188I know we should be patient considering the length and speed of the last few updates but I found myself craving V's writing which led me to complete this unfinished piece. This chapter is placed somewhere after Harry's third year at Hogwarts.
This is of course dedicated to Violet for her awesome work. Lady Hallen - here's your prompt, miserably unanswered but hope you enjoy this anyways.
I am aware I haven't really edited this so if anyone gets really irritated by changing tenses (I changed my mind halfway through) and typos, wait a few days, I'll probably try to tidy it up. Also, if anyone is interested in beta-ing this chapter, feel free to PM me.
Chapter 3: Spiralling among serpents
Leo can't hide a huff of laughter as he watched Harry take Marek to the floor for the third time that day in a brutal hand to hand take down.
She hadn't stopped stopped all afternoon, practicing the new movements he had taught her with single minded focus. With a look, Leo sent Marek off before she could challenge him to another round.
He had been pleased to see more of his quiet friend when Harry started spending increasing amounts of times in the Lower Alleys - often trailing behind Leo like a shadow or spending time with his Court. But Leo could see something had changed this year - he just wasn't sure why it had led to such a devoted interest in free duelling and weapons training.
He'd heard rumours of her cousins' kidnapping of course and he wondered if that had caused the near obsessive focus - but the one time he had made allusion to it, she had shut down, eyes warning him to go no further. So Leo did his best to teach her and get her to master the tricks that came with being a rogue of his court. He shouldn't be surprised by how quickly she picked things up. She was a natural when it came to duelling and he'd gotten used to her magic's playful pokes and the way it interacted with his own.
She seemed to have taken a liking for knives too and he'd never heard her complain of the repetitive drills he ran her through for hours under the hot midday sun. After a few weeks she was duelling him in earnest and he was half glad she wasn't looking to displace him in a few years because with that rate of improvement, he would have to fight hard for his crown.
It didn't take much to convince her to try the duelling tournament of the Lower Alleys. Leo wasn't sure why she was so focussed on beating her opponents physically instead of using her magic but at least she could put it to good use in the tournament.
He shouldn't have been surprised Harry fit in so well with the Rogues, he knew better than anyone not to judge a person by their family name. But that Summer, it seemed like Harry threw herself into life in the Lower Alleys wholeheartedly.
She still had Mrs Flint - he couldn't remember what fake name the noble was using at the moment- at her place and had used that as an excuse to appropriate a room in his apartments. He's too glad to see a more assertive side to his friend to complain about the times she tries to wake him up at dawn for her series of strength exercises. He's all for honing her defences but court tasks often take him until the early hours of the morning and he needs a minimum amount of sleep. He usually woke up to see her frowning over a potion or scribbling madly in her notebooks. One particularly memorable morning, he had woken up to a runic circle glowing green as a sleep deprived and slightly manic Harry waved her wand over a bubbling cauldron muttering to herself.
She'd also volunteered to help with the magical side of things at the court and he'd been convinced once he saw her supply the power for setting up the wards around the Phoenix with Will. The other man had grown uncommonly protective of his resourceful shadow.
Leo was nearly certain he knew who Harry Potter was and this was confirmed when he overheard a hushed conversation between the two.
"- you promised we'd stay out of each other's business," Harry had snapped.
"And I am," Will said, "But you should listen when I say you are not as inconspicuous as you may wish."
Harry had frowned. "What do you mean? My parents think I'm on an extended internship at Mrs Hurst's clinic."
Will had glanced around furtively while missing Leo's lounging form (that often seemed to happen when Leo didn't want to be seen) and said, "The events your cousin went through before the Summer has… raised questions. I overheard my employers talking about finding leverage."
Harry's features were set as she said, "Thanks for looking out for me Will, but if any of the goblins think they can interfere in my life or use me as leverage against secrets they think Archie is keeping it will be their mistake."
Leo had kept an even closer ear to the whispers outside the Lower Alleys and what he had heard worried him.
Severus Snape was not accustomed to having so little success in finding information out.
He had gone over the internal reports in Riddle's office containing the facts of Harriet "Harry" Potter. It painted the story of a loner who grew up with Rigel Black as their only companion for the first decade of her life. He had known the Blacks and Potters were reclusive but Snape's eyebrow had risen unseen at how isolated Rigel Black's world must have been. With a dead mother, a father who obviously didn't know anything about him and cut off from the pureblood circles on both sides, perhaps, Riddle was right when he said Rigel was abnormally attached to his pseudo cousin.
Their school choice was the first real divergence in their lives, although an added scribble noted a ministry rumour that James Potter's daughter had wanted to attend Hogwarts. He ignored the jolt he felt as he wondered what Rigel would have been like if his cousin had also attended.
Harriet Potter appeared to have continued her loner tendencies at the American Institute of Magic, remaining top of her classes along with her only friend, a muggleborn by the name of Hermione Granger.
Snape had skimmed over the next few pages which reported her internship at the potions guild along with a Casillas son and the Lestrange heir. The breakthrough discovery Snape is still intrigued by has redacted papers from the Department of Mysteries, which is unusual by itself. There are handwritten notes there, which Snape recognised as Lucius', detailing his son's impressions of the girl at the last gala. Unusually forthright … some kind of aggressive friendship with the Lestrange heir… uninterested in getting to know Rigel's friends, having excused herself from their presence after a few minutes… Rigel Black unnaturally distracted and worried while she was at the gala but not at his side...
