A/N: Phew, new chapter done and here for reading and reviewing. Next chapter will be up in a week or two, with a bit of luck. I'm full of ideas for the next one, as it's going to be the Christmas chapter, so wish me luck!
Chapter 7- Halloween
It was a month or two before things settled into a regular pattern for the twins at Hogwarts. Major happenings in the school were minimal, with the possible exception of the beginning of the school Quidditch season, which got Jude whipped up into a frenzy. Mara Parkinson continued her taunts, but the twins, acting on Seth's advice, ignored her.
Eve preferred to remain classmates with Seth, and was happy to work with him there, but Emmanuel became good friends with the older Slytherin boy, and he was up there in the Ravenclaw commonroom on weekends frequently. Emmanuel did find it curious as to why Professor Dinsdale allowed the boy to be there, particularly when, at the beginning of the year, he'd stressed the rule that the commonroom password (currently 'spy glass') was not to be given to any members of Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin under any circumstances whatsoever. What made Seth so special that he could come in? And what's more, Seth had an amazing ability to predict what Emmanuel would say. The younger boy suspected that there was more to him than met the eye.
Eve, on the other hand, became very good friends with her housemaster, Professor Dinsdale. For someone who was about 11 or twelve years older than her, they had alot in common. Talking was the main thing. If she wasn't with Emmanuel and her Ravenclaw friends or studying, she was in the DADA classroom, perched on his desk, watching in quiet fascination as he used the typewriter, while he talked about training as an Auror. The folder of clippings, meanwhile, lay at the bottom of Eve's trunk, under all her school books and forgotten by both her and Atticus.
Before they knew it, Halloween had arrived, and the talk among the first years was the Halloween feast and decorations in the Great Hall for that night.
"I heard Flitwick extinguishes the candles and sets Cornish Pixies around the place!" exclaimed Nic, setting off some giggles and a reproving glance from Sebastian, as they ate breakfest that morning.
"I doubt Professor Flitwick would do such a dangerous thing," the prefect said, spooning sugar into his tea.
"He does have a point," said James, munching on his toast thoughtfully. "I wonder does what happen around here at Halloween?"
"Nothing dangerous, if that's what you're wondering." said Sebastian quickly.
*****************************
Later that day, the twins found out after Herbology, from Seth.
"Nothing much. Every five or so years, we have a Halloween ball, where everybody gets a bit dressed up, but most years we have a feast and that's it." he said, absently putting books in his schoolbag. "I thought you would've found out from your Mum."
Emmanuel and Eve exchanged puzzled glances. "No," said Eve finally. "Mum's always a bit sad on Halloween for some reason. All the messages she sent us from school always sounded miserable."
"Funny you should mention that" he said, looking at the ground. "last year she didn't turn up to the ball. She stayed for the feast, but left afterwards."
"Really?" Emmanuel said, now interested. This was new information.
"Yes. She was wearing these pinky grey dress robes, and straight after the feast when the dancing began, she left, and my- um, I mean, Professor Snape went with her."
Again, the twins looked at each other, but they said nothing.
*****************************
"I swear she's keeping secrets from us," said Eve as they headed up to their Mother's room. "I want to know what's going on!"
"Leave it Eve," said Emmanuel, trying to keep his own frustration in check. "you remember what Seth said. She'll tell us when she's ready."
"Since when does Seth know?" Eve muttered angrily. "It's not like he's a seer or anything...."
Emmanuel didn't have an answer to that. Seth a seer? It certainly would explain alot....
Upon entering their Mother's room, they found her sitting in front of her vanity, putting on her earrings. She was wearing the pinkish grey robes that Seth had mentioned.
Before he could stop himself, Emmanuel exclaimed "Merlin's Beard!"
Celly spun around sharply. "Emmanuel? What's wrong?"
"Oh, umm.....nothing."
"You look beautiful, Mum." said Eve, nervously.
Celly turned away from them, looking into the mirror. "Thankyou Eve. That means alot, coming from you." she said softly, after a lengthy silence.
