The Medieval Relics

Chapter 24: Slytherin's Chamber

Albus was barely awake so he was not sure if what he heard was a dream or not. All he knew was that two voices were talking very calmly, and he knew neither of those voices were possessing calm tones lately. Albus shut his eyes again, grateful the hangings were around so he could continue trying to sleep. He yawned and checked the time quickly, shocked to see it was only eight in the morning. He only had five hours of sleep. He returned to bed, eyes shut, sleep drifting over him again but either he dreamed about remaining in bed or his sleep was very light. Albus was woken up easily every time someone's voice raised even slightly.

Albus remained in bed, listening, still not sure if he was dreaming.

"Thing is… would he want you to act like this?" Scorpius' voice was saying. "I mean- he was your friend. The way you talk about him, he was your brother."

"Well, better brother than Al, lately," Mark's voice said. It sounded raspy again. Perhaps Albus was dreaming. Mark's voice had not been raspy for a long while. His subconscious was just connecting Scorpius and an old voice of Mark together. He kept his head on the pillow, willing the dream to change but the same one kept going.

"Al isn't so bad," Scorpius said shortly. "What would your father have asked about Al?"

"Father is dead," Mark's voice said lowly. "And so is Mother, and Walter and Molly, I almost lost Hugo and Lily last year, my brother is dead, or at least the brother I used to know."

"I dunno, Mark," Scorpius said casually. "If Al killed someone just to save his family, I'd say that means he's still there. Not much of a brother to let his sister die, let alone his brother, is he? Don't you think you're being a tad irrational?"

Albus blinked. He wasn't dreaming. Mark was there. It was early morning and he was there, just like he promised. Phoenix had actually given him the bed, then? That was quick. Scorpius laughed, "Mark, I'm already laughing at you. Lucky it's on the inside."

"Al betrayed me in a way nobody else can," Mark said quietly. He seemed to have given up talking loudly because he kept his voice quiet.

"Yeah, I agree," Scorpius sighed. "He should've just let his cousin and sister die."

"Shut it," Mark said quietly. "You know, Scorps, every curse has a counter curse. That's what Professor Macmillan always taught us. Where he tried the Imperius curse, he could've just modified the Goblin's memory. Disrupt their leadership easy. Where he used the Cruciatus curse, he could've done the full body-bind, where he did the Killing curse, it could've been a Stunning spell."

"Unless Ridge blocks the stunning spell," Scorpius offered. "And kills you or the other two after. Then what? Besides, Ridge was dead either way. His minutes were numbered. Grandfather was on his way to do it himself. Heck, I was even considering it. Then you'd have hated me instead. And Al by extension just because he's my friend."

"No," Mark said more loudly, rasp present again. He cleared his throat. "I don't blame you for your parents or grandparents. I'm not that kind of guy."

"Well, you did a bang up impression of it," Scorpius said and he sounded bitter. "Let's face it, Mark, the only reason you're so militant against the Dark Arts is because my Manor reminded you of everything. Why not blame me? Why Al? I, on the other hand, am perfectly willing to have that room remodeled when I take over. I mean"-

Before Scorpius could finish, Albus heard the door opening. He was laying on his back now, paying attention fully. "Is Al awake?"

"Get out," Mark coughed.

"That's nice," Seth's voice quipped. "Malfoy?"

"He's asleep, what do you need with him?" Scorpius asked shortly.

"If he didn't tell you, I won't," Seth said back. "Tell him I'm waiting in the Common room."

"Do you always do this?" Mark asked him quietly. "Come in and wake up other people like that? Isn't Al your friend?"

"Depends on your definition of friend," Seth said simply. "I just need him for one last thing before we go our separate ways, actually and it has something to do with the Medieval Relics since we're all Hogwarts Guard anyway." Silence. Nobody said anything but Albus did not hear the door closed to signal Seth leaving. Albus just got out of bed, preparing to open the hangings. "By the way, Wallader."

