Nick Cleveland and the Coven of Lancre

Nick Cleveland and the Coven of Lancre

Chapter 07

by Technomad

Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, Scotland, United Kingdom, Earth

Marlie Lovegood was in a very good mood. She had just won an award for some extra-credit work she'd done in her favourite class, Transfiguration, and was walking around the grounds of Hogwarts with Professor McGonnagal, and, as an extra treat, her aunt Narcissa. Her mother's sister normally couldn't acknowledge her, due to her husband's hatred of halfbloods such as herself, but since Lucius Malfoy was out of the country, and Narcissa could never resist her son Draco's entreaties, she was out with Draco and Marlie.

All of a sudden, a shimmering, sparkling patch of glowing light appeared in front of the three witches, coalescing into a group of people. One of them, the only male in the group, was lying on the ground, bleeding from his nose and mouth. The others included a tall, dignified witch with a pronounced resemblance to Professor McGonagall, a round, dumpy witch who looked rather like an older version of Professor Sprout, and a wispy witch with flyaway hair who reminded Marlie somehow of Professor Trelawney. Beside them stood none other than her missing cousin, Luna Lovegood!

Luna's eyes went even wider than usual when she saw who it was. "Marlie! Get help! Nick's hurt bad!"

Marlie looked more closely at the prone man, and her eyes went wide. It was indeed Nick Cleveland, and it looked as though the Machiavellian Ravenclaw had been in a fight that he had lost very badly. Marlie was no Healer, but her mother was a high-ranking member of the Department of Dark Arts Eradication, and she had told Marlie enough for her to see that Nick needed help fast.

Professor McGonagall could also see that Nick was hurt. She whipped out her wand and summoned her messenger-Patronus, sending it winging toward the nearby castle. "I have called Madame Pomfrey, and Professor Snape," she explained at Marlie's questioning look. "You do know that Professor Snape's a Healer, among his other qualifications, do you not?"

Marlie nodded. She glared at the three newcomers. She and Nick had had their differences, but she found him attractive, and respected him for his intelligence and Machiavellian tendencies. He had easily set Slytherin House against itself once, after they had been waging a prank war against the Ravenclaws. The consensus in the Serpents' Nest was that the Sorting Hat had been off its game when he was Sorted. More than once, she had heard her older Housemates lament that his talent for intrigue had "gone to waste" in Ravenclaw.

Beside her, her Aunt Narcissa was beginning to get steamed. Drawing herself up to her full, elegant six-foot height, she stared down her nose at the newcomers. "Dare I ask just how Mr. Cleveland was so injured?"

The tall old witch gave her back stare for stare. "He wouldn't give me that young'un there," she said, pointing to Luna, who was giving her a glare that should have laid her out on the greensward, dead. "I landed where he was campin', asked for her, and...things got a bit heated."

Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared. "Mr. Cleveland, and Miss Lovegood, are both pupils at this school," she said, superbly disdainful. "As such, they come under my authority, as Assistant Headmistress. Who are you, to demand to take Miss Lovegood away, and assault Mr. Cleveland when he refused to turn her over?"

"She needs trainin'," the old witch answered. "Can't be havin' with her bein' trained by a man. Just ain't right." She looked up at the castle. "Can't be havin' with this school nonsense. Witches learns from other witches. That's the way it's always been. He shouldn't have told me 'no,' should he?"

"Miss Lovegood is receiving training," Professor McGonagall said icily, "at the best academy for witchcraft and wizardry in the world. While they were gone, I rather imagine Mr. Cleveland tried to help her keep up with her studies...as was only right and proper."

"And the Malfoy family owes Nicholas Cleveland a debt of honour," Narcissa put in, her eyes like chips of blue ice. "He could have called for our son's expulsion from school, but instead added his voice to his girlfriend's pleas for mercy. A Malfoy always pays his, or her, debts."

The tension built and built, as both trios of witches stared daggers at each other, until a familiar voice broke in.

"Ladies! Ladies! There's no need for a duel!" Professor Dumbledore had come, along with Madame Pomfrey. The Healer knelt by Nick's side, as the Headmaster took control of the situation.

"I see our missing pupils are back. I take it we have you ladies to thank for that?" The tall old witch shook her head.

