The J.D.E's
After the feast, Astoria brought the two girls to the Head's quarters and knocked timidly on the portrait of the founders. Salazar stepped forwards, excited about the visitors.
"Ah! Visitors, and members of my own house no less! I'll fetch Pandora, she's in her room and hasn't heard you knock. Be right back!" He walked back to the other three founders, and then promptly vanished from the painting.
"That was Salazar Slytherin; the founder of Slytherin house. The other three in the painting are Godrick Gryffindor; founder of Gryffindor house, Rowena Ravenclaw; founder of Ravenclaw house, and Helga Hufflepuff; founder of Hufflepuff house. The colours of their clothes are the house colours. There's a large painting of Salazar in our common room in the dungeons, so you'll probably see him a lot." Astoria explained to her two housemates, who nodded back at her, storing away the new information.
Just then, Salazar reappeared and stepped forward.
"She's on her way now, you may go back to the dungeons Miss Greengrass, Pandora will let them in." He smiled down at the young girls.
Astoria nodded and wandered off to her common room. The painting then swung open, and the head girl beckoned the two girls inside. She led them over to another door, and ushered them into a room full of beanbags and sofas.
"Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I asked Astoria to bring you here. I have a feeling that your father hasn't told you who I am?" After receiving nods from both girls, Pandora continued. "I'm Pandora, Pandora Dagworth. My mother is your aunty, and you are my cousins!" She smiled at the two girls who had perched themselves on a sofa. As the looks of recognition and understanding crossed their faces, they smiled back at her.
"That's fantastic! We were wondering when we'd get the chance to meet you! It's a shame you're not in the Slytherin dungeons though, we won't get to see you much!" Lex said, with a sad expression on her face.
"Don't be daft! For a start, you're more than welcome to study up here, and given that you're family, I'll show you the Head's private library, you can study down there or in here. Plus, hopefully, I'll be initiating you into the group. How much has uncle Riley told you about who I'm related to?" Pandora asked, trying to work out what they knew about her.
"To be honest, we don't really know much about you. We don't even know your father's side of the family, although we do know that your father died from a splinching accident when you were a couple of weeks old." Celeste replied.
"And we do know that he was called Mazarius, or uncle Maz to us. Even though he was dead before we were born." Lex added.
"Okay, well I'm assuming you follow your parent's stance on which side of the war you're on?" After both girls nodded vigorously, Pandora continued. "Well that's definitely a good thing. My father was called Mazarius Gaunt, He had an older brother called Morfin and an older sister called Merope..." At that point Pandora was cut off, her cousins were clearly equally as intelligent as her.
"But that would make the Dark Lord your cousin. His mother was called Merope Gaunt!" Celeste concluded.
"But then... oh my god!" Lex cried out, before dragging her sister down with her so they were kneeling in front of Pandora.
"Yes, as it's clear you've worked out, the rumours that Tom's cousin is the Dark Lady are true, however, you both are family! You have no need to kneel before me. I view you as my equals. Although should Tom ever be around, it's best if you kneel with everyone else when they do. I wouldn't want him to get the wrong impression of you both. I have said the same to my own followers; whilst I'm still at Hogwarts, there is no need for bowing in my presence. Although I can't seem to convince Astoria to relax around me. Am I really that terrifying?"
"I have to say, before we knew who you were, I thought you were pretty terrifying, you have a very commanding presence. It was most definitely intimidating." Celeste explained, whilst smiling at her.
"Oh, I guess I never really noticed. I'll try to be more approachable around Astoria. I assigned you to her, temporarily, so she can show you the ropes about daily life at Hogwarts, as your father explained to me that you were home schooled. It won't be a permanent task, more temporary, if anything I was hoping that giving her a task would show I trust her. It might help her relax once she realises that she's doing a good job, and that I'm pleased." Pandora shrugged at her cousins.
"Well, we really appreciate you making sure someone is looking out for us, it's peculiar being surrounded by so many people our age. You mentioned initiating us into your group, and you also mentioned followers? Will you explain that to us?" Lex inquired.
