Everlasting
By LadysWords
Previously on Everlasting:
As Edward made his way to the Forbidden Forest after breakfast he sighed once more as he saw Stormswift and Ironwing going at it again.
"They'll never become friends, Lupin." Edward said as he spotted Lupin near the edge of the clearing watching the two acting more like children then hippogriffs.
At that, Lupin looked at him surprised, and then replied with shrug, "You never know."
"True, but with those two I think it's fairly obvious their both the dominant type. That's why they will never get along."
Lupin nodded in agreement, "That's what Hagrid thought as well. But with any luck we can find a way to get those two to trust each other, and us."
"Well, I have my doubts. I believe Stormswift would rather kill me accidently than become my friend." Edward said while he rolled his eyes and put his hand on his hip.
"Ah, yes..." Lupin said as he grinned at him. He noticed Hagrid walking down the path.
"'ere, I have an idea.. Professor," Hagrid said as he approached them, "try to coax him into liking you by handing out ferrets."
"I'll give it a try." Lupin said as he reluctantly grabbed a ferret from Hagrid as he took out of a sack that was in his coat.
"Are you mad?" Edward stated to Lupin as he let his mouth go slack. Edward heard Lupin chuckle at his response to the idea. But surprisingly, as Lupin held out a ferret to Stormswift, he saw that the hippogriff did not bite at his hand at all but rather went for the ferret without harming Lupin at all.
"If I wasn't this would never work."Lupin said as he petted the hippogriff. "Here you try." Lupin said as tossed a ferret towards him.
"You're absolutely mad..." Edward repeated and as he approached Lupin he said, "If he bites me, I'll hex you for making me agree to this."
Lupin snorted and replied, "Got it."
With that, Edward took the ferret into his hand and let it go when Stormswift approached in case the hippogriff decided it was best to bite his hand off. Shockingly, Stormswift did not even attempt.
Edward blinked, and suddenly Stormswift reared.
"Watch out!" Edward heard Lupin shout a warning to him.
The creature was frightened by something he did not know was there or even see. Edward turned his head around to see what the creature was looking at and there stood a black dog at the edge of the clearing approaching the herd. Edward looked more closely at it and he realized it was the same dog from Hogsmeade. Edward quickly ran out of Stormswift's path as the hippogriff began to charge. Ironwing also took charge protecting the herd. Startled at the sight of two large hippogriffs charging it the dog smartly ran away from the clearing.
"What-" Edward could only stare where the dog had been and wonder why on earth it had been there in the first place.
"You alright?" Lupin said hurrying to him.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Would ya' look at that. It looks like Stormswift and Ironwing have become frien's, as well as the rest 'f the heard." Hagrid mused out loud.
Edward and Lupin turned towards Hagrid both perplexed at the thought and then both looked to where herd only to see that for once Stormswift and the herd finally accepted Ironwing by crowding around him.
"Would you look at that. I bet it was because Ironwing helped protect them from the black dog." Lupin grinned at the sight.
"That dog creature, or whatever it is, has been here in Forbidden Forest for over a month..," Edward heard Hagrid growling, "it's been scaring the herd, but its never really approached it until now. Thing is it doesn't belong in this forest either so I've been tryin' to shoo it away... but it keeps on coming back."
"Over a month, strange.. I saw that dog at Hogsmeade just yesterday."
"It was near Hogsmeade?" Hagrid stared at him confused. Edward nodded and then he added, "I was there because Dumbledore asked me to go and I saw it there. I'll tell Dumbledore that dog is…unusual and that I saw it there."
"Maybe that's where its home is..." Lupin suggested.
Hagrid nodded in agreement, "Probably, at least now I know where that dog hides."
"Right, I will inform Dumbledore of this."
"Thank ya,Professor."
Edward nodded and waved as he and Lupin both left to return to the castle before the late afternoon classes. "See you, Edward." Lupin said as they parted ways.
"Later, Lupin." Edward replied back and walked towards Dumbledore's office.
