Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Azalea woke to the Friday morning's sun streaming through her canopy. She groggily rolled over and snuggled deeper into her pillows. She had a feeling that today was going to be incredibly busy and vexing. After five minutes of trying to force herself back to sleep she sighed out in irritation and rolled out of bed. Walking over to her trunk she noticed that Nelda was also waking up. She pulled out a black tunic with a gold belt that wrapped around the waist and black dragonhide leggings along with her underwear and made her way to the showers.
The girls dorm bathroom was rectangular in shape and had shower stalls lining one side and bathroom stalls lining the other with granite sinks on both of the shorter walls. The floor was made out of dark cherry wood and the walls were a soft cream colored with burgundy accents and frames.
She stepped into the first stall and selected the shampoo scents she wanted as well as her body wash. Her shampoo had the scent of lavender and bergamot causing it to give off a warm fragrance. She undressed and threw her clothes into a basket for the elves to collect and stepped under the warm water. She stood there for a minute just allowing her body to relax under the spray before tilting her head back and running her fingers through her hair. She applied the shampoo and gently worked it into her hair. As she washed herself she let her mind wander to the predicament that she found herself in yet again.
Lucius Malfoy wasn’t a good man. She knew that. Hell everyone knew that. How was she supposed to handle being his partner, his soulmate, while knowing just how dangerous he could be. He had no qualms about attempted murder on a second year student after all. He was a death eater for longer than she had been alive and he had a son her age. A son who was her school yard bully. Was she supposed to be Draco’s stepmom? At the thought a giggle bursted out of her. Oh she could just imagine the look on his face.
She shut off the water and stepped out to towel dry herself off and picked up a bottle of Sleekeazy's and poured some on her hair and ran her fingers through her hair to apply it and to comb through any knots left in her curls. She got dressed and stepped out of the stall and to the sinks to brush her teeth. She left the bathroom and headed down to the common room to wait for Nelda who joined her after ten minutes.
“Let’s go to breakfast. At three I will hand out what Dobby got from my vaults and take the Basilisk teams down to the chamber.” Azalea said as she linked arms with Nelda and walked out of the common room. About half way there they ran into Daphne who looked a little out of sorts.
At the sight of the two, Daphne strode over to them and held out her wrist which had the soul bond band hiked up further on her arm to reveal a name that wasn’t there before. The name Mattaius Rookwood. Well that was an interesting development.
“So should I offer him a place in our ranks? He has no way out of getting the dark mark but he could be a spy.” Azalea murmured to the taller girl.
“Please.” Daphne said softly with a pleading look in her eyes.
“Alright I was planning to extend the offer to both Rookwood and MacNair anyway. I don’t like that they have no options available to them.” Azalea revealed. She hated when people were trapped with no way out, it hit too close to home for her. Out of the corner of her eyes she caught a bushy haired petite girl rounding the corner ahead of them.
Hermione had her head buried deep in a book on runes and their correlation to wards. She had a job to do and she would succeed at any cost.
Her hair which had settled down since she was a first year hung down her back in riotous curls and her golden brown eyes held sharp intellect, so much so that it made her seem bigger than her 5’3 form would have you believe. She had grown into a willowy build with soft curves that her robes typically hid.
She was so deep in the book she held that when she rounded the corner she didn’t notice the person in front of her. She bumped right into someone’s chest. As she was falling backwards a strong arm wrapped around her to stop her descent and pulled her back into the person, engulfing her in their scent of dark Egyptian musk and dried birch. She trailed her eyes up, first noticing his hard chest and well muscled forearms, then she noticed his house tie in the colors of emerald and silver.
At the sight of the tie she tensed up and tried to pull away but the heavy arm wrapped around her didn’t budge. She continued to look up and started to pale. Blank electric blue eyes stared back at her. MacNair. Everyone knew who he was. People avoided this man for a reason; he was like a ghost, silently moving through the halls. He scared the majority of his peers in Hogwarts, and with a father like his people often questioned his sanity.
MacNair had noticed her before she had even walked into him but he honestly was in a mood to mess around with people so he just let her walk into him to see her reaction. She was so much smaller than he was that he barely even felt the impact but when she bounced off of him he knew he needed to act. When she started to fall back he wrapped one of his arms around her thin waist and noticed how light she was. With her hair that had a life of it's own and her honey eyes he couldn’t help but find her adorable.
“Alright there, little Gryffindor?” He rumbled out still keeping her trapped against him with one arm while the other held his school bag.
“Y-yes MacNair, thank you for catching me.” She mumbled out with a blush spreading across her cheeks. She lifted her hand that wasn’t holding her book and resting it on his chest to try and create some distance.
He raised an eyebrow at the sound of his last name leaving her lips. “You sure little lion, you look a little red. Do you have a fever?” He asked with amusement slipping into his eyes.
“Yes I’m sure.” She said more firmly than she did before.
