The New Princess
Hogwarts Year 1 - Arc 1 - Part 11 - Chapter 23
All's well that ends well?
Previously:
Hermione nodded gratefully, offering Aryanna a warm smile.
"Thanks, Arya. It's not that I don't want to do this... it's just..."
"You aren't ready yet. Say no more, I understand," Aryanna interjected. She knew better than anybody that this was a huge commitment, one she had no desire to rush her friend into making. If she was to make it, she wanted Hermione to be sure about it. If that took a day, a week...or even a year, then so be it. She would wait.
"Thanks, Arya," Hermione said, feeling a sense of relief. She had a lot to contemplate.
"As I said, should you have any questions or concerns, Hermione, feel free to approach either me, Susan, or Setsuna at any time. You are one of us, always have been. And we always take care of our own," Aryanna reassured her.
As the tension in the room eased, Poppy Pomfrey injected some humor into the situation. "Well, it seems the hospital wing is witnessing quite an unusual event today. Superhero recruitment, of all things!"
This prompted laughter from everyone present, though Hermione's was a bit weak. Nonetheless, amidst the humor, she already began to feel a lot better.
Oh yes, she had a lot to think about. Hermione thought to herself.
One thing, however, was certain: after today, her life would never be the same again.
And now the continuation:
The cool, dim corridors of Hogwarts Castle echoed softly with the trio's footsteps as Aryanna, Susan, and Hermione leisurely made their way from the hospital wing to their respective houses. Aryanna had reverted to her civilian form, her vibrant Sailor Moon attire replaced once again by her familiar, less vibrant Hufflepuff robes.
It was now late in the evening, and the trio of friends, now all normal schoolgirls once more, fell silent for a while as they walked alone through Hogwarts' corridors, relishing the last few minutes together before they had to slip away to their respective houses. Each step seemed to echo softly in the dimly lit passages, adding to the ambiance of the moment.
Each knew that curfew had been announced several hours ago and that they normally should not have been outside of their common rooms at this time. Having only been in Hogwarts for a single day, it was their first voyage into the forbidden realm of nocturnal escapades, and they couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension at their current night-time actions, even if at that moment they knew they were perfectly safe and had nothing to fear.
Lost in thought, Hermione walked beside her friends, her gaze fixated on the Mercury wand she now held in her hand. Aryanna had given it to her before they left the hospital wing, saying that either way, whether she decided to fully become Mercury or not, it now rightfully belonged to her. In a way, she knew Aryanna was right. All because she wasn't ready yet to commit to the honor didn't mean she wasn't already Sailor Mercury. For a second, she wondered why she was delaying the inevitable. She never had a choice, or did she?
She turned the wand over thoughtfully, mulling over the weighty decision she faced. Glancing at Aryanna on her left, she noticed an equally contemplative expression etched on her friend's face. "What's on your mind?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued by Aryanna's introspective demeanor.
Aryanna met her gaze with a small smile, "Just reminiscing about my own first time," she confessed, a hint of nostalgia coloring her voice.
Intrigued, Hermione leaned in, eager to glean insights into Aryanna's journey as a Guardian. "What was it like? Was it difficult? To make the choice, I mean?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.
Aryanna's smile widened as she recalled the whirlwind of emotions that had accompanied her first transformation. "Let's just say it was a blend of disbelief, surprise, and wonder," she reminisced, her eyes distant with recollection. "But above all, it was a realization—a pivotal moment of my life that shaped my destiny and who I am today. It's something you truly have to experience yourself to comprehend."
Susan, walking alongside them, nodded in agreement, her own memories of transformation resonating with Aryanna's experience. "It's an awe-inspiring experience," she added, going for a more straightforward and short answer, her voice tinged with reverence.
Hermione felt a sense of wonder wash over her as she absorbed their words. "Yes, I'm sure it must have been," she murmured, her mind racing with questions and reflections. "After all, it's not every day you become a superhero and get tasked to protect the world from evil overpowered monsters hell-bent on sucking the lifeforce out of everybody," she added with a grin.
Her attention suddenly turned to Susan, realization dawning on her belatedly. "Wait, Susan, does that mean you're a Guardian too?" she exclaimed, her surprise evident.
Aryanna chuckled softly at Hermione's reaction, a twinkle of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Of course she is," she teased gently. "Would I be discussing this with her nearby otherwise? Especially after stressing the importance of secrecy to you earlier."
"Oh...right, of course," embarrassment tinged Hermione's cheeks as she acknowledged her oversight. "I suppose not," she conceded, her tone sheepish.
"I guess being the most studious of us does not automatically mean you are also the most observant," Susan said, unable to resist a playful jab.
"Hey, screw you! You try being observant when you are being bombarded by life-altering surprises out of the blue," Hermione retorted, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
Aryanna offered her a reassuring smile while Susan held up her hands in surrender, understanding evident in both girls' gazes. "Susan's teasing aside, though... It's understandable, Hermione. You're new to this, and you've had a lot to take in, in a very short amount of time," Aryanna reassured her softly.
"Arya's right. I needed a week after learning about Arya's double life before I felt I was ready to join up and take the plunge. It's an important decision. Take as much time as you need," Susan chimed in. Both girls chose to ignore that, unlike Susan's, Hermione's fate had already been chosen for her since the train journey. She never had a choice in the first place. Still, it was only right to at least make it look as if she did if only to ease her into her new role. They owed her that much.
Seemingly it worked. As they walked, Hermione couldn't shake the sense of camaraderie that enveloped them, the knowledge of their shared secret binding them together in solidarity. "So, if Arya is Sailor Moon and Setsuna is Pluto," she began after a few more minutes had passed, a trace of uncertainty in her voice, "then who are you, Susan? And is Hannah one of us too?" she ventured, her curiosity piqued. She loved using the word 'us' in this situation. It filled her with a warmth she hadn't felt since Aryanna had first become her friend.
Aryanna's expression turned somber as she shook her head. "No... she has no idea." Here Susan added, "YET," a note of longing in her voice at the idea of her other childhood friend joining them. Aryanna looked at her with surprise and hope. Susan sees Aryanna's hopeful look and continues, "I know how much you want her to be one as well, Arya... I do too, probably even more than you, seeing as I've known her far longer. You will get the chance... soon. I know it, you know it. There is no way you would not pick her."
"True," Aryanna said, nodding optimistically, "but until then, all of us must continue to keep the secret, just like Dumbledore and Poppy now have to... like we all have to. But yes, you're right, she will be. It's only a matter of time." She paused before continuing. "Truthfully, I expect her to find out about our secret lives any day now, seeing as she is constantly around us," she said, getting a nod of agreement from Susan in response. "One of us will probably mess up soon. It's only a matter of time. We will just have to be ready when the time comes," Susan inserted.
