Harry Potter and the Wyvern's Crown

Chapter 6: Drawing Lines

The next day, early in the morning, was the Gryffindor's first Quidditch practice with Raven as Keeper began. She had to borrow a school broom, and as Harry noticed with a look of disgust in his face, the Keeper Brooms were in terrible condition. But after a few moments, Raven had selected one without complaint (nor she did mention anything about Harry's Firebolt). The team kicked into the air. As Harry worked with the snitch, Raven did a few laps, pushing her broom as hard as it could, then did a series of brutal looking stops as the Chasers and Beaters knocked Quaffles back and forth for a few moments. Then as Harry had caught the snitch for the fourth time (it was still struggling in his fingers) he saw that Raven had positioned herself for Keeping. But she was holding her broom strangely with her legs. Rather than sitting on it, keeping the ankles crossed, and using one's robe as a bottom guard, she had her shins on the broom instead, one under and one over. Confused, he flew down (nearly getting clocked by a bludger) and flew next to her as she balanced on her broom, focused.

'What're you doing?'

'Playing Keeper,' Raven smirked, then, almost without any movement of her hand she lifted a few feet into the air to swing a fist at the quaffle, sending it straight to the field. She tossed her head, her braid flopping, 'What does it look like?'

'You sit on your broom...'

'Wrong,' Raven grinned, 'Yeah, I know. But I like sitting this way. It lets me control my broom with my legs, and it saves my bottom for class. Watch this,' She waved at Devin, one the fourth-year beaters, 'Send a Bludger my way! I'll show the move named after my family!'

Vaguely curious, Harry flew back a few dozen feet as Devin smashed a bludger her way, rather faster than Harry liked to see for practice. But a moment before it hit Raven, she pulled on her broomstick, and in midair, swung it out from under her, and like a giant club, sent it right back at Devin. She wrenched the broom back underneath herself, and flew up to Harry, 'You think they'll be expecting that from a keeper?'

Harry wasn't sure whether to cheer her on, or shout at her for pulling such a dangerous stunt. 'It's interesting. Can you do it in games?'

Raven nodded, 'I've done it a few times, actually.'

Harry considered, 'Don't pull it out of your hat until its necessary. I don't want you getting hurt.'

Raven shrugged, 'If I've got a better Keeper Broom for the game, it'll look a lot less like I'm falling.'

Harry nodded, but didn't want to tell Raven that unless she brought her own broom it wasn't likely that she'd get a better one. But then again, she was undoubtedly rich as Malfoy's family, so there probably wasn't much of a concern.

* * *

Later that day was the game between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. The whole school attended, of course, and the sixth-year Gryffindors were no exception. Arriving early, Hermione and Raven held spots for the others, while the field was primed for the game. As Harry came by himself (as Ron was signing out books in the library on uses for rare herbs in potions) he realized he had caught onto the tail end of their conversation. He halted behind them, listening.

Raven was speaking, '...Well, I figured they wouldn't tell me I'd done the wrong thing. But I didn't expect for so many Gryffindors to get upset over it.'

Hermione was obviously showing Raven the 'error' she had made, 'And that's why I said that being so...sure of yourself...last night really upset everyone. I mean, no one expects a person to kill a fellow magical creature in cold blood!'

Raven was shocked by this, her voice raising, 'Werewolves are viewed as 'fellow magical creatures'? Then how is it that I'm NOT in trouble?'

Hermione paused. Of course, it was her own view that clouded her argument. She thought that anything with a mind of its own ought to have the same rights as any other. Especially if she were fond of that creature, or had a good example to point out. She licked her lips, 'I do suppose that some werewolves are more evil than others, but I think they should be given a fair trial.'

Raven snorted, 'Muggle-born.'

Hermione took instant offence. 'Well, I am! And I dare say that it shouldn't matter!'

