Do A/N:
Hello, all! Thank you for the reviews! And now, here's Chapter 29!
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING!
------29------
It had over come his weary mind. The strain of the wards, the sudden lapse of magic, then its reappearance, it had dealt a harsh blow. Sabet had collapsed against the floor, trying to find some form of security for his home, for those in the Ball Room. He quickly tried to reestablish the wards, and succeeded. But now, Sabet was in sore need of sleep. He was somnolent, the chaos of the Hall buzzed petulantly in his ears. His vision was off, blurry, askew. People crowded around him, two hoisted him to his feet, but he could not, would not, gather the strength to stand. The magical had consumed him, nearly. He was still fighting darkness, desperate to stay awake. He heard his name being called, urgent and worried, but it did not matter. He was losing, darkness was upon him.
And it consumed him, whole and true.
Aideen's eyes snapped open. She shot up, ignoring the pain that screamed from her ribs. The sudden crash of the glass made her scream in fright. She shivered as she looked around. What had happened? And Vander? Instantly her eyes fell onto the corpse that lay at her feet. Screaming again she jumped back. Crouching then rising, she did not know what to do.
Where was Evan?
She shot off for the open gate, soon leaving the warmth of the enchanted garden for the biting cold of the winter locked outside the walls. For a moment she stopped to catch her breath, dropping to her knees. As she did her hands reached out to catch the ground, only she touched something sticky…
Blood.
Horrified, Aideen rose. A patch of hair was beside the small pool. It was brown. Evan. Renewed she ran on, all the while hoping she would find a boy, and not a monster. She soon found herself in the thick of the forest, hearing underbrush breaking all around her from the weight of snow on limbs of trees. Her breath was ragged and she collapsed in the snow, curling up in a ball and shivering. She coughed, and copper filled her mouth. Vander had really damaged her.
Aideen finally sighed raggedly, the exhale shaky, labored. "Ah, mi…" she sighed, staring sadly at the ground. Her fingers splayed out, her shoulders went slack, and she closed her eyes…
Her skin was suddenly warm and soon it was splitting in a sudden, fiery moment. Her bones twisted and her muscles convulsed. Her eyes shot open as they dilated and flashed a many color. It hurt as her transformation had, but now, no glamour could hide her pain…
Evan stumbled through the trees, coughing raggedly, desperately fighting the inner beast. It clawed at his soul, scrambling for air, but he fought it with a bitter passion. Bile rose in his throat, he swallowed it down. A feral growl escaped him, a desperate, angry sound. He slammed his fists into a nearby tree, fresh claws dragging through the bark as he continued on.
But soon, he felt the fiery pain against his skin, and with a howl, the beast overcame him. Evan fell to the ground and clawed hopelessly at it as his body contorted and transformed. Bones rearranged, skin fell for new, hair sprouted…
Soon he was a beast. Raggedly breaths ached out of his system, and the chill touched its mellow accent. The newly formed werewolf wined as it lay weak in the snow, in a pool of hair, skin, and blood. Wearily he rose, trotting with a lopsided gate. He growled at the slightest sound, his head jerked from side to side to catch every movement. His senses lured him to a gap between the trees, and beyond… the world.
He sat between the trees, whining. He wanted to run, but he was afraid. Afraid from what he did not know, but something within held him back. With a growl he turned and began darting through the woods, on a rampage of frenzied energy.
Suddenly, the smell of a new animal reached him. Stopping, he sniffed the ground, coming upon footsteps. He followed them; saw where the owner had fallen, and then, a pile of hair. He sniffed the cluster, and smelt the earth after a rain. The only thing was, the ground was dry, laden with snow.
Snorting and shaking his coat, he trudged on. The scent was closer now, stronger, and he wanted it. It was familiar, and his feral side was anxious. He eventually came upon a clearing, but hid beneath the low hanging branches of bushy, small tree.
There in the clearing was a fox, black and grey with startling amber eyes. By the scent, it was female, and weak. She was looking around the clearing, on edge as she knew that there was someone new in her midst.
