THE RELUCTANT SLYTHERIN
Chapter 15: An attack in the night
True to his word Ron and Harry waited for the girls after practice having changed out of their uniforms the two waited for the girls to show up. Harry had already seen Tory fly when they caught Cho and helped her get the snitch. He was surprised at that time that Tory had a firebolt but not just any firebolt. When Tory arrived he could tell that it was modified for high winds and rougher climates to give it a steadier go when the wind was at its strongest. When the girls arrived at the pitch Hermione looked green for she does not like flying well except as a bird. But she knows how to fly a broom when needed but it still made her nervous.
Harry nearly laughed his heart out when he saw the scared look on Hermione's face and saw Tory wearing a loose pair of seat pants and a black leather jacket. Hermione just looked nervous as Harry and Ron both wore their school uniforms. "Alright lets get this going then it has been a while." Tory said and Harry nodded as they mounted their brooms.
Tory had never felt so good in a long time. The wind in her face as she flew her broom high into the clouds till she could feel the wind. "Tory not so high," said Harry but she did not listen. Using her balance she stood on her broom and Harry watched in horror as she leaped off and sky dived towards the ground. The broom then connected and attached to Tory's feet and he was amazed but the midair twists and turns she pulled. Ron was even more amazed as she surfed the winds and then spun upside down before straightening just five feet from the ground and surfed the grass before using the sides of the pitch like a skateboarding ring. Both boys had their mouths hanging at the aerial tricks that Tory pulled on them. She even did something that would have counted for figure skating on the wind. She even balanced on her hands and fingers on her broom!
"Whoa Harry if she was playing Quidditch she would have been giving you a run for your money," Ron said and Harry nodded, his heart in his throat. Wow! I did not know she could do that! She is amazing! Harry thought and his heart skipped again as she Tory hung on the end of her broom as she went straight up and then let go doing a helicopter and then the broom came back and she did more tricks.
It was soon apparent that they had attracted quite a crowd when they saw Tory's antics and rushed out to see for themselves what the wonder on the broom is doing. All even Malfoy's gang came to watch Tory at the Quidditch pitch how did the news came out is still unknown. Madam Hooch however was quite impressed. She rushed out to see what all the commotion was about on her pitch when she spotted Tory, Harry and Ron already landed and were watching from the bleachers. Tory was showing them more tricks as she felt freedom from the air. The flying instructor's heart was caught in her throat. I have never seen anyone fly like that in my life well except for Quidditch players, but this is ridiculous! She thought as Tory went for another faint and then did a roll and then leaped on her broom again to do another summersault before landing perfectly on her feet with her hands out like a gymnast.
The crowds cheered as Tory stood tall amongst them holding her broom high until someone shot a curse at her and she fell into blackness.
"Tory, hey Tory you ok?" said Harry as Tory came to in the hospital wing yet again. Moaning she looked up and saw a lot of people in the room. "Huh?" she said, "You drew quiet a crowd there Tory," Ron said, "That was bloody brilliant mate, how did you do it?" asked Dean as he and Seamus beamed at Tory, "Do what?" she asked, "All those bloody maneuvers I could never do that even in Quidditch," said Seamus and the crowds nodded, "I learned it at home because we don't play Quidditch," Tory said and they all looked at her in shock, "You don't play Quidditch?" said Cho, "No, the winds there are too strong to play in and there is not enough room to fully have a Quidditch field so we used aerial acrobatics instead." Tory said and the people in the hospital wing looked in awe, "By the way how did you fall when you were standing?" asked a girl, "Someone shot her with a curse that's what," said Blaze walking up. "How do you know?" Ron asked, "I saw him, Malfoy shoot her with a curse and the he and his goons walked off." Blaze said and everyone looked ready to kill the blond.
It was then that the doors opened and Professor Snape walked into the room and everyone filed out except Blaze, the Griffindor Trio and Madam Hooch who has not said a word during the whole conversation. Snape looked around the room till he spotted Tory and she gulped at his hard gaze. "Never in my entire career in Hogwarts have I witnessed such flying. It was reckless and irresponsibleā¦." He continued ranting until he said something that surprised everyone, "And bloody amazing!" he said and the entire room had gone dead quiet. Even Madam Pomphrey who was treating another patient dropped her jaw. Professor Snape just gave a compliment! That was something to be remembered. "What?" he said, "Um are you really Professor Snape?" Hermione asked, "I can assure you Ms. Granger that I am the same person why else would I give you an E in your OWL's he said Hermione gasped for only the Professor knew of her grades and everyone else turned to her.
