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Chapter 37: Anger, Lose, Guilt

Gabriel:

He found her lying on the floor huddled around a mirror with an older girl wearing Ravenclaw robes and for a moment, just the tiniest moment, he hoped it was a nightmare. Something his father cooked up just to force him in to his little games. But when he kneeled down next to her, he knew it wasn't.

"Oh my!" A voice behind him screeched.

Gabriel didn't turn, he didn't even flicker. He slowly placed his hand on Hermione's cheek and winced at how cold and hard her skin felt.

"I shall get the Headmaster." That's when he snapped. Jolting upright he faced the intruder, eyes flashing and wings flaring up threateningly. He didn't care about his secret any more. He was angry and an angel's anger was like fire, all consuming. The school nurse who had been standing behind him, paled at the sight.

"GO!" he yelled, lightning flashing behind him. The nurse spun on her heel and ran from the enraged archangel. When he turned back to Hermione, Gabriel felt his grace burn inside him as if he had been stabbed by an angel blade. His skin was glowing and felt the heat of his grace reach out to Hermione trying to wake her. She didn't even stir.

Gabriel began to sob. Hermione had gotten hurt because he answered his brother's call. His girl had gotten hurt because he didn't come when she called.

The glow of his grace dimmed and he numbly realised that the stone had been scorched in his temper. Picking Hermione up in his lap, he began cradling her- like he used to do when she was little and scared. Exactly as she was now. He could feel it, her soul was screaming in fear flowing at her own mind trying to get out. It sickened Gabriel to his core and he sobbed. He continued sobbing even when Dumbledore arrived and when he carried her to the Informer. That's where he sat and waited, with one thought running threw his mind.

'This is my fault.'

Harry:

Harry felt his heart break when he and Ron came stumbling into the infirmary behind Professor McGonagall. Hermione's godfather was leaning over her frozen body, silent tears dripping down his face whilst he stroked back her hair as if he was confronting her. Harry felt the need to do the same when he saw his friend lifeless and frozen.

"Hermione!" Ron gasped behind him causing Gabriel to look up and both the boys froze.

Gabriel's eyes were so full of pain and rage that Harry could have sworn they were glowing. When the man recognised who it was, he nodded and scooted over so that both boys could come closer and see their friend; never stopping his comforting strokes over her hair.

It was silent for a second before Professor McGonagall spoke,"She was found near the library. With this." She lifted up a red mirror passing it to Harry. "Does this mean anything to either of you?"

Both boys shook their head. She nodded grimly and took a step back while Harry took another forward. He felt lost. What were they supposed to do now? Hermione was gone, the heir of Slytherin was still on a rampage, the diary was missing and Hermione's godfather was destroyed.

Harry gave the man next to him another look. The usually energetic, chirpy man was now still and had an air of anger and sorrow surrounding him. It made the young wizard shiver. He didn't know what to do. Should he attempt to comfort the man? Gabriel was still a stranger to him. Despite the fact that his best friends godfather spoke a lot, he never really said anything. All Harry and Ron really knew about him was:
1) He was Hermione's godfather.
2) He was an American wizard who liked pranks.
3) Gabriel would do anything for Hermione.

After a long silence, Professor McGonagall spoke again, "Mr Potter, Mr Weasley. I am sorry but we must be returning to the Gryffindor Tower. I have an announcement to make." The boys nodded and slowly moved away from Hermione's side.

Harry was about to turn around when Gabriel grabbed his wrist. Surprised, Harry turned towards Gabriel and was about to ask him what he wanted, only to be shocked into silence by the intensity of man's stare. For a split second, Harry wondered when the golden eyes had turned silver, but instead he felt a compulsion to listen, very carefuly, to what Gabriel had to say.

"I will find who did this," Gabriel hissed, his voice missing his usual playful tone, "And when I do they will burn, I can promises you that." With that, he let go off his hand to turn back to Hermione.

Harry wasn't sure if the promise was actually meant for his benefit or not, but he was sure that when they found the heir of Slytherin, the heir would not survive an encounter with Gabriel Stelio.

