Under The Midnight Sky

Voldemort paced the length of the study while his onlookers watched. He did not know what to think of the situation. He paused long enough to look their way. He watched as Marquis gave a silent dismissal of this two followers. Severus and Lucius both stood, bowed, and left the room without anther word. He fumed as he watched his followers listen to Marquis without even asking leave by him. Something was going on but at least he was free to talk to the only one who counted at the moment.
Marquis sighed as he watched Voldemort pace. It had been nearly two hours since his daughter attacked. Even so, he still had plans to be carried out. He gave a nod to Lucius and Severus for them to leave. The quietly left the room to find his daughter. They were to take her a week earlier than planned. He hated that he had to do it but there was no other way before one attacked the other yet again. He promised himself that it would be only temporary. He gave a sigh and decided to start the conversation.
“Would you sit down before you wear a hole in my new carpet.” Marquis said. Voldemort stopped and sat down in a chair facing Marquis.
“Who is her other parent?” Voldemort asked.
“Why would you ask that?” Marquis replied.
“It is why you left. You had an affair, got pregnant, and left.”
“Who said that?”
“I have ears. It was whispered everywhere, the topic of choice for many. I couldn’t go anywhere without hearing about it. At least you could have kept it a secret.” Voldemort hissed.
“Don’t believe everything you hear. You kept us apart and drove me away. I was always there but you never noticed. I stood by your side for so long that I began to slip into the shadows. That was when you began to use me as your assassin.”
“No I would never have used you like that!” Voldemort yelled.
“You saved the most dangerous missions to me with strict instructions or you would destroy me! You used me and left me for dead! You didn’t see the many times that I was nearly caught or destroyed by you!”
“That is not true! You were by my side helping with the plans. Never once did I place you in danger. To use you like that would have betrayed…”
“Believe what you want but you did betray the clan laws and me. I stayed true and followed your word, even if it nearly cost my own! Now hand over my pendant. It was just a loaner to get you here.” Marquis said as he opened his hand for the pendant.
“I never tried to kill you!” Voldemort’s temper rose. He took hold of the pendant and yanked the chain off his neck, breaking the links. He shoved the pendant into Marquis’s out stretched hand, showing his anger.
“Really? Then open your eyes! You tried every possible way to kill me, even rejecting me the way you did!” Marquis fumed as he stood up and stormed across the room, the pendant held tightly in his hand. As he reached the door, he heard one last question.
“Just tell me, who is the other parent?”
“If you must know,” Marquis began as he opened the door. “You.” With that final word, he slipped out of the room, leaving a very stunned Dark Lord behind.

Hyacintha and Auaraya stood in their newly painted room with many of the council members and Elders. Each one was viewing different parts of the room. Many wanted the old arrangements back but many more were just as impressed by the changes. They each began to view the symbols around the room, including the ceiling and floor. As each one began to study the ceiling, they began to notice that each piece of furniture had the same symbol upon it. The girls thought they did a wonderful job in the short amount of time for them to complete it. The room was really impressive, just the right impression that everyone wanted to have. The girls grinned as each council member began to take a chair at the table. As the Elders began to pull up chairs, the table began to expand to make room for the added people. Everyone was impressed by the girls’ changes.
The girls were to change everything back but no one had it in them to do that. It was better than it had been. No one wanted to be on the bad side of the girls. Especially if they were able create everything in the room. It took a lot of magic and power in order to accomplish what they had done in so short amount of time. Tensions rose the moment Marquis walked through the door. His temper flaring, leaving many wondering what had gotten him so angry. Hyacintha felt his temper and pressed close to Auaraya. She knew her father could be dangerous. Auaraya placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as they stood silent. They knew if anyone of the members made him even angrier, Auaraya would protect Hyacintha and get her out fast. It took a moment before Marquis saw the changes. He was just as impressed as everyone else. He had come up with different excuses for the girls but none prepared him for the improvements. He headed to the chair at the head of the table and took a seat. He took a moment to try and reign in his temper before nodding to the girls. The girls stepped closer to the table and began to make their presentation.
“We felt that the room needed to be improved. We first just wanted to paint the room but then as ideas began to form, we decided on what you see before you.” Hyacintha began.
