Harry Potter and the Wyvern's Crown

Chapter 21: The Choosing Stones

'What are you saying?' Harry cried in near desperation, 'What on earth are you saying? You're Stephan!'

Draco spat, then wiped his mouth, his nose so wrinkled it looked at though it was going to gain permanent creases from it, 'I wish. But I'm not. That's what I was trying to tell you yesterday...it's past midnight now, Potter, don't give me that look. I've been watching this whole mess as Raphael. You I assume have been watching this as Gregory?'

Harry nodded. 'I have.'

'Then we have a dilemma.'

'How's that?'

Draco made a face. 'Follow me. And mind Mrs. Norris. It is after hours.'

He passed Harry with a swish of fabric. He headed out, but Harry touched his arm. 'Well then, let not get caught.'

Draco looked back. 'And how do you propose that?'

Harry pulled him back into the Hospital Wing, then walked over to the window, he didn't have his wand on him, but he doubted he needed it. He held out his hand, reaching for the wild magic source within him that allowed wandless magic to take place, 'Accio Invisibility Cloak.'

It was hard to tell if the spell had worked but a few moments later, he heard Draco gasp, and he felt the cloak had fallen on top of him. Harry held an arm out, 'Mrs. Norris can sense us, but Filch can't. Where are we going?'

'The stairwell.'

He didn't need to say which one.

* * *

Once they had arrived, without incident, Harry dropped the cloak. Draco took a deep breath, 'We have to figure out what happened back then.'

Harry nodded. 'I think I understand.'

Draco shook his head. 'It makes a little less sense from my point of view, Harry. The students at Durmstrang study the Dark Arts...'

'And at Salem they train Aurors,' Harry added.

'Right.' Draco's voice was dark. 'But other than being a little kooky, and being a Parseltongue and a snake Animagus, I don't see any reason for him to go mad. So you're the Parseltongue, talk to that snake on the wall and find out why,' He gestured at the Slytherin tapestry that churned with dark magic.

Harry shook his head, 'No way!'

'What, Potter? Frightened?' Draco was both mocking and upset.

Harry made a face, not willing to be goaded into it, 'I've already tried. I think that snake on the wall's just a batty as his namesake. Why don't you talk to the Raven?'

Draco rolled his eyes, 'You don't think I've been doing that? Raphael doesn't like that I'm a Slytherin. He refuses to talk to me, or explain things. He simply 'wishes to forget'. I don't get much from that!'

Harry sighed. He'd addressed Gregory before, and the only time the lion answered vocally it had knocked him out. But things had to be understood. He turned to the red banner, and sighed, 'Gregory. Speak to me.'

The golden lion was still, but after a moment, it turned and sat. It said nothing.

'Gregory, I must know what is happening, why am I, and this Slytherin,' He indicated Malfoy, 'having these dreams? I must know, Gregory! What happened that was so wrong? What happened to Stephan? Why did he go mad?' The lion was silent, watching with red-silk eyes. Harry tried another tactic, 'What happened to Bethany?'

The lion stood. His growl echoed in the chamber, and Harry caught half an idea. Blood running down into the ground. Had she died? Or was she simply cut by Stephan's bite?

'That's not enough! I need to know, Gregory! Why us?'

Seek the Choosing Stones

Gregory then turned and froze in his rampant stance. He would say no more tonight.

'What did he say, Potter?'

Harry shook his head, 'Seek the Choosing Stones.'

'He must be as batty as the other two. Too bad we can't talk to the badger there. Henry seemed to be the most level headed of the four of them.' Draco turned. 'I hate to say this Potter, but we're still no farther than we were before.'

Harry nodded, thinking to himself about the confusion that was plaguing them, but a yowl drew him away from his introspection. Mrs. Norris had tracked their scent, and had finally found them. Harry grabbed his cloak and Draco dove under it with him. They were breathing shallowly as the cat sniffed around where they were.

'What have you found, my sweet? Or did you simply wish to give Gryffindor's banner a call goodnight? He looked up at the banner and tipped an imaginary hat to the lot of them. 'Goodnight gents,' He squinted, then looked exactly where Draco and Harry were crouched. 'Don't see...' He blinked at the tapestries, then called Mrs. Norris to himself and walked back down the stairs.

