Chapter 3
Remorse
Raven woke up early again and cursed softly. 'I can never get any sleep,' she thought, She threw her legs over the bedside and stood upright. She looked over, Demon not glaring at her. She walked over to the window and opened it, waiting for a 'good morning' from Senosuke, but he didn't come, she always woke up at this time, and she always came to greet her…. What was up? Raven waited another moment, but no Senosuke… Raven shut the window, and walked out of the dorm, sneaking down the stairs and going into the common room, not knowing whether to expect Draco or not, she sat cross legged on the floor staring into the fire, like she did so often, watching the flames flicker. Her eyes drifted closed and she felt like she was somewhere else, a forum of meditation, they are all sorts of magic, Astral travel did exist, nut she didn't feel like trying it, she'd never been able to do so, it was really advanced magic to be somewhere mentally but not physically. She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, she snapped back to reality, and turned her head. Willow stood there.
"You've been down here for an hour… I heard you get up… lost in meditation?" Willow asked.
"I guess, if its been an hour, I haven't been here that long I though, its only seemed like five minutes."
"Yeah well lets go," Willow said, Raven stood but then Willow stopped for a moment.
"Raven…."
"Huh?"
"Seriously this time… to you like Malfoy? " Willow asked looking at her. Raven paused, looked down, as though thinking about what she was gonna say.
"No…. I don't think I do…." She replied.
"okay…" Willow said, and The two turned and went back up to the dorm and slipped back into bed, after everyone was up they, dressed, then walked back down to the common room and then walked out to the Great Hall, and got they're Breakfast, Willow figured Draco would sit next to Raven again, Willow suspected Draco liked Raven, but it didn't matter.
After not to long, Draco did come over and sit next to them, they talked for a while about the Quidditch game, and how it ended in a tie (and Willow felt the need to bring up the fact Draco saved Raven a lot). Soon the Owls began to fly in from all over, Senosuke came over and dropped off Two letters and the Daily prophet on her. Raven looked confusedly at the two letters. She picked them up and Draco's Owl came and dropped off some stuff his mother had sent him. Senosuke Drank some of Raven's drink, Hooted at Willow to pet her and Tickled Raven's nose, then took off, not letting Malfoy pet her that time. Raven opened the First letter that looked like it came from her cousin.
"Hey Raven, Here thought you might like this, you're into odd stuff so here's an odd language for you too learn, its called "Al Bhed" have fun! Don't forget about my pictures."
Raven looked at the second piece of paper and it hade some stuff transcribed unto it, she placed her wand unto the paper, and muttered "Instanote Raven AL Bhed, Instanote Willow AL Bhed ," Willow looked up, not knowing why she knew an entirely knew language now.
"what the hell?" Willow asked her. Raven decided to reply in the language.
"So luiceh cahd sa y haf myhkiyka du maynh, yht E syta oui maynh ed cu fa luimt dymg fedr uid baubma ihtancdyhtehk ic, vun bnejylo (My cousin sent me a new language to learn, and I made you learn it so we could talk with out people understanding us, for privacy)" Raven Said.
"Yr e caa (ah I see)" Willow replied. Draco looked at the two of them.
"Cruimt ra ghufdra myhkiyka? (Should he know the language?)," Raven asked.
"Ev oui drehg ra cruimt (if you think he should)," Willow replied.
"Syopa mydan (Maybe later)," Raven said, Draco looked at them totally confused.
"Forget it Draco," Raven Replied. She picked up her next letter and scanned it quickly, Her eyes grew wide when she finished, and her eyes began to tear, she covered her mouth and looked at the ground.
"…Raven?" Draco asked, looking up from the Daily Prophet. Willow's Eyes shot toward Raven, seeing Raven almost crying as she finished the letter. Raven closed her eyes, and her hand formed a fist around the piece of paper, squeezing it hard, to the point that her hand turned white, Malfoy put his hand around hers , thinking if she continued to clutch the paper, her hand might start to bleed.
"Raven?" Willow asked her, "what's wrong?" Raven opened her hand and the paper fell unto the table, her eyes still closed. Willow uncrumpled the paper and skimmed it, Malfoy stood up behind her and read over her shoulder, Both Willow and Draco looked over at Raven, Even they looked pained… the letter…
Raven,
Sorry, but I must tell you, you're father has fallen, the High Vampiric Counsel has stricken him down for treason of some forum and taken his body, so I cannot bury him as of now, Raven, my brave girl, I need to you sneak into the forbidden forest at midnight tonight, I know you are strong and can withstand attack, I will find you once you enter, and I'll be in my Animagi forum, please be strong, I wish to talk to you before I go into hiding because I fear I might soon be stricken down because I do not know I well I can hide, we'll talk about who will take you during the summer when I see you.
Love you always and forever,
Your mum
Draco put his hand on Raven's shoulder. "You can't let this show Raven, not here, not now, you have to make it through this school day, and you can see her later, I know you're strong, don't cry right now…" Raven opened her eyes, and looked to Draco, they still looked watery.
"He's right…" Willow said. Raven pushed her plate away, and took the letter back from Willow, Looking at it again. Raven stood, walked out of the Great hall and out of sight. Willow and Draco looked at each other, grabbed the letter from her muggle cousin and Chased after her. They found her in her Slytherin dorm, they still had about 20 minutes until their first class. When they got there, Raven sat in a corner, near the window, the note in ashes in front of her, her legs drawn up and her head on her knees. Willow sat next to her, and put a hand on her shoulder, Raven looked up, her eyes still teary, and a single tear slid down her cheek, Willow Drew Raven into embrace and raven began to cry, not saying a word, tears just falling down her cheeks, though Malfoy didn't know why the high Vampiric Counsel had been After her Father, Draco still knew that Raven had to be hurting… Her father had just died and her mother might be next. Draco didn't feel he could do anything, just stand there and look at Willow Hugging Raven as Raven cried. He was almost mad for being so helpless, And he almost hated Willow for being able to help…
Willow looked up and saw Malfoy looking at her and Raven, Willow didn't quiet understand why he looked to angry, even though he may not be trying to show it. Willow continued to let Raven sob unto her Robes.
