A/N 1: Hello to everyone. First of all thank you very much for taking time and reading this fic. Also, thanks to everyone who have added the fic to their following/favourite story. It means a lot. Here is the next chapter for you awesome guys. I hope you all enjoy it! Happy reading.
A/N 2: Mentions of physical attack towards the end.
I don't own Harry Potter, it solely belongs to J.K. Rowling!
CHAPTER 6
Harriet had almost started hyperventilating when the Dark Lord asked her about the cursed scar. She had thankfully been able to contort a lie in the end, wondering how many more lied she would have to come up with. The class had ended not much later, giving Harriet the opportunity to put some much-needed distance between her and the DADA professor. But one thing was clear, for lying low Harriet was doing a pretty pathetic job.
The walk to the potions classroom wasn't that long and she took a seat in front this time while Sarah sat beside her Ravenclaw friend.
"Good morning, students." Slughorn's voice beamed as he entered the class.
"Good morning, professor."
"Well since it is your NEWTs year, I'll warn you to be prepared in advance. First I'll take a short test to refresh what we have learnt so far." With a wave of his wand, the paper started distributing themselves. The test was easy enough and took not more than 15 minutes to be finished.
"Since there is not much time left, you will be making a simple hiccupping and pepperup potion and then we'll wind up. Now off everyone, chop chop."
Harriet busied herself in completing the given work but not before throwing protective wards around her cauldron; a nasty habit she developed whenever Draco Malfoy or his goons would purposely try to ruin her potions. She wasn't aware of the prying eyes following her nor did she notice the silent conversation between Lucius and Barty.
The duo had been observing her from the second she was sorted into their house, both irked on how a mudblood could be sorted into Slytherin. They had wanted a make a move, and show her who the superiors were but never got a chance. She had retreated to her room quickly after the introductory speech. Lucius being a Prefect had the advantage to enter the Girls' dormitory; the complicated ward outside Harriet's room saved her though.
They thought the morning after would bring some luck but to no avail. She left the common room early and with the kind of answers she gave in DADA regarding the Unforgivables, Lucius came to the conclusion that there was something wrong with the Christopher girl. And now too when she had set up wards around her, even though it was a simple potion confirmed that he was indeed correct in his assumptions. He and Barty decided to keep in sidelines and observe for they were not the only ones who had taken an immediate disliking to the mudblood; Bellatrix was far ahead of them. All Lucius had to do was wait.
She was lost; in the endless darkened hallways and the spiralling staircases of the castle, Harriet had successfully managed to get lost. Her day had gone fairly good, well as good as she could hope for at the least. Transfiguration with McGonagall was the same as in her time; the only problem being her teacher seemed a bit distant towards the snakes. Same was the scenario in COMC and Charms. She did not want to dwell on the thoughts too much, but by the end of her day Harriet was exhausted with lots of homework and the obvious prejudice against Slytherins'.
On her way towards the library though she stopped abruptly when she realised her mistake; she had totally forgotten about the Marauders Map. Everything she had done up to now could come crashing down if either of the Marauders saw her real name on the map. So with the help of her faithful friend, Death, Harriet had crept into the Gryffindor's Tower and taken care of business. The Potter luck, however, got her in trouble again when the stairs changed halfway while Harriet was descending.
This brought Death's Mistress to her current situation, lost in the dark hallways of the castle. It wasn't her fault though that she couldn't find her way out; the castle of Hogwarts was huge. When she wasn't worried about her life being in constant danger, Harriet had to work hard on her grades leaving her with almost no time to go and explore the beauty that is Hogwarts.
The secluded area, all filled with mysteries and secrets should have scared her but didn't. Harriet let her hand drag along the walls, the magic pulsing through them thrummed with the beats of her heart. Harriet should have felt frightened; instead, she was at peace. Harriet's keen eye observed anything they could land upon. She paid no mind to being late as her feet guide her forwards, towards an equally mysterious corridor. Looking at the paintings and statues covered in dust, Harriet knew the possibility of knowing that such place existed in the castle was negligible let alone anyone's visit here. She noticed the magic in the area was thickening; it was sweeter and calmer like all her senses had been heightened.
She stood at the end of the corridor, in front of beautifully intricate double doors; the webs proof enough that it hadn't been opened in eons. She was about to place her hand on the doorknob when the noise of rattling chains reached her ears. Carefully turning around, she saw a transparent entity calculating Harriet's every move. He had blank staring eyes, a gaunt face and robes stained with silver blood. He was also sporting a powdered wig and carried his sword; the chains around him weighed him down for they were his act of penitence.
"You're the Bloody Baron."
Harriet blurted out as he paved his way towards her. Realising her sudden exclamation apologised quickly. She had seen him once, during Sir Nicholas' 500th deathday party and remembered the other ghosts avoiding him due to his blood-stained appearance and the shackles he wore. Sir Nicholas also let it slip once about how Baron could always be found groaning and clanking up on the Astronomy Tower, so what was he doing here?