'That was far too close.'

'Yeah,' Harry agreed.

'I meant to you, Potter. Do you bathe?' Draco waved a hand, but he didn't seem to mean any harm by it.

'I was about to ask you the same thing, Malfoy.'

Draco's harsh eyes didn't change though there was a hint of a smile on his cheeks. He seemed to notice this, and so turned away, heading into the nearest stairwell. Harry waited a moment before following him.

* * *

The reason behind Raven's absence was soon known to the entire school, and there was much talk of Death Eaters, Voldemort and Dementors, as many students relived the horrors of three years before when the school had been surrounded by the soul-sucking terrors. And of course, the whole resurrection of Voldemort brought no recompense to the sudden feeling of insecurity and worry that soon overtook the student body. The teachers felt it too, and therefore did little to drive the gloom away. Lupin was particularly edgy, and the dark look in his eyes wasn't entirely based on the fact that he was, yet again, going into phase. And that 'other reason' was probably the impetus behind his sudden change in the lesson plan.

Instead of learning a new set of 'undo' and 'counter' hexes, Lupin stood at the front of class, very quiet, the dark circles under his eyes making him look not quite right, his grey-mousy hair half falling into his eyes. Lavender, sitting to Harry's right, beside Parvati wrote a large lettered comment in the margin of her notes. 'He looks so wild when he's about to go into phase!'. Harry caught sight of it and shook his head softly. As the class quieted, Lupin was looking at a thick book. With a tired, almost growly, sigh, he slapped it shut. He looked up, dead on Harry before he looked around the class.

'How about we learn about Orbus Meum today?' His grey eyes flashed across the room, looking for a response. Of course, most were shocked, and therefore silent. His eyes touched Neville's. 'Would you like to learn that spell, Mr. Longbottom?'

The small, round-faced boy blinked with wide eyes, then whispered, 'Could I?'

Lupin smiled ferally, 'Of course. It's advanced, but not hard, once one has learned the technique. Holding it up for a long period of time...that takes effort, but that is a matter of endurance and willpower,' His eyes fell on Harry again. Harry felt himself swallow. Lupin took half a breath in, before turning his head, 'Who would like to try first?'

Hermione's hand shot into the air, instantly. Lupin grinned, 'I figured as much. You will be first, possibly for the first time in your stay here, Hermione. But first, let's learn the spell, shall we?'

He began drawing strange figures on the board. But Harry barely saw them, though he copied them methodically. He was focused on the task, even though he felt himself drifting to where Gregory wanted him to be. He spoke the spell with the class, word for word, even though he could barely see what was going on. He was seeing, in slow motion, the innocent blood of the lovely Bethany pouring from her neck. The look on her face, so hard to tell what it was. Shock? Relaxation? Passion? And Stephan's words called out around Harry's head, driving him to madness, driving him into the past.

You do know...

Thou dost knowth...

Tou cogite...

Cogitasne...

Harry spoke the words aloud, his scar screaming, not realizing that others had said it before him.

'Cogitasne quid hic erit? Sanguis virginis draconum excitavit! Et qui draconum excitare audet, draconum imperat!'

* * *

Being as two boys from different houses had fallen victim to these attacks of inner vision, no one was blamed or held responsible for it. Lucius Malfoy was right maddened by it, but his protestations were thrown out a few seconds before he was. The boys were deemed too critical to move, and as it was a mystery as to why they were both suffering from the same apparent outbursts and fainting episodes, no one wanted to relieve them of their beds in case movement caused the reaction. Being restricted to bed for the first day didn't bother the boys any, mostly because they were both unconscious. But afterwards, as had happened every time before, they both woke within a few moments of each other, with no after effects. Pomfrey had been on watch and informed them that they were not going to be leaving until further notice. Harry was saddened, but somewhat relieved. Draco, on the other hand, was fairly outraged, but quickly realized that it was probably for the best.

They soon got used to lying in bed with little to do but read (Hermione brought Harry several books she'd found about the history of the Forbidden Forest), and eat the occasional snack brought to them by friends and well-wishers. Draco was a mournful hog when it came to visitors, and though Harry was always gracious and cordial, Malfoy had a way of making himself look even more pale and dreary than he already was for the obvious reason of attracting pity. And though Harry still had a pain in his heart because of the things Malfoy had done to Raven, at the very least, their common struggle had caused them to call a truce, even if it was rather tenuous. They were extremely careful not to trod on each other's toes, and because of this, when no one was around, the two boys began to compare notes.

