I do not own Harry Potter or Carrie. I do however own the following original characters: Yudora Archemis, Alister Wynden, and Madam Wode who all feature in this story.

"Echoed voices in the night
she's a restless spirit on an endless flight
wooo hooo witchy woman, see how
high she flies
woo hoo witchy woman she got
the moon in her eye
She held me spellbound in the night
dancing shadows and firelight
crazy laughter in another
room and she drove herself to madness
with a silver spoon"

- Witchy Woman by the Eagles

Chapter Nine: Madam Wode

"

Tom

He couldn't put his finger on it, the anger that flared inside, the fire that momentarily flared in him when she blushed as Abraxas had kissed her hand. But he couldn't get it out of his head, no matter the rationalities for the feelings he gave himself. Such as Abraxas less than stellar motives. He had managed, by some miracle, to get Dumbledore to give him and Carrie some time to themselves. He didn't even try to deciphter the twinkle in the older wizard's eye as he gave his assent. He now waited as Carrie purchased the gorgeous robe she had selected. The way she looked now, no one could ever guess what she was capeable of. He loved it, the mask she could so easily construct, the one she would only remove when with him. She gave the store keeper the galleions, and they walked out of the store together.

"Well my dear, the chaperone has been properly ditched for a while. What would you say to a REAL tour of this place?" he asked her, flashing his signature smirk. "Hmmm. Does it involve shady places, shadier people, and trouble?" she asked him winked at her and lit up when she giggled at his antics, and then wondered about his reaction. "Sounds like fun! By the way, do you think Malfoy wet himself when I held him in the air upside down with no assistance but a glance?" she asked with an evil grin. Tom busted up just then, just at the thought of that self righteous git doing such a undignified thing in a public place for all the world to see. He linked his arms around hers. "Carrie this is going to be one hell of a ride with you! You'll have half of them on the run and the other half in tears!" he answered jovially.

He couldn't help but notice the pretty blush that stole over her features as they had linked arms, and then he wondered at how it came to be that the word pretty had entered his thoughts. He started leading them towards some of the darker shops in Diagon Alley. He wanted to give her time to adjust to the darker and darker energy before they headed into Knockturn Alley. "If you need to, if it gets to overwhelming, you can lean on me. But try to steady yourself, try to bare it and you will build up a tolerance and no longer go weak when surrounded by all that energy." he told her. "There will come a time when no matter how great the strain, you'll leave me to struggle against that alone, isn't there?" she asked, looking up at him. "Yes, but not just now. You still need time to adjust". He answered, looking back at her, which was a bad idea!

For the sun was starting it's long trek into setting, hitting her hair just so, also making her unusally icy blue eyes stand out all the more. She almost resembled the pictures of the Madonna that hung in his orphanage. The perfect mixture of light and dark she was, and he gazed to long. She began to look a little nervous, and bit her lip. "Tom are you alright? Is something wrong?" she asked. Recovering himself quickly, he shook his head. "No, sorry, I got caught up in my thoughts. Now the first store we are going to is kept by an ancient hag of a woman. She is an expert on the darker uses of herbs and various substances and metals and sells a variety of dangerous ones that it would be well to study and have handy. Her name is Yudora Archemis and the name of the store is The Alchemist's Keep.

Many of those who know of our Cause shop there. It is a particular favorite of Daedalus Snape, who is one of my more loyal followers." he said, changing the subject. "Daedalus, you have spoken of him before. He has earned your respect." she said. "Yes, it won't take you long to figure out why this is so if we chance upon him today." he replied. As they got closet to the store he flet Carrie's arm begin to stiffen, and began to hold tighter to his. His theory had been correct. The Alchemist's Keep was in an old building. It at one time had been a boarding house and a terrible massacre had once taken place there. It remained deserted in the Alley, for the taint of the dark magick was still there and still potent. It was hard even for him to remain there for very long. He never understood what posessed Yudora to purchase the building and fix it up. Finally they got before the door.

As they entered, Carrie valiantly tried to hold her own against the energies locked into that dark place, but was failing. Her face was a perfect mask, but her bodily reaction was almost out of her control. Tom unlinked his arm from hers and put it around her shoulders, using the other to brace her lower back. Once again he pushed down feelings he didn't understand at their closeness and the warmth of her. She leaned back onto those arms, her jaw starting to clench. "Just a moment, and I'll be fine. Such a dark place! Terrible things happened here. This building's aura is very dark and is almost conscious of itself! It revels in the madness of it's keeper." she said, her vice so low it was almost a whisper. "Just lean on me, I have you. Nothing can harm you here, you are far to strong. You let me know when to go forward." he replied. She nodded, struggling to recover herself. Tom was beginning to wonder if her reactions could be perhaps due to an ability to absorb some of the magick she felt.

