Ta-da! Here it is, the pivotal chapter of Voldemort's Daughter (and it's
even pretty long!). I want to thank everybody for reviewing so well, and
for not flaming me, and stuff.
And here is the other surprise, a sneak preview of the next book, Tangled Webs. Enjoy.
Bryan Quirrell sneaked quietly up next to the gray stonewall of the Malfoy mansion. He was dressed, as usual, in black robes and a black hood that covered his scarred face. He paused, quickly assessing the large cracks in the stones, and reached up to a likely looking handhold.
"Halt!" shouted a rough voice. Bryan froze as a surly looking security wizard marched over.
"What are you doing here?" the man growled, squinting at Bryan.
Bryan slipped away from the wall and cringed before the guard's menacing glare. "I-I'm s-sorry," he stuttered in a high, quavering voice. "I was ju-just, I was ju-just h-hoping - "
Bryan's hand shot forward and hit the guard's nose with a sickening crack. The wizard collapsed without a sound.
"That I wouldn't have to break your nose," Bryan finished quietly. Without further ado he swarmed up the mossy stone and swung himself into the open window. Avery was waiting for him.
"I thought you were supposed to be the peace-loving Unicorn Boy now," Avery said mildly, crossing the floor to look down at the slumbering guard below.
"Old habits die hard," said Bryan with a shrug.
Yes, I know I totally stole the scene from Wild Wild West, but it fit Bryan so perfectly!
Now, onto the present story;
Once, power had haunted Erin.
Now fear did.
It was constantly surrounding her, like some lurking beast. Her fingers seemed to shake with it, making her quill constantly shiver. She flinched at sudden shadows and avoided dark corridors like the plague.
She'd never been this afraid before, not even fleeing from the Aurors when she had been discovered, not even facing down her father. And now she was, and she didn't know why.
Finals came and went, and Severus whispered to Erin that she'd passed. But even this didn't allay her fears.
Only two things helped; her dueling lessons and Harry. When Severus began teaching her to duel, she thought she'd never learn. There was so much to memorize! She had to know the spells; she had to know footwork; she had to be able to read her opponents' face at all times and in all light so she would know when to strike. Severus ruthlessly drilled her, night and day, every time there was a spare moment. Despite the pain, it did exhaust her enough to help drive her fears away for short periods of time.
And when she couldn't stand it any more, she slipped off to Harry. Together they would ride their broomsticks, rarely speaking but always close. What she was most relieved about was that he obviously sensed her fear, but didn't ask. He could tell that she was gathering her will for some tremendous trial, and he had been enough through that experience to realize that she needed comfort and not prying. Besides, how could Erin explain a Slytherin ritual to a Gryffindor?
As the days passed, she became even more nervous. There were only a few weeks left. It would have to be soon.
So, when the day finally came, Erin almost died.
Fallan was standing by the Slytherin table. As always, his pale face was smooth and expressionless. He had never spoken to Erin, never even looked at her. But he looked at her now and opened his mouth. She knew exactly what he was going to say.
"Erin Kristoff, I Challenge you."
Erin said nothing. Partially this was because she knew he wasn't done. The other part of her knew that if she so much as moved her tongue, she would run away screaming. "I name Ernie Macmillian, as a Hufflepuff, to be Judge. Do you accept him and his judgement?"
Knarl poo, thought Erin, I have to talk now. "I do," she managed to squeak.
The Hall's chatter was dying down. The Gryffindors twisted down in their chairs to stare. Erin forced herself not to run and fling her arms around Harry.
Oh, Harry, I love you -
Dimly she saw Ernie rise, his face fearful but also determined. He knew his role. Fallan marched out of the hall, and with dismay Erin found her feet following him.
They were in the sunlight, on the Quidditch field. Wait a minute, she'd just been walking out of the Great Hall -
Ernie was talking, laying down the rules -
Fallan's eyes were so dead, so dull (no, don't look at him)
Harry, there was Harry. His face was as pale as milk, but his bright green eyes were shining with love and trust.
Oh, Harry -
Ernie was done. She and Fallan were standing ten feet away from each other, wands at the ready.
One.
Fallan's chest tensed with readiness.
Two.
Fallan raised his wand.
Three.
For one, terrible, terrible second, Erin thought she'd forgotten everything. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't remember a single spell.
Then Fallan's spell whizzed past her ear. And without even thinking about it, Erin ducked, rolled, and fired back. Her spell picked Fallan up and flung him ten feet. He took the blow well, rising gracefully to his feet as if it hadn't even happened.
For the next ten minutes, they fought. Fought and fought and fought. Erin's footwork was perfect, her spells powerful and pure. The fear had vanished. Her whole being sang with the dance this duel had become.
