Harry Potter and the Heir of Gryffindor

Chapter Sixteen: Orod

Snape seemed humored by this, but after their earlier reaction to his laugh, he wiped away his smile and grabbed hold of Harry's hand.

"Wingardium Leviosa," he said simply, waving his wand, and Harry, Ron and Draco's feet left the ground. They were weightless and rose up through the air, which now smelled a thousand times sweeter than it had even before. Ron and Draco had smiles on their faces and Harry was flushed with excitement as well as they approached Amalda's home.

They gazed upward at the huge front doors, the entire home made from substances Harry couldn't identify-the walls were as sturdy as stone, but looked almost transparent-bright periwinkle blue light filled the rooms and there was an indescribable airiness to it all.

"You've had a long trial, I can tell," said Amalda, setting them down in a lounging room. "You must be thirsty."

A maidservant walked into the room and handed them each a sliver goblet. Harry, Ron and Draco positively swooned at the provocatively-clad girl who, throwing them a wink, flurried out of the room without a word. The drink was as sweet as the air, and it seemed to fill Harry, almost as if he'd eaten a full course meal!

"When you reach the other side of the forest," Amalda was saying, "where is it you will go from there?"

"Ariah thinks our surest bet of getting home is to visit Orod."

Amalda nodded, setting her goblet down. "You know this is not a safe time to be in this forest."

"We know," said Snape. "And we assure you this is not a leisure holiday. We are stranded here. Every year, the students who attend the school where Ariah and myself teach are taken on a trip to places of Historical significance. So of course, this being the Caledonian Forest, the itinerary includes a stop to visit Merlin's Birthplace."

"Ahhh," Amalda nodded again, "Yes, I see."

"However none of us---none of us--were expecting what happened last night."

"Yes," said Amalda eagerly, "there is rumor in the forest that the Dark Lord has returned."

"The rumor is quite correct," said Ariah grimly. "And what is more, his supporters which were safely locked away in our Wizard Prison, were liberated last night by him."

"Yes, this was rumored also." Her face looked worried. "We are praying they will not come here. But if the Syads are already roaming the forest, then it appears they will come." She shook her head. "Fourteen years we have lived in peace, here in the forest. Fourteen years of calm and tranquility. We remember what life was like whilst the Dark Lord lived. . . always in fear. . . always in fear. Even we, a peaceful nation, feared our lives. . . and for fourteen years we were able to sleep soundly at night." She shook her head. "What of this boy, this Harry Potter? Can he not stop the Dark Lord? It is true that he stopped him once, is it not?"

The room fell quiet. Harry lowered his eyes immediately, his face burning, and he could feel Ariah staring at him.

Finally, she spoke. "Amalda. . . .this is Harry Potter."

Amalda stared at Harry, her eyes wide. "Indeed?" she said softly, quietly. It was silent for an eternity in which Harry wanted so very much for the floor to swallow him up.

"Well then," she said, "we must make sure that you reach Orod safely."

Thankfully, that brought up the opportunity to change the subject.

"Orod is still in his same den, isn't he?" Ariah asked.

"Oh yes, most definitely. Not nearly as public as he was centuries ago. I suppose he is lonely now. You did know that Fae was slaughtered."

"Fae?" Ariah cried. "A Gryphon? How-" "The Dark Lord," said Ariah gravely. "Dear me-- going on six years ago-"

Ariah looked devastated and Snape seemed stunned as well.

But why would Voldemort want to kill a Gryphon," Ron whispered.

Amalda shook her head. "The same reason that he was known to kill unicorns-- their blood. Gryphons are amongst the strongest creatures in the known world. He'd kill to have that kind of strength. So he killed Fae." She looked almost teary. "Orod never recovered."

"Disgusting," said Ariah, "absolutely disgusting."

Amalda looked over her shoulder and called out "Reedshimmer!"

A bulky manservant appeared almost instantaneously and bowed.

"Reedshimmer, will you please see to the preparation of two guest rooms? We will have guests staying here tonight."

"Oh no," Ariah protested, "we really don't have time to waste."

