Disclaimer: I own only the obvious, the rest belongs to JK Rowling.
Authors Note: I'm sorry this took such a long time, but my computer went crazy and deleted the file where all my stories were, original and fanfics. So I've used the last couple of days to try and gather what I can from friends and from the internet.
Authors Note2: Thanks to my wonderful betas Tabitha and Lexi-formerly Katy999.
Authors Note3: Un-betaed version. The correct one will be up as soon as my betas finish.
-Chapter Twenty-
It was late at night, and everyone was sleeping. Well, almost everyone.
A lone shadow made its way quickly and quietly through the corridors of the ancient school, avoiding to step into the light of the moon that came through the windows. It passed Mrs Norris in the Entrance Hall without the cat noticing. Nor did the cat notice the opening and closing of the main doors.
Harry let go of his breath once outside, and leaned against the wooden doors.
'What are you complaining about?' the voice asked him. 'You got out didn't you? And that bloody cat didn't notice you at all.'
'I'm not complaining, just taking a grateful breath of fresh air.'
'Sure you did.'
'Whatever. Now, what's up with Mayon and Bianca?'
The voice chuckled. 'You really don't want to know. I'm telling you right now, though, keep out of Mayon's way once he and Bianca come out of that room. He swore on revenge.'
It was Harry's time to chuckle. He looked around and as a cloud hid the moon, he ran over the grassy part that separated the old castle from the Forbidden Forest. Thanking the gods for the Leyrie-blood running through his veins, he took off his glasses and put them in a pocket. It was too dangers to go around with glasses in the Forbidden Forest, especially if you didn't need them in the first place.
'Allow me to ask, O great one,' the voice spoke up again. 'But what in heavens name are we doing in the Forbidden Forest, in the middle of the night no less?'
'Remember last year when Hagrid told us about the Royal Eagles? And after that he told us about that Ammon Nuru thing? Well, I thought I'd finally go and check it out.'
'You are crazy! Intentionally seeking the Ammon Nuru is like... like signing your own death warrant! No one has done that before, it's always been the Nuru seeking them out! You are sooooooo dead young man!'
'If you're afraid, you could always leave and come back later.' Harry suggested while taking off the dark cloak, and hanging it on a branch.
'Hell no, boy, that'd only get you killed. No, you really need me here for this one. Stupid, idiotic, nutheaded...' the voice kept on mumbling.
Harry rolled his eyes and closed his eyes. He let his magic flow out of him, and soon picked up on a powerful presence. The magical level of the creature was incredible. Harry let his own magical threads gently run along the outer part of the blindingly white aura, trying to get a feel of this creatures personality. Gods, it was so powerful!
'You didn't expect the Ammon Nuru to be some weak Flobberworm, did you?' asked the voice.
'No, but-' Harry cut off as he felt the creature pick up on his magic. He called the threads back to him before the Ammon Nuru could get a hold of them and follow them back to where he was standing. 'I think this needs a bit more planning.' He said shakily as he put his cloak on.
'Good idea,' the voice replied. 'But now you have made it aware of the fact that someone knows it's there. Heaven help us if the Nuru starts any kind of trouble. You know, not many people have come out of a meeting with the Nuru alive, and those who did had their tongues cut out so they couldn't speak about it.'
'That's encouraging.' Harry replied as he made his way back towards the castle. He stopped at the edge of the Forbidden Forest and watched with interest as a great Grim-like dog made its way towards the front door, quickly followed by a man in dark robes. 'Now why would Sirius and Remus be here at this time of the night.'
'Sometimes I really wonder how you can be so smart and yet so stupid. There's obviously going to be a new RAV meeting tonight.' There was a short silence. 'You wanna spy?'
'I thought you'd never ask,' came the answer and Harry grinned.
He made his way towards the wall of the castle that was closest to him. The Gryffindor leaned against it and closed his eyes in concentration. He used his Earth Element and asked the castle a silent question. It replied and, smiling, Harry melted into the wall. He became a part of the castle wall. If you looked close enough you could spot a face in the rough rock, but else it was completely impossible to see him.
~Take me to the meeting.~ Harry asked the castle, and it complied. He had glimpses of corridors and rooms, before he finally settled in the RAV's meeting room. ~Thank you,~ he said and a gentle presence in his mind told him that the castle accepted the thanks.