“What’s your name, little Gryffindor? I can’t keep calling you little lion and the like.” He asked out, ignoring the gentle pressure she was applying to his chest to try and get him to move. He was enjoying having her pressed against him and didn’t want it to end yet.
“I am fine with being called little lion, thank you.” She said primly, not wanting him to know her name. It was dangerous enough that he seemed interested in her and she didn’t want such a dangerous man to know anything about her.
Then behind her she heard the voice of one of the people she tried her best to avoid.
“Hermione! Where are you? I need to copy the potions assignment.” Ron’s voice echoed through the halls causing her to pale further. She did not have time for that troll.
She looked up at the tall Slytherin from underneath her eyelashes with a troubled look. On one hand she could try and escape the both of them, which had a huge chance of failing since MacNair didn't seem inclined to let her go, on the other hand she could hide behind MacNair which would be most time efficient and the more likely to succeed option.
“Hide me?” She asked the taller man with an unsure look in her golden eyes while biting her lower lip.
Alec didn’t say anything. He manhandled her to be pressed against the wall of the hallway, trapped within his embrace. He let go of his bag to encircle her waist with both arms.
“Hermione!” Ron’s voice sounded from just around the corner causing her to tense up in Alec’s hold. She heard him scoff as he passed the two of them, most likely believing it to be a Slytherin couple snogging in the halls. When he rounded another corner she relaxed into the embrace and let her forehead rest against his chest to recollect herself.
She could feel his hum rumble through his chest and blushed, remembering who she relaxed against and straightening up.
“Thank you MacNair. I really appreciate you saving me from dealing with him.” She told him honestly.
“I don’t mind Hermione.” He said drawing out her name with a slight smirk causing her to sigh in defeat.
“Well since you know my first name I might as well introduce myself. My name is Hermione Granger, a fifth year Gryffindor, nice to formally meet you.” She said while still in his arms, having given up on him releasing her.
“Well Miss Granger, my name is Alecsandair MacNair, heir to the MacNair clan. It's wonderful to make your acquaintance.” He said while giving her a gentle squeeze then finally releasing her. Upon releasing her he noticed that her left hand didn’t have a soul band on it.
“May I ask where your soul band is Granger?” He asked.
“Malfoy damaged it last week when he tried to cut it off with a hex. I have to wait till summer to get a new one.” She sighed out.
He slid one hand down her arm lightly before grabbing her hand softly and flipping it over with little resistance. She didn’t have a name this morning as far as she knew it was blank.
Except it wasn’t. She could feel the grip on her hand tighten as he read his own name on the witches dainty wrist. Her golden eyes darted to his own blazing blue. The change in his face was astounding. The blank mask had shattered leaving a look of dark possessiveness to be on full display. The amount of want and longing in his eyes was staggering as he lifted her wrist to place a lingering kiss onto it. He took a half step closer to her and caressed her cheek with his free hand.
The gentle touches were wreaking havoc on her mind. She had only had one other man be this close but Viktor never did more than hold her hand while this man couldn’t seem to stop touching her. She could feel her body relax into his caresses and closed her eyes to savor the feeling.
“It seems that you were made for me, Hermione.” His voice rumbled out, twinged with longing.
“It seems so Alecsandair.” She breathed out, causing a shudder to run down his spine at his first name spilling out of her mouth. He encompassed her within his arms in a gentle embrace.
Then Azalea's group rounded the corner catching the sight of the two unlikely people wrapped in a soft embrace.
Azalea stopped and stared before a smile worked its way onto her face. She walked closer to the two with silent steps. “Attention!” She snapped out in her commander's voice causing Hermione to spin around and stand to attention with her right arm curled in a fist over her heart and her left held behind her back.
“Commander!” She intoned while looking at her leader.
“At ease Granger.” Azalea said with a smirk. The face MacNair pulled when his newfound soulmate slipped into her soldier’s facade with the ease that only comes with practice.
“Potter.” He nodded in greeting to her while his eyes held a speculative gleam. This was a show of power and he was cunning enough to take note of it. It seems that there was something happening in Hogwarts that he was not aware of.
“Azalea.” Hermione intoned and stepped forward, holding out her left wrist for her leader to see. At the sight of MacNair’s name on her subordinates wrist.
Azalea nodded at the older Gryffindor before turning her sharp green eyes onto MacNair. “It seems we need to bump up Sunday’s meeting. Are you and Rookwood available to meet me after lunch in the empty classroom by the potions room?” She inquired.
“Yea both Rookwood and I have a free period after lunch so we can meet you. Does it pertain to this group you seem to have?” He questioned.
Azalea just gave a nod in answer. There was no reason to say anything more out loud. After that the group went on their way, leaving the two bonded behind to slowly walk together, holding hands.
Before they reached the doors to the great hall Daphne pulled Azalea into an alcove.
“Here are the books I was able to liberate from the library. Quickly put them into your bag. You know the drill, only pull them out when you are in a safe area without outside interference.” Daphne said into her ear in a soft murmur.
Azalea gave a slight nod and put the books into her bag that held an undetectable expansion charm. She then walked out alone as Daphne waited five minutes before heading out herself.
