chapter 4
Alanna spent the next couple of days cramming her head full of information until the day of the NEWTS test. It had been almost identical to the OWLS but the information she was tested on was more advanced. She felt she did well enough to get many NEWTS. It did not really matter how many she got because she had already gotten an apprenticeship with her uncle, who was highly thought of in the potions world. After her tests she went home to her manor, the tests had been at the ministry. She went in search of her uncle who had taken the day off, she found him sitting in his study.
"Hello Uncle." Alanna said sitting down in an armchair in front of her uncles desk. "Have you heard anything from the elementals yet?" Snape took off his reading glasses and set them on his desk.
"Yes, I believe both the Lia and Leo are coming in four days, so on monday. I believe Suri and Alex are in New York City doing a week long photo shoot and should be here a week from tomarrow, and Theo is currently here"
"Where"
"Try behind you." said a gruff voice from behind her. Alanna turned as was met with the boy from the video. The paint now gone from his face and hair revealed a tanned 'buff' boy with striking turquoise eyes and dark brown hair styled into a faux-hawk. "Theo Longbottom, and your are"
"Alanna Black, pleased to meet you Theo." Theo looked at her curiosly.
"So your the missing Black. Fantastic, I'm not alone anymore"
"What do you mean alone?" She said looking puzzled
"Well you see the twins always pair up for sparring and I kind of just get left out. I'm sort of a loner of the group"
"Well now I'm here and I am more of a loner than you." They both stood smiling at each other for a while when the sound of Snape clearing his throat broke them out of their trances.
"Alanna sweetheart, why dont you and Theo go out . You have been shut up in this house for to long. I believe the indoor pool is up and running now, so you could also go swimming"
"What a wonderful idea Uncle! Do you want to go swimming? They just installed new lights to get a tan while indoors, not that you need it since your tan already"
"Sounds great, we can get to know each other while we swim"
Alanna went and changed into a black tube top bikini. She stepped out of her door and walked to Theo's room in the west wing. During her time away from study for her NEWTS she had found many secret passages, one of which went behind the second story of the library and across to the west wing. She went to knock on Theo's door but it was swiftly opened. Theo looked down at Alanna and smiled. "Lets go then." he said as they started to walk down to the pool which was located on the far side of the manor near the gardens."So I'm asuming you watched the video we made in rebuttle to the Orders video to educate people about thier missions"
"Yeah that video was quite interesting. You all look like you party alot. Are you as wild as the order makes you out to be. They said thats why you had a nanny of sorts."
"Nanny? Oh you mean Tori! Well we are kind of wild so the order made us get Tori when we all ended up in the same town. We all got to move into a big old farm house. It lookes more like a plantation home than a farm house. We don't party perse we like to go out a lot and it might get us into a little trouble"
"Just a little?" said Alanna while she smiled at her new found friend.
"Yeah well, you see when your cousins get mad, or any of us for that matter, get extremely mad our elemental powers go haywire. Just like when we were little coming into our powers only now its more dangerous..." he slowly trailed off, remembering the man that they had spotted in an alley after clubbing one night. The man had been raping a girl, a very young girl. Alex lost control and basically flayed the man and burnt him so he was unrecognizable. Only later did they find out the he was an escaped serial killer and had escaped death row. But Theo still felt sick at the memory and the sceams of the man.
"Wait we have powers"
"Yeah, well al of our basic powes such as wandless magic, like levitation and mind speak. Also we all control elements, but you, you always had a very interesting power"
"Really"
"You could control the weather. I mean we all can control water but we cant make it foggy or make a lightning storm come out of nowhere. You can do that, and easily I might add. But my favorite power so far is the teleporting. Nothing really can stop us from teleporting in, not even anti aparating wards. That was part of the package of ultimate death eater, fun little bonuses that maim, kill and destroy"
"You say it so lightly, like its not a serious situation" Alanna had a look on her face of confusion.
"Thats part of my personality. Make fun of serious situations to make it seem better. You dont want to go mope around because there is ever impending doom on the wizarding world. Live life while we can, it can be taken away at any time" With that he smiled and stopped by the edge of the pool. He went to hug her but instead grabbed her and jumped into the pool. Both emerged several seconds later laughing. They proceeded to splash each other and play pool games for several hours before Alanna got out to 'improver her tan' as she put it. They chatted while Theo soaked in the hot tub and Alanna continued to tan. They were soon interupted by the sounds of foot steps. Alanna saw Theo tense up and quickly turn to face the door to the Pool area. He relaxed when he saw it was only 'Mr. Snape'.