Ron and Harry could only stare, "Yep that is Professor Snape for only he could remember grades that well," Ron said, "Um how did you know sir I thought you was teaching first year Potions," Tory said and Snape smirked, "When my class ran off in the middle of brewing potions leaving a very nasty mess of potions all over the place I just had to see what could be more important." He said with a smirk, "And believe me very few things leave me impressed one of them is a certain Slytherin on a broomstick doing more maneuvers then the best seekers there are in Europe." He said and Tory felt her blush build even more.
After that event in the Hospital wing and Madam Pomphrey told her she was fit to leave (After making her take a nutrition potion because of her still malnourished body,) Tory walked out feeling a bit woozy after suffering the effects of that so called curse. Harry and the others had to leave for dinner and then off to bed but Madam Hooch remained behind. "Never in all my years in Hogwarts have I've seen flying like that." She said, "You told me that," Tory said as she walked further down the hall. "You can have dinner in the teacher's lounge if you like tonight Professor Snape said he would meet you there to discuss some things. He is in the dungeons right now doing a potion for Mr. Lupin who will be here shortly," she said as she walked down. "Tell me child how did you managed those maneuvers on a firebolt no less," Madam Hooch was clearly interested. "Um I learned them from home because we can't play Quidditch due to the high winds. So instead the Academy has these aerial shows where people test their skills on brooms and such." She said and the lady nodded as they entered the room. "Well I would like to ask a request from you then," she said, "It would be my pleasure after your performance today and what you did at the last Quidditch game to perform for the school," she said and Tory smiled a real smile, "I would like that," Tory said and they finally stopped at a door. "Go in now child and I will leave you here for Professor Snape," and with that the flying teacher left.
Tory did not have to wait long before something popped the same time that Professor Snape walked into the room. He sat down as Tory began to eat but rather politely. "You don't have to be polite around me Ms. Kahalewai after all there is no one else around," the Professor said and Tory gladly filled her plate and ate her fill. She also had seconds and thirds because she missed much of lunch and breakfast. When she was done and the food disappeared that Professor Snape got down to business. "I wanted to discuss something with you," he said, "Is this about the revenge thing?" Tory asked, "I will get to that later but now on to more dire things. You do remember the night you were raped is that correct?" he asked and Tory cringed, "Yes sir," she said between barred teeth. "Did you realize that Mr. Potter shared that same experience at the same time through your eyes," he said and Tory stopped, "No sir I thought he was raped before," she said, "Apparently not I don't think those filthy Muggles would dare go that far with him. I believe that you accidentally infused his mind into yours," he said, "Why is that?" Tory asked.
"Mr. Potter was taking Occlumacy with me last term but failed to neither finish it nor practice it properly. That was why Voldemort made him go to the department of mysteries in the Ministry of Magic. I am sure he explained that to you," he said and Tory remembered the conversation she had with Harry that night in the Chamber of Secrets. "I remember him mentioning it to me once," Tory said, "Well Voldemort uses a thing called Legitimacy where he can put suggestions or forces you to obey him by using your darkest memories as a trigger." Snape said, "Mr. Potter was not ready when he got the blast from you, normally Voldemort makes him see through his scar and it would bleed slightly but for you it bled a lot." Snape said and Tory remembered seeing Harry with a bandage on his head when she woke up. "I gave him that," she said, "Not only that but you also gave him the same afflictions that Malfoy gave you the same night that you were raped," Snape said. "What did you do to Malfoy that night sir?" Tory asked, "I could do nothing for it would blow my cover that was why I suggested I pretend to be you. That way I can plan for the proper revenge. The one thing I don't tolerate at all in my house is when my students turn on each other. I also had the same experience as you somewhat, but mention this to no one," Snape snapped and Tory nodded, "Wizard's honor," she said. "Now Voldemort would send Potter the pain of his victims but not to this extreme. The last meeting I had with the Deatheaters I knew they began to suspect me." He said, "I know already they suspect me and thanks to Potter I bet I am next on his traitors list," Snape said, "What does that have to do with me?" Tory asked, "I have been hearing that you are quiet a powerful witch Ms. Kahalewai." Snape said.
