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: Ezmerelda, Silverthreads, you're right I had an unconsious sprint to the end. I apologize in advance for this chapter not flowing from the last. It's meant to be parallel to the last chapter in the story's timeline and I'm not working out the technical knots and bumps, but at this point I'm just trying to grind out the story to the end because of demands on my time. Why is it time gets more valuable the older you get?
Chapter 16 (uploaded 8/16/05)
The warm sun on his back woke Harry at dawn. He was having a dream that he was flying over England, in and out of low clouds, over the tops of the yellow, orange, and red trees of autumn. Still dreaming, he spread his wings as he felt the wind blowing through his feathers…OUCH! The pain snapped him out of the dream to find out he really was flying toward London, only Hedwig was holding him by his wings and provided the drive for the both of them. "Good morning, Harry. Feeling better?"
"My wings still hurt, but my head is better. How much longer?"
"Not much. There it is, the Tower of London."
"The Tower? You're bringing me to the tower?"
"Harry, they train the best Raven Masters in the country."
"You're just going to leave me there?"
"Nonsense. You'll be safe. The regiment there, the Beefeaters, will protect you."
"Hedwig, they're Muggles! They'll be no match for Death Eaters."
"Don't you worry, love. It will be fine. I'll come back for you when you're better. I know all the ravens who are there now, and they'll let me know how you're doing."
Ravenmaster Tubbs was just walking across the grounds toward the tower where the Royal Ravens were housed, when he spotted the snowy white owl landing on the plush green lawn with a young raven in its talons. He started running toward the birds as the owl had her wings spread and seemed to be nipping at the black bird's head. "Oi, get away! Scram!" he yelled at the white owl and waved his arms.
Hedwig announced, "Here we are, Harry." She gently laid her baby on the grass and spread her wings over the black lump of heathers as she pointed out some things out to Harry. "That's where I expect you'll be recuperating. They always keep six ravens and a spare."
"He's getting close Hedwig. I'll be okay. Thanks for everything." That's when Hedwig gently nipped at the tufts of black feathers around Harry's ears. Harry felt the rush of wind as Hedwig's large wings lifted her off the grass. She only flew to the top of the building to watch the Ravenmaster kneel and gently pick up her Harry. He cradled the bird to his chest and disappeared into the raven's tower.
"Hi there," the ravenmaster said softly, "my name is Tubbs. I'll take care of you. Did that mean old owl hurt you?" Harry croaked his irritation when Tubbs covered his head. Shortly, he was laid on a cold metal work table and inspected from head to toe. He snapped at the big fingers as the Ravenmaster tried to determine the sex of the new addition to the royal ravens. "Right, a bit ticklish, are we? Adolescent male," Tubbs said as he wrote into a notebook. "Ahh, someone has named you Munin. You're lucky. We already have a Hugine."
After more note taking, he spoke again. "Some bumps and bruises, but nothing broken." Harry relaxed and coo'd. "I think the nerves in your wing has been badly bruised in a nasty fall, that's why you can't fly. Maybe that owl wasn't so mean, after all, eh? I find no scratches or evidence of bites. What was she doing, kissing you goodbye?" Tubbs chuckled at his own joke. 'Yes, actually, she was,' Harry thought, cheekily.
Harry was placed into a cage on top of a bed of wood shavings. Knowing he couldn't fly, Tubbs left the door open. He seemed tame enough, but he was definitely in pain. Tubbs came back to feed the hungry young raven with a dropper. Tubbs' voice had a calming tone, and when Harry was full, he also started feeling sleepy. "There you are, I had some pain medication in your feed. I'll give you more when you awaken, Munin."
Harry was awaken, thinking he was being harassed by Dudley. But it was only the big old raven in the cage next to his. "Kid! Hey, kid, wake up!" Harry struggled to lift his head and blinked as he took in his new surroundings. "Finally, what'd Tubbs do to you, drug you?"
"Uh, yeh?" Harry tried to shake himself awake.
"They call me George. It's been so long now, I've forgotten what my real name is, not that it matters, I suppose. Do you remember what your mother named you?"
"Um, Harry. She called me Harry, but I've been renamed Munin." Potter saw no reason to keep this from the old bird. He climbed out of his cage and stumbled to a spot next to George's cage.
"Good, I'll call you Harry, just so that you don't forget. Most of the birds here were raised at the owl sanctuary up north, so they never knew their mother. It's kind of like a bird orphanage," old George was in the mood to talk.
Fortunately for Harry, he wanted to stay awake so he could fight the medicine which clouded his mind at the moment. "What are you in here for?" Harry asked politely.
"Heh, indigestion. I've found a taste for those metal things on top of roofs."
"Aerials? Television aerials?"
"I guess that's what they call it. I just love bending the poles this way and that."
"I don't think that's very nice," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Oh, but it's so relaxing. Every bird needs a hobby, don't they? Do you have a hobby, kid?"
"I like collecting shiny things and decorating my nest with them. And I like hanging from the tallest tree from my beak."
"Ahh, the memories," George nodded slowly. "I used to enjoy hanging. I'm afraid I've gotten too fat and out of shape. I can't support my own weight anymore. They clip your wings here, you know, to keep us from flying away. Really puts the weight on, though. Don't let them do that to you."
"I'll try to remember that," Harry said, as he spotted a couple chest feathers that needed tending.
"Ohhhhh, ughhhhh," another bird groaned as he was brought in by the Raven Master.
George leaned over and whispered, "That's Grog. Looks like he's been to the pub again."
Harry giggled, "That's a terrible hangover he's got."
"Right, I don't envy him right now."
Tubbs turned and saw the newest raven chatting with George. "Oi, what ya doing out of your cage, mate?"
"Am I in trouble?" Harry asked George.
"Nah, you're a good kid. I like you," was George's gruff reply. "First chance we can get away, I'll show you my aerial collection." Harry chuckled to himself at the thought.
Tubbs scooped Harry into his arms and petted him gently. "Looks like you're feeling better, eh? How 'bout I introduce you around? You've met George, and this is Grog." Tubbs took Harry up into the tower to meet the other ravens, but Harry had to stay in the infirmary until he could fly.
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To be continued…
A/N: Thanks to everyone who is reading. I know this chapter was short, but—
As if I weren't busy enough with my mom's problems, I'm going back to college and my first class starts tonight. So the next chapter will be the reunion and I'm trying to find a way to end it there. I continue to write when inspiration hits me, but I'm not posting my new stories yet until I finish my other story. Thanks for the reviews: Silverthreads, Qem, excessivelyperky, Ezmerelda, Sweet-single, reseh, E.A.V., Princess Arica, and Thee-Unknown-Factor.