The twins sat down on the seat at the foot of the bed, and once again their Mother turned to face them.
"Are you coming to the feast, Mum?" asked Emmanuel, crossing his fingers that she would be there.
Celly shook her head. "No, son. Severus and I are going out."
Eve frowned. Suddenly it all made sense. The robes, the absences. Why hadn't she thought of it before?
"You're dating Professor Snape! Why didn't you tell us?"
Celly screwed up her face. "What?! No, of course not! Heavens, Severus and I? Certainly not. My goodness, where did you get that idea from? Your friends?"
Eve shrugged, as she didn't quite know herself. Was it Seth?
"Eve, you and Emmanuel, more than any other student in this school, know that Severus is like a brother to me." she said, standing and glancing at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The twins expected a happy smile, like she did whenever there was an exciting Christmas party about to start or on their birthdays, but instead she looked decidedly wistful. Her reverie was interrupted by a knock on the door. The door was opened to a unusually somber-looking Severus Snape, in dark green. He smiled at them, grimly.
"Good evening Eveleen, Emmanuel. And a happy Halloween to you both." he said, standing patiently at the door while Celly fixed her hair up hurriedly. Once done, she beamed at Severus.
"You look as enchanting as you did this day eleven years ago." he said, offering his arm to her. "Are you ready?"
She swallowed hard, and the smile was replaced by the wistful look again. "Yes, Severus. Yes."
"Well, we shall go then." he said, as she took his arm and the twins followed them out.
"Have fun at the feast!" she called after them, as she and Severus headed in the other direction.
*****************************
"I wish I could've gone," grumbled Eve, not taking much notice of the spectacular decorations of the Great Hall or glorious food in front of her.
"It was probably boring," Emmanuel said, toying with the last brandy snap on his plate. "I mean, they were probably....ummm..."
"You don't know. Neither of us know."
At that precise moment, Emmanuel caught a glimpse of Professor Rimmer sitting at the table, engrossed in a conversation with Professor Dinsdale. It did not take long for him to process the fact that these two people were close to both Professor Snape. Very close, in fact.
"Maybe they know!" exclaimed Emmanuel, pointing in their direction.
"It wouldn't hurt to ask...." Eve murmured, looking in the direction of Emmanuel's finger.
Their opportunity came towards the end of the feast. Most students had retired by now, full of food and rather sleepy. Some teachers had lingered behind though, including the Professors Rimmer and Dinsdale, still deep in conversation.
"Happy Halloween!" twittered Eve, plopping herself down in the vacant seat next to Atticus.
"Happy Halloween Eve, Emmanuel." said Atticus, smiling.
"Yes, a happy All Hallow's Eve to you both." added Severa, as Emmanuel sat down next to her. "Shouldn't you be in your commonroom by now, nursing a stomach ache? Doubtless I'll be put to work for Madam Pomfrey tomorrow doing up potions to cure them all...." she said, throwing a knowing glance in Professor Dinsdale's direction.
Emmanuel chuckled. "Well, we wanted to say goodnight to Mother.....we haven't seen her all night."
"Oh, you haven't?" the Slytherin Professor said, the smile fading. "well, I know she was going out tonight. She always goes out on Halloween."
"Every year?" enquired Eve.
"Yes," said Atticus, also looking rather muted. "every year. Halloween's a very important day for her. Merlin knows why.....my Uncle won't even say."
"He hasn't told either of you?" Emmanuel asked, feeling rather disappointed, all of a sudden.
"No, though I will admit Halloween was important for me. I hadn't seen your Father for several years before that, and I danced with him that night. Wonderful night." said Severa, closing her eyes for a moment or two.
The twins tried to restrain their newly rediscovered interest. Particularly Emmanuel.
"You never told us you knew Dad!"
"Of course! I was a student when your Dad was teaching here. He taught me for two years, and then he left......rather abruptly. About five years later, he came back, and he was a very good friend to me."
"You can say that again." said Atticus, smirking.
