Storm Hunter eyed her reflection critically in the floor-to-ceiling mirror at her family manor. The gold-framed, bejewelled monstrosity covered the entire west wall of the foyer. Storm carefully adjusted her robes, running her fingers through her long, jet black hair as she prepared herself to be united again with her despicable family. The school year had ended much too quickly.
"We don't know what he is doing. We lost our only other spy months ago. I trust you Storm, the order trusts you. We need you to go back. Report to me anything you hear. It is crucial to our success," Dumbledore had implored her.
"I'll go back," Storm had responded, "You need me, and I couldn't leave my post, not in good conscience."
As a trusted daughter of the Hunter's, a prominent pure-blooded family, Storm was a perfect spy. She had been for years, since she had first begun to suspect that her family had been involved with Voldemort back in her second year at Beauxbaton's. She still remembered the night she had first made contact with Dumbledore. Storm had been roused from sleep by a chilling scream. Tip-toeing from her room, she had peered over the top of the staircase, and was greeted by a horrifying sight. Her Father laughed manically, his wand trained on a small woman who was incoherent and writhing in pain. Her older brother Jamie looked on in glee.
"The Dark Lord will be pleased, Father. Once I kill her, he will surely admit me to his closest ranks. I will be a deatheater, and I will bring glory to our name!" Jamie had spoken excitedly.
And, with a sick smile he had aimed his wand, a flash of red signalling the end of the woman's life. Storm had been terrified, sickened. She had remained awake the entire night, inconsolable and panicked. The next morning saw her rise early, with a plan.
Sneaking upstairs to a rarely used fireplace, she had contacted Albus Dumbledore, a man whose good deeds she had read about in all her school books. She figured he would know what to do. A somewhat surprised Dumbledore had comforted her and then offered an ultimatum. She could leave her family, and he would ensure than she was safe from their wrath. Or, she could remain with them, pretending to be on their side while secretly feeding any information she garnered back to him and an organisation that fought Voldemort, known as The Order of the Phoenix. Storm made her decision and had been spying ever since.
Storm made some final adjustments to her appearance, allowing her face to take on a well-practiced cold expression. Smoothing her hair one last time, she walked calmly through the foyer clicking her fingers to summon her house elf.
"Tell my parents I have arrived," Storm spoke in a cool, clipped tone.
"Yes mistress, right away!" Squeaked the elf, disapparating with a pop.
Moments later, her mother appeared in the doorway, approaching Storm with an appraising eye. Storm repressed a shiver of fear, distracting herself from the unnerving way her Mother's eyes assessed her by in turn assessing the woman herself. Acacia Hunter was an imposing woman. Tall and dark, the woman's stunning beauty seemed to conflict violently with her cold demeanour. Her good looks and unfriendly personality seemed to clash in her eyes. The black orbs were hard, filled with malice and cruelty and lined with long, dark lashes that rested prettily on her lids. After what felt like a decade, Storm watched her mother's red lips part and she spoke in a high, chilling voice.
"Change. We have dinner with Abraxus and Elladora Malfoy tonight," she said, coldly, "Lucius will also attend."
"Yes, Mother. I am pleased to be home," Storm responded with equal coolness, turning on her heel and making her way upstairs to her rooms.
Storm had always found her mother the most frightening of her family. She didn't understand her, and never had. Her brother Jamie had, strangely, been adopted. He was intelligent and attractive and he craved power above all else. Her Father was cruel, revelling in others' pain. He was obsessed with wealth and status. But her mother was completely different. She was fiercely intelligent, ruthless and incredibly perceptive. Her every action was measured and calculated. But her motivation, her values, her beliefs? Storm could never quite understand. She was a complicated woman, and it scared her.
Storm came to her last day of holidays wound tighter than a music box. After sneaking into her father's office two days prior to make copies of various incriminating correspondence, Storm was in a constant state of fear, believing that someone would turn on her one day, realizing her to be a spy. So when her mother requested her presence in the drawing room that day at four o'clock, she almost had a heart attack. It had taken Storm a lot to compose herself in order to respond normally. After her mother had left, Storm had sat down on her bed, closing her eyes and breathing deeply.
"It's just a meeting," she whispered to herself, "Just wishing me a good sixth year at Beauxbaton's"
At quarter-to-four that afternoon, Storm dressed carefully in a green dress, playing into her family's affinity to the colour. She descended the stairs, a façade of cold disregard masking her violent nerves.
"Good afternoon, Storm," Spoke her father. Braxton Hunter cut an imposing figure, dressed in all black. His green eyes that were almost identical to her own were unyielding, fixed upon her.
Storm was disturbed by his presence. Her father almost never spoke to her. To meet with her for a "chat", as her mother had put it, was highly irregular.
"Good afternoon, Father," Storm responded, her face an unreadable mask. She met his gaze calmly.
"Storm, I don't want to tiptoe around this. I am going to get straight to the point. Your mother and I have decided to move you to Hogwart's with Jamie for your final two years. We have not found the level of education provided by the disgusting half-blood principal at Beauxbaton's to be satisfactory," Her father finished, a disdainful sneer crossing his features.
"Of course, Father," Storm responded with false scorn, "I agree entirely, the giant is hardly fit to teach!"
Braxton Hunter smiled cruelly at this, nodding his head with agreement, "It is final then. You will be required at Hogwarts tonight for your sorting. You will stay at Hogwarts tonight, as the school term begins tomorrow. You are excused."
Storm breathed an inaudible sigh of relief but froze again when she heard her mother's voice call from behind her.
"And Storm? We will expect you to be in Slytherin."