Chapter four
It seemed as if word of their meeting with the Headmaster had already spread as they ventured down to the great hall for breakfast on Monday, the whispering followed them where ever they went and more than a few shot them envious looks as the first years ventured off to attend their own potions class.
As breakfast came to an end they soon found themselves accompanying Professor Flitwick, the cold damp of the dungeons was as unwelcoming as ever as they followed the professor to a small chamber that had been provided for their lessons. Opening the door they found themselves beset by warmth and light as the chill around them disappeared, stepping into the room Callian saw that the room was spotless. Not a speck of dust laid upon the work tables, nor any damp lingered in the corners of the chamber.
But it was the two figures at the head of the chamber that pulled his attention; Callian stared in open mouth shock as his mother smiled warmly at them both while at her side Tyrna Stormanvil stared hard at the retreating back of the Professor.
Callian wasted no time and ran to them, throwing his arms about them before he finally stepped back to allow Harry his own greetings.
"What are you doing here?!" He all but demanded of the two women, who could only laugh at his shocked expression.
Tyrna smiled warmly at the boy she thought of like a son. "I thought that would be obvious to yeh, we're here to teach yeh and yer friend how to brew a few potions. Although I'll leave that to yer Mamma, once yeh have learned enough to pass I'm going to teach yeh the true Art of Alchemy, not that watered-down swill yer kind is so fond of."
Callian laughed as Tyrna set about getting the chamber set up to her specification. He remembered fondly the times he had spent among the Dwarves, with the heat and noise of the forges and the Smiths who dedicated their lives to their craft. Loremasters and Priest who had been permanently stooped from centuries bent over the stone tablets carved with the Clans histories and ancient knowledge, masons and engineers crafting in the vast work halls carved into the rock of their holdfast. But he had spent countless hours reading while Tyrna and his mother had plumbed the subtle sciences of Alchemy, while they would never have the skills of more famed alchemists like the Flamels they were certainly more than able to teach the basics to them.
Harry could only marvel as he was once again swept up in the wake of his friend's life, since he had arrived in the Wizarding world he had seen and learned so much it was mind-boggling.
He was still reeling from learning that he was descended from a noble family and he was only just beginning to discover what that meant. He was learning Magic by the day and his friend had shown him there was more to learn than just silly stick waving, with time and dedication he could soon learn to channel his power without a focus something that he had come to learn was a rarity. Midnight rendezvous that seemed to indicate there was a world of intrigue buried below the colourful, wonderful facade he had believed in when he had first stepped into this new world.
And now as he watched the Dwarf woman carefully set up her apparatus, here was a being from a fairy tale and he was going to be learning from her for the next several years. His life had changed so drastically in such a short amount of time, yet he found himself revelling in his new life.
Here he had friends. Here he no longer had to hide his intelligence or his gifts and his friends pushed him to learn more, to be better. Making his way over to Amerytha he couldn't hide the grin that spread across his face as she smiled warmly at him.
Sitting besides Callian the two of them settled in as Amerytha began to go over the basics, a scowl quickly growing her face as the two stumbled over what she called the first steps and Harry realised with a start just how little the two of them knew of the basic principles of potioneering.
All too soon their first lesson came to an end and the two quickly fled the room after Amerytha had gotten their education back to what she had deemed a suitable level not to be a danger to themselves.
The rest of the day passed quickly and Harry once more found himself sitting on his bed as he watched Callian carefully weave several threads of Magic together, his friend had made the weave visible to him as he had Harry working on sensing the Magic around him and within himself.
Ever since his first encounter with his friend on the train he had been trying to get a sense of his gift. He had never felt anything more than a general sense of something whenever he drew his awareness within himself, despite his best efforts he had to fight back the growing wave of frustration when he couldn't feel anything more than the same sense of something that always lingered just out of reach whenever he tried to grasp it.
Taking a deep breath Harry tried to calm himself, to relax and let his Magic come to him. But the more he tried the further his magic seemed to slip away, letting out an irritated huff he gave up and simply flopped backwards staring up at the wood-panelled ceiling.
He could hear Callian's quiet laughter as his friend continued his own practice, "I told you it would not be a quick or easy thing to learn." The ever so helpful comment from his friend did nothing to ease his irritation.
Harry lifted his head enough to throw a glare in his direction, "You told me you could do this years ago. If it's so hard how come you could do it then, huh?"
Callian finally stopped his weaving, holding the spell structure stationary in the air with only a slight flickering as his attention became divided.
He was silent for several long moments before he looked at Harry with a grin, "The truth my friend is...I am just that good."
Harry merely launched his pillow towards him with a short bark of laughter, Callian flailed as the missile hit him squarely in the face in turn causing the room to be filled with a cascade of dancing lights as the spell fell apart.
Once he had received his pillow thrown back at him, Harry returned to staring at the ceiling. He vowed to himself that he was going to learn how to use his magic without a focus if it was the last thing he would do.
