*Chapter Four: The Prisoner of Azkaban*
Year: 1993, Summer Break
Arthur ended up winning the Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw. With his seven-hundred galleon prize, both he and Molly decided on a month long visit to Egypt. Both had only seen their oldest son, Bill, a handful of times after his departure. Rayne, of course, was joining them. This would be the first time in four years that she would see her best friend face-to-face. Better still, she would be able to see Charlie again as well. She couldn't be more excited, and anxious. The family started to gather around the fireplace. Rayne had packed early, sitting on the couch as Molly hurried the children to finish packing. Rayne fiddled with the fang pendant around her neck. Fred and George plopped down on either side of her.
"So, Rae, excited?" Fred asked.
"Been years since we've seen Bill" George mentioned.
"Yes, it's been too long. You two already packed?" Rayne asked, the two nodded.
"All packed and ready" the two stated in unison.
Soon the rest of the family had gathered. Molly took the pot. "Alright. Rayne, you take Ginny"
Rayne nodded, stepping into the fireplace with Ginny. She grasped a handful of Floo powder and stated her destination, flinging the powder down.
The two disappeared, traveling through the network. They stepped out of a sandstone fireplace, looking around the large tent. Rayne spotted Bill standing nearby. He gave her a sly grin.
"Welcome to Egypt" Bill chuckled.
Rayne ran over to him, flinging herself on him in a hug. He caught himself before they both tumbled onto the ground, laughing and wrapped his arms around her. He twirled her about, setting her back down.
"Been a while, Lestrange. You cut your hair" Bill fingered her short locks.
"And you haven't" Rayne gestured to his long hair, pulled into a pony tail. "And you have an earring?"
Rayne caught the fang earring, then pulled her pendant from under her shirt. "Ah, twinsies"
The two snickered, Ginny moving to hug her eldest brother. "Hey squirt" Bill beamed at his only sister.
The rest of the family made their way through the network, all exchanging hugs and welcomes. Molly instantly scolded Bill.
"When will you cut that hair of yours, Bill? And that earring!" Molly exclaimed.
Bill just shrugged it off. While the family settled into the large tent, Bill made his way to Rayne. She looked up to him, laying the sheets over the cot.
"So, how's being a curse breaker?" Rayne asked.
Bill grinned at her. "Adventurous. What about teaching? Heard the twins decided to take your class"
Rayne laughed, nodding. "They're actually on their best behavior in my class."
Bill laughed slightly, sitting on the bed adjacent to her. "Mum told me about the Chamber of Secrets"
Rayne gripped the sheets, giving a sigh. "I…I should of known something was wrong with Ginny"
"It wasn't your fault, Rae" Bill watched her. "How could you have ever of known something else was going on?"
Rayne looked to him, giving him a nod. She finished smoothing the sheets, sitting down next to Bill.
"So, when do we get to explore all the tombs you've broken into?" Rayne asked.
"Tomorrow, don't worry." Bill looked to her. "I've got a tomb I'm currently working on. Buggars of a tomb. There's some advanced curses in that tomb. I could use a hand"
Rayne peered to him. "Me? I haven't countered curses like that in years"
"Come on, you're a natural. Take a look at it for me, please?"
Rayne sighed in feigned annoyance. "Alright, alright"
"Great, we'll go once my siblings are asleep. Don't want any of them going in a cursed tomb"
Rayne nodded in agreement. After dark, Bill and Rayne trekked through the sands. Rayne looked up at the night sky, then to the never ending sands.
"It's beautiful here" Rayne muttered.
"Coulda been your view for years if you had accepted the job too" Bill commented, earning a slight glare.
Bill nodded to the path. "It's right up here. Most of the entrance hexes I was able to clear. Some gold in the main rooms, but there's smaller doors that I can't seem to counter"
Bill led the way, his wand illuminating the path down into the tomb. Rayne looked around at the carvings in the sandstone, marveling at them. They walked down farther and farther into the tomb until they came to a large, open room. In the center was a sarcophagus. Bill pointed forward.
"There's a door right in front of the sarcophagus"
Rayne cautiously made her way to the door, crouching. The door was small, barely four foot tall. Rayne looked to the runes etched on it.
"There's definitely some powerful magic on this door" Rayne muttered, able to feel the magic radiating off it.
"I can't really tell what it says. Gods reveal under heaven…" Bill crouched down beside her.
Rayne pulled her wand out, chanting an incantation. Her voice was whisper soft as she gently tapped the door. More runes appeared, filling in the blanks on the door. Bill sucked in a breath, watching the door.
"Hidden words…huh" Bill mumbled, leaning forward.
"The procession of the Gods begins the reveal. Seek them out under the protection of the heavens…" Rayne read.
She thought for a moment, looking around at the paintings on the tomb. "The procession of the Gods begins the reveal"
Rayne stood, walking to the walls and slid down them, searching. She stopped at the line of gods pained standing on boats, runes carved below their feet. She looked up to the Egyptian goddess Nut curved over them with the sun set in her mouth.
"Under the protection of the heavens. Under the protection of Nut" Rayne narrowed her eyes, looking to the Sun set in Nut's mouth. She looked back to the line of gods and slowly began tapping the runes with her wand.
Bill walked up alongside her. "What ya doing?"
