Slytherin Forever! Book Three: The Rising

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Chapter One: Holiday Happenings.

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Syvään vihreään silmien noiden

Valo tähtien lankeaa

Sydämessään voima kuin heleä nauru

Joka kantaa maailmain taa

Daughter Of The Wind (Tuulen Tytar), Moonsorrow.

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Chamber Forty-Two, Fourth Floor, Hotel Alanta. Athens, Greece.

Alisha Avery sighed as she finally closed the door behind her parents and her older sister Lydian. She crossed over to the bed and flopped down onto it, remembering her mother's warning not to wrinkle the sheets only briefly. She stared up at the ceiling.

Why anyone would go and visit historical sites was beyond her. Yet her father had practically begged her to come with him to one of the Muggle ruins just outside of the city, knowing that there would be Muggles there that could be questioned about all kinds of things, but Alisha had refused. Her mother was going crazy too, Alisha reflected as she flicked some of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans towards the ceiling. Doreen Avery had been unable to find a certain dress and had forfeited all future parties in order to look for it - seemingly unwilling to put another dress on instead - which Alisha found absolutely ridiculous. And finally Alisha's sister did not want to take her younger sibling to town because she had a Greek boyfriend called Mark. The poor guy must have been put under some kind of spell though for Alisha could not think of anyone who would be willing to take Lydian out.

And she loathed the fact that she was now in Greece, away from everybody she cared about. It was probably better this way but yet she missed her friends like she'd miss her family. No, it was definitely better to be away from them for the time being. After what Ginny and Natalya had told her last year it was better this way.

Sometimes she thought that she could not take it anymore. That was mostly at night when she dreamed about the things that had happened to Ginny's family - her real family - and of course about the visions Natalya'd had in the past school year. Voldemort would rise again soon, Alisha remembered with a heavy heart, and they would all be forced to fight against him. They were the new generation, present now to take over when The Zeppo was not there to take care of Ginny anymore, and they would have to fight Voldemort and the Death Eaters with all the strength they possessed.

Life had been easier when her worries had concerned nothing more than a couple of zits and bad grades.

***

The Romanov Estate. Novgorod, Russia.

"You can't walk around like that all the time!"

"Why, pray tell, is that?"

Natalya Cruz shared a look with Rakkaus Malfoy across the breakfast table that strongly suggested that they should get out of the kitchen while they still had the chance. Both teenagers began to eat like maniacs, not willing to be caught in the middle of a grand-scale war, but that did not stop them from listening to the argument Gudrun and Loki were having about clothes.

"You look ridiculous in that shirt," Gudrun snapped at Loki. "I don't know what's the use of buying you such nice things anymore seeing as you never wear them."

"I don't like the clothes so maybe that's my problem," Loki replied. "I can't see what's wrong with this shirt though."

"You don't look well in silver," Gudrun said, slightly exasperated. "Back me up, Lya."

Natalya blinked slowly, sighing inwardly because she knew what was going to come. And sure enough, Loki shot her a look that suggested that she should try to stay out of it or else. Natalya nodded in understanding, scraped her throat and said:

"At least silver is a color that belongs to our House."

"So is green," Rakkaus pointed out, not aware of the glare Loki directed at him, "and Loki looks better in green."

"Precisely," Gudrun sighed, glad to have found somebody who seemed to agree with her. "You have two green shirts upstairs, Loki, why aren't you wearing one of them?

But Rakkaus spoiled it for her with his next comment.

"I, however, also believe that Loki has the right to decide what shirt he wants to wear. You don't have influence on all of his decisions."

"It isn't just the shirt, for crying out loud!"

"Gudrun, love, calm down a bit!" Loki shouted because he saw that certain things (such as a knife) were now floating dangerously in mid-air. "Don't lose your temper now!"

"Why shouldn't I?" Gudrun asked innocently, well aware of the possible danger those things held. "I'm just stating the fact that you look ridiculous in that shirt - among other things - and I really think that you should take my advice to heart."

"And what about that argument we had last night?" Loki retaliated. "I've still got the marks. You should not lose your temper over a bunch of clothes!"

"And you should not be so damn stubborn!"

Rakkaus and Natalya got up simultaneously for they saw that some plates joined the already floating things. Loki had also seen it and was now slowly backing away from Gudrun, who was standing in the middle of the kitchen, but the teenagers actually had a chance of escaping while he came to a halt at the broom closet. Suddenly the door creaked open, just before Rakkaus could open it himself, and Katarina Dubislav entered the room.

"What is going on here?" she asked with a grin. Then she spotted the floating plates in the middle of the room, making her eyes go large, and she whispered urgently to Rakkaus and Natalya: "I think that it is safe to say that we have to get out of here."

Rakkaus bolted past Katarina just as the first plate shattered against the wall. Natalya shot Loki a look of pity before she ran after Rakkaus, coming to a halt in the hallway. Katarina raced after the two teenagers quickly, not willing to be present in the kitchen anymore.