It wasn't easy going. First, because the images of their visions were often jumbled, time-wise from one to the next, or were almost impossible to understand because the language gap was simply too severe, or there was important information that was understood by the speakers, and therefore missing. They were placing clues together a full day after they woke when a soft cough drew their attention to the doorway. Pomfrey was standing there with a dark shadow behind her.

'Harry, there's someone here to see you.'

Even on hearing that Harry's heart leapt within him, and he held out his arms as Raven circled the wary nurse. On seeing him her gothic features filled with joy and light and they embraced desperately.

'It's so good to see you!' Harry mumbled against her.

'And you,' she hummed.

Harry heard the sound of his roommate rolling over with a frumpy grunt. Raven broke the embrace for half a moment to look, then shook her head as if to say, 'I pity you.' He took her into her arms once more, and a brief kiss later, she sat on the side of his bed, touching the sheets softly, as though she wasn't sure what to say.

Harry knew he was the one to speak first, 'How's your mother?'

Raven pressed her lips together, then shook her tawny mane softly. 'She died.'

'Oh,' Harry touched her hand, squeezing it. 'I'm sorry, Raven...I...' He was at a loss.

Raven let out a long sigh. 'I don't know what saddens me more Harry, that I never got to know the woman, or that...that...' A tear rolled down her cheek, 'that there will never be another Hawksmoor.'

'What do you mean?'

Raven held out her hands, 'The spell of protection over the Hawksmoor family must have been broken somehow...or it wore out. Our name was supposed to live on forever. But I'm a girl, and I can't carry on the name. Or the legacy.'

Harry shook his head, 'It's all right, Raven. I mean, whoever gets your hand in marriage will carry on your legacy.'

Raven looked up with sad yellowed eyes. 'But I'm muggleborn. I know that's not supposed to mean anything, but the blood of the Hawksmoors, as thinned as it's become, especially in me, will probably mean I'll be the last crow-animagus of my line, the last to perform complex charming magics, the last to...' She swallowed and a tear fell down her cheek, '...have the chance to become a Ravenclaw.' She was struggling not to cry, and failing, 'I mean, I don't regret that I'm a Gryffindor, Harry, you know I don't. But when that sorting hat...I mean, it wanted so badly to put me in Ravenclaw, but I just couldn't. I hated her so much, I couldn't even...' She burst into tears, and welcomed Harry's warm embrace. She shook against him, sobbing openly.

Harry tutted warmly, and rocked her gently, as he had imagined his mother doing when he had been afraid and alone when he had been locked under the stairs for more than half his life. He looked over her shoulder, whispering calming words when he realized that Malfoy was watching them, a quiet expression on his face. Harry felt a surge of protection within him, a dark anger that bit at his throat.

'Raven,' Draco's voice had dropped to the pleasant cool tenor of Raven's date from the Halloween Ball. 'Raven.'

Harry felt her look up, as his own cheeks flushed.

'Raven, I think I'm a Hawksmoor.'

Raven jerked out of Harry's arms. Her voice was like death. 'What?'

'Draco...'

'Shut it, Potter, just for a second.' Draco glared, before looking back at his ex-girlfriend, 'I think I'm Hawksmoor. My mother was a Ravenclaw, and so was hers. The line goes back on her side for generations. I could be...'

Raven sat up, her face a mask of anger mixed with the tears she had shed only moments before. She sniffled and wiped her eyes. She slapped her hand down on Harry's bed. Then she spoke, 'That's not funny, Malfoy. It's not. Now my mother has died, and I never had the chance to tell her that I loved her. And you...' Her face was screwed up, 'you, just sit there, mocking me. Why...?' She wiped a pair of new tears from her face, 'why are you so mean?' With that, she turned tails and ran from the room.

An eerie silence was left behind her. And one that would not easily be ended.

