Sev & Lucius

As soon as they leave the Hall of Chronicles, the birds take wing toward the white-stone home of Brother Perdurabo. Except, that is, for Alphion. Snape watches him peel away from the flock and head north. You are not accompanying us to Ironwood? he asks Cambion's brother, and the raven replies, I tell my kin you know now. He feels Elsbet and Malfoy behind him, feels their gentle touches, and watches until the raven disappears from sight.

Severus? Malfoy thinks, resting his hand on Snape's shoulder, and the ebon-haired wizard turns slowly to his partners. There is much more to that bird than...

Roycroft rises and steps out from behind the edge of the desk, saying again, "Ellie, please, you shouldn't be here!" She frowns mightily and asks him why, and he tells her because she's not with the Petitioner. "Oh yes, she is," Malfoy says, and the Brother is clearly uncomfortable under everyone's steady gazes. "They've all gone through this...why haven't I had to?" He scrambles to find a suitable explanation. "Well...they're from beyond the Divide, Ellie, they--" she steps away from Malfoy and looks at Roycroft directly. "I was born in America, Roycroft, that's about as far outside the Divide...

Snape Apparates somewhere near Hogsmeade. It is a quiet night, there's evidently no one about, which is a point in his favor. He stands stock still for a moment, just long enough to focus himself. Once that is achieved, he breathes deeply, filling his lungs, then breaks into a dead run. His travelling cloak and robe whips behind him, and as he exhales his mind flexes, and he feels the rippling change course through his body. And then, he's airborne.

He is a raven, as black as the night he flies through.

He laughs to himself as he soars over Hogsmeade, over the pathway and then the castle; everyone...

He Apparates near the little house and waits a few moments before approaching. He tests the air, senses the surroundings to make certain there are no trespassers, then once he is satisfied it is safe, he quickly heads to the door. He passes through his sphere of protection and thinks the spell to open the door. Once inside, the door closes and he re-applies the house's internal protection. Elsbet stirs in his arms and he kisses her forehead; she knows she's home. Without delay he carries her into her room and lays her down on her bed. He draws up his favorite bedroom chair and sits down beside...