[A/N: WOW 52 favorites and 83 subscribers~! I'm glad that so many of you like it! To those who just subscribed to my story or 'favorite' my story, thank you all in the bottom of my heart! I'm glad that so many of you are still following me even though things in the story are progressing slowly. I have taken direct quotes from the movie and books, so credits to JK Rowling. As usual, the foreign languages in this story are translated from Google Translate so, please let me know if something seems off. Also, just recently, someone messaged me in my pm about a fanfic request. To be honest with you all, I've never really put much thought into it but, after some time to consider things, I've decided to open up the option. So if any of you have a fanfic request related to Harry Potter, come pm me and we'll figure something out. Without further delay, let the chapter commence and please stay tuned for the next chapter.]
Chapter 9
November 1st, Sunday
"Damn it, it must be the diary." Tom frowned after Diana relayed everything to him once again. They were talking in Severus' chambers in the early afternoon through the scrying mirrors both adult men have, hearing faint conversations coming from outside in the courtyard. "What diary, father?" Diana asked with a confused look on her face. Tom instinctively ran a hand through his hair, something he did when something was troubling him before he began speaking once again. "When I was still attending Hogwarts, I got a diary and I placed a fragment of my soul into it." This only confused Diana even more.
"What was the point of doing that?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest, looking very much like Lily when she did that. Tom sighed, realizing that the topic was going to open more doors and with their current location, they would need to keep their conversations short to not catch Dumbledore's attention. "I did that so I can make 6 Horcruxes to achieve immortality. I will explain it to you when you come home for the winter holidays, alright?" Diana pouted, unhappy that she had to wait to learn about what these Horcruxes are and she reluctantly nodded her head. "Alright."
"Good. It is imperative that you find this diary." He said. Diana huffed, flopping her arms against her side in annoyance. "There are thousands of students in the school. I can't just waltz into the other house common rooms and search everyone." Tom rolled his eyes at her dramatic response. "I have a better method. Just look for someone who has been acting strange lately. The soul fragment in the diary is the seventeen-year-old me and can be very persuasive. With the incident yesterday, my soul has already possessed the person and that is why the Chamber of Secrets has been opened."
November 4th, Wednesday
"Can I have your attention, please? Right, now today we will be transforming animals into water goblets." McGonagall said as she moved to stand next to a rather ugly looking black hornbill perched on a wooden stand. The class mumbled to each other in excitement before they turned their attention back to McGonagall. "Like so. One, two, three. Vera verto." She said as she tapped the blackbird with her wand three times and there was awed gasps throughout the class as they watched the bird transformed into a silver goblet before their eyes. McGonagall looked pleased with their reactions and started walking down the middle aisle. "Now, who would like to go first? Ah, Ms. Ivanov, let's have you try first. One, two, three. Vera verto."
Diana looked indifferent as she tapped her wand three times against Prometheus and spoke the spell clearly. The owl was quickly transformed into a goblet and McGonagall looked very pleased that she got it on the first try. "Very good, Ms. Ivanov. Ten points to Slytherin." The Transfiguration professor was about to move to another student when Weasley spoke out loud. "Big deal. I bet I could do it better then she did." He sneered while glaring across the aisle to Diana. She scoffed but didn't say anything since McGonagall had her attention at the red-head. "Very well then, Mr. Weasley. Why don't to you try next then?" Weasley turned red on the face, not thinking that he was actually get called out.
"O-Of course, professor." He stuttered and pulled out his poorly repaired wand, feeling everyone's eyes at him, including McGonagall's sharp eyes. He took one deep breath before tapping his rat with his wand three times and said the spell. The rat started transforming into a water goblet, but it still has the fur and the tail on it. The class snickered at this, causing Weasley to turn deep red on the face. McGonagall had a sour look on her face and she walked back towards the front of the classroom. "That wand needs to be replaced, Mr. Weasley." A hand shot up, catching the Transfiguration professor's attention. "Yes, Ms. Brown?" The Gryffindor looked nervous as she talked. "Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets."
The classroom quickly grew silent like the elephant in the room finally reared its heard. McGonagall looked hesitant to answer that question but after scanning over their faces, she relented. "Very well. Well, you all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago, by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age. Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Now three of the founders co-existed quite harmoniously. One did not." McGonagall stated as she slowly walked back up the aisle, looking down every face staring back up at her, the worried lines on her aged face looked deeper became more pronounced.
"Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed magical learning should be kept within all-magic families. In other words, purebloods. Unable to sway the others, he decided to leave the school. Now according to legend, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in this castle, known as the Chamber of Secrets. Though shortly before departing, he sealed it until that time when his own true heir returned to the school. The heir alone would be able to open the chamber and unleash the horror within, and by so doing, purge the school of all those who, in Slytherin's view, were unworthy to study magic." No one didn't need to mention who these people were.
"Well, naturally the school has been searched many times. No such chamber has been found." Professor McGonagall stated as if she was trying to ease their fear as she moved to walk back to the front of the classroom once again to continue on with the lesson when one of the Patil twins stopped her with another question. "Professor? What exactly does the legend tell us lies within in the chamber?" McGonagall turned around to face them once again. "Well, the chamber is said to be the home of something that only the heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be the home...of a monster."
The classroom was deadly silent as those words were processed. There was a monster roaming around the school. The Gryffindor side started shifting uncomfortably in their seats as they were expecting the said monster to pop out from nowhere. McGonagall quickly proceeded back to the lesson but no one could really concentrate on the lesson for the rest of the time.
November 7th, Saturday
Buzz was going around the Great Hall as students ate their lunch two hours before the anticipated Quidditch match with Gryffindors against Slytherins when the giant doors swung open and piles of parents who were there to see the match came streaming in. The last ones to come in was Stepan, Valentina, and Tom. "Otets! Mama! Dyadya Dimitriy!" (R) (Father! Mother! Uncle Dimitri!) Diana called out, running up to the adults and gave all three tight hugs, catching the professors' attention. She stepped back to look up at them. "Vy zdes', chtoby posmotret', kak ya letayu?" (R) (Are you guys here to watch me fly?) Tom smiled and gently caressed her cheek. "Konechno, my by ne propustili eto dlya vsego mira." (R) (Of course, we wouldn't miss it for the world.) Diana grinned and took a hold of Tom's and Stepan's hand and starts walking the adults over to the Slytherin's table.
"Eto mesto ne izmenilos'." (R) (This place hasn't changed a bit.) Tom said in a soft voice as he looked at the familiar setting, something he couldn't do last year when he had to share Quirrell's body and that stupid turban covering his face. They spent about another half hour in a relatively comfortable atmosphere when Severus stood up from his chair behind the table and made his way over to the Slytherin table. "Excuse me for the interruption but its time for the Quidditch player to head down to the Quidditch field." Diana nodded as she stood up and gave Stepan, Valentina, and Tom a kiss on the cheek. Draco, Blaise, Theo, Crabbe, and Goyle did the same with their own parents and followed Flint out of the Great Hall.
*~*~*~*:*~*~*~*
What's this? Dumbledore thought as a crowd of people with wizarding cameras had gotten into the spectators stand. That's when he noticed three people standing in front of the crowd, most likely leading the wizards and witches to a good spot. Ivanov. Dumbledore growled inside of his head but still kept that grandfatherly smile that always seemed to win everyone over as the group walked towards his direction. "Mr. Ivanov, are the people from the press bothering you?" He said as he walked down from his seat to meet them, interrupting Stepan as he was saying something in Russian to the press. "Ah, Mr. Dumbledore, I hope you and your staff don't mind the press. They came all the way from the Russian Daily Prophet in Moscow."
"Ne pozvolyayte etoy dedushkanoy ulybke obmanut' vas." (R) (Don't let that grandfatherly smile fool you.) Stepan said over his shoulder to no one particular. "Russian Daily Prophet?" Dumbledore asked with suspicion in his eyes. "Why would the Russian want to know about a Quidditch game played by students in my school?" Stepan raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Dumbledore, my family is one of the oldest magical families in Russia, meaning my daughter and son are beloved by the magical Russian community. Who am I to not bring them news about her? Now if you will excuse me. We must get moving before the game begins." Stepan said as he bowed mockingly at the old man. The press scuttled after him, leaving Dumbledore behind. The old man frowned. Something was wrong.
*~*~*~*:*~*~*~*
"Ivanov has spotted the golden snitch once again with Weasley close behind her! They are tail to tail! Dear Merlin, this is going to be a close call!" The commentator said over the sound of roaring from the spectator stand. Diana reached out with one hand to grab the golden snitch, urging her broom to go faster. Inching closer and closer, Diana thought she could touch it any second when something hard struck her catching arm, causing her to jerk as incredibly sharp pain shot up that arm as the object crashed into Weasley's broom and broke the wooden broom handle. The stands were filled with gasps and frightened screams as Weasley crashed to the ground. "Whats this?! A rogue bludger!" Diana heard the commentary shouted, her head swooning slightly as she groaned, the pain in her arm was flaming hot as she tried to get the broom back in control, seeing in the corner of her the bludger making its way back over to her like it was going to finish the job it started.
