Hello all, Icy here!
It has been a while since I last wrote but I'm starting to feel the need to write and create again. This is my new piece, The Shadow War. I have a very interesting plot planned for this story and I'm sure you will all find it very satisfying. The story begins 100 years after the Deathly Hallows (or around 80 years if you count from little Albus, Rose and Scorpius' first day of school) Please enjoy!
As always, I do not own anything which you may recognise from other talented authors/directors (got some inspirations from movies).
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Chapter 1: Salazar
"Lord Voldemort was without a doubt the worse dark wizard that reign, perhaps only surpassed by Lady Morgana who contrary to popular belief, was actually successful in conquering most of the world before being defeated by Merlin when her path of domination finally led her to Britain. Even so, Lord Voldemort's lack of ambition in his conquest was by no mean an indication of his lack of ferociousness, his madness of the mind rarely reflected in his tactical ability which involves both political and physical conquest."
Frantic scratching of pens, pencils and quills on paper accompanied the brief pause as Professor Fern took a sip of water from the glass next to him. Salazar Malfoy looked longingly at the muggle instruments which were favoured by most students and after an inaudible sigh, returned to his own notes, dipping quill to ink periodically as Professor Fern continued.
"It was said that the reason behind his focus on Europe was that Voldemort believed that Albus Dumbledore, our esteem ex-headmaster, was someone he must defeat at all cost before attempting to broaden his plans. Indeed Dumbledore who triumphed over Grindelwald, another dark wizard who reigned prior to Voldemort, was constantly able to outsmart Voldemort. Even Dumbledore's demise was planned to give an edge to Harry Potter who ultimately defeated Voldemort in an epic duel. It was said that expelliarmus was used to…"
Salazar snorted at the Professor's excited telling of a probably dramatized account of the real event. The Gryfindors in the room were hanging by the edge of their seat in excitement, eager to hear about the epic dual which Salazar couldn't care less about. War and battles are not things to get excited about, the young Malfoy could still recall his grandfather, Scorpius' tales of the war his great grandparents fought. Draco Malfoy, the man to change the history of the Malfoy family never did recover from the emotional trauma. At the man's deathbed, a time when Salazar was too young to remember, it was said his great grandfather was afraid to meet with the dead, of whom he most feared meeting Lord Voldemort who he betrayed and Albus Dumbledore who died due to his actions.
The loud ringing of a bell signalled the end of a long history class. Salazar really despised the subject, after all there were more important things to learn like magic, potions and even Muggle inventions. Though he supposed the classes with Professor Fern was a vast improvement to the classes with the ghost professor Binns. Thanks to the efforts of Minerva Mcgonagall during her term of office as Headmistress of Hogwarts, Professor Binns, whose knowledge of magic history did not cover anything from the last two centuries, had been supplemented by another professor who specialised in modern history.
"Sal, we are going to be late for potions if you don't hurry up."
"Well excuse me for needing to pack up my quill and inkpot!" Salazar replied to the boy standing next to his chair, tapping his foot impatiently.
"You know your grand isn't going to find out if you use my pens to take notes right?" The boy asked.
Salazar sighed at his friend Thomas who just answered his own question while imitating Salazar's voice.
"No Malfoy ever goes back on his words! Yes, yes, I know. Now can we get going before we miss anything important?"
The two boys raced off to their new class, unfortunately running into the resident poltergeist. Salazar stared at the blue ghost with annoyance, the hateful creature had it out for him. Sometimes Salazar wondered how the famous twin pranksters got Peeves on their side, all he could do was have uncivilised debates with the darn thing, though he supposed it was a lot better than what others had to deal with.
"Oooooh, here comes the mighty Salazar. But why does he look so… blue?"
Salazar groaned at the line of attack, here comes the house jokes.
"Says the smurf!" Thomas shouted back in defence of his friend. Salazar assumed smurf must be a muggle reference since neither Peeves nor he understood the retort.
"So Salazar, if I throw you some bread would you caw for me?"
