Dumbledore rises from his throne at the center of the Head Table, raising his hands for a silence that takes a moment to envelop the Great Hall. "Students, I just have a few words before I send you on your way. To the new students, I bid you welcome to Hogwarts, and to returning students, a warm welcome to another year at Hogwarts." He smiles at the few cheers from the tables not of Slytherin. "To all students, no one is to enter the Forbidden Forest, as the name implies, it is forbidden for a reason," he informs them carefully, eyeing twin boys at the Gryffindor table who pull off a convincing innocent look. "Next, I would like to inform you that, for the duration of this year, the third floor corridor is off limits to those who do not wish to suffer a painful death."
Harry and Ivy share a frown with Draco and Daphne, who had become fast friends with the Egyptian raised girl, curious about the traditions of such a different culture. "That can't be normal, even for a magical school?" Ivy asks them wearily, already planning to pen a letter to Lucius to inquire about the second warning.
Draco shakes his head. "I've never heard of such a thing happening before."
"-and there is to be no magic performed in the corridors between classes, as well as the use of objects forbidden to be used in the building. The specific list can be found in Mr. Filch's office," the headmaster finishes with his warning, though looking rather irritated for some reason, eyeing the Slytherin table, the group Harry has around himself being the main focus of his attention. "Now that is all! Off to bed!" he orders them, before marching up to Severus, whispering in his ear for a moment before vanishing through a door behind the suddenly furious Potions Master.
Prefects lead their respective first-years from the room, towards their dorms, as the Slytherin Prefects wait, seeing their Head of House storming over to their own first-years, particularly the Potter twins many of them already have taken a shine to. "Harry, Bahira, the Headmaster has… requested a meeting with you immediately."
Ivy blinks, before she and her brother adopt the coldest glares they can muster, eyes glowing like emeralds, sparkling dangerously with the presence of their previous selves waiting to make a scene.
"Why would Dumbledore want to meet with us?" Harry asks quietly, trying to control his urges to behave as Ammon. "We have to get to bed so we can be ready for classes first thing in the morning."
Severus sighs wearily. "The fool knows this but has requested you anyway. I will ensure he does not keep you long," he informs them sternly, silently telling them he will guarantee it to be a very short meeting.
Ivy nudges Harry gently. "He is probably thinking I'm an imposter or something, and wants to know where we've been."
Draco sighs as he rises. "I'll pen a letter to Father about what is going on with the corridor, and with your meeting. We'll wait for you in the common room," he informs them, before following the prefects as they lead the Slytherins away at last.
"Come along children," he Severus orders them, cloak billowing behind him as he stalks away, irritated with the meddling Headmaster he had been holding off for the last five years. They follow him as quickly as they can, walking silently through the winding corridors of the castle for ten minutes before they reach the stone gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's office. "Lemon drops," Severus mutters under his breath. He then leads them onto the fifth step as it appears, rising up to the heavy, elegant door leading into the office.
The door opens before the Potions Master can knock, the Headmaster lowering his wand to lay on the desk carefully, his eyes twinkling slightly with a kind smile that seems rather fixed to Ivy. "Severus, thank you for bringing the children, you may go."
With a smirk, Severus remains just behind the twins. "I am afraid that their guardians have asked me to stand in for them should Ivy or Harry be summoned to a meeting with you, Headmaster."
The statement earns a twitch, and the smile fails slightly. "Very well, Severus." He turns his attention to Harry. "Harry, my boy, I was wanting to know why the Sorting Hat placed you in Slytherin. I had every assurance you would be going into Gryffindor, just like your parents."
Wisely, the children refuse to make eye contact with the old man, knowing from multiple warnings that he would intrude into their thoughts without warning. "Gryffindor would be the last place I want to be sorted, Professor. I have friends among Slytherin, and I knew that is where my sister would be placed."
"About your sister, Harry, my boy… she has been declared dead for a number of years," he tries to gently tell the boy. "The fact that you think this girl is your sister greatly concerns me."
"How dare you," Ivy growls. "You insult both us and the sacrifices made five years ago! As well as the Goblin Nation! You dare question the results of an inheritance test as well as the intelligence of our guardians?"
Harry rests a hand on his sister's shoulder, feeling the spirit of Rania from the contact rather than seeing the proof in her shimmering eyes. "He is ignorant or our circumstances, Ivy. He chooses not to see what he doesn't want," he whispers, Ammon coming forward to sooth his sister.
Both calm significantly at that, and Ivy is once again in full control of herself. "Headmaster, if you are done wasting our time with pointless accusations, we will take our leave," Severus drones, hiding his amusement and pride in his two new snakes. "Come along, you may write your family in the morning."
Father,
I write to you now rather than later with great concern.
The Headmaster has forbidden entry to the Third Floor corridor for the full year, saying that to investigate it would lead to a most painful death. Do you know why this is? Uncle Sev said that he had been forced to take a Vow, so that he could inform nobody of the reason behind what is going on there.
Also, he summoned Harry and Ivy to his office as soon as he dismissed the school for the night. Uncle Sev said he had no idea why they were being summoned, but Daphne and I have a bad feeling about it. Could it be about what happened to them before we met, or why Harry isn't with the abusive Dursley family anymore?
They both made it into Slytherin, just like they have been wanting for years. I also worry for them, as Ronald Weasley has already offended both them and Anubis twice. By Merlin, he even tried to grab Ivy's satchel when we were waiting to enter the Great Hall! She nearly took off his hand for it, and Professor McGonagall stood by her when she came back for us!
As much as it pains me to ask this of you Father, I feel I must, on their behalf: will you please approach Arthur Weasley and have his write his son? As much as we despise the Weasleys, I do not want to let him go unchecked while away from his family. If we warn him personally, he will only make matters worse. Were you to approach his father and get them to settle this without our involvement, I feel he might listen to reason.
I hope to hear from you and Mother soon.
Draco Lucius Malfoy
Draco,
I received your letter, and thus your requests, with no small amount of concern. The Board of Governors will be launching an investigation into the matter of the forbidden corridor as soon as I can call an emergency meeting this afternoon.
As to the matter of the young Weasley, I have already sent a letter to his family about his behavior, though your Godfather and Professor McGonagall have already sent letters to the twins' guardians, the Weasley family, and myself. I have set aside my own dislike for the Weasley's in favor of the best interest of your generation, and given a warning that Ivy has every right to disfigure young Weasley should he attempt to do anything towards her a third time.
Your mother has commissioned a jeweler to enchant protective bracelets and pendants for the twins, Daphne, and yourself, as I feel that Dumbledore will do just about anything to all four of you to get his way. If there are more to your circle that you feel will need protection in a similar manner, write to your mother and we will ensure that they receive their protection within the week.
On another note, the Dark Lord is gaining his strength once more, albeit slower than he would like. Tell Harry and Ivy that we will be hosting them this Yule, along with their family, so that the ritual may be completed on the night of the new year. They will be perfectly safe, and the Dark Lord has promised that he will not take any action against Harry, so long as he gives a similar promise in return.
Give my regards to your friends.
Lucius Abraxas Malfoy