Slytherin Forever! Book Two: Shadow

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Chapter Two: As Cold As Ice.

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Memories in the screams of the gate, my past slowly fades

Questions are stones on my way

I'm still walking anyway

- Tomorrow Is A Closed Gate (Dead For So Long), For My Pain.

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The Weasleys returned just before the final week of the holiday started; sparing Ginny a lecture from Professor McGonagall for not doing her homework because now she could look things up in her schoolbooks.

On the last day they all made their way down to Diagon Alley to buy their stuff for school. Ginny, who would meet her friends in front of the Leaky Cauldron, was practically bouncing with joy at the prospect of seeing everyone again. She caught Ron looking sour as she told her mother about meeting Dev and Natalya there but she knew that he simply needed to accustom himself to the thought of his sister being a Slytherin.

When they finally arrived at the Leaky Cauldron the first person they saw was Hermione Granger, who came running towards them looking very tanned and happy. Harry Potter arrived shortly afterwards and looked quite relieved to see his friends. Then, however, Ginny let out a shriek and ran towards the other end of the road.

"Hey little bit!" Zeynep chuckled as Ginny threw herself into his arms. "Be careful with this old man, will you?"

"You're not old," Natalya replied, but was deprived of saying anything else because Ginny was now crushing her ribs. When she could finally breathe again she shouted: "Stop it you mad girl! That hurt!"

"Now who's old?" Zeynep asked her, grinning. "Gin, is that your family over there with Harry Potter and that Granger girl?"

"Yes," Ginny replied. "Want to meet them?"

Her friends nodded so Ginny took them to the Leaky Cauldron, pulling a very disgruntled looking Dev out of her mother's arms along the way. When they arrived Ginny's friends seated themselves and looked around expectantly. Zeynep earned quite a stern glare from Percy because he had seated himself on the table, but Fred and George followed his example quickly.

"I'm Devica Parkinson," Dev said after a moment. "I don't think that Gin told you a whole hoard about me, though, so I think that it is safe when I say that you can call me Dev."

"Anyone with an inch of sanity wouldn't call you Dev," Natalya sighed. "When people realize how crazy you really are they would start to call you 'that Parkinson girl'. By the way, I'm Natalya Cruz."

"And I am Zeynep Zabini," Zeynep added. "I am the oldest and the wisest person of the Slytherins that are seated here."

"The oldest, yes," Ginny snorted. "The wisest? I don't think so."

"It is nice to meet you all," Ginny's mum said just as Zeynep began to glare at Ginny. "Where are your other friends, dear?"

"We will see Alisha on the day school starts," Ginny said. "Marita will be around somewhere but I don't really care about her. Verice went to Austria to visit family and I don't know if she has returned already."

"Where's Draco?" Dev asked suddenly. "He was staying at home this year, wasn't he? Did you write to him about this 'meet-up in Diagon Alley' thingy?"

"I wrote to him, yes," Natalya said after a moment of silence. "He got his books last week because one of his cousins was staying over at his house this week and he couldn't make it here."

"Doesn't matter," Ginny sighed. "We'll see him tomorrow."

"Who is Head Girl this year?" Zeynep asked. "And who is Head Boy?"

"I am Head Boy," Percy said with a proud tone in his voice. "The Head Girl is Penelope Clearwater. Are you still a Prefect?"

"He's a sixth-year Prefect," Natalya answered because Zeynep looked as if he would faint any second now. She looked over at Zeynep and said, slightly worried: "Gin, I took your advice on this so don't blame me if he falls off the table."

"I will be fine," Zeynep muttered. "I just need some time to get over the shock."

Fred and George started to laugh then, earning a disapproving glare from their mother but when Natalya started to hiccup with laughter she too produced a smile. Ginny grinned as Dev started to do a pretty good impression of Lockhart and then continued with mimicking the people passing by their table.

The rest of the day passed by quickly and Ginny found herself wishing more than once that she, like Natalya, had been able to spend her holiday with some friends. Her friends took the emptiness away, the emptiness Tom Riddle had left behind, and that was something she was very grateful for. There would still be the nightmares but she could ask for some Dreamless Sleep potion if they got too bad...