Their time at Hogwarts once more became routine, the only break from the weeks of monotony being the few visits the two of them paid to Hagrid, the school's half-giant groundskeeper. They were often joined by Adria and Hermione, who had come to like the big man's gentle disposition. He would often regale them with tales of Harry's father and his friends while he crooned over Faenir, the small dragon often soaking up the attention like a sponge.
As October came to a close Callian found himself striding the corridors of Hogwarts as he raced to try and keep up with Adria's half run, he had found himself being dragged along after their defence lesson when word had reached Adria about Hermione having been seen running towards the girls toilets after the Gryffindors charms class had finished.
They soon found themselves before the massive double doors that led into the bathrooms and Callian slowed to a halt as Adria breezed through the doors, his sense of propriety refusing to allow him to move forward.
He could hear Adria speaking softly beyond the doors and he soon was greeted by the Hufflepuffs glare as she stuck her head back through.
"Are you coming in or what?!"
Callian felt heat rising in his cheeks as he shook his head, "It would not be proper for me..."
He never got to finish as the blonde grabbed the front of his robes and hauled him through the door, his protests were soundly ignored as she continued to pull him towards the stall they could hear quiet sniffles coming from.
Adria gently knocked and softly called out, "Hermione, are you OK? We came as soon as we heard you had been seen crying."
A soft gasp came from behind the stall door. "Adria?! What are you doing here? You're going to be late for class!"
Callian snorted at that, trust Hermione to worry about classes when she was clearly upset.
Hermione seemed to hear him and gave a startled cry. "Who's with you?!"
"Miss Granger, I would say it is a pleasure but I must admit I am uncomfortable with the surroundings..."
Callian found himself grunting as Adria drove her elbow into his side, but before he could say anything more the small blonde spoke up.
"Cal and I heard you were upset so we came to see what was wrong, I don't think the Professors are going to mind us looking out for a friend in need."
Nobody spoke for several long moments and Callian shared a look with Adria before he softly whispered. "If she is actually using the toilet, I want you to know that I will never forgive you for this."
Eventually, the stall door opened to reveal the tear-stained face of Hermione, she looked between them with a watery smile.
"I'm sorry about this...you didn't need to come after me, I feel like such an idiot!" Hermione spoke so softly Callian struggled to hear her.
Adria was quick to soothe the bushy-haired Gryffindor and before long Hermione was spilling the story of how she had come to be in the girl's lavatory.
He could recall the Weasley boy from the train journey but he had little contact with him since, from what he could recall of the boy he had shown little interest in their talk of Magic and had disappeared while he helped Harry practise his spell work.
The trio found themselves making their way towards the dungeons; the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs had double potions before dinner. As they were already late for their lessons Callian saw no reason for Adria to be exposed to Snape's vitriol, soon they filed through the door to the classrooms that had been granted for his and Harry lessons.
Harry was already there, carefully measuring out his ingredients while his mother turned to stare at the trio of students that had just filed through the door.
Her eyes roved over them, from the tear-stained Hermione to the soothing murmurs coming from Adria before finally settling on Callian.
He could literally feel her questions pressing against his mind as he felt her familiar, comforting mental presence touch against his mental defences. It was over in the blink of an eye, as soon as he allowed her into his mind she had glimpsed everything she needed to know before he felt her retreat.
Amerytha stared hard at the two girls, causing both to shrink in on themselves as they met her stoic visage.
Callian was quick to introduce them to his mother and after several moments of silence, Hermione was quick to blurt an explanation for their presence, something his mother took note of with only a slow nod.
"I will allow you to stay for today's lesson but I will send a message to the Headmaster informing him of the how and why of your being here."
Hermione looked taken aback and was quick to reply. "I don't want to get anyone in trouble ma'am, I was just..." Amerytha merely held up a finger to silence her.
"Regardless of what you want, you are here and not in your class as you should be. You have clearly been upset by the comments of this other boy, intentional or not. Your teachers will be wondering where you have gotten to and I am sure that someone will eventually be sent to look for you; I am merely doing my duty as a mentor and as a mother. Now as I am aware of how poor your instruction on the basics of potion-making has been I will have Callian go through them with you." With that, she turned to look at him with a sickly sweet smile.
"And I will be expecting you to have done the ingredient preparation for the boil cure potion as well."
This time it was Adria that made to speak but Callian cut her off with a look and quickly answered. "Yes, Mother."
Before he hurried over to his friends to help them go over the basics, the two hours passed quickly with Harry soon helping him once he had finished his ingredient preparations. As they made to leave for the evening feast Callian found himself being asked to wait behind, as his mother gave a delicate wave of her hand causing the door to softly close behind the others. He felt several powerful weaves spring up as his mother sealed the room against any prying eyes and ears.
She smiled warmly at Callian now that they were alone, "I must admit that I was a little concerned when Harry informed me that you had been pulled away by your friend, but I can see that you had good reason for it. However, the real reason I asked you to stay behind is that your grandfather has a task for you. He has received word that the Headmaster has recently gained several powerful artefacts and has requested that I ask you to try and find word of just what he now has in his possession."
