Christmas vacation went by swiftly, no problems... unless you count the fact that Hermione and Ron tried to kill Sephie and Harry, who were only saved by the swift imposition of Dumbledore. Classwork was at an all time low afterward, teachers weren't moping, kids were happy.... best of all, Voldemort hadn't struck at all.
So, of course, something had to happen.
~*~
"Lexi," groaned Draco, "Remind me WHY we are in here, doing THIS?"
Lexi looked up from her book in exasperation. "We are in here, my dear Draco, because Hermione has so gracefully decided that we have not studied enough for OWL's. So, she has locked us up until we finish."
"Ah." He looked at her comically. "Thank you for clearing that up."
"Anytime."
After about fifteen minutes more, Lexi looked over to say something to Draco and realized that he was asleep, head pillowed on his Potions parchment. She chuckled, then realized that that seemed to be a VERY promising idea....
~*~ Dream~*~
"She has given birth, my Lord," said a Death Eater as he bowed into the room.
"And?"
"It is a girl child." The Death Eater, Flint, cringed, expecting an outlash.
The Dark Lord merely smiled. "Excellent.
Flint blinked. "M-My Lord?"
Voldemort turned to face him completely, cloak swirling as he did so, Nagini on his arm.
"Women are so much more... capable... than men, if trained from the beginning. In two days, have Severus wipe her memory of the child and let her loose in Muggle London.... better yet, send her back to the Americas.... and bring the child to me."
"At once, my Lord."
Voldemort turned back to studying his journal with interest.
*Nagini,* he hissed softly. The snake raised its head. *I am in need of guidance.*
The snake thought a moment, then hissed, *The girl is strong; she is a worthy sucessor. But what of the blood of Godric that runs through her veins?*
Voldemort waved his hand dismissively. *You forget, Nagini, Godric and Salazar were cousins.*
The snake hissed once, angrily. *I forget NOTHING. You would do well to
remember that. Nevertheless, breeding the girl to a pure Slytherin in time would no doubt improve the situation.*
*Well spoken,* Voldemort answered thoughtfully, *but who?*
*The son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy,* Nagini answered promptly... so promptly that Voldemort smiled.
*You've been thinking again, Nagini. Not a good habit for you.*
*Well, ONE of us must think!*
Voldemort sighed. *It was only in jest,* he soothed. Then his tone turned thoughtful again. *Draco. The dragon. Yes... perhaps he shall be well chosen. Then again, only time shall tell. Lucius and Narcissa will bring him to meet the child at her initiation. But I shall meet him in a few days for his own.*
A knock sounded on the door, and a woman Death Eater came in. "My lord," she said, holding a bundle in her arms.
"Thank you, Karina, you may go." The woman bowed out after placing the child in a small bassinet.
*Nagini,* Voldemort hissed after locking the doors.
Suddenly the snake swirled, transforming in an instant to a woman with dark black hair and gray eyes. She was wearing fancy black and green robes, almost like the skin of 'Nagini,' her Animagus form. She brushed them off lightly.
"About time, Tom, really. That form is so tedious."
She was the only one who could call him Tom, ever.
"I apologize, Leona," he answered with a smirk, beckoning her closer. She came willingly... but was detoured by the child in the bassinet.
"Oh, Tom, she's beautiful," Leona said softly, leaning forward to gently pick up the baby. Her hair was jet black, the same color as Leona and Tom's... and her real parents, Sirius and Jessi's. She brought the baby over to him, and Voldemort took her capably. Leona leaned over his arm, and the newborn opened her violet eyes to study them both solemnly. Her darker features made her skin seem almost deathly pale.
"What about her name, Tom?" Leona queried softly.
"Alexia."
"May I ask why?"
"Normally not, but... In Greek, her name means 'Defender of men.' In Parseltongue, however..."
Leona was nodding. "DESTROYER of men. Yes, now I see the irony... most of which shall be lost on the rest, sadly."
Voldemort spat angrily. "Incompetent fools, every one. No matter. We shall see it, and it shall be fulfilled. Names hold much power, Leona... never forget that."
Together they examined the baby. "Not a blemish," Leona finally exclaimed with satisfaction. Then Voldemort said the baby's name to her. The baby immediately turned her head from her inspection of Leona and fixed her eyes upon him.