"They were having an argument about Loki's clothes," Rakkaus explained to Katarina as soon as he had regained his breath. "Gudrun was losing her temper a bit."

"A bit?" Katarina asked incredulously. "That was a bit?"

"You didn't hear them last night," Natalya sighed. "We had to get some books in their library and we just happened to catch a bit of the argument."

"But seeing as the library is nowhere near their bedroom I think that you made a slight detour," Katarina grinned.

"They could be heard all over the castle," Rakkaus replied. "Even Jaime came to check things out."

"You must have heard it too," Natalya said to Katarina. "Of course, we got sent to bed but Jaime went inside to make sure that Loki didn't get hurt too badly."

"I wasn't at home last night," Katarina said with a sigh. "I wish that I could have been there to see it, though."

"Trust me when I say that you really wouldn't want that," Rakkaus said quickly as shouts reached their ears. "It was horrible. I've never heard two people argue like that before."

"Not up until this moment, no," another voice interrupted.

Jaime Volcanov was standing in the middle of the hallway, directing a glare at Katarina as he spoke. Rakkaus and Natalya shot each other anxious looks.

"Where were you last night?" Jaime asked. "Speak quickly."

"I was out drinking with some of the local Aurors," Katarina replied. "They were having a celebration of some kind and they wanted me to join them."

That had obviously been the wrong thing to say and both Natalya and Rakkaus edged to the staircase to prevent themselves from getting injured in some way or other.

"You did what?" Jaime hissed. "Aurors should not be regarded as friends nor should they be spoken of in such a way. You know that."

"But Rice was celebrating his birthday!"

"My word, Kat. If you care more for Christopher Rice than for us you'd be better off joining him!"

"He's just a friend."

"Don't lie to me," Jaime said softly. "Exhéré!"

Katarina gasped as the spell hit her moments later. A nasty cut appeared on her left arm as a result of it and the two teenagers edged even further to the staircase.

"Racontré Exhéré!"

"Xanti Zanure," Jaime gasped as the cut appeared on his arm too. "Ionit!"

"Cerûn," Katarina groaned as she dropped down on her knees. "Yinthi!"

There was a flash of bright blue light and Jaime was thrown onto his back, apparently out cold. But he had been murmuring a spell, too, but he could not finish it. By the force of Katarina's spell his wand now pointed somewhere else as well. A scream came from Natalya as red light hit her ankle and she fell down to the floor.

"Lya, what is it?" Rakkaus asked worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"My ankle," Natalya moaned. "I think that I sprained it or something like that."

"It might be so," Katarina said as she strode over to the two teenagers. "That spell Jaime wanted to direct at me was created to break somebody else's bones. It might be so that, because he did not finish it, it would cause another kind of pain instead."

"What have you been doing?" Gudrun's voice interrupted suddenly from behind them. "Why is Jaime out cold? And why is Natalya holding her ankle like that?"

"She sprained her ankle," Katarina replied. "And as for Jaime... we had a bit of an argument."

"An argument that involved spells, I'm sure of it," Loki sighed and pointed his wand at Jaime's lifeless form on the floor. "Mobilicorpus!"

"Come on, let's go upstairs," Rakkaus whispered to Natalya as the grown-ups left the hallway, Jaime floating out eerily before them all. "Just lean on me, okay? I'll deal with your ankle."

***

The Burrow. Just outside Ottery St Catchpole, Great Britain.

"Morning everyone!" Ginny greeted as she entered the kitchen.

"Good morning Ginny," the rest of her family replied, not wide awake yet.

"When's breakfast?"

"Is that all you can ever think about?" Molly Weasley asked Ginny with a smile. "It will be ready in a couple of minutes."

"Good, I'm starving!" Ginny replied and seated herself. "Is Granger coming today or what?"

"Hermione will indeed arrive today," Arthur replied. "Harry will probably be here by the end of the week."

"After which we will go to the World Cup!" Ginny squealed. "I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to it, people! Who do you think will win?"

"I hope that the winner is Ireland," Bill sighed. "After England's miserable performance I am dying to see a good match."

"Bulgaria's got Viktor Krum, though," Ron said thoughtfully. "I heard that he is really good."

"Are there any of your friends going to the World Cup, Ginny?" Molly asked.

"Draco's coming together with his family," Ginny replied, ignoring the gagging noise Ron made. "I thought that Zeynep and Blaise also had tickets so they will be there too. Natalya's coming too, together with Loki and Gudrun, and maybe Marita, though I don't know that for sure."

"Cruz is coming together with Romanov?" Percy asked in surprise. "How come?"

"Loki is Natalya's uncle," Ginny said to him. "From what I heard right now he is also going to be her guardian."

"And what about that other girl, Marita? I don't think that you mentioned her before, what is her surname?"

"Marita's called Rosvenir," Ginny said with a sneer. "I don't like her that much, though."

"And that other girl I have heard so many good things about? Wasn't her last name Avery?"

