Days of Early Mornings (Lavender)

[lissa]

The skies were the dullest shade of gray you could imagine. It was like they weren't even trying to look like the beautiful blue everyone knew they could. Any once of blue ever felt in the sky was gone from it. True, the day was still young, but there was no promise of any sunshine at all for the day. Camille sat at the her window sill in her dorm staring out. It was so early in the morning. It could only be six maximum. But, Camille couldn't sleep. Who would be able to in her situation? However, this hadn't been her first early morning. She was so confused and concerned for what Van had to tell her. Was there anything he had to say she didn't expect? Camille really was expecting the worst, but what exactly was that? These very questions had tortured her from the day she had received the letter. Camille didn't have the answers nor could she guess what they were. It was a sticky situation, one she wished could have been avoided. Camille watched the clouds in the skies. They were everywhere around the area that the sun was supposed to be but was absent. She just stared into the depths of the clouds thinking, but again getting no where.

Half an hour or so passed the same way. Camille stared into the clouds getting no where. She actually just wanted the day to come where she could see Van and ask the much needed questions she had been yearning to know for days. He would explain it all and Camille needed to hear him be the one to do it. She could always count on Van no matter what. He had always been the one there for her, unlike Opal. Opal had cursed Camille since the day she was placed in Gryffindor finding her unworthy of everything she wanted her to be worthy of. Camille knew Van had things to tell her about Opal, but wanted to know them sooner than later. Did Van not know this was eating away at Camille? Did he know how much thought she put into this? Camille knew probably not. Van was a fun, nice father that protected her and gave her what she wanted. But, he had never gotten the knowing, punishing parent thing down.

After time, Camille couldn't stand it anymore. The waiting, the wanting. It was just eating away at her. She stood quietly not wanting to awake her dorm mates. Camille slipped her Gryffindor robes over her ice blue pajama pants and matching top. She knew not many people could be out yet, so there was no point of putting on real clothes. Camille did, however, take the time to brush her hair briefly and put on her slip on sandals. She didn't even bother to make her hair wavy as usual. She just let it fall limp and straight as her hair did naturally. Camille then put her wand in her pocket and left her dorm without a single glance back. She didn't hear a noise in the common room. It was much too early for anyone to be about so she didn't make too much noise exiting the room.

After walking through much of the empty castle, Camille came near the castle entrance. Even the portrait panting were still asleep and Camille gave a meek smile at them. Some ghosts bussed around the castle calmly not making a noise, well except for Peeves of course. Upon touching the large door, Camille took out her wand, muttering a spell to open it. She then slipped outside. Fog surrounded the castle as well as clouds. It wasn't deep in fog but rather misty. Camille didn't want to go out into the grounds yet and just assumed a spot near the door. She leaned against a railing watching over the lake. Camille gasped and turned when she heard someone open the great castle doors.

[Lavender Brown]

Lavender pulled her legs up to her chest once again. A few seconds later she straightened them back out on her bed. Then she pulled them back up to her chest. This had been going on since she had tried to go to sleep. As soon as her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep her dreams were filled with images of Parvati, Padma, and Hermione. Lavender had missed the girls dearly since their kidnapping, but her pain was now subsiding. It was just her dreams that held her last fear. Her figure had been damaged during the last few months due to Parvati's disappearance. She had not eaten in a long time because just entering the Great Hall reminded her of that fateful day that had claimed Parvati. Now Lavender could stay in their briefly. Just long enough to grab some food and leave. It was difficult for her to accept that things weren't her fault. How could she know that Parvati was going to touch the crystal ball and then disappear. But now that she had been rescued and then kidnapped again things were a little easier for Lavender to go to the Great Hall. But still she was in mourning for Mr. and Mrs. Patil who had been murdered by Parvati's wand. Lavender didn't know if Parvati had done it herself, but she knew her best friend and knew she couldn't kill her parents. She just hoped now that Parvati, Padma, and Hermione were all alive and well. She would do anything to make sure of that.

The thoughts brought a few tears to Lavender's eyes and they rolled down her cheeks. She brushed them away quickly as she decided sitting in bed was not the way to go about doing things. She pulled the curtains back on her fourposter and quietly pulled on a pair of jeans and a long sleeve green shirt. She grabbed her black jacket and pulled it on. Placing her wand in her side pocket like normal she headed out of the room. She needed some fresh air. It was the only way she could get on with the day.

