The Veiled Black

“Luna?”, Hermione voiced out in the silence of the previously glorious Great Hall. All were waiting on what the blonde girl was about to say, but she just looked up her expression blank and there was a twinkle of mischievousness within her eyes that Hermione could not place. Suddenly the blonde girl held her head with both of her hands and her face scrunched up as she grunted in pain. Her body was shivering then when she looked up, her eyes were full of utter despair and regret.

“Her-mione”, her voice broke that Hermione was about to run to her but then something swirled from beneath the hole where the Basilisk broke through. A black mist like figure that soon landed near Luna who then stood so still, her arms going limp at her side, Hermione could see the shiver of Luna’s figure as a tear escaped her eyes.

“I’m sorry”, she voiced out as a hand then clutched her shoulder and everything went to a standstill once again. The eyes that Hermione was so used to turned different and the mischievousness within them turned into something more akin to rage.

“Now, now my dear, snap out of it”, a cold sweet voice whispered upon her ear, black curly hair, with red blood lipstick, pale features and a black dress. Her smile spurred a shiver down their spine, Harry and Ron’s growl on the background was heard as they raised their guard up. Her eyes shifted towards them and her voice was so cold when she spoke.

“It is an honour to meet the future Alpha of the Mudbloods”, Bellatrix mocked bowed as she then cackled a laugh when Harry almost lunged at her but Hermione stopped him, her wand now in her other hand prepared for the worst.

“How dare you step back upon this land”, a stern but familiar voice was heard and all heads turned to see Minerva McGonagall pointing out her wand upon Bellatrix who had a gleam in her eyes as her lips formed into a wicked smile. The rest of the Professors who were left on the Great Hall now then went to side with Harry and the others, as the other vampires moved on to Bellatrix’s side, no longer fearing to reveal who they are.

“My, my, my, Professor, aren’t you going to welcome me back instead? I am after all a student of Hogwarts—once”, her eyes flickered into something else and Professor McGonagall’s lips pursed as if she remembered something horrid.

“You have no right to call yourself a student of Hogwarts not after you have tainted its halls with that darkness”, a wicked smile formed on Bellatrix’s lips as she then voiced out.

“Darkness? Don’t be such a hypocrite Minerva”, her tone changed and they could all feel the deep sated anger from her that some of them then took a step back.

“Being a Dark Witch is a sin? Isn’t that what the law was for all of us in the past? Unlike you, hypocrites who hid who they truly are just to fit in I owned up to who I am”, her teeth bared and her eyes as Hermione saw it looked as if she was human. But then she sighed in and once again her seemingly human eyes faded away then she voiced out.

“Orion, darling, lead the rest back home, Mother still has to wreck this castle to shreds”, Orion’s eyes passed towards Harry and the others, his expression blank along with his voice as he replied.

“Yes, Mother”, Bellatrix then tapped her feet to the ground and a black portal came about.

“How?”, Hermione’s voice rang out to the hall which made her caught Bellatrix’s attention. The woman smiled with no abandon as her eyes gleamed darkly.

“Even with whatever ward is in place, once I am in it. I can do everything I want!”, she voiced out as the portal grew larger and Orion who seemed unfazed by everything passed through the portal easily. Soon he was followed by those who have the Dark Lord's mark burned in their bodies.

“Aren’t any of you going to join us?”, Bellatrix’s sudden voice rang in the silence of the room and Minerva moved closer as if shielding all the rest of the students from Bellatrix’s voice.

“Children of the dark, we all know that after all this war will be over, nothing will really change. This school only gives you false hope and sweet promises, but we all know that outside these walls, these so called righteous Light witches will persecute us soon enough”, a small smile appeared on her lips when she could feel the changes of emotions all around her and so she continued.

“The law might prevent them from harming us physically, but my dear sisters, have you ever seen a Dark witch ever hold a position amongst our ranks in Ravenclaw? Have you ever seen a witch live so peacefully without going insane in such a place?”, her voice was carried through the silence and Hermione could feel it, the hidden rage and pent up emotion of the Dark witches of Ravenclaw clawing up to the surface of their very guarded selves rising.

She feared that soon some of them will step up and she knew she had to stop it. No voice was coming out of her when she tried to speak up and she touched her neck to realize she had been cursed.

Her eyes seeked that of Bellatrix’s and the side glance that was given to her was something she found chilling. There was mirth in those eyes, but the emptiness within them was something she feared.

