Chapter IV
Welcome to Slytherin
In fact, before confronting Abraxas Malfoy, Kilian had already had a small altercation with Olive Hornby.
Olive was a popular and very pretty fourth year girl. She was black, blue-eyed, had good grades, and played as a Seeker on Ravenclaw's Quidditch team. Kilian liked her. So when, on that cold September Sunday morning, he crossed a clearing on his way to the Quidditch pitch to watch the Slytherin practice, he didn't expect to catch her tormenting poor Myrtle Warren with Fanny Roberts and Michelle Zabini.
Myrtle Warren (also from Ravenclaw, also in fourth year) was the most different girl from Olive that could be imagined. She was stocky, had a melancholy acne-prone face, lanky hair, and small eyes hidden by thick glasses. At that moment, her legs were locked together, tied with invisible laces. She had evidently been hit with a Leg-Locker Curse. She was crying desperately and trying to get away from the trio, hopping, but each time Olive hit her with a jinx, causing her to trip.
"Stop!" sobbed Myrtle, her face flooded with tears. "Please release me."
Kilian didn't hesitate. He walked over to her and spoke the counter-curse. Myrtle gave him a grateful look before running away, as fast as her stubby legs allowed.
"Okay," Olive said, looking at him. "Tell me why you did it."
Kilian glared at her. "Seriously? Do you think I am the one who has to explain?"
"Yes, Magbob," Zabini replied harshly. "You are the one who has to explain."
Kilian ignored her and continued to turn to Olive. "Why did you attack her? What had she done to you?"
"What did she do to me?" Olive repeated incredulously. "It's Moaning Myrtle, that's what she did to me".
Kilian was about to reply again, increasingly angry, but Fanny Roberts interjected: "Listen, I don't think you know Warren."
"I know her well enough," Kilian replied, crossing his arms. Yes, he thought he had learned everything there was to know about Myrtle Warren in those weeks, and his opinion was that being her was already enough punishment for whatever she might have done.
"Not as much as you think, I'm convinced," Fanny said. "But there's no use fighting, not for her. Let's go," she added, turning to her friends who followed her, even though Zabini had time to give him one last dirty look.
Kilian would have quickly forgotten about the episode if Walburga and Roland Lestrange hadn't approached him at dinner that evening to tell him about it.
"Michelle told me what happened," said Walburga, without preamble.
"What happened?" asked Kilian, raising his eyebrows.
"Listen, Magbob," she hissed, "I don't care, if, until now, you've lived in the mud, you're in Slytherin now. Everything you do reflects on all of us and we don't take the defense of the scum."
"Her name is Myrtle Warren," Kilian replied, lifting his chin.
Walburga narrowed her eyes. "You don't want to challenge me, Magbob, believe me."
"And you don't want to challenge me," replied Kilian.
Walburga started to retort, but Roland Lestrange anticipated her: "Are you her friend?" he asked, obviously referring to Warren.
Kilian shook his head.
"So," Roland continued, "why did you think it was your business?"
Kilian couldn't answer; at that moment, Alphard arrived. "What happens?" he asked, sitting down next to Kilian, and turning alarmed glances to all three.
His sister pursed her lips. "Educate your little friend," she said dryly. "Or I'll have to do it for you." Then he walked away with Roland, depriving Kilian of the chance to say something really offensive towards her.
Alphard seemed worried and after Kilian told him what had happened, his expression darkened even more, but he didn't comment immediately. He poured himself some pumpkin juice and sipped it slowly, trying to choose the right words.
"So, nobody likes Warren," he said finally.
Kilian couldn't believe his ears. Was Alphard trying to justify what had happened? "So what? It's not a good excuse for tormenting her like that," he said agitated. "And hell, they're also in the same House."
Alphard gave him a strange look and then commented, "Well, if you are looking for solidarity between comrades, Ravenclaw is not exactly the right House: they are very individualistic."
"They are cowardly bullies" corrected Kilian, increasingly angry.
"No, not really," Alphard hastened to deny. "Ravenclaws don't usually behave like that. Olive don't usually behave like that. Warren is an exception. As I said, nobody likes her. You see, she's Muggle-born and-"
"Tell me you're not saying what you seem to be saying," Kilian interrupted, in a furious whisper.
"I don't know what you think I'm going to say," Alphard replied softly, "but Olive has her reasons."
"Why is Warren Muggle-born? The problem is that nonsense about the purity of the blood?" Kilian asked livid.
"No," Alphard retorted, "The problem isn't with Olive's prejudices about Muggle-borns - I don't think she has any, her father is Muggle-born and her mother is a halfblood- but Warren's prejudices about Olive."
"What do you mean?"
"Olive is black."
"Then?"
Alphard gave him a sideways glance. "I thought you knew Muggle culture better." He filled his plate with some pie. "Apparently in the Muggle community, there are prejudices about people's skin tone. Do you think that Warren, initially, didn't want to share a room with Olive and that reaction was still little compared to when she discovered that Fanny Roberts has two mothers." He drank more pumpkin juice. "Then, she learned that the instructor Jocunda Sykes, was once called Jack Sykes and spent weeks in the hospital wing, in the throes of hysterics: she kept crying and praying holding her crucifix." His lips curled into a grimace. "Muggle religion," he whispered with so much disgust that Kilian winced.
They were silent for a while, then Kilian said, "I think I'm starting to understand, but hers was a culture shock," he said "I can imagine Olive and Fanny didn't enjoy living with her, but that doesn't justify everything. Can't they just ignore her? Being Myrtle Warren seems punishment enough to me."
Alphard shrugged. "Most Ravenclaws just ignore her, Olive and Roberts have chosen another strategy."
"Well, I'm sorry, but if it happens again, I'll act exactly the same way," Kilian said stubbornly.
Alphard sighed. "Look at I'd just like you to think twice before rushing back to the rescue of a damsel in distress: situations can be more complex than they seem."
Later, Alphard told himself he should have known how much that advice was wasted.
In fact, the next time Kilian crossed the path of a damsel in distress, he acted in exactly the same way, even though the "damsel in distress" was a burly boy over two meters tall.
It only happened a week after the fight with Olive and it didn't surprise him. Likely, similar events occurred frequently in places where hundreds of teenagers with magical powers were gathered and constantly encouraged to compete against each other.
The victim, this time, was a second-year boy from Gryffindor whom Kilian had never spoken to, but who had noticed because noticing was inevitable. He was very tall, big and muscular, with deep-set dark eyes and a thick, wild mass of black hair. He was intimidating at first glance, but once, after a Herbology lesson, Kilian had surprised him while, curled up in the pumpkin patch, he was nursing a bird's injured wing.
Kilian was walking through the armor gallery, on his way to Miranda's office, when he heard a desperate moan and laughter coming from a room to his right. He opened the locked door with an Alohomora and entered what looked like an abandoned classroom with chairs, desks, brooms, rags and empty glass test tubes. Inside were five people who Kilian knew.
Abraxas Malfoy, who had shoulder-length blond hair and the same blue eyes as his sister, was sitting languidly on his desk and when Kilian entered, he looked at him with little interest.
Beside him were a grinning, Paris Selwyn and the sixth-year Quentin Rowle who laughing coarsely as poor Rubeus Hagrid lay on the ground with antennae sticking out of his head: he crawled, groaned and drooled, like a giant insect.
