Chapter 12 - That's Mephistophilis?
Hermione stared at the cloud of smoke where Mephistophilis had been. She was feeling weak and shaken, she had no idea Draco used potions and magic circles like that, it was unsettling. As her vision returned and the haze cleared she saw...
What?
There was no owl there, but a girl! She was small, and very white and completely naked. Hair as black and pure as the night draped about her shoulders. She was curled in the centre of the pentagram, and was shivering.
"Oh by the Gods!" Hermione stepped into the circle. It wasn't active she assumed as she suffered no ill effects. Draco's arm flashed out as she walked by and he blocked her way. He gave her a blank look, removed his cloak and stepped over to the girl. He draped the covering about her and helped her to her feet. She stood unsteadily and gripped Draco's arm to hold her balance.
"This," Draco looked to Hermione "Is Mephistophilis."
" Sh-she's a human?" Hermione gaped at the girl who was still trembling and clutching the robe about her body.
Draco laughed "Don't be silly. Mephistophilis is an owl. She so intelligent, that she and I together figured out a shape shifting spell for her."
Hermione reached out her hand "How do you do. I'm Hermione." She said. Mephistophilis regarded her hand with dazzling purple eyes that shone like fiery gems.
"She can't talk." Draco lead Mephistophilis out of the pentagram and over to a stool, where he sat her down. "We hoped when we changed her she could talk, but so far she hasn't been able to say a word."
"But... Why? Why did you want to change her into a human?" Hermione didn't understand. She thought of Harry doing the same to Hedwid, and the result being a white haired middle aged woman who squawked like a nagging parent. She thought of Ron performing the spell on Pig and a hyperactive kid leaping out the pentagram and smashing all the magical equipment.
"It was her idea!" Draco said, stroking Mephistophilis hair. "She showed me a passage in a book, all about shape shifting. She supplied all the books I needed, showed me the relevant passages and cantos and I learned the magic. When she changed, it was great! Now we could perform magic spells that took two people to perform! That and I finally had somebody to play Wizards Chess with, she's good!"
"That's amazing. I had no idea you where so, advanced!" Hermione eyed Mephistophilis with doubt. A magical owl who taught her master magic tricks probably wasn't all sugar and spice. Mephistophilis eyed Hermione back with equal suspicion. She tugged at Draco's sleeve and, whilst making noises in her throat like she was desperately trying to speak, she made complex shapes and symbols with her hands. A sign language Hermione assumed.
"We need to break a spell Mephy." Draco said in reply. Hermione wondered what Mephistophilis had said. Probably 'who the hell is that frizzy haired witch? And what's with that string?' Mephistophilis again made more shapes and erratic hand movements. Draco looked excited. "She says she has an idea!" he cried. Hermione now looked very excited as well! The small girl hopped down from the stool and crossed the room to a book case. Here she lifted down a large tome, dusty and secured with a chain. She drew the binding chain away and opened the book and then made noises in the back of her throat and pointed to a passage. Hermione and Draco dashed over.
"It's, it's about that story!" Hermione grabbed the book from Mephistophilis and sped through the scripture, "Hmmm. Its pretty much all we have been told already. It says here that Chinese Witch was 'young and beautiful and filled with hatred' and that 'she was unable to kill the daughter of the elder because she was protected by a magical spell' and 'the string was broken when a sacrifice was made.'"
"Sacrifice?" Draco leaned over Hermione's shoulder to read "Oh yeah. But it doesn't say what sacrifice to make!"
"Ssssss." Mephistophilis hissed and pointed to the badge on the robe she wore.
"A Snake?" Draco mused.
"Oh no! You can't! That's terrible!" Hermione pulled at Draco's arm "I won't be a part of sacrificial magic! I won't!"
Mephistophilis glared at Hermione and spoke to Draco in their special sign language. Draco nodded and turned to Hermione "Look, Hermione. The book says a sacrifice right? Father keeps tanks of snakes in his workrooms, specially kept for sacrificial magic. They will be killed anyway, and it's all we have."
"But its dark magic! I can't!"
"You won't have to! Mephistophilis can remain human long enough to help us with this. Although if we want to do this we must hurry, she can't stay human for long!" Draco looked desperate, this was his chance! He knew his dear Mephistophilis would be able to help. Hermione closed her eyes and looked conflicted.
"Alright. Let's get it over with." She breathed.
