The song used in this chapter is Mary Fahl's 'Going Home' from Gods and
Generals, a song which depressed me enough to write this!
Although Storm had only been at Hogwarts for three weeks, the castle without her seemed empty. There were no more renditions of popular songs howled through the cold passageways to take their minds off boring lessons, no more evening strolls watching her investigating all the undergrowth for anything that moved (or occasionally didn't) or simply sitting with her down in the dungeon talking and stroking her blue fur until she fell asleep. They didn't dare to think how she would be feeling being back at the Malfoy manor. They were sure for all its luxuries, Storm, Elhaz, Zafyre or whatever her name was, would have much preferred Hagrid's cabin.
Only one person seemed genuinely pleased to be rid of her and that, unsurprisingly, was Snape. Since his near-death experience with the transformed Remus he had feared and loathed wolves and dogs of all kinds, were or no. But he had found something especially unsettling about Storm, some barely hidden emotion that he could not quite work out and didn't really want to get close enough to see what it was. Like the deeply bitter man he was, he took out his frustration on his classes, particularly Gryffindors. He gained great pleasure in handing out detentions and punishments all round, but for his particular favourites. All the rules said that a teacher shouldn't favour students over others, but Severus Snape did not play by the rules.
By order of Dumbledore he had allowed Finch-Fletchley back into his classes, but he would not forgive the boy for his impertinence, not understanding the drive behind the act. That Hufflepuff boy had changed so much over this term - he'd become confident to the point of arrogance and didn't seem to take the potions lessons at least seriously and threats seemed to hold no power over him. If Longbottom found some of what Finch- Fletchley had then he didn't know if he could keep his temper in check.
Lupin, too, was irking his patience. He didn't know how the werewolf had wheedled his way back into favour and how he had taken over the position for a second time that was rightfully his, Severus's. The man was so friendly and chummy with all his students and, this time, was making no attempt to hide what he was. 'A beast like that ought to be in a cage,' he snarled to himself as he marked a load of half-botched essays. The animal had even managed to wangle his way into Diana Hooch's affections. How he had done it was a mystery to Snape and, though he didn't admit it even to himself, he was jealous.
Other things were bothering him too, well one thing - the Lupuscan Circle. There was something funny going on at Hogwarts - strange howlings, people moving about at night, particularly full moons, and the wolves. Everywhere that he looked he seemed to be seeing wolves. Even in the eyes of some of the students. He was sure that the Circle held the answer, but how to find out?
But at least Storm was gone and that was one less thing to bother him. He regretted what he had done to the creature in that fateful Potions lesson, but he had let his fear and his anger take over. He knew how painful the Cruciatus Curse was and had only ever used it himself once, but had felt so guilty about it that he hadn't ever done it again. That was, until Storm had appeared.
He looked at a clock and saw the lateness of the hour. Putting down his quill and blowing out the candles, he walked up through the corridors towards his chambers. On the way he met a Ravenclaw prefect, he knew her immediately, she was in her seventh year and her short, spiky, flame-red hair and bright hazel eyes made her rather intimidating to those younger than her.
'Evening, Professor.'
'Good Evening, Miss Seymour. Doing a late patrol?'
'Aye, just checking there's no one wandering about this late. It's going to be a cold one, don't want anyone freezing to death because they've forgotten their passwords!'
'Very well. Goodnight Lucy.'
'G'night Sevvie!'
By the time Snape had realized what she had said the girl was long gone. No matter, he thought, plenty of time to punish her for that one.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Harry, Hermione and Ron sat up late into that cold night by the warmth of the common-room fire. The silver wolf had again been brought out after being rescued from the vicious grip of the Horntail. Despite a few bite marks, it was still in one piece, and its silvery skin rippled realistically in the firelight.
'So you think that this was all Storm's doing?' Harry asked.
'It makes sense, doesn't it?' Hermione said, 'What else would give you a dead rabbit? She probably thought it was nice.'
'And she still belongs to the Malfoys so she must've known Dobby.'
'And she's been on the run for ages. You heard what Malfoy said on the train. It's likely she'd be able to find your place in all that time before she came here.'
'But why, though?'
'I guess we'll never know.'
'Look, it's started to snow. I wouldn't want to be out there tonight. I feel sorry for anyone caught in it.'
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Far away from the safety of Hogwarts someone sat shivering in a small dungeon hidden beneath a sprawling manor house. Even the greenish slime on its damp walls had frozen solid. The fur on her back which would normally have afforded some protection against the bitter cold had been stripped away by countless whippings.
Storm was not enjoying being back home. A thick, heavy chain ran from her collar to an iron ring set deep into the stone wall and rattled every time she moved. There was no sleep for the rith tonight. The burning on her back and the icy cold denied her any chance. So she cried. And she howled.
It was not a night for the lively tunes she normally loved, but rather for tragic love songs, of loss, of pain and all that she felt in her empty heart.
"They say there's a place where the dreams have all gone They never said where but I think I know It's miles past through the night, just over the dawn On the road that will take me home.
