A/N1: It has been a long time since I posted a chapter so here it is. With the Deathly Hallows just some days away, I decided to make this one.
A/N2: Here, we will learn something about Salazar Slytherin and the Great Snakes.
Disclaimer – JK Rowling and various publishers own the world of Harry Potter.
Chapter Fourteen
The Swamp Lords – Part One
Harry and the gang returned to the Great Hall where Lord Tenus and Cusp were waiting for them.
"We will go with you!" – Harry announced.
Cusp nodded and said. "Very well, we will leave shortly when I receive green light that the road is clear."
"Time has come to say good-bye." – Lord Tenus said.
"Thank you, again, for everything!" – Harry expressed his gratitude nodding in the direction of Hermione and Luna.
"My pleasure, I'll send word to the others of my kind that might happen on your way. They will help you with what they can."
"Thank you!"
Luna approached Lord Tenus. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome, my child." – Lord Tenus replied winking.
"Where should I look for the one?" – Luna asked.
"You won't have to he will find you!" – Lord Tenus replied mysteriously.
Harry approached Cusp and asked.
"Where are we going?"
"Loch Ness."
"As of the lake of the monster of Loch Ness?" – Hermione asked at once.
"No, in the lake of Loch Ness there is no monster. But then of course it depends on what you mean by a monster." – Cusp replied. "Muggles tend to exaggerate."
"So there is something in the lake?" – Hermione continued to question.
"As in any other lake there is always something in it besides water." – Cusp replied ironically.
"This is not funny." – Hermione responded offended.
"Hermione would you give it a rest?" – Ron said.
"Yeah, sure, you are siding against me again." – Hermione snapped sharply.
"No, I am not." – Ron replied looking around for support but the others only smiled.
"It is time." – Cusp announced.
Harry grabbed Ginny by the elbow and prepared to disapparate; Hermione and Ron helped Luna and Neville. Lord Tenus lifted temporarily the wards and they all vanished with a loud crack.
They appeared in a forest near a castle of some kind, as they learnt afterwards it was Urquhard Castle. Cusp led them north along the lake side. How long they've been walking they did no know.
The big oak trees surrounded them from everywhere. The light faded away and the only spot of light was now coming from their wands. The darkness got thicker if that was possible. They could see no more than a few feet before them. And it had become clear that they were getting deeper inside this forest. The oak trees were gone. They were replaced by lichens older and taller than most trees and bushes.
Cusp reached an arc of lichens so thick that it seemed nothing could pass through. He took out his wand and tapped on the top of the arc. A small gateway appeared. He bent and passed through. Harry and gang pondered for a nick but followed. As they appeared on the other side they gasped.
They were inside a vast cavern of solid dark stone. It was semi dark. There were some kind of statues on the east side but the gang couldn't make them out. The floor was slithery to say the least as it was covered with scales that were emitting faint silvery glow. Cusp waved his wand creating a thin layer of water over the floor then led them in the direction of the statues. Strangely enough the water layer was as solid as ground. The walls were soggy almost green of all the algae and lichens.
Cusp reached the statues and muttered 'Eesseena', which as Harry translated meant water spirit. The door behind the statues slid open and a corridor was revealed.
"You are about to meet with the council of the elders." – Cusp said. "So, girls will pass first and the boys will be three steps behind them."
"Why?" – Ron asked touchy.
"It is our customs, Mr. Weasley, and you have to respect them. Our society is matriarchal." – Cusp replied. "Also Sentinel, you have to release her. She has to be slithering between you and the girls."
"Very well." – Harry said.
"When we reach the council, Sentinel will come forth; the rest will stay behind in the fashion I just described until you're called." – Cusp said.
Hermione, Ginny and Luna passed first. Sentinel was one step behind them and Harry, Ron and Neville were last. Cusp passed in front all. They walked for nearly ten minutes before they saw a dim light straight ahead. The light grew until they reached a room similar to the chamber of secrets.