"The runes…they spell out 'reveal' if you tap them in a sequence…" Rayne tapped the last rune
The door rattled, sinking into the stone. Bill stood, backing up as the door slid open. The room inside was pitch black. Rayne peered inside, holding her wand out. The passage went back a few feet.
"I'll go in first" Rayne mumbled. Before Bill could protest, Rayne dropped to her knees. She crawled into the passage, her back against the roof of the passage.
"Anything?" Bill called from the entrance.
"No, nothing yet. No writing…"
Rayne crawled along, she set her hand forward and touched the stone. A slab fell away, Rayne teetering forward. She screamed, dropping down the shoot. Bill flinched. "Rayne? Rayne?!"
Bill squeezed himself into the corridor, barely fitting. He made his way down, peering into the shoot.
"Rayne? Can you hear me?" He called.
Rayne's voice echoed up. "Yea, yea. I'm fine, don't worry…I landed on a pile of…straw I think!"
"Move, I'm coming down for you"
Bill waited a moment, dropping down and landed on his feet. He looked around at the small room then down to the pile of straw.
"…Why would a trap door have straw to cushion a fall?" Bill asked. "Makes no sense"
Rayne stood, dusting the straw off. "I don't think there are any hexes or jinxes…"
Rayne walked to the wall, putting her ear to it. She slid across the walls, listening.
"Anything?" Bill asked.
Rayne tapped the walls, narrowing her eyes. "This part is hollow"
Rayne stepped back, looking to Bill. He held out his wand.
"Confringo" Bill pointed his wand, the jet of orange fire hit the wall. It blasted through the wall, rubble falling down.
Bill covered Rayne, peering back as the dust settled. Rayne was the first to approach the opening. She held her wand out.
"Lumos" She mumbled. Torches caught fire as it lit up the room. The whole room was gilded, piles of coins and gold bars were laid out. Golden treasures set around the walls. "Bill…"
Bill walked alongside her, peering into the room. They slowly turned their heads to each other, grins spreading over their faces.
In the morning, Bill slammed the paperwork on the desk. Rayne peered up from the book.
"One of the biggest finds of my career! I'll take hours to catalogue everything" Bill grinned, looking to Rayne. "Couldn't do it without you, though. You make a wonderful curse breaker you know"
Rayne smiled, trying to hide her gentle blush. "It was quite enjoyable". Rayne yawned. "Where is everyone?"
Bill sat down on one of the chairs, leaning back. "They went to one of the shopping markets. Told them all about our findings, and Mum commanded that we take a nap"
Rayne shot him a look, Bill shrugged. "She said we must be exhausted for being up all night, and they could entertain themselves at the market for the day.
Rayne laughed slightly, fighting another yawn. "Actually I'm glad. Feel like I'm going to fall asleep any second"
Rayne stood, stretching, then set the book down. She walked into one of the rooms off the main tent. "Night Bill!" She called.
Bill smirked. "Night Rae"
Rayne had been asleep for no more than an hour before nightmares started plaguing her mind again. She saw the same man again, standing before her. She looked around, starring at the whole Weasley family dead around her. She screamed, crying out. Her eyes fell to Draco standing beside the man.
"Don't hurt him!" She screamed, her knees feeling like they would give out.
The man smiled at her, a sinister glee in his eyes. "I won't, dear girl, you will"
Rayne watched him, not understanding. She shook her head. "No, never"
"It's about time you embraced your heritage" The man laughed at her, a deep and evil laugh. "You already have those Weasley's blood on your hand"
Rayne slowly looked down, everything covered in blood. Her hands, her wand, her robes. It was her…she had been the one that killed them…and she was going to kill Draco too?
"Raise your wand and kill him! Show me the Death Eater that you are!" The man roared.
Rayne's arm lifted, her wand pointing to Draco. "No…" She whispered, fat tears spilling over her cheeks. "NO!"
"RAE!"
Rayne jolted awake, starring up a Bill. He was leaned over her, his arms at her wrists to hold her down. He was breathing heavily, like he was fighting her in her sleep. Rayne looked around at tent, trying to bring her breathing back to normal. She looked up at Bill.
"W-what's going on?" Rayne asked with bated breath.
"I heard you talking in your sleep. When I went to check on you, you were clawing at your chest and crying. Are you alright?"
Rayne slowly nodded as Bill released his grip on her wrists, sitting back in the bed.
"You still have those nightmares?" He asked, his eyes scanning over her.
She gave a soft nod. "They're different now. More intense…feels like I'm losing my mind"
Bill gathered her up in a hug, murmuring to her in a soft voice. "It's alright Rayne"
Rayne had fallen asleep, leaned against him. Bill gently laying her back onto the cot. She had a firm grip on his shirt, not relenting her hold. Instead of waking her, he just laid down beside her. If they were still asleep when his family got him, he knew he would never hear the end of it. But, Rayne getting some sleep was more important.
The whole family was abuzz when they came back to the tent to find the two peacefully sleeping in each other's arms. Bill and Rayne sat beside each other on the couch, the farthest from each other they could get. They didn't look at each other, or even glance to the other. Molly was in front of them, scolding them.
"When were you going to tell us, hm?" She asked. "I can't believe you would start dating without even telling us!"
"Mum, I already told you we're not…dating…" Bill peered to her. "…Right?" He gave a half glance to Rayne.
