Keebler-Elmo: Of course I know what I'm doing. It's my fanfic after all :)
It'll make sense soon. Don't worry.
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Harry Potter and The True Heir of Slytherin: Chapter Thirteen
"A Harrowing Turn of Events"
The morning after Dumbledore had made the big announcement, the castle was full of sad and confused faces. "It''s because of Siren," everyone was whispering throughout the school. "They''ll probably send her off to Azkaban or something."
"So much for the Yule Ball," the Hufflepuff prefect was telling her friends. "The staff was just about to announce it, too."
"It''s all Siren''s fault," Harry heard a few younger Gryffindors say as they were packing their things. "We have to go home because she''s gone evil."
It ached Harry to hear everyone saying so many bad thing about Siren. "If they only knew the truth," he said to Ron as he was getting his school things in order.
"So tell them," Ron replied, sitting t the edge of his bed. "Tell them the truth."
"You heard Dumbledore," Harry sighed. "Even he isn''t allowed to say anything about it yet."
Harry's conversation with Hermione was quite different. He, Hermione, and Krum were all packed and were sitting comfortably in the common room.
"Best not say anything about Siren, Harry," Hermione told him. "The last thing you need is to get into trouble with the Ministry of Magic. Besides, it would frighten the other students, I''m sure."
"But is Siren alvright?" Krum asked, his voice hinting a tone of sincere concern.
"She looks it," Harry answered.
"I vant to see her before ve leave," Krum added. Hermione's eyes flared as she tried to hide her jealousy. Harry didn't blame her, though. Krum had been talking a lot about Siren ever since the quidditch game.
"Maybe we shouldn't see her just yet," Hermione said to him, trying to remain calm. "I mean .. who knows what's become of her. Harry said that she was quite hysterical in the hospital wing-"
"After vot happened, I don't blame her," Krum replied rather defensively. "She needs some friends vright now, I think."
Harry had to admit that Krum was right.
"I'll be right back," Harry said, standing up to leave the common room.
"Where are you going?" Hermione called after him.
"To find Sirius," Harry lied. He was actually going to find Siren, but he didn't want Hermione of Krum to know because they would want to go with him. He had to see her alone, though. He had so many questions for her, most of which he wasn't even sure if she knew the answers to. He needed to find out more about Andreala. Hopefully Siren would tell him what he needed to know to stay safe.
Harry left the common room and made his way for the Dark Arts room, hoping Siren would be there. He finally got there, and noticed that the door was slightly open. Harry peaked in and saw Siren sitting at the front desk, reading a letter. She was wearing robes of shimmery white, lined with silver silk down the center. Beneath she wore a long white dress. Her hair was all let down and wavy. All that was missing was a halo, Harry thought.
Just as Harry was about to enter the room, he heard someone coming. Not wanting to be seen where he wasn't supposed to be, Harry hid behind a statue of armor and waited quietly. He saw Snape walking very slowly towards Siren's classroom. He looked thin and pale, Harry noticed, just like the day when he, Ron, and Hermione had seen him in Knockturn Alley before school had started. Snape was carrying a letter, already opened. He stopped outside of Siren's classroom, looking rather hesitant. Harry wondered as to why Snape was acting so different Snape had always been swift and hasty, but now, for some reason, he was slow and seemed afraid. Harry watched as Snape finally knocked on the door. Siren turned her head and smiled, saying, "Good morning Severus." Snape walked in, taking a deep breath as he did so. Siren must have noticed his strange behaviour, too, because she curved her eyebrows and asked, "What''s wrong? You look half dead."
Snape, now, wasn't slow to reply. Being back to his hasty self, he quickly answered, "Siren, there's been an accident." He walked a bit closer to her. Siren put down the letter she had been reading and stood up.
"What's happened?" she asked, her expression showing that she was obviously worried.
"It appears that your grandfather knows I have been spying on him for the Headmaster," Snape solemnly replied.
"What?" Siren gasped, "How?"
Snape handed her the letter he held in his hand, and answered, "He sent this to me during the middle of the night. It explains everything."
"He sent it to you?" Siren asked curiously, "I thought that Hogwarts had some sort of security against owls sent by Dark Wizards."
"Apparently not," Snape replied dully, "though I believe that it may be due to the fact that he has switched location. The security only prevents unwanted owls sent from a specific location from coming through the post. Now that the Dark Lord has moved back into the Slytherin Castle, there aren't any restrictions against his messages from being sent to Hogwarts."
"Time to update our security preferences then, I'd say," Siren added. She read the letter aloud, as though to verify that she was indeed reading every word of it. "Severus," she read out, "It has come to my attention that your loyalties to me are false. Long have I been suspicious of your treason, hitherto have I found evidence to support my worries. I'll have you know that, as a precaution, all information you have received from me in the past three months has been false, thus your efforts have been in vain. Do not bother asking anyone, even Siren, for the true answers, which I'm sure she may yet know. She shall not give it. Everything she knows will remain a secret from the Ministry, or anyone working for them. She shall remain silent, lest she should thus sentence Raven and yourself to death ." Siren paused at this, but continued, "Regardless of whether or not she does so, it would be wise to watch your back. You weren't the only death eater residing at Hogwarts. Sincerely, Lord Voldemort"
A long pause followed this. Siren looked as though she was re-reading the letter to herself over and over again. Snape watched her as though waiting for a response. Finally, Siren folded up the letter and placed it on her desk.
"Well," Siren sighed, "Maybe it's a fake." "It's authentic," Snape replied, "and even if it wasn't, I would not take the chance of denying it's authenticity."
"I agree," she said. "Though I believe his threat of having another minion of his at Hogwarts is a bluff. If there were another, one of us would know. He's only trying to psych us out."
She walked over to Snape, and took a hold of his left hand.
