Disclaimer: don't own
A/N: Another update! I think this is the fastest I've updated. I hope the April fools chapter was at least mildly amusing to some.
Of Blood and Magic
Chapter 22: Of Two Minds
The forest was shadowed and welcoming as compared to the still rather bright evening. The days were lengthening again, unfortunately enough. As a result the sky was still lit with a dull gray glow when Tevelle slipped out of the castle after dinner. For once she had been able to complete all of her homework with time to spare. Tevelle had been meaning to visit the thestrals again for quite a while, and this seemed the perfect opportunity.
As she passed by the Quidditch Pitch, she noticed a rather drastic change from the perfectly smooth grass field, as was the norm. The turf was dotted with what looked to be the beginnings of massive hedges.
A maze? Tevelle shrugged. There were more creative final tasks, but the idea of a maze had a certain traditional appeal she supposed.
Minutes later, she was out of sight in the trees. A sigh whistled out as Tevelle relaxed.
Now, where are those thestrals?
Raw meat pilfered from the kitchens stained the inside of her robe despite the thick paper wrapping she had tied it up in. What I wouldn't give for a simple Ziploc or plastic bag. At least the smell will attract them so I don't have to look as hard.
Leaf litter rustled underfoot and a few twigs snapped somewhere in the underbrush ahead. A hushed silence hung heavily from the branches, and though the forest was teeming with life all around, to the unpracticed eye it would appear deserted. Tevelle let out a low whistle, careful not to pierce through the overlaying quiet as much as she could. There was no need to disturb the peace more than necessary.
So much for preserving the peace, Tevelle thought ruefully as dark gangly form came tumbling through the trees. The young thestral foal had somehow managed to sound like a full herd all by its lonesome. Spindly legs had somehow tangled, sending the eager foal onto its rump in an ungainly heap.
Tevelle let out a laugh and the foal's surprised snort.
"Easy there, I have plenty of meat for everyone." Tevelle smiled as she helped the foal, a colt she could now see, to his hooves. By the time the colt had four hooves square, the rest of the herd had ghosted into the small clearing.
"Here you go, little one. A bit less enthusiasm next time might be better." The colt snapped up the proffered tidbit eagerly, ears perked forward.
A small nose poked Tevelle in the lower back and Tevelle turned to face a small filly she remembered as an exceptionally timid creature last she had seen the herd. "You've grown bolder," she said, giving the thestral some meat.
Tevelle worked her way through the herd, ensuring that each thestral received at least one portion. The two foals had taken to following her, begging for more. Laughing, she complied, but made sure to leave a little extra for the one mare currently in foal.
"That's it! I don't have anymore, silly!" Hands in the air, Tevelle made a show of letting the two foals shove their noses in her coat pockets. "You ate all of it!"
With a final huff of acceptance, they wandered back to their mothers. Tevelle leaned back against a tree, but only waited a moment before one of the younger stallions nudged her shoulder.
"Hey Mirage, how have you been."
The stallion flicked a single ear and bobbed his head once. Tevelle hadn't expected much more than that. Unlike their loudmouth Abraxan cousins, thestrals were quiet creatures, preferring to use equine body language to vocalizations.
"Have you been for a run recently?" Tevelle asked.
Mirage's tail raised and his ears perked forward, all the answer she needed.
"Go over by that stump so I don't have to jump, you're getting tall." After a quick hoof check, Tevelle stepped up onto the stump and slid onto his back just behind where wings met withers.
Mirage stretched his leathery wings once, before folding them over her legs.
"No flying?"
There was a flick of an ear in response and a tightening of his wings to his side.
"Alright, let's put you through your paces. "
Tevelle had been mildly impressed when she had first met the thestral herd and learned that they had been trained not only under harness, but under saddle as well.
They started with an easy walk to warm up. The path Tevelle had been following lead to a clearing up ahead that would make a perfect makeshift riding ring with a brook trickling through on the far end that would be good for jump practice.
