CHAPTER 6 - Battles and Billets
Harry, Ron and Hermione continued to visit Hagrid and Storm every day. It was amazing how much better the rith looked just after a few days of Hagrid's thorough care. She had put on weight, her eyes had lost some of their terrified glaze and her coat seemed to glow. Her bones were no longer quite so prominent, even through her thick fur. She was happier in herself too, she wagged her tail when they came to see her and no longer clung quite so closely to Hagrid as if he would abandon her to the cold outside world.
Today was much the same. They scurried across the grass in an effort to keep a much out of the rain that was belting down as possible. But even over the sounds of the downpour they could hear that something was wrong. Shouts and barks shattered the peace of the grounds - all originating from Hagrids cabin.
The trio ran forward and burst through the door to be confronted with a scene of chaos. Hagrid was placed between Storm and Fang who were snarling and barking at each other, seemingly in an effort to tear each others throats out. Lips were drawn back from shining white teeth and saliva was flying from the canine combatants jaws while their eyes blazed with hatred above. Hagrid looked both pleased and concerned at seeing them seeing as he couldn't move for fear that they would get a hold of each other, but the opponents were oblivious. Making a lightning move for one so large, Hagrid leapt forward and seized Fang's collar, pushed him out of the door and slammed it with one move. Just in time too for it was just as Storm had plunged in for an attack, and only ended up in hitting her sensitive muzzle against the solid door with sickening force.
'That's enough!' Hagrid shouted, silencing both Fang who was scratching wildly at the door and Storm who fell back on her bony arse with a dazed look in her eyes from the impact.
All of them stood around the blue rith who now sat peacefully, with a rather confused expression, on the hard floor. None of them knew quite what to say. It was Hermione who found her voice first, 'What happened?'
Hagrid opened and closed his mouth like a fish a few times, searching for words that were a long time coming, 'I don' know, really. I'd jus' fed 'em both. I think Fang must've finished first 'cos he tried to take Storms'. She wasn't havin' none of it and it jus' all kicked off. I thought they were goin' to kill each other.'
'What're you going to do?'
'I don' know. Storm can't stay here no more, that's fer certain, Fang was here first and it's his home. I'll have to ask Dumbledore if she can stay in the castle, at least until we find her owner. I still haven't contacted NERO, so who knows how long that'll be.'
'NERO?'
'The National English Rith Organisation. They've got records on who most riths belong to, they definitely will on her, being such a rare breed.'
'How rare is she?'
'Rarest rith there is. Thor's rith she's known as. There's only a few of 'em in the country. Like I said, whoever lost her didn't do it lightly. It wouldn't surprise me to find she's won a few awards. Not my cup o' tea, this showin' lark, but if it produces creatures like her then its gotta be worth somethin'.'
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was later that evening that Harry met Hagrid in the entrance hall to the main castle. Storm was with him looking extremely well groomed and rather apprehensive in a new collar and short lead. People were constantly milling about and the rith's bright blue eyes were flickering from one to the next as if searching for someone, or something. Even though she was standing on her hind legs the rith still looked dwarfed by Hagrid.
'Ah, Harry, jus' the person I was lookin' fer. I'm takin' Storm up to see Dumbledore and I was wonderin' if you could come with me. Jus' so she's got a couple of people about that she trusts. Don' want her getting' all panicky in front of Dumbledore, do we?'
'Sure I'll come with you, Hagrid.'
'That's a really pretty rith, do you mind if I stroke her?' This was a different voice, one that Harry didn't recognise, but when he turned round he recognized the speaker immediately from her grey eyes and red streaked hair.
'You're Aisling, Seamus's sister.'
'That's right, and you're Harry Potter.' She said his name without any of the awe or emphasis that people he hadn't met before usually put on his voice. It was quite nice to be treated normally for once.
Hagrid broke in, 'I'm not sure if it's wise, she's a bit shy of new people.'
He broke off in mid-sentence. Storm had completely ignored him and come up to greet Aisling, tail wagging. The pair locked eyes for a second before both appeared to smile. The Ravenclaw girl reached out and tickled Storm's ear. A look of absolute pleasure crossed the rith's usually timid features and fell to severely disappointed when the girl stopped.
