CHAPTER TEN – INCAPACITATION
As Halloween neared at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, things began to calm into a steady routine for Ravenna. Realizing that there, in her mind, was no way for her to become an acceptable student in Slytherin House, she spent much of her time holed up in her room or with the other house-elves in the kitchens.
Her writings to Tom, meanwhile, continued – and they were often filled with envy on the part of young Tom Riddle. He wrote to her more and more often now – practically every other day. He wanted to be with her at Hogwarts, wanted to enjoy the massive feasts, books, and spells.
"You are opening up a brand-new world to me, Ravenna," Tom said in the closing paragraphs of one of his letters. "I know I will be with you this time next year, in Slytherin House. Together, there will be no one that can hurt us – and never again will you have to deal with the anger of the others. Together…we will be happy."
Meanwhile, Ravenna's lessons with Professor Rindow continued – and her knowledge of spells and potions increased. Her times of song with the centaurs had waned a bit, but Ravenna had become their friend, almost a member of their tribe.
"If ever you wish to join us permanently," Darkthorne had told her once. "you are always welcome to come."
"For some strange reason…I think Professor Dumbledore is trying to make me into some kind of envoy to you," Ravenna admitted. "I think it's…strange."
"The human Ministry of Magic…has not been good to us." the centaur explained. "For many, many centuries…long before you were born…they have been driving us off of ancestral lands to make room for themselves. Dumbledore and Dippet…want our support. They see you, Pr-Ravenna- as a means to keep the peace between your race and ours, even though you yourself do not belong to the human race. Perhaps…it is also a way to protect you from the Ministry's power."
"That may be," Ravenna admitted sadly. "The humans fear me…but you and the merpeople…they seem to like me, even though I still can't quite put together a sentence in their language."
"You will learn, Ravenna," Darkthorne replied. "The Mer accept those who are learning their ways."
Just before Halloween, Ravenna began making friends with another group – the Hogwarts ghosts. She was not friends with all of them, least of all Peeves the Polterigist, but found that good friends were to be made in Nicholas de-Mimsy Porpington, Helena Ravenclaw, and the Bloody Baron.
The week before Halloween, Ravenna was walking down the hall from Charms class when she was met by Nearly-Headless Nick. "Hello, Sir Nicholas," Ravenna said quietly. "How are you?"
"Excellent, Ravenna dear, excellent," the ghost replied. "I…I came to ask you if you wanted a 'job offer,' so to speak."
"What kind of offer?"
"It's for my upcoming deathday party," Nick stated. "I…well, Helena and the house-elves have heard of your excellent singing talents, especially with early operas and ancient chants. I know a lot of what you sing is after my time…but we love good music and musicians, and I would love to have you at my party."
Ravenna was awestruck. Never – not even one time – had she been invited to anyone's birthday – or deathday – party. As a matter of fact, she had never even had a birthday party of her own. Tears stung her eyes, and all the rejection she had previously met with from other students melted away into nothing. "I-I'd be happy to go," Ravenna said shyly. "What…song would you like?"
"There are some old medieval chants and songs I like…but whatever you come up with will be wonderful, no doubt."
"Th-thank you," Ravenna replied. "I-I've never been to a party like that before – or any party. I hope I'll impress."
"Thank you so much."
As Ravenna practiced for Nick's party and picked out her dress, she started to feel concerned for Professor Rindow. She cared about all her teachers, as they meant quite a bit to her – but she began to see Rindow become slightly agitated in his classes, and was constantly looking at his hip flask. The day before the deathday party, she went to Professor Slughorn to speak of her concerns…but as she entered the Potions dungeon, she saw him throwing a fit.
"I just bought those bloody bicorn horns!" he snapped angrily, failing to notice that Ravenna entered the room. Ravenna wanted to speak…but instead listened, determined to uncover what he was missing. Bicorn horn…lacewings…she knew that the ingredients went to a potion, although she didn't know which one. For a moment, the Restricted section of the library would be willing to hold the key. But then…couldn't she ask Dumbledore?
Suddenly, Slughorn stopped. "Oh, hello Ravenna!" he said. "What can I do for you?"
"Hello, Professor," she said. "I came to ask you about Professor Rindow…he seems pretty agitated. He…I also noticed he has a hip flask, and he's checking it constantly."
"Do you suspect that he's been stealing ingredients out of my stores?" Slughorn wondered.
"Well…I don't know if he's been stealing or not…but he's not acting like himself," Ravenna replied. "I don't want to be the person that could have stopped something from happening and didn't."
"Thank you."
The next day was the deathday party for Nearly Headless Nick. After finishing her house-elf shift, in which she practiced the song she would sing, she reported to where the deathday party was being held, dressed in a snow white gown that contrasted sharply with her hair and wings. Peeves looked like he was about to do something, but instead decided…to flirt.
"Little Birdy's come looking pretty," he smirked. "Guess that means I have to be nice to the ickle first year…"
Nick, the Gray Lady, and the Bloody Baron all shot him the same look, and he fell silent. Despite the moldy haggis, tomb-shaped cake, and dead guests, Ravenna couldn't have been more thrilled. It had been two months since she had stepped off the Hogwarts Express, and now, she was a part of something…fun. When it was her turn to jump on stage, she opened with a silly "Happy Deathday", singing with complete confidence.
"One morning Nicholas left his bed,
That night he almost lost his head,
Because of that, one thing is said:
Happy, Happy Deathday!"
"It was quite sad to see him go,
The world does miss him, that we know,
But there's one thing to please us so:
Happy, Happy Deathday!"
Now each year, Nick, we have good joy
In you, a jolly good old boy,
We truly hope we don't annoy…"
With the last line, all the ghosts cried out:
"SIR NICK, HAPPY, HAPPY DEATHDAY!"
Everyone laughed and guffawed, and out of the corner of her eye, even Peeves cracked a smile. She knew the song was corny, but why should she worry? Tonight was about having fun, irrespective of the rotten food and dead guests. She was happy, and nothing was able to spoil it.
Except…there was. After an hour, Ravenna departed with the biggest smile she had ever worn on her face, making her way back to the Great Hall…when she heard a loud thump. Curious, she drew closer to the sound…and was instantly horrified.
The sound…had come from second-year Slytherin Lila Crabbe. Her big brown eyes were fixated on the ceiling, and her face was as pale as a sheet. Ravenna tried to rouse her, but she would not move.
Suddenly panicked, Ravenna knelt beside the girl, a student she barely knew, searching for a pulse. It was there, but it was weak.
Lila Crabbe…had been incapacitated.