"Ignore him." cut in Severa, hitting him swiftly on the arm. "He's being a horklump. How do you think I got you those iguanas? They're your Father's iguana's offspring."
"You have Dad's iguana?"
"Yes. I have him upstairs in my room. I was given him after your Father died. He's very special to me."
"Well.....that's cool," said Emmanuel. "can we come up and see him?"
"Not now. I think it's about time you two went upstairs to bed," announced Atticus, rising out of his chair. "otherwise I shall have no choice but to deduct points from Ravenclaw."
The twins nodded and said goodnight to both Professors, exiting the Great Hall in silence.
*****************************
Unfortunately, as most first years (and more older years than you think) know, it is compulsory to get lost at least once in seven years at Hogwarts. Emmanuel and Eveleen's turn came that night, when they climbed one moving staircase too many and found themselves in an empty corridor.
"Er, where are we?" asked Emmanuel, looking around cautiously.
"Beats me.......but we're not lost." said Eve confidently, crossing her arms.
"Rubbish!" came a soft voice from behind them. "You, my dears, are headed towards the Gryffindor commonroom!"
The twins spun around abruptly and were surprised to see four ghosts gliding towards them.
"Persephone you liar! This is where our common- oh, dear, I've said a little too much." a short fat little ghost dressed in the robes of a Fransiscan friar piped up to the taller, thinner female ghost beside him.
"Well, your type aren't exactly known for their diplomacy, are they, Friar?" said the third ghost, dressed in renaissance clothing.
"Um, excuse me," Eve interrupted, waving at the four spectres. "but my brother and I are lost, and we'd like some help finding our commonroom."
The fourth ghost, a tall gaunt one who looked scarier than the rest glided forward.
"And pray, children," he said in a thick German accent. "what house might you come from?"
Eve was unnerved by this ghost. His height, accent and serious expression were imposing, coupled with that fact that he had silver bloodstains splattered down the front of his pearly robes.
"Ravenclaw, Sir." said Emmanuel softly.
The ghost raised his eyebrows. "Hmm, is that so? What are your names?"
"Emmanuel Quirrell, if you please. And this is my sister, Eveleen."
"Quirrell! Merlin's Beard!" the female ghost squealed, gliding forward, sweeping around them. "You're Wilton's children! Oh, I don't know what to say.....oh, you look so-"
"We know, we know." Eve cut in, not wishing to hear it again. "Who're you four, anyway?"
"We're the house ghosts," said the renaissance ghost. "May I introduce myself. Sir Nicholas deMimsy Porpington, Gryffindor ghost. This twit making a fuss of you is Persephone, the Grey Lady, your ghost. My religious friend is Gabriel, the Fat Friar and ghost of Hufflepuff," he said, gesturing to the respective ghosts, "and this," he paused, gesturing to the tall German ghost who stood nearest them. "is Wilhelm, though you may know him as the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin house ghost."
"Erm, n-n-n-nice to meet you, I think." Emmanuel stuttered nervously, causing Persephone to gasp.
"You even stutter-"
"Oh please Persephone." said Sir Nicholas. "You can make a fuss of them tomorrow. These children have to get some rest. Wilhelm, will you kindly escort them to their commonroom?"
"Why can't I?" asked the Grey Lady, crossing her arms and looking at Sir Nicholas indignantly.
"Because, you promised me that you were going take me and Gabriel to see Aldous Binns over that little matter, remember?"
"Oh, of course." she said quietly. "Well then, I will have to talk to you at a later date, shan't I?" she said, beaming at the children and taking Sir Nicholas' arm.
The twins nodded mutely and watched as she and the other two ghosts glided off in the opposite direction.
They looked to the Bloody Baron, who smiled at them grimly.
"Come children. It is not a far walk." he said in a virtual whisper, gliding ahead of them, leaving them to follow. The journey was not a far one as he'd said.
As they reached the entrance, they turned back to him, realizing that a thankyou was in order.
"Thankyou, Sir." said Eve, nodding at him politely.