The man Kilian didn't understand what he was doing there, nor why he had not already come to Hagrid's rescue, was Apollyon Pringle, the caretaker. The wizard, about forty years old, was standing, leaning in a corner of the classroom and observing the scene with a vacant expression.
"Do you need anything, Magbob?" Malfoy asked, raising an eyebrow. Kilian didn't understand how Malfoy managed to pronounce his surname making it seem like an insult, however Kilian ignored him and walked up Hagrid. Kilian tried to lift him onto his shoulders, but Hagrid was very heavy, besides he was agitated, reluctant to stand up. Kilian was deciding how to transport him to the hospital wing, when Rowle intervened. "Hey, we're not done," he said, approaching with a threatening air.
Kilian was not intimidated, "I say you are done, instead."
It all happened very quickly. Rowle raised his wand, but he didn't even have time to think about what spell he wanted to use because Kilian had already disarmed him. The latter felt Malfoy and Selwyn move behind him and, bending over, avoided a stream of red light and one of blue light, then turned quickly and hit Selwyn with an Impediment jinx; at the same instant, Malfoy tried to hit him again, but Kilian repelled his hex with a Shield Charm, finally, before Malfoy could attack him again, he yelled, "OPPUGNO!" It was then that the brooms gathered in the room came to life and began to hit the three Slytherins fiercely, a couple also made their way to the caretaker, awakening him from the trance he seemed to be in.
Before they could free themselves, Kilian threw a "Mobilicorpus" on Hagrid's body and, as if a series of invisible threads had been tied to his wrists, neck and knees, the latter stood up, suspended a few centimeters from the ground. Rather satisfied with himself, Kilian took him to the hospital wing.
The school matron, Healer Daisy Twonk, welcomed them without asking questions, immediately recognizing the effects of the Insect Jinx. She widened one of the beds so that the Gryffindor could lie comfortably in it and then gave him a potion. After a while, Hagrid began to calm down and his antennae began to shrink. It was at that moment that Lucretia Black arrived.
Lucretia was Alphard's second cousin, was the same age as Walburga and was a Prefect. She was very pretty and had the same gray eyes as Dorea. She told him that Professor Slughorn wished to speak to him. Immediately.
Kilian, without suspecting anything, went down with the girl in the dungeons, towards Slughorn's rooms. Lucretia asked him what had happened and Kilian told her about Malfoy and his gang and what they were doing to poor Hagrid.
At the end of the story, the girl shook her head. "You know, I don't dislike you, after all. I sincerely hope you will learn, sooner or later," she said before knocking on Slughorn's office door.
Kilian didn't understand what she meant.
The rooms of the Head of Slytherin were bulky and suffocating: wherever Kilian looked he saw soft armchairs, fluffy cushions, footstools, drinks and sweets.
Slughorn was sitting in a green leather chair behind the desk and frowning at Kilian. "Thank you, Lucretia," he said, smiling at the girl. "You can go now."
"It was a pleasure, sir," she replied and left the room.
Slughorn's smile had disappeared when he said to Kilian, "Sit down."
Kilian obeyed and sat down in a low armchair.
"Abraxas and Mr. Pringle told me what happened."
Kilian looked at him, surprised.
"You hit them with an Oppugno Jinx," Slughorn continued. "Am I right?"
"Well, yes," Kilian began, "but only because they attacked Rubeus Hagrid."
"After Rubeus Hagrid attacked them," Slughorn said.
"What? No! I-"
"The caretaker Pringle," the master interrupted, "told me that Hagrid hit in the Muggle way Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Selwyn and Mr. Rowle. They were defending themselves with magic, but you helped Hagrid by taking them by surprise with various jinxes. When Mr. Pringle tried to intervene, you jinxed him too."
"No! Things did not go that way, professor. They had hit him with the Insect Jinx. This is why I intervened."
Slughorn nodded. "Yes, they told me that, but they hit him with the Insect Jinx because Hagrid had punched Mr. Selwyn."
This silenced Kilian momentarily: could it be true? Still, the scene had seemed unmistakable. Three boys were mistreating a twelve-year-old little boy (because Hagrid, though huge, was still only twelve) and a grown man witnessed the scene without intervening.
"It's not even the first time this has happened," Slughorn continued. "Hagrid has a very bad record, but" he added with a hard and disappointed expression at the same time, "no student of my House had ever supported him."
"I ... I thought they attacked him for no reason," Kilian said sincerely.
Slughorn sighed softly. "You're new in Hogwarts, errors of judgment are understandable, but I'm afraid I'll have to put you in detention anyway," he said. "Besides," he added with an evident contrite tone, "I'll have to take fifty points off Slytherin. I hope that this will teach you to think before acting."
Slughorn also told him that he couldn't have taken the first trip to Hogsmeade, but Kilian continued to feel on the right side.
As soon as Slughorn dismissed him, he went back to the hospital wing, to Hagrid, who was recovering quickly. He thanked him in tears and hugged him, even hurting him a little: the matron rescued him, pushing Hagrid away with a spell. Hagrid ("Call me Rubs, everyone does.") told him that Malfoy and his lackeys had offended his parents, and that, because of these insults, he had pushed Paris Selwyn against the wall. Malfoy then hit him with a spell. He did not know, with certainty, what had happened next: he felt disoriented, he couldn't walk, he had lost control of his body, but he remembered Kilian. He remembered that Kilian had defended him, he remembered that Kilian had helped him. While the little boy was blowing his nose into a huge handkerchief (yellow with orange polka dots), Kilian wondered how he could regret having helped him and, indeed, that evening, at dinner, he felt a certain unhealthy satisfaction in noticing the purple bruises that it had left on Malfoy's and Selwyn's pale complexions and on Pringle's sallow.
He would soon discover that the rest of his House thought differently. While, with all the other students, they were busy pretending that what had happened hadn't upset them in the least; in the common room, behind closed doors, the Slytherins were all eager to show Kilian how annoyed they were with him for losing fifty points. Many were busy pretending he didn't exist, others openly insulted him, the most childish played pranks: a sixth-year boy named Crabbe threw an invigorating potion into his bag that destroyed his week's homework. Even the fact that the Gryffindors had lost the same amount of points (due to Hagrid), had not helped to lift the general morale because anyway now Slytherin was lower in the rankings of the Houses than Hufflepuff and, apparently, this it was unacceptable. Kilian was sorry about the House Cup, but he didn't really understand how it was possible that Malfoy and Pringle had gotten away with it.
Alphard tried to explain it to him, although not very successfully.
"Abraxas's father is a governor," he said.
"Should it matter to me?"
"It matters to Slughorn and a lot too."
They were both sitting on Kilian's bed. Among them, there was Gaheris who looked at them with intent, as if he understood every word and kept his head resting on Kilian's thigh. The latter was scratching him behind the ears.
"He loves Abraxas. He's among his favorite students. Not only he is a Malfoy, with all that that name implies, but he's also a very skilled potioneer. This year," Alphard continued, "he will even present a project on a new version of the Dreamless Potion to the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers. Instead, Hagrid does nothing but make trouble. Do you know that he beat my brother last year?"