"Don't be afraid," she said, "I won't tell anyone. I'm not going to let you be killed."
Siren paused, and looked directly into Snape's eyes. "I've never told you this," she continued in her naturally angelic voice, and Harry could hear a sweet singing in his head, "but you've always been like a father to me. If Voldemort wants to kill you, he'll have to go through me first."
"Don't be ridiculous," Snape replied. He put his free hand on her shoulder, and looked at her with gentle eyes. Harry had never seen Snape act so sincere...ever. "You'll have to tell the Ministry what you know," he continued. "Your mother and I risk our lives by merely living. Telling the Ministry any credible information will only make matters better. The more we know, the sooner we'll be able to stop the Death Eaters. No matter what you say, the mortality of your mother and I shall ever remain the same."
Siren nodded her head. "Speaking of which," she said, slightly smiling and whisking off to her desk. She picked up the initial letter that she had been reading and handed it to Snape. "Mum's supposed to arrive at Hogwarts today," she said.
"About time," Snape replied monotonously, reading the letter. "Wasn't she supposed to be here a few days ago?"
"Who knows," Siren laughed. "She's always changing her mind about things. And you can always trust my mother to be late, so don't be surprised if she doesn't show up today either."
For some unknown reason, Harry felt that the last comment seemed rather haunting. He watched on as Snape and Siren continued to talk. He listened as they agreed to tell Dumbledore about the letter as soon as the students left that afternoon. Snape eventually said farewell to Siren, leaving her alone in her classroom. Harry decided that if he was going to talk to her alone, now would be the time. He quietly made his way out into the open of the hallway. As he walked to the classroom, however, something went horribly wrong. His robes had gotten snagged on the armored statue's shoulder plate, and the entire thing came crashing to the ground.
"Peeves?" Siren called out. "Is that you? Please don't tell me you've broken another one of my antique chairs..."
Harry watched as Siren walked out into the hallway. She stopped abruptly as soon as she saw Harry. "Harry," she said, looking at the suit of armor laying on the floor. "Are you alright?"
"Uh, yeah," Harry answered, embarrassed and feeling his cheeks turn red, "but I can''t speak for the fallen knight."
Siren laughed, and, with the wave of her hand, the armor magically reassembled itself, standing upright against the wall.
"Cool," Harry said, staring at the armor in awe. He peeled his eyes away from it and looked at Siren. She looked absolutely heavenly to him.
"Sirius has been looking for you," Siren said, as though just remembering it. "Has he found you yet?"
Harry shook his head no.
"In that case," Siren continued, leading Harry into her classroom. "He wants to tell you not to pack your things. You and he are going to stay at Hogwarts until things cool down." "Cool down?" Harry repeated. "But isn't it a little dangerous to say here with .. well .. you?" Harry was trying his very hardest not to be rude when he said this, but it seemed to come out that way, regardless.
"Um, well," Siren replied uneasily, a little shocked at Harry's blunt remark, "I guess so. But it'd be safer than anywhere else. Especially for you."
"What do you mean by that?" Harry asked, once again in an unwillingly rude tone. "I don't have to be protected, you know. I've faced Voldemort before."
"I know that," Siren shot back. "I merely meant that, well ... you'll have lesser chance of running into him here, that's all. And even if you do, you'd be safer."
"To be honest, I'm not even worried about him," Harry admitted. He walked toward the window on the far east side of the room. Siren followed. "It's Andreala that I'm worried about," Harry added.
"Me too," Siren replied quietly.
Harry looked out the window. It was a windy day, and the clouds were thick and grey. There were mountains in the distance, and beyond them, Harry saw a vision of a tall, dark, looming castle, casting it's hellish black shadow over him, clouding his vision and poisoning his very soul with some unexpected sense of dread. Harry shook his head and closed his eyes. He re-opened them to find that the castle was gone. He gulped and turned to Siren. The dark feeling within him vanished as he looked upon her; the enchantress, working her charms in ways that Harry couldn't even begin to comprehend. Then he looked into hey eyes. For the first time he noticed how very green they were - even more so than his own. He remembered looking at Andreala - she had grey eyes, cold and unwelcome. Snape must have noted the difference during the quidditch match, thus being able to conclude that it was no Siren on the field. Harry continued to look into her eyes, but as he did, he saw Voldemort staring right back at him. She had his eyes, exactly, or what they were, at least, when he was still in his youth. Startled, Harry turned away from her.
"Are you alright?" She asked him gently. Harry could hear her feet silently stepping closer to him, and once again, he heard a song of enchantment. He hadn't expected to hear Siren's song just then, and it nearly startled him. But he listened to it, and was comforted. Her song seemed to give him hope.
"Yeah," Harry replied, "I was just thinking about your grandad. There's so much about him that I still don't understand."
"Then ask," Siren replied, leaning against the wall on the other side of the window, her glowing radiance filling the air between her and Harry. Harry had too many questions to choose from. He looked outside again, trying to see the castle, but without success. Siren must have taken the hint.
"His castle - Salazar's castle, I should say - is just past those mountains. He moved there over the summer. The Ministry tried to stop him, but it was too late. His defenses are already lining the perimeter of the property."
"Death Eaters?" Harry asked with a laugh. "Then let''s go. They shouldn't be too difficult to get by."
"Actually," Siren replied, "they're not just Death Eaters. Dementors, trolls, dragons, giants...you name it. They're all there, watching, waiting. They protect the Death Eaters. The Death Eaters protect the castle, and the castle protects the Dark Lord within." She cast her head down, as if not wanting to think about it. "And even if one should penetrate the castle, it'd be a hopeless battle, and one fought in vain. He can't die this time."
"What?" Harry exclaimed. "Why not?"
"He has the Yfel," Siren answered with a sorrowful sigh.
