I excited the secret room to find complete silence. As the portrait swung shut behind me Salazar looked at me strangely, "In all my years – both living and painted – I have never felt such enormous power. Miss Tera, you …" he trailed off, shaking his head and looking at his feet which were out of the frame.
When he failed to finish his sentence I simply left. The silence followed me as I walked the hallways usually filled boisterous students. It seemed as though even the ghosts and portraits had been drafted to help secure the castle for an attack that had seemed eminent for there was nothing but the sound of my breathing, the beating of my heart, and my shadow following alongside me, but even it seemed to waver in the flickering torchlight. I was alone with my thoughts and my magic.
I hadn't bothered trying to replace the bind before I'd left the secret room, I didn't even know if it would've been possible. I was relying on my masking abilities to travel the castle without raising an alarm. I knew I would be able hide the majority of my core, my magic, but would I be able to control the amount of magic I had unleashed?
I needed to return to my core. I needed to make sure that I hadn't destroyed its inherent balance, and if I had, I needed to find a way to fix it before I accidently did something disastrous. I also needed to identify that animal, the shadowed guardian. And, I really wanted to check on the fish that lived in the pillar of light; regardless of the fact that they weren't technically alive didn't make the fact that killing something in my core, by accident, couldn't mean good things.
After a while of aimless wandering I was found by Professor Snape (not that I'd been trying to hide or anything). "The headmaster requests your presence," Snape told me as he approached.
"Requests or demands?" I asked with a slight smile, walking toward the Potion's Master.
"Demands, Miss Tera."
"Where did you go, after?" I asked as we slowly made our way to the headmaster's office.
"I escorted Mr. Malfoy to the Slytherin common room and made my way to the headmaster's office, where I waited for the headmaster and Potter to return from the Gryffindor access point," Snape said matter-of-factly, not letting on that by "escort" he meant "levitated" nor that his wait in the headmaster's office was probably one of the worst he'd ever had to endure.
"How is Boy Wonder handling the most recent attack?" I asked as we turned yet another corner, coming ever closer to our destination.
Snape sneered. "He had a 'vision' just before the announcement was sent out. He almost succeeded in blowing up everyone in the room; would have had it not been for Granger." I knew, somewhere deep inside, Snape had a grudging respect for Hermione Granger because she was smart, brave and able to think on her feet. She was – usually – the embodiment of all the good characteristics of Gryffindor house, if one was willing to over-look her choice in friends.
As we entered the right hallway I sighed and asked Snape, "So, what's the plan?"
Snape glanced sharply at me before focuses once more on what lie ahead. "The headmaster has called a meeting for tonight. No doubt he will inform everyone of both the attack on the school and your existence at the same time. I will be blamed for not revealing you earlier, not giving you over for proper brain-washing the moment I learned of your potential." He looked at me again before saying, "They will try to convince me to recruit you; I will refuse, telling them that you're neutral and wish to have no part in the war," this last part was said with utter conviction.
I shook my head, but was unable to say anything for we had arrived before the statue leading to Dumbledore's office. Snape muttered the password (which everyone knew was always one kind of muggle sweet or another) and we climbed the spiral staircase.
"Ah, Severus here at last. Miss Tera, I presume?" Dumbledore greeted us, walking over to me. "I'm dreadfully sorry, but I don't think we've ever been properly introduced, Cassandra."
I didn't say a word; I kept my eyes on Dumbledore even though I could feel Potter staring at me. Lovely, I think he recognizes me, I thought to myself as I pretended to ignore him altogether.
"It was a very brave thing you did today, Cassandra. Standing up against Lord Voldemort is a death sentence for some," Dumbledore said to me, obviously thinking I'd been sorted into the wrong house.
My gaze sharpened into a glare. "Bravery is for idiots with hero complexes. That, what I did today, is called self-preservation. I was protecting myself from a very early, painful death, or worse: being used by someone who likes to play God just because they think I make an interest pawn. No, Professor, I'm not brave, and don't insult me by deluding yourself to think so."
Yet, when I finished speaking, Dumbledore's eyes were still twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles, he still had a partial smile on his face and he had the audacity to ask me, "Would you care for some tea? A lemon drop, perhaps?"
I turned to look at Snape who was staring stonily at the headmaster. I sighed, deciding that Dumbledore was old and needed things spelled out for him, simply. "No, Professor Dumbledore, I do not tea or a lemon drop. I want you to forget that we ever met face-to-face; I want you to forget that you have a face and a name to put with whatever you know about my power; I want to remain neutral. I don't want any part in this war. I'm not going to fight in it, not for the Light, not for the Dark. You have my word that I will not become your enemy, but I will not fight this war, and there's nothing you can do that will convince me to change my mind."