"Of course, and then I'll have to escort you to your common room, as it's already past curfew. Basically, although Tom has his followers, he suggested I have some of my own, so that when it comes time for me to take his place, I can trust those around me. Trust takes time, so he suggested I start gaining followers now. Although they follow and listen to me primarily, should Tom ever give them an order they are still to follow it. However, I am the go-between, rather than them having to go to him directly. I refer to my followers as my Junior Death Eaters, or J.D.E's. They even have a variation of the Dark Mark, although it has a specially devised concealing charm on it." Pandora explained, watching as her cousins became visibly more and more excited.
"I'd like to join!" They said in unison, which made each other and Pandora laugh.
"Okay, follow me a second then." They followed her out of the room, and she closed the door. "Watch this." She then placed her hand back on the door knob and thought 'training room', before opening it again to reveal the training room that had the sign-up sheet attached to the wall. Both her cousins grinned at her in curiosity and excitement. She summoned a quill and some Slytherin green ink, and then allowed them to sign up. They both noticed Astoria's name was on the list, and felt better knowing they now had a common subject to talk to her about, they might even be able to help her relax around their cousin from now on.
They felt a weird tingling on their left wrists and looked down to see the rose and dagger J.D.E mark upon it.
"It can only be seen by those who have one, and those with Tom's Dark Mark. No one else can see it. Now, let's get you back to your common room." She led them out of the Head's common room and back down to their new home.
The first week back was interesting for Pandora. The Monday following their arrival back at Hogwarts, was a particularly good day, as it started with double Potions. She woke up bright and early, and shuffled to her en-suite to have a shower. Once she was clean and wide awake, she magically dried her long black hair, and twisted it up into an elegant messy bun. Once that was finished, she decided she needed to get dressed for the day.
"Leena?" Pandora felt a little guilty, she didn't want to wake her sweet House Elf. Luckily, it appeared that Leena had been awake for some time, as she appeared instantly, her floppy ears wiggling with excitement.
"Mistress! What may I help you with?" She bowed low waiting for her Mistress to respond.
"Leena, enough bowing, you have no need to bow to me whilst in Hogwarts if we are on our own. Now, I was hoping you might help me with what I should wear today? How about if you get my school robes on the mannequin, and then I'll work out what I'm wearing underneath?" Pandora suggested to her little helper. Quick as a flash, Leena nodded with a bright smile, and dashed about getting her robes ready.
Pandora wandered into her walk-in wardrobe, and gasped, she didn't realise how big it was. She started gathering her underwear and a just above the knee black skirt. She dressed into them, and then grabbed a standard school blouse, she didn't need a cardigan just yet, she knew the potions classroom would be too warm to wear a cardigan and her robes.
Once she'd dressed herself, and put on the robes Leena had prepared for her, she dismissed her elf for the morning, and wandered into the common room.
"Oh, you're up! I thought you'd managed to sleep in on the first day! I was about to check up on you!" Draco stated.
"Nope. I'm showered and dressed, ready for breakfast. Then double potions with your mum!" She grinned at him as he groaned, realising he'd be spending the morning stuck with his mother.
"Come on, let's go see who's awake!" She led him to the door and then down the grand staircase to the entrance hall.
They seemed to have timed it perfectly, as Astoria and the rest of the J.D.E's including Celeste and Lex, were walking up from the dungeons. They entered the hall as a gang, and wandered over to the Slytherin table. Slytherins were expected to be there at the start of breakfast. Snape had always been proud of his house's punctuality, and it was something Cissa was ensuring too. Therefore, the fact that almost the entire Slytherin table, minus a few stragglers, were practically the only students in the hall, wasn't unusual.
"Now, as I'm sure you've noticed, Draco and I are sitting with you guys, it's only during the evening meal that we have to join the professors and Snape at the head table." This point was aimed at her cousins as all the others already knew. They both nodded and started modestly putting food on their plates.
Pandora quickly realised that Ginny Weasley was the only student at the Gryffindor table, and Luna Lovegood was the only student at the Ravenclaw table. This could be the perfect moment to potential swipe them into her J.D.E. But she'd have to talk to Snape about whether he wanted to promote house unity. Once her small breakfast, a slice of toast and some strawberries, was finished, she gracefully walked up to the head table.
"Sev, can I have a word please? It will only be quick?" She whispered to him ensuring none of the staff heard.
"Of course, come around and sit, we'll talk now." She walked around to sit on her usual seat and they bowed their heads together to have a quick discussion.
