Chapter 17

Pansy took her seat as she adjusted the newly transfigured dress that clung to the top of her thighs. She had taken ownership of her own thoroughly dated and centuries-consumed dress earlier that week. Tracey had given her tips on transfiguring the dress, giving her advice to practice before her first time. In truth, being that her family were poor by their own standards she was used to this by now, having taken ownership of most of her grandmother's dresses and attempting to bring them to the 90's with what skill she could, but she hadn't done so in a while.

This time she had attempted a Jacquard lace number with pleated hem. It was gothic and dainty, but her plunging neckline ran too deep with the tailored slit cut too high. As a first attempt it pleased her, but its faults flashed much of her underwear and made her sit with an awkwardness she took as a lesson.

She had noticed that same deafening silence when she entered The Cascade, just like the first time. And again, as with her first time, she had heard that same dissonant whispering in the air. It was chilling and yet as she now sat, the green of the skull illuminating the clearing, she heard it grow louder and noted that it didn't frighten or unnerve but intrigued her.

Aspis had released his guard on the Moonstone, as he did, they were bathed in the blue power of the Rune Symbols as they shined until yielding into its softer glow. The life soaking back into the Cascade, all outlines seemed to blur gently as they started their slow orbit, levitating just so off the ground.

"So, what happened to him?", Liza continued their conversation from their walk down.

"To Weasley?", Tracey answered.

It had been some days since their last lesson with the Gryffindors and while they'd all seen each other, with similar topics being raised, they had finally succumbed to the weight of their work loads. With a year of O.W.L's, Harrier and Liza's last year in preparation for their N.E.W.T's next year, only Farah was sitting comfortably without extra work at present.

"He mentioned it was his brothers…".

"The twins?", Farah piped up with a twinkling interest.

"Know of any others still at Hogwarts?" Harrier teased her.

"The banter brothers more like", Liza purred, "those two are dangerous if they get you alone".

"MmmHmm", Harrier agreed with a nod.

"You haven't?" Pansy blurted out in shock; she looked between the two older Gal's. She'd only just been pulled into the conversation. She had already been over much of the lesson with Tracey, naturally, so had only vaguely been listening until hearing this.

"Behave!", they both chorused, shutting her thought down, it brought a chuckle from them both.

"Of course not!" Harrier sat upright with an imperiousness as she brought her tea to her lips, "remember what I told you about boys and their nature".

"But those two have almost too much about them, its that confidence you need to watch out for", Liza accepted her own cup and saucer as the tray came around to her. "Like I said, get you alone with them", she gave a smirk and a head tilt, "it's game over".

"Amen", Farah breathed roughly, which brought a colourful trickle of laughter from them as she hid behind her own cup, smiling through her embarrassment. "Anyway…you were saying, Tracey!".

"Oh yeah, well just something about them letting of some mad fireworks", Tracey tried to sound as even as she could, she'd already noticed she heard a notable weirdness in her voice when the subject of Weasley was brought up.

Tracey found that her quickness to confide in Pansy what she learnt, or believed she'd learnt, that Horse and Weasley were one and the same, had to take a back seat at dinner that same night. Before they could safely get on the subject, she had wanted to do so privately away from the Gal's for Pansy's own privacy, to allow her the choice in how much she wanted to share. But that evening during post at dinner, Pansy received her daily letter from him, and it had captivated her enough that the two had been flung into a much stronger repour as they had at the beginning. Since then, she had been quick to throw herself into her replies to him. Tracey didn't know if it was for the best to reveal what she knew.

"Apparently they've gone from those clever sweet boxes to branching into other markets", Tracey went on, "but they've, err, not been the best at calculating with their mixtures for their fireworks. So when they set them off to celebrate Ron being made keeper, it sort of blasted him off his Broom and he fell a good thirty feet".

"Wow", Farah was wide eyed.

"They kept that quiet in a school that thrives on gossip".

"Well according to Weasley, Granger went ape at them and confiscated everything they had, threatened to Owl their mum".

Everyone eyed each other at this. Even amongst Slytherin's Molly Weasley's wrath was foreboding.

Tracey went on, "so the boys did as she threatened and as everyone else there was a Red, they agreed to sit on it so's not to embarrass the team".

"And yet, he told you?", Liza sniggered.

"Well obviously, it's not just Pansy that has the Weasleys going weak at the knee's", Tracey winked at Pansy who she was glad to see had a smirk on her face in retaliation. The two had been happily exchanging barbs about them both having a lesson each with him. Pansy too seemed to have come out of that last lesson somehow stronger and not bitter at all about Tracey's time with him.