Rolling his shoulders and buckling down, he readied to strike…
The fox's round eyes fell on him them, as if she knew he was there, though under the cover of green, darkness, and snow.
But, the moon was out...
Morgan was running about with Amos at her side, searching for her son. While everyone fretted over Sabet and the party, she paid that no mind. She ran outside when the moon caught her eye. She could not suppress a wailing moan, and Amos had to catch her from falling to her knees.
"He hasn't finished the potion!" Morgan wailed, then, in her native tongue, she cried out to her son; "Oh mon fils! Pourquoi vous ne rentrerez pas?" oh my son! Why won't you come home to me?
And she called out his name again.
The vixen let out a soft little coo-like bark, soft, melodic. He perked his ears up, rising form his cover, though his lips curled into a growl, bearing yellowed fangs. Slowly, he stalked out into the clearing.
He outsized the fox, easily weighing four times as much as she did. She was small and lean for one of her kind, not yet fully grown. But then, neither was he. Still a pup, no, adolescent.
Still alpha male though in his own pack. Which meant he was also the lowest of the pack. He shook his head, no sense thinking so much.
They began to circle each other, eyes locked on the other animal. Most foxes he came across he killed, as was his nature. So why not this vixen? Her glittering eyes stirred the warm heat inside him, made his ferocity nothing, and rendered him a simple wolf confused and unsure. He was alone, after all. And even though she was just a fox, she was intimidating, mysterious. He didn't know how to handle her.
Within, Evan cried out in desperation. He knew, he knew!
With a sudden breeze her scent filled his senses, soft after-rain earth. He stopped, and she stopped. Now or never. He buckled down and growled ominously, then, lunged.
The clearing was not large; he did not need a lot to cross it. But he stopped in an empty space. Turning he saw the vixen in his prior spot. Angry, he charged again, and she rushed into the wood, and he was quick to follow. She was lithe and darted about. He followed as best he could.
The continued on for what seemed hours. He would catch up to her, she would dart off. Once, she hid and he had to find her. It became a game. Sometimes he would here the humans shouting out, calling names, but he paid them no mind. He had to catch the vixen.
He HAD to.
Amos had begged Morgan to stay at the castle while he and Faust gathered four others to search for Evan, and Aideen. The girl's absence had not been ignored, and they feared Evan might have harmed her in his feral state. Now, Amos and Faust walked together, torches lit, silver chains tight in their hands. Though they carried wands, the chains were enchanted. They would not kill the werewolf, no, but they would render him harmless enough to bring back to the manor.
Amos grumbled as they trudged through the forest; "This is senseless," he said; "We should be back at the castle…"
"Morste is a grown man and will be fine," Faust said quietly; "Besides, the elf-child is here somewhere…"
"Oh, she is no elf," Amos said, then after a time, quietly;"Is she?"
Faust shrugged; "Morste seems to think so," he said; "I seem to think so. You know, it is ironically humorous that our once peaceful, unknown haven has become overrun with fugitives and miscreants," he chuckled dryly; "I'm surprised that death eaters have not shown up on our doorstep by now."
"Well, knock on wood that they do not," Amos said; "Wait, what is that?"
They both froze, torches going out with gentle whispers. In the darkness, they could hear frenzied steps. Alone, and human. Their owner burst through the forest, nearing them.
"No one can Apparate here," Faust muttered under his breath; "They're nervous."
Amos drew his wand, aiming at the general direction of the stranger; "faça-os imóvel!" he shouted, a wisp of light shooting from the tip of the wand.
There came a shout and Amos was quick to follow his spell, Faust close behind .Amos found a man lying facedown in the snow, and he rolled him over with the tip of his boot. The man glared up at him, wand clutched in one hand. Amos frowned.
Faust came up to the scene, wand at he ready; "Who are you?" he asked, danger laced bluntly in his tone.
The wizard was quiet; "Answer!" Amos said, kicking him.
