Disclaimer: I own only the obvious, the rest belongs to JK Rowling.

Authors Note: This is the un-beta-ed version. The correct one will be up as soon as my betas are done.

Authors Note2: There's a little surprise for you at the end of this chapter. Enjoy.

-Chapter Nineteen-

.

Draco stared and stared and stared some more. The creature in front of him couldn't be anything else but a demon. It had huge bat-like wings, yellow eyes and swirl-y patterns went all over the body.

The Slytherin gulped. The demon was staring straight at him, and it wasn't one of those I-want-to-hug-you looks.

(You!) the voice yelled inside his head and Draco hissed in pain. He hated headaches. (You have wronged my friend!)

"I have no idea of what you're talking about." Draco said.

(I think you do, human! And to get my point through, I'll let you experience the pain the poor creature went through when you nearly killed her.) The eyes glowed even more.

"Are you talking about Potter's owl last year?" Draco asked. He opened his mouth to say something else, but was hit with wave upon wave with pain. It wasn't as bad as the Cruciatus Curse but, unlike the curse, it centred around his heart. He fell to the floor and gasped for breath. "P... please! M-make it... s-stop!"

(That is exactly what Hedwig felt when you tried to colour her green and silver, Malfoy. I am warning you to stay away from Harry's pet from now on, or I swear you'll wish you never were born! Am I clear?!) the demon glared at him. Draco could only nod his head. (Don't worry about the pain, it'll be gone soon enough.) With a blinding flash of light the demon disappeared.

Draco lay gasping on the floor as the pain slowly retreated. He didn't move until Snape and McGonagall came around the corner.

"Mr Malfoy, what happened?!" the Slytherin Head of House asked. "We just found Parkingson, Crabbe, Goyle and some others stupefied or petrified in a classroom just around the corner, and none of them could tell us what happened."

"N-nothing happened Professor." Draco replied quietly still trying to catch his breath.

"Then off with you Mr Malfoy," McGonagall said. "We already sent the others back to the Slytherin common rooms, and I would advise you to follow them as it is time to get to bed - even if you're a Prefect. Run along now." She gently pushed him towards the stairs.

"Yes ma'am." The young blonde staggered down the corridor without even having glared at the Head of Gryffindor.

McGonagall and Snape exchanged worried and curious looks as they watched the only Malfoy heir meekly make his way back to his common room.

"Should we be worried, Severus?" Minerva asked.

"I'm not sure. I'll keep an eye at him," the Potion Master started walking down the corridor and towards Ravenclaw Tower. "Coming, Minerva?"

"Of course." She hurried up to him. "However, I still can't understand how you came upon this information."

"A... royal and a bird told me." Severus replied in true Slytherin style.

The Deputy Headmistress shook her head. "Well, I just hope it's correct."

"Oh, I do believe it is. Now lets get going."

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Harry grinned as he watched the two Professors disappear around the corner. He cancelled the Chameleon Charm and stepped out from behind the statue. First of all he had gotten revenge on Malfoy and he was getting rid of Terry Boot the Spy. Life really couldn't be better!

'Don't get too smug now.' The voice warned him.

'I know, I know, you pompous old idiot. Don't be such a spoilsport.'

The voice mimicked him angrily for a minute then turned serious. 'We really have to get Bianca and Mayon together soon, preferably within this day. Time's running out for the two of them.'

'I take it you have a plan, then?' Harry asked the voice in amusement.

'Of course I do, wouldn't have brought it up otherwise. Now, when Mayon returns you take care of him and send him to the secret room opposite Cadigan's picture. I'll take care of Bianca. Got it?'

'Sir, yes, sir.'

The voice sighed. 'If everyone of my minions were as obedient as you, I would be able to die happy.'

Harry rolled his eyes and let out a frustrated whoosh of air. 'Heaven give me patience.' He thought.

'Give you patience for what?'

'My point was just pointed out.'

'What? Come on, what's going on? What? What? What?!'

