JKR owns the people and places, I own Karista, Julia and Amaia, as well as the dream
(A/N: I hope that this chapter brings to light some of the things plaguing the remaining marauders...I felt it unfair to Sirius that he doesn't get a bit of 'action' in this book. Don't worry, people...its all PG-14)
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Chapter 5: The war of worlds
"Julia Glideon and Amaia Romiliono work as aurors," Dumbledore said heartily standing above the table. It was almost three weeks until the school year was supposed to begin, and Dumbledore was practicing his first day feast in front of the faculty. "For now, they will be our new Defense against the dark arts teacher and Care of Magical Creatures teacher, as Hagrid is absent and Remus is working on the order."
Remus and Sirius, who had not recognized the two new comers, now stared. Yes, it was true. They had gone to school with both of them, and they also had a considerable past with them.
"Now, I am looking forward to a very good year this year, with added protection and a re-establishment of the order," Dumbledore smiled, sitting once again in his seat and taking a plate of food. Dumbledore didn't get very far, as through the open doors came three birds: two owls and a raven. All the birds fought to get to their owner, as Snape and Dumbledore were sitting next to each other. Once Dumbledore had gotten the message away from his tawny owl, another dwarf owl sat in front of him, letter less. Meanwhile, Snape was trying to grasp at the raven with grunts of anger as it hovered over him. Dumbledore unraveled the letter, and read it aloud to the table.
Dumbledore,
Thank you for the letter. I think it was a reminder to keep my sanity as Mrs. Weasley was going to see to it that both Harry and I lose our heads for our little 'stunt' this morning. Honestly, you'd think that when I told her Voldie was my uncle, she was going to strangle me.
Anyway, about the 'protection' that we both had. I explained most of it in Professor Snape's letter, yet I still think that I should write it again. In ancient Egyptian times, Kings and priests would wear amulets of cartouches and hieroglyphs. The wizards of the ages believed that if it was worn and used correctly, the person could escape death numerous amounts of times, but with limits. Think of it as Dark Magic of the old ages.
Now, on with the current data. My necklace is one of these amulets. When I wear it, I have a snake, a panther, an eagle and an owl, which basically conforms the magical protection to my character. You will also notice on Petrey, my owl the same necklace with the picture of an owl. (No doubt he is probably puffing out his chest and showing off for you now.)
Dumbledore looked up at the owl, which as written in the letter, was puffing its chest up proudly at the mention of its name.
Yes, you may touch it and Petrey won't get mad, just don't try and take it off of him…he can be rather feisty. Anyway, you should probably know that I have found a necklace, quite like mine, and have given it to Harry. He just so happened to be wearing it this morning.
Besides the necklace, please do inform me what riff-raff you intend upon having me do. I am hoping this will provide me with a knowledgeable excuse to not be scalped to death. Tell Remus and Sirius that I am looking forward to bugging them again soon.
Karista
Dumbledore folded the note and placed it in his robes. The staff looked enquiringly at him, wanting to know what he was destined to tell her.
"No, you will not know what will be happening, as it is to remain away from wandering ears," Dumbledore nearly laughed. He picked up his fork again and began to eat, much to the delight of no one.
***
"How could Dumbledore?" Remus moaned, moving the black queen forward and taking one of Sirius' pawns. "He knows we haven't seen each other since a year after we left Hogwarts."
"Well, you haven't really had a decent conversation with Amaia since she found out you are a…you know," Sirius said quickly, trying hard to think of his next move. "Julia…well, that is nearly the same."
"Yeah, but Julia disappeared off the face of the planet. How can she resurface after all this time?" Lupin seethed, the anger growing in his face. Snape was sitting not far away, reading a potion book when he came out of the shadows to comment.
"You painless gits. Don't you realize the mistakes that you all made being the practical jokers that you are?" Snape sneered, a grin on his face. "Quit analyzing the situation."
Lupin turned, and uncharacteristically glared at Snape. Sirius returned Snape's gesture and went back to scowling over the chessboard.
"Snape, you really shouldn't talk," Sirius said, casually moving forward his rook. "Whatever happened to Vanessa?"
