Noyade | Rabastan Lestrange [2] ✔︎

47 | FINAL

April went by in a blur of grey and green as nature slowly woke up from its sleep. The weather changed almost as fast as Phoenix' moods. Despite Rodolphus telling her that he would take care of Rabastan's situation and she should concentrate on her N.E.W.T.s, she couldn't help but worry. She had only very little knowledge about Azkaban but an afternoon of extensive research in Hogwarts' library fixed that quickly. After that, she was convinced that they had to do anything in their power to get him out of St. Mungos as soon as they got his medication fixed. According to the books she had read, the prison was a fortress located on an island in the middle of the North Sea. But the cold would be Rabastan's smallest concern if they took him there. Apparently the prisoners were guarded by Dementors and about those Phoenix had already read tons. Upon reading that it made goosebumps appear on her arms and she immediately closed the book. If one stayed long enough at Azkaban it might just be worse than death itself.

"And they would send him there for nothing but a mark? I mean a lot of people have tattoos. Didn't Rabastan tell us he had another one beside the Dark Mark? Why don't they just take it for something unimportant?" Maureen asked incredulously at Phoenix informing her what she had found out.

It had taken the pink-haired girl a while but eventually, the girls had put what had happened behind them. Maureen had also been the first one to give her some kind of clue as to what Azkaban really was but she had only known very little on the topic. It was as if somebody had placed a spell on it to make people want to know as little as possible.

"Yeah, there are two more actually," Phoenix agreed. Rabastan had once shown her his tattoos, explaining their meaning after Phoenix had caught a glimpse of the flying birds under his left collarbone. If she remembered correctly, the birds meant elegance and peace but most of all, they symbolised freedom. Then there was one other - the symbol of strength above his left hip. He had only told her how the tattoo was meant to remind him to stay strong no matter what life would throw at him. Only now did it make sense why he had got it. There was so much he had to endure in his family but one symbol simply hadn't been enough to help him through it. "But even a fool knows that the Dark Mark isn't just a tattoo, Maureen. The ministry uses it to identify Death Eaters."

"But isn't there something we can do about it?" Maureen pointed out, chewing on her fingernails.

"Maybe. If there is some way out of this, I'm sure Rodolphus will figure it out."

That was what she tried to tell herself as the N.E.W.T.s drew nearer. They were scheduled to start in the second to last week of May. By then Phoenix had expected to hear something from Lestrange manor on whether they had found a way to get Rabastan out of St. Mungos, but nothing came. His transfer had been scheduled for the last day of May - the nurses obviously weren't too good at hiding their gossip from patients - and Phoenix started to get nervous.

What if they wouldn't find a way to get him out of there?

Her mind was so occupied with the possibilities of what might happen that she handed in her written Transfiguration exam almost empty, scribbled anything that came to her mind on her herbology exam and failed to remember the simplest spell in her practical Defense exam - which caused Louis Avery, who was still battling the loss of his little brother, to talk to her for more than an hour that evening. It was needless to say that her nerves were on edge and despite being a good student her marks were suffering.

Friday was the day of her second to last exam - Care of Magical Creatures. They had already received their results from the written exams a few days earlier and Phoenix' marks were quite drastic. Fortunately, she hadn't been distracted enough to get 'troll' in any of the subjects but 'dreadful' in Transfiguration came pretty close. Of course, the looks from the teachers didn't go unnoticed by her, especially now that Professor Kettleburn was eyeing her while she did her best not to shake as she approached a Hippogriff.

It was not that she was afraid of the creature. On the contrary, she had always felt rather comfortable in the company of animals. Unlike humans, they didn't strike her with emotions but that was not the only reason. Somehow creatures had always responded well to her and she had found herself almost attracting them. It was the possibility of failing her exams and losing Rabastan combined that was looming over her head which made her shake.

With her eyes fixed upon the creature, Phoenix bowed, waiting for the Hippogriff to bow in return. They waited for a moment in complete silence, except for the sounds of the leaves from the forbidden forest nearby shaking in the wind. Eventually, the Hippogriff bowed and took a few steps towards Phoenix. Cautiously the girl straightened her back and stretched out her arm. The creature snuggled its beak into it while Phoenix' heart was beating rapidly.

Were exams even important when there was the freedom of a friend at stake?

Softly the young witch ran her hand through the Hippogriffs feathers. If only there was some way to rush to Rabastan's help. Most likely she had already failed her exams and being able to pet a Hippogriff wouldn't change that. It only seemed to swap her rushing mind for a calm one, a mind that was able to think clearly, without nerves clouding it.

Maybe there was a way.

Phoenix leaned towards the creature, her mouth almost touching its feathers. "Is there any possibility that you would take me to Lestrange manor near London and then return?"

To her surprise, the Hippogriff blinked once and then gave what looked like a nod. That settled it. The young witch quickly glanced at Professor Kettleburn, who was writing something down and moved towards the wings of the creature. With its help, she mounted onto its back and that was when the Professor looked up.

"Miss Black, I didn't task you with flying of any kind," he informed her, folding his hands in front of his stomach. "Would you please get back to the ground?"

Phoenix shook her head. "What's the point? I failed my exams already but that doesn't even matter. I'm sorry, Sir, but there is something of greater importance that has to be taken care of."

With those words, she grabbed the Hippogriffs feathers and the creature rose into the air. It left behind the Professor yelling at her to turn around but she didn't. The damage was done. And soon she saw the castle fade into the horizon behind her.