DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BEASTMASTER NOR HARRY POTTER
A/N: any and all apologies for the misspelling of the series name for it is not Sherak it is Sharak oh and as to why the animals treat him with such respect that is because he is around 300 thousand years old.
As explained in the first chapter Sheroc was the only one whom the demons of water, air, fire and earth trusted their powers with. In the series there were two demons but I decided to make up four.
As for the priests name in the first chapter or was it the second I think the first his name was Maax sorry got the spelling wrong.
Ok as for the Lord thing you have to under stand that Sheroc is as I said before around 300,000 years old sorry but I am basing it on the series timeline of before the ice age. For Sheroc to be that old the animals have to pay their respects to him after all so there.
THE MASTER OF BEASTS
Chapter Four: Sheroc the Eagle
Poppy Pomfrey stood along the bedside of one of her latest patients Harry Potter. The boy had it worse then the other three children had. Beside him was Ron Weasley and on the other was Hermione Granger. Beside both of them was the one she least expected to be injured in a battle Draco Malfoy.
Draco's story was the one that caught her off guard after all she is well aware of what goes on at Hogwarts. Draco was considered a bully and a nuisance in the Slytherin House. He was the one she thought would join Voldemort the fastest but she was wrong.
It turns out that Draco along with other Slytherin Children only acted as they did because of their parents.
Draco as well as a number of the Deatheater Children was abused by their parents as sort of a hazing thing. The only one who cared for them was Severus and of course Malfoy's mother Narcissa. It was Narcissa who has had enough and arranged to have them transported back to Hogwarts after the last battle with the dark lord.
The only problem to that was of course Lucius Malfoy. It was he who found out about the runaways and sent Deatheaters after them. Most of them were killed but Draco was shoved into the bushes by Crabbe and Goyle. Both of them sacrificed their lives for Draco and now the young Slytherin is alone.
Poppy could hear the cries of that child every night when she checks on him and the others. They being also hurt during an attack on Headquarters also had her at wits end.
She remembered hearing that Deatheaters attacked the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. They had destroyed the place and it was the house elf Kretcher that betrayed them. That same house elf gave away the location and so when the Deatheaters came they caught everyone by surprise. The only ones home were of course the Weasley's and for Hermione she was in Muggle London when her parents were killed. Ron's family managed to escape and call for help but the same could not be said for some of the other members. Hermione did not know what struck her when her parents suddenly fell dead.
The poor healer had her work cut out for her trying to help these three but Harry was the worse so far. Being abused all these years was enough to drive her over the edge.
The sound of flapping wings alerted her to something in the room and she thought it might have been Potter or Weasley's owls but they are no where to be seen. Instead on the mantle stood a proud and majestic golden eagle. It looked at her with piercing eyes as it ruffled its feathers and settled in to rest. The healer looked at the bird with awe for she had never seen an eagle especially this one make the journey to England or Scotland. She knew there are eagles here but have never seen one this large or majestic.
There in front of her was an eagle who shown proudly even in sleep. The moon glistened off its feathers as it has its head tucked under a wing and was fast asleep. The nurse then proceeded towards her chambers for the night but not before she cast a few wards around the hospital wing.
As soon as the nurse left Sheroc then fluttered to a more comfortable perch on the bed of one of the children and sat down tucking his head in his wing and resumed his rest.
As the first rays of the sun shown through the window the bright light began to make its presence known to the eagle known as Sheroc. Slowly the eagle began to rise from his slumber and looked around. He noticed that he had slept on the bed of the boy whom he had rescued the night before. A fluttering of wings made him aware of Hedwig's presence.
Master Sheroc I did not realize that you are here she said bowing in respect.
Rising from his sitting position the eagle took in the new day.
His gaze then turned to the owl beside him, well I must say I am feeling a lot better after all this time Sheroc replied and it was then that a sweet song could be heard as a red bird flown in through one of the windows.
It was a rather large bird with red and gold feathers all along its body and for that Sheroc knew it was a phoenix.
So the rumors were true Sheroc the lord of the skies has graced us with his presence the phoenix said as he bowed respectfully, I am Fawkes and I am the familiar of the headmaster of this school of magic.
He was indeed as hospitable as can come and the eagle bowed in return. The pleasure is mine Fawkes Sheroc replied as he faced the phoenix.
Fawkes looked at the ancient eagle before him and remembered what his parents told him of the ancient one. He remembered the legends of the great wonderer and so remembered how to properly greet him.
Sheroc stood up to his full height and the phoenix was impressed that he is slightly larger then himself.
I have one thing to ask great Sheroc Fawkes said getting under control of admiring the eagle's plumage and body.
Speak phoenix Sheroc replied, well why did you come to Hogwarts oh great one not that I mind asking the eagle turned his gaze towards Fawkes. He could see the age in those golden depths and the wisdom that has come from many millennia of constant travel.
Fawkes has never seen someone as old as this eagle. Sure Dragons lived for centuries and so do some elves and other magical creatures but this bird is as ancient as civilization itself.
