The Raven Mage

Chapter Five: First Day

"Urgh," Ron muttered as he looked over their schedule. "We've got Defense Against the Dark Arts first thing this morning."

Harry sighed and shook his head, grimacing, "Yeah, I'll bet that'll be a pleasure. Why Dumbledore's let Snape take the DADA position is beyond me." It was strange to think he used to love that class. But last year with Umbridge had been torture. He hated to imagine what kind of class it would be with Snape teaching it. He gulped down the rest of his orange juice and stood. "We should probably head up. You know Snape'll be handing out week long detentions to anyone a second late."

Ron nodded and stuffed the last of his eggs in his mouth. "Where's Hermione?" he asked, mouth still rather full as he stood.

"She was still in the common room when I last saw her," Harry said. "She said something about a new book she wanted to read."

"Huh." They trudged up the stairs to the classroom. "Sounds like Hermione alright."

Harry nodded as they entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. For the sixth time in Harry's Hogwarts career, it looked different. Snape had drawn all the curtains, giving the room a dark and inhospitable atmosphere. Harry and Ron quickly spotted Hermione sitting near the front, her new book in front of her, and went to join her. Ron sat next to Hermione and Harry took the seat beside him, putting him by the aisle. It was only after he sat down that he saw that someone was sitting at the table next to theirs. A shade of black hair hid her face from sight, her head was bowed over a book just as Hermione's was. Harry couldn't help but watch her a minute.

More students wandered into the room as the minutes passed. It wasn't until the class was about to begin that Malfoy and his cohorts walked in. When Malfoy reached the first table, Harry heard him murmur a greeting to the black-haired girl. The girl lifted her head and brush back the hair from her face. Harry started slightly when he recognized her as the girl they'd seen by the carriages the other day. Her eyes seemed to absorb the light from the candles scattered around the room and reflect it back three-fold.

It was then that Snape entered the room and strode to the front. "Kindly put away your books and pay attention," he snapped at the class. Hermione stuffed her book into her bag, but the black haired girl simply closed hers and rested clasped hands on it.

"You have had five different teachers in this subject," Snape said, turning to face them. "Therefore your education thus far is scattered and petty. Rest assured, however, that this teacher will bring your pathetic knowledge to full command."

Harry felt his gut tighten in apprehension. He shared a rather anxious gaze with Ron and turned his full attention back to Snape.

"Nonverbal spells are necessary in defending yourself from fellow wizards," Snape continued, pacing. "But for most of you, learning them will not be the walk in the park your previous classes have been. Pair up. The first partner will attempt to jinx the other silently and the other will attempt to block it in equal silence."

******

Two hours later, Harry walked out of the classroom with a headache he could have never imagined into existence. So far, only Hermione had managed to block a curse with a silent counter-jinx. Snape had, of course, disregarded this.

"Oy, Potter!"

Harry tensed and turned. Malfoy stood with Crabbe and Goyle at his back at the top of the stairs that Harry had been going down. "What do you want?" Harry demanded.

"Nothing," Malfoy stated, starting down the steps. "I was just wondering if you'd gotten a new dog over the summer."

Harry felt a blaze of white-hot rage surge through him. He drew his wand out and held it at the ready. "Shut up, Malfoy."

Malfoy already had his wand out. "Like I told you last term, Potter; No one lands my father in prison. This is nothing compared to what you've got coming to you. You'll end up just like that little Animagus scum." He uttered a rather nasty curse, creating a flash of orange-red light. Harry threw up a shield charm on instinct and nearly laughed at Malfoy's surprised face. Malfoy sneered unpleasantly and opened his mouth to try again.

"Draco!" The voice was as sharp and precise as a knife. Malfoy paled and let his arm fall to his side. Harry spun around to see the black-haired girl standing a few feet behind him. Her face was half covered by her hair, but it was clear that she wasn't at all pleased. She glanced at Harry when he turned, but her attention was back on Malfoy in a second.

Malfoy rushed down the rest of the stairs and past Harry to stand by the girl's side. "Raven, I..."

"You promised to take me to see the lake, Draco," Raven said softly. Her voice seemed very controlled.

"Oh," Malfoy seemed at a loss for a moment. "Right, sorry." He looked up at Crabbe and Goyle and jerked his head towards the entrance hall. When they were halfway down the hall, Malfoy took Raven's hand and led her after them. It might have been Harry's imagination, but he could have sworn he saw Raven give him the slightest nod.

****

"What the hell was that?" Malfoy demanded as he and Raven crossed the grounds. "Why did you protect Potter?"

"I wasn't protecting Potter," Raven snapped at him, "I was protecting you." She seemed unusually testy.

Malfoy stopped in his tracks. "I've got nothing to fear from Potter. I could have mopped the floor with him if you hadn't stepped in!"