Kilian felt his stomach sink and for a moment stopped stroking Gaheris: he began to nibble his finger, annoyed. "No, I didn't know. I'm sorry," he said.
Alphard shrugged. "Mind you, I know Cygnus, he must have provoked him, but that doesn't justify Hagrid. He always behaves this way. He breaks the rules, gets caught always, is short-tempered and aggressive. Neither Dippet nor Slughorn trust him in the least."
Kilian snorted. "But what does it have to do with it? An act isn't more or less grave depending on who carries it out."
"Yes, instead: it's called reputation," said Tom, entering the room, with Icarus in tow.
For a moment, Tom stared at Kilian and Alphard with an indecipherable look, then went to his bed. Icarus sat down on a chair nearby.
"So," said Tom, "did you manage, by yourself, to get the better of Malfoy, Rowle and Selwyn?"
"Professor Goshawk taught me to duel," Kilian explained.
"Remarkable, I would have liked to have seen it, it must have been a good show. At another time, Slughorn would have been impressed."
Kilian felt momentarily heartened by the praise, but Tom continued, "However, in the position you were in, I'm not sure it was worth it."
"Wasn't it worth helping Rubeus?" Kilian snapped. "You also know that he certainly wasn't the one who began it. You know those three."
He tried to meet everyone's gaze, one by one, but Alphard, now, kept his head bowed and stared at Gaheris, who was always snuggled between them, and Icarus seemed strongly uncomfortable and had eyes only for Tom. The latter, sitting in the most elegant and regal pose that could be assumed on a bed, was the only one who didn't avoid his eyes and, frankly, said, "It doesn't matter who started. Malfoy is a sixth year Prefect."
"He's an idiot, that's what he is," Kilian replied.
"He's one of the best students in the school," Tom continued as if the other hadn't opened his mouth, "and his conduct is exemplary; he has never received a single punishment, not even for submitting an assignment late or for breaking curfew."
"Just because he's good at not getting caught!"
"Besides, he's a Malfoy," Tom concluded, looking at him and shaking his head with a slightly disconsolate air.
"What's going on with you?" Kilian asked him, narrowing his eyes.
"Nothing," he replied. "It's just that I begin to understand who kind of person you are and I wonder how you have survived to this day, all alone, in the big bad world. In fact, I don't even understand why you're in Slytherin if you can't understand that simply acting isn't always the best choice."
"Tom, stop it," Alphard interjected.
Tom ignored him. "For example, are you aware how much it helps you to always have a Black by your side? Do you know your life would have been more difficult after you lined up alongside Myrtle Warren, of all people, if you weren't friends with Walburga Black's little brother?"
Kilian felt something burn in his stomach and realized it was shame. He glanced sideways at Alphard: was it true? Was he defending him? Did he need his protection?
Alphard, however, continued to avoid his gaze. He was staring at Tom and although his expression was neutral, his eyes, which continued to change color in a sudden and violent way, betrayed his irritation. Gaheris, sensing his master's nervousness, began blowing in Tom's direction and cracking his lion-like tail.
Icarus cleared his throat, more and more uncomfortable. "Kilian, Alphard, Tom just wants to say that ..." he hesitated and then, after having swallowed empty and nervously licked his lips, he concluded, "My uncle always said that no one has ever managed to convict a Malfoy for a crime: 'Not even when they were found at the scene of the crime with an offending wand in their hands'."
"And it must be admitted," said Tom, "that this is a clever way to live. You get more results when you avoid being so obvious about who you are and what you want."
"Are you speaking from personal experience?" Kilian replied.
"Yes," Tom admitted with all the candor with which a similar admission could be made. "It wasn't intentional and I'm not particularly happy about it, but I have to admit that over the years, I've learned a lot from Malfoy."
Amazed by this statement, Kilian looked at Tom more carefully and with a critical eye.
He was impeccably dressed, as always, and no matter what he did, he always managed to look charming and relaxed. He was tall, thin but not skinny, he had a straight nose, high cheekbones, his eyes were very expressive, and his black hair made a pleasant contrast to his diaphanous complexion.
But it wasn't just his physical appearance. It was all. He was the best student in the school, he had enormous talent and excelled in every discipline, without apparent effort; he was charismatic and very popular. His closest friends may have been almost all of Slytherin, but in fact he was on excellent terms with the students of the other Houses as well, even the Gryffindors couldn't find anything to say about him.
Tom was, in some way, perfect, or at least he was the closest person to perfection Kilian had ever known (yes, of course, he knew few people, but he was convinced that even after regaining his memories, he would not change his mind). How likely was it that a single person possessed in abundance so many excellent qualities?
And this question, in light of Tom's recent confession, led to another: Was Tom pretending, in some way? Was his attitude studied? For some reason, every time Kilian looked at him, his two dream versions kept coming back to him; the boy met during the astral travel, tremendously handsome, but wearing worn gray clothes and a suffering, lonely, empty air; and the nightmare boy with his beautiful face deformed into a cruel grin, the shrill laugh, the blood red eyes...
Kilian shook his head, and assumed a hard and determined expression. "If being a Slytherin means I have to let people like Malfoy do what they want, I don't care being a Slytherin."
"Absolutely no, I wasn't saying that," Tom objected. "In fact, please don't do this, unless you want to spend the next four years prostrating yourself at someone's feet. Feel free to fight your own battles, but you should keep in mind that the battles you are most likely to win are the planned battles." His lips curled into a small grin. "In fact, if you come up with a good idea, I might as well help you out."
Icarus smiled after those words, Alphard seemed worried, but Gaheris pulled Kilian's shirt with a paw and licked his fingers, as if he understood the conversation and wanted to offer his help too.
Kilian didn't know how to respond to this offer, but, at the moment, there was another question he wanted to clarify, "What does Pringle have? I mean, he was there, but he looked like he was sleeping on his feet and then why didn't he do anything?"
From their expressions, Kilian understood that the other three boys knew very well what he meant and also knew the answer to his questions.
"Well, that's it, that's kind of a secret, even if in our House, almost everyone knows it," said Icarus.
"But we don't want the teachers to find out," Tom pointed out.
"Pringle is basically on Malfoy's payroll," Alphard revealed. "That's why I told you to stay away from him."
"Does Malfoy pay Pringle to do what he wants?" Kilian repeated incredulously.
"Pringle has an addiction to psychedelic potions that are expensive to maintain and Malfoy helps him with the leftovers of his monthly allowance," said Tom.
"What psychedelic potions?" Kilian asked, intrigued.
"Well, Happily Ever After are in fashion at the moment: they allow you to have very realistic daydreams. Basically you enter an ideal world where you can be and you can have everything you want," Icarus replied.
"And why, exactly, are you helping to hide that Pringle has an addiction and that Malfoy has a habit of bribing him?"
"Because it's convenient for everyone to have a staff member who, with a little gold, is willing to look away when necessary," said Tom impassively.
"Since he was hired, the number of punishments our House receives have dropped dramatically," Icarus commented cheerfully.
He didn't add 'And let's hope you don't ruin this record', but Kilian felt it was implied.
It would be weeks before the Slytherins began to forgive him, but in the meantime Kilian discovered that the incident had made him popular with the Gryffindors.
