Quoth the Raven
Disclaimer: You know the drill, see chapter 1 if you don't. Reviews are welcomed, flames, are not.
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Chapter 41: Let Me See Then, What Thereat Is
Classes resumed the Monday after the attack. Most of the younger students were still fearful, but many of the older ones had a very determined look about them. Harry Potter's words to the press after the attack must have had something to do with it. He had quoted several Muggles, including a late British Prime Minister, and his message was loud and clear: "The one thing that allows evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing." It seemed that they were no longer content to abet evil by doing nothing.
Even the Slytherins were thoughtful, since it was one of their own that had been the first casualty. They were admittedly confused and troubled by the whole incident. The letters back and forth to their parents did nothing to help or reassure them.
A Slytherin House meeting was called for that evening by their Head, Professor Snape. He had promised to answer their questions as fully as possible at that time.
That night, all of Slytherin House gathered in their common room, waiting nervously. Professor Snape stepped in, but he was not alone. Along with him came Lord Potter and his bodyguard. Before anyone could protest, they all noted the visitors were not dressed in traditional Hogwarts robes. They were dressed much as... as the Muggles who had eradicated the Death Eaters last weekend!
"Sir, everyone is present, but what are they doing here?" one of the senior Slytherin Prefects asked snidely.
Professor Snape nodded. "Tell me, my snakes, what is the most important trait of a Slytherin?" His raised hand stopped his students from answering as he continued. "We, as Slytherins, are cunning, ambitious and look after ourselves. We depend on no-one, but look after our own well-being first. That is why I've called this meeting. It would seem many of you have forgotten these facts."
The students looked from him to the pair that stood beside him.
"The attack on Hogsmeade was unfortunate, but I tell you now, it was planned. The Dark Lord received the reports you sent to your parents, and decided to take advantage of the opportunity it offered. But did he care for your safety in doing so? No. His orders were to cause as much terror and death as possible and to kill any and all who stood in the way of that goal. Every student was deemed to be expendable, no matter the House they were in. But, by his own words, the only person to be left alive was Harry Potter. He alone was to be brought alive before the Dark Lord."
"Sir? Why are you telling us this?" asked another seventh-year.
"I am telling you this because the Dark Lord has made a fatal error. He has angered more than the Muggles in this latest attempt: he has incurred the anger of the Old Ones." Several gasps were heard.
"But... but... the old ways are history, myths..." Pansy Parkinson sputtered.
"Are they?" Professor Snape purred, one eyebrow arching in derision. "Have you not seen the ravens flying around the forest lately? Have you not heard that the Acromantula colony was eliminated?" His students shivered; when their Head of House used that scathing tone of voice, it was best to simply be silent.
"If I may, Professor." Lord Potter stepped forward. "Allow me to clarify?" The surly professor nodded to the youth and stepped back.
"It's true the Old Ways are returning," Potter explained. "The ravens are your first clue. The Old Ways teach that they are the messengers of the Dark Goddess. The second is Samhain. Many heard the baying of the hounds in the forest that night. The Wild Hunt rode. And Professor Snape and I rode with it."
Many of those that did know the legends gasped in horror: to ride the Hunt is often to ride to your doom.
He continued with his final point: "Lastly, The Morrigan has been seen walking abroad. She will not be denied her due. Voldemort..." Many of the students paled at the name. "...has made a critical error. In denying his humanity and seeking immortality, he has become an abomination by challenging the Gods themselves. He has corrupted the gift of magic and denied the Goddess her due. In so doing, he has doomed not only himself, but those who serve him as well."
"You lie!" screeched Theodore Nott, standing and pointing his wand at the black-haired teenager.
Before Nott could fire, a lance of spell-light impacted his chest and he dropped to the floor, petrified. All eyes turned to Wolf who had drawn his wand at the first sign of aggression.
"The next one to point a wand at Lord Potter will end up like the scum that we erased at Hogsmeade," Wolf promised as he lowered his wand.
Harry smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I am Lord Harry James Potter, Duke of Gryffindor, Earl of Slytherin, Baron of Peverell. I hold the rank of Duke in both the muggle and wizarding worlds. And. I. Do. Not. Lie."
He watched as shock, dismay and anger flickered across their faces before continuing, "Wolf is more than just my bodyguard, he is my liege-man. When I asked Hermione Granger to step out with me for a Hogsmeade weekend, we knew that you lot would probably write to complain to your parents, who in turn would tell the Dark Wanker." He watched as more than a few facing him were angered by his crass reference to the Dark Lord. Many were starting to connect the dots. Being Slytherin did not mean they were stupid.
"We gave your authorities a chance to come forward and protect their innocents, but they failed. We were only meant to be back-up if things went awry. When your fellow Slytherin was the first to die by the Killing Curse, the order was given: 'No quarter.' That is now a standing order, and any other confrontations will offer none.
"If you want to play the blame game, be my guest, but know this: it was your own actions that triggered the slaughter; you are the ones who wrote to the monsters that killed her. You helped set up yourself and your fellow students. It happened because of your actions. Now, you must live with your consciences. You were the ones that wrote to your parents. The information reached your supposed 'Lord' and he gave the order to kill indiscriminately. He considered you expendable.
