The Raven II
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JKR, various publishers of the HP series. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: Wow, a second update in less than a week, and it's a longer chapter, too! I am very motivated by your reviews, but this was also an easy chapter to write. So, if OC stands of Original Character, could OBC stand for Original Bird Character? LOL, consider that a warning! Oh yeh, because of some swearing and violence in this chapter, I've raised the rating from G to PG.
Chapter 5 (uploaded 7/30/04, minor revisions 8/2/04)
Hedwig hooted, "I hate to tell you this, but according to the charm, you've already had a successful delivery to Harry Potter."
"Oh no, what am I going to do then?" Harry cawed as he followed the snowy white owl I through the darkness.
"Come along, sweetheart, I have some friends we can call on." Hedwig lead her Harry far from Hogwarts. Fortunately, Harry was young and full of energy and a damn strong flyer. In the bright moonlight of the full moon, they came to a loch where several geese prepared their bedding for the night among the shrubs. The black and white birds (Harry and Hedwig) took a perch on a tree limb. Hoo-hoo-hoot! "Hello my friends."
"Hello there," the male goose honked. "You're quite an odd pair."
"Boris, it's a bit early to migrate south, isn't it? I wasn't expecting to see you here," Hedwig replied. Hedwig's head spun around to face Harry, "Boris and his family come from Iceland every year. They stop here for a few days and go on to Wales usually."
"I was nearly shot down by hunters last season," the goose honked while his family looked on. "We chose to stay in this area for the year. We'll be going further south this year when it gets colder. Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
"Sorry, this is Munin. We met at the school that my boy wizard attends."
"Hello, Munin, wonderful name for a Raven. We worked on a farm this year. Chased away weasels and foxes who came to steal chickens. We kept the gardens free of bugs. It's a nice life, but I prefer the freedom to travel. I guess I'm just a wild goose at heart."
"Can I ask a favor of you?" Hedwig asked.
"Anything for you, Hedwig. Did she tell you, Munin, that when I got shot, Hedwig managed to find a healing potion at the school. She brought it to me and I was right as rain in a week. I could have flown home after Hedwig's treatment, but I was a bit shy to be in the air during hunting season."
"You're all right now, then?" Hedwig hooted.
"Perfectly fine. It was a nice rest on the farm. I'm afraid we've each put on more than a few pounds. If I'd put on any more weight, I'd have been too fat to fly off the farm and I'd have ended up on the farmer's dinner table. So I packed up the family and we decided to stay here for a bit. The goslings love it here, look how big they've gotten. Anyhonk, we really need to work off the fat, so we'll be flying further south this year. What did you need from me, dearest?"
"Right!" Hedwig pulled off the parchment tied to Harry's leg and flew down to the goose. "Just take this with you when you fly south. Leave it somewhere, doesn't matter where, really. In a muddy pond or something of that sort. If some wizards come looking for it, drop it and run. What ever you do, don't get caught with it or you will be someone's dinner. Oh, and stay away from London."
"No worries. Flying off already?"
"Yes, I've got to get this young bird home, it's past his bed time. Thank you so much, Boris. Please be careful."
"Right, great seeing you again, Hedwig," Boris honked.
Some time mid-morning, Harry woke up in the owlry under Hedwig's wing. He snuggled into the fluffy white feathers before realizing where he was. "Shhh, go back to sleep, love. We're back at Hogwarts and you don't have to go to him until he calls."
----- ooOoo -----
"Mr. Jones, you are a second year. You cannot go to Hogsmeade." Snape growled. "Stupid Hufflepuff." It was the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year. He had to collect permission slips and check off the names before venturing into Hogsmeade himself.
"Mr. Creevey, I must have your permission slip." Snape snatched the permission slip from his hands and looked down his list to check off the name, "Gryffindor, third year, right. Be back by four o'clock. Don't think I don't know you snuck into Hogsmeade last year."
Later, Pigwidgeon, Ron's little hyperactive owl, lead Harry into Hogsmeade and quickly found Ron and Hermione walking around with Ginny, Luna, Neville, and Seamus. Pig landed on top of Ron's red head, but when Harry tried to land on Hermione's shoulder, he quickly found himself entangled in her long bushy hair. He flapped wildly trying to break loose, but it only made things worse. Luna and Ginny reached in to help free the black bird. "Shhh," Luna said calmly, "relax, little raven. We'll get you out." Harry stopped flapping and let the girls untangle his feathers and talon's from Hermione trap.
"Hahaha, look!" Draco Malfoy called to the Gryffindors, "Mudblood caught herself a bird!" The rest of the Slytherins with him laughed along with him.
