Disclaimer: Don't own it. Really, I don't.
Dedication: To the Red Dragons Order, one of the best authors I've ever had the pleasure to read stories from (Sorry you're not the best Red, but there is J.K. Rowling in that category and don't forget J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Anne Rice and a few others)
Author's Note: Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Chapter 19: Just Before Christmas
Ah, the snow, the wonderful white snow, crunching under his feet! Ah, the smell of approaching Christmas! Ah, the white beauty of all things! Christmas is an enchanted time, no wonder about that. The only problem was he was working. Great! And not only was he working, he also had huge problems, too.
'Think, Sirius, think' the Animagus told himself. Yeah, right, as if telling himself that ever worked.
So, how do you escape from a bunch of Death Eaters, without them noticing you? And where the hell were the other agents? Sitting behind a few boxes in the old house was not a good way to spend Christmas. Yeah, he knew there was still a week left, but still. At this rate he'd still be there in a week.
"So, what was your first encounter with the Dark Lord like?" asked one of the Death Eaters and Sirius had to keep himself from banging his head against the wall. Perfect! They all stood there and said stories from their first encounters with Voldemort. This was just his bloody luck!
"Oh, it was wonderful" another one answered. "He was so."
Sirius didn't want to even think how he was. It almost made him puke. Terrifying, powerful, great, those were just about one percent out of what the Death Eaters said. Somebody save him!!!
In his boredom state, he noted that if those characteristics he had thought of were one percent, then a hundred percent were 300 characteristics. Bloody understatement of the year! He hadn't even known that there were so many praise adjectives in English! -a few had been in other languages, but still-. Must remember to kill Dumbledore. Even Azkaban had been better than 10 hours of this awful thing! Hmmm. How about a nice nap? Yeah, good idea.
He closed his eyes -he was already lying down- and let himself nearly fall asleep. Nearly. A voice woke him up.
"The Dark Lord is coming"
He jerked his head up. Good thing he hadn't fallen asleep yet, or else he'd have missed the thing he had first came there for and 10 hours would have gone straight to hell. Wait a second! The Dark Lord?! Gulp. It wasn't supposed to be Voldemort. It was supposed to be someone else, a new contact. Shit. Maybe he should kill Snape for informing wrong? He should kill Snape anyway, but that was another point.
He watched from behind the boxes as the tall, red eyed man came in the room.
"My beloved Death Eaters" he started saying and then stopped. Not good. Not good. Oh shit, oh shit. "There is a reason why I have come here myself" he started again and Sirius calmed down a bit. "We'll attack Azkaban" Sirius's eyes widened in horror. Oh, no! This soon?! "We'll free." Why was he stopping all the time? Then, Voldemort suddenly started hissing and a huge snake started going towards Sirius. Oh shit?
He jumped from behind the boxes and ran as fast as he could towards the door.
"Get him!" cried the snake-like man. "Kill him! Avada Kedavra!"
Sirius started dodging killing curses and managed to get out of the house and into the open, in the snow.
'Of all the dogs, I had to pick a black one' he thought as he ran through the white, very white, too white snow, green beams shooting past him. 'I don't want to die! Not again!' he thought to himself and ran as fast as he could. He ran over the field and towards a forest. Faster, faster, faster. One more dodged killing curse.
He entered the safety of the forest and breathed relieved. Probably they hadn't followed him, but he kept running through the forest. He suddenly saw some people in front. Iris!
He quickly changed back into his human form and nearly ended up hexed before she realized that it was him.
"Iris, I've spied for Dumbledore at that meeting." he suddenly stopped seeing they weren't alone.
"These are some friends of mine" she said and pointed towards the two people nearby. "That's Varamesh and that's Simnai"
"Um, hello. Sirius" he said and shook their hands. "Unnatural names you have there" he said towards the two tall, slim, beautiful men.
"Elves usually do" Simnai said.
"You're what?!" Sirius said, awestruck.
"Elves" Iris said. "I've spent a while with them and a friend of ours who isn't here today, Sania."
"Oh" he said. What a bright line!
"So, what was the problem again?" she asked. "You were spying and."
"They're attacking Azkaban"
She widened her eyes. "What? Now?"
"I don't know, Good old Voldemort spotted me before I could get that part, but sometime soon, probably" he answered and noted she looked beautiful even when she looked angrily around. Ok, no time for that.
"Um, just a question" Varamesh said. "Why do you, Sirius, have to spy when Snape's doing such a good job?"
"Snape's not involved in the Azkaban attack, he's taking care of the 'Green Flame Torch' problem. You know, thinking traps for the one who gets it in order to kill him and destroy the Torch."
"Aha" the elf said. "He shouldn't foul around with the Torch and its bearer. It is too powerful for him to be easy to get."
"Yeah, well, you know him, he'll try to do anything possible to destroy an obstacle."
"Are we talking about Snape or Voldemort here?" asked Simnai, confused.
"Voldemort" Sirius answered.
"Ah" he answered. "Idiot. Powerful, intelligent, cunning idiot"
"Yep, that's him!" Iris said, sending the elf a small smile. "Listen, Sirius, we have to warn Dumbledore that it will happen soon. They should send reinforcements."
