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"
Trigger Warning: Assault (Non-graphic)
Chapter 39
A daughter of House of Black?
Cordelia's POV
"He has taught goblin wars all through the years that I have been here. And even though, I was interested in the History of magical world, I was not interested in pursuing NEWTs under him. Moreover, his classes never covered anything for the OWLS. I self-studied most of it and barely scraped an Acceptable. Most of us who have passed have scraped Acceptables. You can take a look at our other scores: we are not bad students." Tiberius spoke.
His was the first testimony in a series of live ones that the board of governors was hearing.
Of course, the Hogwarts Court had submitted an entire wad of documentation with testimonies from all years and houses and signatures from most noble houses.
When it came to her own turn, she would speak and summarize all their arguments and testimonies, "I had no doubts that Cuthbert Binns was once an excellent teacher. I was unaware of it and would not make comments about it. But a ghost is just that, a remnant of the past. It is frankly a little ambitious to think that he retains his personality or sense of time and importance at all. A spirit is an imprint that is left behind. The ghost might be of Cuthbert Binns but it is not him, not completely.
"As is seen in the series of documentation and verbal testimonies by students, the remnant has a fixation with goblins, goblin wars. While goblin wars bring great many lessons, I am of the mind that there is more to magical history. I know there is more to it because my teacher in France taught me more of British history than Prof. Binns. His modules are not updated. While we have been assigned the book by Bagshot, he does not teach anything from it. He cannot update his knowledge and his old resentment is at the crux of whatever it is that he does. I frankly think it is gross negligence to not consider hiring someone new or even evaluate his teaching.
"Furthermore, I believe that an evaluation would mean that we need to address the provocative nature and propaganda of his teachings. I know goblins and wizards have had differences and we still have strained relations. However, I also think that we need to have a nuanced view of the history in order to understand the conflict and respond instead of hearing that goblins are barbaric and manipulative in roundabout ways all the time. A great deal of diplomacy and wizarding notions, challenges and livelihoods are part of it. I believe military history is important component of history, I also believe military history goes beyond enunciating how cruel the other side was. History is certainly far more than that.
"I was concerned about it and therefore, I requested a more seasoned investigator than me for advice and help. Lord Malfoy graciously traced the history and family lineage of Cuthbert Binns. His family was embroiled deep in goblin wars. They broke wizarding laws to be able to fight and make goblins bleed. They lost everything in it; their reputation and money; eventually changing their names to avoid the association. I do not think that the mere subterfuge incriminates Professor Binns. However, I do believe his spirit carries on an intergenerational hatred for goblins that has been magnified by whatever magic enables Ghosts to exist on this plane. I urge the board to consider all the documents and make a sound decision."
Cordelia knew that this entire meeting was a formality. They had the votes.
Blacks, Longbottom and Malfoys were her family.
Potters were in through Charlie
Bones, Ogden, Rowle and Burke were all family members of her inner circle.
She had all permanent members wrapped around her fingers.
Macmillans would not say no to her. She was her grandmother's favorite and they knew her personally through that relation.
That left Yaxley, the only goddarn problem.
She had never gotten along with the heir on principle. Ralph had spent his entire childhood tormenting poor Abraxas.
Lord Yaxley's tiff with Blacks and Malfoys went back to her father's generation, so she did not pretend to overcome it.
But the formal petition had to go through the process because they would never get him on board.
Cordelia knew that any governor if they were sensible could not deny her arguments.
They were airtight. Tom, Burke, Eileen and even a reluctant Kyran had poked and prodded all her arguments.
But from what she knew of nobility, logic only took you so far. Sometimes, hatred, grudges and power was much more crucial.
But as she said, she had the votes.
Tiberius and she walked towards the library room where the inner circle waited.
She had barely entered the room where her eyes would meet Tom's. He had been watching the door. She would blink at him. And though no one but her would be tell, his stance would relax a bit.
"Well?" Sebastian would ask rather impatiently.
"A very good afternoon to you Sebastian, we would like to sit before we prattle on. Thank you so much for asking," Cordelia's sarcastic drawl earned her an eye roll from him.
Sebastian made room for her on his couch and patted it, "Come here, you drama queen."
