Ahem. BOOK V IS FINALLY COMING OUT!!!! Everyone throw a parade because we all need new canon!

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Chapter 35 – The Heir of Merlin

Sirius tugged on the brass handle of their makeshift cell. The room obviously wasn't meant to hold prisoners, Sirius had decided as he surveyed it after he'd climbed to his feet. The brass of the handle in his fist was highly polished and intricately worked to look like a stylised tree. He guessed the room was originally meant as a storage room of some sort from the heavy scent of spices and wood. By that alone, he guessed they weren't at Malfoy Manor any longer. Lucius and Narcissa, after all, would have a better arrangement than an empty storage closet for unwelcome guests.

"Can you pick the lock?" Morgaine asked hopefully, massaging feeling back into her wrists and peering over his shoulder.

"With what, my dew claw?" Sirius raised an eyebrow in her direction and pointed at her loose hair. "Keh, Morgaine, they even took your hair pins!"

"I untied us, I was hoping you could pick the lock," she sighed and turned away from him to examine their cell more intently.

"You didn't untie us," Sirius said, bending down to scoop up a fraying bit of rope and tossing it at her. Morgaine caught it from the air without turning and gingerly pinched the end between two fingers. Sirius shook his head in amazement. He'd wondered if her reflexes were as honed as Moony's and, apparently, they were.

Werewolves were amazing creatures. Perhaps it was his own years of friendship with Moony and their night-time romps through the Forbidden Forest, or a product of his own unique upbringing even before Hogwarts, but Sirius still didn't fully understand how most wizards could fear something that was only dangerous during the full moon. Not that he discounted how very deadly a moon-crazed werewolf was – he'd seen it up close more than a few times – but most females he knew weren't exactly safe to be around certain times of the month either!

Sirius's thoughts were cut off by Morgaine. "The ropes were cut?"

He looked over to see standing in the small patch of moonlight, facing him with a confused frown marring her features. Sirius nodded grimly, "and unless you hone your nails for battle, neither of us has anything sharp enough to do it."

"I left a good-sized gash on your wrist, Sirius," Morgaine pointed out dryly. "I can smell the blood. But you're right, this looks very suspicious. Though I wonder . . ." her words trailed off as she became lost in thought.

"What?"

Morgaine shook herself out of her thoughts with a slight frown. "Who would bother to untie us, then leave us with no way out of our cell?" Morgaine abruptly perked up, her attention snapping to the door.

"What is it?" Sirius asked, considering transforming into Padfoot so he wouldn't be at a disadvantage sense-wise.

"Someone's coming," she reported, listening intently. "Several humans and they're dragging something with them." She sniffed lightly at the air and wrinkled her nose with a frown. "I can't smell much – there are too many other scents in the way – but there are at least three people out there with wands."

Morgaine cut off at the slight clink of heavy keys sounded outside the door. Sirius considered setting up an ambush for a moment before dropping to the floor again. He quickly reached up to grab Morgaine's arm and give it a sharp tug, making her fall next to him with a surprised yelp. "They'll stun us if they see we're awake and free," he pointed out as Morgaine glared at him. "Lean against my back and pretend to be unconscious. We'll never overpower them without our wands."

She huffed once at him, but obeyed, scooting around so that their backs touched and relaxing in feigned unconsciousness. Sirius dropped his head, eyes closed, just as the heavy door swung outward. The slight puff of air carried the damp smell of wet stone and water plants. Consciously forcing himself not to fidget, Sirius concentrated on listening to the slight rustles of clothing and the click of boots as a small group filed in, dumped their un-protesting burden in a crumpled heap near the other two, and filed out again. The door swung shut behind them with a low thud before Sirius risked opening his eyes slightly.

Fresh snow clung to a pair of tatty-looking boots and the bottom of a worn winter cloak topped by a shock of distinctive red-hair.

"Ron!" Morgaine gasped behind him before darting into view. Sirius moved to her side, tugging Ron's restraints free and gently turning the unconscious boy over onto his back. Morgaine quickly began checking Ron over, testing most of his vital signs with surprising efficiency. Then again, Sirius thought. Her sister is a mediwitch. She must have picked something up in the last fifteen years.