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Neville yelled back.
By now, Harry had been freed and was accepting the petting and attention from Ginny and Luna. He suddenly flew up to the top of a roof and called CAW! CAW! CAW! Harry screeched and flew straight at Draco. The blond prefect ducked and covered his hair with his hands as Harry dive bombed his nemesis. Splat! As the raven pulled up, his position was taken by Pig. Splat! Then another bird, then another. Before they knew it, all kinds of birds were taking a turn at their targets. Owls joined in, pigeons, lots of pigeons, from tiny humming birds to a stray goose! "Snape's coming, everyone scram!" Harry screeched to his new friends. A loud BANG came out of the potion master's wand as he ran toward the center of town and the birds flew off in different directions.
"Where'd they come from, Harry?" Pig asked his new best friend atop the lamppost.
"Hedwig introduced me around last night." Harry puffed his feathers out.
The ruckus had attracted most of the student population into the town square to witness the spectacle. The Gryffindors were laughing too hard, to the point of tears. "Break it up," Snape looked down his nose at Malfoy and his followers. "That's disgusting. Get out of my sight. Back to the castle at once."
Lucius caught the last part of the bird attack and recognized his son when Draco looked up from under his poop-covered arms and caught his eye. The older Malfoy gave a nasty scowl and turned his back dramatically in a whirl of robes as soon as he realized who it was. Draco, of course, knew what that meant. He was visibly dejected, not to mention embarrassed in front of most of Hogwart's student population.
Still watching from the lamppost, they watched the tall billowy-robed professor meet Lucius Malfoy outside the Three Broomsticks. They shook hands, and went inside. They were followed in by Avery and a skinny person who kept a wide brimmed hat pulled down to keep his or her face hidden. Harry flew down to the threshold.
"What are you doing?" Pig said, excitedly from the rooftop. "Can I come too?"
"No, stay out here, I need to hear what they're saying."
"Don't walk in," Pig said, "you'll get stepped on. It's always best to fly."
"I'll be okay, go back to Hogwarts." Pig flew off, then came back as Harry tried to get the timing of the door so that he could walk in without getting squashed. Pig screeched, "Harry! This side, they're sitting by an open window. We can sit on the ledge." "Shhh, be quiet!" Harry insisted Pig go back to Hogwarts and was finally left alone on the window sill. Pig was very noisy and excitable. He couldn't be trusted to stay quiet, even if he managed not to say anything for two minutes.
Harry's raven wings were very quiet in flight and in landing. When Harry took his position in the window, he peered into the room and caught Snape's gleaming eyes. 'He saw me.' Harry put his body down, mostly behind the wall, so that only his head was visible in the tiny corner of the window. Even then he was in a shadow and not easily seen. The three other Death Eaters had their backs against the wall and window to face the entrance of the establishment. Snape had his back to the entrance and faced the window.
Lucius was heard to order, "Tea."
"The usual, Professor?" Madam Rosmerta asked.
"I think..." Snape started to say.
"He'll have tea," a familiar harsh female voice said. 'Sounds like Bellatrix,' Harry thought.
"What's going on?" Snape asked softly.
"Did you find anything out?" Lucius asked.
"Tea's here," sounded like Avery. Harry remembered him from last year's vision and fight at the Ministry.
"Sorry to do this to you, Severus. This is Veritaserum. Avery and Bella are here to witness, it's this or be summoned to the Dark Lord for a more, let's call it, intense line of questioning. And I assure you, if you're summoned, your arm isn't the only thing that will burn."
Bella laughed as the pale man with big nose sniffed the potion bottle, "You act like this is a fine wine. It's just Veritaserum. Does the vintage meet your standards, my dear potions master?"
"Just making sure. I've got nothing to hide, I don't know any more than I told you last night, Lucius," Snape said smoothly. "Stop, three drops is all you need. Any more than that is a waste."
"Finish the whole cup, Snape," Avery said. Snape leaned back as he drained his teacup.
Lucius began with the questioning, "What is your name and occupation?"
"Severus Snape, Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Head of Slytherin House."
"Fine. Now lie to me." Lucius asked, "Are you a Death Eater?"
"I – I can't," Snape strained, "I bear the mark of a Death Eater."
"It's working," Lucius nodded.
"Who have you questioned about the whereabouts of Harry Potter?"
"Potter's Head of House, Minerva McGonagall. Headmaster Dumbledore."
"What did you find out?"
"Gryffindor is trying out new seekers, they want me to allow their team to schedule the pitch."
"Severus, focus!" Lucius slapped the table, "on Harry Potter."
"She doesn't know where he is. But apparently he's being well cared for."
