The Voice of a Snake Maiden Solo Finished

Nico had gently knocked on the door, as she wore the hood of her robes. Her pet Pip, peeked from underneath her hair at the colossal ballroom.

'It's quite big, isn't it?' She smiled softly, closing the door behind her as she entered. The room was quite empty since their hadn't been any events here lately, but that was fine. Nico still loved the open space of this place. The naked walls, the cold floor,... It reminded her of a haunted house in a way. The high walls seemed to look down at her in an intimidating way. At other times she would've been scared but she's gotten brave.

Nico walked to the dusty, in sheets covered tables in the corner of the room. After the last party, the students had to clean up the place, by shoving them in there. She put down her bag and cloak, while Pip made his way down to her wrist. Fluffing up his fluff, he squeeked at her.

'Yes.' She chuckled. 'Yes, we'll have a dance together too.' Pip hadn't seen much of the castle yet. Not since she bought him at Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley. The Ballroom seemed like a nice start. Crowds would probably scare him. She took off her shoes and set them beside her bag. Her fluffy, striped socks kept her feet warm on the cold dancefloor.

She took in a deep breath and looked up. Her eyes glistened as she couldn't help but smile softly. In her element. Alone. With Pip ofcourse. Her feet tapped gently on the floor, lightly twirling on the tip of her feet. Her oversized black sweater gave her room to move and glide across the dancefloor.

Listen to this while reading

'...A young man walked through the forest.
With his quiver and hunting bow..'

Her voice sweetly echoed against the empty, naked walls as she skipped to the other side.

'..He heard a young girl singing
And followed the sound below..'

Her hands rose to her throat and extended down to the floor as she twirled elegantly.

'..There he found the maiden
Who lives in the willow...'

Reaching her hands up above her head, high up to the sky as high as she could. Imagining she was a tree of some sort.

'..He called to her as she listened
From a ring of toadstools red..'

With her toes she drew a circle around her, twirling.

"...Come with me, my maiden
Come from thy willow bed..."

She walked up to Pip, acting as if she were a prince, kneeling down infront of him.

'...She looked at him serenely
And only shook her head...'

Nico then put the back of her hand against her forhead, averting her gaze as she got up, shaking her head slowely.

'...See me now
A ray of light in the moondance
See me now
I cannot leave this place
Hear me now
A strain of song in the forest
Don't ask me
To follow where you lead...'

She stepped to the middle of the ballroom, resting her hands lightly on her chest. Singing to every corner of the room. Eventually stretching her arm towards Pip.

'...A young man walked through the forest
With a flower and coat of green
His love had hair like fire
Her eyes an emerald sheen...'

Sliding her fingers up her head, throwing her red hairlocks up. Performing something similar to a hairflip. 

'...She wrapped herself in beauty
So young and so serene
He stood there under the willow
And he gave her the yellow bloom...'

Slowely drawing what seemed a rainbow in the sky with her arms, she daintly stepped in a circle.

'...Girl, my heart you've captured
Oh, I would be your groom"
She said she'd wed him never
Not near, nor far, nor soon...'

Pressing one hand on her heart, she stepped back, turning away.

'..See me now
A ray of light in the moondance
See me now
I cannot leave this place
Hear me now
A strain of song in the forest
Don't ask me
To follow where you lead..'

She stepped to the middle of the ballroom, resting her hands lightly on her chest. Singing to every corner of the room. Eventually stretching her arm towards Pip.

'...A young man walked through the forest
With an axe sharp as a knife
I'll take the green-eyed fairy
And she shall be my wife
With her I'll raise my children
With her I'll live my life...'

Using her hand as if it were a knife, she cut out figures in the air swiftly. Slowely but vicious.

'...The maiden wept when she heard him
When he said he'd set her free
He took his axe and used it
To bring down her ancient tree
Now your willow's fallen
Now you belong to me...'

Her cuts became wilder, filled with anger. Nico steadily stopped and put her hand down before looking over her shoulder, menacingly. In that position, her eyes were covered by a dark shadow.

'..See me now
A ray of light in the moondance
See me now
I cannot leave this place
Hear me now
A strain of song in the forest
Don't ask me
To follow where you lead..'

She stepped to the middle of the ballroom, resting her hands lightly on her chest. Singing to every corner of the room. Eventually stretching her arm towards Pip.
Nico went silent. Standing still in the middle of the empty, big room. Tears rolled down her cheeks. The dark cloud appeared once more, sliding up her legs, up to her head, slowely seeping in. Instead of stopping her tears she let them come. Overcome with sadness. Pip carefully made his way to her. She forgot all about him...

'...She followed him out the forest
And collapsed upon the earth
Her feet had walked but a distance
From the green land of her birth

She faded into a flower
That would bloom for one bright eve
He could not take from the forest
What was never meant to leave...'

Reaching the last note, her hands on her chest, she started to sob. She couldn't help but think back about the Blossoms Ball. The feeling she felt back then when left completely abandoned. It was scary.

She squated down, hugging her knees as the sobbing worsened. In that empty room, she now only noticed how alone she was. The cloud whispering in her ear, that she wasn't liked by anyone.. They only pretend they do.. They're not your friends.. And that Ravenclaw boy? He HATES you... You got that? He despises you...You mean nothing to him..

She let out a weep, resting her hand in her hair, gripping it tightly. Was it true...? Was this all but an illusion? Was she really all by herself? Whimpering she tried to shake it off, shake away the thoughts. The cloud that echoed in her head.

'STOP IT!' She screamed. She had enough, felt like meek prey cornerd by something big. Breathing was easier all of a sudden and she laid down on her side, curling up. Weeping, sobbing,... Was that good though?

Pip rolled over to her and quickly buried his face in her cheek. 'Squeek! Squeek squeek!' He yelled at her in such a way, that he must've been comforting her. Telling her she shouldn't give in. That she knows better. That she shouldn't give up.

For a little while longer she stayed there, sniffling on the cold floor. Her Pygmy Puff rubbing her tears away. The darkness in her head faded a little, but a big part remained.

'Maybe..I should just.. go back to... my bed..' On her face was a blank stare, no smile, nothing. She had shut herself down to stop the echos.

With what little energy she had left, she pulled herself up. 'Let's go, Pip.' The fluffball hopped onto Nico's shoulder as soon as she was done getting her robes and shoes on. The Slytherin quietly retreated to her dorm, closing the door behind her.