Quote the Raven, Nevermore
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames aren't. Warning, there are some action/blood in this chapter. -GF and the Frau
Chapter 27: Let My Heart Be Still a Moment
The Alley was somewhat busy today. Parents and students would be here en masse later in the month. The Hogwarts letters weren't due out for another week, so many were just enjoying the day before the rush of chaos that students would bring as they hurried to get ready for the beginning of term.
Among the throng of casual shoppers was a family of three. An older couple, with what looked to be their grandson, were making their way to the apothecary to refill a couple of prescriptions.
"I don't know why we had to come today," muttered the elder man. "This isn't the best time to come - too hot and too many people."
"It's necessary, you know you can't go without your heart medication," Maggie huffed at his complaints. "The Alley isn't overly crowded, Ben. And right now with Wolf away training with his unit, John had free time."
"Besides, Uncle Ben," the aforementioned teen replied, "when was the last time we had an outing, just the three of us? We can't very well come here with 'Mione with her parents," he said with a sigh.
"Hush, you," Aunt Maggie whispered, looking around. "We don't know who's listening in."
"Sorry, Aunt Maggie."
They'd just made it out of the apothecary when they heard the popping sounds of people apparating into Diagon Alley. Screams of terror and the sound of spell-fire filled the air!
All of Wolf's training kicked in as Ben and John pushed a few people, along with Maggie, into a nearby side alley. 'Find a defensible position for non-combatants—and hold it!' Wolf's voice echoed in John's mind.
John nodded to Ben as they took up positions to defend their sanctuary and the people behind them. He drew his military-issue combat knife, Ben pulled out his Sig 228 pistol, and Maggie her wand.
"What's happening?" asked a young mother with a frightened toddler in her arms.
John peeked out and snorted. "Death Eaters. A bit early, if you ask me. The letters aren't due until next week."
"Maybe a training run?" Ben questioned, his face ashen. He had been recently diagnosed with heart problems - not bad enough to force him to retire from the Tower, as long as he took care of himself and kept up with his medications. Besides, he couldn't, as long as John was still a Ward of the Crown and needed the protection of the Tower wards.
John looked over at his uncle, then back to his aunt. There were anti-Apparation wards up, but he couldn't detect any anti Port-key wards. He knew that his uncle wouldn't leave while there were non-combatants at risk - duty and honour above all. And John was well aware that, in this situation, Maggie wouldn't leave Ben's side.
"Looks like the Lady was right. It's time," John murmured as he pulled out a small Port-key to a manned safe house. He handed it to the young mother. "Here, take this. It'll get you and your baby to safety. When you get there, tell them what happened. Say, 'The time is right. The fledgling has flown.' Can you remember that?"
The young mother nodded and repeated the phrase. "I don't understand... but thank you." She and the child disappeared when John activated the Port-key.
Ben nodded. "He's right, Maggie, my love. We knew this day was coming." He and Maggie wrapped their arms around each other in a brief embrace.
John sighed. He had been training for this day since he was six. It still didn't seem like he was ready, but... Fate waits for no man.
A woman's insane cackle broke his train of thought as it echoed throughout the Alley. According to reports, only one of Riddle's inner circle had a laugh like that - Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Lookie what we have here," she said as she spied John and Ben in the mouth of the alley way. John swore under his breath. He knew Ben couldn't take a Crucio, which was the insane witch's favourite spell according to all the intel he'd been given.
John cautiously adjusted his stance to combat ready; he didn't want to expose his staff just yet and so kept it hidden. A nod to Maggie told her to protect Ben against spell-fire.
Ben quietly took the safety off his side arm. Firearms were more or less forbidden in the wizarding world. To be caught with one was frowned upon, an attitude both Wolf and Ben mocked. Wizards were so behind the times! The guns wizards were familiar with were from WWII. So much had been improved since then, both in accuracy and size, not to mention efficiency. The bullets in Ben's weapon, for instance, had been dipped into special potions. They dissolved minutes after impact so no trace would be left behind to be found by anyone, magical or Muggle.
John didn't need a pistol; he had other weapons at his disposal. Besides, he wasn't allowed to use a firearm by law for another year yet. Of course, that hadn't stopped Wolf from training him in their use. John had been handling paint guns and knives since he was eight, and ordinance since last year.
Bellatrix Lestrange was ready and eager to send some tormented soul to the afterlife. The two targets standing in the mouth of a side alley had caught her eye when she was suddenly hit with a large, heavy knife to her shoulder, causing her to stop mid-cackle! She looked at the heavy blade for a moment in stunned surprise, then reached up and pulled it out, only to lose her balance and fall face forward in shock.
John stepped out of the mouth of their alley and into the main street. He had to get them away from Ben and Maggie! Bending as he moved, he grabbed his knife from Lestrange's bloody hands and ran full tilt, leaping over her body, ducking as a spell sailed at him. A shield flew up, cast by Maggie, to catch a second spell at the entrance to their bolt hole.