* * *

The days were lengthening, but time was growing ever short. Running through the forest, blinded by rage and apprehension, Gregory's breath was failing him. Angered that he would have to risk his mind as an animal, he knew he had no other choice. He performed the wild charm within him, and all four paws hit the ground a moment later. The full moon lit his path, as only it could in the depth of the forest at night, and he growled, hearing suddenly, the scurry of a badger and the soft whispering-flap of a raven flying with him. His friends, though he had entreated them not to join him, were with him despite his assurance to them both that he would be fine. Henry, out of his fierce Hufflepuff loyalty, Raphael, out of his love for both Bethany, and Gregory, who he felt was the better friend to her. And with a sudden appreciation, Gregory roared his relief into the night sky. Better to have two friends stand with him against a fellow Head Boy, than to stand alone.

Better not to die this night, unsure if what he was thinking was even correct.

* * *

Harry woke from the dream, in the cool darkness of the night, and the sudden change of the breathing nearby told him that Draco was awake as well. But Harry didn't want to talk to him anymore. Not since that jab at Raven that he could be the last Hawksmoor. Even if he had some connection with Raphael Hawksmoor, that meant little. After all, Gregory's last name wasn't Potter. Family didn't matter in this case. The tapestries were doing this, Harry was aware. There was no other way of explaining it. He had no idea why, however.

'Potter.'

Harry rolled over. Draco didn't have a brain in his head, if he thought for even a moment that he was going to be chums again. Forget it. Making my girlfriend cry? There was no way. None.

'I know you're upset, but you must listen.'

'I do? I could just jam my fingers in my ears and hum,' Harry snapped, 'I don't want to hear your excuses.'

'I'm not making any, Potter. Just...'

'Just shut up, Malfoy. Shut your fool face, before I curse it shut.'

'I don't think you'd really want to try that,' it was half a threat.

Harry spun around in his sheets, looking at Malfoy, lit by the moon, anger in his eyes, 'You think your father is honestly going to protect you here?'

'This has nothing to do with him. So shut up and listen, Potter. I can curse you and you can curse me, but that's not going to help our situation,' He hissed. He let out a grumpy sigh, 'I think I know where the Choosing Stones are.'

Harry, disgruntled that he'd allowed Malfoy to actually finish his sentence, muttered, 'Fine then, where are they?'

'They're in our Common Rooms.'

Harry blinked, 'What do you mean?'

'Well, at least in the Slytherin Common room, there's a crest on the mantle piece. A snake, a rather large one, holding a piece of jade in his mouth. Now, anyone who wants to see if they will have success as a Slytherin, especially in their senior years, can touch that piece of jade and see if it lights. If it does, it means that the person will be head boy, or captain of the Quidditch team, or will have extremely high marks or whatever. Now, it's never once lit for me, not even a flicker, though I've lied about it. Don't you have anything like that in your common room?'

Harry thought for a few moments. There was a crest on the mantelpiece, and it was a lion made of gold. But a jewel? It didn't have one in it's mouth, but...'its eye. I think its eye is a ruby,' And when he had visited Cho, 'and the Ravenclaws have one as well. It's a blue stone, that's in the middle of the ball the bronze eagle is standing on.'

Draco nodded, 'and I verified with Oriana. Her brother is in Hufflepuff, and they have an ebony badger holding a piece of amber. I think those are the stones.'

Harry shrugged, 'Well, the Slytherins seem to be the only ones who use theirs. I've never heard of the lion giving direction...' his words paused in his mouth, 'the banners.'

'What about them?'

'That's what the banners used to do. They used to pick head boys, but they must have had a method of choosing head boys after the banners were taken down after the last Triwizard competition. They must have charmed the stones.'

'The stones may have been first. The banners were Stephan's idea, you know.'

Harry hadn't heard this, but then the banners hadn't seemed to be part of the major scenes that had driven one boy to madness and three others to silence. He licked his lips, 'Either way,' He fell silent.

'But why must we seek them?' Draco murmured.

Harry felt as though the answer was bubbling up right inside of him. He only had to reach out, touch the one memory that would connect all the information. He pushed at it, not quite able to place his finger on what was missing. Then he jerked to life.

'You have to go.'

'Go where?' Draco's sneer had returned, even if it did sound rather tired.

'Go to Ravenclaw tower. You have to touch the blue stone.'

'Why?'

'Because...' And the words came to him at last. 'You might be the Heir of Ravenclaw.'