Disclaimer: The characters and the world in the story belong to J.K. Rowling. I am not earning any profit from it.

Note: I have been a fanfiction reader for quite a lot of years before I gave this fic a shot, so if you see any ideas seeping in that I do not openly acknowledge, just let me know and I will add the credits. I have read too many to keep a track of them but I will try my best.

1) The idea of totems belongs to Catsarecool who is writing A Marauder's plan .

2) The basic idea of dimension travel comes from Hollow Thunder, Vital Lightning by Aariya07. You will see quite a few similarities in the first couple of chapters but it diverges after that.

3) Harry was born a girl as Juniper Anastasia Potter. Everything is as it is in canon except for her romances. This is not because I don't read slash or like it. You will see a lot of them in my favorites but because I don't think that I could do justice to that genre and because I want to do this. If you do not like such fics, do not read. Please do not flame. I will welcome criticisms, I know I am not perfect, just don't meaninglessly bash me for nothing.

4) THE RATING OF THE FIC HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 'M' because of slightly more graphic descriptions of violence. It is mostly a safety measure and does not contain anything triggering yet. Future updates will carry warnings of triggers, if any emerge in the course of the story.


For your references

"Talk"

"Parseltongue"


Chapter 35

Alke Mars

Cordelia's POV

Cordelia suspected that Tom had threatened everybody in the inner circle, or scolded them or just burst our loud in anger, or maybe his rage had a focused motive. Everybody was skittish. They avoided her and all of them were talking to her she was made of brittle crystals.

Abraxas had not talked to her at all, nor had Dorea, Lucretia and Alphard. She could sense shame and guilt. Orion was always the complacent one and Walburga seemed massively frustrated with everyone.

There was certain smugness in Gambol and Gore. Their interactions had not changed in the least with Cordelia. In fact, they were the only ones who were still normal. They did however seem friendlier around Tom. But as such their interactions had always been limited to a wave or a smile with them. Titania and Burke had withdrawn. She sensed a massive guilt in Ogden and Bones, even Sebastian and Charlie. Shafiq was reduced to giving respectful nods. He and Pritchard were spending some time together. Prince was as aloof as ever, with perhaps a slight hint of smugness. Cordelia actually saw her sitting with Gambol and Gore willingly in library.

She could not say that she preferred this to the insubordination. This inaction or avoidance was driving her nuts. Once upon a time, she would have liked to be left alone, be in peace. But after being surrounded by people incessantly all the time, she was too used to their juvenile, irritating presence.

Worst of all, she was afraid of making Tom angry. If she asked him about what he did or say, he would ask if they apologized or something because Tom was not really paying attention. His time was occupied in learning Parseltongue tricks with Jormy so that he could come up with a better timed shield spell for her locket. Yeah, he was a bit paranoid and an overachiever. Apparently, Greengrass was thrown away little later than he would have liked.

So, asking him was out. If he discovered their avoidance of the issue and that it was bothering her, the whole inner circle was in for another round of his wrath.

She could not have left it alone, which is why Cordelia had been in the Men's dorm post dinner briskly knocking Abraxas' door.

"Come in," Abraxas' voice came out through the thick door. He sounded very scattered.

The room was a mess. It seemed like Abraxas had spent a lot of time looking at noble histories while the whole Greengrass thing went down. That was the bottom layer of the room.

On the top though were pictures of him and her, through various ages, their letters to each other over the years.

It seemed like he was going through a nostalgic phase.

He seemed to be fighting with a particularly tight knot on his rucksack, not having turned around at all. He had always struggled with them. Whenever he was distracted or tense, he would end up creating difficult knots that he would later get frustrated with.

"Need a hand with that…" Cordelia lightly asked.

Abraxas dropped the rucksack with a thud and turned around to face her in a lightning fast speed. "Corrie…" He asked with bewildered eyes and askew hair.

Cordelia took that as an affirmation, covered the rest of the room in four big strides, picked the rucksack, murmured a gentle spell and placed the now open rucksack on his chair.

"Thanks," He said sheepishly, still not meeting her eyes.

"You are not going to ask me what I am doing here so late at night?" She gently asked.

"Errr…I…Corrie…I" He was losing his composure.

"Abe…"She gently touched his shoulder.

As if something in her touch broke the dam within him; massive, hot tears came out pouring Abraxas' eyes.

"I am so sorry, Corrie….I….I…" His arms started trembling and before he probably realized, he was in Cordelia's tight embrace.

"What happened?" She gently asked.

"We…I should not have….well, Valentines' day, we all saw you and Tom…well, much of the school did. We did not stop them. Slughorn created wards so you would not realize the ruckus everyone was… we …I we did not stop it…we stood by, laughed and enjoyed the fact that you were together. We did not...I did not realize the invasion of privacy until later…even if I did, I did nothing to stop it...I did not tell you about it…and then Greengrass, those remarks, all of it was because of us…I am so sorry," He was speaking lucidly, choking in between but mostly trying to get all of it out as fast as he could.

"I know about it. I guessed as much when Greengrass talked about seeing us. She does not have the subtlety or stealth to escape Tom or my notice without help. My suspicions of a public viewing only increased when no one asked where, when and how the kiss occurred later on. In retrospect, the controlled reaction in the great hall should have also given it away but I was lost in my happy bubble. It was through my speculator notes that confirmed it for Tom, though I cannot really say. I am sorry that I was not more careful," she softly murmured, in between her shrugs and tender embrace.