"What?"

"Welcome to Slytherin house," Seth's voice said in what sounded like a cheery voice. "I actually half thought you'd go back on your word."

"I almost did before Aries talked me into it," Mark rasped, clearing his throat again. "It's only temporary anyway."

Things were silent again. Albus could almost sense Seth's smirk, "Well, looks like Kimble has some wisdom in her after all. Pity we can't say the same for you. You're really dishonest."

"Seth, shut it," Scorpius said pleadingly.

"Why, it's the truth, isn't it?" Seth said impassively. Albus stopped, still sitting on his bed, content with hearing the argument before showing himself. "He's dishonest, a liar, an over-emotional freak, a plain bigot and the most insulting thing is he claims to be otherwise. No sense of justice at all, to the point you're ready to watch your cousins die rater than save them by whatever means necessary. I mean, we all know I barely feel a thing but at least I would give my life for my friend, at least I am willing to kill for him. You have too many standards. And the fact that you're willing to hold by those standards in the face of all of that doesn't make you cool and it doesn't make you good. It makes you selfish and arrogant."

"You know," Mark said a little more loudly, some of his rasp gone as he spoke loudly. "You just described yourself."

"Yeah, but at least I'm straight about it," Seth said scathingly. "You're not and I hate liars."

Albus wrenched open the hangings, making Scorpius jump. Then, he went red, "Did we wake you up?" he asked worriedly. Albus knew he could be very cranky if woken up so he appreciated that Scorpius thought of that.

"No," Albus shook his head. "Actually, I heard everything," he added with a glance at Mark.

For the second time, Albus saw Mark Wallader standing in the Slytherin dormitory, looking very misplaced and very different. Mark was not always seen outside the Gryffindor Common room. It was one thing being seen for lunch but to see him outside classes or lessons, let alone in the Slytherin Common room almost sounded ridiculous. It would have sounded ridiculous if Albus had not witnessed it himself. Scorpius had his mouth open slightly, not sure of what to say. Albus had expected it eventually but to think it had come so soon. If the present circumstances had not been so depressing, Albus would have laughed aloud. In fact, Albus made a mental note to laugh about this when they were all older.

Mark was in Slytherin house. It was unknown for how long, just that it was not permanent. This was considered rehabilitation for Mark. Alex and Eric failed, Aries would never have managed to save him if Seth had not gotten involved. He knew Seth had unintentionally changed a lot of things in Mark's mind. Albus wished so much he could perform Legilimency just to see how Mark's mind was working. Still, he walked right out and once the door shut, Seth sighed, "I love putting that guy down."

"Yeah, you two would make really good friends if you"-

"Yeah, no, I don't befriend Gryffindors," Seth yawned.

"So if Simon was a Gryffindor…"

"He isn't, point moot," Seth dodged. "Anyways, something important for you."

"Relics?"

"Yeah, Sierra knows where one is," Seth said. "Father isn't telling us anything so she talked to Slytherin himself. That's why I needed to keep it from you."

"Were you and Mark up all night?" Albus gaped.

"Oh, yes, it was quite fun," Seth said neutrally. So, we just have to wait for her and we'll go. You'll see."

The two sat there, waiting in silence. Scorpius and Mark did not come up from the dormitories either. It seemed like the two would just spend all day down there. He hoped Scorpius could get through to Mark because everyone else failed. After half an hour of idle chatter, Sierra came up breathlessly. "Ok, found it," she said happily. "Got Al? Let's go."

Albus followed the two kids, Seth and Sierra to the Slytherin bathrooms. Sierra gave a quick peek in the girl's bathroom before leading them in. Albus and Seth trailed on behind her. Seth looked completely at home but Albus felt awkward, never having been in a girl's bathroom before. Then, she pulled aside a mirror revealing a passage. Albus widened his eyes but still said nothing. She pointed the way through, "Long way in but it's the quickest. Go on, quick."