'Why would a dog like that be around here...' Edward thought to himself as he walked in hallways heading towards Dumbledore's office to tell him about the strange black dog that had been lurking around the school and the Hogsmeade for over a month.
Chapter 23: Confronting Difficulties
Monday was the starting point; the first day of the week. Some favored it more than any other day of the week. Those that did, Harry figured, were not sane. Mondays were the days that began either a good fast week, or a long boring week or something in the middle.
This particular Monday, however, Harry decided to favor; considering the event that was to take place after classes today. Despite the stormy day outside the cold, wet, chilly, and windy atmosphere only made today's game more dramatic. That right regardless of the foul weather, the quidditch game was to commence anyways.
Harry found that as much as he favored today, compared to the rest of the week, at this particular moment he had begun to rethink his cheerful attitude all thanks to his friend, Hermione. Even though it was early in the morning, Hermione was already nagging for him to study for the exams that were coming up.
Harry found himself trying to explain Hermione that despite the exams being very important it was not his primary concern at the moment. After all, why should he study for something he did not wish to study for, especially with the match to worry about in the near future.
His team had been training hard, and wanted to see if they could beat Hufflepuff. Though the Hufflepuff team was not nearly as skilled as their rivals, the Slytherin team, they were decent.
So, as it was, Harry found himself ignoring Hermione. Since he had not been able to sleep last night and Harry had found out a few minutes ago that trying to converse sophisticatedly with Hermione in the morning, with cluttered thoughts, did not go well for him. As it was he could not respond intelligently to her queries. Which was why now Harry found himself poking at his plate of hard boiled eggs, while simultaneously trying to comprehend everything Hermione was rambling about to him, like studying for certain classes like alchemy, and defense. As Hermione continued to babble on he zoned out and continued to poke at his breakfast instead. Hermione, having finally noticed that he had been ignoring her, finally said, "Harry, pay attention."
Harry blinked as turned his attention from his breakfast to her instead, and intelligently, he asked, "What, 'mione?"
"You haven't been listening have you?" Hermione eyed him confused, and then she added, "Are you sure you're all right, Harry?"
"Yes 'moine, I'm fine." Harry rolled his eyes.
Hermione nodded and continued her rambling about Professor Elric's alchemy class, "Now, back to what I was saying, do you really think Professor Elric will ask what happens if you combine sodium, and chlorine-?
Again Harry groaned, and ignored Hermione. He'd worry about the exams later, like the day before they started.
It was Monday, and it was too early to think about difficult subjects. His mind was still sluggish from waking up two hours ago. Harry continued to poke at his breakfast in the Great Hall. He was supposed to be studying, according to Hermione at least, but already but he was choosing not to.
"Harry…"
"What?" Harry replied, annoyed.
"Have you been listening?"
Harry nodded and replied, "Study, study…I know. I get it, Hermione, I get it."
"Right, don't forget about Professor Elric's exam too, remember last year's exam-"
"'Mione." Harry said as he gritted his teeth. He had to interrupt her and try to persuade his friend not to bug him about studying in the morning.
"Yes, Harry?" He watched as Hermione blinked her eyes, innocently.
"The exam is the week after the next. Not this week, or next. I'm not going to study for something that far off. I'll forget it..." Harry continued.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "The whole point of studying, Harry. Is to not forget it."
"Yes, 'Mione, I know and I will eventually study. But, not now, I have a game today."
Hermione stared at him confusedly. Harry noticed, as her face scrunched up and then watched as she blinked finally remembering today's quidditch game that the Gryffindors were playing in. "Oh, right. I forgot."
"Oi, you two! Let's go to Defense class, were going to be late, you know." Harry heard Ron's voice suddenly from behind them, as he finally joined them for breakfast in the Great Hall.
"Late?" Hermione repeated. She was confused, not knowing of why they were going to be late for anything at the moment.
"Yes, late mate, look around." Ron emphasized his point as he waved to the rest of the table. The number of students had vastly dwindled as they had been talking for at least thirty minutes longer than they usually did.