"It was a pleasure, Miss Eveleen, Master Emmanuel. I hope I shall see you again in the near future." he said, bowing his head and gliding off.
*****************************
"I've been waiting for your first report, Dark Servant. What news do you have for me?"
Wilhelm smiled at his master. "I bring you good news, Master Malfoy. I have finally gained a glimpse of the children, and have even met them."
"Ah, excellent work. What are they like, Rowena's heirs?"
"Undoubtedly their Father's children. Intelligent, and they've inherited his looks, yet they seem as weak-willed as their Father was too...."
"Do not doubt them, Dark Servant. Remember that Wilton Quirrell wasn't as weak as we first assumed. He stood up to my dearly departed master in the end, and it's what happens in the end that matters, isn't it?"
"Certainly, Master Malfoy. What do you ask of me now?"
"Continue watching them. As I recall telling you, I sent a threat off to old Dumbledore a couple of months ago. I plan to continue sending them, and then strike at the time when Hogwarts will be at its weakest. I want you to keep me informed. Keep in touch with the children, but don't get too close. We can't have them think of you as either their friend or their enemy."
"Of course."
"I have recently found the key to my Father's private library. Contained in there are some of the most important and valuable books of the Dark Arts. I am hoping to find an ancient incantation that I have heard will give ghosts magic."
Wilhelm sighed. "I have not so much as cast a spell in one hundred years, Master Malfoy."
"I know you yearn for the power again. And you are worthy to yield it. You will be a valuable asset to this mission regardless though. And I thankyou for your support of me."
"I realize it was tough for you. Severus' betrayal of your Father will not be forgotten, mark my words."
The youthful face of his master darkened slightly in the dancing flames. "Of course not, Dark Servant. Of course not."
End of chapter
A/N: Right, first off, I should say this. The Bloody Baron in my fics is not based on the movie Baron. I wanted a serious ghost, not some jolly one who speeds around the place going 'mwhahahahahaha!' madly. Sorry! Secondly, need I remind that you need to review? Well, please do. I'm in need of some morale boosting, considering I'm at the beginning of a three month school term.
Chapter 7- Halloween
It was a month or two before things settled into a regular pattern for the twins at Hogwarts. Major happenings in the school were minimal, with the possible exception of the beginning of the school Quidditch season, which got Jude whipped up into a frenzy. Mara Parkinson continued her taunts, but the twins, acting on Seth's advice, ignored her.
Eve preferred to remain classmates with Seth, and was happy to work with him there, but Emmanuel became good friends with the older Slytherin boy, and he was up there in the Ravenclaw commonroom on weekends frequently. Emmanuel did find it curious as to why Professor Dinsdale allowed the boy to be there, particularly when, at the beginning of the year, he'd stressed the rule that the commonroom password (currently 'spy glass') was not to be given to any members of Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin under any circumstances whatsoever. What made Seth so special that he could come in? And what's more, Seth had an amazing ability to predict what Emmanuel would say. The younger boy suspected that there was more to him than met the eye.
Eve, on the other hand, became very good friends with her housemaster, Professor Dinsdale. For someone who was about 11 or twelve years older than her, they had alot in common. Talking was the main thing. If she wasn't with Emmanuel and her Ravenclaw friends or studying, she was in the DADA classroom, perched on his desk, watching in quiet fascination as he used the typewriter, while he talked about training as an Auror. The folder of clippings, meanwhile, lay at the bottom of Eve's trunk, under all her school books and forgotten by both her and Atticus.
Before they knew it, Halloween had arrived, and the talk among the first years was the Halloween feast and decorations in the Great Hall for that night.
"I heard Flitwick extinguishes the candles and sets Cornish Pixies around the place!" exclaimed Nic, setting off some giggles and a reproving glance from Sebastian, as they ate breakfest that morning.
"I doubt Professor Flitwick would do such a dangerous thing," the prefect said, spooning sugar into his tea.
"He does have a point," said James, munching on his toast thoughtfully. "I wonder does what happen around here at Halloween?"