'Merlin's beard!' Harry walked quickly towards the hospital wing. It was time to visit Hermione again and see if he couldn't get some information out of her. He really had no idea what might have frightened her so much, and he absolutely had no idea when it might have happened.

'Well, can't say you were there with them so much last year.' The voice pointed out. 'I told you that this wouldn't be-'

A mental scream cut the voice off: 'HARRY!!!!!!'

'Cian! What's going on?!' Harry asked as he turned and ran towards the rooms of the First Vampire.

'We need your Healing abilities. Get here as fast as you can!'

'I'm on my way!' Harry put up an extra burst of speed. He ran through some unused passages, ploughed through a group of first-years who parted at once when they saw him, and soon was standing outside the painting that guarded the door to Cian's chambers. 'I'm here!'

A second later the door opened and the First Vampire stuck his head out. "Get in!"

Harry got through and stopped dead in his tracks. Athan, Zev and Mayon were doing what they could for a person who was placed on the couch. After some close examination Harry realised the bloodied, pale, thin, weak person on the couch was Ramsis.

"What happened?" he asked as he placed a hand on the vampire's forehead and one on his stomach.

"Voldemort." Athan growled. "He wanted Ramsis to either tell him who the First Vampire was, or to turn him into a vampire himself."

"We found him falling from on of the top-most floors in Voldemort's fortress," Mayon continued. "If we hadn't arrived the dawn would have taken him; either that, or he would have died due to his wounds."

"What do you mean with 'if we hadn't arrived'. I didn't know that the two of you could walk around in sunlight." The last part was said to Athan and Zev.

"We can't," Zev sneered. "But Mayon gathered the shadows around us in a ball, no sunshine could penetrate that thing. We spent some of the day sleeping in an old unused churchyard."

"Voldie sure as hell is getting bolder." Harry muttered and then concentrated completely on the Healing. He sent a careful, steady stream of magic through Ramsis' broken body. His hands glowed golden and the wounds that hadn't been healed by the vampire himself, slowly disappeared. Colour returned to Ramsis' face, and soon he regained the healthy tan he had had the first time Harry had met him.

"Is he going to be alright?" Cian asked when Harry sat back.

"He is, just need some rest and blood," the Gryffindor rubbed his eyes. "Don't you vampires have your own Healer? You have no idea how hard it is to Heal one of you."

"We... had a Healer." Athan replied. "You remember Pyralis? She was Ramsis' mate. Voldemort killed her first."

"My condolences."

"It happens."

They were quiet a minute before Harry stood up. "I have to get going, lots to do. Oh, and Mayon, could you please pop over to the secret room behind Sir Cadigan's picture for me?"

"Why?"

"I need a letter from the room and don't have time to go there myself. Not right now, and I highly doubt I'll have time enough later this week."

"Alright, when do you need it?"

"Um, sometimes around seven o'clock."

"Consider it done."

Harry smiled and left. It was time to see how Hermione was doing.

When he got to the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomfrey told him that Hermione had left earlier and had headed outside saying she was going to visit a new friend.

'You don't think that... do you?' Harry asked the voice.

'I believe I do. You better get out there fast.' Harry sighed and hurried into a shadowy alcove. He gathered the shadows tighter around him just in case and Disapparated. He appeared again in the clearing where Hermione had met Quis for the first time. 'Quickly now, change!'

Harry changed into Quis and sat down against a tree, and a second later Hermione appeared and slowly made her way into the valley.

(What brings you here today?) he asked without getting up but went back to staring into the water.

"I... I just couldn't stay at the school anymore. Everyone pampered me, asked me if I was alright, where I'd been, and so on. I got sick of it," the Gryffindor pulled out a little basket from her pocket and her wand from another. Then she enlarged the basket and put it on the ground. After that she Transfigured a stone into a blanket and placed it on the ground. She started pulling out food and whatnot from the basket. "I also thought we might have a picnic."

Harry stared at her in amusement. (Sorry to break it to you, but I don't eat human food. But you go ahead.)