Raven held up a hand. 'I'm not saying it does, witch-to-witch, but you don't understand that dark creatures need to be dealt with! You're looking at it as though it were some kind of racism. But you have to understand, it's as though a dog has caught rabies. There isn't a cure, so the kinder thing to do is to put the dog down.'

'Why it's not the same at all! Professor Lupin is a living, breathing human being!' Hermione's voice was pitched so loud that others in the stands were looking at her.

'I'm sorry, Hermione,' Raven's tone was definite, 'But Lupin is a living, breathing human being for 26 days out of the lunar month. The other two days he spends as a living breathing killing machine. I can see that you're not suited to active DADA.'

The acronym made Hermione pause, but before she could continue the argument, Harry walked up, and tilted his head curiously, as though asking to join in the conversation. Raven smiled at him, and Hermione sighed, looking away. Satisfied that the two girls weren't about to tear each other's heads off, Harry changed the subject.

'Heard that Cho's got a new broom.'

Hermione, glad for the chance to talk about something new, smiled, 'Well, let's hear it!'

Ron chose that moment to walk up, a huge grin on his face, 'I heard that Cho's got her hands on a Firebolt and Malfoy's LIVID!'

Hermione raised an eyebrow, 'You lend her yours, Harry?'

Harry grinned, 'Nah, I heard she knows the captain of the Egyptian team. The Firebolt Two has just come out on the market, so the first Firebolt's obsolete. Not a bad deal, when all's considered.'

Ron laughed, 'Yeah, like you won't be able to beat her to the Snitch because you've got a better broom!'

Harry rubbed his hands in delight. 'Yes, but it means that Slytherin's going to lose for sure.'

Raven laughed, 'You certainly don't like them, do you?!' But her comments were lost as the game began. Colin Creevy had become the new announcer, and his tremulous tenor broke out with a crack that made most people laugh. But once he got into it, he was fine. Harry listened and watched, his eyes on Cho, and ignoring what was going on in the game below. Besides, if Colin was even the least bit slow on announcing a goal, Raven's whoops of delight (for both teams) told him what was going on.

After about twenty minutes of play, and the score running rather high for both sides, Harry saw Cho dive towards the field. Malfoy was on her tail, but pulled up short, then changed directions abruptly. Cho had feinted, but on her way, had allowed Malfoy to actually catch sight of the Snitch. A bludger headed for Malfoy, and he dodged, and lost sight of the Snitch only a few feet from catching it. Harry frowned, that had been far too close. His Seeker instincts won out, and he began to look for the glimmer that was the snitch. Of course, he wasn't in the best position to see it, but he was willing to look anyways. The crowd around him erupted into boos. He glanced up as Colin called a foul on Slytherin. One of the Slytherin Beaters had taken a violent swing at one of the Ravenclaw Chasers, and though he had missed the other boy, he had hit the broomstick and the tail had been destroyed. Having to trade in his broom for another, the Ravenclaw Chaser looked as though he wished he was a Beater, and few minutes later, he had fouled against the Slytherin team.

Harry was pleased to see this, though Raven howled along with the Slytherins about unfair retaliation. Of course, he realized, she didn't really know about Slytherins yet, mostly because they gave her a healthy dose of respect, no doubt because of both her lineage and the forcefulness of her mother's howler. But then he saw a familiar glimmer of light. And at the same time, Malfoy and Cho dove for it. Both were pressing hard, reaching forewords, but inexplicably, Malfoy was going faster. But that was impossible, Harry thought. Malfoy only had a Nimbus 2001. Then it dawned on him. Malfoy, as rich as he was, probably spent a years allowance and bought himself a Firebolt 2. Harry felt a shout of anger leave him as Malfoy reached ahead of Cho, and caught the Snitch with a vicious grin on his face. Everyone else around him was shouting as well. They, like Harry, had figured the Ravenclaws were a shoe-in, but even Cho's Firebolt couldn't compare to the Firebolt Two.

