Meeting Fabian
Chapter 13 of 20
Celestial MelodyRiana makes a friend and buys a pet.
ReviewedMeeting Fabian
As Riana waded back in the general direction of Gringotts, she felt herself becoming faintly resentful toward Mr. Ollivander. Why should he fear for her? Or did he fear her? Was that it?
That can't be it, Riana thought angrily. He's worried about me, or pitying me or something. He knows I'm from a Muggle family, and that's why he was looking at me like that ... with ... with those horrid eyes! She finished her internal rant peevishly.ly.
Deciding that it was easier to distance herself emotionally from others, Riana chose to feel nothing but animosity toward Mr. Ollivander, and thus prevented him from entering her thoughts for at least the remainder of that afternoon.
Extracting her crinkled, and now damp, supplies list from her pocket with difficulty, Riana's grey eyes raked the parchment, her quick mind deciding where she would venture next. She looked to her left and saw a group of wet, patchy people entering a second-hand robes shop. Her nose wrinkled in distaste, and she was immensely thankful for the wealth of money that her parents kept hidden away behind the picture. She stared at the soaked, though happy, group for a few moments until they had all disappeared into the shop. Swallowing hard, emotions that she could not identify flowed through her body. The rainy world looked even wetter as her slanted eyes misted over. She blinked furiously and quickly set off again, body stiff as a board, while trying to stall these unknown feelings.
The rain had begun to slow to a slight drizzle, and Riana found herself in front of the Magical Menagerie. She knew that she had to bring an animal to Hogwarts, and that it had to be a toad, a cat, or an owl.
Riana had never liked animals. Dogs were horrid, anxious things and birds were noisy. Cats are quiet; they're fine. I suppose if I have to get an animal it might as well be a cat.
Deciding thus, she furrowed her brow in distaste and made her way through the thick, roiling mud to the animal shop, still thinking about animals.
Snakes are the best, though. Why can't I bring a snake? Her petulant face crumpled as she neared the door of the shop; it smelled horrendous ... even out here!
I certainly don't want an owl, nasty little creatures ... they molt, they smell. Riana continued naming the negative attributes of the unfortunate animals blandly and meticulously as she opened the thin, wood-paneled door while a cheerful gold bell tinkled overhead. And, of course, a frog is out of the question. Fat, ugly monsters. Her eyes were desperate as she glanced around the chaotic store. Why, oh why, can't we bring snakes?
Riana shook out her umbrella and propped it beside the door as she had done in Ollivander's. Looking around at the cages covering the walls, Riana found she was very glad that she had already decided against an owl, although she really didn't have any reason before coming into the animal shop to harbor prejudice against those majestic, though messy, flying fowl. Each of the birdcages were crammed full of hooting owls, beating their wings and scattering birdseed, jumbled together with rat skeletons, all over the floor. Riana sniffed, turned up her nose and turned to gaze in fascination at a murky fishbowl housing a glistening water snake when a reedy witch wearing thick black spectacles sidled up and tapped her on the shoulder.
The woman smiled perfunctorily and said, "Welcome to Magical Menagerie. Are you attending Hogwarts this year?" At Riana's confirmatory nod, the witch allowed herself another quick grin as she beckoned Riana to follow her throughout the shop. "Good, good. Now what sort of animal did you want? If I'm not mistaken, you have the choice of an owl, a toad, or a cat, correct?"
Riana took a breath and raised an eyebrow rather huffily; this woman wasn't letting her get a word in edgewise.
"Yes, but I don't want an owl. Rather messy, don't you think?" Here she gestured disdainfully toward the wall-length of birdcages and did not notice the affronted look on the witch's sharp face. "And since they won't let us have a snake, which is what I wanted in the first place, I'll take a cat, I think." She nodded affirmatively and bounced up on her toes, thin hands clasped together in front of her, holding her money bag.
The witch also nodded and waved her hand toward the other side of the shop. "Help yourself," she said bluntly, "they're all over there." So saying, the witch walked stiffly away and retreated to her back room, where, Riana assumed, she kept feeding and (hopefully) cleaning supplies.