Diana gritted her teeth, mustering the pain as she grabbed onto her broom handle with both hands and zoomed after the tiny golden snitch. "Get back here." Diana hissed as she mustered up the strength to lift her broken arm towards the fluttering snitch while her good hand gripped the broom handle. "Malfoy has gotten another score past Wood! 200 points for Slytherin and 10 points for Gryffindor!" Diana heard the commentator said over the roar of the crowd as she sped up to the snitch with her broom, her fingers inches from touching its golden surface. Diana leaned further until her chest was practically brushing against the broom handle.
"Yes!" Diana said with excitement as her fingers closed around the golden snitch. Before she knew it, she felt her body tip over her broom handle, having had stretched over the broom handle too far. There were screams from the spectators as Diana's world spun in circles towards the ground. The air in her lungs rushed out of her as she landed on the ground with a grunt, gasping and groaned in pain when she rolled over her broken arm before coming to a stop on her back. She only had a split second when she looked up to the sky to see that blasted bludger plunging straight down towards her to turning to her good side just a smidge to dodge the rogue ball by a hair.
Diana heard the spectators gasps loudly at how close she got to being crushed. Help finally came when the bludger almost crushed her legs if she hadn't spread her legs for a split second. "Expulso!" Stepan shouted as he ran on to the field, Valentina and Tom following close behind with the Hogwarts professors and Russian photographers tailing them, the rogue ball bursting into small pieces. She let out a sigh of relief, still gripping the snitch tightly in her hand. "Ivanov has got the golden snitch! 350 points to Slytherin and 10 points to Gryffindor!" The commentator bellowed over the roar from the roar from the Slytherin side of the arena. "Dorogoy Merlin, ty v poryadke, vozlyublennaya?" (R) (Dear Merlin, are you alright, sweetheart?) Valentina said urgently as they made it to her, the woman gently touch her broken arm, the flashes from the camera flickered rapidly.
"Kto-to, dolzhno byt', iskrivil bladzhera." (R) (Someone must have hexed the bludger.) Diana groaned out as she cradled her broken arm against her chest. "Der'mo, Dambldor idet." (R) (Shit, Dumbledore is coming.) Stepan said midbreath as more people from the spectators' stand arrived at the scene. "Miss. Ivanov, I'm glad that you are not hurt." Dumbledore said in a concerned grandfatherly voice. "Oh dear, it looks like you broke your arm." The old man said with a feign concerned expression and looked through the crowd as if he was trying to find Madame Pomphrey. "Albus, I suggest Miss Ivanov be taken to the Infirmary before we conduct an investigation on the rogue investigation." Severus drawled when he came back from telling the Quidditch players to go to their team locker rooms.
"Let me offer my help, Albus." Lockhart offered, already drawing his wand out from his robe pocket. "I don't think that's a wise id-" Tom stopped mid-sentence when he felt Diana squeeze his arm. Let him do it. "Very well, then." Tom relented but the three adults kept by her side as they watch Lockhart walk over to them. "Fear not, I have performed this spell many times. I'll have you all better in no time." Lockhart said with a cheery smile. "Brackium emendo!" Everyone watched with batted breath as a blue light surrounded her broken arm only to see her arm go limp like a cooked noodle as if the bones in her broken arm has disappeared.
"Ah...yes, well, that can sometimes happen. Um, but, uh, the point is, uh, you can no longer feel any pain. And very clearly, the bones are not broken." Lockhart said with feigned cheerfulness as he laughed nervously, the cameras snapping photos like crazy as the man demonstrated the flexibility of her boneless arm by bending it back at the middle of her forearm. Diana had to hold back the urge to snap at the incompetent man and possibly throw in some crucios as the Russian press, gasped in horror at the sight. "Ty syn suka! What the hell did you do to my daughter!" (R) (You son of a bitch!) Stepan hissed as he got up swiftly and stormed over to Lockhart, scaring the man with his cold eyes as the Russian grabbed him by the shirt front. Ooohhh boy! This is going to be on the front page of the evening edition! The reporters thought as they snapped multiple photos of the altercation. "Now, you listen here, sir! I told you that it sometimes happens like that!" Lockhart blabbered, looking like he could pee in his pants at any moment. "Why you little-"
"Otets! Bol'no!" (R) (Father! It hurts!) Diana suddenly screamed out, grabbing her boneless arm with her other hand, the look of utter pain written all over her face. "Skoreye, Stepan!" (R) (Hurry, Stepan!) The Russian press quickly snapped photos while glaring over at the old man and the incompetent man as if they were mentally cursing them. Valentina said with a panic as she tried to tend to Diana with Tom. Stepan rushed over, immediately forgetting about the Russian press and the professors. "Chto s ney ne tak?!" (R) (Whats wrong with her?!) Stepan shouted. Tom quickly lifted Diana in his arms, making sure to not jostle her as he stood up. "My dolzhny otvezti yeye v lazaret. Bystro!" (R) (We must take her to the infirmary. Quickly!)
