A figure dressed in all black stands at the edge of the forbidden forest staring up at the candle lit castle that loomed off in the distance. His emotions are guarded an his face his blank. He didn't need emotions now. Everything that he believed in was a lie. All the people he trusted betrayed him. Emotions were for the weak, the well liked, not the shunned, the exiled. He pulls the hood of his cloak up to cover his head and shadow his face. He didn't need people knowing who he was before it was necessary. He begins the long trek towards the castle which is known as Hogwarts in the wizarding world and didn't even exist in the muggle one.
All to quickly the large wooden doors loom in front of him. Taking a deep breath he curls his hand into a fist and pounds on the door. After three pounds he stops and takes a step back to wait. Noise can be heard behind the large doors and soon they are opened and he is face to face with a elderly looking women wearing rich green robes.
She eyes the dark figure standing in front of her. "Can I help you?" A hint of a British accent is heard in her withered and worn voice. She tries to think if Professor Dumbledore was expecting anyone. The only thing she can come up with is that maybe the figure in front of him was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
A gust of wind catches his hood and knocks it back slightly off his head. A pair of piercing crystal blue eyes stare at the elderly women. He clears his throat. "Yes. I believe you can help me...Professor McGonagall." He says in with a rich, commanding voice. A voice that demanded respect. "I am here on the request of Professor Albus..." He thinks for a moment then continues. "Dumbledore. Professor Albus Dumbledore. I'm here to fill in as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher since the more recent one has chosen this time to take a sabbatical from his sanity."
Minerva nods and eyes him one more time. "I'm Professor Minerva McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house...but it seems that you already knew that, Mr...?" Being polite she offers her hand.
The young man eyes the outstretched hand before clasping it and giving it a firm shake. "I'm Raven O'Reilly. It's a pleasure to meet one as infamous as yourself." He gives her a small smile as he draws his hand back and wipes it on his cloak. "I had the honor of meeting one of your former pupils a few years back. Bright young man, he was."
McGonagall raises an eye brow "Oh really? And which of my students would that be?" She had been teaching at Hogwarts for many years so she had seen more than her share of students come and go.
He reaches up and runs a hand through his messy black hair. "I believe he said his name was Harry." He thought a moment then nodded. " Yes, Harry Potter was his name. Tragic what happened to him, wasn't it?" He knew that he has gotten the elderly witches attention.
"Tragic, what do you mean? Harry Potter hasn't been seen in the wizarding world for almost four years. He left before the start of his third year." McGonagall looked confused.
The young man shrugs as he fiddles with something on his cloak.
McGonagall's eyes drop to investigate what he was fiddling with. It turns out to be a green patch with a silver snake in the center. It was the mark of the Slytherin House. "Mr. O'Reilly, have you attended Hogwarts before?" She narrows her eyes as she asks this.
He stops his fiddling and nods slowly. "Yes ma'am. I was sorted into the Slytherin House but I am sad to say that I was not able to return for my third year do to my father death and my mothers need to have me home to take care of her. This is my first time back since then."
McGonagall nods and steps out of the doorway to let him passed. "I will show you the way to the headmasters office. I am sure he is expecting you Mr. O'Reilly."
He nods and follows behind her as she heads down the torch lit hallway. Their footsteps echo against the cold, stone floor and soon they are standing in front of a large stone statue of a griffin. "Chocolate Pears." McGonagall says in a loud voice.
The statue begins to move and soon a pair of stairs come into view. He blinks then looks back to her.
"Those will lead you straight to his office." She turns but stops "And Mr. O'Reilly. Welcome to Hogwarts." With those words said McGonagall disappears back the way they came, leaving him alone in the dark corridor.
