Warnings: Dumbledore bashing, Weasley bashing save for Bill, Charlie and the twins, siding with Voldemort-fic
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me
Chapter Eleven: End of the First Year
Cedric coughed and hacked whilst being forced to his knees as he fought hard to try not to throw up, wondering just how Hilda can use the vampires' form of teleportation all the time without it affecting her like this. Just a short trip like this made him feel almost like he had just been sucked into a whirlpool of some sort and thrown through three typhoons.
"Hey, you alright?" asked Hilda, kneeling down by his side, and putting one hand on his shoulder with concern. "Sorry, I probably should have warned you about this. First time users riding on the teleportation technique of the vampires almost always felt sick. I felt the same way too the first time that I've tried using it."
"Where are we anyway?" asked Cedric, his coughing having subsided some, and he looked around him only to see that they seemed to be in the Forbidden Forest.
"The Forbidden Forest behind the school." Hilda answered, sitting back on her knees and glancing around her at this part of the forest that they were in which seemed like the tree branches were closing them in, and shutting them off from the rest of the forest. "This is the area that I usually go to when I need to help some of the half-humans in the school to allow them to transform in peace."
Cedric nodded slowly, not feeling all that surprised that there are half-humans in the school. He supposed that he should be, as British wizarding law stated that no half-humans are allowed to attend school. But then again, Albus Dumbledore had never followed the law anyway, though Cedric had a feeling that whatever half-humans there are in the school as students, the Headmaster probably didn't even know who they are if Hilda is involved.
"W-What is Ethan going to do with Quirrell and…You-Know—"
"Say the name, Cedric." Hilda interrupted. "It's just a name. Fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself. Furthermore, I don't think that the reasons Voldemort had for waging the war back then are the reasons that the Ministry had given us."
"R-Right," said Cedric before nervously clearing his throat. "So…what is Ethan going to do with Quirrell and V-Voldemort?"
"I don't know, but Ethan did say something about helping Voldemort," said Hilda with a frown. "I don't really understand why, but Ethan always is perceptive, and he always knew things that he shouldn't know. Jessica had told him something, I guess. She is the High Priestess of the vampire soothsayer clan – someone who can look into the future." Hilda explained, seeing Cedric's confused look. "But probably, Quirrell will probably die."
Cedric stared. "Why?"
Hilda sighed. "Did you see that Voldemort had borrowed Quirrell's body earlier?" she asked, and Cedric nodded. "That meant that he must have lost his own original body, therefore resorting to having to borrow other hosts just to survive. This is Black Magic of the highest order for the wizards, Cedric. I grew up in a vampire clan after all, living among vampires, and I am pretty well versed in Black and Blood Magic, alongside alchemy and several forbidden arts that the wizarding community either frowned upon or had banned. Ethan is a Master at Black and Blood Magic. He trained me in those arts after all. He has a way to create a new body for a mortal like Voldemort – a mere human. But to do so, Voldemort's spirit must separate from Quirrell. But if he did so, Quirrell will die."
Cedric froze.
Hilda sighed. "Well, personally, I think that he kind of deserves it too," she said harshly, and Cedric stared at her in confusion. "Sharing his soul and body with another entity… Not even the vampires will do something like that. I can sense emotions and souls, Cedric. Quirrell is merely greedy. Greedy for power. That's why he jumped at the chance to 'join' with Voldemort when offered the chance. That's how it is. You have to pay a price for power. Everyone knew that."
Cedric fell silent at that.
XXXXXX
The rest of the week passed by in a blur after that.
Draco wasn't pleased with Hilda when he had managed to wheedle it out of her the entire story regarding the Philosopher's Stone, and that she had actually gone after the Stone all by herself with Cedric. Hilda was rather relieved to be free from Draco's nagging after two hours, as the guy could even be worse than Hermione at times.
A lengthy letter from Ethan had came a week after the Philosopher's Stone fiasco as well, explaining everything that Ethan had known about the Stone, and what Jessica and Nicholas Flamel have both told him regarding the Stone as well as the Prophecy.
And that was all.
The vampire clans might never have believed in codling their children, unlike the wizarding community, but even the vampire clans understood that there are times when they would have to let their young enjoy their freedom and their childhood for a little longer before taking on the adult responsibilities once they're old enough.