"How interested are you in house unity? There would be quite a few advantages to having the tables allowed to mix at breakfast and lunch. I know that Ginny Weasley isn't a blood traitor, and I think Luna Lovegood could also be persuaded. I know it's a large acceptance for only two people, but I might be able to sway more if given time?" She knew he was already aware of her J.D.E's, as Tom had already told him about her plans. She just hoped he'd see the massive positive.
"Given it's you and we're trying to help the cause I will allow it. If it was anyone else, I would have instantly said no. As long as you promise that it's only purebloods at the Slytherin table!" He insisted, and she nodded her head in agreement.
Snape put his wand to his throat, and muttered a charm that radiated his voice evenly through the castle. "Could all students ensure they are down for the last half of breakfast this morning, anyone who doesn't attend without a valid reason, will receive a week's detention with Mr Filch, polishing trophies in the trophy room!" He cancelled the charm and then went back to his breakfast of poached eggs on toast.
With only 15 minutes until the rest of the students had to be down, Pandora wandered over to sit back with her friends. She decided she might as well have a bit more food to get her through until lunch, and grabbed a scone with raspberry jam and clotted cream. A warm mug of perfectly made Earl Grey tea appeared in front of her, with a napkin that had the word Leena squiggled onto it. She smiled at how thoughtful her lovely elf was, and sipped it carefully. She heard a chuckle from the staff table and turned to see her aunt smiling at her, also with a mug in front of her. She mouthed the name 'Leena' to Pandora, and got a nod and a flourish of the named napkin, back.
It appeared the elf had decided to give them both a comforting start back at Hogwarts.
10 minutes later, and it appeared the whole school had turned up. Snape stood to address the room and silence filled the hall.
"I'm glad you're all able to follow instruction on the first day back! Now, I've made a decision, in these times of war, friends are important. I am aware that many of you have friends in other houses, that you don't necessarily get to socialise with as much. Therefore, I am proposing that for breakfast and lunchtime meals, you are allowed to sit at any table you choose, although the house tables will still belong to each house, so you can still sit at your own house table, without fear of being turfed off by another house. Evening meals however, will be house table only. Who knows, this might even promote a bit of house unity!" His last comment was received with an awful lot of grumbles and glares from most of Slytherin house.
He sat down and continued on with his breakfast, encouraging everyone else to do the same. Although mayhem ensued on the other three tables, as everyone started to move around and join their friends, Slytherin didn't budge.
"Right, just so you know, I have my eye on Lovegood, Weasley and possibly Longbottom, as potential recruits. Therefore, those three will probably be visiting this table quite a bit. I need to ensure that no one decides to kick up a stink. So, I will need you to pass a message down the table! It should simply be that if a member of another house approaches this table with the intent to sit with our group, the others are NOT allowed to be rude or uncivilised, and are to be welcoming. Anyone who can't abide will be dealt with by the Head Girl!" Pandora knew that the Slytherins all knew who she was related to, and as she was a 7th year and the Queen of Slytherin, not to mention head girl, they were all terrified of her. Her word was rule. It made things a whole lot easier to enforce.
She watched, as the course of Chinese whispers went down the table on either side, with a fierce and aggressive eye. Many students looked to her when they received the news to see if it was true. After seeing the look on her face, they realised it must be and therefore obliged. Once all had turned to her and nodded, she summoned a blank piece of parchment and magically turned it into an origami swallow. She sent it swooping across the Ravenclaw table, and then down in front of Ginny who was still sat at the Gryffindor table with Neville. She looked up, recognising the little bird, as Hermione used to make them to send messages all the time. She noticed Pandora looking at her, before she beckoned Ginny over to the Slytherin table. Ginny visibly paled, but walked over all the same, expecting to be hissed at or jinxed. To her surprise, neither happened, in actual fact the Slytherins merely looked up at her curiously and then carried on with their breakfast.
She walked over to Pandora and then sat down beside the girl, feeling completely out of place.
"Right, I was wondering if you had any free periods today?" Pandora asked quietly, trying to make sure a group of nosey 5th years nearby, couldn't hear her conversation. She wordless and wandlessly cast the Muffliato spell, and watched them all look mildly annoyed at not being able to snoop anymore. She chuckled, and then turned back to Ginny, waiting for a response.
"Yeah, I have double defence, and then a free right after lunch, then double transfiguration, and then another free. How about you?" Ginny responded.