"Oi! Ugly! You can't catch me!" John mocked as Bellatrix screamed in helpless rage.
"After him!"
"What about them?" asked one of the Death Eaters, pointing at Ben and Maggie.
A muffled 'pop' sounded from the side alley and the masked figure fell to the ground, bleeding from a small wound in his chest.
"Kill them!" she screeched, as a second Death Eater fell.
"Really, Lestrange, you need better help," John sneered from her left.
"I'll kill you myself!" She raged madly. " Avada..." she shrieked as she pointed her wand with her left hand.
Another popping sound rang out and her hand shattered as her wand was snapped in half. A feral scream of rage and pain rang out as she disappeared, leaving a smear of blood on the cobblestones.
"Ben!" Maggie screeched, drawing John's attention back to his guardians. Ben sagged against the brick and stone wall, clutching his chest as the Sig slipped out of his hands.
"Get him out of here!" John commanded.
Maggie nodded. She used the Port-key she had and took the two of them to safety.
"John!" came a panicked voice he knew well. Through the chaos of battle, Hermione appeared as she stumbled towards him.
John felt his heart stop. What the bloody hell is SHE doing here today? He watched in shock as she ducked several spells.
Lunging towards her, he swooped up Ben's Sig on the way, ducking and rolling to come up next to Hermione. "Drop!" he shouted as a spell from the remaining Death Eater sailed over his head.
Wolf's training paid off as she dropped like a stone. Trembling wildly, she rolled the last few feet to John's side, where she lay shivering with wand in hand. It was one thing to go on training exercises with her best friend; it was entirely another to put that training to use. She felt his arm come around her and then there was a pull as they Port-keyed away.
0o0o0o0
Sirius Black was finishing up with the pair of Death Eaters that he was duelling. He'd pulled no punches and they were now lying in the street, bleeding heavily. When he was sure they wouldn't be getting up any time soon, he took a quick look around.
He noticed a familiar-looking boy of about 15 duelling his cousin Bella - and holding his own! A girl shouted the boy's name, running towards him. As she dropped and rolled towards the boy, he grabbed her and Port-keyed the two of them away.
"J... James?" Sirius stuttered in shock.
0o0o0o0o
John tried to gather his thoughts as he and Hermione made their way through St. Mungo's. Although he'd been seen, he hadn't been recognized, but it wouldn't be long.
They sat outside of Ben's room as the Healers worked on him. Maggie was inside and had refused to leave her husband.
The only thing keeping John from shaking apart was Hermione's hands clenched around his wrist in a vice-like grip while his other arm tightened around her shoulders. It was one thing to play at war, quite another to live it. He clung to her tightly as their shaking slowly faded.
John knew she was bursting with questions; he was just thankful she hadn't started asking them yet. He leaned over and softly whispered, "I promise I'll tell you everything I can later. I need to know how Uncle Ben is first. Please don't be angry with me, please..." The pain in his voice made her heart ache.
She didn't look at him but squeezed his hand. "I'll hold you to that."
Several hours later found both John and Hermione outside the Tower. Looking up at the wall, John asked, "Do you need to call your folks?"
Hermione blushed and nodded. "They were in surgery when I decided to do a quick run to the Alley. They had no idea I was going. You said you were 'out for a day with your guardians', and I thought that if I went then, we could spend more time together." She choked on her last words. "I never thought..."
He nodded. "With Wolf off with his unit, it seemed the perfect time to pop into the Alley for a shopping trip." He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Her refusal to look at him worried him.
They stepped into the Tower Complex through the Barracks gate and were met by the Ravenmaster and several yeomen.
"Ben's all right," John hurried to assure them. The message the young mother had delivered had reached them, along with word that Ben was in St. Mungo's. "A mild heart attack. The Healers at St. Mungo's almost refused to work on him because he's a Squib," John spat in disgust. "Thankfully, Aunt Maggie was able to get Healer Atwaters to attend. He wants to keep Ben for at least 48 hours. The potions are working to repair the damage; they're just slower since he hasn't much magic to aid them."
"Good lad. The details were a bit sketchy, but we heard there was an attack on the Alley?" the Ravenmaster asked.
John nodded. "Looked like a training run. Lestrange was leading the attack with what appeared to be several new recruits. Ben and I took on Lestrange and a couple of Death Eaters.
"The Aurors were late, as predicted. I was recognized by Hermione just before I left, and she refuses to leave my side." He looked over at Hermione, squeezing her hand.
"I see," the Ravenmaster said. "Miss Granger, you are welcome to stay the night if your parents approve."
"Thank you, sir," she acknowledged, tiredly. "John did promise me some answers."
"I imagine he did. Please, Miss, keep it in mind that he was under orders, not to mention a Royal Decree."
"Yes, sir. Tell me, please," she begged softly, "do my parents know about John?"
"Yes, Miss Granger, they do. But they, too, took an oath of secrecy."
Hermione nodded.
o0o0o0o
Night was falling as John led Hermione to the Tower Green. They'd spent a couple of hours with the Ravenmaster and his wife. She'd promised to have meals delivered over to the flat so John didn't have to fend for himself.
