Prompt: Halloween
Any time period/pairing/era
Word count: 500-5000
Note: The following story is a submission to the facebook group Platform 9 3/4. All stories on this profile are works submitted by multiple authors through means of the group. Contestants will remain anonymous until voting is completed. Only the author and moderators of the challenge are aware of identities.
Disclaimer: the author of this story did not create these characters and will in no way claim ownership therein. All things Harry Potter related belong to JK Rolling.
Story Title: Samhain
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Fanfic name: -Undisclosed at this time-
Pairing if any: Dramione/Tomione
Ocs if any: None
Summary: The High Priestess and her witches are responsible for ensuring the walls dividing the four kingdoms of Hogwarts stay up for another year on Samhain, but when rogue soldiers from the kingdom of Slytherin interrupt their ancient ritual, chaos will ensue.
Samhain
The temple of Achelois stood proudly between the four kingdoms of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. For centuries the four kingdoms fought brutal battles in an attempt to gain the other's land. In a last ditch effort to make a lasting peace, the leaders from all four kingdoms met and decided to build the temple. The temple housed eight witches from all four kingdoms, and one High Priestess whom was more powerful than them all. Together, they would meet at Samhain each year to conduct the ritual that kept the kingdoms divided and the walls up, so that none may travel and disturb the peace again. The kingdoms, though forever separated, lived in peace for three hundred years, but some still thirsted for bloodshed…
"Hermione, Lavender, Cho, Luna, Hannah, Susan, Pansy, and Daphne," Ginevra called, placing the sheer material of her light blue veil over her face. "Come my witches, it's time to conduct the ritual."
"Yes, High Priestess," they murmured demurely.
The other witches followed suit, concealing their faces with their veils.
They walked to the garden lit by fae lights and flitterbies. The top of the hill was the highest point in all of Hogwarts, and overlooked all four cities. They knelt before the shrine of Achelois, wands held tightly in their hands.
"Hermione," Ginevra bid, standing before the assembled witches. "The dagger, please."
Hermione withdrew the jewel encrusted silver dagger from her robes and brought it to Ginevra.
"Samhain is upon us," the red-haired High Priestess observed. "Now is the time." She lifted the dagger high in the air and it caught the light of the moon, but before she could complete the ritual, it flew from her hands.
"Accio dagger," a haughty voice called.
Nine heads snapped to the left where they saw a group of soldiers, wands raised and pointed straight at them, standing in their garden.
"Praetor Riddle," Ginevra seethed. "And I see you've brought your sidekicks Malfoy, Zabini, and Nott. What do you mean by interrupting our ancient ritual?"
Hermione stood abruptly by her High Priestess' side, her caramel eyes smoldered with unabashed rage.
"Expelliarmus," Legatus Zabini cried. One by one he took all nine wands from the outnumbered girls.
"Tsk, tsk, my pretty witches," Praetor Riddle said, smirk plastered over his handsome face. "I don't wish to anger you beauties."
"Flattery will get you nothing here," Hermione hissed. "Slytherin has long since been a thorn in the land of Hogwarts, even if the other kingdoms will not admit it for the sake of peace."
"Hermione," Ginevra warned, placing a hand lightly on her wrist.
"No." She wrenched her hand away. "I'm not afraid to say it. Whispers here. Seductive little rumors spread there. Slytherin was always the reason the kingdoms went to war, even if it didn't look that way. Your lust for power has always been your downfall. And now you have the gall to interrupt a sacred ritual!"
"Such a spitfire, that one is," the platinum-haired wizard Hermione recognized as Legatus Malfoy said, lips curling cruelly in what could only be described as a sneer.
Hermione let out an indignant huff.
Praetor Riddle's gaze raked over, making her skin prickle wherever his eyes touched. "Oh yes," he agreed, nodding. "Quite the spitfire." He addressed her directly. "Perhaps I will gift you to my bloodrider. He does so love to break the challenging ones."
"I'd rather die," she spat.
"Hermione." This time, Ginevra succeeded in pulling her away. She looked up at the overwhelming group of soldiers, hatred burning in her eyes. "Well, you've obviously managed to take down our wards, so you clearly have some skill. And you have the dagger, what do you want from us?"
Legatus Malfoy and Praetor Riddle shared a meaningful glance.
"There's much we want from you." Praetor Riddle's dark eyes glittered dangerously. "But the main thing we desire, is what's rightfully owed to us. King Grindelwald was forced to sign that wretched treaty by nefarious means thanks to King Dumbledore-"
"Nefarious." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Be that as it may, we desire much more than what we are limited to."
"World domination?" Hermione asked, smiling with false sweetness. Legatus Malfoy openly leered at her and she crossed her arms over her chest in anger.
