Chapter 20.
Over the next few days, Darien went to his classes with his two friends, saying not one word about what Slytherin had revealed to him and his friends. Of course, they had talked about it but only to each other. Never with one of the grown ups or the Aurors. Eventually, they finally recieved a lightstone from Remus. The teachers had finally finished examining the stones and they decided to give a lightstone to Darien to wear. Lionel and Rex eventually wanted one too, just in case. So with a laugh, Remus gave them one. They wore their lightstones under their robes and would only have them out in the dark. Dumbledore had even had the Aurors wear some. It was amazing on how many Lightstones they had found in the underground cave. With the ones that weren't worn, they were placed around the castle where it was the darkest. They did not want any room that was dark go unlit.
However, as the early spring started to arrive and classes went on, Darien was finding himself thinking about Draco again. He still hadn't heard any word from his mother about him. He really hoped that the Esuna Mithras spell had worked. He didn't think he could bear the idea of having Draco Malfoy's spirit wandering the world all alone trying to find his body.
It made Darien just wonder, how in the world would a spirit know where to find its body anyway? He was about to find out.
It was the beginning of February and the castle was more alive than ever. There had not been anymore attacks through the several weeks. No signs of Umbra or Dementors on the grounds. Darien was getting better along with his new werewolf traits. Remus was making sure he was taking the Wolfsbane potion and they went out to the shack together, keeping only each other company. Even Lionel and Sam were being more civil to each other. Actually they weren't speaking to each other at all so it made it better between them. They weren't fighting anymore because they weren't speaking to one another.
It was then they were all about to get a nice surprise, and horrible one.
Darien, Lionel and Rex were making their way to the Great Hall when they heard someone shouting. Frowning, they picked up their pace and found Professor Dumbledore speaking to a young woman about Harry and Ron's age.
She was quite pretty, yet the look on her face didn't make her that way. She had shoulder length black hair pulled up into an elegant bun and she was wearing a silky deep red dress robes and a black fur cloak. And she looked very angry.
Whitman and his two thugs were there too, standing off to the side, though Parkinson looked very smug about something. Darien then realized that this woman had to be his mother. He remembered how he had said that Ms. Parkinson would be paying a visit to Hogwarts about what had happened to her son with Lionel.
"This is an outrage, Dumbledore! I will not allow some little cretin to attack my son and get away with it! I want some action!" The woman screeched.
"Ms. Parkinson, action has already taken place. The young man your son had fought with had already had his detention." Dumbledore said calmly.
Ms. Parkinson slapped her leather gloves against her hand as her face reddened with rage. "I don't think detention will do with such a violent and destructive little brat! I want to see him expelled from this school!" She snapped. Darien and Rex looked at the wide eyed Lionel. They both were sure they were feeling what he was feeling. Anger and fear. They couldn't believe this woman's demands.
"Parkinson, you can't expell a student who had one little fight with your kid, all right?" Ron said folding his arms. The woman shot him a dirty look. "You shut up, you blood traitor!" She snapped at him. Ron and Harry both glared at the woman while Dumbledore rose a hand. "Now, now. Let's not have that kind of talk. As our dear friend, Mr. Weasley just said, we don't expell students because a fight." He said. Ms. Parkinson glared at him next, looking even more angry. "Well you should! It is such an outrage! What if it was another student that the little Nazi child could have nearly beaten to death?!"
There was an outburst by a few of the teachers, while Darien glanced over at Lionel, who was looking hurt and angry again. He gently touched his friend's shoulder, shaking his head. "Don't listen to that wench, Lionel. She doesn't know you. She can't." He told him.
"Why don't you just shut up, Pansy, since you can't really say anything nice? For god's sake, that little Nazi child you are talking about is only 11 years old and he does not deserve to be talked about like that." Someone said coolly.
Everyone turned around to see who had said that. Some looking very surprised. Even Darien stiffened when he heard that voice. He knew it well. For he had talked to the owner several times. The owner of the voice was hidden from his view though. The man was standing in a doorway with Hermione, yet he couldn't be seen from where Darien was standing. So the young Gryffindor hurried down the stairs into the hall to see the owner better. Lionel and Rex both followed before halting right by Darien's sides when they saw the man. A smile slowly curled on Darien's face as he just looked at the white blonde haired man standing next to his mother. It was Draco Malfoy. He truly had returned.
Ms. Parkinson looked extremely stunned to see him as did the teachers. Dumbledore, however, was smiling before he stepped over, motioning for Draco to step closer. The young man only glanced at him before walking forward. He was walking on a limp though. It was clear he wasn't too stable on his legs just yet. After all, he had been in a coma for 12 years.
