I'm so sorry for the wait; I promised myself that I'd post this a week ago! I'm so sorry, I've had a lot of homework, and I've got my mock SATs in a week! (Screams in a high pitched, girly/Umbridge voice) I know it's not really that much of a big deal but I get nervous about things like that…
I've got fed up of posting that list of who's reviewed in the past so I'll keep note of who's reviewed the most (for the comp.) but I'll just list here who reviewed between the last post and the present one (and who's added the story to alert etc.). Thanks to these wonderful people for:
Reviewing!
-Fuoco Baisse
-Harry potter mad -His hair
-Glenda
-Bailkatanas
-Ancient Fox
-Phantombrick (thanks for all you're reviews; you really want to win, don't you?)
ANNNNNNNNND whitewolves11
STORY ALERTING (if that is a word…)
-Fuoco Baisse
-Mrs. R
-Ancient Fox
-phantombrick
- c3markh
-Wolfe3
ANNNNNNNNNNNNND Lonelyloner (wicked name)
STORY FAVOURTING (another questionable word...)
-Sophia Suou
-Harry potter mad -His hair
-Mrs. R
-Ancient Fox
ANNNNNNNNNNNNND phantombrick
AUTHOR ALERTING (?)
-Ancient Fox
ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND phantombrick
AUTHOR FAVOURTING
- Sophia Suou
- nixglen
- Mrs. R
ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND Ancient Fox
THANK YOU!
Everyone say a BIG thanks to COWABUNGA and NO.1DRACOLOVER!!
(Who, without them, this story would be under a whole new language CX!) (the spelling, puting it lightly, would be baaaad and everything would be twice as confusing)
THANKS GUYS!
Heirs
Chapter 10
After Hogsmeade Branwen had ignored everyone, she went straight to her dorm, head up, and eyes not making contact with the inquiring, sometimes glaring, faces of her peers. She settled on her bed, homework finished, and used the free time to master at least one of her forms.
Branwen closed her eyes, willing her body to fall into absolute relaxation. Her stony face softened, her shoulders fell and a small smile of bliss settled across her face as she gracefully began the decent into her mind.
The Ravenclaw's long black hair fluttered around her face in a seemingly non-existent breeze, she breathed in the salty sea air and raised her head to locate her eagle friend. Well, she always seemed to be around whenever she visited her mind. She waited for the musical cry, it did not come, she waiting for the swoop of elegance, it did not come, she waited for her eagle, the representation of herself in animal form but it did not come.
"Where are you?" she muttered, beginning to panic.
Branwen heard a sigh behind her and whipped around to find Hogwarts, back in blond form, looking mournfully at her.
"She's not coming…" she whispered.
Hogwarts took another sigh, and sat on the ground, bringing her legs to her chest and wrapping her arms around her knees.
"You've lost your eagle form…" she stated softly.
"What!" Branwen whispered. "HOW?"
"When a terrible thing happens to a person, something that shocks and hurts them deeply they are changed. The eagle is a representation of yourself. Eagles are solitary creatures, they live alone. You have needed your friends more and more recently, after the death of Jessica and your form has begun to weaken. Today you needed your friends more than ever, to support you when everyone else turns on you. Your friends didn't stay with you, but abandoned you and so you have lost your trust in them. You have another form, do not fear, this just sets you back a bit, you need to find your form and master it. I have a funny feeling you'll like this form though. Good luck!" and Hogwarts disappeared into nothingness.
Branwen sighed; tears were, once again, coming to her eyes. She couldn't believe how utterly stupid she was being, it was just a stupid eagle… ha, a stupid eagle! It was a part of her really, well; it was her, just in bird-thing form. She mentally shock herself, no use crying over spilt potion, she was stupid and relied on her friends, they had let her down. Fine, she'd get on with life, find her form and master it… this would be easy…
…some hour's later…
"Hogwarts! Hogwarts! Come on you big fat castle! I GIVE UP! This is stupid!" Branwen screamed.
The Ravenclaw glanced around before sighing, she wandered to the edge of the cliff and slumped down against a rock, her legs dangled towards the stormy sea.
She relaxed and let her eyes wander to the violent sea below. Those blue eyes then widened. Right below her and a little out to sea there was an island, it was pretty big with grass and trees covering it, the perfect habitat for an animal, any animal! She stared in amazement, how was it that she hadn't spotted it before! That was when she saw it, wandering through the trees, the most beautiful creature in the world, a unicorn…
Brock slumped down on the log in the centre of his forest; he gently patted the badger that was nuzzling his hand.
