Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my thoughts of AU and OC, the rest all belong to J K Rowling.

Chapter 26

Dragon's Kelp, Appalachian Mountains

30th January, 1960

The North Teeth had the Dragon's Kelp's small but functional owlery way up its turret. Barred from going down to the catacombs or anywhere around the gatehouse, some of the Kelp children had gathered in it engrossed in a heated debate. Two girls and a boy nearly double their age were seated close to the only bay window nibbling at the last bits of snacks they could smuggle from the ever-busy kitchens.

Celina Kolel Buck pulled at her hair, freeing some more of her blonde strands and shouted on top of her voice," I am telling you, it has to do with the vibrations."

Tulip Umphrey snapped her head and sneered," Really, then Tell me Liny, why isn't Daddy at the infirmary? And why is Cazut still locked up in his room?"

Aurgus Tolkin nodded his head. It was his lucky day, Master Assistant Spearwield had declared no training today. Though he was already missing his dragon familiar, a Peruvian Vipertooth, which he fondly named, Sir Ural. But he would love to lay back and watch the sky without rolling over the clouds for once.

Ural Harfang Senior was the first among Kelp settlers who decided to go down and revive the Gallows. It was quite brave of him to do that. After his demise, when Sir Ural Harfang the Longlegs along with many others left these shores, the descendants of Varner Rossier were kind enough to live in his abandoned quarters. Sir Harfang was quite keen about herbs and potions and the Rossiers had always been academicians. But the latter was quick to learn the trade of Herb plantations. Today much of the dismal glory of the Gallows can be credited to this family.

"Yup, I was fetching water along with the bigger boys. Dragons these days are wary of our magic. All of us saw Matre Sol dash into the Cave entrance while the elders waited for her to come out next to its mouth. Before the Master Assistant chanced upon us, we did hear her say something like 'no flying dragons until further notice'. 'Lockup, double the guards.' Something like that."

All three of them turned their heads when Erun Rossier banged open the door and tumbled into a heap next to them.

Tulip was the first one to talk to him. "By Gul Vilt's name! How did you find us?"

Out of breath, the young lad of twelve poked his tongue out and tossed the bundle of shortcakes he had been carrying with him. "Mum sent those, with love. Every who's who is here. Every one of us, Mums included. Uncle Samuel, Baron Langgard, Starkeil Flint, even Solvein Achito, the Keeper of Urshal Lodge has come. I just hoped in and rode along. We got the trunk with us. Father called off school today. It's like Matre has declared a holiday!"

Celine flicked an owl feather at him," You Olaf! Seriously, does it feel like bloody happy hols to you, Erun?"

Aurgus gasped," The trunk, the one that is kept in the bowels of the Gallows' ruins. The Tabulet!"

"Shut yourself Liny, this is big, I just didn't tag along. They allowed me to come. Yes, Aurgus, the very one, the Tabulet. The bearer of the oath of Blake and Pryenso. The Three Ravens' Oath. I saw Euval, Ergaon, Isobe, Eugene, Karkon, Vilnil and Friago bring it out while our elders watched."

Celina leaned in and hurriedly whispered," Everyone of them is here? The fathers and the sons?"

Erun huffed and nodded, "I overheard Dad and my siblings whisper while we rode the carriage uphill. They said they were summoned, not by Matre Sol! Can you believe that?"

"By Gul Vilt name! Erun, Matre Sol is bestowed with the greatest of power by the Elder's rule. Who else can go over her and summon?" Tulip exclaimed.

Celina had her eyes furrowed while Aurgus was petting his father's owl, Aung, deep in thought.

Erun bent forward and whispered with all the importance he could muster," Naireen."

When they ran out of ideas as to why would the Dragon Matriarch call such an urgent meeting, Aurgus asked the Gallower, "So is it true you can't perform any magic? Is it true you are turning into Squibs? But you could be close to the Tabulet?"

The other boy shrugged," We were all wondering that as well." He grabbed a shortcake and took a bite.

"Weird indeed," the girls said together.

"Not all of us are so affected and it is not always that we can't do magic. It's best to say it's acting up. Like for example if I want to conjure water," flicking his fingers, Erun touched his magic ring, with the tip of his thumb and muttered, 'Aguamenti'. Instead of a steady stream, the other three were bathed with a powerful jet of stream in seconds. The Gallower tried to roll over to stop the flow. He missed the owl posts by inches. Aung and a couple of other resting birds hooted and flew out. Finally Nobit the house-elf of the Umphreys helped them in getting rid of it.

The house-elf had brought their meals and asked them to stay up and enjoy the view. The elders had said they could have dinner together at the quarters later on.

"And Master Umphrey ordered, no snooping about. Keep your nose off places you have no business sniffing in!" Norbit intoned and vanished with a pop.

Tulip patted Erun's shoulder and tried to lift up his spirits," Don't sulk! I am sure everyone is trying to figure out how to fix this." Everyone knew the youngest Rossier had got his ring just a year back. If he could pass his Prove-us-you-got-extraordinary-magic-inside or P.U.Y.G.E.M.I, he would secure a chance to work along with the other Kelp apprentice. Half the week the apprentices spend training with the Kelp settlers and the other half they would go down and tend to the Herb gardens.

Erun sniffed and asked," I dont see Cazut? The last I saw him, he had just returned from his trip up the North. I am sure he would know something at least."

Celina pouted," No chance! He is all walled up in his room. Milis wouldn't allow anyone to even walk down that corridor. I heard the matron and one of the kitchen help whisper that he came down with some odd fever."

"Do you feel these vibrations even in the Gallows? I heard the rumour, couldn't quite believe it myself!" Aurgus tried to change to the topic at once.