***

"Open your eyes."

The whisper was urgent inside of Ginny's mind and in her dream she obeyed. She was standing on the grounds of Hogwarts; but the castle was nothing more than a ruin.

"This is what will happen if you fail your task," the whisper told her. "The daughter of Slytherin has spoken to you about this already but I will tell you again. The one who went astray and unleashed powers that cannot be overcome alone has to be stopped."

"How will I be able to do that?" Ginny asked. "Taigan told me that I had the strength and the power to do as you say but Gudrun spoke about a task to great for me to take on alone."

"Taigan told the truth but so did Gudrun," the voice replied. "You have the power... others shall support you when necessary."

"What others?"

"Members of Slytherin House, deceased women with ties to Slytherin's blood..." the voice said. "Do not be troubled by this because it is not up to you to decide who will support you when you grow up."

"Who will decide it then?" Ginny asked. "I do not want spirits to rule my life!"

"The people themselves will decide if you are worthy of help," the voice replied. "But I warn you: take the wrong path just once and there will be no way back for you..."

***

Natalya, who was dressed in casual Muggle clothes and was obviously having problems with walking on high heels, shook Ginny awake the next morning. They walked downstairs with their trunks (Natalya nearly falling down the staircase because of her shoes) to find that two cars from the Ministry had arrived to take the Weasleys to King's Cross.

"I don't get it," Ginny muttered silently so that only her friends could hear her. "The Ministry only lends cars to important people or they use them for safety measures. We are just going to school, nothing more than that! They should not be here."

"Black's after Potter," Dev said silently. "I overheard my Mum talk to Lucius Malfoy in the fire the other day and they said that Black blames Potter for You-Know-Who's disappearance. I think that the Ministry found out about that as well and now they are trying to protect Potter."

They didn't get the chance to talk more about it because Ginny was ushered into the second car at that moment and could not do anything but wave at her friends who would meet her later on. They arrived at King's Cross twenty minutes early and Ginny was surprised to see that Zeynep was already present, covered with soot and looking as if he had just ran a couple of miles.

"Floo Powder," he explained to Ginny as they walked through the barrier. "Dad's got a friend living near this place and I could Floo my way here. Did you know that it is very difficult to Floo somewhere together with a trunk and a cat?"

"I can imagine that," Ginny murmured.

Zeynep and his sister Blaise hopped onto the train to find a compartment whereas Ginny joined her family to receive some sandwiches from her mother. She caught a brief glimpse of Draco before she joined Ron and his friends on the train. She was not really welcome there so she set off, looking for her friends. She found them in one of the compartments at the front of the train.

"Hey Gin!" Alisha squealed and hugged her friend. "How was your holiday in Egypt?"

"It was pretty okay," Ginny replied with a grin. "What did you do in your holiday anyway?"

"We stayed at home," Alisha grumbled. "A family war was at hand because Dad finally found a way around the law. I spent most of my time with aunts and uncles and my squawking cousins..."

"I guess that you didn't like your holiday then," Ginny interrupted before Alisha could launch into a detailed explanation. "Ah well, you'll have better luck next time."

"I hope so," Alisha said.

"It's raining," Draco commented suddenly. "The drops are pouring out of the clouds and there is a strong wind blowing outside. My guess is that we are going to be caught in a storm soon."

"It will be a welcome change," Natalya said cheerfully. "It was really hot in Spain and I am actually looking forward to our typical rainy days again."

"Oh yeah!" Marita exclaimed suddenly. "You were in Spain with Zeynep and Blaise, weren't you? Gosh, I nearly forgot about it! It must be good, spending your holiday with a friend who you've spend time with ever since you came to Hogwarts."

"She came to Spain because I asked her to," Blaise snapped. "My brother had nothing to do with it."

"She didn't say that, now did she?" Zeynep asked his sister, looking confused. "Why do you have to drag the topic up again?"

"Blaise dragged the topic up again because Marita implied it," Ginny replied. "Let's talk about something else, shall we?"

The topic soon switched to Sirius Black, and this time everyone agreed that the threat of another mass murder like the one years ago was hanging silently above their heads. When, finally, Quidditch became a topic Ginny found herself being dragged into a long discussion about broomsticks.

