Gabriel lay on the grass near the building under an oak tree, arms crossed behind his head. His book bag was next to him. Piros had his head resting on it. Lessons were done for the day and while there was still sunlight, it was weak, definitely November.
Several days had passed since Regan's visit to the Forbidden Forest uncovered a new threat and a curfew was enacted. Regan had come and gone to the forest nights since but hadn't found any other trouble. The curfew remained.
The campus was still abuzz with news about Regan and the curfew, but there was also chatter about the upcoming Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. For a time, all the talk was about the curfew, but interest had faded since nothing else happened, and the match was tomorrow. It took priority. Compared to the earlier Gryffindor and Slytherin match, this wouldn't be that intense but it would still be enjoyable to see. Gabriel wondered if he should watch it.
Zoe Rosier made no further attempt to press him into joining the team, a small mercy, but Gabriel still ached whenever he saw the game. He had been interesting in joining but how could he with five deaths on his record? There was no trial or verdict. The whole thing had been covered up.
The crime was still there though. The nightmares were still there.
A witch with silver hair had taken the spellbook with the curse he used and promised to take care of any rumors. Her surname was Arclight. Now there was an Arclight in school. Petal said she had a horcrux. That all her family did. He didn't really understand this argument about the Old Tongue and a time before wands but having the Arclights here would only make things worse.
Petal said the curse Gabriel used was an Arclight spell. The fact his friends died proved it worked. What had the spell done? Gabriel didn't feel any different. Perhaps it really was all in vain. Even if the spell did something to help him, their deaths were still in vain.
Once the sun set, students would not be allowed to leave the castle complex until sunrise. Gabriel got up to head back inside, brushing leaves off his robe. A little coaxing got his dog off his bag so he could sling it over his shoulder. He didn't like the robe. It restricted his movements more than his old uniform. When he first transferred he did not wear it but the extra layer was nice in the cold. These clothes were so wimpy compared to his fur-lined Durmstrang uniform.
A Ravenclaw student was walking across the grass, a few others talking as they relaxed, enjoying the last of the sunlight for the day.
It was so quiet. Too quiet. Gabriel hesitated, looking around. The birds he'd been listening to as he relaxed were silent now. He didn't like it.
"Now what?" He muttered, putting a hand on his wand.
Gabriel wished he had his knife. The feel of cold steel in his palm grounded him in a way even his wand could not. Hogwarts didn't allow him to carry it though. Piros's ears perked, body going tense. He sniffed, not moving.
"What is it?" Gabriel asked him softly.
The shriek made Gabriel flinch. He whipped around to the source, wand up. It was the Ravenclaw girl who shrieked. A giant wolf was in the grass near her. By giant it was giant. Like the size of a bear giant. Its fur was mangy grey, saliva dripping from its massive mouth. It snarled, steps uneven as it moved forward. Gabriel hesitated. Whatever he expected it wasn't that.
The Ravenclaw girl looked young, maybe a first-year, and terrified. Was she even carrying her wand? The girl turned to run.
"No," Gabriel hissed.
Running would trigger a predator's instincts to chase. Here he thought Ravenclaw were supposed to be the smart ones.
"Protego!" He cast as the wolf surged forward after the Ravenclaw.
The shield charm halted the wolf's approach. Gabriel grunted, feeling the stress from the wolf's impact. It staggered, shaking its head, snarling, lips drawn back as saliva dripped into the grass.
"Stupefy!" Gabriel ordered.
The spell hit. Sent reeling, the dazed wolf staggered back and landed in a heap. It didn't move. Did it work?
"Oh, that was too easy," Gabriel muttered.
He kept his wand on it, cautiously approaching but not getting too close. Wolves were crafty. He wouldn't be shocked if it was faking. However, Piros trotted closer.
"Piros!" Gabriel hissed.
His dog sniffed at the matted fur but the wolf didn't move. It didn't move? The wolf lay on its side so Gabriel circled around to its back, opposite the teeth and claws, and knelt by it, examining it closer. Gabirel been told that even a dead wolf could still bite off a hand if you stuck it in its mouth so he'd be careful. It wasn't breathing though.
It's really dead? But how? That was only a stupefy! Gabriel shook his head and looked over at the other students. The Ravenclaw girl that had been running was gone but several other students of various houses and years were still there, standing, whispering, somewhat paralyzed.
"Go get a teacher," Gabriel ordered a few younger Slytherin students.
He figured they'd be the most likely to listen to him.
"Got it," one girl said.
While the other two tried to leave, the boy stared at the dead body of the wolf. He was rooted in place, eyes wide, horrified.
"Come on, Keon," one of the other girls said.
She took Keon's sleeve and pulled him away with them. Keon was dragged the first few steps and then walked away with them on his own.
Gabriel whistled to Piros, calling his dog away from the body. Piros padded over to him and sat down, Gabriel kneeling to scratch him behind the ears. He kept his wand in hand, watching the body in case it wasn't actually dead, making sure the other students didn't get too close.