Thus, Ethan never told Hilda anything beyond that, only that she'll soon know and understand everything once she comes back home for the summer, and that Sirius and Remus both have asked Ethan to send Hilda their love.
And from what Hilda and Draco have both heard from Severus, Dumbledore wasn't pleased when he had found out that the Stone is gone, and the man is still asking every single portrait and statue in the school if they have seen anyone suspicious in the school on that fateful night.
Hilda wanted to groan at that when she had heard that piece of information from Severus.
I mean, come on!
It is true that Dumbledore is the Headmaster of Hogwarts, but all the portraits and statues in the school, along with all the ghosts, are all duty-bound to serve Hogwarts itself first, with the Headmaster second. Not even Peeves, the school's resident poltergeist is exempted from that rule.
And if Hogwarts is protecting Ethan and the current whereabouts of the Stone, and the events that had just transpired down the trapdoor, then Dumbledore would never find out about Ethan, not even if he had turned the entire school upside-down.
XXXXXX
"I see," said Nicholas Flamel with a sigh after Ethan had travelled through two mountains and one ravine just to get to the famous alchemist's house after having teleported as near as he could to Nicholas' current location. Not even a vampire could bypass the wards that Nicholas had put up around his house for nearly fifty miles in every single direction to discourage any pursuers seeking the Stone, as Nicholas had used Blood and Rune Magic to put up those wards.
"I've given it to Jessica, and she said that she'll take care of the Stone," said Ethan solemnly, eyeing his old friend who suddenly seemed to have aged fifty years. It is true that Nicholas Flamel is over six hundred years ago at this point in time, but you get what I mean. "She's one of those that I'll trust with my life, so you can trust her. She's the High Priestess of the Falsoss clan, and she's pretty much a mistress in Black Magic, so she'll be able to do something about the Stone."
The two are currently seated at the table in Nicholas Flamel's sitting room where only an oil lamp is the only light available. Nicholas' wife is currently asleep in their bedroom, and now that Ethan thinks about it, the couple seemed to have been sleeping a lot lately ever since Nicholas had given his precious Philosopher's Stone away to that old goat otherwise known as Albus Dumbledore.
"Thank you, Ethan," said Nicholas gratefully. "You've delivered what you've promised. Now, I can rest easy, knowing that no one would ever get their hands on the Stone again." He sighed. "I should never have made the Stone."
"It wasn't your fault," said Ethan comfortingly. "You were young then. And all young people are stupid and foolish in a way. So were you at that time."
"It has been so long…" Nicholas muttered, curling his fingers together on the tabletop. "Too long… After over six hundred years, I can finally rest now."
"Nick…"
Nicholas then sighed before taking a dark red leather covered thick tome from out of nowhere before handing it to a bewildered looking Ethan. "Take that and give it to Hilda," he said simply. "In that was written all the results of my life work, and all my research, along with Penny's. I owe Hilda for retrieving the Stone for me. And even if she didn't, I would have given that to her anyway. Most of what I knew about alchemy and Blood Magic is written in there. If it's someone like her, she wouldn't use the contents of the book for evil."
Ethan smiled and nodded. "Alright. I'll give it to her," he said. "But I've been wondering for some time now, Nick." He frowned slightly. "Just who told you how to create the Philosopher's Stone? I know that I wasn't even born at that time when you've created the Stone, but even I know enough that the Philosopher's Stone is also considered a legend even back then. Just how did you get the recipe to create it?"
"Oh. That." Nicholas muttered. "Someone gave me the recipe for it when I was researching on the Elixir of Life when I was a young man."
"Who?" asked Ethan with a frown. Even the vampires of that era had no idea how to create the legendary Elixir of Life, and they are the ones with the longest life-spans in the world, being one of the Immortals, alongside the elves and faeries.
"Thinking back on it, that man seems to be a vampire as well," said Nicholas with a frown. "He seems to be a pretty young one, as the vampire aura that all vampires had – even Hilda, wasn't as strong with him. He gave me the recipe and asked for nothing in return."
Ethan frowned. "What's his name?" he asked sharply.
"Orlando."
Ethan's eyes widened a slight fraction in horror.
