HARRY POTTER AND THE SEERS' TRUTH
By Lady Lestrange
Portraits, Polyjuice and Portkeys
Chapter 53
10 REVIEWS. I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 10 reviews for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to reviews follow the story.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. THANKS JK.
--LADY LESTRANGE
(A/N: I've been reading a number of fanfics in installments like this one myself, and find it is sometimes hard to remember exactly what has happened before-In a fic as complex as this one is, I thought having a reminder may be helpful for you. If you want to skip it, just page down FIVE times. --Lady Lestrange)
UP TO THIS POINT: Parvati has been having dreams and visions about the Dark Lord, Harry and a Prophecy Child. So far, they are not sure who the prophecy child is, and it is important for them to find him/her. The Sorting Hat is not sorting, so the students have "little brothers and sisters" to show around. The dream team thinks that The Sorting Hat failing is a plot to hide the Prophecy child from the teachers and anyone who can help insure that he/she stays on the side of light. No one is sure that the brothers and sisters actually belong to the house they are currently in.
The Hogwarts Express has been attacked. Dark Marks have been in the sky. The floo network is compromised. The Minister of Magic has been turned. Snape is now teaching both Defense and Advanced Defense, but it looks like Advanced Defense is just an excuse to let the Slytherins and Ginny and Edward visit the Dark Lord. Mrs. Figg is teaching potions and we know very little about her so far, except that she was against Dumbledore's suggestion to make Poly Juice Potion.
Beatrice is an animagus, a bunny. Edward's granny looks like she could have given the Dursleys a few pointers on cruelty. Slytherin is a house at war according to Snape, divided between Death Eaters and those who want to stay on the side of light. Harry uses his Invisibility Cloak and finds out when it is ripped, the Invisibility spell ceases. There is an unwelcome addition to Myrtle's bathroom, Olive Hornby. Peeves is his usual annoying self, but the Baron seems to have a little less control over him.
Samara, for some reason, lofts some wicked, powerful curses. She doesn't look like she has total control over them, which isn't really surprising since she's learned magic on her own from a book, that Harry is sure is a dark book. She seems to like Draco, but don't assume this is a romance. It is not. Ginny is still hearing voices in her head. Harry's scar is hurting more, and neither he nor Ginny know what this means. Ginny is closer with Harry this year, but again, not romantically. There is Edward, the new Gryffindor, who seems interested in Ginny, but Ginny really hasn't gotten over Tom.
We find out about Neville's powerful auror parents. We learn that Neville has a memory charm that was put on him as a baby. He's a more powerful wizard than anyone ever thought as evidenced by his yew wand and the way he reacts to Snape's ministrations in trying to remove the memory charm. We might wonder why Snape is trying to do this himself, instead of enlisting the help of Madam Pomfrey. Sirius and Lupin are on "fieldtrips" with the sixth and seventh years.
Of course we can also wonder why Snape is so determined to teach his classes advanced spells like the Patronus, or we can just chalk it up to Snape, being mean. The Fifth year class starts apparition classes and we meet Professor Sinistra. We also visit Hufflepuff, where we see The Wall, and Slytherin house, where we discover, to our amazement, a magic room that Draco shares with Samara, but Samara has a very unslytherin use for the room. Ravenclaw to come next weekend.
The chapter, CHAINED AND CHARMED, takes place at the same time as DANCING IS AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE-when Samara was in Slytherin, dancing. It is Saturday afternoon. Harry and the Gryffindors examine Samara's Dark Book, after they come back from lunch. They find an extreme potion, and decide they need to make a trip to the Chamber of Secrets. Ghastly Ghostly Dinner is when Gryffindor's meet with Samara after her little trip to Slytherin. Samara and Beatrice are persuaded by Edward to help him steal his snake back from his brother Ethan. Things get a little out of hand, and Samara learns more about Slytherin than she ever wanted to know.
Now the Gryffindors are mad at her. Samara wants to make up and be friends with them, but is it possible to befriend both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy? How far will she go to make up, or will she just find some valuable information to store away for future use? (So, don't you want one of those Tee shirts?)
LIONS AND TIGERS: We see a very stressed out Snap both in Harry's memory of what happened with Snap and Neville and in the actual DADA class. We find out Trelawney doesn't want Samara in her class and Samara decides to take Ancient Runes instead. McGonagall assures Samara that Trelawney has done her a favor. McGonagall further talks to Samara about her experiences in Gryffindor, opening the door to give Samara someone to talk to, if she so chooses. We also learned lots more about animagi in McGonagall's class. Snape dismisses the Gryffifndors and keeps the Slytherins after class. We find out it's because Snape wants them to practice their patronus because the Slytherins are so lousy at the spell. Could it be because there are so few happy memories to chose from?
In DRAGON BREATH AND BLUDGER BATS, Ginny and Edward set the Slytherins up with fire mints, and Samara gets extremely angry at them both because they hurt her friends. In an effort to contain her anger, she goes to the Quiddich pitch where she meets Fred and George. After lobbing a few quaffles at them in her anger, they decide to ask her to be a Beater for Gryffindor. She refuses, but later when she talks to Draco, he is not very nice to her, (hey, who said Draco was a nice guy?) so she wonders whether or not she should take the Beater job.
In WISH IT REAL; WISH IT NOT we see into one of Ginny's dreams. If you don't remember this dream, go and re-read chapter 28. In Chapter 29, THE SPELLING BEE, Samara is feeling homesick and friendless until Draco invites Samara back to Slytherin. Also, includes a short intro into what's coming up in potions class.
In Chapter 30, CHILD OF GRYFFINDOR, Neville and Snape break the Imperio part of the Memory Charm. The trio discusses the Founders' spells, which put their gifts in the Sorting Hat; however they do not have the original parseltongue version of Salazar's spell. Ginny also sees Edward painting and the reader sees a bit of Ginny and Tom's relationship. In SLYTHERIN GAMES—Well, if you don't remember it, you better re-read. Voldemort is finally out and angry—burning and pillaging and we see a little-known inside version of Slytherin through Ginny's eyes. In STICKY SITUATIONS, Samara uses her adhere charm on the Weasley twins, Neville sticks Beatrice's wand to his with bubble gum, and Edward is sticking in Gryffindor.
In OW POST the Slytherins get even for the Dragon Breath Mints, among other things—
In the Ravenclaw chapter—I'm still trying to think of a good name for it—Help me please—we meet a number of Ravenclaws and find out a little more about the characters, in Ravenclaw as well as Edward and Samara. So do you think either of them are really Ravenclaws? Hmmmm? In chapter 35 we meet Sirius again who plans to have a talk with Dumbledore about his keeping Harry safe and of course what that nasty Snape is doing to poor Neville. The Quiddich Game and then more of Neville's awesome Auror parents.
The war is heating up and touching the lives of the children. This story is rapidly approaching –nasty things. Not for the faint of heart. Last chapter, we had a relaxing time at Hogsmeade. Samara bounces from friend to friend and Harry has some nasty dreams, and Harry is shocked to find out that Ron and Hermione are a couple. We knew that already though, right?
In THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS the trio did some exploring, but failed to find the basilisk eggs. They found other things though. Obviously, they have to go back, but first Ginny gives them some instructions.
