CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
Harry had hoped that the stress induced by Imbolc would have faded the next day, however, she soon found herself sorely disappointed. The school was as jumpy as ever and the students were in more of a gossipy mood than normal and it didn't help that the weather was just as jumpy, preferring to jump from one condition to the other rather quickly. Harry had found this odd, at little at least, until breakfast when she and her friends joined their Gryffindors, and the only thing that anyone at the table wished to discuss or complain about, was the arrival of the new groundskeeper and his apprentice, Hagrid, that day.
She internally kicked herself for forgetting that today was the day that Mr. Ogden's heir and this timeline's version of her first friend were to arrive at Hogwarts and begin their new duties to the school. It was also in that moment, that Harry really had regretted not bringing an Anti-Headache Draught. Altair and Tom at least provided sufficient distraction with coffee and a pile of pancakes; Harry didn't have much energy to tell them to stop making such a fuss.
"Is the school going to be this nutty for the rest of the bloody day?" she grumbled out loud as she executed her pancakes.
"Most likely," Artemis and Druella answered in unison.
"Brilliant. When are they expected to be here?" Harry wanted to know.
"Around lunch time," Billy informed immediately. "Professor Dumbledore told us when he warned us that no one was to go anywhere near the Hagrid kid with ill intentions. Don't know if McCullagh and Slughorn gave you guys the same lecture-"
"Professor Slughorn didn't say anything to us about the matter," Tom replied. "But I suspect he already expects us to behave as rationally as possible."
"Yes, as if you have exhibited rational behaviour before," Artemis couldn't help but snort.
"Arty," Minerva stated warningly.
"Hey, we're not going to do anything stupid, if that is what you're suggesting, Potter," Caius protested immediately after finishing a mouthful of cereal. "I think we have all learned the do-not-vex-Harry-unless-you-want-to-lose-arms-legs-and-eyes lesson by now!"
That made the Slytherins, Gryffindors and Loreley snort with laughter. Harry rolled her eyes but couldn't keep the grin off her face. "Thank you, Caius!"
"Hey, he's right," Arcturus chuckled. "We know that Mr. Ogden was not doolally so he must have had his reasons for naming an heir and a spare – we also got to hear from our parents that Dippet asked you for your advice and despite your suicidal tendencies now and again, you do have a wise head on your shoulders so …"
"What Arc is trying to say is that, we don't like the decision but we are not going to make a silly fuss about it," Altair clarified with a smirk.
"Altair, I was clear enough!" Arcturus protested.
"No, you were blabbing," Altair answered easily.
"I was not!"
"You absolutely were!"
"Gentlemen, please. It is too early for this," Abraxas cut across with a sigh, sipping his coffee.
Harry ate her pancakes and sipped her own coffee as she tried to form a plan about how best to introduce herself to Hagrid. She didn't think a casual trip down to the groundskeeper's house was going to make the best impression. No, this was a young Hagrid who was very likely more suspicious about her intentions, especially since it was obvious that Harry was a Slytherin. If there was anything that Harry now knew for certain, it was that Hagrid would forever have a suspicion of anyone in green with a snake emblem on their robes.
It was little wonder that Hagrid had nothing nice to say about the Slytherins when she first met him. But perhaps now she could provide him with a counter image to Tom and his Knights?
Well, her Slytherin voice piped up, you could always get Atty to go hunting down there, and then pretend to be looking for her? Hagrid loves creatures – a Gargouille will soften the ice a little.
Have you considered that perhaps Hagrid doesn't want to know you? her Gryffindor voice could not help but put in. He will not be the same Hagrid you knew, not ever!
Perhaps I don't want to know the same Hagrid? Harry argued immediately back with herself. It was true; she at least wanted to get to know this Hagrid before she could decide if it really wasn't meant to be – a second friendship with the half giant who had been a best friend and a big brother figure all in one. Harry knew he was the only link left to her first timeline, but that wasn't the only reason she felt it was difficult not to get to know Hagrid.
She would not allow him to once again be turned into a patsy for another man's ambitions. Harry knew that Hagrid was so loyal to Dumbledore, because the man had been the only one to show him compassion after the Chamber and Myrtle ordeal. Hopefully, Hagrid would know that someone else cared enough and thus, would not be as blindly loyal to her former mentor a second time round.
"-Harry, Harry, Earth calling Harry, get your head out of the clouds for a moment!"
The Traveller's train of thought was derailed by the badgering of Septimus, who was poking her arm with his wand, amusing both Heron and Artemis, who were leaning slightly back. Harry put a mock scowl on her countenance and gave Septimus a pointed look before she looked back down at him poking her with his wand.
"Really? This is the level we're going for, is it?" she asked in faux-annoyance.
"Obviously," Septimus smirked. "There was no other way of getting your attention, though. You had your head in the clouds again. Anyway, Octavius and I wanted to tell you that we're going to be conducting the auditions today at lunch and we will let you and Black know the outcome."
This got all the nosy Slytherins to sit bolt upright.
"Wait, wait, whoa, whoa – what auditions?" Felix questioned immediately, looking from Harry to Orion to the twins.
"Yes, for what exactly? And why haven't we heard about this before?" Malum wanted to know, eyes shining.
"You haven't heard anything about it because Harry and I wanted to keep it under wraps for as long as possible," Orion answered, looking tempted to roll his eyes. "As we all know, Harry and I will not be commentating next year for obvious reasons," the reminder made a few faces droop, "and we know that Dippet would then have to go through picking new commentators again, but-"
"But they would be as boring as the library on a Sunday afternoon," Caius finished easily.
