A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews, good to see you liked the last chapter. This chapter was a bugger and a half to write and I'm still not happy with it. If any one can see what I'm missing, please clue me in. Also a very big thank you to, Websurffer for beta reading this chapter.
Disclaimer: Don't own it never will, unless…I go back in time and steal it…nah maybe later. For now Harry Potter and co. belong to J.K. Rowling.
Chapter 4 - Crow Ghost.
The side door of the Great Hall slammed open to admit the black cloud that was known as Severus Snape; the man glared back at any who dared to look at him. Harry looked up calmly from his place at the Gryffindor table. Severus's glare went up a level as their eyes met. Harry smiled back sweetly. Severus scowled at him before sweeping off down the hall towards the head table. As the man passed Harry, he hit the boy softly on the back of his head. Harry grinned back at him to the amazement of those watching and to the amusement of the headmaster.
Harry had spent most of the morning telling Albus and his friends about what had happened to him. For some reason coming back from the dead was an odd thing, imagine that. He had been asked question after question about his life before his death (to confirm he was Harry Potter), what happened after, and about the crow.
The headmaster and his friends were looking into how he could have come back. Hermione had a theory of a muggle myth about the crow taking your soul to the afterlife. Harry wasn't sure about that one but Hermione was looking into it, so they were bound to have some answers soon.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted as hundreds of owls descended on the hall. Harry easily picked out Hedwig, her white feathers stuck out in the mass of browns and blacks.
The headmaster had taken in Hedwig after Harry's death, a year ago, and had given her back to him that morning. Hedwig winged her way down to Harry, paper clutched in her claws.
The crow landed seconds after Hedwig on Harry's other shoulder. A few people snickered at the sight of the two birds on either shoulder of the boy-who-lived-then-died-then-lived-again.
Harry took the paper from his owl as whispers started in the hall. He flipped the paper open and looked at the headline.
Boy-who-lived, back from the dead!
Harry smirked in a very evil manner. He folded the paper back up and gave it to Shadow, Harry's newly named crow. The bird took the paper up to Severus who in turn folded out the paper scanning the headline with a mirroring smirk.
Harry just wished he could see the expression on Voldemort's face when he found out about the article. 'Oh boy is he going to be pissed!' Harry thought, giving Hedwig some bacon.
Suddenly Shadow took flight out the great hall's doors. Harry followed him with his eyes. Something was up, Harry pushed his chair out.
"Where're you going Harry?" Hermione asked grabbing his hand.
Harry looked down at his friends face and smiled, he'd missed Hermione. He turned to Ron, who was having an eating contest with himself and hadn't seen Shadow leave.
Harry bent down, "I'll be back soon," Harry whispered in her ear, before standing straight. Hedwig took flight as he sensed her master's intentions.
He nodded to Severus before slipping out the great hall. He focused on Shadow as he crossed the anti-apparation wards. A picture formed in his minds eye of what Shadow was seeing.
Shadow looked down at the gathered humans dressed in black cloaks he knew from Harry's memories that these men were death eaters.
As he watched one pulled out a wand and shouted to the others, whom took up his call. The four death eaters ran into the small town, causing chaos. Shadow crowed loudly waiting for Harry to come.
Harry closed his eyes and focused on the vision from Shadow, when he opened them again he stood next to his crow on the out skirts of the town. Harry felt a giddy feeling inside at his success to apparate. He quickly crouched down waiting. He didn't know what to do. He had no wand, but something inside of his was telling him he didn't need one. In fact now that Harry was focused on his magic, he could feel the wild magic within him. It felt nothing like when he was alive, the magic in him was wild and untamable. Harry had no fear he knew somehow that it would obey him when he called for it.
Harry watched as a small fire started at one of the houses, and as he watched the flame grew larger as the fire feed off the building
'Move,' something seemed to whisper in his mind and he was moving without realizing it.
He ran in a crouch to the house on fire. 'In the house,' the voice said.
Harry smashed the window with his fist, slicing open his hand. He jumped through the window with agility he didn't know he possessed. He shook his hand flicking off blood, but when he looked down there was no cut to be seen.
He didn't have a second to think about that now. He could hear soft crying coming from somewhere in the house.
Smoke clouded his vision as he dropped to the ground to escape it.
"Hello," Harry shouted trying to pin point where the crying was coming from, "If you can hear me, call back!"
The crying only grew louder. He looked to his left then his right down the hallway.
'Left,' the voice said softly in his ear.
Harry headed in that direction keeping as low as possible. The crying grew louder as he went, which Harry guessed was the right direction.
"It's okay, I'm coming," Harry shouted. Fire licked up the walls to his left as Harry hugged the right hand side. 'This must be what a duck feels like when it's being cooked in an oven,' Harry thought dryly.
A door came up on his right. He reached up without think and grabbed the door handle.
"Shit," Harry swore as the medal burned his hand.
He looked down at his hand in amazement as the burn healed itself before his eyes, within seconds the burn had faded.
