Contract Creature

Chapter Six - Newsflash

On the fourth page of Witch Weekly was this article that was later bought by the Daily Prophet:

Hogwarts' Revolutionary Renovations

Rita Skeeter, July 13^th, Year of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's Death

Just yesterday during lunch break, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Arthur Weasley appeared before the desk of the Department of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic, to take Gilbert Whimple of the Experimental Charms Committee to see the new additions to the ancient school of Hogwarts that has been unchanged to an important extent for several centuries. The newest constructs of the magnificent Scottish castle are to the House towers, and Greenhouses. Beside the Greenhouses is a five-story tower of glass in the farthest east corner. Inside is a spiral green-dyed glass staircase that accesses each floor, where there are walls of compartments holding various dirt, plants or both. What makes this tower unique is weather and climate spells have been cast on each compartment in all five floors.

The Herbology Professor Sprout was extremely enthusiastic to show that just a list of specific temperatures, climate, and even fixed times of the day and/or year written with her wand on an enchanted floating glass tablet would result in the cultivation of the rarest plants, or those found out of season. The amount of creation and application of spells and charms is staggering, to say the least. When asked on the builder, Sprout pointed to a silver-filled imprint at the top of the entrance doorway. "We just needed extra space in a place with that in limits, then we put forward a commission, we were delighted to add a bonus seeing the finished product - we had no idea that Eralis would think of this"

The second and most impressive works, also by Eralis, are four seven-foot statues of presumably glass but is virtually indestructible. Each statue is a warrior of one house complete with colours and symbolism, they move in humanoid manner when defending against any threat to the school, a precautionary measure not really needed now that the Dark Lord is gone. Each 'Guardian' is stationed high on a thin horizontal spike outcropping of Hogwarts stone at the top of the four corners of the castle.

Similar to golems but are in tune to the magic of the school, Transfiguration Professor McGonagall said, "Should there by any magical disturbance, or destruction to Hogwarts and/or the students from land water or air, they'll know and act on it. Hogwarts is an old institute that required upkeep; the Guardians will instil discipline and help our caretaker Argus Filch in keeping the walls of Hogwarts in peak condition. I only wish that this was available to us before."

A comment from Experimental Charms expert Gilbert Whimple, "Eralis earned a total of 50 000 galleons from the Hogwarts commissions, a measly and pallid price for outstanding work."

Arthur Weasley, "The magnitude of time, intelligence and power to create such original items. Never seen anything like it in all my time [a good thirty years] at the ministry."

After asking of the artist's identity and whereabouts, the headmaster replied that he sent a request with just the three-syllable name by owl. On the relationship between Eralis and himself, answered that he had been recommended strongly by a forgotten source and holds only a short business correspondence. The artist known as Eralis has left no other information but sheer genius, beautiful and practical items of art, the highest appraisals and a name without a face.

The mysteriously-wed Potions master and war hero, Severus Snape was in his usual sexy, strong, cynical mood approved of Eralis' toil; even going so far to commissioning a work either for himself or his unnamed spouse. A trend may be afoot.

The sexiest war heroes: Malfoy, Potter and Snape - pg. 1-3

Who's your match? - pg. 5

Severus' Mystery Wife (theories and claims) - pg. 6-9

Chapter Seven - First Day

"Ziggler, Abraham!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The Sorting hat shouted the last first year's house to the cheers of the yellow and black robed students, until Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

"This year we have an extra student entering seventh year." Severus' unknown wife stepped into view from behind the Transfiguration teacher; wearing opened large school robes overtop a cotton blood-red t-shirt with scaly black pants, black triple buckled combat boots, silver shackles at each wrist and ankle trailed large heavy chains wrapped around her body, and two streaks of white at the temples in the otherwise dark ponytail. "Dragonveille, Talm!" The Sorting Hat intoned dryly out loud to all.

"Well, well, well, little one. New blood and light. Where shall I put you?" Across the Great Hall, Draco Malfoy nodded to Harry Potter, ten galleons were at stake. "I shall place her Highness in SLYTHERIN!" Draco Malfoy stood up smirking at Potter and pumped his arm ever so slightly at his side. The young woman took off the hat and inclined her head to it, which it returned more deeply, handing it over to the Deputy Headmistress. Whispers and murmurs rumbled through the hall.

"She's royalty, then?"

"Of course, she's pureblood in Slytherin but no one in Slytherin's been call that."

"I've never heard of the Dragonveilles, it's French, right?"

Professor Snape leaned over to Dumbledore.