As he had promised Hurst, he hadn't written the little he had known of Potter's extracurricular activities but when Riddle had asked him to go deeper into the Potters and Blacks, it had been his main source of investigation. The adults were in the limelight enough that no specific research had been needed to report on them. Besides, Snape doubted Riddle would find what he needed by looking over there. No, the annoyingly elusive Potter heiress was what he had been tasked to dig into. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be any dirt to uncover for a person who, Snape knew for a fact, was involved in at least one secret venture her parents were unaware of.
Burke had been a surprising dead end and not even a silkily implied threat to his continued patronage of the store had loosened his tongue. He could hardly believe the old Slytherin would be so loyal to a half baked thirteen year old potion maker and was wondering if he had misunderstood Hurst somehow. But while the man exaggerated and diverted attention skillfully, he had never lied outright to Snape before.
Finally, last week, he had gotten a potential tip from one of his seedier… acquaintances. He hadn't expected anything from Mundungus Fletcher but he knew to be thorough and had learned through many mistakes to expect the unexpected when it came to mysteries surrounding Rigel Black. Fletcher didn't have a very reliable history but had come up with surprising finds in black market potions ingredients in the past. Of course, Snape hadn't told him any specific details - Riddle didn't want any of his interest in Harriet Potter and Rigel Black to filter back to the Head Auror or the head of House Black. Instead, he had asked him for information on the potion brewers in the alleys.
Snape looked at his watch for a third time in half an hour as the inn situated on the cusp of Diagon Alley remained decidedly Fletcher-less. The peddler's mysterious note would have inspired more interest if Fletcher didn't constantly strive for the grandiose. But Snape had been getting rather frustrated and Draco's birthday was next week - an event he knew Riddle would attend and ask him about his progress.
Two minutes before he could decide no information was worth this much wasted time, he saw the shadowy form of Mundungus scurrying to his table in the darkened corner of the pub.
He winced as he saw Snape's face.
"Don't glare at me Snape, I couldn'ta known I'd be kept so long."
"If this is another one of your exaggerations Mundungus, your only hope will be fleeing abroad. I haven't paid you back for those counterfeit hybrid eggs yet."
Fletcher raised a hand as if to prevent any damage Snape could inflict. "I was justa surprised as ya were when they turned out to be false. I got swindled same as ya. But I have the information ya want this time, I swear!"
"What information Dung? You have wasted enough of my time today." The threat in his tone always did wonders on the type of bottom feeder Fletcher belonged to.
"I'm not kidding ya Snape, it wasn't easy - ya didna give me much to go on with yar description of a young potion maker in the alleys- " Here Fletcher actually raised an eyebrow at Snape and continued, "but I spend time in the Lower Courts ya know; and there's a boy there, he has the ear of the king-"
Snape sighed and stopped him with a wave of his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. A lost morning after all it seemed.
"You've wasted my time Dung, this potion maker wouldn't be in the Lower Alleys and I'm looking for a girl."
"But- but there's no one else in the alleys that matches yar description- those green eyes. It's why I was late, I was shadowing the boy- he'll be at the free duelling tournament today-"
"Enough Dung, this isn't a false egg and I have told you what would happen if you tried to deceive me again." Snape got up, wand in hand as Dung tried to follow him.
"But- wait- what about my payment-"
"The next time I ask you for unsubstantiated rumours, you'll get paid for those results. Do not test me Dung."
The man eyed him resentfully but Fletcher survived as a bottom-feeder of the worst kind by being a smart bottom-feeder. It didn't hurt, Snape thought with an inward smirk, to have a reputation that preceded him.
He was halfway to the Leaky Cauldron to floo back to Hogwarts when he paused despite himself. The free duelling Dung had mentioned…. Snape huffed in displeasure at his own fancies but turned around, heading towards the Lower Alleys. He'd already wasted his morning - might as well satisfy his curiosity and witness a banned sport. He had glimpsed a free duelling event years before, freshly graduated from Hogwarts, but his life had taken him down other paths instead. While the tournaments were technically illegal, the Ministry and Aurors rarely got involved with this segment of society and usually turned as much of a blind eye as they could. He has just enough connections with the seedier underground that a coin gets him the location of this year's Summer tournament but he had enough experience with the Lower Alleys to know that his presence would not be unnoticed. Most purebloods he frequented were unaware of the complexity in a society they found so beneath their own. But Snape had been poor enough to exist on the fringe of this life through his childhood. His mother had taken him to the Lower Alleys for healing and the various needs a magical child had. It was this potential future that had driven him forward and he could not discount the shift of uneasiness as he ventured further into the alleys of the life he had escaped.
He was deeper than he had ever gone in the Lower Alleys when he heard the cheers and shouts. It seemed the free duelling had begun and despite himself, his pace quickened.
By the time he reached the courtyard, he'd placed a weak notice-me-not charm on himself which helped him push through the packed crowds. He reached a good viewing point just as the next duel started and the two fighters were sealed in what Snape could see was an advanced ward shield that rippled with the stray spells that hit it and prevented any spectators from being hurt.
His attention then focused on the two fighters and he stilled in shock. The bigger one had a playful sneer on his face as he stared down his opponent. But it was the slight figure that was facing him that had his mouth open like a moronic fool.
What in Morgana's seven hells was Heiress Potter doing here?