"Ha ha, very amusing." Salazar deadpanned. He ignored the poltergeist as it followed him and continued making jokes about the ironic relation between Salazar's name and house. Salazar just straightened his blue tie, he had five years to come to terms with the irony and he's not going to cry just because he was a Ravenclaw.
"Looks like little Draco made a change to the family motto…"
Salazar snapped and hurled his copy of Great Wizards and Witches of the Past at Peeves, who simply allowed the object to sail through his body. Huffing in anger the teen stomped off, leaving Thomas to quietly summon the hefty book for his friend while shooting Peeves the evil eye. Salazar continued fuming all the way to the dungeons, seriously debating in his head to invent something for exorcising of nasty, inkpot throwing pests.
His name may be the embodiment of irony here at Hogwarts, but he was proud of the name his great grandfather gave him. Grandfather had told him that the name was to symbolise their proud Malfoy history, which though changing with every recent generation, was nevertheless a great, old, magical family with long ties to the house of Salazar Slytherin. True the Malfoys were no longer the pure-blood family of old thanks to his dad marrying Salazar's muggle-born mum but they were still a proud family.
Salazar sometimes wondered about the confusing and bewildering Malfoy history but grandpa Scorpius had always insisted that Draco did the family name justice by changing their view and ultimately the whole society's view of the Malfoys as a whole. Even so, his grand's objection to using muggle instruments... Well, Salazar understood the reason behind that one but for goodness sakes, was there even any family home nowadays with no television? Even if not everyone found muggle entertainment entertaining, it was still good for teaching wizards and witches about the muggle community.
The door to their classroom opened just as the two boys arrived and they joined their fellow fifth years in.
"As you all know, in order to continue into NEWT level potions, you will have to achieve at least an E in your upcoming OWLs. I believe most of you are curious about the level I expect from you so today we will be having a taste of what to expect in the advance level potions work. This should give you some insight to first, why you are required to do well in your OWLs to continue and second, what type of work you may be able to do if you achieve NEWT level potions."
Salazar and Thomas both sat up straight in their seat along with a few other Ravenclaws. This lesson had been hinted by the upperclassmen and it was said to be really useful for considering career choices which all fifth year students would be required to discuss with their head of house after the Christmas and New Year break.
"In front of you is a copy of Encyclopaedia of Basic Ingredients. You will find if you flip to any page, ingredients you are probably familiar with along with description of properties and uses."
Salazar and Thomas thumbed through the book sitting between them and settled on a page detailing the newt tail. The list of properties included things such as neutralizing agent to combustible ingredients or slow warming effect. Thomas looked slightly overwhelmed by the amount of information on the page but Salazar felt completely contented. Everyone had their own strengths and weaknesses and Salazar's was without a doubt inventing. When your heroes were the founders of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, there was simply no way a boy could resist inventing a few things and causing a few explosions.
"Now, each pair is to brew a simple potion which you are familiar with and attempt to substitute an ingredient with another using the encyclopaedia. DO NOT try the substitution you have decided on until you have consulted with me beforehand. Come up to the front when you think you have an idea as to what potion you will brew and what to substitute."
The class busied themselves with looking through the book and Thomas prepared to do the same.
"Tom, I think I already know one!" Salazar exclaimed.
"Guessed as much, what do you have in mind?"
"Can you have a look at beetle eyes?"
"Beetle eyes… beetle eyes… Got it! What am I looking for?"
"Well, I was thinking of the cold-curing potion." Salazar hinted to his friend. Thomas gave it a thought before looking intently at the encyclopaedia, mouth moving without a sound as he scanned the properties for something which makes sense.
"OH! Targets blocked nose. Hmm, so what are you thinking of substituting with?"
"Well, I got the idea from the muggle cold treatment you suggested during our third year…"
"GINGER!" Shouted Thomas excitedly. Salazar nodded and got up to inform Professor Lupin who though appeared to be a cheerful young man, was actually older than Salazar's grandfather. Seemed the professor intended on using his Metamorph ability to live out his motto of always think (and look) young.
