Arrow: Here it is! The next chapter of Heiress Apparent! I am sorry that it took me so long to post it. As it turns out, I am not very good at multitasking. At any rate, it is here and I hope that you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, the canon would never be the same again. Seriously, have you not been reading this story?
Chapter Four
Ruined Plans
Dumbledore didn't recognize the house elf that had summoned him and the entire Order of the Phoenix to his mistress's home for dinner. At first, he had been sure that it was a trick from the Ministry or even Voldemort, but eventually, the Headmaster had given in and summoned all members of the Order – and their children – to his office and waited for the elf to tell them where to go.
"Mistress has said that this dinner will be informal, but I do not think she would appreciate those robes, sir." The elf looked at Dumbledore who was shocked at the sentence. This was not normal house elf behavior. "The colors clash and dressing that way shows disrespect to the hostess. I will not allow anyone to disrespect my mistress." Albus was dumfounded.
"Very well, I shall make myself presentable." With a muttered spell, Dumbledore transfigured his star-spangled orange and chartreuse robes into a quieter set of simple blue robes. The elf nodded in approval.
"Thank you. Now, as to how you shall get to the Manor, I will Apparate all of you to the end of the walkway. From there, it is a short walk to the front door of my mistress's home." Without further ado, the elf clapped his hands and they were off.
When the group landed, they were in a wooded area outside of London. At the end of the walk was a modest Tudor style manor house. There were two stories and the front garden was wonderfully manicured and cared for. The walk was lined with Aspen trees and blooming Tudor rosebushes covered the front of the house. The elf interrupted their viewing.
"Now, I must go and make sure the dinner preparations have been completed. I am sure you can walk to the door yourselves." With a pop, he was gone. Remus Lupin stared at the spot the elf had vacated.
"What kind of house elf was that? I have never seen elves act like that before." Hermione looked like all her dreams had come true.
"I am so happy that someone is treating her elves with respect." The others rolled their eyes. Molly Weasley started forward with the rest on her heels.
"Come on. I wonder who this woman is." Ron grumbled.
"I wonder what we're having for dinner."
The group decided that Dumbledore would be the one to knock. After all, he had a greater knowledge of what to do in these situations. Mere seconds after he knocked, the door opened and they all walked into a magnificent foyer. The home was obviously lovingly cared for and Molly was admiring the décor when her eyes caught the form of their host.
A young woman, no more than sixteen, was standing with one of the Gringotts Goblins. Her hair was held up in a ponytail, but there were strands framing her face. Her clothing was casual, khaki slacks, a T-shirt, and heels, but her accessories dressed the outfit up: she wore diamond earrings, a matching bracelet, a silver pendant, and a gold ring. Her most shocking feature was her eyes. Where had Molly seen that shade of green before? She knew she had, she just couldn't quite place it.
Lupin gave their host a once over; she seemed so familiar. He just knew he had met her before, but he couldn't remember where. They were all startled out of their musings when their hostess spoke.
"Welcome. I am glad you all could make it. Please, won't you join me in the living room? Dinner should be ready in about a half an hour." She and the Goblin turned to their right and entered what had to be the living room. The group followed and again had to admire how well taken care of the manor house was. Even Snape was impressed and something compelled him to tell her so.
"If I may say, ma'am, your home is quite beautiful. I have been in many manor houses and mansions, but they are all so garishly decorated. Your décor is quite tastefully done." The surly man blinked. Had he just complimented someone? The rest of the Order was looking at him, but their hostess just smiled and invited them all to sit. She seated herself in a chair that appeared out of nowhere in front of the fireplace and the Goblin stood at attention to her right, looking proud and menacing.
"Thank you, Professor Snape, although it is really my elves you should be complimenting. I just told them where to put the portraits."
"Excuse me, but how do you know my name?" He looked at the table and gasped. "And why is the Sorting Hat here?" Dumbledore, already in a bad mood from being ignored, drew his wand.