"This way!" Severus said urgently, motioning the trio to follow him as he quickly walked towards the exit. Tom and Valentina quickly followed him while Stepan stayed behind for a little bit. The Russian glared coldly at Dumbledore and Lockhart. "You both will pay for this. Expect a letter from my lawyer for the both of you." He snarled coldly before marching after his wife and Tom.
*~*~*~*:*~*~*~*
Diana's laugh echoed in the empty corridor as she still being carried by her father and Valentina still walking with them. "Stupid old man. I hope you shit yourself when you read the Russian Daily Prophet." Tom's laughed boomed in the corridor in utter amusement while Valentina shot Diana a disapproving look. "Language, Diana." Diana flashed the woman a bright smile over her shoulder. "Sorry, Aunt Valentina." The woman couldn't stay mad at her smile for long as the corner of her lips twitched upward. "Dambldor ne znayet, chto yego udarit." (R) (Dumbledore doesn't know what's going to hit him.) Valentina said with a smirk as the door to the infirmary came into view.
Tom snickered softly as they got closer to the door. "Vy dvoye luchshe vkhodite v kharakter, inache nas uznayut." (R) (You two better get into character or else we'll be found out.) The double doors to the infirmary suddenly swung opened by Madam Pomfrey just as the trio got into character. "Come in, quickly." The elderly medic witch said urgently over Diana's pained whimpers as she rushed them in. The infirmary already had several occupants as Diana was carried to an unoccupied hospital bed. "Is she still feeling the pain?" The adults nodded. "Here." The elderly woman said as she pointed her wand at Diana, drawing swirling motions in the air.
Diana's uniform had changed into her pajamas and Tom gently laid her down on the bed just as Stepan arrived at the infirmary. "Honestly, what was Albus thinking letting Lockhart heal your arm?" Madam Pomfrey could be heard mumbling heatedly as she gathered some potions while Valentina tucked the blanket around Diana as she was propped up against the pillow, the three adults looking very concerned. "You should have been brought straight to me!" Madam Pomfrey raged as she came back with two potion bottles and a goblet and placed them on the bedside table. "I can mend bones in a second-but growing them back-Its going to be painful."
At least she doesn't beat around the bush. Diana thought. "Will my daughter's arm fully heal?" Valentina asked as the old woman poured both of the potions into the goblet. Madam Pomfrey looked at Valentina apologetically as if she didn't mean to upset the Russian woman. "Of course. Don't worry, your daughter is in good hands." She then passed the goblet to Diana. "Drink this. I have mixed Skele-Gro, painless potion in pumpkin juice. Unfortunately, the pumpkin juice isn't going to take away the bitterness." Diana complied and took the concoction. Her face immediately screwed up at the awful bitter taste, making Tom, Stepan, and Valentina chuckle at her facial expression.
*~*~*~*:*~*~*~*
".- . / .- .-. . / -.-. - - .. -. -. / - - / ... . . / -.- - ..- .-.-.- / -.. ..- - -... .-.. . -.. - .-. . / .- -. -.. / .-.. - -.-. -.- ... .- .-. - / .- .-. . / ..-. - .-.. .-.. - .- .. -. -. / ..- ... .-.-.-" (We are coming to see you. Dumbledore and Lockhart are following us.) Diana felt the ring on her finger heat up a little as she felt the gentle taps. She smirked as she went back to reading her Transfigurations textbook. Tom, Valentina, and Stepan had gone about an hour ago after having dinner with her. It didn't take long before the sound of the double doors of the infirmary creaked open and a group of 2nd year Slytherins came strolling in. "Natalya!" Pansy said in a dramatic voice as the gang quickly made their way over.
"Are you ok?" Hermione said with genuine worry on her face as Dumbledore and Lockhart stepped into the infirmary. Draco, Blaise, Theodore, Goyle, and Crabbe had long since changed out of their Quidditch uniform. Everyone had taken a spot along the edge of her hospital bed but were still close enough to touch her. "I'm ok," Diana said with a small smile as she gently cupped her broken arm that was in a sling. She could feel Dumbledore's and Lockhart's eyes on her as her friends talked animatedly with each other about the Quidditch game. "Are you still feeling the pain?" Draco asked, catching the gang's attention back to her.