"First one up I see Salazar. I expected nothing less from my favourite student, though I hope your choice of ingredient isn't explosive."
"Only enough to singe my other eyebrow." Both student and teacher laughed at the reply, thinking back to the first time Salazar had actually tried substituting ingredients in class because he ran out of Kelpie webbings. While the potion he was brewing was actually a success, the process did burn off Salazar's left eyebrow.
"Well, jokes aside Mr Malfoy, what do you have planned?" Professor Lupin asked the teen who, he had grown to like for the talent shown many times in class. A talent like this should be nurtured and the professor knew his own godfather in the great beyond would be proud he was doing the role of mentor justice. And really, a Malfoy as well, the man would definitely be happy all those old barriers are crumbling away.
"We have decided to do a simple cold-curing potion, substituting beetle eyes with ginger."
"Ginger huh? That isn't in the book is it Mr Malfoy?"
"No…" Salazar hesitated, realising he forgot to check the substitution ingredient in the book. He added hurriedly after, "But it is a non-magical ingredient so it shouldn't create any drastic reaction!"
Professor Lupin gave his student a critical stare, considering the reaction.
"In this instance, what you just said is correct. Very well, and the preparation of the ginger?"
"The beetle eyes were added as they were to the cold brewing potions so maybe the same for the ginger? Though I suppose a non-magical ingredient won't be very potent intact so maybe slice or dice the ginger?" Salazar debated while attempting to answer the question. It seemed he had also forgotten to take the preparation into consideration. Professor Lupin had his back turn rummaging his cupboard for a ginger so there were no facial cues to hint at the accuracy of his answer.
"Three thin slices will do Mr Malfoy. Don't worry, you weren't expected to give me an answer in this lesson but well done at analysing the ingredient all the same." Professor Lupin said, handing Salazar a small section of ginger.
Salazar smiled at the compliment he just received and made his way back to Thomas who was busy preparing the other ingredients next to their cauldron. Salazar really hoped he could get into NEWT level potions, seemed like potion invention may actually be a viable career prospect. Picking up his favourite knife he began slicing the ginger in his hand.
X X X
Inside the Ravenclaw common room, a group of fifth years were debating quietly in one corner. Such a sight was hardly uncommon when a group of what could very well be termed geniuses were grouped together for years, each with their own thoughts on everything and anything, but today the discussion was not of an intellectual nature.
"I am sure it is on the seventh floor so let's go!" Salazar exclaimed.
"I don't think that's a good idea…" A red hair girl voiced.
"Come on Sarah!" Another girl with red hair nudged the first.
"Yea, come on Weasley!" Salazar whined. Both girls glared at the young Malfoy but Salazar just smirked. Traditions must be upheld even if Malfoys and Weasleys had been friends for many decades.
"Ignore him." Thomas interjected. "Anyway, it would be fun. In any case Sarah, we aren't breaking any rules so why not?"
Sarah twisted her curly red hair in her typical nervous manner before finally giving in with a sigh. Her twin sister Cathy cheered and the two boys grinned.
That evening, before the curfew as Thomas repeatedly pointed out to Sarah to reassure her, the four made their way to a seventh floor corridor which should house one of the most stumbled across secret of Hogwarts. What they hoped to find in the famous Room of Requirements was a mystery though.
"So… How do we know we got the right spot?" Cathy asked. Salazar looked around and found a weird painting showing someone attempting to teach trolls dancing.
"A painting that ridiculous must hide some secrets right?" Salazar said while pointing at it.
"Maybe we can get in via the painting like the kitchen?" Thomas supplied.
"Don't see anything I'm inclined to tickle." Cathy said while staring at the ugly trolls in what had to be tutus.
All four students frowned and continued to brainstorm ideas while eyeing the painting. Spells to reveal secret passages or rooms were fired at the painting to the objection of Sarah who refused to break any rules.
"Seriously Sarah, you are related to the great Fred and George Weasley, how can you be against breaking rules?" Salazar demanded.
