Chapter 41. Apocalypse, an interview and a lie.
In the future.
Jakob blinked in disarray as he stumbled out of the burn circle. The sky was red, and ash was falling so slowly from the sky that it seemed like it had hovered.
Everything was still spinning, so he closed his eyes, trying to keep his balance as e took another step, but his leg gave out, and he fell forwards.
When he thought that his lips would kiss the ground, someone or something caught him gently and held him in a firm embrace. He was raised up on his feet again, but the hug didn't stop.
He felt something familiar in the embrace, and he frowned as he took in the scent of the person holding him.
"Pansy?" He opened his eyes in confusion, and the woman gently pushed herself away from him so he could have a better look.
"Hello, stranger." he shook his head when he saw the lady in Infront of him. She looked so much like his roommate, but this was a woman, not the soon 14-year-old he knew.
She still had her black fringe, and that smile on her face was almost like the one he was used to seeing, except for three things.
Her smile showed fangs instead of her normal white teeth. Razor's sharp fangs which made her warm smile not seem warm at all.
Black veins stood out from her neck and crawled up to her cheeks, and when Jakob followed them to her eyes, he locked eyes with her with a mixture of shock and sorrow. Her beautiful eyes were not the dark brown that they usually were. They were blood red. Making her pupils stand out as that was the only colour present there.
"Pansy, what happened? Did something go wrong? Did I do this to you?"
The woman embraced him again, putting a hand behind his head, and slowly stroking his hair.
"Everything went fine. Your Pansy are safely back in your own time. I just needed a moment to talk with you."
Jakob carefully released himself from the woman's embrace and stared back at her.
"What happened to you? Why are you looking so... different? You still look beautiful, of course." added Jakob as he saw the raised eyebrow on the woman in front of him.
She laughed, but Jakob found it hard to smile back at her when those razer Shap teeth stood out so threateningly.
"I had almost forgotten the gentlemen you could sometimes be." she moved closer and grabbed his hand.
"I needed you to see this. The consequences of that night."
Jakob frowned as he stared at the woman, who slowly turned her head, gesturing at the desolation around them.
Jakob followed her gaze, and only now did he see the destruction around them.
"where are we?"
"Don't you recognise Hogwarts? Or what's left of it, at least. They lost the great war, and this is what remains of it."
The Slytherin boy looked around and now noticed the burned forest. The few threes that still stood were black as his own darkness, but there was no life, no magic left.
He glanced at the big crater that once had been the dark lake, seeing skeletons instead of water littering the bottom. He wanted to close his eyes to this nightmare, but instead, he turned around.
Were the castle would normally stand high and grand but now only showed the ruins of what once was.
"What… what happened?" Asked Jakob again to confirm what Pansy had said before.
Pansy had followed his gaze, not showing any emotions as she spoke.
"You happened. Something in you changed when we got back from the time travel. Then something happened, Christmas break, that changed you forever. I can't tell you what because I don't know what that might do to the future, but you closed yourself and avoided people. Even me for some time. When you finally came back to me, you looked so happy. I remember that day. You told me you had found a way to open the gates of hell."
His eyes widened.
"I succeed?" Asked Jakob baffled. He admitted that he had been having those thoughts, but he never considered it possible.
Pansy gave him a sad smile.
"You succeeded in bringing every demon and pillar here. You failed in your goal. When they entered this world, they killed everything. Everyone we have ever loved or cared for is dead. The pillars infected you, they turned you against everyone, and you became the new ruler here when they left for heaven. To start a new war."
"Wait. You said they killed everyone. Why are you still here?"
The woman was about to answer when a screeching could be heard, and they both turned toward the burned forest.
A flying creature flew their way in a weird motion, and Jakob took out his wand.
Pansy moved Infront of him and raised her hand with her palm facing the red-skinned demon who looked similar to a human-sized bat. Having arms and legs with claws stretching towards them as it noticed the two magical.
It opened its mouth, and large, bloodred fangs could be seen as it screeched again.
Pansy closed her hand and then opened it again.
Jakob watched in shock as the ground started to move and dead bodies rose up in front of them. He could see the torn Hogwarts robes and his heart fell when he saw Draco's rotten face. He turned back to stare at them with a claw mark across his face and flesh that seemed to have been torn off his neck and ribs.
His best friend still had that blonde hair, now dirty and mostly gone, as he opened his mouth, letting out a low moan as the small cluster of zombies ran towards the demon. They were fast, faster than the dead villagers he had seen in Salem, and they only had one objective in mind as they rushed the batlike creature.
