Chapter Eighteen

'Professor Lukyen!' a voice next to shouted down his ear.

Anton stared confusedly at Professor McGonagall who had just barked at him.

'The headmaster,' she informed him from her seat beside him in the staffroom 'just asked you if there was anything you would like to add.'

'To the meeting?' Anton asked still feeling bleary from the poor night's sleep he'd had, and indeed most of nights in the last few weeks.

'Well that would be helpful seeing as this is a staff meeting,' Snape said languidly and without any real malice.

'Severus.' Dumbledore said calmly 'Now Anton, is there anything you would like to say?'

'No,' Anton said blinking to dispel some cobwebs 'no there isn't anything.'

'Then I believe that concludes this meeting,' Dumbledore said rising from his seat a movement echoed by most of the staff.

Anton stared at the clock in surprise, it had seemed like seconds ago he had sat down in his chair and now the meeting was over and half and hour had passed.

Anton rose from his own seat slowly and was about to leave when Dumbledore stopped him.

'A word Anton, if you wouldn't mind.'

Dumbledore waited until the last teacher had left the staffroom before speaking.

'Anton is there anything you would like to speak to me about?' he asked surveying Anton carefully over his half moon spectacles 'it has not gone unnoticed that you have been preoccupied lately.'

Anton debated internally whether to tell the headmaster everything, who he really was, why he was here, who Ofelia was and why he was so distracted

'No,' Anton said eventually 'there isn't anything I can think of, I think it's just the weather getting me down.'

'Anton, Madam Pomfrey has voiced her concerns that you are looking unwell,' Dumbledore continued 'I would like you to go and see her at some point.'

Anton nodded his head in answer, he didn't intend to go to the nurse, she couldn't tell him anything he didn't already know.

Dumbledore waited for a few moments giving Anton the opportunity to say something. When Anton didn't respond Dumbledore sighed slightly and bidding Anton a good day he left the room.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The weekend wasn't coming soon enough for Anton, his students were starting to notice how distracted he was. On Tuesday evening Anton watched as most of the students emptied out onto the grounds for a snowball fight, quite a few teachers went to both supervise and join in. one thing that did make him smile was watching Professor's Vectra and Sprout hide behind a snow fort wrapped up with scarves and hats.

Anton had been content with wandering around the castle but two people (he assumed the twins) had enchanted a pile of snowballs to attack the people who had refused to become involved. Because of this Anton hastened to his quarters where Pyra had refused to leave earlier that morning, this may have had something to do with how cold certain area's of the castle actually were.

Anton sat at his desk that was heaped with books, he should have really been marking but he was to preoccupied searching for the Horcruxes, he was completely unsure as to why Ofelia wasn't protecting them, he couldn't shake the feeling she had an ulterior motive.

Anton pulled open an ancient book on the four founders and studied the miniscule script.

'Rowena Ravenclaw was the only founder who possessed a diadem, the diadem was stolen by her daughter Helena in an attempt to become more intelligent. Helena fled to Albania and hid the diadem in a hollow of a tree. When she died she became the Ravenclaw house ghost known as the Grey Lady…'

Anton skimmed the rest of the chapter quickly, he passed over the section on Gryffindors sword and revised the bit on Salazar's locket. When he had gone to get it the first time he had discovered that it had been replaced with a fake, he just needed now to find out where Kreacher was, in the future the elf had been killed and the location of the locket had remained lost, he pondered how he was going to do this as he couldn't exactly just ask Sirius where Kreacher was, as supposedly he had never met the elf.

-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

When Anton looked up from what he was doing the sun had long set and he hadn't realised because he had unconsciously turned his night vision on in his eyes, as he stopped he realised Pyra was grumbling none to graciously for food.

'I'm sorry Pyra,' Anton said stroking the backs of her ears 'I lost track of time.'

Pyra looked understandably unimpressed. And it was then Anton also realised he hadn't had any potions all day and he was starting to feel slightly nauseous. Anton looked at the clock to find it was five minutes to dinner, he felt an absolute mess so he had a quick shower and pulled on plain black robes, he also tucked the pendant into the neck as he didn't want Dumbledore to see its dulled colour.

The food had just been served when Anton took his seat at the table.

'I don't brew those potions for my own amusement,' Snape's voice cut in the moment he had sat down 'they are actually supposed to be consumed.'

'I completely forgot about them,' Anton admitted trying to look apologetic.

'Well when you keel over and the Headmaster blames me,' Snape said snidely 'I'll be sure to tell him you simply, forgot.'

Snape clicked his fingers and a much larger goblet appeared in front of him. Anton took it unwillingly and spent most of dinner trying to drink it.

-=-=

The nurse seized upon him once dinner was finished, she cornered him in an empty corridor and began berating him on why he hadn't come to see her and why he was looking unwell.

'You have a low immune system,' she scolded waving her finger not noticing that Anton's eyes had glazed over and he wasn't listening to her.

