Update 9/9/2021: Edited
The Duel
January 1972
Paisley stood there in the makeshift duelling area that had been drawn out in the Slytherin common room. The older students stated that they couldn't do this in a classroom as it wasn't something Slughorn signed off on. They didn't want to risk the other houses finding out since this wasn't a sanctioned duelling competition.
It was a quick competition, the first to disarm, and the only rule was no blood could be shed, so they didn't have cause commotion in the Hospital Wing. Some of the older years had taken a bit longer, but they started going through quicker as they reached the lower years.
Paisley was a little smug at seeing Snape's face at the idea of a duelling competition between the house. It seemed as though he planned on staying in the shadows a bit longer. Still, it appeared that Alecto was pulling out the stops for Paisley so that she didn't have to try so hard against Snape to pull out his tougher curses.
The duel ended when Alecto was thrown through the air. If it wasn't for the quick action of a seventh year catching her with a spell, she would have hit the wall.
"Snape is the winner," Lucius called out, looking over at where Snape was standing with a sneer on his face. Lucius fell silent as he walked over to check on Alecto and to make sure she was okay. Paisley was able to hear the low murmurs of conversation coming from the young witch, allowing her to know she was okay.
Paisley knew she was next; she had won her duels against some of the other first-years bringing her to the top two, and she was curious to see what would happen against Snape. She stood there waiting for Lucius to call the next duel.
"Are you worried?" Paisley turned her head and found Narcissa was now standing beside her.
"You know how my parents raised me. Any normal first year that didn't come from one of our families shouldn't have beat Alecto. How did Snape?" Paisley questioned.
She knew this was dangerous, putting a question like this out there. She has found that she had enough standing with some of the older students because of who she was. Considering the other person was Snape, who had no reputation, then it should be relatively okay.
"We've all been wondering the same thing," Narcissa responded softly, looking over at where she was previously standing with the other sixth years. "How is he in classes?"
Paisley fought the feeling of shock that was trying to come through in her face and kept her composure. "Like the rest of us, better in some than others, but he seems to fair better in Potions and Defence."
Narcissa merely nodded as Lucius retook his position since he had been running all the duels. He hadn't taken part in duels this year. Murmurs were indicating it was because there was an odd number of boys in the seventh year. Still, others said it was pointless since he was undefeated, and no one had beat him since the first year.
Paisley had heard that over the years. Occasionally, students would request to challenge him to a duel to try their luck against him. While some did better than others, only one Slytherin had managed to beat him. It was probably his closest confidant, Rodolphus Lestrange. It made sense that he would be able to predict what spell Lucius would cast.
"Our final duel of the night is to finish off the first-year duels with Paisley Burke going against Severus Snape. Burke, if you will." Lucius spoke, and Paisley walked over and took her position across from Snape.
She inclined her head before raising her wand, waiting for the signal that they could start.
The duel promptly started, and Paisley was able to quickly dodge the spell that came her way. She didn't even recognise the magic that Snape used. She predicted that Snape, after having gone against a Flint and a Carrow that maybe she would have some curse knowledge like them and was starting off strong.
She fired spell after spell at Snape, forcing him to dodge and block the chain of spells, but he responded with his own spell chain that was increasingly complex. She was growing frustrated with this and was beginning to realise something. Maybe her loss was a way to show something to the older students already questioning Snape's actions. Because he was essentially a nobody and yet had managed to best three of the four Sacred Family members so far. Paisley was curious as to what would happen if it was made four for four. She hadn't gone against the Sacred Family members, just against those that Snape had aligned himself with. She wondered if that was on purpose to make sure that a Sacred Family member won the duels.
Paisley gave it another couple of minutes before she faulted on purpose. She made it look like she was exhausted and got hit with a spell that was stronger than she expected it to be. It sent her flying across the room, and her body exploded in pain as she collided with the wall.
Paisley let out a groan as she shifted, her body was still in some pain, and when she opened her eyes, she saw she was in her dorm.
