§tparseltongue§
XII. Awakening
Adra was wondering where the danger would be coming from.
They'd been to Diagon Alley with the Weasley, and there had been no altercation between their patriarch and Lucius Malfoy, no chance for the Death Eater to slip a cursed diary in Ginny's cauldron.
She'd still kept an eye on the girl – and there had indeed been no diary in sight.
Her second year back in Hogwarts started rather tamely, but it didn't mean she forgot that the enemy had made it's first move.
It may only be the Titans for now – but something told her that the coming years would be anything but peaceful. It was time to up her training, just like she'd advises Luke and Thalia to do.
Naturally her new training regiment didn't go unnoticed by her roommates. Leifr, of course, knew what was going on – and as such managed to convince the twins to start on some light physical training, and heavier magical training of their own.
Blaise after watching them eventually started to join them, pointing out that as a half-blood, training never was a bad idea… And they weren't wrong.
Luna had quite naturally been sorted in Ravenclaw, albeit gaining acceptance from Hufflepuff too, and though she wasn't god-born, she knew well enough from her previous life that it paid to be prepared. She'd lasted all of a week in the regular dormitory – before someone stole the ribbon her mother had made for her First Rite, and she snapped.
Because Pandora Lovegood may not have died while experimenting with runes and volatile magic in her basement in this life, the little witch remembered far too well a life where it had happened, and treasured all her mother's gifts.
Luna wasn't naturally violent – but when incensed, she'd learned over time how to get even. Her ribbon had been quickly reclaimed, and just as quickly she'd claimed her birthright and a new door had appeared in the Ravenclaw dormitory.
The room that Adra, Leifr and Blaise shared had grown larger, the new part having a window with a view from the top of the Ravenclaw Tower, and two new bed swiftly added – as of course Luna had extended an invitation to Sirius. While he did get along with his classmates, the god still valued his family more and had immediately accepted.
The same invitation had been extended to Hermione, but while grateful, the witch had declined, though she did visit their room often.
Finally, Lockhart's first class had come around – and swiftly confirmed to Adra that of the numerous things that had changed, the wizard's incompetency wasn't among the number.
She had eyed the quiz the man had handled out all of three seconds before rolling her eyes, slamming the thing her table, and starting to pack up her things.
"What are you doing, Adra?" the annoying wizard had asked with what was supposed to be a winning smile
"It's Heiress Potter to you." the girl corrected coldly, making the other's smile falter "And there is no way I'm wasting my time with this farce. I'm heading to see the headmaster."
With that she was out of the classroom, Lockhart flailing for a moment before popping back in the room to tell them to finish the quizz before hurrying behind her.
Soon enough, they were in front of the statue guarding the entrance to the headmaster's office – this one a dragon rather than the gargoyle it had been in her first life she noticed in passing before addressing it "Please tell the headmaster I'm asking for his time."
Lockhart stumbled when the stone eyes flashed with magic to acknowledge her – then after a few seconds, the dragon was raising his wings, revealing the staircase that led toward the top of the Main Tower, and the headmaster's chambers.
Adra wasn't surprised to see that Pyxis was already there with Dumbledore.
"So sister mine, barely a few days in class and already wrecking havoc?" he mused with an amused smile
"What can I say… It's in my blood." she answered in kind, before sobering and turning toward the headmaster "My brother has already given you the paperwork I think?"
"Indeed." Dumbledore looked both mirthful and tired she noted "Your application for an external tutor is well within your right, and given that the paperwork has already been prepared and approved by the Educational Department, all is in order."
He turned toward Lockhart that was looking like a fish out of water "Since you are here, please take note that you won't be having Leifr Lokison, third year Slytherin, Adrasteia Potter, second year Slytherin, Sirius Black, second year Ravenclaw and Luna Lovegood, first year Ravenclaw, in your class anymore."
"Wha… What? What is going on headmaster?"
"Their family isn't convinced by your curriculum and as such has applied for an external tutor."
"What tutor could be better than me! I'm an honorary member of the Dark Force Defense League!"
"Well then it's a good thing the tutor is a full-fledged member." Pyxis noted calmly
"I'm sure there are stills students waiting for you in class." Dumbledore pointed out to the blond wix that was standing flabbergasted in the entrance of the office
¤.¤.¤
Finally taking the cue, the teacher left, leaving Adra and Pyxis with the headmaster.
"I'm sorry it's come to this." Dumbledore sighed "I'm afraid we didn't have anyone else applying for the post this year."
"How about getting rid of the curse then?"
"I would if I could," Dumbledore answered tiredly "but since it's been cast by the Slytherin heir, it would need the heir or head of two founding families to undo. There hasn't been a head of the founding houses since the founders themselves, and while there have been heirs..."
Pyxis nodded – of course, he'd checked it too during his school year "The Smith may brag about their blood, they've never managed to claim the Hufflepuff heir title." he pointed out"And the Gryffindor heir title has been lost for a very long time."
"And it's not like Riddle is going to undo his curse voluntarily." Adra completed
Silence reigned for a few seconds, only interrupted by a house-elf popping in with tea and gingerbread. They thanked the being, and Adra started to nibble on a biscuit, still deep in thoughts, just knowing she'd missed something…
"Wait. Why aren't we talking about this with the one whose directly affected by this?" she suddenly asked
"Finally!"
They turned toward the shelf where the sorting hat was stored during the school year "Help is always given by Hogwarts to those that know how to ask!" the hat proclaimed happily
The familiar phrasing made Adra widen her eyes for a second, then Dumbledore pointed out "Why now? You've been asked numerous time over the year…"
"Not just anybody can call for the gods." the hat pointed out
"Oh. That's because I'm a miko then." Adra realized – she had been blessed by Magic herself several lifes ago in order to help her cope better with her powers while in the Mortal Realm
The side effect, rather unexpected, was that she was now recognized as her own holy servant while among mortals… And while there were quite a few demi-gods among the wixen, holy servant were all but unheard of since most of them tended to be magicians and as such kept far away from the wixen world.
Dumbledore was looking at her with eyes brimming with curiosity, making him appear decades younger. Adra laughed at this and explained "I have been gifted with powers that pertain to the divine. That's what being a real miko, or any other kind of holy servant truly mean."
"Is it because you're a half-blood?"
"How were you convinced to put him Gryffindor?" Adra asked the hat at the rather clearly Ravenclawish behavior
"Young Albus was intelligent, but far brasher back in the days." the hat answered with amusement – and a feminine tilt – in his voice
The headmaster was looking faintly embarrassed – yet not enough to have lost the gleam of curiosity in his eyes.
"While demi-gods do inherit gifts from their parents, holy servants are different in that they were chosen to represent and communicate with a deity. Technically any half-blood is a powerful holy servant of their godly parent…" Pyxis explained
"But since their use of their godly inheritance is instinctive, it's far more difficult to learn the more versatile powers of the holy servants." Adra completed
"Yet you have managed it." Dumbledore deduced
"I'm not a regular half-blood." Adra easily admitted, before turning her attention back toward the hat "What do we need to do to get rid of the curse?"
"There are several solutions." the voice, while masculine, was calmer and more cultured than the usual one of the hat
"We could help awaken a sleeping heir if he's within the castle wall." a warm, feminine voice replaced him
"We could overpower the curse and destroy it." the usual brash voice took over
"Or we could simply purge the curse." the first feminine voice concluded
Adra sighed, and took several shikigami out of her Inventory "This is making my head hurt, would you mind using those for a while?"
