A/N: Hey hey everyone! Here is the next chapter! I hope you all enjoy it! I was asked by a reviewer to state the ranks of everyone who is in Yuki's acquaintance, so that they can keep up.
Basically, British Purebloods are Lords. Aside from Black's and Longbottom's, who are Barons. Alyssa is the Heir to the Viscount Title, which is the title that the Durmstrang Champion holds. Mercedes will be Countess LeFette once her father dies.
The highest rank is that of Marquis, as those of Duke's died out or became too untraceable. The line of the Emperor were all killed off in a coup d'etat. I have only introduced two Marquis Lines at the moment, that of Saint-Clair and Zhiang.
Announcement: I got into my chosen university :D:D University of Dundee here I come! Your wonderful author will be a Forensic Anthropologist one day! XD
Summary: AU. My Name is Yuki Saint-Clair, I am the Beauxbatons Triwizard Champion. I am also Harry Potter, the baby who destroyed the Dark Lord 16 years ago. This is the story of the end. Or maybe the beginning? Darkness is coming.
Noir et Blanc
Chapter VIII: Underneath the Underneath
By The Morrigu
'We wear our scarves just like a noose
But not 'cause we want eternal sleep
And though our parts are slightly used
New ones are slave labor you can keep.'
- Us by Regina Spektor
Initially when he had worked out the Second Task, he had thought that they would have chosen some vain Pureblood girl who claimed to be the Yuki Saint-Clair's chosen bride, and was his closest confidant. The fact that they had picked his hostage so well, was worrying in itself. Sakura Saint-Clair, his younger sister was the one person who he would do absolutely anything for. Anything to make sure she smiled in the morning, even if it meant he had to destroy his omnipotent and arrogant air, he would do so. All for her. On some level, he realised that he was experiencing what the organisers had hoped they would do. Worry for their hostages, and the animalistic urge to protect their loved ones. So, on this same level, he congratulated them on being accurate in their assumption. He hoped it was a mere assumption, as he had never broadcasted to others how much he lived for his younger sister, and relied on her purity to lead them through his own rather impure lifestyle.
So, the result of this task had just drastically changed. He had been willing to lose the task, but with his sister being apart of it, that idea had gone from his mind. Although he consciously knew that the Potions Master, Snape, had the antidote to the poison on him, his heart and body would stop at nothing in order to collect the ingredients and prepare the potion before the time was up.
Therefore, the second he watched in muted horror as his sister downed the poison, which would begin the countdown, he had to reorganise his plan. He began to chant in his head, as the second whistle went and his head impacted on the water, as he dived into a deeper level than his three competitors. He didn't care that the odds of the other competitors winning had suddenly changed. He didn't care that Daniel would lose a lot of money, having bet against him due to his inside knowledge of Yuki's plan. All he cared about was getting the ingredients, and seeing Sakura's warm brown eyes again.
Once his body was firmly within the water, he held his breath, and with a flick of his wand, a rune appeared on either side of his neck. Another flick, and the flow of magic he had been creating with his chanting was released, causing gills to form on his neck, allowing him to breath underwater. It took in the needed oxygen, and focused on the murky water around him. He could see the other three champions swimming away. Ivy looked as though she had used gillyweed, while both Alessandra and Draco made use of the bubblehead charm. Right now, it looked as though Ivy would complete the task the quickest of the three, as the bubblehead charm made it difficult to stay underwater.
Yuki then focused on the water around him, before casting several charms on his person. The first made him impervious to water, having such an affect that it allowed him to move through the water as though it were air. The second, altered his eyesight so he could see through the murkiness of the water. He then focused, and knowing that to the spectators who could obviously see what he was doing, he must look strange. He then pushed off from a rock, causing him to glide through the water at an almost unrivalled speed.
He had to gather four ingredients. Common Algae, Grindylow Scales, Merfolk Scales and Magical Frogspawn. He continued to swim, keeping his eyes peeled for anything. The algae was the easiest to find, and he got some, and placed it in an impervious pouch.
He kept on looking around, for any of his other competitors, but found none. He knew that Grindylow's lived in the long reeds, so began to swim there. He knew not to bother using a summoning charm, as he could already sense the wards that prevented the charm from working. This task was an excellent judge of character. To judge the champions' ability to work under pressure, to work facing the unknown, and their problem solving ability.