"D-Draco?! You're...you're alive?!" Ms. Parkinson gasped.
Draco lazily looked at her through narrowed eyes before he tossed his long bangs out of his icy blue eyes. "Apparently so, since I am standing here." He slowly shook his head. "Pansy, what the hell are you doing here? So what if some kid broke your kid's nose? Sure, you're angry but it's not like Madam Pomfrey couldn't fix the little snot's nose, right?"
Pansy Parkinson narrowed her eyes as she lift her head higher. "You haven't changed that much, have you, Draco? You are still that blood traitor from years ago." She said coldly.
Draco rolled his eyes before he turned away from her. "Bite me."
That made some of the Aurors snort with laughter, as did some of the students watching the fray. Pansy Parkinson just narrowed her eyes before she looked at Dumbledore. "I will be writing to the School Governors about this, Dumbledore. Mark my words. You have not heard the last of this!" She turned and stormed out of the school.
Everyone only smiled before they looked at Draco. "Now, this is a big surprise! I can't believe you're back!" Ron said with a grin.
Draco only glanced at him before shaking his head. "Yeah, well surprises aren't always so nice." He said with a shrug. Hermione shook her head as she stepped closer. "He wasn't exactly in a good mood when he woke up a few week ago." She told everyone. "He doesn't remember what happened to him. So he wasn't exactly thrilled to find out that he wasn't 16 years old anymore."
Draco only nodded as he looked around at all the teachers. "Hermione's already told me what she could but I still don't get it. I lost my soul to a Dementor. So how in the hell did I get it back?"
Darien felt his face drain a little when he heard the way Draco said that. It sounded like he wasn't happy to be back at all. But why not? He had his soul back. Wasn't that good enough? He saw a few eyes turn towards him once Draco had asked his question and he immediately looked away. He only looked over again to see what was going to happen next and it was at that second he noticed that even Draco was looking at him.
"Mr. Malfoy, why don't we go to my office and we can talk about your experiences there. I will inform you of everything that has happened to you." Dumbledore said, motioning for him to follow him.
Draco Malfoy looked back at him before following him up the stairs, past Darien and his two friends. His icy blue eyes met Darien's for a brief second, yet he looked confused about something. It looked like he was trying to remember something, but he wasn't sure about it.
"Darien."
Darien looked over at his mother when she called him. She was smiling quite proudly at him. The other adults behind her were smiling too. Harry and Ron both gave him nods of approval. Remus wrapped his arm around his loving Swiftstar, smiling up at his oldest son. "Darien, I am so proud of you. So is your father." Hermione said smiling. Darien only shrugged. "He was my friend, mom. "I had to try and help him." He shook his head as he looked right at his parents. "He still doesn't remember me though. Doesn't he?"
Hermione and Remus looked at each other, both could sense the sadness in their son. With a deep sigh, Hermione shook her head. "I'm sorry, Darien. But no, he doesn't remember. The last thing he remembers is talking to me and Harry 12 years ago before he was blasted out the window. It's like you told us, Darien. He thinks he's still 16 years old." She said softly.
"He's a 16 year old boy in a man's body. We have to give him time to adjust to the change." Remus said with a faint smile. Darien nodded before he turned towards the Great Hall and went in with his friends.
Both Hermione and Remus watched as he go before looking at one another again. "He's disappointed." She whispered. Remus nodded slowly. "He'll get over it, Swift. He can still be friends with Draco. They both just need time." He said. Harry and Ron both stepped closer watching Darien through the doorways. "We will try very hard to help Draco remember. Even though it's hopless." The dark haired Auror said. Ron nodded in agreement.
Remus slowly nodded before he looked at them. "Ron, you looked into the case about Severus, didn't you? What did you find out?"
"Nothing too out of the ordinary. It wasn't a creature attack at all. Someone stabbed him in the back." Ron shook his head. "Someone nearly killed him for some reason. We hope he wakes up soon so he can tell us who attacked him. That is..." He paused before Harry shook his head. "If he can." His friend finished for him.
Later in the day, Darien was sitting up in the Owlery with Rowena, looking out at the melting snow. He was thinking about everything that was happening to him, and also wondering what happened to Slytherin because after he showed Darien and his two friends what was in his journal, he hadn't showed up once. Darien hoped that the ghost was okay about what he relearned. He couldn't help but look at the gargoyles on the castle walls.