Harry still had not even the slightest hint of a clue as to what an Yfel was. He decided to ask. "Um Siren, about that Yfel-" "Yes?"
"Well..what is it, exactly?" Harry felt like a fool for asking. It was probably something simple that every witch of wizard knew about.
"Sirius hasn't told you yet?" Siren asked curiously.
"Er, no," Harry replied hesitantly.
"I was going to do a few Dark Arts lessons on it after the holidays," she sighed. "It's a shame that I no longer can. It was a good lesson. I even have pictures of it." She paused. "Do you want to see them?" she asked Harry, her face lighting up with anticipation.
"Well, alright." Harry still didn't know what it was. Hopefully the pictures would help him to understand better. Siren led Harry back to her desk. She opened one of the drawers and ruffled through some papers. She finally pulled out an envelope.
"I took these with an ordinary muggle camera," she said, taking the pictures out of the envelope. She handed the photos to Harry. They were Polaroids, and Harry noted that they were each labeled. He looked at the first one and literally gasped. It was a picture of a necklace. It seemed to be more than just that, however. It almost looked like a star. It was beautiful, but that wasn't what made it breathtaking. It seemed as though it were itself some sort of enchantment. It looked and felt powerful. Almost as though it were an actual being, it seemed old and wise, yet all the same young and new.
Harry couldn't find any English word that could describe what he saw. The picture was labeled, ''March 3, 1995.''
"You took the picture this year?" Harry said, finally managing to speak.
"Yes," Siren replied. She looked at the picture with Harry, then added bitterly, "before the fools at the Ministry took the Yfel from me." She sighed. "That's when things started to go downhill." Harry looked at her, and noticed a look of loathing upon her beautiful face, one which he had never before seen. It was almost frightening, and it made him uncomfortable.
"How so?" he asked. "Other than Voldemort coming back, I mean."
Siren laughed in a manner which implied that she was caught up in a reverie full of stress, folly, and things so unbelievable as to be humourous. "Well," she replied, "like I said, the Ministry took the Yfel away from me. It was rightfully mine. It's an Heirloom of the Slytherin family. Anyways, Hunter had seen pictures and told his father about it. His father then told the Ministry, and the Ministry, being as greedy and ignorant as they are, decided that the Yfel would be better off in their possession. Now that my grandfather has gotten a hold of it, it makes sense. Hunter's father told the Ministry that I had it, knowing fully well that if the Ministry confiscated it, it would be easier for the Dark Lord to steal it upon his new arrival. The Ministry didn't care to think that it would have been safer with me, or my mother. Now that mistake shall be their undoing."
"How?" Harry asked, interrupting her. "I mean - what does the Yfel do?"
"Oh, sorry," Siren replied, snapping out of her nostalgic daze. "I guess I should have told you that before I started babbling." She took the top photo away from Harry and looked at it a bit. Harry looked at the other remaining in his hand and noticed that they all appeared to look the same as the first, only from different angles. Siren then pointed out the star- jewel in the center of the Yfel. "This," she said to him," is the heart of the Yfel. It contains all the necklace's power. The necklace was made by Salazar Slytherin for Andreala Durmstrang. As wicked and corrupt as those two were, they were madly in love - such a love that has not been duplicated for many years, if even at all. He gave it to her on the eve of their wedding in Southern Wales, I believe. He had spent countless months making it. Though proud was the heart and mind of Salazar, he also understood how hated he was. He knew that he had enemies all over the world. He did not fear them, however, though he did fear for Andreala's well-being because of them. Every day they lived was their possible last, but still Andreala cleaved to him. I guess you could say that she was naive as to what sort of danger she was actually in. Fearing for his lover's safety, Salazar dedicated himself to creating a vessel for immortality. This was before the discovery of the Elixir of Life, mind you, and it is still a mystery as to how Salazar accomplished what he did. He created the Yfel in a way so that its wearer would become invincible to any mortal wound, illness, or famine. Andreala was free from harm so long as she wore it, which is the main reason behind her infamous power. She was unstoppable."
"But she did die," Harry said, "right? I remember reading that she did."
"Yes, but it was during birth," Siren answered. "Andreala successfully gave birth to a daughter, Serena. But Andreala knew that Serena was born into a world and life of danger, so she put the Yfel around Serena's neck only minutes after she was born. Andreala didn't know that she was still bleeding, and as she placed the Yfel around Serena's neck, she began to feel weak, and she bled to death only a few seconds later. Salazar stayed by her dead body for days, or weeks even, unknowingly neglecting his daughter while under his spell of grief and despair. Coming eventually to his wits, he held Serena lovingly in his arms, and vowed to always protect her. He took Andreala's body to a store chamber within his castle and placed it upon a slab of stone adorned with white and green jewels. The light was lit with ever-burning candles, and he cast a spell on her to make her body preserved in its perfected state for the rest of time. Since then she's remained within the castle (though nobody knew it) until now. So it has been told to all of the heirs of Slytherin thus far."
"So...Voldemort brought her back, right?" Harry asked.
"As far as I know," Siren replied dimly, "but I fear that it may be worse than that."
"What do you mean?"
Siren looked at Harry intensely, as though trying to read his thoughts. "If I tell you," she replied warily, "you must promise not to tell anyone. Not your friends, not Sirius, and not Dumbledore."
Harry considered this for a moment, then nodded his head. "Okay," he replied, "I promise."
Siren smiled with relief and continued. "Over the summer, there have been times when I was under the Imperius Curse, care of my grandad. I don''t remember all that happened. I was under it the day that your relatives were killed, and I was afraid that I had unwillingly done it. The Daily Prophet had written that if Voldemort did do it, it would have had to have been with the help of a very powerful witch or wizard.. I was relieved when Snape told me that it wasn't me who helped him. Nobody knew who it was, though."
