Pureblood Dreams
By Lilybet
Chapter Eleven
The first day of March dawned bright and clear, the first consistently sunny morning in months highlighting the spring green on the trees and the smattering of wild flowers in bloom. The Care of Magical Creatures class were enjoying themselves in groups of three or four as they hunted the forest's rat population with Jarveys. Under one of the beech trees near the lake Remus and Lily sat going through the week's Transfiguration lessons.
"-this was the bit I was having trouble with." Lily pointed out.
"She said that it required, um, forceful movements. That any hesitation would cause..." Remus trailed off as he flicked through the textbook lying between them.
In the distance the swooping figures of the Gryffindor Quidditch team could be seen practising. They had scraped a win from their match with Ravenclaw, but were now having to rush to train up a new seeker in time for the match against Hufflepuff. Martin had performed a beautiful crash-landing while successfully gaining both the snitch and a broken leg, but this hadn't hindered him for long. It was Flykers Flu that had him off his broom.
Lily's eyes kept straying over to the flyers, watching as a Chaser dived around bludgers and 'opposing' teammates, swerving in and out of bright globes of light – markers he had to avoid. She knew from the way in which the Chaser hugged the broom tight, streamlining his body, that it was James. No one else had that characteristic posture; no one could get as low on his broom as James.
A cough from Remus brought her back down to earth, and Lily flushed slightly before attending to what he was saying.
XOXOX
James ducked under the hurtling bludger and threw the Quaffle as hard as he could through the right hoop. As the ball fell down and Vince chased after it, James circled upwards to keep an eye on the rest of the team. They were all working hard: Willis was drilling the new Seeker while a pale orange Martin shouted advice from the sidelines; his fellow Chasers throwing the old Quaffle between them as the second bludger danced and dove around them; Vince throwing the Quaffle bac-
Catching the ball deftly he dove down and out of the way of the incoming Marcus Fox who was keeping an eye on both bludgers, just to make sure there were no more accidents. Spiralling up again, James darted in and out of the maze of lights that dotted the pitch. He swooped high above the stands, catching a glimpse of Lily's distinct red hair blazing under the lively green of the beech tree. Normally he would have spared her a thought, but with a Quaffle in his hands and the wind in his hair he felt free.
"COME ON JAMES!" shouted Vince, beckoning his Captain on with both hands off his broom.
Grinning wildly James dived again, a piercing whoop breaking forth as he pushed his broom to its speed limits. Back and forth he dodged, turning upside down in a sloth grip roll as the bludger powered overhead. Then with an almighty throw he launched the Quaffle from his hand, watching its progress even as he pulled his broom up.
"My mother could do better!" Vince grinned, holding the ball triumphantly by his fingertips.
"TEAM UP!" yelled James.
Vince's smile slipped from his face as the twins dropped the battered Quaffle, Willis dove for the sidelines where Martin was holding up his bat, and Fox hit the bludger he was tailing towards the Keeper. Vince dropped the Quaffle in his haste to avoid becoming a pancake, and one of the McReedy twins dove down to catch it before it hit the ground. Before the worried Keeper knew what was happening, the Chasers were passing the Quaffle between them as Willis and Fox battled both bludgers to his end of the pitch.
Drawing a double figure of eight around the three elevated hoops Vince watched as the ball changed hands. McReedy, Potter, McReedy, other McReedy, Potter, dropped down to...Bludger! There...a McReedy ...no...wait...POTTER! Sharply darting back to the left hoop Vince stretched out his arm, keeping a very tight grip on his broom as he did. The Quaffle whistled through the air just beyond his fingers, but still a good yard from the hoop. Locking his ankles round his broom, Vince pulled hard, turning the broom through a complete semicircle, and almost dove off it.
Hanging from his locked ankles, Quaffle clutched firmly to his chest, Vince regarded the upside-down laughing team. James drifted over till he was at eye level with his Keeper.
"Need any help there?" he asked politely.
"Who, me? Oh, no. I'm quite alright. It's quite relaxing actually." Vince commented, wondering if the stands really were that shade of red.
"Nice move. Don't think it's in the rule book." James mused, attempting to pluck the Quaffle out of Vince's hands.
"I caught it, it's mine." said Vince distantly.