Snape's gaze turned cold while his face became red. "How dare you mention her in my presence."
Sirius and Lupin grinned at him and set back to work on their game while Snape sat back in his chair facing the fire. It was moments before the door to the Teacher's common room opened, only to reveal the two people Sirius and Remus wanted to see less. When Julia and Amaia saw Sirius and Remus, they simply nodded and headed up towards their respective dormitories.
"Julia, Amaia, can we talk to you guys?" Sirius called, standing from the chair so his voice could carry over the flickering of the fire. Snape let out a long, depressed sigh before standing and leaving the room.
"What?" Julia replied, turning on her heel and nearly glaring at Sirius and Lupin. Amaia simply looked a bit taken aback at their sudden request.
"We want to talk to you both…I don't think that we should go through this whole school year without talking to each other."
Julia seemed to ponder this request, while Amaia shook her head.
"I am very tired, please excuse me," Amaia mumbled, walking the rest of the way up to the dormitories. Immediately Lupin's disappointment showed on his face as he resumed the game.
"What Sirius?" Julia asked, raising an eyebrow and sitting in an adjoining chair.
"Why won't you talk to me? Why haven't I seen you since we left Hogwarts?" Sirius blurted, turning slightly red in the face after saying it.
"Why won't I talk to you? I would have thought that was obvious," Julia spat, crossing her legs. Sirius seemed to space off at this gesture…it seemed like only yesterday he was holding her close… "SIRIUS! Quit staring off into space if you want to talk to me!"
Sirius seemed to jerk out of his stupor as Julia stood up.
"No wait…I'm sorry. Let me just answer your questions," He pleaded, almost falling out of his chair.
"No, Padfoot," She murmured, turning and heading towards the stairwell. "Goodnight gentlemen."
With that, Julia simply walked up the stairwell without another look over her shoulder.
"That went well, eh Padfoot?" Lupin answered sarcastically, finally checkmating Sirius' king.
"Not talking to me isn't going to solve anything. I might as well shoot myself," Sirius moaned, clapping a hand to his forehead and leaning back in his chair.
"On that note, I might as well start packing for the Weasley excursion," Lupin muttered, placing the various pieces in a box and marching up the same stairwell that Julia and Amaia walked up minutes ago. "Night Padfoot."
"Night," Sirius said sleepily.
***
"What did Sirius and Remus say?" Amaia asked quietly, still stroking the cat on her bed. She was very somber since arriving at Hogwarts and was not amused by Dumbledore's announcement that they were there…permanently.
"Oh, the usual 'let's sit and daydream while a girl talks to us'," Julia sighed, pulling back the covers to the bed. "You'd swear he didn't care."
"Oh, he does Julia…trust me, he does," Amaia muttered, leaning back and letting her head fall against the pillow. "I just find it hard to talk to Remus and not think about…"
"He didn't tell you for a reason, Ama," Julia said resolutely from he pillow. "For your safety and the others."
"But I loved him," Amaia said, fighting back the tears that were threatening to pour onto the pillow at any moment. "I loved him and he still couldn't tell me."
"Ama, come off it! You know he only meant well!" Julia said, shutting off the light on her nightstand. "It isn't like he was trying to hurt you."
"Still," Amaia said slowly, shutting off her nightlight. "If he apologizes for not telling me, I would understand."
"I'll probably never understand you, Ama," Julia muttered sleepily. None of them realized that outside their door at that very minute Remus Lupin had heard the whole conversation by accident.
"I'm sorry, Ama. I'm so sorry," He whispered, a tear pouring down his cheek. The night of discovery came flooding back to him as he entered his room and shut the door. He could see it all play before him. His final trip to the Shrieking shack during his 6th year at Hogwarts…Ama following Madame Pomfrey and himself to the whomping Willow after questioning his whereabouts. She had then followed him all the way to the trapdoor until he turned and stopped, staring blankly at her. His face then contorted with anger and fury at the sight of her. She screamed as the few cracks of moonlight hit his figure and he mutated, screaming in agony as pain overtook him. Only that time, it wasn't physical pain, it was emotional pain…a pain he had never experienced. His first love had never forgiven him after that. She never spoken to him, never seen him.