A second later the great doors opened allowing the RAV-members access. First came Dumbledore. He was followed by Snape who was talking to Cian, McGonagall, Sirius, Remus, Arabella and others whom Harry didn't know.
Dumbledore sat down. "Now my friends, do we have any news on Rex Chase?"
"No, I'm afraid not," replied McGonagall. "Why do you ask, isn't it better for him to be far away from us and our organisation?"
"My dear, if there's a bee in the room I'd like to know exactly where it is before it stings me. And Rex Chase is one smart bee."
Cian chuckled. "You could say that, Albus. But even if you were in the same room, you'd never know exactly where he was."
"It's better than nothing," Albus's eyes twinkled madly. "Since we have nothing on Rex Chase, how about we got o the next business? I want Harry to join us."
There was a short silence before most of the members jumped up.
"No, absolutely not!" Sirius yelled across the room.
"He's too young, no matter if he has survived the Dark Lord numerous times." Said Mundungus Fletcher.
"I zink 'e would make a good addition to ze RAV." Fleur Delacour defended him. "Even if 'e iz a bit young."
"Potter? Absolutely preposterous!" Mad-Eye Moody's magical eye was rolling like mad around in its socket.
"Albus! You can't be serious about going through with this!" exclaimed McGonagall.
"Not my godson!"
"Sirius calm down."
"I don't know, Potter certainly has matured during the last tow years. Perhaps it would work."
"No, he is too young!"
"Perhaps it would be wise to ask Harry himself first, before jumping to conclusions?" Cian's calm voice cut through the chatter like a hot knife through butter, and everyone calmed down.
"I do believe you are right," the old Headmaster smiled at the First Vampire. Then he turned to Snape. "And I give you the task of asking him to join us, Severus."
"WHAT?!" both Sirius and Severus exclaimed at the same time.
"You are not letting that... that-" Remus promptly shut the Animagi up with a wave of his wand. Sirius glared at the Werewolf.
"I don't want to listen to your childish grudges, Sirius."
"Headmaster, you really can't be serious. Due to the bad blood between myself and Potter I should be the last one to offer him a place in the Resistance." The Potion Master was glaring hard at the old mage, and several people around the table nodded to his statement.
"I'm afraid that there is no other way, Severus. And besides, you and Harry really need to get past that and work together. Especially if he'd going to join us."
"But why me?! Minerva here is a more logical choice as his Head of House!"
Dumbledore sighed. "Indeed she is, Severus. But you and Harry have a - how shall I say this? - a certain bond between yourselves."
"WHAT?!"
"Let me explain. Both of you have defied the Dark Lord several times and lived to tell the tale. You are also the only ones amongst us who have seen what Voldemort really is capable of. I'm afraid that this matter is not up for discussion, Severus."
The Slytherin Head of House just gaped at the old mage for a few minutes, then closed his mouth and sat down again. It was clear as crystal that he really didn't want to do the task he was given, but once Dumbledore made up his mind about something there was no way to get out of it.
"Alright, Albus, I'll do it." Severus really wanted to murder the grinning old fool right now.
Once everyone's attention was on some other issue, Cian leaned over to the Potion Master and whispered: "Don't worry, Severus. I'll help you with the entire thing. I know how... hard it can be to make Mr Potter listen."
"I'll take you up on that offer." Came the reply.
Harry chuckled and let the castle lead him to the Gryffindor Common Room. There he stepped out from the wall and smiled. The next couple of days really were going to be fun, and he couldn't wait to see what Mayon would have to say to him once he got out of that room with Bianca.
Life really was worth living.
-------------------------
"Quis?"
(Hmm?)
"How old are you?" asked Hermione. She had once again come to visit the rapidly-healing demon, and this time she had brought her homework. Quis was sitting further away and was tracing intricate patterns in the air with his elegant hands.
(Don't really know,) the demon replied. (We don't count years as you humans do.)
"But if you had to guess?" she pressed.
(Around your age. Why do you ask?) the yellow eyes focused on her.
"I wanted to know when your birthday was."
(Why?)
"So that I could give you a present."
(Present?)
"Yes," Hermione got ready to go into one of her lecturing modes. "When humans have a birthday we give each other presents and celebrate the day."
(Why do you do that?)
"It's always been like that. Celebrating the fact that we are one year closer to adulthood. It's a bit like Christmas and New Year."
He looked at her for a while before shaking his head. (You humans are weird.)