Rayne returned with her own half glance. "O-Of course! I mean, Bill is my best friend…" Rayne coughed awkwardly. "It'd be weird…right?"
"R-right" Bill sheepishly agreed, shaking his head. "I told you Mum, Rayne was having a nightmare. I was just trying to comfort her"
Molly eyes the two. "I always knew you two had something between you, I always told Arthur. He never believed me but I knew"
The two gave exasperated sighs. Nothing on the face of the world would convince Molly otherwise.
Fred and George gave them an especially hard time, as usual.
"Hey, Sis!" the two greeted as they came into the tent.
Rayne shot them a glare. "Sis?" She asked.
The twins nodded.
"Well, when you end up marrying Bill-" George started.
"You'll be our sister-in-law" Fred said.
"Best get used to calling you Sis now" George grinned.
"When is the wedding anyway?" Fred asked.
Rayne was flustered. "There isn't going to be a wedding because we're not getting married!"
"Playing hard to get?" Charlie asked as he joined them.
Rayne rubbed her forehead. "Not you too Charlie. Really?"
Charlie gave her a shrug. "What? Can't have my own fun?"
Ginny and Ron were next to enter, Ginny went straight to Rayne, plopping down in between herself and Bill. She leaned against Rayne, beaming up at her.
"Is it true? You're finally a couple?" Ginny asked.
"Ginny we're not a couple…" Bill mumbled.
Percy and Arthur were the last to come in. For once she was happy Percy wasn't one for jokes, she didn't know how much she could take.
"Alright, let's go explore a tomb" Bill said standing, trying his best to dispel any further jabs.
The family spent the rest of the day exploring Bill's first tomb. Bill showed them all the curses and hexes that were put on the tomb, and the secret passage ways. Fred and George tried to trap Percy inside one of the passageways, ending with getting a scolding from Molly. The family was exhausted by the time they got back to their tent, most falling asleep as soon as they hit their pillows. Rayne stayed up, choosing to finish her book with the light of a lantern. Bill walked to her, setting a cup of tea on the table beside her.
"Thanks" She set the book in her lap, grasping the cup.
Bill nodded, sitting in one of the other chairs. "Sorry about my family…"
Rayne laughed at that, taking a sip of tea. "Please. I've lived with them long enough to be used to it"
Bill smiled down into his tea, sighing as he looked to her. "I've really missed being able to hang out with you, Rae."
"Same. I must say, being a curse breaker is enjoyable" Rayne set her cup down. "Almost makes me wonder if I should have taken the job"
"The offer still stands, you know. After that tomb we opened I'm sure they'll be pegging after you"
Rayne gave him a smiled, shaking her head. "I love teaching, I really do. Besides, while fun I would rather not have the thoughts of being caught in a curse over my head"
Bill laughed, grinning at her. "Thought Gryffindor's were supposed to be daring?"
"Well, I suppose they are. Perhaps I did belong in Slytherin. Or maybe Hufflepuff"
The two shared a laugh. They sat there for hours longer, sharing stories of teaching and curse breaking over tea.
Year: 1993, September
The Weasley family had already gone to the Leaky Cauldron. After Rayne convinced Molly she would be fine on her own, she made her way back to Hogwarts. The murderer, Sirius Black, had escaped Azkaban. He was the one that had betrayed the Potter's, even killing 12 muggles and his once good friend Peter Pettigrew. A cousin of hers, who early in his life showed a distain for the idea of blood supremacy and was even sorted into Gryffindor. He betrayed his close friends, working alongside Voldemort. Rayne couldn't shake the horrible similarities of her and her cousin. Was her nightmare actually a prophecy? Was she destined to betray her dearest friends just like her cousin had…She shuddered at the thought.
Rayne made the thoughts go away, instead focusing as students started gathering in front of the great table. The choir started singing their song, toads singing a note here and there. She smiled, watching the students then peered over to the man that sat beside her. He was the new defense against the dark arts teacher, Lupin, was his name she thought. He was dressed in shabby looking clothes, but Rayne didn't mind. He looked to her, smiling.
"Sorry, don't think we've met" He said, holding his hand to her, she took his hand and shook it. "Remus Lupin. Defense against the Dark Arts"
Rayne returned his smile, nodding. "Rayne Lestrange. Study of Ancient Runes"
The two released each other, Lupin ducked his head to her. His voice a whisper. "Lestrange? Are you…"
Rayne couldn't help but give a half smile at his polite way of asking. "I assume the question is if I'm related to those Lestranges'. Yes, sadly I am. Bellatrix is my mother…"
Lupin gave a hesitant nod. "So, then, Sirius"
"Is a cousin of mine, yes…again, sadly"
"So, you've heard about the crimes he committed?"
"Yes. Horrible and vial if you ask me…course I suppose I could say that about most of my family…"
Lupin watched her as her eyes casted down. He gave a soft smile, holding the square of chocolate to her. "Here"
Rayne looked to his hand then to him and back to his hand, taking the chocolate. She smiled. "Thank you" Rayne nibbled on it, content for a moment.
Rayne walked down the outside corridor, carrying a few books. She paused as she heard pained groans, glancing around. She saw Hagrid walking forward, Draco in his arms. She gasped, racing up along Hagrid to follow him to the hospital wing.
"H-Hargid? What happened?" She asked, looking at Draco's bleeding arm.