Sheroc looked at Fawkes with the same wisdom and age as he had felt the trees in the forbidden forest tell him.
Tell me young phoenix have you heard of the Beastmaster he said and the phoenix and owl fluttered back shocked.
It was well known among the animals and magical creatures about the ancient guardian of nature known as the Beastmaster. Long before man recorded his history the Beastmaster was a guardian of nature. He was a warrior of superior skill taught to him by the animals. The creatures of nature taught him how to fight, move, hunt, swim, run, and eat. They taught him all this and he survived on it all. He was in tuned to nature and if such as the power of the beastmaster was taken then magic will completely lose its power and nature will fall out of balance and cease to exist.
What the creatures of the world remember and what humans have forgotten was the battle between the Beastmaster and the tribes known as the Terrons and the Jun-Hor. These two tribes unknowingly brought upon themselves the Beastmaster's wrath and he sought his vengeance. Fawkes remembers the tales well and so before him stood the last companion of the Beastmaster the eagle whose eyes told all and see all Sheroc the lord of the skies.
I have heard of the Beastmaster my lord Sheroc everyone does Fawkes said,
well does it occur to you that this world is in dire need of one or should I say four Sheroc watched the reaction on the phoenix's beak and the sudden silence was all that he needed before the phoenix gave a squawk in surprise.
Four! But my lord where will you find four worthy humans to take the place of the great Beastmaster Dar? Fawkes said and Sheroc turned to the four sleeping children,
I've already found them he said. Fawkes as well as the other animals in the hospital wing gave a squawk of surprise when they heard this.
Master Harry will be a Beastmaster Lord Sheroc? Hedwig asked and this time a cat leaped onto the bed.
What is this I hear of you making children into beastmasters? She asked. Sheroc turned to the cat that sat before him.
She was rather sort of fluffy looking with blood red eyes and dark brown and black fur with a bit of white patches on her paws and underbelly. The eagle turned to her as her tail twitched a bit.
And who may I ask dare to question me? The eagle said,
I am Mrs. Norris familiar to the janitor Flitch. She said with an air of arrogance to her.
Show some respect Norris! Yelled Hedwig as she fluffed her feathers and spread her wings.
I show no respect for an old wind bag especially one who thinks he is the great lord Sheroc the cat said and with that Pig attacked from the air. The cat however was expecting this and just moved her head and Pig smashed into the wall.
What she did not expect was to suddenly freeze in midair gasping for air as she tried to claw what ever it is that was choking her. As she stared down she saw the fierce eyes of the eagle that stood before her.
Do not call me a windbag cat the eagle said to her, I have been here far longer then you have been and I have seen much in the way of the world. Why do you doubt that these children are not worthy to receive the power? He said and dropped the cat without any gentleness.
Norris found herself on the ground as she choked for air.
Impossible not even the wizards could do two things at once! She said gasping for air.
You forget that I know things that wizards have long forgotten and have not written. Sheroc replied, and that I have more power then any wizard could possess. Sheroc then stared at the cat with his golden eyes the sun reflecting off of them gave them an eerie glow.
Mrs. Norris stepped back a step finally realizing her place as the eagle hopped over to the bed stand and looked down on her. Please forgive me my lord she bowed. The eagle then turned towards the other four this time.
There was an orange fluffy cat sitting on the bed that contains the only female present. He looked on with amusement and that reminded Sheroc of his friend Ruh the tiger. The cat just sat lazily along side his master licking himself as Hedwig tried to look presentable and Pig was wobbly getting up from where he smashed into the wall.
"What is all the ruckus out here!" a voice yelled and the doors flew open to let in Madam Pomfrey as she rushed into the room. To say that surprise was not her only option. There she stood at the entrance to her chambers getting dressed this early morning when the sounds of screeching owls and yowling cats got her attention.
When she got into the patients room she found that Mrs. Norris was on the ground appeared to have been recovering from being choked to death, an orange cat on Hermione's bed, of course there is that small little owl of Weasley's, Potter's snowy owl and a great golden eagle on Potter's bed stand and the headmaster's phoenix on Weasley's bed looking rather distressed.
"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded.
Most of the animals scrambled out the window our out the door (Mrs. Norris dragged herself out) the only ones remaining are Fawkes, Poppy and Sheroc. Poppy for her part was surprised that an eagle as large as the one before her would stand unafraid of her intrusion. Fawkes having recognized her sang a song of comfort to let her know that the eagle meant no harm.
Upon seeing the phoenix she began to set out the potions to help the children. She then tried to help them by swallowing and slowly one by one they swallowed. All that is except one…..
There was one child among the lot that was too sick to swallow the potions down and thus the healer only sighed. Sheroc watched as the woman tried to get him to swallow but to no avail. She showed signs of tears on her face as he did not swallow. Even trying spells to force him to swallow was no help.
Sheroc watched this exchange with interest as the woman tried to force him to eat. He already knew the signs of someone on the verge of death. Fawkes began to cry and sing a song of sorrow and the woman quickly gathered his tears in a cup. Sheroc was intrigued as the phoenix cried for this little one.
