Rebirth

Rebirth

Chapter 14: The Swan Room

"Geno. Geno, wake up!"

Geno opened her eyes with some difficulty. It took her a while to recognize her surroundings, and to realize that she was lying on her bed, and that the anxious people surrounding her were Dulce, Half-Pint and Aenor.

"Geno, you overslept," Dulce said.

"I did?" Geno mumbled. She felt like she had spent the entire night awake, and her whole body was sore - not to mention that her mind was a blur right now.

"Is she always this lazy?" Aenor asked, with his usual contempt.

"Shut up, birdbrain," was Dulce's sharp reply, before turning her attention back to the still very confused Geno. "You won't believe what happened."

"What?"

"They expelled Irina!" Half-pint said in such a loud voice that Matilde jumped from his arms in surprise.

***

"I don't like it, Hector," Ventura said.

"We had to do it," Coleraine relied coldly, without taking his eyes from the view outside.

"It still doesn't sound right," she insisted. "Our obligation is to protect the students, not to cast Memory Charms on them."

"We did it for Aleixo's protection," Coleraine replied, as he turned his eyes back to the inside of the hospital wing, and to Ventura, who was sitting on a stool, applying a purplish liquid on her own throat with a damp cloth.

"Besides," he added, "those were Dumbledore's instructions."

Ventura nodded. "Do you think she will be all right?" she asked.

"Yes," Coleraine replied. "She will obviously feel a bit confused when she wakes up, but she'll recover quickly. I made sure that the only memories that were removed were those about last night."

"Explain to me again why he thought this was the only choice," Ventura said with a sigh.

"Like you said, Professor - for her own protection. And it will help us to keep the cover-up story consistent if none of the students knows what really happened tonight."

Ventura got up and approached the window. Several students were standing by the lake, at the very spot where the Cegonha 1 usually was, obviously discussing their wild theories concerning the expulsion of the Avis girl. She smiled when she saw the turquoise and red dots that were the students from Goa and Ceuta being joined by four silvery-gray ones. This meant that Genoveva Aleixo was well.

"They think the craft has already taken Petrova to her aunt's house," Coleraine said.

"Where did it actually go to?" Ventura asked.

"Dumbledore thought it was better if the body was sent to Zagalo," he replied. "He'll know what to do with it. And later, Temor and the others will be collected so that we can have an emergency meeting."

Ventura looked at him in surprise. "Temor will be here?"

"Of course. With Sirius Black running around Hogwarts, Dumbledore isn't willing to leave the school, even for this."

"Of course."

"Besides, it seems that Temor knows them," Coleraine added, pointing to the bed where Lockhart was lying. Julia Cassidy was sitting by his side, looking even paler and frailer than the previous day.

"He knows them?"

"At least, Dumbledore said he'd be delighted to see them again. I assume this means that they both knew about Lockhart all along," he added with extreme bitterness.

Ventura sighed again. She knew that Elektra had raised Coleraine to believe that he was the "savior", and learning that the title actually belonged to someone like Lockhart was certainly a shock.

"Dumbledore knows much more about this story than we ever will," she said. "But then again, he always does." She quickly tried to change the subject. "Will he be well enough to join the meeting?"

"He had internal bleeding, according to Madame Cotovia, but he'll be fully recovered by then."

This news startled Ventura, since the nurse had not informed her about Lockhart's condition. "Internal bleeding?"

"His chest," Coleraine said, coldly. "I don't know what caused it, either. I told Dumbledore about it, and he said he was expecting it. Probably one of his little secrets concerning our friend over there." He paused for some time, and then added, "I wonder if he knew about Elektra and what she did to my mother."

Ventura looked at her colleague. He tried to look as cold as always, but she could see that his eyes were puffy and red. Most probably, his tears had only dried off before she woke up.

"Hector -" she was about to begin, but he abruptly cut her off.

"Don't even say it."

After a long, uncomfortable silence, she decided to bring the conversation back to its initial subject.

"When will the meeting take place?"

"In three days' time. The Cegonha 1 will have to stop at various places, and even though some of the people will gather at a specified spot to save time, it is still a long journey."