Riana walked to the other side of the shop, careful not to trip over any birdcages. She stepped gingerly over the droppings and rat skeletons on the floor, and was so busy watching her feet that she nearly stumbled over a large, square, wire cage filled with rambunctious, mewing kittens. Her usually cold heart got the better of her: A sigh escaped her lips, and she crouched down, hunching her slight body over itself as she reached her finger through the bars and stroked the fuzzy back of one of the sleeping kittens. She found herself cooing softly to the sleeping kitten, "Aw, you're just a sweet little darling. Oh yes you are, oh yes you are."
The kitten opened its pink mouth in a yawn, and Riana discovered that she was smiling. She quickly pulled her hand out of the cage and stood up, ashamed to have let this relatively newfound fondness for cats rule her emotions.
Glancing up at the shelves in front of her, she saw that on each, more wire cages containing full grown tabbies, Persians, and tomcats were crammed together. The cats, for the most part, were asleep, and Riana didn't notice any particular one that she wanted to own until her slanted grey eyes came to rest upon a dusty, cage-less space on the pine shelf. There, snoozing peacefully, his yellow eyes half-open slits, was a tawny tomcat with slightly matted fur, long tufted ears with brown fur sticking out of them in all directions, and chocolaty brown paws.
"Oh," Riana breathed, delicately inching closer to the cat. She reached forward, her petite, trembling hand outstretched, and let the now awake tomcat sniff it before she touched her long fingers to his scruffy head.
The tomcat opened his yellow eyes still wider and arched his back, standing up on the shelf. Riana reached her bony hands up and grasped the cat around his middle, she heaved, her back cracking with the extra weight as she hoisted him into her arms. Her heart beat wildly as she grasped the cat to her chest, and she sank to her knees, clutching the animal. This is the one, she thought,you are the one.
Almost smiling, Riana began to stroke the tomcat, the droppings on the floor forgotten as she petted the matted, tawny fur.
Suddenly, however, the tomcat leapt from her arms and walked a few paces away in the direction of the screeching cages of owls. Shaking himself from scruffy head to long tail and spraying tiny water droplets over nearby caged occupants, the tawny cat turned to face Riana. She stared at him, her thin grey eyes questioning. Both of her hands lay limp in her lap and, so great was her interest in the cat's odd behavior, she didn't notice the tawny hairs that covered her black corduroy trousers.
The cat's mouth turned up in a smile. Cats can't smile, Riana's rational brain yelled.
Then why do snakes talk? the little voice whispered in Riana's mind.
This time, she didn't bother to hush it. Yes, she thought absently, squinting closely at the muscular cat. Why do snakes talk?
Meanwhile, however, the tomcat yawned, his pointed fangs were brilliantly white and gleaming fiercely. Riana blinked once, only once, and there, in the place where the tomcat had formerly been, stood a petite, tanned boy, his dark hair mussed and matted. The boy grinned, self-satisfied, at her. His teeth were slightly pointed, just like the cat's own fangs, and he winked insolently. The moment he winked, Riana saw his eyes ... they were bright yellow and the pupils were vertical black slits.
She stared up from her seat on the dirty floor, mouth hanging open in abject astonishment.
The boy rolled his yellow eyes, sighed, and walked toward Riana. He stuck out a callused hand, slightly shiny with a rainy sheen on it, and nodded. "Hi. My name's Fabian, it's nice to meet ya. Ya'd be the girl from room number eight? I'm right, ain't I? Ya have a nice touch," he added, looking slightly impious as he winked again with that bizarre yellow eye. When Riana didn't shake his hand, he glanced down at it confusedly as if to check that there was nothing vile on it. There wasn't and he lazily cocked a rather cheeky eyebrow, and offered it to Riana once more.
She somehow found her voice and squeaked, "Charmed. Yes, I'm Riana, room eight, and..." she meant to say who are you, but what came out was, "what are you?"
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Latest 25 Reviews for Serpent in the Moonlight
33 Reviews | 7.45/10 Average
It was all incredibly well-written. So does Riana get help to deal with her anorexia? Did you adopt the plot in another more well-read FF because we readers here aren't doing your authoring justice in reviewing? I think it's just that the traffic isn't high, but it will come! Is the completed FF posted in another HP portal?
Love your pace. And the OCs. Too bad I wouldn't have come across this story if not for the random FF spinner.
I have been reading your story avidly since the beginning. Good work, though I wish the girl would eat!
