Eye of the Storm
Note: This chapter is longer than usual, because I really wanted to capture the feel of the battle and the participants both in it and out of it, those fighting and those left behind. And also the cost one pays to be a soldier. My sister, who has fought in Iraq, she is now a Colonel in the US Air Force, helped me a great deal with what and how one feels and reacts during and after battle. Snape's advice to Drake is taken from her own and other officer's words to young privates after skirmishes in Baghdad. Thank you, all of our troops who serve there, I salute you!
That night the wyverns returned, and were met by Fireflash, Sunstrike, Sardonyx and half of the flight of dragons. They used their sun-absorbing frills to light up the sky as bright as day, taking away the wyverns' advantage as night fliers and rendering most of the beasts blind and ineffective as fighters. Severus was up on the western rampart of the castle along with Colin and Neville and Brittany, standing by to repel any boulders or rocks that came their way, but the dragons made sure no wyvern broke through their flight pattern.
It was an awe-inspiring sight, the fire and claws of the mighty bronze dragon against the lightning-quick stinger and fangs of the wyvern. Rarely had any wizard in Britain ever seen one wyvern fight an aerial battle, much less ten or twenty matched against twelve bronzes. The wyvern was good in close combat, where it could bring that nasty venom-filled stinger on its tail to bear, but the bronze could outfly a wyvern any day of the week and their legendary maneuverability soon took a toll on the wyverns.
Then too, bronzes would work as a team, and these did, while most wyverns were loners and fought alone, unless they happened to be a mated pair. The wyverns had formed an uneasy alliance with Voldemort, based mainly on the threat by him that if they didn't join him, he would destroy their homes and nests, killing their young. Voldemort had also assured them there would be easy prey once they took Hogwarts, and the only foes they had to face would be mere students and their teachers, none of whom had ever fought a wyvern before.
The scaled sneaking lizards had gotten the shock of their lives when they had returned to bombard the castle the second night and discovered a flight of dragons waiting for them—and not just any dragons, but their ancient bronze enemies, that had been driven away from Britain centuries ago. Taken by surprise, the wyverns lost five of their number in the initial attack made by Fireflash and the rest of them.
Once Lucius Malfoy realized that the wyverns were having difficulties, he sent a squad of Death Eaters mounted on nightmares to help them, but nightmares were even less maneuverable in the air than wyverns and the dark wizards discovered this to their dismay.
Sunstrike played tag with the six of them all across the sky, dodging their spells with contemptuous ease, always staying just out of range, flicking her blue plumed tail at MacNair mockingly. "Here, scaredycats! Come and get me!" she taunted, circling above and around them like a bronze flash. "What's the matter boys, can't take the heat?" she snickered, and blew a streak of dragonfire at one of them, forcing him to pull up sharply to avoid being barbecued. "Then stay out of the kitchen! And Hogwarts too!"
MacNair shrieked a freezing jinx at her, trying to freeze her wings so she couldn't fly, but Sunstrike brought her wings together and dove, and the jinx missed her. Then she whipped herself about in midair and came up from behind to nail MacNair and another Death Eater with her fire.
"You should have listened to me, boys," she said, her eyes glittering. "Give my regards to the devil." Then she turned to confront a wyvern coming up on her left flank. "Hello, slitherwyrm! Want to play wyvern ball? I do!"
She climbed up into the air, preparing to dive upon the ungainly serpent-like creature, which was a bronze's favorite mode of attack.
The other four Death Eaters had been scattered by her burst of fire, but now two of them regrouped and shot Hoarfrost spears at her. One struck her, but her magic was enough to blunt the full force of the spell and so it did very little damage, only making a few of her scales freeze and crack.
"Not nice, boys!" scolded Topaz, coming up behind the two Death Eaters like a springing panther. "Didn't your mama ever teach you to play nice with girls?"
The Death Eaters shrieked as Topaz slammed them with a gust of superheated air, knocking them and their mounts flying. Topaz watched in satisfaction as they fell from fifty feet up. "Oh, well. Now you learn the hard way," she said, then arrowed off after the remaining two wizards, who were trying to flee like the cowards they were.
They made it within twenty feet of the encampment before Topaz caught them.
Meanwhile, Fireflash slashed open a wyvern with a neat backhanded swipe of one taloned forefoot, sending the doomed green beast into a downward spiral from which it could never recover. He was assisted by his sire, the Dragon Lord Sardonyx, who breathed once and the wyvern facing him was ash upon the wind.
"Not bad for an old timer, Father!" his son remarked, his azure eyes sparkling.
"I improve with age, you impudent snip!" his father snorted, pretending to be irritated by his son's comment. "I can still outfly you, Flash!"
"Care to test that theory?" Fireflash queried. "I got two bogeys at three o'clock," he indicated two wyverns homing in on them with a toss of his head.
Sardonyx bared his teeth in a draconic grin. "You're on, flyboy. Let's see what you've got!" then the elder bronze increased his speed to something like Mach three and streaked toward the wyverns.
"Sneaky, old man!" hissed Fireflash, and soared off in hot pursuit.
The wyverns never knew what hit them. One minute they were flying towards the hovering bronzes, and the next they were being attacked by streaks of light with fangs and claws. Soon the serpentine lizards were destroyed, utterly overwhelmed by the super speed of their two dragon opponents.
"What do you think now, Flash?" Sardonyx asked, for he had gotten to his quarry a shade quicker than his son.
"I think I deserve a rematch, Father." Fireflash objected.
"Pick your target, son." His father chuckled. "There's no shortage of winged rats tonight."
The two soared off, seeking another enemy to test their flying skills and teeth upon.
While Fireflash kept the wyverns busy, his mother Citrine and Tiger Eye made several strafing runs at the Death Eater encampment, setting a number of tents on fire and panicking the necromancers with their dragon auras.
"Three dark wizards, three dark wizards, see how they run, see how they run! Did you ever see such a sight in your life?" Tiger Eye chanted gleefully, as she shot fire at the fleeing sorcerers' backsides.
"Stop that!" Citrine scolded, but she was grinning as she said it, unable to help herself. She aimed a burst of superheated air at a red tent and watched as it exploded. The smell of roasted pork and burnt bread filled the air. "Oh dear! I fear I've burnt their breakfast," she said with a wicked little grin.
The necromancers shook their fists at the two bronze females, but were unable to retaliate quick enough to prevent them from doing further damage.
Lucius Malfoy emerged from his mansion-sized tent at a dead run, cursing a blue streak. "Where the bloody hell did these dragons come from?" he screamed, glaring at Pettigrew.
Pettigrew cringed on the ground, whimpering. "I don't know, Master Malfoy! They just appeared out of nowhere. Maybe it's a sign. The Judgement of God or something!"