He began to swim towards the long reeds, ignoring the burning feeling in his muscles, as he swam at a fast pace, getting their twice as fast due to the charms he had placed upon himself. He paused, keeping watch for the Grindylow. Seeing none, he frowned, before with a flick of his wand, conjured a fish and sent it into the reeds. Within seconds, it was attacked by a Grindylow. Yuki swiftly stunned the creature, before swimming towards it and removing one of its scales. He swam away, trying to get as far from the creature as possible.
He had two items left, and hadn't yet come across any of the others, whether or not this was a good thing was to be decided. As a whole, he found that he was going far to slowly to be comfortable with. He knew that the Merfolk lived at the bottom, and knew that they would put up a bigger fight than the Grindylow did. It would also be the most time consuming ingredient to acquire. So he made his way to the deepest part of the Lake, and began to spot signs that the Merfolk were within the area. He could also see signs of a struggle, and could guess that another champion had been there. From the signs of scorch marks and the like, he could guess it was Draco, as he doubted Alessandra would have missed her target that much.
A large group of Merfolk were gathered in the townsquare, and appeared to be a seething mob, most likely Draco had incensed them on purpose, to make it harder for his competitors to gather the ingredients. Clever of him.
"Be gone." Hissed what appeared to be the leader, as Yuki's bicoloured eyes flicked from behind the charm he had placed on them, as he looked at the merfolk, trying to pick a target. He frowned at them, as he lifted his wand, and pointed it toward the merfolk.
"Sleep." He intoned mentally, as he waved his wand, and immediately, all of them dozed, giving him enough time to get a scale from one of them. As he swam away, he knew that they would wake up once he left, and then they would be ten times as angry as they were before. But they were no longer his problem.
He then focused on swimming upwards, as had seen only one spot on he lake where Magical Frogspawn was, and knew he had to hurry up. His thoughts turned to Sakura, and almost unconsciously, he sped up, his muscles complaining of the speed he was putting them through. But he knew it would be to his advantage, as he was the most physically fit of all the champions, he just had to take advantage of this fact. The water began to get lighter the closer he got to the surface. He cast a quick point me charm, and then worked out where he had to go from that. He eventually found the frogspawn, and saw that he was not alone. Draco was up ahead, a bubble around his head, as he struggled to stay below the water. He was harvesting the spawn, and Yuki scowled.
Draco sensed his presence, and spun around, wand pointing towards him.
"We are the first then." Announced Draco, nodding his head at Yuki, who nodded back, still keeping an annoyed look on his face. He got his own frogspawn, and as Draco began to swim to the surface, Yuki did the same, knowing that it was neck and neck between the two of them. The two of them broke the surface of the water, and they both cancelled their charms.
The audience saw the two of them at the top of the water, and began to cheer and scream at them. However, they had appeared near the middle of the water, so they had to swim to the waters edge. Not sparing Draco a look, Yuki dived underneath the water, and began to swim towards the edge, at a pace he knew that Draco couldn't match. He reached the edge, and stepped out onto the land, and rushed towards where four workstation's and cauldrons had been set up. He claimed his, and nodded his head at Sakura. He brought out the four ingredients and lay them on the desk. He then caught his breath, aware that his heart was hammering, and he was breathing harshly.
"The first two champions from the water are Yuki Saint-Clair, and Draco Malfoy. The Beauxbatons Champion is in the lead, as the elder of the Hogwarts Champion's is only now getting out of the water. It took these two fifty two minutes in which to collect their ingredients, leaving them one hour and eight minutes to create the antidote. This is going to be close." Came Bagman's magically increased voice.
Yuki frowned, as he heard the time it took for him to gather the ingredients. Not good. He could see that the other ingredients for the antidote had been laid out, but that had to be added in the correct order, and at precise times. With a flick of his wand, he dried himself, and with another, his hair was re-tied out of his face, as he then grabbed the ingredients, and began to systematically prepare them, and begin to boil the cauldron.
"You do realise that the Potions Master has the antidote, right?" questioned Sakura in Japanese, from where she sat a metre away from his work station.
"Hai. But, it wouldn't look good if I relied on such a thing. Besides, if I lose at this, Mercedes will kill me." Replied Yuki softly, as he added ingredients into the cauldron, and checked the temperature.