Aryanna grinned sheepishly as she remembered how Susan had found out about her. "I suppose, it's nearly unavoidable when we spend so much time together," she admitted. "Just remember, Hannah finding out about us is fine, as I was planning to ask her anyway to join us soon." Her demeanor turned serious as she continued. "Everybody else, however, Must. Not. Know. That's critically important. If anybody else finds out, stun them and call for backup immediately. It doesn't matter who it is, a professor, your parents...even your neighbours' dog. I mean it! If it is alive, has ears, and seems to understand what it's hearing, stun first and ask questions later. If that means expulsion then so be it, we will deal with it." Aryanna looked at her two friends grimly. "On second thought, better stun Hannah as well, just to be safe. We'll apologize to her later," she added, cringing slightly at the mere idea of having to stun a good friend. Susan and Hermione also cringed at the idea, echoing her thoughts. None of them liked the idea of stunning a good friend.
"Thankfully, we now have Dumbledore and Nurse Pomfrey on our side, so we can run to them as well if necessary", Aryanna continued her smile reappearing a second later. "A quick Obliviate should do the trick, I think, but they cannot be allowed to have the chance to tell anybody else. If the wrong people find out who we are..." she left the rest unsaid, as there was no need to say it. Both girls nodded solemnly both fully understanding the seriousness of the situation.
"As for who I am..." Susan spoke up. She paused dramatically before striking a pose. "I am the Pretty Guardian who fights for love and beauty. Protected by Venus, the planet of love, the Guardian of Beauty and Youth... I am... Sailor Venus!" she declared proudly.
Aryanna clapped at her introduction while Hermione looked on bemused. "Nicely done, nice pose... though it doesn't look half as good when we are not transformed... our school uniforms just don't do it justice." 'yet,' she thought thinking of the new school uniform she was designing thanks to Cordelia and the guardian fan club. "Oh, that reminds me... both of you, seeing as we are already talking about it, please be careful when we discuss these matters," she ordered suddenly switching to her command voice while scanning the dark corridor for any eavesdroppers. "With Setsuna not around to teach us, it now falls to me to instruct you. So listen up." She paused making sure she had both girl's full attention before continuing.
"I know we are alone right now...as I have been using my sailor senses, as weakened as they are untransformed, to sweep the area, but we really should be a lot more careful when we talk about or disclose our identities. Who knows who might be listening," she said with a small frown as she noticed and pointed out a nearby portrait that was eagerly listening in to their conversation with immense interest, no doubt looking for new gossip material. "It only takes one unlucky moment to mess everything up. Luckily for us, thanks to our suit's protective abilities, while portraits, ghosts, and even cameras can indeed see and hear us, or in the camera's case record us, they are incapable of revealing our secrets as only a living being can pass on the secret. Even when we are untransformed, Magic itself will stop it from happening," she said smirking at the portrait which was now scowling at her. It had indeed heard them but as it was not a living being, it could thankfully not tell anybody else.
Double-checking once more that nobody else was around, Aryanna briefly motioned for the others to stop walking. In a quieter voice, she began to explain further. "Listen carefully because this is vitally important! There are three main ways for our secret to be revealed: Firstly, and most obviously, by directly telling someone who you are. Once it has been told the secret can not be taken back and whoever knows it can reveal the secret. The second option is to write it down. This works the same way as if it's spoken. The third and final way is if someone fully witnesses a transformation happening. Luckily for us, in this case, they have to see the complete transformation from start to finish for it to work. A partial transformation is not enough."
Aryanna paused as she saw the confused looks on her friends' faces and decided to explain further. "What I mean by this is that they have to see you before you transform and fully see you transform from start to finish, and they also have to understand what is happening as well. So please...always, and I do mean always, make sure you are certain nobody can see you, or you are only among your fellow Guardians before you transform. Don't worry about cameras recording your transformations. Our pictures are always blurred, even if we are in our civilian forms." She paused suddenly remembering an important fact, "unless, of course, we don't want them to be, in which case we have to mentally order our suit's magic to temporarily 'unprotect' us." Seeing Hermione's confused look Aryanna added, "Simply thinking about it while focusing on your magic is enough. Please, keep this in mind as this is very important if you ever decide you want to have your photograph taken. You don't want people to start asking questions about why you are blurred in a group or family picture." She looked at them grimly. "Always be aware of photographers...especially paparazzi."
"Fascinating... and potentially problematic. I wonder how that works and what spells are used to make this happen," Hermione mumbled to herself as she listened with rapt attention.
Aryanna took a breath before she continued. "Always remember, should we ever fail to keep the secret, anybody who learns the secret can pass it on. This is why it's so important to stun first and ask questions later if there is even a chance that someone might know. I'd rather have our superhero personas hated and feared, as long as nobody knows it's one of us." The girls looked at each other solemnly as they heard Aryanna say this.
"As for who you are again?" Aryanna said, once again double-checking for anybody else nearby before continuing. "You are... Sailor Mercury. Your planet, where you get your celestial powers from, is, as your name suggests, Mercury." Aryanna smiled as she continued, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. "You are the Pretty Guardian who fights for love, intelligence, and strategy! I think it fits you perfectly!"
Hermione looked at her wand and nodded, a smirk on her face before she lost it again. "Maybe..." She looked up into her friends' eyes. "but as you said earlier, there is no way back out once I have transformed, so I want to be 100% sure this is really what I want before I do so," she added, but she could already feel her will wavering. Even now she knew it was only a matter of time. 'Why am I stalling?" she wondered. For most people, becoming a superhero would be a dream come true.
Aryanna nodded understandingly. "Of course. As I said, take as much time as you want. I want there to be no regrets when the time comes."
Suddenly, Susan's thoughtful expression broke the silence. "You know, I've been wondering... Can we trust Dumbledore?" Her voice carried a hint of uncertainty, laced with the weight of contemplation. "I mean... he hasn't always made the best choices, especially concerning yourself," she added hesitantly while looking towards Aryanna, her words carefully chosen to skirt around Aryanna's past, a topic they all usually tread lightly upon.
Aryanna furrowed her brow, considering Susan's question for a moment before nodding in understanding. She knew all too well the implications of Dumbledore's past decisions, particularly those that had affected her life in profound ways. His tendency to prioritize his judgment over the concerns of others and treat people like pawns on a chessboard - even if he never meant it that way - was a trait that had not gone unnoticed.
"I think so," Aryanna finally replied, her tone measured yet resolute. "His choices may be questionable at times, but he doesn't mean any harm. I trust Setsuna with my life, and if she thinks we can trust him, then that's enough for me. Besides, he did make the vow... so magic itself will make sure that he will behave himself," she added with conviction.
With a collective nod of agreement, the trio continued their walk, each lost in their thoughts as they mulled over Susan's inquiry, their minds drifting back to an earlier moment in the hospital wing as they traversed the familiar halls of Hogwarts.
[ Flashback ]
The atmosphere in the hospital wing was tense as Dumbledore, with a hint of reluctance in his demeanor, tried to find a way to avoid committing to the request...or rather order Setsuna had just demanded from him.