"He's passing out." James called, and Willis and Fox threw their bats over to a McReedy and took positions under the swinging boy.
"I am not." Vince protested, before his grip on the broom loosened, the Quaffle fell from his hands, and he was caught by the Beaters.
XOXOX
The man had once been very handsome, anyone could see that, but where a fine bone structure had highlighted fair skin and a charming smile it now made the face of the Dark Lord look overly gaunt. Yet even though the eyes gleamed red against milk-white skin, there was still an elegance, a grace which held a watcher's attention. Standing by the oval table, nodding as a Death Eater outlined the Ministry's latest move, Lord Voldemort's charisma commanded the mountain hall.
A great map of Great Britain lay on the table, key Ministry buildings lit by a white light. Small green Dark Marks hovered over victory sites, while red dots marked magical villages, schools and hospitals. Flicking his wand towards the map, Lord Voldemort altered the positions of a group of orange lights before motioning the Death Eater away.
Maeve Le Fay walked to his side, the dark aristocrats and sycophants clustered round the table parting before her. The velvet black dress she had chosen was cunningly embroidered in a silky black thread that gleamed and glimmered as she moved. From Lord Voldemort's position at the foot of the map Maeve could see the country laid out before her. From Cornwall to the Shetland Isles the land was shown in all its magical glory: hidden shops revealed, homes plotted and Quidditch pitches illuminated.
In one of the groups near Wales a blond haired young man muttered to his wide-shouldered compatriots. A smaller man nodded in agreement and nudged the blond. Taking a centring breath the blond headed over to where Maeve and Voldemort were exchanging quiet words.
"My Lord." he bowed, "May I have a word?"
"You may." acknowledged Voldemort, nodding to Maeve before turning and walking with the man away from the table.
Maeve leant over the table, her eyes on the map. Making a small hidden gesture with her hand she heightened her hearing, the better to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"My Lord, may I speak freely?" the blond asked.
Voldemort frowned lightly, the expression sitting strangely on his thin face. Nodding sharply he resisted the impulse to fold his arms in a defensive posture. Though he was sure of many of his followers allegiance to him, Voldemort was always aware that surrounding himself with ambitious wizards held its own dangers.
"It concerns the Lady," the Death Eater said, his eyes flicking over to where Maeve stood, "Some of have...questions regarding her presence here. She does not appear to support our aims-"
"Enough, Lucius." Voldemort held up his long-fingered hand, "Lady Le Fay is my ally."
"But, my Lord-" Lucius Malfoy unwisely interrupted.
A long yew wand appeared in Voldemort's hand, its tip trained on the unfortunate young man. Lucius stopped talking quickly, not daring to look into the Dark Lord's red eyes as he bowed his head and apologised. Voldemort was not a forgiving person by original nature, however, and his wand raised ready to chastise the twenty-three year old.
Maeve glanced over, and seeing the tension in the Dark Lord's back, hurried over. Placing a light hand on his arm, she smiled saying, "Problem?"
"Lucius here has an issue with you, my dear." Voldemort snarled, "Go on, explain to her your concerns."
Swallowing, Lucius spoke quietly, "I find it a little odd that though you claim to be working with us, you have yet to show this with your actions."
"You mean why haven't I been on a Death Eater raid yet?" Maeve said clearly, smiling unkindly, "It's simple really. I don't care about purity of blood, nor do I care about the influence of Muggles on the wizarding world. All you need to know is that Lord Voldemort is the only one who can see my desires fulfilled." She looked up at Voldemort with a gleam of that desire in her eye.
XOXOX
The infirmary was full that evening as Remus walked in; Flykers Spectral Flu was going round school like wildfire. The Flu turned the patient various rainbow shades while draining them completely of energy. Usually lasting only a few days, some people could have after-effects lasting weeks. And no-one wanted to go home at Easter with purple skin.
Luckily Remus, being a werewolf, was completely immune to Flykers Flu, so he only had to contend with his full moon feelings. As well as the normal jitters about the night's transformation there was a bubble of positive anticipation in his stomach. He hadn't felt like this since before sixth year had begun. The wolf inside was looking forward to the night; somehow it knew that things would be different tonight than the previous few months.