Mephistophilis spoke again in symbolic gestures to Draco. Draco sighed wearily "Yes, you right." He said. "Hermione. Mephistophilis says we have to be very very careful. The snakes are in Fathers private rooms. If he caught us there we would be in serious trouble. Also, he doesn't know about Mephistophilis. Unless you're willing to help carry the snake we need, then she will have to come."
Hermione bit her lip. She couldn't handle the snake. It would mean she was involved in bringing a living animal to a sacrifice. "I can't." She whispered. Draco scowled angrily at her. And he cursed her for being weak and so damn ignorant of dark arts.
"Fine! Mephy, You're coming with us!" Draco snapped. Mephistophilis nodded and together all three exited the vaults.
**
Hugging the shadows and clinging to the walls the trio wound their way through the maze of Malfoy Manor. Occasionally an owl or a servant would pass by, and they where forced to crouch down low and remain still until they where gone. Even owls would report them to Lucius. When the coast was clear they set off again, trying to be quite but moving with urgency and speed. Mephistophilis couldn't stay human for extended periods of time. She would become too exhausted and change back to her owl form.
"Fathers chambers are on the top floor." Draco hissed to Hermione. She gulped and they pressed on. And after what seemed like forever they arrived at a darkened candlelit passageway. Paintings of sleeping dragons flanked the stone walls, and a suit of armour at the end of the passage creaked ominously, as though it might suddenly move and give their position away. With his heart pounding in his chest Draco pressed his ear to he wooden door they had arrived at. It seemed silent inside. With no other choice Draco held his breath and opened the door a margin. It was empty inside! Quickly they slipped into the room and closed the door slowly, so as not to slam it.
"There!" Hermione pointed. Glass tanks where built into the wooden panelled wall on the far side of the room. The contents stirred and slithered. Mephistophilis dashed over and lifted the nearest lid. There was no to admire the serpents inside or dither over which one to select. She reached inside and grabbed the tail of a pure white snake. She motioned to Draco to come and help haul the albino out. And between them they soon held a snake of about 4 foot, it wrapped about their arms and its tongue flickered inquisitively at them.
"Let's go!" Hermione wrung her hands and hopped from foot to foot. As they reached the door Hermione gripped the handle, but felt resistance from the other side! Her stomach dropped to her feet, someone was twisting it from the other side! Eyes wide she swung about and without a word Draco and Mephistophilis knew! As one they dashed towards the window, and they hid behind the thick red curtains, concealing themselves just as the door creaked open. Lucius Malfoy entered the room, and he moved towards his large wooden desk. He sat down and took paperwork from his desk, he unstopped a bottle of ink and took to writing with a quill. The three behind the curtain held their breath. The snake suddenly seemed so heavy and it gripped their arms tightly with its muscled body. Draco tried desperately to keep it under control, but it was strong. Mephistophilis sweated as the strain of keeping her human form coupled with the stress of holding the heavy snake and the fear of being discovered got the better of her. She wavered, and her knees trembled. Draco saw she was suffering but could do nothing. Please let his Father leave! Please! Mephistophilis couldn't hold it any longer. She gave Draco a look of desperate apology and then she silently changed. It all happened so fast! In a moment the young girl who was Mephistophilis was suddenly an owl. Hermione, without even thinking, grabbed the end of the snake Mephistophilis had been holding. It hissed loudly. From through the crack in the curtain Draco saw his Father look up. But luckily he was looking at the snake tank and not the curtain. Thank the Goddess. But as if their problems couldn't get any worse, they just did. Hermione and Draco held a very heavy, and very hungry snake in their arms, and struggling out of black robes on the floor was a small little owl. The snake eyes it hungrily, then lurched! Mephistophilis squeaked as the snake snapped at her, and she took desperate flight and battered her wings against the curtain. As the snake gave chase it pulled Draco and Hermione over, they became tangled and fell heavily, tearing the curtain from its runners and crashing to the floor. Lucius leapt up from his desk, wand drawn, and stared dumbly at the almost unbelievable scene in his study.
"Draco!" He roared, advancing upon his son.
**~** I'm so evil! It's because you lot where so annoyed with my last cliff hanger I had to put another in! ^_^ Mwaa ha ha! It's gonna get exciting! I have soooo much planned for the next few chapters! Btw, for those of you annoyed by how long Mephistophilis name is. Sorry about that. She's named after a demon, who was summoned by a greedy Dr called Faustus, who wanted to dabble in the dark arts (it's from a medieval play called Dr Faustus). I thought it was fun to name Draco's dark arts owl after him ^_^ It's pronounced Mef_e_stof_e_leese. Anywho, chapter 13 (unlucky for some) up probably tomorrow! Yay! **~**
Hermione stared at the cloud of smoke where Mephistophilis had been. She was feeling weak and shaken, she had no idea Draco used potions and magic circles like that, it was unsettling. As her vision returned and the haze cleared she saw...