"That filthy thing just couldn't keep its mouth shut, could it?" The low voices turned into gasps when the strange girl walked up to the Slytherin table and was pulled into a hug with known bully and just recent war hero Draco Malfoy, both laughing and smiling ease. A place beside him was immediately cleared for the bizarre girl, Crabbe and Goyle nodded to her respectfully, she returned the gesture with a warm laugh. After Dumbledore called for silence and announced the usual restrictions, the food appeared and noise washed over the Hall.

Under the background noise, Pansy Parkinson who was sitting across from Talm and beside Blaise Zabini hissed at her.

"Who do you think you are? That's my boyfriend you put your dirty hands on! Do you have any idea who I am?" Draco's best friend, Blaise who took Draco's place as Prefect when he turned the position down, drawled out.

"So, Malfoy, gonna introduce me to her?" Talm merely raised an eyebrow at the overly painted pug-faced girl sporting a prefect badge, spitting rather angrily, and responded with all icy manner of her training as Elderdragon heir.

"I would imagine you'd be Pansy Parkinson, Slytherin Prefect, the girl that Draco broke up with in February. So yes, I do have an idea." Struggling with laughter, Draco sneered at Pansy and threw an arm around his aunt,

"I don't abide people that insult my family, Pansy. Zabini, meet my favourite cousin, Talm Dragonveille. Talm, meet Blaise Zabini." They shook hands over mashed potatoes, ignoring the sputtering of the seventh-year female Slytherin and the curious looks from others. After sitting down, Blaise furrowed his brow.

"Dragonveille, eh? Never heard of it. What was the Highness business?" Talm smiled gently, treating the Slytherins to a flash of overly sharp canines, and shrugged with a chain clink. Pansy chose to add her two bits through shovelled mouthfuls.

"And what's with the chains? You're two months too early for Halloween." Draco snorted and began to eat his meal whilst discussing the hopefully successful Quidditch season with Zabini. Talm shrugged once more,

"I have reason." Parkinson opened her mouth once more but was distracted by the squeak at Talm's elbow, a foot-and-a-half translucently silver dragon was kept airborne by flapping wings, carrying a miniature wooden barge covered in rice rolls and pink meat on it's back. "Oh, thank you, Iri! I hope it wasn't too heavy for you? Oh good, come share with me, this is rather much." Pansy turned absolutely pale when Talm proceeded to extract a thin dagger from a hidden pocket in her sleeve of her robes and rapidly cut the pink meat with deadly finger twirls, before using the knife to lever the slices to her mouth.

Draco looked up and speared a greenly enveloped roll with his fork, petting the head of the tiny dragon clutching a pink slice with both front paws while sitting back on it's haunches. Blaise looked curiously at the boat and little creature. Pansy blinked and scrunched up her face, forgetting the sharp blade.

"Ew, how can you eat that? Why do you get different foods? Is that thing yours?" Draco chortled and continued to snag bits of food from his cousin's boat.

"Talm isn't quite used to England's heavy food just yet, she gets different foods just because and no you can't, and that thing is my pet - Iridescence. Iri's an original one-of-a-kind Eralis." Pansy gaped and sputtered for the second time in the past ten minutes. Zabini extended a hand to touch Iri.

"So you're from the east then. An actual Eralis? May I?" Talm gently nudged the glass creation towards the boy's hand.

"Go on, Iri. Let him pet you." Dodging the origin query, Iridescence was used as a diversion, which was then passed along to the end of the table where all the Slytherins oohed and aahed over the calmly munching animal. Draco surreptitiously made sure no one was paying attention to wrap an arm around Talm's waist and whisper in her ear,

"You're feeling alright? First day's stressful enough but in your condit -" Talm cut him off and pushed him playfully.

"Draco, I feel fine. Honestly, you and Sev are enough to make a girl want to be unloved. I won't be an invalid for another several months."

"Well, you might want to assure your hubby, Uncle Sev's been staring a hole into your skull since the end of Sorting." Talm giggled and looked up to her husband who was indeed looking over at her in concern, and smiled reassuringly.

"I know but the poor dear's going to have to accept me walking around without a litter." She turned serious rather suddenly. "And I won't have you carrying my books about all the time, I am perfectly capable of such a thing. Having food flown in by dragon is a bit much as it is, I could endure a bit of nausea eating the provided food." Draco looked rebellious and was cut off by his aunt's unexpected fit of giggles, looking over to his godfather who was twirling a goblet in his hand, understood that they were having another of their telepathic conversations. He sighed and continued with his meal.

