Tempest stood in front of the mirror in her rooms at Malfoy Manor. Already she could hear the crowds that had assembled in the Great Hall below. At the moment however she was lost in all the changes that had taken place in the last seven months.
Seven months ago, when all this had started Harry Potter had been dreading this day more than even the upcoming marriage date. He had feared what it would like to become a woman. He had nearly thrown up at the thought that he would have to walk around with Voldemort – on the Dark Lord's arm no less – and smile and enjoy the show.
Harry Potter had pictured Ronald Weasley seeing the new Harry Potter and his former friend would scowl at him before he shouted, "Slimey Snake!"
But Tempest opened her eyes, and squashed every single thought. She looked in the mirror and her eyes met the locket around her neck.
"Harry Potter is dead –" she thought she had heard the whisper. She smiled grimly in agreement with the statement. Harry for most of his life had had little love or anything to live for. The last six months had made Tempest question if Harry after coming to Hogwarts had had anyone who truly cared for him.
"There is no Harry Potter anymore –" she said out loud.
Her long French-manicured fingernails which had been done by having one of the very best come from France itself now drifted through hair that had also been done to perfection by the best money could buy. Her hair was done up in a bun and the ends of that bun had been layered to fall down on her right shoulder. Then Tempest's eyes looked upon the dress that sparkled in the mirror as she turned. She still remembered the day she and her mother and Pansy had shopped for dresses. She nodded her head and forgot Harry Potter.
Instead her right hand took what had become her most treasured possession into her fingers. Her long fingernail traced the beautiful golden S of the locket.
~Slytherin~ she found herself hissing in parseltongue. As she said it, she looked back up into her dark eyes, no longer green thanks to her father and mother by blood. Then, her fingers placed the locket down but left it out proudly over her dress. Then, she turned to see that Pansy had just entered her room. Pansy's dress of royal blue flowed down to her feet, but left her elegant shoulders and arms on full display. Pansy's hair came down in waves as the only thing covering her shoulders and chest. Tempest smiled as Pansy walked up to her and embraced her. Each one gave the other a peck on each cheek. As she looked at her new best friend, she whispered in wonder,
"You look so beautiful, Pansy –"
Pansy couldn't stop smiling. Her arms around Tempest as the two enjoyed this last moment. Then, as was customary at a time like this, Tempest walked back to her dresser and pulled out a silver chain. It was a locket like hers, but different. It had been in the Black family vaults. But it was enchanted. It granted certain powers – powers Tempest did not know to someone who had Black blood. Her husband-to-be had found it and thought it would be a perfect gift for this budding friendship.
Pansy looked at it and a huge grin appeared on her face. "It is so beautiful –" she whispered.
Tempest walked up to her friend and carefully slipped it around her neck. "I think its beauty reflects your beauty." Then Pansy held to her tightly for one last moment. They broke apart when a knocking thudded on the door behind them. Tempest turned, squeezing her friend's arm gently.
"Come in –" she said, and the door slowly opened to reveal a stately Lucius Malfoy and the Queen herself, Narcissa Malfoy.
Tempest let go of her friend and ran to the warm embrace of the Malfoys. As they held to her Tempest felt something she had never felt – a feeling of family. After the embrace Narcissa looked down on her with a beaming smile.
"It had always been my dream to have a daughter, and you have made my dream come true." She said with a smile.
Tempest smiled back, but she did not know what to say. Lucius Malfoy who often was stoic when it came to such moments also smiled gently on her.
"What you have brought to our family in this house has been a light that hasn't been present in a long time, Tempestora –" he said.
Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out two what were obviously jewelry boxes. He opened one up to reveal two silver and platinum bangles. Narcissa took these and slipped them each onto her arm.
"These come from the Malfoy family vault, and bear our sigil. Accept these as our adopted daughter, even though you are now of age."
Narcissa, whose eyes almost seemed on the verge of watering looked at her and smiled. "Please always consider yourself as one of our own."
So emotional was Tempest that she only nodded her head in return.