Raven looked dismayed, as she had cheered quite loudly when the Snitch was caught. When unable to find support in her praise of a good game, she had blushed and sat down abruptly. After the game, everyone headed back to the dorms before dinner. Seamus occupied Raven's time while they walked, so Harry had a chance to run over and give Cho a hug. Ron had rolled his eyes and Hermione had blushed, but waved him away. Harry bounded down to the pitch where Cho was standing by the Ravenclaw bench, looking absolutely disgusted with her performance. He tapped her on the shoulder and accepted the instant hug afterwards. He let her have a good cry. She had worked hard, and she deserved it.

* * *

The following Monday on the way to potions, Harry recalled what he still hadn't told Raven yet. He tried to start a conversation with her, but through Hermione's lengthy discussion of how restorative potions worked and how they had to be stirred, he couldn't get a word in edgewise, before Hermione dodged away to get to her Apparation class. Then, much to his dismay, she chose a seat quite close to the Slytherins, and began to chat up Malfoy about the game he'd won, who by all means, looked a bit shocked at first, but soon had a smug smile plastered on his face as he told her of the many times he'd miraculously caught the Snitch. And even when he deferred to her that he still hadn't managed to beat Harry to the Snitch, he mentioned that he regarded Harry as a well deserved player, who had far too much luck on his side for Malfoy's tastes. Raven's laugh filled the room and Harry was nearly at the breaking point when Snape graced the classroom, a sour expression on his face.

A funny thought came over Harry, and he touched his wand, muttering the incantation to see whether Snape wanted him dead. Nothing seemed to happen, and even Malfoy's forehead seemed clear. Perhaps he'd said it wrong. Well, he'd have to ask Professor Lupin about it, considering he couldn't do the wand wave under his cloak. Neville Longbottom, Harry noticed with a slight smile, no longer shook under the wicked gaze of the Potions teacher. But he still had a sad look in his eyes, which he chose to divert from the front of the class as long as possible.

Snape, in a bitter sounding voice, began explaining how their restorative potions would thicken if they were done properly. But if they were too thick, they were too potent, and may have rather nasty effects. Of course, he expected the Gryffindor wouldn't manage to get one right. And considering that Hermione wasn't in this class, he seemed even more pleased than usual.

Harry began with his regular charmed pond water, and began to throw in other ingredients as it began to boil. He began to stir it slowly, watching as the mixture began to cloud. There was little room for error, he knew. Soon after it clouded, he would add a special glowing weed. Then it would turn a bright blue, and fade to a cloudy blue. If he had done it correctly, it would have the consistency of gravy. If done wrong...

Raven's groan from across the room made Harry look up. Malfoy had a vicious grin on his face as Raven futilely tried to remove her spoon from her cauldron. It was stuck upright, and the mixture on it was still a humming blueness. Harry made a face as he added his last herb, and looked down as his mixture flashed blue for what seemed like forever (though it was barely a few seconds) then turned to the muted baby blue cream it was supposed to look like. He sighed, and stirred it a few times to check the consistency, thankful it had worked. It was a little on the thicker side, but not glue, like Raven's.

Neville's looked even worse. Apparently frightened that his would thicken too much, he had used too little, and his brew had barely clouded.

Snape walked around, and told people to test their brews. It ought to wake up anyone who felt even the least bit tired. And from his inference, he meant that everyone needed to wake up.

Harry scooped some into a cup and took a thick, pudding-like drink. He made a face. It was tasteless (thank goodness!) but it felt as though he had swallowed a huge wad of soft chewing gum. But not long after the uncomfortable sensation went away, and his stomach was sent to gurgle on that, Harry felt quite alert, and took the opportunity to look over Neville and Dean. Neville had always been near Hermione so he could beg for advice, though Dean was good, it was obvious that he wasn't good enough to aid poor Neville. Neville looked rather disappointed. His brew hadn't given him any more alertness than before. Dean, however, was chattering away as though he'd eaten half a case of chocolate frogs. Harry grinned encouragingly at Neville, then looked at Ron who was eyeing up his potion. He gave a Harry a thumbs up and drank, making a weird face. Then after a moment he began to cough and wheeze.

