Harry Potter and the Green Snake of Slytherin

10.

The Slytherin Banquet

It was a few minutes past five in the afternoon when Avara came back from Hogsmeade, her arms packed with heavy Honeydukes totes. One could buy an impressive amount of sweets with ten Galleons, she reckoned. Fortunately, she had remembered the shortcut passage Renatus Troomveld had told her about, that led from Hogsmeade to the dungeons within a few minutes.

When she came back to the Slytherin Common Room, she handed the bags to Steven Packard for him to put them in a safe place and headed for the girls' dormitory.

Although she seemed serene, she was plagued with doubt.

"Will I be up to it?" she asked herself.

She couldn't imagine anything better than a vivifying shower to wash her sorrows away and give her strength for tonight's banquet.

Crystalline water was soaking her raven-like black hair, a thousand translucent pearls crawling down her body from head to toe. She draped herself in a bottle-green towel and sat down on her bed, combing her long hair gracefully.

Looking in the direction of Malachius' cage, she was pleased to notice that her snake was curled over himself, smoothly breathing and deeply asleep... He was probably dreaming that he was the next Slytherin top-model, wearing black sunglasses and hiding from paparazzi. She liked him like the little brother she had never had.

She took the first wizard robe she found in her truck, dressed up quickly and stepped down the spiral staircase towards the Common Room, where Vincent Falke and a sixth-year housemate called Xaver Eldritch were waiting for her.

"Shall we start now?" asked Falke eagerly.

"Alright! Vincent, take the banners over there, Xaver you can bring the table cloths... I for myself shall get the room decorated. I know some exquisite decoration charms from home"

Along with some first years, the three of them helped preparing the room for the feast. The first years had too much spare time anyway...

***

Servana Abbott from Ravenclaw did not join their housemates in the Great Hall for dinner as usual. She had told them that she would be attending the Slytherin banquet instead, awakening strong interest among her blue-clad fellows.

Since a few weeks Slytherin House had been gaining strong popularity within Ravenclaw, especially after their victory on the Quidditch pitch. Both houses seemed to complete each other perfectly during the mixed classes: the cunning of the snake combined with the raven's wits brought the best results, except maybe in Professor Trelawney's Divination classes.

Most of the Ravenclaw students would have done anything to swap places with Servana in order to attend the mysterious banquet. But they knew they had not a single chance because Draco Malfoy himself had invited their red-haired first-year friend.

After dinner, it was quite hard for her to get ready, her housemates stalking her with dozens of questions about the house that had produced the most Dark wizards at Hogwarts.

She managed to go back to her bedroom take a black dress for the feast - it was the first time students from other houses were allowed to attend the Slytherin banquet and as such, they were forbidden to wear their house colours.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she reckoned that she was looking great in that black gown and was rather pleased with the result.

Cho Chang was lying on her bed a few feet away from her, daydreaming. As she saw Servana in such a beautiful robe, she asked:

"So, are you going to twist Malfoy around your little finger tonight?

"Umm" said Servana, blushing, her azure eyes betraying a feeling of guilt.

"I mean, I don't like Draco, he thinks I'm a worthless Mudblood...But at least you have someone you can date...I..." she was sobbing "...haven't got anybody anymore... Cedric died last year...Harry Potter is seeing Avara..."

"Don't be upset, Cho! If you perform well at the next Quidditch match, the boys out there will be after you like wild...I for myself owe Avara a lot. Draco would probably never have noticed me if she hadn't told her cousin that I fancied him. Fortunately, he learnt from her that I was a pureblood too... He wouldn't have given me a chance otherwise"

"That little git!" burst Cho "Really! Who does he think he is? Don't you prove him right!"

"Er...you know, his family is one of the most ancient and most respected wizarding families... and he's so good looking"

"Hmm...Right...Have a good time" said Cho, trying to hide how furious she was.

"Don't worry..." said Servana, embracing her housemate. On the way to the corridors, she met two fifth-years who asked her for a detailed report of the banquet when she would be back. It was hard being famous...