Lucius opened up the other box to reveal two stunning emerald-blue earrings that had diamonds all around them. Narcissa took these out and put them on Tempest's ears. Tempest embraced first Lucius and then Narcissa and then Lucius had himself already composed.
"Come, Tempest, we have one more event, and your guests await."
Lord Malfoy led the foursome out of Tempest's room to a quiet room set aside for just this moment. Inside of the room was the curly hair of someone Harry Potter had come to loathe. But Tempest was fully prepared for this interview and photo opportunity where Harry had not been ready. There was a small interview followed by photos. Then, Lucius was moving them to the top of the stairway leading into the Great Hall of Malfoy Manor.
Tempest appeared on the arm of Lucius Malfoy, as his adopted daughter at the top of the steps and at her appearance, the buzzing that had been heard in the Hall below instantly ceased. Very slowly and dramatically, Tempest began to move down the steps, Lucius guiding the way while Pansy and Narcissa walked behind. The flashes of Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly cameras came down below as they made their way to the bottom of the steps.
Once they were on the second to last step, Lucius stopped and then he cleared his voice to address the assembled.
"Today, we bid all of you welcome to this most auspicious occasion. The Malfoy family is so very humbled that so many of you are here in our home. It is our great pleasure to introduce my wife's cousin, Tempestora Gormlaith Potter on her seventeenth birthday –"
Immediately the crowd in the Great Hall exploded in thunderous applause and Tempest smiled at the assembled around them. Then, Lucius led Tempest into the party.
What followed was what you might call a meet and greet. Lucius led Tempest out into the crowd and she was introduced to high society. She had a conversation with Minister Fudge and his wife. Rufus Scrimgeour and his wife were also presented. A fleeting thought slipped through Tempest's mind as one important dignitary of the Wizarding World after another was introduced to her.
She knew who these people were. Lucius and Narcissa had taken the time to make sure who these people were, what their roles in Wizarding Society were. They made sure she knew what things to say and not say. A bitter thought crept through her mind at that moment. Her former Magical Guardian had done none of this nor had he at least found someone to make sure she knew. What especially made that so difficult was that Harry Potter had made so many mistakes and most of them were because he was ignorant of this world.
It was a long process of walking through the crowds and greeting each and every guest – and there was no one in the assembly that was unimportant. Even the boys and girls of her age were children of important people. She had come to know that Daphne Greengrass's father was an important lawyer for the Ministry.
Tracey Davis, though she was a half-blood, her grandfather was the Head of the distinguished Selwyn Family and her Half-blood father was just under the Minister who oversaw the Floo system. Millicent Bulstrode's father was a wealthy businessman who second only to Lucius Malfoy gave philanthropically to many Ministry causes. Lisa Turpin's parents were what Tempest had learned was new blood. Their had recently ascended to become a Most Noble house in the Wizengamot, and her father was now the Chief Warlock.
As Tempest was introduced to some of the male classmates, she realized just how little Harry Potter had known about these boys and their parents. Theodore Nott's father and his father before him had served in the Ministry as overseers of portkeys. Blaise Zabini's mother was a beautiful woman whose network of connections nearly rivaled that of Narcissa Malfoy. The Crabbes and Goyles though not very intelligent were well-connected.
Only after every single guest had been seen and greeted did Tempest have somewhat a break. She and Pansy sat at the Head table along with Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy and Draco. There was a beautiful array of food and drink brought to them.
After the large meal, Pansy and Tempest were allowed to slip away to freshen themselves up and catch some fresh air, but in less than an hour the two were back in the Hall for the Ball portion of the evening. It did not take long for Tempest to be thoroughly exhausted. Custom began with Tempest's first dance with her father. Lucius Malfoy had stood in for him. From there, Tempest danced with the Minister whom she found to be an excellent dancer and an easy conversationalist. And then the night continued with one waltz or dance after another.
After two hours of dancing where she danced with nearly all her male classmates and her former Potions' master, Severus Snape and that dance had been actually very enjoyable, the music stopped and Lucius, Narcissa, and Pansy ushered Tempest to the front of the Hall.