The wizard groaned, coughing; "My name is Rodger Edinburgh!" he said loudly.
Faust in turn frowned; "Rodger Edinburgh?" he repeated skeptically; "Thought of you as dead. What, now you're trailing coats of ministry officials?"
"Lot more than I can say of you!" Edinburgh ground out; "Messing around with this lot."
Faust bent down and became dangerously close, so close the Edinburgh wanted to be sucked into the earth; "I am with this lot," Faust hissed, suddenly standing again in a blur of motion; "Who sent you Rodger?" he asked, aiming his wand.
Edinburgh pursed his lips in silence. Amos glanced at Faust, processing what had just transpired; "I know who sent him," he said; "The Minister, am I right? He sent you to keep an eye on Ellis Vander."
Edinburgh did not speak, though surprise hinted at how his mouth had twitched. Faust stared at him undauntedly; "sono," he muttered, waving his wand.
Edinburgh did as he was bidden, his eyes closing and chest falling rhythmically to implied breaths. Faust then waved his wand again and levitated the wizard, looking at Amos.
"We'll put him in a cell, until the Council can be gathered;" he explained.
Amos nodded; "How do you know him?" he asked.
Faust looked down in shame; "He's one of us, Amos," he said finally, looking at his companion; "No one knows but I, who confronted him nearly thirty years ago."
Amos' eyes widened in surprise; "How does he keep it hidden?" he asked.
"I'm sure he doesn't," Faust said; "He looks no different then last when I saw him," he paused; "Hurry, we need to get back. The others can find Evan and the elf-child."
Faster, faster, run run run! Hurry hurry getting closer…
He skirted around a shrub, knocking snow down off its limbs, but he didn't care. The grey blur was in sight now, getting closer. Darting here, darting there, hurry, hurry! He urged himself, crazed. The smell of hay and leveled earth began to permeate the air, he didn't care.
Fast, faster, hurry quick!
Harry and Draco sat side by side on a bed in the infirmary, steadily recovering from their being locked in time. They were quiet as both tuned in to the castle and its surroundings. The pressure of protective magic was suddenly gone, leaving the air oddly light and foreboding. At first it was worrisome to breathe, but nothing hung on the air but tension and chaos.
"We should go help," Draco muttered, breaking the silence.
"Not our fight," Harry said groggily; "'Sides, don't know what to do."
"We need to figure out what's going on!" Draco said; "I'm still confused as hell…"
"That's the gravity talking."
"Gravi-what?"
"Gravity. It's… damn never mind. I'll explain later," he got up and stretched languidly, pulling at his collar to unbutton it; "We need to check on Sabet."
Draco got up; "We need to finish what we started…" he grumbled.
The Guests had all been calmed and escorted to leave, slowly filing out. Sirius had been helping a couple Floo out safely, but now, he resigned himself to checking on Remus. As he walked towards their shared room, he was bombarded by Damien Riggs. They collided and fell into the floor.
"Sorry, sorry!" Damien said as he helped Sirius up; "Oh, Sirius, thank Merlin I ran into you!"
"Why? What's wrong, is Harry—?" Sirius began, but Damien cut him off with a shake of his head.
"Evan's gone missing," Damien said; "He's been a fool and hasn't taken his potion, and now he's running ramped in the forest. Sirius, Aideen is missing as well!"
"The girl Evan's with?" Sirius asked, and Damien nodded; "What do I need to do?"
"We need Remus," Damien said; "He's the only werewolf not incapacitated or incarcerated! He needs to go out and find Evan to calm him down, put him in his place!"
"Wait why not just let him run about as he should?" Sirius asked.
"Because he's no control over his wolf, Sirius," Damien said, no suddenly solemn; "We need a seasoned wolf to handle him, bring him down. He's foolhardy and stupid enough as a human, let alone as otherwise."
"What type is he?" Sirius asked.
"Um… Type Four," he said, then quicklyhe spit out facts;"He is more wolf than human, I fear. Fiercely loyal, serene unless threatened… He can change at any given time, but the full moon transformation is violent and he has next to no control during it. When during that time, he is no where close to his formal self."
