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A.N. Okay no amount of apologies will be able to make up for my complete lack of updates, I know I've fallen way behind, but I hit a hard spot of writer's block, then when I finally got my muse back I found myself unable to stop so I've kind of gone ahead and wrote through year one, and I even wrote multiple versions for various scenarios of what house Violet gets in, however so far it appears most likely to be Slytherin, but it's not too late to vote yet.


Chapter 7

It's been nearly an entire school year since my arrival; I have each of the founders except Salazar teaching me what they know. Including Godric teaching me how to use a sword, I'm even practicing with Salazar's sword much to his chagrin when he first found out Godric stole the sword for me to practice with. Luckily I haven't done anything else to lose me more time like when I let more things slip to Salazar than I had intended. I have always been told that I am too trusting of others, but I don't think that's entirely true. Mr. Ollivander when I first met him maybe; but Draco, Abraxas, Merlin, Salazar, there is something about all of them, which makes me feel inclined to trust them.

I did not immediately tell Morgana my history, nor did I immediately tell Tom Riddle, not in the way I did with Salazar, Merlin, Draco and Abraxas. All it took for them was a question I deemed innocent and then I found myself opening up with my secrets. Maybe I am too trusting, or maybe there is something that I am missing, Abraxas was the first person I told after learning that I shouldn't tell just anyone who and what I am. Abraxas Malfoy had simply taken a liking to me and treated me as the little sister he never had, he protected me and was willing to keep my secrets even from Tom Riddle.

Then Draco, I had trusted him before I fully understood the dangers of letting others know the truth about me, but I had never given him a name, just as all Salazar knows is my name is Violet, Draco doesn't even know that much. With him he doesn't care that I could've accidently killed him, he saw someone who needed help and who had influence and who had appeared out of nowhere and he decided to help me. Draco didn't question the fact that I told him he was going to be my best friend, he simply accepted it and helped me to learn control over the touch of decay.

Merlin was a unique case, he flat out told me that he knew I had my secrets and he knew I wasn't supposed to share them with just anyone. Merlin had told me it is my choice and my choice alone who earns the knowledge of my secrets; he didn't want or care to know my secrets. When he found out I was Heiress Death, he just laughed and said he had a hunch that was who I was but he wasn't going to go asking about it.

And that leaves Salazar, something about him makes me feel calm, maybe it's the shared parseltongue, or maybe it's the fact that he isn't what I was expecting. Whatever the reason it didn't take long for him to gain my trust to the point it took only a simple question do get a basis of my life story. I broke the whole tell nobody who and what you are rule, but I honestly think that dad was expecting for me to break it, besides as long as I leave before time runs out, then nothing damaging can happen to the time line.

"Violet, Violet, are you listening to me Violet," the carefree yet stern voice of Godric Gryffindor pulls me out of my musings, I look at him sheepishly he just laughs. "You know one of the most important elements of swordplay is to remain focused although I admit, it took you not responding to any of my questions when we stopped to realize you were distracted, you're good but you should still remain focused. I would say that you're too used to me and my style, Salazar you are turn to show her a little swordplay."

I turn around to see Salazar Slytherin standing there a blank look on his face; he releases a sigh and holds out his hand. I frown as I realize he's going to want to use his own sword, sighing I toss the sword in his direction, he catches it with ease by the emerald encrusted hilt. Godric hands me his sword and I realize that they're the same sword practically, at least size and weight wise. Of course they are why wouldn't the two best friends have near identical swords, especially when they're cousins as well?

"I am curious to know how you convinced Godric Gryffindor, the epitome of all things pureblood to teach you a young lady how to do swordplay." It honestly wasn't even my idea, Godric may be all for the proper pureblood behavior, but even he has his exceptions. I think because I like him have the gift of Death's touch of decay, he sees no reason to hold back on teaching me things that are considered more for men only. All in all I don't think Godric or Slytherin is the true epitome of pureblooded behavior, the closest bet may actually be Rowena Ravenclaw and she still knows how to use daggers.

"All I did was ask, it was not hard, I believe the way he sees it, if I can handle having the touch of decay then obviously I can handle myself with swords. It's alright though, I'm sure that you could prove him right when he said that I'm just too used to his methods." Salazar immediately narrows his eyes at me, I respond with a cheeky smile, he in turn makes his first move, I dodge it easily and return the gesture, and he just barely gets out of the way in time.

