Quoth the Raven

Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed. Flames aren't.

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Chapter 35: Get Thee Back Into the Tempest

Harry sighed as he stopped to look around at the decorations and the feast of goodies being laid out in the Great Hall that morning. Hermione simply looked nauseated, but bit her tongue and kept from saying anything as her disgust turned to worry for her friend.

Wolf stood waiting by the doors, his face expressionless as usual. Harry gave Hermione a brief smile of acknowledgement before he quietly slipped out with his mentor. The headmaster wasn't down for breakfast yet, so no-one noticed their departure.

Hermione was finishing up her breakfast while trying desperately to ignore the gaudy decorations and multitude of sweets around her. She chatted idly with Luna about an upcoming test, but her thoughts were on Harry.

She knew he was getting more and more bored and disillusioned with Hogwarts. And while 'Harry' was her friend, Hermione was missing 'John'. It was all so confusing! They seemed so different. Which was the real person, Harry or John? All Hermione knew was she was missing the easy-going young man she grew up with. And with today being All Hallow's Eve, well, Hermione was extra concerned.

Even Mandy Brocklehurst was beginning to notice that Hermione wasn't writing to her Muggle friend as often as she had in the past.

When the owl post arrived, and a raven's caw echoed through the hall, it seemed very out of place; that was, until an inky bird landed near Hermione's plate with two notes - one for her and one for Professor Flitwick.

Luna smiled. "He seems to like you."

The raven took a drink from Luna's glass and shook its beak, spreading water over the table.

"And messy too," Mandy said with disgust, wiping a drop of water from her sleeve. "Who was it from? Wait, I recognise that handwriting. So your Muggle friend finally wrote? What took him so long?"

Hermione hurriedly excused herself. Normally, she received John's letters along with her parents' letters via owl. She wondered how many at her table noticed the difference.

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The raven flew up to the head table and landed near Filius Flitwick with the other note. Recognising the handwriting, the tiny professor read it immediately. He had seen the bird over with Miss Granger moments before.

"Anything the matter?" Pomona Sprout asked when she saw the small frown.

"It seems that Mr Potter will be out of the castle for the day," Filius said, tucking the note up his sleeve. "He regrets that he will not be able to attend classes."

Albus, who had been listening, frowned. "I fear we have to stop him. It is unsafe, now that Voldemort is back."

The raven cackled and flew up to land near the headmaster and looked around the plate in front of him. Albus gently shooed the bird away, but it strutted back defiantly.

"I'm afraid that Mr Potter has asked for the day off from classes, Albus. Given what the day means to the young lad…" Filius said, watching the raven walk around the table. "Most curious creature."

"He's a raven," Hagrid said. "They al'ays are. The little tyke is very attracted to you, headmaster."

Indeed the bird was. Actually, Scrapper wanted to pull a prank on the old coot for making his life miserable. Before anyone could stop him, he clamped his sharp beak onto one of Albus' silver sleeve buttons, tore it free, and flew away.

"Why, the nerve!" sputtered Minerva.

"Well, that's a raven fer yeh," Hagrid said. "Attracted to them shiny bits an' bobs, they are."

"Now, now," Albus chided, not looking upset at the bird's antics, as he lifted his morning mug of hot chocolate. "Easily replaced." Suddenly, the button landed in his cup as he was about to drink, splashing hot chocolate everywhere.

"I say!"

"Oh, my!"

"Ruddy bird!"

Scrapper cawed triumphantly as he exited the Great Hall.

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The rest of the day, Scrapper enjoyed his freedom. He flew in the Forbidden Forest and got acquainted with the flock. He teased a few hippogriffs near Hagrid's hut, causing them to snap at him while Hagrid, who had come out to investigate, waved his broom around. "Shoo! Go away! Ruddy bird!"

At lunch time, he flew back into the Great Hall and landed near Severus Snape's plate. In his beak was a small clump of white hair that he had found in the forest. He placed it delicately beside the Potions Master's goblet.

The snarky professor picked up the clump and saw at once that it had been shed, not pulled, as there was no blood, and only one creature in the forest had hair this fine and white. He was always in need of unicorn hair, however it came into his hands!

Since the arrival of Quirrell and his possession by the Dark Lord, most of the unicorn herd had disappeared from the Forbidden Forest. This was a very good sign that they might be returning.

The raven walked cockily about, inspecting the table. The Headmaster was not present, which was just as well. Scrapper had had plans to make the man's lunch a bit interesting.

Filius offered the raven a bit of ham from his sandwich. "The goblins believe that ravens are the messengers of the Dark Lady. They are sacred and revered. To have one offer you a gift is to have the favour of the Lady."

Minerva sighed. "Don't let Albus hear you, Filius. You know how he is about the old ways."

"Yes, yes," Filius waved her off. "And he is wrong to ignore them, especially on this day."

Severus rubbed the unicorn tuft through his fingers. Ravens had, in the past, given him items of interest, or had led him to find something he needed. He knew the Lady was stirring, especially tonight. Albus had better be careful. The ravens were watching.