In THE CHAMBER, THE WALL, THE WAND AND THE WINDOW, Ginny gives the trio some instructions about the Chamber, the Gryffindor boys are having trouble sleeping and Harry's talking to the Snake, Kauket. Parvati has yet another vision, about a muggle and the earlier one about the wand is explored. Trelawney tells Ginny she will open a window to the past—Didn't she already do that? Is Trelawney a little late with this prediction, or does it mean something else?
In NO MORE GAMES we return to ADADA class and Ginny finds out by using the Quick Quotes Quill that the class is more than she planned, but the notes are stolen, so she has no proof to go to Dumbledore with—So she takes matters into her own hands. In PERVIGILO ARMARO, we see part of Ginny's awesome ward. Doors are opened and Tom is out, but he isn't everything we thought he would be. Could it be that he's keeping secrets from us? Puppy Puffs and the Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw Quiddich game offer a little comic relief.
Chapter 44, MORS MORDRE. Ginny gets a dark mark. 'nouf said. BLOOD AND MAGIC MINGLED is Ginny reaction to Voldemort's Imperio curse, and a trip to the Chamber. In THE SEVENTH SUFFERING, We leave Ginny in the Chamber, while we go off with Samara to find out what happened to Ginny in Slytherin this morning, but Samara gets side-tracked, and she learns a personal secret of Draco's—so when is she going to share her secret? Speaking of secrets, Snape has a few, which he unwittingly shares in SNAPE'S SECRET AND SALAZAR'S TREASURE. In SECRETS KEPT AND THOUGHTS SHARED, we at last know what side Snape is on--almost—
And for all those Ginny lovers--awesome Ginny in WHAT IS A DARK WIZARD--where we at last, rejoin the Dark Lord. After that, aren't we all ready for a little fun and games with the Gryffindor/Slytherin Quiddich game? Harry finally confirms Edward's evil intent, although no one believes him, and now, once again Harry is privy to Slytherin secrets in NOTHING HALLOWED, on Halloween night. Halloween continues to the wee hours of the morning with THE BIRTH OF A NIGHTMARE, where Ginny, Voldemort and the Death Eaters free those in Azkaban. This chapter entitled, PORTRAITS, POLYJUICE AND PORTKEYS tells of the aftermath in Hogwarts. Take a deep breath now. Non-stop action till the end.
Portraits, Polyjuice and Portkeys
By Lady Lestrange
Samara was knocking consistently on Ginny's ward.
"Ginny! Ginny! Wake up. You're going to be late for class."
Finally Ginny rolled over and broke the ward. She looked up sleepily at Samara. "Cancelled," she said.
"What? Snape!" cried Samara. "Snape cancelled your class? How do you know?"
"Uh—" Ginny's sleepy mind fought for an answer.
"Owl," said Tom. "Early this morning."
Ginny repeated Tom's lie.
"But—" Samara looked at her in confused disbelief. "Snape sent you an owl?"
"OK," thought Ginny. "That sounded strange." She sat up and tried to get her sleepy brain to think.
"Snape wouldn't send an owl to her," she thought. "Tom, you're getting me caught in a lie—"
"You said it; not me."
"It was your idea!"
"No, not Snape," said Ginny. "Edward. His brother owled him first."
"Very good, Ginny. I couldn't have done better myself."
"Is that a complement? Are you complementing me on my lying?" Ugh. "I'm going back to sleep," she told Samara.
"But you'll miss breakfast. I thought you are always hungry in the morning? Aren't you the same one who at the beginning of the year, said you'd never make it to lunchtime without breakfast? And you skipped breakfast last Friday—when you and Edward—" Samara stopped talking. "Oh," she said softly. "You were with Edward last night," she said. "Late. Sorry. Next time just ignore me. I don't know when to shut my mouth. I'll let you sleep."
Samara went down to breakfast trying to remember if Ginny's ward was up last night. She thought it was, but she could have been mistaken. There was too much confusion last night with the Slytherins in the Common Room. She and Harry had decided not to tell McGonagall. First of all, Harry said she wouldn't believe them—which was probably true. Secondly, Harry said, he didn't want to tell her about his Invisibility cloak, and how else could he explain standing in the room with no one seeing him.
"Maybe Dumbledore would believe us though, and he knows about my Dad's Invisibility cloak."
"Harry," Samara had said, "If you feel you have to tell Dumbledore, I understand, but I'd rather not—"
"Why?"
"How am I supposed to explain my appearance there? Plus, if we tell him about the curses and the veritaserium, how am I going to explain my part in that?"
"I don't know," said Harry, "But they shouldn't just get away with this!"
"What about me, Harry? Are you going to tell on me too?"
"Of course not." He sighed. "I see your point. It's bound to come up that you participated with the veritaserium and even if we could get by that, I doubt that the Slytherins would be quiet about your—um curses. OK. I'll keep quiet. It's not like Dumbledore has been a great help in the past, anyway."
"Are you sure, Harry?"
"I'm sure, but I hate for them to just get away with this."
"So, we'll just have to think of something to annoy them that is just as bad. We should be able to get into Slytherin Common Room. Edward waltzes in and out of there all the time."
"Did you ever think, that's because he's a Slytherin?"
"Probably."
"What! You think he's a Slytherin too?"
"Yeah," said Samara. "There's some Gryffindor traits, but most of the things I see in his aura, I see predominantly among Slytherins."
""Like what?"
"Holes, murkiness, a red overlay, and an aura held close to his body, the shimmer that indicates the use of wandless magic."
"Holes," said Harry. "Didn't you repair holes in my aura too?"
"Yes. Actually, they came back when you touched my book."
"Ah—" said Harry. "So that's why the headache came back."
Samara took his hand, holding her palm pressed against the back of his hand, and lacing her fingers through his., and allowing herself to reach out to him with her healing power. "I didn't know you were hurting."
Harry shrugged. "There's no point in complaining," He said. "So do I have any of these other Slytherin traits too, or just the holes?"
"There's some of the red overlay too, but there's very little red in your actual aura. I've come to believe that the red overlay is something that happened in a person's childhood—abuse—trauma—of course, the loss of your parents could have caused that red overlay, but mostly, your aura is very vivid. It tends to blot out the overlay with its brightness. Like now, you know what I'm doing. Your aura is trying to match the healing colors itself—to help me to heal the holes—"
"It's very nice," said Harry closing his eyes.
Dumbledore sent a rainbow of color with his wand, to catch everyone's attention. "I have an announcement to make. A very welcome announcement, I'm sure." He smiled jovially, his eyes twinkling. "I have just received an owl from Madam Edgecombe at the Floo Network Authority. The needed repairs and wards have been placed on the floo network, and Hogwarts is approved to be reconnected to the Floo via my office. Fires for warmth and messages may once again be lit in the common rooms at your discretion—"
A cheer went up from the student body.
"What are they cheering about?" asked Hermione as she and Ron entered the Great Hall.
"Floo's fixed," said Samara now drawing her hand away from Harry Potters'.
"Oh, that's wonderful news," said Hermione, settling down to read her Witch Weekly.
"I'll say," said Ron, "I was actually getting quite good at conjuring those little blue flames of Hermione's. It was frightening."
"Me too, said Samara laughing, but Hermione frowned.