"Don't give me that crap!" roared Lucius, kicking the prostrate Pettigrew in the rump out of sheer frustration. "There is no Judgement of God, that's a lie to get sheep like you to go to church and give away half your money to charity. This is that miserable Snape's doing. Somehow the bastard managed to make a deal with these dragons. I wonder what the bugger promised them? His other leg? His daughter? Half the virgin students in Hogwarts?" he shook a fist at the dragons. "Damn you, Severus Snape! You'll pay for your defiance, I'll see to it myself. No one betrays me and gets away with it. This time I'll make sure you're dead, beyond all hope of resurrection."
He kicked Pettigrew one more time, making him cry out, then fired several bolts of lightning from his wand at the dragons, who were too far away to hit, then he stormed back inside his tent, furious at this new turn of events. This was supposed to be an easy victory, he'd promised his Dark Lord the gates of Hogwarts would be open and waiting when Voldemort returned from cleansing the Ministry of all the Mudbloods and blood traitors and setting up his people in their place. Now however . . .
Narcissa looked up from the bed as he entered, murmuring sleepily, "Problems, dearest?"
"Go back to sleep!" Lucius snapped. "God damn bloody Snape to hell! When I see him I'm going to tear him apart slowly. He's interfered with my plans for the last time."
Narcissa yawned. "That's nice, dear. Now come back to bed, I'm cold."
Lucius snarled another string of nasty comments before tugging off his boots and rejoining his wife. Tomorrow would be soon enough to figure out losses and regroup.
* * * * * *
There was much rejoicing in the castle the next morning over the dragons routing the wyverns, and for the first time in over a week the walls did not shake or the air echo to the awful sounds of rocks being thrown at the castle. It was a great relief not to hear the dreadful pounding though many doubted it would last. The Dark Mark still flew over the Death Eater camp after all.
Topaz noted the frozen Black Lake, and queried Arista about it, who told her that it had been frozen by the Death Eaters so they could cross the lake without fighting against the merpeople.
"Would you like it unfrozen, Healer Snape?" Topaz asked.
"Oh, yes, that would be great. Can you undo the spell?"
"Does a bronze dragon love salmon? Of course I can!" Then she breathed a soft cone of warm air over the water, making it steam slightly and hiss. Gradually, cracks appeared in the surface of the ice and soon, after repeated breaths of superheated air, the sheet of ice across the lake melted away.
"Thanks, Topaz," Arista grinned. "Now Amlioranee and her people can come up to the surface again." She struck the water with her palm, it was still cold from the melted ice, and called the Water Mistress from the depths.
The mermaid came up with a splash, her pale hair swirling through the dark waters of the lake like seafoam. "You called for my assistance, Arista Snape?"
"Um, actually I wanted to tell you that we managed to unfreeze the lake, but I guess you already know that by now."
"Indeed," the Water Mistress smiled, swishing her tail back and forth in delight. "You have our thanks, little Healer." Then she saw Topaz and her sea-green eyes widened. "Can this be? Have I lived so long as to see a bronze dragon once more upon my shore?"
"You know about bronzes?" asked Topaz curiously, lowering her head so she could speak more softly to the mermaid.
"Oh, yes, though I was but a sprat when the last bronze left Britain, never to return. A sad day, that. How come you here, Sister of Air?"
"I come in repayment of a debt owed to the Healer and her father, Potions Master Snape," Topaz answered. "They did us a great service not so long ago and we named them Dragonfriends forever and when they called upon us for aid, we answered. But once the threat to them is ended, we shall leave. We dare not stay here, Mistress of Waters."
"You could if you wanted, Topaz," Arista said, thinking sadly of how much she would miss the dragons. "The Dragonslayer Guild is long gone."
"The Guild may be gone, but those who supported it are not, child. No, here the dragon is not respected as we are back home in America. Here the old prejudices and attitudes towards us prevail and we have sworn to never put up with such again. You know I speak the truth, Healer Snape."
Arista had to agree with her, for it was true that dragons in Britain were regarded as dangerous beasts and there was no ban on using dragon blood or parts in potions or for magical articles of clothing the way there was in America. And even though the dragon parts used were not bronze dragons, but other lesser species of dragons, it did not matter to the bronzes. The use of any kind of dragon part was considered heinous and slaying a dragon for such a purpose was considered murder by the Dragon Council. No, a peaceful co-existence between wizards and dragons in Britain was not possible at this time, nor would it ever be, unless attitudes and laws underwent a major change.
"I suppose not," she sighed. "I wish people weren't so . . .arrogant and so stupid."
"Don't we all?" Amlioranee laughed wryly. "That is the curse of the race of man, the arrogance that mankind is first and best and shall have dominion over the earth and all upon it. Does not your very religion espouse those ideas, Arista Snape?"
"Yeah, it does say that in Genesis, the first book of the Bible," Arista conceded. "But that doesn't mean people have to take what's written there literally. I mean, that stuff was written down hundreds of years after Jesus Christ died, so who can say how accurate it is? Human memory is fallible, and people remember what they choose to, not what's the truth."
Both dragon and the mermaid nodded in agreement. "Truth is not something that mankind prizes, I'm afraid." Topaz said. "Those wizards out there are prime examples of that," she swung her head out towards the dark army encampment. "They delude themselves into thinking they are fit to rule over all and that they have the right to play Creator." She huffed softly, and tendrils of smoke drifted from her nostrils. "They refuse to listen to reason, so now they learn the error of their ways the hard way, with fire and blood and death." The bronze dragon heaved a massive sigh, making the lake ripple. "I did not enjoy what I had to do last night, but I knew it was a matter of kill or be killed. Still . . .the taking of lives weighs heavily on my conscience. Why must men be such fools?"
Arista patted the bronze's shoulder comfortingly, sending her feelings of reassurance and serenity, trying to make her feel better, though she knew that nothing could truly take the sting out of the death Topaz had been forced to deal. Like any good soldier, the dragon had to reconcile her actions in her own way and time.
"I think, Sister, because they live such brief lives, they have no time to grow out of that stage," remarked Amlioranee. Then she swung her tail sideways, slapping the water playfully. "Although there are exceptions, like young Arista here and some others. They make me hope for a better future, one in which man and mermaid and dragon may meet on common ground for peace."
"I think that's a wonderful dream for the future," Arista said.
"Yes, but it may remain just that—a dream, unless something is done about Tom Riddle." The Water Mistress frowned. "My people shall aid you as best we may. I have dominion over all creatures of the water, including Decius the giant squid. I shall tell him to not allow any save denizens of Hogwarts to pass the lake's border. That should slow them down if they attempt to row across."
"And I and mine shall keep watch above, Water Mistress, so that they can't freeze your lake again," promised Topaz.
"Many thanks, Sister of Air." Amlioranee gave the dragon a short bow.
Topaz inclined her head in return. "My mother named me Topaz, Mistress of the Waters. I would be honored if you would use it."
"As you wish, Topaz. My mother called me Amlioranee, which means Flower of the Sea in our language." The mermaid returned the courtesy. "And now, I must bid you both farewell, my friends. I have duties below. May the Sea sing you to sleep and keep you safe in Her embrace."
"And may the wind be fair at your back and always bear you up to your destination," Topaz replied with the traditional farewell of bronzes. "Goodbye, Amlioranee."