"The Nimbus collection is not as good as the Firebolt one," Draco said. "Mind you, our Nimbuses will still do their job properly."

"We need a new Chaser," Zeynep replied. "Are you going to buy that guy a new broom as well?"

"It could be a girl this time, couldn't it?" Ginny asked and they both stared at her. "Girls can be Chasers too, you know, maybe they are better than the boys."

"Are you trying to bribe us into letting you play?" Draco asked as Zeynep frowned.

"So you've noticed."

"It will be dangerous," Draco said to her. "When we are playing the Gryffs there is no way that we can use a girl on the team."

"Well maybe this girl has more power than you know," Ginny spat. "I've been hearing nothing more than 'girls cannot play Quidditch' and 'girls are weak' from my brothers for all of my life so don't you dare tell me that I cannot try out."

"We didn't say that you could not try out," Zeynep replied. "We said that it would be rough."

"I'm not afraid to break a nail," Ginny shot back. "I want to play Quidditch, guys, okay?"

They sat in silence for a while before, even through the wind and the rain, they heard that the train was not making that much noise anymore. Alisha and Dev got up and put their heads out of their compartment; and they saw heads of fellow students appear around the corners of the other compartment doors.

"Is it me or is the train really slowing down?" Marita asked as she looked out of the window. "We are nearly stopping!"

"We can't be there yet," Draco said as he checked his watch. "I think that we've broken down or something."

"Think again," Natalya whispered as the train stopped completely. "There are people moving out there."

"What?"

Ginny's whisper was urgent and she leaned towards the window to see for herself, but moments later the lights went off in their compartment. They were now sitting in total darkness; something that Ginny was not entirely happy about.

"Lumos!" Zeynep whispered and the tip of his wand lit up. He looked around the compartment and asked: "What is going on here?"

The door of the compartment slid open, and both Dev and Alisha backed away from the cloaked figure standing in the doorway in a hurry. It towered to the ceiling and its face was completely hidden by its hood. It drew a long and rattling breath... and it was suddenly so cold...

"Your kin has defied me and you shall pay for that with your life!"

"Take the child and get out of here!"

Ginny gasped as she heard voices in her head, voices that were screaming and pleading. She slid onto the floor and felt an intense cold take her over; a cold that went right into her heart and through her soul. She moaned as new voices joined the ones already present...

"...Born to those who have thrice defied him. And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal..."

"Please don't be dead..."

"Averiate!"

"Ginny!"

Someone was shaking her like mad, calling her name. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Draco kneel beside her with his brow furrowed and with a distinct hint of worry in his eyes. She let out a small sob as she remembered what she'd heard and Draco put a trembling hand on her shoulder.

"What happened?" Ginny asked, with her mouth dry. "What was that thing?"

"It was a Dementor," Dev said softly. "One of the Dementors from Azkaban. They are guarding the school against Sirius Black and his magic."

"But that cold..."

"It felt weird, didn't it?" Marita asked shakily. "It felt as if I'd never be happy again..."

"You nearly fainted," Zeynep said to Ginny as he gave her a Chocolate Frog. "Chocolate's supposed to help against these kinds of things so I'd eat it if I were you."

Ginny took a small bite and felt comforting warmth spread through her body. At that moment the door opened and Emmanuelle Landon came in, giggling with glee.

"Potter fainted!" she exclaimed. "He's in one of the last compartments, looking as if he's going to throw up any minute!"

"That's how I feel," Ginny said grumpily and got to her feet. She swayed unsteadily for a moment as she looked at Emmanuelle and asked: "What did you feel?"

"An intense cold," was the reply. "I felt really strange and all. What happened to you anyway?"

"She nearly fainted," Blaise replied before Ginny could say anything. "Mind you, we are not feeling so great either."

"That sucks," Emmanuelle said. "I have to get going though, I have to see how my little sister's doing."

She brushed past Ginny and Natalya and shut the compartment door behind her loudly. Ginny sank onto the couch and asked:

"Did anyone just get the feeling that this is only the beginning?"