He looks around and sighs. It had gone better than he had hopped. She didn't suspect a thing and he hopped to keep it that way. A pain in his right forearm brings him out of his thoughts. He winces and heads towards the stairs and then up them. He stops once he reaches the door and takes a deep breath. This was it. Soon he would be a Professor at the very school that exiled him into a life a pain, misery, and horror. He turns the doorknob and steps inside. A memory flashes in his head as he remembers the time when he was a second year and was brought here under suspicion. That was the very day that changed the course of his life. He shakes the memory from his head and steps inside. Moving pictures hung all over the wall and astronomical devices of all sorts were scattered on tables and bookshelves. He looks around for the professor but finds he is not there yet. He steps up to a bookshelf and begins to read the titles of some of the very old and dusty books. His eyes shift up until they land on a old worn hat. He eyes it a moment and jumps as it begins to speak. "I see you have returned my boy and I also see that you have finally agreed that you would of done well in Slytherin." Raven narrows his eyes but chuckles. "Yes. Well it took me long enough, hat. But I believe your first choice would have done nicely." On a later note he adds. "It would have saved me a lot of trouble." He steps away from the hat and moves silently over to a red bird that was sitting on his perch eyeing the young man. He smiles and bends over, eye level with the intelligent bird. "Hello Fawkes. How have you been my little friend?" The bird's eyes light up and he coo's. He knew who the young man was.
"I see that Fawkes has taken a liking to you my boy." Dumbledore says as he moves down the stairs from the upper area.
Raven looks up at the elderly man. "Phoenix's are marvelous creatures. How can such a small bird hold so much courage and strength?" He asks while watching the bird.
Dumbledore chuckles and motions for Raven to sit. "My dear boy. Phoenix's are like some wizards that I have had the pleasure of knowing. They may not look like much on the outside but looks can be very deceiving. Wouldn't you say so Mr. O'Reilly?" The old man's eyes sparkle with unheard laughter.
Raven nods slowly as he brings his eyes to the elderly man. He sits in the offered chair and sighs. "I agree Professor. But when looks are deceiving...things can be assumed that aren't always true." He says quietly.
Dumbledore nods sadly. "That I am afraid is human nature. They shun the things they do not understand with no regard to the consequences of their actions."
Raven sighs. "The past is the past and it can not be changed. I have accepted the things that have happened and do not wish to dwell on or discuss them."
Dumbledore seats himself behind his desk. "As you wish young Raven. Now tell me. Why did you decide to return here?"
Raven frowns. "I received your owl about needing a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor and thought that maybe...maybe it was time to face the past that I have fought so hard to ignore. So here I am." He waves his hand, dismissingly.
Dumbledore watches the young man as he speaks. He notices the changes that have happened to him in the past four years. He was no longer the carefree boy that was caught breaking the rules or sneaking around under his fathers invisibility cloak. No this young man was hardened and cold. His eyes were guarded as was his emotions. There was something else that bothered him about young Raven but he could not put his finger on it at the moment. Dumbledore nods. "Yes. Hogwarts is grateful for your offer to teach. With Voldemort rising to power...this is a very important class and I'm sure if anyone understands that...it's you."
Raven shows no emotion at the mention of the Dark Lord. "His attacks are getting more frequent and the targets are more muggle based. Random attacks as the reports state. The victims have no traceable ties to the magical world. It's rather puzzling why he would change his tactic now."
Dumbledore shakes his head. "Some of the people say that he is losing his mind and thus losing followers. But that is highly unlikely. He is still as powerful if not more powerful more so than before. His death eaters are younger and more willing to carry out his orders without question. We lost young Malfoy to the dark lord four years ago. Around the same time that Mr. Potter disappeared. People say that they left together. But those reports have never been confirmed."
Raven smirks. He would throw the old man a bone to gnaw on. "I can confirm those reports Professor. Potter and Malfoy indeed left together after young Harry's supposed friends and teachers turned against him. Malfoy was the only one that understood what he was going through so...they became friends. They're still friends and if I am not mistaken young Malfoy should be arriving in the next couple of days to become apprentice to Professor Snape so that he may take over as Potion Master when Snape decides to retire. As for the death eater part...I can not confirm nor deny that, Sir. It is not my place to do so."
This was just as Dumbledore had feared. If Malfoy and Potter had indeed became friends...that would mean that the boy was hurt more than he let on. Dumbledore nods. "I thank you for the confirmation Mr. O'Reilly. And the information was greatly appreciated. And you are not mistaken. Young Mr. Malfoy will be returning to the school in two days. I just hope the rumors about the young man are not true or Hogwarts is going to be in a whole lot of trouble. I'm not just talking about the Ministry either. I'm talking about the parents. What will they say if they find out that a ex-death eater is going to be teaching their children in the future? There'll be a scandle that the school does not need at the moment." For once in his life Albus Dumbledore looked every year of his 167 years.
