Disclaimer. Don't own them. Only like playing in the same sand box. I do own the characters that I created however.

Echo's in the Moonlight.

Sequel to "Shadows in the Wind"

Chapter Five.

1991

It was a chill and stench of death that had not been felt in the dark forest since many years. Cold, vile it clung hanging over as a shroud disturbing the occupants of the forest. Something had entered into the forest- someone that was frightening to all who roamed the wood. While the Thestrils fed on death, - this was something – different- it was an evil, which threatened them all- it was the source of death, yet it lived a cursed half life, nether dead, or mortally alive.

To slay a unicorn – something that was so pure and innocent was a monstrous thing-. To drink the blood of the unicorn would give life to those who were a breath away from death, but it would be half of a life, a cursed life. One, fallen, and eaten was part of the circle of life- there were many other soulless creatures who would eat the unicorn just as they would a rabbit. Thestrils would not eat of the dead unicorn. Its presence was startling to them, and when the second unicorn was discovered, Pet made her way to Hagrid's to show him what was upsetting the order in the woods.

A centaur would be the one to protect the Potter Child from the dark that had moved into the woods- and for once, since the Centaurs had moved into the woods, were they united with a cause to protect the creatures of the woods, keeping the unicorn hidden from that which would chose to consume them.

At first the centaurs had thought the Thestrils to be ignorant creatures of the forest- ones that they had fought for against in territory, with them unable to go when the Thestrils had decided to take areas to call their home. Now year's later- a certain wisdom was discovered by the centaurs, The places where they made their homes were the guard points of the forest- that they could see everything coming in – or going out of the forest, and protect that which roamed. It was also, noted with interest, the increase of the herd was linked to certain wizard events- in which the Centaurs learned a great- horrible truth.

The Thestrils were guarding the unicorns now- and as a dark form swept low to the ground, the sound of hooves flashing against rock were heard echoing in the darkness of the forest. The dark form could not get passed the Thestrils as they were seers of death- and the dark form was death itself.

On a particular evening near the end of the school year one of the Thestrils would be used to transport Albus to the ministry, and then back when he realized that he needed to be at the school. Events would soon expose the nameless horror with in the forest, and it would be the Potter Child who would vanquish the evil in its current form. Voldemort.

September 1st 1992

The blue ford Angela crashed into the Whomping Willow with a resounding thud. The following crashes were the Willows way of trying to smash the ford and its occupants to smithereens. Disgruntled, the ford makes its way to the dark forest after dumping the contents and riders onto the yard late that night. A new group of first years enter the halls of Hogwarts and are sorted accordingly. One child fair with large blue eyes is sorted into Ravenclaw. A second, the youngest of the Weasley's- has arrived at Hogwarts and is sorted into the Gryffindor house. Minerva breathed a sigh of relief. The last of the danger had past- She would be able to watch over the Weasley children as she had promised Molly. Minerva looked over the Gryffindor table as she sat down. All of the children she loved, were in one house. If she could live, long enough to see Voldemort's reign of terror end with all of the children- the children of those she loved so long ago- surviving, she could die happy. There would be another generation raised to protect the world.

October 31n1992.

The rains have stopped, and before the winter's chill sets in the students have time to spend outside. One, even when warned that the dark forest has been named out of bounds for the students, decides to venture at least to the edge of the woods after seeing something from her tower window. Luna Lovegood having no fear for her self goes to the edge of the dark forest and stands before the dark eyed Thestril. Hearing a crack of a twig behind her she turned and saw Prof Dumbledore coming up the path. For a moment he stood silently as Luna gently stroked the long neck of the dark eyed Thestril before looking into Albus's blue eyes.

"How long has she been like this Headmaster? She won't tell me- except that it's been a very long time. She said, too, that she has it figured out the going back, she means, it just isn't the right time yet."

"Does she now?" he asked his eyes twinkling, not quite knowing where the conversation was coming from. Albus was well aware that the other students called her Loony Lovegood. While such teasing would devastate normal children, Luna seemed to take it in stride and even with her things disappearing to be hidden by her dorm mates to tease her, she didn't let that bother her as well. There were true horrors that she had seen- evident by her ability to see the Thestrils, but to be able to converse with them was another matter. He wasn't sure if she was, or just trying to rationalize why she was at the edge of the forest- if it was something that was just in her head- or the truth. He had heard words from this very Thestril, but they were words spoken by others, and none since that day. Luna looked at Albus with such seriousness. Her next words caught him unprepared.

"She knows who the important man was who killed her father. She says you see him all the time at the ministry. She just doesn't have a name for him yet."

