Lightning cracked the sky like broken glass. The clouds above seemed to roar and groan and cry out with thunderous malcontent. As a distant sun slowly heaves itself into sight, the rain wrapped silhouette of Hogwarts stands in contrast to the murky Scottish countryside. Every bird and beast and living thing lay dormant, as if in protest of the coming dawn. How could any creature rise to sing or feed, or fight - or fulfill any obligation in the face of this torrent.