A/N: Hey everyone. Alright, the french has been translated right below where it was written. I did originally have some sentences in here which were all french but I switched those out for mixed sentences to make sure everyone could understand them anyway. I don't think the translations are necessary but if you need them then they're there. I know this chapter is short and I'm sorry but I felt that where I left off would be the best place to do so. Enjoy.

Also, thank you Shy Butterfly and Queeneyz for the suggestion of where to put the translation. I think that works better then what I was going to do.

Chapter 11

A black raven swooped low though the windows of the Great Hall the next morning, carrying in it's beak a letter on course parchment. The creature dropped down to land before Harry and set the letter in his food, cawing and then taking off again. As it swooped out of hte hall it let out a last caw, it's eyes seeming to fall on the Slytherin table.

This of course sent the whole hall up in a furry for no owls had flown into the hall due to the heavy rain outside. And yet a raven, a bird which wasn't even used to deliver messages in the wizard's world, had dropped a letter right before Harry! It was strange to say the least. Many of the Gryffindors along with some of the Hufflpuffs had gathered around Harry as he opened the letter.

TO: MR. Harry Potter;

RE: The new Baskilisk

Mr. Potter, I have some information which you may find valuable in tracking down the new baskilisk of Hogwarts. If you are interested, come to the Russian classroom at midnight tonight. However, only come if your mind is open to ideas beyond the norm. Information can come from many places and the sources are not always traditional.

Annoymous.

Many of the students around Harry began to chatter fearfully and yet energitically as they read the note. Was it a trap? Did this person really have information that would help them? Or was the one who had released the baskilisk just trying to knock Harry out of the game?

All these thoughts were flying around Harry's head as he looked at the letter numbly. Behind him, suddenly, an old hand came down lightly on his shoulder.

"I think this is something I had best handle Harry," spoke Dumbledor quietly as Hermione entered the room. She could tell from the chatter that Harry had receaved the letter and she silently thanked her pet for being so willing to deliever a letter in this weather. The poor creature had been safely taken back in a window upstairs by her brother by now, he had notified her of this using their special parchment. And now all she had to do was play the part of the worried friend.

"Harry, did something happen?" asked Hermione innocently, with a furrowed brow. She hoped that Dumbledor would not be able to tell that she had been involved with handing the letter off to Harry. Though if he asked her she could always act innocent.

"It seems that Mr. Potter has receaved information that someone may have knowledge of the new baskilisk in the school," replied Snape with a hint of mistrust in her diection. He had come up behind Dumbledor to see what the problem was. "Do you know anything of this?"

Hermione looked at him with her best startled expression. She hadn't expected him to come out and say that. Her eyes narrowed slightly in his direction as she gave him a pointed look, one which she had used before to force those far weaker then her to back down in a confrontation. It was the look Salazar had always used as well. She was careful that no one else saw it though.

"No, I can't say I do. I just arrived after all," replied Hermione cooly.

"And where were you anyway Miss Granger?" asked Snape who wasn't about to back down from this confrontation.

"I was in the library," replied Hermione with a lofty tone. "Finishing YOUR homework assignment if you MUST know."

Again, her training in court manners and ettiquet as well as her debating skills came into effect here as she seemed to become drawn into a battle with Snape. However, this battle quickly came to an end as the doors of the Great Hall flew open and a person dressed in heavy, layered robes covered in abnormal symbols walked into the hallway with a raven purched on her shoulder.

"Oh la la! La temp est tres mal!" exclaimed a woman's voice with a combined french and southern accent form within the robes as the doors opened agian behind her and TJ walked in with a subtle thumbs up at Hermione. They were sure to only make this exchange when all eyes were on the robed woman. Gently, she reached up and tossed off her hood, her wet black hair tumbling over her shoulders and around her body with such valor and beauty that most in the room couldn't take their eyes off of her. Her eyes, green like emeralds, shimmered in the candle lit hallway.

(translation: Oh my! This storm is terrible!)

"Azrial!" called another voice as Zane stepped down away from the teachers table and began to make his way to the woman's side. "What were you thinking! Traveling in this weather!"

Azrial mearly laughed at his worry and shook her head.

"Mais mon ami! Dumbledor, he did ask that I come immedately," she remined Zane in a chiding tone. "C'est tres urgant!"

(translation: But my friend!...It's very urgant!)

Many of the teachers and students alike stared at the woman in awe and confusion. Who was this seemingly crazy young woman who traveled up here in this blasted weather to come to their school? However, the sound of neighing and snorting caused everyone to look towards the hall where the head of a jet black horse with no tale or mane came into view. Zane seemed even more upset.