Slowly creeping into his bed after removing his day clothing, he wondered silently if he could change everything, if it was at all possible. Finally, after long minutes of thought, he clicked the light on his nightstand, sleep overcoming him instantly.
***
A dark hall. Stoned, mucky, mossy…definitely underground. A dungeon? It's cold enough to be one. Karista instantly wished that she had worn something warmer to bed, yet the summer at the burrow was warmer than she expected. Shivering slightly, she looked down the end of the hallway to a flicker of light. It was quite a distance away, so she began to run after it. After several minutes of running, Karista stopped in front of a large wooden door with the emblem of a snake on it. She reached for the doorknob and pulled, letting a sliver of light cascade out into the hallway.
It was a small, yet charming bedroom with a small fire rolling in the corner. There were two plush armchairs near it, and one appeared occupied. She crept in, knowing that whoever it was could probably see and hear her. She crossed the cold floor until she met with carpet. She emitted a gasp of delight, only to realize that the figure had heard her. It was too late however. Horrible, gleaming red slits were staring at her as a wand pointed at her heart. Voldemort.
"Dear niece, it is not nice to sneak up on people, including your enemies," he spat, inching closer. Karista seemed to form up her resolve and stood straight as a board. He couldn't hurt her…she was for one thing protected by ancient Egyptian magic and she was in a dream-like form. Not her true self. She was having another out of body experience.
"No matter, I came to talk," Karista said quietly, afraid of waking someone up. "To you privately."
Voldemort seemed to draw back at this statement. He seemed to realize that she wasn't here for trouble and that he couldn't hurt her anyway. His mouth curled into a sneer as he waived his hand towards one of the plush armchairs by the fire. She smirked at him, finally testing his patience. The sneer disappeared as soon as it had come.
"Sit," he muttered, waiving his hand towards one of the chairs by the fire. She crossed the room in front of him and sat down on the edge of the chair rather uncomfortably while Voldemort flopped down into the next one. "Explain this."
Karista turned to face him, trying to think of what to say when it finally came over her.
"Why do you want Harry so bad?" she asked angrily, all nervousness and shock disappearing instantly. "Why do you need him? He was only a baby when he…"
Voldemort looked at her curiously, then to her amazement smiled and nodded his head.
"That is for me to know, and you to find out," he said sarcastically, looking back into the fire. "As for you, what is the real reason you are here?"
"Well…other than I am curious as to where you are, I am also wondering about…about…" Karista began, yet wasn't able to continue as her thoughts had frozen her mouth.
"Your mother, aunt and uncle were not killed by my wand but by my potions expertise," he mumbled, looking at the floor. She nodded her head, as he had answered the question for her. "No, they cannot be brought back. As to your powers, I am able still to destroy you."
Karista looked up, fighting the urge to tears until he spoke again.
"However powerful I may be, I still am willing to negotiate," he added crossly, furrowing his brow. "If you join me, I can guarantee power beyond anything you have ever known in your life."
Karista almost looked shocked at this statement yet took it to heart. A plan was slowly forming in her mind…where it had come from, she didn't know.
"That is, if you are willing. I cannot force you to it, just as you cannot kill me…yet," Voldemort said quietly, staring straight into her eyes. "As you are my Niece, and therefore blood…I owe you a fight."
The more Karista looked into his eyes, the more she could see the inner Voldemort struggling between love and hate. She could feel that he was near cracking point as it was. It was almost as if the real Tom Marvolo Riddle was coming to the surface. This was shattered however by the iciness of his words.
"You can be great Karista. I believe the Sorting hat already told you that," he responded to her silence, cutting the tension with a knife. "Think about it. As for now, I can only promise your expulsion from my plans."
Karista nodded her head, as she was deep in concentration as the room began to slowly fade away.
