Chapter 26
Black Tuesday
22 September 1992, Hogwarts, Scotland
Alexandra was in the process of beating with her fists a recalcitrant specimen of Groaning Mushroom into its pot when the voice of Professor Sprout called her.
"Miss Potter! Mister Malfoy! Could you please come here?"
Sending a look of incomprehension to Morag who was her designed Herbology partner for the class, Alexandra struck the head of the mushroom with a heavy blow, forcing it to take root into the earth the Ravenclaws and the Slytherins second year had prepared beforehand. The Ravenclaw witch then cleared her hands as best as she could.
"I come back in a second." The green-eyed witch said to her fellow Ravenclaw, before marching to the other side of the greenhouse where Professor Sprout was cutting a dangerous plant called the Venomous Tentacula. Inwardly, Alexandra wondered why the Professor wanted to see her suddenly in the middle of the class. And with Draco Malfoy of all persons too? Curious.
"You wanted to see me Professor?" The Potter Heiress asked to the Head of House Hufflepuff, who was not far from a desk crowded by magical plants. The Herbology Professor's wand was emitting a calm violet light which appeared to put the plant next to her in a sort of magical sleep.
"Yes, Miss Potter." Said Professor Sprout in her usual jovial tone. "I did." The Herbology Professor added, just as Draco Malfoy arrived next to her. The Slytherin boy was red-faced and transpiring, as well as out of breath. His school robes were dirty, with a lot of earth everywhere and several scratches where small thorns had touched his wizard's clothes. It was as well the Slytherins were sharing their Herbology class with the Ravenclaw, because the second-years Gryffindors wouldn't have let passed such occasion to mock the dishevelled appearance of the blonde pure-blood.
And they are those who wonder why Herbology is the least preferred class of the Slytherins, thought Alexandra with amusement.
"Professor Snape wants to see both of you before the Great Hall at eleven o'clock for your family reunion. A Portkey made by Professor Dumbledore will transport to you to Black Cobra Manor and back when it will be over. You are dispensed of courses from the rest of the day."
"Err... Professor?" Asked Alexandra, not understanding the sense of what the Head of Hufflepuff had just uttered.
"I have not been invited to any family reunion. For that matter, most of my family is dead, so I doubt I will receive any invitation from them."
"Honestly, Potter." Drawled Malfoy in his usual arrogant and condescending tone. "The Professor is speaking about your ties with the Black family. Don't tell me you haven't received an invitation from Lady Cassiopeia Black!"
"As a matter of fact, no." Replied Alexandra, turning to send a glare at the Slytherin boy who took a step back when he saw her expression. "I have not received any invitation from anybody recently. Not from a Lady Black or from anyone else." She finished, focusing her vision back on the teacher and not on the blond idiot.
"Oh, dear me!" Sighed Professor Sprout, taking a contrite expression. "My mistake, Miss Potter. I was asked by Professor Dumbledore to give you this at your breakfast." The Head of Hufflepuff took a letter on the desk and behind her, holding it for Alexandra which took it with a cold "Thank you."
The twelve-year old girl heard Draco Malfoy sniggering on her right, but alas this time this sorry excuse for a Slytherin had reasons to. Alexandra had long suspected from last year the Headmaster had taken certain liberties by naming himself as her magical guardian. Accountant Grimjaw had detailed to her in various reports how Gringotts had suspected the Defeater of Grindelwald to destroy the various financial empires from Houses he was supposed to safeguard, dividing the spoils for his allies and supporters. These suspicions had not been based on anything solid, however. There was nothing which could accuse the venerated Headmaster of Hogwarts, Grand Sorcerer and Chief Warlock from having done anything illegal.
But reading the mail of a student was not an action you could prosecute someone, if you were the magical guardian of the student in question. Alexandra raged internally, as she had been warned by Grimjaw the Headmaster had the magical knowledge and the political power to intercept her mail but until now she had not had an instance where it had happened. Now she had...and she wondered how many letters and correspondence had been seen first by a person she was still waiting her first meeting face-to-face, despite she asking Professor Flitwick to pass the remarks and message to the man. The letters with Atalanta and those sent by Gringotts were probably safe. Probably. She would have to send letters tomorrow to be sure of it, then warn Hermione, Nigel and Morag to take precautions with any mail they sent her during the holidays.
"Well, you have one hour to prepare yourself, Miss Potter, Mister Malfoy. I suggest you put to good use, take a shower and change into your best robes." Continued Professor Sprout, unaware of the storm in Alexandra's mind.
"Yes, Professor." Both the Slytherin and the Ravenclaw answered, before leaving the greenhouse.
Marching at a very fast rhythm towards the castle and trying to ignore the various insults thrown by Malfoy who was lagging behind, Alexandra opened the letter while she arrived in front of the marble stairs leading to the great doors of Hogwarts. In passing, she noticed the container and the parchment looked really similar in quality to the letters Gringotts sent. It was high-quality parchment, not the type she or anyone students used to copy their notes or even for writing their graded assignments. More in the category of marriage invitations, Ministry of Magic convocations or menus in very expensive restaurants.
The writing on it, unfortunately was exactly was Professor Spout said it was: an invitation from a certain Lady Cassiopeia Black to assist today at a 'familial meeting'. Climbing the stairs two by two, she read the location of the meeting where a formal lunch was about to take place, Black Cobra Manor. Really...weird. Why not Black Anaconda or Black Viper while they were at it? From the start, she knew betting a Slytherin had built said Manor was not worth losing her time. Apart from the two Black members Sirius and Leo Black, every member of this feared family had been sorted into Slytherin.
