Part XXV:
Once Upon a Midnight Dreary:
Harry covered Hermione's head with his hands, and ducked down with her as what appeared to be hundreds of ravens overtook them. He could barely hear Hermione's screams over the 'cawing' and rustling sounds coming from the flock. Birds pulled on their hair, pecked at their faces, tore their clothing. Hermione was shouting, and Harry was as well. Hermione's arms were frantically flying around her head, but then went directly to cover her stomach. Both of them were repeatedly bitten and pecked by the villainous birds. Harry finally pushed Hermione to the floor of the widow's walk, covered her body with his, though that left his back vulnerable. He pointed his hand with wand in the sky, and yelled out, "Reducto!"
The birds scattered everywhere, but as that flock spread, a new one seemed to come at them from the other side, it what appeared to be a well-planned fight. It was already apparent that these were no average ravens. It was as if they were trained in military battles, one group attacking from one flank, another from the other. Hermione let out a piercing scream that was heard all the way down to the room where Nick Boot was visiting with his brother Don. He heard the scream and ran up to the third floor. Ron was walking up the stairs when he too heard her scream. He joined Nick on the attic stairs.
Harry could no longer fight the birds. All he could do was try to protect Hermione and her baby. Every time he tried to lift his arm to disperse the birds, they would find a way to attack her, so he had to lay completely on top of her, as she huddle on her side, on the floor, in a ball. Suddenly, someone tried to open the trapdoor, but Harry and Hermione were lying on top of it. Harry heard Ron's voice shouting for them over the sounds of Hermione's screams and the macabre sounds of the birds, so he rolled slightly to his left, pulling Hermione with him and the trapdoor opened for Ron and Nick Boot. Ron stood on the stairs, pulled on Hermione's arm, pulling her across the ground, and then down through the door. As soon as Ron got Hermione to the opening in the floor, he lifted her up and ran down the narrow stairs to the attic bedroom.
Nick fought his way up the stairs, and out the trapdoor, and he tried to reach for Harry, who by this time was doubled over in pain, and could no longer fight. Finally, Nick pointed his wand at the birds, uttered a spell Harry had never heard before, and most of the birds disappeared. He then he grabbed Harry's arm and disapparated him to the room below.
Several of the birds escaped into the house with them. Ron set Hermione on her feet, and while keeping one arm around her, sent several hexes toward the offending birds. Nick let go of Harry's arm to help Ron. Hermione collapsed on the bed where Draco's body lay, yelling for Ron to protect Draco, but instead he pulled her into his arms, kept them tightly around her, and apparated her down to the living room, leaving Nick and Harry to kill the remaining stragglers.
Ginny ran from the kitchen, and shouted, "What happened!" Hermione had cuts and lacerations all over her arms, upper body and face. Her clothing was torn and her hair matted. A moment later, Harry and Nick appeared. Harry's injuries outshone those of Hermione; his sleeves and the back of his jacket were torn to shreds, and the wounds on his face and neck were open and bleeding freely.
Nick and Ron, while slightly injured with a few pecks and bites, were not as hurt as the other two. Ron placed his hands on Hermione's face and said, "Are you okay?"
"Tell me what happened!" Ginny shouted again.
"We were attacked by ravens," Harry said, as his wife forced him to sit down. She helped him removed his shredded jacket and shirt. She hissed when she saw the wounds on his face, neck and back.
Hermione asked Nick to move Draco to another room. Without question, he went to do so, as Ron ran to the kitchen to get a wet cloth for Hermione.
Harry brushed his wife's helpful hands aside, stood up and went to Hermione. He turned her around, checking to see if she was injured worse than she appeared. "Is the baby okay?"
"Harry," was all she could say.
"Hermione?" he asked back, but then he already knew what she wanted to say.
"The ravens."
"I know. Helena Boot."
Bleak December:
Hermione hadn't seen Draco since they left Don's Boots office. He insisted walking her back up to her common room, and then he left her there to stew. He wasn't happy that she had stayed behind, he was talking cryptically about things in which she had no clue as to what they meant, and furthermore, he refused to admit that she was right about staying at Hogwarts. She was safer here; she knew it in her heart.