"Yes" the Animagus answered as they Apparated in Hogsmeade. Elves could Apparate? He hadn't known that. Then again, he hadn't known there were any elves left. And, oh, why did it have to happen so bloody close to Christmas?! Just because snake-face hated Christmas didn't mean he could ruin everybody's! Come on, an attack so close to the most wonderful holiday of the year! It was enough to destroy anybody's winter and wreak havoc! Indeed it was!
Suddenly realization dawned over Sirius's face.
"He'll do it on Christmas" he said and they all stopped, the castle in front of them.
"What?!" Varamesh asked. "How do you know?!"
"It's the worst time he could choose. He chose it" the Animagus laconically explained.
The elves looked at each other and then started going fast towards the castle, the two humans right behind them. And then they stopped.
"Iris, we're going to the Forest and back to our lands. It is not yet the time we come back in the picture" Simnai said.
She nodded and then turned to Sirius.
"Maybe you should go alone. I'm supposed to be visiting an ill friend."
"Ok" he answered.
"I'll wait for you at Hagrid's hut. You can tell me how it all went" she said and smiled. Sirius smiled back in reply and started running towards the castle, alone. Christmas! Why Christmas?
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
"Christmas!" the Defence Professor shouted at the 6th years. "Let's make a few changes, shall we? This classroom is so. un-festive!"
He waved his wand and the Defence classroom suddenly decorated with some tinsel. The students just stared at the merry man.
"And what carols do you prefer? Oh, never mind, I'll just play one of my own!" His eyes twinkled merrily. "Veni cantus!"
The Slytherins glared at the Professor as 'Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer' started sounding. Oh, well, it could've been worse. A sudden shriek could be heard from somewhere and they froze. It sounded like a strangled child. Only Towers continued in his very cheery manner:
"Shut up, ye old freak, this is jolly time, you can't frighten anybody!"
The students noticed the Necrow in one corner of the room. What was the horrible thing doing there? As if answering them, Towers answered:
"I brought the old thing to stay here. Maybe it'll cheer up"
"Mental!" Ron muttered towards Harry and Hermione. "Cheering up Necrows?"
Towers looked straight at him.
"I heard that, Mr. Weasley. Yes, I am mental and yes, I'm trying to cheer up the blasted thing. If cheered up, Necrows have special powers. Mrs. Granger, will you please explain it to him?"
She nodded and started explaining that if turned to the light side, the birds became very powerful and helping. Of course, all that in about a million words. By the end of it, Ron swore Towers was the devil himself and Hermione whacked him with her hand. All in all, it was a jolly scene. That was until.
The door opened and McGonagall came in.
"Mr. Towers, I would like to speak to you, if possible."
"Why, of course!" he answered. "Be good and don't tempt the Necrow!" he cried before getting out the door and the song changed into 'Jingle Bells'.
Parvati got up and looked at the door.
"He's evil, I tell you! I've seen it in the stars! He even brings the Necrow to class to frighten us! He's killed Monica Kane!" she started again, as she had done for quite a while. The Gryffindors started asking themselves how many meals they'd spent with her against-Towers speeches. Quite many, actually. Harry started wondering what she had against him.
"Shut up, Patil, at least for once!" Draco said from the other side of the room. "You're getting very boring and I'm frankly sick of it"
"Who asked you, Slytherin?" she replied, angrily.
"Everybody agrees with me" Draco said, a smirk on his face.
"Does not!" Parvati said, mad.
"Yes, we do" Seamus agreed.
"See? Even your pitiful little friends agree" Draco said.
"Not all of them" the girl answered.
"What's the matter, girl?" asked Pansy Parkinson. "Want some attention?"
"Stop teasing me!" she cried.
"Why should we do that?" Pansy asked, smirking.
"I'm telling you Towers will kill us all! He's in league with the Death Eaters!"
"He helped clear Sirius!" Harry said.
"He's a Death Eater, I tell you!" the girl cried.
"No, he's not!" Neville interfered.
"Yes! Yes he is!" Pansy cried angrily.
Hermione decided to interfere.
"Pansy, sit down" she said gently.
"See, even Mudblood Granger agrees that you're downright boring" Draco said.
That was it. Parvati snapped and took out her wand.
"Accio ball!" she cried and a black ball from Towers' desk rushed in her hand and she threw it at Draco, who managed to change its trajectory with a movement of his own wand. The black ball flew away in a corner from the room.
"You don't have such a good aim, do you, Patil?" asked Draco, glaring at her.
Suddenly Hermione shrieked.
"Look! The Necrow!" she cried and everybody in the classroom turned to look at the caged bird.
The Necrow was holding the black ball in its beak and, as all looked towards it, it threw the ball in the bars of the cage, which shivered as if they were leaves under the wind and then disappeared.
"Oh, shit!" Hermione said and the bird flew out of what used to be the cage.
The horrible bird flew above their heads for a few seconds, screeching like a strangled child.
"Harry Potter!" it shrieked and attacked Harry, who had already taken out his wand.
"Impedimenta!" he cried and the bird was fully hit, but obviously not enough, since it just lost aim.