'Well, see you soon, Aisling.'
'Thank you!' The girl disappeared down the corridor at a run.
'Strange girl. Still, come on Storm.'
Hagrid and Harry walked with the rith in-between them until they came to a stone gargoyle at the apparently blank end of a corridor.
'Sour Apples!' said Hagrid loudly at the gargoyle. It swung inwards to reveal a spiralling stone staircase leading to Dumbledore's private chambers.
The blue rith shied away from the narrow passageway and it took a lot of coaxing and treats to make her even set foot upon the stairs. When they got to the door leading into Dumbledore's study they halted, he already appeared to have a visitor. A visitor whose voice sounded angry and accusing.
'.But I'm sure that they.'
'There is no proof that the Lupuscan Circle ever existed, let alone that it is still in operation and in this school. Really, you forget yourself, you honestly think that I wouldn't notice such an absurd cult if it were thriving in my school?'
'They had dealings with the Dark Lord, I know it for a fact, and that Enyana.'
'I know life has not dealt you a fair hand, but Severus, whatever grudge you still hold against her, let it go. The poor girl has been dead for fifteen years, put any grievance you harbour in her grave, but please do not besmirch her memory in my office.' Dumbledore's voice was calm, but there was a definite edge to it, 'If indeed Enyana was part of that group then I am sure there was nothing but good in it.'
Snape never got to reply, which was probably for the best, as Hagrid chose that moment to knock at the door.
'Come in.' The three entered. 'Ah, Hagrid, Harry, and this is?'
'Storm, Sir.'
'Of course.' he didn't continue. The rith looked as if she had been turned to stone. Her whole body was rigid and she was staring fixedly at Snape. He merely stared back.
Hagrid was full of apologies, 'Sorry, Professor, she's a bit scared of strangers. Come on, Storm, he's not goin' to harm yeh.'
Snape just muttered and excused himself before sweeping out of the office. Storm almost immediately shook herself out of her temporary trance.
'Funny, he has that effect on students too,' Dumbledore smiled. 'So this is the rith then. I take it you found her, Harry?'
'Yes, Sir, she was washed up on the lakeshore. I think she must've tried swimming over it, but couldn't make it.'
'A brave thing to do for one in such poor condition, she must have the heart of a lion to have even attempted it. You can let her off of that lead, Hagrid, I'm sure she won't do any damage.'
As soon as she was released, Storm went off exploring every corner of the study with her nose and half-formed hands. Soon she had her muzzle jammed against a drawer in a cabinet and was pawing it, while occasionally looking over at Dumbledore.
'What've you found? Ah! I was wondering where those had gone!' The aging Headmaster drew out a large bag of sweets. 'I remember now, I put them there for safekeeping. Very safe indeed by the looks of it.'
Then he noticed the rith sitting at his feet, tail swishing across the stone floor and eyes fixed on the bag. He threw her one and placed the open bag on his desk with a gesture taken as 'Help yourself'. Harry placed one of the golden brown sweets in his mouth and began to chew. He tried not to show alarm when he found his jaws stuck together. Storm seemed to be having the same trouble and was clawing at her mouth. Hagrid and Dumbledore were oblivious and carried on talking.
'Of course I see your concern, Hagrid. Riths do not act like that as a matter of course. But NERO have to be informed first, they will track down her owners and will prosecute if there are adequate grounds. I'll send them an owl tonight.'
'I damned well hope so. No one should be able to treat an animal like that and get away with it. The only problem is that I can't keep her with me. Fang and her don' get along - jealousy on Fang's part I reckon - but I was wonderin' if she could stay up here in the main castle. I'm sure she'll be no trouble.'
'There are plenty of spare dungeons that she could occupy. I don't think anyone will mind. It'll be more than comfortable, I'm sure. If you want to you can settle her in now. I doubt if you'll want to miss the feast tonight.'
'Thank ye, Professor. Harry, are yeh comin'?'
The last remnants of the sweet had just melted, leaving his jaws unstuck. He read the writing on the outside of the bag "Jawbinder Toffee" and reminded himself never to take one again. By the looks of it, neither would Storm.