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Wolf, enjoying a day off, was mulling over some thoughts about the secret bet he'd made with himself. He knew his charge very well, having helped raise John since he was a boy, and so had bet himself as to how long before John would revert back to his normal self and drop the Harry Potter persona.

Harry Potter was almost the complete opposite of John. Where John was a studious learner, Harry was bored stiff and barely doing passing work. John had a ready smile and an infectious laugh that drew people in. Harry was conservative and quiet. Wolf hadn't heard John's easy laughter in public since they came to Hogwarts. He'd seen the smile only when no-one was around and it was always aimed at Hermione.

John was the quintessential raven. He was loud, mischievous and inquisitive. Harry was polite, courteous and stoic. The bet was, not whether, but when 'Scrapper' would make an appearance. John knew how important it was to keep his talents, as well as his knowledge, hidden. He didn't like it but they were playing in enemy territory, as it were, and they couldn't make any mistakes. Today's escapades were Wolf's charge releasing some badly pent-up energy.

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Albus was looking forward to tonight's feast. It was one of his favourites - all those sugary confections just waiting for him! Both Poppy and Minerva had been after him to lose weight and change his diet, but he was only young once and sweets waited for no-one!

As he finished up his allotment of paperwork for the day, he hoped that pesky raven had left the castle and returned to his flock. Stretching stiffly, Albus stepped over to check on Fawkes. The poor phoenix had been very agitated since Harry had arrived at Hogwarts, and he couldn't get much out of the legendary bird. Fawkes was being very silent on everything.

A motion caught his aged eyes from the nearby window. The sun was sinking behind the trees. The colours of the forest and surrounding area were already muted by the shadow of night and almost gone. That was a depressing thought, but there was still enough light to see that someone was down by the lake. She was clad in a strange, dark cloak and walking at the water's edge.

'Who? What is she doing? Doesn't she know it's dangerous to be out on this night?' he thought as he started from his office and headed out of the castle.

When he got to where he'd first seen the woman, there was nothing. No tracks in the mud, no evidence of splashed water, nothing more than a shiny black feather. He could've sworn he'd seen her and that she had turned, looking right at him as he stood in the window.

Maybe he needed more sugar in his diet? The feast should be starting by now. It wouldn't do for the Headmaster to be late! As he headed back to the castle, over head he heard the cawing of ravens.

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Hagrid was doing an early evening patrol in the Forbidden Forest, since tonight was Samhain and the forest would be extremely dangerous, even for him. He was no great believer in the old ways, but he did have a healthy respect for the Forest and its inhabitants.

He stepped off a worn path to check one of his snares when he came across a creature he'd never seen before. A large serpent with ram horns sprouting from its head was hovering in the air before him.

"Oh, what a wonderful beastie yeh are," Hagrid cooed as he took a step forward, patting himself down for one of his game bags.

"He is indeed, my animal-loving friend," boomed a deep voice behind him.

Hagrid whipped around as his crossbow pointed at a very tall muscular man with antlers growing out of his head.

"Wh... Who are yeh?"

"We need to have a long talk, Hagrid, my large friend. A very long talk. Now that I have awakened and returned to this wood, I find that it has been sorely mis-managed."

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Tom Riddle, aka Lord Voldemort, was not having a good All Hallow's Eve. First, now that the boy saw fit to re-introduce himself back in the Wizarding world, the brat had been locked away in that damn castle, and thus untouchable.

Second, his thoughts turned to Bellatrix, who would soon be leaving this world. The wound she received at the hands of that brat in Diagon Alley was badly infected and still bled. Too bad. She was always good for an evening's amusement. Severus Snape had been brewing night and day, trying to counter whatever caused the wound, but had failed so far.

The Dark Lord sat slumped on his make-shift throne, petting his one true friend and familiar, Nagini. The large snake hissed softly. Normally, it would soothe his nerves, but not tonight.

Peter Pettigrew, a rat-like man, scurried into the room. "M-m-m-master?"

"Yessss, Wormtail?" he hissed petulantly.

"Th-the m-m-matter hass been taken care of."

The Dark Lord had seen someone outside his window earlier, as the sun was setting. He'd sent Wormtail out to eliminate her. "Wormtail?"

"Y-y-yes, m-m-master?"

"Crucio!"

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A full, hunter's moon hung over the dark forest. Shadows flickered beneath the trees adding a feeling of eerie presences.

Harry and Wolf walked once more into the forest to the clearing. Ever since Harry had been told about his parents, he'd held a small vigil on the night they had died. In fact, Ben and Maggie had encouraged it.

When they got to the clearing, they found it wasn't empty. Severus Snape was there waiting. Silently, the three acknowledged each other before stepping fully into the circle and to the small altar.

A hushed calm fell over the forest as the creatures within it felt the old magicks stirring. In the distance, ravens started to call to each other as the trio prepared the altar.