Albus scrambled in first, Seth second and they replaced the mirror before crawling along. The passageway lengthened until it became big enough to walk. Albus could tell they were still underground and hurried along after Sierra, wondering where she was taking them. "Why're we using a passage?"

"Don't want to be detected," Seth said shortly. "Rojer still around. I haven't gotten round to offing him yet."

Sierra sighed, "Seth, when you say stuff like that, it scares me. Stop."

Seth ignored her and went on, "And meanwhile, Phoenix is trying to keep calm after- what happened to poor Gordon and Jared, not to mention those twins Herald and Gerald."

"Yeah, and you wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" Albus asked him suspiciously.

"And if I did?" Seth asked testily. "Does it really bother you that the people who would give you the worst trouble died? I'm not saying I did it, but did you know they all tried killing me minutes before it happened?"

"Seth, didn't I say enough?" Sierra asked pleadingly.

Seth opened his mouth and closed it again. Then, he shook his head, "Keep forgetting," he muttered to Albus. "My sister is one of the good guys."

"I like her more than you," Albus quipped to Seth.

Albus felt embarrassed when Sierra laughed a nice laugh, perfectly good natured, and said, "Trust me, Al. If you knew me, you wouldn't like me at all."

Seth bothered him though. Did he kill them? Did Albus even want to know at this point? Seth was beyond his control sometimes. Albus wondered, truly wondered, if his father would understand this sort of freelance style of work Seth did. He was forgiven for Malcolm, but if Harry knew that Seth was responsible for anyone else's death, would he be so understanding? Albus was spared having to respond when she stopped, looking up. There was a ladder leading up. A long ladder. Albus actually felt uncomfortable climbing it, knowing one bad grip would mean his death.

"Go on, Al," Seth hurried.

"It's… a long way up," Albus said nervously. "We might lose our grip."

"Then, you'll die, not my problem, go up," Seth hurried.

Deciding he did not want to know Seth's recent ventures, resigning himself, Albus went up, wondering where the hell this would lead them. His legs and hands quickly got tired of the climb and he even stopped for a break, ignoring Seth's annoyed sighs. After three consecutive minutes of climbing, they finally hit the ceiling. With one hand, Sierra removed the ceiling and climbed over. He could hear her talking to someone. "Hello, Myrtle… mind clearing out for a bit? I'll spend some time with you afterward."

Albus stopped. He knew of Moaning Myrtle but said nothing. Eventually, the absence of wails made Albus think she consented. Exhaling in relief, Albus climbed over too. As expected, he found himself in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. The marble tile was replaced and they looked around. Then, Seth smirked and led them over to a circle of out-of-order sinks. Him and Sierra stood in front of it but Seth seemed very homey now. He smirked an almost evil smile and hisses started coming out. Hisses and spits, something, definitely not English. Parseltongue.

Albus almost forgot. Slytherin's Heir. Parseltongue came with the family. Seth's kids would have it… if he had any. Albus gasped as the sinks moved aside, revealing a long pipe sliding down into nothingness. Albus could only guess where this would lead. He heard the story, he read it too any times, his Uncle wouldn't shut up about it one Christmas. Before he could exclaim, Seth pushed him down and down he went, sliding, almost falling for how steep it was, sliding down and down, lower than even the lake.

Finally, it leveled and Albus fell on a pile of bones. He knew all he could do was follow now. He hoped Seth intended on letting him out. Albus did not know the way out. Seth did not seem to know the way either. In fact, now the girl's bathroom was out of the way, Sierra took the lead. Albus was walking with Sierra, hearing her breathe. She breathed easier than Seth and she gave off a different vibe. She smiled more and seemed genuinely happy. This, he could see, was a healing of the mental illness and instability the Gaunts had suffered. Sierra was normal. Then, Albus reflected, for the most part, in some way perhaps unseen, Seth was normal too. Deep down.