Wow ... a much longer chapter! I have about thirty seconds to review, so I'll just say that that was great, and I can't wait till they get to Hogwarts. I'm glad Fabian will be looking out for her!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Oh, I know ... it was very long. I'm not too fond of it, actually, so I'm going to rewrite it and then resubmit it. I'm glad you enjoyed it though. Your reviews, as always, truly encourage me! :-)I, too, cannot WAIT until they get to Hogwarts ... it's been too long. :-PThanks again!~Julia~
Ooh ... what an unusual idea! I'm looking forward to finding out exactly what happened in that chapter. Does Leanne know that Riana is at the Leaky Cauldron now?I thoroughly enjoyed your writing in that chapter, particularly this : "Carefully ignoring the prone figure frozen on the bed, Riana’s evading gaze hurriedly glanced at the floor where the broken glass from the photograph mixed with the fibers of pink carpet, creating a sparkling mélange of color as it was touched by the pinpricks of moonlight from the room’s open windows."Really lovely. Well done! :)
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thanks for your complimentary review, :). I'm so pleased that you are still enjoying the story.
I'm so glad, too, that you liked the idea for this chapter--it has been the one that most people have complaints against. Some feel it's too vague, others don't understand the point. However, rest assured that there is, indeed, significance in that blue book with the bronze writing. Hee!
I believe that the way in which I wrote it explains why most people find a hard time enjoying it, :-S. This chapter was very similar to my one-shot, "The Ultimate Trust" in that it was very image-oriented and had less of a storyline. Most people don't like that. But I'm thrilled that you tapped into that. Kudos to you for being observant! :P
And about Leanne, yes, she knows that Riana is alive, anyway. But she doesn't know--and I believe I can tell you this without ruining anything--that Riana is at the Leaky Cauldron. There are other things, though, that she does know...Hee! But I won't say what they are.
My utmost thanks, again, for your endlessly wonderful reviews. They truly encourage me. :)
~Julia~
how strange...very interesting...
more. :)
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thanks for R&R-ing. I hope you enjoyed it. :) More should be around soon... but no rushing, eh? We want the next chapter to be good, too. :P Hee!
~Julia~
Response from togspled (Reviewer)
i want to say rush, but i know you're right. take it slow. make it good. (as i know you will.)thank u!
Really nice chapter. I love the way Fabian is having a positive effect on her ... he's good for her.Your writing is getting more and more fluid ... keep it up!And ... can't wait to find out who her parents are! More ... and SOON!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thank you, as always, for your lovely comments. This was one of my more ... eloquent chapters, I suppose you could say, hee! Just kidding... but, really, I'm grateful to you for your kind words.
I, too, am glad that Riana now has Fabian. He's not perfect, but I love him to death. :)
And... I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit longer to truly know who Riana's parents are. *pulls face* There are aspects of her history that I wouldn't want an eleven-year-old to know. So, years must pass until she finds out the Truth. *giggles and points at the capital T*
Anyway, thanks so much for your comment and I'm going to go and read/review the newest chapter in "Where My Future Lies." :)
~Julia~
Response from little beloved (Reviewer)
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Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
swoons and faints*. YEARS??? We have to wait for YEARS until we find out the Truth (capital T!)???Cruel! Intriguing, though! :) Gosh ... and I thought I was cruel for stringing things along!Gotta go read your new chappie now!BTW: I was slightly incorrect about the inventor of the entrail-expelling curse. It was Urquhart Rackharrow, chapter 22 of OotP.
riana and fabian are so cute together! this mystery about her parents is fascinating. (and i can't wait to see what fabian thinks is 'real fun')
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thank you so much for your review. :) I'm so glad that you are enjoying Riana and Fabian's time together.
The mystery, yes... that will all be revealed in good time. I'm so glad you're intrigued; your enthusiasm truly encourages me.
Fabian... well, not this next chapter, but the one after that... that will show a bit of Fabian's definition of 'real' fun. :P Not all... but then, Riana's not a werecat either. Thus, she wouldn't be able to accompany him on his nighttime jaunts, more's the pity. :(
Thank you again, though, for your lovely review. I love getting them.