Daphne made her way to the Slytherins table and sat down next to Tracey. She was putting her plate together when she felt someone sit down next to her. She only bothered to look up when the table went silent. She was quick to find the cause. The person who sat down next to her was none other than Mattaius Rookwood, one of the three most intimidating Slytherins and as it just so happened her soulmate.
“Daphne.” He greeted with smouldering green eyes. He shifted closer into her space so that his thigh was brushing hers.
“Mattaius, how are you this morning?” She asked demurely, looking up at him through her lashes with a faint blush.
“Much better now that my eyes have been graced with your beauty.” Was his purred reply as he brushed her hair behind her ear, trailing his fingers over her cheek to do so. She dropped her hand to his thigh and subtly leaned into his side. He brushed his lips over her temple before he dropped his hand down to lace his fingers through hers underneath the table. They settled in against each other and started on making their plates up, ignoring the looks the other students were giving them. They continued holding hands throughout the whole lunch period.
Across the way Azalea took in the sight of her friend with her bonded. She was happy for her, and for Hermione who kept glancing over to Alec. This is what she wanted to protect. The right to be with your bonded no matter where they came from. She just prayed that Luna, Nelda, and herself were able to be happy in the end.
Time seemed to fly by as classes came and went before suddenly it was lunch time. She was sitting next to Nelda when Ron started to make a scene.
“Hermione you numpty! What good are you if I can’t find you to copy off of. See this is why you have no friends you uppity snob! What, do you think you're better than me? What you need is for someone to put you in your place!” His loud voice rang out across the hall. For a split second silence rang out then all hell broke loose. Azalea surged to her feet and caught Ron around the collar of his robes and dragged him off the bench before cracking him right in the face with a well aimed punch.
From across the hall two Slytherins stood up from their table. MacNair took only three strides before he reached Weasley. He snagged him with the back of his collar before dragging him out of the great hall with Rookwood trailing behind them with his hands in his pants pockets.
Once again the hall descended into silence. No one knew what to do as the two most dangerous students in slytherin dragged the red head out. It doesn’t help that after the tirade he was on made it so no one wanted to help him in the first place. Hermione herself sat stunned with tears in her eyes at the blatant disrespect Ron had just shown her and shocked at Alec's response. She was used to Azalea and Nelda stepping in but no one else really noticed when Ron or anyone else picked on her.
After ten minutes in total the two slytherins walked back in calmly, as if they didn’t just drag a person out of the room with no problem. It was even more shocking when MacNair split off and headed to the Gryffindors’ table and sat down next to Hermione, wrapping an arm over her shoulder and making a plate for himself while talking quietly to her. No one dared to tell him off for sitting at the table either, not after what he did to Ron. The sight of such a small girl relaxing into the intimidating Slytherins side made people distinctly unnerved.
Azalea decided to bring Daphne and Hermione with her to the meeting room. They had just sat down with Azalea sitting on the desk and Daphne and Hermione sitting on two seats that they dragged to be next to the desk when Mattaius and Alecsandair walked in. At the sight of their two bonded they relaxed a little, making Azalea give a sharp grin reminiscent of her animagus form.
“Welcome you two. Since you bonded with two of my ranking members I thought I would give you an offer.” She said while staring them down.
“What kind of offer?” Mattaius asked for the two of them.
“An offer to join our group. We know you have no choice but to take the mark, but that doesn’t mean you have to be faithful to them. Luckily your father were too arrogant to believe that you would have different views.” She told them. “Before I talk more though I need a secrecy oath.”
The two Slytherins looked to be thoughtful. They didn’t dismiss it outright so that was a good sign.
“I Mattaius Rookwood do swear on my magic to keep what is talked about in this room a secret, so mote it be.” Mattaius intoned with Alec following suite.
Once the two oaths settled into place azalea leaned forward. “I’m sure you noticed that war has broken out, you’d have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to. For years though there have only been two sides.” She told them.
“Till now?” Alec muttered underneath his breath.
“Yes till now. We had formed in the beginning of the year as a study group but the longer nothing got better the more we knew we would have to step forward. We coined the name Vipertooth Acolytes as both a warning and a fuck you to Dumbledore, since Grindelwalds follower called themselves his acolytes. We are small but vicious. We train to kill not to spare them so they could continue to attack like the order does. We had no choice but to form with Dumbledore willing to sit back and do nothing. As you could probably guess I’m the head of the Acolytes with Nelda being second in command. We have a council to make sure that no one person holds all the power with Nelda, Theo, Luna, Blaise, Susan, Hannah Daphne and myself as the members.” She took a moment to breathe and to watch them. They looked interested enough but with Slytherins you can never take them with face value.
“You seem to be a lot more organised than the other two factions.” Mattaius commented with a quirked brow.
