"Snake and Swan"
Chapter One:
"She The Swan and He The Raven"
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"So... it's her..?"
"Yes... your daughter..."
"B-But why..?"
"I understand your fear, really I do... but I believe there is something off about her... the prophecy-"
"No! I refuse to accept that ridiculous story!"
"My queen... please understand that she is the only Semideum in existence... and you know what happens if they cry..."
"I-I know..."
"So... her father is a human..?"
"Yes... he is..."
"We have to take her away from here... the Praedos... they will come for her..."
"Yes... take her away from here... they are coming... right now."
Psyche opened her eyes and sat up in her bed.
It was the same dream. She had this dream so many times now... Ever since she was 8 years old, she's had it. But it never changes, not a single detail strays away from the original. It always stays the same...
And she could never quite figure out what was being talked about. It was her obivously, but what did they mean by 'prophecy'?
Regardless, Psyche got out of bed and walked out of her room and into the kitchen to get a glass of water. She got a glass and walked back to her room, lacking much thought as she intended to go back to sleep.
Psyche was now 15. Young, healthy and cheerful as a butterfly and also quite the beauty. She had fair skin which was tender to the touch, soft and perfect features with big, round, turquoise eyes with long lashes, heart shaped pale pink lips, light blonde hair which went down to her knees and high cheekbones and a round shaped face with a small nose. She was thin and looked frail and delicate and she wore nothing but a nightdress and her house shoes.
As she set her glass on her nightstand and layed back in bed, she thought back to the events earlier that day and how diffirent her life would be when she would wake up again.
"Ah, Lord Arietes! Come in, please." An elderly voice said eagerly through his door after the Deer God knocked upon it. Arietes and Psyche immediately walked in and Psyche found herself across from a man who was definitely in his older age yet still had a merry and cheerful look to him, making him appear younger than he actually was.
Upon seeing Psyche, the man grinned and stood up to greet her, bowing down before her. "Oh, it is simply marvelous to meet you at last, Princess Psyche! Your caretaker, Lord Arietes, tells me so much about you!"
Psyche looked completely lost though smiled shyly at the mention of her title and his bowing to her. "Um, please rise, you needn't have to respect me for no reason other than my title!" Psyche said, a bit awkwardly as the man immediately stood up.
"Oh, why yes, but still, you are going to be the queen of the Solum and Caelum someday!" The man said, sounding very excited and happy.
Psyche looked to Arietes for assistance and Arietes smiled down at her, being in his human form and all. "Psyche, I would like you to meet Headmaster Armando Dippet of the Witchcraft and Wizardry School of Hogwarts." Arietes introduced and Psyche looked back and the man and smiled a bit, her nervousness was suddenly taken over by a polite yet respectful tone.
"Good day, sir, it is a pleasure to meet your aquaintance." She said kindly and she reached out her hand for him to shake, which he took eagerly and shook it but only for a few times before releasing.
"Ah, but the pleasure is all mine, princess!" Dippet said before Arietes coughed with a purpose and the two looked over at him, one in confusion and the other in realization. "Ah, right! Um, Psyche, your caretaker, Lord Arietes, has asked me a favor to do for him, to repay a debt to him. The favor is that he wants me to host you as a cover-up student so you can go to Hogwarts to be kept safe from... the Praedos..." He said the last part silently, as if afraid of something.
Psyche looked a bit surprised before turning to Arietes. "But, what about aunt Lisa?" She questioned. "Isn't she providing a cover scent to hide me so that the Praedos wouldn't think to look there?" Psyche asked and Arietes sighed a bit.
"Yes, but I've heard rumors of your location being compromised. However, as you can see, I've come up with a solution. Hogwarts is the safest place in Great Britain, and very well protected from any kinds of intrudors. Also, who would think to look in a school full of wizards and witches for you, Psyche?" Arietes explained and Psyche looked very contemplative.
And so, Psyche agreed to this plan, making Headmaster Dippet and Arietes quite pleased.
She knew exactly what it meant if she was caught, bad things would happen... and seeing as she herself had no heir to take her place if she was captured and potentially killed, it would certainly be in her best interest to keep herself alive so that the world itself stays alive.
