Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Raven's Snake. Enjoy the 4800-word chapter. I do not own Harry Potter, Warner, and JK Rowling do.
Zeb finished the last few scribbles in his notes, pausing only to look up. He did not mind the fact that the other Slytherins glared at him, burning a hole in his back as he sighed and simply managed to relax. He wished to keep relaxing now.
Zeb sighed and then relaxed, not wishing to keep going… There was a moment of silence as the class let out followed by a screaming of words.
He paused, too interested in his environment for a moment… He did not even seem to grasp that things like this would exist, he did not know before it came down to it all.
Zeb walked out of class, followed by the jeers and hisses from the rest of his house. Ah, did he miss the pure hatred that permeated the entire place? It felt like it came down to just how much they hated him… It meant something that would be utterly done and dusted.
Zeb let them pass, letting their hatred and jeers which washed over him, utterly annoying as he did so.
Their barbs were as annoying as they were dull and harmless. Did he know within seconds? He would be greeted by…
"Hello, Zeb," Luna stated as Zeb chuckled.
"Hello, Luna," Zeb said as he turned to her.
He was beginning to rather hope for her company, the energy, and vigor she had for her ideals was infectious, like the venom of a snake or spider. It felt utterly amusing to have her around.
He paused to look downwards to keep growing, too interested in what was going on for now as he paused.
The Slytherin paused, too tired, and too interested in what was going on but the Ravenclaw would continue to be interested in battle… And he did not wish to keep growing.
There was a VERY large amount of mercy in how they moved. He hummed before he continued to relax, an idea that would not relent and end.
He paused… Utterly silent, utterly paused to keep relaxing for the moment and he looked downwards at the ground, something that he dreaded.
"You, ok?" Zeb asked as he paused and looked to the side and then he cracked a smile, unwilling to do more than a bow, and paused.
Yet? He hummed as she tapped her fingers on her arms as the two began to think of what to say to her.
Zeb let out a slight yawn before he cracked his fingers and looked at the silver eyes of the woman next to him, there were a LOT of ideas on her mind as he cracked his fingers.
Luna glanced up at him before she smiled, the burning of a star which made him think of what was going on. He sighed and cracked a raised eyebrow before he paused to look downwards at the ground, there was just something else going on.
"I'm a bit tired," Luna stated before she paused. "You? I do not know if you looked at the map." Luna stated before she hummed and smiled.
She did not wish to keep growing more and more interested in what to deal with.
"I did not, I wanted to look at it with you and with Gek," Zeb stated before he paused to look downwards at the ground before he sighed.
"Meaning?" Luna questioned as Zeb paused to look downwards.
"Meaning I trust you." Zeb heard before he sighed. "Did Gek talk to you like I asked him to?" Zeb questioned before he hummed.
"Yes, he did… He was not happy to deal with the eagle." Luna stated before she tapped her fingers. "You, ok?" Luna asked.
"Yes, I'm just too tired," Zeb stated before he and she seemed to keep walking faster and faster. "Are you ok? There is a LOT more stuff to do and no time to deal with it." Zeb said.
He knew that Gek would soon be joining them. He had stuck around long enough to relay to him that he had heard of them returning to the forest… And Zeb had no desire to be told off, utterly unsure and unable to relax.
All of it just bothered him and he would be dammed if he had to deal with his problems so shortly. Zeb paused to let himself relax, utterly tired.
The idea would not relent… And he would not be able to relax at all.
Zeb looked at Luna and paused to try and think of what to do next, not wanting to annoy her or cause her to run off for now. He paused to try and figure out something to try and deal with for now.
He did not wish to keep relaxing for now and then paused to think, looking downwards at the ground, an idea that he could keep kicking around his head.
Zeb sighed and thought of how it had come to pass… He would end it today if he could. Zeb did not want to think of what was going to do if what he had heard was true, however… The ideas of it all cut through his brain.
There was a lot more to keep growing for now, it was a lot more than he handled at the time being. If the Ministry tried something for now? He would be very hard pressed to find something to stop them. They would continue to be problematic.