Harry and Orion nodded in unison.
"It's what we fear," Harry agreed. "So," she gestured to the Weasley twins, "these two offered to help us to make sure that doesn't happen, since Orion and I already had this idea in our head. The issue is, it seems our reputation amongst the younger years seems to have travelled a bit and we fear that the younger students wouldn't show up if Orion and I lead the auditions and these two are marginally less terrifying."
"Marginally being the key word there," Artemis quipped easily.
"Love you, Arty!" both twins huffed but chuckled.
"Well, I think it is a very good idea," Tom stated with a smile. He titled his head to one side in curiosity.
"Hang on," Arcturus frowned slyly, "how come those two got to you two first and not Potter or McGonagall?"
Harry and Orion paled a little at that. There was no way to the rivers of the Underworld that they were going to spill the secret of their epic finale! However, Arcturus Rosier, being as sly as ever, had caught onto the fact that the Weasleys had gotten first dibs because they had been in the same space at the time to offer their services.
However, the pair were saved by Octavius. "Septimus and I bumped into Harry and Orion by accident when they were discussing it," he answered casually. "Knowing how busy the both of them are, with planning their Cursebreaking business and Harry's job and the exams and everything, we volunteered to help before these two put themselves in an early grave."
"Well done," Abraxas surprised everyone by saying casually.
"Indeed. A wise decision," Loreley concurred whimsically almost immediately.
"I think Malfoy might be ill," Billy commented in disbelief, shaking his head at the Malfoy heir.
"Or he is just loosening up," Tessa answered.
"Just as terrifying," Artemis snorted.
"Oh ha, ha, ha," Abraxas grumbled as he popped a satsuma piece on his mouth.
Minerva was less than pleased about the news, but not for the reason Harry expected. "You two had better have finished your essays and I am giving you the work we will do at lunch today – I expect nothing less than EE work from both of you, is that clear?" she stated, pointing her spoon threateningly in the twins' direction.
Both Septimus and Octavius put their hands up in surrender.
"Don't worry-"
"-Professor McGonagall-"
"-we have done-"
"-the essays-"
"-and the exercises-"
"-and we'll do the ones-"
"-you give us later-"
"-we will transfigure the best ravens into writing desks-"
"All right, all right! I believe you," Minerva huffed, rolling her eyes whilst their friends chuckled. Harry herself couldn't help exchange a knowing grin with Loreley when the twins called Minerva 'Professor McGonagall'.
"You going to be working us to the bone again, McGonagall?" Felix teased easily.
"Yes, especially you, Mulciber, since you need it," Minerva didn't miss a beat to quip, which turned the chuckles into laughter.
"You should have seen that one coming, Felix!" Heron commented with a grin.
"You did walk right into that one," War easily agreed, causing Felix to begin sulking a little.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Felix grumbled.
"But first, we all need to survive Dumbledore," Caius pointed out with a sigh. "Harry, can you enchant his classroom again? Please?"
Harry chuckled. "If I do that I will have made a confession to doing it the first time, my friend," she pointed out. "As much as I would love to do it, I am not going to give Dumbledore a reason to put me in detention."
"It is times like these I am reminded why you're in Slytherin and not in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor," Ignatius laughed.
"Ha! Even Prewett says you have Lion energy!" Felix took the easy open win.
"Thank you, Ignatius," Harry rolled her eyes. "Now I have to put up with Felix having a reason to gloat."
"Pfffft – he always finds one, Harry!" Malum grinned. "It was just a matter of time before something was said to replenish his ego."
"Thanks, Mal!" Felix huffed.
Harry and her friends soon finished their breakfast and set for their first lesson; Loreley had wanted to split off to head to her Charms lesson but she gently pulled Harry to the side for a moment. "Head out when you see three ravens," she told her cryptically in a low voice, looking serious.
That look and warning was all Harry needed; do not approach Hagrid unless she saw three ravens, or something was likely to go very wrong. As Loreley left, Altair and Tom quickly pulled her back.
"What premonition did she have now?" Altair joked lightly.
Harry gave him a pointed look. "I think you can guess what about."
"Rubeus," Tom answered, surprising Harry by using Hagrid's first name. He smiled softly. "Did she tell you not to not go and see him?"
"No, not until I see three ravens," Harry replied with a short laugh. She then gave Tom a look. "You called Hagrid by his first name? Why?"
"Because he hated it," Tom answered candidly. He chuckled a little. "I even called him Ruby on occasion. He really did not like it! But … I didn't mean anything too mean by it. I was just teasing him."
Harry blanched at hearing this. How in the name of everything good and magical was she only hearing about this now?!
"I do wonder why three ravens…" Altair muttered. "What could go wrong with you meeting Hagrid? You two don't know each other; you're the one person he has no good reason to dislike."
Harry ignored the snort both her Gryffindor and Slytherin sides made. "I am a Slytherin and no doubt he would have heard about my courtship with you and Tom. That is enough for him to be suspicious of me," she pointed out calmly.
"I suppose you are right," Altair sighed. "Promise me you won't go alone."
"I have no intention of going alone," Harry reassured truthfully. "Atty is going with me."
Altair and Tom exchanged a look, and then both nodded in unison. Fortunately the matter was dropped, on account for Dumbledore's classroom door already being open and the Transfigurations professor welcoming them warmly as always.
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"I think it is finished."
"Well I do not think it is!"
"Antioch, it looks flawless! No one is going to know the difference!"
"But-"
"Not buts! Merlin's rat-bitten boots, why do you have to make this ten times more difficult than it needs to be?"
