Heron

“This is the, um, the one that... no, tch... it really is complicated.” 

“I have to be honest; I’ve been rereading the same paragraph for ten minutes now.” 

“Does Orion really understand all of this?” 

“What are you guys reading?” 

“Oh, hi, Padma, we’re just reading up on some runes.” 

“Wow, this looks...” Padma skimmed over the two pages the book was open on, “ very difficult.” 

“These are advanced runes.” said Silas, opening up their school textbook, “this is what we’re actually studying.” 

“This looks a lot more doable, but why are you reading this then?” 

“Homework ideas mostly.” said Terry, “Though we hardly understand a single sentence.” 

“Is it that bad?” 

“Oh, yeah.” 

“And you say Orion understands it?” 

“Probably. I’d be more surprised if he didn’t.” said Silas. 

The four of them gave a faint chuckle, but quickly got quiet, disappointed in themselves.  

As they were sitting in the awkward silence, a few thuds slowly approached them, progressively growing louder and louder. They turned to see who or what was coming, only to shake their heads when they saw it was Luna Lovegood.  

Luna had garnered a reputation of being an incredibly odd persona, some even considering her to be genuinely crazy. Despite that, she never seemed phased that people were actively avoiding her, always wearing a smile and being friendly to everyone. For a moment, she looked at them confused, then quickly glanced at the open book. 

“Oh, Callister! I haven’t seen this book before, though.” she said nonchalantly and then went on her way. 

Caspian, Silas, Terry and Padma were no longer awkward, but rather dumbfounded, each staring at Luna, who didn’t seem at all aware of what had just occurred. 

“G-good luck with... whatever you guys were doing.” Padma finally said and very slowly walked away. 

“I think we should return the book.” suggested Caspian. 

“Yeah...” Silas and Terry quickly agreed. 

---  

Orion was intently looking at the clock, wondering if today was a good day to go speak with Aurendale. He had planned on going on the weekend, but he was too curious to see what the next trial would be. Would he have to fight suits of armor again and have his skin and flesh cut open; would he be tested on creating and casting spells, perhaps incantationless ones; would the challenge be about stamina, about knowledge and understanding? He was so lost in thought he almost didn’t notice the large ginger fluffball sitting on the table in front of him. The creature that looked like a mix of a cat but with the size of a kneazle had long orange hair, with brown stripes; a face that looked like it had crashed into a wall; and a most distinct fluffy bottle-brush tail that was swinging from side to side, accelerating in the middle and slowing down between each swipe. Orion looked around to see if the librarian was aware there was such a creature roaming in the library, but she wasn’t near. Then again, Orion wasn’t entirely sure if there was a policy against bringing creatures in. He had seen Neville Longbottom chase his toad around, but he was promptly kicked out after catching it; there was also the time Professor McGonagall had set an assignment to transform a mouse into a chalice, and even though Mrs. Pince had allowed student to practice in the library, she was keeping a very close eye the entire time. 

“Meow.” said the cat smartly. 

Its yellow eyes reminded Orion of a funny story, involving the person who was coming nearer and nearer. 

“Meow.” Orion replied to the cat, smiling. 

“Crookshanks, get down.” Hermione ordered. She looked slightly pale. 

“Is it regarding that hippogriff?” asked Orion. 

“What?” 

“The books you’re holding: ‘Hippogriffs, the Pride of the Sky’ , ‘Critical Thoughts on Creature Trials’... I guess Malfoy wrote to his father after all.” 

Hermione sat opposite the boy with a deep sigh, her cat quickly hopping onto her lap, purring.  

“Ministry officials will be coming to check if Buckbeak is ‘safe’. There’ s a high likelihood of a trial, and there’s a hearing in April. ” she stopped for a moment. “Hagrid isn’t worried, and there isn’t a real case, but it’s the Malfoys, so I have a bad feeling.” 

“Dumbledore?” 

“Hagrid told us Dumbledore isn’t one bit worried, but I think he’s focused on the dementors. Which reminds me, have you had Defense Against the Dark Arts yet?” 

