*Lots of action to be had in this chapter, so let's just jump into it!*
Raven ran quietly through the castle, ducking into corners and hiding in shadows when she thought she saw somebody coming. She managed to reach Umbridges office without incident. When she opened the door she saw the Golden Trio arguing along with Neville, Luna, Ginny, and other members of The DA. They stopped to look at her. "I'm helping… though I don't know what I'm helping with." Harry's jaw dropped. "Not another one. Fine! You can come." He said to everybody. "We are headed into the department of Mysteries. They have Sirius. Bellatrix is torturing him." Raven nodded then paused. She had just see Bellatrix. She was with Eric when she left. Then again she hadn't seen the dark lord. Raven figured that he was showing Harry these visions. She considered stopping them, but if she did she'd get in even more trouble. "The department of Mysteries you say? That's not going to be easy Harry. That department is one of the most heavily guarded." She said, recalling her trips to the Ministry with her father. "Can we take care of the gaurds?" he asked. "Umm… well… no. You have to out think them. They aren't like Aurors or anything Harry. The gaurds are much more difficult than that, they are like puzzles. The number one rule is not to touch anything." Harry nodded and grabbed a handful of flue powder.
They arrived at the ministry and waited outside the grate for the others. When the all arrived they turned to Raven. "Which one?" Asked Harry. Raven looked around at all the elevators. She headed twards one on the right side. They got in and Raven hit the button that would take them to the Department of Mysteries. The elevator stopped and the doors opened as a cheery voice said "Department, of Mysteries." Raven stepped cautiously out into a circular room. The room was filled with doors. "Wait a minute!" she hissed at Harry but it was too late. He opened the door and looked in. "This isn't it." He sighed. Closed the door and made for the next one. Suddenly the doors started rotating. When they stopped, they had no idea which door they had tried. "Ok, now that you know what this room is all about, everybody pick a door. Now, on the count of three we open the door, look to see, then come back. Be sure to mark the door before you close it. That way we will know which door's aren't it. By the way, what are we looking for?" She said turning to Harry, while everybody chose a door. " A room filled with crystal balls. Shelves of them." Raven nodded. She had heard her father talking about that room before. She chose a door and said "One, two, Three!" everybody opened their door and went in. "Make sure your door doesn't close behind you!" she yelled, mostly to Neville, who's door was allmost closed. Raven looked into her room and found nothing. She closed her door part way and marked it with a carved X. she saw Hermione Scorching her door with an X. Others were doing similar things. "Okay, is everybody out? Good. Close them." She said. On the next try there were only a few doors so they were able to partner up. Raven got partnered with Neville, who cowered behind her as she opened the door. Behind it there were shelves upon shelves of glowing Orbs. "Oi, Harry! Is this what you were looking for?" She asked. "That's it!" he called and everybody came rushing over. They went in carefully, but then Harry took off at a run. He was counting the numbers on the sides of the shelves. Raven followed him with the others on their heels.
Suddenly Harry stopped and looked around. He then stopped and looked to a crystal Ball. He reached up and grabbed a hold of it. Suddenly Raven felt someone standing to her side. She pulled out her wand and spun tward that direction. She was met by the Blonde hair of her father. He looked surprised to see her but the surprise soon vanished. It was replaced by a cruel smile. Raven elbowed Harry and he turned to face her. "Hello Potter." He said smoothly. "Where is he?" Harry demanded. "Your godfather is just fine. You saw only what the dark lord wanted you to see." Said Lucious. "But, my darughter," he spat the word, "didn't tell you? Oh my. Can you really trust her? Does your little party even know what she is?" Raven growled at him, "Shut up." He continued to smile, "You have something the Dark Lord wants Potter." He gestured to the orb in Harry's hand, as he took another step foreward. "Take another step and I'll smash it!" Said Harry Raising the ball. Then a shrieking laugh came from the shadows. "Bella." Raven whispered. "Ha! He knows how to play! Itty bitty baby, Potter." She said in a baby talk. Lucious seemed disgruntled at the thought of losing the ball. "Now let's just everybody, calm down." He said. "What does Voldemort want with this?" Raven's wand hand twitched at the name as though expecting him to appear. "You dare speak his name! YOU FILTHY HALFBLOOD!" Yelled Bellatrix. Lucious began to explain to Harry that it could answer the questions he had about the night his parents were killed. All he had to do was hand it over.
