Chapter five.

His first thoughts of consciousness were of the dull ache he could feel within his mind, he had felt Magical exhaustion only a few times in his life and it was not something that he would ever get used to. The pervading throb of pain seemed to grow with every movement he made, to his tired mind it seemed as if a great weight lay upon his eyelids as he fought to open them.

He could hear the commotion of dozens of people moving around him and with a monumental effort, he slowly opened his eyes only to wince as the brightly lit room sent stabbing pains shooting through his mind. The first thing he saw once the pain had faded was the familiar sight of Belor, as the Dwarf snored quietly in a chair at the foot of his bed.

A faint rustle of cloth drew his eyes to the bed next to his own and he saw Harry sitting upright with a tray upon his lap, the boy grinned at him as he ladled a spoonful of broth into his mouth smacking his lips as he did so.

Callian eyed the tray with an envious look as his stomach rumbled in response, another thing he remembered from past experiences of draining his Reservoir was the gnawing hunger as his body worked overtime to draw in more Magic.

Faenir was even perched atop Harry's shoulders eyeing the bowl with interest, Callian frowned over at his Familiar.

"I see how it is you overgrown gecko, someone comes along with a few scraps and you are quick to their side," Callian spoke softly so as not to wake the dwarf.

Faenir merely looked at him and bobbed his head in agreement. It didn't help matters when Harry plucked out a morsel of meat from his broth and reached up to feed the Dragon with a grin.

Callian glared at the two of them but there was no real heat behind it before he smirked at Harry. "I think I might let Hedwig know just how fond of my Familiar you have grown my friend, I am sure she will love that."

Harry blanched as he thought of his own familiar; Hedwig had quickly earned a reputation for dominating the other owls that roosted in the school's Owlery.

Callian chuckled at his friend's face, something that caused Belor to stir in his chair but did not wake.

"How long have I been out of it?" He asked towards Harry.

His friend could only shrug his shoulders causing Faenir to be dislodged with a hiss of distaste before the small dragon jumped onto Callian's bed curling up in his lap with a rumbling purr.

"I don't know for sure, I only woke up a little while ago myself. Your mum and Tyrna pop by now and then but they're helping to look after the patients while Pomfrey's been looking after the worst of the injured." At that, he pointed toward one of the beds where Callian could just make out the wild curls of Professor Sprout amidst the white sheets and overly soft pillows.

"How is she doing?" Callian asked with some concern, the last he had seen of the Professor had been a bloody form on the floor of the Great Hall.

"Tyrna said that she will be OK, whoever put the belt on her leg saved her life. I overheard the Matron talking to Dumbledore, she's going to need to use a cane for a few months until her leg is fully mended but there will be no lasting damage."

Callian nodded at Harry's words. However the images of the Professor laid low by the Trolls claws still lingered in his mind, but more than that he still clearly heard the screams of Professor Quirrell as the Troll had brought him to its maw.

He didn't think he could ever forget the terrified look upon the Professor's face just before the Troll had snuffed out his life with such ease.

The thought of it kept cycling through his head. He saw the man screaming as he was lifted higher and higher, saw the beast bite down and the scarlet tide that fell from its gruesome lips. Only somewhere along the way, the man's terrified face had become Callian own.

He realized with a start that the world around him had begun to spin.

He could smell the blood in the air, its coppery tang seeming to stay with him no matter how much he rubbed at his nose.

He could hear a muted drone coming from Harry but he couldn't make out the words as his friend looked at him in concern. He seemed to struggle to find enough air, he began to try and rapidly draw in a breath but he never seemed able to get enough.

From the corner of his eye he idly noted Belor jolt awake and seemed to be trying to get his attention but Callian still only heard a muted murmuring from the dwarf, in a disconnected sense he noted his vision starting to dim as he struggled to catch he breath.

That is when he felt the familiar bond he shared with Faenir ripple, his vision had nearly blacked out completely when he grabbed onto their bond, like a lifeline.

A sudden sense of vertigo fell over him and before he could try to make sense of the situation he was suddenly seeing himself through Faenir's eyes.

