Готовый перевод Его зовут Дождь / His name is Rain: I Зверь

___________August 1983

That night in the Forbidden Forest, everything was exactly the same as in any other night before.

The same mystical haze, which has absorbed every tree and every creature, the same bloodcurdling sounds were in that place.

But still, something was wrong.

Hagrid clearly felt the change.

The Forbidden Forest next to which the giant lived Merlin knows for how long, became a home for him and in your home every little changes immediately catch the eye.

Hagrid reluctantly pulled back from the soft, warm chair, slightly flexed his stiff neck and slowly rose to his feet. His body responded with nagging pain.

- Never in my life I will fall asleep on a chair again, - he vowed to himself and stepped to the window.

There was nothing to be seen behind the dusty glass, just the blackening emptiness.

Pitch-dark.

Hagrid found the lantern, grabbed the handle of the door and pushed it.

It opened with a nasty creaking sound.

A long rectangle of light appeared on the dark ground.

- Fang! - Hagrid called the dog which was dozing by the fireplace.

He started nervously, restlessly whirled his black muzzle and when his eyes met the eyes of the owner, he wagged his tail.

"Let's go"

Fang fearfully cringed at once, but, nevertheless, rose from the warm rag and obediently went outside.

The giant closed the door behind himself and decisively advanced to the Frobidden Forest.

And right next to him a big shadow of a dog was trotting cowardly.

It's not that Hagrid needed him, really.

It's just was comforting this way.

The lantern's light reached the imposing wall of fir trees.

A thick fog welcomed a guest into it's realm.

Drops of sweat appeared on giants forehead, goosebumps ran over his back, Fang was whimpering at his feet.

He didn't flinch.

It wasn't new for him at all.

Hagrid stepped on a narrow forest path and inhaled loudly, trying to indicate a smell of something strange and unusual that brought him here.

But the strong smell of conifer didn't help him with that.

The giant kept walking.

The lantern, swinging in a huge palm, was spreading flickering shadows all around.

It felt like some hiding night creatures were goint to kreep out from the darkness.

His heart started to pound.

Hagrid was going down the path what seemed to him to be an eternity, when suddenly he heard someone's muffled footsteps.

He stood still. His hand gripped a handle of a broken wand.

- Who's there? - He asked a wall of darkness.

- It's me, Hagrid, - it answered faintly.

Sound of the footsteps came closer, and the lanterns light fell on a serene face of a centaur.

- Firenze! - exclaimed Hagrid in relief. His hand let go of a wand and went for a friendly handshake.

- I'm so glad I met you. What's happening there?

- There's a stranger in the Forbidden Forest,- said the centaur, held a significant pause and added, - I can hear it breathing.

- Can you find'im ?- Hagrid asked.

Instead of answering, Firenze turned his back on him and hurried into the dark.

The giant could hardy catch up with him.

However they didn't run far.

In a monent the centaur stopped abruptly and stood still, staring unblinkingly into the dark.

Breathing heavily, Hagrid followed his gaze, but saw nothing and stepped forward.

The light of the lantern was sliding softly on the ground until it reached a shivering roll at wrenched out tree roots.

Hagrid stood, gazing at it.

The roll trembled in the light and then slowly turned into a figure.

A human figure.

The gamekeeper came closer and gasped in astonishment when he saw a little boy in front of him.

His terrified eyes were filled with tears and they were streaming down to his trembling chin and dropping down to the ground.

- Please, don't hurt me, -he cried, moving backwards to a huge trunk of an oak tree, in the roots of which he was hiding a moment ago.

The giant was so shocked that he was lost for words.

But remembering his size he got on one knee and offered a hand to the boy.

-I'm the friendliest creature ye will ever find in'ere. -The boy was silent.-How're yeh, ok?

- I don't know.

- How is that yeh don' know?

- Just like that, - the boy shivered slightly.

He let go of nervousness a bit.

Hearing the giants friendly words, his fear started wearing off.

- Lemme get yeh outta here, there's plenty of stuff wandering around, under the full moon, yeh know, -Hagrid tried to smile encouragungly, but it was rather hard.

The lantern light showed how the boy got so pale he looked like a ghost, but, anyway, he hurried into Hagrids arms, fearing what might be the most unfriendly creature in this forest.

