Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Chapter 22
The secret is out.
"I wasn't sure until recently. I wanted to make sure I had all my facts right and that I wasn't completely wrong." Hermione elucidated.
"Hermione," Ron sighed. "I can't remember one time in all the years I've known you that you didn't have all your facts or weren't right. A bit annoying really." He was greeted with a slap upside the head. "Ow!"
"As I was saying, I've done a lot of reading on the subject and certain things are matching up." She paused. "You remember one of our first History of Magic lessons," she waited for their nods. "Professor Binns talked about myth in which there was a set of quadruplets. Four sisters, witches, that when at Hogwarts were each in a different house. It was said that they had the powers of the four elements. Earth, air, water, and fire. They are born every 150 years. They last set was born exactly 150 years from Cleo, Mêlée, Curania, and A'lira's birthday."
"Hermione, it could just be coincidence." Harry reasoned.
"I don't think so. You remember, those Death Eaters at Hogsmeade.they caught on fire. Then a rainstorm started in the Slytherin common room flooding it with water. Pansy and Millicent were choking, not getting any air into their lungs. And the earth tried to open up underneath Professor Snape." She could see her explanations were sinking in. "I've also read that as far back as records go, the sisters have had red hair. Those four on the portrait that guards these rooms, they were the last Elementals, I'm sure!"
"So what if they are. Why is it such a huge deal?" Ron exclaimed, clearly bored with the entire conversation.
"That's the part of the story that isn't so pretty, Ron." Hermione answered solemnly. "According to everything I have read, the Slytherin sister, the one that controlled water, was never able to get complete control over her power. In each time, the current Dark Lord and threat to the wizarding world was able to seduce that sister to his side. She abandoned her sisters and the good wizarding world for more power and the promise of control. In the last time, especially, it was really bad. The girls met during the last battle between the evil Dark Lord and his followers and the rest of the wizarding world. While the regular forces were defeating the Dark Lord, the three girls still loyal to the Ministry fought with their turncoat sister. They managed to succeed but in turn they themselves died as well."
Hermione finished her story and looked at the surprised faces of Harry and Ron. "You see, Ron, that is why this is so important."
"Merlin! Hermione, what are we supposed to do? Tell everyone?" Ron asked.
"No, Ron, that would be the worst thing to do." Harry answered. "I can relate. I would not inflict the same pain on them."
"What are you talking about, Harry?" Ron asked, clearly confused.
"Ron, to have a power, a ability that everyone else doesn't have is often seen as a threat. And the history behind the former Elementals, the ministry will try to dispose of them before Mêlée can become a threat or Voldemort can use them for his own purposes. So let's keep this quiet and maybe try and help them in any way we can." Harry explained.
"I concur." Hermione agreed.
"I guess you are right. But what can we do to help them?" Ron asked.
"Maybe just offer them a sounding board." Harry suggested. "Someone they can talk to."
"And anything that might come up." Hermione agreed. "Lets go. Ron, I am going to quiz you for your transfiguration N.E.W.T.s, you have no choice in the matter." With that the three of them left and headed up to the Gryffindor common room.
~****~****~****~
While Hermione was sharing her new information with Ron and Harry, Cleo, with Fawkes on her shoulder, Mêlée, Curania, and A'lira headed for the Charms classroom to find Professor Flitwick. They expertly navigated the halls without running into many people before they met a group of people that they truly wished they'd never seen right as they turned down the hall that the classroom was located.
Draco Malfoy and his two henchmen, Crabbe and Goyle, were walking towards them with menacing smiles on their faces. They stopped just short of where the girls had also stopped.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Draco taunted. "Four little girls and a bright red bird." Crabbe and Goyle laughed with Malfoy.
"I'd watch my hide if I were you, Malfoy." Mêlée smiled sweetly.
"Yeah, who knows what might happen." Cleo laughed.
"How did that nose heal, Draco dear?" Mêlée smiled.