"Down there it's mostly like a drum beating from somewhere far. Up here, it feels like I hear another heart beating next to mine," Erun offered.

Celina studied the rolling Mist lining the Horizon and muttered," Uncle Verus says that's the kind of sound a healthy heart creates, whose spirit do you think is coming alive up here?"

"Could be Gul Vilt himself!" Aurgus jumped in.

"Dont you know your tales, Aurgus, no one older than Naireen lives here. All have left these forsaken lands after the Great Fire," Tulip corrected him with a defeated voice.

Celina spoke after a while, her eyes still trained on the thick Mist," According to the tales, Gul Vilt's treasure, his own soul lay somewhere around the world. His familiar sacrificed himself as well. Naireen is supposed to protect everything that was dear to Gul Vilt. Now the Kelp hums. Something is waking up. I am certain. The elders wouldn't let us perish just like that. Miracles happen. I know they do. Help comes from the least expected corners of the world, I once heard Matre Sol say it to my father. Who knows, maybe, Cazut is the one who will see us through these tough times."

Erun nodded, "Cazut himself is like a Miracle, dont you think?"

The rest hummed together.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardry
Scotland
31st January 1960

The following morning, Irma Pince, the only Ravenclaw, all dressed up and ready for the day, trudged down the castle staircases and finally feeling some warmth up her legs, made way towards the snow-clad owlery. It was Saturday, almost the entire student body was tucked in their four-poster bed. It was just a few minutes after dawn and the third year was wide awake, excited, and quite prepared. Much of her confident glow perhaps came from the singular belief, "Mother knows answers to all my questions. I hope I have asked them clearly enough."

January mornings rarely saw the Sun up this early, therefore it was quite freezing. The tiny witch wrapped her scarf tighter and burrowed deeper into her school robes and cloaks. She had finally made up to the last landing and a climb of a couple of steps would help her reach the door to the owlery.

"Miss Pince?"

The little girl looked up and found her transfiguration professor standing by the half-open door to the owlery.

"Good morning Deputy Headmistress."

"Good morning to you too, Aren't you up quite early for the day?"

Trying her best not to look too guilty for comfort, Irma tried her luck instead. "Professor, I could hardly sleep last night. I am sorry I perused the library but found nothing substantial, I tried the books around the Ravenclaw common room, but without any luck…Thus I thought if I could ask mother…"

Even with house rivalries taking nasty turn of events, Irma knew at heart, Professor McGonagall never for once, had been biased and partial. She was always just and diligent at taking care of students irrespective of their backgrounds or of their houses. Moreover, she never discouraged her or ignored her bluntly. Even if the transfiguration teacher had little to say to her in class and during lessons. Her short, positive footnotes below her essays kept Irma content and focused on her course work. She was among the very few, who did give importance to grades, but saw into the fact whether the students were learning and broadening their intellectual pursuits. And for this singular fact, the Ravenclaw felt kindred to the Gryffindor head of the house.

Minerva knew Aida Pince. She was a Slytherin, but unlike many of her housemates, held rather a neutral belief. Her forte was in Charms and Defense against Dark Arts, but she had a rather keen aptitude for Divination. Rare yet most fascinating. But that was not the only reason, Minerva recalled this old student of Hogwarts. She secretly smiled down at the youngest daughter standing attentively, just a couple of steps below. Aida Pince was not just a book collector. She was an avid reader too.

There is no harm in finding the truth, even if the answers come from a most unlikely source. Hoping that Madam Pince still remains neutral in her belief. Furthermore, I can always ask Flitwick to pay closer attention to his inquisitive Raven, she mused. Irma, just like her mother had gathered the just transfiguration professor's rare appreciation, for both were hardworking and erudite students.

Then curtly nodding at Irma, she spoke aloud, "Please accompany me, though it is quite uncalled for for you to walk alone in the castle at this time of the day, but I will let it pass. I will see to it that you are back to your common room. Only come to the Great Hall, with your housemates. I did not hear of revised precautionary rules as of date. Therefore, the old one made yesterday are still applied."

"Yes Professor, and thank you, Madam, I did not mean to cause a disturbance, I am just…I really can't help it, without knowing what is happening around…"

"That is alright, girl, Now, go in and send off that heavy letter."

Flashing her professor, a rare and genuine smile, Irma climbed up, while Professor McGonagall had pushed open the heavy door. The two made their way to their respective owls.

As the odd pair watched their respective owls fly, their quiet sendoff was broken by the renewing of the soft humming coming through the castle walls once again. Making their way out of the owlery after exchanging grimaces at the droning sound both the teacher and her student were shocked and taken aback by all the various noises coming from the Forbidden Forest.

Among the dull symphony of the wild calls, it was Irma plaintive voice that renewed Minerva's respect for the girl, "The creatures and thestrals under Hagrid's watch, and even the magical creatures of Forbidden Forest seem to be noticing it. I feel they are rejoicing at something that we fail to notice. As if Nature is rather happy. And if she is happy, must we worry, Madam?"

Not far away, Botin, the pygmy owl, and Eilwen, the Eurasian eagle-owl were flying over the span of the lush green forest, hooting with the wild creatures below, then as if sharing some greeting, nodded at each other. Moments later, the smaller owl was off on her small trip to Wigmore. But the other was going to make a rather long tour across the ocean, to the far-off lands of Dragon's Kelp, for the first time in its life.

Vaktare, Rikedom Vilt Guld,

ryttare av Nyre, reagra reagra

(keeper, who treasure white gold,

rider of Nyre,

respond respond)

Swedish- I took liberty at borrowing from this language, feeling that the old civilizations would speak in similar dialects. I meant no disregard, rather it felt quite apt for my plot.