Chapter Three- Of Death Eaters And Weasley Courtesy

"…honestly don't care much for muggles. Nasty little things they are. Remember when our lot were last here? The way they carried on you'd think we wanted to bleed them dry!"

Raiye shook her head at Laeo and grinned over at Harry. He had been surprised when he could hear every word they spoke, whether they shouted or whispered. Alena had explained that the Weylans, the winged horses, had more magic than the oldest unicorn. They had weaved their magic about the small group and allowed each beat of their wings to take them further and had also gifted their riders with something akin to the sonorous charm. He looked down and frowned.

"How close are we to The Burrow?"

Impan raised his eyebrows. "Sick of us already?"

"No. But I think maybe we should hurry." He pointed down and heard the curses stream from them as their eyes instantly latched on to the figures riding atop brooms that glided silently below them.

"Oh, for…looks like the leisurely ride is about to end. You know the drill!" Alena's eyes flashed dangerously and the air about her shimmered darkly.

"Righteo, this ought to be fun." Raiye glowed white and drew herself closer to him.

Impan was a warm fire red. "Fun? Understatement. Do you think they'll ever learn?"

"Our lot haven't even dared fly near this part of the world since that idiot sought to take it over. Death Eaters always think that their pure-blood makes them better." Laeo shook his head as a strange silver green aura shot up around him. He settled himself above Harry while Impan fly over to his other side.

"What are you doing? Why are we stopping?" Harry's voice rose a little. He had never had an escort who might actually put him in danger.

"You're not in danger." Alena was suddenly in front of him. "They're not actually after you. They want us."

"Ah, so the Dark Lord was right in his assumption that the famed Wylerian foursome actually had some brain power between them." A cold voice broke through the night air as the Death Eaters swarmed around them. "Ready to join us?"

Impan laughed. "Join you? We're more likely to destroy you. Want a demonstration?" Flames suddenly licked at one of the broom tails, eating along the wood and destroying it in a matter of moments. The cloaked figure screamed as he fell through the clouds.

"Impressive. The Dark Lord will be pleased to know that the power you possess can get past even the strongest of magical wards."

Raiye was glaring at one of the robed figures. He was flying rather close to the beating wings of her Weylan. With a flick of her hand a ball of white light slammed into them, sending him, and several others, to their deaths far below the clouds. "Oh, I'm sure he will be pleased. But power cannot be handled except by those born into it. To wave a wand around and say silly little words, mind you ones that kill, is more pathetic than the ignorance of a muggle!"

Her anger seemed to cause some of them to shy away from here. Three of them were now glowing brightly, their auras shining in their respective colours. But Alena seemed to almost melt into the night, her vivid purple eyes like beacons in the dark.

"How many times must you foolishly come near us? How many times must we prove that we have no remorse for your deaths? Unless you leave, you will join your companions in the realms of the shadows. Make your decision, and make it NOW!"

Her voice was chillingly icy, making Harry shiver inwardly. The power that was radiating from her was surprisingly frightening. He had no doubt in his mind that she would follow her threat with physical violence.

"Very well. You have made your choice. But know this, no Wylerian will be safe from the wrath of our Lord. No matter where they hide."

"We don't fear you, Death Eater." The way Laeo said the words made them sound like an insult. "To fear you would mean we are mortal. I'm sure your precious Lord Voldemort understands that while we live, none of our kind will look his way. He has nothing to offer us that we cannot have. Now leave."

The Death Eaters stayed still a moment, floating in the air, before a signal was given and they retreated back beneath the clouds.

"Do tell him we hope he dies!" Raiye sneered at their retreating backs.

"Well, that was certainly interesting."

"They were after you." Harry blinked and looked around at his escort. "Why?"

"We have a great deal of power, Harry. Voldemort wants the strongest by his side. And he wants us for what comes naturally within our blood." Alena shook her head. "He once tried to coerce some of us into his movement by swearing that we could use what came so naturally to us." She nodded to the other three and the Weylans began moving forward again.

Raiye smiled sadly and watched as Alena moved out of sight into the shadows that wrapped around her. "She's talking about her own kind."

"I thought you were all the same? Didn't the Death Eaters call you Wylerians?"

"They did. That's what our race is called. But there are separate sections, kinds, that make us all different. While we are all adept at the Dark Arts, and I assure you we rarely use them to kill, Alena is…well…pure night, for lack of a better saying. She controls everything the domain of the shadows, meaning that which is beyond our ability to see. Not to mention the actual element of Night."

"It means that anyone like her, and there are precious few now, are exiled in most parts of the world. Terra Australis is the only place we are safe." Impan yawned widely. "Hope we're close. Getting tired here."

"If it's cold, you're tired. If it's the middle of a damn volcano you shoot off like a bloody rocket!" Laeo rolled his dark green eyes. "Are you ever normal?"

"Hey! This is normal. Just cos you're more comfortable in a pit of writhing snakes doesn't mean I'm any more of a freak than you!"

"Oh, shut up the pair of you. Honestly, you're like an old married couple." Raiye grinned as a ball of fire and bright green light shot passed her as she ducked. "You also have bad aim."

"How about all of you be quiet? The Weasley residence is directly below us." Alena smiled in a slow, sad kind of way. "Be ready to be questioned. And please, do try to be nice?"

"Sure."

"Right."

"Of course."

