A/N: This isn't all of chapter seven. I had planned to get much more into this chapter, but have decided to post what I have and post the rest of chapter seven at a later date. (This part is quite short, around four pages, when this chapter should've been around at least twelve.) I'm really working on getting it written, but this chapter really doesn't want to come out right.
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Chapter 7a: Order and Chaos
Nalian sat down at dinner, ignoring all the people staring and whispering about him. It was nearly three weeks ago that he had accidentally spoken Parseltongue. The morning after 'The Incident' (as Draco called it) the entire school had been made aware of his ability. While most of his Slytherin classmates had taken it fairly well, the rest of the student body was in an uproar. Nalian was sure he had never gotten more dirty looks and not-so-well veiled threats in his entire life. That was saying something, considering he had grown up in a bloody thirsty, backstabbing palace, and temporarily lived in a second one when he studied under the vampire Derek for two years.
Things had gotten worse when a scathing letter of reproach from Darian arrived. It wasn't the letter in itself that caused more problems, nor the few books that came with it, but the two snakes that had also arrived with it. His familiars Chaos, who was a pure black snake, and Order, who was completely white.
Snakes were apparently not allowed at Hogwarts, but his Head of House managed to talk the headmaster around. Nalian suspected Draco may have had something to do with that.
What was more interesting was the letter Nalian received from Gringotts. They couldn't tell him which accounts had elven artifacts because it went against the bank's ethical codes, but they did inform him of the accounts his bloodlines allowed access to. There were four accounts, and he was informed of one, but the head of Gringotts insisted that any more information on the other three was not be disclosed until the goblins could make sure letting him view the vaults or files was legal.
The first account was Slytherin's account; possibly dating as far back as Salazar Slytherin himself (though Nalian personally thought that was stretching it a bit). The account, or treasury as it would've been called when it was first created before banks even existed (The treasury is suspected to have been created around the 1200s.), was there before the goblins were granted control over the wizarding society's banking system. For this reason the goblins didn't have access to the vaults; they said only a direct descendant could open them, and no descendant ever stepped forward to claim the legacy.
Nalian wondered why the bank never informed the descendants of their unknown vault, but decided it was safer not to ask, at least for now. What he did know was that he could be taken to the vault and enter it whenever he found the time and freedom to go to the bank for a few hours.
"Tomorrow is Halloween." Draco said casually, effectively pulling Nalian from his thoughts. "The holiday feasts here are always excellent."
Nalian blinked, "you mean to say that the food normally isn't?"
"I didn't say that." Draco snapped irritably. "I merely meant the food is better on holidays than the everyday meals."
"I'll believe it when I see it." Nalian grabbed his bag resting by his feet and stood up. "Now I'm off, or I'll be late for Ritual again."
"Yes, wouldn't want to incur Granger's wrath again, would we?" Draco sneered.
Nalian grinned, "you've never seen that girl in a temper, have you?"
"She has such a foul temper everyone should cower in fear." The blonde scoffed. "I thought you had more backbone."
"Why should I go searching for trouble when I can avoid it?" Nalian plopped back down onto the bench. "Look, saying no is an option isn't it? The girl assumed you were taking her to Hogsmeade this weekend, just go set Parkinson straight."
Draco glared, "I may have never seen Granger lose her cool, but Parkinson is a different matter entirely. In fourth year there was a Yule Ball at Christmas. Pansy somehow got it into her head that I was taking her. I told her I wasn't, that she misunderstood, and she threw the biggest tantrum I've ever seen... To cut a long story short, I ended up taking her anyway."
Nalian smirked, "so where do you get off saying I've got no backbone? More power to you, Drake, good luck with the missus." Nalian made a run for it, but Draco still nailed him in the back with a bread roll.
Nalian was making his way to the classroom when he heard a voice call from behind him, "Morthen! Nalian Morthen!"
He turned around, surprise showing on his face, "Professor Potter?"
The auburn-haired woman smiled slightly as she caught up with him. "I've been calling you for the last five minutes. A bit distracted?"
"I don't want to be late for Ritual Magic. Not only does the teacher get annoyed, but so does one of my partners."
"Working in groups of three, or more?"
"We're just starting three. It's really quite interesting, and I wouldn't mind trying a bigger group, but Professor Lufkin says we aren't ready." Nalian shrugged.
"It's best to start with three and get the feel of group ritual magic. Well, I shouldn't keep you waiting. Please come and see me after your class though. My classroom and office are just off the entrance to the Ravenclaw tower."
"May I know why, Professor?" Nalian asked curiously.
Lily Potter smiled reassuringly, "I'll tell you when you see me after class. It's nothing bad, you're not in trouble."
"All right." Nalian nodded, already heading towards his class again. He walked into the classroom not even a minute before the teacher did. Hermione was give him an irritated yet relieved look as he settled next to his two partners, Hermione and a Gryffindor in their year, Neville Longbottom.