“As you can see, we used the symbols of each of the different clans along the walls. These are to show the proper respect for each clan as to not let our society as a whole to over shadow each clan. The symbol on the ceiling is to represent these clans coming together to form one society under one leadership. Even though each clan as members in this council, and have their own set of laws, we function as one. The last symbol is on the floor. This one takes up most of the floor which is right under your feet.” Auaraya said.
“This has a special purpose. As each member wears a protection pendant, this symbol stands for protection. It is also the only one that has an activation to it. Any member of the clan can activate it for protection but only my father has control over it. This symbol can be used to track any member of the clan as long as they wear their pendant. If one gets injured and cannot return, the symbol will glow and allow the member a way to get out of any situation. Also, if someone goes missing, my father can use the symbol to locate that person. There is also a few more elements to it. He can also direct battles from here. He can use the symbol to view any battle and with his telepathic link to everyone, he can change battle tactics. Last, the symbol can even be used for protection from intruders. If somehow, an enemy got in here, the symbol will burn bright red and shields would activate. Only clan members will be able to pass over the symbol while all others would be harmed.” Hyacintha explained.
“We felt that with everyone wearing the pendants more and more lately, we needed to have a safe place to return to if we ever fell into more trouble than we could not handle.” Auaraya finished.
“In a way, this is the safest room in this place. Not only will it protect the clan but with my father’s thoughts could hold someone who feels to be a threat against the clan. If unsure of a person’s true motives, then they can be placed in the middle of the symbol and held until their true purpose could be brought to light.” Hyacintha said stepping closer to the table. She could see her father’s struggle to take control over his anger and show how he was even impressed.
The council was very impressed by all the girls did. They could not find any flaw within their reasoning. The members sitting the closest to Marquis held such high pride that the young girls came from their clan. No decision would be final until Marquis casted his vote. The room was in full agreement over the changes.
“I say we allow these two to change our ritual room as well. It is obvious that they know what they were doing.” One member said.
“We should not change something that has been working for us for centuries.”
“Times are changing and so must we. It was only several months before our lord returned that I was contacted for an alliance among a band of Wizards.”
“Wizards?” Hyacintha questioned as her gaze turned to the member sitting the closest to her. Her eyes held such hatred in them.
“Yes. There are two opposing sides in the Wizard World and each side has been trying to make alliances before the other. They are preparing for something big, some big battle.”
“ No one is to take any action if approached again. I don’t want the knowledge that we have come together to get out. I will personally take care of those matters. If approached again simply state that our kind do not trust theirs because of events that took place before. I have allies in their world who I have trusted my life and that of my daughters. They have proved themselves as trustworthy and will help t decide who can be trusted and who cannot.” Marquis said causing every head to look his way.
“How sure are you that you could trust them?” one questioned him.
“I am having the, take my daughter with them when they leave here. One of them is to keep her safe for a while. “Marquis said while keeping his eyes on his daughter. He wanted her to learn who she can trust from those she couldn’t. He knew her hate of the Wizard World was due to his hatred over certain events. Her views were reflections of his while they were on the run. Only hers ran even deeper over the years.
“NO! I DON’T WANT TO GO!” Hyacintha yelled, her anger showing. Auaraya raised an eyebrow at her friend’s outburst before placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“We have discussed this before. It is the only way to show you that some can be trusted. Severus Snape will be your guardian for a while until things can settle around here. Besides, look at it as a way to learn about a part of yourself that you have been kept away from.” Marquis smirked knowing her daughter loved a challenge.
“What do you mean?” Hyacintha asked as she calmed back down.
“I have decided that the girls will work on the ritual room tonight. We will all take a lesson from them and improve the rest of the castle. We may even expand it. Dismissed.” Marquis said as he stood up. He watched as everyone began to leave the room. He kept his eyes on his daughter until everyone left the room. He did not want everyone to know the information that he was about to say be known.
“What did you mean?” Hyacintha asked again.
“The one you attacked today wasn’t just a friend of Lucius and Severus’s but their employer sort of speak. He was also close to me at one point in time.” Marquis began.
