Chapter 19: An Old FriendNotes:Here is the next chapter. Hope you like it!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"Go on Percy. We will be late!" Dora watched with some amusement as the Weasley's arrived at the entrance to Platform 9 and ¾. While technically back on duty with the DoM, Croaker had placed her and Hazel at the two ends on the gateway at King's Cross. With everything that happened of late around Harry Potter, they were making sure he and the rest of the students made it safely onto the train. The eldest of the Weasley children went quickly through the portal and Dora watched as the twins started playing rock-paper-scissors before Molly Weasley screamed at them to hurry up. The one closest to the portal went first before the other followed quickly, laughing to themselves. The youngest, Ginerva, looked nervously at the wall, which made Dora think about another person. Next year it would be Teddy's turn to go to Hogwarts. They would be dropping him off and waving goodbye for ten months of the year. Dora's mind crashed as she caught herself saying "they." Ever since she and Hazel had partnered up, Dora felt herself growing closer to Teddy. She could see the kid was picking things up from her too, much to Hazel's horror and amusement. Dora shook her head as her thoughts kept circling back to Hazel and the kisses they had shared. A lot of her nights were ending in cold showers.
"Come on Ginny, let's find you a cabin." Dora watched as the elder Weasleys crossed through the portal with the girl and her attention landed on Harry. She had to smile. The boy looked a lot happier than when she first saw him a little over a year ago. He was filling out a bit and his eyes lit up more. Hazel's gift of ice cream on his birthday had been great to see as everyone tried a bit of Florean's varieties of ice cream before they each picked their own. She hoped he had appreciated the trunk of his mom they left behind for him. Seeing Hazel collapse on the floor had grown into a recurring nightmare for Dora ever since that day. Poor Moody had to send quite a few of his Cadets to the infirmary as Dora had been having trouble holding back as she endeavoured to be better able to protect her partner. Getting her mind back on track, Dora watched as Harry raced down the platform towards the portal and… smashed right into a solid wall with his trolley. That looked like it hurt. She intercepted a local guard with a confundus charm and went to check on the kid. "Let me look at you." Harry noticed her maroon jacket and pink hair. He smiled. "Hello." Dora chuckled. "Fancy seeing you here." She pulled him up and as he picked up his trunk she turned towards the closed portal, lifting her wrist up to her mouth.
"R1, this is R2. Portal is sealed. Will be apparating the two onto the platform." Hazel's voice came in clear in her ear piece. "Acknowledged, R2. I found the Gremlin that locked it. We can fix it but not before the train leaves. Bring them up." Dora casted a notice-me-not on the spot and motioned for the kids. "Come on. I'll bring your trunks over afterwards." She grabbed them both by the arms and apparated to the other side of the portal. The two kids dropped to the ground, shuddering as they tried not to puke. Pressed for time, she barely had a second to rub their backs. "The feeling will pass. Wait here." Dora apparated two more times to bring their trunks over and pushed them both to the train. "Get on you two. The wait at Hogsmeade for a missed train isn't that great. Now get going." The kid's jumped onto the train as it's whistle blew. The trunks were levitated after them and onto the train just as the Hogwarts Express left the station. Breathing a sigh of relief Dora turned to the closed portal. She spotted her partner, her boot tapping on the stone floor impatiently while an elf moved its hands. Eventually the elf turned around. "Portal is fixed. May Dobby go, scary lady?" Hazel sighed. "No, you may not. You see, I have a proposition for you. We get you free from the Malfoys, in exchange it's your job to protect Harry Potter. Our way."
Dobby looked at Hazel with big hopeful eyes. "Dobby would gladly accept but Dobby is bound to serve the Malfoys." Hazel nodded. "You are. For now. Leafsby." Hazel and Dora's elf arrived. "Yes, Mistress." Hazel pointed at Dobby. "Show him the magical workshop I am using for my personal projects. Make sure he can either respond to my calls or you are able to retrieve him. We got an elf being mistreated by his family and I know how to break the binding magic to prevent one of your kind from suffering further dishonor." Leafsby nodded. "Mistress is kind to elf. Leafsby is showing the young one to the workshop." The two elves popped away. Dora looked at Hazel. "Are you sure that is a good idea?" Hazel sighed. "We got missions coming up and a really dangerous threat at the school. We need eyes and hands at Hogwarts. An Elf formerly associated with the Malfoy's will work perfectly. Besides…" Hazel grinned towards Dora. "We are potentially taking Malfoy's elf before dinner." Dora chuckled. "Oh, now that is just cruel. I approve."
-∞-
OW June 1996
Hazel sat in the room that had once been her godmother's, hugging the jacket she had commissioned for her. She cried onto it, unconcerned with getting it wet. What did it matter to her? Her Godmother was gone. She watched her fall through the Veil and vanish. She hated herself so much now. Hazel had rushed to the Ministry to save her and now she was dead. It was all her fault. She cried for hours, unwilling to leave Grimmauld Place. If she left she was afraid. She was afraid she would forget what she had lost if she did. She lost her Godmother, the woman who had promised her a home. This home. Sure it was full of dangerous curses, mad paintings and weird elf severed heads but this was supposed to have been her home. There was no chance of that now. Dumbledore, the bastard, would never allow it. It had felt so satisfying tearing his office apart and blasting the old man into the wall. The only reason she didn't kill him was because she couldn't bring herself to do it then, not after losing her Godmother. Voldemort wouldn't hesitate to come after her if Dumbledore was dead too. Especially not now. Now that they both knew the truth of their bond.
Her Godmother's face flashed in her mind and she hiccupped. She hadn't hiccuped while crying in years. Not since she met her Godmother. Not since she was protected by her. Hazel stayed in the room until small arms hugged her gently. She lifted her head and tried not to cry. "Hi Dobby. Hi Kreacher. Oh, Kreacher. I am so sorry. Your Mistress is gone. Because of me. I am so sorry." Tears kept falling from her eyes as the elder elf tried to comfort her. "Mistress cared for her goddaughter. She was a Black. She fought to protect the young mistress. So the young mistress should not weep. The Lords and Ladies will welcome her beyond the Veil. She was a Black to the very end. Kreacher's young mistress shouldn't be worried for Kreacher." Hazel shook her head. "But the house will go to another person. It might go to the Malfoys. They will hurt you for helping us. They will use you to get to me. I can't let that happen." Kreacher smiled at her. "Young mistress should not worry. Mistress knew. She knew and prepared. Kreacher serves the Noble House of Potter now. Mistress also left behind an order with the Goblins. The Tonks will be brought back into the family. Malfoys won't be the owners of Grimmauld. Kreacher knows. Young mistress will end them before that happens."
