Faithfully Yours

Chapter 27

Word count:1174

With only four hours left before midnight, they began talking about strategy, The teachers knew of the chamber but not where it was, and even Ebony hadn't paid attention to the mad ravings of her grandfather about the giant snake living on the grounds of Hogwarts. She had a pet snake at her parent's place which she hadn't visited since she started school. She wondered why they needed her, maybe to fulfill a darker purpose. She was silent as the adults spoke to each other. Finally, as they were at their wits end trying to formulate a plan, she piped up. " I think I know where it is, the entrance. My grandpa used to talk about one on the Hogwarts grounds. So she told them what she knew and before she could insist on going the headmaster pulled her aside.

"I know we need you to open the chamber but to make sure you are safe we will scout ahead and we will escort you. I know you are pretty crafty and are a prime student, so I know you can handle yourself. Just remember we are here to help and keep you from any more attacks towards you. Trust that we are an arsenal on all our own. No one should have to go through what you are going through this year. We will make sure no one else dies tonight."

She nodded and took a deep breath gathering her courage she made sure to write Violet back telling her tonight's study session would be postponed and that she loved her and would see her soon. She didn't say anything about what she was up to to keep her from trying to stop her from what she was about to do. The less people knew the better. Walking with the teachers and headmaster she went to the bathroom where moaning Mirtle died. 

On the way there one of the teachers pulled her aside and told the others to go ahead and that there was something important she needed to know before she continued. They whispered something in her ear and used their wand it shone a brilliant green for a few seconds and then pulled down their sleeve as it showed the dark mark. Ebony's eyes glazed over for a bit as she continued to follow the others to the sink in the bathroom where she spoke parselmouth opening the way to the chamber that lay undisturbed for years. 

They looked at each other as if to confirm what they just witnessed. Getting out their wands they all entered and descended the stairwell that led them further into the secret passage. It had some rubble from what looked like a cave-in that happened and it looked like there was a passageway through it. As they entered the wide chamber little snake-adorned oil lamps lit as they entered and walked further down the chamber. Leading them to a giant statue they formed a seme circle their wands held high ready for anything but what happened next. Ebony's eyes glazed over and she pointed her wand at the headmaster.

As she walked backward closer to the mouth of the giant statue she spoke Parseltongue, her albino python which had grown double its size from when it was snuck onto the grounds by the rogue teacher came out replying to her, and as her snake got closer the teacher who betrayed them stepped forward and walked close to Ebony and smiled as he leaned down to whisper in her ear, she nodded and spoke again to her snake who was slithering towards the few teachers and headmaster. It raised itself to face height slightly swaying its forked tongue flashing in and out of its mouth tasting the scent around them, which probably tasted of fear as they all looked shocked and they took defensive stances.

Tears fell down Ebony's face as she felt her body command for her beloved snake to attack. It lunged and attacked one of the teachers and dragged them backward its jaws set tight injecting the teacher with its venom causing it to swell and bruise around the bite as it dragged them away Ebony began to protect her beloved snake from the teachers and headmaster, spells being thrown and Ebony got hit with a knock back jinx causing her to fly a few feet and hitting against the statue. As she began to get her bearings and got hit with crucio once more making her own body a vessel of destruction, she dodged and weaved her way about the room her snake constricted one teacher dead and was now winding its way to her side, she wielded her snake just as efficiently as her wand and after about 30 minutes going by it was just her, the traitor, and the headmaster. 

As the crucio curse started to lessen the traitor grabbed her and held his wand to her temple as he dragged her towards the exit her snake following at her feet. " If you want her to remain sane  you will do as I say."  The headmaster put his hands up " You have the floor, what is it you have to say?" He just snickered at the comment, "Oh now you want to know what I have to say, it takes a student to kill their classmate under hypnosis and be held by wand point for you to take notice, her mind wasn't as fortified as everyone thought, through all her training she did with her family and now it all boils down to this, she is worth ten times alive then dead is the only reason why she is alive right now. Someone has it out for her alright, not sure if the girl who placed the hit on her knew she was going to die by the hand she sought so full-heartedly. She also was part of my plan, it just kind of fell into place, she had connections in high places alright. Right down to the judges of the ministry. Was getting close to turning all the evidence she had on me too, and I caught her making copies of the small evidence I left. 

I was hoping you would find it as you were my main target, to dethrone you as the crook you are. You aren't as innocent as you may have your students believe. Always scheming right under the nose of the Ministry and they don't see you for who you are, you might as well be wearing his mark. You are just as conniving least when he was in power he had his convictions and stuck to them. He had a solid purpose to bring those who were chosen would be purebloods and they would be taught with the knowledge they were the best in the wizarding world. But you have let things go by without a shred of idea on how to solve it, that's why I moved up the time. It's time things get moving along and you fall for your incompetence."