"Hey!" Hermione threw a book at him but he caught it without trouble and started reading. "Quis! Give me the book back, I need it for my Potions homework!"
When he didn't comply she stood up and stalked over to him. The demon didn't even look up when she arrived and her tries to pull the book out of his hands was completely fruitless. Damn, demons were strong.
In the end she gave up and swore that Quis smirked. (Tell you what,) the demon said. (I'll give you your book back if you tell me what's been bothering you.)
"That's worthy of a Slytherin!"
(Well, I am a demon you know. So, what's it going to be?)
Hermione glared at him but gave up. She had found out that Quis could wait an eternity for something. He seemed to have a never ending supply of patience, stubbornness and sarcasm. Kinda reminded her of the Potion Master.
"Alright, I'll tell you," she said after a while.
(Well? What are you so afraid of?)
The Gryffindor Prefect opened her mouth to reply, and screamed.
-------------------------
There, finished. So, what do you think? Please review.
And don't worry people. EVERYTHING WILL BE EXPLAINED IN THE SAGA 4, OR AT THE END OF THIS STORY!!!!!!!!!
One more thing is that school starts in a couple of days. The first couple of weeks are going to be hell until I settle into the routine, so don't expect frequent updates.
Thanks to:
SSSRoaB, Hannah Abby, No Account!, WolfMoon, RainWaters, Lady Phoenix Gryffindor, Anora, CatatonicReaction, Zaeria, gaul1, ettedanreb, Corrie, WeasleyTwinsLover1112, Confuzzler, Lady Rowena, KC, Lady FoxFire, CelticKnight, Fin-Phoenix, potter-man1, Xirleb70, Rachel A. Prongs, The Unknown4, Makina Kitsune, Arianne, Kenny, Maxennce, athenakitty, neha, BlackDiva, water drifter, Mack, TwilightDusk, Lukaret, ItsAMystery, myrhfire, Arizosa, Jess16, azerty, Annelise1, chaser1, Potter-Freak123, JerseyGirl03, Witchmaster, aurora*sky, Dragonhope, Dragon Tamer47, godric1, Annabelle, Joanna, Neo-seeker, Draconias, ShadowHunter1, THE-PENGUIN2, loverwren, IMPORTANT and Orome1 for reviewing.
Authors Note: I'm sorry this took such a long time, but my computer went crazy and deleted the file where all my stories were, original and fanfics. So I've used the last couple of days to try and gather what I can from friends and from the internet.
Authors Note2: Thanks to my wonderful betas Tabitha and Lexi-formerly Katy999.
Authors Note3: Un-betaed version. The correct one will be up as soon as my betas finish.
-Chapter Twenty-
It was late at night, and everyone was sleeping. Well, almost everyone.
A lone shadow made its way quickly and quietly through the corridors of the ancient school, avoiding to step into the light of the moon that came through the windows. It passed Mrs Norris in the Entrance Hall without the cat noticing. Nor did the cat notice the opening and closing of the main doors.
Harry let go of his breath once outside, and leaned against the wooden doors.
'What are you complaining about?' the voice asked him. 'You got out didn't you? And that bloody cat didn't notice you at all.'
'I'm not complaining, just taking a grateful breath of fresh air.'
'Sure you did.'
'Whatever. Now, what's up with Mayon and Bianca?'
The voice chuckled. 'You really don't want to know. I'm telling you right now, though, keep out of Mayon's way once he and Bianca come out of that room. He swore on revenge.'
It was Harry's time to chuckle. He looked around and as a cloud hid the moon, he ran over the grassy part that separated the old castle from the Forbidden Forest. Thanking the gods for the Leyrie-blood running through his veins, he took off his glasses and put them in a pocket. It was too dangers to go around with glasses in the Forbidden Forest, especially if you didn't need them in the first place.
'Allow me to ask, O great one,' the voice spoke up again. 'But what in heavens name are we doing in the Forbidden Forest, in the middle of the night no less?'
'Remember last year when Hagrid told us about the Royal Eagles? And after that he told us about that Ammon Nuru thing? Well, I thought I'd finally go and check it out.'
'You are crazy! Intentionally seeking the Ammon Nuru is like... like signing your own death warrant! No one has done that before, it's always been the Nuru seeking them out! You are sooooooo dead young man!'
'If you're afraid, you could always leave and come back later.' Harry suggested while taking off the dark cloak, and hanging it on a branch.
