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which I don't, so I'll say this: All copyrighted, trademarked or otherwise
owned property is property of it's respective owner and no ownership is
implied on the author's part. Enjoy!
~~Chapter Six: Raven~~
Centaurs.
They were beautiful; half man, half sturdy, strong horse. Their coats differed in color, as did the shade of their skins, but it was obvious they were all very close to each other. Their hooves were planted firmly into the ground, and they seemed a perfect picture of strength and kindness.
There were ten or eleven of them, grouped in a circle around a great oak that's branches stretched far over twice as high as the tree that Kevin was sitting in. They were chanting, quietly, their voices a perfect harmony. Kevin realized that although they were all chanting different words, the melody was the same, and their voices were more in tune than anything else Kevin had ever heard.
Finally, Kevin looked back at Krysten, but his expression was one of appreciation, not anger. He turned his head back, and they watched the centaurs for several more minutes before Kevin backed off on his branch, and whispered, "Why don't they notice us?"
Krysten smiled. "They do," She said. "They just don't mind us; me, at least. I don't know why. Do you think they wouldn't have heard us climbing the tree, or Lyra's scream?"
Unexpectedly, one of the centaurs broke away from his group and headed towards the tree in which the threesome occupied. Kevin stiffened, but Krysten merely smiled.
"I am Keirhein, Watcher of the Sky. This is our grove." Seeing confusion still plain on Kevin and Lyra's faces, he elaborated. "We, the centaurs, are people of the ground, but watchers of the stars. We live and die, although our lives are longer than yours by far. Some of us live here, in the Forbidden Forest. Sometimes, we tell the future, and unveil the past, but we do not interfere. The knowledge is enough for us."
Kevin nodded, still very confused. "Why did we have to climb a tree, when we just as easily could have walked in?" He asked. He glanced again at Lyra and gave Krysten a pointed look.
Keirhein laughed. "You could not have walked in so easily as you think. This grove cannot be found by normal means. If you had walked into it from he ground, you would have found yourself on the other side. It is protected by an ancient charm, and no mortal man or woman can see or touch our sacred grove without our permission."
Kevin nodded, trying to be patient. This was only bringing up more questions. "How did climbing a tree help us see it?"
Keirhein smiled broadly. "That is your friend's mistake. The first time she saw us, she had climbed this tree. She thought it was the only way in. But no uninvited mortal could have seen our grove from this tree, or any other place."
Krysten frowned. "Why are we invited?" She asked.
Keirhein's face turned grave. "You, Krysten, are special. I will not tell you how here and now." He turned to Kevin. "And him. a child of shadow." He frowned. "I did not invite him in. But he sees nonetheless. It is strange, but perfect."
"Child of." Kevin stopped. "Wait. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. It's an honor to meet you." He reached his hand down, and the tall centaur reared up on his hind legs and shook it.
"The honor is mine. It is not every lifetime a centaur sees someone like you."
"Why can I see you?" Lyra asked quietly.
The centaur looked disturbed. "You. wait." He turned his head sideways, looking deep into her eyes. Kevin felt her grip on his hand tighten. Finally, the centaur spoke again. "You are insightful, child, but not. not enough to see us. Somehow. your friend's touch." He looked at her hand, holding Kevin's.
Krysten said quietly, "Lyra, let go."
She did-and gasped. "Where. Kevin, Krysten, I can't see them!" She was looking right at the centaur, Kevin could see, but didn't seem to see him. "I." She reached back for his hand.
"There they are again. I see." Lyra smiled. "So I'm not, er, special?"
Keirhein shook his head hard. "You are unique, even more then you know. You simply don't have the sight to see us alone. Perhaps it will come to you as time goes by." He turned, looking back at the group. "I must leave now. Perhaps we will meet again. I am honored to meet you, child of shadow." He nodded to Kevin one last time and then trotted off into the forest with the rest of the centaurs.
Once they were down the tree, Lyra laughed joyously. "That was amazing, Krysten! Thank you."
Kevin smiled. "I don't know what he meant by 'child of shadow', but I don't like the sound of it. Nevertheless. thank you, Krysten. I am glad we came."
"Child of shadow," Krysten puzzled. "Sounds like the Heir of Slytherin business I heard went on two years ago."
Lyra laughed again at that. "Heir of. Slytherin? Oh, I heard about that. Very funny, Krysten." At Kevin's confused glance, she added, "There was an ancient secret room within the school that only the Heir of Salzar Slytherin could open. It was opened again two years ago."