"One of these days, you are going to wish you hadn't built up such an image of yourself." Announced Sakura, sighing softly.
"What is to say that I am not wishing that now?" shot Yuki, before pausing as Sakura began to cough, her breathing wheezy. His eyes flicked to the other three hostages, none of whom were reacting in such a way. Just Sakura. "Is this because of the poison?"
"None of the others are reacting like this." Answered Sakura.
"But none of them have ever been poisoned before!" hissed Yuki, his voice angry. "Did Kaa-san not inform them before they did this?"
There was no reply, and Yuki looked up from where he was furiously chopping his ingredients.
"They never asked her permission. Who gave it?"
"No one. I was asked, and I gave my own. I didn't think it would be necessary. The Headmistress saw no problems with what was going to happen, and you know she is our temporary guardian during School time."
"But she doesn't know your, our, medical history." Replied Yuki, his tone angry, as the cauldron simmered, as he stirred it. His sister had less time than the other champions. All because they were stupid enough not to consult his parents before this was done.
"Here come the Viscountess and Miss Potter, neck to neck. They have been in the lake for one hour and thirteen minutes. Fourty-seven minutes remaining." Called Bagman, his voice bright and cheery.
The presence of all four champions caused the crowd to scream and cheer, but Yuki was having none of that. In fact, he was wishing that they would all just shut up, so he could finish this, cure his sister, and go give someone a severe tongue-lashing for their stupidity.
The potion was a blue-green colour, and he was now stirring it, and adding the frogsegg every minute, as it became a shade lighter after each frogsegg. Then, he would have to remove the bezoar, and then it should be done. It had to be a pale green colour for it to be correct. He chanced a glance up, to see that Draco's was a few shades darker than his own. He knew that he would win again. But that wasn't what mattered. What mattered was that whoever was stupid enough to do this, would suffer dearly.
Suddenly, Sakura began to cough harshly, and sweat broke out on her forehead. The crowd quietened in response to this, were all watching his sister curiously. No doubt they were informed that they were not meant to start suffering from the poison until one and half hours into it. Even then, they went unconscious. Not coughing. She continued coughing, as the colour from her skin gradually disappeared, leaving her paper-white. The Potions Master stood off to the side not doing anything, no doubt some rule prevented him from stepping him unless to prevent a fatality.
He kept one eye on Sakura, the other on the potion, waiting for it to turn the pale green colour he wanted. The second it did, he spooned it out into a vial, and brought it over to a coughing Sakura, to the cheers of the crowd.
"Mr Saint-Clair appears to be the first champion to finish once again, but it all depends on whether or not the antidote is affective."
"You able to keep it down?" murmured Yuki, and Sakura shook her head, as she continued to cough. He nodded his head, wiping away a few stray tears on her cheeks, before waving his wand in an intricate pattern, and conjured a injection. He put the antidote within the needle, ignoring the murmuring from the crowd, and injected it into her arm. It had an immediate affect, as the colour returned to her cheeks, as her breathing evened out.
"So, Mr Saint-Clair appears to have done it. With half an hour remaining. That is an accomplishment indeed."
But, he wasn't interested. He led Sakura from the stage, and to the medical tent where Madam Pomfrey checked on them. He helped Sakura onto a bed, ignoring the cheering of the Beauxbatons students, and focused on the nurse.
"My sister needs to be checked thoroughly. She has had a history of various poisons, and as you know, poisons never fully leave your system. This appears to have reacted badly with Chantlier's Poison."
The nurse's face dropped at his statement, as she began to wave her wand over Sakura, casting various spells to ascertain her condition. She was also muttering under her breath as she went along, and Yuki didn't dare try and interrupt her. He was instead, observing his fellow champions, waiting for a the second he was alone when he took his anger out onto the Tournament Officials, who had put together his task. Who had foolishly endangered his younger sister, without getting permission from any adults, or looking into her medical history. Someone was going to pay dearly for this.
Ivy gave the potion to Neville, smiling in relief when he awakened. She had finished her antidote third, and she could see Alessandra just completing her own now. To her left, Draco and Pansy were speaking to one another in low tones, after Madame Pomfrey had pronounced Draco's hostage healthy. The interesting thing was, that neither Yuki, nor his younger sister had been seen since they had entered the medical tent. The nurse had been extremely keen on getting back into the tent as soon as possible, and Ivy was curious as to what was going on. Not only was she on some level worried for the health of the younger girl, but she was interested in whether or not the Beauxbatons Champion had created the antidote correctly.