He was fundamentally aware of Faenir's body, each breath the dragon took Callian felt as if it was his own body breathing.

The small Dragon seemed aware of him and he felt a protective surge wash over him from his dearest companion, he watched in alarm as his body suddenly stilled before it began to breathe normally on its own, his body's chest rising and falling in tune with his familiars.

Faenir slowly got to his feet and Callian marvelled as his mind was assaulted with the sensation of lean, powerful muscles moving, as the dragon walked towards Callians own body he felt the pressure of his claws digging into the soft sheets. He could only look on with a sense of wonder as his own face loomed large before him as Faenir pressed its small triangular snout against his own forehead.

With another sudden sense of vertigo, he was back in his own body, the moist heat of Faenir's breath washing over him.

Slowly the small dragon pulled back until he was staring into Callian's eye and he felt a gentle tug upon their shared bond as a single thought floated through his mind.

~Peace.~

Callian could only stare in open-mouthed shock but before he could put a voice to the many questions that had taken root in his mind he was swamped by Belor as the Dwarf pulled his face around to look at him.

"Yeh alright Son? Yeh was close to passin' out on me, then all of a sudden yeh were fine.

Callian could only nod his head as he gently pulled away from his father's hand, turning he stared back at Faenir. The little dragon was looking back at him with his head cocked to the side and Callian could feel a distinct sense of amusement as his familiar opened its maw in a wide yawn before curling up in his lap.

"Cal?" the soft calling of his name from Harry pulled his attention back to the two concerned faces staring at him.

Coughing lightly to clear his throat Callian turned to face them. "I'm fine." He noted the two share a disbelieving look. "Honestly I am. I kept thinking of the Troll...and Professor Quirrell, it kept on going round and round in my head but then...I don't know, it just seemed to go away"

His gaze once more found its way back to Faenir, tentatively he reached out with his magic but he could not detect any difference in his familiar. It was only when he touched upon their shared bond that he noted the connection seemed somehow greater and altogether more powerful.

He softly called out to Faenir within his mind while touching upon that connection.

The dragon's head snaked around to point in his direction and Callian watched as one amber eye opened to stare at him, he was about to pose a question to his familiar when he heard Faenir's distinctive mental voice reach him.

~Sleep~

With that, the small form once more tucked his head under his wing and the connection closed so abruptly Callian was left momentarily reeling.

Turning to face Belor and Harry he found them eyeing him with concern, he tried to find the words to explain just what had transpired but nothing would come to him.

The more he focused on just what Faenir had done to him it seemed as if he had been put under the effects of a calming charm, it was the only way he could explain it. He knew the horror of what he had witnessed was still there waiting for him, but it was as if a thin bubble had wrapped itself around those negative emotions and were keeping them at bay.

He would still have to deal with what he had witnessed but for now, he felt wonderfully disconnected from it all. Settling back against his pillows he found himself thinking that his familiar had the right of it and despite his gnawing hunger found his eyes closing soon enough as he slipped into a peaceful sleep.


The late autumn sun woke Callian and he had to fight back a groan at the ache in his stomach that seemed determined to make itself known now that he was conscious once more.

To his relief, he found a covered tray had been left by his bedside and he hastily removed the lid to find several fruits and a huge bowl of porridge, the smells that drifted up to him were enough to make his mouth water and he wasted no time in shovelling the food into his mouth.

A deep chuckle made him look up to find his grandfather and the Headmaster watching him as they made their way over to his bed.

"It seems that you still take after Belor when it comes to your eating habits, my boy." Denevan said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Callian could only smile around the spoon as he shovelled another laden scoop into his mouth, once he had swallowed the mouthful of sweet porridge he was quick to reply. "Mother often tells me I take after the both of you when it comes to eating. She once told me it took grandmother decades to get you suitable to eat in public."

The two wizards laughed at that and Callian watched as his grandfather's face took on a wistful look as he thought back to happier times he had spent with his departed wife.

