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Corvus	By : LadyFreak Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > General Views: 23963 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 7
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor to I make any money from this story. These characters are JKR's, I just play with them.

Chapter List
- 37
- 38
- 39
(38) Melting Brains and Holidays

Corvus still wasn't sleeping much.

No, strike that. He wasn't sleeping at all.

Severus watched him with concern in his eyes, just as most of the other professors did. Morag and Draco were also very concerned about him, but were snapped at anytime they showed any notion of being worried.

As a former spy, Severus knew a thing or two about dementors and Azkaban. He had spent a month himself at the end of the war while Albus tried to get him out. It was hard then, as an adult. He couldn't imagine what his godson had gone through. Especially with his past.

Oh Merlin, he thought. His past. He probably had to relive the beatings and ill treatment of his former family. Being around Potter is probably making him feel even worse.

Severus ran a hand down his face and vowed to get the boy to talk one way or another.

()

"Lestrange, stay after" Corvus heard those words and sighed, but nodded in acquiescence as his godfather passed by his cauldron.

After class, he packed his bag and stood at his desk, waiting for the rest of the class to leave.

"Corvus..."

"Why did you do nothing when I sent that note?" He asked in a rush. It was the one question that had been bothering him since his 'arrest'.

"What makes you think I did nothing?" Severus asked in return, brow raised. "I send a letter to Lucius, spoke to Albus, and even did some research on my own."

"Then how could I be sent" his breath hitched "there."

Both brows rose on the potions master this time. The fact that his godson could not say the name of the prison was proof enough that it was affecting him still. "Azkaban?" he said to be sure, frowning at the flinch of the boy. He at least got a curt nod in response. "I'm not sure, Cor. But I promise you I was not 'doing nothing'. Before you were taken I was trying to spread the word, but constantly hit brick walls. Then, once you were taken I had been trying to get you free. I was stopped at every turn. The Ministry workers searched the castle multiple times looking for Véurr, but never found her."

Corvus smirked, "I told them she was always with me. Not my fault they were too stupid to listen or actually question me."

"Is that why you performed the ritual?"

The boy visibly stiffened before glancing at the door. Severus got the idea and flicked his wand setting up privacy spells.

"It is. I had visions of her... death. Unpleasant. I had visions of Mrs. Norris that preceded her death so I figured the two were connected. I had to figure out a way to give a snake an alibi, while also having a way to keep an eye on her. In case something happened and made her go mad- like an attack or something."

Severus nodded his understanding. "I don't know why it took so long, Cor. I am sorry it did though. If you ever need someone to talk to..." he trailed off, knowing his godson would understand.

"Thank you Uncle Sev." He replied. "Not right now though. As far as nothing being done, perhaps you should talk to Uncle Lucius?"

Severus raised an eyebrow in question. When no other information was given, he simply replied, "I'll do that. How are you doing catching up to classes?"

Corvus snorted and fell back into his stool. "Practicals in Transfiguration, Charms and Herbology are complete. Essays in Transfiguration and Charms are caught up on. Potions and Herbology essays are half complete. I believe I'm halfway through Potions practicals?" he asked, then continued at his godfather's nod. "You know I love learning, but I think my brain is about to melt out of my ears."

Severus chuckled at that. "Well, you have until you return from winter holidays to hand in your potions essays. I'll speak to Pomona about hers, I'm sure she will allow it, especially since our subjects cross over often." Corvus nodded in thanks. "What about your correspondence courses?"

The young Ravenclaw let out a groan. "I've already had the reading done for ages, now I'm just reviewing so I can finish my essays. Both Durmstrang and Stregonaria are giving me until I come in for my midterm practicals to hand it all in."

"Well classes are over now, so you will have more time. What are you doing about defense?"