The room was spacey and lit with cressets poised in niches every twelve meters or so. On the sides of the path there were statues of snakes with green emeralds as eyes, which on this light looked almost alive. The path ended on a platform where there were more snakes statues fashioned into thrones in a tight semi circle. The throne in the middle was different from the rest, as most snake statues were depicting an attacking cobra this one was of an anaconda.
When the group reached the throne platform, dim silhouettes appeared at the thrones. Sentinel slithered forth then stood up, as though commanded by a flute master.
"Greetingss, matriarch!" – Sentinel hissed in a low voice.
"Sentinel." – The matriarch hissed back. "We thought we lost you."
"I was unconscious when the wizard found me. He then imprisoned me in his shop till the providence sent this young boy of the humans. He bought my freedom." – Sentinel explained.
"So you sserve him now? You, sserving a human? The royal guard, serving?"
"I owe him my freedom. The law clearly demands repaying. He took good care of me. He is the Chosen One." – Sentinel said firmly.
"The chosen one?" – The matriarch hissed in surprise. "He doesn't look like it."
"Looks can be deceptive." – Cusp inserted. "He fought off in the land of Lord Tenus with the dark menace. One of them even summoned the great Phasma Anguis."
"Really?" – One of the other snakes sitting on the throne left of the matriarch asked.
"Yess, mistress Caledonia." – Sentinel confirmed. "This one did." – Sentinel turned her tail to Luna.
"Impressive." – Caledonia observed.
"Indeed and it does not end here." – Cusp continued. "This one," – He pointed at Neville, "Lord Tenus told me that he had trouble with the spell casting but after the battle his skills have improved double time."
"Battles and losses tend to mend all wrongs." – The matriarch agreed.
"These ones," – Sentinel gestured at Hermione and Ginny, "They passed the test of the Hydrozoa Seen. Also," – Sentinel pointed at Hermione; "…this one possesses the gift of the draconigena."
"The draconigena?" – Most of the snakes hissed in surprise.
"Yess." – Sentinel confirmed.
"What about the red haired one?" – Caledonia asked.
"His skills are yet to be revealed but he's loyal as a griffin heart." – Sentinel replied. "He is Sentry-child's best friend."
"The Chosen one – you have named him as one of us?" – The matriarch emphasized.
"Well, he understood every word we've said so far. He speaks parseltongue perfectly." – Sentinel answered.
"Do you?" – Caledonia turned to Harry.
"Yes, mistress Caledonia, I do." – Harry replied gently nodding.
A hissing whisper crossed the thrones. The matriarch raised her hand and silenced the others then she stood up. The dimness around her dissipated and the others clearly saw a young woman. She was wrapped in silver clothing with a coronet on her head. Her eyes were bright light blue reminding them of Dumbledore's. Her gaze swept them one by one.
"Sentinel has named you well, Sentry-child." – The matriarch said.
"Thank you." – Harry said as he was not sure what else to say.
The matriarch approached Harry. She was as tall as Harry. The others moved back giving her space. She looked Harry straight in the eyes, which made him feel a bit uncomfortable as though he had been x-rayed.
"You heart is pure." – The matriarch said after a few minutes. "Charm streams from your eyes. I sense great power in you."
The matriarch then returned to her throne. "Sentinel, you have done well." – Sentinel nodded.
"Approach!" – The matriarch commanded. Sentinel obeyed. The matriarch looked at her for a long time. Harry could only guess what was happening. After a while the matriarch spoke again.
"Cusp, show our guests to their rooms. We shall speak again tomorrow before their departure."
"Your wish shall be done, my queen." – Cusp said bowing.
"Sentinel, you will remain with your master, for now."
"Yess, my queen." – Sentinel replied.
"Come, this way." – Cusp said turning to Harry and gang. "Our audience is done for today. The Matriarch Queen will speak with you again tomorrow before we leave."