***

Harry was about to leave his room too. He had been over-enthusiastic in the past few days about the Slytherin feast, but today's happenings had made him less serene.

Hedwig had brought him the long-awaited letter from Sirius in the afternoon, and he had been reading it over and over as to find a hidden message between the lines that would comfort him.

"Dear Harry,

I feel really sorry for not answering earlier. You bet I would have if it had been possible for me, the matters here being extremely serious.

When I read that letter you sent me, I first thought that my eyes were playing a bad trick on me.

The Argentums I know very well, having suffered under their gracile hands fifteen years ago the most horrible tortures one can imagine - or not. A refinement in cruelty I've never seen again in my life. If I hadn't had enough strength to transform into Padfoot when they started their atrocious work on me, no Sirius Black would be writing you that letter today.

Those times were very Dark, Harry. The Argentums were among the most powerful Dark wizards ever and I was the only one who escaped them. However, their daughter Avara I don't know. Dumbledore told me she's good.

In Azkaban, I heard rumours about the new generation of Dark wizards but I did not managed to remember the names they mentioned.

Maybe she is using her mind to accomplish good things, revolting against her parents, I don't know. However, mixed classes are simply brilliant; I wonder why Dumbledore never came up with that idea himself earlier.

All that I can say: be careful Harry, do not open your heart nor your mind to her and let me know how things are going!

Yours,

Sirius"

Harry simply couldn't imagine that the same people who had given birth to someone as exceptional as Avara were also capable of the worst and Darkest things, yet acts of torture on his godfather Sirius.

Before joining his Slytherin friends for the banquet in the dungeons, he told Hedwig about his feelings. The snowy white owl could not reply, but he needed a trustful companion that would listen to him... He evoked how lonely he felt since Ron and Hermione were avoiding him. However, Avara's strong presence and energy made him feel better than anyone else every time he was close to her.

He asked Hedwig "What do you think of her? Is she to be trusted?" Hedwig seemed to nod and nibbled his finger gently with her beak.

It was enough for him to feel confident again. Wearing his most expensive black cloak - one he had bought at Mrs. Malkin's for the greatest occasions, it had cost him seventeen Galleons - he put his wand into his pocket and stepped steadily down the stairs towards the dungeons.

On the way, he met Servana Abbott from Ravenclaw. He recalled that he had seen her playing cards with Draco, Steven and Avara, and also what his fellow Gryffindors had told him about her commenting the match. He reckoned that she surely had been invited by Malfoy.

"Hi Servana!" he said "I guess you're going to the Slytherin banquet, aren't you?"

"Er...right! Are you? I mean, is it the first time?"

"Yeah. You know, a lot of things have changed in my relationship to Slytherin this year"

Their jet black robes were not as discrete as Harry's Invisibility Cloak but both managed to avoid prefects and teachers on their way to the dungeons.

Once they arrived in front of the majestic stone serpent that guarded the room, Harry said the password Avara had written down - "Magna Fortuna"- and the door opened slowly, exposing the tables that had been readied for the banquet.

The Slytherin Common Room was decorated with the most exquisite Charms Harry had ever seen. Green flame torches were gleaming in a silvery mist, casting their shadows on long and huge green velvet banners hanging from the vaulted ceiling; carved stone walls seemed to sparkle with thousand of flickering stars. This was the work of Avara's first Scintillatus charm, which had undoubtedly worked.

Seven massive ash tables had been appointed; they were separated by colossal serpentine columns stretching from floor to ceiling. Behind the centre table, which seemed to be the largest one, an ancient frame was holding the portrait of a severe aged wizard. When Harry and Servana stepped into the room, they noticed that some Slytherins had already taken place at their tables. Avara was sitting at the large table in the middle.

She stood up: "Servana, Harry, please come forth and join us, we'll begin in a few minutes". She was beautifully dressed in a shimmering green witch robe with silver linings; her eyes seemed to glow brighter than usual.

