"Enough!" Barked the woman who could be none other than Lady Cassiopeia Black.
"You wanted me to test your brats, you assured me they were worthy!" Cassiopeia Black threw an ironic glance at Sirius and Leo Black on her right. Apparently, the man had declined to "test" his son like the others. "Well I have tested them. And the two before you are all what's left. You names ladies."
"Heiress Astrid Sverre, of the Sword and Ice House of Sverre. Please to meet you Lady Cassiopeia Black."
There were plenty of whispers which echoed angrily in the hall, but Cassiopeia raised her hand, and the silence came back.
"Heiress Alexandra Potter, of the Most Ancient House of Potter. I should say I am pleased to meet you, but I've never felt like debiting lies."
The whispers this time were perfectly audible, with some bordering in groans and accusations in middle tones.
"You have Dorea's spirit, I will give you that, girl." Cassiopeia looked almost amused. "But you should learn to respect your betters."
"You are not my better." Affirmed Alexandra, unleashing a series of gasps and shouts in the room. "You literally reek Dark Magic and you look like at Death's door. Tell me Great-Aunt. How many days have you still to live?"
Alexandra had expected the dark witch to get angry. The whole room had become as silent as a cemetery, as if no one had the courage to approve or deny her words. Lady Cassiopeia Black burst in laughter.
"Ahhh... it has been a long time no one has dared tell me the truth." Laughed the woman. The echoes of smiles laughs echoed again in the room. " For that reason only, I will let you live." The movement of humours died on the spot.
Alexandra looked again at the old woman, who did not look like she was joking. Still, she doubted the woman would give her much trouble if it came to a fight. The cushions, footboard and the proximity of the chairs around the Black witch suggested she was not able to walk, and Professor Flitwick had always insisted your physical health was supremely important when it came to duels. Lady Cassiopeia may be more powerful than Devkins, but if she tried to fight, the combat was going to be short and one-sided.
"Now, leave this house, young ladies." Ordered Cassiopeia. "And try not to repeat the mistakes of your ancestors."
Astrid and Alexandra curtsied, before leaving rapidly, the noise of their steps being drowned by the torrent of insults, shouts and insults being uttered behind them.
"We made enemies today, I think." Remarked the Norwegian girl once they were outside.
"It was not like we had a lot of choice." Replied Alexandra. "And if I must have allies, I do not want House Black to figure in it."
It was the perfect truth, nothing more. In the two or three minutes they had spent in this meeting room, the spectacle of the participants she had watched had been disheartening. Barring Leo Black, who as the Black heir had been awarded a place here, the youngest persons present had been Sirius Black and the Malfoy couple. Otherwise, all the others witches and wizards had the traces of the time's ravages on their faces and bodies. By her estimates, she doubted a single one of them was less than sixty years old and all (again save the Malfoys) looked to suffer from the effects of inbreeding. Not surprising when you knew of the Black tendency to marry between cousins but still. The real issues were far graver. At least a quarter of those present had the dirty presence which Alexandra translated to a practitioner of dark magic and of the children she had seen today, Percival Weasley was the one who had been the most sympathetic besides Astrid. And the Norwegian witch studying at the Durmstrang Institute was a foreigner, and so not concerned by the struggles of the British Wizengamot.
Frankly, it was very likely there had not been any chances to make allies in this dark and dreadful place.
"Will I see you when the Will of Lady Cassiopeia will be read?" Alexandra demanded the Sverre Heiress.
"Afraid not."Said the Durmstrang witch with a negative nod. "The High Master is not giving many authorisations to leave the school, and the meeting of today was honestly a waste of time. My parents will send a lawyer, that's what they are for after all."
"So it will be a while before we see each other again."
"Years I think." The Norwegian girl did not seem bothered by it. "Until then try to stay alive, Alexandra Potter. Life is definitely not boring when you're around."
Astrid Sverre got out a Portkey out of one her robes' pocket. A blue flash, and the Norwegian wasn't here anymore.
"You haven't been the first to say this, you know..." Alexandra whispered alone in the wind flowing in these desolated parts of the British Isles.
22 September 1992, Hogwarts, Scotland
The dinner at Hogwarts had been over for a good hour when Severus Snape entered the Headmaster's office, his black robes billowing and in absolutely massacring mood. Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, who had been busy dealing with a mountain of paperwork of incredible proportions, rose his head when his Senior Potions Professor stormed in his office and fell on the first seat available.
"Ah, Severus. I was beginning to worry."Said the man many in Britain venerated more than Merlin. "Did your day at Black Cobra Manor was fructuous?"
"No." The answer was simple and direct, but Dumbledore knew the younger man very well. There was something dark in Snape's eyes, his fists were tightening and his jaw was pulsing. For a normal wizard, it would have been worrying, but Severus Snape was an Occlumency user. That he didn't manage to hide his anger and frustration meant something very bad had happened.
"How bad was it?" The man having defeated Gellert Grindelwald asked, caressing his silver beard.
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T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/Makimafic
If you guys wanna check it out.