Lucius stood tall and proud as he held the arm of Tempestora. He raised his hands and this time it took the assembled crowds considerably longer to refrain from the noise after so much good food, drink, and music. When it was finally silent, Lucius spoke.
"Lords and ladies of the Wizarding World, Tempestora is now of age," he began. And as he began to speak Tempest could almost feel the crowds in front of them part. Her eyes tried not to look out in eager anticipation of who was arriving.
"And as was long ago the custom in our world, Tempestora has submitted herself to become the bride of one of the most distinguished and talented among us." His head held high and his voice nearly cracked as he continued. "When she agreed of her own free will to this union, she was certainly afraid and somewhat ignorant of all the reasons why this union was so important."
Tempest smiled at Lucius' warm praise as she had come to realize what this was. She knew that Harry Potter would be seething right now at these words, but at the same time Lucius realized what had laid at the heart of Harry Potter and why he wished to do this.
"She has given up what could have been cause for a Blood Feud between Ancient and Noble families in the hope that we and our children might know peace. And I truly believe she has come to care and love her betrothed."
At last the parted crowds separated and Lord Voldemort had come front and center.
Tempest's eyes fell upon a tall and handsome man in his middle ages, his jet black hair done back. He was dressed in a black and emerald tuxedo. The only thing jewelry on him was the ring he had reacquired from Dumbledore. He walked toward them now and looked down upon her with a smile. Then he spoke out in a loud voice.
"I Lord Voldemort of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Slytherin have come to claim my betrothed, Lady Tempestora Gormlaith Potter of the Most Ancient House of Potter and the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black."
Then removing from his pockets he opened a small box, and within was the most beautiful ring Tempest had ever seen. A large golden ring littered with sparkling diamonds, but in the center was the largest diamond of them all and around that diamond hundreds of emeralds.
Voldemort fell to his knee and took her hand in his own. He looked up with a smile on his face.
"Will you Tempestora Gormlaith Potter marry me?"
Tempest smile down as she pushed out her finger and trying hard not to burst out in emotional sobs, she responded,
"Yes –"
The beautiful ring was placed upon her left ring finger and then Lord Voldemort stood and took her arm. Lucius stood behind them and spoke one more time.
"It is my pleasure to be the first to congratulate these two as they have begun to court and prepare for marriage. May this union be a blessing to each of them and truly bring peace to our world."
At this there was thunderous applause that burst forth in the Hall and Lord Voldemort bent down and kissed his betrothed, and she held gently to him as they shared in their first public kiss. Then, he pulled away and led her onto the ballroom floor.
The two enjoyed a dance just between them as music picked up around them. They remained quiet, each one taking the moment to enjoy the other. After the first song others joined in. Tempest noted with delight that Pansy had finally agreed to allow Draco a dance.
The last hour of the night had been delightful for Tempest. She was now the exclusive dance partner for her betrothed. After several dances, she and her husband-to-be began a receiving line for guests as they began to leave. Some of those who were her age left first followed at the last by some of the more distinguished dignitaries. The last to leave were the Parkinsons.
Pansy who had finished the evening on Draco's arm rushed up to Tempest and embraced her tightly. Each one giving an exhausted but warm hug to the other. Then Pansy turned and was about to leave when Draco ran up and pulled her away and gave Pansy a kiss on the cheek. Then, the Malfoys left the entrance as Tempest turned to her betrothed.
Lord Voldemort smiled in pride as he looked at her. He bent down and this time the two shared in a searing kiss. His arms moved possessively pulling her small thin waist tight against his body. Tempest wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself into him as her lips opened up to his. His mouth crashed down upon her, making it no secret that he wished to claim her as his own. Tempest's body reached up for his and her hips crashed to meet his as they embraced like this for several long minutes.
At last he pushed her gently apart from him, but then he looked at her once more.