It had taken him a few seconds to recognise her. Dressed in baggy trousers and a rough sewn tunic, she was obviously passing for a boy. For a split second his brain had shouted Rigel but then her head had lifted and he had seen those searing green eyes aimed at her opponent. He managed to close his mouth but could not even spare a glance around to make sure he remained unnoticed as his eyes were magnetically stuck to the duel in front of him while his mind churned. He had to be sure and he switched to observing her magical core. It was definitely her.
He had full certitude her parents could not know of this madness and his wand twitched as she ducked under a knife and rolled to avoid the following kick. He could not stop this now but suddenly, he had an awful inkling of how Rigel had grown up into such a young man, running towards danger like a half blind wombat. Potter had a small rivulet of blood trickling down her cheek from a too-close knife throw but she seemed to have the upper hand as she weaved around her tiring opponent. The fierce grin with a hint of danger on her face made him scowl, reminding him of Rigel after a particular sharp dive on his broom. She had obviously been following the same fitness regime as her cousin.
He watched closely at the skill she presented - this was no novice free dueller- as she moved her body with learnt grace. He wasn't very familiar with free duelling but was experienced enough in general wizarding duels to know she was the better fighter, as she moved around impossibly fast while he tired trying to catch up with her.
Finally, she changed the stakes and started using spells in earnest. Nothing destructive but still hampering enough that her opponent doesn't notice her move and the match ends with a knife held to the throat. The man erupted into laughter as she released him and gave a cheeky smile while performing an elaborate bow to the cheers of the crowd.
She appeared to be heading towards someone to his right, as the next two opponents climbed onto the platform, when her eyes slid over him. He should still be under the notice-me-not charm but somehow, she paled and stared at him for a long horrified second.
He saw several emotions flit through her face and for a split second, he knew she was considering disappearing into the crowds. He raised an eyebrow to show just how successful that would be and with a nod, turned his back to her, hoping she wasn't foolish enough to try running.
Sure enough, a few metres away from the crowd she materialised, wariness evident as she leant against a column.
"Professor Snape, I didn't expect to see you here." She said, covering herself in a veneer of nonchalance.
Once again, he was struck by the resemblance with her cousin. Even with her hair curling a shade longer than Rigel's and eyes that seemed impossibly green when he remembered them as a more faded version of her mother's. He wasn't sure how she could pass for a boy at closer examination.
Somehow, he spoke first,"Does Rigel know where you are?"
Her eyes widened, having obviously expected a different question, "Yes."
Snape had witnessed countless students try to lie to him but he couldn't detect any deception from the young girl in front of him.
"Miss Potter, do you know how dangerous the alleys are, especially to a young girl-" Snape stopped himself from the start of a rant. It was not his place to care about the foolishness of Potter's heir, no matter how much of Lily he could see in her.
He sighed and started again, "I assume your parents know nothing of your... activities."
Harriet lifted a defiant chin as she stared up at him, "Only if you inform them."
Snape eyed her carefully as his mind flitted from thought to thought. He was still unsure if he should intervene the way he would if it had been a Hogwarts student in such disreputable company. But… this did solve his current issue as well as giving him further ammunition and an avenue of investigation.
He must have stayed silent for too long as Harriet said, "Look, I'm not going to explain my presence here and you wouldn't be interested in any lies I tell. So what will it take for you to keep silent about this?"
Snape gave a thin smile at the perfect opening she had given him as he locked away any hesitation, "There is a ball at the Malfoy Manor in a week's time to celebrate their heir's 14th birthday. Lord Riddle would like to see you there to discuss a mutual acquaintance."
He was strangely pleased she was sensible enough to be wary as she said cautiously: "Rigel will not be attending, my parents will not let-"
Snape interrupted her because her current activities proved just how ridiculous that statement was, "Then I'm sure you will come up with a good excuse unless you wish to explain free duelling in the Lower Alleys instead." His voice is silky in its threat but he blinked at the solving-a-problem expression on her face that once again, reminded him eerily of Rigel in his class.
Finally, she looked up at him, eyes narrowed, "If I do this, you won't tell anyone you've seen me in the Lower Alleys?"
Snape smirked, "If you do this, I won't tell your parents where you have been spending your Summer."
He could see she wasn't satisfied with the holes in their agreement but somehow seemed to knows she wouldn't be able to get a better deal from him and that it would serve no purpose to push further.
She extended her arm and he shook the small hand with his own, "Deal".
"I shall see you in a week Miss Potter."
Harry took another deep breath as she smoothed her dark green skirts. It was no use being nervous now, she was already committed and there was no way she could back out of this deal. She had a feeling she knew what Riddle wanted to talk about and she would have to face it at some point anyways. Besides she was pretty sure he couldn't get into her head even if he tried with her current annoying head guest.
She smiled as Leo finally joined her, having escaped his mother's fussing and looking very different from his usual Lower Alley self. With those starched crimson robes and formal wizarding shoes he looked every single bit like the pureblood he pretended not to be in his daily life. Only the wild hair remained and she raised an eyebrow at him as he gave her a teasing grin.
"My, Miss Potter, you should have told me you were going to dress up. I don't think I've actually ever seen you without your thick potions shoes or with long hair."
Harry gave a grimace but accepted the teasing gracefully considering the massive favour he was doing her. Leo had been worried, when she had first asked him if he could invite her as his plus one to the gala masquerading as a birthday party. She had remembered glimpsing Master Hurst at Draco's last birthday and a throwaway comment from Leo during training had made her understand that, while he avoided all pureblood engagements, Leo had an open invitation due to who his father was.