That same evening, three fifth-year students of Gryffindor, Minerva McGonagall, Malcolm's sister, Dustin McKinnon, and Augusta Gamp approached him, just before dinner, in solidarity. Minerva and Dustin were Prefects and they told him that they considered Rubs their responsibility, but that it was really difficult to protect him because he was constantly getting into trouble.
"Rubeus has his heart in the right place," Minerva argued, "but he definitely has to learn to control his impulses."
"He didn't have an easy life, you know," McKinnon added. "His mother died when he was little and his father is ... well, he's a bit of an eccentric man."
Kilian took advantage of the meeting to ask McKinnon if he knew someone named "Kilian McKinnon", but he couldn't tell him anything more than what Dumbledore had already told him. Dustin knew only one Kilian McKinnon: his father who was a herbologist.
The next day, other Gryffindors showed a new respect for Kilian.
At breakfast, Benjamin Fenwick (seventh year, Prefect and Beater) joined him at the Slytherin table to thank him; a sixth-year Gryffindor Prefect, Elizabeth Abbott, awarded him ten points for helping a freshman find his way to the Charms classroom; Virginia Ogden and Marlene McKinnon (two third year girls with whom Kilian had never exchanged a single word) looked for him during the intermission to congratulate; Malcolm McGonagall seemed to have overcome any problem he had with him and Susan Bennet and Bedwyr Weasley, much to Kilian's embarrassment, cheered as he passed all day.
"It was predictable," Alphard said with a caustic smile. "You defended a student of their House from Malfoy, made Slytherin lose fifty points, and ended up in detention: by the canons of Gryffindor, you're practically a hero now."
Another positive factor was that his punishment was, on the whole, pleasant. Kilian only had to spend a full moon night with Professor Pyrites to help him purify a large amount of copper with frog eggs. Professor Pyrites was the teacher of Alchemical Studies, a course that only N.E.W.T.s students could take. He had iron-colored eyes, was tall and bald and always wore long dresses with silver embroidery and white gloves.
He had been a Slytherin and Kilian found himself talking to him about how strained his relations with his comrades were at that moment.
Pyrites nodded sympathetically. "In addition to stimulating healthy competition, the Cup of Houses aims to discipline students by exploiting the social pressure of the group."
"Do you think they will hate me forever?"
The man smiled, "No, I rule it out, but you should really learn how certain battles are fought."
Which, in practice, Kilian reflected, was what Tom had told him.
While Pyrites tested the purity achieved by copper with blue flames that he pulled out of a jar, the boy weighed more frog eggs and it was then that he came up with a way to get revenge on Malfoy.
The next day, Kilian, who had stayed up late, got up around eleven in the morning and immediately went in search of Tom. He found him quickly. Tom was in a corner of the Common Room chatting with Dorcas, Icarus, Balthazar, and Mulciber. Kilian hesitated six feet from the group: being able to choose, he would have preferred not to have an audience.
Tom must have felt Kilian's gaze because he raised the head and turned it in his direction. Kilian didn't know how, but the other boy simply understood. He turned back to his friends and mumbled something, then got up and walked over to him. Without exchanging even a word, Kilian and Tom decided to return to their dormitory, which was empty at the moment. As they walked away, Kilian felt four pairs of eyes fixed on his back.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Tom asked after they entered their room and closed the door.
Kilian remained standing in front of him, a little nervous, and began to wring his hands. "You said if I came up with a good idea to get back on Malfoy, you'd give me a hand," he began. "Were you serious?"
"Sure," Tom replied, leaning against the wall. "You are not the only one with unfinished business with him."
"Well, that's it, it occurred to me that next Saturday they're coming to Hogwarts, Fleamont Potter and Damocles Belby of the the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers to evaluate Malfoy's work with the Dreamless Potion."
Tom nodded, listening intently.
"Malfoy cares a lot, doesn't he?"
"Sure," Tom replied, "if his work is as impressive as he claims, he can publish a study: it's a remarkable achievement for a sixth-year student. Furthermore, it would be a first step towards becoming the youngest member of the organization."
For a moment, the shadow of doubt clouded Kilian's determination, but it was chased away by the memory of Rubs crying and wriggling on the floor of that disused classroom. He wasn't ruining Malfoy's career, just delaying his success.
"Malfoy will prepare the potion on Friday and it will rest until Saturday in the Potions room," he continued. "I was thinking that I might sneak into the classroom on Friday night and ruin it somehow."
Tom's lips parted in a slow smile. "I like it," he said, "you tried to understand Malfoy and how you could damage him. First rule: know your enemy. But," he added, "this plan presents numerous problems. You realize this, don't you?"
Kilian nodded.
"For example… ?" Tom encouraged him to continue.
"For example, Slughorn wouldn't have contacted the Society if he didn't trust Malfoy's skill. He may understand that the potion has been tampered with, and since I recently had a fight with him, I would be the prime suspect. I need an alibi."
Tom seemed satisfied. "Have you already thought of something?" he churches.
"Not really," Kilian muttered. "In the afternoon, I assist Sykes, but the rest of the evening…"
"In the evening, you'll stay in the Common Room, where everyone will be able to see you."
"Great. And how can I stay in the dorm while I sneak into the Potions classroom?"
"Simple," Tom replied. "You will not. You won't tamper with Malfoy's work, Ted will."
Kilian stared at Tom, startled. "Why should he?"
"Because I'll ask him," Tom replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Besides, he doesn't like Malfoy any more than you like him. Icarus and I will explain to him how to tamper with the potion, without external intervention being too obvious. He'll just have to carry out. Anyway, obviously there is another problem," Tom continued.
Kilian bit his lower lip. He knew what the other problem was. "Slughorn used to seal the classroom door with a spell in the evening," he said. "We need the key to open it."
"Exactly," agreed Tom. "Gaheris can help us in this."
Kilian stared at him again in amazement. "Gaheris?"
"He's a kneazle," Tom explained. "He can't understand how a potion is altered, but he's certainly intelligent enough to sneak into Slughiorn's office, steal the key and then return it."
"How will he get into Slughorn's office?"
Tom shrugged casually. "From the chimney? I'm sure he will find a way, also because most of the spells designed to prevent access are worked only on humans."
Kilian frowned. "Gaheris is Alphard's pet. I should ask him."
Tom dismissed the matter quickly.
"Ask him. Do you think he would ever say no to you?" Kilian didn't have time to answer, because Tom continued, "The last problem, of course, is that all of this is to let Malfoy know that getting upset has a price, so that the next time, he'll think twice before denouncing you to Slughorn."
Kilian nodded.
"So he doesn't have to know you have been you and, above all, he doesn't have to be able to prove it, but -"
"- He must suspect it," concluded Kilian.
"Exactly," Tom said and walked over to his trunk from where he pulled out a green snake-shaped brooch that handed to him. "Always keep it pinned to your clothes these days, make sure Malfoy sees it. We'll tell Ted to leave it in the Potions classroom. It won't be a proof, it's a fairly common accessory and we can always say that you forgot it during our last Potions class. But if next Saturday, you'll approach Malfoy and, smiling, ask him how the demonstration went, he'll can only doubt you."