Now left, duck! Shoot, dodge -
The spell hit her in the head. She fell backwards. Unable to cushion herself, her head slammed into the wooden Quidditch stands.
She was down. She couldn't get up. The battle was over.
The fear was back.
Fallan came over. For the first time, there was expression in his face; sheer contempt.
Ernie was counting in the background, his voice shaking but even. Ten, nine, eight -
"Voldemort's child indeed," said Fallan softly, so that nobody else could hear. "I am more deserving of that title than you are."
Seven, six -
"You are a worthless weakling," said Fallan coldly. "And Slytherin is mine."
Five -
"Snape will fall."
Four -
"Potter will die."
Three -
"And your mother was a stinking mound of dragon dung."
Oh, that did it.
He could insult her. He could take away everything that mattered to her. He could win.
But he - would - not - insult her MOTHER.
Something deep inside Erin snapped.
Without a word, she reached up and yelled a single spell.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" she screamed.
A spell of power, a deep tidal wave of red such as had never been seen before, burst out of the tip of Erin's wand. Fallan was picked up and thrown right across the Quidditch field, to land in a crumpled heap at the foot of the watching crowd. He shuddered and lay still.
Erin stood. The fear was gone - forever. Her wand still in hand, she stood and crossed the Quidditch field to stand by Fallan. Her head was up, her steps proud.
Fallan was conscious. He blinked up at the honey-haired girl above him. Erin bent down. Her voice was high and cold, and her eyes blazed with some inner power.
"This is for your weakness," she hissed. Her wand struck at his cheek. Fallan flinched away, and when Erin's wand lifted, a scorch mark was clear against his pale skin.
"And this is for your disrespect," Erin finished, and whipped her wand against the other cheek. Fallan turned away, shaking, and relapsed into his faint.
The crowd was very still.
Erin stood. Severus stepped forward and bowed to her.
"Greetings, Erin Kristoff."
She bowed back, her voice still strange. "Greetings, Head of Slytherin."
"Congratulations, Kristoff."
"And you, Snape. I thank you for your recognition."
"And I thank you for yours."
All part of the ceremony. All formal words. But somehow, Severus managed to communicate something in his glittering black eyes.
He was proud of her.
It was done. Her place in Slytherin was assured forever.
Erin turned and walked away. Harry followed her. She made it all the way to a deserted hallway on the third floor before she turned and cried on his shoulder.
And here is the other surprise, a sneak preview of the next book, Tangled Webs. Enjoy.
Bryan Quirrell sneaked quietly up next to the gray stonewall of the Malfoy mansion. He was dressed, as usual, in black robes and a black hood that covered his scarred face. He paused, quickly assessing the large cracks in the stones, and reached up to a likely looking handhold.
"Halt!" shouted a rough voice. Bryan froze as a surly looking security wizard marched over.
"What are you doing here?" the man growled, squinting at Bryan.
Bryan slipped away from the wall and cringed before the guard's menacing glare. "I-I'm s-sorry," he stuttered in a high, quavering voice. "I was ju-just, I was ju-just h-hoping - "
Bryan's hand shot forward and hit the guard's nose with a sickening crack. The wizard collapsed without a sound.
"That I wouldn't have to break your nose," Bryan finished quietly. Without further ado he swarmed up the mossy stone and swung himself into the open window. Avery was waiting for him.
"I thought you were supposed to be the peace-loving Unicorn Boy now," Avery said mildly, crossing the floor to look down at the slumbering guard below.
"Old habits die hard," said Bryan with a shrug.
Yes, I know I totally stole the scene from Wild Wild West, but it fit Bryan so perfectly!
Now, onto the present story;
Once, power had haunted Erin.
Now fear did.
It was constantly surrounding her, like some lurking beast. Her fingers seemed to shake with it, making her quill constantly shiver. She flinched at sudden shadows and avoided dark corridors like the plague.
She'd never been this afraid before, not even fleeing from the Aurors when she had been discovered, not even facing down her father. And now she was, and she didn't know why.
Finals came and went, and Severus whispered to Erin that she'd passed. But even this didn't allay her fears.
Only two things helped; her dueling lessons and Harry. When Severus began teaching her to duel, she thought she'd never learn. There was so much to memorize! She had to know the spells; she had to know footwork; she had to be able to read her opponents' face at all times and in all light so she would know when to strike. Severus ruthlessly drilled her, night and day, every time there was a spare moment. Despite the pain, it did exhaust her enough to help drive her fears away for short periods of time.
