Through The Veil

Chapter 6

Hidden dreams and a glimpse of the future

A morning light spread across the misty ground of Hogwarts and a breeze or two played with the green leaves that covered the brown branches which dressed the dreary forest at the edge of the grounds housing the ancient school. (lol, try saying that in a single breath)

Past stone floors, enchanted armors and painting covered walls; the Hospital Wing was placed, and within it lay a white haired seventeen year old that was in the deep throes of a nightmare that plagued his sleep since the night his hair lost its color and the day that his fake exterior was brought forth.

The sky was crying as one more of its souls departed, never to come back to its lush lands that once held so much life. The clouds roiled and coiled in grief as a boy no older than six stood before a gray headstone that read the last words of goodbye the humans had offered his departed guardian.

The ground soaked in water as a cold breeze swept the barren lands that only grew bodies beneath its surface. Silver blue eyes leaked tears as the last hope he had fleeted away and left nothing but a broken boy with no choice but to walk forth in a wasteland of pain.

The leafless braches of the tree that sat above him swayed as movement below it drifted the attention of the boy. A fat man with an impossibly large smile stood behind the headstone of his last link to this cold and bleached world.

The man offered sweet and empty promises that only a child or a person wracked with grief would accept, and unfortunately the boy was both… A yell was all that required, he said.

"Mana"

His sweet and innocent voice yelled and his voice cracked with desperate hope. Oh did he hope…

The fiery quill made its path along the steel skeleton's forehead, writing the yelled syllables. Condemning and cursing the rough voice resounded over his innocent ears, the words long forgotten as a pool of blood and pain threatened to numb his senses as well as his awareness.

Guilt as no other gripped him as his left eye was almost gouged out and his hair faded to white… And so his curse was born and the last vestiges of Mana's soul destroyed…

Suddenly his surroundings faded away to nothing and the only visible aspect was the black moon that floated above the empty whiteness. The loneliness seemed to fill every aspect of his body and drowned him more with every breath he took.

Everything was fading away to black when the voice spoke.

"This is our destiny as the Noah of Loneliness"

"The Noah of Music"

"The 14th"

The world was rapidly disappearing as the tears flitted from his closed eyelids. His tears were running down his white cheeks; his black tears… Oh so black.

My pale blue eyes snapped open as I attempted to level my frantic breathing and quell the need to shed the tears that had been cried inside the depressing dream. The hypnotic rhythm that sang inside my chest did nothing to calm the panic that threatened to overwhelm me, and the sheer whiteness only made it worse, reminding me of the last passage of my nightmare.

What the 14thvoice had said.

No matter how much I attempted to deny it, there was nothing to deny claim. I was not the 14th; I am the Noah of loneliness that had many years ago left the ideals the Earl followed, and so gaining the title of the Lost One.

As my gaze swept the nearly bleached room, small dots of color appeared. The maroon sweatshirt that lay over a small bedside chair that was probably reserved for visitors. The many colored vials that housed different looking substances. The bob of long yellow hair that rested next to my covered, and hopefully, clad legs.

As my mind processed the last, my gaze snapped back towards it. Surprise settled deep within my soul as I recognized the shade of yellow as the same carried by the girl he had potentially saved the night before- was it?- from the black clad man.

Memories seemed to snap into my mind of their own accord as the last images of the night before flitted across my mind, as if watching a macabre movie. As the last image settled, that being the butchered soul that was bound to a man with no right to live, my stomach begged for release.

Shame colored my eyes as the urge to vomit overcame me. How weak was I to not be able to stomach the cruelties of war? What kind of general was I? And as my breathing calmed once more and the urge disappeared, a plump and fierce looking woman came to my bedside.

"Feeling nauseous? It happens often after waking after several days of sleep. I can give you a potion for it if you'd like." Came the concerned voice that belonged to –what appeared to be-- the matron.

An automatic smile lifted the corners of my lips as I accepted what the woman offered, and as I chugged the potion her words sank in.

"Days?! I've been out for days?!" I yelled as panic settled deep inside my stomach. "Where are the rest of my companions? Are they all right?"

"There is nothing to worry about Mr. Walker they are all in good conditions and currently preparing for the End of Year Feast." A sigh of relief was all my response before my stomach decided to take control of the situation with a loud growl that reminded me of the fact that I hadn't eaten in a long time.

A sheepish smile covered my face as my left hand came up to scratch the back of my neck in a nervous action. The matron just smiled and informed me that I could change and get ready for the Feast as well, seeing as there was no reason for her to keep me here.

My attention drifted back towards the girl that slept next to me, and with a heavy heart and half hearted intentions I shook he shoulder to wake her. After a few more seconds the deep sapphire orbs opened and stared right into his pale blue gray ones.

The first real smile I remembered expressing after Mana's death stole my ability to think and as she returned the smile, my mind forgot all about the dark dream that had frozen me to the core. Snapping back to reality with a sigh, I searched for my missing garments.

I found my white shirt folded over the back of the chair in which the girl sat. Without having to ask for it, the girl reached for it and handed it to him, a small smile still present over her red lips. Once I had located all my clothes and I was properly dressed I stood on unsteady feet.

"My name is Allen Walker, which I guess you already found out…" I said uncertainly as I extended my hand waiting for her to place it in his hand, once she did so uncertain with his intentions, he lightly kissed her knuckles.