The mermaid waved once to Arista before diving back beneath the water of the lake.
"You have some unusual friends, Arista," Topaz said.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Arista smiled. "But that's what happens when you go around saving people's lives." She explained how she had saved the mermaid two years ago.
"You are a true Healer, Arista. And I am honored to be your friend," the dragon said gravely.
Arista blushed, for the regard of a bronze dragon was not given lightly. "Thanks, Topaz. I'm honored to be your friend too."
The dragon preened slightly, for she, like her brother, was not immune to a bit of admiration. She grinned toothily. "I too must bid you farewell for a time, my friend. For I need to hunt, all that fighting has worked up an appetite and I need some fresh fish and sea kelp, at the very least."
"I'm kind of hungry too," Arista said, only realizing then that it was nearing lunchtime.
"See you later then!" Topaz said, then she launched herself up into the air in one magnificent leap, winking out from sight a moment later.
Arista turned to go back inside, ready to report to her father that the Black lake was unfrozen and that Amlioranee and her people were back on guard duty on the lakeside. And after that, I'm going to get something to eat, because I'm starving.
* * * * * *
The staff and the majority of the students regarded the bronze dragons as a Godsend, and viewed them with a mixture of awe, respect, and not a little fear. Mel pronounced them as the coolest allies you could ask for and Kit said that he wished he could become a dragon for just one day, so he could fly like one. Arista considered lending him her dragonscale pendant, the one which contained the Dragonshape spell, but then thought better of it when she remembered Fireflash saying that such magic was only to be used by members of the Society of Bronze—meaning only those wizards that had sworn an oath of loyalty to bronze dragons. Dragon magic was not for everyone.
There were also some students who thought the bronze dragons might prove too dangerous and should be watched closely. And then there were some, like Draco Malfoy, who thought that the only good dragon was a dead dragon. Drake overheard him expressing that sentiment one afternoon, about three days after the bronzes' arrival.
"It's too bad they weren't exterminated a long time ago, like black unicorns and butterfly fairies," the blond boy was saying to Crabbe, his partner in house arrest. "That bronze Fireflash's head would look lovely as a decoration in my front hall."
"Shut your filthy mouth, Malfoy!" Drake snarled, lunging forward and grabbing the other boy by the collar and practically slamming him up against the wall.
Malfoy's eyes bugged out and he gasped, "Put me down, Lockwood, you bloody lunatic!"
"Why? You look pretty good hanging here, Malfoy," Drake growled, for he had lifted the slender boy off his feet and Malfoy was dangling a good foot in the air. "Maybe we ought to use you as a decoration instead?"
Draco struggled, but he was no match for Drake, who had put on muscle over the summer working out with the pegasus mare and the other animal patients at his father's clinic, feeding them and caring for them. "Crabbe!" he called. "Help!"
Crabbe started to get to his feet, but froze when Drake glared at him and said softly, "Remember the last time you tried to hex me, Crabbe? You were in the Hospital Wing for a week waiting for your pig snout to transform back. This time I might send you there for longer, especially if you make me mad."
Crabbe shrank away, for Drake was no longer the boy he had once bullied and tormented unmercifully a few years ago.
"Crabbe, for Godsake! Do something."
Crabbe did. He ran away, leaving Malfoy at Drake's mercy.
"Some friend you've got there, Malfoy. Just goes to show you, you get what you give," Drake said coldly. "Fireflash is a better friend than you'll ever have, Malfoy, and if I ever hear you talking like that about him again, I'll make you repeat every word you said to him and see what he thinks of your ideas. I don't think he'll be very amused. Got me?"
"Yes! Now let me down, please!" Draco went pale at Drake's threat, for he was secretly terrified of the dragon.
Drake released him and Malfoy slumped against the wall, glaring at the other boy with undisguised hatred. "You're going to regret treating me like this, Lockwood. When my father comes here, you and all your reject friends will be begging for mercy."
"Keep dreaming, Malfoy!" Drake sneered. "If your father dares to show his smarmy face around here, Snape will kick it right back to hell where it belongs."
"You think so?" Draco cried, getting very red in the face. "That cripple's no match for my father! Wait and see, he'll mop up the floor with pathetic Severus Snape, the ruddy traitor!"
"You're the one who's pathetic, Malfoy. You and everyone like you, who believe in the promises made by a madman. I ought to feel sorry for you, but you know what? I don't. You're so stupid, it's funny. You all think Voldemort's going to share his power and wealth with you. Don't you know that tyrants share nothing, except maybe death, with anyone?" Drake shook his head in mock disappointment. "As for Professor Snape, he certainly had no trouble dealing with you, did he now, Malfoy? He's got a pretty good backhand for an old cripple, wouldn't you say?"
Malfoy flushed a deep red and opened his mouth to scream something, but Drake was already across the room and out of the portrait hole.
"Just you wait . . ." Malfoy gasped, coming to his feet. "When my father takes this place, then you'll see! I'll make all of you pay . . ." he stalked over to the archway leading to the boys dormitories and shouted, "Crabbe, you coward! Where are you? Hiding under the bed like a big baby? You can come out now, Big Bad Lockwood is gone, you gutless lump! The things I put up with . . ."
Yes, many things would change once Lucius Malfoy took over the school, his son thought. But one thing that wouldn't was his ability to boss around Crabbe and Goyle, who were too stupid to think for themselves and therefore needed Malfoy to do their thinking for them. Just like their fathers needed Lucius, as a matter of fact.
Crabbe appeared in the archway before Malfoy, a hangdog expression on his face. Malfoy lost no time in abusing him, for he had no fear Crabbe would ever retaliate, he was too scared of Malfoy, and was therefore a safe target for Draco's temper.
• * * * * *
The next day, Lucius counterattacked, getting together a company of giants, trolls, and dark fae mounted on fell hounds to try and storm the front gates of the school. Colin, Flick, Cheyenne, and several other students volunteered to go out and deal with them. One of them was Arista, who suggested she use Dragonshape as she had done two years ago when she had faced the insane giant. Drake also wanted in on the action, and agreed to watch Arista's back, like any good partner.
Severus agreed, reluctantly, after extracting a promise from them that they would obey Colin's directions implicitly. Then Arista transformed into a bronze dragon, Drake summoned a dragonsaddle and rode to battle upon her, rather like a knight of old, as he had transfigured his misericord into a six foot silver-tipped lance.
Severus would have liked to go with them, he owed Lucius for more than a few of his injuries back when he'd been Voldemort's prisoner. But he knew better than to leave the school without its Defense Master, and so he stayed behind.
Colin was mounted upon Fireflash, Flick upon Sunstrike, and Cheyenne on Sardonyx, for the Dragon Lord reserved the right to partner the Advocate. Citrine and Topaz elected to stay behind to guard the school along with two other bronzes, Sparkheart and Blaze.
The rest of the flight fell in behind Sardonyx, who was point, and Fireflash, who was the right wing leader. The assembled flight was a sight to behold, and those watching never forgot it, the sun glinting off myriad shades of bronze scales and swirling in colorful patterns on outstretched wings.
