Chapter 23, Interesting Times
The next year passed in an odd mix of fluctuations between being stressed and being bored. Kereston called Albus and Severus back to run Hogwarts, because she didn't trust anyone else to keep the students safe against the likes of whatever Delphini was. By the time term began, Kereston had released an article to the Daily Prophet announcing that Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape lived and would return to Hogwarts to protect the students during these dark times. She explained that their choice to allow the world to believe them to be dead back in the late nineties was the best choice for them at the time, but they had done nothing illegal, and they were more than welcome back into British society.
For her part, Hydra certainly felt better knowing that they would be protecting Hogwarts when she and the rest went back. Likely it was the only reason Sortia was allowed to return. Though Delphini was clearly no longer a student, Severus likely wouldn't trust that she couldn't get back into the school without him and Albus there to make certain that she could not. Certainly James and Guillermo's parents would feel better with Albus in charge once again as well.
Though Hydra would not feel completely safe until Delphini was taken down for good, she did not believe that Hogwarts was unsafe now that Albus was in charge again. Kreacher sent Stormy and Piper to ride along with them on the train just in case, which Hydra found annoying as well as oddly reassuring. With Her, Loughness, Sortia, James, Guillermo, Stormy and Piper stuffed into their usual compartment it was a bit difficult to pretend as if things were normal even if one wished to do so. Stormy had brought food along, so James was in heaven.
"Do your parents think Delphini would really bust up the train to get to us," Guillermo asked, giving Hydra and Loughness a worried look. "I mean does she have that much of a hate hard-on for your family, then?"
At that James began to cough, chocking on a mouthful of Stormy's blueberry scone. Piper's lips twitched as he passed James over a cup of tea to wash it down.
"That is one way to put it," Stormy said, answering Guillermo. "At times, Stormy supposes paranoia could keep one alive." Hydra realized then, that she was glad Stormy had chosen to answer, because she truly had no idea how worried the daddies were about the situation. Of course they were as glad as anyone else that Severus and Albus had returned to Hogwarts, but they hadn't said much to her or Loughness about Delphini of late. Now she wondered if this was to keep them from being more frightened. What did Kreacher and Regulus say to one another when their twins weren't around, though? Were they stressed, frightened?
The idea of either of them feeling so over a girl was laughable, but was Delphini truly that? With this in mind, the idea of her parents being stressed and frightened, then having to hide this from their children seemed disconcertingly likely to Hydra. If the daddies were frightened, this was even more serious than she'd given it credit for. The daddies were powerful magic users and vampires, so it seemed that little should frighten them. She'd found Delphini concerning, but believed in the new Ministry's ability to eventually get rid of her without too many losses on their side. Gellert had carte blanche to do whatever he liked to get the job done, and he'd already proven himself long before even the daddies were born. He knew what he was doing. If he could turn the wizarding world on its ear, he could handle one Delphini, no matter what she was. That logic helped Hydra to rest easy at night on the matter. Now, though, thinking of the daddies being frightened caused a knot of fear to form in her own stomach that she didn't like one bit.
"So Loughness wrote me that you'd finally found someone," Guillermo sing-songed at Hydra. Relieved for the change of subject that got her out of her own suddenly fear filled head, Hydra turned to him and shrugged. "Well, what's he like," Guillermo pressed.
"And is he actually real," James wondered. "I mean I can't imagine the sort of individual who could win the heart of Hydra Black." He chuckled, eyes gleaming in clear anticipation.
"Are they serious," Sortia asked, expression doubtful.
"I did meet someone," Hydra said, glancing back and forth between her friends. "But we aren't dating or anything. In fact, he doesn't even know that I am interested."
"But why," Guillermo demanded.
"Because Delphini!" Hydra exclaimed. "I met him, then she attacked Gringotts, set the magical world on edge and..." She spread her hands. "Everyone has been dealing with that. Asking him to hang out and get to know one another just didn't seem like the thing to do considering.
"So what's he like," Sortia asked. "And has he got a name?"
Hydra sighed dreamily. "He is fascinating, thrilling, exciting. His name is Ballan, and he's an elf from Germany. Oh and he's a vampire."
Guillermo groaned. "Damn, Loughness! Your sister is gonna get to have hot vampire shagging, and you know vampire shagging is hot. They bite your neck and drink your blood, which apparently makes your shagging super intense. I read about it. All the lady vampires are super hot. Do you think your sister's man can find us hot lady vampires to shag? Like is there some vampire club he can get into to get us hot lady vampires, do you think?"
"He isn't my man yet." Hydra snapped her reminder before Loughness could answer. "And besides. I am quite certain he has better things to do than to look into getting girls for the two of you."
"Yeah, he's far more into killing," Loughness said without judgement.
Guillermo frowned, clearly not finding the prospect of killing nearly as promising as he found shagging.