“Join me my sisters, let us cleanse this world in order to create a place where we would all have our true freedom.”, Her smile was wicked as she continued on whenever anyone tried to speak up against her their voices would be constricted and they would only cough up due to the pain.

“NO!”, some of the other witches began to voice out their protest as some of their classmates began to leave, countless spells were then casted to try and struck down Bellatrix to eliminate the portal.

She merely flicked her hand and a barrier was placed upon her and to those that have decided to go dark. Her smile grew wider as she watched most of the Dark Witches of Ravenclaw students decided to join their cause.

“You have all made the right choice”, Hermione watched as she sees faces she has known all her life walk towards that darkness not knowing what is beyond there, but she pushed forward as she tried to stop those from joining Bellatrix.

Bellatrix then began to look back at Luna who was standing still where she is and she voiced out as she placed her hand to her cheek. Luna’s breath hitched and Bellatrix’s words were a whisper that no one heard through the spells flying around.

“LUNA!”, a loud scream was heard as Ginny stormed in the Great Hall and as soon as the last witch was able to enter the portal, Bellatrix’s smile bloomed. She raised her hands and swirled her wand once before she directed it towards their direction and all at once and dozen cloaked creatures swooped in from the portal, the once warmth of the Great Hall was now drenched in cold and darkness. They swirled around the Great Hall and Hermione could feel the dread, the cold and the hopelessness seeping in her very bones.

Hermione and the other Professors began to cast successive Patronuses and if it were not such a dangerous situation other people might even be awed at the white silvery animals running around. Some of the witches who lost their friends seem to have a hard time casting their Patronuses and Harry and the other werewolves are doing their hardest to rescue them and place them to safety.

“You children has to leave this place at once, head on to the Room and bring everyone to Gryffindor”, Professor McGonagall voiced out to Hermione, Harry and Ron. Hermione’s eyes widened as she realized what the Professors all plan to do.

“We can’t just all leave you here”, Hermione could not help but reply back even if she knew this was the most favourable outcome for all of them. If they stay, Bellatrix would triumph, because as soon as the Heirs of the Races are killed the other will without a doubt seek revenge on their stead. It will be chaos everywhere, and the Dark Lord would not have to lift a finger to finish them all off.

“You all children have to!” Hermione has never heard of McGonagall raising her voice towards any of her students, the old woman smiled as she calmly replied. “Leave this place, have faith in us your Professors and allow us to fulfil our duties to protect you all.”

The Professors of Hogwarts then all scattered and began to raise their wands as they all spouted the same spell and as they did they pointed their wands to the ground. Their magic began to connect to one another as it slowly formed into a semi-circle to trap the Dementors and Bellatrix within.

Some began to fly away and Hermione noticed Bellatrix doing nothing as she merely nodded her head and Luna began to move out of the barrier. She rolled to the ground along with Leviathan following her, she crouched then stood up as she began to run out of the Great Hall.

Most of the Dementors were trapped within the barrier but some has escaped and Hermione and the rest of the higher years who were present casted their Patronuses to chase the rest away. McGonagall locked eyes with her signalling them to escape, she nodded her head as she then began to lead the students to safety.

As they were out of the Great Hall with the rest of the students, Harry then took lead and led the students to the Room of Requirement. Hermione looked around to find where Luna was headed, she could not remove the feeling that something was up with her, despite her betrayal.

“Where is she headed?”, Hermione voiced out as she held her wand upward casting another of her Patronus to cast away the Dementors that are swirling towards a group of younger years. Ginny looked towards Hermione and she voiced out.

“Leave Luna to me”, Ginny then voiced suddenly beside Hermione but before she could leave, Ron held her arm and his voice was levelled and full of caution.

“Ginny, no, she betrayed us”, Ginny took back her arm harshly from her brother.

“She would never do that!”, she looked towards her brother and Hermione only to see pain in their eyes.

“No, she—she would never”, her eyes darted to Hermione, but when she looked down her eyes closed and her hand was gripping tightly on her wand Ginny could not accept what she just heard.

“She released Leviathan, and Bellatrix clearly knew her as she even stood by her side”, Ginny released a gasp as her mouth went wide open. But she could not accept it, could never accept that the girl she knew would ever do that. The girl who talked so honestly and straightforwardly, she was a hell lot of odd but she was her best friend. Her eyes flared with determination when she looked up at Hermione and Ron.

“Leviathan?”, Ginny voiced out and her eyes met Hermione and the witch nodded at her. “Then it is important I get her back”

“No!”, Ron scolded her and she glared back at him the flare in her eyes back and Ron looked slightly spooked but did not show it.

