The Raptor and the Raven
Chapter 14: A howl of Hope
--Last Chapter--
A black shape appeared in her vision as her brain registered the impact and that she was falling backwards. The spy laughed as the two lay still. "Oh look I killed two with one spell."The person turned to face those watching and the hood fell back to reveal..........
--Now--
Severus Snape was stunned as he watched his beloved fall. He felt the inhuman scream that shattered the shock that held him captive. Toboe had tears running down her face, Then he saw why. Her black wolf was stretched over Hermione's body. She reached out her hand to the wolf. "Severus. Beloved are you alright?" She had gone into shock. Poppy laughed darkly. "Well not only did I kill the mudblood but that abomination as well." She threw her head back and laughed. For Toboe time had stopped as she stood there, over and over again the scene repeated itself in her head and her mind shut down instinct took control. The outer rings of Toboe's eyes started to glow as tears continued to drip down her face, she took seven steps until she was behind the laughing woman. Poppy felt a hand wrap around her throat and tried to gasp out a spell . Then a sickening snap was heard and her body dropped spinelessly to the floor. The students were shocked the see the professor snap a persons neck like a twig.
Toboe stepped over the body her hand stretched out towards the fallen pair on stage. "Severus....Can you hear me?" She rasped as she climbed onto the stage and crawled to the two lying there. Severus Snape had never felt such a pain as the one that was weighing in his chest as Toboe gently moved the wolf off of Hermione and held its head in her lap. "Hermione" He whispered as he set his hand on her cheek. Dumbledore heard the startled cry Snape released as he touched Ms. Granger. "She's alive!" Severus called and Harry and Ron nearly bowled him over to get to her. "Hermione!" both called and her eyes fluttered and opened. "I'm here"He gave her his trademark smirk and Hermione smiled back. Harry helped her sit up and she noticed Toboe's slowly rocking form. "Escara no Mara hite miya lonia" Toboe mumbled over and over again, as she rocked she had her fingers locked into the wolf's pitch black fur. "I can't understand whats she saying" Draco said as he sat next to the distraught professor. "Its a dead language called wolvish" Remus muttered as he embraced the crying woman. Then Draco saw it. "hey I thought I saw his paw twitch."Then the wolf moved and Toboe looked shocked as Severus licked her cheek. "Severus" She mumbled the wolf name over and over again as she hugged him to her. He wiggled and she let him get to his feet,the wolf stood and as he shook himself his collar fell from his neck broken. The wolf turned and looked at Hermione for a moment before sitting before his bonded and allowing her to cry all over him.
Toboe sat their her arms wrapped around the wolf, her fingers gently checking for any wounds on him. I am fine beloved, that curse has no effect on the blood-bound. Merlin gifted us with protection. She looked up in shock her green eyes wide, as her shoulder was shaken she turned to see Remus standing there. "Remus....If only I had bound him to me also." And with that she fainted, her energy gone. Severus turned as he felt Mirzam approach his right shoulder. She will live but her soul is screaming in pain. The white she-wolf followed as the two women were carried out of the great hall. When Toboe's eyes opened next she tried to sit up and was stopped by Lucius. "You need to rest Toboe, You could very easily catch pneumonia." She settled down and rested against the pillows. "Lucius, how long was I out?" The blond smirked before replying. "about two weeks, Granger Is alive thanks to your wolf." Toboe nodded and turned her head to look out the window towards the setting sun. "you scared the hell out of the other teachers."She gave a small smile before turning her head back to the window. "I'm alright Lucius, Just tired." He nodded and left her with her wolf. Toboe saw her wand laying on the bedside table and picked it up, the smooth wood comforting the woman. What do I do Beloved? You must stand strong my dark one, Let no one shake your resolve. Severus I feel so alone.... You are never alone as long as I live. Thank you. The conversation between wolf and woman could have taken hours for all Toboe knew as the sun had set and the full moon gave her an unwinking stare. Her right hand sought her wolf's head and she sat there in the moonlight, her eyes closed listening to the sound oh her heart beating.
Harry and the others were meeting in the room of requirement, Draco and his house had just settled down when the door opened and Hermione hobbled in. "Hermione! Your not supposed to be up yet." Ron yipped was she settled into a very comfy chair that had appeared. "I didn't want to be left out Ron, I felt alone in the common room." He nodded; sat down near her feet and looked to Harry to start the meeting. "Well these last two weeks have been hell for us all. Lets keep it short tonight, Any one have anything to report?" Draco Stood and the floor was given. "My father spends a great deal of time watching Toboe to see if she awakens, so far she hasn't but when he isn't there Remus is." Hermione lowered her head in shame she hadn't yet visited her friend who had collapsed into a coma after that night at the ball. Severus had escorted her to the outer door of the room tonight because she had wanted to come to the meeting. How Hermione wished she could have Severus in with her at the meetings, he was very comfortable to lay on and he was good at plotting. But she knew the boys would never allow it, so she kept it to herself. Hermione did decide however to visit Toboe after the meeting was over. Blaze saw the look cross Granger's eyes and decided to pay a visit to their fallen professor tonight, and pray for some advice. It was a couple of hours later when the meeting finally ended and they separated, Draco noticed the darkening of the shadows near the door and recognized his god-father. None of them that night made it to see Toboe, the professors were patrolling the hall diligently.
When the dawn rose and woke Toboe from her light slumber, eyes bright once again. "Its time Severus!" She smiled the wolf leaped from the bed in joy. Down the great hall the students gathered for breakfast. The gryffindor's seemed to lose there normal loudness and waited to eat in silence, while the Slytherin's radiated an air of total hostility. The Ravenclaw's had no books at their table, and weren't chattering constantly. The Hufflepuff's seemed paranoid and discontent. Dumbledore looked out on his students with uncertainty, while his twinkling eyes were quiet. "Headmaster I have something to tell you." Lucius started to say before the doors slammed open, a shape heading full force for the head table. "Look Its Severus!" One of the Slytherin's yelled as the now recognized black wolf skid to a stop, between the head table and the house tables. He turned and howled, his voice a deep powerful sound that awoke hearts and cleared minds. "What happened! Is Professor Wolfwalker alright??" Greg Goyle bellowed.
The wolf howled again and took off down the table line and out of the hall. "After Him!" Draco and Harry commanded and the students chased the black guardian. The Professors took off after the students wands drawn wondering what the hell was going on. The great doors had been thrust open and the students were pouring out and across the field after the wolf. Severus saw that he had the whole school onto the field so he skid to a stop and howled again rearing, nose pointed to the sky. The students stopped wondering what the hell was going on when a voice answered the wolf's howl, the new voice was strong and deep its tones making one among them cry. Ginny looked up to see something coming across the lake, before sending up a cry of her own. "Professor Wolfwalker!!!!" Her scream was heard by the professors a moment before Toboe came into full view, her black wings beating against the morning sky as she flew over the students. Toboe circled around the professors before darting into the sky. A few moments later Toboe settled between the students and the teachers, her wings open and gleaming in the morning light. "Hello Headmaster I'm back." Dumbledore could see the fire behind her eyes and nodded. "Welcome Back Professor."Toboe tipped her head back and howled her voice soothing the were-wolf within Remus. Sing with her boy! Why? The were-wolf snarled and shoved enough against the mental barriers to make Remus howl. The two professor's voices gave hope once again to the students.
The meaning to the Wolvish in the chapter:
Escara no Mara hite miya lonia: I beg you, Please don't leave me alone.