She would have felt guilty about asking this of him but she could see no other way she'd have a plausible excuse if it ever came back to her parents she had attended the event. She had been reminded once again of what a good friend Leo was when he had agreed to go to an event he despised just to escort her and avoid vague problems she hadn't explained to him. Harry wondered what she had done to deserve such a friend.
"Ready for the Lethifold's den?" He asked as he grabbed some floo powder and held out his arm.
She nodded and grabbed his arm as a second later, they were violently displaced into a large elegant room with multiple fireplaces and a few house elves waiting to escort guests to the festivities.
Harry coughed, having landed on all fours. It seemed she would never get used to Floo travel and she gave a reflexive smile as Leo tapped her on her forehead with two fingers and all the soot on her hair and robes vanished.
"I didn't know you used wandless magic," she whispered.
He gave her an absentminded smile before focusing on her with a frown as they were led to the entrance of the grand staircases Harry remembered passing as Rigel, "Harry, there's one thing you may not have considered."
"What's that?" She replied distractedly as she wondered if she could locate Snape from here. Perhaps he could take her directly to Riddle and she could avoid greeting anyone else.
"Well… do you have any problems with the image we will be giving, coming here together I mean?" Leo asked hesitantly.
She frowned at him, as they were announced to the hall, "Lionel Hurst the younger accompanied by Heiress Harriet Potter."
"What do you mean?" She asked him as they started to make the descent to the awaiting crowds, "Though they do seem to be staring quite a lot considering who we are."
Leo huffed, "Perhaps it is a good thing you don't make a habit of attending these galas. I only meant coming here together might set some tongues wagging."
Harry gave him a small grin as she saw the genuine worry on his face, "If you're worried I'll ruin your reputation Leo, you could have said no."
Leo sniffed in mock disdain, "I'll have you know my reputation has been in tatters for a while, thank you very much. Inviting the Potter Heiress to a gala unchaperoned by her parents and when she is publicly engaged to the Heir of House Black will not do much more damage.
Draco Malfoy was not periodically scanning the crowds for a face he knew wouldn't appear; because he wasn't pathetic. Rigel had already sent him apologies for not being able to attend. He had then gone on to describe some of the healing he had been able to learn that took 10 inches of the parchment and Draco had shaken his head- only Rigel would finish a harrowing year with twelve classes and sign up for a holiday full of work.
He frowned when he recognised half of the couple that had just entered the ballroom and were being welcomed by his parents. Rudely interrupting Theo's recount of his holidays, he asked,
"What in Merlin's earth is Heiress Potter doing at my birthday?"
The rest of the Slytherins turned synchronously towards the entrance as they observed the couple talking to Lucius Malfoy. She looked older, in a dark green dress, loose black curls half tied to the back of her head but it was still clearly Rigel's cousin.
Blaise frowned as he replied, "I believe that is Lionel Hurst, the son of the potion guild's Aldermaster. I've never heard of him attending one of these events - light or dark- although his family's standing means he still gets invited to all of them every year. How very odd."
"I'm surprised Miss Potter came to another of these galas," Rosier, who had been lounging nearby as he often did, drawled.
"What do you mean Aldon?" Pansy asked.
"Well, I do not believe it was quite her thing. She had told me she wasn't planning to come to any other events," he said and added nearly indistinctly, "perhaps I shall have that dance after all." With that, he moved off towards the couple.
Rosier needn't have bothered as Miss Potter caught sight of them, all uncouthly staring at her and said something to her companion which had him look up quickly, a small grin forming as he seemed to notice her determined expression.
Hurst whispered something else in her ear with easy familiarity and walked off just before Rosier greeted her. Draco couldn't actually use his empathy from such a distance but Harriet Potter's smile seemed genuine as she replied to Aldon while he skilfully led her back to the group. Pansy shot him a glare just as they arrived, as if she had to remind him to behave, Draco huffed inwardly. His best friend, ever the consummate hostess spoke first with a warmer-than-usual smile fixed on her lips, "Harry, what an unexpected surprise."
Rosier nearly pouted, "It seems I have no need to make any introductions."
Heiress Potter gave a curtsy towards their group in general as she replied she had met them all briefly at the last gala. He was surprised when she managed to name them all correctly as she greeted them.
"Nott, Zabini, Malfoy, it's a pleasure." Then she turned to Pansy and added, "It's lovely to see you again Pansy."
Draco winced at the difference in greeting as Rosier drawled from Miss Potter's side,
"I hope Rigel is doing well Miss Potter," after the events at the end of last year, the unspoken words seemed to echo loudly in the protracted silence.
She turned towards Rosier but Draco could still see how beautifully fake the smile she gave him was. "I've told you before Aldon, it's just Harry, and yes, quite recovered, the summer holidays have helped."
"It's a pity he couldn't make it to the gala. I must say, I didn't expect you at this one either."
The implied question did not go unnoticed either as she said, "Yes, there's someone I need to speak to here and this is the only occasion I'll have to see them this Summer."
Draco cleared his throat, determined to be more welcoming this time. Pansy had given him a long speech about his behaviour at the last gala. He doesn't have time to get the words out though before she focused on him - had her eyes always been so green?
"I promised Rigel I would wish you a Happy Birthday Mr Malfoy. We worked on your gift before he left for his internship and I've already had an elf place it with the pile since I'm afraid I won't be able to stay for the unwrapping ceremony."
