My Eternal Curse

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Redefining Allegiances: Part Two - The Road Less Traveled

Ginny watched Harry with a vacant air, as he sat on the sofa, doing homework. As far as he knew, she was off in her own world once again. But not today. For once, both Tom's and Ginny's minds felt remarkably clear. She wondered if their experience outside had increased their ability to focus. There was a knock at the door. Harry got up and answered it. Ginny saw Fred and George, instantly sensing that they knew what had happened, and that they weren't going to abandon her. She smiled brightly.

"Hey, sis!" Fred and George said in unison. They hugged her for a moment, before noticing Ix Chel.

"Cool!" they exclaimed in unison. "This was what Ron was so worried about?"

She felt a wave of relief sweep through her.

"We were in the neighborhood, and thought we'd come see how you were faring," Fred said.

"I've had better months'," she replied. "Why aren't you two working this weekend?"

"We've been able to hire enough people that we can take the weekends off," George explained.

"Although, we try not to leave them alone for too long," Fred added. "We don't want to risk them discovering our secret stash, and blowing up the store."

"Mum made us bring you this," Fred said. He handed her a large bag. Ginny and Tom smelled the various intermingling aromas drift out of the bag, making their mouth water with anticipation. Inside were some of Ginny's favorite homemade treats.

"She even made you Gingerbread cookies..." said Tom. "My favorite!"

"Is that why I started liking that stuff after I opened the Chamber of Secrets?" she thought. "You were usurping my taste buds! No wonder I can't stand lemon drops anymore..."

"Think of it as saving you from the nasty habits that made Dumbledore what he is today," Tom replied.

Ginny mentally snorted.

"Young one?" Ix Chel asked.

"I'm really getting sick of that nickname," Ginny thought. "I'm not the only one around here who's young. You're what? One hundred years old... Which makes you a child among your kind. Call me Ginny, Virginia, Weasley - anything, just don't call me 'young one'!"

"She's got a point, Ix," Tom agreed. "Personally, I'm not too fond of the title 'child,' either. Call us by name, or do you want us to start calling you 'old one'?"

"Alright, young- Virginia," Ix Chel conceded. "As it happens, you have been staring off into space for at least five minutes."

"Oh," Tom answered.

"It looks like I'm not the only one who is spending too much time with Potter," Ginny thought, imitating master Snape.

"Shove off, Ginny," he replied.

Ix Chel chuckled. Ginny and Tom regained their focus. Fred was waving a hand in front of her face, hoping for a reaction.

"...don't see why receiving more information, would make her act like a zombie," George said.

"I'm not a zombie," she responded, grabbing Fred's hand with lighting fast reflexes, startling them. "It's just harder to keep my mind from wandering."

"So you're off 'journeying into your Inner Eye' then?" George asked, imitating Trelawney's dreamy air perfectly.

"That's not fun-" Ginny began.

Suddenly Ginny got a sudden flash of Trelawney, restrained in a hospital bed, at St. Mungo's, babbling.

"The Guardian... danger..." Trelawney mumbled enigmatically. "The Guardian... must warn her... danger... Guardian..."

"...having another vision..."

"Why'd she faint?"

"Come on, wake up, Gin!"

Ginny returned to herself, and shuddered. Was that another vision? It had to have been. She got the feeling that it was important, and couldn't be ignored for too long. She tried to sense more from it, but couldn't. She shook off her sudden weariness, opened her eyes, and sat up slowly. A wave of dizziness hit them, and they fought to keep their breakfast down. That was worse than it should have been...

"Talking about gifts you want to return..." Tom muttered.

"Are you alright?" Fred and George asked.

"Yeah, just give me a moment," Ginny answered.

"What did you see?" Harry asked.

"Trelawney going on about something," she explained. "It didn't quite make sense."

"What about Trelawney does?" asked Fred.

"Don't joke about her!" Ginny snapped.

"Why?" George asked.

Harry told them what had happened to Trelawney about two weeks before.

"Ginny got the Divination teacher committed?" exclaimed Fred. "Cool!"

"Our little sister is growing up..." George added.

She sneered at them and they stopped, shooting her identical apologetic looks.

"Did she say anything?" Harry asked.

"She was rambling on about something... something about warning 'The Guardian,' whatever that's supposed to mean," said Ginny. "I know it's important, but I have no idea why..."

Harry got a horribly disturbed look on his face. Tom got the feeling that Potter knew something.

"What is it, Harry?" Ginny asked, worried.

"It's nothing," Harry lied.

There was another knock at the door. Harry answered it and Alexis came in, wheeling a cart containing lunch. Fred and George took a defensive stance in front of Ginny.