While Psyche's logic told it was the right thing to do, she still didn't want to leave her aunt, with whom she spent 7 years with. She knew Lisa would be sad but despite Lisa's sadness, she certainly understood what was at stake and knew that Psyche needed to be protected at all costs.
Then she remembered how her now Headmaster sorted her into her new House. Her other family, as he put it.
"So, my dear, could you please sit here?" Dippet asked, gesturing to a chair for Psyche to sit on. Psyche, a bit confused yet curious, sat down.
"Now, this might sound odd, but I will be putting what we call the Sorting Hat on your head." Dippet explained and confused, Psyche turned to look at Arietes for answers.
"It's a ritual in which the person has the Sorting Hat placed on their heads and it decides where to put the person, meaning in which house to put them." Arietes explained with an amused smile before a look of realization dawned on her face.
"Oh, I know! There's Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin!" Psyche said, sounding like a child who said something clever to impress her parents. Dippet nodded.
"Indeed, Psyche. Now, here we go." He said, putting an old yet brown wizarding hat on the girl's head.
And to Psyche's utter surprise and delight, it spoke!
"Hmmm... Difficult..." At this, Psyche looked a bit nervous yet still amazed. "...Courageous and stubborn like a Gryffindor... Intelligent and mature like a Ravenclaw... the kindness and loyalty of a Hufflepuff too... Hmmm..." The hat mused.
"What about Slytherin?" She asked, curiously.
"What about it?" The hat sounded rather curious.
"Do I have any traits of a Slytherin?" She clarified.
"Hmmm, oh yes, you have the wit, ambition and cunning of a true Slytherin. While you maybe kind and loving, you still will do anything to protect those you love and to secure your position as future queen. You'll do anything for that." The Hat replied.
Psyche looked thoughtful. But the Hat continued: "A queen you want to be, and a queen you will become. So I will put you in the House to help you to succession... So, SLYTHERIN!"
Psyche felt a bit proud of herself. From her knowledge of the House of Slytherin, they were the ones who seemed like the most dedicated and hardworking students, so she was quite proud to fall into Slytherin.
And so, with a heavy heart and some worry for the future yet still excitement at the fact that she would be staying at Hogwarts, she quickly went back to sleep...
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The first day of school rolled around. And honestly, for Psyche it literally was. She had never actually been to an actual school and had actual classes with other students. Everything she learned was taught by tutors and other Lords and Ladies of the Solum and Caelum, and most of it was how to both be a proper princess and a strong ruler AND how to use her vast, vast access to magic and her deeper connection to it than most humans.
But regardless, she was both joyful and nervous.
"Oh, Arietes, I'm so nervous! What if I make an utter fool out of myself? What will they teach? How are other people my age like? Especially humans! Ohhhhhh, Arietes, I don't know!" She babbled to herself as the two walked down the forests of Luivaar, the Deer God smiling as he escorted his ward towards a Cross-Realms Apparating point.
"I'm not quite sure, my Queen." He mused and Psyche made a pouting face.
"Arietes! What have I said about using my title?" She scolded and the Deer God chuckled as he smiled warmly.
"I know, I apologize, Psyche." He said kindly and Psyche laughed.
"Apology accepted and forgiven!" She said optimistically.
Arietes then smiled softly as he turned to her and they stopped. "I wouldn't worry so much, Psyche, I imagine with your superior magic and personality of a true royal, you'll persuade everyone around you to like you. Besides, you are quite literally a beacon of light and love." Arietes assured as he gestured for her to take his hand. Psyche smiled as she did so and the two teleported away and suddenly appeared on Platform 9, 3/4!
And Psyche's eyes widened from awe.
In front of her, was the Hogwarts express! And it was magnificent! Her mouth fell open as she assessed the train in curious wonder and amazement. She had honestly never seen one as beautiful and new as this one! In fact, she was just so tempted to turn into a bug of some kind to literally explore the insides of it just to see how it worked!
Arietes' hand on her shoulder brought her back to reality as she turned to face him. Since he was so much taller than her, he had to literally get down on one knee to be at eye level with her. "Do you have your mother's locket with you..?" He asked and Psyche smiled as she nodded.
"I never take it off..." She said softly so that only the two of them could hear. Arietes gave her a loving smile as he kissed her forehead and then stood up.