"Everyone please review your notes. In ten minutes we'll be trying a basic power gathering in our groups of three. Don't forget to set up a protection circle; no point in being sloppy after all." Lufkin ordered, unpacking several stones. When everyone was done reading their notes she started speaking again, "it's easier to learn to focus your magic in one place when there is a physical item to focus on in the beginning. Today you'll be focusing on gathering power into a stone."
Hermione made a noise as if she wanted to say something, but a hand on her arm stopped her.
"These stones are quartz. As you know different types of stones enhance different things, such as love, healing, protection, divination, money, courage, and so on. Quartz is an all-around stone, it can be substituted for any stone if you use a bit of imagination." Lufkin started at the other end of the room, handing out crystals.
Hermione fretted. "Who should create the protection circle? And which of you wants to be the head wizard in this, because I'm not interested in that position."
"I think Neville should make the circle." Nalian said. "I noticed he's really quite good at them, and I don't mind being the head if Nev doesn't want to do it."
"I don't," came the immediate reply, Neville still blushing slightly from the compliment. "How will we know when we can't fill the stone with any more power?"
"We'll sense it," Hermione responded. "The teacher said so."
"What if she's wrong?" Neville muttered. Hermione gave him a dirty look that clearly said 'teachers aren't wrong.'
"Well," Nalian smiled cheerfully as Lufkin handed them a crystal, "we'll just have to try and see what happens."
"Alright." Neville motioned towards the open circle made with wax, "get in so I can close this."
"We're supposed to set the crystal in the middle." Hermione directed once the circle was closed. "Then we hold hands and start to meditate. Nalian, don't forget you have to concentrate both on us and on the power flow to the crystal."
Nalian smirked slightly, "sure you don't want to lead? You seem quite adept at it." Hermione swatted him.
The teacher was quietly instructing, "start meditating, breathe in for a count of seven, hold for a count seven, breathe out for a count seven. Breath in, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, hold, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, breathe out, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Breathe in..."
They settled down, loosely grasping hands, and slowed their breathing.
To correctly perform ritual magic in a group, or coven, the witches and wizards need to trust each other to at least some extent. The greater the trust, the better and easier the ritual could be performed. And the greater the trust, the more powerful and effective the ritual was. The head of the coven was the main focus for magic, the others of the circle let their magic flow into him and he (or she) directed the magic. The more the coven trusted their chosen leader, the more magic they would feed to him when performing a ritual circle.
Nalian focused on the magic; his magic, his friends' magic, and the inherent magic of the quartz. He felt small tendrils of magic from the others connecting with his own power as he focused on the quartz. Their magic twined with together, slowly pouring into the stone.
The teacher, much to Hermione's satisfaction, had been right. They did know when the stone couldn't take any more power. They carefully separated and broke the protective circle Neville had set up. After collecting their crystal the teacher motioned they could go and told them quietly so as not to disturb the two remaining groups, "we'll be working more with your crystal in our next class. Now you lot go down to the kitchens, get something filling to eat and go straight to bed. You may not realize it yet, but this type of magic is more exhausting than others and there's certain things you should do to ensure your health."
Hermione nodded and promised they'd follow her directions. Outside the classroom she started talking excitedly, "our crystal was perfect. We really do make a great team. I wonder what we'll be doing with our crystals? Do you think there are more rituals we will be performing if we already filled the quartz? Nalian, where are you going? The kitchen's this way."
"Professor Potter wanted to talk to me. She asked me to meet her after class. Don't worry, 'Mione, I'll eat after I see what she wants." Nalian replied. "You know, I think Professor Snape has some books on rituals. He's always encouraging us 'not to be dunderheads', so maybe if you ask nicely he'll let you have a look at them."
Hermione simultaneously lit up and looked dejected at the same time. "Professor Snape? I'll ask him after we eat, but I doubt I'll have much luck."
"Better you than me." Neville muttered. "Don't forget to eat, Nalian."
Hermione waved as Neville dragged her off to the kitchens.
Nalian shook his head with a grin. Snape would say no, naturally, but Hermione wouldn't let it go until the teacher gave in to her, and while Severus Snape was the most patient man in the world with his potions, he had absolutely no patience when it came to students. He'd give her the book just to get rid of her.
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A/N: Not everyone responded to my question, but from those that did I've decided to write it as a HP/LM slash fic. I've decided this for a few reasons:
1. While there are many good HP/LM stories out there, I have a hard time finding serious, consensual ones. (Anyone else have that problem?) So it's my way of adding to the list.
2. A reviewer mentioned if the pairing's necessary to the plot, I should write it no matter what. While, it's not necessary for this story, it'd play a big part in any sequel I write to Ravenstar.
3. I said I would. I've said it from the beginning, and I've no intention of taking that back.
Many thanks to: FawkesRises, Romm, Pure Black, pointgirl21, ERMonkey, Queen of Insanity, sae, ^.^, searanger, Lady Phoenix Slytherin, henriette, linky2.
Robbly - No, that wasn't deliberate. Thanks very much for pointing that out, I've gone back to chapter two and corrected it. (It's a good idea to have it deliberate, but doesn't follow with the conversation Severus and Lucius had. *grin* I can admit my mistakes. Thanks again!)