Entering the Ravenclaw Common Room after having solved the riddle, Alexandra ran to her room, still facing two difficulties. First, she had no clothes for the occasion. There were plenty of rumours at Hogwarts concerning the Black family. Half of them were horror stories. The rest were tales of their wealth, which was according to some of the pure-bloods Slytherin one of the most considerable in Magical Britain. One thing was sure, they were unlikely to see her arriving in T-shirt and jeans with a good eye. Okay, her arriving in clothes issued from the non-magical world would put them in a bad mood. Alas, with the invitation delivered to her on this very morning, buying what passed to be a wizarding formal attire was all but impossible. One of her nicest robes with her best cape, robe, gloves and boots would have to do.
The second issue was that she didn't know what the fuss was all about this meeting. Like this arrogant git named Draco Malfoy had remembered her, she had Black blood. What a big deal. Her grandmother on the paternal side, Dorea Potter nee Black, had indeed been part of this prestigious, dark and insane family. In fact, Dorea had also been the youngest sister of Cassiopeia Black. She had also only avoided being disowned by the slimmest of margin marrying Charlus, as House Potter had never been a family according importance or paying lip service to the purity of blood. All of this had been recorded in the archives of the Daily Prophet, proof that the marriage had made some really big waves. Alexandra wasn't anywhere in the position to claim the Lordship of the family though. Not only she didn't carry the Black name, the Ravenclaw witch was also a girl. And only a man could rule the Black family. Bigoted pure-bloods.
Alexandra took her shower in record time, put her new clothes on and left the Common Room with fifteen minutes left. She arrived before the access leading to the Great Hall with three minutes to spare, meeting only the mischievous Crookshanks pursuing a big rat on the third floor with an awesome determination. Only she wasn't the first to arrive at the meeting point. Professor Snape had been expected. Leo Black, given the sender of the invitation, was logical. The two other Gryffindors, Alexandra had to admit, she would not have figured they would be on the guests' list. Neville Longbottom, wonder of the Wizarding World and Boy-Who-Lived extraordinaire. The eldest of the Weasleys present at Hogwarts. Percy-something, Perceval, Percival, she honestly didn't remember the name of the boy. All she knew this Weasley was in sixth year, Gryffindor Prefect and a sticker for rules. Oh, and the nicknames every House found for him were really humiliating. A little consequence of his irritating tendency to stick for outdated rules and never relax.
The clothes being worn by every person in the Hall were interesting too. Black and Longbottom were wearing what looked to be formal robes with their Houses coat-of-arms over their hearts, and they were way more expensive than the usual robes. For one thing, they were made in a sort of elegant silk or something like that, and there were embroidery of gold and silver decorating the clothes. The Weasley next to them wore only his normal Hogwarts robes, which looked to be old and frayed around the edges.
There was only one minute left before eleven o'clock, and it was clear there was only one person who had had the bad taste not to be punctual. Unsurprisingly, it was Draco Malfoy. His French cousin Lyre had certainly not been invited, since the French branch of their House was not linked in Black activities on the other side of the Channel.
But to the astonishment of the Gryffindors and the lone Ravenclaw gathered in the Entrance Hall, Professor Snape was harbouring an expression of fury. Honestly, Alexandra couldn't see why. It was well-known in Hogwarts rumour mill that Draco Malfoy was often what could be called 'fashionably late' when he and the Gryffindors were at the same place at the same time and Professor Snape was in attendance. A manner Alexandra supposed was to boost the ego of the Slytherin Prince, all the while not risking a detention or a loss in House Points. Everybody knew Professor Snape very rarely punished Slytherins. Even caught red-handed.
"Very well," Said the Potions Master in this cold, silky voice which translated how much he was furious as the eleventh hour rang in Hogwarts Great Hall. "I will wait for the...delayed student." He added in a dark voice which promised something painful was going to happen to a certain blond Slytherin stupid enough to risk his ire.
"This is your Portkey." The black-haired man declared handing a rope shining of a weak blue light to the Weasley Prefect, before walking away with his black robes billowing like a herald of Sauron in search of Hobbits to terrify. The oldest Gryffindor unwound a bit the magical rope, before commanding in a pompous voice to the other students to approach and grab it solidly.
Alexandra obeyed, as did Neville Longbottom and Leo Black.
"3...2...1...Sorbet Lemon!"
Alexandra had not the time to reflect how stupid the situation looked. It was like something had grabbed her by the navel, the group began to swirl at an unimaginable speed, the Hall around them began to fade, and they were propelled forwards in a whirlwind of indistinct colours.
22 September 1992, Black Cobra Manor, England
The landing was brutal and came without any warning. They had swirled so much in so short period a time that Alexandra couldn't help but stagger, and fall on her knees with a groan of pain. What the hell was the problem with the wizards? If she had known how bad travel by Portkey was, she would have insisted to do the travel by another method of transportation. Now on the ground, she had to fight the urge to vomit and her legs had the consistence of marmalade.
"First Portkey experience?" Asked the voice of the eldest Weasley above her in a sympathetic tone.
"Yurgh." Answered Alexandra. "Is it always that bad?" The young Ravenclaw asked, standing up difficulty on her own legs, still trying not to vomit in public.
"The first travel is always difficult." Admitted the Gryffindor. "After that, it gets better. Some persons still have some trouble with them however. Something in their magic fluctuates with the Arithmancy grid of the Portkey."
"Great." Said weakly Alexandra. "This is as bad as my first travel in the wagons of Gringotts."
