Just before the week had finished I ran into Grisha and Seamus, who were both tense as they finally saw me.
Seeing as we were in the library, I quietly lead them to far corner of the room, and sat down on the farthest table in the room.
"I know both of you have been seeing similar things as I have, these past few months. I am here try to explain to you what is going on, and why you are seeing these things." I began, watching Seamus specifically, though I was speaking to the two of them directly.
"Sophia, please tell me you aren't thinking of doing something as idiotic as going to face this unknown man all by yourself." He uttered, through tense lips.
"No, I am simply trying to find out what is truly happened to my parents. And what is truly going on in this dangerous situation. You both are familiar with the name Alexei Kuznetsova, and who he was, correct?" I asked them.
I watching silently as they both stiffened, and nodded shortly in response.
I let out a sigh, feeling as Tom pushed into my mind, suddenly beginning to feel calm.
"Well, his son is the bloke who is looking for me. I've seen him arrive to Hogsmeade, within the next year— months possibly— depending on a few things. Just a week after we graduate. I will be staying near here after I graduate, I want to avoid as many fatalities as possible." I explained looking unblinkingly at them, watching as they both stiffened in their seats.
"What?! Surely—Surely you cannot be that stupid as to think that you alone can take on one of Grindlewald's followers all by yourself." Seamus uttered shocked, trying to keep his voice leave down before we got kicked out of them library.
"No, you can't do that. Y-you'll need back up." Grisha uttered, her voice trembling.
"A-actually, I won't be going alone, a few of my friends from Slytherin will be coming with me. They will be my reinforcements." I said, trying to keep my nerves down to a minimum.
"So, you've thought of everything haven't you?" Seamus sneered, shaking his head annoyed.
"No, I haven't. I actually realized that there could be thousands of people who will be there on his side, whether willingly or under the Imperius Curse, they'll be there." I said.
Seamus nodded. "My friends and I will be going with you." He said, with finality on his tone.
"So will my friends and I. We will be there too. You can't stop us." Grisha added, looking towards me.
I started at them in disdain, wondering if I could change their minds, judging by the determination written on their faces, I would be failing before I even began.
"You'll need to begin working on your dueling skills. Nikolai and his army will be skilled, incredibly so." I said, feeling a bit of relief as they volunteered.
"Potion brewing too. I may need your help." I said giving Seamus a look.
"Remus and James are going to want to be a part of this. I haven't an idea if Sirius will. But I will be asking around." She added.
"Tell him this is about revenge. This is the person who murdered my parents, along with the Malfoys, and Blacks in cold blood. His only objective is to, much like his father, attempt to purge the wizarding world, trying to wipe out every muggle in the process, leaving only pure wizards alive..." I informed them.
"So, he-he is the-the one w-who killed those four people back in January?" She asked, shocked, beginning to tremble as she uttered the words.
"I have reason to believe that these people were killed because they were protecting me. Hiding my true identity, location, and very existence." I explained.
"Then this means that part of the prophecy has come true. You truly are the heir of the Hogwarts Four." Seamus muttered shocked.
I nodded, before turning my gaze towards the footsteps that began nearing our location. It was Tom. He looked worried, having listened in on our conversation I was sure he'd want an explanation.
"Riddle." Seamus said, nodding in his direction.
"MacLaggen." He sighed, his voice full of disinterest and boredom.
"Put aside your little squabble and focus on the task at hand. Protecting Sophie." Grish said, looking at them in the eye before turning to me.
"Alright. Alright fine." Seamus grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Very well." Tom said, looking towards me.
"There is no need for that look you're giving me, Tom. You know that we will be needing as many helping hands as possible. So, please put aside all of your prejudices that the two of you may have against one another, so that we may be able to work together harmoniously. Blood status should be the last thing running through your minds right now." I said, looking straight at Tom, who managed to look abashed for a moment.
We all stayed strategizing for another hour before we parted ways leaving to eat in the Great Hall.
Just as we were about to enter we were stopped by Professor Dumbledore.
"Mr. Riddle, Miss. Riel. Headmaster Dippet would like to have a word with the both of you after you're both finished with your meals." He informed us.
"Is something wrong, Professor?" Tom asked, as the arm around my waist quickly drew me to his side, protectively.
His Adam's apple, bobbed up and down as he swallowed.