Corvus let out a snort. "Seriously? Those books are such a joke Sev. And his assignments? Did you even see them? A poem on his defeat of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf, Sev... A poem!" Severus chuckled again while his godson continued "Anyway, I've spoken to him about handing in summaries of all of his books for credit on my essays. I told him it wasn't fair that I should write a poem when Granger already won a copy of his book for the best one out of the class."

"Ah, and of course he agreed since his books are such valuable pieces."

"And he wanted an intelligent Ravenclaw's take on them," Corvus finished with a smirk.

"Alright Cor. Head on up for dinner. Take a break from studying tonight. Term is over."

"See you Uncle Sev"

()

Severus headed out to the Greenhouses to speak with Pomona Sprout, Herbology teacher and Head of Hufflepuff. She was staying over winter break to keep an eye on the mandrakes.

He knocked on the door and waited for the call of enter before stepping through.

"Severus! What are you doing down here? Do you need ingredients?" Sprout asked as she sat at her desk recording grades.

"No, thank you Pomona. I actually came in regards to Corvus' essays."

"As much as I'd like, I can't let the lad off." The witch replied, not even looking up. "He needs to do the work just as the others have. His grades, while phenomenal-"

"Honestly. Did you forget who you are talking to?" Severus cut her off exasperated. "I would not condone letting him out of doing his Herbology essays when I myself have given him Potions assignments."

The witch chuckled to herself. "True, true. So what can I help with?"

"I have given him until the end of the winter holidays to hand in his essays to me. I was wondering if you would give him the same option? Many of our essays coincide in subject-"

"Of course! That is fine. Give me one moment."

Severus watched as the witch pulled out some blank pieces of parchment and wrote some notes. She rolled them up before recording the names. One for Albus Dumbledore, one for Corvus Lestrange and one for the Board of Governors.

The potions master raised his brow at the last one. "Honestly, Severus. After all that boy went through last year and this year, you think I'd trust just the old man? These are letters giving the boy formal permission to turn in the essays during the first class of the new term."

Severus smiled and gave a slight bow to the witch, making her flush. "Thank you Pomona. This is a great help."

As he turned to leave, he felt a hand on his arm. He turned questioning eyes to the woman, "If he needs anything else, Severus, you'll let me know?"

"Of course. Thank you."

()

Corvus sat alone in his compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Morag had stayed at the castle and Draco was sitting with his Slytherin friends.

The two still had not had a talk about Corvus' attitude, but the young Ravenclaw had no idea how to bring up the subject. He definitely needed to do it before Yule, lest the negative energies have an effect on any ritual magic done.

The raven haired boy sighed and closed his eyes.

He only had a couple of minutes of rest before the door slammed open. He didn't even have to open his eyes to wonder who was there. Potter had been way too quiet this term.

"Can I help you Potter?" he asked, eyes still closed.

"How did you-"

"Know it was you?" Corvus finished, opening his eyes and glaring at the boy and his group. Potter, Weasley, Finnigan and Thomas stood at his door. "Who else has the manners of a caveman and slams into an occupied compartment?" He smirked as the Gryffindors turned red with anger.

Suddenly Potter was calm again, "How was your stay in Azkaban Lestrange? Did you see dear daddy?"

Corvus had his wand out in a flash and pointing at the group. "You know nothing of what you are talking about, you fool. So shut your mouth."

"I don't think I will." The boy replied, a smirk gracing his face. "My father told me all about your sleeping on a bed of stale hay. How did you even survive the gruel they fed you? Oh that's right, they only fed you every other day or so."

Corvus forced his occlumency up to keep his magic from exploding. He stalked forward and pressed his wand under the chin of Potter and spoke in an eerily calm voice, quiet so only his target could hear him. "The fact that I have survived Azkaban should make you wonder, Potter. I really wouldn't mind going back if it meant getting rid of you. I now know that saving your life last year was a mistake. One I wouldn't mind rectifying..."

He stepped back slowly and watched the boy's face pale.

Potter stumbled back into the other Gryffindors before taking off down the corridor, leaving his friends calling after him.

