Chapter 2
They had been going to classes for a week when during breakfast the group receive a copy of The Daily Prophet during one of Susanna and Darrissa's arguments. Liza moves to sit next to Harry so they can read it without disturbing the other two.
"Hey Na, I think you should look at this." Harry says handing it over.
"Hmm, Gringotts was successfully broken into, on the same day the four of us were at Diagon Alley."
"Wait, we were all there at the same time and you knew without telling us?" Darrissa.
"Unimportant. By the ways, here are the Galleons I owe you." Na passes a few gold coins over.
"But you don't owe me any." Darrissa starts before the pieces click together, "That was you!"
"As I said: Unimportant."
"It's also the same vault Hagrid took me to, to empty out. All it had was a small package, about the size of my fist." Harry says ignoring Darrissa for now.
"Did he say it was Hogwarts business and that it's best not to talk about it?" Harry nods, "You're being manipulated, likely by Dumbledore, to investigate the matter of this mysterious package."
"So we won't be investigating?" Harry asks.
"We will, but not in the way he expects. I'm going to write Gringotts, as the owner of a very old and prestigious vault they'll likely tell me since ours have better stuff anyways." Na plans.
"We should also investigate why the third floor corridor is off limits. The two things are likely connected." Liza adds.
"Why would Dumbledore be manipulating Harry? He is the most powerful wizard of the age and he has plenty of power already, there's no reason for it." Darrissa asks.
"Oh you poor naïve light lamb. Don't you know that Power corrupts and Absolute Power corrupts absolutely?" Susanna asks, "Dumbledore has absolute power over the British wizarding world. He is the Supreme Mugwump, the Minister relies heavily on him, and last I checked he happens to be Harry's magical guardian and the executioner of the Potters will. He wants complete control over someone that could easily get more power than him before it's too late."
During the entire speech, Darrissa pales. "How are you so sure?"
"The Goblins, they don't care about the wizarding world so long as they and their gold survive. I simply pay them for information not normally given out."
"They do that?" Harry asks tilting his head slightly.
"Five galleons for one file of top secret things that were sealed by Unspeakables, more if the file is large," Liza informs them as Na nods.
"We should use one the unused classrooms if we're to continue speaking of such things." Na says seemingly randomly.
"All in favor of this new proposition?" Liza asks raising her arm. Harry and Darrissa follow suit. "Then it is decided, we use an empty classroom for our meetings. We should find one, clean it, ward it, and fill it with proper furniture."
"I heard about a secret chamber that hardly anyone knows the location of, the snake carvings about the school seem to give hints on its whereabouts. Or at least where to find the next clue," Na suggests.
"We should be getting to class, Let us know when you find this chamber." Harry says already walking away from the table.
XxXxX
By the end of the month, Na had been through most of the castle on what was seeming more and more like a wild goose chase. However, in this case it may be considered a wild snake chase. She finally enters what the upperclassmen call 'Moaning Myrtles Bathroom' since this is where the last clue leads her.
"What are you doing in here?" The ghost asks coming through a toilet.
"My business. Now unless you won't reveal what you know I would like to request you leave," Susanna orders turning to Myrtle.
Myrtle gasps, "Are you perchance a relative of Tom Riddle?"
"He's my father, why?"
"HE KILLED ME!"
"Oh really? I'm pretty sure if that happened he would've gotten into quite a bit of trouble, instead he became Head Boy and someone else got expelled."
"I know who I saw open that sink. And then those cold yellow eyes." Myrtle shivers. "Do whatever you like, just don't release what's in there." Myrtle leaves after Lynn nods assent.
"Open for the heiress of Slytherin." Susanna hisses at the sinks having gotten all the knowledge she needs. "It seems dear old dad didn't cover his tracks well enough."
The way is now open and after a moment's thought, "Stairs." Na requests causing a spiral staircase to appear and she begins the trek down.
It takes a bit but she finds her way to a snake locked door, "He had a bit of a snake fetish didn't he?" Through the door is a giant head statue and a long line of snake statues along both sides, "Definitely a fetish, perhaps he was gay?"
Deciding to wander a bit Na walks down one of the sewer passages which eventually leads to a door with the Slytherin emblem on it. Unfortunately the door is locked and won't even open to alohamora or bombarda.
"Suppose I'll have to discuss this with the others. Better get back to them before they worry about my absence."
XxXxX
About a week later Na finally gets a chance to actually show the others her discovery, which they were shocked about, but did all agree it was the best place for secrecy in the entire castle. Afterwards they spend all their free time cleaning the place up using all the means at their disposal, which happens to include Na, Harry, and Liza coercing the teachers into helping with different spells as well as Darrissa stealing from Filch.
Outside of Draco challenging Ron to a duel and then not showing up this is the only thing of any importance to occur in the month of October, until Halloween.