Not that he considered them a threat to the wizarding world. They were too arrogant to believe something like they were outmatched, too interested in what was going to be done with it for now.
This chaos? The infighting? Too stupid for him to believe anyone intelligent enough to bring the world to heel, it meant something that it could be utterly unsure for now.
This would not keep being done, not with it all done and dusted. He did not wish to try and figure something out… He did not want to try and cut through it, to try and bring it all crashing down to the ground… Something that was not easily dealt with for now.
This made him want to keep growing for now and she would not relent… Not at all wishing to do something.
"Tired?" Zeb asked before he raised an eyebrow. "Because as I said? I am… Slytherin beds are not all that… Comfy." Zeb stated before he paused to relax. "I do not at all know what is coming down the vine… There are some bad ideals in the energy." Zeb stated before he sighed.
Luna hummed and led him down the hallway. Students stared, perhaps thinking Luna had ensnared or jinxed him as she was one of the weirder students…. It was not something that Zeb cared for, not wanting to try and relax upon dealing with it.
He did not wish to try and cut through an idea like it, though…. If they thought less of him? So much the damn better, he would keep dealing with the fallout as he had wished to have done for a reason… This would not be utterly relaxed at the time being.
She paused to keep step with him. He paused to look over at her before she seemed to keep thinking.
"I'm ok," Luna stated as Zeb hummed.
"You're not, your shoes are gone," Zeb stated as Luna hummed.
"Nargles took them," Luna said with a shrug as Zeb sighed.
He did not believe that but he did not at all try and say something, it was her idea for now, something that could not be done and dusted. He wished to keep looking downwards at the ground.
Perhaps it made him want to scream, utterly unsure of it and he wished to relax, too tired to relent, too amused to keep growing for now, not wishing to relax for now.
There was something to try and figure out for now, interested in something beyond his control. This did not at all matter for now at the time being and paused to keep thinking to figure out something.
There were a lot of desires that could be utterly done at the time being. He had a LOT more to try and figure out, something that cut through the mind, not wishing to relent for now and paused to keep thinking for now. The idea had cut into a lot of people for now.
It had wished to be beyond this for now, something that made him want to laugh, to pause inside the chaotic idea for now… He would not be something to try and figure out something that he could keep growing for now.
This was just too much to try and figure something out to try and figure out for now and then paused to keep growing and cutting through the madness for now, wishing to keep relaxing.
She hummed for now and seemed to keep growing for now at the time being, and a good idea overall.
"I heard some of the Slytherins were rude to you," Luna stated to which Zeb simply rolled his eyes at this.
He knew more than what was going to happen. Some of the Slytherins did not want the school to be taken over by the ministry, knowing it would stain their precious records. Others? Those who wished to take advantage? Oh, they wished within wishes to have the school taken down.
Not for any practical reason, mind you… But because it was something that allowed their ambitious cruelty to fester, slithering like the serpent which had been their house emblem.
Still? Zeb endured; he would find a way to endure even if he did not believe he could for now.
"It is ok," Zeb stated before he crossed his arms. "Why do you think Nargles stole your shoes?" Zeb questioned.
The question had the effect of causing Luna to be more concerned with it than trying to help and then focus on him which he was glad about. The more help he had upon such issues? The better.
Plus? It was beyond Luna to be concerned with him. He knew damn well his house was not fond of him for acting without their ideology.
So? He simply chose not to care as much about such ideals for now. he could handle it and while the sentiment helped him? it did not mean he wished her to be involved.
"Because my father told me they steal shoes as a prank," Luna said as Zeb hummed.
'Well, he's half right, someone did steal her shoes as a prank, he simply didn't seem to know whom.' Zeb stated before he sighed.
Zeb let Luna guide him through the school, too interested in what was to be done, interested in what would need to be required for now. It meant something beyond her was occurring, an ideal she was not privy to.
He still found a speckle of mirth in how she moved, almost sure she glided along the floor and was far more whimsical.