Their plan worked. Ted accepted the mission with enthusiasm, Alphard, even if without Ted's enthusiasm, agreed to lend him Gaheris, Gaheris managed to sneak into Slughorn's office from the fireplace and stole the key. Ted, following Tom and Icarus' instructions, altered Malfoy's potion.
On Saturday lunch, Slughorn entered the Great Hall accompanied by Fleamont Potter and Damocles Belby. Kilian couldn't have said who one was and who the other was, neither of them looked very much like Charlus, but the taller, the one who wore expensive-looking gaudy clothes and had long, straight black hair, he sat trembling at the authorities' table with a distraught air. Alphard explained to Kilian that he was Fleamont Potter. Apparently he had tested Malfoy's potion on himself, but it, instead, of ensuring him a dreamless sleep, had given him several nightmares. Slughorn thought Malfoy had miscalculated the right amount of hellebore syrup.
The news that Abraxas Malfoy had made a fool of the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers made the rounds of the school quickly and even though no one was brave enough (or stupid enough) to tease of him outright, it was evident that many found the happened amusing.
Kilian did as Tom had advised: fearlessly, he approached Malfoy, that same afternoon, in the library, and asked him how the test had gone. Malfoy didn't deign to give him an answer, but the way his eyes darted to the spot on the robe where the pin Kilian had been constantly wearing for the last week was gone, confirmed that Kilian had managed to plant the seed of doubt in his mind.
Kilian was elated, Tom extremely satisfied and that night, the two decided to celebrate their little victory.
Shortly after eleven in the evening, thanks to a couple of secret passages, they sneaked out of the castle, and reached the station, popping out from behind the statue of a gargoyle. Tom then led Kilian along a steep and narrow path lined with thick trees. Kilian was able to understand what Tom had in mind only when, turning a bend, the path opened up on the edge of the great lake. From there, they could admire Hogwarts, perched on top of the mountain: the windows glittered against the star-filled sky.
"Wow!" Kilian exclaimed, staring at the castle in wonder. He couldn't look away and his breathing had become labored: it was beautiful, it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
"I can't pay you back the three years you should have lived at Hogwarts," Tom said, "but I thought you deserved to live this. Let's go".
They reached a small boat that was on the shore of the lake and got on. It moved off, gliding across the lake. Kilian remained silent, to admire the castle that was getting closer and closer, towering over them, majestic, imposing, full of magic and keeper of secrets. At one point, Tom offered him his hand, smiling, and Kilian shook it, returning the smile.
The morning training had gone well. Alphard was leaving the locker room tired, but relatively satisfied when his sister called him imperiously, "Al, wait. I have to talk to you."
Roland met his gaze and mimed whit his lips "I'm sorry" before leaving, along with Ted, Nyx, Xenos Avery and Howard Goyle.
Alphard remained in the locker room with Walburga staring at him with a determined expression and her arms crossed.
"Did I do something that upset you, dear sister?" he asked in a affected tone.
"Not intentionally, my beloved brother," she replied in a similar tone, "but your lack of good taste disturbs me. I could understand the initial curiosity, but now you are exaggerating."
"What are you talking about?" Alphard asked, even though he actually knew what she was talking about.
Walburga snorted. "Ingenuity doesn't suit you, little brother," she replied. "You are a Black. Do you think Magbob is an adequate company? It isn't known where he comes from, but it's evident that he has not received any education, he doesn't know how to behave. Merlin, I would never have said it, but I preferred you when you were always on your own and you didn't talk to anyone."
"I'll take note of it," Alphard assured her. "I won't make other friends, but with Kilian it's now too late. Can I go now?"
Unfortunately, Walburga wasn't done. "Did he tamper with Malfoy's potion?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "He did it?"
Yes, he had done, and with Tom's help, but since Alphard liked Kilian as Kilian was (with all limbs in the right place), he couldn't share this information with his sister.
"Why are you interested?" he churches. "You and Malfoy have never been friends."
"It doesn't matter," she replied, opening the locker room door, and starting to walk towards the castle. "Aside from the fact that it would have been an honor for Slytherin if Malfoy had been successful; the point is that in our House there is a hierarchy to be respected."
Alphard managed to avoid snorting and quietly said, "I don't think he did it."
Walburga gave him a crooked look. "But if it had been him, you would be all right," she accused him.
To say that it suited him was hyperbole. He had doubts about the whole thing. Kilian, in fact, had declared war on Malfoy, Malfoy wasn't the kind of person to let it go and Alphard didn't see how Kilian could win. He had agreed to help him only because he understood how his friend felt: Kilian needed to know that he wasn't helpless.
Of course, Walburga didn't intend to ask him if he was worried about the possible consequences that the little revenge orchestrated by Kilian and Tom could have on Kilian. His sister was simply adamant that they, and the Malfoys, and the Lestranges and the Selwyns were comparable to members of a royal family and couldn't accept that children born in orphanages muggles and nameless brats, even if sorted to Slytherin, could dare challenge them.
Alphard couldn't even blame her. Alphard couldn't even blame her. Her arrogance was the fruit of the way she was brought up, it was what she was taught. Well, actually, all of them had been brought up that way, but people like her sister, Malfoy, and Paris Selwyn had been particularly dedicated pupils.
"That's right, isn't it?" Walburga insisted, distracting Alphard from his thoughts.
"Well, yes," Alphard admitted as they reached the castle staircase. "Knowing it has been him wouldn't take my sleep away." He shrugged. "I'm not interested in these things, you know it."
"I have yet to understand what interests you," she snorted.
Alphard was about to answer, but Walburga grabbed him by the shoulders and yanked hard him, almost painfully. "I've been extremely generous up to now," she said, "but my patience isn't unlimited. I'm serious, brother, make sure your little buddy knows there are rules he has to abide by."
"Your rules?"
"Yes, as always," she replied, freeing him from her grip and climbing the steps quickly, almost running: her long black hair fluttered behind her.
Alphard waited for her to reach the Entrance Hall, before starting to climb again.
It was true. Alphard had always respected the rules dictated by Walburga, between them it worked like this: Walburga was the leader; Cygnus and Orion, her faithful acolytes; Roland her shoulder and, when necessary, her stopper. Alphard and Lucretia usually tried not to get involved, but they never objected.
As soon as he entered the Entrance Hall, he saw Kilian emerge from the staircase leading to the basement: he met Alphard's gaze and gave him a huge smile, before running towards him.
"How did the training go?" he asked as they entered the Great Hall together.
"I'm not complaining," replied Alphard, sitting down at their table, "but if you had been there, it would have been better."
Kilian grinned, "I doubt it."
It wasn't a new topic. When Kilian had returned from his first flying lesson, declaring that Sykes had promoted him immediately and had also asked him to become her assistant, Alphard had become intrigued. The next day, they had flown together and the Slytherin Keeper had been able to ascertain that yes, Kilian was impressive flyer. Since then, he kept offering to go talk to Walburga to get him a place on the team.
"You would have a lot of fun," Alphard repeated for what must have been the thousandth time. "And if you help us beat the Gryffindors, everyone would forget your fight with Malfoy."
"I don't want them to forget" Kilian retorted, "besides, really, I'm sorry, but I won't join a team that has your sister as its captain; I don't intend to spend a single second more than strictly necessary with her."