He chuckled, a sound that was oddly full of life and warmth. "Yes... a worthy sucessor, indeed."
They were in a room filled with hundreds of Death Eaters, all awaiting Alexia's induction. There were some familiar faces... Snape was one. Not all children went through this... simply the children who showed extraordinary promise, or those that the dark lord had a special purpose for... such as Alexia and Draco. Speaking of Draco, he was in the back of the room, in his mother's arms, liquid silver eyes surveying the scene quietly.
"What does our Lord WANT with Draco?" asked Lucious in undertones to his wife.
She shrugged elegantly. "I have no idea." She adjusted her grip on the child... protectively, one would have thought, if they didn't KNOW Narcissa... as a small procession entered the room. Silence immediately reined. They all knew that this baby, this tiny girl, would be Voldemort's heir... which, technically, didn't make sense, considering the fact that Voldemort was expecting to live forever. Perhaps a glorified Death Eater would be the girl's true purpose.
Alexia was laid down on a table and Voldemort let Nagini slither off his arm next to her.
*Remember, Nagini, no poison in the arm, only the bite,* Voldemort warned.
*Peace, Voldemort... she shall come to no harm with me,* Nagini answered. She reared up to strike... and realized the baby was giggling at her. Most children... Draco included... were crying by this point... and a natural reaction for them it was. Shaking her wandering doubts, she moved to strike.
At the last possible second, Alexia shifted, and Nagini, too late to stop, struck in the very center of the child's chest.
Murmured whispers rose from the crowd... the baby was LAUGHING.
"A worthy sucessor indeed," whispered Voldemort as he shot a spell at the child, closing the wounds with a venomous looking green mist.
"Ah, Narcissa, Lucius... and Draco. Enter."
The trio did so. "My Lord, this child is exceptional," Narcissa complemented.
"As you know... much as you may hate to admit it.... the girl is much like her parents is THAT respect. Here, let me see Draco for a moment."
The two traded children. As Narcissa silently examined the baby (she had wanted a daughter) Voldemort explained his expectations.
"Why, my Lord, we're honored," simpered Narcissa. Lucius simply stood by dutifully.
"Good. Raise him befitting the consort of my heir... no matter what happens."
Ignoring his ominous undertones, they excused themselves, taking Draco with them.
As soon as they left, Lucius exploded in a furious whisper, "How DARE 'milord' presume we want THAT blood in the Malfoy line!"
Narcissa raised a hand to silence him. "Any impurities the Black blood may have will be erased through Voldemort's expert tutelage. It truly is an honor."
"An honor," Lucius said sarcastically as they took the special Floo Network out to the Manor.
~*~
Lexi sat up, gasping for breath. Draco had apparently done so at the same time. They stared at each other for a moment, trying to catch their breath.
"Dr-Draco... ow!"
Lexi clasped a hand to her heart. Draco looked quizzically at her for a second, then let out his own exclamation as his hand shot toward his right arm.
~Hello, CHILDREN.~
"Did you hear that?" Lexi asked Draco in a furious whisper.
~Of course he did, Alexia.~
"Who are you?" she snarled... although she had a pretty good guess.
~Tsk, tsk... such self blindness! After the memory you just received, you need to ask that?~
*Voldemort,* Lexi hissed... literally. Her other hand came up to clamp over her mouth. "Did that come out of ME?!"
~Yeeesssss.... Nagini's bite coupled with my spell has given both you and your consort quite capable Parseltongue abilities... isn't that right, Draco?~
Draco looked horrified. "Yes," he spat. "What do you want?"
~Why, I believe both your training was cut just a little short, and I have lots of time to make up. After all... you will be my eyes and ears...~
*You wish!* Lexi retorted hotly. Her outburst caused a wave of pain from her now visible bite marks. She gritted her teeth.
~You say that NOW... but I'm sure you shall see things differently after a few days of this pain... both of you. I'll be back to discuss this later...~ The voice was gone, but the pain stayed.
"Lexi?" She looked up at Draco, whose face twisted in pain also. "Come on." She realized he was offering his hand to her.
"Where're we going?" she got out, taking his hand and getting up.
"Snape. He resists the Dark Mark enough... he's gotta have something for it."
The two made their way through the halls toward his office, heads spinning with unasked questions and half formed doubts.
A/N: Ok, everyone. Here we go. I'M SOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYY!