Then, I think, Dumbledore's smile might have faded and the twinkle in his eyes diminished. "Cassandra, I didn't have to do anything to convince you to fight alongside me in this war, you did it willingly when you accessed the wards and starting feeding them magic. You have already entered the war, and you have staked yourself against the Dark Lord."
I shook my head. "No, Headmaster, I did not join the war, I fought in one battle. I'm sure there will be many more before a victor is named. I joined this battle because it was directly attacking me and innocent bystanders.
"Draco Malfoy also helped with the wards today; does that mean he has deserted his family and joined the Light? No, he was protecting his own life, just as I was protecting mine and the lives of the other children in this school. If you, Headmaster, were attacking a school full of helpless children I would protect them, as would many others. Does that mean we fight for the Dark? No, it means we're doing what we think is right. There is no Dark and Light, Headmaster; there's just two different sides fighting against each other because they have opposing ideals. There is no good and evil, there are just two sides." The room was silenced. Dumbledore had no response.
After a minute of complete silence, during which Potter stared at me like I was a saint – or possibly mad – Dumbledore shook his head and simply said, "Very well, Miss Tera. It's clear that at this point and time you are not to be dissuaded. Nevertheless, I thank you for your help. Do think on this, though, what will you do if Voldemort wins because you refused to participate? He will still want to use your power."
I smiled. "Not even the Dark Lord's powers are limitless, Headmaster. Britain is just an island, I'm sure I could find a safe haven, even if it meant snapping my own wand and living as a muggle for the rest of my life." That wiped the smile off his face.
After that we were all dismissed. Snape, Potter and I left the headmaster's office together but Snape left in a rush, bumping my shoulder as he brushed past me on his way to the spiral staircase. I followed after him, at a slightly more sedate pace. Unfortunately, this allowed Potter to catch up with me, falling in pace with me as walked down the hall.
"You…" Potter started to say, almost inaudible, before clearing his throat and starting again, "You're a Slytherin. In fact, you're the Slytherin that walked back with Snape and me before the Welcoming Feast because we were late."
"Yes, Potter, bravo. Your skills of deduction are beyond compare. Any other startling revelations you feel the need to make public?" I asked bitingly.
Suddenly, Potter stopped walking, grabbed my wrist and pulled me to one of the numerous, shadowed alcoves that littered the halls of Hogwarts. "Listen, I don't know who you think you are, but Voldemort is an evil beyond compare. He does things to people, tortures them, and kills them, for sport. He killed-"
"Your parents. And he's the reason your godfather is dead. Potter, I meant what I said back there, every last word. Don't think that just because you've been heralded 'the Chosen One' you can convince me to join in the fight." I retched my wrist out of his grasp. "And Potter, you're not the only one that's lost family in this war."
I was in my dormitory before I found it. It was a crumpled little note in the pocket of my robe that I discovered as I was taking off my robe before meditating. Short and to the point, it was written in familiar, spiky handwriting.
Meet me in my office as soon as possible. I'll be waiting.
S.S.
He must have slipped in my pocket on his way out of the headmaster's office, not wanting to say anything in front of Potter.
Releasing yet another sigh, I hurried to put my robe back on and exit first the dormitory and then the common room altogether. I walked the halls at a brisk pace and couldn't help but notice that the halls were still quieter and emptier than usual.
The remainder of today's class's had been canceled, and, as today was Friday, this would normally have been cause for a celebration. Yet, most students remained in the safety of their common rooms, not sure if another attack was on the horizon, but wanting the added feeling of security regardless. In fact, most of the students that were out braving the halls were Ravenclaws and most were either going to or leaving the library. Maybe the place they safest wasn't hiding away in their common room but hiding in mounds of knowledge they amassed from the multitudes of books they scoured, hoping to forget reality, if only temporarily; in all honesties, it didn't sound like a bad idea.
Eventually I arrived at Snape's office to find him grading essays in with his trademark viciousness and red ink. I knocked lightly on the open door. Snape looked up from the essay he had been in the middle of grading and stood up, motioning for me to follow him. We entered his familiar sitting room and, as I sank into his leather couch, I suddenly realized that this was one of the only places in all of Hogwarts that I felt truly safe.
Before Snape could say a word I started talking. "Take me with you to the Order meeting. Dumbledore isn't going to support my neutral standing, and we both know that if you try to support my standing it'll reflect poorly on you, even if Dumbledore doesn't tell people you've been giving me private lessons and everything."