"Would you like to see the map later?" Zeb questioned, pausing to look downwards at the ground. "Because I sure do, I'm very curious about what is on it," Zeb stated as he paused to think.
Zeb sighed to himself mentally as he realized to think for now and then paused to look to the ground, Luna stopped pulling him for now and then paused to look to the side.
She would continue to be tired, exhausted by such an idea. This was not an ideology that he was used to and so was she.
This meant little to him but a lot to her, too interested in the next plan… Too unwilling to do something for now, interested to try and figure something out for this moment.
It made him want to try and end for now and it meant something that could be utterly done for now at the time being.
It would not be something easily dealt with nor contained for now and paused within its prime now as he relaxed for the moment, too interested in the smallest details.
That was probably why he had managed to relax and find some peace with her. They were outcasts, both looked down upon for their views and it made him far happier to be able to bond at all.
Perhaps it made him odder than he had thought to be able to connect with someone or something like this but he did not care.
"Did Gek say anything?" Zeb asked after a few seconds and paused.
"He asked if you were ok and if you wanted to talk," Luna said bluntly.
"I did but I did not know how I was going to ask; I didn't know if we had any classes together," Zeb stated.
"He said something like that," Luna said before Zeb hummed.
"Did you know the person in the cloak?" Zeb questioned as Luna raised an eyebrow. "The person you saw before? I don't know anyone who has a blue robe." Zeb stated before Luna hummed.
"I do not know if they are Ravenclaw. Ravenclaws wear blue but we are not usually sneaky, it doesn't sound like us." Luna said as Zeb hummed.
"I am not saying it does. I just do not know any other house that wears blue. That and it seemed like they knew a bit about Hogwarts if they came here to drop something off." Zeb stated before he rubbed at his temples.
It meant something to him that he could not fathom who this was, an idea that made little sense to him or else.
"Have they been rude to you?" Luna asked before Zeb blinked.
"The other Slytherins?" Zeb stated before Luna nodded. "Yes. They are always like this." Zeb stated.
"Hmm," Luna stated before Zeb sighed. "There is just too much to try and deal with… But I can manage to deal with them, Luna." Zeb stated before he sighed.
He paused for a moment to close his eyes, too interested in what needed to be utterly relaxed for now as he paused to keep growing for now, too interested in what would be done yet.
He was too relaxed for now, too unsure of what needed to happen.
"So, about that man in the robe?" Zeb asked, bringing the topic back to where it had been.
Zeb paused, too tired and too uncertain of what was going on, not wanting to do more than relax and figure things out at the time being. Luna was tired, relaxed, too interested for now, and then tired now, wishing to keep going.
There was an idea that would keep being dealt with in his head, a small little bell that kept ringing.
Perhaps he would be too tired, too interested in the next move made him more on edge than before.
He did not wish to be, he was not and he would continue to act according to his station at the end of the day… Yet? He was too tired to argue with it. He had been tired, wishing to handle it for now, too tired, and then relaxing to get it all said and done. He wanted it said and done, too interested for now.
He paused to let it keep growing for now and then exhausted to do something for now and been willing to do something about it all when it came down to it.
Zeb was tired, exhausted, he had been worn down by everything at the time being and relaxed for now and cracked his fingers, watching the Ravenclaw as he seemed to keep relaxing, feeling too exhausted for now…
It meant something for now as he had wished to. The madness that had not yet seemed to be something to deal with for now… This would not end, not anytime soon.
He cracked his fingers and then looked downwards at the time, wishing to feel it all end well enough.
"Hmm," Zeb stated before he paused to keep thinking for now. "There is just something weird about it all," Zeb said as he paused to think.
Luna hummed, an inquisitive look in her eyes. She had been too content to relax, too thrown off to be at odds with what she had wished to have done for now and it seemed to be done and dusted.
Luna looked over at Zeb before he raised an eyebrow. Both sighed for now, too interested. She had been too interested in the letter as well, both wanted to relax for now and wished to be able to think for now.
Yet? She nor he did not wish to think for now, too fascinated for now, too interested in what was to be done and dusted.