Snape cackled mercilessly, 'A little too much zum-weed, eh, Weasley? I knew you liked the colour of it, but too much, and your throat dries so fast, you think you've been out in a desert for months!' He rubbed his hands with glee, but frowned when he had to dismiss a pair of Slytherin girls for the same mistake. He was upset that Harry hadn't failed (though he noticed the imperfect thickness), but in looking at Raven's enormous mistake, he almost seemed to forget about his most hated student. Raven had given up trying to pull out her spoon and was sitting on a stool, calmly joking with Malfoy and his Slytherin minions, Crabbe and Goyle.

Malfoy had to hide his smile as Snape leaned over the cauldron. It was still a luminous blue, and the spoon hadn't budged. Raven sat, her arms at her sides, waiting to hear the verdict. Snape finally pointed his wand at it, and looked up, 'Why my dear, I believe you're created the most potent form of glue I've ever seen!'

Malfoy burst into guffaws. Raven seemed concerned. 'Wasn't that what we were doing, Professor Snape?'

Harry, though he hated to be laughing with Malfoy over something, couldn't hide his own grin at Raven's presumption. Malfoy himself looked as though he was in desperate need of air.

'We were not! Five points from Gryffindor for rudeness!'

Raven still had her self same grin on her face, 'But certainly, there'd be a market for it, wouldn't there?'

Malfoy was holding his nose, trying to hide his face behind his sleeve as he shook in mirth. Harry winced, wondering how many points Raven would cost them. But several Gryffindors were chuckling quietly now, as well.

Snape's creased face became twice as wrinkled. 'That is not a restorative potion!'

Raven considered for a long moment, as though just noticing it herself, 'You're right, Professor. It's rather like glue.'

Malfoy couldn't hold back any longer, and neither could most of the Slytherins and Gryffindors. Harry saw Neville's look of horror though, and knew that some people were worried about the state of the Gryffindors' points beside himself. Snape wrinkled his nose, then, with a tap of his wand, separated a small blob from the spoon. 'Then I hope you have a real like for the taste of glue. Eat it.'

Raven plucked the shining piece of potion out of the air, and stuck it in her mouth. Snape, satisfied with his punishment, walked away with a growl of, 'Ten points for indigence!'

* * *

As they headed out to Care of Magical Creatures (after lunch), Neville complimented her on her standing up to Snape. He stammered that he wouldn't be able to do that. Harry, too, was impressed. But he had to know -- 'Did you actually eat that hard bit of potion?'

Raven laughed and took out the glob of shining blue from her mouth, 'It's so hard it won't even dissolve in my mouth. It's like a piece of plastic.'

Harry didn't notice the Muggle-word himself until Dean made a face and asked what plastic was. He blinked, 'It's well, not metal and not wood, but it's very hard...' He looked up at Raven, 'It's a muggle material. How would you know about it?'

Raven grinned, 'Muggle studies...but my father was a very 'muggle' sort of wizard. Never liked living the secret life.'

'Must have been like your father, Weasley,' Malfoy's voice crooned from behind Harry. 'He still collect plugs?'

Ron said something that make many a cheek nearby colour in shock. Raven rolled her eyes, 'My father never did that, but he didn't want to be ignorant of the greater population on the planet, either.'

Malfoy smiled and his eyes dared Harry to disagree. Harry was utterly confused. It was as though Malfoy was trying to drive a wedge between Raven and her Gryffindor friends. And no matter how hard he tried to ignore it, Harry knew that it was working. Malfoy's viscous manner was in his every word and deed, but Raven, still under the impression that the houses were equal, thought his cruel remarks were nothing more than simple teasing. Of course, Malfoy also hadn't said or done anything purely mean outright. But he was using Ron's quick anger to his advantage, egging him on until he snapped. And then Malfoy would look the hero.