"How did Snape know it wasn't you?" Harry asked.
"He said that I was with him and the death eaters that entire day," Siren replied, "with him and Lucius Malfoy mostly. Apparently we were discussing possible plans of actions against you, though I remember it not. But after hearing the news of that, and knowing that Andreala now lives, another of my Imperius blackouts makes sense. It was mid-June. I remember snapping out of the curse, and my grandfather seemed unusually joyful. He thanked me for my help, and then disappeared. That was before he killed your relatives. I can only assume that I somehow helped him to resurrect Andreala while under the Imperius Curse."
"Did he already have the Yfel at that point?" Harry asked.
"No," Siren replied. "He only obtained it recently, or so I've heard. If she hasn't already, though, I'll warrant that Andreala will try to take it from him."
Harry said no more. He looked at the pictures again. As he looked through them, he heard a clock chiming. It was already eleven o'clock. The train would be leaving soon.
"I have to go," Harry said to her, "before the train leaves. I want to say goodbye to Ron and Hermione."
Siren looked at the small clock on her desk. "I should go, too," she added. "Hunter will be leaving as well."
Harry, who was turning around to go, stopped suddenly. "But - why would you want to say goodbye to him? After all he's done to you?"
Siren shrugged her shoulders. "I dunno," she replied. "I feel bad for him. His dad was just murdered. I want Hunter to know that he can still change." She put the photographs of the Yfel back into her desk drawer. "I've learned a lot over the summer, Harry. Abandonment nurtures the evil that comfort and care could have demolished. The future promises it, the present foretells it, and the past proves it. If everyone, including me, were to give up on Hunter, who knows what might happen. He might end up like his father, or worse."
"You certainly are merciful," Harry replied, looking at Siren with a new found awe.
"Well, mercy redeems the soul," Siren answered quietly. Harry wondered what she meant by it. She was speaking in riddles, as far as Harry could tell.
***
"Is she alvright?" Krum asked Harry after his return to the common room. Harry had told Krum, Hermione, and Ron that he had visited her, and that he was to stay at Hogwarts instead of going back to Sirius' castle.
"She's fine," Harry answered, "but she seems really down."
"I don't blame her," said Ron, who had finally gotten all of his things packed. "I mean, if my grandad was You-Know-Who, I don't think I'd ever be happy."
Harry glared at Ron, and Hermione hit his arm scornfully. Ron looked at Krum, and suddenly remembered that Krum, or anyone else, wasn't supposed to know about Siren and her family. Krum, however, laughed.
"Don't vorry," he said. "Siren told me about him a long time ago."
"Really?'' Hermione asked. "I didn't know that you two were that close."
"Yeah," said Harry. "I thought you just knew her from Durmstrang."
Krum blushed, only a little bit, and replied slowly, "Well...she vas my girlfriend until I met Hermione."
Hermione looked like she had just been slapped in the face. In a very dignified manner, she stood up, her head held high. "I have to get Crookshanks," she said, and stormed off to her private prefect room. Krum sighed and went after her.
"Well that was a surprise," Harry said after Hermione and Krum were up the stairs.
"Yeah," Ron chuckled, "he actually said Hermione's name right."
***
Harry had walked with Ron, Hermione, and Krum to the train station. They all said their goodbyes to Harry and got on the train. Harry watched as the train slowly chugged away, gaining speed and it trailed off into the distance. Harry turned to leave, and as he did, he saw Siren entering a gift shop that was placed along the station. She stayed inside for about half a minute, then came back out again, looking rather disappointed. Not noticing Harry, she walked back towards the school. Harry slowly followed her in the same direction. As he was walking, it began to snow - lightly at first, and then gradually the snowflakes became larger and fell more rapidly. Harry could barely see Siren in her white robes only 75 yards away from him. She seemed to mix in with the scenery. She walked with such grace that it seemed almost as though she wasn't walking at all, but rather floating along the ground. Before long, Harry could no longer see her amidst the dense snowfall.
Harry entered the castle through its majestic front doors, which was now being guarded by two tall men in dark black robes. Whether they were aurors or not, Harry wasn't sure. Harry was planning on returning to the Gryffindor common room, but his plans were put on hold as . Snape, who was about 20 feet behind Harry, called out to him.
"Potter," he said, and Harry turned around to face him. Snape walked briskly towards him, and added, "have you seen Siren?" Harry noted that Snape looked very grieved.
"Yeah," Harry replied dully, "last I saw she was walking back to the castle from the train station."
"If you see her again, tell her to come see me in my office immediately," Snape said darkly, "understand?"
"Yes, sir," Harry answered nonchalantly, and he continued on his way. As he turned around, however, there stood Siren, as though she had appeared out of thin air.
"Looking for me?" she asked Snape with a kind smile.
Harry, not wanting to look nosy, acknowledged Siren with a nod, and went on his way to the Gryffindor common room. He turned left at the next corner, and he could still hear Snape and Siren's voices. He decided to stop and listen in on their conversation, just in case it was about Voldemort.
"The clerk at the gift shop sad that my mother hasn't arrived yet," he heard Siren say.
"Siren," Snape sighed, "you mother will not be coming to Hogwarts."
There was a chilling silence. "Why not?" he heard Siren ask softly.
"Because," Snape replied slowly, "there's been an accident at the Ministry Headquarters... your mother's been killed."
____________________________________________________________________________ __ Awww *sniff* Man there's a lot of death in my story...lol. Meh *shrugs* More to come, too ;) I hope you liked it. I wanted to make it a bit darker than the other HP books, so please don't be shocked at some of the stuff that's to come. Please review :)
The next chapters might not be up for a while. I'm still working on writing chapter 16, and I have to type up chapters 14 and 15 on the computer. They should be uploaded in a couple days, hopefully.
