Unofficial Portkey Archive

I might as well say this up front: The Wanderer (Talisien), as well as time wolves (Rozan in particular), Kailyn, Fey, and the elven traditions are my own invention, copywritten by me. Although as seen here are not exactly the same as they are in my books, and only a representation of them - seeing as Rozan had nothing to do with Talisien or Fey, and Kailyn is about eight months old when Talisien and Fey last saw her - they are still from my books. Unfortunately, none of them are published yet, but I'm working on that. They will be eventually (hopefully within a year or so), under the title of The Destiny of Catin series. The first book, which includes Talisien and Fey - and others - is called The Severakh Incident.
The world of Harry Potter, of course, is still copywritten by JK Rowling, among others, and does not belong to me. I am just borrowing them for a while...
---------------------

Chapter Eight: Care of Magical Creatures

Harry rolled over slowly in his four poster bed and opened his eyes groggily. Once the world came into focus - well, as focused as it got for Harry without his glasses - he realized that there was a sliver of sunlight coming in through the small area that his curtains didn't cover.

He fumbled for his glasses and put them on, and then sat up. "Must be close to ten..." he mumbled as he stretched. Having Tuesday and Thursday mornings off was going to be so nice.

Once he was dressed he realized that he was alone in the dorm room. Taking a deep breath, he opened his trunk and rummaged around in it until he found the old mirror again. "Class looks like it should be good this year, Sirius," he whispered. "But Snape's still a git."

Smiling to himself, he put the mirror into his robe pocket, and heard it knock against the box that held the stone in it. Deciding better of himself, he moved it to an empty pocket where it had a better chance to be safe.

Once he made it downstairs after a quick trip to the loo, he found Ron sitting in one of the large chairs next to the window, absently toying with a chess piece while flipping through his latest issue of "Witch Broomstick?". He looked up as Harry took the seat across from him and nodded. "Wanna game?" he asked, motioning to the wizarding chess board.

Harry shook his head. "I try to make it a point not to be humiliated before lunch time except in Potions," he replied with a grin. "How's your morning been?"

"Couldn't sleep," Ron mumbled, putting his magazine aside. "Been thinking too much about stuff. What do you think of Talisien?"

Harry sighed as he leaned back in his chair, enjoying the comfort of it all. He winced a bit as the handle of the mirror dug into his side, and he placed it on the table face down instead. "He'll keep us on our toes, that's for sure. It'll be different without a teacher who can cast the same spells as us, though."

"I'm not worried," Rom said confidently.

"Yeah? Why not?"

Ron shrugged. "If I don't get it, I'll get you to teach me. I figure we'll be learning a lot in the DA this year anyway."

Harry shot a quick glance around the room to see who else was there. Lavender was sitting by the fire with Crookshanks, and Pavarti was sleeping on the couch. Both people already knew about the club. "I'll do what I can," Harry promised. "Once we get it going, that is."

"Right," Ron said absently. "Speaking of that, any thoughts about Quidditch this year?"

"Um... yes!" Harry said. "After being banned for most of last year, of course I've got some thoughts. Like... I want to play, and soon!" They both laughed, and then Harry sat forward again. "Say Ron, is your dream still to be the captain of the Quidditch team?"

Ron looked startled by the suggestion, and then apparently thought about it for a minute before answering. "I wouldn't mind, but I don't need it. I've got other things on my mind these days anyway."

"Really?" Harry asked with a grin. "Something other than Quidditch or food?"

"Stuff it, Harry."

He sighed as he leaned back again. "I should warn you, Ginny's got both Kirke and Sloper thinking I'm already the captain, Ron," Harry said after a moment. "But I don't know if I would want it. I mean, it was your dream, right?"

Ron didn't answer right away, and instead looked out the window. Harry followed his gaze to the Quidditch pitch. "Ya know how I got all upset in fourth year, about how you get everything and I get nothing?"

