(A/N A new chapter for Repetere Tenebris is probably a little way off, Because the computer that the next chapter is saved on is being repaired. My bad, I probly should have saved it elsewhere first.)
I am out of place
And honey you are out of time
I'd tell your fortune
But the words don't rhyme
I'm not your chambermaid,
Your not my lord,
and all the fine games we play have left me bored.
I never want to see you come around my castle
'Cause I just can't afford to love you
I'm not your chambermaid
You're not my Lord.
Chambermaid, Emilie Autumn
Cora dreamt of the Dead sometimes. Mostly, she didn't know whether they were people who had actually lived, or ones that her mind made up.
There were a few occasions though, where it was unmistakable that the person contacting her had lived.
This was one such dream.
"I'm Cora," She told the figure, who had yet to say anything.
"My name is Eris Jager." He said, in a way that made her wonder if she was supposed to know who he was. He was an old man, maybe eighty or ninety, his hair grey and his back bent, though he still looked very capable.
"It's nice to meet you," She tried, hoping to sound polite. The Dead commanded respect, most especially from a necromancer.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" He seemed more amused than offended.
"No, I'm sorry. Should I?"
"I'm your ancestor. I find it odd that no one's ever told you about me. I am, after all, half of where your necromancy came from."
Cora's eyes widened as she realised who she was talking to. "You were Ginny's, erm, husband?" She didn't know whether the two had been married, but then again, she knew next to nothing.
"Yes," There was laughter in his voice.
"I have some advice for you," He said after a moment.
Cora nodded, waiting. She didn't know what kind of advice her ancestor would have, though she was sure she would need it.
"Let the Riddle boy in. He's more a part of your future than you know."
Despite herself, she curled her lip. Eris noticed and laughed.
"I'm only trying to make things easier for you. He'll be a big part of your destiny, whether you like it or not. You could improve things for yourself, if you tried."
"What will happen if I don't?" She asked, knowing full well that he wouldn't answer.
He laughed, sounding wheezy.
"You know I cant tell you that much," He looked at her as if he was waiting for her to say something else. A thought occurred to her that hadn't come to her any other time she'd dreamt of the dead, since the Lords had died.
"Is, I mean, can I talk to them, the Lords?" she only wanted to really see one of them, but she figured it rude to ask for Harry specifically.
"There's only one here," Eris said, and before she could question what he meant, he was gone.
She'd only seen Tom Riddle once before, and he had been much more frightening then. She had been seven, and he had not spoken to her, merely standing of to the side while Harry indulged her with new toys and games. That had been the last time she had seen her godfather in the flesh.
"You must be Cora." He said, his red eyes flashing from behind dark strands of hair.
"Yes," Cora went to her knees, bowing her head and waiting.
"Stand up," He said lazily.
"Harry's not here," He said before she could find the words to ask.
"He's moved on." He looked very lost for a moment, making Cora wonder why they had been separated.
"You need to let Nate in. That's the only way I'll be able to leave here."
Cora didn't know what that meant.
"He hates me. He thinks I'm not up to this," She didn't mention that she didn't think so either.
"Then bow to him. Appease him. Grovel at his feet. Let him subjugate you. Then he'll like you." There was a flicker in Voldemort's eyes that Cora didn't understand.
But she nodded her head dutifully, because what else could one do when given a direct order from the Dark Lord himself?
"Prosper! Prrooossssspppeerrr!?" Nate Riddle was drunk, which was not unusual.
"Yes, my Lord?" Prosper was directly beside the shouting metamorphagus.
"More whiskey." He held up his glass and the blonde nodded, trying his hardest not to roll his eyes. He'd grown up with the boy Lord, which made it very difficult to take him seriously. Let alone take him seriously while he was intoxicated.
"Do you think the little mouse is sleeping?" Nate asked after Prosper had refilled his tumbler.
"Most likely, my Lord," Prosper tried to hide the nervousness in his voice, because it would surely only spur Nate into sneaking into the Lady's room, to do Merlin knew what.
"Hmm, fine for her to be sleeping, someone's gotta work." He slurred, standing.
Nate tended to head to the kitchens when he was drunk, attempting to make himself food. When it was disgusting, he'd force the elves to choke it down. He also enjoyed having Prosper watch him, acting as if he had an entire audience.
The blonde followed the yellow haired lord dutifully, not mentioning that he himself wasn't doing any work.
Drinking and making revolting food didn't count.
Nate didn't make his way to the kitchen, making Prosper nervous.
He mustn't have done a very good job at deterring his lord, and bit his lip as he followed Nate to the east wing, where Cora and her younger sister were sleeping.