"I better prepare things, then," she replied, looking at the bed where the headmistress was still lying. By her own instructions, the curtains were drawn shut, and only Madame Cotovia was allowed to see her. Ventura thought this was strange, but didn't object to it. "I'll instruct the elves to prepare the Swan Room."

***

At the planned date, the Cegonha 1 returned to Ingarnal during the night, when all students and remaining staff were already at their dormitories and sleeping quarters, unaware of what would be happening.

While Ventura went searching for Lockhart and Cassidy, Coleraine waited at the castle doors to meet the visitors. The first person that left the craft was a tall man, whom, from his long black hair and strange, almost centauresque features, was certainly the mysterious wizard known only as Temor. Walking right behind him were Rodrigo Zagalo and an old man with pale silvery eyes unknown to Coleraine.

The other visitors followed the trio in silence, their faces clearly displaying curiosity about the reason why they had been summoned. They all nodded to Coleraine as they entered. However, the last two people to exit the craft, a witch with a childlike face and a wizard with untidy brown hair, stopped at the door as soon as they saw Coleraine; he himself was almost unable to hide a smile as he recognized them, but managed to maintain his stern expression.

"Hector, it's so good to see you again," the witch said, her eyes glowing as she approached him.

"Octavia," he replied back. "Justin," he said, turning to the wizard and offering his hand. "I'm delighted to see the two of you as well."

At this moment, Ventura appeared.

"Is everybody else inside, Hector?" she said.

"Yes..." Coleraine tried to resume his dignified pose, which was beginning to fade. "Yes... We were about to enter."

"Are you Professor Ventura?" the witch he called Octavia asked, offering her hand to the other woman. "Octavia Tamsworth, from the Dragon institute at Etamin. And this," she added, nodding towards her companion, "is Professor Tintacle, from Lusitania Academy."

"Of course," Ventura replied, as she shook Tintacle's hand. "Professor Sampaio told me about you when she mentioned her teaching days at Lusitania. Please come in."

"What exactly is going on, Hector?" Octavia asked, with obvious nervousness, as the four of them entered the castle. "We were called at such short notice..."

"You will know everything at the meeting," he replied.

Once in the Entrance Corridor, they entered one of the very first doors on the right, which led straight into a small square room. This room had no furniture apart from a square table and twenty chairs, but a magnificent fresco portraying some swans swimming gave to it an unusual, unique beauty.

Coleraine sat on the first empty chair that he saw, and Octavia and Tintacle followed his lead. Right in front of him sat a girl in her late teens wearing Durmstrang school robes, who greeted him with a short nod. He eyed her suspiciously, since he had never seen her in his life.

As soon as everybody had taken his or her place at the table, the man known as Temor rose from his seat. To his left sat Zagalo and the old man, and to his right, Julia Cassidy and Lockhart. It was obvious from Julia's expression of puzzlement that she indeed knew Temor, and was surprised to see him again.

"If I can have your attention, please," Temor began. "Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to Ingarnal. I am certain that all of you are questioning the reason why you have been called, so a short explanation must be given.

"Even though only five of us in this room are actually Sertorians, everybody present are connected in one way or another to this specific type of witch and wizard, either by accident or choice. As such, and in view of recent events, it was decided that all of you had to be informed, and that together we had to discuss a possible course of action.

"Now, as I myself am not aware of the exact details of those recent events, I think it would be better if Professor Ventura herself explained what has happened."

He then sat, as Ventura rose. She sighed, looked around nervously, and said, "Three days ago, an Avis student was killed by the Asterlyth."

This sentence resulted in a wave of surprise from everybody else. Octavia gasped; a goblin let out what sounded like a curse; and the Durmstrang girl choked on her drink.

After everybody had resumed silence, a thin wizard in a floppy hat said in a high-pitched voice, "But... how did it get inside? I thought this school's protection had been increased since the reconstruction."

"The Asterlyth was summoned here through a spell from this book," Ventura replied, raising the black book, which stood in front of her on the table, "using an Aquaflavian Orb as an energy source."

"Who would have done such a thing?" a purple-haired witch asked.

"Elektra," Coleraine said in a very cold tone.

If the death of the student had surprised everybody, this information paralyzed them. The silence was so strong that you could hear a pin drop.

It was a male centaur who finally broke the silence.