"A medium, perfect!"
The four paper silhouette flashed red, green, blue and yellow – and the hat fell back on it's shelf, quite inanimate. With a swirl of power, a ghostly form started to materialize around each shikigami – though clearly they were not regular ghost as they had some faded colors to them...The the colors grew brighter, and soon, four wixen clad in rather old fashioned clothes, were standing in the office.
"Well met, Head Moon, Head Black, Headmaster Dumbledore." the four greeted "It's a pleasure to meet you in this form."
"Well met indeed." the other greeted in kind, Dumbledore's eyes sparkling with excitement as the intelligent wizard hadn't needed much to recognize who he was meeting
"It's been a long time since someone has had enough knowledge in the holy arts to call us in this plane." Rowena Ravenclaw mused lightly
Around them, the room changed to accommodate the four founders, and soon all were comfortably seated.
"The problem with all the solution we've given you is that there is a downside to each." Salazar explained as the went back to the topic at hand
"Overpowering a curse is often very destructive." Adra nodded easily – this was something everyone who'd dabbled in curse-breaking knew
"Purging or unraveling it would also weaken considerably the castle wards, as the curse was weaved quite intricately." Rowena added "It could take years for Hogwarts protections to be up to their usual standards."
Dumbledore frowned – with Voldemort still alive, it was all but unacceptable.
"So there's not other choice than finding another heir then?" he mused - clearly that was all ther was to it, or the founders wouldn't have been so eager to talk
"It would be the less dangerous option right now." Helga nodded "But there are ways available to us to find our descendants that now that we've been called."
"Normally, Lughnasad would be the better day to conduct a ritual to look for our descendants…" Gryffindor explained "But since the children aren't at school at this date." a shrug "It would be useless."
"Which means it's got to be Samhain." Adra realized with a sigh – it seems the date was fated to always be eventful after all
After that, they delved in the more technical details, piles of parchment quickly growing all around them as the group of seven started to craft a whole new ritual.
It was only when Snape all but barged in to inform the headmaster that Adrasteia Potter hadn't been seen since morning that they realized how many hours they'd spent on their research – even forgetting lunch and nearly missing dinner too…
"This isn't something that we'll do in a day." the old man admitted, his back cracking as he stretched after having spent so many hours leaning over parchment
"We've already imposed quite a bit on your energy." Salazar admitted, bowing toward Adra
The girl was looking a bit peckish – but while he'd also lost the notion of time, Pyxis had kept an eye on his sister energy level, and thus wasn't too worried. The four lesser gods she'd kept materialized in the mortal world hadn't expended too much of her energy since they'd mainly talked – if they'd used their powers, the situation would have been far different.
Still – it wouldn't do to needlessly exhaust the young witch.
"Let's meet again next week-end." he suggested "Adra has school-work, and I have Wizengamot duties, and I don't doubt headmaster Dumbledore has work to do too."
The man sent a sheepish glance to his desk, where none of his daily paperwork had been done.
"Right you are, Head Black." he nodded "Even if we only meet during the weekend, we still have nearly two months ahead of us, it should be more than enough."
¤.¤.¤
With that, the four founders said their farewell, and as they disappeared, the four shikigami they'd been using fell back to the ground, now stained each in the color of one of Hogwarts' houses; while the hat regained consciousness.
Pyxis hugged Adra, before leaving too – and the young goddess and her headmaster headed toward the great hall, where dinner was about to start.
"I'm happy to see you seem to be enjoying your time in Hogwarts… Thought it's quite clear you need the schooling even less than I thought."
"I love Hogwarts. And while I really don't need the schooling…" Adra smiled brightly "I plan to change the world, and to do so, which better place than school?" she gestured toward the great hall which they were nearing to "These children are the one who'll built our world tomorrow, and this place is the one where they'll learn what to build, and how to do it."
"You truly should be among the teacher rather than the student."
"Ah but then it would seem far more boring to them to listen to me!"
The headmaster laughed at her retort, making a few heads turn toward them, and the two of them separated as they entered the hall.
Adra was soon assaulted by her friends and class-mates, all wondering where she'd spent the day.
The news she and the rest of the clan were going to opt for a tutor instead of enduring Lockhart's inept teaching was soon making the round… quite a few of the students who'd had their first lesson inquiring whether they could join them.
"I'm afraid the paperwork has to be filled before the beginning of the school year." Adra explained to Hermione, who groaned and tried to hit her head on the table – Sirius stopping her with an amused smile
"I can't believe I was dumb enough to doubt you." she said to her fellow Ravenclaw "You tried to warn me! And now, I stuck having subpar lessons for the whole school year…"
"We'll held study session and lend you our note." the godling reassured her – gaining quite a few puppy eyes from the other Ravenclaw around "We could even leave a few duplicates of our notes in the common room." he amended – nearly getting mobbed by thankful classmates in the process
Adra sighted, leaning back on her chair.
September had gone by quite fast – somehow, the early morning training had started to attract more and more students, most of them demi-gods – so much so that the faculty had stepped in and posted official hours where the students would be allowed to train under the supervision of a teacher.
Hermione, like quite a few muggle and half-bloods, had been rather stunned by the blasé attitude the teacher had toward their students playing with live weapon and learning martial arts with minimal supervision. Luna had been the one to explain that with the efficiency of magical healing, wixen had a rather different notion of what was dangerous – not to mention that students were expected to be more responsible than in the muggle world given that they were given a dangerous weapon to handle the day they got their wand.
The children of the clan had also taken to leave their notes after each tutoring session – or really, given how advanced they really were, they had taken to spent part of their time in tutoring putting together weekly notes for all seven year group. Rather than ask too many questions – the numerous students let down by Lockhart's lacking teacher style chose to accept the gift and thank them each in their own way.
Adra and Pyxis had met up with Dumbledore and the four founders each week-end to keep on crafting a ritual.
While it was indeed not to hard for a head of house to identify family members – it was blood magic, and the founders had long lost their real bodies. Which meant the ritual would have to identify the magic – except said magic would be faint, since there was no Head of House to acknowledge them in front of the ancient spirit.
"So we need to give them a new chance to awaken." Helga stated matter-of-factly
"Is it even possible? I thought once the First Rite was missed, it was over…" Pyxis pointed out – a god he may be, this was tied to Magic's domains more than his own
"It's possible, it's just easier during childhood." Salazar confirmed "Helga and I both come from non-magical parents, we weren't awakened until we met Rowena and Godric."
"Right, I was the one to awaken Sal!" Godric all but crowed "Of course the annoying over-achiever then had to directly become powerful enough to manifest a new spirit for his family."
Adra's eyes widened, the situation feeling rather familiar.
"So this is why my kitsune appeared among the spirits and the Moon House was born?" she mused, making the four founders laugh at how surprised she sounded
"Well of course," Rowena answered "limited thought they may be in the Mortal Realms, in the Dream Realm it was impossible to limit your powers to a spirit that wasn't purely attuned to you."
Adra turned toward her brother "But then why didn't this happen for Pyxis too? I mean he's still far more powerful than me out of his restrictions."
"My restrictions are also far more powerful than your own." Pyxis was the one to answer easily "I'm not a holy servant."
Adra nodded – and turned back to the talk at hand.
"So anyway, if it used to be possible to awaken adults, why isn't it done anymore?"