XXXXXX
Can you spell 'tense' here?
Moments ticked by as Ethan and Voldemort, now in spirit form again after leaving Quirrell's body, stared at each other in the woods just behind Knockturn Alley, with neither one of the two speaking a single word after Ethan had told Voldemort everything about the fake prophecy that Jessica and Nicholas have both told him about, and also about Hilda's true identity after that.
Voldemort finally sighed. "Great, I've been a fool," he muttered. "And what do you want me to do? Without a body, even I can't do much. And I know the abilities and powers of the vampires well enough to know that there are a few of you who can kill me even when I'm in spirit form."
Ethan sighed at that statement, his mind working furiously. He had talked over his plan regarding Voldemort with Sirius and Remus, as well as his father and brother when he had made a side-trip back to the Dark Forest from visiting Nicholas for the last time. All four weren't exactly that thrilled with his plan, especially the former two, but they all agreed that an additional ally against Dumbledore isn't necessarily a bad thing.
"If I give you a body, will you swear that you won't hurt Hilda?" Ethan asked blandly, and Voldemort can only stare at him. "I could care less if you kill Dumbledore, but I just want your word that you won't hurt Hilda."
Ethan stared straight at Voldemort unblinkingly with those crimson orbs of his as he said that, even making the Dark Lord nervous. Ethan knew that a wizard's word and vow is extremely important to them, and they can't break it, hence the reason why Ethan had insisted that Voldemort swear that he wouldn't hurt Hilda.
"I'm a man of my word, Mr Nightwing—"
"Ethan will be fine." Ethan interrupted. "I don't like your wizard customs."
"Fine. Ethan then," said Voldemort. "Like I was saying, since the prophecy is fake, and she poses no threat to me, I had no intention to harm her, though it isn't like it will succeed anyway even if I tried. I know how vampires are, especially when it comes to protecting their young. And if you help me out, I will give you my word that neither I nor my subordinates will harm you or your family, not that we can do it anyway." Voldemort sighed. "I recognise that crest that you're wearing." He pointed out the silver chain hanging around Ethan's neck which had a pendant in the shape of a square with two feather-like symbols sticking from the back of it. "That's the crest of the ruling vampire clan of the east – the Nightwing clan. You're the son of High Lord Elton, aren't you?"
"You knew my father?"
"Not personally." Voldemort corrected. "I've heard about him during the war when some of the vampires got involved in our dispute when the Ministry ordered their Aurors to hunt down the 'dark creatures', regardless even if they were supporting me, something that I find stupid. I didn't like the idea that they're staying neutral in the war back then, but I was young and stupid then. But still, I can't force them to do something that they can't, and I respected their wishes. The least that the stupid Ministry can do after having practically created several laws that had all but ousted them from the wizarding world is to at least leave them in peace." He sighed. "High Lord Elton is rather famous among the Midnight Society and even my own band of followers. He's the only vampire in existence to cause Dumbledore to run almost like a pack of Dementors are after him during the last war."
"Yeah, I've heard of that from my brother." Ethan sighed. "Our kind has never been all that fond of the Light as we were hunted down by them for far too long, and neither is Hilda for that matter. She grew up with the vampires, and knew our ways better than anyone else. Technically, she is one of us, as she has the blood of the Nightwing clan flowing through her veins. Once she reaches the age of sixteen, the age of adulthood for the vampires, Hilda is going to have to make a choice: she has to choose whether to live the life of a vampire or a human. That's the choice that all part vampires and even humans who were blood adopted by vampires have to make. Hilda is no exception."
"And what do you think that she will choose?" Voldemort asked carefully. This is actually the first that he had actually heard of a vampire clan blood adopting a human, especially a member of the wizarding community.
"Personally? I think that Hilda will choose the path of the night," said Ethan with a sigh. "It is true that I would wish for her to choose us as well, and I know that my father, brother and Jessica wishes for the same thing, but even they didn't want to force her to choose between them and the life that she ought to have led. But I seriously think that Hilda will choose the path of the night. She is never a fan of the Light after Dumbledore had ordered Eve killed several years ago."
"Eve?"
