The Good Slytherin

Chapter Nine: Eurydice

Diagon Alley bustled with people in the early summer warmth when Eurydice apparated onto its winding, cobbled street. Narrowly avoiding a group of school age children running ran to Fortescue's for ice cream, she was reminded that Hogwarts had just ended term. Eurydice could barely believe that it had been six years since she herself had left school.

Time flies, she thought wistfully as she spied a familiar storefront a few yards away. A small brass plaque affixed on the smooth stone façade read, "Gordon & Hollings. Established 1822." She pushed her way through the crowd and hastened towards its entrance. She was late.

Though exhausted from her trip to the New York office, Eurydice was still giddy from having helped to discover a set of valuable early American portraits in the possession of an old wizard who clearly had no idea of their importance. She couldn't wait to share her news with Sedgwick. Perhaps they would be able to celebrate over dinner tonight.

As she opened the heavy door of the shop, her colleague Brian brushed past her past her carrying a thick stack of the latest auction catalog. "Oh Eurydice, you're back," he remarked with surprise when he was half out the door. "How did the New York run go?"

Smiling, she couldn't suppress a wave of pride. "Genuine seventeenth century. None of that nineteenth century reproduction tat you sometimes see over in America, and it's one of the earliest examples of izard portraiture in the States. The New York office is excited to say the least."

"Clever girl. Sedgwick's been wondering when on earth you were going to get back," he grinned slyly and headed out into the bustle of Diagon Alley.

Eurydice blushed a little and bit her lip. The whole office must know about us! She shook off her nerves and continued into the building. Inside, she never failed to be impressed by the high ceilings, towering bookcases of rare antique books, and the old master paintings. Gordon & Hollings was no mere shop and not some place you wandered in without an appointment--rather it was where the elite and wealthy bought and sold art and rare spell books. It was Eurydice's job to appraise the items that came in form old wizard estates and help with the auction of them. Sometimes the portraits took great offence to her assigning value. Just two weeks ago, the Minister of Magic was in to purchase a painting and had to deal with the verbal lashings of a portrait that felt it was worth many more galleons than valued.

"Eurydice," a voice suddenly boomed, "why can't you take the International Floo Network from New York like everyone else?" Her eyes followed the high bookshelves upwards to the first floor balcony that overlooked reception and saw that her boss Richard was staring down at her. He knew full well that she hated traveling by Floo powder, yet he never missed a chance to point out how long it took her to get back from America. Regardless, it was hard to tell if he was annoyed or not. Ever since he had learned that she was dating the owner's son, relations had been a bit odd.

"Sorry, Richard," she answered cautiously, her elation undercut.

"Sometimes I think one of those ridiculous Muggle flying machines could get you here faster," he said with a harrumph, making no mention of her mini triumph in America.

She sighed and began to head towards her desk when the receptionist stopped her. "Eurydice, dear, you have a visitor. And these owls came while you were in New York," the middle-aged witch added as she handed her a small stack of parchment.

"A visitor?" Eurydice had no idea who could possibly be waiting for her and silently wondered if a client had arranged to meet with her and someone had failed to warn her.

The receptionist smiled innocently and pointed towards a blonde haired young woman sitting patiently in the reception area. Eurydice had been so distracted that she failed to notice her own sister was waiting for her.

"Delphinia!" she gasped.

Her sister stood up from the leather chair and smiled sheepishly. "Hi, Eurydice."

Delphinia was the last person she expected to see standing in Gordon & Hollings. Though they both lived in London, it seemed as though they saw each other increasingly less and that owls were the primary form of contact.

As her sister came closer, Eurydice studied the familiar lines of her face--creases that seemed a roadmap to their shared history. But there was something off, something changed ever since Delphinia went to Marrakesh the year before. Eurydice studied her more intently looking for a clue to betray this subtle shift. Perhaps a little thinner than usual? No, that's not it.

"Is something wrong, Del?" Eurydice asked cautiously, her shoulders instinctively tensing as she prepared herself for the news of some tragedy. Why else would her sister be there?

"Oh, nothing at all," Delphinia replied brightly as if her unexpected arrival wasn't the least bit out of place. "You weren't home last night when I came by so I thought I'd pop round and see if you were available for a bit of lunch. Have I caught you at a bad time?

Eurydice felt her body relax only a slightly. "It's that I've only just come back from New York. I'm bloody well knackered from all that apparating." She rubbed her forehead.

"Come on, Eurydice. Bunk off work for a little while. I know a drink that will perk you right up."

She could feel the mildly disapproving stare of the receptionist as if to warn her that Richard would be on her case if she disappeared for lunch. But then again, what was another hour to her boss? "Beryl, hold these for me," Eurydice said to the receptionist, handing back her owls with a casual disregard for the consequences, "and tell Richard I've stepped out for a short bit. Lie if you have to"

Beryl rolled her eyes as Delphinia took Eurydice by the arm, excitedly leading her back out into Diagon Alley. Suddenly it became clear to Eurydice what had seemed so off with her sister--she hadn't seen Delphinia this happy in ages.

As they took their seats in a secluded corner of the Leaky Cauldron with their glasses of firewhisky, Eurydice said, "How can you still drink that stuff, Del? You were sick for two days and Mum had to take you to St. Mungo's after all her home spells failed."

Delphinia grinned. "And if I remember correctly, Mum grounded you for the rest of the summer. Serves you for trying to dare me to drink all that."

"We were teenagers," Eurydice said dismissively between sips of firewhisky. "Well, I was eighteen and should have known better. You did turn a funny shade of green though."

