Harry Potter and the Wyvern's Crown

Chapter Five: Murder of Crows

The next day at breakfast, the usual rush of owls came fluttering in the windows. Among them was Hedwig, who dropped a package and letter off for Ken before flapping over to Harry for a bite to eat from his breakfast. Much to Harry's surprise, Hedwig flew back over to Ken and allowed another letter to be sent by him. She took off through the window without another word. Harry looked at Ken, who blushed.

'I'm sorry, sir...but she always insists that I send her back to my parents.'

'That's right!' a little Scottish boy said, on Ken's right side, 'She wouldn't go away! Not until Ken had written another letter! We tried to make her leave, but she kept pecking at the glass.'

A little girl nodded, 'Hedwig is very nice, Harry Potter.'

Harry sighed, 'Try and get her to see me next time, alright, guys? I'll tell her to stop bothering you.'

Ron chuckled, 'I think Hedwig likes him...'

There was a shrill hoot from above and a fuzzy brown tennis ball dive-bombed the table. Ron ducked, knowing who belonged to that hoot. Hermione backed up and Raven looked confused. That is until she saw what the little owl had dropped on her empty plate. Her jaw dropped. It was a howler. She winced as it began to smoke. Ron covered his ears, 'Better open it. They explode if you don't.'

Raven nodded, then, with a careful poke of her wand, opened the flap. There was a great gust of air, as though the Howler was taking a breath, and then the tirade began. Raven's mother, as it seemed, was not happy with Raven's rebellious nature that had gotten her into Gryffindor. She blamed Raven for not having her priorities straight, blamed her love of Witchball, and told her that her father would have disowned her. At this, Raven burst into sudden tears and ran from the room. Harry and more than half of the dining hall stared after her as the Howler continued. Before it had finished, with a general reprimand, and threat of continued complaint in person once the property was sold in Canada, Hermione, Ron, and Harry left as well. If they hadn't been so concerned for Raven, they might have noticed Draco Malfoy's pained look, and gruff retort when asked what was wrong.

* * *

It had taken until later that day before anyone found Raven. And that was mostly because they had class together, Defence Against the Dark Arts. Her face was hard, and she didn't really acknowledge anyone with her common smile, and smooth manner. She didn't look as though she had been crying, but Harry knew the look well. He had borne it on his face many a time when told not to be a 'simpering little brat'. Defence Against the Dark Arts wasn't a shared class (for obvious reasons, competing houses might take the chance to harm one another in the course), so Harry took the opportunity to try and actually talk to Raven about her Howler. Hermione didn't take any of his hints to stay out of it, and most of the start of class was filled with her loud protestations of any mother who would say things like that to her daughter.

Professor Lupin walked to the front of the classroom, looking much better from the last time the class had seen him on the way to Transfigurations. His wise eyes scanned the classroom, but rather than calling attention to Raven, he merely accorded her a respectful glance and began.

'I've been informed that some of the course material for this year was covered by...Professor Moody back in your fourth year,' His eyes met Harry's, telling him that he knew of the cover-up, but he wasn't going to state it before the class. 'That's fine. I will still work on breaking the Imperius Curse, because its well worth practicing throwing off. Other Curse defences we will work on are the Confundus curse, Vertigem curse, Ferris-type and Levi-type curses. We will also learn...' He paused, because Seamus had raised his hand, an odd look in his eye.

'What about forcefields?'

Lupin raised an eyebrow, 'What about them?'

'When do we learn to cast them?'

Lupin considered, 'I suppose we could learn some shielding and physical defence hexes,' He looked at Hermione's waving hand, 'And as some of you doubtless know, they are in the course material.' He tilted his head as her hand remained, 'Yes, Ms. Granger?'

'What about Orbus Meum? It's not in the book.'

Harry glanced up at Raven, who had a slight half-smile beginning on her lips. He glanced at Dean and Seamus who, by the look in their eyes, had been the victim of Raven's forcefield more than once.

Professor Lupin smiled, 'Orbus meum, hmm? And who would know such a powerful spell?'

Dean, without raising his hand, shouted, 'Raven does!'

Raven blushed, then gave Dean a half-spiteful look, but her smile had returned. Her eyes were a little cooler towards Lupin, but she shrugged anyways, 'They were pestering me, sir.'

Lupin cracked a smile himself. 'It is a fine spell for a young lady to know. Keeps unwanted attention at a safe distance. Perhaps when we start physical defence, you might show it to us.' Raven had a slightly pleased look in her eye as she nodded. 'Now then,' Lupin said, clearly and loudly, 'We are going to practice with a spell today which will be mostly for fun, but in its practical use, it may well save your life. It is definitely worth knowing. It is called the Revilius-Caesar Charm. It enables you to see anyone who might have a plot to kill you. If used in a large crowd, a beam of light will shine off of the forehead of anyone who has any violent animosity towards you. Hopefully, you'll be able to escape. The brighter the light, the more likely to attack. Now,' He took out his beaten up wand and waved it a few times, 'for you to see who might attack me, I have to perform a different spell first. Give me a few moments to complete it.' He raised his hands and began to chant quietly.