"Stupefy!" cried Hermione, also hitting it, but it just flew up again, flying in circles over the classroom.
"Hermione Granger!" it shrieked again and launched itself against her.
"Impedimenta!" cried Harry again, making it lose aim. It just turned and attacked Hermione again.
"Impedimenta!" she also cried, to gain time.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry said and a silver stag erupted from his wand and attacked the bird. "Hey, look, it's working!"
The Necrow flew above the stag and shot straight through it. The stag launched itself afterwards against the Necrow. They fought like this for nearly a minute before the Necrow shot again through Harry's stag, making it disappear. It then rose again in the air.
"Harry Potter!" it shrieked again and attacked the boy.
"Impedimenta!" the bird lost aim again. God, why hadn't Towers told them enough about banishing it?
Suddenly, the door to the classroom opened and Towers came in. His eyes widened at the scene and he shouted:
"LEAVE THEM!!!"
The bird looked at him and shrieked his name and attacked him.
"DOWN, SLAVE!" he shouted again and the bird obediently fell at his feet, leaving the class mesmerized. Towers' eyes narrowed. "One more move like that and you will be tortured to death. Have I made myself clear?" he asked and the bird gave a soft shriek, if that was in any way possible. The Professor took out his wand and conjured a cage around the bird and then placed it on his desk.
In the silence that followed this -God knew where the Professor's singing charm had faded-, they all stared at the dark teacher. No, scratch that, it wasn't a dark teacher, it was a dark wizard. He didn't seem to be a teacher anymore.
"Who took the Dark Ball?" he asked picking the black ball from where it had fallen. Nobody answered. "I will ask again and somebody better answer, or I will question all of you under Veritaserum and the person who did it will be out of school before he or she will be able to say 'but I.'"
They all looked at each other and Parvati's hand slowly went up.
Towers nodded darkly.
"Why?"
"E-excuse me?" the girl asked.
"Why on Earth would you take something from my desk and give it to a dark bird?"
"I-I." she stuttered,
"How long did you touch it?"
"P-pardon?"
"How long did you touch the Dark Ball?" Towers asked.
"Um. one second?" she asked, unsure and the teacher nodded.
"Foolish girl" he said. "It could have turned out worse. So, what happened?"
Harry looked at the others.
"She was saying something and everybody teased and she got mad and summoned the ball from your desk and threw it at Malfoy who deflected it and it flew at the Necrow"
Towers nodded and put the black ball on the desk.
"One piece of advice, Mrs. Patil. Don't mess with things you don't know. You might have seriously injured someone or yourself. My things are not to be played with and many things that belong to me are quite dangerous. That goes for the rest of the class, too. Don't play with my things. I am the Defence the Dark Arts Professor after all and this ball was here because I was showing it to the 7th years. I did not let them touch it. It is that dangerous."
The class unconsciously gulped.
"But, alas, nothing happened" he said and gave them a soft smile. "So, I do believe your next class will begin soon. I will let you go"
They all got up and Towers called a new carol -'Silent Night'- and sat down in his chair, waiting for his next class.
Hermione started talking to the others as soon as they were out of range from their colleagues.
"I can't believe Towers has a Dark Ball!"
"But, Hermione, what about this Dark Ball?" Amala asked.
"Oh, usually, dark wizards have it. I never thought one of our teachers would have one. Durmstrang, yes, maybe, but a Hogwarts teacher!"
"What's a Dark Ball, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"An extremely dangerous and... how can I put this? It can serve different goals and Towers has to be powerful to be able to touch one, usually light wizards can't stand them too well, but he seems quite ok. Oh, and if you think very cruel, then it might act as a wand or a weapon. Not quite as powerful as a wand, but still. And it can be used by creatures of all types, especially dark creatures. The Necrow was a good example."
"If it's not as powerful as a wand, then why is it so important?" Ron asked.
"Because it can be used only by dark wizards and does some things more powerful than a wand. Like it can act as a cage for a person or creature. Or it can serve as a camera. But most importantly, it's used in dark rituals and it's said that you can summon demons and devils and shadows and all types of dark creatures with the Dark Ball. And it's very expensive."
"Then why does Towers have one if it doesn't serve him to do anything?" Harry asked.
"Maybe he does some types of dark magic" Amala said, thinking hard.
"You mean. Parvati's right? Towers-a Death Eater?" asked Harry.
"No, no." Amala said. "There is a way. to summon dark forces. if you are light."
"Really?" Ron asked. "I didn't know that"
"You don't know anything" Hermione replied and he, in a very mature fashion, stuck his tongue out and Harry and Amala laughed.
"Oh, no!" Ron said and looked over his things. "I forgot my feather in Towers' classroom!"
"Well, let's go get it" Hermione said and turned at 180 degrees.
They nearly ran down the corridors and finally made it to the Defence classroom. They almost stampeded inside, but heard something and decided to eavesdrop. The two voices inside were Snape's and Towers',
"And could you please tell us what your brilliant plans for defending Azkaban are?" asked Snape.
The four teens stared at the scene. Attack on Azkaban?!