Harry was sickened by the simple deviousness of the plan.

Once they had reached the field, Harry saw a familiar snowy owl sitting on a fence. He blinked, and saw that other peoples pets were there as well. Up to and including Neville's toad and Hermione's cat, Crookshanks. Hagrid ignored the surprised shouts of several Slytherin's who were concerned about how the pets had gotten out here. He stood as tall as he could, and gestured towards the animals. 'Now, we 'aven't done anythin' with yer pets as yet, but to a witch er wizard, yer pet can become your eyes and ears to the world. They know a lot, they do. If yer pet is at all magical, you can get quite a bond with 'em. But today, as I know yer pets are at different levels of training, we'll be 'avin' 'em doin' simple tasks. First, and easiest command, gettin' 'em to come. Now...where'd Fang get to?' He looked up and around, confused a moment. A few of the Slytherins sighed and grumbled, including Malfoy. After a moment, Hagrid shrugged to himself and bellowed Fang's name a few times. The razorback came flying over the hill, upsetting a few of the waiting animals. Fang leapt at Hagrid, nearly bowling him over. Hagrid laughed and pushed the beast away.

'Okay, call yer animal to ya!' Hagrid waved.

A few of the students held out their arms, and their owl obediently flew to them. Harry, a slight smile on his face, did the same. Hedwig took a moment before flying to him obediently. He gave her a little treat (he kept them on him nowadays considering he'd been nipped a few times now for indiscretions) and looked over at Malfoy who was calmly stroking his eagle-owl, and talking to Raven, who for once wasn't smiling. Harry noticed that she didn't have a pet with her. Feeling poorly for her, it dawned on him that she may have had a mysticat for a pet, and it was unlikely she would have been able to take one all the way to England (considering their ability to evaporate into thin air at so much as the slightest provocation). Ten minutes later, even the most troublesome and slow of pets were with their masters (Crookshanks had taken a few detours on the way).

It was than the Hagrid noticed that Raven was alone. He backed up a step or two, 'Did we miss getting yer pet?'

Raven crossed her arms. 'I don't have one.'

Malfoy tilted his head cruelly, 'I don't think this exercise is fair if we can't all participate.'

Raven shot him a look that could have taken paint of the side of a house, 'It's fair. I just don't have a pet. Go on ahead. I won't hold you back!' With that, she turned on her heel and stormed into the wooded area.

Ron stared after her, looking sorrowful. Of course he, like everyone else hadn't thought for a moment that Raven might not have a pet (particularly if they weren't allowed at Salem. Hermione sighed, 'Well, I would have stayed. I mean the theory's got to be good.'

Ron rolled his eyes, 'Come on, Hermione. She's not going to want to stay and watch us fool around with our pets if she hasn't got one!'

'Well, I bet she's rich, so she'll just go and buy herself one during our next trip to Hogsmeade,' Hermione looked as though she had wanted to continue but an explosion of wing beats made everyone freeze. The flock wasn't as large as it was loud. They were all crows, a good hundred or more. Then, out of the forest came Raven, holding her arms out, three or four crows balanced on each. A certain anger crackled around her as she shooed away all but one of them, a huge one with its feathers fluffed out every which way. It cawed in a low granddaddy voice. Raven was silent as she rejoined the ranks, her new pet on her shoulder.

Ron snorted, 'I wonder if there's such a thing as crow-tongue.'

Harry chuckled, 'Perhaps.'

Hermione wrinkled her nose. 'There isn't.'

'Says you.'

Hermione didn't have a chance to respond as Hagrid called their attention back. They set their pets through the paces today, told to fly (or run or hop) to a certain location and bring back certain items, held even Malfoy's interest. Harry took the opportunity to ask Raven how she did it.

