Chapter Twelve: The Ghost
Asphodel closed the circle after she had tied up Rose and placed her in the center. "Victorie, would you do the honors?" she asked. Victorie nodded robotically and raised her wand.
"Victorie! No! Please! It's me, Rose! You don't want to do this!" Rose screamed.
"I have no love for you. Do you really think I ever could?" Victorie chuckled evilly. "SECTUMSEPRA!" A blast of light slashed Rose's chest and red blood stained the white marble. She cried out in pain as she collapsed.
Suddenly the floor began to rumble. All the Heads began to chant in another language while Rose whimpered in pain. A regal ghost drifted down from the ceiling. But instead of being pearly white she was a dark stormy purple. She wore a revealing gown made of furs and tiara of thorns. Her eyes were tilted up like a cat and an evil smile filled her face. Black blood stained her chest and arms but it only served to make her look even more beautiful.
"Free at last!" she gasped as she stretched her limbs. "Oh, thank you Asphodel. You shall be rewarded well." Asphodel looked up from her low bow that mirrored everyone else.
"Thank you mistress," she whispered in awe.
"Barks! Wicker! Macmillan! You three failed me. For that you will be punished!" she screeched. The three boys trembled in fear and shakily nodded in agreement. Asphodel smirked. "And I see that we have a guest with us!" The ghost flew down to Rose, too close for comfort. Her transparent hand stroked her face filling her blood with ice.
"The Daughter of Wisdom. I thought her blood would make a lovely welcoming gift," Asphodel said happily. The ghost nodded.
"Yes. Although her blood might have appealed to you because of her ease of access, am I wrong?"
"Mistress, I only sought to please you."
"Then you would have gotten me the blood of the Snake! Tell me, is it a son or daughter?"
"A daughter. And she is dreadful," Drexel responded.
"Is that why you failed to retrieve her?" the ghost asked threateningly. Drexel lowered his eyes in shame.
"Who…Who are you?" Rose gasped out as her blood continued to leak onto the floor. Black was at the edge of her vision. She was terrified but desperately curious. The ghost turned from her followers and looked at Rose. It was like being thrown off a cliff, her fear was that intense.
"I am Albany Alphenberg, the fifth founder of Hogwarts who was never mentioned. I was cut off because they thought I had 'Dark' ideas," she responded bitterly. "Salazar and I were courting. While we were, I had the idea to become more selective of students. To keep it in the pure families like myself. The others disagreed with me, as Helga was a Mudblood and Rowena was a half blood. Salazar betrayed me and sent me away, refusing to fight with his dear friend, Godric. So I hatched a plan.
"I was a powerful witch, more powerful than any of them. I corrupted Salazar's dreams and forced him to do my bidding. If there is one thing I pride myself on, it is my ability to corrupt dreams. He was now the one who wanted to purify the school. And, just as I was, Salazar was thrown out. However, they kept his house because Godric never stopped loving his old friend. My house, Alphenberg, was dismantled and my students were resorted. Salazar later hunted me down and killed me with his own spear for making him to do such horrible things."
"But…Why do you look like that? Ghosts are white," Rose whispered, stunned. This couldn't be true. It must be a hallucination from all the blood loss.
"Because Salazar trapped my spirit in this tower as I was floating away towards Death. I've been trapped here for so many years I've lost count, watching the world. Especially you, my dear. You and your little friends," Albany explained angrily.
"Why…Why me?"
"Do you really not know? Your Mother never told you?"
"Told me what?"
"Ah, well this is interesting! I need you because you are the Daughter of Wisdom. The Descendent of Rowena Ravenclaw!"
"No…No, that's impossible."
"Is it really? Did you ever wonder why your Mother was so smart and talented?" Rose fearfully shook her head. "It is because through your Mother's veins runs the ancient blood of Ravenclaw!"
"No…No, that can't be!" Rose cried. The room was beginning to spin.
"Why?" Albany simpered. "Because you refuse to accept it? Enough talk! Macmillan! Kennicot! Do your job!" Rune and Zoe stepped forward. Zoe reached into her robes and pulled out a small stone with a curious symbol engraved upon it.
"That's the Resurrection Stone!" Rose gasped.
"Yes, it is," Rune confirmed, smirking evilly.
"We searched many nights for it in the Forbidden Forest. But it didn't take long. After all, Hufflepuffs are amazing finders," Zoe informed Rose who was now crawling backwards.
"But it doesn't work!" Rose cried as she bumped into Asphodel's legs.