"I will tell them to you when the time is right" the Defence Professor answered.
"Well, which is the right time?" Snape asked.
"Ah, that is up for me to decide."
"You're worse than Dumbledore!"
"Thank you"
Snape was starting to snap, but Towers was calm and collected. Suddenly, Snape seemed to notice something. He shot his hand forwards and grabbed a black ball from Towers' desk, holding it. The Defence Professor just watched as a shiver went through Snape's body. The Potion Master dropped the ball back on the desk and Towers smirked and grabbed it, holding it like it was some kind of a normal ball, smiling gently. Snape's eyes widened and he couldn't keep his emotions in cheek.
"You are a powerful wizard" he said.
"No, really?" Towers asked and looked in the ball.
"This means you can be one of two. You can either be so sincere in following light that nothing can affect you or. you can be a dark wizard."
"Ten points to Slytherin!" Towers laughed. "Correct. But I might also be helped by my Master who is powerful enough not to be affected by anything except maybe the fall of a world."
Snape had a weird look in his eyes.
"You always talk about your Master, Towers, but you've never once mentioned his name."
"He will reveal it himself" the Defence teacher replied. "But until he does, it will remain just for him and me to know"
"And some other disciples of his" added Snape.
"Yes, some other disciples too" the other agreed, still looking at the ball, seeming to be fascinated. Suddenly, he put it down. "I will reveal my plans later. But now, I will ask you to go to your class if you don't want to meet 1st year Gryffindors"
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Amala quickly hid behind a corner as the Potion Master went back to his dungeons. After about half a minute, Ron went to get his feather and then they went to their next class.
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
Sirius looked at the female silhouette in the Forbidden Forest and went to it.
"They know now, Iris" he whispered. "It might all be well. Towers knows, maybe he'll help"
She looked at him, thinking of something.
"Towers. He'll help. Are you sure he hadn't known from before?"
Sirius stared at her.
"From whom? And why not tell us?"
She looked towards the castle.
"From the Master he always talks about. He is the one that knows everything. God knows what 'everything' means. He must have told Jack not to let it be known. He wants to do all things quietly. Not to be known. He might have told him. Tell me, did he interfere with anything you said?"
Sirius thought for a few seconds.
"No'
"Then I don't know how much he knew or not. But you can believe that your assumptions were right. It will probably happen on Christmas. Christmas Eve you said, right?"
"Yeah" Sirius answered and she nodded.
"Well, I'll be going now. Good luck" she said and started moving away.
"No, wait!" Sirius cried before he could stop himself.
"Yes?" she asked, not understanding.
"Stay" he answered,
She looked at him confused.
"Why? I don't think I'm needed."
"Please, stay" Sirius said, unsure of himself. 'Sirius, old chap' he thought, 'you really have lost your touch. A few years ago. maybe 16 or 17, they used to fall in your hands.'
Suddenly, Simnai appeared from behind a tree and looked at them as they stood there, him unsure of himself, her puzzled. The elf sighed.
"Come on, you two, no time for love, we have a world to save!"
Iris' eyes stared at the elf in shock and then at Sirius. She hadn't seen it! Oh, she could bang her head against the wall! It would have been obvious ever since she had come into his house at number twelve Grimmauld place had she not been too occupied with saving the world. The elf stared at her.
"Oh my God, you are in love. Don't mind me, I'll just disappear" he said and indeed left as fast as his legs could carry him.
She smiled at Sirius.
"Well, thanks for the invitation, but I really have to go. I'm so sorry, Sirius! I was totally absorbed by myself to notice"
She did seem sorry, but he couldn't feel any worse. It took somebody else for her to notice. Oh, well.
She left, letting him behind her, walking fast in a certain direction. She was almost like an elf, leaving fast and soundless. Sirius sighed. His life wasn't too lucky, now was it? First he got killed, now this. Ok, maybe wrong order, but still.
/*-/*-/*-/*-
How fast the days to an unwanted and a very feared moment pass by you! Harry had known that since the beginning of his Hogwarts years. The exams always came too soon, too quick, the tasks in the Triwizard Tournament had come waaay too quick each time. And this particular situation was no exception. Afraid, the trio plus Amala waited for Christmas. The attack on Azkaban would happen then.
/*-/*-/*-
Author's Note: Just reread some of my old reviews *sniff*, you guys keep me going.
And, to a brighter and waay jollier tone, MERRY CHRISTMAS! I know I said I wouldn't be updating, but I had a change in plans.
So, may all your wishes come true on this blessed night!
And thanks for all those who reviewed! You have no idea how much it pleases me to see the number of the reviews growing.
Babyjayy: Thank you, I will!
The Red Dragons Order: Voldie was crazy from before, I don't think he can go crazy.
Skillz: Thank you! I'll take the 'why can't you be a dunce' part as a complimet. And I asked how long it will take for him to say bye-bye to the school, not why. So, no points. Sorry. And thanks for the review!
Naomie: Well, I really don't know. Maybe 10? And I will have a sequel. Two left years, two fics. At least that's how I think it should be.
Thank you and have a merry, merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, with no threats from Death Eaters or Voldies!