"I should come down here and practice the Dark Arts to myself more often," Seth noted.

Really deep down.

"Wow," Seth said softly, tone giving no awe away as he looked at the skeletons and bones. "When I get my own place, this is going to be the style."

Really, really, really deep down, Albus thought to himself.

"Next time I kill someone, maybe I'll hide the bodies here," Seth proposed to himself.

Screw it, it's not there.

As they walked along the Chamber, Albus could see other pipes jutting out in other directions. Eventually, Seth stopped in front of another door and spoke Parseltongue again, letting a door slide open for them. After one last stretch, a large chamber opened up in front of them. There was a small pool of shallow water at the end of it, at the base of a giant statue. On the ground was the skeleton of a giant snake, its skin long shed. Albus had not realized but they were standing in the pool, the water up to Albus' ankles. Despite it, Seth knelt before the statue, "Great ancestor, Salazar Slytherin," he said quietly and this time, Albus could tell. Seth was awestruck.

Sierra knelt too, "Thank you for your legacy."

Seth took his ring off and handed it to Albus, still kneeling, looking very humbled indeed. "Al, take it. I don't dare use this in his presence."

Albus took the ring. He wondered what he was supposed to do with it but upon his touch, it glowed. It burned too. It burned so hot, Albus dropped it. A faint blue light shot out of it and there, standing almost as a computerized hologram, was a man. The only reason Albus knew who he was, was because he had a Famous Witches and Wizard card of him. He gaped. He was actually there. In the flesh… sort of.

There stood a wizard, a cloaked wizard with a hood up yet his face shown. His robes were a royal purple and his beard went down to his chest as he looked at them all, peered through his hood at them all. He looked from Albus who immediately felt like he walked in on a family meeting, Seth who was still on his knees, looking up respectfully and Sierra, who was the same way but with a strange smile on her face. Albus could not believe he was meeting him, in person, the Wizard most hated of the Hogwarts four. Salazar Slytherin.

"Rise, children," he said with a strong, aged voice. He sounded almost like Dubium but with, somehow, less malice. "Don't kneel before the dead. Shake hands. You're bound to my plane eventually. All men are." Seth and Sierra stood, facing him respectfully. Slytherin looked around, whistling softly, "My old chamber. How's my pet?"

"Dead," Albus said casually, deciding he would not give Slytherin the respect he tried commanding. "My dad killed it."

"Pity," Slytherin said regretfully. "Does Hogwarts still house Mudbloods?"

"Yes, but the term is outdated," Seth answered.

"Pity," Slytherin sighed.

"They're Muggle-borns," Albus corrected.

Slytherin actually laughed a slow laugh. "Strange, how short-sighted being young- and old- can make a person."

"My condolences on the loss of your plan," Albus quipped. "Hogwarts has received threats and even fights and wars and we still educate Muggle-borns."

"Has the true story truly been kept secret for so long?" Slytherin asked curiously. "Allow me to shed some light on this sad tale. When Hogwarts started, it took the Wizarding world by storm. It would be the first of its kind in Britain. Wizarding families were all for it. However, some resisted. Some fought, and none fought against the creation of the school more than the Muggles."

Albus interrupted, "How did they know of Hogwarts before"-

"International Statute of Secrecy wasn't introduced until centuries later," Seth hissed. "Now shut up."

"Secrecy?" Slytherin repeated. "That… might have quelled the protests back then. The filthy Muggles were very ignorant of the world around them at the time. The medieval ages were naught but a time of ignorance. Wizardry was an abomination, they said. It needed to be extinguished. This type of prejudice, of course, gives rise to more prejudice. It looked like the filth would go for an all-out war with our kind. I sensed a great danger in giving our enemy more power by teaching their own children how to use magic. It was insanity."

"But… unworthy to study magic," Albus reminded him. "You bred a Basilisk down here! You wanted them dead!"