"Calm down, you two," Ginny said, beginning to feel irritated. "Alexis is my friend. I trust her completely. If you guys keep acting like idiots, you can leave and not come back, got it?"

They nodded and relaxed their guard slightly. Ginny introduced them. Alexis observed them with an air of Slytherin caution, but treated them with respect. Fred and George tried to hide their natural distrust of Slytherins, and behave.

"Professor Snape thought you might want to try something a little heavier today," Alexis said, setting a tray with a small bowl of beef stew, and a glass of pumpkin juice, in front of her.

"Thanks," Ginny replied. She turned to her brothers. "One more thing. This is my world now. Be careful, everything you do or say may influence my status here... I don't want you to touch Draco. If you so much as muss his hair while you're at Hogwarts, or elsewhere, I will know it. He is one of my allies. I need him! I'm warning you, harm him or Alexis in any way, shape, or form, and you will regret it, understand?"

Fred opened his mouth to speak, but George elbowed him hard in the ribs to stop him.

"Don't worry, Ginny," George promised her. "We'll keep our distance from Malfoy and Alexis, and we won't harm or threaten them. Right, Fred?"

"Of course," Fred reluctantly agreed.

"Good," Ginny said. Now that that was out of the way, she decided to try to enjoy her lunch. While basking in the sweet, warm steam, still rising from the bowl, they breathed in the heavenly, convoluted scent of the meal. Ginny and Tom could distinguish the ingredients just from the various aromas drifting up to them. Ginny even caught the, funny, distinctive scent of the pumpkin juice, which she had never noticed before. She took a bite of the stew. The amazing differences and complexities in the textures, and flavors shocked them, intermingling like a choir in perfect harmony. The varying textures of the beef, carrots, peas, potatoes, and gravy grated agreeably against their teeth as they chewed slowly. Every piece had its own density, making the delicate sensations in her mouth feel strange, yet right. The flavor of each part was far richer and more intriguing than she had ever even imagined possible, as the food told her of the great care that was taken in preparing it. She smiled, savoring every moment. Ginny and Tom allowed everything to else to slip through their fingers, focusing solely on the meal before them.

*~*~*

"Ginny?" George asked, trying to catch her attention. His sister smiled blissfully, watching her food with a sort of quiet wonderment in her eyes. She ignored everyone, completely focused on the simple task of eating.

"What did you put in it?" he heard Fred accuse Alexis.

"Nothing," she replied stiffly, sending him a deathly glare. The girl looked like she wanted to rip his brother's throat out at the mere accusation. "Sometimes Ginny loses her grip on things, when she gets preoccupied by something. Since she genuinely cares about what happens to you, let me give you fair warning. I care about her deeply, and I will do anything to protect her! I have even been forced to duel with Albus Dumbledore to ensure her safety. Ask Harry, he'll tell you everything you want to know. If I catch you two doing anything that would harm Ginny, master McGonagall, Professor Snape, Draco, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or anyone else she deems worthy of saving, I will hunt you down, and make sure you two pay greatly for what you've done! Consider this your first, and last, warning from me."

George looked from Fred to Alexis, surprised by her conviction, and the fire in her eyes. Something told him she was not one who's wrath they wanted to feel. This Slytherin had a lot of heart, and courage. He could see why his sister had befriended her. He knew he needed to do something to reassure her of their intentions.

"We love our sister," George told her. "Neither of us would ever let anything happen to her. We won't hurt her, or any of the others you've mentioned."

"Agreed," Fred said.

Alexis nodded in reply. He felt the tension in the room ease somewhat.

"Let's take a walk, Harry," George suggested.

"Please keep my food warm for me, Alexis?" Harry requested.

"Sure," she smiled slightly. They stared into each other's eyes, almost hypnotized, for a brief time. George knew that look. Then Alexis broke eye contact, and Harry followed them out of the room. The moment they were out in the hall, Fred and George bombarded Harry with questions. But he refused to answer them until they were outside the school, and away from the other students. Then Harry told them everything he could about the situation. George got the feeling that he was holding back something, but he trusted Harry's judgement. When they needed to know, he would tell them.

"We should get going," George said.

"Yeah, no time like the present," Fred agreed.

"What are you two up to?" Harry asked.

"You'll see," Fred said with a knowing smile.

*~*~*

Ginny finished getting dressed and looked in the mirror, for a moment. She wore comfortable shoes, muggle black jeans and a dark blue shirt, beneath her soft black robes, everything devoid of the Gryffindor house crest. Apart from her necklace, nothing she wore had even a hint of Gryffindor colors. Master Snape had come in fifteen minutes ago, sent Alexis, Harry, and Hermione out of the room, and told her to get dressed. Thinking about it, she realized that there was something strange in his eyes when he said it, something akin to hope? That didn't make any sense. Ginny looked away from her reflection, sighing deeply. Walking over to her bed, she allowed Ix Chel to slither into her usual position, and left the room. Master Snape was waiting for her in the corridor. The others were nowhere to be seen. What was happening?