“No, but we have it today after this break.” 

“I’m curious...” Hermione said, gently gliding her hand across her cat’s back. 

Orion had already spoken with Professor Lupin, and had heard from other students that for their very first class he had tasked them with taking down a boggart, with Harry’s turn being the most discussed, as his had turned into a dementor and he had once again fainted. 

“This is Crookshanks, by the way.” 

“Isn’t it weird you got a cat when Weasley has a rat?” 

Hermione looked insulted at the remark. 

“Crookshanks is only following his instincts, it’s Ron’s fault he isn’t taking care of his rat. It’s why he looks so bad even though he’s been doing well for years in his family.” 

“Years? How old is it?” 

“I’m not sure exactly, I think Ron said he’s been with them for at least ten or eleven, maybe even close to twelve. Why?” 

“Isn’t it just a common rat?” 

“I- I don’t know, he doesn’t do anything magical, really…” Hermione went quiet and focused on her purring cat. 

“How are you managing classes?” Orion asked. 

“…what?” Hermione startled, “Oh, I’m doing fine, not much free time, though, which reminds me, I have to go. Bye!” she said oddly fast, dropping Crookshanks and packing her things. 

--- 

“Welcome, everyone. My name is Professor Lupin. I’m sure you’ve already heard from your fellow friends that for our first lesson I have prepared a boggart.” His voice was as calm as on the train when Orion had spoken with him. “Some of you may have even gone as far as to learn the spell,” he let out a playful smile, “but nonetheless I have to prepare you properly before I let you try it out. Now, wands out, please, follow only the motion.” 

It was a refreshing sight for the students to have such a competent teacher. Quirrell, though knowledgeable, hadn’t let them practice much, but to his defense there was very little to practice in their first year and Lockhart was… himself. Lupin, on the other hand, made sure everyone had understood the motion, even Crabbe and Goyle and afterwards, he made sure everyone was pronouncing the incantation correctly, and only after then did he let the first student have a turn. 

Malfoy had made sure he was first in line, hoping to show off his spellcasting. 

“Ok, I want you to imagine what you fear most.” Lupin whispered near him. 

“I already have. I know what a boggart is.” said Malfoy annoyingly. 

“I see.” the teacher didn’t mind the tone whatsoever, “Now I want you to tell me what it is.” 

“Oh, forget it, I can’t be bothered, if you’re going to interrupt me a million times.” 

Lupin didn’t mind this outburst either, in fact it seemed like he had expected it. He knew Malfoy had just realized he would have to reveal to everyone what he feared most, and didn’t want to embarrass him. Next in line was Crabbe, who had pushed in as well. He looked flustered when he saw Malfoy wasn’t taking his turn, but calmed down a bit when the professor started to speak to him as well; he had that ability to reassure anyone Orion had never seen in another person before. No one since his mother. 

Thankfully, Orion didn’t have to reminisce too long, as suddenly what seemed like a large man, cloaked in fully black with an iron skull mask came out of the wardrobe in which Lupin had informed the students he was keeping the boggart. The man, upon noticing the now shaking Crabbe, raised his hand in front and began hurrying up towards the boy. 

“Remember what I told you, Crabbe, the incantation!” Lupin cheered. 

“Ri-riddikulus. ” said Crabbe and the masked figure tumbled over his cloak and fell onto a pie that had appeared in front of him. 

The class burst into laughter, reassuring Crabbe that he had, for once, done well in class. 

“Well done, well done.” said Lupin through a few chuckles, “Next one, come up.” 

Goyle was next and his boggart turned into an enormous lion which he turned into a cat that tied itself with a yarn ball it was playing with; then Pansy Parkinson whose boggart kept changing shapes, though it always bore an eerie smile and blood-thirsty eyes which she turned into a painting similar to Van Gogh’s ‘The Scream ’. 

“Marvelous taste! Next!” Lupin kept urging the students, none of which seemed afraid to take on the challenge. 