"What are you apologizing for?" Abraxas cried out.

It had taken some while, but Cordelia had eventually made him come to peace with whatever had happened. She had not apologized for the incident or for the fact that Tom had given them an earful. She actually felt that they had needed that dose. Though, she had apologized that she had not seen things coming. She had forgiven him without insinuating that whatever had happened was alright. It was not alright but she was not so disappointed in him that she would stop talking to him even when he was apologetic.


Evelyn's POV

Evelyn had not partaken in the 'Stay away from Cordelia' regime, mainly because Cordelia had not let her. Somehow, the Heiress Black had very astutely known that Evelyn was not a part of the group out of her own volition and had probably only been there as a courtesy. Moreover, Evie was silent as hell so she would not protest in the least if more powerful heirs were upto something.

Cordelia had brusquely involved her in the planning of the first meeting of Mars. She wanted opinions of someone outside the Dueling circuit or rather someone who did not fancy themselves a dueling ace.

"Stay away from things you do not feel strongly for. They can afford such missteps. They are purebloods, you won't be able to…" She had whispered as Tom, she and Eve arranged the room. She had not even waited for a response from Evelyn.

Elves were around but Cordelia only ever asked for help when things or arrangements were a bit too much.

Evelyn knew that Cordelia did not hold her responsible and from what she deduced from Tom's attitude, he did not either. Bless the two souls.

Titania, Applebee, Gore and Gambol had made no moves to secure their places around the Ruling council and had followed the lead of others: avoiding personal interactions.

In fact, Gambol was seemingly nursing Ogden's pride. Titania was a bit occupied trying to take care of Slytherin single handedly because Burke was moping. Applebee was as normal as it gets. Gore was unconcerned.

The biggest giveaway was from the Blacks, Abraxas, Sebastian and Charlie.

While Lucretia and Orion did not have much hand to play in things as they liked to follow their more vocal cousins, the fact was Cordelia had made no move to reach out to them, too busy planning the meeting for Mars. And as it happened, those two were standing in solidarity with the rest of the siblings and cousins.

But perhaps, Cordelia was letting them know about her disappointment because disappointed she was, even though she had not said a word, too occupied with arranging things.

Now Evelyn stood in the Court rooms in one of the unused rooms; The Dueling arena.

The room had been a disaster; filled to the brim with broken furniture, dust kegs, spider webs, doxies. It had taken some while for the elves to clear it out, even with Cordelia's able and resourceful wand.

Tom had come in later as they transfigured the furniture and ranged it to make it into a proper scene.

Today it was mostly bare: just a singular dueling platform that would also work as a stage and numerous cushioned stools in its front and a lot of standing room behind it.

Mostly women and younger years sat. It was fairly crowded. One side had a small desk of refreshments, manned by the first years. They were only allowed as observers until their second year but Cordelia had said that they could help out in other ways if they wanted to.

So, Parish and Higgs were manning the refreshment counter.

Adam Abbot was holding up a basket for people to pick a chit from. Daniel Greengrass and Wylda Macmillan were taking the different colored ones and depositing and counting.
Evelyn had no clue what this was about and she had said so when Zabini had asked.

"But, weren't you arranging things with them?" He heatedly whispered.

"She had a separate meeting with the first years. Evelyn was merely taking care of the aesthetics, I believe," Titania rescued her.

"She cannot ignore us forever, can she?" Alphard whispered worriedly.

"I hope not. Burke is insufferable when he is morbid…" Titania languished.

"Where is Abraxas?" Charlie asked anxiously.

"I saw him around," Orion said, a little puzzled, "We came together."

"Yeah, I believe I saw him too…" Titania said distractedly.

As Walburga was about to burst in irritation, Orion said, "Oh, yeah, look there he is.."

He pointed discreetly towards the stage and trailed off in confusion, "Near the stage, chatting with Cordelia."

It was a cozy scene, like any Abraxas, Cordelia scene. They were chatting and laughing happily, like nothing had went down.

"When did they make up?" Dorea looked aghast, "Did he already apologize? Without us?"

"That is not fair. We were supposed to express our remorse together. Even Titania and Gambol have not approached Tom and Corrie yet and Abraxas is…"Charlie appeared hurt.

"Well, they have always been closer, Charlie. Closer than Cordelia has been to any of us…" Dorea tried wrapping her mind around it.

"That is not much of a surprise. They practically grew up together. Now tell me, Dorea. If you are in need of help, would you seek out Heir Gamp or me and Lucretia…."

"Of course, you…"Dorea said confusedly.

"Exactly. You grew up with us, not Heir Gamp. Cordelia grew up with Abraxas. When his mother was ill, he lived in France at his Aunt's. They are almost siblings in that sense. Corrie likely seeked him out. She has always mothered him. So, stop being melodramatic…"

"Err…yes, Rosier did mention that he saw Cordelia in the boys' dorm last night," Zabini said.

"Yeah, she only came down around midnight. I would have thought she was studying with Tom but he does not live there any more, does he?" Titania sighed.

"And he has been running errands for Cordelia since 6 in the morning. I doubt he had time to inform everyone…" Alphard added.

"You did not think it was relevant to mention that Corrie asked him to run errands?" Dorea admonished them.

"She did not. Greengrass did…" Zabini informed wryly, "He asked if Abraxas could help him out with something about the kitchens."