"Come with me," master Snape ordered, as he noticed the complete lack of Gryffindor colors.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"You'll see," he replied.

Ginny followed him in tense silence. They arrived in front of the Potions classroom. Master Snape opened the door and entered, holding the door for her. Ginny went into the classroom and saw Professors McGonagall, Lupin, and Flitwick standing in front of the room, whispering to each other. Harry, Hermione, Mark, and Alexis were sitting together in the first two rows, obviously waiting for something. Fred and George sat on master Snape's desk. Ginny spotted the Sorting Hat sitting on a stool in front of them. All eyes turned to her as she stopped in the center of the room. Master Snape closed the door, placing locking and silencing charms on the room. He shot Fred and George a withering glare, and they got off his desk, before he decided to hex them.

"They're not seriously considering a re-sorting on me, are they?" Ginny thought.

"It looks like they've finally decided to settle the question of where you really belong, my princess," Tom replied.

"Do you think the hat will sense your presence?" she asked.

"I don't know," he answered.

"Thank you, Tom," Ginny thought in a tone of mock gratitude. "That really instills me with confidence!"

"Me too," Tom sardonically agreed.

"Of all the times for them to discover our secret, why now?" she asked.

"Relax, we're not caught yet," he said. "There's still a chance that the hat will miss my presence in your mind entirely."

"Sure," Ginny mentally laughed mirthlessly. "And Rita Skeeter will break out of Azkaban, seeking vengeance on the person who tipped off the Ministry."

"What's going on here?" she asked aloud.

"Due to your unusual circumstance, we have decided that a re-sorting would be in your best interests," Professor McGonagall said. "Professor Snape has already agreed to make the attempt... Will you willingly submit yourself to the re-sorting, Miss Weasley, and abide by the Sorting Hat's ultimate judgment, no matter the consequences?"

"Yes..." Ginny whispered, after hesitating a bit.

"Then let us proceed," master Snape said, coming up from behind her, and resting a hand on her shoulder. She relaxed slightly as she felt his concern for her, and his anticipation of the results. The Sorting Hat took that as a cue to begin its song:

You've come to me once before,

searching for the family where you belong,

but for some reason something went awry.

Now you're at the end of your rope,

desperately seeking some relief.

Believe it or not,

you've come to the right place!

You may think I've made a mistake,

but things aren't always what they seem.

Sometimes people don't become what they could have been,

nor was life what you made it out to be.

Your heart may belong to House Ravenclaw,

a place for the most ready minds.

Their intelligence and resourcefulness give Ravenclaw its life.

You may really belong to House Hufflepuff,

a home for the hard workers in our troop.

Their ability to toil and give their all is what sets Hufflepuff apart from the group.

Perhaps your calling was House Slytherin,

where cunning and power are held in high regard.

Slytherins' talents and ambitions make them a class all their own.

Then there's House Gryffindor,

the family you seek to escape.

You may end up back where you started,

'fore it's your true fate!

Or perhaps,

there is a chance,

that you are something else.

What that may be is one chance in a billion,

unlike anything seen, since before even me!

Don't feel bad if things didn't turn out the way you originally planned.

Put me on and I'll tell you where you really stand,

for I'm the Sorting Hat!

Tom wondered why there were extra verses in the song, as McGonagall picked up the Sorting Hat. Ginny felt a jolt of fear and anxiety as she stared at the empty stool, focusing on it.

"Good luck," master Snape whispered softly, before he took his place next to Professor McGonagall.

She crossed the short distance to the stool, and sat down. She closed her eyes as Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. It still felt loose on her, though it didn't cover her eyes this time. Abruptly, they felt the hat begin its search, and tensed.

"That's odd," Ix Chel thought. "Something about this strange hat feels familiar to me."

"You've changed a great deal since I sorted you last," the Sorting Hat said in her ear. "...Both of you... Didn't you finish school fifty years ago, young Mr. Riddle? Oh, never mind... It's all here, in your heads. This should be fun! I've never re-sorted a joined person before..."

"Please, don't tell anyone about Tom!" Ginny mentally pleaded, afraid for him.

"Don't worry, I will never betray any of your confidences," the Sorting Hat reassured them. "You three have a healthy symbiosis; which is a rare and powerful gift. I would never interfere in such a thing. Now, let's see what we have here... Difficult, very difficult..."