Hermione sighed. "Well, it was worth the try, right?" she took a bite out of a sandwich. "What do demons eat?" she looked over at Quis who looked slightly uncomfortable.

(We, um, we feed on, um, human fears and nightmares,) he admitted. (And while we're on the topic, what has been scaring you? What are you afraid off?)

"I'd rather not talk about it, not yet." Hermione replied quickly and looked away from the yellow eyes.

(Alright, but haven't you told your friends?)

"No, I... I guess I'm a bit scared on how they'd react. Both of them are two of the bravest people I have ever met, and I don't think they'd take well to me being afraid of one of the first-years and a very good friend of ours."

(Ah,) Harry filed the information away for later examination. (But if these friends of yours are true friends, they won't judge you on your fears. Instead, I dare say, they will help you overcome them.)

"Yes, you're probably right, but still..." Hermione watched the creak in silence while Harry watched her.

(Shouldn't you be getting back to school?) Harry asked.

"No, I told Ron I'd probably be out the whole night so that they shouldn't worry."

'I don't want to play babysitter!' the voice cried.

'Neither do I,' Harry grumbled. (Oh? And where are you going if I might ask?)

"I'm going to be here with you," Hermione replied. "I didn't finish telling you everything about humans last time." She was sure that if Quis had had eyebrows, one of them would be raised.

(There's more to know about your race?) he asked in surprise.

"Of course there is. Now, where were we?"

(You stopped when you came to the early Viking-age.) Harry resigned himself to another couple of hours listening to Hermione and acting interested. Gods help him.

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Severus had been lurking in the shadows around Ravencalw Tower for two hours when the person he was waiting for decided to appear. The boy looked around then hurried down the corridor, not knowing he had a devious, smirking Potion Master hot on his heels.

The Head of Slytherin followed his student to an old, unused classroom where not even Peeves entered. He quickly got in while the little brat wasn't paying attention - Invisibility Potions were wonderful things - and placed himself in a corner, waiting for just the right moment to attack his prey.

The Ravenclaw went over to the only thing noticeable in the room, an old fireplace, and took out some Floo-powder. He lit a fire and threw the powder into it, then stuck his head into the green flames while the rest of his body was standing in the room. He whispered a word and started to talk quietly with someone at the other side.

Severus smirked and stepped out of the shadows. He whispered the word that would deactivate the potion and silently walked over to the kneeling boy. He let his hand land on the boy's shoulder and smirked evilly as the terrified boy looked up at him.

"I think, Mr Boot, it's time we had a chat with the Headmaster." His evil smirk intensified. "He really doesn't like not knowing what goes on at this school. Come along."

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Mayon grumbled as he appeared outside the painting with Sir Cadogan. Why had he asked a House Elf of all things the directions to this room was a great mystery.

"Stand and fight, whatever you are!" Sir Cadogan yelled swinging his sword. "I am the brave Sir Cadogan, and no one can get past without my approval. Now fight!" he tried to stab the Dark Angel.

Mayon stared at the painting, he wasn't impressed at all. In the end Cadogan got tired of his tirade and asked him what he wanted. "I need to get into the room you guard. Harry sent me to get something for him."

"Ah, a good lad, he is. Well, good sir, if Sir Harry trust you I'll trust you," the painting swung outwards revealing the white stone. Mayon pressed it and the door on the opposite wall appeared. "When you see Sir Harry again will you ask him to visit me?"

"Sure, whatever." The Dark Angel quickly entered the room beyond the door and closed said door after him. He would never understand paintings, and specially Hogwarts paintings. 'Crazy nuts the whole lot of them,' he thought and started to look around for the letter Harry had wanted. A piece of parchment on the table caught his attention, and, being the curious creature he was, he walked over to it and picked it up. After a short debate whether to read the thing or not, he unrolled it figuring it couldn't hurt to know what Potter was up to.

'My dearest Mayon,

I want to introduce you to a dear friend of mine. I think you already know said friend. Just say: Detego Anima

Come now, you know you want to.