"Leave? Where to?" – Hermione asked.
"You'll learn tomorrow." – Cusp replied.
"Would someone tell me what's the hissing all about?" – Ron asked.
"I'll tell you." – Harry said. "But first…"
"But first you have to get to the rooms, we've prepared for you." – Cusp interrupted.
Harry bowed to the snake's council. His friends did the same then they followed Cusp. The serpent's lair was narrow and spacey as Harry and co noticed though all passages, corridors and chambers were dim, slithery and cool. Finally after crossing dozen maze-like corridors and tunnels, they arrived in a room of dark wooden walls. The floor was covered with soft carpets with figures of different sized snakes. In the farthest corner of the room, there was a fireplace with woods gently cracking in a slow but warmth providing fire. Cozy armchairs stood in the middle of the room.
"The girls' bedrooms are to the left and the boys' to the right." – Cusp said.
"You know this room reminds me of…" – Hermione trailed off.
"…Hogwarts." – Ron finished her sentence.
"Yes, it does." – Cusp confirmed. "It was designed in this way."
"Why?" – Harry asked.
"Have others been here before us?" – Hermione asked.
"The room was made for visitors and guests." – Cusp replied. "It has been a long time since we'd visitors from the wizard society."
"How long a time?" – Hermione continued asking.
"In your terms of time, it has been two hundred years." – Cusp answered. "Although, there was a recent visit – about eighteen years ago."
"This is oddly strange and coincidental." – Hermione remarked. "It is approximately the time Harry was born."
"Yes, it is." – Cusp said nodding.
"Who was it?" – Ginny asked with curiosity.
"It was a wizard, a young wizard. His skills were astonishing. He had found our lair on his own. He had managed to penetrate our defenses before he was captured and brought before the council." – Cusp said.
"What happened to him?"
"Nothing of a consequence." – Cusp replied but seeing the non understanding looks of the youngsters, he continued. "I should tell you that never before have had a wizard managed to subdue our defenses, he was the first one. As I said his skills were astonishing. But interestingly he had been looking for us. He sought to make an alliance with us and his people. At first the council thought he comes in the name of the wizards but we soon discovered this was not the case. He was part of an old secret order that in the distant past were our allies."
"Did you accept the alliance?"
"Yes, the council did."
"But this would mean that he was speaking parseltongue…" – Hermione inserted confused. "And the only known people to speak it are Voldemort and Harry."
"You're right – the only known people but as I said he is part of a secret order." – Cusp explained.
"And what's the order's name?" – Harry asked intrigued.
"I don't really know." – Cusp replied honestly. "I'm not told everything. I'm just a humble servant. Some things are known to everyone here but not all the details."
"Was he a dark wizard?" – Hermione asked.
"As far as I know, no. I was told that he was a wizard of light." – Cusp replied. "Now, I shall leave. I'll come tomorrow by noon to take you before the council."
Cusp bowed but before reaching the door he heard Sentinel hiss. "Oh, of course, I almost forgot." Cusp turned around and waved his wand. A table appeared out of thin air. On the table there were menus.
"Look at the menus and order aloud what you would desire to eat and it will be served. Good night!" – He said and left the room.
"Alright this was interesting." – Ginny observed.
"Indeed." – Hermione agreed. "But I don't think they told us everything."
"I agree." – Ginny said.
"It was very creepy in the council chamber." – Ron shared.
"All the hissing – brr, it gave me shivers." – Neville agreed.
"Harry will you tell us now what were they talking about?" – Ginny turned to Harry.
"Yes, gather here." – Harry replied. They sat around him and he told everything that was said.
"So the snakes believe Hermione could possess the ability to speak the dragon tongue?" – Ron asked.
"It seems so." – Harry replied.
"But I don't." – Hermione protested. "I'm a muggle born. How on earth would that be possible?"
"Hermione, I don't know. But Sentinel believes that you do." – Harry said.
