The Four Shadows

Chapter 19

It was less than 48 hours until the ball and all was tense. For some reason, the four professors hadn't talked to each other at breakfast or dinner the past day, leaving only silence.
Meanwhile, Isla decided to join Gryffindor, but stayed in the Hufflepuff Common Room at times. She decided also to switch Great Hall tables. In the time being, she met a friend or two who treated her nicely because they were first years and were rather nervous.
Classes went smoothly with Isla and she fit in. She even got her own wand, and it fit to her personality. She had still been paranoid, given she could obliterate Hogwarts and everyone in it in a heartbeat.
The only thing the students talked about during class was the Ball, and Godric gave up in charms class, because even Hexes couldn't take their minds off of it.
Everyone went about their day. Helga cleaning up spilled potions after class, Rowena scolding rude students and James almost scaring students to death about the Dark Arts, but most importantly, Godric being beaten at his own game of Quidditch by students.
Although, Salazar was lurking behind the commotion, as he fastened his cloak and Apparated out of Hogwarts.
Spinning and arriving at the same shop from days before, he stumbles forwards and met a familiar face at the door.
  "You again" Zachariah muttered. He opened the door and Salazar glared at him before swiftly walking past him and to the other door, climbing the steps. Without knocking, Salazar entered the room where Marian was grasping a glass of wine. Flicking her eye upwards, she set her cup down and stood up.
"My favorite person. What a surprise" She smirked.
"Im not here for your games, Marian. Im just here for help. I need your help" Salazar said. Marian raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms.
"Im listening"
"Dont..." Salazar started. He inhaled and exhaled, preparing himself for the worst, "Don't get angry, but I haven't made progress with your plans" he confessed. Marian looked at him sideways and laughed.
"I hope you're joking. We had a deal. The egg for Hogwarts. Or did you chicken out because you love your friends too much? You really are pathetic! So lets switch it up for you because I have to take it easy. My son for the egg you foul hag!" Marian yelled, infuriated. She pulled her wand out faster than anyone could, Pointing it at the glass, and launching it towards Salazar direction. He ducked down, nearly avoiding multiple cuts on his face. The glass shattered against the door, spilling wine everywhere.
"What the hell?!" Salazar yelled. "Let me explain!"
Marian took a minute and gathered herself together, controlling her breathing. "Go on"
"Theres an event happening. I want to wait." Salazar said. "I can't charge in at a time like this so I'm going to wait"
At the mention of an event, Marians face lit up with mischief. "An event? What sorts of it?" She asked.
"A mid-term Ball" Salazar sighed "In a day or so. I haven't been keeping good track but its happening. The Great Hall is already decorated. Once its over I will, and I promise, give you Hogwarts. And your son" he said. Marian was more than intrigued and pocketed her wand away.
"Lets spice things up a little. You agreed to attempt and turn those four friends against each other, no?" She asked.
  "I did. Once a student was cursed by the journal, they were not on speaking terms for a long time. They some how managed to band together again" Salazar sighed.
"That Basilisk is the only thing to tear them apart right now, but, lets add some magical help to it" Marian said devilishly. Salazar hadn't seemed impressed, but rather suspicious. "Oh you don't get it" Marian said with a pout. Putting her hands together and stepping closer, she spoke.
"My dear boy, have you not heard of a Dementor?"

   Nobody had spoken to each other. Nor could they be in the same room together, afraid that one or the other might attack them. Poveglia Patson had gone about her business at times, given she had more friends than Lithos and Algar combined. She ignored them easily, seeming as if all was well. They agreed on going to the Mid-Term ball as a group of friends, but non verbally decided they should avoid each other.

As for Thera, Simon and Cairo, they had been rather shaken up, but remained a trio. Nobody wanted to reminisce about that nights events, including Poveglias violent actions. They focused on the upcoming ball, and remembered that even Professor H said it was a time to relax, heal and have fun.
  Simon went downstairs and approached the Hufflepuff Common Room, a wall of barrels acting as a door. He tapped his wand on a barrel, hoping someone would hear him. Soon enough a barrel had rolled away and revealed Cairo who was crouching in the hole to the room. "Simon!" He smiled. "Sorry, we should really teach you the pattern..." he said, as Simon followed him through the hole.
  Simon always liked the Ravenclaw Common Room, but enjoyed the Hufflepuff one more. It was low-ceilinged and round, giving it an earthy aroma. It made you feel welcomed, a feeling you'd get when you were at home. Plants of every color and shape were potted around the Room, making it impossible for you not to miss it. there were poorly sewn sacks huddled under one of the small round windows that let in just the right amount of sun. Thera was already there and Simon and Cairo sat in the sacks, slowly sinking.
  "It still surprises me that nobody seems to acknowledge another House student is here" Simon laughed.
"Nobody really minds honestly" Thera said. "Everyone is welcome here. Even Slytherins. Only if there nice, but that seems hard to come by now"
"Did you hear about the new girl?" Cairo asked.
"Theres a new student?" Simon asked, picking up a living and breathing cacti who smiled and waved his prickly arm.
"Apparently she was in two Houses at once" Cairo gossiped .
"Thats not possible" Simon said, smiling back at the abnormally happy, living, cacti.
"It sure is" Thera said. "Apparently she was in Gryffindor and Hufflepuff!"
Simonn looked up at Thera with unappealing eyes. "Impossible. So she basically got to choose?"
Cairo nodded. "But people say she visits our Common room once in awhile. She eventually ended up choosing Gryffindor"
"No need for an explanation..." Simon trailed off.
Isla entered the common room, and luckily, it was fairly empty, only having the three friends turn their heads in her direction.
"Is that her?" Thera whispered. "What happened to her eye?"
In the same second, Thera had heard the Basilisk voice again.
"Agh!" she said loudly, covering her ears. Isla hadn't noticed, because she heard it too, but seemed unaffected by it. She furrowed her brow and looked about the Room, as if she was trying to pin point the source.
"Thera, you all right? I don't think hearing snakes language is supposed to hurt...."Cairo asked.
"It just gives me a dreadful headache" Thera said, rubbing her temple. "It keeps saying, kill, and mudbloods. It says more but I can't understand it."
"Neither can she" Simon pointed out. "That new girl is a Parseltounge too! Did you see that?"
Cairo and Thera looked at Isla who was now still looking uneasy, her eyebrows still scrunched.
"Do you think she can hear it?" Cairo quietly asked.
"I Think she's trying to find it" Thera said.
Isla gave up on the voice, and settled back into the Common room, finding a cluster of more waving and smiling cacti.