"Mistress." The shock was evident on her face.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You're the Mistress of Death." It wasn't a question, it was the fact merely spoken aloud.
"How...how do you know?" It was getting incredibly hard for her to stumble upon the right words.
"You may have fooled the living beings by hiding your true magical core, but to hide your identity from those who have already died is impossible. You've been touched by Death, it's difficult not to take notice when the whole corridor is practically flooding and bathing in your magic, Mistress." Harriet took a sharp breath, choosing to nod silently. It was true that she was hiding her true magical core but it was out of habit. For as long as Harriet could remember, Harriet's magical core had been grey. She did not know how, but Harriet had always kept her core wrapped and made everyone believe that she was a Light witch after hearing how the Dark and Grey spectrum were considered evil. And now after gaining the Hallows, her core had grown more on the Dark side. From her expressions, Baron could predict her inner struggles.
"Umm...not to be rude, Sir, but why are you calling me Mistress?" Harriet asked curiously.
"You're the only being who has conquered Death. Giving you respect by using your appropriate title is the least I could do."
"I wouldn't mind if you called me Harriet."
"Harriet, it is." There was a small smile playing on Baron's face.
"So tell me, Harriet, what are you doing here?" The sudden question made her realise that she was standing in the darkened hallway with no idea how to get back to her common room.
"Oh! I was going back to my common room and suddenly the stairs changed midway and then I got here." Harriet rambled on with a sheepish expression making the ghost chuckle.
"No, mistress...I mean Harriet. What are you doing at Hogwarts?"
"I'm sorry but I don't think I can tell you." She spoke with caution, wary of how he would take the answer. Harriet had heard about the Baron's hot-headedness that even Peeves was afraid of him, so she definitely didn't want him to get pissed off at her. His demeanour never changed though, catching Harriet by surprise.
"That is understandable I guess, because if the Mistress of Death has arrived at Hogwarts then she must have something on her mind." His response made her sigh in relief.
"But please don't hesitate to ask for my help, Mistress. It would be my honour to serve you in any way possible." The sincerity in his eyes made Harriet accept his wish.
"Now how about I show you back towards your common room?"
"That'd be much appreciated, thank you." Harriet followed Baron's lead but mapped the way back towards the dungeons, which was surprisingly short. The door at the end of the secluded corridor had spiked her interest and Harriet decided to pay it a visit as soon as she got time. In no time she stood in front of the wall hiding the Slytherin common room with Baron still beside her.
"It is truly an honour for me that you got sorted in my ancestor's house, Harriet."
"Thank you, Sir Baron." Harriet witnessed the ghost retrieving the same path they came from, unaware of crimson eyes hiding in the shadows.
Harriet wasn't expecting to be shoved hard against the wall as soon as she entered the snake pit. As the dizziness from her sudden attack subsided, she found Bellatrix's face inches from her. It brought forth memories of the ugly day at the Malfoy Manor when Hermione's screams were the only voice that could be heard.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, look who it is guys! It's the new mudblood, who soon will know her place is in the dirt. Won't you pet?" Despite the mockery in her voice, no one spoke. Harriet looked around to see most of the mini death eaters having wide grins on their faces while the younger ones were terrified. She was reminded of the innumerable days she was bullied and how no one helped her, how Harriet was always the victim and the audience her mute witnesses.
There was a sudden shift in her thoughts and it could be seen in the way her eyes darkened and she fearlessly met Bellatrix's maniacal gaze. She wasn't some helpless child now, she was the defeater of the Dark Lord and the conqueror of Death and Harriet wouldn't back down when some moron bullied her. In one swift movement, Harriet changed position with her attacker and pinned Bellatrix to the wall with her lower arm firmly against her throat, just to keep her dearest housemate in place.
There were surprised gasps from behind them as Bellatrix struggled to break free. Meanwhile, Lucius stopped Barty and Rodolphus from intervening; he wanted to see for himself what the Christopher girl was capable of.
"Listen here and listen well, Miss Black. I'm not much of a violent person, but you try to cross paths with me or bully me and I won't hesitate once to fight back or punch you straight in that pretty face of yours. You keep your insecurities to yourself and it won't be a problem. Understood?"
As expected Harriet got no reply from Bellatrix other than a few curse words so Harriet kept put slightly more pressure on her throat.
"Please don't hurt my sister. She won't do anything again, I promise." Narcissa's pleading voice reached Harriet.
"Cissa, are you crazy! This bitch will know her place." Bellatrix shrill voice came out hoarse; the arm on her throat making it difficult to breathe.
"For Morgana's sake, Bella, shut up!" Narcissa chided her stance desperate to take her sister in her arms and put sense in Bellatrix's brain.
As much as Harriet was tempted to bang Bellatrix's head in the wall, she knew it was wrong. So, she backed away and moved her attention to the rest of the snakes looking at her with a range of emotions- some afraid, others emancipating fury. Without a word, she moved towards her room ignoring the hushed whispers that broke out after her departure.