Harry seemed to consider it for a moment then said, "I've waited fifteen years…" Ravens dad got a mock sympathetic look, "I know." "I think I can wait a little longer, NOW!" he yelled and on impulse Raven stunned her father while Harry got Bellatrix. The others took care of the rest of the Death Eaters and they went running back to the room with the doors. As they ran they sent shelves falling to stop the death eaters who were chasing them. They ran through the room and flung open another door. They went running into it only to find themselves falling down a hole. Hermione stopped them with a spell and they landed with a thud. Raven got up and looked around. There was an archway with a curtain in it. Harry, Luna and herself walked slowly up to it. "Do you hear that?" Harry asked. There did seem to be a strange whispering coming from it. "There's nothing there Harry. It's just an empty archway." Said Hermione. Suddenly Harry Turned towards where they fell. "Everybody get behind me." He said. They all rushed behind him and drew their wands. Raven stood beside him and pointed her wand up to the hole. Then black smoke appeared to come down to them. Raven recognized it as the way death eaters travel and dropped down to her stomach. The others followed her lead. There was a mass confusion and Raven could only hear muffled grunts around her. Then she was dragged up by her arm and pulled away.
When everything cleared Raven saw that she, along with the others had been pulled away, and Harry was standing alone facing Lucious. Raven turned around to see Dolohov holding on to her. "Let go of me you dolt!" She yelled and she squirmed to get free. "I don't think so, little lady. You were with them, not us." She rolled her eyes and sighed, hoping she was pulling this off. "Do you really think, I would be here helping them," she said disgustedly with a gesture of her hand, "If I hadn't been specifically ordered to do so by the Dark Lord himself?" Dolohov seemed to struggle with this for a moment. "I was under orders to trail Harry Potter and make sure he went tonight. I knew of the Dark Lords plan the whole time." She said with an exasperated sigh. Dolohov looked at Lucious, who seemed to be scrutinizing her. "Fine, let her go. I'd rather not endure the dark lords wrath if what she says is true." She smirked as he let go of her arm. Her lie had worked, though technically it wasn't a lie. Her original mission was to get close to Harry so he could be unwillingly persuaded to conform to the Dark Lords plan. Dolohov leaned down and whispered in her ear "You are too much like Snape for my liking. You are as much of a snake as he is little girl." "Really? Well, I'll be sure to voice your concerns to the Dark Lord next time I see him, as well as your participation in my capture tonight." She could hear his breathing hitch and knew he would give her no more trouble tonight. She handn't noticed Harry and he father talking, but she looked down and it looked as though her father was fighting a losing battle.
Just then the order of the phoenix came swooping in. they chased the Death Eaters around and started battling. Raven, once again, fought so it looked like her spells were just poorly aimed at the order, but somehow managed to come very close to Death Eaters. She made sure to have her back to the wall so no one could get behind her. When she turned and aimed a hex at Yaxley however, she felt a sharp pain in her left arm. She gasped and turned. Her father had hit her with a spell and cut her open. "Ugh! You bastard! I liked this set of robes!" She screeched and began dueling him as hard and fast as possible. He seemed to be having difficulty keeping up but then Sirius moved her out of the way and he and Harry began Dueling him. Raven watched in fascination as the tide started to turn in favor of the order. They had rescued most of the other students. Lupin came up next to her and she missed him just barely with a cruciotis curse and hit whoever he was Dueling. She lifted it as soon as she knew he wouldn't be able to fight anymore. "Thanks, now lets get you out of here." Raven laughed, "No thanks. I think I can handle myself." And she turned just in time to see Sirius get hit with a killing curse from Bellatrix, and fall into the curtain. She stared wide eyed, and Lupin Rushed forward to grab Harry. She looked at Bellatrix who smiled and ran off singing "I killed Sirius Black!" Harry broke free of Lupins grip and chased her Raven went after both of them.