"Nothing dangerous, if that's what you're wondering." said Sebastian quickly.
*****************************
Later that day, the twins found out after Herbology, from Seth.
"Nothing much. Every five or so years, we have a Halloween ball, where everybody gets a bit dressed up, but most years we have a feast and that's it." he said, absently putting books in his schoolbag. "I thought you would've found out from your Mum."
Emmanuel and Eve exchanged puzzled glances. "No," said Eve finally. "Mum's always a bit sad on Halloween for some reason. All the messages she sent us from school always sounded miserable."
"Funny you should mention that" he said, looking at the ground. "last year she didn't turn up to the ball. She stayed for the feast, but left afterwards."
"Really?" Emmanuel said, now interested. This was new information.
"Yes. She was wearing these pinky grey dress robes, and straight after the feast when the dancing began, she left, and my- um, I mean, Professor Snape went with her."
Again, the twins looked at each other, but they said nothing.
*****************************
"I swear she's keeping secrets from us," said Eve as they headed up to their Mother's room. "I want to know what's going on!"
"Leave it Eve," said Emmanuel, trying to keep his own frustration in check. "you remember what Seth said. She'll tell us when she's ready."
"Since when does Seth know?" Eve muttered angrily. "It's not like he's a seer or anything...."
Emmanuel didn't have an answer to that. Seth a seer? It certainly would explain alot....
Upon entering their Mother's room, they found her sitting in front of her vanity, putting on her earrings. She was wearing the pinkish grey robes that Seth had mentioned.
Before he could stop himself, Emmanuel exclaimed "Merlin's Beard!"
Celly spun around sharply. "Emmanuel? What's wrong?"
"Oh, umm.....nothing."
"You look beautiful, Mum." said Eve, nervously.
Celly turned away from them, looking into the mirror. "Thankyou Eve. That means alot, coming from you." she said softly, after a lengthy silence.
The twins sat down on the seat at the foot of the bed, and once again their Mother turned to face them.
"Are you coming to the feast, Mum?" asked Emmanuel, crossing his fingers that she would be there.
Celly shook her head. "No, son. Severus and I are going out."
Eve frowned. Suddenly it all made sense. The robes, the absences. Why hadn't she thought of it before?
"You're dating Professor Snape! Why didn't you tell us?"
Celly screwed up her face. "What?! No, of course not! Heavens, Severus and I? Certainly not. My goodness, where did you get that idea from? Your friends?"
Eve shrugged, as she didn't quite know herself. Was it Seth?
"Eve, you and Emmanuel, more than any other student in this school, know that Severus is like a brother to me." she said, standing and glancing at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The twins expected a happy smile, like she did whenever there was an exciting Christmas party about to start or on their birthdays, but instead she looked decidedly wistful. Her reverie was interrupted by a knock on the door. The door was opened to a unusually somber-looking Severus Snape, in dark green. He smiled at them, grimly.
"Good evening Eveleen, Emmanuel. And a happy Halloween to you both." he said, standing patiently at the door while Celly fixed her hair up hurriedly. Once done, she beamed at Severus.
"You look as enchanting as you did this day eleven years ago." he said, offering his arm to her. "Are you ready?"
She swallowed hard, and the smile was replaced by the wistful look again. "Yes, Severus. Yes."
"Well, we shall go then." he said, as she took his arm and the twins followed them out.
"Have fun at the feast!" she called after them, as she and Severus headed in the other direction.
*****************************
"I wish I could've gone," grumbled Eve, not taking much notice of the spectacular decorations of the Great Hall or glorious food in front of her.
"It was probably boring," Emmanuel said, toying with the last brandy snap on his plate. "I mean, they were probably....ummm..."
"You don't know. Neither of us know."
At that precise moment, Emmanuel caught a glimpse of Professor Rimmer sitting at the table, engrossed in a conversation with Professor Dinsdale. It did not take long for him to process the fact that these two people were close to both Professor Snape. Very close, in fact.