Harry'

Mayon hesitated. Harry was known for his manipulation. Who knew what might come of this?

After a while his curiosity won over his more sensible side, and he sent a quick prayer to the King before saying the spell. "Detego Anima!"

He waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And nothing happened.

In the end Mayon let go of the breath he had been holding. Heaven help him, he had let a mortal prank him. If Gabriel got wind of this he would never let the Dark Angel forget it. Harry really knew how to keep you on your toes.

He looked back to the parchment in his hands, glaring and ready to throw it into the fire. What surprised him was that the writing had changed.

'Turn around and enjoy.

Harry'

The Dark Angel took a deep breath and steeled his nerves before turning slowly. His mouth dropped open and his eyes widened.

"He can't be doing this to me." He whispered to himself.

There before him stood none other than the most annoying brat in the universe: Bianca. And she was eying him in a way that made him feel uncomfortable.

'I'm going to kill you Harry.'

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I know, it's short again - but at least it's an update.

Now, I'm going away for three weeks this month and won't be able to update anything during that time, so don't expect an update for almost a month.

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LATIN

Detego: to expose

Anima: life, soul

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Thanks to:

Lady Phoenix Gryffindor, fairymagi689, Arizosa, WolfMoon, Fin-Phoenix, Annelise, Lady FoxFire, CatatonicReaction, athenakitty, lollypozz, epholge, Brion, Rachel A. Prongs, chaser, Makina Kitsune, Korinna Myorin, SSSRoaB, life, phoenixrising, Hexmaster, TheUnknown, Arianne, WeasleyTwinsLover1112, Zaeria, water drifter, Midnight-Kisses, dragonhope, JerseyGirl03, sil, Sophie W., neha, aurora*sky, Witchmaster, Amber Evans Potter, Ashley, coconut-ice agent h/h, Corrie, godric, SilentPhoenix, daemonwolf, Herald- Mage Brianna and Anir.

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Also since I'm going to be away for three weeks I'm going to be nice and give you a taste of what the first chapter of Saga 4 is going to be like. Call it a teaser.

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The future, year 8002

* * * *

"Headmaster, please listen to us!" a distraught female voice exclaimed. "We cannot defeat this enemy on our own, none of our people have the proper training. We need help!"

"I agree," a deep male voice replied. "Many battle skills and spells have been lost since the great Red Lightning wars."

"Indeed." An old voice replied. "You are both right of course. Now, the next question is how to get help."

"I don't know. Compared to the wizards and witches of old we're nothing more than squibs. How I wish that the battle skills hadn't been lost through the ages of peace."

The Headmaster looked at the two young people in front of him.

The male was a tall man with onyx eyes and pitch black hair, he had a rather hooked nose and held himself with great pride that had been built up in his family since the times of the wars. He was said to be the true descendant of the most famous Potion Master and Spy of all ages, Severus Snape. His name was Venatio Snape.

The woman was of average height. She had brown hair and eyes. She could trace her family all the way back to the great Red Lightning wars as well, to a certain Cynthia Thatcher who had been a great Slayer of Vampires. Her name was Igris Thatcher. All three of them were trying to come up with a plan of getting help.

A few months ago a Dark Lord had appeared, the likes of which hadn't been seen since Voldemort's time. At first they had thought this was another one trying to draw attention to himself and that he was no real threat, and that's where they went wrong. Now they were on the brink of being conquered by this monster. Oh, they had offered resistance, but had only been a slight annoyance to the Dark Lord. The man was more powerful and versed in Dark Arts than anyone.

Over the ages since the Dark Lord Voldemort had been defeated, wizards and witches had forgotten the old art of duelling. They had forgotten battle spells and skills and consequently had grown rather weak. It was the long time of peace brought to them when Harry Potter had finally managed to defeat Voldemort by drawing on all the raw power he could. The strong pull had caused the Magical Core - where all magic came from - to be drawn into Potter's body, and the young man had become its host. He became the Magical Core.