"I look forward to seeing you soon," his voice echoed in her head as she slowly woke up. She sat up in bed, not wanting to believe any of it happened, yet she knew it had. She stood from her bed and snuck out of the room and down the stairs into the kitchen. It was very dark and quiet, except of course for the crickets chirping outside. She glided over to the door into the backyard and stepped into the momentary darkness. For summer, it was rather warm. The fireflies were dancing amongst the trees, casting eerie glows around the yard. Karista sat on the first step and looked up at the stars.
The plan that had formed in Karista's head began to manipulate itself until she threw it out. She couldn't join Voldemort, even as a spy. No one would believe her. She wished that Petrey would come visit her again, yet he was undoubtedly spending the night at Hogwarts…even using her necklace to get him was going to be impossible. She brought her elbows up to rest on her knees as she supported her chin in her cupped hands. It is bound to be a long a strange year for me she thought sarcastically, letting a sigh escape her parted lips. The moon was slowly falling in the sky signaling the return of the sun. Her thoughts swayed with the words of Voldemort.
They cannot be brought back… join me, I can guarantee power beyond anything you have ever known in your life… I am able still to destroy you… my Niece, and therefore blood…I owe you a fight… You can be great Karista… expulsion from my plans... your enemies…you will never win, Karista, never. A light breeze had begun from the west and it brought Karista back to her senses. Why am I thinking like this? Why can't I just go to sleep like every other witch and wizard and not be on someone's hit list? Karista yelled in her head, trying to wake the spirits encircling her. For now, she would keep it all to herself, that is if she didn't go mad first.
***
The morning sun crept up on Karista, who had remained out on the back porch for as long as she could remember. Thankfully, she was still awake yet was preoccupied with watching the early birds swoop through the sky. Karista could sense movement within the house and got up to investigate. Before she could enter the door, the smell of food cooking awoke her senses, making her even faster to get towards the indoor.
"Well, I expected you to still be up in bed," Mrs. Weasley smiled, moving the bacon around the pan. "What were you up to?"
Karista wanted eagerly to tell her about the dream yet knew that she couldn't. Molly Weasley already knew too much about her.
"Watching the sunrise," Karista mumbled, sitting down in one of the chairs at the scrubbed wooden table. She began to follow some of the grain of the wood with her finger when there was a thump and clattering of feet.
"Fred and George are up," Molly said heartily, placing some strips of bacon onto Karista's plate. Form the stairwell came two shaggy redheads, yawning and stretching.
"Mornin' mum," Fred yawned, raising his hands above his head. George flopped into a chair across from Karista, who was busily scooting the bacon around her plate to get it to cool off.
"Karista, dear chap, how are you this fine morning?" George said mockingly, holding his had out stiffly in front of him. "Pleasure to see you dawning your morning attire."
Karista felt the color creep up her cheeks as she nodded her head. "Just spanking this morning, and yourself?"
Fred and George grinned and nodded their approval.
"Notice you were outside this morning…trying to catch something?" Fred began to poke restlessly at his eggs as he began to shovel them into his mouth.
"Only a sunrise," Karista said thickly as she had just taken a bite of bacon.
More noise could be heard from upstairs as four heads appeared, bobbing down the stairwell. Hermione and Ginny took seats next to Karista while Harry and Ron sat by Fred and George. Finally everyone got engrossed with eating food and it was only until Mrs. Weasley disturb them that they realized how quiet it was.
"Remus Lupin and…Sirius Black," Mrs. Weasley paused slightly at the mention of his name. "They are coming today."
With all the noise that had come on, one would have thought a jumbo jet had landed in the Burrow. Harry was positively ecstatic while Fred and George danced around the table. Ron, Hermione and Karista sat laughing at the three.
"Yeah, well calm down…It will be late afternoon when they are threw with some important Hogwarts business, so don't get too excited," Arthur Weasley said rather dully from the head of the table. Everyone immediately calmed down to be able to talk normally.
"Then I say a rather rousing game of Quidditch," replied Charlie, who had come late down to breakfast.
"I think that can be arranged," Fred managed to squeeze in amongst the chattering.
"Oh, but it will be the interesting kind…two to a broom," George said menacingly, glancing over at Harry and Karista. Harry simply slapped his hand to his forehead while Karista let out a rather loud moan. "This should be fun."