The red-haired winced, before nodding vigorously. Glad to know she wasn't the only one having problems with the infernal devices manned by the goblins.
The earth having ceased to pitch and her vision having returned to its normal clarity, Alexandra observed the panorama around their group. To be honest, the ambiance was...dark. At the very least desolated. Alexandra didn't know where in the British Isles the Portkey had sent them, but it was a rather gloomy location. The sky was grey over their heads, the grass of the land was scorched and was black at some place. The trees looked diseased, in spite of being in late September, they had no leaves anymore. On some of them big crows were nesting, crowing loudly and permeating an atmosphere of horror movie.
But the masterwork was the manor itself. Standing in the middle of this dark land, the place was focusing the attention on it, like some headquarters for a Dark Lord or another evil wizard bent on conquering the world. The manor was four floors high, and the only way to access it was by a black paved alley bordered by statues of snakes. At the end of it, was a large black marble stair ending with two terrifying sculptures of black cobras barring their fangs. The rest of the mansion was made from black stone, with midnight-coloured towers, gargoyles and repugnant pictures making this place of the less engaging that she had ever seen. But there was worse. No matter its appearance, Alexandra had to look twice before finally realising she was observing a sort of...black aura seeping from the walls of the manor. The kind of thing she had seen with Devkins before fighting him. The oppressing presence which had manifested itself when the Salamander had emerged from a vault and proceeded to annihilate all resistance. What exactly was this place to emanate the same darkness?
Returning to the little matter of group, their number had severely diminished in the instant she had passed to observe the surroundings. Leo Black was walking towards the manor with a black-haired man who had absolutely the same hair and face. No doubt his father, Lord Sirius Black. The Boy-Who-Lived was a bit behind, marching towards the same destination but with a woman in a dark green robe and a stuffed vulture on her head. Almost certainly his grandmother. The only persons in the vicinity where the sixth-year Weasley and Alexandra were waiting were two persons with blond hairs, one of which she was already familiar with having met him at Flourish and Blotts. Lucius Malfoy. So the woman next to him, wearing silver robes which emphasized her seducing body and figure, was his wife, Narcissa Malfoy nee Black. And the two were glaring at the Weasley teenager like if he was some dirty parasite they would like to crush with their shoes.
"Should we start to follow the two other members of our group?" Alexandra asked to the Gryffindor Prefect. The Black-Longbottom-both adults and children- had left them where they had arrived without a look behind.
"Professor Snape..."
"Said he would wait for the 'delayed student'." Who if the persons waiting here were any indication, had to consist in the arrogant and bullish being named Draco. "He never told us to wait for him."
Weasley opened his mouth to answer, but the words died in his throat as another Portkey, this one an enchanted teacup, ejected two persons right in front of them from nowhere. The first was Professor Snape. The other was Draco Malfoy.
"Oh, well. No need to wait for our Professor." Alexandra said in a whisper.
The Head of Slytherin had not heard her remark, but clearly agreed to the spirit of it as he began to head to the manor with long strides after having made a sharp gesture in Weasley and Alexandra's direction to follow him.
The black cape and clothes of Professor Snape, dark and without ornament, were weirdly appropriate given the ambiance reigning in the area. Passing dozen of snake sculptures and climbing the black stairs, the group reached at last the black gates of the gloomy residence. The Malfoy adults and their spoilt child were a bit behind on the grounds.
"Severus Snape, Alexandra Potter and Percival Weasley." Told the Professor in a bored tone to one of the black, well...things decorating the main doors. "We are expected."
The figure, which looked like a hybrid between a demon, a gargoyle and a Minotaur, nodded once to acknowledge Snape's statement and the doors opened in a noise which was more of a shriek than a hiss.
The teacher entered as soon as enough space was created, and Percival and Alexandra penetrated in Black Cobra Manor too. It was...dark. Unlike Hogwarts, the entrance of the Black Cobra Manor was weakly illuminated, with only a few candles and torches providing light. As a result, all the persons arriving (which included the three Malfoys) took a few moments to adapt their eyes to the new conditions. When it was done, Alexandra had to admit she was not impressed at all.
After seeing the marvels offered by her school, she had hoped to see hundreds of painting with old and proud wizards and witches, perhaps architecture of the Renaissance-era, some armours from the medieval times, a silver chandelier or golden candelabras. Nothing of this sort was here. Instead, the Hall where they were standing was to be polite in a state of decay. They were cracks on every wall, and not the small fissures which came when the worker Vernon hired to redo the paint in the living room of Privet Drive did a half-baked job. The wall on the left directly to the door had one which ran from the ceiling to the ground. The walls were dirty, and there was nothing on them, though by the traces there had been some paintings on them once upon a time. There was a lot of dust and obvious signs of neglect. This place was giving a feeling of abandonment and isolation, like in some club rooms she had visited frequently thorough the corridors of Hogwarts. In some way, it made her sad, as she knew this place had in the past been bristling with life and now there was nothing left. An era had definitely passed.
"Look how deep they have fallen..." Whispered someone on her right.
Alexandra stopped glancing at the walls and reported her attention to the persons near her. That it was Draco Malfoy who had spoken should come to the surprise of no one, but Alexandra noticed his father was whispering angrily in his son's ear and it was clear the Lord had not enjoyed the outburst of his Heir. Draco's mother had been watching the manor's hall at the same time with a non-feigned sadness, and for a single second the perfect visage turned into something infinitely more dangerous and vicious. And then it was gone, like it had never existed, but a wince of pain from the Malfoy Heir translated the displeasure of someone having Black Blood in her veins.