"I'm not surprised," he said. "Elektra has always stood out negatively from the others of our kind. She displayed an unhealthy obsession for the history of the Sertorians, and the prophecies surrounding it. I have always had the feeling that one day she would make a serious mistake."

"It wasn't a mistake," Coleraine said, his voice bitter. "It was deliberate. And it wasn't the first time she has done such a thing. She -"

Zagalo cut him off. "She was involved in the murder of the dead girl's family this past Christmas, and has kidnapped a newborn Sertorian. She also murdered Larissa Coleraine twenty-three years ago."

Coleraine glared at him. He could feel everyone's eyes fixed upon him, and he hated it. The Durmstrang girl's gaze was particularly disturbing.

"This, as we must all agree, is shocking news," Temor said. "In spite of her unorthodox methods and unpleasantness, we all trusted her."

Octavia snorted in disagreement, but only Coleraine noticed. Looking at the seat next to her, he also saw Tintacle shaking his head.

"Not all of us," the centaur added, voicing what the two of them were certainly thinking.

"Nevertheless, Firenze, most of us did," Temor replied. "Anyway, knowing how useful she was as an ally, you can imagine how dangerous she might be as an enemy. We therefore need to discuss ways to protect ourselves from her, and at the same time try to locate her, so that we can save the missing child."

The conversation went on about this subject for some time, but Coleraine was in no mood to hear it. He knew that she wouldn't dare go near him - at least, not in the near future, so it all sounded pointless to him. Also, the Durmstrang girl's eyes were still fixed on him, and he felt unable to concentrate; it was as if his soul was being stripped.

Suddenly, the high-pitched voice of the floppy-hatted wizard caught his attention, and took his mind momentarily away from the girl's gaze.

"There is something I don't get... What about the Asterlyth? You said it was here in the school. Where is it now?"

It was Coleraine's time to answer. He instinctively removed a handkerchief from his robe's pocket and unfolded it, revealing the crushed body of the small black crab.

"Here it is," he said. "Dead."

Everybody's eyes widened and turned to the handkerchief on the table. Coleraine couldn't help but sigh with relief now that he felt nobody was staring at him.

"But... How..." Octavia was at a loss for words.

"How can it be dead?" the Durmstrang girl finally asked.

"Well, Miss Karinski," Temor said, rising up from his chair again, "the merit all goes to Gilderoy Lockhart."

Everybody looked at Lockhart now, finally acknowledging his presence.

"Mr. Lockhart," the purple-haired witch said, "it is indeed an honor."

Now it was Coleraine's time to suppress a snort, after seeing Lockhart's face, torn between smiling at the witch's flattery, and his utter confusion.

"Tell me," the witch continued, "how did you manage to do it?"

"I think I better answer that question instead of Mr. Lockhart," Temor said. He cleared his throat, and continued.

"I am certain you all know the story of Francisco de Ingarnal and Gwendolyn Gryffindor. What you don't know, however, is that they had succeeded in discovering a way to destroy the Asterlyth. Through a prophecy written by the seer Bandarra, Lady Gwendolyn had found, years before, that she had the ability to turn into a creature known as the Golden Lion. This creature was the only one with enough power to destroy the Asterlyth and redeem some of Sertorius' mistakes. However, her powers only manifested when she was near Francisco de Ingarnal, and since he died before she met the creature, she was powerless.

"However, the prophecy stated that the Lion would return in other lifetimes, until it could be reunited with its catalyst and fulfil its destiny. Apparently, this is what has happened."

Lockhart was perplexed with this affirmation. "Are you saying that..."

"You're the Golden Lion," Coleraine concluded. "I saw you kill the Asterlyth and then turn back to human."

"That's absurd!" Cassidy said. "Gilderoy can't be... He's just..." She paused for a while, and then turned to Temor. "What about that 'catalyst' thing you were talking about? That Francisco guy?"

"He was included in the prophecy, identified as a Silver Swan," he told her. "Francisco de Ingarnal was a Sertorian. After some training, Sertorians are able to turn into a bird, similar to a silver crow. However, Francisco's bird form was bigger, and shaped like a swan - which is why a silver swan became the symbol of Avis house."

"You didn't answer my question," she insisted. "If Gwendolyn only had powers when Francisco was near, this means that, according to that prophecy nonsense, they both had to return."