"It was still a brilliant idea, though," Loughness said regretfully.
Hydra and Sortia exchanged a glance and an eye roll. Somehow that simple act made things feel normal again in spite of the fact they had elf body guards thanks to Delphini's crazy abilities making things all unsafe. Said elves returned to #12 Grimmauld Place once the five children were at Hogwarts. Things at the school, like everything else, were changed yet much the same.
Albus was now Headmaster once again and Severus was Deputy Headmaster. Former Headmistress McGonagall was teaching Transfiguration as she had once done. Severus was teaching potions. Professor Mcgonagall didn't seem thrilled with the decision of Severus as Deputy Headmaster if one could judge by the scowl on her face when Albus made the announcement at the feast. Though said decision was Kereston's and not Albus's, Dumbledore did not appear to be displeased with it.
As he explained that first day in the Great Hall during his speech, with this current danger, security had to be upped on all fronts, and Severus's dark arts and defense training made him best suited to the current requirements for a Deputy Head. Not that there seemed to be a safety issue considering that students weren't even allowed to go outside... Ever. No walks by the lake, no trips to the Forbidden Forest and to the displeasure of most of the school, no Quidditch.
Hydra's group didn't care for sports, so they weren't affected, but they were quite upset over the loss of weekend trips to Hogsmeade. In lieu of sports or weekend shopping, the professors provided the students of Hogwarts with extra defense training classes on the weekends from Severus and a dueling club run by Professor Flitwick. There was also a physical education class run by old Madam Hooch.
This was supposed to take the place of Quidditch, though everyone had to participate. Hydra hated Physical Education class. It involved a lot of aerobics and silly games of tag and other things that had them running about the halls of Hogwarts a great deal and getting sweaty. When she asked Albus why Physical Education couldn't just be for the Quidditch players, he expounded upon all the ways a healthy fit body contributed to a sharp and equally fit mind. "I believe that Physical Education was only overlooked at this school because it is a thing of Muggles. Muggles don't have everything wrong, though," he'd told her firmly. "Even after Delphini has been defeated, we are definitely keeping Physical Education as a part of Hogwarts curriculum for all students."
"Well if it's so very helpful for mental performance, don't you think the professors should do it as well," Hydra asked.
"Of course," Albus nodded. "That is a good idea. We can arrange that. An after school class for professors, and all of them can also participate on the weekends along with the students."
"So you shall be participating, I presume," Hydra said. "Because you truly need to be sharp if anyone does."
"Well... I don't think," Dumbledore floundered, and Hydra felt a smile of triumph spreading over her face.
"But if your physical health goes down, we are all at risk," she pressed. He wouldn't want to do it, so of course he would realize how wrong it was for the rest of them to do it as well. Then this particular madness could end!
"I am too old to go running about, but your point is taken, and I can most definitely increase my morning stretches so that I remain limber."
"And I'm too tired after classes to go running about," Hydra shot back. "Plus I hate being sweaty."
"Well if there ever comes an unfortunate time that you end up dueling Delphini, you are quite likely to become sweaty," Albus replied dryly and Hydra sighed, knowing she'd lost this one.
"I just wish the Ministry would hurry up and take her down," she said, not for the first time and certainly not for the last.
Sortia's mum Mag had taught Ancient Runes at Durmstrang, but as the subject was already being taught at Hogwarts by Professor Flitwick's wife Finna, Mag taught Care of Magical Creatures. Rather than complaining over the fact that both of her parents had quit their jobs at Durmstrang to be with her, Sortia was openly pleased.
Due to the *Plague* that had stripped so many of their magic, the student body was around a third its usual size. In a sense, this meant that everyone got a better education, as each student was often able to receive more personal attention. Hydra tried to focus on this benefit rather than the many restrictions that resulted in not being allowed to go outside.
When they were at last allowed to leave the school, it was for the winter break. All the Hogwarts professors accompanied the greatly reduced student body to King's Cross. Only half of said professors looked nervously around for Delphini or her followers. The others were grimly confident, though with wands at the ready. Hydra, Loughness, Sortia, James and Guillermo were flanked by Flitwick and Severus as they boarded the train. All the professors were riding the Hogwarts Express this year. With so few students, none were remaining at Hogwarts for the holidays. This freed all the professors to go home as well.
"I'm almost sad to be getting on the train," Guillermo said a bit mournfully. "I already miss the sweet fresh air."
"The cold winter air, you mean," Sortia said, shivering in spite of her heavy green cloak. "It looks about to snow."
"That's okay," Guillermo said. "It's fresh snow, falling from fresh air. I forgot what fresh air was like."
"Well you should be enjoying the sweet smell of safety," Flitwick told him tartly.
"Does safety have a smell," Guillermo asked, doubt clear in his tone
"Indeed," Severus drawled. "It does not smell of blood."