snape and skull

59

Skullduggery's Children
H

arry stroked Loki's glossy feathers, marveling at how soft they were, with the same sort of iridescent sheen on them as his father had. The boy supposed it must be something that was unique to ravens. Loki made a raven's soft crooning noise and Harry's fingers moved up to the bird's head, gently scratching the back of it. "Mmm . . . nice . . ."
H

arry grinned and continued petting, he could have done that all night, but he felt his eyelids growing heavy.
Severus blinked, mesmerized a bit by the dancing fire in the hearth and noticed the mantle clock was now chiming the half-hour, it was nine thirty. He glanced at his son. "Harry, time for bed."
His son yawned. "Dad, can I stay here tonight?"
"Very well. I assume you have extra pajamas and a uniform?"
"Uh huh." He always kept extra clothes in his room now. Feeling sleepy, he rose, the fledgling still on his shoulder, to go and get changed.
As he was brushing his teeth, Loki hopped onto the counter, cocking his head curiously at the young wizard. "What are you doing? You look like a mad dog."
Harry chuckled and spit out his toothpaste. "Uh, no, I'm brushing my teeth."
"Why?"
"So I don't get cavities," the boy replied. "Or else my teeth will fall out."
"How awful!" Loki chirruped. He flew after the boy as Harry crossed the hall to his room and changed into pajamas.
Suddenly Prissy popped into the room. "Master Harry, I has warmed your sheets and now you be nice and toasty!"
"Thanks, Prissy!"
"Good night, Master Harry!" Prissy smiled and blinked out.
Harry placed his wand on his nightstand and crawled into bed. He smiled sleepily as Loki perched on the headboard. "Y'know, Skull does that with my dad."
"I will keep watch over your dreams, bran-boy," Loki hissed.
"You know how?"
"Yes. Mama taught me," the small raven said, sitting up like a sentinel, his head crest standing up alertly.
Harry's eyes were half-shut when he saw Severus come into the room. "Night, Dad."
"Good night, little raven," Severus murmured, Skull perched on his shoulder. His hand ruffled his son's hair.
"Sleep tight, don't let the nargles bite!" Skull squawked. "Keep watch, Loki."
"I will, Papa," the young raven said.
Harry muttered something sleepily, and then abruptly fell asleep.
Severus tucked the covers about his son tightly, for even with spelled sheets, sometimes the dungeons were cold, since they were below the Black Lake. He placed a quick kiss on the boy's forehead before departing, leaving Skull's son on guard.
He returned to the den to find Dante finishing the sketch he had drawn earlier. "You have another thirty minutes before bed," he told Dante.
The boy nodded a silent acknowledgment, but continued working, adding shading with the side of his charcoal pencil.
A curious Potions Master looked down at the parchment the boy was sketching and blinked, startled, to see himself looking back, Dante had drawn him in his recliner, a book in one hand, Skull perched on the back, looking up as if about to answer a question.
Severus nearly laid a hand upon the boy's shoulder, but at the last moment recalled Dante might be startled by his sudden touch, as was often the case with children who had been subjected to physical abuse, and cleared his throat before doing so.
Dante shuddered slightly, but otherwise did not try and draw away. "What do you think?" he asked his guardian.
"It is very good. I was not aware you drew people as well as magical animals." Severus said quietly.
"Only people I want to remember," Dante smirked. He finished adding the final few details to the sketch, then signed it on the bottom with a flourish. Then he hissed a soft incantation and the page detached itself and he handed it to Snape. "Here. You can have it."
Severus took it and gave the boy a pleased smile. "Thank you. I will put it in my office."
"You don't have to—" Dante began, embarrassed.
"I wish to," Severus said simply. He gestured, and a blackwood frame appeared around the drawing and then he sent it into his office, where he would hang it up tomorrow.
Dante was startled and felt a warm glow of pride suffuse him. No one, save Blue Sparrow, had ever treated his artwork as something worthy of being displayed before. Especially not Sulla, who had regarded his son's 'scribbling' as a waste of time.
"Sev's right," Skull said. "Who knows? One day you might be a famous artist and Sev will claim a Prince original, scamp!"
Now Dante snorted. "Yeah, right. Skull, I'm no Michaelangelo."
The raven cocked his head. "You never know."
"Thanks anyhow." He smothered a yawn. "Guess I'm more tired than I thought."
He picked up his sketchbook and pencil, also his creature compendium. "Night, Severus. Night, Skull."
"Good night, scamp," Skull cawed.
"Pleasant dreams, Dante," Severus said, and gave the boy a gentle pat.
"I will come and guard your dreams," Callie warbled and then flew to Dante's shoulder.
"Really? Thanks, Callie," Dante looked amazed.
He quickly hurried into his room to get into his pajamas and remove the feather and the fur from the sleeve of his robe. Then he placed it inside his compendium and climbed into bed, curling on his side and shutting his eyes. He heard Callie settle on the headboard.
Then he evened out his breathing, feigning sleep until Snape went to bed.
Snape opened the door and poked his head in several minutes later, and saw to his relief Dante sleeping easily, the small raven perched alertly upon the headboard.
"Ten fifteen and all's well," Skull cawed in his ear.
"Yes, for tonight," Severus murmured, then he retreated back into the sitting room, where he drank off the last of his tea and poured a new cup. He then proceeded to tell his familiar everything that had happened since his departure.
Skull listened alertly, occasionally chiming in here and there with encouragement if he felt that the Potions Master needed it. By the time the whole tale was told, Severus found himself growing sleepy also.
"Looks like you need a nap," chimed the raven.
"I'm not five, Skull," muttered his wizard.
"Nope. Otherwise you'd know the importance of sleep, wizard mine."
Snape rolled his eyes. "I know, bird. Come, I can't mark these if my eyes are shutting."
As the mantle clock chimed ten thirty, Severus put away the homework he had finished marking and retreated to his room, drifting off to Skull humming in his ear a short time later.
Dante listened and satisfied everyone in the professor's chambers was sleeping save himself and the young ravens, sat up and conjured a globe of witchfire. Witchfire was a simple spell, one of the first he had ever learned, and it cast a soft golden glow across his bed.
Callie blinked and asked, "What are you doing? Aren't you sleepy?"
