It was Carter.

"You," gasped Brian… before he smiled.

Carter smiled back.

"Yes, me," he said, in a British accent. "I was wondering when I'd be meeting you Bank. And here you are, the last living descendant of Salazar Slytherin," his smile turned into a nasty scowl. "And you're the son of a filthy mudblood."

"And here I thought Rodriguez was trying to kill me," Brian sarcastically quipped. "Then again, he does seem the type."

"With him around, who would suspect," Professor Carter put his fake American accent back on, "boring, unassuming, Professor Carter?"

"And lemme guess, you tried to kill me, not Rodriguez?"

"Right you are," Professor Carter said, dropping the accent. "And if your friend Khanna hadn't lit Rodriguez's robes on fire, causing me to lose my focus, I would've succeeded! No matter.

"You're too noisy for your own good, just like Potter. Him and all of his damned ancestors. MACUSA may have caught Dolores Umbridge after she killed your father, but it doesn't matter. Do you know what I see in this mirror, Bank? I see my master, alive and well, ruling the world. What do you see?"

Brian looked at the mirror; it was a large magnificent mirror, with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed feet. There was an inscription around the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on woshi.

"Voldemort taught me the truth, dear Brian: there is no good and evil. There is only power, and those too weak to seek it…"

Brian tried to sneak out, but black fire surrounded the door. Brian couldn't get out even if he wanted to.

"Going somewhere, dear boy?"

"And I suppose you let the troll in too?"

"Obviously!" He rolled up his left sleeve, revealing a vivid red tattoo of a snake exiting the mouth of a skull. "Ever since the master's death at the hands of Potter, the Dark Mark has never been active. If I had it my way, Draco Malfoy would be beheaded for his defection. His parents didn't drop their faith in pure-blood supremacy, you know. But he DID. He joined the Ministry of Magic."

"So, how did you manage to evade the Aurors for so long?" Brian asked.

"Well, since I'm gonna kill you anyway, I might as well tell you how I evaded capture for almost 11 years now.

"To make a long story short, I had used forged documents to illegally immigrate to the United States. After Umbridge was arrested, I knew I had to be careful, so I got a job here."

"Using fake documents?"

"Precisely. What is your desire? I know what it is: your father. You want him back, don't you? Help me, and we can bring him back. Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven. Your father died begging Umbridge for mercy."

"YOU LIAR!" Brian shouted suddenly, before he regained his composure.

"How touching. Your father really was brave; he sacrificed himself to save your mudblood mother. But he needn't have died; he should've just walked away and let Umbridge and myself raise you in England to be the next Voldemort… to be a PROPER heir of Salazar Slytherin."

"Well, I'm glad my dad didn't," Brian smirked. "I'm glad I'm not the next Voldemort. And I won't be, EVER."

"Then DIE!" Carter roared as he prepared to curse Brian. Brian's wand hummed as its master was in danger. Brian managed to dodge the blast from Carter's wand before Brian seized Carter's arm.

Suddenly, Carter's arm began to burn.

"AAAARGH!"

Brian gasped a bit, let go, and took out his wand!

"YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Carter charged at Brian, intending on trying again!

"Petrificus Totalus!" Brian shouted as he pointed his wand at Carter!

Just like with Barnaby, Carter froze up and fell to the floor with a THUD!

Brian decided to gaze into the mirror… and saw his own reflection, smiling and taking something out of his pocket, a blood-red stone, that he put back in his pocket before winking.

Brian smiled back, confused, before something appeared; a smoky figure charged at him, causing him to black out! A blood-red stone fell out of his pocket…

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Brian woke up and saw the faces of Professor Drake and Professor Fontaine, both smiling at him.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Bank," said Professor Fontaine.

"H-hi Professor Fontaine," Brian said to him. "Um… do you know about…"

"The Philosopher's Stone? Yes, I do."

"What happened to it?"

"It's gone," said Professor Drake.

"What?!"

"Try to relax or we'll be kicked out. As I'm sure you, Merula, and Rowan have read, it's already been destroyed by Nicolas Flamel. He's… probably dead now. It seems that Voldemort and his Death Eaters didn't get the memo."

"And the one in the chambers?"

"A replica," said Professor Fontaine. "I managed to find a large ruby and put it in Lunar Bank Vault 17-13 as a decoy in case Voldemort's followers didn't believe the truth. Of course, the professors were in on it. Except for Carter, that is."

Brian looked around and noticed that he was in the hospital wing. He was lying in a bed with white linen sheets, and next to him was a table piled high with what looked like half the candy shop.

"Tokens from your friends and admirers," said Alastor, beaming. "What happened between you and Carter is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows."

"Mr. Jacob Snyde tried to send you a toilet seat, I believe," said Fontaine, "but Doctor Patil felt it wouldn't be hygienic, so he confiscated it."

"How long have I been here?"

"About three days," said Professor Drake.

"Mister Rowan Khanna and Miss Merula Snyde will be relieved that you've come around. They've been worried sick."

"I see," Brian said. "…Why can't Carter touch me?"