"It still twinges then and now again. Madam Pomfrey can't figure out what caused it. She might call in a medi-wizard from St Mungo's if the pain is still there in the morning." Diana said rather loudly so Dumbledore and Lockhart could hear across the infirmary. The others fought back a smirk when they realized what she was doing. "If I were you, Natalya, I would sue Professor Lockhart." Pansy sulked in a loud voice, chiming into what she was just doing. Diana fought back an evil smirk. "Oh, I plan to."
*~*~*~*:*~*~*~*
Diana woke up from the throbbing pain in her arm, the sweat making her pajamas stick to her skin. The painless potion was wearing off. Good thing Madam Pomfrey had placed a vial of painless potion on her bedside table just in case she woke up in the middle of the night. She slowly sat up and grabbed the small vial of painless potion. She struggled to uncork it for a few minutes before succeeding. She drank the liquid in one shot, shuddering at the taste as she placed the empty vial back down on the bedside table. Diana leaned back against the headboard as the potion instantly worked, the throbbing feeling completely gone. She then heard hurried step from out in the corridor and hushed voices getting closer and closer.
Diana quickly laid back down and had her back facing the door just as the double doors swung open to let a group of people in, by the sound of it, talking in a panicked hushed voice as something heavy was placed on a hospital bed. "Get Madam Pomfrey." Diana heard Dumbledore whisper to someone. She heard footsteps walking in and out of Madam Pomfrey's office. She heard a dramatic gasp. "What happened?" She heard Madam Pomfrey whisper. Diana wanted to turn around to see what they had brought into the infirmary.
"Another attack. Minerva found him on the stairs." Diana heard Dumbledore whispered."Who is it?" Madam Pomfrey whispered. "Colin Creevy. There was a bunch of grapes next to him. We think he was leaving the kitchen. I shudder to think...if Albus hadn't been on the way downstairs for hot chocolate - who knows what might have-" Professor McGonagall whispered, her voice trailing off. Diana then heard something getting wrenched out of something. "You don't think he managed to get a picture of his attacker?" McGonagall whispered, sounding eager. The sound of a latch coming undone and the sound of steam shooting up. Diana could smell burnt plastic in the air.
"Good gracious! Everything has been melted!" Madam Pomfrey gasped. "What does this mean, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked urgently. Dumbledore could be heard sighing. "It means that the Chamber of Secrets is indeed open again." Madam Pomfrey made a sound like she was about to cry. "But, Albus...surely...who?" McGonagall whispered in a shaky voice. "The question is not who. The question is, how..." Dumbledore said in a low whisper, so low that Diana barely caught the words.
November 20, Sunday
"Albus it has been utter chaos!" Fudge said with obvious contempt as he slammed the latest addition of the evening Daily Prophet. "That stunt Lockhart has pulled on young Miss Ivanov is costing our relationship with the Russians!" The pudge man said with a heavy huff, the age lines on his face looked deeper from the mounting stress from the aforementioned event. "I suggest you tell Gilderoy to go to Russia to give a formal apology," Dumbledore said, hiding the urge to roll his eyes at how simple the answer to the solution was. Fudge's face hardened a little.
"Oh, he will be giving his formal apology soon. However, the Russian community wants a formal apology from you as well." Dumbledore looked appalled at this. "Me? Why would they want an apology from me? I have done nothing to Miss Ivanov." Fudge shook his head as he got up from his desk chair. "That may be true, but they think that since you hired Gilderoy, you are just the same as him." Fudge didn't look the slightest apologetic as Dumbledore leaned back in his seat, seemingly deep in thought.
December 17, Thursday
"Why are we here to watch this fraud, anyway?" Neville asked Diana in a low whisper, confused. "I want to be here when Severus makes him fall on his ass," Diana whispered in a snicker. A large group of students had shown up at 8 pm to watch Lockhart demonstrate how to duel. "Gather around. Gather around." Lockhart said as he stepped onto the elongated platform that looked similar to a Muggle runway, looking even more ridiculous in that outfit that resembled a fencing uniform with a cape as he walked across to stand on one end. "Can everybody see me? Can you all hear me?" Diana couldn't help roll her eyes when the man said with that ridiculous smile. "Excellent. In the light of the dark events of the recent weeks, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all up, in case you ever need to defend yourselves, as I myself have done on countless occasions. For full details, see my published works."