"Double potions, lunch, a free, then double defence and then another free. So, on Monday's, we have the same frees that's awesome! Okay, well at lunch why don't you sit with us? Bring Neville and Luna too if they want. And then you come up to my quarters for the free? But only you? There's some stuff I want to talk to you about, with regards to the conversation we had on Saturday night." Ginny nodded in response.
"Okay, but I've been discreetly asking them about their stance on the war, Luna is neutral, and Neville was wondering if you would explain why you're not on Harry's side anymore. It might be prudent to explain to the both of them, the real reason? They might feel like I do?" Ginny added.
Pandora could see the potential for this to work, and she hadn't even had to do any of the leg work! So agreed that should Luna and Neville want to, they could come along for the free as well. She knew all 7th years had the same time table, but weren't necessarily taking all the classes, and that two of her free periods would coincide with the divination lessons. Neville wasn't taking divination, because he had the same opinion as Pandora; and thought it was a bag of shite. As for Luna, she wasn't sure of the girl's timetable, so didn't know when her frees were.
"Okay, well I have no idea whether Neville or Luna have a free directly after lunch, so we can cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm sure they'll tell us at lunch. So just meet me in the Entrance Hall at the beginning of lunch, and we'll walk in together. I don't want to risk the snakes being cruel to you guys, even though they have been warned."
Ginny saw Pandora's eyes flash from their usual burgundy red, to deep purple, and she knew that this girl most definitely wasn't Hermione any more. She nodded and then walked back off to the Gryffindor table to finish her breakfast.
The rest of breakfast passed by relatively quickly, and soon they were off to their potions double. Draco, Pansy, Theo, Daphne and Blaise, had all got O's in the potions O.W.L's, so were allowed to take it at N.E.W.T level. The group, led by Pandora, wandered down to the dungeons, off to see Draco's mother. When they entered, Cissa wasn't there yet, Draco was determined to sit at the back, but was mortified when his friends all chose to sit at the front. He didn't really have a choice but to join them, he didn't particularly want to sit next to a member of any of the other houses.
Soon other students, including Neville who had also miraculously managed to get an O, were pilling in, and before long Narcissa Malfoy entered, her cloak billowed in a fashion reminiscent of Snape's own billowing cloak. Draco involuntarily shivered as he noticed it.
The lesson was relatively dull, as Cissa wanted to work out where her students were up to, and wanted to look over their previous end of year tests, to work out where they needed to focus more. She threw a little quiz, to gauge what they could remember after a long summer not spent revising. She was pleasantly surprised to find they actually remembered an awful lot; it appeared her 7th years weren't going to be an issue this year, they seemed to be pretty capable in almost all areas of the N.E.W.T exam.
After their slightly tedious double potions lesson, Pandora led the gang back up to the Entrance Hall, and waited for Ginny, Luna and Neville to arrive. After a minute Neville appeared coming from the dungeons, he stood a few feet away from the Slytherins. Pandora noticed and told her gang to go and get seated in the hall, she'd be in with the other three in a few minutes, so they had best save some spaces.
She walked over to Neville, and smiled gently at him, trying to reassure him and put him at ease. It seemed to work, and less than a minute later Luna and Ginny arrived to find them deep in conversation, about a particularly nasty Venomous Tentacula they would be facing during tomorrow's Herbology lesson in greenhouse 3.
Once Pandora noticed the other two approaching, she beckoned them to follow her into the great hall, and over to the Slytherin table. The other Slytherins had indeed saved the end four spaces, so they could huddle as a group rather than being sat in a line.
After discussing whether Luna had a free lesson after lunch, and finding out that like Ginny she had chosen not to take Arithmancy, Pandora decided they should all come back with her to the Head's quarters after lunch.
Lunch had been relatively uneventful, which Pandora was glad for. After everyone had eaten their fill of ham and cheese pasties, they meandered as a group up to the 3rd floor corridor, and into the Head's quarters. She led them over to the den, and thought 'standard den' when she had hold of the door handle. After ushering the other three into the room, she closed the door and transfigured a beanbag into a highbacked armchair. She discreetly sealed the room, as an added measure of security.