"Exactly whom do you work for, child?" She smirked.
"I like to think that I work for myself, but I suppose if you want to get technical, I work for you. To answer your first question, Professor, you have been teaching me potions for five years. As for your second, we will touch on that later." Dumbledore narrowed his eyes.
"You work for me?" She laughed, a bitter, hollow sound that made Ginny and Ron cringe and Hermione's eyes water in sympathy.
"Oh yes. It seems I am the only way to win this war." Lupin figured it out first.
"Harry? Harry, is that really you?" She smirked in a Slytherin manner that made even Snape's blood run cold.
"Indeed. I am sure that you remember Griphook, Mrs. Weasley. He is here to join us for dinner and to explain the legality of my recent actions. But first," she stood and walked over to Dumbledore. When she spoke again, her voice was so cold and vicious that the group actually moved away, including the Aurors. "You have been the cause of all my miseries. You killed my true parents and you have stolen from me. No more. I will help defeat Voldemort, but I will do it on my terms, not yours. I am legally emancipated and you have no control over me any longer." She looked at the Order. "My name is not Harry James Potter. My full legal name is Jadelyn Catalina Merlina Le Fay Peverell Slytherin d'Medici Pendran. I am the daughter of Katerina Ethans Pendran and Aaron Pendran. The Potters adopted me. I am not their true child." Pandemonium broke out.
"What! That cannot be!"
"You're lying!"
"No way!"
"Where's your proof?"
"When's dinner?"
"That is logically impossible." Jadelyn snapped.
"Silence!" They did as they were bid. "I have invited you into my home. You have no right to treat me this way. Joshua! Kreacher! Artorious!" The three elves appeared immediately, glaring at the Order.
"Yes, Milady Pendran?"
"Please escort the Order with the exception of Professor Snape, Remus Lupin and Albus Dumbledore to the dining room. I will be there shortly." The three bowed.
"Of course, Mistress!" They ushered the confused group into the dining room and soon the five were alone in the room.
"Now, listen well, Albus Dumbledore, you have screwed with my life enough. I'll not have you screwing with my school as well!"
"Now, dear, be reasonable, Hogwarts doesn't just belong to you – "
"I own it." Silence. Snape's eyes almost fell out.
"How is that possible?"
"Is it true that Salazar Slytherin became the sole owner of Hogwarts after the other three Founders died?" Lupin nodded, wanting to see where she would go with this. "I am Salazar Slytherin's great-great-great granddaughter. I own Hogwarts; he left it to his heir in his will. That heir is I." Dumbledore was furious.
"How did you find out this information?" She smirked.
"After dinner I will tell you, I don't want my guests to be stressed while they eat, Professor. Come, dinner should be ready by now." She led the way to the dining room and sat at the head of the table. A second table had been added to the room to accommodate all the guests, but no one seemed to mind, they were too busy staring at Jadelyn. Hermione, who was the closest, tried to make conversation, but was too nervous to come up with something original.
"So, Miss Pendran (she didn't know if she could call the young woman Jadelyn yet), what are we having for dinner?" Jadelyn looked at her and smiled kindly.
"I asked the elves to surprise us. They are very good at that." Hermione nodded and the door opened.
The elves filed in, each bearing a platter. The first course consisted of fruits, cheeses, breads, and cold cuts of meat. Everyone began to fill the plates and pockets of conversation floated around the table. Hermione was fascinated by the legal system and was speaking to Griphook about laws; Ron tried to start a conversation with Jadelyn about Quidditch, but was too awed by her. She was so different than Harry had been. When his conversation attempt failed, Jadelyn turned her attention to the Potions Master on her left.
"Professor Snape, I have a bit of a personal question."
"Yes?"
"Why did you hate me?" Snape squirmed in his seat. He should have known she would ask that.
