Chapter twenty five

Information before entering a war would be a good idea, no?

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Happy Friday everybody! At least it's Friday for me lol.

First of all, I would like to thank all of those who reviewed! You know you have amazing readers when they hope you feel better! You guys are the best and I'm glad you liked the chapter.

As the evening began to arrive upon them, most chose to remain in the sitting room. The children spoke at length, both making an unspoken choice of not asking question about the war or Téa's time out of her body. Yet as the evening grew into its late hour, Téa began to feel the effects of her weakened state more and more and soon she was unable to hide them from those around her.

Yawning, Téa allowed herself to sit back in her chair and relax. It seemed the yawn though had caught Ron's attention and one look to Hermione had the duo standing.

"We'll help you up to bed Téa, you look tired," the red head remarked making Téa smile yet she didn't object. As the taller boy helped her to her feet, he allowed her to rest against him as they walked out of the room.

Walking up the stairs was a slow process yet when they arrived on the second floor, Ron swiftly moved in front of her and bent showing he wanted her on his back. Shaking her head, she complied and as he rose, she rested her head on his shoulder.

"So what's happened while I was away?" She finally asked.

"You wouldn't believe the amount of stuff," Ron grunted while Hermione hurried to open the door to her room.

"Our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for the year was a toad Ministry worker who was arrested by Madam Bones for the illegal use of a Black Quill," Hermione continued while pulling the covers down yet the moment she did they all received a rather large shock and although Hermione lets a little eep leave her lips, Téa's own exclamation was not understood by the two friends.

"Attor!" she hissed as the beautiful serpent uncoiled from its ball and looked around in confusion.

"Mistress? Why are you laying on the two-legged males back? Is he your mate?" The serpent asked curiously making Téa laugh even as she slowly slid from Ron's back.

"No, he was simply helping me," She answered before gingerly gathering the snake into her hands and bringing her closser.

Slumping on the bed, she felt her smile grow, happy to have her with her. Thanking Hades, she allowed the serpent to slither onto her neck before it gave her one of its serpent-like kisses.

"I am glad to see you, Mistress, I do not understand how yet I am grateful, I had worried you would not survive without me," the snake remarked making her laugh.

"You silly thing, I would have survived but I just would have missed you terribly," Téa answered before realizing that they had an audience in the form of her two best friends.

"Believe what you wish Mistress,"

Rolling her eyes at the serpent yet no less happy, Téa looked up to find both Ron and Hermione staring at her as though she had grown a second head. Giving them a grin she motioned them closer yet neither moved.

"Téa that's a Atheris Hispida, a highly venomous viper with no known antidote to its venom which causes blood clotting difficulties, pain and swelling not to mention death. It's dangerous and yet your holding it like it's an old friend." The brown haired witch remarked making Téa smirk.

"That's because this is Attor. She died a very long time ago and was part of one of the tasks I had to overcome during the first task of my journey. She became my loyal friend and accompanied me during the rest of my tasks. I can promise that she won't harm you guys, she's very polite actually. Téa explained before running a finger over the snake's feather-like scales. "I don't know how she's here but I strongly suspect that it's thanks to the last person I saw before my soul was sent back. Would you guys like to touch her?" She offered yet both shook their heads fiercely which, to be honest, Téa didn't blame them for.

"Do you – remember all of your tasks?" Hermione finally asked while the duo hurried to take seats in chairs.

"They wouldn't be very useful to me if I didn't," Téa answered eyes twinkling as she thought about the teachers she had had and everything she had learned. "The first task placed in front of me was a maze, now you can see how that was – unhelpful at the time. The maze was set to put me against all my worst fears,"

Here she took a moment and looked down, she didn't go into detail yet continued after a moment of silence talking about the maze here and there. By the time, she finished the maze section she was yawning.

"I think we all need our sleep," Hermione remarked a yawn also escaping her lips.