"Talk, Tiberius." She would sigh as she leaned back into her seat.
"Well, it was voted in our favor." Tiberius said.
There were silent whoops.
"As if we expected anything else, Cordelia prepared like she was going for a defense hearing in the court of law," Prince said with amusement.
"Oh, she was magnificent. If she did not so many various careers outlines for her, I would have suggested that she become a barrister." Tiberius teased.
"Lord Yaxley did not look impressed," Cordelia pointed out.
"That's because the Lords and ladies are waiting with baited breath for when you finally join in mainstream politics. They have been keeping an eye on you for years. Of course, Yaxley does not like that." Gore pointed out.
"I mean he was not entirely unreasonable. He just asked pointed questions about how we expected to fund a new teacher. It was your father Edmund, who shut that one. Thank him for me?" Cordelia would say.
"Fund a new teacher; is it not the job for School Governors?" Longbottom asked.
"Yes, as pointed out by Lord Potter. He said it seemed like Yaxley was still learning ropes about the governorship!" Ogden told.
"Of course, he did. Why do Potters have such loud mouths?" Walburga hissed.
"I apologized for interrupting you and Dorea," Charlie snapped.
"And we are very grateful to Lord Potter for speaking for Cordelia," Tom said, "Keep your personal squabbling out when it is not relevant!"
Both opened their mouths but nothing came out.
Cordelia lowered her wand.
They started making exaggerated gestures and suddenly they went stiff like statues.
"Is that a variation of the Petrificus Totalus?" Applebee asked eagerly.
"Yes, and only I know the countercurse. Everyone else, let's have a civilized discussion. I have to head back and meet some of your parents." Cordelia said pointedly.
"Lord Yaxley insisted on hearing other testimonies besides the one that court has assigned. That is what is happening right now. I believe they contacted Minerva, Thickneese, Runcorn, and Parkinson. People who do not have affiliations with the Knights." Tiberius continued.
"Runcorn and Minerva will likely side with us. They both declined roles in light of their academics," Burke said.
"Parkinson is incoherent in his arguments. Even if he has one, he won't be able to articulate it well. Moreover, Thikneese does not have an opinion on anything," Gambol noted.
"We have it," Tom said quietly.
"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order then. Our first accomplishment as a court!" Abraxas began.
"Let them sign it first," Cordelia interrupted.
"I never thought I would ever tell you this, but you need to lighten up Cousin. As Tom said, we have it," Sebastian put an arm around her and squeezed.
"I am cautious, not a pessimist." Cordelia highlighted.
"The matter is still going to go to Dippet and Dumbledore. They are not going to be pleased. This is another allegation against school in line with everything else." Shafiq pointed out.
"The question is will they accept or fight?" Pritchard would nod.
"I ask her to lighten up and you support her, was I not audible?" Sebastian asked seriously.
"We ignore blasphemy," Prince blinked at him.
"Either way, we should prepare. There is going to be backlash once the Governors leave. Brace yourselves and travel in packs." Tom nodded.
Evelyn's POV
Her parents were not entirely surprised by the changes in her or her social life. She had been writing to them even before Easter.
Her mother had managed to ask her to cough up about what was bothering her when she was home for Christmas too. It had not taken her long to spill about the heiress and her accident. Since then, her letters home had been filled with everything that had happened with court and Dumbledore and a lot of other things.
Cordelia had been at the center of it all.
"She is a troublemaker, that one." Her mother had said, the minute Evelyn had finished telling her parents about the sponsorship and background details.
And Evelyn had puffed up her eagle wings and defended Cordelia with all her might with blazing eyes.
"Well, we must meet her. She must be something if she managed to stir you like that." Her father had said wryly.
Her mother said gently, "There are several kinds of troublemaker, Evelyn. There are ones that you should stay away from and then there are ones the like of her, your friend. The one who shares glory, protects her pieces and yet manages to upend the social cycles. You are better off sticking close to such troublemakers."
"It is not just politics, she is my friend." Evelyn argued.
"And she has proven her friendship. But it is not just friendship either, Cordelia did explain the politics of it to you." Her mother had pointed out.