"Do I have to?" he asked, his usual twinkling eyes replaced by a solemn gaze, his tone was more reminiscent of a pouting small child questioning whether he had to do his homework on a holiday rather than the century-old headmaster he truly was. Having been in leading positions for nearly a century and the person everybody usually came to for help, he was not the person who usually gave away control, if he could avoid it.
"YES!" The response, a chorus of adamant affirmations erupted almost immediately from all corners of the room, echoing off the sterile walls. Even Poppy, who had just regained consciousness from her fainting spell a few minutes ago, and who had just been given the same ultimatum, wasted no time in adding her agreement. It was evident that trust in Dumbledore's discretion was quite one-sided, at least in this matter, and not in the old man's favor. No one seemed to think he should be allowed the choice to keep the secret...or indeed be trusted with it. It seemed his past choices had finally caught up with him. A fact that the esteemed headmaster took with a mixture of resignation and mock indignation. He knew he had not always made the best choice, but he had always thought he had done the best at the time, for the greater good, with the information he had at his disposal.
Alas, it was not to be, and so, reluctantly, with a heavy heart and with a solemn nod, Dumbledore accepted the terms that Setsuna, ever the voice of reason, had outlined: "In exchange for keeping the memories of the girls' alternate identities," she had stated, her voice steady with authority, "the girls will be granted a certain amount of leniency and freedom to leave school grounds as necessary for their missions. Secondly, they will also be given a certain amount of help, when possible, should they require it. In return, they will promise not to abuse the agreement and stand ready to protect the school as Guardians should it become necessary."
With the Youma attacks on the rise all over the wizarding world, everybody knew it was indeed necessary and that it was only a matter of time before the school itself would come under attack, so Dumbledore had no problems granting the request. Poppy, with her healer's heart, had also readily agreed to assist the girls whenever called upon, though she expressed a fervent hope that such occasions better be rare, or better yet, not at all...and only for official reasons.
"If injuries are severe enough, then certain injuries might even persist beyond their transformations," Setsuna had added, her tone grave yet resolute, "your expertise in healing will prove invaluable and also help to keep the secret should such a situation prove unavoidable."
Dumbledore and Poppy had nodded in acknowledgment, it was at that moment that Dumbledore had also offered a word of caution, confirming that abuse of this agreement would not be tolerated and that he might sometimes not be able to help. "While I am committed to supporting you in your endeavors," he had said, his tone grave yet measured, "I must impress upon you the importance of discretion. My presence may not always be guaranteed, and I must still be seen to uphold the rules, so there may be times when you must face the consequences of your actions alone."
Seeing the response as fair, the girls quickly agreed.
As for Snape through all of this. He had lain unconscious nearby, blissfully unaware of the deal struck between the girls and his employer. Just the way everybody preferred. Nobody, not even Dumbledore - to their surprise - seemed to believe he should be trusted with the information of their second identities. He thought it would be better, 'just this once, that it may be best for Severus not to know, as what he didn't know couldn't hurt him or be found by Voldemort when he returned.'
But just to make sure, Setsuna had approached him with purpose, her movements graceful yet determined. A flick of her wand later, she had erased any memories of the recent events concerning their newfound transformations from his mind, leaving behind only a vague recollection of his altercation with Aryanna - that she had stood up to him in class, and that he had lost his temper with her...and was now paying the price for his rash deed.
With a solemn nod, Dumbledore had agreed, as too many people already knew of the incident to safely remove it from all minds - a fact Aryanna was very happy about as she did not like the idea of Snape getting away with hurting her or abusing the class in general. Resolved to address the situation of the potions incident publicly, thereby ensuring that any concerns regarding Snape's condition were addressed and that any points lost were restored.
Setsuna then had also promised to arrange for a substitute professor for Snape until Snape's return, ensuring the continuity of their disrupted education, a fact which seemed to have taken a lot of pressure off Dumbledore's chest as he had smiled at her gratefully and had even commented on how glad he was that he didn't have to worry about doing so himself. Supposedly, finding a qualified potions master - and the attached parchment work, especially the parchment work - was not an easy thing to do. A fact that Setsuna had reminded him was his fault for allowing Snape to sabotage potion scores for the past decade. The same substitute teacher would then stay on to continue to teach the girls as per their agreement to keep the girls separated from Professor Snape.
The trio had thanked Dumbledore for his support, knowing that they could now rely on his wisdom and guidance as they faced the challenges that lay ahead.
And so, all had been decided favorably. Dumbledore had officially joined their ranks as an ally, rather than the potentially obstructive figure of authority he could have been, much to the delight of the girls. Departing with smiles of differing levels of contentment, they each carried a sense of relief and optimism. Dumbledore, much to their added joy and relief, had even handed them special repeatable passes, granting them immunity from punishment if they were ever caught out after curfew in the future. However, he had also cautioned them that these passes were only to be used for official Guardian business and that he would monitor their use closely. Any abuse of this privilege, no matter how small, would result in severe consequences. He warned them that he would also not stand in the way if they were caught out of bounce on non-guardian business. Despite this, the passes held immense significance to them. The girls knew it would make their lives a lot easier. None of them had looked forward to constantly sneaking around whenever they went on their night-time adventures. Luckily, ironically thanks to Snape, that would now no longer be an issue.
[End of flashback ]
"I still can't believe it's only our second night at Hogwarts, and we're already out after curfew," Hermione whispered, her excitement tinged with unease. As the most rule-abiding of the group, she couldn't shake her discomfort.
"Legally, so no need to whisper, Hermione," Susan said, rolling her eyes at her friend's nervousness. "Thanks to Dumbledore's curfew passes, Hogwarts is now our playground."
Aryanna nodded with a smile. "Thanks to Dumbledore, I almost feel like a prefect. We're going to be the envy of the school."
"Only for as long as we don't abuse the privilege," Hermione reminded them, ever the voice of reason.
"Do you really think he's going to remove the permission with all of those Youma's out there? He needs us to fight them," Aryanna countered thoughtfully.
Susan rolled her eyes and responded, "Maybe, maybe not, but there are always other punishments, so why risk it?" She winced slightly, the memory of her and Aryanna's earlier punishments still fresh in her mind.
The other two girls nodded in sympathetic agreement. "That's true. We'll simply have to be careful not to abuse it, or if we do, not get caught," Aryanna replied before a mischievous smirk appeared on her lips as she thought of the frustration their newly granted immunity would cause certain authority figures, like the infamous caretaker Filch. Beside her, the other two girls shivered slightly at the mere thought of getting caught. Having the passes was like receiving a gift from Merlin himself.
Hermione bit her lip, casting a wary glance around the darkened corridors. "What are the chances we'll run into Filch tonight?"
"Pretty high, maybe even a certainty," Susan replied, recalling the stories she had heard from older students and her aunt of the grumpy caretaker's nocturnal prowling.