Amerytha paused as she stared at Callian in concern, he could sense her apprehension as she seemed to be fighting to find the right words.
"I want you to be careful, your grandfather sometimes forgets just how young you are and despite your gifts, I will never forgive myself if anything happens to you."
Callian was silent as he mulled over his mother's words, while he knew his grandfather was sometimes unconcerned towards potentially dangerous situation considering his immense skill and power Callian knew he was a distant spark compared to the man.
Gently he wrapped his arms about his mother, "I will be careful, I promise. Did Grandfather have any idea what I am to be looking for?"
Amerytha merely shook her head after several moments of silence, "No, but if rumours are to be believed the Flamels have gone silent. Their manse in Devon has been emptied and no one has seen or heard from them in months. Something tells me that they are involved in this, but how I cannot say."
Callian was left reeling as he thought of the legendary alchemist, he had met the man and his wife once several years ago when they had come to request the aid of his grandfather for some important working of Magic they had been orchestrating. Even that one meeting had left him awed by the sheer presence the two had possessed, they had stood like giants and being in the same room as the Flamels and his grandfather had been almost physically uncomfortable as he felt their powerful Magic pressing in against him.
Taking a deep breath Callian took a step back from his mother as he slowly went through everything his mother had told him; suddenly he turned to her with a wide-eyed look.
"The break-in at Gringotts! Harry told me that he and Hagrid had retrieved a small package from the very same vault that had been broken into...and if the Flamels are involved that can only mean that the Headmaster has a Phi..."
He found his mother's hand pressed against his mouth and her eyes bored into his, with a look of such intensity he felt a momentary flicker of fear.
"Do not say it aloud!" She spoke so quietly Callian could barely hear her, even with their faces only inches apart.
"I only placed the simplest wards against sound and sight, an accomplished Magi could easily breach them without my knowledge."
With that, she tapped her own forehead and Callian had only a brief moment to nod before he found himself falling into his mind.
He was alone within the nothingness, an endless void stretching in all directions. Not a single iota of light glimmered in the dark, just as his instruction had called for when it came to the mental arts. A place where he could retreat within himself where he would be free of everything of the physical plane.
After what seemed an age he could feel his mother's presence as he reached out to her and pulled her to this place within his mind, it was several long moments before she appeared before him and even then her form flickered as the void within threatened to swamp her.
He could feel her drawing on more of her Magic to stabilise the connection and had to make a conscious effort not to do the same to counter her efforts.
Mixed expressions flitted across his mother's mental avatar, "Your strength has grown my sweet boy, I can already feel the link growing weaker."
Again her form flickered becoming almost insubstantial before she solidified once more.
"I will be swift then. You must not trust the Headmaster. He soon will seek to gain favour with you and Harry both, something is amiss here and I cannot see it. Your Grandfather may not be saying it aloud but he thinks the same as I on this, things are in motion that we cannot begin to understand and I refuse to let either of you boys come to harm. The Headmaster is scheming and it involves you both somehow, plus the Flamels and their cursed Stone have been added to the mix and I admit I am growing concerned."
He could feel her mental presence swell with protective emotion as it wrapped about his own.
"I will be watching the man as closely as I can but I want you to be wary. Stay safe and if things get too dangerous I want you to get Harry and your friends out of trouble by any means necessary."
Callian was taken aback; he could sense her emotion clearly with their minds so intertwined and knew there was more that she was not telling him. More than she was afraid to say, but he could only offer her an affirmative before her mental connection faded away and he was suddenly back to reality.
His mother offered him a tight-lipped smile before he was ushered from the room and he had to hurry to catch up with his friends, he tried to sort out everything his mother had told him but the thought of what was hidden within the castle left him reeling.
He caught up to the others just as they were about to enter the Great Hall and the sight of the many artfully carved decorations momentarily stumped them all as they took their seats at Ravenclaw table, Adria refused to let Hermione go back to the Gryffindor table and the bushy-haired girl joined them with only a token protest but the wide smile told them all that she was more than happy for the companionship.
They once again received a few odd looks from the other occupants of the table but none protested Penny even joined them as she took the seat beside Adria.
The feast was well underway, when the sudden arrival of Professor Quirrell shattered the jovial atmosphere.
The man's cries of "Troll in the Dungeon!" were like a pebble dropped in a pond as the panic spread out from him like a rolling wave.
Several loud booming cracks rent the frenzied air of the Great Hall as the Headmaster stood tall before the students, his voice echoed out and seemed to wrap about the minds of the students calling them to order.
"All students are to remain seated!"
Callian felt a minor compulsion pressing against his mind as he watched the Headmaster raise his hands, he could sense the rising Magical energies but he couldn't detect any actual weaving being used. To his eyes, it seemed as if the Headmaster was merely forcing his will onto the hundreds of students and urging them to heed him, it was truly a monumental feat and he knew not many would be able to do so with such ease.
Once the students had resumed their seats, the panic still clear on all their faces, the Headmaster spoke once more.