Harry remembered all right. It was some of the hardest few months he had spent at Hogwarts. "Of course I do."

"Things have changed a lot, mate," Ron said. "I mean, I'm a prefect, and they skipped you... for whatever reason. And you've got those bleeding dreams and Snape to deal with. But Quidditch captain is a sweet spot to be..."

"You take it, then," Harry suggested. "I doubt I have time for it anyway with the DA and all, and besides, you know more about it than I do."

"Bullocks," Ron said instantly. "You had Wood for three years. That counts for a lot, Harry. He's first string of Puddlemere now, you know?" Ron then stood. "We'll see what happens when the team gets together, alright? For now, I think lunch is calling to me. Coming?"

"Yeah," Harry replied, picking up the mirror. As he was about to pocket it, he noticed Lavender watching them, and looked to her curiously.

"Nice mirror, Harry," she said, brushing Crookshanks's long orange fur with her fingers. "I think Hermione's got one just like it."

"She does?" Harry asked in amazement, his mind spinning suddenly. There was only one other mirror like this one, and Sirius was supposed to have that. But he didn't have it with him when he died. But then, why would Hermione have it now? "Do you know where it is?"

"Yeah, she leaves it on her night stand most of the time."

"Any chance I could see it?" Harry asked, looking back to his own mirror.

"What's with the fascination in mirrors suddenly?" she asked as she stood up. "Not letting the papers go to your head, are you?" The way she was grinning told Harry that she was just teasing him, and so he ignored the comment.

Once she came back down, Harry pocketed his own mirror and took the mirror that Lavender offered him. The same, intricate patterns were woven down the handle, and it looked just as old. The back needed some serious care, as it had long, deep scratches in it, and there was dirt stuck in several of the grooves along the edge of the mirror.

The surface of the mirror itself was clean and smooth, though. As he looked into it, he again saw multiple images shift quickly before he saw his own face reflected back at him. It was all the proof he needed. "Thanks, Lavender," he said, handing it back to her. She looked confused and was obviously waiting for an explanation, but he wasn't sure what he could say. "Uh... I just wanted to check to see if hers was as old as mine. My dad left me this one." Ok, so Sirius had left it for him, but he had said that he and James had used the two of them on quite a few occasions to keep in touch. "Could you... not tell her I know about it, though?"

"Keeping secrets from her now, are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Aren't you two going out?" Lavender asked.

Harry shook his head with a quick glance to Ron, who didn't seem to be paying attention anyway. "Not really. We talked about it for a bit... but..."

"I won't say a word," Lavender promised quickly when she saw he was getting embarrassed trying to answer. "But you have to promise me something, too."

"What?"

"Two things. First of all, when the DA gets up and running again, you'll tell me, right?"

"Of course."

"Alright, good. Secondly, if things do change between the two of you, but you decide to keep it a secret for a while, at least let me know, okay?"

Harry shrugged. "Why would we keep it a secret?"

Lavender rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Surely you remember all that nonsense in fourth year, don't you?" She was referring to the Rita Skeeter articles that painted Hermione as some love struck witch who had used a potion to capture his heart.

After an uncomfortable moment, Harry finally nodded to her, and she smiled and took off up the girl's side to return the mirror. Harry then turned to Ron. "Shall we eat now?"

"You make no sense sometimes, mate," Ron said quietly, shaking his head as Harry went on ahead of him.

Hermione was already sitting at the table with a plate of taters and a goblet of pumpkin juice, though she wasn't touching either. Instead, she had a roll of parchment next to her and was scribbling in it furiously until Harry sat on one side of her and Ron sat on the other.

"Oh, hi!" she said, rolling it up. "You wouldn't believe how good Arithmancy is going to be this year. He's already assigned the best essay yet, asking for just what we believe goes into each of our spells. I don't think I'll fit it into a foot, though... my rough notes are already three feet..."

"Easy there, `Mione," Harry said gently with a pat on her arm. "Calm down before you blow something."