Jumping unnaturally high, a stream of zombies caught the demon mid-flight and leeched on, starting to bite and tear off its flesh and wings while the creature screamed in pain, trying to shake the dead off it.
The demon fell, and the zombies continued to feast on the whining batlike thing until Pansy closed her hand again. The small cluster fell lifelessly on the ground again.
She turned around, walked over to Jakob, grasped his shoulder and stared at him.
"Jakob, you know that I will do anything for you. But beg you, listen to my pleas. Never open that portal. You won't win against them. Please promise me."
Jakob nodded in confusion.
"You made the dead?" was his only shocking question.
"I can turn them temporarily, enhancing them with the gift of Kanaloa I got in Hawai. The dead villagers in Salem were the pillars doing. The whiches opened a weak gate. They needed a key, which was the LeFay of that time. They could only release a small dose of the first wave without her. The portal you opened turned 80% of the muggles worldwide. Do you see now why I brought you here? Please, Jakob, promise me."
"I promise I won't open the gate, but Pansy, are you the only one left?"
The woman didn't answer him and moved him to another rune scheme with a relieved look on her face.
"If they find a way to get here, use the dementors. Ekrizdis was right about them. They were a formidable foe and will serve you well."
Jakob registered what was about to happen and stopped her, grabbing the woman's black veiny hands in his.
"Come with me. You can start a new life in my world. I promise that I will take care of you."
The woman smiled and leaned in, giving him a soft kiss.
"You already have your Pansy, and I can't leave him. I'm everything he has left, and he will be miserable without me, but you can change it all."
Jakob nodded and moved his hand into his pouch, grabbing some of the sand before he raised his hand towards his other pocket where the last sphere lay.
"I'm so sorry for what I did to you, Pansy." Jakob looked at her, tears in his eyes from the betrayal he had committed.
"Thank you, it means a lot, hearing you finally say it." answered the woman giving him one last smile.
Darkness manifested and created a small tornado further away. Pansy, who had turned hastily and caught it, shifted back to Jakob in panic. The Quade heir had halted as he had looked confused at the woman and then towards the darkness that seemed so familiar.
"He is coming, Jake. You need to hurry. Go!" Jakob touched the sphere, and the runes started to glow.
The darkness cleared, and a man looking like Jakob stepped out.
The teenager's eyes widened as he saw the black torn wings and monstrous face of the man who grinned at him, showing the same fangs Pansy had.
"You won't change anything." yelled the adult version of Jakob with a strange voice.
"I will kill myself before turning into you. You disgusting piece of shit! Shouted Jakob back, giving the now murderous creature the finger.
The monster roared and raised his hand, shooting a ray of pitch black towards Jakob. Before it could reach him, the runes activated and spun the boy away from certain death.
Back to the present timeline.
The runes started to glow up again like they had before, and Dumbledore took out his wand together with Thomas, ready to defend Jakob if something was hunting him.
The blinding light appeared stronger this time, and when it dissolved, it left an unconscious Boy who lay on the burned grass.
Thomas didn't say anything and rushed over to his heir, checking for his son's pulse and breathing out in reassurance.
"He is alive, but I must take him to St Mungo's."
Emma, the receiver of his words, walked hastily over and hunched down, caressing her brother's forehead.
"Father, he is burning up."
"I have lowered the wards. You can go," stated Dumbledore calmly.
Thomas took Jakob's hand, and a small pop could be heard as he and his heir apperated away. Emma gave Pansy and Ivy a glance seeing the worried expression on their faces.
With a small pop, she also apperated, leaving the two girls who had been so close with the boy for almost three months. They quickly glanced at each other before their parents followed the headmaster inside. They had been with Jakob for a long time and depended on him for their sense of safety, and now he was gone.
Everyone seemed too shocked to notice the ash on the boy's robe or the burned smell coming from his robes. All except Dumbledore, who was in deep thought while he led the two families towards his office. Where had the boy been? What had he seen?
Jakob slowly opened his eyes, feeling like he wanted to sleep for a while longer, but the annoying sunlight was right on his face.
When his eyes focused, he glimpsed that Emma was sleeping on a chair beside his bed. Her usual blonde hair was hiding half of her face, and there was redness around her closed eyes. She had her arms crossed and held her wand in her left hand, ready if something were to happen.
Jakob looked at his sister, and even if he wanted, he could be mad at her anymore. She was his sister, and even though she could get angry sometimes, she cared for him, a care only rivalled by Bella.
He cleared his throat, and the blonde jerked in her seat, looking worriedly at him.
"Are you feeling alright? Do you feel any pain?"
Jakob chuckled as he gave her a reassuring smile.
"You know, I would have been fine even if you went back home to take a rest."