A soft greenish mist began to fill the room. Harry turned to Raven and took the opportunity to talk. 'Are you alright?'

Raven sighed and leaned on the desk. Her eyes looked up at Lupin warily for a moment, then shook her head, 'It's nothing really. My mother likes to do that to me. Her mother did it to her when she performed poorly in school. She knows it will shake me up, and make me work harder. It's nothing.'

Harry saw the lie in her moonlit eyes, but didn't push the subject. The green mist had permeated the room, making it as though one was looking through green glass and it smelt very faintly of honey. Lupin smiled curtly and raised his wand again, 'To get the desired effect, that is, the bright light from each of your foreheads, I want you to think of hurting me in some way in turn. If your eyes are good, you might even be able to see what I will most definitely be seeing, which is the method of the attack. I'll give five points to anyone who makes me laugh,' He smiled, and pointed to Lavender, 'You first. Revilio Caesus!' Harry felt nothing, but saw a slight glowing point above his head. One was on Raven's and Hermione's as well. Ron didn't have one, but after a moment, it appeared, as he must have thought of something.

Each waited their turn to look up at Lupin, and everyone he saw he commented on. He laughed at quite a few, including Parvarti's tickling to death, and Seamus's being sat on by a large, big-bottomed dragon. Ron came next, with a death by a swarm of bees with bow ties, then Hermione's tripping over a garden hose and falling into an overlarge bear trap. Harry couldn't see any of these of course, though Lavender's giggles told him that she could (or at least she thought she could). Then it was Raven's turn. Her bright initial light had faded, but when she looked up at Lupin, everyone jumped, for seeing a flash of a silver blade as it was dashed into Lupin's heart. Lupin's face paled, but he managed to say, 'Good form there.'

Harry was distracted by the vision, that he forgot that he was going to do, so his next thought popped right out. Lupin being shot, but it changed half way. The gun became a wand, and a hand waved it, and a familiar bolt of green light blew Lupin away. He glanced up with a grin, 'Now that's bad, Harry. Avada Kedavra? Shame.'

A few of the students tittered. Harry lowered his eyes, his cheeks growing warm. He'd had a much better idea (Lupin being attacked by stuffed animals) but Raven's brutality had shocked him into something much more dangerous. Why hadn't she tried to make him laugh? He wondered. She had a wonderfully wicked sense of humour. Certainly she could have thought of something better than that. But after gaining twenty more points, the exercise was over. Lupin cleared the green mist with a flick of his wand, and nodded his head, 'Now, of course, this was just to show you how it works. I'm certain that if I cast the spell again, no one would show up to me. In fact, it cannot be detected by even great wizards. Snape never notices it when I cast it near him,' Most of the class laughed, including Raven. He smiled, his eyes tracing across the room. He paused on Raven for what seemed like an extraordinarily long period of time. His eyes slowly narrowed, 'Ms. Hawksmoor.'

She looked up. 'Yes?'

His eyes narrowed even more. 'Stand up, please.'

She did so. Harry was shocked. What was Lupin going to do? He was a very kind man, and for all he was a werewolf, he was easily Harry's favourite teacher. A few of the Gryffindors began to whisper. Lupin glared at them, and they fell silent. His voice was very serious when he spoke again, 'Stand over there.'

Raven did so, her own eyes cool. She moved as though she was ready to bolt at any moment. Lupin didn't take his eyes off of her when he asked, 'Is there anyone here who can perform a descent Summoning Charm?' Most of the class raised their hands, including those at Harry's table. 'Potter, stand up, please.' Harry did so, very nervous. Lupin's voice was very dark when he said, 'I can't do this myself.' His eyes never left Raven's. 'Potter, say 'accio argentus'. Softly now.'

Harry raised his wand, and said in a soft voice, 'Accio Argentus.'

Before Raven could prevent it, her cloak moved. She grabbed it, but Harry's charm was strong. She fought silently for a moment when there was a ripping sound and a silver dagger flew towards Harry, handle first. The class gasped. Raven reached for it, but thought against dashing her hand against the retreating blade, and with a look of anger and dismay she glared outright at Lupin, saying nothing. Harry caught the dagger in his hand. Lupin took a step towards Raven. Though he was quite short, he was still quite dangerous looking.

'What is the meaning of this, Raven? That spell will only attract items of pure silver! That dagger could hurt you or your friends! And it most certainly would have killed me!'

Raven's eyes were cruel and defiant, 'That was the idea.'

The class was shocked into silence. Harry felt as though every muscle in his body had gone completely stiff. He'd never seen Lupin this angry since the night they had found the man who had killed his parents. For that betrayal, Lupin had been willing to kill. But the anger was controlled, for now. Raven touched her wand, and without hesitation, had cast her forcefield around herself. She held her wand out, and with a look of death in her eyes, she growled, 'Stay back.'

Lupin sobered for a moment, shocked at his own reaction. But, after all, it had been a threat to his life. 'I will. But why would you try to kill me? I'm one of your teachers!'

Her lip curled, and she spoke with such anger and disgust, Harry could feel the hairs on his neck rise. 'You're...You're...a werewolf!'