Madam Pomfrey came out once more, and checked on Neville and Madame Porchaski. Once she pronounced both fine, she went back into the tent, in which a cold-looking Yuki stepped out of it. His looks were once again pristine, and his eyes were focused on the Tournament Officials who were stood near the judges table, speaking to them in low tones.
"Both Madame Pomfrey and Potions Master Severus Snape have agreed that all Potions were created perfectly, and were all effective." Announced Bagman, giving a summary of the task before the points were given.
Ivy watched as Yuki stalked onto the platform, his sister nowhere in sight, and Ivy had to lower her eyes, so she wouldn't be faced with the fury that could be seen coming from him. Ivy frowned inwardly, as she failed to see what exactly the problem was. All the hostages were safe, and none of them were going to be permanently hurt, not with Professor Snape keeping a close eye on the task.
"It appears as though both Draco Malfoy and Viscountess Porchaski used the Bubble-Head Charm, while Ivy Potter used the plant gillyweed to allow herself the ability to breath underwater. Yuki Saint-Clair did something else entirely, and actually conducted some Human Transfiguration in order to create gills on his neck, while casting spells in order to allow himself to glide through water, impressive work indeed. Now, onto the scores."
Ivy's eyes widened as she saw what exactly Yuki had done to himself so he could do the task. Creating gills was a complicated piece of transfiguration, that she wasn't even certain Hermione could do. No doubt Yuki was the crème de le crème of Beauxbatons.
"Viscountess Alessandra Porchaski."
Ivy watched as each of the judges, once after another, held their wands into the air. First Dumbledore, then Bagman, then Maxime, then Fudge and lastly Karkaroff.
7 8 7 8 10
"Ivy Potter."
Ivy held her breath, as she watched the judges score her performance.
9 10 7 8 6
"Draco Malfoy."
9 7 7 10 9
"Yuki Saint-Clair."
9 7 10 8 8
Ivy tried to add up all of the numbers, and work out exactly where she ranked overall. But Bagman spoke up before she could.
"So overall in the competition, we have in First Place, Yuki Saint-Clair with eighty six points. In second place, Ivy Potter, with seventy eight points. In third place, Viscountess Porchaki with seventy five points, and in last place, Draco Malfoy, with seventy two points. However, the judges have decided that these points are subject to change, between the four months from now until the final task. In two months, there shall be an event that could change the entire points system entirely. There shall be more information closer to the time. The Final Task will be on the 23rd June."
Bagman finished, and Ivy felt suddenly immensely proud of herself, as she remained in second place. Neville was smiling at her, and congratulating her on a job well done. The stands began to clear, as the judges made their way to the stage where the four champions, and three hostages were waiting for them.
"Well done! Well done!" called Bagman jovially, a large grin on his face. "Quite a show ladies and gentlemen."
"Monsieur Bagman, who was in charge of putting together this task?" asked Yuki suddenly, his tone was cold, almost dead sounding. The tone caused a tension to appear within the group, and appeared to block out the noise of the spectators leaving the stands to go back up the castle.
"Various tournament officials. Why, Mr Saint-Clair?" questioned Bagman, curious.
Yuki's eyes flashed with something unknown for a second, before he turned to his Headmistress and began to hiss at her in vapid French, and her pallor paled upon hearing whatever he said.
"Monsieur Bagman, I was assured that this tournament was legal." Announced the Headmistress, as she drew herself up to her full height, while eyeing Tournament Officials who stood off to the side, looking nervously at the Headmistress.
"It is Madam." Replied Bagman.
"Then why was one of my students removed from my school without parental consent, which you assured me you had gotten?" asked Maxime, her voice heavily accented due to her anger.
"Madam I had no idea…" began Bagman, but was cut off by Yuki.
Ivy felt distinctly uncomfortable, while Draco and Alessandra appeared to be looking on curiously, no doubt waiting for something. A quick glance out of the corner of her eye, revealed that Neville appeared to be waiting for it to.