Dedication: To the Red Dragons Order, one of the best authors I've ever had the pleasure to read stories from (Sorry you're not the best Red, but there is J.K. Rowling in that category and don't forget J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Anne Rice and a few others)
Author's Note: Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Chapter 19: Just Before Christmas
Ah, the snow, the wonderful white snow, crunching under his feet! Ah, the smell of approaching Christmas! Ah, the white beauty of all things! Christmas is an enchanted time, no wonder about that. The only problem was he was working. Great! And not only was he working, he also had huge problems, too.
'Think, Sirius, think' the Animagus told himself. Yeah, right, as if telling himself that ever worked.
So, how do you escape from a bunch of Death Eaters, without them noticing you? And where the hell were the other agents? Sitting behind a few boxes in the old house was not a good way to spend Christmas. Yeah, he knew there was still a week left, but still. At this rate he'd still be there in a week.
"So, what was your first encounter with the Dark Lord like?" asked one of the Death Eaters and Sirius had to keep himself from banging his head against the wall. Perfect! They all stood there and said stories from their first encounters with Voldemort. This was just his bloody luck!
"Oh, it was wonderful" another one answered. "He was so."
Sirius didn't want to even think how he was. It almost made him puke. Terrifying, powerful, great, those were just about one percent out of what the Death Eaters said. Somebody save him!!!
In his boredom state, he noted that if those characteristics he had thought of were one percent, then a hundred percent were 300 characteristics. Bloody understatement of the year! He hadn't even known that there were so many praise adjectives in English! -a few had been in other languages, but still-. Must remember to kill Dumbledore. Even Azkaban had been better than 10 hours of this awful thing! Hmmm. How about a nice nap? Yeah, good idea.
He closed his eyes -he was already lying down- and let himself nearly fall asleep. Nearly. A voice woke him up.
"The Dark Lord is coming"
He jerked his head up. Good thing he hadn't fallen asleep yet, or else he'd have missed the thing he had first came there for and 10 hours would have gone straight to hell. Wait a second! The Dark Lord?! Gulp. It wasn't supposed to be Voldemort. It was supposed to be someone else, a new contact. Shit. Maybe he should kill Snape for informing wrong? He should kill Snape anyway, but that was another point.
He watched from behind the boxes as the tall, red eyed man came in the room.
"My beloved Death Eaters" he started saying and then stopped. Not good. Not good. Oh shit, oh shit. "There is a reason why I have come here myself" he started again and Sirius calmed down a bit. "We'll attack Azkaban" Sirius's eyes widened in horror. Oh, no! This soon?! "We'll free." Why was he stopping all the time? Then, Voldemort suddenly started hissing and a huge snake started going towards Sirius. Oh shit?
He jumped from behind the boxes and ran as fast as he could towards the door.
"Get him!" cried the snake-like man. "Kill him! Avada Kedavra!"
Sirius started dodging killing curses and managed to get out of the house and into the open, in the snow.
'Of all the dogs, I had to pick a black one' he thought as he ran through the white, very white, too white snow, green beams shooting past him. 'I don't want to die! Not again!' he thought to himself and ran as fast as he could. He ran over the field and towards a forest. Faster, faster, faster. One more dodged killing curse.
He entered the safety of the forest and breathed relieved. Probably they hadn't followed him, but he kept running through the forest. He suddenly saw some people in front. Iris!
He quickly changed back into his human form and nearly ended up hexed before she realized that it was him.
"Iris, I've spied for Dumbledore at that meeting." he suddenly stopped seeing they weren't alone.
"These are some friends of mine" she said and pointed towards the two people nearby. "That's Varamesh and that's Simnai"
"Um, hello. Sirius" he said and shook their hands. "Unnatural names you have there" he said towards the two tall, slim, beautiful men.
"Elves usually do" Simnai said.
"You're what?!" Sirius said, awestruck.
"Elves" Iris said. "I've spent a while with them and a friend of ours who isn't here today, Sania."
"Oh" he said. What a bright line!
"So, what was the problem again?" she asked. "You were spying and."
"They're attacking Azkaban"
She widened her eyes. "What? Now?"
"I don't know, Good old Voldemort spotted me before I could get that part, but sometime soon, probably" he answered and noted she looked beautiful even when she looked angrily around. Ok, no time for that.
"Um, just a question" Varamesh said. "Why do you, Sirius, have to spy when Snape's doing such a good job?"
"Snape's not involved in the Azkaban attack, he's taking care of the 'Green Flame Torch' problem. You know, thinking traps for the one who gets it in order to kill him and destroy the Torch."
"Aha" the elf said. "He shouldn't foul around with the Torch and its bearer. It is too powerful for him to be easy to get."
"Yeah, well, you know him, he'll try to do anything possible to destroy an obstacle."
"Are we talking about Snape or Voldemort here?" asked Simnai, confused.
"Voldemort" Sirius answered.
"Ah" he answered. "Idiot. Powerful, intelligent, cunning idiot"
"Yep, that's him!" Iris said, sending the elf a small smile. "Listen, Sirius, we have to warn Dumbledore that it will happen soon. They should send reinforcements."