"Not bad, but you still need work," I quirk a brow, as if I'm going to allow him to distract me with small talk, instead I strike at him again making a shallow cut on his left forearm, the look on his face is murderous and his response is instant, leaving me with a similar cut on my right forearm. I suck in my breath through my teeth at the sting of the cut, small cuts sting, I should have remembered that.

"Well we cannot all be the Great Salazar Slytherin," his eyes narrow even more to the point that they're practically slits, if he had one of dad's powers I think it'd be to kill with looks. That look most definitely would be one of them, I haven't learned how to use that one yet, but I know that dad has the power, and since I inherited all of his powers. I think Muse said something about it all being in my intent and will, I have to want someone dead in the same manner as with the killing curse.

I gasp as a blow lands to my side, this time I was hit by the flat side but it still counts towards Slytherin. "You are allowing yourself to be distracted Violet, never let your mind wander in a battle even amongst allies, you never know who will deliver the killing blow. You cannot let yourself be distracted it can be all the difference between life and death."

The difference between life and death, he's right just because I'm Death's daughter doesn't mean I'm invincible there are ways to kill me. I need to keep focused in any fight no matter who I am against or I could end up getting killed by the opponent. This is a lesson that applies to far more than simple swordplay; it applies to using magic and wands as well and everything else in general really. Distractions make one vulnerable, and if an opponent realizes it, then it could easily lead one to an early meeting with Death.

I wince as Salazar makes his final move against me, winning, that'll leave a bruise, and he gives me a slight smirk. "You did well Violet, but you have much to still learn and if you learn to beat me then you and I shall talk about perhaps getting you other lessons both magical and non. Of course, I won't let you learn to beat me; the trait I value in my house is cunning and self-preservation." Is that how's he's going to be, well I think there is a very snarky, or otherwise response to that statement and I am afraid that he has left me with no choice but to use it...Chaos would have it no other way.

"Is that so, I take it the self-preservation in this then, is pertaining to your dignity and reputation, after all you would not want to lose to a nine year old girl would you? Especially in today's time, are you worried I will hurt your ego...no need to fear over being embarrassed, I will defeat you, and you will learn? You know me and my story better than anyone else here, besides myself of course. You should know very well that what I wish, I shall receive." Godric cracks up laughing at my words, while Helga chuckles and Rowena attempts to hide her laughter behind her hand, like that's not a clear indicator.

'"You best watch yourself child, the end of exams war approaches, and I am not above targeting little girls such as yourself, Godric and the others may be, but I am not, and you will see exactly what it is that I mean." I look to Godric and the other founders for clarification on what exactly it is that Salazar is speaking of, Godric looks horror stricken, while Helga looks to be ready to go into overprotective mother mode and Rowena looks like she's going into a rant. Well now I really want to know what exactly this war Salazar is talking about is.

"Salazar Severus Slytherin you absolutely shall not attack Violet with one of your childish pranks, that prank war can get dangerous and out of hand and you know it, or need I remind you of the giant squid you placed in the lake last year, before Godric took one of his sunrise swim?! Or perhaps the time you placed a dragon in the forest, the forest is forbidden for a reason Salazar and that reason is you and your dangerous pranks. Why you and Godric thought it was a good idea I shall never understand, nor how you convinced Helga and I to allow it. However if you pull a single prank on Violet this year when the term ends, and your little prank war to determine the Supreme High Prankster begins, know this I will personally come into your rooms while you sleep and castrate you!"

Salazar and Godric both visibly flinch at her threat, not that I blame them, if I were a guy I'm sure I would too, that would be painful just thinking about it, and completely inappropriate. I can't believe that Rowena Ravenclaw of all people is the one that made a threat like that! Now though I'm curious about this prank war and the title of Supreme High Prankster, it sounds like I title I would love to have, and it's always amusing to hurt Salazar's ego a bit. I mean he's one of my closest friends, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be fun to knock him down a notch or two, just as everyone deserves every now and then. I mean I've knocked down Draco's ego now and then in the past so why can't I do the same to Salazar, that's right I can.