"Ron," she said, "the whole idea of school is to get good at your spells. Look at what happened to poor Pig in Apparition last week."
"Read your Witch Weekly," said Ron.
"What happened to Pig?" asked Samara.
"Splinched," said Harry.
"Oh—" Samara put her hand over her mouth.
"But Professor Sinistra helped Ron get him back together." Harry continued.
"I don't know," said Ron. "He's still flying a little crooked."
"Ron," said Harry "He's always flown crooked."
"That reminds me," said Ron. "I might need some help catching him for today's class. He doesn't want to come to me, since last week. I think he's scared of me."
"OK " said Harry. "I have to get Hedwig too. We'll go up to the owlry right after Defense class. We should have time before Apparition."
"Are you apparating your pets now," said Samara.
"Yeah," agreed Harry reluctantly. Professor Sinistra said, "As soon as we can flawlessly apparate our pets twenty five times, we can apparate ourselves."
"So how many times have you apparated Hedwig?" asked Samara.
"Twenty-four," said Harry.
"And you couldn't have done it one more time and tried it on yourself last week?" asked Samara incredulously.
"I could have," said Harry, "but I was stalling. I didn't want to be in pieces when Malfoy splinched."
"So did he?" asked Samara.
"No," said Ron disgustedly. "He performed the spell flawlessly."
"On his pet?"
"No," said Harry. "On himself."
"Where is Malfoy this morning?" asked Ron, looking over at the Slytherin table.
"Oh, maybe lying in," said Samara. "I guess Snape cancelled his first class—Advanced Defense—Ginny told me."
"What!" said all three of the trio together.
"Is he sick?" asked Harry.
"He must be dying," said Ron, his face creasing into a grin.
"Ron, that's an awful thing to say," Hermione commented, closing her Witch Weekly.
"It's Snape! It's not awful; it's cause for a holiday!"
"Well, Ginny's class may be cancelled, but ours isn't," said Harry beginning to gather up his books.
"Oh we have time, Harry," said Ron. "It's only 8:45, but once all their books were gathered they all stood and started for the door. Then, Samara realized that Hermione left her Witch Weekly on the table. She sprinted back to grab it and gave it to Hermione. "Oh, you needn't have bothered," said Hermione. "There's nothing much in it today. You'd think they could find enough news to fill a tiny paper like that," she said shaking her head.
"So can you make a portkey yet, Harry?" asked Samara.
"Just a very rudimentary one," said Harry. "And only set for one person at a time. It's actually more complicated than apparition because it can usually be used by more than one person, or by multiple people, and can be set for a variation of times and—"
He froze mid-sentence as a scream issued from the center of the room. They all turned to see Lavender sitting on, and then falling off of, a Hogwart's toilet seat, her bare bottom slapping the floor as she slipped. Lavender's face was bright red as she pulled her dressing robe around herself, picked up the toilet seat and flung it like a misshapen frisbee into the hysterically laughing Slytherins.
In truth, the Slytherins weren't the only ones laughing. Samara leaned on Harry, tears in her eyes from mirth, and then covering her mouth and trying to control her laughter. "We missed one," she whispered.
"Portkey," he whispered back, trying, like the rest of the Gryffindors to look sympathetic as Lavender flounced through the crowd and back up to Gryffindor Tower. As soon as she got past them the laughter started again. Harry turned, searching the Slytherin table for Owen Pritchard. He spotted him, holding on to Pansy and laughing with her. Harry noticed Fred and George were also laughing hysterically, but their laughter died as Errol fluttered onto George's plate, dropping a letter onto the table..
Harry nudged Ron. "Looks like your brothers got bad news," he said.
Ron frowned. "Hey George," he called walking over to their end of the table. "What does Mum have to say?"
"Oh we fixed the clock last week when we were home—" said George.
"I didn't know it was broken," said Ginny as she wandered, sleepy eyed, to the table.
"Hey Ginny," Ron frowned at her. "Are you sick?"
"No," said Ginny softly. "What happened to the clock?"
"We updated it," added Fred. "It's now more specific about the family whereabouts."
"What?" said Ron, horrified. "It's specific enough just having her know I'm at school."
"It now says, at school--studying" said George.
Ron narrowed his eyes. "Why don't I believe you?"
"You know us," said Fred smirking. "Anyway, Mum is in a cauldron—"
"What's she upset about?" asked Harry pushing his glasses up.
"She says we broke it," added George. "This morning it said Ginny was 'at Azkaban'.
"That sounds broken," said Fred thoughtfully.
"Naw—it's done stranger things," added George. "It said Ginny was in 'mortal peril' all forth year."
"She was in mortal peril," said Ron. "Ginny—you really don't look well. Maybe you should go to Madam Pomfrey—"
"Maybe it's detecting the person's well-being as well," said Fred as Ginny finally joined them at the table. "Did you put that spell in, George?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, Ginny does look a little pale, doesn't she?" asked George.
"Yeah," Fred joked. "For just coming back from Azkaban—"
"I'm fine," said Ginny, staring wide-eyed at Fred.
Tom chuckled. "I like Fred and George," he said.
"Ginny, I thought you were lying in," said Samara.
"I was hungry," commented Ginny destractedly.
"Ginny—you missed the funniest prank," said Samara She proceeded to give Ginny an intricate description of the toilet seat incident.
==
The Slytherins were talking about the incident throughout the day. As Harry and Ron walked into Advanced Charms, they heard Owen Pritchard and Deameon Parkinson sniggering with their heads together.
Flitwick, who like Snape, had skipped breakfast. Completely missed the cruelty of their comments. "My, you gentlemen are in a pleasant mood this morning," he chirped happily.
Harry threw a disgusted glance at Ron who mouthed, "Slytherin scum," as he took out his wand.
"Maybe you should tell Flitwick," whispered Parkinson. "It could be worth extra credit."
"I don't need extra credit," said Pritchard.
"I'll take it," said Parkinson eagerly.
Pritchard frowned at him, putting a finger over his lips signifying silence.
"Quiet down, class," said Flitwick, climbing onto his chair. "I hope you all read the assignment--"
"Pritch did," muttered Parkinson sniggering.
Without a blink, Flitwick charmed a piece of ribbon out of his wand, and wound it around Parkinson's mouth. He continued teaching without missing a syllable. "And if you read the assignment, you know that the next chapter is about learning how to widen the use of a portkey from one specific person, to a number of people, generally separated as all male users and all female users. For example, the portkeys which take witches and wizards to the Quiddich cup, must be charmed to allow both to use it—this is the charm—"
Harry took out his quill and began scratching notes on his parchment.
==
The rest of the day continued without incident until Defense. As they approached the classroom, Harry knew that Lavender was in for a rough day, and as a Gryffindor, he wanted to be supportive. He, with Samara, was the only one who could have saved her that embarrassment. He felt sorry for her and chastised himself mentally for not noticing the spell that was set when Samara was coming down the stairs with Draco. He heard the Slytherins giggling and sniggering long before they reached the defense classroom.
True to her Gryffindor bravery, Lavender arrived in the corridor just moments later with Parvati, Dean and Seemus.
Alvin Nott was talking in a loud voice. "Draco, you really missed it this morning at breakfast, she didn't have a glamour charm and her face was so red—"
"Her face," added Ethan, with a smirk, "Don't you mean both cheeks?"