"Yer Cousin did a real stupid thing, Lestrange. Went up to a hippogriff without bowing or nothin" Hagrid muttered. "Got himself cut"
Rayne sighed, helping Hagrid lay Draco on the hospital bed. Draco groaned, clutching his arm.
"I-I'll get Madam Pomfrey" Hagrid stuttered, Rayne waved him off.
"No, No. She has enough trouble with the flu outbreak. I can handle it" Rayne muttered, digging through the cabinet to get a potion. She uncorked it, pouring it over the wound. She bent down again, browsing the potions then grasped another. She poured it over the gash too as it healed over, the skin like new.
"His arm will be fairly sore for a few days…best to put it in a sling" Rayne helped Draco sit up. "That was very stupid of you, you know"
Draco gave her a side glance, peering off.
"Let me guess, trying to outdo Potter again?" She asked.
Draco remained silent as Rayne wrapped his arm.
Year: 1993, Halloween
Rayne hurried alongside McGonagall, Lupin and Snape to the Gryffindor tower. They were met by a crowd of Gryffindor students, Dumbledore standing at the end of the corridor. Rayne raised a hand to her mouth, starring at the Fat Lady's portrait ripped and torn like it had been clawed at.
"Professor McGonagall" Dumbledore spoke gently, trying not to rile the students. "We need to find her, please go and see Mr. Filch. Tell him to search every painting for the Fat Lady"
A cackling laugh echoed the corridor, making the students look around for the source. Rayne watched as Peeves came down through the ceiling, bobbing over the student's heads. Peeves, the poltergeist, was a mischievous little thing with a love for pranks and chaos. Rayne had a sort of distain for the thing, she enjoyed a good hearted prank but Peeves' pranks were never good hearted. They could be downright cruel and dangerous. Thankfully she didn't deal with him much, as he never really came around her classrooms.
"You'll be lucky!" He squealed.
Dumbledore turned his attention to the poltergeist. "What do you mean, Peeves?" He asked.
Rayne saw the grin on Peeves' face waver, Dumbledore was one of the very few he did not taunt.
"Ashamed, Your Headship, sir" He explained. "Don't want to be seen. Horrible mess she is. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor"
"Did she say who did it?"
"Oh yes, Professorhead" Peeves' grinned widened. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black"
All four houses were gathered in the great hall. All the students were in their pajamas and looking extremely confused and tired. They all hushed as Dumbledore entered.
"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle" He said as the other teachers began closing the doors into the hall. "I am afraid that for your own safety you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I will leave Head Boy and Girl in charge"
Dumbledore began to leave but paused. "Oh yes" He mumbled then turned back to the hall. He waved his wand, the tables stacking themselves off to the side. Another wave of the wand produced many squishy purple sleeping bags.
"Sleep well" He said as the teachers walked with him from the hall.
After hours of searching the castle, the teachers came up with nothing. Rayne walked back into the great hall to check on the students, Percy quickly reporting to her that all was quiet and well. She went back to the staffroom, where all the teachers tried to get some rest between guard duties. Rayne settled into one of the plush armchairs, starring out one of the vaulted windows to the starry night. What she did not know, was Snape and Dumbledore were now perusing the great hall.
Snape and Dumbledore walked down the rows of sleeping students, speaking quietly. Not knowing that Harry was awake and listening.
"I've done the dungeons, Headmaster. No sign of Black" Snape eyed the sleeping children, looking to Dumbledore. "Nor anywhere else in the castle has he been seen"
"I didn't expect him to linger"
"Remarkable feat, don't you think? To enter Hogwarts castle on one's own, completely undetected" Snape slid his gaze around the room. "You may recall, prior to the start of term, I did express my concerns when you appointed-"
Dumbledore stopped him. "I do not believe a single professor inside this castle would have helped Sirius Black enter it, Severus"
Snape sneered slightly, his eyes darkening in anger. "Not even a certain young teacher?"
Dumbledore looked to him now.
"She is cousins with Black. Isn't it strange, that he too showed support against Voldemort and his own family but ultimately betrayed them?" Snape took a paused. "Perhaps our young teacher is following in his footsteps…waiting to…betray…"
Rayne found herself in the hospital wing again. Seems she spends more time here than in her classroom. She looked down at Harry passed out on the bed, reaching her hand to smooth the hair from his face.
"Poor boy…" She mumbled.
"Looks a bit peaky, doesn't he?" Ron asked as he looked to her.
"Peaky? What d'you expect him to look like? He fell fifty feet" Fred chimed in.
"Yeah, c'mon Ron. We'll walk you off the Astronomy Tower and see how you come out looking" George joked.
Harry groaned, slowly coming to. "Probably a right sight better than he normally does…" He mumbled.
Rayne laughed at Harry's joke. "Good to see you're making jests"
Hermione and Rayne helped him sit up. Hermione laid a hand on his arm. "How're you feeling, Harry?"
"Brilliant…"
Fred gave him a grin. "Gave us a right good scare, mate"
Harry looked around to them. "What happened? Who won the match?"
The children fell silent. Rayne looked to him. "Hufflepuff won. You fell off your broom, fell a good fifty feet. Seems it was the Dementors that got you. Dumbledore is not very happy about it"
Harry looked around. "…Where's Wood?"
