Chapter 25
Ginny felt queasy as she surveyed the damage on the way to the Great Hall. She glanced back, noticing how the Slytherins unconsciously huddled in the middle of the corridor as they made their way along it as one large group. A number of the teachers and a group of Ministry workers had taken half the night just getting the floor safely smoothed out. Blaise was the lucky one, being led through by Ron and Pansy, completely oblivious to the devastation surrounding him.
Ginny looked up in horror as she passed a particularly bad section that would have been right near where Harry had been standing from what she had been told. There was a huge hole blown in the ceiling, the gaping cavity leading into a now heavily damaged classroom. The extent of the damage that had been done in such a short span of time was appalling.
She was thankful when they got past the destruction and made their way up the stairs out of the dungeon. It wasn't until they approached the Great hall and saw Gryffindor House filing in ahead of them that she realized just how awkward her situation was. Draco took her hand, sensing her unease. She smiled over at him. She quickly decided that what the others thought of her didn't really matter at this point. She moved a bit closer, letting her shoulder brush his as they walked. He smiled at her.
As they entered, they saw that they were the last house to arrive. The other three tables were all buzzing with conversation, but it dropped off as Slytherin entered. It didn't pass the other students' notice that several of the Slytherins were limping, and one of the seventh year boys had his arm in a sling. It was obvious that the other houses had been told very little, if anything, about last night's events. They knew only that their Houses were sealed the night before, and they were told they must go the breakfast in one large group, accompanied by several teachers per house. Ginny looked over at Ron. They both felt a little uneasy sitting at the Slytherin table with everyone staring like that, but did so anyway, Ron helping Blaise before taking a seat by his side. Ginny of course sat at Draco's side, looking over to see the shocked looks on her Housemates' faces. She just set an unreadable look on her face and ignored them.
It was hard to ignore Hermione though. She had a haunted look on her face, looking like she'd been crying. Hermione caught sight of Ron and bit her lip, looking like the crying might start up again at any moment. Ginny couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl, wondering if Harry had really been possessed... and if he had, what he might have done to her... she knew Hermione and Harry had been seeing eachother for a little while now... Hermione looked so alone sitting there without Ron or Harry by her side. Harry was, thankfully, not present.
Dumbledore rose and the Great Hall instantly fell silent. He surveyed them grimly for a long moment before speaking. "We had a very disturbing event last night." He said grimly, "An attack by a dark creature that left a large number of injured and quite nearly proved fatal for several. The Ministry has examined the evidence left behind, and have confirmed that the creature that did this was, in fact, a Shadow Demon."
There was a sharp intake of breath from a number of students (Most of them sitting at the Ravenclaw table of course). Dumbledore raised his hand for silence as muttering started up as those who knew what that meant were questioned by their housemates. They fell silent immediately.
"It is true that it has been nearly a century since one has posed a threat to the wizarding community, but the evidence is irrefutable. This creature is as stealthy as it is dangerous, inhabiting the bodies of unsuspecting persons and controlling them to it's own demented purposes. When you return to your Houses, you will be given more information about the nature and habits of these loathsome creatures. Knowledge is our best defense at the moment... because, I'm truly sorry to say, there are no known ways to track such a creature other than simple observation. The Ministry officials will remain, trying to help us locate and dispatch this creature if it remains on the grounds, but for now we simply cannot guarantee your safety if you are left to wander the grounds on your own."
There was a murmur of fear and uneasiness at this.
"If you wish to return to your homes and receive your schoolwork by owl, it will be allowed at your discretion until the crises has been abated. The carriages will be available immediately following breakfast. For those of you who chose to remain... until further notice, classes and all extracurricular activities have been suspended. You will be given your assignments for your classes in your Houses. You will take your meals as a group. Trips to the library will be scheduled, and no group of students shall leave their Houses without at least two teachers to accompany them. All houses will also be sealed half an hour before dusk each night, and not even owls will be allowed entrance. Today I'm sure we will have a number of departures to work out, but starting tomorrow we will schedule some time after lunch for you to go out on the grounds for some much needed fresh air each day. It should be relatively safe so long as the sun is at it's zenith. I cannot tell you how sorry I am that this has happened, but I assure you that we will do everything within our power to catch this creature as soon as possible."
Dumbledore glanced over at Snape for a moment, before clearing his throat, putting an end to the conversation that had started almost the instant he fell silent. "Professor Snape has also requested to say a few words." He said, nodding his head to Snape in acknowledgment and taking his seat. Snape rose, looking more forbidding than ever as he slowly stalked around the head table, coming to a stop in the center of the open space between it and the House tables. The nearest students shifted away a bit unconsciously as he surveyed them, his eyes lingering on the Gryffindor table. There was no need for him to silence them. In the face of his unmistakable anger, not a sound was heard in the entire hall.
