Part 1 of Slytherin Pure Bloods - Shadowed Past

Chapter 6

Proving One's Blood

'We'll see you when we get back from the Ministry.' Said Serena. Leaving the Leaky Cauldron, they walked for several minutes, until they reached an underground station.

'So what did you think of Malfoy?' asked Serena, who had obviously noticed who she had been talking to in Diagon Alley.

'I don't know what to think, I just met him.' Serena was smirking, a glint in her eyes, apparently knowing something she didn't. Sarah was surprised that Serena knew how to handle Muggle money (she didn't ask Sarah how it worked). Boarding the train, they headed for the Ministry of Magic.

The train's occupants were very silent, considering it wasn't that late (Sarah was sure that it was barely midday). As they sat comfortably waiting for their stop, Serena (keeping a keen eye out the window) was quietly telling Sarah what the Ministry of Magic was, and what it did. Serena informed her that they would be going to the Ministry of Magic to prove that she was pure blood, so that she could go by her true name.

'How're you going to do that?' but her reply was simply, 'just wait and see.'

After several minutes, (and stations), Serena said, 'this is our stop, quickly now.' Hoping off the train, they proceeded straight out without a delay, or they would have, had Serena knew how to use the ticket barrier ('I've never gone anywhere by train.') Smiling, Sarah, figuring it was easier to demonstrate then to explain, inserted her ticket in the slot and pushed ahead, when her ticket came out the other end, she took it. Looking back at Serena, she saw her do the same thing.

'You've done this before?' asked Serena, now passed the barrier and walking up the stairs. The station wasn't very crowded since it wasn't peak hour.

'Since I was nine, I've travelled on the train, whenever I've wanted or had to travel around London.'

'What by yourself?' she asked, sceptically.

'Yeah, why not?' but noticing the strange look in Serena's eyes, she added hastily, looking away, 'no one really cared of what happened to me.' Heading down the road, Sarah, having no idea as to where the Ministry was located, stuck close to Serena's side. The buildings were looking additionally shabbier as they continued down the road. Serena didn't ask any more questions, as they turned a corner.

'Here we are, the visitor's entrance.' All Sarah could see was what looked-like a messy alleyway with a telephone booth that looked out of order.

'Visitor's entrance?' she asked. Serena studied her with her black eyes, which were gleaming strangely, almost as if a light was reflecting off them. Serena stepped into the telephone booth and gestured her inside. Unenthusiastically she entered, closing the door behind her.

'Yes, the visitor's entrance, since I don't work at the Ministry of Magic.' She told her, as she was examining the dialling numbers, deep in thought. Sarah had gotten the impression that she worked in the Ministry, but she soon realised that Serena hadn't actually told her where she worked, and although Serena said she didn't work in the Ministry of Magic, she hadn't specified as to what she did for a living.

It took her several moments to realise that Serena was muttering to herself.

'Now it's been a while since I came here last, but I think I can remember.' she spoke more to herself then to Sarah, who was watching her attentively.

'Six... two... four, four... two.' she said, pressing each button in turn.

'Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business.' Said a female voice, but Sarah couldn't find the source of where it came from. Sarah didn't hear anything of the following conversation, she was too nervous. That always happened when she was nervous or scared.

Sarah heard a small clunk noise, as she saw two badges appear in the coin returns chute. They were both square, with their names across the top, underneath (on both badges), was Appointment – Minister for Magic.

As they pinned on their badges, the elevator seemed to disappear into the ground. Serena stared towards the door, waiting for the telephone booth elevator to stop. Serena led Sarah to a large fountain, where at least a dozen witches and wizards were waiting. One of which - to Sarah's surprise - was Lucius Malfoy. Upon seeing them, a very important looking man, said impatiently, 'Let's get this over with, shall we? As Minister for Magic, I'm very busy.'

'Yes of course, Minister.' Serena said, as politely as she could. The Minister for Magic, looking down his nose at Serena, as if she were scum under his foot, said, 'so this is her then is it?' He hadn't even looked at Sarah.