Darrissa, for reasons unknown to the others, had decided to befriend Ron Weasley and so was talking with him when he decided to insult Hermione after Charms class. Susanna went after the tearful Hermione to get her as a spy among Dumbledore's Lions, though if asked she would say it's because Hermione needed a friend at that moment. Because of this the snake ended up spending the entire day in a girls bathroom with the lion as two other lions were lectured in an alarmingly calm tone by a raven who promised pain if this were to ever happen again.
Ron quickly left the Ravenclaw table after being dismissed not leaving any time for another creative use of his insides in potions. "Why are you friends with him?" Liza demands making it sound like a question Darrissa could refuse to answer.
"He's a fellow Gryffindor and I'm severely lacking in friends there thanks to you guys sharing one of my last names." Darrissa retorts not bothering to leave due to what happened last time.
"So is Hermione. Or at least, she was a lion. I'm sure after being with Na alone for so long she has become a snake in lions fur, whether she knows it or not is another story." Liza points out.
"Is that where she's been all day? I thought she was planning revenge against my last prank." Darrissa asks half-heartedly.
"She has yet to get back at you for those and you know it. She's too Slytherin for any obvious tricks, I'm afraid she doing things the political way." Liza explains just before Quirrel bursts in shouting something about a Troll. "Don't worry about a thing, a Troll couldn't possibly get in unless a staff member did so and since he's the DADA professor it was probably him. Besides, the 'greatest wizard since Merlin' is our headmaster, he'll take care of things." Liza calms the ravenclaws around herself who spread this around until the Great Hall seems like it doesn't care. This, of course, disturbs the Headmaster who was standing to order calm and for students to go to their dorms.
"Uh, right, well. Students, if you would all stay here while the staff and I go take care of the troll. Prefects, guard the hall and summon an elf to let us know if the Troll comes near here." The Headmaster orders as he and most of the staff leave, Snape has noticeably gone a different route.
"Let's follow him, find out what's really going on." Darrissa recommends.
"You and Harry go do that, I'll follow Ron to take care of damage control. I'm about 90% certain he's up to no good." And with that the three separate.
XWith Susanna and HermioneX
"Are you really going to cry all day over what that pompous Lion said? You could easily take revenge with a few well chosen words to the right people. If you play your cards right they won't even care that their information came from a Mud-Muggleborn," Na quickly catches herself before actually insulting the girl she's trying to get onto her side. Right now a Miss Hermione Granger is crying in a stall of a girls bathroom after Ron Weasley insulted her earlier that same day.
"b-b-but what he said is t-t-true. I don't have a-any friends." Hermione sniffles from inside her stall.
"Says who? From what I understand a friend is someone who will stand by you no matter what and is always there for you when you need them. And considering the fact that I've missed all of today's classes to try and comfort you I'd say we're friends." Susanna carefully words to ensure it can't be taken the wrong way.
Hermione waits a few minutes to think on this before asking, "Really? What about your friends? They aren't here with you."
"That would be because they know their responsibilities. Liza is making sure we have all our homework and is taking our notes for us, Harry is making sure she doesn't miss anything, and Darrissa knows she's going to be scolded and possibly banished from the group for siding with Ron so she's awaiting punishment."
A few more moments of silence, interrupted occasionally by a sniffle and tearing of more toilet paper being used as tissues, until a horrible stench enters the room and after it the click of the door being locked. Susanna uses the mirror she's facing to see that it's a mountain troll behind her getting ready to swing.
Susanna turns and points her still holstered wand at the troll muttering, "Oboedire elegit paucis(A/N: Obey my Chosen Few)" and the troll halts what it's doing immediately. "Hermione, I think we should leave before my spell is broken. I've never used it on something so large, as stupid yes, large no."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asks stepping out of the stall only to feel rather stupid when she sees the Troll, "Nevermind, I agree completely."
XWith Darrissa and HarryX
The two had been ducking in dark corners every few steps, not trusting the disillusionment and silencing charms Liza had placed over them, as they follow Snape up to the Third Floor Corridor on the right hand side. The same corridor that was banned.
They weren't expecting what they found through the door Snape was kind enough to leave open for them: a sleeping Cerberus, a charmed harp, and Quirrel trying to move one of the beasts feet off a trap door. "Why am I not surprised to see you here after 'fainting' in the Great Hall but a few moments ago?" Snape asks rhetorically.
"Ah, Snape, exactly the man I was hoping would show up. Care to assist me?" Quirrel asks stutter free.
"And why would I do that when Fluffy," Snape seems to sneer in disgust at what seems to be the Cerberus's name, "Is about to awaken and eat a rather chewy snack?"
"Because our master needs what is being guarded and I'm sure you don't wish to disappoint him in such close proximity." Quirrel remarks nonchalantly.
"I know so does Dumbledore. In fact he's using you as a test for the Potter kid, I wish I could say brat but he's clearly a lackey." Snape remarks seeming to think on this for a few moments, "Leave now before I relieve this room of music." Quirrel scowls but does so, barely missing the lion and badger listening in.