"This is why you two never had the gift of wandmaking; you two would be pleased with any old carved sticks!"
"Would you three please pipe down?" Perenelle Flamel huffed, coming into the room and folding her arms like an annoyed mother. Evren was hot on her heels, looking rather amused. "I mean, really! We have had to put up with the same argument for over a month now and it is driving us all up the wall!"
Antioch, Cadmus and Ignotus looked suitably chastised at this. Perenelle put her hands on her hips, looking at each of them as if she was deciding which one should be put on the naughty step first. Nicholas was grinning with pride, especially since his wife's ire was not directed at him. "Now, if you have something to say, you say it quietly and with measure. You will not continue squabbling like a bunch of seven-year-olds. I mean, really!"
"Did you almost burn another pie again, Perrie?" Cadmus thought it was a good idea to joke.
The death glare shot at him by the Immortal Sorceress immediately made him cower away in a corner of his portrait.
Perenelle huffed. "Look, I know this wand is important, especially when it comes to the latest scheme Lady Peverell has concocted, but I think it is time you three take a break from it and you return to helping Thanatos, Hypnos and Melinoë perform guardian duties, or uncle duties in this case. After all, with that new pet project Grindelwald has sent her, I think she could use all the familial support she can get! Which is why I cam making her some home baked treats to share with her friends. I don't think that girl ever had that before."
"No, she did not," Ignotus agreed coldly, looking extremely stormy. Thanatos had told them what kind of family Harry had in her original timeline and Ignotus was most happy that the girl had escaped those animals.
"What kind of mess has that man sent her this time, do you think?" Cadmus dared to ask.
"No doubt it is to test just exactly what kind of powers she has," Antioch answered darkly. "You don't face an enemy without knowing exactly what they are capable of. Plus, I think it amuses him to continue playing with her. Don't ask me why – it's the feeling I get."
"Without a doubt," Nicholas sighed sadly as he continued working. "I think a part of him can't help himself when it comes to Harry anymore. Part of him wants to take what she has for himself, and I think part of him can't let her go because of a twisted kind of fondness he has for her."
Antioch snorted. "People like Gellert Grindelwald do not possess the capability to care about anyone!"
"Tom Riddle does," Ignotus could not help but point out easily. "But while Tom has fallen deeply for Harry, Grindelwald perhaps sees her as a child – his child. If there is one thing that I have learned about Dark Lords, they are very possessive people. That is why we still have some time to make sure Harry is prepared for what may come in the future: Grindelwald is fighting against his own nature."
Perenelle shook her head. "I am convinced that the man must have loved someone at some point. He would not be so lenient with others who he considers his enemies. We have seen what he does! He cares not for me or Nicholas; he acted immediately. When it comes to valuable targets or 'loved ones' … he shows restraint."
"You think the man loved someone?" Antioch snorted. "I doubt it."
"We all love someone at some point, even the worst of us," Nicholas stated whimsically. "Gellert Grindelwald can be as brilliant as he wishes, can have all the power of Sight that the Moirai can give him … but even he is not immune to the power of Eros. His arrows are even stronger than those of Apollo and Artemis, though I will deny ever saying that if I am asked!" he laughed. "But yes … it wouldn't surprise me at all if the reason Grindelwald sees everything crumbling down around him, is because he underestimates the power of love – perhaps those he loves will even be the cause of it…"
"Now, now, dear, you're starting to sound like me!" Perenelle's eyes flashed with amusement.
Nicholas chuckled.
The Three Brothers Peverell considered for a moment. "Perhaps we should ask Tosti to ask Hypnos if he could 'borrow' some of those notes from his lover for a bit, so we can study the ins and outs of Nurmengard?" Cadmus eventually spoke up. "If we can give Harry a general idea of what that place looks like, she won't be at a complete disadvantage should the man ever take her!"
Antioch rolled his eyes. "I never did understand why Hypnos would take the time and trouble to court a mortal. In over a century perhaps, if Hypnos is lucky, the man will be dead and he will likely know that his lover is an immortal because 'Henry' never gets too old or sick!"
"I am so glad you never married," Ignotus commented dryly. "I would have pitied our dear sister every single day."
"You take that back!" Antioch turned red.
"I think not! You have not got a romantic bone in your body," Cadmus agreed easily.
Antioch spluttered indignantly. "Yes I do!"
"Attempting to woo a lady with the offer of testing your new wands is not romantic, it was crude!" Ignotus snorted.
"I did not mean it like that and you know it!"
The Flamels exchanged a look with one another and they both settled in to listen to yet another of the Three Brother's rather juvenile squabbles.
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Irritation was an emotion that Loreley barely felt and if she did, she did her level most best to ensure that no one saw it, instead putting on another mask of dreaminess and faux-obliviousness. However, it was on this singular occasion that Loreley made no conscious effort whatsoever to hide that fact that she was annoyed and frankly vexed at the Moirai. Not only had her visions become ever more frequent – fates set to collide and soon – but there were paths that were shifting so quickly, Loreley could barely keep track of it.
Hence, the Malfoy heiress found herself pacing by the lake during her next free period, her mind racing, the visions flashing in front of her eyes. A fight in the Forest – Artemis duelling Dumbledore … Grindelwald and Harry on the roof, Harry losing … Ophelia attacking Grindelwald – Ophelia being flung from the roof …
Why? Why these sequence of events? What are you playing at? Loreley grumbled at the very gods who gave her the ability of Sight. Loreley was used to Seeing the most important events – used to Seeing events that were established. But these were different to Seeing events that would be remembered by history. Loreley had no idea why, but she very much doubted would remember any of the events she had just Seen.