"Burke, are you alright?" Paisley turned her head and found Abigail Bulstrode, the seventh year Prefect sitting in a chair beside her bed.
Paisley nodded. "I think so. What are you doing in here?" she questioned. Looking around, noticing that the shades were drawn on all the other beds indicating her dorm mates were already asleep.
"Just had to make sure you were okay. Normally, the upper years know this piece of information, but these duels only take place. At the same time, we have a seventh who wishes to be a Healer as sometimes Madam Pomfrey will take in those who show promise and begin early teachings," Bulstrode explained. Paisley nodded, wincing slightly at the pain in her head at the actions.
"Thank you, I appreciate the concern, but I shall be okay from here," Paisley spoke. Aside from the slight pain, she did feel okay, but she didn't want to let an older student she barely knew that she wasn't okay when she couldn't show weakness among other Slytherins.
Bulstrode merely nodded before she stood up. Handing Paisley what looked like a potion and left the dorm. Paisley climbed out of her bed and headed for the bathroom so she could shower while attempting to bring back some of her memories from what happened since it was a little fuzzy in her head.
When she returned to her bed, she looked at the potion and was curious as to what it was and whether she could take it without her backfiring on her. She decided that she got hurt during an unsanctioned duelling competition that no Slytherin would risk being caught since they all participated.
So, she took the potion before getting some more sleeping, hoping her body felt better in the morning.
When Paisley woke up in the morning, her body felt much better, and she was grateful for the potion that Bulstrode had given her. She noticed that the Nott twins were gone, but Alecto was sitting up in her bed, a book open in front of her, but she quickly closed it noticing that Paisley was now awake.
"How are you feeling?" Alecto questioned, looking a little worried, which stroked her as odd since despite her and Alecto getting along, she didn't realise they were developing a friendship.
"Better, thank you," Paisley gave her a smile before she got up and got ready for the day.
When the two girls were heading towards the Great Hall for breakfast, she was quickly pulled away from Alecto, a slight wince coming from her, and she was face to face with her brother.
"I knew it," Lucas hissed before he pulled on her arm, leading her up the staircase.
"Lucas, stop it," Paisley hissed back, attempting to pull her arm free.
"Tell me I'm wrong. That you weren't involved in some illegal duelling competition last night and got hurt," Lucas questioned when the two of them were alone in a corridor.
Paisley narrowed her eyes. "Where on earth did you hear that?" she questioned, her voice low, and she was highly curious since they had been warned that it couldn't be spoken about with anyone else.
She knew that if Sirius slipped and told someone, then she could get in trouble, but she had a feeling he wouldn't say after everything they were both put through during that day.
"Dahlia overheard that Snape kid bragging about it with his friends," Lucas responded and shook her head.
"Fine. Yes, but I'm okay," Paisley responded the only way she knew how, with honesty, since she knew there was no point in lying to her brother. Still, she didn't appreciate the protective nature he was taking with this moment.
"You could have been killed!" Lucas raised his voice.
Paisley winced. She hoped they weren't drawing attention to themselves because the last thing she needed was someone she couldn't convince to stay silent to overhear them.
"Doubtful. I only went against first years; it was within levels, and that's it." Paisley explained briefly, hoping he would understand, but Lucas still looked furious. "This is how Slytherin operates, and I need to participate to survive, Lucas."
Paisley watched as Lucas closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes, he looked much calmer, and she was grateful. "I just don't like the idea of you getting hurt, that someone who grew up in a muggle neighbourhood could best you like he did."
"Trust me, I know that. Why do you think I let him beat me?" Paisley questioned, raising an eyebrow at her brother as he slowly realised what happened.
"You were outing his ability?" Lucas questioned, and Paisley nodded.
"He's been hiding in the shadows, with people who aren't Sacred Family members and won't know any different. What happened last night stops him from hiding and forces him out," Paisley continued to explain, and Lucas shook his head.
"Just please stay safe in that common room. I can't protect you like I wish I could," Lucas spoke, and Paisley could only nod.