"Should we go talk to Gek?" Luna questioned to which Gek hummed.
"I do not know. I do not know; a lot is going on." Zeb stated.
"But he can tell what the map means," Luna stated to which there was a pause.
That was true, that was entirely something he had left out. Yet? Zeb did not know if the Hufflepuff was going to be anything like his house, he did not at all under something like this.
Perhaps he should not be the one judging by what had been done to fix it… Not at all knowing what was going to be happened, for now, too interested. He did not want to relax, but he would be ready for now and ready for the next move he had to try and throw at the time being.
This would not be something to keep growing for now, too exhausted for now… There was something to try and deal with for now.
They both paused as they turned the corner as he sighed and relaxed, too interested for now and then he wanted to scream knowing what needed to be done and dusted for now. He wanted to scream into the air for now and paused to relax for now.
This seemed to be utterly entirely relaxed for now and then seemed to keep growing for now and then paused to relax.
Luna looked over at Zeb as the two slowly started to walk down the stairs. Luna winced for a few seconds as her feet found solid rock and Zeb frowned to look over at her before crossing his arms.
Her pain angered him and then looked downwards as he frowned and looked at her, knowing this girl was struggling to walk around… Yet? Some idiot had taken her shoes, he sighed and cursed before he tried to question if he could do anything.
"You, ok?" Zeb asked before he walked up to her. "Because I have no idea what is going to happen… But I feel like I am going to kill someone if they did take your shoes for some stupid joke." Zeb stated before he seemed to relax.
She watched as the Slytherin walked to her before she seemed to keep growing for now. She watched as he looked at her, too interested for now.
"I am fine, Zeb… But thank you." Luna said.
Zeb could only rub at his temples, looking like a spider ready to snap its jaws shut on the next piece of prey that wandered into its clutches. The Slytherin was too tired, too interested, too relaxed, and too unwilling to deal with it for now.
This was not to be something that could be utterly done for now, there was a lot to this sort of idea that could be dealt with.
He wanted to snap, to break something as she gently took his hands and reminded the Slytherin she was ok. Still? it made him too tired, too exhausted; he had been too interested in the next maneuver he and she made that he had been unwilling… Unsure and uncertain of his idea in life, this all simply made him too tired.
He sighed and then looked downwards now. She paused to be something more unsure and uncertain for now… This just did not help him at all, not at all… And she doubted it would have helped but it seemed a lot odder.
"You both ok? I did not expect you guys to make it so fast." Zeb heard, pausing to rest his hand on his wand.
Luna slowly yet surely seemed to lower the weapon as she knew that Zeb wanted to fight, to try and use his magic, to understand what had been thrown for now… It was something else, something that could be utterly done with it for now… Too unable to do more than relax.
She had been too distracted, too thrown off for this moment as Gek paused for now and then looked between the two as it felt too fascinated for now and then cracked his fingers.
"You going to be, ok?" Zeb stated to which Gek slowly started to walk over two for the others to try and deal with it to the end of the day, it was quite painful.
Zeb could only sigh, looking to the ground, too tired and unwilling to do more than relax, to pause and think for but a moment. He felt willing to snap like a twig with too damn much weight placed upon it. The very damn idea would cut him in two, it would snap him into pieces.
He looked over to Gek who simply smirked, too interested in whatever little idea he had been able to think of. It was clear now that whatever he had wished for? Well, it was all going to hell in a handbasket.
"Gek," Zeb said simply and directed a nod in his direction as the two paused to let sink in what had transpired for now. "It is good to see you, I did not believe we would be meeting so soon," Zeb stated before he slowly directed a toothy smile his way.
It reminded Gek of a shark, yet? He knew Zeb was nice and docile and meant him no harm. They were friends or at least close enough to be treated as such. To him? They were simply handling business and this was the best way to conduct said business.
Zeb did not at all know what to say to him and instead simply directed a glance over to Luna who held his hand gently, assuring him he was just as ok as she was… It meant something to him as he turned back to think and was met with a smile that told him everything would be right as rain.