"Tu oui fyhd sa du mad tnylu rumt oui Nyjah? (do you want me to let Draco hold you Raven?)," Willow whispered softly to Raven.
"E fyhd so vydran du rumt sa (I want my Father to hold me)." Raven said softly back.
"fryd lyh e tu du ramb? (what can I do to help?)," Willow asked.
"syga dra byeh ku yfyo, syga sa cdub rydehk so meva, syga sa cdub rydehk so jysbena ceta, syga sa cdub rydehk dra byeh yht axlabd ed... (Make the pain go away, make me stop hating my life, make me stop hating my vampire side, make me stop hating the pain and except it...)," Raven replied.
Draco just watched, clenched his fists, mad he didn't even know the language they knew, just made. Raven looked at Draco, tears still falling down her cheeks. She pulled her wands from her robes, "Instanote Draco Al Bhed…" She whispered. Suddenly Draco knew what they had said, it all rushed at him, Hold her… her father…. Hate life… Hate vampire side… HE didn't understand at first… but then he realized, her father must have been a Vampire, and his treason had to have been Marring a normal which, depending on where he came from… and that Made Raven part Vampire… not only was she enchanted with Silver Blood, but she was part Vampire…
"Reversoa…" Raven whispered and Draco, still knowing what she had said, no longer knew the Language…Draco stood there, still watching, and Raven's silent tear began to come less. Draco felt something burn inside… Was it hate because of what someone had done to a friend, or was it hate because he wanted to hurt who had made her like this… was it both? Why did he feel like that.. he wasn't used to it, He'd always been rather self centered… what was it about her? Did he like her? He didn't know, he'd never really liked anyone before. Not like that anyways… He looked back over at Raven, then checked the time, class started in about five minutes…
"Guys… Class is starting soon," Draco told them. Raven stood and Willow let go of her. Raven wiped her cheeks clean with her sleeves.
"I can get by at class," Raven said.
"Oui mad res rayn dra bynd ypuid ouin jysbena ceta... ec dryd cyva? (you let him hear the part about your Vampire side... is that safe)," Willow asked Raven.
"E dnicd res (I trust him)," Raven replied. Draco looked at the two, not knowing what they were saying anymore. Raven's voice was Softer and both Draco and Willow could sense the Despair and Sadness in her voice. Willow gave her a last hug and then shouldered her bag. The three walked out the Dorm and hurried along to they're class, they burst into Transfiguration, slightly late.
"NyteShayd, Malfoy, Solaris, You're late, why?" Professor McGonagall said sharply.
"Um…." Raven Muttered, "My bag split and I convinced Willow and Draco to come with me to the common room to seem it up with a spell my fa…father wrote for me," Raven muttered this quickly, then looked down.
"Well next time you'll have better judgment to go it alone then? 5 points from Slytherin… each," She snapped. Willow scowled.
"To your sets please," The three walked over to the nearest open table, Raven bit her lower lip, still looking at the ground.
"Sure you're okay?" Malfoy asked. Raven nodded, then they each took out a quill and some parchment and tuned into the lesson.
Raven Braved it through most of the day, but at lunch Raven was called to Snape's office.
"Yes professor?" Razven said softly as she entered the door and shut it behind her.
"Raven, I have some bad news, please sit down," Snape said, she moved silently to the chair in front of his desk, forcing back tears knowing what he was going to tell her. "Raven, I understand how close you are to your father, I should now, he and I were good friends at one point, and I'm am deeply sorrowed tp say that, he has passed on, please to not despair too much, before he died, he gave this to me, saying I needed to give it to you if he ever died." Ravens eyes began to tear again, as she looked hopelessly at him. HE set a box down in front of her.
"under normal circumstances, I'd have to confiscate most of it from you, but seeing as how it happened this way, I'll just pretend I don't know you have it."
Raven picked up the box silently, and opened it. Sitting on top, was a black rose, perfectly in bloom, under it was a key, and a leather bound book, all sitting on top of a cloak, the clock was black as night and the inside was red. Raven could no longer contain herself, tears rolled down her cheeks, as she looked at the boxes contents, a single tear fell from her cheek and landed on the rose.
"thank you, professor…" Raven said.
"Raven, no one else knows your father is dead, and no one else knows he's a Vampire, only Professor Dumbledore and I know that you are indeed half vampire. Please, use that cloak to your own good judgment, and if you are half the vampire and witch of you mother and father combined, you are a good kid, please Raven, take these and go, I am deeply sorry for your loss." Raven nodded, and put the lid back on the box, then held the box to her chest, cradling it in her arms. Raven stepped out of Snape's office, Tears streaming down her cheeks. Draco and Willow ran up to Her.
"What?" Draco asked, "What's wrong?" Raven looked at him, all teary eyes, held out the box and opened it, Willow and Draco looked inside it.
"my…. Father… and Snape where friends…he told Snape to give this to me if he ever died," Her Voice was soft and shaky, Draco looked at her.
"That cloak, do you know what it does?" Draco asked, Raven shook her head slowly.
"It's a death cloak, it allows you to cross over to the other world where everything dead goes, but if you stay there for too long, you can't go back." Draco told her. Raven looked at him, a single tear now clung to her cheek. She wasn't crying anymore, her eyes to dry to force any more tears out. Draco lifted a hand and brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek, wiping the tear away.
"Cheer up, you can cross over and say your farewell," He said. She looked at him, and placed the lid back on the box, Willow just looked at her.