"You RODE here?" he asked in astonishment. "IN THIS WEATHER?"

Azrial shrugged as she nodded. "Mais of course! I could not travel so quickly by foot!"

(translation: But...)

Many of the students seemed nervous as she walked over to the horse and lay a hand on its head.

"Why doesn't it have a mane or a tale?" asked Ron in what was supposed to be a whisper but his fear made it much louder.

"Oh, elle has a mane et a tail," replied Azrial. "They are covered, you see. They must be protected from la plein."

(translation: she...the rain)

Ron nodded dumbly. "I see..." He still didn't really understand.

Hagrid seemed to perk up at her words though. "Do ya mean that this horse is..."

Azrial nodded as she reached up and undid the buckles which held the covers which could now be discurned from the horses pure black fur. The covers fell away instantly and flames lept from the horses neck and rear, forming a brillant mane and tail. "Oui! Elle est un nightmare!"

(translation: Yes! She is a nightmare)

Many of the students, aside from Hermione and TJ, backed away at the sudden flash of flames while Hermione rushed to calm the horse who paniced and reared at the sudden movement. TJ pretended to retreat after a moment.

"Shush, shush," whispered Hermione as she gripped the horses reighs and began to stroke it's head. "It's alright. No one is going to hurt you."

Her words seemed to calm the horse who stopped rearing and pawing at the ground and instead turned to nuzzle Hermione gently. She smiled and plucked a sausage from the table, offering it to the nightmare who gobled it down greedily. Hermione and TJ then turned to Azrial who smiled at them in appreciation.

"Ma etudient, could you take Sabrine to les stables, s'il vous plais(sp)?" Hermione nodded gently as she scooped up the covers for the horse from teh ground and began to put them back on Sabrine.

(translation: My student...please?)

"Of course Miss Azrial," replied Hermione as she took the reighs and led the nightmare from the Great Hall with a smile. Hagrid hurried after her, wanting to of course help work with this magical creature which he had never seen before.

Azrial just smiled as Hermione and Hagrid left and turned back to face Dumbledor and the other teachers. "Would you like me to teach un classe dans apres-midi?"

(translation: ...a class in the afternoon?)

Dumbledor smiled gently and nodded her head at her question. "If you are ready to, yes I would like it if you could begin this afternoon."

Azrial nodded, however Snape spoke up with concern. "Headmaster, if she can't speak complete english then how can she possibly teach a class about arithmacy?"

The look that crossed Azrial's face clearly said she was offended. "I do speak complete english, merci!" Her accent was clearly from the Southern United States, specificly New Orleans.

Snape snorted slightly at this. "Please, you were still using french in that sentence. You can't possibly teach a class of students who can only speak english on a complicated subject like arithmacy if you can't use complete english."

Azrial shot him an indigent look before she spoke again. "You must understand. I have been à New Orleans pour un mois among those who parle un combination à francais et anglais. I must adjust again, you see."

(translation:...in New Orleans for a month...speak a combination of french and english."

Dumbledor nodded. "It's true, when I hired her she was speaking perfect English. She had an accent but her English, aside from that, was flawless."

Zane nodded in confirmation of that and you could practically hear the female students sigh as his hair fell around his face gently. "She can. I should know."

Snape's eyebrow raised as Zane said this. "And how, pray tell, would you know this?"

"He est mon copain," replied Azrial before Zane could speak. "Et he has been pour ans!"

(translation: he is my friend...And...for years.)

Snape still didn't seem satisfied with that answer but before he could speak Dumbledor cut in. "Well now that that's worked out, I think that perhaps Miss Azrial would like to see her room. Zane, would you mind showing her the way?"

Zane shook his head and gently took Azrials arm as he led her out of the Great Hall and towards her new quarters while Dumbledor collected Harry and Ron, asking them to follow him to his office. He left orders with McGongell (sp-I couldn't find it) to tell Hermione to come up when she came back to the Hall as well and then proceeded down the hallways towards his office. The whole party was silent as they moved, remaining that way until they finally reached the office.

Dumbledor gave the password (Pumpkin Juice) and they proceeded to ride up the stairs and into his offce. Harry and Ron quietly took seats before his desk while Dumbledor dropped silently into his seat. They sat that way for a moment before Dumbledor spoke up.

"I think it would be best, Harry, if you allowed the teachers and myself to attend this meeting for you. It may be a trick and sense we can't be sure what this person wants, we should air on the side of caution."

Harry was about to respond but another voice spoke up before he could.

"The true heir has call for Harry's presence and the call of the true heir must be heeded."