The Fire Wand

Chapter 2: Sorting

'You leave me you leave me to the trees
You leave me blind.'
Heather Nova, Blind

'Fang! Fang! What are you doing you great lump!' Hagrid shouted, more out of worry than true fear. Fang had leapt away from him suddenly after putting his huge wet nose to the air. Something he had scented excited him. Not that Fang didn't know how to keep himself safe, it was just he trusted too many creatures in the forest. Or perhaps he was so used to them.

'Ya great lump you've scented the centaurs haven't you? Bane?' Hagrid called, looking around through the trees curiously, a little cautiously. You could never be too safe in the Forbidden Forest. In fact you could probably never be safe enough in the Forbidden Forest. Even Hagrid, who knew a lot of it, and a lot of the creatures that inhabited it well, was still cautious. Monsters hid here, monsters that weren't welcome. He would always be on guard since knowing that You-Know-Who had fed on a unicorn here.

Bane hadn't answered, and Hagrid grunted softly. 'Perhaps not Bane then,' he said to himself as he jogged in the direction of Fang's now wild barking. Hagrid's huge form moved noisily through the trees. He did not try to hide the fact that he was approaching. Some creatures here did not like surprises, best to move noisily. Especially if Fang was still barking, it meant that he wasn't frightened enough into silence. If I didn't know any better I'd say that was one of his angry barks anyway. Perhaps he's found something that is small enough that he'd stand up to it and ought not to be here.

'I'm coming Fang!' he called gruffly and blundered through the undergrowth with confidence. He knew this part of the Forbidden Forest like the back of his hand. They were still virtually in the fringe of it, light still streamed in, despite being cloaked by the mist, it was quiet and almost cheerful.

'Fang! Fang there you are boy what's happened to - oh whoa. Whoa whoa,' he said quietly, soothingly. The scene before him was strange. A huge, massive fox was standing backed up against a thick tree trunk, growling for all it was worth. Fang had it cornered, barking angrily, he looked unsure about whether or not he should pounce.

Hagrid edged carefully behind Fang, noting the way the fox followed his every move with supreme alertness. 'You're an odd lookin' thing aren't ya?' Hagrid said softly and gently as he placed a soothing hand on Fang's back. Fang quieted instantly, though the fur still remained raised on the back of his neck. He was still shaking in quiet and indignant anger. Hagrid scratched his head with his other hand thoughtfully. It was female, he could tell by the thin bone structure. He'd never seen any type of fox like this one. It's size alone made it prominent, it was larger than any wolf he'd seen creeping around this forest. It's ears too, who had ever heard of a fox with white ears? And the eyes?

Hagrid leaned forward more closely. Definitely purple.

'A purple eyed fox the size of a bear in my forest? So do you mean harm there lass? There we are. Gently now. I mean ya no harm there,' he coaxed gently, slowly moving forward, his hand outstretched. Now he moved closer he saw cuts on the fox's head and feet. It's back legs were matted with blood, and the dark red behind his ears which he thought was colouring, was also dark blood. 'Oh dear Miss. You've been through the wars there haven't you? It's alright, I can see you shaking. I know you're scared. It's alright,' he coaxed gently.

The fox suddenly stopped baring her teeth. She whined softly instead, her eyes brightly intelligent. She looked from him to Fang, and then back again. She seemed to be asking if the dog was okay.

'Fang? Wouldn't hurt a fly. He's just a little protective. Ya know, strange things on his territory. Protective. Nothin' to worry about there,' he said soothingly.

His eyes almost popped out of his head when she transformed in front of him, and in the place of the fox a tall, lithe woman stood, still bleeding fresh blood through the tears in her ripped robes.

'I don't want to hurt you I swear. I need to see GrandWizard Dumbledore. Please. It's urgent,' she said tremulously, her voice was shaking violently and Hagrid held up his hands. He was curious, worried, concerned for her appearance, but fiercely protective of what he often thought to be his saviour.

'Now now, don' know if I can do that see. I can pass on a message, but get you straight to him? I don' know. Come back with me and I'll fix you some tea. Come on. We'll get you cleaned up,' he said, patting Fang on the head to jerk his boarhound back into the present. Fang still seemed to be in shock at seeing a tall woman in the place of a towering fox.