"She did not have to. You are intelligent enough. But she did not have to tell you the consequences of it. She took the time to assess the politics and gave you information to base your decision on. She is political, but she is also a friend. A wise and compassionate woman," Her mother further added.
The word 'woman' had been telling but Evelyn was too stressed to analyze it back then.
"I lost my anonymity. I can't lurk in shadows. Everyone will know. Blacks are very prominent. Cordelia is very prominent. Tom is very prominent." Evelyn began to hyperventilate.
"Tom?" Her father asked.
"Cordelia's…suitor," Evelyn would say with hesitation.
"You mentioned him a couple of times. What is he like?" Her father asked. His eyes knowing.
"If you think that Cordelia is going to lose power because she is with Tom, you are wrong." Evelyn would say and then proceed to tell them all about Tom and Cordelia.
"A halfblood raised in a muggle orphanage. And she is choosing to be with him while defying family?" Cecilia Adler was utterly confused and making assessments in her head.
"He is from an ancient house. Slytherin, a line older than Hogwarts. Frankly, the Blacks would be hard-pressed to find somebody as capable as Tom…"
"Is that why she let him court her?" Father asked.
"I don't think so. She is kind and she does not judge people. I don't think it mattered a whole lot to her. Tom is intelligent, very powerful and he treats her very well. She is his partner, not a…"
"Tom treats her as an equal. I think that is why she loves him," Evelyn would complete.
Her parents had discussed a lot. And they had encouraged her to take the sponsorship.
Nobody had reacted viscerally to the news, save the little tantrum from Abraxas.
He had tried to apologize and explain in the dance lessons in the great hall but they had not spoken since.
It was Dorea who would come through on the matter, "Father is not going to be happy. But he cannot do much. And Cordelia is not afraid of his temper or incapable of taking him on. Abraxas just likes to worry and get protective. He took the accident hard. And it has not done much to Cordelia's spirit. While some of us took it positively, Abraxas wants her to be more careful in antagonizing people."
Walburga had taken one look at her and went, "Oh no, this won't do."
She was aware of how blood purity was important to Walburga and she had been shaking like a twig at the thought of the encounter.
"Blacks have been the foremost dark family for centuries. People automatically start bowing their head and adjusting their stances in deference," Walburga said.
What about Evelyn's trembling stance was not deferential?
"You cannot shake like a twig and be this deferential, Adler. You represent the Blacks now. Hold your head high; they will scramble for your favor if they know what is good for them." She was sharply instructed.
If Walburga had accepted her, well, maybe the rest of the elders would not be so bad after all.
Orion, Alphard and Lucretia usually followed the lead of their more domineering cousins.
The inner circle had taken it well.
Some were startled, mostly because Evelyn fit in so well with the nobles that they did not often remember her muggle heritage. They knew it, in the back of their heads but it never came forth when they were dealing with her. That had been the strength of the façade Evelyn was playing for so long, blending in effortlessly.
She had written yet another update to her parents and because she was antsy, she was up and about rather early. The darkness still lingered. She had traipsed to the owlery to attach it to a school owl and send it away before making her way back to an alcove to catch up on the Black Family tree.
Cordelia prattled it like a poem. Abraxas had been right. Cordelia did not just remember her own tree. She had the entire noble genealogy memorized like it was alphabets. It was one of the things Evelyn openly admitted to being envious of.
Cordelia had some instant system to place them. But when she saw Evelyn struggling, Lucretia had recommended pairing them with the beats of a classical musical piece. So Evelyn sat up on the alcove and opened the music box that was a present from Mary one Christmas ago and hoped the beats would help.
She knew Kyran McKinnon was a cousin of both Abraxas and Cordelia. Abraxas and he were not close. In fact, Evelyn thought Abraxas was a little envious of Kyran.
But that was not the point, how was Kyran related to them both? It had to be through the Malfoys. Oh, their grandmother.
She heard a swish and she thought it was a gust of wind, but her music box was blasted off and her papers scattered.
She turned to find that she was surrounded by Lestrange and Pucey.
Evelyn threw a shield just as spells hit and it shattered. But she managed to scramble away from the alcove. They fired again but she managed to dodge it.