“Yes we know. We pride ourselves on it as a matter of fact. We even have different departments in the Acolytes to make better use of it's members instead of leaving them directionless. For instance Hermione here is the head of Research and Development. With her intellect it would be a waste to constantly have her in the frontlines though she is battle tested and has come out without too many wounds. In fact she is one of our best at laying down wards in battle.” She told them with Hermione beaming at the praise with a proud tilt to her head.
“What would we get in return?” Mattaius asked. Both Alec and himself already knew their answers but he refused to go in blind.
“Why I’m glad you asked. First of all we will begin to search for a way to remove the mark from any who were unwilling after our current project is finished. Second of all I will allow the two of you to take one weapon from the Potter vaults, seeing as how my family specializes in warfare you can guess at how many weapons we have collected over the years. Thirdly you will be trained in our way of fighting, which has a lot of elemental spells. Fourth of all each of you will be given a pendant which will have a port key to our base along with being connected to the eight pendants that the council wears I will be adding the department heads to the communication line as well so you will have contact with your bonded while out In the field. And finally at the end of the war all of the Acolyte will vouch for you for being our spy. There is also no way for a spy to slip into our order due to it being invitation only with veritaserum laced drinks. You two of course get the cushy treatment due to your soulbonds.” She revealed to the two men.
“So just to be clear you are offering it to us due to being soul bound to members of the Acolytes?” Alec asked with a raised brow.
“No. Honestly I had my eye on you two and Yaxley since halfway through the year. I had made my decision yesterday when I learned that your choice was taken from you. To be honest the fact that you soul bonded to two of our higher ranking members was just an added bonus.” She said with a shrug.
“Yaxley. Do you mean Eòghan?” Mattaius asked sceptically.
“Yea. I wasn’t completely sure about him to be honest. I never talked to him myself but Theo said he could be an option if we gave the right incentive.” She told them, tilting her head in confusion at their scepticism.
“Eòghan is a bit of a special case. He keeps to himself and is a decent bloke unless you piss him off.” Mattaius grudgingly stated.
“What happens when you piss him off then?” Azalea asked curiously.
“Then you would wish you were dead. His retribution is swift and brutal yet doesn’t leave a trace that can be brought back to him. He is his father’s son alright, but if you tell him that to his face then you better pray to your gods for mercy for Eòghan has none.” Alec started with a grimace.
“Should we bother trying to get him on our side then?” Azalea questioned the two who seemed to know him.
“If you can convince him then yea, he would make a great asset but be careful on how you approach it.” Mattaius told the three Acolytes.
“Well, when do you think you can give us an answer? I'm sure you need to think this over. It’s almost time for me to make my way to potions class so I can lose points by breathing.” Azalea said with a scowl at the last part. She knew Snape was a necessary evil for the order but it shouldn’t be at the detriment to other students' schooling.
“I don’t need time to think. My soul bonded seems to be a ranking member of the Acolytes and I will follow her anywhere.” Mattaius said with a soft smile in Daphne’s direction causing her to blush.
“Aye. I don’t need to think about it either. Where my bonded is is where I want to be. Lass, ya got yourself two spies. I want a run down of all the departments though.” Alec's Scottish brogue thick with emotion.
“Sure. Meet me at three at the fourth floor girls bathroom. I’ll be taking some teams down to the Chamber of Secrets to render down the basilisk I killed in second year. I can run you through the basics while we search for anything useful.” Azalea told them distractedly while looking at her pocket watch.
“Basilisk?!” Mattaius yelped in shock.
“Yeah. That’s what was petrifying everything. No one died because no one looked at it directly in the eye. Hermione actually found out what it was.” Azalea said.
“Yeah for all the good that did me. I was petrified for most of the year. I couldn’t even warn anyone but Penelope Clearwater who I was with.” Hermione said with a pout.
Alec paled at this new information. He hadn’t cared that people were getting hurt back in fourth year. To him they hadn’t mattered. Now though the thought that his soul bonded could have died before he found her was harrowing. With that thought in mind he reached out and grabbed Hermione’s hand and gently squeezed.
“Dee, Mia we have to go or we will be late for potions. I’m sure that’ll make Snape’s day. I can hear it now ‘Potter, do you think that your fame will carry you through class? Ten points from Gryffindor for existing.’” She mimicked causing the three Slytherins to snort at how well she copied his drawl while Hermione nodded in sympathy.
“Yea I can hear it too. ‘Well well the insufferable know it all thinks she is too smart to be in our presence. 10 points for your hair getting in the way.’” she drawled out causing Azalea to snort.
“Come on, he is not that bad.” Mat said.
“Those are direct quotes from him to me.” Azalea revealed sheepishly. “He hated my father when they were in school together and that got passed down to me.” She mumbled out, looking down at the ground. “C’mon Mia we have to be there before he gets there.” She softly told the other Gryffindor.
Hermione nodded and stood up. As one they walked out of the room, leaving behind three concerned Slytherins. They had never noticed how bad Snape could get to the other students, but if that is how two rambunctious women acted at the prospect of seeing the man they might need to pay more attention. Daphne nodded to the two seventh years before trailing after the two Gryffindors.