Hagrid knew the feeling. He'd never seen this woman before, and she was obviously a witch of some kind.

'What's your name eh?' he said as she gingerly walked forward a few painful steps and then fell in step alongside him. He deliberately walked a lot slower than usual, he could see the damage to her legs, it looked like she had duelled, or run for a long long time. She looked exhausted too. I hate to say it, but she looks trustworthy.

'Siana.'

'That's an interestin' shape you got there. What is it?' Hagrid said curiously, wanting to know all about the fox she had changed from.

'I'm registered if that's what you want to know,' she said stiffly and Hagrid chuckled.

'Now that weren't what I asked was it? It's not up to me to decide about you. I'll leave that to the Headmaster if he decides to see you. No you were some weird creature there. Fox eh? What kind?' he inquired and smiled when he looked down at her and saw Fang gingerly licking her fingers.

His smile broadened when he saw those fingers subtly stretch out and scratch Fang's nose. Nice to animals. Good.

'It's an extinct fox. I studied the muscular and skeletal structure extensively. The fox used to be called a protectus by others in the wizarding world. They are extremely territorial and fine fighters. They are also loyal and courageous. To a fault. They nearly wiped themselves out once. To muggles they were just called the Gigantic fox. A completely original name,' she said sarcastically.

Hagrid nodded to himself. She was holding herself tense, she was still scared. Scared of what though? Grunting to himself he pulled a piece of parchment out of his moleskin coat and a half broken quill.

Got a Siana here to speak to you urgently. Called you GrandWizard? Who does that anymore? Seems okay to me.
Hope I'm not interrupting you.
Hagrid.

He rolled up the small piece of parchment and then from another pocket he pulled a small grey scops owl which appeared to have been sleeping snugly inside the warm moleskin. It hooted a few times sleepily and then obediently stuck it's leg out to take the small piece of parchment. It looked a little ruffled, and it stared at the piece of parchment a little resentfully.

'Just to Dumbledore an' back again an' you can sleep for a week if you like,' Hagrid said with a grin. The owl hooted again cheerfully now and flew off, its wing flaps tired and slow. 'There we go. That's that sorted. Now how'd you get to be in that state? You look like you've run a marathon. Anythin' get to you in the Forbidden Forest?' he said in concern and she shook her head. Her dull black hair that was dried against her neck and shoulders loosened a bit with the movement and she cringed. He realised then it must have been painful, her hair was properly stuck down with her own blood.

'I can take care of myself in a forest. Nothing attacked me there,' she said shortly. She didn't elaborate and Hagrid's eyes narrowed. Trustworthy, but trusting? I'd be sayin' no. Now...where's me umbrella? He thought as he continued to rummage around in his coat. There we are.

He bought the umbrella out and he noticed the way she looked at it. There was a strange look in her eye, an unspoken grin. It was almost as if she recognised it for what it was, immediately. That, or she questioned his sexuality.

'Nice disguise. I would have made a miniature walking stick out of it. Which would have been noticed immediately. So can I ask your name?' she said as he pointed his wand at a bucket next to his water tank. The bucket flew into the tank and then back onto the ground again, now half full of water.

'I'm Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts. I also teach Care of Magical Creatures, today's my day off to do ground duties,' he said with pride and picked up the big bucket as he walked inside his hut.

He set the bucket down on his table and touched his wand to it once. The bucket bubbled and then simmered down slightly. He set the tea kettle boiling in the fireplace and went looking in one of his drawers for an old rag. When he found one moth eaten dusty looking piece of cotton he drew it out and looked at the bucket and then at the woman Siana, who was standing beside his table, looking in too much pain to sit down.

'Here,' he said quietly. 'Use the water. I'd offer to help ya' but I don' know, vixens are generally independent types,' he said softly. Siana looked at the outstretched rag and then at the bucket. She then looked at him, her violet eyes mildly suspicious. With no further word she took the rag and moved over to the bucket stiffly.

'Thank you. I'll owe you one for this,' she said as she dampened the rag and held it first to her neck, moistening the dried blood to get it off more easily.