(A/N: I hope that this chapter brings to light some of the things plaguing the remaining marauders...I felt it unfair to Sirius that he doesn't get a bit of 'action' in this book. Don't worry, people...its all PG-14)
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Chapter 5: The war of worlds
"Julia Glideon and Amaia Romiliono work as aurors," Dumbledore said heartily standing above the table. It was almost three weeks until the school year was supposed to begin, and Dumbledore was practicing his first day feast in front of the faculty. "For now, they will be our new Defense against the dark arts teacher and Care of Magical Creatures teacher, as Hagrid is absent and Remus is working on the order."
Remus and Sirius, who had not recognized the two new comers, now stared. Yes, it was true. They had gone to school with both of them, and they also had a considerable past with them.
"Now, I am looking forward to a very good year this year, with added protection and a re-establishment of the order," Dumbledore smiled, sitting once again in his seat and taking a plate of food. Dumbledore didn't get very far, as through the open doors came three birds: two owls and a raven. All the birds fought to get to their owner, as Snape and Dumbledore were sitting next to each other. Once Dumbledore had gotten the message away from his tawny owl, another dwarf owl sat in front of him, letter less. Meanwhile, Snape was trying to grasp at the raven with grunts of anger as it hovered over him. Dumbledore unraveled the letter, and read it aloud to the table.
Dumbledore,
Thank you for the letter. I think it was a reminder to keep my sanity as Mrs. Weasley was going to see to it that both Harry and I lose our heads for our little 'stunt' this morning. Honestly, you'd think that when I told her Voldie was my uncle, she was going to strangle me.
Anyway, about the 'protection' that we both had. I explained most of it in Professor Snape's letter, yet I still think that I should write it again. In ancient Egyptian times, Kings and priests would wear amulets of cartouches and hieroglyphs. The wizards of the ages believed that if it was worn and used correctly, the person could escape death numerous amounts of times, but with limits. Think of it as Dark Magic of the old ages.
Now, on with the current data. My necklace is one of these amulets. When I wear it, I have a snake, a panther, an eagle and an owl, which basically conforms the magical protection to my character. You will also notice on Petrey, my owl the same necklace with the picture of an owl. (No doubt he is probably puffing out his chest and showing off for you now.)
Dumbledore looked up at the owl, which as written in the letter, was puffing its chest up proudly at the mention of its name.
Yes, you may touch it and Petrey won't get mad, just don't try and take it off of him…he can be rather feisty. Anyway, you should probably know that I have found a necklace, quite like mine, and have given it to Harry. He just so happened to be wearing it this morning.
Besides the necklace, please do inform me what riff-raff you intend upon having me do. I am hoping this will provide me with a knowledgeable excuse to not be scalped to death. Tell Remus and Sirius that I am looking forward to bugging them again soon.
Karista
Dumbledore folded the note and placed it in his robes. The staff looked enquiringly at him, wanting to know what he was destined to tell her.
"No, you will not know what will be happening, as it is to remain away from wandering ears," Dumbledore nearly laughed. He picked up his fork again and began to eat, much to the delight of no one.
***
"How could Dumbledore?" Remus moaned, moving the black queen forward and taking one of Sirius' pawns. "He knows we haven't seen each other since a year after we left Hogwarts."
"Well, you haven't really had a decent conversation with Amaia since she found out you are a…you know," Sirius said quickly, trying hard to think of his next move. "Julia…well, that is nearly the same."
"Yeah, but Julia disappeared off the face of the planet. How can she resurface after all this time?" Lupin seethed, the anger growing in his face. Snape was sitting not far away, reading a potion book when he came out of the shadows to comment.
"You painless gits. Don't you realize the mistakes that you all made being the practical jokers that you are?" Snape sneered, a grin on his face. "Quit analyzing the situation."
Lupin turned, and uncharacteristically glared at Snape. Sirius returned Snape's gesture and went back to scowling over the chessboard.
"Snape, you really shouldn't talk," Sirius said, casually moving forward his rook. "Whatever happened to Vanessa?"