Filch was infamous among the older students for his relentless pursuit of rule-breakers. Armed with his trusty cat, Mrs. Norris, whom he had trained since she was a kitten to hunt students like a bloodhound - only with punishments instead of teeth - his presence cast a menacing shadow over any late-night excursion. To many, Filch appeared as a bitter, always-angry old man who harbored a deep-seated animosity bordering on cruelty towards the students.
Unable to wield magic himself, Filch seemingly found solace in enforcing the rules and maintaining order, clinging to his authority as a means of asserting his presence in a world that constantly reminded him of his limitations. Even on the trio's first day, they had already heard warning stories from older students about how his gruff voice echoed through the halls, always lamenting his inability to use the old punishments and longing for the days of - possibly made-up - the floggings of screaming students who used to be tied up by their toes in the dungeons. No student dared to cross paths with him if they could avoid it, avoiding him like the plague.
However, that was far from the truth. What most students didn't know was that Filch didn't hate students at all. Beneath his facade of cruel hostility and strictness lay a more complex truth. Filch's outward disdain for students was but a carefully crafted guise, masking a deep longing for acceptance and and desperate cry for belonging and purpose within the walls of Hogwarts. The other professors knew this, and as such, didn't interfere. This caused confusion and disgust from Muggle-born students who couldn't understand why someone who seemingly hated students would be allowed to stay at Hogwarts.
Filch's nightly pursuits were in fact part of an age-old tradition as old as Hogwarts itself known as the Midnight Gambit. Created by the four founders back in the Middle Ages, it was once a trial used to test students in various disciplines: Stealth and Daring, Cunning and Deception, Knowledge and Intelligence, Spell work, and Teamwork. On official trial nights, students had to avoid the caretaker and other authority figures while retrieving a certain item from a forbidden place in the school. If caught, they faced punishment for breaking curfew. However, if successful, they earned bragging rights and sometimes rewards from professors. It was this trial, this tradition, which Filch endeavored to keep alive.
Always a high-risk, high-gain challenge - at least on official trial nights where everybody knew you would be attempting it - the students' task - usually always a sixth or seventh year - was to use everything they learned in class and during study periods to avoid the caretaker and other authority figures on the prowl that night and collect a certain item, from a forbidden place in the school, which you were only told about on the day of the trial.
As the student or students - groups were allowed - if you were seen but not identified, you had the opportunity to run, try your hand at diplomacy and deception, or use their skills and spells to get away. But as soon as you were identified and failed to convince any of the hunting authority figures to let you go, you failed the trial and were punished for being out at night after curfew. After all, curfew rules did still apply, trial or no trial. It was simply the risk you took when you attempted the entirely optional trial. Add in Peeves, who was always on the lookout for students, always ready, willing, and able to snitch on them, if anything, it was the time of day Filch liked the most.
Of course, if you were assigned an official gambit task - the only way to get the rewards for passing it - the professors usually also made sure that the caretaker was informed of that fact as well. This ensured that he could organize the prefects and any other participating professors, thereby ensuring that they would be extra vigilant on that particular night. After all, teamwork was an essential part of the trial for a reason. On all other nights, only the thrill of the hunt and the bragging rights - or punishment - remained. If you didn't get caught, you were never punished - even if it became known that they were out later the next day.
As an extra incentive for the prefects to do well on the official trial night to catch the individual or individuals if they happened to catch the unfortunate individual or individuals, 'they' were given a reward instead. So it was always very competitive. Bets were sometimes placed and fortunes made or lost. 'Neutral' Professors, out at night but not officially participating, didn't even have to punish you if they caught you - although it was frowned upon as the students were still breaking school rules. Indeed, some biased professors did not. Cheating was allowed, and even deals could be struck at any time. It was not even unheard of for caught teammates to turn traitor if it meant it got them out of punishment - although few dared, and then usually only when multiple houses participated at the same time. Multiple teams of rivaling houses were allowed, and some professors or indeed parents even gave or loaned out magical items - like invisibility cloaks - to help the students - or their children - in their tasks. It was all part of the strategy and tradition of the hunt.
For Filch, however, the Midnight Gambit offered a fleeting sense of camaraderie, a chance to engage with the students on his terms. Filch didn't have a lot of opportunity to interact with the world in a magical capacity, being magicless himself. This was as close as he got to being a full member of Hogwarts, magic and all included. In the dead of night, as he patrolled the dimly lit corridors he was 'King', and the most powerful person around. In those moments he revelled in the thrill of the chase, his heart pounding with exhilaration as he pursued elusive shadows through the darkness.
Incidentally, this was also the reason why it was so easy for students to get out of the common room at night, and why the common rooms were never locked down after curfew. Filch allowed them to get out. An underage ward at each common room entrance from the headmaster would have made it almost impossible for students to leave their common rooms outside of emergencies. But that would have ruined his fun.
But for now, the trio knew nothing of this. To them and the majority of the student body, except those who read or were told about it, 'The Gambit' had vanished into the history of Hogwarts and is now only kept alive and performed as a game between the Hogwarts caretaker and those few students willing enough to play it with him. There were now only a few ways left to learn about the secret cherished tradition. The easiest way...was to read about it in Hogwarts A History. But even there it was only mentioned, as an extra assignment given to students by professors to test their knowledge and daring. To truly learn about it, you could only do so in three different ways. One... by reading about it in the library. There was a book about about it in the restricted section. Two, you had to become a prefect as it then historically became a part of your duties to participate in the Gambit... only from then on it was as an agent of the 'other side', and three, as a test set by previous professors as a high stakes, high gain assignment, where those who succeeded were granted a special privilege from the professor usually in the form of an extended visit to Hogsmeade, allowed to stay up later at night, extra house points, or received an automatic 'Outstanding' in your exam - as well as honor and fame and bragging rights. If you passed that is.
As fate had it, unbeknownst to them, Filch wasn't the only one lurking in the shadows that night. As they ventured further into the shadows, the girls heard the unmistakable cackle of Peeves, the mischievous poltergeist nearby. His laughter echoed through the corridors, a warning of trouble ahead. The girls tensed at the sound, instinctively preparing for the impending encounter that they knew was sure to follow.
Normally, this would have been a very bad thing, as Peeves was well known for 'ratting out' and snitching on students. He made a game out of it, just like he always had for the past few hundred years, ever since his arrival.
Normally, encountering Peeves would be the worst-case scenario that sent students fleeing or desperately pleading with him to leave them alone. Peeves finding you, usually meant a quick check, followed by a swift check mate. Tonight, however, was different. Armed with their newfound freedom, the trio faced him with polite defiance. Thanks to Dumbledore's passes, knowing they had nothing to fear, they were even looking forward to the confrontation.