Once it got to Silas’s turn, the boggart untied itself from the giant spinning top Terry had attached it to, and then began to melt into a pitch-black liquid, spreading on the floor and even onto the walls. In just a few mere seconds the entire room was engulfed in such a darkness, no one could even see an inch away from their eyes. And then whispers began to spread, whispers only Silas seemed to understand. 

“Riddikulus.” he said confidently, but nothing happened, with only the whispers becoming louder and louder. “Riddikulus.” he tried again. Louder. “Riddikulus.” LOUDER. 

“RIDDIKULUS.” roared Lupin’s voice and the darkness shrank into what looked like a white ball, which he then promptly pushed back into the wardrobe. 

“Wh-what did I do wrong?” Silas said, red from embarrassment. 

“Nothing at all, Mr. Nightingale. Nothing at all.” said Lupin calmly. “In fact, I am very glad this happened. I have told you that a boggart takes into the shape of what the person they are facing fears most, BUT I didn’t tell you that this form can affect multiple people. I assume someone in the back also fears the dark. Can you please raise a hand? Ah, Mrs. Patil, thank you. In such instances, all parties that the boggart affects must cast the Boggart-Banishing Spell otherwise the creature will still have a source of fear to feed off of.” 

“But what happens if both people imagine it turning into different things they find funny?” 

“A wonderful question, Mrs. Li. Does anyone have any ideas? No one? Well, since the boggart is a shapeshifter, forcing it to take two different forms at once will result in its death and subsequent vanishment. That will only happen if both incantations are successful, of course. Ah, I think we have time for only one more. Mr. Hawthorne?” Lupin invited as he turned to open the door of the wardrobe. 

Everyone focused on Orion, something which he really hated; the door swung open and from it a different wardrobe slammed with a large and heavy bang. It was engraved meticulously with sharp blades coming out from its sides. There were no handles on it. 

“An iron maiden?” the teacher was just as confused as the rest of the class. 

Then, without warning, a muffled voice came from inside. 

“P-please, please stop. I won’t do -” 

Then the wardrobe shook, the blades on the sides glowing in bright crimson, the same color as the one that came from the thin slit in the middle. The voice inside screamed clearly in incredible agony. 

“Riddikulus.” said Orion and the horrible scream turned into a laughter, though no one found joy in it. Then the wardrobe began to shrink and expand at random, until it exploded into smoke. 

“Well done, Mr. Hawthorne. Ten points for successfully banishing the boggart for good.” said Lupin to break the silence. “You can see,” he turned to the students, “that any laughter will be lethal to the boggart, even its own. As it is only our first class, I won’t give you any homework, but make sure to read up on boggarts, as I might just ask a few questions next time, and you can earn house points. You are dismissed.” he smiled. 

“What was that?” Caspian asked Orion after class. 

“An iron maiden.” Silas repeated what he had heard, though he didn’t know what that was either. 

“So... what was that?” Caspian repeated. 

“It’s a torture device.” Orion told them calmly, trying to hide his experience with the machine, “At least that one was.” 

“I understand,” said Terry naively, “I also wouldn’t want to be tortured, it’s so cruel.” 

“Yeah.” Orion let out, a deep emotion held back. 

---  

There was much murmur the next day at lunch. News had broken out about the fact that in the evening, Ministry officials would be coming to Hogwarts, and everyone was speculating whether or not Fudge would be as well, since Dumbledore hadn’t hidden it that he wanted the dementors gone. 

“It’s bad,” Hermione told Orion in the library, once again interrupting him, “it’s going to be Malfoy and a man name Nefarias. I can tell just by the name he will side with Malfoy.” 

Orion had to supress a lot of anger. “Do you know the exact time?” 

“I was told about-” the doors slammed open immensely hard. 

Orion’s eyes widened at the sight of who had entered.  

“ALL THIRD YEARS THAT ARE TAKING CARE FOR MAGICAL CREATURES ARE TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE GAMEKEEPER’S HUT.” Balthazar bellowed rudely. 

“You brute!” Madam Pince was red and fuming. “This is a library!” 