"What would a snake know? It is ridiculous."
Sentinel unwrapped from Harry's waist and slithered on the ground. She took attacking posture then cast a freezing charm at Hermione who reacted instinctively. She blocked the spell with the powerful fire shield spell. This little act scared the hell out of the others.
"Bloody hell." – Ron shot. "What's going on?"
"Sentinel attacked me." – Hermione said then realized what she just said and collapsed.
"Hermione!" – Harry and Ron shouted in panic.
"She's fine." – Sentinel hissed to calm Harry.
Ron felt her pulse and relaxed. Then he took his wand. "Enervate!" – He muttered. Hermione opened her eyes.
"Hermione, are you alright?" – Ron asked cautiously.
"I must have…"
"…dozed off." – Ginny teased.
"Ginny!" – Harry scolded her.
"Sorry." – Ginny apologized. "But she fainted."
"Sentinel!" – Harry called distressed. "What was this all about?"
"A test." – Sentinel replied.
"A test, do you think this is funny?"
"No, but she still refuses to see the one thing that is so obvious. She has to grow out of it and the sooner the better."
"But you can't be the judge of that." – Harry objected. Sentinel only rolled her eyes.
"Harry, what are you two talking about?" – Ginny asked.
"I'm trying to find out why Sentinel provoked Hermione." – Harry replied.
"And did you?"
"Yes. Sentinel thinks that is best for Hermione to accept her gift without further refusing, denying and fussing about it." – Harry explained.
"Merlin's beard, the bloody snake can cast spells." – Ron exclaimed.
"Yes and very nasty ones." – Harry confirmed. "You should have seen what she did when Bella attacked the first time."
"I'm not fussing about it. I'm just saying that you are all wrong. It is impossible." – Hermione said sharply.
"We'll see." – Sentinel said menacingly.
"Sentinel that's enough!" – Harry bellowed.
"As you wish." – Sentinel said and slithered away.
"Harry, what's that about?" – Ginny asked worried.
"Nothing." – Harry answered a bit belligerently but quickly added. "Sorry."
"It's alright." – Ginny said.
"I think we all had a long day." – Luna said suddenly before Hermione could speak again. "We should get some rest."
"Luna is right. We'll speak tomorrow." – Neville agreed.
Harry threw a thankful look at Luna and Neville. Peeved, Hermione veered off and headed to the girls' room without a word. Ginny and Luna followed after wishing the boys good night. Ron only nodded after Hermione's dashing off then looked at Harry who sighed heavily before taking the stairs to the boy's room. Neville had already gone to bed.
"Girls." – Ron muttered and headed straight to bed.
It was early morning, when Hermione woke up. She noticed that her room had round windows. The first sunrays were gently dancing on her bed. She stood up, went to the bathroom on the left of the windows.
Rinsing her face with the cool water was very refreshing. She then dressed up and went down to the room with the armchairs, or as she wanted to call it – the common room. On the walls, yesterday, she had noticed book shelves (and as we all know Hermione she can't pass a book).
She picked a rather dusty book and opened it carefully, as she remembered that no all books are safe – some scream, other shout. She opened the book. A piece of paper dropped out. Something had been written in a tiny shrift with blue ink.
"Magic is light, magic is dark. Light is good, dark is evil. The opposite is also true – dark is good and light is evil. Some spells are good, some are bad. But this entire means only that magic is neutral. Only the intention determines whether a spell is a good or bad one. Dark magic is naturally evil but is it that all true or is there something else. Light magic, they say, is all good or maybe it isn't. Enlightenment on this subject reach only those whose hearts are pure and eyes wide open."
K.o.L.
Hermione reread this page over and over again trying to grasp the idea hidden behind it. But in the end she gave up because it seemed highly improbable that magic could be qualified as neutral. Then she turned her attention back to the book. On the first page, she read – "The oldest house – Slytherin." Great joy filled Hermione having read these letters though she never thought she would be happy about something like that at all. She immediately plunged into the pages.