"My cousin. And Hilda's first friend." Ethan answered. "Eve is also the princess of the ruling vampire clan of the north. You can imagine that Hilda didn't take Eve's death too well. Before, she is rather neutral towards the Light, but after that, she started to develop an intense dislike for them. This is another reason why she had never tolerated Dumbledore's spies entering our bar, and took pleasure in throwing them out. Head first."
Voldemort snorted. "That old man is going senile," he decided. "He's lost his precious 'weapon' when he ordered a vampire princess killed. What goes around comes around indeed." He then looked at Ethan. "And how do you plan on giving me a body? I've never heard of anything like that before."
"You wouldn't, since it's an ancient ritual of the highest order that only the ruling vampire clans knew," said Ethan. "The ritual is a mix of ancient Blood Magic, Rune Magic and Black Magic. It's an ancient ritual that the vampires actually used in order to bring back one of our own if they ever lost their body." He then sighed. "I won't lie to you. It's going to be very painful to go through the ritual. Probably even more than what you've ever experienced before in your entire life. It'll bring back your entire soul bit by bit, fragment by fragment, before a body is created."
"My soul…is split."
"I see," said Ethan with a sigh. "I thought so. The darkest form of immortality for you wizards, isn't it? Horcuxes, right? I suspected it a little just after the war, as even though technically, you've died, your soul is still intact. Just how many did you make? The higher the number, the more pain that is involved."
"Seven."
"Seven?" Ethan echoed in bewilderment. He then shook his head. "Dear Lilith…you sure don't do things halfway, do you? Seven is the magic number, and it practically ensured that you'll be immortal for life, no matter what is done to you. Or at least, as immortal as you wizards would like to believe. And because you've split your soul seven times, the pain when your soul joins together into your new body will be unbearable. This ritual will fix the damage done to your soul as well. You won't be able to create any more Horcuxes without actually killing yourself in the future."
"I understand," said Voldemort with a nod.
Ethan sighed. "I'll have to enlist Jessica's help for this as she is the one who is the master in rituals like this, not me," he stated. "You'll probably be walking among the living again once Hilda returns home for the summer holidays."
XXXXXX
The exam results that were given to every Hogwarts' student two days before they're due back home for the summer holidays had pleased Hilda greatly when she had received hers. She had topped all classes, and much to her surprise, she had actually become top student for the first year.
Much to Hilda's surprise, Hermione wasn't jealous at all. In fact, the bushy haired girl had actually laughed and had said something about having a feeling that the results will be this way, since she had been the one always asking Hilda hundred questions during exam week, along with every other.
Hilda had topped DADA, Potions, Charms and Astronomy, since the former three lessons are the ones that Ethan and Severus have both covered the most for her and Draco when they were both little, and Astronomy is a natural thing for her as vampire culture often covered the reading of the stars. History, Transfiguration and Herbology, she had tied with Hermione. Jasper and Cedric have done extremely well for their examinations, even beating some of the Ravenclaws in examinations which had pleased them both. Draco, Blaise and Neville have passed all their subjects, with Neville having topped Herbology which is easily his best subject, with Potions being his worst, with the boy being a walking bundle of nerves during their Potions' examination.
And there is something about Neville that Hilda had missed as well, as Professor Flitwick had called her into his office when she'd received her examination results, with the tiny professor congratulating her for having come in as top student, having the highest scores that a student can reach in all of Hogwarts' history.
Apparently, Blaise and Draco were both extremely tired of having to see Neville walk on eggshells around Gryffindor House, particularly around the Weasel and his lapdogs, and even Jasper and Cedric weren't pleased with his treatment in Gryffindor House. The Hufflepuff first years weren't pleased either, as they are a loyal bunch, and there has been more than once when Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernic Macillian have actually all but pushed Neville into their dormitory for him to spend the night just so that he wouldn't have to return to his own dormitory, especially after the two have heard the full story from Hilda who also happened to be a good friend of theirs after having assisted them, along with most of the Hufflepuff first years in their studies during examination week.
It actually came to such a point that Neville had hardly ever slept in his dormitory in Gryffindor House, as he actually spend the nights in either the dormitories of Hufflepuff or Slytherin. The individual Heads of Houses have no problems with it as long as Professor McGonagall agrees which she does, seeing as how she is well aware of the bullying problem, but could do nothing about it. Neville's grandmother wasn't all that pleased either when she had heard the full story from Neville during the holidays, but as she wasn't all that fond of the Weasley family herself, she can do nothing as well.