If that were true, then he held in his arms not only one of the deadliest but one who had the potential to become one of the most powerful witches in the wizarding world. That thought thrilled him to his core. With her at his side, he need no longer fear defeat. With her, his Cause had a real chance of coming to fruition! He was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt Carrie relink arms with him and tug at him. "What planet are you on?" she asked teasingly. "Mars, the planet of war, of course!" he answered with a smirk. She laughed and he found himself joining her. World Domination could wait, now he wanted to enjoy his time. "Well, well, they aren't statues after all! This is no place for standing around! I don't want you disturbing my store if you aren't at least going to try and steal something!" snapped the ancient creature he knew to be Yudora. She was looking older these days than usual, skinny, with spots all over claw like hands and her face.

She was clothed in a simple black robe, closed in front and held in place at the waist by a rope. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun. "If not for Daedalus and I your store would have no buisness, Yudora! This is Miss White's first time here. If you can't be pleasant at least be civil! Now tell me, is there any new supplies here I would be interested in? And I want that book, The Alchemist's Companion to the Darker Elements by Merdia Duboi and a starter's kit of sorts to get Miss White started." he demanded with an acidic tone. "If you want me to create something as foolish as a so called starters kit that is going to cost you, Mr Riddle! I don't like my time being wasted on such trifles, I expect to be compensated!" she snapped back. "I will pay whatever price you ask and then some, if you'll do it and do it quickly! This place reeks of death and I don't wish to endure your company.

The faster you are, the greater the tip." Carrie responded before he could with such venom he was slightly taken back. "Watch your tounge young missy! I will do what I please when I please! I do not take orders form you, even if you are a White! And I certainly will not be commanded by one of such disgraced and polluted blood as Thomas Riddle! Does your family know you are associated with such a ..." the hag didn't even get to finish the thought. The power that now began to swim around Carrie was filled with dark intent. He watched her eyes go wide. When she reached for her power, Tom felt it as though she had caressed him, it filled him with a dark and undescribable pleasure. Yet it slammed into the ancient witch, who was thrown by invisible force into the ground, hard, and kept there, pinned down with great pressure by Carrie's wide emotionless gaze. She spoke in a deep voice laced with controlled rage. Yet it was musical, velvet like, making it all the more menacing.

"One as old as you should know better than to insult your betters, Yudora Archemis! In this Mr. Riddle is a power and an authority that one such as you will never have! If you wish to keep this cursed place and yourself in one piece you'll do as he commands, when he commands it, and you'll do it silently! And Yudora, be grateful it is me that you are dealing with instead of him. Tom is not as merciful as I am!" He was impressed at the control she was displaying just now. He knew however if she kept it up much longer her power would take her over as it had at the ill fated prom, and the thought of what she could do in that state sent a unpleasant chill down his spine. Already the strain was showing, he had to step in. So he stepped behind her, put his arm around her waist and spoke soothingly in her ear. "My dear, your pint is made, let her go now. You must stop. Calm down and let her be. Yes, that's it! Breathe. Don't let it take control of you." he relaxed as he felt her power receed.

She breathed heavily as she called her magick back into herself. As it dissapeared, Yudora began to move, and with much cracking and popping, was able to rise to her feet once more. In a few minutes Carrie told him "You can let go now, it's over Tom." "Well well little miss, that was certainly an interesting display. Its good to know that not all rumors are false. I haven't felt something like that in years! I will get what you neeed. As for you, Mr. Riddle, there are some new exotic herbs just in from the Amazon. When taken together they have the same properties as the Truth Srum paired with a Memory Charm, for those whom you don't wish to recall the encounter later. Saves you the mess of having to kill someone and hide the body. I dare say if used right, it could create a spy who doesn't know he's a spy!" said Yudora, who then cackled. The possibilities of such a mixture were not lost on Tom, but he wanted to start in small amounts, which was much easier to hide.