Dumbledore:

Dumbledore had been speechless when he had arrived in the west corridor that led to the library. The entire stone floor was black as if it had been set ablaze, the paintings had been screeching in fear covering their eyes as if they were about to be burnt out of their sockets and in the centre of all this madness was Gabriel Stelio cradling a young petrified Miss Granger.

If that scene didn't prove to him that Mr Stelio wasn't just a man, nothing would. Yet, there still lies the question what this man was. He had gloated that Miss Granger knew and that she had found out on her own at the age of seven. He also hinted that he believed Miss Granger was perhaps even more powerful than him. Dumbledore didn't dispute that that may be the case, after all she was said to be rather brilliant and showed more control at her young age than some seventh years. However, he wasn't convinced that Mr Stelio really knew how advanced she was or how strange he was behaving for a supposed American wizard. The headmaster was pondering this as he made his way to the hospital wing.

Pushing the door open, he took in the scene that was set out before him. Gabriel Stelio was sitting by his goddaughter's side unmoving almost like a statue. Yet even in this static state, the power that rushed through him was fierce and in his state of anger Gabriel seemed to demand complete control of those around him. Dumbledore looked over to Madam Pomfrey who had been quite shaken up by the interesting man's performance earlier. Now she showed an almost sympathetic look on her face around him, however she did not dare to move any closer to him.

"Poppy," Dumbledore called to the nurse.

"Yes Albus?"

"Could you give us a moment? I must speak with Mr Stelio in private."

She nodded in his direction and without a word she slipped through the door that led to her own chambers.

"What do you want?" Gabriel hissed not looking up from Hermione. The power he desplaied in his voice caused Dumbledore to wince. "I don't know what did this. Do you think if I did, I would be sitting here? If I knew the one responsible would be falling from astronomy tower. Repeatedly."

When the old professor took in the parlance of the younger man, he felt sympathy grow inside his chest. He looked so mournful, slumped on the chair he was positioned in next to Miss Granger's bed; he appeared like a lost and alone child. His eyes were red from crying, haunted by guilt and rage. Dumbledore sighed and placed a hand reassuringly on Gabriel's shoulder.

"I am not here to ask about your findings. I am here to inform you that I am leaving." He felt Gabriel stiffen under his hand. When he turned to look Dumbledore in the face, the old Professor almost took a step back.

"You're leaving! The kids are being attack. My girl was attacked and you're leaving!" The glasses of water Poppy had laid out on the bedsides of the students began to shatter.

"I assure you, Mr Stelio, if it were up to me I would be staying. However, the school governors have agreed to suspend me until farther notice. Lucius Malfoy's work, no doubt."

Gabriel looked at him eyebrows raised, but before he could add in his quip, Dumbledore continued, "I also came to reassure you that the deal you have with me regarding you're comings and goings will pass on to Minerva who has agreed on my instruction."

Letting go of Gabriel's shoulder, Dumbledore collected a bottle of Madam Pomfrey's desk. He turned back to the strange man with a smile, "Also, I believe you will be wanting to talk with Mr Weasley and Mr Potter. They were in Hagrid's hut a few moments ago. Probably best to make sure the two aren't getting into trouble. Miss Granger is rather fond of the two."

Gabriel:

Gabriel watched the old man go for a moment. He still wasn't quite sure if he liked the old Professor or not. He had attempted to be kind and he had made sure he could still come and go, but Gabriel couldn't help but feel like there was an ulterior motive for all of this.

Despite his doubts, Gabriel turned on his angel radar to sense if those two were alright or not, for if Hermione woke up and she found out that he let something happen to Tweedledumb and Tweedleddumber, she would never forgive him.

Letting out an angry sigh, he noticed once again the castle was blocking his grace and making it rather hard to locate the two boys. (He really should find angel repeling ruins they were beginning to get on his nerves.)

"Are you kidding me?!" the angel yelled once he found the boys. Rolling his eyes, he gave Hermione a kiss on the forehead before vanished with a flutter of his wings

….

He reappeared in what he assumed was the Dark forest. Only to see the boys sitting in a torques Ford Anglia (what is a Ford Anglia doing in this forest anyway?) which was currently being attacked by a giant spider.

"Well, isn't that just dandy?"