"By whom? Is that all she said?"
"I don't know. She said I'm cute." Severus chuckled.
The Death Eaters joined in laughter. "She didn't!"
"I am incapable of telling a lie at the moment."
"Apparently she needs new glasses." Lucius snickered.
"What did the headmaster say?"
"He said Potter was in no position to write essays."
"So what did you do?"
"I sent a note with a tracing charm." Snape pulled the piece of parchment from his pocket. "but I haven't – ugh!"
"Veritaserum's wearing out," Bella croaked. "Give him more."
"It's okay," Lucius said. "Hand it over, Severus."
"No, I haven't checked it yet." Snape's voice was dry as the parchment was snatched from his fingers. "At least let me verify it first. I wouldn't want you to give it to the Dark Lord, only to find yourself in a wild goose chase." Harry gasped at the statement, he wanted to roll over laughing. 'Give it! Give it to them! Wild goose chase indeed!'
"Well, well. Successful delivery to its addressee. Good job, Severus. Let's go." Lucius ordered, followed by a coin dropping on the table and chairs scraping on the floor. Severus walked outside, Harry could hear the cracks of several people disapparating.
Snape took some deep breaths to clear his mind then walked back into the town square and called his familiar. "Munin, I told you NOT to deliver to Harry Potter. If anything happens to him I'll have myself to blame. I suppose you only thought you needed to complete your mission. I must tell the Headmaster at once and have him moved." Harry nipped gently at Snape's fingers as they sat on the park bench. 'Aww, I didn't know you cared,' Harry's sarcasm turned to surprise. 'Hey, you're serious!'
Snape let his familiar fly off on his own until he finished his Hogsmeade patrol. He walked in and out of shops without coming away with any packages and was called on several times to handle student mischief. 'Wow, he's not taking points or giving detentions, he must be really worried.' Harry observed for a while from rooftops, trees, and lampposts.
Eventually bored, Harry flew back to Hogwarts and saw Lucius Malfoy on a broom peering into the Headmaster's tower through the open window. Once he was satisfied there was nothing of interest, he flew into the Forbidden Forest. Harry, naturally curious, followed him to a dim clearing, where his freshly bathed son and two goons waited with Lestrange and Avery. Lucius threw the broomstick at his son, who handed it to Crabbe. "Leave us, we need to have a father son talk," the senior Malfoy asked. Crabbe and Goyle walked back to the castle with a sympathetic look toward Draco. Avery and Lestrange gave a snort of disgust and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
Harry watched quietly from the shadows. "Boy, you were an embarrassment today to all that pureblood wizards stand for!" Lucius grabbed Draco's collar and held him nose-to-nose. "How could you?! Covered in bird shit! I'm not even sure there's a spell to call birds to do that, yet you managed to let it happen to you." Draco tried to speak, but his wind was cut off. "Shut up, I don't want to hear any pathetic excuses. Turn around." Draco was thrown against the tree trunk. With his eyes now rimmed with red, Draco slowly turned around and braced himself against the tree. THWACK! Harry jumped at the sound and flew away.
"Oh shit! Oh shit! What do I do? Professor Dumbledore's not here." Harry flew blindly out of the Forest, pushed by the adrenalin released in his 'fight or flight' response. He could still hear Lucius's cane striking down. He wasn't sure if it was real or an echo in his head. Then he spotted his friend tending the cabbages, "Hagrid!"
The little raven came down quickly, squawking excitedly. "What's wrong, Munin? Is Perfessor Snape in trouble?" Harry shook his head and flew to the farthest tree, still within sight of the giant professor. He hopped up and down, squawking, "Hurry Hagrid! Follow me, oh please understand me."
"You want me to follow you?" Hagrid threw down his spade and picked up the crossbow that was leaning up against his hut. Hopping from tree to tree, Harry lead him directly to the last place he knew Draco to be. It was pretty hard for Hagrid to be quiet with those big feet of his. Harry perched in a tree and watched Lucius run off, but he didn't see the blonde sixth year, so he fluttered down to a pile of robes at the base of the tree Draco had used to steady himself. Upon his discovery, Harry said to himself, 'Malfoy, beat his own son to a bloody pulp. I thought Uncle Vernon was bad, but I've never been beaten like this.'
"Good job, Munin," Hagrid looked down with watery eyes. Malfoy moaned as he was gently picked up off the ground and heaved over Hagrid's wide shoulder. Harry rode on the other shoulder to deliver Malfoy to the infirmary.
