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CLAWS OF A RAVEN
by Tyde

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Chapter Thirteen

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It was some hours into the early morning that Professor McGonagall was summoned to the Headmaster's office. Her face was looking peaky and her tartan sleeping cap seemed to be tied tighter than usual to her head. Although she was dressed in her nightgown she didn't appear to have slept at all. Senny led her solemnly into Dumbledore's sleeping quarters and sat down next to Dobby who was sitting on a cushion next to the chaise lounge in the corner.

McGonagall gasped as she saw the still form of Jippy lying on the chaise. "Oh Albus, what's happened?"

Dumbledore looked up from some papers he had in front of himself that contained runes and diagrams. His voice was tainted with a strain of defeat "Jippy has met with a terrible fate. An Unforgiven has been used within the walls of this school" Minerva's eyes widened at this statement. Not since Voldemort and the Death Eaters had ruled the wizarding world had she heard of such terrifying news.

"Surely not"

"I'm afraid so" He rubbed his forehead as if trying to release tension.

"By whom?"

"Him, or one of his followers"

McGonagall watched as Dobby rocked back and forth while holding one of Jippy's cold hands. The tears were streaming from his wide green eyes and he was muttering in a language she could not understand.

"Ancient Elvish" said Dumbledore noticing her curiosity. "The Chronicles of the Blessing of the Dead". Minerva nodded and she found herself suddenly weak at the knees and clutched at the nearest chair to bring it to her. She sank gratefully into it.

"Have the Ministry been sent word?"

"No" The defiance held in that statement surprised her.

"Well what are we going to tell the students? How do we broach a subject like this?"

"They will not be told. No one will be told. Mister Potter, Mister Weasley, Miss Granger and Sorora know, as do the other house elves and I and now you. But it will go no further than these walls"

Minerva bristled at his defiance. "But Albus, the parents and the students deserve to know! Their lives are in danger"

"I will not have them close this school! As far as we know Hogwarts is the safest place for them to be at this moment, not wandering about in the real world where they could be sitting ducks"

"Surely you cannot be thinking straight. A life has been lost."

"And many more would have, had Jippy not sacrificed himself. The murderer was not intent on getting at the students in this occurrence. He was headed for Severus. The danger last night was to Severus, not to the students. Jippy died protecting him. Voldemort is hunting down his unfaithful followers. Whether he meant to kill him or turn him against us I do not know. You do remember Severus as a Death Eater, do you not?"

McGonagall shivered involuntarily. "Yes I do. He was truly scary, like nothing I have ever seen. Almost wants to make you laugh at the fuss the students make of him now. If only they knew. Has Severus packed his bags and left for the mountains?"

"No. I expect we will have a visit from the Ministry soon enough once they realise what the potion in the Butterbeer is and then the problem of putting Severus somewhere that Voldemort can't touch, will be solved for us. It was rather fortunate that the would be poisoner chose that certain potion"

McGonagall let this rest for a moment and sat deep in thought before she spoke again. "But how did You Know Who get into the castle? Your protection barriers wouldn't let him set one foot in here, not after the trouble with the Philosopher's stone. I don't understand"

"One of his followers must be undertaking the actions for him. I must speak to Argus about the ins and outs of the castle. As you and I know from our own investigations there are many secret passages. I will have him set up sentry posts guarding all entrances"

"What if, as is a growing concern among the students, that one of the faculty is a Death Eater? They would have no need for secret entrances, they have free rein of the castle"

"You are not going to bring up that tired old conversation about my selections for Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers are you?"

"Well I'm just saying, Professor Palgetti is starting to act a little strangely and she is Severus's sister. Who is to say that she never dabbled on the dark side like he has?"

The Headmaster looked at his offsider carefully and folded his hands in his lap. "You would not have said that if you knew her past like I do Minerva. Sorora would never work for Voldemort, in fact I have every hope in her that she will help bring about his downfall"

"And why is that?"

"Because her husband is missing and she blames the Dark Lord. Pure rage and hatred has always served a witch well in battle"

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It was a very tired and anxious Harry, Ron and Hermione that made their way down to breakfast that morning with the rest of Gryffindor led by Professor McGonagall. Madam Pomfrey did not appear for breakfast and whispers were sent around that she was too busy contacting the parents of the students afflicted because the prognosis was not looking good for them. Fred and George blew this thought off though because they had snuck up to the infirmary as the sun rose and checked on Lee Jordan. He was not only conscious again but seemed well enough to ask about the latest scores for his favourite Quidditch team. Several of the students though were still unconscious and Hermione deduced that it probably had to do with how much Butterbeer they had gulped down before passing out. Her mind drifted to the half empty bottle of Susan Bones's that she'd used for analysis and thought that they wouldn't be seeing the Hufflepuff for a week or so at least.

Ron was looking with loathing at the Slytherin table who were the only house not diminished in ranks. Indeed Draco appeared to have an even greater sense of superiority about him than usual. Harry could see Ron clenching and unclenching his fist in anticipation of punching that pale, smirking face. The Slytherin Prefect would occasionally look in the direction of Professor Snape and smile. But it wasn't a smile like an ordinary person would do, it was a malicious smile that contained a hint of knowing. Snape stared back at the student with a blank look.

To everyone's surprise Professor Palgetti was seated next to the Potions master, although they did not look at one another. She looked to be in a daze and not actually eating, just shifting things around on her plate with the fork in her left hand. Severus pressed something into her free hand and she pocketed it with a mumbled thanks. Hermione nodded knowingly.

"What did he give her?" asked Harry.

"Dreamless sleep potion I think. Dumbledore probably told him to. There is more going on under the surface of our Defence Against the Dark Arts professor than we thought"

"Such as" said Ron with his mouth full.

"Deep emotional pain. It's not just the Butterbeer poisoning and Jippy, it has something to do with her husband" The Prefect looked sadly at Sorora who was attempting to chew a piece of toast.

"Did she tell you something?"

"No. I just took her back to her room and emptied the Dreamless Sleep potion in a cup of tea like Dumbledore told me. But then her owl showed up with a message from her husband, I couldn't help reading it over her shoulder"

"Is he is danger or something?"

"That's just it. It said he was coming back, that he was fine. It doesn't make sense"

Ron puzzled over this and thought about his Aunt Bernice who'd recently divorced her violent Muggle husband. "Maybe their marriage isn't a good one. Maybe she's scared of him"

"You don't use the name of someone you fear as the password to your quarters Ron" Hermione took a sip of her pumpkin juice. "No, it's something else"

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Author's note: I will probably add another chapter later today, two chapters in one day! Insane.

SnapeJuice – Hermione will do what she normally does, research to the nth degree and snap playfully at Ron :oP

Corrie – thanks again for the encouragement! :o)