Hello again all!! I was pissed all week as fanfiction.net was down (or at least for my computer). Thanks for all the reviews!

Thanks to Ciralen, HongMing, peramiell, star estrella, jules, the DragonBard (actually…I'm not supposed to tell you…but no), JAL Williams (I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL!), Avalon, gaul1 (well…actually, no mortal has ever brewed the immortalis potion before…but they can try), Kento, NyteShade, HAZZAGRIFF (Thanks for the latin ^^), Garfish and wanderingwolf.

Also, I'm going to start putting edited versions of my fics on my website…keyword starting. But that's so people can later read even if fanfiction.net is down. Oh well.

The ShadowKeepers

By Skysong1

Chapter 13: Darkmont

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'Thoughts'

[Letters/writing/text etc.]

^^ShadowKeeper sign language^^

~Parseltongue~

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"YOU LIVE AT THE DEN!?!?!" Venom squealed excitedly.

Daggyr merely rolled his eyes exasperatedly. "So?"

"I've always wanted to see inside it! It is the most sort after dwelling in the entire ShadowKeeper community!"

Silence.

"You don't work in the housing management do you?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Never mind."

Daggyr opened the door, glanced around the corridor, and quickly ushered the cheerful Venom inside. It took her about 10 minutes to get her to stop staring at the place in awe.

"Damn! I think anyone would want to kill you just for your penthouse…"

"What a nice thought! Come on…I think we should hurry. I've done some research, now, we're going disguised as a middle-class French businessman and his sister, who partly owns his company."

Venom, calmed down, and stared at Daggyr seriously, "Why this?"

"Well, France, after Britain is the "second strongest dark country" and this way, it doesn't matter if we're not recognized. As for businessman and sister…there isn't that much do choose from, unless you want to be a maid?"

Venom cringed. She sank down in a black beanbag. "I'll take option one thanks."

"Good, now, I also checked the fashions of 'this time'" Daggyr's face remained impassive, but Venom noticed subtle signs that Daggyr wasn't pleased with this. He handed her a plastic bag, "You can change in the gym, I'll be next door," he stalked off to his room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A horrified yell pierced the Den.

Daggyr's head poked out of his bedroom, eyes narrowed, "What's the matter?"

Venom staggered out of the gym, wearing a pair of dark violet dress robes, which had huge bellowing sleeves. It was rich velvet and clung to her body nicely, different hues of violet flared then disappeared as she stormed into the hallway.

"What is THIS?"

She tossed what appeared to be an ocean blue corset on the ground scowling.

"Apparently according to the sources, it is that latest fashion…obviously Lucius Malfoy was in charge of it…something about power over women…" Daggyr said mildly, head still poking into the doorway.

"I am NOT putting that corset on!"

The corset zoomed over and strapped itself around Venom. The air was choked out of her. She swore colourfully with the little breath she had.

"What…happen...happened…" Venom struggled to get her breath.

Daggyr shook his head, "You shouldn't have said, "corset on" it's a magical corset…say "corset off""

Venom glared at Daggyr, the meaning evident in her eyes, "How am I supposed to say something in this…. THING!?!?!"

"Co-Corset off"

The corset slid off and Venom slid down the wall trying to catch her breath.

"Damn Voldie and his minions…I'm not wearing that, I'll put an illusion of a corset on…but that that…"

Daggyr scowled as he stepped into the hallway, "At least you don't have to wear this…"

Venom choked on her bitter reply.

Daggyr, the absolute master assassin, stood there scowling and obviously not pleased. He was wearing a rather Shakespearean shirt with puffy sleeves and long robes over the top that was open at the front like a trench coat. His green eyes stared coldly at the gawking Venom…who couldn't stop a giggle from exiting her lips.

