Fan Fiction ❯ The Weaver Telarius ❯ Enter Xorlempt ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

My next Defense class turned out to be just like the others, in that it was rather uneventful. Herbology was like Potions for dummies. Honestly, I'd never use anything in Potions that I hadn't researched. While the class did teach us some nuances about the care of plant life, it was nothing that I couldn't get from a book.

The next class, though, I was looking forward to, for three good reasons. First, I'd be able to see Riposte, since the school teachers had decided that I could only keep him here if he was under the care of Hagrid. Second was to see Rubius Hagrid himself, who was always pleasant to talk to. Third was that this class was with Gryffindor, meaning that I would get a chance to see Hermione again. I think I had a friend in her, so long as I watched myself.

As I strolled alone along the lawn, I couldn't help but hear a faint meowing, but not really a meow. I looked next to me to see a black form alongside of me. Riposte had grown a bit since last I saw him, but still quite in the kitten phase. I bent over and offered my arms, and he leaped up into them, at first allowing himself to be cradled and adored by me as I approached the giant mass known as Hagrid, and then moving up my arm to perch on my shoulder. Surprisingly heavy, but a beautiful creature. I exchanged brief smiles with Hagrid before he turned to address the rest of the students in attendance, many of whom had their eyes on me at the time.

"Today is yer first day of this year, and I've got a year-long project for each and every one of you," Hagrid paused, as there were some grumbles from many present, but they silenced as he held up one of his great mitts, "I guarentee you, you'll all enjoy this as a learning experience as well as a bonding experience. Now, I've dicussed this with all of the teachers, and they agreed to allow all of you to have these in class, since separating from them is not an option."

"Enough with the introduction, already! What are they?" a young boy's voice, which sounded quite similar to Draco's, spoke above the slight murmur and the whistling of birds.

Hagrid simply smiled, then gestured. "Come with me, lads and lasses, and find out."

I was second to jump to at this request, being beaten only by a young Gryffindor boy with messed up hair and glasses. I allowed myself a brief glance through my own, just to see if his were normal. They were.

Hagrid led the class to a field filled with eggs roughly the size of soccer balls, but with the oblong shape that eggs tended to have. Hermione was at my side in an instant, as soon as I stopped, and she whispered into my ear, which had remarkable effects. I'd never had it happen when I was a young boy, so it was an entirely new experience. At any rate, what she said was, "Those are Psyche eggs!"

I turned and arched an eyebrow at her. "Psyche eggs?" I whispered back, inquizitively, "It is possible to breed mental prowess?"

She seemed to take that as a joke, which was good, since I had no idea what I was talking about. "You know... they're a special breed of creature that only lives a year. They bond with a human being, and share thoughts and feelings and things of that nature."

I nodded. I still had no clue what she was talking about, but I would soon find out, as the eggs seemed about to hatch.

The students, including myself, formed a fairly rough semi-circle around the clutch of eggs, and, as the first egg cracked, there was a breath of suspense from someone in the crowd. I watched with a little bit of curiousity, and Riposte suddenly felt the need to nuzzle me. I nuzzled back, affectionately. He was so sweet.

The eggs began to hatch, and balls of different shapes and sizes emitted from them. They seemed to be composed of light, though I knew that to be impossible, since light cannot take such a definite form. Many different colours were present, such as white and purple, red and navy, silver, gold, copper, yellow (which caused me to revulse just slightly), pink (yet again), etc. Take a known colour, it was probably present that day. The students seemed to wander aimlessly through the field of light and, stupid as it seemed, I mimicked the action.

Draco was the first. I saw him approach a golden ball, and touch it gently with his right hand. It wrapped itself around his arm in bands of golden light, sparkling and wonderful. He smiled, for the first time I'd ever witnessed. It was a truly genuine smile. I saw him stare at it, intently, and soon it formed itself into a golden hawk which perched neatly on his left shoulder.

I wondered many things at that time, but had no time to consider them, as I found myself surrounded by bands of light. I had no time to notice the colour, as I was too busy with the prescence that was now inside of my very mind. It spoke to me in a voice not vocal, and I loved it immediately.

'Greetings, Telarius. I was wondering when you were going to come along.'

I was taken aback by that statement, but decided that a response would probably be necessary. 'Who are you? And, more importantly, what in the world is that supposed to mean?'

I knew it smiled, though it had no face in my mind, no shape at all. This bothered me, so I began to assign it attributes as it continued to echo it's music in my mind. 'I am Xorlempt, Psyche of Weavers. We occur so rarely that this tidbit is not common knowledge. We appreciate that, believe me, else everyone would chase eggs with our colour.'

