Author's Note: Longer section this time. Hope to keep them long, too, if I get the time to write. Classes are taking up a lot of time, as are parents who lack vision. I'll never find time to write anything worth publishing with them around. As it is, I'm struggling to find the time to write on this, which is, as we all know, purely recreation.

Admissions: HP chars belong to J. K. Rowling, Leiko to me, and Ravindra to my soul-sister Rave.

Section 21: Darkness Unveiled

"Was it just me, or did last night's rescue seem...well...easy?"

Ron looked to his friends, noticing that they, too, felt the same as he did. Harry and Hermione both appeared preoccupied. They had hardly touched the food on their plates, and Ron wondered what, besides the unanticipated ease of the rescue, could take up so much of their thoughts.

"Hey, you guys alright? You've hardly said a thing all day."

Harry just shrugged, still deep in thought. But Hermione blinked and looked up.

"Sorry, Ron. I've been considering last night. I saw something after we left Ravindra, and I can't seem to stop thinking about it."

"Not the shadow thing again. Hermione, I'm telling you it was just a trick of the light. You've already said so yourself."

"I know. But the more I think about it, the more certain I am that it wasn't just a flickering shadow. Ravindra changed. I'm sure of it. I just can't think of how, unless she's really an animagus, which is unlikely."

"Hermione..."

A shadow passed over them, startling everyone at that end of the table. Hermione looked up and saw a pair of golden eyes gazing at her.

"Why are you three acting so sullen? I'd think you'd be thrilled with our success last night."

"We are, Ravindra."

"Then why such long faces? Too easy, was it?"

Three pairs of eyes started at with a startled gaze. Harry spoke for the first time since the meal had begun.

"You knew it was too easy? You knew all along?"

"Of course. I knew the minute we landed. Or didn't you notice that there wasn't a single lookout, or a single magic ward? I expect we'll find out soon enough why that evil snake wanted Leiko to be rescued, but for the moment I'll be content with knowing my sister is safely out of his clutches."

Rave moved on as the trio sat in silence. So Ravindra already knew that Voldemort had let them take Professor Leiko. And the red gryffin didn't even care, so long as her sister was back and unharmed. None of them had any idea why the Dark Lord would let so valuable a creature escape, but, whatever the reason, it couldn't be good.

Leiko leaned against the dungeon wall, letting the cold of the stone penetrate her body. She liked the cold, the darkness of the dungeons. It reminded her so much of her own mountain dwelling, a great cave deep within the heart of the tallest peek. She missed that home. Oh, how she longed for the return of her wings so that she might soar once again. Walking was getting old.

"Ah, Professor Leiko..."

The green-eyed woman turned to find Dumbledore approaching her. Strange, she thought. The Headmaster did not make a habit of walking the dungeons.

"I had hoped to find you here. There are a few people I would like for you to meet. If you would, they are waiting in my office."

The old wizard offered his arm, and Leiko took it. She saw no harm in meeting the Headmaster's associates. The man was a good judge of character, and besides, Leiko still thought of herself as a great gryffin. She never could get her mind around the fact that she no longer had talons or fangs with which to defend herself.

Half an hour later Leiko sat in a chair in Dumbledore's office, starring at the faces of the four wizards. They were all unknown to her, and she'd already forgotten the names. None of them seemed worth remembering, and no gryffin would bother with names unless the name's owner was important enough to warrant such remembrance. Dumbledore had introduced her to them, and then told them that she would be joining them for the 'meeting'. Leiko looked back to the Headmaster and realized that the man wanted to see if the others thought her trustworthy enough to be shown where they were holding the meeting. She was insulted, naturally, and considered saying something truly shocking that would ruin whatever trust she'd gained with Dumbledore, but decided against it. Despite herself, she'd grown to like the old man. It would be doing him a disservice if she pretended to be untrustworthy.

The Headmaster finished explain about the whys and hows of Leiko's presence and abduction, and turned to the others.

"Does anyone object to Leiko's presence at the meeting?"

"I'd like to ask the lady a few questions, Albus, before I decide."