'Hell no, boy, that'd only get you killed. No, you really need me here for this one. Stupid, idiotic, nutheaded...' the voice kept on mumbling.
Harry rolled his eyes and closed his eyes. He let his magic flow out of him, and soon picked up on a powerful presence. The magical level of the creature was incredible. Harry let his own magical threads gently run along the outer part of the blindingly white aura, trying to get a feel of this creatures personality. Gods, it was so powerful!
'You didn't expect the Ammon Nuru to be some weak Flobberworm, did you?' asked the voice.
'No, but-' Harry cut off as he felt the creature pick up on his magic. He called the threads back to him before the Ammon Nuru could get a hold of them and follow them back to where he was standing. 'I think this needs a bit more planning.' He said shakily as he put his cloak on.
'Good idea,' the voice replied. 'But now you have made it aware of the fact that someone knows it's there. Heaven help us if the Nuru starts any kind of trouble. You know, not many people have come out of a meeting with the Nuru alive, and those who did had their tongues cut out so they couldn't speak about it.'
'That's encouraging.' Harry replied as he made his way back towards the castle. He stopped at the edge of the Forbidden Forest and watched with interest as a great Grim-like dog made its way towards the front door, quickly followed by a man in dark robes. 'Now why would Sirius and Remus be here at this time of the night.'
'Sometimes I really wonder how you can be so smart and yet so stupid. There's obviously going to be a new RAV meeting tonight.' There was a short silence. 'You wanna spy?'
'I thought you'd never ask,' came the answer and Harry grinned.
He made his way towards the wall of the castle that was closest to him. The Gryffindor leaned against it and closed his eyes in concentration. He used his Earth Element and asked the castle a silent question. It replied and, smiling, Harry melted into the wall. He became a part of the castle wall. If you looked close enough you could spot a face in the rough rock, but else it was completely impossible to see him.
~Take me to the meeting.~ Harry asked the castle, and it complied. He had glimpses of corridors and rooms, before he finally settled in the RAV's meeting room. ~Thank you,~ he said and a gentle presence in his mind told him that the castle accepted the thanks.
A second later the great doors opened allowing the RAV-members access. First came Dumbledore. He was followed by Snape who was talking to Cian, McGonagall, Sirius, Remus, Arabella and others whom Harry didn't know.
Dumbledore sat down. "Now my friends, do we have any news on Rex Chase?"
"No, I'm afraid not," replied McGonagall. "Why do you ask, isn't it better for him to be far away from us and our organisation?"
"My dear, if there's a bee in the room I'd like to know exactly where it is before it stings me. And Rex Chase is one smart bee."
Cian chuckled. "You could say that, Albus. But even if you were in the same room, you'd never know exactly where he was."
"It's better than nothing," Albus's eyes twinkled madly. "Since we have nothing on Rex Chase, how about we got o the next business? I want Harry to join us."
There was a short silence before most of the members jumped up.
"No, absolutely not!" Sirius yelled across the room.
"He's too young, no matter if he has survived the Dark Lord numerous times." Said Mundungus Fletcher.
"I zink 'e would make a good addition to ze RAV." Fleur Delacour defended him. "Even if 'e iz a bit young."
"Potter? Absolutely preposterous!" Mad-Eye Moody's magical eye was rolling like mad around in its socket.
"Albus! You can't be serious about going through with this!" exclaimed McGonagall.
"Not my godson!"
"Sirius calm down."
"I don't know, Potter certainly has matured during the last tow years. Perhaps it would work."
"No, he is too young!"
"Perhaps it would be wise to ask Harry himself first, before jumping to conclusions?" Cian's calm voice cut through the chatter like a hot knife through butter, and everyone calmed down.
"I do believe you are right," the old Headmaster smiled at the First Vampire. Then he turned to Snape. "And I give you the task of asking him to join us, Severus."
"WHAT?!" both Sirius and Severus exclaimed at the same time.
"You are not letting that... that-" Remus promptly shut the Animagi up with a wave of his wand. Sirius glared at the Werewolf.
"I don't want to listen to your childish grudges, Sirius."
"Headmaster, you really can't be serious. Due to the bad blood between myself and Potter I should be the last one to offer him a place in the Resistance." The Potion Master was glaring hard at the old mage, and several people around the table nodded to his statement.
"I'm afraid that there is no other way, Severus. And besides, you and Harry really need to get past that and work together. Especially if he'd going to join us."