What?
There was no owl there, but a girl! She was small, and very white and completely naked. Hair as black and pure as the night draped about her shoulders. She was curled in the centre of the pentagram, and was shivering.
"Oh by the Gods!" Hermione stepped into the circle. It wasn't active she assumed as she suffered no ill effects. Draco's arm flashed out as she walked by and he blocked her way. He gave her a blank look, removed his cloak and stepped over to the girl. He draped the covering about her and helped her to her feet. She stood unsteadily and gripped Draco's arm to hold her balance.
"This," Draco looked to Hermione "Is Mephistophilis."
" Sh-she's a human?" Hermione gaped at the girl who was still trembling and clutching the robe about her body.
Draco laughed "Don't be silly. Mephistophilis is an owl. She so intelligent, that she and I together figured out a shape shifting spell for her."
Hermione reached out her hand "How do you do. I'm Hermione." She said. Mephistophilis regarded her hand with dazzling purple eyes that shone like fiery gems.
"She can't talk." Draco lead Mephistophilis out of the pentagram and over to a stool, where he sat her down. "We hoped when we changed her she could talk, but so far she hasn't been able to say a word."
"But... Why? Why did you want to change her into a human?" Hermione didn't understand. She thought of Harry doing the same to Hedwid, and the result being a white haired middle aged woman who squawked like a nagging parent. She thought of Ron performing the spell on Pig and a hyperactive kid leaping out the pentagram and smashing all the magical equipment.
"It was her idea!" Draco said, stroking Mephistophilis hair. "She showed me a passage in a book, all about shape shifting. She supplied all the books I needed, showed me the relevant passages and cantos and I learned the magic. When she changed, it was great! Now we could perform magic spells that took two people to perform! That and I finally had somebody to play Wizards Chess with, she's good!"
"That's amazing. I had no idea you where so, advanced!" Hermione eyed Mephistophilis with doubt. A magical owl who taught her master magic tricks probably wasn't all sugar and spice. Mephistophilis eyed Hermione back with equal suspicion. She tugged at Draco's sleeve and, whilst making noises in her throat like she was desperately trying to speak, she made complex shapes and symbols with her hands. A sign language Hermione assumed.
"We need to break a spell Mephy." Draco said in reply. Hermione wondered what Mephistophilis had said. Probably 'who the hell is that frizzy haired witch? And what's with that string?' Mephistophilis again made more shapes and erratic hand movements. Draco looked excited. "She says she has an idea!" he cried. Hermione now looked very excited as well! The small girl hopped down from the stool and crossed the room to a book case. Here she lifted down a large tome, dusty and secured with a chain. She drew the binding chain away and opened the book and then made noises in the back of her throat and pointed to a passage. Hermione and Draco dashed over.
"It's, it's about that story!" Hermione grabbed the book from Mephistophilis and sped through the scripture, "Hmmm. Its pretty much all we have been told already. It says here that Chinese Witch was 'young and beautiful and filled with hatred' and that 'she was unable to kill the daughter of the elder because she was protected by a magical spell' and 'the string was broken when a sacrifice was made.'"
"Sacrifice?" Draco leaned over Hermione's shoulder to read "Oh yeah. But it doesn't say what sacrifice to make!"
"Ssssss." Mephistophilis hissed and pointed to the badge on the robe she wore.
"A Snake?" Draco mused.
"Oh no! You can't! That's terrible!" Hermione pulled at Draco's arm "I won't be a part of sacrificial magic! I won't!"
Mephistophilis glared at Hermione and spoke to Draco in their special sign language. Draco nodded and turned to Hermione "Look, Hermione. The book says a sacrifice right? Father keeps tanks of snakes in his workrooms, specially kept for sacrificial magic. They will be killed anyway, and it's all we have."
"But its dark magic! I can't!"
"You won't have to! Mephistophilis can remain human long enough to help us with this. Although if we want to do this we must hurry, she can't stay human for long!" Draco looked desperate, this was his chance! He knew his dear Mephistophilis would be able to help. Hermione closed her eyes and looked conflicted.
"Alright. Let's get it over with." She breathed.
Mephistophilis spoke again in symbolic gestures to Draco. Draco sighed wearily "Yes, you right." He said. "Hermione. Mephistophilis says we have to be very very careful. The snakes are in Fathers private rooms. If he caught us there we would be in serious trouble. Also, he doesn't know about Mephistophilis. Unless you're willing to help carry the snake we need, then she will have to come."