Down the stairs she tread occasionally ducking into doorways when she saw Peeves crashing around trying to wake everyone up early. She smiled slightly. Peeves might be annoying, but some of his antics were quite funny, especially when Filch was forced to clean up after him. Lavender chuckled silently at this thought and continued to the front doors in the Entrance Hall. She looked around calmly making sure the coast was clear. She didn't want to get caught being up and about too early. Not noticing a living soul in the near proximity she pulled the door open and jumped when she saw another student standing outside the door.

Lavender bit her tongue at the exclamation that wanted to come out. Instead she looked back in the door, stepped outside quickly, and closed the door quietly behind her. She looked over at the girl she recognized from the Gryffindor Common Room. "What are you doing out here so early?" Lavender asked in surprise. She didn't know the girl by name, but she was pretty sure she wasn't too much younger than her, maybe a year or two. She kind of recognized her from several NEWT classes, but then again she wasn't really sure. Lavender had been so out of things lately that she couldn't really say she knew anyone anymore. She paused for a few seconds and then added. "I'm Lavender."

[lissa]

Camille looked at the girl in front of her immediately glad it wasn't a professor. She sighed releasing the sharp breath she had taken. Camille had seen this girl before. She indeed was a Gryffindor which relieved Camille a bit. She wasn't in the mood to handle a hard headed Slytherin at the moment. Camille knew how to deal with them, seeing as some of her cousins indeed were in Slytherin, but she was glad that she wouldn't have to be set in an invigorating conversation at the moment. She looked at the girl again. What was her name? Camille was pretty sure she was a seventh year as she defiantly wasn't a fellow sixth year. Going to this conclusion meant the girl probably knew Parvati and Hermione. They of course were the seventh years who had been kidnapped along with Padma, Parvati's Ravenclaw sister. Of course, Camille didn't keep up with the seventh year friends circle. However, she was sure that Hermione was a good friend of Harry Potter along with that red head boy named Ron, but she didn't know anything beyond that. Camille offered a faint smile knowing the other girl was probably glad Camille wasn't a professor either.

Camille listened to what the girl was saying. She looked at her calmly wanting to give an explanation but nothing that would have to be explained. "Sleep didn't agree with me last night." She offered nicely but still having her normal cool tone. Sometimes it could be said sarcastic, but Camille couldn't really help the way she talked. "What about you?" She asked wanting to know actually. Maybe her story was the same as Camille, but only time would tell that. Camille then turned and peered around the lake. It was so peaceful and calm. Some fish stirred but not too much. The sight of the water always had a strange calming affect on Camille for some reason. Maybe perhaps it was the one thing Opal didn't allow her to play in, but for some reason water made Camille feel a strange happy feeling for a brief moment. She looked about as the slight mist remained constant and looking ever so cloudy and serene as it was meant to. Camille then turned back to the girl.

She introduced herself as Lavender. Yes, the name was familiar now. This was the girl who was best friends with Parvati. Camille had heard blurs of gossip about her around the common room. Of course, Lavender had a lot to deal with. Her best friend was kidnapped for goodness sake. Camille couldn't imagine herself in that position. Would she be able to handle it? Could she? Camille didn't know if her strength could last that far. She didn't know if she could allow herself to be in that position without going complete against the strong person she wanted to remain. "Camille." She said calmly not wanting to ruin the peaceful morning. Words seemed unnecessary for the day, but she did want to talk to this girl which was new for her. Usually Camille tried to make people believe she didn't care because if they thought that, they would never ask of her things she couldn't do. They would never see her fail if they hated her, but maybe the old Camille was gone with the years. Maybe she disappeared just as Parvati had, but hopefully Parvati would come back. The old Camille could remain gone forever and still Camille would be curious if she wanted her back or not.

"Your a seventh year Gryffindor if I'm correct." She said calmly. "I'm a sixth year." Camille added wanting the girl to know something about her rather than nothing. Camille eyed the girl calmly still waiting to take in the lovely morning around them. She could think of nothing else to say so she just waited for Lavender to respond. Camille waiting calmly letting the lake continue to mystify her.

[mulciber]

Attack Hogwarts. Like it was a that easy job! But and order was an order and Lord Voldemort didn’t like people talking back to him. Mulciber didn’t really have a choice but to go along and try to stay alive. Where else had he go after escaping Azkaban? Mulciber was all the more loyal because of this and that was maybe why he and Mulciber had been sent to scan the grounds for the Potter boy. Lord Voldemort was starting to acquire an almost unhealthy obsession with killing the boy himself. Mulciber stroke his wand almost fondly his fingers itching to use Avada Kedavra on himself so that he could prove to Lord Voldemort that he was the most loyal. But Mulciber knew better than to test his master’s patience like that. He would try to kidnap Potter and take him to Lord Voldemort. That task would be rewarded generously as well and Mulciber decided that in the long run it was better to be here than in Hogsmeade. Aurors that were bound to show up there would be far more dangerous than the annoying little pests called children he would have to confront here. Mulciber didn’t plan running into any professors after all. Better safe.