As much as she wished her brother wasn't overly protective over her like this, there was nothing she could do to persuade him to stop. She had long ago learnt to just deal with it and let it be.
Nothing else was said between the siblings, and they made their way back towards the Great Hall to have breakfast with their own houses. And Paisley wasn't at all surprised by the look that Alecto gave her as she sat down.
"Why did your brother assume you would be in pain?" Alecto questioned quietly, not wanting to be overheard.
Paisley looked down at where Snape was sitting with his so-called friends before at Alecto. "One of my brother's friends overheard Snape bragging to his friends about last night's events. No idea why he would brag, consider they all witnessed what happened."
"Never took him as one to brag," Alecto mused, and Paisley shrugged. "Have you seen Maxton?"
"Nah, I figured he was sleeping in since he complained a few times about how long it was talking," Paisley responded. Alecto let out a laugh which Paisley couldn't help but join in with her.
"You know Rosier, Avery and Mulciber? They're in their second year," Alecto whispered, and Paisley nodded, not looking over at her as she continued to eat her breakfast. "They've been rather interested, Snape, this morning."
Paisley choked on her pumpkin juice and quickly recovered before looking at Alecto. Her eyes widening slightly before she relaxed her face and looked back at Snape, now taking notice of Rosier, Avery and Mulciber sitting near them.
She just assumed that it was the way things fell for the Slytherin table. Not really taking notice of where the first and second years were sitting because as long as it wasn't the middle of the table, then it wasn't an issue. The centre of the table was reserved for Prefects and their allies. It always varied every year as to how many seats were needed. It was up to the students to keep an eye out for them. Again, it was another thing that they weren't told about but had noticed.
Paisley believed they weren't being told things with hopes of the older students watching the younger ones see how they behave in certain situations.
"Ignore them," Maxton cut into the conversation, and both girls looked over at him. "Their actions shouldn't have to affect our time here. Snape is obviously hiding something considering he is now the first-year winner."
"He'll get it harder next year," Alecto muttered more to herself than anyone else. Paisley looked at her for a moment. She honestly wondered if maybe Alecto was also hiding how many curses she truly knew.
Paisley had heard the rumours regarding Amycus Carrow and that he was a ruthless dueller and not someone you wanted to mess it. He was cruel but didn't have Lucius's smarts when it came to combining spell chains. While Amycus went for brute strength, Lucius went for smarts in deciding which spells and curses are the best to link together. Still, Amycus knew his strengths and used them to his advantage.
She wondered if Amycus had been teaching Alecto curses during breaks.
She knew the workings of the Sacred Families. Belonging to one herself, she heard the same rumours. The Black, Carrow and Malfoy families had the most influence. The Grey side of the family for the Burkes prevented them from having more influence, but that didn't seem to bother Paisley too much. It wasn't as if the Slytherin students were shying away from her because of those Grey family members.
They all had their strengths; the Malfoy family was known for having powerful connections within the Ministry. The associations allowed them to pull strings to get out of any indiscretion. The Blacks had money that allowed them to bribe their way in or out of anything. While the Carrows had the most extensive collection of family created curses that made them lethal in duels.
Those three families not only had many connections. They were also highly intertwined with marriages between them every few generations to help strengthen the bonds between them all and after Christmas break. It now seemed that they were willing to bring the Burkes in on their circle.
Paisley decided to tune out the conversation between Alecto and Maxton regarding curses and spell chains that they could possibly use against Snape. They were already talking about next years duelling competition and what they could use to beat him.
Every now and then, she would take notice of a spell she hadn't heard too much of and filed it away for her to research on later. She wanted to knock Snape off the pedestal he seemed to have created for himself. She also didn't want to put herself in the spotlight too much.
Despite being a Burke and having a connection to all three reigning families, she didn't want to be shoved in the spotlight if something happened that severed the bond with her brother. She needed to still communicate with Lucas on the odd occasion when she had to discuss what she had seen in her dreams.