"Right, let's go then." Harry hurriedly said, as he chewed through his last piece of food. He did not want to be late for his favorite class, Defense with Professor Lupin.
OoO
As they finally stumbled into the doorway that belonged to the Defense class, Harry and his friends both decided that this was not going to be their favorite day, even if there was going to be a match after lunch.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron stared along with the rest of the class, minus the Slytherins of course, the look on their faces suggested they were anything but delighted by who their substitute was Professor Snape.
Harry noticed some faces drain of color at the mere sight of the Professor.
Unaffected by the students' reactions to him being there in front of the classroom, Professor Snape, still stared out, with the same cold eyes as he did during Potions. Harry let out a miserable groan, as he saw the Professor eying him.
"Don't linger in doorway. Get in your seats... now." Professor Snape growled out.
Without any hesitation, most likely from the fear of what would happen if they did continue to linger, the entire class hurried to their seats.
"Open your books," Professor Snape as he eyed them, and a brief second later, ruffling could be heard, as all the students did what he had asked of them.
"Today's subject will be werewolves." Harry heard Professor Snape announce, and commenced the day's class.
OoO
It was after classes ended that the match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor commenced in the dreary weather. Near mid-game the storm began to worsen.
Flying with glasses in the rain, Harry decided, was not something he enjoyed, as he squinted trying to find the snitch, which he had been trying to do the whole game. Trying to find a snitch during the storm was anything but simple, but with the water on his glasses his vision was more obscured than ever, even with the spell Hermione had placed on them for the sole purpose of being able to see where he was flying at all. Harry found himself, flying in circles, and looking in every direction to find the snitch and end the game as quickly as possible.
Harry blinked again. He spotted the Hufflepuff seeker with his arm raised, flying fast past him. There was no doubt, he had found the snitch. As quickly as he could, he urged his broom forward to catch up and win the game. Gryffindor may be winning now, but if the seeker got his hands on the snitch before he did, they'd lose for sure. But as he chased the opposing seeker he noticed they were shooting up further into the sky.
Soon, Harry managed to pass the seeker, and came close enough to catch the snitch. Suddenly, a cloud before him morphed into what seemed to be a dog, and then he blinked and it had vanished, as had the snitch. Frost began to creep along his broomstick. Harry frowned then looked around him, finally noticing the rapidly chilling atmosphere. He shivered. Out of the corner of his eye Harry suddenly noticed something black coming up to him. Dementors had surrounded him. At least ten from what he could see. With a quick burst of speed, he tried to shake them, but having ten trying to catch up unfortunately made his odds of escaping very slim. As it was, one blocked his path and leaned forward, 'just like the one from the train' Harry recalled.
'Not good..' Harry panicked. He knew he had to get away somehow, considering his reaction to the dementor last time. Harry flipped backwards, and raced back towards the ground. Perhaps the creatures wouldn't dare to attack him when there were others. But, again, Harry saw one of the dementors in front of him. His vision began to blur as the dementor began to suck his memories away from him. As it did, Harry felt his hand go slack on his broom stick. Then he noticed that he no longer with the relative safety of his broom. He was falling instead.
As he fell, he began to lose his conscious, and as he did Harry heard the distance screams from that came from the stands below. He heard the bellow of Dumbledore's voice from the distance, "Expecto Patronum!"
OoO
Harry blinked when he came too. He noticed that he felt stiff from lying on something comfy, a bed he figured. He could also dully note that there were people surrounding him, from the soft murmurs that were around his bed.
"Harry? Are you alright? You gave everyone a scare." Harry heard Hermione speak first, and as he blinked several times to clear his vision, as he put his glasses on again.
"Well, considering that he just fell a few hundred feet...to the ground, would you feel alright?" Harry heard Ron murmur sarcastically to Fred and George that were as also at his bedside.
"What happened?"
"Well, you fell off..." Hermione, responded.
