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CLAWS OF A RAVEN
by Tyde

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Chapter Twenty Six

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An empty potion bottle sat on the table and a fist came crashing down on it, shattering the glass and sending shards flying. A label fluttered to the floor. Voldemort picked it up and growled. The last of the Imperio Potion Lucius Malfoy had saved for him from Snape's supplies years ago was finished. A bloodied Julian Palgetti was tied to a chair next to the table, groaning slightly and waking up out of the haze that the Unforgivable concoction had put him in. His hair was cut short and jagged in some parts. He spat out some blood and started coughing erratically, Voldemort just whispered a silencing charm so he didn't have to hear it.

It wasn't just the potion that had put him in a bad mood. Wormtail had not returned from his mission with Julian's wife. This could mean one of two things: he had been captured or he had defected. This meant a location change for the operation and now was not the time for a hiccup like this to happen.

He also knew, through a sixth sense that Snape was still alive. His attempts at getting the Dementors on his side had proven futile and so he had no real way of knowing what was what at Azkaban. Although a Daily Prophet report from the failed parole hearing of the Lestranges had brought up an interesting paragraph.

These known Death Eaters were taken back to their cells with the final words of the Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge ringing in their ears. "We cannot forget nor forgive the wrongs these people have done. As for their rants that He has returned – they are completely unfounded! If he had, would he not have rescued them by now?"

Voldemort smiled at that last sentence. So Fudge did not believe he was back, although he couldn't help noting that he didn't use the feared name at all. The Dark Lord would enjoy the torture he would inflict on the Minister. Cocky, self assured people irked him. His father had been just like that.

He paced up and down the kitchen of the old house he'd taken over outside of Hogsmeade. He had delighted in being so close to Dumbledore without him knowing it but that must change now. He tapped his wand on the edge of the table and thought. He needed a new assistant, someone who was stronger than Wormtail, but who would still cower when the time was right. He also needed a new place to run things from. The Dark Lord grabbed a handful of Self Summoning Floo powder in his fist and threw it at the fireplace. "Lucius Malfoy" he drawled and as an after thought added "and the boy". A few minutes later Lucius and Draco Malfoy came tumbling out of the chimney and landed heavily on the dusty old rug covering the floor.

"Wormtail is no longer"

It took the older Malfoy but a second to adjust to his surroundings and the person that had spoken to him. "He is dead, master?" Lucius bowed his head and bade Draco do the same.

"No, but he will be" Voldemort flicked his wand at them and they stood up promptly. "The boy will be my new assistant. It falls to you to train him, Lucius. I commend you for your work at Hogwarts, both of you, but now it is time to really put the fear of me in the people"

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Hermione bit her tongue in concentration as she poured some liquid into her cauldron. A Potion book entitled Ixplosive Ingredients Index lay open on the stool in front of her.

"Almost finished, Mione?"

"Just need to add a few drops of Erumpent* horn essence and it needs to simmer for two hours, but then it will be ready" She grabbed the eye dropper bottle containing the last ingredient and carefully added it into the bubbling liquid. Ron hovered over her shoulder, watching. A long column of smoke chased itself out of the nearby open window.

Harry was sitting on a couch near the fireplace with a book, Daddos Digest of Detrimental Delights, opened on his lap. Apparently the author was a fan of alliteration but the book could just have easily been called Daddos God Awful Hexes and Painful Curses for the Sadistic at Heart. His mouth was moving a mile at minute as he went over the hexes in his mind. Sirius was out and about in his Animagi form sniffing out what he could. Already seven Death Eaters had been captured by Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix and three of those had been personally located by Lupin and Black.

The werewolf was preparing the evening meal when an owl pecked loudly at the window frame. He opened the window, taking the letter from it's beak and sat down at the table to read it. He looked up at Ron who was looking at the owl in interest thinking it looked just like Hermes, Percy's owl.

"Another letter from your folks Ron. Seems Hagrid's last note to them saying you were studying Chimaeras* got them a little worried and they wanted you to come home. Said it would be safer to send you to Charlie in Romania and have you as an egg washer with the nesting dragons. They were so worried they didn't even address the envelope, just a scribbled R on it"

Ron looked worried as he strode over to take the parchment from the ex-professor's hands. "He didn't tell them where I really was, did he?" He quickly scanned the letter.

"Not as far as I can tell from that" Remus answered pointing at the letter. "They are just concerned that you may come home with a few limbs missing"

Hermione frowned. "Ron where did you tell your parents that you were going?"

