Remnant Legacy
A/N: I own nothing but the idea of this story; all rights belong to J.K. Rowling
A/N: Hope you all enjoy the chapter; read and review, and subscribe, if you like this story. Everyone, thank you so much for your words of encouragement, I've been busy with preparations to move out-of-state, also I have a very fleeting attention span, so yeah.
Chapter 8
Journeys in the night
As the Young boy left Albus Dumbledore, turned to look into the enchanted mirror what he saw was the same thing that filled him with such happiness, yet so much regret; his sister. The image of Arianna Dumbledore, the (mostly) unknown sibling of the famed wizard met his gaze evenly. However unlike before, the once sparkling eyes, so full of like, now were lifeless and somewhat cold. 'Yet she was sad and cold, separated from his as by a veil.' The quote From The Tales of Beedle the Bard was too accurate to how Dumbledore saw his youngest sibling nowadays. Although is pained him still, Albus still stood by the decision he had made over a century ago, he still remembered their family home being torn apart by Arianna's magic and how he finally brought her peace; more than his parents or brother had at least.
Dumbledore moved away from the furniture piece to return to his chambers when he heard the familiar trill of Fawkes. Blue eyes met amber, "come to have another go at me now?" he said gruffly.
'No' the soft musical voice answered, 'That was right of you to tell him about the dangers of the mirror, he may have wasted months if not stopped before long' Fawkes finished, ruffling his wings a bit.
"Didn't want him to be distracted, I need him ready for the end of term"
Fawkes trilled again, only this time this was fast and stopped frequently, anyone could guess that Albus Dumbledore was being laughed at.
The man threw up his hands, "Fine, have your laugh, this will all be a good joke once everything is over."
Fawkes abruptly stopped and looked at Dumbledore with a mixture of sadness, disappointment and pity, "Is this all you've become Albus? Someone so caught up in their own laurels that they destroy any chance of a new generation from growing? I remember the man who defeated Grindlewald, you were truly the magnificent man you are now impersonating. You knew who you were and tried to help others, that is why I became a phoenix and not the owl I was. Did than man die along with Grindlewald and all that's left is a fool who doesn't know the difference between saving someone and dooming them?!"
"Then why don't you leave, if your so disgusted with me?" Dumbledore challenged.
'Simple. I'm bound to you, whether we like it or not, I was reborn because of your sacrifice and I will be there with you when you take your last breath; such is the nature of my species." Fawkes said softly 'One last thing Albus, there will be a new champion of the magical world, whether you help him or become a stepping stone in his path is your choice' with that the magical bird disappeared in a flash of fire, leaving the wizard alone.
Soon the Holidays ended and the students returned to the castle for the last days of the break before term started again. Harry told his friends what had happened while they were gone. As could be expected, there was a bit of silence before Hermione broke it, "Harry, do you realize how much trouble you could have been in, wandering the castle after hours- not to mention what could have happened to you if you let that mirror get to you!" She admonished.
"She's right, there are a lot of enchanted items that contain hexes or curses if used badly. There have been stories of items that change your personality, force you to use them constantly and some that even steal the life out of anyone who touches them." Daphne said, hands in a white-knuckle grip.
"Alright, I get it! Next time I go wandering after hours, I'll take you along with me. Harry said before eating some toast.
"That's not what we're-" Hermione began before Jasmine put a hand on her arm.
"Just give it up, he likes to pretend the stove isn't hot." The bronzette said before changing topics, "Anyone understands what Binns wanted us to learn for that last assignment?" Soon talk devolved into usual topics of students trying to understand educational systems.
The students' spent the rest f the next week adjusting to having classes again after the winter break and returning to their studies until on Friday at breakfast Hedwig had flow in carrying a note from Hagrid. Opening the letter, the letter had only a few words on it in Hagrid's untidy scrawl:
It's Hatching, meet me Sunday after 7 at night.
Hermione, who was about to ask him what the large man had sent when she read it herself, "Harry," she hissed to get his attention "You can't be seriously thinking of going?!" She asked.
"Why not?" Curview isn't until nine, we just go down for an hour, see the dragon then leave in time to be in our beads and no one's the wiser." He answered.
