The Lightning Letters

THE LIGHTNING LETTERS 4.

The following day Iris got up very early and literally raced to the largest bookshop in Diagon Alley. She got there just after it opened, and was soon browsing the enormous section on the Dark Age. She needed anything on Dark Age individuals who also had happened to have been in Slytherin House.

After half an hour of searching the extensive range, Iris had to admit that there seemed to be very little information on Slytherin House at all, let alone the people who had been members of it. Finally, swallowing her pride to some extent, she rather sheepishly asked the attendant for help.

The woman looked quite impressed that Iris Henderson was in her shop and was asking her questions; until she heard what Iris actually wanted.

"People in Slytherin House?" she asked, smile fading a bit. "What, one of the old houses, the one that Voldemort was in? Why would you want to know about them? They were all evil, weren't they?"

"Well, just because Voldemort was evil and in Slytherin house, I'm not sure we can write off everyone who was in it, can we?" Iris asked gently.

"Well, I don't know, Miss Henderson," said the woman, obviously taking offence and becoming all blustery. "I'm just repeating what I've been told..."

"Problems? Ah, Miss Henderson- lovely to see you again."

It was Royal Deayton.

"Oh! Good morning, Mr Deayton," said the attendant, flushing slightly. "A lovely day."

"Indeed it is, Miss Reilly. Anyway, I couldn't help but overhear part of your conversation, Miss Henderson-"

"Please, do call me Iris."

"Thank-you. And you must do the same. Er- not call me Iris of course, because that wouldn't be very...I mean, do call me Roy."

Iris could swear that Mr D- Roy was blushing ever-so-slightly.

"I heard that you are looking for information on Slytherin house, Iris. Well, I don't wish to deprive you of your business Miss Reilly, but I do know of a small but well-stocked little bookshop quite close by that might have what you're looking for. If you'd like to, I could take you there..."

"That would be very kind of you. If you're not too busy, that is."

"Of course not. Good day, Miss Reilly." Roy bowed to the woman, the bell tinkled and they were out of the shop.

Iris was just about to ask where the bookshop was when she saw that Roy was acting very strangely. He looked up and down the street, eyes narrowed, before grabbing her by the hand and pulling her down a side street.

"Roy!" Iris tried to catch her breath. "What ever are you doing?"

Roy looked at her sheepishly. "The bookshop isn't exactly situated in Diagon Alley," he whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"Well...this bookshop is somewhat- off the beaten track. It's er- down Graveston Alley, actually. Best we're not seen, if we go."

Iris looked at him appraisingly. Royal Deayton, doing anything slightly dodgy? Doing something that wasn't one hundred percent sweetness and light? This was a new side to him!

She was rather impressed.

"What exactly does this bookshop sell?" she asked.

Roy looked slightly relieved that she wasn't kicking up a fuss. "I knew you would be alright about it all! It's nothing too dire, honestly. The bookshop just sells books on rarer individuals in the Dark Ages- things not usually seen in the more popular volumes."

"Sounds just what I'm looking for. Let's go!"

***

The bookshop was small, dank and dusty, and no cheerful little bell tinkled when they opened the door and entered.

Iris walked over to the nearest shelf, lined with old books. "I've never even heard of half these titles," she remarked to Roy, touching several with a finger.

"Can I help you?"

The voice was so close and the breath so hot in her ear that Iris jumped forward, almost knocking the shelf over. She whirled round to come face-to-face with a tall but wizened old man, with a deeply lined face, strange light-blue eyes and a fine halo of utterly white hair.

"Ah, Professor Ricci," said Roy, stepping forward. "I thought I'd bring this young lady here- she wants information on members of the Slytherin House during the Dark Age."

The man let out a laugh that quickly turned into a hacking cough. "Slytherin house, you say? That's very...unusual. Don't get much of that."

He didn't volunteer any more information, and so after an uncomfortable silence, Roy began awkwardly again, "would you have any books on the subject?"

"And why does the young lass want such information?" Professor Ricci asked, turning his strange eyes on Iris.

"I'm writing a book," she ventured.

In all but a moment, the Professor's face took on an ugly scowl. "Writing some more lies about them, eh?" he growled. "How they should all have been put to death, hmm?"

"Not- not at all," Iris said nervously.

Professor Ricci was nodding in a way that made it clear he didn't believe a word she said. "I'm sure, I'm sure. Let me tell you something, lass. Just because the Dark Lord was spawned from that house, doesn't mean that everyone put into it would go the same way!"

"I- I didn't say that..."

"Aye, but I knew what you were thinking. My family: before Hogwarts was destroyed, ten generations, all in Slytherin. You probably think I'm evil now, that I'll murder you in your bed, eh?"

"Um...no?"

"I know what you all think. Just because the Slytherins thought on their feet, were crafty and tried to stay alive, you blame them. Just because people of the other houses rushed in and thought later, and got themselves blown up, they were decorated as war heroes. Let me tell you, acting the fool doesn't deserve the praise. Yet they're the ones that are honoured now. It's an absolute disgrace. Have you heard of Severus Snape?"

