Chapter 11 - Christmas

Scorpius had done it; he had gotten into the Elite. While he was still in the infirmary, Stainless, also a Slytherin Prefect, had come to him to tell him he was in. Told Scorpius he was now Torch; Scorpius didn't find that too amusing. Weeks of humiliation and poor insults finally paid off and yet Scorpius felt unsatisfied. He hadn't said a word to Alex on that day, just glared at him in the hall. Maybe that was enough to push him off the edge, Scorpius tried to tell himself, but that didn't seem to be the answer. Scorpius was still having a hard time remembering exactly what happened; Madame Pomfrey said that was normal. He remembered seeing Alex, then a smile, then a bright orange flash before being pushed through the air. Next thing Scorpius remembered was waking up in the infirmary.

Madame Pomfrey assured him his memory would come back in time so Scorpius tried not to let it bother him. Scorpius' parents even came to see him once they read what had happened in the Daily Prophet. His dad had a loud conversation with Professor Weasley who had become headmistress the day of the attack. It was difficult but Scorpius had managed to convince his parents to let him stay at Hogwarts over the holidays. Now that Scorpius was an Elite he was privy to the knowledge of the entire group. Mediocre was the only other member staying for the holidays so he was in charge of showing Scorpius all the secret passages in the school the group knew about.

"So are you actually a half-giant like everyone says you are?" Mediocre just glared at him. Scorpius was quickly finding out that Mediocre didn't talk a lot. He silently led Scorpius along an enclosed narrow stone path. This secret passage started just outside the Slytherin common room, behind a suit of armor; Mediocre had to crouch to enter and walk through it. Scorpius didn't know where it led but didn't bother asking, knowing there would be no response. The passage opened up, allowing Mediocre to stand. When Scorpius got to him he realised they were at the end of the path staring at a solid stone wall.

"Umm…what now?" Scorpius looked up at the large boy. Mediocre glanced down at him then took out his wand.

"Pay attention" Mediocre spoke in a deep voice. He pointed his wand at the stone wall and said, "I promise to be as cunning as thee"

The stone wall split in half and began to slide apart. Once fully open, Mediocre walked through and Scorpius followed him. The room it led to was quite long; as long as a table from the Great Hall Scorpius guessed. The ceiling domed and allowed plenty of room for Mediocre. In front of them was a desk facing the length of the room. Behind it was a leather cushioned arm chair and above it a painting of an old bald man with a short pointy grey beard.

"Is that Salazar Slytherin?" Scorpius recognised the portrait to be the same one as in the Grand Staircase. Mediocre answer him with a grunt which Scorpius took to mean yes. The length of the room only extended to Scorpius' left as he entered. Its walls were lined with bookshelves although they were sparse with books. In between the bookshelves were tables and chairs. It reminded Scorpius of a library only smaller and decorated by a Slytherin.

"We call it the Slytherin Sanctuary. We only allow members of the Elite in here" Mediocre explained. Scorpius thought he heard a hint of a Scottish accent but he couldn't tell. There were paintings of students on the wall; Scorpius only recognised four of them. Before he had time to ask Mediocre was already answering his question.

"Former members of the Elite" He pointed to one of a gaunt faced, blue eyed boy with light brown hair in a short ponytail "The founder, Geoffrey Heston" Under his portrait, engraved in the silver frame, it read Argent.

"Professor Heston?" Mediocre nodded, "He looks so different" Scorpius knew Heston to have black hair; he never paid attention to his eye color. The boy in the portrait suddenly changed; his hair grew long and blonde. He stuck his tongue out at Scorpius.

"He's a Metamorphmagus" Scorpius looked back at Mediocre and made his confusion know through his expression "A mage who can change his appearance at will"

"Blimey…" Scorpius said quietly and turned back to the portrait. Professor Heston's younger self now had Slytherin silver hair and green eyes; he was laughing cheerfully.

"So is everyone in the Elite some sort of special wizard?" Scorpius asked.

