Stacey sat crossed legged with her elbows on her knees, her chin in her hands. Her eyes were wide and bright purple. Her light brown hair looked black in the dark light coming from the moon. She sat at the edge of the trees, hidden in blackness. Only tiny chunks of moonlight made it through the thick leaves and hit her.
She stared out towards the lake with a blank expression, no emmotion in her face, not even a flicker. The air was silent, still and warm, no living thing making noise. She slowly clesd her unblinking eyes and opened them again, now orange. This happened every so often tonight; she would suddenly feel a totally different emmotion than she had a second ago and, for some reason, closed her eyes to let them change instead of letting them change color on their own.
Her eyes could be odd that way; they would refuse to change unless they were closed, or they would flicker hundreds of different colors in just a few seconds. It jus depended on the feel of the atmoshere and Stacey`s own mood.
She stared out to the black water now, a series of ripples appearing, formed by some unseen organism. Slowly, Stacey stood up, her hand at her hip where a dagger was hidden under the edge of her jeans.
"A small dagger has no chance among the many things that live beneath this lake."
Cody stood a few feet away, leaning against a small tree. His ice blue eyes seemed unnaturally bright in the darkness, reflecting the moonlight in a strange way. His pale skin seemed almost silver, and his black hair was messy as usual.
The five year old looked out over the lake, not telling how he had known what she was reaching for, or what she intended. He watched the small ripples that indicated something beneath the surface and smiled. A strange smile.
"Your best bet is to back away slowly."
Stacey turned her head slowly to look at Cody. Despite the curcumstances, she couldn`t help but have a small smile on her face. "I wasn`t going to try and use a stupid dagger against whatever that is," She jerked her head towards the water. "But I think I`ve had enough problems to pass it off as a reflex."
Her eyes changed bright green as she blinked. She relxed her arm and took a step back to lean aginst the closest tree. Her hair covered her face as the wind picked up for a second and Stacey shook her head to move it again, knowing it would just get in her eyes again.
"If you say so. But I know of people with more problems than yourself."
Cody shrugged one shoulder, his small hands playing with the bark of the tree while his eyes focused on her. He himself had been through more than the average five year old, but it didn't show. He blinked, slowly, thoughtfully.
"What are you doing out here?"
His small voice was questioning, though not demanding. If she chose not to answer him, he wouldn't care.
Stacey shrugged. "I don`t really know. I`m outside more than I`m inside, usually. I can`t sleep half of the time. Can`t stand to be inside half of the time. Two halves make a whole." Her eyes trailed to the ground and she twirled a flexible twig between her fingers.
She looked back up, her eyes teal. "What are you doing out here?" She asked, using the same tone as Cody had.
"Playing."
Cody's eyes wondered away from her, finding her of little interest now, and over the lake. He watched the ripples as they began to still, his mind on other things.
Why the five year old was out playing in the night was no volunteered information. And he wasn't going to tell Stacey. He had run from his mother, upset by her for some reason or the other that he couldn't quite recall.
It hadn't been important, really. But it had bothered him.
It didn't matter, he knew one of his parents would come looking for him sooner or later, and then he'd be in trouble.
Stacey nodded absentmindedly. She knew Cody would`t have been out "playing" as he had said. She figured him to be too adult-like to find normal play much fun.
Her eyes changed black as she looked back into the dark trees. It would be hard for the naked eye to see through the trees, only the more solid black of the trees telling where they were. A few scarce moonbeams lit the dark area.
A dark shadow went over the moon, something flying in the night sky. Cody glanced up, mumbling under his breath.
"Nerezza. Casa delle cose difettose."
His Italian was flawless, as if he had grown up speaking it. He hadn't, he simply had a knack for languages. His blue eyes continued looking up at the moon for a moment longer before he too glanced behind them, towards the thick trees. He wasn't afraid, merely watchful.
He knew that nothing was perfectly safe.