"Never in all my years did I ever expect to see such a thing, Severus," murmured Minerva in awe, squinting sharply against the rising sun. "It's too bad Albus isn't here to see it, he would be so impressed."
"Yes, he'll be sorry he missed this," Severus said. "A flight of bronzes hasn't been seen here in over five centuries, I think."
"And you were privileged to ride upon one," McGonagall said, with a trace of envy in her tone.
Snape glanced at her. "Would you like to ride on Fireflash? It's perfectly safe, I assure you."
"I, well . . ." Minerva deliberated. "Yes, if it wouldn't be too much trouble."
"I'll ask him after all of this is over with." Snape promised, then frowned in consternation, looking up at the sky where Arista was hovering in formation next to Fireflash.
Minerva caught the uneasy look and patted his arm soothingly. "She'll be all right, Severus."
"She'd better be. I know Colin and Flash will look after them, but still . . ."
"You worry and you will until they're safe back here," Minerva said knowingly. "So will I."
The two master wizards watched until the dragons flew too high to be seen anymore, then they went back inside the school to read the latest reports on the state of the country and rearrange students' schedules and deal with any problems that had arisen in the meantime.
* * * * * *
"You stay on my left wing, Arista," Fireflash ordered as they rose into the dawn sky. "We'll be flying in formation for a bit, then we'll separate to seek out our own targets. But you and Drake stay with us, there will be enough targets for us to work together as a team."
"You can say that again," Arista said, gazing down at the force of a hundred giants and seventy wyverns and other dark fae arrayed against them. "Wyverns, trolls, and giants, oh my!"
Colin chuckled. "You got that right, kid. And the Wicked Wizard of the West too!" he pointed at the flaxen-haired figure of Lucius Malfoy, flying on a broom and giving instructions to a tall wizard in a night-blue robe wearing a Death Eater mask.
"Is Lucius going to fight?" Drake wondered, narrowing his eyes at the elder Malfoy. He had used the dragonscale pendant to give himself dragonsight again, so he would be more effective in battle.
"I doubt it. He doesn't have the stomach to go up against the likes of us," Arista said disparagingly. "He prefers his victims to be helpless and able to be tortured, the rotten cowardly dog!" She knew from the shared vision with Harry that Voldemort had not been alone in "questioning" Professor Snape, he'd been assisted by Lucius Malfoy for some of the time.
"He'll get his, never fear," Colin said. "They all will, eventually."
"Indeed. No dark wizard hurts a Dragonfriend and gets off," Fireflash hissed, his eyes blazing. "His days are numbered."
"Ready for strike!" Sardonyx boomed suddenly and Fireflash and Arista tensed, flexing their wings in preparation for a dive.
"Hold on, Drake!" Arista called back to her partner, who was gripping his silver lance so hard it left marks in his palm.
"Bronzes, attack!" Sardonyx ordered, and the dragons broke their formation and dove down towards the army of darkness, talons extended and jaws open wide to flame.
Arista fell like a meteor towards the earth, so fast that Drake barely had time to breathe before she was pulling up and striking at a giant with a large studded club. Her dragon talons scored heavily on the giant's shoulders, ripping great slashes in them.
Drake brought his lance to bear and thrust it hard at the giant's midsection. The enchanted silver tip pierced the monster easily and the giant crumpled slowly to the ground.
"Nice one, you two!" Fireflash praised, then finished off the mortally wounded giant with a burst of dragonfire.
Colin pointed a finger, and a jet of flame shot out of his finger and exploded into a group of dark fae heading their way. The night hags died barely knowing what hit them.
Drake gave Colin a thumbs-up sign, then Arista was climbing back into the air, seeking out a new troll or wyvern to slay. Together, Arista and Drake fought a total of four wyverns, six giants, and at least a dozen trolls and other creatures of the night. Most of them Arista defeated using precise shots of dragonfire and occasionally her talons. Her favorite method of attack was to dive on an enemy, catching him with her talons and Drake's lance at the same time.
They performed that little trick on many trolls and giants, who were too dumb to recognize strategy when they saw it. Fireflash and Colin shadowed them, making certain they didn't take on anything they couldn't handle.
Soon an hour and a half had gone by and Arista was beginning to feel a little lightheaded. Recognizing that as the first sign that the Dragonshape was wearing off. She informed Fireflash that she had to return to the school, and he merely nodded. "Go on, we'll deal with the rest of these mangy curs, Arista," said Colin. "You two did real good out here. Now get, before that Dragonshape wears off and leaves you walking on air at five thousand feet up."
"Yes, sir," Arista said, then turned and flew back towards the castle.
She released the spell as soon as she had touched down in the courtyard and Drake had dismounted. "You all right, Drake?" she asked, hugging him tightly.
"Fine. Just a little tired, is all. You?"
"Mmm . . .the Dragonshape always leaves me feeling like a basket of rocks just hit me in the head, but otherwise I'm okay. We'd better go find my dad and let him know we survived our first battle before he drives himself insane with worry."
But no sooner had they taken the first steps into the entrance hall then they were greeted by several students all of them wanting to know what it had been like fighting with the bronzes.
"Were you scared?"
"Did you kill a lot of giants?"
"Does it hurt to breathe fire?"
"How fast can bronzes really fly?"
"Is it true that the dragons nailed Lucius Malfoy?"
Arista winced, for the press of so many people was making her head throb, and she had to increase the strength of her shields to block out everyone else's feelings. Her legs felt like rubber and she was grateful for Drake's lean arm about her, otherwise she might have fallen flat on her face.
Drake drew in a deep breath. "Everybody SHUT UP!"
The students drew back, and the talking ceased abruptly.
"There, that's better. Look, we'll answer all of your questions later, okay? Right now we have to report back to Professors McGonagall and Snape and then we need to sleep. Any questions you have are gonna have to wait till later."
Disappointed groans came from several students, but they all stepped back and let them pass, continuing on to the gargoyle statue that guarded the entrance to the Headmaster's office.
"Highland heather," Arista whispered, and the gargoyle swung inward, allowing them passage to the Headmaster's inner sanctum.
Both Minerva and Severus greeted the returned young wizards with profound relief and after they had made their report, told them to go bathe and rest, they would send up trays to their rooms.
The two obeyed, only too happy to follow those instructions and relieved as well that they came through their first skirmish unscathed.
* * * * * *
Every day thereafter, Arista and Drake flew out on patrol with Fireflash, Sardonyx, and the rest of the dragons. Most of the time they fought wyverns and other magical creatures, whatever Lucius saw fit to throw at them. The elder Malfoy was growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of progress at advancing on Hogwarts.
Thus far, Snape's defenses were holding. The two times Lucius had sent teams in of dark fae and kelpies and boggarts, they'd been stopped by Hagrid's manticores, one of the ever-watchful bronzes, or Decius the giant squid, in the case of the kelpies who had tried to infiltrate the castle by swimming the lake.