Her sister smiled and it was like old times, the inexplicable distance between the two of them evaporating. She looked at Delphinia, who was smiling like they were kids again. Eurydice's body relaxed with each sip of alcohol and the weariness from traveling between two continents subsided.

"What am I doing drinking firewhisky at half past twelve on a Wednesday?" she remarked with a raised eyebrow.

"We're celebrating. Didn't I hear you say to your colleague that you found some rare wizard portraits in America?"

Eurydice took a sip of the pungent drink and grinned. "Yes. It was bloody marvelous."

"And didn't your last owl say that things between you and Sedgwick Gordon were getting serious?"

She felt a little embarrassed. "Yes. To be quite honest, we've been talking marriage."

"Oh, Dissy, that's great!" Delphinia gushed.

"Well, there's a bit of a snag. The Gordons are none too pleased. I think they have a different idea of whom their son should be marrying--some inbred tart perhaps. And it doesn't help that I work for them too." Eurydice sighed and finished off her firewhisky in one gulp. She had only herself to blame--dating the head boss's son came with its complications. They had managed to keep the romance secret only until recently and now the Gordons were expressing their displeasure.

"You always set your sights high, Eurydice. Well done."

"Don't go checking for an invite anytime soon. I don't think his mother will ever consent to the marriage."

Delphinia got a funny look on her face. "We are pure blood after all," she remarked haughtily. It was a tone she hadn't heard in a while--not since Slytherin, at least. With these words, there was a discernable shift in mood as if the conversation had become tinged with poison. Eurydice felt the camaraderie drain from the air.

"Sometimes blood purity isn't enough," she shrugged, trying to sound neutral. Eurydice hated talking about blood purity--it always sounded so pompous and archaic. She hoped the conversation would steer clear of this uncomfortable subject, but it was too late.

"Lucius said the other day--"

"Wait. Lucius?" Even with the alcohol, Eurydice felt her entire body snap to attention. "As in Lucius Malfoy? You mean you're hanging around that monster?"

Her sister's expression darkened. "Just because you two never got on--"

"Never got on? Del, the man is conniving and manipulative." Eurydice brought her voice down. "He's the sole reason you got into the Dark Arts in the first place! Don't think I haven't forgotten."

"And don't think I haven't forgotten that you told all to Dumbledore when I was at Hogwarts," Delphinia seethed in a low whisper as she set her empty glass down rather loudly.

Nearly five years earlier she learned that her impressionable little sister had got mixed up with some of the unsavory elements in Slytherin. Eurydice had been horrified to learn that Lucius Malfoy's reach extended to her sister even though he himself had been two years out of Hogwarts. It should have been enough of a warning to see Malfoy standing on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters just yards away from her sister that fateful school year, but how was she to know? When she did find out about Delphinia's dark proclivities, the only thing she could think to do at the time was to write to Dumbledore and warn him of what was going on in Slytherin.

"Someone had to bring you to your senses," said Eurydice.

She could see her sister tense up with anger. "You always had to be so bloody self righteous, Eurydice," she snapped.

"Self righteous? If Mum and Dad ever found out, they would be heartbroken."

"Too late for that, now is it."

"What are you talking about?"

A curious look came across her sister's face and she nervously pushed her long blonde hair back from her face. Eurydice suddenly saw a strange mark on her left forearm. Was that a tattoo? Delphinia must have caught her staring, because she quickly pushed her sleeve down to cover the mark.

"What was that?" Eurydice snapped as she grabbed at her sister's arm for a closer look, all but knocking over her empty glass in the process. Though slightly faded, on her forearm was the image of a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth. "Del, is this what I think it is?"

"Keep your voice down," her sister hissed and yanked back her arm.

Eurydice found it hard to disguise her growing alarm. Rumors were rife of late of a secret group that branded their members with the very image that was on Delphinia's arm. In fact, there was a rash of killings that shared one sinister commonality--the mark of a skull and snake that hung over the house of the dead. "Delphinia, have you gone mad! I've read about these people in the Prophet!"

Her sister looked slightly smug. "The Prophet is nothing but propaganda machine for the Ministry."

"But you work for them!"

"Not anymore. I handed in my notice last Friday," she replied without emotion.

Eurydice was stunned. She couldn't believe that the young woman sitting in front of her was the same Delphinia that she knew. "It's Lucius Malfoy, isn't it?" she gasped. "He's got you involved in this?"

"Why are you always so quick to blame him? He's one of the few people who are doing something about these vile mudbloods."

"Listen to yourself!" Eurydice was still in shock.

"Don't be so hasty to judge," Delphinia said as her expression darkened. "You need to make sure you are on the right side, Eurydice."

"And what side is that? Because I'm bloody well not on any side that Lucius Malfoy is on!"

Silence.

Eurydice starred at her sister for some sort of sign that this could all be sick joke. She knew that Delphinia had a checkered history with the Dark Arts and her time in Slytherin exposed her to some of the baser elements of wizard society, but she would have never guessed her sister could have slipped this far into the influence of such an evil man. "Delphinia, you've gone mad," she choked.

He sister suddenly rose from her chair, her green eyes becoming cold. "You filthy blood traitor. I can't believe my own sister--"

"What did you call me?" She felt like she had been slapped.

"I called you a blood traitor."

Eurydice's mouth opened to form some sort of response, but Delphinia adjusted her cloak and stormed out of the Leaky Cauldron. The last thing she saw was her sister casting one last glance over her shoulder, blonde hair swaying as she did.