The class burst into laughter. Raven looked shocked, but aware that her forcefield would protect her, she looked up at Harry for support. Lupin had a look of pity on his face so strong she seemed put off guard by it. Now utterly confused, she leaned back towards the wall, her forcefield crackling against it.

Lupin touched his chest, 'Well of course I am. Didn't anyone tell you?'

Raven slowly shook her head no. Lupin bowed his head and leaned on his desk. When he looked back up, there was an appreciative smile on his face. 'And here you are, a top Defence Against the Dark Arts student. You see me, sense I'm a werewolf and with no one to tell you that everyone knows...' He sighed, 'You must have been in a frenzy, trying to think of some way to kill me before I bit anyone.' He nodded, 'Your concern is well noted, and for being so resolute and concerned for your friends, I'm giving Gryffindor fifty points.'

Raven nodded, still nervous. Lupin waved towards her seat. 'You may sit down again, Ms. Hawksmoor. I'm not going to be a wolf for three more weeks. Let's make the most of it, shall we?'

* * *

Ron couldn't stop talking about Raven's near-assassination of Professor Lupin for the rest of the day, and most of the school had heard about it before dinner. Hermione was shocked the Raven would try and go through with it herself and not ask for their help. Harry was shocked that she would risk herself, and all Ron wanted to know was whether she would have done it for real or not. Raven shocked everyone during dinner by saying that, 'Yes, I would have killed him. But I was waiting until the end of class. I know how fond you are of him, but I figured he had just been bitten, and werewolves need to be dealt with as soon as possible,' Then, looking down at her dinner once more, 'And the reason I didn't bother to tell you was because not one of you sensed it when he passed by in the stairwell the other day. I realized that you weren't dark-sensitive, so there was no use trying to explain why he had to die.'

Hermione was flabbergasted, she spluttered for nearly a minute before shutting her mouth and leaving the table was soon as she could. Ron looked after her, and almost missed Raven's own silent exit. He and Harry leapt up after her, seeing just the edge of her robes the whole way up, then saw the picture of the fat lady closing behind her. Once they had gotten into the common room they saw it completely empty. Ron looked at Harry, 'Now where has she gotten to?'

Hermione came out of the girls dorm and they turned on her, but after a moment Hermione snapped, 'Look, she's not in the girl's dorm, and I didn't say a thing to her. I left.'

Ron looked at her in disbelief, 'Fine, you didn't say anything, but you could have said something nice instead of gaping like a fool!'

Hermione's eyes widened, 'You want me to congratulate a person who would kill a teacher without even asking if we knew he was a werewolf?'

Harry made a face, 'Well she did think she was rescuing us. She was worried, and not one of chose to warn her...'

'Warn her?' Lavender Brown had just come through the wall portal, 'Someone should have warned us.'

'You sound like a Slytherin,' Ron snapped. 'Raven was just doing what she thought was right!'

'And if I got it into my head that killing Harry right now would save the school from you-know-who, would you say that was right too?' Lavender growled.

'No!' Ron howled, 'that's beside the point. Harry's not dangerous!'

'And I am,' a low voice said, as yet another person entered the room. Ron let out a shout and tripped over something. Harry realized that the cat that had been rubbing up against Ron's leg was none other than Miwa. He picked the purring kitten up and held her, looking to see what had made Ron jump. It was Lupin, and McGonagall. And climbing in after them, Albus Dumbledore. The argument ended instantly.

Harry absentmindedly rubbed the cat behind the ears as McGonagall asked in a gruff voice where Raven was. Everyone admitted that they had no idea where she was, thought Ron and Harry were quite sure they followed her up the stairs. Lupin looked bemused, though weary, and McGonagall simply pressed her lips into a thin line after looking around the room as though expecting to see Raven hidden amongst the furniture, fireplace and single window. After a moment she shook her head. 'Tell Raven we have to talk to her, and no,' she glanced at Lavender, 'she's not in trouble. In fact what she did today is what one should expect from a sixth year, who has been trained in the destruction of dark beasts.' She glanced at Lupin, who had winced a little under the description, 'No offence, Remus.'

'None taken,' he said softly, then added in Harry's direction, 'A fine example of bravery, though misplaced. When she returns, I want you to thank her. If I had been a freshly bitten victim, I wouldn't know it. She sensed it, and she took steps to make sure she could finish the job properly,' His eyes met Lavender's, then Hermione's, 'She wouldn't have been considered by the wider magic community to be a murderer. Some werewolves can be treated as I am, but most are so taken with themselves after their first transformation they kill and wont stop killing until they die,' His eyes were dark when he said this, knowing the draw of such blood lust, 'You must understand that she did the RIGHT thing.'

Dumbledore seemed more concerned with the state of the room. After a moment he nodded, 'Yes, indeed. The Gryffindors need new furniture for their common room. I'll put a few couches on the order,' His twinkling eye met Harry's for a moment, then the three faculty members left the room. Miwa wiggled to get out of Harry's arms and he released her. He sat down in the favourite chair, wondering what Hermione was thinking. After a few moments she muttered something that sounded like 'house-elves' and she left the room. Ron looked as tired as Harry felt, and the sun hadn't even set yet.