"It is not a conspiracy, Dory. I know you don't like it when Cordelia gives anyone a cold shoulder…" Walburga began.

'It is not that….I just don't like it that she will not talk. Her screaming, yelling, scolding I can take…this…"

'Well, she has always had a particularly good cold shoulder. It makes everybody lose their mind. Remember how hard Grandfather Regulus scurried around trying to make it up for her," Lucretia said.

"Coupled with the fact that we know that Cordelia uses cold shoulder so sparingly and with very good reason. It is a validation of the fact that she holds us responsible and in the wrong and she clearly expected better, just like Tom did. It is not nice disappointing people we, you, look up to so much…" Walburga said for everyone.

"That's true," Titania agreed quietly, "That is why Burke is having such a hard time. He knows that Tom and Cordelia are in the right. It is difficult accepting such dissonance, that our well intentioned actions can sometimes hurt someone we care and respect to such an extent…"

"It is beginning…hush," Zabini pointed towards the stage, interrupting the confessions.

Evelyn looked towards the dais. Tom and Cordelia were almost atop and coming to the front.

"Welcome everyone. This is the first meeting of Alke Mars, the combat Wing of Hogwarts court. Mars after a very well known male God, and Alke after the less known female one. A few of you were already verbally intimated that we would like you to be part of this group. Regardless of that invitation, all of you will start out similarly. As is the rule in every meeting, no discrimination or even little jabs on the basis of gender or blood or house will be entertained. Before we tell you how the hierarchy in the group will be determined eventually, we would like to assert that we don't care how adept you are at dueling, you are not allowed to interrupt meetings unless your input is asked." Tom addressed everyone.

"So to be able to assert that, we will do a little demonstration. For the first and last time, we will request you to arrange yourself according to your house. As fast as you can..." Cordelia said pointedly.

There was a little sluggish movement and a bang from Cordelia's wand had every scampering.

"Now we want you to choose your best duelist. Discuss, you have 5 minutes or we will pick a random card about who is the best representative of that house. Remember, 5 minutes," Cordelia directed.

Evelyn quickly moved towards Ravenclaw and did not speak. After much strife, Bagnold was picked. The opposition was mainly because she was a woman. How a woman can be the best Ravenclaw had to offer?

When Gore sweetly reminded everyone of Tom's words, people backed off.

Evelyn personally thought Gore was better suited for the role but Gore never volunteered herself.

So Bagnold it was.

And she had expected; it was Burke for Slytherin, Ogden for Hufflepuff and King for Gryffindor.

Ideally, Gambol was as good as King but less proud, Titania was more vicious than Burke. But she knew that women would never claim to be as good as men.

"Step forward..." Cordelia carelessly directed.

"Are we going to duel each other?" Ogden asked very hesitantly.

His wariness was not only because of the turmoil in the inner circle but also because of how tight lipped Tom and Cordelia had been about this meeting. Puffs did not do well with the unfamiliar.

"No," Cordelia easily replied, "That would not achieve anything!"

Ogden looked relieved. Burke was as stoic faced as ever but there was a flicker of worry in him. Bagnold looked disappointed. King looked curious and blaze.

"So to achieve the assertion, you will all have individual duels with one of us." Tom added.

Ogden and Burke were ashen. Bagnold looked like Christmas had come early. King looked skeptical.

"You are 4th years," King gave them a rather doubtful look.

"They won every single duel that was thrown to them as a challenge for the ruling council, "Gambol rolled her eyes.

"That was different," King said immediately.

"How so?" Abraxas raised his brow at him.

"Well, they did not really battle out the best, did they?" Bagnold said with a flourish.

"Are you kidding me?" Prince muttered.

"You have a problem, Prince?" Bagnold said dangerously.

"No, I am just wondering just how myopic you and King are…" Prince said easily.

"And how utterly conceited Ms. Bagnold. Both of them did battle several accomplished duelers…" Cassius Zabini said.

"And you are only claiming that because you were one of them Zabini…" Bagnold shot back.

"Enough," Cordelia said quietly but with force.

"It is a wonder how fine and upstanding students turn a meeting into a mindless drivel. To address all of your concerns, yes, Cordelia and I are well aware of our age and years. No, we are not afraid of dueling you. Yes, we did battle and defeat several seasoned duelers. No, we do not think that they lacked anything. Yes, we know that you might still have objections that we did not battle the best. Therefore, all 4 houses have chosen their best for the duels. Yes, you will be dueling one of us so that we can end the debate about whether we are capable of leading this group. We will hold everyone to the agreement that we lead unquestioned, should we win. Is that clear? Because we are not wasting more breath trying to moderate juvenile arguments," Tom said scathingly.

Ogden gave a decisive nod and Hufflepuff complied. Burke just nodded. There would be no outcry from Slytherin anyway. King nodded reluctantly once he saw the reproaching look Dorea, Gambol and Longbottom sent him. Bagnold looked very determined and her eyes glinted and she nodded to accept the challenge.

"Daniel, Adam and Wylda, if you may, can you tell us who amongst Tom and I the random allocation ended up choosing for the battle? And explain a bit about how it worked?" Cordelia requested gently.

It was Wylda who began confidently, "Heir Greengrass and I were in charge of determining which House's representative will battle whom? Every person who entered the room picked a random card that had Lord Slytherin or heiress Black's name. We counted the tally for each house and have determined who will battle who. The cards were made by Weasley and Sinistra, distributed by Heir Abbot and collected and tallied by us to ensure fairplay. Each of them had the same number of cards and it could have gone in either direction."