While the hat labored to make a decision, Ginny listened with her other senses, realizing that she could clearly hear the other conversations in the room.

"I wonder if they'd be so keen on talking freely, if they knew that I could hear them," she thought.

The Sorting Hat chuckled.

"...she's going to be Slytherin," Alexis whispered.

"Ginny's definitely still Gryffindor," Hermione disagreed. "Look at her bravery! It takes a lot of courage to put yourself back together and keep going, after a major trauma."

"What do you think she'll be, Mark?" Alexis asked.

"Hufflepuff," Mark honestly replied. Ginny, Tom, and Ix Chel tried not to laugh.

"You're joking!" Alexis exclaimed.

"No, I'm not!" Mark said. "She's loyal and hardworking. Those qualities stand out. It would make sense if it put her there."

Ginny shook her head slightly, turning her attention to the teachers' conversation on the other side of the room.

"...taking too long," Professor Lupin said.

"I have to agree," Professor Flitwick replied. "You know, with her grades and wit, she could make a fine Ravenclaw."

"No offense, Filius, but I think that Ravenclaw would be a waste of her talents," master Snape countered. "She should have been placed in my house from the start, and I believe that the hat will now rectify that mistake."

"I disagree, Severus," Professor McGonagall argued. "Her integrity is what got her into house Gryffindor, and it is what will keep her there. If the hat does choose to change her house, then I will abide by that decision, of course. However, I still believe that if she remains in Gryffindor, we can make things work-"

Master Snape snorted.

"Look at her robes, look at what her housemates have done to her!" said master Snape, indicating his apprentice. "She no longer sees herself as a Gryffindor... The Sorting Hat will see that, and her days in Gryffindor house will be over."

"You have a point," Professor McGonagall conceded sadly.

Her professors fell silent.

"Funny little group, aren't they?" the Sorting Hat said. "Nothing like the last one..."

Ginny let her senses wander for a moment, till she sensed two others nearby. The first one was Filch, hiding underneath one of the tables in the back, unnoticed by everyone, except master Snape. How long had master Snape known he was here? The second one was someone she didn't recognize, patiently waiting in master Snape's office.

"This is definitely the longest sorting I've ever been to," Tom commented, feeling agitated. "You'd think with our combined gifts, the choice would be easy..."

"I don't believe it!" the Sorting Hat declared in a low voice. "You're the one... She told me this day would come, but I didn't believe her..."

"The one what?" Ginny asked, confused.

"Who told you what?" Tom asked.

"You have a great destiny, Virginia, very great," the Sorting Hat continued, ignoring their questions. "I've waited for a millennia to re-sort the one with the lost gift! It's up to you to restore your true heritage. I'm sorry, but I cannot tell you more..."

"House Gray!" the Sorting Hat shouted.

A stunned silence filled the room.

"This is most... unexpected," Ix Chel thought.

Ginny heard a dull thud, and opened her eyes. Everyone held bewildered expressions that must have mirrored her own. She looked down and realized that Professor McGonagall had fainted. Thankfully, master Snape was already reviving her. Once Professor McGonagall was aware enough to remember why she was on the floor, she stood, fighting to regain some of her dignity and composure. Ginny removed the Sorting Hat from her head, fervently missing the days when they were safely anonymous. As if she didn't already stand out enough at Hogwarts...

"How can the hat re-sort Gin into a house that doesn't exist?" Fred asked.

At her brother's words, everyone started talking at once. After a few seconds, the flood of sounds and conflicting emotions became too much for Ginny and Tom. They clamped her hands over their ears to block it out.

"Silence!" Severus yelled at the top of his lungs, over the mayhem. Everyone stopped and the entire group turned their gazes on him. After a few moments, his apprentice put down her hands. He thought quickly. He was certain that Virginia and Ix Chel also understood the implications of the bloody hat's decision. By Merlin, how could the hat know about Gray magic? Unless... a Gray wizard had implanted part of his essence in it a thousand years ago to do just this, when the hat discovered one with the right equilibrium. The deeper they delved into the enigma the Gray left behind, the more signs there were that the Gray had intended this to happen, right from the start. That had to be it. This was some bloody form of entrapment! There were being used by a people that have been dead and gone for a damned millennium... He pushed the thought aside. Everyone was waiting for an answer. He needed to keep control of the situation, in order to give it to them.

"Now that I have your attention, let me explain," Severus continued. "I want you all to keep in mind that the Sorting Hat's re-sorting decision is final! We cannot re-sort Miss Weasley again, anymore than we can ignore its judgment. I do not know why or how the hat came to this... decision, but I do understand what it is. Miss Weasley has been learning an ancient form of magic, far older than the Light and Dark sides, known as Gray magic. Gray magic is an intent based magic, belonging to a time that was savagely expunged from our history, by fanatics who didn't want us to remember where our gifts first came from. Apparently, the hat has seen fit to base its decision on that. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask them."