Another spell took the edge of her cloak and tore it off.
Something was off. They would not be stupid enough to attack her even if they wanted to. Not this openly. Evelyn's testimony now had weight. Their spells were even shoddier. She got it that they were playing with her but they were missing. ..
They both looked hungover and drunk, in yesterday's clothes. They were returning from the village after their cuppas, god Evelyn! Lowered inhibition and reasoning and an easier target…This could not be happening. This could not be happening.
She had to get away.
She threw back a curse so that she could take the next turn. They returned the fire.
She thought she heard drunken cackle and slurs about her heritage and gender, but the world was blurring and her whole body felt hot.
Evelyn was just reacting. Her wand moved. She dared not use lethal spells, lest this became pinned on her, but she sure as well was not going to allow herself to be subject to some kind of cruel joke simply because those darned heirs thought they could…they could just do it and get away with it.
She felt spellfire coming from behind her and hitting Lestrange square in his chest. He slumped down.
Puce got confused and Evelyn's disarming spell coincided with a petrification spell and he stepped into both.
Evelyn turned to face whoever it was with her a steady wand, but jittery heart.
Walburga stood with contempt on her face as she looked at the two men. Walburga had lowered her wand and was now looking at Evelyn with a lot of concern and was it pity?
Evelyn stayed still, with her pointed wand.
She felt Walburga approach her warily and put a stole around her.
"It is okay, Evelyn. They won't hurt you." Walburga's voice was soft, softer than Evelyn had ever heard.
Evelyn let out a whimper, still holding her wand limply.
She felt Walburga move to the side, use a levitation charm and a mild binding spell on both the men for good measure.
"C'mon, let's get you away from this scum."
Evelyn felt a whisper and a gentle tug before she let herself get pulled away.
Tom's POV
Cordelia had frozen the minute she learned about Evelyn. He could not quite point out how the freeze worked. She was angry or upset or…
She had not left Evelyn's side. Cordelia had never shied away from physical contact but she had hugged Evelyn and both girls remained wrapped into each other.
Evelyn was physically uninjured. Lestrange and Pucey had only managed a few puny hexes. Her music box was gone and a part of her cloak was shorn off, perhaps from a Relashio.
Otherwise, there was no injury. There was enough spell damage in the corridor. Failed hexes and all that…
Out of all their actions, this one was cited as bullying. The act of roaming the school at night, getting drunk was much more serious.
"They found our weak link," Sebastian had sighed.
"The sponsorship is not widely known. They would not have dared to attack on a Black like this…" Dorea had added, "Father might disapprove of Cordelia's move but this was more than a slight against Blacks if her status was public."
"I cannot believe what Evelyn must be…"
"Let us know.."
Of course, in the midst of it, nobody acknowledged how serious it looked. This was akin to drunkards chasing women in alleys, this was bloody hell…
Tom had been uneasy with the events, something not sitting well, memories in the back of his head of London alleys. But he had not quite pinned the word in his head. And he had not said it aloud, quietly weighing in his disturbed thoughts.
It was Walburga and Applebee almost shouting it at others that made it apparent.
Eileen had spoken up. So had Gore.
Dorea just looked horrified. Gambol confused and then when things dawned, her expression had been of startled sympathy.
Men mostly looked uncomfortable and jarred. They had not thought what this looked like: attempted rape.
But shoddy hexes and no move towards her 'honor' gave a rest to that line of thought. No wonder that Evelyn was so shaken, no wonder…
There was nothing in the law to support his thesis and he reckoned that Cordelia knew this, hence her simmering furious silence. They could do anything according to school charter, anything.
And of course, Cordelia's first instinct had been ensuring Evelyn's well-being rather than go off on a hunt.
Tom was furious. And it had showed on his face.
Only his anger was not as uncontrolled as it had been at the time of Cordelia's attack.
He remembered Evelyn's words from that night. It had been a dangerous thing to do: sneak out to see an Heiress who had been attacked. It could have been pinned on Evelyn. Purebloods had ways to do it.
But she had come anyway. And she had comforted him anyway.
