Chapter 102
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The Slughorn Christmas party was on the twentieth of December, letting the attendees have the full day to get ready.
"Oi, Pans," Rebekah poked her head into Pansy's room, hands fiddling with the fang earrings as she tried to get the second lobe piercings in. The second earrings were a set of dainty gold hoops, adding to the array of gold and silver jewellery she already wore. "Can I borrow your black Louboutins?"
"Yeah," Pansy waved a hand vaguely towards the wardrobe. "I've got platforms and boot heels, both black. I suggest the platforms with your dress."
Rebekah looked down at her dress. She wore a dark charcoal grey number that had a metallic finish and hugged her figure because of its tight column design. It went down to just above her knees but had a mid-thigh slit on the right.
"Good point, thanks," She grabbed the heels and put them on, flicking her voluminous waves and curls out of the way. They had been done by Daphne, curled to perfection to look supernatural and beautiful with her colouring.
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Slughorn's party was held in his office, having been decorated with emerald, crimson, and gold hangings on the walls and ceiling. The room was crowded with people and everything was bathed in a red light cast by golden lamps.
HouseElves were walking throughout the crowd, holding up heavy silver platters of food so they looked like little moving tables. There was loud singing, along with a haze of smoke from one corner because of elderly Wizards in deep conversation with each other.
Blaise, Tracey and Logan were right behind Rebekah, following her into as Emperor walked around her feet to get into the room.
"Rebekah, m'dear," Slughorn was quick to find her as soon as she and her friends were in the room. "Please, come in, come in. Don't mind me, I just need to introduce a couple people to Rebekah. Carry on, carry on."
He dismissed her friends, grabbing her by the arm gently to guide her over into the party. She grabbed Blaise's hand, making sure to have someone with her as Slughorn led her over to a small, fat man and his friends to who she was quickly introduced to.
"I'd like you to meet Eldred Worple, an old student of mine, author of Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires — and, of course, his friend Sanguini," Worple was the smaller man who almost jumped forward to shake his hand while Sanguini was slow to bow and lay a simple kiss on Rebekah's family ring.
Sanguini was a Vampire that was easy to see, and he was respectful of Dark Magic, even more so respectful to the amount she gave off. He looked rather bored at all times, mostly perking up when he saw the gaggle of girls suddenly standing close to him.
Rebekah just gave the girls a look, knowing them to be lower year Ravenclaws and Slytherins, and they disappeared within a moment.
Another woman appeared next to Sanguini, looking at him with a type of disdain that held disapproval before looking to Rebekah as Worple blabbered on.
Blaise had excused himself to get a couple of drinks, grabbing two and handing Rebekah one when he came back. He put one hand in his dark trousers as he looked around, disinterestedly.
"Iamsimpldelighted," All of his words seemed to seep together. "I was saying to Professor Slughorn only the other day, Where is the biography of Rebekah Potter for which we have all been waiting?"
Rebekah hummed, "Were you?"
"Just as modest as Horace described!" Worple grinned. "But seriously. I would be delighted to write it myself. People are craving to know more about you, dear girl, craving! If you were prepared to grant me a few interviews, say in four- or five-hour sessions, why, we could have the book finished within months. And all with very little effort on your part, I assu—"
"There's no need, Mr Worple," She said, hands clasped around her drink daintily. "If I do have a biography, I will write it myself. What better than having the book come straight from the source instead of being filtered through other people first, no offence."
"None taken," He said. "But I have to say, that if you are ever in the business of writing a book, please, come and see me. This is my business card." He handed her a little white card with an address and name.
"And this," The dark-haired woman from Sanguini's side leaned forward and handed her a sleek black card with three things.
A number, American by how the ten numbers were set out.
A name, Isabel Beaumont.
And a message,
Should you need a Dark ally in the times to come.
Rebekah hid that one quickly, thanking both of them and saying goodbye before walking away.
Isabel disappeared after that, almost like straight into thin air.
"Who was that?" Blaise asked quietly.
"I don't know," She muttered. "But she was a Vampire, and an old one."
"How could you tell?"
"I don't know," She shrugged. "I just knew."
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"Rebekah Potter!"
She inwardly groaned, watching as her friends suddenly slipped away from her to do this and that and socialise as Professor Trelawney came over.
"Hi," Rebekah said unenthusiastically.
"My dear girl!" Professor Trelawney began, "The rumours! The stories! 'The Chosen One'! Of course, I have known for a very long time. . . . The omens were never good, Rebekah. . . . But why have you not returned to Divination? For you, of all people, the subject is of the utmost importance!"
"Ah, Sybill, we all think our subject's most important!" Slughorn appeared at Trelawney's side, a glass of mead in one hand and a mince pie in the other. "But I don't think I've ever known such a natural at Potions! Instinctive, you know — like her mother! I've only ever taught a few with this kind of ability, I can tell you that, Sybill. Why even Severus—"
Slughorn seemed to scoop Snape out of thin air.
"Stop skulking and come and join us, Severus!" Slughorn grinned. "I was just talking about Rebekah's exceptional potion-making! Some credit must go to you, of course, you taught her for five years!"
"Yes, Miss Potter has good skills in potion-making," Snape said, looking down his hooked nose at her before his lips curled up into an almost sneer smirk. "She uses her resources well, adapting as needed. A true Potion Mistress in the making. If requested, I gave her extra lessons to nurse this ability of hers."
"You should have seen what she gave me, first lesson, Draught of Living Death — never had a student produce finer on a first attempt, I don't think even you, Severus —"
"Good," Snape said. "I taught her well then. She has always been ahead of her peers when she applies herself."