"Who's wasting any time? It is near nightfall. You will never make it to Orod's tonight and I will not have the five of you trekking through the woods and risk running into the Syads and-- well, who knows what other creatures will be returning now. No, I must insist that you and your friends stay with us the night. From here we can send word to your families that you are safe here. . . of course, the fairie post system is much slower than your wizarding system, but at least they will be informed."

Ariah and Snape exchanged looks. Snape shrugged. "You are most kind, Amalda."

She laughed softly. "Ah, if only the public opinion of me were so favorable!"

"Well. . . you are a politician," said Ariah lightly.

"Yes, but at least I know that you don't hold that against me!" She was chuckling now and stood up. "I must be leaving now, my friends. I am expected for a meeting with the Fehr. We're having the most terrible time passing a new trade tariff," she shook her head. "Amazing, isn't it? The more money we make the less we are willing to spend. . . it's a never-ending cycle. Although I am rather worried as to why he insists we discuss this at eight o' clock in the evening over dinner in his home. . ."

Ariah raised her brow. And once again, there was the faintest hint of smile tugging at Snape's lips.

"Are you sure you won't be needing some. . . company?" He asked. "Just for good measure?"

"Ah, well I may be old but, as you humans say, I can still pack quite a punch!" She winked and then bowed her head. "Now please, make yourselves at home, here. If you desire anything at all, you need only to ask one of my servants. I shan't be returning until late."

She bowed again and bade everyone good evening before walking for the front door.

The five were left together in silence.

Reedshimmer appeared again and gestured towards another room.

"We have a dinner prepared for you, if you are at all hungry."

Hungry? Harry was ravenous. They sat in Amalda's dining room which glowed white, the great table was most likely glass, but it was the thinnest, most delicate looking glass he'd ever seen and it hovered in the air. Five oversized, periwinkle blue cushions sat on the floor-- which turned out to be filled with an unearthly soft stuffing. Ron and Draco were smiling now, especially when the girl servant appeared again, setting plates in front of them. The food was thick and creamy--just what it was, Harry didn't know nor did he really care to know what exactly fairies ate-- all he cared about was that it was delicious.

He'd expected them to eat in silence, but the strangest, most unbelievable thing happened. (Yes, even more unbelievable than the discovery that Snape was capable of laughter.) All five of them talked.

No scathing looks from Snape, no vicious slurs from Malfoy or Ron . . . it was an amicable conversation.

"So have you done this often? Visited the Forest Fairies?" Ron had asked Ariah innocently.

"The times I have in the past were when I was here in the forest. But I've never stayed longer than a couple of hours, so this is a new experience for me as well. What do you think of the Cove?"

"Oh, it's bloody fantastic," said Ron. "It really is a big city, isn't it?"

"Those were stores, weren't they?" Draco asked. "The ones that we passed on our way here-- we saw fairies going shopping."

"Yes, there are countless stores carrying anything you can think of. We were walking down the main road of the city, this house here is in what's known as the The Old Cove, which was the first part of The Cove to be founded."

"It's, what, one thousand years old, Ariah?"

"I think it might be a bit more, Severus."

"You've been here before, Professor Snape?" asked Harry.

"Yes-- once." He paused and then added. "When I was running for my life. But that was before this new law they've passed, so I was able to just run right into the city. It's rather a good thing they've passed that law. They're fiercely proud of their culture, fairies are, and will quite literally do anything they can to protect it. It would be a grave mistake to be fooled by their size."

Ariah nodded, taking a swig from her goblet. "I for one would never like to become involved in any sort of confrontation with them. They know some complicated magic, fairies. Quite literally can knock you off your feet."

"Are we going to send word to Dumbledore, then? You know, that we're all right?"

Snape wiped his mouth with a delicate napkin. "Yes, I think that would be a good idea." He turned around, "Er. . . Reedshimmer, is it?"

Reedshimmer poked his head in the room and Harry tried not to laugh when he saw the head of that beguiling girl servant try to duck out of sight. So that's what they're up to while their master is away. He quickly came to Snape's side-- red lipstick smothered over his lips.