"For two reasons. One: you were the one who defeated the Dark Lord and there are Death Eater children at Hogwarts who report my every move to their parents. If the parents got even the slightest hint that I had ever been unfaithful to the Dark Lord, my life would be forfeit. Two: your adoptive father had never been kind to me and you looked too much like him. I was trying to get revenge on him by taking out my anger on you. It was wrong, but it did make me feel better." She smiled.
"Thank you for being honest with me." After the tense exchange, she began a series of questions about potions and potion ingredients, much to his delight. Once they had finished the appetizer, the elves brought out the main course.
Dinner consisted of carved roast beef, garlic mashed potatoes, and string beans. Ron's mouth watered and dropped open. He had seen lots of food before, but this was something different. You couldn't get this at Hogwarts! There was silence around the table; everyone was busy filling their plates and eating. Only when the course was finished did conversations start back up. Molly looked down the table at Jadelyn.
"Jadelyn, dear, the food is excellent, but I'm sure we all have questions for you." Jadelyn's eyes met Dumbledore's still-furious gaze and she smirked at him. Keeping him in suspense was fun.
"I know that you do, and I shall answer them – with Griphook's help – after dinner." When she finished that statement, the elves re-entered bearing a light desert, a fruit salad tossed with sugar. Once again, everyone was silent until the food had been eaten. Ron was sad when dinner was over; he wanted more.
Once desert was over, polite conversation reigned until the group followed Jadelyn back to the living room. Dumbledore was still glaring; he was too upset to begin the interrogation process, but Lupin had no such qualms.
"Jadelyn, could you explain what is going on now?" Jadelyn smiled and nodded.
"I have been emancipated. I am no longer obligated to follow your orders, Dumbledore. You have no say in my life any longer." The Headmaster was fuming. His greatest tool in the war against Voldemort was rebelling.
"Are you just going to let Voldemort roam freely, Jadelyn?" The girl's eyes grew cold.
"I didn't say that. I said that I would not take orders from you. That means that I am doing things my way." The girl walked to the Sorting Hat. "Sorting Hat, please wake up." A shudder ran through the cloth of the hat.
"*Yawn. * Who asks for me?" Jadelyn sat in her chair in front of the fireplace; the Hat turned to face her. "Was it you, Miss?"
"Yes, it was. I have a request."
"If it is in my power to grant it, then it will be yours, Miss . . .?"
"Pendran. I request that you resort me." The Hat frowned.
"You will have to have the Headmaster's permission. Besides, I don't remember sorting you in the first place."
"I went by the name Harry Potter. And I don't need the Headmaster's permission. I own Hogwarts and I am ordering you to re-sort me." The Hat blinked at her.
"How do you own the school?" Jadelyn furrowed her brows and stood in front of the fireplace.
"I am the last living descendent of Salazar Slytherin. You will grant my request." The Sorting Hat was silent, staring at the girl.
"Very well. I will decide if you are telling the truth when I see your mind." Jadelyn put the Hat on her head and the two were outwardly silent, but the silence belied the furious conversation in Jadelyn's mind.
"Well, you certainly are Harry Potter; I recognize your mind. Do you expect me to believe everything in here?"
"Is it possible to lie in your mind? And even if it were possible, are you admitting that you don't know what a lie is?"
"I just don't want to admit that Dumbledore had anything to do with this. But I see that it is true. You should have been in Slytherin's House. I am sorry for doubting you, Mistress."
"That is all right. Tell me, where would you place me if I were to be transferred to Hogwarts tonight?"
"Without a doubt, you would be in either Slytherin or Ravenclaw. It is a difficult toss-up between the two. Have you any preferences, Mistress?"
"No. It is your duty to place the students where they would benefit most. Which house would benefit me the most?"
"Slytherin. I do have some interesting reasons for that."
"Care to share?"
"You would show them that there is a third party. Most of their families joined Lord Voldemort because they refused to side with Dumbledore. They would gladly join someone who only asks for their support and loyalty in return."
"I agree. Announce it."
"Slytherin!"