Severus answered each of their questions as well as he could, without giving away Ix Chel's secret, or anything which would compromise their shaky position. When Virginia began to show signs of strain, he decided that it was time to end their little meeting. He took down the charms. The children escorted Virginia back to her chamber with her irritating brothers, while the teachers remained behind.

"What are we going to do, Severus?" Minerva asked. "To my knowledge, there is nothing in the school bylaws that covers this sort of occurrence."

"We need some sort of plan, before Dumbledore and the students return from the Quidditch match," he declared. "Remus, Filius, I need you two to find me a copy of the original School Charter, and bring it to my office as fast as you can. Minerva, come with me. We need to bring Montgomery up to speed on the situation."

"What if the only available copy of the original School Charter, is in Headmaster Dumbledore's office?" Filius asked.

"Then get Fred and George to help you," answered Severus, and then they separated.

Argus stood and brushed himself off. He had been cleaning the classroom when the others arrived, and decided to remain hidden when he heard about their plans to re-sort Weasley. This Gray magic stuff had to have been what he felt in the old Gryffindor Tower... Argus could feel it in his bones. It was vital for him to discover more about this impossible magic.

"It looks like I'll be taking Severus' offer, after all..." Argus said to himself.

*~*~*

Ginny sat down on her bed and put her head in her hands, wishing this day had never happened. The Sorting Hat must be insane... How could the bloody hat know about a magic that was lost a thousand years ago? Of course, the school was founded over a thousand years ago. Someone close to the founders must have programmed the hat to do this, charging her with the mission of restoring their legacy. She laughed humorlessly. It's not every day you're told you have a destiny laid out for you by a people who have been dead for a millennium.

"Are you okay, sis?" George asked, concerned.

"Ever get that feeling that somewhere, somehow, someone is laughing at you?" Ginny asked. "Right about now, the Gray are laughing at me."

No one knew how to respond to that. She wondered how the Gray had managed all of this before they died out. What were the final days of the first wars like for them? And now, a thousand years later, all their labor and suffering had gotten them a Potions master, a young Seer with an ex-Dark Lord in her mind, and a young Divinus Animus... In the end, the four of them were a long shot at best. It didn't make sense. There had to be more to this, much more, but what?

"Did you have any idea that this would happen, Ix Chel?" Tom asked.

"No," Ix Chel thought. "I only know what you know about this."

"Which is nothing," Ginny thought. "The question we need to worry about now, is not how this happened, but how it affects our plans."

She looked up. Harry, Mark, and Hermione sat together on the sofa. Alexis sat in a comfortable chair nearby, and Fred and George leaned next to each other, on the wall by the door.

"Alexis... How do you think the Slytherins will react to the unique results of my re-sorting?" Ginny asked aloud.

"This will definitely catch them off guard, but it shouldn't hurt our plans that much," Alexis answered. "In fact, this may add an air of mystery to your case, and interest some of the Slytherins even more. It's a little known fact that many Slytherins enjoy complex enigmas. If we continue to play this right, it should work to our advantage."

"The Ravenclaws and the Hufflepuffs?" Tom asked aloud.

"What the Sorting Hat did shouldn't bother my housemates too much," Mark said. "Although a few of them will become more suspicious of you, because of it. I'm not entirely sure of how the Hufflepuffs will react, but I think this will make it a lot harder to get through to some of them."

"However, if you can earn their trust, they will follow you anywhere," Alexis added.

"You know that the Gryffindors will see this as confirmation that they were right about you from the start," Hermione pointed out. "This hurts your chances of making them see the truth."

"I know," Ginny said.

"What I still don't understand, is if this Gray magic was the original base for Light and Dark, then what happened to it?" Hermione asked. "Why haven't others tried to revive it before now?"

"Good question," she replied. "From what I know about the first wars, the Gray were wiped out by both sides because of how fanatics perceived their gifts. You see, to Light wizards the Gray felt like Dark magic, and to the Dark wizards the Gray felt like Light magic. I think the reason why no one could revive the art before now, was because both sides annihilated the Gray wizards, before they grew strong enough to defend themselves."

Ginny wondered for a moment if they were one of the only ones with a gift for Gray magic. They watched everyone in the room, shutting out everything else for an instant, delving beyond the layers of intent. Most of them held a spark of electric blue energy pulsating in perfect rhythm with their heartbeat. The only one who didn't was Hermione; instead they perceived an aura of pure white light. Hermione must be a completely Light witch... Looking closer, she noticed that each spark looked different to her. Harry had a very light spark, while Mark had a very dark one. Alexis' shade seemed to be somewhere in the middle. Fred's and George's were similar to Alexis', except for their obvious connection to each other.