Sirius nodded; "I'll get Remus," he said, then he began at a run to find the werewolf.
Moony lay curled up on a soft rug, watching the flickering fire before him. He rolled his shoulders experimentally, having just changed from man to wolf. Lucky for him, he had obtained Wolfsbane Potion. Now, all he had to do was wait out the evening. At least he was capable of human thoughts.
There came a scratching at the door, and Moony's ears perked up as he looked over with interest. He rose and walked over, sniffing the ground. The door was then opened, and he saw Padfoot standing in the hallway, tail swishing back and forth slowly, and Moony knew something was amiss.
Padfoot barked at him, sharp and demanding. He then ran off, and Moony was quick to follow. Padfoot led him outside to the garden, where Damien was waiting by an open gate. He bid them safe passage, and they ran off into the darkness of the forest. They could hear people shouting and hollering throughout the expanse of trees.
Moony caught the scent of a young werewolf, and was instantly on guard. He growled lowly, causing Padfoot to stop and look at him expectantly. Moony could sense things he could not. They went to a clearing, and there were the first signs of a scuffle. Picking up the scent of a vixen, Padfoot shot after it, Moony following the trail of the adolescent. They reenacted the fight, each following their respected trails. Finally, it led them to a paddock.
Padfoot saw the vixen as she darted into a stall, and then the werewolf came from around the paddock's fencing. Moony came out of the woods, emitting a loud howl. The pup stumbled and froze, seeing Moony and Padfoot. He growled then, and arching his head back, howled. It was haunting, boastful, and powerful.
Moony stalked over while Padfoot darted around to find the vixen. He came around and cautiously peeked into the stall, seeing that the vixen was hiding beneath the wings of a young dragon. The dragon looked at Padfoot with her large, piercing eyes, and let out a low, humming sort of growl.
Padfoot saw that the vixen was injured, three claw marks racing down her back from shoulder to flank. They bled steadily, and Padfoot wined as he walked into the stall, keeping his tail between his legs and head bowed.
Moony and the pup began to circle each other. All there was for a time was their growls and the snapping of jowls, the grating of teeth. Then, Moony felt his mind being invaded. At first, the thoughts were frantic, desperate, but they receded into something far more hostile.
WHO ARE YOU!
Moony knew it could not be the boy trapped in the werewolf's body. He growled out his name in the language he had picked up while undercover for the Order. The Werewolf pup slowed in his pacing, though he did not relent.
I am Ferus. The pup said, stopping all together.
Moony stopped as well. They stared at one another. Ferus had his ears back, lips curled up as he growled, ivory teeth catching the moonlight. Ferus rolled his shoulders, got down in a crouch, and Moony knew what was coming. The adolescent leapt and Moony did as well, meeting half-way, in the air. They fell and the scuffle began. Teeth, claws, kicking, lashing out, it was all undomesticated and feral. Moony resorted to letting go of logic, and simply acting out on impulse.
Padfoot needed to get the vixen back to the castle. But as he edged too close, the dragon growled apprehensively, tail whipping out to strike Padfoot's back leg. He yelped and retreated somewhat, glancing outside as he heard the two werewolves engage in combat. He fought between saving the vixen, or running to his companion's side. But Moony was a capable being; the vixen on the other hand was not.
Padfoot whined, looking at the vixen. She looked at him, letting out a little bark through her gasps. She staggered as she walked over, the dragon apprehensive about letting her go. Padfoot darted forward, and took the vixen by the scruff of the neck in his jaws. He ran out just as the dragon roared in anger and arched up. As he ran, he felt his tail singed with fire.
Moony was tired. Ferus was more agile than he, even in his current state. He also had the advantage of having arms, even though they were hairy and disfigured. Twice he had picked Moony up and thrown him several feet.