"Members don't have to be anything like a Metamorphmagus. Argent was the only one. Most members simply excel at Quidditch or academia or have an excellent social standing. Some are Animagi or half-breeds, like me"

"So you are half-giant!" Scorpius said a little so excitedly, earning him a grim stare from Mediocre. Scorpius feigned clearing his throat and walked down the length of the room until he came across a blank portrait. Engraved at the bottom of the silver portrait was Torch.

"So…why was I accepted?" Scorpius asked only now realizing he wasn't any of the things Mediocre had listed off.

"People who have done unlikely things are accepted as well. In 2005 we accepted a member for keeping Peeves in a jar for a term. You were engulfed in the dragon boy's flame and lived"

"But so was Flint…"

"Flint did it for family reasons – but that is what gave the idea to Jackal"

"So whoever got Alex to burn them first would have been accepted?" Mediocre nodded and Scorpius continued to stare at the blank portrait "That doesn't sound very…Elite?"

Mediocre cracked a small smile, "That's what I said. But the boss disagrees. Says it takes a certain kind of determination to get burned on command. Says your scars make you even more unique." Mediocre's smile faded as quickly as it came.

Scorpius pulled at the bandages on his neck revealing the scar tissue. The way it twisted among his undamaged skin reminded Scorpius of the flame that left it. Scorpius had that unsatisfied feeling again but pushed it to the back of his mind. He had got what he wanted, that's all that mattered.

"Now what?" Mediocre shrugged, "...Want to play chess?"

"…sure"

Alex had been held prisoner in his new room ever since classes ended for the holidays. Professor Weasley had come in, before leaving for the holidays, to thank him for cooperating and to ask him to have patience. Alex's patience started to wear thin after he finished all his homework and read through The Standard Book of Spells and The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection in an attempt to find a controlling spell. The Auror guards stood outside the room and there was no way of getting past them, short of attacking them and Alex didn't need anymore of that kind of attention. Alex had lost hope about finding information from Scorpius, until Christmas morning.

Kevin was one of the Aurors guarding Alex's room. Alex recognised the young Auror from his first day at Hogwarts. It was Kevin who brought him just what he needed.

"A gift?" Alex held the poorly wrapped box in his hands. Kevin had just come in to give it to him.

"An owl dropped it by just now. It's from the Potters. I know you're not supposed to communicate with anyone but I thought it might lift your spirits" Kevin said with a smile. Alex stared at him, waiting for him to leave, but he just stood there smiling.

"Umm…"

"Go ahead open it"

"Mind if I open it by myself?"

"Sorry but I've got to check what's inside" Kevin's smile faded slightly as he gently waved his finger in the air.

"It's from your boss. How can it possibly be something harmful?" Alex asked with a raised eyebrow. Kevin put a finger to his chin and thought for a moment.

"Hmm…good point. Well, enjoy it, whatever it is" Kevin waved and walked out the door. Alex heard him lock it from the outside. He took the gift and placed it on the bed, taking off the note attached to the top. From the Potters, it read. Alex smiled sadly. It was nice that they thought of him but it only reminded him he was a prisoner. Alex unwrapped it, revealing a shiny silvery cloth with a second note on top of it. Alex picked up the second note.

Rawhide,
This is my father's invisibility cloak. Managed to find and snatch it after a few days of searching. This should help with sneaking out to talk to Torch. Just be careful with it. My dad's had it for years so it might not be as effective. There's also some biscuits my grand mum made.

Greybeard

Alex's feeling of sadness flew out the window (not that there was a window in this room) as he finished reading the note. He picked up the silvery cloth and threw it over his shoulders. Upon looking down he noticed he couldn't see his feet at all. The cloak's condition seemed to be perfect to Alex. Even with the cloak Alex still needed to somehow get past the locked door. Alex slowly munched on some delicious chocolate biscuits on his bed, while thinking of a plan.

A/N: Edited and cleaned 26/10/2011. Details on my profile.