The excitement of the day had finally caught up with them, not to mention the worry of the past few months over their friend's health. With her return, the worry was lifted from their shoulders somewhat. The unspoken truth of not wanting to be separated rang through the room as Hermione clambered onto the bed, even with Attor taking its place curled on her Mistress's chest. As both girls settled down for a night's sleep curled close together, Ron pulled pillows and a blanket over to the lounge and settled in.

…

The next morning came quick for Grimmauld Place, and as Téa woke up, the familiar weight of Attor on her chest, she let a smile leave her lips. Looking to the side she found Hermione snoring lightly beside her while, Ron was snoring rather loudly across the room. Shaking her head at her two best friends, she gingerly took Attor and placed her on the bedding. Moving from the bed she bit gingerly stood and – to her shock and amazement – felt stronger than yesterday.

It seemed like Hades had indeed been speaking the truth, her magic was slowly building her body up to what it had been in the maze. She wasn't overly close to being back to normal but she could at least stand on her own two feet for a little bit of time without help.

"Shower," she mumbled while looking around. "That's what I want this morning,"

With those thoughts in mind, she retook Attor into her arms, not really wanting to leave her behind in case she scared both Ron and Hermione. Padded around the room until she found her school trunk she swiftly opened the lid yet froze at what she found inside. There placed delicately as though it had always been there was an all too familiar book, not to mention attire and slim box, a letter placed upon it all. Shakily taking the envelope she slumped to the ground before nibble fingers hurried to open it.

To Téaleon Potter,

As you probably have noticed, a few gifts have been left to you upon your return to your body, first being your friend and companion. Your friend is now your familiar and - as you well know – will defend you and help you defend others. The other gifts I leave to you are mementos of your journey in my realm.

As you might have noticed, your body is swiftly healing, I estimate that it will take no more than a week for your full strength to return to you, a gift as I am rather certain it would be unwise to keep you off your feet for long. This is where my next gift comes into play. Inside the box that you no doughtily recognize, was placed a rather recognizable object. I am certain you already know what it is, you know its uniqueness and perhaps one day you will realize just what it is, or perhaps we will have future correspondences that will allow me to tell you the tale of that particular item.

For now, I bid you farewell and good luck,

Truthfully yours,

God of the Underworld, Hades

Sitting back, Téa's gaze did not leave the parchment until finally, a particularly loud snore made her jump. Hurrying back to the trunk as fast as she could she swiftly took the narrow box out and set it on the ground before hiding the rest of it along with the letter at the bottom of her trunk for the time being. She wasn't sure what the hell she was going to do with it but for now, it would stay there. Once that was done, she grabbed her toiletries and a change of clothes before picking up the box.

Struggling to her feet, she walked – or shuffled from the room trying not to wake her two best friends. Finding a washroom was fairly easy, or at least took less time then she thought as she opened the first door only to be met with one.

Slipping in, she shut and locked the door before depositing her items on the vanity. Moving to the tub, she turned the water on, knowing it would best she took a bath instead of a shower considering her state.

Sitting on the toilet seat, she gingerly took the box before looking down at it. Taking a deep breath she allowed it slowly out before pulling back the black ribbon and lifting the lid. As it was lifted the item inside was brought into view and she felt a warmth settle in her at the site. There placed delicately on a purple velvet pillow was the wand she had used during her journey in Hades' playhouse – her wand. Just like the phoenix wand, she had been through many adventures with it and – yes, she could perform wandless magic – it was nice to have the weight of the wand with her once more.

"Now I just need the phoenix wand," she whispered softly a smirk playing on her lips. "Two wands and wandless magic, I won't be so easily taken down once I'm back at full strength,"

It was forty minutes later that Téa returned to her room; dressed in a fresh set of clothes, her silver-white hair pulled into a French braid, she felt much cleaner than she had yesterday. Slipping into the bedroom, she padded over to her trunk and put everything back before padding to the bed. Sliding beside Hermione who was still asleep she pulled she rested against the Headboard.