"As you say, love," Praetor Riddle confirmed. "It is not in the kingdom of Slytherin's best interest to allow you beauties to raise the walls this Samhain. The legendary wars from days past will commence again, and when they do, the High Priestess will be by our side."
"Never," Ginevra raged.
"Oh sweetling," Praetor Riddle strode ever closer, confidently. "You have no idea the depths of our depravity. There is nothing we wouldn't do to get what we want."
"And what of my witches?"
"We will take good care of them." The sadistic curl of his lip did not inspire confidence. "Come now, sweetling, what other choice is there?" He reached his hand out for her and Ginevra eyed it dubiously.
Despite her reservations, she clenched her jaw, summoning her notorious Gryffindor courage and reached for his outstretched hands.
The triumphant gleam in his eyes made Hermione's stomach twist violently.
"Keep the knife far from this one," Praetor Riddle warned, gesturing to Ginevra. "So long as the moon shines on Samhain, she can complete the ritual. Do what you will with the others." His grip was like a vice as he clenched her wrist.
"But you promised!" Ginevra wrenched away from his harsh grip but there was no release in sight.
"And I will do all I say and more," he turned eyes, dark as coal on her. "So long as you listen to me, dear Ginevra. So long as when those walls come down, you will help us defeat Potter's army."
"She won't help you," Daphne ventured tentatively. "She's in love with Potter."
Hermione nearly lunged at the traitorous girl amid gasps from the others.
The cruelness of Praetor Riddle's features settled in once more, but he appraised Daphne warmly. "Our long lost Slytherin princess is returning to us." He eyed Pansy speculatively. "And our other one will to, in time. I will have those that join my cause dripping in gems and treated like the royalty they are."
Daphne's eyes drank in all the wretched wizard was saying hungrily. To her horror, she noticed Lavender had a greedy look on her face as well.
Raw fury erupted through her, but rather than have another outburst, she decided to take a card from her Slytherin friends and be sly about it. Seeing her chance to act, she adopted her most sultry walk and sauntered up to Legatus Malfoy, looping her arm through his.
The other girls gasped in outrage.
Legatus Malfoy's breathing sped up as he appraised her victoriously. "I knew you'd come around, pet."
"I do so love gems," she whispered in a low voice she hoped was enticing.
"I'll see to it your bathed in them," he promised, gray eyes sparkling.
She laughed wickedly, all the while eyeing the silver blade in his holster. She trailed her fingers down his chest, trying desperately to conceal her revulsion. She caught Ginevra's eye, still on Riddle's arm. The red-haired witch was watching her from under her lashes, tensed and prepared should anything happen. Praetor Riddle was eyeing Ginevra like a hawk.
Good, his attention isn't on me.
"Hermione, how could you!" Hannah cried.
"To the victor go the spoils," Luna said in a whimsical voice.
"Remember ladies, whatever happens, remember how easy men are to-" she snatched the dagger from Malfoy's holster, "manipulate."
She whirled away, making a break for the alter several meters away, stopping long enough to snatch a shocked Zabini's wand.
"Get her!" Praetor Riddle roared.
Pointing the wand at her head, she apparated mid-run, landing with a soft thump on her bare feet just before the alter.
"Wandlessly, ladies!"
"Expicify!" Six voices said at once.
A purple glittering light erupted from the girls, aiming with precision at the alter. Hermione lifted the dagger in the air, before making a deliberate slice on her arm. The blood dribbled on the altar, just as the magic collided with it.
The effect was instantaneous. The ground reverberated and Hermione, along with the soldiers, looked out to see the invisible walls glow golden for a brief moment, before vanishing once more.
She looked at Praetor Riddle and grinned triumphantly.
His face was murderous, and fear clawed to the surface at the ramifications of what she'd just done.
He leveled his wand at her, and disarmed her nonverbally. "Crucio," he said in a deathly dangerous voice.
Hermione tumbled to the floor, but she didn't scream, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Legatus Malfoy looked on in horror, tensed as if he would do something, but he was frozen in place.
Mercifully, Praetor Riddle finally lifted the curse and Hermione rolled to her side, resting her head on the ground. He scooped her up easily in his arms and she didn't even have the strength to recoil away.
"Pretty pet," he cooed. "It was always you, wasn't it? High Priestess Hermione. You think you've bested me, but there's always next Samhain. And what's more? I'll have a year to break you. I think I shall enjoy it very much."
With all the strength she could muster, she lifted her head to face him, eyes smoldering with the promise of retribution. The Praetor drank her in hungrily, appraising her in a new light. "And I'll have a year to outwit you, Riddle," she vowed. Her head lulled back once more, but she would follow through on her promise, or she wasn't Hermione Jean Granger.
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