Surely none of these gargoyles were any of the ones that killed Slytherin, were they?
He was a little startled when one turned its head a little in his direction, as if it could sense his eyes. It didn't move again. Darien sighed as he began to run his fingers down Rowena's back. "Rowena, why can't they just leave me alone? I'm just a boy, a kid. What's so special about me?" He whispered to her. The raven gave a low caw as she bumped his head with her beak, making him smile. "I know, I know. You won't let them hurt me." He went silent for a while.
"I used come sit up here by myself too."
Darien jumped a little as he turned around sharply, his hand already had his wand out. He stopped when he saw that it was just Draco Malfoy. He could hear Rowena complaining a little when he jerked making her lose her balance on his arm a little. She managed to stay on though.
"The owls are a peaceful lot when they want to be." Draco said as he slowly walked in, looking around at the hundreds of owls. He had his hands in his pockets as he walked over the crud under his feet. He then looked back into Darien's multicolored eyes. They were both quiet for a long time before Draco faintly smiled at him. "Your mother told me what you did for me. She also told me that you used to talk to me while I was in my coma."
Darien only looked away, feeling his face flush. He didn't know what to say about it. What could he say? Draco didn't remember him. "I liked talking to you. You could listen without complaining."
That made Draco laughed softly as he tilted his head upwards to look at the owls again. "That's a real good excuse." He said. He looked back at the smile on Darien's face. He stepped a little closer. "So, you're responcible for my return. You helped free my soul from that Dementor."
Again, Darien looked away, remembering the way he had said it before in the Great Hall. "You didn't sound happy in the Great Hall, when you came back." He said. Draco now looked away before smiling down at him. "No, I didn't. But I am." He smiled even more when Darien looked up at him. "I'm very happy to be back and alive, Darien. It's just...before this all happened I was 16 years old. A boy who was caught up in something big. Your mother told you all about it, didn't she?"
Darien nodded. "Yeah. She said that you made her think that you were on Voldemort's side just help her and Harry."
Draco smiled as he tilted his head to the side. "That's right. I betrayed Voldemort to help the people I once hated. I also betrayed my own father. He wanted me to be like him, a Death Eater. A follower of the Dark Lord. But I didn't want to. And then I lose my soul to a Dementor and then wake up as this." He said looking himself over.
"It's mental, I know." Darien said, smiling when Draco laughed.
"Yes, it is." Draco said, still chuckling. "I don't know what you did, Darien, but I thank you greatly. If you hadn't done what you did, I would be dead. It was only a matter of time before my body decided to shut down. Without a soul, the body can't really survive. I guess I was strong enough to keep living. But then again," He paused smiling at Darien. "You were helping me."
Darien gave him a confused look. "Me? But didn't do anything. It was the nurse who..." He saying.
Draco shook his head as he placed his hand on Darien's shoulder. "No. The nurse may have been keeping my body healthy but it was you kept me spiritially." He faintly smiled still seeing the confused look on Darien's face. "I may not remember very much, Darien. But I do remember a dream I had during my coma. I dreamed of something strange. I remember seeing you in the dream. That's why I was staring at you in the Great Hall. But I also remembering hearing a voice. I remember someone once said that they would never give up on me, no matter what."
Darien grinned. "That was me! You actually heard me!"
"Did you also say something about a kid giving you an early grave? Because I remember someone said that." Draco said with a confused frown.
Darien burst out with laughter and shook his head. "No. That was mom. She says that about me all the time. She says it because I always manage to get into trouble or I say the wildest things. Just like how she used to do with Harry and Ron." He said. Draco chuckled before he looked at the raven. "That yours?"
"Yeah. This is Rowena. She's been protecting me." Darien said stroking the raven's back.
Draco frowned a little as if he was remembering something. "From the Umbra, right?" He asked. Darien looked up at him in curiousity. "Yeah. Did mom and dad tell you?" He asked. Draco shook his head. "No. Dumbledore did. He told me what was going on here at the castle. And I told him what I knew about the Umbra." He said. Darien looked at him with surprise. "You know about it?!"
"Yes. I do. And I'm wishing that didn't." Draco answered.
Darien bumped his arm a little to let Rowen climb off, which she did before he stood up quickly facing Draco. "Draco, what do you know that might be able to help me? Maybe it could." He said sounding a little anxious to know.
The white blonded haired wizard only frowned as he fought to remember. "Well, I know that it's very dangerous. It's a darkness demon that has been around for hundreds of years. Maybe thousands. It's one of the oldest demons in our world." He frowned even more. "I've seen it once or twice."
