Last Night I Dreamt I Went in Slytherin Again

Gather your toys at the call-to-arms and swing your big bear down

upon our necks when we come to set you sleeping safe and sound.

It's all well, we tell no lie, to chase the face that cries.

And little birds can't fly so keep an open eye.

It's as well, we tell no lie, so I'll sing you no lullaby.

No Lullaby - Jethro Tull.

Last Night I dreamt I went in Slytherin again - fourth chapter

The next day in Defence Against the Dark Arts, we continued our study of magical deflections with Professor Lupin.

"Today will be a practical lesson," he said. "You will partner up two and two and we will practise the simple deflection of hexes we discussed earlier. This will be an opportunity to apply a little of the theory in practise." The Ravenclaw and Gryffindor second year students looked excited at the prospect of doing a little duelling. "Now, you are only allowed to use the Tarantallegra, dancing legs hex, or the Rictusempra, tickling charm, nothing else. You will find these unpleasant enough for a second year, but they are quite harmless. We do not want any injuries. Is that understood?" We all nodded in agreement. "When your opponent casts the spell, you will try to deflect it with your wand and the deflection charm."

People started to move into groups of two. No one seemed to want to partner me. I looked over to Luna, but a Ravenclaw girl I didn't know had already partnered up with her.

"Do you need a partner?" I asked Eliza.

"Eh, I'm practising with Sunita," she said and moved away quickly.

"It's you and me then," said Sandy Anderson, standing in front of me.

"All right," I said. All the pairs stood facing each other and the duelling began. As curses were flying, the classroom filled with shouts and people doing impossible dances around the classroom after having been hit by the Tarantallegra hex, others where laughing shrilly and hysterically after the Rictusempra spell hit them.

I didn't have that much trouble deflecting Sandy's spells at first, and I hit her again and again with the Tarantallegra. She was getting red in her face, angry and exhausted by all dancing.

"You think you are pretty clever, don't you, Snape girl," she panted. "How does it feel to be Snape's favourite next to Draco Malfoy?"

"I think Snape hates me just as much as ever, so you needn't worry," I said coldly. "Rictusempra!"

"Ha,ha,ha,ha!" Sandy laughed; she had missed the deflection again. I performed the counter curse and she stopped laughing. "Perhaps you like it with Miss de Winter, Snape and those other Slytherins. They might be more your style you know, Weasley."

"Whatever do you mean?" I lowered my wand looking at her.

"Rictusempra!" Sandy yelled. I started to laugh that heinous laugh. It wasn't at all pleasant. More like when you have already laughed too much and your stomach hurts, except there wasn't anything funny. She let me carry on for a whole minute before she performed the counter curse. When it stopped, I felt really angry. So this was how she intended to play the game. Well, I could play too if it came to that.

"I wonder if you aren't just a little angry because you know you'll never be half the wizard your dad is?" I asked. Her jaw dropped in astonishment. "It seems you didn't inherit any talent along with those good looks you are so proud of."

"How dare you?" she whispered.

"Tarantallegra!" I shouted. She danced away across the floor and I let her carry on for a bit. She accidentally hit a small table with her legs and it toppled over with a loud bang.

"Careful over there!" Lupin shouted and ran forward, performing the counter curse on Sandy. "You are supposed to perform the counter curse immediately. Understood, Miss Weasley?"

"Yes sir!" I said.

Lupin looked to each of us in turn, frowning. Then he walked back to Luna and the Ravenclaw girl. He was instructing them on their technique for holding the wand.

Sandy and I moved apart again, facing each other. "I'll get you for that Weasley," Sandy hissed. This was getting serious. "I hear your Dad has been quite successful in failing miserably at the Ministry. His career has been at a standstill for quite some time, hasn't it? Pity you are so poor, you might have been able to buy some decent clothes to wear every now and then."

"Who cares?" I said airily. "He is doing an important job and we can manage. Tarantallegra!" Sandy danced off again, but I quickly counter cursed her as Lupin had instructed. She was beginning to look really furious. Some of the people around us had stopped what they were doing, looking at us with interest.