'there are lots of colds going through the school,' she carried on 'it is very important you don't get one, Severus has already told me you are slipping with your potions.'

This statement registered to Anton and he stared incredulously at the nurse

'He told you,' he said in disbelief 'I only missed a couple.'

'A couple!' she exclaimed 'even that is too much…'

Anton lost interest in what she was saying a watched as some of the paintings danced into other frames.

The nurse carried on for a few minutes and all that Anton really noticed was the change in tone as she stressed her points, he was half tempted to use his pendant and disappear from her sight, but he resisted- barely.

'So what do you think?' she asked suddenly.

'To what?'

'What I have just been explaining for the last ten minutes' she answered with forced patience.

'And what would that be?' Anton said grimacing.

'That! Would be you coming for a check up to see how the potions have been helping!' she replied glaring at him.

'Sure at some point,' Anton said vaguely taking a step away from Madam Pomfrey.

'I meant a specific date and time,' she said her cheeks reddening in annoyance.

'I'm sure we'll be able to work that out later,' Anton said pensively striding away from the nurse as fast as he could.

'Professor Lukyen!' she shouted after him.

Anton ignored her and the threats she was beginning to make and hurried away.

-=-=-==-=-=-=-

Neville knocked on his door at eight that evening, his confidence had improved so much that he even walked into the centre of the room instead of hovering by the door.

'Evening Neville' Anton said cheerfully while internally thinking 'stay focused!'

'Evening Sir' Neville said his face shining 'we had potions today Professor and it was the potion we went over last week and I got an A!'

'That is excellent' Anton smiled at Neville's happy face (it was no coincidence he had gone over that potion the week before) 'though I wouldn't have expected any less.'

Neville beamed possibly even more brightly and Anton decided it would be best to get on with the lesson.

'Tonight I thought we'd do Accio'- the smile fell off Neville's face.

'Don't worry Neville,' Anton said encouragingly 'you got an A in potions, this is going to be a piece of cake.'

Neville managed to look slightly less daunted and pulled his wand.

'On the count of three then show me what you can do.'

An hour later Neville could successfully make the objects he had his wand pointed at vibrate and shake, even though many wizards would have scorned the boy, Anton praised him as often as possible and egged him on whenever there was a slight improvement.

When he dismissed the teenager his young face was shinning once more but Anton suspected he himself looked even more worn out.

-=-=-=-=-=-

That night Anton awoke suddenly as he had been doing many times lately. He checked his Occlumancy shields, they were seemingly in full working order and up to their complete strength yet the feeling that they had been breached still clung to him.

Anton swung himself of his bed, he knew if he tried to get back to sleep he'd just see the faces of those he had lost. Pyra was for once fast asleep sprawled across the bottom of his bed, each time she snored a small lick of fire would dart out of her mouth.

'What is the matter with me?' Anton said rubbing his face with his hands.

-===-=-=-=-=-=-=--

Ofelia stood up and waved her wand over herself a couple of time muttering 'Scourgify'

She stared at the turrets of Hogwarts a small smile playing on her face, she was closer than ever, so close she could almost feel Anton's dying breath on his lips.

'Not long now old friend,' she muttered 'not long now.'

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Wednesday came with more bad weather but this came in the form of rain which turned the snow into muddy slush, homework was forgotten and warmth was a distant memory to the students hovering by the fires in their common rooms.

Anton spent the evening in the library trying to concentrate (but failing miserably) on lesson plans, he managed to remember to take Snape's potions but spent dinnertime wishing he was anywhere but the Great Hall, especially when he was getting sidelong looks from both the Headmaster and Madam Pomfrey.

In the rush to get out of the hall at the end of dinner Anton used his pendant and in the disarray snuck from the hall before anybody could stop him or ask him annoying questions.

It was coming up to Christmas and Anton was determined to spend the holiday searching for Horcruxes no matter how debilitating the weather was.

He stayed up later that evening and when Anton eventually did turn in for the night he was exhausted. Pyra had chosen for that night to sleep in her bed in the living room, so he was alone when he sank into sleep.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Anton opened his eyes, he was sitting on a warm grassy bank, the sun was high and beating a pleasant heat down, it was iridescent in the deep blue sky and a voice seemed to come from the sparkling goldness. Anton strained to here what the voice was saying to him, but he couldn't quite hear. Something about the voice called to him deeply, and in an attempt to hear the voice he hesitantly weakened his mind shields knowing it was stupid but unable to see the harm in it.

'Anton,' sang the voice kindly 'Anton where are you?'

'I'm here!' Anton said loudly calling into the sky.

'Come and find me Anton!' the voice cried out 'I'm so lost and alone, come and find me!'

Anton stood up and gazed down the bank, he slowly considered doing what the voice was saying, he really wanted to but something in his mind was telling him it wasn't a good idea.

'Come on Anton,' the voice sang out 'it's not like you're doing anything bad and this is only a dream.'

Unable to resist the temptation Anton stepped forward through the soft grass and once he'd taken one step the voice encouraged him onwards and he found himself almost rushing to take the next.

