"Now, in the bookshelves behind you is a selection of topics including defence, charms and such. There are also some of the best reference books on the Fae and other extra planar entities. Study them well for the knowledge will serve you well in the destiny in front of you."
Harry turned to study the books. He stood and walked over to review the titles he'd looked at briefly the night before. He turned to ask Rachael a question and was surprised that she was standing right next to him. He never heard her move. The woman wrapped Harry in a hug.
"Be well, my Harry. Remember, you are never alone and you are loved." Then she was simply gone. Harry looked around but there was no sign of her. Even the kitchen was cleaned up except for the small plate of the leftover bacon.
"No, Potter," Harry muttered in the empty room. "That wasn't freaky at all."
....
It had been four days since Mr Potter's disappearance and Minerva McGonagall was not in a good mood. Mr Potter was an excellent student and did not deserve the accusations and rumours that were levelled against him. She had only caught the end of Mr Potter's rant but she'd quickly taken the student body to task. Then she started on the staff that had witnessed the whole event and not intervened. The Aurors were not in her jurisdiction but she had words with her old friend Amelia Bones who was not pleased to hear of neither her niece's nor her Aurors behaviour towards Mr Potter.
The cat animagus trotted down the dark and quiet corridors of the school. It was past her assigned patrol time but she was feeling anxious and simply wanted to enjoy the cool night air. She loved Hogwarts but appreciated these times when the students were not around.
It was the soft sound of a piper that caught the feline's attention. Would one of the Aurors be playing this late? Some of them were on patrol but the rest should be sleeping, not playing music. The tabby moved off down the hall on silent cat paws.
She was near the entrance to Ravenclaw Tower when she saw eight ugly little creatures standing in an alcove. The creatures were about two feet tall and looked like distorted goblins. Each of the creatures was armed with wicked looking spears with some type of sharpened black stone at the top. One was playing a small pipe softly. It was very high pitched she realized and doubted she would have heard it in human form. Next to the piper stood a student she recognized as a 2nd Year Ravenclaw, Malcolm Board. The boy was fully dressed for the day and stood motionless and expressionless. That was when she realized what the 'boy' was.
It was a crimbil, one of the golem replacements for the abducted children. That meant these creatures were the Bendith Y Mamau that Mr Potter had warned them about and they were here to take young Mr Board.
The professor was still getting over her shock when the targeted Mr Board slowly walked into the hall. His movements were relaxed and casual but he seemed to be focused on following the sound of the music. He came to a stop just in front of the alcove before turning to face the Bendith. The crimbil stepped forward and reached out a hand to touch the boy. McGonagall overcame her shock and realized it was time to act. In an instant she released her cat form and her wand was in her hand with a spell on her lips.
A blasting curse caught the Bendith by surprise hurling three of them against the wall with a satisfying crunch. The remaining five reacted with incredible reflexes turning to face their attacker. The piper dropped his pipe to pull out his spear. But McGonagall had not time to notice as two of the others launched their spears at her.
The professor was a skilled duellist having survived several fights during the war with Voldemort but age had slowed her down a bit. She avoided the first spear that would have pierced her heart but the second sank deeply into her thigh. The stone head broke off leaving the black rock deep in her leg but allowing the blood to rush out. The pain was horrible. Minerva McGonagall looked up to see two of the creatures advancing on her with drawn knives of the same material. She tried to raise her wand but the blood loss was making her faint. She knew she would be dead shortly.
The Beast slammed into the advancing Bendith like a wrecking ball. A claw swipe ripped the throat out of one while the second was held firmly in the other clawed hand. That one was thrown back into the other three before they could bring their spears into play. The three of them crashed to the floor as the fourth one dodged to avoid. That one charged towards Harry with its spear extended.