She had been steadfast, loyal and intelligent. And she was targeted…
Thank Morgana; Walburga had gotten up to power some runes on the cusp of ebbing moonlight and rising sun. He was wrought over what more could have happened.
Time and time again, Lestrange and his ilk came up with ways in which Tom could resent and hate them more.
Titania and Burke would enter the room. They had been witnesses in the interrogative meeting.
"They don't know who they were targeting. I thought it was targeted to Cordelia. But they don't remember much. They remember seeing an obscure Ravenclaw girl. They did not know her name or her year. They thought that considering a lack of social capital, she would not fight or report them in fear," Titania said in a flat voice and then extended the satire in the same bland tone, " They were just having a bit of fun really, playing. They were not going to really harm her."
"They lost points: 50 each. They have detention with Kettleburn till the end of term." Burke added. His face was serious too.
"At least they got a slap in the wrist, most noble men walk away from things like this," Gore said angrily and walked off the room.
Tom did not blame her. Loss of points. Loss of points?
"We may as well adjourn if there is nothing anyone has to offer?" Tiberius said tentatively.
Tom merely nodded.
His face must have given away something because when he was walking, Walburga would meet his stride.
"I want in. Whatever it is you are planning," She would say curtly.
Tom gave an acknowledging nod.
His steps would retrace him back to the infirmary, where Evelyn was being treated for acute stress.
He stopped at the doors, a sudden realization coming forth. Maybe Evelyn would not be ready to see men.
He could see Lia and Evelyn sitting, a dinner table set on bed as Cordelia urged Evelyn to eat. Evelyn looked much better.
Lia spotted him and nod and beckon him inside.
As soon as Tom reached the table, Lia reached for a tight side hug. He planted a small kiss on her hair before they parted.
"Her blood circulation levels are finally level. They are going to keep her here for observation tonight. I am staying over." Lia gently informed him.
Tom nodded at her and then met his eyes with Evelyn. She met them for a few second before looking away.
Tom decided to be honest, "I don't know what to say Evelyn. Every word that I can think of seems trivial. Every apology and condolence seems a little too vague and patronizing. They will pay though, within Slytherin and outside it, beyond whatever it is that Slughorn and Monroe dished out."
Tears swelled up in Evelyn's eyes.
Tom instinctively reached for her hand, squeezing it in comfort as Cordelia took her into a hug.
"I don't think they knew who I was," She would say finally, "They never made any reference to Cordelia. They were just drunk and belligerent."
"That does not excuse it," Cordelia said quickly.
"I don't want to create trouble. My sponsorship is not going to go down well anyway and if I have already taken on a noble heir, " Evelyn shook her head.
"Then it is good that it won't be you creating trouble, or even Cordelia." Tom said quietly and pointedly.
Even Cordelia looked confused.
"You cannot take on them as the Heiress Black. Evelyn's status was not announced. Everyone knows your antagonistic history with Lestrange and it will be spun in several ways. My history is much more cordial. I hate to care about optics but we have to be careful. We are quickly making enemies and I don't want other people to get hurt because of this. Also, I would rather not have you anywhere near that…I will take care of it," Tom assured.
"You just want another go at Lestrange, this time public," Cordelia snorted, making light of the situation.
Even Evelyn cracked a semblance of smile at that.
"We cannot go after him clandestinely. Albeit there was no proof or anything with Carrow, our adversaries having unexplained accidents will give us a bad name. It would not matter if we did it or not." Tom pointed out gently.
"I know your anger. I cannot probably imagine the extent of it rightly. And it is justified. And I know you hate playing pawns. But we cannot do anything to them that is not public and lawful. It feels wrong and everything but we need to keep the big play in mind." He would add for good measure.
Cordelia is fiercely protective of those she loves. Tom knows that first hand. Tom is proud and besotted with her for that very reason. But sometimes, he needs to knock her foolhardiness to ground. Sometimes, it is up to him to prevent Black Heiress from doing blunders in the name of love.
Heya, life has been tough. I have fibromyalgia now. And workloads are workloads.
Flipped has been my heart and soul. It still is, I just have a harder time coming back to it. I will be updating slowly.
So, thanks for sticking around.
Kat