“Oh, I apologize, ma’am.” said the large man, not a hint of guilt in his voice, his eyes locking onto Orion, “I just had to see this here for myself. If you could repeat the message, I’d be very thankful indeed.” his teeth flashed in an abhorrent smirk. 

“What a disgusting- how dare he barge and scream like that?! Who does he think he is?!” Hermione shared Madam Pince’s outrage. 

“That is Mr. Nefarias.” Orion told her. 

“That’s him? How do you know?” Hermione asked, now quietly, as order was somewhat restored in the giant room. 

“My parents.” 

--- 

“Is this everyone?” dragged the voice of Lucius Malfoy. 

“…-four,…-five. Yes, sir.” Confirmed the young lady. 

Kassandra was standing next to her father, carrying a list of the students that were present during the incident. 

“Good.” Lucius continued, “We need to speak to some of you that were there when the beast attack-” 

“There was no ‘attack’ . It was all Draco Malfoy’s fault.” Harry interrupted. “He didn’t listen to what Hagrid told us.” He made sure to use Draco’s first name, so that Lucius wouldn’t say anything, but also made sure to include his family name as well. 

“Mr. Potter… please refrain yourself from interrupting me. I’ll have you know even Hagrid agreed the beast attacked.” 

“His name is Buckbeak!” 

“That is of no matter.” said Balthazar. 

“What is going on here?” a soothing voice came from behind everyone. 

“Ah, Professor Dumbledore. How kind of you to join us. We were just planning on questioning the students. A testimony, if you wish.” 

“Oh, I’m afraid I must decline.” smiled Dumbledore. “I can’t have these bright students missing classes. That is why I agreed to have this discussion privately in the evening, when Hagrid is available.” 

“I understand, headmaster.” said Lucius displeased. “You can go.”  

Orion tried to take one last look at the people who were to remain. Lucius was evidently furious his idea was foiled and Dumbledore was smiling friendly, though his eyes were not necessarily as cheerful. Balthazar was looking at the two, eyebrows furrowed. Orion was interested in why he was there; he knew the Nefarias family wasn’t a part of the Commitee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures nor part of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, though Malfoy wasn’t anymore either, but at least he was somewhat involved in this. At that moment, Balthazar’s mouth twitched lightly upwards. 

“Headmaster, if I could, since we won’t be speaking to the students, my daughter won’t need to remain with us. I reckon she could perhaps go into the castle. She only graduated recently, but I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to see some old friends and teachers.” he glanced at Orion. 

Dumbledore looked at Kassandra and then at Orion, who at this point was quite behind the rest of the students. For a second Orion thought Dumbledore might discover something, but Kassandra looked as though she had never met him. 

“I see no reason why she couldn’t.” Dumbledore smiled again, “She was indeed a very popular student.” 

“Go no then.” said Balthazar more so as an order than an invite. 

Kassandra bowed lightly to the three than started walking towards the castle, Orion following her with his attention still on the three men, who after a while began walking down towards the paddock where the lesson had taken place.  

Only then did Orion turn towards Kassandra. 

“Don’t worry, I haven’t brought him with us and I haven’t told anyone.” she told him first. 

Orion thought for a moment. “How is he?” 

“Good.”  

A slightly awkward silence followed. 

“How is school going?” asked Kassandra finally. 

“Good.” 

“Are any of the new classes hard for you?” 

“No, though from what I’ve heard, Professor Trelawney won’t be satisfied by theory alone.” 

“Oh, Trelawney... do you like Divination?” 

“Not particularly.” 

“Most people don’t.” she contemplated for a second, “Are you a good seer?” 

“No.” 

“Well... in my family we’ve had a few... I myself am one.” 

Both of them stopped. 

“Not like I can see into the future at all times or anything.” Kassandra quickly said, a bit red, “And not particularly clearly.” 

Orion looked at her intrigued. 

“Give me your hand.” she offered hers. “Come on.” 

Orion placed his hand in hers facing up. 

“Just wait a bit.”  