Steps resonated not far away and an old man in grey-black robes descended from the black stairs. His face showing an expression of deep tiredness.
"Ah, Lady Malfoy, Lord Malfoy." The newcomer said once he reached the bottom of the stairs, bowing and kissing Lady Malfoy's hand. "A pleasure to see you again."
"Likewise, Lord Burke." Said the blonde wizard with a curtsy nod and a silky voice that was the epitome of courtesy.
Politician to the nails and toes, thought Alexandra.
"If only the Wizengamot shared your opinion." Chuckled the man. Narrowing his eyes and throwing a look towards the group as a whole, the man added in a far less cordial tone. "And I see everyone we were waiting for has arrived. All the young imps and Dumbledore's pet Death Eater."
Professor Snape, who was on the left, winced and took a face one might describe as particularly murderous, but except a tightening of his face, nothing more happened.
"Come." Said Burke. "She awaits us." The words seem more to address to Malfoy than Snape. The three adults and three children mounted the stairs, following Burke. After about fifty stair-steps, they abandoned the climb and engaged in a corridor, which was as decrepit as the entrance hall or the stairs, bearing fissures and large cracks. There was also a nasty odour in the air, a bit similar to the one the mountain troll she had killed had smelled inside Hogwarts.
Finally they reached an opened door.
"The imps will wait here until we have finished." Said Burke in a voice which sounded a bit too satisfied for Alexandra's taste.
None of the Hogwarts students had any choice in the matter, apparently. After a nod of approval from Professor Snape, they had to pass the door and enter what looked to be a small dining room, with two small tables and the glasses, plates and implements for a formal dinner. The floor and the walls were as empty as the rest of the residence. Behind them, the door closed and was locked in a noise which was sinister, much like everything she had seen since their arrival.
They were not the first to arrive, that much was evident. Neville Longbottom, Golden Boy of Gryffindor and Boy-Who-Lived, was sitting at one of the chairs surrounding the right table. If Alexandra didn't know better, she would have sworn the boy was sulking. It was not hard to guess why. There was no sign of Leo Black. Evidently being the Black Heir dispensed you from being classed with the other non-adults.
At the other table, sat three boys, who had all black-hair and looked to be enough tall and large to be fourth or fifth-years at Hogwarts. Alexandra had never seen them at school though, but the black hair and the features left little doubt these teenagers had a familial relationship or another with the Black and Burke families. Leaning on the opposite wall between the two tables, was a girl wearing a red-coloured uniform with fur. She looked completely bored and was the complete opposite of the other boys. The unknown girl had the height of a third-year, but was way more athletic and muscled than anyone Alexandra had seen at Hogwarts, save the Quidditch players. Brown haired, black eyes. An impression of solidity and confidence emanated from her, and she was sometimes taking a quick look at the table Draco Malfoy had sat upon, showing a disgusted look.
The sides were not long in being decided. Draco Malfoy-whose second name was not 'subtlety'- rushed to the table where the three other 'Black-Burke boys' were sitting, and an animated discussion began. 'Blood traitors', 'purity of the blood' and 'inheritance' were repeating a lot. Percival Weasley chose to sit on a chair next to Longbottom, although the red-haired boy remained curiously silent.
Personally, Alexandra did not intend to be drawn in the conflicts with these families, and so chose to lean on the left wall, at mid-way between the Malfoy and Longbottom table. Draco Malfoy, too predictable for his own good, took this opportunity to sneer at her, and the three other boys followed suit. No need to ask if they believed in blood-purity then.
Minutes passed, and soon even the conversation between the Malfoy second-year and his 'cousins' ended, leaving an uneasy silence. Alexandra casted a quick Tempus to know the hour, and to her stupefaction there was only two minutes before noon. They had just stayed about half an hour in that room! Alexandra had never been invited to a formal 'familial meeting' before so she didn't know the norm, but as far as she was concerned, the Black family ones were really underwhelming.
Far away, a clock stroke midday, the twelve massive strikes shaking magically the whole manor. The only thing noticeable which happened in their current location was that the door they had come smoked of the same aura of darkness Alexandra had seen on the exterior of the manor.
A quarter of an hour passed, and sure enough, the first grumblings from Draco Malfoy were heard "Wait until my father hears of this..." The rest of his table members looked exasperated.
At least you don't have to cope with him all the school year, thought Alexandra.
Suddenly, the plates and the glasses shone of a silver light, before filling themselves from a lot of food and drinks.
"Finally!" Exclaimed one of the large black-haired boys who was directly right to Draco Malfoy. "Thought we weren't going to eat at all in this cursed place!"
Alexandra smiled an instant at this Gryffindor-like exuberance and prepared to join the almost unoccupied her eyes, before narrowing her eyes suspiciously. Yes, the adults had decided to feed them... but with what exactly? Given the gloomy atmosphere and the dark ambiance encountered, not to mention the remark of the Burke wizard earlier, they was no guarantee the food hadn't been cursed. Indeed, given the rumours spread about the Black family, she felt prudent to not touch anything, in spite, or rather because, not sensing anything suspicious near the plates. Alexandra continued to lean against the wall, and the red-robed girl had not moved in the slightest too.
The rest of the teenagers and children present did not share her view on the situation. Longbottom, Weasley, Draco Malfoy, the other three Black-featured boys were eating, devouring and swallowing the food at an incredible speed.
"By pure curiosity, Edmund." Talked the black-haired girl with a bored expression." How does the food taste like?"
One of the boys at Malfoy's table guffawed, and took another part of meat, swallowed it before answering "Why? Some regrets Astrid?"
