"Hey, Potter are you here to acknowledge my victory?" Draco greeted.
"Eat dirt Malfoy!" Harry retorted.
"I'll leave that to Weasley." Maria rolled her eyes as they bickered.
"Don't rise to him, Ron you're twice the man he is." Hermione joined in.
"Oh, and I suppose you know how much of a man Draco is then 'Moine?" Maria asked.
"Ron doesn't use underhanded tricks and his fathers money to get somewhere," the brunette argued.
"Don't you involve Lucius in this, Draco doesn't ask for that."
"Oh, sorry. Poor little Draco really hates the way his daddy buys him everything, including his place on the quidditch team." Maria's eyes narrowed.
"Well at least he deserves a place unlike the twins," the blonde growled. Hermione stepped closer to Maria and slapped her across the face. The boys stood stunned Maria responded by grabbing and pulling Hermione's hair. Harry and Ron began to intervene while Draco smiled.
"I know your secret," the true Gryffindor yelled, the other stopped instantly, frozen. Hermione straightened herself up and dusted down her robes. Maria bit her lip, her eyes wide.
"What secret?" she whispered.
"You're Cintadel Beausquet aren't you?" the silence echoed.
"We need to see Dumbledore, I'm only going to say this once. Then I'll leave," she walked ahead back to the castle and McGonagall's office.
"Professor, we need to see the headmaster." Maria said.
"Miss Bristol, who needs to see the headmaster?" the Scottish woman asked.
"Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, myself and you," the girls eyes were scared, her voice wavering.
"Very well," the professor led the pupils to Dumbledore's office. Ron, Harry and Draco appeared confused. The headmaster appeared with a smile and allowed them to sit.
"You wished to see me?" he said.
"Yes, I need to tell you something." Maria began.
"Very well."
"My real name is Cintadel Beausquet, I was born in nineteen seventy four, a year after my mother left. Maria Bristol is my cousin; she attends Beauxbatons as did I. I finished school a long while ago."
"Then why are you here?" Draco asked angrily.
"Lucius Malfoy is my godfather. He asked me to attend here to keep an eye on you, Draco. Well, he said that he just wanted to make sure you were all right. So I took a youthening potion and began school again. At Hallowe'en he wanted to meet me. I was told to meet him in Hogsmeade after the feast. I waited until everyone had gone to bed and then I snuck out wearing an invisibility cloak. In Hogsmeade I met with him and we apperated to Malfoy Mansion. The plan was changed, because I was placed in Gryffindor. I suspect that was the reason, Harry. I'm meant to deliver you ASAP. My job was to hand you to Lucius; his first date was Valentines. I forgot to hand you over and that was why he put the curse on me. I couldn't do it, you were meant to help me Draco," she stopped and stared intently at the fire. Dumbledore stood in front of it and tossed in some powder.
"Severus Snape."
"Headmaster?" Snape's disembodied head questioned.
"I require an ageing potion," the older man stated.
"Very well, I will bring it up," with a pop he disappeared.
Harry looked at Cintadel, "thanks."
"What? Why?" she asked looking up at him.
"Because you haven't taken me to him," he explained.
"It's okay, you're a nice kid."
"WHAT? AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO'S CONFUSED? IF MY FATHER IS YOUR GODFATHER HOW COME I DIDN'T KNOW?" Draco shouted; Cintadel looked at him.
"Do you remember your sixth birthday party?" she asked with a small smile.
"Yes, it was a pool party."
"It became a water fight and everyone except Crabbe, Goyle and a girl attacked you."
"How'd you know?" he asked.
"I was on your team, that's how I know. That was the only time I met you, before I came here." Snape swept into the room yielding a bottle.
"Headmaster, the potion," the bottle was passed from the potions master to the head, to the student impostor. "It's for Miss Bristol?" Snape asked; Cintadel stood in a challenging pose.
"Drink," she obeyed the older man and placed the bottle to her lips. The liquid coursed down her throat, then her veins. Her eyes fluttered and the bottle slipped from her grasp smashing on the floor. Her body collapsed into the chair. When her eyes opened they were the same as was her hair, but she had grown a further inch or two and her skin has paled and aged to that of a woman in her early twenties.
"Draco, do you recognise me?" she asked kneeling before him.
"No! Because you're lying, you don't know my father at all," he protested.
"Hermione?" the young woman turned to the teenager.
