Salazar followed the transfiguration lesson closely. Today was the last day of tests. The realization of how much he had to fix made him want to howl like Lupin at the moon. Total gloom. Wizards? Where was the flight of fancy? Where was the riot of thought and the sparkle of ideas? Where is it?
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No. Not at all. There is a stupid memorization of gestures and words without a complete understanding of WHY it is necessary. And what it even means.
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McGonagall was in her repertoire: dry theory, and miserable at that, and then practice. In Salazar's opinion, what she was teaching was totally unsuitable for use in the real world. Who needs to turn hedgehogs into needle pads? Idiocy.
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He was a little more frightened at the thought of what Godric had done in his classes. The Gryffindor had never been one to limit his imagination, devoting himself wholeheartedly to what he loved... Not like Minerva...
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The mage sighed and apparated to his office. A letter was waiting for him on the table. He printed it out, and the Slytherin rubbed his hands happily: Fudge reported that the wizards from the International Court had already arrived and began preparations for the trial. Salazar's presence would be needed in a couple of hours.
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Slytherin checked his notes and nodded contentedly: there is time, besides, you need to attach the results of the checks, it won't hurt.
.
%%%
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The Ministry.
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Fudge had been ranting for the second hour about how much damage Dumbledore's rule had done to magical society: the laws that infringed on the rights of different classes of people; the general level of education that was extremely low; and the stagnation that consumed everything and everyone... All in all, a gloom and horror...
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The wizards from the MSM listened politely, nodded, snickered, and did their work in silence. Their superiors, in the person of an elderly mage of the sternest appearance, watched the laboring subordinates closely. The full gray-haired mage watched the confident actions of his men as they surveyed the premises of the ministry, and reflected on the fact that he would soon meet a revived legend.
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He smiled slightly under his hood and covered his eyes. Upon learning that Salazar Slytherin had appeared in England, the mage was ready to drop everything and run for the sight of this miracle, as a complaint came unexpectedly to the Court.
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This opportunity was not to be missed in any way, so the mage happily went to do his job, intending to meet with a Slytherin at the same time. The mages finished their inspection of the premises and made a decision. He sat back in his chair, approving their choice, listening intently to what Fudge was saying (Minister? What a nightmare...), when suddenly an alien power flooded the room.
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Magic flooded the room like a tsunami wave: as a child he had once seen a flood and been shocked by the power of the elements. Cool, with icy jets, like currents in the ocean, hissing slightly, like a disturbed snake, warning of its displeasure... He wanted to be in these currents and feel their strange, native charm. His own magic surged toward him, welcoming the entrant.
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The mage sighed intermittently, flaring his nostrils, noting at the same time that Fudge did not seem to feel the beauty of magic, and glancing impatiently at the door.
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The door swung open leisurely, and a tall black-haired mage, dressed in the fashion of a thousand years ago in sumptuous robes of black and emerald and sparkling jewelry, entered the room. Proud face, broad shoulders, posture... A real ruler and warrior, not like the lowlife who rushed to greet him.
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Fudge puffed up proudly and turned to the mage:
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"Allow me to introduce Lord Salazar Ignotus Peverell-Slytherin".
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The magician stood up leisurely, walked to the proper distance and bowed politely:
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"Greetings, Lord Peverell-Slytherin. Allow me to introduce myself: Lord Herbert Gustav Schwarzwald".
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Salazar looked at the mage with interest and smiled at the corners of his lips:
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"Greetings to a fellow artist".
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Lord Schwarzwald stared in shock at the black ring engraved with small skulls on the thumb of Salazar's left hand, feeling his magic caressing the Founder and understanding what it meant. He bowed and stated respectfully:
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" Master".
%%%
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Voldemort carefully read the papers he had received from Slytherin. The great wizard had sent him the potions that must be taken to strengthen the body before the merger ritual is performed, and described in detail the composition, the method of preparation, and the consequences of taking them.
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Gaunt only shook his head, reading the lines of the message. The recipe was simple and at the same time complex: conflicting components were extinguished by neutralizers, reaction catalysts completely changed the composition, acquiring as a result completely different properties than usual. One word - genius. Snape is far behind him, that's for sure...
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He looked at the vial filled with its golden contents and, after carefully uncorking it, sniffed it. Cardamom and apples... Not at all the aromas one expects from a healing potion, at least the ones Severus brews are as nightmarish as their maker. After drinking the contents in a gulp, Thomas stood up and went to his chambers to do Salazar's bidding.