"Yes, I do believe that I h-"

"Thought not. Now there was a crafty devil. Began spying for the Light Side even before the end of the First Uprising. Went back to it for Dumbledore in the Second. Risked his own life, saved countless others, even clever enough to stay alive throughout it all- and was he ever decorated? Of course not. Just because his family were Slytherins through and through, he was written off. Most of that damn Order saw Slytherins as not up to par, and that assumption's still carried through today. Draco Malfoy, another spy for the Light. I suppose you never heard of him neither, eh? Went against his whole family, that boy did, to help out the Order. And do we ever hear of him? No, it's Harry Potter this, Albus Dumbledore that. People don't recognise the real heroes 'cause they were real people, and we don't like that, do we. But at least I know who to honour for freeing us of Voldemort."

"I must assure you Professor, I don't intend to write anything disparaging about anyone," snapped Iris indignantly, drawing herself up to her full (and, admittedly, rather small) height. "If people fought bravely and well then they should be remembered, whatever their faults. Now do you have the book I'm looking for, or can I have the pleasure of leaving?"

Professor Ricci eyed Iris appraisingly. "I like this one," he said to Roy.

***

"I'm awfully sorry about that," Roy said afterwards, looking upset. Iris had bought a thick, heavy book, and they had left the shop. "I had no idea he would act that way. I always knew that he was rather a crotchety person- but definitely not to that extent."

"Oh, you don't need to apologise," Iris said. "That bookshop is excellent, full of rare titles, and I never would have known about it if you hadn't taken me there. And as for Professor Ricci- well, I do believe that his bark is worse than his bite. But tell me- how did you find the place?"

"Years ago. You know what people are like- once a place has a bad reputation, it's very hard to shake it off. I was a bit more opened-minded, did a bit of exploring on my own in Graveston, and there's nothing too awful down there at all. During the Restoration anything slightly Dark Arts was utterly destroyed, as you know, and Knockturn Alley was torn down. People nowadays are a bit too careful, if you ask me. Oh, I know they never want a repeat performance of the Dark Age, but it doesn't mean they shouldn't be open to new ideas. There's been no real Dark Arts activity in Britain for two centuries."

"Don't you believe we should be vigilant, and careful?"

"Yes, of course," answered Roy with a slightly sarcastic smile. "But I think it goes a bit far if you're not able to find a spell that will exterminate a few cockroaches."

They continued down the street for a few more seconds in silence, until Roy asked, "this book you've just bought. I take it it's to do with your research into the Lightning Letters?"

"Yes," Iris said, quite eager to share her findings with another historian. "I believe I'm very close now."

"I take it it's a Slytherin, then," Roy said with a slight grin. "However did I guess that?"

"I admire your powers of deduction," Iris answered jokingly. "Well, we're looking for a financially independent Slytherin, possibly with ties within the Death Eaters, and almost certainly with her own estate."

Roy's eyebrows shot up. "Well, you certainly have been busy," he said. "All that accomplished in a few months. You must have been working awfully hard."

They walked on a little more.

"Well," said Iris, as they reached her street, "this is where I live."

"Will you owl me?" Roy asked suddenly. "I mean... if you work out who it is, or- or need to go on another research mission- I'm always there to help."

"If you really want me to-" answered Iris, rather taken aback by his earnestness.

Roy nodded once, gave her a swift smile and was gone, all with a swish of his cloak.

***

The book Iris had bought was very concise, informative and extensive.

But no girl in it fit the bill.

Iris just couldn't understand it. She had been so sure that the girl was a Slytherin. After eliminating all the Slytherins who were known Death Eaters, or who had died before the last date of the Lightning Letters, the options were very few. Unless Harry Potter's mystery girl was much older than him (by at least 30 years) she was nowhere to be found.

Iris sighed, flipping through the book once more. She had no idea where to go from here. The thick text was in alphabetical order. She turned a few pages, passing 'Litten, Latina' until a name caught her eye:

'Malfoy, Draco.'

Professor Ricci had said something about him, hadn't he? Slightly curious, Iris read on:

'Draco Malfoy was the only son and heir of the wealthy Malfoy estate. Despite his family's teachings and traditions (see Malfoy, Lucius) Malfoy turned his back on the Dark Side, and worked undercover as a Death Eater spy for the Order of the Phoenix. He survived the war, but died soon afterwards.'

Hmm. Iris chuckled to herself. If only this Draco Malfoy was a girl, her quest would probably be at an end. A Slytherin, with money and an estate, and in real fear of the relationship coming to light because of his being a spy. Unless Will had been right all along, and Harry Potter's lover actually was a boy...

Then Iris suddenly froze. Draco... Draco- that name...she knew that it meant something, in Latin, it-

It meant snake. Snake.

The letter said:

'We always seem as if we are fighting, when I first glance at it. You are snarling, I am sticking out my tongue at you.'

What if the letter had meant not just a member of the Slytherin house, but someone with the actual namesake, a snake twice over...

What if the author of the Lightning Letters was Draco Malfoy?

***