At that moment, Tom entered the Great Hall, accompanied by Dorcas and Icarus, and sat down opposite Kilian. They greeted and then Icarus started talking about the Arithmancy homework. Tom intervened to explain how he had solved the logarithmic functions and how these functions could be used to measure the acidity scale of a potion. Alphard, although interested, only half listened.
Another unfortunate consequence of the clash with Malfoy was that Tom now seemed to think that Kilian was a candidate to join his group. Alphard recognized the way Tom behaved with Kilian: he had already seen him at work with Ted, Dorcas and Icarus. Tom was kind, always apparently interested in what Kilian had to say, always available to help him, but at the same time he probed him, tried to understand him and constantly tested him, evaluating his wits, his courage and his loyalty. Alphard glanced sideways at Dorcas, who hung from Tom's lips, and at Icarus, whose eyes' were filled with hearts. He didn't like the idea that his friend could one day become like this. Of course, Kilian didn't look like someone who could be given orders, but Dorcas Meadowes didn't seem it either. She was strong and bright and gifted and… wrapped around Tom Riddle's little finger.
He poured himself some tea. Sure, in all likelihood, what initially attracted Dorcas to Tom is that the two of them were the only ones -in their Slytherin year- to be orphans, Muggle-raised, and poor. "But all this" thought Alphard, frowning, "also applies to Kilian."
They finished breakfast and then, all five of them together, headed for the Arithmancy classroom. Kilian was visibly excited and remained so for all day because that evening would take place the event he had awaited from his first DADA lesson took place: the term's first meeting of the Duelling Club.
It was Professor Merrythought who presided over the club. That evening, after welcoming the new members, she announced that they would be practicing with bladed weapons during that meeting.
It was a very popular club, with students from all houses. They gathered in a large classroom on the second floor and, for the occasion, the teacher had hung a large amount of swords of all types and sizes on a wall. She invited them to choose one, explaining that in ancient times wizards could duel using both wand and sword and that this ability was still required of professional duelists.
"But even if you don't intend to become duelists, learning to use bladed weapons can be useful: it will help you train your reflexes and instinct" concluded the witch after everyone had grabbed a sword (the tiny Filius Flitwick, without embarrassment, had chosen a dagger).
Merrythought, after having them practiced on the basics, divided them into pairs: students from Slytherin versus Ravenclaw students of the same year; Gryffindor kids versus Hufflepuff kids peers. The students began practicing against each other as she passed them through, giving advice and correcting postures and grips. Alphard, who had chosen a long, thin sword with a wolf-shaped handle, fighted with Sowa Shacklebolt. Shacklebolt was skilled, and, in all likelihood, just like Alphard, he had received fencing lessons as a child, but thanks Quidditch, the reflexes of Alphard had better than his.
Kilian worked with Alexander Bagman, one of Ravenclaw's Chasers. His movements were slightly uncertain, but he had good posture, natural, he was trying hard and seemed to be enjoying himself. Bagman's thrusts, on the other hand, were fast and precise, but gallantly, recognizing his opponent's lack of experience, he held back and, instead of trying to beat him, tried to instruct him. They seemed to get along: at one point, Bagman bowed jokingly and, after a little talk, they both burst out laughing.
Out of the corner of his eye, Alphard noticed that Tom, who had just defeated Millicent Bagnold, was also watching them.
After a couple of hours, Merrythought ended the meeting and invited them to attend again the following week.
The following weeks passed peacefully. Kilian did not get into trouble again and although Walburga evidently still disapproved of his brother's friendship with the boy who appeared out of nowhere, for the moment, he had decided not to act: Alphard suspected that he had to thank Roland for that clemency.
October came and went quickly. Alphard, who had the feeling that that term was going by faster than usual, as a sign of solidarity, decided not to go to the Halloween outing in Hogsmeade and he and Kilian spent a pleasant Saturday in a depopulated castle, playing chess, doing homework and flying.
Alphard would remember how easily Kilian had grabbed the Quaffle after a fifty-foot swoop on one of the school's old brooms when the Gryffindors beat them at Quidditch the following week. The Slytherins were winning by a hundred and ninety to sixty when Minerva McGonagall spotted the Snitch and stole it from Howard Goyle with a double death roll.
Alphard desperately wanted Kilian on the team but didn't know what to do. He had already tried countless times to talk to Walburga about Kilian's talent, to get her to give him a chance, and he had also tried to talk to Kilian; but both were stubborn and immovable, and as a result, Slytherin was losing what was potentially the best Seeker in the school.
Alphard couldn't accept it and the evening following the match, while in the Astronomy tower they watched Venus enter in conjunction with the Moon, he tried to resume the argument.
"Al, enough," Kilian said, a little snorting, a little laughing.
"But you love to fly," he said, "I see it."
"And indeed, I fly," Kilian replied. "And I also assist Sykes: probably, if I joined the team I wouldn't be able to do it anymore."
Alphard sighed heavily. He had also thought about turning to Slughorn, as Head House he had more authority over the team's management than his sister, but he knew that Walburga would never forgive him.
Kilian reached out to grab a sandwich from a silver tray that they had "stolen" from the kitchens, and suddenly began to emit strange hisses.
Alphard stepped away from the telescope to look at him. Kilian stared in delight at a snake, the size of a viper, green with black diamond pattern. And he was speaking Parseltongue. Alphard stood watching him speechless, but the other boy, who seemed to have forgotten where he was and who he was with, kept hissing with the snake looking at him attentively and, every now and then, hissing in response. At one point, Kilian stretched out his arm and the viper approached him to curl up on it. When he turned and met Alphard's gaze, Kilian blanched.
"You're a Parselmouth," Alphard said. Immediately after, he reproached himself for that obvious statement.
Kilian nodded slowly.
The snake's eyes were fixed on Alphard who was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. "Why do not you tell me?" he churches.
Kilian shrugged. "I wasn't trying to hide it from you," he said. "Partly, it slipped my mind, partly I don't like talking about it."
Alphard smiled. "You forgot you were a Parselmouth." It was so Kilian...
The latter blushed slightly. "Probably, I forgot because I don't like talking about it," he specified.
"Did you already know? When you woke up I mean, did you remember that?"
Kilian shook his head. "No, I discovered it when... This summer, I visited a snake shop."
"Well, I think it's great. It's a very rare gift, especially in Europe."
Kilian gave him a skeptical look, while stroking the snake's head. "Indicates a predisposition for dark magic," he said.
"This is what I read," agreed Alphard, "but what's the problem?"
"Do you think Dark Magic isn't a problem?"
"No," Alphard replied frankly. "You yes? And before you answer," he added quickly "ask yourself, would you think ill about someone using Dark Magic to defend themselves?"
Kilian gave him a crooked look. "It's different. You know that using Dark Magic doesn't necessarily make you a dark wizard."
"Technically, a dark wizard is just someone very good at using Dark Magic. You become good at using Dark Magic, studying and practicing it, not talking to snakes. Seriously, Kilian isn't a big deal."
"You say that, but you look nervous," Kilian pointed out.
"I'm nervous because the snake you're cuddling like it were a kitten keeps staring at me, and as far as I know it could be poisonous."
Kilian burst out laughing. "She would never bite you. Nagini is a well-behaved girl, isn't she, Nagini? " he said continuing to stroke the head of the snake, Nagini.
