Sarah just relaxed into the hug enjoying the sense of closeness.

She stroked Raphael's back whispering 'sshhhh. It's OK now."

"Take it easy, kid." Nathaniel said quietly. "It's done with."

As he drew back, something caught the youngsters attention. His hand. His knuckles. His hand... grasped around... slowly, Raphael prised open his sore fingers with his right hand, and let the wand roll loose.

He let the tears run down his face freely in the moonlight.

Sarah looked at the wand and then at Raphael.

The wand itself glittered black, a twisted warped oaken thing, strands intertwined in it of pure darkness that burned.

Nathaniel swore softly and turned Raphael's hand up to the moonlight, ignoring the wand which fell to the ground. Raphael too ignored it.

"What is it? Where.....has it hurt you?"

Looking at his hand, it quivering slowly from shock, he didn't seem to be able to hear her, instead letting his breath slow, finally.

"And people were trying to tell me wands were a good thing to have." Nathaniel reached into his pockets and pulled out a large clean handkerchief, wrapping it gently round Raphael's palm.

"Most wands are..." said Sarah softly, "Most..."

Raphael's eyes met Nathaniel's, and he whispered to him: "what happened to you?"

"I... was Sorted." Nathaniel replied softly.

Sarah remained silent, listening...

The wind rustled through the trees, rolling the gnarled wand across the stone steps, falling down one of them at a time. Each strike echoed in Raphael's mind: he was forgetting something.

The mostly black kitten leapt up onto the low wall next to them and mewled.

Glancing across to him, Raphael stood up, and let his eyes touch Sarah's and Nathaniel's once again. Without speaking, he placed her hand on his arm, Nathaniel's on hers, and his own on Nathaniel's, forming the triangle.

Nathaniel held steady, though Raphael's fingers pressed against the recent bruises.

Without a word, Raphael stepped away from them both, breathing deeply as the dizziness once again threatened to overcome him.

He stepped into the shadows that the castle cast, where the moonlight couldn't penetrate, and seemed to be searching for something.

A pair of blue eyes lit up in the darkness.

"You okay, kid?" Nathaniel said softly.

No sound came from Raphael or the eyes, no sound whatsoever, until Raphael stepped away and slowly walked back to Nathaniel and Sarah.

"He's with me," said Raphael in explanation. "You both deserve to know: he is with me."

"Who is with you?" said Sarah.

Nathaniel lifted a hand to rub his left cheek, closing his eyes briefly.

Sarah looked at Nathaniel - she had seen him make this gesture before.

"Him," said Raphael, pointing into the darkness, where a form was crouched, a form... blackness folded around it... a pair of icy-blue eyes... huddled in the darkness.

Sarah's eyes - which were very acute in the dark saw.

"His name is Zephyr. He was..." Raphael said, and choked, slipping towards Sarah, tears afresh from his eyes

"An angel." Nathaniel whispered.

"He was Rose's."

With that he slipped down past them, falling on the steps, unable to look up, unable to see past the blinding darkness.

"How did Rose attract an angel - they are very rare creatures." Asked Sarah.

Nathaniel was there by his side almost instantly. "It's alright." he said softly.

And even when the tears started to run out, when calmness returned... ..he looked past Nathaniel, into the darkness, into where the night reigned.

Sarah remained staring at where Zephyr was - her eyes wide.

Nathaniel just put his arm around Raphael's shoulder, and waited.

Slowly from the shadows, the figure started to slip out, ice eyes burning with fear, sticking to the shadows, not willing to creep closer then the last shadow into the light.

Sarah stepped closer to the boys not quite touching but close.

The creature wouldn't break the contact from Sarah's eyes, wouldn't look away, and couldn't look away in fear of her.

But yet... as he stepped closer... as the dim light cast through the door that they sat outside of started to light him, Zephyr stepped towards Raphael, Nathaniel and Sarah.

A face... covered in crawling laurel leaves, some touching his skin, some just an impression of greenness in it, and some twining into his hair... and a long hand reached out to Sarah, fingers twig-like in the darkness... Zephyr touched her cheek where the tears had flowed. And then fled into the darkness, leaving only three black raven feathers, floating into Sarah's hand, and on to the steps.

"I won't harm you Angel." she said in a whisper.....

Sarah looked at Raphael, "He loves you very deeply."

Nathaniel just watched in silence... and from the darkness a whisper came: "tears of love, Sarah Taverner, and a feather for each of you."

Raphael glanced up, and looked at where Zephyr had fled, and smiled, pressing his feather to his lips. "Thank you, my friend." he murmured to the darkness..