The teachers were there within minutes, alerted by the frantic Ravenclaw. He and the others that had been present gave their statements as the beast's body was examined by Hagrid. The other students confirmed he only used a stupefy, no dark magic, so the beast's sudden demise was hard to explain. Perhaps it was already on death's door. After the teachers got their statements, the students were made to stay nearby but not addressed again, the adults talking among themselves.
Gabriel heard them use the term "rabid." Rabies was a non-magical disease that wasn't even native to this region, and there was no magical version, so how could a magical beast be infected with it? Hadn't Regan said she'd been attacked by gytrash, the beasts acting aggressively, outside of the normal? So this was part of the same pattern?
Gabriel sighed. He'd been enjoying the day relaxing by himself. Today was his 14th birthday. There would be no celebration but he'd been hoping for a calm day.
"Happy birthday to me," Gabriel muttered.
Jay Yaxley watched from the nearby castle, sitting in the windowsill a few floors up. He'd have to report this to Lord Mathias later so he wanted to hang around and see what happened, gather as much information as possible. Fortunately or unfortunately, one of the Slytherin second years Gabriel made get the teachers was Rue, one of Jay's younger sisters. She'd been close to the danger, which was bad, but it meant she knew details from being so close. It would help Jay make a more complete report.
"Jay!" Someone called out behind him.
Jay glanced and saw Griffin approaching.
"Aurors just showed up in the front courtyard," Griffin told him. "Marcelle and Erebus saw it. Potter's leading the group."
Jay wanted to see that but Griffin hadn't seen it himself, so there was no point try to read him.
It still made Jay frown. "It's serious enough for McGonagall to drop the charm?"
His dad told Jay that there was an anti-apparition charm around Hogwarts, both the castle and its surrounding grounds, a way to protect the students. Only the current Headmaster could lift it. It was normally only lifted at Hogwarts in a small area to teach older students how to apparate, but really, it could be lifted anytime anywhere. The charm meant people had to apparate near the location and physically walk to the warded place. Many important places, like the Ministry of Magic and mansions that could afford it (Yaxley, Lestrange, Malfoy, etc.) had them. Unless it was dropped.
"Well," Jay supposed, "if the Aurors were called they is definitely something going on. It bears further investigation. Too bad we can't approach."
"Rue's still down there near the beast," Griffin pointed out. "She should be listening as best she can."
"Who were the others there?" Jay questioned thoughtfully.
"The other Slytherin are Gabriel Grindelwald, Keon Wembley, and Alyxa Rowle," Gabriel replied, having looked already.
Jay tssked a bit. Gabriel was new and doing his own thing, Keon's family wasn't associated with Lord Mathias or the Death Eaters, and only some of House Rowle were. Alyxa's parents weren't among them. Griffin was a loyal Death Eater, which figured since his father led it, but Marcelle was more likely to get in the way. Erebus, who had Death Eater sympathies, would have been the one to make sure to tell Griffin, not Marcelle. She was more liable to get in the way.
"I suppose I should go see how my little sister's doing then," Jay said.
"Good luck," Griffin cautioned, smirking a bit.
Jay gave a soft hmph, heading back down the hall to a staircase.
He'd seen two of his younger sisters, twins Lyra and Evie, 4th years, approach and talk to Rue from the window. One of the Aurors asked them to leave after a minute. Rue was a witness but they wanted to keep the crowd to a minimum, or that was what he could tell. The wind only carried sound so well and reading lips was a guessing game when he was close to the subject, like across the room, not up on the third floor. Spending time with Rue without being chased away wouldn't be easy. Let's see.
Jay ignored the moving staircase as he drew his wand and hopped over the railing, casting on himself, "Levioso."
The levitation spell slowed his fall from the third floor. For a moment, he levitated in midair, but as he weakened the charm, it couldn't support his weight, so he descended to the first floor in a controlled manner. It took him about twenty seconds to from the third to first floor, and he ended the spell a few inches above the ground so his feet landed. There was no more force than hopping down the last step of a staircase. This version of levitation magic couldn't move levitated items around, but it didn't need to in order to go down without a staircase. It was much faster than walking down stairs or waiting for them to connect with your landing.
Some older students had taken to copying Jay to get down quicker so they weren't late for class. Griffin probably used a different levitation charm to quickly reach the third floor where he was. He hadn't been out of breath from running stairs.
Jay found an entrance close to the beast's body and actually beat the Aurors there. They had to cross the school grounds. He walked over to Rue, quiet, hoping to dodge the teachers' notice. She smiled when she looked up and saw him.
"Hey, how are you doing?" He asked her, kneeling beside her.
"Fine, brother," she promised. "It was scary but Gabriel handled it. Did the adults let you come? They had the twins leave."
"Not yet," Jay smiled, "but they haven't noticed me either."
Rue smiled back at his mischief.