"More importantly for us though", Farah cut in, "is he going to be fit for the first game with Slytherin?"

"Already is, according to him", Tracey said, "It's just a broken arm and dislocated shoulder. He just had to take it easy. Something to do with whatever was in the firework that messed up his arm, meant that Pomphrey could repair it no problem, but no amount of pain relief potions will work on it". Then with a considered look she added, "but I'm not so sure, I think it would be a very clever play on the Red's part if Slytherin went into that game thinking their keeper wasn't one hundred percent".

"I'm not sure", Pansy, for the most part stayed out of Quidditch talk but she noted the pain he was in during class. "I've never doubted Pomphrey but…", she lifted her hand and looked at the feint red shiny line where the blade had damaged her, "I've always had a better understanding the power of potions, they go hand in hand". She traced the line on her skin, it was fully healed, on the outside. "But I can feel a deep pain in my hand even now, after everything Snape did. And I'm sure Pomphrey would have been equally skilful, maybe more so. But magic can't undo everything, sometimes the more real remedy is time, Potions and spells work, but over time our bodies can work to reject or build tolerances".

She found everyone staring at her blankly, then finally noted that she seemed to have brought the conversation down, going red she finished, "I just meant he's probably still not going to be match ready". This brought a small round of chuckling from them as they felt the embarrassment.

Pansy jumped as Harrier suddenly tapped the base of her wand against the Rune Stone, it broke the quiet of the Cascade as a wave of sound like thunder echoed out.

"Greeting's Sister's", Harrier sternly spoke out.

"Maior Soror", they all chimed as they bowed their heads.

Pansy held her hand to her chest, noting none of them were surprised she followed suit, acknowledging Harrier. "Could have warned me, bloody heart attack", she breathed.

Harrier smirked at her, "Welcome sisters, to this month's meeting of the Girls and Ladies of Slytherin". She again tapped her wand, this time just wand tip. There was no crack of sound, just a twinkling noise above as Harrier seemed to adjust the light of the moon above. It seemed to change and glow more ominously as it mixed with the cavalcade of light and sound now circling the Cascade as one.

Again, Pansy noticed, just as she did on her first time, that there was an air of the theatrical to Harriers words but were also immediately replaced with that same, brighter, more relaxed attitude. It was something she put down to as being more of that same, keeping with tradition, that they had spoken of.

"So, to business", Harrier smiled, "we welcome you, Pansy, to your first true meeting". There was a howl from the other three as they clapped her. "We will of course be looking to each other for a sacrifice tonight as well as a blessing. We'll be picking up where we left off with our time spent at the end of last year learning wandless magic".

Pansy heard this with a suddenness that made her sit upright, wandless magic was something that wasn't usually taught until their last year, sixth year in some cases depending on the teacher but it was an altogether exciting and intimidating prospect.

"Pansy", Harrier went on, "You should be ok jumping into this as we haven't had much practice since finishing school. With all of us being at home, we should all be rusty as we couldn't carry it on into the summer. Don't worry though it's complicated for a reason. None of us are experts". Harrier shifted uncomfortably as she eyed them all. "I did have a yearly plan for us but as were all aware, things have changed at school. For the most part we're concerned with Umbridge and what her approach to lessons would bring". There was a round of nodding from the others. "Unfortunately, I've spoken with Liza about this already, it looks like things are already set to get worse". "Olivia Sherwood, the short seventh year Slytherin had a spat with Ginny Weasley and Lovegood the other day ".

Pansy couldn't help but look from Harrier to the rest of them as they listened. But as she did, she noticed something that made her do a doubletake. Seeing them listening intently, she couldn't help but notice the look that Tracey had on her face. Her brows narrowed, forehead creased into a scowl, she wore the look with such a distain that it confused Pansy. Questioning what had made her display such a look, Pansy turned back, eager to show that she was listening to Harrier.

"Umbridge took Olivia into her office after and started quizzing her on Weasley and Lovegood. When she said 'questioning', it caught my attention more. She said it threw her too a bit, but that when she gave an offhand answer, 'like she didn't have anything to really disclose', Umbridge got antsy with her. Then she said she tested the waters the other way and told her, 'She had heard along the rumour mill sort of thing', then suddenly Umbridge couldn't do enough for her. Liv's not quite my cup of tea but she's a smart girl, she knows when someone's trying to use her". Anyway, apparently halfway through, Umbridge ran out to chase down some students who had run past her door and thumped on it loudly. When she left Liv went for a quick nosey and found her teaching planner. The entire year is theory, for all year's".