"You know," Alphard said, "if Walburga knew you were a Parselmouth, maybe she would soften towards you."
Kilian shook his head decisively. "No, Alphard, please don't tell him, I don't want anyone to know. At least until I find out what it means."
Alphard knew what Kilian meant. "Speaking the language of snakes is a hereditary magical gift typical of some pureblood Arab and Indian families," he said.
"But I'm British."
"And, that is known, there is only one British family in which the blood of the Parselmouth flows."
"The Slytherin family," Kilian concluded.
Alphard nodded. "Salazar Slytherin also had Arab ancestry."
"Well," Kilian said, tugging at his hair nervously, "do you think it's possible that ...?"
"I don't know," Alphard said quietly, "and I don't know if it's possible to find out. Nobody has been able to reconstruct the lineage of Salazar Slytherin and there are many historians who have tried."
Kilian was about to say something when they heard voices approaching. They exchanged a quick glance: they were pretty sure they were not allowed to go to the Astronomy Tower outside of class and unsupervised. In mutual agreement, quickly, with levitation spells, they hid the tray with sandwiches on top of the bookcase and lifted a large lunar globe from the floor, slipped into the trapdoor hatch that it hid and then repositioned the globe. They were pressed against each other and Nagini was tightly wrapped around Kilian, but they could breathe and also hear the voices of those who had entered the tower.
"I thought I heard someone speak," said a faint voice that belonged to the Headmaster. Alphard heard two pairs of feet walking on the floor above them: evidently they were looking around.
"In any case, Albus," said the headmaster, "I think she's also a bit irresponsible. She had to keep an eye on Mr. Magbob. Constantly. Instead, just because she doesn't like traveling by train, she let him go alone to King's Cross. Exactly what prevented she from accompanying him at least as far as the platform?"
Alphard felt Kilian stiffen against him.
"I admit it was a levity on her part," said Dumbledore. "But you have to admit that no one could have foreseen what happened."
"Maybe not," said Dippet. "But that's not the only problem. Miranda doesn't know how to deal with students."
"The N.E.W.T.s students are making tremendous progress."
"On the other hand, the first year students still don't know how to perform the levitation charm, two of the third year burst into tears during a lesson, not even half of the fourth year students have learned the Summoning Charm and the fifth year students risk not to pass their OWLs."
"Well, let's not exaggerate now," Albus interjected and from his tone you could tell he was smiling.
Dippet wasn't amused. "I know some students will make it anyway, but you know how I feel: if a teacher is good, you say it with the worst students. Everyone is good with those gifted, brilliant and hardworker."
"Armando, I'm convinced that Miranda just needs a period of adjustment," Albus said in his usual calmly tone. "I only ask you to wait until the end of the year before making judgments."
Dippet sighed loudly. Alphard could hear them heading for the exit. "At the end of the year, it will be late for students who have OWLs," muttered Dippet in the distance.
They didn't hear what Dumbledore said. They waited several minutes, then Alphard tried to move the lunar globe slightly to take a look at the tower, they were really gone. They totally moved the globe and, with the help of their hands and feet, came out of the trapdoor, then put everything back in place.
Alphard looked at Kilian: he looked shaken and he was torturing his lower lip.
"Believe me, they won't fire her," he assured him. "Dumbledore always gets the better of their arguments."
"Yes, maybe," Kilian muttered.
Alphard, by now, knew him well enough to know it couldn't end there. In fact, the next day, Kilian went to talk to Miranda, brought to her attention the fact that she couldn't handle the younger kids and offered to help her better structure the lessons. Alphard initially had doubts about the matter. A couple of times, he had attended flying lessons and had the opportunity to see that actually, Kilian seemed to have a gift for teaching - he was patient, he knew how to make himself heard, it didn't take much to understand the strengths and weaknesses of every aspiring flyer -, but Alphard was convinced that it could not be taught without a deep knowledge of the subject. However, he soon discovered that the Kilian-Miranda duo worked. As the weeks went by, the quality of Miranda's course increased and no one student broke down in tears during her classes.
One December morning, Hogwarts woke up covered in a blanket of snow more than three feet high, the lake became a thick sheet of ice and the castle began to fill with Christmas trees and holly wreaths.
On the last Saturday before the winter holidays, an outing in Hogsmeade was organized. Kilian was delighted to finally be able to visit the village and, as they crossed the High Street, he watched in amazement at the shops and small sloping cottages.
"You'll be fine?" Alphard asked him.
"Why shouldn't I?" Kilian answered.
Alphard shrugged. "I'm sorry to leave you alone for Christmas. My mother, however, would never allow me to stay in school. I would have invited you to Grimmauld Place, but..."
"Walburga," Kilian concluded for him. "Al, I'll be fine. I won't be alone: Tom remains too ». For some reason, this thought didn't make Alphard feel any better. "And Dorcas and Balthazar," Kilian added and then looked around with trepidation. "So where do we start?"
Alphard took him to Honeydukes, where they tasted huge filled chocolates, then to Zonko, where they tried their new set of fake wands, and finally he accompanied him to the park which was at the top of the hill. It was there that they saw Roland. He didn't notice them. He was leaning against a redwood, his eyes closed and he was kissing a girl with dark hair dotted with snowflakes that Alphard recognized immediately despite she had her back towards him: it was Olive Hornby.
Alphard put a finger to his lips to ask Kilian not to speak. Then he grabbed his arm and dragged him back to the High Street, hoping Roland and Olive hadn't noticed them.
When they returned near to the Post Office, Kilian asked: "Are you okay?"
"Yes, sorry for yanking you like that."
"Imagine, but what was the problem?" He smiled. "Haven't you ever seen two kids kissing?"
"The problem is that Roland shouldn't be kissing Olive."
"Oh! He and your sister are...? "
"Not that I know of," Alphard replied, walking towards the Three Broomsticks. "But I know Roland's parents. They don't want a half-blood as their daughter-in-law. In fact, even if no one says it, they probably expect Roland and Walburga to announce an engagement one day."
"And could it happen?"
Alphard shrugged. "They never told me anything and I never asked."
"Take a guess," Kilian encouraged him.
"If I had to guess, I'd say no," said Alphard.
"But do you think your families are planning to organize an arranged marriage?"
Alphard stared at Kilian, puzzled. "Nobody arranges arranged marriages. A marriage is a binding magical contract, it would be barbaric to force someone to marry against their will, we can marry whoever we want."
"So, what is the problem?" Kilian asked.
"We can marry whoever we want within a small and determined circle of people that Olive Hornby isn't a part of."
Kilian frowned. "Why? What's wrong with her? She's pretty, smart and she's not even... you know, Muggle-born."
"The problem is that Roland is the heir to one of the our oldest families, has received a certain type of education and is expected to marry the descendant of another ancient family, not the daughter of a Muggle-born." Alphard ran a hand through his hair. "Look, just, please, don't tell anyone. Maybe it's nothing serious, but if they discover, we could put Roland in a difficult situation. In particular, don't say anything to Walburga."