Harry, Ron and Hermione continued to visit Hagrid and Storm every day. It was amazing how much better the rith looked just after a few days of Hagrid's thorough care. She had put on weight, her eyes had lost some of their terrified glaze and her coat seemed to glow. Her bones were no longer quite so prominent, even through her thick fur. She was happier in herself too, she wagged her tail when they came to see her and no longer clung quite so closely to Hagrid as if he would abandon her to the cold outside world.
Today was much the same. They scurried across the grass in an effort to keep a much out of the rain that was belting down as possible. But even over the sounds of the downpour they could hear that something was wrong. Shouts and barks shattered the peace of the grounds - all originating from Hagrids cabin.
The trio ran forward and burst through the door to be confronted with a scene of chaos. Hagrid was placed between Storm and Fang who were snarling and barking at each other, seemingly in an effort to tear each others throats out. Lips were drawn back from shining white teeth and saliva was flying from the canine combatants jaws while their eyes blazed with hatred above. Hagrid looked both pleased and concerned at seeing them seeing as he couldn't move for fear that they would get a hold of each other, but the opponents were oblivious. Making a lightning move for one so large, Hagrid leapt forward and seized Fang's collar, pushed him out of the door and slammed it with one move. Just in time too for it was just as Storm had plunged in for an attack, and only ended up in hitting her sensitive muzzle against the solid door with sickening force.
'That's enough!' Hagrid shouted, silencing both Fang who was scratching wildly at the door and Storm who fell back on her bony arse with a dazed look in her eyes from the impact.
All of them stood around the blue rith who now sat peacefully, with a rather confused expression, on the hard floor. None of them knew quite what to say. It was Hermione who found her voice first, 'What happened?'
Hagrid opened and closed his mouth like a fish a few times, searching for words that were a long time coming, 'I don' know, really. I'd jus' fed 'em both. I think Fang must've finished first 'cos he tried to take Storms'. She wasn't havin' none of it and it jus' all kicked off. I thought they were goin' to kill each other.'
'What're you going to do?'
'I don' know. Storm can't stay here no more, that's fer certain, Fang was here first and it's his home. I'll have to ask Dumbledore if she can stay in the castle, at least until we find her owner. I still haven't contacted NERO, so who knows how long that'll be.'
'NERO?'
'The National English Rith Organisation. They've got records on who most riths belong to, they definitely will on her, being such a rare breed.'
'How rare is she?'
'Rarest rith there is. Thor's rith she's known as. There's only a few of 'em in the country. Like I said, whoever lost her didn't do it lightly. It wouldn't surprise me to find she's won a few awards. Not my cup o' tea, this showin' lark, but if it produces creatures like her then its gotta be worth somethin'.'
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was later that evening that Harry met Hagrid in the entrance hall to the main castle. Storm was with him looking extremely well groomed and rather apprehensive in a new collar and short lead. People were constantly milling about and the rith's bright blue eyes were flickering from one to the next as if searching for someone, or something. Even though she was standing on her hind legs the rith still looked dwarfed by Hagrid.
'Ah, Harry, jus' the person I was lookin' fer. I'm takin' Storm up to see Dumbledore and I was wonderin' if you could come with me. Jus' so she's got a couple of people about that she trusts. Don' want her getting' all panicky in front of Dumbledore, do we?'
'Sure I'll come with you, Hagrid.'
'That's a really pretty rith, do you mind if I stroke her?' This was a different voice, one that Harry didn't recognise, but when he turned round he recognized the speaker immediately from her grey eyes and red streaked hair.
'You're Aisling, Seamus's sister.'
'That's right, and you're Harry Potter.' She said his name without any of the awe or emphasis that people he hadn't met before usually put on his voice. It was quite nice to be treated normally for once.
Hagrid broke in, 'I'm not sure if it's wise, she's a bit shy of new people.'
He broke off in mid-sentence. Storm had completely ignored him and come up to greet Aisling, tail wagging. The pair locked eyes for a second before both appeared to smile. The Ravenclaw girl reached out and tickled Storm's ear. A look of absolute pleasure crossed the rith's usually timid features and fell to severely disappointed when the girl stopped.