"Come on, we can go put the box in our dorm for now." Willow knew that black rose, made her feel only slightly better, her father had once told her a black rose was a symbol of the deepest love. The three walked to the dorm and Raven took the black rose out of the box… who knew how long Snape had had this box, yet the Flower had never wilted, it had to have been a charm. Raven kissed the petals, and set the rose back in the box, placing the box in the bottom of her trunk. There was a big difference from how she was acting Yesterday and today, and Willow and Draco couldn't help but be sad along with her.
"you want to go grab some food?" Willow asked her. Raven shook her head.
"I don't feel much like eating," Raven looked at her trunk, the book fell into her mind, but she didn't have the heart to touch it right then. Raven sat down on the corner of her bed, leaning against to post.
"Please, leave me to my thoughts." She said, Draco and Willow turned walking from the room, leaving her there. Draco and Willow Made they're way to the common room, taking a seat in the corner, lunch only had about twenty minutes left. Draco looked down, And Willow looked at him.
"What?" She asked.
"I don't know really," Draco said, "I can't tell what's wrong, weather its hatred toward the Vampire counsel, or what not, I just don't know."
"Raven, not many people understand her, but any bond built with her, is built fast, and is hard to let go, the way she is, the way she helps, how she presents herself, it all inside her and she doesn't know it, she thinks she's plain, but to everyone who loves her she's so much more, to her friends, she's Loyal and you can't help but trust her," Willow said.
"what do you mean, she thinks she's plain?"
"She doesn't know what people think of her, she doesn't think she's pretty, she doesn't think she's important, and she'd sacrifice herself to save someone she barely knows… that's just how she is, and she doesn't know it, she doesn't really care for herself, she doesn't care what happens to her, she just wants to make sure everyone else is happy."
'How can she not know she's pretty?' Draco thought to himself.
"What is it?" Willow asked, looking at him.
"Nothing," He replied.
"Do you like her?" Willow asked suddenly.
"What?" He said, totally confused.
"Do you like Raven?" Willow asked. Draco looked at Willow, he opened his mouth to respond, but at this point Raven walked down the staircase, looking t then both. Raven forced a smile and said to them.
"I think I can get over this, I want to get though today and see my mom, then I should be okay after I go to see my dad in the other planes…"
"Oui ghuf Nyjah, e drehg symvuo megac oui(you know Raven, I think Malfoy likes you)" Willow said. Raven looked from Malfoy to Willow.
"Yht fro tu oui cyo drec? (And why do you say that?)" Raven asked.
Willow merly smiled, "e's hud cyoehk yhodrehk amca ypuid drec (I'm not saying anything else about this)" Raven surveyed Willow then turned.
"Lets get ready for our next class, okay?" She said. Draco had come to hate not knowing that language, he had a gut feeling it was about him because he knew "symvuo" was Malfoy, he remembered that.
Raven was still rather out of it that day, but after school she lounged about in the Common room, staring into the fire, her thoughts resting on the book upstairs… her inheritance from her father…. The only thing she had left besides her memories, a cloak, a book, a black rose and a key… what made her even madder, she didn't know what the key was for. She didn't know where Malfoy, or Willow were, and right now, she wanted to be left alone, she should probably set to work on her homework, but she couldn't bring herself to stand and go get it. It was about 9:30 and she just wanted time to pass so that it would be 12:00 and she could go see her mother. Should she take Willow with her? She knew that Willow would probably come anyways, there was no possible way to stop her from coming, and she didn't know weather Malfoy would go or not. It was funny to her, really, Malfoy had befriended her… why? Because, she had silver blood? What kind of reason was that? Malfoy had never given her any notice before, and know he was always around, at first she though he was up to something. But now she wasn't so sure.
She looked around the common room, she was the only one sitting in here, in one of the big arm chairs, staring into the flame, it seemed so much had happened in two days, it was weird. Draco had become her friend, she's nearly broken herself in Quidditch, she'd make the Potter trio true enemies, she'd beaten Harry in a Chocobo Race, and above all, her father had died, and she'd be going to see her mother for possibly the last time, in a short while.
Then, the portrait swung open and Draco walked in Crabbe and Goyle behind him, Raven supposed he'd gone back to his old friends, Malfoy must not have seen Raven sitting there, he just continued to talk to Crabbe and Goyle.
"Remember, I probably won't be talking to you guys that often, but you know why, I've told you, and remember not to tell anyone else." Malfoy said. Crabbe and Goyle just nodded. Raven sat there a moment confused… but she didn't want to think about it, she'd go on like she hadn't heard them, she closed her eyes, and just made as though she was asleep. She heard footsteps climb stairs, she'd assumed they'd all gone up, but she remained there with her eyes shut anyways. She felt a shiver crawl down her spine, and wondered why… Then she felt something being dragged over her, she opened her eyes, to see Malfoy had thrown his Robe over her, probably to keep her warm, because he must have seen her shiver. HE saw her eyes open, and looked down at her.
"Sorry," he muttered, "I didn't mean to wake you." Raven smiled, faintly.
"don't worry about it," She said. He smiled back. Raven did feel tired ,and proably had almost fallen asleep.
"Why don't you rest?" HE said," I'll be sure to waked you before midnight, He brought his Robes up to cover her shoulder. She nodded, sure that she looked tired, she was still handling the stress from the death of her father. She wondered weather she might take Draco with her tonight. He was willing to wake her up prier to departing; maybe he intended on joining her. Either way it didn't matter to her. She allowed her eyes to flutter shut and drifted off into sleep. Her sleep seemed long and Dreamless, her mind just floated around in a dark room, it seemed, though totally at piece, it seemed like she had slept for days, when Malfoy finally awoke her. Her eyes slide open, and Malfoy stood there, it was considerably darker, and the only light was canst from the fire. Malfoy face was half hidden in shadow, and at first she assumed she was dreaming now. Malfoy wasn't sompletly sure if she was all the way awake.
"Raven," he whispered to her, then set a hand on her shoulder, "come on, it's about 1:45, get up, come on," Ravens eyes opened all the way, she sat up, still feeling grogy. Malfoy sat next to her.
