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Nebula watched herself slink through more passageways unnoticed; she had cast a concealing spell on herself so that if she was seen, she wouldn't be noticed. Also her beautiful black velvet cloak served another purpose here - it allowed her to melt smoothly into the many shadows of the night. But as she watched, another tall, dark creature had pulled away from the crowd of spectators and seemed to be stalking her, lagging behind in passages, and then sprinting to catch up again. What a suspicious manner, she thought. Why did he not desire to be seen?

The young woman finally reached her destination. After a quick glance along the street, she strode over to the door. Then she sensed someone behind her. They had been following her. "What do you want?" Nebula snapped harshly placing her hand on the brass handle, without turning round. The footsteps stopped.

"Only to congratulate you." A man's voice drawled in reply. He moved over and stood arrogantly to her right, also draped in black. But the pale and pointed visage was one she vaguely recognized.

"Why, Lucius, what brings you here at this time of night?" she replied sarcastically, yet politely. He ignored the question and continued, lifting his face from the shadow of his hood.

"That was quite something back there. However, it was obvious you weren't dead. When someone is struck with that curse, their body goes rigid and falls straight down, they don't crumple into a heap." He informed her slowly.

"You've a keen eye. Know a bit about it then, do you?" She inquired mockingly. Lucius remained undeterred, but less patronizing now. His silvery eyes were having a hard time focusing on her face to read her emotions because of the concealment spell. It was rather annoying feeling this blind, so he removed it without permission. As he looked at her, he was fleetingly reminded of Narcissa, but this woman had higher cheekbones and fuller lips; generally a more voluptuous profile. Her eyes were similarly dark but even sharper. They seemed irritated at being stared at.

"I believe you are my son's Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Miss Zirconia? I see he is in safe hands."

"Draco, you will be pleased to hear, pays more attention to the Dark Arts than the Defense from them."

"Well both are necessary, I warn him, but he has particular ambitions." Mr. Malfoy pointed out.

"I noticed. Now if you'll excuse me, I have places to be and people to see, as I'm sure you understand." Nebula was uninterested in anything to do with Hogwarts at that moment; the last thing she needed was a parent-teacher discussion in the middle of Knockturn Alley. She had more important things to deal with, which lay mainly on the other side of that door.

"Certainly. However, I desired to speak with you about something that has aroused our curiosity." Lucius' eyes glittered as he spoke. He calmly reached for her necklace which still dangled over her chest. Nebula's eyes lit as she followed his gaze. Her cold hand shot out from under the cloak and fastened around his wrist. Their eyes clashed. She moved menacingly closer to him, until their breath mists mingled.

"Ah-ah, look but don't touch." Fury flared in her ice cold eyes. Her grip was firm and the nails dug in sharply. Her voice was very low and steady, hissing with menace. The sight struck him as horribly familiar, but from someone else. He couldn't quite place it. Then as her gaze lingered on him a moment longer, she added "Unless you wish end up in there for an eternity." Then mentally she continued with a mischievous smile, 'while I use your body as my slave to do my wishes.'

"Fine. Have it your way. But we will meet again and when we do, the circumstances will be rather, different. Good night. Sleep well." Lucius seethed slowly and then he pushed her away and quickly disapparated. As he left, she was suddenly reminded of her first night at Hogwarts, when Severus Snape had wished her the exact same before he left. 'Strange, I wonder if they know each other. Lucius has some strange connections.' And with that she shrugged her shoulders and turned the handle.

As the door opened, a strong musty stench and shelves coated with black dirt greeted her. The room was of average size and contained many shelves laden with mysterious jars and cages, lit only by a few candles arranged by the counter. As Nebula passed along an aisle, something caught her eye in a cage. It was 2 sleeping tarantulae. Their markings were noteworthy: smooth black with white feet, one had thin dark blue stripes that ran its length with a small forest green squiggle on its head; the other had violet rings and a magenta spot on its head. She had never known them to exist as pets before. It was unnatural. They were very wild normally and were also rumoured to be near extinction.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" To Nebula's right hovered a stooped middle-aged witch with foggy unseeing eyes and rotten teeth. But so far she was polite and showed respect. It was the simple things in life that mattered most to Neb.

"I am interested in these creatures. What can you tell me about them?"

"Ah vell, they are quite a pair." The woman's soft voice brightened. She sounded very foreign, but spoke legible English. "Very carnivorous and vicious. It seems everyone who purchases them from me, returns in a veek looking very pale and missing a limb! If they return at all." Her thin lips spread a delighted and almost proud grin across her face. "Unfortunately, they are to be taken to a private collection in a few days. I wonder when I will see them again." The witch did not seem at all sad. Nebula smiled back. She realized why they kept returning to her. The cruelty in it was rather amusing.

"Yes, that is a pity." Her eyes twinkled in the faint candlelight. The small witch gazed back expectantly. Not tonight, she decided. Turning to face her completely she said "I am here on private business to speak with Sardis Moraius. Where is he?" Proserpine blinked, she hadn't expected that question, but held up a bony finger to a dark entrance behind the counter.