Hazel eyed them both. "But Kreacher, you are the elf of the House of Black. And Dobby, won't you be mad? You wanted to be my only elf." Kreacher shook his head. "Kreacher serves the House of Black by serving the House of Potter. Kreacher is happy to serve the young Mistress." Dobby nodded. "Dobby is happy too. Dobby wants to serve Great Hazel Potter. Dobby doesn't mind sharing." Hazel tried to not cry. She forced a smile on her face, though she was sure it was a bad smile. She wasn't sure if she could ever smile properly again. "Thank you, you two. You think we can seal this place up? I… I don't want to leave. Not until the term starts again. If I do… I might never come back. Drop any Order of the Phoenix junk at Hogwarts, except for Dora's. If you can leave it all in Dumbledore's office, then all the better." The elves nodded their heads and popped away as Hazel felt the wards shift. She stared blankly into the mirror and shivered at the feel of a memory. Her eyes watered. She would never again feel her Godmother brush her hair. She slumped onto the bed and closed her eyes, trying to stop the tears from returning. She had two elves to look after her. She needed to be strong for them. Even as she doubted she'd ever be happy again.
-∞-
NW September 1992
Dora tapped Hazel's shoulders and felt her snap out of whatever memory she got lodged in. She watched her friend clean her face and turn. Her eyes were still red. "Everything good at Hogwarts?" Dora sighed. "Yes, the kids arrived on time and the feast started without issue." Hazel nodded and stood up from her seat, noticing a bit of stiffness on her legs. She closed her eyes and pushed her magic down until the stiffness vanished. She froze as Dora was looking at her quite intently and closely. "Be honest with me. Should I be worried? I need to know, Hazel. I am trusting you with my life and you are trusting yours with me. Tell me these moments aren't a problem." Hazel closed her eyes and breathed deeply before opening them again. "I don't get them on the job, so you don't need to worry out in the field. When I have time to think… The mind is a terrible thing." Dora hugged Hazel, never breaking eye contact. "Will you ever trust me enough to tell me what it is you are seeing?" Hazel gave her a playful smile and leaned in, brushing her lips with Dora's. "When you are free to enter and leave my bed without permission, I will try and trust you with them." Dora's hair shifted color before returning to pink. "Tease."
Hazel chuckled. "For you? Always. Ready to free an elf?" Dora pulled back and nodded. Hazel drew a red chalk circle and a pentagram before picking up a bowl and a brush. "Dobby." The elf popped in and looked around, his eyes opened wide at what he saw. "Scary lady works with Blood Magic. Scary lady knows the Olde Ways." Hazel nodded. "To a degree. I can sever your connection to the Malfoys if you are willing Dobby, but only if you are willing. The Druids made sure these rituals could never act against the will of the elf, as no elf would ever betray a loving family. Will you forsake the violence of the Malfoys to protect another whose life is endangered by forces he cannot protect himself against?" Dobby nodded. "Dobby wishes to leave bad masters. Dobby wishes to protect the great Harry Potter." Hazel chuckled internally. The boy hasn't faced Voldemort a second time and Dobby still idolizes him. She wonders how much that is Dobby's warped perception or if he likes the idea of the person Draco hates the most as being greater than his old family. It's probably both, she mused. "Step into the circle, Dobby." The elf did so and Hazel chanted in Druidic, activating the circle. She knelt down and drew Druidic Script with her blood using a brush made of her hair. She noticed the change in Dobby, as he seemed to recognize her magic.
The little elf kept quiet as Hazel drew the necessary script across his body, with Dora watching from outside the circle. Hazel stood up and drew the final script on her hand before placing the small bowl and brush at her feet. She held her hand over the elf's head. " Ceridwen, goddess of change and rebirth. Take pity on Dobby, child of the woods and of magic, bound by the craft of mortals and restore him anew. Sever the bonds that tie him to his oppressors, who betray the oath of family and honor. Set him free so he may seek his own future once again. This I ask of you. " Magic flared inside of Hazel and she felt it settle into the blood sigil on her hand before transferring into Dobby. The elf shivered as he appeared to regain mass as the magic filled him, until he looked healthier than before. Hazel, feeling the magic complete, severed the connection and the circle collapsed, the chalk outline broken. Fighting through the sudden weight of exhaustion, she knelt before the little elf, watching as his eyes searched hers. "I am Hazel Peverell. I share blood with the Potters. I seek the safety of Harry James Potter and the end to the danger within the Hogwart Castle's walls. Will you Dobby, a free elf, lend aid to us? Will you become an elf to the House of Potter through me to protect and care for the rightful Heir?"
Dobby's eyes lit up. "Scary Mistress is of the Old Family. She wields the Magics forgotten. Dobby will accept. Dobby will protect Harry Potter." Hazel pricked her finger and presented it to the elf. "As I am Peverell, only my blood ties me to the family of Potter. If it pleases you Dobby, become an elf to House Potter." The elf touched the blood droplet and Hazel felt the magic snap into place, much as it did before, so many years ago. She closed her eyes as tears threatened to return, memories of her little friend flashing before her eyes. Regaining control, she looked at Dobby. "Your Orders, Dobby, Elf of House Potter. Observe Harry Potter from a safe distance. Come to me if something is amiss. I will either intervene or tell you how to intervene. Never allow Harry to be harmed by your protection or inaction, only by forces beyond your influence. Should I be busy, reach out to Andromeda Tonks née Black, the blood family of Harry Potter who seeks to aid him. Ask her as you would me. Do not reveal your presence to any of the Hogwarts staff or elves, the latter without securing their silence. Do all this without harming yourself or driving yourself to harm or exhaustion. You are of House Potter and the Potters care for their own, no matter what."