Emma didn't respond to his words and instead hugged her brother. He hugged her back, and the girl who had kept her shit together since that day she had messed up broke when she saw the smile he gave her and started to cry.
"I'm so sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am. Please forgive me. I promise I won't ever do something like that again." The sobbing got louder, and Jakob hugged her tighter, making a circle on her back with his hand and hushing her gently.
"I'm also sorry. We both can be a little Quade sometimes. Let's forget about it, okay?"
Emmas only responded by holding him closer as she cried for a time.
When fifteen minutes had passed, Jakob honestly started to feel a bit restless, and he had to gently push her away.
"It's alright, Emma. I'm fine. Everything is going to be fine." The blonde wiped her tears as she chuckled.
"You have been gone for so long. I didn't want to believe that you were… and that the last time you saw me, we… And now you are sitting here and smiling at me."
"It's like a dream come trough," answered Jakob dryly to ease the situation and earned a mock pout from his sister.
"Is he here?" asked Jakob, with no trace of his smile left.
Emma sighed.
"He, your father, has a name, and he is away at the moment. Brother, Father did everything in his power to get you back. He hasn't been the same since you were gone. He really cares for you, and even if he won't say it out loud, he regrets what he did to you."
Jakob ingored Emmas word and sat up in bed.
"Pansy and Potter got back alright?"
Emma nodded and leaned back, wearing an amused smile.
"When they told us about you being pulled away by something, I could understand Miss Parkinson's reaction. But why would the blood traitor act like she cared about you?"
Jakob frowned.
"We fought a war, and it was a thousand years back in time. Even if Miss Potter is a blood traitor, she did her part to get us back and deserves some respect for that."
"You fought a war?" questioned Emma baffled, seeing a smirk on her brother's face.
"The start of it was beautiful. The chaos and rage were something to behold," spoke Jakob looking like Luna used to do when she talked. Then the smile diminished.
"Then I saw them murdering innocents, children. And it suddenly wasn't so glorious anymore."
Emma looked in awe at her brother; for a moment, they both sat there, thinking. Jakob shook his head as he returned back to reality.
"Well, I need to take a walk."
His sister looked worriedly at him, trying to raise her hand and stopping her brother.
"You should do that, the healers said-"
"I don't care about what the healers said. I need a moment to get dressed."
Emma hesitated for a second before nodding, not wanting to start a new fight with her brother.
"If you feel anything, you call, alright?" Jakob nodded and watched as she closed the door, leaving him alone in the room.
He looked down at the hospital clothes he was wearing in disgust and changed to the neatly folded black clothes that lay on his nightstand beside a glass of water that he also swept in two large gulps.
When Jakob strolled out, he looked at the white and blue corridor.
"It's not the Hogwarts ground or my backyard, but it will do, I guess." he strode forwards as he thought about the things he had witnessed in the future.
"Shit, I really messed up. How could I turn out like that? How could I let Pansy… She summoned Draco's corpse like it was nothing."
A shiver went through his body as he remembered the rotten face of his best friend, and he shook his head.
"I need to know how I opened that portal so I don't do it accidentally like the portal back in time."
He sighed as he continued.
"But opening the portal was the best idea I had to get rid of the muggles. Well, back to the drawing board, I guess."
The voice inside made him turn his head as he passed an open door.
Jakob halted as he saw who was in there.
"Finnigan?" Jakob glanced around before walking inside and saw the boy who had bullied Hermione in their first year. The only casualty that evening when Harry had made him go inside and fight the troll. The boy Dumbledore had told everyone was fine and had left the school because of his worried mother.
The older boy was seated on a chair swaying back and forth, looking outside the window.
As Jakob got closer, he saw that Finnigan had a big scar on the right side of his head, making a bald spot from the beginning from the hairline to the back of his head.
His hands and arms were close to his chest, and looked like they were cramping and twitching as the boy continued to sway back and forth, making a low sound.
He sat beside the Seamus, who slowly moved his head towards Jakob, and a weird smile broke out on the boy's face as he tried to say something.
Jakob frowned in confusion as he only heard grunts and moans, not understanding a thing of what the boy said.
"Are you a friend of Seamus?" Jakob jerked as he heard the voice, and a woman carrying a cup of coffee in one hand and pictures in another looked at him, wearing a warm smile.
"Umm... Sort of. We were in the same year." answered Jakob, feeling a bit uncomfortable and stood up.
"Oh, don't leave. Seamus is so happy that he is finally receiving a visitor. Where are my manors? I'm Mrs Finnigan."