Sure enough, the moment Peeves noticed them, he immediately swooped down, taunting them with his singsong mockery. "Oh, lookie lookie, what have we here?" Peeves jeered as he floated closer with an air of menace. "Out past curfew, are we? Tut-tut! Naughty naughty, you're gonna get caughty!" he continued to sing, hoping to cause the girls some more distress.
Much to his surprise, however, despite his taunts, Aryanna, Hermione, and Susan stood their ground, their expressions betraying no hint of the fear he normally expected to see.
Aryanna, ever the leader, calmly stepped forward to meet Peeves' gaze. "Hello, Peeves. How are you tonight?" she asked, her tone casual despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Safe from punishment if caught, they may be, but that was no reason not to be careful and polite. Nobody ever knew what the troublesome poltergeist would try, especially if he felt slighted. This confused the poltergeist as he had expected them to beg, or curse him, desperate to get away and afraid of getting caught. Finding a calm student, or worse, calm students, was not meant to happen. He frowned and eyed them wearily. The only time students stayed to talk to him was when they wanted to ask him something, or during those rare occasions when they had something they could use against him... or when they wanted to bribe him, like those Weasley twins. Why else would they be so calm otherwise? Unless... Of course! 'They have a pass,' he reminded himself. If so, then there was little he could do and only one sure way to find out for sure.
The next moment, he did what he did best. With a quick tug at a statue, he made it topple over and crash to the ground with a loud, shattering sound. "STUDENTS OUT AFTER CURFEW NEAR THE ENTRANCE HALL!" he roared out loud enough to be heard at the far end of the school.
The trio cringed. Such a loud noise would surely make the old caretaker come running. They hoped they would not be blamed for the mess.
Sure enough, a mere minute later, the girls heard the clear sounds of someone huffing and puffing as whoever it was ran towards their location.
"Where are they? Don't let them get away! This better not be another false alarm, Peeves..." the gruff voice of the caretaker could be heard approaching at a fast pace.
Even now, it wasn't easy to resist the instinct to start running. But the trio simply glanced at each other. Hermione wore a resigned look on her face, while the others' expressions were eager. They waited, determined to face whatever consequences awaited them.
It didn't take much longer. Just mere seconds later, the flickering torchlight ahead revealed the figure of Filch, accompanied by his ever-faithful feline companion, Mrs. Norris, who immediately started hissing at the girls. Filch's expression turned from one of displeasure to one of glee as he spotted the girls.
"Well, well, well, what have we got here," Filch sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Out past curfew, are we? You look like first years to me. Got lost, did we?" he said, rubbing his hands together with apparent glee. "You three should know the rules as well as anyone by now. So...no exceptions!...Names!" he ordered. He knew very well, first years or not, if they had no good excuse, they would be in for a very sore night.
Aryanna, always the most courageous of the trio, stepped forward first, meeting Filch's glare with a determined stare of her own. "Actually, Sir," she began, her tone composed, "we may be out after curfew...but not without permission. Dumbledore himself granted us special passes," she said, holding out the pass in her hand for him to see.
Filch's eyes seemed to narrow suspiciously as he scrutinized the trio, but inwardly, he breathed a sigh of relief. He may have looked like it the way he acted, but he had no real desire to hurt the girls or see them hurt. Being out after curfew without a proper excuse would have been either a hefty loss of points or a painful caning. He hoped they were telling the truth. As it was, he had an act and reputation to uphold. Also, she would not have been the first student to try and trick him because she thought he was helpless without magic - stupid purebloods. She would have to do better than to try and trick him with a fake pass. A squib he may be, but even he could spot a badly cast charm. And if there was one thing he would never forgive - and happily punish them for -, it was a student who thought they could deceive him simply because he couldn't do magic. He detested those types of students. If they did try to deceive him, then first years or not, they would be in trouble. A lot of trouble...painful trouble.
Filch forced himself out of his thoughts. "Special passes, you say? A likely story. What makes you lot so special?" he said as he held out his hand for Aryanna's supposed special pass. Aryanna handed over her pass to him and watched bemused as Filch began to study it carefully, twisting it around and examining it from all angles, no doubt looking for any irregularities that would indicate it was fake. Obviously, he found none, and so, a minute later, Filch seemed to begrudgingly accept defeat.
"It seems, this is indeed a real pass... a shame... I was looking forward to hearing some cries of pain tonight," he said with a look of disappointment on his face, inwardly though he was glad that everything had checked out. Beside Aryanna, Susan cringed, her hand inching towards her still sore backside. The mere idea of what could have happened to her if they had indeed been out illegally made her shiver but she kept up her neutral disposition as she watched Aryanna take her pass back.
"Well, what are you waiting for... get back to your common rooms. If I see you again, I will not be so lenient," Filch snarled.
Relieved but wary, the girls hurried past Filch, their hearts still somewhat pounding from the encounter. Filch watched them go with a smirk that soon changed into a smile, a hint of admiration flickering in his eyes. So young, but already he could see that they would go far if given a proper chance. He looked at Peeves who was giving him a bemused smile. "What are you looking at you stupid ghost! Get back on patrol, the trial doesn't run itself," he snarled, watching as the Geist blew a raspberry at him as it flew away. A minute later, he walked away to do the same.
As Aryanna and Susan stepped into the bustling Hufflepuff common room, having bid farewell to Hermione near the stairway leading up to the Ravenclaw tower, they found themselves engulfed in a whirlwind of activity. Throughout the cozy space, students of all ages were scattered, each engrossed in their own tasks and conversations. Some were clustered together in study groups, brows furrowed as they pored over textbooks, while others relaxed in armchairs, their laughter blending with the soft crackling of the fireplace.
Friendly games of Exploding Snap and Wizards chess added to the lively atmosphere, their excitement and occasional groans of defeat echoing through the room. Amidst it all, the murmur of voices filled the air, creating a welcoming ambiance despite the bustling surroundings.
Unsurprisingly, the main topic of discussion among the students centered around their eventful Potions class earlier that day. The memory of Snape's unexpected hospitalization and the rumors swirling around it buzzed through the room, igniting curiosity and speculation among the students.
"I'm telling you, I caught a glimpse of Snape in the Hospital Wing today," whispered one student, eyes wide with intrigue. "Madam Pomfrey practically had him wrapped up like an Egyptian mummy."
A ripple of incredulous murmurs spread through the room at the mention of Snape's unexpected hospitalization.
"Seriously? Snape got taken down by a first-year?" another student exclaimed, disbelief etched on their face.
"Must've been some serious hex to take 'him' down," a fourth student mused, leaning in closer to catch every word of the conversation.
"Bones obviously must have received some training from her aunt... I mean she is the niece of department head of the DMLE, how else..." the voice, a girl's, trailed off as Aryanna and Susan walked into the room. "Speak of the devil... well... devils I guess...," she added as she noticed the now infamous pair's arrival.
The room fell into a hushed silence, all eyes turning to Aryanna and Susan with a mix of curiosity and concern. Eloise, a first-year dorm mate with a freckle-faced charm, approached them with genuine concern etched on her features. "Are you two okay?" she asked softly, her voice laced with empathy.