"No, I meant the match, not what happened to me." Harry could only roll his eyes, as he had already remembered how he got here on the infirmary bed.
"No one blames you Harry, but we lost. And Diggory wants a rematch because he didn't know what happened to you, until after he'd caught the snitch..."
"But you should have seen Dumbledore, I have never seen him so angry," Hermione added.
"That's true. I think he's going to have a little chat with the Minister, about our lovely guests." Harry heard Fred said cheerily.
"What happened to my broom?" Harry suddenly wondered.
"Oh, erm, uh-" Hermione said hesitantly, as she looked down, and then she pulled a bundle from beside her and Harry feared the worst for his broomstick as he noticed twigs sticking out of it. What Harry heard next only confirmed what he had feared, "We're sorry, Harry, but we only managed, to find a few pieces left of the broomstick."
OoO
A few days later, Harry was permitted to leave the hospital wing.
Harry found himself walking outside the castle despite the cold air outside. He noted that his luck had not been good what so ever. Ever since he blew Aunt Petunia's sister up that is. Though, Harry supposed, the actual act of blowing up her up was good.
Harry remembered the first time he had met Professor Lupin, the first day of September, on the Hogwarts express. The man had been sleeping in one of the cabins with a rugged long coat draped over him. He had wondered what sort of professor he was.
As Harry walked down a path he noticed Professor Lupin, looking rather pale and ill compared to the last time he had seen him a week or two ago.
"Er-Professor? Are you all right?"
Noticing his presence the Professor turned around and blinked, "Potter? Yes, I'm all right, I've had worse," Lupin said as shook his head dismissively and continued, "Besides, I should be asking you that question. I heard about the match. It's too bad I couldn't witness it. I heard you fly like your father... but I heard something else had happened during the match…"
"Oh, there are plenty of others to watch…I lucked out, for that match, professor." Harry replied, surprised, that he played like his father, "I fly like my father does?" Harry frowned as he pondered this. He, in all honestly, knew very little about his father.
"Yes, from what little information I've heard, you and he are similar. I've also heard you have a penchant for breaking the school rules."
"Does that mean?"
"Yes. Your father also had a knack for getting into trouble too…sometimes on purpose and sometimes not."
Harry eyes widened and then wondered out loud, "You knew him?"
At that, Professor Lupin nodded, and replied gruffly, "Yes, I knew him, and watched him play quidditch, as well. When your father flew during those games, sometimes he would prank the seeker he flew against into thinking he saw the snitch, and they would fall for it...at times. That is until they finally figured out what he was doing." Lupin chuckled, "But that's not all, you are similar to him in many others ways, like your hair, and face."
Harry blinked, and mused, "I see."
"Yes, you have your mother's eyes. Perhaps, you also have a knack for spells like your mother…" The professor flicked his eyes to him.
"Professor?"
"There's one spell I might be able to teach you to ward of the dementors that seem to enjoy your company. It's called Expecto Patronum."
OoO
Professor Elric, found himself frowning, as he glanced at his window, and noticed the persistently foul weather. It hadn't let up since the match, which was over a week ago now. The exams were nearing, and he found that Lupin had persuaded him to go the non-traditional way of conducting tests. Edward smiled and thought to himself, 'Perhaps I should ask the man what exactly he plans with his pupils.'
As such, later that very evening, Edward found himself knocking on the man's door.
He heard Remus' reply of, "Come on in!"
Edward grinned. Perhaps, he could find an interesting way of conducting his tests… he mused to himself as walked in to the office.
"Edward?" Edward heard Remus' surprise, as he had entered his office. Recently, Edward and Remus, had become a bit more friendly. As of last week they were on a first name basis.
"I'm curious, what do you plan to have your pupils do for the exams?"
Edward could easily notice the glint of mischief Remus' eyes as he stared to inform him, "Well, what I plan to do is-"
OoO
"Now, the patronus charm, Harry, acts as a protector. It's a charm that protects the soul from predators such Dementors or Lethifolds." Professor Lupin informed him the next day at his office. "The trick to conjuring the spell successfully is to find a powerful, happy memory. I have managed to get the boggart we used in class."