Stacey`s dark eyes narrowed as she felt something. It wasn`t something that you could actually feel, like hot or cold, but something you could sense. It wasn`t whatever had flown over the moon, that had barely bothered her at all. It was something in the trees.
Nothing strange was visible, but anybody would know that there are thousands of things unseen everyday. Her arms tensed uselessly around her waist, making sure the daggers were still where they should be.
"Osservi."
Cody pointed towards the trees, his sharp eyes noticing a deeper shadow. He closed off all expression on his face, unsure of who or what was lurking there, watching the two of them. He was unable to get a read off the person, he had never been allowed to explore his psychic powers.
"Mostri. Show yourself."
He called into the trees, his eyes narrowed carefully. Cody's small voice was indeed the voice of child, but it held an authority that went past his years.
Stacey glanced at Cody as he spoke, his words not surprising her. Slowy, red merged its way into her irises, making them seem to glow in contrast from her pale face. A heavy cloud passed over the bright moon, making it suddenly a lot darker. Stacey tilted her head up to look to the sky.
She could no longer see the stars, the stars that only moments ago were clearly visable. Even though greater threats were present, this bothered Stacey; she had always felt some connection with the balls of fiery gas that lit the night sky with the moon. She narrowed her eyes and looked back into the dark trees.
Cody frowned, shaking his head as whomever was hiding made no move to show themselves. He wasn't particularly in the mood for playing games, especially not with the unknown.
"Mostri, or I burn you out."
He could do it too, that was apparent by the way he held his hand, suddenly fully aflame. Something Ginny had only just taught to her advanced students this year. Obviously, she had taught it to her child as well. At least, a smaller version of it.
"Ok, ok. Don't use the fire!" A small man came sniveling from behind the trees, his eyes watching Cody's flames. His eyes jumped to Stacey, then back to Cody's.
"Put the fire out!"
Cody made a disgusted face, extinguishing the flame.
"Who is this guy?" He asked, contempt loud in his tone.
Stacey`s arm flew up in reaction to the flame Cody produced. Small flames licked from her fingers, only barely burning. She only flinched when the man appeared and the flame in her hand didn`t go away. She shrugged in response to Cody, her eyes locked on the man.
"How should I know." She replied softly.
She wasn`t exactly sure of what the man was. It was obvious that he didn`t like fire, but that only narrowed the possibilities slightly.
"Debole." Cody sneered, "Who are you?"
"My name isn't important. I am looking for someone in charge, someone who can help me." He watched Stacey's fire nervously, not daring to come any closer.
"For now, we are people who can help you. What do you want?" Cody folded his arms, regarding the small tired looking man with apparent disdain.
The man blinked, looking over to Stacey, "Is he for real? He can't be but four years old and saying he's in charge?"
Stacey smiled sweetly and the flame flickered in response. "I don`t know about you, but I would much rather talk to this young man than his mother if I were you." Her eyes sparked mischeviously. "So, unless you want bigger trouble, I would talk to him. Or you can talk to me and I`ll talk to him."
The last choice she offered was obviously a sarcastic one, at least the man should be able to tell that much by her tone.
"I'm five." Cody said, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. Why was it everyone always thought he was younger than he was? He wasn't that small. It was probably just something to do with his father's side.
"What do you want, debole?" He eyed the man with dislike. He didn't even know him and he already felt he didn't like him.
"I'm going to be a substitute at the school...I need to talk to a grownup." The man twitched nervously underneath Cody's gaze, he didn't like the way the child looked at him. Cody's ice blue eyes shone in an unnatural way, or so it seemed to the man. And Stacey wasn't any better, glaring at him with red eyes and fire flickering in her palm.
"Substitute?" Cody's eyebrow went up. This guy was here to take over for his mother. This guy was the reason he and his mother had eaten dinner at the school tonight, waiting around for someone who had obviously gotten lost in the forest.
Stacey`s eyebrows alos twitched up; she didn`t know everything, but she guessed that this man was there to take over for Ginny.