Rookwood touched his hand and Mulciber stopped and turned to look at the other man not using words to ask what he had seen. It was too early to make noise and draw attention to them. Mulciber checked his watch just in case. Yes, it was too early for the others to reach the doors that the rotten rat-man was supposed to open. Hogwarts would be taken by surprise while the Aurors would be too busy in Hogsmeade, never knowing that real trouble was stirring in Hogwarts behind their back. Mulciber grinned as he thought of maybe having Fudge be sent to jail for being such an incompetent fool. Rookwood pointed to the lake and the two figures there. Mulciber squinted too before he shared a smile and a glance with Rookwood. They could have some fun with this. AT least Rookwood was a good companion. To one point. Mulciber could not worry about Rookwood stabbing his back until they were out of Hogwarts and therefore out of trouble.

Nodding Mulciber walked over being only mildly surprised that the girls didn’t answer them. “Good morning, ladies, hope we aren’t bothering,” Mulciber stated with a wide grin even though his mask hid it completely. “Oh no, no, no, don’t do that,” Mulciber warned raising his wand, “Petrificus Totalus!” Mulciber grinned at the two girls laying before their feet. Rookwood had used Stupefy on the older one already. Mulciber glanced at Rookwood who was clearly enjoying himself as he folded the older girl into as tight ball as he could with his wand and then added tight ropes around her. Creative most surely. Mulciber turned back to the other girl laying at his feet and grinned wickedly. There had been a new spell he had been wanted to try. Mulciber twirled his wand and muttered the spell letting out a hearty chuckle you’d expect from that muggle-mall Santa Claus as he watched his spell take effect. The girl’s legs and arms were bent under a curious shape and Mulciber heard a snap as one of the shoulders was dislocated. The girl opened her mouth to scream but thanks to a well-placed Silencio from Rookwood no sound came out. “Oh, Honeydukes best!” Mulciber stated with glee as he bowed and snatched a chocolate frog out of the girl’s pocket and bit the frog’s head off. “So unpolite of you not to offer me a sweet!” Mulciber said admonishing around the mouthful of chocolate.

“Let’s get them out of sight,” came the words from Rookwood and Mulciber observed calmly how he floated both girls to the lake and dropped them in the water so that their faces were only visible from under the water. “Some rock is under them, they won’t sink,” Rookwood complained and was about to raise his wand while Mulciber just shrugged: “Leave them. They’ll get tired sooner or later and their own body-weight will drown them. Let them think of all their errors for now. Come, let’s move on.” Rookwood lowered his wand and they both turned and carried on their quiet sneaking around the grounds while leaving the two girls into the water to sink or swim.


((Carry on, girls ))

[Lavender Brown]

Lavender nodded her head at the girl who had introduced herself as Camille. She recognized the name now that it had been said. Her attention turned to the beautiful early morning. It was calming after her long night. "I didn't sleep well myself," she said in a soft voice. She didn't want to talk about what was bothering her. She had been so closed to moving on. She wasn't crying as much and she was starting to except that the ministry would get Hermione, Parvati, and Padma back soon. She just hoped that they would all be all right until then. She wasn't able to see Parvati at St. Mungo's. She had tried, but they wouldn't let her. As for when she got back home Lavender had never gotten the opportunity until they were kidnapped. On the other hand, Parvati had invited Hermione over. It was something that had really hurt Lavender at the time. She was Parvati's best friend and she didn't invite her, but it all had turned out for the best in the end.

Lavender sighed to herself quietly. Then listened to Camille say her year. "Yeah, I'm in my seventh. Soon it will all be over and I'll be on my way to the ministry. I just hope that nothing else happens before I get out of here. I want to be an Auror. I want to fight against Voldemort," Lavender said quietly. The name of the Dark Lord seemed to interrupt the feeling of peace she had been having. It was when something caught her attention in the distance. She looked hard and squinted. What was that? She couldn't figure it out and pointed it out to Camille. "Do you see that?" she asked. However, Lavender now made out what it was. She tried desperately to pull her wand from her pants, but it was too late. She felt the spell before she even realized one had been cast.