Deeply moved, Nathaniel dared not speak of it. Instead he said lightly, "and I get a cat."

Sarah looked at the feather in her hand with wonder...

"Quite a cat Nathaniel." she said to him.

Raphael looked up at Nathaniel. "You get that cat," he said, looking at it. And then he smiled, and reached for Nathaniel and Sarah, giving Nathaniel his feather.

Lightening the mood slightly she added, "I get a snake all it does is slither."

"Yes," said Raphael, looking at Sarah. "I bet it's good at slithering."

Nathaniel took the feather.

"Beth." he said suddenly, without knowing why, and looked twice as confused.

"Beth?" asked Sarah, "who....?"

Raphael looked at him, wonder in his eyes. "For Beth," he said in response, unsure, there was... something... ...but then the feeling passed, and he looked at Sarah and Nathaniel. "I don't know."

"Who's Beth?" Nathaniel looked at her, frowning.

"It was you who said that name - do you mean Elizabeth?"

"What?" Nathaniel looked from one to the other in bewilderment.

"Elizabeth - Nimue she has a magic that touches Nature." she said in explanation. "The Green"

"I'm ... it... the...." Nathaniel tried, looking at the feather. "Forget it."

Raphael let his glance slide from one of them to the other, letting green eyes burn into green and blue eyes. "Somewhere else," whispered Raphael.

"Someone else," he said to Sarah, confused, but... sure of the words he said.

"A memory of a dream of a thought." Nathaniel made the feather disappear into a pocket, and he too stared off into the night. "I didn't like the Sorting Hat either, Raph."

"Mine was traumatic as well - I don't talk about it." remarked Sarah.

"What a way to begin life as a spellcaster - serious traumatisation." Nathaniel sighed.

Raphael shook his head. "I think he realised... that..." trailed off Raphael, and looked at Sarah for a second.

Sarah looked at Raphael with a questioning look.

He looked at the ground. "There are so many things that we hide, inside ourselves."

"Sometimes without even knowing it." Still the distant look.

"Yes" said Sarah, suddenly finding the ground very interesting.

Raphael didn't even speak, for a second, finding his mind slipping, finding the memories slipping away already. he let them go.

She was convinced that if these boys ever ..... found out they'd not like her at all.

He knew that he wouldn't remember in the morning... the cliff... the cliffside where... where...?

But the feather, in his hand, that was all that mattered. Even Zephyr could see what they meant to him.

"Still friends, right?" Nathaniel jerked his gaze back from the night, and stared almost desperately at the others.

Glancing up at Sarah and Nathaniel, Raphael registered.

"Yes," said Raphael instantly, harshly. Then he repeated it softly: "yes, old man."

"Oh yes...." said Sarah with a smile.

Nathaniel smiled a smile full of relief. "Good."

Looking from one to the other, Raphael couldn't speak... for a second... "Sarah... Nathaniel... thank you both. For tonight. For giving me... a reason... to..." he murmured, letting the words fall away.

"You're welcome." said Sarah. "We should you know...."

Something hit Raphael. Hunger. In the stomach. "Do we get dinner?" he asked Sarah, suddenly, a smile on his face.

"Thank you both for giving me a reason to get on that bloody train." Nathaniel nodded at them both. "Yeah, we ought to go in."

"Thank you for ...well everything. Making me feel..."

She didn't know how to proceed with that thought.

Raphael smiled, and touched her cheek where Zephyr had.

"Wanted?" Nathaniel supplied softly.

"Something like that... included." her eyes were bright with tears.

"Strengthened."

Nathaniel nodded and got up, meandering down to collect Raphael's wand.

For a second, he looked down at the steps. Touching the feather once more, to reassure himself, he stepped up to the doorway, grinned, and motioned: "to the food?"

"Let's hope so. I could eat a horse." said Sarah. "Not literally you understand..."

"To the food." Nathaniel handed Raphael the wand, adding quietly, "I'd get rid of this if I were you."

For a second, Raphael looked at the wand curiously in Nathaniel's hand. But then he lost interest, and laughed shortly at what Sarah's said. "I did wonder. Hogwarts custom?"

Taking the wand, and slipping it into his left pocket, Raphael stepped towards the door. "Let's go."

"What bit - the feasting? Wizards love to eat!" Sarah smiled, took both boys hands and stepped towards the hall.

*******

Marvo looked over to the Ravenclaw table and smiled to Kat.

He saw Nathaniel, Sarah and Raphael come back to the table and frowned. *Looks like a new Ravenclaw gang has formed* He thought to himself.