And when she couldn't stand it any more, she slipped off to Harry. Together they would ride their broomsticks, rarely speaking but always close. What she was most relieved about was that he obviously sensed her fear, but didn't ask. He could tell that she was gathering her will for some tremendous trial, and he had been enough through that experience to realize that she needed comfort and not prying. Besides, how could Erin explain a Slytherin ritual to a Gryffindor?
As the days passed, she became even more nervous. There were only a few weeks left. It would have to be soon.
So, when the day finally came, Erin almost died.
Fallan was standing by the Slytherin table. As always, his pale face was smooth and expressionless. He had never spoken to Erin, never even looked at her. But he looked at her now and opened his mouth. She knew exactly what he was going to say.
"Erin Kristoff, I Challenge you."
Erin said nothing. Partially this was because she knew he wasn't done. The other part of her knew that if she so much as moved her tongue, she would run away screaming. "I name Ernie Macmillian, as a Hufflepuff, to be Judge. Do you accept him and his judgement?"
Knarl poo, thought Erin, I have to talk now. "I do," she managed to squeak.
The Hall's chatter was dying down. The Gryffindors twisted down in their chairs to stare. Erin forced herself not to run and fling her arms around Harry.
Oh, Harry, I love you -
Dimly she saw Ernie rise, his face fearful but also determined. He knew his role. Fallan marched out of the hall, and with dismay Erin found her feet following him.
They were in the sunlight, on the Quidditch field. Wait a minute, she'd just been walking out of the Great Hall -
Ernie was talking, laying down the rules -
Fallan's eyes were so dead, so dull (no, don't look at him)
Harry, there was Harry. His face was as pale as milk, but his bright green eyes were shining with love and trust.
Oh, Harry -
Ernie was done. She and Fallan were standing ten feet away from each other, wands at the ready.
One.
Fallan's chest tensed with readiness.
Two.
Fallan raised his wand.
Three.
For one, terrible, terrible second, Erin thought she'd forgotten everything. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't remember a single spell.
Then Fallan's spell whizzed past her ear. And without even thinking about it, Erin ducked, rolled, and fired back. Her spell picked Fallan up and flung him ten feet. He took the blow well, rising gracefully to his feet as if it hadn't even happened.
For the next ten minutes, they fought. Fought and fought and fought. Erin's footwork was perfect, her spells powerful and pure. The fear had vanished. Her whole being sang with the dance this duel had become.
Now left, duck! Shoot, dodge -
The spell hit her in the head. She fell backwards. Unable to cushion herself, her head slammed into the wooden Quidditch stands.
She was down. She couldn't get up. The battle was over.
The fear was back.
Fallan came over. For the first time, there was expression in his face; sheer contempt.
Ernie was counting in the background, his voice shaking but even. Ten, nine, eight -
"Voldemort's child indeed," said Fallan softly, so that nobody else could hear. "I am more deserving of that title than you are."
Seven, six -
"You are a worthless weakling," said Fallan coldly. "And Slytherin is mine."
Five -
"Snape will fall."
Four -
"Potter will die."
Three -
"And your mother was a stinking mound of dragon dung."
Oh, that did it.
He could insult her. He could take away everything that mattered to her. He could win.
But he - would - not - insult her MOTHER.
Something deep inside Erin snapped.
Without a word, she reached up and yelled a single spell.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" she screamed.
A spell of power, a deep tidal wave of red such as had never been seen before, burst out of the tip of Erin's wand. Fallan was picked up and thrown right across the Quidditch field, to land in a crumpled heap at the foot of the watching crowd. He shuddered and lay still.
Erin stood. The fear was gone - forever. Her wand still in hand, she stood and crossed the Quidditch field to stand by Fallan. Her head was up, her steps proud.
Fallan was conscious. He blinked up at the honey-haired girl above him. Erin bent down. Her voice was high and cold, and her eyes blazed with some inner power.
"This is for your weakness," she hissed. Her wand struck at his cheek. Fallan flinched away, and when Erin's wand lifted, a scorch mark was clear against his pale skin.
"And this is for your disrespect," Erin finished, and whipped her wand against the other cheek. Fallan turned away, shaking, and relapsed into his faint.
The crowd was very still.
Erin stood. Severus stepped forward and bowed to her.
"Greetings, Erin Kristoff."
She bowed back, her voice still strange. "Greetings, Head of Slytherin."
"Congratulations, Kristoff."
"And you, Snape. I thank you for your recognition."
"And I thank you for yours."
All part of the ceremony. All formal words. But somehow, Severus managed to communicate something in his glittering black eyes.
He was proud of her.
It was done. Her place in Slytherin was assured forever.
Erin turned and walked away. Harry followed her. She made it all the way to a deserted hallway on the third floor before she turned and cried on his shoulder.