"Silence fool." Hissed Yuki. "My sister is not something for anyone to take into custody for their own amusement. That you thought you could get away with it is insanity. You are lucky to have you head attached to your shoulders at this point, because I am certain that the second my father." He paused, sending Bagman a significant look. "Hears about this, he will be sending his employees to deal with this mess that you have made. Not only have you broken French Laws, regarding the removal of students from Beauxbatons which were put in place because my siblings and I would be attending there, but you have endangered her life. She is weak to poisons, and her immune system has been compromised due to exposure to them over her life. She would have died, Monsieur Bagman, had I not made that antidote. The one that Master Snape had would not be satisfactory, because it wasn't made by a family member, and therefore her magic would have rejected it." He paused, to let this sink in to not only Bagman, but to everyone on the stage who could hear what he was saying. "You have a choice, either you resign, or you shall mysteriously disappear. Make no mistake, any aspirations that you carried in life are over. Once you finish with the position you are in, you will find yourself unemployable. Not just you, but any helpers that you had in this." His gaze flicked to the officials. "Don't bother lying. I can tell when someone is a compulsive liar. You are one of them."
"What makes you think you can get away with this?" asked Bagman quietly.
"It won't be me doing anything. The second I speak to the Goblin's of your misdeeds…yes, I know of your dealings with them, they shall come after you. The Goblin's are fiercely loyal to those who know their ways. They will take this incident as an attack to their allies, and you shall suffer for it. I suggest you start packing you bags now. I want you gone from this castle immediately."
With that, Yuki Saint-Clair swept off the stage, heading directly to the tent in which he brought out a weak-looking Sakura Saint-Clair, and then he carried her to the school. Ivy watched him go with wide eyes, while watching Bagman's frozen expression in shock.
"Is this true, Ludo?" asked Fudge nervously.
"We couldn't get into contact with her parents, and I heard that he doted upon his younger sister, so she was the ideal choice…" murmured Bagman, while Maxime made a disgusted noise.
"Neither the Marquis or the Marchioness are difficult to find. You obviously didn't try hard enough. When it concerns their children, they will drop everything for them. You are a fool to have messed with that family, and now you will pay the price." Announced Maxime, before shooting him a disgusted look, and walking back to the school.
Iris William's didn't consider herself to be an extraordinary individual. She had spent her childhood between foster homes, after she was removed from her parents. The letter she got from Beauxbatons was a surprise, as was her introduction into the wizarding world. In fact, she welcomed it. She was put into a wizarding orphanage in the outskirts of Paris, where she would remain until she graduated from the school, and made her way in the world. At first, she found the world of magic to be new and exciting. But, as she saw what was truly going on. Beneath the glamour and the excitement, the true politics of this new world, she knew she had no hope of anything. She was a girl with hopes and aspirations that far exceeded that of her capabilities. All because she had no name, fortune or status in either worlds.
She was a nobody. The definition of a wall flower, the person that the pureblood princess' stood on to make themselves feel better. So, she decided she would succeed in the one area that they were at an even ground. She would beat them all when it came to her knowledge. That was her plan, and she succeeded. She beat every single pureblood within the school at everything. Both her theory and practical skills were flawless, and none could compare. All except one person. The Pureblood God himself, Yuki Saint-Clair.
At first, she felt fury. That this pampered prince could best her, when she put so much effort into her studies, and he didn't. Always with his friends, his loyal followers. Until, she really began to notice. This boy, who was slowly becoming a man over the years, was different. He didn't laugh at her, snub her or even took notice of her presence. To such a person, the mudblood of their year wasn't even worth notice. At least, she thought this. Until she began to see him take notice of her, as she scored behind him consistently. As she ignored the furious gazes of their classmates. As she continued to sit her exams, even though her classmates were casting curses at her back.
She didn't understand his interest. She was a nobody. Nothing. He had tried speaking to her a few times, generally over school work, and each time she had done her best to finish the conversation as soon as possible. Speaking to the most eligible bachelor in the school would incite the wrath of the female population far quicker than her status would. But, it was during these times that she saw what he was like normally. Rather than the cold and callous pureblood heir, but the caring and patient individual, who had a talent of magic. What a talent it was! He could complete spells in half the time it took her, and magic appeared to just bend to his whim. He would just ask for something to happen, and it did. Such an ability had never been seen before, of that she was certain of. In fact, she felt as though she was the only person who truly valued the powers of such an ability, and didn't ignore it and treat it as a fluke.