"Not yet. There's something I have to do first," Dante murmured. He removed his compendium from the nightstand and opened it. "Hmm . . . let's see what the feather can be first."
He held it up and examined it closely. Then he pointed a finger and muttered, "Cross reference feathers of magical birds and beasts."
The compendium's pages began to ruffle.
Callie peered sharply at the glistening feather. "That's magical. From a very old sort of bird or creature with wings."
Dante gazed up at her. "How can you tell?"
"I just can," the raven replied. "I can feel the magic within it."
"I figured it came from some kind of hybrid creature, I'm just not sure what," Dante muttered. The book stopped flipping pages and came to rest upon several pages with pictures of magical birds or hybrid creatures with bird wings or heads or other parts.
"You think a book will tell you what kind of animal the feather is from?" Callie asked astutely.
"I hope so," answered the young wizard and continued to study the book.
Finally, after fifteen minutes of studying each and every picture in the compendium that had creatures with feathers, Dante was forced to admit defeat. "I don't know what animal this could be from. It doesn't really match anything pictured in here."
"Perhaps you need a different book," suggested Callie.
"Mmm . . . this is the best book I have with creatures in it. Maybe I'll have better luck with the fur." He showed Callie the black fur.
The raven poked it. "Looks like cat fur."
"Or something that's part cat or maybe a panther," Dante surmised.
He began flipping pages again. But like before, he could not narrow it down with any degree of certainty. "Blast! I'll have to tell Harry we need to brew the Identification Draft. It's the only way we're going to figure this out."
"A potion? Do you need Sev's help to brew it?" Callie asked curiously.
Dante shook his head. "No. I can brew it myself." Then he glanced sidelong at the raven. "But I want to figure out what sort of creature this is myself."
"Oh! Is it like a test?"
"Umm . . . kind of. Once we figure it out, we'll show it to Severus," Dante hedged. Then he shrugged. "But right now I'd better get some shut eye. Or else I'll be too tired to get up for class tomorrow."
He banished the witchlight and put the book and its objects back on the nightstand.
This time when he snuggled down under the covers, he fell fast asleep.
Harry woke up to someone whistling "Reveille" in his ear. "What the-?" he sat up, his hair sticking up like he'd been electrocuted.
He glanced up to see Loki peering down at him from the headboard, a mischievous sparkle in his beady eyes. Harry grinned. "Hey, Loki! Where'd you learn that?"
"An old army buddy of Ghost's taught us. He said it's the only way to properly wake someone up in the morning," the fledgling chuckled. "So we all used it to wake up Ghost!"
Harry giggled. "Oh boy! I bet that went over well!"
"It did . . . once he quit threatening to throw us all in his cauldron and make raven stew," the bird said impishly. "Mama and Papa thought we were hilarious."
"I'll bet," Harry smirked. "I wonder if Skull will try that on my dad?"
Loki fluttered down to alight on Harry's shoulder. "Maybe. Papa is the best trickster . . . at least I think so."
"Me too," Harry agreed, gently ruffling the raven's feathers. "Okay, I'd better get up before Dad calls me. I hate feeling rushed in the morning."
He padded across the hall to the bathroom, where Loki hopped onto the counter and amused himself by making jokes in the mirror while Harry showered.
Harry thought the fledgling lively and amusing, just like his witty father, and said, "So how come you haven't found a wizard to bond with, Loki?"
"Papa said not every raven bonds to a wizard right away. And Callie and I were the two youngest to hatch. So we need to be older in order for a bond to form." Loki explained. "And maybe we haven't met the right wizard or witch yet." He flew on Harry's shoulder again after he had dressed for class.
"Oh, I see now," Harry murmured. He would never admit it, but he hoped secretly that one of Skull's children would bond with him. "Just wait till you meet the twins—Fred and George Weasley. You'll like them, they're the best pranksters in the school."
"Then I shall enjoy meeting them," trilled Loki as Harry walked out of the bathroom.
On the way to the sitting room, he passed a sleepy Dante, and looked at him questioningly.
The older boy shook his head and whispered, "Tell you at breakfast." Then he headed into the bathroom.
Harry found Severus drinking a cup of coffee while perusing the morning paper. "Morning, Dad."
"Good morning," Severus replied.
"Anything new in there?" Harry gestured to the paper, as Prissy popped in and brought a cup of tea with milk and sugar to him. "Morning, Prissy."
"Good morning, Master Harry," the elf greeted, then vanished.
"Nothing much, except for some improvements on a few healing potions," Severus muttered.
"What did they do to improve them?" Harry wondered.
"To increase the duration of the Pain Relieving Draught I added two tablespoons of crushed acanthus flowers," Severus explained. "For an Extra Strength Wiggenweld potion, I altered the composition slightly by adding a tablespoon of murtlap extract and mixing it well with the salamander blood before adding it to the cauldron."
"You mean those are your improvements on the drafts in the Potions Corner section?" Harry clarified.
Severus nodded. "Two are. The other improvement is to a Decongestion Draught made by Vera Amberall. See for yourself." He gave Harry the copy of The Prophet.
Harry took the paper and found the section called Potions Corner, which was reserved for discussions about potions and elixirs, including anything that had been improved on. Sure enough, he saw the article on Improving Existing Elixirs contained both solutions that Snape had improved, and a commendation by the Head of St. Mungos, Healer Althea Everbloom, thanking the Potions Master for his contribution to society.
"Now we'll see what that puffed up windbag Lockhart says when he sees your name in the paper instead of his for once," Skull said.
"Actually, Lockhart won't be saying anything for awhile," Severus returned with a smirk. "Because he's come down with laryngitis."
"Couldn't happen to a nicer fellow!" Skull said wickedly and Harry giggled.
He thought about pranking Lockhart, slipping a Babbling Beverage into the handsome wizard's drink and watching him babble nonsense for a day.
That would be great. Unless Dad found out, the Potions Master's son thought. Although he had the odd feeling that Severus wouldn't be too mad at Harry if he did happen to prank Lockhart, considering that Snape couldn't stand the other wizard either. I'd probably still get detention if he found out, but it wouldn't be that bad since it was Lockhart.
Harry sipped his tea, it was definitely something to think about.
"Who is Lockhart, Sev?" asked Loki.