"Prefects!" He rumbled, his powerful voice seeming to reverberate in Callian's chest. "You will remain in charge of your Houses, I will leave Hagrid along with Professors Vector, Babbling and Sprout to supervise you all while the remainder of the staff will follow me to remove the troll from the school grounds."
With that the man strode from the High table, the students watched as the genial old man they had all come to respect and admire seemed to fade away with every step he took and in his place the hard face and steely eyes of the Wizard who had defeated one of the greatest Dark Lords of the century.
Even those Slytherins who had regarded the Headmaster as an old fool were stumped as they witnessed the spectacle; the normally warm and welcoming presence was gone as even the least talented among the students could feel the tightly controlled power of a Master Wizard.
A tense stillness settled over everyone as they listened for any sound from the rest of the Castle, all of them hoping for some sign that the troll had been dealt with swiftly.
The minutes dragged by with agonising slowness, Callian idly noted Adria huddled into Penny's side as the Ravenclaw Prefect fielded a few quiet questions from her nervous Housemates.
Hermione was nervously looking at the closed doors of the Great Hall, chewing her fingernails while she quietly recited every fact she had ever learned about Trolls. He tried to offer her an encouraging smile but from the scared look on her face it did nothing to help calm her, Harry meanwhile was quietly talking to Hagrid as the Half-Giant had come to see how his favourite first years were holding up.
A thunderous boom brought terrified screams from the students and Callian could even see the few teachers about the hall jump in fright. It was quickly followed by several more cries of alarm as they heard the great doors of the Entrance Hall slam open with such force that Callian could feel the vibration of it through the flagstones at his feet.
Heavy, lumbering footsteps sounded out as whatever had opened the doors of the Castle moved towards Great Hall. He watched as Professor Sprout ran towards the doors her wand in hand and she all but shrieked the incantation for a locking spell.
The door groaned as it shook under the impact of something heavy, just as the herbology Professor's spell connected with a loud squelch.
About him, students screamed in fear as an angry roar sounded as the thunderous booming impacts resumed, only this time with such force the ancient doors began to splinter and crack.
He could hear the cries of "TROLL!" and screams for help. He found his eyes locked with Adria as his friend looked at him with terrified eyes, he saw her saying something over and over again and it took him several seconds to figure out her words. "I don't want to die. Please, I don't want to die."
Hagrid stood up and bellowed "AWAY FROM THE DOORS!"
His cry seeming to drown out even the impacts and splintering of wood, as he moved to usher the students back.
A hail of splinters rained down upon the students as a thick, slate grey limb bored through the doors, wickedly sharp claws swiping the air while more roars could be heard from the other side.
Even the ancient timbers of the door gave way soon enough and with a hissing fizz, so too did the Professors locking spell as it no longer had anything to work against.
The screaming students fled towards the high table as three hideous Trolls loomed in the now sundered doorway, over a dozen feet in height the Trolls loomed over Professor Sprout who now stood beside Hagrid as they alone remained before the doors. Slate grey, mottled skin glistened with an oily sheen in the torchlight as they advanced into the hall,
From where he was standing by the High table Callian could smell the brutes, their fetid stench was something that he had no words for. Raw sewage was like a delicate bouquet compared to the odour that permeated the room.
I'm sure Ironmane could give one of them a run for their money.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, he couldn't help the grin that quirked his lips, although it soon disappeared as he watched the largest of the trio walk forwards.
The Troll was easily head and shoulders taller than his companions; its only adornments were a kilt made from some scaled hide that seemed almost ghostly white in the torchlight and a large rusted cauldron that had been fashioned into a crude helm.
A tremendous bone-rattling roar issued from the Troll as he stared down at Hagrid and the Professor, a horrid, guttural grunting issued from the things fanged maw as if he was demanding something of the two.
Silence descended upon the hall as every eye was turned to the apparent leader of the Trolls; Professor Sprout pointed her wand toward the beast. "I demand you leave at once! I will allow no harm to come to my students!"
Callian could only watch as the beast laughed at the Professors words, a sound akin to a grinding, gurgle that sent shivers down his spine.
"GRAHNG, NO FEAR PUNY MAGIC!" came the Trolls booming, barely understandable reply. "ME LOOK FOR DUNBRAH! WHERE MY SON? KNOW YOU TOOK HIM!"
The Professor shared a look of confusion with Hagrid but before she could reply an agonised howl split the night.
The Trolls turned at the sound before a scream of rage came from the now named Grahng; it turned back to face those in the Hall with murder clear in its eyes as it lashed out with its clawed hands.
Hagrid acted far faster than Callian would have believed possible for a being of his size and he managed to push the Herbology Professor aside, saving her from certain death as the claws cut through where she had just been standing.
However, the Professor did not escape unharmed as the beast's claws tore through her lower legs, carving flesh, tendon and bone with ease. Her screams could be heard over the bestial roar Grahng gave as he turned towards Hagrid, just in time for the Half-Giant's meaty fist to send him staggering.