The history of the Slytherin House was amazing. It had its great moments but also it had its downfalls. Salazar Slytherin, however, was probably the greatest moment in its history. He was described as a young man with dark raven hair, blue shiny eyes and uncharacteristic charisma.
It was written that in early age, young Salazar had defeated a dangerous basilisk that had terrorized a village. But this experience had an influence over him. He was amazed by the basilisk power – to petrify and kill its prey or poison it with its fangs. Then few years later he realized that he could understand all kinds of snakes. This also included the basilisk he had killed but at the time he had not paid attention. So he had become the first wizard since many generations that could speak parseltongue – a rare gift – the language of the snakes. But parseltongue was regarded as a trait for a dark wizard so Salazar hid his ability till the day he came of age.
The day he had had come of age, Salazar's parents died but he inherited a rather large sum making him a very young rich man. Salazar decided to build himself a new home away from his birth one. He had headed towards the Marshlands where he had built a mansion that he named – Basilica Mansion.
The next few years, Salazar spent in traveling around the world visiting all places where you could find the most dangerous, poisonous and ugly creatures. Salazar preferred basilisks, snakes, lizards or water dragons. All these places were secluded and dark. On his journey, he studied the dark arts. He had also studied the light side of magic but became obsessed with the dark magic. He wanted to pervade into the dark arts deeper than anyone before.
On the occasion of his twenty first birthday young Salazar returned home. His knowledge of the dark arts was great. He used his house for various experiments some of which were ritualistically dark but ultimately pushed the limits of magic. Salazar then shared some of his findings with the council of druids and gained much respect despite his youthfulness.
Two years later, he embarked on a second journey. Along this one, young Salazar met another amazingly gifted young man. His name was Godric Gryffindor. Godric was taller than Salazar with playful, ruse brown eyes, a dark blonde hair and almost Hercules like figure. He bore scarlet red cotton clothes embroidered with golden lions, a long silvery sword ornamented with emeralds and rubies.
Together they traveled to the North lands where they had many adventures. In some, the courageous Gryffindor saved Salazar, in others Salazar repaid his debt with his cunningness, and in some they get out of trouble together. And so the always smiling and laughing Godric and the secretive Salazar became good and inseparable friends from that journey on.
Hermione skipped forward. The book described many of the places the adventurous Salazar visited with and without Godric. The many adventures they had together. The time when they met with two young women also exceptionally gifted – Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff.
"Hermione?"
Hermione snapped out of the book and looked behind. There stood a disheveled and still sleepy Ron.
"Yes, Ronnie…" – She waited patiently.
"What are you doing up so early?" – Ron asked while yawning.
"Reading." – Hermione replied smiling.
"What are reading?"
"The oldest house." – She replied quickly.
"A novel?" – Ron raised an eyebrow.
"No. I am reading about the oldest house, in other words – Slytherin House."
"Slytherin?" – Ron repeated like an echo.
"Yes."
"Slytherin?" – Ron repeated this time aloud. "Really? And you found the book here?"
Hermione only nodded. Ron looked at her incredulously then disappeared like a flash up the stairs. Hermione figured that he had gone to wake Harry and tell him about this little discovery. And she was right as few minutes later Harry rushed in the room with heavy breathing as though he had run several miles.
"Hermione is it true – a book about the Slytherin House?"
"Yes, and I am reading it." – Hermione replied.
"You were planning to tell us eventually, I hope?" – Ron asked as he came back.
"Of course, why? Do you doubt me, Ronnie?"
"No." – Ron replied quickly.
"May I?" – Harry asked.
"Here."
Hermione gave Harry the book. He then spent the next few hours absorbing every page of it, which was to say the least unusual for Harry. From time to time, Hermione and Ron were hearing Harry muttering – "Unbelievable." or "Cool". Hermione also used the time to tell Ron about Salazar Slytherin, at least what she read before giving up the book to Harry.