"The current Defense professor," Snape said sourly.
"Stupider than a dodo bird!" Skull chimed in.
"I'm certain they're related somehow," Severus muttered.
"He's related to that and a peacock," Dante snorted.
"Why would you say that?" asked Callie.
"Because his best friend is his mirror," answered the American wizard scornfully. "He's like the diva of the wizarding world."
"Worse, he's a terrible Defense teacher," Harry added. "The only thing we learned in his class was what to wear when meeting a vampire and how to set pixies loose."
"You too?" Dante groaned. "I thought my class was the only one who benefitted from immobilizing pixies and using the Knockback Jinx."
"We didn't even know those charms," Harry said disgustedly. "And pixies ended up hanging Neville on the chandelier by the back of his robes while Lockhart ran out the door yelling that he was going to bring back some kind of repellent."
"Seriously?" Severus scowled. "That incompetent fool! He ought to have been fired for that alone. Did you report it to Minerva?"
"Uh . . . someone did . . . but Lockhart was still teaching the day after so we assumed it didn't do any good," sighed his son.
"Humph!" Snape glowered. "I will be reminding the Headmaster again of that incident."
"Hopefully he didn't have a memory lapse," Skull said. "Perhaps you need to spike his sherbert lemons with that Clarifying Draft again, Sev."
"Perhaps you're right, Skull," the Potions Master muttered.
"What do you mean, Dad?" Harry asked curiously.
Severus frowned. "This goes no further than your ears, am I understood? I want your word, Harry James, and you also, Dante. One wrong word to anyone and you will both have detention for the rest of the year and be banned from Quidditch and Hogsmeade."
The boys gaped at that dire consequence and then promised swiftly.
"When the revenant attacked last year, Professor Dumbledore was drained almost to death. Because of it, the Headmaster was permanently aged by some ten years or so. In a man of his advanced age . . . the aging has caused confusion and occasional memory loss. Since Professor Dumbledore refused to retire afterwards, the rest of the Heads, along with Madam Pomfrey and I took it upon ourselves to make sure he was able to still run the school competently . . ." Snape explained how he had spiked Dumbledore's lemon drops with a Clarifying Draft to help his memory without letting the Headmaster know, and thus keep his dignity and self-esteem. "It is something that I may need to do again, if the Headmaster seems to have forgotten about the incident you mentioned, Harry."
"Can his memory be fixed, Dad?" asked the Gryffindor.
"That . . . is difficult to say," sighed the professor. "But what can be done shall be done. In any case, this is to stay between you, me, and the lamp post. I trust you know why."
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "If certain people on the Board of Governors ever found out . . ."
"Like Lucius Malfoy," hissed Skull. "Poor Al would be history!"
"Precisely," agreed Severus.
"You can count on our discretion, sir," Dante promised.
"Wild hippogriffs couldn't drag it out of us," Harry assured him.
Severus met both green and hazel eyes steadily, and saw that the two were being truthful. He nodded gravely. "Come, it's nearly time for breakfast in the hall."
"Good!" Skull cheered. "And the teachers and Al can meet my fledglings, as well as the students."
"Papa, I'm hungry," Callie shrilled. "Will there be food for us there?"
"I hope so," Loki said.
"Lots and lots of it," Skull assured them. "I can show you."
"Don't you teach them your thieving ways, you reprobate!" Snape scolded.
"Thief?" Skull squawked indignantly. "I'm not Bilbo Baggins, Sev!"
"But you steal food from everyone's plate," argued Severus.
"I don't steal . . . I eat what is left over," Skull objected. "Can I help it if you humans eat slower than a sloth? And the children always are willing to share."
"You have no need to go begging when I feed you," objected his wizard. "Or you hunt for yourself."
"Beg! Bite your tongue, Severus Snape!" Skull cried indignantly. "I've never begged anything in my life!"
"Except that time you quarreled with Mama," Loki reminded his sire impudently. "You begged her forgiveness."
"Never you mind, you rascal!" his father snapped. He pecked the other lightly on the head.
The younger raven lowered his head submissively, and Severus looked away to hide a knowing smirk. "Like father, like son."
"Shut up, Sev!" Skull cawed crossly and the boys snickered.
Severus merely snorted, clearly delighted to have the last word for once in the witty banter between wizard and familiar. His hand was on the doorknob when a knock came.
"Professor Snape? It's me, Randi Cummings." A girl's voice called.
Severus opened the door to admit a Slytherin first year, her curly dark hair held away from her face with a green headband. "Come in, Miss Cummings."
She glanced about curiously at the two boys and her Head, before saying, "You wanted to see me, sir?"
Severus nodded. "Yes. I know normally you could go to Madam Pomfrey to get your Anti-Allergen injection, however at this time Pomfrey is assisting with a delivery at St. Mungos. Therefore, I will administer the injection instead."
Harry gulped, he disliked shots, especially since the incident with the Cursed Envelope. "Why do you need to give her a shot, Dad? Why not just swallow a potion?"
Severus turned to look at his son. "Because Miss Cummings allergies are such that they only respond to injections, and this potion is formulated specifically for her to receive them that way."
"Oh." Harry made a face.
"Come, Randi," Severus urged the girl to sit on the sofa while he Summoned the kit containing his student's anti-allergy draft and syringes. The professor disinfected his hands with a spell, then used a small square dipped into a Wound-Cleansing Potion to disinfect Randi's upper arm.
He magically inserted the syringe into the vial and then removed it when the correct dose had been measured.
Harry paled when he saw the size of the needle. Dante socked him lightly in the arm and hissed, "God, Harry, you look like you're gonna pass out."
"I'm not!" the other growled softly. "But Merlin, am I glad that's not me!"
The girl looked trustingly at her professor, and Snape deftly administered the injection.
"You ought to give her a chocolate frog, Sev," Skull teased from his perch on the recliner.
Randi giggled and Severus rolled his eyes.
Both boys were amazed. Randi didn't whimper or flinch, simply thanked Severus quietly afterwards.
"You are very welcome, child." Severus answered, then he banished the kit and other paraphernalia back to his lab.
Dante whistled. "Holy Merlin, but you're brave, kid!"
Randi looked at them and giggled. "Why? It didn't hurt."