The dark army had lost over half its flight of wyverns to the bronze strike force, and a good number of trolls and giants as well. The giant king was beginning to mutter about leaving, seeing as how he wasn't getting to break and tear and smash too many wizards the way Voldemort had promised him. Lucius flew into a rage after hearing that and instructed Avery and Pettigrew to gather half the force of Death Eaters and double the usual amount of fell hounds and night hags, redcaps and so forth and mount a concentrated assault on the castle.
"We'll break through their damn defenses or die trying," he spat. "I gave my word to the Dark Lord that I'd have this castle taken before he returned and I will, damn it!"
"Lucius," Narcissa called, standing at her husband's elbow as he glared round at his unholy allies.
"What is it?"
"Perhaps a direct assault is not the only way. Perhaps we need to be a bit more subtler."
"Go on. What do you mea by that?"
"If we could get someone on the inside to open the gates . . .?"
"Yes, but Draco's still under house arrest, according to his last letter," Lucius ground his teeth.
"Tell him to apologize to Snape," Narcissa improvised swiftly.
"Apologize to that—that skulking traitor?" Lucius sputtered. "The only thing that rotten slinking git deserves is a slow and painful death, not a bloody apology!"
"He doesn't have to mean it, Lucius!" cried Narcissa exasperatedly. "Men! You can't see the forest for the trees sometimes. All Draco has to do is convince Snape of his sincerity, flatter the miserable cripple a bit, tell him he's sorry and promise to obey him, whatever it takes for Draco to get off house arrest so he can open the way into the school."
Lucius was shaking his head. "I don't think it will work, Cissy. Snape's not dumb, more's the pity. He can tell if Draco's lying to him, he's got nearly the same talent as our master in sensing untruths."
"Well, then, Draco will have to mean what he says. At least for the time being. Use the mirror, Lucius, I know you've contacted him with it before," Narcissa urged. "He's no good to us if he's being watched continually and locked up."
"Surely you don't think Snape's going to let him wander about the school without being watched, Cissy?"
Narcissa scowled at her husband. "Snape can't watch him all the time. Tell Draco to use his head for once and figure out a way to open one of the secret passages into the school, there are so many of them, I'm certain Snape doesn't know all of them."
Lucius considered. "Very well. I will tell Draco to do as you've suggested. But you better pray it works, my dear, or else Draco isn't going to be the only one in hot water, Narcissa."
She eyed him coldly. "Are you threatening me, Lucius dear?"
"Not me," the other laughed sharply. "I was referring to the Dark Lord, my sweet. You know how he detests failures."
Narcissa went pale. Then she smiled sweetly. "Then, Lucius darling, we mustn't fail him, now must we?"
Her husband repressed a shudder, for he'd seen similar expressions on sharks and cobras before they struck. Narcissa was not at all as helpless as she seemed. Underneath that sweet face beat a heart as cold and cruel as his own. Narcissa loved power and prestige and pretty things, which was why she'd agreed to marry him. The only thing she loved more was her son, and even that was dependant on how well Draco fulfilled this last task. Draco was her golden boy, he could do no wrong—except failing this one simple thing.
And for those that failed her, Narcissa could be very unpleasant indeed, as Lucius knew quite well.
Lucius would make certain Draco understood the consequences of failure. His son was not stupid, he would not let his family down, or their dark master. He was a Malfoy, after all, and he had a reputation to maintain.
But he would send Avery and the rest of them anyway, because nothing was ever certain in war.
* * * * * *
Drake and Arista returned from that afternoon's patrol utterly exhausted in both body and spirit. That afternoon had seen the worst fighting yet, requiring the most intense concentration and the uses of several offensive spells Drake had hoped to never have to cast. Worse still, he and Arista had been fighting Death Eaters this time, not just their monster allies.
Neither of them had trouble in roasting a giant or a wyvern, but a dark wizard . . . that was a different thing entirely. Fireflash and Colin did their best to direct the neophyte pair away from the necromancers, but they couldn't fight everywhere at once, and the Death Eaters weren't shy about targeting the Hunter combat master or his dragon.
Arista caught one of them trying to cast the Killing Curse while Colin's back was turned, hexing another enemy, and breathed at him without stopping to think.
It was only after the wizard's scream echoed in her ears that she realized what she had done, but it was too late for regrets.
And Fireflash saw and roared in approval, ordering her to attack another Death Eater on his right flank, and she obeyed. She could feel a part of herself shrivel in horror, but she had no time to dwell on it, there were too many opponents trying to kill her or Drake.
Drake cast Ricochet repeatedly, and then Fireball and Ice Strike, mostly aiming at the dark fae, but his spells did take out more than his share of dark wizards as well. He used his silver lance to slay several nightmares, a few of who had dark riders upon them, and these too died when their steeds fell. The last glimpse he had of the doomed wizards were their eyes, wide-eyed with terror as they tumbled down towards the earth.
One Death Eater, wearing a large horned mask, flew alongside them and started to shout the word to the Mummy Curse, pointing at Arista. Drake had seen that awful curse in action last summer, when it had killed Magdalena the Seer who had helped them escape the prison of the dragonslayers. It literally turned one into a dried up husk.
Furious that the sorcerer would dare harm his beloved that way, Drake swiveled his lance about and impaled the wizard on it in mid-syllable. The Death Eater gasped, his voice dying to a wet gurgle and then he slumped over his broom.
Drake jerked the tip of his lance free, gulping sharply, but he refused to get sick here, in the middle of a battle. Oh God, I just killed another person. He was going to kill Arista, I had to. But still . . .He saw the body of the unknown Death Eater tumbled off his broom and vanish from sight, dead before he hit the ground. The lance trembled for one moment in his grip.
"You okay there, kid?" Fireflash called, gliding nearer the pair.
Drake nodded.
Colin took one look at the kid's slightly green expression and shook his head knowingly. Baptism of fire, I'm afraid. You took him out, Lockwood, just like you were supposed to, but the first one's always the worst. He made a mental note to speak to the young wizard after they had gone back home, he'd counseled many a Hunter after their first kill.
"Good job, you two," he called, reasoning a bit of praise was necessary. "Now watch your six, and follow my lead."
He led them back across the sky, to engage yet another group of wyverns.
The battle raged fast and furious for another ten minutes, until suddenly the remaining giants and wyverns retreated, leaving the skies to the bronzes.
They had suffered few casualties, a few torn wing membranes, a couple of cuts and abrasions, strained muscles, and one young bronze hadn't moved quick enough to dodge a wyvern's stinger and needed a dose of anti-venom, but other than that there were no fatalities. Sheer speed and the bronzes' high magic resistance had cut down on many would-be casualties.
After reporting back in to Sardonyx, Arista flew back to the castle, victorious but with death weighing on her conscience, and Drake's as well.
Upon arriving, they discovered that Lucius had mounted a second assault from the ground, but it had been repelled by Severus, Hagrid and the others. The gates of Hogwarts remained closed and the cracks in the walls mended by Flitwick and Pomona.