The two remaining Trolls wasted no time and began a lumbering run towards the now terrified students, Professors Vector and Babbling rushed to head them off but Callian knew they would stand little chance.
The hall was chaos incarnate as students fled in every direction, Callian quickly lost track of Harry, Adria and Hermione in the mad scramble.
Fighting against the press of bodies Callian scrambled onto one of the house tables, standing above the crowd he had a clear view of one of the Trolls holding a screaming Hufflepuff upper-year by her robes.
Callian acted before he had given it much thought and a spell flew from his fingers, a thin distortion in the air the only sign of its passing as the thin blade of magic separated the girl's robes. She squealed as she dropped several feet to land on the floor, the Troll stared at the scrap of cloth it now held in its hand in confusion before it let it drop with a huff of frustration.
Callian could only watch as the Troll cast its gaze about searching for its next victim when its beady, cruel eyes landed upon him. He didn't tarry long as the Troll bounded towards him, its fanged maw letting out a howl akin to that of a hunting wolf and he dove from the table as the brutes claws smashed through where he had been standing just moments before.
Scrambling across the floor on hands and knees as splinters of wood rained down upon him, Callian soon found himself near the head table once more. The heavy stomps and furious howls' telling him the Troll was close behind, Professor Quirrell was slowly climbing to his feet as Callian neared. The man's turban had been knocked off at some point and as the man turned his back to the oncoming troll Callian was suddenly hit with a deep sense of pervading wrongness.
It was that sudden uprising of dark emotion that saved Callian's life, as something primitive within him tensed, forcing his body to drop to the floor as he caught the glimmer of red eyes in the chaos.
The Troll not noticing his sudden stop carried on, its loping run carrying it over him as it barrelled towards the man. The Troll shrieked in victory as its claws dove into the man's back and lifted him clear off the floor, Quirrell screamed as the brute brought the dying man to its mouth without preamble bit clean through the professor's neck.
Callian felt the bile rise in his throat at the gruesome spectacle, but could not take the liberty to indulge in the urge to vomit as the troll launched the now-deceased Professor across the room.
Callian found himself once more the sole target of the cruel eyes of the Troll as it smiled a bloody fanged grin at him, climbing to his feet Callian only had enough time to weave a shield into existence before the Troll was upon him.
Harry dodged through the crowd, he had managed to grab hold of Hermione's arm and drag her towards the side of the hall and into the shadows next to one of the great hearths of the hall. He had lost sight of Callian and Adria quickly in the madness and had to hope to Merlin, God and the Easter bunny that they were OK. His wand was shaking in his hand but he resolutely buried his fears, he had long practice at it and he found that his many scraps with his cousin's gang had been useful for something other than seeing just seeing how fast he could run.
He could see Hagrid still hammering away on the leader of Trolls; his friend looked a far cry away from the genial giant that had first introduced him to the Wizarding world.
He eyed the great doors to the Entrance Hall and was about to make a mad dash towards them when he spotted Callian's head pop above the crowd as his friend had climbed onto one of the tables.
Harry's call was lost amidst the noise of the clash between Hagrid and the troll, he watched Callian save the life of a student with a sense of pride as his friends spell cut through the girls caught robes. That was soon replaced with pure fear as he felt his heart race wildly as his friend narrowly dodge the claws of the Troll, he made to run to Callian's side but found himself pulled back by Hermione's tight grip on his arm.
Turning he found his heart going out to his friend as her wild-eyed gaze remained riveted upon the Troll, carefully manoeuvring her into the deeper shadows cast by the fire he managed to pry his arm free of her grasp.
"Hermione, look at me!" it took him repeating her name several times before she could focus her gaze on him instead of the brutes terrorising the hall. "I need to get Callian and find Adria; I can't leave them out there alone! I will only be gone for a few minutes, stay here and they won't find you. Alright?"
Hermione began to sob as he pulled away from her and he could hear her soft cries of, 'Please don't leave me!' Feeling a sense of guilt laying heavy upon his mind Harry ran back into the crowd, Hermione's pitiful please still reaching his ears even after he had lost sight of her in the mad press of bodies.
He ran to where he had last seen Callian and found only the broken ruins of the Hufflepuff house table, he was about to move on when he felt a sudden surge of Magic.
Acting on instinct Harry rolled to the side as a ribbon of sickly yellow light flashed past; looking in the direction that it had come from he found himself unable to find the source as screaming students dodged the stamping feet of the remaining Troll.
He could see a few students valiantly casting spells at the beast and he tried to convince himself that it had been a miss fire, but the sensation of eyes watching him even now told him otherwise.
Jumping to his feet Harry carried on, he had to find his friends first, he could deal with potential problems from the students after they were away from the rampaging Trolls.
He reached the Head table in time to see Callian's spell shield form just as the Troll slammed down with all its might.
Callian grunted as he felt the power behind the blow, his shield nearly breaking as the Troll reared back as a sickening crack was heard.