Morgaine rocked back on her heels with a sigh of relief as she finished her examination. "He's fine," she reported. "Probably knocked out with a Stunning spell since they didn't rough him up too badly. He should wake up in an hour or so."

~*~

Professor Myfanwy transformed into a shining unicorn the instant they cleared the castle doors and leapt delicately down to the snowy ground, easily clearing the steps, and prancing slightly in impatience as the other four made a more cautious descent. With a brief toss of her mane the unicorn set a brisk pace for the others to follow.

"Is Rowan all right?" Harry asked hesitantly, falling back to walk beside Professor Lupin, but keeping watch on the shining animagus that led their small parade. She wasn't normally so . . . restless and it worried him. "I've never seen her so alert and . . . focused." Lupin considered him for a moment; obviously gauging Harry's ability to handle the answer.

"You'd be surprised how determined she can be, Harry, but not really, no," Lupin finally answered. "She's very upset and terrified out of her wits right now and I'd rather not see anyone in the line of fire if she's provoked."

"Maybe you should have just let her slap Professor Snape again and get it out of her system," Ginny muttered under her breath, but just loud enough the other two heard her. Harry felt his jaw slacken in surprise at such a statement coming from Ginny! Ginny must have realized that they'd heard her. She blushed and fell silent again, looking at the snowy ground passing beneath her feet as they all trudged on towards Hogsmeade. Professor Lupin began chuckling softly.

"It would have been more than a slap," he admitted calmly. "I don't particularly enjoy Professor Snape's company, but even with his experience in the Dark Arts, I don't think he realizes just how deadly Rowan is when she's like this."

Ginny looked upset at this and Harry instinctively reached out and grabbed her hand to comfort her. They were friends, he thought defensively, fighting down a blush of his own and keeping his hand over Ginny's. He'd do the same for Hermione. Harry dimly wondered what he was trying to convince himself of.

Professor Lupin obviously noticed their reactions because he explained further. "Demons and werewolves share several characteristics and because of her ability as a Vox Veritas Argentum, Rowan's demon blood is particularly strong. A werewolf can change without the full moon if they are angry or frightened enough."

Lupin's attention shifted from the pair beside him to the white unicorn in the lead. "I don't know if a demon can do the same, but, if they can, Rowan's blood may be strong enough to overshadow her humanity.

"And if that happens?"

Lupin sighed and ran a hand over his eyes. "I don't honestly know, Harry. But I, for one do not want to battle an enraged demoness, no matter how much I care for her."

~*~

Harry ghosted through the sleeping village of Hogsmeade, his footsteps muffled by the steadily increasing snowfall. Professor Myfanwy guided them to a small cottage on the far side of the village before finally returning to her human form.

The door of the cottage swung open soundlessly at a touch of her wand, letting them all enter before swinging shut just as silently and locking with an audible click. Harry didn't have much time to look at the furnishings of the cottage, but they seemed comfortable and plain and homey in a snug sort of way. Rowan led them all into the tiny parlour and pulled a silk purse out of her robes.

As she poured a small measure of the bag's contents into her hand, Harry recognised it. Floo Powder! While Rowan was doing this, Professor Lupin lit a fire in the grate and took a bit of the Floo Powder for himself before passing it to the Harry.

"We'll Floo to the boat house," Rowan told them as she tossed her bit of powder into the flames. They leapt obligingly into an emerald inferno, casting sporadic flickers across the walls. "The castle itself isn't on the Floo Network, so we'll have to take one of the boats to the island it sits on."

Harry and the others nodded, except for Professor Lupin, who no doubt already knew what they were heading to. Rowan stepped into the green flames and clearly told them "CaerMyrddin" before disappearing in a rush of light.

Harry watched Ginny, then Hermione step into the fireplace and repeat Rowan's actions before Professor Lupin motioned him ahead. Harry took a deep breath and clamped a hand over his glasses before stepping into the fireplace, not wanting to end up anywhere else because of a lung-full of ash, and felt the peculiar tumbling and spinning feeling before landing in a completely different fireplace, far away in South Wales.