A woman who was as dedicated as any Blackwood to discovering the secrets of Magic, Althena Blackwood nee Rosier had been a constant companion to his grandfather throughout the centuries, until her experiments had gone monumentally wrong and destroyed one of the private workrooms of Castle Blackwood. His mother had only been a young woman just entering her teenage years when the explosion had ripped away a large part of her life.

No trace of the Althena had been found, but the devastation left was such that none had questioned why that was.

Callian knew his grandfather secretly felt guilty for what had happened, that he blamed himself for not being there to help but time, his daughter and later grandson had helped to soothe away the pain of it all.

Gathering himself Denevan looked down upon Callian with a fond smile, "How are you feeling? Belor informed us that you seemed a little out of it last night."

Callian gave a small involuntary twitch as he remembered the well of despair that had threatened to swamp him last night, it seemed that with Faenir no longer near the Dragons ability to soothe away his worries was gone.

He ruthlessly buried the emotions with his limited control of the Mind Arts before he explained to the two wizards just what had happened between him and his familiar.

It was the Headmaster who offered an explanation. "You should count yourself blessed Master Blackwood, not many are lucky enough to share such a deep connection with their familiar. I know of only a handful of adult Magi that are able to connect with theirs' as you just described, most only manage a vague sense of their partner's emotions." Closing his eyes the old man seemed to still before a brilliant burst of fire above their heads signalled the arrival of the Headmasters Phoenix companion.

"Given time your connection will grow and you will be able to connect to Faenir as I have just done with Fawkes, reaching out to him from great distances. Given your explanation of last nights events, I suspect that you will soon be able to even see the world through your Familiars senses." The Headmaster once more closed his eyes and Callian watched as Fawkes slowly glided down to alight upon the foot of his bed, even from there Callian could feel the supernatural heat of the beautiful avian.

Slowly the Phoenix hopped closer, its brilliant fiery plumage catching the morning light and seeming to glow. He couldn't help but be drawn to the Phoenix's eyes, staring into them was like looking out onto an ocean. So vast and unfathomably deep you could lose yourself in them.

The longer he looked the more he began to feel as if there was something else watching him through the Phoenix's eyes.

That was when he felt it, a feather-light touch against his mind. As subtle as a snake in the grass he felt the mental probe slip through his defences, before he could try and push the presence from his mind he heard the Headmaster's voice echo within him.

"With time my boy, your connection will become deep enough that you can even share the same mind."

Callian could recognise the somewhat familiar mental presence of the Headmaster, but there was an otherworldly quality to it that he could only assume was the mind of Fawkes. The two were so closely linked as to appear almost a single entity and Callian had to wonder at just how deep the connection ran between man and familiar, like always he found his mind racing with more questions about a new facet of Magic than he knew what to do with.

He caught a slight flash of amusement from the Headmaster before the blended mental presence retreated.

Denevan smiled down at him as Callian was left trying to process what he had just learned. "I will go and find out where your mother and Harry have got to, they went to get you some clothes from your quarters. With a nod towards the Headmaster, Denevan gave Callian's leg a firm squeeze before he departed. The Headmaster was silent for several long minutes as Callian mused over what he had been told.

Finally, Callian looked up at the Headmaster, "I take it that the more developed a wizards skill in the Mind Arts the easier and safer the bond becomes?"

The Headmaster shook his head slightly. "The effort of sharing minds with your familiar is never an easy thing Master Blackwood." The Headmasters face became sombre in an instant, all sense of joviality gone. "It takes considerable willpower to keep the two minds separate. There have been Wizards in the past that have delved too deep into the minds of their familiars and the outcome has never been good. Most would either lose themselves, their minds blending and becoming little more than animals themselves. Others have found their minds dominating the other and have been crushed by the guilt of destroying their dearest companion." Callian felt a sliver of fear creep into his heart at the Headmasters words, at the corner of his mind he could already feel Faenir as the small dragon made his way back to Callian's side.

A hand on his shoulder brought his attention back to the older Wizard, as the Headmasters strong voice seemed to wrap around him.

"I do not mean to frighten you Callian, but you need to know the risks of the bond you share. My door will always be open should you need my advice as your connection with Faenir develops."

With one last smile, the Headmaster turned and left leaving Callian staring after his retreating form.