"Yes" the Animagus answered as they Apparated in Hogsmeade. Elves could Apparate? He hadn't known that. Then again, he hadn't known there were any elves left. And, oh, why did it have to happen so bloody close to Christmas?! Just because snake-face hated Christmas didn't mean he could ruin everybody's! Come on, an attack so close to the most wonderful holiday of the year! It was enough to destroy anybody's winter and wreak havoc! Indeed it was!
Suddenly realization dawned over Sirius's face.
"He'll do it on Christmas" he said and they all stopped, the castle in front of them.
"What?!" Varamesh asked. "How do you know?!"
"It's the worst time he could choose. He chose it" the Animagus laconically explained.
The elves looked at each other and then started going fast towards the castle, the two humans right behind them. And then they stopped.
"Iris, we're going to the Forest and back to our lands. It is not yet the time we come back in the picture" Simnai said.
She nodded and then turned to Sirius.
"Maybe you should go alone. I'm supposed to be visiting an ill friend."
"Ok" he answered.
"I'll wait for you at Hagrid's hut. You can tell me how it all went" she said and smiled. Sirius smiled back in reply and started running towards the castle, alone. Christmas! Why Christmas?
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
"Christmas!" the Defence Professor shouted at the 6th years. "Let's make a few changes, shall we? This classroom is so. un-festive!"
He waved his wand and the Defence classroom suddenly decorated with some tinsel. The students just stared at the merry man.
"And what carols do you prefer? Oh, never mind, I'll just play one of my own!" His eyes twinkled merrily. "Veni cantus!"
The Slytherins glared at the Professor as 'Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer' started sounding. Oh, well, it could've been worse. A sudden shriek could be heard from somewhere and they froze. It sounded like a strangled child. Only Towers continued in his very cheery manner:
"Shut up, ye old freak, this is jolly time, you can't frighten anybody!"
The students noticed the Necrow in one corner of the room. What was the horrible thing doing there? As if answering them, Towers answered:
"I brought the old thing to stay here. Maybe it'll cheer up"
"Mental!" Ron muttered towards Harry and Hermione. "Cheering up Necrows?"
Towers looked straight at him.
"I heard that, Mr. Weasley. Yes, I am mental and yes, I'm trying to cheer up the blasted thing. If cheered up, Necrows have special powers. Mrs. Granger, will you please explain it to him?"
She nodded and started explaining that if turned to the light side, the birds became very powerful and helping. Of course, all that in about a million words. By the end of it, Ron swore Towers was the devil himself and Hermione whacked him with her hand. All in all, it was a jolly scene. That was until.
The door opened and McGonagall came in.
"Mr. Towers, I would like to speak to you, if possible."
"Why, of course!" he answered. "Be good and don't tempt the Necrow!" he cried before getting out the door and the song changed into 'Jingle Bells'.
Parvati got up and looked at the door.
"He's evil, I tell you! I've seen it in the stars! He even brings the Necrow to class to frighten us! He's killed Monica Kane!" she started again, as she had done for quite a while. The Gryffindors started asking themselves how many meals they'd spent with her against-Towers speeches. Quite many, actually. Harry started wondering what she had against him.
"Shut up, Patil, at least for once!" Draco said from the other side of the room. "You're getting very boring and I'm frankly sick of it"
"Who asked you, Slytherin?" she replied, angrily.
"Everybody agrees with me" Draco said, a smirk on his face.
"Does not!" Parvati said, mad.
"Yes, we do" Seamus agreed.
"See? Even your pitiful little friends agree" Draco said.
"Not all of them" the girl answered.
"What's the matter, girl?" asked Pansy Parkinson. "Want some attention?"
"Stop teasing me!" she cried.
"Why should we do that?" Pansy asked, smirking.
"I'm telling you Towers will kill us all! He's in league with the Death Eaters!"
"He helped clear Sirius!" Harry said.
"He's a Death Eater, I tell you!" the girl cried.
"No, he's not!" Neville interfered.
"Yes! Yes he is!" Pansy cried angrily.
Hermione decided to interfere.
"Pansy, sit down" she said gently.
"See, even Mudblood Granger agrees that you're downright boring" Draco said.
That was it. Parvati snapped and took out her wand.
"Accio ball!" she cried and a black ball from Towers' desk rushed in her hand and she threw it at Draco, who managed to change its trajectory with a movement of his own wand. The black ball flew away in a corner from the room.
"You don't have such a good aim, do you, Patil?" asked Draco, glaring at her.
Suddenly Hermione shrieked.
"Look! The Necrow!" she cried and everybody in the classroom turned to look at the caged bird.
The Necrow was holding the black ball in its beak and, as all looked towards it, it threw the ball in the bars of the cage, which shivered as if they were leaves under the wind and then disappeared.
"Oh, shit!" Hermione said and the bird flew out of what used to be the cage.
The horrible bird flew above their heads for a few seconds, screeching like a strangled child.
"Harry Potter!" it shrieked and attacked Harry, who had already taken out his wand.
"Impedimenta!" he cried and the bird was fully hit, but obviously not enough, since it just lost aim.