'Nonsense. Just be straight by me and nothin' more. Oh I can hear Dumbledore,' he said softly and went outside, leaving her alone with Fang. Fang looked up at her and smiled a boarhound smile. Complete with drool.

Siana grinned back shakily and then closed her eyes as a fresh wave of misery washed over her.

Even Mercury is gone. Dear Mercury, our beautiful Belgian Shephard. If it's all true anyway. If it was real. If it really happened. Goddess did it all really happen? It had to have happened. How else could I explain it all? Maybe Dumbledore will know, Father always said he knew so much.

Hagrid came in through the door again looking serious now, and an old but extremely powerful looking man followed. She'd seen him before from photographs and pictures, but had never expected the sort of impact he'd present. His calm and composure, confidence and wisdom exuded from him irresistibly. He was instantly likable, and yet she was instantly suspicious. It was the nature of a Basilica after all to always be suspicious.

Dumbledore looked at her severely for a moment, his light blue eyes piercing into her violet ones. Suddenly he sighed and said.

'I've heard the news. It must have taken an awful lot to drive the last Basilica here,' he said gravely and looked thoughtfully at the bucket of water, to the rag that was staining red in her hands. 'You should be in the hospital wing Siana, Madam Pomfrey can care for you promptly, and we can talk there. Perhaps that is more to your liking? I can hear your version of the story,' he said softly and Siana's brow furrowed.

How long had she been running for that he knew about it all? He doesn't know anything, he's pretending, any moment now I'll feel the Locarius spell. Mum'll be calling me home. I've made a fool of myself. I'm a fool. She thought anxiously and felt a breathing run away with her for a moment. She had been running for two nights, even Athena had turned back after a while. Her feet and hands were blistered and grazed. She was exhausted. Tired.

Frightened. Heaven forbid she was starting to go into shock again. Though it wouldn't surprise her. She hadn't slept for so long, it felt like such a long time. She wondered if Macnair would try and find her hear. Could the Ministry take her? What if they did? He would find her at the Ministry. She wasn't safe.

She looked up startled, when she felt the gentle hand on her arm. Her eyes fell into the kind eyes of Dumbledore. In them she saw compassion and something else as well. Not admiration? No. Why would he admire me? I'm was a twenty nine year old nobody. No one knew who she was. He could only tell she was a Basilica because of the eyes, which were inherited from her father's side of the family.

Dad. She thought momentarily, another wave of pain passing through her.

'I'll come with you,' she said clearly and Dumbledore nodded. He gently steered her through the doorway.

It wasn't until they were halfway towards Hogwarts that she realised the rag was still attached dumbly to her neck.

Suave. A nice way to represent the Basilicas. Very nice.

* * * * *

Hagrid had departed at the entrance to the hospital wing at a look from Dumbledore. Now Siana sat on a bed, her knees bent painfully and her neck stuck in its position by her dried hair. She wondered briefly, fleetingly if her hair would ever be the same again. Dumbledore was watching her thoughtfully, his eyes moving away to stare at a wall now and then before he turned to look back at her.

'Tut tut. You're a mess child. Let me look at those head wounds,' Madam Pomfrey muttered to herself as she unpeeled some of Siana's black hair away from her skin. Siana strove not to wince as some of the skin, stuck so fast to the dried blood, peeled away also. Madam Pomfrey hissed underneath her breath and walked away, muttering to herself more angrily. Siana could tell she blamed herself for the further pain. She wanted to say something to make it alright again, but couldn't think clearly enough to manage words.

'Okay let me try this,' she said softly as she came back. Her eyes were kind and slightly clinical as she pressed a large bandage to the side of her neck. Siana had seen the bandage before, it absorbed venoms normally. It was damp however, and as soon as it touched her skin it blossomed red. Siana could literally feel the blood being slowly sucked out of her hair, neck and head.

She sighed explosively.

'What are the Daily Prophet saying?' Siana said softly, her thoughts more clear now that some of the grime was starting to come off her body. She was pushing her emotions to the back of her head, another Basilica talent. She wanted now to know how much the press were saying, what the Ministry wanted to know.