"WHAT".

"Your joking".

Pansy's own objection was thrown in somewhere with Farah and Tracey's as Liza shook her head, clearly annoyed.

Harrier let them go on for a moment until she put up a hand and brought about some quiet. "We know, trust me. But there's more. After she saw the planner, she saw an open letter on top of a pile on her desk. It was addressed from the minister. And apparently, it hinted that Umbridge is going to be given some certain powers which would start bringing the school to heel. One of the way's they'll have her do it is to grant her the ability to start dismantling aspects the ministry doesn't like. And it looks like they don't want factions forming in Hogwarts. It means that she'll be able to disband out of class groups and clubs".

This time there was no shouts in anger, there was just a silence of disbelief. Again, Harrier put a hand up to stop any further while she was in full flow. "Liv said it was all very vague and was almost like they were communicating between the lines to each other. I'm not the only one she's told but I know she's kept this mostly to herself. She said she doesn't know of anyone else going in her office and if word got out and the old toad put two and two together…", she finished with a wave of her hands.

"But Harrier, your N.E.W.T's are next year, Pansy and Tracey's O.W.L's are this year, not to mention every other Slytherin who isn't a Gal", Farah said with a pained look.

"We know dear", Liza said softly and took the younger girl's hand.

"Were not exactly known about though, are we", Tracey looked between the two, "I mean, come on, she can't stop what she doesn't know about".

Harrier looked at Liza who nodded, "tell them", she said flatly, an alarmingly serious look on her face made them sit up.

Harrier held a dark look about her. "Last year one of the girls I befriended from Beauxbatons had an aunt come over from France to watch the tournament. When she saw me at the second task, she gripped me and hugged me, she's a sister. She'd recognised Aspis and I could see her wearing her broach. Vivacia, used to live in England and came to Hogwarts around thirty years ago. Since then, we've stayed in contact and Owl all the time, she even asked if she might attend a meeting if it were ever possible and she was in the country". Harrier noted her own excitement at the idea and got back to the topic. "Well, I personally think there's no doubt that Pansy was right and that Umbridge was a Slytherin, so when we were worried at start of term, I wrote to Vivacia and asked if she'd ever heard of her. In all honesty I put her at mid forty's, fifty's but she dresses like 'mother darling' so it's hard to get a read on her chubby face".

The others sat listening intently as they nodded for her to go on.

"I was right to ask Vivacia", she said darkly. "She said she knew of Umbridge only too well. Apparently, she was hated, even by our lot's worse standards, this one…hated! She definitely had her friends, but they were a right nasty bunch. Hates Muggle's and Muggleborn's, despises anything 'half bred'", Harrier rolled her eyes in disgust. "Even our head, apparently named Slughorn back then, hated her by all accounts".

Harrier dropped her voice, they were clearly not in a place where they needed to stay quiet and Pansy didn't get the impression this was for effect, but a caution in her voice. "But Vivacia warned me very clearly, apparently, she's much more dangerous than she appears and warned that she heard from her friends in the French ministry that Umbridge has her fingers in a lot of pies politically. She told me that she had three years left when Umbridge started, and the Gal's soon learnt that she had somehow found out about them". Harrier rushed as she saw the looks on their faces, "oh she didn't know details or who the Gal's were, but She apparently became obsessed". "Vivacia said they saw her on nights surrounding a full moon, sneaking out to patrol the grounds. They figured she'd worked out the time of month they met but had no idea where. So, the Gal's spread rumours about her, deciding to make her seem even more unstable pre-emptively, in case she ever did find anything out and ousted them. But no matter what, she seemed to keep a close eye on their Maior Soror…".

"How did she know about her?"

"Rumours", Harrier replied flatly.

"But how would she know".