"If you are the substitite, then you should have nore respect for children." She said, glancing down towards Cody. Her eyes flickered deep emerald green in contrast of the fire, which grew slightly.
"Children don't deserve respect, for they are not to be feared." His tone became stronger, self assured even. Cody couldn't help it. He started laughing, loudly.
"Fat lot you know." He gasped out between peals of laughter. He actually had to hold his sides from laughing so hard. The man looked indigent, and curious. He frowned, looking to Stacey for what this meant. But Cody supplied the answer, still grinning widely.
"Children are much more dangerous than adults. They have not yet gained the moral sense of right and wrong, so anything is possible. You have no clue."
The man blinked, still amazed by the way Cody spoke. "Well...um..." he stuttered.
"C'mon. We can take you up to the school. Debole." Cody jerked his head in the direction of the castle.
Stacey couldn`t help but giggle as Cody laughed. She beamed smugly at the man.
"Children are the ones that often understand things adults don`t. As one grows, they usually lose their imagination to any possibility." She added to Cody`s statement. She took a couple steps toward the school, waiting to see if they would follow before she walked any farther.
Cody walked past Stacey when she stopped, shoving his hands deep into his pockets and scowling darkly in front of him. This man had already pushed him futher than he usually allowed someone, but Cody knew the man was valuble in a sense. His mother would kill him if he hurt this man. Though, at the moment, he really wanted to.
The man frowned, unable to figure out either of the two children he had just spoken to, shaking his head and following Stacey and Cody. They were strange, these two. Was this how the entire school was? Was he sure he wan't this job?
It wasn't a long walk to the castle, but Cody walked quickly. he wanted as little time with this man as he could have. He didn't like him one bit.
Stacey quickly matched her stride to Cody`s, walking next to him, but glancing over her shoulder once or twice to make sure the man was following. She could tell Cody didn`t like the man, it was obvious by the look on his face and his quick actions.
She wasn`t to happy to have the man there either. She loved Ginny`s classes, yes, she was pregnant, but that wouldn`t make Stacey feel any better about the sub taking her place. And besides, the man didn`t seem too friendly, and she hoped he would warm up to the students.
As they neared the school, adult looking figures stood on the large steps just in front of the door. They were several of the teachers, including Ginny. The group was talking lowly, and once they saw Cody, Stacey and the still unnamed man, they quieted.
"Professor Kindles." Flitwick's high pitched voice piped out, full of warmth and honest welcome. The little man stepped forward, meeting the group of three just at the stairs and grasping Kindles's hand tightly. The other teachers weren't as quick to welcome the thin sickly looking man.
"I apologize for my late timing. I got lost." Kindles admitted uneasily.
"Debole." Cody murmured to Stacey, rolling his eyes. Ginny and McGonegall exchanged looks, and Ginny stepped down to the newest addition to Hogwart's staff. She didn't hold out a hand, but instead nodded in welcome. Even in the dark, her fantastically bright red hair shone, causing the new guy's eyes to immediately lead to her. It didn't help that her face was attractive, and had she not been pregnant, so would her body have been.
"As it is so late, I suppose we'll simply get you settled in Professor Kindles. Tomorrow I will incorporate you into my class schedule and show you the basics of the study. For now, my son and I need to get home." She gestured to Cody and Kindles's eyes got large.
"He is your son?! He talks like he's thirty!"
"I assure you, he's simply five." Ginny touched her forehead, "Minerva, I'll see you tomorrow." She nodded at McGoneglle then looked at Stacey, "Would you mind walking with Cody and I down to the gates?"
Stacey gave a small nod to the teachers as she approached them, staying off of the steps. She couldn`t help but smile when Cody whispered to her. Her eyes flashed purple as she stiffled a giggle. She spaced out for a moment, suddenly lost in thought, and she just barely heard it when Ginny spoke to her.