Tory just looked at him in shock, "But my power is restrained sir," Tory tried to cover up, "Quite the opposite I assume," he said, "After all I heard from the headmaster that you could not have done what you did that day in the hallways with your fellow housemates either," Snape said and Tory blushed, "Don't worry now everyone thinks that Potter has learned a few things that is all. I have also noticed that they started that secret meeting of his. Don't worry I knew about it for a long time and thus never said a word. Out of all those blasted teachers I say that Lupin was the best one for the students to prepare them for war. The only reason he was so far behind was because he was trying to get everyone caught up when those other teachers failed." Snape smirked, "But because I have the dark mark I was not allowed to take the job. Though I love to teach potions which is good enough." Snape said and saw that Tory had her hand on his left arm. "It is here isn't it," she said and Snape nodded, "Very perceptive," Snape said, "Very perceptive indeed,"
Everyone gathered for the usual DA meeting and luckily for them Arbok told Harry that Tory will be late for she had a meeting with Professor Snape at dinner. The classes began as usual with people practicing their dancing and dodging of spells as Tory wanted to teach them. While this was going on no one noticed the dark forces at play going on at the same time.
When Tory did arrive she began to teach them more advanced techniques which sooner or later they will need.
Voldemort sat smug on his thrown thinking about the events to come this very night. 'Soon Nagini we will have our revenge, for tonight Hogwarts will fall and after a long time of careful planning I will be victorious and the light will fall at last,' he said and the large snake that he had as a pet slithered to her master and he stroked her. 'What is my master's bidding,' she said, 'Stay with me my dear Nagini for it is only you I trust. I already suspect, no take that back I know that Severus is a traitor thanks to Wormtail's report. It was good of one of my Deatheaters to steal this little bit of poison from the black market for me,' he said holding a vial. It had a dark brown liquid inside but it contained a very powerful poison. 'Wormtail already had the potion ready so when the time is right which is now we will strike. Already some of my loyal followers are already moving in to spread the poison which will paralyze the inhabitants. Those fools think that school is safe already my loyal followers have fled so now the school will become an early grave to those who will perish with it,' and he laughed. The snake along side him laughs in its own way. Those Deatheaters who are standing and listening not knowing what their master said but know what he is talking about cheered.
Voldemort smiled a cruel smile for nearly two years he had tested Hogwart's wards for any sign of weaknesses and had searched every spell he had known until he found the very spell that would break down the wards from within. Without anyone knowing he had scent Wormtail in to dismantle the wards little by little and with time the defenses around Hogwarts has been growing weaker and weaker. His fellow Deatheaters on the inside namely Lucius's son Draco and his group have gracefully broken down the wards before anyone has noticed. The defenses of the castle are crumbling and now naked to view and exposure to Muggles Voldemort stood ready to attack.
Into the night they came unaware the students in the DA secretly hidden in the Chamber of Secrets practiced away. Arbok was with Snape giving him some of his venom for a potions ingredient when the first strike came. The basilisk baby rose its head and flicked its tongue, "What is it?" Snape asked and the snake cocked its head towards the door and Snape sensed what the snake was trying to say. "We must tell Dumbledore," Snape said but the basilisk had other plans. Pulling gently at Snakes robe from where he was on the floor Arbok directed Snape away from Dumbledore's office.
Fawkes was rudely awakened by the walls of the school. For as long as he could remember since the days of the first founders Fawkes the Phoenix guarded this school. Now as the familiar to its current headmaster he knew of the magic that kept this school alive. Yes alive though many do not admit it Hogwarts is alive in its way. Because of the saturation of magic in its walls the phoenix has learned to feel the very essence of the school and at the moment he could feel the danger. He chirped an alarming call to Dumbledore who was rudely awakened by the phoenix's squawk. Rising and dressing he immediately walked out only to be confronted by a bunch of Deatheaters.
Slowly many hooded figures spread a mysterious potion on the floors of every room in the school and the smoke spread throughout the school. Those who breathed it in through the many pipes and vents did not wake from their slumber as the poison swept the school. But one figure was well protected as he raced through the halls avoiding any masked figures. He was lead to a bathroom or more specifically a girl's bathroom. Arbok led Snape to the sinks where he opened the chamber and urged him in. Snape following Arbok flew in and the chamber sealed itself shut, shutting out the poisonous gas.