After the battle Potter had disappeared along with the Red Dragons Order. And slowly Vampires and other magical creatures had disappeared as well. In the end Hogwarts herself had disappeared. One day the school had just been gone, and no one had been able to find it since then. The Wizarding World had been lulled into sleep. They had built another school, the Academy for Witches and Wizards, and let it be with that. The things taught at this school weren't even half of what had been taught at Hogwarts. There were old books and student-written essays that proved to them that the first- years of Hogwarts knew more than the fifth-years of the Academy.

As said the Wizarding World was lulled into sleep and had forgotten most spells, potions, history and abilities since then. And now they were paying their toll. They didn't know how to defend themselves.

The Headmaster sighed. He of all people should be able to figure out something. He had to think! Think!

The silence in the room stretched until suddenly the Headmaster jumped up grinning happily.

"My dears," he said to the two young people opposite him. "I believe I have an idea!"

"Lets hear it then," Venatio said.

"There is something that not many people know about. It has been passed from Headmaster to Headmaster in this school, only to be used in case there was grave danger." He sat back down still smiling. "There's a prophecy saying that the hero's of old can be summoned from beyond the grave, but this can only happen in the halls of Hogwarts herself."

"So it's a dead end?" Igris asked.

"Not at all. All the clues are there, and all we have to do it decipher them."

"Lets hear it then, old man." Venatio looked sceptic.

"The hero's of old

Called back from the grave

Many things to teach and be told

The world they once again will save

The Potion Master and Spy

The Transfigurer and Animagis

Canines, Elves and Vampires

And lets not forget the dragon

The red-haired family

The researcher herself

And countless more

And the Gamemaster, Lord of all

You can find them in the halls of old

Hogwarts awaits you on Pendragon's island

In the Great Hall they sit made of white sand

Sit at the tables four and let your troubles be told

It won't matter if you're Witch or Wizard, yellow or blue

They will help you if your troubles are true

Let them teach you all they know about earth and sky

And the Red Dragons will once again fly."

"That's all nice and well, Headmaster." Igris said. "But where is Hogwarts? As all of us know the school disappeared not long after the Red Lightning war."

"It's all in there, Thatcher, pay attention." Venatio turned to the Headmaster. "Pendragon's island is the key. Once we find out what that is we'll be able to locate Hogwarts school herself. Imagine all the texts and books of old that must be preserved in its library."

"As usual you're right. I seem to remember to have read something about someone called Pendragon. Perhaps there's a connection." He quickly found his wand and flickered it. "Accio book!" a second later an old tome came flying into his waiting hands. "I was right. You have both heard of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table I presume? Well, it says here that before Arthur became king, his name was Pendragon."

"That means that the island the prophesy or whatever it is, was talking about the Island of Avalon!"

"Indeed, but no one's been able to find that island either." Venatio pointed out.

"That's where you're wrong." Igris smirked. "My ancestor, Cynthia Thatcher, found the island and the secret of where it lies has been passed down from mother to child since then, just like this poem's been passed down with the Headmasters of this school."

"That's settled then; tomorrow the three of us will leave for Avalon and see if there isn't something true in this poem." The Headmaster grinned. Perhaps he would meet his own ancestor, Draco Malfoy.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

"And you're sure this is the right way?" Venatio asked for the tenth time.

"Yes I am," Igris growled. "I had to memorise the way to the island just like the others in my family."

"Information changes." Venatio helped the older Headmaster up. "And why the hell did we have to climb around in the Scottish countryside?"

"Because it's the only way I know off, now stop snivelling and come on." Igris led them towards the west.

"I have to agree with Venatio on this one." The Headmaster said. "Where, exactly, did your ancestor find Avalon?"

"It's not far. We're going to the island of Oronsay."

"And that's where we'll find Hogwarts and whatnot?"

"Yep."