George shrugged. "Still in the showers"
"We think he's trying to drown himself" Fred added.
Rayne scoffed slightly, trying to cover up a laugh. "Go and get him, will you boys? He can't spend all day in there."
Fred and George nodded, walking off. Rayne stood, looking to Harry. "Rest up, Harry. You did well today, even considering the circumstances" Rayne nodded to him, walking from the hospital wing.
Year: 1994, January
Rayne sat in the stands alongside McGonagall and Lee Jordan. She watched as the teams zipped around the field. She smiled, looking up to the clear sky. It was a beautiful day for a Quidditch match, with an enjoyable light breeze. Turning her attention back to the match, she watched as Harry dived down then pulled up. The Ravenclaw seeker, Cho Chang was tailing him as he went up towards the Snitch. Rayne narrowed her eyes against the sunlight and saw what looked like three Dementors. She stood, followed by McGonagall.
"More Dementors?" Rayne asked.
She watched as a silver mist shot out, she recognized it as a form of the Patronus. Harry had no doubt casted it and the Dementors…fell.
"Dementors don't fall like that…" McGonagall murmured.
They shared a glance then made their way down the stands to the field. The crowd had gone wild and she heard Madam Hooch's whistle. Peering up she saw that Gryffindor had won, Harry caught the Snitch. But, she didn't have time to celebrate just now. As her and McGonagall made their way across the field to the three heaps of black robes, Rayne was brought up short. She stood there, starring at none other than Draco and his friends. They were struggling to untangle themselves from the robes. Rayne was not sure who was more furious, herself or McGonagall.
"Of all the-" Rayne mumbled, stalking over to her cousin and his friends.
Draco starred up at her with wide eyes as she crossed her arms, glaring at each of the four boys.
"That was a low and cowardly trick!" Rayne scolded them, they shrunk down.
"Detention, all of you!" McGonagall was almost in tears because of her fury. "And fifty points from Slytherin! I will be sure to speak with Professor Dumbledore about this!"
Rayne pointed off to the castle as the four Slytherin students filed past her and towards the castle.
Again, Sirius Black managed to infiltrate the castle. But, this time he was able to get through the portrait hole. Only a password could allow that to happen. McGonagall had woken her in the dead of night, urging her out of bed and to the tower. The students were gathered in the common room, all in their pajamas.
"That's preposterous, Weasley. How could Sirius Black possibly have got through the portrait hole?" McGonagall asked, crossing her arms.
Ron scoffed. "I don't know! I was a bit busy dodging his knife!" Ron glared to Hermione's cat. "And this bloody cat ate my rat!"
Rayne sighed, rubbing her forehead as Ron and Hermione started bickering.
"Silence!" Rayne shouted, the room going quiet. "Percy, have you seen Sir Cadogan?"
Percy peered around at the portraits. "Oh, um, he's right there" He pointed.
Sir Cadogan pulled away from a young woman, pushing her off to the side. "At your service, Milady"
"Did you let a mysterious man enter the tower tonight?" Rayne asked.
"Certainly, good lady!" he exclaimed.
Rayne pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on. "And…why did you do that?"
"He had the password, a whole week's in fact! Written on a little piece of paper"
McGonagall turned her gaze to the students. "And which abysmally foolish person wrote down the passwords and then proceeded to lose them!"
All eyes turned to Neville. The boy looked absolutely pitiful standing there with his head down.
"Is it always going to be you, Longbottom?" McGonagall asked then turned to the students. "While we know Sirius Black is gone tonight, I think you can safely assume he will attempt to return. Let me be clear. You are not to move about the castle alone. And you are not to write down the password! Understood!"
The students nodded in silence. McGonagall tugged on the ties of her robe, huffing and exited the tower. Rayne looked around at the children.
"Go on back to bed, everyone" The students started to disperse. Rayne paused, patting Neville's shoulder as he looked up to her. She gave him a small smile. "Don't fret too much over it, Neville" She leaned down to him, whispering. "I always had trouble with the passwords too"
Neville gave her a smile, his eyes brightening. Rayne tousled his hair. "Off to bed with you, now"
He nodded, following the others to the dorms. Rayne waited till the common room was empty, sighing. Sirius Black was going to end up killing one of her students at this rate…something had to be done.
Later that night, Rayne sat in her office flipping through a textbook, unable to sleep. She sighed, leaning back in her chair. She paused, hearing a faint whimpering. She slowly stood, looking around before her eyes fell on the black dog standing in the doorway of her office. She gasped, backing up and grasping her wand. The dog's ears were flat against its head, his tail between his legs. It was carrying one paw up, blood shining on its midnight fur. It whimpered again, a pitiful sound. The dog sat down, its tail swishing against the floor.
"…How did you get in here?" She asked, scanning the dog. It cocked its head to the side. Rayne slowly lowered her wand, inching her way to the dog. "Good boy. You're a good boy, right? You won't bite me…"
Rayne held her hand out, the dog leaned forward, nuzzling her palm. Its fur was matted and tangled, and shaggy looking. It felt like steel wool and was dull. His body was skinny from malnutrition, he was a poor sight to see.
"Yea, good boy…" Rayne mumbled and petted his head. "So, you got hurt, huh?"