"It didn't?" Harry queried.
"No. Professor Snape knows how to give shots painlessly." The Slytherin replied.
"That's cool!" Dante said. "Hey, what kind of allergy do you have?"
"Uh, I'm allergic to bees and wasps. And if they sting me . . .I could die unless someone gives me a counterdraft in time."
"That just sucks majorly," Dante replied.
"But the Anti-Allergen injection grants me immunity for a month. Then I need to get another one." Randi told them. "So it could be worse. Muggles need to carry Epipens on them and use them once they get stung so our way is better." She glanced at Severus. "But maybe someday . . . I could make a draft that lasts longer than a month. Would that be possible, professor?"
"Yes . . . if you were to dedicate yourself to research and experimentation, Miss Cummings," Severus said.
"I would, sir! I want to become a Healer," the girl said eagerly.
"If you keep your focus throughout school, you may yet realize that ambition," her Head pointed out. "However, now let us go and eat breakfast, or else all you will be doing is falling asleep in class."
The three students, Skull, and his offspring all followed Snape out the door and down to the hall.
As they passed the Slytherin portrait hole, they were joined by Draco, who had forgotten his bookbag and gone back to retrieve it. He fell in step beside Harry, who lagged a bit behind the others. "Morning, Draco."
"I hate mornings," muttered the other. "Bloody nuisance!" Then he blinked as he saw three ravens flying above Snape. "Merlin's starry robe! It's Skull! And . . . who are they?"
"Skull's children," Harry answered. "Some of them, anyway. They are Loki and Calypso, or Callie, as she prefers to be called."
Draco smiled. "Brilliant! I can't wait to meet them." He glanced at his Head, who was walking swiftly before them, along with Dante and the smaller first-year, Randi Cummings. Then he whispered behind a hand, "So . . . did he paddle you for that crazy stunt you, Dante, and Weasley pulled with the flying car?"
Harry flushed. "Umm . . . yes and no."
"What's that mean?"
Harry sighed. "It means, no he didn't use the paddle but yes, he did spank me."
Draco winced.
"But I deserved it for being dumb and risking my neck." Harry admitted. "He also suspended me from Quidditch practice and put me on restriction for two weeks."
"That's awful!" Draco commiserated. "He do the same to your cousin there?" He jerked his chin at Dante.
"Kind of. Dante's too old to spank, so he took away his Hogsmeade privileges for a month. Other then that, yes. Oh, and we all had to scrub the Express and fix the damage we did to the train when we landed on top it."
"Hell, it sounds like how he punished you for the Pendragon," Draco sighed.
"Almost. But since I didn't lie about anything, I didn't lose his trust," Harry said. "So that's one good thing."
"If you say so, Snape," Draco snorted. By then they had reached the hall. "Same table as usual?" he asked the Gryffindor.
"Yeah. Why change it now?" Harry replied.
The two made their way to a table halfway in between both their House tables, where their friends waited for them.
"Harry!" cried Ron excitedly. "Skull's back! With his fledglings. Did you see them?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Weasley? You think Harry's blind or something? Of course he's seen them. He lives with Snape!"
"I know that, Malfoy!" Ron growled. "But they could have come home when Harry was asleep or something."
"They didn't," Harry assured his friend.
"What are their names?" asked Hermione, her eyes shining.
"Can they talk like Skull?" Daphne wanted to know.
"Yes, and I think Skull wants to introduce you to them himself," Dante replied. "After they meet Dumbledore and the teachers."
"Can't wait!" Neville said happily.
"Me either!' Blaise said eagerly.
Up at the staff table, Severus had sat down in his usual place, with Skull perched on the back of his chair, and Loki and Callie perched on the chair arms, trilling curiously as they glanced about the hall.
Minerva peered at the two younger ravens with interest. "Why, Skull, you've come home!" she greeted the familiar. "Are these your fledglings?"
"Indeed, O Queen of Cats," Skull purred, bowing slightly. "May I introduce my fledglings? The one on the left is my son Loki and the one on the right my daughter, Calypso."
"Callie," spoke up the fledgling, turning to see McGonagall. "Pleased to meet you."
"And you also. My, what pretty markings you have!" Minerva crooned. "It looks like jewelry!"
"Thank you," Callie preened.
"And you are handsome too, Loki," Minerva assured him. "My name is Minerva McGonagall."
Loki bobbed his head and murmured, "A pleasure, Professor. What do you teach?"
"I am the Transfiguration professor," she explained.
"She can also become a cat, fledgling," Skull hissed.
"Really? Ghost can become a raven, like us," Loki told her. He peered at Severus. "Can you shift too, Sev?"
"No. I have not studied on becoming an Animagi. I have been too busy with other duties," the Potions Master replied.
"How marvelous, Severus!" Dumbledore called from the head of the table. "Congratulations, Skull!"
"Thank you," Skull cawed. "These are my two youngest, the older three are with their mother back in South Dakota."
He abruptly took wing and flew down in front of the Headmaster, who grinned and pulled a handful of sherbert lemons out of his pocket. "Lemon drop?"
"Don't mind if I do," Skull cawed and gently took one.
A curious Callie and Loki also flew over, and Dumbledore gave them some also.
Severus rolled his eyes. "Wonderful, Albus!" he groaned to himself. "Corrupt them with candy! You sly old fox! I ought to send them to you when they are flying off the wall at midnight because of all the sugar."
Minerva snorted. "That wouldn't bother him any, Severus. He's bouncing off walls too by that time."
Severus bit back a sigh and then tapped the side of his plate, requesting some bacon, eggs, and crispy potatoes, along with strong coffee with a sugar and some cream.
Lena, next to him, was eating a ham and cheese omelet with a side of potatoes with onions and tomatoes as well as coffee. "You seem happy today, Sev," she greeted the Potions Master. "I'll bet you're glad Skull has come home."
Severus nodded, sipping his coffee. "Yes. I did miss the rascal. Though now it's like mischief tripled with his two fledglings."
Lena giggled. "You'll manage, Sev. You do a great job with Harry and Dante."
The professor raised an eyebrow. "Do you truly think so? Some days . . . I'm not so sure."
Lena smiled at him warmly. "I think every parent feels like that at some point. But I truly think that you are the best person to raise Harry and Dante also. You understand and love them best, and that's what counts."