"You have?! Where? How?" Darien asked with surprise.
Draco gave him a faint smile before trying to remember again. "It was years ago. Many years. In my second year, I believe. Right after Hermione, your mother had been attacked by the Baskilisk. I was doing some research on the Chamber of Secrets. Trying to figure something out. I found this book in the library, the forbidden section, and it said something about it."
Rowena began to caw loudly and flapping her wings. It was like she was trying to tell them something. Darien seemed to know. It had to be about the book that Draco read. "Draco, can you remember anything about the book? Could you show me it? It might be able to tell me how to get rid of the Umbra!" He said. Draco just stared at him before smiling. "Yeah. I remember everything about the book and I can show it to you. Come on." He said turning away from him. Darien held out his arm and the raven flew to him. Then he hurried after Draco.
As the two hurried down to the library, they ran into Lionel and Rex along the way. Apparently they had been looking for Darien. Darien quickly explained to them what they were doing as the two fellow Gryffindors followed them.
"So, you really think that this book might be able to tell us more about the Umbra?" Rex asked as he practically jogged after the taller three.
Darien glanced back at him before looking at the raven flying above them. "When Draco mentioned the book, Rowena kind of went a little crazy. I know it sounds funny guys but I really think she knows about the Umbra. Slytherin said that they're very smart birds." He said. Draco slowly down a little as they approached the library before he nodded to the young werewolf. "They are smart. No one really knows how smart but they really are. I believe that's why the raven is the mascot for the Ravenclaw house." He said. Darien nodded as he held up his arm for the raven to land on it.
The four slowly walked into the library so that they wouldn't attract attention from Madam Pince, who didn't even seem to notice them at all. She was too busy lecturing a few students for using books as target practice with their wands.
Draco looked around before nodding towards the forbidden section. "You guys go take a seat in the farthest corner of the library while I look for that book. Students are not allowed in the forbidden section." He told them.
Darien, Lionel and Rex nodded as they left Draco and went over to a table. All three glancing around at the other occupants of the library. There was quite a few students they didn't even know. But their eyes were on three very annoyed looking Slytherins, who were quietly complaining to one another. Lionel growled at the sight of Whitman and his two goons but Darien held fast to his arm. "Don't even think about it, Lionel. Like you really need to be in trouble again because of those three." He said. Lionel nodded, still glaring at the three Slytherin students. Darien and his two friends sat down and waited for Draco to return, still looking around.
"Hey, have you been thinking about what we saw in the journal?" Rex asked.
Darien nodded along with Lionel. "Yeah. I've been thinking about it. It kind of makes me scared of the gargoyles of Hogwarts now." The blonde said. Darien snorted before agreeing with him. "No kidding. Slytherin once told me that the gargoyles were all watching me for the Umbra. And to think about it even more, one of them just might be the demon."
Rex shuddered as he did think about it. "Man, I don't think I ever want to go near another gargoyle again." He said. His two friends laughed, eventually making him laugh.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here, boys."
Immediately the three Gryffindors's moods fell as they turned around and glared at Whitman and his two friends. "Oh great. It's Wimpy Whitman. What do you want?" Lionel growled.
Whitman sneered at him. "We can be in the library all we want too, Nazi. It's not just for stupid Germans like you." He said. Lionel almost shot to his feet to get at Whitman but a hand immediately fell onto his shoulder, keeping him from standing up. All three Gryffindors looked up to see the serious look on Draco's face. Under his armpit, he was carrying a very large and worn book. Darien felt his excitement flare up a little. It must have been the book that would tell them about the Umbra. He didn't say anything though. Because the look on Draco's face wasn't really a pleasant one.
"Do we have a problem here?" Draco asked coolly.
All three Slytherins all looked at him with confusion and uneasiness but the Whitman sneered at him. "No. We're just having a friendly conversation with them." He said, lifting his head higher. It more than likely he thought that Draco would just give him a warning and walk away like one of the Aurors would. But Draco stood right where he was.
"It sure sounded like a friendly conversation." Draco said sarcastically. "If I ever hear you call Lionel a Nazi again, you better be running for you life, kiddo. Because I'll turn you into a slug, got that? Since you want to act like one, you'll become one." He then turned his icy eyes onto Parkinson. "And, you, tell your mother to stay the hell away from here. She causes nothing but trouble for this school."
"How dare you! I should report you to the Headmaster or...or the Minister of Magic!" Whitman said angrily.