The black eyes of the girl named Astrid scintillated something evil and malevolent.
"Oh, no Edmund. You! What is your name?" The red-robed girl asked Alexandra.
"Alexandra Potter."
"Hah. I see." Said Astrid in a languish voice, like she was about to reveal something absolutely astonishing. "Do you want to explain those idiots why eating was a very bad idea?"
"Because we're in a House owned by a Black?" Tried the black-haired Ravenclaw.
"That's a reason." The red-uniformed witch bared her teeth like a tiger about to pounce on her prey. Then she walked towards the table and smelled the plates, before delivering a few malicious sentences. "All the meals are smelling cinnamon, orange and lemon. Potions lesson for dumb wizards: it is one of the basic methods to hide the presence of most low-levels poisons."
The five teenagers and children seated stopped eating with the synchronicity of a single individual. Percival Weasley threw up what he was eating. Neville Longbottom was looking at the bean on his fork with an expression of horror.
"Exactly. I see at least one person had the intelligence not to eat. As for the rest..." The black glaze of the girl was not really warm. "They deserve exactly what's going to happen to them."
The boy named Edmund wasn't listening anymore. The moron screamed "WE HAVE BEEN POISONED!" and ran to the door, seizing the handle and trying to open it. There was a flash of red light, and the boy fell to the floor unconscious, struck down by the magical trap.
"EDMUND!" Shouted the two other boys, running towards their relative.
"NO!" Shouted Neville Longbottom."DON'T..."
The body of Edmund was still in contact with the door, and when the two boys tried to drag him away from it, they received the same treatment. Red light flash. Falling on the floor unconscious.
"Imbeciles." The word was pronounced by the other girl with a venom Alexandra was truly scared of. "You English wizards are really disgraces to the magic."
"But...the poison?" Stuttered Draco, whose face was as livid as one of the ghosts. "We need to call Professor Snape! He has always antidotes on him..."
"Shut up, Malfoy." Snarled Longbottom. "They're simply saying lying to make you panic! There's no way they will poison me, I am the Boy-Who-Lived, killing me would be...oh..."
The Gryffindor had not the opportunity to finish his sentence, lowering his head and vomiting in the plate he was just eating from instants ago. Next to him, Percival Weasley emitted a fart so powerful his robe rose and a disgusting sound signalled...that something disgusting had happened. Then he vomited too. More fats and noises of vomiting resonated, as Draco Malfoy and the three unconscious boys joined this nauseating spectacle. The face of the blonde pure-bloods was now green with boils and all the boys were busy spitting out everything they had eaten since the start of the day.
"I have seen enough."Alexandra said, struggling against the odour and the need to vomit. Whoever had put the potions in the meals, murder had not been in his or her mind. More like providing an awful humiliation. "Let's get out of here."
Frankly, she had had enough of this dark place. No one to greet them at the arrival, a manor which was one step away from demolition, and now a lunch spiked with semi-awful potions? There were more productive ways to pass the time. Homework. Flying. Reading. Chatting with her friends.
"And how do you think you will get out?" Said Astrid in a teasing tone. "The door is warded and cursed. I doubt you have the skills in Runes to unlock it."
"We are witches." Answered Alexandra, drawing her wand from her holster and paying no attention whatsoever at Draco Malfoy rolling in his own vomit in pain. "Superior to the boys in every way which matters."
"Errr... sure." Replied the other girl, obviously not seeing where she was going.
"BOMBARDA!" Alexandra casted against one section of the wall, close to the door. Her spell struck the wood and the resulting explosion scattered a lot of splinters and fragments, with smoke darkening her view. Twenty seconds after, the smoke had dispersed enough to see the hole she had just made.
"If we have no exit, we create another." Alexandra declared, crossing the hole and emerging in the corridor.
"Impressive." Said Astrid. Her expression was less condescending and more on the 'impressed' level, as she passed the gap just created. "I was not aware Hogwarts told the Bombardment spell to second-years. Are you often doing the same thing at Hogwarts?"
"Only with persons who try to kill me." Answered Alexandra, rolling her eyes all the way. Her interlocutor chuckled.
"Pleased to meet you." The red-robed girl said, tending her hand. "I'm Astrid Sverre, of the Sword and Ice House of Sverre."
"Sverre...isn't it Norwegian royalty?" Asked Alexandra, shaking the hand firmly and realising by the iron grip the muscles of the girl weren't for show. Moreover, the slight feeling of discomfort didn't decrease. The eyes of Astrid were scrutinising her on every angle, to the point it was discomforting.
"Indeed it is." Said Astrid in a pleased tone that didn't reach her facial muscles. "The time my ancestors reigned over Norway was a few hundred years ago, but we have still the better royal claim of all the Norwegian Houses. And the wealth too." She admitted, though she didn't look bothered by it.
"Not to sound overtly curious, but..."
"What I am doing here? My great-grandmother was Charis Black, who married Caspar Crouch. One of her daughters, my grandmother Elladora Crouch, married a Norwegian wizard named Valdemar Sverre. They had two children, Ulrik and Dagmar. Dagmar never married, but I am Ulrik's eldest daughter out of five children."
"Okay." Said Alexandra slowly. Seriously, she would have to make a genealogic tree if she wanted to understand the situation clearly. "And the three imbeciles who got demolished by the door?"
"Demolished." Laughed Astrid in a sound that was joyous and freezing at the same time. "Not a bad description at all." Trying to regain a more serious expression and failing, the brown-haired girl explained. "The boys are Edmund, Arnold and Matthew Burke. They are cousins, the last descendants of the union between Herbert Burke and Belvina Black. I heard the family got a lot of financial troubles in Britain in the last years."