"Yes, I did," Slytherin said proudly. "And I will do so again given my way. At that time, such Secrecy was out of the question. Mudbloods were corrupt, the school was directly threatened. I did not decide, out of some irrational prejudiced to purge them. I bred a Basilisk as a defense mechanism of the school only my Heir could control. To protect it. As we taught harmoniously, we argued in the Staff room. Godric insisted we showed the Muggles around the school, provide for them a safe way of accessing it. Rowena and I were against it. She advised making the school Unplottable like other magical schools. We succeeded there. However, when I suggested stopping the Muggle-borns from coming altogether, Helga stood up. She yelled at me for being intolerant, for not understanding the position the filth were in, Gryffindor actually dueled me. Left with little choice, I left the school, laying a curse on it. A curse that one day, all Mudbloods would perish!"

"Still a tad harsh, don't you think?" Albus asked and he was glad to see at least Sierra was nodding.

"New times, new rules," Slytherin waved aside. "I do not regret my actions. With or without the bloody secrecy, this was to protect the school!"

"Well, too bad," Albus yawned.

"So, we can argue philosophy or we can get to the point," Seth sighed, standing before his ancestor. "I have great respect for you, Professor. My sister and I are descended from your bloodline, and we came to seek… the Serpentine Staff."

Albus expected the first Head of his house to refuse or otherwise claim to not know what was being spoken of. He peered at Seth and Sierra shortly. "What do you intend to use it for?"

"I won't lie," Seth said. "There is a Reservation of Pure-bloods. I mean to destroy them."

"Seth, tell the whole story," Albus said solemnly, seeing why he was needed now. The only one who could make this plea, on behalf of all students, was himself. Albus. "They plan to wipe out the entire Wizarding race… except those who denounce the family they have and set new roots up. We all know no witch or wizard, Muggle-born or otherwise will do that so they condemn us all. Their Wizard is insanely powerful, even Merlin can't take him. He focused all his magic in a flying ship, allowing his powers to enhance for years and the fact he has an army at his command only makes it worse. We are in need of the Relics. The Medieval Relics. I know you have issues with Muggle-born witches and wizards, but for years after your parting, they have been persecuted. One Wizard descended from you actually tried killing them all. They've suffered enough, Professor. Please…" Albus found himself bending down on his knees. "Redeem your name… and help us."

"Redeem my name…" he repeated quietly.

"I have a friend," Seth said honestly. "A Muggle-born. He… they killed his parents. They were hoping to force him to renounce them in death. He did not answer yet but I know- he will never do so. Even you couldn't expect him to."

"How did he react?" Slytherin asked.

"He screamed," Seth said a little loudly. "In agony. I never want to see him like that again."

"What house is he in?" Slytherin asked.

Seth hesitated, then looked up at his ancestor and said as upright and proudly as possible, "Slytherin house."

Slytherin, at that moment started fading. His smile was evil but he did not seem unwilling to reveal anything. "How dare they deal a blow on our brotherhood? Teach them a lesson, my son. Show that the snakes are not to be messed with. Only because you are my Heirs and this is clearly an enemy even of my house." He turned to Albus, "You need to learn some respect boy." He motioned to his statue just before fading, "Inside. Prepare yourself for a labyrinth." And he spoke Parseltongue to the statue of himself. It opened wide once again.

He popped out of sight. Seth bent down to pick his ring up as Sierra faced the statue and hissed even more. She too seemed to have the powers. The mouth of the statue opened up and next Albus knew, Sierra disappeared inside it, leaving Albus and Seth in very uncomfortable silence.

Albus and Seth did not speak much while Sierra walked into the mouth of Salazar's statue. The silence was rather uncomfortable, Seth moving his feet along the chamber floor, interested in a spot on the ground. Albus just looked around the place, noticing the smaller snake statues and imagining a younger version of his father fighting a Basilisk with his sword and destroying a diary with a fang. The place was gloomy too. He couldn't help but imagine dying in here, how that would look. How close had his father really come?