Ginny returned to herself, and shook her head. How many people can do this? She knew she needed to tell master Snape their findings as soon as she could.

*~*~*

Zach waited anxiously for them to return. The re-sorting was taking too long, even if the hat had trouble deciding. Severus and Minerva entered the office, and he got the feeling that something was very wrong.

"What's wrong?" Zach asked, lightly. "Was she re-sorted into Hufflepuff?"

"If only it were that simple," Severus grumbled, as he took his seat, placing the Sorting Hat on the table.

"What happened?" he asked, sobering.

"Miss Weasley was re-sorted... into House Gray," Minerva answered, sitting in the chair across from him.

"House Gray? There is no house Gray!" he exclaimed.

"Apparently, there is now," said Severus. "I've sent Remus and Filius to retrieve a copy of the original School Charter. Hopefully, it will have some answers."

"Hopefully?" asked Zach, still not quite sure what the problem was. "Why can't we just try to re-sort her again?"

"You've never read the school bylaws, have you?" the Sorting Hat asked him. "You can only re-sort someone once. Even if you did, it would make no difference. I know what I saw, and no other re-sorting, or scans to see if I'm faulty will change that. I've said all I can say, and all I will say. The next step is up to you."

"It's because of that Gray magic stuff you were telling me about, isn't it?" Zach asked Severus. "How is the oldest copy of the School Charter supposed to help us?"

"The oldest Charter is the groundwork this school was built upon, and the foundation of the house structure," Minerva explained. "We will need it to support our position."

Remus and Filius returned with a copy of the School Charter.

"You can thank Miss Granger for her aid in finding the Charter," Filius said, as Remus placed a bundle of scrolls on the table. "If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have found a copy so quickly."

They spent a half-hour pouring over the old scrolls, looking for something that would help them.

"This search is futile," Zach declared. "We need someone who has intimate knowledge of the bylaws, and their various interpretations - we need Albus."

"I refuse to give that bastard another opportunity to harm Virginia," Severus said. "He's done enough damage..."

"Severus, we need him," he countered. "Take a step back, and think about it for a moment. He is no longer in a position to harm Miss Weasley, or any other person in this school. Albus knows that you and Minerva could have him removed in a heartbeat if he tried anything. This area of expertise is his specialty. Allow him to assist you in this. He can help us."

"I don't trust him," Severus insisted.

"I'm not asking you to," Zach countered. "I am asking you to allow Albus to do his job."

"He is right, Severus," Remus agreed.

"Very well," Severus said, standing. "We will go to him for... assistance. The Quidditch game should be over shortly."

Everyone stood. Severus picked up the Sorting Hat, while Remus picked up the scrolls containing the School Charter. They left, heading toward the Headmaster's office to wait.

*~*~*

Albus headed back to his office with Hagrid, still wondering what the Potions master was up to. The Quidditch game had taken his mind off of Severus' mysterious plans for a short while, but now he couldn't help but wonder what they were attempting to do, right under his nose. They turned a corner and saw Severus, Minerva, Zach, Remus, and Filius standing in front of the stone Gargoyle, evidently waiting for him. Albus and Hagrid stopped before them. Albus saw the Sorting Hat in Severus' hands, and knew what they had done. While he was gone, they had broken into his office and stolen the hat so they could re-sort Miss Weasley, without interference from him.

"I see that my new wards were a useless gesture," he said, barely keeping the painfully tired sound out of his voice. "What house is young Miss Weasley in now?"

"That is what we've come to discuss with you," Severus replied stiffly. "We need your... interpretation."

Albus noticed the small bundle of ancient scrolls in Remus' arms, and raised an eyebrow. He took down the extra wards.

"Cotton candy," Albus said. The stone Gargoyle moved aside. He led the small group of Professors up the moving staircase, and into his office. He took a seat behind his desk and waited for an explanation. Severus and Remus placed the Sorting Hat and the scrolls onto his desk, which he, recognized at last, as a copy of the School Charter. Slowly Zach and Minerva explained what happened.

"This is most unprecedented," Albus said, consulting the only scroll he knew that they needed for this.

"Most things about Miss Weasley are," Zach whispered under his breath.

No one spoke as Albus read through the scroll, making sure his hypothesis was correct. He checked it over twice to be sure, put down the scroll, and looked up. They watched him with uncomfortable, troubled expressions, waiting to hear his opinion on the situation.

