Krista swallowed. for not swallowing anything, it was hard to swallow. her
food barely touched, she ignored the plate and unaware of it, rubbed her
right thumb against her right pinkie joint. something she did when deep in
thought.
Her father had begun the story simple enough, going back to the cauldrons to fully explain them. he'd known when he told her that she didn't believe him. but he'd wanted to wait until dinner to tell her everything.
~Everything.~ she thought cautiously as she listened to him speak. ~that word has suddenly grown. it's as if the word has suddenly become a new universe.~
and truly, to Krista, it had. she'd had no idea about a real wizarding world, she'd met a couple evil wizards during her travels, but she had dismissed it with the attitude that they were a severe rarity.
her father spoke of some of his associates during the explanation, some guy named Albus, another Named Voldemort. he mentioned an 'insufferable know-it- all' by the name of Hermione Granger, and a 'stupid excuse for a boy' by the name of neville Longbottom. he also mentioned an 'red-haired Moron that thinks he's Arnold Schwartzenegger' named Ron Weasley, and his personal favorite person to thrash, was the 'scar-faced thrice damned arse who had no concern for things such as rules, as they were below him', a boy by the name of Harry Potter; all of whom had just finished their First year at the school he taught. which left a question in her mind she resolved to ask later.
her mind drank in the information.
~evil guys...yeah. Death eaters. okay...mental note, stay away from them. Voldemort. bad news...mental note...kill him if you see him. harry potter, idiot....turn into bowl of generic lime green jello if you ever learn how.~
after what seemed moments, but what had become hours, Snape finished speaking, and just looked at his Daughter.
"Too much?" he asked.
"I must admit." came the cultured German accent. "I've seen some amazing things...but half a world full of Wizards and witches? it sounds so...Insane."
"In a way, yes. I suppose it is." her father stated, standing up from the table and motioning for Krista to follow him. "But I assure you, it isn't completely insane."
"your teaching job, then?" she decided now was as good of time as any to press him for the answer to this question.
"I am the Potions master at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry." came his simple reply.
"I see." Krista returned, her voice silky smooth, but barely above a whisper. "so why am I being told all of this now?"
"The truth is a Tricky animal to hunt." her father began. "I believe that is your...ah...catch phrase? you have to be prepared for it, or else you wouldn't understand it."
"which is why you wanted me in my room, so the....house elf? could call me."
"Exactly. If I simply told you, without proving any of my statements, you'd hate me and think me either insane, or a liar."
"But." Krista pressed on "There's a reason you waited until now, without waiting longer"
"nothing escapes you; does it?" he asked seriously.
"I have to see all the facts before I decide on what the truth is."
"very true." he replied. "I waited until today, well, because you're of age."
"Of age?"
"Yes, to attend Secondary school. I sent an application to Hexen; you've been accepted there, if that is...where you would like to attend."
"what is Hexen?" Krista continued asking. he was just full of statements that caused for questions.
"A very selective school of sorcery. it admits very few students, to allow 100% participation in class."
"what's the difference between wizardry and sorcery?" Krista asked.
"Sorcery is the most powerful of Magic. although most sorcerers practice the dark arts, I will highly recommend that you do not." He put heavy emphasis on the last two words, making sure they broke the language barrier, if there was one.
"how do you know I'm a sorceress? how could you tell if I was one?" she pressed.
"at first I was skeptical." Snape began "until I noticed a few things"
by now they were standing in the main hall, a few feet from the Main Entrance.
"such as?"
Snape suddenly moved to the main entrance and threw open the doors. gesturing outside, Krista could see flowers Springing up from the dark ground.
"also when you looked at the Sturz-as you call it, you didn't pick it up." he continued, shutting the door. "it flew into your hand."
"How does that Make me a sorceress?"
"well, it doesn't. alone, anyway. but combined with the, ah. other circumstances, the amount of magical blood in you." he tried to continue but it was near impossible to find the right words. "and...the Dark Lords Blessing."