Something pulled back on his leg as if desperately trying to make him stop, looking down Anton couldn't see anything so he shook his leg attempting to dislodge whatever it was, after he kicked his leg forcefully he found himself free to move again. Taking the opportunity he hurried on down the bank as fast as he could, though even as he did it he couldn't explain why he felt so compelled.

'Come on Anton,' the voice said again 'I'm so close.'

Anton walked faster and faster as the voice led him further and further through the grassy plane, ahead of him a large grey wall loomed up. The surface was rough and crumbling and had ivy creeping up it, the sight made him feel quite comforted in some odd way reminding him of Ginny and her warm humour.

In the middle of the wall was an archway with a silver gate guarding it, Anton reached the gateway as the ground levelled off and looked closely at the lock that was keeping it shut. Did he really want to open this gate, he wasn't sure, he took a step back.

'Anton!' called the voice and a breeze of soft wind whistled through bars, Anton smiled as he thought of what Rhoan would say of this wisp, he'd laugh and call a hurricane to compare it with.

As if in answer the breeze got stronger and urged him to take a tentative step forward

'Come on Anton,' the voice sang 'I'm so close by.'

Anton raised his hands and slowly unlocked the door and pushed the gate open, it led to more smooth grass and in the distance a bright white light glowed.

'I'm waiting for you Anton,' the voice tempted him 'I'm nearby Anton, come and find me Anton, I'm so alone without you.'

He continued walking noticing that even though the day looked bright and warm his body was cold as if he had stepped into ice from head to toe, he tried to heat his body up and suddenly the air was filled with sobs.

'Stop it Anton,' the voice sobbed quieter than it had been before 'you're hurting me.'

Anton stopped, he didn't know why he had stopped, he normally would have ignored someone telling him what to do, but even as he tried to stop his body seemed to become detached from his mind and it walked him on further into the new landscape and away from the stone wall. It was getting colder and colder for Anton however bright the day looked and how clear the sky was, managing to look down at his arm Anton saw rivulets of water rushing down his arm yet he still couldn't turn back.

Closer and closer he got to the white light and blissful brightness that promised warmth and comfort and still the voice pushed him on.

'Come on Anton,' it sang 'I'm so close you can almost find me.'

Anton dragged a painful breath in that burned his lungs and froze his insides, he was almost reaching the white light.

Another sound came from the sky as if shouting from a great distance but Anton couldn't hear what was being said, all he could hear was the laughing of the voice that had led him to this point as he kept walking, the shout came again.

And then came nothing but darkness.

-==-=-=-=-=--=-=-

Fifteen Minutes Earlier

Pyra was curled up in her bed with her head resting on her front legs, she was gazing at the storm that was howling outside the window and the rain that was happily lashing at the glass panes.

The door of her Masters room creaked open and she pushed herself up expectantly, Anton stepped through it and she bounded over to him flicking her tail and yapping. But Anton stared straight ahead his eyes closed as he walked as if in a trance to the door leading to the third corridor, following him she walked behind him for a few metres as he started towards the stairs she realised something was extremely wrong with her Master, she desperately hooked herself around his leg to try and stop him from moving forward.

He shook the leg she was attached to and through some feat managed to dislodge her, as soon as she was flung away from him, Anton carried on and descended the stairs his movements heavy and sluggish.

Hissing angrily Pyra pulled herself back up and after taking one last look at her master she ran determinedly in one direction.

She reached the stone gargoyle her nails scratching furiously, as if answering her call it slid back and the silvery haired professor stepped out closely followed by the one she recognised as the potions teacher.

'That's Anton's Salamander,' Snape said looking at Pyra 'what is it doing here?'

Pyra whined and nudged the Headmaster while being careful not to burn him, then she scampered a few metres away shaking her head towards the staircase, she ran back nudged him again and the coughed fire towards the stairs.

'I think she wants us to follow her,' Dumbledore said understanding.

Pyra inclined her head and then scurried down the corridor with Snape and Dumbledore following quickly, they hurried down the Grand Staircase, when they reached the third floor Dumbledore swept towards Anton's quarters even though Pyra was edging into panic.

Entering the living space Dumbledore called out.

'Anton! Are you here,' he said worriedly.

Silence greeted his ears and Pyra whined again.

'He must have gone somewhere,' Snape said irritably staring at the older man.

Without replying Dumbledore strode from the room with Pyra scuttling ahead and Snape following.

When they reached the Entrance Hall they immediately noticed the open door leading out of the school and the rain howling in.

'He wouldn't go out,' Snape said aghast 'that would be suicide for him!'

Pyra ran to the door and blasted fire out into the night.

'I doubt she would be telling us to go that way if he wasn't there,' Dumbledore said pulling his wand out 'point me,' he muttered.

The point swung to the open door and Dumbledore turned to Snape,

'Coming Severus?'

Snape frowned but nodded and braved the tempest that was roaring.