Looking around the Chamber really made Albus reflect on what he had been through himself. Alexis had once made a case that Albus had perhaps faced more than Harry did at his age but when Albus reflected on the Basilisk fight and his detailed reading of it, let alone the way his Uncle Ron told it, he wondered if perhaps she was not slightly exaggerating. Still… his father did not have to face a murderous teacher or the possible deaths of his sister and cousin in fifth year. Albus kicked off a small bone just as a jet of green light illuminated the gloom.

Albus jumped and gasped, Seth's wand was out. "Are you serious?"

"My ancestor used to take students in here to practice the Dark Arts," Seth said factually. "My sister will take a while so the least I could do is hone my own skills."

So long as Seth was not bothering anyone, Albus could not really stop him. He watched Seth do complicated wand movements, moving in a very swift, almost tranquil way. He moved his feet as if he was dancing some kind of foreign dance, every few seconds muttering an incantation and a jet flying out. He had a ring of fire snaking out of his wand, acting as a whip. It recoiled itself inside the wand and out came a heavy jet of white light. It looked fiery but when it hit the walls, it left a deep gong. The bit of stone in the wall charred and cracked, one part actually went black and spread slowly before stopping. One Knock-back Jinx from Seth actually made it crumble, revealing pipes and plumbing.

"Let's spar," Seth offered, wand out and pointing at Albus.

Albus quickly withdrew his wand and not a moment too soon. He parried a Stunning spell and had his wand pointed. This spar was not as fierce as his duel with Seth the year before but he could still tell Seth was on a level beyond most others. Albus was not sure he could take him on this time. He side-stepped a spell and avoided a jet of green light. The color made him jump but he recognized it more as a Memory Charm than a Killing Curse. He re-angled a jet of red light and threw a shield up against a fiery jet of white light. Finally, a break.

"You move really differently," Albus noted.

"You move recklessly," Seth quipped. Albus fired a low jet of red light. Seth jumped over it and unleashed a fiery whip from his wand. Albus only blocked it with a nonverbal rise of the water around him, which would've drenched Seth if the boy did not throw up a shield over his head as an umbrella. Albus sighed, "There won't be water for you all the time, you know."

"It's called being resourceful," Albus told him. "It's a trait your ancestor prized, embrace it."

"So, if you ignored this water, what'll you do?" Seth asked.

In response, Albus used Terra Dimoveo and made the earth under Seth split, the boy jumped back but Albus used the weakened ground to blast with Expulso. Albus took control of the pieces of earth, spun around so they flew in a circle and threw them at Seth with full force. One flick of Seth's wand destroyed each piece easily. He side stepped one more piece of earth and threw his hands in his pockets for some reason. He rolled to the side but that cost Seth a precious second which Albus used to aim a Disarming spell from under his arm. His wand flew out of his hand and Albus caught it triumphantly and smirked, "Second time I disarmed you."

No sooner did Albus say that did the wand he caught transfigure itself into a snake and coil itself around his arm, head hanging back about to strike at Albus' neck, waiting for Seth's command. Albus widened his eyes, "A descendant of Slytherin knows how to commune with and utilize the serpents. That wasn't my real wand. I switched it with a fake just after I destroyed the pieces of earth. That is resourcefulness." He walked over to a frozen stiff Albus and folded his arms. "You know I can kill you now, right?"

"I'm aware of that," Albus breathed.

"And I could actually do a good job of hiding your body…"

"So…"

"What's your offer?"

"You're kidding right?"

Seth hissed something and the snake uncoiled itself. It disintegrated upon Seth's command and he turned back to Albus, "Did I bother you?" he asked casually.

Albus stared, not really sure how to take this recent gesture. Why Seth wanted to spar, Albus could only guess. Perhaps, he wanted to show off his skills. Perhaps he wanted to show Albus that the last duel they had was a bout of luck. He was bothered. "I worry about you, sometimes."