"you ok?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, are you coming?" she asked.
"if you want me to, I would have Willow with me, but she's sound asleep right now, I even kinda threw her cat on her, and she didn't wake up." Raven smiled.
"That's Willow for you, the living dead." Raven replied. Draco looked at her, and Raven tilted her head slightly.
"yes?" She asked.
"Raven, earlier today, when you let me understand the conversation, I remember something about a 'vampire side'," He paused, "what's that about?"
"well you see, my father was a Vampire and was on the Vampiric Counsel, loyal to them for many years, so I do not understand his forum of treason." Raven replied, her voice still low. Malfoy just looked at her, "please don't tell anyone else, but some times, I get these cravings, for blood, and I feel really dangerous, like I don't want anyone around me because I'm afraid of hurting somebody, and so I try to be totally agreeable, make it to were people trust me, I want to help my friends, and never hurt them, but sometimes its really hard, I stay strong for as long as I can… but soon I might loose it." Draco looked at Raven, slightly surprised, even Raven didn't understand why she was telling him this.
"you don't have to be strong all the time, other people want to help you, just like you want to help them," Draco whispered to her. Raven looked at him, opened her mouth to talk, but shut it because she could not force sound out of it. Draco just looked at her, smiled and sent to stand up.
"If we want to leave we'd better do so soon, hopefully you have the strengh to get out of the castle and to the forbidden forest." HE told her, she stood next to him.
"Draco…" She said.
"Hmm?" He replied.
"Thank you…"
"For what?" he asked.
"For understanding, I thought I'd never be able to talk to anyone besides my dad, and when he died…" Raven paused, talking of her father hurt inside.
"Shhhhh," Draco mused, "It's okay, and lets go meet up with your mom, alright?" Raven nodded, and handed him back his Robe. He threw it over his shoulder.
"Lets go," she sighed. Draco nodded and the two of them slipped out of the portrait and snuck along the passageways, Careful to make sure they didn't run into Filtch or Norris. The reached the front door and slipped out of it, breaking a full sprint to the forest, wanting to get out of sight as soon as possible, Raven hit the dense bushes seconds before Malfoy and stopped, resting her hands on her knees. She looked up at him.
"Your mum didn't say where she was going to meet us?" Draco asked.
"No, she said just to walk into the forest and she'd come get us," Raven replied looking into the forest. They walked slowly, not wanting to go too far in, not wanting to get lost. Draco and Raven stayed semi close together and kept gazing around the forest, for Raven's mother.
There was a slight rumble in the bushes, Raven strafed to the side not taking her eyes off the brush, not knowing what could be on the other side. Draco remained in front of her, suddenly a streak off white leaped from behind the bush. Draco jumped back, forcing Raven back, in case she needed to be out of harms way, Rave jumped slightly but then realized wht it was.
"MUM!" Rave called out, and stepped up to the pure white creature, throwing her arms around its neck. As Raven was hugging the Unicorn, it transfigured into a human. She looked a lot like Raven, just older, and slightly taller, with a more narrow face and Green eyes with Black hair, still the same pale complexion, as the figure transformed, it too Hugged Raven. Draco stepped back, watching them. Ravens mother looked up at Draco, a warm smile on her face.
"come here dear boy," She said. Draco steeped Forward And Raven's mother half hugged him. "Such an admirable boy, escorting my Beautiful Raven out here!" Raven looked up at her mother, slightly embarrassed.
"Mum, why did you call me out here?" Rave asked.
"Well dear, I wanted to see you one last time, before I went into hiding, though I don't know where I'll be going, I need you to find somewhere to stay until its safe for me, I don't think the counsel will come after you, so there are no worries, please, be brave." Her mother said.
"Mum, why don't you stay with my muggle cousin?" Raven asked. Her mom paused.
"that's a good idea, I do believe I will, I'm sure they'll let poor Aunt Mona stay for a while, if I don't tell them who's after me," Her mom (Mona) Said to her. Raven nodded.
"You'd best be off now, mum, I love you," Raven said, hugging Her mother one more time.
"You're so smart, like your father I'll miss him so much," Mona said, a tear coming down her cheek.
"I know mummy," Raven said, "but god be with you, write me when you get there, Senosuke like to drop by his house to see if he has anything for me." Mona hugged Raven one last time, before transfiguring back into a Unicorn, and Darting off into the shrubs again. Raven looked after her azs she went, and then looked at Draco.
"I hope they don't get to her, but they won't be able to find her at my Muggle cousin's house… I hope," Raven looked despaired yet again. Draco knew, she'd really loose it if her Mother died. Raven crossed her Arms and shivered slightly. Draco took his Robe of once more, standing there in jeans and a shirt, and walked with her back to the edge of the forest, both ready to sprint across the lawn again. Draco thought it was almost pointless to have arranged that meeting, but he supposed it was good for Raven to have seen a family member. Both Slytherin sprinted across the grass and leaned against the door, slightly panting, they slipped in and snuck about, But They heard Filtch around the corner, Raven opened her eyes wide in surprise, and she and Draco flew up a staircase, running into the next door they saw and shutting the door behind them, Raven pressed an Ear to the door waiting for Filtch to pass, Draco looked at her, as she pressed against the door.
"It sounds as though he's passed," Raven murmured. Draco looked down at the floor, just as Raven turned her head to glance at him.
"lets go," she said. She opened the door quietly and looked about, before darting silently from the room and down a few more staircases to the Slytherin Portrait. Both slipped inside, and glanced at one another. Raven looked exhausted again, extremely weary, as though she were sick, and Draco wouldn't doubt she was, Draco Walked her up the staircase to her dorm. The both stood at the doorway, looking at one an other, both feeling rather award, neither knowing why. Raven puts her arms around him and hugged him, Draco hugging back, and then Raven placed a hand on her door knob, she slipped off his Robe and handed it to him, muttering a 'thank you' and slipped inside, changing into her pajama's and lying down in bed.