Darien, Lionel and Rex smirked as they watched how Whitman's temper was flaring because of Draco. They were finding this hilarious. Draco, however, smirked the very same smirk he used when he was younger. It was the same smirk he always used against Harry Potter and his friends. "Go right ahead. See if I care. They won't do anything but give me a lecture. And I've had a lot of those in my life. Now bugger off. We're busy here."
Whitman glared up at Draco. "Who are you to tell us what to do?!"
Draco's smirk grew wider as he gave the three Slytherins a vampire like smile. "Draco Malfoy. And may I learn your name?"
Darien and his two friends watched as Ian Whitman's face slowly drained of color. It was not doubt that he knew that name very well. But how did he know it? Maybe he knew it from Hermione's books or maybe...he had heard it from his own father. "You're...Dr-Draco Malfoy? That's impossible. My father said that Draco Malfoy was dead."
"Oh really? What's your father's name then?" Draco asked. "Maybe I'd know him."
Whitman shook his head. He wasn't going to say. So Darien decided to tell him what their names were. "His name's Ian Whitman, Draco. And his father is Taurine Whitman. He's a Death Eater."
The look Whitman gave him was not pleasant at all. He was giving the young werewolf the most iciest look he could manage. There was definitely extreme loathing in that look.
Draco however, chuckled as he tossed his white bangs out of his eyes. "Ah. A Whitman, huh? And not just any Whitman, Taurine's kid."
"Did you know him, Draco?" Lionel asked with a smirk.
Draco nodded with a smirk. "Yeah. I knew him all right. Taurine Whitman used to follow my father around, treating him like some kind of god. That is until he screwed up a mission for Voldemort." The three Slytherins flinched at the sound of the Dark Lord's name. "He was suppose to kill a bunch of enemies of Voldemort's, but he couldn't. He killed a valuable Death Eater instead. That put him on Voldemort's shit list. He had to hide for a while until the Dark Lord's temper went down." Draco then shook his head as he set the book down on the table. "Do yourself a favor, Ian. Don't follow your father's footsteps. He's a Death Eater and a wanted murderer. I see that you're a Slytherin and I respect that. I like other Slytherins. But I don't like dark wizards. Dark wizards only get theirselves in trouble. Now go do your homework or something." He told him.
Whitman just glared at him before he turned and stormed away. Parkinson and Ewart just stared at Draco before they turned and followed their leader. Draco then looked at Lionel. "Ya all right, Lion?"
Lionel faintly smiled at him. "Yeah. Thanks, Malfoy. They won't be bothering us for a while."
Draco shook his head as he pulled out a chair and sat down between him and Darien. "They're Slytherins. They always come back for more. I'm a Slytherin too so I would know." He then turned his attention to the book before them. "It took me a while to try and find this thing but it was right where I left it when I last saw this thing."
Darien looked at the large book's cover. The writing on it was faded away so he couldn't see what the title was. He frowned as he just stared at the book. "Draco, what is it?" He asked.
Draco glanced at him before he opened the cover to the first page. The pages were quite ancient and very delicate looking so he was being very careful with handling them. On the page was written; Ancient Mythology of Daimons. It didn't say who wrote it though.
"Daimons? What's that?" Rex asked.
Darien shook his head. "It's another word for demons." he then looked at Draco. "Draco, how old is this book?"
Draco just shook his head as he carefully began flipping the pages, searching for something. "It's very old, Darien. I think one of the oldest books in this entire library. I think it was written in the 1200's by a wizard who had studied demons his entire life. Now a days they call that kind of study Demonology. I can't remember his name though. The name was never really written in this book. It's amazing that this book has lasted so long." He informed the young Gryffindors.
"Yeah, no kidding there. If it's that old." Lionel said putting his feet up on the table only to get them knocked off again by Draco. "Tables aren't for feet, Lionel. Besides, if Madam Pince catches you with your feet on them, she'd have a cow." The platinum haired wizard warned. Lionel only pulled a face before leaning back in his chair with his arms folded behind his head.
Darien was looking at the book with interst as he watched Draco flip the ancient pages. "Does this book really have something on the Umbra?"
"Yeah. It does have something. This is an ancient book on demons and hardly ever used because Hogwarts didn't really have problems with demons before until now. Ah ha! Here we are!" Draco said as he found a page with a colored corner.
Darien frowned at Draco. "Did you mark in this book?"
Draco smirked at him with carelessness. "Yeah. So what? I was young and I didn't care too much about books only that they gave me knowledge of things. Anyway stop complaining. You're about to find out more about the Umbra demon." Darien didn't say anything after that.