The Headmaster motioned for the one-eyed wizard to ask his questions. Leiko didn't like the individual; his false eye was very unsettling. He was an old man, however, and the gryffin decided she'd humor these wizards. She'd be truthful, but questions were not something she enjoyed being on the receiving end of.

"So you faced the Dark Lord without fear. Very impressive. The bravest of wizards cannot face Him without even a trace of fear. It is also suspicious that you were not once tortured by him, or his Death Eaters. Do you have any idea why he didn't hurt you? Why you showed no fear?"

Leiko gave the old wizard a cold look. She could feel the meaning behind his words, the accusation. And yet he was not what could be called hostile. He was like an interrogations officer, asking the unpleasant in such a way as to elicit a truthful response from the accused. She knew how to deal with him.

"If I said I knew why, I'd be lying. Voldemort wants my power. He seems to know that forcing me into his service will not work, for I'll lash out at him and cause more destruction that anyone can fathom. That is the nature of my power. Unpredictable, destructive, effective beyond all measure. That is why he did not torture me as he would have a common wizard.

"As for my lack of fear, why should I fear Evil? Evil thrives in the Darkness, and thus I am kin. Is there a reason to fear my relations? I know that Tom Riddle will not harm me. I know this because if he dares to harm me, he will loose any chance he ever had of harnessing the power within. He knows this as well as I do. It's instinctive knowledge, and I didn't fully realize the 'why' until confronted with the question."

The room was silent. All eyes were upon her, filled with what could only be shock. The one-eyed wizard's false eye started to spin as he considered Leiko's words. Dumbledore, while not quite as surprised as the other three, had a look of amazement on his face. The false eye stopped spinning as its owner again spoke.

"You are Darkness! Strange, but after that speech I can see you for what you are. Evil may thrive in Darkness, my lady, but it cannot rule over it. Nor can it rule without it."

"If what you say is true, than she would have to be neutral in this war. Darkness takes no sides. At least, I don't think it does."

"Darkness makes not a move, my friends, but the Flame will fight who it pleases."

Everyone, Leiko included, turned as a strange woman entered the Headmaster's office. She wore red, trimmed in gold, and had short white hair. A pair of red wing sprouted from behind her pointed ears, and this feature alone would have left the wizard's amazed. As it was, only Leiko was able to move when the stranger entered.

"Rave! I wondered where you'd got to."

"Been listening in, sis. The wards on this office are strong, but not quite enough to keep me out."

The two gryffins laughed and embraced, and only then did Dumbledore realize who the newcomer was. It was the red gryffin, Ravindra. He'd had no idea the creature could take on a humanoid form. Rave's red eyes met Dumbledore's gaze.

"Before you ask, I have abilities my sister lacks. One being the power to shift forms. Now..."

"One moment, my dear. You said something about Flame acting where Darkness would not."

Ravindra looked into the speaker's one good eye. He was intrigued by her, and by what his magical false eye was showing him.

"Yes, Flame need not be impartial. It serves no one, unlike the Darkness which serves all who need it. Flame will turn against its masters, while Darkness is a constant."

"And you are the Flame. Does that mean you'll fight with us?"

"Maybe. I certainly have no wish to serve Voldemort, but that does not mean I'll side with you. Now, I think you were trying to decide if Leiko here was trustworthy. Anyone have doubts?"

The wizards shook their heads, all convinced that the elemental gryffins were not a security risk. Dumbledore massaged his temples, taking in the days revelations. He exchanged a few words with the other wizards, then bid them farewell 'till the meeting. Once the wizards had left via floo powder, the Headmaster turned back to his gryphonic guests.

"I shall have Severus fetch you when it's time for the meeting. In the meantime, you need to know where the meeting will be held."

Both women leaned forward, listening carefully to what Dumbledore told them. Once satisfied they would be able to find the house, the sisters left the Headmaster's office. It was time for the evening meal, so the sisters proceeded to the Great Hall. Rave, no longer concerned with hiding her shifting abilities, remained in elven form.

"Who's that woman with Professor Leiko?"

The Gryffindors around Neville Longbottom looked up. They had never seen such a strange looking woman, with pointed ears and wings on her head. Hermione's face went from awe to confusion, to recognition. She knew that profile! She'd seen it the night they'd rescued Leiko.