"All right, remember now, behave and never let your gaurd down, you are a princess after all." He said softly before she embraced him, which he eagerly returned.
"Goodbye, Arietes..." She said softly.
"Goodbye, dearest Psyche." He replied before they pulled away and she grabbed her trunk. She took one last look at him before she and walked into the train to find a cabin for herself.
She searched for one but couldn't find any empty ones, and she specifically wanted an empty one. However, through sheer luck, she found one! Smiling widely, she walked into it and closed the cabin doors. She sat down in peace as she looked through her bag to pull out a jar of small yellow balls of honey.
As she opened it, a bee the size of her hand crawled out from her hair and it sat on her upper arm. Psyche noticed it immediately and she giggled. "Oh hello, Ziv. Do you want some Sugar balls?" She asked and the bee looked like he was nodding with his large head and big black beady eyes.
Psyche giggled again, taking a smaller Sugar ball and giving it to Ziv, who took it into his front legs and started to suck on it, it slowly draining away until there was nothing left.
"Go back now, Ziv. I don't think your supposed to be here." She said urgently as the bee hesitated. Though just as he was about to crawl back into her hair-
"No, he isn't."
Psyche paled slightly at the new voice and she slowly turned her head to the door to see a girl about her age, standing there. She had black raven hair, pale as white skin and was very pretty. Psyche felt a bit inferior to the girl for a moment.
"Um..." Psyche paused, trying to figure out what to say. Her social training skills had never prepared her for this!
"But don't worry, your secret is safe with me." The girl's formerly grim tone was now one of relaxation and teasing. She laughed at Psyche's odd expression before she sat down across from the Semideum.
"I'm Callidora Black. And you are..?" She asked, almost a bit wary of Psyche's answer.
"Oh um, I'm Psyche. Psyche Carrew!" She replied, with a pleasant smile on her face. Callidora looked a bit unsure and curious.
"So, are you a Pureblood or..?" She asked. Psyche paused, remembering that in the wizarding communities there was a lot of prejudice against Muggleborns and Half-Bloods. Realizing that she was speaking to a possibly prejudiced person, she smiled pleasantly.
"I am me, I am not defined by blood status, Callidora Black." Was the smart yet true answer she gave the girl. Callidora looked a bit confused for a second then thoughtful.
"Hm. All right." Was the short answer she received. The two sat in a semi-awkward silence before Callidora stared at Psyche in curiosity. "Odd, I've never seen you before. Are you new?"
Psyche paused before smiling and nodding. "Yes, I am a transfer student from Beauxbatons." She answered, lying. Psyche hated lying but she knew that she couldn't give away her identity to anybody but the Headmaster (who already knew). Besides, a lie meant to keep others safe never hurt anybody.
"Oh my! That sounds amazing! What is it like there?" Callidora asked and Psyche giggled at the girl's enthusiasm and curiosity.
"Oh, beautiful! Especially in spring when all the flowers bloom in the gardens... simply marvelous..." Psyche reminisced. Now this wasn't a lie. She had indeed actually been there on multiple occasions, though in secrecy and to communicate with different and rare species of animals that lived in the beautiful and rare gardens.
Callidora looked enchanted by Psyche's words. "That sounds wonderful, Psyche." She said softly and Psyche nodded.
"It truly was... I will miss it though..." She said, a bit sadly and Callidora, seeing how Psyche could be a potential friend, didn't want to see the girl down.
"Hey, come on, I want you to meet some of my friends! I think you'll like them!" Callidora said, standing up and Psyche hesitated before she too got up and followed the girl out the door.
"Oh, um, sure!" Psyche said, a bit nervous but shrugged it off as the two walked towards a different cabin...
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She was in the dining hall now, changed into her robes (green of course) and sitting with Callidora and some of her friends at the Slytherin table. Luckily, Callidora and her friends were already in Slytherin so the girls felt little insecurity. Psyche met two other girls known as Emily Flint and Charlotte Yaxley, again both Pureblood girls but they seemed nice enough and didn't really question her blood status, for which Psyche was grateful for.
"Did you see Amanda Lyre on the train?" Emily asked Callidora and the latter gave Emily a confused look.
"Huh, no I haven't. What about her?" Callidora asked.