The crowd let out a swooning gasp when Lockhart took off his cape with a flourish and tossed it towards the students, a fifth year Gryffindor girl ended up getting it, much to the other girls' dismay. "Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," Lockhart said as he pointed politely towards the unoccupied side of the platform. All heads turned to see Snape step smoothly up onto the platform, soft murmuring could be heard as others wondered how this was going to go down while Severus slowly made his way to the middle. "He has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration. Now, I don't want any of you, youngsters, to worry. You'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him. Never fear." Lockhart said confidently with a smug smile as he drew his wand out while making his way to the middle of the platform to stand face to face with Severus.
The two men's face turned emotionless as they looked straight into each other's eyes, moving their wand in front of their face before flicking their wand back down to their side. They bowed to each other smoothly before turning around and took ten steps in synchronization. They whipped around to face each other again and got into their ready stance. "1...2...3." Lockhart's reaction was slow and Severus took the opportunity. "Expelliarmus!" He shouted and a scarlet colored light shot from his wand, barreling straight towards Lockhart. The light slammed into the man, causing him to let out a shout as he flew backward. Some students winced when he landed on his back hard while some laughed at the sight as Lockhart sat back up stiffly and got back on his feet.
"An excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape," Lockhart said as he made his way back to the middle, trying to sound like he was in control of the situation. "but if you don't mind me saying, it was pretty obvious of what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you, it would have been only too easy." The man said with a renewed confidence to hide the fact he was bested in dueling. Severus looked like he couldn't care less. "Perhaps it will be prudent to first teach the students how to block unfriendly spells, Professor." Snape drawled. Lockhart looked slightly flustered from the potion master's words before mustering smiling, to which Severus returned a stiff smile as well.
"An excellent suggestion, Professor Snape," Lockhart said as he turned around and starts walking slowly. "Uh. Let's have a volunteer pair. Um, Weasley and Finnigan, how about you? You've gotten your wand fixed so you should be fine." Lockhart said in a comforting way towards the redhead as the crowd shifted a little bit as Weasley and Finnigan moved towards the platform. "Might I suggest someone from my own house to be Mr. Weasley's opponent?" Severus drawled as Lockhart turned around to look at the Potions master. "Ivanov perhaps?" He said in a contemplative voice. He quickly turned around and motioned for Diana to come up.
Diana sighed as she stepped on to the platform and made her way to the middle to stand face to face with Weasley, one professor at either side. "Wands at the ready!" Lockhart said. Diana and Weasley synced in moving their wand in front of their face. "Scared, Ivanov?" Weasley said with a smug smirk. "You wish. You'll be the one who'll be scared." They flicked their wand arm back down on their side, their eyes unwavering from each other. They turned around and start walking ten steps away from each other. They then whipped back around to face each other again and got into a ready stance. "On the count of three, cast your charms to disarm your opponent. Only to disarm. We don't want any accidents here. One...two...-"
"Everte stratum!" Weasley shouted out before Lockhart could say three. Diana gasped as she was knocked onto her back from a tremendous force, landing with a low grunt. She heard some of Weasley's cronies cackle in delight as the redhead smirked smugly. Diana quickly got back into her feet. She had to admit, Weasley caught her off guard. This time, she whipped her wand. "Rictasempra!" She shouted, watching as the redhead also flew back but landed much harder on his ass. She heard her friends laugh, unable to see Severus behind her holding back smirk from appearing on his face. Weasley got back on his feet, his face beat red from embarrassment. "I said disarm only!" Lockhart shouted, trying to sound like a warning.
"Serpensortia!" The redhead shouted, whipping his wand in an intricate pattern in the air as a king cobra shot from his wand tip. Seriously? Diana thought as she noticed that smug look appear back on Weasley's face, thinking that he might actually win this duel since second years wouldn't know how to get rid of the snake. The students gasped in fear of the king cobra as it slowly slithered down the platform, it's tiny forked tongue licking the air as if it was taking in the fest permeating the air. "Don't move Miss Ivanov. I'll get rid of it for you." Severus said with a drawl as he started moving over to the snake. "Allow me, Professor Snape," Lockhart said with determination, ready to redeem himself for earlier as he stopped Snape mid-stride. The man confidently stepped up to the king cobra with his wand pointing straight at it. "Alarte ascendare!"