Professor Snape's long legs quickly carried him to Malfoy's bed. Draco was asleep, face down. Madame Pomfrey said nothing, but carefully pulled back the sheet that covered his back to reveal the wounds among bruises and welts on his back. Snape said nothing, but his face twitched at his jaws as his face tightened. "I found 'im in th' forest like that, Perfessor," Hagrid spoke quietly from the chair he'd been sitting on. "Munin brought me to 'im. He was already in shock when I brought 'im 'ere." Snape's black eyes shifted from his student to his bird. "I'd better be getting' on now that yer 'ere."
Snape nodded, "Thank you, Hagrid."
Harry hopped to Snape's arm as Hagrid passed. Poppy, knowing Severus preferred sit quietly with his charges until they awoke, went back to her office. Once they were alone, Snape claimed the unoccupied chair for himself to sit and stroke his friend's feathers. "You're a good boy, Munin," Snape kissed the top of Harry's head. Harry's bottom beak dropped in disbelief, 'He kissed me! I didn't think the cold-hearted bastard was capable.'
Dumbledore walked into the room with McGonagall in his wake. "How is he, Severus? Poppy told me Hagrid found young Malfoy beaten in the Forest."
"He hasn't awaken yet." Snape's eyes remained focus on his charge's back.
"Do we know who did this?" McGonagall asked.
"No doubt Lucius Malfoy." Snape sighed.
Harry spread his wings and bobbed his head up and down.
"Have you eaten yet, Severus?" Dumbledore looked gravely over his half-moon glasses.
"I couldn't eat right now. It wouldn't stay down."
"Then take a nutrition potion from Poppy." Snape winced at the suggestion, but took the bottle he was handed, uncorked it and quaffed it quickly. Dumbledore nodded his satisfaction and turned to leave.
Severus stood up quickly and almost unbalanced his familiar. "Headmaster, wait. May I speak to you privately?" They left McGonagall watching over the blonde Slytherin and walked to the farthest corner of the room to speak quietly in the corner.
"I'm listening, Severus."
"Last night, after our chat, I sent a note to Potter with a tracing charm."
"What did you have to say to him?"
"Something inconsequential, read chapter 36 or something. I gave it to Munin and told him to lose the note somewhere. You see, I had to make an attempt in case I was called on it."
"I understand." Dumbledore nodded.
"I was questioned under influence of Veritaserum this afternoon in Hogsmeade by known Death Eaters and they took the scrap of parchment from me before I was able to examine it."
"What do you know of it?"
"I'm not sure how or why, but Munin managed a successful delivery. Sir, you must move Potter. They're following the trace as we speak."
Dumbledore looked thoughtfully at the shiny black bird and smiled. "Nothing to worry about, Severus. Harry is fine." He put his old pale hand on Severus's shoulder, a stark contrast on the potion master's black robes. "You're a good man, don't go doubting yourself. You can stop worrying about Mr. Potter."
"Please understand, I didn't do it out of spite or with any intention to harm him," Snape spoke from behind a curtain of stringy black hair as he kept his head down.
"I understand perfectly Severus. Harry's safety has not been compromised and you managed to stay in good standing with Voldemort."
Snape winced at the spoken name and finally looked up into the headmaster's eyes. "Thank you, sir."
As Harry witnessed the interaction, he thought, 'Wow, Dumbledore really trusts Snape. And despite what Dumbledore just said, Snape still feels really bad that he might have put me, err Harry Potter, in danger. He's very complicated, he seemed really irritated whenever Professor McGonagall brought up my name last night. I don't know what to make of it, now.'
"Severus, may I borrow Munin for a bit?" Dumbledore asked.
"Certainly, Headmaster." Snape allowed Munin to walk down his arm to the Headmaster's shoulder.
Once they were alone in Dumbledore's office, "Harry, please show me what you did with the note. Legilimens."
To be continued...
A/N: Thank you for your wonderful reviews: Silverthreads, Kaaera, LyonsRoar, starangel2106, Voldemort's Hikari, Brakish Nghtmre, Toras, ataraxis, Prophetess Of Hearts, Persephone Lupin, texasjeanette, tall oaks, Mikee, Wren Truesong, Heart of the Wizard. I'm so happy when I hear I've made someone else happy.
LyonsRoar & Toras: I was going to save poopie for homework, but I decided last minute to move it here. Unfortunately, now he feels bad about getting even with Draco.
Persephone Lupin: Ack! You know how I think already. This chapter was already written before I posted the last, with the exception of the bird attack.
Texasjeanette: Your answer is in the next chapter (on the counter charm). It was Harry's original intent to get Dumbledore to remove the tracing charm when he flew straight to the headmaster's office.
Ataraxis: Exactly!