The things clawed hand hung limp as it stumbled away with an agonised howl, its cries drawing the attention of all in the room. A grunting cry sounded out from the other Troll who began to lumber towards its kin, momentarily forgetting the terrified students at its feet.
Callian cursed as he watched the Troll who had struck his shield snap its wrist back into position with the audible grinding of bone, Callian had heard tales of the legendary regeneration abilities of Trolls but to see it in person was something else.
He didn't have long to muse upon it as the duo of Trolls now advanced upon him, he saw his death in their hungry, cruel eyes and felt the burning prickle of tears sting his eyes.
They were nearly upon him when a loud shriek of pure fury echoed out like a clarion call, a streak of crimson was the only warning they had as Faenir descended upon them having felt its master's distress through their bond. His faithful familiars barbed tail striking with devastating effect as Faenir's razor-sharp claws carved the thick hide of one of the Trolls to bloody ribbons before jumping to the next, with them distracted Callian searched his memory for some spell or weakness that he could employ to save his hide.
Strangely it was the Trolls themselves that gave him the answer to his question.
Faenir caused the Troll he was attacking to overbalance and fall back onto the ruined table it had shattered only moments ago.
Small fires had started here and there from fallen candles and poorly cast spells and he watched the Troll shriek in terror and madly scramble away from flames it had nearly fallen into.
Desperate for any opportunity to end the troll threat Callian began to weave a spell between his hands, it began as a small mote of flickering flame but as he pushed more power into his weave he was soon holding a roiling ball of flame as big as a melon.
He dropped his shield with a flicker of his will and as the remaining Troll reared up before him he lashed out his weave.
Flames rushed out from him in a torrent, washing over the Troll with a roar and Callian found himself roaring along with them.
It was as if the world around them disappeared; it boiled down to him, the Troll and the outpouring of Magical flames.
He watched in morbid fascination as his magic ate away at the Troll, crawling over the things hide like a living thing as it ignited the oily sheen that covered its body. It fell to the floor with a thundering crash as its body continued to burn like a giant bonfire, but an angry roaring soon had him stumbling back as the Troll that fallen to the floor launched itself towards him.
Callian knew at that moment his life was over, he did not have time to weave another shield about himself.
But death did not come for him.
He watched in awe as several tonnes of Troll halted in mid-leap before he watched it be launched away from him to impact upon the wall behind the Head table with bone-shattering force.
Following the Trolls flight back to its source, he saw Harry standing several feet away looking soot-stained and slightly singed from Callian's own weaving. But what amazed him most of all was the palpable sense of power that coursed about his friend, he could see no wand in Harry's outstretched hands and knew that his friend had used his Magic instinctively without his focus. Something that he believed Harry to be years away from doing.
His elation at being alive was short-lived however as Harry collapsed to his knees, his friend groaning in pain as his mind began to register the sudden magical exhaustion.
Hurrying to Harry's side Callian was quick to pull his friend to his feet, exhausted and weak his friend would never stand a chance against a fellow first-year let alone the two remaining Trolls.
He found Harry's wand not far from him and tucked it's into his belt before he followed Harry's mumbled instructions until he found Hermione terrified and alone next to the hearth. She immediately ran to Harry's side and pulled him into the safety of the shadows.
"What happened to him?!" She demanded, her voice holding a shrill note once Harry was settled with his back to the warm stones of the hearth.
Callian just stared at Harry, his face clearly showing his admiration of his friend. "He saved my life." Was all he would say and they heard a faint chuckle come from Harry as the boy offered a slight shake of his heads at Callian's words.
Callian turned to look at Hermione a slight frown creasing his brow."Have you seen Adria or Penny?" He had to shout to be heard over the chaos of the hall.
Hermione shook her head as a loud crashing boom caused her to duck in fright; her eyes were riveted on the brawling titans.
"I haven't seen them since Harry pulled me away after the Trolls...I'm sure that Penny won't let anything bad happen."
Callian could only nod, however after the past few minutes of utter mayhem a part of him was keenly aware that anything could happen.
As if to prove his thoughts right, a bellow of pain had his head snapping around so fast he felt a sense of dizziness.
Hagrid lay on his side at Grahng's feet, his face and arms bloody from where he had taken wounds that would have felled even the hardiest of men. However it was the face of the Troll that stole his attention, its face too was a bloody ruin but where Hagrid was laid low by his wound Callian watched as flesh knitted itself together and bones popped and reformed leaving the Troll whole and unharmed.
Grahng seemed to grow ever more wild as he looked upon the burned and broken bodies of its respective companions; with a furious howl, the Troll launched itself towards the students with mindless abandon.
Callian watched as several magical shields sprang up but they were only delaying the inevitable, he could already sense the first of them buckle under the heavy blows of the Troll leader.
Leaving Harry under Hermione's care he ran to aid the defending students as they huddled together, desperate to save protect their teacher. It was only as he neared that he saw the prone form of Professor Sprout and realised with a start that Adria was kneeling beside the women.
