Disclaimer: JK. Rowlings and Warner Brothers own the characters of the Harry Potter universe. All other characters are created by me - Only JK Rowling has permission to use them as fair trade for use of her characters.
To Dad Uncle Karl
Absent from this world but never forgotten. Love you bye.
Shadows in the Wind.
Written by Taylor Grey of Lady Grey Castles
Chapter Eleven.
Smoke billowed down the hall as Minerva, Albus and Hagrid ran around the corner heading for the hospital wing. Albus knew that the last time there was a small fire that was unexplained- though- with some transformations there is some heat exchange- the fires concerned him for the safety of everyone involved. He heard the sound of windows being spelled open, and the smoke dissipating as they entered into the ward. Minerva gasped as she gazed at the- creature- that was once Rhea on the floor beside the smoldering bed. Poppy wasn't happy. Good hospital beds were difficult to conjure up at best- and this one was a total loss. She had the bed between Rhea and herself and was trying to salvage what she could from the mess.
Rhea on the other hand seemed quite pleased with what had happened. Her body had shrunk from the lithe 11 yr old child to a squat trundled being that was about the size of a muggle short bail of hay. Her neck had elongated, and her arms changed to where they were wings. She was preening them getting the emerging pinfeathers to come forth. She brought her head up to regard their entrance. She couldn't retreat back to the bed, or under it, instead she edged away to another bed and moved under it. Poppy turned when she saw it and groaned hoping that that bed didn't go up as well.
"Just stay where you are, your frightening her- won't do to have her set any more beds on fire…"
"Poppy, what happened?" asked Albus. Poppy took a breath and pointed to Hagrid who was just coming back into the hospital wing. "Ask Hagrid" Hagrid stopped, out of breath and saw the smoldering bed in ruins. He swallowed.
"We were just, talking about the grounds of Hogwarts, and the animals, she was asking questions about Thestril's and how she knew the word from somewhere, but not where, and she just said, she wished that she would be what she was meant to be and then a blue flame came out of no where and she didn't scream, she just went up in flame and rightly changed in it…and then Poppy starts yelling for me to get …" he stopped short seeing Rhea come out from under the bed and waddle towards him. Hagrid knelt down, pure joy on his face "Well, aren't you the beautiful one?" he said in a soft voice. Rhea made a complete turn, extending her wings to show him, and then gamboled up to him squeaking softly.
Minerva looked at Albus- not quite sure what to think or do, knowing that even with all of her years as a transformation teacher, she wasn't prepared for this. "We have to let Ragnok know about this… he can change her back.." Hagrid looked a bit off when she said that.
"Beggin your pardon Professor, if what happened before happens again, then, she will turn back on her own, when she is ready, or not. Na up to us to decide what's best for her, only she can do that."
" But she's a little girl- we – can't leave her like that!" said Poppy losing her collectiveness. Minerva bent down and was regarding Rhea when she noticed something. She straightened up and said to Albus "She has the eyes of a Thestril, I saw them before when she was in the classroom, Is that why her transformations are incomplete? Because she is becoming a mixed being? Can she understand us? Mr. Podmore said she remembered things from when she transformed before, but not when she had been shrinking back. Why is was it so rapid now?" Albus held up his hand to calm her questions.
"Perhaps it is because she learned how to transform properly last night. While I fear, the loss of bedding may be unavoidable; it warrants notice for future sleeping arrangements on dragon hide may be advised. As for understanding us…" He looked at Rhea and then, following Hagrid knelt down to her level." Hello Rhea," he said to the being that reminded him so much of his own phoenix – yet it was larger- the feathers that were coming out now in great haste were white with spun gold. Her eyes were a swirling crystal blue that he could see the depths of his soul in.
Her mouth opened. In stead of the squawk that they had been hearing from her over the last few moments a mans deep voice came from with in her "Give this to my Cassini. Tell her, I love her… What's going on here?… "I understand that there was no uprising here- that these hard working honest Goblins were shot in the back by a cold blooded murderer." "You bloody fool! That is what makes Goblin built tunnels special that they never collapse! RUN" the voice became younger – softer "Put me with him, and carry us out, to give to his wife. Humans bury their own…."Please Ma'am, Forman Huygens saved life. Ma'am must know the truth…not uprising. Goblins work hard. Huygens respected us. Murdered he was saving the others. Important Man comes with owner who lied to important man.tried to kill , Forman Huygens save . Forman say to give you this and tell you he love you. It is a wishing spell stone. Forman made the wish for both of you. Forman Huygens knew – knew what was to happen and knew you would wish him back. Wish stone not able to do that, but can do other type of wish…Wish has been granted."