Remorse
Raven woke up early again and cursed softly. 'I can never get any sleep,' she thought, She threw her legs over the bedside and stood upright. She looked over, Demon not glaring at her. She walked over to the window and opened it, waiting for a 'good morning' from Senosuke, but he didn't come, she always woke up at this time, and she always came to greet her…. What was up? Raven waited another moment, but no Senosuke… Raven shut the window, and walked out of the dorm, sneaking down the stairs and going into the common room, not knowing whether to expect Draco or not, she sat cross legged on the floor staring into the fire, like she did so often, watching the flames flicker. Her eyes drifted closed and she felt like she was somewhere else, a forum of meditation, they are all sorts of magic, Astral travel did exist, nut she didn't feel like trying it, she'd never been able to do so, it was really advanced magic to be somewhere mentally but not physically. She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, she snapped back to reality, and turned her head. Willow stood there.
"You've been down here for an hour… I heard you get up… lost in meditation?" Willow asked.
"I guess, if its been an hour, I haven't been here that long I though, its only seemed like five minutes."
"Yeah well lets go," Willow said, Raven stood but then Willow stopped for a moment.
"Raven…."
"Huh?"
"Seriously this time… to you like Malfoy? " Willow asked looking at her. Raven paused, looked down, as though thinking about what she was gonna say.
"No…. I don't think I do…." She replied.
"okay…" Willow said, and The two turned and went back up to the dorm and slipped back into bed, after everyone was up they, dressed, then walked back down to the common room and then walked out to the Great Hall, and got they're Breakfast, Willow figured Draco would sit next to Raven again, Willow suspected Draco liked Raven, but it didn't matter.
After not to long, Draco did come over and sit next to them, they talked for a while about the Quidditch game, and how it ended in a tie (and Willow felt the need to bring up the fact Draco saved Raven a lot). Soon the Owls began to fly in from all over, Senosuke came over and dropped off Two letters and the Daily prophet on her. Raven looked confusedly at the two letters. She picked them up and Draco's Owl came and dropped off some stuff his mother had sent him. Senosuke Drank some of Raven's drink, Hooted at Willow to pet her and Tickled Raven's nose, then took off, not letting Malfoy pet her that time. Raven opened the First letter that looked like it came from her cousin.
"Hey Raven, Here thought you might like this, you're into odd stuff so here's an odd language for you too learn, its called "Al Bhed" have fun! Don't forget about my pictures."
Raven looked at the second piece of paper and it hade some stuff transcribed unto it, she placed her wand unto the paper, and muttered "Instanote Raven AL Bhed, Instanote Willow AL Bhed ," Willow looked up, not knowing why she knew an entirely knew language now.
"what the hell?" Willow asked her. Raven decided to reply in the language.
"So luiceh cahd sa y haf myhkiyka du maynh, yht E syta oui maynh ed cu fa luimt dymg fedr uid baubma ihtancdyhtehk ic, vun bnejylo (My cousin sent me a new language to learn, and I made you learn it so we could talk with out people understanding us, for privacy)" Raven Said.
"Yr e caa (ah I see)" Willow replied. Draco looked at the two of them.
"Cruimt ra ghufdra myhkiyka? (Should he know the language?)," Raven asked.
"Ev oui drehg ra cruimt (if you think he should)," Willow replied.
"Syopa mydan (Maybe later)," Raven said, Draco looked at them totally confused.
"Forget it Draco," Raven Replied. She picked up her next letter and scanned it quickly, Her eyes grew wide when she finished, and her eyes began to tear, she covered her mouth and looked at the ground.
"…Raven?" Draco asked, looking up from the Daily Prophet. Willow's Eyes shot toward Raven, seeing Raven almost crying as she finished the letter. Raven closed her eyes, and her hand formed a fist around the piece of paper, squeezing it hard, to the point that her hand turned white, Malfoy put his hand around hers , thinking if she continued to clutch the paper, her hand might start to bleed.
"Raven?" Willow asked her, "what's wrong?" Raven opened her hand and the paper fell unto the table, her eyes still closed. Willow uncrumpled the paper and skimmed it, Malfoy stood up behind her and read over her shoulder, Both Willow and Draco looked over at Raven, Even they looked pained… the letter…
Raven,
Sorry, but I must tell you, you're father has fallen, the High Vampiric Counsel has stricken him down for treason of some forum and taken his body, so I cannot bury him as of now, Raven, my brave girl, I need to you sneak into the forbidden forest at midnight tonight, I know you are strong and can withstand attack, I will find you once you enter, and I'll be in my Animagi forum, please be strong, I wish to talk to you before I go into hiding because I fear I might soon be stricken down because I do not know I well I can hide, we'll talk about who will take you during the summer when I see you.
Love you always and forever,
Your mum
Draco put his hand on Raven's shoulder. "You can't let this show Raven, not here, not now, you have to make it through this school day, and you can see her later, I know you're strong, don't cry right now…" Raven opened her eyes, and looked to Draco, they still looked watery.
"He's right…" Willow said. Raven pushed her plate away, and took the letter back from Willow, Looking at it again. Raven stood, walked out of the Great hall and out of sight. Willow and Draco looked at each other, grabbed the letter from her muggle cousin and Chased after her. They found her in her Slytherin dorm, they still had about 20 minutes until their first class. When they got there, Raven sat in a corner, near the window, the note in ashes in front of her, her legs drawn up and her head on her knees. Willow sat next to her, and put a hand on her shoulder, Raven looked up, her eyes still teary, and a single tear slid down her cheek, Willow Drew Raven into embrace and raven began to cry, not saying a word, tears just falling down her cheeks, though Malfoy didn't know why the high Vampiric Counsel had been After her Father, Draco still knew that Raven had to be hurting… Her father had just died and her mother might be next. Draco didn't feel he could do anything, just stand there and look at Willow Hugging Raven as Raven cried. He was almost mad for being so helpless, And he almost hated Willow for being able to help…
Willow looked up and saw Malfoy looking at her and Raven, Willow didn't quiet understand why he looked to angry, even though he may not be trying to show it. Willow continued to let Raven sob unto her Robes.