The woman put down the photos she was holding on a table beside her and reached out her hand. Jakob could see the dark rings around her eyes and the pure joy of having someone that had come to visit her baby boy.
Jakob shooked the offered hand and bowed slightly.
"Felix Tolly. You said he hasn't received any visitors? He had a lot of friends in his house. Haven't any of them-"
"No, but I Imagen that they must be too busy with school and such, isn't that right, Seamus?" She stroked the boy's head, who had started looking out the window again, ignoring the two other people in the room.
" Imagen that," said Jakob dryly. The golden group does not give a shit about the boy who didn't make it, he continued in his mind.
"I was actually on my way to get something to eat. Do you mind keeping him company for a while? It won't take long, maybe five minutes tops."
Jakob nodded and saw the relieved mother heading outside.
"I promise I will return soon!"
He turned towards Seamus and stared down at the boy.
"So this is what awaits those who follow a false leader. Being stuck in a room and forgotten by their friends." Said Jakob in a low, low voice.
He has learned his lesson. This life must have been worse than death. With those thoughts, he made his decision, hoping that Harry would break when he saw Seamus again.
With those thoughts, Jakob slowly put his hand on the scar, and a red light began to glow.
Seamus's cramped hands and arms slowly relaxed, and the swinging halted. When Jakob was done, Seamus looked at him in surprise and shock.
"What did you…. I can speak?" the boy smiled and moved his hands, twisting them and clenching his fists.
Jakob gave him a slight smile as he turned to walk away.
"Thank you so much."
The Slytherin boy turned around.
"Don't tell anyone that it was me. I gave you this second chance, and I can take it away. Use it well."
The boy, who still couldn't believe what was happening, only nodded as tears ran down his cheeks as he looked down at his hands, opening and closing them again, laughing in joy.
When Jakob walked out, he was met by Mrs Finnigan, who looked slightly surprised to see him in front of her.
"I only forgot-"
"Mum! Mum, come in here! Mum!"
She stopped her talking as she heard her son inside the room calling for her in joy.
She stared wide-eyed at Jakob before rushing inside, and while Jakob walked away, he could hear the two shoutings and cry in joy.
"See, Pansy, I'm not always a monster. I can be good sometimes too."
After the little healing incident, Jakob returned to his own room, sat on his bed again, and looked through his bag, checking to see that the items were still intact.
"I would really hate it if my armour got destroyed." sighed Jakob in relief as he had the crusader set on his bed and inspecting it fondly.
There was a loud knocking on the door, and Thomas walked inside, losing the words he was about to speak when he saw the knight's armour.
"Isn't that what muggles used to wear when they fought in wars?"
Jakob nodded and looked down at the armour like it was his little kitten.
"I did fight a war and won. They called me the red knight." chuckled Jakob as Thomas sat down, a bit surprised.
"You fought in a war?"
"we stormed Jerusalem, and I killed a bunch of people. They called me the red knight because I was covered in blood."
He glanced at the older man, and Thomas chuckled at the discreet hint or threat.
"You might be able to kill a few men, but –"
"I didn't just kill men, father. But enough about that. What do you want?"
Lord Quade frowned at his son's slight disrespect but decided to ignore it.
"I just wanted to make sure that you were alright. When you are healthy enough, You will, together with the two girls, travel to the ministry for an interview by Reeta Skeeter."
Jakob raised an eyebrow towards the man, not knowing if this was some kind of joke, but Thomas only sighed.
"The ministry wanted to be there when you returned. We agreed to let you and the two others be interviewed instead. It was the only way to keep those savages at bay."
The Slytherin boy shrugged.
"I can do it tomorrow."
His father heard Jakob's tone that insinuated that the conversation was over. The lord looked around to find something else to speak about, not wanting to leave just yet.
"Did you only fight a war over there, or did you go on other adventures as well?"
Jakob didn't respond and started to move his armour back into his bag.
Thomas stood up, knowing that he would get more out of Jakob right now and walked towards the door.
"You haven't even said you're sorry."
Thomas turned and was fed up with the attitude of his son.
"You almost killed your sister." hissed lord Quade as he glared towards his son.
"She should have thought about that before destroying my eardrums. And you cursed me for defending myself."
"You aren't defending yourself when your opponent is dying, boy."
Jakob stood up from his bed, giving his father a matching glare.
"So what was it you did you do to me then? I was unarmed, and you cursed me."
Thomas took a threatening step forward, but Jakob stood firm.
"I punished you. You are not the lord of this house. You will learn that or be-"
"You won't cast me out." interrupted Jakob.
"I don't know why, but somehow I'm important to you. If you could have disinterested me, you would have done it long ago and given Emma the title."