"Malfoy, much as I hate you..." she held out the photo album.
"What's this?" he asked as Maria took it.
"Here," she opened it at a photograph of the Malfoys, Cintadel and her mother. "Myself, you, Narcissa, Lucius and my mother."
"Father has this picture on his desk,"
"You were cute as a kid," she smiled.
"Shut it," he growled blushing.
"Professor, I'll pack my things and leave." Cintadel finished.
"That's not necessary, I think I have an idea what will happen if you do," Dumbledore stated.
"I won't be killed," she replied standing once more. "How can I stay? The longer I'm here the greater risk I become."
"Mr Malfoy, I trust you will not breathe a word of this to your father?" the old professor asked.
"I WILL TELL HIM, DAMN IT, THESE ARE SCANDALOUS LIES!"
"Draco, didn't you find it odd that suddenly I walk in and you tell me everything? That we have a bond that is so bizarre?" she asked. "That I knew exactly how to pull that prank on Slytherin? That I've heard of the Polyjuice Potion? That I never worked and yet got the grades?"
"I guess not," he said turning away.
"I have a link with you, not a biological one, not a magical one, but a spiritual one. When you were born, that was the day my father died at Lucius' hands. We can communicate so easily because, the giver of your life took my father's away," she reached behind her neck and took off the jade symbol; she gazed at it running her fingers over the etched surface. "I can't have this, I know the symbolism of it, that is why I can't accept it. You remember I wanted to tell you something after the ball. I wanted to say that I'm not to be trusted; you giving this to me says you trust me. I'm virtually a death eater, in fact if Voldemort wasn't such a sexist pig I would have been. I did this and everything for Lucius. The thing is Draco I don't want to see you join the dark side. Fight him, you're stronger than that." Cintadel gave him the object. The room was silent except for the crackle of the fire.
"Look," she pulled her robes off her shoulder and turned her back to Draco. Emblazoned on her delicate skin was a slivery version of the Dark Mark. It glistened and shined. "You see, I owe Lucius too much...."
"Why didn't he let me do this?" he asked.
"He was protecting you, if it went wrong you'd be safe."
"Why do you owe him?" Harry asked.
"Lucius saved me and my mother from death, he's provided for us and protected us," she explained.
"But he killed your father!" Ron stated his mouth gaping open.
"He's... I bet he's a great father; he's been fantastic with me. I guess he took over from my father. He doesn't yell or..."
"WHAT?" Draco snorted. "My father shouts and gets so mad at the littlest things."
"What? Lucius is patient and gentle. He used to take me on trips and have fun."
"Father only ever took me to Diagon Alley. His gentleness extends as far as to not kill me if I fail to catch the snitch. Patience is definitely not a word I'd use to describe him."
"How can you say that? He's the nicest man I've ever met," she yelled. "If I were his child I'd respect him and do everything I could to please him...."
"ENOUGH! You can bicker about Lucius Malfoy's personality later," Dumbledore shouted. "Miss Beausquet, I can only do so much to ensure your safety, and that only extends as far as Hogwarts. I suggest that we come up with a solution where in everyone is in minimal risk."
"These are Death Eaters here!!!!" Ron exclaimed.
"I'll go to him," Harry stated flatly. Cintadel stared, her mouth gaping open.
"Harry, no!" Hermione gasped.
"No, 'Moine. If Lucius wants me he can have me. Maria.... Cintadel is our friend. We can't abandon her."
"I'm doing this to stop you from being in danger. Professor, if I don't take the potion I'll age. Correct Snape?"
"Yes," he snarled.
"Therefore if you keep everyone in the Great Hall I'll age infront of everyone. I've had to take it once a day at midnight. If I take a smaller dose I'll age after a few hours. I can run from Hogwarts and apparate to Lucius saying I barely escaped."
"Very well, but I doubt Lucius would believe that I placed you there for no reason."
"I can perform a little dark magic and project the Dark Mark. Chaos will ensue, Lucius I'm sure will arrive. I can perform dark magic on no one, but if 'Moine and Ron are in the hospital wing. I can be on my way to delivering Harry just when I age."
"Very well, Miss Bris...Beausquet. Carry out you plan as you wish. When I see the Dark Mark the students will be ordered into the Great Hall. Miss Granger, Mr Weasley accompany Miss Beausquet." Everyone slowly left, but none more so than Draco. Cintadel took Hermione and Ron to a deserted corridor.
