Spoilers: Order of the Phoenix
Thank you for the reviews!
Ezmerelda: well, we have Lucius and Voldemort against Albus, Severus and Hermione, with two prophecies in the middle of it. That should be quite a battle of wits with some twists here and there...
Eolyn Greenwood: great! Then I'll have to write lots of chapters to have lots of reviews :)
FireFaerie: see it this way: if you kill me, I can't tell you what's after the cliffie... And there I thought it wasn't too big a cliffie... :)
Poppy called Severus in the middle of Sunday morning. Albus was already there, talking with the mediwitch. Harry and Ron were seated not far from Hermione, but not too close either: she had the narwhal tusk in her hands, despite Poppy's reproving glances in her direction. Hermione's eyes lit up when she saw Severus enter.
"Good morning, Professor," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded curtly in answer.
"Where did you find the unicorn blood?"
"How do you know?" interrupted Ron. "Madam Pomfrey didn't tell you about it!"
Hermione waved the tusk in the air.
"Narwhal tusk. Narwhal or sea unicorn, same family as the unicorn, though quite removed now. Very good for detecting poison in food, if we are to believe the archives of Middle Age, though they thought it was genuine unicorn horn. Third year stuff. Don't you ever listen in class, even to Hagrid?"
Ron blushed crimson and Severus chuckled.
"Narwhal tusk is used in Dark Arts, especially blood poisoning," continued Hermione in her best lecture tone. "And it's definitely my blood on it. The only cure against it is fresh unicorn blood. In fact, there's always something from the unicorn that counteracts something from the narwhal or vice-versa. Probably due to the fact that the two families drifted apart and that it's against nature to have them reunited in the same place."
She bit her lower lip and chewed on it for a moment before adding:
"I wonder what effect it would have on Voldemort were we to stick it between his ribs rather than mine."
"Get this idea out of your thoughts, Miss Granger. This tusk has already shed blood and thus must be purified again before being used – though purification may not be the right term. Believe me, you don't want to know how a purification ceremony is held."
She glared at Severus then asked:
"So, how did you got the unicorn blood?"
"Firene. And he told me also the name of your aggressor."
"I'm glad he came to you. The foals tried to protect me, but they're too vulnerable to evil."
"They let me come near the paddock."
"Because they know you're my protector."
"Firene sends his greetings."
She smiled.
"I will go thank him as soon as I can. Tonight maybe?"
"Out of question. Poppy would have my head. Tomorrow night. We need to talk, Miss Granger."
"We do?"
"About the threat on you and why–"
"Why Voldemort sent me this," she concluded, rolling the silver ring in her fingers.
"Blasted thing! It should be in my pocket."
"It's of no use. It will always come back to me."
Severus frowned, scowling, staring at the heavy ring as if mesmerised.
Albus came with them and sent Harry and Ron a bit further. The two Gryffindors categorically refused to leave the Hospital Wing, as if they wanted to make it up to Hermione by being overzealous.
"You are sure she has the three bloods now, Severus?"
"The unicorn blood revealed it so."
"Three bloods? But no, I have only two…" protested Hermione. "Don't I?" she added, seeing the serious faces of Albus and Severus.
"There is a prophecy, Hermione," said Albus, patting her hand. "The Child with the three bloods… the three precious bloods. A mix of the immortal blood and virgin blood… Pain, oh so much pain, and tears like a phoenix's to heal the burns in the flesh…"
"It makes no sense," said Hermione, frowning.
"I agree. The Seer was mad when she uttered this prophecy. Too much Cruciatus. But this one is the last one she told the world. You are the Child, Hermione. A mix of the immortal blood and virgin blood: the immortal blood is naturally unicorn blood, which is now running in your veins. Apparently, for what Lucius told us, Voldemort seems to consider it important, probably due to this prophecy. But it may have other powers that we are unaware of. It's not often that one has unicorn blood in their veins, especially given freely. The way it's given or taken can sometimes be of great importance."
"Albus, stay focused on the subject," growled Severus.
"Yes, yes. Anyway. You are the Child of this prophecy. Three precious bloods. You already had Rowena's and Helga's. Severus said the unicorn blood confirmed his suspicions on the subject. As for the third… you can thank Harry. It seems he is Godric's Heir."
"It's… it's ridiculous! The Sorting Hat wanted to put him in Slytherin!"
Severus hid his smile. Trust the girl to point the only inconsistent clue!
"Did it really?" retorted Albus. "If you ask again Harry, he will tell you that the Hat only said: 'So where shall I put you?' Harry refused Slytherin, but the Hat never said it wanted to put him in Slytherin. Then, you must remember that the Sorting Hat was originally Godric's. Gryffindors, as you probably know, are prone to pranks. Teasing is not unusual for the Sorting Hat. I guess Salazar would have had a fit had Harry been in Slytherin."
"Godric brought it on himself. Angering Salazar – or a Slytherin – is never a wise move."