"And they did," Temor said with a smile.

It was then that something dawned on Ventura's mind.

"Of course!" she said. "Miss Cassidy, you are the Swan!"

Julia looked at her in a mix of shock and disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

"The feather that was found in your hair," Ventura continued. "I thought it was too big to be a crow's feather."

"Very well spotted, Professor," Temor said. "Dumbledore told me that Mr. Lockhart's abilities as the Lion began to manifest when he first entered Hogwarts. This could only mean that the Swan was there as well."

Julia's surprise increased even more. "Dumbledore knew?"

"He knew about the Lion, yes, but until your family was attacked by the Asterlyth and the Lion's manifestations stopped, neither of us had any idea of who the Swan could be. To be honest, we believed it might have been Dara Martin..."

For some reason, the mention of this name made Julia's expression change from surprise to anger. She got up abruptly and stormed out of the room. Instinctively, Lockhart ran after her without looking back.

"We better leave them alone for now," Temor said, sitting down. "They need some time to adjust to this news. I shall return and have a word with them one of these days. In the meantime," he added, turning to Ventura, "Dumbledore has told me to bring you the prophecy book, since he has promised to let you read it. Also... Mr. Ollivander, if you don't mind..."

He turned to the pale-eyed old wizard, who placed a wooden box on the table.

"Professor Dumbledore has told me that Miss Cassidy's wand couldn't be restored when she was transfigured back, " Ollivander said. "I was commissioned to make new wands for both her and Mr. Lockhart."

"What's wrong with Lockhart's wand?" Coleraine asked.

"It's still at Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore found it, but decided to keep it, and he believes that a new one would be more appropriate."

"But how do you know those wands are appropriate for them?" Tintacle asked.

"If the prophecy is correct about them, then it's correct about the wands," Temor said.

***

The meeting lasted for several hours, since both Temor and Zagalo wanted to discuss more about the Sertorians, and where Elektra was possibly hiding.

Finally, when dawn was about to break, the meeting was declared over. Coleraine accompanied Octavia and Tintacle as they returned to the Cegonha 1.

"Don't be afraid to write if you need anything," Octavia told him.

"I will. Give my regards to Argylle and Clolm."

"What about Richard?" she asked.

"Yeah, him too."

"And keep me updated about what is going on in the school," Tintacle said. "It's not enough to learn about it from Zagalo."

Octavia said goodbye to Coleraine, as she and Tintacle disappeared inside the craft. He was about to return towards the castle, but changed his mind and remained where he was, following the Cegonha 1 with his eyes as it took flight, and it disappeared inside the clouds.

***

Apart from the mad speculation surrounding Irina's expulsion from Ingarnal, and the fact that Elektra had mysteriously disappeared and was replaced by Ventura in the Special Studies class, the rest of the school year was rather uneventful for the Avises.

Geno had a feeling of uneasiness ever since she woke up that day, but studying for the upcoming exams had managed to fade it from her mind.

The exams themselves were not as difficult as she had expected, though she experienced some trouble with Transfiguration, when she had to repeat the exercise with the thimble.

At the end of June, a feast was held to celebrate the end of the school year. The Avises arrived at the Great Hall to find envelopes at their table.

"What's this?" Dulce asked.

"Must be our grades," Half-pint replied, grabbing quickly the envelope addressed to Hylas Thessally. A smile widened his face when he read the contents.

"I've passed!" he screeched to the others.

"Yeah, yeah, big deal," grumbled Aenor, as he finished reading his. His grades were reasonable, except for a red note saying that he would have to repeat first-year Charms.

Geno and Dulce were as happy as Half-Pint when they opened their envelopes and saw that they had also passed with good grades. Their smile faded, however, when Magda and Tulio approached the Avis table later on with almost perfect results.

"Crispim is being insufferable," Magda told them, pointing towards the Goa table, where Crispim Pinto could be seen looking even more smug than usual. Half-Pint grumbled at this.

"He's certain that he's Goa's top student, and he doesn't shut up about what the mystery prize might be," Tulio informed them.

"Mystery prize?" Dulce said, as if she was a Niffler that had just spotted something shiny. "What mystery prize?"

"Don't you remember?" Tulio said, incredulous. "At the end of the school year, Sampaio told us that the top student from each House will get a special prize."