Before he left the portrait way he placed his hand in hers, pulled it up to his face, kissed the top, and said, "You'll get answers as soon as we do. I'll come back and get you for lunch." He gave her a sad smile, and then pulled his hand from hers. She watched as he walked down the hallway and out of sight.
She entered the empty common room and sat down on one of the long sofas. There were only two other Gryffindors who stayed behind for the holidays. With the threat of Voldemort hanging over all of their heads, and all the unsettling things happening in their world right now, ranging from Werewolf attacks, to disappearances and murders, most parents wanted their children safe within the bosoms of their families.
Hermione knew that Harry and Ron were undoubtedly worried about her, so she wrote them a small note, along with another one for her parents, and told them she was safe and at school. She knew that Draco had told her to remain in the common room until lunch, but with only one second year little boy and one seventh year girl as company, she wasn't about to spend her day in Gryffindor tower. She took her letter to her parents, and the one to the boys, and she headed to the Owlery.
The stone steps up to the Owlery were covered with black ice, which made each step treacherous and dodgy. She almost slipped twice on the way up. She reached the top, placed the note to the boys on an old, brown, barn owl's leg, and the one to her parents on a pretty, snowy white owl's leg. She watched as both owls flew off into the distance, and waited at the opened archway windows until both turned into small specks in the sky. She leaned on the window seal and sighed. She felt restless and unsure of herself. She didn't like not knowing what was going on. She didn't like that Draco was keeping secrets from her. She wanted to learn more about this Helena Boot. She also wanted to know what Draco and Don meant about the founders and their heirs. She turned to walk out the door when she heard two men speaking on the stairs leading up to the Owlery. She looked around, found a bale of hay, and hunched down beside it, out of sight.
"Do you think there's any merit to what Ellen told us?" Hermione heard one of the men say. She immediately recognized the voice as belonging to Terry Boot.
"She has no reason to lie," his brother Paul said back. Then Paul called out, "Hermione Granger, where are you?"
Hermione sucked in a silent breath, shocked that she was discovered, and she was about to show herself, with her wand drawn, when she heard Terry say, "I really think she's safely in the future. I think the Hermione here at school is the one of this time."
"Let's hope so," Paul said. "It's bad enough that Don and Draco came back," Paul said, "It's not smart to mess with time travel, even if they did travel under a blue moon. In fact, I think its worse that they traveled under the blue moon. What's the point of coming back here to protect Hermione, if they really can't change the past? At least Ellen had the right idea, coming back without the protection."
"But without the blue moon protection, Ellen can't get back, and she's stuck here," Terry said.
"Better here and free, then to be in the future and in prison for something she didn't even do," Paul complained.
"Then you believe her story? You think she's innocent of trying to kill Hermione in the future?" Terry asked.
"She says she was made to do so. You heard her story. She says that the same thing happens to me in the future. It's not a hard concept to believe," Paul explained.
"But then that means our mother is behind all of this," Terry said. "I hate to think that."
"I do too, and frankly, I still don't know who to believe, Ellen or Don. Someone is the bad guy here, and until we can sort through all the rubbish, I will remain hidden and protect Hermione myself, and you'll remain sympathetic to both parties, to find out as much as you can," Paul plotted.
"About that, you need to talk to Don," Terry whined, "he still thinks you were out to get Hermione that day in the forest."
"I'm not out to get anyone, little brother. I want to know the truth, and all I know at this juncture is that this man comes here, claiming to be our brother from the future, and he tells us one thing, and then this woman comes, whom we've never met before, claiming to be our sister, and she tells us something else. Frankly, my head's spinning," Paul complained. "Furthermore, just because Nick believes Don doesn't mean squat to me."
"Nick's psychic. I think he could tell if Don's lying. I really think we should tell him we know who Ellen is. Maybe if he meets her, he can tell if she's telling the truth, because she might be lying. She might be the one trying to hurt Hermione, not our mother. Still, let's not tell mother anything, just in case what Ellen told us is true," Terry said back.
"You really think our mother is some evil witch who in the future will try to take over where Voldemort leaves off and will try to kill Hermione Granger for some odd reason? Our mother?" Paul asked.