-Summer :)
Harry Potter and The True Heir of Slytherin: Chapter Thirteen
"A Harrowing Turn of Events"
The morning after Dumbledore had made the big announcement, the castle was full of sad and confused faces. "It''s because of Siren," everyone was whispering throughout the school. "They''ll probably send her off to Azkaban or something."
"So much for the Yule Ball," the Hufflepuff prefect was telling her friends. "The staff was just about to announce it, too."
"It''s all Siren''s fault," Harry heard a few younger Gryffindors say as they were packing their things. "We have to go home because she''s gone evil."
It ached Harry to hear everyone saying so many bad thing about Siren. "If they only knew the truth," he said to Ron as he was getting his school things in order.
"So tell them," Ron replied, sitting t the edge of his bed. "Tell them the truth."
"You heard Dumbledore," Harry sighed. "Even he isn''t allowed to say anything about it yet."
Harry's conversation with Hermione was quite different. He, Hermione, and Krum were all packed and were sitting comfortably in the common room.
"Best not say anything about Siren, Harry," Hermione told him. "The last thing you need is to get into trouble with the Ministry of Magic. Besides, it would frighten the other students, I''m sure."
"But is Siren alvright?" Krum asked, his voice hinting a tone of sincere concern.
"She looks it," Harry answered.
"I vant to see her before ve leave," Krum added. Hermione's eyes flared as she tried to hide her jealousy. Harry didn't blame her, though. Krum had been talking a lot about Siren ever since the quidditch game.
"Maybe we shouldn't see her just yet," Hermione said to him, trying to remain calm. "I mean .. who knows what's become of her. Harry said that she was quite hysterical in the hospital wing-"
"After vot happened, I don't blame her," Krum replied rather defensively. "She needs some friends vright now, I think."
Harry had to admit that Krum was right.
"I'll be right back," Harry said, standing up to leave the common room.
"Where are you going?" Hermione called after him.
"To find Sirius," Harry lied. He was actually going to find Siren, but he didn't want Hermione of Krum to know because they would want to go with him. He had to see her alone, though. He had so many questions for her, most of which he wasn't even sure if she knew the answers to. He needed to find out more about Andreala. Hopefully Siren would tell him what he needed to know to stay safe.
Harry left the common room and made his way for the Dark Arts room, hoping Siren would be there. He finally got there, and noticed that the door was slightly open. Harry peaked in and saw Siren sitting at the front desk, reading a letter. She was wearing robes of shimmery white, lined with silver silk down the center. Beneath she wore a long white dress. Her hair was all let down and wavy. All that was missing was a halo, Harry thought.
Just as Harry was about to enter the room, he heard someone coming. Not wanting to be seen where he wasn't supposed to be, Harry hid behind a statue of armor and waited quietly. He saw Snape walking very slowly towards Siren's classroom. He looked thin and pale, Harry noticed, just like the day when he, Ron, and Hermione had seen him in Knockturn Alley before school had started. Snape was carrying a letter, already opened. He stopped outside of Siren's classroom, looking rather hesitant. Harry wondered as to why Snape was acting so different Snape had always been swift and hasty, but now, for some reason, he was slow and seemed afraid. Harry watched as Snape finally knocked on the door. Siren turned her head and smiled, saying, "Good morning Severus." Snape walked in, taking a deep breath as he did so. Siren must have noticed his strange behaviour, too, because she curved her eyebrows and asked, "What''s wrong? You look half dead."
Snape, now, wasn't slow to reply. Being back to his hasty self, he quickly answered, "Siren, there's been an accident." He walked a bit closer to her. Siren put down the letter she had been reading and stood up.
"What's happened?" she asked, her expression showing that she was obviously worried.
"It appears that your grandfather knows I have been spying on him for the Headmaster," Snape solemnly replied.
"What?" Siren gasped, "How?"
Snape handed her the letter he held in his hand, and answered, "He sent this to me during the middle of the night. It explains everything."
"He sent it to you?" Siren asked curiously, "I thought that Hogwarts had some sort of security against owls sent by Dark Wizards."
"Apparently not," Snape replied dully, "though I believe that it may be due to the fact that he has switched location. The security only prevents unwanted owls sent from a specific location from coming through the post. Now that the Dark Lord has moved back into the Slytherin Castle, there aren't any restrictions against his messages from being sent to Hogwarts."
"Time to update our security preferences then, I'd say," Siren added. She read the letter aloud, as though to verify that she was indeed reading every word of it. "Severus," she read out, "It has come to my attention that your loyalties to me are false. Long have I been suspicious of your treason, hitherto have I found evidence to support my worries. I'll have you know that, as a precaution, all information you have received from me in the past three months has been false, thus your efforts have been in vain. Do not bother asking anyone, even Siren, for the true answers, which I'm sure she may yet know. She shall not give it. Everything she knows will remain a secret from the Ministry, or anyone working for them. She shall remain silent, lest she should thus sentence Raven and yourself to death ." Siren paused at this, but continued, "Regardless of whether or not she does so, it would be wise to watch your back. You weren't the only death eater residing at Hogwarts. Sincerely, Lord Voldemort"
A long pause followed this. Siren looked as though she was re-reading the letter to herself over and over again. Snape watched her as though waiting for a response. Finally, Siren folded up the letter and placed it on her desk.
"Well," Siren sighed, "Maybe it's a fake." "It's authentic," Snape replied, "and even if it wasn't, I would not take the chance of denying it's authenticity."
"I agree," she said. "Though I believe his threat of having another minion of his at Hogwarts is a bluff. If there were another, one of us would know. He's only trying to psych us out."
She walked over to Snape, and took a hold of his left hand.
"Don't be afraid," she said, "I won't tell anyone. I'm not going to let you be killed."