Kevin shrugged. "Sounds interesting, I've never heard of it before."
"Yeah." Lyra bit her lip. "I really couldn't see them without holding your hand. it must mean something. Maybe I can find out."
"You certainly have an extensive library here!" Kevin commented. "I found a."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Krysten and Lyra chorused, "WHAT?"
"Oh. I'll tell you when we get back, then," Kevin said. He hoped they would forget. The book was his own secret.
"You know," Kevin said at dinner later, "The one thing I notice Hogwarts is missing-I mean, what Hogwarts could use, was a class to teach some offensive and defensive spells."
"Offensive?" An older Ravenclaw asked from a few seats down. "The only 'offensive' spells are the Dark Arts."
"That's what I heard," Krysten muttered. "And for defense, we have Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Yeah, that's a great class," Kevin replied. "But. sure, defense against the dark arts is good, but what about defense against other things? Every now and then, you'll be sure to encounter some dark wizard who would gladly resort to a knife."
Lyra looked over at him, surprised. "I never thought of that. well, there are a lot of binding spells in The Standard Book of Spells. I heard of one which tangles someone in ropes. it's a third level spell, though."
"Yeah, but that's not all that affective," Kevin muttered. "Back-I mean-oh, forget I said it."
Lyra shrugged; she seemed all too happy to. Krysten, however, was looking at him askance. Kevin didn't see, as he was looking up towards where the headmaster was sitting, but he felt her gaze.
*You again.*
*Yes, me.*
Kevin was again on the rock in the mists. It seemed the be smaller then last time. The other him was standing across at the other side, staring into his eyes grimly.
*How are you are talking to me in my mind?*
*I am part of you.*
*You denied that before.*
*I denied I was you.*
"What part of me are you?" Kevin asked aloud. "I've never seen you before, since I came here. Why haven't I? And how can you reach into my thoughts. and my dreams?"
*You could call me your alternate personality. The one that never truly came to be.*
Kevin looked to both sides of him. *Why doesn't this feel like a dream?* He asked. *I can feel the wind.*
*It's only half a dream, Kevin. Half a dream. I'm the dream. this is real. In your mind, but real.*
*I don't understand!*
*You never did.*
Kevin crouched low and the wind began beating at him faster. He could easily be thrown off if he stood up.
*What did you mean before? What is Ravenclaw's Throne? What do you know?*
*So many questions.*
*Answer me, damn you!* Kevin reached for a wand, but found he had none. *At least tell me what you meant. what almost killed me before. and the Throne. What do you mean?*
*You are a child of shadow, Kevin. The only child of shadow. Light- day-is your enemy. Do you remember the Visitor?*
Pain-Terror-Evil-It's coming. Kevin's vision was blurring, old memories stirred.
*NO! You won't. show me. I won't see it again. I've left him behind. He destroyed Ashallan, wasn't that enough?*
His reflection smiled cynically. *You wish. He wants -you-.* He pointed at Kevin suddenly, and Kevin felt a sharp pain on his left arm. Looking down, he saw a line of blood tracing itself across his skin.
*Stop.*
But the other him had stretched his other hand. Kevin was once again falling back. into the mists.
Kevin woke suddenly. His right hand instinctively reached over and grabbed his left. He felt blood on his hand; a shiver ran down his spine, and he shot into a sitting position. Something was very wrong.
Kevin jammed his feet into a pair of old slippers and walked out of the boy's dormitory. He could wash his arm in the magical basin; it wouldn't get dirty, as an enchantment kept the water pure.
Pushing the door shut behind him, he tiptoed down to the common room- and froze. What was Lyra doing down here?
She was sitting in one of the chairs, a huge book open on her lap, her head back on the chair. She was asleep.
*What was she looking at? But I'll wake her up if. well, that's stupid, she needs to go up to her dorm anyways.*
He softly walked over and tapped her on the shoulder.
"What. oh. Kevin." She blinked several times. "I fell asleep looking for something, I'm sorry."
"I didn't mean to be rude, but I thought it might be best if you didn't sleep here all night."
Lyra grinned. "No, I-Kevin! Your arm!" She sat up, dropping the book to the floor, and took his left arm in her hand. "You're bleeding badly."
Kevin suddenly noticed how odd it was that he wasn't feeling any pain from the cut.
"How did you get this?" Lyra asked, sounding very worried. "Here." She pulled the sleeve of his shirt up to his shoulder. "Just a second, let me get something to dip in the basin."