"That's right," Ginny grinned. "Alisha won't be there, she'll still be in Greece with her family then. It's a pity, really, but at least Blaise will be happy. She was slightly panicking last week because Zeynep had locked himself up in his room. That will, of course, change when Lya's around. Dev's not coming either for her family was coming over to stay at their place and although she hates them she still has to be present there."

"And they are all Slytherins?" Charlie asked with a frown. "They seem almost... human."

"Of course they seem human, for they are just like me!" Ginny replied with a grin. "Don't forget that your little sister's a Slytherin."

"How could we ever forget that?" the rest of the family replied.

***

The Wiltshire Mansion Of The Malfoys, Great Britain.

"Master Draco, you must hurry up. Master Lucius and Mistress Narcissa are expecting you in the study."

"Very well, Tink," Draco said to the small house elf. "Leave now and go to the kitchen."

The door closed behind Tink and Draco threw a last long look in the mirror. These new clothes his mother had bought for him this summer really didn't fit half as well as he had hoped but he also knew that he would probably be forced to wear them. A couple of minutes later he left his rooms, still tugging at the collar of his shirt impatiently, and made his way down to the study.

His parents, naturally, were already present in the study when he knocked politely upon the door. His mother Narcissa opened the door for him and he entered gratefully, taking a seat next to the door. Lucius Malfoy looked at his only son from above his folded hands and began:

"As you may know by now your mother and I have some business to attend to the evening after the World Cup final. We have contacted the Zabini family in the hope that Diego and Charissa would be able to take you in for the time being and there came word from them this morning. Their children Zeynep and Blaise are also coming with them to the World Cup and, while their parents also attend the meeting we are going to, they had no objection against you staying with them for the time being."

"That is fine with me too, father," Draco said politely. "May I perhaps ask why you did not contact the Rosvenirs? They are, after all, equally important and they are also pureblooded."

"The Rosvenirs have been contacted by us," Narcissa said softly, "but their daughter Marita objected against the plea to take you in. Samuel and Tabitha, of course, respected the wish of their daughter."

"I want to bet that Marita just did not want me around," Draco smirked, "after I sealed my friendship with Ginny and Lya. Marita does not like Lya at all and that might be the most important reason for her refusal."

"This Lya you speak of... is she perhaps known as Natalya Cruz?" Lucius asked. "I was pleasantly surprised when I heard that Reníen's daughter managed to get into Slytherin."

"Reníen Cruz and her mother Sophíge might have been Ravenclaws in their time," Draco replied, "but Natalya is also the daughter of her father. Loki Romanov is Lya's uncle."

"That is unexpected," Narcissa said quietly. "I knew Reníen quite well while I was in school but I had never dared to hope that she would marry a Romanov. I have met Loki before, though he was never at Hogwarts, and I must say that he came across as a real Slytherin that time."

"And yet this girl has befriended both you and Zeynep Zabini, from what I heard," Lucius said thoughtfully. "It is peculiar, for the Romanovs have never been our greatest allies..."

***

"The preparations for the ritual are coming along well, my Lord," a voice squeaked, sounding much like a rat. "We shall be able to perform it at the end of this year."

"That is good news indeed, Wormtail," a high voice replied, though it sounded more like hissing. "And what about my loyal servant? Is he ready to fulfill his task?"

"Yes my Lord," the man called Wormtail said and bowed low to the ground. "He will be at Hogwarts this year to watch over the boy and prepare everything for your return."

When Wormtail straightened up again his hood fell off, revealing a small balding man who was currently wringing his hands in a nervous manner. His eyes were rat-like and constantly darted around the room as if he was expecting somebody else to enter.

"Now now, Wormtail," the other voice said and sounded, for one reason or other, quite amused. "There is simply no need for you to be afraid of Nagini. My pet will not harm those who are loyal to me."

"O-of course, m-my Lord," Wormtail stuttered. "I didn't m-mean to..."

"Silence!" the other man roared. "What was I thinking when I trusted my pitiful body to you? Was I too blind to see that you had abandoned me once and would, perhaps, abandon me again when a good chance would come along?"

"I found you, my Lord," Wormtail said with distinct pride in his voice. "I brought you here."

"And so you did, Wormtail," the man said. "But you still flinch as you look at me. Do not lie to me, Wormtail. Your mind tells me everything I need to know."

"S-sir, please, I beg you..."

"Crucio."

An excruciating pain followed these words, she honestly thought that her head would split it two so bad was the pain, but she did not have to deal with it for long. Slowly, screaming herself hoarse... Natalya woke up.

Rakkaus came first, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He went to sit next to Natalya and even though he did not speak his presence calmed her down enough to look around and realize that she wasn't in that other room anymore. Then there came Katarina, dressed in nothing more than a thin nightgown, and Jaime soon afterwards, putting a shirt on as he entered. Finally Loki and Gudrun came rushing in, only wearing bathrobes, and Natalya broke down in tears.

"He's punishing him for what he saw in his mind," she sobbed as Rakkaus put a comforting arm around her. "The man swore loyalty to him but the other man was not pleased enough."

"What are you talking about?"

"Wormtail," Natalya whispered. "Wormtail got punished by Voldemort."

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