Draco turned a bright red. "I watch your backside as well, Blacks. You never know what might hit it." With that he and Crabbe and Goyle pushed past them and turned down another hallway.
"Well, that was cheerful." A'lira said sarcastically.
"He's just a spoiled little rich kid who depends on daddy and daddy's money to get him out of everything. I mean can you imagine him, a Death Eater, he'll get himself killed the first day." Cleo laughed along with her sisters.
They walked into the Charms classroom. Professor Flitwick was racing around the room looking through books and grading papers written by some first and second years. He looked up from his current task as they walked closer to where he sat.
"Ah, good. You got wind of my wanting to see you four." He greeted. "Ah, Miss Black, I see you have acquired a friend, good, very good." He rambled.
"What did you want to see us about, Professor?" Curania asked.
"Well, two things actually." He began suddenly serious. "First of all." He flicked his wand at the door and it shut softly at his command. "First thing I want to tell you was that Professor Jason Cameron told me to let you know he wants to have lessons more often. He feels a great evil event is coming soon and he wants you four to be prepared. Professor Snape has agreed that there is nothing you can do in class for the next three weeks so you with have lessons with Jason during the times you would have had Potions. Since you have Charms at the same time but on different days you will have lessons at that time as well." Flitwick finished in what seemed one breath. "The second thing is much more serious. It concerns the." he reached down onto his desk and picked up a glass of pumpkin juice and took a couple of sips.
"Hem," he cleared his thought. "It concerns the Christmas decorations this year. No one seems to ever be satisfied with what I do. This year to make up for the classes you will be missing, you four will be in charge of most of the decorating. Is that alright?" The four girls were hesitant at first but soon all four of them nodded their heads.
"Oh, one more thing." Flitwick said, looking as if a light bulb suspended over his head suddenly turned on. "Jason also said he would like to talk to you sometime today. You might want to head down there soon." He waved them away. "Good day."
The girls left and reluctantly headed down to Dungeon 4 to see what Jason wanted to talk to them about. They wandered the halls and finally reached the Dungeon. They took a deep breath before opening the door and entering the cold, dank dungeon. It seemed completely empty. They stood there for a few minutes before Cleo waved her hand at the empty fireplace and a warm fire sprung to life in the dark depths.
"Thanks." Her sisters said at once.
"Very good." Jason's voice came from behind them. They turned to face him.
"You wanted to see us, sir." A'lira said.
"Actually, I believe you have a few questions for me." He gave them a wolfish smile.
"Well, yes." Cleo answered. "Like this." She pointed to Fawkes on her shoulder. "Why has he suddenly taken a liking to me?"
"Fawkes is a Phoenix and therefore attracted to things with capabilities with fire because of it's own origins in fire, Cleo." Jason answered walking around the group of girls to his normal chair in front of the fireplace.
"So that is why all the animals are acting so weird. It is because of us." Curania acknowledged.
"You're right, Curania." Rosalind's voice came from one corner of the room. She seemed to fade into being as she walked closer, her invisibility wearing off. "The owls are naturally connected with the element of air, the squid with water, Fawkes with fire, and Yfandles with the Earth."
"Exactly. They can feel your power and are not used to it. It will not be like this for much longer. As you grow stronger and more confident with your abilities they will settle back into their normal balances. But don't worry they will not do anything to harm themselves either."
"Professor Flitwick told us that you wanted to see us nearly every morning for lessons?" A'lira asked.
"Yes, I feel something coming you four must be ready. So I am stepping up or lessons." Jason explained. "You will be here every morning at the exact time that you would have formerly been in Potions or Charms, is that understood." He asked.
"Yes, sir." The girls answered.
"Then go I will see you tomorrow." Jason dismissed. Rosalind gave them a small smile as they left the dungeon. They made their way back up to the Great Hall quickly because; they realized as they passed one of the large clocks on the wall, supper would be served soon.