"I am so proud of what you have become, my Tempest," he whispered heatedly at her. Her face blushed at his words and she stared into his eyes that turned again red jealously. She felt a heat roll up inside of her at his words.
He pressed down for one more chaste kiss and then he turned to leave. Tempest watched him go and then returned to what was now her family looking out into now the empty Great Hall.
Each Malfoy in turn, starting with Draco embraced her warmly and then in a quiet family like embrace they looked out at the large mess that was the Great Hall. Warm thoughts filled Tempest's mind and heart as the Malfoys held her close to them. This was what she and even Harry had always wanted. Nothing else had mattered. It did not escape Tempest's attention that it had been Lord Voldemort that had granted what she always wanted to her.
Curly brunette hair flowed down over bare shoulders and covered a bright orange gown. The gown had straps holding it up criss-crossing around her neck and to her back. Her dress went down to her legs on the floor. Tempestora Gormlaith Potter stared at her reflection in the mirror still wondering at the changes that had come upon her life.
As Tempest did often, her fingers were caressing the locket, her first gift from her husband-to-be. She stared in thought at everything that had happened to her when the door outside of her room knocked. She did not turn as she spoke in a clear voice, "Enter."
Then she turned back to look in wonder at her mirror once more.
The door behind her opened to reveal the Malfoy House-Elf, Wimsy.
"Mistress," he whispered. "The Parkinson girl and the Turpin girl have arrived for your shopping trip to Diagon Alley."
Tempest did not turn around but put her hand in her curly hair a smile still as she looked at her reflection. She then looked down at the large diamond and emerald engagement ring on her finger, still amazed as she stared at it.
"Tell them I will be down in a few short minutes," Tempest said in reply. Then, she turned and walked to her vanity, where she pulled out a matching diamond bracelet for her left hand and two diamond earrings. Then she lifted her head and summoned her wand to herself.
And then she followed the House Elf out of the bedroom and out to the entry. When she was in the parlor, she practically ran to Pansy and embraced her and then did the same with Lisa. The three of them having become friends through letters the last few months.
Narcissa Malfoy and Cassandra Turpin turned. Lady Malfoy cleared her throat.
"Now that we are all here, we can begin our little trip to Diagon Alley –"
Then one by one, they walked to the Fireplace. First, the the Turpins, and at last Narcissa with Tempest and Pansy following behind.
As Tempest walked through the fireplace she saw out of the corner of her eye the two Aurors that the Ministry had assigned to her case, Dawlish who had led her rescue and one she did not remember. They fell behind as the mothers led the three girls out of the Leaky Cauldron and into the Alleyway.
Diagon Alley was coming back – slowly. A year ago when Harry Potter had walked through the alley with Ron and Hermione many of the windows had been boarded up with large Ministry of magic wanted posters and self-help posters over them. Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor had been closed up. The only places open had been Flourish and Blotts, Madam Malkin's and the twins' store.
The three girls followed their charges to Twilfit and Tattings, turning their noses at the large crowd of people who were littering the Alley. Some of those who passed looked questioningly at Tempest and her two friends. In the past such attention would have left Harry very uncomfortable, but the memory of Narcissa Malfoy speaking to her in the months leading up to her engagement lingered in her mind.
"People will always stare at you, Tempest," she had said with one of her haughtiest tone. "But people like you and the Malfoys are better than they. Just raise your head and eyes up and keep them beneath you."
Tempest remembered that advice now as she walked through the Alley. She kept her head up and eyes up as the people who whispered and talked about the three girls walking side by side through Diagon Alley.
The Ministry Auror escort that had come with them stood outside the door as the six ladies squeezed inside. Immediately the Mistress of Twilfit and Tattings came out of the back room. The storefront was locked and the windows clouded by magic. Then, each of the girls were led back to their own fitting rooms.
Tempest endured what was fast becoming second nature to her – yet another fitting. She remembered her times at Madam Malkin's in the Alley as Harry and remembered how much quicker times like this went. Now, there were simply more places that needed to be measured on her body.