Faenir joined him not long after the Headmaster had left him, the small dragon eyed him speculatively before Callian felt an inquisitive twinge from their bond.

He was unsure what he should do, the headmasters warning still lingering upon his mind. Carefully he reached out to Faenir, the Dragon offering a rumbling purr as their minds brushed. He didn't allow the connection to deepen, wary of delving too far, however, even that limited joining was enough for him to get a sense of what his familiar was feeling.

He could understand what the Headmaster had been warning him of the longer he stayed connected to Faenir, the ease of touching upon their bond was deceptive.

He knew instinctively that with only the slightest effort of will he could deepen their joining, melding minds until he couldn't tell where he began and Faenir ended. That was the true danger of the bond he now knew, something which he had to be wary of until he could learn to keep both of their minds separate.

Soft footfalls pulled him back to reality as he looked up to find both Harry and his mother walking towards him, Harry held a small pile of Callian's clothes in his arms which he unceremoniously dumped at the foot of Callians bed.

Amerytha smiled at him warmly as she moved to his side, gently running her fingers through his hair. "It is good to see you awake, your grandfather has had to return home it seemed that a few of the Apprentices have run into some trouble in the forest. Harry told me that you had woken last night but seemed out of sorts..."

Callian nodded his head at her words before he informed the two of them of what he had learned from the Headmaster about his connection to Faenir and his reaction to the trolls.

He could see the sympathy written clearly on his mothers face, turning to look at Harry he could see his friends eyes shone with understanding.

"You don't have to worry about them anymore, Cal. We took care of two ourselves and someone said one of the Slytherins' finished off Grahng." Harry softly spoke to him.

Callian felt his mother tense beside him, but she spoke up before he could question her about it.

"Harry is right, sweetheart. I know that dealing with something like what you went through is never easy, but I want you to remember that you are not alone in this. Your Dagün, Grandfather, Tyrnaand I, will always be there if you need to talk."

Harry moved until he was standing beside Amerytha. "And don't forget about me either!" He said with a lopsided grin.

Amerytha smiled down at Harry as she wrapped an arm about the boy's shoulders. Callian could only smile at them as he sank back into his pillows, the love and support he found in his friends and family seeming to relax him more and more with every passing moment.

Finally, he looked up at them with a smile of his own. "Enough with the sappy emotions! Just when am I able to get out of here? I still have a stack of books in my room calling me."

Amerytha laughed at her Sons antics, she had indeed seen the very stack of texts, scrolls and papers that Callian had accumulated in the boys shared room. Harry had even claimed that was the smallest it had been for several weeks, with a shake of her head she indicated the clothes on the bed.

"Poppy informed me not long before you woke that you are good to go, she asked us to make sure that refrained from any Magic for the next few days to ensure you do not cause any harm. Something I will insist upon and I have instructed Harry to let me know the instant you do." At her side, Harry just grinned as he gave a minute shake of his head.

Amerytha seemed not to notice as she continued to stare hard at Callian, to which he could only smile in return.

"I will leave you to get changed, then I will show you two the kitchens. I know you are both still hungry, your stomachs could be performing a duet."

Callian watched his mother turn and begin to walk away, a casual wave of her hand had the privacy curtain springing into action as it closed about them.

Callian wasted no time and hopped out of bed eagerly as he set about donning the clothes he had been brought, Harry merely plopped himself into the now vacant bed as he began to idly run his fingers over Faenir's spine.

"I hear a rumour today that may interest you..."

Callian turned to face Harry once he was done pulling his shirt over his head, he shot his friend a quizzical look as he urged him to carry on.

"Hermione came by this morning and told me the Weasley Twins had seen Snape being bandaged up by Filch in his office, something had torn his leg pretty good. Apparently, the Twins said it looked like he had been clawed by something."

Callian could only cock an eyebrow at his friend. "Do you reckon he got hurt by the Troll?"

Harry just shrugged his shoulders as he continued to play with the dragon, "No idea, I just hope that whatever did it tries again."

Callian could only laugh at that, Harry definitely knew how to hold a grudge.