"No! This cannot be!" The Order was shocked at the Headmaster's outburst. Jadelyn simply removed the Sorting Hat and placed him on the coffee table in front of her. She looked at him and smirked.
"It appears as though it is, Headmaster." The furious man stormed over to her and raised an arm as if to strike her. Without thinking, Remus Lupin jumped in front of the girl and growled at the elderly man.
"You will not harm her. Even if she is emancipated, she is a child still. No one harms a child." Dumbledore glared at the amber-eyed man.
"I would not strike her, but I will not tolerate insubordination!"
"Insubordination? Is that what you think this is about?" Jadelyn stood and stepped around Remus.
"Yes, Harry, this is insubordination. I don't know how you found out about your heritage, but I assure you that my actions were in the best interests of the –"
"Greater Good', I know. Tell me, do you think I care about the Wizarding World?" A collective gasp rang through the room. "All this World has done is treat me like a weapon, not a person. This World that I am supposed to protect has turned its back on me numerous times and it refused to accept the fact that Voldemort was back. Why should I even bother trying to protect the Wizarding World? They have done nothing for me." The room was silent, even Dumbledore was subdued by Jadelyn's words.
"Harry, everyone here cares about you because you are you." Jadelyn snorted and raised an eyebrow at the Headmaster.
"You and the Order of the Phoenix care about me because according to you, I am the only one who can defeat Voldemort. Remus cares about me because I am his last connection to Lily and James. Snape doesn't care about me, to the best of my knowledge. The Weasley's care about me because I am famous and Hermione cares about me because I was one of the first to speak to her like a normal human being and not a know-it-all." She looked at her guests. "I hope you enjoyed dinner. Professor Snape," she faced the dour man. "I will be joining Slytherin House as a student this coming year. You best get used to the idea. And all of you should start calling me Jadelyn or Miss Pendran." She glared at the stricken Headmaster. "My name is not Harry Potter." Knowing a dismissal when they heard one, the Order filed out, with the exception of Snape, Lupin, and Hermione. Ignoring them for a moment, Jadelyn turned to Griphook, who smiled at her.
"Well, it seems you did not need my expertise at all, Milady."
"Still, I very much enjoyed your company, Griphook. I wish you a good evening." He bowed to her.
"And I wish you a long and easy life, Jadelyn Pendran." He apparated away and Jadelyn, absently stroking Nightshade's scales, turned to the three humans who had remained in her living room.
"Is there any way I can help you?" Lupin stepped forward.
"Jadelyn, you should know that I do care about you, more than you seem to realize. Yes, it started out because you were my last connection to Lily and James, but I care about you now because you are a wonderful person in your own right. Please, don't turn me away because of what has happened recently. You are the closest thing I have to a little sister and I can't bear to lose you now." Jadelyn's eyes sparkled with tears, but they did not fall. Before she could respond, Snape stepped forward.
"Miss Pendran, I am honored to welcome you into Slytherin House. I will admit, in the past I have treated you poorly, but I had reasons for doing so. First was my vendetta against your adoptive father; second was my occupation: I am a spy. I knew that there were loyal followers of Voldemort in the school and I had to appear to hate the Dark Lord's sworn enemy to retain the Dark Lord's trust. I have put my vendetta to rest; my position is the only thing that I have to keep up appearances for. I will no longer grade you unfairly and I will no longer have a bias against you and your friends. I only ask that you give the Slytherins a chance to get used to the idea of you being a snake." Jadelyn's eyes were overflowing, but she was not sobbing. Hermione stepped forward.
"I am sorry that you don't believe that I honestly care for you. I do, I truly do! You were my first friend! You are my best friend! And now you are a girl that I hope will become like my sister. I will always be beside you, Jadelyn. Never doubt that. I don't care that you will be in Slytherin now, I don't care what the Headmaster says and I don't care what everyone else is going to say! I will never leave you, Jadelyn, and you can always count on me." Jadelyn threw her arms around the other girl, sobbing into her shoulder.