"Now, Hermione, you have been patient long enough," John said, once they'd stepped outside.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were a wizard? Why didn't you trust me?" Her voice broke with hurt.
He sighed as he led her to their favourite bench. "Hermione, I can't tell you everything until I have permission, but I was only five when I came here. I'd been badly injured, almost died. I was hiding here until Her Majesty visited one day. Surprised everyone, especially the security detail that was guarding her. I didn't know my birth name until She told me." He stopped, giving her time to absorb his words so far. "I was born Harry James Potter."
Hermione gasped. "But... but..." The shock was clear on her face.
"We couldn't tell you, Hermione. Too much was at stake. When you got your Hogwarts letter, and we knew you would, there was too great a chance that my secret would be discovered before it was time. Headmaster Dumbledore uses Legilimency on people when he feels they might know information he wants," John desperately rushed to explain. "He would have been looking in the students' minds, especially in your first year, for any information about me. Had he seen my face in your memory, he would have known who I was. We just couldn't take that chance."
He went on to tell her everything that happened before she became his friend. He explained how the adults now in his life were appalled at how Dumbledore had literally just thrown him away, claiming he was protecting him. Hermione listened, asking questions as John knew she would. When she was finally silent, they sat for a time, each lost in their own thoughts. Then John gathered his courage and spoke.
"Please don't hate me, Hermione. Too much was at stake, and it was as much for your protection as mine." His words were a desperate plea.
"Oh, John, I don't..." she sobbed, clutching him in a fierce hug. "It just hurts that you couldn't tell me." Her voice was choked with tears.
John smiled sadly. "I was assured that you could be told this summer. Just when was the problem."
They were silent for a few moments, lost in their embrace, before John gently pulled her arms from around him. Slowly he stood and looked around. Offering her his hand, he smiled. "Come. There's someone you need to meet. She'll answer some of your questions."
The full moon was rising. John, after walking his circle, knelt at the block. On it he placed his bloody dagger and Ben's pistol in the moonlight. A huge black raven flew down and landed on his shoulder.
Hermione gasped, nervous at seeing one of the Tower ravens causally preening John's hair.
"Hermione, I would like you to meet Thor. He helped raise me," John said as he offered the raven a bit of sausage he had kept back from dinner. "I know you've been warned about approaching the ravens, as they are feral and very dangerous. I'm the exception to the rule. I don't need all the protective gear that the Warders use."
He stood as Thor took the treat delicately. Stepping away from the moonlight that illuminated the bloody offerings, John began to chant in ancient Gaelic.
Hermione gasped as several silvery shapes slowly formed in a half-circle around both of them. She took in the forms of the many headless non-corporeal bodies dressed in clothing of different periods. However, they weren't looking at her.
As Hermione turned her attention back to John, she saw the moonlight begin to shimmer and consolidate into a woman of ethereal beauty.
"And what dost thou bring me tonight Hadrian Ravenschilde?" the Lady inquired calmly.
John knelt in front of his patron, his goddess. "My Lady, I bring you the blood of one of mine enemies- still upon my blade, and the spent modern weapon of my earthly guardian, Ben McIntyre. Both weapons saw battle this day. My guardian tried to acquit himself in battle, but his heart gave out. Please, Lady, I don't want to lose him..." John's words ended in a soft plea.
The Goddess laughed fiercely, causing Thor to flap his wings and caw in triumph. The spirits echoed her pleasure.
"Know that I am well pleased with your gifts, my warrior. Rise, Ravenschilde, and fear not for your mortal guardian, it is not yet his time." Her voice rang with pride into the night. Turning her bottomless gaze to Hermione she commanded, "And pray tell who is this that stands without Our circle?"
John beckoned a shaking Hermione closer. "My Lady, this is Hermione Granger, my truest friend in all the world. I thank you for bringing her into my life. Hermione, please..."
Hermione stepped nervously into the circle and curtsied deeply. "Lady..." she managed to whisper.
John smiled as Thor cawed. "This is my Lady, who has watched over me since I was born. This is the Goddess Morrigan."
The Morrigan laughed at the pale, shaking girl before her. "Little otter, I see you wear my gift. Keep it always. You have much to learn, and little time to learn it."
She looked between John and Hermione. "You are well paired. Now, Ravenschilde, you must tell her as much as she'll take in. You will need her in the troubled times ahead. She is your anchor, your voice of reason. I chose well when I brought her into your life." Her voice was rich with satisfaction. "An otter and a raven - you are opposites, and yet two sides of the same coin. Farewell, we will meet anon."
A trembling Hermione blushed as John squeezed her hand again in reassurance. On the wind, they could hear the chiming of the Goddess' laughter as she faded in the moonlight.
0o0o0o0
We got a review about using real people in this story. Our response is "see chapter 1 for all disclaimers."
We are trying to make the chapters longer and you people still are not satisfied. Picky picky people!
Until next time. -GF and the Frau
