Chapter Five: That's what They Say

Another author's note thingie: All of the members of the Dark Circle, excluding James Potter, Tom Riddle, the Dementor and the Grim, belong to me. The rest belong to… you know, that one lady. What was her name again?

Somewhere in the night, eleven figures, each carrying a lit torch, stood in a circle in complete silence. The torches burned brightly by themselves but cast no light on their bearers; all was hidden in darkness too thick to be natural. They seemed to be waiting for something.

As though roused by some silent signal, one of the torchbearers spoke. "On this the night of the new moon, the Dark Circle assembles. There are powerful magicks afoot, my friends, and if we are to achieve our goal we must execute each step of our plan flawlessly. All present?"

Another voice spoke. "I am Fortinbras, the Hawk, hunter of men. I serve the Grey."

"I am Koh-uu, the Crow, spinner of magic. I serve the Grey."

"I am Narè, the Dove, singer of tales. I serve the Grey."

The next speaker only made a hissing, rattling sound like the intake of breath, and the speaker after that lifted its voice in a wolf-howl. The speakers continued.

"Ulf, tamer of beasts. I serve the Grey."

"James, the mirror-demon. I serve the Grey."

"Gaijin, weaver of dreams. I serve the Grey."

"Tom, drinker of souls. I serve the Grey."

"Esque, wingèd death. I serve the Grey."

There was a small pause, then: "I am the Grey, keeper of the balance. Let us begin, then. Gaijin, tell me what you have found."

"A dream-scar, O Grey. A wingèd thing." Gaijin's voice was like a child's, smooth and serene. He sounded dreamy, as if he were not firmly anchored in the living world.

"Could it be Nuncio?" It was Esque, sounding hopeful.

"Perhaps," the Grey mused. "Gaijin?"

"It feels of familiar, O Grey."

Tom sighed. "A dream-scar… from that thing that took him, that made him betray us."

"And now he fears us," James said. "As if he were a mere mortal. It is disgusting."

Esque chuckled. "I don't know. I find his insolence… arousing."

"You find dead fish arousing," Tom snarled.

"Children," the Grey said warningly. The assembled fell silent. "Gaijin, where is this wingèd thing you speak of?"

"The mortal school," Gaijin replied, sounding slightly repulsed. "Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts?" Tom and James said at the same time, sounding shocked. James spoke again quickly, sounding nervous. "Are you… are you sure?"

"I was just there," Tom added scornfully. "Nuncio was no where near."

There was a hiss from the other side of the circle, as in agreement.

"Do you doubt me?" Gaijin asked indignantly.

"Is he alone?" The Grey asked.

"No." Gaijin paused, and his torch guttered. "He is with a boy."

"Curséd water creature!" Koh-uu screamed. "He holds him still! O evil! O injustice!"

"Please, Koh-uu," the Grey said gently. "Go on, Gaijin."

"Thank you, O Grey. Koh-uu, it is not the creature from before. It is a mortal boy." Gaijin had an odd tone in his voice, as if he were smiling to himself.

"Ah," the Grey murmured, sounding perplexed.

"Nuncio has always loved the sins of the flesh," Esque said lustily.

"Do not we all?" Fortinbras chuckled.

James didn't sound amused. "Nuncio and… a mortal boy? At Hogwarts? You don't think…"

"It is not your son," Gaijin assured him. "It is another."

James sighed with relief, but said no more. One of the torchbearers growled like an animal in the darkness, speech without human words. "Yes, we must go there," the Dove said in a high, musical voice. There was a tinkling of tiny bells. "We must find Nuncio—and the Creature."

"Very wise, Narè." The Grey sounded pleased. "Yes, we will go there. Are there any other issues to discuss?"

Tom cleared his throat. "About… That," he said uncomfortably. "Can we not go to help my Other Half? My future rests with him, and if he dies—"

"Do not fear death, Tom Riddle," the Grey said solemnly. "Fate does as she will. We cannot help your Other Half. Rest assured he will help himself, in time."

"I respect and honor your decision, O Grey," Tom mumbled, sounding crestfallen.

"Then we will move on. Come, children of the Circle."

With the Grey leading the way, the torchbearers moved away, single file, trailing off into the distance. The darkness lifted as they left, and where they had once stood the grass was burned black and the ground carved with evil symbols. They moved slowly towards Hogwarts.