Nimue smiled over at the Ravenclaw table as well, then commented to Marvo. "How exciting for Sarah. She seems to have matured some over the summer don't you think Marvo?"

"Or at least sorted out her..." He mumbled to himself then stopped.

"True, but I'm not sure about that Raphael chap. something very 'odd' about him. When I've talked to him I get the distinct feeling I'm being watched. and I don't like that!"

"I'm glad Amy is with us, and Shinrei will be pleased Hupi Jian is in the same house."

Kat smiled back at Marvo. As Sarah and the two new Ravenclaws returned she tried to work out what had been going on between them.

"Is everything ok, Sarah?" she asked. She knew that Sarah was perfectly capable of looking after the two new boys, but she wanted to know if she could help.

"Everything is fine, Kat." Sarah said. "Raphael just needed a little air."

Sarah had been effected deeply by the encounter outside the castle with Zephyr but she surmised that back in the atmosphere of the Great Hall and the general cheer of the Feast that what the boys needed was a sense of belonging to the school itself. There would be time for the depths….

She was sure that the warm atmosphere of Ravenclaw and its House members would make Raphael and Nathaniel feel welcome at the school. It was a very easy House to be part in her opinion. Professor Flitwick was a delightful Head of House lacking the height perhaps of Snape and McGonagall but deeply respected for his ability to communicate with students.

*******

Fiona had arrived late. Her parents were almost as scatterbrained as she was, and between the three of them, they'd completely forgotten that today was the day she was due back at school. So instead of their regular method of sending her to school, which was to send her to London on a Muggle train so she could catch the Hogwarts Express all the way back up to Scotland, Fiona's parents had utilised their somewhat cranky Floo network.

It had taken four attempts and all the Floo powder she'd possessed to hit the right spot, but she had eventually emerged in Hogsmeade and bustled up to the school. Now she slid into the Great Hall and sat primly at the Ravenclaw table, watching what was left of the sorting with great interest.

She had noted Sarah's absence, and when she came back in, her face lit up. Over the summer, Fiona's diet and exercise regime had continued grimly, and she was barely recognisable. She'd traded in the thick-rimmed spectacles for contact lenses and her neat bob had grown out, and her fair hair hung now beyond her shoulders. The difference in her whole stance was quite dramatic. She looked less like a schoolgirl and more like the young woman she was becoming.

A snuffling from somewhere in her robe reminded her that her familiar was probably hungry. She knew the rule about familiars technically not being allowed at the table, but they made an allowance in her and Arcadia's case. Arcadia because she and Pantalaimon were so closely linked, and she because McTavish was one of the last of his species and would most likely be eaten by a cat if he were left to roam the castle.

She smiled warmly at her friend and glanced a little shyly at the two men. "Hello, Sarah," she said. She was a little disappointed not to have her best friend to herself: she wanted to show her the letter she'd received from Profes...Anders over the summer thanking her for her help in clearing his name. She still had a mild crush on the ex-teacher, who, she noted was actually sitting back up at the teacher's table, which only mildly confused her.

From behind Sarah, where he'd been standing, having let go of her as they walked back into the hall to slightly shrink behind her, Raphael took a deep breath. Right. Now. Do it.

He stepped from behind Sarah, and greeted Kathryn with an inane grin (he could feel it burning on his face, but soon forgot) which was accompanied by a rattled speech. "So," he said, pushing down memories of the night so far, "where shall we sit and when are we eating, Miss Prefect?"

He did let his eyes slide flicker towards his pocket and pocketwatch, looking for the time, for just a second, wishing now that he could sleep, but he'd make an effort. HE ought to. However tired he'd got...

Kat grinned at him. "Miss Prefect eh?" She giggled at the name.

"You can sit anywhere you like really, as long as it is at this table. But," she glanced at Fee as she spoke. "if you sit here," she ushered a few third years to shuffle up a bit to make room for the three of them.

"Then Sarah can catch up with Fee as well as keep you company." She glanced round at the other 4th years sat nearby. "Have you been introduced to many of the other 4th years in our house?"

At this point Zidane was sorted.

Kat stood up again, turning to Zidane as he approached the table. She beckoned to him, smiling. "Hi, you are joining the fourth year, yes? I'm the prefect, Kat. Please come and join us."

She waited for him to join the group of 4th years, before starting her introductions. She grinned at Raphael and Nathaniel. "For the benefit of all three of you then..."