This time throughout potions class Daphne made a list of every insult snape made and to who. It was shocking how much she had to write down and the three main targets were Azalea, Nelda, and Hermione. She did not think any of the girls soul bonded would like the verbal abuse they seemed to be subjected to. Maybe she should let them know, it was only fair. After all if Snape was allowed to do this to students without repercussions from the school then he will have to deal with two notorious death eaters and the MacNair heir.
With that thought she pulled out two pieces of parchment and jotted down what insults were used against Nelda and what insults were used against Azalea and folded it up pulling out two envelopes she put down the correlating soul bonded names and slipped it into her bag to mail later on tonight. She pulled out another piece of parchment and did the same for Hermione but instead of mailing it to him she would slip it into his pocket at three. Finally the class ended and Theo and her flanked Azalea and Nelda on the way out with Hermione in the middle.
They made their way to the chamber with Hermione tagging along to help catalog everything that they might find and what was harvested and when. When they reached the bathroom they found Luna, Susan, Blaise, Theo, and Hannah along with the teams they picked out. Wayne Hopkins, Roger Davies, Ernie MacMillan, Megan Jones, Flora and Hestia Carrow, Lisa Turpin, Tracey Davis, Dean Thomas, Terry boot, Katie bell and Michael Corner stood in groups of four lined up against the wall waiting for further instruction.
They all tensed when Mattaius and Alecsandair rounded the corner, but stayed put. If they needed to act Azalea would signal them to.
“Guys I want to introduce you to Alecsandair MacNair and Mattaius Rookwood. They have agreed to be spies for the Acolytes and have my full trust. I have screened them and spent time with both of them and find them good company.” Azalea told the groups, when none of the council members made objections the rest relaxed back into easy stances that masked their readiness to fight if necessary.
The two seventh year Slytherins were shocked at some of the faces they saw like the Carrows. It seemed that the acolytes were a melting pot for Hogwarts houses.
“Follow me. I will take you down to the chamber then hand out the gear. We best not linger in the hallway.” Azalea barked out. She turned and entered the bathroom before calling out to the resident ghost. “Myrtle, is there any new gossip you can tell me?” She asked.
“Why yes Potter it seems that some fourth year girls found that one Weasley in your year unconscious and stuck upside down to a wall, bald. Also there has been some activity in the library. It seems that Parkinson pissed off Yaxley by talking too loud. He has yet to take action. Also Dumbledore seems lost in thought lately. He has taken to pacing outside the bathroom muttering to himself about how to open the chamber.” Myrtle told her, just happy someone wanted to listen to her.
“Thank Myrtle. I appreciate the time you take to find this out for me.” Azalea demurred.
“It’s no problem at all. I like finding out things like this.” Myrtle said before drifting off.
Azalea walked over to the sink, stroking the snake on the one faucet before stepping back. “Open.” The parseltongue slipped out of her mouth in soft hisses. There was a grinding noise before the sink opened up to the slide that appeared in second year. “Let’s go.” She said before stepping off into the dark, dropping with nary a whisper. The rest of the council followed in her footsteps. The two spies they now had glanced at each other then shrugged and followed suit with the Acolytes not far behind them. When everyone made it down she closed the entrance. “Follow me. It's this way.” Azalea said, leading them through the twists and turns before they finally come upon the behemoth of a corpse. It must have been well over seventy feet long (about 21 meters). It had to have been over two thousand years old.
“You killed this at twelve? How?” Mat muttered.
“I stabbed it through the mouth and into the brain with the sword of Gryffindor.” She deadpanned, rubbing at right forearm where the fang had pierced her and left a large circular scar. Her blood still had trace amounts of the venom and Phoenix tears making her immune to most poison and venom.
“How did you not die?” Alec breathed out, eyes still locked on the beast.
“I almost did.” She said honestly. “I had it's fang pierced through my arm and almost succumbed to the venom before fawkes healed me.” She revealed.
“Huh.” The two said in unison before snapping back to reality as Azalead gilded towards a chest in the middle of the chamber where Dobby left the things she asked for.
“Alright everyone gather round. I need to pass out everything so we can start!” She exclaimed. She stuck her hand in and brought out the 32 diamond pint sized phials and split them up, giving each group 8 of them then passing out the 16 harvesting knives made of Mithril. “Okay teams Nelda and Theo are on the front on either side. The rest of you will start on the back. I want the skin, blood, venom sacks, fangs and bones. Remember we have two months to render it so take your time and don’t hurt yourself. Be mindful of people around you. Blaise, Luna, Susan let’s go. Hermione we will bring back whatever we find to you so for now catalog what is harvested. Mat, Alec, follow me.” She said walking over to the large carving of Salazar Slytherin. She hissed out open and waited for the mouth to drop before walking forwards. “I know you have some questions so lay it on me.” She told the two while she looked around the dusty cavern.
“What are the departments and who leads them?” Alec asked.