Corvus chuckled and sat back in his seat.

But he sobered up quickly. He knew that was all talk. He didn't want to even think about ... about... Azkaban.

He shuddered.

How he hated the chills that he felt when he thought about that place. He could barely get himself to say the name.

Azkaban. He shivered again.

Corvus frowned as he entered the sitting room a couple of hours before dinner his first evening home. Everyone was there: his mum, Uncle Rabastan, Uncle Severus, Aunt Narcissa, Draco, and Uncle Lucius.

He looked at his mother with a raised brow and stood beside his chair. He was not sitting until he knew what was going on.

"Come, sit Corvus," she said with a smile, hand held out.

He remained standing. "This looks like some sort of intervention, so I'll wait to hear what you have to say first."

"Draco tells us you have been less than friendly with him this term," Narcissa started.

Corvus tilted his head and looked at the three blondes. "I have been... 'less than friendly' to everyone," he said simply.

"Corvus," Lucius started. "I know you are upset but-"

"Upset? Upset. You know I'm upset Uncle so why not explain here and now to everyone?"

The man looked at his hands in his lap. "It needed doing"

"Why?"

"A new law-"

"A new law" Corvus murmured. "A new law that was not definitely going to be passed gives you the right to unleash a monster on a school full of children? Did you even recognize the danger you put us in? Do you realize that I can be next? I am a half-blood. A half-blood!"

"What are you talking about, sweetie?" his aunt asked softly.

"The tussle in Diagon," Corvus started, not taking his eyes off of Lucius. "There had to be a reason behind aristocratic Lucius Malfoy getting into a physical confrontation in Diagon Alley, no? He dropped something into the Weasley girl's cauldron," he paused here. "I wasn't sure until he came to the house before I returned to Hogwarts, but I could practically taste the guilt pouring off of him."

"Then you know I feel bad, Cor-"

"No! I will not hear your petty excuses and poorly done apologies. There was no reason to leave me there. No reason at all. You could have done something! Claimed to know of an artifact that did something like this. Maybe convincing them that the Dark Lord once told you about something he left-" Corvus cut himself off as Lucius gave him a startled look. "That's it, isn't it? An artifact of the Dark Lord. You released an artifact of the Dark Lord into a school your son and nephew attended?"

"You're not my-" Lucius cut himself off, a look of shock on his face.

The silence in the room was deafening. Narcissa and Bellatrix glared at the blonde wizard with a promise of pain should he finish that statement.

Corvus stood straighter and looked into the man's steel gray eyes. "I'm glad we got that out of the way. It's best to know where exactly I stand early on. Granted it would have been nice to know even earlier." He turned to the others in the room who were varying shades of red, "I apologize, but I will be retiring for the night." Then he turned on his heel and made his way towards his room.

()

Corvus was shivering uncontrollably under three heavy blankets. He felt the first tears form and tried to fight against them but couldn't.

Soon as the first one fell, the young Lestrange was wracked with sobs. He had a family here. Bellatrix loved him, Rabastan loved him. But what about Narcissa, Lucius and Draco? Did they care only because Bella did?

His heart felt like it was being torn apart. This wasn't fair. Hadn't he had enough?

He jumped as he felt someone curl into bed behind him and holding him in an embrace. He recognized the person behind him from years of sleep overs. Corvus had nightmares occasionally and his cousin would calm him.

The tears fell faster and he fought to find his breath.

"Shh. Corvus. You are family. Will always be family. Ignore the pompous words of my father. I am not him."

As Corvus came down from his breakdown, he relaxed slowly. Just before he drifted off to sleep, he spoke.

"Hey Draco?" he said softly.

"Yeah?" the blonde asked, now laying beside him.

"Thanks"

"For what?"

"For caring" he whispered, quickly drifting quickly to sleep.

Draco was shocked. "Of course I care. You're my brother, Cor."

()

Lucius Malfoy slept in the guest room that night. To say Narcissa was simply upset... would be like comparing a basilisk to a common garden snake.