Jay did look her over now that he was close enough. Being told his sister was fine was all well and good but he wanted to be sure. She was. She'd been a bit away from the others. Jay would look at her memory of the incident later, once there weren't so many people around. He didn't want to reveal his legilimency talent. It was more convenient if people just looked at him like any other fifteen year old with little experience and a lot to learn, no one of importance.
That was when McGonagall walked through the archway with a group of other people. Jay glanced them over. Harry Potter was easy enough to recognize, having dorkish round glasses and the lightning bolt shaped scar. He walked beside McGonagall. There were three others behind them.
The teachers by the body stopped their work, greeting them. Hagrid was rather enthused to see Harry. Jay focused on those near Potter. Two looked like Aurors. The female was Riya Patel, he knew, but he couldn't remember the name of the other one. Jay had been given intel on them by uncle Mathias and he tried to learn it all. The other woman didn't have the same air of authority as the Aurors.
"These are Aurors Proudfoot and Patel," Potter introduced the two of them, "and magizoologist Mathilda Grimblehawk from the Ministry's Magic Beast Division."
Proudfoot, that was the man, Jay thought.
Grimblehawk went straight to the body to look at it closer, but the Aurors stayed respectfully near Potter, awaiting orders.
"Harry," Hagrid said, "I'm glad to see ya, but why are yer here?"
"Well…" Potter hesitated. "We're not sure if this is related to another case so we're just making sure. Sorry for cutting in, Professor."
"Ah," Hagrid waved a hand, unoffended, "it's fine."
Related case? Jay wondered what to make of that. His father had recently dealt with some inferi but he didn't see a correlation between that and this beast.
"Is this really one of the born werewolf pack?" Grimblehawk asked Hagrid. "I've always wanted to examine them, although not like this. Poor thing."
"He was, aye," Hagrid confirmed sadly.
"Born werewolf?" Alyxa, sitting beside Rue, asked.
The girl had a mess of curly orange hair, inherited from when the Wesley intermarried with the Rowle a couple generations ago. It popped up now and then. The Weasley were blood traitors by how they acted but purebloods at the time so Jay guessed the Rowle still considered them fit to marry. Most Rowle were between pure-blood advocates and blood traitors, politically neutral. Alyxa herself, according to what Rue said, was interested in becoming a magizoologist. Jay made it a point to learn what he could about the members of the other Sacred Twenty-Eight, just like the Aurors. You never knew what might come in handy.
"There were two werewolves who mated in wolf form during the full moon," Jay told the girl. "The female werewolf gave birth four months later under a full moon in her wolf form and the resulting litter of cubs were born looking like wolves. They don't shapeshift and they're not smart like humans, although these wolves are more savage. Since they were born, they're called born werewolves to distinguish them from normal werewolves and normal wolves."
"Wow, how do you know that?" Alyxa asked with big blue eyes.
"It's a legend around the school," Jay smiled, "but I heard from Professor Nott it's true."
"So cool," Alyxa looked back at the body, the adults gathered around it. "I wonder if I get to watch them dissect it. Grimblehawk's going to do a necropsy now to determine cause of death, right?"
"Maybe," Jay supposed. "I'm not sure how that will work out."
Just because most Rowle weren't involved with the Death Eaters didn't mean none of them were. Thorfinn Rowle was one notable example of a loyalist. It may be possible to pull other family member to their side, so Jay tried to make friends with all of the other Slytherin students. It made it easier to find or persuade new recruits.
The non-Slytherin students sitting nearby gave Alyxa bizarre or disgusted looks, but she ignored them.
"We'll leave you to work," Potter told Grimblehawk, and then looked at the other two Aurors. "Check out the school grounds and try to track this one back. Hagrid, can you accompany them in the Forbidden Forest?"
"Aye," Hagrid promised.
"Then, I'd like to speak to those involved in the fight," Potter said.
"They're over there," McGonagall motioned to the cluster of students. "Ah, Jayden Yaxley, why are you here?"
Busted, Jay thought, standing, keeping his tone apologetic and respectful. "Just looking in on my sis. She had quite a shock. Can I stay with her?"
Potter thought about it. "You can, but please don't interrupt the interview."
"Yes sir," Jay promised, pleased.
Jay could use legilimency without a wand or verbal spell, eye contact being enough, but he was still learning the art. He did not think he could get through an Auror's occlumency shields (they surly had training in it), not without forcing it. Then they'd know he was trying to steal their secrets. He had to move quietly. The magizoologist, Grimblehawk, would likely be an easier target. He may not get what related incident had the Aurors worried, but he should have cause of death for the wolf after Grimblehawk found it. If this mess dragged Potter all the way here from the Ministry then it was worth investigating.
As long as Jay stayed in the area, he'd have a chance to use his talent and Potter just gave him permission.
Wow, an update. I'm not sure why I suddenly got ideas for this. I wasn't even re-reading the books. But here you go!