Chapter Twenty-Six

The Wrath of the Wraith

Jennifer spread out the Muggle papers across the staff room table and tried to make herself comfortable, wriggling her toes in potion-treated hot water. Hermione sat beside her, looking over some papers and munching on a croissant.

"There seem to be more references to localized tremors than missing farm stock in here," Jennifer said, pointing out another article. "Apparently, they've chalked up the stock deaths as a hybrid disease of some sort."

"Here's another one on the tremors," Hermione nodded. "'Seismologists surveying the area couldn't pinpoint an exact source, but state that the tremors are probably a result of a soft strata of stone or layer of silt eroding beneath the surface, causing and unstable terrain that will likely collapse in the future. Local residents have been asked to report any unusual depressions in their land and to check their foundations for land level.'"

"What in the world does all that mean?"

"They're blaming it on a sink hole."

"Oh. Well, why don't they ever just say so?" Jennifer wanted to know.

"People feel more comfortable when they think that scientists know what they're doing," Hermione said.

"Ah. Well, I suppose that make sense. And it isn't like they are far from the mark. The ground is collapsing, it's just there's no way it's happening by itself," Jennifer said.

"According to this, the tremors have been occurring a lot more frequently lately. They're blaming it on the warming weather and the ground unfreezing," Hermione said with an odd look on her face.

"What is it, Hermione?" Jennifer asked, looking over at her face.

"Severus said that Rasputin thought there was some type of reptile in there," Hermione said, getting a nod from Jennifer. "So what if it was just hibernating?"

"Hibernating?"

"Yes, what if the tremors are getting worse because whatever it is that is down there is starting to wake up?" Hermione asked.

"You may onto something there," Jennifer said. "We'd better take a look. We can go after dinner tonight."

"Go? Where are we going?" Severus asked from where he stood just inside the staff room door. Rolanda and Alvin came in behind him, taking seats at the table.

"Back to the Tomb. Hermione thinks that whatever it is down in there was hibernating and is probably starting to wake up. Now might be the best time for us to find out what's down there." Severus gave Jennifer a long hard look before darting his eyes towards Hermione and back again.

"No, I don't think that's wise. Besides, there are other things to do here. Jennifer, why don't you make yourself useful and help Rolanda and Alvin with security arrangements for the dance?" Severus suggested.

"But Severus, remember what happened at Hogsmeade? There may be some sort of connection between the wraith's activities and whatever is down there…"

"My memory is as good as ever, thank you, Hermione," Severus snapped. "I don't suppose in all of your time spent reading those Muggle papers that you had time to look at our own print this morning, did you?" he asked, taking out a copy of the Daily Prophet and tossing it in front of them. Jennifer picked it up and looked it over thoughtfully.

"Someone broke into the Ministry of Artifacts and stole the Staff of Eyre! But I thought they had that sealed away!" Jennifer said with growing concern.

"Yes, well, obviously it wasn't as well protected as we thought. I warned Dumbledore that we should have kept it at Hogwarts, but he was convinced that a student might get hold of it. It would have been a lot more secure here than anywhere else," Severus muttered.

"Oh, you mean like the Philosopher's Stone?" Hermione inquired. Severus turned and glared at her.

"Well, there's no point talking about what-if's now in any case," Jennifer said quickly. "You know, there's no reason we should suspect that anyone stole it to control whatever is in the Tomb. Come to think of it, we should have thought of fetching it ourselves. We could have possibly gotten control over the creature down there, and perhaps even talked it into making sure there wasn't any other artifacts or anything that we wouldn't want people to get their hands on."

"It could be just a coincidence," Hermione said, "but considering the Staff is gone and there is a possibility that the holes are why someone took it, shouldn't we be taking precautions against someone trying to use it?"

"Well, it's not like there are all that many Parselmouths out there who could actually use it, and we know that Harry or Severus didn't steal it," Rolanda said.

"Yes, but there are potions that give people a temporary ability to talk to animals," Jennifer pointed out. "In fact, Sagittari uses them all the time."

"There's also the possibility that the creature down there is clever enough to understand more than one tongue," Hermione said thoughtfully. "I need to go look something up," she decided, putting down her half-eaten breakfast and heading out of the room.

"Well if it's that intelligent, it certainly would explain how it has existed so long without anyone knowing about it," Jennifer said. "I wonder if it's communicating with the Wraith?"

"Jennifer, didn't you hear me a moment ago? I don't want you going down there," Severus said firmly.

"Yes, of course, Severus. We'll discuss it later, then," Jennifer replied, getting up and gathering up her things.

"I didn't say anything about discussion. I said…"

"I'm sorry, Severus, but I need to get going. Early class and all that and I can't be late, so I'll get back with you about dance security later…"

"Jennifer…"

"I'll meet you at lunch. Oh, wait, you have a double, don't you? Maybe I'll stop by during your conference time," she said, walking swiftly to the door.

"Jennifer," Severus sighed, walking over to meet her.

"No, really, you know how it is, labs, and equipment, checking stock and all that, so I'll see you…"

"Jennifer!" Severus barked, making her jump.