He murmured some form of thanks as he asked her to call him Draco but his mind was not on the conversation they were having. There was something that was bothering him. She had changed quite a lot in a few months but Draco knew to listen to instincts and there was something more that was off about Heiress Potter.
Before Rosier could make another pointed remark, they were interrupted by the Lestrange heir. Why did the boy, unfortunately his cousin, have to pop out at every gala? Surely he had friends to bother, Draco thought irritatedly.
He was further insulted when the boy roundly ignored most of them, "Potter, what are you doing here?"
Draco's eyebrows rose at the fond amusement he could feel from her, a sharp contrast to how controlled she kept her emotions before. He didn't think Rigel would have spilled his secret but she was eerily well contained.
"Caelum, congratulations on the apprenticeship. I heard you impressed Master Whitaker."
Caelum sniffed, continuing to ignore the rest of them, but Draco could feel wafts of honest satisfaction at Heiress Potter's acknowledgement.
"I told you what happens to real talent in the potions community. I guess you could always try and become my apprentice by the time you find yourself ready."
Potter was clearly suppressing amusement as she gave a flourishing bow to that, "You honour me, but I'm afraid I'll already be licensing potions by the time you finish your apprenticeship. Speaking of time, have you had the occasion to wish your cousin a happy birthday?" She prompted smoothly.
Caelum turned to the group with a raised eyebrow as he drawled, "I'm sure he's delighted."
Draco could see all his friends trying to quantify the exact relationship between the two again and having varying degrees of success at interpreting Caelum's caustic remarks and yet easy rapport with a girl, who frankly, seemed more reserved than Rigel.
He handled the introductions like the well mannered heir he was but nothing could save the conversation from the awkwardness that was the odd group they made.
Potter tried to smooth the conversation between Caelum and the Slytherins but was obviously distracted, eyes skimming over the crowds periodically even as she answered Caelum's pointed barbs, which had Draco silently wincing, with more good humour. Harry didn't seem to share his embarrassment as she gamely riposted and teased. It was easy to see Pansy and Rosier were the only other people she was comfortable answering as they tried to keep to neutral topics despite Lestrange's comments.
The stuttering conversation was halted as Potter's partner came back with two glasses of punch and cut smoothly into Caelum's comment about plebeians not being taught the finer arts like dancing.
"What's that Caelum, are you trying to steal a dance from Harry here?"
Draco watched wide-eyed as his usually elegant cousin actually spluttered while Potter turned, giving a reproachful look at the arrival.
"Lionel - what the devil are you doing here?" Caelum asked.
"Coming to see your lovely face of course," the other boy announced smoothly as he pressed a glass into Potter's hands while he gave a flourishing bow to the rest of them and soundly ignored convention by introducing himself. "Lionel Hurst. Call me Leo, lovely to meet you all I'm sure."
The boy was older, must have graduated from whichever second tier school he had gone to, Draco thought. He had all the respectable hallmarks of a wizard in their society and yet, there was something in his movements that reminded him of a predator - an easy grace along with watchful eyes that didn't quite relax.
The startled pause was broken by Potter's frown.
"Wait, how do you two know each other?"
'Leo' beat Caelum in speed as he said airily: "Oh you know how I love all those potions fundraising galas. I met young Caelum here as he tried ingratiate himself in the potions community years ago."
"The one you've turned your back on - what a waste of pedigree," Caelum sniffed, ignoring the barely veiled dig.
"I'm sure you'll both do wonderfully on your chosen paths," Potter said as she shot another warning glance at the newcomer. Turning to the rest, she was obviously about to make introductions when another joined their rapidly growing group.
Were these incessant interruptions ever going to stop, Draco wondered. He couldn't pretend he was ignoring the unfolding drama though, as he tried to take in the emotions while following the conversation. Unfortunately it seemed the potions he had taken to dampen his empathy for such a gathering were a little too effective and he only felt slivers waft through.
The late arrival was the Potion Guild's Aldermaster himself.
"Apologies for breaking in," he said genially to the group, "I just wanted to congratulate you Mr Lestrange, I have heard you've been apprenticed and will be working in the guild soon. Master Whitaker said you held promise."
For the first time in his life, Draco saw Caelum humble as he blushed and murmured, "Thank you Aldermaster, I look forward to returning to the Guild."
Aldermaster Hurst then turned to the rest of them while Lestrange handled the introductions and they gave polite nods in turn. However, when Hurst's eyes fell to the last of their group, he interrupted Caelum.
"Leo!"
The Aldermaster appeared genuinely shocked as he observed the son who beared such a strong resemblance to him.
'Father, what a wonderful surprise."
"You didn't tell me you would be attending."
"It was a last minute decision," Leo smiled, seemingly perfectly comfortable in front of the avidly watching group. Potter on the other hand, appeared to be wondering how to extricate herself from the situation as she deftly finished the introductions and answered the Aldermaster's genial but distracted questions about her family.
"I am glad your parents are well Harry, I look forward to seeing them at the annual Ministry gala. Although, I have to say, I never thought I would see the day you would attend an official function again Leo. Come now, don't tell me you are here of your own free will after so many failed attempts to get you here on my part."
The pause was a shade too long to be considered normal and Draco didn't have to be an empath to sense the subtle dig there. He wondered if his father would be interested in anything he could glean from the Aldermaster's relationship with his son.
"I assure you father, I cannot be forced. I merely decided to come-"
"Because he promised me a dance," Potter cut him off. She had been watching the exchange with worried eyes and took a hold of Leo's arms just as the music cued the first dance.