_________________________________________________________________________

- So, you don't remember anything?

Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, the director of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was pacing out his office, glancing at a black haired boy sitting at his table.

- Nothing, sir, - the boy shivered, holding onto his seat.

- Not even your name?

- Nothing at all, sir.

- Hmm...

Dumbledore stopped suddenly. Bright blue eyes behind half-moon spectacles sguinted slightly.

- Well, allright... Let's see what you do remember.

The boy felt a shiver down his spine and his head getting heavy.

He trembled and breathed for some air.

It felt like an unblingking gaze of the wizard went right through him.

But the boy didn't look away.

And at this moment he felt something else other than pain and cold.

Or rather saw.

Moments that he went through in the last hour started flashing in front of him: a heavy darkness and a suffocating dampness.

Of a Forbidden Forest, loads of eyes twinkling from the darkness, the rustle of leaves.

The boy felt the chilly wind and how hands and feet freezed again.

Tears streamed down his face, fear and obscurity filled his heart.

Trying to hold in the scream, he clatched the seat harder and closed his eyes.

It all stopped abruptly, and his mind fell into a calming oblivion.

________________________________

The boy woke up in a huge room filled with light coming through countless windows that were reaching the ceiling.

On each side of the hall there were lines of beds separated from each other by green screens.

At the far end, right next to the door, there were sinks and a big cupboard filled with white towels.

He was alone here, all the beds were empty.

There was a complete silence, that suddenly was broken by a sound of an opening door.

His heart gave a jump.

The boy quickly dived under the blanket, leaving only his black hair seen upon it and, gatheing all his self-control, tried to look asleep.

He didn't look forward to get his mind cracked by someone else once again.

Sound of the footsteps was approching his bed.

- Looks like this child was under the memory charm, Severus, - the boy recognized Professor Dumbledore's voice. A person next to him kept silent.

The footsteps stopped right beside him.

Silence fell once again.

There only was a faint buzzing sound.

The boy tried his best to keep a smooth breathing.

- Hmm, -uttered someone above him, and he flinched unintentionally. - I don't understand. Something is blocking the penetration.

- I couldn't figure out anything as well,- Dumbledore sighed and approached the bed from the other side. The boy caught a glimpse of a long white beard.

- Do you think he's been cursed, Severus?

- It's the first time I failed to recognize the dark arts, Professor.

- It's too soon to be sure of anything.

However we can't ignore the fact that it was definitely a curse,- said the man. - What did you find out after Legilimency?

- Almost everything what Hagrid told me.

But before that - absolutely nothing.

Along with that trivial memories are still functioning.

Who would want to wipe out a memory of a child and leave him in the Forbidden Forest?

- Well, I think we can see some motives here.

He was left in The Forbidden Forest, near Hogwarts, therefore, whoever did this hoped that the boy will be taken into the school.

Only if, of course, he expected the boy to live.

The boy saw how wizard's beard was shaking along with his head.

- Along with that he's not looking surprised at all, which means he's not a muggle.

They both went into deep thoughts, keeping silent.

- How old is he? - the man called Severus asked.

- He'll be thirteen next month.

- Quite old for a wizard.

- Not at all, - Dumbledore sighed and disappeared from boy's sight, - But by now, Severus, I have to go, however as you.

His companion didn't answer. There were only the steps, which died away after the sound of shutted doors.

_______________________________________________________

- Unfortunately, we couldn't find out what happened to you.

Albus Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, his weary eyes were fixed on the nameless boy in front of him.

- Are you sure you don't remember anyting?

The boy nodded.

- Well... In this case we willl offer you a room in Hogwarts until everything's clear. You realize where you are?

- In The School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, sir.

- Do you know a lot about this school? - Dumbledore leaned forward slightly, his eyes behind half-moon spectacles glittering oddly.

- Well... - said the boy, - I know that every year a lot of young wizards come here from all over the world, get sorted into the Houses by the Sorting Hat and learn spells.

And the castle is full of friendly ghosts and talking portraits.

I also remember that there's a game played on broomsticks called something like Quidditch and...

- That's enough, -the wizard smiled slightly, - you're aware of the things in this school, so you won't get lost in it.