Hazel watched as the elf nodded. "Dobby understands. Scary Mistress is wise. Dobby will go and protect Harry Potter." The elf popped away and Hazel sighed. Dora came up behind her and found her skin cold. "Those Blood Magic rituals drain a lot of magic?" Hazel nodded. "The priests and priestesses of ages past had a stronger connection to the raw magic of the Earth than we do now and could perform these sorts of rituals easily. Much has been lost of the Old Religion that could strengthen one's connection to life and magic. For now, this and a few other spells and rituals are the sum of my knowledge of the Olde Ways." Dora hummed. "Come on, time to get you home. Teddy will be mad if you arrive late for dinner." Hazel groaned. "Damn it. I don't have anything planned. Leafsby!" The elf popped in infront of them. "Yes, mistress?" Hazel felt her eye twitch. The elf was just as bad as Kreacher sometimes. "Get six chicken fillets out of the freezer, wash them in water and salt them. I'll add the rest of the seasoning. Put a pot of water to boil with enough water for five servings of pasta and a frying pan. Leave cream, butter, olive oil, parmesan cheese and some grounded garlic on the table. Start dicing the vegetables and mushrooms."
Dora looked at Hazel as the elf vanished. "You just made a full course meal plan in a minute." Hazel blushed. "Ehh, a bit of a habit. I spent a year having a hard time getting food for Teddy so whenever I got a bit of meat I had to come up with a full meal plan on the fly, not to mention figuring out what I could safely precook for the coming days after." Dora shook her head. "Since it's with so much food, am I invited?" Hazel raised an eyebrow. "Your welcome to ask Leafsby to cook you something else." Dora gave Hazel a pleading look. "Please, can I eat with you? Leafsby is good but you get it just right." Hazel huffed. "Fine, but you are not making too much of a problem of me being tired in front of Teddy. He will tell I am exhausted, I don't need you getting him more worried as is." Dora nodded. "Fine." At the apartment, Dora settled in and helped Teddy with his studies while Hazel cooked. She noticed that Teddy would look at his mom a few times and Hazel would turn around and smile at him. She smiled at the sight of the two. They clearly cared and looked after each other and were so in tune that they knew when something would bother the other.
Later in the night, stomach just short of bursting and her body fully washed, Dora threw herself onto the bed and thought of the last few months. She hardly visited any concerts, drank less alcohol and somehow it all felt like it was the best time of her life. Being around those two wasn't as exhilarating as a Weird Sisters concert but she never felt exhausted either. She felt content. She thought about Hazel. Dora's Occlumency training was nearing its final months. She could feel it. Would learning all about Hazel make her change her mind about what she felt for her? She sighed and turned over and prayed it didn't. She cared about Hazel and Teddy. She… she wanted to be a part of that life, permanently. The times she dreamt of being back in the bed, kissing her and doing more. Dora moaned as she tried to stifle the more intimate thoughts. New Years. She would corner Hazel and ask her for a serious relationship starting New Years. Dora closed her eyes and dreamed of more than just green eyes. She dreamt of a warm place that always welcomed her with a smile and a hug. She slept well that night.
-∞-
Dora, looking like a middle aged Muggle in hoodie, made her way cautiously to the men at the edge of the park. She leaned against the wall beside one of them. "I could use a bit of something to have a good time. You offering?" The man beside her straightened out. "What are you in the mood for? Upper, downer or something for the bedroom?" Dora hummed. "Upper. Heard about a new one that keeps you up for a week. Boss is a bit of a son of a bitch and has us working like dogs. Do you have any of that? If you do, I might know a few more boys who'd like. Coffee ain't doing it for them no more." The man eyed Dora and she knew what he was looking for. Signs she was a cop. She kept her body relaxed and her hands nervously tapping against the wall. The man noticed the seemingly irrational movement. "You off one?" Dora gave him a sheepish look. "Took an upper several times over the last week. Held up like shit and left me with the jitters." The man nodded and pulled a vial from his jacket pocket. "I got you something. One swig, a bit of alcohol to wash it down, keeps you good for a week. Running price is at 500 pounds a vial." Dora blinked. "You must be tripping me. I'd sell that for more."
The man shrugged. "I would like to but the boss sets the price. He wants people to get a good taste of it, maybe raise the prize later. Are you interested now? Might not have it this low in a week." Dora fished in her pocket and pulled out twenty 50 pound bills. "I'll take two then. Won't be having a break in a while." The man nodded and handed her two vials. "Pleasure doing business. you send those coworkers here. I'll fix them up real good." Dora nodded. "If this is as good as you say, I might need more soon. I'll let the boys know." She walked away after pocketing the vials. She made sure she walked nervously, checking over shoulder and down the roads. The men went back to talking, feeling safe that they got off a sale with someone who wasn't working for law enforcement. A short apparition away to a safehouse and Dora placed her ear piece back on. "R2 here. Got two vials of the stuff." Horatio's voice came in clearly through the comms. "We heard. Good job maintaining cover. R1 is on the roof looking over them now. We got a runner fetching the vials. Use the agreed upon codewords." Dora stayed against the entrance wall until she heard a knock at the door. "Line?" Dora smiled. "Hook. Here is the catch." Dora turned over the vials to the Unspeakable who apparated as soon as the door was closed.
Horatio spoke up a few minutes later. "Potions and Alchemy will look them over, but if it's this juiced up Pepper Up potion that has been hitting Europe of late, we got ourselves a problem. Selling potions to Muggles isn't technically illegal unless they don't know squawk about the Magical World. This is a major breach of the Statute Amendment from a century ago." Dora hummed as she activated the security cameras. As most DoM safehouses were outside of Magical neighborhoods, it was safer and more efficient to go with Muggle security. Kept them from breaking the Statute too if the safehouses got breached by the police, since they also tended to be in less than ideal neighborhoods. "R2 to R1. Getting chilly up there?" A bit of a pause followed before Hazel's voice came up. "Could use some Chili or maybe some hot noodle soup right now. This is a cold September." Dora looked at the temperature gauge and cringed. "No kidding. Stay safe up there." Hazel responded quickly. "Acknowledged." Dora sat down and focused on her Animagi and Occlumency exercises. They were surprisingly similar in that they required a person to clear their minds a bit. The Animagus one was to hear the beast inside while the Occlumecy was directed at creating gaps and barriers that the Legilimens would have trouble navigating.