A scream from behind the door snapped him out of his trance.
"Don't worry I'm coming," Harry shouted.
The flames to his left grew higher he flinched back from the flames as the heat scorched his body. He eyed the door before smashing his shoulder against it. The door creaked under his treatment. He smashed against it again using all his weight the door gave way with a crash sending him spilling into the room.
He looked up from his place on the floor to see a young girl of no more than five in the right hand corner as flames licked away on the left hand side of the room. Her big brown eyes filled with fear as tears ran down her face. Her blond hair tumbled down her shoulders almost back from ash and soot which was also smeared across her young round face.
Harry scrambled into a crouch and rushed over to the girl's side.
He took the girl in his arms being careful of the burns on the girl's side. He looked around the room the left hand side was consumed by flames. The bed near the door went up in flames as he watched with a sinking feeling.
Harry guessed they were in the girl's room by the numerous toys around the room. His glaze swept the room for a way out. His stomach seemed to find a place on the floor as he realized they were trapped. Flames from the bed blocked the door and were closing in fast on the two in the corner.
The girl coughed from the smoke. Harry pulled her closer pulling his cloak around her. Somewhere in the back of his mind he noticed that the smoke wasn't affecting him as much as it should. He looked around the room again. His eyes settled on his salvation, a window.
Harry crawled across the room, the girl clinging tightly to his form. He looked out the window. They were facing the street, three death eaters held back a couple on the street as they watched the house burn. 'Must be the girl's parents,' Harry thought.
Acting on instinct he placed his hand on the window as the girl sobbed into his shirt.
Harry hissed as his hand touched the hot glass; the smell of burning skin assaulted his nose. He could feel the movement in the house as it strained under the fire. If he didn't hurry the house was going to collapse with them inside. He focused on his hand and reached for his magic.
He pushed the feel of flames at his back out of his mind. The house creaked and moaned as the flames slowly tore it apart around him and the girl. He focused on his magic flowing up his arm. He slowly pulled his magic out and through his hand. Cracks appeared on the window spreading out like a spider web across its surface. He pushed and it exploded outwards.
In one swift movement Harry was through the window, girl curled around his waist. He crouched outside the window and pulled his magic again as the death eaters stumbled back from the explosion. He lifted his hand and whispered a curse sending it towards the three death eater and the girl's parents. The focused the beams of light, hitting the death eaters, while missing the civilians. The death eaters stumbled back from the attack, but by the time they pulled their wands Harry was gone.
They flicked their wands around as the parents cowered behind a car. Harry ran swiftly, holding the girl close, away from the burning building. He hid behind a parked car waiting.
The death eaters looked around trying to find the cause of the curse.
"What are you doing?" Malfoy yelled as he came over to the other three.
"Some one attacked us," Crabbe answered eyes darting around.
"Yeah, we were having fun with the family and he just, you know, attacked us," Goyle added, as if attacking him was a great sin, "I didn't get a good look at him but there was something wrong with his face. It was white with some kind of marking!"
Malfoy rolled his eyes, "You idiots. The dark lord said for us to find the coin and leave. Not for you small brained maggots to have fun with mudbloods and filth!" Malfoy drawled, eyes flashing. "The dark lord will hear about this. Now find that coin!"
"I don't think so," Harry called. He placed the girl behind a car where she would be safe and stepped out onto the road.
"Yeah and who are you. Some kind of freak?" Malfoy spat.
Harry looked confused, 'what are they talking about?' He didn't have time to think on the question as a spell flew towards him. Harry ducked.
"I'm your judge, jury and executor," Harry said pulling his magic. A red light shot towards Crabbe. Malfoy sent a blue beam back, Harry easily side stepped it.
"Oh, you think so freak?" Malfoy laughed, "When the Dark Lord hears about you, you will be a dead judge!"
Harry pulled more magic and spat a disarming spell at Malfoy. The man stepped out of the way. Harry ducked behind one of the cars as a green light sped by.
His hand instinctively grabbed a rock off the ground. He stood slightly as he threw the rock several cars down. As the idiots focused their spells on where Harry had thrown the rock. He moved around behind them. Focusing his magic he sent out a thread of magic. A golden thread appeared and slithered out much like a snake. It circled its prey silently as the men's attention was focused elsewhere.
Harry watched in amusement as Malfoy approached the car.
"He's not there!" the man yelled spinning around eyes scanning the area.
Harry pulled on the snake like line, which tightened catching the three men in the middle. The three crashed together painfully in a pile on the ground. Harry flinched at the sound. He tightened his hold on the live rope. He stepped out from behind the car.
"What are you going to do freak?" Malfoy spat, his white hair a mess.
Harry squatted down next to the Slytherin, head cocked to the side. "Your master will not be pleased. When you arrive back without what you were sent for," Harry said quietly.
The three paled and tugged harder on the rope binding them. Harry laughed mirthlessly at their attempted.
"CAW!"