"They are our great granduncle, I hardly count that as much of a direct relation." Sarah retorted. "Anyway, it's getting close to curfew so we best be heading back."
"Goody-two-shoe Weasley can head back, I'm getting into the room tonight!" Salazar declared.
"Geez, I would have help you argue your point you know if you didn't pit me against you." Cathy groaned. "Fine, we Weasleys will head back first as the CUNNING pair so we can say told you so when you guys get caught."
"Burn! Seriously though, again with the Malfoy and Weasleys act?" Thomas commented with raised eyebrows.
The two girls left the two boys to their own devices as the attempts at entering the secret room continued to hit a dead end. The two boys finally sat down on the floor, backs against the opposite wall after another half an hour with no result with the painting.
"Do you think we are at the right spot?"
"I think so, it is definitely at one of the seventh floor corridors."
"This isn't the only corridor you know?"
"But this leads to a dead end, why else would this corridor be here if not as a passage to a hidden room?"
Salazar stood up again and started to pace as he usually did when confronted with a tricky problem. The room must be here but how could it be revealed. He thought about methods not involving spell work. Maybe the problem was the lack of direction as to what the teens wanted from the room, it is the Room of Requirements. Salazar immediately pondered about what others would want the room for, maybe to hide themselves, or things, or even both.
Unknown to both boys, a door appeared behind the boys silently, the room recognising the call of another student attempting to seek the room of hidden things.
"I think the girls might be right about calling the quits, if we run we may still make it back to the common room before the curfew you know." Thomas moaned as he rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"You may be right…" Salazar left his sentence hanging as he turned around to face Thomas only to find the boy leaning right next to a door which wasn't there seconds ago.
Thomas turned to see what had captured his friend's attention and found himself also staring at the door with mouth agape.
"THE ROOM OF REQIREMENT!" Both boys exclaimed and as one they reached out to open the door.
The room yielded its secrets willingly and they found themselves looking at a spacious room with surprisingly large piles of burnt objects.
"Is it just me or is everything burnt?"
"No, everything has been burnt." Salazar ran his finger along a blackened chair and was shocked to find it crumple as ash underneath his hand.
"What the hell happened here?"
The two looked around and slowly began to make out some objects with a distinctively non-blacken texture. Here and there if one looked carefully enough were items half hidden underneath soot, ashes and other burnt furniture and oddities.
"So there are things here which survived whatever fire burnt here. Or maybe other people left stuff here after the fire." Thomas commented, picking up a sherry bottle from a pile left under what once was a green sofa, though it was hard to tell in its current condition.
"Yea, people must be trying to hide their stuff or else these things should be on top." Salazar added. "OH! I was thinking about a place people hide stuff, that must be how we got into this place."
"Well since we are here let's see if we can find anything fun."
It didn't take long for one of the boys to find a Fanged Frisbee lazily flying about. The boys took turns throwing the Frisbee at each other, the other one running franticly to avoid getting bitten in the arse.
"Ouch!" Salazar cried as he tripped over some pieces of a suit of armour.
"Haha, knew I could beat you in Frisbee, fanged or not this is definitely a muggle thing."
"Is not! And you didn't get me, I just tripped."
"Oh that is so much better." Thomas snickered. "The great Malfoy tripping over his own feet."
"It was this armour, not my own feet!" Salazar picked himself up and dusted off his robes. A glint of something red caught his eye though. Reaching his hand into the armour chest plate to retrieve the item while Thomas commented that they best get going, Salazar pulled out a red diary.
"What is that, some old diary? Not that great a find mate."
Salazar agreed but still curious, decided to take it with him. The faded red reminded him of some of the old books kept by his grandfather, many of which were chronicles of the Malfoy history and a great read. Flipping it open as he walked out with Thomas, he found a name he didn't recognised written in childish writing.
"Wonder who this is? Tom Marvolo Riddle."
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I look forward to your reviews.
Also if you like a more detail summary of where the story is going, feel free to message me. Be warn though, spoiler alert!