Arista was so weary she could barely stay on her feet after transforming back from Dragonshape. Drake lent her his arm as he escorted her up to Ravenclaw Tower and she was so tired she didn't even protest when he spoke the password to the portrait hole and carried her inside to her bed.
"Go to sleep, and dream of me," he whispered into her ear, kissing her tenderly before tucking the covers round her.
She gave him a lopsided smile. "Always. You get some rest too. I love you." Then she dropped off to sleep.
Drake remained staring down at her for a long moment, but at last he forced himself to turn away and go back down the stairs. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, even though he was exhausted, so he headed down to the dungeons, not wanting to speak to anyone about what had happened yet.
He glanced down at the silver dagger he wore about his waist, it was something he almost never went anywhere without now. It was clean, no blood stained the tip, that had vanished when he'd Transfigured it back. But Drake had no trouble recalling how it had looked . . .
He bolted into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later he emerged, pale and shaken, and thanking God no one had seen him. Some Dark Hunter I'll make, puking my guts up like a sissy, he thought disparagingly. That guy would have killed Arista, he deserved to die, so why the hell does it bother me so much? For it did bother him, it left a curious empty feeling in the pit of his stomach, an ache that would not go away. Regret pinched hi sharply, and he found himself wondering if there had been a way he could have avoided killing the other wizard, even though in his heart he knew there had not, that it had been kill or be killed.
But even that thought did not comfort him.
He wished desperately that Arista were awake to talk to, because she would understand best what he was feeling, and she always knew the right words to say, that would take away the awful weight of guilt and regret, the sick feeling that he was a murderer.
He walked down the corridor towards the Slytherin portrait hole, but when he reached it, he turned away. Malfoy and the others were there, and he did not feel up to dealing with their sneers and sly insinuations right then, he was still too close to the edge, and one wrong word might set him off and then murder would really be done.
He was so tired, he wanted to sleep, yet he was afraid to close his eyes for fear of nightmares. His chest felt heavy with the knowledge of what he had done, and he kept seeing the eyes behind that horned mask over and over . . .they had been surprised and shocked, then they had darkened . . .Tears pricked the corners of his eyes and he angrily brushed them away.
He would not cry, not over a scumbag like that.
Yet he couldn't deny that a part of him wanted to sob like a baby, for he had lost something out there today and he knew he would never be the same. Maybe I should have been a vet like my dad, he thought miserably.
He recalled a place where he could hide, one where no one would find him, a small cupboard just past the Potions classroom, where Filch kept extra blankets and sheets and stuff. He had hidden there before, when Marsh and Hathaway and the others had hunted him unmercifully, in those long ago days when he stuttered terribly and was an outcast.
Yes, the cupboard would do nicely, he thought, hurrying towards it. Hopefully, he still fit in it, though that had never been a problem years ago. He'd always been small and slight, but recently he had gotten a growth spurt and was now much taller, though he was still slender.
He was so intent on reaching the cupboard that he nearly collided with Professor Snape, who was just coming out of the potions lab, having just finished helping Slughorn brew up a triple batch of anti-venom for the young bronze dragon stung by the wyvern.
Snape put out a hand just in time to halt the young wizard. "Careful there, Lockwood!" he reproved. "You almost knocked me down."
Drake glanced up, startled. "What? Oh, sorry, sir. I didn't see you there . . ." He quickly glanced away, his face flushing. Good going, Lockwood, maybe you ought to run over some old lady next, and they could declare you a public menace, he thought scathingly.
"I figured as much," Severus said softly, noting the boy's pallor and the haunted cast to his features. The kid looks like he's on the verge of collapse, Snape. Colin did say the fighting was rough out there today, he probably needs someone to talk to, at the very least, the Defense Master thought quickly. "Where are you going, Drake?"
"I . . .uh, couldn't sleep, so I was going for a walk," Drake managed. "I didn't mean to bother you, sir, so if you'll excuse me . . ." He tried to draw away from the older wizard, but Severus put out a hand.
"I can't sleep either, so we might as well take a walk together, since it isn't safe for you to be wandering about the school alone."
Drake stiffened. "I can take care of myself, sir."
"Yes, but the wise Hunter usually takes along a partner to watch his back," Severus said. "Humor me, Lockwood, and walk a bit this way." He took the other's arm and led the younger wizard past the potions classroom and down along a twisty corridor to the right that Drake knew led nowhere except to a dead end. He flicked a glance longingly at the cupboard as they went past it, but made no other attempt to leave. Clearly, Severus would not be put off by lame excuses, so best to let the man say what he wanted, Drake reasoned, then he could find a quiet hole to curl up in later.
They came to end of the corridor, Severus leaning a little more heavily on his cane than was his wont. At the end of the passage was a comfortable stone bench, padded with a leather cushion. Above it was an old tapestry depicting a silver snake sleeping around the base of an apple tree. Snape had often puzzled over that image when he was a student. Was the snake guarding knowledge or preventing others from obtaining it? Or did the artist merely have a liking for snakes and apple trees? Either way, the spot was ideal for a private chat, which was why Severus had come here.
"Let's rest here for a moment," he suggested, limping over to the bench and sitting down, playing up his leg outrageously so Lockwood would have an excuse to sit with him.
Sure enough, the boy came over and sat down, asking him if his leg bothered him.
"Not really, but it does tend to get stiff more in damp weather." He shrugged. "The price you pay for victory." He shot Drake a knowing look. "Some of us pay a different price than others, but victory costs us all in the end. Which is how it should be, or else it would be meaningless. You always value most what you've fought the hardest for."
"I suppose so," Drake said, sounding depressed. "But what if the price is more than you thought?"
"Ah. Then you have a problem. Do you think the cost was too high today, Drake?" Severus queried softly. "Colin told me you fought Death Eaters today, not only wyverns and giants."
"That's right."
"It's a bit different, fighting them than the monsters," Severus continued conversationally. "A wyvern or a troll, you can tell by looking at it that it's the enemy and you don't feel much remorse about killing it. But a dark wizard, you can't tell that he's a monster from the outside, unless you're an empath like Arista. You look at him and see a person much like yourself, right?"
"Yes."
"And maybe you think to yourself, that could have been me, but for the grace of God there go I. Except you're forgetting one thing, Drake. The wizard standing there isn't you, he lacks your conscience, and all he wants is to kill you quickly. He's probably tortured many people in his career, all in the name of whatever evil master he serves, and killed innocents too. The blood that stains his hands will never be washed away, nor does he care."
"I know that, sir. I know he's an evil bastard, that he nearly killed Arista, but still . . .I see his eyes in my mind . . .the way they were before my lance took him . . ." Drake shuddered, and closed his eyes. "It was horrible . . .it didn't matter that he was evil . . .all that matters is that I killed him . . .it hurts . . ." Tears spilled from his closed lids, to his utter mortification.
"It does," Snape agreed softly, patting the boy's shoulder gently. "But that's not something you should be ashamed of. It should hurt, Drake, killing should never be easy. It should be something you do because you have to, to save your life or another's. Otherwise you're in danger of becoming like the Death Eater you killed. Now that cost would be too high to pay even once, son."
