Ruined Roots

Chapter Five.

It was a windy Tuesday morning.

The window was letting in an uncomfortable breeze that caused chills running down everyone's spine. It was whistly and whippy, and bothered the library dwellers.

Roxanna was keeping her head down, concentrating on her herbology write up and didn't realize the worrying hue of blue in the sky. The triangular window that peaked up at the arch of the ceiling was letting in an uncomfortable amount of light for it being nearly sunset in a Scottish September.

Roxanna was sitting diagonally from Hermione, she kept looking at the window and huffing, until finally she slammed her book shut in frustration and got her wand out.

She quietly casted and the window shut and the curtains drew slightly.

The candles around the library automatically lit up as the light lessened from the windows.

Roxanna noticed and peeled her eyes away from her homework. Raking her fingers through her thick hair she laid her head on the table and gazed out the slither of glass that wasn't covered by a thick curtain.

The sky was a violent drowning blue. Her brows dug into her eyes as she grew confused. Her head jolted up and she skipped to the window. Pushing back the curtain slightly, Roxanna's eyes were totally consumed by the blue. The color of her eyes began to seem change. Starting from the middle the blue plagued the rest of her eyes before she blinked.

She began to choke.

Her hand gripped the curtains and wheezed. The attention of those working around her snapped towards the scene happening.

Hermione ran.

"Merlin! Roxanna breathe!" She gripped onto Roxanna's grey jumper before loosening her tie for her.

From behind, Theodore pushed Hermione back and away from Roxanna.

"Back off Granger. She's fine" Theodore leaned into Roxanna's ear and whispered something.

"She clearly isn't. Get off her!" Hermione tried to grab Roxanna's arm but Theodore strayed her arm back.

Roxanna began to breathe again. What just happened.

"Fine. Just take her the infirmary if you are that bothered to not let me help her." Hermione walked back to her desk and didn't bother to come help again.

Roxanna stumbled back, pushing her hair back from her sweat glossed face.

"Something you will never believe even if I tried to explain. Anyways I didn't want to help. I just wanted to give you this back."

He threw a ring of metal at her and strode off without hesitation. Roxanna flapped her arms in annoyance.

"What the fuck."

She shook her head before picking up what he had flicked at her. It was a ring. It didn't look like one of hers. She wore gold jewelry all the time due to her Arab heritage. Never once she would think of buying a silver ring. Especially one with a emerald crystal positioned at the front.

She traced the ridged outer edge. It looked old, ancient even. She traced the inner edge and found something engraved. Squinting to read it she brought the ring closer to her eyes and examined.

'Dreamers'

"Huh.." Roxanna couldn't figure out if it was hers or not. She did feel like she wasn't wearing her usual jewelry today. Like something was missing. She shrugged and put the ring on. It fit perfectly around her middle finger and so naturally she didn't suspect that it wasn't hers.

Later that night, Roxanna was getting ready for bed and was brushing her hair while looking out the window. What happened to her, why did she choke like that. She made a note to go the infirmary so it wouldn't happen again.

Walking to the bed, she put the brush down and took off all her jewelry to go to sleep. When it came to the final piece, the silver ring, she couldn't take it off. Pulling and pulling, Roxanna groaned in frustration.

"Are you alright there Roxy?" Cho asked walking inside their room.

"No actually, can you help me with something?" She said gesturing to the stuck ring.

For about 20 minutes the tried to get it off. They ended up out of breath and annoyed.

"Never mind, never mind. It doesn't matter I'll just keep it on, it shouldn't bother me too much." Roxanna smiled and shrugged.

"Sorry about that Roxy, are you sure Theodore didn't curse it or no?" She asked a good question

"Ugh I really hope not. I mean surely not."

"You never know with those boys. They are full of tricks and secrets."

Cho casted the lights to shut and Roxanna was left to wonder if the ring was truly hexed.

She raised her hand rocked her hand slowly back and forth she can try and see if there is any magic looming around the ring in the dark.

No sign of magic was around the ring so Roxanna gave up and turned in her bed. She fell into a restless sleep. Full of dreams about endless hallways and dead ends. One of the dead ends had a swirling green snake waiting at the end.

Roxanna woke up in cold sweats, gasping.