A Peverell was involved after all. They were determined never to be seen by history; Harry was even going so far as to make a counterfeit Elder Wand should anything happen to her so that it would look like the events of her original timeline had come to pass! But Loreley knew that the deviation would have consequences, and she Saw it for herself. Ophelia falling from the roof of Nurmengard and Artemis was in wand-to-wand combat with her own Head of House … and winning!
Plus, there was a look in those Imperius gold eyes that Loreley had never seen before in the eyes of Artemis Potter: pure unadulterated rage and hate. Directed at Dumbledore. Loreley had gone through every single vision she had ever Seen regarding Artemis to try and figure out what could have caused such potent emotions in someone who rarely ever was truly blinded by anger. But Loreley had come up with nothing, until she realised very quickly that it likely had nothing to do with Artemis herself, but perhaps with Harry.
Will Artemis know? Loreley found herself questioning. I know that there will be three others who know – will Artemis know too? When will she know? How will she find out?
"Sister." Loreley whirled around, her eyes wide for a moment in surprise. For once, she had not sensed her brother's presence approaching her at all. Abraxas was just as surprised. "What is it? How did you not See me coming?"
Loreley laughed coldly. "I have no idea. My mind is a little preoccupied, perhaps it is that," she scoffed quietly.
Abraxas took a moment to study her for a moment, ignoring the fact that the wind suddenly started to pick up around them. "Something's wrong. What is going on with your Sight?" he wanted to know.
Loreley made a gesture of 'I haven't a clue' with her arms. "For whatever reason, my visions are unstable," she answered through nervous laughter. "Normally I See events that are set in stone but in this case … they're not. The only events that are stable and vivid regarding the future …" Loreley took a moment to stabilise her breath as her anxiety spiked a little.
"The ones about our Traveller," Abraxas caught on immediately. He folded his arms. "Are they the visions about the ones that show she will be taken by Grindelwald?"
"Yes," Loreley confirmed with a slight nod. "I saw Ophelia saving Harry from Grindelwald and then … falling off the roof of Nurmengard…" Saying out loud sent a chill up Loreley's spine; Abraxas flinched a little at hearing that. "I also saw Artemis duelling Dumbledore-"
"Excuse me?" Abraxas didn't even try to hide his surprise.
"Yes," Loreley laughed weakly. "And she was angry. Really angry. Perhaps near murderous," she sighed deeply. "I think Artemis may find out the truth to what and who Harry really is – it's one of the only explanations I can think of."
Abraxas took a moment to process this information as he began pacing. "It wouldn't surprise me if she does," he mused out loud as he did so. "Artemis is nosy – her family has a Tapestry that shows a very awkward familiar connection to Harry … or perhaps Artemis finds out by accident … I am also surprised Orion Black hasn't discovered yet either. After all, he managed to figure everything out everything else …"
"Orion is likely to find out," Loreley confirmed easily. "All I know is that only four of our friends will ever know who Harry truly is apart from the two of us."
"Only four?" Abraxas couldn't help but halt abruptly and look at her in shock. "Lorri, does that mean Tom and Altair may never find out?"
"I cannot say!" Loreley responded in complete frustration. "The Moirai haven't Showed me who will or who won't know – there are spots in my visions and I hate it! I mean, even Minerva's own fate when it comes to her love life isn't set but is becoming clearer and clearer … I don't know why this is happening, Abraxas, and I am scared! I have never once been failed by my Sight but now …"
Loreley let herself fall onto the cold ground, her heart pounding in fear and her breath shaking. Indeed, her hands were shaking too and no amount of effort put in by her stopped it from doing that. Abraxas looked at her for a moment, staring at her as though this was the first time he truly saw her, and found himself lowering onto the ground next to his sister.
"The Moirai don't want you Seeing what is coming," he stated. "For whatever reason, that is not something you're not going to know until they decide you need to know. If ever." Abraxas sighed deeply. "If these events are going to happen one way or the other, there is nothing we can do about it. The question is, why must Ophelia fall from the roof and why must Artemis duel Dumbledore of all people?"
"Ophelia's future has been murky lately," Loreley confessed quietly. "I didn't think anything of it but now … I don't want to think about it."
Abraxas swallowed. "Do you think she will die?"
"I hope not," Loreley closed her eyes. "I dread to think what it would do to Malum. Even Harry…"
Abraxas winced. Yes he had seen what Harry could be like in grief … he could still hear her screams of anguish at losing Sirius – sometimes they still echoed through his head even through visions of other pasts. That was a sound he was not going to forget in a hurry; a banshee's scream paled in comparison.
"Does Artemis win?" he could not help but ask curiously.
"Oh absolutely. A mixture of nonverbal and Old Magick," Loreley found herself answering through a small smile. "It will take Dumbledore completely by surprise."
"Good," Abraxas smirked. "The old codger deserves nothing less."
He then considered for a moment. "Something tells me that the events of the duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald will definitely not play out the same way as they did in Harry's original timeline. Perhaps that is also the reason you are not allowed to See them – Harry could accidentally find out."
Loreley smiled. "I have considered that possibility, brother. But that doesn't mean that it isn't frustrating to the nth degree. All I know for certain is that the balance of our world and the war Grindelwald has waged, now lie in the hands of Hera Peverell, Artemis Potter and Ophelia Rowle."
"Two of whom know the true extent of your powers, and one of whom who knows Harry is a Traveller," Abraxas said to himself. "This should be interesting to say the least. Are there any other players you will be keeping an eye on?"