Snape shook his head. "No. It would be breaking part of my oath to tell you where the house is, besides Dumbledore-"
"I'm sure Dumbledore would be over-joyed to see me there. There he has more people that agree with his way of thinking and will have qualms about arguing with me, plus it'll give me a chance to meet the people that have been fight the Dark Lord practically all their lives. I'm sure he'll, in one way or another, point out at least one thing that this war has taken from them," I'd thought about this and stashed all my arguments in mental file folder labeled "How to Get Snape to Take Me to the Meeting of the Fire Pigeons". Unfortunately, I've created a lot of mental file folders with labels that start with "How to Get to Snape to…" and they rarely have enough material in them to last more than five minutes.
"You're underage," he countered.
"I'll be sixteen in two weeks, that's the legal age of consent for - "
"I can't tell you where the house is," he said, cutting me off.
"You don't have to," I said. "You just have to show me."
"I can't take you there without express permission from either Dumbledore or the house owner – who is deceased."
"You don't have to," I repeated. "You just have to show me. You did teach me how to apparate last year, you know."
"I can't tell you the address of the house, Cassandra. How do you plan on apparating to a location under a Fidelius Charm without the address and without being taken their by someone who does?"
"You are going to show me," I said slowly, tapping my head and hoping that my professor hadn't somehow managed to acquire a concussion over the course of the day. Seeing enlightenment brighten his eyes, quickly followed by rage I quickly added, "All you have to do is show me an image of the surrounding outer area so that I have an idea of where to apparate to."
To my infinite surprise Snape glanced at the clock and nodded in defeat. "Great, so when does it start?"
"In fifteen minutes."
Fifteen minutes later found Snape and I at the gates of the school. I'd returned to my dormitory and changed out of my uniform, per Snape's instructions. Instead I was dressed in a green long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans.
When we came to the end of the path I turned to face Snape, looking into his dark eyes. His face remained emotionless as he cautiously dropped his shields, just enough for me to see the image he was projecting at me.
It was a gloomy, muggle street. There was a line of houses before me; brick houses multiple stories tall, light from electrical bulbs and television sets seeped through dirty windows. I could hear dogs barking in the distance, smell rotting garbage and the faint smog that always hovered around muggle places. I could faintly sense Snape's hatred of the place, or was it just what – or who - one of these buildings held that he detested so greatly?
As soon as I started picking up emotions Snape slammed his shields back into place. He turned on his heel and disapparated with a crack, leaving me alone.
I focused on the image I had seen, hoping that I wouldn't end up in the wrong part of the country or getting splinched. As luck would have it I landed right next to my professor, who was waiting for me. Unfortunately, I was still new to apparating and would've fallen had Snape not steadied me with a hand on my shoulder. I was fine after a few moments and able to follow him into a house that had not been part of the image Snape had transferred to me.
Snape lead me through narrow hallways shrouded in shadows. I was surprised when we entered a dining room that was bright, homey and warm. It was brimming with people; there were so many people that even the long, obviously magically enlarged table couldn't fit everyone. The room was loud, with everyone talking at once, having conversations between themselves while they waited for the meeting to start. Yet, everyone went silent went Snape let the door slam behind us.
"Ah, Severus, glad you could make it. Now we can-" Dumbledore broke off when he noticed me standing slightly behind Snape. "Miss Tera, this is an unexpected surprise."
All eyes turned to me. Yet, it was the familiar visage of Mad-Eye Moody that spoke up, "This isn't a garden party, Snape. Guests aren't welcome."
"Unwelcome as she may be, she has a right to be here," Snape stated silkily.
Dumbledore nodded. "You may see it that way, Severus, but that doesn't change the fact that she is underage. As she is also not part of the Order I'm curious as to how you got her here in the first place without breaking your vow."
This was utter bullshit. I'd convinced Snape to bring me; I wasn't going to let Dumbledore kick me out. "Rest assured, Headmaster, he didn't break his vow to bring me here. As for my age, well, considering you're letting a school boy head this war, I think that rule is a bit ridiculous to begin with, don't you?" Silence. Obviously, not many have ever stood up to Dumbledore in front of an audience. "I'm not going to wait outside, Professor. If you're going to say something to all of these people, you're going to do it in front of me."
Dumbledore stared at me for a couple minutes before saying, "Very well." He turned his attention to the room at large and starting talking, "As most of you know, Voldemort attacked Hogwarts today; more specifically he attacked the school's wards. Somehow he managed to do quite a bit of damage before we were able to get to the access points and start feeding the wards additional magic. Severus took Miss Tera and Mister Malfoy with him to the dungeon access point, I took Harry to help me, Pomona took one of her seventh year Hufflepuffs and Filius took one of his more promising sixth year Ravenclaws with him.
