"Personally, I will do nothing." Alexandra affirmed. Before the surprised looks she added:
"Contrary to Neville, I can't afford to be caught near the Forbidden Corridor. As Hermione so justly proclaimed, I would be expelled on the spot." Hermione blushed at that. "My position in Ravenclaw also means I can't afford losing hundreds of House points, not when we're in first place."
Left unsaid was that if she did such a stupid thing, her housemates would not be slow in organising a new wave of assassination attempts, and this time the entire House would come to tear her apart. With her having gained the Philosopher Stone (or a very convincing fake) on her first passage there, going back was not only pointless but also risky: there was a high probability she would betray the fact she had already visited the area and in turn be denounced to the teaching staff. With only Flitwick to defend her, the consequences did not bear thinking about.
"I see your point." Said Hermione slowly. "But surely we can't let things happen doing nothing!"
"And why not?" The Potter Heiress asked curiously. Hermione stayed with her mouth open several seconds at that. Alexandra took the opportunity to continue. "Whatever sum your parents paid for Hogwarts, Hermione, wasn't to prevent the Golden Trio from meddling in things the Headmaster warned us to stay away from. If Longbottom and the others want to play the heroes let them. Anyway, Professor Dumbledore was here at lunch, so he will intervene if there is a problem."
"It's still not a very Gryffindor thing to do, sitting and doing nothing when the action is about to begin." Grumbled Nigel.
"So?" smirked Alexandra. "I'm a Ravenclaw, do you want to sue me?"
Laughter echoed on the grass and for once the two Gryffindors and the Ravenclaw forgot about everything concerning a Cerberus, the Philosopher Stone and the Forbidden Corridor. They discussed again for two more hours their plans for the holidays, then marched back to the castle as the hour for dinner approached. Sitting at the Ravenclaw table, Alexandra remarked the absence of the Headmaster. Watching the Gryffindors first-years whispering between themselves, her bad feelings began to return. Not that her former arguments were not valid: if Longbottom was stupid to rush to "save" the Philosopher Stone, she was not going to be the one to stop him. With luck, the teachers would be intelligent and competent enough to stop this idiocy.
Sighing once more, Alexandra finished her meal and walked in the direction of the common room.
May 22 1992, Unknown Place
The throne room had not changed much since the last meeting. It was still as huge, magnificent, opulent and pricelessly decorated. Several paintings and sculptures had been added.
The atmosphere however, was significantly different. The masked figures participating in this secret meeting were not worried, disappointed or scared like the last time.
They were utterly and completely terrified.
The reason of this general fear was sitting on the throne. The dark cloud surrounding the King of the Exchequer had nearly tripled in volume and in density, dispersing an aura of world's end and gloom no one in the room was immune. Small black lightning emerged from time to time from this very dark void, creating an odour of ozone after they dissipated.
Simple prudency had convinced eleven of the Knights and the Queen to take no less than twenty steps back from their original positions. All signs pointed to their leader about to unleash his wrath, and none were so stupid to be in the close vicinity when such an event was happening.
As a result, only one figure in light violet robes was left in range of the dark cloud, and by the small shivers agitating it, the figure was aware of the bad position nearing its actual location.
"Knight Alchemist, I must profess myself...disappointed." The guttural voice came out of nowhere like a nightmare. "You know I do not tolerate betrayal. And yet you did it anyway."
"Your Majesty. Surely..."
"Such a shame. When some of your colleagues came to me to tell they had suspicions of your treachery, I must admit I did not believe them. One of our senior members, conspiring with one of our sworn enemies of the Light? Preposterous!"
"I do not share your goals anymore." Somehow the protestation did not impress the darkness on the throne. A dark chuckle resonated.
"You have served in the ranks of the Exchequer for three centuries. The moment is ill-chosen to have cold feet, Nicolas Flamel!"
The famous Alchemist paused a second before replying.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I am a coward. But I have morals, and I have taken steps to ensure the humans of this world will have a chance against you when the time comes."
"By steps, I presume you speak of letting a Philosopher's Stone fall into the esteemed Albus Dumbledore's hand?"
A nod of approval was answer enough.
"In that case, I find your plans are going to be dangerously...incomplete. Dumbledore is no match for me."
"We will see..."
"I will. You won't." The voice of the King turned meditative. "I assume there's no chance to convince you to peacefully surrender and participate in some of our most horrible experiments?"
"Indeed not. AVADA KEDAVRA!"
One second had been all that was necessary for the Knight Alchemist to draw his wand under the heavy robes he wore. One more second, and the most lethal spell ever created by wizardkind was hurled at the figure on the throne. For the beings assisted to the scene there was barely any time to react before a striking pale green bolt of energy materialised and rushed towards the leader of the Exchequer.
Avada Kedavra was the third Unforgiveable. Instant Death. Powerful Dark Magic. Impossible to shield, deflect or reverse.
The dark figure on the throne raised one hand and made the deadly incantation disappear in the darkness surrounding it like a black mantle.
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