"Maybe they know!" exclaimed Emmanuel, pointing in their direction.
"It wouldn't hurt to ask...." Eve murmured, looking in the direction of Emmanuel's finger.
Their opportunity came towards the end of the feast. Most students had retired by now, full of food and rather sleepy. Some teachers had lingered behind though, including the Professors Rimmer and Dinsdale, still deep in conversation.
"Happy Halloween!" twittered Eve, plopping herself down in the vacant seat next to Atticus.
"Happy Halloween Eve, Emmanuel." said Atticus, smiling.
"Yes, a happy All Hallow's Eve to you both." added Severa, as Emmanuel sat down next to her. "Shouldn't you be in your commonroom by now, nursing a stomach ache? Doubtless I'll be put to work for Madam Pomfrey tomorrow doing up potions to cure them all...." she said, throwing a knowing glance in Professor Dinsdale's direction.
Emmanuel chuckled. "Well, we wanted to say goodnight to Mother.....we haven't seen her all night."
"Oh, you haven't?" the Slytherin Professor said, the smile fading. "well, I know she was going out tonight. She always goes out on Halloween."
"Every year?" enquired Eve.
"Yes," said Atticus, also looking rather muted. "every year. Halloween's a very important day for her. Merlin knows why.....my Uncle won't even say."
"He hasn't told either of you?" Emmanuel asked, feeling rather disappointed, all of a sudden.
"No, though I will admit Halloween was important for me. I hadn't seen your Father for several years before that, and I danced with him that night. Wonderful night." said Severa, closing her eyes for a moment or two.
The twins tried to restrain their newly rediscovered interest. Particularly Emmanuel.
"You never told us you knew Dad!"
"Of course! I was a student when your Dad was teaching here. He taught me for two years, and then he left......rather abruptly. About five years later, he came back, and he was a very good friend to me."
"You can say that again." said Atticus, smirking.
"Ignore him." cut in Severa, hitting him swiftly on the arm. "He's being a horklump. How do you think I got you those iguanas? They're your Father's iguana's offspring."
"You have Dad's iguana?"
"Yes. I have him upstairs in my room. I was given him after your Father died. He's very special to me."
"Well.....that's cool," said Emmanuel. "can we come up and see him?"
"Not now. I think it's about time you two went upstairs to bed," announced Atticus, rising out of his chair. "otherwise I shall have no choice but to deduct points from Ravenclaw."
The twins nodded and said goodnight to both Professors, exiting the Great Hall in silence.
*****************************
Unfortunately, as most first years (and more older years than you think) know, it is compulsory to get lost at least once in seven years at Hogwarts. Emmanuel and Eveleen's turn came that night, when they climbed one moving staircase too many and found themselves in an empty corridor.
"Er, where are we?" asked Emmanuel, looking around cautiously.
"Beats me.......but we're not lost." said Eve confidently, crossing her arms.
"Rubbish!" came a soft voice from behind them. "You, my dears, are headed towards the Gryffindor commonroom!"
The twins spun around abruptly and were surprised to see four ghosts gliding towards them.
"Persephone you liar! This is where our common- oh, dear, I've said a little too much." a short fat little ghost dressed in the robes of a Fransiscan friar piped up to the taller, thinner female ghost beside him.
"Well, your type aren't exactly known for their diplomacy, are they, Friar?" said the third ghost, dressed in renaissance clothing.
"Um, excuse me," Eve interrupted, waving at the four spectres. "but my brother and I are lost, and we'd like some help finding our commonroom."
The fourth ghost, a tall gaunt one who looked scarier than the rest glided forward.
"And pray, children," he said in a thick German accent. "what house might you come from?"
Eve was unnerved by this ghost. His height, accent and serious expression were imposing, coupled with that fact that he had silver bloodstains splattered down the front of his pearly robes.
"Ravenclaw, Sir." said Emmanuel softly.
The ghost raised his eyebrows. "Hmm, is that so? What are your names?"