"It was probably lost to time as the wixen world became more insular and less tolerant toward new-comers." Dumbledore couldn't help but speculate
"Indeed." Godric agreed somberly "With the animosity of those without magic toward the wixen, it was a gamble to awaken a muggle-born… Who knew if they weren't going to use those new powers to turn against us in turn?"
"And some did." Salazar completed, tone even darker "Some did, and nearly destroyed this very school."
Dumbledore, Adra and Pyxis exchanged a glance – somehow, given how swiftly the mood had soured, all three had a feeling this was the very thing that had led to the clearly wrong rumor of disputes among the founders, and of Slyhterin's supposed bias against muggle-born…
"Still, why don't we give a chance to Awaken to the dreamless students?" Pyxis mused, thinking back to how this had contributed to destroy Lily's friendship with Snape "Is it a difficult ritual?"
"It isn't, but it still means you must take them under the protection of your House." Godric explained
"And suddenly taking several hundreds… Even several dozens of students in would be a stretch for any House."
"What if we take them under Hogwarts' House?" Rowena mused
"Wouldn't the current descendants obliged to take care of them, then?" Dumbledore contradicted
"Not if we take them not under each House, but under Hogwarts' name itself.
"Is it possible? Is there a spirit of…" Adra stopped herself "Of course there is," she laughed "Hogwarts herself is a spirit born from the four of you." she shook her head "I mean, I feel her quite often, how didn't I realize…"
"So we awaken all the dreamless students present, then we look for an heir?"
"Once awakened, they would be far easier to feel."
¤.¤.¤
Touching to something as revered by the wixen as the Rites wasn't going to be done without a lot of people, especially among the more traditionalist, protesting quite loudly.
Of course, they didn't really those peoples' approval – but once they did it, it would be rather evident that there suddenly wasn't any dreamless in the school, so preparations had to be made on the political side.
Remus nearly cried when he realized just what kind of bomb Pyxis and Adra had just dropped in his arms. Thankfully, Bianca, who'd somehow gone from helping him with Riddle's situation to becoming his all-around assistant, had been there to prevent a melt-down – and the two had gotten to work.
While they wouldn't be advertising the fact that they were looking for another founder's heir, the part about awakening the dreamless under the protection of Hogwarts was wildly discussed by the Wizengamot. The government couldn't interfere as the ritual that was being crafted didn't go against the laws since it fell under the protection of a House Spirit and didn't involve non-voluntary sacrifices.
After numerous talk between the different political factions, the head of houses had been invited to participate in a passive way, by witnessing whether their House Spirit was called forward during the ritual. If it was the case, they could then ask for the children's name and start to get to know each other before inviting them in their House during their next Rite if both the child and head agreed. In the mean time, Dumbledore would retain the magical guardianship of all muggle-born and half-blood.
Permission was also granted to immediatly accept a child in their house if said child was willing, and the head understood it meant being under scrutiny of the Magical Children Welfare Department.
This method was chosen in order to prevent some from abusing the children under the pretense of taking them in their family – while doing so would only bring dishonor to their name, some House had sadly proven during the first conflict with Voldemort that they wouldn't hesitate in going against even age old traditions if it meant gaining an advantage.
The measures put in place to prevent any abuse saw to it that the number of head of houses interested by the unheard of before awakening was suddenly drastically reduced as their dark-aligned houses were confirmed that they wouldn't be able to just use the young wixen to their advantage.
Nonetheless – there were still quite a few head interested, from both the minor and the old houses that could afford a child or two more and were hoping for to broaden their family.
Hogwarts was once more brimming with rumors, making Lockhart's blumbering take second place to the excitation that was rising as Halloween was coming closer. From mere curiosity, to children hoping to be related to their friend or even wishing to find a family….
Adra smiled as she entered the great hall, that had been decorated both with muggle orientated Halloween ornament and wixen ones dedicated to Samhain's celebration. The usual tables had been rearranged in a square, with a large empty space in the middle where a wooden structure had been placed.
Quite a few students were curious, but it was those from families that still practiced the old calendar that guessed first.
"A bonfire." Blaise mused not to far from Adra
"Wasn't it candles last year?" Tracey wondered
"Candles are a rather recent variation of the celebration." Daphne was the one to explain "Wixen living in big city can't always take the time off to go the country-side for the celebrations so they had to adapt." she smiled happily "To think we'd witness such a celebration in Hogwarts in these days and age!" a small laugh, darkly amused "What the dark lord had promised it's followers, his defeater was the one to deliver."
There were a few scandalized frown from Death Eater's children around them – but there were also quite a few thoughtful faces, Adra noted.
The feast started, just as impressive as always as the elves had once more risen up to the challenge.
By the time all had finished their meal, they realized that pile of logs had appeared behind them, and wood-carving instruments. The next couple of hours were spent engraving the logs with wishes for the next twelve months.
A few simple runic galdr had been passed around by the Rune teacher for those that didn't know anything about them, while those that were more confident were carving their own runic or ogham design.
Adra smiled fondly as she realized that quite naturally, Sirius, Luna and Leifr and gathered around her, the celebration reminding them of those they had shared during their two year long trip. She shared a smile with Pyxis that wasn't too far away with Leto – the head of houses that had chosen to attend the ritual having been invited to the feast, they were seated with the faculty and carving their own logs.
Adra sighed as midnight came nearer.
She was rather used to be the center of attention, but all in all she'd tried to avoid standing out too much in the wixen world…
But for this ritual there was no way to avoid it anymore – thought the Greengrass, Ollivander and Longbottom had traditionally been druids, and the Lovegood shamans, none of those family had cultivated the holy servant training she'd learned over the years.
This was something she hadn't even expected having to change in the wixen world – something she'd take care of in the future – but right now, she was the only one able to take on the role of a priestess in a ceremony like the ritual they would be conducting.
¤.¤.¤
A smaller hand slipped into hers for a moment, tightening briefly before letting go.
"I always look forward to your performances, Tsuki-hime."
Adra laughed at Luna's comment, suddenly feeling the tension receding. Luna was right, she realized – if she couldn't avoid being in the spot-light, then she would make the House of Moon proud and seize everybody's attention with a performance they would never forget.
After all, it wasn't everyday that one had the privilege of witnessing a ceremony lead by princess of the house of Moon.
Fingers running along the silvery ornament hidden in her hair, Adra took a breath and let her usual glamour recede partially. Feeling the familiar thrum of her magic, Leifr glanced toward her, noticing the green moon appearing on her brow while her black hair regained it's white tips "Giving up some secrets today?"
"Might as well be on my terms." she nodded, opening the Wardrobe System with a thought – and in an instant, the school uniform was gone, replaced by the traditional attire of Shintoist priestess, a light and nearly vaporous haori ornate with kitsune completing her outfit.
While she was preparing herself, the candles around the great hall had nearly all been extinguished, and in the near dark, the students had started to drop toward the still unlit firepit, soon followed by the teachers and head of houses.
Adra nearly shudered.
It was the first time – that she felt the nearly tangible effect human faith had on immortals in this world – the first time she was around so many mortals sending all their prayers, by the medium of the logs they'd worked on, toward the same god.
Hogwarts had never been filled with so much power, both holy and magical- and in this night where the veil between the Realms was the thinnest, it was getting difficult to hold on the remaining of her glamour and not slip directly in her Past Life Aura.