~Julia~
Wonderful! Well written, as always, and Padma Patil is a most welcome addition!There is only one thing I would like to point out, and it is not something you could be exptected to know if you haven't been to Britain. I live in Ireland, lived in England for two years, and make many trips to London/Scotland. Biscuits with gravy (especially the white kind) are an entirely American phenomenon, and would never be found in any pubs/restaurants/diners in Europe. They simply don't exist here. Gravy here is runny and brown, made from meat stock, and biscuits here are what you refer to as cookies.I went to the U.S for the first time in January, and came across 'biscuits with gravy' ... and was very puzzled indeed! There are so many differences between our cultures and U.K/U.S English ... it's quite mind-boggling!Okay ... rambling finished now! Anyway, as I said, I thoroughly enjoyed that chapter, and look forward to the next! Well done! :)
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thank you for your lovely comments and also for your con. crit. Those comments really help me, I wish I could get more of them, hee! But I will change it right away!
I had no idea that "biscuits" weren't available with (American) gravy. *gasp* It seems to be a main staple on restaurant/cafe' menus here in America.
Again, thank you ever so much for R&R-ing as well as for the correction. :)
~Julia~
Response from little beloved (Reviewer)
You're very welcome! If I had to write a fic set in the U.S, I would be completely lost as regards many things, such as food.I see so many Americanisms creeping into HP fics. A very common one is 'pinkie' ... a word never used here. We simply call it a 'little finger'.Having said that, my beta (who is American) is forever finding Irishisms in my work. Even between England and Ireland there are so many differences in phrases and sayings.Can't what for chapter 12!
Response from little beloved (Reviewer)
Can't what for chapter 12!!!???Can't wait for chapter 12, obviously! ;)
i love your descriptions of the books! ~~Or so she thought…~~ that has me interested indeed...
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thanks very much,
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
! :) It really encourages me that you like the story and find it intriguing. I enjoyed writing the descriptions of the books very much.
And you shall see ... what "~~Or so she thought...~~" meant. Oh, yes ... you shall certainly see. :)
~Julia~
Well done, well written and you obviously have done your homework with all those books ... lots from Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them etc ... I'm looking forward to her meeting students and getting some dialogue going!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Why thank you, :). Yes, if there's one thing I can do ... it's my homework. *grimaces slightly* Although homework for HP is much better than homework for ... anything else. :)
There will be plenty of dialogue in the following chapters, however there is so much background to cover that the first chapters are rather limited in dialogue. Never fear! There are great things to come.
Thanks so much for R&R-ing.
~Julia~
great intro to diagon alley!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thank you very much. I love writing about Gringotts because it is such an amazing place! Me and my "dusty balustrades," *sigh*
Hee! Thanks again for R&R-ing.
~Julia~
Another good chapter :) Am getting imaptient for her to meet some witches/wizards now, though!Keep up the good work!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thank you for your review. I assume you've just started reading the story? :)
And there will soon be contact with witches and wizards, hee! :) Chapter after next, I believe...
Again, thanks so much for your review--it was very encouraging!
~Julia~
riana's anorexia seems to be getting worse, poor girl. it'll be interesting to see how that affects her at Hogwarts.
I never would have thought old Tom could make a smoothie! haha...
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Well, thank you, :). Personally, that wasn't my favorite chappie, however, I'm glad that you are still sensing Riana's conflict.
Tom is very talented, hee! The only problem is that he doesn't want anybody to see that, *shiftily looks left and right*
Thank you so much for R&Ring.
~Julia~
This is such an interesting story. I'm so glad to have discovered it! Looking forward to your next update!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thank you so much! :) I'm thrilled that you are enjoying the story. I didn't want it to be run-of-the-mill, which has caused a smidge of trouble when getting it validated on other sites! Hee! (Something about 'delicate issues...') :P
However, I'm very glad that you have found my story and the next chapter is in queue, so it should be up soon.
~Julia~
What a very different and interesting story! I'm so glad you reviewed mine, or I might not have discovered this!Well written and intriguing ... reading on now!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Oh, thank you so much! I'm so glad I reviewed yours, too, or I might not have ever found it! (That's slightly confusing, but you get the picture, hee!)
Thank you, again, for your kind comments.
~Julia~
Nice start, i like it, please continue soon!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thank you very much for your review! It encourages me ever so much that you like my story! :)
The next chapter is in queue, so it should be up soon.