Wolf stood in silence for a moment before bowing to the other two and disappearing back into the shadows. He had done his duty and now it was out of his hands. He would wait for them at the forest's edge.

"Professor Snape, this is where we are to meet the others," Harry calmly told his companion.

The stoic professor felt a shiver course through him when he heard the baying of hounds in the distance.

The baying came closer, along with the thunder of hooves. Harry withdrew his wand and Severus watched it morph into a six-foot staff of blackthorn. "I believe they are here."

Snape turned around and saw ghostly white hounds with red ears panting behind him. Their eyes burned red in the shadows, making his blood run cold.

"Mount!" came the guttural command from a heavily-armed centaur. Two coal-black horses with manes of dark flame, and hooves that threw sparks with each step, appeared in the clearing.

Harry walked to one of the horses, caught a handful of mane and mounted gracefully. "Come, Professor! The Nightmares will carry us far more safely than a common horse for this hunt. Tonight, we ride with The Wild Hunt!" His last words were a triumphant cry as the Nightmare reared onto her hind quarters with a scream of challenge.

The black-robed professor followed suit, throwing himself onto his mount. "Potter! If you get me killed tonight, I'm going to haunt you!" he raged.

That night, the air echoed with the baying of hounds and shrieks of the dying as tendrils of smoke replaced the earthy night scent of the surrounding forest.

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The sun was well up in the morning sky and Albus was doing more paperwork when his groundskeeper burst into the office. "They're gone! All gone! My babies! All of 'em!" Hagrid wailed, pulling out a tablecloth-sized hankerchief and blowing his nose.

"Who's gone?" Albus asked as he stood up to comfort his friend.

"Aragog an' all his fam'ly. Cleared out o' tha forest. Ever' web an' sac burnt! An' their burrow too! Burnt ta the ground! Bodies ever'where!" Hagrid managed to choke out before he buried his face and sobbed.

"Oh, dear. This is not good," Albus said softly as he went to comfort his friend. He had been counting on the spiders to keep the Death Eaters from using the forest as a way onto the castle grounds. He'd have to think of another impediment now. Then, in a clear voice, one loud enough to break through Hagrid's sobs, he said, "There, there, Hagrid. We'll find out who did this and do something about it."

Hagrid sobbed. "He give me a righ' chewin'-out, he did. Said I had 'disrupted the balance of the forest too much' wi' ma beasties! He said if I can't take better care o' 'em, then I wa'nt 'lowed to hev more. Scolded me right proper too, he did!"

"Who, Hagrid, who are you talking about?"

"Why, Himself, The Forest Lord." Hagrid's reply fell into silence as the headmaster simply stared at his large friend.

Albus escorted the distraught Hagrid to the Infirmary and placed him in Poppy's tender care. He had work to do. Whoever destroyed the spider colony had to be very powerful indeed. He scoffed at the notion that it was the 'Forest Lord.' The old ways were dying out, and the sooner the better in his opinion.

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Hagrid was tucked away in a private room in the Infirmary, half-drunk on calming potions and his own special 'tonic' from the Hog's Head that he kept on him.

Poppy had sent for Minerva, since she was certain the Deputy Headmistress would want to hear what Hagrid had to say. His tale about Aragog and his family had both ladies sympathetic towards their friend. Hagrid, as he drowned his woes, didn't see Minerva straighten when he not only mentioned, but described the 'Forest Lord.'

"You know something? What?" Poppy asked as she closed the door behind her. Hagrid had finally dozed off, allowing them to leave.

Minerva closed her eyes for a moment before looking out a window. "Have ye noticed tha' more corbies are flyin' o'er tha forest since the begin'in' o' term?" Her nervousness apparent in the brogue she slipped into.

Poppy sat her shaken friend down. "No, I haven't. Been too busy." She looked out the window and watched as several black shapes dotted the sky over the Forbidden Forest. "What does..."

"Auld powers are stirrin' in tha forest if Hagrid met Cernunnos last night," Minerva said, not taking her eyes off those black spots. "Albus knew tha' Hagrid was gettin' out o' hand, bringin' in all those dangerous pets. This is a school for Merlin's sake! Most of Hagrid's 'pets' are Master-level beasties, but he allows them ta run free where a student kin get hurt. So since Albus refuses to..."

"The Lord of the Hunt had to..." Poppy finished. "Oh, Merlin! And Samhain was last night. You don't suppose...?"

"The Wild Hunt? Aye, I heard the hounds bayin'," Minerva answered with a shiver.

Poppy nodded sagely. "Albus mentioned seeing Mr Potter and his bodyguard going into the forest last night. Severus also went as well. He has a small clearing just inside with an altar..."

"Severus didna' mention anything to me," Minerva said. "But then, he wouldna' would he?"

"Severus takes his worship of the Lady very seriously. She would protect him from The Hunt."

Both ladies felt a cold draft.

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Thanks again Phil for all your hard work.

Sorry for the slow updates but summer has been extremely busy for us.

Until next time. -GF and the Frau