His Lord had told him the book would cause havoc on Muggle Borns in the school. He never said that all children would be attacked... that half bloods were in danger as well.

He didn't know what came over him tonight. He nearly told Corvus that he wasn't of blood, that he wasn't his nephew. After the boy's past, he was sure that was unforgivable.

Corvus was family. He loved that boy as he did his own son. When he had been sent to Azkaban, Lucius didn't know what to do. Out himself as the culprit and obtain the diary? But then what would happen to his wife and family? They would be ostracized and treated like the dregs of society.

No, he wouldn't do that.

He knew the boy would get out. Knew he wouldn't be there long. So he validated it to himself. A month of Corvus' imprisonment was nothing to their Dark Lord returning, a loss of mudbloods, and keeping that new law from passing.

Yes, he did right.

()

Bellatrix Lestrange was not a soft woman, though looking at her life now some would argue that fact.

When she had found Corvus all those years ago, she had shocked even herself with how much she cared for the boy. With him she had found a patience she had never known. She actually became a 'mum'.

Corvus was her son in all but birth. He was of her and Rod's blood. He was a Lestrange and a Black.

She knew Lucius was up to something that day in Diagon Alley. She was fidgety and couldn't find it in herself to help him. She had a bad feeling about it, the whole thing.

Then her son was in Azkaban but no one would tell her why! The minister had just taken him into custody, no trial, no questioning, and put him in a high security ward with multiple Dementor visits a day. It was hard to imagine. Her husband was there and now her son had been there as well.

And now tonight it all came together. She knew Lucius had the Minister's ear and was confused as to why they couldn't get Corvus out of the prison. Now she knew. The blonde was behind it all. Lucius had put an artifact of the Dark Lord's in the Weasley girl's cauldron. Whatever it was caused these events at the school. It released an ancient, mentally sick basilisk that was now attacking students.

Did fate have something against her family?

()

Corvus woke the next morning remembering the previous night. It was a good thing too, because he wasn't too surprised when he noticed his cousin snoring beside him.

The raven haired boy chuckled to himself at the sight before him The great Draco Malfoy with hair a mess, drool on his pillow, and snores coming from his mouth. Where was a camera when you needed one?

He left his cousin in the bed and headed to get ready for the day. He took a warm shower, hoping for it to seep into his bones. Once clean he stepped out and put on sweatpants, a t-shirt, and his green sweatshirt. Heavy wool socks on his feet completed his wear for the day.

He left the bathroom to see his cousin sitting up. They locked eyes for a moment and nodded at each other. Nothing needing saying. They knew they would be there for one another, come what may.

Draco left to Malfoy Manor while Corvus grabbed his school books and stepped into his study. Mopsey appeared as he walked through the entry. She placed a tray of eggs, bacon, and toast on his table along with tea and juice. Then she lit a fire in the fireplace before popping off.

()

The holidays were strained. Corvus saw Draco a couple of times a week and they would do their holiday homework together. On days his cousin didn't visit, the young Lestrange would finish his correspondence course, Potions, and Herbology essays that he was behind on.

Luckily as far as practicals, Corvus only had to do a healing magics exam. He performed well, as always, and spent the day handing in the work that he owed at both institutions. He had a short meeting with both Headmasters who wanted to check on his mental health and how he was handling everything that had happened. He wanted to meet longer with Headmistress Befana, so they scheduled another day for him to come back.

Yule was a quiet affair that year. Corvus had his own solo ritual in his suite, after which he met with his family in the dining area. This unfortunately included all of the Malfoys; More specifically Lucius Malfoy.

The house wasn't quite as done up as the year previous but it was still a sight to behold. He walked in carrying seven letter sized boxes. Each the size of the vanishing box he had received from Stregonaria and Durmstrang the year before.

"Corvus, where..." his mother trailed off at the smile on his face.