I know in my bones that I've been here before The ground feels the same, though the land's been torn I've a long way to go, the stars tell me so On this road that will take me home.
Love waits for me round the bend Leads me endlessly on Surely sorrows shall find their end And all my troubles will be gone.
And I'll know what I've lost and all that I've won When this road finally takes me home
And when I pass by don't lead me astray Don't try to stop me don't stand in my way I'm bound for the hills where cool waters flow On this road that will take me home.
Love waits for me round the bend Leads me endlessly on Surely sorrows shall find their end And all my troubles will be gone.
And we'll know what we've lost and all that we've won When this road finally takes me home.
I'm going home, I'm going home, I'm going home."
She smelled him before she heard him - his natural odour making her feel sick every time it pervaded her nostrils. His subtle scent of blood and fresh earth not quite hidden by all the expensive perfumes that he wore. Among the wolf world it was said that you could tell someone's character by their scent, and frankly he stank of death. She dreaded every footfall that echoed along the narrow passage, the sharp report of a metal-tipped cane making her flinch every time it sounded.
The bolt shot back and the blue rith cowered away from the door. As it opened a figured filled the small frame. A figure with a smile as cold as his eyes.
'Well, well, have we learned our lesson or do we have to spend another night in the cold?'
There was no fight left in Storm's weary heart. She would not raise her eyes to meet in him the way she had when she was younger and far more foolish. She had learnt her lessons far harder back then. The vivid white scars still showed clearly on her face where young Draco had first learnt how to make a creature scream. She was sure she would have lost an eye that day if his father hadn't caught him - and if she hadn't been so valuable.
'Good. Good. Then there's no more need for this is there?'
Storm cast a quick, sidelong glance at the whip he held by his side. The stripes on her back still burnt like a blazing fire, but even if he had beaten her she was sure she wouldn't have been able to feel it over the agony already there. She had passed out the last time and wasn't willing to find out how long she could stay conscious another time.
The slight light from the flaming torches outside caught the sides of a glass vial. She had seen it too many times to not know what it was for, but today she was not going to wait for the blade. Taking the fleshy part of her wrist into her mouth, she sank her sharp canines into the yielding tissue until she tasted blood. Her blood. She held out the bleeding limb to allow him to take her precious life-fluid.
'Good girl, well done,' he whispered to her and stroked her head. But his touch was icier than the night outside and she knew she would have given all her blood for the same caress from another, any other.
'Now, we'd best get you looking all beautiful again. We need you looking your best.'
He led the broken rith away from the freezing cell, but she knew she had left her spirit within its stony walls.
Although Storm had only been at Hogwarts for three weeks, the castle without her seemed empty. There were no more renditions of popular songs howled through the cold passageways to take their minds off boring lessons, no more evening strolls watching her investigating all the undergrowth for anything that moved (or occasionally didn't) or simply sitting with her down in the dungeon talking and stroking her blue fur until she fell asleep. They didn't dare to think how she would be feeling being back at the Malfoy manor. They were sure for all its luxuries, Storm, Elhaz, Zafyre or whatever her name was, would have much preferred Hagrid's cabin.
Only one person seemed genuinely pleased to be rid of her and that, unsurprisingly, was Snape. Since his near-death experience with the transformed Remus he had feared and loathed wolves and dogs of all kinds, were or no. But he had found something especially unsettling about Storm, some barely hidden emotion that he could not quite work out and didn't really want to get close enough to see what it was. Like the deeply bitter man he was, he took out his frustration on his classes, particularly Gryffindors. He gained great pleasure in handing out detentions and punishments all round, but for his particular favourites. All the rules said that a teacher shouldn't favour students over others, but Severus Snape did not play by the rules.
By order of Dumbledore he had allowed Finch-Fletchley back into his classes, but he would not forgive the boy for his impertinence, not understanding the drive behind the act. That Hufflepuff boy had changed so much over this term - he'd become confident to the point of arrogance and didn't seem to take the potions lessons at least seriously and threats seemed to hold no power over him. If Longbottom found some of what Finch- Fletchley had then he didn't know if he could keep his temper in check.
Lupin, too, was irking his patience. He didn't know how the werewolf had wheedled his way back into favour and how he had taken over the position for a second time that was rightfully his, Severus's. The man was so friendly and chummy with all his students and, this time, was making no attempt to hide what he was. 'A beast like that ought to be in a cage,' he snarled to himself as he marked a load of half-botched essays. The animal had even managed to wangle his way into Diana Hooch's affections. How he had done it was a mystery to Snape and, though he didn't admit it even to himself, he was jealous.
Other things were bothering him too, well one thing - the Lupuscan Circle. There was something funny going on at Hogwarts - strange howlings, people moving about at night, particularly full moons, and the wolves. Everywhere that he looked he seemed to be seeing wolves. Even in the eyes of some of the students. He was sure that the Circle held the answer, but how to find out?