"What?" Jennifer snapped back, glaring at him defiantly.

"Do you really want to teach your 'snake-year' Slytherin class in your bare feet?" he asked, folding his arms. Jennifer looked down at her feet, still damp and prunish from soaking in the water, her face turning bright red. A titter came from across the room, probably from Rolanda.

"Oh," Jennifer said, walking back over to her chair and slipping on her shoes, the tub already having been dragged off by industrious House Elves. "Well, then. Goodbye," she said, heading for the door.

"Poor Jennifer, barefoot and pregnant again," Rolanda couldn't help herself but say, earning an upturned nose from Jennifer as she left and a stark glare from Severus.

That evening when Severus and Remus had their patrol, Firenze was waiting to meet them, greeting them warmly.

"We've discovered some new damage on the eastern border," the centaur told them. "On the far side, away from your wizard settlement."

"It's probably wary of Hogsmeade after the last incident," Remus said. "Any guess on how long it has been there?"

"We travel that particular patrol route every other day," Firenze said. "And it was not something that could have been missed by an earlier patrol." Remus looked over at Severus.

"If we're going to try to trap it before it gets bold again, it's going to have to be now," Remus said.

"Agreed," Severus said, "I'll speak with Dumbledore and see how quickly we can get organized."

"We'll be ready, but I urge caution," Firenze said, glancing at the early evening sky. "The stars will weep tonight, but for who I know not. I pray that is is not for one of our own number, for our path is perilous." His face was so serious in his prediction that even Severus felt slightly uneasy, nodding respectfully to the centaur. The two wizards turned, heading back towards the castle.

"I'd have expected that sort of prediction from any of them but Firenze," Remus mused. "Perhaps we should hold off."

"This will probably be the best chance we have to strike before anyone else does perish. We cannot afford to wait," Severus said, glancing at his watch. His face immediately turned pale and he stopped dead in his tracks. "Why? Why now?" he asked, tapping his watch fervently in hopes that the compass would fix. But no matter how much he shook and tapped, Jennifer's hand was still pointed at "Dark Forest" and her compass arrow pointed behind him. "She's gone again! I swear, I am going to shackle her in the dungeon this time!" Severus growled.

"Alright, calm down. We need to get Dumbledore first and let him know what's going on before we go looking for her. Do you suppose anyone is with her?" Remus asked. Severus thought a moment and then nodded.

"She wouldn't have gone by herself, especially after Dumbledore's strict orders not to go alone. My guess would be that Hermione is with her," Severus said, picking up the pace considerably. "They were investigating the tremors this morning, but I told her to stay away from it. I should have known better."

The instant they were on the grounds, Severus dashed up the stairs, taking them two at a time with Remus lagging behind considerably. The way to the Headmaster's Study was already open and Severus climbed swift up the last staircase and knocked, the doors swinging wide as he strode in the room. Dumbledore and Vallid looked up from where they sat conversing, and Vallid leapt to her feet from what she read in his face.

"The centaurs found some signs that the Wraith is back in the forest, and I would have recommended that we try our plan tonight. However, we seem to be missing at least one professor. Jennifer has gone off into the forest, and I believe she is heading to the ruins of the Tomb," Severus said.

"Not by herself, surely," Vallid said, glancing at Dumbledore.

"My guess would be Granger is there as well, although I haven't gone to confirm that yet," Severus said. There was another knock on the door, and Remus entered along with Sirius, who looked unusually concerned.

"Has anyone seen Anna? She sent me an owl and told me that she'd be working late, but I keep getting the feeling that she wasn't telling me everything, and she's not in her office," Sirius said. Severus' eyes flashed slightly, exhaling in pure annoyance.

"That settles it. I am shackling both of them in the dungeon," Severus said.

Carrying bright lanterns and wisp lights to guide the way, Anna, Hermione, Ron, and Jennifer picked their way carefully through the forest. The warmth of a spring day had all but given out leaving a chill wintry breeze that clung to the air and echoed in the wind.

"Tell me one more time what we're looking for and why?" Anna asked.

"It's called a Dreadbiter Serpent," Hermione explained patiently. "Legend has it that Dreadbiter Serpents were spawn of the serpentine Norwegian dragon, Nidhogg, but that's merely speculation, and no one really knows if the dragon is anything more than a myth. But Dreadbiters themselves are real; they're earth dwellers that feed on any buried corpses they can find…"

"Another good reason to be cremated," Ron put in dourly.

"They can grow very large, depending on their age. They're also quite intelligent, they can learn to speak languages just by hearing them, and often manipulate other creatures to help find new burial grounds to feed from. They are also hard to kill because they regenerate very fast. There aren't many known weaknesses, except for the fact that they despise birds of all kinds, especially eagles and airborne dragons."

"But if it can learn languages that easily, it's possible if this one can speak English," Jennifer asked.

"Possible, although I really don't know why it would want to talk to its food," Hermione said. "If I spoke bovine, I doubt I'd ever eat beef again."

"You have a conscience, though, there's no guarantee this creature has one," Ron said.