"He is strange tonight, mutters unusual things, votch him - he may try somesing unexpected tonight. Any bargain he gives you vill be. most treacherous. That is vot I know." The older witch whispered words of warning to the younger one, who had already made her way over to the stairway. Nebula had had enough of fortunetellers for the rest of her life. She merely nodded at the wise advice and ascended the stairs undaunted.

At the top there was a large empty room with a creaky wooden floor and solid beams along the room. There were no windows. The only light came from a black candle in the middle of the floor. Over it squatted a shabby looking man who clutched himself warily. There was a fresh gash on his already haggard face. Vashti was playing again. She remained in the shadows, unnoticed, watching for a while longer.

"Sardis, have you something for me this evening?" Nebula's voice broke the whimpers. It was deceivingly trusting. The man rose quickly scanning the room searching for an intruder, but his vision was weak - he could see no further than the end of his nose in this darkness.

"Miss Zirconia," Sardis pleaded. "Miss Zirconia I, I have not been able to attain what you want. Please, have mercy! It, it was unavailable -"

"HE LIES!" Another bitter voice cut over him; a tall, emerald-green eyed woman materialized from the shadows. "I was just beginning to wheedle the truth from him when you arrived. By the way, it took you long enough. I have ascertained that he has in his possession at this moment, exactly what we want."

"Vashti, you have fed from him without my permission." Nebula's eyes burned darkly in the realization of why he had a gash, and why she was visible. Her voice was now unrestrained. "You intended to use DARK Magic to get this information! How could you! This was completely unnecessary!" She was furious. Vashti didn't care, as usual.

"My methods are faster and more effective. So what if he lives a cursed life? He's a Black-market peddler, the lowest of the low, almost. He denies us what we want! He has no right to do so. Punishment is in order."

Nebula swiftly moved out of the shadows to the man. Suddenly she was pushed back by an invisible force. Looking down, she had almost entered into the Dark Ring, a ring of the victim's blood bound by incantations around Mr. Moraius and the candle.

"You could've at least just 'crucio-ed' him! But THIS! Binding his. Vashti why do you always have to use ancient magic and primeval rites?! You always end up killing vital people!"

"Because modern charms just don't have what it takes to satisfy me. I like to get more involved in torture sessions. Primitive magic, as you know, is more complicated, but more powerful than wand-waving. It involves greater forces than mere magical material. It evokes more deadly -"

"Vashti release him!" "NOT until we get what we want. I will sit here all evening shouting random curses at him without lifting a finger until he cracks. There is a reason why he will not give us the stone. It's not good. I want to know why." She was becoming irritated.

"Then at least let me deal with him. My methods are less bloody." She declared.

"So be it. Well go on then, ask him what you want."

Nebula walked over to him. She knew there was little time to spare. She knelt on the floor and pricked her finger for a droplet of purple blood. Then she closed her eyes and placed her finger on the circle, hence controlling its power.. "Speak! Why can't we have the Diamantez tonight?"

The man stood defiant now he knew pain was coming. "Curse you! You cannot know! You are all damned anyway!"

Well, as the saying goes, sometimes 'you have to be cruel to be kind'. "Incendere Algu." An icy beam shot out from the tip of the candle circled by a spiral of flames and struck the man's chest. He began to shake violently, then his eyes widened as he screamed. The spell meant 'to burn with cold'. The smell of roasting flesh was spreading. To stop the curse all she had to do was will it to stop, which she did. She sensed he was a weak one anyway. This would not take long.

"Answer me! Now!"

"Night.cursed.bad portent.red moon.end of the world." Sardis muttered in gasps.

"Is that all? Yes? Sardis I am very disappointed in you. After all this time I thought you would have known better than to meddle in affairs that are not yours, or to your benefit. You must be punished." She paused meaningfully. "How old are you? None of my business?! Oh 47. You won't need that then. Women wouldn't touch you with a 9ft broom anyway." He knew exactly what she meant. His screams of horror at that statement could probably be heard in Diagon Alley.

"No you can have it! Take everything! It is cursed that stone, many have died trying to get it as far as me. Please! Look I'll give you a discount! 50%! OK Ok.FREE then just don't do it, please don't, Mother of Mercy!" He cracked. Terrible. 99% of men have that weakness.

"Why, Sardis! We didn't realize you had such an affiliation with 'Morius 'Jnr.''" Both women cackled cruelly. "Give us the Diamantez crystal." A small leather pouch fell to the floor beside her. Vashti opened it and revealed a tiny colourless jewel like diamond. She then placed it on the Dark Ring and under Nebula's cut finger. It glowed like amethyst. "It's true. Morius, try something like this again, and I will not forget my promise." That was a voice not to be reckoned with.

"Somnifer. Alapa."

