to form a mound of a snow cave, and she crawled into the place next to Bed, getting out of the biting wind that was starting to pick up and out of the snow that fell outside. The little dragon poked its head out of her cleavage and she smiled gently down at it. She stroked its head and leaned against one of the walls, tugging the ragged cloak around her body, curling her knees up to her chest and resting her head gently onto them.
Meanwhile, at Durmstrang, Hazleton sat bolt upright in his bed. He’d been worn to the bone flying to Hogwarts, but sleep seemed hard for him to find. He was always so cold; he’d even gotten dressed in his warmest flannel pajamas and had even put a sweater on top of the flannel pajama top. Still, he was cold. The stone of the necklace on his bedside table was glowing blue, and freezing over. He stared at it.

Was that what Quiari was feeling now?

Chilling, bitter cold?

He reached out for the necklace, hoping that maybe he could warm it with his fingers, but he got an inch away before a cold breeze shot from the stone to him, making her draw his hand to him quickly as if it had been burned. He looked at his hand, finding the skin there red as if it had been burned! He put his palm to his mouth and tried to nurse the burn with his tongue. It did nothing for the chill that rose from his hand to the rest of his body. He cursed softly and snuggled down beneath the down blankets, curling into a tight ball with his back to the stone.
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Yay, we're switching perspectives around! Huzzah!! Anyway, please review! ~Nezumi-kun~