Whew. Seriously. We've had this written for so long, but one thing led to another and another.... I'll try to have the next, LONGER part out to you sometime next week.
Arigatou!
~AOF
So, of course, something had to happen.
~*~
"Lexi," groaned Draco, "Remind me WHY we are in here, doing THIS?"
Lexi looked up from her book in exasperation. "We are in here, my dear Draco, because Hermione has so gracefully decided that we have not studied enough for OWL's. So, she has locked us up until we finish."
"Ah." He looked at her comically. "Thank you for clearing that up."
"Anytime."
After about fifteen minutes more, Lexi looked over to say something to Draco and realized that he was asleep, head pillowed on his Potions parchment. She chuckled, then realized that that seemed to be a VERY promising idea....
~*~ Dream~*~
"She has given birth, my Lord," said a Death Eater as he bowed into the room.
"And?"
"It is a girl child." The Death Eater, Flint, cringed, expecting an outlash.
The Dark Lord merely smiled. "Excellent.
Flint blinked. "M-My Lord?"
Voldemort turned to face him completely, cloak swirling as he did so, Nagini on his arm.
"Women are so much more... capable... than men, if trained from the beginning. In two days, have Severus wipe her memory of the child and let her loose in Muggle London.... better yet, send her back to the Americas.... and bring the child to me."
"At once, my Lord."
Voldemort turned back to studying his journal with interest.
*Nagini,* he hissed softly. The snake raised its head. *I am in need of guidance.*
The snake thought a moment, then hissed, *The girl is strong; she is a worthy sucessor. But what of the blood of Godric that runs through her veins?*
Voldemort waved his hand dismissively. *You forget, Nagini, Godric and Salazar were cousins.*
The snake hissed once, angrily. *I forget NOTHING. You would do well to
remember that. Nevertheless, breeding the girl to a pure Slytherin in time would no doubt improve the situation.*
*Well spoken,* Voldemort answered thoughtfully, *but who?*
*The son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy,* Nagini answered promptly... so promptly that Voldemort smiled.
*You've been thinking again, Nagini. Not a good habit for you.*
*Well, ONE of us must think!*
Voldemort sighed. *It was only in jest,* he soothed. Then his tone turned thoughtful again. *Draco. The dragon. Yes... perhaps he shall be well chosen. Then again, only time shall tell. Lucius and Narcissa will bring him to meet the child at her initiation. But I shall meet him in a few days for his own.*
A knock sounded on the door, and a woman Death Eater came in. "My lord," she said, holding a bundle in her arms.
"Thank you, Karina, you may go." The woman bowed out after placing the child in a small bassinet.
*Nagini,* Voldemort hissed after locking the doors.
Suddenly the snake swirled, transforming in an instant to a woman with dark black hair and gray eyes. She was wearing fancy black and green robes, almost like the skin of 'Nagini,' her Animagus form. She brushed them off lightly.
"About time, Tom, really. That form is so tedious."
She was the only one who could call him Tom, ever.
"I apologize, Leona," he answered with a smirk, beckoning her closer. She came willingly... but was detoured by the child in the bassinet.
"Oh, Tom, she's beautiful," Leona said softly, leaning forward to gently pick up the baby. Her hair was jet black, the same color as Leona and Tom's... and her real parents, Sirius and Jessi's. She brought the baby over to him, and Voldemort took her capably. Leona leaned over his arm, and the newborn opened her violet eyes to study them both solemnly. Her darker features made her skin seem almost deathly pale.
"What about her name, Tom?" Leona queried softly.
"Alexia."
"May I ask why?"
"Normally not, but... In Greek, her name means 'Defender of men.' In Parseltongue, however..."
Leona was nodding. "DESTROYER of men. Yes, now I see the irony... most of which shall be lost on the rest, sadly."
Voldemort spat angrily. "Incompetent fools, every one. No matter. We shall see it, and it shall be fulfilled. Names hold much power, Leona... never forget that."
Together they examined the baby. "Not a blemish," Leona finally exclaimed with satisfaction. Then Voldemort said the baby's name to her. The baby immediately turned her head from her inspection of Leona and fixed her eyes upon him.
He chuckled, a sound that was oddly full of life and warmth. "Yes... a worthy sucessor, indeed."