Mother, as Tempest now called Narcissa Malfoy ordered the required robes, but several other outfits for her, more than she would need for school or social life. The three girls spent a delightful amount of time trying on different styles, testing different fabrics to their eye color, hair color, and skin color. What took nearly three hours, left the three girls and their mothers hungry and exhausted.
But the schedule required one more stop before they could have lunch. They went to the least desirable part of the trip, the Apothecary. The smell was worse than what Tempest had remembered as Harry. It simply assaulted her nose. Narcissa tapped her wand on Tempest's nose and whispered a spell and at least the smell left. Tempest still had to hold her stomach down as she walked the aisles of the store.
The three girls and their two adult guardians had gotten all their things and were paying for them, when Pansy announced.
"I thought the smell in here was improved, but now I realize just how Muddy this place can get, Tempest –" Pansy drawled.
Tempest chuckled lightly as she turned to see what Pansy was referring to when she caught her first glimpse of her former friends, the first meeting since they had sat on Harry's bed in Privet Drive, having just helped abduct her.
Two red-headed terrors, one male and the other female, and between them a girl with bushy hair. Tempest's hand went instantly into her dress, into a secret pocket that held her wand, loosening it, she felt it in her hand and suddenly pointing at the group that had walked in. The confrontation had accumulated a few others as Arthur and Molly Weasley stepped up behind them as well.
As Tempest looked at them, she saw Molly Weasley, a woman she once had thought might be a mother figure smile at her.
"I was hoping we could see you, Harry – " she said, stretching out her arms. Tempest stiffened and replied cooly, "I was hoping that I would neither have to see you nor smell you or any of your ilk –" she drawled. And Tempest was quite proud of the drawl that she had used, thinking it sounded exactly like her mother's. Narcissa's hand went to her shoulder in a comforting gesture and Narcissa took the lead.
"If you would step out of the way –" she said coldly.
But none of the Weasleys nor Hermione Granger moved. Hermione clinched her fists and looked up at Tempest, her eyes trying to plead with her. Ron was the one Tempest could stand looking at the least. His eyes betrayed what was on his mind. He was staring at her with a lustful glare. Tempest's face was curled in complete horror and disgust at the group in front of them.
Cassandra Turpin, Lisa's mother stepped forward. "You can't seriously think that Tempestora is going to go anywhere with you. You need to step aside or we will call Tempest's Auror detail."
Tempest's hand jumped as she remembered the words her Aunt Bella had been whispering in her ear every night. Each of those nights, she had still resisted the urge to strike out with an Unforgiveable when her Aunt had taunted her, but she wasn't sure she could resist right now. She could hear her Aunt's whispers as if she were present.
"Dirty Blood not worth the ground it is on, dear Tempest –"
Pansy had stood at Tempest's right hand from the moment she had remarked at the two's entry into the store. Lisa now moved to her left.
"We don't need to spend any more time around people that are beneath us, Tempest," she said in her haughtiest voice. Pansy chuckled, "You got that right, Lisa. She had had to suffer more than her fair share from filth like this."
Tempest sighed dramatically, as if their comments were accepted as truth and exactly how she felt. She allowed Lisa and Pansy to lead the way as they rudely pushed past the three children and the parents. Tempest saw out of the corner of her eye, Molly Weasley trying to reach out her hand at her, but saw how quickly it was shoved down by her mother.
"Harry –" Molly choked out as she passed, but Tempest sighed in frustration again as she answered. "I have certainly suffered enough –" and finally they were free of the small crowd of former friends and had made it out of the store.
The confrontation had left the group of five ladies exhausted and feeling dirty. School shopping was abandoned for the time as Narcissa led the group of girls to a posh restaurant in the finest part of the Wizarding Allies. Tempest and the others were able to relax, knowing the Weasleys would not follow them there.
After a long meal and time together, the group decided that it would be safest to send a House Elf for the rest of their supplies, uncertain of what the Order of the Phoenix might do now that Tempest had made a public appearance.