Minerva staggered to the nearest chair looking very pale. Poppy went to her side and produced a bar of chocolate from her pocket. She broke of a piece and slipped it between Minerva's lips hoping it wouldgive her strength.Hagrid looked at Albus "How, could – What's going on professor?"
Albus took a breath. "An ancient spell, If innocents have been silenced, even the very stones will shout out for them. I presume this is what has happened. We knew Rhea's father died, her mother, shortly after she was born...though the nature of his death was never fully explained. .
There was a sharp click of heals coming down the hallway towards the infirmary. Rhea gave a squeak and waddled away from the door to hide under the bed again. The trio straightened up as the deputy to the minister of magicFudgecame striding into the infirmary,
"Is everything alright? I was at Hogsmeade when I saw the smoke coming from the infirmary wing- ah.. oh my, how did it happen?" he asked pointing to the bed. Cornelius Fudge's face wore an expression of extreme worry and concern.
Poppy said loudly "One of the potions spilt onto the covers, no one was hurt. If you wouldn't mind, I need Hagrid's help to clear up this mess. Thank you for your concern Headmaster." Albus could see the look on her face, and with out needing to read her mind had heard the happy squeaks from Rhea change to a deep warning hiss that he had no doubt would remove a limb with out question. Albus guided the two from the infirmary back up to his office where he poured the deputy minister a glass of brandy to calm his nerves. The two chatted about the school while Minerva listened politely to the portrait behind her of one of the previous headmasters murmur that Hagrid had things well in hand in the hospital wing and that things will be taken care of by the arrival of a person the headmaster knew. It was when Fudge stood to get his second glass of brandy that he saw the feather on the desk. Curious he reached for it with the intention of picking it up. His hand was a scant inch away when Fawks left his perch, scooped up the feather and then returned to his perch with the feather in his claw still. Minerva shot Albus a glance of concern as Fudge turned puzzled by the events
"Good heavens what was that all about? Where on earth did that – is that a feather? Come from and why did your bird take it?… " Fudge turned back and looked at Fawks. "Come Come old fellow, I am not going to steal it from you I just want to look at it- Quite – extraordinary- it looks like- is it? is it a real feather, or just a golden cast one?"
Minerva couldn't help herself. "He is trying to protect you sir, the feather has poison on it." Fudge backed away- horrified. "And you left it just laying around on your desk? That's quite irresponsible!" Albus stood and shook his head. "not at all, only myself, and my deputy headmistress have access to this room if I am not here, and she is aware of the nature of the feather, as is Fawks so there is no harm done. The feather is here for study, and then it will be secured. As to the origin we are not sure if it was conjured by a crafts person, or from a creature, though we have not seen an adult of this creature to know what it is…" He had said this rapidly so that it confused Fudge. The brandy that had been poured for him made him yawn. He held a hand over his mouth and closed his eyes missing the shadow that fell across the room as Rhea flew past the window.
Minerva heard the portrait say behind her "Ah, that's where she's gotten to," Giving a despairing look to Albus she flicked her wand to the chair where Fudge had been sitting and held her breath. Fudge took another quick gulp of the brandy when he stopped yawning and then at Minerva's gentle prodding, headed back to the chair where he had been sitting before. He gasped as he saw something flying past the window and shot a look at Fawks as he felt a tug on his navel as he port keyed out of the office. A flick of her wand caught the empty brandy glass before it fell to the ground and steadied the rocking chair.
"Merlin's beard, he saw her… Bloody Hell!" Minerva exclaimed wanting to dash the brandy glass to the floor. She restrained herself and placed it on the tray beside the decanter. Albus looked at Fawks who had laid the feather in his tray. "Please see that she comes to no harm and returns to the hospital wing?" Fawks left his perch and in a burst of flame disappeared through the window to re appear beside her as she circled on the thermals.