When the woman left Sheroc turned to the phoenix, tell me what is this boy to you? He asked,
This child is the one who put the most fowl of humans in his place the phoenix then explained about Voldemort's first reign and how he had killed the boy's parents and what happened afterwards when he arrived at Hogwarts. All the adventures that Fawkes can recall were told to Sheroc and the eagle nodded to affirm that he had heard everything.
Turning towards the sick boy he could see the potion that was dribbled all on the side of his chin and down to his sheets. His bony face no longer looking as youthful as it used to with all the skin pasted to bone and not one bit of flesh.
He is near the edge he said and the phoenix nodded, I know Lord Sheroc and there is nothing we can do Fawkes replied.
There is only one way he can survive said Sheroc and the eagle turned to him, there is? Fawkes asks.
Sheroc stood tall and spread his wings, if he chooses it along with the others he can become a beastmaster. Sheroc said, but my master Dumbledore will not allow it said Fawkes.
The eagle then turned again facing the window, show me to this Dumbledore.
Albus Dumbledore headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was busy setting things in order for the upcoming school year. Already he filled out some paper work to renew certain things with the Ministry of Magic including apology letters for the ruckus the previous year. As he dipped his pen in the ink well once again a fluttering of wings and a bit of crimson red alerted him to Fawkes's presence.
Not looking up the phoenix landed softly on his perch and shrilled a greeting. Dumbledore felt along the lines till he finally could pet his familiar and the bird chirped a reply.
It was at the squawk of another creature that alerted the old wizard of a new presence in the room. Turning his head he then noticed the young man looking at him with out a shirt but that was soon rectified when he conjured a robe without anyone noticing.
To say that Dumbledore was surprised was to say the least but the old man nearly had a heart attack at the sight of the handsome young man before him. Fawkes gave a shrill of amusement at the old wizard and fluttered to his perch.
"I must say I was not expecting guests," he finally said. The young man only nodded, "Well I tend to do that sometimes." And then he walked towards the desk. "I am Sheroc you must be Headmaster Dumbledore," the young man said and it was then that Dumbledore noticed his eyes.
They were dark brown but with a hint of gold in them giving them a sort of hazel color. Dumbledore found that the sides of his head near his ears had feathers? Indeed the man beside him have small tuffs of feathers near his ears in a sort of yellowish color near blond and hard to see unless you look carefully. Dumbledore was no fool and the one thing that threw him on guard was the shadow that the man is projecting.
It was the shadow of a bird, a very large bird. The man had no human shadow and that is what Dumbledore found suspicious. It was then that the door to his office opened and Snape walked in.
"Headmaster I need to……..oh it's you!" he said as he spied Sheroc.
"Ah you remember me," Sheroc replied.
Now Dumbledore was curious, "Um excuse me Sheroc but I don't remember inviting you in here without permission so how is it that you got in here, and how is it that you know Severus?" he asked and the man smiled a real serene smile and it was the first time that Dumbledore noticed that his eyes are rather old.
"It was your familiar that let me in Headmaster," he said with a bow.
"After all birds of a feather fly together," he said, "How is that possible? Are you an animagus?" he asked and Sheroc shook his head.
"Unfortunately that is not the case as you can see from my shadow, and if you were to conjure a mirror you will see my true form," he said and it was Snape that said it.
"He is an eagle Albus," he said sitting down.
Dumbledore was in shock as he conjured a mirror to prove Severus's case and indeed instead of a human reflection it was the reflection of an eagle standing before him with golden eyes as old as his human appearance seemed to be. The eagle seemed to be waiting patiently till Snape cleared his throat and Dumbledore dismissed the mirror.
"Well this is a shocker," he said,
"Indeed it was when I first met him." Replied Snape,
"What are you doing here anyway Sheroc," he said politely afraid the eagle would spill about his episode the previous night before,
"I am here to speak to the headmaster about some important matters concerning his charges but I will let you go first." He said before seemingly to sit on the couch.
Snape only wanted to tell Dumbledore about Voldemort's recent activities including the search for Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Now Harry is something Dumbledore was used to but Draco?
"Voldemort fears that Lucius told his son more then his share of information and that he might blab to our side," Snape replied.
When the old wizard nodded in consent to what he just heard it was not surprise to him that Voldemort would be after Draco as well.
"So what does he plan to do then?" he asked a little weary of the eagle beside him.
Still in his human form Sheroc did not comment till they both were finished before looking at the headmaster with an eagle's stare.
"Now that you finished with your other business I would like to discuss some important matters to you," he said standing up and Snape felt it was his time to leave. Standing up as graceful as always Severus Snape exited the room with a dramatic turn and an aristocratic walk. The door soundlessly shut behind him and Sheroc turned back to the headmaster his eyes now hard and steely.
To say that the headmaster was not fully aware till it hit was a full understatement. Sheroc stood up to his full height and paced around the room and to him the shadow that accompanied him looked rather amusing.
"Now were to begin," he muttered then when the light returned to his eyes he turned to the headmaster,
"Ever heard of a beastmaster?" he asked….
TBC