"You'll be meeting quite a few new people today Attor, no harming any of them," she ordered softly as the snake slithered onto her lap.

"I am to protect you mistress, how am I to do so if I cannot harm others?"

"Easy, these people are not going to hurt me, trust me when I say that you will know those who wish me harm and are welcome to harm them in return, but for now until I say so leave your fangs in your mouth and your poison to yourself. Soon we'll be able to train again, get back into shape but for now, we must rest. There should be plenty of mice and rats around here you can eat but first I'll introduce you to everybody," Téa remarked earning a sigh of satisfaction from the snake as she ran her finger over her scales.

"Very well Mistress, I will concede to your wishes."

"Do you know how weird it is hearing you speak like that?" Came the grungy voice of Hermione forcing Téa's attention to her serpent friend.

"Morning sleepy head, I hope we didn't wake you?"

"No," yawned the brunette while stretching. "You didn't, how long have you been up?"

"I took a bath so about an hour," Téa answered honestly and for a moment there was no response until Hermione shot up and turned on her.

"Took a bath! You could have drowned; nobody was there to help you if you needed it! Why didn't you wake me!" "Hermione!" Téa exclaimed, hands flying to rest on her friend's shoulders as the other girl's panic rose.

"I'm capable of taking a bath," she finally continued, once her friend had fallen silent, meeting her eyes with her own. "I'm regaining my strength quicker then Pomfrey thought, just – trust my judgment."

"But you just woke up you could barely stand yesterday, what if you had fallen –" "That's why I took a bath and not a shower, I didn't want to fall. Now, why don't we stop arguing about that and start talking about what I've missed, I need to know as much as possible before I re-enter the world," She urged knowing that they needed to get away from the subject of her apparent need to have people do everything with her.

"I – I don't really know where to start, I mean there has been a lot happening." Hermione finally spoke, her, having calmed a little.

"Starting from the beginning would be good," Téa teased before releasing her friend and sitting back against the headboard.

"Well – for the entire summer and a good portion of the year the Ministry was fueling a campaign to discredit you and Headmaster Dumbledore. By discredit, I mean, slander and smear both your reputations. Fudge denied Voldemorts return, until the attack on Azkaban," Hermione explained yet that little fact that Téa's eyes first narrowing in anger before they widen at the news of Azkaban.

"Azkaban was attacked?"

"But it was defended, Madam Bones was able to set up wards around Azkaban with the help from Gringotts," Hermione answered before noticing how her friend's shoulders seemed to slump in relief and a grin formed on her face. "What did you do?"

"I made a small donation to the foundation when the Ministry would update the wards around Azkaban certain ones would also be added. If the Ministry worked with Gringotts that means they were implemented," she answered earning a raised eyebrow from the brunette yet she allowed it to slid for the moment.

"People were arrested, before and after the attack but the most surprising was the fact that Lord Nott was proven to have been under the Imperious Curse and so not in control. Details haven't been made about it all, though."

"So some of his Death Eaters weren't willing?" She asked curiously earning a nod from the brunette.

"Apparently, he was even under it during the first war, imagine what sort of effect that has on a person not to mention his son. Theodore Nott's been rather silent this year, he stays away from Malfoy and his goons yet haven't truly spoken to anybody all year."

Frowning Téa looked down at Attor, she knew how the Imperious affected a person, to know that somebody had been under it for so long and yet nobody had noticed was startling and – horrifying. Hermione was right, though, she couldn't possibly imagine what the man's son was feeling, he didn't truly know his father because of somebody's need to control another human being. It also brought into question you entire upbringing.

"We spoke once while in the library, not for long though but he was polite." Came the remark that snapped the young Potter from her thoughts. "Schools been – different. You should know most of Gryffindor is divided, some believe you others don't it's sad really even with everything that's been going on. We believe Fudge does know that he's back but that they're keeping it under wraps so that Voldemort doesn't surface quicker. With Umbridge gone, we have a better teacher because they convinced Remus to return and teach."