"I'll take 2.5 ounces of that." he said. "It is expensive. You sure you can afford thirty galleons?" croaked the old one. "I will pay, now prepare that, my kit, and then add the book and we will be on our way." Carrie answered before he could once again. "Carrie, I can get this!" he said sharply. "I don't doubt it, but if it's found, I don't want it traced back to you. It is you whi is the leader, and therefore the important one, and I owe you!" she replied back in the same tone. This was an argument he knew he wasn't going to win. "Very well, as you will. But I will compensate for this." he replied. It was a good ten minutes before Yudora had everything ready. It all added up to 120 galleons, which Carrie promptly paid. As they walked out, Tom caught a glimpse of palatinum blonde hair but ignored it. "Well you were right about the trouble!" said Carrie and began to giggle. "One day you will realize that I am always right." he replied with a smirk and a wink, which caused more laughter.

"Let's hope we don't run into that kind of fun in every place! Where to next, gracious leader?" she asked jokingly. "To Morrigan's Secrets, a bookstore who's contents are more in the shades of grey side of magick. It's ran by a intelligent man named Alister Wynden, who actually only came here just a couple of years ago from Austrailia." answered Tom. "Grey areas of magick?" she asked. "Magick frowned upon by the wizarding world and not taught in any of the schools but not forbidden." he answered. It was a bit of a walk to get there, and the place was small. He was surprised when Carrie had no reaction to the place. As if he had asked the question out loud, she answered. "The spells and magick of this place is nuetral. Powerful, but not fighting to dominate. Here there is balance and peace." "That is exactly correct young lady! There is no eternal stuggle of white vs black here. If the world operated in shades of grey, it would be a much more peaceful place!

Welcome to Morrigan's Secrets! It's always wonderful to see new faces and it's a delight to see you again Tom! What can I help you with?" said the interesting looking man that was Alister Wynden. He was a great bear of a man, close to seven foot tall with long blonde hair and a matching beard that was braided and beaded. He was clothed in what looked to be an ancient monk's habit, with torn off sleeves and a roped leather belt around the waist. It wasn't unlike a druid in appearance except for his gruff looks. This was Alister, a regular modern Druid Viking. "Hello there Alister. This here is Carrietta White. Her parents wished for her to get a better grounding in this area of magick while here." said Tom. "Ah, Atia's pride! Rumor has it that the Whites believe one should be formidable in all forms of magick. Let me find you the right book." Alister turned and began to walk towards the back, beckoning them to follow. "There are two books that are must haves. One was put out by the Hermetic Order of the Silver Moon, the wizarding world counterpart to the Order of the Golden Dawn.

In there you'll find powerful protection spells, ritual magick not much used but always strong, incantations to summon a variety of helpful spirits and entities. It is called "Solomon's Legacy". The other is a useful spell and charm book. Spells to put n glamours, to be invisable, to give temporary boost to your own abilities, this is just a sampling of what it contains. It is called the Encylopedia of Grey Magicks." as he spoke they stopped before the last book shelf, Alister pulled out a black book that was leather bound with gold leaf pages. On the side, embroidered in gold was the title Solomon's Legacy, as translated by the Order of the Silver Moon on top. He handed it to Carrie, who looked at it with curiosity. "You'll find in there spells that are more complicated to cast than a simple swish and flick. Rituals must be preformed exactly as described, for one thing missing or even one missing syllable could have great consequences." Alister told her seriously. "I'll remember, I won't deviate from the text." she promised. Tom would see to it that she kept that promise.

They moved back up the isles, passing several book cases and interesting artifacts displayed on tables. They reached one of the middle book cases when they stopped and followed as Alister searched the bottom book shelf of a book case in the middle of the building. He brought out a very thick white book of undefinable binding in black and written in caligraphy the title read out The Encylopedia of Grey Magicks with a heraldric drawing of two dragons facing one another. "You'll find the contents of this book useful. There are many things in a single day that come up that it can be used for." the store keeper spoke again. He handed the second book to Carrie. "I believe we are set for now my friend." Tom said to him. "Excellent! Let's return up front and get these bought and paid for." replied the eccentric man. They made their purchase when Alister spoke to him again. "Tom, Madam Wode has been to see me. She expects you to go to her before you leave. From the looks of it, her news for you may be urgent." "We are heading that way. Thank you Alister. I shall see you again in the next trip." he answered.