Hurrying to his friend's side he saw the tears upon her cheek but she resolute stayed by her Head of House, pressing her wadded up robe agianst the wound to try and stem the flow of blood. Someone had managed to use their belt as a tourniquet on the Professors leg and he truly hoped that it would be enough until further help arrived.
Quickly he ran to join the defenders pausing briefly to squeeze Adria arm as he passed, he was already weaving his own shield before he had even joined them and as the last of their shields broke under the blows of the Troll Callian stepped into the fray.
Grahng roared in fury as he was stopped once more and pulled back for another blow, Callian could only grit his teeth as he felt the strain upon his magic.
He drew upon more of his Magic and reinforced his Weave, only now he was no longer alone.
Those he had rushed to aid had recovered enough to cast their own shields, the overlapping fields of energy glowed brightly as they formed a protective dome about them.
"We need Fire! It's the only thing that will stop a Troll!" Callian ground out as he felt the growing pressure in his mind, signalling he was nearing his limit.
Holding his weave in place became harder by the second as the Troll kept up its mad barrage, he felt the protective magic surrounding them flicker and fade slightly as someone pulled away.
The next thing he knew was the feeling of blistering heat as a ribbon of deep crimson flame struck out above his head, its passing seemed to steal the very air from his lungs as it splashed against the Troll. Immediately Grahng fell back, desperately beating at the flames that only seemed to stick to his hands and slowly spread.
Unlike his own attack, these flames did not ignite the oily coating that covered the Troll but instead seemed to feed upon the flesh of the thing. The rancid odour of its burning lingered upon the air and Callian had to resist the urge to gag.
Eventually, the Troll stopped moving. Its body crumbling into ash after several minutes and the Hall fell into silence.
Nobody spoke and soon only the whimpers and sobs of pained and terrified students and teachers could be heard, Callian realised with a start that at some point he had fallen to his knees and it took a monumental effort to climb back to his feet.
His vision swam and it felt as if his head was ready to burst, desperately he fought to ignore the pain and Callian stared blearily about the Hall before he called out. "Someone needs to go get the Headmaster! Someone needs to get..." He trailed off as the world seemed to twist and he found that the floor was suddenly rushing up to meet him.
The last thing he saw before blackness swallowed him was the scared faces of his fellow students as they rushed towards him.
The scrape and crunch of loose stone under his boot echoed loudly in the silence of the empty hall, the stench of the beasts still lingered in the air despite several hours having passed since their defeat.
Only one had survived the attack on the Great Hall and the brute had been summarily disposed of along sides its compatriot who had escaped into the Castle as soon as the Ministry had been notified.
Using the toe of his boot Denevan scraped away at the ashy remains of what had once been the leader of the Trolls, Grahng he had been told by those who had been tending the injured students and faculty.
The clattering, grind of tumbling stones pulled his attention towards the remains of the high table, he could see the chainmail covered back of Ironmane as the Dwarf was squatting amidst the wreckage.
Making his way towards his old friends he found the Dwarf running his fingers along several deep groves that had been gouged into the floor, he watched the dwarf pluck something from one of them and felt his brow rise as Ironmane held it up into the light cast by the candles above them.
The Dwarf was holding a thick black claw between his thumb and index fingers, as Denevan watched he could see a gobbet of flesh still clinging to the horrid thing.
A growl escaped him as he held out his hand and conjured a pure white flame into being, Ironmane brought the bloody claw close and as it neared they both saw the grisly remains still attached begin to squirm and twitch as it fought to getaway.
"I hate these gods' forsaken beasties nearly as much as I hate Greenskins. The damned things never know when to stay dead." Came the deep rumble of the Dwarfs voice.
Denevan nodded his head in agreement, he had encountered Trolls in their many varied forms throughout his life and he wholeheartedly agreed. "I have never understood the Ministries stupidity when it came to using the mountains and forest surrounding a School to house some of the most dangerous creatures that walk upon the world, next they will be wanting to house Dragons in the peaks."
Ironmane could only snort at Denevans words, "Don't speak such thoughts like that where any of these fool manlings can hear, they'll jump at the chance to dig themselves into a hole."
The Dwarf let the claw go, dropping into the flame where it issued a tiny, mewling cry as the slowly regenerating Troll was burned into nothingness.
The clack of heels on stone pulled their attention back to the ruined entryway of the Hall, standing amidst the wreckage of centuries-old timbers was the weary form of the Headmaster.
The headmaster looked at them with a tired eye as he carefully stepped around the detritus that littered the once grand hall, slowly he came to a stop before them and for an instant Denevan remembered a younger version of the man, only a few years out of his schooling that had nearly destroyed one of the workshops below Castle Blackwood with his tinkering.
Even then he had walked with the same slow, steady yet resolutely unflinching set of his shoulders, even then he had carried himself with a confidence Denevan had always liked.
"Lord Blackwood, I would like to apologise..." The Headmaster began before being cut off by Denevan.
"Albus save the titles for when others are around and while we are at it you can save the apologies as well."
