Sorry i could not respond to your reviews this time. But i will along with the ones for this chapter next time i update. Again I'm really sorry.
Chapter Seven
Musical Hosts
Raven suddenly sat bolt upright in her bed breathing heavily. She clung to the sides as though if she let go her very life force would be sucked out of her. A hand on her shoulder jerked her back to reality. Starfire stood next to her in her nightdress while also wearing a very worried look. "Raven, are you okay. You were doing the tossing and turning." Raven sat over the side and clutched her chest.
"So it was only a dream," she said more to herself than her Titan friend.
"What was only a dream?" Raven stared straight ahead for a moment then shook her head.
"Nothing." She lay back down and covered herself up. "Just a nightmare."
"You are certain," asked Starfire not really believing her attempt to cover it up. Receiving only a short nod of the head Starfire set a glass of water on her friend's night stand and went back to bed herself. Raven let out a quiet staggered sigh. For a moment she thought she had lost her one and only source of hope in this world or any other; she thought she had lost him. Not wanting to have another thought on the nightmare Raven let her eyes fall and drifted back to sleep.
THE NEXT DAY…………………..
The door closed to a classroom filled with talkative students. Hayward had walked into the room with a small bag lung over his shoulder. He reached the front desk and set his bag on it before addressing the class. "Alright everyone quiet down, quiet down." They all steadily grew silent. "Good morning, I am your temporary Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor; Professor Hayward." He stopped when he saw Hanna Abbot's hand in the air. Being the type of person who hates to be interrupted (like me!), he sighed and nodded his head.
"Where is Professor Frost?"
"As the Headmaster had said a few mornings ago, Professor Frost has taken a leave of absence and will be out until further notice." She nodded and looked down at the floor. "Now," he said clapping his hands together. "Let me begin with your assignment, for the next week." As he spoke he wrote something on the chalkboard. "It's what I call 'choice study'." He underlined the two words and turned back to the class. "You will work alone or in pairs which ever you prefer, you will research a subject pertaining to the dark arts. I hope your taking notes on this." So saying they all scrambled for their quills and parchment. "It does not concern me what you do your project on, but you shall have to meet the following criteria; tell me why you chose it. What significance it holds. A brief history on its existence in this world, and how to defend against it. It will be due a week from today, that means next Monday is Judgment Day." A few students looked around at each other. "You also need to be aware that should this assignment be missed it will take a tremendous chunk out of quarter grade. On Monday we have the projects presented to the class. Until then I will be at my desk should anyone have a problem or question." He paused. "Does anyone have a question?" The room was dead silent for a moment then Hermione put up her hand. "Yes?"
"Should we begin now?"
"I think you had better." With that all thirty-seven students took out books parchment and set to their projects. Neville turned to a page that dealt mainly with cockatrices and other monstrous beasts. Hayward walked around the desks checking on each of them. He reached Harry's desk where he, Ron, and Hermione where engrossed in their choice. "I supposed we could allow for three here and there. How are you doing," he asked.
"I think we found something," said Harry. He turned the book so that it was right side up to Hayward. He picked it up and scanned the page. The title read 'The Dead Ones'.
"An interesting topic," he said running a finger along the lines of text. As he read he arched an eyebrow. "I would say you three have chosen more of a legend then a subject."
"Oh I do not believe it is a mere legend," said Hermione.
"Yeah and if Hermione says it's so it must be true," said Ron nodding. Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to reading.
"How are your friends doing," asked Hayward.
"They're in Herbology now with Seamus," said Harry.
"I meant how are they doing from last night," returned Hayward. He spoke in a quiet voice while leaning over the desk. Harry stopped writing, as did Ron while Hermione looked up from her book.
"I think Raven is a little unsettled."
"A little? She very unsettled," corrected Hermione. "After breakfast Starfire told me how she suddenly awoke from a torrential nightmare."
"You think Malchior spoke to her through her thoughts," asked Ron.
"It was either that or her mind was simply playing tricks on her."
"Or she's his host," said Harry while reading. Ron, Hermione, and Hayward all looked at him. He looked up and shrugged. "It's possible isn't it? Last night she might have been trying to fight him off."
"It's also possible he could be inside one of us right now," said Hayward.
"Yeah that's true," said Ron. Hayward looked around at the other students.
"Remember, keep this quiet and try to go on with your day as normally as possible." The three nodded and Hayward returned to his desk. Hermione flipped the page in her extremely large leather bound book and glanced outside the window. For a moment she thought she saw something moving along the base of the trees near the greenhouses. With another uncertain scan around the grounds she shrugged and went back to work.