"I really hate when you do that. I never know whether you're talking about me or not. Stop giggling and eat some chocolate, or you'll start floating upside down, the chains aren't much in weighing you down." Talm stilled her giggling, grinned at Severus and finished eating her raw fish, wiped down her knife and sheathed it. "Damn, Pansy saw you do that trick with the dagger thing, I can't believe I missed it again." Talm took out a large slab of dark chocolate from another hidden pocket.

"I do it every meal."

"But it's always different." She bit into sweet and mumbled through it.

"Don't worry, no one else saw so I can show off tomorrow breakfast." Draco held out his hand for a piece of chocolate, predictably denied when Talm gestured at the vegetables.

"I should bloody hope so, then they'd have enough sense to stay away from you. It's like they've never seen an Eralis before. They just have to take a stroll to the Greenhouses." His aunt shrugged and took another bite from her chocolate.

"I didn't think that it would get so popular so fast, even a catalogue and private collection now. High demand from only one person, one-of-a-kinds like Iri are extremely sought after." Draco still grumbled through his peas.

"It'll take forever to get the fingerprints and smudges off." Talm poked him in the ribs and gave him a small piece of the candy.

"No it won't, Iri'll do it for you, she loves baths and that towel of hers. Then she'll roll in some mud with Balthazar, take a swim in the lake with Squiddgy before another bath. She'll be her usual sparkling clean. Unless she decides to get sludged." Blaise had settled across Talm in time to hear her remark.

"Balthazar? Squidggy? Sludged?" Draco smirked.

"I forgot to also say that my favourite cousin is a bit touched in the head." Talm just poked him in the ribs again and took another bite of her chocolate. "Ow. Balthazar's one of her wild pets she made friends with in the Forbidden Forest, think a cross between a crup, thestral and hellhound or just a runty Grim and you get Balthazar."

"That's not true! Balthy's a Gytrash and you know it!" Talm protested.

"A runty one. Squidggy's another one, it's the giant squid's baby, she made friends with it during the summer while we visited Snape."

"And what's so wrong with that? The merpeople were too busy to play with him, we happened to make really pretty ink designs on the banks." Draco laughed and drained his goblet of pumpkin juice, the bewilderment and enjoyment was clear on Zabini's face.

"She dragged my dragon along and they'd come back at the end of the day smelling like fish, with gillyweed or shells or whatever baubles the merchildren could foist off on her or braid into her hair."

"Uncle Severus needed gillyweed for several potions, and Iri and I happen to like the shells and baubles, they're very pretty." Blaise laughed and petted Talm's hand supportively.

"Anything on you, love, looks pretty." Talm ceased smiling to snatch her hand away as politely as possible, Draco could feel his uncle's frown become deeper than usual, scaring the unfortunate first years sitting closest to him. The junior Malfoy gave a scathing warning with his glare to Zabini, who cleared his throat and slid his hand back awkwardly, steering the topic back to safer territory. "Uh, and sludged?" Draco stared Zabini down for a few more moments before answering.

"Have you ever played with Peeves before? Somehow, my cousin has become bosom buddies with the pest, no pranks but a sludge fight is always fine in the Entrance Hall. It takes forever to get the stuff out 'less you cast at least six evanescoes, I usually have to dunk Iri in a bucket of Magical Mess Remover, Talm has some gift in being able to use it as a mudpack and off hassle free." A chirp signalled the alighting of Iri on Draco's shoulder, just as the plates were being cleared and the Prefects left to start calling their houses. Draco turned to Talm and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek. "I'll visit later."

"Please bring Iri, Dray. If you leave her with the other Slytherins she might get annoyed enough with them to start biting, or to bring Balthazar indoors and track mud on the ceiling." A cackle warned of Peeves, many ducked reflexively. He caught sight of Talm, screeched in joy and swooped in for a hug, to the incredulity of others. "Malty Talmy! Sludge fight!" Her chains shifted noisily when she shook her head with a smile

"Sorry Peeves, maybe tomorrow! But the Prefects are leading their houses back so they should be gathered, perfect for an air attack." With this hint, the poltergeist cackled and blew a kiss before swooping out the Great Hall. The Bloody Baron floated beside Talm who turned to walk alone in a side corridor, greeted by bowing portraits that had magically sensed her station without being told, she returned the greetings kindly.

"I think you handle him better than I do at times, Highness." Talm stopped at the tapestry that would take her to the comfort of Severus' room, she warmly grinned at the grim ghost and gave a gentle kiss on his cheek so she didn't fall through.

"Never with your finesse, dear Baron."