"I'm not really sorry he's dead," Drake sniffled. "Only sorry that I was the one who killed him. Doesn't make much sense, does it?"
"Actually, it makes a lot of sense. Before today you were a child, innocent, but now you're not. Now you've taken a life and it scars you, and that's what upsets you so much, because you know that you'll never be able to go back to the time before. And that hurts most of all."
Drake stared at him. "How do you know that? Are you reading my mind, sir?"
Severus shook his head. "No. I know because I've been where you are now, Drake. The first man I ever killed was a dark wizard much like yours, I would guess, and he gave me nightmares for months. I remember it still, as I do all the others I've killed. Not that there were so many, but I remember them and why I killed them for my own sake, not theirs. So I don't become like them, a merciless killer. But I let the guilt and shame go, Drake."
"How, sir?" the younger wizard cried. "I feel so terrible . . .so sick inside . . ."
"Do you need to throw up?" Severus asked in alarm, for the boy was very pale. He drew his wand, just in case.
"Already did that," Drake muttered.
Severus did not look surprised. "That's a normal reaction, I'd be worried if you weren't sick afterwards."
"Were you, sir?"
"Yes, and so was Colin, and so is mostly every soldier who's ever walked a battlefield. There's no shame in it. Like I said before, killing should hurt, it should be hard for you. But you shouldn't wallow in guilt either. You did what had to be done, what you had no choice but to do. Right?"
Drake nodded.
"Then you've no need to feel guilty or ashamed over your actions."
Drake was silent for a long moment. Then he sighed. "Yes, that makes sense. Does it ever go away?"
"Eventually the memories fade a bit, though I won't lie to you and say you'll forget, because most of us don't. But we learn to live with them, though it's not easy, Drake. There will be times you'll wake up in the middle of the night and cry your eyes out, but that's okay. As Amelia used to say, we all have our own private devils, you just have to learn to face them, then they can't hurt you. Memories can only hurt if you let them, otherwise they're just reflections of the past." He put an arm about the young wizard and hugged him gently.
For a brief instant, Drake froze, stubbornly fighting the need to be comforted, then he gave in and allowed Severus to hold him. He breathed in the scent of mint and spices that clung to the Potion Master's black velvet robes, it soothed and comforted him. He buried his face in the black velvet and let the tears fall, crying away all of the shame and guilt and regret for innocence lost, until he was wrung dry and the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach was gone.
Severus remained silent, simply holding him, letting the grief spend itself.
At last Drake sat up, and accepted the handkerchief the older wizard handed him, drying his eyes. Oddly enough, he didn't feel like crawling under a table the way he had thought he would. Severus' matter-of-fact attitude eased the shame he normally would have felt bawling like a baby in front of his teacher, who would one day be his father-in-law.
"Did my little talk help any?"
"Yes, it helped a lot. Thank you, sir."
"Good, since this is the first time I'm giving it," Snape admitted, and his mouth twitched into a wry smile. "Although I'm afraid it won't be my last, since Arista's not here yet. Nor have we seen the last of Lucius and his sorcerers, so I'm anticipating having this same discussion again before the week is out."
Drake raised an eyebrow. "If I were, you, sir, I'd get some more handkerchiefs. You're going to need them."
"Most likely," Severus agreed. Now there's a role I never thought I'd be playing, mentor and comforter to young wizards after their first battle. Strange, how the winds of fate blow sometimes, the master wizard thought. Albus would be quite amused, I think. And proud as well, the old fox! I always knew you had it in you, Severus, he'd be saying. He eyed Drake thoughtfully. "Do you feel up to some supper, Drake, or would you prefer to go to bed?"
Drake considered, at last replying, "Well, now that you mention it, I am kind of hungry. Only . . .I don't really want to go and eat upstairs, the other kids will want to ask me all kinds of stupid questions and I don't feel like dealing with them tonight."
"Then you can have supper with me, in my quarters, along with Colin, Flick, and Cheyenne, who are also feeling the same as you are, I'd wager," Severus said firmly. "How does that sound, Mr. Lockwood?"
"Wonderful," Drake sighed happily. "D'you think Lucius will attack again tomorrow?"
"Probably. He won't let an insult like this stand, he can't afford to. Voldemort takes a dim view of failures, so Lucius will continue to attack until either he's defeated totally, or we are."
"He should just save himself the aggravation and surrender," Drake said.
Severus chuckled. "But if he did that, Lockwood, we would be denied the privilege of kicking his arrogant ass."
"True." Drake grinned. He rose to his feet.
So did the Defense Master. "Come, let's go get some supper. Kicking the snot out of dark fae and such always makes me hungry."
Together, they made their way back up the corridor, Drake shortening his stride a little so Severus could keep up.
* * * * * *
They had a most pleasant supper, just the three Hunters, Severus, Drake, and Trish. None of them discussed the recent battle, instead talking of other matters, such as the President of the AMA's attempt to pass a law that forced Dark Hunters to wear formal uniforms when apprehending criminals.
"Now that got voted down real quick," Colin laughed. "It's a Hunter's job to blend in with his or her surroundings, not stand out like a sore thumb. That's why we don't have an official uniform as such. These," he indicated his black ensemble. "are only worn during graduation or at Hunter funerals or when I'm giving demonstrations at schools to impress the kids. But never on a real assignment. Except here, since we're openly fighting bad guys."
"I think President Wilkes always wanted to be a ninja, you know with the black suit, mask, and the nunchuks? He probably had a deprived childhood, his mom wouldn't let him go trick-or-treating on Halloween, so now he has to make up for it by insisting we become ninjas instead," Flick remarked, making everyone laugh.
"Fat chance," Cheyenne grimaced. "A Hunter's anonymity has always been our greatest advantage. If he thinks we're going to blow that just so he can satisfy his sense of propriety, he's got another thing coming. He might as well tell all of us wizards to wear top hats and black cloaks and white shoes and pull rabbits out of our sleeves."
"Now that'd be a sight to see, you in a top hat and a man's shirt and pants, Cheyenne," Flick teased. "You'd look so cute, people would come from miles around just to look at you, pulling little bunnies out of your sleeve! You'd give some old man a heart attack!"
"I'm gonna give you a heart attack, buster, if you don't knock it off," Cheyenne mock-growled, socking the snickering combat master's apprentice in the shoulder.
Flick winced. "Ow! I claim police brutality. I'm calling my lawyer."
"You couldn't afford one," Colin remarked. "So just suck up and take it like a man, Bowen."
"Yes, Hunter Flynn, sir!" Flick said, giving his master a salute. Then he added slyly, "Maybe you'd like it better if we added a pair of dragon wings on the back of the coat, Lady Advocate?"
"Flick, you're asking for it."
"But you'd look stunning, Miss Merrick, and just think how pleased the president would be!" Flick declared, his eyes twinkling outrageously. "Why, Ah do declare, young lady, Ah've nevah seen such a bee-you-tee-full woman in all mah born days! Such class, such refinement, it makes an old Southern gentleman proud to be youah escort, mah dear," he drawled, mimicking the president exactly.