IN THE GREENHOUSES…………………………
The Titans sat in a line at a long wooden table towards the back row. They had each been given a small planter and what looked like a perfectly round marble. Professor Sprout went around making sure everyone had such items and returned to the front. "Ok Class!" She beamed around eccentrically. "Take your seed and plant it, remember to wait exactly one minuet before covering it completely. Then apply the mixing formula from yesterdays lecture." The Titans looked around as everyone performed the task, some resulting better than others. Today they would be attempting to grow healing orchids, not a particularly complex project but difficult nonetheless.
"Robin, is my plant supposed to do that?" Starfire pointed at her planter that had begun to vibrate around in its tray.
"Umm, I'm not really sure Star to tell you the truth. He eyed her planter carefully then observing some of the other students. He saw that a number of the more successful few had their planters vibrating also then turned back with a relieved smile. He hated not being able to explain something to Starfire; it was one of his favorite things to do day after day. "Don't worry Star you did just fine." She thanked him happily and watched her plant with growing anticipation.
"YO BB YOU TOTALLY MESSED IT UP!" They looked to the side to see Cyborg and Beast Boy arguing over their dead and silent plant. They had decided to work together thinking the task would be easier, apparently they were wrong. Raven saw planter begin to vibrate and she turned to the battling Titans.
"What's the problem?"
"Beast Boob over here screwed it up!"
"ME? I'm not the one who accidentally ate our first seed cause he thought it was a gum ball!"
"NO! You're the one who just had to throw in every ingredient all at once just cause you were getting bored!"
"ENOUGH!" Cyborg and Beast Boy went dead quiet, as did the rest of the class. Raven shot a glance around at the room and they all went back to work. She sat down between them and examined what they had done. "What time did you cover it with the dirt?"
"Eleven fifteen," groaned Beast Boy. Raven checked her watch and nodded.
"You were off by thirteen seconds. You'll have to get another seed and try again."
"Raven why are you such an expert at all of this," asked Beast Boy gesturing to the whole school.
"I'm not the only one," she said pointing at Starfire. Who at that moment watched excited with her hands laced together as her planet slowly emerged and produced four beautiful green blossoms. 'They match her eyes," thought Robin who didn't seem to notice his planter overflowing with the formula he was adding. Raven returned and held out the tiny marble shaped seed to the boys. "Here, try again and this time be right on the dot." Cyborg mimicked her with his hand but turned back to their pot. While Starfire proudly showed her accomplishment to Robin Raven gazed out through the glass walls of the greenhouse. She hadn't noticed it before but she suddenly felt a strange presence among them. She then felt as if something brushed past her and she let out a small gasp. She looked around the classroom hoping to find the cause.
"He's here," said Raven. Beast Boy set down his tweezers.
"What was that Rae?"
"Nnnothing, it was nothing. I just need some fresh air." She got up and exited the greenhouse. Beast Boy looked after with a suspicious glance. Raven walked a little ways into the woods hoping to find solitude. It was hard to rest or find comfort when a deceitful evil spirit lurked around hidden in one of her trusted friends and colleagues. She let out a loud sigh and made her way back to the class. She stopped when a familiar feeling swept through her. Her mouth hung ajar and she felt as if everything inside her was being soaked up like a sponge. Breathing a little harder she made up her mind and began fast walking back to greenhouse. Before she could make it she felt a hand fall onto her shoulder. She tilted her gaze downward and saw not a human hand but one that was cold and clammy. Raven slowly turned and came face to face with what now became one of her greatest fears; a dementor stood before her.
"H-H-Help me," she said quietly. She put her hands to use her powers but they began to falter. "Help me," she said again trying to get a mental SOS out to anyone at all. Falling to her knees Raven sent it out once more before the demonic life form closed in on her.
Back at the greenhouse Beast Boy finished applying the formula when he suddenly dropped his pitcher and winced. Gripping his head he doubled over while the others leaned over to see what was happening.
"Beast Boy what's the matter," asked Robin. Beast Boy stopped wincing then looked up suddenly.
"Raven's in trouble!" As they all got up and ran out of the room a lone boy looked up from his desk and quickly followed after them. They raced through the forest trying to keep up with Beast Boy who at the moment was their guide. They reached the clearing where she was at and gasped out loud. The dementor had a firm grasp on Raven's neck and she seemed to be completely unconscious.
"HEY! KEEP YOUR GRUBBY LITTLE MITS OFF OF HER!" He jumped at the wraith in tiger form only to pounce on empty ground. Like air itself the dementor had easily avoided Beast Boy's attack. Starfire zoomed overhead and pelted it with a barraged of Starbolts. It blew a wind of icy air at her making her grown faint and fall to the ground. Robin jumped forward and caught her before she hit the ground. He laid her down and took out his staff. As he did five other dementors glided out from behind the trees and encircled them.