"What exactly does this prank war consist of?" Rowena lets out a frustrated groan while Salazar and Godric get identical grins on their faces. Well this could prove to be interesting, whatever this prank war, it's obviously going to be entertaining that much I can tell from the name and what Rowena had mentioned of past pranks. If there is anyone that knows how to properly pull a prank it would be the niece of Chaos, and that just so happens to be Heiress Death, as in myself. Of course dad doesn't exactly condone pranking, but that's because he's a stick in the mud and really old so he has no other option but to be a downer when it comes to these situations well he does but as though he'd choose fun.

"Once a year when the exams are all over and done with we hold a little contest that's become a post-exams tradition a prank war to determine the Supreme High Prankster of Hogwarts. Basically it began back a few years ago, when we first opened the school, it all started when Salazar thought it was a brilliant idea to put Peeves into the school. Well we had attempted to retaliate, but Helga was victimized and soon it became an all-out war amongst the staff and students. Now we do it every year to promote inner house unity. It begins by dividing everyone up into teams of five, one student from each house and a staff member, ghost for the few we have or even Peeves. Each team gets a list of targets, once their list has been eliminated, they receive a new list from the team that they eliminated, so on and so forth, once only one team remains it becomes everyone for themselves. The last man, or woman standing gets the crown and the title of Supreme High Prankster, so far Salazar is the only one to have ever won it. If circumstances ever arose that a seventh year were to win, then they'd get the crown for a year and would be invited back for the contest announcement."

"The sorting hat picks the teams, it is not my fault he always gives me the best one, who knows perhaps this will be the year I finally meet my defeat, I would not put it past Violet here to best me. Exams end today, tonight we announce the war has returned and the hat shall sort the teams, for your sake Violet, I hope that you are on mine, otherwise I make no promises that you shall survive until the end." Godric rolls his eyes at Salazar as he grabs his sword from me and heads back inside, it's almost time for dinner, I can't wait to see how this turns out, I hope that I end up with a good team though, otherwise I could end up flying solo very early on in this little prank war and I simply shall not allow for that to happen. As the niece of Chaos I cannot allow for myself to be easily defeated, it's my duty by birthright, and like I said Sal needs knocked down a peg or two.

Quietly I walk inside with Helga and Rowena, I take my seat at the head table they offered to me when I arrived, and look around with a frown as I realize that while the students, few ghosts, Peeves and the majority of the staff are present two founders are not. Rowena stands and calls for everyone's attention, the room going completely silent as all eyes and ears turn toward her. "Thank you, now I am happy to announce that we have had yet another successful year and the exams are over. However as is tradition, there is one last test to be had in these final days before we head home, besides packing, and so it is with great pleasure that I announce the return of the Hogwarts Prank Competition, to determine the Supreme High Prankster. Our previous and still undefeated champion and the other competition founder shall now bring in the crown and the sorting hat. The hat once sorted you into a house, he shall now sort you into a team of five for the competition, and may I say may Lady Magic be with you."

With those words the doors to the Great Hall open to reveal Godric and Salazar, both carrying a velvet pillow, one with the sorting hat and the other with a golden crown that has emeralds embedded in it. They both walk to the front of the room to face the gathered crowd of probably 160 students and a few staff members and ghost, and of course myself. "And now Salazar if you will; this crown is under many protection charms, it shall be impossible to move until it is time to crown a new Supreme High Prankster and the war's conclusion, and now, it is time to sort the teams!" With those words the crown is placed on a pedestal while Godric takes the sorting hat and walks to the table of his house to sort them into their teams, that's actually rather clever. Next he moves onto Hufflepuff, then Ravenclaw and lastly Slytherin. When the last Slytherin is sorted there are 32 teams of five, and only myself remaining, well I must say that isn't quite fair, Godric walks over to me, gives me a wink and places the hat on my head.

"A mind with many secrets, such a shame that you are not yet of sorting age, for now though I suppose we should remained focused for the task at hand. Yes I think it is a special team for you Heiress Death, Fawkes, I, the Squid and Lady Hogwarts shall be our final team, led by Violet." Sounds to me like I've got an interesting team Godric shrugs his shoulders leaving the hat on my head as he walks to his newly gathered team. "Every other team now has their target team; we shall be beginning with Salazar's team. It will be one of the hardest teams to get out; however, it will not be that easy for them to prank our own team either."