The spell hurt, but she didn't really think about it. She didn't think about anything really. It was a strange feeling to be knocked out of your consciousness without actually blacking out. She felt another spell hit her, but her mind was lost as it was. She just looked blankly up at the masked Death Eaters. How she hated them. She would have given anything to murder them all. They were the ones that had taken Parvati and Padma and Hermione. They were her friends some of her best and now they were all gone, maybe even dead. She didn't have time to worry about trying to get free from the spell though. The next thing she saw was her knees. She had been rolled into some kind of ball and she felt the rope around her body holding her tight. She couldn't move and her wand had dropped from her pants. Nothing could be done.

Lavender didn't know what was happening to her. All she felt was the icy cold water as her body hit. She sank just below the surface. She would have cried out if she could. She was slightly relieved when she felt something hard beneath her. She was close to the surface, maybe she could regain movement enough to break free and get some air. Her mind suddenly flashed to Camille. Lavender hoped she was okay. Maybe they hadn't hurt her at all. The thought was there for only a second before she realized that Camille was in Gryffindor and there was hardly a more hated house to the Death Eaters.

Lavender felt the used oxygen burning in her lungs. She still hadn't been able to break free from the bonds. She was starting to panic. How was she going to get out of this? Would she even survive? The lack of air was starting to make her dizzy and her vision was blurring. She couldn't break free. She had been wrapped into a helpless little ball. She could hardly move let alone free herself. She just hoped and prayed that someone would find her before it was too late.

[lissa]

Camille nodded listening to Lavender speak. Camille briefly imagined herself in Lavender's position. Her best friend gone? Camille thought of her friends as her family. They put her real one to utter and complete shame. How could she deal without them? Better question, how did Lavender? For a brief moment Camille found herself nearly praying that the same thing didn't happen to her until she realized how horrible it was even in her own head. But, it was so true. Camille couldn't imagine her life without some of her friends from her younger years. They made her the true Camille and not that brat her mother most defiantly wanted her to be. Camille let out a brief smile. "Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one." She said referring to the not being able to sleep thing. It was a pretty common thing for Camille especially when things weren't exactly peachy in her life. She was glad someone was near to talk to her. Someone that was going through much more than Camille could ever take on alone. Camille peered through the grounds. Everything was misty and serene. It seemed as nothing could penetrate the mist, but what did Camille know?

She held a smile listening to Lavender exclaim that she indeed was a seventh year and would be heading off to the ministry next year. Camille didn't even gasp when Lavender said Voldemort. He was something Camille wanted to fight for, just like Lavender. But, things were a bit different for Camille. She already had a mother her hated her for her passions in life. Was she supposed completely deny her as a mother and fight for what she believes in? Camille sincerely wanted to be that kind of person, and she would be. But, letting go of her mother, would be hard for her and none of Camille’s sarcasm could ever change that. “An auror? I know I want to work for the ministry and fight against evil, but I’m not sure if I’m going to be an auror.” She said calmly. “But, I think it’s the right thing for you. I mean, you sound sure of what you want to do. That must mean it’s what you believe in.” She said in a nearly serious tone while looking back across the lake and then at Lavender.

Camille turned as Lavender said something about seeing something in the distance. She squinted a bit. Camille could make out figures, people, but she couldn’t see who they were. She gasped as she realized they were coming right towards her. She now knew they were Death Eaters. There was no doubt in her mind that they were anything else. Camille saw Lavender reach for her wand and started to do to same, but there was no time. Camille felt the spell hit her, binding her completely. She felt herself slam into the ground. Camille could hear the Death Eaters above her. They weren’t feeling remorse from this, but of course, Camille didn’t expect them to either. She then heard one of them put some sort of curse on her. It was one Camille wasn’t familiar with. Her body was winding and moving and before she knew it, Camille was in an odd shape arrangement. She felt the pain soar through her. It pierced every inch of her and she could feel bones breaking thought there was no time to tell exactly which one. She could just feel it in her back and Camille went to let out a scream, but she had been silence. So, she laid there wailing and yet no sound coming out.

Camille still couldn’t move. She was completely binded and the pain hurt her. For a second she traced her memories back to Lavender hoping she was alright. Maybe they had spared her, but Camille doubted it. She felt the Death Eater move her and drop her in the lake. Camille felt the icy water on her bare skin yet she couldn’t do a thing about it. She tried moving but her attempts were futile. Camille just wanted to scream with all her might. That’s all she wanted to do, but she couldn’t. After moments of sinking into the water, Camille needed air. The oxygen was gone from her and she knew she could last longer, but how much longer? Camille’s mind then traced to what this all meant with the Death Eaters at the school, but that thought faded as she continued to struggle to become free.