He knew that he could, as an act of spite lie to them, using an ambiguous interpretation to derail their attempts to help Miss Weasley. He would most likely get away with it. For the briefest of moments, he felt sorely tempted. But when it came right down to it, he couldn't do it. He couldn't hurt Severus, Zach, or Virginia again, by betraying them. Albus had put them through enough in his denial; he couldn't take away the child's one real chance to shine, to be... whatever she was meant to become. Zach was right. It wasn't his place to lord over them any longer. He was his own worst enemy, but he wasn't a monster, anymore than he was soulless... Clearing his throat he composed himself, before answering their question.

"According to the bylaws, whatever house the Sorting Hat calls out is the house you're placed into," Albus explained. "I've found a very interesting loophole in the bylaws. It permits the creation of a new house, if the Sorting Hat decides that one needs to be formed. Miss Weasley's transfer from House Gryffindor to House Gray is within the rules, and, because it came up in a re-sorting, that decision is final. Now, Gray does not have a Head of House, so I will leave the task of working this out in your capable hands, Severus, Minerva, Zachary. I suggest you three study the scroll for yourselves. If you require any further assistance, do not hesitate to ask. Good luck."

Albus saw Zach let out a breath that the man didn't seem to know he was holding, and relax at his words. His friend knew what he had been considering...

"Is that all you have to add?" Severus asked, surprised. "The rules say that the Sorting Hat can create new houses, so my apprentice is placed into a house of one?"

"Yes, Severus," he answered, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, smiling. "It is obvious that someone had intended this, maybe even the Four Founders themselves. In any case... Hogwarts now has a fifth house, with the population of one. With your combined experience, I'm sure the three of you can handle one girl."

"Thank you, Albus," Minerva said sincerely, taking the scroll from him. Remus picked up the remaining scrolls. Everyone, except for Zach, left. His old friend stood before his desk, studying him for a long time.

"You will not regret your decision today," Zach said softly. "You could have harmed her again, but you didn't. I'm proud of you."

"I said I would do everything in my power to help," Albus whispered, drained. "I may not be able to see the way I used to, but that doesn't change my mission - to safeguard these children, and their futures. Do not worry, Zach, I will continue to work with you in this... for as long as I can."

Zach opened his mouth as if to say something he seemed to believe was terribly important, but stopped himself. Then his friend turned and left without another word. Albus could only wonder what he would have said had he stayed.

*~*~*

Severus entered the Dungeons, bound for Virginia's chamber. He tried, in vain, to come up with what he was going to tell Virginia, when he spoke to her. Too much was changing around them too fast, and he knew that this was bound to have an effect on her. Also, Virginia's plan would undoubtedly be influenced by the Sorting Hat's deranged judgement.

He knew now that they had been set up. Which left them with the questions of 'by whom' and 'why'. How much of this was Ix Chel's doing? Or was this even beyond the young snake? Had Ix Chel merely been a pawn in a game, being played by an order of wizards who have been extinct for a thousand years... extinct, until now. He had to know for certain where they really stood, before they went any further. The last thing he wanted was for them to fall victim to Voldemort, or something else, simply because they couldn't see the forest for the trees. Severus entered her chamber. He saw that Ix Chel, Virginia, and Dippet were sitting on the four-poster bed studying, while Granger and Potter sat on the couch doing homework. They looked up from their various tasks.

"Potter, Granger, Dippet - please leave," he ordered, a little harsher than he had intended. "Miss Granger, report back here at nine o'clock to watch over Miss Weasley for the night."

"Yes, sir," she replied.

He noticed Virginia watching him as her friends gathered their things, wishing her a good night, and left.

"What did Dumbledore have to say?" asked Virginia.

"How do you know about that?" Severus asked.

Virginia shrugged.

"What is it with Seers' annoying capacity to give non-answers?" he asked.

"It just is," she replied.

"Dumbledore's assessment is that your transfer is within the rules," Severus said. "There is a loophole in the school bylaws that permit The Sorting Hat to create new houses, when the situation warrants it."

"Therefore, I'm trapped in a house of one, because of my gift," Virginia said wearily. "I don't belong anywhere..."

"That is not true," he insisted. "There was a wealth of opinions amongst the Professors, about where you should end up. Professors' Flitwick, McGonagall, or I would have been fortunate, if you had been re-sorted into one of our houses. Do not feel sorry for yourself just because the result was unexpected."

Severus sat down on the couch.

"What's going to happen to me?" she asked. "How am I going to reintegrate?"

"We've been discussing the matter," he explained. "We'll be starting you on a light schedule of tutoring sessions, and required courses that must be taken outdoors. Don't worry about difficulties from the Gryffindors. You'll be working with the Ravenclaw and Slytherin students, almost exclusively."