"Actually, you're right, everything I've read has said that they're ruthless, self-serving beasts," Hermione admitted. Just then there was a soft rumble, and Ron stopped short.

"Did you feel that?" he asked.

"We must be getting close," Jennifer said, looking around. "Yes, we should be just a few acres west of the mound by now."

Just then there was a loud whinny as a Unicorn charged into view, standing in their path with her horn down, her nostrils flaring in the cold air.

"Keki? What's wrong?" Jennifer asked as the Unicorn took a step forward. Ron and Hermione quickly stepped back when it became clear that Keki was not going to listen. "She doesn't want us to go any farther."

"I could have told you that," Ron said, looking at the irate Unicorn warily. "I think we'd better do as she says, Jennifer," he added, remembering how ferociously the Unicorns had attacked Voldemort's men several years ago.

"But this isn't like her. Keki, why can't we go on?" Jennifer asked.

"Jennifer! Get back!" Anna shouted in a loud, echoing voice.

Jennifer suddenly became aware of a growing presence behind the Unicorn and felt something cold, ebbing away her strength from where she stood. Reaching into the shadow that had grown around them, Anna forced a burst of magical light in front of Jennifer which knocked her back and blinded her momentarily.

"Wraith!" Ron warned.

"Anna, what are you doing? Get back!" Hermione shouted, pulling out her wand. "Ninfaminus!" she cast, pointing at the looming horror standing over Anna. But Anna had no intention of backing down. Instead, she moved forward towards the Wraith itself, which had stopped as if it had forgotten what it was doing.

"Anna, don't attempt it, get back!" Hermione warned, "I've made it not hungry, but I don't think it'll last long. We need to run!"

"No! We have to help Keki!" Jennifer pleaded, scrambling to her feet with her wand in her hand. But Keki wasn't moving or even fighting anymore. The Unicorn was completely engulfed in the shade of the Wraith, her color turning grey. Anna, still bathed in a strange white light, forced her way closer with another burst of energy that shoved the Wraith backwards until the Unicorn stumbled forward and collapsed in a heap.

Enraged, the Wraith turned on Anna, its distorted arms reaching out for her as the light began to be pulled into the black mass like a star into a black hole.

It was then that Jennifer heard a voice so powerful, so horrible in tone and so dark an incantation that she did not recognize it until she turned around to look. It was Lunette Vallid, as most had never seen her before, her eyes filled with a focused intensity and her wand cutting through the air like a knife as she summoned her strength into the spell at hand and cast it at the Wraith.

Jennifer knew the spell well but was quite surprised that Vallid knew it and even more surprised that she was using it, for the spell was one of the most powerful of Dark Magics, draining the power off of one human being and funneling it into another. She was also surprised when she realized the person Lunette was draining was Albus Dumbledore. He stood quietly beside her, watching the Wraith as it was forced to deal with more power in one instant than it could ever manage to consume, screeching out a horrible, high-pitched wail that never seemed to settle to one tone. It was almost as if all the screams of its past victims had come to the surface, forcing their way out. The shadowy form of the Wraith began to dissipate, and the dark energy burned outwards from its center until finally in the end there was nothing left.

Footsteps broke the silence, and Jennifer found herself surrounded by people. Severus was beside her, speaking to her in a concerned voice. She couldn't hear the words… she couldn't hear anything now. Pulling away from his grasp, Jennifer stumbled over to Keki's fallen form and knelt beside her, putting a hand on her neck as she had not been able to for so many years. She was vaguely aware of Anna standing nearby, sobbing softly into her husband's arms, but everyone else seemed distant.

The Unicorn's breathing was shallow and strained, her coat and eyes an unnatural grey, and Jennifer knew that only her strong willpower had kept her alive this long. Keki whinnied softly, and at Keki's prompting and with a shaky hand, Jennifer slowly reached up and touched the Unicorn's horn. It fell into her hand as if had never been attached at all. A moment after, Jennifer knew she was gone. A terrible grief like which Jennifer had never felt before consumed her, and she burst into tears over the fallen form. Centaurs stepped out from the cover of the trees and each knelt in turn, as did several dozen Unicorns who had appeared out of seemingly thin air as they bowed their heads in mourning.

Severus stood as if made of stone and watched. Never had he felt so helpless, nor had he ever seen Jennifer cry like that before. But before he could bring himself to begin picking up the pieces of him that had shattered from seeing her in such grief, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Dumbledore moved past him and over to Jennifer, helping her up and walking her over to the others. A moment later, Jennifer found herself in Severus' arms, still immersed in her grief but hearing his voice now, reassuring her that everything would be all right.

"What she needs now is rest," Dumbledore said quietly after a long moment. "In fact, I think we all need our rest. I believe I myself could sleep for a year," he said, looking over at Vallid who gave him a sympathetic nod. "The Wraith is gone, but the one it took with it will never be forgotten." Jennifer clutched onto the horn tightly, trying to brush away the tears, unable to wash away the pain that went with it. "Come, it is time to go home," Dumbledore said. As the centaurs prepared the ceremony to assure the Unicorn's place in the heavens, shooting stars fell across the sky and wept at her passing.