"Now you must decide. Do you want what happened to happen again? Do you want to stand back and do nothing and allow evil to flourish? Do you want to aid in the slaughter of helpless children? You have the choice. You decide."
Professor Snape studied his House for a moment. "I asked both of these men to come and explain what happened last weekend. What you do with this information is up to you. I do suggest that you do not tell your parents."
Wolf stepped forward, wand holstered, at parade rest. "My squad and I used standard issue rifles with laser sights. While that may mean little or nothing to you, be assured they are some of the simplest and most common of the many weapons at our disposal. Each man participating in the dust-up at Hogsmeade was a sniper, a trained sharpshooter capable of using that weapon and killing a man with pinpoint accuracy from fifty metres." The gasps of shock that greeted his words were quickly smothered.
"You traitor! The Dark Lord will..." Pansy Parkinson screamed at her professor.
Harry laughed. "Professor Snape is no traitor. He plays both ends against the middle - as a true Slytherin should! And for your information, your Dark Lord... well, I'll be challenging him soon enough. He will not survive the new year."
Professor Snape dismissed his snakes to reflect on what they had learned. Both he and Lord Potter knew that a few die-hards would be writing to their parents; however, it remained to be seen if any information would be passed on.
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Draco Malfoy was torn. He believed in blood supremacy - his father had drilled it into him since early childhood - but the reality of the Dark Lord's 'purification' attempts was altogether horrifying! He had nearly been hit with a Killing Curse - he, the scion of the Malfoy family! There had been no prior warning of the attack to the students of Slytherin, warning which would have guaranteed their safety.
Draco shuddered, remembering the events of that day; of how quickly and efficiently the Muggle Queen's forces had taken out the Death Eaters with exact, lethal precision. It was beyond frightening. He had a decision to make: his father needed to know this but somehow, he knew that the Head of the Malfoy family already did. Where did that leave the son?
He decided to take the advice of his Head of House and reflect on what it meant to be a Slytherin. If what Lord Potter said about the Old Ways is true, then the Dark Lord was not the way.
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The setting sun cast long shadows over the Forbidden Forest. Within Albus Dumbledore's office, the aged headmaster was not in the mood to appreciate the calm beauty the shadows were making. Winter was fast approaching. All the signs pointed to a long, hard winter that year; however, Albus was ignoring them as he was busy trying to unlock the mysteries that surrounded Harry Potter.
He knew that the lad and his bodyguard were at that moment talking to Slytherin House. About what, the aged wizard could not say: Severus guarded his secrets too well. Whatever it was, Albus knew it would probably bode ill for his plans.
How had things gone so wrong, so quickly?
His plans for Harry were long gone and he was at a loss as to what to do now. The lad refused to listen to anything he had to say. That he brought in a team of Muggle experts to take care of the attack on Hogsmeade with a moment's notice had caused near-panic in the wizarding world. It did not help that the team was made up of all Muggle-borns. That was frightening!
He had known that the Muggle-borns were leaving the wizarding world at a frightening pace. Try as he might, he could not get the pure-blood factions within the Wizengamot to see that they were slowly destroying their world. They needed the fresh blood that the Muggle-borns brought into their world, as more and more Squibs were being born each year, and mostly to the pure-bloods. However, with no prospects to be had within the Wizarding World, the Muggle-born left, taking their knowledge and their magic with them. A resource, it seemed, that the Muggle government had capitalised on.
Albus' thoughts turned darker, matching the changing colour of the night sky. What about the Treaty? With the involvement of the Crown in this latest fiasco does that mean the Treaty is at risk? Merlin! He hoped not. It would mean the end of everything.
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A lone figure stood, overlooking the Forbidden Forest from the balcony of the Astronomy Tower. His thoughts were as dark as the twilight skies before him. The last of the ravens' cawing faded on the wind as they roosted for the coming night. Soon, they were telling him. Soon the day of reckoning is at hand. Would he be judged worthy of the trust placed in him?
Strong arms encircled his waist from behind. He glanced back and gave a slight smile to Hermione. "Hey."
"Hey yourself, Harry," she said.
"John," he corrected. "I'm not being Harry at the moment."
He turned back to watch the last of the colour leave the world, leaving only shades of grey and darkness. Soon, even that would be gone, lost in the shadows of night.
"What are you thinking about, John?" she asked as she tightened her embrace leaning into him, pressing her face against his back.
He shrugged. "She is going to call for a reckoning soon and will demand much from me. I'm not sure I can do it. I'm not a child any longer and She won't tolerate failure."
Hermione sighed softly, resting her forehead against the warmth of his body. "Is that the reason why you've kept me away from Her?"
"Partly. She's very demanding. I know She brought you into my life when I needed a friend, but you've become much more." He paused for a moment, covering her clasped hands with his own, and then whispered, "I'm afraid, 'Mione."
Hermione didn't answer as her arms tightened around his waist, offering what comfort she could. They stood together, silent as total darkness covered the land.
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Well, it's a few days late to be a Christmas present, but hope you like it.
Have a safe New Year -GF and the Frau