"It seems..." He began, his voice low but carrying, "That there has been a deplorable lack of House unity. A student has even been placed in grave danger by his own housemates. I don't think I need to recount the incident of which I speak." He said, glaring at Gryffindor table. Most of them suddenly found other places to stare, their cheeks flushing with shame. "Last night, that nearly proved fatal. This student, who should have been able to depend on his Housemates for help and protection, was forced to seek such help elsewhere... and very nearly did not make it." He paused, but silence continued to reign. Ron was beet red and staring intently at the table before him. Blaise was resting his hand on Ron's leg under the table for comfort. "We in Slytherin find this disgraceful. Especially since this breakdown in unity seems to stem from something so simple as the telling of a single truth. The truth may not have benefited your House, but that didn't justify the treatment that was received." He hissed, glaring once again at the Gryffindor table. They were all looking decidedly uncomfortable by now.
Snape surveyed the silent assemblage. "Despite the events of last night, I cannot trust that this despicable breach in trust will cease. It was for this reason that we in Slytherin held a vote early this morning. Our decision was unanimous." He straightened a bit more, "Slytherin house hereby declares Sanctuary to Ronald and Ginevra Weasley. These two have risked ridicule and bodily harm, perhaps even their very lives, simply to do the honorable thing on behalf of a member of Slytherin house. One did nothing more than tell the truth, the other defended one unable to defend himself. By the authority of the charter set forth by Hogwarts' four original founders, we grant this as a matter of honor. Any who attack them, attack all of Slytherin house. Under these guidelines, we retain the right to defend them at any time, and in any fashion we deem necessary until we unanimously agree that the threat has been removed, or they graduate from Hogwarts. Consider yourselves warned." He said ominously, turning in a swirl of black and returning to his seat.
Everyone just sat in stunned silence for a long moment before the first hushed whispers began. In moments the Hall was rumbling with conversation. The students barely even noticed when the food appeared on their tables.
Ginny and Ron were looking around at the Slytherins, still in shock. The Slytherins were all just smiling at them. Ron looked over at Blaise, "What... just happened?" he asked, still unable to grasp the enormity of what Snape had just said.
Blaise gave Ron's leg a squeeze, then patted it playfully, "You just got adopted." he said with a smirk.
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When they returned to the Dungeon, Snape stood at the door, casting detecting spells on each student as they passed. Once they were all in, he closed and locked the door. He didn't seal it with the runes, but it was still reassuring.
They all gathered in the Common Room, as instructed, but to their surprise, it was not Snape who went up to stand before them, but Draco. Actually it was Darien, but with his dark glasses in place, no one could tell. He surveyed them for a moment, then as soon as he was sure he had their undivided attention, he began. "Shadow Demons. Here's the basics: They inhabit the bodies of unsuspecting people... they can go unnoticed, even by their host, for so long as they wish to be... unless of course certain spells are used to detect them. They prefer darkness and especially night, as their name would suggest, and are, unfortunately, extremely easy to pass from person to person. They can pass unnoticed through simple physical contact, or even shadows at night. Very rarely will they leave a host without another to pass directly into. They wear the person as a shield against detection and sunlight, and therefore tend to develop a bit of a phobia against being outside a body. Sunlight weakens them and can even kill young ones. They live off of souls they have stolen from witches and wizards, carrying them inside and continuously draining off the excess energy only magically endowed souls exude. If you can catch them off guard, they are susceptible to physical attacks and even magical attacks if you can take them down with the first spell. Unfortunately, as we all now know only too well, they are virtually impervious to magical attacks if they are expecting them. They use their demonic powers to gather the energy from such attacks and either absorb it or deflect it back at the caster. Their native language is very disturbing for witches and wizards to hear because of it's demonic nature, and damage they inflict with spells they cast in their own language or directly through physical attack by themselves or their current hosts also tend to leave scars, despite healing magic that would normally have healed the wounds without leaving so much as a blemish. I'm sure many of us already knew that as well..." He said, scratching at the spot where one of the spells had left a pale pink welt on his left side.
He dropped his arm when he realized what he was doing, starting to pace as he began speaking again. "Once on their guard, they are susceptible only to Green magic, as all things other than souls that are pure and natural are anathema to them... but unfortunately that form of magic is apparently very rarely taught nowadays, and it would takes weeks for me to teach you enough of the basics to even get you casting. Another important subject... souls. When they inhabit a body, they cannot take the soul and still utilize that person's wand, since our wands only work if they resonate with our souls, therefor the person's soul is safe so long at the demon remains... once they are finished with their host, however, they will often steal their soul as they leave them unless they must flee quickly. There aren't any wards to keep them from inhabiting you that I know of, unfortunately. If any of you know of one, please inform Snape and we will of course see if we can buy or make them. Any questions?"
He fell silent, coming to a stop and looking over his somewhat stunned Housemates.
"How do you know all that?" Crabbe asked softly.
Darien looked at him for a moment, then said simply, "Next question."
Crabbe looked disconcerted and fell silent.