Hilda actually had to ask the Weasley twins to sneak all of Neville's things out of his dormitory and into the Hufflepuff Tower for safekeeping, especially after the books destroying incident, something which Fred and George were more than happy to do.
And as such, because of all the bullying, Blaise, Draco and Hermione have all but dragged Neville to Professor McGonagall's office to have him resorted because of some dumb school rule that only allows a student to be resorted at the end of the school year. The usually stern witch seemed to be waiting for them, and had promptly placed the Sorting Hat on Neville's head after Draco had all but sat a protesting Neville in front of her. It didn't take the Sorting Hat longer than five minutes before it had shouted out "HUFFLEPUFF!", and that ends the matter.
Hilda was still laughing about the way that Draco, Blaise and Hermione have managed to get Neville resorted on the train ride home, much to the once shy boy's embarrassment.
"At least you don't have to worry about having your stuff destroyed by Weasley and his sidekicks next year, Neville," said Hilda once she had managed to stop laughing long enough to get her words out.
"Yeah, I guess," said Neville with a smile. "Gran will be happy about this…I hope. My mother was in Hufflepuff when she was in school." He muttered.
Hilda said nothing about that as she knew the story about Neville's parents and decided to change the topic before someone asks Neville about his parents, something that she is fairly sure that Neville wouldn't want to discuss.
"Before I forget, Cedric, Ethan has a proposition for you," said Hilda, turning towards the older boy who currently had his face hidden behind some book.
"Huh?" Cedric blinked in confusion from his seat in between Neville and Jasper, with Blaise seated beside Jasper, and with Hilda, Hermione and Draco sitting opposite them.
"Ethan asked me to talk to you about this in his last letter." Hilda explained. "If Mr and Mrs Diggory agree, then Ethan would like to offer you a part-time job at Starlight's Hall. You were a great help to us during that time when Ethan was taken ill, and we were always shorthanded there anyway, even with Remus and Sirius' help. What do you think? The pay isn't exactly that great either, but we'll really appreciate your help there. Draco often pops by to help us out as well, so you needn't worry about not knowing anything. You'll soon learn."
"W-Well…" Cedric stammered, seeing every single pair of eyes in the carriage on him. "I can talk to my parents about this. If they don't mind, which I'm fairly sure that they wouldn't, then I'll probably accept Ethan's proposition."
The train pulled in at King's Cross Station just then, and Hilda grinned as all of them stood up to get their stuff. "Great! I'll talk to Ethan about this," she said before reaching for her trunk, only to have Cedric taking it down from the rack for her. "I'll see you guys this summer?"
"Naturally," said Hermione with a nod. "I'll come and visit you often, now that I know my way around Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. I'll come with Jasper and Blaise or something, so that you wouldn't need to rescue me again, Hilda." She joked, talking about the time when she had first met Hilda, and the dark haired girl smiled.
"Yeah, I guess," she said.
"We should get going," said Jasper with a smile. "Our families are probably tired of waiting for us."
Ethan and Sirius were both present at the platform – both who were talking with Cedric's parents, alongside Lucius and Narcissa. Hilda, Draco and Cedric waved goodbye to their friends before heading towards where their respective parents and guardians were, with Hermione, Blaise and Jasper promising to write to each other during the summer, and to meet up to buy their school supplies the next year, even that they'll come to Starlight's Hall often during the holidays.
"Hilda, welcome home!" said Sirius before he swung Hilda up into the air, since the girl is still small enough for Sirius to carry, though she had already grown several inches during the past year, and had even gained a little weight. "And you've grown a little heavier."
"I did not!" Hilda protested, and Ethan laughed, with the Diggory and Malfoy families watching this scene with amusement.
"What, no hug for me?" asked Ethan in mock disappointment, and Hilda laughed before hugging Ethan loosely around the waist. "Welcome home, Hilda. Jessica and Remus both miss you. And so did all the house elves. And most, if not all of our customers too, I'm sure." Ethan smiled down at her. "Let's go home."