Colin and Cheyenne exploded in laughter.
"God, Bowen, I think you missed your true calling," the combat master said when he could talk again. "You ought to've gone in for stand up comedy."
"I know, but then my father would've disowned me," Flick said, smirking. "So I became a Dark Hunter instead and now my mother won't speak to me."
"Really?" Trish gasped. "That's awful!"
"I know," Flick declared mournfully. "Terrible, isn't it? Or at least it would be, if it were true," he added, with a mischievous grin. "Sorry, I couldn't resist."
Trish laughed. "You are bad, Bowen!"
"Uh-huh. But my mother loves me anyway."
"At least somebody does," Cheyenne shot back.
"Cruel, Cheyenne. And here I thought you had feelings for me," Flick said, pretending to gaze at her forlornly.
"Oh, but I do, Flick," she said, batting her eyelashes at him. "The feeling that I want to slug you every other day, sweetheart." And she reached out and tapped him lightly on the jaw.
"So much for my Romeo routine," Flick laughed. Then he raised his wine glass in a toast. "I ought to know better than to think I can compete with Adam Lightfoot."
"Who's that?" Colin asked.
"Her boyfriend. They're practically engaged."
"Congratulations," Severus said.
"Thanks," Cheyenne said, blushing slightly. "It's not official yet, but Adam's shopping for a ring as we speak."
"Is he a Hunter too, Cheyenne?" Trish asked.
"No, he's a weather wizard. Here's a picture of him," she reached into a pocket and withdrew a photo of a smiling dark-haired young man wearing glasses with his arm about Cheyenne.
"Wow! He's really cute!" Trish exclaimed.
Flick peered over her shoulder. "Nah. I'm cuter."
"In your dreams, Bowen," Cheyenne snorted.
"Miss Greenbough would agree with me, right?" he grinned at Trish.
Trish swallowed hard, for Flick was indeed very good-looking. "Uh, I'm gonna have to agree with him. Sorry, Cheyenne."
"That's okay, Trish. To each her own," the little Hunter laughed. "Just watch out for him. He's a heartbreaker."
"Maybe so, but he won't break my heart, will you, Flick?" Trish asked innocently.
"He better not," Severus interrupted before Flick could answer. "Or else he'll answer to me," he growled and gave the younger man one of his famous glowers.
Flick held up his hands, all traces of his teasing manner vanished. "I would never do such a thing, sir. I have the utmost respect for Trish, Severus, and would never hurt her."
"Good, because if I ever found out otherwise, Bowen, we'd see how good you really were in a duel," Severus threatened.
Trish rolled her eyes at Cheyenne and whispered, "Merlin, but why do I have to get an overprotective guardian?"
"They're all like that, kid," Cheyenne said sympathetically. "Fathers and guardians, all of them overprotective of their daughters. Mine wouldn't let me date until I was seventeen and even then he threatened to turn my first boyfriend into a statue if he kissed me longer than a minute, no joke. And his partner, Aventurine, was even worse. He said if he didn't like the way the guy talked to me, he was going to send him back to Pennsylvania via Dragon Air—meaning he would throw him into the air with a claw so hard he would fly back to Pennsylvania. I was lucky a guy stuck around three months with those two breathing down my neck. Still, they meant well."
"I know, but I just wish he'd trust my judgement," Trish sighed.
"It's not you he doesn't trust, hon," Cheyenne said wisely. "It's the men. Although Flick's a good guy, for all of his smart aleck mouth. His mama raised him right, which is more than I can say for a lot of guys nowadays."
Trish nodded. "I know all about the other kind, believe me. My mom had an eye for picking the losers in every crowd. But I've got better taste than her."
"Long distance relationships are tough though," Cheyenne warned. "They take work."
"I know. But if he's willing, so am I." Trish stated firmly.
"Oh, I think he is. Sev didn't scare him away," Cheyenne observed sagely.
"Thank God," Trish muttered, casting a fond if exasperated glance at her guardian. But she wasn't quite that annoyed, since she knew that Severus was only concerned for her welfare, unlike her own father, who had never cared two beans who she went out with, much less asked to meet them. Once Louis Greenbough had remarried, his whole focus had become his new wife Jane and eventually their baby. Trish had become an afterthought, the daughter he wanted to forget he had. But Severus was not like that, she knew he genuinely cared about her, and so she put up with his sometimes old-fashioned viewpoint.
She glanced sidelong at Drake, who'd been rather quiet all during supper, and caught him grinning knowingly at the way Severus was grilling Flick. He winked at Trish, as if to say, don't worry, if Flick can make it past Severus's eagle-eyed inquisition he's the right one for you.
Trish bit her lip nervously, though she told herself not to worry. Flick Bowen was a Hunter, he'd faced down hardened criminals. Then again, there were criminals and there was Severus Snape.
But Flick did not disappoint her.
* * * * * *
Later on that evening, after the Hunters and Trish and Drake had left, Severus was just settling down in his sitting room with a book when there came a tap at his door. "Come in," he called, thinking it was Arista needing to talk with him.
But it was not his tearful daughter needing reassurance, it was a penitent Draco. "Sir, I really need to talk to you."
Snape scowled. "Make it quick, Malfoy, I'm tired. Who have you come to complain about now?"
"No one, sir. I came to apologize, sir."
"For what? For breathing?" Snape sneered.
Draco winced. "I guess I deserved that. But I really am sorry, sir, for the way I acted before. I was out of line, talking to you that way . . ."
Severus was immediately suspicious. "Is this confession of guilt going somewhere, Malfoy?" he demanded snidely. "I haven't got all night."
"Yes, sir. You see, sir, I was told by my father to say those things to you or else he'd cut me off without a Knut. But I never wanted to, not really. I really am sorry, Professor."
"Do you think this speech is supposed to make me forgive you and let you off house arrest, Malfoy? Because it won't work. The terms of your confinement remain the same, and cannot be altered by me. Those are the Headmistress's orders."
"I know, sir. But . . .what if I was to swear loyalty to Hogwarts, sir? Would that mean I could have the run of the school again?" Malfoy pleaded.
"It might, if you truly meant what you said, and if I could trust you not to break your word." Snape said severely. "However . . .I'm not sure I can, Malfoy. The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree, as they say."
"I'm not my father, sir!" the boy said indignantly. "I'll swear whatever you want, sir."
"Will you drink Veritaserum, Malfoy?"
Malfoy hesitated for an instant before he nodded.
Severus chuckled. "Never lie to a master spy, boy. You very nearly had me fooled." Then he snarled softly, "Get out of here, you slinking little ferret, before I tie your tongue into a permanent knot!"
Malfoy opened his mouth to protest, then shut it when he saw Snape reach for his wand.
He was out the door before Snape had even put a finger on it.
The Head of Slytherin House shook his head. "Lucius, how dumb do you think I am, to fall for that pathetic act? I'm not senile yet, old friend!" he sneered.