"I couldn't very well tell them I was going to hang out with an Azkaban escapee and his best friend now could I? So I told them I was going to study magical creatures with Hagrid"

"And they didn't think that highly unlikely?" She stood there with her arms folded.

Ron looked away. "No. They were just happy I was still taking an interest in my magical education. They didn't realise Percy was driving me batty"

"Don't you feel a bit guilty about lying to them? I mean in times like these they have a right to know the whereabouts of their son"

"So your parents know exactly where you are, do they?"

She reddened at this comment. "Well, not exactly...but...I-"

Harry looked up from the book in his lap. "I'd be very interested to know that too. What did you tell your parents Hermione?"

"That I was staying at the Burrow"

"Hmmph!"

"Don't you hmmph at me Ronald Weasley – I've read more books than you and I most certainly pay more attention. I don't think I need to point out that I topped the year in every subject that I took. I see myself as better able to handle situations like this than you" It was the old Hermione shining through. The ten year old that had turned up at Hogwarts already better versed in spells than he, a pureblood wizard. The one that had been called an insufferable little know-it-all. The one that from time to time stood on her soap box and really irked them. This was one definitely turning into one of those times.

"Shame you dropped Divination" he said calmly.

"And why is that?" she questioned.

"Because" and as he muttered under his breath a flash issued from his wand and hit her full in the stomach, doubling her over. "You would have seen that coming".

"Ron!" cried Harry. "What did you do?"

"She had a bug up her bum Harry, I had to do it" he said as Hermione straightened up.

All three of them stared at Hermione whose nose had grown about a foot in length and hung oddly from her face.

Her hands were on her hips and she looked very cranky. "Whad exacdly did you thig dis would achiebe?"

Harry and Ron tried not to laugh and covered their mouths with their hands in a lame attempt to cover it up. Remus looked on with interest. "To teach you to keep your nose out of other people's business" the red head managed to say through his mirth.

"Okay, point taken. Counter curse if you would"

"Er...um...that is I...hmmm" Ron was grasping his wand and looking worried. "Don't know it"

"I don't think I need to point out the irony of this situation in respect to my comments earlier" she stated as a flash from Lupin's wand righted her nose.

"Sorry Mione"

"Play time is over Ron. I don't mean to be all serious, but You Know Who is out there and I don't think he'll be stopped by an Engorgement Charm. We're got to spend all our time researching new curses and spells if Harry is going to stand any chance against him"

"I resent that" spoke up Harry. "I've survived so far, haven't I?"

"You said so yourself Harry, he used your blood to resurrect himself. He's had months of lying in wait – he's more dangerous now than he was six months ago and you almost didn't make it back alive then"

"She's right Harry" came Remus's voice from the kitchen. "That is probably Dumbledore's reason for not wanting you to face the Dark Lord. Your blood could become your downfall in the end" The werewolf wondered why Albus had not spoken to him clearly about why Harry should not face the Dark Lord this time. He was like everyone else, using guesswork to get by. However he knew that a valid reason would be forthcoming at some stage so they would just have to wait for it. In the meantime... "Now is the time for a crash course in Dark Arts survival tips. There is no time to waste". He stirred a pot on the stove with his wand and then reached for the ladle. "Now everyone take a seat please, the soup is ready"

"Not Murtlap* again?" grumbled Ron.

"I'm afraid so"

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Author's note: Looks like this story may blow out to 40 chapters. Crikey! UP NEXT - Dumbledore will be paying Fudge a visit– and he will be surprised by what he finds.

*All the creatures mentioned in this chapter are from Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Here is a short description of each:

Chimaera - Greek: lion's head, goat's body, dragon's tail. Vicious and bloodthirsty. Chimaera eggs are classified as Class A Non-Tradable Goods. Dai Lleweleyn, the famous Quidditch player, was killed by a Chimaera while on holiday in Greece.

Erumpent - This huge African magical beast resembles a rhinoceros. Its horn, which can pierce almost anything, contains a fluid which explodes, destroying what it has hit. Because male Erumpents frequently blow each other up during mating season, the species is somewhat endangered.

Murtlap - The Murtlap is a rodent which lives along the seashore. On its back is a growth resembling a sea anemone which when eaten can promote resistance to curses.

jasmin flower – thank you :o) Sometimes I get carried away with twists though and my tales can turn into lame soap opera type stories. Hopefully it won't happen here!

Colleen and fish – hehehe you silly duffer. Then I looked at your review thinking – she's eaten too many people? Oh dear. I'm assuming Peeps are some sort of lolly or something? Right?

Kaelli Karali – She's got more kick arse stuff coming up too! :o) But as always, Harry is the hero of this piece so he'll be getting line honours when it comes to the end.