Chapter 22
The secret is out.
"I wasn't sure until recently. I wanted to make sure I had all my facts right and that I wasn't completely wrong." Hermione elucidated.
"Hermione," Ron sighed. "I can't remember one time in all the years I've known you that you didn't have all your facts or weren't right. A bit annoying really." He was greeted with a slap upside the head. "Ow!"
"As I was saying, I've done a lot of reading on the subject and certain things are matching up." She paused. "You remember one of our first History of Magic lessons," she waited for their nods. "Professor Binns talked about myth in which there was a set of quadruplets. Four sisters, witches, that when at Hogwarts were each in a different house. It was said that they had the powers of the four elements. Earth, air, water, and fire. They are born every 150 years. They last set was born exactly 150 years from Cleo, Mêlée, Curania, and A'lira's birthday."
"Hermione, it could just be coincidence." Harry reasoned.
"I don't think so. You remember, those Death Eaters at Hogsmeade.they caught on fire. Then a rainstorm started in the Slytherin common room flooding it with water. Pansy and Millicent were choking, not getting any air into their lungs. And the earth tried to open up underneath Professor Snape." She could see her explanations were sinking in. "I've also read that as far back as records go, the sisters have had red hair. Those four on the portrait that guards these rooms, they were the last Elementals, I'm sure!"
"So what if they are. Why is it such a huge deal?" Ron exclaimed, clearly bored with the entire conversation.
"That's the part of the story that isn't so pretty, Ron." Hermione answered solemnly. "According to everything I have read, the Slytherin sister, the one that controlled water, was never able to get complete control over her power. In each time, the current Dark Lord and threat to the wizarding world was able to seduce that sister to his side. She abandoned her sisters and the good wizarding world for more power and the promise of control. In the last time, especially, it was really bad. The girls met during the last battle between the evil Dark Lord and his followers and the rest of the wizarding world. While the regular forces were defeating the Dark Lord, the three girls still loyal to the Ministry fought with their turncoat sister. They managed to succeed but in turn they themselves died as well."
Hermione finished her story and looked at the surprised faces of Harry and Ron. "You see, Ron, that is why this is so important."
"Merlin! Hermione, what are we supposed to do? Tell everyone?" Ron asked.
"No, Ron, that would be the worst thing to do." Harry answered. "I can relate. I would not inflict the same pain on them."
"What are you talking about, Harry?" Ron asked, clearly confused.
"Ron, to have a power, a ability that everyone else doesn't have is often seen as a threat. And the history behind the former Elementals, the ministry will try to dispose of them before Mêlée can become a threat or Voldemort can use them for his own purposes. So let's keep this quiet and maybe try and help them in any way we can." Harry explained.
"I concur." Hermione agreed.
"I guess you are right. But what can we do to help them?" Ron asked.
"Maybe just offer them a sounding board." Harry suggested. "Someone they can talk to."
"And anything that might come up." Hermione agreed. "Lets go. Ron, I am going to quiz you for your transfiguration N.E.W.T.s, you have no choice in the matter." With that the three of them left and headed up to the Gryffindor common room.
~****~****~****~
While Hermione was sharing her new information with Ron and Harry, Cleo, with Fawkes on her shoulder, Mêlée, Curania, and A'lira headed for the Charms classroom to find Professor Flitwick. They expertly navigated the halls without running into many people before they met a group of people that they truly wished they'd never seen right as they turned down the hall that the classroom was located.
Draco Malfoy and his two henchmen, Crabbe and Goyle, were walking towards them with menacing smiles on their faces. They stopped just short of where the girls had also stopped.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Draco taunted. "Four little girls and a bright red bird." Crabbe and Goyle laughed with Malfoy.
"I'd watch my hide if I were you, Malfoy." Mêlée smiled sweetly.
"Yeah, who knows what might happen." Cleo laughed.
"How did that nose heal, Draco dear?" Mêlée smiled.