Silence fell on the crowd as the miko stepped into the circle, log in hand, and started circling the bonfire – first slowly and respectfully, bowing toward each cardinal direction.
Then once that first circle had been done, and with it the ritual started, her body came alive, the log in her hand suddenly at the top of the bonfire while she fell in the well practiced rhythm of the call to the ancestors and the god, of a dance far different from the one the non-magical remembered, and far more entrancing as with each move of he butterfly sleeve and each arch drawn by her fan, all could feel the power gathering.
None could tell where the ethereal music was coming from – but as the crescendo was reached, her fan seemed to burst in flame, and with it the whole bonfire was lit.
None among the crowd could have mistaken the holy power that had answered her call for magic in that instant, the feeling far too different for the wixen to mix them up.
Not even panting despite her performance, Adra knelt in front of the roaring fire – and it was then that all realized that a pentacle had come alive on the whole floor of the great hall, with the bonfire and the miko in their middle. Taking her burning log out of the fire with bare hands, and without paying any attention to the gasps, she easily broke a darkened piece of wood and with it, completed the yet unfinished magical circle.
The fire turned white, and with it the whole magical circle, and all those that remembered their Rites realized that the air around them had changed – and despite being in the middle of Hogwarts' great hall, around a blazing fire, all could now feel the cool air of the under-wood where the Spirit Beast gathered…
Above the white fire, a gigantic silhouette, silvery white, had appeared – followed by several others, each above a head of house.
The Spirit Beasts had answered the call.
So awed by the majestuous being, teachers and students nearly missed Adra heading toward the head table – where the sorting hat was waiting, looking rather incongruous in the mystical atmosphere.
With a nod, Dumbledore conjured four chairs that looked even more ornamented than the traditional seat of the headmaster – and four silhouette started to materialize in them, in a swirl of magic gleaming with familiar colors.
"Who calls for us in this plane?"
"We do." four voices answered as one "To plead for us to allow us to repair an injustice done to our children!"
"Whom do you claim?"
"All unclaimed wixen in these halls."
Adra smiled as she saw not only Snape, but also a couple other teacher's eyes widen at the claim – finally understanding that in that instant it wasn't only the children that were finally getting the chance to be claimed.
Sure enough, the power boosts and gifts unlocked would be less diverse and powerful as they had already age past the ideal age… But even symbolically, this was a degree of acceptance among the very heart of the wixen society most had all but given up on.
"And for whom do you claim them?"
"As Rowena Ravenclaw, I claim them for Hogwarts."
"As Godric Gryffindor, I claim them for Hogwarts."
"As Helga Hufflepuff, I claim them for Hogwarts."
"As Salazar Slytherin, I claim them for Hogwarts."
¤.¤.¤
The dragon opened his wings, and a rain of tiny, silvery dragons appeared around him.
"So it shall be."
[Secondary Quest Updated! Lost Children...
Goal Complete: the dreamless of Hogwarts have been awakened
Reward: +5 XP
Bonus Goal complete: all students, past and present have been claimed by Hogwarts
Bonus Reward: +10 XP, +1PP]
[New perk unlocked
Child of Hogwarts (free): +2 LUCK, + 5% Magic Regeneration
Available: 15 PP]
Above the head of each wix in the room, previously awakened or not, a small dragon was now happily flying in circles, making the children – and quite a few adults laugh with happiness.
By each head of house's side, the spirit beast were conferring in whispers, telling them of the new children of their house.
Numerous beast had appeared, going around the children to watch them and unlock the gifts dormant in their blood. Adra smiled, as she realized the kitsune that had been born from her own powers, looking rather similar to Kagetsu, was mingling along with the other spirit beasts. While it wouldn't be gifting anyone anything tonight, given that no one in the assembly was one of her descendants, the spirit was still looking for those who could be worthy of it's gifts – magical adoptions did exist after all.
With the attention of all occupied by the unearthly happenings, as even regular awakened had never seen so many spirit beast assembled, especially not in the Mortal Realm, Adra and the four founders were forging on with the other part of the ritual.
There was no need for dancing this time – the four founders merely channeled their power in another circle that had been prepared in advance too, after days and days of calculations, and quite a few hours of inscribing on all four of the House Banners that always hung on the great hall walls.
While simple snakes, ravens, lions and badgers were going around the hall to grant their gifts to the distantly linked wixen that held the correct disposition for their powers, the four majestic spirit had stayed by the founders side, smaller than Hogwarts' dragon only.
Then from each of them, a larger detachment appeared.
The Raven immediately went flying around Leto, that greeted it amicably – the man had been Heir of Ravenclaw for a long time after all, thought now had taken the title of Head since Rowena herself.
As for the other three, they went mingling among the students before coming back to the founders and Dumbledore.
Little by little, the animation was settling down, some head of house looked thoughtful, other, after asking permission from Dumbledore, had wandered across the table to go and talk to some children.
She eyed the Potter Gryffin, that had been patiently waiting for her and bowed his head toward her as soon as she gave him attention.
"There are two newly awakened with Potter blood." he announced "It's rather faint, as a few generation has gone by since they last mingled with wixen."
Adra eyed the two he was pointing at – one she recognized as a fourth year Hufflepuff, Leanne Williams, which she knew to be a studious student, often helping the younger children, with a mischievous side; suddenly, the rather wild mane of dark blond hair took on a whole new meaning…
As for the other one – it was another witch, in her own school year this time, and with hair just as wild. She smiled and told the spirit beast by her side "This one is already family, I'm going to talk to the older one."
[Secondary Quest Updated! Lost Children...
Bonus Goal update: you've taken in the children of your blood (1/2)]
The gryffin nodded, and Hermione's eyes widened as she realized that the dragon claiming her, which by now had settled on her shoulder, had been joined by another spirit. Within a moment, she was mobbed by all of the clan's children in attendance, and several more friends as all realized what it meant.
As for Adra, she'd managed to arrive next to Leanne.
"So apparently, we're related." she informed the Hufflepuff rather casually, sitting on the bench by her side with a contented sigh
Leanne laughed at the matter-of-fact announcement, her warm honey-colored eyes crinkling happily and she commented "I'd say you're not too dissatisfied with it, if you're coming to talk to me."
"I like you. You take care of the children you're among the muggle-born that made the effort to learn more about the wixen world even before the new course were introduced, you don't let people look down on you." a smile "So the real question is, do you want to be family, and by how much?"
"What do you mean by how much?" the older girl asked, serious now that they were entering life-changing decisions ground
"Well I can either simply accept you as a Daughter of the Potter, arrange for a few lessons, I'll become your magical guardian in the wixen world, but not interfere in your daily life…" a shrug "If you're happy in your current family, that's what I would suggest." her eyes darkened "But if you're with idiots that don't understand the gift you've been born with, then I can fully adopt you and take you away from them."
The atmosphere lightened as she winked "Of course, given that I'm only twelve, I say I'll adopt you but you'll become more of a sister, and be under the care of my own magical guardian." she smile encouragingly "You don't have to make the decision right now, I'll still be able to adopt you during your next Rite when you're fifteen year old."
¤.¤.¤
"Take me in."
Adra eyed the girl with some sadness in her eyes – given how quickly she'd answer, it was clear she hadn't been very happy in her family. A gryffin appeared, and Adra solemnly announced
"Let it be known that you are now Leanne Lily Potter, daughter of the Potter and the Peverell."