"Madam Pomfrey?" he called as he manoeuvred round the friends of a blue Hufflepuff.
"Oh, Remus." Madam Pomfrey sighed as she finished force-feeding a Gryffindor girl a nasty looking potion, "I'm completely run off my feet. Would you be a dear and fetch me some more Sleeping potions? They're on the third shelf."
"Of course, Ma'am." Remus said.
Walking slowly back round the Hufflepuff crowd, Remus slipped into Madam Pomfrey's office and then into the storage room where all the potions were kept. It was slightly cooler in there, and Remus sighed in relief as the temperature change momentarily relieved some of the pain in his bones. He could feel the stretching and contorting less than an hour away from becoming unbearable. Soon he would change.
He held his ribs tightly as he handed the potions to Pomfrey, trying to suppress a grimace at the shifting in his bones. Pomfrey was caught up in her work, easing the aching joints of one patient, calming the fever of another.
"Ma'am, I think I really need to head out." Remus said, restraining himself from snapping at the overworked matron.
"Hmm." Madam Pomfrey acknowledged absently, setting down her thermometer and picking up her wand.
Annoyance and anxiety rose in Remus; he had to get out of this room - packed with fresh meat and seductive smells. Shaking off the wolfish thoughts, he caught the matron's arm and forced her to look at him.
"Great Merlin! Remus, what are you doing...my goodness, we need to get going." Pomfrey jumped lightly, suddenly looking into his eyes and seeing the golden glow deepening. She turned to her Ravenclaw apprentice and instructed, "Sarah, see that those who aren't asleep get potions."
XOXOX
Peter hopped from foot to foot in the cold corridor as he waited for James to arrive under the invisibility cloak. Beside him Sirius lounged against the wall twirling his wand between his fingers, lost in thought. With all the information he had passed on last night to the others, he had the feeling that there was something he had forgotten. Shame he couldn't remember what it was.
"Would you stop doing that!" Sirius finally snapped, the sound of Peter's dance of warmth getting on his nerves and interfering with the thinking process.
"Sorry." Peter muttered, and he went to look round the corner again.
"You do realise you won't see him coming, right?" Sirius asked, watching the behaviour.
"Oh. Yeah. I was just..."
"Out with it." demanded Sirius.
"What?" yelped Peter.
"Whenever you have something on your mind you do even more idiotic things than usual. Like looking for Prongs when he can't be seen. That's something you haven't done since third year." Sirius explained, waving his wand carelessly in the stout boy's direction.
Peter watched the tip of the deadly instrument move in front of his face, thinking about the pile of letters hidden at the back of his sock drawer. He was smart enough to know that if either Sirius or James got hold of them he would be in big trouble with his friends. His brother wasn't very good at hiding the derogatory comments towards Muggleborns, something James especially was vehemently against.
"Th-there's nothing on my mind." he stuttered.
"Huh. Really?"
"R-really."
The sound of a pair of footsteps coming round the corner diverted Sirius' attention away from the quivering boy, to the relief of Peter. A quick check round the corridor for any stray students on their way back from clubs or study groups, and Sirius darted under the cloak. Peter felt a poke in the small of his back and a whisper to get a move on. He momentarily wished that they were all still small enough to hide under the fantastical garment.
The moon was high and the ground soft underfoot as the door to the Quidditch gardens opened and closed. It was well after time for students to be out in the grounds, but footsteps in the mud and whispering betrayed the two hidden Gryffindors. Peter was currently scampering across the lawn in rat form. They had to be quick now, as James' escape had delayed them past moonrise. Remus would already have transformed, and in Sirius' mind this was not a good thing. Even the question of why Morrigan had helped James wasn't enough to take his thoughts away from what mood the werewolf would be in – a ripping tearing sort? Or maybe a chase the dog up a tree mood?
"He's not going to be happy." he muttered.
"It'll be fine. I'll be there." James reassured.
"Oh, wonderful. A deer is going to stand between me and the ravaging wolf." Sirius said sarcastically.
"A stag, thank you."
The Willow's branches stopped in their gentle swaying as they reached the tunnel entrance, and the boys followed Wormtail down the earthen passage. Near the end, when they could hear the scrabble of Moony's claws and his rumbling growl at being trapped, they cast off the invisibility cloak.