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It was early morning, a black Porsche glided down the smooth perfect streets of Darkmont. Cars were quite common here, especially expensive ones. They weren't the old muggle kind, but rather magically modified versions, rather ironic really, since Arthur Weasley was the first to have done so. Sliding to a smooth halt, the Porsche with the number plate "MORT", parked neatly next to a silver Mercedes. Two people came out, there was a female in a rather "stylish" dress robes with sandy blond hair, aristocratic nose and innocent blue eyes. The man was obviously related, also with the same aristocratic nose and blue eyes. However, his hair was a shade or two darker and he was wearing a rather "smart looking" attire imported directly from Dark France.

The citizens of the City of Darkmont peered at the newcomers from peepholes in windows and doors. Noticing that they were being watched, the man pulled out a small black stone on a key ring and tapped it with his wand. The car shrunk and the man picked it up and attached it to his keying. Daggyr gave a small knowing nod internally as he noticed several of the eager eyes from the alley turn around and retreat in disappointment.

"Andre? Are we going to see that business friend of yours now?" Venom said clearly with a slight French accent, many of the citizens turned and pretended to mind their own businesses.

Daggyr gave a small charming smile. Several of the younger women in the street glanced at Venom to Daggyr and back again hopefully.

"No, dear sister Lunette, not today. But we may travel and shop around for a while."

Several of the women's eyes widened excitedly. While some of the men gazed longingly at "Lunette". Daggyr smirked inwardly, 'They wouldn't want to touch her…'

He placed his sunglasses on and gazed around the busy streets. "Meet you back in a while?" then he whispered in a lower voice so only Venom could hear, "see what information you can get…"

Giving a bright smile, "Lunette" walked off into the street, giving a few friendly greetings and asking a few innocent questions. One man with average brown hair and a rather handsome but evil smile watched Venom as she sidled through the streets, gossiping with some of the women who admired her dress. 'That guy won't live the night' For some reason, Daggyr felt immensely glad that Venom could defend herself, he can't stand the thought of her being…

"Well, Hello sir…" A rather large-woman linked her arm with Daggyr's.

Suavely, "Andre" withdraw his hand and gave a small smile, "Ahh, Hello mistress, you must know lots about these parts…care to give me a tour?"

"Of course." The woman glared at several jealous looks shot her way, the flashed a smile the started blabbing on about everything she knew about this place.

'Too easy!' Andre nodded politely as he followed the woman and several other followers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was amazing what one learnt just from gossip, Venom soon found out.

"And ya know what?  One of my friends work in the Dark 'alace, 'magine that? And guess wha'? she foun' out that Baron Lestrange is havin' an 'ffair! She walked in on then 'erself!"

"Oh really!" Lunette gave an interested nod, "Go on…who is it?"

"I didn't 'lieve it meself …but then my friend Margaret is a very reliable source! It's Lady Nott! Ya' know? Of fief Nott, just over those hills there!" the woman waved expansively. "Brilliant manor, great horses in the great stable! You do know that the horses of Nott are the best in the world! My brother, Gabe works as a stablehand there…"

Venom want to slap the silly woman in the face, she was giving away heaps of information. Her mouth will kill her someday.

"Well, darling…"

"Obelia miss! Greek I think…but I'm not…"

"Well Obelia, I must leave, or my poor brother will start tearing apart the town searching for me, very protective…"

"Oh! The cute one!! He's sooo handsome!! Can you introduce him to me?…"

Lunette smiled weakly, "Some other time then…bye."

And before Obelia could open her mouth again, Lunette was gone.

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Venom sighed as he strolled down the street.

"Where are you Daggyr?" She whispered into the radio that was imbedded into her earring.

"Meet you at the pet store, gosh, I'm being swarmed by females!! I just got free…see you there."

Venom gave a small chuckle, although underneath, she felt a bit jealous at the swarming female attention Daggyr received. She shook the idea out of her head, then turned towards the pet store, just where the road winded out of the dark city.

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Daggyr kept to the shadows to avoid being seen. He glanced down the street. The people in the streets had thinned out considerably as the sun was setting in an hour or so. Most people liked to avoid the streets at night.