"Emmanuel Quirrell, if you please. And this is my sister, Eveleen."
"Quirrell! Merlin's Beard!" the female ghost squealed, gliding forward, sweeping around them. "You're Wilton's children! Oh, I don't know what to say.....oh, you look so-"
"We know, we know." Eve cut in, not wishing to hear it again. "Who're you four, anyway?"
"We're the house ghosts," said the renaissance ghost. "May I introduce myself. Sir Nicholas deMimsy Porpington, Gryffindor ghost. This twit making a fuss of you is Persephone, the Grey Lady, your ghost. My religious friend is Gabriel, the Fat Friar and ghost of Hufflepuff," he said, gesturing to the respective ghosts, "and this," he paused, gesturing to the tall German ghost who stood nearest them. "is Wilhelm, though you may know him as the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin house ghost."
"Erm, n-n-n-nice to meet you, I think." Emmanuel stuttered nervously, causing Persephone to gasp.
"You even stutter-"
"Oh please Persephone." said Sir Nicholas. "You can make a fuss of them tomorrow. These children have to get some rest. Wilhelm, will you kindly escort them to their commonroom?"
"Why can't I?" asked the Grey Lady, crossing her arms and looking at Sir Nicholas indignantly.
"Because, you promised me that you were going take me and Gabriel to see Aldous Binns over that little matter, remember?"
"Oh, of course." she said quietly. "Well then, I will have to talk to you at a later date, shan't I?" she said, beaming at the children and taking Sir Nicholas' arm.
The twins nodded mutely and watched as she and the other two ghosts glided off in the opposite direction.
They looked to the Bloody Baron, who smiled at them grimly.
"Come children. It is not a far walk." he said in a virtual whisper, gliding ahead of them, leaving them to follow. The journey was not a far one as he'd said.
As they reached the entrance, they turned back to him, realizing that a thankyou was in order.
"Thankyou, Sir." said Eve, nodding at him politely.
"It was a pleasure, Miss Eveleen, Master Emmanuel. I hope I shall see you again in the near future." he said, bowing his head and gliding off.
*****************************
"I've been waiting for your first report, Dark Servant. What news do you have for me?"
Wilhelm smiled at his master. "I bring you good news, Master Malfoy. I have finally gained a glimpse of the children, and have even met them."
"Ah, excellent work. What are they like, Rowena's heirs?"
"Undoubtedly their Father's children. Intelligent, and they've inherited his looks, yet they seem as weak-willed as their Father was too...."
"Do not doubt them, Dark Servant. Remember that Wilton Quirrell wasn't as weak as we first assumed. He stood up to my dearly departed master in the end, and it's what happens in the end that matters, isn't it?"
"Certainly, Master Malfoy. What do you ask of me now?"
"Continue watching them. As I recall telling you, I sent a threat off to old Dumbledore a couple of months ago. I plan to continue sending them, and then strike at the time when Hogwarts will be at its weakest. I want you to keep me informed. Keep in touch with the children, but don't get too close. We can't have them think of you as either their friend or their enemy."
"Of course."
"I have recently found the key to my Father's private library. Contained in there are some of the most important and valuable books of the Dark Arts. I am hoping to find an ancient incantation that I have heard will give ghosts magic."
Wilhelm sighed. "I have not so much as cast a spell in one hundred years, Master Malfoy."
"I know you yearn for the power again. And you are worthy to yield it. You will be a valuable asset to this mission regardless though. And I thankyou for your support of me."
"I realize it was tough for you. Severus' betrayal of your Father will not be forgotten, mark my words."
The youthful face of his master darkened slightly in the dancing flames. "Of course not, Dark Servant. Of course not."
End of chapter
A/N: Right, first off, I should say this. The Bloody Baron in my fics is not based on the movie Baron. I wanted a serious ghost, not some jolly one who speeds around the place going 'mwhahahahahaha!' madly. Sorry! Secondly, need I remind that you need to review? Well, please do. I'm in need of some morale boosting, considering I'm at the beginning of a three month school term.