The man flew backwards out of the Ring as if slapped hard across the face. The candle extinguished. The body hit the boards unconscious. Both women descended the dark stairs. Proserpine awaited them. "Is he.dead?" The witch inquired solemnly.

"No, not yet."

"Oh no! Ven he comes down he vill kill me vor sure. He always takes zese sings out on me.vot am I to do.Could you kill him for me? Please?" She pleaded. Vashti just laughed. Her gaze was unsettling, despite the fact that she hadn't seen her arrive. The eldest witch began to fidget.

"Willingly we would, but not tonight. Just give him some kind of potion. He'll be out for a while. Tell me," Nebula inquired "to whom are you selling those tarantulae?"

"To a teacher of Hogwarts. Severus Snape, I believe. Why?" If Nebula had been eating she would have choked.

"Him? A private collector? Really?"

"Yes, he has strange taste. Vot he dislikes, he prefers to see nailed on display than have it alive and happy. Especially vampires and verevolfs. He comes in here often to buy new books and see my stock." Now both women gaped.

Suddenly Nebula demanded "Let me buy them. Now. Give him some excuse, like they ate something that disagreed with them and it killed them."

"No, I cannot. No."

"Look, I don't care how they come to be bound to you. Tell me, what will you have for them?" The witch's shock was great. This woman knew about the bond.

"I.I don't know. For 50 galleons I sold both. I suppose I could give you one at the most, because I like you."

"I will take it. I will collect it in the next few days, and you will unbind them. I absolve them from their debt to you. 30 galleons." Nebula sprinkled gold coins on the counter. "I'll take the blue and green one."

"Very vell. But vot if he suspects?"

"Then you may tell him the truth. He won't be pleased but he can take that up with me, Miss Zirconia. Good night." The older woman gasped and hobbled out of their way as they proceeded to the door. She had already heard of this evening's events.

***What's so special about the spiders? Yes, I'm saving one of them from a horrible death. Or is it Sardis I am to watch? That I doubt. So, so far I am to recover that damned orb, something about spiders and, I really don't know. Sometimes I think I'm actually intelligent, then this sort of thing happens and I realize that I'm clueless. Uh oh.*** A strange force was pulling her back. It was over. The cold swirling of darkness invaded her vision. Cities and forests passed. Then it all stopped. Serenity in the silence took over. No more thoughts, just stillness.

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The next morning, Nebula woke to the sound of tea being poured. She forced her sleepy eyes open to see a house elf by her bedside table with breakfast.

"Will madam take breakfast this morning? Madam looks flushed this morning if she don't mind me saying so. Perhaps a fever?"

"No I'm fine thank you and yes I'll have breakfast. Please leave." The elf left the tray by the table and disappeared. After that she crawled out of bed, got washed dreamily and ate it, while throwing on different outfits to see if they suited her mood today.

"The dark blue dress is lovely. It would match you perfectly. You must wear the hat with it though; I think it's rather exquisite." Someone's opinion sprang from the large, overstuffed sofa by the flaming fireplace.

"I'm going to be teaching children today, not flirting about with men. It's far too low cut and that hat wouldn't fit through a doorway anyway. But perhaps tonight at dinner I could - what? Go look in the mirror? What do you mean I-." Suddenly she cut off and sped into the bathroom. A scream was heard. Eventually a horrified and very frustrated woman appeared in the doorway.

"What.have.you.done?" Nebula seethed. She was livid. And her face was an unmistakable shade of blue. And her eyes were red. Blood red.

"Me? What did I do to deserve immediate accusation? I am innocent until proven guilty." After the look that her granddaughter gave her, she decided she had to change tactics. "All I did was scrape your crushed remains off the stairs at the base of the astronomy tower, to put it nicely, TWO nights ago. You've been sleeping ever since. I noticed at the time you seemed rather 'out of it' after I supposed you swan dived from the top of the tower. I don't know what went wrong, but it seems there must be, well, side effects that we were unaware of. Anyway, if I hadn't arrived, you would probably be at the mercy of that nurse-maid, Pomfrey. You know what she would do to you. To us. She cannot be trusted." Vashti then excused her mental state momentarily as the other woman lost control and demolished the room in her unstableness. After a good few swigs of quality firewhiskey, however, she seemed to be less violent.

Once the situation had diffused, Vashti explained how she had covered for her and told the elves she was feeling slightly feverish - the one and only medical word they now knew. This kept nosy people at bay for a while. Then they discussed what to do about Nebula's new skin pigment problem. Neither could figure it out; this had never happened before. Eventually they decided that an illusion or concealment charm would be best for now. Of course these charms weren't permanent so it would best if she limited her social contact to a minimum until she was cured. If she was cured. They also noted that under no circumstances would they willingly go to any member of the staff for help. They 'wouldn't understand'.

Then they got onto the interesting topic of what Vashti was doing last night to have found Nebula outside, and how come she was the one to find her in the first place..