Daphne, who came by with Jasmine, who she had borrowed notes from had over herd them "It's risky at best, while a hatching dragon would be interesting, I wonder what will happen to the games keeper, he had a job to do."
"She's right" Jasmine said, "Hagrid, not matter how much he thinks he knows, doesn't have any experience actually raising one. Even the most docile breeds are known to cause fires, his hut is exactly where you do not want to hatch one, forget raising one."
"So what do we do? Hagrid's my friend I don't want him to leave Hogwarts." Harry asked.
"The children looked at each other, what could they do on one hand, Hagrid always had wanted to have a dragon and taking that away from him would be cruel, however a school was no place to raise a dragon.
The answer came in the form of Katie who had been walking by "What's this about Harigd and a dragon." The blonde asked reaching over and taking a bagel. The first years told her what they had learned. Katie sighed, "It was bound to happen, look, I can talk to the twins see if they can send a letter to their brother who works as a dragon breeder, no promises but if you can convince Hagrid that it would be best for the dragon we can send it away and no one's the wiser." She said before giving a smile, "See you at practice Harry" she said giving him a hug and leaving.
Happy with the plan the group went back to their meal.
Then next couple of days went by and Harry, Hermione and Jasmine made their way to the hut. Knocking they were quickly ushered in, the room was stuffy with the heat as opposed to the chilly January weather, after shedding their coats the children huddled around the egg, which was making sharp, scraping sounds. All at once a hole appeared at the egg exploded, revealing the dragon. To Harry it looked like a winkled umbrella, until with unfolded it's wings to show a scaly body the size of a small dog with sharp fangs and red eyes.
"Aunt he beautiful, he's a-" Hagrid began before Jasmine cut in.
"A Norigean Ridgeback," Jasmine said looking at the newborn, "Not bad, for a beginner at least it's not a horntail or vipertooth. So, Hagrid, what now?"
"I'm gonna name him Norbert and he'll be here with me; I'll raise him" Hargid said proudly.
The students looked at the games keeper in shocked silence, finally, Harry spoke "Hagrid, I know you've wanted a dragon but, it's still illegal to own one?"
Hagrid waved his massive hands in a dismissive gesture, "Codswalup, people just don't understand them, now come to mummy Norbert." He said holding his hands out to the dragon; pulling them back and chuckling when it tried to bite him.
"He's right Hagrid, raising a dragon is a full-time job, there are people who make this their life's work, you could lose your ability to live here!" At this Hagrid stopped before turning to the bronzette black eyes meeting Jade. Seeing she had his attention Jasmine continued, "Look, I know dragons can be lovely creatures but, it isn't fair for you nor Norbert to live here. If you want I know some special reserves in Romania that can take him and you can visit him whenever you want." She finished softly.
A long moment passed as they watched Hagrid struggle with himself, eyes switching from misty to forlorn. After a long while he looked at the baby dragon, huffed and nodded, "alright, we'll send him away, think I still know how to contact Charlie Weasley, just give me a coupa months, but this stays secret, just between all here, promise." They did and the atmosphere became less tense for a moment before Hagrid looked out this window, "hey who's that?!"
They turned to see a family blond headed form of Draco Malfoy running back to the castle.
"Damn" Hermione said ,which was followed by shouts of 'language'.
Surprising the next two months went by relatively quietly, with the approaching end-of-the-year exams the professors had heightened the work load causing stress among the students. Hermione was practically in hysterics until Katie had been brought in to help clam the younger girl by telling her that she was already prepared for the majority for the tests and all that was left was what spells the students would learn at the end of the year.
As the time went by they tried to help Hagrid with taking care of Norbert, which proved to be difficult as the dragon was ill-tempered and prone to either breathing fire of biting them; it didn't help the Hagrid blamed them whenever the dragon attacked them, babying the dragon and turing a deaf ear to any arguments. During this Norbert had bitten Jasmine's hand which turned a sickly color and landing her into the hospital wing with a fever. At this Someone put their foot down and plans were made to transport the dragon to Romania.
On the night of the transfer Harry and Hermione had taken over under the invisibility cloak, Harry gingerly carried the basket that held the infant dragon which moved and sounds of tearing could be herd. Oddly enough the transfer had gone smoothly with the added bonus of seeing Malfoy being punished for being out past curfew. Hover due to misplacing the cloak the two had been caught by Flitch and with poor Neviel, who had been out trying to warn them. This resulted with Detentions and an alarming 150 point loss for the house of Lions.