The four of them just looked at the book; the raven just standing on the back of Darien's chair. She cawed a few times before going quiet. There was an ancient drawing of a demon, the Umbra. The ink was quite faded out but they still could see it.
"What does it say?" Lionel asked, his eyes squinting at the tiny words scrawled on the pages.
Draco bent a little closer to the pages, frowning as he tried to read. "It's been a while since I last read this book but I remember a little of what it says. It says,
Daimon of Darkness-umbra; inis. (fog, mist, darkness)
Transf., (mental darkness, calamity and gloom)
Umbra; demon of darkness; a demon who dwells in
shadows of the world, magic and muggle. An ancient evil
that has lived for hundreds of years, since the Dark Wars.
During the Dark Ages, before the Umbra became a daimon,
it was a dark sorcerer; an advocate of Beliar De Diablo; a
Warlock, who had fallen during the Dark Ages. After his
master's fall, Umbra was exiled from the wizarding world
like many of his brethren; also followers of De Diablo. The
exciled advocates were stripped of their magical inheritance
using a very anciet magic; Negatus Mysterium.
Draco stopped when he heard all three young Gryffindors gasp. He gave them all questioning looks as they just looked at one another with wide eyes. "What? What's wrong?" He asked. Darien shook his head quickly before he waved for Draco to continue. "Later! Does it say anything about that spell?" He asked. Draco just gave him a queer look before looking down at the book again. After a minute, he shook his head. "It doesn't say anything about the Negatus Mysterium. Just more information about Umbra. Why are you all getting freaky about that spell?"
"Never mind, Draco. We'll tell you after you're done. What else does it say?" Darien asked. Draco just eyed him for a minute before he went on reading the info it was saying.
"Once stripped of magic, Umbra travelled in the darkness of the
world, hiding from others that hunted him. He swore revenge on
those who exciled him; which lead him into converting to a daimon.
Information of how he had done it is a mystery. It was said that he
found himself captured by dark creatures of the night and later he
became their leader. He was not seen for many, many years until
he revealed himself as a daimon to non-magic folk. The Umbra
daimon revealed that he had the dark powers of the hours of
darkness. It could travel as a maisma; cloud of darkness; or a
night's mist. It also had the powers of transformation; turning into
many monsters, people, and dark animals of the night.
However, though it is dangerous, magical folk had learned that
it could not stand the light of day. Light of any sort burned its skin.
"Well, looks like we found its weakness." Draco said with a shrug. Darien, Rex and Lionel didn't say anything. They had already figured out what the Umbra's weakness had been. Unfortunately, it always managed to escape in time before it could be destroyed.
"Centuries passed during the daimon's wraith upon the world,
and yet, no one could assume how to stop it. It soon was given
a name; The Bringer of Gloom and Calamity because of its
cruelty on mankind. It was then the great wizard, Merlin, fought the
daimon, banishing its stolen powers, leaving the Umbra daimon powerless. It was locked
away in a pit of darkness; a tomb of endless black; banished from the world. No persons
had seen it ever again."
All three Gryffindors looked at one another with confusion. They were all wondering the same thing. If the Umbra had been locked away, how did it get out again? Draco seemed to read their minds because he flipped a few more pages. "It doesn't really end there. There's another entry about the demon of darkness. Only this time it's called Caligo."
That was like a punch in the gut for Darien. His mind immediately ran to the Divination Professor when he heard that name. "Wh-what does it say?"
Draco shook his head. "It says here that Caligo is a gargoyle, rumored to be a darkness demon. Though it's only rumors. It doesn't say very much about it." He then pulled out another book from within his cloak. "However, I have checked up on gargoyles before. This book I've carried a few times." The book was very small, pocket sized so it was easy to carry. "It comes from the library of my own house." Darien just stared as Draco opened it, searching for the entry. "The gargoyle called Caligo was the leader of a large clan called the Darkwyngs. The clan of gargoyles were quite the band in the middle ages. Some were mischievous while others were quite docile and passive. Because of the differences, they split into different clans. While the Darkwyngs were the wild and mischievous group, the other clan were the quiet ones. They eventually called theirselves the Amity clan, which later split again because the numbers grew too great." Draco told the three students. "The thing is about gargoyles, even though they had different clans, they were still all family. There were strong ties between each clan. That can be a problem."
"Why? Why is that a problem." Lionel asked, still looking at him.