Severus dipped his head and felt a pleased glow deep within. "Thank you, Lena," he murmured.
Then he refocused on his familiar and the fledglings, who were greeting Flitwick, making the Charms professor chuckle.
Further down the table, Sinistra, Trelawney, Vector, and Burbage were speaking quietly to each other while Lockhart, still without his voice, used notecards to communicate.
Loki looked at Lockhart then at the cards when he got an idea and he nudged his sibling.
"Care to make some mischief, Sister?" Loki whispered.
"What do you have in mind, Brother?" Callie whispered.
"Father said that golden dressed one has been hexed so he can no long ramble on about himself."
"So?!"
"Well, what if we mess with his notecards?!"
"Oh, I do like that idea!" she chirped and they flew over to Lockhart. He looked at them as they hopped on the table and he smiled. Loki winked at his sister as they playfully pecked at the notecards and Lockhart frowned. He swept his hands to make them go away, but they flew into the air and he growled.
"Oh, leave them alone." Trelawney said while Loki pulled a few of the notecards out of the pile and he tossed the notecards onto the table.
Lockhart frowned as he retrieved the notecards, but Callie pulled out some more notecards and he growled louder.
"This is fun," Callie said as Loki cawed a laugh.
Lockhart swatted at them as they pulled out notecards, placed some of the notecards back in the pile in the wrong place and Trelawney, Vector, Sinistra and Burbage snickered.
"Enough!" Skull cawed and the fledglings flew to him. "What are you up to?"
"Just playing," Loki said while he watched Lockhart tapping the notecards on the table.
"Yes, we're playing," Callie said.
Severus looked at the fledglings as he wondered what they had done and he sighed, taking a long sip of coffee.
Lockhart held up a notecard that read, "I say, does anyone know where-" and then grabbed another from the second pile and held it up. "-my brain went?"
"Afraid not, old boy!" Charity said her eyes glittering with mirth.
Her colleagues burst out laughing.
Lockhart was utterly flummoxed. He held up another card. "What? Where is it?"
"Gone! Gone! Gone!" squawked the two fledglings.
Lockhart turned to Sinistra and asked, "Have you seen it?" with another card.
The Astronomy professor shook her head, giggling behind her napkin.
The Defense professor's blue eyes flashed in indignation. He was not used to being the butt of a joke, only adoration.
He picked up the second pile as he looked through them and his eyes widened.
"Someone has mixed up my notes!" he thought and he tried to get the notecards back in the right order.
"It appears someone's lost for words," Burbage said and the others broke out laughing.
"What a pity," Severus muttered, winking at Lena.
The library witch smirked.
Lockhart pouted, looking like a small child who has lost a sweet. This is ridiculous! he glowered at the notecards as if they had personally offended him.
Skull cocked his head at the golden-haired man. "You look like you've swallowed a vomit-flavored Bertie Botts bean, fellow!"
Loki and Callie tweeted a laugh while Lockhart looked at them then he stood, pointing a finger at them.
"What about my fledglings?!" Skull asked.
Lockhart gestured to the cards and back to the two ravens.
"Maybe he's trying to fly without wings?" Loki speculated.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Oh dear!"
"Now that I'd like to see!" Flitwick giggled.
"Look, I can show you how it's done!" Callie trilled and took off into the air, soaring above Lockhart's head.
He swatted at the small raven while Loki hopped over to the notecards and he switched some of the cards on the first pile.
"Do not harm my fledgling!" Skull cawed and Callie flew to Dumbledore, landing on his head.
"It is alright, Little One," Dumbledore said and Callie hopped onto his wrist.
Sighing, Lockhart looked at the notecards and he neatly stacked them.
Skull stalked over to Lockhart and hissed, "Touch a feather on their heads and you will deal with me, Goldenrod!"
Lockhart's eyes widened. He was now being threatened by a raven?! Him!?
Skull's crest stood up on his head like horns and he glared at the wizard warningly.
Severus frowned over at Lockhart. "Do be careful, Lockhart. Skullduggery's beak is very sharp."
Lockhart nodded when he tapped the notecards on the table and Skull gave him a warning look before flying back t Severus.
"I think he'll behave himself now," the Potions Master soothed his agitated familiar.
"He'd better! Or else I'm going to have a nice eye appetizer!" the raven hissed, clicking his beak.
Severus reached up and stroked Skull's chest and the raven purred happily.
Meanwhile, Loki and Callie flew over to where Dante, Harry, and their friends were sitting and eating breakfast. "Hello!" Loki sang. "Who are your friends, Harry?"
Harry grinned and scratched the raven on the head. "Hello, Loki. These are my best mates. Ron, Hermione, Neville, Draco, Blaise, and Daphne. You already know Dante."
"Of course!" Callie warbled.
"Pleased to meet you!" Hermione said and held out a piece of bacon for Loki.
The raven delicately took it from her. "Thanks!"
"Here," Daphne offered Callie some sausage from her plate.
"Yum! Sage sausage!" trilled the female raven.
"Wow! You know herbs?" the Slytherin witch cried, amazed.
"Yes. My mama knew herbs from living in the forest with her wizard, Ghost," Callie told her.
"We met him," Draco said. "He taught Harry about Traveling."
Dante sighed longingly. "I wish I had met him."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "You never have?"
Dante shook his head. "No. If Ghost ever came to New York, I never knew about it." He also figured that the shaman might have kept away from Sulla, give that the elder Prince was not very welcoming to those of mixed blood. Maybe if I'd stayed in Wyoming with Eagle Crest I might have met him, but that's water under the bridge now.
"Maybe I could convince him to visit," Harry suggested. "Then you could talk with him. He's brilliant. And easy to talk to."
"That's good to know," his cousin murmured, then went back to slowly eating his breakfast sandwich and crispy potatoes. Inbetween bites, he scribbled on a parchment and then passed it to Harry.
Harry glanced at it and saw the following message: Couldn't identify the feather or the fur with the compendium—resembled too many creatures pictured or none of them. So we need to brew the potion. Meet me in the potions lab after supper. I'll ask Severus if I can brew in there.
Harry nodded. He just hoped the potion worked. Something told him they would need to know what kind of creature was stalking him soon.