"Eat dirt Malfoy!" Harry retorted.
"I'll leave that to Weasley." Maria rolled her eyes as they bickered.
"Don't rise to him, Ron you're twice the man he is." Hermione joined in.
"Oh, and I suppose you know how much of a man Draco is then 'Moine?" Maria asked.
"Ron doesn't use underhanded tricks and his fathers money to get somewhere," the brunette argued.
"Don't you involve Lucius in this, Draco doesn't ask for that."
"Oh, sorry. Poor little Draco really hates the way his daddy buys him everything, including his place on the quidditch team." Maria's eyes narrowed.
"Well at least he deserves a place unlike the twins," the blonde growled. Hermione stepped closer to Maria and slapped her across the face. The boys stood stunned Maria responded by grabbing and pulling Hermione's hair. Harry and Ron began to intervene while Draco smiled.
"I know your secret," the true Gryffindor yelled, the other stopped instantly, frozen. Hermione straightened herself up and dusted down her robes. Maria bit her lip, her eyes wide.
"What secret?" she whispered.
"You're Cintadel Beausquet aren't you?" the silence echoed.
"We need to see Dumbledore, I'm only going to say this once. Then I'll leave," she walked ahead back to the castle and McGonagall's office.
"Professor, we need to see the headmaster." Maria said.
"Miss Bristol, who needs to see the headmaster?" the Scottish woman asked.
"Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, myself and you," the girls eyes were scared, her voice wavering.
"Very well," the professor led the pupils to Dumbledore's office. Ron, Harry and Draco appeared confused. The headmaster appeared with a smile and allowed them to sit.
"You wished to see me?" he said.
"Yes, I need to tell you something." Maria began.
"Very well."
"My real name is Cintadel Beausquet, I was born in nineteen seventy four, a year after my mother left. Maria Bristol is my cousin; she attends Beauxbatons as did I. I finished school a long while ago."
"Then why are you here?" Draco asked angrily.
"Lucius Malfoy is my godfather. He asked me to attend here to keep an eye on you, Draco. Well, he said that he just wanted to make sure you were all right. So I took a youthening potion and began school again. At Hallowe'en he wanted to meet me. I was told to meet him in Hogsmeade after the feast. I waited until everyone had gone to bed and then I snuck out wearing an invisibility cloak. In Hogsmeade I met with him and we apperated to Malfoy Mansion. The plan was changed, because I was placed in Gryffindor. I suspect that was the reason, Harry. I'm meant to deliver you ASAP. My job was to hand you to Lucius; his first date was Valentines. I forgot to hand you over and that was why he put the curse on me. I couldn't do it, you were meant to help me Draco," she stopped and stared intently at the fire. Dumbledore stood in front of it and tossed in some powder.
"Severus Snape."
"Headmaster?" Snape's disembodied head questioned.
"I require an ageing potion," the older man stated.
"Very well, I will bring it up," with a pop he disappeared.
Harry looked at Cintadel, "thanks."
"What? Why?" she asked looking up at him.
"Because you haven't taken me to him," he explained.
"It's okay, you're a nice kid."
"WHAT? AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO'S CONFUSED? IF MY FATHER IS YOUR GODFATHER HOW COME I DIDN'T KNOW?" Draco shouted; Cintadel looked at him.
"Do you remember your sixth birthday party?" she asked with a small smile.
"Yes, it was a pool party."
"It became a water fight and everyone except Crabbe, Goyle and a girl attacked you."
"How'd you know?" he asked.
"I was on your team, that's how I know. That was the only time I met you, before I came here." Snape swept into the room yielding a bottle.
"Headmaster, the potion," the bottle was passed from the potions master to the head, to the student impostor. "It's for Miss Bristol?" Snape asked; Cintadel stood in a challenging pose.
"Drink," she obeyed the older man and placed the bottle to her lips. The liquid coursed down her throat, then her veins. Her eyes fluttered and the bottle slipped from her grasp smashing on the floor. Her body collapsed into the chair. When her eyes opened they were the same as was her hair, but she had grown a further inch or two and her skin has paled and aged to that of a woman in her early twenties.
"Draco, do you recognise me?" she asked kneeling before him.
"No! Because you're lying, you don't know my father at all," he protested.
"Hermione?" the young woman turned to the teenager.
"Malfoy, much as I hate you..." she held out the photo album.