Daniel began in a similar tone, "According to the system, each one of you would have had a unique choice between Lord Slytherin and Heiress Black. However, as per the random allocation, all of you will be battling Heiress Black one by one."

Cordelia's eyes had a very pleased glint in her eyes.

It was Adam who concluded, "The order of the fights was determined by the order of your arrival into the room. The first one to arrive goes last. So, in that order, Heiress Black will battle King, then Ogden, then Bagnold and finally Burke."

"Thank you," Tom told the first years kindly.

"Questions?" Cordelia did a weird thing with her brows.

"Who is the referee?" Bagnold asked, "And what happens when you lose?"

"If we lose, Ms. Bagnold," Tom corrected her with an indulging smile, "If we lose, we will reconsider the structure of this group with the core group of the four duelers. The match will be refereed by a 5th year that is not of either house to be impartial. The names are…"

"Jackson Diggory for Gryffindor, Kyran Mckinnon for Hufflepuff, Septimus Weasley for Ravenclaw. For Slytherin, we tossed and McKinnon came out." Parish told everyone from the snack counter.

"And everyone in the referee pool already agreed," Higgs added.

"Do we have an agreement?" Cordelia asked.


Evelyn's POV

There was some confusion and more question how fights were fair if Cordelia was exhausted after every duel. Tom had merely said that if that occurred, it was their problem and not something the attendees should be concerned of.

Next, Cordelia had taken off her Slytherin locket and handed it to Tom. No undue advantage…

Now, King and Cordelia stood on the dais.

"Rules are as follows: no serious harm. The first person to lose the wand loses," Diggory repeated.

Cordelia and King nodded.

"Bow,"

Both Kind and Cordelia were gracious about the bow.

"Wands ready"

Cordelia got into a very active dueling stance. King merely took his out but his eyes got alert.

"Begin,"

King had probably not even moved a twitch that Cordelia had moved as fast lightning and cast "Mucilago adgressus,"

Before King could move, bat shaped bogies sprouted out from his nose and attacked him and his wand fell as he cried out in pain. The bat bogey hex- it was a Gryffindor favorite! To attack and defeat the Gryff rep with it, Cordelia had a really sardonic sense of humor.

There was a loud murmur in the crowds but Evelyn did not pay much attention. She was too awed by Cordelia's speed.

"Heiress Black wins," Diggory proclaimed fairly, but not without a bit of startle.

"So, she is fast. She was not careful. She should not have put Ravenclaw and Slytheirn in end. Those houses learn. Bagnold will use this against her," Runcorn muttered haughtily.

Cordelia had reversed the hex and Adam Abbot had come up with water. Gambol and Charlie took King down.

"Next Duel," Daniel said simply.

Ogden looked spooked. Evelyn knew that that he never wanted to fight Cordelia at all, not because he was afraid but simply because it was Cordelia. He cared for and respected her. His frown was from displeasure at having to resort to this.

But he did take his position

"Do I need to repeat the rules?" Kyran asked simply.

Ogden shook his head as he took his place. His eyes met Cordelia's. Cordelia's eyes were unreadable as she stared down Tiberius, very determined.

"Bow"

"Wands ready"

"Begin,"

It seemed like Cordelia let Ogden fire, because she simply stepped aside leisurely from his spell and send an incarcerous at him.

Ropes flied around him, tying him down. But he still held his wand.

Before Ogden could undo the ropes, another spell, 'Levicorpus," had Ogden hanging upside down from the roof with one leg.

The sudden movement had dislodged his wand.

"Heiress Black wins"

"Too fast…" Caspian Samuel said bitterly.

"Bagnold better beat her. She is sticking to the same strategy," Corner muttered.

"She is not, actually," Runcorn muttered.

The matches were ending too quickly. Evelyn never expected Cordelia to lose, not at all. But she had not expected that the best of the best would not stand a chance at all.

Cordelia was too fast. Before people blinked, her wand movements were over.

She was not using complicated spells. She waited until the hand signal was over. Somehow, her wand movements took exponentially lesser time than they should.

One thing was sure, Cordelia had been holding back drastically in the classes.

Ogden was down on the floor and Cordelia gave him her hand and lifted him up.

Ogden said something gently to her as he panted and a little smile lit up Cordelia's face and she nodded.

She put her wand to his ears and suddenly Ogden was not so dizzy or shaky anymore.

"Third Duel," Daniel looked expectantly at Bagnold.

"The men have been going easier on you, Heiress Black. I will not give you the same luxury." Bagnold claimed as soon as she entered dais, underplaying Cordelia's wandwork.

"I was not looking for luxuries, nor would I assume were they inclined to give me any. Perhaps your eyes see more from above," Cordelia rebutted.

There was a light snigger. Everyone knew that Bagnold was teased for having a head up in the clouds, too high for the commoners.

"Let's hope you are as quick with you wand as you are with words, Heiress Black," Bagnold shot back. Now, that was a poor move. Cordelia's wand was probably as fast as her words and everyone had seen that.

"You think Ogden and King's testimonies would satisfy your hope, or you need further demonstration?" Cordelia shot back again.

Bagnold's face colored.

Septimus Weasley cleared his throat loudly and started prattling the rules.