"You know, I sometimes wonder about my father's sanity." The way he said 'father's' made it clear which one he was talking about. Harry.
"As if anyone in their right mind would pick her!" He scoffed, stumbling up the steps slightly, grabbing the rail with white knuckles.
"I'm plenty enough, wouldn't you say, Prosper?"
The blonde made an affirmative noise in his throat, racking his brain for an idea, any idea, that might lead Nate in another direction.
"My Lord, isn't that more reason to let her fail on her own? Wouldn't it be more satisfying if you didn't need to intervene?"
"Why don't you wait here, Prosper?" Nate said when they reached the top, barely sparing the blonde wizard a glance.
Prosper frowned when his Lord wasn't looking, worried for his Lady. Surely Nate wouldn't kill her?
"Cora, Cora!" A hurried whisper woke her, and she sat bolt upright the instant her eyes opened.
"What, what is it?" She whispered back, her sister was clutching her arm and pointing at the door.
Cora saw feet in the light shining in, and someone mumbling about locks. She knew that voice.
"Get under the bed," She hissed at Annalise, hoping Nate would just forget her existence. Her little sister didn't think twice in obeying. Cora only hoped that the Lord hadn't heard their whispering.
She swiped her wand of the table and stood just as the door creaked open.
"Ah, I woke you. Subtlety isn't really my thing, I suppose." He flicked his hand and the room lit up. He leasurely looked around, ignoring her defensive position.
Cora visibly stiffened at his display of wandless magic. Even such a small demonstration meant massive power. Cora herself hadn't managed to light a candle yet, and that was with training from the day she took her first step.
"Pretty bare, your room. I like that. Means it wont be to hard to redecorate when you get out."
The red head bit her lip, not knowing what to say. The dream she had only just had still ringing in her head.
"Why are you here, my Lord?" She did try to sound respectful, because he was unpredictable and seemed like he might be drunk, but there was a bite to her words that made him flinch.
He wandered over to her dresser, picking up a ring that her mother had given her.
"Just making sure that you were comfortable," He slurred, turning the trinket over in his hand.
"The room is just perfect, thank you," She said, forcing respect into her voice. It wasn't that she didn't respect him, it was just hard to show it when she had been trained to show it to no one. It didn't help that Nate had taken a fairly open dislike for her.
He looked over his shoulder at her, his eyebrow raised.
"I was wondering, my Lord, if we might retire to a sitting room? We have much to discuss."
He looked for a moment as if he had had a plan, originally, and it had just been ruined. Then he nodded, looking pleased.
"Fine, fine." He gestured for her to follow and she did, grateful that she wouldn't have to humiliate herself in front of her sister.
Because that was what she was about to do.
Grovel and snivel like a servant.
Prosper was standing not far from the door, looking as if he had sprung back from it quickly.
"My Lord, my Lady," He said, bowing and looking perfectly stoic.
"Prosper, get us some refreshments," She tried to be commanding, and she figured she was getting better, if the fleeting impressed look on Nate's face was anything to go by.
When Prosper nodded curtly and left them be, Cora turned to Nate and bowed her head.
"I'm sorry if you wanted him present, my Lord, but I want this conversation to be private."
He looked suspicious, but led the way to the closest sitting room.
Cora entered the room first, the yellow haired Lord shutting the door behind them.
When he turned to face her, she immediately dropped to her knees, making him jump slightly.
"What're you-"
"My Lord, forgive me for my behaviour. I'm sure you can understand that the public needs to see me showing strength," She began, not looking up and feeling disgusted with herself.
"But I am yours. You are my Lord, and I am completely loyal to you," When she looked up his eyes were bugging, and he looked around the room as if someone was going to jump out and say, 'Tricked you!'
When no one did, he looked back to the red headed girl on the floor, a grin forming over the confusion.
"Well, I'll have to say that I wasn't expecting this. I kind of thought that I'd walk in and you'd spin around all righteous, saying things like, 'Give me a chance!' And, 'You don't know me!' And then I would smack you a little."
His high pitched mimicry made her grit her teeth, but she gave a small smile.
"But I suppose this is just as much fun. Unexpected, but fun."
"Alright, fine. Good. I'm ever so glad we got this sorted. You can get of the floor now, mouse."
Cora said nothing and rose to her feet, wanting this humiliation to be over, to go back to her room and cry on her sisters shoulder.
"Thank you, my Lord," She said, bowing low once more, heading for the door and nearly being knocked over by Prosper and his tea tray.
"Oh! I'm so sorry Lady Soricea," He babbled, and she nodded quickly, pushing past him and ignored Nate's small laugh.
"See you in the morning, Soricea!" He called after her.