But Ferus too ka moment to stop as Padfoot had lured the dragon from her stall. She came out and roared, intent on chasing after the hound, but stopped when she saw Ferus. Moony watched as the dragon shot a jet of fire at Ferus, who narrowly avoided being burnt to crisp. The werewolf howled and lunged boldly for the dragon, latching on to her side and clawing at the hard scales. The dragon wriggled and threw him off, and pinned him down with one massive front foot, toes splayed out with claws dangerously pricking Ferus' chest.
Moony got up and howled a low crooning sound. The dragon's head jerked over and she seemed to glare at him for interrupting. Moony padded over, surprised she allowed him to get so close. Ferus struggled and growled and kicked as he tried to escape, but it only amused the dragon as she pressed down harder. With a sharp exhale, Ferus whined, and resigned himself to be still.
Soon, there were wizards surrounding the paddock. Ferus was stunned, The dragon placed back in her stall, and Moony was free to go back to the castle. Damien Riggs walked with him, talking to him in a blur of excitement and adrenaline.
Padfoot bounded through the castle, startling many that he bore a fox in his mouth. But he paid them no mind, Rushing around, trying to find the infirmary. He came across Harry and Draco.
"Padfoot!" Harry exclaimed, "What the hell…?" he had seen the vixen.
"Here, let me take her," Draco said, and Padfoot obliged. Draco cradled the fox, awash with pity. "This is Aideen, isn't it?" he asked upon meeting eyes with the animal.
Padfoot nodded, and then bounded off. "Let's go back to the infirmary, then," Harry said with a sigh.
He wanted to stay asleep, to remain in a peaceful jaded state. But no, his eyes dared to crack open. He was laying in his bed, tucked under the covers, limbs tingling from their lack of movement. He looked around, finding himself in company of his dearest and most trusted. Morgan, Amos, Adam, Harry, Draco, Faust, and the other members of the Council, they were all around his bed, sitting or standing, having been waiting for him to awaken.
"What… what time is it?" Sabet asked hoarsely.
"Three-Thirty," Draco replied softly.
Sabet looked out the nearest window. Indeed, it was; "How… how long have I been..."
"Not long," Morgan said; "It's just the morrow."
Sabet nodded, and sighed; "And… Vander?"
"Dead," Amos said; "We've got his body… we don't know what to do with it just yet…"
"Aideen? Evan?"
"Both recovering," Adam said.
Sabet nodded; "The castle… the wards…"
"Taken care of," Faust said; "Morste, we did not know of the strain you were under. If you had only spoken to one of us, we would have helped you carry your burdens."
Sabet sighed; "Thank you, I realize this too late," he coughed; "But I have come to many conclusions, all of which you all must know…"
"I thought of many things, while I was asleep," Sabet began; "And I have realized that there has been made a terrible wrong. I have established a haven, but one that only hinders, it does not save…"
"But sir…" Harry began.
"Shh, let me finish," Sabet sighed; "Our Kind is poorly represented. We are still seen as the monsters of lore. I do not want that image. For a time my… campaign was to destroy it, but I have only succeeded in scaring one old man into granting me passage into the world, no one else. I have failed so many, and I know that none of my apologies could ever fix what has been done.
"I have decided that, In May, I will face the Wizengamot. I will go as proper representation. I will show them our structured society, no bridled by their own, but still in accordance.
"But I will not go alone. That would be poor on my part, and besides, I am a wanted man to the Ministry. They would no more listen to me than the dementor would hesitate to kiss me… "
Harry shuddered in voluntarily. "I'll go," Draco said confidently.
"As will I," Faust said. Several others voiced their agreement.
Sabet looked around at them all, nodding. Then, his eyes fell solely on Draco; "I will not ask nor tell you, Draco, to accompany us on this endeavor. You are best suited for your school, where you stand a chance," he straightened up, and looked at the group as a whole again; "This endeavor that I speak of is risking, and not just to those who choose to go. This endangers everything."
Morgan stood up then, face flushed a tangent pink. She glared at Sabet, and said; "You speak to us as if we're oblivious!" Sabet's eyes widened slightly, as much has they could in their hooded state; "Well let me tell you something, Morste, we are far from ignorant."