"What now," asked Cyborg taking out his cannon. He aimed but the moment he focused on one he began to hear things in his head. The day he had his accident and when he knew he would be different from then on flooded his mind. "No." He felt his strength quickly leave him and he sunk down beside Robin and Beast Boy.
"Dude, totally lame," muttered Beast Boy. Robin knelt down on one knee using his staff for support. Just when he was sure they were done he saw a lone boy approaching. He carried with him a long staff and ran to up to them. Before the dementors had time to effect him he raised his staff and shouted thus;
"AAST AVERNESS EXPECTO PATRONUM!" He brought down his staff and a magnificent bright light burst from the top end and forced the dementors to fly back into the large trees. Robin saw him cast a number of other spells then collapsed along side his friends.
A LITTLE WHILE LATER………………….
They all came to in the hospital wing a few moments later. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had been sent up to make sure they were getting along fine. "What still can't understand is how or even why they came onto the grounds," said Hermione.
"Raven," said Cyborg.
"Pardon?"
"They probably came for Raven," said Beast Boy holding an ice pack to his head. "One of them got into our tower and went after Star by mistake."
"But why, for what?" Ron was just as perplexed as everyone else was.
"I'll bet Professor Frost knew," said Robin. "That's why he was killed."
"Wait how do you know he's dead," asked Harry.
"I have my sources, anyway I think Hayward's hiding something and I'll bet it's in Frost's office." Cyborg jumped to his feet.
"Alright yall! I'll volunteer; I'll go down to that office and see what's up." As he walked out Robin stuck something on his back. "YO! What's up with this?" Cyborg had obviously noticed the tracker.
"It's just something to make sure you don't go anywhere else. There is a parasitic dragon on the loose." Cyborg let out an annoyed sigh then nodded and ran off. After he left Robin turned back to the others. "Just to be doubly sure I'm going to follow him." He received a couple of nods and exited the hospital wing. Starfire watched after him and decided he might need help.
Down the halls Cyborg stopped in front of Professor Frost's door. It seemed to have been undisturbed until he noticed that there was no dust on the door knob. He reached forward and gave it a turn; it was locked up tight. "Well this will complicate things," he said quietly. He heard someone walking up behind him and turned to see Robin walking up. "Hey Rob maybe you can give a hand here." Robin stopped a few feet away and took out a bird-a-rang. Cyborg smiled and put up his hands. "Whoa man you can put an eye out with that thing." Robin just stood there and put on a small smile. "Robin?" In the next second Robin threw the weapon and it hit Cyborg directly in the breastplate. Numerous sparks issued from the teen machine and he fell to the floor. He looked up and at Robin who now stood over him. "Y-You!"
"Me." Robin reached down and Cyborg knew no more. Having dealt with his obstacle Robin stood before the doorway. However when he turned the door knob it sent an electric shock through him. He hissed and grasped his hand. "Blasted Wizard! Touché." Hayward was obviously one step ahead of him and secured the door from the outside.
"Robin?" He turned and saw Starfire coming towards him. She stopped at Cyborg's motionless form. "Robin what has happened?" He didn't answer her but simply stood looking at the ground. "Robin why do you not answer me?" Again all that came from Robin was silence. Starfire looked closer at Cyborg and saw the bird-a-rang stuck in his chest. It was then that it dawned on Starfire. She put her hands to her mouth and slowly backed away. "You are not Robin." With one more second of silence Robin suddenly looked up with an evil smile. He did it so quickly Starfire gasped loudly. With a redglare from the eyeshe charged at her and sent a few kicks her way. She easily dodged them and grasped him by the shoulder with a ready starbolt.
"You would harm him," said Robin. Starfire hesitated and did it just long enough for Malchior to grab her by the waist and throw her against the wall. She immediately jumped up and taking hold of his hands pinned him against the door.
"YOU WILL LEAVE HIM NOW PLEASE!" Robin smiled evilly.
"As you wish." He opened his mouth and a light emerged from within. Starfire staggered backward and did all she could to shield herself before becoming engulfed in it. Raven, Beast Boy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione raced down the hall and found Starfire kneeling next to the other two. She looked up at them with a fearful glance.
"Starfire what happened," asked Raven. She looked around for a moment then stopped at Ron.
"Ron, it was your sister. She is the one who attacked us."
"Ginny! Oh no not Ginny!" With that he took off down the hall. His other two friends followed after him.
"Star can handle these two," asked Raven. Starfire nodded and the remaining two Titans joined the chase. Starfire watched after them then quietly took her leave leaving the other two behind.
NO! I guess you what's happened. That's it for now. Tune in next time for what happens next. Laters.