Tika trudged over to the lake. Her right knee still throbbed with pain. Her eyes focused on the castle. Hogwarts had never looked so beautiful. And she was finaly back. Back where she was meant to be. Had anybody noticed her absence? She thought perhaps Ginny or Payne had. Maybe Josh. Would anyone else?
She scooped up the cold water and rubbed it over the burn mark on her neck. She must be a real sight. Her red hair was shorter now. Her once-green eyes were permenatly red. Many minor injuries covered her body. Tika was very thin, much thinner then she had ever been. Her button up top had only one button left, revealing her white bra. Her black pants were in tatters. And forget shoes all together.
From somewhere in the forest, a wolf howled. The sound comforted Tika. It reminded her of the old days. When she had been silly and played with Beau. Of Ginny and her wolf friends. And of Payne in wolf form. Would things ever be that way again? Probably not, not after what Tika had gone through. How could she even describe what she had gone through?
Lets say this: It makes, 'To Hell and back.' seem like paradise.
Ginny sat in the center of the lake, her eyes closed. She hummed a tune below her breath, as it calmed her. As she felt Tika's presence her muscels tensed. She kept her eyes closed as she stopped humming.
"You should get some cloths on." She said, quietly.
Tika looked up at the familiar voice. She smilled as she recognized the form of Ginny Weasly. "Afraid I don't have any on me." She looked at Ginny's face. "Do you remember, Ginny?" Her voice was hoarse, too many screams. But her last sentence held a note of fear.
"Tika, I remember alot of things. So it all depends on what you want me to remember." Ginny's voice was quiet still. In fact, it was soothing in a strange way to anyone who could hear. She sat still as a stone, her eyes still closed.
"Me, but I suppose you do." She wanted to cry with happiness at finally seeing Ginny, and embrace her in a hug. For a long time, dreams of Ginny and Hogwarts had kept her sane. But Ginny didn't seem to want the same thing. So, Tika found no comforrt still.
She finally stood, shakily. Her eyes opeaned. She was weak in body from lack of sleep, but even more powerful in mind then most. She walked acoss the water, stepping slowly, achingly. As she stepped, she hummed the tune. It sent comfert from her to every being close by. As she finally stepped on land, she pulled out her pouch and took out a piece of bread, holding it out towards Tika.
"Here."
Tika took the offered bread and ate hungrily. She had nearly starved the past year of her life. She must look awefuly thin. And she did. Looking closely, a person could see her ribcage. When done with the bread she smiled at Ginny. "Oh, how I thank you for that." She said, her voice still hoarse. But now it held a large note of relief.
Ginny smiled, softly.
"The medican should take effect in a few moments."
Tika sighed. "I'm sorry if I interupted you." She said in a hoarse whisper. Un-expectedly, her knee decided to go out. She stumbled to the grass, before picking herself up and swearing. "Stupid injuries.......stupid Voldemort run future......stupid men." She muttered, standing again.
"Eh, don't worry about it. I was bound to be interuppted by someone else." Ginny watched as Tika fell and picked herself up.
"Come with me." Giny turned and began walking towards the school.
Tika followed closely behind. She didn't even dare try to read Ginny's mind or emotions. So she followed using only the hearing power she now had. Only the sounds of wolf howls and unicorn hoofs hitting the ground.
Ginny led Tika to the entrence, then turned, snappimng her fingers. Tika's tattered clothing was changed and repaired enough that she was decent. Ginny then led Tika to Dumbledore office, not bothering to knock.
"Hey Professor, Tika is back."
Dumbldore; "Good, sit down Miss Whisper."
Tika walked in and sat down in one of the chairs. She became very aware now of what a mess she looked. "Hello Professor." She said, nervously twidling her thumbs.
Ginny wandered over to the glowing pensive, instead of sitting.
"Miss Whisper, I need to know how you are feeling."
"Physicaly: I feel like I'm an inch from death and I just won't die. Mentaly: I feel like somebody just rammed a spike in my brain. Emotionaly: I really hate men as of now." She looked apolegetic as she said the last bit. But being raped ninety-three times could make you feel like that.
Ginny smiled over.
"Well, you won't die, and the pain should start fading about now. I would normally take the pain from your mind, but as mine isn't working right, I'd just end up killing you, so can't help with the last two."
"When would you like to continue class?"
Tika smiled at him. "The day after tomorow, if that's all right. I think I just need a day to think and rest. And, sir, I asume you want to know what I saw? Do you?" She wanted to tell him, but then again she didn't.
He waved his hand dismissavly.
"I know Miss Weasly has seen it already, so if you wish not to tell me, she shall."
"If I feel like it" Ginny muttered.
Tika looked up at Ginny. "I'll tell you headmaster, but I only can say what I saw. Nothing more, and I will say nothing less." She took in a deep breath.
"The deatheaters ride on small green dragons. The breathe fire apon towns and cities. Women and girls are playthings now. Nothing more then trophies more the bigger and stronger man or boy. Voldemort himself only come out at night, and always in full armor. He rides a much larger black dragon. And....they call the dragon Headmaster. Only deatheaters have homes, small huts. And Voldemort lives in a large castle. He lives-he lives here."
She brushed back a strand of hair before going on. "I recognized some of the people. Draco Malfoy was the first man to spot me and........Anyways, there is no forest, only the bodies of dead animals. I recognized two wolves." She glanceed at Ginny, inclining her head a bit.
"Outside of the castle stand four crosses. Each one holds a man or woman, dead. Harry Potter, Kiara Maul, and the two of you. Everyday the same person come and whips the bodies for one hour. I watched the woman who did this for a while. And I relized she was-she was.......-" At this point Tika burst into shaking sobs.
"You?"
She managed to shake her head yes. "I would never!!" She exclaimed, still sobbing.
Ginny watched as Tika sobbed. Under normal cercumstancis she would have comferted Tika. But she couldn't touch people. It hurt.
"I know. And you must remember, this was just a warning, The futur is never definate."
Tika looked up. "What am I supposed to do now?" She asked, her voice barely creating a whisper.
"Don't misuse your powers. We have years yet before anything will happen. You have enough time to change."
"Ginny is right. All you can do is do the right thing."
Tika whipped a tear away and felt her unshed tears disolve under fire. "There's one other things, sir. Merlin said, just before he sent me back, 'Beware the king, he wishes only to harm you all.' What do you think he meant?"
"Who knows, Merlin is older then dirt." Ginny mummbled.
"I havn't the faintest idea."
Tika shrugged it off to the back of her mind......... for later.
Ginny smiled, faintly.
"Come on." She motioned for Tika to follow her.
"Goodbye, ladies."
Tika stood and followed after Ginny.
Ginny led Tika into the forest, past the barrier. She stepped into a building and led Tika to a blue room with chairs and a table. She sat and motioned for Tika to as well.
"Tomarrow is the least day I want you in here without asking. I had to close the forest down, but for tomarrow, you can come in. There will be wolves watching you, in case of an emergancy."
"What do you mean Ginny? What's been happening with the forest?"
"People." She growled the word and stood. She didn't like to admit that she had lost her control, not only over her powers, but also over the forest.