"I wouldn't have done it anyway," Kilian assured him as they entered into Three Broomsticks. As usual, the inn was crowded and noisy. In one corner were Prefect McGonagall and Prefect McKinnon with Augusta Gamp and her boyfriend, Apprentice Auror Jasper Longbottom; some teachers, including Slughorn and Beery, were sitting at the counter and chatting with the attractive innkeeper; in another corner of the room, to their right, Walburga sipped Butterbeer, surrounded by Slytherin's other fifth-year girls: Lucretia, Julia Flint, and Samantha Goyle. Alphard and Kilian were looking for a free table, possibly far from Walburga, when, from the back of the room, a shrill female voice caught their attention.
"Kilian! Alphard! We have some free places here."
The Metamorphmagus swore a low voice. Kilian gave him a sorry look, but there was no way to ignore who had called them without being terribly rude and Kilian was a good guy.
Alphard turned his gaze to right and met Walburga's dark and furious eyes: he would pay for it during the holidays. Alphard sighed and walked with Kilian to the back of the inn, where with smiling faces and big tankards of Butterbeer, the huge and stupid Rubeus Hagrid, the annoying Malcolm McGonagall, the shy Chester Bones and two Muggle-born girls awaited them. The girl who had called them was, of course, Susan Bennet who, for some reason, had decided that she and Kilian were friends. Kilian mostly tolerated her patiently. The other Muggle-born girl was Clementine Cox, a prettily dressed Hufflepuff with pageboy hair, who took their courses in Arithmancy and Herbology. Alphard realized at that moment that Bones and Cox must have gotten together that year at some point, since they were holding hands and sharing a heart-shaped cookie.
"I'll get you a drink!" Hagrid announced when they were seated and rushed to the counter, not even asking them what they preferred. Kilian smiled.
McGonagall grinned at Alphard. "So, Black, have you recovered from defeat?"
"Oh, no, please, stop talking about Quidditch," Cox sighed. Alphard usually found her annoying, but at that moment he was grateful: at least she had saved him from having to respond to McGonagall's obvious provocation.
"You need a new Seeker," Bennet said, acting as if Cox hadn't spoken. Alphard found it vaguely interesting; was she unaware that she was being rude or did she dislike Cox?
Hagrid returned at that moment, with two tankards of Butterbeer.
"Kilian is good," Alphard said, grabbing one of the tankards, "but he doesn't want to join the team."
Kilian gave him a dirty look.
"Don't you want to join the team?" repeated Bennet incredulously.
Kilian shrugged. "Walburga Black wouldn't want me anyway, and then I'm busy: I'm assisting Sykes."
"Yes, my brother Robb told me," said McGongall.
"Sure. Robert McGonagall, freshman, Hufflepuff. I wondered if you were cousins or brothers," Kilian said. "I like him, he's very nice."
"But he's not talented," McGonagall replied mercilessly.
"Well, he suffers from vertigo," Kilian defended him.
"He doesn't suffer from vertigo," McGonagall said with a brusque motion of his hand, as if trying to dispel the words. "He's just afraid of falling, believe me. Anyway," he continued,"he said you're very good. I'd like to see you play."
"Me too," said Bennet enthusiastically. "We will have to organize a friendly match between us."
Both Alphard and Kilian responded with an undemanding grunt.
Meanwhile, Cox was starting to get impatient; she was frantically stamping her foot on the floor and gripping her boyfriend's arm tightly. Bones bravely tried to change the subject.
"Kilian, how are you at Hogwarts?" he churches.
Kilian smiled at him. "Well, I love it."
"Do the Slytherins do bad things to you?" said Hagrid.
Alphard didn't understand how one could be so foolish; did Hagrid remember that they too were Slytherins?
Kilian, however, did not seem to have taken offense. "No and in any case I know how to defend myself."
"Have you read the new book by Fifi LaFolle?" Cox suddenly intervened seamlessly.
However, she succeeded in her intent. Other than her, no one at that table was fond of romance novels (Hagrid and Kilian didn't even know who Fifi LaFolle was), but that didn't stop her from detailing the storyline of Enchanted Encounters and after that, everyone began to discuss other novels and comics they had recently read. Alphard soon lost all interest in the conversation and began to show signs of impatience.
Kilian noticed it and tried to save him, "Oh, I think it's late, the sunset has passed. We have to go. Alphard has yet to finish packing and we have to go to Slughorn's party tonight."
"I'll participate too," Cox said excitedly. "As Chester's partner," she added, giving her boyfriend a cheesy look. Bones was a member of the Slugh Club because of his father, who was the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. "I've always wanted to go to Slugh Club parties. I didn't know you were a member too, Kilian," she concluded.
"I'm not," he replied. "I'll just accompany Alphard."
"Oh! You two…"
"No," Kilian interrupted, quickly. "Let's go as friends."
"And what are you wearing?" Cox inquired, anyway excited.
After having a detailed description of the dress robes that Alphard had given Kilian, Cox decided she too had to come back to school to get ready. Consequently, at the end, they left the inn and began to walk towards the castle, all seven of them together.
They went up the High Street with other students. McGonagall, Bennet and Hagrid were talking about some nonsense when an intense cold fell on them. Alphard felt it penetrate under the skin, creep up to his chest, take his breath away...
It was as if the evening had become darker, there was no longer any noise, his knees were weak and his vision was clouding.
To their right, through the trees, a hundred cloacked creatures were approaching.
"DON'T DARE! DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF! YOU'RE NOTHING!" His father screaming at his mother.
"I'M YOUR WIFE! And I swear to you, Pollux, that if that little bitch gets pregnant, I'll rip the baby out of her womb!"
They pointed their wands against each other and Irma got the better of them. Pollux had a large cut that ripped through his belly, but he kept attacking his wife. She laughed shrilly and avoided his blows easily. At one point she jinxed at him, Pollux hit the wall and began to vomit blood.
Alphard was five years old, he was on the stairs, crying and squirming, he wanted to go help his father, but Walburga was hugging him tightly and holding him firmly on the steps, away from their parents, safe.
Alphard was there, on that ladder, wrapped in his sister's arms, with the screams of his parents roaring in his ears and, somehow, he was in Hogsmeade, with those demons getting closer and closer. He heard someone scream, others cry, but no one seemed able to escape or react, or at least no one seemed able to, until a small, dark figure stepped forward, pulled out his wand and yelled, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
A blinding silver stag galloped towards the trees, lowered its head and began to charge the demons who were now escaping, retreating into the darkness. When they disappeared, the silver stag turned and trotted towards Kilian, lowered his head to rub it playfully against him and then vanished.
They were all still there, trembling, frightened, panting. Alphard couldn't have said how long it took them to record what had happened, how long it took them to recover. It seemed like hours.
At one point, someone came, villagers, teachers, other students. They brought chocolate and blankets. They explained that hundreds of Dementors had attacked Hogsmeade and then disappeared into the darkness, repelled by the Patronus. They assumed it had all been orchestrated by Grindelwald. No one had been kissed.
They accompanied them to the castle, Alphard could hear Bennet, McGonagall, Bones, Cox and Hagrid explain what had happened to them and how Kilian had saved them, but he couldn't pay attention. His eyes were fixed on the pale face of the latter who ate the chocolate with a distracted air. Their eyes met: the change was barely noticeable, but Kilian was beginning to regain some color on his cheeks. He smiled, or at least he tried and Alphard tried to reciprocate.
That evening, they didn't go to Slughorn's party.