"Bow"

"Wands Ready"

"Begin"

Cordelia's spell shot first. It was transfiguration spell.

It took Bagnold's wand holster and transfigured it into a giant, heavy iron baton. Bagnold shot a spell too, but the baton caused her to lose the balance and it went into the crowd. Tom quietly raised a parseltongue shield to contain it.

But before Bagnold would catch her bearing, Cordelia had shot a spell up her nose, "Tergeo" .

Tergeo was a drying and degreasing spell. Lord knew what it would do to Bagnold's nose; probably rid it of all moisture…

Oh my…Cordelia really had too much brain!

And Bagnold went into a sneezing and coughing fit. The visceral sneezing combined with the baton led her to collapse on the floor and use her only free arm to cup her face.

"Heiress Black wins," Weasley said amusedly. He had expected it after two matches, frankly, so had most of the people even though they probably hoped otherwise in case of Runcorn and Corner.

Cordelia reversed the transfiguration and soothed Bagnold's nose.

Bagnold's eyes were rimmed red with water and she looked extremely subdued.

A look from Cordelia had prompted Ogden and Gore to come up to the stage to pick the Headgirl up.

"The Final round between Heir Burke of Slytherin and Heiress Black," Daniel announced.

"Do you think she will go savage on him?' Gore asked Evelyn with excitement.

"Errr…" Evelyn lost words.

"I hope she does. Herbert can use humbling…" Gore rubbed her palms together in anticipation.

Evelyn mouthed her laughter.

Burke's face was impassive, completely unreadable as he gingerly climbed up the stage.

Dorea was biting her nails. She was really melodramatic.

Titania looked concerned but her eyes held trust. She trusted Cordelia to not dismember Burke, at least publicly.

Gore was mouthing something about how she could not wait to rub this in the face of Burke and Evelyn lost all the protocols that McKinnon kindly repeated.

McKinnon's clear begin was what brought her back.

It ended before it began.

Cordelia was as fast as she had been with King.

She was in air, in a high jump and she yelled Accio.

And for some odd reason, she was pointing towards Burke's shoes. She shoved the right shoe leftward, the left shoe rightward, pulled Burke in the air with the sheer force of her spell and then let the spell die.

Burke fell in heaps from over 7 feet with a clamp. Of course, his wand lay elsewhere.

Cordelia landed from her jump in a graceful landing right where Burke's feet were with a Cheshire grin.

"You owe me 100 galleons, Heir Burke," She said cheekily.

There was a conundrum as everyone started yelling.

Mckinnon did declare her the winner.

Evelyn distinctly heard Burke calling Cordelia a little minx and a right pain in his arse and Cordelia's bubbling laughter over it.

Cordelia did heal all the bruising of Burke and lifted him up.

Evelyn would later learn that when Cordelia was a mere 2nd year and Burke had been in his 5th, he had been cribbing about Accio and how it was a lazy spell in one of the pureblood galas.

Apparently, Cordelia had bet him that she could just use accio to end a duel and Burke had promised her 100 galleons if she managed that.

2 years later, she had fulfilled that bet, by poetically defeating Burke with that spell.

Cordelia had a really long memory.

The groups had mixed yet again as chatter began with loads of clapping

Dorea had found Evelyn and it seemed that other Slytherins had followed.

"That was very anticlimactic. Cordelia was too fast, I was expecting more action," Zabini said over the noise as he clapped vigorously despite his disappointment.

"I don't know, it makes me overly glad that she is just using the silent treatment and is not cursing us into oblivion," Longbottom said with a shrug, as he continued to clap as well.

"Gryffs, always so optimistic," Titania muttered as she joined them.

Suddenly, there were purple firecrackers on the stage.

Cordelia and Tom were very creative at nabbing attention.

"Well, that was not what everyone expected, was it?" Cordelia said gently when everyone calmed down and the noise died.

There was laughter.

"We do not want to leave you with a misconception. Duels are not normally like that. They are arduous, tiring, more effortful and longer," Tom smiled at the last word.

There was another round of laughter at that.

"But that happens when the opponents are well-matched. As the group has not officially begun yet, I would not request anyone else to demonstrate, but as Tom said, we do not want misconceptions," Cordelia smiled.

"Heir Ogden, if you would be kind enough to be a refree, Lia and I would like to demonstrate a duel," Tom requested.

"You are serious," It was Abraxas who stared at them with wide eyes.

"Don't worry, we love each other's lovely face a tad bit too much to cause actual harm, Abe," Cordelia rolled her eyes.

"I am more worried about the room," Abraxas seemingly muttered but the whole room heard it.

"I would be honored," Tiberius smiled and started walking up the dais. There was a conundrum as bets were exchanged, bids were made.

Zabini was whining about how the two had never demonstrated for him even though he ate their mind but Evelyn tuned him out, Anastius whining was nothing new.

But Ogden did not even have to shoot a warning to silence people, as soon as Tom and Cordelia took the opposing ends of dais; the room was a deathly calm. Their eyes did not leave each other. Unlike the unreadable look Cordelia had reserved for everyone, now her eyes were teasing, weighing, reading, and challenging Tom. So were Tom's.

"A simple barricade would do, Tiberius. Tom and I tend to get violent," Cordelia smirked, not removing her eyes from Tom as she got into a dueling stance.

Ogden would cast a simple shield ward.