Harry cast the cruciotis curse, and Bella fell. Harry hovered over her and seemed to be fighting with himself over whether or not to kill her. When he decided not to do it Suddenly voldemort appeared in front of them. Bellatrix pushed herself back into a fire grate and vanished. "There you are Raven. I was hoping you would be here for this." He said, a cruel smile on his features. Raven stepped forward next to Harry. She kept her head bowed and spoke softly. "Yes, my lord?" she asked. "I wanted to talk to you about your form." Raven was actually offended, she had the best form when dueling or just casting spells out of any Death Eater. Her offense must have shown on her face because he chuckled and said "No no, I meant no offense. You have the best for by far, but I meant when you are killing someone. When you killed Aiden, you didn't do it properly. This curse is not something I can teach you by demonstration, like the cruciotis curse, It takes practice." Raven winced slightly at the memory of her cruciotis curse "demonstration". He raised his wand and pointed it at Harry. "A small tip though. You have to enjoy it, otherwise you won't get the same satisfaction." Just then Raven and Harry were pushed into a small space between a suit of armor and the wall, by Dumbledore who had just appeared.
Harry went to get up and help the dueling Dumbledore but Raven pushed him back down and hissed, "Don't, there isn't anything we can do. Where is the orb. You have to smash it." Harry looked at her in dismay but answered "It smashed just before we started fighting them." A sudden warm feeling filled Raven. "How inappropriate of a time to have such warm fuzzy feelings." She thought. Though the thought of being included with the DA and Order of the Phoenix still made her feel good. She watched in amazement as Dumbledore bested Voldemort, even though he was fighting hard. She was so engrossed by the fight she didn't even notice Harry get up. There was a huge explosion of glass, and Raven did her best to cover her face, though she still felt it cut up her hands and cheek. When she looked up, Voldemort was gone, but she still felt his intimidating preseance. It was then that Harry fell. Raven watched as Dumbledore rushed over to him and mutter something to him. Raven Gaurded her mind as much as she could, and hung back. She could tell it was an intimate moment between the professor and Harry.
It took mere moments for Harry to fight him off, but when he did, he stood up smiling. Raven felt Voldemort vanish and she breathed a sigh of relief. Dumbledore looked at her and wiggled the fingers on his left hand slightly. Raven looked down and saw that her left sleeve was in tatters. She pressed it to her chest and nodded in thanks. It wouldn't be good if the reporters and ministry officials who were arriving saw her dark mark. Just then someone slammed into her from behind. She turned and saw a smiling Eric. Her jaw dropped in shock.
"What are you doing here?" She asked. "My dad works for the defense branch of the ministry. He's head under secretary to the chairman." He exclaimed Happily. "He brought me here to get you back to the school. Man you look really awful." He said looking her over. "Don't worry. I'm not as bad as I look." She said and turned around to look at Harry. What she saw made all the pain disappear from her and put a new spring in her step. He father was being escorted out of the ministry by aurors. She strode confidently up to him, stared him straight in the eyes, and slapped him. "That, is for being a poor father to me." She slapped him again, even harder. "That, was for being a poor father to Draco." Then she nailed him below the belt as hard as she could with her knee. He doubled over and squeaked. She leaned in and said in his ear "And that, Was for being a dead awful husband to my mother." She stood up, nodded to the aurors, and walked back with a hysterically laughing Eric.
Weeks later, she closed the lid of her trunk, and sat on her bed in the Slytherin dormitory. She had decided to return to the school, now that Dumbledore had come back. She laid a hand on her left arm and felt the bandage there under her sleeve. Apparently she had been cut deeper than she thought by her father. According to Madame Pompfry, a muggle doctor would have used ten to twelve stitches, which Raven was horrified to learn they used to sew up people. She felt bad making Madame Pomfry take all that time to remove the glass from her hands arm and face when she could have done it herself, but she wouldn't even think of letting a student do it. "Raven?" Asked a tentative voice from the doorway. "What?" She snapped, then sighed. "Are they starting the feast?" She asked, a bit gentiler. "Y-yes, but I also wanted to tell you, I thought it was really cool what you did at the ministry. The way you helped Harry and everybody… I just wanted to say that we had the wrong idea about you." Raven chuckled and turned to see Sarah there. "I'll be right there."