The Slytherins howled with laughter.
"You were looking at her face?" questioned Goyle.
"Well, sure," said Nott. "I mean, I've already seen—"
A blast of light issued from Seemus' wand and Nott was struck with "Mutus!" followed by "Oculis!"
Lauren immediately caught his arm in a tight grip, keeping him from stumbling into anyone in his sudden blindness. Alvin automatically stretched both hands out in front of him, feeling for support.
"Oh, well," said Draco undoing Seemus' muteness with a with a shrug. "with Gryffindors, who can tell the difference between their face and their ass."
"Draco!" Shouted Samara. Harry could practically see steam coming out of Samara's ears. She threw a curse at him, but he blocked it, throwing up his wand arm and pronouncing "Testudo!"
"Testudo?" laughed Samara. "What did you think I was going to do to you, Draco? You're a little paranoid aren't you?"
"Well, considering the last curse you threw at me," said Draco, still holding his wand ready. "I thought it might be safer to over-react. Anyway," he said with a wry grin. "I've always said you're not a Gryffindor."
"I was sorted into Gryffindor," said Samara.
"No," said Draco, "You were chosen by Ginny Weasley. What house you're in is not determined by where you sleep. If it were, Lavender would most definitely be the prophecy child." Draco smirked. "And she isn't."
The Slytherins sniggered and prodded one another in their mirth.
"And Seemus has few more people to curse blind," interrupted Alvin right before Lauren, with the pretext of helping him, ran his face straight into the dungeon wall.
"Ouch!" he cried, grabbing his face, as his nose started to bleed from the impact. "Lauren, you did that on purpose."
"You're right," said Lauren, "Just like you and Lavender—" She broke off as Snape glided into view, and opened the door to the classroom. "Cogere! Pergo!" said Snape, stopping Alvin's nose bleed and cleaning up the blood. "And who caused Mr. Nott's nosebleed?" asked Snape.
"Seemus blinded Alvin," said Draco. "then he walked into the wall."
"Five points from Gryffindor," said Snape, not slowing his pace or looking at them.
"Was pushed," began Alvin.
"Ten points," interrupted Snape. "Get in here and get your books open! You, Miss Avery may take Mr. Nott to the infirmary to get the spell reversed."
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir," said Lauren sweetly as she pulled Alvin back into the corridor.
Samara started to protest the points taken from Gryffindor, but Ginny poked her in the ribs and she shut her mouth. Snape did not look like he was in a mood to be lenient. His dark eyes scanned the group with an expression that could only be described as loathing.
"Don't dawdle," Snape added to the two Slytherins. "Today we are going to discuss escaping, in route, from an unexpected, and possibly dangerous portkey. I guess this lesson comes a day late for you, Miss Brown."
Lavender's face colored pink again, and she looked at her shoes.
The Slytherins sniggered.
"Come to think of it, this class is a little late for you too, isn't it, Potter?" asked Snape, leaning forward heavily on his desk. The bones of his shoulders pushed against his robe as if the sharp points of them might rip through the cloth, and his eyes glittered maliciously. "Of course, this will only be a theoretical class for most of you at this time," Snape continued. You have to have a pretty good grasp of apparition to actually accomplish it. How many of you have apparated by now?"
Only Draco raised his hand.
==
Harry Potter walked into Apparition class later that day, determined to accomplish the apparition of himself across the room. That was as far as they could apparate within Hogwarts' grounds. The Apparition room was the only room within the castle where apparition was allowed by the wards and of course, one could not apparate outside of the room or off of the grounds. Once they got advanced enough to practice longer apparitions they would have to go outside and off Hogwarts' grounds.
"It doesn't matter how far you are going to apparate," said Professor Sinistra. "Distance makes absolutely no difference. As long as you can completely see yourself in the new location, you will accomplish the apparition, but you must be able to see yourself already there. When you plant a mandrake seed, you expect to see mandrakes growing, not radishes. When you add the last hair to polyjuice potion, you expect it to turn gray not green. When you transfigure a mouse into a water goblet, you expect the goblet to be minus its tail. You have done these things. You know you can accomplish them. You must have the same certainty before you apparate.
"Itare phantasma!" demonstrated Professor Sinistra as she apparated across the room. "Mr. Potter, I believe you only had a few more apparitions of your owl to complete last time. Are you ready to apparate yourself?"
Harry licked his lips and started to answer, when Professor Sinistra turned away. "I see you are not," she said. "Miss Granger."
"I am," interrrupted Harry angrily. "I was just—"
"Hesitating," Professor Sinistra supplied. "If you hesitate, you will splinch. You must already be sure you can do it, before you attempt it."
"I'm sure," said Harry.
"No, you're not. An apparition teacher must know which of her students are confident and which are not. Certainty eliminates most of the splinches. You are almost there. We will see Miss Granger first and then I will come back to you." She patted him on the shoulder and moved to Hermione.
"Miss Granger, are you ready to apparate?"
"Yes, ma'am," replied Hermione, bubbling with excitement.
"Go then," said Professor Sinistra.
"Itare phantasma!" said Hermione, flicking her wand upwards over her head. She disappeared from one end of the room and reappeared at the other end of the room. She stumbled as if she had fallen off of a hovering broomstick, but she regained her balance and grinned widely. "I knew I could do it!" she said. "I wanted to do it last week."
"That is precisely why you did accomplish it this week," said Professor Sinistra.
"Mr. Potter," began Professor Sinistra.
Harry didn't wait for her to tell him he wasn't ready again. He raised his wand over his head and said, "Itare phantasma!"
There was a roaring whirl of wind in his head, and for a moment he felt as if he was being torn limb from limb by the hurricane winds, but he concentrated on being in the place across the room. Just be there, he told himself, and the wind calmed, the ripping sensation eased. His first awareness was that he was clutching his wand in a death grip, an incessant throbbing spreading out from his scar. He found his footing on the floor across the room, and a blinding pain hit him right between the eyes, his scar sizzling and burning and in that instant, Harry Potter sank to the floor.
"You did it!" cried Hermione.
"He knows," Harry whispered clutching his burning scar. "He knows, I can apparate now." When he took his hands from his scar it looked new. It was a puckered red brand, still hot from Voldemort's touch. Harry pulled his messy black hair over his forehead, covering the distinctive mark before any of the Slytherins could notice.
After apparition class, Harry, Ron and Hermione went back to the dorm. "You can't be sure that You Know Who knows you can apparate," said Ron. "I mean, you've had pain in your scar before—"
"It was different," said Harry. "It was like he could reach right out and touch my scar—Like he was right there between 'where I was' and 'where I went to' In that moment when everything about me was scattered, he was more in my scar than I was."
"Well, maybe you can splinch off your scar, and leave it with You Know Who," said Ron.
"Ron," said Hermione, exasperated. "Harry, maybe you should talk to Dumbledore about it," she suggested.
"Maybe—" said Harry aloud. "Dumbledore, or—Snape," he whispered. Just thinking of asking such a personal question of either of them made him shiver with dread. He couldn't imagine asking Snape what his Dark Mark felt like when he apparated—did it feel like his body or a part of Voldemort's. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
"Professor Snape would help you," added Neville.