Raven raises an eyebrow. The Professors information was mistake when it came to Malfoy. Or Dragon as everyone calls him now. "Sir, may I ask who your contact is? The one in the inner circle of Lord Voldemort? I know Severus is one...but is there anymore else that I should be aware of?"
Dumbledore thinks a moment then shakes his head. "No Raven. Severus is the only contact that we have in the circle that is still loyal to us. The others have either been killed or have joined the dark forces." The old man watches Raven, waiting for a reaction of some kind.
"That's very interesting, Sir. Severus is the only one still loyal to you? What about Lupin and Black? They surely are still loyal to you, aren't they? After all they are the ones that vowed to have revenge when young Potter disappeared. Am I mistaken?" He knew the answers to all these question but he needed the Professor to trust him.
The Headmaster sighs and shakes his head, sadly. "I am afraid that all contact with Remus and Sirius have been lost. They are assumed captured...or dead. I'm sorry Raven. We are trying everything to find out their fate, for sure." He notices that Raven's expression does not change. Which he found odd. He tucked that fact away for later study.
Raven lowers his eyes a moment and has to hold back the laughter threatening to spill from his lips. The old fool. He knew the fate of the ex-professor and Black. They both were alive and well. They had joined shortly after they were placed in the circle. That was, of course, after they found out what happened to Potter. As for Severus. He was another story. His loyalty was being tested as he sat there talking to Dumbledore. Snape had swore up and down that he was still loyal to Voldemort but that was in question. "I understand, Sir. All you can do is try. Now, pease fill me in as to what I am to be teaching the students."
"They need to be taught all the unforgivable curses and counter curses. I would also like you to teach them how to duel. I think Miss Granger will be an apt pupil when it comes to dueling. But I am sure your skills out match even my own." Dumbledore's old eyes twinkle with amusement once again.
Raven snorts. "Miss Granger...She is a seventh year, correct? I will assume her dueling ability is the direct cause of her boyfriends death last year and the disappearance of her best friend? If my sources are correct, she is now a loner? Buries herself in her studies and refuses to take care of her already failing health and abnormal magical abilities? The warlocks have been watching her for sometime now. I think I maybe able to help her with her magic but the other things are her own personal problems that I do not wish to be involved in." He makes sure that his point is made.
Dumbledore sighs. "Raven, as you have said before. The past is the past. Why not try and make amends while you still ca? Your still young as is Miss Granger. Things can be fixed. It's not to late."
Raven stands and glares at Dumbledore. "Do not think just because I am becoming a teacher here will mean that I will go back to being who I used to be. It won't ever happen. That weak, pathetic little boy died four years ago when his supposed friends and mentors didn't believe him. No...Not only didn't they believe him. They shunned him. Kicked him out of this very school. The only place that he called home. The only place that he felt protected and accepted. Instead they sent him back to his home. His family. Where he was abused and finally kicked out for being abnormal? Don't you dare think you know how that felt because you don't! Being betrayed is not something you want to know about!" Raven's eyes narrow when he stops talking. Anger swirls in the blue orbs. The old man had hit a nerve and by the looks of things...a pretty big one.
Dumbledore blinks at the very angry young man in front of him. It was clear that this was no longer the boy that everyone knew and loved. "Please Raven. Calm down. It was only a suggestion. There is no need to get flustered over it. I should have never said anything about Miss Granger. Please forgive me?"
Raven eyes the old man with contempt. But his eyes soon fade back to the unreadable mask. "Sir,I do not forgive and I sure in hell don't forget. But I can look over your...faults. Just choose your words more carefully when you have one such as me in your presence. Is that understood?" His voice holds authority.
Dumbledore eyes the young man before nodding. "Yes. I understand perfectly Mr. O'Reilly. Now you need to understand one thing. I am the headmaster here and I ask that you start acting like a teacher and not some angry teenager. You maybe excused. Oh and Raven..I think you can find your way down to your dorm. It's in the dungeon." He picks up some papers on his desk and begins to read them, making it clear that the conversation was now over.