Siren paused, and looked directly into Snape's eyes. "I've never told you this," she continued in her naturally angelic voice, and Harry could hear a sweet singing in his head, "but you've always been like a father to me. If Voldemort wants to kill you, he'll have to go through me first."
"Don't be ridiculous," Snape replied. He put his free hand on her shoulder, and looked at her with gentle eyes. Harry had never seen Snape act so sincere...ever. "You'll have to tell the Ministry what you know," he continued. "Your mother and I risk our lives by merely living. Telling the Ministry any credible information will only make matters better. The more we know, the sooner we'll be able to stop the Death Eaters. No matter what you say, the mortality of your mother and I shall ever remain the same."
Siren nodded her head. "Speaking of which," she said, slightly smiling and whisking off to her desk. She picked up the initial letter that she had been reading and handed it to Snape. "Mum's supposed to arrive at Hogwarts today," she said.
"About time," Snape replied monotonously, reading the letter. "Wasn't she supposed to be here a few days ago?"
"Who knows," Siren laughed. "She's always changing her mind about things. And you can always trust my mother to be late, so don't be surprised if she doesn't show up today either."
For some unknown reason, Harry felt that the last comment seemed rather haunting. He watched on as Snape and Siren continued to talk. He listened as they agreed to tell Dumbledore about the letter as soon as the students left that afternoon. Snape eventually said farewell to Siren, leaving her alone in her classroom. Harry decided that if he was going to talk to her alone, now would be the time. He quietly made his way out into the open of the hallway. As he walked to the classroom, however, something went horribly wrong. His robes had gotten snagged on the armored statue's shoulder plate, and the entire thing came crashing to the ground.
"Peeves?" Siren called out. "Is that you? Please don't tell me you've broken another one of my antique chairs..."
Harry watched as Siren walked out into the hallway. She stopped abruptly as soon as she saw Harry. "Harry," she said, looking at the suit of armor laying on the floor. "Are you alright?"
"Uh, yeah," Harry answered, embarrassed and feeling his cheeks turn red, "but I can''t speak for the fallen knight."
Siren laughed, and, with the wave of her hand, the armor magically reassembled itself, standing upright against the wall.
"Cool," Harry said, staring at the armor in awe. He peeled his eyes away from it and looked at Siren. She looked absolutely heavenly to him.
"Sirius has been looking for you," Siren said, as though just remembering it. "Has he found you yet?"
Harry shook his head no.
"In that case," Siren continued, leading Harry into her classroom. "He wants to tell you not to pack your things. You and he are going to stay at Hogwarts until things cool down." "Cool down?" Harry repeated. "But isn't it a little dangerous to say here with .. well .. you?" Harry was trying his very hardest not to be rude when he said this, but it seemed to come out that way, regardless.
"Um, well," Siren replied uneasily, a little shocked at Harry's blunt remark, "I guess so. But it'd be safer than anywhere else. Especially for you."
"What do you mean by that?" Harry asked, once again in an unwillingly rude tone. "I don't have to be protected, you know. I've faced Voldemort before."
"I know that," Siren shot back. "I merely meant that, well ... you'll have lesser chance of running into him here, that's all. And even if you do, you'd be safer."
"To be honest, I'm not even worried about him," Harry admitted. He walked toward the window on the far east side of the room. Siren followed. "It's Andreala that I'm worried about," Harry added.
"Me too," Siren replied quietly.
Harry looked out the window. It was a windy day, and the clouds were thick and grey. There were mountains in the distance, and beyond them, Harry saw a vision of a tall, dark, looming castle, casting it's hellish black shadow over him, clouding his vision and poisoning his very soul with some unexpected sense of dread. Harry shook his head and closed his eyes. He re-opened them to find that the castle was gone. He gulped and turned to Siren. The dark feeling within him vanished as he looked upon her; the enchantress, working her charms in ways that Harry couldn't even begin to comprehend. Then he looked into hey eyes. For the first time he noticed how very green they were - even more so than his own. He remembered looking at Andreala - she had grey eyes, cold and unwelcome. Snape must have noted the difference during the quidditch match, thus being able to conclude that it was no Siren on the field. Harry continued to look into her eyes, but as he did, he saw Voldemort staring right back at him. She had his eyes, exactly, or what they were, at least, when he was still in his youth. Startled, Harry turned away from her.
"Are you alright?" She asked him gently. Harry could hear her feet silently stepping closer to him, and once again, he heard a song of enchantment. He hadn't expected to hear Siren's song just then, and it nearly startled him. But he listened to it, and was comforted. Her song seemed to give him hope.
"Yeah," Harry replied, "I was just thinking about your grandad. There's so much about him that I still don't understand."
"Then ask," Siren replied, leaning against the wall on the other side of the window, her glowing radiance filling the air between her and Harry. Harry had too many questions to choose from. He looked outside again, trying to see the castle, but without success. Siren must have taken the hint.
"His castle - Salazar's castle, I should say - is just past those mountains. He moved there over the summer. The Ministry tried to stop him, but it was too late. His defenses are already lining the perimeter of the property."
"Death Eaters?" Harry asked with a laugh. "Then let''s go. They shouldn't be too difficult to get by."
"Actually," Siren replied, "they're not just Death Eaters. Dementors, trolls, dragons, giants...you name it. They're all there, watching, waiting. They protect the Death Eaters. The Death Eaters protect the castle, and the castle protects the Dark Lord within." She cast her head down, as if not wanting to think about it. "And even if one should penetrate the castle, it'd be a hopeless battle, and one fought in vain. He can't die this time."
"What?" Harry exclaimed. "Why not?"
"He has the Yfel," Siren answered with a sorrowful sigh.