When she entered the feast a sudden farmiliarity settled down on her. She had seen the end of the school feast for four years now. It didn't feel like she had been at Hogwarts for that long. It seemed like just yesterday that she had argued with the sorting hat about being put in Gryffandor. It seemed like just a week ago she was watching the Hogwarts Express leave with her brother for his first year. She knew she'd be back soon enough, but first she'd have to deal with the issue of finding a place to stay for the summer. "I'll worry about that later, now it's time to eat and say goodbye."
As she stood in the corridor watching people say goodbye to one another she saw Snape come up through the throng of students. "Miss Malfoy, it has come to my attention that you are in need of summer lodgings. I have spoken with the man in charge and he thinks that you could assist me in exchange for a place to stay." Raven looked at him skeptically. "Assist you? How so?" He smirked so Raven knew it couldn't be good. "Small things, though I hope you don't mind rats, because you will have to deal with them." Raven sighed, but nodded. "Thank you." He nodded and walked away, pressing something into her hand. It turned out to be an address. It was in a muggle village, but she knew where. Now that problem was solved, and she could turn her attention back to enjoying herself. When she saw Harry, she pushed a bunch of first years out of her way and moved over to him.
"Harry! Hey Potter!" She yelled. He turned to face her and smiled, though Ron and Hermione gave her a dirty look. "Weasly, Granger." She said in acknowledgement. "Harry, I wanted to thank you. And also give my condolences." He looked confused, "Thank me, for what? I should be the one thanking you." He dropped his voice, "You didn't have to help us you know. I expect you'll be in trouble for it." Raven shrugged and Harry continued at normal volume. "As for your condolences, I should be giving them to you! He was your family." Raven scoffed. "He was my second cousin once removed Harry. He was your Godfather. You were much closer to him than I was. He was a blood traitor as far as Bella and My mother were concerned. How would it look if they caught me crying over a blood traitor?" she asked, half laughing. Harry smiled a bit and reached out his hand. Raven took it and shook it stiffly. She then walked outside to the train.
She made her way down the Slytherin car looking for an empty compartment, when she heard a voice calling her name. "Raven! Want to come sit with us?" She glanced around confusedly. Then she spotted Sarah waving her over to a compartment filled with other students from her year. Raven shrugged, "Might as well pretend to have friends so I'm not referred to as 'that creepy loner kid' for the rest of my school career." She thought. "Sure." She responded. She made her way to the compartment, and put her stuff in the overhead rack. She took a seat closest to the window and stared out at the students still on the platform. "So, um… did you really see… him?" asked a voice from the seat next to her. She looked up to see a boy from her year with an excited look on his face. "Who?" She asked, knowing full well who they meant. "Him! He-who-must-not-be-named!" He said, looking more and more excited by the minute. "Oh, yah, I guess so. I mean, I was there when Dumbledore was fighting him." She told him nonchalantly. He was probably more excited about The Dark Lord, but Raven was still amazed by Dumbledore. She had known he was strong, but to see him actually fight her master and win was incredible. "What was he like?" he asked, rousing her from her daydream. "Hmm? Oh, umm… I don't really know how to describe him. Tall, pale, red slits for eyes, that's about it really." She told him with a shrug. He gave her an encouraging look but she just shrugged again. "What do you want to know?" she asked. A look of shock came over his face. "Anything, everything!" he said. Then it hit her. She'd have to tread carefully. If she treated this with too much disdain they could become suspicious, but the same could be said if she acted too excited about it.
"His very presence was terrifying." She told them, getting what she hoped was a faraway look in her eyes. "He was a commanding force in the room, and just knowing that he could kill me without a second thought was enough to root me to the spot in fear." She said. "Might as well embellish a bit." She thought. "Harry was really brave and ready to fight him, but Dumbledore wouldn't let him. I felt useless, just sitting there cowering. As soon as he entered the room it felt like the air got really heavy, and the walls seemed to close in around you. When he did leave it was like the room grew and everything became wightless." She said, then grew silent, hoping they would mull it over for the rest of the ride.