Slughorn just smiled, turning back to her with a questioning look in his eyes, "Remind me what other subjects you're taking, Rebekah?"
She took a sip of her Butterbeer, "All of them."
"All of them?"
"Yes," Snape nodded. "Miss Potter has been using a Time-Turner since Third year for her classes. Her grades have not suffered so the Ministry and Albus allowed her to maintain the timetable of extra classes."
Rebekah brought her glass to her lips again, holding it in her right hand to make sure that her rings, including the Gaunt ring would glitter in the red lighting.
It just made Slughorn pause, and very soon excuse himself to somewhere else as Trelawney saw another student and began to walk over.
"Finally," Rebekah said, finishing her drink and putting it on the nearest moving table. She looked around a little, swearing under her breath when she saw it.
"What is it this time?" Snape asked.
"Draco got caught by Filch,"
"Say you invited him, and Filch will back off," He said.
"I plan to."
"Professor Slughorn!" Filch grinned as he came over to him with Draco's arm clamped in his hand, his jowls aquiver and the maniacal light of mischief-detection in his bulging eyes, "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out. Did you issue him with an invitation?"
"Excuse me, Professor Slughorn," Rebekah smiled, coming over to mutter into his ear. "I did invite Draco. He's one of my dear friends, but as of late, it is unseemly to be seen together. You understand, don't you, sir. Times are hard on all of us and I don't want to lose a friend, now would I?"
Slughorn patted her arm, wary of the ring on her right ring finger, "No, no you wouldn't. Mr Filch, I can say that Draco Malfoy was invited by one of my guests but would be late due to other duties he has. I have forgotten to inform you, please forgive me."
"Oh," Filch said, letting go of Draco's arm. He looked like he didn't know what to do with himself there, standing next to the Malfoy Heir. "Alright. I just wanna be informed of students prowling during the night next time, don't need any misunderstanding, Professor Slughorn, Snape. Don't need any students gettin' in trouble when they don't need to be."
"Of course, of course," Slughorn agreed.
"However," Snape interrupted. "I would like a word with Mr Malfoy. I've been meaning to speak to him but haven't had the time. It shouldn't take too long. Miss Potter, I need a private word with you anyway, so you need to follow me so we can finish this quickly and get back to this… wonderful party as soon as possible."
"Of course," Slughorn said. "Go on, Rebekah. I'll see you when you come back."
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They swept through the halls of the dungeon, going to Snape's office since it was the place with the most privacy.
As soon as the door closed, Snape turned to them, arms crossed sternly over his chest.
"What happened with Katie Bell?" He asked in that voice of his, the one that had barely hidden anger. "Why, may I ask, did you think it was a good plan?"
"She wasn't supposed to touch the necklace but because she did, she got cursed," Rebekah plainly said. "It can't be helped that she got injured. Voldemort wants Dumbledore dead, and he told Draco to do it. Having him dead will benefit me in the long run."
"Having me in the Dark Lord's good graces will benefit us," Draco said. "Benefit the Crown. His downfall will be easier if he thinks he's going to win."
"You both cannot afford mistakes," Snape said, turning to Rebekah more. "Especially you, Rebekah. Getting caught is not an option for you. Dumbledore already suspects you but he cannot be certain."
"Dumbledore is just as guilty as I am with things," She snapped. "He can't look at me and say what I'm doing is bad, evil and Dark. I'm trying to prevent this war and I'm only sixteen. That old geezer couldn't stop old Tom Riddle turning into Voldemort, so he defiantly he can't stop me from being who I am. If I need to do something bad, something Dark to prevent this war, I will. That includes any and all casualties that might happen because of my actions or his!"
"Nearing expulsion is not the way,"
"Dumbledore isn't going to expel me. He can't without getting bad media coverage. The Daily Prophet will slander his name and the name of Hogwarts and the Order of the Phoenix if he expelled me for anything. I'm the Saviour the Wizarding World wants, and I'm saving them, even if that means I have to cause some harm."
"You need to be much more careful," He said. "You and your group. You have caught the eye of Dumbledore, he'll turn you into pawns."
"He's already tried," Draco said. "He has tried and tried again in the last few years. He knows something is up, something is planned so he's trying to stop it."
"Dumbledore knows you're here to kill him," Snape stated, making them both pause.
"What?" Draco muttered.
"Dumbledore has less than a year to leave," He said. "He was tempted by something and thus was cursed. He is slowly dying."
"That's why he's suddenly interested in teaching me as much as possible," Rebekah mumbled. "His time is limited and he wants me to know as much as I would need."
"Dumbledore knows a lot things because I have told him," Snape said. "He knows about the cabinets, he knows and allows it because he wants a way to get the message out."
"He's going to die a martyr,"
"Yes, a martyr," He said. "I think that's enough for now. I need one more final word with Rebekah before you leave. Draco, wait outside."
"What?" He said. "Why? She'll tell me anyway."
Rebekah turned her head to him, "Draco, please."
"Fine, I'll wait for you outside," He slammed the door on his way out.
Snape lifted his wand, silencing the room before he stared at her.
"You cannot, and I mean, cannot let Draco be the one to kill him," Snape emphasised. "It will tear his soul in half. Murder should not be on that boy's consciousness."
"I know," She didn't look at him, leaning against his desk with a sigh.
"Rebekah, you have to be the one to kill Albus Dumbledore,"
"I will," She looked up, dark eyes looking into darker eyes. "I will gladly end his life."
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