“I am first in command. I handle any problem that needs immediate attention as well as directing all training. Nelda is second in command who screens any issues and decides if it needs immediate action or not while Theo is head strategist. Luna is the Head negotiator and Susan is the head of the legal department. Hannah Heads the department of Healing while Daphne Heads the finance department and Blaise is Head of interrogation. We all make up the council of the Morrigan. Then we have the non council positions like Tracy Davis who is Head potioneer and answers directly to Hannah. Lavender Brown is the head of Human resource and recruitment and she answers to Nelda. Then there is Hermione Granger, Head of R&D who answers directly to Daphne. Fred and George are dual Heads of the sabotage department and answers to Theo. Finally we have Colin Creevey, Head publicist who answers to Susan. We also are on teams with four members to watch each other's backs.” Azalea rambled.
“What are the teams?” Alec asked with interest.
“They are named after the military alphabet. Alpha who are the Assassins consist of Myself, Nelda, Theo and Luna. Beta specialises in Espionage with Blaise Zabini, Daphne Greengrass, Susan Bones, and Hannah Abbott. Charlie comes next. They specialize in Sabotage with Fred And George Weasley, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell. Delta is our R&D specialists with Hermione Granger, Cho Chang, Anthony Goldstein and Justin Finch-Fletchley. Echo, our Berserkers, consists of Ginny Weasley, Hestia And Flora Carrow, and Adrian Pucey. Foxtrot are our Healers the team is made up of Padma And Parvati Patil, Terence Higgs, and Zacharius Smith. Golf, our Demolition group has Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Lavender Brown, and Roger Davies. Hotel specializes in publicity with Colin Creevey, Astoria Greengrass, Ernie MacMillan, and Michael Corner. India are our Ingredient foragers and harvesters which consists of Wayne Hopkins, Megan Jones, Terry Boot, and Lisa Turpin. With our last group being different from the rest, the Potioneers, Tracey Davies, Su Li, and Morag MacDougal.
Each group has a specialty that they excel at but all are able to fight their way out of most situations.” She lectured while coming upon a room with ten large bookshelves. She was quick to flick out her patronus to alert the rest of her group, who had split off to cover more ground. Not even a second later a sleek Jaguar patronus came to her and told her that Blaise had found an armoury.
At the casual use of such a powerful spell being used as mere communication the two Slytherins looked shocked. Most adults can’t even produce anything more than a mist yet these fifth years just produced fully corporal potroni.
“Is that something we will learn?” Mat asked with his eyes slightly wide.
“Sure if you want. All of the Acolytes know how to produce at least the shield while half can produce a full patronus.” She told the two. “You also have the option to learn how to become an animagus, some of our members opted out since it is a bit time consuming, taking about a year to complete.”
“But you just teach any member who wants to for free?” Mat inquired.
“Yea, it helps the war effort. The more skills that we have in our group the more adaptable we become. We compile any skill that each member brings to the table and make it universal for the rest. For instance, I came with the knowledge on how to cast a patronus and how to be an animagus and taught everyone else those skills. Theo came with the knowledge of darker curses and Nelda came with the knowledge of poisonous plants. Each member brings something to the table.” She explained while she started to catalog the books and move them into her bag.
“How many of you are animagus’?” Alec asked after getting over his shock. People had to pay good money to be animagus nowadays and this girl was doing it for free.
“Two teams so far. We have the next batch of potion brewing so by the time we leave anyone who wants to learn will have it. If you want to start early then snag a mandrake leaf and put it under your tongue on the next full moon. Just remember to keep it there and don’t remove it for a month.” She told the two.
“Mandrake leaf, got it.” Alec muttered while Mat shook his head at the girl in disbelief. She was only fifteen, why did she already know how to be an animagus. To be honest he didn’t think he wanted to know.
After that she was completely absorbed into the work she was doing. Some of these titles on the books have not been seen in centuries and a lot of it was written in Middle English, Welsh and Irish Gaelic. One of which she only knew due to Seamus teaching her late at night when he found her alone in the common room. Though if she squints she can make out most of Middle English.
One gem though was an old book written in early modern English that had a lot of rituals written down. She would have to look at it when she was alone. She needed to screen any book before hiding it in the group caches that were hidden throughout the castle to make sure it was safe. The amount of times she had to duck to avoid a curse that was applied to books was innumerable.
She turned to look at the two slytherins who came with her only to find them talking in a corner with their heads bowed together. She could hear murmuring about what animals would be the coolest causing her to snort.
It had taken her three hours to pack up all of the books found in the room when she received another patronus. This time it was a bear lumbering through the doorway.
“Aza, we filled up all of the vials already, about twenty five are filled with venom. The rest is blood. We could use some more if you have the chance.” Nelda's voice came from the animal.
She took that as a cue to head out back to the main chamber with the boys trailing behind her. Upon entering she noticed that the basilisk had no more fangs in it's mouth and it looks like the group had banded together to keep the skin together while skinning it since it was laid out on the floor in one piece. She could see the vials off to the side to keep them out of the way, filled with a greenish clear liquid in the majority and blood in the rest. She clapped once loudly enough to catch everyone's attention.