"This is very interesting." – Harry said leaving the book at last.
"Ah, yeah, sure it is." – Ron said. "So what is so interesting?"
"The book describes some of the places, which Slytherin visited while studying the dark arts." – Harry replied.
"So?"
"So…I'll bet you anything that at least some of them were visited by Voldemort."
"How can you be sure?"
"Well, he is his descendant and we can be sure that he researched his past. But I think that these places were the most interesting – the Valhalla institute of the dark arts in Scandinavia, the druid league in Ireland, the Pendle Witches at Lancaster, the Sorginak1 Institute in Spain and the Alitis Academy in Albania." – Hermione answered instead of Harry.
"Albania?" – Ron's jaw fell. "Albania, wasn't there the place where You-know-who went after trying to kill Harry?"
"Yes and where I think we might have to look for one of the horcruxes." – Hermione said.
"Horcruxes…are you sure that there is one?
"Well, it is absolutely logical. Why else would Voldemort go straight there, ah? Think!" – Hermione stressed. "The Albanian one must have been the most recent he had made. So logically he had been drowning there first because it is the most recent one."
"It is possible." – Harry agreed. "Which would…"
"….which would mean that it has to be our next stop." – Hermione finished his thought.
"Yes but it would be helpful if we knew how to destroy horcruxes, don't you think?"
"True. This is very true. We really don't know how although…" – Hermione trailed off trying to remember something.
"Although what?" – Ron asked.
"Although… We know Harry destroyed the diary horcrux with the basilisk fang." – Hermione continued.
"So? Do you think we could apply the same method to the locket or the others?"
"I don't know, Ronald." – Hermione snapped. "I'm just saying that…"
"…objects of the dark magic are the one defeating the horcruxes." – Harry finished her thought suddenly remembering some of Dumbledore's words – "Evil always finds a way to destroy itself."
"That's right Harry!" – Hermione exclaimed.
"Good morning!"
"Hey Gin!" – Harry said. "Slept well?"
"Like a baby." – Ginny replied.
"Hey guys." – Neville greeted.
"Hey Neville." – The others said.
"Where is Luna?" – Neville asked yawning.
"She will be here soon." – Ginny replied. "So what are you three doing?"
"Reading and debating." – Hermione answered.
"About?" – Ginny inquired.
Hermione and Harry took the liberty to fill them in but not before Luna came down to join them. They all listened and were fascinated by Salazar's story. It seemed that in the beginning Salazar did not hate the muggle born and the muggles. Harry had also noticed the resemblance between Salazar and Voldemort – they were both exceptionally gifted and shared a fascination for the dark arts.
"Good day." – They heard someone saying.
Cusp was standing there. No one had heard him coming. But his coming meant that it was already noon. How time flies when having fun.
"Good day, Cusp." – Hermione greeted. "Is it already noon?"
"Nearly." – The answer was. Cusp looked at the book on the table and smiled. "So I see you have found something interesting to read?"
"Yes, it is vitally interesting." – Harry replied.
"I see. We keep record of the time that passes by us."
"You know so much about Slytherin!" – Ginny said.
"Salazar Slytherin's main fascination was in us." – Cusp simply said.
"In you…?" – Ron looked confused.
"The great snakes, Ron." – Hermione said. "Right?"
"Yes, we are descendants of the great ones." – Cusp confirmed.
"So are there any great ones left?" – Neville inquired.
"A few." – Cusp replied.
"So you are a…snake?" – Ron asked his eyes wide opening.
"Yes." – The simple answer was.
"But how?"
"We can assume any form we choose so taking a human form is not a problem. Some prefer to stay in their natural form; others choose a human form to facilitate the communication with your kind." – Cusp explained. "Like me."
"So Sentinel could take human form?" – Harry asked.
"No, she can't."
"Why not?" – Luna asked.