"Luna Lovegood" she replied, a small blush covering her pale cheeks.

"A pleasure." I responded.

"Well, I better go get ready for the Feast. I guess I'll see you soon…" she added as her hand slipped from mine, the regret I felt at the loss of contact surprised me. I just nodded, not trusting my words.

I watched as she turned and her long platinum hair danced across her back. Before long I came to realize that I should be heading towards the feast as well and not stand there and ponder the silver lining.

~:~:~:~:~:~

I have to say, without my advanced sense of smell I would have never been able to reach the grand, oak doors that now lay in front of me. Paying no mind to the fact that I was sure to be late, I pushed the doors open, intending to find a place in which to seat and eat as much food as was humanely possible.

The sight that greeted me was far more nerve-wracking than the time when Komui's zombie virus had spread across every person in the building. Shuddering at the mere thought of it, my gaze focused back on the present moment.

The complete silence that followed my entrance left me uncertain as to what to do. My gray gaze swept over the many faces that housed the dinner hall or Great Hall as it was named here. Emerald eyes here ginger hair there…

Finally the silence was broken by the old man that sat at the middle of the only horizontally placed table. As he stood his lime green robes danced around him and his blue eyes twinkled.

"Ah. It seemed General Walker has awoken from his indisposed state, at a good timing I must add." He said as smiled down at me. "If you would be so kind as to accept my invitation to seat by me, it would please me greatly." He added with a sweeping hand towards the empty seat in between Lavi and the Headmaster.

I smiled and nodded before making my way towards the table. The whispers and glances, I ignored. I was used to them by now, after all how many white haired boys did you know?

Once I reached the table and took my seat, the headmaster continued talking about owls and scores, which in my opinion made no sense at all. The absence of food on the table confused me, but I dared not mention anything in the dead quiet of the room.

"…And to address the fact that is sure to have all the students, but a chosen few, in a twist; the individuals that seat around the table at this time are what were once called Exorcists. Not in the biblical way mind you, even if they are related in some ways. Now to let them introduce themselves."

Lavi took his queue to address the crowds. "Bookman Jr. Lavi, equipment-type Exorcist. Synchronization rate 95%"

Next came Kanda with his rude manner, and the obvious aura that read 'I do not want to be here'. "Kanda Yuu, equipment-type Exorcist. Synchronization rate 93%. Say my name and you will taste the steel of my blade." He finished with a che and cold glare.

"Lenalee Lee, Crystal-Type Exorcist… Synchronization rate 97%" said Lenalee as she stood gracefully and a smile on her face. The last words she spoke hesitantly as if afraid of her synch rate. Lastly it was my turn and the nervous feeling crept into my being.

"Erm… I am General Allen Walker. Nice to meet you" I said with a slight smile, trying to delay the inevitable. Not even Lavi knew how far up my Synch rate had raised… "Um…Synchronization rate of… 130%" I finished quickly, as if ripping a band aid and dropped onto my seat. Next to me I heard Lavi's strangled gasp of surprise.

"What?!" came the yell that was sure to be expected from Kanda. "You- 130%- What…Che" he said as he dropped onto his chair and ignored the rest of the world.

The students, who had no idea what a synchronization rate was, were just as confused as ever. The headmaster seeing this decided to enlighten the rest of the population.

"For exorcists, the synchronization rate is something close to the percentage of power the person possesses. The highest recorded percentage recorded before now was 115%, belonging to Cross Marian" He said with a glint of amusement as the student body did what they do the best…Gossip.

I jumped a foot in the air at the mention of my master. Glancing over my shoulder in a paranoid way, I sighed in relief as nothing was visible but the gray, stone walls.

"Well, as I am sure hunger is present. It is time for the Feast to begin!" At his words the tables were flooded with foods of every imaginable type. It was safe to say I was in heaven…

Grabbing several plates that were close by I dug in, paying no mind to the disgusted looks that were given to me by the students as well as the professors. My enhanced hearing let me decipher the words that were spoken by two red haired twins, and as I heard a laugh escaped my lips.

"How many plates do you believe he can eat before he pukes? I'll bet you 20 galleons on 30 plates." Said the one on the left.

"20 that he eats less" said the one on the right.

Lavi, always the prankster couldn't resist placing a bet of his own. "40 Galleons that he eats more than 50 plates." He yelled across the room towards the two twins, who started and glanced towards the red head.

"You are on" they said at the same time.

"Now onto more formal conversation…" said Dumbledore from my left. I turned towards him, surprise clear in my face at the fact that he had been paying attention to our light banter. I nodded for him to continue.

"I would like to offer you a teaching post here, at Hogwarts; with your companions as assistants of course." The headmaster said, with a small smile at my shocked look.

"Um…Sure, but what would I be teaching?" I asked uncertainly.

"Why the Physical Defense Class of course!" he added as if it was obvious, I was certain my cheeks had turned pink by now.

"Um…Okay. But I was wondering, what does this school teach?" I added as an after though.

"Magic" Was all he said. I connected the dots and without fail, I realized he was speaking the truth.

"Oh" I said before I turned once more to my food.

I was past the 50 plate mark when I realized what the old mad had just said.

"What?!"

Not the best chappie, but I guess I can't complain lol. Thnx to those who reviewed and damn it… I forgot t add Timcampy once more -.-