"And what happens when the Dark Lord hears word that you've 'inadvertently' killed his most prized prey in a stupid school tiff?" Raven asked, turning to him. "The one person whose life belongs only to Him?" She scoffed at the look of shock and understanding that flashed across Malfoy's face and walked away from him.

*****

Harry gave the Fat Lady the password and entered the Gryffindor common room. Hermione had started in on their homework load already and Ron was dozing in a chair by the fireplace.

Harry sat by Hermione and pulled out his History of Magic homework. "How long has Ron been out?" he asked, nodding to his best friend's sleeping form.

"Oh, a while now," Hermione said, only glancing up. "I was telling him about the book I found over the summer and he just keeled over."

Harry laughed, but Hermione frowned at him. "The book isn't that bad, Harry. It was actually very interesting. Even you'd like it. Here." She pushed a rather heavy book at him. Harry glanced at the title and had to admit it sounded interesting. There Are More Than Muggles Among Us.

"What exactly is it about?" Harry asked.

Hermione brightened. "Oh, it's wonderful. It's mostly about part-humans, like hags, vampires, and such. But there's a small section on something called a...oh, never mind. It's better to just read it."

"Sure." Harry stuffed the book into his bag and went back to his homework. After a moment, though, he set down his quill and looked at Hermione, "Have you noticed the new girl in Slytherin?"

"Yeah, I have," she replied, frowning slightly. "I've certainly never seen her before this year. I thought it was rather odd. Maybe she transferred from a foreign school over the summer?"

"I don't think so," Harry said, thinking. "She doesn't have an accent."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "You've talked to her?"

"No," Harry said, "but I heard her speak." He quickly recounted the scene on the staircase.

Hermione's brow creased as she tried to puzzle it out. "It...sounds like she was protecting you."

"I know, but why? And why is Malfoy treating her like glass? He looked worried that she was upset with him," Harry recalled. "Like he's afraid of her."

"Maybe he is," Hermione said. "But why?"

"I have no idea," Harry said, still frowning, "But, you know, there's something almost familiar about her..."

*****

Despite the roaring fire in the fireplace, the Slytherin common room felt oddly cold. Most of the Slytherins had escaped to the dorms to seek refuge under warm blankets, but Raven remained by the fireplace, a book in her lap. Malfoy was also braving the cold, sitting on the floor right by the fire and keeping an eye on Raven, as if just waiting for her to need something.

"You can relax a little, Draco," Raven said after a period of silence. "I don't need you waiting on my every breath, you know." She wasn't as snappish as she had been earlier after the incident on the stairs, but there was still a slight coolness to her tone.

"Maybe I like waiting on your every breath," Malfoy said with a slight smirk. It was getting easier to unwind around her, but the memory of the Dark Lord's warning still echoed through his mind.

Raven smiled and laughter glittered in her crystal eyes though none passed through her lips. She closed her book and set it aside. "And what would you do if I were to hold my breath?" she asked him.

"Hold mine."

Raven raised a delicate eyebrow as Draco blushed slightly at his own words.

They both started when they heard the common room door open and close. Professor Snape came out of the shadows right after. "Good evening, Raven," he said. "I thought it would be best to check on you and see how your first day went."

"It went just fine," Raven told him. "No one seems suspicious about my story and the teachers already love me. This will be easier than I thought."

Draco looked from Raven to Snape and then got to his feet. "I think I'll head to bed," he said. "See you in the morning, Raven. Night, Professor." He nodded to the both of them and then disappeared into the boys' dormitory. Raven watched him leave and then sighed.

"He likes me, doesn't he?" she asked softly.

"Of course he does," Snape said, taking a seat near her. "You're lovely, intelligent, and let's not forget powerful. It would take a very strong man not to fall for you. A boy your own age wouldn't have a chance. Why, you've even enchanted the Dark Lord. I've never seen him so protective of a follower."

Raven's face seemed to fall. She turned her eyes to the fire and let out a heavy breath. Snape raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright, Raven?"

"I'm fine," she said. "Just...just thinking."

Snape simply watched her face for a moment. It was smooth and emotionless as a mask, but her eyes said more than words ever could. Some hidden worry that she didn't want to share.... "Raven," he said softly, "if there is something wrong..."

"Nothing's wrong," she said quickly. She caught his look of disbelief and smirked. "Seriously, I just got lost in thought. I've had a busy day with plenty to mull over." She drummed her fingers on the arm of the chair and sighed lightly. "I think I'd better go to bed as well."

"Good idea," Snape stood and bowed his head to her. "Sleep well, Raven."

She threw him another smirk. "Me? Sleep well? You must be joking."

Snape rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Fine. Fine. I'll see you in the morning, then. Goodnight, Raven."

"Goodnight, Professor." She kept her light manner until she heard the door close behind him. Her face then fell and she put a hand to her forehead, her brow lined in deep thought and unease.