"The Duel is between Lord of house Slytherin and Heiress of House Black for the purpose of a demonstration of Alke Mars. No seriously harmful spells…

"Debatable," Tom interrupted and Cordelia inclined her head to show agreement to him.

"As you both say, Harmful spells allowed at their discretion. First person to get disarmed loses. The stake is…"

"We will settle it amongst ourselves, Tiberius. Don't you worry," Tom simply said with a smirk as he eyes Cordelia.

"Very well, then, Bow."

They never removed their gaze from each other, as they graciously gave the deepest bow there ever was.

"Wands at the ready."

Evelyn did not think that getting more alert was possible for the duo, but their attention at that command was stupendous.

Everyone in the room was watching with baited breath.

Ogden's own persona looked curious, too eager as he whispered in an anticipatory fashion, "Begin."

They shot spells simultaneously. Cordelia's expelliarmus and Tom's impedimenta crossed each other and were absorbed by Ogden's shield as both of them moved out of the way.

"Ascendo," Cordelia cast on herself launching herself in air and then, "Jaculor Saggita Trium, "

Three arrows straight towards Tom and some people screamed. Tom was going to be impaled as Cordelia began to land gracefully. She liked taking to the air, maybe it was the Quidditch player in her.

Tom cast a clear hurling curse, "Iacio."

The arrows changed directions at a right angle and hurled towards Cordelia's unstable feet as rolling logs.

Cordelia's carful dance prevented a fall but gave Tom extra time and another spell, Relashio came near Cordelia's knees, which also Cordelia dodged and threw a random slew of couple stupefies towards Tom, who also lost his stable footing and had to dodge a couple of times.

"Diffindo," Both of them said together. The spells met and vanished in a shower of sparks. Similarly powered.

None had broken a sweat. Their faces were burnt in concentration but Evelyn could see their eyes. They were smiling. This was exhilarating.

They did not say a spell for a couple moments, lightly panting.

Another series of disarming spells,

Then,

Stupefy, Diffindo, expelliarmus, Impedimenta…none meeting the targets. And Tom and Cordelia did not use a single shield spell. They dodged and jumped and moved forward in a careful dance.

It was Tom who broke the mold and caught Cordelia with a spell, straight in her chest, "Everte Statum"

A powerful spell, it would have knocked the wind out of a normal opponent by throwing them across the room. Cordelia, though, was merely pushed to the edge of the dais still maintaining her footing, her body bent to adjust weight, her wand still tightly in her grasp, as her combat boots skidded across the dais till the very edge.

Her face was downwards, but when she looked up, her eyes had such fire.

A jelly legs and a jelly arms jinx were hurled at Tom, who dodged the one for this legs but was caught in the one for arms. He did not drop his wand though, even jelly-like, his fingers had a firm grip.

"Caudex lignum," Cordelia cast in the center of the dais, raising a round, tall wooden stump.

Tom had regained his dexterity, after being able to cling to his wand through his jelly like fingers.

He cast an immobulus at Cordelia who stepped away from it, quickly hurling another spell but not at him, at the glass pole, "Carpe Retractum,"

A rope flew out of her wand, circling the pole and with the added force and flexibility of the rope, Cordelia grabbed it and jumped off the dais into air, into a wide circle over the spectators, escaping Tom's series of jinxes and shooting her own spells, "Locomotor mortis, Relashio, Stupefy," as she used the thrust the rope gave to circle around the dais and reach him from his side.

Tom hurled another set, "Petrificus Totalus," which he missed, but he cast another, not on Cordelia but on her rope, 'Dura,"

The Rope hardened and was hit with an expulso and came tumbling down and Cordelia would have fallen if she was not that a good acrobat.

She landed on her feet on the dais and did a somersault to contain her momentum and threw a quick reducto at Tom, who used a shield that directed it to the wooden stump as Cordelia stood back on her feet.

When the wood splintered, Cordelia hurled it at Tom who calmly muttered," Delterious" and the wood vanished midair.

They simply stared at each other for a few moments, barely three feet away from each other, now seriously panting.

"Impedimenta," Cordelia hurled.

Tom conjured, "Inanimatus conjures," that made a plain slab which took the curse and broke away. Tom was stepping back, moving to Cordelia's side of the dais because Cordelia seemed to have taken over his side. Backed into a corner, indeed.

"Stupefy, Diffindo, expelliarmus," He cast in quick succession. Cordelia did not dodge this time; she bent her body in a dance as she maintained her footing.

She was murmuring something.

Tom cast another curse, she deflected it.

And then she smiled hungrily and Tom returned it and they both charged . Evelyn could not even keep track of the spellfire anymore, until she heard Cordelia yell, "Lumos Solem" loudly to the ceiling.

Light as bright as sun. Evelyn was blinded; she did hear Tom mutter an obscuro on himself, shielding his eyes with a blindfold.

Tiberius' ward did nothing to shield the effect of the irritating and aggravating light.

Tom murmured moments later in between the high noises that were screeching because of the discomfort. "Nox Summa,"

The room returned to normal light and Evelyn managed to open her eyes. Things appeared darker, but even in that Evelyn noted that Tom was the only one standing on the dais. Tiberius stood with blinking eyes near the referee podium as the rest of the room regained their vision, blinked, rubbed their eyes.

There was another murmur as people searched for Cordelia, wondering if Tom had won. Tiberius looked dazed and Tom appeared a little confused; his eyes also not perfectly right.