"Right, make yourself at home, get comfy." She smiled at the other three. Ginny dove onto a beanbag, having never seen one before, she thought it was awesome! Neville chose a loveseat that he could stretch out upon, and Luna picked a leather armchair that she could sink into. Neville was the first to speak.
"So, will you explain to us why you're not supporting Harry anymore?" His tone wasn't accusatory, simply curious. Luna looked up eager to hear what was going on.
"Well, Ginny already knows as we spoke about it last night, but you'll need to keep an open mind and let me explain everything before you ask questions, okay?" Pandora replied.
After receiving a nod from Neville and a smile from Luna; Pandora explained the truth about the magical version of cancer, that was caused by muggle and magical blood mixing, and how she wasn't actually opposing Harry, she was just supporting Tom's cause.
"Okay, well that sort of makes sense to me, one of my aunties married a muggle, and their daughter had some sort of blood issue that killed her. My Gran said it was because the two bloods wouldn't mix properly and kept causing her blood to seperate, so her heart failed. I guess what you've said is the truth. So that would mean Voldemort isn't the bad guy. But he's also not good if he's trying to kill Harry." Neville responded.
"That's the thing, there is a reason that for the very future of the magical world, Harry has to die, or he will cause the entirety of the magical population, globally, to be wiped out. As for the rest of the story, I'm not allowed to tell you unless you were to vow yourself to me." Pandora looked slightly uncomfortable, she felt guilty not being able to explain all to her friends. Even Ginny didn't know the truth about Harry, Tom and the true prophecy.
"Why would we join if he's just going to murder everyone?" Neville retorted angrily.
"He doesn't want to kill everyone Neville, he's just trying to protect the Magical world. He's already said, that if we could simply obliviate the memories of magic from the Muggleborns, and then put them back in the Muggle world, it would save the Magic world. But how can that stop Muggles meeting wizards and witches, and then producing children with the blood sickness? The other option is for Muggleborns to live in the magical world, but not be allowed to procreate. Both options involve missing out on something important and special. But there isn't a cure that we know of at the moment, and with the rate that the magical population is dwindling, we don't have time to try and find a cure if we keep progressing the way we are." Pandora tried to placate him, and it seemed to be working. "Yes, he has a much darker side, a side that does relish in the killing and torture, but he's still trying to rescue our world from the disaster that it's racing towards." Pandora looked rather downcast and sad, which was noticed by the other three.
"Okay, so he isn't completely evil, he's just a little bit fucked up, and he doesn't want to kill everyone, he just wants to save the magical world from Harry. To be honest, I'm starting to see things from your point of view Pan. But what I don't understand is how you're on a first name basis with him, and how you know all of this?" Neville said in a confused, but curious tone.
"I'm afraid that given you're unlikely to join the cause, I can't tell you. Otherwise, I would, as I still see you as my friends. Just know that I haven't betrayed Harry intentionally, but he isn't our saviour. He's leading us all the edge of a cliff, and then trying to shove us off it. I'm simply fighting back" It was the most information she could get away with giving them, without just outright telling them the truth.
Ginny was already convinced; she knew that Tom's cause was something she believed in and supported. Luna pondered over all she had been told. Hermione Granger had never been a liar, so why would Pandora Dagworth be one? Everything Pan had told her made sense, and she realised she'd been on the wrong side all along, she made her mind up rather swiftly. After Pandora had explained all that she could get away with, Neville realised he too was supporting the wrong cause, especially if this was the very fate of the future of the wizarding world, they always did say the road to hell was paved with good intentions. It looked like that was the path that Harry was currently on, and no one could guide him away from it.
"I think we've been fighting for the wrong side, if we were to sign up, would you be able to explain everything to us?" Neville inquired.
"Yes, you'd be allowed to know everything that I do. You'd also find the Slytherin's are a lot nicer to you as well, including Snape." Pandora smiled softly at her friends.
That last fact had everyone's minds made up, and ten minutes later, Pandora had another 3 J.D.E's following the cause.
A/N ~ So another chapter down! There's another major plot twist in the next chapter, which I'm thoroughly looking forward to writing :D
I know this chap is slightly filler-y but it was necessary to start the recruitment process up. I hope you enjoy it anyway, and you're looking forward to the next chapter!
Reviews are my bread and butter, I write quicker when I get a review. And your views and opinions help me improve the story so keep 'em coming :D
Much Love
Az xXx