"Well, just so that you know. No one trusts you around here, Riddle girl, so you might as well go hang out with your Slytherin friends," Sandy said with a low hateful voice. I stood frozen to the ground, unable to believe what I was hearing. Was this true? My legs felt weak and heavy, like a hundred Dementors had suddenly entered the room draining me of all life force, and the will to live. The eyes of the people who had stopped and stood looking around us felt like silent accusations. Was Sandy telling the truth? Did no one in Gryffindor like me any more?

"Tarantallegra! Rictusempra!" She was hitting me with both spells. I danced around the room and laughed at the same time.

Then, she shouted "Mobilipedester!" My feet moved away from underneath me and I fell to the ground with a painful crash. I hit my head on the floor and was seeing stars. That really hurt! My left hand and my head were throbbing, and she was not fighting fair, she had used another spell. I jumped to my feet fuming with anger. I charged across the room. I didn't care about the spells; I was going to hit her in the face.

"That was fun," Sandy wheezed, as we were circling each other. "Now lets do the Serpensortia shall we, to see what we get. Make you show your true colours."

"No you don't!" I screamed. I pointed my wand at Sandy's nose and yelled," ENGORGIO!" Instantly her nose began to swell to enormous proportions.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Lupin had cast the spell on me; my wand flew out of my hand and fell on the floor with a clatter. Everybody in the class stood around us in silence looking at Sandy and me. Sandy was clutching her growing nose, looking like she was in pain.

"Did I not tell you to only use those two spells, Miss Weasley?" Lupin said in a low voice. He looked very angry. I had never seen him angry before.

"But sir, it was she who..."

"Don't make excuses Miss Weasley!" Lupin barked. I fell silent, looking down at the ground." Miss Anderson, go and see Madam Pomfrey about that nose." She ran off still holding her nose. Tears were streaming from her eyes.

"I never thought I would see the day when I had to give you detention, Miss Weasley." He stared at me angrily. Then, his face softened and anger gave way to a look of resignation and disappointment, which made me feel even worse somehow. He looked depressed and weary. It was unfair that only I would receive detention, but I supposed it was the price one paid for being victorious in an illegal wand fight.

I was to serve the detention with Professor Lupin that very same evening. Walking alone through the torch lit halls and up the stairs towards Lupin's office listening to my echoing steps, I felt depressed. Ron had been amazed when he heard I had duelled with a girl in my class and received detention. I didn't see what was so great about it at all. I wondered what Mum and Dad would say when they found out. I expected Lupin was sending them an owl describing my appalling behaviour. Mum would yell of course, and Dad would look sad and disappointed, as if his little girl was turning into a violent delinquent. But most of all, Sandy's words still rang in my ears and gnawed at me constantly. It was true she was just an airhead, who tried to be on top of everything and the popular leader; while secretly, she was terrified her talent was none to that of her father, who did a magic far beyond anything we do at Hogwarts, to paraphrase Dumbledore. I had said this to her, which had been terribly mean of me. Maybe she had only told me my worst fear. These rational reflections, however logical they seemed, could not shake the gnawing feeling that no one in Gryffindor liked me and everybody only looked at me as the girl who set the Basilisk on them. Did they all want me to be in Slytherin? I knew this was not true, but in my depressed state and the late hour, I couldn't shake the heavy feeling that they all wanted me gone.

"There you are," said Lupin. He didn't seem angry with me anymore. He didn't seem to be in a very good mood either. In fact, he too looked rather depressed. He stood looking around the room absentmindedly. "I rarely have detentions, so I'm not sure what I'll have you do," he said, scratching his head. "I have these posters of Grindylows for the third years. I have been trying to enchant them to sit on the wall, but for some reason, it doesn't seem to work like it should. Maybe you can help me. You can only use the spells I tell you to use though." He smiled at me weakly.

"Professor, I am so sorry for what happened in class! I don't know why I got so angry. Sandy was telling me all sorts of mean things and I got all carried away."