Harry tumbled out of the flames and skidded across a cold stone floor, managing to lose his glasses momentarily despite is precautions. He picked up his glasses and put them back on his nose, snapping the world back in focus. Professor Myfanwy stood in a tall stone-arch doorway, her white robes glowing in the wash of moonlight.

"Harry," Rowan turned back to him and held out one pale hand, "I need your father's pocket watch."

Harry frowned, puzzled at the request, but dutifully dug it out of his robes and handed it to her. "Rowan, what . . ." Harry started. Rowan pulled her wand from her belt. Harry felt a ripple of panic course through him and stomped it down. Rowan wouldn't destroy his father's watch for no reason. She lightly tapped her wand to the front of the watch and transfigured it into a golden box – delicately carved in the same animals and lilies as the watch had been – then reached in and pulled out something that glimmered faintly in the moonlight.

Professor Myfanwy used her wand to transfigure the box back into a watch and returned it to Harry. He turned it over in his hands, inspecting it and finding, with relief, that it wasn't damaged at all.

"You gave me this watch, didn't you?" Harry asked, looking up and remembering the day he'd received the watch. He caught a soft glint of light as Professor Myfanwy lightly wrapped the chain and its pendant around her wrist. The pendant looked like a star trapped in crystal; a tiny point of brilliant light surrounded by a light nebula of mist and suspended from a delicate chain of silvery-blue metal.

"I took care of many of your parents things when they died, Harry. Except for a few unusually delicate things that they entrusted to Dumbledore. I was to return them to you as soon as you were old enough."

Harry noticed that Professor Lupin had moved away from Rowan and didn't look willing to come any closer than he had to. "What is that?"

"The Amulet of Achidnae," Rowan said simply, twisting the chain slightly to make the light glitter as it spun.

"Harry's had it the entire time?" Hermione shrieked. A small smile touched Rowan's mouth and she nodded.

"Since last summer, yes. What better place to hide it?" she asked. "Right now, though, I think we may need its power." A slight disturbance from outside the gatehouse distracted everyone's attention. Rowan's hand dove for her wand, but halted midway and, even in the dim light, Harry saw Rowan's eyes dim as a shouted "Imperio!" wrenched away her free will. Rowan stood demurely to one side, like a living marble statue, as dark-robed figures filled the doorway.

Harry lunged forward, drawing his wand, but pulled up short as Rowan stepped obediently into their path at a command from a familiar drawling voice hidden behind a dark mask. Harry heard a low growl of frustration from Lupin as Death Eaters swaggered up and wrenched away their wands.

"Ah, the Heir of Merlin." Voldemort greeted, bowing mockingly as he stepped into sight. "How very excellent of you to join us."

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Everyone ROX for his or her very kind reviews, or even for just reading it. Between everything else that's been going on lately, they are one of my sanity lines. And, in a moment of utter childishness and Gilderoy Lockhartishness (which wasn't a word, but it is now!), I'm dedicating this chapter to myself, because my birthday is tomorrow, Saturday, January 25.

Small disclaimer for last chapter: I borrowed the idea of trapping Professor Snape in a card from Yu-Gi-Oh. (Yes, I have a deck. Yes, I know how to play. And, yes, I beat the pants of my last opponent *winks*) I'd advise everyone to keep their eyes out for anime references. It is my other love (along with Harry Potter) and likes to sneak into my writing.

Review answers:

Sonata asked how many more chapters. Good question and I wish I had an answer! The story will end after they face down Voldemort, which they do next chapter. Then an Epilogue covering the aftermath of that. I don't know how many pages that'll take me to write. At a guess? Two more after this one. Don't hold me to that, though.

For all those that keep thinking I'm abandoning this story: I'M NOT! I'm simply busy and don't always have the time to write my own stories. It will be finished, never fear. The next part is half written already!

The next chapter will be along shortly! ~Kat~