The sounds of the chamber opening on its own was not very good. Tory and everyone at the DA turned to find Arbok slithering up to Tory and Professor Snape following, "We have to get out of here now!" he said, "Why?" Harry asked and noticed that the professor is covered in sweat, "The school is under attack and we need to get out of here now," he said and everyone started to panic, 'It is true Tory-mama, Harry-papa Arbok smelled bad people walking the halls. They smell like death and had a cold feeling in me too and Arbok is scared,' the basilisk said and Tory picked him up. "Dementors," Harry said, "Yes it appears as if they are trying to give everyone a kiss." Said Snape, "I've passed Prefects in the halls all of them are out and dead," he said, "Oh my god," Said Ron, "It was a good thing we skipped out then," Hermione said. "Now how are we going to get out for the poison is in the pipes?" Snape said and Tory smirked, "Got that covered," she said, "But Professor you are going to have to remove that first," she said looking at his hand and Snape saw the Dark Mark burning brightly and winced at the pain.
Tory moved fast and looked it over, "It as an easy spell but I should be able to get it off after we get out of here," she said, "We will go as dolphins because they are fast and then head into the woods as wolves." She said and turned to the Professor, "Sir it looks like you will get a crash course in shape shifting." She said.
As if in cue in the dark of night several slick figures raced out of the pipes as fast as their fins would allow them. In the underwater pipes it was decided to go was sharks so no one will worry about air and so silent as ever the sharks swam through the bars and out into the lake. Being a fish they did not have to break the surface water. Professor Snape was in the lead for he figured that Hagrid's hut is the place to go so he led the way.
Not being used to the shape change at first Snape tried to fight the instincts that came with the shark but Tory told him to let the shark in so he could control it. When he did the shark became part of Snape and they were able to leave.
Unknown to the group many people already died in their sleep and one of those paralyzed was Professor Albus Dumbledore. "Fawkes leave go find help!" he wheezed before the poison could take full effect of his system. The phoenix reluctantly left after crying on his lips. Fawkes disappeared in a wisp of flame and was gone leaving Dumbledore to himself. The cold of being alone but yet knowing the very thing you are guarding is safe Dumbledore let blackness of the abyss take him.
The dark castle was full of Deatheaters as groups gathered and went their different ways. Some were led by students that have turned to the dark. The attack was swift and not even Snape knew of it for Voldemort did not trust him at the slightest. He even kept Harry out of the picture after learning that Potter can go into his mind. When he kept the boy out he could easily plan something big.
Those that showed more resistance to the poison were quickly either killed or raped depending on the Deatheater. None enjoyed it more so then Bellatrix Lastrange. She was having a blast torturing and then slaughtering her charges. She had fun with the young boys and then killed them and same for the girls. Bella was in the middle of one of her torturing sessions when someone came running up to her. "Ma'am Potter is not here!" he said and Bella turned to him and cursed him, "What do you mean Potter is not here!" she bellowed, "He is gone along with Snape and ā¦..and that girl master told us to kill," he said, "Oh really then care to explain how they escaped a cool voice said from the shadows and Lord Voldemort emerged from the shadows. "My lord," Bella said and the man nodded as she bowed. Turning cold eyes towards the other man he approached and the man crumbled to his knees, "What is this that Potter is gone?" he said in a low but dangerous hiss.
The poor deatheater was now sweating and he whimpered when he relayed the same thing he told Bellatrix. "Potter is gone my lord along with several other students and Snape the traitor." He said, "Well what fuck are you waiting for Crucio!" he yelled and cursed the deatheater and he fell even further, "FIND HIM FOR GOD'S SAKE!" he yelled, "FIND THEM ALL AND KILL THEM!" with that the dark lord turned and stormed out.
Hagrid's hut was the first hit by the attack so by the time Fawkes made it the man was already gone. Looking around the phoenix noticed drops of blood leading away from the hut and followed it.
He found Hagrid sometime later in the spider's den bleeding but bandaged but luckily the phoenix was able to help. "'awkes wha' brings ye 'ere?" Hagrid asked his breathing was wheezed. The phoenix cooed softly and Hagrid put a hand to stroke the bird. Aragog keeping his oath helped Hagrid to a more comfortable bed as he told his children to keep a look out for more danger and kill any Deatheaters on sight. Immediately the other spiders went into action. They all disappeared leaving Aragog and Hagrid together, "Ah Hagrid you have done so much for me and I worry I can do nothing for you," he said sadly and Fawkes did the same mourning for his master.
Unknown to everyone a group of twenty six sharks swam the lake towards the far end. Silent and well hidden in the depths of the lake they bided their time as Dementors floated above freezing the lake to ice. Thanks to their camouflage of dark on top light on the bottom they could see the brooms that flew past the sharks stayed down below and saw an occasional merperson or two. The search went on for several hours and well into the light of day and they stayed like that for a while hoping against hope that no one discovers them or bother to think about the lake.
TBC