"Because Marcus died to save you and Amy," Professor Drake answered.

"If there's one thing Tom 'Voldemort' Riddle could never understand, it's love," Professor Fontaine added. "Your father's love for you left its own mark. According to the late, great Albus Dumbledore, that kind of love leaves 'not a scar, no visible sign… to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us protection forever.'

"Carter, full of hate and greed, could not touch you for this reason, Brian."

"He called me the next Voldemort… is it true that I'm descended from Slytherin?"

"I'm afraid it is true, but that's a good thing. Your mother, a No-Maj-born wizard, is the descendant of Isolt Sayre's daughter, Martha Steward II, and as a result, is descended from Salazar Slythiern. Hence your titles: The Ultimate Insult to Salazar Slytherin, as she's part of a group of people Salazar couldn't stand. After all, he wanted to make Hogwarts a school where No-Maj-born wizards weren't welcome."

"Was… was Martha a No-Maj?"

"She was a Squib, if that's what you're asking. A Squib is essentially a wizard-born No-Maj, for they have no powers. Growing up here was hard for Martha, even though her parents loved her."

"Ah. Um… how'd the replica stone get in my pocket?"

"It was an unusual idea of Professor Albus Dumbledore. It seems that his magic still remains even after his death. He made it so that only someone who wanted to find the stone, but not use it, would be able to get it. Otherwise, they'd just see themselves making gold or drinking the Elixir of Life."

"Get some rest, Brian," Professor Drake said. "You've earned it."

After one last check-up from Dr. Patil, a kind but strict man, Brian was released from the hospital wing. He'd meet up with Rowan, Merula, and Khalil the snake.

"Hey Brian," said Rowan. "Professor Drake told us everything. Is it true?"

"Apparently. I'm the descendant of both Isolt Sayre and Salazar Slytherin."

"No way!"

Brian watched as Khalil winked at him.

"It is. My Inheritance Test said I had the abilities of parseltongue and parselmagic on my side, thanks to me being related to Slytherin."

"I'm just glad you're ok!" Merula said. "Admittedly, I used my owl instead of Athena to contact Professor Drake and Professor Fontaine, but…"

"Don't worry about it." Brian smiled.

Friday, May 11, 2012

After getting a bright-red yearbook and putting it in his bag, Brian had made his way down to the end-of-year feast alone. The Great Hall was full and decked out in orange, as Wampus had won the House Cup. A huge banner of the Wampus cat covered the wall behind the High Table. As soon as Brian entered, the Great Hall went quiet for a bit, and then everyone started talking loudly at once. Brian sat next to Merula at the Thunderbird table and tried to ignore the fact that everyone was staring at him: the heir to Isolt Sayre.

Fortunately, Professor Fontaine arrived moments later, causing the babble to die away.

"Another year has come to a close," Professor Fontaine said. "And I must trouble you with a speech before we begin our end-of-year feast. Hopefully, your heads are filled with knowledge for this year. After today, you will begin the summer holidays. Hopefully by then, you'll be well rested and ready for the next school year.

"Now, the House Cup needs awarding. In fourth place, Horned Serpent, with 312 points; in third place, Pukwudgie, with 342 points; in second place, Thunderbird with 372 points; and in first place, Wampus, with 472 points."

A storm of cheering came from the Wampus table, especially from Ben Cooper.

"Well done, House Wampus," said Fontaine. "However, recent events must be taken into account. As a result, I have a few last-minute bonus points to award."

The room went silent in confusion.

"First, to Miss Merula Snyde…"

Merula's face went beet red.

"… for the best game of chess Ilvermorny has seen in many, many years, I award Thunderbird House 50 points."

The Thunderbirds cheered on Merula. Elizabeth was telling the other prefects, "My youngest sister got past Rodriguez's chess set!"

There was silence once more.

"Second, to Mister Rowan Khanna… for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Horned Serpent House 50 points."

There was a cheer from the Horned Serpent table; Horned Serpent had just overtaken Pukwudgie!

"Third, to Mister Brian Bank…" said Professor Fontaine. The room went quiet once more. "…for outstanding courage and adventurous cunning, I award Thunderbird House 50 points."

The Thunderbird cheers were even louder; they were tied with Wampus!

"And finally, to Mister Barnaby Lee. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but an even greater deal of courage to stand up to your friends. Therefore, I award Thunderbird House 10 points, giving Thunderbird a total of 482 points."

The Thunderbird table EXPLODED in applause and cheers! They had defeated Wampus! The Wampus students were glad; even though they lost, they couldn't have lost to a greater opponent.

"Which means a change in decoration is in order." He snapped his fingers and the orange banners changed into purple and the huge Wampus cat was replaced with the Thunderbird itself! Professor Rodriguez shook Professor Drake's hand with a smirk.

"Enjoy your victory, Professor Drake, but be prepared," he said, "for the Wampus shall rise again."

"And we'll be ready for you," Professor Drake replied, also with a smirk on his face.

This had to be the best evening of Brian's life. He'd never ever forget tonight…