"Now everyone will go into a line, and everyone one will get a turn."
Harry looked at the Professor, who had narrowed at his eyes at the few Slytherin students reluctant to follow his order.
"Get in line."
A few moments later a make shift line was made in the classroom.
"Now, before we begin I'd like to tell you a simple spell, it's called-"
"Again, Harry. Think of something, happy,.."
'Something happy… something happy, Not Professor Snape..' Harry thought repeatedly as he looked for a happy memory.
"No classes with Professor Snape." Harry mumbled.
Lupin blinked, and burst out laughing, "Well, as... happy a thought that is, that is not nearly enough to produce anything near a corporeal patronus. And another thing, Harry, I said memory, not a thought. Those are two different things. Unless you want those dementors to keep coming and attacking, you need to take this seriously, Harry."
Harry let a groan. This charm was harder than any charm he'd ever had to do, and he had begun to hate it, even if he was still in the first stage of it.
OoO
Snow had fallen from the previous storms. The trees that mingled together in the landscape were now coated with snow.
On the forest floor, a black dog weaved through the trees, and seemed to be glaring at them as it went by. The dog seemed lost, as it continued its pattern for several hours. With its keen sense of smell, and eyes, it knew that nothing was near it. Suddenly the dog began to morph into a tall man with a curled mop of black hair, blue eyes, and rugged torn clothing.
The blue eyes swirled around as his face and began to scrunch up, as he looked confused. 'Nicely done, Sirius Black, You've successfully, made yourself look like a bloody fool…'
The man thought to himself as he continued to mutter out loud, "I don't get it… how the hell did I manage to get lost?"
Sirius, although tired from traveling, continued to walk aimlessly through the forbidden forest. As he did, he frowned thinking, 'That Fox… '
Over a month ago, a fox had stared at him with keen intelligent eyes much like his own, and every now and then, he'd see the same fox at Hogsmeade. Every time it would glare at him, as if it knew that he something other than animal, other than a dog, a human.
Sirius jumped, at an abrupt noise that came behind, "Who's there?"
A centaur, from what Sirius could tell, emerged from the trees, its chestnut colored body was that of a horse, and the torso, arms and head were of a human.
"What are you doing here?" Sirius asked of the centaur.
"I could ask that same question as well, human."
"I am merely passing by."
"You are lost, human. You've been wondering for hours."
"I-I-" Sirius, began to say but, mumbled, "Alright, I'm lost."
"To get rid of you, human, from this forest, I will guide you to the castle." The centaur informed him.
After two more hours of walking, Sirius finally managed to arrive at the border of the forest, and as he did the centaur quickly departed without saying anything except, "Don't come back here, human."
"Now... where could that bloody rat be?" Sirius muttered out loud, as he looked at the looming castle before him. Suddenly he heard a noise and quickly changed back into a dog to make sure no one spotted him. Sirius blinked. A ginger colored cat with a squashed face the size of a small tiger was coming towards him warily with hissing sounds.
'It must belong to one of the students in the castle.' Sirius thought to himself. He wondered if he could communicate with it. Because of the tail Sirius had suspicions it might be part kneazle, a highly intelligent magical animal.
OoO
As the evening rolled in Edward drummed his fingers on his desk in his office. Something about today, about the eerie way it felt, told him something was wrong. Edward fumbled through his coat and pulled out the magical map. Then Edward muttered under his breath as he pointed his wand, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Edward looked at the paper for several minutes, and then noticed the name that was not supposed to be lingering in the school.
Sirius Black.
'That's not…possible.' Edward widened as he saw the name on the map. Then, Edward noticed it was headed for the Gryffindor common room. Quickly, before the man could sneak out again, Edward grabbed his coat and quickly left his office.
"Just my luck." Edward muttered. "Lumos."