"Huh? Oh, sure." She replied, slightly confused. She looked around herself, trying to figure out what she agreed to. Of course she would have done anything any of the teachers asked her to, she just wondered.
"Gate." Cody muttered lowly, nudging Stacey with his elbow. He jerked his head at the path which lead to the gates and nudged her again to get her to walk. He avoided looking at his mother, knowing he was already in trouble for getting angry and talking back to her, not to mention running off. His mom would probably tell his dad and he'd get another talk about respecting his mom and how important it was to be nice to her right now and blah. Blah. Blah.
Without waiting for Stacey of Ginny, Cody stuffed his hands in his pockets and started down the path.
Ginny made a face when he started walking, rolling her eyes. She gave a last wave to the rest of the teachers as she and Stacey began walking after Cody.
"Sometimes, Cody thinks he's smarter than he is." Ginny said very quietly to Stacey.
Though he had gotten better lately. Looking forward to school made him agreeable at most times. He didn't want his parents to decide he couldn't go.
"Oh." Stacey mumured when Cody explained to her what she had missed. She followed Ginny and Cody, having no idea why they wanted her to follow them. Her eyes shocked into an electric green that was a color so shocking and unnatural that her eyes seemed to glow. She nooded in understanding as Ginny whispered to her.
She cleared her throat softly, finding it slightly dry. "So, uh... can I help you with anything?" She asked, not sure how to phrase the question when she hardly knew what she had agreed to, let alone why she agreed or why the two wanted her to follow.
"I mean, I have no idea what I`m doing besides following you." She added, shaking ehr head. Suddenly, she couldn`t quite recall what she had been doing with Cody before.
"Making sure I don't throttle my only son." Ginny said calmly, sighing and closing her eyes momentarily. She was very tired, had a huge headache. Stupid hormones. She reopened her eyes and nodded off at Cody.
"That and making sure I don't fall."
A very real threat of that existed. Although Ginny was graceful when she was fighting, moving quick and agile like a cat, when it came to walking she was a total klutz. She was spacey sometimes, and wouldn't watch her steps, causing her to trip. It was an embarrassing thing to admit sometimes, but she usually fell down once or twice a day. Not lately, though. That would have been very bad in her condition.
"So what do you think of that guy back there?" Ginny made a face, "Think he'll do a good job?"
Stacey ouldn`t help but have a small smile on her face when Ginny said she might strangle Cody. That would have been funny to watch if there wouldn`t be a real threat. She understood perfectly what Ginny said about falling down; she herself often fell when she wsn`t paying attention, even though her balance was close to perfect, she could barely walk on a flat surface without having somethignt o fall over.
"Haha." She replied sarcastically. "Only if he gets past his fear for smart kids." She said jokingly. She really hoped the man would be a good teacher, otherwise she could very easily make his temporary stay less comfortable, or even shorter. But she kept those thoughts away for now, not knowing if Ginny was listening to her or not.
"But really, I can`t exactly tell. His first impression wasn`t too good, so things should get better, or I`m going to complain until you come back." She said, her smile momentarily growing.
Ginny chuckled, almost sadly. There was something she hadn't told the students yet. Something that she had thought about a lot but still hadn't decided. She sighed, giving Stacey a small smile.
"I don't know if I'm going to come back next year."
Shrugging she reached up to her own bright red hair and tugged on a strand of it. It made her feel better when she was nervous or uncomfortable. It was something Xaver had done a long time ago. It just made her feel better.
"I know I won't be back in time for the end of the school year. Only a few months left after all."
Stacey immediatly stopped walking, her eyes dark and blank. Her gaze was distant and her mouth was slightly open. Her arms were slightyl raised, as if she had been about to pick something up or touch something. She froze like that for about three seconds, and in that short amount of time, an confusing amount of thoughts shot through her mind.
Did I hear her right? She has to come back. What will happen if she leaves and something weird happens? Who will help me like she can? Who can answer my question? Who will teach me? Her mind was completely closed. It was a simple mental trick she had taught herself where she pictured a swtichboard in her head, then flipped a switch off, blocking her mind from other people. She kept it like that most of the time, it had become a nagging habit that wouldn`t go away easily.