She had also had the harsh realities of Yuki's life revealed to her, through an overheard conversation between brother and sisters. It happened during her fifth year, when the eldest sibling, Mika, was in her last year at Beauxbatons, and the youngest, Sakura, was in her second year. The three were discussing a recent attack on their parents, in which their mother had had to have the bones in both of her legs re-grown.
It was in this moment, that she truly understood the pressure and the danger that was within their lives, not only from within a magical school, but outside, as conspirators plotted to take them down, and receive profit for it. She had heard rumours of their being attacks to the school, but she had never taken them seriously, as there had been no evidence. Now, she knew differently.
But, things had now changed. Away from school, in a foreign country, things had changed. She had become friends with the mysterious pureblood prince who had decided to change her life so much. First by befriending her, then unexpectedly inviting her to both the Ball, and a celebration at his own home. He brought her robes when her own were shredded by an unknown person. He had such an impact in her life over such a short period that she wasn't even sure what to think. He had introduced her to the worlds leading figure on the Light Arts and Arithmancy in order to help her, something which she would never had managed to do on her own. Then, everything had changed.
He had kissed her. She wasn't sure why, whether it meant anything. But what she did know was that she had enjoyed it. But she wasn't stupid enough to think that anything would come of it, as he had a duty to his family. He couldn't consort with her of all people. It would be against the rules. He could be disinherited for that.
But she was confused, and wasn't sure who to turn to. He had been avoiding her since then, and she got the feeling that he had told no one of what had happened, or if he did, it wasn't someone she had come across since then. Perhaps a family member.
Iris was brought out of her musings, as an idea came to her. She would talk to Mercedes. Maybe then, she would get some answers.
"Yuki kissed you?" stated Mercedes, dumbfounded for a moment, to the nervous girl who stood before her. "At the celebration?"
"Yes." Replied Iris, lowering her eyes, and appeared to shrink in on herself. "I just don't understand why he would I mean…I am me…and he is him…I just don't…"
"Daniel and I told him this would happen." Announced Mercedes, rubbing her temples.
"What?" whispered Iris, shocked. Her body was taut, as she stared at Mercedes, her eyes wide.
"Don't act so surprised. He is more interested than you think." Answered Mercedes calmly. "You are like a puzzle to him. He doesn't understand you, and wants to figure you out. Not just that, but you don't care about Yuki Saint-Clair, Heir to the title of Marquis. All you care about is Yuki, the guy who helped you with your Arithmancy Mastery, and took you to the ball. Do you know how rare of a find that it? I can't find a guy who is interested in me for me, rather than my being the heir to the Countess title. Yuki likes puzzles, and he doesn't like the unknown. However, even I dare not ask him about this. To be honest, we had thought him rather asexual up until this moment."
Iris nodded her head, while Mercedes spoke again.
"The best person to ask would be Sakura. But she has returned to Beauxbaton's, and I would give it a few days for her to settle in, then I will get back to you."
"But it doesn't matter anyway." Murmured Iris softly. "The Marquis wouldn't permit for anything to happen anyway. He is a pureblood, the heir to a prestigious title and fortune, and I am nothing. I wouldn't wish to bring him down like that, to tar the family name so to speak. I don't wish to degrade myself into being used by anyone either. So I shall not dare believe that anything good can come out of this."
"Marquis Saint-Clair isn't the most predictable of people." Stated Mercedes. "I do agree with your assessment, that he will not be impressed if Yuki chose you over any other female of our generation. But, you are the only girl he has ever shown interest in, as far as I am aware. To most other people, this is not a big thing, what has occurred. But between the two of you, it is. What happened at the celebration isn't the normal. He has feelings for you, otherwise that wouldn't have occurred, and I am guessing that this is reciprocated. However, do not lose hope just yet, understand? Wait until I have heard back from Sakura. Then we shall act."
Yuki stood waiting outside of the library, for a particular individual to exit it. He stood, hidden partially in the shadows, his eyes focused on the door, waiting. The students entered and exited the library, completely missing his hidden form, which he wasn't sure whether it was due to his ability, or their lack of vigilance. Eventually, his eyes focused on one particular individual, and he stepped out of the shadows to greet them. The person's eyes widened a fraction, before their face smoothed to become impassive.
"Draco." Announced Yuki, nodding his head at his fellow competitor.