"Ron, Harry, that's Ravindra!"

"What?!"

"It's Rave! Just look at the markings on the wings. They're the same as Rave's. And those two long braids just in front of her ears. Rave had braids like that. And who else would Leiko be talking so comfortably with? Harry, you've seen more than anyone how those two chatter together. Have you ever seen Professor Leiko be so chipper with anyone besides her sister?"

Harry had to admit he'd never seen the gryphonic professor be so openly friendly with anyone, even Snape. By now the two sisters had taken seats at the head table, Rave sitting beside Dumbledore and Leiko perched between her sister and Snape. The Potions Professor looked sullen, even for him, and the students noticed that Leiko was paying very little attention to the dark man.

"I think those two are having issues."

"Ron, you think everyone has issues."

"No, seriously. Before the kidnapping Leiko was hanging all over him, but now she doesn't seem to know he's there."

"She's not human anymore, Ron."

Both friends turned to look at Harry questioningly. What did he mean by that?

"I don't know how I know this, but she's not as human as she was before. I think she's started to turn back into her gryffin-self. Look at her eyes. They're almost glowing. And I think her hair is getting darker."

The trio really looked at their temporary professor. They noticed that she did seem more like a feral beast than a civilized human. Her eating habits had never been a joy to watch, but now she was literally tearing at the meat with all the fury of a starving raptor. More than one student had lost their appetite at the sight. Even Ravindra seemed surprised by her sister's table manners.

"Leiko, it's dead. You don't have to kill it all over again."

The green-eyed woman looked up from her feeding frenzy. Rave gave her an amused look as she wiped the bits of food off her chin. The rest of the room, however, seemed frozen in horrified amazement. Leiko felt no shame, no embarrassment, until she noticed Snape. The man was the only one not watching her eat. For the first time, the gryffin realized that her true nature might be more than the human could handle. Certainly the issue of her eating habits bothered him. Perhaps she should use a fork, at least until she had her talons back.

"Come on, sis, don't stop now. I think there're a few students who aren't feeling nauseous yet."

Leiko glared at Ravindra, her eyes glowing fiercely. But Rave was in the right on this, and Leiko wasn't so proud that she couldn't admit it, if only to herself.

"Point taken. Think I'll take a nap now. I'm suddenly not that hungry anymore."

Rave shook her head. Leiko never could stand being in the wrong, even slightly. She truly lived up to her name, and the black gryffin's arrogant nature usually served her well. But not as a human, and not when faced with her own faults. The whole of Hogwarts watched in silence as Professor Leiko slunk out of the Great Hall, then the students began to whisper amongst themselves. Soon everyone was talking as if there had been no interruption.

Some few hours later a knock was heard at Leiko's door. She grumbled, rolled over, and snarled.

"Come in!"

The heavy wooden door creaked open and Snape entered, not bothering to shut it behind him. Leiko stopped growling and sat up, watching the wizard closely. She wasn't sure how to act around him anymore.

"It's time to leave for the meeting. Ravindra will meet us in the Headmaster's office."

Leiko nodded and stood. Snape closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The woman was wearing another revealing outfit, this one showing more skin than those previous. Why couldn't she just wear a decent robe? But there was no use in arguing. The gryffin was stubborn and there was no time to waste in a futile battle of wills.

"At least find something decent to wear over that. This meeting needs to focus on business, not your body."

"I thought you liked my body?"

"Don't start. We've no time for that."

Leiko gave in and pulled a dark purple cloak over her shoulders. She followed Snape through the hallways to Dumbledore's office, where Rave was indeed waiting for them.

"Guess we get to find out what this floo travel is all about, sis. I'd rather fly, but your dark one says we can't."

Snape glared at Rave, as did Leiko. The red one certainly had no qualms about teasing, even in bad taste.

After watching the wizards depart earlier both gryffins were familiar with the use of the floo powder. Leiko took some of the powder that Snape was offering and stepped into the fireplace. It was time to go to the meeting that everyone was so anticipating. Not knowing exactly what to expect, the green-eyed gryffin did as she had seen others, and gasped as she experienced floo travel first-hand.