Aryanna exchanged a glance with Susan, silently communicating who should speak first. With a reassuring smile, Susan took the lead. "We're fine, Eloise," she said, her tone steady despite the lingering discomfort. "It's stiff, stings and throbs a bit, as expected, but nothing we can't handle."
That was all it took to break the proverbial dam, and soon the floodgates of curiosity burst open as questions poured in from all directions.
"What happened with Snape?" a curious second-year queried, eyes wide with intrigue.
"Are you facing expulsion?" another student asked, eyebrows furrowed in concern.
"Was that Peeves causing a ruckus earlier? Did Filch catch you?" chimed in a third student, excitement evident in their voice.
"What's he like, are the stories about him true?" this was from another first-year.
"Can we see your welts?" This one came from a boy. It was the traditional question commonly asked to freshly caned students, a question which promptly earned him a firm "No, you may not!" from a nearby girl, who slapped him on the head, much to the amusement and disgust of others nearby.
"In no particular order," Aryanna began, raising her hand to quell the growing clamor, her voice projecting across the room with authority. "Yes, Peeves made a scene, and yes, we encountered Filch," she paused, allowing a collective sigh of resignation to wash over the room as most anticipated a new loss of house points. "But fear not," she added, "we had Dumbledore's blessing, so there's no need for concern."
Aryanna's words were met with nods of understanding, and the sigh of resignation turned into murmurs of relief. However, the atmosphere quickly grew tense once more when she broached the topic of Snape, her tone measured and deliberate.
"As for Snape," Aryanna continued, her voice carrying a hint of defiance. "Well, by now, you've all heard what happened." She received a few nods in return, but the interest in the room was palpable. "Let's just say we had a difference of opinion, and..." She trailed off, purposefully building suspense, sharing a knowing look with Susan, while the rest of the room watched with bated breath, awaiting her next words.
Aryanna, Susan, and Hermione had agreed, as a favor to Dumbledore on his request, to keep the details of the outcome of their encounter with Snape under wraps until Dumbledore made an official announcement at breakfast the next morning. However, Aryanna couldn't resist teasing her classmates with a taste of what was to come. After all, they had just emerged victorious from a major confrontation, and she was eager to revel in their triumph.
Beside her, sensing Aryanna's intentions, Susan couldn't help but groan and roll her eyes. She knew exactly what Aryanna had in mind. However, she smiled good-naturedly at her friend and leader, giving her full support. Susan trusted Aryanna's judgment and knew she wouldn't go too far. Like Aryanna, she recognized that they had just achieved a significant victory that day. So, why not make the most of it?
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Aryanna grinned and stepped onto a nearby table, using it as her soapbox. "HUFFLEPUFFS! Fellow witches and wizards of all ages!" she began, her voice ringing out with confidence. "Today, we achieved a major victory!" She paused, allowing her words to resonate before adding, "We kicked the bat where it hurt the most..."
"Susan, interjecting, "Literally," gained her a few confused looks that quickly turned into stunned gasps.
"...we lived to tell the tale," Aryanna continued, sharing a knowing look with Susan, who added with a smirk, "Quite an achievement," eliciting laughter from the crowd.
"But most importantly," Aryanna declared loudly, "none of us were expelled!" Her proclamation was met with bemused cheers, laughter, and applause from the gathered students. Susan rolled her eyes, accustomed to Aryanna's flair for the dramatic. Aryanna waited patiently until the noise subsided before continuing.
"We can't tell you much... Dumbledore's orders... but I can and will say this," Aryanna continued, her voice carrying a tone of solemnity mixed with defiance. "As you all know Snape... well..." she hesitated. "As you all know... I stood up to Snape and... well... I may have paid the price, painfully." Her words elicited sympathetic winces from many students.
"I was supposed to be on the protected list... but Snape ignored it," she added, prompting grumbles and a few choice words directed at Snape from the crowd.
"Susan stunned him..." Aryanna paused, allowing cheers and claps to erupt, causing Susan to blush.
"...after I kicked him in the balls," she continued, prompting laughter and more cheers from the audience.
"And well... I and Snape ended up in the hospital wing. I'm still here...while Snape... is still sleeping away his shame..." Aryanna finished, her voice trailing off slightly as she glanced around the room.
"I'd say more but...well... that's... all I can tell you right now. As I said, Dumbledore's orders," Aryanna reiterated, her tone apologetic yet firm. With that said, she stepped back down from the table and walked back to Susan, who stood by her side, offering silent support.
A ripple of admiration and respect spread through the room at Aryanna's bold proclamation, followed by murmurs of speculation and curiosity.
"Snape got taken down by a Hufflepuff? That's a story for the ages," one student remarked, a hint of awe in their voice.
"Not just any Hufflepuff, but a first year!" another student inserted, adding to the intrigue.
"Can we hear more about it?" another student piped up, leaning in closer to catch every detail, their curiosity piqued by the tantalizing snippet of information.
"I'm afraid that's all I can divulge for now," Aryanna repeated herself, her tone apologetic yet firm. "Dumbledore will provide further details at breakfast tomorrow."
Unsurprisingly, her announcement prompted a lot of groans of disappointment. The curiosity was evident, and nobody was happy with the lack of juicy information.
Immediately, a few prefects, Nathaniel and Grace among them, began to make their presence known. "Okay, that's enough. You heard the girl, Dumbledore himself asked them not to say anything. Get back to whatever you were doing. If they want to tell us anything, they will. Shows over... Juniper... that included you as well, go away or else I'll start taking points," Grace threatened to a nearby fourth-year girl, known to be a gossip queen. "Not that it makes much of a difference anymore with them already in the black," she mumbled to herself as the girl made a hasty retreat.
In the end, many of their dorm mates nodded understandingly while others simply nodded grudgingly, accepting that this was all they would get. If it was a direct order from the headmaster, there was nothing they could do. They would simply have to wait.
As Aryanna and Susan settled into a pair of vacant armchairs by the fireplace a few seconds later, they watched as a seventh-year prefect ordered a few first and second-years to head over to the kitchens to gather some food for a party supposedly in honor of their victory. Aryanna and Susan, being first years themselves, offered to help and go as well, but they were promptly waved down and told to enjoy themselves.
"Well, that... was inspiring," Susan said with a slightly mocking smile, glancing at Aryanna. Aryanna shrugged in response. She knew the ending of her little speech could've been better, but considering how little she could say thanks to Dumbledore's request, she felt she did well.
Soon after, they were approached by Nathaniel and Grace. Nathaniel and Grace approached them, their expressions a mix of admiration and amusement. "That was quite the performance," Nathaniel remarked, a hint of admiration in his voice. "You certainly know how to command a room, Aryanna. How are you holding up? Need anything?"