"I wouldn't truly know to answer that. He just told me that he wishes to speak to both of you. Alone." He said.
Tom nodded quickly in response before dragging me into the Great Hall, towards the Slytherin Table before gesturing me to sit down.
He sat next to me, his eyes scanning the room every few minutes.
"Tom, calm down. I am sure if anything was wrong the professor would've mentioned it." I said, placing a calming hand on his bicep.
He nodded, scanning the room once more before finally relaxing slightly in his seat.
The food appeared before us then making any thought I had before, disappear as I focused on the food on the table before me.
"Are you alright, Annie?" Cissy asked, sitting across from me.
"Ah..I'm...alright." I said, as I chewed through a mouthful of food.
I didn't know what had been happening to me, but lately I was getting unusually hungrier and more tired than before.
Everything seemed to irritate me, more so than usual.
"Is there a specific reason as to why you are scarfing everything within your reach like it's the last meal in your life?" Bastan asked, amused.
I frowned in response, swallowing the bite of steak and kidney pie I had in my mouth, before I replied in a deathly calm tone.
"Not particularly. Is there a reason why your ears seem to be growing perpendicular to your head and sprouting upward like a plant?" I asked, as I took a sip of my pumpkin juice, almost spitting it out as the taste made my stomach roll.
Bellatrix snorted into her goblet. Bastan laughing along with her, as they looked at each other.
"See, I am not the only one who thinks so, Bastan." Bellatrix chanted as before she continued to eat.
"Shut it, short stack." He muttered, pouting.
I swallowed around the sudden nausea I began to feel, and tried to continue eating my food. I managed to get a third of food down before I felt my stomach twist and felt as the food began to ascend my throat.
Quickly getting up from my seat, forgetting everything, even my book bag; I slapped a hand over my mouth before I ran out of the Great Hall and towards the girls' bathroom on the first floor.
I barely reached the stall before I spewed into the toilet. I lost count on how many times I spewed the half digested food particles, I began to feel my energy drain as I spewed one last time.
I could hardly stand straight, I could hear someone rush into the bathroom as I tried to unlock the stall door with shaking hands.
"Sophie, are you alright?" Andi asked, as her eyes landed on my form watching me as I leaned onto the outer edge of the stall.
I nodded, slowly making my way towards the sinks to wash my mouth, face, and hands. I could hear as she walked towards me.
"How many times have you slept with Tom?" She asked me, looking at me unblinkingly.
I could feel as the blood rushed to my face and my top of my ears began to heat up as she stared me down, raising a questioning eyebrow at me.
"Twice, maybe." I answered, hesitantly.
"Right, well...Has your time of the month come yet?" She asked, wiggling her nose.
"Yes, it has. It ended two days ago. I think I am just stressing over this whole ordeal." I replied truthfully.
"I think we should mention everything we know to Professor Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippet. Maybe they can tell the Ministry of Magic. Have them intercede." She suggested, putting the back of her hand on my forehead.
"No, they'll only delay what is to come. The ministry of magic tries to hide these things from everyone out of fear. The longer we wait, the more innocent people will die. Do you want innocent blood on our hands?" I asked, looking at her.
I felt better after the nausea episode. I remembered that Headmaster Dippet wanted to speak to Tom and I, so I quickly said my goodbyes and walked over to the Headmaster's office.
I was met with the sight of a pacing Tom. I watched amused before I walked to meet him.
When his eyes landed on my approaching form he halted and quickly made his way towards me, stopping right before me.
"Are you alright? You rushed out of the hall rather quickly." He said, staring at me for a second before grabbing my hand, pulling me behind him towards the Headmaster's office.
As we ascended the moving steps, I could almost hear voices arguing making us stop briefly before he knocked on the thick wooden door.
Tom and I looked at each other briefly before he raised his hand to knock on the door.
We were automatically met with silence before the door opened, with Professor Dumbledore on the other side of it.
I realized as I scanned the room that most if not all of the professors were here, waiting for us. I could feel as the tension in the room escalate as we both stepped in.
I clasped onto Tom's hand automatically, feeling as our telepathic link open further.
"I am sure you are both wondering why I called you two here..." Professor Dippet began, gesturing for us to take a seat, on the only two seats that were still empty.
I sat down slowly, watching as he became lost in thought. I could feel Tom tense beside me in his seat.
"About a week ago I received this by owl..." He said, reaching into his desk before pulling out what looked to be a letter.