"Yes. Queenie Goldstein and a boa constrictor."
Now that was not the answer Abraxas had expected. He turned to look at her again with wide eyes. "Queenie … and a snake?" he repeated in disbelief while Loreley once more smiled serenely. "The Legilimens I can understand given that she has no malicious feelings to Harry and her own future is murky. But, why in the name of everything good and magical should a snake be considered remotely important to twisting fate?"
"Oh, very," Loreley replied simply. "Because the snake is not a normal snake."
Abraxas gave a short laugh. "What are you talking about? A snake is a snake!" he then stopped and frowned for a moment. "Or is it a familiar?"
"She was, but she isn't anymore…"
Abraxas huffed. "Back to being cryptic. I suppose I should be happy about that!" he got back to his feet. "Come along, Lorri. Let us see if we can persuade the house elves to give us a muffin or something. I find myself suddenly very hungry!"
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"All right, everyone! Thank you all for coming to the Room of Requirement on such short notice. Did all of you find your way? Did Peeves get in your way? No? Good, good, he must be ill in that case – do poltergeists even get ill? Well, let us not look a gift horse in the mouth!" Septimus stated jovially, rubbing his hands together. "If you are here, you either must have been dragged along by your friends, you happened to follow your friends here, or you genuinely want the part for which you are all auditioning for: to have the honour of following in the comedic footsteps of Hera Evans and Orion Black as commentators for the next season Quidditch games!"
The excited babble of the young Lions, Eagles, Badgers and even Snakes arose. Septimus and Octavius were extremely pleased with themselves about the turn-out. There were quite a few young students who had turned up, more than enough to fill the small theatre that the Room had created for the purpose of the auditions. Octavius quietly theorised that the Room didn't know quite what auditions the children were holding but it was good enough!
Octavius also rubbed his hands together. "Now, in order for us to not get confused, could we have all you midgets here to watch please take the seats on the left and the ones who are auditioning on the right?"
The children started to disperse; the Weasley twins were rather glad to see that most of the kids went to the right. Septimus and Octavius exchanged an excited look before Septimus continued. "Soooo," he rubbed his hands with glee. "We thought that we would let you go in alphabetical order so if you would all write your names on this pieces of parchment and give them here – thank you! So the Room will play some old game matches without the commentary so we can test you – two at a time – and see what your commentating style is! Of course, they will mostly be ones with names you recognise. We are not that mean! Now, Octavius, who will go first?"
"Margaret Atlee and Heather Bryant! Ooooo a Badger and a Snake! Good luck, ladies!" Octavius grinned.
"We will just wait for the Room – any day now, my friend! Ah! Yes! You're all set ladies!" Septimus stated happily as the memory started playing.
Thirteen-year-old Margaret and eleven-year-old Heather did their best, considering how nervous they were at the start, but neither Septimus or Octavius felt like they could stir up raucous energy or capture the same easy jolliness with each other. No matched up together; neither was in contention. They would be partnered with someone else in the next round.
The next pair did take them by surprise: Oizys Avery and Roger Cattermole, a Snake and a Lion, again close in age. Septimus and Octavius had practically gaped at seeing Malum Avery's younger sister in the commentating seat but they were pleasantly surprised to see that she had a rather dry, venomous, snappy sense of humour. Unfortunately, young Roger was about a humorous as a dry plank but the twins definitely wanted to give Oizys another shot.
Septimus and Octavius continued making notes; half of the kids had promise, while half were either too nervous or were too rigid or didn't have the courage to put their character into their commentary. Furthermore both twins noticed that some of the pairs really did not jell too well with each other. However, their favourite alphabetical pairing was definitely Billy Prewett and Octavian Rookwood.
"Ooooo that was a nasty shot! Mulciber up to his old tricks!"
"It seems that courting hasn't calmed him down, Prewett!"
"I would say not, Rookwood!"
"Uh-oh, War will be on the war path after this match!"
"Indeed, for our hides!"
"Better watch yourself tonight, Rookwood! I hear her bark and bite are as bad as each other!"
Septimus and Octavius found themselves on more than one occasion having to genuinely fight to maintain a neutral countenance so as not to psyche out the other young ones who still needed to go and the other kids who they wanted to mix-and-match with each other just to see what would happen. But the boys were definitely in their top five, along with Oizys and a couple of Eagles.
"OK! So we have some ups and downs, so why don't we spice this second round up?" Octavius stated jovially once the kids were seated again, looking a little bit embarrassed or put out.
"We are going to match you guys with partners – at random!" Septimus informed them with glee, causing a few of the younger ones to pale a little bit in absolute horror. "So let's see – you with you – I am sorry but you are with Roger – young Avery with Billy, I think – Rookwood you are with Bryant …"
Septimus continued pairing people up while Octavius studied each candidate closely. More than half were happy with their pairings, while others looked even more nervous than they did the first time round! Not good, but then again some of the greatest composers and actors had been known to get stage fright. Octavius did grin when his twin had asked Rookwood and Bryant to go first.
"Oooooo that is going to leave a mark!"
"He almost got turned into a pancake!"
"I should have bought some toppings – oh wait, Mulciber did that for us!"
"It's a good thing War doesn't have a bat in her hands."
"Don't say that too loudly or you will give her ideas!"
Octavius could easily admit that Rookwood and Bryant were easily a much better suited pairing. But still there was something missing – they were funny, that was not in question, but there was just an extra layer of spice that Octavius felt that they were missing.