"'Twasn't us. We were...sent...here, along with this young feller an' this girl." Professor Dumbledore looked at the tallest newcomer, who seemed to be the spokes-witch for them.

"And you are...?"

"I'm Esmeralda Weatherwax. This is Gytha Ogg, an' behind us, this is Magrat Garlick."

"A pleasure to meet you ladies. I'm Albus Dumbledore...I'm the Headmaster of this school. This..." pointing at Professor McGonagall, who had drawn herself up to her full height..."is Minerva McGonagall, my most able Assistant Headmistress, and Madame Narcissa Malfoy, the mother of one of our pupils, and Miss Marlene Lovegood, another of our pupils."

Madame Pomfrey looked up. "I need to get this boy...and Miss Lovegood-from-Ravenclaw...into the infirmary. Stat!" She waved her wand in a complicated pattern, and both Ravenclaws vanished. The three newcomers gaped.

"I know. You can't do Apparation on Hogwarts grounds," Professor Dumbledore said. "However, that is not Apparation. That is a special power given only to the Chief Healer of this fine institution. Now, shall we repair to my office, where we can all find out what's been going on?" For a few seconds, the façade slipped...this was no kindly old crackpot. This was a man in full command. Everybody nodded, and adjourned to the castle.

OOO

Nick Cleveland found himself floating in a strange limbo. At first, he was too disoriented to take any notice, but gradually, he began to try to figure out his surroundings. I need a surface, he thought, and instantly, found himself lying on a perfectly flat surface. He rolled over, shook himself, and clambered painfully to his feet, to find himself confronted by a strange young girl.

Nick looked the girl over, as she was doing the same to him. She was wearing what he recognized as "Goth" fashions, and had the palest skin he had ever seen. Under one eye, she had black makeup giving the effect of an "Eye of Horus," and she wore an ankh around her neck. Reflexively, Nick grabbed for his Arrows-of-Chaos pendant.

"It was melted in your last fight, Nicholas," the girl informed him, her voice light, yet sad. "It overloaded. I must say, though, it worked remarkably well."

Nick scowled. He had imbued that pendant with every bit of protective magic he could think of, and everything he could dig out of Hogwarts' extensive library, not to mention his own, which held quite a few tomes the Ministry would have loved to burn. "Am I...dead?"

"No, Nicholas. It's not your time yet. You were very badly hurt, though. You're back at Hogwarts."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "How about Luna? Is she all right?" He began looking around for his blonde protégé, more worried with every second that he didn't find her. Whirling, he confronted the Goth girl. "Tell me! Tell me where she is, or I'll..."

"Miss Luna Lovegood is also at Hogwarts. She's nearly completely unscathed, but your Healers are checking her over, in between trying to revive you."

Nick nearly collapsed in relief. Then he noticed that he was naked. He looked up at the Goth girl, to see her giving him an amused once-over. He figured that she expected him to be upset. Well...Nick Cleveland had always specialized in doing the unexpected thing. He straightened up, and gave her a frankly appraising look, liking what he saw. While he was monogamous, and happy that way, he had often said that "monogamous" was not French for "blind," or "stupid."

The Goth girl's eyes widened. "Did you think you were the first, or the only, woman I've been naked around?" Nick asked, blandly. He gave her a mischevious grin. "You know, a truly polite person would offer to disrobe, so that I needn't be self-conscious."

At this, the Goth girl broke out in laughter. "Oh, dear! I think you're about to leave, or I honestly might consider your offer!" Sure enough, Nick felt himself begin to fade away.

As he faded, Nick asked blandly: "Don't I even rate a good-bye kiss?"

The Goth girl winked at him. "Don't press your luck too far, Nicholas. It's not your time yet." And then Nick found himself lying in a bed in what he recognized as the Hogwarts infirmary. Professor Snape was leaning over him, his face drawn and weary.

As Nick opened his eyes and let out a soft groan, Snape turned. "Poppy! He's conscious!" He turned back to Nick. "Lie still, Mr. Cleveland. You've been missing for months, and we've been terribly worried. Is there anything you want?"

Nick considered this. "Yes....can you call...Professor McGonagall?"

End Chapter 07