"Snape!" shouted Ron. "Are you out of your mind? He was a bloody terror today!"
"He looked sick," added Samara as she and Ginny and Beatrice joined them.
"Yeah, he's sick alright," added Ron. "We've known that since day one."
==
After a while they ate dinner, and Harry got a good night's sleep. His scar was back to normal. He considered telling Dumbledore, but Dumbledore was off on Ministry business, when he went to his office. A few more days went by and Harry decided that he could wait to talk to Dumbledore. After all, he wasn't going to apparition again for a week and even when he went back to class, there were a lot of other students who had to apparate before he would be trying it again. Once the week past, it didn't seem so important anymore.
There were other things to think about--
"Hurry up, Ron," called Harry. "We're going to be late for the Slytherin-Ravenclaw game!"
Ron grumbled and climbed out of bed. "OK, I'm coming," he yawned.
"This should be a good game," said Harry.
"Yeah," agreed Ron. "Strategy and finesse, against brute force and cheating,"
Harry laughed and picked up his winter cloak. "Get your heavy cloak," Harry suggested. "It snowed last night. It's cold out."
"This is my heavy cloak," Ron said, "My only cloak," as he gathered it up and the two of them headed down to the Great Hall. "Speaking of cloaks," said Ron, "Is Samara ever going to get your Invisibility cloak back from Draco?"
Harry shrugged. "She said she would try, but I don't think she's trying very hard. She said Draco wants her to bring him the piece I took out of it. She feels like she's in the middle of our argument."
"Well, she is, isn't she. You know, Harry, this might be a good time to go ourselves," suggested Ron. "We know that Draco will be on the Quiddich Pitch, along with most of the Slytherins."
"It would work if we had some polyjuice potion," said Harry.
Ron nodded, his face breaking into a smile. "Ginny has some," he said.
"Ginny!"
Ron shrugged. "Who knows what she was thinking of when we made the potion, but she has a couple of bottles stashed in her trunk."
"Will she let us have them?" asked Harry.
Ron's grin widened.
"Ron, I am not stealing them from Ginny," said Harry.
"It's not stealing. It's borrowing from family," said Ron. "Or you could ask her, Harry. I'm not sure she'd give them to me, but I'm sure you could convince her."
Harry blushed.
"Ah-h- I see I'm right," Ron smirked.
By the time Harry finally convinced Ron that they both had to ask for Ginny's help, the game was already started. They went up to the boy's dorm to look at the Maurader's map and determine where Ginny was. She was in the stands watching the Quiddich game, and when they arrived they had to convince her to leave the stands to talk to them. Because she didn't want to actually leave the game, they just went under the stands. Shivering in the cold wind, they told Ginny that they wanted to try to retrieve the Invisibility Cloak during the Quiddich game. Once she heard what they planned, Ginny was indeed helpful. She not only volunteered to give them the polyjuice potion, she also volunteered to get hairs to put into the potion. She suggested her own and Samara's. Even though they were both Gryffindor's, they had been in Slytherin often. Ron and Harry both balked at masquerading as girls.
"OK," said Ginny. "Let me try and get two of Edward's hairs, or you can use one of his, and one of Lou's or Joe's. Any of the first years can go to Slytherin now, since it's a weekend, or you can masquerade as Ethan and Edward. Another option would be if one of you want to be Edward and I can be myself," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "That would save some polyjuice too."
"OK," said Ron reluctantly. "I guess since it's your cloak, Harry, you'll want to go—"
"Let's go see where Edward is," suggested Harry. "so Ginny can get his hair." Harry pulled the Maurader's map from his pocket and proceeded to look for Edward. He didn't have to look far. Edward was on the Quiddich Pitch, playing chaser for Slytherin.
Harry gaped at the little dot that was flying expertly, dodging bludgers and catching the quaffle.
"And a bludger just misses Lestrange," announced Lee Jordan. "He passes to Parkinson, back to Lestrange and he scores! That ties up the score at 40 all."
"So Edward wanted to play Quiddich after all." said Ron, fists clenched. "Where's Ethan then?"
They all searched for the little dot. It took a long time. They looked in Slytherin—at least as much of the Slytherin dungeon as they had on the map. They looked in the library, and although they didn't find Edward, they found Alvin Nott in the restricted section.
"Wonder what he's looking for," said Ron.
"Who cares," said Ginny.
They looked in the kitchen. They looked fearfully in Gryffindor Tower, but Ethan was not there either.
"Here," said Ron at last pointing to several dots in Myrtle's bath room.
"And Malfoy has caught the snitch!" cried Lee Jordan. "That ends the game," he said sadly, "with a score of 210 to 70. Slytherin wins."
Harry squinted through his glasses to see who else was in the bathroom. The names were written so small, they were hard to read. Ethan Lestrange, Owen Pritchard, Millicent Bullstrode. While they were watching, the dots disappeared.
"They can't do that," said Harry.
"What happened?" wondered Ron. "They couldn't have apparated."
"It doesn't matter," said Ginny. "The game is over. You can't go now. Malfoy will be back."
"It does matter!" cried Harry and Ron together.
"What were they doing in that bathroom?" Harry wondered aloud. He decided to ask directly. Ginny wouldn't lie to him. "Ginny," he said. "Did you ever—Did Edward—Did you ever tell him about the Chamber of Secrets?"
"Tell him?" Ginny said, her voice a confused whisper.
"Or take him there?" Harry continued.
Ginny shuddered, a dreamy unfocused look on her face. "I hate that place," she said. "I wouldn't go there—giving out tours," she spat.
"Then, I wonder," said Harry, "how he found out that the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is in Myrtle's bath room."
"He knows that?" said Ron amazed.
Harry nodded.
"Maybe--one of the ghosts," suggested Ron.
"Maybe," agreed Harry, as they started back to Gryffindor Tower.
"How was the game?" Hermione asked as they came through the portal.
"Game?" said Harry, whose thoughts were totally on the threesome that had disappeared from Myrtle's bathroom.
"Terrible," said Ron. "Slytherin won. What was the score, Ginny? Ginny?"
"Where did she go?" wondered Harry.
==
The last person that Samara expected to be pounding on the wall outside of the Slytherin Common Room, was Ginny, but apparently, Edward was expecting her. He opened the door and opened his arms. "High scorer," he declared. "Forty points. That deserves a kiss."
She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and pushed him towards a secluded corner of the Common Room, ignoring Samara completely. "We have to talk," she said, pulling a bottle of her make up potion from her robe, "And put this on right away, before you forget."
"I won't forget," said Edward.
"Make up potion?" questioned Samara.
"I hate freckles," said Ginny, dipping her finger into the potion and smearing a glob across Edward's nose.
"I never noticed Edward had freckles," said Samara.
"That's because the potion works so well," said Edward, taking another drop and rubbing it on his arms as well as his face. He grinned at Ginny, and then bent to kiss her.
"Excuse me," said Pritch as he elbowed in between Ginny and Samara. "Professor Snape said you had a bit of trouble last night. He said to make these for you right away."
Pritch dropped a silver chain into Edward's palm and a comb into hers. She
looked at the silver hair comb with small black stones which he had placed in her hand, and frowned.
"It's a portkey," Pritch explained. "It's keyed to Slytherin Common Room. Either of them can bring either or both of you. The activation word is fidissime.