In Dora's case, she was following Hazel's modified Animagus exercises, focusing on a specific animal, making the creature's voice come from her own thoughts. She had to study the animal deeply and feel what it felt, replicating its behaviour and body language as well as their visual appearance. Hazel had her working on a non-magical creature without any predatory instincts for the moment. Building up magic and directing it by instinct was something way too advanced for Dora right now. "R1, going in pursuit with a magical tracker. Check maps and mark points where I circle. Off comms in 1 minute." Dora rushed to the table and pulled out her map of London and its neighboring areas. She activated her part of the tracker and watched as the glass weight moved across the table. "R2, map and echo tracker in place." Horatio spoke up. "BM, back up map and echo tracker in place. Proceed." What followed was a whole night of watching the map and marking the areas where Hazel spent time circling. While the observers would check it out thoroughly, Dora noticed a few warehouse districts. She wondered which were for the regular street drugs and which one was where the magical supplies were stored. Horatio's voice broke the silence. "Potion is confirmed as the illegal Pepper Up type. R1, disengage. Your flight courses are getting erratic beyond wind considerations."
Dora grew worried. The DoM got some recent computer equipment that allowed them to access information easily. Weather patterns were part of what info they had access to. That Hazel had been having trouble in the air was a bad sign. They had been at it for almost twelve hours. Dora felt some shame for not anticipating how tired her partner would have to be by now. A bit of heavy breathing entered the comms. "R1, off pursuit. Tired. Can make the jump to the safehouse but no further. Recommend potential… shifts in the future. 8 hour rotations max." Horatio chimed in. "Agreed. R1, get to the safehouse. R2, bring R1 home. You two did good today. We will infiltrate these hot points later. Get some rest." Dora jumped at the loud apparition pop and reached for Hazel, who was clearly off balance. She supported Hazel on her shoulder. "R2 to BM. Have R1 in possession. Permission to portkey." Horatio responded quickly. "Granted. Go to sleep you two. BM out." Dora grabbed the keychain. "Brighid's blessing." The portkey activated and deposited them at the DoM medical platform. Andromeda came up to them quickly and started casting diagnostics. "Physical and Magical Exhaustion. Take her back to her Apartment. Quetz is with Teddy right now."
Hazel felt Teddy latch onto her leg as soon as she was through the door. It was enough to get her a second wind. "Mom's ok, Teddy. Just tired. Dromeda sent me to bed. Doctors orders and all." Teddy smiled and nodded against her as she moved through the room and onto the sofa. Quetz looked over at her. "Damn, amiga. You look dead tired." Hazel chuckled. "Feel it too. Spent twelve hours as a falcon gliding the air currents. Might want to check the bracers and the rest of my guards. If they had any chance of suffering fatigue under the animagus form, this was it." Quetz helped her get the bracers, greeves and knee guards off. "I'll look this over at the workshop, but it's only minor deterioration. Teddy got through his Astronomy and Care homework. See you back on the clock, amiga." Hazel waved at her. "Later Q." Dora helped her up and Teddy followed behind them as she dropped Hazel onto the bed. She eyed her partner before turning to Teddy. "Your mom shouldn't sleep in her work clothes. Wait outside while I get her out of them." Teddy left the room and closed the door as Dora bit her cheek as she pulled Hazel out of the suit. The moment she was done, an arm pulled her to the bed and a pair of warm lips kissed her own, eliciting a groan out of her. "Thank you. See you tomorrow at breakfast, Nymphadora."
Dora left the apartment, red in the face, as Teddy jumped on the bed with his mom. He looked at her closely. "Are you sure you are not hurt?" Hazel turned over. "Nope. Just tired. Think you can get ready for bed on your own?" Hazel switched out of her dirty underwear and casted a scourgify and some freshening up spells on herself before she crashed onto the bed again. She felt the bed dip a little as Teddy snuggled up with her. Hazel took a deep breath and felt her magic settle down with Teddy nearby. In a year she knew he would be at Hogwarts and she would be away from him. She thought of the threat that lingered under the castle, one she knew, at least in her world, had been twisted and warped by time. She would have to get rid of it soon. She'd ask Croaker for a chance to inspect the castle soon enough. For now though she settled her mind and allowed sleep to claim her beside her 10 year old son. She would make him some fresh blueberry pancakes in the morning to make up for worrying him again.
-∞-
Hermione sat on her bed and pulled out a black leather book. Ginny had apparently gotten it as a gift but she chose not to make a diary at Hogwarts. Ron had apparently told his sister about her love for books and the redhead just gifted her the book on her birthday. While Hermione wasn't a fan of second hand books, she wouldn't grudge the gift from Ginny. She knew the Weasleys were short on money and Ginny was being nice to her. Hermione usually only wrote in her notebooks and the parchments for assigned work but writing a journal seemed like a good idea. She wrote down her name, the date and about her day with the Gryffindors at Potions, noting Harry's improvement. Professor Snape had looked at him oddly the whole class and didn't deduct any points from his work. She went to re-dip her quill in ink when she frowned as the words she wrote vanished. Then new words appeared in some very tidy handwriting. Hello Hermione Granger. My name is Tom Riddle. A pleasure to meet you. Do you mind telling me about everything going on at the castle? I haven't been told anything new in over 50 years. Is Grindelwald's war over at last? Who won? Hermione stared at the pages, a smile growing on her face. She dipped her quill in the ink and proceeded to respond, thinking she had just found a new font of information on the Wizarding World. She wrote to Tom well into the night.
Tom, for his part, remained courteous. While a muggleborn student wasn't ideal in discovering the state of the Wizarding World, something that had proved difficult even for him as a halfblood in the 1940s, he did discover the fate of his counterpart. He had no idea how a boy in his diapers would have bested him and instead focused on the actions of the boy's parents but the girl couldn't explain further. It made him think of Dumbledore and his information tampering. At school, the old man loved to conceal the truth from him. Despite knowing he was of Salazar's line, he found almost no information beyond what the students of Slytherin knew. The rest he discovered in Slytherin's Chamber, after spending the majority of his time translating the Druidic Script and Old Futhark Runes. It was in a text from Herpo the Foul that Salazar brought over from a stint in Egypt that he discovered the key to his immortality. If only his counterpart had been more accommodating about the book's placement. Wherever he had been before the girl received the Diary he had never been spoken to and he was left to just think. Now… now he had a chance.