Harry took a seat between her and Vincent Falke, whereas the tall red-haired girl from Ravenclaw took the last free place on the table, directly right to Draco Malfoy. She couldn't have dreamt a better place. At the table, the remaining seats were occupied by Steven Packard, Pansy Parkinson and Xaver Eldritch.

Vincent and Harry were already discussing Quidditch and Snitch-catching techniques when a well-known bat-like silhouette entered the room: Severus Snape, Master of Potions and Head of Slytherin House, was moving fluidly in a sumptuous black cloak with green and silver linings towards the centre table. Harry threw a desperate look at Avara, wondering if his own presence tonight was a good idea. She tried to comfort him with a mild look of her green eyes.

Snape cleared his throat and, leaning on the centre table, he started to speak:

"Ladies, Gentlemen, fellow Slytherins and guests, let me welcome you tonight to the 999th Slytherin banquet of Hogwarts" he paused, leaving some time for the students to clap heartily. He went on:

"Tonight should be very special indeed. I am informed that the great Salazar Slytherin himself wants to talk to us... But for now, feel free to delight yourselves!"

"Apparecium!" On the tables, silver goblets and plates appeared, along with the most exquisite meals imaginable: giant oysters, dragon steak in fire sauce, finest goat cheese and magical green apple cake.

Most of Slytherins were enjoying this finer dinner so much that they took two or three helpings of every course. Their glasses were filled with magical water, green apple juice or delicious icewine from Professor Snape's personal cellar - for fourth-years and older only.

Harry was now starting to feel better: although Snape was definitely not his favourite teacher, he reckoned that he was very good at being the Head of Slytherin, given the way he was leading the banquet. His table neighbours were also a pleasant talk: he discussed the intimates of Quidditch with Vincent and Xaver gave him a short glimpse on the sixth-year subjects to come.

After a while, Avara asked him how he was enjoying the feast. He whispered into her ear "We'll have to talk after dinner, I'm worried"

"I can feel it, Harry... Just get into the mood! We will soon hear the Great Salazar speak to us, it will be great... our ancestor...I just can't wait any longer"

"Umm...yeah...But you know Avara, it's all new to me", Harry replied shyly

"No need to worry. Take some more icewine, it is delicious and it'll do you good"

At the other end of the table, Draco Malfoy and Servana Abbott enjoyed some fresh Fizzing Whizbees Avara had brought back from Honeydukes and seemed to have an interesting conversation.

After his second helping of grapevine and mintapple jelly, Harry spotted Malachius sleeping on a cushion in the corner of the room and wondered why he was here rather than in Avara's bedroom.

A few minutes later, just before midnight, Severus Snape stood up and asked the students for complete silence.

"The time has come for our House Master Salazar Slytherin to unveil his message to us. Last time he spoke to his students was through his heir Tom Riddle fifty years ago, so we should be aware that this is highly exceptional. I demand you all remain silent, one should be able to hear the green torches flicker."

The Slytherins stopped talking at once, feeling awestruck and not devoid of the pride of attending such a ceremony.

Snape turned towards Avara "Miss von Argentum, please step forth with your snake, we will now proceed to the invocation of the great Salazar Slytherin"

While the Potions Master was taking a piece of parchment from his billowing black cloak, Avara woke up Malachius - "Hmm? What's going on here" yawned the snake, looking at the room with his big silvery eyes - curled him onto her arm and walked towards Snape's left side.

The three of them began to read the text written on the scrap of parchment. It was written in Parseltongue, and although Snape could not speak it fluently he could very well decipher it and read it aloud. They invoked Slytherin in a series of soft hissings and spittings:

"Great Salazar,

Lord of the Snakes

May your death be defeated

Reveal us your wisdom

For we are thirsty of your soul

Darkness and light

Power and might

Lord Slytherin we await you"

In a sudden, the vault turned dark, putting off Avara's decoration spells, green flame torches casting the only lights in the room.

The portrait behind the table where Harry was sitting seemed to come to life and the face of the aged wizard became younger, revealing a raven-haired wizard with greenish eyes and a thin black beard. He started moving slowly as if facing the audience. His eyes were sparkling like flames.