'Well, see you soon, Aisling.'
'Thank you!' The girl disappeared down the corridor at a run.
'Strange girl. Still, come on Storm.'
Hagrid and Harry walked with the rith in-between them until they came to a stone gargoyle at the apparently blank end of a corridor.
'Sour Apples!' said Hagrid loudly at the gargoyle. It swung inwards to reveal a spiralling stone staircase leading to Dumbledore's private chambers.
The blue rith shied away from the narrow passageway and it took a lot of coaxing and treats to make her even set foot upon the stairs. When they got to the door leading into Dumbledore's study they halted, he already appeared to have a visitor. A visitor whose voice sounded angry and accusing.
'.But I'm sure that they.'
'There is no proof that the Lupuscan Circle ever existed, let alone that it is still in operation and in this school. Really, you forget yourself, you honestly think that I wouldn't notice such an absurd cult if it were thriving in my school?'
'They had dealings with the Dark Lord, I know it for a fact, and that Enyana.'
'I know life has not dealt you a fair hand, but Severus, whatever grudge you still hold against her, let it go. The poor girl has been dead for fifteen years, put any grievance you harbour in her grave, but please do not besmirch her memory in my office.' Dumbledore's voice was calm, but there was a definite edge to it, 'If indeed Enyana was part of that group then I am sure there was nothing but good in it.'
Snape never got to reply, which was probably for the best, as Hagrid chose that moment to knock at the door.
'Come in.' The three entered. 'Ah, Hagrid, Harry, and this is?'
'Storm, Sir.'
'Of course.' he didn't continue. The rith looked as if she had been turned to stone. Her whole body was rigid and she was staring fixedly at Snape. He merely stared back.
Hagrid was full of apologies, 'Sorry, Professor, she's a bit scared of strangers. Come on, Storm, he's not goin' to harm yeh.'
Snape just muttered and excused himself before sweeping out of the office. Storm almost immediately shook herself out of her temporary trance.
'Funny, he has that effect on students too,' Dumbledore smiled. 'So this is the rith then. I take it you found her, Harry?'
'Yes, Sir, she was washed up on the lakeshore. I think she must've tried swimming over it, but couldn't make it.'
'A brave thing to do for one in such poor condition, she must have the heart of a lion to have even attempted it. You can let her off of that lead, Hagrid, I'm sure she won't do any damage.'
As soon as she was released, Storm went off exploring every corner of the study with her nose and half-formed hands. Soon she had her muzzle jammed against a drawer in a cabinet and was pawing it, while occasionally looking over at Dumbledore.
'What've you found? Ah! I was wondering where those had gone!' The aging Headmaster drew out a large bag of sweets. 'I remember now, I put them there for safekeeping. Very safe indeed by the looks of it.'
Then he noticed the rith sitting at his feet, tail swishing across the stone floor and eyes fixed on the bag. He threw her one and placed the open bag on his desk with a gesture taken as 'Help yourself'. Harry placed one of the golden brown sweets in his mouth and began to chew. He tried not to show alarm when he found his jaws stuck together. Storm seemed to be having the same trouble and was clawing at her mouth. Hagrid and Dumbledore were oblivious and carried on talking.
'Of course I see your concern, Hagrid. Riths do not act like that as a matter of course. But NERO have to be informed first, they will track down her owners and will prosecute if there are adequate grounds. I'll send them an owl tonight.'
'I damned well hope so. No one should be able to treat an animal like that and get away with it. The only problem is that I can't keep her with me. Fang and her don' get along - jealousy on Fang's part I reckon - but I was wonderin' if she could stay up here in the main castle. I'm sure she'll be no trouble.'
'There are plenty of spare dungeons that she could occupy. I don't think anyone will mind. It'll be more than comfortable, I'm sure. If you want to you can settle her in now. I doubt if you'll want to miss the feast tonight.'
'Thank ye, Professor. Harry, are yeh comin'?'
The last remnants of the sweet had just melted, leaving his jaws unstuck. He read the writing on the outside of the bag "Jawbinder Toffee" and reminded himself never to take one again. By the looks of it, neither would Storm.