He needed time to pull from the girl as much magic as possible before influencing her. The fact she was so close to the boy who supposedly vanquished him and in Dumbledore's old House meant he had to be careful with his possessions of Hermione before he dared to devour her magic and essence entirely. He thought of Slytherin's Basilisk and grinned. Removing Dumbledore from Hogwarts would be the key to his success, but he knew it wouldn't be easy. He needed to cause chaos and damage that the old man would inevitably try to conceal. Then he would strike a target that would blow the case open in the eyes of the Ministry. Dumbledore would be called to testify before the Wizengamot and then all he had to do was keep sowing chaos. The moment the school was in danger of closing, he would drag the girl to the Chamber and Feast on her lifeforce. Tom lowered his quill over his version of the diary and sat back in the recreation of his room in the Slytherin Dorms. He smiled. He had the means and method of making the students panic and if he timed it right, no one would suspect his new puppet. For now he would gather information on his enemies and build his magic reserves. Until he was ready to begin again.
Notes:So, how was it? Little changes can have interesting results. We will see young Hazel of year two in the next story, but Dobby's impact stretched out quite further into her life. At least now you all have a closer idea as to who the Godmother is and how much she meant to Hazel. That particular story will come up in year 3, for obvious reasons, though it will have an interesting twist. The mind, after all, is a wonderful and terrible thing.
Next Chapter?: Halloween
So, I reached a point in the written story where we have lots of action. I am so stoked as these are moments are some of the more interesting ones for me as they begin to tie threads in the story that have been building since the beginning. Soon enough I will reach the major turning point of the story. Can't wait. I am about 35+ chapters ahead of the posts, so I hope you all enjoy what's coming, as there is more to look forward to.
Leave a comment, discuss and see you all in three days.
Chapter 20: Halloween ScaresNotes:Sorry for the delay. Here is the next chapter. Hope you all enjoy it.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter TextOW September 1992
So Dumbledore hasn't changed in over 50 years? I don't know whether to be happy the world hasn't developed beyond my comprehension or saddened by the man's lack of progress. Hazel chuckled to herself. Finding Tom in the diary had been a great stroke of luck, though she was sure that Lord Nott had something to do with it being in her bag. She had been weary at first of it being a cursed object but the diary hadn't tried binding to her magic yet and her magic didn't seem to react violently to it either. She was glad that even though her wand skills were still poor, at least her magical sensitivity had gone up. Quirrell had taught her that it was important to feel the magic around you as a way of understanding whether enchantments were a threat or not, at least magically speaking. She honestly missed her old Defense professor as Lockhart was a wackjob in every sense of the word. How the magical population of Britain fell for his charms and lies was a damn mystery in her mind, especially when she caught his magic trying to influence her. How no one seemed to notice did bother her but she honestly couldn't care less about them. They all believe Dumbledore's grandfatherly persona too so she would just ignore them. Hazel also refused to call Quirrell by the other name he gave her. It made it easier to look back on the last year a bit more… fondly.
She dipped her quill in the ink and did her best to write neatly while sitting on her bed. She had been trying to improve her handwriting with the antiquated instruments at least. "Did he have someone follow you all the time too? Pretty sure all the paintings stop what they are doing to follow me with their eyes everywhere. I am so glad for my family's Invisibility Cloak. I can avoid them all at night." Hazel swore she felt some amusement from the book as Tom's words appeared on the page. Usually when he was out of class. As the Deputy Headmaster he couldn't order the portraits to spy on people. At least not at first. When some odd things started happening around the castle he convinced Headmaster Dippet to give him some control in hope of catching the perpetrator. That cloak must be a treat. I had trouble learning the Disillusionment charm by the time I made the Diary. I do hope my true self succeeded with the spell soon after. My family left me a few things but no Invisibility Cloak. Hazel frowned. "Because of how annoying Slytherins have been, I have been trying to pick up a few things, including looking up the magical families. If it wasn't for a room full of old books on the seventh floor, I was sure I would never have found anything on the subject. Though, I don't remember Riddle being one of the old magical families. Was yours a recent family or are you talking about your mother's family?"
Hazel waited for a bit and noticed he didn't answer straight away. "My question was insensitive, wasn't it? I am sorry Tom." Words sprang up on the page. You have some good instincts to notice that, even if it was after you wrote the question down. I never met my father. As for my mother, I assume she was a Gaunt but I never got her name. She died giving birth to me and only spoke my name to the nurses that attended to her.Hazel remembered that family name from her own research into her family. "They are descendants of the Peverells and Slytherin lines too, right? I found out I have some Peverell ancestry but not much. Do you speak to snakes too?" Hazel noticed a large ink drop appear on the page before Tom's words appeared, a bit less tidy than normal. Did you mean to write "too"? As in, you can speak to snakes as well? Interesting. My ancestors were indeed of the Peverell and Slytherin lines. Maybe a Slytherin or a Gaunt married into yours. Have you found anything in the castle? Legend speaks of a chamber left by Salazar for his descendants but there aren't any reports of it being real. Hazel tapped the quill feather onto her lip before writing down. "Not really. There might be more stuff in the Dungeons but I am hesitant to spend time down there. The Head of Slytherin House hates me and would be all too happy to make me spend all my free time scrubbing cauldrons and organizing his ingredient stores."
Tom wrote quickly. That doesn't sound like Professor Slughorn. He was my Head of House and Potions Master. He was strict but friendly and kind. He took me under his wing, even though I wasn't all that good at Potions. I owe a lot to him. Did he retire? Hazel sighed. Tom's Potion Master sounded perfect. A part of her wished she had studied under him. Maybe he would have helped her out. "I think so. The Potions Master and Head of Slytherin currently is Professor Snape. He favors the Slytherins ridiculously in class, giving points for mediocre potions while deducting points from us for just being there. He's personally sabotaged my potion over half a dozen times. I have to keep my hands over the cauldron for the most part now, to block any ingredients he and the Slytherins throw my way. Your Professor sounds like a dream." Hazel felt a mix of mirth and concern from the book's magic. Slughorn was a great teacher and Head of House. It bothers me how much Slytherin has changed. While I studied at Hogwarts, there was no tolerance for mediocrity within our House. It's why Slughorn gave me tutoring lessons for potions, some with older students, but mostly with him. He wanted all Slytherins to score Exceeds Expectations in his course. We all did, thanks to him, but we earned it the hard way. Your Professor shouldn't be at the school at all. Maybe Dumbledore's handywork?