Xorlempt. I had used the name twice before. Once was to refer to a demi-god who was sentenced to live forever as a servant to a priest in the form of a blade. The other time was for a dragon. I decided that I'd rather talk with a dragon than a sword. However, the practicality of talking to a real sized dragon comes into question. After all, I don't want my psychic neck to be hurting after every conversation. So, I stole a concept from a good series of books I had read once. Dragon in shape, but not in size. Miniature, cute, but effectively powerful and useful, when the time arrived. Soon, I had the image of a small dragon in my mind, and I smiled.

'Weavers, you say? If you don't mind me asking, what in the bloody drek is a Weaver? Isn't it a brand of fried chicken?'

'Then you do not know. Amusing.'

'I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.'

'Do I sense a hint of sarcasm?'

'Not at all. You sense a quart of sarcasm.'

'...' That seemed to make it pause, though I am uncertain as to why. Curious entity, this Xorlempt. 'You don't even know what a psyche is, do you?'

Changed the subject. Smart little thing, it was. Kinda like me, only cuter, and more dragony. 'Now that you mention it, no. I am... from out of town.'

The dragon within my mind nodded. This was interesting, but I wondered how much time was being wasted with this conversation. Would I return to viewing the physical plane with everyone staring at me intently? Or is this a dream because some schmuck hit me in the head and caused me to pass out? Everything was so surreal.

'You've been doing well by yourself, all things considered. You need to act more like a student, though. Certain individuals are becoming more and more suspicious.'

And intuitive, at that. I had a feeling that Xorlempt and myself were going to get along smashingly. 'What would you recommend?'

'Try out for the Quidditch team.'

'The what?'

'...right. You wouldn't know about that. I would explain it to you, but there are simpler ways of giving you the information.'

I felt like an entire book was just downloaded into my mind in an instant. I knew what Quidditch was, how it worked, and why it would be good for me to join the house team. 'How did you do that?'

'We are connected, and we share thoughts, memories, experiences, and knowledge. I simply gave you some of the knowledge that I have.'

'Knowledge? But you just recently hatched. How can you already have knowledge?'

And suddenly, I understood that as well. A Psyche usually lived for one year, and then formed into an egg once more, only to hatch a certain period of time later, with all the knowledge that it had before. This particular incarnation was incredibly old, and I also learned from Xorlempt that his particular breed of Psyche were but three in number.

Contact was broken as I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Hagrid's, and I turned to him with a look of annoyance, at first, until I noticed that his eyes were moist. "Always wanted a dragon meself, you know. It's a beauty. I've never seen a silver Psyche before. Well... not attached to a person, anyway."

I turned around and saw many of my classmates staring at me. I began to feel uncomfortable, wondering many things about their stares. Riposte was no longer on my shoulder, but on the ground, batting at a passing field mouse. Parry was in flight above me. And, on my now-raised forearm was a small, silver dragon. I couldn't help but feel pleased, as if I had friends which didn't care about any type of human politicking.

I motioned for Parry to move back to the Owlrey, and, as class broke, I walked with Hagrid to see where he was keeping Riposte. He mentioned that the panther kit was allowed to run free most of the time, but had to be kept in a sealed off area when other students were around. Fierce when I wasn't around. I shrugged at the thought.

Xorlempt, I learned as I walked, would take any form that I commanded of him, and would leave or be with me as I saw fit. It seemed that the challenge in taking care of these particular creatures was to be sure to treat them as a friend and not as a nuisance. In other words, I knew many people who would be failing this course.

And thus, I resolved to have him wrapped around my arm most of the time, underneath my robes, and thus concealed. He would be visible when he was in dragon form, only as a symbol of power or intruige or when I needed a friend and neither familiar was around.

After speaking briefly with Hagrid about nothing in particular, and then ventured off to classes with Lupin again.

The rest of the working school day consisted of a lot of Xorlempt in dragon form, since everyone seemed to be so fascinated by him. I didn't know what the big deal was, except that he was silver, and silver is a really neat colour. Eventually, the day died down and it was time for supper.

As I entered the Great Hall, chatting with Lupin all the while, I felt a sense of completion to my day. I had gone almost twenty-four hours without getting drastically hurt (well, yeah, there was that slapping thing, but what can you do?). I sat across from Cordelia, and we spoke like old high school acquaintences. A lot of dodging questions and whatnot. It was fun.

I heard a ringing noise, followed by a booming voice. "Hogwarts students, may I have your attention please," Dumbledore was addressing the school again. I was too hungry to care about what he had to say, at first, so I kinda blocked it out. I'll try to remember all that I can. "Blah blah blah, great responsibility, blah blah blah, good year for all, blah blah blah, Triwizard Tournament, blah blah blah, will be allowed to enter,"

At that last point, I heard several grumbles and groans, which caused my interest to pique, slightly. Well, that, and it had been several minutes and still no food in front of me. I was feeling the beginnings of irritability. "What's all the fuss about?" I asked Cordelia, one of the many grumblers.