"I am sorry that I doubted you, all of you. Thank you for standing beside me. Professor Snape, I will give them a chance and maybe give them another option besides joining Voldie. Remus, I am glad to have you as a big brother. Mione, you are my best friend and I am grateful that I still have you." She walked them to the door. "Feel free to visit when you like. Mione, I will be going to Diagon Alley when the booklists arrive, will you meet me there?"
"Of course! Now, I have to go get yelled at by Ron and the other Weasleys." Snape nodded to Jadelyn and apparated the young Gryffindor to the castle, Lupin stayed behind a moment.
"If you need anything, Jadelyn, send me a letter with Hedwig. She'll find me." Jadelyn nodded and hugged the werewolf.
"Thank you for coming tonight." He smiled at her and apparated away; she went back inside and closed the door. Leaning back against the wood, she sighed tiredly.
"Mistress, is something wrong?" Jadelyn opened her eyes and looked at Joshua.
"No, Joshua, it's just been a long day. I need to go to bed." He nodded and she went up to her bedroom. Carolina was waiting for her.
"I have prepared a bath for you, Milady. You can't sleep with make-up on." Jadelyn smiled and went to her bathroom. Once there, she removed her clothes and her jewelry, setting both on the storage bench, and sank gratefully into the bathtub, scrubbing her face and removing the light make-up from her skin. Carolina took the jewelry and clothes, putting them away in their proper places.
After she was clean, she stood from the bathtub and pulled on the pajamas that Carolina had laid across the bench. Once she was clad in a black, lace camisole and green sleep pants striped with silver, she went to the sink and brushed her teeth, in a daze from the events of the day.
As she exited the bathroom, she saw Tia putting away the jewelry she had worn during dinner. The elf picked up a hairbrush when she saw her mistress, but Jadelyn shook her head.
"I will brush my hair tonight, Tia. I need to think about some things before I go to bed." The elf nodded and handed her mistress the hairbrush before leaving the room. Jadelyn waited until she had left before sitting on the vanity stool; she ran the brush through her raven hair, allowing the hypnotic action to lull her into a state of near-meditation. Nightshade, who had removed herself from Jadelyn's wrist when she disrobed in the bathroom, was worried about her mistress and student.
"Jadelyn, are you certain that you are all right? I know what you told Joshua, but is that all?" The girl sighed. Trust her snake to see that she was hiding something. Why couldn't people do that?
"No, Nightshade, it isn't. I have defied the most powerful man in the history of the Wizarding World, save for Merlin himself. I fear that I may have taken my announcement too far." Nightshade stared at her mistress in disbelief. This was what was bothering the girl?
"Nonsense. If you had not, he would have never left you alone; you would have been his pet. You need to learn not to regret your actions." Jadelyn finished brushing her hair and laid the brush to the side. She stood and walked over to the bed and crawled under the covers, propping herself up against the pillows and picking up Nightshade, who was resting on the comforter.
"I know that you are right, but I am a long way from being who I wish to be. I don't even know my family history and everyone knows more about me than I do. On top of that, who knows what is going to happen at Hogwarts? Oh God, the Gryffindors are going to kill me, if the Slytherins don't beat them to it!" Nightshade tightened her grip on Jadelyn's wrist, trying to calm and comfort the girl.
"You are the last living descendent of their House's founder, why would they kill you?" Jadelyn was blunt in her hissed response.
"Nightshade, they hate me."
"Nonsense! Give them a chance, Mistress. You never know, they may prove to be a great ally. The others will come around eventually." It took a while, but Nightshade eventually was able to calm her distressed handler and convince her that she had nothing to worry about.
"Your right. Maybe I can prove that House loyalty should not prevent cooperation." Nightshade gave the equivalent of a yawn and slithered to the pillow next to Jadelyn's, coiling herself upon the surface.
"A pleasant goal to have. Now, you should get to sleep. It is late." Jadelyn rolled her eyes at the serpent's tone, but obeyed nonetheless. She took her wand from the place she had left it on the bedside table and noxed the lights in her room.
