AN: I don't own Harry Potter and Ayashi no Ceres so don't sue me.
Chapter 2: The old and the new
The room that they entered was magically preserved. Moss, grime, cobwebs, dusts and any sign of aging were nonexistent in this room. It was magically preserve as if time didn't walk with in the room.
The eerie atmosphere that they all felt before they entered the room was due to the fact that there were no candles or torches that lit the whole area. Instead it was lit up by the very occupant of the room. A young woamn was sitting on a large ottoman in the middle of the room, glowing softly, bathed in a soft white light, and singing.
When all of the teachers were already inside, the person stopped singing and immediately turned her back to them. Her attention was no longer on the visitors but was now focused on a large ornate mirror that showed (to the teachers' surprise) the school ground and its wards. The magical barriers that protect the school were shimmering and shifting (only the professors could see the invisible barriers in the real life for they also contributed their own power and magic to make it strong.) As the mirror focuses on the ward near the gates the professors witnessed that a widening crack is visible on the barrier. "Welcome Albus," the woman greeted, softly. "I'm sorry to disturb you at this time of need. But as you can see the school has a great need right now."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he watched the young woman. "The school needs a new core?" asked the Headmaster.
The young woman nodded. "Unfortunately, yes," she heaved a deep sigh and continued. "I have reached my limit, Albus and with second war coming, I can not guarantee the safety of this school any longer." She waved her hand the mirror returned to its normal state (that is now reflecting the young woman's reflection.) and faced her visitors. It was only then that they all saw what their host look like.
She has the aura of a veela but it was more refined. She was dressed in a flowing light blue dress with golden embroidery. Her auburn colored hair was decorated with small diamond pins. "Is she vela?" Professor Sprout whispered to Professor McGonagall. But it was Severus who answered the question. "No, she is a tennyo"
The young woman laughed softly when she heard the Potion master's answer. "You know your magical beings, Severus." She smiled at the surprised Potion master. "But you are half correct. I'm part tennyo and a part Valkyrie, and my name is Hrista."
Snape smirked as Hrista introduced herself to the rest of the teaching staff. "Now, I understand as to why there are two armor clad women and a wheel outside. They were representing your ancestry."
Hrista raised her eyebrows. "It's not just for a decorative or any representation purposes Professor that I placed them there but it also serves as wards outside. Uninvited guests will be punished severely by those two."
Dumbledore coughed slightly to catch the core's attention. "Hrista, what is it that you want to tell us?" Dumbledore asked, who by every second is dreading the inevitable situation of the school. "But before that please tell the rest of my staff of what you really are in this school to avoid further interruptions."
Hrista nodded and started her tale.
Creating a magical school was not an easy task especially if each one of the four founders have different idea as to what kind of student were they to teach. The noble dream became a source of chaos. During that time, I was invited by Salazar to join the school teaching staff. Unfortunately, instead of becoming a teacher I became the peacemaker between the four head of house. Every day they are at each others throat. No one is sane enough to get on the way. The other three founders tolerated my presence and interference due to the fact that I can easily blast this infuriating school to kingdom come with them in it when I'm pushed beyond anger with their petty squabbles and the fact that I'm Salazar's fiancé.
The Core stops her narration as she conjured ottomans and refreshments for her guest to rest and feast upon. Upon hearing the Core's relation to one of the founders, Professor McGonagall who was drinking a goblet full of mead spat the liquor accidentally and asked. "Fiancée?" she asked in surprised as she wiped her chin. Then you are a Slytherin?"
"Yes, I was Salazar's fiancée. How do you expect him to have an Heir? After all he did threaten the school that a time will come when his heir will finish what he started," she said airily. "True I was his fiancée but I never became his wife. And during the first sorting, I definitely put my foot down. I will not let them manipulate me to whose side I'm going to support. Although betrothed to him, I never approve of his ideals of pure -blood and such. I was never sorted, that is why it is easy for me to put them on line if they start to have another bout of fight. I owed them no allegiance when it comes to school matters!"
It took a great deal of patience and a large amount of power to keep those four in line. But in the end Salazar packed his things and went away. I stayed with the school and continued teaching. Did I hope for him to come back, yes I did. But he never came back. It was then that the three remaining founders: Cedric, Rowena and Helga, decided that since Salazar has turned his back from the school, then I as his fiancée must set as the new head of the Slytherin House. Many years have passed but no news has reached Hogwarts as to where my infernal fiancé went. As time dictate, Cedric, Rowena and later Helga died. I couldn't die since both of my parents are Immortal, so what was I to do. Teaching for over fifty years is enough. And I couldn't leave Hogwarts, I was bound by a promise that I made to my fiancé and my colleagues to protect the school. I could give up my immortal life and joined my parents but…through a twist fate one of my promising student made a prediction that will change Hogwarts and my life forever. She predicted that what my infernal fiancé threatened do will come to fulfillment but the boy who will be his heir will not be of his flesh and blood but a relative. And with that boy, a great suffering, death and chaos will come to both magical and non-magical world, and the only place that is safe against his wrath, is the school itself.