"Yes, I understood as much. Frankly Ginny, I was a little disappointed because I thought you'd be above such simple provocations."

"Yes, Professor." I felt like a terrible disappointment to everyone.

"We can't have students picking fights in class, even if they do not see eye to eye for some reason. Doing practical spells like that is really dangerous. People can sustain terrible injuries. It is one of the things that really worry a teacher. I expect owls will be arriving tomorrow morning, with letters from Mr. Anderson and possibly other parents. I can ill afford that sort of attention."

"I'm so sorry, Professor!" I said.

"Oh well, maybe I was a bit hard on you," Lupin continued more cheerfully. He paused for a moment, thinking. "All right then, I hear you are very talented with potions Ginny, so therefore your punishment tonight will be to brew tea for both of us. I think you will find the proper equipment in the teacher's staff room. I do not want to see you back here before you have brewed two full cups. I take mine with milk and sugar tonight. And no teabags." He smiled and pointed me out of the room. I looked at him baffled. Was he serious? Apparently he was.

In the staff room, McGonagall looked up, from the Daily Prophet, in surprise, when I entered. Stammering, I explained my reason for being there.

"Is that supposed to be a punishment?" she snorted. "I heard you and Sandy made quite a disgrace of yourselves today. I hope you are properly ashamed of yourself."

"Yes, Madam," I said, as I started fixing the tea.

"I suppose we are all under a bit of pressure with this terrible Black business still unresolved," McGonagall muttered, turning back to her paper.

"Any news of Black?" I asked, as I poured tealeaves in the pot.

"No, not yet, but I expect they will catch him presently."

"How old is Professor Lupin?" I asked. "Isn't he about the same age as Professor Snape?"

"Yes, they were in the same year."

"And Miss de Winter is a year younger."

"Yes, that is correct Miss Weasley," McGonagall said, still looking down in her paper.

"Miss de Winter mentioned that Professor Snape and Sirius Black used to play pranks on each other in school."

"Did she now? Well, Black and Potter were always getting into trouble in those days. I guess Lupin wouldn't know what to do in a detention though; he hardly ever was in any. He was the only one who could talk sense into those other two."

"They all knew each other?"

"Your tea is boiling, Miss Weasley," McGonagall said in a dismissive sort of way. Giving my current status as violent offender, I didn't dare ask more questions.

When I came back into Lupin's office, he was busy with the posters. Some were on the wall and others were lying on the floor. As I handed him his tea, two more posters fell behind him. "This is not going very well," he said. I looked at the mess on the floor and sipped the hot tea carefully.

"Professor Snape seems to think he knows who is helping Sirius Black enter the castle," I said thoughtfully. Lupin jerked his head and spilled some of his tea on his hand.

"I bet he does," he said with a growl, shaking his scolded hand irritated in front of himself, then wiping it on his robes, spilling some more.

"What if a really powerful wizard was helping Black, couldn't he just Apparate into the castle and kill Harry?"

"Black was pretty talented himself, he would know what to do," Lupin muttered.

"I mean a really powerful witch, like an Egyptian snake wizard."

"An Egyptian snake wizard." Lupin laughed, looking at me in surprise. "Would an Egyptian snake wizard come around to Hogwarts just to help a common criminal like Black? That seems highly improbable; unless there was something in it for him, I would hardly think he would be bothered with such a petty thing. But for the sake of the argument, I guess they could. There are a number of spells and charms protecting the castle. However, a really powerful wizard could probably force entry, but the spells are set up so that they instantly detect very powerful magic. They might be able to gain entry if they were powerful enough, the Egyptians certainly would be, but they could never do it without giving themselves away. In fact, they are so powerful, the minute they entered the castle, Dumbledore would know."

"So, the best way for them would be to have an accomplice on the inside?"

"Yes, if they wanted something inside the castle that would be the plan, but they wouldn't be of much use to Black if he wanted to gain entry. If they already have an accomplice inside the castle couldn't he just open the door for Black and let him in?"

"I suppose," I said.