The following evening a house meeting had been called about the recent point loss due to the three first-years, the two seventh year prefects had gathered the members of the house and were trying to quite them. After silence had been established the male seventh year prefect, a young man with a lanky build, and short, dirty blonde hair spoke "Alright everyone, if I could have your attention, thank you. Now I know that we suffered recently form what these three have done, however, we were all told the same thing when we first came to Hogwarts, 'your house is your family' and as a family they have a right to explain themselves to the house. So what happened" the prefect asked gently. Harry explained what had happened, including the bit about Norbert with Hermione chipping in with details now and then. After they had finished the prefect nodded "So that's what happened, well can't say I'm surprised, it's common knowledge that Hagrid tends to bring dangerous creatures to school, heck Professor Kettleburn often asks him to do so for N.E.W.T classes. Look, we're not mad at you lot but, it would be best if you laid low for the rest of the year, Miss Granger-Hermione, you're fine, you've already eared enough points to cover yourself, just dial it back until next year. Neville, don't stress too much the twins regularly lose use hundreds of points yearly you might want to read ahead, especially in Potions." He assured the two before turning to
harry, "Now Harry, I think you need to lay off the nightly excursions until next year, I don't know why exactly McGonagall took away so many points for being out late, but right now you need to focus on the end of the year, especially with Quidditch finals in a month, Ollie will keep you tired enough with practice until exams are on; right Ollie?"
Oliver, who had been standing off to the side nodded, "Sure Tim, I'll keep him out of trouble, right team?!" the Quidditch captain said addressing the entire team, who cheered.
True to his word, Oliver had increased practices, normally this would have caused a round of grumbling and some resentment towards Harry, however with the seeker's explanation and the fact that they were one game away from winning the inter-house Quiddtich cup the team used the opportunity to bond, eventually the team began say that Harry's punishment might be a blessing in disguise, giving them more time to train and win the cup.
Harry, for his part had begun to enjoy the simplicity of a normal school life, learning the technical aspects of magic and focusing on studying for next year and vowed never to go looking for trouble.
Soon the notice from McGonagall came about the detention. That evening, Harry left with Hermione and Neville in tow as they reached the entrance to the grounds they found Malfoy arguing with Flitch. "And I said, I will not go into that forest, it's in habited by centaurs, Acromantulars and.." at this a howl filled the air "werewolves." The Slytheirn finished.
Filtch grinned a yellow, crooked smile, "aye, you should have thought about them werewolves before you decided to roam around the castle at night. Ah here are the rest of you devils, come on, I need to bathe Mrs. Norris and don't want to waste our precious time with you ..things" he finished, reminded Harry of his Aunt Petunia. The care taker lead them towards the forest, all the while merrily taking about what torchers he would have inflicted on them if their punishments were up to him.
Soon they reached the forest's edge where Hagrid was standing with his crossbow in his hands holding onto Fang by his leash. Harry visible relaxed, maybe this detention wouldn't be so bad. Seeing this Flitch sneered, "think this will be a walk in the park just because the gameskeeper is here? Hope that gives you comfort when the acromantulas are eat-" he said before Hagrid cut him off.
"So that's why yer late, tellin the students that they'll be eaten! Bah, nothing will hurt them while I'm with them, alright you three, you've got this detention for whatever reasons, some not all your fault. Now we're goin in the forest.."
"This is ridiculous! I am not going into the forest" Malfoy was shouting.
"Yeh, can and yeh will, otherwise I'll talk to Dumbledore bout this if you don't."
Malfoy grumbled, "when my father hears about this-"
"He'll say that's how things are doe at Hogwarts, now if yer done wastin time we need to get inot the forest, something's hunting the unicorns."
Flitch decided to speak, "Fine their blighters are yours now, I'll be on my way and be back to pick up what's left of them; nighty night." With that he walked back to the castle
Hermione decided to speak up "Hagrid, what exactly is this supposed to teach us, I mean it seems were being punished for being out late by wandering around the forest at night." She said
Hagrid motioned them to follow him, as the five walked Hagrid answered, "Professor McGonagall wanted to make sure you all understand the many dangers that come out at night and that you shouldn't be doing that before you can protect yerselves." Hermione nodded, a little white-faced as she and the other students followed the armed man into the forest.