"A dance?" Master Hurst repeated, a little sceptically.
Everyone's eyes seemed to zero onto Miss Potter and Draco was amused to see even Leo looked doubtful at her transparent change of subject.
"Yes, I really wanted to dance and Leo promised to accompany me through the first waltz," she continued through clenched teeth.
"Yes, father, as you can see, I obviously came to dance with Harry here. Now if you'll excuse me," Leo said with a nod to the group, eyes twinkling and obviously repressing a chuckle. They watched with various levels of disbelief as the two made their way to the centre of the hall. Draco could have sworn he saw Leo deftly evade a kick from his companion.
He was late to the gala after another triwizard tournament meeting ran over. By the time Snape made it to his godson's birthday he had been doubtful Miss Potter would show- the Malfoys had not received any requests to attend from her despite having been notified and he knew no one from her family had secured invitations this year. He wasn't quite sure if he had been bluffing about telling her parents but Riddle of course, had been informed.
He stilled in his stride towards his Lord as he spied the object of his thoughts in the middle of the dance floor. It took him a second to superimpose the image of the willowy girl gracefully twirling across the floor with the scruffy boy duelling in the worst parts of the Lower Alleys. But then, suddenly, the grace was familiar. The smooth movements she had shown in the duel translated into graceful yet slightly reckless movements. She weaved between the other dancers, looking like she had no other care in the world as she laughed at her partner, a youth that looked vaguely familiar.
Riddle also seemed to have noticed her as he nodded towards Snape before leaving his companions to walk out of the hall. He didn't need to fetch the Potter girl though as she seemed to have noticed him and as the dance wound down, headed towards him with a stubborn expression, her partner left behind with a whisper.
"Professor Snape, here I am as agreed. I assume Lord Riddle is waiting?" He stared at her for a second before he gave a curt nod and turned around as she followed him silently out of the crowds.
Lord Riddle was in the library, ironically, the same one Lucius told him Rigel had confronted Riddle in.
She looked strangely calm as she came to face with the leader of the SOW party for the first time. There was a long pause as they stared at each other while Snape stepped backwards and leaned against a bookcase, Riddle not having told him to leave them alone.
"Miss Potter," his Lord finally said after staring at her a while. "It was brave of you to come."
She raised an eyebrow as she replied calmly, in a very Rigel-like manner, "I doubt you would try and harm me here Lord Riddle, so let's get to why you wanted me here."
Snape nearly winced at the bluntness. Well, that did give him the first clear difference with the soft-spoken Rigel. His Lord didn't seem to be put off though, as he continued to observe her from the chair he was sitting in.
"Very well, I shall favour your bluntness tonight. I have taken an interest in your cousin Rigel Black. Is it not natural for me to be curious about his pseudo-sister?"
He watched her features closely and he saw the wariness in her face. But a quick scan of her magic surprised him as it seemed uncommonly quiescent although even larger than when he had last checked. Was it ever stable? His attention was taken back to the conversation.
Heiress Potter sat down on the opposing chair, ignoring the lack of invitation as she said bluntly, "I'm a half blood studying a world away, there's nothing about me to interest you."
"I disagree," Riddle said, features immobile, "you have an uncommonly strong influence on Mr Black. An influence that could harm him in the long run."
Harriet Potter's face grew puzzled, "I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Do you not?" Riddle drawled, "His association to you could cause him problems. Already, his metamorph abilities have been warped. It would be smart to break off an unwise engagement before it causes irreparable harm to his prospects."
"I'm afraid you know very little about Rigel's future plans if you are worried about his prospects," she replied.
"Do you not want what's best for your cousin Miss Potter?" He said silkily.
Harriet gave a sharp smile, "That is a rather unsubtle attempt from you, is it not Riddle? I am surprised you'd think Rigel would take you up on your mentoring offer even if I did, how did you put it, break an unwise engagement. I can assure you Rigel Black will only get support from me when it comes to his ambitions."
Well, Snape couldn't fault her gumption even as he decided her omitting Riddle's respectful title was most probably intentional. He could not help but feel the tinge of admiration as she stared straight back at her opponent. Somehow he wasn't surprised Rigel had told his cousin about the mentoring offer although Lord Riddle seemed to be rethinking his strategy.
"You seem well informed about private matters, so tell me, what would you do to protect Rigel Black?" he asked.
Her expression turned cold as she said flatly, "Be very careful Lord Riddle. You may try and threaten me all you wish, but there is nothing I wouldn't do to protect my cousin. This isn't a bluff, this isn't blackmail, it's just a fact. Do not test me on his safety."
Snape watched with wide eyes as the slip of the girl glared at, arguably, the most powerful man in the country. Harriet Potter hadn't raised her tone but the threat was unmistakeable.
"Do not think to threaten me child," Lord Riddle hissed.
"It's not a threat. But if you think you can use either us to threaten the other, or merlin forbid, our families, listen for any lies when I tell you my Lord, you will regret it." With the surfacing temper, flushed cheeks and flashing eyes, she had never resembled her mother more.
Lord Riddle also seemed to be getting angry as he kept their gazes connected and Snape raised his hand half in protest as he felt his Lord's legilimency in action.
There was a long minute of absolute silence as the young girl's eyes remained locked with the powerful wizard. The magic in the air seemed to get thicker until a wave of pure force pushed the strongest Legilimens Snape knew backwards.