This was most distracting and Snape did his best not to look at it. "Amalda was telling us that it might be possible to have word sent home."

"Oh yes, most correct. You have the message ready?"

"Yes--"

Reedshimmer held out his hand and a small gold box appeared in him palm. "Where will we be sending the message?"

"Er--" Snape raised his brow at the box. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He stopped.

Reedshimmer smiled. "Go on-- recite your message."

"Er. . . To Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Professor Warwick, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Draco Malfoy and myself have found safe lodgings within the Caledonian Forest in The Cove. We are staying the evening here with an old friend of Professor Warwick and then tomorrow we will be heading directly for the den of Orod the Gryphon who will then escort us home. Please inform the families of the students that they are perfectly safe and will be returning to school tomorrow directly. Er. . . Yours Most Sincerely, Severus Snape."

Reedshimmer muttered something to the box and it made a small spark and disappeared.

"Where did it go?"

"To our post office of course. It will most likely not reach your destination until tomorrow afternoon, but we shall try our best. Will you be desiring anything else, Good Sir?"

Snape was making a direct point of not looking at the bright red lipstick. "Er-- no."

Reedshimmer bowed and exited. Ron was trying his hardest not to laugh

Ariah's brow was raised. "Did you see that?"

"Yes--"Snape started.

"Incredible! I simply must find out how they do that! It could start quite the revolution in the Wizarding Post!"

They stared at her and Snape finally said what everyone else was thinking. "I was actually more interested as to whether it is the fashion for Fairie men to wear red smudged lipstick."

The boys laughed together-- Snape included -- and Harry sat realizing that perhaps being stranded wasn't quite as bad as he'd first thought.

The rose and left the table to get some sleep, Reedshimmer leading the way to the guest bedrooms.

Snape seemed extremely anxious, especially when Reedshimmer pointed the way to 'their' bedrooms.

"Right, then. Have nice rest, Ariah." He turned to Reedshimmer. "Might I please be directed to a sofa?"

"Oh, but sir, I have direct orders from Amalda--"

"Nonsense, Severus! I'll not have you sleeping on a sofa! Reedshimmer, we can add another bed, can we not?"

"Certainly."

"Good. Really, Severus, the very idea. . ." she walked off into the bedroom, visibly shocked that Snape would have ever suggested such a thing.

Ron, Draco and Harry's eyes were wide-- Professor Warwick and Professor Snape sleeping in the same bedroom? There couldn't possibly have been anything to give Harry a more disturbing mental image than that. Snape's face was rigid, betraying no emotion (as usual) and he simply walked in after. He made a specific point of leaving the door open ajar. The boys could hear Ariah's voice from inside saying, in deep annoyance, "Oh, for heavens sake, Severus, shut the door!"

The door slammed shut, and the three collapsed into laughter.

They walked into their guest room, three small beds made and ready for them.

Draco folded his arms, a twisted grin on his face that Harry and Ron had seen so often before.

"I don't know about you lot, but I can't sleep knowing that Professor Snape is alone in that room with her."

Ron's smile was ready to fly off his face. He jumped onto the bed. "Yeah-- too bad we can't see through those walls."

"Yeah," Draco agreed. "Or at least hear. But I can't think of a proper charm to do the trick."

Harry snapped his fingers. "I've got an idea!" He took out his wand and said "glacio aparo" and a glass appeared in his hand. "This," he said giving Draco a pointed look, "is a muggle trick. You put the edge of the glass to the wall to hear what's going on in the other room. But it's usually really muffled--"

"Well, let's give it a little help then!" Ron said, jumping off his bed and pulling out his wand. "Aggrio!"

The three smiled and knelt down onto the floor, putting the end of the glass to the wall-- the voices inside came through clear as day.

Harry had to cup his hand to his mouth to keep from bursting into laughter as they listened:

"Really, Severus, did you have to make a specific point of placing the bed in the furthest corner? I don't carry the plague, you know."

"A-Ariah, you may not see a problem with this, but as a Hogwarts Professor of ten years, I find this type of behavior highly irregular, especially with students present. The correct thing to do would have been to have asked for separate bedrooms."