They proceeded on with only silence and the occasional whimper from Neville and Malfoy. After they had traveled deep into a forest, the group came upon a slivery pool. Bending down, Hagrid dipped his fingers into the substance before showing it to the children, "see this here? That's unicorn blood. Something been hunting them. Dumbledore asked me to look into it; closets I've come is a warm corpse. Now don't worry, as long as yer with me everything will be fine. That being said, I need more eyes to see if we can find the predator so Harry and Hermione, yer with me; Malfoy and Longbottom in ant0oher group. If yeh find it yeh need help send out red sparks."
The groups parted and Harry was left to worry, while he didn't particularly care from Malfoy, Neville was his friend and it would crush Harry if anything happen to him.
As soon as he tough of this red sparks appeared overhead. Hagrid sprang into action, "Everyone stay here!" he commanded before rushing towards the signal.
After a few minutes of worrying, Hagrid appeared dragging and berating Malfoy, "…who cried manticore, sides now, whatever's hunting the unicorns knowers were here now."
"How was I supposed to know Longbottom, would scare so easily" the blonde complained, "Just joking"
"Bah, aright Harry, stay with this idiot, Hermione your with me and Neville for the rest o the night."
The next few minutes were filled with the sound of walking, joined by malfoy's complaining. A slight irritation began to form from Harry's scar, which quickly turned into a dull ache. He grunted gaining Malfoy's attention.
"Oi Potter, what's with you?" Malfoy asked. Harry waved him off as they continued; the pain in his scar steadily increasing with each step.
Malfoy made a sound, made a sound that was a mix of horror and disgust. Harry followed his gaze to the corpse of a unicorn, bending over it was a cloaked figure that was steadily drinking the poor dead creature's blood.
Either sensing the two or hearing Malfoy, the figure turned to them; the lover part of it's face was caked in silvery blood.
Malfoy screamed before running away for all he was worth; leaving Harry on his own.
The pain switched from searing to pure agony, bringing Harry to his knees; only dimly aware of the approaching being.
Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves sounded and a large figure leapt from behind Harry, sailing over him and landing between him and the cloaked figure before raising itself and forcing the latter to flee. A few moment's passed and the pain subsided and Harry shakily got back on his feet.
"Are you alright Harry Potter?" Harry raised his gaze to find a being who resembled a torso of a man attached to the body of a horse: a centaur.
"Y-yes thank you, um..." Harry said, still trying to get his bearings again.
The centaur straightened, "My name is Firenze, you must leave the forest at once, many beings are ware of you presence here togging, especially that abomination." The now named Firenze said, indicating the direction the being had flown off to.
"Why? What was that thing?"
"are you aware of the properties of unicorn blood?"
"No, we've only used the horn and tail for potions."
"That is because it is a great sin to kill a unicorn, greater still to drink its blood. The blood of the unicorn has the ability to stave off death, however it comes at terrible price: drinking it does keep one alive yes, but the recipient suffers from a cursed life one hardly worth living."
"but then why would anyone do that-"
Can you not think of anyone, especially if the cursed live can be exchanged for a complete one, think Harry Potter, who would be willing to return at any means necessary?"
"Wait, you mean that thing was-"
"Harry!" Hagrid came rushing in, the three other students in tow, "Oh hullo Firenze."
The centaur responded with out taking his eyes off Harry, "Good evening Hagrid, are these students?"
Hagrid shuffled "err.." he trailed off
Firenze turned his gaze, "It's best to take them back the castle, whatever punishment they have inflicted upon themselves has been paid,; the forests are not safe for ones so young. A warning though" the centaur said before turning to leave, "Mars is bright tonight the first sings of war are upon us." With that the centaur left.
"Err... Alright you lot let's get yeh back to the castle, you won't be going out late right? Right" Hagrid said before leading the students out of the forest and back to the castle for the night.
I apologize, this is a rushed version of this chapter, I will replace it with a more completed version in the next two weeks as I will be traveling.