"Really, why so?" Seth asked calmly.

"You want to discuss this now?" Albus asked incredulously.

"You're worried about me because I kill people. Al, do you know half the things about the people I get rid of? Let me explain. Malcolm was"-

"Don't talk to me about Malcolm, talk to me about Raula," Albus interrupted. "A little girl you let die."

"Raula was part of the group that killed three students already," Seth argued. "She was behind their first attempt on you, her friend Aramaster, whoever he is, spoke to the school and threatened everyone in it. People died because of her. You're too soft. All Potters are. Us Slytherins, Gaunts, Leans, or whatever you call us, do what need to be done. Raula was Jinxed to bring about her own death if ever she spoke. The Reservation and the New Roots have its ways. Now why do you think she should've lived?"

"She's a child!"

"Was," Seth corrected casually. "She's dead now."

"The Reservation raised her on a creed," Albus argued. "We had perfect reason to impress on her that what she did was wrong. Raise her back. She was only eleven. Barely a preteen."

"Al, was I innocent at eleven?" Seth asked simply, testily.

Albus regarded him, considering for a second. At eleven, Seth had manipulated things on his father's behalf, put in Nate's mind to sneak Hugo and Lily to Hogsmeade with Riley's help, and abducted Lily and even Alexis from there. He even manipulated Albus to find the Princess so he could make a deal with Rojer and bring about another death right after and all to free Harry. Was he innocent? No, definitely not. And Albus knew he was not innocent long before he even made a deal with him. Seth was never innocent. He was not evil, he was not good, he was just somebody acting on his own impulses. Impulses that were sometimes for himself and sometimes for his friend.

"No, you weren't."

"Then, why was Raula innocent?" Seth asked quietly.

Albus sighed, not wanting to use this argument but finding no choice, "Because she wasn't a sociopath. You are."

"Well, it's too late anyway," Seth sighed. "The Reservation requires their kids to be responsible for death by the age of seven. Destroy their consciences this way." I was nearly responsible for mother's death when I discovered her damaging personality towards my sister.

"You were always in control of your magic then…"

"Oh, yeah, easily," Seth shrugged. "The Aurors couldn't track me down cause I used my mother's wand and threatened to turn her in if she didn't send my sister to the boarding school I went to with Simon. Wasn't about to let them raise her. They did enough damage to me. Raised me in a life devoid of feeling or emotion while my younger sister got all the affection."

"Seth, are you saying that- what are you…"

"I raised her," Seth said, now a wide genuine smile on his face. "She's been my responsibility since she was five."

"That's why she loves you so much?" Albus muttered. Things were beginning to click into place. "Why she practically adores you."

"That's why I made sure my father wouldn't kill your sister two years ago," Seth added. "Because if there's anything I can understand, it's what a sister is. It's why I stick with Simon and his sister." Seth sighed and got up, flicking his wand wordlessly and halting a rat in its tracks. Albus could appreciate how skilled Seth was. Good thing he's on our side for now. He could even do nonverbal spells? Seth used his wand to bring the struggling rat closer and immobilized it. "Check it out. Nex."

The rat went limp and then still. It looked dead. Seth brought it over and set it between him and Albus. Albus looked closely at the dead rat and raised his eyebrow at Seth. "So, I don't get it. The Killing Curse isn't the only one?"

Seth flicked his wand, "Suscitatio!" Suddenly, the rat awakened. "Fooled you. It's fake death. The rat was never dead. It was treated to be dead. You thought it was dead because the curse was made to fool you. Now, check it out."

Albus watched as the rat was fighting against something that made it immobile. It was still stiff and shivering slightly, as if cold. Its eyes were slightly closed as well, as if fighting against itself to sleep. Finally, it curled up naturally and slept, giving in to its urges. But something was different. Slowly, it went stiff again and it suddenly died once more but Albus had a feeling this time, it really was dead.