"Why all these questions, Ginny? If you suspect anyone, I strongly suggest you go to Dumbledore and tell him. I only hope having known Sirius doesn't suffice to make one a suspect, you'd have to include most of the school in that group, and those who didn't know him in those days wished they had."

"He was quite popular in school wasn't he?"

"Quite."

"Yeah, that sure beats being the Riddle girl who no one trusts," I said with a sigh.

"Would you believe Ginny, that I know a lot about being an outcast? It is never easy. In your case, I can promise you things will soon be forgotten. You may need to be careful to not give people any reasons to suspect you though."

"Like fighting in class you mean."

"Like that for instance," Lupin said smiling. "Now if you will excuse me, I think I need to go to bed. I trust you do not want to continue your detention any longer than necessary."

"No, not really."

"You can be pretty sure that no Egyptian snake wizard will come barging in here helping Black harm Harry. We haven't heard from them in thousands of years and I don't think anything less than someone messing around with time or immortality would attract their attention."

"Are all Egyptian snake wizards bad?" I asked.

"No, not really. Most of them are quite ok, but extreme power often brings its own set of problems, moral problems."

"Do you know of a witch called Isis?" I asked.

"Isis?" Lupin looked surprised. "I'm not that good at Egyptian mythology but she was the protector of women and children. I guess you could say she was probably a good witch. She is one of the most legendary witches who ever lived, some claim she gained immortality, so she might still be around somewhere."

"Who would have red eyes and red hair, pretty much like mine?"

" I don't know who that may be. How do you even know about those things? All those books are supposed to be in the restricted section. Egyptian magic is only taught in the very advanced seventh year classes and at the university."

"My family went to Egypt this summer," I said.

"Oh, I see," Lupin said.

We stood silent for a moment both thinking.

"How come Black murdered all those people and did all those insane things?" I asked. " If he was popular in school, he must have been at least a little nice. What could have happened to make him turn out like that?" I thought about Draco Malfoy, he seemed very popular in Slytherin, but Black had been in Gryffindor.

A terrible sadness came into Lupin's eyes and he stood silent for a long moment. "That is not the worst thing he did," he finally said darkly.

I couldn't imagine what could be worse than murdering fourteen people, but the subject seemed almost painful to Professor Lupin, so I said good night and hurried off. His thoughts about the snake wizards had been quite helpful though. I only hoped, he wouldn't tell Dumbledore about our strange conversation. Or maybe that would be a good thing. Maybe I should go tell Dumbledore straight away. Yet, I hesitated. It all still seemed so diffuse and I had little proof of anything, I didn't even know what it was I should have proof of.

Sandy gave me venomous looks in the Gryffindor common room next morning. Sunita and Eliza had, to nobody's surprise, sided with her. They blamed everything on me, conveniently disregarding the fact that Sandy had been the first to use a spell other than the ones allowed and that when I was already properly disarmed by two spells. She hadn't exactly displayed the kind of bravery one liked to associate with Gryffindor. I noticed her nose had been expertly restored to its former magnificent beauty. Oh well, perhaps it wasn't quite as magnificent as it had been after my spell, but that ultimately came down to taste, perhaps a reminder of my wrath would have been becoming on her. Ron looked at Sandy and caught my eye, grinning at me as if I had made him proud, and Colin Creevey nudged me with his elbow when we were leaving for class whispering, "You should have shown that stuck up girl long ago, Ginny." Colin's comment made me feel quite a bit better. Then I thought about what Professor Lupin had said about being an outcast. I wondered what he had meant. Perhaps he hadn't been as popular as Black when they were all in school. From McGonagall's comments, I felt like he might have been a little like Hermione.

I had made up my mind during the night that I was going to pump Professor Lupin for more information after class today. It didn't matter if I wasn't supposed to know, he could just refuse to tell me, if it was that dangerous. If he wanted me to go to Dumbledore then, I would gather my courage and head straight to the headmaster's office.