Kevin wasn't listening. Now that his mind was focused on the wound, it began hurting. more and more every second. He grimaced and sat down on the chair, his head in his hand. Too many old memories. thoughts.
Lyra had returned. She was dapping his arm with something wet, wiping off the blood. "Thank. thank you." He managed to say.
"You've lost a ton of blood. as soon as I bandage this we should get Madam Pomfrey." The cold was hurting badly, but most of the pain was from inside his arm, deep inside, and it was spreading.
"Oh my god." He heard. It seemed as if she was speaking from a great distance. "Kevin! Look!"
With a great force of will, he lowered his left arm so he could see it.
The cut of his arm was horribly deep, but that wasn't what drew his attention. With the blood gone, he could see how the cut was shaped. It was a figure drawn with perfect precision-a raven's head.
Staring at that symbol, Kevin's mind suddenly cleared. The pain was fading fast now, as quickly as it had come. The grogginess was disappearing.
"Lyra. Please, don't get anybody. Don't tell anyone." Kevin was looking her straight in the eyes-she couldn't break away. After a few seconds, she nodded her head.
Kevin got up. "I'm feeling a lot better now." He rolled his sleeve down. "Please, Lyra, the last thing I need is more. I mean. people worrying about me."
Lyra nodded again. "Okay, if you say so. This is all very odd, though. You're not." She broke off, biting her lip.
"Anyways, what were you looking up?"
Lyra smiled slightly. "You-'child of shadow', like the centaur said. Remember? Anyways, I found a reference in an old book. About the child of shadow and the knight of dawn, or something like that. But I can't find any other details."
"Lyra, that was kind of you. But please, just forget that. It was just some nutty stargazing centaur."
"You've asked a lot of me, but I've asked you for nothing at all." Kevin cursed and turned away, but Lyra continued. "I'll forget it. if you tell me about."
"Tell you about what?" He snapped, his back still turned.
"You."
Lyra was surprised when Kevin uttered a couple of very foul words she hadn't heard before and stormed up to his dormitory, leaving her standing with the book in one hand and a bloody cloth in the other.
A/N: Yeah, I very obviously need a beta reader at this point. the plot is thickening (too fast, but there you have it) and things are growing a bit confusing, but I think I have it all in order (.
A/N 2: Sorry, I had to re-upload. I really need to stop using italics, I forgot they don't work on ffn. I'll be outlining thoughts with *s from now on, then.
~~Chapter Six: Raven~~
Centaurs.
They were beautiful; half man, half sturdy, strong horse. Their coats differed in color, as did the shade of their skins, but it was obvious they were all very close to each other. Their hooves were planted firmly into the ground, and they seemed a perfect picture of strength and kindness.
There were ten or eleven of them, grouped in a circle around a great oak that's branches stretched far over twice as high as the tree that Kevin was sitting in. They were chanting, quietly, their voices a perfect harmony. Kevin realized that although they were all chanting different words, the melody was the same, and their voices were more in tune than anything else Kevin had ever heard.
Finally, Kevin looked back at Krysten, but his expression was one of appreciation, not anger. He turned his head back, and they watched the centaurs for several more minutes before Kevin backed off on his branch, and whispered, "Why don't they notice us?"
Krysten smiled. "They do," She said. "They just don't mind us; me, at least. I don't know why. Do you think they wouldn't have heard us climbing the tree, or Lyra's scream?"
Unexpectedly, one of the centaurs broke away from his group and headed towards the tree in which the threesome occupied. Kevin stiffened, but Krysten merely smiled.
"I am Keirhein, Watcher of the Sky. This is our grove." Seeing confusion still plain on Kevin and Lyra's faces, he elaborated. "We, the centaurs, are people of the ground, but watchers of the stars. We live and die, although our lives are longer than yours by far. Some of us live here, in the Forbidden Forest. Sometimes, we tell the future, and unveil the past, but we do not interfere. The knowledge is enough for us."
Kevin nodded, still very confused. "Why did we have to climb a tree, when we just as easily could have walked in?" He asked. He glanced again at Lyra and gave Krysten a pointed look.
Keirhein laughed. "You could not have walked in so easily as you think. This grove cannot be found by normal means. If you had walked into it from he ground, you would have found yourself on the other side. It is protected by an ancient charm, and no mortal man or woman can see or touch our sacred grove without our permission."
Kevin nodded, trying to be patient. This was only bringing up more questions. "How did climbing a tree help us see it?"
Keirhein smiled broadly. "That is your friend's mistake. The first time she saw us, she had climbed this tree. She thought it was the only way in. But no uninvited mortal could have seen our grove from this tree, or any other place."