Edward snorted, and Ginny, mentally translating the latin had to smile. "Do you really think that we are his most faithful?" she asked.
"Well, it couldn't hurt to have Him think that," said Pritch.
"You couldn't have gotten any more sleep than we did, if you made these last night." Said Edward.
"This morning actually. My little brother wasn't too happy that I missed half of his quiddich game."
--
Samara wondered back over to Draco and the rest of the Quiddich team who were going over the game, blow by blow. Absently, Draco draped an arm over her shoulder. After a few minutes she wandered over to Pansy and Lauren and their first years who were hanging around them being annoying. She talked to them for a while, when Alvin came in looking dejected and exhausted.
"No luck?" said Lauren sadly.
He shook his head.
"What's wrong?" asked Samara.
"He needs some information on dementers and can't find it," said Lauren.
"Have you tried Ravenclaw library?" asked Samara.
"No," said Alvin. "How am I supposed to get into Ravenclaw library?"
"Polyjuice?" suggested Gloria Snood, pulling several of her mouse brown hairs from her head, and handing them to him. "All the first years are allowed to go to other houses on weekends."
He stared at her for a minute, and then took the hairs. "It might not be the best night," he said. "They might not want to see a Slytherin—"
"They won't care," said Lauren. "They're Ravenclaws, and if you were a first year, thinking you might belong there instead of Slytherin, it's a perfect time to go. Too much noise over here to study--"
"I don't know where the library is," he said.
"I'll go with you," Samara volunteered.
"What about Draco?" asked Lauren.
Samara glanced over at the team, who were now having a heated discussion about whether or not a certain bludger actually hit Ming Chang's broom. "He won't miss me," said Samara. "I'll be back later. Let's go."
"I have to get my polyjuice," said Alvin, running down into the boy's dorm.
When he came back, he had already swallowed the polyjuice. As what looked like Gloria and Samara headed for the door, Draco looked up.
Samara waved merrily. "We'll be right back," she said and they ducked out the door to go to Ravenclaw.
"So what teacher assigned dementers?" asked Samara.
"Ah—guess," said Alvin.
"Has to be Snape," said Samara. "Advanced defense, right?"
"How did you know?"
"Oh, Ginny has all sorts of weird assignments for that class too. I know that man is your head of house, but he's a real sadistic git, isn't he?"
"Oh, he's not as bad as some," said Alvin enigmatically.
Samara paused at the door to Ravenclaw Common Room. "I have to start calling you Gloria, OK?"
"Sure, Samara. Thanks. Do you know the password?"
Samara nodded, and spoke: "Raido: the traveler"
"Hi Samara," said Aldwin without looking up from his work, drawing runes on parchment with his wand. The glowing letters covered several dozen parchments that were piled around him in some order that only he understood.
"I wish you'd quit doing that," said Samara.
"Why? You do it," Aldwin answered with a smile. "And you don't even use the runes to know who's in the room with you. You have a mysterious friend. I don't think we've met."
"Oh, this is Gloria Snood," said Samara.
Aldwin took Alvin's hand in his own. Of course, he thought that Alvin was Gloria Snood, but the runes seemed to know who he was. "The rune, Thurisaz, is yours," said Aldwin. "the forces of evil, chaos, magical power, temptation and bondage."
Gloria's eyes widened with Alvin's horror.
"But do not fear," said Aldwin, "Evil is what we make it. You can use this rune's energy to create evil or for protection from it," said Aldwin bending over Alvin's hand and kissing it.
Samara closed her eyes and tried not to giggle. At least, Alvin was playing a very good role. He did, however, pull his hand from Aldwin's rather hastily.
"The rune suggests a challenge to face what you would rather not face," intoned Aldwin, explaining further. "To put fear aside and use your power with integrity."
There was a long moment of silence. "Where's the library?" Gloria finally asked.
"She has some homework we wanted to work on," Samara explained. "We'll just be on our way. Sorry to have interrupted you."
"Interruption by such lissome ladies is always a pleasure," said Aldwin. "Anyway, I was just going to validate my evidence in the library myself." He gathered up his runes papers. "Since you both are rather inexperienced in our library--"
"Excuse me," said Samara haughtily.
"OK, Samara, you've used our library on numerous occasions, but you've never supervised an underclassman." He smiled, and walked beside her. "And I enjoy your company, Samara."
"That's just because no one else argues with you. They know better."
"We don't argue; we debate," said Aldwin. "So Gloria," he said, turning to Alvin, "What's your homework assignment?"
"Dementers," said Alvin.
Aldwin looked puzzled. "That's pretty advanced for a first year."
"It's a special interest assignment," said Alvin.
"Ah—I did that too, first year," said Aldwin. "I was so bored. So who's your special interest supervisor?"
"Professor Snape," answered Alvin.
"O-h-h," said Aldwin. "Now it makes sense."
"What makes sense?" asked Samara. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"When students are bored with their classes, they can request additional studies in a special interest class. They have to have a teacher supervisor," said Aldwin, eyeing Gloria/Alvin's Slytherin robes for the first time. "Someone in Azkaban?"
"Used to be," said Alvin. "My uncle."
"And for what exactly are you searching?" asked Aldwin as they entered the library.
Alvin glanced at Samara for confirmation, and she nodded. "The spell that created Pandora's box," said Alvin.
Aldwin whistled softly. "Quite a feat for a first year. Ancient magic. May I summon a few texts that you may find helpful?"
"We'd appreciate it," said Samara.
Aldwin walked up to the podium and began summoning books. The current library aide was Morag McDoogle, and he walked over to say hello to Samara and Gloria/Alvin, introducing himself to Gloria.
"McDoogle," said Alvin. "Wasn't McDoogle originally Doogle?" Alvin asked. "The Doogles that used to be in Slytherin?"
"Yes," said Morag with a sigh. "My Great Grandfather was a Doogle. He was a Ravenclaw. He didn't want to have anything to do with his sister and brother who had some strange—um—ideas—Slytherin stuff. Anyway, he married a Ravenclaw and changed his name to McDoogle, but his son, my father was sorted into Slytherin anyway. My mother is a Ravenclaw though," said Morag. "So," Morag continued, "My blood is just as pure as your Lestrange friends—"
"Lestrange friends?" said Alvin.
"Right," said Morag. "Weren't you the little girl that was hanging all over one of the Lestrange twins, last time you were here?"
Alvin looked helplessly at Samara.
"Edward," she supplied. "He's in Gryffindor."
"Right," said Morag.
Aldwin brought fourteen books to their table. "That should get you started," he said, dropping them in front of Alvin.
Alvin looked at them for a moment in silence. "Thank you," he said at last, opening the first of the books.
"So where is Edward?" asked Morag, as he and Samara moved away from Alvin to let him work. "We haven't seen Edward back in Ravenclaw in ages."
Samara shrugged. "He's at Slytherin, congratulating his brother on beating you guys at Quiddich. We couldn't stand the noise."
"I told you, you belong in Ravenclaw, Samara," said Aldwin. "Slytherin and Gryffindor are both just one jump ahead of the muggles and monkeys on the food chain."
"Oh, I know Slytherins that are below both," said Cho as she entered the library.
"What was the score?" asked Ananda.