"Stay away from my head," she whistled through clenched teeth as she rubbed a hand against her forehead, "You can't get in without lasting damage to me and that's one thing you won't be able to slip out of with the precautions I've put into place."
His Lord's gaze was wary but he appeared to see her in a new light. "My apologies Miss Potter, I do not take idle threats but my actions were uncalled for." His Lord never apologised.
Harriet Potter seemed to be deciding something as she stared at the SOW party leader before she ruffled her hair with a hand, in an unconscious echo of the man Snape loathed, and sighed.
"Look, Lord Riddle, I'm sure you have grand ambitions for Rigel Black, his talent, and most importantly his magic. But, and I say this with complete honesty, there is no one in the world that knows and understands Rigel like I do. So trust me when I say - he wants no part in your schemes and political aspirations."
She took a deep breath in the ensuing silence and continued, "Rigel Black will most likely turn into an academic hermit. The only thing you could threaten him with would be removing his apprenticeship with Master Snape," here she gave him an assessing glance, "which would not only make you his enemy but would also deprive the magical world of a brilliant potioneer.
I am not going to work against Rigel's best interests and even if you could persuade me to stay away, I can assure you Rigel Black's intentions to keep from politics will not change. The more you push, the more stubborn he will get."
Lord Riddle appeared to be actually listening to the chit. "You believe you are telling the truth," he mused. "Very well, thank you for your honesty Miss Potter, our business is concluded once I take an oath from you that you will not reveal anything of this meeting."
Potter gave a grin at that, "I won't hide this from my cousin, but rest assured I will remain silent about the rest." Seeing him about to interrupt, she raised a finger, "I very much doubt Master Snape has kept silent about the blackmail he used to get me here. Since I don't think you will both agree to an oath to never reveal my, ah, external activities I think we shall all have to be satisfied with mutually assured destruction if details of the meeting or my personal life were to become public."
With an affable nod, the slip of a girl swished around and out of the library.
Snape did not break the silence at her departure but did conjure himself a chair as he let Lord Riddle think.
Instead, he was surprised by quiet chuckles as his Lord turned towards him for the first time.
"Your reports do not do her justice, Severus."
"My Lord?" he asked.
Riddle stood up as he slowly walked around the room in a circle. "She could be dangerous, and yet, I find myself charmed by her naive foolishness."
"You do not wish to break the bond between the two anymore?" Snape ventured, still unsure of his Lord's pensive smile.
"She will become a formidable witch, and her devotion to her cousin an integral aspect of her. No, I believe that bond will be what allows us to bring the Potters into the fold too."
"My Lord! Her blood -"
"Yes, yes, Severus, I am well aware of her unfortunate mother's parentage. But she is the Potter Heiress and while I have never seen a mind guarded in the way hers was, I managed to glean an insight into her psyche. There is no one she is closer to than her cousin and leading him to our side will undeniably lead her to us too."
"There is no one more obnoxiously light than her father."
"And yet things seem more murky when it comes to his daughter - have you not tasted her magic?"
Snape was having trouble following how his Lord's plans would change to draw both the Potter and Black heirs to his side but was spared the need to answer as the ground trembled and a large boom echoed through.
"What -" his wand was out the next second as he witnessed the surprise on Riddle's face. This was no planned event. This had felt even stronger than the explosions that had rocked Hogwarts two years ago.
They wasted no time with words as they moved quickly back towards the hall. Snape had expected the explosion but he paused in shock as he saw the sheer chaos before him. The bomb had obviously detonated in the middle of the hall and the crater was small but he could see tens of bodies strewn across the floor, a gory mess of blood and limbs. Some were even being trampled by the ensuing mass of witches and wizards trying to get out. He sent a quiet point me spell towards his god son and was relieved to see it was pointing away from the centre of the hall. He could see his Lord's anger getting stronger as his magic got denser. But before they could take action, they were sent to their knees by a second explosion outside the hall. He could hear the shouts and from a partly demolished wall Snape saw they were actually under attack by wizards if the flashes of spells proved anything.
"My Lord," a bloodied Lucius materialised, "they've used a an artefact of some sort, it's corrupted the wards of Malfoy manor. I do not have the strength- I fear the wards will turn inwards and attack all those on its grounds."
Snape cursed but with a quick nod at Riddle parted ways as his Lord followed Lucius deeper into the manor while he shed his formal robes and strode out of the hall into the mayhem and screams beyond.
Whoever the attackers were, they had been waiting just outside the hall, waiting for the mass of panicked people to exit before attacking viciously from the sides. He blasted the closest one and felt dark satisfaction at the wail of pain he heard. This wasn't the time for question but he would make sure they would pay as more and more witches and wizards escaped the scorched hall only to find themselves caught in the fighting. It looked like there were around two dozen attackers but the innocents caught in the middle complicated the matter, especially as the snarling attackers had no compunction in going through them. Snape could not help but feel tinge of annoyance as a witch shrieked at an approaching spell and he was forced to throw a shielding spell at her. How could so few wizards invest time and effort in learning to protect themselves? Were they so sure of their superiority that they thought an event like today would never occur?
He needn't have bothered as the spell heading towards the witch was returned by the brown haired youth he had seen dancing with Potter. Even busy with two attackers, Snape could see from the corner of his eyes the skill the boy showed as he ducked between three wizards while protecting the hapless witch who was still screaming.