At long last the train stopped and there was a flurry of movement all around the train. At least a hundred carriages were waiting for them at the end of a muddy track and the Slytherins got in gratefully. Ginny shared her carriage with Draco, Natalya, and Alisha, who kept looking at her strangely. The carriage went towards a pair of large iron gates and Ginny shut her eyes firmly as she saw two other Dementors standing there beside the gates. They picked up speed slightly as they moved towards the castle and finally sprang to a halt in front of the grand stone steps that led inside.

"I have to go see how Potter's doing," Draco whispered. "I want to bet you anything that he is trembling with fear because of the Dementors."

"He's not the only one," Ginny murmured as she followed her Housemates inside. "I hope that I won't see those things too often..."

"Me neither," Natalya whispered as they seated themselves at the Slytherin Table. "One time's bad enough."

The doors to the Great Hall creaked open once more as everyone had seated himself or herself and Professor Flitwick put the Sorting Hat onto a three-legged stool. He disappeared, but appeared moments later again with first-years trailing behind him.

"There are a lot of first-years," Alisha commented softly as the Sorting began. "Maybe we will get plenty of new House members."

Ginny vaguely caught the name Juliette Landon, sister of Emmanuelle, before she started to have a look at the High Table. There was Professor Snape, Head of Slytherin House, sitting next to Professor Sinistra of Astronomy. Then there was Madame Sprout who taught Herbology, seated next to Hagrid. Ginny gave Snape a small smile as he looked into her direction; and was certain that she saw a hint of a smile appear on her Potions Master's face before he turned away from her.

It was because of this that Ginny did not notice that the Sorting was over and that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger had just arrived together with Professor McGonagall. Her attention was fixed on Albus Dumbledore, resident Headmaster, who rose out of his seat and began:

"Welcome, everyone, to another year at Hogwarts. There are several announcement to make and I'd like to get them out of the way before you start to enjoy our excellent meal."

He looked at the students gravely before he continued:

"Firstly, you may have noticed that the school is playing host to some Dementors from Azkaban. They have searched the Hogwarts Express thoroughly on order of the Ministry of Magic, and they will stay here for the rest of the school year. Nobody is to leave school without permission and I must warn you: give the Dementors no reason to harm you. I look at the Prefects and our new Head Boy and Girl to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors."

Zeynep groaned softly and put his head on the table whereas Percy, over at the Gryffindor Table, puffed out his chest and looked around importantly as Dumbledore smiled and said:

"On a happier note, I am glad to announce that your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is Professor Remus Lupin."

There was scattered applause around the Hall, not very enthusiastic, as Dumbledore continued:

"Professor Kettleburn, our previous Care of Magical Creatures teacher, has resigned to enjoy some time with his remaining limbs. I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who will also remain our gamekeeper."

"Hagrid?" Verice whispered incredously. "This place is really going to the dogs."

"Other people don't seem to think that way," Ginny whispered back as tumultuous applause broke out. "Is he qualified to teach?"

"I don't know," Alisha shrugged. "We won't have anything to do with him though, so it is not really important for us yet."

And no matter how fresh the memory of the Dementors was in everyone's minds, they all enjoyed the feast meal immensely. Ginny drove the last image of the Dementor out of her mind as she started to eat, suddenly ravenous.

"It is good to be back," Blaise said as she chewed on a piece of meat. "I missed Hogwarts."

"You missed Hogwarts?" Zeynep asked. "I thought that you just missed the meals."

"That is why I missed Hogwarts," was the reply.

The meal ended and the students started to move out of the Great Hall towards their common rooms. The second-year Slytherins walked towards the dungeons gladly, longing for their beds, while most of the other students started to move up the staircases.

"What's the password?" Jayden McCoy asked. "Did anyone ask Zeynep?"

"The password's shadow," Natalya replied and the wall slid open to reveal their common room. "It is based on the growing shadow in everyone's minds after Black escaped from Azkaban."

"Whatever," Thomas Rivers replied. "It is at least easy to remember."

Ginny slipped into her nightgown and crawled into her bed, exchanging goodnights with her friends. She closed her eyes gratefully as a warm feeling overtook her; a feeling that told her that she truly belonged at Hogwarts.

~*~