Well, two of you were half right. JediCandy was first with the correct origin, with Rhiannon close behind. "Eamon" as in Eamon De Valera, or Dev, of the Irish Rebellion in 1916. The first Irish Republican president, De Valera was one of the spearheads of the revolution. Along with Michael Collins, they began the rebellion that eventually led to Irish freedom from British rule.
Now that the history lesson is over, has anyone seen the movie "Michael Collins?" In it, one Alan Rickman (maybe you've heard of him?) plays the role of De Valera, a performance that was superb in its delivery and moving to say the least. There, my friends, is the tribute to the name.
Here's the next chapter! This is for JediCandy and Rhiannon, both were half-correct, so they each get a half-dedication!
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"I told you it was foolish, Malichai, but you didn't listen. Now we've lost several of our own. I call for a change in leadership!" Jezon snapped his challenge, and was met with the same ferocity by his leader.
"If it's a challenge you wish to throw down, I will gladly answer it, if only to show the pack who is the strongest!" The pack circled the two combatants, ready to converge on the first to fall.
Jezon let loose the first attack, connecting his shoulder with his superior's. He was met with a growl of frustration as his leader lunged at him. The larger beast moved swiftly out of his path, causing him to crash into the circle. He was shoved roughly back in before Jezon's teeth sank into the back of his neck. He shook violently, finally throwing his larger opponent off of him.
"It will take more than that to fell me!" he lunged, going for Jezon's throat, but Jezon was quicker, and ducked, crunching the leg bone of his leader. Yelping in pain, the wolf-like creature spun to defend himself, but was too late. Jezon had already prepared his fatal blow, and claws ripped into his underbelly, spilling its contents on the forest floor. He fell, and immediately, the circle closed on him.
Jezon barked at the pack. "I am the new leader. Let any who wish to challenge me step forward!" No one did so, but all waited respectively for orders from their new commander. "There will be no more of this 'lying in wait.' We will attack while they are dormant. Tonight, we feast on the flesh of man!" Triumphant howling was all that was heard for miles.
Severus lay awake in his bed, thinking about how suddenly a life can change. Harry was the happiest man in the world, and now, he was a single father, losing his love to an ill-fated accident. Howling from the forest broke him from his reverie, and the cry of the baby not long after. Severus' instinct told him something was amiss, but he dismissed it as stress and exhaustion.
He got up and went to the room, but before he opened the door, the crying stopped. Severus listened carefully, and could make out the deep murmur of Eamon's father, cooing him back to sleep. It must have worked, for not five moments later, he heard the bed sheets rustling, indicating Harry had climbed back into bed.
Severus moved to the couch, and after starting a fire, grabbed a book and began to read. The bedroom door opened behind him and Harry came out in a night robe. Grabbing a book as well, he joined the older man silently. After a few moments, Harry spoke up.
"Severus, what's going to happen now? What am I going to do?" Severus placed his book face down on the sofa next to him and turned to the younger man.
"Well, Harry, as I see it you have two options. You can either give in to your despair, and live a miserable existence."
"Or?" Harry asked, not at all encouraged by the man's words.
"Or you can continue living your life."
"My life is gone. My life ended on that hospital bed," he cried.
"A part of you died, yes. Just as a part of me died when your mother was murdered. She was the dearest friend I ever had, perhaps ever will have. I know the pain of her death, and I can only imagine what this is like for you. But you have to keep living. Hermione would not want to see you this way."
"The Headmaster told you all this, didn't he?" Harry ask bemusedly.
"Do you not think me capable of wise words, Mr. Potter?" Snape shot back, smirking. Harry took the bait willingly.
"I think you capable, yes. Whether or not you give them is another story." Severus' eyes widened, and he prepared for a retort when Harry jumped ahead of him. "Besides, that just sounded like him." Shutting his mouth, Severus let it slide for now, and Harry cheered silently for his victory over his favorite sparring partner.
Potter: 1, Snape: 32. Oh well, a small victory is still a victory."Other than the fact that no one wishes to see you miserable, you have a responsibility now. And I will not buy the fact that you are not capable of raising a child on your own. For the fact you are more than capable in most things you try, and fact two, you are not alone. So the question remains, what are you to do? The answer is: the best you can. And if ever you need help, or someone to talk to, my chambers are always open to you."
Harry could only nod, not trusting himself to speak. He stood and deposited his book back on the shelf, then returned to his room to sleep. Sighing contentedly, he drifted off into slumber. After assuring Harry was indeed asleep, Severus returned to his room, intent on getting at least five hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Outside, ten figures slunk to the entrance doors, planning their entry. During the Time of the Blazing Sun, Master Wizard always left a few windows open. Many years ago, a few of the pack had already found that entry through these windows would lead to discovery. Now, however, they were under new leadership, and Jezon was much more crafty than his predecessor.
"The large entry must be barricaded by something, so we will have to find another way in. You four, go around the other way, look for any openings other than windows. We will meet you on the Soaring Field." The ordered immediately slunk off, ready to show their allegiance to their new leader. Jezon took the other five and headed around the castle, searching for a trap door, or hole in the fortress, that would allow them entry. Soon, he found what he was looking for. On the backside of the castle, away from the forest, was a small hole, just big enough for one of them to fit.
"Kali, scout ahead, check that out. Roskin, go fetch the others." Both creatures did as they were told, and the remaining four watched as Kali slipped down into the hole. A small growl of affirmation was all they needed to start their entry to the castle.
They found themselves in a small room, with many bottles around. Each one had a different colored item in it; some were recognized by the pack as items from their normal prey, some were not.