"She is the queen's guard. The queen's guardians are usually the younger ones till the time they become of age." – Cusp explained.
"It is an honor then." – Hermione admitted despite her feelings about snakes.
"Yes, it is. It is a great honor that a queen's guardian has become one for a human."
"Wow!" – Ron exclaimed. "Lucky Harry."
"Thanks mate." – Harry said.
"It is time." – Cusp announced looking at the time. "The queen wishes to see you. Please follow me."
Cusp led them through the various corridors and tunnels till they reached the throne room. It was different from the room where they were greeted yesterday. The throne room was full of light. Fires burned in over twelve fireplaces. Along the path to the throne there were the snake statues. In their eyes white torches were placed giving the snakes a really spooky outlook like they were alive. But despite the light, the walls, the ceiling and the floor were cold.
The throne was put on a high pedestal. On its side there were four smaller ones deserved for the councilors. The light above the main throne was almost negligible so actually no one could see the queen. The throne, itself, was interesting. It looked more like an armchair without the one arm. On it there were some runic letters, which as Cusp had explained meant – "Acrustia Halleya Athura." Acrustia was the name of the homeland of all snakes, well the magical ones.
When Cusp and the gang entered the throne room, the thrones were empty. Nevertheless, Cusp led them at the foot of the pedestal, humbly knelt and waited. Harry looked at his friends and also knelt.
Few minutes later, they all noticed gigantic shadows. Harry had remembered the size of the basilisk he encountered in the chamber of secrets but it was nothing compared to these shadows. The size of those was at least three times bigger. The shadows reached the thrones and then simply shrunk. Harry lifted his head and saw the thrones occupied by more or less human like figures.
The queen was as Harry saw her yesterday in sliver clothing glowing faintly. The coronet on her dark raven hair was also silvers (two grand snakes and many smaller ones entangled with plate ornaments. The grand snakes were made of some unknown metal though it was shining like silver but in fact being more lusterless like gold.).
"Rise!" – A low hissing voice commanded.
All looked up and saw the queen. She was standing up. She waved her hand and six comfy chairs appeared behind them.
"Sit!" – She ordered.
They obeyed. Cusp remained by their side. According to their customs, he had to stand. Small tables appeared before each of the gang. On them there were mirrors. Runic letters surrounded them that said – "Hecate Destellia Embracen," (which would translate as Seeing in the distance).
The queen then descended the pedestal. She approached the first table where Neville was.
"Look in the mirror." – She said.
"What would I see?" – Neville asked.
"Your reflection and your destiny." – The queen answered.
Neville obeyed. He bent over and saw his reflection but nothing else. Then the queen stood right in front of him. And then…Neville saw how his reflection became distorted. Images began to run quickly like flashes of memories. "Concentrate," the queen prodded.
The images slowed down. Neville saw a forest, a dark forest. He and his friends were walking through it. They all looked distressed. He then noticed that Harry and Ginny were not with them. The image became distorted and another took its place. He was standing on a dark protruding rock, his wand high above his head, his shadow growing like a raising dragon, a very familiar laughter below him – Bellatrix. A surge of rage, anger, fury tempestuous flowed through him, his wand waved, a storm ensued, the laughter stopped replaced with screams of pain, then silence and a feeling of sadness and pity.
Neville barely managed to pull himself up away from the mirror. His eyes were filled with tears. The Queen nodded and said. "Your heart is pure, and you will find the strength to live up to your expectations and to those of your friends."
Neville looked at the queen. He saw in her bright blue eyes understanding. He nodded, the queen smiled. "The path of destiny…is yours to conquer."
"Thank you!" – Neville whispered.
"You would become the Dread Knight but there will be a price to pay."
A/N3: Expect the second part soon where the gang is going to visit Salazar's Mansion. And also will find unexpectedly one horcrux.
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Lordheaven
1 Sorginak – is the Basque name for witches or pagan priestesses.