Sabet did not seem abashed by her outburst. "I can see where you would gather this," he said with a plaintive sigh; "There is much that you do not know, Morgan. So much that none of you know," he paused.
Harry was growing tense. Draco was tense beside him as well. The room had suddenly become very crowded, the air thick.
Sabet was sure he would pay for the words he said next; "I have been in company with The Dark Lord."
Gasps. That's all there was. Gasps. Draco leapt out of his chair and screamed; "You bastard!" without shame, glaring heatedly at the vampire. Harry and Faust had to sit him back down.
"Why?" Amos asked his voice steady and calm, a contradiction to his emotions.
Sabet waited for the room to grow quiet; "Trying to keep our kind out of the war," he explained; "Not just vampires. Werewolves, banshees, ogres, elves… all of us. Also, I have spoken to Albus Dumbledore, and I intend on speaking to Arthur Weasley before the next new moon."
"And what, have them all get together for tea?" Damien asked skeptically; "You'd have better luck getting Buddha, Mohamed, and Jesus Christ to do that."
He was not joking, either. Harry knew that Sabet was an advocate for peace, and tolerance. Sometimes he was just too naive; "He's right, Sir," Harry said; "Besides, the prophecy…" his voice trailed off. They did not know.
Sabet looked at him, questioning. Sighing, Harry briefly filled everyone in on what had transpired in the Department of Mystery. When he was threw, he continued; "So you see, even if you reached peace, I would still be at war, if not a personal one at that."
"Harry…" Faust began, and then he stopped. He seemed stuck on words, but he quickly found new ones; "This prophecy… is it authentic?"
Harry nodded; "As far as I know."
Faust nodded, looking down in thought, solemn. "This is a travesty," he said, looking up; "Morste, we cannot stay excluded from this war. We have never truly been. Now, as I speak, The Dark Lord is rallying our kind to fight against the ministry, and against us. And it's become painfully obvious that this war has no age limit…"
Sabet nodded; "You all feel strongly about this, our involvement?" Nods were his reply; "Then when we confront the Ministry, what shall we propose?"
"Amnesty," Adam said boldly; "Freedom to be open."
"There will be rioting," Amos said; "They will hunt us like beasts."
"Aye, try to ban us from enteracting!" Damien said; "We'll be forced into the darkness so fast you would blink and miss it!"
"But this will pass, like all things!" Faust said; "If not now, will we leave it up to Draco and Harry? Or to their children? NO! We shall take care of this now, for we will be held responsible, regardless."
"So it's agreed?" Sabet asked. Nods once more. He sighed; "Then who am I to stop you? We will go."
"Um, slight transition," Amos said; "Faust and I came across a Ministry official, and he is incarcerated and stunned at the moment. But… what shall we do with him?"
"Send him back with Vander," Draco said, a malicious glint in his eye; "Show Weasley what's what. It will show him not tobother us again."
"Perhaps," Sabet said; "But… we should question him first."
Amos nodded; "What of Evan?" Morgan asked, suddenly tentative.
There was silence; "He did not have control of his actions," Sabet said; "Yes, it was foolish of him not to take his potion. But these things will happen. He is a teenager, prone to reckless abandon. Therefore, if there was a need, he is forgiven."
"And… and Aideen? She was literally mauled…"
Adam nodded; "She will have scars," he said; "But, I think she knew what she was doing, leading him to the paddocks."
"Sirius said he gave Remus a fight," Harry said.
"Evan's strong," Morgan said with a hint of pride.
"AS he should be," Sabet said; "We must make changes, everyone. Drastic Changes to prepare us for the years to come."
"What makes you think in years, Morste?" Faust asked.
"The future is never long-awaited," Sabet replied; "And, this will not end in a day. Now is our time. Ours."
TBC
A/n: well, review? Of course. I'll have this story finished up soon. Not to worry, I'm sure there will be a sequel. Maybe… if people review.