Psyche tuned the girls' conversation out, looking at all the students who were slowly piling into the Dining Hall. It was also a very grand and amazing looking area.
Suddenly, everyone was quiet as the Sorting Hat was brought forward and the First years entered the hall. Psyche watched in awe as the students were sorted and then the food magically appeared from out of no where on golden dishes and plates.
Psyche had to process this for a moment before she could truly dig in and eat the best food she's had in ages...
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Tom Riddle sat away from the Pureblood girls with his "friends". He wouldn't actually dare call them that in his mind. They were beneath him, stupid and had no real path besides being filthy rich and having lots of influence... influence he could perhaps use someday...
"Riddle," Abraxas Malfoy's voice cut into Tom's trail of thought, "Did you hear about the new girl in our House?"
Tom gave Malfoy a rather curious look, though it looked very intimidating. At the mention of a new girl, Leonard Avery, Antonin Dolohov, Silas Lestrange and Darius Nott all piped their heads up from their food to look at the Malfoy.
Malfoy, continued: "Yes, apparently she is with Black, Flint and Yaxley right now. A transfer student." Tom's eyebrows raised.
"And why should this bother me?" He questioned, sounding a bit irritated.
Malfoy swallowed a bit, choosing his next words carefully. "I hear that she is extremely talented with magic. Rumors about even her being unnatural even." Malfoy regurgitated and Tom took his eyes carelessly off of Malfoy.
"Well, that reputation of hers will change for sure." Tom said, with little care.
Malfoy nodded slightly. "Of course, Riddle. You are the best after all..."
Tom smirked, relishing the hidden fear and nervousness in the boy's voice. "Exactly." He said confidently. After all, what did a girl possess that he didn't have?
Suddenly, as if from out of no where, Callidora black popped her head inbetween Malfoy's and Dolohov's heads, looking cocky as she looked at everyone. "Hey, gentlemen, I have someone I'm sure you'd like to meet! She is really sweet and precious!" She said giddily as she took a step back to reveal behind her was the new girl that Malfoy was talking about.
Avery's, Dolohov's and Malfoy's jaws dropped at her while Lestrange and Nott looked a bit surprised. Psyche looked a bit embarrassed at their stares as she softly yet sternly asked: "What?"
However, while Tom may not have shown it, he was in awe. He had never seen anyone so ethereal and beautiful in his entire life. She wasn't the most beautiful for sure, but she had something powerful and strong about her and her turquoise eyes... the way they looked so calm and collected yet still delicate and soft and full of light made Tom's entire body freeze up.
And her voice... it was that of an angel's, a being of pureness and hope. A creature so rare and exquisite it made Tom want to take her away and admire her forever. She looked no more threatening than a fly but her demeanor, the way she carried herself and her eyes spoke of secrets untold and powers unimaginable... What was wrong with him? No girl ever had this much effect on him! Was he going mad?
He was snapped back to reality when Avery stuttered his answer and then blushed red in embarrassment and shock at his own blunt words: "Um, s-sorry, it's just that... um, you are very beautiful..."
Psyche blushed slightly at this. "Oh, um... why thank you..." She said softly and thankfully.
Then their eyes met for the first time. Dark brown meet turquoise blue.
And for the first time ever since... well, never, his heart beat for someone. And fast. And for the love of all that is powerful, he did not know what this feeling was! He could not understand what this girl was doing to him. He thought about potions, spells and charms but nothing came to mind to describe what he felt. It was... powerful and Tom felt a tingling sensation go from all the way from his toes to his head as he stared at the beautiful creature disguised in human form.
Yet he, oddly enough, craved more. He wanted to be closer to her, physically and mentally. He wanted to touch her and feel just what drew him towards her so much.
Psyche felt nothing but an absolute emotion. But she knew this feeling, she wasn't exactly sure from where, but she just did. She had fallen in love with him. She just knew it, she knew what love was before and felt it greatly for her family and her spirit, animal and plant friends and subjects, but she had never fallen in love with someone.
She remembered reading about love at first sight in stories about love and romance but never thought she would experience this herself. Though, she felt very foolish and decided that it was probably false, so she brushed it off but the lingering and deep emotion she felt made her entire body rush with warmth and love.