Harry still had not even the slightest hint of a clue as to what an Yfel was. He decided to ask. "Um Siren, about that Yfel-" "Yes?"
"Well..what is it, exactly?" Harry felt like a fool for asking. It was probably something simple that every witch of wizard knew about.
"Sirius hasn't told you yet?" Siren asked curiously.
"Er, no," Harry replied hesitantly.
"I was going to do a few Dark Arts lessons on it after the holidays," she sighed. "It's a shame that I no longer can. It was a good lesson. I even have pictures of it." She paused. "Do you want to see them?" she asked Harry, her face lighting up with anticipation.
"Well, alright." Harry still didn't know what it was. Hopefully the pictures would help him to understand better. Siren led Harry back to her desk. She opened one of the drawers and ruffled through some papers. She finally pulled out an envelope.
"I took these with an ordinary muggle camera," she said, taking the pictures out of the envelope. She handed the photos to Harry. They were Polaroids, and Harry noted that they were each labeled. He looked at the first one and literally gasped. It was a picture of a necklace. It seemed to be more than just that, however. It almost looked like a star. It was beautiful, but that wasn't what made it breathtaking. It seemed as though it were itself some sort of enchantment. It looked and felt powerful. Almost as though it were an actual being, it seemed old and wise, yet all the same young and new.
Harry couldn't find any English word that could describe what he saw. The picture was labeled, ''March 3, 1995.''
"You took the picture this year?" Harry said, finally managing to speak.
"Yes," Siren replied. She looked at the picture with Harry, then added bitterly, "before the fools at the Ministry took the Yfel from me." She sighed. "That's when things started to go downhill." Harry looked at her, and noticed a look of loathing upon her beautiful face, one which he had never before seen. It was almost frightening, and it made him uncomfortable.
"How so?" he asked. "Other than Voldemort coming back, I mean."
Siren laughed in a manner which implied that she was caught up in a reverie full of stress, folly, and things so unbelievable as to be humourous. "Well," she replied, "like I said, the Ministry took the Yfel away from me. It was rightfully mine. It's an Heirloom of the Slytherin family. Anyways, Hunter had seen pictures and told his father about it. His father then told the Ministry, and the Ministry, being as greedy and ignorant as they are, decided that the Yfel would be better off in their possession. Now that my grandfather has gotten a hold of it, it makes sense. Hunter's father told the Ministry that I had it, knowing fully well that if the Ministry confiscated it, it would be easier for the Dark Lord to steal it upon his new arrival. The Ministry didn't care to think that it would have been safer with me, or my mother. Now that mistake shall be their undoing."
"How?" Harry asked, interrupting her. "I mean - what does the Yfel do?"
"Oh, sorry," Siren replied, snapping out of her nostalgic daze. "I guess I should have told you that before I started babbling." She took the top photo away from Harry and looked at it a bit. Harry looked at the other remaining in his hand and noticed that they all appeared to look the same as the first, only from different angles. Siren then pointed out the star- jewel in the center of the Yfel. "This," she said to him," is the heart of the Yfel. It contains all the necklace's power. The necklace was made by Salazar Slytherin for Andreala Durmstrang. As wicked and corrupt as those two were, they were madly in love - such a love that has not been duplicated for many years, if even at all. He gave it to her on the eve of their wedding in Southern Wales, I believe. He had spent countless months making it. Though proud was the heart and mind of Salazar, he also understood how hated he was. He knew that he had enemies all over the world. He did not fear them, however, though he did fear for Andreala's well-being because of them. Every day they lived was their possible last, but still Andreala cleaved to him. I guess you could say that she was naive as to what sort of danger she was actually in. Fearing for his lover's safety, Salazar dedicated himself to creating a vessel for immortality. This was before the discovery of the Elixir of Life, mind you, and it is still a mystery as to how Salazar accomplished what he did. He created the Yfel in a way so that its wearer would become invincible to any mortal wound, illness, or famine. Andreala was free from harm so long as she wore it, which is the main reason behind her infamous power. She was unstoppable."
"But she did die," Harry said, "right? I remember reading that she did."
"Yes, but it was during birth," Siren answered. "Andreala successfully gave birth to a daughter, Serena. But Andreala knew that Serena was born into a world and life of danger, so she put the Yfel around Serena's neck only minutes after she was born. Andreala didn't know that she was still bleeding, and as she placed the Yfel around Serena's neck, she began to feel weak, and she bled to death only a few seconds later. Salazar stayed by her dead body for days, or weeks even, unknowingly neglecting his daughter while under his spell of grief and despair. Coming eventually to his wits, he held Serena lovingly in his arms, and vowed to always protect her. He took Andreala's body to a store chamber within his castle and placed it upon a slab of stone adorned with white and green jewels. The light was lit with ever-burning candles, and he cast a spell on her to make her body preserved in its perfected state for the rest of time. Since then she's remained within the castle (though nobody knew it) until now. So it has been told to all of the heirs of Slytherin thus far."
"So...Voldemort brought her back, right?" Harry asked.
"As far as I know," Siren replied dimly, "but I fear that it may be worse than that."
"What do you mean?"
Siren looked at Harry intensely, as though trying to read his thoughts. "If I tell you," she replied warily, "you must promise not to tell anyone. Not your friends, not Sirius, and not Dumbledore."
Harry considered this for a moment, then nodded his head. "Okay," he replied, "I promise."
Siren smiled with relief and continued. "Over the summer, there have been times when I was under the Imperius Curse, care of my grandad. I don''t remember all that happened. I was under it the day that your relatives were killed, and I was afraid that I had unwillingly done it. The Daily Prophet had written that if Voldemort did do it, it would have had to have been with the help of a very powerful witch or wizard.. I was relieved when Snape told me that it wasn't me who helped him. Nobody knew who it was, though."
