The eyes of Winter

Chapter 7...Winter in the Great Hall

Winter had stopped to talk to Dumbledore just inside the doors
that led to her impending introduction. Despite the sour attitude she
loved to show, she could not hate Dumbledore. This man, at one time
a complete surprise and wonder to her, had become to feel almost a
friend.

\"I see you arrived in style as usual.\" The old face still warm and
kind, crinkled as he smiled. He flashed a look at Snape now storming
about, ordering students to get inside and sit down.

Winter smiled back and nodded, trying to stifle a laugh. \"You know me,
how could I resist?\" He smiled again a little more devilish this time.

\"Winter,\" his voice changed to a more serious tone. \"I know this
is hard for you, but in time I know you\'ll find it really was the best,
and only choice we could make.\"

She knew he was right. Since beginning her formal training, she had
learned somewhat how to control her magical outbursts, taught herself
to release the build up instead of letting it explode out. She couldn\'t imagine
trying to explain to her P.E. teacher why her hand had caught the volley
ball on fire.

Still she missed her sweet Muggle life of punk shows, hanging out in her
friend Toby\'s tattoo shop, and getting high in the basement of her house
watching old Kung-Fu movies while her dogs played on the floor. Just like
everything now, magic was hard to control. It used to be so simple.

It all seemed an eternity ago. Dumbledore, sensing her thoughts of
home, leaned in whispering. \" I have a surprise for you, Miss VaShawn.\"
He was smiling with that tinge of cheekiness you had to love about him.

\"Oh really?\" She cocked an eyebrow at him, half expecting to hear
anything come out of his mouth.

\"Yes, my dear. Just to help you along a bit, I decided that dorm
living is not for you....\"

\"Meaning,\" she cut in. \"You can\'t risk any outbursts that could hurt
another student. Especially while I sleep, right?\" Winter knew she
was right by the way he smiled, and patted her shoulder.

\"You are wise beyond your years, Miss VaShawn. Sometimes wiser
than this old fool, I think.\" He looked down at her, not even bothered
by the smirk on her face. \"You are correct, I can\'t put the other
students in danger, whether it was accidental on your part...or not.\"
He paused to look over his spectacles, knowing her temper was something
that would no doubt have to be dealt with this year. \"But\", he continued.
\"I believe you will find your room VERY satisfactory.\"

\"Thank you, Professor.\", she smiled genuinely, catching his drift. \"I\'m
sure it will be wonderful.\"

\"Albus,\" Snape interrupted. \"I believe we are ready for the feast.\"
He cast another look on Winter, angry she was not seated yet.
\"You too, Miss VaShawn.\"

But Winter had already began moving towards the Great Hall. The open
doors leading into the pit of snakes, literally. She saw new faces, laughing
and whispering, while their eyes searched her out.

Winter had only taken a few steps inside the Great Hall, when a hush
slowly began to overtake the excited masses. Almost all conversation had
died, stopping to watch what everyone else was straining to see.

She heard a older Ravenclaw boy say, \"That\'s the Karhem!\" Followed by
a younger Gryffindor asking \"What\'s a Karhem?\" The girl next to him
shushing him as she walked by. Winter looked down at him, slightly narrowing
her eyes. He let out a squeak that oddly sounded like a frightened mouse.

Echoes of Karhem rang in her ears, as she made her way between the
four massive dinner tables, slowly walking, trying not to listen. Only trying
to make it to the teachers table for her blasted introduction. Her cloak
dragging heavily on the floor behind her, rustling along the slick floor, and
intermingling with the relentless whispers, and looks of shock.

Not wanting to be there, missing her only companion, the stress of this
death walk she felt she was on, it was all too much for Winter. She could feel
it starting in her fingertips as it spread. A power she could not quite control,
moving through her veins like a drug, desperately needing a place to release.
It moved along inside her like wildfire, like never before. She had stopped, her eyes
glazing over.

\'Has to come out!\', her thoughts were frantic now, and she saw Dumbledore
stand at his chair. \'IT BURNS!!!\' Her mind and body were screaming, begging
her to banish the intruder that brought pain like a searing razor throughout her
now trembling body.

Winters hair flew out above her shoulders as the power radiated off her
body, flying around like a invisible wind had found her. Breathing in
and out hard, straining hard to hold the waves of pure energy that coursed
in her, cutting their way through her body.

Winter thought wildly. \'No! Not here, not now!\'

Tears falling silently as she made herself with every ounce of willpower
she had, grinding her teeth through the pain, reaching up and unclasp her
cloak. In one heavy moment it had fallen to the floor in a wave of gray
velvet and satin. Smoking from the heat of her body as it lay in a heap.

The sound of thunder could be heard echoing through the Great Hall
as the enchanted ceiling started to turn black with the dark clouds rolling
in, bringing great rumblings that shook the old stone walls.

Dumbledore was running, desperately trying to get to the girl before the
power pulled her apart. He knew he could never make it, he was too slow
and their simply wasn\'t enough time to get to her. Winter would be
consumed any second now, if she didn\'t release it, but if she did what
terrible tragedy would come out of it.

Dumbledore just kept running...twenty feet..fifteen feet...ten feet...feeling
as if in slow motion, noting the frightened faces of students and the footsteps
behind him of the other staff members. Snape in front of him, running from the
great doors of the hall no closer than Dumbledore to the now screaming girl.

Winter fell to the ground, wanting only to die. Anything to stop the burning
pain that swept through her with every beat of her heart. To silence the
screams that fell on her ears, yet somewhere in the distant haze she heard
Dumbledore.

\"Let it go, child, now, now. NOW! Do it or die!!!!!!\"

Somehow she made it to her knees, wavering madly to get her balance
back. Flinging her head back, watching the storming ceiling at is swirled
with angry clouds of black and gray. Thundering so loudly all she could hear
was the storm, even though she was still screaming. A final jolt of power
forced her hands skyward, and a final rush broke her. Tears streaming
out around her, as her head hopelessly shook back in forth, as her final
barrier was shattered.

Lightning flew violently from of her outstretched fingers, looking like a
macabre ceremony somehow forgot among the ages. Into the stormy depths,
making it erupt into a frightening display of mother nature. Crashing and
churning in its terrible dance of unnatural magic.

Winter still on her knees, head thrown back, weeping at the wanted
release as the lightning continued to escape her body. Never thinking of
stopping until the horrid heat was gone from her boiling veins. As the
energy left her so did her ability to stay conscious, it had taken everything
from her and more.

Her final memory was a roaring thunderclap that drove her down to
the floor, landing roughly on her back. Staring up at the cathedral ceiling,
as it began to rain. The storm breaking just as she did, cold rain falling on
her inferno skin. Cooling Winter\'s burning body, and sending her slipping into
the black void that lay beyond everything. Only thinking that it was actually
raining inside the Great Hall.
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You keep reading, I\'ll keep writing...Shaolin