'Yes, Fudge.' Sarah was sure, by the way she sounded, that Serena didn't like his tone, or the look he was giving her. Fudge didn't look too happy, had Serena really embarrassed the Ministry?

He spoke suddenly in a rush, 'look, I know you can't prove it and I'm really busy, so we may as well...' but Serena put up her right hand to stop the Minister. She had a mischievous smile on her face. Fudge, now very annoyed, alleged, 'You know you can't prove that she's got wizarding blood!'

Serena, still smiling, said coolly, 'Why that's easy, Minister.'

Slowly in a silky manner, Serena put her left hand into a deep pocket of her cloak. When she pulled her hand out, it was holding a small object that was small enough to have hidden in both her hands. It was oval looking and concealed in a dark green silk, with a ribbon tied at the top. Now looking nervous, Fudge said, 'what's that?'

Serena's smile seemed to falter, 'you know full well what this is, Minister.'

A few of the other witches and wizards begun to whisper amongst themselves, though Mr. Malfoy watched the bundle intently. Did he know what it contained?

'I don't have a clue as to what's in there, and I don't have the time to find out!'

Sarah couldn't define Serena's expression, which was mysterious and un-placable.

'You should, Minister, since it's legendary'.

Everyone suddenly fell silent and turned to watch. Serena, with her right hand, gently pulled away at the dark green ribbon, which was holding the silk in place. As if in slow motion the silk fell down to reveal a blackish-green stone. It was shaped like a cylinder with somewhat flat sides, with a flat bottom and a small pointed top, (that looked more domed shaped then pointed), though all the edges were smoothed. There was a strange emblem on two opposite sides, which were carved into the stone.

As soon as the silk had fallen, all the ministry officials, (except Mr. Malfoy who had an odd look in his eyes), gasped. The Minister for Magic was spluttering, 'B-but that c-can't be, it j-just c-can't be...'

Serena, looking quite pleased with their reaction, said profoundly, 'oh, yes it can be, and as a matter of fact it is,' she smiled, 'this is none other than Slytherin's Blood Stone.'

The Minister of Magic looked as if he'd just seen someone die. 'The Blood Stone of Salazar Slytherin, but it's only a myth, it isn't real.'

'Mm, I've heard that before,' Serena muttered under her breath.

'Now, the Blood Stone is the only way to tell what someone's blood is. Salazar Slytherin is said to have created it himself,' Serena smirked.

Blood Stone? What was a Blood Stone, and who was Salazar Slytherin?

From the way Serena explained about how the stone worked, Sarah could gather that the stone followed the principal rules of primary and secondary colours. Yellow was muggle, red was pure blood and blue was muggle born. If the colours combined, like blue and red make purple, then that would mean a half blood, while yellow and red, which make orange, meant a squib.

'I'm pure blood, so that means that the stone will turn red.' As if to prove this fact, Serena, with the same hand that had revealed the stone, picked it up off the silk and held it out for all to see. Everyone immediately started to watch the stone with interest. A dark colour seemed to be emerging from deep within the stone. Within moments the entire stone had turned a glowing blood red, which caused Serena to smile at the Minister.

'B-but h-how d-did you g-get it?' said the Minister, his voice quivering just as much as he was.

'That's a secret Minister, sorry but I can't reveal my sources.' Serena said, her smile faltering slightly. 'Now it's time to prove that Sarah, here,' she turned her attention to her, 'is a pure blood, which means she is Sarah Ella Prince.'

'And if she isn't then that means she'd have to return everything she bought at Diagon Alley, her memories modified and sent back to the orphanage where she came from.' Said the Minister coldly, as Serena placed the stone back on the silk, lying in her hand. The Minister had obviously been informed about her trip to Diagon Alley with Serena. As she watched the witches and wizards, (particularly Fudge), she was thinking to herself. She knew that she never wanted to return to the orphanage, what if Serena was wrong? But she forced that thought from her mind, she trusted Serena.