Krista's' eyes narrowed, and on Instinct she grabbed his left arm to keep him from walking any farther.
"the dark Lords blessing?"
"Follow me into the library." he pressed, trying to pull free.
"how about not." she hissed. "Just tell me here."
Snape sighed, and in a flash had her left arm at the wrist.
he gently pulled up on her sleeve and pointed to the black mark on her arm.
"That, is the Dark Lords Blessing" he stated, raising his right eyebrow the same way Krista did when she was proving a point.
"Vater, it's only a mark."
"No child. it's not simply a mark. it's a seal. of ownership." he sighed.
"I am a princess." she hissed. "I belong to my country. Nothing more. no one more. no one less."
"Fine." her father snapped, raising his own sleeve. a similar mark, only much large was on his arm. without a word he pressed the two marks together.
Krista's' world seemed to dissolve around her, fading into a deep blue.
a room of deep blue, as a matter of fact.
A group of people, build and stature suggested the majority of them were male stood in a circle. they all wore black, with masks covering their faces.
in the center of the circle was a sort of altar. a man, the only one without a mask, stood at the alter, obviously waiting for something.
Suddenly another person appeared out of nowhere with a slight popping noise. he carried a bundle covered in black fabric.
"what is the child's name?" the man asked, his eyes wild.
"Krista Anja." the person carrying the bundle was her father. she knew it. the silky smooth voice was the same that had welcomed her to Snape manor, and who had sung her to sleep as an infant.
"Give me the Child" the man Hissed seemingly more of a snake then a man.
silently, her father handed the bundle over. the man quickly, and a little roughly considering the bundle had to be a newborn considering the size, removed the blankets.
the baby...was almost hideous. not deformed...but premature. a little furry, with wafer thin ears. and Tiny! the child had to be severely premature...at least three months so. or so Krista deduced.
"The doctors have declared she shall die?" the man hissed.
"yes. she's too small. she doesn't stand a chance." came her fathers reply. "her heartbeat has stopped thrice already. they're recommending a Euthanasia."
"Stupid Muggles." the man hissed, now seemingly even more snake then before.
he laid the infant on the alter, and began to chant in a strange tongue Krista Didn't recognize or understand. She stepped up next to the hooded version of her father and watched.
He, (the snake guy with wild eyes) began to chant louder and Faster now; ever louder and faster, until it became like rolls of thunder, causing the very earth to tremble.
suddenly a long green...thing... shot from the mans chest, taking the form of a snake as it emerged. the mans arms wretched back, as though this were excruciating to him. the serpent looked around, not seeming to realize it wasn't a real snake, but rather a shadow of one.
it turned and looked at the snake man, who was chanting louder and more powerful then ever. the snake nodded, as if understanding what the snake man wanted, then plunged into the tiny baby, causing her to glow a violent green color before the mark suddenly appeared on her arm.
The baby, who'd been breathing rather sick and wet sounding, fell silent. the glowing ceased and the baby looked as though dead.
"Master?" a trembling voice from the circle began. "is the child..."
"SILENCE!" The man screamed, powerfully enough to rumble the ground.
then silently, the child began to change. most of the fur vanished, the ears thickened and didn't seem plastered to her head anymore. soon she looked as any normal newborn should. Then, her breathing resumed almost silent. the wet sound was gone.
The snake man picked up the child and looked at it. then he held it up as if to present it to the group.
"This Child Cannot Die." he began, in the voice that chilled Krista to the core. "She will be the most obedient servant, and all of you will respect her when she comes of age. For she carries a third of my power within her."
the hooded figures all dropped to their knees, as they realized the amount of pure power that was now shooting through the child's veins.
her father stood behind the baby and snake-man, who quickly turned around and handed the child to her father.
"watch over this child" he hissed, then looked deep into Snapes' eyes. "and raise her properly."
with that the world suddenly began to swirl madly, and the manor reappeared.