"They seemed to know you pretty well." Commented Alexandra.
"Not really." Astrid contradicted her. "But they tried to enter Durmstrang the same year I did, I met them at this occasion. They failed by a catastrophic margin, and I only saw them once again at the burial of Lord Arcturus Black one year ago."
So the furred red-robes looking like an army uniform were in fact the standard robes of the Durmstrang Institute. There were a lot of rumours at school spread by the Gryffindors and the Slytherins concerning this school, and most of them were outright terrifying.
"Strange." Before Astrid inquisitive expression, Alexandra rolled her shoulders. "I had not seen them at Hogwarts, so I wondered what school they were going to."
As Astrid began to walk towards the other end of the corridor, the Norwegian girl started to speak again. "I think honestly they are Squibs or near-Squibs. I've not seen any of them having wands, and they are nowhere in any European school's enlistment."
"That would explain it." Conceded Alexandra as they began to climb another stair, this one as derelict as the first. "But what are they doing here? The Black family is infamous for having disowned all the Squibs of their House thorough history!"
"The answer to that, I'm afraid," Said Astrid in a cold-meditative tone when they reached the top of the stairs and entered another corridor, "is the same reason why we're here. Normally, they don't bother inviting a foreigner and a half-blood, especially ones who don't carry the Black name." Pausing a moment in silence as they reached an imposing bronze door carved with runes and snakes, Astrid then asked, "Do we knock?"
"It would be preferable." Said Alexandra. "This door looks incredibly warded."
"Hmmm...you're right." Said the Norwegian girl. "Any other questions?" Astrid said as she knocked on the door.
"Did Malfoy try to enter Durmstrang?" Asked Alexandra, honestly curious about it.
"Ah...no." A large smirk was seen on Astrid's face. "There are some who affirmed his father wanted to, but his mother intervened and he went to Hogwarts. At least, that's the rumour. What I know is that no one from the Malfoy family ever tried to enter Durmstrang in the last decades. Father and son went to Hogwarts of course."
And on this remark, the doors opened, revealing dozen of wizards and witches sitting in comfortable chairs all over the room, watching and studying them in silence. Sure enough, the silence didn't last.
"Miss Potter," drawled Professor Snape. "I would have expected you of all the students I brought here to understand the directives which were given to you. Return immediately back to your room and wait for us to call you back."
"With all the respect I have for you, Professor" Alexandra replied, marching into the room. "I'm afraid I must decline." She knew she was taking a risk, but Snape wasn't one of her Professors this year unlike the Slytherins and the Gryffindors. "Seeing the Heirs of the Malfoy and Longbottom families vomiting is distracting for a few minutes, but the odour was a bit nauseating."
"Yes," Agreed Astrid, walking next to her. "And seeing the Burkes being struck down by a door is no fun once they're all unconscious."
By the shock on everyone's face, it was evident no one had seen that coming. Like in a movie, the two girls saw the adults' brain turning at full speed and then at once half of the room screamed: "CASSIOPEIA!"
An old woman, who had been formerly hidden in their seat by all the other witches and wizards, was now cackling madly.
People rose from their seats and shouted, but the witch was still sporting a very nasty smile. Looking at her, black-haired and black eyes, no one could doubt she was a Black. This was not her most striking features, however. Her body was skeletal, like she had eaten nothing for a few months, and there were a lot of nasty scars visible despite the fact her black robes hid virtually everything save her head and her hands. Oh, and the darkness she had felt in the residence was like a halo of night around her.
"Enough!" Barked the woman who could be none other than Lady Cassiopeia Black.
"You wanted me to test your brats, you assured me they were worthy!" Cassiopeia Black threw an ironic glance at Sirius and Leo Black on her right. Apparently, the man had declined to "test" his son like the others. "Well I have tested them. And the two before you are all what's left. You names ladies."
"Heiress Astrid Sverre, of the Sword and Ice House of Sverre. Please to meet you Lady Cassiopeia Black."
There were plenty of whispers which echoed angrily in the hall, but Cassiopeia raised her hand, and the silence came back.
"Heiress Alexandra Potter, of the Most Ancient House of Potter. I should say I am pleased to meet you, but I've never felt like debiting lies."
The whispers this time were perfectly audible, with some bordering in groans and accusations in middle tones.
"You have Dorea's spirit, I will give you that, girl." Cassiopeia looked almost amused. "But you should learn to respect your betters."
"You are not my better." Affirmed Alexandra, unleashing a series of gasps and shouts in the room. "You literally reek Dark Magic and you look like at Death's door. Tell me Great-Aunt. How many days have you still to live?"
Alexandra had expected the dark witch to get angry. The whole room had become as silent as a cemetery, as if no one had the courage to approve or deny her words. Lady Cassiopeia Black burst in laughter.
"Ahhh... it has been a long time no one has dared tell me the truth." Laughed the woman. The echoes of smiles laughs echoed again in the room. " For that reason only, I will let you live." The movement of humours died on the spot.
Alexandra looked again at the old woman, who did not look like she was joking. Still, she doubted the woman would give her much trouble if it came to a fight. The cushions, footboard and the proximity of the chairs around the Black witch suggested she was not able to walk, and Professor Flitwick had always insisted your physical health was supremely important when it came to duels. Lady Cassiopeia may be more powerful than Devkins, but if she tried to fight, the combat was going to be short and one-sided.