Draco turned a bright red. "I watch your backside as well, Blacks. You never know what might hit it." With that he and Crabbe and Goyle pushed past them and turned down another hallway.
"Well, that was cheerful." A'lira said sarcastically.
"He's just a spoiled little rich kid who depends on daddy and daddy's money to get him out of everything. I mean can you imagine him, a Death Eater, he'll get himself killed the first day." Cleo laughed along with her sisters.
They walked into the Charms classroom. Professor Flitwick was racing around the room looking through books and grading papers written by some first and second years. He looked up from his current task as they walked closer to where he sat.
"Ah, good. You got wind of my wanting to see you four." He greeted. "Ah, Miss Black, I see you have acquired a friend, good, very good." He rambled.
"What did you want to see us about, Professor?" Curania asked.
"Well, two things actually." He began suddenly serious. "First of all." He flicked his wand at the door and it shut softly at his command. "First thing I want to tell you was that Professor Jason Cameron told me to let you know he wants to have lessons more often. He feels a great evil event is coming soon and he wants you four to be prepared. Professor Snape has agreed that there is nothing you can do in class for the next three weeks so you with have lessons with Jason during the times you would have had Potions. Since you have Charms at the same time but on different days you will have lessons at that time as well." Flitwick finished in what seemed one breath. "The second thing is much more serious. It concerns the." he reached down onto his desk and picked up a glass of pumpkin juice and took a couple of sips.
"Hem," he cleared his thought. "It concerns the Christmas decorations this year. No one seems to ever be satisfied with what I do. This year to make up for the classes you will be missing, you four will be in charge of most of the decorating. Is that alright?" The four girls were hesitant at first but soon all four of them nodded their heads.
"Oh, one more thing." Flitwick said, looking as if a light bulb suspended over his head suddenly turned on. "Jason also said he would like to talk to you sometime today. You might want to head down there soon." He waved them away. "Good day."
The girls left and reluctantly headed down to Dungeon 4 to see what Jason wanted to talk to them about. They wandered the halls and finally reached the Dungeon. They took a deep breath before opening the door and entering the cold, dank dungeon. It seemed completely empty. They stood there for a few minutes before Cleo waved her hand at the empty fireplace and a warm fire sprung to life in the dark depths.
"Thanks." Her sisters said at once.
"Very good." Jason's voice came from behind them. They turned to face him.
"You wanted to see us, sir." A'lira said.
"Actually, I believe you have a few questions for me." He gave them a wolfish smile.
"Well, yes." Cleo answered. "Like this." She pointed to Fawkes on her shoulder. "Why has he suddenly taken a liking to me?"
"Fawkes is a Phoenix and therefore attracted to things with capabilities with fire because of it's own origins in fire, Cleo." Jason answered walking around the group of girls to his normal chair in front of the fireplace.
"So that is why all the animals are acting so weird. It is because of us." Curania acknowledged.
"You're right, Curania." Rosalind's voice came from one corner of the room. She seemed to fade into being as she walked closer, her invisibility wearing off. "The owls are naturally connected with the element of air, the squid with water, Fawkes with fire, and Yfandles with the Earth."
"Exactly. They can feel your power and are not used to it. It will not be like this for much longer. As you grow stronger and more confident with your abilities they will settle back into their normal balances. But don't worry they will not do anything to harm themselves either."
"Professor Flitwick told us that you wanted to see us nearly every morning for lessons?" A'lira asked.
"Yes, I feel something coming you four must be ready. So I am stepping up or lessons." Jason explained. "You will be here every morning at the exact time that you would have formerly been in Potions or Charms, is that understood." He asked.
"Yes, sir." The girls answered.
"Then go I will see you tomorrow." Jason dismissed. Rosalind gave them a small smile as they left the dungeon. They made their way back up to the Great Hall quickly because; they realized as they passed one of the large clocks on the wall, supper would be served soon.