It was a beautiful night, the full moon was high in the sky and soft snow covered the ground, looking like a fluffy blanket. The moon was reflected off the swirling ice that covered the Black Lake. The beauty was of the night was marred by a small body covered in blood by the Whomping Willow. It was there, that night, that I truly realized why I belonged in Gryffindor. It was there that my life changed completely.
I didn't even think twice before throwing myself in front of the passageway, blocking the werewolf that was itching to get out. Severus and James looked at me with wide eyes as the werewolf clawed and bit at my back, making me scream in anguish. The pain was almost unbearable and I knew that I would probably die. Knowing I was doomed anyway, I held on to the roots of the tree, still blocking the beast that had taken over the form of my friend.
"Go!" I shrieked, letting out a pained scream as my flesh was torn apart, "Go!" Severus looked with wide eyes before racing up to the castle and James quickly transformed into his stag form. Knowing my friends were safe, I collapsed to the ground with a whimper. My body shifted into a small wolf, my blood all too visible on the white fur. And then everything went black.
James and Sirius looked at the form of their fallen friend, their eyes filling with unshed tears. How could this have happened? they wondered. And, they both knew the answer. It wasn't the girl's fault. She was protecting her friends. So who was to blame? Sirius Black.
I looked down on the scene. My body lay by the front of the tree in wolf form. Blood stained the white-grey fur that covered my body. Watching as a black dog, Sirius, approached my body and whimpered; I glanced around at my surroundings.
"Am I dead?" I wondered aloud, listening as my words echoed in the seemingly endless expanse of storm clouds.
"Not yet," a warm voice replied and I turned to look a handsome man in soft white robes.
"You're Death?" my mouth fell open. I had expected something more like the Grimm Reaper, with the hooded cloak and scythe. "Why aren't you scary?" I cocked my head in confusion.
"Because death isn't meant to be the end, young one," Death answered, his bright blue eyes twinkling in a familiar way. "To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."
"Why am I here?" the words tumbled from my lips and Death let out a chuckle that sounded oddly like I'd heard it before.
Death motioned to the expanse of clouds and turned to me, "Walk with me." I glanced at the scene below me before nodding and following after him. I noticed that instead the jeans and black shirt I had been wearing when I was bitten, I was wearing the tank top and shorts that I always saved for storms. "Talia, what do you want?" Death asked, turning to face me as we walked, our footsteps eerily echoing in the vastness of wherever we were.
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Well, you gave your life away so carelessly--" Death started before I cut him off.
"Do you think I knew nothing of the consequences?" I questioned indignantly, "I knew what might happen. I knew I could get infected. I knew I could die."
"Why then?"
"Because," I smiled wistfully, tears filling my eyes, "they gave me a reason to be brave. They're my family." Memories I had shared with the four boys flashed through my head and I shook my head, the ghost of a smile playing across my lips as a tear dripped down my pale cheek.
"Do you know the power you possess, my dear?" Death inquired, walking forward as I froze for a second before jogging to catch up to him.
"What do you mean?"
"Your gift," Death replied simply, his white robes dragging across the clear floor as he walked. At my puzzled expression, he continued, "Stormwalking."
"Yes, I know about that," I snapped, "But's what that got to do with it? I'm dead, aren't I? No spell can awaken the dead."
"But, your gift can."
"That's not possible," I choked out, shaking my head to get rid of the hope that had risen from the pit of my stomach.
Death winked knowingly before a smile appeared on his lips. "But, it is," he grinned and part of me wanted to punch the all-knowing bastard in the face.
"How?" I breathed out, glancing at the figure before me.
"Did you know Stormwalkers are descended from a certain type of phoenix? A storm phoenix to be exact. They have the power to bring back the dead, but each is given a number. This number is how many people they can save, how many times they can bring back the dead," Death told me, watching as I raised my eyebrows at him.
"So, what's my number?"
"One, as far as I know," Death chuckled as if what he said was funny, while I shot him a glare.
"So, I can live?"
"Yes, if you want."
I made my decision. If I awoke I might become a monster, if I stayed I could be happy. If I stayed, I wouldn't see my friends for a long time. But, if I left, I would never get to enjoy the rest of my life. Closing my eyes, I told Death my decision. He laughed as if he knew what I would pick.
"Don't be afraid, Talia," Death said softly as darkness swallowed me.
YOU ARE READING
Hurricane Eyes {A Sirius Black Fanfiction}
Fanfiction"She lived with hurricane eyes and fell in love with the way the waves collapsed against her cheeks." Harry Potter was told there were only four Marauders. This was a lie. Perhaps, the fifth hadn't been mentioned to spare the pain of her memory. Yes...