Snape's gaze turned cold while his face became red. "How dare you mention her in my presence."
Sirius and Lupin grinned at him and set back to work on their game while Snape sat back in his chair facing the fire. It was moments before the door to the Teacher's common room opened, only to reveal the two people Sirius and Remus wanted to see less. When Julia and Amaia saw Sirius and Remus, they simply nodded and headed up towards their respective dormitories.
"Julia, Amaia, can we talk to you guys?" Sirius called, standing from the chair so his voice could carry over the flickering of the fire. Snape let out a long, depressed sigh before standing and leaving the room.
"What?" Julia replied, turning on her heel and nearly glaring at Sirius and Lupin. Amaia simply looked a bit taken aback at their sudden request.
"We want to talk to you both…I don't think that we should go through this whole school year without talking to each other."
Julia seemed to ponder this request, while Amaia shook her head.
"I am very tired, please excuse me," Amaia mumbled, walking the rest of the way up to the dormitories. Immediately Lupin's disappointment showed on his face as he resumed the game.
"What Sirius?" Julia asked, raising an eyebrow and sitting in an adjoining chair.
"Why won't you talk to me? Why haven't I seen you since we left Hogwarts?" Sirius blurted, turning slightly red in the face after saying it.
"Why won't I talk to you? I would have thought that was obvious," Julia spat, crossing her legs. Sirius seemed to space off at this gesture…it seemed like only yesterday he was holding her close… "SIRIUS! Quit staring off into space if you want to talk to me!"
Sirius seemed to jerk out of his stupor as Julia stood up.
"No wait…I'm sorry. Let me just answer your questions," He pleaded, almost falling out of his chair.
"No, Padfoot," She murmured, turning and heading towards the stairwell. "Goodnight gentlemen."
With that, Julia simply walked up the stairwell without another look over her shoulder.
"That went well, eh Padfoot?" Lupin answered sarcastically, finally checkmating Sirius' king.
"Not talking to me isn't going to solve anything. I might as well shoot myself," Sirius moaned, clapping a hand to his forehead and leaning back in his chair.
"On that note, I might as well start packing for the Weasley excursion," Lupin muttered, placing the various pieces in a box and marching up the same stairwell that Julia and Amaia walked up minutes ago. "Night Padfoot."
"Night," Sirius said sleepily.
***
"What did Sirius and Remus say?" Amaia asked quietly, still stroking the cat on her bed. She was very somber since arriving at Hogwarts and was not amused by Dumbledore's announcement that they were there…permanently.
"Oh, the usual 'let's sit and daydream while a girl talks to us'," Julia sighed, pulling back the covers to the bed. "You'd swear he didn't care."
"Oh, he does Julia…trust me, he does," Amaia muttered, leaning back and letting her head fall against the pillow. "I just find it hard to talk to Remus and not think about…"
"He didn't tell you for a reason, Ama," Julia said resolutely from he pillow. "For your safety and the others."
"But I loved him," Amaia said, fighting back the tears that were threatening to pour onto the pillow at any moment. "I loved him and he still couldn't tell me."
"Ama, come off it! You know he only meant well!" Julia said, shutting off the light on her nightstand. "It isn't like he was trying to hurt you."
"Still," Amaia said slowly, shutting off her nightlight. "If he apologizes for not telling me, I would understand."
"I'll probably never understand you, Ama," Julia muttered sleepily. None of them realized that outside their door at that very minute Remus Lupin had heard the whole conversation by accident.
"I'm sorry, Ama. I'm so sorry," He whispered, a tear pouring down his cheek. The night of discovery came flooding back to him as he entered his room and shut the door. He could see it all play before him. His final trip to the Shrieking shack during his 6th year at Hogwarts…Ama following Madame Pomfrey and himself to the whomping Willow after questioning his whereabouts. She had then followed him all the way to the trapdoor until he turned and stopped, staring blankly at her. His face then contorted with anger and fury at the sight of her. She screamed as the few cracks of moonlight hit his figure and he mutated, screaming in agony as pain overtook him. Only that time, it wasn't physical pain, it was emotional pain…a pain he had never experienced. His first love had never forgiven him after that. She never spoken to him, never seen him.