"What happened?" asked Hermione.
"Provoked, Salazar cursed both his and Godric's Houses: forever would there be a rivalry between them and no friendship, for as long as Salazar would be separated from Rowena."
"Uh… but Salazar and Rowena are dead!"
Severus sighed.
"Let's start by the beginning, then…"
Salazar was bursting with energy and happiness, for it was the day when he would finally marry his beloved Rowena. He ran up the stair, calling Rowena in a singsong voice. He didn't care for the tradition of not seeing the bride before the wedding. No stupid tradition would stand between Rowena and him.
He was at the door of her room when he heard the last words of a spell. He froze on the spot. Normally, he wouldn't have cared for such a thing – Rowena could have been casting a spell without anything suspicious to it – but not when the voice was definitely recognisable as Godric's. He jerked the door open, his wand drawn.
"Rowena! Is everything alright?"
Godric smiled at him, Rowena and Helga behind him. There was a look of relief on Rowena's face as she saw Salazar, but strangely, she didn't come to him.
"Rowena?" Salazar repeated, his voice slightly quavering.
Godric's smile widened.
"It's too late, Slytherin! I freed her from your spell, she will never come back to you!"
"What did you do to Rowena?" bellowed Salazar, his eyes blazing with anger.
"I protected Rowena and Helga from you… forever! They will leave among Muggles, invisible to you, but I will be able to recognise them!"
"It's true, Salazar," murmured Rowena, her gaze full of sadness. "A new spell I never heard before…"
Salazar thought quickly. Rowena was lost to him. Forever, if he was to believe Godric. With the speed that characterised him, he cast three spells in succession and smirked at Godric's confounded face.
"You cursed my beloved," said Salazar softly, his voice taking silky accents, "be prepared to be cursed in return. I shall not permit you to take advantage of her power, nor her sister's. Rowena and Helga's bloodlines will be composed of Squibs until Rowena and I are reunited once again. Rowena, love, I shall find you again, I promise."
"What was the third spell?" raged Godric, his fair face distorted with anger.
Salazar had an amused, though frightening, smile.
"There will be endless feud between your House and mine, a feud lasting until Rowena is found again. Till then, I shall make your life a living Hell."
His dark eyes rested on Helga.
"Helga, be reassured. I hold no grievance against you and you shall be released of those curses at the same time as Rowena's bloodline. Please take care of your sister for me. Rowena is more precious to me than anything else in the world."
Helga nodded and gently squeezed the hand of her half-sister. Rowena smiled wanly.
"Rowena, I shall find you again, where you least expect me to," he repeated.
Salazar exited the room after a last glance to Rowena. He leaned against the wall, trying to calm the hurt in his heart as he thought that he would never be able to come near her.
"Free of him at last!" exclaimed Godric with satisfaction.
"Oh Godric, my hero, come here!"
Salazar's heart stopped. No, he had heard wrong, his Rowena couldn't be doing this to him…
"I knew you would come to your senses, Rowena."
Godric's smug voice was sickening. Salazar closed his eyes and tried to breathe.
SLAP!
"That's for thinking I would ever forsake my Salazar for you!" Rowena spat with a voice full of anger. "How could you, you conceited git? You can't even hold a candle to him!"
Salazar grinned like a loon. Oh, how he loved this woman! Knowing he couldn't stay any longer, except for torturing himself, he left Hogwarts, not even caring for his guests.
"Godric went to see the guests to the wedding and told them Rowena had recovered her senses and that the wedding was cancelled. Naturally, everybody assumed that Salazar had cast a spell on her – a variant of Imperius – and that brave, gentle and caring Godric had protected poor, defenceless, maiden-in-distress Rowena from cunning, evil and mean Salazar."
Hermione smirked at Severus's sarcastic tone.
"So… I am Rowena's Heir?" she asked seriously.
Albus nodded.
"And Harry is Godric's?"
Once again, Albus nodded. Severus noted the strange glint in Hermione's eyes and grinned inwardly.
"Harry, oh Harry!" she called with a sugary voice.
He almost ran to her bedside.
"Yes, Hermione?"
She looked at him for a moment then slapped him with all the strength she could muster.
"That's for treating me like dung since the beginning of term!" she said between clenched teeth.
Harry touched gingerly his burning cheek and looked down.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. Ron and I intended to come to you and apologise when we found you."
"Yes, oh yes! But why did you want to apologise? Not because I was innocent, oh no, but because little Ginny told you so! Because little Ginny believed me when I said that I didn't care for Voldemort and suddenly it made everything alright!"
"I'm… I'm really sorry–"
"Yes, I know, you already said this part."
Severus couldn't hold any longer and burst out laughing, a merry, rich baritone laugh. Hermione looked up at him and grinned unrepentantly. Albus chuckled, shaking his head indulgently. Harry looked at him, obviously hurt by both Hermione and the Headmaster's reaction. He straightened stiffly and motioned to Ron before stalking out of the infirmary.