Krysten frowned. "Why are we invited?" She asked.
Keirhein's face turned grave. "You, Krysten, are special. I will not tell you how here and now." He turned to Kevin. "And him. a child of shadow." He frowned. "I did not invite him in. But he sees nonetheless. It is strange, but perfect."
"Child of." Kevin stopped. "Wait. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. It's an honor to meet you." He reached his hand down, and the tall centaur reared up on his hind legs and shook it.
"The honor is mine. It is not every lifetime a centaur sees someone like you."
"Why can I see you?" Lyra asked quietly.
The centaur looked disturbed. "You. wait." He turned his head sideways, looking deep into her eyes. Kevin felt her grip on his hand tighten. Finally, the centaur spoke again. "You are insightful, child, but not. not enough to see us. Somehow. your friend's touch." He looked at her hand, holding Kevin's.
Krysten said quietly, "Lyra, let go."
She did-and gasped. "Where. Kevin, Krysten, I can't see them!" She was looking right at the centaur, Kevin could see, but didn't seem to see him. "I." She reached back for his hand.
"There they are again. I see." Lyra smiled. "So I'm not, er, special?"
Keirhein shook his head hard. "You are unique, even more then you know. You simply don't have the sight to see us alone. Perhaps it will come to you as time goes by." He turned, looking back at the group. "I must leave now. Perhaps we will meet again. I am honored to meet you, child of shadow." He nodded to Kevin one last time and then trotted off into the forest with the rest of the centaurs.
Once they were down the tree, Lyra laughed joyously. "That was amazing, Krysten! Thank you."
Kevin smiled. "I don't know what he meant by 'child of shadow', but I don't like the sound of it. Nevertheless. thank you, Krysten. I am glad we came."
"Child of shadow," Krysten puzzled. "Sounds like the Heir of Slytherin business I heard went on two years ago."
Lyra laughed again at that. "Heir of. Slytherin? Oh, I heard about that. Very funny, Krysten." At Kevin's confused glance, she added, "There was an ancient secret room within the school that only the Heir of Salzar Slytherin could open. It was opened again two years ago."
Kevin shrugged. "Sounds interesting, I've never heard of it before."
"Yeah." Lyra bit her lip. "I really couldn't see them without holding your hand. it must mean something. Maybe I can find out."
"You certainly have an extensive library here!" Kevin commented. "I found a."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Krysten and Lyra chorused, "WHAT?"
"Oh. I'll tell you when we get back, then," Kevin said. He hoped they would forget. The book was his own secret.
"You know," Kevin said at dinner later, "The one thing I notice Hogwarts is missing-I mean, what Hogwarts could use, was a class to teach some offensive and defensive spells."
"Offensive?" An older Ravenclaw asked from a few seats down. "The only 'offensive' spells are the Dark Arts."
"That's what I heard," Krysten muttered. "And for defense, we have Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Yeah, that's a great class," Kevin replied. "But. sure, defense against the dark arts is good, but what about defense against other things? Every now and then, you'll be sure to encounter some dark wizard who would gladly resort to a knife."
Lyra looked over at him, surprised. "I never thought of that. well, there are a lot of binding spells in The Standard Book of Spells. I heard of one which tangles someone in ropes. it's a third level spell, though."
"Yeah, but that's not all that affective," Kevin muttered. "Back-I mean-oh, forget I said it."
Lyra shrugged; she seemed all too happy to. Krysten, however, was looking at him askance. Kevin didn't see, as he was looking up towards where the headmaster was sitting, but he felt her gaze.
*You again.*
*Yes, me.*
Kevin was again on the rock in the mists. It seemed the be smaller then last time. The other him was standing across at the other side, staring into his eyes grimly.
*How are you are talking to me in my mind?*
*I am part of you.*
*You denied that before.*
*I denied I was you.*
"What part of me are you?" Kevin asked aloud. "I've never seen you before, since I came here. Why haven't I? And how can you reach into my thoughts. and my dreams?"
*You could call me your alternate personality. The one that never truly came to be.*
Kevin looked to both sides of him. *Why doesn't this feel like a dream?* He asked. *I can feel the wind.*
*It's only half a dream, Kevin. Half a dream. I'm the dream. this is real. In your mind, but real.*
*I don't understand!*
*You never did.*
Kevin crouched low and the wind began beating at him faster. He could easily be thrown off if he stood up.