Pulling his boots on Callian held his arm out to Faenir who once more assumed his place about the young wizard's shoulders. "Come on, I'm starving and we have never been able to find the kitchens so this should be interesting."

Harry hopped from the bed and gave a soft chuckle as he fell into step with his friend. "That may be because you had us looking in the dungeons, that place is like a maze."

Callian nodded his head at Harry's words. "Of course it has to be in the dungeons, they're the the only part of the castle that seems to run under the Great Hall. The switching charms would work a hell of a lot easier if they are positioned directly under the house tables..."

The two fell into friendly bickering as they joined Amerytha, the trip through the halls was blissfully short and soon they found themselves ensconced within the warmth of the Kitchens where they were set upon by a small horde of House-Elves.

The small, frenzied tidal wave of cheer and goodness had swamped them, offering them dishes and platters laden with all kinds of foods.

Callian had laughed like a maniac when he had seen the sheer look of confused terror on Harry's face, his friend had been chased by one awestruck House-Elf levitating multiple trays of food. Taking a seat at one of the tables mirroring those in the Great Hall, Callian found himself watching his mother as she smiled fondly at the small forms running back and forth.

Catching her sons look Amerytha smiled sadly at him, "I was just remembering Selvy, it's been nearly twenty years since she passed..."

Callian recognised the name of the House-Elf that had once served the family, Selvy's forebears had been a wedding gift for his grandparents. His mother had been devastated the day that Selvy had passed away with the grief of losing Althena, his grandfather had never been able to find a replacement for the hole that the House-Elf had left behind.

He had no words to offer his mother, merely squeezing her hand as she continued to remember the House-Elf that had a hand in raising her.

Harry joined them shortly having managed to placate the crazed Elf by taking several plates of sandwiches, soon the two first years were eagerly stuffing their face while Amerytha ate at a more sedate pace.

Little was spoken as the trio just enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, Callian knew all too soon that they would once more have to return to reality and join the rest of the school.

Amerytha stayed with the two of them until evening, finally returning to Castle Blackwood after one last embrace for them both.

Having said their goodbyes they made to join the rest of the student body for the evening feast, the Great Hall having been restored to its former glory appearing as if nothing had ever happened within its walls. Although Callian could not help but notice the plain oak doors that stood open before them. A far cry from the carved and inlaid beauties that had stood there previous.

Having arrived late they became the sole focus of every eye in the Hall, silence descended and the two of them slowed to a stop.

No one moved. No one spoke.

Until the whispering started like a slow buzzing hum that quickly swept through the students.

Harry leaned towards Callian, whispering through gritted teeth. "Do you remember telling me that the staring, pointing and whispers will eventually go away... Well, I think you may have been mistaken!"

Callian could only nod his head as he continued to look out across the sea of staring faces.

Things eventually returned to some semblance of normality in the following days, however, the pointing and whispering continued to follow them where ever they went. Their fellow first years seemed to regard them with reverence, only Adria and Hermione approached them now.

Callian however had seen an increase in students trying to gain his favour, he had been bombarded by letters and gifts from students across all years seeking to buy their way into his good graces after his display in the Great Hall. Even Harry had not been spared the onslaught of bribes, their close friendship had some thinking that he could persuade Callian to favour them.

Between them they had gained a small mountain of texts and scrolls, some of them quite rare. That is not even including the dozens of galleons from where students had cast aside subtlety and just blatantly offered them money for an introduction to Lord Blackwood.

Callian was currently sat reading a thin leather-bound book regarding enchantment Magic in his favourite spot in the library when he sensed the familiar presence storming towards him, a heavy thud pulled his attention as Harry threw his bag onto the table with an irritated growl.

About them the Library's other occupants cast glares in their direction before quickly returning to their studies when they saw who it was, Callian merely raised an eyebrow and was about to open his mouth when Harry looked at him with a frown.

"Don't say it! You know I'm going to talk about it, you prat!" Harry all be snarled at him, while he rubbed at his scar.