Albus caught his breath and asked her softly "Can you speak to all of the Thestrils?"

"Just- this one, I haven't met any of the others formally though. She said there is something very bad going on, the other creatures in the forest are upset, but they don't know why- its, just- an awakened evil."

Albus looked at the setting sun, and with a gentle scratch behind the ear of the Thestril , Albus and Luna bid her farewell and went up to the great hall for the feast. Albus sat next to Minerva and after the meal was served, he said quietly to her "It seems, our little one is not all lost, after all- rather chooses to stay as she is, until things are sorted through. She knows Minerva- who did the horrors against her family- and she can identify them. After that I do not know what will become of what we hold so dear." Albus fell silent as he thought about what Luna had said. He saw many people at the ministry, some of them important, some, pompous. Griphook had said the goblins could not smell the stench of guilt on anyone for that crime- none had survived except Griphook that night that was in that chamber- the others had been warned and fled in mass.

Albus looked over the room and noticed that three of the students were missing He was aware that there were very few things that would interfering with their dinners. When the feast had ended, Albus leaned over to Minerva and suggested that they might have a late night chess match. Minerva agreed. Together they followed the rush of students from the hall, down the corridors where they encountered the three missing students. Argus was about to throttle Harry until Albus spoke his name. He saw the writing on the wall- he saw the petrified cat hanging on the candle hook. A chill went down his spine as he informed Argus that Mrs. Norris was just petrified and that the culprit would be found.

Severus spoke up, saying they might be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and then offered his suspicions of why they missed dinner. They tried to give the explanation of the death day party. Why three living beings would want to go to something like that was beyond Severus. Albus heard in a rush that they had been invited and Sir Nick had been feeling bad about not being included in the headless hunt party- and they couldn't say no to a Gryffindor- even a Gryffindor ghost.

December 17th 1992

The snow began to fall over Hogwarts. At first it gave an idealistic picture post card view of the school, but by the second day classes were canceled. Despite the ever-growing snowdrifts, Hagrid discovers something has killed the second rooster. Not that it was as if a fox or a ferret would have killed it, something deliberately had rung its neck and left it tossed on the ground. He couldn't make out whose footprints they were- they were small though- even if the boot marks were filled with snow.

The evening of the 18th Sir Nick and Justin Fletchley are petrified and found by Harry Potter, then Prof. McGonagall discovers the group. It was out of her hands. She didn't think that Harry would be able to- or would be the heir of Slytherin; but- he was able to speak parseltongue. He had been found when Mrs. Norris had been petrified, and no one could account for him when Colon Creevy had been petrified, being in the hospital wing around the corner from the steps to the kitchen was just a mite suspicious. Albus believed that Harry didn't do it though. Something else, was the evil and if Luna's discussion with the Thestrils was to be added, even the creatures of the forest were concerned. He noted this because the year before, it was concern for the specific creature, the unicorn. This time- the concern was more- more that could consume them all. Albus had begun to take long walks in the dark forest seeking his answers. It was a while before the centaurs would speak to him as an equal, they were above man, or wizard, and such discussion was beneath them. His discussion among the Thestrils brought them to the circle with curiosity. They did recognize his wisdom that what ever was in the castle, would affect them as well.

When the board of governors asked for his removal, and Fudge came to take Hagrid away to the wizards prison, Albus sought answers in the forest among the centaurs- not knowing on the other side that Harry and Ron faced perils of their own. It wouldn't be until later that what was causing the attacks would be revealed.

Losing Prof Lockhart wasn't – bad- in its own way. Albus had known from the beginning that Lockhart was not suited for the job, but the governors were enthralled by him, or more precisely their wives, thus the pressure to hire him on. He was aware, if anything that the students this year would learn what a fraud was. It was a shame though that the other teachers had to work with the books that Lockhart had written- they were absolute rubbish. Minerva and the others just made due until the new semester was here- they would manage. Albus regarded the long sword on his desk. Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled it out of the hat- Godric's hat. He stood up and strode to where his copy of A history of Hogwarts was.

"You won't tell me, will you, if Salazar, left, really, left on his own, or…" he began then stopped closing his eyes.

"or was killed by Godric? No. It isn't for me to speak of such things" said the hat softly.

"But you were there- you – saw…" He heard the hat sigh.

"yes,. I saw. I knew that Godric's work was only half finished. Even now, with the basilisk dead there is much that needs to be done- still done… to finish what once was started, the end of one line will mean the end of this school The end of another line may save the school, but be the end of the world as we know it, and I don't even know which end will be right, or if by knowing, that it can save the school, and the world…