By her side, the Peverell Grimm and the Moon kitsune had joined the Potter gryffin, and all three acknowledged as one "So it shall be."
[Secondary Quest Updated! Lost Children...
Bonus Goal complete: you've taken in the children of your blood (2/2)
Bonus Reward: +10XP, +1 PP
Bonus Goal complete: you've rescued Leanne Williams
Bonus Reward: +10XP, +1 Soul-bond token]
Tension visibly left the girl's body, and there were tears on her face as she asked "Please… I've got a little brother too…"
"I'll take care of it." Adra promised, gently tugging the girl toward her – a ribbon in her hands, she started to braid her hair as she reassured her "Awakening one children won't need a big ritual like today, it was only because there were so many of you. If he's your brother, he's family too.. And even if he wasn't, no child should be left in a situation that makes his sister cry like this."
Several of the girl's classmate were hoovering nearby now, adding their own congratulations and reassurance, and soon, Adra was leaving Leanne with her best friend,,the girl nodding thankfully toward her, letting her to go and meet up with the other newly awakened she shared blood with.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier."
"You had your hands full." Hermione quipped back with an understanding smile "I hadn't realized earlier how lucky I was…"
Adra nodded as the Ravenclaw sat by her side waiting with a smile for her to do her hair too – like always, Luna had been right on spot when she told Adra to prepare the First Rite present. Among the children, there had been nine adoptions on spot, all by minor families except her – the old houses were taking more of a wait and seen approach, though she'd seen Franck Longbottom ask some questions about a couple of student to his son.
"Wixen child are precious, but it's delicate to interfere with the muggle-born children's parents since they aren't a part of our world… There have been numerous proposition to better protect them, but it always end up for naught as either the progressive thinks the measures are too harsh or the traditionalists fear they will make the muggle notice us."
"Whereas acceptance in a house means said house can directly interfere as family." Hermione realized "I guess tonight ritual was even more useful than I thought…" she mumbled thoughtfully before eyeing the four founders, one speaking with her descendants while two were talking with students "And I've got the impression the surprises aren't over for the night..."
Standing with Helga was Lucian Holmes, a six year Ravenclaw boy with dark red hair and deep blue eyes that she'd often heard called jokingly the eight Weasley. As a matter of fact, the boy had indeed turned out to be related to them, and had been welcomed as a Son of the Weasley but a few moments earlier.
Not far from them was a younger girl Adra was rather familiar with given that she was a half-blood, Astrid Dunn – and it was rather fitting, she mused, for a daughter of Odin to be heir to Gryffindor. The Hufflepuff third year had long blond hair, intricately braided, and dark blue eyes just like those of her father.
It took but a few moments to explain that they'd been looking for the founder's heirs in order to undo Voldemort's curse on the Defense Against the Dark Art position – soon enough, both students had agreed to take on the heir position and were facing their respective ancestor and spirit beast.
As for Adra…
"Sal, why is your snake cuddling with me?"
She could hear a few students snort in the background at the rather ambiguous statement, while the founder rolled his eyes in amusement.
The weeks spent working together had brought all closer together – Adra had even seen Dumbledore and Pyxis joking together, something she'd never thought she'd see in her lifetime! They'd also all had to endure Salazar's numerous rants against Riddle and his crusade.
"The idiot that fancies himself a dark lord really is my closest heir." the founder commented like one would talk about the weather "But you know, since no heir has ever replaced me as the Slytherin Head of House…" there was the devious smile, so utterly familiar, given that she often saw the same one on Loki's lips "I'm still free to replace him by another relative! And it just so happens that I do have another child from the main branch underhand…."
"Wait… From the main branch? I mean I have some Peverell blood so being related to Slytherin isn't too surprising but…"
"Well, Lily Potter was a muggle-born." a voice mused among the students
"So, my lady?" the founder asked with a wining smile and a bow "won't you help this poor old soul protect his legacy and replace the heir who've gone against all I stand for by one more worthy?"
Adra smiled as she heard quite a few dreamy sigh among the girls – clearly Godric hadn't lied when he told her Salazar had broken many hearts in his time – and with some amusement she bowed back in turn "Well when it's asked like this, how can I refuse."
She'd make him pay the scene he was creating later, she vowed mentally.
For now, she fell back on the hours of lessons on wixen traditions, and fell into a deep curtsy.
"I Adrasteia Lyra Potter, Heiress Potter and Peverell and Head Moon, daughter of the Lovegood and Ravenclaw, present myself in petition toward the Head of Slytherin."
"I, Salazar Slytherin, do accept your petition. Our blood is one, and our magic is one, rise daughter of the Slytherin."
She broke her curtsy, and Salazar forged on "Let it be know than from this day an onward, Tom Marvolo Riddle has been relieved of his position and Adrasteia Lyra Potter as been accepted as Heiress Slytherin."
¤.¤.¤
"So it shall be." the snake that was still curling around her acknowledged just as Lucian and Astrid were accepted as heir Hufflepuff and heiress Gryffindor
[Secondary Quest Complete! Lost Children...
Bonus Goal complete: you've found the heir of the founders (4/4)
Bonus Reward: +10XP, +1 PP
Bonus Goal complete: Tom Riddle has lost his title of heir of Slytherin
Bonus Reward: +10XP, +1 PP]
[First, Second, Third and Fourth Rite unlocked
- Slytherin House: 4*2 WIS, Mikró Néro ability unlocked,
Slytherin Potion Understanding or Slytherin Divination Understanding or Slytherin Curse Understandingunlocked, Mikró Néro ability evolve into Trópos Néro ability or Slytherin Non-Magical Snake Control or Slytherin Familiar Bond unlocked]
[Heir Rites unlocked!
- Slytherin House: +5INT, unlocks Black Heir Perk]
[New perk unlocked
- Slytherin First Rite (1 PP): unlocks Beastspeak(reptile) Language Skill
-Slytherin Heir (free): grants +10% MP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen
Available: 18 PP]
Whispers broken all around the great hall, louder and louder, before Dumbledore intervened "Please, the circle hasn't been closed yet."
With this, everyone calmed down – a seasonal ritual had to be ended in a very specific way, and it was always a very bad idea not to complete any kind of ritual correctly.
And so, Adra slowly circled the white bonfire one last time, and with it, the flames took back a more natural color, ritual circle fading back to simple chalk lines, the heat of the fire once more felt by all as the spirit beasts and the founders faded and disappeared from the Mortal Realm.
All at once, her body acknowledged the tremendous effort it had taken for her to hold on her mortal form despite being half a foot in the Dream Realm, and the shear quantity of magical and holy energy she'd spent during the night, and she all but fell in Pyxis arms.
"This night has been filled with many surprise for everyone," Dumbledore said, easily catching the attention of the crowd "many have found a new family, and in the years to come, we'll keep on welcoming the dreamless in our wixen community."
A smile "But now, it's more than time for everyone to sleep and get over tonight's event."
"What about the founder's heirs?" a voice asked among the students
"They'll be given the chance to be educated about their family to take over their place in society in time, just like the Lovegood have always done." Dumbledore answered with a smile "For now, please be mindful of all your classmates, newly awakened or founders heirs or not, and don't harass them, or the teaching staff will have to retaliate. And with this, I bid you all a good night."
The students were shepherded out of the great hall by the prefect, Pyxis reluctantly leaving Adra with Leifr and Blaise. The two played the bodyguards, preventing the Slytherin from asking too much questions – but it was so late that in the end, the excitement was soon dropping, replace by the need to sleep for everyone.