They were in a room filled with hundreds of Death Eaters, all awaiting Alexia's induction. There were some familiar faces... Snape was one. Not all children went through this... simply the children who showed extraordinary promise, or those that the dark lord had a special purpose for... such as Alexia and Draco. Speaking of Draco, he was in the back of the room, in his mother's arms, liquid silver eyes surveying the scene quietly.
"What does our Lord WANT with Draco?" asked Lucious in undertones to his wife.
She shrugged elegantly. "I have no idea." She adjusted her grip on the child... protectively, one would have thought, if they didn't KNOW Narcissa... as a small procession entered the room. Silence immediately reined. They all knew that this baby, this tiny girl, would be Voldemort's heir... which, technically, didn't make sense, considering the fact that Voldemort was expecting to live forever. Perhaps a glorified Death Eater would be the girl's true purpose.
Alexia was laid down on a table and Voldemort let Nagini slither off his arm next to her.
*Remember, Nagini, no poison in the arm, only the bite,* Voldemort warned.
*Peace, Voldemort... she shall come to no harm with me,* Nagini answered. She reared up to strike... and realized the baby was giggling at her. Most children... Draco included... were crying by this point... and a natural reaction for them it was. Shaking her wandering doubts, she moved to strike.
At the last possible second, Alexia shifted, and Nagini, too late to stop, struck in the very center of the child's chest.
Murmured whispers rose from the crowd... the baby was LAUGHING.
"A worthy sucessor indeed," whispered Voldemort as he shot a spell at the child, closing the wounds with a venomous looking green mist.
"Ah, Narcissa, Lucius... and Draco. Enter."
The trio did so. "My Lord, this child is exceptional," Narcissa complemented.
"As you know... much as you may hate to admit it.... the girl is much like her parents is THAT respect. Here, let me see Draco for a moment."
The two traded children. As Narcissa silently examined the baby (she had wanted a daughter) Voldemort explained his expectations.
"Why, my Lord, we're honored," simpered Narcissa. Lucius simply stood by dutifully.
"Good. Raise him befitting the consort of my heir... no matter what happens."
Ignoring his ominous undertones, they excused themselves, taking Draco with them.
As soon as they left, Lucius exploded in a furious whisper, "How DARE 'milord' presume we want THAT blood in the Malfoy line!"
Narcissa raised a hand to silence him. "Any impurities the Black blood may have will be erased through Voldemort's expert tutelage. It truly is an honor."
"An honor," Lucius said sarcastically as they took the special Floo Network out to the Manor.
~*~
Lexi sat up, gasping for breath. Draco had apparently done so at the same time. They stared at each other for a moment, trying to catch their breath.
"Dr-Draco... ow!"
Lexi clasped a hand to her heart. Draco looked quizzically at her for a second, then let out his own exclamation as his hand shot toward his right arm.
~Hello, CHILDREN.~
"Did you hear that?" Lexi asked Draco in a furious whisper.
~Of course he did, Alexia.~
"Who are you?" she snarled... although she had a pretty good guess.
~Tsk, tsk... such self blindness! After the memory you just received, you need to ask that?~
*Voldemort,* Lexi hissed... literally. Her other hand came up to clamp over her mouth. "Did that come out of ME?!"
~Yeeesssss.... Nagini's bite coupled with my spell has given both you and your consort quite capable Parseltongue abilities... isn't that right, Draco?~
Draco looked horrified. "Yes," he spat. "What do you want?"
~Why, I believe both your training was cut just a little short, and I have lots of time to make up. After all... you will be my eyes and ears...~
*You wish!* Lexi retorted hotly. Her outburst caused a wave of pain from her now visible bite marks. She gritted her teeth.
~You say that NOW... but I'm sure you shall see things differently after a few days of this pain... both of you. I'll be back to discuss this later...~ The voice was gone, but the pain stayed.
"Lexi?" She looked up at Draco, whose face twisted in pain also. "Come on." She realized he was offering his hand to her.
"Where're we going?" she got out, taking his hand and getting up.
"Snape. He resists the Dark Mark enough... he's gotta have something for it."
The two made their way through the halls toward his office, heads spinning with unasked questions and half formed doubts.
A/N: Ok, everyone. Here we go. I'M SOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYY!
Whew. Seriously. We've had this written for so long, but one thing led to another and another.... I'll try to have the next, LONGER part out to you sometime next week.
Arigatou!
~AOF