"Take care of yourself Tom! And you too young lady!" Alister's answer sent a current of worry through him. It appeared that Madam Wode was going to have to be their next stop, and depending on the time, the last for the day. As they left, Carrie asked "Madam Wode?" "A ser, a highly accurate one, unlike Professor Trelawny. If she has come to Alister, it is important, and we must head there now. It many be about our Cause, or those who be our Causes's greatest problem. Whatever it is, Madam Wode never makes a personal call unless the stars whisper to her of danger. Be on your guard, for she sees many things others can not, and her gift has left her not entirely sane. She works with both light and dark foces after all, and those with the power to commune with the spirit world can be dangerous if angered, and can be so easily." he answered her. "She is located in the darker parts of this place?" she asked. Tom couldn't fight the grin. Carrie was a talented little mind reader. The more he thought on it the more he liked the unspoken nick name Abraxas had given her, Little Anaconda.

When he was finished with her no one would be able to resist her, with her seemingly innocent charm and dazzling power. She would be able to bring others to their side who otherwise would have opposed them. "You have that dazed look again. How many times do you intend to loose yourself in thoughts today?" she asked teasingly, bring him back to the moment at hand. "But they are such pleasant thoughts my dear Carrie." he smirked in satisfaction when a deep red blush stole over her once again. It was so easy to do that! He became serious again. "I am sorry that we can't work our way more slowly to that place to get you use to it's energy. It can't be helped. You must brace yourself as best you can. Keep your head down, look no one in the eye, and keep your wand ready. Talk to no one, not even me, till we get inside Madam Wode's shop, understand?" he said. "Of course, but we must hide these purchases. It would not do to be seen with such expensive items." she replied.

"Yes, that is true. We will stop a moment to shrink them to fit in your shoulder bag." he said. "Shrink them?" she asked, confused. He laughed. "I forget how much you yet have to learn my talented tutoree." he said. They stopped by where there was a bench. "Put all your bags in the bench. We are pressed for time, so I will preform the spell this time, but see that you pay attention." he said. However she didn't. For she was beginning to brace herself already from the dark energies she already felt and after the shrinking and making thier way closer to Knockturn Alley, her body grew more and more rigid. Sweat now appeared on her brow, and she was muttering something over and over under her breath that he couldn't make out but sounded not unlike a Catholic chant. He would not begrudge her that. Whatever she needed to do he would indulge. He couldn't imagine the strain she was now under, and didn't want to! Her grip on him was growing tighter and tighter. By the time they set foot on Knockturn Alley, he was sure there would be a bruise on his arm.

"It pushes in on me from all sides and it's almost bone crushing! We have to stop! You must give me a moment or I'll collapse!" she exclaimed. All he could do was nod. Her face and hands were ghostly white and her jaw painfully clinched Each step forward looked like agony. They moved to the side of the street, and neither spoke as Carrie fought to recover herself. There they remained for a good 15 minutes before the color began to return to her. Her body became less rigid, and her breathing had returned to normal. Tom nearly picker her up, supporting her back and waist as he pulled her to her feet. He caught that intoxicating smell again of honeyed apple that was coming off her and had to push down the urge to inhale deeply taking a long and lingering whiff. "We are not far now?" she asked. "No, it's just a few building down to Madam Wode's." he answered. "Thank God! I don't think I want to spend a lot of quality time out here!" she exclaimed and a small grin appeared on his face at her comment. Soon, even as they spoke they came before the very place.

A building with the Eye of Ra painted on it and just below a very simple sign that just said "Madam Wode's." Madam Wode had always creeped him out. She wore a multi-layered robe of blue cloth made of light material. Copper coins dangled from it's hood across her forehead. Egyptian symbols he didn't understand were painted in gold everywhere on the robe, with no thought to any design or pattern. The only things that ever showed of her was her face and hads which were of darkly tanned skin. Her eyes were entirely black, so much so that you could not tell the difference between the pupol and the irs. She never looked directly at anything or anyone when she spoke. She always seemed more in the world of spirits than of man. It was this very image they were both greeted with when they entered. "Tntere and hear the message of the stars, for they whisper to me teir secrets! They sing of you Master Riddle, and tell you to beware. You are watched by those who wre the children of the Fallen Wizard. They will master you and pervert your Cause, lest you become more descreet.

Trust only the Child forged by both Light and Shadow, and store up your allies and wait, or you will be engulfed in the flames of your own dreams. Bow go, leave this Alley and store up these words." spoke the strange almost child like sing song voice of Madam Wode. He and Carrie began to leave when Madam Wode spoke once more. "Guard the Child of Light and Shadow well. In her your Cause succeeds or fails."