Callian just grinned at his friend before Harry shook his head and sat down with a huff, "I just had one of the seventh year Gryffindors chase me for two floors, while waving a damn letter meant for your Grandfather. This is getting ridiculous, I can't even go to my Common room without harassed by someone wanting an introduction out of me."

Callian knew how his friend felt, Harry was only receiving the overflow of what he had to deal with daily. While the gifts had been welcome at first, he had quickly grown tired of people trying to bribe him. He had even gone so far as to research how to create aversion wards after finding several packages placed within their quarters, but other than a basic notice-me-not style ward that he had inscribed into the door of their room he had not made much progress. Although learning how to tie specific people into it had been an interesting adventure.

Harry continued to mutter to himself as he rubbed at his forehead, Callian shot his friend a concerned look.

"I take it your scar is getting worse?"

Harry only nodded into his hands as he rubbed furiously at his face, Callian's frown deepened as he slowly pulled at Harry's arm. To his amazement, the lightning bolt scar looked crimson against his friend's pale skin. He was amazed there was no blood seeping from it, the scar looked merely days old instead of the years it actually was.

"Have you spoken to Madam Pomfrey? Or even Flitwick?" Callian asked in concern.

Harry only grunted an affirmative, before he wearily raised his head to blearily look at Callian. "Pomfrey gave me some pain-relieving potion but that was this morning before charms and she even tried some Murtlap Essence but nothing ever seems to last for more than an hour or so."

Callian frowned before he carefully reached out with his Magic, Harry shivered and looked at him with a frown but he ignored him as he focused a thin tendril of Magic towards the scar on Harry's brow.

He recoiled instantly when he felt a insidious darkness within the Scar, the vileness of it nearly causing his stomach to turn. Harry seemed to have felt it too, as his already pale face had taken on an even lighter hue. Callian carefully eyed the scar on his friends brow a sudden realisation creeping over him.

He had felt a similar vile magic before, it was not something he would ever likely forget.

Harry seemed to sense that was something was wrong as he looked at Callian in concern. "What was that!? What's wrong with my scar?!"

Callian could only stare at him in shock before he slowly pushed himself away from the table.

"I...I don't know. I felt something similar on Halloween. But this...It is like nothing I have ever felt before. I think we need to talk to my grandfather..." Callian trailed off as he continued to stare at the scar, a deep sense of unease falling over him. Now that he was aware of the foul Magic lingering about the curse scar on Harry's brow, it was as if it had always been there but had somehow slipped away from his mind before he could focus upon it.

Harry himself was aware of what Callian had sensed on that fateful night, the two had talked at length about what it could have meant but neither had been able to come up with a reasonable explanation. He could only hope that Lord Blackwood would be able to provide them with answers soon, his mind was already awash with all the worst possible outcomes.

Callian quickly penned a letter for his grandfather detailing what they had discovered and the two set out for the Owlery, before long Hedwig was winging her way across the country the letter tied securely to her leg.

It was several days before they received a response, Hedwig had managed to squeeze herself through the narrow window of their room bearing a letter sealed with the personal crest of his grandfather. Quickly breaking the wax seal Callian eagerly pulled out the letter a small iron ring falling from it as he read through the neat script, Harry was staring at him anxiously desperately waiting to hear what the man had to say.

Callian finally handed the letter to him with a small smile upon his face, as he carefully picked up the ring that had landed in his lap.

"It seems as if my grandfather has formally invited you to attend the solstice festival at Castle Blackwood and he sent along a gift to help you until he can see for himself what is wrong with your scar."

Callian handed the ring to Harry who looked it over in confusion.

He watched as Harry ran his fingers over the intricate knotwork that wound its way around the ring, before coming to a stop as they brushed over the small red gem that was inlaid into the metal.

"What is this?" Harry breathed in wonder as an expression of awed relief fell across his features the longer he held the ring.

Callian stared at the item question in awe for a full minute before he spoke. "It's a Blood Gem."

Harry's head snapped up at regard Callian in shock. "A what gem?!

Callian grinned at his friends panicked expression, he waved his friend to calm. "Its only quartz that is infused with a wizards blood, it effectively allows them to place a binding enchantment into the gem without much hassle.