August flew in a rush of time, and Tempest was kept very busy. Now, that she was of age and had made a public appearance, her father and mother allowed her to have a few limited outings. Most of those were arranged out of the country to avoid more unpleasant confrontations. Tempest had to take a few tests at a private room in the Ministry to make certain that she was truly ready for seventh year. But the largest amount of her time was spent with her Aunt Bella.
Night after night she listened to the whispers of Bellatrix Lestrange. After each session, she wrote in the black leather diary every hurtful thing that her Muggle relatives, Dumbledore, the Weasleys and Hermione had ever done to her. But it appeared that Harry Potter was not truly dead yet. With each Dark Arts lesson, Tempest resisted the siren call of such powerful magic.
This had provided for the very first uncomfortable discussion between Tempest and her groom-to-be. At the moment she was alone with her betrothed in Grimmauld Place. He had told her he could not meet with her at the Malfoys. He sat behind his desk. His face showed no anger, but neither did it show any warmth as he gazed at her through red-slitted eyes.
Tempest was a hurricane of emotions as she stood in front of his desk. She felt so empty and unfulfilled as he sat behind the desk and kept her at arms length. She longed to feel his arms wrapped around her. When they physically touched, she felt complete and whole, but now she felt empty.
"Tempestora –" he said at last, his voice lacking the warmth it had the night of their engagement. "I have read Madame Lestrange's report on your studies and I am not at all pleased."
Tempest clutched her fingers and looked down at the desk in front of her. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Tempest stifled a cry as she thought through her mind, and the logic she had over why she had been unable to perform the spells.
"When you return to Hogwarts tomorrow, do you plan to go play in the Gryffindor dorms with Mudbloods and Blood-traitors? Will you throw everything away that you have gotten to go back to empty promises, a fool's errand, and the scorn of our world?"
"I am no Gryffindor, my Lord –" she said with resolution. "I will do anything to please you, but I can't do the Dark Arts."
The Dark Lord did not answer her as he stared at her in contemplation. He kept his gaze on her for a long time until at last he stood. He moved around the desk. As he did, Tempest's body shivered in response and eager anticipation of his touch, but he walked past her. He went to a large bag that was behind her, shuffled with it and dropped a package on the desk in front of her. He stood behind her, so close, Tempest's body yearned for him.
"It has been quite the year for someone as you," and then he wrapped his arms around her and she breathed in his scent and felt her body surrender to his, feeling shivers of pleasure that she could not understand at his closeness. As he spoke, any resistance in her seemed to fade.
"You have done well in becoming a woman, bearing yourself as a pureblood, and shaking off the old connections to others."
She felt her breath catch in her throat as she felt her spirit respond to his praise. "Thank you, my Lord –"
But he cut her off. "You fight against me yet, when you forget that you belong to me –" he whispered.
She could feel it inside of her. She could feel the conflict. On the one hand she was done with Dumbledore, the Weasleys, and Granger, and all things Gryffindor. But on the other hand, she felt she could not stoop to so much hate to speak any of those words that her fiancé commanded of her.
"What would you do?" he began to whisper, "If I commanded you to do something while you are a student at Hogwarts? Would you obey my commands?"
She stiffened in his arms, the biting question showing his lack of trust and his fear of her betrayal. His question confronting the open truth that she had not completely shed the skin of what she had been. She reached up for the locket he had given her, as she always did now whenever she felt vulnerable, uncertain or frightened.
As always, the Locket comforted her. Sometimes, she thought it spoke to her words of wisdom, words of power, and words that would fix things. Her small lips opened in a sigh, because her hand touched his locket, and his hips pushed against her ass. Then, she spoke, "I swear I will do as you command me –"
Her husband-to-be did not command her at first. He pull her in more closely and she felt herself fall helplessly against him. More and more she felt her mind coming in line with what her body already felt. She groaned when he finally released her and walked again behind the desk. He touched the wrapped box he had placed on that desk.
"This is a present for you as you return to Hogwarts, my dear," he said with a grin.