I almost regret this idea now … he grumbled internally. Why am I such a perfectionist regarding this? The kids were good!
Because they are not as good as Black and Harry?
was the very easy answer his brain gave.
The next few pairings flew almost over Octavius's head; it was a good thing indeed that Septimus was making detailed notes and scores. However, it was when Billy and Oizys took to the 'commentator seats' again that Octavius sat up again, mainly because the pair had let off some of their own sparks into the air.
"Sorry, Professor, we were making sure everyone is awake!"
"Indeed – they are so quiet they sound sleepy!"
"Hey, Prewett, let's see how sharp everyone is with a song!"
"Good idea – hey, Avery, do you hear that?"
"It sounds like a dying owl."
"Eeeeerm … I think it might be Sir …"
"We need the Matron up here!"
Octavius soon found himself clutching his sides laughing. He wasn't the only one. Septimus had his head on the table, chuckling and heaving with the effort to try and get air back into his lungs. Even the competitors were giggling and laughing away; the audience as well. A few people actually clapped at some of the witty remarks the pair made.
A Snake and a Lion; hilarious and likely will cause Professor Dumbledore a headache. We have a winner, Octavius stated to himself.
Let's hope Septimus agrees.
Brain, why are you trying to be a party pooper?
Just making sure you are not getting ahead of yourself!
Octavius sighed. He was almost relieved when they finally went through the rest of the pairings and dismissed the kids so he and Septimus could discuss which ones they were going to suggest to Harry and Orion.
"Well that was interesting to say the least!" Septimus chuckled.
"Some of them, yes. Others – I barely remembered who went up there and who didn't," Octavius answered, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Hey, some of the children are not natural performers. At least they tried."
"True," Octavius grinned. "I think we should definitely put Billy and Oizys Avery as candidates to Harry and Black. Those two were on fire! I mean, they actually seemed like they could be friends off the pitch!"
"They did have some good energy and could gauge each other well," Septimus agreed. "Not to mention they were the only ones to make fake pot shots at our Head of House, which I think gives them bonus points."
"Agreed," Octavius nodded.
"I think Rookwood and Bryant with a little help and training could be quite good," Septimus mused.
Octavius leant back in his seat, sighing. "Yes, but we both know that Harry and Black have a mountain of activities on both of their plates! And there are somethings that cannot be trained. Maybe Rookwood and Bryant could be interims should Billy and Avery fall ill. But other than those two, I honestly don't think we can put any of the other kids in front of our friends. Jackdaw, Pinch-Smidley and even Atlee were so wooden and forgettable."
Septimus looked reluctant to agree but eventually he did nod, conceding the point. "You're right. OK – we have our four names. I think that was almost two hours well spent."
That made both boys pause.
"LUUUUNCH!" they chorused in panic, rushing out of the Room of Requirement, hoping to get to the kitchens, while utterly ignoring the fact that the Room had provided them with a plate full of pastries.
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Athenaïs had been more than willing to help Harry provide an excuse to meet Hagrid. After everything she had heard about the half giant, Atty was rather looking forward to meeting him in person. Aragog had told her many stories and even the stories Harry told about the Hagrid she knew made the Gargouille positively briming with excitement. However, she couldn't contain her curiosity for too long and had gone rather early down towards the groundskeeper's house.
On the way, mostly due to her enthusiasm, Atty had sent a flock of ravens flying in all directions as she headed down to the home that had belonged to her friend. She was also curious to see what kind of person Mr. Alsop was like; hopefully he was as kind as Mr. Ogden had been.
When Athenaïs got there, she saw a man in his fifties making a scarecrow while a boy – well, he towered over Mr. Alsop like it was nothing – but his face was so young that it seemed like the only apt description in the Gargouille's man, was tending to the garden, sowing seeds under the man's instruction. Next to the boy, was a young black dog.
"Yes, like that – good. Well done, Hagrid. Now the fertiliser; good, good!" Mr. Alsop instructed as he carved a rather disturbing face into the scarecrow. He then noticed their draconic visitor out of the corner of his eye. He blinked a few times, and then tilted his head to the side. "Oh, hello! Who might you be?"
"Kkkyyyyuoo!" Atty answered, waving one of her front claws.
That seemed to tell the new groundskeeper everything. "Great Scot, you must be Athenaïs! Yes, Patrick told me about you – bless his soul – and I was also told how you found him by Armando," Mr. Alsop had jogged over and taken her claw gently. "My condolences, young one. That cannot have been easy to witness."
Atty's face fell and she shook her head in agreement. The fact her friend was gone was still weighing heavily on her heart, but each day, it was getting a little easier to handle. Mr. Alsop smiled sympathetically.
"Did you come to see how we are settling in?" he decided it was best to change the subject.
Atty nodded enthusiastically. It wasn't a complete lie.
"Well, come, come! Hagrid and I are just continuing with the garden," Mr. Alsop stated jovially. "Come and meet him. Don't worry about his size, though – he loves magical creatures. He will not hurt you."
Athenaïs nodded in understanding and followed the new groundskeeper over to meet his apprentice. As she approached, the dog immediately tried to hide away from her, clearly terrified. She smiled softly; clearly the hound could sense that she wasn't a cat at all. As for Hagrid, he was almost comedically timid, which took Atty by surprise. He seemed extremely cautious about looking at her, as though he could get in trouble by even looking in her direction.
"Hagrid, this is Athenaïs," Mr. Alsop introduced with a small smile. "You remember the letters about her, do you not?"
"Yes, Mr. Alsop sir, I do," Hagrid replied obediently and finally looked at their odd visitor. "Tis nice ta meet ya. Sorry about yer friend. I am Hagrid."