"We shall begin with the Hufflepuff, next the Gryffindor, the Ravenclaw, the Slytherin, and finally Salazar Slytherin himself. This will not be an easily accomplished task, Salazar has gone this long without being defeated for a good reason, and it wouldn't precisely be fair if you were to use those Heiress Death powers. No worries though, I have full confidence that victory can be accomplished, it is just a matter of patience, timing is key to everything after all. While we make plans for Salazar and his team, they should eliminate a great deal of the competition for us." Quietly along with the others I make my way down to the dungeons, past Salazar's office and to the two secret doors that only Salazar knows about, one leads to his room and the other, the room he has given me here in the dungeons. Giving my password, Slytherins have egos, because so far everyone I've met that's in the house of Snakes or that wishes to be seems to have an ego.

Once inside my room I smirk just a little at the silver and black of it all before taking a seat at the ivory desk in the corner. Honestly I don't understand why it's ivory but I'm just not going to bother with questioning it. I grab out a blank piece of parchment and a quill so that I may begin my plan for Salazar. "Lady Hogwarts has been pranked; Godric is the one after our team, we will have to tread carefully, you in particular all things considered."

"I do believe that I have just the prank in mind for our dearest Salazar Slytherin, one in which he shall not see coming. Should we be able to pull this off, I do believe that Hogwarts shall be seeing a new Supreme High Prankster for the first time since this competition first began. I wonder though how well this actually promotes inner house unity; then again being someone's teammate could make all the difference within the world. For now however it is getting late, tomorrow is Saturday and so I think that it's time for bed, we'll handle everything else tomorrow morning.


I wake to a shout coming from down the halls of the dungeons it would seem, I look towards the sorting hat questioningly, he looks at me and smiles somewhat when he sees that I've woken up. "Awake again I see, while you've slept the war has continued, we've lost the squid, the only teams remaining besides ourselves are Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Peeves. Rowena and Helga are down to just one teammate, Peeves is now flying solo, Gryffindor is down a Hufflepuff and a Gryffindor, and Salazar has lost his Hufflepuff it seems the squid got the girl before Godric got him. Right now Fawkes is flying over the school with a pile of basilisk dung with the intended target being Salazar's Gryffindor who had been foolish enough to call him a chicken."

I cast a quick tempus charm to see that it's time for lunch, not wishing to be on the wrong end of a prank I use my inherited powers to teleport myself directly outside the doors of the Great Hall, I walk in just in time to see Rowena and the remains of her team get covered in some green gunk. While at the same time Helga and what remains of her team seem to have their food replaced with human skeletons. "You have slept in late, it would seem though that the competition is dying down rather quickly, now all I need do is eliminate Peeves, and Godric's team then all that will remain is you." I scoff at his words, only, ha he makes it sound as though I'll be easy to take down, I smirk just a little when Fawkes flies over head and drops his prank on the poor Gryffindor student.

"It seems that we are now tied dear Salazar, and do not expect for yourself to emerge the victor of this fine endeavor." He just rolls his eyes and walks away not even slightly concerned, I roll my own eyes and watch with mild interest as he cast a quick and silent spell on Godric's remaining Ravenclaw, leaving him with himself and a member of Slytherin house. I turn my attention to the remaining members of Salazar's team, a member of Slytherin house and a member of Ravenclaw house besides himself. The Ravenclaw will be an easier target, I shall go after him first, then the Slytherin and last but not least Salazar himself. In the meantime hopefully I won't lose any of my own teammates and perhaps Salazar can take out Godric before he can further damage my team.


Unbelievable, how is this even fair, I've spent all day since lunch at least trying to eliminate team Salazar but so far I've only narrowed it down to Salazar himself, and I've lost the rest of my own team, at this point it is but myself, Salazar, Godric and Peeves. My target is Salazar, who's targeting Peeves who's targeting Godric, no that's not right, he's targeting Godric, but Godric is targeting me, so who's after Peeves? Better yet, who is Peeves after if the rest of us are all after each other? As I enter into the Great Hall I see Godric dangling upside down while Salazar laughs just a little, that means he's supposed to target me now, but that still leaves the question of the poltergeist and how it is he has no target and nobody targeting him. Salazar seems to have drawn the same conclusion as he suddenly turns his wand towards said poltergeist and manages to cast a stunning hex on him; Peeves still has a lot to learn, but from what I heard from Abraxas by the time I get to Hogwarts Peeves will be quite the expert at mischief and mayhem.