Instead of participating in the conversation, she read the Daily Prophet, taking in the stories regarding some of the strange activities within some of the magical creature communities.
There was a story on giants and how they were making movement across the county side, leaving destruction in their wake. The Ministry had no idea what caused the giants to move like this. Still, it was apparent from the article that people were worried about the giants since the article was written to ease any potential concerns that people would have.
"Did you know the giants are on the move?" Paisley questioned, not looking up at Alecto and Maxton, and she didn't even care that she interrupted their conversation. Still, when she heard no responses from them, she looked up at them.
She noticed that Alecto was acting oddly while Maxton, sitting beside her, had taken to reading the article over her shoulder.
"That's really odd," Maxton muttered once he had read the article but shrugged it off while Alecto continued to stay silent.
"Do you know something?" Paisley questioned Alecto, looking over at Maxton to see if he knew what was going on. Still, he just shook his head, causing them both to look at Alecto.
"Alright, fine," she hissed. "There are whispers among some of the Families about the growing power that's been happening in our world. All I know is they refer to him as the Dark Lord, and there are whispers that he is gaining allies in the magical creatures that Ministry has thrown to the side."
"Seriously?" Maxton questioned in shock, and Alecto nodded.
Paisley hadn't quite heard these same whispers. She had overheard conversations between her parents and their associations about happenings within the magical community. They mentioned some high-profile Ministry workers going missing, and it's allowed a specific person to move up the ranks, which made them happy. She never thought anything of it at the time, just assumed it was another high-profile connection that her parents had made, but now she wondered if it was this 'Dark Lord' at work.
"People have been going missing for the last few years. Some have turned up dead. Most are blood traitors or mudbloods, but it's all been done carefully to not raise suspicion." Alecto continued explaining, and Paisley was shocked.
She couldn't believe that Alecto was so quickly able to talk about this and not feel disgusted that she knew it was happening.
She couldn't believe how she misunderstood what her parents spoke about. With all of this, she honestly wondered how much she would have to be okay with while in Slytherin.
"Are you alright, Paisley?" Alecto questioned, noticing the foul look on Paisley's face, and it only took Paisley seconds to relax her face.
"Just the way some magical creatures are treated just because no one can realise the potential they have," Paisley spoke. Folding up the Daily Prophet to place in her bag. "But I do also have a headache building. It must just be a reaction to what happened last night. I'm going to see if I can get a potion from the Hospital Wing, and I will meet you both at Herbology." Paisley nodded her head as she stood up from the table and headed for the doors.
She couldn't believe she let her mask slip for a second. As she thought back on her memories of overheard conversations that happened between her parents and their associates. She couldn't believe she was that stupid to do so.
She didn't really have a headache but nonetheless headed up the stairs in case someone happened to follow her in case they wanted to follow up with her slip. She hoped that her comment about the potential of magical creatures was enough to ease the mind of her so-called friends.
She entered the Hospital Wing and waited until Madam Pomfrey had time for her. It wasn't long for her to hand over the potion needed for a headache before she was dismissed. She found it rather odd but taking in the sight of the four older students in a bed off to the far side. She assumed by the burns, boils, and who knows what else, and while she found it odd since no class had occurred yet for the day, she believed it was one of two things. The first was severe side effects from an explosion in the Potions lab the day before. The second being students illegally brewing potions that exploded.
When she left and had moved down closer to the ground floor. She ducked into an empty classroom on the floor and pulled back out the Daily Prophet. She stared at it for a moment before she pulled out her wand and said the spell that allowed to her cut out the articles. She wanted to keep a memory of it if things started getting out of hand with this Dark Lord person.
While it didn't make sense at the time, she now believed some of her wilder dreams may be stemming from this person.
She wanted to keep an eye on the things reported to the public while also keeping an ear out for more conversations happening in her home. She just wished there was a way for her to remember those conversations in detail.