"Yuki." Replied Draco, nodding his head in return.
Yuki turned on his heel, and walked down another corridor, to get away from the library where people could overhear the coming conversation with ease. He didn't have to turn around to know that Draco was following him. He soon stopped, and leant against the wall, his bi-coloured eyes focusing on Draco's robed form.
"What is it?" asked Draco, frowning slightly. Yuki raised an eyebrow in his direction, registering that the Malfoy Heir had gradually become more comfortable in their presence, but whether that was due to seeing them more often, or his confidence boost with what was going on beyond the walls of Hogwarts, he didn't know.
"Strange things are happening beyond these walls." Began Yuki, while sending Draco a significant look, causing him to straighten and pay attention, his eyes curious about what the French teen was about to divulge. "Any idiot can tell that things are about to change. That there will be a great shift in the way our society operates. A revolution if you will." He stepped away from the wall, and levelled an interested look towards Draco. "I just wanted to make it known that my family and I are just, interested, in the occurrence of this possible shift in our society, and when it might happen. After all, everyone needs to be ready and prepared."
"What makes you think that I know?" questioned Draco quizzically.
"Don't take me as a fool." Shot Yuki. "I know that your father had something to do with the revolutions on the Mainland, and the sudden disappearance of several key players. Not to mention the upsurge of creature movements…all centred on this island. I just want it to be known, that my family have a keen interest in the nature of this movement, and that if aid were to be needed, then it would be offered. After all, the safety of our society is the most important thing, is it not?"
Draco nodded his head, a sly smile appearing on his face. Yuki didn't have to be psychic to tell what it was that was going through the mind of the Malfoy Heir. He was no doubt thinking of the reward he would get for single-handedly gifting the Dark Lord with the Saint-Clair family's allegiance. Everyone knew that with such an allegiance, many more would follow. Like flocks of sheep, many families who were allies of the Saint-Clair family, or any other family that were within the upper echelons of wizarding society, would follow them to the end of days. Yuki ignored the direction in which his mind was going, and put a welcoming smile upon his face, one which was rarely seen.
"Both you and I, Draco, must look after ourselves within all of this. It is our duty as heirs to make sure that our lines survive to the next generation." Here, Yuki nodded his head in Draco's direction. "So when the time comes to ensure this survival, why should we not take it? Why should we be content to stand in the side lines, and watch this War around us with barely concealed glee? War is upon us, Draco, and you and I shall find ourselves to be key players within it."
"I agree. May the Dark Lord prevail?"
"May the Dark Lord prevail."
Yuki brought out a letter from within his robes, a letter that had been stamped and sealed by his father. He handed it over to Draco, who took it almost reverently.
"My father cannot be seen with your father until the time is right, I am sure you agree. He asks that you pass this to your father, and in turn, the Dark Lord."
Draco nodded his head, and walked away towards the dungeons. Yuki followed him with his eyes, before walking off towards the Great Hall, his eyes had flicked for a moment towards a tapestry, before moving on. But, behind the tapestry the pale form of Ron Weasley stood there, his body rigid in shock.
"I knew it." Roared Ron, as he entered the Room of Requirement, where the other Gryffindors were practising their duelling. "I knew he was a stuck up bastard, but he is a Dark Wizard too! Are these the friends you have Neville?"
"What are you talking about?" questioned Neville calmly, straightening himself from his duelling stance. He shot Hermione and Ivy a confused look.
"Yuki-bloody-Saint-Clair. That's what!" continued Ron, marching across the room until he was close to Neville. "You told us he was trust worthy. That his entire family was. I let Ginny go into his house, I argued for him on your word to my parents when they weren't sure about it. Then what do I hear? Him and Malfoy, speaking of You-Know-Who!"
"What?" asked Hermione, her voice an octave higher than normal.
"He was making an ally of Malfoy and You-Know-Who for his father, the Bloody Marquis." Hissed Ron, directing his fury at Neville. "You told us we could trust him, and now he is going to be plotting our deaths. Are you happy now?"
"This can't be true." Murmured Neville, frowning at the floor.
"But it is. I heard it myself. Is this what you do now? Protect Death Eater scum? Going to become friends with Malfoy now?"
Neville balled his fists, and looked up meeting Ron's glare head on, to the surprise of the others in the room. The usual meek Neville was now non-existent.