"Ohhh," she said-- there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "You're scared of what the kids think, are you?"

"Well . . ." awkward silence. "Yes."

"Oh, Sev--"

"Kids love to spread rumors, Ariah, especially those kids in there! Word spreads and the next thing you know, I am going to be fired for taking advantage of a Professor or something like that."

"Now that is just ridiculous," she said flatly. Draco sniggered and whispered, "No it isn't-- you know as well as I do that's exactly what would have happened!"

The other two laughed in agreement. They snapped to attention, however, when they heard something that sounded a lot like bed springs being jumped on top of and Ariah's voice again.

"If anyone is going to do the taking advantage of around here, it's me. . ."

Harry wished upon wish that he hadn't heard those words correctly. But the look of horror in Ron and Draco's faces affirmed he had. Draco's nose was scrunched up as though having smelled something rancid, and Ron's face had drained of color. No, no, no, oh please, this isn't happening, NO!

But it was!

You could have heard a pin drop between the boys as they listened through the glass, waiting. . . and then it came. . .

"Oh my-- Ariah, what are you--"

"Shhh," she said, "don't say anything, Severus. You'll ruin the moment . . ."

They heard what sounded frightfully like a pleasured giggle and a smooch on the lips--

Ron was the first to completely loose it.

"EEEEWWWWWW!!!!!!!" He cupped his hand over his mouth and went charging out of the room, shouting for Reedshimmer to direct him to a bathroom.

Draco was close at his feet, shouting "AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

Harry jumped away from the cup, trying desperately to get the mental image out of his head. He pointed his wand at the cup and ordered it to disappear just as Snape burst into their room.

"POTTER! WHAT'S WRONG?"

Harry, breathing heavily, stared at Snape: he was dressed in black night pajamas and looked briefly relieved to see him than actually concerned about his welfare.

"Erm. . . they. . . the-- the food. The food, er. . . it didn't sit too well."

"Oh," Snape was talking very loudly and very quickly, "well, perhaps we should send for some medicine? I'm not sure about what is best for an upset stomach, I know a number of potions we might use, although here in The Cove I'm not sure if we can find the correct ingredients, though perhaps I can think of some, er. . . Ariah, perhaps I'd best tend to the boys and see that they're okay, I mean it's probably nerves as well, you know, being away from school grounds in a foreign place where anything can happen-- er. . . yes, let me see to them, er, Reedshimmer? Reedshimmer, might I have a word?"

He walked off in a hurry, leaving Ariah behind. Her eyes were narrowed and looked quite cross. She was staring at Harry suspiciously.

Harry cleared his throat. "I-- I told them they shouldn't have eaten so much." He attempted a smile.

Ariah nodded. "Goodnight Potter," she said quietly and then went back into her room, slamming the door behind her.

Draco and Ron came back into the room ten minutes later, with Snape trailing behind them.

"No, really Professor Snape," Draco was saying, "We're fine. There's no need for you to wait up with us."

"R-right. Well, if you need anything, just come and fetch me. . ." He turned for the door and added, although Harry didn't think he intended for them to hear it, "Please come and fetch me. . ."

"Nox," said Harry. The lights went out and the three of them lay on their beds in silence.

"Do you know," said Ron, "that I actually feel sorry for old Snape."

"Did you see his face?" Draco asked. "He looked absolutely terrified--"

"Look you guys, I'd rather not think about it," Harry snapped, trying desperately to fill his mind with much happier things.

It was quiet for all of ten seconds before Harry gave in. "Who would have thought: Warwick fancies Snape."

"She more than fancies him," Ron said incredulously, "she obviously bloody wants the poor sod."

"Well," said Draco, "I mean, it could be worse. It could be. . . Madame Pince or something. At least Ariah is. . . well, come on, you have to admit she is pretty damn good looking."

"She's gorgeous," said Ron. "Remember that first day in class? I think all of us were ready to--"

"All right, Ron," Harry snapped. "We remember, okay?"

Ron laughed. "I can't believe it. Of all people: Professor Snape is girl-shy!"

"Hmmm," said Draco, "Maybe he's--"

"Oh no, he's not," said Harry, "definitely not."