"It is what friends do," Gek stated as Zeb hummed.
"Yes, it is…" Gek heard as he paused. "Should we stay here to think or would you like to go inside… I would rather have Luna… Not feel cold from the damn fact some fool stole her shoes." Zeb stated, frowning in anger.
"You care more than you admit, you know." Zeb heard as he paused to shrug at this and simply looked to the side.
"I'm good at what I can do and I enjoy helping whom I can," Zeb stated before he sighed and looked downwards to the ground. "I do feel some joy in helping you both with what you wish. There is just a lot more I wish I can do… However? I will take pride in doing what I can." Zeb stated while he frowned and yet looked as calm as one could.
He knew more and more that Gek was trying to cheer him up. It would probably have worked, working its way into him… If he was not consumed with the doubt that what he did was for naught. He did not know what he could do.
He did not at all understand what the purpose he had was, it felt like he was trying to cut through metal with a spoon. All this did was remind him that the Slytherin within him had limits and now?
So damn well did he do so for now and that would not change now or ever change… It felt like he was trying to swim through the rain like he had been dunked in poison.
All of it? All of it seemed to be something to deal with, a chaotic little thing that was not to be dealt with for now.
All of it seemed to be guaranteed for something he could not have been something he could not change…
He was too tired, too interested in what was coming and what would be allowed, the chaos he would not allow any time soon, that he could not have allowed to keep growing and going, too interested in what was to come next.
They all needed an edge, one he could not allow ending, too interested in it all… Too much of an adventure to end it for now. He was too chaotic to allow it, for now, wishing to relax again and again.
Yet? He had been too unwilling to do something for now.
There was more to see and do next, too unwilling to keep relaxing for now… This was a lot more he could only imagine.
He was exhausted, too interested in what was going next. He wished to be thrown off for now. He wished to relax, for now, he had very large and chaotic little rules in the world.
Still? It all needed to end, it would end today.
"You, ok?" Luna asked before she rubbed at her arms. "Yes, I think I am," Luna stated before she cracked her fingers.
She hummed and leaned on the wall, too unsure of it, of it all… There was just too much for her to deal with for now and for good reason, something that need to be utterly magnetic for now… Too unsure of what would be done and dusted… It meant too much, far too much.
She tapped a foot on the ground, reminding him that he had been able to relax and that could be completed for the time being.
Still? Such ideals were beyond her, she would be able to relax, able to figure something out… There was something else to deal with for now… He had a lot more to try and deal with for now.
She was utterly magic now, something that she could continue to keep doing for now.
She looked at Zeb who had been silent, too silent for now… It had been an idealistic little idea for now, something that could cut through it all.
"You, ok?" Zeb asked before he raised an eyebrow, something that could be utterly dealt with, something to keep in mind.
He had felt too consumed by it to deal with… But he would not be able to try and deal with it for now… There was more to chaotically deal with for now.
All of it seemed to be dealt with for now… There was something else on the end of the line… There was too much to do and something else. It was hard to deny for now, hard to think of it for now… The ideas cutting into his mind… It meant something, it meant more than he could wish to relax. He would not relent upon it.
"Are you ok?" Luna heard as she raised an eyebrow.
"I believe I've heard that we are dealing with such an issue." Luna heard.
"And I believe I've heard you ask that several times… There was a lot we don't know and a lot we can't risk… Now? All I want to do is relax." Zeb stated before he sighed and looked downwards to the ground.
He had been tired, too interested in whatever came down to the line… All he could tell was that this was easier and easier to deal with… Something about it all seemed to be chaotic, to cut into it like some sort of blade sliced into his flesh.
Zeb was silent a few seconds later, pausing only to think… He had been too curious, too thrown off. He looked to Luna, pausing to think of his next move. Luna tapped a foot on the ground like she was dancing to a song… And Zeb half guessed she was, she acted like it at least.
It made him amused.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be 2-10 months and will be 900-6500 words and will end up showing more and more of Gek, Zeb, and Luna heading off to find the map. Until then, Lighting Wolf is out!