Hazel hummed as her quill touched the parchment. "I think so. The old goat trusts the Professor over everyone else at the school." Tom took a second to respond. Sounds like he has him there for another reason. A shame, really. By the way, aren't you feeling tired? We have been at this for a while now. Hazel looked at her wristwatch before she responded. "Not really but it is late and tomorrow is Astronomy. I might fall asleep in class again. It's been great talking to you, Tom. Take care and I will write soon." Tom wrote back. Yes, do rest up. I remember those Astronomy late night classes. Pleasant dreams, Hazel, and see you soon. Hazel closed the diary and wrapped her leather strap around it before placing it in her trunk. Buried under the covers she turned over and thought about Tom. Her time with Quirrell had left her anxious around new people and Dumbledore and Lockheart were both driving her up the walls. Tom seemed nice and she was glad they had so much in common. That he was distantly related to her was nice too. She allowed sleep to claim her, hoping that this time she had found a real friend. Even if he was stuck in a book.
-∞-
NW October 31st 1992
Hazel washed her face before looking at her reflection in her bathroom mirror. It had been years since she dreamt about the diary. Like Quirrell, those memories were not particularly unpleasant until the end. Hazel brushed her teeth and thought that perhaps it was her anxiety over the coming months acting up. Croaker and her had been sharing information about the Chamber and the Basilisk afterall. She had to disappoint the man in his hope she could potentially control the creature. While she could speak Parseltongue, she didn't have the gift of Parselmagic. She couldn't force snakes to obey her as Tom could, something she discovered later for herself after several late night writing sessions with Tom. The git had conveniently forgotten to mention that particular fact before she encountered a snake in the dueling club Lockhart ran. At least she, or anyone else for that matter, hadn't needed any antivenom. Still, her little search of Harry's trunk hadn't shown any books that looked or felt like Tom Riddle's Diary, only Lily Evans' Potions notes and her journal. She hoped the kid was making good use of them. That particular treasure trove of information had been denied to her. After she rinsed her mouth and started to dress, her thoughts went back to the Chamber.
Salazar's Chamber had been more than just the lair of the Basilisk. It had been Salazar's personal repository. Every book he deemed important to his legacy was stored there, though the man had made sure only the diligent could find it and study it. It had been a good thing that her Chamber had had multiple entrances and exits, or she would never have found the repository. Dumbledore had discovered the one that had been used to drag the last victim into the Chamber and, after the Basilisk had been killed, sealed it. Hazel conveniently forgot to mention the entrance she knew existed in her Sanctuary. She had snuck into the Chamber and explored it with Dobby, recently freed after Hazel played Lucius like a fiddle, before they settled down and rendered down the Basilisk. The skin, fangs and venom had been preserved just in case they could one day be used. The meat had been harder to deal with. If she sold it, word might have spread of someone having access to the Chamber. Hazel had nearly gone insane trying to think of a way to use it without drawing attention to herself, as leaving it to rot felt like such a waste. Dobby had suggested the Goblins but Hazel knew Dumbledore had spies there. He would also see the sudden influx of funds to any accounts attached to her vaults, as her being a minor prevented her from making an independent account. In the end she reached out to the Centaurs and just gave it to them, in exchange for them never bringing it up to the Headmaster. They never did and she was granted a measure of protection with them for the generous offer.
Hazel eventually found Salazar's repository of books, only for her to groan as she had no way of reading them. She scoured the place and had breathed a huge sigh of relief when she found a book that helped translate Druidic Script to Modern English. She had smirked happily at the time, knowing the book was probably something Tom had left behind. Dumbledore's constant watch on him after Myrtle Warren's death had forced the boy never to return to the Chamber, something the Diary had no idea about. Neither of the two Tom's came back to hide their notes. So for the end of her second year and every year after that she could, Hazel studied the books in Salazar's repository, learning the Druidic Script and discovering the uses of Blood Magic. She knew Voldemort had some basic understanding of Blood Magic and had possibly studied it on his own after he left Hogwarts. She refused to let him have an edge over her. The thing that had surprised her the most were Salazar Slytherin's journals, as well as the journals of the first Gaunts. The man was very different from what the racists kids in his House believed him to be. She had eventually regretted the death of the Basilisk, learning that Salazar had never intended for her to kill muggleborns. Hazel had wished she could have revealed the truth in her world.
Sadly, the pureblood racists would have ignored the truth that Salazar's Basilisk was left behind to guard the school from outsiders, not muggleborns, just as they constantly ignored the dangers of inbreeding and the threat that the Muggles and their Weapons of Mass Destruction posed to the entire world. Even presented with undeniable physical proof and evidence, they would simply ignore it. So Hazel had stored those books away where she found them, with her own notes added in the hope that the next parseltongue speaker learned the truth and built on it as she had. With her world devoured in the Nuclear Winter, that hope had been extinguished. She prayed that in this world things with Salazar were similar enough. That the repository existed at all. She knew the Unspeakables would kill for the chance to read the notes of a Hogwarts Founder and to potentially publish them. The DoM hardly ever published its findings but when they did, people had a hard time ignoring them. Maybe, just maybe, Salazar's true legacy, not the propagandist illusion, could be restored. But for that to happen she needed to get into the Chamber. She had a lot of places in the Castle to explore and she hoped her old entrances worked just as well here.
"Hazel! Horatio called. We have a mission later in the night. Quetz has volunteered to look after Teddy for the afternoon. Hurry up here. We're starving." Hazel heard her son speak to Dora, though she didn't catch what he said to her. "Ok, fine. I am starving and Teddy is just hungry. Stop pruning your eyebrows and get out here." Hazel felt her eye twitch. "Sure, I will be right out, Nymphadora. Just so you know, you just got your breakfast reduced to one serving." Dora tried to complain but Teddy must have stopped her as the only thing she heard was a muffled noise and some giggling. Fully dressed, Hazel stepped out of the bathroom and glared at Dora. "Morning, Nymphadora." She smiled at Teddy and kissed his hair. "Morning Teddy. Good work on the silencing charm." Teddy beamed as Dora pulled out her wand and dispelled Teddy's charm. "Hazel, your kid is an Animagus, is studying way ahead of his peers and can do some wandless magic too. What haven't you taught him?" Hazel smirked. "The nastier hexes and curses. I still need to give him "The Talk" too. Another comment like the one earlier, and it will be your job. Under Andromeda's supervision, of course." Tonks paled and leaned back into her chair. "Noted. No more jokes early in the morning." Hazel got back to work on the stove, a smile on her face. "Good."