"How would you know, Potter?" Draco challenged.

"Because I happen to know that Snape's only love was. . ."

"Yes? Who?"

"My. . . mum."

Silence.

"Your mum?" Draco breathed. "Snape was in love with Lily Potter?"

"Yes," he said quietly. "But you two are the only ones who know that and it's going to stay that way."

More silence.

"You know who my Dad used to fancy?" It was Draco speaking. . . Harry could hardly believe that Draco was offering anything like this.

"Who?"

"Your friend Sophie's Mum."

"Imelda?" Harry squeaked.

"Yeah," said Draco. "She was Imelda Arlington back then-- could've had the pick of any wizard in all of Britain, she could. Oh Dad had it bad for her. And when he chose that Banbury muggle instead--" Draco must have sensed that he shouldn't have said that because he added "--well, he tried liking her sister instead, but it was Imelda he was crazy over."

"Who would've thought," Harry breathed. He cleared his throat. "Are you and Pansy Parkinson together or what?"

"Pansy?" Draco scoffed, "Yeah, right. No thank you, Potter. Ever tried carrying on an intelligent conversation with that girl? Damn impossible. Sometimes she's bloody worse than Crabbe and Goyle!" He paused. "She did tell me that she heard from some Gryffindor that you've got it for that Sophie girl."

Harry burned. "You're the one who started that silly rumor, Malfoy."

"Yeah, but . . . c'mon Potter, you do, right? I mean, don't you write back and forth like every other day?"

"Sure as hell does," said Ron.

"Ron!" Harry cried in disbelief, "What are you talking about?"

"Well you do talk about her a lot, Harry."

"So what if I do? We're friends!" Ridiculous. I don't like Sophie-- she's just my friend, that's all! Harry folded his arms crossly. . . and then to his horror, in the back of his mind there was a voice. You do think about her often though, don't you. . .

"What about you," Harry shouted to Ron, trying to drown out the voice in his head. "You've been stubborn as hell all year--"

"We've already been through this, Harry--"

"Hermione, right? So you do fancy that Granger girl," said Draco triumphantly.

"NO!" Ron shouted-- he looked mortified. "And. . . and even if I did I wouldn't tell you, Malfoy!"

Draco was laughing. "Go on, threaten me if you like. It's too late though, the truth is out--"

"Shut up Malfoy! You don't know what you're on about!"

The door to their room creaked open. It was Snape again, his hair frazzled.

"Erm. . . having problems boys?"

"NO," said Ron quickly.

"A-are you sure? B-because if you need anything at all I can just--"

"We're fine," said Draco.

Harry strained in the darkness to see Snape-- he still looked frightened as a mouse and there was something near his lips that looked strangely red in the moonlight. He left most reluctantly to go back to the other room.

There was a nail-biting silence and Ron finally said what everyone was thinking. "Hey you lot. . . was it just me, or did anyone else see. . . "

All three shouted in unison. "Red lipstick!"

* *

In the morning, very little was spoken between the five. Harry, Ron and Draco watched Ariah and Snape most intently. They went about their affairs very normally with the exception that neither seemed to be giving the other any type of eye contact. After breakfast they bade their farewells to Amalda and then ventured out into the gorgeous, wonderfully bright sun.

Amalda embraced Ariah and told her to send word the moment they made it back home safely and she promised that of course she would. Ariah pointed her wand and the five descended back down to the forest ground. She then said "abeo aggorgio." There was a burst of wind, the world around them blurred with color and. . . they were back to normal.

"Hey," said Ron, "Draco didn't even get sick this time." He was trying desperately to get a smile out of the scowling Professor Warwick-- even Snape, who looked like he would have been quite happy to crawl underneath a rock.

"Come. Let's go."

They climbed the steps up out of The Cove, Harry taking one last look at the incredible city, and finally found themselves standing in a field of very tall grass. Ariah had already begun walking, Snape's robes billowing behind him as he followed. It wasn't exactly easy terrain to walk in, the mud getting thicker and thicker the further they trod.