Atty lit up and gave a mystic howl in greeting, causing Mr. Alsop to laugh. "I think I will make us all a cup of tea. Hagrid, tell our guest about what we're planting."
As the new groundskeeper disappeared in the house, Hagrid twirled his shovel a little nervously. "We're plantin' a new batch o' giant veggies," he told Atty quietly. He swallowed. "I … I am sorry 'bout yer friend. Lost me dad and me mum isn't around," he kicked the ground a little, sending a good wave of dirty into his dog's face.
Athenaïs couldn't help but giggle. Hagrid smiled a little. "Yer not really a cat, are ya?" he guessed.
Atty shook her head.
"Yeah, thought so. Yer too sociable. No cat acts like ya," Hagrid at least grinned a little at this point. "Not goin' ta ask what yer are. I don't really care. I love all creatures, especially magical ones. Do ya want to know what kind of creature I woulda love to 'ave?"
Athenaïs smirked internally; she already knew the answer, thanks to Harry and Aragog, but decided not to say anything. She wanted to hear the answer from Hagrid himself, since she was finally getting him to open up a little.
"A dragon!" the half-giant grinned. "Seriously misunderstood creatures, ya know?"
Oh I know! Atty agreed internally.
Hagrid continued with his work. "I don't really mind what kind, though I 'ave to say I would not be too 'appy with a Horntail egg. Even fer dragons, they're right nasty pieces of work! Especially the females, and it is worst when they are nestin'. Yer want to die? Ya anger a mother nestin' dragon!"
Or mess with her loved ones, Atty added with a grin internally. Or fly into a dragon's territory…
"Oh I forgot – ya haven't met Fang have ya?" Hagrid nodded over to the small dog. "Don't take it te personally that he ran from ya – he's a bloody coward."
"Hagrid! What did I say about that language use?" Mr. Alsop scolded lightly as he came out the back door with a tray of big mugs of tea. Atty's eyes lit up when she saw that they were using Mr. Ogden's mugs; so they hadn't really thrown anything out! She had been rather worried about that. Humans usually tended to turn their habitats into something that suited them with very little regard for the previous inhabitants, unless they liked what the previous inhabitants had done or left behind.
"Sorry, Mr. Alsop, sir," Hagrid deflated a little.
"Now, now, none of that take your tea – well, I say! I didn't expect more visitors!"
Atty looked up brightly from the tea she had been lapped up carefully and let out an excited, ethereal howl. Indeed, there coming towards the house, was Harry, followed by Loreley Malfoy. Harry grinned broadly as she approached. "Atty! So this is where you ran off to!"
Mr. Alsop chuckled. "Yes, indeed! She's your familiar? Then you must be the Hera Evans we have been hearing so much about."
Harry flushed with embarrassment. "Please, sir, call me Harry if you won't call me Miss Evans," she insisted.
"Of course! And your friend?"
"I am Loreley Malfoy. Pleasure to meet you," Loreley bowed her head respectfully.
"Well I never! A Malfoy in Ravenclaw – I had thought Patrick was spinning me a yarn but apparently not!" Mr. Alsop chuckled. "We were just having some tea – I will pop in and make you girls a cuppa. Hagrid, introduce yourself, won't you?" he called as he stepped into the house again.
Atty couldn't help notice that there was suddenly a little bit of tension, mostly from Hagrid's side. Harry and Loreley smiled at him in what the Gargouille could only describe as friendly.
"Hello," Harry greeted warmly. "Are you settling in well?"
Hagrid cleared his throat. "Well enough, thank ya." He looked at Atty again. "Yer familiar is a beauty. Clever too."
"Thank you," Harry replied. "She's sometimes a little too clever for her own good."
Hagrid regarded Harry with a look of curiosity, almost entirely ignoring Loreley. "Yer a Snake?" he observed with a tone of suspicion.
"I am," Harry confirmed easily. "Though I have been told I am rather odd for a Slytherin."
Loreley smirked. "Understatement there, dear Harry!"
Hagrid didn't smile. He narrowed his eyes a little. "What were ya told about me?" he asked coolly. "Take it Riddle and his friends told ya everythin'."
"They didn't tell me much, actually. I put the story together a little myself; the Headmaster also filled in any blanks I had," Harry responded casually, seemingly ignoring his suspicious undertones. "When he asked me to his office to help him decide whether or not you should be let back into the school."
This took Hagrid by surprise. Atty turned sharply to gauge his reaction; to say that he was pale, was an understatement. Almost fittingly, the wind picked up rather quickly at this point. The half-giant held onto his shovel a little more tightly. "What?!" he didn't attempt to disguise his shock. "I'm back cosa you?! I thought Professor Dumbledore-"
"He advocated for you," Harry confirmed easily. "Vehemently. However, governors, teachers and students were set against you coming back to the point that the Headmaster couldn't countenance making light of the decision. As you probably already know, I wasn't here when the fiasco of two years ago happened. I am the only one in wizarding Britain who had an even mind on the subject."
Hagrid took a moment to process this. Harry, Atty noted, took that as an opportunity to continue. "I know your Acromantula couldn't have killed the girl. Acromantulas don't petrify their prey." This made Hagrid look up rather sharply, surprise on his face. Harry continued. "Plus, I have met Aragog. He is polite and well mannered; not in the least bit violent."
"Sssssh!" Hagrid hissed. "Dunno how you met Aragog but not too loud! No one except me and Professor Dumbledore knows he's here!"