"Weren't you paying attention?" she asked me in turn.

"No."

The straightforward answer caught her entirely off guard, and I snickered. She furrowed her brow at me in kind of a cutish sorta way, as if she was miffed at me for that but not really. "Dumbledore just said that people under the age of seventeen will not be allowed to participate in the Triwizard Tournament," she complained. Well, sort of complained.

"Makes sense to me," I said, as the logical portion of my brain kicked in, since the rest of it was simply chanting 'food food food' over and over again. "They have a larger amount of experience, and thus would be less prone to injuries, accidents, malformities, and all other kinds of fun."

She pouted at my statement. "How can you say that? Don't you want a shot at the glory?"

Before I responded, I thought about it. If I was going to be here another year, I would need money for school supplies. At this point, the Triwizard Tournament was the only way I could possibly get what I need. "Well, I suppose it would be kind of neat."

She nodded, sharply, and Dumbledore continued. After what seemed like an eternity, food was in front of me, and I practically leapt on the table. Just as I was about to seize a turkey leg, I once more entered the realm of my mind. I was quite annoyed at Xorlempt for doing this at this most inopportune time, but I exercised my manners and my penchant for supreme patience.

'What the hell do you want!? I'm trying to eat here!' I said, patiently and politely.

'That Triwizard Tournament sounds like fun! I think we should enter.'

'In case you didn't hear, it's limited to those older than seventeen.'

'But you're older than seventeen.'

'Yes, but...' and I was forced to pause, 'How did you know that?'

'Our minds are linked, remember?'

'Oh, right. But why should I take the position away from a potential Hogwarts champion when my only real goal is to get back home, marry my love, and have a good, long life?'

'First of all, there's no way you're gonna get out of this realm after only one year. Therefore, you will require money to continue your magickal studies toward that end. Secondly, you won't be taking the position away from a Hogwarts student.'

I blinked within my mind several times. It was an odd experience. 'How do you mean?'

'What school are you a student of?'

'Hog...' and then it dawned on me. 'Thank you for making me feel like a complete idiot.'

'Anytime.'

With a plan in mind, I snatched the turkey leg placed it upon my plate. I wondered, idly, if the Goblet of Fire would permit me to submit my name. It was true that I was qualified to participate, and that I needed the money. With Xorlempt's aid, I could quite possibly come out on top. If I was careful.

Dinner was finished with quite soon, for everyone seemed to be as ravenous as I. I was curious if they had worked half as hard as I had during the day. It was more than believable, for their minds had yet to mature, and thus the absorbation of infomation, while taken easier, was still exhausting to them. I mentally shrugged at the notion, and proceeded to walk out of the Great Hall after dinner. I was immediately confronted by both Cordelia and Hermione, and each seemed to want to take me with them to study first.

I had thought up a plan during the day, and decided to put it to action, to see what result I would obtain. "Ladies, I've a novel idea. What if we all just study together? Each of us has something unique to contribute, and thus we would each benefit from the others."

It was perfectly logical, I thought. The looks that were given to me caused an involuntary shiver to run down my spine. I suddenly knew that I had said something wrong. What that was, I didn't know, but I examined their expressions for a moment before speaking again. "Or not?"

They both nodded, and I ended up going with the original plan of walking to the library with Hermione first, then studying with Cordelia second, since we lived in the same house and could communicate more easily when the late hours of the night were upon us. Hermione and myself poured over tomes and discussed magical theories and applications like we were old colleagues at a university. It was quite agreeable.

At one point, Hermione changed the topic, abruptly. "What's your Psyche's name?" she asked, her inquisitive expression making her seem all the more adorable. I had no doubt that this was intentional on her part.

I gazed up from the book I was pouring over, and removed my spectacles, to keep the guise that they were for reading. From a certain point of view, that's exactly what they were for. I noticed that she had one of ruby colour, shaped into a bracelet on her left wrist, with runes inscribed about it. "Xorlempt. Why?"

She turned the book that she was reading to me, and I put my glasses back on. "That's why," she replied.

I read the page which she had presented for me:

Xorlempt is a legendary silver Psyche, and one of the six in existance. He binds to Spell Weavers: those gifted with the ability to create new spells and forge them into the magical pattern. He is known for his penchant for sarcasm, his extreme wits, his independance, his cynicism, and his ability to deceive. Clever can only begin to describe this Psyche when it reaches maturity. Xorlempt assists Spell Weavers in ideas for spells to create, and has a tendancy to lean towards spells of destruction. His last known symbiont was the late Weaver, Master Merlin.

I blinked several times at this new bit of information. Hermione was staring at me with interest and amazement. "You never told me that you were a Spell Weaver!" she gasped.

"I never knew myself," I replied. "Haven't figured out how to work it."