"Oh but Harry, this class is going to be wonderful!"

"Good," Harry replied with a grin. "You enjoy it, and I'll enjoy sleeping in."

"Fine," she said a little dejectedly as she took a sip of her pumpkin juice.

"I couldn't join the class anyway, `Mione," Harry reminded her. "Neither could Ron. We don't have an OWL in Arithmancy, remember?"

"I know..." she sighed. "Be nice to have a friendly face there, though. No one from before the OWLs in my class is still there. A few from the other class made it, but I'm it from the Gryffindors..."

"You'll just have to show some of that Gryffindor courage then, and do well for the rest of us," Ron pointed out. "Sides, it's only one class, right?"

"Double class, but yeah. It's good. I'm enjoying it."

"Good," Harry said softly as he started in on the piece of steak he had pulled from the plate in front of him. "We have Hagrid this afternoon."

"Moder at geet n' ngerous ting hees got planned fer thoose year..." Ron mumbled through his food.

Hermione glared at him, but, as usual, Harry caught his words anyway. "Hard to say with Hagrid, isn't it? At least the Blast-Ended Skrewts are gone, right?"

"Those were the worst!" Hermione agreed vehemently. "Mind you, I doubt Norbert would have been a whole lot better, right?"

"You know what I'm really looking forward to, though?" Harry asked the others.

"What?"

"Hagrid's class... without Malfoy there to foul it up!"

Once they had finished with their lunches and Hermione had stuffed her parchment back into her bag, the three started their trek down towards the cabin at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. They were a little early, but figured it would give them a chance to catch up with Hagrid.

Unfortunately, Hagrid was no where to be found when they got there. However, in the pumpkin patch behind his house they did find Rozan, who looked up to them as they arrived.

Taking a class from Hagrid, are you?

"That's the plan," Harry said with a grin. It had been a while since he had spoken to the time wolf, and he felt the effects on his mind almost at once as it started to calm down. He wasn't sure what it was about the creature that helped, but he knew it did.

You'll be learning some about my kin, then.

"Wicked," Harry said with a grin to the others. They just looked at him, obviously confused. "Er... Rozan just said that we will be learning some about time wolves in class this year." You didn't talk to them, too?

If I spoke to you and Hermione, then Ron would know that I have seen Hermione before, and from your thoughts, I understand that he has been kept unaware of that situation. I thought that you wanted it to appear that we had not met before.

Thanks, Rozan. "So, where is Hagrid, anyway?"

He is in the forest with his half brother. Apparently, he has calmed down a lot over the summer, as he no longer attacks Hagrid each time he approaches.

"Harry?" Ron called to him, breaking his attention to the time wolf.

"Yeah?"

"Are you talking to that?"

He was indeed, Ronald Weasley.

"Blimey!" Ron exclaimed in surprise, covering his ears as though that could keep the sound out. He lowered his hands quickly, and looked back to Rozan. "That was you?"

Indeed. I am speaking to all three of you now, and I understand from Harry that you are all his friends.

"You know Harry?" Ron asked, surprised.

I watched over him for some time over the summer while he was in the elven village. As such, I knew more of him than him himself. I was simply privy to some of his thoughts, which is why I know that you are Ronald Weasley, and you are Hermione Granger.
Rozan looked away from the three of them towards the castle, and then back to the woods. "What's going on, Rozan?" Harry asked.

The other students are on their way, so I just told Hagrid as such. He should be arriving at the same time as them.

"You are a beautiful animal, Rozan," Hermione said softly.

You may touch my fur, if you wish, Hermione. The fact that neither Harry nor Ron responded told her that this thought was directed only to her. She stepped forward hesitantly and placed a nervous hand on the top of Rozan's head, between his ears.

"He's really soft, too," she said, looking back to the others before kneeling before Rozan to look closer at him. "Gentle too, right?"

Unless I am in danger, yes.