Rayne crouched, peering at the wound. "Not too bad…"
Rayne stood, walking to a cabinet and opened it, rummaging through it. The dog stood, limping over to the rug and laid down. Rayne walked back over with an armful of items, setting them on the floor. She sat down in front of the dog, crossing her legs.
"Alright, just gonna clean your wound. Gonna sting probably so…please don't bite me…"
The dog peered at her with slightly bored eyes, laying his head on his good paw. Rayne grasped the rag, blotching the blood off the dog's leg. She glanced to him as the dog seemed to wince. Uncorking the potion she poured some over the wound as it started healing over. Taking the bandages, she wrapped the leg and tied to gently.
"Alright, all better…" Rayne gently petted the dog's head. "You're quite skinny, you know"
The dog peered over to her. She stood and walked to her desk, picking up the plate with a meat pie on it. It was supposed to be her dinner, but she never felt like eating it. She carried the plate over, setting it down in front of the dog. The dog peered at the plate then to her.
"Go on, eat. I'll get some water" Rayne stood to pick up her goblet, chanting a spell as it filled with water.
The dog munched on the meat pie, licking the crumbs off the plate. Rayne crouched, setting the goblet of water down as the dog drank from it. Rayne patted his head and stood.
"Well…I suppose you could sleep here…don't really have the heart to turn you away…" Rayne crossed her arms, watching the dog. "But anyone finds you, I have no clue how you got in here…"
The dog gave her a huff, curling back up on the rug. Rayne picked up the plate, leaving the goblet for him and walked back to the desk, sitting. She picked her book back up and continued reading as the dog slept.
The clock tolled the hour. Rayne woke up with her head on the book, she had fallen asleep at her desk sometime last night. She yawned, stretching as she sat back. She rubbed the kinks out of her back, peering around the office. The dog was gone. Rayne stood, walking out into the classroom and looked around then walked out into the hallway. No sign of the dog. Had she dreamed it? Perhaps she was delusional and had just made it up. Shaking her head of the sleep, she returned to her office and passed through a second door to her bedroom to change.
Year: 1994, June
It was a solemn day for her, knowing that today was Buckbeak's execution. She checked a clock as she walked down the corridor. It was only about 10 minutes after the execution time, but she knew it was done on the dot. She made her way outside of Hogwarts, towards Hagrid's castle. The poor man would be devastated and in need of some company, and a nice cup of tea. Rayne stopped, hearing the yelling off towards the whopping willow tree. She went down over the small hill, just catching Harry and Hermione screaming as they clutched one of the tree's swinging limbs. Suddenly the two let go, tumbling down a hole at the base of the trunk. Rayne gasped, racing towards the willow then leaped out of reach of its branch. She glowered at the tree, always having a distain for the thing. She broke out into a run, barely dodging the limbs and leaped forward, diving through the opening at the base.
She fell, rolling to a stop and looked about as the cave. Standing she listened to the yells, hurrying up the stone steps. She found a ladder, climbing and found herself in the shrieking shack. Quickly she climbed the stairs, coming into the doorway as Harry and Hermione raced over to Ron sitting on an old mattress.
"Kids, what the hell is going on?" Rayne asked, out of breath.
Ron pointed a finger behind her. "Harry it's a trap, he's the black dog, it's him!"
Rayne quickly looked back at the man. His face was sunken and dirty, his hair mated and unkempt.
"Sirius…" Rayne muttered in disbelief. She backed up to the trio, shielding them.
"If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us to!" Hermione shouted from behind her.
Sirius snickered, shaking his head. "Oh no, only one will die tonight"
"Then it will be you!" Harry shouted as she raced past Rayne before she could stop him.
He tackled the man to the ground, pulling his wand out to point it at his neck. Sirius giggled manically.
"Are you going to kill me, Harry?" He asked.
The door of the room was thrown open, Remus appeared with his wand at the ready.
"Expelliamus!" He yelled, knocking both Harry and Rayne's wands' form their hands, he gestured Harry to back up.
Harry stood, slowly walking back as Rayne grabbed his arm, pulling him behind herself. Remus sauntered to Sirius, watching him on the floor.
"Looking a bit ragged, aren't we, Sirius?" Remus asked. "Finally the skin reflects the madness within…"
"You'd know all about madness within, wouldn't you, Remus?" Sirius countered.
They starred at each other intensely for a few moments. Remus cocked a slight grin, lowering his wand and helped Sirius stand. The two embraced, patting each other on the back like long time friends.
"You…it was you?!" Rayne shouted, snarling. "You were helping him?!"
Rayne held Remus with a glare.
"He's a werewolf" Hermione sounded from behind her.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"That's why he's been missing classes" Hermione glared at him. "I trusted you, I kept my mouth shut about it for you!"
"Well…you certainly are the brightest witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione…" Remus regarded her.
Sirius scoffed. "Yes, you glow like the sun, and you howl at the moon. Enough talk!" Sirius raised his voice. "He dies. Now. If you won't do it with me, Remus, I'll do it alone"
"Wait, Sirius-" Remus started.
"I did my waiting!" His voice was a loud wail, full of hatred. "Twelve years of it! In Azkaban! Trust me, you wouldn't have lasted a week!"
Remus eyed his old friend, giving a nod before handing him his wand. "Fine. Fine. Kill him, but wait one more minute, Harry has the right to know why"
Harry glared at them. "Oh I know why. You betrayed my parents. You're the reason they're dead!"