*What did you mean before? What is Ravenclaw's Throne? What do you know?*
*So many questions.*
*Answer me, damn you!* Kevin reached for a wand, but found he had none. *At least tell me what you meant. what almost killed me before. and the Throne. What do you mean?*
*You are a child of shadow, Kevin. The only child of shadow. Light- day-is your enemy. Do you remember the Visitor?*
Pain-Terror-Evil-It's coming. Kevin's vision was blurring, old memories stirred.
*NO! You won't. show me. I won't see it again. I've left him behind. He destroyed Ashallan, wasn't that enough?*
His reflection smiled cynically. *You wish. He wants -you-.* He pointed at Kevin suddenly, and Kevin felt a sharp pain on his left arm. Looking down, he saw a line of blood tracing itself across his skin.
*Stop.*
But the other him had stretched his other hand. Kevin was once again falling back. into the mists.
Kevin woke suddenly. His right hand instinctively reached over and grabbed his left. He felt blood on his hand; a shiver ran down his spine, and he shot into a sitting position. Something was very wrong.
Kevin jammed his feet into a pair of old slippers and walked out of the boy's dormitory. He could wash his arm in the magical basin; it wouldn't get dirty, as an enchantment kept the water pure.
Pushing the door shut behind him, he tiptoed down to the common room- and froze. What was Lyra doing down here?
She was sitting in one of the chairs, a huge book open on her lap, her head back on the chair. She was asleep.
*What was she looking at? But I'll wake her up if. well, that's stupid, she needs to go up to her dorm anyways.*
He softly walked over and tapped her on the shoulder.
"What. oh. Kevin." She blinked several times. "I fell asleep looking for something, I'm sorry."
"I didn't mean to be rude, but I thought it might be best if you didn't sleep here all night."
Lyra grinned. "No, I-Kevin! Your arm!" She sat up, dropping the book to the floor, and took his left arm in her hand. "You're bleeding badly."
Kevin suddenly noticed how odd it was that he wasn't feeling any pain from the cut.
"How did you get this?" Lyra asked, sounding very worried. "Here." She pulled the sleeve of his shirt up to his shoulder. "Just a second, let me get something to dip in the basin."
Kevin wasn't listening. Now that his mind was focused on the wound, it began hurting. more and more every second. He grimaced and sat down on the chair, his head in his hand. Too many old memories. thoughts.
Lyra had returned. She was dapping his arm with something wet, wiping off the blood. "Thank. thank you." He managed to say.
"You've lost a ton of blood. as soon as I bandage this we should get Madam Pomfrey." The cold was hurting badly, but most of the pain was from inside his arm, deep inside, and it was spreading.
"Oh my god." He heard. It seemed as if she was speaking from a great distance. "Kevin! Look!"
With a great force of will, he lowered his left arm so he could see it.
The cut of his arm was horribly deep, but that wasn't what drew his attention. With the blood gone, he could see how the cut was shaped. It was a figure drawn with perfect precision-a raven's head.
Staring at that symbol, Kevin's mind suddenly cleared. The pain was fading fast now, as quickly as it had come. The grogginess was disappearing.
"Lyra. Please, don't get anybody. Don't tell anyone." Kevin was looking her straight in the eyes-she couldn't break away. After a few seconds, she nodded her head.
Kevin got up. "I'm feeling a lot better now." He rolled his sleeve down. "Please, Lyra, the last thing I need is more. I mean. people worrying about me."
Lyra nodded again. "Okay, if you say so. This is all very odd, though. You're not." She broke off, biting her lip.
"Anyways, what were you looking up?"
Lyra smiled slightly. "You-'child of shadow', like the centaur said. Remember? Anyways, I found a reference in an old book. About the child of shadow and the knight of dawn, or something like that. But I can't find any other details."
"Lyra, that was kind of you. But please, just forget that. It was just some nutty stargazing centaur."
"You've asked a lot of me, but I've asked you for nothing at all." Kevin cursed and turned away, but Lyra continued. "I'll forget it. if you tell me about."
"Tell you about what?" He snapped, his back still turned.
"You."
Lyra was surprised when Kevin uttered a couple of very foul words she hadn't heard before and stormed up to his dormitory, leaving her standing with the book in one hand and a bloody cloth in the other.
A/N: Yeah, I very obviously need a beta reader at this point. the plot is thickening (too fast, but there you have it) and things are growing a bit confusing, but I think I have it all in order (.
A/N 2: Sorry, I had to re-upload. I really need to stop using italics, I forgot they don't work on ffn. I'll be outlining thoughts with *s from now on, then.