Suddenly, the Weasley twins joined them at their table. "Hey, Harry. Introduce us to our feathered brother's fledglings. We'd love to meet other pranksters in feathers!"
"Fred, George, meet Loki and Calypso," Harry grinned, gesturing at the ravens.
"Callie," Skull's daughter corrected. She bowed with her wings spread. "Papa told us about you. He said you two were the best pranksters in Hogwarts!"
"Wow! That's quite a—" began Fred.
"—recommendation from old Skull!" George laughed. "And we've earned it—if I do say so myself!"
"Our motto is to knock 'em dead with laughter," Fred smirked, reaching out a hand to stroke Loki.
"Really? I thought it was see how many times you could get detention in one term," sneered Craven, rising to come and see what all the fuss was about.
"You're a riot," snorted Draco, rolling his eyes.
"Shut up, you little viper!" growled the older Gryffindor. "Nobody asked you to stick your nose in, ferret boy!"
"Nobody asked you to come over here, period!" Dante growled, standing up. One hand twitched, weaving a simple countercharm.
"Watch yourself, kid!" Craven warned. "You may be the professor's pet, but I can still mop the floor with you."
"Like you did last time?" Dante sneered. "Better sit down, Crybaby, before you get in worse trouble than you did before."
Craven's eyes narrowed. "I'll show you trouble, American Reject!"
But before he could draw his wand, Callie fluttered into his face, taunting, "Nasty! Nasty boy! Don't mean a thing!"
"Oh you nasty boy!" Loki warbled. "Don't mean a thing to me!"
Dante nearly collapsed with laughter as he realized just what song the ravens were singing. "You got that right, birds!"
"Get off of me!" Craven screeched as Loki dive bombed him, snatching some hair from his head. "Oww! Hey!"
"My, your hair is really greasy! Needs some Panteen!" Loki called.
"Needs a decent haircut too, bro!" Callie squawked. "Looks like a sheepdog had a fight with a rat! And the rat won!"
Craven clenched his fists, furious. "Shut up, you flying roach! Get away from me before I hex you to the moon!"
Harry felt his temper spark. "You touch one of them, Craven, and you're going to be sent to the Hospital Wing looking like a troll just stomped you into the dirt."
"You and what army, baby Snape?" Craven snarled.
To his surprise, everyone at the table stood and Harry smiled, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You were saying?"
Craven looked like he was about to faint as he slowly backed up and Loki flew into his face.
"Boo!" Loki said, loudly, and Craven fell to his bottom.
The rest of the Gryffindors and Slytherins started laughing fit to die.
"Oi, Craven!" Flint sneered. "Did the big bad raven scare ya?"
"Aww! Poor wittle Crybaby wants his mama!" George yodeled.
"But his mama don't want him!" Dante shot back.
"Dishonor!" shrieked Callie.
"Disgrace!" Loki cawed.
Craven breathed hard and fast as humiliation tinted his cheeks and he quickly got to his feet.
"You will be sorry!" Craven shouted before he stumbled back to his seat.
Percy shook his head. "You never learn do you?"
Harry softly laughed when he saw the serious look his father was giving him and Harry sighed.
Okay, Dad, he thought and quickly sat down. The rest of his friends followed suit a few moments later.
"That was fun!" Callie said.
"We need to do this again sometime," Loki purred. Then he accepted some toast from Ron.
Daphne giggled. "Why don't you come and join us for Flying Class?"
"Yes, and you can teach Harry how to fly like a raven," teased Blaise.
"Thought your dad took away your Nimbus, Snape," Draco muttered.
"He did. But I get it back for class and for Quidditch matches."
"What is Quidditch?" Loki asked.
"Only the coolest sport ever!" Ron cried.
"Better than pranking silly humans?" Callie asked, cocking her head.
"Almost!" Fred laughed. "C'mere, sister and we'll tell you."
As the twins explained Quidditch to the fledglings, Harry finished his breakfast and went up to the staff table to remind Severus that he needed the Nimbus 2000 back for class.
He waited until the professor was finished speaking to Lena about a book on experimental potions before he said, "Uh, Dad? I need to talk to you for a minute."
Severus turned to look at his son. "What is it, Harry?"
"I have Flying Class and I need my broom, sir."
"Right." Snape waved his wand and Harry's Nimbus soared into his hand. "Here. Once class is over, it will return to my office."
"Yes, sir. I'll see you later." Harry took his broom and hopped off the dais, rejoining his friends, who were in the same class as he was, all except Dante, who had Defense with Severus next.
Lena looked puzzled. "Are you keeping an eye on Harry's broom, Sev?"
"In a manner of speaking, He's lost his flying privileges until next week." Severus told her. "Punishment for that flying car stunt he pulled."
"I heard about that. Wasn't it his cousin who was flying?"
"Yes. Dante was flying the car, but Harry was just as guilty of doing something he knew was wrong," Snape said. "So I took away his broom for two weeks. He's only given it back for class and in Quidditch matches."
Lena nodded as she sipped some tea and she placed the teacup on the saucer.
"Thank Merlin for that, Severus!" McGonagall said.
"I'd hardly deprive you of your star Seeker." Snape replied. "Especially not when I have a new Seeker of my own team to train."
"Oh? I'd heard Thorne left to play for the Wasps early," the Transfiguration professor replied. "Who did you replace him with?"
"Malfoy," answered Snape.
"Malfoy?!"
Severus sighed. "Lucius insisted. He was not my first choice, but . . . , you know what Lucius is like when he feels slighted." He grimaced. He did not say that he feared what the older Malfoy might do to Draco if he didn't make the House team.
"Is Draco not a good flyer?" Lena asked, puzzled.
"He flies well, but usually my Seekers are third years or older." Severus told her. "Most of my House team are older students."
"Because they are bigger, stronger, and know more magic?" she guessed.
"Exactly," Snape said, pleased at her astuteness. "I have not informed Draco yet. But I shall tell Flint to do so tonight after supper."
"I hope he appreciates the honor."
"I will make sure he does," the Head of Slytherin stated. He did not say that Lucius, consummate conniving businessman that he was, had sweetened his demand by buying new brooms for all of the Slytherin team. Normally, Severus would have refused such an obvious bribe, but the fact was the school brooms were so old that it was almost criminal for the students to use them for Quidditch, and they desperately needed new ones, only the Board refused to give money for them to be replaced. Unless one of them wanted something.