¤.¤.¤
The next morning, students going down for breakfast from the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor towers were greeted by a petrified cat and a message drawn in blood.
"The Chamber of Secret has been opened. The true Heir hill prevail."
The breakfast was filled with whispers, both about the previous evening and the morning happening. Malfoy and a few other dark aligned children were loudly claiming that Adra had stolen the Dark Lord's title and was going to be punished for it.
As for Adra – she was watching the students.
Ginny didn't have Riddle's diary, she knew as much – more to the point, this diary couldn't be a horcrux since the Voldemort hadn't cut his soul into pieces…
Yet clearly, the events of her first life were looking to be repeating themselves again. With a tired groan, she pushed her breakfast away "So, what are you doing, dear sister mine?"
Rolling her eyes at the by now familiar term of endearment, she answered "Well cleaning up the previous heir's mess of course. I'm going to the chamber of secret and taking care of the monster inside, one way or another."
"Oh! Did I hear the word monster? Can I help, please, please, please?"
Adra laughed at the exaggerated pout Astrid Dunn was aiming her way – which didn't quite manage to hide the blood-lust that had arisen in the demigoddess at the idea of a good fight.
"Well, she's not wrong," Lucian added, surprising her more – the boy was far more level-headed than the brash daughter of Odin after all "Our ancestors did great things together, we should cooperate…" a wink "Besides, I'd much rather have you than the precedent heir as a partner in crime!"
"Well, my father isn't here but I will represent him." a light-hearted voice chimed in as Luna latched on Adra's left arm "Shall we go and slay the beast?"
"You do realize that could be dangerous?" the goddess in a mortal body felt compelled to remind her fellow founders' heirs – thought it was more for the benefit of Astrid and Lucian than Luna really
"This is what I've trained for," Astrid contradicted "it's in my blood."
"And I may not be of godly descent, I've a few years of dueling under my belt." Lucian added
"Fighting is quite different."
"And I'll never learn the difference if I don't experience it."
Adra rolled her eyes "Never argue with a Raven…" she mumbled, making Luna giggle –and flash a dozen of ornamented, quite dangerous feeling, rune stones at her
"Besides, it's Sunday, do you really think we've got anything more interesting to do? And everyone is going to be pestering us!" Astrid pointed out
"Well then, let's go and see where Miss Norris was found." Adra capitulated
Even if she didn't find yet who was behind the opening of the chamber this time, taking care of the basilisk – if it was still one – either by talking it down or killing it, was still going to be useful in order to avoid putting the students at risk.
As for the three set on following her – she'd protect them if needed – it wasn't as if she didn't understand wanting to help after all. Especially given that now that they'd accepted their role as founder's heirs, they'd inevitably feel more responsible for the school and it's population. Just like she did.
Sirius had excused himself, having promised a study session to Hermione, and the four founders' heir were soon making their way toward the crime scene.
Just like before, Miss Norris had been found near the second floor's lavatories – which was, just like before too, the home of one "Moaning" Myrtle Warren, killed fifty years before and far too happy to talk about her death.
There was also a snake on an out of order tap…
"Well, the entrance is probably right here." Adra informed the other three "Now we should probably ask a few questions to the one who set up the place…"
A shikigami, and a burst of power later, Salazar was appearing.
"How can you call him so easily?" Lucian was the one to ask, Ravenclaw curiosity quite clear in his eyes
"Part of it is that I've been trained to use holy powers on top of magic. Another thing is that as a half-blood I've got a gift with the dead." Adra explained "But more importantly, the founders are tied to Hogwarts, it would be much more difficult to do this else where." she concluded, Salazar nodding along
"We wanted to always be there to protect our students." the man confirmed "But given the rather strange location where we are I doubt this is a social call?"
"I'm afraid it isn't." Luna confirmed, quickly going over the happening of the morning
"It's good to see you are taking to heart your inheritance." the green-clad founder said with a nod toward Lucian and Astrid, before taking a look at the tap Adra had singled out "It does have the feel of the entrance to my old laboratory…" he mused "Though how it ended on a faucet in a girl commodities of all things," he rolled his eyes "well Hogwarts always had a strange sense of humor."
Lucian and Astrid startled as they felt amusement echoing around them – it was the first time the two felt the spirit of the school.
"You'll get used to it." Luna reassured them "And with time you'll even be able to communicate with her." the girl smiled "She can be very helpful."
"Yes she helped me find a ritual room last year." Adra confirmed "Anyway, you're saying you had a hidden laboratory and that could be it?"
"Indeed, all four of us had to hid our more volatile research, imagine how dangerous it could be if the student could just stumble on it."
"I guess it makes sense… And the monster of the chamber?"
"That I couldn't say." the man admitted "I did have a basilisk familiar, but they became spirits and joined us in the Dream Realm when we did the ritual to tie ourselves to be school, just like Godric, Rowena and Helga's own familiar…"
"Well, I guess we'll see then." Adra mused, before switching language as she faced the tap " §Open!§ "
¤.¤.¤
With a swirl of magic, and a deep low vibration, the ground started to shake and distort, and a large opening appeared where the tap and sink had been but a moment before.
[Life Quest updated! The Girl Who Lived…
Goal Complete: Find the chamber of Secrets
Reward: 10XP]
Eyeing the dark, somewhat damp secret passage, Slytherin stated "Well I don't know what happened with this place but someone has clearly taken over my laboratory…" he grumbled in discontentment "And changed it into an unpractical hell-hole! § Light! Stairs! §" the opening was looking barely more inviting, thought at least there now torches on the walls and stone steps spiraling into the darkness "Well I guess we aren't going to get anything better…"
Adra nodded, mentally berating her past self for having been dumb enough to jump into a dark, dirty hole without seeing what was on the other side not once but twice during her first stint at Hogwarts, and took the lead.
They descended into the darkness for what seemed to last an eternity.
"This adventure isn't really exciting right now." Astrid complained "Where are the giant spiders, the enraged rats, the…"
"I don't know for the rats but you'll find the spiders in the Forbidden Forest." Adra answered with a shrug "Hagrid raised their leader."
"Of course." Lucian echoed with a blasé sigh – everyone knew about the half-giant's love for dangerous beasts
Finally, they touched ground, deep below the school, in a large cavern where the ground was covered in bones.
"Hoo, creepy!" Astrid commented in a happy tone "Oh look at this shed skin, what kind of beats leaves such a large thing behind?" she wondered as she eyed the gigantic snake skin that laid discarded in a corner of the cave
"A basilisk." Salazar was the one to answer unhappily "One that's at least a few decades old. Clearly someone decided to play the copycat."
Lucian was examining the skin from nearer "Well, it's pretty well preserved, we could sell it to the goblin and make some money for the school." he mused, completely missing Salazar's rather approving smile – without a doubt, Helga had found a worthy heir
With a thought, Adra had taken Fuurin out of her Inventory and tightened it to her waist, changing in the same instant her school uniform for her preferred battle outfit. Seeing her doing so, Astrid nodded "Not a bad idea."
With a swirl of magic, the simple leather band on her wrist turned into sturdy arm-braces , and under her out robe the oily sheen of well-cared for armor appeared, while a blade, rather surprisingly leaf-shaped like a roman one, appeared in a scabbard on her back
"Well, I can see Woden didn't let you go to school unprepared." Adra had to laugh
"He upgraded all my equipment as soon as he realized you were going to be at school." Astrid explained "Said that things always tended to happen around you…" she raised a challenging eyebrow at the girl-who-lived "Clearly he was right."