Upon hearing this news, Cedric, Rowena, Helga and even Salazar appeared to me and reminded me of what I promised long ago. They told me that since Hogwarts was build by using the oldest forms of magic then it is also come to pass that the only one who can withstand the darkest of magic is one of the oldest magical being that lived in this world. And unfortunately my lineage came from two kinds of the oldest magical beings that roamed the earth. Bound by this duty I hid myself in this room for thousand of years, creating and strengthening the bonds within the school and the charms, spells and magic outside the school grounds. Turmoil never entered with this ground for I have kept in my fold. As a Tennyo, I inherited the power of empathy and as a Valkyrie I inherited the power of strength, and the power of giving life and death. With these powers I sustained the life force of this school to stay united under one banner. I am the life force, if I withdraw my power of life then this whole school will vanish and if I withdraw my power of empathy then every student will suffer the collective emotion of dread, fear, happiness, sadness, malice, hate that the school collected from the occupants of this castle for a long time.
"What do you mean by withdraw the power of life, can you do that?" asked the bewildered Flitwick.
In order to sustain the life of this school it needs a heart, a heart of a magical being. Since I could no longer stand the pain that I felt when Salazar abandoned me and the fact that after many years of silence he came back from the dead just to remind me of my promise, was enough to make me gave my heart and placed in the very deepest place of the school to keep my promise and to free me from the wretchedness that I felt. In order to protect the life force of the school, I remind a virtual prisoner; I imprisoned myself within this room to continue my duty as the last living mistress of the school. I remain as what I looked a thousand years ago since time cannot enter through that door.
The Heir of Slytherin was not aware of the of my presence but his malice during his time he spend within these walls has weakened me, and then my condition turned for the worse when the students and teachers were fighting with each other. The First war has weakened me because I gave it my all just to protect the school and its inhabitants from the greed, malice, hate and evil outside the wards. It sapped me out of my powers and I'm drastically weakening. The school needs a new Core, she must be found before I gave of my last breath as the incumbent Core, She must be found……
All of the people present inside the room were speechless. Never in all there life could they accept that that the school that they always considered as the safest place against Lord Voldemort is in danger of losing its greatest protection. "But how will we find the next Core?" squeaked Filius, the Charm master. "We don't know any Tennyo or a Valkyrie ?"
"Who would be insane enough to waste her life and live within the bowels of this school for the rest of her life?" Professor Victor put in.
"And even if we find the next core, we don't have time to train her on how to use her powers to protect this school and help us in the battle against the Dark Lord" interjected Severus. "Some Tennyo live in hiding for fear of being persecuted by both our world and the muggles and its bloody impossible for us a Valkyrie, they only appear in the battlefield in Scandinavia and in case you haven't notice we are in the middle of Scotland for Merlin's sake." Severus can't understand as to why he is acting this way.
As if reading his thoughts, Hrista look at him and replied. "It is not you, but me. I told you I'm weakening. What you are feeling now is the feeling of hopelessness experienced by the other inhabitants of the castle long ago. It is affecting you and the others."
Dumbledore raised his wand and the feeling of hopelessness disappeared. "Mistress, I'm sorry if we--I neglected you."
"We can't help if we sometimes forget things, Albus." It was the only reply that Hrista could manage to say before she convulsed in pain.
"Severus, quickly." Dumbledore ordered quickly as he helped Hrista lay down on the nearest ottoman. Severus pulled a small vial from inside his robe and quickly gave it to Dumbledore who immediately gave it to the gasping woman. "Thank you." Hrista wave her hand and the mirror started to shimmer. A portrait of a young woman appeared on the mirror's glass surface. She looked like Hrista but instead of having a cloud of auburn hair, the young girl on the mirror has a raven black hair. "She will be the new Core…find her please. She is in East. She is living in the Izu Peninsula in Japan…Find her please…"
Dumbledore nodded his head. "We will find her mistress."
Hrista smiled wanly, "Good. I know it is a terrible fate for us to force a girl to throw away here life and live here but we need here Albus, we might even help here with here own problem. Here," she handed a scroll to Dumbledore. "This may explain as to why I chose her to take my place. Go…find her and let me rest." With that she slowly closed her eyes and drifted of to sleep.
"Albus is it really true that Hogwarts is in danger?" asked Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout simultaneously as they watched the Headmaster wave his hand to close the Core's chamber. "What will we do with that girl she is asking us to find?"
"It is true, Minerva, I have already felt the decline in her powers long before she called us," answered Albus. "There is no question as to what we have to do with the girl. We must find her before it is too late."
Unknown to the three older professors, Severus Snape was not thrilled with the plan. He can't accept the idea that all of his colleagues are willing enough to strip one person's liberty to defeat the Dark Lord. Are you going to bind her with an a promise or an oath, Albus? Like you did to me?
"Severus--…" called Dumbledore.
"What is it sir." Snape asked as he snapped back in attention.
"I want to talk to you when we arrive at my office."
"Yes sir."