"Now, leave this house, young ladies." Ordered Cassiopeia. "And try not to repeat the mistakes of your ancestors."
Astrid and Alexandra curtsied, before leaving rapidly, the noise of their steps being drowned by the torrent of insults, shouts and insults being uttered behind them.
"We made enemies today, I think." Remarked the Norwegian girl once they were outside.
"It was not like we had a lot of choice." Replied Alexandra. "And if I must have allies, I do not want House Black to figure in it."
It was the perfect truth, nothing more. In the two or three minutes they had spent in this meeting room, the spectacle of the participants she had watched had been disheartening. Barring Leo Black, who as the Black heir had been awarded a place here, the youngest persons present had been Sirius Black and the Malfoy couple. Otherwise, all the others witches and wizards had the traces of the time's ravages on their faces and bodies. By her estimates, she doubted a single one of them was less than sixty years old and all (again save the Malfoys) looked to suffer from the effects of inbreeding. Not surprising when you knew of the Black tendency to marry between cousins but still. The real issues were far graver. At least a quarter of those present had the dirty presence which Alexandra translated to a practitioner of dark magic and of the children she had seen today, Percival Weasley was the one who had been the most sympathetic besides Astrid. And the Norwegian witch studying at the Durmstrang Institute was a foreigner, and so not concerned by the struggles of the British Wizengamot.
Frankly, it was very likely there had not been any chances to make allies in this dark and dreadful place.
"Will I see you when the Will of Lady Cassiopeia will be read?" Alexandra demanded the Sverre Heiress.
"Afraid not."Said the Durmstrang witch with a negative nod. "The High Master is not giving many authorisations to leave the school, and the meeting of today was honestly a waste of time. My parents will send a lawyer, that's what they are for after all."
"So it will be a while before we see each other again."
"Years I think." The Norwegian girl did not seem bothered by it. "Until then try to stay alive, Alexandra Potter. Life is definitely not boring when you're around."
Astrid Sverre got out a Portkey out of one her robes' pocket. A blue flash, and the Norwegian wasn't here anymore.
"You haven't been the first to say this, you know..." Alexandra whispered alone in the wind flowing in these desolated parts of the British Isles.
22 September 1992, Hogwarts, Scotland
The dinner at Hogwarts had been over for a good hour when Severus Snape entered the Headmaster's office, his black robes billowing and in absolutely massacring mood. Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, who had been busy dealing with a mountain of paperwork of incredible proportions, rose his head when his Senior Potions Professor stormed in his office and fell on the first seat available.
"Ah, Severus. I was beginning to worry."Said the man many in Britain venerated more than Merlin. "Did your day at Black Cobra Manor was fructuous?"
"No." The answer was simple and direct, but Dumbledore knew the younger man very well. There was something dark in Snape's eyes, his fists were tightening and his jaw was pulsing. For a normal wizard, it would have been worrying, but Severus Snape was an Occlumency user. That he didn't manage to hide his anger and frustration meant something very bad had happened.
"How bad was it?" The man having defeated Gellert Grindelwald asked, caressing his silver beard.
"It could difficultly be worse." Sighed Snape. "To sum up the situation, Albus, this bitch of Cassiopeia Black invited us to see us fight each other, figuratively and literally. When it was over, she had pretty much managed to plunge House Black in a five-side civil war. I doubt most of them will want to speak with each other for the next decade."
Albus Dumbledore closed his eyes, calculating the potential losses for a moment.
"I suppose Lucius Malfoy is going to lead one." He said, reopening his eyes, and rubbing with his handkerchief his glasses.
"Yes."
"Has Sirius any possibility to save the situation?"
The question was not provocative, but the visage of Severus Snape let for a moment show a terrifying hate. Not anger. Not loathing. Raw, pure hate. Then the feelings disappeared on the livid face of the last Prince descendent, kept again under enchanted chains.
"No, Albus. Lord Black," the irony in his voice could not have been more biting thought Dumbledore," has behaved himself like a true Gryffindor all day and he has managed to alienate pretty much his whole family. The only thing all the factions agree is that they hate him, Albus. More than they hate each other, I think. By the end of the day, I think they were more exasperated than me by his comments of 'Snivellus' than me."
"That doesn't explain why you sent back Miss Potter alone at three in the afternoon, doesn't it?"
"Miss Potter, Albus," said Severus Snape with part of exasperation, part of ...pride? "Was intelligent enough to be on her guard once we entered Black Cobra Manor and not eat any poisoned food. Unlike the others."
Albus Dumbledore for a moment didn't realise the meaning of these words. Then he did, and rage began to fuel his old heart.
"She dared POISONED the Boy-Who-Lived?" The Headmaster roared, waking up many portraits of former Headmasters present in the office.
Snape nodded, his visage presenting something like...approval?
"We left all the students in a small dining room while we discussed Albus. Of course, we locked the door, and we didn't leave anyone to mount guard, so nobody realised the door had been thoroughly cursed from inside to stun anyone trying to touch it once it was closed. After that, this madwoman sent them a lunch laced with Vomiting Potions, Retching Potions, Diarrhoea Potions and Boil Potions. From what I understand, nearly all the children ate the food without any wondering if there was a trap." Snape's sneer proved how much he valued this sort of behaviour. "The three Burke children were stunned when they tried to open the door in order to seek help."
"I suppose it was pandemonium when Lady Cassiopeia Black informed you." Albus said in a calmer tone. While each of these potions had humiliating and smelly effects, even combined the consequences were not THAT bad. Neville Longbottom and all the 'victims' of Lady Black's back humour were no doubt already healed and tomorrow would present no symptom anymore.