Only trouble was that it wasn't Lupin teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts that day. Lupin was ill and unable to teach. Snape had taken over the class. I had better not pick a fight with Sandy in class when Snape was teaching, I thought. I would end up hanging from my feet in the dungeons being slowly roasted over a fire by Malfoy and Filch. I didn't need to worry though; Snape was doing a theoretical lesson. For some reason, he had us study werewolves in the middle of spells and hexes. It didn't make any sense at all, but few dared object to Snape. I didn't say a word during the whole lesson. I had decided to be quiet and just get the work done.

I had also decided my need for more information about the Egyptian wizard with red eyes had become desperate enough to warrant another trespassing into the forbidden section of the library. I couldn't imagine what would happen if my parents received another owl about me having been put in detention just a day after the previous one. However, desperate times called the desperate to arms.

In the afternoon, I wandered into the library with no plan at all, only a strong sense I needed to get this information quickly. I found Hermione studying with what seemed like the entire library piled up around her on one of the study tables. It was one of the tables that stood enclosed with bookshelves on all sides so that small groups of students could sit undisturbed and study without in turn disturbing other groups. She looked really harassed, with dark rings beneath her eyes, as if she had neglected sleep for a long time.

"Are you all right, Hermione?"

"What?" she nearly shouted. "Oh, it's you Ginny," she added in a more friendly voice. "Yes, I'm fine. A little busy if you don't mind."

"You don't look well, actually," I said.

"It's just so bloody much to do," she snarled. I had never seen her like this. She seemed frantic and exhausted and what was it with her language. She sounded like Ron all the sudden. Reaching for a lexicon, she managed to knock over an inkbottle, spilling green ink over the parchment she had been working on.

"Oh damn!" she said. "Just my rotten, stupid luck. Why must that God damned ink spill on this essay. It is due to be handed in tomorrow morning, of all things! You stupid, wicked evil thing!" She banged both her fists on the table so the books jumped.

"Hermione," I said, softly putting my hand on her shoulder. "I think you should rest now. You're making me worried." She looked up as if she had just realised I was there.

"Sorry, Ginny," she said. She looked near tears. She leaned backwards in her chair, probably to relieve a strain in her back from leaning over the parchment for so long. "I'm sorry if I snapped at you. I have so much homework."

"That is all right, Hermione." On a hunch, I asked her, "By the way, do you have a pass for the restricted section?"

"The restricted section?" she asked. "What do you need from the restricted section? You aren't brewing up a love potion are you?"

"I think my mother's story should have discouraged us enough from that," I said. "I really can't say. It is a Greek book, in the second isle of the restricted section, red, and gold with a picture of a Pharaoh on the cover. It is written in Linear B."

Hermione looked at me incredulously. Her eyes then wandered away. She stared out over the library, lost in thought. Her gaze became unfocused as if she had forgotten I was there again. Then, she turned and looked at me.

"Right! It is lucky some students in this castle don't mind a little extra work, looking things up and doing background research, unlike some boys, who have nothing better to do than to harass more ambitious students all day at no end. All right then, I need to go back and rest a little anyway. I can go and get it last night. Meet me here in an hour and ask no questions, and I won't ask you." After this absurd statement, she got up from the table and gave her ruined parchment a last disgusted look before she marched away between the bookshelves. I stood there wondering if I had just witnessed the mental breakdown of Hermione Granger.

However, when I returned an hour later, she sat at the table with the book, looking a lot more fresh and rested than before.

"Holy cricket! You read that stuff? It looks awfully complicated." She beamed at the book. " I really love my ancient runes class. It is so much fun. Your trip to Egypt really made me jealous you know. You must have learned loads."

"Perhaps more than I can handle," I said.

"Yes, I know the feeling. I always try to read up on all the places I've been to, but there is never time to do all the research you want." She looked around at the huge piles of books with a weary expression.

"You seem in a better mood now," I said, as I picked up the book tentatively and hid it in my book bag in case a teacher should come into the library.

"Yes, I feel a little more rested, thank you. I'll be here all night rewriting that essay though."