"Good night, Nightshade." The snake replied with a sibilant snore. Jadelyn chuckled and followed her familiar into the land of dreams.
Hermione Granger was a practical and logical witch; she knew that what Dumbledore had done was wrong and she spoke out against it at the meeting the Order had after the dinner at Peverell Manor. Of course, Dumbledore's sycophants ignored her and loudly agreed with the elderly wizard, with the exception of Molly Weasley, Severus Snape, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks. She met their gazes and they left the office, leaving Dumbledore to struggle with the new problem of Jadelyn Pendran.
She met the others outside of Severus Snape's quarters and he murmured the password to the painting of an undulating Basilisk. The group of five took seats surrounding the fireplace. Molly spoke up first.
"What should we do? He will go to war with You-Know-Who and Miss Pendran! She doesn't deserve this." Snape looked at the woman.
"I believe I can insinuate to most of the Slytherins that she can be trusted. I have no doubt that the Dark Lord will approach her, especially when he hears about her Gringotts confirmed heritage. She will be a popular addition to my House, but I don't know if it will be genuine." Hermione looked at the potions professor.
"She won't expect it to be genuine, Professor. I wouldn't be surprised if she expects them to kill her." Lupin glanced at the Professor.
"Is there a way to protect her in the dungeons?" Tonks spoke before Snape could think of a response.
"The castle will protect her."
"What do you mean, Tonks?"
"She owns the castle doesn't she? It would make sense that Hogwarts will protect her owner from danger, even if it comes from the inside." Molly's eyes widened.
"Do you think the castle will know that she has been informed of her heritage?" Tonks smiled, Marauder-style.
"I think that Hogwarts will never be the same again."
Dumbledore was livid and he glared at the silent Sorting Hat on its stand. The Hat was in slumber and waiting for the next sorting. He had taken the Hat with him when he left Jadelyn's home and tried to speak to it, but the Hat refused to answer, stating that it was charmed to keep the secrets of those whose mind it saw, a charm from the Founders themselves.
The Headmaster collapsed into his desk chair and placed his head in his hands. How could everything have gotten out of control? How could he have missed this possibility? It was true, he had never expected Jadelyn to discover her heritage and he still did not know how she accomplished it. It was probably the doing of the Goblins; they liked to meddle in his affairs. He had tried to withdraw money from Jadelyn's account, as her magical guardian, and had been denied vehemently. The reason he was given was that she was an emancipated minor and he had no right to partake in her financial affairs.
"I need to find out what has happened. I need to know how I lost control so quickly. I knew that she was upset at the beginning of the summer, but how did she break away? The Dursley's should have kept her in line, so how did this happen?" The Headmaster began to pace relentlessly, and Phineas Black looked down at him disgustedly.
Soon the Headmaster's careful plans would come crashing down; once something was ruined, it was nigh impossible to rebuild it.
Lord Voldemort was baffled, an emotion that was new to him. Severus Snape had just fire-called him and told him that Harry Potter had broken away from Dumbledore and emancipated himself. During the process, the Boy-Who-Refused-To-Die found his true heritage from the Goblins of Gringotts: he was a girl and the last living descendent of Salazar Slytherin! His spy told him that he would be the descendent of one of Salazar's brothers, but not the founder himself.
This certainly put a kink in his plans. How was he supposed to rule the world if his way was blocked by two adversaries?
Jadelyn slept peacefully behind the ancient wards of Peverell Manor, safe in her home. Nightshade was curled next to her head, poised to attack if something should threaten her mistress.
Neither knew of the hell that had been unleashed, but they would soon enough.
Arrow: Well, what did you think? I don't believe it was worth the wait, but to be honest, I don't care. I enjoyed writing it and I hope that you have enjoyed reading it.
Drop me a review to let me know what you think. I always read my reviews, even if I don't respond to it. Come to think of it, I really need to get better at doing that. Oh well, something else to work on.