"Yes, I think that," Terry said.
"Well, I still say, until we know for sure who's telling the truth, Ellen, who claims our mother is out to kill Hermione and Draco, or Don, who claims the evil perpetrator is Ellen, then we have to continue to trust no one, and play both sides against the middle. Above all else, protect Hermione, even if we have to protect her from Don and Draco."
"Don and Draco wouldn't hurt her," Terry said.
"We don't know anything," Paul said. "Just because that Vampire made you believe that Don and Draco are here to help, doesn't make it true. Don't trust anyone!"
"Does that include you?" Terry asked.
"Perhaps," Paul answered. Then he said, "Get me that Owl so I can send off this letter. If anyone can answer our questions, I think it's Aunt Kristina. She'll know if our mother had a child before she married Father, and if Ellen is really our sister. We'll start there, and weed through all the lies, and find out what's the truth."
Terry attached a letter to a tawny grey owl, and watched with his brother as it flew away. Paul said, "I have to go back now. Don't tell Don you saw me here."
"He'll want to ask questions of me, I'm sure. Hermione knew it was me in the village earlier, in my wolf form," Terry surmised.
"Tell him enough to answer his questions, but act as if you don't know who the panther was. Tell him it was a friend of the vampire's. Tell him anything. I don't care," Paul said.
Terry asked, "What's that?" He pointed toward one of the many opened archways in the circular tower as a black bird swooped down from the belfry and out an open window. Hermione moved her gaze to follow his hand from behind her hiding place.
Paul leaned forward and said, "It looks like a Raven. It's flying away from here. You don't suppose…no, surely not."
"We should have checked!" Terry said, pushing his brother. "It could have been anyone! They might have heard us talking!"
"It might also just be a raven. Don't worry little brother, it doesn't mean its one of the Brotherhood members. I'll be in touch and I'll see you tomorrow for Christmas Eve." He patted his brother's arm and ran down the icy stairs, careful not to slip on the way.
Terry stayed in the Owlery for what seemed like forever to Hermione. She was still crouched behind the bale of hay, she was cold, she had to sneeze, and frankly, she had to go to the toilet. Finally, she heard Terry trot down the stairs. She stood up slowly, her knees stiff from being in one position for so long.
She didn't find out much from her eavesdropping, but she did find out at least three solid things. One, the panther was Ellen and she was apparently here to stay since she couldn't get back to her time. Two, Don and Draco weren't sure who was trying to kill her anymore than Paul and Terry were sure, so she had to trust everyone and yet no one. Three, something was going on with ravens. She immediately thought of the ominous poem by Edgar Allen Poe, and as she ran down the icy steps, she said one word, "Nevermore."
Nevermore, Nevermore
Hermione wasn't hungry, so she skipped going to the Great Hall for lunch. Well, what she really skipped was Draco meeting her at the Gryffindor tower portrait way for lunch. She decided to munch on some snacks her mother sent her instead. She was alone, sitting on a window seat in the isolated section of the lonely library, reading the poem, 'The Raven' when she heard footsteps. She looked up. It was Draco.
For some inexplicable reason, she dropped her biscuit and her book and ran to him. She threw her arms around his waist. He was just as shocked by her actions as she was. He patted her back, and was about to say something condescending, when he felt moisture on his chest from her cheek. She had been crying. Instead of saying anything at all, he wrapped his arms around her tightly and stroked her hair. He leaned his head down and placed his cheek next to hers. He kissed her cheek and said, "I don't know what's wrong, but everything will be alright."
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" he asked. He pushed her away slightly.
"I don't know," she said with a small laugh. He took her hand and led her back to her seat.
"Why didn't you meet me?" he asked.
"I needed time to think," she explained. He leaned over and picked up the book, title: "Great Poems of the English Language". He perched it on her lap.
She fiddled with the spine of the musky old book and then asked, "What is the significance of ravens in this whole mystery?"
He frowned and took the book from her hand, placed it on the floor, and then asked, "Why?"