"Sh-h-h-h—" came a soft hiss from a neighboring cubicle.
"We're disturbing someone," said Morag, pulling his wand and putting a silencing charm around their area. "I have a topic for you and Aldwin, Cho," said Morag.
"Oh, no. Not tonight," said Cho. "I'm tired and I'm in a foul mood."
"Don't worry about missing the snitch. You did your best," said Aldwin. "That's all that counts."
"I'm better than him," growled Cho irritably. "It's frustrating that he always catches the snitch before me."
"If you had a newer broom—" began Ananda, but Morag interrupted her.
"Here Cho, this will take your mind off of Quiddich. If someone uses Dark Magic to save a life is it still Dark Magic?" asked Morag.
"Where do you come up with these?" asked Ananda.
"I sit up late at night and count meaningless debate questions instead of sheep," said Morag.
Samara burst out laughing. No one else thought it was funny, but she loved Morag's wry sense of humor. "I'll be the judge this time," she said. "Morag can be the referee."
"We don't need a referee," said Aldwin.
"We're not that bad," said Cho.
Samara and Morag exchanged glances.
"If it saves someone's life," said Ananda thoughtfully. "I don't see how it can be dark—"
"Well, if it saves a bloody Death Eater like Malfoy, it's definitely dark," said Cho. "In fact, even if it wasn't wandless or dark—"
"Who said anything about wandless magic?" snapped Samara. "You're off of the topic, Cho."
"I am not!"
"No arguing with the judge," said Morag.
Ananda giggled.
"What's so funny?" asked Cho.
"The referee and the judge," she said.
"We've never actually decided what constitutes Dark Magic," said Aldwin. "So I'm not sure how to proceed."
"Are you telling me, you don't know what Dark Magic is?" inquired Cho.
"Well, I know what you consider Dark Magic," said Aldwin, "but I don't know if I consider it Dark."
"Why? Can't you make up your mind? Are you that indecisive, Aldwin?"
"It's not that I'm indecicive. It's just that I want to make the right choice. How can you conclude that wandless magic is Dark, if you compare it to, say one of your Death Eaters proforming Avada Kadavra with a wand? Which is more Dark? Avada Kadavra or a wandless accio?"
"Don't say my Death Eaters," protested Cho. "They aren't my Death Eaters."
"But which is more Dark?" questioned Morag. "I'd say the one that killed someone."
"Yes, well, people have been killed by spells that aren't unforgivable too," said Ananda. "Incendio," for instance has burned people—
"All you need is the flame freezing charm, Ananda," said Cho, disgustedly. "That's not Dark."
"What if it's performed on a muggle?" asked Samara, and they all got quiet.
"Well, obviously that would be murder," said Cho.
"And if someone performed it on a young wizard who didn't know the flame freezing charm and he died, would that be worse than killing a muggle?" asked Morag.
"Of course it would, both Cho and Aldwin agreed.
"But they are both alive!" protested Samara. "They are equally bad. How can you say that killing a wizard is worse, Cho?"
"Because a wizard is a higher order creature than a muggle," said Cho "They contribute to the balance of the universe. They create, rather than just use the physical manifestation of objects. Therefore, their life must be more valued."
"To whom," said Ananda. "That muggle's child will cry just as hard as the wizard's child when his parent is killed.
"Well of course, all life is valuable," said Cho. "I'm just talking in degrees."
"Is that what you mean about wandless magic too," asked Aldwin. "It depends upon how much the wizard is affected?"
"Exactly," agreed Cho. "And any wandless magic diminishes the wizard and contributes to his death. So all wandless magic is dark," said Cho. "Some magics are darker than others, but all wandless magic should be avoided.
"That's only if you consider dying as a bad thing, Cho," said Aldwin. "Death is but an unknown journey. Your own fear of the unknown does not mean that the magic itself is dark."
"What about the changes that occur in the wizard himself?" Cho said. "What if he doesn't die, but just becomes some deformed creature?"
"Ah-h-h-Like Voldemort?" said Samara.
"Some people would argue that it enhances the wizard instead of diminishes. I agree that there are changes, but we don't know that all change will be for the worst," said Aldwin.
"Oh, you are giving me a headache," said Morag. "I'm giving up on this referree job. I think I'll go see how Gloria is doing on her homework."
"Gloria?" said Samara.
Morag gestured to Alvin.
"Oh, right," said Samara, checking her watch, which showed nearly an hour gone by. "You know, I think we should be going anyway. It's late."
"It's not that late," said Aldwin. "How about a game of chess?"
"We need to go," Samara repeated for Alvin's benefit.
"I haven't finished," said Alvin, looking at the books in front of him.
"Take them with you," said Morag. "You can bring them back tomorrow or even Monday. I'll let you into the Common Room if you let me know when you are coming." Morag winked at Gloria, and whispered, "And my blood is just as pure as the Lestrange's. You're much too sweet to be associating with them."
"The rule is only on the weekends," said Cho.
"She's right, you know," agreed Ananda.
"I'll bring them back tomorrow," promised Alvin.
"When?" asked Morag, putting his hand on Alvin's shoulder. "I want to be sure to be here."
"Ah-h. After supper," said Alvin, ducking out from under Morag's arm, and hurrying to gather up a few of the books.
Samara giggled all the way back to Slytherin common Room.
"You really thought that was funny, didn't you?" snapped Gloria, who was slowly changing back into Alvin as they walked.
"I guess you'd better tell Gloria you got her a date tomorrow," Samara laughed.
"I did not get her a date," protested Alvin. "He was just being friendly."
"Nope," said Samara. "A Ravenclaw is only that friendly when—well—" Samara giggled. "Gloria has a date—Unless of course, you want to bring the books back yourself--"
"No!" snapped Alvin. "And you will keep your mouth shut about this. I don't want Lauren to find out."
"My lips are sealed," said Samara, touching a finger to her mouth.
"What's that about your lips?" asked Draco as they entered the common room.
"This," said Samara, plastering herself against him and kissing him. He wrapped his arms loosely around her and when she lifted her face away from his, he asked coldly, "Where were you?"
"Ravenclaw," she answered. "Alvin needed help with his homework."
"Homework. That's all?" asked Draco, studying her face as if he expected to see her aura. He glanced back at Alvin frowning.
Samara rolled her eyes. "He took polyjuice to get in," said Samara. "He was Gloria Snood."
'I was," agreed Alvin. "You can ask Morag."
Draco caught Samara's hand, and pulled her towards the picture of Salazar Slytherin. "Wait," said Samara as she put her hand up, flat against the picture itself, touching first the cool scales of the snake and then Salazar himself, her hand brushing against his, feeling the huge gemstone on his ring finger. "I don't want to dance right now. I don't want to see the room—do you remember how we left it?
"Apertum Pseudothyrum" Draco said again, but the picture didn't open.
Draco looked at Samara. "What did you do to the picture?" He asked examining it closely.
"Nothing. The picture is exactly the same. The snake is still sleeping, and Salazar is still sneering—"
"Snake?" said Draco incredulously. "It's not sleeping, and it's not a snake. It's a basilisk."
"I just don't want to go to the room right now. Maybe it's not opening because we're holding hands and our intentions are different." Samara pulled her hand out of Draco's.