"I heard your dad was taken out of there by aurors. Must be awful to have a criminal family." Said a sneering voice. Raven let out a bark of a laugh. "You know Pansy, that's your precious Draco's dad too." She said without looking up. By the silence from Pansy and the poorly hid laughter from the others, she knew that Pansy hadn't thought of that. "Yah… But, Draco wasn't there. How do we know you were there helping Harry and not The Dark Lord?" she asked.
Raven's blood turned to ice. She was desperately hoping that nobody would wonder that. "Damn it Draco." She snarled quietly. "What was that?" asked Pansy cheerfully. Raven looked up, straight into Pansy's eyes and glared for just a moment, she then changed her expression to that of complete calm. "Why, Pansy, You called him 'The Dark Lord', I've only ever heard his followers call He-who-must-not-be-named that." Pansy's jaw dropped and she stuttered a moment before just glaring at her, turning, and leaving. Raven smiled contently and turned back to the window, leaving the others to laugh and talk amongst themselves. When the train came to a stop at Kings Cross Raven stood and stretched. "Hey, we'll see you next year Raven!" Said one of the girls. Raven waved and pulled the address out of her pocket. "Now, how am I going to get there without attracting too much attention to myself." She wondered quietly. She stepped off the train and onto the platform.
Raven began walking tward the exit when she tripped on a suitcase and almost fell. Suddenly she was stopped by a pair of arms, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her up. She was set down and turned around. She had an angry retort all prepared and was about to use it when a farmilliar voice said "Need a lift?" Raven looked up and saw the flash of crimson hair and laughing expression. "Eric! What on earth are you doing here?" She asked, embracing him. "People are staring you know." He whispered in her ear. Raven let a mischievious smile creep onto her features. She then pulled him into a slow kiss. He was surprised, but then he smiled as well and kissed her back. Raven broke away and they both laughed. "Now, I'm here to escort you to your summer lodgings, and perhaps sneak in another lesson?" he said, excited. Raven laughed again, "Only if you promise to do that again." He put on an expression of mock confusion and asked, "Do what again?" Raven pulled him in close, "This." She said. then she closed the distance between them with a small movement. She kissed him quickly and laughed. She took his hand and they continued to the exit.
Just before they made it to the barrier Raven heard a voice, again, calling her name. She growled but turned around with a smile on her face. Sarah was running up to her, pack in tow. "Please tell me he is your handsome older brother or something and you don't have him all to yourself!" she squealed. It took every ounce of self restraint Raven had not to raise her lip in a snarl. Just before she could respond Eric stepped foreward and said, "I apologize ladies, but she has indeed stolen my heart." Raven gave him a look but smiled and clinged to him. Suddenly Sarah had her arm, and she dragged her over a little ways. "Oh- My-God! Where did you find him! How old is he! Are you two serious! Tell me!" She said, very excited. "In that order, Friend of the family, seventeen, and I think yes." Raven said, trying to shield the annoyance in her voice. Sarah squealed and opened her mouth to ask more questions but a voice rose over the crowd, "Hey, Raven! We need to get going! You know how he gets when you're late!" Raven laughed and yelled back, "I know all too well!" then she ran over to join him and then left the Barrier, then he took her by side along apparition (That's what they made it look like anyway) to Snape's house.
When they arrived, Raven looked around for a house similar to the Manor, but Eric went up and knocked on the door of a dirty, dingy place in front of them. Raven made a face, but quickly composed herself as the door opened. "I saw that Miss Malfoy." Said a drawling voice as Raven looked up to see Snape standing in the doorway. She rolled her eyes and walked in, took one look at the place, and knew it was going to be a very long summer.
*Wow! 20 chapters and counting! This one is a little shorter than the last one, but it's just to close out Raven's fourth year at Hogwarts! It seems like this year has take forever and flown by at the same time! Thanks again everybody for your support! Don't forget to Review and share this story with your friends! Everybody's welcome to witness, The First Day of My Forever!*