"Good luck!" I said. I started to leave the library before Hermione could ask more questions about the book.

"Hey, Ginny!"

"Eh, yes."

"I hope I wasn't rude to you before. I'm just a little stressed out."

"Don't worry about it, Hermione. I have extra Potions classes, I know pretty much what it's like." I smiled at her and hurried away.

I started to get the hang of reading that book. I read very slowly, but I was still amazed I could do it at all. Reading the entire book at the rate I was going would take until New Year, but I was able to find the facts I wanted, and put them together by following the illustrations. Under a picture of a man with a red cloak and flaming red hair I spelled out:

...Set Typhon is the principle of all, which burns, consumes. He has red hair and red eyes, for he represents the desert rocks, arid and sterile. Set was the great enemy of the other principal wizards, of Osiris, of Isis and of Horus.

The reason they were enemies, I learned, was that Set had killed Osiris, who was the Pharaoh at the time, in order to gain the throne.

When Osiris returned from his mission, there was great rejoicing in the land. A royal feast was held, and set came to make merry, and with him were his fellow conspirators. He brought a shapely and decorated chest, which he had caused to be made according to the measurements of the king's body. All men praised it at the feast, admiring its beauty, and many desired greatly to possess it. When hearts were made glad with beer drinking, Set proclaimed that he would gift the chest unto him whose body fitted its proportions with exactness. There was no suspicion of evil design among the faithful subjects of Osiris. The guests spoke lightly, uttering jests one against another, and all were eager to make trial as Set had desired. So it happened that one after another entered the chest on that fateful night, until it seemed that no man could be found to win it for himself. Then Osiris came forward. He lay down within the chest, and he filled it in every part. But dearly was his triumph won in that dark hour which was his hour of doom. Ere he could raise his body, the evil followers of Set sprang suddenly forward and shut down the lid, which they nailed fast and soldered with lead. So the richly decorated chest became the coffin of the good king Osiris, from whom departed the breath of life.

What a horrible thing to do. This was a really captivating story. I liked Set less and less as I laboriously spelled out the story in the difficult old script.

When the grievous tidings were borne unto Isis, she was stricken with great sorrow and refused to be comforted. She wept bitter tears and cried aloud. Then she uttered a binding vow, cut off a lock of her shining hair, and put on the garments of mourning. Thereafter the widowed queen wandered up and down the land, seeking for the body of Osiris.

Isis had eventually found the chest with Osiris body, but Set intercepted her and had her husband's body cut up in fourteen pieces. Set's followers hid the pieces in order to prevent Isis from bringing Osiris back to life. They remained hidden for many generations and the location of some of them were lost or forgotten as the followers of Set died. Some body parts were traded as powerful magical objects or changed owner in battle. Through many travels and intensive search, Isis eventually managed to track down all the lost pieces except the fourteenth piece. At some point, it was believed to have been eaten by a crab, but Isis was convinced it was still hidden somewhere. She continued her quest for it so she could bring back all pieces and perform the powerful snake wizard magic that would bring her husband back to life.

It was a very sad and touching story. You had to admire Isis' love and devotion to her husband, but I was still not sure whether I ought to get involved, and where did Snape's girlfriend enter into the equation. If she knew Set, did that mean Snape did as well? There were clearly more questions than answers. Considering what Lupin had said about Black being a common criminal and how rare it was for Egyptian wizards to show up, I wondered if there wasn't something much bigger going on than helping Black. If Set wanted to kill Harry, why hadn't he just levelled Little Whinging to the ground? He could probably do it with a wave of his hand. No, the story I had just read must be the key.

Miss de Winter seemed to have returned to her usual bad mood in her special potions class that evening. She did seem a little friendly to me still. It was somehow more unsettling than reassuring given the things I had learned about Set Typhon and the fact that they were probably planning one thing or another together.