Draco shook his head as he stared at the book. "Because if the Umbra is really the gargoyle, Caligo, he's going to be very hard to get to. If he calls on the gargoyles for help, we are in trouble. If a gargoyle is in trouble, it can call on its clans, or any close by gargoyle, and they will come to its brethren's protection."
Darien gave a sharp breath as he remember something. He remembered what Slytherin had said about the gargoyles of Hogwarts.
"Every gargoyle you see in this castle is connected to that one. Except one. The one who guards the Headmaster's quarters and office. Every gargoyle you see in the halls, watch their eyes. They watch you like a hawk. Mainly you."
"Darien? Darien, what's wrong?" Rex's voice broke into Darien's thoughts. Darien shook his head as he looked at his friends with wide eyes. "The gargoyles! They're working with the Umbra!"
Draco squinted his eyes. "What?"
"The gargoyles in the castle and on the roof! They're with the Umbra! I remember in Slytherin's Hogwarts, A history book! There was a gargoyle that Slytherin was always talking to when he wasn't around the other founders!" Darien said speedily. He then looked at Lionel and Rex. "Remember in the journal?! Slytherin showed us when he spoke to the gargoyle! That was Caligo the gargoyle!"
Rex and Lionel both gasped as they remembered. "Hey! The Divination teacher! His name is Caligo, isn't it?!" The blonde exclaimed. Darien's eyes lit up just thinking about it.
However, Draco quickly rose a hand. "Hey, hey, hey! Now you're jumping to conclusions." He said quickly. All three Gryffindors looked at him. "But..." Darien started.
"Darien, I don't know anything about this new Divination teacher but before you start pointing fingers, I better warn you now. The name Caligo is very common in the magical world. There are quite a few names that deals with Caligo. There is Caligo DeVanquie, a french wizard who into magical artistry. There's also the Greenwhich Potion's master, Caligo Conners. There are quite a lot of Caligos in the world. And pointing fingers at the Divination Professor is not going to help at all. Isn't he new to Hogwarts this year?"
All three nodded. "Yeah. But..." Rex started to say.
"Just to let you know there is a wizard called Alexander Caligo, who is quite the fortune teller. He has a great eye of the Divination and he could be this Professor." Draco interupted. He shook his head. "What do you know about the Divination Professor? What's his full name?"
Darien slowly shook his head. "We don't know. We've never actually heard it. I don't think even dad knows his full name. Everyone just knows him as Professor Caligo." He said. Draco slowly shook his head before closing the book. "Well, then we have find out. Surely Dumbledore would know his name." He said standing up.
The three Gryffindors nodded as they stood up. They all turned to leave the library only to freeze.
Standing right in front of them, looking very forbidding, was Professor Caligo. He was giving them all a very hard look and it was very clear that he had overheard what they all just said. Darien stiffened at the sight of the Professor and so did his two friends. However, Draco looked confused. He had yet to meet this man and the look he was getting, he knew something was up.
"Pro-Professor C-Caligo!" Darien stammered. That made even Draco tense up to learn who this man was. Professor Caligo turned his eyes onto the young student, squinting a little. He didn't look happy one bit.
"How...how are you?" Darien asked, wincing a little because his voice faultered.
The Divination Professor lift his head a little higher, his eyes squinting in dislike. "I was doing very well minutes ago, Young Lupin, before I just heard your suspicions. I must say, I am very disappointed that you do not trust me. A Hogwarts teacher." He slowly shook his head, his chin startig to dig into his own neck. "I should have seen this coming in my crystal ball. I should have known that you were going to distrust me."
Darien swallowed hard. He didn't like the way the Professor said that. Draco, however, tucked the books under his arm, his own eyes narrowing. "What are you doing listening to our conversation anyway? That's snooping you know?" He ignored the icy look the Divination teacher gave him. "And stop looking at me like that."
"Pro-Professor, we're not accusing you of anything. It's just..." Lionel was saying.
"Do not lie, Young Boyd. I have heard what you said while searching for few divination books to read. Plus I was coming to speak to Young Darien about something." Professor Caligo said as he turned his eyes back onto Darien. Darien immediately knew what he was going to talk to him about. The divination lessons. He immediately felt guilt building up. But then Professor Caligo frowned even deeper. "I know that you told your friend, Darien, about the lessons. You honestly thought you could tell him without me finding about it? I am a Divination Professor."
The young Gryffindor winced. "Professor, I didn't mean..."
"It is quite all right, Young Lupin." The Professor interrupted. "That was the reason why I was coming to speak to you. I have decided not to teach you early Divination lessons. I'm afraid the Headmaster had found out through Professor Severus Snape, who had taken the liberty of using Occulemency on me one night. I have told you that it was risky teaching you without the permission of the Headmaster or your parents. I am not allowed to teach you longer."