"Tu oui fyhd sa du mad tnylu rumt oui Nyjah? (do you want me to let Draco hold you Raven?)," Willow whispered softly to Raven.
"E fyhd so vydran du rumt sa (I want my Father to hold me)." Raven said softly back.
"fryd lyh e tu du ramb? (what can I do to help?)," Willow asked.
"syga dra byeh ku yfyo, syga sa cdub rydehk so meva, syga sa cdub rydehk so jysbena ceta, syga sa cdub rydehk dra byeh yht axlabd ed... (Make the pain go away, make me stop hating my life, make me stop hating my vampire side, make me stop hating the pain and except it...)," Raven replied.
Draco just watched, clenched his fists, mad he didn't even know the language they knew, just made. Raven looked at Draco, tears still falling down her cheeks. She pulled her wands from her robes, "Instanote Draco Al Bhed…" She whispered. Suddenly Draco knew what they had said, it all rushed at him, Hold her… her father…. Hate life… Hate vampire side… HE didn't understand at first… but then he realized, her father must have been a Vampire, and his treason had to have been Marring a normal which, depending on where he came from… and that Made Raven part Vampire… not only was she enchanted with Silver Blood, but she was part Vampire…
"Reversoa…" Raven whispered and Draco, still knowing what she had said, no longer knew the Language…Draco stood there, still watching, and Raven's silent tear began to come less. Draco felt something burn inside… Was it hate because of what someone had done to a friend, or was it hate because he wanted to hurt who had made her like this… was it both? Why did he feel like that.. he wasn't used to it, He'd always been rather self centered… what was it about her? Did he like her? He didn't know, he'd never really liked anyone before. Not like that anyways… He looked back over at Raven, then checked the time, class started in about five minutes…
"Guys… Class is starting soon," Draco told them. Raven stood and Willow let go of her. Raven wiped her cheeks clean with her sleeves.
"I can get by at class," Raven said.
"Oui mad res rayn dra bynd ypuid ouin jysbena ceta... ec dryd cyva? (you let him hear the part about your Vampire side... is that safe)," Willow asked Raven.
"E dnicd res (I trust him)," Raven replied. Draco looked at the two, not knowing what they were saying anymore. Raven's voice was Softer and both Draco and Willow could sense the Despair and Sadness in her voice. Willow gave her a last hug and then shouldered her bag. The three walked out the Dorm and hurried along to they're class, they burst into Transfiguration, slightly late.
"NyteShayd, Malfoy, Solaris, You're late, why?" Professor McGonagall said sharply.
"Um…." Raven Muttered, "My bag split and I convinced Willow and Draco to come with me to the common room to seem it up with a spell my fa…father wrote for me," Raven muttered this quickly, then looked down.
"Well next time you'll have better judgment to go it alone then? 5 points from Slytherin… each," She snapped. Willow scowled.
"To your sets please," The three walked over to the nearest open table, Raven bit her lower lip, still looking at the ground.
"Sure you're okay?" Malfoy asked. Raven nodded, then they each took out a quill and some parchment and tuned into the lesson.
Raven Braved it through most of the day, but at lunch Raven was called to Snape's office.
"Yes professor?" Razven said softly as she entered the door and shut it behind her.
"Raven, I have some bad news, please sit down," Snape said, she moved silently to the chair in front of his desk, forcing back tears knowing what he was going to tell her. "Raven, I understand how close you are to your father, I should now, he and I were good friends at one point, and I'm am deeply sorrowed tp say that, he has passed on, please to not despair too much, before he died, he gave this to me, saying I needed to give it to you if he ever died." Ravens eyes began to tear again, as she looked hopelessly at him. HE set a box down in front of her.
"under normal circumstances, I'd have to confiscate most of it from you, but seeing as how it happened this way, I'll just pretend I don't know you have it."
Raven picked up the box silently, and opened it. Sitting on top, was a black rose, perfectly in bloom, under it was a key, and a leather bound book, all sitting on top of a cloak, the clock was black as night and the inside was red. Raven could no longer contain herself, tears rolled down her cheeks, as she looked at the boxes contents, a single tear fell from her cheek and landed on the rose.
"thank you, professor…" Raven said.
"Raven, no one else knows your father is dead, and no one else knows he's a Vampire, only Professor Dumbledore and I know that you are indeed half vampire. Please, use that cloak to your own good judgment, and if you are half the vampire and witch of you mother and father combined, you are a good kid, please Raven, take these and go, I am deeply sorry for your loss." Raven nodded, and put the lid back on the box, then held the box to her chest, cradling it in her arms. Raven stepped out of Snape's office, Tears streaming down her cheeks. Draco and Willow ran up to Her.
"What?" Draco asked, "What's wrong?" Raven looked at him, all teary eyes, held out the box and opened it, Willow and Draco looked inside it.
"my…. Father… and Snape where friends…he told Snape to give this to me if he ever died," Her Voice was soft and shaky, Draco looked at her.
"That cloak, do you know what it does?" Draco asked, Raven shook her head slowly.
"It's a death cloak, it allows you to cross over to the other world where everything dead goes, but if you stay there for too long, you can't go back." Draco told her. Raven looked at him, a single tear now clung to her cheek. She wasn't crying anymore, her eyes to dry to force any more tears out. Draco lifted a hand and brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek, wiping the tear away.
"Cheer up, you can cross over and say your farewell," He said. She looked at him, and placed the lid back on the box, Willow just looked at her.