The students watched as the snake was launched straight up into the air before hitting the platform with a low thud. The spell did nothing except make the snake more irritated. The students became nervous as the cobra started hissing angrily at them as it slithered by, its hood on full display as it showed the sharp fangs soaked with venom. "Come to me." Diana hissed in Parseltongue, causing everyone to look at her in shock. Her voice had confused the snake as it looked around to find the source. "Come to me, my dear friend." She hissed our again, bringing be snake's attention completely on her now.
It simply hissed st he in annoyance, it's sharp fangs glimmered from the fire torches hanging on the walls. "Vipera evanansca." Severus took the chance with the snake's distraction and the snake was quickly burned away. Diana noticed everyone's eyes were still on her like she was some freak sideshow as she realized what she just did. She spotted her friends amongst the sea of heads and noticed their reaction as similar to her's. Fuck.
December 18, Friday
"Excuse me?" Valentina asked, her eyes narrowed at Dumbledore in a threatening way as Stepan was shooting glares at the old man. "You want to do what?" Tom asked in a soft voice, but his eyes were daring Dumbledore to repeat it. "I want your daughter to talk to this snake," Dumbledore said in a matter-of-fact tone while motioning towards a small metal box with iron bars and a python curled up in it. "This is absolutely outrageous! Have you gone senile, Dumbledore?! What on earth makes you think my daughter can talk to this snake?!" Valentina yelled, appalled at how ridiculous it sounds. "Mrs. Ivanonv, fifty students witnessed your daughter speak in Parseltongue. However what intrigues me most is that I only know one person who can speak in Parseltongue and that person is dead. Parseltongue is only passed down to the direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin." Dumbledore said, his eyes scrutinizing the people before him as he leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped on his stomach.
"Now if I remember correctly, neither you or Stepan are the direct descendants of Salazar Slytherin. So, either your daughter somehow learned Parseltongue or...she isn't your daughter." Dumbledore's blue eyes landed on Diana, feeling like his eyes were trying to bore into her soul to see her hidden secrets. No noticed Tom had tensed up. holding the urge to just hex the old man to the next millennia. Valentina looked positively appalled at the accusation. Stepan puffed his chest as his eyes turned so icy, the human soul could freeze from just briefly looking into them. "How dare you. My daughter is a true Ivanov, no one else's." Stepan hissed scathingly, his fingers balled up into a tight fist. No one spoke, the tension in the room so thick, you could slice it with a knife.
"I wasn't really speaking to it." Diana suddenly said in a meek voice, bringing the adults' attention over to her. "What do you mean, sweetheart?" Valentina asked in a soft voice after calming down from Dumbledore's last comment. Diana looked down on her lap, her fingers absently playing together over her lap, giving her a look of guilt. "I didn't want the snake to hurt my friends, so I tried talking to it. I remembered seeing a snake in our garden a few years back and it was hissing and making noises. I just mimicked the sound the snake made." She said, intentionally making her voice sound small. Valentina placed a gentle arm around her and kissed the top of her head. However, Dumbledore seemed unpleased with this answer, his blue eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"So you've just been mimicking snake sounds?" Diana simply nodded to his question. "I can demonstrate what I did if you like." She said, her face turned hopeful as if she was wanting to please him as she waited for him to agree. Dumbledore was silent for a bit before finally answering. "Very well." The old man pulled the mental cage close to him and with a simple swipe of his hand in the air, the latch opened. The python slowly slithered out, its beady eyes glancing around at every person in the room as its forked tongue licked the air. "Don't react to my words." Diana hissed out but to everyone, it just sounds like normal snake noises. The python's tail flickered a little when she hissed but it didn't react to her voice. Diana continued for a minute longer before stopping.
She looked over at Dumbledore. "See, Professor. I was just making random noises." Dumbledore looked like he had swallowed a particularly sour lemon. "The girl is right, Albus." A new voice appears, bringing everyone's eyes to a large painting hanging in the corner closest to Dumbledore's desk. Next to the painting was three other similiar sized paintings. "Salazar, you aren't one to eavesdrop in any of the conversations that happen in this office," Dumbledore said, still looking sour. Salazar smirked at Dumbledore's obvious discontent. "That's true, but when it comes to Parseltongue, it always peaks my interest. This girl isn't a Parseltongue speaker. All the hissing sounds are like garbled noises to me." Dumbledore sighed haughtily, unhappy with how things turned out in the end and turned his attention back to the Ivanovs.
"There must have been a misunderstanding. My deepest apologies." Dumbledore said, looking like he was having a hard time mustering those words. As the adults talking, Diana looked back up at Salazar Slytherin's portrait. The three other paints, the remaining Founders, talked amongst each other. Salazar noticed Diana looking at him and a smirk appeared on his face before he winked at her. Diana grinned before turning to see if her father saw it. Tom did see it and smirked in amusement. Dumbledore was too preoccupied with apologizing to Valentina and Stepan, who were on the brink of sueing the old man, to notice the silent exchanges.