'Ravenclaw thing, Harry. You wouldn't understand.' Her quick smile told him that she was hiding something and she didn't care to tell him. 'And no, the corvalus lingua is far too harsh for a human to speak accurately. Though many have tried and failed,' Her great bird landed on her shoulder, cawing softly in her ear.

'Nice moves there. With a wild bird, an' all,' Hagrid crooned from behind them, 'You do 'ave a way wiv animals,' He seemed beside himself.

'Some animals,' she said, with a dark smile in Harry direction, 'dark beasts have a great deal of trouble liking me.'

Hermione snorted.

Malfoy seemed quite intrigued. 'And why's that, Hawksmoor?'

Raven's golden eyes traced across the field as she flicked her crow into the air with a command to retrieve a maple leaf. 'I have the fifth (and highest) level in the destruction of dark beasts as a part of my active DADA training. It was easily my best course at Salem. I took summer courses year ago to get my full rank.'

Malfoy smiled as though he had already known this. Hagrid was visibly stunned, 'You...kill...poor...defenceless...creatures?' There was much hurt and anger in his voice.

Raven's eyes seemed quite suddenly cruel. 'Only ones that pose a threat.'

Hagrid suddenly turned from her, and left them. Malfoy's soft chuckle made the bile rise in Harry's throat. Raven held out her arm as her crow returned, leaf in beak. But it was as though Raven had become something totally foreign and alien. Harry found himself upset with her, though he really had no right to be, and from the actions of the other Gryffindors who had overheard the exchange, he knew he wasn't the only one.

* * *

Miwa was sitting Harry's lap again, purring contentedly. Her eyes had finally changed to a more proper golden-yellow, he noticed as she looked up at him, her face relaxed. But the conversation at hand made him look up.

And it was strange how the Gryffindor males stood up for Raven when so many of the girls (including a few their girlfriends) didn't.

And Hermione was the worst, trying to please both sides, she only added fuel to the fire. She was speaking now. 'I'm sure that Raven doesn't mean things in a cruel way. I think she's just used to her own school and how things worked there.'

Lavender (who was hideously jealous of Raven's sudden and complete takeover as the best student in Divination) sneered, 'she's a horrible show-off!' a few of the girls nodded.

'You only say that because you can't remember half of the major arcana,' Dean Thomas' grin was wide. 'She's just more advanced in some subjects than we are. Look at her potion lesson from yesterday. She's horrible at that.'

'She lost us fifteen points!'

'And you lost us twenty during our first Herbology class, Jenny, when you dropped the piranha plant when Professor Sprout told you not to jostle it around!' Dean growled back at a girl Harry didn't know very well.

'It snapped at me!' she whined.

Parvarti's arms were crossed, 'She's so violent. How do we know she's not a dark witch? She seems to like the Slytherins so much, and she tried to kill Professor Lupin!'

Harry stood quite suddenly, still holding the cat in his hands. Everyone who was arguing fell silent. 'I hate to say this, because I know how many people this will bother. But you-know-who, for all he's the most darkest wizard ever, and the most evil person on the face of the planet, and deserves to die more than anyone I know, and has just been resurrected from a sub-human experience near death, is still more 'human' than Professor Lupin.'

There was a remarkable silence after that.

'But Lupin doesn't deserve to die. He's not evil. He's just sick...and potentially dangerous. Raven didn't know. That's not her fault.'

Everyone remained still.

'And you know what? Slytherins are human beings too. Even if they are generally horrible, at least they have the decency to treat Raven with respect. More respect, I might add, than this whole house seems to give her.'

With that, Harry carried Miwa up to his dorm and ignored the few protests that a few people dared to call back at him. He flopped down on his bed, watching the kitten play with the corner of his sheet. 'They just don't understand, do they, Miwa? She's going to hate her own house, and it's not because of anything the Slytherins have done.'

The cat paid him no heed and bounded away, over to Ken's bed, which she hid under.

Harry laid back in his own bed, trying not to think about how depressed he had been the few times everyone in his dorm had turned against him.

* * *