"'Ata girl, `Ermione!" Hagrid's booming voice called through the thicket just before the sound of thrashing trees could be heard. Hermione looked up to see him emerging from the woods, and heard students approaching from behind. "There ain't many e'd let touch `im, at's fer sure. Means he trusts ya with sumthin he `olds dear."

"With something he holds dear?" Hermione repeated, looking back to Rozan.

I did look after Harry for some of the summer.

Hermione's face turned red as she heard that thought in her mind and she realised just what the time wolf meant. He could sense her feelings for Harry, and he thought they would be good together. Although it was a comforting thought, it still was a bit embarrassing to be given permission by a time wolf.

"Alright, gather round e'eryone, gather round!" Hagrid called to the small crowd of students. Hermione stepped away from Rozan until she was next to Harry and Ron again, and found that there were about a dozen others, including - to her surprise - Lavender and Pavarti. After the way they had gone on about Hagrid in the past, she didn't expect to see them again in the elective class. "You've all seen Rozan, right?"

"He's got beautiful fur..." "He's a proud animal, isn't he?" "Is he really a time wolf?"

Please do not yell. The voice in all the students' minds caught them off guard, and silence fell instantly, save for Hagrid's chuckling.

"Well, I wuz gonna tell ya'll that time wolves speak through the mind, but guess `e beat me to it, eh?" He chuckled again before looking back to the students. "'Oo can tell me sumthin bout time wolves?"

"They can predict imminent events of the future," Harry said without thinking about it.

"Very good, `Arry, very good. Ten points ta Gryffindor! Anyone else? Yes, `Ermione?"

"There are almost no time wolves left in the world, and those that are are said to live in the deepest regions of the oldest forests. Most dislike human contact after so many years of being abused. Their fur can be used in several potions, and their whiskers can be used in making wands."

Hagrid looked a little taken aback at the stream of information that Hermione gave, but then he started to chuckle again. "I should'a known, I really should'a. Good job, `Ermione! Twenty five points ta Gryffindor. Anyone else?"

"Is it true that they live until killed? That they don't age passed a certain point, and then could live forever?" This question came from a Ravenclaw that Harry didn't recognize.

"Well, Gerry, why don'tcha ask `im yerself?"

The question caught the boy offguard, and he stepped back nervously, but then looked to the time wolf with a determined glance. "Is it true?"

It is indeed.

"Then how old are you?" Hermione couldn't help but ask.

Time has no meaning to me anymore, Hermione, Rozan replied after a moment.

"Right," Hagrid said after a moment or two longer of the class talking either about or to Rozan. "We'll be comin back ta Rozan later on. Fer now, I wants ya all ta come round front, and we'll talk bout what we're lookin at this year."

"So what else are we looking at, Hagrid?" Hermione asked quietly as the three struggled to keep stride with their massive teacher. "Not anything like dragons, is it?"

"Er... no, `Ermione. Not fer lack a tryin, though. Be great ta have dragons back `ere again, don'tcha think, `Arry?" Hagrid asked, looking down to Harry.

For his part, Harry could only remember with the horror he had felt trying to steal an egg from a Hungarian Ridgeback, and decided to keep quiet on the issue. "I think we'll be looking at a few rare magical creatures this year, right Hagrid?"

"Right ya're, `Arry," Hagrid replied, beaming to him as the other students joined them. "Thanks ta yer new Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, we've gotta couple a things that I've never even `eard of before, let alone thought existed." Seeing the horrified glances from the students, he went on quickly. "Oh, don't worry bout nuthin, they ain't dangerous or anythin. Just unusual... but we're starting with a few smaller stuff first. Any guesses?"

"He didn't bring... wood fairies, did he?" Hermione asked hesitantly.

"Is it bad if he did?" Ron muttered.

"Well not really. They're just really rare creatures, but smart as anything else. The few references I found to them said they were almost human more than animal."