She told him about the conversation she heard from Terry and Paul. She knew of no valid reasons to keep it secret from him. He looked both shocked and excited and then upset by her story.
"The raven is significant because all members of the Brotherhood of the Raven have to become animagus, with the raven as their animal form. The Boot brothers are double animagus, which is rare, and that's only because they are direct descendents from Ravenclaw, from both their father, and for Terry, Paul and Nick, from their mother."
"Why a raven? Is it just because of her name, Ravenclaw? The Eagle is the Ravenclaw symbol. That would be like a Gryffindor becoming a griffin instead of a lion or something," she asked.
"A Griffin is a mythical animal, and we've had this discussion before," he said with a slow smile. "I need to tell Don everything you told me. He needs to know his brothers are being duplicitous, even if they think they are acting in the best interest of everyone."
She turned away from him, with her back toward him and she leaned her forehead against the wavy glass of the window. She said, "Can we just spend a few moments together? Why is everything between us only about this mystery? Can't we just talk? Can't we just spend some time together? No one is here to see us, so we're free to be together. Don't you want to be with me?"
He sighed and ran his fingers down her spine. The feel of the wool of her sweater was soft underneath his fingertips. He said, "The first time I lived this year, I was equally obsessed, but about other, darker, well maybe not darker, but equally dark things. I know I seem obsessed about this mystery, but it concerns our lives, Hermione."
She turned back to face him. She cocked her head to the side. He continued. "When I was here before, I was given a task by the Dark Lord himself. I can't tell you that task, but remember when you saw the Dark Mark, well I took it the summer before, at the bequest of my father who's in prison. Now that I'm older and wiser, I know that the task I was given was impossible. I was meant to fail. I did fail, in a way, and it was carried out by someone else." He turned from her slightly, hung his head, and clasped his hands between his legs.
This time she let her hand rest on his back. She leaned her cheek against his shoulder. The feel of his cashmere jumper on her cheek gave her comfort. He said, "At the time, I thought I was important, and that if I did the job before me, I would be saving the face of my family. It was a man's job, I was a boy, and I was riddled with doubts and confusion that whole year. It didn't help that Potter was suspicious of me that whole year, either."
"He thinks you're a Death Eater, which I guess you are, or were," she said softly.
"I guess," he agreed. "This time, I know that it doesn't matter what I do about the task from the past, because I've already made sure everything's in place. I know I can't stop it. I can't change the future, or the past, so I'm only here to protect you."
"Hey, that reminds me," she said. She pulled on his arm and placed it around her shoulders. He smiled and enveloped her as he placed the other arm around her front and clasped his hands together. "Why did you and Don come back if you can't change anything? Can you even really protect me? You claim you're here to stop Ellen, but can you stop her?"
"She's not part of the past, and stopping her will maintain the integrity of the future, so Don believes we can," he said. He looked worried. That was the very thing that nagged at him from the beginning.
"May I say one thing?" she asked.
"You can say anything you want, little one," he said. He looked around, made sure there were no witnesses, and then he lifted her onto his lap. He nuzzled his nose to her earlobe, and then kissed her neck.
"I think that Ellen really believes she's here to stop Helena Boot, and not to hurt me, and I think that the future Paul Boot told you and Don lies to make you come to the past, and he may have even told Ellen lies to get her to come here. I think it was to get you out of the way, so that your Hermione would be left vulnerable. I tell you, it's the future that's untold here, and that's what needs protecting. I have a bad feeling about this. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am. I hope everything's okay with the future."
He held her tightly and closed his eyes and said, "So do I, little one. So do I." She turned to look at him, and he cupped her cheek and kissed her lips softly. He wouldn't lose his future. He couldn't.
A/N: For those who don't like to read personal things about the writers, I'll warn you now so that you have the option to stop reading….for those of you who are not following my other two stories, I want to give you an update on my recent health scare. I had a tumor in my neck, and my doctor and the radiologist thought it was lymphoma, but it is benign, so that's great news! I have had two others before, also in my neck, and one in my kidney, but this time it is good news. Thanks for everyone's happy thoughts and prayers. I'll still have to have surgery to have it removed, but not right away, but after the Holidays!. Thanks again!