"Your problem Ron, is not with them as people. Whatever you overheard, you overheard incorrectly. There are things that happen in pureblood circles that you will not understand. What people truly mean is not necessarily what they say. We are all taught at an early age to look underneath the underneath of what our fellows truly say in order to discover the true meaning."
"I don't care about pureblood ways." Hissed Ron, his face scarlet in anger. "Purebloods work for You-Know-Who, and they kill people."
"Are you blind Ron? You yourself are pureblood, not in the same sense, but your family have been magical for generations. Not just that, but the very people you are so quick to judge, are those which you surround yourself with. I am pureblood. So is Ivy's godfather. But he and I are the highest ranked purebloods in the British Isles. But are you too thick to see this Ron? For Merlin's sake, you are quick to judge a world which you are not part of, a world that you do not understand. There are so many pureblood families that are devoted the Light, such as the MacMillans, Abbots and my own family. Yet, we are all tarred with the same brush as those who turn to You-Know-Who. Why do you think that You-Know-Who gets so much power? Why shouldn't families, such as the Saint-Clair's, not join He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, when they are thought of in such a way by everyone else."
A pin could drop in the room, and it would have echoed throughout the room. Ron had been shocked into silence from Neville's outburst. The other Gryffindor's were staring at their normally shy housemate in shock, as Neville appeared to get a hold of himself. He turned on his heel, and left the room, the door slammed behind him as he left. The Longbottom heir stalked down the corridor, once he reached the end of it, and was out of sight from the door to the Room of Requirement, he leant against the wall and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes, in order to allow himself to think back on what he said in that room.
"Well done my friend."
Neville jumped up, startled. He had his wand out in a second, and was pointing down the corridor, his eyes wide and his breathing heavy. Yuki stood there, his eyes were almost glowing in the half-light of the corridors, and his blue Beauxbaton's robes contrasted against his olive skin tone greatly, making him look all the more inhuman. But the expression on his face was friendly, and gleeful. A rare look on Yuki's face.
"You heard?" murmured Neville, lowering his wand and looking downcast for a second.
"I did. You did well. But you can repeat those words as many times as you want to, and your friend Ron Weasley shall not listen. He appears to be a practical person. He shall have to see the truth of your words before he believes it." Yuki then nodded his head at the English wizard. "Your parents would be proud of you, Neville. Do not doubt it, not even for a moment. Your Grandmother shall also be proud of you, before the end. But in my eyes, you are justly deserving the title of Baron Longbottom come Summer."
"I thank you, Marquis Saint-Clair." Responded Neville, with a slight bow, causing Yuki to smile at his friend. Neville's expression changed, and he became more serious. "But it isn't true, right? What Ron overheard, he either heard wrong, or you might something else by it? I know your father and mother, neither of them agree with You-Know-Who's ideals. I know you, and you would never agree to a genocidal regime."
"No, I would not. Nor would my parents. I hate the divide that has been caused due to differing opinions on the usefulness of magic, and those who have the right to practise it. I have been the victim of prejudice all of my life, I am not about to be prejudiced to anyone."
Neville nodded his head, and the two began to walk down the corridors side by side, as Yuki walked his friend to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Then what are you planning?" asked Neville softly, wary of eavesdroppers.
"You shall see my friend." Here, Yuki frowned. "When you find out, you need to be prepared. Ready to act, and defend. Ready to use the power which you receive as Baron Longbottom, you understand?"
"Yes, I do."
They had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, and Yuki nodded his head at Neville, and walked away. He then paused, and spoke up again.
"You will need to remember this conversation before the end. No matter what happens, you must remember this conversation. Never lose hope my friend. Never."
This is the eighth chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it :)
Most of chapter eleven has been written, and the ending to chapter ten had been written. This story should hopefully be complete by the end of Summer, when I then go to university.
Edit 16/04: Just changed some mistakes that people are picking up. I am going to go back within the next 2 weeks to correct any mistakes in the last few chapters. It will hopefully make for an easier read :) I also am debating about combining chapters 9/10 because 9 will be a short chapter. So if there is a really long chapter 9, this story will then be one chapter less. I shall let you lot decide.
I shall also be including a teaser of the sequel in the last chapter of this. Enjoy :)
Please review. :)
Lots of love
Morrigu-chan x