"These are vanishing boxes, but slightly more detailed than the ones I have from school." He looked at Hedwig who just arrived with a package from Morag. "I came up with the idea before I got you, Hedwig, but no worries I will still keep you busy." She hooted in appreciation as Corvus handed each person a box, keeping one for himself. Draco's was green with silver runes, Lucius' black with Silver, Narcissa's silver with deep green, Severus' was a dark silver with silver-green runes, Rabastan's was silver with black and Bella's was royal blue with bronze. Corvus' own was a silver-blue with deeper blue runes. It had taken him from Yule last year to the night previous to complete the boxes. Even though he was mad at Lucius, he did take the time to make the box and figured he might as well give it to the man. "I made them. They took me over a year."

Everyone in the room looked closely at the boxes in their hands. Each matched their owner's personality. "These are exquisite, Corvus," Narcissa exclaimed. "How do they match up?" At his confused face, she asked again. "Doesn't each box have a match?"

Here Corvus smirked, "Actually, they all match up." He pulled some book marks from his box and returned one. Along with the boxes he had begun to try his hand at drawing and made each person a bookmark. Before closing the box he said, "Severus."

Severus felt a slight warmth come from the box in his hands and a rune glowed dark blue to the left of his lid. He opened the box to find a bookmark with a steaming cauldron on it.

Corvus did the same with everyone in the room, then handed them all blank parchments to try it themselves. Each person glowed a different color and a different position.

"This is very advanced, Corvus," said Severus. "Well done. Is there an emergency setting?"

"Yes, just say the person's name and 'emergency', in any order. The rune will glow red in their 'position'. You could write with non-magic ink on the lid, maybe initials under each rune?"

The group spent the next hour playing with the boxes and labeling names. They then separated to put on pajamas and rest for the night.

()

After the Yule holidays, Corvus headed back to Stregonaria to meet with Headmistress Befana. The older witch was a grandmotherly figure to the young boy and he relished the care and attention she bestowed on him. After his release, she continuously sent him letters asking how he was and how his studies were going.

Even seeing in the letters how much the Headmistress cared for him, Corvus was still surprised when he was pulled into a tight embrace when he landed from his portkey trip.

Once she released him they walked to the school. Once past the gates, The Headmistress began speaking. "Corvus, child, when will you be leaving that wretched school? Is it truly worth all of these headaches? All of this danger?"

The young Lestrange was quiet for a moment, thinking hard about his answers. "It's no longer about my line magics, Headmistress." He replied softly, but determined. "I was abused in my early years by these people and I cannot find it in me to allow them to continue."

"Then how can you stay there? They continue to abuse and harass you. This last event was the worst. I would even go as far as to say it was orchestrated to be 'the straw that broke the camel's back'"

Corvus nodded. "I agree completely and it is exactly what they thought. They felt that this last attack on my person and reputation would destroy me. However, they didn't get what they wanted." He paused in his steps and looked at the Headmistress. "They wanted me broken, but I am not. I may be a bit cracked," he smiled a bit, "but I will heal. They wanted me downtrodden. They WANT me to run away. I cannot run. I will not run from them. If I run, they win. If I break, they win."

The woman put a gently hand to his cheek. "I can understand, but be careful." Corvus gave a nod, which she returned. "Good," she turned and began walking again, "Now tell me how your classes have been."

Corvus smiled as he answered her questions. He really was not happy to be returning to Hogwarts. But he had decided he would not give up his birthright just to appease some bullies. They would not chase him off.

()

Red hair, tears, a black book, ghost, bathroom...

The images were shaky and broken. It had been long since his last vision, thanks to his time in the prison, so Corvus was slightly disoriented when he woke from this one.

More red hair? Why did his visions always have red hair? It better not be Potter again. He may just have to let the boy suffer this time.

Sighing, he left his trunk. Though he trusted his family, his Sight and visions were something he wanted- no, needed- to keep safe. Keeping them in his trunk did that for him.
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Corvus