"If I have three bloods, then the only one missing is… Slytherin blood. Voldemort's."
Her eyes widened.
"And the unicorn blood… it could have been his, but now, I have it also in my veins. For the Child with the four bloods to be… I have to… him?"
The twinkle in Albus's eyes had disappeared some moments ago already.
"I'm afraid–" he began.
"No, Albus," interrupted Severus. "There is another way."
Two incredulous gazes turned to him and he passed wearily his hand on his face.
"There is someone else from Salazar's bloodline. After walking away from Rowena, Salazar married, even though his heart wasn't on it, choosing his wife on the sole criterion that she was a pure-blood witch. He had a daughter, whom he named Rowena. Somehow, he tweaked with some spells and Rowena grew up to look like the other Rowena, except for her raven hair. Rowena Slytherin herself, later, married also and had two little girls. She died at the birth of her second one. Salazar, who had stayed only because of Rowena, went away, determined to bury his grief elsewhere. His wife seized the occasion to do mischief. She raised the two little girls, Salome and Grace, using all her wits to bring her against each other. As soon as she reached fifteen, Grace proved she had learnt her lessons and killed her elder sister. Or, at least, tried to. Somehow, Salome managed to escape and met someone who accepted to hide her."
Salome had crawled as far as she could, not caring for the track of blood she left behind her. She preferred to be devoured by wild beasts rather than fall under her sister's stabs. She snarled at the thought that Grace was coward enough for not trying a spell against her, knowing that Salome knew more than she did on magic.
She rested for a moment against a tree. She had managed to hide in the woods behind the manor of her grandmother after Grace had left her for dead in the middle of the courtyard. She breathed slowly, wishing for her grandfather to be here. She still remembered how Salazar had been kind to her while her mother was alive.
A noise behind her startled her and she tried to calm her ragged breath, sinking further in the welcomed embrace of the tree. She drew her wand, trying to cast a spell so he wouldn't notice her, but her hand shook so badly that she was unable to do so.
A gentle hand closed on her wrist and she looked up into laughing, but concerned, dark eyes.
"Hello, girl," the stranger said in soft tones. "Don't look at me with those frightened eyes, I'm not going to hurt you."
He assessed quickly the visible damages on her body and shook his head in reprobation. He bent down and lifted her in his arms.
"Put your wand away, little one, you're safe with me. Whoever hurt you will have to go over my dead body before touching you again."
"But you don't know me," she said, puzzled.
He cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Does it matter?"
"I could be a criminal, for all you know."
"With those doe-like eyes of yours? Hardly. Now, why would someone try to kill you?"
She relaxed slightly in his arms.
"Jealousy. I have to remain dead."
"Pure-blood?"
She gave him a quizzical look.
"Yes."
"Good, I can help you to hide your name. What would be your new first name?"
"Leila. It means born at night."
He smiled and she thought he had a nice smile, very reassuring.
"Will you marry me?"
"Naturally, Salome accepted and he never asked what her family name was. Though she trusted him with her life, she never told him either. She passed her secret to his son, when she discovered he had the gift of Parseltongue. Then it became a secret shared from father to son, for, strangely enough, there was only one child in the family and it was only a son. But they never shared it with their spouse. Less chances for the secret to become known."
"And Grace's bloodline never suspected anything? Even when Grace didn't find the body of her sister?"
"Grace was, for all it's known, as stupid as she was deceitful. She never mentioned it to her grandmother and bore proudly the claim that she was from Salazar's bloodline. Everybody – if they even knew about Salome – forgot that Rowena had even had two daughters. Naturally, from Grace's descendants came Tom Riddle's mother and the Dark Lord discovered the Chamber of Secrets. Grace had heard of it, for Godric liked to claim he had closed it forever. For what I've heard about it now that it had been reopened – never trust a Gryffindor to do something to last forever – it is quite different from what Salazar himself designed. If the documents we possess are accurate, the Chamber of Secrets was the place he wanted to live with Rowena, away from prying eyes, and definitely not a place to hide a basilisk. Knowing the Dark Lord and his ancestors, it's more than probable that they put it in there themselves."
"You seem to have an extensive knowledge on the subject, Severus," Albus said. "More than what is known by historians. Care to share with us your sources?"
"If your historians are those writing Hogwarts: A History, I prefer to let them in the dark. Knowing that Godric was a jealous and mean wizard, intent on ruining Salazar's life would revolutionise the world. But here are my sources."
He put a heavy book on Hermione's nightstand.
"What is it?"
"An heirloom."
"Severus, you can swear to me that there is somewhere the true Heir of Slytherin?"
"Yes, there is."
"Do we know him?"
"I daresay we do."
Hermione gasped, her gaze on him.
"A secret shared from father to son," she repeated, her eyes widening. "He…"
"Severus? Who is he then?"
"Why, Albus, it's obvious. It's me."