"Well,", Liza cut in with a bow of her head to Harrier who accepted. "Did any of you know that we have a secret group in Hogwarts for part magical folk", she sniggered, "half breeds, if you want to stay on topic". They all stared at her oddly, "that's a no then", she smiled. "Well, it's true, they meet once a week and there's quite a few who attend". She put up a hand at Tracey and Farah who, for a split second had a light switch on in their eyes, "even if I wanted to, I'm not able to reveal who attends or what they might be. Dumbledore started it to help the students integrate more fluently. He's been secretly allowing misfits to attend Hogwarts for years now. The kind that parents would write in to complain at, the Governors would have fits over and the ministry, well, look at poor Professor Lupin and how they were quick to bin him off. But he set it up as a way of bringing them together, as a support network for those who find it difficult adjusting to school life, or just for any of us feeling out of place. But the whole Chapter is heavily warded. I physically can't say so much about it as his magic won't allow me to. I was able to invite Fleur Delacour last year as a part Veela but as she's left now, I literally can't say more. If I try to disclose to many details a charm automatically makes me…", she trailed off looking puzzled.

The younger three, excluding Harrier, seemed as shocked to hear this as they were amused by the sight of her staring at them in confusion.

"I forgot just how bloody fascinated by you I am, when I'm not hungover", Pansy smirked, bringing a laugh from Liza.

Liza came back to her words as her train of thought finally caught up, "the point is there have been an untold number of misfits come through our doors, even werewolves and blood descendants of vampiera. All protected by the headmaster's magic. But even I've heard fantastical rumours from younger students, there obviously true, but they don't know that. But the point is, truth leaks out".

Liza speaking about truth leaking out hit at Tracey and she glanced at Pansy as Weasley popped into her head.

"Exactly", Harrier spoke up again. "We know that were one of the eldest secret societies in Hogwarts, Merlin, we were created by Slytherin's granddaughter for heaven's sake, but we know were not the only one, by far. And details leak out, rumours spread, just think how many mothers, grand mothers and great grandmothers have been Gal's, or", she paused, "have been non Gal students and been the one's to pass down the stories and rumours about us".

There was a silence while they all thought on what was said. Then the silence breathed life into those same whispers Pansy had noted earlier. She felt surrounded by them and as she felt their whispers it put thoughts in her head. "So, you think she knew what to look out for, when she started school, I mean?"

Harrier nodded, "it's plausible, but then again, I know I've found details hinting to our existence in a book in the library. Farah even found reference to the 'Gal's of Slytherin', in a very old textbook in the Common Room".

"It even called them, Moon Worshipers", Farah interjected quietly.

"So, what are you going to do?" Pansy pushed on Harrier.

"Well, that's what I was going to get to, we need structure for what we do about our education-…" Harrier began confidently until Pansy put a hand up. A little confused Harrier stopped and nodded to her.

"Not what I meant", Pansy said, noting the concern in her own voice, "if she might have already clocked Vivacia's Maior Soror, for who she really was all the way back in her school years, there's only one detail it can be". She looked at them all, confused by their blank faces. "Oh, I thought it was obvious", now she really did feel concern. "Well, surely it has to be Aspis, he's the only thing that made her stand out, right?".

"Crap", Liza blurted out, "were idiots!"

Harrier's blank stare turned into the same look of horror on Liza's, and she seemed to turn noticeably pale. "I, I've been so focused on a plan to get us through the year", her mouth remained open as the situation dawned on her, "oh I'm such an idiot".

"What did Vivacia say Umbridge wanted with the Gal's?", Tracey had her noticeably more serious voice on, it was the type of thing Pansy prided herself on recently, how well she'd gotten at reading her friend.

"I've just been walking round with him on show, flaunting him everywhere- ".

"Harrier don't get fixated on it, it's what were here for, working things out- ".

Harrier cut her off, "I'm such a bloody fool".

"Hey!", Tracey snapped, bringing them all to focus, "pack it in", Pansy noticed how well Tracey played the fierce card as she pointed a finger at the girl's face. It shocked them all. "You're our leader for a reason, you've never let us down before and now that we really need you, you're not going to let us or the sisterhood down".

Harrier sat wide, almost, cross eyed as she focused on the finger in front of her. The soft shocked lines on her face slowly melted away as they inverted into a harder more notable frown line. Standing she crossed the space to Tracey and leaned towards her. "Never, point your bloody finger at me again", Her voice was deadly as it echoed through the Cascade.

"Yes girl!", Tracey egged her on, a sparkle in her eye told Pansy it was the sort of reaction she'd been hoping for.

"Harrier?", Liza said tentatively as she started to pace the clearing.

Harrier paused and turned to them; her fingers pressed to her lips. "Young pup's right Liz, this bitch is coming for us, I'm not leaving this school the first Maior Soror to have us fold under threat". She paused staring at them all, "we need a plan of action".