OoO
The dementors that lingered around the circumference of Hogwarts School were pushed away because of the attack during the quidditch game two weeks ago. Tonight nothing particularly interesting had happened. Well, not until Edward spotted the serial killer Sirius Black on the Marauder's Map. Taking shortcuts Edward knew fairly well, he soon saw a figure in front of him, he knew it was Sirius Black. Before he let his target become aware of his presences, Edward muttered, "Knox." The light that his wand gave dimmed quickly to nothing.
Slowly, and quietly, Edward crept toward his target, Sirius Black, pointing his wand at the man's back.
OoO
Sirius Black thought that tonight, finally, after years of prison he would get his revenge on Peter Pettigrew. The bloody traitor was in all respects a rat. What he had not expected was the familiar feeling of a wand suddenly poking at his back. Sirius nervously gulped. Not knowing who was behind him, he turned around slowly trying to hide the sudden feeling of fear that he knew was evident on his face, and in his eyes. His eyes met the golden eyes of the alchemy professor, Professor Elric.
'Not good… I don't know what this man is capable of.'
OoO
Edward knew, from his missions, what the true eyes of a killer looked like. As he looked at the blue nervous eyes he knew that the man before him was not a murderer from his vast experience.
"I know the eyes of a killer. I can tell that you're not one, or at least not the one that the papers described you as." Edward stated bluntly to the man.
He saw Black swallow his nervousness, and calmly state, "What?"
"Having survived two wars, I know you're not a killer, from experience." Edward repeated.
"Why?"
Edward smirked, and informed him, "I can tell you're that dog from before, and I doubt that you're actually after Potter. So, tell me, what are you really after?" Edward questioned him.
"I'm not after Potter, I'm after a rat."
"I believe you. I know the eyes of a killer when I see one." Edward murmured as he eyed him.
"You won't tell the others that you saw me tonight?" Sirius said surprised as he raised his eyebrow.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I only saw a black dog."
Edward grinned as turned to leave, headed to his office once more.
At that, Sirius grinned as he watched the yellowed haired man leave.
OoO
Before they knew it exams had arrived. The students did many strange things for their defense class exam. The first step was to wade across a paddling pool containing a grindylow. Then, oddly enough, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps. Afterward, they crossed a marsh while being fed misleading directions by a hinkypunk which was a small, one-legged creature that appeared to be formed of wispy grey, blue or white smoke. To make matters worse, they even had to battle a new boggart that the professor managed to find.
The Slytherins, found the exam amusing and promptly proclaimed that professor was as, "Daft as the headmaster."
In all honestly, even Harry didn't know what had entered Professor Lupin's mind while he created the test. Or perhaps he just did it because he felt it was amusing, judging by his grin after they spent hours in front of a trunk.
It hadn't been just Professor's Lupin exam that was odd. Professor's Elric's was as well.
Professor Elric had forced the entire class to run around the school grounds witless while he flew above them on a hippogriff called Stormswift yelling out questions. Some of them had not known the answer to the questions, and whenever the Professor heard the incorrect answer he would always throw a ferret at them- much to the dismay of the hippogriff. When such an act occurred the students would scatter in disarray as the hippogriff dove to just above their heads trying to catch the treat.
It certainly wasn't the traditional way to take an exam. By the end of them most of the student's were feeling quite abused. Harry did not particularly care about Professor Trelawny's bogus exam at all. In fact he couldn't care less about the other exams as. He could only hope the rest of the exams weren't as strange as Professor Elric's and Professor Lupin's. Though, he supposed he shouldn't hold his breath. It was a feeble hope. After all, he was in a magical school where strange was the norm.
Author's notes:
I'm back! This took long to post because life caught up to me.. XD I celebrated my b-day, had finals etc. Which is why, I wrote the exams in this chapter. But, it was also because of the lack of updates, so I made this chapter long. I will have this edited in a few days.. um bare with me?
~Please review~
Edited by Kanathia
TBC