---- authors note: I liked this chapter, so for the most part I left it alone. just a few grammatical and spelling mistakes that needed to be fixed. other then that....it stayed the same. anyway, hope you liked this chapter....on to the next one!
Her father had begun the story simple enough, going back to the cauldrons to fully explain them. he'd known when he told her that she didn't believe him. but he'd wanted to wait until dinner to tell her everything.
~Everything.~ she thought cautiously as she listened to him speak. ~that word has suddenly grown. it's as if the word has suddenly become a new universe.~
and truly, to Krista, it had. she'd had no idea about a real wizarding world, she'd met a couple evil wizards during her travels, but she had dismissed it with the attitude that they were a severe rarity.
her father spoke of some of his associates during the explanation, some guy named Albus, another Named Voldemort. he mentioned an 'insufferable know-it- all' by the name of Hermione Granger, and a 'stupid excuse for a boy' by the name of neville Longbottom. he also mentioned an 'red-haired Moron that thinks he's Arnold Schwartzenegger' named Ron Weasley, and his personal favorite person to thrash, was the 'scar-faced thrice damned arse who had no concern for things such as rules, as they were below him', a boy by the name of Harry Potter; all of whom had just finished their First year at the school he taught. which left a question in her mind she resolved to ask later.
her mind drank in the information.
~evil guys...yeah. Death eaters. okay...mental note, stay away from them. Voldemort. bad news...mental note...kill him if you see him. harry potter, idiot....turn into bowl of generic lime green jello if you ever learn how.~
after what seemed moments, but what had become hours, Snape finished speaking, and just looked at his Daughter.
"Too much?" he asked.
"I must admit." came the cultured German accent. "I've seen some amazing things...but half a world full of Wizards and witches? it sounds so...Insane."
"In a way, yes. I suppose it is." her father stated, standing up from the table and motioning for Krista to follow him. "But I assure you, it isn't completely insane."
"your teaching job, then?" she decided now was as good of time as any to press him for the answer to this question.
"I am the Potions master at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry." came his simple reply.
"I see." Krista returned, her voice silky smooth, but barely above a whisper. "so why am I being told all of this now?"
"The truth is a Tricky animal to hunt." her father began. "I believe that is your...ah...catch phrase? you have to be prepared for it, or else you wouldn't understand it."
"which is why you wanted me in my room, so the....house elf? could call me."
"Exactly. If I simply told you, without proving any of my statements, you'd hate me and think me either insane, or a liar."
"But." Krista pressed on "There's a reason you waited until now, without waiting longer"
"nothing escapes you; does it?" he asked seriously.
"I have to see all the facts before I decide on what the truth is."
"very true." he replied. "I waited until today, well, because you're of age."
"Of age?"
"Yes, to attend Secondary school. I sent an application to Hexen; you've been accepted there, if that is...where you would like to attend."
"what is Hexen?" Krista continued asking. he was just full of statements that caused for questions.
"A very selective school of sorcery. it admits very few students, to allow 100% participation in class."
"what's the difference between wizardry and sorcery?" Krista asked.
"Sorcery is the most powerful of Magic. although most sorcerers practice the dark arts, I will highly recommend that you do not." He put heavy emphasis on the last two words, making sure they broke the language barrier, if there was one.
"how do you know I'm a sorceress? how could you tell if I was one?" she pressed.
"at first I was skeptical." Snape began "until I noticed a few things"
by now they were standing in the main hall, a few feet from the Main Entrance.
"such as?"
Snape suddenly moved to the main entrance and threw open the doors. gesturing outside, Krista could see flowers Springing up from the dark ground.
"also when you looked at the Sturz-as you call it, you didn't pick it up." he continued, shutting the door. "it flew into your hand."
"How does that Make me a sorceress?"
"well, it doesn't. alone, anyway. but combined with the, ah. other circumstances, the amount of magical blood in you." he tried to continue but it was near impossible to find the right words. "and...the Dark Lords Blessing."
Krista's' eyes narrowed, and on Instinct she grabbed his left arm to keep him from walking any farther.