"Come on, we can go put the box in our dorm for now." Willow knew that black rose, made her feel only slightly better, her father had once told her a black rose was a symbol of the deepest love. The three walked to the dorm and Raven took the black rose out of the box… who knew how long Snape had had this box, yet the Flower had never wilted, it had to have been a charm. Raven kissed the petals, and set the rose back in the box, placing the box in the bottom of her trunk. There was a big difference from how she was acting Yesterday and today, and Willow and Draco couldn't help but be sad along with her.
"you want to go grab some food?" Willow asked her. Raven shook her head.
"I don't feel much like eating," Raven looked at her trunk, the book fell into her mind, but she didn't have the heart to touch it right then. Raven sat down on the corner of her bed, leaning against to post.
"Please, leave me to my thoughts." She said, Draco and Willow turned walking from the room, leaving her there. Draco and Willow Made they're way to the common room, taking a seat in the corner, lunch only had about twenty minutes left. Draco looked down, And Willow looked at him.
"What?" She asked.
"I don't know really," Draco said, "I can't tell what's wrong, weather its hatred toward the Vampire counsel, or what not, I just don't know."
"Raven, not many people understand her, but any bond built with her, is built fast, and is hard to let go, the way she is, the way she helps, how she presents herself, it all inside her and she doesn't know it, she thinks she's plain, but to everyone who loves her she's so much more, to her friends, she's Loyal and you can't help but trust her," Willow said.
"what do you mean, she thinks she's plain?"
"She doesn't know what people think of her, she doesn't think she's pretty, she doesn't think she's important, and she'd sacrifice herself to save someone she barely knows… that's just how she is, and she doesn't know it, she doesn't really care for herself, she doesn't care what happens to her, she just wants to make sure everyone else is happy."
'How can she not know she's pretty?' Draco thought to himself.
"What is it?" Willow asked, looking at him.
"Nothing," He replied.
"Do you like her?" Willow asked suddenly.
"What?" He said, totally confused.
"Do you like Raven?" Willow asked. Draco looked at Willow, he opened his mouth to respond, but at this point Raven walked down the staircase, looking t then both. Raven forced a smile and said to them.
"I think I can get over this, I want to get though today and see my mom, then I should be okay after I go to see my dad in the other planes…"
"Oui ghuf Nyjah, e drehg symvuo megac oui(you know Raven, I think Malfoy likes you)" Willow said. Raven looked from Malfoy to Willow.
"Yht fro tu oui cyo drec? (And why do you say that?)" Raven asked.
Willow merly smiled, "e's hud cyoehk yhodrehk amca ypuid drec (I'm not saying anything else about this)" Raven surveyed Willow then turned.
"Lets get ready for our next class, okay?" She said. Draco had come to hate not knowing that language, he had a gut feeling it was about him because he knew "symvuo" was Malfoy, he remembered that.
Raven was still rather out of it that day, but after school she lounged about in the Common room, staring into the fire, her thoughts resting on the book upstairs… her inheritance from her father…. The only thing she had left besides her memories, a cloak, a book, a black rose and a key… what made her even madder, she didn't know what the key was for. She didn't know where Malfoy, or Willow were, and right now, she wanted to be left alone, she should probably set to work on her homework, but she couldn't bring herself to stand and go get it. It was about 9:30 and she just wanted time to pass so that it would be 12:00 and she could go see her mother. Should she take Willow with her? She knew that Willow would probably come anyways, there was no possible way to stop her from coming, and she didn't know weather Malfoy would go or not. It was funny to her, really, Malfoy had befriended her… why? Because, she had silver blood? What kind of reason was that? Malfoy had never given her any notice before, and know he was always around, at first she though he was up to something. But now she wasn't so sure.
She looked around the common room, she was the only one sitting in here, in one of the big arm chairs, staring into the flame, it seemed so much had happened in two days, it was weird. Draco had become her friend, she's nearly broken herself in Quidditch, she'd make the Potter trio true enemies, she'd beaten Harry in a Chocobo Race, and above all, her father had died, and she'd be going to see her mother for possibly the last time, in a short while.
Then, the portrait swung open and Draco walked in Crabbe and Goyle behind him, Raven supposed he'd gone back to his old friends, Malfoy must not have seen Raven sitting there, he just continued to talk to Crabbe and Goyle.
"Remember, I probably won't be talking to you guys that often, but you know why, I've told you, and remember not to tell anyone else." Malfoy said. Crabbe and Goyle just nodded. Raven sat there a moment confused… but she didn't want to think about it, she'd go on like she hadn't heard them, she closed her eyes, and just made as though she was asleep. She heard footsteps climb stairs, she'd assumed they'd all gone up, but she remained there with her eyes shut anyways. She felt a shiver crawl down her spine, and wondered why… Then she felt something being dragged over her, she opened her eyes, to see Malfoy had thrown his Robe over her, probably to keep her warm, because he must have seen her shiver. HE saw her eyes open, and looked down at her.
"Sorry," he muttered, "I didn't mean to wake you." Raven smiled, faintly.
"don't worry about it," She said. He smiled back. Raven did feel tired ,and proably had almost fallen asleep.
"Why don't you rest?" HE said," I'll be sure to waked you before midnight, He brought his Robes up to cover her shoulder. She nodded, sure that she looked tired, she was still handling the stress from the death of her father. She wondered weather she might take Draco with her tonight. He was willing to wake her up prier to departing; maybe he intended on joining her. Either way it didn't matter to her. She allowed her eyes to flutter shut and drifted off into sleep. Her sleep seemed long and Dreamless, her mind just floated around in a dark room, it seemed, though totally at piece, it seemed like she had slept for days, when Malfoy finally awoke her. Her eyes slide open, and Malfoy stood there, it was considerably darker, and the only light was canst from the fire. Malfoy face was half hidden in shadow, and at first she assumed she was dreaming now. Malfoy wasn't sompletly sure if she was all the way awake.
"Raven," he whispered to her, then set a hand on her shoulder, "come on, it's about 1:45, get up, come on," Ravens eyes opened all the way, she sat up, still feeling grogy. Malfoy sat next to her.