Slowly creeping into his bed after removing his day clothing, he wondered silently if he could change everything, if it was at all possible. Finally, after long minutes of thought, he clicked the light on his nightstand, sleep overcoming him instantly.
***
A dark hall. Stoned, mucky, mossy…definitely underground. A dungeon? It's cold enough to be one. Karista instantly wished that she had worn something warmer to bed, yet the summer at the burrow was warmer than she expected. Shivering slightly, she looked down the end of the hallway to a flicker of light. It was quite a distance away, so she began to run after it. After several minutes of running, Karista stopped in front of a large wooden door with the emblem of a snake on it. She reached for the doorknob and pulled, letting a sliver of light cascade out into the hallway.
It was a small, yet charming bedroom with a small fire rolling in the corner. There were two plush armchairs near it, and one appeared occupied. She crept in, knowing that whoever it was could probably see and hear her. She crossed the cold floor until she met with carpet. She emitted a gasp of delight, only to realize that the figure had heard her. It was too late however. Horrible, gleaming red slits were staring at her as a wand pointed at her heart. Voldemort.
"Dear niece, it is not nice to sneak up on people, including your enemies," he spat, inching closer. Karista seemed to form up her resolve and stood straight as a board. He couldn't hurt her…she was for one thing protected by ancient Egyptian magic and she was in a dream-like form. Not her true self. She was having another out of body experience.
"No matter, I came to talk," Karista said quietly, afraid of waking someone up. "To you privately."
Voldemort seemed to draw back at this statement. He seemed to realize that she wasn't here for trouble and that he couldn't hurt her anyway. His mouth curled into a sneer as he waived his hand towards one of the plush armchairs by the fire. She smirked at him, finally testing his patience. The sneer disappeared as soon as it had come.
"Sit," he muttered, waiving his hand towards one of the chairs by the fire. She crossed the room in front of him and sat down on the edge of the chair rather uncomfortably while Voldemort flopped down into the next one. "Explain this."
Karista turned to face him, trying to think of what to say when it finally came over her.
"Why do you want Harry so bad?" she asked angrily, all nervousness and shock disappearing instantly. "Why do you need him? He was only a baby when he…"
Voldemort looked at her curiously, then to her amazement smiled and nodded his head.
"That is for me to know, and you to find out," he said sarcastically, looking back into the fire. "As for you, what is the real reason you are here?"
"Well…other than I am curious as to where you are, I am also wondering about…about…" Karista began, yet wasn't able to continue as her thoughts had frozen her mouth.
"Your mother, aunt and uncle were not killed by my wand but by my potions expertise," he mumbled, looking at the floor. She nodded her head, as he had answered the question for her. "No, they cannot be brought back. As to your powers, I am able still to destroy you."
Karista looked up, fighting the urge to tears until he spoke again.
"However powerful I may be, I still am willing to negotiate," he added crossly, furrowing his brow. "If you join me, I can guarantee power beyond anything you have ever known in your life."
Karista almost looked shocked at this statement yet took it to heart. A plan was slowly forming in her mind…where it had come from, she didn't know.
"That is, if you are willing. I cannot force you to it, just as you cannot kill me…yet," Voldemort said quietly, staring straight into her eyes. "As you are my Niece, and therefore blood…I owe you a fight."
The more Karista looked into his eyes, the more she could see the inner Voldemort struggling between love and hate. She could feel that he was near cracking point as it was. It was almost as if the real Tom Marvolo Riddle was coming to the surface. This was shattered however by the iciness of his words.
"You can be great Karista. I believe the Sorting hat already told you that," he responded to her silence, cutting the tension with a knife. "Think about it. As for now, I can only promise your expulsion from my plans."
Karista nodded her head, as she was deep in concentration as the room began to slowly fade away.