Up ahead, Ariah and Snape were slowing down as well. By this time, Harry was straining just to get one foot out of the murky ground to put it in front of the other.

Ron looked panicked. "Um. . . Professors? I don't think that this is good--"

"I think you're right, Mr. Weasley," said Ariah from up front. She was stopped-- no, she was stuck! "Severus!" she shouted, "Are you--"

"Yes," he said quickly, "can't move an inch."

"No," she shouted, "are you sinking?"

Harry stared in horror and sure enough-- Professor Warwick was slowly but surely sinking. . .

And so was he. . .

"Ahhhh," Draco was shouting, "It's. . . what is it?"

"I don't know," said Snape angrily. "But don't panic," he yelled at Draco.

Snape pulled out his wand and pointed it directly ahead of him. A heavy rope shot out of end of his wand and flew about thirty feet before attaching itself to a tree. He pulled on it to test its tension. "Ariah-- come on, do the same!"

She did so.

"Come on, you three, hurry!"

Harry, Ron and Draco followed their orders.

"Now, on the count of three repeat after me: "Rejectus Infitalus". Ready? One, two, three!"

"REJECTUS INFITALUS!"

They all shouted at the same time, and their wands seemed to be pulling forwards towards the tree their ropes were attached to. With a great heave, they were pulled out of the muck and went flying towards the tree, holding onto their wands for dear life. They came to a crashing stop-- literally. All five of them rammed into the trunk of the tree.

They landed on the ground, which was thankfully solid and trustworthy, each of them now sporting some type of injury: Malfoys knee was bruised, Ron's nose was bloodied, Harry's finger was jammed, Ariah's shoulder was bruised and there was black and dark blue forming underneath Snape's eye. Everyone stared at Snape, annoyed that he didn't find a less dangerous alternative.

He grimaced, "Well I didn't notice anyone else was coming up with any ideas!"

They all heaved themselves to their feet, and pressed forward. But if nothing else, at least the small mishap had broken the ice between Ariah and Snape and by midday they had finally taken up talking again-- though unbeknownst to them, every word was being scrutinized and analyzed by the three boys.

Harry was tired. He was aching. He wanted rest-- he wanted food. But there was no sign of stopping. If anything, Ariah and Snape were picking up the pace, if that was at all possible. The sun was actually beginning to set by the time Ariah finally made the announcement Harry had been waiting for all day.

"There!" she cried, pointing towards a rocky hill in the distance. "Orod's den! We have to hurry! We must reach it before nightfall or risk the Syad's return!"

The urgency in her voice was contagious and the exhausted company broke out into a run. Malfoy, though, had had enough. He was falling seriously behind. Snape turned and frowned.

"Malfoy, come on!"

"Professor Snape, please--"

"You must, Draco." Snape took hold of his hand and pulled him along.

They reached the bottom of the rock-like hill, which was taller than Harry would have liked.

"No-way-in-hell-I'm-climbing-that," Ron panted.

"No worries," said Ariah, pointing to flat, smooth steps that were engraved into the side of the large crag. "Just keep running!"

The steps were endless, absolutely endless. Even the most physical game of Quidditch couldn't compare to what this felt like! It was quite literally, murderous! By the time they reached the top of the hill, the sun had just lay to rest the last of its rays. The surface was flat and smooth, save for the enormous entrance to what must have been the Gryphon's den.

Draco collapsed on the spot and vomited again. Harry would have felt sorry for him, only he was trying desperately not to do the same thing. Ariah was kneeling, catching her breath, unable to move another step.

"S-Severus. . . g-go f-find him."

He nodded and peeked his head inside the entrance. "Hello?" He shouted, still winded. "Master Orod? Are you in here?"

Harry heard a low rumble from within.

"Who is here?" The voice was deep and smooth.

Snape took another step forward and then dropped to one knee. "Master Orod, my friends and I are in need of your help."

The growl came again, "I have none to offer. Please go."

"Master Orod," said Ariah, approaching Snape's side. "We need your help. My name is Ariah Warwick. I have with me three innocent children. We have been stranded here in the forest for two days now and we need you to take us back home."

"And where is home?"