"Uh, this is the entry of my old laboratory," Salazar mused as at the end of the cave they uncovered a large circular stone ornamented with seven snakes "wonder how it ended up down here." a shrug no matter " §Open.§ "
The snakes started to glided along the door, retracting one by one until finally, it rumbled and slid to the side.
"That's one hell of a secured door." Lucian commented, clearly impressed – and making Salazar looking smug for a moment
"It's the same principle as the security lock-down on the castle's doors, simply more aesthetically arranged." he explained "It usually wasn't that heavily closed thought." he mused
" §Light.§ " Adra was the one to call, making two rows of torches lit on each side of a large room, decorated with high pillars, half covered in water on the far end, with only the head of what appeared like a gigantic statue at one end
"So… who's the guy?" Astrid wondered
"Your uncle." Adra was the one to answer with rolling eyes "Or rather, his birth form. His idea of a joke, I'd say."
"Clearly, you know my father well." Salazar confirmed with a sigh "This is a statue of Loki Laufeyson, but it also has the effect of protecting the laboratory if someone unauthorized tried to mess with it." his smile was smug and familiar "And clearly, it still works."
"It's the first time I see his giant form." Luna mused "It's too bad there aren't any colors…"
"So… Where's the beast?"
"If my copycat managed to get that far, they may not have found my research, but it's not like I really tried to hide Nathara's den…" he pointed at Loki's head, making the four student laugh
"Oh so you did inherit his dubious sense of humor." Luna pipped, making the other laugh even more
Water had pooled around Loki's head, and they were soon near a stone mouth nearly as big as them.
"So what's the password this time?" Adra wondered "Open again?"
"Not quite. §Good morning beloved!§ "
The three that didn't speak parseltongue shared nonplussed glances while Adra burst laughing. Then with another rumbling of stone and magic, the mouth started to open, and a strange slithery sound was heard.
"It's coming." Adra informed the other, knowing that among them she had the sharpest senses.
" §Who dares intrude on my master's domain?§ " a sibylline voice, only understood by Salazar and her, claimed loudly " §Is it some prey? Yes, yes, four little preys to play with, how wonderful!§ "
The goddess was surprised for a moment – before she remembered that of course, Salazar didn't have any scent, since his body wasn't real, no matter how convincing it looked.
"I don't think we'll be able to negotiate." she informed the other three heirs "It doesn't sound quite sane."
Adra and Astrid shared a glance and moved forward, weapon in hands – the leaf-sword in the Norse demigoddess' hand turning into the blade of a spear with a though; while on the contrary, Luna and Lucian dropped back, wand in hand.
"Remember…" Salazar warned
"… the eyes kills and so do the fangs!" the four answered back as one, the founder having gone over the strengths of a basilisk a few time while they were making their way toward the giant statue's head
¤.¤.¤
Finally, a large head, as tall as the tallest among them, slithered out the opened mouth, followed by a long serpentine body.
" §Come out and play little prey!§ " crooned the king of snakes
" §We're right here.§ " Adra answered in kind
" §Oh, how daring! But I have to kill you, yes I have, after all my master is going to be very angry if he learns there's been intruders in his room! And I don't want master angry, oh no I don't, otherwise her could go away again, for a long, long time!§ "
Adra and Salazar winced – clearly, the creature had gone completely mad after being kept imprisoned alone in the chamber for too long, something they'd speculated about when Salazar had guessed at the basilisks' age… After all if Myrtle had died the previous time the chamber had been opened, then clearly the snake had spend nearly fifty years alone and nearly starving.
Keeping to the side, Lucian and Luna were levitating several rune carved stones – then activated them as the same time once the head of the snake was finally clearly out it the open.
Lightening flashed brightly, startling the creature, just as Salazar called " §Good night, my dear!§ "
The stone mouth started to close around the snake – but all knew it wouldn't be enough, there was a reason why the basilisk was called the king of snakes, and the door had been made to stop if there was something jamming it in order to avoid any fatal accident.
Taking advantage of the fact it was immobilized, Adra and Astrid rushed forward, each jumping toward one eye of the trashing monster, eyes closed and relying on their senses and instincts.
"Left, Astrid!"
With the air currents around her, Adra could feel the demigoddess adjust her position – then the smell of blood flooded her nose and she knew the girl aimed had been true. Now it was up to her to take care of the second one- of course, given that her own weapon had a much shorter range, it wasn't going to be quite as easy. She bend her knees slightly as she landed on top of the snakes head – then quickly buried FuurinKiba in the still intact eye.
"All Clear!" called Lucian
Adra opened her eyes, and jumped away from the creatures, whose mad rambling had been replaces by cries of pain and fury.
" §I don't need my eyes to kill you little prey, come taste my fangs!§ "
Adra shuddered at the madness echoing in the snake's voice, then shared with Astrid – and the two of them were rushing forward once more, the youngest girl jumping up while the other thrust her blade forward – and between the tanto and the spear, the snake couldn't dodge both way and ended up impaled on Astrid's spear, it's trashing slowly stopping as it died.
[Life Quest updated! The Girl Who Lived…
Bonus Goal Complete: take care of Slytherin's monster
Reward: +20XP]
[Hunt Complete: Basilisk (LV70)!
Reward: +10XP, unlocks Basilisk Skin, Basilisks Tongue and Basilisk Fangs Perks]
[New Perk unlocked
Basilisk Skin (1PP): +5 to Magical Resistance
Basilisk Tongue (2PP): +5 to Parseltongue and Parselmagic
Basilisk Fangs (10PP): grant the ability to secrete a powerful poison, that can be injected by fangs or claws
Available: 18 PP]
"Poor creature." sighed Luna condemned to a life of madness and solitude by it's creator."
"Yes, but who was it's creator?" Astrid wondered
"Voldemort." Lucian was the one to answer – seeing the other surprised, he shrug it's not hard to guess, I mean there was this thing about the 'Real Heir' on the wall, and this room could only be found by a parseltongue…"
"And he was at school fifty years ago." Adra concluded "You're right, I just hadn't realized it was this easy to guess." a frown "Still, it doesn't explains who's doing it this time? " she wondered "As far as I know only Leifr and I can speak to snakes…"
"How about setting a trap in the lavatory?" Lucian mused "Like a ward or something like this that only someone trying to enter the chamber would trigger?" a shrug "I mean, at least we've removed the danger of the snake from the school, but there's still the one who painted the message on the wall to be caught…"
"But before that…" Astrid eyed the giant corpse "What do we do with this?"
"Do you want to offer it to you father?" Luna wondered
"Well, it's always nice, yeah, but it's not like I killed it alone." the warrior-like demigoddess admitted easily
"It's not like the school lacks funding." mused Adra "Especially if we grant them the benefits of the shed skin from earlier…"
Lucian nodded "Alright. I've never done anything like a sacrifice to the gods," he admitted easily "I mean I muggle-born and I didn't even know they really existed before I attended Hogwarts…" a shrug "But I can understand wanting to make your parents proud."
Astrid smiled in thanks, before wondering "Uh, since we used the statue, maybe we should make the offering to both?" as the three other nodded their agreement she bowed her head and called "Oh Odin Borson, Loki Laufeyson, please accept this offering."
