Chapter 82 - Harry Potter Fan-fiction 29 - Wand, Knife and Silence (2/2)
”Were you acquainted with her?”
”Not closely,” Samantha admitted. ”Though not for initial lack of trying. We had exchanged pleasant, friendly conversation in class, but there was something slightly guarded about her. I believe we did not approach each other because I was in Slytherin, and thus tainted by ȧssociation to the budding Death Eaters who were training there.”
Rupert made a disapproving noise. ”Prejudice weakens the mind and makes one foolish,” he said.
”Measure a man by his wit and his magic, not by his standing,” Samantha repeated automatically, the saying having been drummed into her during her training. Her free fingers tapped the silver sheath that was ever-present under her coat.
As an ȧssassin, neither blood status nor wealth nor power held any meaning. It was just a person and his or her defenses, and how to get past them. You just judge all your opponents as though they were equal threats. There was no room for anything less.
”I did not share this prejudice.”
”Good. You had said as much in many of your letters.” Rupert said approvingly. He frowned, ”Blood wards are old magic, people weren't even sure if they worked. How desperate was he, if that was the protection he chose for Harry?”
”The charm that he had used before had failed the Potters,” Samantha replied. ”Perhaps he felt that there was no other option.”
Sonia looked slightly disbelieving, but instead she chose to say, ”But why those muggles? Even if they hadn't been cruel, he would be raised away from the world of magic. He's the last of one of the oldest families alive. Why?”
Samantha shook her head. ”I do not know. Dumbledore was less than forward about many – if any – of the reasons behind the grand schemes he had us complete. He was completely silent about where he had placed Harry; I stumbled upon the house quite by accident.”
”You've run diagnostics on him?” Rupert asked. Samantha indicated yes with the slight nod of her head. ”Is there any indication of how he defeated the Dark Lord Voldemort?”
Samantha didn't flinch at the name. She thought it was ridiculous, the way the British feared it. It gave him more power over them, for them to fear him so. ”He will be magically powerful when he gets older, father.” She said. ”More so than most students.”
”That doesn't surprise me, a Potter with his ancestry.” Samantha cast her eyes down upon Harry. ”There's something else.” It wasn't a question. No matter how adept she got or how well she concealed her emotions, he could still guess her thoughts. He was her father, she supposed.
”Yes. There's something inside the scar in his head that troubles me. It is dark magic, but I cannot identify it...that means it is some of the oldest that there is.”
Rupert and Sophia's eyes darkened significantly at this. ”He was after the boy? Meant to use him for something, no doubt...” Sophia said darkly, looking at the small, jagged scar.
”It could be the reason he approached the Potters alone...no one was sure why before...” Rupert muttered, eyes closed in thought. ”I will go to the Succubus in Lunar Avenue and see if she knows anything when I have a moment.”
At this Sonia stood up, indicating that the meeting was over. ”I will have the house elves prepare another cradle. There's another room in this old house, but perhaps it will be better for him to share with Blaise for now.”
Samantha nodded and walked up the stairwell.
Her feet had memorized the path to her son's room; she had tread down it more times than she could count. She opened the ornate door and smiled at the inside. It was a bright red room, with some golden designs painted on the walls. Juliet, one of her maids, was sitting next to her beloved son's crib, a storybook on her ŀȧp. The second cradle had been deftly set up in the time it had taken her to ascend the stairs. The house elves took their work seriously.
”How is he, Juliet?” Samantha whispered, walking over to her son's side, settling Harry in the second cradle and pulling a blanket over him.
”Very well, milady,” Juliet said softly in Italian. Though Samantha had asked her several times to address her informally, the young maid never seemed to come up with the nerve. ”He was happy to know you were coming home today.”
Samantha leaned over the side and stroked her son's cheek. He cooed and turned onto his side, eyes closed in sleep. ”That is good to hear. You take good care of him when I am gone.”
”Anything for you and your family, milady,” Juliet said with a smile. She looked over at Harry's crib. ”If – If I may be so bold, miss, who is he?”
”This is Harry, Juliet,” Samantha responded. ”I brought him here because he was not safe at the home he was in. If I have my way, and I hope to, he and Blaise will be brothers.”
”I see,” Juliet said. ”Then shall I tend to him as well?”
”Yes. Take good care of him.” Samantha instructed. Juliet nodded and rose from her chair, walking over to the crib.
Samantha gently brushed stray hair out of Blaise's eyes. ”I am home, little one,” She whispered. ”And I am here to stay. I promise.”