Aryanna shook her head. "No need, we're holding up. Pomfrey took care of the pain," she said, her voice carrying resilience.
"Says you, some of us have to bear with it and are not as lucky to get special treatment," Susan added with a wince as her welts announced themselves again.
Hearing this, Grace exchanged a meaningful glance with her boyfriend. It took a few seconds before Nathaniel's eyes widened slightly, and he nodded in understanding.
He looked around the room for a second, then finding who he was looking for - a seventh-year boy - he called out. "Oi, Cassius get over here and bring some of your special cream with you, you know... the one you are always bragging about. Our heroes are in need of your services."
Hearing the call, one of the older boys looked up from some homework he was finishing and gave a nod and a knowing grin in response. "Righty'oh... be there in a jiffy, just need to collect it from the dorm first," he called out as he got up and headed to one of the boys' dormitory doors on the ground floor.
Confused, Aryanna and Susan looked at Nathaniel questioningly.
Seeing the girls' looks, Nathaniel and Grace smiled. "Cassius considers himself to be a bit of a potions pioneer and likes to fiddle around and invent new potions from time to time. He's quite a genius with it," Grace said.
"Not that Snape cares. He still only gives him an E, at best, even when it's so obviously O level," Nathaniel added with a grumble which caused Aryanna and Susan to look at each other, each giving the other knowing looks. With the upcoming new rules concerning Snape, thanks to their victory tonight, both knew that this would soon change.
"Yes, well... Snape's obvious bias aside, Cassius' family has always been well known for producing some of the best potion masters every generation. Seems to be in their family blood or something. Cassius just happens to be the next and one of his most recent creations..." Grace continued to say before she was interrupted by Nathaniel, who added, "Due to necessity," to which Grace nodded and added, "Yes well, he tends to blow up a potion from time to time while he experiments," she was interrupted again by Nathaniel once more, who inserted "Which tends to annoy the bat." This time Grace covered her boyfriend's mouth with her hand before she continued to speak. "Hence the need to create a wonderful healing salve that works wonders on freshly caned bottoms, like your own. A small bit of the salve on some welts and they will soon be gone," Grace finished while giving her boyfriend a small glare for constantly interrupting her.
"Believe me, she'd know," Nathaniel added with a lewd smile and a wink after he managed to remove his girlfriend's hand by licking at it - causing her to quickly remove it - prompting Grace to blush and lightly smack him in retaliation.
Aryanna and Susan listened to the prefect couple, trying to ignore the banter between Nathaniel and Grace. "Thanks... I owe you one," Susan said gratefully as the salve arrived and she was handed a container of the precious substance.
"More than one, I'd say. Those notes were a lifesaver. Without them, we would have been in much deeper trouble," Aryanna chimed in, her appreciation evident.
Nathaniel interrupted, his tone serious once more. "Listen, what you did took guts. A lot of guts. I mean, seriously, Aryanna! You should have been in Slytherin. Standing up to Snape like you did and willingly taking a caning even when you didn't have to, just to get him in trouble. Don't think for even a second that we don't see what you were trying to do there," he commended Aryanna, making her blush slightly.
"And you, Susan... risking expulsion of all things by attacking a professor, even if what he was doing was not right and against school rules, he is still a professor," Grace added, her voice filled with genuine respect.
"What we are trying to say is, that the school, or at least the students, owe both of you a huge debt, one which I'm not sure we can repay. Snape has been a bane to all students... besides Slytherin maybe, for years. Some of us have been trying to get revenge on him for years, but I would never have considered doing something like that. It seems surreal that he may finally be on the way out, so thank you," Grace added a second later.
Aryanna tried to wave off the praise. "Don't mention it. Nobody owes me anything. I wasn't about to let him bully me like that, not when I had a chance to stop him. Legally at that. Sure, I would have preferred it if had not been so painful, but in the end, it was my choice."
"Still, I'm sorry it had to come to this," Grace said, looking at Susan with sympathy as she winced again from her injuries.
Aryanna smiled. "I'm not... it had to be me. With his hate towards me, I was the logical choice. Someone else might have gotten it wrong," she said with a smirk, causing Susan to roll her eyes and Grace and Nathaniel to snort and laugh.
Moments later the food arrived, and the girls were left alone to enjoy the party and the rest of the evening. As the evening wore on, Aryanna and Susan found themselves surrounded by friends and soon lost themselves in the warmth of camaraderie and friendship. As they laughed and chatted late into the night, they couldn't help but feel a sense of hope for the future. Today, they had won a victory, humbled a professor, and gained another Guardian. Together, they would overcome any obstacle that came their way, but for now, they decided to just enjoy the night.
In the dimly lit confines of his office at Hogwarts, Quirinus Quirrell, the professor of Dark Arts, found himself pacing restlessly. Ancient tomes, their pages brittle with age, and arcane artifacts, each radiating an eerie glow, filled the shelves around him. Yet, their presence offered no solace against his current predicament. His gaze fell upon a skull, its empty sockets staring back at him, mocking him - a chilling memento from a perilous adventure. A shiver coursed down his spine, the room thick with an unsettling unease, as if a malevolent presence lurked just out of sight. Quirrell's eyes darted nervously from one shadow to another, his senses prickling with a foreboding sense of doom.
He had felt this way before. His intuition, a peculiar knack for sensing impending danger, was at work again. Even though he lacked the gift of prophecy, he could always tell when danger was imminent or when misfortune was about to strike.
Sometimes, flashes of his past encounters with danger would haunt his mind, like a constant cold touch of death's hand, always present, always waiting. For instance, he vividly remembered his narrow escape from the ancient vampire Lucian Darkwood, an encounter that had left him with a permanent stammer and a chronic case of paranoia.
Many questioned his suitability for the position of Dark Arts professor. But how could anyone remain composed when constantly tormented by premonitions of impending doom? Even a simple trip down the ever-shifting stairs of Hogwarts was enough to trigger his anxiety these days. His stammer and nervous tic were the manifestations of his constant fear, as were the instances when he jumped at his own reflection or shadow.
He couldn't help it. He wasn't paranoid; he was simply realistic. The threats were real, and they were after him. He was certain of it.
The constant uncertainty, however, was the main issue. He could sense the looming danger, but its nature or timing always eluded him. Just moments ago, for example, that familiar sense of foreboding had washed over him again, stronger than usual, urging him to leave Hogwarts, if only for a little while. Maybe a visit to a friend's house would be enough to clear his head?
Quirrell was about to make his way to the Floo of his office, when a sudden chill swept through the room, freezing him in place. Suddenly a dark, shadowy portal, unlike anything he had ever seen before, materialized before him, and from its depths emerged a figure cloaked in shadow. Quirrell's heart pounded frantically as he faced the unknown intruder. His mind was a whirlwind of fear and panic, as he searched for a way out. Any way out! Even a window would do, even if it meant a steep and ultimately painful drop.