Once clear of the underbrush, they broke into an easy trot. "Stop being lazy," Tevelle admonished, "Stretch those legs out more and pick up your feet, you're going to trip."
Mirage shook his mane and lifted his feet exaggeratedly high, stretching them out in front before putting them down again.
"Now you're just showing off."
The stallion tossed his head in silent laughter.
Gradually they worked up through a canter, tracing figure eights through the clearing. Soon enough the rest of the herd had joined them. Most were content to loiter by the edge of the field and watch, but the two foals sprinted into the middle, attempting to keep pace. The colt clumsily attempted a flying lead change, tangling his hooves and nearly landing on his nose before righting himself. The filly whickered gleefully as she gamboled around him with far more grace.
"Maybe we should wait to practice jumping till after those two tire themselves out." Tevelle suggested.
Mirage flicked an ear in agreement.
Tevelle was quite sore by the time they began their cool down, walking in wide easy circles until their breathing was back to normal. Mirage's coat gleamed with sweat and he was no doubt just as tired as she.
"Good workout, but I think we're a bit out of shape."
Mirage jostled her.
"Fine, I'm out of shape."
The stallion gave a satisfied shake of his mane.
Tevelle's joints ached as she slid off his back onto the ground. If she were human she would have had some lovely bruises on her hipbones and upper thighs, but luckily vampires were made of stronger stuff than that. Thestrals were surprisingly comfortable for such bony horses, but they were still bony.
Blinking, Tevelle reached her arms above her head to stretch, catching a glimpse of the sky in doing so.
"It's later than I thought. I should probably get back to the castle. Do you need a rub down, Mirage?"
As she spoke, one of the mares had approached them and begun grooming the stallion's back.
"Never mind then," Tevelle laughed. Mirage gave her a gentle shove with his nose. "Fine fine! I know three's a crowd. I'm going." She quickly said her goodbyes to the herd, but was careful not to wake the foals that had collapsed in an exhausted tangle.
The walk back through the forest was not nearly so quiet as the walk earlier. There was a large incongruous break in the underbrush near the path. Curious what had blundered through and sent the smaller forest creatures into an uproar, Tevelle followed the trail of broken twigs and crushed vegetation. The trail was a winding one, as if the maker was sick or disoriented. Tevelle quickened her pace, now concerned.
A boot print caught her attention in a patch of loose soil.
So you're human, even more reason for me to find you first before some hapless or not so hapless forest denizen does.
She quickened her pace further, nearly jogging, and her senses on full alert so that she did not miss any trail markers or tracks. In the back of her mind, she plotted her course. The forest edge was near, but not so near that it was no longer dangerous.
A scent caught her nose. She was catching up. The scent was confused though. The odor of unwashed human and sweat mixed with more natural odors of the forest overlay any individual scent she might have been able to pick up. There was the unmistakable tang of sickness to the odor as well. She was close enough to pick up on the heartbeat of her quarry now. Erratic and racing, he or she was alternating between a state of eerie calm and desperate panic.
She was so focused on her target that she nearly missed the presence of two more humans nearby on a direct course to intercept the sick one. She strained her nose, recognizing these two new scents. Harry Potter and Viktor Krum. Idly she wondered what the two Champions were doing taking a leisurely stroll in the forest late at night, but it was a distant concern.
Tevelle slowed. She was nearly within hearing distance now, though still outside human range. Nevertheless, she wanted as little noise as possible so that she would be able to keep track of both groups.
"We're friends, that's it. That Skeeter woman lied." Harry was saying.
"You haff not.- " Krum asked awkwardly, and Tevelle suppressed a groan. They were out in the Forbidden Forest after hours talking about a fake love-triangle?
"No."
"Vreally? You haff never-"
"We're just friends." Harry assured him.
Tevelle could nearly hear the gears in Krum's head turning. Suddenly, new words caught her ear.