Alena shook her head and lead them down back through the clouds. Harry grinned when he saw the strangely constructed Burrow. Selean shifted from her position on his hands, lifting her head out from under her wing and blinking sleepily. The five Weylans beat their wings in a backwards motion, effectively slowing them down before lightly landing on the grass not too far from the front door. Harry slipped down, his little companion jumping back onto his shoulder as he did. He stroked the velvety nose of his Weylan and waited for someone to come greet them.

"Think they're awake?"

"Think she would sleep?"

"Hardly. Trusts us less than…what was his name?"

"Mundungus?"

"Yeah, him. I reckon she'll ask us that stupid question again."

"Probably didn't listen when we told her our forms can't be copied."

"Nor our elements. Think that muggle-born read up on us?"

"You think any of 'em could stop her?"

"True. Like to see what she read though."

"It's only bad stuff. Oh, look. Here comes one now."

Harry was smirking as he listened to the four talk behind him. They certainly did chop and change as they spoke. Reminded him of the twins actually. He stared in disbelief as Mrs Weasley came out the door and promptly stopped several metres away with her wand raised levelly with his escort.

"Names." She barked with a narrowing of her eyes.

"Oh, god. Not this again." Impan whined and then glared as Alena shrugged. "Fine. Impan."

"Raiye."

"Laeo."

"Alena."

"Surnames?"

"We don't have any. You know that." Laeo sniffed and leaned against his Weylan.

"I have to ask these questions. A Death Eater could have--."

"Could have what? Used some potion to be us? We explained all of this. If they tried it, they would be turned into a creature of our own element. Hardly something I think they'd want to experience. It is permanent you know."

"Oh! Remember when we fought at Hogsmeade? And that guy actually did use a potion?"

"Oh, yeah. That was funny. He was like a cross between a griffin and a Weylan."

"Right! Remember how when he tried to hex us, his magic retaliated and beat him up?"

"That wasn't funny!" Alena looked sharply at them, before a slow smirk crept onto her face. "It was the most hilarious thing I'd seen since Grindelwald!"

Their laughter was beautiful, Harry thought. It was like he was hearing rain and wind, a storm and fire all filling the air with magical notes. In fact it looked like laughing was actually good for the four. As he watched he noticed that strands of shadows that had been clinging to their glowing auras were retreating. Alena seemed to step out of the shadows that had obscured her from his sight.

"Mrs Weasley. We will only say this once more, we wish for you to never ask us those silly Ministry questions ever again. It is demeaning for a Wylerian to be put in the same category as a Witch or Wizard."

"Oh. Well, I'm sorry we are so beneath you." Mrs Weasley sounded like she wanted nothing more than to hex them into next year.

"We did not mean it that way. We have not fought in your battles so that we could be treated like enemies. More blood has been shed these past few months because witches and wizards refuse to believe us. We cannot help but defend ourselves. No more blood will be spilled while we are here."

"Please put your wand away." Raiye inclined her head towards the red head.

"We're only here to bring Harry to you." Laeo frowned when the witch finally realised that Harry stood with them.

"Oh, Harry!"

"And to put our own wards around your home." Impan lifted a hand and clicked his fingers, sparks flying.

"Wards? We have plenty."

"But any Death Eater could get past them. With these we will be alerted to any intrusions. And before you complain…" Mrs Weasley was about to open her mouth when he raised an eyebrow. "We have no need to be here. The wards are set to protect your house and its occupants, as well as warn us to any impending attacks."

"If they are unable to be repelled, representatives will arrive to ensure that your family and guests will remain safe. A home is not something to be destroyed by evil."

"And don't ask us what representatives. You will know them by sight, and I'm sure your muggle-born guest will figure it all out."

"Probably has by now."

"She was rather…genius like?"

"Genius? Bit rich don't you think?"

"Nah, the girl has a brain. Ought to be complimented on it I think."

Alena shook her head as the other three continued to talk in their short sentences, creating a rather confusing conversation that bewildered Molly. She turned to Harry and smiled down at him. Her eyes glowed bright violet a moment and her hand darkened, wisps of shadows encircling it. She raised it and touched the very tip of Selean's tiny wings, a bright silver glow almost blinding Harry.

"She will grow now. Love her, Harry, for she has very little chance of succeeding in the world as she is. Do not be frightened if she changes. Black was never her colour. She is more a creature of the light, far too beautiful to belong to the dark."

"Why are you there then?"

Her eyes danced with laughter. "Thank you. But let's save that conversation for another time, shall we?" At his disbelieving look she placed a hand on his arm. He could feel the burn that came from the presence of powerful magic and for a moment he was lost in her memories, seeing her life as she thought back on it. "We will see each other again, and much sooner than you think."

He nodded, dumbfounded by what he had seen. "Good bye."

Alena turned back to her now bickering companions and let the cool façade fall. In its place was a weary woman, eyes holding far too many memories, and yet…the way she smiled made her appear as if nothing could go wrong. The shadows swirled around her as she moved, putting her mask back up.

"Come on you lot. We need to get going." Turning to Molly she bowed her head respectfully. "Farewell, Molly Weasley."

The four climbed onto the backs of the Weylans. The chestnut that had carried Harry nuzzled his neck before turning and leaping into the night as the five soared into the clouds. Harry sighed and turned to smile at his surrogate mother. At least Hogwart's wasn't too far away now.