The Raven's Call

End of Exams

Friday, June 5th 1992
Asteria and Draco's Birthday

"I'd always heard Hogwarts' end-of-year exams were frightful, but I've found they're rather enjoyable." Hermione chirps as she, Ron and Harry exit the classroom just ahead of me. "Speak for yourself. All right there, Harry?" Ron asks, I can see Harry clutch his scar. "My scar. It keeps burning.." "It's happened before..." Hermione spoke softly. "Not like this..." Harry groans. "Perhaps you should see the nurse?" Ron suggests. "I think it's a warning. It means danger's coming." Harry spoke ominously. "Ah... Oh! Of course!" He exclaims walking faster, making Hermione and Ron speed up to catch him. I realise now that they haven't noticed I'm here, but I'm nosy, so I follow along. "What is it?" Hermione asks. "Don't you think it's a bit odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have one? I mean, how many people wander around with dragon eggs in their pocket? Why didn't I see it before?" I watch as they approach Hagrid's hut, he's playing a flute just outside. "Hagrid, who gave you the dragon egg? What did he look like?" Harry asks, leaving Hagrid puzzled. "I dunno. I never saw his face. He kept his hood up." "This stranger, though, you and he must have talked." Harry pushed. "Well, he- he wanted to know what sort of creatures I looked after. I told him, I said, after Fluffy, a dragon's gonna be no problem." Hagrid replies with a chuckle. "Did he seem interested in Fluffy?" "Well, o' course he was interested in Fluffy! How often do you come across a three-headed dog, even if you're in the trade? But I told 'im, I said, I said, 'The trick with any beast is to know how to calm 'im. Take Fluffy, for example, just play him a bit o' music, and he falls straight to sleep.'" He pauses, looking back at the four of us. "I shouldn't have told you that.." he mumbles. The Trio runs off, with me closely behind. "Where are you going? Where are you-?" Hagrid calls, but we're already too far away. 

Harry, Hermione, and Ron run into the Transfiguration classroom to talk to Professor McGonagall, I stay out in the hall, listening in. "We have to see Professor Dumbledore, immediately!" Harry demands. "I'm afraid Professor Dumbledore is not here. He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and left immediately for London." McGonagall informs them. "He's gone!? Now!? But, this is important! This is about the Philosophers Stone..!" "How do you know-?" McGonagall asks, looking shocked, though Harry interrupts her. "Someone's going to try to steal it!" " I don't know how you three found out about the Stone, but I assure you it is perfectly well protected. Now, would you go back to your dormitories, quietly." She orders. The trio turn and exit the class, I sit on a bench as to not look like I've been spying.

"That was no stranger Hagrid met in the village. It was Snape. Which means, he knows how to get past Fluffy." Harry spoke, sounding defeated. "And with Dumbledore gone-" Hermione spoke, before being interrupted by Snape. "Good afternoon. Now, what would three young Gryffindors, such as yourselves, be doing inside on a day like this?" He asks, looking down his nose at the three. I notice them all jump and quickly turn around. "Ah, w- w- w... we- we were just-" Hermione stutters, trying to come up with an excuse. "You ought to be careful. People will think you're..." Snape pauses, staring at Harry for a moment. "-up to something.." He finished, before walking away. "Now, what do we do?" Hermione asks, looking at Harry. "We go down the trap door, tonight." He spoke, determination in his voice, before the three of them continue on their way. I take out my journal and write to Asteria and Alex. "It's time, we're finding that stone, tonight." I write, the ink disappearing a moment later. "Also; Happy birthday, Asteria." I write, a smile spreading across my face. A few moments later, I receive a message. "Meet me library." In simple handwriting. Alex. I place the book under my arm before making my way to the library. 

***

I get to the library first; and take a seat, pulling out my Fantastic Beasts book to read while I wait. One chapter later, and I'm joined by Alex in pup form. He then transforms back before approaching me as I close my book.  "Man, these books are so cool! But Draco did almost catch us." Alex spoke, sitting down across from me. "Ah, sorry about that. But at least it works." I say with a smile. "Is Asteria coming?" I ask, slowly opening my book back up. "She said she'd meet us here." Alex says with a shrug. I shrug also as I continue reading my book, awaiting Asteria's arrival. Another chapter later, Asteria walks in, and sits down next to me. I close the book again. "Potter and his friends are going after the stone tonight. There's no way they can do it alone. We have to help them."  I inform the others. "What's the plan? You know, I'm crap at planning." Alex spoke. "No doubt they're going to sneak out after hours. Maybe keep an eye on them, and let us know when they leave?" I suggest to Alex. "Sure, I can do that. I'll just curl up in front of the fire and keep an eye out. Although Harry has a cloak that can.." Alex spoke, his voice trailing off for a moment before whispering. "Turn him invisible." I blink. "No way Harry Potter has an Invisibility Cloak." I spoke, stunned. "He got it for Christmas, I'm not sure who from." Alex replies and I sigh softly. "Bloody Potter.." Asteria mumbles to herself, crossing her arms. "In any case, I don't think its big enough to fit three people under, so it shouldn't be too hard to spot them leaving. At least through the commons." Alex reassured. I nod, tapping softly on my book, perhaps as a nervous tic. "We can discuss a meeting place at dinner. I, for one, am starving." I say with a light chuckle. "Yeah, me too." Asteria spoke with a smile. "Draco and I might get presents from mother and father during dinner."  I glance over at her for a moment. "He'll be getting one from me." I mention, picking up my book again. "Right, if that about wraps up the meetin', I'll be going to have a nap before dinner." Alex spoke, his accent weighing heavily on that sentence. "I'll continue to read this book then." I say, opening it back up with no hesitation. I wave nonchalantly as I see Alex stand up to leave in my peripherals. 

"Hey, can I borrow that when you're done?" Asteria speaks up after a few minutes of silence. I honestly didn't even know she was still there. "I've always been curious about the kind of magical creatures that are out there." I smile, closing the book before handing it to her. "You can borrow it now if you want." I say with a grin. "It is your birthday, after all."  I could see her face flush red for only a moment. "Thank you, Atticus." I nod to her with a smile. Suddenly, two small hands cover my eyes, impairing my vision. "Guess who~" The voice sang out from behind me. And I knew exactly who the voice belonged to. "Hello Hermione." I say with a grin as she removes her hands from my eyes. She giggles and sits down next to me, waving to Asteria. The three of us read together until it comes to dinner time.