"Yes, yes, I have looked at the specifications necessary and have sent ahead requests to several Dragon Reserves. The one in Romania seems the most likely to assist as I believe the Coven Head administering the region is an old friend of Dumbledore's." The voice belonged to Mr. Crouch. But the words didn't fit. They sounded as if he were reliving a conversation from nearly a year ago. Tevelle focused on his heartbeat. Calm.
There was a nearly instantaneous change in his demeanor. Heartbeat and nervousness in his scent spiked. "Have to tell... Have to… Must be warned…"
There was another shift, and Crouch was calm again. "No, no. The other letterhead Weatherby, that won't do at all. It is not nearly official enough to send to Headmaster Karkaroff and Madame Maxime."
"Third-task… Dumbledore…"
"Fetch the other quill, quickly now! These letters must be pristine."
As Tevelle edged closer to where the two groups would meet, her mind raced. Crouch was ill, that went without question, and delusional as well, that too was clear. But was he dangerous?
She cursed silently as she reached out with her mind toward the castle. Xeven was out of range. Would it be best to sprint up to the castle now to fetch him? Or would it be safer to keep an eye on Crouch in the event he was dangerous? She couldn't in good conscience leave the two boys to stumble into a potentially dangerous situation unawares if she could help it.
Dithering cost her precious time. Crouch had stopped and in his more passive, but less lucid state, had begun discussing manifests with a tree he addressed as Weatherby.
Harry had noticed Crouch now, drawing his wand uncertainly.
"Vosn't he a judge? Isn't he vith your Ministry?"
Events were moving too quickly. The time had passed that Tevelle could have conveniently stumbled into Harry and Krum before they encountered Crouch. If she revealed her presence now, it would only cast suspicion on her. That would be attention she would not need, and no doubt put her position here at the school into doubt as well.
Harry made his way closer to Crouch cautiously, and Tevelle was silently grateful that Crouch remained in a more passive state. Krum was doing the intelligent thing and keeping his distance.
"… Send another owl to Madame Maxime, because she might want to up the number of students she's bringing, now Karkaroff's made it a round dozen… do that, Weatherby, will you? Will you? Will…"
The man was deteriorating once again, but Tevelle could do nothing while she remained hidden.
"Dumbledore!" The desperate grasp Crouch made towards Harry startled the boy. Fingers clenched rigidly in Harry's robes. "I've done… stupid… thing. Must tell Dumbledore!" Each word was expelled forcefully but with a breathlessness that showed a tremendous effort to do so.
Harry looked towards a reluctant Krum for help.
All of a sudden a switch was flipped and Crouch was calm once again. Releasing Harry, he turned again to the tree, informing "Weatherby" of an expected visit by his wife and son.
"You stay here with him. I'll get Dumbledore, I know where his office is."
"He's mad!" Krum frowned. Very astute Victor, Tevelle thought at him, wishing she dared to do more than watch.
"Just stay with him."
Another switch. Crouch was lucid and distressed once again.
"Don't… leave… me! I… escaped… must warn… must tell… see Dumbledore… my fault… Bertha… dead… all my fault… my son… my fault… tell Dumbledore… Harry Potter… the Dark Lord… stronger… Harry Potter…"
Tevelle could wait no longer. Xeven had to be informed. She ran as quickly and as she could without making enough noise to alert anyone to her presence. It was even more important now that none know she was there.
Dark Lord… stronger… The words echoed around her skull, the syllables morphing into a drumbeat in time with her footfalls. An ache began in her chest and worked its way up to her throat. Dark Lord. He could only be referring to Voldemort. The sick feeling in her gut was back.
It became more difficult once inside the castle to run at top speeds. Sounds echoed and Xeven's room was nearly at the opposite side of the castle. Far too much time passed until she reached Xeven's door.
"Come in." Xeven ordered nearly the instant she stopped and even before she could raise a fist to knock.