"What?" She asked softly, her eyes snapping back.
Ginny sighed, each of Stacey's thoughts hitting her roughly. She glanced down the path, were Cody still walked sullenly, then looked back at Stacey.
"No, you heard right. I might not be coming back to Hogwarts."
She sighed, shaking her pretty head. "But Stacey, I will always be your teacher. I just don't think I'll be able to be your teacher here."
Ginny glanced back at the school behind them, "I already work part-time, and the headmaster isn't going to like that I'll work even less hours. Not to mention, I don't get paid enough to do everything I do." Ginny frowned as she thought of all the distasteful things she'd done.
"And my baby is going to need me."
Stacey gasped softly under ehr breath. "Oh. Ginny..." Her voice trailed off, not knowing how to put her thoughts into words. Ginny had kind of acted like a mother towards Stacey, at least she thought so. She wasn`t very close to her own mother, so she had become attacked to Ginny more than she would admit.
"I... I don`t know if I can... I think my powers are changing." She concluded softly, at a loss for words.
She didn`t know how she knew this, she just knew. She felt it and she could almost feel herself getting stronger when she used her powers.
"You are growing up. Your powers are going to continue changing until you reach my age."
Ginny wasn't concerned about Stacey's powers. She wasn't really going to get much stronger. She was just going to gain and lose different powers. Ginny had gone through the same thing, and was currently at her peak. She would be for a few more years, and then some of her powers would begin to fade.
Ginny shrugged, "If you get confused, just send me an owl."
Stacey shook her head. "Ginny..." She mumbled as she turned on her heel and walked about twenty yards to the left. "I shouldn`t be able to do this." She threw her arm into the air then thrust her fist towards the ground. It was like she had thrown a small explosion onto the ground. The grass rippled under the pressure of the air she produced.
"Or this." She turned around and both of her arms were in the air. Air swirled around her in a whirlwind, pulling her hair from her face and making her eyes shiver into a deep blue. She turned back to Ginny.
"I shouldn`t be able to do that. I shouldn`t be able to walk into the Ministry and tell you eactly where someone is and what their powers are." The look in her eyes were pleading; she had to make Ginny understand, something was different, and Stacey knew that she shouldn`t have been able to detect it.
"How about this?" Cody instantly materialized behind Stacey, pointing up at the moon with one hand. The moonlight flickered, then went, leaving everything a deep darkness. Someone snapped their fingers and the light reappeared, just as bright as before, to reveal Ginny shaking her head.
"Miss Stacey, I myself will tell you something. Powers fluctuate. Now you are able to do these things, but in some weeks, months, or even years you will be able to do more or less. It changes all the time, depending upon you and the way you live. Simply deal with it and wish for the powers to remain so strong."
Cody looked past Stacey, smirking at his mother. Before she could scold him, he turned and ran down the path.
Ginny touched her forehead, "My son's words are harsh. But he's right. For now,learn to control the powers you are given. If they scare you, don't use them."
The wind abruptly stopped when Cody spoke and Stacey`s arms dropped to her sides. She tilted her head as the bot took off down the path.
"But it`s not exactly the same when you gave birth to a genius." Stacey complianed under her breath. She crossed her arms and her eyes lightened. Her tone had lightened considerably, but inside she was still tense.
"You`re probably tired, I`ll stop freaking out so you can get some sleep." She offered softly.
the guy who also seemed like her boyfriend which is another reason I dont think this is actually a joke seemed to be taking himself seriously and didnt do anything too bizarre like the girlfriend. I think they just think theyre good.
Why am I not suprised by this one bit, how do you have that buggy of a game and still release it, EA/Dice QC is a joke, glad to see they still havent fixed the crashing yet. Wonder if I can sue EA/Dice for a World of Warcrack addiction?