Harry's head shot up in time to see the forgotten death eater shout a spell. Shadow descended on the man as the blue beam raced towards Harry. Harry rolled out of the way, but it was to late, fire lanced up his side as the spell hit him. He ignored the pain and rolled to his feet a golden whip in his hand.
The death eater faced Harry three ugly claw marks across his creak and down his neck.
"Do you like my birdie?" Harry asked circling the man. The death eater watched him fear in his eyes. His hand shaking as he held out his wand.
Harry flicked his wrist, the whip sailed out snake like end hissing as it flicked at the man, making him stumble back.
"Kill him you idiot!" Malfoy yelled from behind him.
Harry smiled evilly, "'Kill him you idiot', make me look like an idiot because I'm tied up on the ground." Harry mocked. The snake flicked out again slicing open into the man's arm. Who was too slow to move.
Harry lunched the snake, cutting the man's other arm. The man cried out but kept a hold on his wand. The man ducked as the snake sailed over his head.
"Crucio!" the man yelled.
Harry jumped out of the way, rolling back to his feet as his side burned.
Harry pulled back the snake and cracked it forward. The man fell back with a scream as the snake bit into his arm.
His wand falling from his fingers as the poison spread through his body. The man collapsed to the ground unmoving.
Harry turned to Malfoy and co. evil grin still in place. Malfoy's eyes widened.
"I know who you are," Malfoy said in disbelief.
Harry's grin widened further, "I'm a dead man. Make sure to tell you master I'm coming for him," Spitting the word master, like a four letter word.
He pulled back the snake and lunched it towards the three bound men. The snake connected and with a loud crack the men disappeared.
Harry sighed, leaning back against the car behind him. The golden snake curled around his wrist. He held a hand to his burning side the hand came away slicked with blood. The wound looked to be slowly healing by itself. Much like the cut from the glass but at a slower pace. The cut from the glass had almost disappeared instantly, however the wound from the spell was taking longer.
"Lizzy!" A female voice rang out across the street, making Harry wince.
Harry looked over to where he had hidden the girl.
"You must be Lizzy," Harry whispered. He peered around the car he was leaning on to see the girl huddling behind it. He picked up the girl carefully whispering reassurances in her ear. The young couple stood a few feet away from where Harry was.
"She's here," Harry called. The young couple looked in his direction before Harry could blink the woman was in his arms hugging him and her daughter.
Harry disentangled himself from the small girl and her mother, as the young woman sobbed thank-you over and over again.
Harry stood as the sound of distant wails of sirens could be heard. Harry turned to the young man as he was pulled into another hug.
"Thank you for saving my daughter," the man whispered letting Harry go. "She means everything to me and my wife."
Harry looked into the tearstained face of the young couple and the smiling face of the young girl and could feel his heart growing lighter and his face breaking out in a true smile.
"You're welcome," Harry said feeling the love of the family.
The man looked him up and down taking in the black Hogwarts uniform and the burned patches on the dark material and his torn side.
"You're a wizard too?" the man asked, he and his family where clearly muggle by their appearance.
"Yes, but not like the men that attacked you, I'm Harry," Harry held out his hand to the other man whom took it in his larger one.
"Simon and this is my wife Sophie and little Lizzy," the man introduced. "My mother was a witch too, she was a great seer. I don't carry any of her magical blood unlike my brother."
"So you're a squib?"
"Yes, before my mother died she told me that a great evil would come to the world and that my family would be saved by a crow," the man looked up and Harry followed his glaze to where Shadow was perched on a street light. "She said that when the day came I was to give that crow a token."
The man felt around his neck and pulled at a leather cord around his neck, he slipped the cord off and held it out. Harry looked at it puzzled before reaching out. The instant Harry's hand touched the leather, a coin with a hole in the middle appeared. He looked at the coin, to Harry it looked like those Chinese good luck coins, but as he watched the writing changed and the design glowed then settled back into what it looked like before it changed.
"What is it?"
"I do not know, she said that when the time came, it would reveal its secrets," Simon told him, the sirens where closer now and the flashing lights could been seen as more people piled out of their houses to watch Simon's house going down in flames and to crowd around the body of the death eater on the street.
"Thank you," Harry bowed slightly slipping the cord over his head. "I must go now, look after yourselves."
'Give him a gift,' the voice in mind whispered. Harry grasped Simon's hand and closed his eyes. As if working on auto pilot, Harry found his magic and pulled a small strand out and passed it into Simon. Harry opened his eyes.
"That will keep you safe," Harry whispered, he then knelt down to Sophie and little Lizzy and did the same.
"Thank you again, Harry," Simon quietly, hugging his wife and child close.
Harry smiled sadly at the picture they made. It made him think about his parents and made him wonder if his parents were still alive. Would they have been like this one?
Harry was interrupted as a paramedic rushed over to the family to look over little Lizzy. When next Simon looked up Harry had disappeared. "Good luck little crow," Simon whispered before going back to his family.
xxx
Alright what do you think?It's missing something, right?