Chapter 170 Malfoy family.
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23 Jun
"The alliance I understand, but I thought Heiress was only was a nobility title." Told Alexandra, once more cursing the lack of existence of a guide to learn everything she needed to know on her eleventh birthday.
"No, each Heiress or Heir at birth is the subject of a fairly harmless magical ritual destined to make her or him a potential Lady or Lord in his own right. It's one of a few things Dumbledore hasn't managed to ban as Chief Warlock."
"And you know I received it while I was a baby?" Alexandra asked.
"The revealing spells for this ritual are really simple. And you tested positive to all of them." Said simply Morag. "Now I want to ask you a simple question. Do you want to join my family and me for the Samhain celebrations at MacDougal manor?"
"And when exactly are said celebrations?"
"After dinner."
"That's...how do we leave Hogwarts anyway? Dumbledore is certainly not going to give us the authorisation to leave for banned rituals!"
"Let's just say that while our esteemed Headmaster is against the Old Ways, there are some teachers who aren't so prejudiced and agree to cover us for our 'family reunions' ". We will Floo to MacDougal Manor and we will be back in time for Monday classes. So are you okay with it?"
Alexandra tired to think calmly and clearly, a not so easy task when the thoughts rushed in her head. Her only religious experiences so far in her life had been with the Dursleys on a few Sunday mornings, and Vernon and Petunia had always applied the logic that "God hates Freaks".
As a result, her personal religious fervour had been situated somewhere between zero and something lower than the abyss of the Moria's great bridge. Knowing the Church in the Bible recommended to "burn the witch" once she had known the truth about her inheritance had not helped things. Still, what Morag had said struck a chord within her. For all the classes they had had since their Sorting in first year, there had been no real explanation of the origin of magic and the traditions of this world. Halloween was a non-magical invention, as were Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter for that matter. Moreover, participating in these celebrations was a means to escape the road her magical guardian, one Albus Dumbledore, had planned for her. Which made it indeed all the more attractive.
"Yes, I will go with you for the Samhain celebrations. But I hope you have the clothes and everything needed for it, because I certainly don't."
"It will not be a problem." Smiled Morag. "But I'm afraid I must ask you a Vow of Secret before we go to the Feast in the Great Hall."
Alexandra narrowed her eyes, but didn't protest. It was logical, after all. If celebrating the Old Ways the...old way was as taboo as Morag and the Ministry implied, Oaths were not simply needed, they had to be required for the safety of every family.
"How about Nigel and Hermione?"
"They can't come, I asked." Revealed the Irish witch. "Nigel's grandfather is an old goat who is waiting for a good excuse to disinherit him. As for Hermione, she would need a full Initiation...and she refused to do it."
Alexandra grimaced, knowing the dark aspects of rituals repeated endlessly in the Ministry official books had certainly something to do with the decision of the bushy-haired Gryffindor. Or was it the Leader of the Light's vocal denunciations of the Old Ways? Something to keep in mind and discuss with her later.
Drawing her wand, Alexandra spoke "I, Alexandra Victoria Potter, swear to keep Secret every word and knowledge concerning the Old Ways, their traditions and the magical practises of House MacDougal which has just been spoken. By my magic, so I swear. So Mote it be!"
A blue flash from her wand lightened for an instant the corridor, and Alexandra felt something icy penetrate her skin, the magic of the Vow taking hold.
"And I, Morag Ciara MacDougal, swear to keep Secret every word and knowledge concerning the Old Ways, their traditions and the magical practises of House Potter which has just been spoken. By my magic, so I swear. So Mote it be!"
A second blue flash echoed from the red-haired Ravenclaw's wand before being channelled into her body.
After that, the rest of the travel to the Great Hall turned to safer subjects of conversation. Charms Homework, where Professor Dhillon had given them a big dissertation on the mastery of the Levitation charms and its derivatives. Then it was the turn of Potions, with the rivalry between Snakes and Lions did ravages: a rat eye sent by Gregory Goyle had found mysteriously its way in the cauldron of Leo Black, and Professor Snape had refused to admit one of his precious Slytherins was at fault. As one member of the Golden Trio -or the New Marauders as the new nickname rose in popularity- had been hurt, the rumour mill was waiting with glee what form the revenge of the Lions was going to take.
As the two Ravenclaw girls were about to pass the doors leading to the Great Hall and seat to their table for the Halloween Feast, Alexandra remarked a weak rope of energy rose from the ground in front of her right at the entrance, one which was pale and scintillating, really difficult to see to the human eye.
"Morag. Stop." She told to her friend who had continued to advance.
"What is your problem, Potty?" Asked the infamous sneering voice of Draco Malfoy behind her. "Afraid eating will give you bad marks?"
Rotating to see the Heir of the Malfoy family, Alexandra saw Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson laugh at the pathetic joke of their leader. Behind them came a dozen or so Slytherins second and first-year.
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