"I look forward to seeing you soon," his voice echoed in her head as she slowly woke up. She sat up in bed, not wanting to believe any of it happened, yet she knew it had. She stood from her bed and snuck out of the room and down the stairs into the kitchen. It was very dark and quiet, except of course for the crickets chirping outside. She glided over to the door into the backyard and stepped into the momentary darkness. For summer, it was rather warm. The fireflies were dancing amongst the trees, casting eerie glows around the yard. Karista sat on the first step and looked up at the stars.
The plan that had formed in Karista's head began to manipulate itself until she threw it out. She couldn't join Voldemort, even as a spy. No one would believe her. She wished that Petrey would come visit her again, yet he was undoubtedly spending the night at Hogwarts…even using her necklace to get him was going to be impossible. She brought her elbows up to rest on her knees as she supported her chin in her cupped hands. It is bound to be a long a strange year for me she thought sarcastically, letting a sigh escape her parted lips. The moon was slowly falling in the sky signaling the return of the sun. Her thoughts swayed with the words of Voldemort.
They cannot be brought back… join me, I can guarantee power beyond anything you have ever known in your life… I am able still to destroy you… my Niece, and therefore blood…I owe you a fight… You can be great Karista… expulsion from my plans... your enemies…you will never win, Karista, never. A light breeze had begun from the west and it brought Karista back to her senses. Why am I thinking like this? Why can't I just go to sleep like every other witch and wizard and not be on someone's hit list? Karista yelled in her head, trying to wake the spirits encircling her. For now, she would keep it all to herself, that is if she didn't go mad first.
***
The morning sun crept up on Karista, who had remained out on the back porch for as long as she could remember. Thankfully, she was still awake yet was preoccupied with watching the early birds swoop through the sky. Karista could sense movement within the house and got up to investigate. Before she could enter the door, the smell of food cooking awoke her senses, making her even faster to get towards the indoor.
"Well, I expected you to still be up in bed," Mrs. Weasley smiled, moving the bacon around the pan. "What were you up to?"
Karista wanted eagerly to tell her about the dream yet knew that she couldn't. Molly Weasley already knew too much about her.
"Watching the sunrise," Karista mumbled, sitting down in one of the chairs at the scrubbed wooden table. She began to follow some of the grain of the wood with her finger when there was a thump and clattering of feet.
"Fred and George are up," Molly said heartily, placing some strips of bacon onto Karista's plate. Form the stairwell came two shaggy redheads, yawning and stretching.
"Mornin' mum," Fred yawned, raising his hands above his head. George flopped into a chair across from Karista, who was busily scooting the bacon around her plate to get it to cool off.
"Karista, dear chap, how are you this fine morning?" George said mockingly, holding his had out stiffly in front of him. "Pleasure to see you dawning your morning attire."
Karista felt the color creep up her cheeks as she nodded her head. "Just spanking this morning, and yourself?"
Fred and George grinned and nodded their approval.
"Notice you were outside this morning…trying to catch something?" Fred began to poke restlessly at his eggs as he began to shovel them into his mouth.
"Only a sunrise," Karista said thickly as she had just taken a bite of bacon.
More noise could be heard from upstairs as four heads appeared, bobbing down the stairwell. Hermione and Ginny took seats next to Karista while Harry and Ron sat by Fred and George. Finally everyone got engrossed with eating food and it was only until Mrs. Weasley disturb them that they realized how quiet it was.
"Remus Lupin and…Sirius Black," Mrs. Weasley paused slightly at the mention of his name. "They are coming today."
With all the noise that had come on, one would have thought a jumbo jet had landed in the Burrow. Harry was positively ecstatic while Fred and George danced around the table. Ron, Hermione and Karista sat laughing at the three.
"Yeah, well calm down…It will be late afternoon when they are threw with some important Hogwarts business, so don't get too excited," Arthur Weasley said rather dully from the head of the table. Everyone immediately calmed down to be able to talk normally.
"Then I say a rather rousing game of Quidditch," replied Charlie, who had come late down to breakfast.
"I think that can be arranged," Fred managed to squeeze in amongst the chattering.
"Oh, but it will be the interesting kind…two to a broom," George said menacingly, glancing over at Harry and Karista. Harry simply slapped his hand to his forehead while Karista let out a rather loud moan. "This should be fun."