She nodded a bit, and seemed a little less intimidated by me at that moment. I didn't like that, for some reason. "Who are you?" she asked as she eyed me, suspiciously.

I merely smiled a bit. "I am Telarius Shade, and you have all I want you to know, for now, milady. I would also appreciate it if you would keep this new bit of information under your hat until I figure out what exactly it is that I'm supposed to do."

She agreed to that, and we went on with our studying and testing for another half-hour before she popped a question that made me pause in mid-sentence. "What do you think of me, Telarius?"

I hated that question the moment she started it. It was unfair to ask me such a thing. To be honest would be cruel, but helpful in the long run, and still had some positive traits to give her. To lie would be good for her low self-esteem, but keeping one's lies consistent can be difficult over time. I decided to take a moment to answer her question, choosing to reflect upon what I knew of her and what I saw in her.

She was possessed of a great mind, sound moral judgement, and a substaintial amount of courage. She was on the adorable side of cute, but did not use it to her advantage. She was always trying to prove herself when, by doing so, she earned the spite of others as opposed to their respect. I suddenly realized that she was a lot like I was when I was her age. That endeared her to me enough to make a positive statement and not be lying.

"I believe you to be of fine character and motivation. If you continue along the path which you've chosen, you will be quite great indeed. Never allow anyone to tell you otherwise," and I looked down to finish the sentence that I was reading.

That seemed to make her happy, and she gave me another peck on the cheek before we parted ways for our houses. That made me warm and tingly, and only a little uncomfortable. I walked into my house to find Cordelia waiting there for me, sitting in one of the larger, more comfortable chairs. "You're ten minutes late, Telarius."

I bowed. "My apologies, milady. Hermione and myself were caught up with what turned out to be a misprint in one text which contradicted the true printing in another." It was the honest truth, free from all forms of deception. I felt quite disappointed with myself.

She gave me a piercing glare which I did not understand, then leapt up from her chair and started towards me, eyeing something on my face. She tilted her head to the left, then touched my cheek with her index finger, asking, "What's that, then?"

I wondered what it could have been. While my mind traveled through all the possible diseases which could manifest facial abberations, I decided to ask the obvious. "What's what?"

"There is lipstick on your cheek!"

I remember blinking twice, in succession. "Lipstick?" I stalled while I tried to figure out where it could have come from.

"It's hers, isn't it?" her tone was accusatory and confrontational, but it was hiding something else. Hurt? I didn't understand.

"Hers..." and then it dawned on me. All of it. "Oh! Hermione's! Of course. Yes, she's taken to giving me little pecks on the cheek. I was rather curious as to why. But lipstick, you say? I don't recall her wearing any."

Cordelia folded her arms. "She must left that mark intentionally."

"Why would she do such a thing?"

She rolled her eyes as if the answer to that question was so painstakingly obvious that I'd have to be in a coma not to know it already. While she responded to my question, I checked myself for a pulse and signs of conciousness. I was okay, it seemed. "So that I would see it, of course."

I took a moment to ponder, then paced to her right, turning when I was ready to speak. "If I gauge what you're implying correctly, you believe that she left this mark here in order to show some sort of possession?"

She nodded, abruptly, and angrily. I sat down, now deep in thought. I looked up to Cordelia, and saw many things beautiful about the way that she was reacting.

What is that? Jealousy can't be beautiful? I beg to differ on that note. The source of jealousy is either an infatuation or a deep type of love, typically. Jealousy is a manifestation of that primal emotion which drives so many beings through their most difficult trials. In that singular moment of passion, Cordelia would have done anything to have me take her in my arms, tell her that I was hers, and that Hermione was nothing more than a friend. And I do mean anything. There are only a handful of other emotions which can incite such drive towards attaining impossible goals. Jealousy is something that, properly focused, can improve someone from whatever they were before. It can help them ascend to a higher level of being. Jealousy is beautiful. Period.

Now where was I? Ah, yes. I stood up, walked over to her, and wrapped my arms about her. "Worry not of it, Cordelia. I will begin to take steps tomorrow to ensure that you come out of this situation happy, in the grand end of things," I brushed some of her hair from my lips, as it had gotten stuck to them. Her hair had a poofy nature to it. "I would have started this much sooner, but I did not realize what was truly going on."

She nodded, and she was definitely crying. Sobbing a bit, even. I managed to calm her down with a few compliments and jokes, and eventually we got to some studying. We had to cut our session short so that we could allot for adequate sleep, but we still got quite a bit done.

Sleep did not come to me that night. I spent the entirety of the time tossing and turning whilst I thought of ways I could rectify the situation that I seemed to have gotten myself into. By morning, I had a plan to put into action. It wasn't pretty, but it did the job. I managed to drift off for an hour, but that only made me more tired for the following day.