"Now, Where did you send Cornelius?" Minerva swallowed. "At the time it seemed like a good idea, because he hadn't seen her- back to the ministries office, hoping they would catch him drunk on the job… but now, that is the worst place he could be…" Albus shook his head. "We have only delayed the questions. It is daylight and the students are out, someone is bound to see her- however, there are many magical creatures that roam the grounds of the dark forest…
Fawks followed Rhea as she circled the school A tiny flutter of blue caught her eye in one of the trees near the school. Circling over it she saw it was a tiny humming bird in its nest. It beat its wings allowing it to rise up and fly over the grounds flittering above the students and about the garden. Fascinated Rhea followed the flight with her eyes taking in everything. She was unprepared for a swift intruder, a small goshawk swooped down and snatched the humming bird into its claws then carried it off to decapitate it in a single bite. Fawks stopped her from going after the goshawk. It was natures course. She winged back to where she had first seen the humming bird and saw a nest.
It was Albus who called Fawks back in. Fawks gently guided Rhea back to the school from her flight back into where the infirmary was. She managed to get there and then, landing by the space where the bed had been she placed the nest down and waunderd to an area of the floor that had nothing burnable on it. Sighing, she relaxed. A blue flame enveloped her again. When the flame subsided Poppy rushed forward and covered the shivering child with a blanket and informed the portraits to let Albus know she had transformed back.
"my nest" she gasped. I must keep my nest safe…" Poppy looked at the mass of twigs that she had brought back in. Taking a cauldron she placed the nest in it and put a warming spell around it, not knowing what else to do. By the time the headmaster arrived, Rhea was sleeping. Poppy pulled back the blanket for him to see. She had returned to human form. Almost all human except for mottling of her skin, though she was not much taller than Flitwick, not much larger than the bird she had just been.
Ragnok came into the room via the fireplace and strode over to Albus." How could this have happened so soon?" He bent over to touch her legs. Albus stopped him. "Poppy, May we use your office please?" Poppy gave a curt nod. "Please don't break anything."
Albus lead Ragnok back into the office and closed the door. There was some shouting back and forth that was muffled. When the door opened Ragnok came out first and went to Rhea who was just awaking as if from a long sleep. She smiled at the sight of Ragnok and even though she was in bed, made a sign of greeting to him. The anger on his face faded. She moved in the bed and then looked at herself and frowned as Ragnok came to her bedside. "You, were making my body forget what it was supposed to do, and that's why I couldn't remember when this happened before." Her tone was not in anger or accusatory, it was just- a matter of fact.
Ragnok stood beside her "I wanted you to have a normal life from the moment that I saw you were , different, special your mother never knew what I was doing, and after a while it became easier to do, than to wait for you to discover what your destiny was. I hoped to delay it.- the change in you until you were older… and then it became nessasary to hide you from the wizarding world and I thought I had made you forget well enough. I thought when I saw you, the other day, and today that you had just- retransformed to – what you are now, but Albus has informed me that you – have another transformation that happens. I didn't understand when you said that you flew- I should have listened, I should have asked questions how you flew. I didn't know… Please forgive me for preventing you from being what you were born to be…"
She looked at Albus who had grave concern on his face, then back to Ragnok.
"What was I born to be?" she asked almost afraid of the answer. She saw, an expression of rapture on his face as his voice lowered with respect.
"A harbinger of vengeances, an Angel of death to avenge the slaughter of the innocents. Albus said, you remembered, you spoke of the unspeakable day of sorrow, our day of flight.- yet I can not wish that blood on your hands or to perjure your soul for the deaths of so many. Others may think that to be so, the final payment, but- it is we who owe you the life debt, and we cannot ask it of you. Those who came from the caves on the day of tears don't know who was responsible for the slaughter. They know there were at least two, but as to whom cast the killing spells- they smelt no guilt on any wizard who has walked through the doors of Gringot's. I wanted you to forget- yet I hoped you remember so that, we could exact vengeance if you said it was our right. We have no one to blame. We don't know the wizards name who killed your father."
Rhea shook her head. "Nor do I. The voice speak calls him an important man,"
Ragnok sat on the side of the bed and hung his head. "Then it is over. The debt can never be paid in full.. The blood of many will scream from the earth unheard."