"And what about Potions?" she asked. "I was paired with Alexis in that class."

"I will be tutoring you, at least until I am certain that your new powers won't cause too many problems," Severus said. "Do you wish to continue working in the Slytherin/Gryffindor Potions class?"

"Yes," Virginia reasoned. "They'll take my reluctance as a sign of weakness, if I don't confront them. Besides, they wouldn't dare try anything in front of you, master. They know you would have their heads if they so much as looked at me wrong."

"You have a point," Severus replied, reading her. "Something else is on your mind. What is it?"

She told him what she had seen after the re-sorting ceremony.

"Do you know what this means?" asked Virginia. "It means that there are others who can perform Gray magic. I wonder how many others at Hogwarts would be able?"

"For all we know, a quarter of the wizarding world may be capable of it," he responded.

Severus turned to Ix Chel.

"Did you have any idea what the Sorting Hat would call out, Ix Chel?" Severus asked.

"No," Ix Chel replied. "Although something about it felt familiar to me."

"Tell me Ix Chel, why were you in that store in Hogsmeade?" Severus asked. "It isn't often that someone finds one of your species in an ordinary pet store."

"I was there... hoping to find the right witch or wizard to bond with," Ix Chel replied.

"Why?" he asked again.

"Because it is the highest honor my kind know," Ix Chel answered.

He could feel that there was more to this, but she was reluctant to tell them.

"I have trouble believing that a Divinus Animus, even one as young as you, would be foolish enough to end up in the hands of an inept shopkeeper, so easily," Severus persisted. "Do you know how easily you could have ended up in a Dark Wizard's private lab? Why did you take the risk... unless you are here for another reason? I doubt that many Divinus take risks like that. Did someone send you here?"

"No," said Ix Chel.

"Then why did you take the risk?" Severus pressed.

Ix Chel refused to reply.

"You have nothing to fear," Virginia reassured her familiar. "Answer him."

"I defied my elders and left our secret home, in the slim hope of finding one to bond with," Ix Chel admitted. "Everything I have done since then, has been for Virginia and her protected. I have nothing to do with the strange intrigue that surrounds us. If the ancient Gray wizards had planned this, then that knowledge was lost to my line. I am sorry. I do not know more."

"You ran away from home?" Virginia asked. "You gave up everything you knew, just for the chance to be bonded?"

"What I had back then is unimportant," answered Ix Chel. "My Elders had lived their whole lives without even the hope of discovering their wizarding half. I could not live like that. I am content here, with you, and for me that's enough."

Virginia gently picked up the snake and placed her in her lap.

"I'm happy you're here," she murmured, petting the snake.

He watched them for a few moments, before speaking.

"Something we must consider, is how your new house affiliation affects our current situation," said Severus.

"I've been considering that too," Virginia said, returning her attention to him. "I think we might be able to use my unique position to our advantage."

"In more ways than one," he replied thoughtfully.

"This is not a good day for surprises, master," she said.

"Although your plans to bring Malfoy into the fold were brilliant, it also causes one or two... complications," Severus continued. "By revealing your true position to Malfoy, you also revealed mine. I've taken care of Malfoy, while strengthening your hold on him. He will not be a problem. However, this presents an image problem we need to act on, especially if you are going to be associating closely with the Slytherins, as well as helping them."

"Helping them?" Virginia asked.

"Because of my blasted cover, my students no longer trust me," he explained. "Many of them are children of Death Eaters. They see me as a supporter of the Dark Lord. Those who wish to avoid the Dark Mark won't look to Dumbledore or me for guidance. I've arranged for Mr. Malfoy to redirect those with doubts to you. Because of your position in the Slytherin hierarchy, they will come to you, and together, we will be able to assist them without blowing our cover."

"What do you want me to do?" she asked.

"I need you to pretend that you are a Death Eater in training, whose cover is my spurned, indomitable apprentice," he answered. "One merely trying to put your life back together, and move on. While what you're really doing is defying me, by masterminding an underground to keep the Slytherins out of the Voldemort's reach, without my knowledge."

"Let me try to get this straight," Virginia said, nearly overwhelmed by the possibilities that lay before her. "You want me to feign being a Death Eater in training, with a cover as one of the good guys. While I am a good guy, who is defying my evil master, by helping others; in order for you to keep your cover?"

"Yes," Severus replied. "Can you do it?"

"We should be able to handle it," she answered.

"Good," he said, intensifying his scrutiny of her. With some additional training, Virginia will to return to school-life, armed with weapons that no child should ever wield. Only time would tell whether their plans would lead them to ruin, and take down with them, everything that they held dear.