"Stupefy!" cried Hermione, also hitting it, but it just flew up again, flying in circles over the classroom.
"Hermione Granger!" it shrieked again and launched itself against her.
"Impedimenta!" cried Harry again, making it lose aim. It just turned and attacked Hermione again.
"Impedimenta!" she also cried, to gain time.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry said and a silver stag erupted from his wand and attacked the bird. "Hey, look, it's working!"
The Necrow flew above the stag and shot straight through it. The stag launched itself afterwards against the Necrow. They fought like this for nearly a minute before the Necrow shot again through Harry's stag, making it disappear. It then rose again in the air.
"Harry Potter!" it shrieked again and attacked the boy.
"Impedimenta!" the bird lost aim again. God, why hadn't Towers told them enough about banishing it?
Suddenly, the door to the classroom opened and Towers came in. His eyes widened at the scene and he shouted:
"LEAVE THEM!!!"
The bird looked at him and shrieked his name and attacked him.
"DOWN, SLAVE!" he shouted again and the bird obediently fell at his feet, leaving the class mesmerized. Towers' eyes narrowed. "One more move like that and you will be tortured to death. Have I made myself clear?" he asked and the bird gave a soft shriek, if that was in any way possible. The Professor took out his wand and conjured a cage around the bird and then placed it on his desk.
In the silence that followed this -God knew where the Professor's singing charm had faded-, they all stared at the dark teacher. No, scratch that, it wasn't a dark teacher, it was a dark wizard. He didn't seem to be a teacher anymore.
"Who took the Dark Ball?" he asked picking the black ball from where it had fallen. Nobody answered. "I will ask again and somebody better answer, or I will question all of you under Veritaserum and the person who did it will be out of school before he or she will be able to say 'but I.'"
They all looked at each other and Parvati's hand slowly went up.
Towers nodded darkly.
"Why?"
"E-excuse me?" the girl asked.
"Why on Earth would you take something from my desk and give it to a dark bird?"
"I-I." she stuttered,
"How long did you touch it?"
"P-pardon?"
"How long did you touch the Dark Ball?" Towers asked.
"Um. one second?" she asked, unsure and the teacher nodded.
"Foolish girl" he said. "It could have turned out worse. So, what happened?"
Harry looked at the others.
"She was saying something and everybody teased and she got mad and summoned the ball from your desk and threw it at Malfoy who deflected it and it flew at the Necrow"
Towers nodded and put the black ball on the desk.
"One piece of advice, Mrs. Patil. Don't mess with things you don't know. You might have seriously injured someone or yourself. My things are not to be played with and many things that belong to me are quite dangerous. That goes for the rest of the class, too. Don't play with my things. I am the Defence the Dark Arts Professor after all and this ball was here because I was showing it to the 7th years. I did not let them touch it. It is that dangerous."
The class unconsciously gulped.
"But, alas, nothing happened" he said and gave them a soft smile. "So, I do believe your next class will begin soon. I will let you go"
They all got up and Towers called a new carol -'Silent Night'- and sat down in his chair, waiting for his next class.
Hermione started talking to the others as soon as they were out of range from their colleagues.
"I can't believe Towers has a Dark Ball!"
"But, Hermione, what about this Dark Ball?" Amala asked.
"Oh, usually, dark wizards have it. I never thought one of our teachers would have one. Durmstrang, yes, maybe, but a Hogwarts teacher!"
"What's a Dark Ball, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"An extremely dangerous and... how can I put this? It can serve different goals and Towers has to be powerful to be able to touch one, usually light wizards can't stand them too well, but he seems quite ok. Oh, and if you think very cruel, then it might act as a wand or a weapon. Not quite as powerful as a wand, but still. And it can be used by creatures of all types, especially dark creatures. The Necrow was a good example."
"If it's not as powerful as a wand, then why is it so important?" Ron asked.
"Because it can be used only by dark wizards and does some things more powerful than a wand. Like it can act as a cage for a person or creature. Or it can serve as a camera. But most importantly, it's used in dark rituals and it's said that you can summon demons and devils and shadows and all types of dark creatures with the Dark Ball. And it's very expensive."
"Then why does Towers have one if it doesn't serve him to do anything?" Harry asked.
"Maybe he does some types of dark magic" Amala said, thinking hard.
"You mean. Parvati's right? Towers-a Death Eater?" asked Harry.
"No, no." Amala said. "There is a way. to summon dark forces. if you are light."
"Really?" Ron asked. "I didn't know that"
"You don't know anything" Hermione replied and he, in a very mature fashion, stuck his tongue out and Harry and Amala laughed.
"Oh, no!" Ron said and looked over his things. "I forgot my feather in Towers' classroom!"
"Well, let's go get it" Hermione said and turned at 180 degrees.
They nearly ran down the corridors and finally made it to the Defence classroom. They almost stampeded inside, but heard something and decided to eavesdrop. The two voices inside were Snape's and Towers',
"And could you please tell us what your brilliant plans for defending Azkaban are?" asked Snape.
The four teens stared at the scene. Attack on Azkaban?!
"I will tell them to you when the time is right" the Defence Professor answered.