"It never worked because no one knew how to use it," Asphodel said smirking.
"As I was floating to this tower, Death told me something. He felt cheated since I was dead and now belonged to him. So he told me about a mystical stone that could awaken the dead. But you needed to give another life to death before you came back. So, you should feel honored, Rose Weasley. You are going to give your life so that I may rise. An honor, truly an honor!" Albany explained. She then nodded at Victorie who approached, wand raised. Rose attempted to escape but she was stuck inside a circle of purple robed wizards and witches who were determined to see her killed. Then, suddenly, three voices pierced the silent air.
"PERTRIFICUS TOTALUS!" they yelled. Arthur, Drexel, and Zoe fell forward, as ridged as boards. Everyone else spun to look at the empty doorway, now filled. Hope stood in the middle with Al and SS flanking her. All of them had their wands drawn and their eyes filled with fury. They all looked at her and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of her alive. Then they say Albany.
"I thought you told me it was impossible for them to interfere!" she screeched at Nimue who backed away quickly.
"I thought it was. We casted charms on the doors to the common rooms. We didn't think they could break them," she squeaked out in fear.
"Well they obviously could!" Albany roared and turned to the intruders. "Kill them!" Her followers needed no other promptings as they advanced like wolves, menacing and evil, wands raised. Al was failing to hide his fear. Hope stood tall but her shaking hands gave her away. SS, however, looked itching for a fight.
"Which. One. Of. You. Hurt. Her?" he forced out despite his locked jaw.
"What's the matter Malfoy? Thought you hated her?" Victorie mocked. Al gaped at his cousin but couldn't for long. More enemies were approaching.
"You," SS growled.
"Would you like me to give you a matching cut?" she asked innocently. Rose suddenly cried out in her half comatose state.
"Hope! Al! SS! Help!" she screamed. Her blood continued to poor from her wounds. SS's face suddenly turned into a mask of fury and he charged. After the fight he couldn't remember how it happened. All he knew was that he stabbed his wand like a sword at any purple figure. When he heard Al cry out he was at his side. When he saw that Hope was in danger he rushed to assist. The three of them cast curses that no one had ever seen. They were just as shocked as the others.
Soon, all of Albany's followers were lying on the ground. Some unconscious, others dead. SS ran to Rose, his knees giving out as he reached her. With all the gentleness he had in him he held her in his arms. Al and Hope crouched next to him, each placing a hand on her. Rose was covered in blood, her cheeks pale and lips blue. Small whimpers told them she was alive, but only just. They had completely forgotten the ghost of Albany until she spoke.
"What a pity. You came all this way and fought so wonderfully but you failed to save the girl you all despise," she laughed, sitting on a rafter in the ceiling. Hope turned and glared at her.
"What did you do to Rose? What do you want?" she demanded, furious.
"Your head on a silver platter," she hissed at Hope. Al turned and gazed up as well, his eyes swimming in tears.
"Why? Why did you do this? She was an innocent person!" Al yelled in grief. Albany chuckled.
"Because she had a purpose. And, as her heart beat slows mine begins. I need her life. And as soon as I have that I will take each of yours before the sun rises," Albany laughed madly.
SS finally looked up from Rose's bloody body and glared at Albany's purple form. He rose onto his feet and raised his wand in the air. A red ball of light began to form on the tip. Hope and Al raised their wands as well. A green ball topped Hope's and a yellow topped Al's. Then they suddenly jerked their wand down and pointed them straight at Rose's heart. The balls flew off and hit her chest.
A blue light began to shine from her heart and the blood was disappearing. Rose's wound healed and her eyes flashed open. Slowly, she stood, tightly gripping her wand. Then she raised her golden gaze and stared at Albany.
"You will never have my life," she said simply and raised her wand. Albany merely cackled. Asphodel suddenly stood and pointed her wand at the ceiling.
"BOMBARDA MAXIMA!" she yelled. The ceiling exploded and the four ducked down, Al and SS covering the girls. Then Asphodel jumped into the air and flew away on a plume of purple smoke, the ghost of Albany beside her. Hope swore as she watched them leave. SS and Rose were looking at each other. Tears were falling from her eyes as she looked at the other three.
"I'm so sorry!" she gasped. "I just…I didn't want to accept who I was! I was so afraid of not following my plan that I destroyed the chance I had for an even better life! I'm so sorry!" Hope, Al, and SS smiled and wrapped their arms around her. And as the rising sun bathed them in a golden glow they finally all became best friends.