Once she finished with the Daily Prophet, she headed towards Herbology, not caring she was late to the class. When she entered, she just said she was held up in the Hospital Wing. Professor Sprout merely spoke quietly to herself about those poor students. It spiked Paisley's curiosity as to what truly happened, but she didn't say anything, just took her seat beside Maxton.
"What was happening in the Hospital Wing?" Maxton questioned quietly.
"No idea," Paisley responded. Looking over at Professor Sprout, she showed the correction motions for removing the plant they were working with today from its pot, but Alecto turned around from her workbench.
"I'm told the elder Lestrange wasn't too happy with some Mudbloods," Alecto babbled. Turning back around, hoping to not be caught by Sprout for talking during class and being disruptive.
Except nothing was said, Sprout continued with her explanation while Maxton and Paisley shared a look.
She thought it was a Potions explosion that caused the issues she witnessed in the Hospital Wing. She never once thought someone else could have done it. She knew there were issues between particular students and the Muggleborn population of Hogwarts. Still, she had only ever heard of words thrown between them, never something as extreme as this.
"What am I missing?" Maxton questioned, but Paisley looked ahead at where Alecto was sitting, looking straight ahead at Professor Sprout.
Paisley didn't want to say anything in front of Alecto. She was now beginning to wonder if having Alecto as an ally would be an intelligent thing to do. Supposably it could help keep her safe within Slytherin if she could keep up pretences. A shake of her head indicated she didn't want to speak within earshot of those that could get them into a lot of trouble.
Maxton didn't broach the subject for the rest of the lesson. He and Paisley just spoke about random topics like they usually did during Herbology once they were free to roam and work as needed.
Sprout always allowed discussions to happen during the class until something happened. While nothing happened, it seemed as though everyone was paying attention, and as such, no one had ended up injured just yet.
Paisley took note of the person cloaked in the shadows off to the right when they all left Herbology, staying silent as Alecto walked over without saying a word to her and Maxton.
Silently and unspoken between the two of them, Maxton and Paisley both slowed their steps to put distance between them and the rest of their classmates as they all headed back to the Castle.
"Can we trust her?" Maxton questioned, and Paisley quickly looked over her shoulder at where Alecto disappeared, noting she was now cloaked in the shadows.
"It's probably safer if we keep up pretences. It could put us on the wrong side of our house if we cut her out for no logical reason," Paisley responded softly, and Maxton nodded.
And by no logical reason meant not too severe the ties of their alliance unless something extreme happened that poorly affected one of them.
Paisley thought she was smart making an alliance with a Carrow. Still, now she wished she was more thoughtful, intelligent enough to give it more than one day to decide who she wanted to have an alliance with. She also knew that she didn't make an alliance with Alecto and just made one with Maxton. Alecto could have possibly gone to Snape and his allies, which would have caused strong tensions since there wouldn't have been an even number of sides.
Having Alecto on their side made it even since the Nott twins rarely picked a side, stuck to themselves while occasionally spending time with the second years. It was evident that they weren't in an alliance.
Maxton waiting until they were safely away from the others before he questioned it once more. "What am I missing? I get my family isn't as well connected as yours, but we're still Sacred," Maxton reminded Paisley, and she nodded, slowly her steps once more.
"I don't know much, definitely not as much as Alecto. Though after hearing her words this morning, I was able to piece together some conversations I've overheard," Paisley explained. "If the Ministry doesn't get a handle on it before they know it, this Dark Lord that Alecto mentioned may have too much power, and who knows what could happen then."
Maxton nodded, a grim look on his face. "Could get as bad as Grindelwald." He pointed out, and they both fell silent. "You know I have a nephew. I'm twelve years old, and I already have a nephew. The idea terrifies me of him potentially being in danger, and I don't know fully what is happening out in the world."
Paisley raised a shoulder. "If only one of us could see the future," she joked, and Maxton let out a laugh. She effectively broke the tension that built very quickly with the grim knowledge of their potential future.
"That's it, I'm taking Divination," Maxton declared. Still, Paisley just shook her head, them both increasing their pace to catch up in time to not be late to Transfiguration.