"Why did this one come out of hiding?" An intimidated looking first year asked from her place on the floor.
"Good question." Darien said thoughtfully. "Most likely it was its vindictive nature that drew it out. These creatures are vain and extremely arrogant... and there is nothing that enrages a Shadow Demon more than being crossed. They take it as a personal insult. Once it feels this has happened, it will stop at nothing to get vengeance. This is why I believe it is still on the grounds. It's vendetta has not yet been appeased, not to mention whatever purpose brought it here in the first place. Only direct orders from its master can override such impulses."
"Its master?" a third year asked, his eyes widening.
Darien nodded. "These creatures don't usually go wandering about on their own. They greatly prefer deep subterranean caverns and will not venture above ground unless forced. It was SENT. Before you ask, I don't know who its master is... but I'm sure we all have a good hunch."
There was a lot of worried muttering.
Crabbe looked around, furrowing his brow, "But... not that we agree with them or anything, but half of us are related to Death Eaters. Why would it attack us?"
"We weren't the target. We got in it's way. Apparently it was not given specific orders not to harm Slytherins. It would have been nice, but oh well. If we're lucky, perhaps it's master will contact it when he hears about the attack and call it off... but we can't assume he will be able to... or will even WANT to." Darien said with a shrug.
"How do you tell if someone has one of those things in them?" Millicent asked.
"Well... mostly it is a change in attitude... it can be very subtle, but they seem unable to inhabit a body without effecting it in some way. I'm afraid I can't be any more specific than that, as they are all highly individual."
"So these things just live to jump from person to person, stealing souls?" A girl near the front asked, confused.
Darien considered that. "No... their need for souls is usually sated after the first dozen or so that they steal... after that the souls they carry are enough to sustain them... and they steal additional souls more for pleasure... They revel in chaos and the pain of mortals... They are driven by their lust for pleasures... often driving their human hosts to provide these pleasures for them..." At the many confused looks, Darien rolled his eyes behind his glasses. "Let me spell it out. Among other things, the people possessed by these creatures tend to like to shag a lot. And since Shadow Demons are asexual, they don't narrow their desires to one sex or the other either... so a sudden change in sexual preference can be an indicator as well. They will only refrain from such activities if it is so out of character for their host that it would reveal their hiding place or interfere with their master's plans."
"Blimey!" Goyle said with a smirk, "It gets in here and we'll never find it!"
That brought a round of laughter that broke the tension that had been building.
Darien chuckled, then waved his hand for silence. When they had settled, he continued. "Well, thankfully we will be checking everyone before they enter our House, as Snape did upon your return from breakfast, and every night after dinner, Snape will seal off the Dungeon. Snape will also be teaching a number of the upperclassmen to cast these spells so he doesn't have to spend every waking moment in front of the door! The other Houses may lose a lot of sleep, but you can sleep soundly. There's no way it's getting through THAT barrier." He straightened a bit, "On a sad note, this means we will all have to do a better job cleaning up after ourselves. The house elves will only be allowed entrance to Slytherin Dungeon once a day while we are at lunch."
There were a lot of groans and grumbles at that.
"You going to check the house elves too?" A pensive looking second year boy asked.
Darien smirked. "Don't need to. House elves are magical creatures... as such, they are unsuitable hosts for Shadow Demons. Their very nature is to serve us and never allow us to come to harm... and this instinct is much stronger than the Demon's will... trying to force its way into one of them and trying to make it do its bidding would almost certainly destroy the Demon. Personally, I hope this one doesn't know that... It would certainly take care of our problem."
That brought more smirks.
"I have given all of this information to the other House heads as well, so... don't go acting odd in front of the other students or they might take it as an excuse to attack and say they just thought you were possessed." He said with a smirk.
There were some more smirks at this, but also a bit of uneasy shifting. After a minute, Goyle cleared his throat, looking decidedly uncomfortable, but resolute. "Draco... you know how we all feel about you... but..." He looked around, gathering strength from the supportive looks of his friends, then took a deep breath, "What the bloody hell is up with you?" There was a murmur of agreement, "I mean I hate to say it, but you are the only one who meets almost that entire description... You've been acting strange all year, now you're suddenly so... different... and now you're an expert on some obscure creature no one has seen in a century and won't even tell us how... and I couldn't help but notice you were the only one Snape didn't check on the way in..."
There was more nodding and agreement as they all watched closely for his reaction.
Darien sighed, "He didn't check me because I'm the only one here that is immune. The creature can't enter me."
They were all looking at eachother in confusion. Darien looked over at Snape. Snape just shrugged. "I think they can handle it, but I'll leave that up to you."
Darien sighed again and nodded. "It can't enter me because... well... I'm already... occupied..." He let out a little groan of frustration and went over to his usual chair, in which Ginny was currently sitting, and slumped down wearily on the arm, ruffling his fingers through his already tousled hair. "This is going to take a lot of explaining..."
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