"It was not her, Albus." Informed him the Potions Professor in a voice mixing tiredness and resignation. "Astrid Sverre and Alexandra Potter had not touched the food, and one of the two blasted her way through the wall with a powerful Bombarda. Imagine our surprise when these two young witches came into our meeting room and told us what had happened." Snape expression turned to one of amusement. "Never had I seen before Narcissa and Lucius ready to murder someone on the spot."
"Mhhh..."Reflected the Headmaster of Hogwarts. "Who do you think casted the spell?"
"Potter, no doubt." Albus raised an eyebrow, at his agent's affirmation. "It is in line with the spells she showed last year in her classes Albus, and she practically insulted Cassiopeia in front of anyone. She said and I quote "you reek dark magic" to her."
Albus laughed, and Fawkes accompanied it on his perch.
"I suppose Cassiopeia didn't take it too well."
"I'm not sure, honestly." Said Severus, looking for the time a bit uncertain. "In the short conversation they had, Black compared Potter to her grandmother Dorea. And once Sverre and Potter left, she continued to make several times the comparison."
"Mhhh...very well. Nothing we can do now anyway." Snape nodded unhappily. Albus and Severus had never been invited into these circles before the war against Voldemort, so their sources on that period were definitely limited. Dorea Potter nee Black was long dead, most of her generation was dead too, and Lady Cassiopeia Black was not going to last more than one more month. At best. "Back to the main objective. Do you know who is going to receive the Black Files upon her death?"
Snape exhaled a long breath. What he was about to say wasn't going to be pleasant at all for his master.
"Yes, Albus. If the meeting I have assisted today is any indication, Narcissa Malfoy is the prime candidate to receive the Black Files."
"Who are the others?"
"Astrid Sverre and Alexandra Potter."
Albus Dumbledore grimaced. Of the three, the first two were completely unsuitable for his plans and the third's only value resided in his magical guardianship of her. Still, if he could take advantage of this...
"Don't dream, Albus." Said Snape in a tired tone. "I'm sure Lady Cassiopeia is aware of your position on the files and the guardianship of the Potter Heiress. She is not going to let you grab the Files like that."
"I could always pass a Wizengamot vote before her will was read, declare it invalid and seize her material possessions." Said Dumbledore in a tone Severus Snape had recognised over the years as one where the man revealed his true persona of the ruthless politician who violated three major laws before breakfast.
"It will not work." Said the former Death Eater now turned double-or was it triple?-agent. "I'm certain all the fortune of Lady Black is already inside her vault of Gringotts and her will has been read, signed and copied in several locations outside your reach. Black Cobra Manor was completely empty, Albus, and for one I doubt this woman was as ruined as she pretended in front of us. The goblins are guarding her fortune and the Files, and I'm afraid they will not surrender them just because you ask nicely."
"Damned woman." The voice of Dumbledore was more regretful than truly surprised, though in the privacy of his mind the Chief Warlock briefly contemplated half a dozen plans to extract the Files from the goblins' paw. Alas, each strategy, if discovered, would result in a bloody Goblin Rebellion. One the humans weren't going to triumph easily, given the calibre of the pawns Albus had been forced to coerce at the very top of the Ministry. "We can always put her will and her vaults into stasis for a few years. Many Houses and Ministry officials will support us if we let them know the Malfoy family stands to gain the Black Files."
Albus knew inside of him it was far from a perfect option. In fact it was a bad option, because whoever gained the control of the Black Files in the Will would have no compunction to use them against his interests at the Wizengamot and elsewhere once the stasis was broken. Unfortunately, it was still the best choice of all the available ones. If he let Narcissa Malfoy gain the access of about seventy years of political, economic and military dirt, he might very well retire today. Despite Lord Lucius Malfoy's boasts over the last decade, Albus Dumbledore had long guessed it was his formidable spouse who accomplished the fantastic amount of work in the shadows necessary to make the Dark Houses the power block they were today. Giving House Malfoy one more advantage in the political arena would be too dangerous. Especially in the current climate and the laws he wanted to pass in the next months.
"It will enrage many of those who were present today." Warned Snape. "Burke and a few others see this Will as their chances to take their rightful place at the Wizengamot."
Albus smiled. One more reason then to act. House Burke and the other descendants of the Blacks were anything but his allies or his supporters. Bankrupting them again would be the best way to make them understand who was at the top of the food chain in Magical Britain.
"At least try to discuss it with Lily's daughter. Draco babbled she was none too happy to discover you intercepted her invitation." Pleaded Snape. "She has the potential to be a formidable witch like her mother and..."
Albus toned down the rest of the conversation. To say the truth, he had been disappointed one family member of the traitorous James Potter has survived, though the girl has some utility as he could use her vote at the Wizengamot to support his interests. If she began to be embarrassing when she approached fifteen, well, they were always unfortunate accidents and he would put his hands on the Potter fortune left in the vaults in the vaults of Gringotts. Severus Snape having finished his tirade, the Headmaster told "I will think about it" before coming back to the subject which was by far the most important of all.
"Are you confident young Neville and Leo have been sufficiently angered by Lady Cassiopeia's games?" This was after all the sole reason he had accepted for children to leave Hogwarts during a week of class.
"You don't have to worry about that, Albus. They passed the entire period after they were healed and before we returned to Hogwarts ranting how Cassiopeia was 'mad' and 'dark' to them. They will not return to Black Cobra Manor on their own."
"Good." Smiled Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Grand Sorcerer and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. "Very good."