There was a swirl of magic – and the gigantic snake corpse disappeared, replaced by a large cloud of golden dust. When the dust cleared, there were four items left before, making Astrid crow happily "Oh, spoils of war, sweet!"
She quickly grabbed one of the item, while handing the other to the three other founders' heirs.
"A foldable knife made from a basilisks fang," Luna mused "it will be quite appropriate for rune inscribing." she said with a happy smile
With a twirl of a hand, Astrid added "And a perfect for throwing too!"
"Or cutting herbs." added Lucian
"Or killing quickly." Adra concluded as she found the hidden dimple that made the blade goes from simply cutting to poisonous "That's quite the spoil." a smile, as she closed the blade, noting the beautiful engraving of runes, oghams and a knotted serpent on the shaft – clearly Odin and Loki had worked together to create those knives
¤.¤.¤
"Well, now that the corpse is out of the way… §Lock-down over! Time to play!§ "
Adra rolled her eyes at the password, while around them the water started to recede, and several platforms started to rise out of the water, floating at different height under the high ceiling, revealing a library, a potion-making station, a rune-making one, a ritual circle, shelves full of neatly stacked ingredients for all kind of magic…
Clearly, Salazar had been a jack-of-all-trades interested in numerous magics. All four founders' heirs looked around them in awe.
[Side Quest Updated! Secrets of the Founders…
Goal updated: Founder's Chamber found (1/4)
Reward: +10XP, Slytherin Grimoire unlocked, Slytherin Knowledge perk unlocked]
[New perk unlocked
-Slytherin Knowledge (2PP): +10 to parselmagic
Available: 18 PP]
[System update!
Grimoire System unlocked, Slytherin and Ravenclaw Grimoire have been added to the System.
The knowledge written in the Grimoire System can be learned and taught more efficiently.]
"No wonder the ceiling's so high." Astrid mused, the amusement in her voice not quite masking her awe
The founder smiled proudly "Well," he turned to Adra "this is yours now." with a wave of a hand, a heavy leather bound tome flew toward them "this is my Grimoire," he opened it on the last page "And here is where you can grant admission without password, you just write their name, and cross them off if you want to bar them." he explained "All of those authorizations are revoked when the place enters lock-down." he concluded, before turning toward the other three heirs "Your ancestors all had something similar set up around the ground, you'll have to either find it by yourself or ask them."
Luna, Astrid and Lucian all nodded - the Ravenclaw boy clearly already wondering about where the where Helga's quarter could be, Astrid's eyes burning with the intent to explore as soon as possible, while Luna's serene smile could only mean one thing…
"You already know where Ravenclaw's Chamber is." Adra realized
"The come and go room." the youngest Lovegood answered with a serene smile "It's available to all that can find it out of lock-down, but just like here there are heavier safety measure if needed."
[Side Quest Updated! Secrets of the Founders…
Goal updated: Founder's Chamber found (2/4)
Reward: +10XP, Ravenclaw Grimoire unlocked, Ravenclaw Knowledge perk unlocked]
[New perk unlocked
-Ravenclaw Knowledge (2PP): +10 to seeing magic
Available: 18 PP]
[Level up! You are now level 47!
+1 SP]
Adra laughed at that – it was rather typical of their family to have left their family room accessible to all that managed to find it.
She looked around her "Well, I've added you all to the room, now how about getting out and setting up our trap?"
With that they were heading back toward the dark cave they'd first ended in – Adra taking the time to buy the Ravenclaw and Slytherin Knowledge perks, since both pertained to unique magics that were quite hard to improve.
Once back in the lavatory, all four were quick to put their wits together to create a rune-based ward that would paralyze anyone trying to enter the Slytherin Chamber and alert them – Lucian was taken by surprise for a moment when he realized how skilled with runes Astrid and Luna were…
But well Luna had clearly inherited the intelligence of her ancestor, while Astrid was Norse-born, not to mention a daughter of Odin himself… the language and the magic that came with it were quite instinctive to her.
[Life Quest updated! The Girl Who Lived…
Bonus Goal Update: trap the perpetrator of the attack on Miss Norris]
The four students were rather surprised to realize their adventure had barely taken half a day – thought they had still missed lunch. Decision was quickly made to drop by the headmaster office to inform him of their adventure of the day, before raiding the kitchen for some sandwiches.
ADRASTEIA LV 47 (12 YO)
BODY
Agility 16(37)
Strenght 11(23)
Endurance 12(15)
SPIRIT
Intelligence 11(48)
Wisdom 17(36)
Fortitude 11(32)
HEART
Empathy 12(17)
Perception 11(33)
Sociability 15(25)
LUCK 14(33)
PERK ACQUIRED (71PP spend, 14PP available)
Black First Rite (1PP): grants Easy Black Magic Potency (+10 to Easy Spells of Battle Magic, War Magic and Curse)
Moon First Rite (1 PP): unlocks Light Battle Aura (+10 to all damages)
Potter First Rite (1 PP): unlocks Sensing Skill up to 25 SP
Ravenclaw First Rite (1 PP): unlocks +10 to easy memory tests and +5 to Mentamancy Skill
Moon Aura (2PP): unlocks a battle aura that grants +10% to all damages when active, and drains 25 MP per minute active
Khonsou'Small Favor (2PP): grants Easy Shielding Magic Potency (+10 damages parried by Easy shield spells)
Thot's Small Favor (2PP): grants Easy Healing Magic Potency (+10 healing done by Easy spells of all Healing Schools)
Black Curse Magic Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to curse
Lovegood Divination Magic Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to divination
Moon Strategy Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to strategy
Peverell Healing Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to healing
Potter Transfiguration Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to transfiguration
Ravenclaw Rune Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to rune
Black Magical Potency (4PP): Grants +10% to MP
Lovegood Light Magic Seeing Ability (4PP): unlocks magic seeing skill up to 25
Moon Blood-stealing Aura (4PP): the Moon aura now allows the user to get back your Blood Skill % of HP per attack
Peverell Reiki Potency (4PP): grants +10% to RP
Potter Reiki Potency (4PP): grants +10% to RP
Black Heir (free): grants +5% MP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (All Regen rate +5%)
Moon Heir (free): grants +10% KP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (Atavism)
Peverell Heir (free): grants +5% RP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (HP +10%)
Potter Heir (free): grants +5% MP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (RP +10%)
-Slytherin Heir (free): grants +10% MP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen
Jack of All Trade (5 PP): +1 SP per level
Natural Genius (2 PP): double book learning rate (locks Hard Work Genius Perk)
A Father's Strength (5 PP):+5 to all Communication
Blood of the Pharao (5PP): unlocks all Egyptian Magics
Cyclop's Skin (2PP): +5 to Physical and Elemental Resistance
Slytherin Member (free): +2 WIS, access to the Slytherin Students Rooms
Gryffindor Honorary Member (free): +2 SOC, access to the Gryffindor Students Rooms
Ravenclaw Honorary Member (free): +2 INT, access to the Ravenclaw Students Rooms
Hufflepuff Honorary Member (free): +2 EMP, access to the Hufflepuff Students Rooms
Slytherin Knowledge (2PP): +10 to parselmagic
Ravenclaw Knowledge (2PP): +10 to seeing magic
FIRST PATH - Mind(+10 and RP, +5 to SPIRIT MC, +10 to Magic Skills)