But at least Storm was gone and that was one less thing to bother him. He regretted what he had done to the creature in that fateful Potions lesson, but he had let his fear and his anger take over. He knew how painful the Cruciatus Curse was and had only ever used it himself once, but had felt so guilty about it that he hadn't ever done it again. That was, until Storm had appeared.
He looked at a clock and saw the lateness of the hour. Putting down his quill and blowing out the candles, he walked up through the corridors towards his chambers. On the way he met a Ravenclaw prefect, he knew her immediately, she was in her seventh year and her short, spiky, flame-red hair and bright hazel eyes made her rather intimidating to those younger than her.
'Evening, Professor.'
'Good Evening, Miss Seymour. Doing a late patrol?'
'Aye, just checking there's no one wandering about this late. It's going to be a cold one, don't want anyone freezing to death because they've forgotten their passwords!'
'Very well. Goodnight Lucy.'
'G'night Sevvie!'
By the time Snape had realized what she had said the girl was long gone. No matter, he thought, plenty of time to punish her for that one.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Harry, Hermione and Ron sat up late into that cold night by the warmth of the common-room fire. The silver wolf had again been brought out after being rescued from the vicious grip of the Horntail. Despite a few bite marks, it was still in one piece, and its silvery skin rippled realistically in the firelight.
'So you think that this was all Storm's doing?' Harry asked.
'It makes sense, doesn't it?' Hermione said, 'What else would give you a dead rabbit? She probably thought it was nice.'
'And she still belongs to the Malfoys so she must've known Dobby.'
'And she's been on the run for ages. You heard what Malfoy said on the train. It's likely she'd be able to find your place in all that time before she came here.'
'But why, though?'
'I guess we'll never know.'
'Look, it's started to snow. I wouldn't want to be out there tonight. I feel sorry for anyone caught in it.'
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Far away from the safety of Hogwarts someone sat shivering in a small dungeon hidden beneath a sprawling manor house. Even the greenish slime on its damp walls had frozen solid. The fur on her back which would normally have afforded some protection against the bitter cold had been stripped away by countless whippings.
Storm was not enjoying being back home. A thick, heavy chain ran from her collar to an iron ring set deep into the stone wall and rattled every time she moved. There was no sleep for the rith tonight. The burning on her back and the icy cold denied her any chance. So she cried. And she howled.
It was not a night for the lively tunes she normally loved, but rather for tragic love songs, of loss, of pain and all that she felt in her empty heart.
"They say there's a place where the dreams have all gone They never said where but I think I know It's miles past through the night, just over the dawn On the road that will take me home.
I know in my bones that I've been here before The ground feels the same, though the land's been torn I've a long way to go, the stars tell me so On this road that will take me home.
Love waits for me round the bend Leads me endlessly on Surely sorrows shall find their end And all my troubles will be gone.
And I'll know what I've lost and all that I've won When this road finally takes me home
And when I pass by don't lead me astray Don't try to stop me don't stand in my way I'm bound for the hills where cool waters flow On this road that will take me home.
Love waits for me round the bend Leads me endlessly on Surely sorrows shall find their end And all my troubles will be gone.
And we'll know what we've lost and all that we've won When this road finally takes me home.
I'm going home, I'm going home, I'm going home."
She smelled him before she heard him - his natural odour making her feel sick every time it pervaded her nostrils. His subtle scent of blood and fresh earth not quite hidden by all the expensive perfumes that he wore. Among the wolf world it was said that you could tell someone's character by their scent, and frankly he stank of death. She dreaded every footfall that echoed along the narrow passage, the sharp report of a metal-tipped cane making her flinch every time it sounded.
The bolt shot back and the blue rith cowered away from the door. As it opened a figured filled the small frame. A figure with a smile as cold as his eyes.
'Well, well, have we learned our lesson or do we have to spend another night in the cold?'
There was no fight left in Storm's weary heart. She would not raise her eyes to meet in him the way she had when she was younger and far more foolish. She had learnt her lessons far harder back then. The vivid white scars still showed clearly on her face where young Draco had first learnt how to make a creature scream. She was sure she would have lost an eye that day if his father hadn't caught him - and if she hadn't been so valuable.
'Good. Good. Then there's no more need for this is there?'
Storm cast a quick, sidelong glance at the whip he held by his side. The stripes on her back still burnt like a blazing fire, but even if he had beaten her she was sure she wouldn't have been able to feel it over the agony already there. She had passed out the last time and wasn't willing to find out how long she could stay conscious another time.
The slight light from the flaming torches outside caught the sides of a glass vial. She had seen it too many times to not know what it was for, but today she was not going to wait for the blade. Taking the fleshy part of her wrist into her mouth, she sank her sharp canines into the yielding tissue until she tasted blood. Her blood. She held out the bleeding limb to allow him to take her precious life-fluid.
'Good girl, well done,' he whispered to her and stroked her head. But his touch was icier than the night outside and she knew she would have given all her blood for the same caress from another, any other.
'Now, we'd best get you looking all beautiful again. We need you looking your best.'
He led the broken rith away from the freezing cell, but she knew she had left her spirit within its stony walls.