'The Daily Prophet have stated that the Basilica family have been wiped out, that every Basilica is accounted for in death. There were rumours that you had been taken to Voldemort child. It is somewhat a relief to see you alive,' he said softly and Siana swallowed.

'Macnair?' she asked, curious.

Dumbledore said nothing for a few seconds and looked at her gravely.

'I see. He was the perpetrator of this atrocity?' he said softly and Siana snorted.

'I would have thought that was obvious. No one else hated the Basilicas as much as the Macnairs. Well there was you, but you and Dad, it wasn't hatred. I don't think it was. He always respected you,' Siana finished and then looked in surprise as Madam Pomfrey's hand gripped a little harder at her wrist.

'My God girl! The blisters on your hands! You should have said something.' The matron moved away gathering more of the bandages, and some other ointments and potions. She picked up a jar thoughtfully and then shook her head, coming back with the other things she had collected.

'You will need to stay here. Macnair will no doubt be looking for you, and under Voldemort's wishes he will become powerful. Was there a specific reason why he kept you alive instead of any of the others?'

Siana shrugged. She truthfully had no idea.

'Alright. Since I haven't spoken to your Father in a long time, why don't you start from the beginning? Tell me about what happened, and then tell me about yourself, I'd like to know. You're civil for a Basilica.'

Siana permitted herself the first small chuckle since she had seen her younger sister obliterated with the Avada Kedavra curse. She was the first to go, Camille. Then her Mother, screaming in terror. Then the storm had struck. Siana shook her head to clear it. Her mind felt messy.

'Dad was still working for the Ministry, you probably knew of it.' Dumbledore nodded once. 'He was even doing the same stuff. Privately organising Aurors and what have you. He spoke very highly of you all the time, sent Aurors to you for advice if he didn't know the answer. I remember asking him once about your relationship. He just said you were never destined to get along.'

'That's very true. One of the very few good and trustworthy people who I didn't really get along with,' Dumbledore said. There was a slight twinkle in his eye. 'Continue please.'

'Well. Our family is...was big. Mum and Dad, there was me and Nathan, my older brother and Camille, my younger sister. Plus my Uncle and his wife, and their children. We all live in the Basilican Archives. Lived. I...there's not much left of it, certainly none of the Archives are there anymore. Everyone knows that Voldemort hated us, Macnair too. Macnair especially, because of Dad. Dad never meant to do it though, he'd never expected she'd throw herself in front of him, to protect him.' Siana trailed off. She shook her head slowly.

'That night. Same as any other. I'd come back from hunting and Dad was putting my rabbits on the spit. He liked fresh rabbits you see. And anyway...we heard a knock on the door. Dad told me to make myself look presentable. I left. And then I heard Camille scream. She'd been outside playing. He hadn't even waited.' Siana stopped talking suddenly at the memory of the scream. Dumbledore did not talk, and for that she was grateful.

'I ran back down. He, he killed everyone, except for Nathan and me. I ran up the stairs to get my wand when I heard him destroy Nathan. And I...' Siana stopped again and her eyes clouded open. 'I probably shouldn't have run like that. Maybe if I'd stayed....anyway. Nothing I can do now. Maybe. I got scared and hid in my room. I thought maybe if he hadn't seen my eyes I'd stay alive, I was a servant you see and-'

'You're father made you a servant?' Dumbledore interrupted softly and Siana nodded.

'Yes. It was an honour really. I mean, a female Basilica with the violet eyes? We're cursed women. Camille was lucky she didn't have them...though...I. I'll just continue,' Siana said breathlessly as her knees received the same blissful treatment as her neck. 'So I hid but Macnair knew. He came up to get me and I froze. He took my wand and broke it. And then I ran. Just ran. And I fell and he tried to curse me but I escaped. I've been running through the forests as an animagus since.' Siana finished and then she closed her eyes.

She felt no emotion. It was almost blissful. However Dumbledore had said nothing and she opened her eyes again. He was looking at her, his expression sombre. She had a feeling he knew that she felt nothing, and did not approve of it. I don't care if he doesn't approve. I'm happy not to feel anything ever again.

'Perhaps if we took you on as a transfiguration assistant,' he said thoughtfully and Siana's eyes widened. 'I remember your father sending me a letter long ago about your final grades. You excelled in that subject.'