"How did Snape know it wasn't you?" Harry asked.
"He said that I was with him and the death eaters that entire day," Siren replied, "with him and Lucius Malfoy mostly. Apparently we were discussing possible plans of actions against you, though I remember it not. But after hearing the news of that, and knowing that Andreala now lives, another of my Imperius blackouts makes sense. It was mid-June. I remember snapping out of the curse, and my grandfather seemed unusually joyful. He thanked me for my help, and then disappeared. That was before he killed your relatives. I can only assume that I somehow helped him to resurrect Andreala while under the Imperius Curse."
"Did he already have the Yfel at that point?" Harry asked.
"No," Siren replied. "He only obtained it recently, or so I've heard. If she hasn't already, though, I'll warrant that Andreala will try to take it from him."
Harry said no more. He looked at the pictures again. As he looked through them, he heard a clock chiming. It was already eleven o'clock. The train would be leaving soon.
"I have to go," Harry said to her, "before the train leaves. I want to say goodbye to Ron and Hermione."
Siren looked at the small clock on her desk. "I should go, too," she added. "Hunter will be leaving as well."
Harry, who was turning around to go, stopped suddenly. "But - why would you want to say goodbye to him? After all he's done to you?"
Siren shrugged her shoulders. "I dunno," she replied. "I feel bad for him. His dad was just murdered. I want Hunter to know that he can still change." She put the photographs of the Yfel back into her desk drawer. "I've learned a lot over the summer, Harry. Abandonment nurtures the evil that comfort and care could have demolished. The future promises it, the present foretells it, and the past proves it. If everyone, including me, were to give up on Hunter, who knows what might happen. He might end up like his father, or worse."
"You certainly are merciful," Harry replied, looking at Siren with a new found awe.
"Well, mercy redeems the soul," Siren answered quietly. Harry wondered what she meant by it. She was speaking in riddles, as far as Harry could tell.
***
"Is she alvright?" Krum asked Harry after his return to the common room. Harry had told Krum, Hermione, and Ron that he had visited her, and that he was to stay at Hogwarts instead of going back to Sirius' castle.
"She's fine," Harry answered, "but she seems really down."
"I don't blame her," said Ron, who had finally gotten all of his things packed. "I mean, if my grandad was You-Know-Who, I don't think I'd ever be happy."
Harry glared at Ron, and Hermione hit his arm scornfully. Ron looked at Krum, and suddenly remembered that Krum, or anyone else, wasn't supposed to know about Siren and her family. Krum, however, laughed.
"Don't vorry," he said. "Siren told me about him a long time ago."
"Really?'' Hermione asked. "I didn't know that you two were that close."
"Yeah," said Harry. "I thought you just knew her from Durmstrang."
Krum blushed, only a little bit, and replied slowly, "Well...she vas my girlfriend until I met Hermione."
Hermione looked like she had just been slapped in the face. In a very dignified manner, she stood up, her head held high. "I have to get Crookshanks," she said, and stormed off to her private prefect room. Krum sighed and went after her.
"Well that was a surprise," Harry said after Hermione and Krum were up the stairs.
"Yeah," Ron chuckled, "he actually said Hermione's name right."
***
Harry had walked with Ron, Hermione, and Krum to the train station. They all said their goodbyes to Harry and got on the train. Harry watched as the train slowly chugged away, gaining speed and it trailed off into the distance. Harry turned to leave, and as he did, he saw Siren entering a gift shop that was placed along the station. She stayed inside for about half a minute, then came back out again, looking rather disappointed. Not noticing Harry, she walked back towards the school. Harry slowly followed her in the same direction. As he was walking, it began to snow - lightly at first, and then gradually the snowflakes became larger and fell more rapidly. Harry could barely see Siren in her white robes only 75 yards away from him. She seemed to mix in with the scenery. She walked with such grace that it seemed almost as though she wasn't walking at all, but rather floating along the ground. Before long, Harry could no longer see her amidst the dense snowfall.
Harry entered the castle through its majestic front doors, which was now being guarded by two tall men in dark black robes. Whether they were aurors or not, Harry wasn't sure. Harry was planning on returning to the Gryffindor common room, but his plans were put on hold as . Snape, who was about 20 feet behind Harry, called out to him.
"Potter," he said, and Harry turned around to face him. Snape walked briskly towards him, and added, "have you seen Siren?" Harry noted that Snape looked very grieved.
"Yeah," Harry replied dully, "last I saw she was walking back to the castle from the train station."
"If you see her again, tell her to come see me in my office immediately," Snape said darkly, "understand?"
"Yes, sir," Harry answered nonchalantly, and he continued on his way. As he turned around, however, there stood Siren, as though she had appeared out of thin air.
"Looking for me?" she asked Snape with a kind smile.
Harry, not wanting to look nosy, acknowledged Siren with a nod, and went on his way to the Gryffindor common room. He turned left at the next corner, and he could still hear Snape and Siren's voices. He decided to stop and listen in on their conversation, just in case it was about Voldemort.
"The clerk at the gift shop sad that my mother hasn't arrived yet," he heard Siren say.
"Siren," Snape sighed, "you mother will not be coming to Hogwarts."
There was a chilling silence. "Why not?" he heard Siren ask softly.
"Because," Snape replied slowly, "there's been an accident at the Ministry Headquarters... your mother's been killed."
____________________________________________________________________________ __ Awww *sniff* Man there's a lot of death in my story...lol. Meh *shrugs* More to come, too ;) I hope you liked it. I wanted to make it a bit darker than the other HP books, so please don't be shocked at some of the stuff that's to come. Please review :)
The next chapters might not be up for a while. I'm still working on writing chapter 16, and I have to type up chapters 14 and 15 on the computer. They should be uploaded in a couple days, hopefully.
-Summer :)