"You're crazy, but I'd do anything to end this war." Venatio stepped up to her and looked out over the sea that had appeared before them. "Too bad we have lost the ability to apparate. It would have made this so much easier." He mumbled as he took out his wand and started waving it about. A second later three brooms appeared out of nowhere and they got on. "Well, lets get going then."

They rose into the air and started flying. Not many minutes later an island appeared in front of them. It was surrounded by thick fog and almost nothing could be seen of the landscape. As they flew over the island they scouted for something that might point them to where Hogwarts was located.

"There!" Venatio pointed straight ahead.

The thick forest underneath them was suddenly breached by several towers. On the highest of them two flags were waving in the wind. One had the Hogwarts coat of arms and on the other there was a picture of a red dragon on white background.

As they got closer they could see more and more of Hogwarts. By now the castle was covered in vines and dead leafs and whatnots, but they could still see and feel the previous splendour of the castle. The magic in the air around them crackled, gently caressing their faces and hands as if welcoming them home. And it did feel like home, more than the Academy had ever been.

The three travellers landed lightly in the deserted courtyard. None of them spoke, there was a certain calm silence about this place that they didn't want to break. The Headmaster led them up to the great oak doors, and just as he was about to push them open the doors opened on their own accord and let them pass.

"Merlin's beard!" Igris whispered.

They had just entered the Entrance Hall. Several staircases led up or down, and numerous corridors went off in almost every direction imaginable. The ceiling was incredibly high and everything was just... magical!

The doors straight opposite the main doors, opened and they could see straight into what had once been the Great Hall. Slowly the three of them entered and looked around. On the walls old tapestries hung proudly showing off the animal of each House. There was Ravenclaws eagle, Hufflepuffs badger, Slytherins snake and the proud lion of Gryffindor.

Four long tables ran through the entire length of the hall. As they followed them with their eyes wondering on how many students had sat at them, they saw the teachers table and gaped. 27 statues of the purest white marble sat at the table. They couldn't exactly make out who was who, but as they came closer they could see in what detail the statues had been made.

The Headmaster started at the left along with Igris, while Venatio started on the right side.

The woman looked closely at the two first statues and gasped. "It's Remus Lupin and Sirius Black!" she whispered.

"Then this must be the notorious Weasley family." The Headmaster said and mentioned to the next nine relatively alike statues. "Yes it is, here are the twins!"

"From this side I have what can only be Mayon the Dark Angel and his mate Bianca." Venatio called from the other side. "Next come a couple of... Elves! True Elves! And a Dwarf! Great Merlin!" he looked closely at the old witch sitting beside the Dwarf. "This has got to be Minerva McGonagall." He went on to the next and stopped dead in his tracks.

The next statue was of a tall man with shoulder-long hair. He had a hooked nose and his pupil-less eyes looked like they were glaring at something.

"It can't be." Igris had come up to him.

"Severus Snape." Venatio whispered in awe. "What I wouldn't give to be taught by a great Potion Master like himself." He moved on. "Nicholas Wolf, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, the Vampires Raven, Zev, Ramsis and Athan."

"The First Vampire!" Igris exclaimed. "Merlin's beard!"

While the two of them had been working their way towards the middle, the Headmaster had been looking at a figure that sat just after Ginny Weasley. The man had short hair, a pointed face and if the eyes had been open the Headmaster could've sword they would be grey. This was his ancestor Draco Malfoy. He had lifted his hand to touch the statue when the person on the right caught his attention.

"Harry Potter, the Lord of Light." Venatio whispered. And indeed it was. They could see the infamous lightning-bolt-shaped scar, and the other scars the man had acquired during his battles against the Dark. It couldn't be anyone else.

"My god!"

"The poem said to tell them our troubles, so get on with it." Venatio went back down the line and stared at Severus Snape.

The Headmaster sighed and started his tale. It was as if the statues were really listening. The silence was deafening. "We ask four your help." He said at the end. All three of them waited.... And waited.... And waited, but nothing happened.

"I knew it was a dud." Igris muttered. No sooner were the words out of her mouth before she screamed.

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