Thomas frowned in confusion.
"What are you talking about? Why would you even think that you don't matter to me?"
Jakobs smirk grew larger.
"I know how you and mother met and what you really felt about being put together by him. You did it because you were forced, and I was born shortly after."
The bearded man looked stunned at Jakob.
"Who told you these lies?"
"Lies?" asked Jakob in mock surprise.
"They aren't lying, father. Emma was already born and coming from a pureblood house that only left one answer. Emma's mother was dead when you married mine. Seeing that you favour my dear elder sister so clearly over me but raise me up like I'm a spectacular dog breed. I can only Imagine that I'm important to someone you would respect or fear."
Thomas didn't say anything and had his emotions in check as he stared at the boy. Jakob saw that his father would give him a response and sighed.
"Does Emma know?"
"I told her when you disappeared."
Jakob nodded and sat back in his bed.
"You may not have any love for me as a father, but at least give me the decency to be truthful about it. I have tried to be like you my whole life and make you proud. Tried to make you look at me like you look at her."
Thomas took a step forwards again, seeing his son looking out the window.
"I won't lie to you about the past. I didn't love your mother like I did Emma's. But when I first laid my eyes on you in your mother's arms, you made me care for her like I never had before. She brought you into the world, and I showered her with gold and power the Quade family had to offer to thank her daily for giving me you."
Jakob didn't meet his father's eyes and soon heard the door close behind him.
"So it wasn't you who killed her." whispered the boy disappointedly.
The next morning, Jakob was led through the ministry by the minister himself and his father.
"This won't take long, I hope? He needs to return back to school."
The minister chuckled nervously.
"School? If the story is true about Heir Quade being taught by the founders, he is ready to find a job, wouldn't you say heir Quade?"
Jakob gave the minister a charming smile.
"They taught me a lot, minister, but I don't see a future here. it's a nice little place fitting for those that don't have a goal in life." Fudge, who didn't recognise the backhanded comment, gave the boy a warm smile as they continued on with Thomas, discreetly shaking his head at the stupidity of his minister.
Soon they arrived, and the minister gestured for Jakob to walk inside.
The Quade heir gave a final bow as he walked inside, seeing that Ivy and Pansy were already seated on one side of a table.
Pansy looked bored, and Ivy had just grabbed one of the chocolate muffins from a large basket on the table.
They both glanced towards the door and got up when they saw Jakob walk inside.
He discreetly raised up his hand, showing them not to come over and looked towards one of the walls.
They were watching them. His father had told him that they would be monitoring their behaviour. This was an interview, but this was also a lab for the unspeakable to monitor their behaviour.
The two girls sat down again, and Jakob took his seat in the middle, waiting for the reporter to enter.
The door opened just as Jakob grabbed one of the blueberry muffins, and Rita Skeeter walked in with the photographer.
" Ah. Wonderful. How…. Marvellous." She took a seat and opened her bag. A notebook and quill flew up beside her. The blonde curly woman with glasses stared at the three while her quill began to scribble in the notebook. Two of the three students stared back nervously at the famous journalist, but Jakob focused on unwrapping his muffin.
" It's so good to see you all safe and sound. My name is Rita Skeeter, and I will ask you some questions about the trip. I do hope that is fine with you all?"
" Why is she talking to us like we are idiots? Whispered Pansy towards Jakob, who had taken a bite and Ivy snorted.
He nudged the two as he noticed Rita looking confused at them.
" Miss Potter. Can you tell the readers what was your first thought when you knew that you had travelled back in time?"
" um.. confused?"
Jakob, who felt his hunger grow, took another muffin and unwrapped it as the questions continued.
" Miss Parkinson, was there a moment when you feared for your boyfriend's life?"
Jakob looked amusedly over to the Slytherin on his left.
" He is not my boyfriend." answered the girl frowning towards the blonde woman who shrugged innocently.
" That is not what the rumours are saying. And how about your thoughts when you discovered that Miss Potter had the same feelings towards him as you?"
Jakob rolled his eyes and interrupted her.
" With all due respect Ms…."
" skeeter." answered the older woman giving Jakob an unamused glare.
" sorry, ms Skeeter, wouldn't it be better to ask us real questions instead of the rumours I can tell you right now have no actual truth in them."
Skeeter rolled her eyes as she picked up another notebook in her bag.
" Well then, we might start with you them heir Quade."
The questions began, and this time more seriously, and the three teens answered the ones they felt comfortable answering.
"Heir Quade, this question is for you. Can you tell us what your thought about the founder's personalities?"
Jakob thought for a moment before he answered.