"Hello Uncle!" Alanna said sitting up "Are you coming to join us"
"No, I'm afraid not." at this Alanna frowned. "Your Aunt Narcissa and Cousin are coming to dinner along with the Flints. Whom I heard she is trying to set you up Marcus Flint. I do believe you will actually get along with him"
"But Uncle! Aren't they death eaters! We can't have them here in the manor"
"Young lady, I told you that you would have to mingle with your fellow purebloods. Most of which are death eaters. Your Aunt Narcissa's husband is a deatheater and is currently in Azkaban for bieng one and Draco is following in his path. You have been set your first mission as an elemental. You must keep as many young purebloods as you can away from the dark lords service. If they are already one, turn them into a spy through the Order. We have come up with special objects that we are going to give to our new spies so no ones identity will be revealed in the Order. You are not to say you are in the Order just that you know people who can help them"
"Are these the objects that I came up with Uncle during the summer"
"Yes, which just proves how smart and talented you are"
"Sorry to inturrupt Mr. Snape. But what is this object you are talking about"
"Well Alanna came up with several objects that allow a persons thoughts to be transmited to a central location. The person only has to touch it to send thier thoughts. It looks like a Giant Flat Computer screen suspended in the air. We have three screens in all and there is at least one person if not more there round the clock. One screen is for emergencies, one is for spies information and the last is for general communication between Order members and Headquarters which is where the screens are located. Each member has one, but what is really great about these objects is that people can not lie through them"
"Damn! Alanna you told me your were smart but, thats insanely smart! Do you both have them?" Alanna and held out her hand in the fleshy part of her skin was a small silver dot.
"I have the dot, Uncle has a ring. There are also Bracelets, Necklaces, tattoos, Piercings. My friend Ron has a ring and Harry my other friend has several spots, he has a small tattoo that looks like a ring that he has to brush against and think phoenix and a small dot like mine on the roof of his mouth activated the same way"
"So are the elementals getting these"
"Only if you want to. I wont force any of you to do anything. Miss Stronghold will be the deciding factor in all decisons concerning you"
"What do you mean Mr. Snape"
"She will be in charge of accepting missions, when you can do them, and who gets what mission. Now I don't mean to be pushy but our dinner guests will arrive in 30 minutes if not sooner. I want you to meet us in the Fitch Lounge." Alanna had a look of horror on her face.
"Uncle you should have told us sonner!" she screeched and ran up to the wall with a lifelike tree molded into it. She tapped on a spot that niether her uncle or Theo could seen and ran up a staircase that was instantly gone after she was past the hidden doorway.
"Well I believe she may know more secret passages then me now and I grew up here. Move along Theo I know it wont take you very long to get ready so I want you to come down as soon as you can to great the guests with me"
"Yes sir."
It took Alanna the full thirty minutes to get ready. She knew that she had to make a good impression. She knew by her uncles town that this was a casual dinner. She put on her White Noelle Abercrombie and Fitch dress. It was a strapless dress with an empire waist. The hem ended mid-thigh, and she wore white open toed pump that had a bow on the strap that went on the tp of her foot. Alanna applied some anti frizzing serum to her curly hair. she applied some mascara and headed down the stairs to the Fitch Lounge. She had recently redone the lounge herself and named it after one of her favorite stores which was actually owned by a wizarding family. As entered the room she saw her aunt sitting on a love seat talking to who she assumed was Mrs. Flint. Mr. Flint and her Uncle wer engaged in a conversation about the price of some exotic animal. Theo stood off to the side gazing out the window at the gardens, meanwhile the two other boys were conversing by the fire looking impatiant.
"Sorry it took me so long Uncle. I couldnt get my hair to do anything decent"
"You look fine Alanna! Your hair is always so lovely!" said her Aunt who imediately stood and hugged her. She then took her by the hand and led her over to Meet Mr. and Mrs. Flint first.
"Marcus, Marry, I would like to introduce you to my niece Alanna Antonia Black"
"Oh Cissa! You were right she is gorgeous! My dear you must come and model for my agency sometime! Oh Marcus do come over here! Dont give me that look young man humor your poor mother!" The boy who was adressed walked slowly towards the group his head down. Alanna remember he wasnt much of a looker at school and had horrendous teeth. She knew from letters with Ron and Harry and shopping trips with her aunt that she was not a plain looking girl and recieved a lot of attention when she was in public, and that was rarely.
"Marcus, this is Alanna Black. But I believe you knew her has Hermoine, wasnt that your name before dear"
"Yes Mrs. Flint. Hermoine Granger was my alias before"
"Marcus! Stop slouching and look up for Merlins sake!" Marcus looked up and Alanna gasped, he looked very handsome. She couldn't help but smile at his changed appearence, which then caused him to smile in return. She noticed his teeth looked perfect like a movie stars. 'that must be why he looks different his looks arent distracted from by his horrid teeth anymore.
"Pleased to meet you Miss Black." he said taking her hand in his and kissing it, as was protocal in pureblood society.
"Oh do call me Alanna." Marcus smiled again.
"Only if you call me Marcus." The two stared at each other for a long time not moving, her hand still in his. They were snapped out of it by her uncle clearing his throat.
"Dinner is now served if we can all ajourne to the dining room."
authors note: Alright people! humor me! REVIEW! leave it blank if you have to! just let me know people are out there! an update will hopefuly be soon!