He wondered if Narcissa had anything to do with Lucius sudden generosity. For she knew what a dangerous sport Quidditch was, and would want Draco on a broom that was safe. She also would consider the other students as well.
He recalled her giving a generous donation to the library, saying that it was money well spent. This might be more of the same.
Severus rose. "Until this afternoon, ladies. I have Defense to teach." He spun, robes billowing, and Skull riding on his shoulder.
Meanwhile, Harry and his classmates made their way on to the training grounds, where Madam Hooch held Flying Class. The two fledglings flew above them.
"Can you shift, Harry?" asked Loki.
"No. But I can fly with this." He indicated his broom.
Harry held his Nimbus under one arm, and discussed the Magpies with Draco. Daphne walked on his other side, and he noticed the dark-haired girl seemed a bit pale and nervous.
"You okay, Greengrass?"
"Uh . . . fine!" she said brightly, but her eyes looked about worriedly.
She went to the rack where the school brooms were and picked one up, frowning. Her hand trembled slightly and she wiped it on her robes.
Harry eyed her in concern.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Harry asked in a soft voice.
Daphne bit on her lower lip as she tried to decide if she should be honest with Harry and she sighed.
"Promise you will not tell a soul?" she whispered.
"Swear on my mum's grave," Harry whispered back.
Daphne looked at the others to see if anyone was listening or watching them then she nodded.
"I am afraid of heights," she confessed. She waited for Harry to laugh or be mean to her, but Harry just looked at her.
"I kind of figured that was it. Why? Did you have an accident on a broom or something?"
"When I was nine, I was trying out a move on my cousin's broom. I didn't realize it was so fast, and when I did the slingshot around a tree, I hit the tail end and flipped over. I landed on the ground and broke my arm and my wrist. After that, I was always afraid whenever I mounted a broom."
Harry nodded as he tried to figure what to say next and Daphne looked ashamed.
"I know how that is. After my broom got hexed last year . . . I was kind of scared to fly too. Until my dad got me the Nimbus with all the safety charms in it. Then I felt safe again and I could fly like always."
"I wish my broom had safety charms," she said. Daphne flushed. "But . . . I can't tell anyone or else they'd think I was a coward."
"You're not," Harry hissed. "Let me talk to my dad. He might be able to help."
"Oh, Harry! Thank you!"
Harry was startled when Daphne hugged him and he blushed.
"Uh... You're welcome," Harry said.
"Aww . . . how sweet!" Callie warbled. The ravens perched on some crenallations to watch the show.
"Good morning, class!" greeted Hooch. "Today we will be practicing fast sprints. You can partner with another student for this exercise."
Harry normally would have chosen Ron or Blaise or Draco to partner with, but this time he said, "I'll be your partner, Daphne."
"Are you sure?" Daphne asked and he nodded.
They headed out to the field as Hooch looked at her students and her yellow eyes shimmered.
"Positive," Harry reassured her.
"But . . . you're going to outfly me," she reminded him.
"It doesn't matter," he said quietly. "I'll make sure you don't fall."
Hooch had noticed oddly enough that Harry, one of her best flyers, was partnered with Daphne, who was one of her most awkward ones. But she said nothing.
Daphne nodded as they stood next to their brooms and Hooch clapped her hands.
"Summon your brooms and then mount."
Daphne swallowed the lump in her throat as she summoned her broom to her hand and she looked at Harry.
Nodding, Harry summoned his broom into his hand and they mounted their brooms.
"Ready?" he smiled at her encouragingly. "Just take a deep breath and follow me. Keep your eyes on me, okay?"
"Okay." She kicked off and her broom hovered above the ground. Don't look down, Greengrass. Just focus on Harry, she reminded herself. Her stomach was churning.
Hooch noticed Daphne's shaky launch as she frowned, but she didn't say a word.
Harry rose effortlessly beside her. "You're doing okay, Daphne," he murmured. "Now relax and wait till Hooch gives the signal to fly."
Nodding, Daphne held tightly onto the broom and Harry gave her a reassuring smile.
Hooch blew her whistle and the pairs sped off into the sky.
Daphne felt her stomach lurching as she followed Harry and her hands shook slightly.
Oh Merlin! I just want to puke . . . please please please let me fly and not embarrass myself . . . she prayed, her peridot eyes bright in her chalk-white face.
"Okay?" he asked and she nodded.
They started to catch up with the others as she sighed and he moved back to fly next to her.
"Hey. Here's a little trick. Don't think about how scared you are. Think about something that makes you happy-like-like brewing potions. That's one of the most difficult subjects at school. And if you can do that, then this is a piece of cake."
Daphne nodded as she thought about the first time she had correctly made a sleep potion and Snape had barely given her a smile.
Her wobbly flight suddenly evened out as she quit gripping her broom so hard and relaxed ever so slightly.
Hooch had been keeping an eye on Daphne and Harry when she noticed the change in Daphne's flight pattern and she nodded.
"Well done," Hooch whispered.
"How do you feel now?" Harry called.
"Better," the Slytherin replied, and it was true.
"Good! Now let's go a bit faster," he urged and sped up a notch.
Daphne's heart slammed in her chest as she sped up and she smiled.
"I'm doing it," she said.
"See? Soon you'll be chasing a Snitch!" Harry praised.
"I don't think I'm ready for that," Daphne said with a small giggle.
Suddenly the ravens joined them in the air.
"Look! It's the outstanding magnificent Loki!" shrilled Skull's son, flying rings about Harry. "Catch me if you can!"
Laughing, Harry chased the raven for a bit.
Callie flew beside Daphne, muttering, "Relax, girl! Flying is like breathing—don't think, just do!"
Daphne smiled shakily at the raven and felt herself relax even more as Callie sang a song about Coyote in Mesquakie.
By the time they had completed a circuit of the field, Daphne was much more relaxed on her broom. She was still scared, but not to the point of feeling like she was going to lose her breakfast.
"You did it!" Harry murmured. "Now you just need to practice. And I'll see if my dad can't put some safety charms on your broom so you feel safer in the air."