"They were all the same, more or less, but Slytherin wasn't really what I envisioned." This made Rita sit straighter in her chair, looking expectantly at the boy who continued.
"I studied under him, and we got into a conversation one day."
"Do tell." Rita almost purred, feeling that this information would give her a good bonus this year.
" I told him about the war and blood purity, but Slytherin wasn't pleased at all. He..." Jakob stopped for dramatic effect, and the two girls, who knew that the boy was obviously lying, looked very interested to hear what the boy was about to say next.
"He cursed me. Lord Slytherin then proceeded to scold me over the ideas I had been fed to believe. He had no idea why the world thought magic was stronger in the pureblood families and that mud..." The actor flinched a little, almost like he could remember the curse from the bald man when he was about to say the slur.
Rita looked almost worriedly at the boy.
" He wanted muggle-borns to study at school. He didn't want their parents to know about their magic. The other founders thought the idea of kidnapping children from their homes to be barbaric behaviour. Still, I can see why Slytherin wanted this."
" Why?" Asked Rita, with her wide eyes glued on the boy.
"Because muggles are dangerous. They were burning magicals left and right, even their own kind, if they suspected they had any connection to us."
Everyone in the room sat silently and stared at the boy, who shrugged and finished his little speech.
" Slytherin was a great wizard, and I think he saw what would come to pass if we didn't act more aggressively. We have hidden away from them, and now they are an even greater threat than we can imagen."
Ivy looked stunned at the boy sitting beside her. What the hell was he talking about? She wanted to speak up, to tell Rita that the story he had said wasn't true but knowing that Jakob was right now helping the muggle-borns. She didn't. The redhead sat silently beside him.
Rita finished the interview and thanked the three for the time. When She walked out, both Ivy and Pansy gave Jakob a questioning stare.
"Not here. Answered Jakob, not meeting their eyes.
The three were then returned to Hogwarts and received a brief welcome from the headmaster. Ivy joined her little group that was waiting outside his office, not saying goodbye to Pansy or even looking at Jakob.
I told you that you only liked the image of me. Thought the boy as the two Slytherins made their way down the grand staircase.
"Jake, you know that this will have consequences, right? You told the world that the dark lord lied to start a war." Whispered Pansy worriedly.
The boy nodded.
"But the world needs to change and fast. I won't see it burn."
Pansy looked suspiciously at the boy, who showed an expression he usually only carried when he had made up his mind about something.
"You are going to tell me everything when we are back in our dorm, promise."
Jakob looked at the girl and almost saw the woman he had met. The black veins, the fangs and the words she had said to him.
"I will never shut you out, Pansy, I promise."
The two Slytherins were now standing outside the Slytherin entrance, and the black-fringed girl gave Jakob a mischievous smirk.
" pure."
The entrance opened, and when Jakob walked inside, the whole Slytherin dorm was cheering as the two walked inside. Small fireworks were shown a few meters over their heads, and a big green banner with the text welcome back, Quade and Parkinson were hovering above them.
Jakob and Pansy walked over to their friends, who were first in line, and the Quade heir gave Draco a big hug.
" Good to see you again, mate."
Draco looked a bit surprised but welcomed the hug.
" Did I die in the past or what?"
The party went on for hours, and Jakob, who had been gifted shots from his god friend Marcus stumbled out the entrance in need of fresh air.
He walked the lonely dungeons and headed up the stairs. Not being as smooth as he wished, he doubted anyone would punish him today.
When he walked outside, he felt the cold air hitting his face, and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to finally be back after all that work.
He felt two hands slowly embracing him from his behind, and he frowned as he turned.
" Hello, little lamb."
Jakob stared into ms Webb's blue eyes and hugged her bag.
" Damned I missed you," whispered Jakob and felt Bella hug him harder.
" You are alright. But you need to return back to your dorm. The other teachers are going in rounds soon."
Jakob nodded and stumbled back.
" Are you… drunk?" asked Bella with a raised eyebrow.
Jakob shook his head.
" No, I'm just a little tipsy, maybe."
" Are you lying to me?" asked Ms Webb with an amused smile taking out her wand. Jakob put out a hand to stop her.
" I'm actually telling you the truth. You should have seen me in Jerusalem. I drank Godfrey under the table once. Wonder if I could find that chalice and try to-"
" What chalice?" asked Bella curiously.
" Nothing important said Jakob, and they continued down the steps again.
"Ms Webb, I told the world that Slytherin didn't believe in blood purity. That he had the same vision as Grindewald.
Bella stopped and stared at the boy, who looked sober and serious.
"Why did you do that?" asked the mad woman calmly.