-∞-
Dora lowered her head as a hail of bullets shot up the wooden crate she was hiding behind. "R2, getting shot to hell over here." Horatio spoke up through the comms. "R1 isn't doing much better on the roof, R2. Except with less grumbling. Stow the chatter and return fire with your wand. Keep to stunners. And don't think I didn't hear that curse out of your mouth, R1. I know you can stun them so do it before you set the ward stone down." Hazel responded, with clear irritation in her voice. "R1, Acknowledged." Dora casted a kinetic barrier that Hazel had taught her, before looking over the crate and aiming her wand over the shield. Two more gunners fell to her stunners, one apparently keeping their finger on the trigger, as the gun went wild, bullets impacting the walls and some of his comrades as he went down. Dora dropped the shield as more bullets rained onto her crate. She was really glad the stuff inside was thick enough to take the bullets safely for her. She had barely managed to sneak into the warehouse through the open loading dock, before she tripped some electronic alarm. The Unspeakables were going to be researching how that happened when she got back to base Dora did curse her and her partner's luck on hitting one of the warehouses manned exclusively by Muggles. Wizards were easier to take down and Horatio almost always gave the kill on sight order with them.
After their first mission, Croaker made sure his Operatives were more cautious in their missions concerning Muggles. MI5 and NCIS had jurisdiction when it came to Muggle criminals and while MI5 wasn't always squeamish, NCIS was. As the building turned up to only be guarded by Muggles, they had to follow the recently established NCIS guidelines, as they were the ones usually handling drug enforcement operations. Which meant no magical deaths. Dora was seriously considering taking up a firearm after this. After she finished her Animagus and Occlumency training first. The lights of the warehouse went out as Dora felt the wardstone activate. With only the emergency lights lighting up the place, the criminals slowed down their fire. "R1 to R2, prepare for apparition on your left. One minute." Dora adjusted her position and Hazel apparated silently beside her. "Roof targets all down and wardstone safely positioned. We only have to deal with the punks here." Dora looked over the crate, watching the criminals moving in closer, their weapons drawn. "Any ideas, partner?"
Hazel hummed as a grin grew on her face. "R1 to BM. Are we cleared to use spells for non-injury distractions?" Dora eyed her partner as Horatio sighed. "Yes, you are cleared for that." Hazel chuckled as she drew her wand. "I am going to enjoy this. Disillusion yourself as soon their fire is aimed elsewhere and stun them, partner." Dora nodded and her eyes grew wide as Hazel got started on conjurations. The criminals screamed in terror as hellhounds, giant bats and zombies appeared out of thin air and attacked them. Dora went out and stunned the criminals, seeing Hazel do the same from her side of the warehouse. They took cover a few times when the bastards started spraying bullets everywhere but the bats latching onto their faces and the hellhounds and zombies tackling the gunmen down kept the danger to a minimum. Seeing the criminals were all stunned, Dora removed her Disillusionment charm. She heard a body slam against a desk and turned around quickly, her wand raised with a stunner ready to cast. Hazel visually appeared just outside an elevated office door, a man's body slumped over the railing of a staircase that hugged the wall. "Watch the three dimensions, R2."
Dora sighed in relief, lowering her wand. "Thanks again, R1. I will remember that." Hazel nodded and held her wrist up. "R1 to BM, targets neutralised. All stunned though a few might have some horror inspired nightmares in the future." Dora heard Horatio give an exasperated sigh. "Acknowledged. We will have our liaisons and Obliviators on site just in case. NCIS and metropolitan police are on their way. Wait for their arrival on the roof, retrieve the wardstone and return to base. Good job. BM out." Dora "eeped" as Hazel apparated her to the roof and the two sat under a notice-me-not charm as they waited for the sirens that were growing louder as the vehicles made their way through the streets. Dora thought about the monsters Hazel conjured and chuckled. "Nice thinking earlier." Hazel smiled. "Thanks. Seemed like a good idea if we couldn't trust our stealth to avoid getting shot. Especially when you triggered the alarm." Dora nodded and felt a smile grow on her face. "You got any VHS' at the apartment of scary movies? We could have a marathon tonight." Hazel shrugged. "A few, but we're sticking to the old black and white classics. Teddy isn't ready for the Hammer Horror films or the American slasher flicks." Dora rested her chin on her hand as the sound of sirens came closer, the sky dyed purple and orange by the setting sun. "Fine, but I am dragging you on a date for a scary movie one of these days." Hazel sighed. "Deal."
-∞-
"Another!" Hazel sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Dora, I think we created a monster." Teddy pouted as Dora and Quetz chuckled, the blonde waving her hand. "Come now, amiga. Let the squirt have his fun." Hazel glared softly at the DoM's Crafter. "You say that when you won't be the one dealing with his nightmares after tonight." Quetz shrugged. "Fair point. So, that was the Mummy. We still have the Invisible Man, The Wolf-Man or Creature from the Black Lagoon." Hazel stood up. "Put in Black Lagoon. I am going to get some more popcorn made." Dora spoke after her. "Make sure it has loads of butter this time!" Teddy shook his head. "White cheddar popcorn is better!" Quetz laughed. "No, no. Caramel popcorn is the best." The disgusted looks on Dora and Teddy's face made her laugh as Hazel pulled a pot onto the stovetop and got to work. Quetz skipped ahead to the opening credits while Teddy and Dora tried their best to imitate the appearance of Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff from the Mummy, Dracula and Frankenstein, much to Quetz entertainment. The blonde headed to the fridge. "Oy, Dora. You want a beer?" Dora eyed Teddy and Hazel. Teddy shrugged. "You two get drunk, Mom will kick you out the front door and Leafsby might lock you out of your Apartment."