~Yo! Dude! Stupid two-legger idiot! Geez!! ~

Daggyr frowned as the voice piped non-stop. Uttering rude comments at passers by.

~Hey lady! Try a longer skirt you slut! You there, you need to loose weight old man…I mean, I've heard that there's all kinds of trouble being fat…Hey you, standing there, what's the matter, waiting for your mummy to help you cross the street?~

Turning around, Daggyr noticed a miniature basilisk bobbing up and down, eyes squeezed shut at passers by.

~No, I don't want to cross the street.~ Daggyr hissed back simply.

~Well yeah!?! What are you waiting for then? The ice-cream van…wait a second. Did you just speak parseltongue?~

~Yeah…and so?~

The basilisk opened his eyes, the brilliant bronze-yellow eyes stared at him at surprise. Then narrowed as it tried to glare at him.

~Hey! Are you dead yet?~

~Why would I be dead?~

~Because I glared at you…and…you know…glare, pow, drop and twitch around on the ground?~

~Nope…it's the glasses I think~

~Really? I just found it strange how I glare at people and they die, while if didn't affect you. I'm the only basilisk here left who can still do it ya know?~

Daggyr bent down so he was face to face with the basilisk.

~You see, basilisks miniature kinds mind you…although I prefer the term vertically challenged, are well sort after pets to guard homes and such. Supposedly, a few weeks or two from birth, when our eyes aren't developed some evil dude comes along with acid and drips it so we're blind. I was luck to escape that…and faked it ever since.~

To demonstrate, the basilisk hobbled along the side of his cage with his eyes screwed shut. One of the other basilisks in the cage woke up and started whimpering in pain muttering things like ~my eyes…my poor eyes…oh the pain~.

~Oh shut up bro! I know they hurt~ The basilisk hissed back.

The door to the pet shop opened with an annoying tinkling of a bell.

The fat pet storeowner gave a sickening smile, "Hello sir? Interested in the basilisks? Come in, please…."

Noticing that Venom still hasn't arrived yet, Daggyr nodded nonchalantly the entered. The stink of unwashed cages hit him in the face. Ignoring it, Daggyr tilted his head slightly at the shopkeeper.

"Which one are you interested in sir?"

Daggyr seemed to think for a moment, "That one sir…"

"That one? 'Tis but a runt! How about this one here…"

The basilisk turned his head angrily, ~Who are you calling a runt!! You…you…oversized pig's bladder!!~

At Daggyr's cold glare which he still managed to pull off effectively even under the disguise, the pet shopkeeper shut up.

In the cage, the basilisk hobbled around exaggeratedly, screwing his eyes shut and whimpering. The shopkeeper went to the back of the shop and the basilisk gave a quick wink. ~Thanks sir!~

"Ahh, that one?" Clad in extra thick dragon hide gloves, the shopkeeper pulled the basilisk out by the tail, and shoved two brightly coloured jewels at the base of each fang.

"To stop it from poisoning you family and friends sir!"

Daggyr merely nodded.

Venom entered the shop and wrinkled her nose at the stench.

"There you are Andre!"

"How much for this snake?"

A glint of anticipation flashed across the shopkeeper's eyes. These two were obviously tourists. He carefully covered a sign at the counter that says [SALE~ Basilisks 50 dark crowns.]

"Ahh, hmm…how about this, for you and your fine lady, just 120 crowns with this leash and jewel collar and this bowl. Plus the fine pedigree snake of course! What do you say?"

Three pairs of eyes glared at him, one was violet, one was a cold green and one was deadly amber.

The shopkeeper toppled to the floor.

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Author Note: Well, it was longer than usual. Oh well, I hope you guys liked it. Please send in your reviews and any requests to join my mailing list. Just add Mailing list/(ShadowKeepers or both fics etc.)/ email Thanks!