"Because I was pulled into the future when the others returned. Everything was gone. Everyone was dead."
Bella gestured for him to continue.
" We need to mobilise. We can't fight each other when we have a bigger threat at our doorstep. Killing each other over something so idiotic as blood is going to be our downfall."
Bella caressed his cheek with her hand, looking lovingly at the boy.
"Your mother thought the same little lamb. She tried to reason with the dark lord about it, but I fear that her way of thinking was the thing that led to her demise."
" Was it the dark lord who killed my mother?" asked Jakob staring into Bellas's eyes.
" I don't know. But she was powerful, and the only one rivalling her was Dumbledore and the Dark lord. No one else would even stand a chance against her.
Jakob nodded, and before they entered the dungeons, she gave him one last hug and whispered.
"You will earn enemies, not only in your house but in the rest of the world, too. Be careful little lamb."
She turned, and Jakob smiled as he watched her walk away.
He opened the entrance and sat down with his friends, who were in a heated discussion.
" Jake tell Him that they aren't that big of a problem," said Draco with an annoyed tone directed towards Theo.
" You are going to have to give me more information than just they." answered the black-haired boy, confused.
" Muggles. They aren't a threat. The ones killed by them shouldn't bother the rest of us. They were just idiots."
Jakob frowned.
" What do you mean, muggles?"
Draco, now realising that Jakob had no idea what they were talking about, scratched the back of his head a bit awkwardly.
" Sorry, forgot you have been gone for almost three months. Just before you left, magical families in America were getting attacked by muggles. Some European countries have had the same issues, and three families here have also been targeted.
Jakob frowned.
" Do we know who targeted them? are they a group or what?"
Draco shrugged.
"They are just nobodies. The families that were attacked were low-status houses."
Jakob glanced at Pansy, and she put her hand inside her robe, taking out her wand in preparation for what Jakob was about to do next.
He sighed and stood up, getting onto the couch table in front of him and raising his wand up, and a bang was heard. Everyone in the room turned towards the boy, and he could feel his heart begin to beat faster. This was it.
" Everyone, I have a speech of sort to make. As everyone knows, my name is Jakob Quade."
The people in the room cheered as they believed Jakob would tell them something funny.
"My close friend Draco here told me that muggles weren't a threat to us after he went into a discussion." The students laughed mockingly at the thought.
" I am here to tell you the opposite. The muggle population is showing their true colours. We ought to be worried. Before anyone says anything against me, I will state that Lord Slytherin spoke with me about this." Everyone looked wide-eyed at the boy as they knew he was about to tell them something big. He could almost recognise Rita's eyes in the students as he continued.
" Lord Slytherin told me he never wanted us to spill magical blood over blood purity. He cursed me when I informed him about the war, and he wished for me to tell the world that he only wanted muggle-borns to be taken away from their muggle families. He never wished to harm them.
"You are lying!" yelled one of the Slytherin in the back, and Jakob raised an eyebrow.
" You can believe what you want. I'm only telling you what the greatest of the Slytherin four told me."
"Why should we even believe you. You sound like a blood traitor to me."
Jakob glanced down and saw that the voice belonged to Rosier, who walked over to him with her wand drawn.
Pansy had gotten up and pointed hers towards the girl, who pointed her back towards the girl.
" You want proof that I speak the truth? That I would never disgrace the founder of my house?" asked Jakob gaining the girl's attention.
" Pansy get me Saliza."
Pansy looked as confused as the rest of the students but nodded as she lowered her wand. Rosier didn't lower hers and instead pointed it towards Jakob.
"The Queen will hear of this betrayal, Quade."
Jakob gave her a firm nod and waited as the common room fell silent. When Pansy came out, people took a step back in fear as they saw the black snake with red eyes hissing at them as it was placed on Pansy's shoulder, and a path was made towards Jakob.
"What the bloody hell is that?" asked a scared Rosier, looking at the terrifying snake as Pansy raised her arm, letting it slither up to Jakob's outstretched one.
" You are finally showing me to the world, little darkness? I have missed you." Hissed Saliza as she bumped her head on his cheek.
"I start slowly with my housemates and family, and I missed you too, my favourite." Hissed Jakob back lovingly to his snake.
Saliza turned her head towards Rosier and hissed threateningly, making the stunned girl step back.
"She wants you to lower your wand, She will bite, and her venom will kill you painfully," said Jakob calmly as he dragged a finger on the snake's scale.
"You... You are a parselmouth?" stammered the girl lowering her wand and looking around at her classmates.
" Yepp. So do you still believe I would speak about the founder in such disrespect, Rosier?" The girl shook her head and stepped back into the sea of students that were watching the snake with a look of mesmerisation and fear.