"Jezon, the door is blocked. I can't get it open." Kali was shoved aside by her superior, and Jezon put his ear to the door to listen for any signs of movement. When there were none, he ordered three of his strongest males to attack the door. They looked skeptical for a moment, but did as they were told after a snapping of Jezon's jaw.
Busting through, the pack quickly dispersed throughout the room. Chaos ensued as its occupant scrambled.
Pulling his wand, Severus leapt out of bed and called for Harry's help. The younger man came dashing in, wand at the ready.
"What in Merlin's name!" Harry looked at the menacing beasts closing in on him. "How did they get in there?"
"I don't know, that's an old storeroom I haven't used since I began teaching here." A smaller one, Kali, leapt at the man in black, but she was promptly sent flying in the other direction.
"Can we take them all Severus? Or should I call for help?"
"Send a message, it's the fastest way!" he replied, hitting another with a leg-locker curse. Harry held his hand in the air. "Adlatum McGonagall! We need help in Severus' rooms!" A bright blue beam shot through the roof, illuminating the battle field. Severus had fended off two more, but a larger one was sneaking behind him.
"Obrigesco!" The wolf-like creature froze in his tracks, unable to move at all. He growled something to his pack, and immediately, three of them turned to Harry.
"Well, I guess that answers whether or not they are intelligent creatures," Severus called out, just before the two that were closing on him began attacking each other. Seconds later, the door burst open, and McGonagall entered the fray, followed by Flitwick and Remus.
The small room became even smaller as the five wizards and ten wolves battled magic versus might. Kali took notice of her surroundings, realizing there was no way to win this battle. She snuck out the nearest door, hoping to find some sort of an exit. The others were so busy fighting, they did not notice.
She entered a larger cave, one that felt homier. Another small den was off to the side, and Kali saw this as a very good hiding spot in which to wait out the battle. After entering, her tail hit the door, causing it to close more. Smiling to herself, she pushed the large barrier closed, ensuring no one would find her.
A small sound drew her attention away from the sounds of the battle. She crept over to the origin and peered over the edge of the nest. A small man, perhaps a man-cub, looked back at her…and began to howl.
Harry froze as he heard Eamon's cry. Remus shoved him out of the room with one arm, and Severus was right behind him, wand at the ready. He burst through the doors to see the creature, front paws on the bassinet, peering in at Eamon. Before even thinking, Harry pointed his wand at the large animal. Before he could fire off a spell, Severus nearly tackled him.
"No! You could hit the baby!" Severus aimed his wand at the ground beneath the creature and fired off a spell, heating up the floor. The creature howled and jumped away, onto the bed, and Harry stepped up, pointing his wand.
"Aculeatus!" A bright green light made straight for the creature, but it dodged and jumped down, putting the bed between them and her. As soon as she had landed, she was airborne again, aiming straight at her attacker. The man in black shoved him toward the nest, and Kali felt her claws enter the man's chest. She landed on top of him with a growl, then leapt again, bounding out the door. The sounds of the battle had died down, and she could hear only a few of her pack pleading for retreat. But Jezon would not hear of it, and began an all-out assault. She peered back into the room in time to see Mistress Wizard actually change into an animal! Morphers were uncommon in these worlds, and those Kali had seen had been dark wolves.
She was now a small feline, and nimbly dodged through the legs of Jezon, then morphed back quickly. She drew her wand quickly and shouted a spell, and in a puff of smoke, Jezon was gone.
Roskin took control and ordered the retreat, and Kali made her move. She entered the room at full speed, dodging the attacks of the men. She made her way out of the hole last and, together with Roskin and two others, returned to their home in the forest.
Remus turned to his companions and pocketed his wand. "Well that was certainly interesting," he commented. McGonagall was about to reply when Harry's cry interrupted her.
"Help me!" They ran into his room and gasped at what they saw. Severus lay in the floor, blood soaking his shirt. Harry had laid a spare robe over the wound, and was pressing down, but it was clear he needed to get to the Hospital Wing soon, if not St. Mungo's.
McGonagall levitated him and Remus picked up the baby. Harry's hands remained on the man's chest, keeping the vital red fluid from escaping his body. Flitwick ran ahead to warn Poppy, and she was ready with healing salves and her wand when they arrived. McGonagall gently laid the man down on the bed, and Harry stepped back, making sure to leave the robe over the wounds, lest he rip out any already-formed scabs.
Poppy, however, didn't seem too concerned with this, and pulled the cloth back, causing the man to bite his lip in pain. Harry marveled at the man's strength. Not once, in a vision or in life, had he ever heard the man scream due to physical pain.
Harry thought back to the night he awoke in this very ward to learn he had defeated the Dark Lord. Severus had entered just after he awoke, searching frantically for something. Obsidian eyes met emerald, and Harry had to look away at the raw emotion he saw there. Severus had come to his side and knelt down.
"Where is Albus?" he had managed, and Harry's eyes gleamed with tears. Harry had taken notice of Poppy shutting the doors to the ward behind her after muttering some spell. He had turned back to his potions master and let a tear fall, shaking his head.
He snapped out of his reverie, his mind still echoing with the wail that was let forth from the man.
Harry could now sympathize. The bond between a father and son is stronger than any ever created in existence, whether created by blood or by time. Harry remembered what it was like to watch Sirius die, and tried to imagine that pain tenfold. A hand on his shoulder broke him from his thoughts. It was Remus, who then looked at Poppy.
"How is he, Poppy?" McGonagall asked.
She sighed and shook her head, glancing worriedly at her charge in the bed.
"I…don't really know how to say this…"
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*readers pelt author with beating sticks*
What? *looks around confused*