It is at this point that Salazar turns to me a slight smirk on his face, I return the smirk in kind. It's just him and me now, and he's going down, my prank I've been spending all day planning to pull on him is all set up and I just have to wait for him to fall victim.

"It is just you and I dear Violet, I am afraid that while your effort put in was valiant, there is no way in which you could possibly win against me." Have I ever mentioned that Salazar really needs to be knocked down a peg or two ego-wise, because honestly he really does. I just smirk as he backs up and trips over my trip wire, however I freeze when I feel the water balloons raining down on me, that conniving, little git, he's such a cheat, he can't get me with my own prank, he quickly stands back up from his position on the ground and looks at me smirking. "You put forth a good effort child, however in the end it just had not been good enough to defeat me, perhaps one day you will be able to win...however that day is not today."

"Hold it, I say that a judgment call needs to be made, after all you tripped and fell over Violet's tripwire, just as she was hit by the prank that she had set up for you, Helga, Rowena it is time for us to make a judgment call on this." Yes, this so means that I won, after all he tripped before I was hit by the balloons meaning my prank worked first and thusly I have won. Salazar just looks at me with narrowed eyes before glancing at our impromptu panel of three judges, the other founders of Hogwarts. I suppose he thinks that since he had reorganized my prank so it'd fall on me that it means he won, as if, there is no way they'd allow it. Even if only because they are all three tired of Salazar and his constant bragging when it comes to his title of Supreme High Prankster.

"It is okay to lose you know, after all you and I both know precisely what else it is that I am capable of, am I correct?" He just places a smirk on his face as his eyes light up with mischief, he glances once more at the judges, worry briefly flashing across his face. Looking around at the rest of the Great Hall shows students and teachers alike looking at the other three founders with anxious faces. Finally the three other founders pull away from each other and walk over towards the crown, Godric picks it up and begins to examine it carefully, with a nod of his head, he pulls out his wand and waves it over the crown, Salazar looks ready to have a heart attack when the round crown is transfigured into a tiara, I can't help but smirk a little at him, he just glares daggers.

As Godric walks over he puts a wide grin on his face, Helga and Rowena flank him on either side, a hint of mischief in each of their eyes. "After some thorough thought, we have decided that while Salazar tripped before Violet was hit by the balloons, in the end, there is no choice but to declare a tie, and so I give you Salazar Slytherin, and Violet, the Supreme High Pranksters of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." With those words he duplicates the tiara and hands the duplicate to Rowena, and transfigures the crown back into a crown handing it to Helga. He motions for us to kneel and the crowns are placed on both of our heads, he then motions for us both to stand up, I turn toward Slytherin a slight smirk on my face.

"You have done well young Violet, perhaps one of these days I shall take it upon myself to teach you the art of pranking, you are most excellent I admit, but I am afraid there are a few things that you utterly lack." He just can't let it go can he, then again this is Salazar Slytherin we're talking about, I'm surprised he hasn't thrown a larger fit by now but I must admit that I'm glad he hasn't.

"Is that your way of saying that you do not entirely hate me?" He just smirks, gives a slight nod of the head, winks and walks away going through the large doors of the Great Hall, I find myself smiling just a little. I may be Death's daughter, but if there is one thing that I have learned it's that Slytherins really do not care about that, they'll tread carefully when it comes to some things, but for the most part they treat me like they would any other nine year old, except I'm a lot smarter than most my age because when Death is your father, you have no choice but to have the very best and the most advanced of educations. I like the fact that Draco and Salazar are willing to tease me in a friendly manner, and Abraxas Malfoy had been the same exact way.


A.N. I have entered a writing contest on Inkitt, winner gets their book published, so if you want to check out one of my original works then check it out on you can find it through clicking writing contest, hiddengems, then latest, it's titled The Network authored by Kiercy Collins, if you like it please vote for it by clicking the heart icon.