"No, it wasn't him. Somebody did betray your parents…somebody I thought was dead" Remus intervened.
"Who was it, then?" Harry asked.
"Peter Pettigrew!" Sirius bellowed out. "He's in this room! Right now!"
Snape appeared in the doorway. "Expelliamus!" The wand was knocked from Sirius' grip. Snape sneered at them. "Vengeance is sweet…How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you…"
"Severus" Remus watched him. Snape turned his eyes to him.
"I knew it had to be you two…Lupin helping an old friend…and Lestrange helping a cousin finish his work…Here's the proof"
"You think I have anything to do with this?!" Rayne asked. "Those two are the ones in on this!"
"Brilliant, Snape." Sirius breathed. "You've put your keen mind to the task and come to the wrong conclusion…now if you'll excuse us, Remus and I have business…to attend to"
Snape stepped forward, holding the tip of his wand to Sirius' neck. "Give me a reason…I beg you" He sneered out.
Remus shook his head slowly. "Severus…don't be a fool"
Sirius glanced to his friend, grinning. "He can't help it. It's habit"
"Sirius be quiet!" Remus scolded.
"Be quiet yourself!" Sirius countered. Remus threw his arms down, moving away from them.
"Quarreling like an old married couple?" Severus asked, watching them.
Sirius glanced back to him. "Run along and play with your chemistry set!"
Snape walked forward, making Sirius back up. "I could do it, you know…but why deny the Dementors?" Snape asked. "They're so longing to see you"
Fear overcame Sirius' once grinning face, Snape clicked his tongue.
"Do I detect a flicker of fear? Oh…yes…A Dementor's kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like"
"Severus, please-" Sirius started.
"After you" Snape pointed to the door, nodding for the other four to follow.
Rayne watched as Harry stepped out from behind her and held up Hermione's wand.
"Expelliamus!" Harry yelled as the bolt blasted Snape back into on old four post bedframe. The frame collapsed around him in a cloud of dust. Everyone looked at Harry with wide eyes.
"Harry. What did you just do?" Rayne asked.
"You attacked a teacher!" Hermione exclaimed.
Harry turned his wand to Remus and Sirius.
"Tell me about peter Pettigrew"
Remus and Sirius glanced to each other. Remus turning his gaze to Harry. "He was at school with us. We thought he was our friend"
"No. Pettigrew's dead" Harry shook his head and turned the wand to Sirius. "You killed him!"
Remus stepped in front of Sirius, raising an arm. "No, he didn't. I thought so too, until you mentioned Pettigrew on the map!"
"The map was lying, then"
"The map never lies!" Sirius said, exasperated. "Pettigrew is alive, and he's right there!"
Sirius pointed over to where Ron sat, a horrified look on his face. "Me?! He's mental!"
Sirius growled. "No, you idiot, not you! Your rat!"
Ron looked down the Scabbers in his arms. "Scabbers has been in my family for…"
"12 years? Curiously long life for a common garden rat" Sirius pointed to the rat. "He's missing a toe, isn't he?"
"So what?" Ron asked.
Harry turned to them. "All they could find of Pettigrew was his…"
"Finger!" Sirius yelled. "Dirty coward cut it off so everyone would think he was dead. And then transformed into a rat!"
Harry slowly started to lower his wand. "Show me"
Sirius stepped forward, wrestling Scabbers from Ron.
"Ron, give it to them" Harry commanded.
Sirius ripped Scabbers from Ron and held him up by the scruff of his neck. Rayne caught Ron's arm, holding him back.
"What are you gonna do to him?! Leave him alone!" Ron cried.
Sirius and Remus held their wands out, Sirius releasing Scabbers on the piano. They waved their wands at the rat, missing him as he ran along the piano and climbed down the bench. The two men fumbled over each other as Scabbers made a run for a hole in the wall. Rayne quickly grabbed her wand from the floor, waving it as a bolt hit Scabbers. The rat transformed into a plump man midair, half of him getting stuck in the wall. Rayne let out a breath as Sirius and Remus wrestled the man back into the room, pushing him to the center of the circle they created. The man held his hands to his face, peering up at them.
"Remus? Sirius?" Peter asked and smiled. "My old friends!"
Peter tried making a run for it, getting caught by the two men and shoved back into the center easily. Peter looked around, shuffling up to Harry.
"Harry! Look at you. You look so much like your father. James. We were the best of friends" Peter explained.
Sirius came at him, Peter running from him. "How dare you talk about James in front of him!"
"You sold James and Lily to Voldemort!" Remus yelled as Peter put the piano between himself and them.
"I didn't mean to!" Peter whined. "The Dark Lord. You have no idea the weapons he possesses! Ask yourself, Sirius! What would you have done?"
Sirius sneered, going after Peter. "Died! I would of died rather than betray my friends!"
Peter slipped underneath the piano, Harry blocked the door as he raced to him.
"Harry. James wouldn't have wanted me killed, your dad would have spared me, and he would have shown me mercy" Peter quickly whispered to Harry. Remus and Sirius pulled him away from Harry.
"You should have realized if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would. Together!" Sirius and Remus pointed their wands at him.
"No!" Harry yelled, stopping them.
"Harry, this man-" Remus started.
"I know what he is…But we'll take him to the castle"
Peter fell onto his knees, crawling to Harry. "Bless you, boy. Bless you!"