Harry held up her hands in mock surrender, Loreley smiling a little. "I haven't said anything now; I will not say anything unless I absolutely have to," she reassured him gently, which settled Hagrid a bit.
"So, you believe me?" he asked quietly. "Despite not knowin' anythin' 'bout me?"
"I do know my creatures a little," Harry pointed out gently. "I look at the evidence, Hagrid. You didn't have a motive to deliberately set a monster on another student. You kept Aragog away from them for a good reason. You educated him; that is not the mind of a killer. And Aragog speaks highly of you. More to the point, the physical evidence suggests a different kind of creature killed Myrtle Warren instead of a giant spider."
Hagrid studied the odd Slytherin girl in front of him for a moment and then looked between her and Loreley. "Are ya sure yer not supposed to be an Eagle?"
Both girls laughed.
"We've heard that one before!" Loreley stated through giggles.
"And I guess I will till my dying day," Harry agreed, just as Mr. Alsop came back.
"I am so sorry it took so long! I had to find some more mugs," he said sheepishly as he handed them the mugs. "Now, tell us a little bit about what we have been missing lately!"
Harry and Loreley blanched at that while Atty took great pleasure in giggling at their shocked faces. Oh boy!
###########################################################################
"Sigyn, you need to calm down right now!"
"That cheeky owl stole my mouse! You must be barmy if you think I am going to simply let an insult like that go, Seraphina!"
"So, what? You are going to the Owlery and pick a fight with another familiar?" Athenaïs huffed, already feeling a headache coming on.
"If I have to, yes!" Sigyn meowed irately.
Frey tutted from Harry's bed. *You should have guarded your prey better.*
"No one asked you, Frey!" Sigyn was not in the mood to deal with the python's loftiness.
Atty had hoped her evening would be calm; she had been relieved that Harry and Loreley's meeting with Hagrid had gone as well as it did and that Hagrid had even laughed once or twice as the stories told by the Slytherin and the Ravenclaw. But it seemed that the Fates had other ideas because Sigyn was in a huff about a barn owl taking the stray field mouse Sigyn had hunted.
As one probably expected, the bad tempered Russian blue was pacing and stomping and running around the dormitory in a huff, meowing and hissing in anger. Seraphina tried to calm her down while Atty and Frey were frankly too tired for their friend's nonsense.
*You get enough food from Ophelia,* Frey stated primly, not in the bit effected by Sigyn's hissing and meowing. *Besides, you should wait until March for the good hunting. You know this.*
"It doesn't matter! It's a point of principle!" Sigyn snapped, prowling towards Harry's bed, glaring at the snake.
"Frey, she has the right to be annoyed. After all, she hasn't caught anything in months," Atty was so annoyed at this point that she couldn't resist teasing her friend.
It was probably not one of Athenaïs's finest moments, as the young Gargouille would easily admit to later on. Because Sigyn bristled at that, hissed a "you take that back!", and she pounced on Atty, claws bared. It amused the dragon a lot, since the cat's claws were not going to be able to do anything to her stony scales thus posed no threat, but Frey and Seraphina still attempted to wrestle Sigyn off Atty, despite the fact the dragon was laughing and not screaming in pain.
Unfortunately, it seemed that the familiars had forgotten momentarily whose bed they were wrestling on, and thus also forgot whose desk was directly next to the bed. Despite the fact there was a suppression chamber around the strange seal Harry had unlocked not too long ago, it had not accounted for physical attacks to get in or out. Hence, when Frey coiled around Sigyn and the Russian blue fought back quite wildly, she sent them both flying back onto Harry's desk, and onto the seal.
It was Atty who spotted too late what had happened. "NO!"
The seal was already crashing to the ground before she could use her telekinesis to try and stop it from hitting the floor. The seal shattered, making a sound that was reminiscent of broken glass, sending an ominous shiver down the spines of all the guilty familiars.
Before Sigyn or Frey could so much as utter an "uh-oh", from where the seal split, a gaseous form in silver mist began to form. The familiars watched in undisguised horror as the form began to solidify. They watched as something that looked like the form of a human woman appeared over the seal. She had dark hair, eyes that were as indigo as Walburga's favourite ink and her skin was paler than snow. Her dress was off a very old style – Ancient Greek, at the very least, the familiars guessed by looking at her. Then they noticed her legs; they were not human.
Her left leg looked more like one belonging to a dragon, judging by the blood red scales. Her right leg looked like it was made of the shiniest and sturdiest bronze. When she smiled, this creature revealed a pair of very obvious pearly fangs.
They knew exactly what this was, thanks to all the books Harry and her friends had been studying: she was an empousa. All four familiars gulped in perfect unison.
"We're toast," Seraphina commented quietly.
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Oooooh boooy! Sigyn and her temper has done it now! An empousa has been released! How will Harry and her friends handle her? Will they need help from the teachers in order to subdue this latest threat? Stay tuned to find out!
Bloody finally! Other than deadlines for articles I am writing for a journal, the only excuse I have for the fact that this chapter is so late is the fact that I needed to spend some time away from my laptop because I was getting close to hitting a writer burn out. Also, I have been playing Hogwarts Legacy and I have been given one or two new ideas for the story. So I suppose my gaming was also story research hahahaha. I hope everyone is doing OK!
We will see you in the next chapter!
Orion: UMBREON, WHY A CLIFFHANGER?!
Tom: Orion, breathe!
Orion: But I need to know MORE!
Harry: You're in the story! You know what will happen!
Orion: THAT'S NOT THE POINT!
… Oh brother …
Kingmaker'sUmbreon