"If he kills me, say something nice at my funeral." Sirius said, before he transformed into the familiar big black dog.
James snorted, a sound which worked to convey a human sentiment even though he was already in stag form.
Padfoot approached the door to Moony's room cautiously, reaching up to open it with his paw. Before it was fully open a grey blur flew out and hit him hard. Legs and fur tangled and flew. Rolling over, Padfoot grappled with the larger beast, but the werewolf's longer limbs had him at a disadvantage. Suddenly, without any warning, Moony scampered backwards and let out a great howl – he was in a good mood after all!
Not waiting for things to change, Padfoot streaked off round the house, leaving Prongs to occupy the werewolf's attention. There was a large window on the ground floor where a couple of the boards were loose, and could be pushed off by a creature with dexterous paws. As soon as he was done he yelped loudly, and the others, led by Wormtail, came running.
As quickly as possible they were out and racing across the open spaces, their breath steaming in the cold air. Tousling and dancing they charged through the fields, leaving some very strange tracks behind them.
On the top of the Astronomy Tower, Morrigan watched as the branches of the Whomping Willow began to sway again. By the stars she judged that she had at least two hours before midnight and her meeting with Severus.
Turning her mind and magic deep within herself, she searched for that part that had another form. In an instant her form shifted, blurred and became vastly different from her usual humanoid self.
The moonlight glanced off the Raven's wings as it took flight from the castle tower, and soared towards the forest and Hogsmeade. Below, the creak of branches and the plaintive calls of owls could be heard. Onwards the Raven flew, its daylight eyes piercing the dark in the moon's bright glow. Then the sound of a wolf's howl broke the night, and the Raven turned its flight towards the cascading cry. Diving into the mottled woods, the Raven's senses searched out the source.
There, among the ancient trees, a strange group of animals played with the night. A proud stag, with a rat clinging to its back, was darting through the oaks. Following, sometimes chasing, sometimes playing, were two great loping canines.
As the Raven watched, the black dog darted in and nipped the flank of the much larger wolf-who-was-not-a-wolf.
A thought floated through the Raven's mind, trailed by a name, "Werewolf. Remus."
The werewolf turned and growled lightly at its companion, more a word of warning than a threat. They were pack, not enemies. With a flying leap, the werewolf suddenly launched itself forwards to grapple with the stag. Strangely it did not try for the killing bite, instead allowing magnificent beast to hold its ground. Tossing and bucking, the stag sent the rat flying as he turned his head and stabbed the wolf in the side with his antlers.
The wolf, thrown from the stag's back, didn't howl to call more allies to take down the prey. Instead the two canines, dog and wolf, barked happy laughter, and then they were all off again, running through the night to vanish into the darkness. The Raven fluffed its feathers against the cold, then, with a harsh cry, it took off from its perch and floated softly after the motley crew.
XOXOX
The moon was at its zenith as the Raven floated on silent wings back towards the castle. The grey stones glowed strangely as the reflected sunlight illuminated the castle against the star-strewn sky. A view rarely seen: Hogwarts from above, was shown to the bird as the cloud remained far away on the distant horizon. The greenhouses looked odd as the plants within moved like shadows; the Great Hall dwarfed by the towers surrounding it. There, on the other side of the hall, beyond a courtyard of broken darkness, the gothic stone filigree on the roof of the library took on shapes and forms unknown.
Beating its wings hard, the Raven climbed higher to achieve the Astronomy Tower. As its black eyes scanned the world around something began to glow on the library roof. Far from human sight the sharp light could have been mistaken for a broken piece of glass by any other animal. The Raven, curious, broke off its fight to reach the top of the tower and drifted over the twisted stone.
Ready to land and investigate this peculiar sight, a sound made the Raven turn and break out in a rough caw. On the tower it had set off from a dark figure could be made out against the pale stonework. Cursing, the Raven turned and flew back. Landing was tricky, but as the figure vanished behind the door-housing, it settled.
Looking inwards, the Raven swiftly located the creature within and called it forth. The feathers merged and fused together as the bird vanished and Morrigan took its place. Smoothing her warm robes, she stretched her neck, trying to get the last feeling of freedom and flight to leave her quickly. She had a Slytherin to tangle with, and the urge to throw herself off the tower was not helpful.