We were cutting up small pieces of Boomslang for a complicated potion we were setting up to brew over the night. As I was measuring the Boomslang, I heard a voice outside the dungeon that I recognised, but it wasn't Snape. I wondered if Miss de Winter was talking with Set. I caught Luna's eye and she nodded. She was paired up with another first year student and she didn't want to let on that anything out of the ordinary was going on. I pointed discretely with my thumb and she nodded in agreement. I told, Michael Marsh, a first year student I was working with, I had to go to the bathroom and sneaked out in the corridor outside the dungeon as quietly as possible. The corridor was shadowy at this time in the evening. The torches were set more widely apart than inside the dungeon, and large portions of the corridor lay in complete darkness. It was not so hard to quickly sneak across and hide behind a statue of Salazar Slytherin dancing. Had the two persons out there turned to look, I would have been toast, but they didn't. It was Lucius Malfoy talking to Miss de Winter. She really did hang out with all my least favourite people. I felt a rush of both anger and fear when I saw the arrogant thin face and the frozen cold grey eyes of that ghastly man who had sneaked Tom Riddles diary into my cauldron. His face was almost as pale as his long white blonde hair flowing over his back and the expensive tailor made robes. In the semidarkness, it looked skull like. What business could this supremely arrogant and vain aristocratic former Death Eater have down in the dungeons at this late hour? Wasn't he afraid some potion would spill on those newly shined shoes he no doubt had made his house elf slave over the entire afternoon?

"I have been looking all over the castle for that door. Are you sure the description is right?" Miss de Winter was saying.

"The..."

"Hush," said Miss de Winter. "Don't mention names in here. We don't know what charms old Snapie has put up."

"Is he still questioning you about your credentials?" asked Lucius Malfoy.

"Yes, unfortunately. However, there is no problem with my knowledge of Potions, this is simple to the point of boredom compared to my research at the institute. He has not been able to complain. Actually, I think he welcomes the relief, lets him work on more interesting things. He is very interested in what I did in the war and after though, there is an awful lot of time to account for that is not covered in my papers."

"You sound like you are whining a little, Miss de Winter." Lucius paused, cocking an eybrow. "You know that is not appreciated. Please, do remember that those who have bodies can feel pain, a lot of pain, and it can be inflicted by those in need of a body, or their followers." Lucius Malfoy pointed his silver cane at Miss de Winter. The coldness of his eyes and the words just spoken made it seem like a threatening gesture. He flexed his other hand; the black leather of his expensive gloves glistening, and then blew air through his nostril impatiently. I wondered if that thing was a carefully studied mannerism or a genetic defect. His son always did it too.

"Snape is a very difficult man. I never know where I have him. I'm not sure he believes in my love and devotion, or he doesn't take it seriously."

"A beautiful woman such as yourself, Miss de Winter. Surely Snape isn't gay, is he?"

"Oh, no! The man is actually quite romantic. You never would have thought it. He buys me jewellery and the poetry he writes is delightful. As for the rest, I've had worse. The last thing in the world Severus Snape gives to anyone though, is his trust. Those hawk eyes of his never relax. Whenever I roam about the castle he turns up, as if from thin air, asking innocently what I'm doing, or if he might help me find whatever I pretend to be looking for."

"Yes," Lucius Malfoy said," I wish we knew where he stands, old Snape. It would be much less difficult. Have you found out anything about his standing?"

"He doesn't want to talk about the old days, and I should not seem too interested. It might make him suspicious. I tried the codes, 'I am the flight of death,' the usual. He just gives me a blank stare as if I said something odd."

"Is the snake wizard giving you any trouble?"

"No, he doesn't seem too clever. I'm more worried about old Snapie and Dumbledore."

"Underestimating Egyptian wizards, Miss de Winter, and people say I'm arrogant." Lucius Malfoy chuckled very quietly to himself.

"So, you don't believe in the plan then Lucius?"

"Just find the damned door before the castle withers away, or that Parselmouth gets impatient. Believe me, we don't want that. Good night, Miss de Winter."