"Really? That's brilliant; I'm going to have to give him a hug when I see him later." Téa laughed finally happy for some good news. "He was a brilliant teacher,"

"It's a enormous improvement compared to Umbridge," Hermione agreed. "I don't really know what else to tell you, though; I think I've covered everything."

For a moment silence fell, Téa contemplating what she had just learned. A lot had happened and she still needed to do a lot, she needed to visit Gringotts, speak with the Goblins, claim her inheritance, then she needed to get that potion journal. She also needed to do a bit of shopping. She also needed to find the Black Family Library in this house. Where else could it have been after all, this was the Ancestral Home of the Black Family.

"How have you and Ron been?" she suddenly asked while looking up at her friend.

"We've been better; we've missed you so much. We have sort of secluded ourselves from everybody else considering things. We found this room – you will enjoy it, Dobby showed it to us. It's called the Room of Requirements and gives you anything you want. Ron has changed the most, though – he has grown up since you were kissed, studying for classes, doing his homework. He's also started working out," Hermione revealed.

"I've noticed," she murmured, her eyes dancing towards the lounge where Ron was still sleeping.

"What about you Téa, how are you adjusting? I mean you were alone for a while and you're suddenly back in your own body. What were the tasks like?" Hermione asked curiously.

"I'm adjusting, once my body gets back to full physical strength I'll feel better. It's – not as odd as you would think considering what my tasks were." Téa began a soft laugh leaving her lips as she thought about her teachers. "One of my tasks was to impress a series of teachers, so I was taught things. I had five teachers each one as different as the other and everything they taught me was different. One of the hardest parts of the entire thing was the first task, the blasted maze of terror. I had to face my fears,"

"Sounds troublesome," came a grunt that had the two girls jumping. Attention shooting to the lounge they found Ron rubbing his eyes. "Actually sounds crummy,"

"You have no idea and good morning," Téa laughed as the boy sat up and stretched.

"Morning, so how long have you guys been awake?" he grumbled still half asleep.

"An hour and a half or so," came the answer yet no sooner had she said that did a loud grumble echo from the boy's stomach making the girls laugh.

"Glad to see not everything had changed!" Téa gasped before laughter overtook her once more.

"Let's go to breakfast then, I'm sure your mother has been slaving away to make an acceptable after Christmas brunch," Hermione remarked before getting up.

"Plus I need to introduce Attor to the rest of the house," Téa remarked as the snake slithered up her arm to lie around her shoulders.

"Bloody hell, I forgot about the snake," Ron grunted before chuckling. "Mum's going to have a heart attack,"

"It will be interesting to see everybody's reaction but she is my familiar and my friend she won't be separated from me," Téa grunted eyes narrowed in determination as she stood from the bed.

Together, the trio made their way downstairs, stopping every now and again to allow Téa to regain her legs stubbornly denying any help. Finally arriving on the main level she took another moment, angry at herself for being so weak. Before they could move on though, Téa noticed something moving in the corner. Shoulders tensing she was about to move her wand into her hand when the thing moved into the light showing that it was a house elf, a rather old house elf.

"That's Kreacher," Ron told her, glaring at the elf as though it was a vile creature, which was rather odd considering Ron's personality. "Odd one he is,"

"Hello Kreacher," she greeted eyes narrowed as the aged elf looked at her with narrowed eyes. She had a feeling this house elf was like none of the others she had met and by how hatefully the little creature looked at them, she wasn't mistaken. "My name is Téaleon Potter, heiress of the Potter Family,"

Here not only did the House Elves eyes open wide so did Hermione and Ron's. Yet that simple statement had the effect she knew would come. The old house elf gave a low bow before disappearing.

"What was that?" Hermione hissed, confused and a little angry by how cold her friend had acted towards the little creature.