"Hogwarts School, Master Orod."

"Hogwarts. . ." Orod repeated breathlessly. "Come in."

Harry, Ron and Draco followed Ariah inside the den.

Harry had never seen such a singularly beautiful creature-- nor one quite as fear inspiring. He must have been ten feet in length and at least the same in height, if not more. His body was catlike, covered in a rich, soft golden fur that glinted like the sun overtop fields of rye. Powerful wings protruded from his back, the tips of which gradiated from gold to black. His four legs were those of a lion, except for the feet, which were enormous and birdlike with lethal looking claws, which were dusty from the dirt floor of the den. And his head-- huge, brilliant, infinite black eyes on the face of a lion-- or was it an eagle? He had a beak that was shining black with a tip as though it had been dipped in blood-- Harry felt his knees go weak.

Orod was breathtaking.

"Hogwarts," Orod was repeating. "My friend Godric. . . " there was distance in his eyes and his voice, as though torn between the present and some vivid memory which was probably infinitely more appealing than whatever the present could possibly offer. "Godric was a good man."

"Godric Gryffindor," Ariah nodded, "yes, I have read so many times."

"So few left," he continued. "So few. . . good men." And then his attention returned. "You know, of course, that he has returned. The forest is full of the news."

"Yes. The Dark Lord is back."

"You. . . these children. . . are not safe. No one is safe. . . not even myself. . . "

Their attention was rapt.

" . . . a powerful man, this Dark Lord. My own power proved useless against his. . . I could not even save my friend."

Harry's heart ached. He understood entirely the pain he now saw in Orod's eyes. It was the same pain he'd been battling with all year. Before he could think better of it, the words were already out.

"I know the feeling."

Orod's eyes flickered over to where Harry stood. They scrutinized him and Harry never felt so small as he did at that moment.

"You?" There was a bitterness in his voice. "A boy? How can you know anything?"

"Because it was Voldemort who killed my parents when I was a baby, and just last year, a good friend of mine. I could do nothing to stop it."

"Last year? But he has only just returned."

"Yes. And I was there and watched him as he came back."

Orod said nothing for a long time. And then. . .

"Ah. So you're the boy they call Harry Potter."

To have a Gryphon know his name was almost too much to bear.

"You and your friends. . . you all three attend Hogwarts?"

"Yes." And then, hoping it was the right thing to do, added "and we're all Gryffindors." Well, it's not *entirely* a lie. . .

If it was possible for a Gryphon to smile, then Orod did just that.

"I see . . ." he yawned and stretched his claws. "And you would like for me to help you home?"

"We would"

He nodded. "Very well. You belong to the House of my friend. Were he alive, I am sure he would be most in favor of my helping you. And that is why I shall. Even in death, I am loyal to my Godric."

Harry and Ron smiled at each other, bursting with pride at that moment to be Gryffindors-- Draco was staring at the floor.

"Thank you, Master Orod," said Snape.

Orod rose to his full height. "Come. We've a long flight ahead of us."

They left the den and went back into the night air, the sky now a blanket of stars.

"A ride on a Gryphon," Ron was saying. "Wicked!" Indeed, this mishap of theirs was beginning to have some very nice upsides! Most people never even get to see a Gryphon in their lifetime, and they were about to take a ride atop one! Oh, and wait until they told Hermione about their evening with the Forest Fairies. And Sophie would be so very jealous to hear--

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here."

The entire company froze. Harry whipped around and saw, to his complete amazement, someone he knew. Just what she was doing there was uncertain, but plain as day, Imelda Banbury was standing before them.

"Imelda?" Harry cried in disbelief. He broke out into a smile and made a start for her, but Snape grabbed his shoulder.

"That is not Imelda Banbury."

Imelda laughed a bone-chilling squeal. "You catch on quickly, dear Severus."

"What are you doing here, Delphine?"

Delphine! Delphine Lestrange!

"But isn't it obvious, Ariah?" She laughed. "It's called revenge, dear."

Ariah and Snape were reaching for their wands, but Delphine was faster on the draw. There was a blinding light, a scream, and then nothing.