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The mage sighed and settled back in the wide armchair. Maybe after he got his appearance back, he'd have some hope. Even the smallest hope?
%%%
The twins sat at the small desk in the room provided to them, studying closely the Code of Magical Laws. The Laws themselves were not much, but the bulk of the book was filled with long commentaries explaining in detail the dangers of noncompliance.
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After the ritual, the twins retained only their names: they lost their right to a family name as well as their freedom. They owned nothing at all now, not even their bodies, which had become the complete property of Salazar.
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The magician, after reading the papers that the brothers had brought, sat for a long time, heavily silent, and staring at the brothers as if he would drag them to the cutting table any time soon. The boys trembled under that gaze, feeling the foreign magic slipping around them like a leviathan in the depths: one false move and you're dead.
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Lucky for them, Salazar knew the Laws well, which is why they remained alive, because if they had the courage to go through with it, they were not hopeless.
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After explaining in detail the consequences of their decision, the magician gave them a room, gave them clothes (the old ones were burned) and the Codex, ordering them to memorize them.
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And now the boys were doing their Master's bidding.
%%%
Sebastian and Dorothea stood in front of the door to the Hall, studying the spells cast and sighing heavily: there was no way to untangle them. Suddenly a thin voice came from behind them:
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" Do the young Hosts want to come in"?
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The children turned sharply, staring at the housekeeper. Sebastian nodded:
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" Yes, we have to go in! We want to talk to our ancestors" !
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"Tappy will help" !
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The children looked at each other, silently raising their eyebrows in surprise: the house-elf did their parents' bidding, but they didn't seem to be doing it from behind a stick. And here was such eagerness... what had changed?
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The children were unaware that, once they'd decided to discover the truth, Rod's magic clung to the tiny chance of worthy bearers like a drowning man to a straw. Rod's magic had barely acknowledged James, to say nothing of his wife!
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Children are always more malleable than adults, so it's easier for tribal magic to influence them. The housekeepers, who are closely connected to the Genus, the manor, and the masters, also became more active when they sensed the change.
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Tappy took the children by the arms and carried them into the Hall. The children looked around warily. The walls of the Hall were hung with portraits of the Lords and Lady Potters looking down on the children: strong, beautiful, commanding. Sebastian looked at them and sighed: their father didn't look good in comparison-no inner dignity, just arrogance and nothing more.
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The silence was interrupted by a portrait of a powerful man in his fifties, with black hair and amber eyes:
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"Who are you children"?
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The etiquette instilled by the teachers did its job - the children bowed and introduced themselves:
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" Sebastian James Potter".
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"Dorothea Liliana Potter".
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" Lord Riven Godric Potter. The founder of the House Potter".
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The man gave the children a hard look, the rest of the portraits were silent.
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" Tell us".
%%%
Albus tapped his fingers on the table, pondering another version of the speech. In a couple of days, no more, the trial. That's all right. The Wizengamot had been in his hand a long time and wasn't fluttering. But it doesn't hurt to prepare. The old man sighed and picked up his quill.
%%%
James Potter closed his eyes, resting his forehead against the window pane, clear as a tear. There was such silence in the waiting room that you could hear your heartbeat. Lily and the Healer were still in the study. Suddenly the door opened, and the sorcerer invited the man in.
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Lily sat dejectedly in her chair, staring blankly at the wall, and James sat next to her. The healer stared at them indifferently, hiding his gaze with his bangs falling over his eyes.
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" So, Señor Potter. My news for you is not good. Your wife's core is gradually deteriorating, she's losing her magic. Another year, two at the most, and she'll be a squib, at best an extremely weak wizard. There is nothing I can do to help you, unfortunately. The only advice I can give you... find a good Blood Wizard who can help slow it down a bit..."
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" Blood?! This is Dark Magic! I'd rather die than use that kind of skill"! James exploded. The healer looked at him coldly.
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" As you wish".
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After waiting for the English magicians to leave, Señor Cipriani shrugged:
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" What an abomination..."
.
%%%
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The portraits listened silently to the children's story. After Sebastian told everything he knew, the Hall exploded. The ancestors were chanting, unable to contain themselves, pouring out their horror and their indignation. Suddenly Riven's bass cut through the chatter, and everyone fell silent.