"Well, which is the right time?" Snape asked.
"Ah, that is up for me to decide."
"You're worse than Dumbledore!"
"Thank you"
Snape was starting to snap, but Towers was calm and collected. Suddenly, Snape seemed to notice something. He shot his hand forwards and grabbed a black ball from Towers' desk, holding it. The Defence Professor just watched as a shiver went through Snape's body. The Potion Master dropped the ball back on the desk and Towers smirked and grabbed it, holding it like it was some kind of a normal ball, smiling gently. Snape's eyes widened and he couldn't keep his emotions in cheek.
"You are a powerful wizard" he said.
"No, really?" Towers asked and looked in the ball.
"This means you can be one of two. You can either be so sincere in following light that nothing can affect you or. you can be a dark wizard."
"Ten points to Slytherin!" Towers laughed. "Correct. But I might also be helped by my Master who is powerful enough not to be affected by anything except maybe the fall of a world."
Snape had a weird look in his eyes.
"You always talk about your Master, Towers, but you've never once mentioned his name."
"He will reveal it himself" the Defence teacher replied. "But until he does, it will remain just for him and me to know"
"And some other disciples of his" added Snape.
"Yes, some other disciples too" the other agreed, still looking at the ball, seeming to be fascinated. Suddenly, he put it down. "I will reveal my plans later. But now, I will ask you to go to your class if you don't want to meet 1st year Gryffindors"
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Amala quickly hid behind a corner as the Potion Master went back to his dungeons. After about half a minute, Ron went to get his feather and then they went to their next class.
/*-/*-/*-/*-/*-
Sirius looked at the female silhouette in the Forbidden Forest and went to it.
"They know now, Iris" he whispered. "It might all be well. Towers knows, maybe he'll help"
She looked at him, thinking of something.
"Towers. He'll help. Are you sure he hadn't known from before?"
Sirius stared at her.
"From whom? And why not tell us?"
She looked towards the castle.
"From the Master he always talks about. He is the one that knows everything. God knows what 'everything' means. He must have told Jack not to let it be known. He wants to do all things quietly. Not to be known. He might have told him. Tell me, did he interfere with anything you said?"
Sirius thought for a few seconds.
"No'
"Then I don't know how much he knew or not. But you can believe that your assumptions were right. It will probably happen on Christmas. Christmas Eve you said, right?"
"Yeah" Sirius answered and she nodded.
"Well, I'll be going now. Good luck" she said and started moving away.
"No, wait!" Sirius cried before he could stop himself.
"Yes?" she asked, not understanding.
"Stay" he answered,
She looked at him confused.
"Why? I don't think I'm needed."
"Please, stay" Sirius said, unsure of himself. 'Sirius, old chap' he thought, 'you really have lost your touch. A few years ago. maybe 16 or 17, they used to fall in your hands.'
Suddenly, Simnai appeared from behind a tree and looked at them as they stood there, him unsure of himself, her puzzled. The elf sighed.
"Come on, you two, no time for love, we have a world to save!"
Iris' eyes stared at the elf in shock and then at Sirius. She hadn't seen it! Oh, she could bang her head against the wall! It would have been obvious ever since she had come into his house at number twelve Grimmauld place had she not been too occupied with saving the world. The elf stared at her.
"Oh my God, you are in love. Don't mind me, I'll just disappear" he said and indeed left as fast as his legs could carry him.
She smiled at Sirius.
"Well, thanks for the invitation, but I really have to go. I'm so sorry, Sirius! I was totally absorbed by myself to notice"
She did seem sorry, but he couldn't feel any worse. It took somebody else for her to notice. Oh, well.
She left, letting him behind her, walking fast in a certain direction. She was almost like an elf, leaving fast and soundless. Sirius sighed. His life wasn't too lucky, now was it? First he got killed, now this. Ok, maybe wrong order, but still.
/*-/*-/*-/*-
How fast the days to an unwanted and a very feared moment pass by you! Harry had known that since the beginning of his Hogwarts years. The exams always came too soon, too quick, the tasks in the Triwizard Tournament had come waaay too quick each time. And this particular situation was no exception. Afraid, the trio plus Amala waited for Christmas. The attack on Azkaban would happen then.
/*-/*-/*-
Author's Note: Just reread some of my old reviews *sniff*, you guys keep me going.
And, to a brighter and waay jollier tone, MERRY CHRISTMAS! I know I said I wouldn't be updating, but I had a change in plans.
So, may all your wishes come true on this blessed night!
And thanks for all those who reviewed! You have no idea how much it pleases me to see the number of the reviews growing.
Babyjayy: Thank you, I will!
The Red Dragons Order: Voldie was crazy from before, I don't think he can go crazy.
Skillz: Thank you! I'll take the 'why can't you be a dunce' part as a complimet. And I asked how long it will take for him to say bye-bye to the school, not why. So, no points. Sorry. And thanks for the review!
Naomie: Well, I really don't know. Maybe 10? And I will have a sequel. Two left years, two fics. At least that's how I think it should be.
Thank you and have a merry, merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, with no threats from Death Eaters or Voldies!