Time Skip
Samantha jumped at the noise of her father slamming their door with all his might. She immediately abandoned her newspaper and rushed out to the hall.
Rupert Zabini looked the picture of fury, a crumpled paper in one hand. Sonia appeared at the top of the stairs and hurried down to join her daughter.
”Father!” Samantha exclaimed. He had gone out to see the Succubus this morning; if that was the source of his broken composure than whatever it was must be gravely serious.
”That monster,” Rupert bit out, ”Attempted to turn a one year old into a Horcrux.”
Twenty years of an ȧssassin's life and Samantha still threw her hands over her mouth in horror. The teacup Sonia had been holding crashed to the ground from her numb fingers. While they hadn't recognized one outright they had both heard of Horcruxes from the darkest rings of wizards, and it had filled them with revulsion. To make one out of an object was bad enough, but a child?
”He succeeded?” Sonia whispered.
Samantha swallowed. This was crucial; for if he had there was no way to destroy the Horcrux without killing Harry, and with a sharp stab in her ċhėst she wasn't sure if she could handle that.
”Not quite.” Rupert responded, walking inside and collapsing into his armchair. ”Thank Merlin for it, but no. The curse meant to complete the ritual backfired, and left part of his soul clinging to Harry's forehead. Carlie stated that it would be possible for her to remove it, but it would come with a fee and would take delicate work.”
”I will pay for it!” Samantha cried, ”Let him be rid of it!”
”Of course my child, but this brings up a point that I fear may be reality. If Voldemort was attempting to turn Harry into a Horcrux, there is a strong possibility that he has already created at least one.”
A stony silence. Samantha's face hardened into a familiar mask as she considered this. ”He will return,” She muttered, ”And he will come for Harry.”
Longer silence. The family of ȧssassins looked at each other and then up the stairwell. ”He must be ready,” Sonia muttered. ”Himself and Blaise, for they will be brothers and together in all things.” She looked at her daughter. ”Raise them as you were raised.”
Samantha nodded and unsheathed her dagger. ”I will start when they are old enough,” She murmured, ”But they must be happy and well-loved.”
”Of course.” Rupert said with the slightest smile, even though it didn't reach his eyes. ”I would expect nothing less from you.”
Time Skip – Hogwarts, 1997
Dumbledore let out an exhausted sigh and looked around. The room was packed with students in the late afternoon, watching a giant goblet eagerly.
The Tri-Wizard tournament was being held at Hogwarts school this year, and he had gone through a lot of trouble to see this part up.
Harry Potter had vanished from Privet Drive. It was an inescapable fact. He had waited, and worried, for the boy's Hogwarts letter to reach him and for him to return. As long as he was alive, the owls would be able to find him. He needed that boy, he needed the boy-who-lived because no one else had defeated Voldemort. He was certain the dark wizard would return; there had been signs everywhere.
Much to his shock, it was turned back denied, saying that he was enrolled elsewhere! Each year went by and still he did not appear within the school walls. This was impossible, completely unprecedented!
If he had just made sure the stupid muggle bint had taken Harry inside the house, he thought sourly, he wouldn't be in this mess.
Finally, in an act of desperation he had arranged for Harry Potter's name to be put in the Goblet of Fire. This, he thought, would make the boy show up.
There was gasps of shock everywhere when the fourth name had been called. They had sat in that room for three hours, waiting for someone to arrive. Dumbledore was getting frustrated when suddenly there was a revving noise in the hallway.
With a loud bang, the doors were nearly knocked off their hinges. Two motorcycles sped into the room and braked hard, just as several students scrambled to get out of the way.
The two riders stepped off their vehicles. Several girls squeed and gave exaggerated faints. They were completely dressed in leather and dagonhide gloves and boots.
The helmets came off; they were both boys sixteen years old. One was a tanned boy with dark hair and blue eyes. The other had long black hair and the sharpest emerald green eyes in the room. Even under the leather it was obvious he was quite fit, and very handsome.
The boy looked up, tossed his head a bit and said, ”Would you look at that, Blaise. We've been summoned!”
The dark boy snorted. ”Stating the obvious is not a good first impression, brother.”
”Well, we all start somewhere, don't we?” The emerald eyed boy swept his gaze over the crowd. Several girls giggled or bushed madly. He smirked and then looked at a thunderstruck Dumbledore, Maxine and Karkeroff. ”I'm Harry Potter. I understand my name somehow came out of the Goblet of Fire?”
End Chapte