Harry kicked him off. "Get off! I said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you"
Peter shrunk down in fear, shivering.
Remus helped Rayne out of the hole, a wand still pointed at Peter.
"Thanks…" Rayne mumbled, standing and looked over to Harry and Sirius talking. Rayne smiled slightly, watching them.
Hermione looked back at the moon, the fullness set in the black background of night. Hermione gasped. "H-Harry!"
Everyone looked back to her as she pointed at the moon. Remus slowly turned, starring at the moon as his pupils dilated. Sirius raced over, grasping his friend.
"Did you take your potion, Remus?" He asked, holding onto him as Remus let out an agonized yell.
Sirius tried to calm his friend. Remus dropped his wand as Peter quickly picked it up. Rayne lifted her own wand.
"Expelliamus!" Rayne yelled as the wand blasted from his hands.
Peter looked to them and grinned, waving as he transformed back into a rat, scurrying off.
"Kids, run back to the castle now!" Rayne yelled then ran off after Peter.
Rayne raced through the forest, dodging tree branches. She kept her eyes on the rat, flicking her wand trying to transform him again. The rat zipped this way and that, always just out of Rayne's reach. Rayne watched as the rat raced up a small hill, Rayne hurried after him and found the hill came to an abrupt slop. She slipped, falling down the short valley and slammed against the forest ground. She groaned, rolling over and sat up. No Peter Pettigrew in sight.
"Damn…" Rayne cursed, slowly pushing herself back to her feet. She looked around the clearing, in the center a large tree.
The twig crunched, making Rayne flinch and turn. Her eyes slid along the forest edge. The two forms backed up from behind the tree, facing the other way. She held her wand out. "Hey!" She snapped.
The two figures jumped, whirling around to face her. Rayne stopped, starring at Harry and Hermione.
"Harry…Hermione…how did you…" Rayne pointed behind herself and stared at them in awe.
The two gasped, backing up. "Professor, look out!"
Rayne wheeled around, starring at the werewolf as it crept at her. It leaped at her, teeth bared. She held her wand up just as a creature knocked into the wolf, sending it careening against from rocks.
"B-Buckbeak?" Rayne asked, watching to Hippogriff face off with the werewolf.
Buckbeak kicked up on its hind legs, driving the wolf back into the deeper parts of the forest. Rayne tried to catch her breath, her heart pounding against her ribcage. She turned back to the two, her eyes falling on Hermione's necklace.
"A time turner?" Rayne asked, looking to them.
"I-It was under Dumbledore's discretion, in the hospital wing he-" Hermione started, Rayne stopped her.
"You're not in trouble…go now, quickly…fix this…"
The two nodded, racing off towards the lake. Rayne turned, trekking her way back to Hogwarts. Nothing could be normal.
When she was able to make it back to Hogwarts, she went straight to the hospital wing. She raced in as Dumbledore peered back to her.
"Ah Lestrange. There you are" He commented then looked back to Harry and Hermione. "Three turns should do it, I think"
He walked to the door, turning to close them. He stepped, looking at them. "Oh, and by the way. When in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin. Good luck"
Rayne scoffed slightly, understanding what was happening. Ron looked from Harry to Hermione. "What the bloody hell was that all about?"
Rayne watched as Hermione pulled the necklace around herself and Harry, turning the small hourglass. The two seemed to vanish, suddenly walking through the doors of the hospital wing. Ron watched them, pointing.
"How did you get there? I was talking to you there…and now you're there"
Hermione looked to Harry. "What's he talking about, Harry?"
Rayne grinned slightly at the two, Harry shrugged. "Dunno"
Rayne looked back to Ron. "How can somebody by in two places at once?"
Harry and Hermione laughed, Rayne looking back to them. She walked to them, patting their shoulders before leaving the wing.
Rumors around the school spread like wildfire. Professor Lupin was a werewolf. Rayne heard from other Professors that he had turned in his resignation. She hurried down the hall, hoping to catch him before he left. She found him walking from his classroom, carrying a trunk.
"Professor?" She asked. He looked over to her, giving her a smile.
"Not a Professor anymore"
Rayne stopped in front of him, abruptly embracing him. Remus tensed slightly, not knowing what to do. He gently patted her back, hugging her back. She pulled back, starring up at him.
"Thank you. For how you helped Harry. Also," Rayne dug into the pocket of her robe. "I have a parting gift for you"
She pulled out the gold key, handing it to him. He looked at it, then to her and cocked an eyebrow.
"Vault 394" Rayne smiled. "Not much, but enough I hope"
Remus starred at her, smiling and hugged her. "Thanks, Miss Lestrange. Oh, I was able to talk to…well, him before he left. He told me to thank you for the meat pie. Not too sure what that means…"
Rayne squinted her eyes, not getting what the message meant. Then it dawned on her, the black dog.
"That was him…" Rayne muttered to herself then looked to Remus. "Um, thanks…"
The two waved, going their opposite ways. Rayne held back her tears. She was going to miss Remus, he really was an amazing teacher and such a kind man for what he was dealing with.
I couldn't decide if the scene with Bill and Rayne should be him feigning ignorance about how to unlock the tomb so that he and Rayne could do it together or he really didn't know how to open the tomb. So, I left that conclusion up to you; the readers. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!