The Elder Wand
In the Ravenclaw common room, Hermione and Draco had been shown the way to the dormitories. They liked the fact that they had to answer a riddle to get in. Both were tired and after packing away their belongings, they went to sleep. In the Slytherin common room, a lively discussion had broken loose. Tracy, Millicent, Daphne, Pansy, Theo, Blaise, Greg, and Vince were baffled that Draco had not been placed in Slytherin. Pansy was the loudest in her complaints. While she was stating all the reasons Draco was misplaced, Theo signaled Blaise, Vince, and Greg to a different part, but still in earshot of the girls. ‘It was…weird, right? That Draco was actually nice to the Mudblood?’ Blaise gave him a nudge. ‘Don’t call her that.’ Theo raised his eyebrows. ‘But that is what she is, I mean…they are…’
Blaise sighed. Here we go. ‘Listen, mate, I know, pureblood upbringing and all, it is what it is. But please tell me you can actually think for yourself and you don’t parrot your father.’ Theo looked uncomfortable. Blaise continued. ‘I mean, dude, you don’t even like the man. How can you stand here, and really believe that Muggleborns steal magic? I know we're young and stuff, but please…you’re supposed to be smart, right?’ Daphne looked over and noticed the heated discussion. Pansy was not paying attention and Daphne scooted over to the boys and listened in. ‘I don’t know if they steal magic, but my father…’ ‘Is a dick.’ Finished Blaise.
Theo went red and mumbled something. ‘Draco is our friend. If he thinks she is worth talking to, maybe…we should at least, give her a chance. He is a raven now…surely that must mean something right?’ Greg spoke tentatively. Normally he was not outspoken, but he had been friends with Draco since they had both been in diapers and that meant something to him. ‘I mean, if he still believed that Muggleborns steal magic, the Hat would have placed him here. His father is the DADA teacher. I am sure that if he thinks that Muggleborns are lesser than Purebloods, he would not get the job…right?’ Greg looked around and saw the faces of his friends. Blaise smiled, Theo looked pensive and Daphne looked very proud.
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Deep in the Forbidden Forest Death stepped closer to the fire. ‘We have gathered here, under the Old Laws of Magic.’ Her voice sent a chill to the people around her. The magic was palpable in the air and felt suffocating. ‘Tonight, with the help of the ways of the centaur, a child that was once human, turned raven, will have the chance to walk amongst us, as a human child once again.’
Reggie puffed out her feathers and grabbed Dream tight, with her little talons. She would become a girl! She looked over at her mum and dad, who smiled broadly. Thinking back to what Death had told her when she came at her, many months ago, Reggie knew she would only become human when she was 17 years old. So why now? What was so special that Death would do this earlier? She looked over at Dream, whose eyes were fixated on his sister.
Death raised her arms to the sky and began to speak in a strange language. Her guttural sounds were not of this world and it wasn't long before the wind picked up and the mist slowly croaked closer, over the forest floor. Dream gently took Reggie off his shoulder and set her down on the ground, near the fire. He didn't speak to her, but his meaning was clear. She had to stay there. The others moved to stand at the various runes drawn earlier and the centaurs began to speak as well.
Two different spells were spoken. Lightning crackled through the sky and the acrid smell of ozone stung Reggie's nose. Sirius raised his wand and turned it counterclockwise, cast a spell, and drilled his wand into the ground. Filius followed, Severus was next. One by one until everyone had done this. Death stopped speaking, and the centaurs stopped as well. Dream opened his arms wide and with a scream he fell to his knees. Another bolt of lightning struck the sky and with a huge crack, accompanied by a lot of smoke, a searing pain ripped through Reggie's body.
She cried out and felt the feathers crawl back into her skin. She felt how her paws turned into legs and her wings took the shape of arms. She grew taller and small green wisps of magic danced across her body. The pain was gone and on the forest floor lay Regina Potter, as a human. Dream bent down and draped a blanket around her. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked worriedly. He was initially against this ritual because he knew it would not be painless. His sister convinced him it had to be done.
‘Little warning next time,’ she puffed. ‘That hurt!’
‘I'm sorry little one, but it serves a purpose. Do you remember what I promised you?’ Death had come closer and held her hands out and Reggie stood. Clothes materialized on her body and she looked down to see she was wearing grey robes.
Reggie nodded to Death. ‘I would become a human when I am 17 years old.’
‘That's right, but you cannot accept a wand in the Dreamworld. And you cannot accept a wand as a raven in the waking world.’ With those words, Dood brought out the Elder wand from behind her back. The others looked at the girl who stared at the wand that Death offered her. ‘Is that…?’ Sirius asked. ‘Dumbledore’s wand, yes,’ Severus answered.
Magorian stepped into the circle. ‘This is the Elder Wand. Passed down generations, it has but one master. Its power is unmatched and in the wrong hands, a thing most foul. Child of prophecy, you can claim this wand as your own. With it, you will learn to become great. For it is destined, that you can be Death’s master. To be, you must wield the wand.’
Reggie swallowed thickly. She felt the pressure and became uncertain. She was still a little girl and understood what was at stake. Dream stood behind her and stepped up to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders for comfort. Death smiled and Reggie smiled back. Very carefully she picked up the wand from Death’s hands. A warm feeling spread through her body and little golden sparks emitted from the top of the wand. Death grinned, the wand accepted her.
The atmosphere became less pressured and with a nod to Death and Dream, the centaurs stepped back. ‘Thank you,’ Death spoke to Magorian.
‘Do I stay like this? Did you speed up the process?’ Dream stepped in front of her. ‘It is temporary. With the help of our Father, Father Time, we could do this, but it will last but one hour. I am sorry, I cannot give you more time than that.’ He wanted to give her more time, but for this spell to take place, time itself needed to be stopped. One hour was the maximum time they could do this. After that, time would become unstable. ‘Go to your parents, child, talk to them. I will come for you when the time is near.’
In the Dreamworld, Reggie was always human while she slept, and she would sometimes hug Dream. Now that she was a human in the real world, she wanted to know if his hugs felt the same and she pressed herself against him. Dream put his hands around her and they stood like this for a minute. Reggie ended the hug and smiled at him. ‘Love you,’ she mumbled. She then turned around and walked over to Sirius and Severus and hugged them both. Everyone there got a hug and Death stood next to her brother, with a smile on her face.
‘You are a big sap, I mean, you know this, right?’
‘Sister, I…she…’ Death turned to face him and saw something that had not happened over a century. Her little brother, king of the Dreamlands, fearsome in his own way, was flustered. ‘Is it really that weird, that she loves you?’ she asked. ‘You tutor her, listen to her, make sure she is safe. You are stern when needed and loving when needed.’
‘But love…’
‘Yes, you dolt, love.’ With those words, Death cuffed him on the back of his head. This was seen by Lucius, who gave Minerva a tap on her arm, to make her look. Both smiled and watched Reggie talking to her parents while sitting on one of the trees by the fire. Sadly, all too soon the time was up and Dream moved to collect her. ‘Hey you,’ Lily addressed him. ‘Lady Potter,’ came the respected reply. ‘It’s time, little raven.’ Reggie took his outstretched hand and waved at the people surrounding her. A bright flash and both man and girl were gone. Death cleared the area of any traces of their presence, gave a small wave and Lily, James, and she were gone. Two centaurs came back, to escort the wixen back to Hogwarts.
Reggie and Dream appeared in the Dreamlands. She looked around. ‘In the morning, you will once again be a raven. The transformation back is less painful here, so I was thinking, instead of lessons, would you like to help me make a new dream?’