Silently Harry and Darrissa nod and sneak off to find Na, Hermione, and Liza not knowing that Snape knew of their presence.
XWith Susanna, Hermione, and LizaX
Na and Hermione locked the bathroom after exiting, and they end up bumping into Liza. "Hello, I thought you were in there after I saw Ron and Seamus lock the door after the Troll. Good thing we were all taught the unlocking charm."
"Not that it would stop me, read up on and practiced a few higher grade spells." Na says guiding the two away towards the second floor girls bathroom. Noticing Liza's raised eyebrow she goes on, "One of them is Bombarda, it destroys things."
They continue in silence that is only broken once Hermione notices where they're going, "Why are we going to Moaning Myrtles Bathroom?"
"Because that is where our hideout is hidden, we're still trying to find a better entrance with no luck thus far." Na informs her heading in and greeting Darrissa and Harry who are already waiting at the sinks.
Liza holds Hermione back to speak with her, preferably without interruption, "I hope you realize what this means, Hermione. After you follow us in there you can not reveal any of our doings to any outside of the group, this includes who our family is and acting perfectly normal despite us acting against Dumbledore and his ilk."
Hermione appears visibly worried as she debates the pros and cons of this disturbingly permanent decision, it takes her a few moments to finally nod and they walk through and head down the still open passage, with it closing behind them.
Harry is busying himself by cleaning the considerably brighter, dryer, and sanitized hall, Darrissa is sitting in a seat on the left of the long table positioned in the center seeming to be hiding her worry, and Susanna is has seated herself in the more throne-like chair at the head of the table. With Liza whispering something into Susanna's ear before sitting in the seat directly on the right and Harry automatically taking his seat opposite Liza, Hermione is rather nervous and frightened.
"Before the reports of tonight are shared, why don't we invite our new head of research; Hermione Granger, to the group and swear her in?" Susanna says making it sound like a request when it clearly isn't. Once there has been a chance for argument she continues on, "Hermione, I imagine you know wizarding oaths?"
"I've read about them, yes." She responds starting to wonder if it truly is too late yet.
"Good. Hermione Jane Granger, do you swear on your life and magic to not reveal anything that goes on within our group to any outside of it even under duress of Imperious, veritaserum, or any other form of forced truth?" Susanna asks as a gentle, multi-colored aura surrounds the four at the table and extends curiously for Hermione.
"I, Hermione Jane Granger, do so swear on my life and magic to not reveal anything that goes on within this group to any outside of it even under duress of Imperious, veritaserum, or any other form of forced truth," Hermione swears as her own gentle, summer blue aura surrounds her and connects to the searching aura of the four.
Na smiles at her and gestures for Liza to get a piece of parchment that is already filled out, "Now all that is necessary is for you to sign in the places indicated to prove that this oath is perfectly legal so the ministry and Dumbledore can't interfere." Hermione signs and the parchment disappears as Liza places down the one with the full family tree.
This one reveals that all four founders were children of Merlin and each received a different gift. Lady Ravenclaw gained the ability to read books simply by touching it and a faster brain capacity as well as function. Lady Hufflepuff, having always been the most emotional, became a creature of emotion that is commonly misunderstood due to stereotypes, she became a Succubus and after having a few children became a Clan Leader.
Lord Griffindor received invulnerability, which made him very useful in wars since he could not be harmed no matter what they threw at him. Lord Slytherin gained only the ability to communicate with snakes.
Out of all of these only two didn't end up degenerating with each generation; Slytherin's and Hufflepuff's. From all four only one is still alive though she has lost many children and will rarely reveal herself now. Unsurprisingly, Hermione is from a long believed dead line of Rowena Ravenclaw's, making her a very distant cousin to the triplets and Harry who is descended from Gryffindor on the Potter side and Slytherin on the Evan's side.
"We're all related." Hermione states flatly from shock.
"Yes, not exactly surprising considering how isolationist Britain was back then, toss in Pureblood prejudices, abandoning or killing squibs, and muggles witch hunts and you end up with many muggleborns after several centuries that aren't actually muggleborn." Liza informs her making Hermione realize just how corrupt and behind the wizarding world is.
"Dumbledore may not realize it yet, but he no longer has control of Hogwarts. As soon as descendants that know their ancestry and bring proof of it appears on the grounds all control goes to them." Harry continues helpfully as a small snake slithers onto the table and curiously investigates Hermione.
"Keep your eyes closed, we know not if she is a speaker." Na warns the snake which nods it's acknowledgement and does as asked.
"Did you just talk to that snake?" Hermione asks faintly almost not believing this is all real.
"Yes, do you understand what I told it?" At the shake of Herm's head Liza hisses to the snake which nods and moves off through one of the tunnels. "Very well, she will not disturb us anymore. Now, before we head off to bed, reports.
XxXxX
A/N: Yes, I have made it so most muggleborn will be distantly related to purebloods. This really isn't that uncommon and does have to do with plot. Eventually. Read and Review.