After what felt like hours of chaos but what he objectively knew couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes, he saw Apparating wizards and breathed a sigh of relief over the slash of his wand - finally, the Ministry had been alerted. There were only two or three attacking wizards still standing and he let Rookwood cleave one's wand arm with a vicious cutting spell as he wiped the blood of his wand and surveyed the scorched gardens.
By now, it looked like all those who could move had streamed out of the hall. He wasn't sure how many were hurt but most of the bodies strewn outside appeared to be the attackers.
The Aurors had started taking charge of the scene and he sneered as he spied James Potter on the other side of the path, securing a few downed attackers. Of course, blowhard Potter would arrived just in time to get the glory. Suddenly Snape froze, he hadn't seen Heiress Potter anywhere in the commotion and her father did not have any idea she was present as they set up a perimeter around the hall to ensure there were no more explosives.
"Point me Harriet Potter," he whispered and blanched when the wand stopped twirling around to point directly behind him in the hall.
No.
Before he could get himself to turn he heard a sharp crack and saw Rigel Black Apparate in a heap. No one seemed to have noticed the illegal Apparation amidst all the arriving healers and personnel waiting for the area to be pronounced safe. He took an aborted step towards Rigel as the boy took off towards the hall.
"Rigel!"
A quick glance confirmed Rigel had heard him but the boy didn't stop running as he ducked around the Auror setting up the perimeter. Snape cursed before rapidly following him back inside. How did the brat always show up in dangerous situations?
Snape felt relief when he reached the rubble-filled hallway to see the Potter heiress staggering against a fallen bust.
He should have approached, shaken some sense into the boy and gotten them out of the danger zone but, for a reason he couldn't quite pinpoint, he paused, silent.
He watched as Rigel nearly bowled his cousin over and grasped her in a tight hug.
"Archie? What…" Potter seemed to be in shock as the boy clung tightly to her.
"I felt my pocketwatch heat, I knew you were in danger," the boy explained as he let her go only to wipe blood of her cheek.
"Are you hurt? Do you need to be healed?" He asked even as he was already waving his wand with diagnostic charms.
Harry shook her head as they both leaned into each other in the demolished hallway, "No I'm fine, but-"
Rigel spoke over her, "I saw your dad out there, we need to get out of here before-"
But Potter violently shook her head, "No, we'll think up something, we always do, but Archie, I need your help, they were too deeply wounded, I couldn't heal them, I put them all under a temporary stasis charm," That explained the eerie silence behind her as she dragged Rigel backwards into the hall and the bodies strewn across it. She continued to babble,"But many are too badly wounded, the stasis won't hold so-"
"-you want to put them into Merlin's Sleep?" Rigel finished her sentence, shocked eyes surveying the bodies.
Snape knew once again he should interrupt them and shake some sense into the both of them for thinking of casting such a dangerous spell. If it worked, it would freeze all the bodies and limbs in time which would allow easy re-attachment and could even stop someone on the brink of death unlike the stasis charm. But Merlin's Sleep was an enchantment incorporating both runes, blood and spells which demanded extraordinary levels of magic and concentration. He's not sure if he could cast it without having specialised in Healing and he wonders how they had even heard of it. It would definitely be in the restricted section in the Hogwarts library.
But…had he ever seen such large reserves on someone as young as Rigel? And did his cousin not repel a direct mental attack from Riddle himself? The spell was meant to be cast by one, but he was curious...
He had already learnt much from watching them interact while thinking they were alone. He resolved to remain silent unless he felt the spell go wrong. Either way, he would lambast them afterwards for having the sense of a pair of lemmings and doing this spell with no one watching their backs.
Potter and Rigel sat down in the centre of the crater as she used the copious blood on herself to draw four symbols on the marble around. Hands then clasped and foreheads touching, they closed their eyes and began to chant. He shivered as he felt Rigel's magic unfurl with the words, a powerful breeze rushing through the chamber. Potter was obviously more experienced on the healing aspect and must be supplying the concentration while Rigel supplied the magic. He awaited with tense breath but he could feel Merlin's Sleep settle powerfully onto the unconscious bodies as the seconds passed.
Snape stiffened as he felt another presence in the room and turned his gaze to see Lord Riddle and Lucius Malfoy frozen at one of the hall's other entrances, observing the powerful magic at play. He wasn't sure if Malfoy's wide eyes were from recognising the spell or feeling Rigel's magic for the first time but it was Riddle's eyes, focused solely on the two children in trance, that gave Snape another prickle of unease.
There was no mistaking the covetous look in Riddle's eyes as he waited for the chants to end. Looking back at the co-dependent heirs accomplishing a feat of magic beyond most adult wizards, Snape had a sinking feeling. There was no way the two would escape the political minefield and machinations of Riddle now.
For those of you interested, my headcanon for the attackers was that Riddle Jr. - after realising he wouldn't get the purebloods on his side when they had Lord Riddle as their leader - reached out to the poor in the Lower Alleys and people like Claw and those unhappy with the large disparity in wealth etc, to wage terrorist attacks on places like Malfoy Manor.
I wanted to end it here though so didn't focus on the attackers. I also took liberties with the plot such as giving Harry her vivid green eyes again (just assume it's a weird side effect of the Dominion Jewel). Afterall, the whole point of these pieces is to be dramatic and get things to happen that we won't (and we don't want to) experience yet in V's carefully crafted plot.
Apologies for the late posting, I know I promised this a while ago in the forums. But I am now on holiday and planning to publish a few unfinished pieces in my other stories too.