Standing outside the Great Hall I took a deep breath and fingered the letter from Prince in my pocket. When I stepped into the hall everyone falls quiet and one look at Gryffindor tells me I'm not welcome there.
"Potter" I turn to see Draco, Blaise, Pansy and Daphne walking up to me from Slytherin table and sigh, I'm not in the mood to pretend to hate them, not that they know I don't. When they're finally standing in front of me however their faces are soft and kind. Pansy is the first to speak and the others all follow.
"Pansy Parkinson" She says holding out her hand to me and after a moment of stunned silence on my part I take her hand and smile.
"Daphne Greengrass"
"Blaise Zambini"
After shaking hands with Blaise I look at Draco and I know what I have to do so before he can speak I hold my hand out to him. "Harry Potter" He looks at me with eyes full of understanding and acceptance and smiles taking my hand. "Draco Malfoy."
Draco looks at Gryffindor then back at me, "Hold your head high Harry. Remember who you are and never let them take that from you." Daphne moved to my right and grabbed my hand while Pansy moves to grab my left. Draco positions himself in front of us with Blaise behind us. Here, surrounded by the four people who have been my enemies for 6 years, I finally felt like I belonged. Draco turned his head slightly so he could talk to me while we walked.
"Come on, you can sit with us and after dinner we can talk with the Headmaster. I'm sure if you explain things he'll help you."
The idea of sitting at Slytherin table made me smile for the first time since Sirius died. Looking up I see Draco watching me and when he saw me smiling he got a glossy look in his eyes and smiled back just as happy. Of course we couldn't just be happy. Weasley and Granger come over anger worn on each of their faces.
"First you're a pouf now you're hanging out with death eater scum, how much lower can you sink? Next thing we know you'll be one of them." Ron sneers, though not well, at me and Hermione just walks up to me without saying anything and slaps my across the face. Pansy jumps up and I wave her down, they're already back at Gryffindor table. I see Draco looking at the staff table and look up myself. Professor Snape looks like he's trying to murder Granger and Weasley with death glares and a look to the Headmaster confirms what I know, things are going according to his plan. Or so he thinks.
Suddenly Draco jumps up mumbling about having to be somewhere. Turning to look at the others I see they are just as surprised I shrug and stick my hand in my pocket. Feeling the parchment there I remember my meeting with Prince. Finishing my dinner under Pansy and Daphne's watchful eyes I get up and tell them I'm going to the library.
Heading to the seventh floor I move towards the door where the stretch of wall usually is. Opening the door I see the most beautiful room. It's a sitting room/library with a wide marble fireplace and cherry wood floor to ceiling bookcases on 3 walls. An deep green soft, shaggy carpet covers the floor and cream colored furniture sits by the fire around a cherry wood coffee table. There is 2 doors on the wall with the fireplace, one on each side. The one on the left is a kitchen with pale blue counters and tiled floors while the walls where an even paler blue.
The door to the right is a bedroom with black plush carpet and deep emerald walls. The four poster bed is cherry wood again with black and silver curtains and emerald silk sheets with a black and silver comforter. A cherry wood dresser stood on the right wall with all my clothes in it and a cherry wood vanity sits next to it with all my hair, eye makeup and piercings. Whoever it was they knew what I looked like without my glamour. The best part of the room however was the ceiling. It was painted black with stars twinkling down at me. From what I could tell it was accurate too. On the wall opposite the dresser and vanity was the last door that led to the largest bathroom I've ever seen. The floors were plain white and the walls were a pale sunset orange. The bathtub was the size of a pool with lots of knobs, though not as many as the prefect bathroom has. A shower stall stood on the left wall big enough for four people and with six shower heads.
I walked back to the sitting room and there he was, my Prince. Draco Malfoy stood by the fireplace very nervous and apprehensive but when he caught sight of my full blown smile He smiled right back.
"Well now I know why you call yourself Prince. I can't believe I didn't figure it out, the Ice Prince of Slytherin." I laughed and his smile widened. Sitting down on the couch I wince as my smile irritates the bruise forming on my cheek. Draco's smile drops and he kneels in front of me.
"Are you okay?" He asks ghosting his fingers over my cheek. I shrug.
"It isn't the worst I have." Noticing the thunderous expression settle across his face I think back over what I said and mentally slap myself.
"Have Harry?" He asks voice deadly quiet.
"Ummm well term just started and I spent the summer with the Dursleys so…" Pinching the bridge of his nose Draco sighed. "Show me." I let out a chocking panicked noise and start looking for the nearest door.
"No Harry, you will show me and I will heal, but you have to tell Dumbledore about this. He'll help you, you're his Golden Boy."
