Ok somehow I messed up and my new Chapter (n. 42: Planning) shows up as the author note. I'm just trying to let you know I've updated with more than just a note.
If you guys need a recap of what's happened more or less up to now, here's the recap from chapter 40, along with an extra line or two:
Brief story summary for those who have forgotten (feel free to bypass if you remember the yarn): Minerva realizes that Snape had a son with a Greek potions-and-things-that-go-boom master who is dead. He was keeping Rasmus secret for security reasons, but now at his 15 Rasmus transfers to Hogwarts with his uncle Nikos(who is also his godfather) as chaperone. Nikos is an Arithmancer of high level and dangerous application called an Auguror (he can see into the immediate future with his equations or open portals in the dimensions) and an accomplished dueler. Minerva and the others realize these two have come with a mission to keep the bigger, badder, more nefarious dark wizards from reaching full power. These are none other than the ancient gods Isis and Osiris, who have kept themselves alive through anchors and horcrux-y stuff. These two have a cult that is battled by the Pythagorians, a secret society of wizards mainly in Greece that both Rasmus' parents turn out to have been members of. Nikos is, too. Isis needs Blood of Victors (and other icky stuff) of potent dark wizards to keep Osiris alive and not-a-mummy. When she fails to harvest the bodies of Snape and Dumbledore, she goes after Minerva, Harry Potter and Rasmus to harvest the ingredients she needs. Yes, Harry Potter has also come with Hermione and Ron to complete their senior year, and get tangled up in this great mess- because it wouldn't be Harry if trouble didn't find him, too.
In the raid that ensues to harvest these guys, the DADA professor and Poppy are killed, and everyone else is battered in some way. Rasmus feels most of this is his fault for disobeying Snape's portrait's order to go hide. Minerva asks Nikos to serve as DADA professor for the remainder of the year to teach kids to defend against such potent aggressors as the type of wizards Isis and Osiris are.
Turns out that to reach full power, Isis and Osiris need to get in possession of magic artifacts called 'keys' of which they are currently trying to get the one Salazar Slytherin pinched from Osiris back in the Middle Ages and hid somewhere in Hogwarts. Of course no matter how much they or their minions have looked over the ages, nobody found it because Sal is crafty. :P
In the meantime, Rasmus feels guilty for allowing Osiris to steal blood from him twice at the near-death of his uncle, so he researches a way to 'make it right' by undoing the spell-bind that uses his blood to keep Osiris tied to the living. While this is happening, Isa Dawlish who is Minister is trying to round up Isis' cultists using intelligence Minerva gives her from Nikos' Augury (the advanced arithmancy), but she also botches it because she tried for a raid Nikos said she should keep away from, and all of her aurors are butchered. That is not going to look well in the polls, so Isa throws a fit.
Lastly, we find out that one of the antagonizing Slytherin students in Rasmus' class, Adeline Gaunt, is considered by Salazar's portrait as the true Heir of Slytherin, as she speaks parseltongue, shares Salazar's blood and doesn't want anything to do with Tom Riddle (to avoid harassment), and has told her where he hid the key. So she goes to Nikos to strike a deal with that collateral while Snape talks to Rasmus from his portrait, trying to keep him from applying his research on the whole Blood Bond thing.
Also, Lyall, the sole survivor from the auror raid, is salvaged by Frideswide and Nikos but it's on the fence yet if he'll make it, while Harry and co. tell Rasmus they'll help him in his efforts.
So far so good. :P