Death's Mediator

Winter is here

Disclaimer: I own nothing. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter XI

1991 – December 15th, Hogwarts, Scotland

It had been almost a month since Vera had overheard the "Golden Trio" and Hagrid after that first quidditch match. Vera hadn't been bothered by any of it, there was nothing for her to be concerned about. Vera continued on as she always did, maintaining top marks in class watching as Lilliana grew until she reached 88.3 centimeters (2.8 feet – full average grown height of adult wolves) she reached Vera just slightly above her hips. Liliana was still unfriendly to almost everyone except for a few that have somehow made the wolf like them. Vera would hang out with her sister and the other first year Slytherins. Throughout the last couple of weeks, Vera has to hide a smirk or chuckle when the three "wittle bitty Gryffindors" are frustrated by whatever they were unable to find. Vera could only assume that it had something to do with what the Cerberus was guarding. Though it wasn't difficult to figure out what it was.

The sorcerer's stone or philosopher's stone.

The one thing that if used with a properly brewed elixir of life could give the drinker eternal life as long as they continued to use the stone. And just like Vera knew what it was done there, she also knew just WHO was after it. And it was her Alpha mate: Thomas Riddle or Voldemort.

Early on in December there was the slight chilly air with bouts of rain that dominates almost all of British season which soon turned into snow now that they have reached the middle of the month. The lake that she had rested next too and read had frozen over and not even swirls could be seen underneath the top layer of ice meaning that it was frozen several feet down.

Vera thought back to all the gifts that she had owl ordered for her sister and few friends in Slytherin, her poor Hedwig refused to leave her perch for anything, even going so far as to let Vera feed her frozen mice and rats that Vera had gotten from Eeylops, which she absolutely hated, just so she didn't have to go back out into the snow. Luckily for her, Vera was able to get her Beta mate's gift before the snow set in it would have been impossible to get it otherwise. Though Vera couldn't believe that she had been able to get it for Severus, but she had already wrapped it and prepared to be sent off it him at Yule. Now all she had do to was sit and read as everything was ready to go.

Though Vera preferred to curl up next to the multiple fires in her common room with Liliana next to her and a good book. Sometimes Cypress would lay next to her and have her sister read to her like when they were much younger back at the orphanage but Cypress was more social than Veratrum would ever be and so Cypress would be out with her friends all around the castle. But for now Vera was neither in the hallways nor in the common room, she was in the Great Hall preparing for lunch. She was one of the few in the Great Hall as the majority of the students and teachers who hadn't planned to stay for the holidays were packing. The book in her hands enticed her though now she was no longer reading Russian but now German. Only the whiny voice of her adolescent delta mate had her focusing on those around her once again.

"I do feel sorry," Draconis's voice sounded throughout the entire Great Hall, but then again there were only about twenty people in the hall and he was speaking rather loudly, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."

Vera scowled, "Me and my sister will be staying here this Yuletide Draconis."

Draco jumped slightly no doubt in surprise as well as trying to hide the fact that he just insulted the Peverell heiress and sister. Vera could only chuckle as she watched Draco sweat a little at having insulted them,

"Do not stress to much Draco," Cypress took over for her sister, "we don't take offense."

Vera turned back to her breakfast, "though you should take care of what you say. You never know when you might just offend someone who WILL take offense."