*~*~*~*:*~*~*~*
"Took you long enough. How was the meeting?" Draco asked Diana when she and her family arrived on the main floor of the castle to see that the rest of the gang were still there to wait for her. People were heading down to the train platform to board the Hogwarts Express to head home for the winter holiday. Diana smirked evilly. "Aunt Valentina and Uncle Stepan smoked Dumbledore good." She spent the next few minutes explaining how it went as well as talking about Salazar Slytherin as the adults talked with each other. Their eyes widened at that facYou'reYour so lucky. I want to talk to Salazar Slytherin." Pansy pouted, everyone nodded in agreement. Diana grinned smugly.
"Children, you should be heading down to the platform. You don't want to miss the train." Valentina called out as the adults walked over to them. Diana said goodbye to the adults even though she would be seeing them again in a couple hours before walking with the gang down to the platform. They boarded the train just as the warning whistle sounded. Thankfully, there was plenty of empty compartments since a lot of students decided to stay behind. A few minutes they had situated in their seats, Neville arrived into the compartment, much to Pansy's pleasure. She immediately scooted over to let him sit down next to her as brief hellos were said. "So what is the plan for the winter break?" Draco asked as he looked at everyone. Each one answered.
Hermione had a slight flush to her cheeks when it came to her. "Well, I have good news actually. Daphne and her family are agreeing to adopt me into the family." Congratulations went around. "You'll do fine as a Greengrass," Pansy stated happily. "You and Daphnes are already so close, you two could be twins." The others agreed in unison, making Hermione blush more but laughed with soon-to-be sister. The topic then changed to what the next plans for the Dark Regime, Theo picked out the name of the gang, for the rest of the school year.
*~*~*~*:*~*~*~*
The train finally stopped at King's Cross and the gang filed off the train. Diana frowned slightly when she walked over to Valentina and Stepan. "Gde otets?" (R) (Where is Father?) Valentina smiled softly as she gently caressed the back of her head. "Tvoy otets poshel k bratu v shkolu. Intsident proizoshel neskol'ko chasov nazad. Tvoy otets khochet, chtoby my privezli tebya v Koldovstorets." (R) (Your father went to see your brother at school. An incident happened a few hours ago. Your father wants us to bring you to Koldovstoretz.) Diana frowned a little as she quickly escorted to the Apparition point without waving goodbye to her friends. They Apparated to Diagon Alley before Stepan pulled out an international Portkey which was an ancient looking key. They all put their hand on it before they were quickly whisked away.
Their feet landed on the snow-covered ground in front of Koldovstoretz. The building was even more imposing then Hogwarts as they quickly made their way inside where a portly shaped middle-aged woman dressed in something similar to what Madame Pomfrey wears. "Syuda, pozhaluysta. Bystro." (R) (This way, please. Quickly.) They were escorted through many empty corridors until they reached the doors of the infirmary. The doors opened to see Tom sitting next to a hospital bed with Christopher who was laying down fast asleep. "Father." She said as she quickly ran over to stand by her father's side. What happened?" She asked softly. Tom sighed softly as he looked up at his daughter. "Your brother got caught into a fight with a raging young Veela who was about to rip at someone who was touching his mate."
Diana's eyes widened slightly at that as she looked at her slumbering brother. She had heard incidents of such happening in Koldovstoretz since it was a school that most people with creature abilities can go without discrimination. Bandages covered his bare chest and his pants were covered in blood. "Can we take him home?" Tom shook his head. "No. We can take him tomorrow." He leaned over to look at Valentina and Stepan. "Why don't you two take her back home. I'll be here." They nodded and they gently stirred Diana towards the door after she said a brief goodbye to her brother.
December 19, Saturday
Diana gently knocked on her brother's bedroom before slowly opening it to peek inside. "Hey you," Christopher said with a smile as he looked up from the book he was reading, his back propped up against the headboard with a pillow behind him. Diana grinned and did a running start to hop onto the bed just in time to see her brother close the book he was reading and catch her with an oomph. She laughed as she hugged her brother tightly, enjoying the kisses the top of her head. "Any interesting stories to tell me?" He asked as he held onto her, always eager to hear what kind of mischief his sister has gotten into. Diana spent the next thirty minutes telling the stories in great detail, their laughter could be heard through out the mansion, bringing smiles to the adults in the lower level.