Tevelle barged in, barely noting that Xeven had risen from a chair by the fireside in one fluid motion, a heavy and probably priceless book falling unheeded to the floor. She wasted no time, shoving images of the past few minutes toward his mind. In her haste she failed to order them.
"Calm," Xeven said aloud, "These images are too jumbled to make sense of. Take a moment to organize your thoughts."
Tevelle did so, taking a breath of air that she did not need, all the while feeling as if this was just wasting precious time. She tried again, thinking carefully through the events she wanted him to see.
Xeven was moving before she could blink.
"What are we going to do?" Tevelle asked silently as they ran. She could barely keep up.
"We will see. Albus may very well beat us there."
It turned out that Xeven was correct. They did not announce their presence when they arrived, but kept to the shadows, careful to remain hidden from everyone, even Dumbledore.
They watched as Dumbledore revived a stunned Krum before summoning Hagrid.
"Hagrid, I need you to fetch Professor Karkaroff, his student has been attacked. When you've done that, kindly alert Professor Moody-"
"No need, Dumbledore, I'm here."
Tevelle stiffened. Why would Moody have known to come? And how could he arrive so quickly from the castle, especially with that wooden leg? She looked at Xeven in confusion. His face, made up of all sharp angles and dark shadows, was expressionless, only the downward turn of the corner of his mouth indicating the rapid speed of his thoughts. Thoughts he did not yet share.
"Damn leg," Moody was complaining, "I would've been here faster, what's happened? Snape said something about Crouch-"
Tevelle frowned. That wasn't right. His timing was impressive, even for an able-bodied person.
"Karkaroff, please, Hagrid!" Dumbledore ordered sharply.
"What do we do?" Tevelle asked once again.
"We watch and we wait. There is little to do concerning Crouch now, the scents are too muddled and any tracks have been trampled and destroyed. There is no need for the humans to be aware of our involvement, it would only cause complications that are best avoided."
And so they watched and they waited, neither moving a muscle, even when Karkaroff arrived in a panic and spat at Dumbledore's feet, even when Hagrid grasped Karkaroff by the collar of his robes, lifting the smaller man up in one swift and violent motion.
Harry and Hagrid passed within meters of the two vampires as they made their way up to the castle, and still Xeven and Tevelle remained unnoticed.
Karkaroff hauled himself up to his feet shakily soon after and after gathered his coat about him as if it were his dignity he pulled back together. With a sharp motion, he gestured for Krum to follow and return to the ship.
Soon, Dumbledore was all who remained in the clearing. He surveyed the space with keen eyes that passed unseeing over his observers. There was a rustling in the thicket, and Dumbledore turned expectantly.
"I've looked in the immediate area, and Crouch is nowhere to be found. I will widen my search, but considering the state he was in, I doubt he could have made it far." Moody said gruffly, a piece of tattered parchment in his hand.
Dumbledore's eyes flicked toward the map with recognition, but he did not comment.
Tevelle felt a brief spike of panic. What if the map showed Moody where she and Xeven were? Their cover would be blown and it would not look good in the eyes of the humans if two vampires were skulking around the crime scene.
"Do not worry. I was not able to alter the map, but the mind of the reader is a simple thing to manipulate." Xeven assured her and Tevelle could have sighed with relief.
"It is possible that foul play was involved and Barty Crouch did not leave the area under his own volition." Dumbledore suggested.
"There weren't any overt signs, and I was looking. Still, we can't rule kidnap out."
Dumbledore nodded. "Very well. Continue looking as you deem appropriate and inform me of what you find."
"Yes, sir."
Xeven and Tevelle did not move until long after both Moody and Dumbledore left the forest.
"What do you think this means?" Tevelle asked, hesitant to voice her concerns aloud.
"It is still too early to tell. I was unable to mentally locate Mr. Crouch. He has either fled beyond my reach or is dead."
A/N: I hope you liked it. Please review! Reviews are the only way I can tell if people actually like what I'm writing.