"you ok?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, are you coming?" she asked.
"if you want me to, I would have Willow with me, but she's sound asleep right now, I even kinda threw her cat on her, and she didn't wake up." Raven smiled.
"That's Willow for you, the living dead." Raven replied. Draco looked at her, and Raven tilted her head slightly.
"yes?" She asked.
"Raven, earlier today, when you let me understand the conversation, I remember something about a 'vampire side'," He paused, "what's that about?"
"well you see, my father was a Vampire and was on the Vampiric Counsel, loyal to them for many years, so I do not understand his forum of treason." Raven replied, her voice still low. Malfoy just looked at her, "please don't tell anyone else, but some times, I get these cravings, for blood, and I feel really dangerous, like I don't want anyone around me because I'm afraid of hurting somebody, and so I try to be totally agreeable, make it to were people trust me, I want to help my friends, and never hurt them, but sometimes its really hard, I stay strong for as long as I can… but soon I might loose it." Draco looked at Raven, slightly surprised, even Raven didn't understand why she was telling him this.
"you don't have to be strong all the time, other people want to help you, just like you want to help them," Draco whispered to her. Raven looked at him, opened her mouth to talk, but shut it because she could not force sound out of it. Draco just looked at her, smiled and sent to stand up.
"If we want to leave we'd better do so soon, hopefully you have the strengh to get out of the castle and to the forbidden forest." HE told her, she stood next to him.
"Draco…" She said.
"Hmm?" He replied.
"Thank you…"
"For what?" he asked.
"For understanding, I thought I'd never be able to talk to anyone besides my dad, and when he died…" Raven paused, talking of her father hurt inside.
"Shhhhh," Draco mused, "It's okay, and lets go meet up with your mom, alright?" Raven nodded, and handed him back his Robe. He threw it over his shoulder.
"Lets go," she sighed. Draco nodded and the two of them slipped out of the portrait and snuck along the passageways, Careful to make sure they didn't run into Filtch or Norris. The reached the front door and slipped out of it, breaking a full sprint to the forest, wanting to get out of sight as soon as possible, Raven hit the dense bushes seconds before Malfoy and stopped, resting her hands on her knees. She looked up at him.
"Your mum didn't say where she was going to meet us?" Draco asked.
"No, she said just to walk into the forest and she'd come get us," Raven replied looking into the forest. They walked slowly, not wanting to go too far in, not wanting to get lost. Draco and Raven stayed semi close together and kept gazing around the forest, for Raven's mother.
There was a slight rumble in the bushes, Raven strafed to the side not taking her eyes off the brush, not knowing what could be on the other side. Draco remained in front of her, suddenly a streak off white leaped from behind the bush. Draco jumped back, forcing Raven back, in case she needed to be out of harms way, Rave jumped slightly but then realized wht it was.
"MUM!" Rave called out, and stepped up to the pure white creature, throwing her arms around its neck. As Raven was hugging the Unicorn, it transfigured into a human. She looked a lot like Raven, just older, and slightly taller, with a more narrow face and Green eyes with Black hair, still the same pale complexion, as the figure transformed, it too Hugged Raven. Draco stepped back, watching them. Ravens mother looked up at Draco, a warm smile on her face.
"come here dear boy," She said. Draco steeped Forward And Raven's mother half hugged him. "Such an admirable boy, escorting my Beautiful Raven out here!" Raven looked up at her mother, slightly embarrassed.
"Mum, why did you call me out here?" Rave asked.
"Well dear, I wanted to see you one last time, before I went into hiding, though I don't know where I'll be going, I need you to find somewhere to stay until its safe for me, I don't think the counsel will come after you, so there are no worries, please, be brave." Her mother said.
"Mum, why don't you stay with my muggle cousin?" Raven asked. Her mom paused.
"that's a good idea, I do believe I will, I'm sure they'll let poor Aunt Mona stay for a while, if I don't tell them who's after me," Her mom (Mona) Said to her. Raven nodded.
"You'd best be off now, mum, I love you," Raven said, hugging Her mother one more time.
"You're so smart, like your father I'll miss him so much," Mona said, a tear coming down her cheek.
"I know mummy," Raven said, "but god be with you, write me when you get there, Senosuke like to drop by his house to see if he has anything for me." Mona hugged Raven one last time, before transfiguring back into a Unicorn, and Darting off into the shrubs again. Raven looked after her azs she went, and then looked at Draco.
"I hope they don't get to her, but they won't be able to find her at my Muggle cousin's house… I hope," Raven looked despaired yet again. Draco knew, she'd really loose it if her Mother died. Raven crossed her Arms and shivered slightly. Draco took his Robe of once more, standing there in jeans and a shirt, and walked with her back to the edge of the forest, both ready to sprint across the lawn again. Draco thought it was almost pointless to have arranged that meeting, but he supposed it was good for Raven to have seen a family member. Both Slytherin sprinted across the grass and leaned against the door, slightly panting, they slipped in and snuck about, But They heard Filtch around the corner, Raven opened her eyes wide in surprise, and she and Draco flew up a staircase, running into the next door they saw and shutting the door behind them, Raven pressed an Ear to the door waiting for Filtch to pass, Draco looked at her, as she pressed against the door.
"It sounds as though he's passed," Raven murmured. Draco looked down at the floor, just as Raven turned her head to glance at him.
"lets go," she said. She opened the door quietly and looked about, before darting silently from the room and down a few more staircases to the Slytherin Portrait. Both slipped inside, and glanced at one another. Raven looked exhausted again, extremely weary, as though she were sick, and Draco wouldn't doubt she was, Draco Walked her up the staircase to her dorm. The both stood at the doorway, looking at one an other, both feeling rather award, neither knowing why. Raven puts her arms around him and hugged him, Draco hugging back, and then Raven placed a hand on her door knob, she slipped off his Robe and handed it to him, muttering a 'thank you' and slipped inside, changing into her pajama's and lying down in bed.