Before Evelyn could blink, a dark figure came from the ceiling in a ball and opened up her arms and legs and landed on Tom's back with her wand on his neck, "Gotcha,"

But the fact was that Tom's wand was a mere inch away from Cordelia's eyes in the exact moment, "Gotcha back" He murmured gently and lovingly.

There on the roof was a conjured hanging platform, one that Cordelia was probably hiding on. How she got up there, Evelyn could only wonder.

Next, Tom and Cordelia inclined their head and together said, "Gratias."

The duel had officially ended. What a …what a duel. The sheer energy and the pacing, Evelyn could not believe it.

"It lasted for just 7 minutes," Zabini said mournfully, "Remind me never to anger Lord Slytherin again, like ever."

People did not even laugh at his joke, that is how dazed all of them were.

Cordelia climbed down from Tom's back as his arms secured around her.

Tom murmured another spell, "Flos roseus."

A single, thornless white rose bud came in his fingers and he placed it behind Cordelia's ears, moving away her long, curly black ringlets as he affectionately pecked her forehead. Cordelia kissed him back right under his right eye, near the bridge of his nose with a smile, as they held their hands.

Ogden took that moment to clear his throat loudly and declared, "The duel is tied. Nobody wins,"

"We both won, Tiberius," Cordelia said, her tone a bit reproaching.

"My apologies, Heiress Black, I have lost my words and wit for the vision was too mesmerizing for my eyes," Ogden immediately accepted, his eyes teasing her.

"Or too bright, so sickly bright," It was Gore who said that.

"Well then we shall grant everyone a relief. We meet after the Spring equinox, time and day will be intimated. Dismissed," Tom genially smiled, his arms remaining wrapped around Cordelia.

Well, one thing was sure; Hogwarts had new fodder to chew on for some time…


Cordelia's POV

She was sure that Abe had been cornered by the rest of them when she did not see any of them in common room till late evening, when tom and she decided to go for a walk around the lake.

The weather was thawing. Though, it was still cold.

Cordelia had missed the serenity of nature.

What she had not expected was to find the entire inner circle, huddled, whispering together under the large tree.

They paused when they saw the couple.

"Excuse us," Cordelia said promptly and turned away.

Tom followed her cue, his hand gently placed on the small of her back in support.

"Oh, enough is enough!" Walburga threw a fit, glaring at everyone but the couple.

She sighed when everyone gave her startled looks and requested gently with defeat to Cordelia, "Corrie, wait! These nincompoops have their tongues tied and everyone is miserable. Hear us out, once, please!"

Cordelia did not say anything but Tom and she made no move to leave, instead fixing the inner circle with their expectant looks.

It was an awkward conversation for them even though the entire inner circle was not present. It was just the Slytherins, Charlie, Ian and Evelyn. Cordelia could tell how hard it was for them.

There was an awkward silence, followed by Dorea initiating the conversation about the kiss and their voyeurism.

"We were not thinking. We were just too happy. We forgot…"

It was a slew of comments like that. She could sense the guilt, the regret and remorse. However, the silent treatment was not just for that.

"Is that all?" She had asked once they were done.

"We have been questioning your authority, I certainly have. Despite vouching to the world, fighting against anyone who says otherwise, we have been faithless in your capabilities and judgments and it was not respectful or very well thought out. For a lot of us, it came from concern. It was not until Tom's clear demolishing of our illusion that we realized how utterly patronizing and condescending we were being," It was Abraxas who began that. He had clearly been counseling what looked like utterly distraught Dorea, Alphard, Anastius, Charlie and Sebastian.

She had let them speak, express all they felt. Then, she had clarified her position and why Tom was so cross with all of them, why she was disappointed in them.

Cordelia had made it clear what she thought of the voyeur act, a violation of her and Tom's Privacy and personhood. They were physically affectionate publicly, yet it was their choice about how each affection would play out, privately or publicly.

It was not the fact that Lyra Greengrass threw that kiss in her face describing it as vulgar. It was the fact that everyone else in the school cheapened their intimacy for entertainment.

"We should have known better…We will be better," It was Burke who quietly said that.

And Cordelia had made it clear how disheartening it was when people who supposedly loved and respected you doubted you so scathingly. She was not questioning their right to question her or prune her positions and ideas. She just thought that their disagreements were juvenile, childish and uncalled for especially because they only sprouted when she talked, not when Tom talked.

"Well, you are friendlier Cordelia," It was Zabini who voiced that, though he swallowed as he sent a fleeting glance to Tom.

"So, you reply to my camaraderie by insubordination?" Cordelia shot back, "Maybe I should adopt his style then, if that is what it will take?"

They did not like that threat, all of them flinching ceremoniously.

"I am my own person, Tom is his own. We have reasons to be the way we are. I take leadership seriously, so if you mistake my kindness and friendly demeanor for an invitation to exploit me, then that is on you, not on me."

It had gone on like that. But eventually, after a lot of confessions and rebuttals, it had resolved.

Cordelia had sat with Dorea for a while because it looked like her cousin could use it and then she had retired to her dorm room.

When she entered her and Tom's room that night, it was empty but the faint light coming from the study told her where Tom was.

What she saw was Tom attempting to read but failing as he argued back and forth with Jormy in faint hisses which were drowned by the cello music coming from the radio.

When Jormy did a trippy dance with hissing laughter, Cordelia was tempted to join in with a snigger as she saw Tom's irritated face.