"This useful Dark Arts Curse was based off the magical properties of the pomegranate seeds of Greece," Seth explained quietly. "Puts them into a death like trance." Seth looked up and he looked eerie in the green glow, Albus could truly see Soto in him now, as Seth explained. Was Seth trying to disturb him? "It's really easy to use, though. Know why it was made?"

"You told me. To fool me."

"Yeah, but also to torture," Seth said casually. "The curse copies death exactly. It erases all pain present in your body and you die. You go stiff, cold, and dead. Problem is, when you're woken up, you're getting used to being alive again. Your body isn't used to it and actually fights to die again. It's your job to stay awake. The more you move, the less stiff you are. You have an inner coldness you'll have to get rid of somehow. Chocolate helps. But your body is tired and wants to sleep but you know you can't sleep because if you do, the body shuts down again and dies. You die. For real. So, you need Awakening Potions to keep you alive until the side effects pass. Herpo the Foul developed the Curse to train the body to survive its natural death, when it does shut down. It never worked, so he developed Horcruxes and made himself immortal. Till now, nobody really knows if he's alive or not."

"Well, he hasn't done anything till now," Albus shrugged. "It's been thousands of years."

"Thing about Horcrux makers, Al, is they're very patient," Seth told him. "And very elaborate." Seth folded his arms and got up as Albus did. Albus was not sure what to take from this. Seth was clearly trying to convert him here, show off his knowledge of the Dark Arts, and probably trying to elicit a reaction from Albus. "You may dislike them, but the Dark Arts help. They got rid of Ridge for you, and they get the job done in ways regular magic can never do. There's an endless fear of them so people can't resist torture, or Cursed Fire the way they can resist your petty Body-bind Curses or Fire rings."

"That's the point of them," Albus argued calmly. "They're Dark Arts, they're tempting, and it's your job to resist their lure. Because it warps you, blurs your moral lines, and- as your father said- requires sacrifice."

Seth was silent for a minute, pondering over what Albus said. And then, "I never had morals for them to be blurred, my mind was hardened from the age of four, and there's nothing I feel for to sacrifice, except one person. And I stay away from Curses that require human sacrifices so there's your resistance. So, see that, Al?" Seth smirked. "I got skills. I could've killed you last year if I wanted to."

"Yeah," Albus sighed, looking down before quipping sarcastically. "You're the next Dark Lord."

"Nah, not my style," Seth shrugged. "Dark Lord is too flashy, too dramatic, and it won't get me anywhere. Plus, I have a lot to live up to since the last one tried using Horcruxes. Horcruxes don't appeal to me."

"Th-they don't?"

"Nah, I prefer the natural order of things," Seth shrugged. "So, no Dark Lord for me."

"Well, considering how knowledgeable you are, you'd make a fantastic Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Albus suggested.

"Nope, too out there, deals too much with the open, and kids are annoying. My sister would be better suited. I prefer the Underworld. Every society has an Underworld, even yours. I'd much rather gather intelligence for you when you're Curse-breaker… or Minister, whichever comes first."

"You want to continue this unhealthy relationship?" Albus gaped.

Seth was spared answering when three big snakes slithered out of the statue, over to Seth and coiled themselves around him. Sierra came staggering out, breathless, as if she had been running a marathon. She clutched a snake statue for support and the snakes coiled themselves around his feet and actually lifted him slightly, he was actually slithering around on his snakes over to Sierra. There, Albus saw what was in her hand.

"Too- much- power," she gasped. "Remind me- never- to use- that- again," she added between breaths.

"Thank you," Seth said quietly as she handed him the staff. Albus could see it. The staff was green, its snake head glowing with yellow jewels for eyes. It dazzled Albus looking at it. In fact, it was almost terrifying. He had a bad feeling that looking at it for too long would petrify him. Albus was snapped out of his daze when Seth put it away in his robes and said, "Alright, guys, close your eyes. I'm going to get us out of here."