"How on earth am I going to become you?" He asked it. He thought back to the book that Hogwarts had given them; it told the Heirs all they needed to know about their transformation. But, you see, it wasn't a very helpful book, it gave them complicated hints and made them work most things out for themselves, that wasn't what a group of teenagers wanted in a book, it was meant to tell them what to do!
You are the animal; the animal is you it had said.
"I am the animal," Brock muttered, he glanced down at the badger which was now currently marking its territory…with dung. He raised his eyebrows and snorted:
"I am the animal, yeah, riiight"
"Merlin this generation is dense!" Hogwarts muttered, appearing next to Brock.
"Thanks," he muttered back. He turned to her. "How do I transform Hogwarts? I don't get it!"
"You are the animal!" Hogwarts said.
"Hogwarts," Brock sighed. 'I have never, in my history, marked my territory with my CRAP!"
"Really?" she smirked at his glare. "Okay, sorry. Well, what I mean is that, um, well, if Zoe were to go out with anyone you didn't approve of, what would you do?"
Brock thought for a moment.
"I'd tell him to leave my little sister alone," Brock growled.
"Exactly, you'd warn him to leave her alone, what do you think the badger is doing?"
"Erm?.."
"Oh, for Merlin's sake, it's warning intruders who the territory belongs to! Thank Merlin that you're not in Ravenclaw, or I'd be worried!"
"You like saying Merlin, don't you…"
"Shut up!"
"I am the animal, I am the animal. So, what you're saying is that we have the same characteristic, even if we don't, erm, show them in the same way? Right?"
"FINALLY!"
After a bit of concentration there was a loud 'POP' and Brock was a Badger!
"Just keep practicing and eventually it'll become more smooth, rather than the pop. BYE!" Hogwarts giggled.
It was several minutes before Brock worked out how to change back…
"I hate History of Magic" Harry sighed. Bins had been droning for ages! Anything HAD to be better than this! He glanced to his friends, Ron was looking at him suspiciously, he'd been trying to work out where had went on Monday's (meeting with the Heirs) for ages; he now believed that Harry had a girlfriend and was just trying to work who it was.
"Hannah Abbot!" Ron yelled.
The sleepy class whirled around, Hannah Abbot included.
"What?" She said, surprised.
"Nothing" Ron said, steadily going redder.
Harry sniggered.
Everyone gradually turned back to Bins, who hadn't even noticed the disruption.
"It's her, isn't it!?" Ron hissed at Harry when all attention was off of him.
"What? No, of course not!" Harry nearly laughed, Hannah was nice, but he wouldn't go out with her!
"Who is it then? I've said everyone!"
"I haven't got a girlfriend!"
"A boyfriend?"
"No. Look, Ron, I tell you later, I swear."
"Fi- what the bloody hell was that?!"
Another loud explosion shook the very foundations of the school. Everyone looked the direction of the bangs; Hogsmeade, when Professor Dumbledore's voice could be heard, echoing around the many corridors.
"All students are to return to their common rooms at immediately, I repeat, all students are to return to their common rooms at immediately and all Professor's to the staff room."
"What do you reckon's going on?" Ron muttered in Harry's ear as they went up the marble staircase.
"Dunno."
"Your scar alright?"
"Yea- ah," Harry gripped his forehead in agony, that familiar fire-like pain burning its way across his famed lightning-bolt scar. He fell to his knees, clawing at his forehead and fellow Gryffindors backed away, startled.
"Hogsmeade, Voldemort," Harry finally gasped, then vomited, still on his knees. Several people yelped and backed away further.
Ron and Hermione had fought their way through the crowding Gryffindors. They knelt beside their friend and began to shake him.
"Come on Harry, mate, wake up!"
"Harry! Harry! Wake up!"
"What's all the fuss here? Come on, move on, Professor Dumbledore said back to the common room!" barked Delilah Edwards, the head girl, also in Gryffindor.
"It's Potter," someone yelled. "He's having a fit!" Several girls screamed and more shoving.
"Get back to the common room now or I'll have you all in detention!" The space began to clear. Eventually only Gryffindor sixth year's and some fifth years were left. Ron and Hermione continued to shake Harry, Hermione was crying.
"What's going on?" Delilah said, kneeling next to the two.
"He's having a vision."
"What?"