Holding out a hand for it he carefully studied Harry's face as his friend handed it to him with only the slightest hesitation.

Almost as soon as the ring fell from Harry's fingers his brow became furrowed and his eyes tightened, the pain that had disappeared without him knowing it suddenly returned with a vengeance.

Callian quickly returned the ring as he explained his theory. "It seems as if my Grandfather has woven some kind of protective enchantment into the gem, I don't know what exactly but it seems to be helping with your scar."

Harry almost eagerly slipped the ring on his right index finger, to both of their shocks the band pulsed with a pale blue light before it contracted to fit snugly around Harry's finger before he fell backwards onto his bed with a relieved sigh.

Callian nudged Harry's knee with his boot as his friend continued to enjoy his pain-free moment in blissful silence.

"I believe you will need to write a response to my Grandfathers invitation, but that can wait till the morning. I take it your happy with the ring then?"

Harry raised his head slightly to reveal an ear to ear smile, "You can be damn sure I am. There's not even a twinge of a headache, if anything my head feels clearer than I can ever remember it being." Harry let his head fall back with a contented sigh while Callian merely laughed while he gently fussed Hedwig's feathers, much to the owl's delight.

With nothing more pressing to deal with and with Harry happily blissed out from being pain-free, Callian happily picked up his book on enchanting as he dug out a rather worn journal to take notes. Despite being new at the beginning of the term the leather-bound journal was already full of scraps of parchment and page after page of Callians small neat script.

Soon he mused he would have to ask one of the older years to get him a new one from Hogsmeade, at this rate he would be needing one every few weeks. Settling back on his bed Callian eagerly began to delve into the tome, the only sounds in the room were the turning of the page and the scraping of a quill.


The darkness seemed to twist and heave as something moved in its depths, dragging itself along the damp stone of the dungeon as it made its way ever onward. Here in this place, it had found sanctuary away from the masses and the chaotic Magics above that had threatened to disrupt the tenuous hold it had on its form.

The loud clack of hard heels on stone sounded in the distance, the gentle sway of a warm yellow glow signalling the approach of someone.

The glow of spell light had the Shadow shrinking back and it quickly found solace in the deeper darkness created by the ribs of the vaulted ceiling.

The loud clack of heel on stone grew ever closer before slowing to a halt. The Shadow could sense the figure below with its limited well of Magic, nothing like the one it sought. Barely old enough to have hairs on their chin the figure seemed to sense the pervading wrongness that hovered so close as they peered about them as if feeling unseen eyes watching them from the darkness around them. After several long seconds, they gave a small shake of their head as the aura of fear swelled about them before hurrying on, the clack of hard heels growing fainter as they receded into the gloom.

With the glow of the spell light fading the shadow in the dark slithered from its hiding place as it moved ever deeper into the maze-like passages of the dungeons. Its target was close now, it could feel the hatred calling out to it, drawing it like a moth to a flame.

A smooth expanse of wall soon rose before it as it turned into a dead end, but the shadow did not slow. Slipping through gaps in the stone thinner than a hair it pulled itself ever onward.

It could sense others sleeping nearby, most only little more than dim sparks of Magic barely worthy of their gifts. Gliding onwards the Shadow soon found its quarry and slipping under the door found its prey ensconced behind a dozen minor wards, carefully probing the thin threads of the wards the Shadow only found a few gaps which was a credit to the young Wizard sleeping upon the bed. Despite the apparent skill of the caster, even one weakness in the layers of wards was enough for the Shadow to slip through.

First one tendril then another began to weave their way through the wards until the shadow was pooled once more within the centre of the room.

Slowly a form began to coalesce from that inky pool, indistinct yet terrible to behold, twin orbs of crimson fire flared to life as they gazed down at the sleeping form below. Without warning the Shade of Lord Voldemort drove its ethereal hand into the sleeping mind of the boy before it. A sibilant hiss escaping the shade as used its greatly diminished power to fuel the rage that had called out to it, calling it here instead of being cast out into the void between life and death.

The shades sibilant hiss seeming to come from a great distance.

"Serve your Lord and all you desire will be yours!"