Dark Memories

Book 3 - Part 12: Comrades in Arms

[Chamber]

"We should get to our common rooms or to the Great Hall. Everyone will be wondering where we are," Neville said.

"Hmm, no. I think you should take a glamour pill and Viper will stay gone for now, since from everyone else's point of view, Harry and you have been taken by me."

"Alright, I suppose it's time for Thorn, a member of the Custosae, to make an appearance. I can take you to the Great Hall before I find Harry, I mean . . . Mage."

"Part of me wonders if we should wait until Harry contacts us, or maybe we should try to contact Hermione and arrange a way for me and her to return as ourselves again," Draco said, before muttering the deactivation word for the polyjuice-glamour pill. "So we only need to worry about covering for you and Harry, which should be a little bit easier, since I essentially took both of you."

"I agree, and I think I have an idea," Neville asked.

"Good, because I think Thorn should talk to Hermit," Draco said, hinting at Neville's Custosae kit.

"Okay," Neville said, taking a pill and swallowing.

Closing his eyes, he felt himself change, aging and growing into a man of roughly twenty five years of age, his clothing changing with him. He had black hair and a trimmed but thick beard. His robes were dark and tightly layered. He looked quite sharp and was clearly someone who should not be messed with.

"Nice," Draco said as Teddy gaped at Neville's transformation.

"How do I look?" Thorn asked, his voice quite deep and low. He certainly wouldn't be singing tenor any time soon.

"Like a bodyguard," Draco stated, just as impressed as Teddy.

"Actually, I think that's what I'll be — Mage's bodyguard. That way I don't need to talk a great deal."

"Good plan. Well, Teddy and I will stay quiet, since we don't know who will be around Hermit right now."

"Yeah." Neville (or Thorn, rather) took out his mirror after waving his wand behind him to make it hazy, in case someone else caught a glimpse of the mirror besides Hermione. Draco and Teddy stayed out of sight. "Hermit."

The mirror wavered for a second, as if Hermione was hesitating, but then it came into focus.

"As One we will march against our Foes, the Enemies of Light. This is Thorn. Are you alright, Hermit?" Thorn asked, Hermit quickly coming to the conclusion of who Thorn was, since they had determined (for a small number of them) their 'official' Custosae codenames some time ago.

"I am in Hogsmeade and heading to Hogwarts with a number of others, including Grim's (Sirius's) team. Hogsmeade is being secured by Iron Man's (Kingsley's) team. And the goblins are apparently waiting for Mage's signal. I assume Viper arrived there with Potter and Longbottom? Are they alright?" Hermit asked, now clearly on her way out of the village.

"They're alright. I'm preparing to arrive there soon, and I'll be bringing two other students back with me. Malfoy and Granger," he said, barely changing his tone with 'Granger'. "I believe it would be best if you come back to base when I arrive, clear?"

"I understand. I'll mirror you when it has calmed enough for you to arrive with them, 'kay?"

"Understood," Thorn answered.

"Where's Mage?" she asked, already having the attention of Flitwick and Somac, who were moving alongside her.

"He went to help at Hogwarts. Do you see anything from whe—?" Thorn instantly cut himself off when Hermit's eyes snapped to the direction of Hogwarts.