'Who are you?' he managed to croak, hoping for an answer. 'What do you want from me?' Already he could sense the futility of his situation. Whoever or whatever it was, it had breached Hogwarts' defenses with an ease that was beyond his comprehension… and his worst nightmare.
The figure moved closer, barely visible in the dim light. Quirrell felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead and a tightness grip his chest. Fear clamped down on him, robbing him of his voice and his will. Trapped, like a field mouse cornered by a cat, he realized that the intruder had cut off his only escape route. He backed away, his eyes wide with terror, as the dark menace loomed over him.
Valda's eyes gleamed with malicious intent as she emerged from the shadowy nega portal she had conjured only moments ago. She advanced towards Quirrell, her movements slightly faltering due to her unfamiliarity with this mode of travel, however, it was hardly noticeable, and she cared little for it. As Voldemort, power, superiority, and grace had been crucial for success. Back then it had been vital never to exhibit any form of weakness. But as Valda, she was no longer bound by these constraints. As Valda, she no longer needed to be powerful. She had different means to achieve victory now… others who could fight for her. While power and skill would always be useful, they were no longer critical for success. Now, she only had to rule through fear. And that… was easy.
As the portal closed behind her, she studied her former minion with a frown of disgust. 'Is this the type of incompetence I had to tolerate when I was Voldemort?' she wondered. Valda shrugged off her frustration. 'No wonder I lost, but no matter. I have far more loyal, powerful, and obedient minions now,' she reassured herself.
Aware that she was no longer the powerful wizard she had once been as Voldemort, she didn't even attempt to use her wand and fight Quirrell directly. As loath as she was to admit it, she knew, in her current form, with only a fraction of her former self's once massive power remaining, she would most likely struggle against a seasoned Dark Arts professor like Quirinus Quirrell.
Even a seventh-year student could probably defeat her now, albeit with extreme difficulty. In this, she realized with a pang of self-loathing, that she too had become one of the weaklings she despised so much. True, her experience, superior knowledge of spells, and strategy would no doubt still allow her to win, but why risk defeat when she didn't have to? Not when she had a different way to easily achieve victory at nearly no cost. No! Her skills no longer lay with magical prowess, or who could cast the most powerful spells the fastest. Those days were over. Now she had the ability to summon Youma, to aid her in battle instead.
She decided she would give her former minion one chance and only one chance to join her willingly. If he hesitated for even a second or dared to refuse her, she would take him by force. One way or another, today, Quirrell would join her again, willingly or not, it made no difference how.
Taking a step forward, she faced him directly and sneered as she watched him take a hurried step back. She didn't need to see it, she could practically smell his fear…sense it, taste it. 'Do I really want such a coward as a minion?' she asked herself. 'No,' she decided, she did not. The way he was now he was nothing to her. Nothing but a liability. But that could be changed. She would do so, right now.
"You know what… I think I've changed my mind," she declared, her tone dripping with disdain. "Let's dispense with the formalities and proceed straight to the crux of the matter," she said. From now on, she decided, only the chosen few would be allowed to join her. Only those worthy and loyal to her cause and especially to herself would be allowed to join her now and serve her in her glory as the new queen of the Negaverse. She had no more need for mere…'mortal' cannon fodder. Not anymore.
Stepping back a step she mumbled a few words. With a mumbled incantation and a small flash of purple light, she bypassed Hogwart's mighty wards once more and a new portal tore open the fabric of reality. From it a monstrous creature emerged, its form a grotesque parody of nature, stepping out as if summoned from the depths of a nightmare. This time the portal remained open as the monster looked at her with deference, near fanatic reverence...and also a tad of fear.
"He is of no further value to me…" Valda said and with a dismissing motion of her hand she stepped past the Youma she had summoned to do her bidding, towards the newly opened portal, ignoring her former loyal minion.
Valda watched with a blend of indifference and sadistic pleasure as her Youma acknowledged her near silent command and moved to seize its prey. She knew that her loyal Youma knew what it had to do. Nothing more needed to be said. Instead, she filed her nails in the muggle fashion, a smirk playing on her lips.
No longer did she need to conceal her muggle heritage from the prejudiced pureblood lords. Life, indeed, was great!
Though experienced in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Quirrell knew this was his end. He was severely outmatched right from the start. He had no illusion of winning. He had heard what the creature - this Youma - was capable of, how a whole platoon of aurors had failed to defeat one. What chance, if any, could he possibly have against it all alone?
It had to be a Youma, what else could it be? From the very beginning, his spells proved entirely ineffective against the monster; nothing he tried worked. Even the Avada didn't seem to faze it.
With a sigh of defeat, he mentally prepared himself for his final moment. 'To think that I survived Lucian and the hordes of the mummy of Hatshepsut, only to fail now in the questionable safety of my own office.' A bitter thought crossed his mind as he was driven back by the relentless onslaught of the creature until he found himself trapped in a corner of the classroom.
In despair, he wondered, 'Damn it, why is nobody coming to save me?' 'The wards should have alerted the whole school by now,' he thought desperately as another of his spells was absorbed by the beast.
As if sensing his thoughts, Valda glanced in his direction and smirked.
'She must have done something to stop them from alerting Dumbledore,' Quirrell cursed his predicament as he attempted one last desperate spell, an ancient dark arts spell he had once learned while on a trip to Egypt. 'It had saved me then. Would it do the same now?' he hoped against hope.
Alas, it was not to be. Quirrell's desperate hope was dashed, replaced by a soul-crushing realization. It would be the last spell he would ever cast.
With terrifying swiftness, the Youma seized him, its grasp like a vice around his trembling form. Quirrell's last hope shattered as his talisman, a token of past victories, crumbled to dust beneath the creature's touch. Then, a wave of excruciating pain engulfed him, surpassing even the agony of the Cruciatus curse.
Paralyzed and helpless, Quirrell could only scream in pain and fear as the Youma lifted him up into the air by his hair, then, forcing it's other had onto his chest it drained him of his very essence, his life force slipping away from him, sucked out, in a cruel torrent. In those harrowing moments, he felt his magic wane and his consciousness fade, consumed by the relentless darkness closing in around him. Then, one final scream of agony and his sight went dark and he knew no more.
Valda watched pleased, reveling in his final screams, as the final dredges of power left her former minion's now near-lifeless body, leaving only a lifeless shell behind.
"Well done!" she complimented her minion. "Now… you know what to do. Don't fail me," she said as she stepped through the portal and without another backward glance, she let it close behind her. The Youma, now alone in the empty and quiet room, in all its dark alien glory nodded at where the portal had once been then took a look around. No evidence remained of what had just happened.
"As you wish, my Queen," it said with a smirk as it touched Quirrell's lifeless body which then seemed to get sucked into the Youma. Moments later, the alien monster had transformed, morphed into a perfect copy of the man. It then sat down at Quirrell's desk, assuming his role, and began to finish the former professor's - now its own - parchment work.