"That Hermione, will be explained later, for now, let's go eat," With that, she began walking down the steps to the kitchen. When she arrived, there were others already present and Mrs. Weasley was cooking away.

Taking seats it wasn't long before three plates were set before them, for Téa it was a much lighter breakfast. No sooner did she dig into her breakfast though did her godfather come stumbling into the room looking wide-eyed and panicked.

"Téa?!" He exclaimed upon seeing her. "Thank Merlin, I didn't find you in your room."

"We decided to come down for breakfast," Téa answered an amused tone in her voice. "I also wanted to introduce everybody to somebody."

"Oh, and who would that be dear?" Molly asked while turning to the table,

"My friend and familiar, we met during my – journey – would you call it. She's been told not to harm any of you so there is nothing to worry about, so allow me to introduce you to Attor," here she raised a hand, allowing the serpent to slither onto it to be viewed by the rest of the people in the kitchen.

The moment their eyes landed on the serpent they all froze, clearly shocked and – some – frightened by the serpent.

"Yes she's venomous, but as you must probably know I am a parseltongue. We understand each other perfectly and I won't have anybody harming her. Like I have said, she is my friend and familiar." She continued eyes moving around the room, as though making her point.

"That's – a snake," Sirius whispered, rather paler than normal. "A venomous snake, and how – how is it here if you met it while your soul was out of its body?"

"The mine behind everything I went through chose to send her back to me, will she be a problem Sirius?" Téa asked nervously hoping that the man wouldn't be too adverse to having the serpent around. "She'll look after any mice that are around, rodents in general actually."

"I – well –" for a moment the man didn't really know what to say. The thought of his goddaughter holding the venomous snake around her own neck was a terrifying one yet the fact remained that the Potter heiress was clearly determined to keep the serpent around her.

"It will take some time – but I presume we'll get used to it,"

"Good, she's very friendly, only bites those that try to harm me, so nothing to worry about." Téa declared as the serpent slithered back into place around her neck.

"They are all staring at us Mistress? Have they never seen a snake before?" Attor hissed making Téa smile.

"Afraid they are all used to the notion that snakes belong with Dark wizards Attor, you'll have to give them wide breath for the time being until they get used to you a bit more." She hissed back, taking note of the ones that shivered as she spoke the snake language.

Slowly Sirius settled in a chair opposite Téa, his eyes never leaving the serpent around her neck. He knew his goddaughter could speak to serpents, it had been made public knowledge last year, yet to hear her speak it in person was something he had not held the – pleasure. It was odd, hearing the language spoken by somebody who was not trying to kill you. He had only ever heard Voldemort speaking Parseltongue and yet Téa's version was different, very different. It was light and soft not grating and edgy.

"So Sirius, can I ask if you know where the Black Family Library is?" came the question that had him turning his gaze from the serpent to his goddaughter, rather shocked by it.

"Library? How did you know Grimmauld Place had a library?" he questioned in surprise.

"I know because one of my teachers while in the soul dimension* was Regulus Black, your brother." She answered stalling all movement in the room but her own as she slipped a piece of apple into her mouth.

"You – you met Regulus? No that's impossible, he died ages ago!"

Author note:

I have been trying to find a better word for what Téa was forced to go through and I do not believe that Dimension quite fits this setting and would be happy to receive suggestions. For now, though I will continue to address it as such until a time where I find a suitable replacement.

For those who so wish to give their own suggestion, either PM me or leave a review with your suggestion. I will read it I promise, I always love reading your reviews because they inspire me to continue writing. Although I might note say it enough I would like to thank all of you for reviewing and hope that you enjoyed this chapter. Not much action or of anything really but Téa had to learn about what happened during her absence and it sets into motion future chapters.

Also as expected – from the start even – Attor has made a re-appearance. Really how could I leave the beautiful serpent out!

Belated note: I lost most of this chapter a day ago, I was so sad considering the effort I put into it, argh! Still I prevailed and re-wrote it for you all to read.