“Okay guys it’s time to pack up! Hannah send a patronus to Susan and Theo send one to Blaise. I got Luna!” She barked out. With that the three sent out their patroni. The two bears and one honey badger lumbered off through the entrance that she had just come out of. It took about ten minutes for the missing part of her clan to appear at the doorway.
“Let’s go everyone, it's about dinner time. We don’t want to appear suspicious so group up with your house members. Slytherins you go first, then Ravenclaws followed by Hufflepuff and finally Gryffindors. Act as you normally would and don’t draw attention to yourselves. If you see anything suspicious take note of it. I will summon the stairs to get us out.” She ordered.
“Stairs? Why didn’t you summon them to go down so we didn’t have to slide?” Alc asked with a raised brow.
“It’s not as fun.” Was Azalea’s immediate reply. She wore a slight pout at the question and turned her green orbs onto the older students. “Don’t take my fun away!” She said as her eyes started to get wider and watery.
“Okay fine! Just stop please. I’m awful with crying women!” Alec grumbled out turning his blue eyes away from her, missing the smirk that played across the girl's face. The group rounded the corner to the entryway and drew to a stop.
“Okay, remember the order. Nelda Daphne and I will go up first to make sure that the coast is clear.” She told everyone. With a hiss, stairs started to appear on the long slide and the three girls ascended out of the chamber and looked around before poking their heads out of the bathroom seeing an empty hallway. She grabbed her pendant and sent a message to Theo that the cost was clear. After fifteen minutes the groups had dispersed, each taking a different route to the great hall, leaving no evidence behind that they were there.
“Dobby!” She called out.
“Yes missy Potter ma’am.” Dobby answered as he popped in.
“Did you bring the portkey back from Gringotts like I asked?” She inquired.
“Yes Dobby was a good elf and put it underneath your pillow. It is a silver bracelet that is a continuous portkey to the bank and will drop you off where you portkeyed from.” Dobby answered, looking pleased with himself.
“Great, thanks. Can you take what was rendered and put it in my vault under stasis and bring more vials, please?” She requested from the elf.
“Yes ma’am missy Potter. Dobby will do it now.” He said before popping away.
She sighed after the elf left. She had no clue how to tell the elf that Lucius was her soul bonded. She knew that the elf didn’t like Malfoys and she was afraid to lose him. It left her in a predicament. She started down the hallway lost in thought about the various scenarios that could happen. It was when she reached the third floor that she was snapped out of her mind by a hand grabbing her elbow and jerking her into an empty classroom.
Reacting on instinct she used the momentum to turn, facing the unknown assailant and released her wand from the holster aiming it at the person's stomach but stopped herself from casting anything. She didn’t know the full situation yet and she refused to make the rookie mistake of shooting first and asking later. When she stopped moving she took notice of who had pulled her into the room.
The young man stood at a towering 6’3 with honey blond hair and dark blue eyes with a clean shaven face and a well built frame. He had a blank expression on his face and was dressed in black trousers and a charcoal grey tunic with a black belt resting over the shirt.
“Yaxley, how can I help you?” Azalea drawled out with a neutral tone and raised eyebrow.
“Whatever you are doing with the group you collected I want in.” He told her.
“I refuse to insult the both of us by asking how you knew. What part do you want to be a part of?” She asked.
At the first part of her response a slight smile drifted over his face. “I don’t want to be a death eater. If my dad finds me that will be inevitable. I have been avoiding it by not going home to the manor and by staying with a squib family member who married into a Scottish clan up in the Highlands. I refuse to be a part of the order either which leaves me with you.” He told her honestly.
“I would need an oath of secrecy to discuss anything with you.” She told him honestly. It was a rule for any recruits to keep the secret from spilling after the Marietta Edgecombe incident before they formed into a militaristic group.
“I, Eòghan Yaxley, do swear silence on any topic discussed in this room.” He swore without any form of hesitation.
After the oath she started to throw up wards around the classroom to deter anyone not already inside and to muffle all sound.
“Alright, now that that’s done, I head the Vipertooth Acolytes. We are the unknown third faction of the war. I won’t tell you any members' names until you are a part of us so don’t ask but we are more organized than both sides with a council so no one member holds all the power. What would you want to do?” She informed the sixth year.
“Honestly anything to keep away from being a death eater. I’m decent at dueling but I’m best at planning ambushes and leaving no evidence behind.” He told her honestly.
“Yes I have been warned about that. Would you be fine working underneath someone?” She inquired.
“Yea I’m fine with that.” He said. “Would there be home bases if people need to hide away?” He asked her.
“Not yet. To be honest I will hopefully have that set up tomorrow.” She told the older boy, causing his shoulders to tense a little. “Would you like a run down of the perks of joining us?” She continued.
“Honestly it wouldn’t matter at this point but sure.” He said to her with a curious tilt to his head.