Daphne wiped her forehead. "That would be wicked! Do you think he will?"
"Yeah, I think so," he said.
The two ravens bid them goodbye and flew off to see Hagrid.
Harry and Daphne landed as Hooch looked at her students and she arched her eyebrows.
"Excellent," Hooch said. She gave out points to each house when she looked at Harry and she smiled. "I am giving an extra twenty points to Gryffindor for Harry Potter-Snape's helping his partner overcome what appears to be a fear of heights. Congratulations!"
Harry and Daphne's mouths dropped open and Ron and the others cheered.
"I didn't think she noticed!" Daphne exclaimed.
They looked at Hooch as she walked to them and she gave Harry a wink.
"Well done, Potter-Snape. I will be telling your father about this," Hooch said then she looked at Daphne. "As for you, Miss Greengrass. There is no shame in admitting to me that you have a problem. I know many students who have been afraid of heights and I have special classes to aide them in learning how to overcome it."
"Yes, Madam Hooch," Daphne said with a nod.
She smiled shyly at Harry. "Thanks for helping me."
"Anytime, Daphne," he replied, then he sighed as his broom flickered and vanished, sent back to Snape's office with a Fetching Charm.
"Harry, where did your broom go?" the Slytherin asked as they walked back inside.
"Back to Dad's office. I'm still on restriction," he sighed.
"But didn't Hooch say she was going to tell him about you helping me?"
"Yeah, she did."
"Well. then maybe he'll let you off for good behavior." she said hopefully.
"We'll see," he said and they headed for their next class.
Severus was in his office grading papers when Rolanda tapped on his door. "Come in," he called upon seeing his colleague's name spelled out above the archway.
"Hello, Severus," she greeted him.
"Rolanda. What can I do for you?"
"I need to speak to you about your son."
"Merlin, what did he do now?"
"Oh, don't be so glum. He isn't in trouble."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "I'm shocked," he teased.
Rolanda laughed as she sat down on the chair in front of his desk and he waited for her to say something.
Skull flew into the room. "Hey, Sev. You taking a break before your eyes cross yet?"
"In a minute," his wizard replied. "What are your fledglings up to?"
"Out and about with Hagrid," the raven answered, settling on Snape's desk. "Madam Hawkeye! Come to pick Sev's brain about Quidditch?"
"No, I am here to speak about Harry," she said and Skull ruffled his feathers.
"What did the boy do now?"
Hooch sighed. "You are as bad as your master!"
"Don't keep me in suspense," drawled Snape. "Tell me what happened."
Rolanda cleared her throat. "Today in class, I noticed that Harry was flying with Daphne Greengrass. Miss Greengrass happens to be afraid of heights, but didn't tell me. Instead she told Harry, and he took it upon himself to help her while they performed fast sprints today. I watched them and his encouragement caused Greengrass to partially overcome her fear. It was quite an amazing thing. You ought to be proud of the boy, Severus."
A pleased light came into Snape's eyes. "I am quite glad to hear you say that. When you first came in here I thought it was to tell me he had gotten detention for some stupid stunt on his broom."
"See, Sev? He can be taught!" Skull chuckled.
"Maybe you ought to take notes," his wizard smirked.
Skull snorted as he ruffled his feathers and Snape and Hooch laughed.
"He was very patient with her, Severus. It made me consider he would be a good assistant coach when he was older." Rolanda mused.
"I believe he would like that idea."
"Next year, I will ask him. With your permission, of course."
"Granted. So long as he keeps his grades up," his father agreed.
"Naturally. I know what a dragon you are about marks," Hooch remarked. "You are one of the few professors to insist that your Quidditch players maintain academic standards besides Filius."
"He is a stickler," Skull agreed.
Snape rolled his eyes. "Hush, Skullduggery."
"Well, I shall let you get back to your grading," Rolanda smirked. "I know it's the highlight of your morning."
"Yes, I look forward to it as much as I do listening to Lockhart blathering on about his thousand Galleon smile making vampires swoon."
"Severus, please! That man makes me want to drop him off the Astronomy Tower without a broom!" groaned Hooch.
Skull cawed a laugh as Hooch left the room and she closed the door behind her.
"So if Harry's been a good boy does that mean you're going to give him a Get Out of Jail Free card?" queried the raven, preening Snape's hair.
Severus glanced at the Nimbus leaning against a corner behind his desk. "Well . . ."
"The bran-boy shows much responsibility, Sev."
Severus considered. "True. Very well, Skull. Since he has displayed maturity and a willingness to accept his punishment with good grace . . ."
He waved his hand and the Nimbus vanished.
Harry was so astonished to see his broom hanging on the wall in his dorm that for a moment he thought he was seeing things.
"What the—?" His jaw almost hit the floor.
He walked to the broom when he reached out and lifted it off the hooks.
As he did so, Skull flew in the window.
"Surprise!" Skull said.
"I don't..." Harry said when he remembered what Hooch said and he smiled.
Thanks, Dad, Harry thought, clutching his raven amulet in his fist. He knew Snape had enchanted it not just for protection, but for a limited kind of mindspeaking also, after what had happened last year with Marlene kidnapping him.
You're welcome. Just make sure you do not lose the privilege again, Snape sent.
I promise.
Madam Hooch told me what you did today with Miss Greengrass. You showed maturity, compassion, and responsibility. I'm proud of you, son.
Harry felt joy surge through him at those words, which he had never heard from his relatives. To hear it now, especially from Severus, made him feel as if he had just won the Quidditch Cup.
He grinned in delight.
Really? That's. . . umm. . . He couldn't find the words to express what he felt so he simply sent his happiness down the link to his father. He hoped Severus could sense it.
In his office, Snape smiled as he graded.
Harry caressed his broom and thought again about telling Severus about the mysterious voice. Something told him that keeping such a thing from his father was not a good idea. I'll tell him tonight. After supper. Then maybe he can help brew the potion. That made him feel ten times better. He also recalled Snape telling him repeatedly that it was not his job to save the world or the school, but to allow the adults to handle problems. Okay, I'll take that advice for once. Because I really don't want to have to deal with this on my own . . . if there is something dangerous out there hunting me. Or anyone else.
A/N: So what do you think will happen next?