" You really know how to win the people's attention, Heir Quade."
Jakob looked at the furthest back, where he saw Amy stand, and she slowly moved forwards, giving him an amused smile.
"My Queen, it's been a while," said Jakob giving her a slight bow.
Rosier turned towards Amy and was about to tell her something, but Amy raised her hand, stopping the girl as she went forwards to the boy and his snake.
She gave him a look that said move over, and Jakob reached out a hand, helping the girl up.
"Hello there, Saliza. I have missed your company," said Amy fondly as she took over Saliza, letting the snake slither into her arms.
" I won't stand here and tell you all to believe Jakob, but if you look at what he has done for our house, the answer should be quite clear."
Rosier looked at her Queen with a betrayed expression.
"You knew about this? about everything?"
" I am your Queen," answered Amy looking seriously at the girl below her.
" I won't believe him." She turned around and looked at the sea of students.
"If you are all so easily manipulated by this blood traitor."
Some of the students in the crowd nodded as the girl spoke.
" If you call me blood traitor one more time, Rosier, I will make sure everyone sees yours," said Jakob flicking out his wand.
" If you attack her now, she will win." Jakob sighed as he heard Amy whisper the truth to him.
Rosier glared at the boy and walked towards the dorm rooms, a third following her.
" Oh, as everyone knows," said Amy with a cheerful expression.
Rosier and the rest of her followers turned towards their Queen.
" The rules still stand. If someone ever speaks of what has transpired here tonight, for example, Jakob's little gift." Amy gave everyone in the room a stare that even made Jakob raise his eyebrows.
"They will be punished, and nothing will save you from my wrath."
Rosier turned and disappeared together with the rest of the ones believing Jakob to be a fool.
"I'm keeping her for the night." Said Amy as she walked inside the Queen's room, and Jakob, glad that she had stood by him, felt a frown when she didn't even glance back at him.
The party then continued, a bit more sombre than it had before. But with the new subject to talk about, people soon find themself in different conversations, and Jakob sat down with his friends again.
" You can't just drop that bomb, Jakob. What if our families get that information?" asked Draco worriedly.
"They will, It will be written in the news tomorrow," answered Jakob as he shrugged.
"Aren't you at least worried?" asked Daphne, knowing what the world would think of him.
" The world needs to wake up." was the short answer he replied with. As time passed, Jakob chose to sit silently and observed the different reactions his friends had about the information that he had given them.
Draco, Theo and Tracey had already left, and Jakob stretched as he listened to Crabbe and Goyle's conversation.
" That reminds me, I will be right back," said Pansy as she stood up and walked towards the third-year's dorm.
" How can Crabbe and Goyle have a conversation to remind you of something?" Chuckled the Quade heir and began thinking about the reproductions that would be happening in the morning and the possible situations that could arise.
When Pansy didn't return for a while, Jakob frowned, got up and walked over to the dorms.
She wasn't there.
"Pansy?" Jakob slowly walked to his door with the number 13 and opened it.
"Pansy, are you...Pansy?" The girl was sitting on the bed and stared at him with a shocked expression, tears running down her eyes like they were leaking.
Jakob rushed over to the girl and kneeled in front of her.
"Pansy, what happened? did someone hurt you? are you cursed?"
The black-haired girl shook her head slightly.
"Draco... I knocked to collect a potion book I had loaned him, and when he didn't answer, I unlocked it, and he... he..." Jakob's eyes widened, bolted out of his dorm.
He ran over to Draco's room and opened the door. Cursing himself for not seeing that his friends would be the obvious targets after his speech.
But what he saw wasn't what he had expected.
Jakob's eyes widened as he saw what Draco was doing. In the centre of the dorm room stood Draco and Theo with only their boxers on, embracing each other, kissing. With passion. The Quade heir was stuck. He wanted to close the door, pretending he hadn't seen them or at least not been there when they were in the middle of something important.
"Jakob, what the hell?" Draco had been the first to notice Jakob's stunned face. Theo turned, and his eyes widened as he saw his friend standing in the doorway.
"Umm... I'm sorry?"
Authors Note: Alright, I know a lot of things are going on right now. But that is what makes things exciting, isn't it?
Some might be confused about why Bella isn't trying to kill Jakob after hearing that he has insulted the dark lord's memory. But remember, in this world, Bella isn't as attached to the dark lord. She followed him because of Jakob's mother. He is also the reason for the separation.
Ps: this chapter had a lot of talk and discussions and saw only a small fight, but there will be more in the coming one. You can be sure of that!
Cheers!