“There must be something wrong, my friend, Luna would never do such a thing”

“You are not going after her, I can’t allow that”, Ron warned Ginny.

“Watch me”, she then turned her back to them and casted a Patronus that easily chased away the Dementors that are in her way along with a successive tracking spell as she ran following it.

A hand stopped Ron when he was about to run after her, he looked toward Hermione and saw something in her eyes, trust. He was about to question it but Hermione voiced out.

“Your little sister is not that little any longer, she is now far stronger that you think she is.”, At that moment Ron saw just how small his sister’s back was, but despite it he could see just how strong she was, her unwavering belief and trust, her loyalty to her friend, that is her brilliance.  It was then that he realized how much his little sister grew, and so he let go and placed his faith in her.

“Be careful, Ginny”, he whispered knowing she could not hear him.

…

“Lead me to the Chamber of Rowena Ravenclaw, Leviathan”, soon the child began to change into a snake once more obtaining a form smaller than his usual size. Despite its eyes closed he slithered his way towards the hallways quick and Luna followed him towards the twists and turns of the hallways of Hogwarts.

As soon as Luna was about to run past the right corridor, Ginny caught a glimpse of her and began to chase them. She casted a spell to prevent others from feeling her presence, but as soon as she followed Luna through the Hallways she realized where they were headed.

Her blood froze and the urge to stop and turn away was great, the future that she saw was something that shook her still. But she knew that if she does not follow she will never know the truth of what happened to her dear friend.

She suddenly flinched when a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder she whipped her head and pointed her wand to the throat of whoever startled her. Startled eyes met her glare and she released a sign when she realized who it was.

“What are you doing here?”, she whispered and Theo’s playful smile appeared on his lips.

“You might need back-up”, Ginny looked at him disbelievingly with a raised eyebrow and Theo then huffed as he replied honestly.

“I wanted to know if she really is a Malfoy”, Ginny’s eyes widened as she understood.

“And if she is, would she be worthy of our undying loyalty and lead us so that our covens would once again unite to avenge and take back all that we have lost”, Ginny nodded her head, she had forgotten about that. Leviathan bowed to her; if she truly is the last Malfoy then the Vampires ought to find out, since their destiny will lie upon her hands.

“I don’t care about that, she is my friend and all that matters to me is her safety”, a chuckle was heard and she watched the way his face cracked up a smile.

“That is admirable of you”, Theo’s eyes were bright as they stared at Ginny’s own and she could not stop the flush that run up to her face. In order to hide it she looked away and she could not stop her voice when she stuttered.

“A—Anyway, make your presence as weak as you can. We have to follow her.”, what was happening to her, they are in the middle of a very dire situation and yet here she is flushing like teenage girl. Well she is a teenage girl, but well that is not the point. She then felt a hand pat her head and she looked up at Theo who had a smile on his face who looked at the corridor in front of them and began to walk.

“Yes, my lady” Ginny could not stop herself from spluttering and Theo turned his head back to her, his index finger held up in his lips, signalling her to be quiet his eyes twinkling with mirth.

Ginny’s mouth was open to retort but then again she remembered what they were up to. She clenched her teeth and swore she would pay him back for making her feel like this, she calmed her beating heart. But as she looked up at Theo’s back walking ahead she realized that the fear she was feeling a while ago faded away. She grinned to herself; she will definitely have to pay back the Vampire for what he made her feel.

….

“Huh, to think that Rowena would place the entrance of her Chamber to a shit hole, smart move though. With how high her pride is no one would ever suspect it would be in such a place.”, she caressed the necklace and she could feel it repulsing her but she just chuckled.

She then traced the markings, her face scrunched up at the words; it spoke of the unity of witches that she knew would never come to be. She could hear the voice of Lucius Malfoy in her mind telling her that despite her being a Black, she could not open it as her body is not hers.

She wickedly smiled and no reply was needed as she spun and stunned the Vampire that approached her and with the shock in Ginny’s eyes, she easily binded her, her wand falling to the ground along with her.

Ginny struggled and looked up at the familiar face of her friend but right now at that moment she looked like a total stranger. ‘That is not Luna’, her mind supplied as she glared at the woman who had taken the body of her best friend.  

“Who are you!?”, she screamed at the witch in front of her and her hair was then pulled as she was forced to sit up and be face to face with the monster that took Luna’s body.

“I don’t have to answer that”, and she then dragged Ginny to where the engraved words are and she released her. With Luna’s wand she sliced open both their hands as blood flowed upon the engraved words.