Having felt his affection and feeling she had regained his respect and desire, she reached for the box eagerly. Delicately painted fingers pulled the ribbon off the decorated box and unwrapped the box carefully, fearful to wreck what was inside in case it was precious and breakable. But as she opened the lid and looked in, her hand stopped.
Inside of the box clearly placed in stasis were two items
The egg of a chicken
A female toad.
Tempest stared at the two items, feeling a complete loss as to why he would give her such a gift. She had been hoping for a necklace or bracelet or ring that would have hidden properties that might give her the strength to do what was necessary, but she was not expecting such a –
Gift.
But then a memory came to her – a memory of Hogwarts' library. Hermione Granger had showed her a page in a book deep within the library.
"The very first basilisk was said to be bred by Herpo the Foul in Ancient Greece. He did this by hatching a chicken egg beneath a toad."
Her hand stopped and she wondered if she could breathe at all as she looked at what seemed to be pedestrian or simple items.
"Basilisk –" she whispered.
Her husband-to-be stood once more and walked behind her. She turned to watch him. She watched his eyes turn red as they often did when something that belonged to him was mentioned. Then, he switched to parseltongue.
~I wish for you to return to Slytherin its legacy ~
She clenched her fingers in her hands. She had been in the presence of a basilisk before. She had stood beneath it with her eyes closed. She had beheld its giant sinuous form. She had been impaled under its giant teeth. She had rescued a –
And her stature changed as she considered why she had gone down to mess with something she did not have to mess with. Her memories of Harry flooded and swam together with her memories as Tempest, and as she had been doing for months, she reconciled those memories. Harry Potter's life had been about manipulation and doing what an Old Man would not do – so she told herself. Tempestora Potter's life was about her family and about the man who had ransomed her from that Old Man – so she also told herself.
Voldemort whispered again in parseltongue,
~By tomorrow night at this time, you will have been resorted as a Slytherin~
She felt the truth of those words and they were further confirmed as his possessive hands slipped around her waist and took possession of her body and soul once more.
~I want you to begin the process of breeding a basilisk that night after your resorting~
Harry Potter – what was left of him tried to scream and push his way out. "You can't do this!" The thought screamed. "That monster was horrible!"
~If I get word through the Locket that you have begun the process successfully, I will overlook your failure to learn the Dark Arts!~
"But how?" she whispered out loud, her mind not comprehending what was needed nor how she might accomplish what seemed so impossible to her.
He spoke again in that language that was theirs.
~Once you are a student of Slytherin, the ancient rooms will recognize who you are. You will see many serpents. One will whisper to you if you step near the Common Room fire. Speak to it, and it will open a passageway to the Chamber of Secrets. It is a much easier and cleaner trip for my future Queen.~
She sighed in his arms at the possessive way he spoke of her. She felt herself resolve to do just this.
~In the Chamber you will be able to walk into the head of Slytherin's mouth. Inside is a book on instructions on how to breed this majestic beast. ~
The resistance inside of her, Harry Potter as she called it spoke up once more.
"No," that voice said. "You need to stop this madness. Tomorrow, you will go to Dumbledore and get that stupid necklace off and tell him everything. You will take him down to the Chamber so he can destroy it. You have to be strong and get away from this. It isn't right."
But that voice had said something that angered Tempestora Gormlaith Potter. An idea came into her head. As Aunt Bella had taught her, she imagined Harry Potter, and every goody-too-shoes thing about him and imagined it behind that thorny hedge. She pressed that hedge against him, even imagining a "CRUCIO!"
She responded to her husband to be in parseltongue:
~By Yule's celebration, a baby basilisk will be traversing the Chamber once more, my Lord~
As she did, she felt him forcefully grab her and she felt herself pulled into him. His long fingers reached for her face and lifted up her chin. Her fingers slipped into his robes and melted into his body. Her chest pressed up against him, and squeezing her. His loins pressing against her hips, showing how she had pleased him. His red eyes gazed hungrily at her and her own eyes though she didn't see them flashed red as she gazed hungrily back. He reached down to kiss her and her body was lit on fire.