Although Professor Snape had also witnessed Slytherin's last apparition, he was always feeling strange when the House Master appeared.

The living portrait of the wizard started speaking in Parseltongue and Avara, like transfigured, was translating his words for her housemates:

"Witches and wizards of pureblood extraction,

I have come to life again after fifty years

To welcome thou to my lair and announce great things.

Sly, ambitious and cunning are my true followers.

Times of grandeur will arise to the faithful sons of Slytherin

For my heir is among us to accomplish noble tasks.

Under the spell of the snake,

Soon your Dark flowers will bloom..." he paused, solemnly.

But for now, Carpe Noctem and enjoy the feast!"

Salazar Slytherin's living picture vanished from the wall and so did the frame as well, unveiling an ancient wooden door.

The room was filled with the most absolute silence for a few more minutes. Some students, like Malfoy or Packard were truly fascinated by Lord Slytherin's speech, but most of them were trying to find out why their House Master had chosen to appear tonight.

Harry was looking nervously at Avara who seemed completely exhausted. He too could speak Parseltongue and it occurred to him that she had mistakenly translated one sentence during the speech, but he could not figure out which one it was.

Indeed, Snape had noticed that too and he whispered to the unfathomable girl: "Very brilliant, Avara. Changing "a noble task for me" into "noble tasks". You truly follow our Master's path"

"Please Severus, don't say anything. You'll make me blush. Let's go, I'm feeling so devoid of energy. I'd love to have a rest in the hidden corridor"

"Fine, fine..." replied Snape. Turning towards the students, he said "Lord Slytherin has opened the hidden lounge for you. Feel free to visit and relax, drinks allowed."

Through the first- to seventh year ranks, the students rejoiced, they had been reading so much about the lounge in books, knowing that only the House Master himself could open it. The rare students that had been in the lounge fifty years ago used to depict it as a delightful place.

Draco and Servana entered the dimly lit passageway first, followed almost immediately by everyone else.

From there, one could reach a dozen rooms with velvet couches, low tables and shimmering lights. Avara told Harry, who was looking suspicious: "Come on, we'll be able to talk quietly, away from the others". They entered one of the smaller rooms. Comfortably sitting in the couch, Harry couldn't stop drinking the delicious icewine but he had to let his friend know what had been tormenting him:

"I've had a serious dispute with Ron and Hermione. They don't seem to want to talk to me anymore, accusing me of spending more time in with you than with my own house. They think I'm a traitor, not worthy of their friendship. You know it feels so strange, they were my best friends and now it's like they never knew me."

"Really? Oh I feel so sorry for you Harry", said Avara in her clear crystalline voice.

"This may mean that they were not real friends and that the bond that linked the three of you was broken because it was not strong enough ... How do you feel among us, Harry?" she asked softly.

"Hmm... Good, I think... I mean, I like everything you are doing, and your friends too. But Lord Slytherin somehow frightens me."

"Oh that! He frightens everyone... But it was a good thing that you met him tonight. You should be able to better know who you are now."

Harry was now feeling more confident and extremely well, like that night he had spent with Avara in the dormitory.

"Avara, there is something else too. I shouldn't tell you that though. I've been hearing things recently... about your parents and the way they used Dark Arts to harm people. I've been warned about you, too."

"Let them think what they want...Remember when you first arrived at Hogwarts? Lots of students - including Cousin Draco - were jealous of your extraordinary fate... Regarding my parents, I owe them a lot for what I am and I respect them profoundly. They master the Dark Arts indeed and taught them to me. That's why I'm also much better prepared than all of you to deal with and protect myself from Curses and such. That's all I can say about it." Her exhaustion was so extreme that she fell immediately asleep in Harry's arms. He regretted bothering her with those unpleasant questions...

In the lounge next to them, Draco Malfoy and Servana Abbott were holding hands and kissing gently, galvanized by Lord Slytherin's words.