“First off there is training, almost all of us can produce a patronus and half can produce a corporal version. Second, all of us will be getting a battle uniform made of dragonhide. Third, if you want there is animagus training and finally at the start of summer I will be allowing members to take one weapon from the Potter vaults which will be reclaimed at your death.” She said while counting with her fingers. “Also all members have a galleon with the protean charm cast on it to pass along times to meet or instructions.” She acted on.
“Well that is probably the best offer any of the factions have. I will join. I was going to do so either way but the perks just sweetened the deal.” He spoke with a relieved tone. He was honestly surprised that she was allowing him to join. He had come here expecting to be disappointed if this girl didn’t bat an eyelash. He watched as she reached into her bang on her side and pulled out a piece of parchment along with a galleon.
“Here this is the coin I was talking about and this is the contract that everyone signed to be a member. It basically just states to keep all information you learn about us a secret and will lock your tongue to the roof of your mouth if you try to speak our secrets.” She informed and watched as he signed his name after reading the contract. “I will alert the council of you joining us when we leave. For now find a book on elemental spells and at the next meeting I will train you personally to catch you up as I have done for any full member. Of course both MacNair and Rookwood will be joining us on training as they have agreed to be our spies.” She told him while keeping eye contact. You have joined a fully functioning magical military unit even if we are small in number. It will affect your life and how you handle situations. I don’t care what your magic orientation is, whether you are light, grey, or dark, everyone will act befitting of our image. We are dangerous, swift and collected. There will be no bullying in our ranks. Everyone is your brother or sister in arms now.” She informed sternly. “We have Sytherins, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Gryffendors in our ranks. Do you have any questions?”
“Yea just one. Who are the members?” He asked with a quirked brow.
“Myself, Nelda Longbottom, Theo Nott, Luna Lovegood, Blaise Zabini, Daphne Greengrass, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Fred And George Weasley, Alicia Spinnet,Katie Bell, Hermione Granger, Cho Chang, Anthony Goldstein, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Ginny Weasley, Hestia And Flora Carrow, Adrian Pucey, Padma And Parvati Patel, Terence Higgs, Zacharius Smith, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Lavender Brown, Roger Davies, Colin Creevey, Astoria Greengrass, Ernie MacMillan, Michael Corner, Wayne Hopkins, Megan Jones, Terry Boot, Lisa Turpin, Tracey Davies, Su li, Morag MacDougal, Alecsandair MacNair, Mattaius Rookwood and now you. That is now forty two in total. We have more people than the order and are equal in number to the Death Eaters. We are younger than them all but we are better trained than any DE that is not in the inner circle. If there is an inner circle member, allow any member of the council to take them on. Nelda, Theo, and I are the best at dueling while Luna, Susan, Daphne, Blaise, and Hannah aren’t far behind. If none of us are there retreat. There is no glory in death. I would like to test your dueling before any battles though.” She told him before looking down and pulling out her pocket watch. It just turned seven everyone would be almost done eating dinner. “Listen it’s too late to join everyone at the great hall, follow me I’m hungry and we can continue talking in the kitchen.” She sighed out.
At his nod she turned on her heel and walked out of the empty classroom, dismantling the wards with a flick of her wand before finally putting it back in the holster, having kept it out the whole time ‘Constant Vigilance’ and all that. The two walked side by side in a comfortable silence, paying no heed to the portraits that lined the walls. It took them five minutes to reach the entrance, after tickling the pear they were ushered to a small table with three chairs.
“What can Leafy do for you?” An older female elf asked after waving off the others. It seemed she was the head elf of Hogwarts.
“Can I have some herring on a bowl of jasmine rice please?” Azalea asked the elf before looking at her companion for this meal.
“I’ll just have what she is having but can I have some asparagus with it please.” He requested politely, bringing a smile to Azalea’s face.
They chatted while they ate about their experiences here at Hogwarts and the dangers that lurked in the castle.
“You know Dumbledore took off multiple classes that should have stayed open. At one point sixth years could start a healing course here. They also took out alchemy and intro to wards and how to dismantle them for seventh years. Plus he made it almost impossible to practice our religion by discouraging us from doing rituals for Mabon, Samhain, Imbolc, Ostara and Beltane.” Eòghan told her with Eyebrows drawn together.
“Do you know why he took away the holidays?” Azalea asked, leaning in in interest.
“He told everyone that it made the muggleborns uncomfortable, especially the catholic ones.” He explained.
“That would make sense but it is part of our culture we shouldn’t change it due to an outside religion. It could eventually lead to a cultural collapse and we could lose our history. Sure some of the muggleborns are Christian and that is fine but they should understand that the main religion here is the original religion of the celts.” She rambled. She could understand both sides as she was raised Protestant like most of the UK but as soon as she entered the wizarding world she adopted paganism. It made her feel more connected to her magic.
Before either of them noticed it was eight and Azalea knew she needed to head to the dorm. She had a long day tomorrow and wanted to get some rest. With that thought she said her goodbyes and headed off.