Hermione bit her lip. She couldn't handle the snake. It would mean she was involved in bringing a living animal to a sacrifice. "I can't." She whispered. Draco scowled angrily at her. And he cursed her for being weak and so damn ignorant of dark arts.
"Fine! Mephy, You're coming with us!" Draco snapped. Mephistophilis nodded and together all three exited the vaults.
**
Hugging the shadows and clinging to the walls the trio wound their way through the maze of Malfoy Manor. Occasionally an owl or a servant would pass by, and they where forced to crouch down low and remain still until they where gone. Even owls would report them to Lucius. When the coast was clear they set off again, trying to be quite but moving with urgency and speed. Mephistophilis couldn't stay human for extended periods of time. She would become too exhausted and change back to her owl form.
"Fathers chambers are on the top floor." Draco hissed to Hermione. She gulped and they pressed on. And after what seemed like forever they arrived at a darkened candlelit passageway. Paintings of sleeping dragons flanked the stone walls, and a suit of armour at the end of the passage creaked ominously, as though it might suddenly move and give their position away. With his heart pounding in his chest Draco pressed his ear to he wooden door they had arrived at. It seemed silent inside. With no other choice Draco held his breath and opened the door a margin. It was empty inside! Quickly they slipped into the room and closed the door slowly, so as not to slam it.
"There!" Hermione pointed. Glass tanks where built into the wooden panelled wall on the far side of the room. The contents stirred and slithered. Mephistophilis dashed over and lifted the nearest lid. There was no to admire the serpents inside or dither over which one to select. She reached inside and grabbed the tail of a pure white snake. She motioned to Draco to come and help haul the albino out. And between them they soon held a snake of about 4 foot, it wrapped about their arms and its tongue flickered inquisitively at them.
"Let's go!" Hermione wrung her hands and hopped from foot to foot. As they reached the door Hermione gripped the handle, but felt resistance from the other side! Her stomach dropped to her feet, someone was twisting it from the other side! Eyes wide she swung about and without a word Draco and Mephistophilis knew! As one they dashed towards the window, and they hid behind the thick red curtains, concealing themselves just as the door creaked open. Lucius Malfoy entered the room, and he moved towards his large wooden desk. He sat down and took paperwork from his desk, he unstopped a bottle of ink and took to writing with a quill. The three behind the curtain held their breath. The snake suddenly seemed so heavy and it gripped their arms tightly with its muscled body. Draco tried desperately to keep it under control, but it was strong. Mephistophilis sweated as the strain of keeping her human form coupled with the stress of holding the heavy snake and the fear of being discovered got the better of her. She wavered, and her knees trembled. Draco saw she was suffering but could do nothing. Please let his Father leave! Please! Mephistophilis couldn't hold it any longer. She gave Draco a look of desperate apology and then she silently changed. It all happened so fast! In a moment the young girl who was Mephistophilis was suddenly an owl. Hermione, without even thinking, grabbed the end of the snake Mephistophilis had been holding. It hissed loudly. From through the crack in the curtain Draco saw his Father look up. But luckily he was looking at the snake tank and not the curtain. Thank the Goddess. But as if their problems couldn't get any worse, they just did. Hermione and Draco held a very heavy, and very hungry snake in their arms, and struggling out of black robes on the floor was a small little owl. The snake eyes it hungrily, then lurched! Mephistophilis squeaked as the snake snapped at her, and she took desperate flight and battered her wings against the curtain. As the snake gave chase it pulled Draco and Hermione over, they became tangled and fell heavily, tearing the curtain from its runners and crashing to the floor. Lucius leapt up from his desk, wand drawn, and stared dumbly at the almost unbelievable scene in his study.
"Draco!" He roared, advancing upon his son.
**~** I'm so evil! It's because you lot where so annoyed with my last cliff hanger I had to put another in! ^_^ Mwaa ha ha! It's gonna get exciting! I have soooo much planned for the next few chapters! Btw, for those of you annoyed by how long Mephistophilis name is. Sorry about that. She's named after a demon, who was summoned by a greedy Dr called Faustus, who wanted to dabble in the dark arts (it's from a medieval play called Dr Faustus). I thought it was fun to name Draco's dark arts owl after him ^_^ It's pronounced Mef_e_stof_e_leese. Anywho, chapter 13 (unlucky for some) up probably tomorrow! Yay! **~**