The Headmaster gave his former teacher a fond smile before he replied. "I have to admit I am surprised with how calmly you are taking things, considering young Callian was in the thick of things."
Denevan just snorted a laugh, "You have nothing to worry about from me Albus... My daughter on the other hand." He grinned as he watched Albus' face Blanche at his words. "Besides you did the right things as far as I am concerned. I may have left a few more of the staff behind but you had no way of knowing more trolls would come searching for their kinsman, but knowing trolls, having dealt with their kind in the past I have some experience in burning the vermin out. "As if to indicate his point Denevan held up the handful of white flame that he had yet to dismiss."I do not begrudge you taking those who were more capable in a fight, even a lone troll is no easy contest."
Albus nodded his head in appreciation at the man's words but quickly grew sombre one more.
"It would seem as if you are the only one to agree with my actions." Denevan frowned at his former student and the headmaster was quick to continue. "The School's governours are arguing amongst themselves over just how I am at fault. The Gods forsaken Ministry is looking to sweep everything under the rug, all the while hoping that no one realises a member of my faculty died and several others were seriously injured. The reporters are smelling blood in the water and I have even had to stop Ms Skeeter from prowling where she should not be."
Denevan felt his lips curl in disgust; he had never met a fouler woman than the parasite that was Rita Skeeter. The witch and he used that term loosely had tried to strong-arm he and his family into revealing his daughter's condition after the war, the insinuations she had made had nearly caused him to strangle the vile creature.
He had however had her forcibly removed from his lands none too gently, he could still fondly remember her howls of outrage as the household guards had dragged her kicking and screaming from his Halls.
A personal visit to the then editor of the rag they called a newspaper had been enough to silence her, however, it seemed as if time had dulled the wretched women's memory.
Together they watched as Ironmane went back to searching amidst the wreckage, it wasn't long before the Headmaster spoke up once more.
"You should be proud of your Grandson; I have never seen someone with his control at such a young age." Denevan smiled widely at Albus' words.
"Yes, from what I have come to understand his shields were able to take several hits before they would collapse. His spellweaving must have come far in recent months to hold up to repeated strikes from one of those brutes, that is no simple feat even for a Magi that has grown into their power." The hint of pride in Denevan's voice was clear to all as the two began walking side by side as they followed after the dwarf who continued his grisly task of searching through the rubble for any more troll remains.
"Yes, truly impressive indeed. I doubt even you would have been able to do the same at his age." Albus needled his old mentor, causing the older wizard to snort in amusement.
"It would seem that your grandson is also teaching Mr Potter the basics of Spellweaving. As I understand it, it was young Harry that saved Callian's life. From what I have been able to sense it was a mix of a levitation and banisher that sent the Troll into a tumble."
Stopping near the end of the High table Albus indicated the damaged wall behind, whose masonry was cracked and crumbling from where several tonnes of leathery hide, sinew and hate had crashed into it.
Denevan nodded slowly as he reached out with his magical senses, he could clearly feel the well of power below his feet that made up the school rising like a great wave to greet a former student. Resolutely he ignored the sirens call to delve into the depths of such potent power and focusing his mind let his Magic slip free of his normally rigid control to swell and sweep across his surroundings.
To his mind's eye, he could almost see what had transpired as his senses brushed across the faint traces of knotted energy that was the remains of Spells floating languidly in the air; the vast majority seemed to be shielding spells of varying forms. To his Arcane senses he could detect the multitude of differing presences that made up the residue of the spell constructs, his searching mind easily identified the familiar feel of his grandsons Magic and he easily read the boys path across the Hall.
Denevan followed his grandson's trail once it neared the High table as he focused his power onto the world.
Besides him he heard a slight intake of breath from Albus as faint, ghostly images appeared around them, Ironmane let out a surprised grunt as he took in the sight of the Troll that was suddenly looming over him.
The Headmaster cocked his head to the side as he studied the image closest to him.
"An interesting spell, I'm assuming you are actively amplifying the residual Magic's to view them such as this?"
Denevan shook his head as he walked among the ghostly images, "I create a void within the spell residue that forces it to draw upon the ambient energies of the surrounding area instead of actively doing it myself, I then combine that with a form of mental projections similar to a Pensieve but tied to the echo of the caster of the spell. The results speak for themselves...Little fragments of time that only those with the skill and knowledge can witness."
The old wizard stopped as he came before the ghostly image of Callian as he cowered under his shield, the Troll looming over the boy with a bestial hunger in its eyes. He could see the terror etched upon his grandson's face and he reached out a hand to gently place it upon the images head sending a ripple cascading through the form.
Denevan felt a hand upon his shoulder and he turned to stare into the horrified eyes of the Headmaster, however, the man was not focused on him but was staring past him towards the grisly image of the Troll lifting the screaming man towards its mouth.
Denevan felt a cold shiver of dread creep into his heart as he stared up at the malformed face and crimson eyes of a true ghost.
"He actually managed it..." Breathed Albus, as the two stared up at the snarling visage of the Dark Lord Voldemort raging in his final moments.