"I told Dumbledore our first year, he won't do anything Dray, he's the one who left me there." Draco looks furious again and I don't blame him. The headmaster is supposed to help his students, not knowingly send them to abusive homes.
"Come on 'Ry, let's go to the bedroom. You can lie down and I'll heal you." He said softly holding out his hand. I took it nervously; I never let anyone see what I looked like under my glamour. He led me into the bedroom and sat on the vanity chair.
"Take your time Harry."
Taking a deep breath in and holding it I strip down to my boxers, dropping the first half of my glamour. My hair grew a couple inches and straightened out. I had green and blue streaks running threw my hair plus 4 earrings in my left ear, 2 loops, a feather from Hedwig, and the fang from the basilisk shrunk down. Looking Draco in the eyes I let out the breath I was holding and drop the last of my glamour. Draco's hand flew to his mouth and his eyes fill with tears. Across my chest "freak" was carved into the skin with cuts and bruises covering the rest of me in various stages of healing. Closing my eyes I turned to show him the worst of it. Carved into my back, bright red and very infected, were the words whore, slut and bitch. Draco lets out a strangled sob and guides me to the bed.
"Oh Harry…I can't heal this…I can do bruises and bones but these are really bad. You need a real healer. My godfather will help you; will you let me get him?" I nod my head once and Draco rushes out of the room. I sit up and put my glamour back in place to wait. Fifteen minutes later Draco comes back with a worried looking Professor Snape.
"Harry what are you…" I hold up my hand to stop Draco.
"Professor are you loyal to Dumbledore?" Snape, bewildered, turns to Draco. "It's okay Uncle Sev, tell him."
"No Potter, I'm not. What is this about? Draco said he needed a healer."
"Just one more thing Professor, do you know a family by the name of Dursley?" Snape seems even more confused but answered that yes he did. I saw it the moment all the pieces fit together for him, his eyes widened in shock and he blanched, shaking his head.
"Tell me he didn't, please Harry tell me he didn't do what I think he did." He begs me. I turn to Draco to ask him to wait in the other room but he stopped me as I opened my mouth. "I'll wait out in the sitting room 'Ry." I smile at him in what I hope is a reassuring way. As soon as the door clicks closed I turn to Severus eyes hard. He seems taken back but realizes I have something to say and waits.
"I know you were my mothers best friend, I also know you are my other godfather but most importantly I know that you were bonded to Sirius. I understand why you treat me the way you do and I don't care, but why didn't you know who and where I was living?"
"Dumbledore wouldn't tell anyone, he said it wasn't safe. He promised me you would be safe and cared for. If I had known I would have down something Harry, I swear." I nod and slowly drop my glamour again. He looks like he's going to cry but in the blink of an eye determination shines through and he directs me to lie on the bed. When I turn around he gasps harshly and stops me. "Harry did your Uncle…did he…" My eyes turn to hard emeralds and I nod once laying on the bed. Severus heals me the best he can but I will always have scars from the words carved into me.
Sitting up I look at him and give him a watery half smile. "I'm not a weak person you know, I'm not usually like this. It's you and Draco, you make me feel like I'm just another person, you don't treat me like The Boy Who Lived. I know I don't always have to be strong all the time for you guys because I know you can take care of yourselves."
Severus sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around me. "You're right Harry, you don't have to be strong for us, let us take care of you." I walked out into the sitting room where Draco was waiting and stood facing the fireplace.
"Harry are you okay? You look like something's bothering you." Draco asked as he stood next to me holding my hand.
"I'm fine Dray, go sit down I want to talk to you and Severus." I listened to them shift around and pour tea Draco had Dobby bring as I watched the fire a few more moments making my decision. Turning to face them I say in a clear, strong voice;
"I want a meeting with Voldemort."
Draco yelped as he choked on his biscuit and Severus dropped his teacup spilling its contents in his lap.
"Harry are you sure you want to do this?" Draco asks, pulling me to the couch. "You can back out of this war, be neutral, you don't have to fight."
"I know what I'm doing, I've got a plan, but before I explain I need to call a few people. Draco if there's any one you trust absolutely call them here." I wave my wand and to all our shock a silver fox and raven appear. Shaking my head to clear it I speak to my patronus'. "Meeting in the RoR, now. Bring your outfits but don't wear them." I turn to Draco just in time to see his panther run off. "Who did you call?"
"Blaise, Pansy and Daphne. I trust them with my life." I nod in understanding.
"Hey 'Ry, what happen to your patronus? I thought it was a stag."
"I don't actually know, it was a stag the last time I used it. I didn't even know they could change." And suddenly I have a lap full of silver blonde fox staring at me with Draco's silver eyes and all I can do is stare. Laughing I set Draco on the floor and shift into a sleek panther with blue-black fur. I shift back and settle on the couch with a cup of tea.