"Morrigan." Severus said with a trace of surprise in his voice, as he emerged from the darkness.
"Severus." she acknowledged, nodding slightly.
He folded his arms and raised an eyebrow, "I half expected you not to come."
"I keep my promises." she returned tightly, "Shall we get on with this?
"You don't sound too enthusiastic."
"Well, you did bully me into this." Morrigan pouted, sitting down between crenelations and scuffing the floor with her toe.
"I wouldn't call it bullying per se. More...coerced," Severus allowed a tiny smile to show, "You've got to admit I did a good job of it."
"Braggart." accused Morrigan, still pouting.
"Is one moment of glory too much to ask?" Severus said half-rhetorically.
"Do you want to hear what you came for before or after we freeze to death?"
"Please, it's not that cold." Severus sniffed, the sheen of ice that was forming on the flags deliberately overlooked.
"Says the boy who lives in the frigid dungeons." Morrigan muttered, "Well, I'm cold. So...you want the 'truth'? It's partially ancient history, partially politics.
"The long and the short of it is that the Ministry believes that the 'Dark Enchantresses' in the Le Fay family have interfered in things before, and that we're up to our old tricks again. They wanted to watch my mother like the proverbial hawk, but she's a tad difficult to control. So they decided to lure me out of the safety of Tintagel and make me into a hostage."
"A hostage?" Severus repeated.
"Yep." said Morrigan with false cheer. "It's a wonderful government, and I didn't even get to vote for them."
The wind began to whistle round the tower, picking the blossom off trees far below to throw it round in eddies and swirls. In the distance the howls of wolves could be heard, the forest scattering the cries till they came from all directions. Severus took a few starting breaths. Then, with an honest expression of confusion said, "I don't know what to say."
Morrigan smiled sadly, "Neither did I. If...if she does anything wrong, I...I don't know what they're planning to do with me but..."
"You don't want to find out."
"Not really, no."
Severus came up beside the girl who was sniffing and looking out towards the swaying forest. He hesitated slightly, comfort not being his forte, then placed a soft hand on her shoulder. Morrigan rubbed her face and looked up at him, "I'm alright. Really. I just...wish I had some way of knowing what's going on."
"I understand that." Severus said softly.
As the moon shone down and the last edge of the winter winds brought a chill with them, the sound of footsteps rose up from the open stairwell. In an instant the self-pity had been replaced by a frantic look on Morrigan's face.
Severus too heard the footsteps, and after sharing a look with Morrigan knew there was only one person who would be following her around – Professor Buskist.
"Ministry?" he asked quickly.
She nodded, running a nervous hand through her hair. Up here there was nowhere to hide, and no way to escape. Though she could escape from the tower by transforming, revealing that fact was definitely on her 'Things NOT to do list'.
Even thinking quickly, Severus couldn't see a way out. Then, like a fire flickering into life, a thought occurred to him. It probably wasn't the best option, and now certainly wasn't the time, but it was the only way. "Do you trust me?" he asked.
"What do you think!" Morrigan muttered, focusing on the stairwell and the sound that was getting closer.
"Then know this means nothing."
A shadow in the flickering torchlight became a Professor emerging from the long climb up the Astronomy stairs. Before the Professor could see them properly, Severus spun Morrigan slightly and, placing one hand at the back of her neck, the other round her waist, kissed her firmly.
Morrigan's head swam, and for a moment she had no idea what to do. Then natural instincts kicked in and her hands found Severus' slim but firm chest. One hand slipped up and into his tangled hair, the kiss deepening. Neither one of them remembered what it was they were trying to achieve, so caught up in the emotions that the simple act had started.
A cough from their onlooker roused them from their emotional haze, and both turned flushed and slightly guilty faces towards the Professor. On seeing her they immediately stepped back from each other, muttering words of denial and confusion, smoothing clothes and hair needlessly.
"If you two are quite done, I think a detention apiece and twenty points off both Slytherin and Gryffindor." said Professor Sprout, a frown on her face if not entirely in her voice, "The Astronomy Tower is out of bounds, after all."
XOXOX
Shocked? Review.
AN: Minor edits post first publishing.