She started analysing every inch of his hand, spreading out his fingers and running hers in-between, and along the lines of his palm. It was quite an odd experience; them standing out alone in the open, with only the breeze and the few birds around making any sound. 

She looked at him worriedly. “How did you get that?” she turned it over, revealing the nasty scar he had gotten from the day he went into the Aurendale manor. 

“It was sliced.” Orion said calmly, but Kassandra understood not to ask any further questions. 

“You’re going to meet someone very dangerous.” 

“What?” 

“The palm reading?” 

“Oh... right... What do you mean by “dangerous”?” 

“I’m not too sure either. I told you I don’t see very clearly. You might get to meet Sirius Black.” she joked, “I read he’s in a village not too far from here.” 

“Do you think he’s going after Harry Potter?” 

“Hm? Why?” 

“Dementors boarded the train on our way here. He might want to kill him, since he was the reason for Voldemort’s downfall.” 

“What?! On the Hogwarts Express?! What did Dumbledore do?” Kassandra said in a rather panicked voice. 

“He wasn’t happy.” 

“I guess if they were checking the train, they must’ve been expecting him to be there. They do say he was The Dark Lord’s most faithful servant, though my family are making that hard to believe.” 

“Why are you here, by the way?” 

“I don’t know, father was the one who said I needed to be here. He was speaking a lot with Malfoy before we arrived.” 

“Regarding the hippogriff?” 

“No. The hippogriff discussion was very brief.” she chuckled, “Malfoy said he wanted it dead and father agreed with him. He doesn’t care, though, I know that much.” 

“Do you?” 

“Should I?” 

“You don’t care if such a rare species is killed?” 

“Do I need to?” 

Orion liked her way of thinking. “I guess not.” 

“I don’t think it will be executed. His son wasn’t harmed, Malfoy just wants to make the school looks bad. I’m sure he wants to somehow replace Dumbledore, but everyone knows that won’t happen.” 

“With how much money he has given to Fudge...” 

“Fudge still trusts Dumbledore. Tons of other people do too.” 

The two started walking again and spent their afternoon wandering and talking around the school.  

---  

“Sooooo... who was that pretty lady who was there with Lucius Malfoy and that other wardrobe aaaand whom you were speaking with near the lake?” Silas was quick to tease. 

“She is an alumnus. Our families know one another.” 

“Reeeally now?” Silas raised an eyebrow. “More importantly, I wanted to know what you think about the ‘ Black news’ . He’s supposedly getting sighted nearer and nearer to the school.” 

“He’s coming to get you.” Caspian said in a rather disinterested way. “Even if he gets remotely close to the school, he’ll be immediately spotted by the dementors.”  

“Weren’t you the one all excited on the train?” said Terry. 

“I was. Now I’m not.” 

“Wait, are you perhaps scared?” Silas grinned. 

“Of a psychotic murderer who is getting closer? Yeah, I think I might be a tad bit more worried.” Caspian said sarcastically, annoyed. 

“But you just said he’d be caught, so there’s nothing to worry about.” 

“Well, I did, because I have to tell myself that, but he managed to get past them once already...” 

“No need to worry, sweet child...” Silas patted him on the head twice before his hand was inevitably slapped away. “Needn’t worry, big brother Orion will make scary Black laugh himself to death.” 

“He’s not a boggart, plus I don’t think laughter will be a problem for Sirius, they say he laughed every time he killed.” said Terry. 

“I hope you guys know I’m the youngest in our year.” Orion said. 

“What? When were you born?” asked Silas. 

“The eleventh of November nineteen eighty-one.” ( A/N: I’m not sure if I have specified Orion’s age before, but this is his birthday, so disregard anything I may have said previously)  

“B-but you’re like four trees and fifteen wands tall! Shouldn’t you be in second year right now.” Silas continued flabbergasted. 

“My parents arranged for this.” 

“‘Four trees and fifteen wands’ ?” Terry was still confused at the weird measurement. 

“One of my dad’s jokes.” Silas brushed off, “I didn’t expect Hogwarts to make such exceptions. Damn...” he got lost in thought, “...damn.”