"Wait where did the raven come from then?" he questions.
"No idea." I shrug finishing my tea as Blaise, Pansy and Daphne walk into the room. Standing and heading to the bedroom I call over my shoulder, "Draco, Severus, bring everyone into the bedroom." I pull on black pants and a long sleeve black shirt, skin tight but made of a relaxed fabric that made it easy to move in. Taking down my glamour again I braid my hair back and pull on my combat boots. As I lace my boots up I speak to Draco. "Keep everyone in here until I explain to them and call for you." Draco nods and I move back to the sitting room, standing in front of the fireplace again.
A few more minutes go by and Fred, George and Ginny walk in with their duffel bags slung over their shoulders. Fred and George sit in the loveseat and Ginny takes the armchair closest to me.
"Okay I'm sure you guys are wondering why I called you here so I'm just going to get straight to the point." I watch them nod and continue. "I have five people in the other room. After explaining who and what we are I am going to extend an invitation to join us. I ask that you trust my judgment on this. Now when you're ready I'll call them in."
Facing each other they silently deliberate for a few moments. Ginny turns to me and bows her head. "Whatever you think is best Harry." The twins chimed in together.
"Come on out everyone." I yell and they all file out Draco and Severus in the lead. Draco and Severus come up and stand on either side of me while the others move to sit on the remaining furniture. "Okay first I'll explain who we are as a group and then individually, so while I explain our group you three go get dressed. Bedroom and bathroom are threw that door." We all watch them go into the next room to change and I motion Severus and Draco to sit down. "We are a clan of assassins by the name Lorem."
Severus gasped. "That's the assassin clan the Dark Lord has been going on about. He uses them all the time." They all stare, shocked, as the three return.
"I know." I smirk. "George you first, step over here."
George steps forward wearing a cloak that covers his entire body and face, he removes it revealing the same basic outfit they all wear of the black pants, shirt, boots, wand holsters on both forearms and a pendant that hangs around the neck and fills will Grey smoke when you're in immediate danger. Wrapping from his left shoulder to his right hip is a harness that holds tracking potions, a modified sneakascope, and several other dark arts and magic readers. Several belts also wrap around his legs carrying knives of all kinds. What stood out the most though was the half mask that covered his forehead, eyes and cheekbones. It was pure white with a black bow crossing a dark purple wand over his left cheekbone.
"This is Venantium, its Latin for Hunter. He's the best there is, no one can hide from him once he sets out to find them. Ginny, you next."
George sat down and Ginny took his place removing her cloak. She had belts of throwing knives wrapped around her legs and strapped to her back where twin double edged, goblin made swords. The belt around her waist held a variety of muggle weapons, such as a gun, taser and nightstick as well as maze and a set of handcuffs. She too wore a pure white half mask but across her left cheekbone was a blood red Lily.
"This is Vrases, its Albanian for murderer. She handles the kills and assists in torture. She is also our weapons expert, as you can see she has a fondness for muggle weapons. Fred, you're up."
Fred stepped forward and removed his cloak. Instead of weapons he had a harness strapped from right shoulder to left hip and left shoulder to right hip that help multiple healing potions. He also wore a pendant that activates a shield in case of a duel or battle. Strapped to his waist was a bag with an extension charm filled with muggle medical tools. His mask was the same white half mask with a blood red potion vial crossing over a black wand.
"This is Sheruesi, its Albanian for healer. He is our healer and he also arranges the body drops. He is skilled in muggle healing but his magical healing isn't as strong."
Bending down I pull on the rest of my gear. On my left leg is three belts of throwing knives and stars, and on my right is three belts of multi-use knives. Strapping my wand holsters in place, Vrases straps my harness across my torso. It holds slow acting poisons, torture potions and even some muggle acid. Bowing she hands me my mask. It is pitch black with bright emerald and silver swirls covering the entire thing.
Sheruesi stands to my left with Vrases on his other side and Venantium to my right. "I am Lilium, its Latin for Lily. I am in charge of torture as well as handling the clients. I am head of this Clan and I will not be challenged. I present to you Assassin Clan Lorem." We bow slightly and move to the bedroom to change into our normal clothes and give them time to take in what we've shown them.
Five minutes later we are all sitting around the table. "The reason I explained this all to you is because we want to extend an invitation to join our clan." The four students look excited at the prospect while the Professor just looks contemplative. Draco and the others talk quietly and Severus is looking us all over. When his eyes land on me he gives me a small nod and I bow my head in return.
Draco turns back to me and practically blinds me with his smile. "We would be honored to join you Lilium."
"Great! Severus arrange that meeting with the Dark Lord, I'll take care of your outfits and gear."
"What should I tell him?" He asks.
"Tell him Assassin Clan Lorem wishes for an audience with the Dark Lord."