"It's a letter, from the now deceased Abraxas Malfoy Senior. Here it explains who is the person who has been wrecking havoc all over the wizarding world, and why he is doing so." He said, scanning the parchment as he spoke.
I felt myself stiffen in my seat. Watching as the Professors physical ones and the ones in the one within the portraits hung around the room stiffened too.
"I am sure you have heard of the name Alexei Kuznetsova." He mentioned, silencing the uproar of the professors' protests.
"No, I can't say I have, sir." Tom replied, confused, turning to look at me as he felt me stiffen in my seat, before his eyes snapped back to Headmaster Dippet.
"He's a dark wizard. The one who murdered my parents in cold blood." I stated, stoically, as I tried to control my racing pulse.
I watched as his eyes widened as he heard my reply; his head snapping in my direction as I spoke.
"Well it was recently discovered that his left behind a successor. His name i-is—" He said before I interrupted once more.
"Nikolai Kuznetsova." I replied, in a detached voice.
"What else do you know about this man, Miss. Riel?" He asked, inquisitively, setting down the letter on his desk, and looking up at me.
"He is behind all of the murders that have been committed this past year alone... people believe he is with Grindlewald, but he isn't, he has plans of his own." I answered honestly.
I realized now that a few of the members had traveled by floo powder and were now present.
"That, however, isn't what is more astonishing. What is more astonishing is how quickly the power of this wizard is ascending within the wizarding world. We don't even know where he came from. All we know is that he is of Russian descent much like his father." He said.
I could see as his withered eyes scanned the room, his eyes slowly scanning each and every wizard present in the room. The wizards who were apart of the wizarding council looked tense. The staff was rigid as they listened to the headmaster speak.
I began to feel as if a pail of iced water had been thrown over my head. I quickly stood up, sending my chair crashing to the floor, in a loud clank.
"There is one thing you should all know before you jump to your conclusions. From what you can see, he is quickly gaining power. He won't stop until he gets what he wants. The only way to stop him, is to fight back. I've managed to train and gather people who are willing to help. Training their skills in dueling, potion making, as well as offensive and defensive spells. I know that battle doesn't happen until after we all graduate, which is why I am not asking for permission but informing you of my plans." I stated, confidently.
Watching as they were about to begin arguing.
I could feel their doubt as it radiated off each and every person as they listened to me speak.
"The way I see it is, you can either fight or watch him try to destroy Hogwarts, along with everything the Founding Four worked to so hard to build. Because that is his ultimate goal, to destroy this wonderful school along with each and every person who has ever studied here. To end all that we know, and destroy all the we love." I finished staring down each and every one of them.
I felt a smile begin to form on my face as each person began to agree with me one after the other.
Before dismissing all of them, the Minister of Magic turned towards me, concern etched on his face.
"Tell me something Miss. Riel. There is a rumor that I heard long ago, one that sated that your mother was a seer and your father was an heir to Slytherin. Are you like Lucia MacLaggen?" He asked, his eyes looking rather glazed over, the solid brown color that was there months back was now a pale gray that included the pupil.
"How could you possibly know who my parents are and who they once were?" I asked, flicking my eyes towards Tom.
'I think he is under the Imperius Charm. Stun him.' I thought towards Tom.
Without a reply, he quickly drew out his wand, wordlessly stunning the Minister.
I watched as he flew back into the stone wall, landing on a heap on the ground, the people who remained in the room looked shock to put it lightly.
I quickly pulled my wand, "Rennervate." I whispered, walking towards him.
When he slowly began to come to, his eye were still the same pale gray they had been before but, now they had a flicker of dark brown.
Nodding at Tom in response as my suspicions were confirmed.
"He's under the Imperius Charm, watch this." Tom said, as he waved his hand before the stunned minister's face.
His blank stare seemed to fill with emotion as he blinked, his eyes turned into a dark solid brown.
Gasps were heard in all over the room.
"Finite Incantatem." I said, flicking my wand in the air.
The headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor McGonagall stared at us shocked.
As they did, I felt a familiar stirring in my stomach before their images became blurred. I could feel as my body stiffened, as my vision became blurry.
Images began flashing before me, coming to only one conclusion as I blinked back to the present.
"We have until the end of next May." I whispered, feeling the energy drain from me.
Feeling as I sank into a black abyss.