~Julia~
And ... I'm so looking forward to her upcoming journey to Hogwarts!!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Oh, thank you very much! I'm sorry that it was such a short chapter, but I'm very glad that you enjoyed it! :)
~Julia~
Response from notsosaintly (Reviewer)
Short chapters are nice ... and sometimes they are essential. As in this case; it was a pivotal point. Now, I'm really looking forward to the next chapter!
omg...parseltongue. riana is a very complex character! (and definitely a true slytherin?) great job
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thank you very much! I'm so glad you find her interesting. The last thing in the world that I wanted to do was create a "Mary Sue." :) Considering, however, that she's her own person, that wasn't too difficult at all! Thanks for R & R - ing ... I really appreciate it!
~Julia~
Yes, Riana will definitely be sorted into Slytherin. You captured Leanne's feelings very well. Being a mom myself I could feel her desperation. You really have a way of capturing feelings in your writing. I am enjoying this story and looking forward to more!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Hehe, how'd you guess? I'm kidding... yes, I did want her to be in Slytherin. We always hear such bad things about the Slytherins and I wanted to look at the whole "magic" situation from a 'Snake's' position. :)
Thank you very much for your kind review!
~Julia~
Yes, I should be assigned detention with Professor Snape for not reviewing until now. You really have created suspense with this chapter. I loved the detail, her search for the key. It reminded me of similar personal pursuits. But the end, with her mom coming into the kitchen and her trying to look normal, like she wasn't up to anything... well, I could feel my heart thumping in my chest as if I were a teenager again and was definitely up to something. Well done!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Wow. What great praise! :) Thanks very much for your kindness. I'm glad you're enjoying the story. And it's fine that you haven't reviewed 'till now... you've read them, at least. :)
Again, thanks very, very much!
~Julia~
oh i just love it when u post another chapter!
the story is coming along so very nicely. keep it up!
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thanks very much for R&R-ing. *smiles*
I'm so glad you like the story. :) Also, Riana will soon get to Hogwarts, just stick with her, please. The story is taking its own precious time, but I think it will turn out all right ... at least I hope so, hee! :)
~Julia~
Ooooh! Urquhart! Wasn't he that entrail-expelling curse chappie?And yay! His Mum's Irish. Gosh, it looks like this is going to be a seriously long story! Any idea how many chapters?Enjoying ... as always! 
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Hmm.. not sure about the "entrail-expelling" but he was the captain of Slytherin Quidditch team at one point. :)
I love Favel (plus her name is so fun!) She was a pleasure to write, even though she is a very minor character ... at this point. Hee!
About the length, hmm, well... I really don't know how long it's going to be. *laughs uneasily* I was going to try and make it 30 chapters, however, the length of some of the chapters is so short. I simply ended where I felt a cliffhanger would do well. They just happened. I'm sure you know what I mean. :)
Now, though, I'm thinking that I may do volumes of Riana's life. You know, Serpent in the Moonlight: Volume One. This one details her first year. Serpent in the Moonlight: Volume Two... and so on and so forth. A bit like the HP books, but not. There's just so much information about her that I want to share and she can't discover everything in her first year ... that much knowledge would kill her, poor thing. :( Honestly, I have some ghastly stuff planned for her in the future. I'm so mean. Hee! *snickers evilly*
Anyway, that was a really long post. *sigh* I should have just said "Thank You," except that I love getting your reviews and your feedback. Talking to much again... must go. Thanks so much!
~Julia~
so there's still pureblood-mania so long after the HP events? that's intriguing. i'm eager to learn the missing history there. fabian's character is getting more and more complex...
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Oh, as long as there are purebloods, there will be pureblood mania. :) I'm glad you are intrigued by Fabian's character ... the last thing in the world I wanted to do was make him "flat." *cough Ron & Hermione cough cough* Hee! Just kidding... only in canon, not in fanon. :D
I love getting your reviews! :) Thanks so very, very much.
~Julia~
great byplay between riana and fabian. he seems like he'll be good for her with his friendly nature and everything. if only he could convince her to eat a licorice wand...
Response from Celestial Melody (Author of Serpent in the Moonlight)
Thank you so much for your lovely compliments. I do plan to continue Fabian as a foil to Riana ... if only he could get her to eat that Licorice Wand, hee! :)
~Julia~