"What's this?" he asked as Maria took it.
"Here," she opened it at a photograph of the Malfoys, Cintadel and her mother. "Myself, you, Narcissa, Lucius and my mother."
"Father has this picture on his desk,"
"You were cute as a kid," she smiled.
"Shut it," he growled blushing.
"Professor, I'll pack my things and leave." Cintadel finished.
"That's not necessary, I think I have an idea what will happen if you do," Dumbledore stated.
"I won't be killed," she replied standing once more. "How can I stay? The longer I'm here the greater risk I become."
"Mr Malfoy, I trust you will not breathe a word of this to your father?" the old professor asked.
"I WILL TELL HIM, DAMN IT, THESE ARE SCANDALOUS LIES!"
"Draco, didn't you find it odd that suddenly I walk in and you tell me everything? That we have a bond that is so bizarre?" she asked. "That I knew exactly how to pull that prank on Slytherin? That I've heard of the Polyjuice Potion? That I never worked and yet got the grades?"
"I guess not," he said turning away.
"I have a link with you, not a biological one, not a magical one, but a spiritual one. When you were born, that was the day my father died at Lucius' hands. We can communicate so easily because, the giver of your life took my father's away," she reached behind her neck and took off the jade symbol; she gazed at it running her fingers over the etched surface. "I can't have this, I know the symbolism of it, that is why I can't accept it. You remember I wanted to tell you something after the ball. I wanted to say that I'm not to be trusted; you giving this to me says you trust me. I'm virtually a death eater, in fact if Voldemort wasn't such a sexist pig I would have been. I did this and everything for Lucius. The thing is Draco I don't want to see you join the dark side. Fight him, you're stronger than that." Cintadel gave him the object. The room was silent except for the crackle of the fire.
"Look," she pulled her robes off her shoulder and turned her back to Draco. Emblazoned on her delicate skin was a slivery version of the Dark Mark. It glistened and shined. "You see, I owe Lucius too much...."
"Why didn't he let me do this?" he asked.
"He was protecting you, if it went wrong you'd be safe."
"Why do you owe him?" Harry asked.
"Lucius saved me and my mother from death, he's provided for us and protected us," she explained.
"But he killed your father!" Ron stated his mouth gaping open.
"He's... I bet he's a great father; he's been fantastic with me. I guess he took over from my father. He doesn't yell or..."
"WHAT?" Draco snorted. "My father shouts and gets so mad at the littlest things."
"What? Lucius is patient and gentle. He used to take me on trips and have fun."
"Father only ever took me to Diagon Alley. His gentleness extends as far as to not kill me if I fail to catch the snitch. Patience is definitely not a word I'd use to describe him."
"How can you say that? He's the nicest man I've ever met," she yelled. "If I were his child I'd respect him and do everything I could to please him...."
"ENOUGH! You can bicker about Lucius Malfoy's personality later," Dumbledore shouted. "Miss Beausquet, I can only do so much to ensure your safety, and that only extends as far as Hogwarts. I suggest that we come up with a solution where in everyone is in minimal risk."
"These are Death Eaters here!!!!" Ron exclaimed.
"I'll go to him," Harry stated flatly. Cintadel stared, her mouth gaping open.
"Harry, no!" Hermione gasped.
"No, 'Moine. If Lucius wants me he can have me. Maria.... Cintadel is our friend. We can't abandon her."
"I'm doing this to stop you from being in danger. Professor, if I don't take the potion I'll age. Correct Snape?"
"Yes," he snarled.
"Therefore if you keep everyone in the Great Hall I'll age infront of everyone. I've had to take it once a day at midnight. If I take a smaller dose I'll age after a few hours. I can run from Hogwarts and apparate to Lucius saying I barely escaped."
"Very well, but I doubt Lucius would believe that I placed you there for no reason."
"I can perform a little dark magic and project the Dark Mark. Chaos will ensue, Lucius I'm sure will arrive. I can perform dark magic on no one, but if 'Moine and Ron are in the hospital wing. I can be on my way to delivering Harry just when I age."
"Very well, Miss Bris...Beausquet. Carry out you plan as you wish. When I see the Dark Mark the students will be ordered into the Great Hall. Miss Granger, Mr Weasley accompany Miss Beausquet." Everyone slowly left, but none more so than Draco. Cintadel took Hermione and Ron to a deserted corridor.