"the dark Lords blessing?"
"Follow me into the library." he pressed, trying to pull free.
"how about not." she hissed. "Just tell me here."
Snape sighed, and in a flash had her left arm at the wrist.
he gently pulled up on her sleeve and pointed to the black mark on her arm.
"That, is the Dark Lords Blessing" he stated, raising his right eyebrow the same way Krista did when she was proving a point.
"Vater, it's only a mark."
"No child. it's not simply a mark. it's a seal. of ownership." he sighed.
"I am a princess." she hissed. "I belong to my country. Nothing more. no one more. no one less."
"Fine." her father snapped, raising his own sleeve. a similar mark, only much large was on his arm. without a word he pressed the two marks together.
Krista's' world seemed to dissolve around her, fading into a deep blue.
a room of deep blue, as a matter of fact.
A group of people, build and stature suggested the majority of them were male stood in a circle. they all wore black, with masks covering their faces.
in the center of the circle was a sort of altar. a man, the only one without a mask, stood at the alter, obviously waiting for something.
Suddenly another person appeared out of nowhere with a slight popping noise. he carried a bundle covered in black fabric.
"what is the child's name?" the man asked, his eyes wild.
"Krista Anja." the person carrying the bundle was her father. she knew it. the silky smooth voice was the same that had welcomed her to Snape manor, and who had sung her to sleep as an infant.
"Give me the Child" the man Hissed seemingly more of a snake then a man.
silently, her father handed the bundle over. the man quickly, and a little roughly considering the bundle had to be a newborn considering the size, removed the blankets.
the baby...was almost hideous. not deformed...but premature. a little furry, with wafer thin ears. and Tiny! the child had to be severely premature...at least three months so. or so Krista deduced.
"The doctors have declared she shall die?" the man hissed.
"yes. she's too small. she doesn't stand a chance." came her fathers reply. "her heartbeat has stopped thrice already. they're recommending a Euthanasia."
"Stupid Muggles." the man hissed, now seemingly even more snake then before.
he laid the infant on the alter, and began to chant in a strange tongue Krista Didn't recognize or understand. She stepped up next to the hooded version of her father and watched.
He, (the snake guy with wild eyes) began to chant louder and Faster now; ever louder and faster, until it became like rolls of thunder, causing the very earth to tremble.
suddenly a long green...thing... shot from the mans chest, taking the form of a snake as it emerged. the mans arms wretched back, as though this were excruciating to him. the serpent looked around, not seeming to realize it wasn't a real snake, but rather a shadow of one.
it turned and looked at the snake man, who was chanting louder and more powerful then ever. the snake nodded, as if understanding what the snake man wanted, then plunged into the tiny baby, causing her to glow a violent green color before the mark suddenly appeared on her arm.
The baby, who'd been breathing rather sick and wet sounding, fell silent. the glowing ceased and the baby looked as though dead.
"Master?" a trembling voice from the circle began. "is the child..."
"SILENCE!" The man screamed, powerfully enough to rumble the ground.
then silently, the child began to change. most of the fur vanished, the ears thickened and didn't seem plastered to her head anymore. soon she looked as any normal newborn should. Then, her breathing resumed almost silent. the wet sound was gone.
The snake man picked up the child and looked at it. then he held it up as if to present it to the group.
"This Child Cannot Die." he began, in the voice that chilled Krista to the core. "She will be the most obedient servant, and all of you will respect her when she comes of age. For she carries a third of my power within her."
the hooded figures all dropped to their knees, as they realized the amount of pure power that was now shooting through the child's veins.
her father stood behind the baby and snake-man, who quickly turned around and handed the child to her father.
"watch over this child" he hissed, then looked deep into Snapes' eyes. "and raise her properly."
with that the world suddenly began to swirl madly, and the manor reappeared.
---- authors note: I liked this chapter, so for the most part I left it alone. just a few grammatical and spelling mistakes that needed to be fixed. other then that....it stayed the same. anyway, hope you liked this chapter....on to the next one!