"She is being unnecessarily discouraging!" He cried out, pointing accusatorily at Jormy.

Cordelia wanted to laugh so she bit her lower lip and instead asked with swelling cheeks, "About what?"

"I am attempting to learn something I have not done before and this rowdy snake keeps telling me that it is impossible to learn it from a book…"

"Well, she is not entirely wrong. Would you say that you learned dueling from books? I mean sure the theoretical spellwork is fine but the actual practice is necessary, isn't it?" Cordelia looked at him kindly, gently taking off her shoes.

"Yes, but that does not mean that I like it when a freakin snake rubs it in my face," Tom huffed.

"She is always rubbing something or the other in your face. You should learn to ignore her by now," Cordelia tiptoed towards him.

Tom opened his arms and Cordelia wrapped hers around him and settled in his lap.

"What is my heart trying to learn and why is he so bothered by it?" She said. Her voice was curious, but also concerned

Tom sighed, "Ever since I saw that notice, I have been hyperventilating a bit."

"What notice?" Cordelia tried to recall.

"Well, unlike Beauxabatons, Hogwarts cannot afford regular dance classes. However, I believe the board of governors insists that Hogwarts impart few classes on formal dancing in spring, taught usually by Tofty. It is compulsory for every noble family. Until this year, I could graciously avoid it as a presumed muggleborn. Not this year! I have never danced in my life and I am afraid that I will look like a fool next to your graceful self."

Cordelia looked amused but she understood Toms insecurity, so she placed her hands seriously on his shoulders, " You will kill it on the dance floor. Have you any idea how naturally graceful your movements are? And if you are concerned and do not want to look amateur, we can do some dancing prior to the classes. I have managed to look people who have two left feet, like Orion and several others at Beauxabatons. You will be a wonderful student in light of that!"

"There is not enough time! It is scheduled for first week of April!" Tom mourned.

"I dare say that is enough time. I will have you caught up with even some lifts by then," She mumbled wryly, "And I am a better teacher than whatever book you will pick up."

She flipped his book to see the author and groaned, "Not Master Barnaby. He sucks out the soul in dancing. I am certainly better equipped than that..."

"He is highly recommended," Tom looked offended.

"By Pureblood British uptight upstarts!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"You are British," Tom gave her a teasing smile.

"I am not an upstart. I am certainly not uptight," Cordelia gently pried his lower lip open with a kiss.

After their making out, Cordelia had dragged him out in the balcony.

"Put your hands on my waist," She gently said.

"Doesn't one go over your shoulder?" Tom asked.

"That's later," She simply said.

Tom put her arms around her waist and she put hers around his neck.

Next she stopped closer, placed her head on his chest.

"Isn't formal dancing more conservative?" Tom began but was shushed by Cordelia, "Shhh, feel, hear my breathing, like I am feeling your heartbeat."

They just stood still like that for a while.

"Now, sway," Cordelia gently murmured and did exactly that, swaying. Tom followed her lead.

"Dancing can hold personal meaning and beauty for yourself, not just for the spectators if only you stop to consider what goes into it. Anybody can learn the technical steps. Few know how to make it soulful…" She murmured gently to him as Tom moved with her.

They kept swaying and before she knew, Tom's head had descended and captured her lips as they swayed.


Tom's POV

As Lia's body convulsed in front of him, he wondered what should he do. His brain was not thinking. Too much panic did that; paralyze you so viciously that rational thinking went out the window.

They had been dancing, when Lia's face contorted into a painful cry and she managed to apparate herself and him through Hogwarts wards into room of requirement.

He could not see it, knowing what it was did not help too much. He could not see Lia in pain or even discomfort.

"To..o..oom," Cordelia stuttered in her convulsions, her face contorted in a grimace, not from the convulsions but because she could see his distraught features.

"I …a..am..fine. Leave, it will pass," Her last words were still more lucid, her bright and green eyes staring right into his, pleading, as she held his hands tightly.

"Majorities are not supposed to hurt," He parroted back her dialogue from a few days ago.

"For…normal…peop..people…Not…t mag..gi..cae, messy, des..destru…ructive… LEAVE," The last word was forceful.

"No," Tom said clearly but softly, and then a moment after repeated it a bit strongly, increasing her grip on her hands, "No, I am staying. Your magic cannot hurt me. Together!"


Hello readers,

Sorry again for the delay!

This was a difficult chapter to write, mainly because I was having a hard time figuring out good duels and then writing the romantic scenes after the fast paced scenes was a bit meh…you get the drift!

I am not a dancer. Everything that Cordelia says is what the idealist in me envisions dance to be. If I offends/irritates your sensibilities, please do forgive me.

To what everyone predicted, No, her mental shields will not break just yet. Go back to the interlude and give it a reread, Cordelia explains what will happen. This is her majority, things in her brain are even more messed up now! It will not come into play until much later because our protagonist is a strong gal! But yes, no confessions just yet.

The next arc would delve more into the pureblood society and how the noble families came to be and yada, yada (that includes some history of Slytherin!) I have a cool backstory that I have spent a lot of time and brain on, so I hope it will delight everyone just as it delighted me! And well, Cordelia will reveal some of her abilities to the inner circle…

Please point out typos/errors. I will be grateful! Leave me reviews and I would be happiest!

Next update might be trickier. I have an operation scheduled and I am not very sure about keeping the promise of taking a single month. Let's place it around 15th August maybe?

Toodles,

Katoptris