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"You are well done for finding the strength to find out the truth. Now it's clear why we were shut down here. So, young gentlemen ... " the magician crushed the children with his gaze. Sebastian straightened up, proudly lifting his chin, Dorothea squeezed his palm, trying to hide her excitement. The Potters smiled approvingly at their descendants.
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" There is a way out. But it is extremely difficult. And there's no going back... " Riven looked at the children questioningly. Carlus Potter turned away, hiding the tears in his eyes. He knew exactly WHAT the children would have to do and WHAT would happen to his son. He blamed himself for not raising James properly, and the result was completely predictable, but even he had never expected that his son would do such a thing. What was there to talk about now, though... he wiped away a tear and turned resolutely to the children. It was too late. He had to go forward. He is a Potter, and he must take care of his House.
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" So, what you need to do is this..."
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Tappy brought parchment and a quill and inkwell, and Sebastian began to write down the instructions of his distant many-times-great-grandfather. The boy looked pale, but he pressed his lips together with determination. When he had finished writing, he read the note aloud and looked questioningly at the lord. Riven sighed.
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" Sebastian... this is your only chance. If you don't, there will be consequences for you. Now that you know everything, you have a choice. Do you understand"?
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Dorothea nodded, Sebastian sighed.
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" I see... but then what? We have no one to go to... not a Slytherin..."
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"What do you mean"? Riven woke up.
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" We heard yesterday that Peverell-Slytherin had returned to Hogwarts," the boy explained. The portraits made a ruckus.
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" What Slytherin... " Riven stammered. He looked at the boy disbelievingly. " Salazar Ignotus Peverell-Slytherin?! Grandfather"?!
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"What?!" A quarter of the portraits stared at Riven in disbelief. " How's that"?
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Riven glanced frantically around at the shrunken descendants.
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" HOW?! Salazar Slytherin was the brother of Godric Gryffindor, my grandfather! Don't tell me you didn't know! Is that Salazar"? he mage looked at Sebastian demandingly. The boy nodded.
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" Splendid"! Riven exhaled. "Grandfather will help you! Write a letter at once"!
%%%
Salazar enjoyed chatting with Gustav, discussing some of the nuances of creating a high-level mortal. It's nice to talk to someone who understands! The mage turned out to be a Master of Necromancy and was now happy to ask Salazar about subtleties that are not written in textbooks.
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In the meantime, his subordinates began to prepare the chosen room. The trial will take place in a day.
%%%
As Salazar said his goodbyes and apparated to the Spit Lane, deciding to stop by the sweet store, an owl landed on his arm with a message. Unfolding it and reading it, the Slytherin raised his eyebrows in surprise: Sebastian and Dorothea Potter had written to him.
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"Tempus".
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Recognizing the time, the Slytherin leisurely made his way to the café. He still had time.
%%%
Entering the office of the manager of Genus Potter, the Slytherin greeted the goblin and smiled:
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" Good to see you again, Master Griphook".
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The goblin's eyes gleamed merrily. The children in the chairs rose at his appearance: the boy bowed, the girl curtsied.
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"Sebastian James Potter".
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" Dorothea Liliana Potter".
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Salazar looked at his former brother and sister, noting that the boy looked like James, the girl looked like her mother, but so did her father. The children looked at him with despair and hope.
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" My Lord," the boy began quietly. " I beg your mercy" .
%%%
Hermione and Draco were sitting in Severus' chambers, drinking the tart herbal tea that the Potions Master had collected himself. Snape spoke passionately about where and how he gathered the herbs, Hermione was curious about the details.
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" ... I also added violet flowers for fragrance... "
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" Very unusual"! The girl took a sip and took a small cake. " How was your last experience"?
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"With the new modification of the Healing Potion? Not bad overall... but it needed some work..."
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Fawkes listened to the conversation and hid his head under his wing.
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%%%
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Salazar looked thoughtfully at the children, and reflected that they were fortunate not to be like their parents. The boy was very much like Godric in character, strong and unyielding, with determination and will in his eyes. And the girl looked at him just as stubbornly and proudly.
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Worthy descendants of Godric, no matter what. They had the willpower to go against their parents' wishes. It was worthy of respect. The mage tilted his head:
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" All right. I agree."
%%%
After half an hour, the goblins prepared everything, and the children, holding hands, stood up and began to pronounce the words of the Banishment Ritual loudly and clearly.