"Fairies are right smart creatures, `Ermione, that book wasn't lyin to ya. And he did manage ta convince a couple ta come. We ain't studyin `em, so much as talkin to `em, though. Don't wanna insult `em. It'd be like going into the woods and askin Bane ta let us study `im."

The few students who had heard rumours about Firenze - one of the two Divination professors - or those that knew first hand (mainly Harry, Ron, and Hermione), understood at once. The others simply knew that it was not a smart thing.

"'Erefore, we ain't talkin to em until we've had a chance ta talk bout `em first, ta make sure ya'll understand. Before that, though, we're lookin at a couple a spirits first - elemental spirits, like heliopaths and sorenaitans."

"Heliopaths, Hagrid?" Hermione repeated. "They don't really exist, do they?"

"They certain do, `Ermione!" Hagrid replied happily. "And we've gotta couple in a special spot in the woods until its time ta study em."

Hermione turned to Ron and shrugged. "Remind me - once we've seen them, anyway - to apologize to Luna."

"Why?" Ron asked in surprise. Hermione just shook her head and went back to paying attention.

"First, though, we're actually gonna learn a bit about elves," Hagrid announced. "Figurin that you've gotta deal with one as a teacher, ya might as well know sumthin bout `em," he pointed out.

"Elves are classified as Magical Creatures?" Harry wasn't sure who asked, but he didn't really have a chance to look around before the near-familiar flash of green announced Talisien's arrival.

"Indeed, according to your Ministry of Magic, elves are magical creatures. A fact that I won't deny," Talisien explained with a brief nod to Hagrid. "Your Professor has asked me to come and speak with you about the elves - I guess he thought I might know something about my own people."

"Doesn't it upset you that you are considered a creature by our Ministry?" Hermione asked.

Talisien simply shook his head. "I learned a long time ago not to let things that I had no control over bother me. If they were to take a closer look at wizards and witches, though, they would find that you aren't entirely human, so I doubt you'll be hearing any change anytime soon."

"Not human?" Ernie Macmillan asked. Harry hadn't noticed the Hufflepuff chaser there at all, so his voice came as a bit of a surprise.

"Now is not really the time to get into a debate about this," Talisien replied, brushing the question aside. "But you call non-magical folk muggles, right? That says that you know there is a difference. If you want to talk to me about it sometime, feel free to stop by my office any morning or evening. I'll find you there." He paused for a minute before going on. "Now then, besides our brilliant Miss Granger, who else can tell me something about the elves?"

Hermione blushed a little at the comment and looked away. Harry raised his hand, but Talisien looked right by him to Lavender. "Don't elves live for hundreds of years?"

"Well done Miss Brown," he replied. "Elves can live for almost two thousand years at the longest life span. This sounds wonderful, I'm sure, especially given that the average lifespans of the students gathered her is around one hundred fifty to two hundred years old - another one of the facts that points to being beyond human, incidentally."

"How old are you then, sir?" Hermione asked directly.

Talisien looked to her for a moment. This fact was only really obvious by the fact that the brown specks of light that were showing through the shadows of his hood were directed towards her. "I will not answer that, Miss Granger. I believe that information could aide you in your quest to discover my last name. Nice try, though." He then looked up. "Anything else that you think should be mentioned about elves being different?"

Harry's hand was still up, and again, Talisien ignored it, just as he ignored Hermione's hand when it went up. He did look to Ron when his rose into the air. "Don't you usually live in forests?"

"Very good, Mr. Weasley."

"You have tremendous healing powers, too," Hermione said finally, not being able to hold in her answer any longer. "Most elves can heal a serious wound in a matter of days, if not hours, even when the same wound on a human would probably leave them dead."

"Close, Miss Granger. While our healing powers are greater, not everything can be healed in an instant." He brought one of his hands into the folds of his cloak, though no one could really tell why. When he brought it out again, he turned back to Hagrid. "I believe that is class, Hagrid."

---------------------

Until the sun sets upon a broken world, I will be watching from within The Shadows…

-->