When the stone had turned back to it's natural blackish-green, Serena said, 'you can take it now, Sarah.'

Sarah's only worry was that the stone would turn yellow, sure she'd love to have it go red, but if it didn't, she hoped it would turn blue, at least then she could still go to Hogwarts.

Taking a slow deep breath, (in a subtle way so no one would notice) she nervously took the stone with her right hand. The stone was as cold as ice, maybe even colder. Watching the stone, she thought that it wasn't going to do anything, but it soon started to change colour. Peering into its depths, she begun to see a colour that was neither black nor green, nor was it yellow or blue. Sarah had only just noticed that it no longer felt cold, but warm. Its warmth seemed to have a pulse, though not like a heart has a pulse. Although it made no sound, it felt like it was pulsing with power. In no time at all, the entire stone turned a luminous red.

'There you have it, Minister, a pure blood.' Said Serena triumphantly. Sarah's nerves were staring to settle and the realisation was coming down on her. She was pure blood. She would be able to go to Hogwarts.

As Sarah gave the stone back to Serena, Fudge, not looking happy, left. The other witches and wizards followed, except Mr Malfoy, who came over.

'I'm sorry for my attitude earlier, Serena, please forgive me.' He said apologetically. Sarah, who had always been good with people's voices and expressions, could tell that he meant it, but that did not mean she liked him.

'While I may have forgiven you Lucius, it's Sarah's forgiveness you must earn.' Serena said coolly. Mr Malfoy looked at Sarah, perhaps it was the look in her eyes, or the incident from earlier in the Leaky Cauldron when they had first met, that made him say, 'I don't think she wants to forgive me?'

Serena was studying her, her eyes gleaming, 'give her time, Lucius, she may in the future, but she definitely won't now.' The left of Mr Malfoy's mouth twitched, perhaps this did not please him.

'Shall we go back to the Leaky Cauldron?' he asked, changing the subject.

'Yes, I think I need a butterbeer.' Said Serena; starting to relax from all the tension she'd tried hard not to show. They went to leave, but Mr Malfoy said, 'why don't we use Floo powder? It's faster, and you must both be tired from all the walking?'

Turning, Serena nodded, 'good idea, that way we can go straight to the Leaky Cauldron.'

Lucius Malfoy led them to the nearest fireplace. Picking up a flowerpot, he presented it to her. Staring at the powder, which was full to the brim, she wondered what to do. For a few moments nothing happened, then Serena said, 'How silly of me!' they both turned to stare at her, 'of course she'd never have used Floo powder before.' Mr Malfoy passed the flowerpot to Serena.

'Now, Sarah, it's easy enough to do. Take a pinch of Floo powder, stand in the fireplace, throw it into the flames and announce where you're going. But remember it's important to speak very clearly, you don't want to end-up far from your target.'

Taking some of the powder, she stepped into the fireplace, staring at Serena for the name of their destination. Serena must have got the gist however, because she said, 'just say Diagon Alley.'

Sarah nodded, nervously, closing her eyes. Taking a deep breath she said as clearly as she could, 'Diagon Alley' and threw down the powder. She saw bright green through her closed eyes. After what felt like minutes, she fell out of the fireplace. At first she thought she was still at the ministry, but when she opened her eyes and looked around, she found herself in the Leaky Cauldron. Standing up, she decided that, give it some practice, she might travel that way, although it wasn't her favourite form of transport, nor would it ever be.

Hearing the fireplace erupt, she turned to see Mr Malfoy (who unlike herself, didn't have a skerrick of soot on him) step out of the fire. Draco and the woman from before, who was obviously Draco's mother, came over.

'So how'd it go?' Draco Malfoy asked her.

'Fine.' She muttered; trying to clean herself of what soot was on her clothes. At that moment the fireplace once again erupted with green fire and Serena stepped out, smiling.

Sitting down at the nearest table, Serena went to get drinks. They sat quietly, until Serena came back. They were soon in deep conversation, as the day passed.