Samara looked at the picture again. The snake was still sleeping, and Salazar was still sneering, but he had now removed his large emerald ring and was holding it out to her. "He wants us to take the ring," said Samara.
"What ring?" muttered Draco.
But when Samara reached for the ring, Salazar pulled it away from her, putting his finger at his lips signifying silence as he did before. She glanced at Draco. "Maybe we could try to put the room in order," she whispered, and as Draco repeated the "Apertum Pseudothyrum " spell, once again, the door slid open.
They stood for a long while in silence, at the entrance to the room watching the turbulent emotions that hung like dark clouds above them in the room. The room looked awful, but it was better that this ugliness stay here than be carried around inside, wasn't it?
All of the pain of loss was contained in the room. This happened long ago, and yet Samara thought of losing any of her brothers and realized that time didn't matter. The emptiness of their loss would remain forever. Draco stood unmoving. His hatred hung like a banner across the room.
"Draco," said Samara. "If you are going to do this with me, you have to reaffirm your belief in life—love. The room needs the counter balance—everything which that night was not—
He nodded, but didn't move. "I can't," he whispered. "It's not in me."
"What is in you?" she asked. "What do you believe in?"
"Nothing," he answered.
"That's not true," she said, wrapping her arms around him.
She let her hand brush against his Dark Mark, and he sucked in his breath, as if it were sensitive to her touch. "I believe in magic," he said. "and power—" He reached his hand up to stroke her face, "And you."
She let him enfold her in his arms, but they didn't dance. He only stood on the threshold of the room. One thing puzzled her about what he had said. He had told her he hated his parents. She could feel his hatred in this room. It was stark and raw and passionate. She knew it was real. So, why had he chosen to join Voldemort? Wasn't he doing exactly what he had professed to hate?
"Why?" she whispered. "Why would you join your parent's cause, if you hate them?"
"I didn't join my parents' cause," he said.
"Draco, you can't deny that you are a Death Eater. At least not to me. I've felt your magic. I see your aura—"
"I'm not denying that I'm a Death Eater," said Draco, "but I didn't join because of my parents. I joined because of Him."
"Why?" Samara breathed incredulous.
"Because he's right!" spat Draco, turning away and leaving her alone in the room.
She glanced back at it, and then followed Draco up the stairs. She didn't want to dance anyway. When she reached the top of the stairs and the portrait, Salazar was once again holding out the emerald ring to her. It looked real—three dimensional instead of a part of the picture.
She hesitated, looking at Draco, who had crossed the room and was staring into the fire. His aura was a perfect match with the flickering flames.
Her eyes were drawn back to the picture of Salazar, who was coolly holding out the emerald ring on the palm of his hand. On impulse, she reached out for the ring, thinking of just touching it, but at the last minute, a powerful aura of magic appeared around Salazar and the ring. The aura was a deep forest green, shot with streaks of vivid purple and indigo. She pulled her hand away, staring. This was not Salazar's aura. It was the aura of a healer and a seer. It was the aura of someone powerful who had bewitched the picture—to do what? She wondered with a frown, but one thing Samara learned about Slytherin, was that you didn't trust anything too much. Salazar was scowling at her, his strange aura gone, as he thrust the ring back onto his finger. She stuck out her tongue at him and then glanced around self-consciously. Hopefully, no one saw her making faces at the portrait.
Her hands were shaking as she hurried over to Draco who was staring moodily into the fire. She was glad he couldn't see auras. Hers would be a mess right now. All she could think of was his words—Voldemort's right—to do what? To kill the muggles and muggle born? Her parents? Her? From behind him she wrapped her arms around his neck. There has to be a better way, she thought, scalding tears running down her face against his warm skin.. Draco turned, gathering her into his arms and she forgot about the emerald, and Salazar and his weird aura. She forgot about muggles and mudbloods. For a little while, there was only her and Draco, clinging to one another in a world that satisfied neither.
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ANSWERS TO THE REVIEWERS:
Trillium: Yes, well I like "weird and different". And you felt sorry for Des--ahhh--how sweet. And yes, of course you have to keep reviewing!
Bill: Glad you are enjoying. Did you start reading this story rather recently or have you been silently with us for the last year?
The Elemental Sorceress: Hmmm. Can Tom see and hear through Ginny's eyes and ears or is he just reading her thoughts? Donno. Wait a minute--Hey Tom? What's it like in there? Sorry. He's sulking and will only talk to Ginny.
ennui2: So glad you're reading and reviewing. Everyone should go visit the awesome Yahoo site that ennui put together for us. It's
I never have much luck in getting links to come up, so if it doesn't show up, just go to yahoo and groups. The name of the group is The_Seers_Truth You're awesome ennui!
Joda: Did you read the whole thing--like right now--one sitting? Awesome. Updates arrive at your request--10 of them in the form of reviews.
Ennui de Morte: OK ennui2, I can't count this among the ten reviews. Sorry--well, not really, but I have to keep up appearances don't I--Anyway. My head is spinning from reading the yahoo group. You don't think the prophecy child has arrived yet? 50 chapters and she hasn't arrived? OK, does anyone know if St. Mongos is missing a patient? You are right about not taking candy from Fred and George though--and Ginny warned all the first years on the first day. Dobby--Basilisk food. heheheh.
Reiven: Yes. (Author does best impersonation of Molly Weasley: Where have you been? –back to Lady Lestrange mode-Master, we will obviously have to fix that dark mark so the summons works.) I might put more Pritch in the next book just for you, so stick with me. Yes. Eddie should have. And please participate in the "stuff" at the Yahoo group. Your ideas are so insightful. It's always bugged me that the Slytherins have an all boy quiddich team. After all the girls are Slytherins too. I don't think they'd put up with being excluded. So they didn't.
Silverfox1: Yes. I know. Trick or Treat has no meaning in the US either except to get candy and the religious people are angry here too, but there usually isn't much damage--at least not in my area. Maybe toilet paper on the bushes--nothing broken--but my point wasn't to say trick or treat was good or bad. It was just too much fun to think of Harry sitting there watching the muggles dressed up like witches and wizards--and the Weasley twins--can you just see how cute they would be? Sorry. I'm getting carried away. Tricks and Treats! Pats head. Have a lemon drop, Silverfox.
Sky: Lots more Ginny/Tom to come. And next book is definitely Ginny/Tom. You liked Valeriana better than Bellabitch? Cool. This is my most favorite chapter too. Trying to get the climax to equal it. I think I've almost got it! Crosses fingers. Waves wand.
Kemenran: Volde has an army? Oh no! Hurry tell Dumbledore!
Smiles: Poetry, just for me? How sweet. You know I hate sweet. grrrr. Seriously, your poetry is pretty good. One too many syllables on "There is growing danger" Change to "There's growing danger." Try making your lines longer. It's easier to stay in rhythm when you have more words to work with. Keep those lovely reviews coming!
Lady Lestrange
(alias: Carman Doogle on the yahoo group "The_Seers_Truth")
If you haven't done so, go visit the yahoo group. And if you want something good to read, (in addition to ST) check out my reviewers. Many are excellent authors.
–Lady Lestrange
10 reviews to the next chapter--
TEASER: Next Chapter, Draco finds out that Samara is muggle born, then it's on to Knockturn Alley.
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