Dulce sat very straight in her chair, mentally comparing her grades with the ones of the other Avises. As Penumbra (who was now back at her place at the High Table, looking even younger and healthier than she did before) made a sign that she was about to speak, all students returned to their seats to listen.

"The first school year at the new Ingarnal has come to an end," she began, "and we have every reason to be proud of ourselves. We have proved that, even when we have been thrown into the ground, we can collect the pieces and get back on our feet as strong as we did before."

The students applauded. Half-Pint looked at Geno with a confused expression, and mouthed, What did she say?

"Anyway," Penumbra continued, "the teachers have been counting the points that have been won and lost throughout the year, and we are proud to say that Goa has won the House Cup with ninety-one points."

The Goa House erupted with cheers, as Professor Sampaio rose from her seat and received the Cup from Professor Calixto, who in spite of the festive occasion, was still wearing his dirty green overalls. The fairies unfolded from the ceiling a thin banner in turquoise and blue with the Goa owl.

Penumbra made a gesture, and the Goas went quiet again. "As a school norm, we will not reveal the amount of points from the other Houses."

Half-Pint grumbled again.

"Also," Penumbra continued, "we would like to announce this year's best students. Because of the school's re-opening, the school governors decided that, besides the plaque that is usually offered to those students, they will also receive a special prize: a chance to go to the Quidditch World Cup this summer."

All students reacted to this as if they had received an electric shock. Dulce's eyes widened.

"Be aware, however, that this is something that will be offered this year only," Penumbra repeated.

"We know, we know, just get on with it," Dulce mumbled to herself.

"Now," the Headmistress continued, reading the results from a parchment, "the student from Ceuta House who has achieved the highest marks is Sandra Marcelino."

The Ceuta table erupted in cheers, as a girl with long brown hair rose from her seat and advanced towards the High Table, where she received a plaque from Professor Coleraine. Geno looked at the girl's table as she sat back, and noticed that LaSalete Figueiredo was fuming.

As the applause subsided, Penumbra continued. "The student from Avis House who has achieved the highest marks is Genoveva Aleixo."

As Half-Pint and Dulce cheered and Aenor made a grimace, Geno got up in shock. She couldn't be a top student - her results were not that impressive. As she moved towards the High Table, she realized that this was only because there were only four other students in her House.

Professor Ventura handed her the plaque, and she mumbled a timid "thank you" before returning to her seat, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Way to go!" Half-Pint said when she sat again.

"Thanks..." she said, not knowing what else to say.

"You lucky bastard," Dulce joked. "Going to the Quidditch World Cup."

Penumbra gestured for silence again. "And finally," she said, "the student from Goa house who has achieved the highest marks is -"

"- Crispim Pinto," Half-Pint said at the same time as the Headmistress, with an annoyed tone. "Bloody encyclopedia-eater," he added, as Crispim received the plaque from the hands of Professor Sampaio.

"Now that the prizes have been awarded," Penumbra finished, "it is my pleasure to congratulate all of you for your own personal results, and to wish you pleasant summer holiday."

And with this, the feast was over.

***

The next morning was spent on last-minute packing. Half-Pint spent over an hour searching for Matilde, who was found at breakfast trying to sit on Professor Lockhart's chair. Geno was happy to see Julia Cassidy laughing at Lockhart's initial shock as he felt something furry touch his back.

At about 10 o'clock, all of the students were lining up outside the castle. It was then that a feeling of panic came over Geno.

"What's wrong?" Magda asked, seeing her face.

"I've just remembered," she said. "I got a letter from my mother some time ago, saying that her job transferred her to a branch in Faro. We're moving in a week."

"Faro?" Dulce asked, surprised. "That's where I live! What place did your mother move to?"

"Something called Alvara, I think."

"Not Alvorada?" As Geno nodded, Dulce's face opened with a smile. "That's where I live!"

"What?"

"We're going to be neighbors! Can't you see how great this is?"

"I guess," Geno replied. The idea that she would have someone she knew living near cheered her, though the idea of moving still sounded apprehensive.

She felt her sleeve being pulled by Aenor.

"Run," he said, with a fake expression of terror. "I'll cover up for you."

"Shut up," Dulce snapped, as they embarked the Cegonha 1.