'Forgive me GrandWizard. I couldn't teach or assist here. Let me just, clean things. I'll clean things,' she said eagerly. No one would know me in the guise of a simple servant. No one at all! 'I don't mind. I've been doing it all my life. And you don't have to pay me, the Basilica account will cover anything I need. And I can pay you to stay here! For your hospitality! Please let me stay.' She pleaded softly and Dumbledore's eyes suddenly turned very sad.

'My dear child. You're family has just been ripped away from you, you have not slept since, you are injured...you need time to make this decision.'

'No! I really don't. Let me serve. Please,' she begged softly and didn't care anymore about her pride. She didn't want to go back out there. Not to Macnair, not now.

'Siana listen to me, if you serve some people will still need to know who you are. Professors Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape will need to.'

'Snape?' Siana hissed softly. 'He teaches here? Snape? He is a Death Eater. Father tried to kill him only a few years ago!'

'Severus Snape is renounced and completely trustworthy. Your father tried to kill him more than a decade ago, before Voldemort had even become so powerful, before Harry Potter even existed. He is trustworthy.'

'If you want to be a servant you are welcome to it. But you will be paid, at teacher's rates, which isn't an excessive amount, but it will be enough I think. There is a small room next to mine where you may stay, it's a guest room of sorts for people that fit into no house more than the other. I think I remember that too, when you went to Moreberries you weren't sorted.'

'The wand shouted that I was a Basilica, that as a descendant of the neutral Archivists, I shouldn't be put into a particular house. It was rather embarrassing at the time,' she said with a wry grin and then shrugged. 'What will be my duties?'

Dumbledore opened his mouth to say and then suddenly a look of discomfort passed over his face.

'Siana Basilica I would much rather you taught or did something else. Maybe you could work in the library, Madam Pince wants to go on long service leave as soon as possible? It would be convenient for you to be the temporary librarian.'

'Oh I'm not allowed to touch books,' Siana said softly and Dumbledore's eyes narrowed.

'Did your father lay that rule in place?'

'My Uncle and he together put that rule in place. And fairly too! I'm a female, with violet eyes. I'm cursed.'

'My dear you are the last Archivist left. You will have to get used to touching books eventually.'

'I'll...I...guess I will.' Siana drew her head up slowly. 'Nathan's not here to continue the family heritage. No one is. I...' Siana stopped as she felt a burning prickling in the back of her eyes. 'God. I can't believe I begged you to serve here. I can't believe it,' she whispered and put her sore hands up to her face for a moment to hide her watery eyes.

I'll not cry. Not here. Not now.

'You have mild concussion. Your irrationality is caused by severe head trauma,' Madam Pomfrey said sternly as she handed Siana a potion. 'Drink this, it will help. Though only rest will ease the concussion. One good sleep I think will do you a world of good.'

'NO!' Siana finally shouted, standing furiously, the potion flying out of her hands. 'No I'm fine! I'm fine.' she ground out, her emotions refusing to be contained inside her walls any longer. 'I'm perfectly fine. I'm fine,' she insisted and ripped the bandages off her wounds angrily.

'Miss Basilica please,' Dumbledore said, his voice gentle but extremely firm. Siana glared at him.

'What would you know? You didn't even like my father! I bet you're just dying to get an owl to Fudge, to let him know about all of this. I bet you can't wait to see me gone! I don't blame you, I'd be attracting Macnair here for heaven's sake! And anyway, everything's strange here. Accepting females, a female Basilica! I can't be an Archivist, I'm a lesser mortal,' she said angrily, her body bristling. 'Are you so keen to erase my father's beliefs with your own? No wonder he hated you! No wonder!' she cried out and then bolted from the room.

Dumbledore sighed softly, looking at the door that she had just fled from.

'Spoken like a true Basilica. Spoken like a true and stressed Basilica. Excuse me Madam Pomfrey, I'd like to get to our Siana before someone else does,' he said grimly and Madam Pomfrey watched him go. She looked at the bloodied bandages and the spilt potion and then rolled her eyes. It was always something new at Hogwarts, work was never dull.