I knew which door they were talking about and now I was quite sure Miss de Winter was as evil as she seemed, conspiring with Lucius Malfoy and helping Set to find whatever Isis were looking for, which I now had a pretty clear idea of what it might be. It was quite clear Set had very good reasons to not want Isis to find it; he didn't want Osiris to return. Rebecca wasn't really in love with Snape. For the first time in my life, I felt a little bad for him. It was a very surprising feeling, but I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have someone pretend to be in love with you, just to gain information. It was so sick and devious. I felt I could have murdered Miss de Winter right there on the spot. If I had been a really powerful witch, I would have jumped out behind the statue and blasted her and that poisonous snake, Lucius Malfoy to pieces right there and then. I would have never been able to stop laughing. Surely Dumbledore would have deemed that rash and poor strategy at that point, I thought to myself, I had better use this information wisely. Perhaps being very powerful had its share of problems.

I threw myself backwards behind the statue just in time when Lucius Malfoy swept by. He did not look in my direction, which was lucky. I came back into the dungeon after Miss de Winter, my head spinning with thoughts about what I had just heard.

Michael gave me a surly look. He had had to cut up all the ingredients by himself and had as usual done an excellent job, laying them out in neat piles. I stared at him with a look that said, "I'm a girl, I dare you to ask." He didn't.

A night of tossing in bed followed and I was preoccupied the next day with deciding what to do, should I go to Dumbledore or should I talk to Ron? Should I let it all be, while a bunch of former Death Eaters were sneaking around the castle helping an Egyptian snake wizard with an equally shadowy past? What was in it for them? Was the Dark Lord out there?

I was so preoccupied and tired I could not pay attention at all in Snape's regular Potions class. We were setting up our cauldrons as usual and getting the ingredients together. Luna was doing most of the work, while I whispered to her obsessively about the things I had learned the night before by spying on Malfoy and Miss de Winter. If you didn't know Luna, you might have thought she didn't listen to a word I was saying, but I could see those cogs in her brain grinding away at top speed. Miss de Winter was assisting Snape today, and I couldn't help giving her an angry stare when she swept by. She didn't look like she was in the best of moods herself. Had the strawberries gone sour?

"Professor! I need a word with you about where you keep those supplies," she called after Snape.

"Yes, Miss de Winter." Snape said, as they stepped out of the room.

"Lucius Malfoy practically threatened to torture Miss de Winter if she failed?" Luna whispered.

"Yes," I said, shuddering a little at the thought, "Isn't he an awful man?"

"What was that about he who has no body?" Luna asked, "Didn't Set walk around just fine when we saw him? The flight of death, what does that mean?" We both fell silent, deep in thought, the cauldron stood forgotten between us. What did it mean? I was feeling tired and confused, yet utterly possessed by this mystery. She had said that flight of death was a code. Did it mean something different in Parseltongue? In Greek? Did it have something to do with the institute where Miss de Winter was studying? She had mentioned that too. The further from England the closer you are to France. I was getting dizzy in the head.

"Merlin's beard! Je suis le vol de la mort !"

Luna jerked her head and asked, "Did you just say You-Know-Who's name out loud?"

"I am the flight of death. I am Vol de la mort. I am Voldemort. She is working for Voldemort," I whispered to Luna. "They both are. Lucius Malfoy has never stopped being a Death Eater, she is one of them, and Set has joined somehow."

Luna looked white in the face. Finally, something had broken her cool. Where were Snape and Miss de Winter anyway? They seemed to have been gone an awful long time now. It wasn't like Snape to just vanish in the middle of teaching a class. I looked down at the recipe in my hand that was unmistakably written out in Miss de Winter's handwriting. The last ingredient was pickled frog liver. Holy Merlin!

"Luna! Look at that!" I pointed to the recipe. "Come on, we must get over to the Slytherin common room before it is too late!" We ran out of the classroom without thinking. All I had in mind was the story Harry had told of how Voldemort had no body and how he had wanted to steal the Philosophers Stone to bring himself back to his body and gain eternal life. I was pretty sure the flight of death meant a whole lot of death of innocent Muggle born and other wizards.

"Now she is freaking out again!" Sandy's voice echoed behind me when we ran from the dungeon.

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