A thump was heard somewhere and the passage opened, a smile graced her lips as she could feel the magic within that Chamber fill her senses. “Leviathan”, the boy merely tilted its head to recognize her voice and she ordered him.

“Hold her off for me will you?”, the child then walked to the passage and disappeared down as if the power within had no effect to him.

She soon followed suit leaving Ginny and Theo outside, a grunt came from beside Ginny only to see Theo to have woken up. His eyes met Ginny’s and without her noticing her bound hands are now free and her wand once again in her hands. Theo looked down where he could sense Luna and Ginny nodded at him as they both then began to trudge below the Chamber.

Nymphadora’s eyes widened as soon as she reached the room where tomes was in what seemed like endless shelves floating around. Her eyes were not directed upon them though, but were directed to a figure that clearly stood in front of her.

“Cedric”, she uttered and the figure before her gave her a smile that she knows all too well. One she had so desperately missed all days of her life, she could feel emotions swirling within her that she had so long buried and her eyes then turned steely and without an order. The figure she called Cedric was then pinned to the wall by Leviathan.

“You cannot fool me, even if you take his form, Lucifer“, Lucifer then glared and snarled at Leviathan who remains emotionless and has an iron grip on his neck.

“You-your soul is of Black blood, yet you possessed a body of another. What do you plan to do?”, Leviathan gripped a bit tighter on his neck and he squawked as he then grabbed Leviathan’s wrist.

“Don’t hurt her too much, we need her still”, Leviathan then Lucifer released and he fell to the ground.

“Still not going to change your form?”, he glared up at Nymphadora and changed his form into the one he usually used, which is the younger version of Narcissa. Nymphadora grinned and replied. “Well that will piss my mother but it’s adequate”

“Now where is it?”, Lucifer stood up and she tilted her head seemingly watching Nymphadora as she replied.

“The Grimoire, no longer lies here”, Nymphadora’s eyes flared and she swirled her wand and a vibration like aura smoothed through the whole Chamber.

“Tsk”, Nymphadora gritted her teeth and her hands shook, then she was then bounded where she stood and before Leviathan could move to protect her Theo swung a punch towards him and the child backed away not taking any brunt of the attack.

“Don’t move Leviathan, this is still my Chamber”, chains then began to hold down the blindfolded child, whose face remains blank but alert.

Ginny pointed her wand towards Luna as Theo grabbed her wand away also pointing it toward her. The redhead’s eyebrow rose at this and Theo merely looked sheepish as he voiced out.

“What? It seemed like the right thing to do”, Ginny ignored the idiot not after she rolled her eyes and directed a glare to Luna, no, the one possessing her body.

“Get out of Luna’s body”, she snarled at Luna whose smile only widened.

“Who would have thought that a Weasley would be able to produce a child who has this much magical power?”, Ginny gritted her teeth.

“Don’t play with me, now get out of her body!”

“You dare order me?”, there was a glint of something within her eyes and a gasp escaped Ginny’s mouth and Theo looked up at her only to see horror in her eyes.

“What is it?”, his voice was laced with concern.

“Nymphadora”, the witch before her then smirked an amused glint shining through her eyes.

“Smart girl”, and without any though from Ginny she casted several binding charms upon the witch before her then she turned her head towards the guardian of the Chamber.

“Tell me how to remove her from my friend’s body”, Lucifer’s eyebrow rose but she approached them carefully as she was still wary of Leviathan who remained silent till now.

“You can’t”

“And why is that?”

“Their souls are almost bonded together by another, trying to sever that bond could result to your friend dying”, Dying, the word shook Ginny’s core as she then began to pace around the room.

“Gin”, Theo began to voice out and Ginny was about to snap at him for ruining her concentration but when she looked toward him, his eyes wide as he stared at Luna. Luna who looked like she was struggling and Nymphadora’s voice strained as she struggled.

“Don’t you dare go against me now!”, and soon those eyes that Ginny knew so well resurfaced and tears were falling down Luna’s pale cheeks as she gasped for air as if it was the first time she breathed it.

“Luna”, Ginny was about to rush to her side and undo the bindings she placed on her friend but Luna screamed.

“NO! Stay away from me and don’t release your spell”, she was panting and she looked so tired that Ginny felt pain bloom in her chest. She slumped to the ground close to Luna as she could.

“Ginny, I need you to do a favor for me”, Luna’s eyes flared with determination that Ginny could not even dare say no to whatever request she has.

“Anything”, she voiced out and Luna smiled at her. But her next words were something that made the whole room freeze.

“Kill me”