She examined her heart's chosen one and immediately saw that he was very handsome. Oh, he was very handsome. His dark hair, light skin, strong and attractive facial features made him look positively gorgeous. But his eyes, they were beautiful and filled with power, anger and darkness. While this slightly worried her, it only drew her closer to him.
And then she felt it, a darkness. A black void of nothingness inside him. Chaos surged like a powerhouse inside him... but she found herself uncaring at the moment, though it did deeply concern her and made her think more warily around him.
However, unexpectedly, she suddenly felt a tingling sensation run through her entire body and couldn't explain why.
Snapping out of her daze, she mentally slapped herself for her ridiculousness and blinked before smiling softly and gently as she said softly, almost like a secret: "Well in that case, hello everyone..."
Tom found his eyes roaming down her form, wondering for the first time in his life what it would be like to see a girl completely nude and bare before him. Tom blushed slightly as he looked away and only his nameless swan seemed to notice, blushing slightly as well.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't catch your names, gentlemen?" The swan asked gently. Tom noticed his servants literally looking like they would literally lick the floor for her (though some hid it remarkably well, like Lestrange or Nott).
"Oh my, well, um, I'm Abraxas Malfoy, this is Leonard Avery, Antonin Dolohov, Silas Lestrange and Darius Nott. We are most honored to meet you, my lady..." Abraxas introduced before turning on his charming voice. But then he remembered who he forgot to introduce. "Oh, how could I forget? This is-"
"Thank you, Malfoy, but I believe I'm quite able to tell the swan my name." He said, as if his nickname for her was normal and completely usual for the two. At the word 'swan', Psyche mentally swooned. Tom got up and faced her, taking her hand into his and kissing her fingers gingerly. He looked up into her eyes and gave her a seductive yet piercing gaze. "Tom Marvolo Riddle, at your service, my dearest swan... may I have the deepest honor in knowing your name..?" He asked, turning up his charm to 11 and actually for once meaning it.
Psyche blushed cherry red as her eyes met his and she smiled widely. "I'm Psyche... Psyche Gaia Carrew..." She replied, lost and completely infatuated with him, already having fail her mission of acting cool and levelheaded with him.
"Psyche... isn't that the name of the goddess of souls in ancient Greece?" He asked, an eyebrow raised in goodhearted amusement. Psyche nodded, a bit glad that he recognized it.
"Yes, actually..." She said softly, and then Tom's longer and delicate fingers left hers and Psyche almost felt a part of her die inside. She wanted to touch him forever...
Tom also felt something slightly crush him for releasing him and he had to fight the string urge to take her hand and perhaps more than just her hand again. "Well, it seems fitting for a beauty like you, my swan..."
Psyche could only giggle and retort: "Well, thank you, my raven..."
At this very flirty exchange, everyone looked on in shock as the two didn't register anyone but them. It was so weird and INCREDIBLY strange to see the Tom Riddle flirting with a girl. They weren't even sure if he was acting or not. If he was, it was impressive.
Meanwhile, Callidora Black looked on with absolute shock and astonishment. Tom freaking Riddle was FLIRTING with a girl?! WHAT? With a stupid grin on her face, Calibrator approached the love-sicken duo and took Psyche by the hand, dragging her away with comedic glee as she giggled.
"Come on, Psyche, everyone is gathering up to go to the Slytherin common room!" She said and Psyche looked a bit disappointed to be away from her raven but smiled back at him sadly yet with love. The two shared looks of 'goodbye' before Psyche disappeared into the crowd.
Tom looked back at her and was tempted to take her away to be with him constantly. He didn't know why but in that moment he knew exactly what he wanted. He knew only one thing in that moment. Psyche Gaia Carrew was his and only his. And nobody but him would have her.
"My swan... Psyche..." He tested the name on his lips in a hushed voice as his servants were too disturbed to approach him. He noticed this and immediately turned to face them, his face impassive and cold, as if it was all an act.
Lestrange was the first to speak: "Riddle... um, I'm sorry to question, but... what was that?"
Tom smirked. "An asset. She is indeed very powerful, Malfoy." He said, satisfied without even looking at the boy. Malfoy nodded quickly, frazzled at his master's behavior.
Inside, Tom wanted to see her again.
And Psyche, like Tom, wanted to see him again...