"It had seemed like we were fighting a losing battle when, five minutes into the confrontation, there was a sudden increase in the flow of magic into the wards. It was like all our prayers had been answered; like Merlin himself had come to offer us his aid. Not only were we able to fend off the attack, but the wards are stronger now than they have been in all my time as headmaster because that flow of magic didn't stop when the Death Eaters left. No-"
I'd had enough of being painted the hero. I mean, comparing me to Merlin was going a bit over the top. "Yes, thank you, Headmaster; we all get the point: some immensely powerful person came and saved the day."
Dumbledore looked a mite insulted but dropped the topic all the same, "I've come to discover that this 'immensely powerful person', as Miss Tera says, is in fact, Miss Tera herself."
Everyone looked shocked; obviously they didn't think I looked very threatening. It was a familiar, thin man with brown hair and kind eyes that first regained the ability to speak. "You said that Severus took both Miss Tera and Mister Malfoy down to the dungeon access point with him, how can you be sure that this surge of power wasn't just from their combined efforts?" Lupin. This man was Professor Lupin, my first Defense Against the Darks Arts professor. If he remembered me it was completely reasonable that he would find it hard to believe I held great power considering the fact that I hadn't done very well on the practical aspects of his class. In fact, if I remembered correctly I'd had quite a bit of trouble on spells that the other children had found to be incredibly simple.
Dumbledore nodded at Lupin, as if telling him that his question was acceptable before answering, "While all three went in together, Severus was waiting for me in my office when I exited my own access point, and it's been reported that Mister Malfoy was seen entering the Slytherin common room only a quarter of an hour after the rest of Slytherin house; while Miss Tera only surfaced an hour after the all clear was sounded."
A bald, black man seated next to Lupin was the next to question Dumbledore, "You're saying that this girl," his eyes flicked to me, "was able to produce more magic than everyone else in all of the other access points combined?"
This question made Dumbledore hesitate. "Perhaps not combined, but she certainly produced more magical power than any of the access points, yes."
In response to Dumbledore's answer two voices said, in unison, "Wicked." Immediately my gaze was drawn to the unmistakable faces of the Weasley twins. I'd seen them around school, obviously, and I'd seen their sendoff prank-slash-distraction. While I hadn't been taking my OWLs at the time it was still quite impressive. In truth, they were legendary, no matter what house you belonged to.
Moody rolled his eye. I was surprised he didn't have a doubtful question to ask Dumbledore based on my performance in his class. "So you've found a powerful witch. What are you going to do with her?"
At this, I smiled. "Nothing. No one is going to do anything with me, on account of the fact that I'm neutral, a small tidbit I see you've managed to leave out, Headmaster," I answered before Dumbledore could get a word in.
Moody didn't react to my answer. A plump, red-headed witch, on the other hand, immediately said, "Of course, she's not going to be doing anything. She's a child, for gods' sake. What's wrong with you?"
"Molly…" Dumbledore said. "We can't fight this was alone; there simply aren't enough good people left." Dumbledore returned his attention to me. "Miss Tera, you can no longer claim to be neutral. Attending this meeting declares your status louder than any vocal statement ever could; this is an Order of the Phoenix meeting, and we fight against Voldemort."
"Headmaster, I'm here to make sure that my neutral status is maintained. I told you this afternoon that there is nothing you can do to convince to join this war. Yes, I helped people this afternoon, but I refuse to kill people like you would have me do. So keep me out of your plans.
"Now that I've made this meeting completely useless, how about we all go home?" I finished with a sweet smile. Nobody moved, probably because they were scared shitless. Somewhere over the course of my little speech my control had slipped, slightly. Now, my magic was thick in the air and everyone could feel it.
Ever so slowly, Dumbledore got up, walked to the fireplace and flooed back to his office. After he'd vanished and the room had calmed, Molly Weasley walked over to me and said, "I know you think you're doing the right thing, but Dumbledore really does know best, dear."
I turned my sweet smile on her and said slowly, carefully, "It's hard to tell if Dumbledore knows best, considering he's the only one that knows anything at all." I turned away and was ready to walk out of the room, when I looked over my shoulder at her to say, "I'm not child, haven't been for a long time, so don't treat me like one."
AN: I finished the editing! I hope to have a new chapter up soon. Personally, I think it'd be really cool if I could upload a chapter Christmas Day, you know, as a Christmas present to you guys but that's probably not going to happen (considering I'll probably spend Christmas Day either on the computer setting up other peoples' electronic devices or playing video games, or some combination thereof). You guys'll just have to settle for a belated Christmas present.
Don't forget to leave a review.
Up next: Confrontations with Malfoy