"But why me?! Minerva here is a more logical choice as his Head of House!"
Dumbledore sighed. "Indeed she is, Severus. But you and Harry have a - how shall I say this? - a certain bond between yourselves."
"WHAT?!"
"Let me explain. Both of you have defied the Dark Lord several times and lived to tell the tale. You are also the only ones amongst us who have seen what Voldemort really is capable of. I'm afraid that this matter is not up for discussion, Severus."
The Slytherin Head of House just gaped at the old mage for a few minutes, then closed his mouth and sat down again. It was clear as crystal that he really didn't want to do the task he was given, but once Dumbledore made up his mind about something there was no way to get out of it.
"Alright, Albus, I'll do it." Severus really wanted to murder the grinning old fool right now.
Once everyone's attention was on some other issue, Cian leaned over to the Potion Master and whispered: "Don't worry, Severus. I'll help you with the entire thing. I know how... hard it can be to make Mr Potter listen."
"I'll take you up on that offer." Came the reply.
Harry chuckled and let the castle lead him to the Gryffindor Common Room. There he stepped out from the wall and smiled. The next couple of days really were going to be fun, and he couldn't wait to see what Mayon would have to say to him once he got out of that room with Bianca.
Life really was worth living.
-------------------------
"Quis?"
(Hmm?)
"How old are you?" asked Hermione. She had once again come to visit the rapidly-healing demon, and this time she had brought her homework. Quis was sitting further away and was tracing intricate patterns in the air with his elegant hands.
(Don't really know,) the demon replied. (We don't count years as you humans do.)
"But if you had to guess?" she pressed.
(Around your age. Why do you ask?) the yellow eyes focused on her.
"I wanted to know when your birthday was."
(Why?)
"So that I could give you a present."
(Present?)
"Yes," Hermione got ready to go into one of her lecturing modes. "When humans have a birthday we give each other presents and celebrate the day."
(Why do you do that?)
"It's always been like that. Celebrating the fact that we are one year closer to adulthood. It's a bit like Christmas and New Year."
He looked at her for a while before shaking his head. (You humans are weird.)
"Hey!" Hermione threw a book at him but he caught it without trouble and started reading. "Quis! Give me the book back, I need it for my Potions homework!"
When he didn't comply she stood up and stalked over to him. The demon didn't even look up when she arrived and her tries to pull the book out of his hands was completely fruitless. Damn, demons were strong.
In the end she gave up and swore that Quis smirked. (Tell you what,) the demon said. (I'll give you your book back if you tell me what's been bothering you.)
"That's worthy of a Slytherin!"
(Well, I am a demon you know. So, what's it going to be?)
Hermione glared at him but gave up. She had found out that Quis could wait an eternity for something. He seemed to have a never ending supply of patience, stubbornness and sarcasm. Kinda reminded her of the Potion Master.
"Alright, I'll tell you," she said after a while.
(Well? What are you so afraid of?)
The Gryffindor Prefect opened her mouth to reply, and screamed.
-------------------------
There, finished. So, what do you think? Please review.
And don't worry people. EVERYTHING WILL BE EXPLAINED IN THE SAGA 4, OR AT THE END OF THIS STORY!!!!!!!!!
One more thing is that school starts in a couple of days. The first couple of weeks are going to be hell until I settle into the routine, so don't expect frequent updates.
Thanks to:
SSSRoaB, Hannah Abby, No Account!, WolfMoon, RainWaters, Lady Phoenix Gryffindor, Anora, CatatonicReaction, Zaeria, gaul1, ettedanreb, Corrie, WeasleyTwinsLover1112, Confuzzler, Lady Rowena, KC, Lady FoxFire, CelticKnight, Fin-Phoenix, potter-man1, Xirleb70, Rachel A. Prongs, The Unknown4, Makina Kitsune, Arianne, Kenny, Maxennce, athenakitty, neha, BlackDiva, water drifter, Mack, TwilightDusk, Lukaret, ItsAMystery, myrhfire, Arizosa, Jess16, azerty, Annelise1, chaser1, Potter-Freak123, JerseyGirl03, Witchmaster, aurora*sky, Dragonhope, Dragon Tamer47, godric1, Annabelle, Joanna, Neo-seeker, Draconias, ShadowHunter1, THE-PENGUIN2, loverwren, IMPORTANT and Orome1 for reviewing.