For some reason, Darien was feeling something worst. Just learning that he would not be learning Divination now was feeling like someone was stabbing him in the chest. He could almost feel a terrible headache starting to build up in his mind and it was feeling like someone was hitting him over the head or stabbing him with pins and needles. He winced a little while the Professor was speaking to him, before touching his temple.
That cut the Professor off as he frowned with concern. "Young Lupin?" He asked before stepping forward. "Darien, what's wrong?"
Draco, Lionel and Rex looked over at the young werewolf before looking even more concerned. Darien, however, just rubbed his right temple as the headache grew worst. It soon became a stabbing pain making him cry out and fall to his knees. "Darien!" Draco cried out as he dropped the books and sank down beside him. Even Professor Caligo rushed forward and sank down to one knee, grabbed his shoulder.
"Argh!" Darien just cried out as the pain inside his head grew worst. It was excruciating and he could feel nothing but the pain in his head. "Make it stop! It hurts!" He found himself crying out as he dropped his bookbag and grabbed his head with both hands.
"Darien, what's wrong?!" Draco cried out.
Professor Caligo gritted his teeth, still looking concerned before he placed his two fingers on Darien's forehead, his eyes snapping shut. He threw his head back, hissing a little as if he felt the same pain Darien was, yet he never cried out as Darien was doing.
Inside Darien's mind, he was seeing flashes of darkness and could hear evil laughter. He could feel something drilling into his own mind, stabbing the insides and searching through each memories he had. It was the worst thing he ever felt. Even worst during the full moon nights. He suddenly felt something warm falling over him, almost like the hot rays of the sun touching his skin.
"Hold on, Young Lupin! I'll get him out of your mind!" He heard Professor Caligo's voice inside his head.
Darien just cried out again as he felt another stab inside his head. But this time, it was weaker. He could almost feel someone battling inside his own mind, pulling whatever it was that was attacking him out. Soon, after only minutes, the pain vanished leaving Darien feeling very weak and sore. He felt like he had a terrible fever. His brow was sweating terribly and his body was shaking. He was even having a hard time breathing.
"Darien, are you all right?" He heard Draco ask
"It's all right now, Darien." Professor Caligo said as he held onto Darien's shoulder. "It is gone."
Darien rubbed his head as if he still could a feel a headache before he looked at the Divination Professor. "Professor, what happened? What was that?" He asked. He felt himself being lifted up to his feet. He staggered a little but Draco had a firm grip on him.
Professor Caligo was rubbing his own head, wincing quite a bit. "It was the Umbra, my young friend. He was using his own Divination powers against you. He must be here." he said looking around sharply. Draco had his wand out the second the Professor said that, his icy blue eyes searching the library. Even Lionel and Rex had their wands out. Darien just sighed wearily. "Why can't he just leave me alone? I wanted to have a normal school year, not abnormal."
Draco smirked at that idea. "To have a normal school year in Hogwarts? Exactly what is normal here?"
Lionel and Rex sniggered while Darien just looked around the ceiling. He jumped a little when he heard Rowena caw and fly over to his shoulder. He glanced at her, seeing her fierce blue eyes on the Divination Professor. Before Darien could say anything or even look at the Professor, he turned when he heard someone hurrying over.
"Darien!"
Everyone looked over to see Remus, Sirius and Harry hurrying over to the group. They were all looking concerned. "Darien, we heard you cry out. What happened?!" Remus asked as he rushed over to Darien's side and place his hands on his shoulders. Draco stepped back to let them have room. Darien just shook his head. "I'm okay now, dad. Professor Caligo helped me." He said. Remus looked over at the Divination Professor before he looked at Draco, who nodded. "I don't know what happened, Professor, but whatever it was, Professor Caligo got rid of it." The platinum haired wizard said.
Remus let out a deep sigh before he shook his head, straightening. His hands still on Darien's shoulders. "Darien, I've had enough of this. I can't stop worrying about you because of this creature. You're in danger while here at Hogwarts." He said with a frown.
"Dad, what are you talking about?" Darien asked uneasily.
Remus just looked into his son's eyes with a gloomy expression. "Darien, you're not going to stop your studies. I promise you that. But I want you to go home and stay there until we find this monster and stop him." He saw the pained expression on Darien's face and he nodded. "Yes, Darien. I'm sending you home, away from Hogwarts."