Hazel hummed as she listened to the kernels popping. "What he said." Dora looked to Quetz. "Just one for me. I'd rather make it to my bed tonight." Quetz opened the fridge and pulled two bottles out before returning to her seat and handing Dora one of them. Hazel brought in two bowls of popcorn and the four settled in to watch the next movie. Halfway into the film, Dobby popped in. "Miss Hazel. Someone has been petrified at Hogwarts." Hazel stared at the elf. That had happened too early in the year. She knew Tom had trouble feeding from her in her old world but to be able to manifest enough after two months? "What's the Headmaster done to safeguard the students?" Dobby rubbed his hands nervously. "All students have been sent to their dormitories and the prefects have been ordered to watch them. The Professors are searching the Castle for the culprit." Hazel sighed. "And Harry?" Dobby smiled. "The Great Harry Potter wasn't near the petrification. He was safely returned to his dormitory. He hasn't been anywhere near what happened." Hazel thought for a moment before looking at Dobby. "Keep watch over the Griffindor Dormitory for tonight. Croaker will want to wait and see what Dumbledore does tonight and in the morning before sending us in. Be careful you aren't spotted. The elves and the portraits will be looking out for anything out of place."
Dobby nodded. "Dobby will go watch the Lion dorms. Dobby be careful. Hogwarts elves know of Dobby and won't betray. They know Hogwarts isn't safe. Dobby is going now." Quetz stood up, finished her beer and turned to Hazel after the elf popped away. "Sounds like you two will have a full day of work tomorrow. I'll take my leave. Thanks for movie night and dinner, amiga." Hazel nodded. "Later, Q. I'll stop by in the morning to check on your protective lenses. Can't be too careful with a Basilisk." Quetz ruffled Teddy's hair. "Later, squirt." Teddy waved at her as she left. "Later Quetz." Hazel pulled Teddy up from the floor. "Go shower. You can come back, watch the rest of the film and then go to bed." Teddy nodded and rushed to the bathroom as Dora looked at Hazel. "A Basilisk?" Hazel sat down, her eyes seeing something other than the living room in front of her. "Slytherin's monster. Controlled and unleashed by a Parseltongue." Dora frowned. "Didn't know that a Basilisk petrified people." Hazel nodded. "Not many do. Indirect line of sight from its eyes or if ordered otherwise, it won't kill outright." Dora rubbed her face. "Great. Our suspect pool includes over a hundred kids." Hazel eyed Dora. "And one cursed book."
-∞-
Earlier…
"I really wish Lockhart would drop it. He keeps picking me for his silly scene reenactments." Ron shrugged. "Come on, Harry. It's not that bad. Things could be worse." Harry glared at Ron. "How?" Ron swallowed the large chuck of chicken meat he just pulled from the drumstick in his hand. "Snape could be dragging you in for detention for one. He's left you alone since the start of term." Harry sighed as he ate another bite of food from his plate, his eyes looking towards the Staff Table. He had a feeling he knew why Snape had stopped attacking him in Potions. Ever since he got his mom's Potion Notes, he did his best to follow them, making sure he understood why she made all those changes to the standard potions procedure. The results had been uncanny as most of his potions came out as the Professor demanded them to be or just a bit off. He constantly felt Snape's eyes on his back whenever he prepared a potion but the dour man never spoke a word to him he didn't need to. Lily Potter's journal also included a few mentions of Snape in them, helping her out with her assignments. That they had been Potions partners and friends had made Harry feel so conflicted and the man's change in behaviour, while appreciated, made Harry all the more confused as to why Snape acted the way he did the past year.
Shaking his head, he turned to Hermione who ate from her meal at a slow pace. "You ok?" Hermione turned and gave him a shy smile. "Yeah, just not sleeping as well. There is a lot more work this year. The upper years also say it gets worse with the electives. I was thinking of registering for most of them but after this last month, I better not." Harry hummed. "Same. I have been reading a bit ahead. Arithmancy and Runes sound nice but Care just sounds fun." Ron coughed into his plate of food, getting disgusted looks from the other kids near him. "You two are talking about electives now? We are almost a year away from that. Also, Arithmancy and Runes are the hardest electives one can take. Are you mental?" Harry turned at Ron and shrugged. "What, some of it is interesting. Except maybe Arithmancy. I took Math in primary but I don't miss it, so I might go with Runes and Care. Helping Hagrid with the creatures is fun as is." Ron shook his head as Harry thought back to the birthday present he found in his mother's trunk. The note on it had been quite right. Scamander's annotated edition was a lot drier to read than the one he found in the library, but the man went into so much detail on things to do and not do with all the creatures, Harry felt it was worth the headache. He was really looking forward to Care for Magical Creatures. "You two are bloody mental." After Ron's comment, Harry turned to Hermione who eyed him carefully. "What?" She shook her head. "Nothing, it's just nice seeing you enjoying classes more."
Harry smiled for a second before he frowned. "I would be better if we didn't have Lockhart tomorrow. I can't stand his assignments." Hermione giggled and Harry was about to admonish her about his suffering being amusing to her when a Ravenclaw prefect rushed into the Great Hall. "Headmaster! Come quick. Something's happened to Mr. Filch on the Second floor." Harry watched as the students rushed out of the Great Hall, ignoring the Headmaster's orders. He followed the pack until they reached the second floor, being careful not to slip on the wet floors. "I said everyone was to stay at the Hall. That will be…" Dumbledore's voice trailed off as he came up on the scene that had the students dead quiet. Mr. Filch held his cat in his arms, his face stuck in a horrified expression. Both the man and his cat were as still as statues against the wall, where a message had been written, the letters dripping with what appeared to be blood. Let Hogwarts rejoice and my enemies tremble. The Heir of Slytherin has returned.
Notes:So, how was it? Also, NCIS isn't just an american thing apparently (with different words being used in both cases), though it only lasted for a few years in the UK before it got reorganized. Had originally writted SOCA, but that agency was born in the 2000's, so I had to do some research for who is incharge of organized crime in the 1990s. Still floors me that MI5 is the equivalent to the FBI in the UK.
Next Chapter?: Getting around a Meddling Old Man
Took the last few days to spoil myself, which was a pleasant expirience, though I don't have much writing to show for it. Hoping to do some more tomorrow. My outlines are a lot more detailed now atleast. Also, as I am nearing the end of this stories main plot points, the ideas around my third fanfiction are taking shape. I might have just enough to make my planned third HP Fanfiction. But until this story is done, those ideas will remain in my head and in scattered notes.
Please leave a comment, discuss and see you all in three days.