She turned to the group that she was sat with at the table. "Ok, we have Sarah Taverner, Branwen Evans, Fee Monroe, Breana Aiyla, David Ollivander and Jacob." She pointed out the individuals as she said their names. "Raphael and Nathaniel you know each other," she pointed them out for Zidane's benefit. "And I you are Zidane..."

She smiled. "Ok, I think that is everyone. The other person that it might be useful for you to know is Isaac. He is the other prefect sitting over there."

She pointed to a boy with mousy hair with his nose stuck in a comic. "I think the sorting is nearly complete now." She motioned for the other 4th years to shuffle up a bit to let the new comers join them at the table.

Sarah was delighted to see that Fiona had arrived during her trip outside with the boys. She looked in excellent health and much more confidant.

"Fee – may I introduce you to Nathaniel Greenleigh and Raphael Lathander – Kat and I met them in Diagon Alley and well they've both now been sorted to Ravenclaw. Isn't that great!"

"Nathaniel and Raphael, this is Fiona Munro who is a Scottish lass from the Highlands." She beamed brightly and winked at Fee.

Sarah also was surprised to see Anders Grimalkin seated at the Teacher's table. She winked at Fiona "So what's up? Why is Anders Grimalkin here?" she turned to Kat, "I saw you with him at the station and in Flourish and Blotts – so what gives. Is there a new DADA teacher after all?"

She also was a fan of Anders Grimalkin though not to the extent that Fiona was – she wasn't the type for crushes. They inevitably ended in one's heart being squished – which is why she surmised they were called `crushes'.

She didn't want Raphael or Nathaniel to feel `out of the loop "See that young tall, long-haired man at the staff table he was our Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor last year – but he isn't now or at least I thought he wasn't. He's quite famous really for being one of the world's best Quidditch players." She omitted the more colourful details of his career. They were bound to hear anyway.

Kat grinned at Sarah. "Oh no, he's not teaching DADA again this year. I guess he still has some things to hand over to the new guy." There was a twinkle in her eye that told of her knowing more, but she wasn't going to say.

"Anyway, he's bought a house over in Hogsmeade so we can expect to see him around occasionally. I suspect he will pop in from time to time to see Dumbledore."

Again there was a lot more that she could say, but this was not the time.

Sarah nodded getting the point that Kat knew more but knowing it was pointless to try and wheedle it out of her. She cast an eye in Nimue Hawkwood's direction but Nimue was engaged in conversation with some of the new students at the Gryffindor table.

Sarah was sure she could make time to tease her later. Gryffs were fun to tease in general because they tended to be *so* serious like Marvo for example.

She also had noted his looking at the three of them returning to the Hall. She looked forward to getting hold of a copy of 'Witch Weekly' to see what Rita Skeeter had to say this time about Marvo. She did act a little weird on the train station. Almost girlish, over the Junior Auror which was a truly terrifying prospect.

"Hey, Kat - has Marvo said anything about Rita Skeeter interviewing him? Wouldn't he blast her into next week if she tried?"

Kat looked surprised. "Marvo? Interviewed by that woman? I would have thought he would blast her into next week for just trying to interview her, but that isn't what you meant is it?" She looked confused. If she tried what?

Kat also wondered why Marvo had consented to an interview with such a woman. More to the point why hadn't he told her about it. Probably just slipped his mind again with all the excitement on the train.

Suddenly all around, the table he was on burst into wild cheering. Even as Raphael spun around and searched for the source of all of the Ravenclaws excitement, not being able to hear through all the commotion, it didn't make much sense until the guy who'd been under the Sorting Hat approached their table.

A touch of happiness flooded through Raphael when he heard himself think that: this was their table. He was a Ravenclaw. With Sarah and Nathaniel. Glancing around to see Sarah as she greeted a friend on the Ravenclaw table, he checked himself, and instead glanced as Kat engaged the new guy in her intro speech.

"Zidane," he repeated to himself, quietly, looking at him from the corner of his eye as Kathryn introduced everyone else on the table. His eyes... something... walking over, Raphael extended his hand to the newcomer, a half-grin forming without a thought. "Hey, I'm Raphael," he said, catching the others attention just in time to find Sarah talking to him.

"Nathaniel and Raphael, this is Fiona Munro who is a Scottish lass from the Highlands." Sarah finished.

"Right, great to meet you, Fiona..." said Raphael, moving away from Zidane and finding a seat on the table, leaving two spaces for Nathaniel and Sarah in between him and Fiona. Looking at Zidane standing there, Raphael indicated the seat on the opposite side. "We'll get food, apparently, if we wait around..."