"He can sometimes see what Voldemort's doing," said a voice behind them
They twirled to see Dumbledore striding along the corridor to meet them.
"Now, I'd advise you to return to your common room, it is not safe for you to stay here"
"But Professor' said the Head Girl 'What's going on? Is Potter okay?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter is fine, now, please" he looked around to the remaining students. "Return to your houses, I will sort this out." The Gryffindors left, but Ron and Hermione remained.
"But sir, I think he is having a vision!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Mr. Potter will be fine, please, both of you, return to your common room," he smiled grandfatherly at them, Ron looked like he was going to protest but Hermione grabbed his elbow.
"Come on Ron, Professor Dumbledore will look after Harry," she muttered.
It was now just Harry and Dumbledore. Harry was still on the floor, clutching his scar but the screaming had stopped a while ago.
"Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore asked forcefully.
"MR. POTTER!" Dumbledore barked.
"Professor," Harry gasped.
Dumbledore seemed to realize how he was acting and returned to his usual mask
"Harry, are you alright"
"No! Voldemort is attacking Hogsmeade."
"I know," Dumbledore said kindly "The Aurors should be on their way." He placed his hand under Harry's elbow and hulled him to his feet "Now, I'd think it would be best for you to return to your friends."
"But what about the Order? Can't they help?"
"No Harry, I'm afraid it's to dangerous."
"If it's too dangerous why are the Aurors going?"
"Yeah!' came a voice. "My dad and mum are Aurors, if it's too dangerous then they'd better not be going either!" a fifth year Gryffindor appeared around the corner.
"Mr. Smith, Mr. Potter when you are older, you will understand." He gave the boys a perfect grandfather twinkle and disappeared out of sight.
"Come on Darren, let's get back to the common room," Harry sighed.
As they entered the cosy room both boy's failed to notice Zoe's appreciative eyes on Darren.
THE NEXT MORNING
Hogsmeade Destroyed!
Hundred's have been announced dead after a devastating attack on Hogsmeade
where Briton's famed Aurors failed to arrive…
…After the attack many reported seeing a young hero making his way among
the injured, healing them at an impressive speed. No
identification has been given for the child but he was reported
wearing a Hogwarts robe…
Harry's pale face glanced up from the morning paper to look at the teacher's table and, more importantly, the Headmaster, who seemed to be reading the very same article. He made a sad smile and then went back to his bacon. Harry's eyes widened, his mouth gaped, he could not believe it! Did Dumbledore not care?! The great hall was filled with people crying, worried about family. Those who did not know anyone living there were silent or comforting mourning friends, all of whom believed the worst.
Harry could not stay here any longer; he darted of the hall and banged into Ginny.
"Harry," she said, catching him. "Are you okay?"
He looked up and was met with soft hazel eyes. "I'm, I'm-" he squeezed his own shocking green eyes shut and yanked himself out of her grip. He then took off, up the grand staircase and towards the Owlery.
Once there he lent against the wall and stared out the window to the village, he saw smoke rising and, if he squinted, could just about make out people rushing around, trying to salvage whatever they could from their near unrecognisable homes. Harry closed his eyes and turned back to the Owlery.
"Fuck!" he yelled as he came face-to-face with Branwen.
Branwen honestly didn't know why she cared but Potter had seemed, well, upset as he'd run out of the Great Hall.
Harry backed away, she'd taken him by surprise and when he would look back on this moment, wouldn't know why on earth he said it.
"What do you want Death Eater?"
"Oh for fuck's sake!' she exclaimed. 'I am NOT a FUCKING DEATH EATER!"
"What the hell is going on then? Your FATHER killed that Ravenclaw girl!"
"I HAVEN'T SEEN MY FATHER IN YEARS! AND HER NAME IS JESSICA! She was my best friend." Branwen gasped out, her voice beginning to fail.
"Birch, I-"
"FUCK OFF POTTER!" she screamed. "FUCK OFF AND LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Branwen burst into tears, she put her hands to her face and made to run out of the tower but Harry grabbed her arm.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay, I didn't know."
She looked up at him and through her tears said: "I'm not here to kill you Potter."
"I know, well, I didn't think you were, sorry, I don't know why I said it really."
"Good, excuse me," Branwen turned to leave the Owlery, Harry made no move to stop her, just as she'd moved out of the door, she stopped.
"By the way Potter, Hogsmeade isn't your fault."
"Harry, call me Harry."
Branwen paused, "Then call me Branwen."
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