The boy exhaled with relief.

The X-raying gaze of professor Dumbledore didn't let him relax completely, though.

- What about choosing a temporary name for you?

- Rain,- murmured the boy.

- Rain?

- I think that's my name. Don't know why.

- Well then... Rain... The formalities are solved.

Now I'll take you to professor Snape, the potion making teacher, to make sure you're alright.

_______________________________________________

Severus Snape was slowly stirring a seething liquid in a cauldron.

His black eyes were looking unseeingly at the orange colored whirlpool, which was following the direction af his wand.

The colour of potion was taking him way far from his underground office.

It was taking him back to 1977.

When this colour was blending with the sunshine and playing in her hair.

Lily's hair.

The last year.

The last change to change something.

It even looked like the same thoughts were reflected in those green eyes.

Her eyes were asking, begging: "Please, Severus, it's me, Lily. Say something.

Make me believe that the last word you said didn't have any meaning."

And he almost made a step forward, but that step stumbled across a barrier named James Potter, as if out of thin air.

How many times this barrier appeared before him for seven years at Hogwarts.

"Was it destiny? Was it the way is should've happened?", - thought Severus. But his heart didn't want to believe selfish destiny, which erased from the face of the earth the only person, whose life was dearer to him than his own.

SHE's gone. How could it be true?

"Were it the stars which destined her to bring in this world a son - the hope of the all magical world - meanwhile sacrificing herself?"

Severus didn't believe. At least he tried not to.

Someone knocked at the door.

He accidently brushed his hand on the hot cauldron taken by surprise.

The singe brought him back to reality.

Severus felt several warm drops on his eyes. He wiped them away with a sleeve of a black robe, sighed deeply and opened the door.

There was Albus Dumbledore standing on the threshold.

His hand was resting on the black haired boy, who was found in the Forbidden Forest.

He cringed in embaressment, sending wolfy look on the potions master.

- Is everything's ready? - asked Dumbledore.

Severus looked around, put off the fire and said:

- Everything's ready.

- Great, - said the wizard, pushing the boy forward.

- I'm trusting you Rain, Severus. I need to send an owl to the Ministry. I'll come back when you'll be done.

Professor SNape nodded and showed the boy to the chair standing near the cauldron.

Dumbledore send the last look on Rain and shut the door behimd himself.

Potions master came to the cupboard with flasks and than he started to pour the content of the cauldron in one the glass bottle.

He did all that in silence, trying hard to keep away obsessive assosiation of the potion.

The boy was silent too.

Only eyes lived on his pale face, studing the glum of the potions master's office.

Without a word Severus handed him the bottle.

- What is it? - askes Rain, looking at it closely.

-The potion that detects dark magic,- professor answered.

Under proffessor's intent look, the boy made a gulp, second, third, until he finished the drink.

The potion turned out to be almost tasteless.

Only there was a slight bitter aftertaste.

Rain slowly held out the bottle.

Snape took it as slowly, not taking his eyes off the kid.

Seconds were passing.

Nothing happened.

Two silent figures, sitting intently in fron of each other, didnt move.

The boy felt something trembling inside of him.

It was growing every second, getting ready to burst outside.

He started breathing fast.

The air thickened.

Rain tried to unbutton his collar, but his hands failed.

They suddenly became very heavy.

Then he screamed, but instead of a yell there was a hoarse sounding like a growling.

The boy looked around him in fear. His body started shaking feverishly.

A second - and it was over.

His head fell on his chest.

The breath became normal.

Rain felt strength coming back to his limbs.

His hands that for sme rason became bigger, were clenched in fists.

Rain raised his head.

Right in front of him was Professor Snape.

There was horror in his black eyes.

And then, beside strength, he felt an urge close to the thirst.

And what earlier was a face of a helpless child, now wore an animal grin.

In his torn and ripped pieces of mind the only goal was left- to tear and rip a live thing towering in front of him.

The monste leaped forward, and blood splashed on his skin.

Внимание! Этот перевод, возможно, ещё не готов.
Его статус: идёт перевод

Переведено на Нотабеноиде
http://notabenoid.org/book/57837/262777

Переводчики: mavluda_d, MdSava, Sophia_Riddle