“What are you getting at?”
“He is your father. His kind of magic is different from ours. That is one reason we can assume that you can feel when one of their kind are close by before the others. It is the only explication that anyone has ever come up with. “ Marquis said.
“Why did you not tell me?” Hyacintha questioned.
“I did not know he was still alive until recently. To avoid another encounter such as the one that happened earlier, Severus has agreed to take you with him earlier than planned. Auaraya, you will go with her and protect her. I am telling you this as your first mission given by your lord. I know that you are still considered a young one, not yet an adult. In their world, you would be a legal adult. Do what you must to protect your charge. You will be the youngest protector in the clan. Please use this time to learn from your elders until you leave. Starting after you two finished with the ritual room. You leave tomorrow.” Marquis said leaving the room. He had more business to attend to however much he wanted to spend time with his daughter before she left.

Hyacintha and Auaraya walked into the ritual room with more red paint. This time they did not have to hide what they were doing. They looked around the room and sighed. The room was in even worse shape than the meeting rom. There was broken fixtures were everywhere, no piece of furniture left, and no lighting at all. It was as if the room had been a banded and then destroyed. Nothing remained to tell what the room was used for. The girls glanced at one another before beginning their work. It would take a while to complete the room .
They sat the paint down and conjured cleaning supplies. They allowed their magic to work in the places they could not reach which they sped the process along by cleaning where they could reach. It took a while but once they finished the floor, the girls let their magic to the rest while they began to paint the same symbol on the floor as they did in the other room. Once difference was that the symbol would not take up most of the room, just wide enough for what needed to be done. They moved on to the walls and then the ceiling.
Once the room was painted to their liking, they sat in the middle of the symbol. They began to work their magic on the symbol for what they wanted before opening the magazine yet again. They each began to think of what would look best in the room. It was a little harder to decide than the other room. Not much was needed but they could not agree on what to make.
“We don’t need a lot of furniture for this room.” Auaraya said as they flipped through the magazine.
“No but maybe have tables along the walls to hold everything required. It would be easier to find and no one would have to worry about the younger ones getting into anything since we will design something for the door as well.” Hyacintha said.
“How about this, I pick the table and you pick the fabric. We can then place what is needed on the tables when we set it up.” Auaraya said. Hyacintha agreed and together, the room was done in no time at all. As the girls picked out the items, their magic worked together and placed the wanted objects where they wanted them. They looked around the newly lit room and smiled. Candles lined the walls giving off just the right lighting needed. Tables were lined against all the walls with black velvet fabric covering them. There were candles placed around the table to see the objects better. Hyacintha stepped into the middle of the symbol and closed her eyes.
“What are you doing?” Auaraya asked stepping closer to her friend.
“We have to test it somehow. Since my father is not here, we can test it on me.” Hyacintha said calmly.
Auaraya raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. She said nothing as Hyacintha concentrated. Soon the room lit up even brighter. Auaraya smirked as she looked around. Hyacintha grinned before stepping out of the symbol. The minute she crossed over the symbol, the room darkened some.
“We finished before your father thought. Maybe we can do the training room. We can even practice. You still have training that only I can teach you. “Auaraya said as the girls headed for the door.
“Sure, you still need to teach me to blend into the shadows so well.” Hyacintha said as she followed her friend out the door. As soon as they stepped out of the room, they came across the last person they thought they would see. Severus stood there with his arms crossed leaning against the wall. The girls stopped as soon as he moved away from the wall and took the few steps to them.
“Your father figured you would finish early. He wants to see you. Auaraya you are to report to the training room. “Snape said as he walked away. The girls just looked at one another before heading into different directions.

Snape wandered through the castle as each member sought out a room. Dawn was fast approaching. Even though the clan could enter daylight, it weakened them greatly. He knew the younger ones would not feel the effects until they reached a certain age but sometimes it would happen. He continued his patrol around the castle until he met up with Lucius. They nodded to one another before slipping off together. They approached their room and slipped inside unseen.
An hour later, Severus laid content within Lucius’s arms. He laid his head on Lucius’s chest as Lucius held him, his left hand stroking his hair. Neither one said a word as they listened as the dawn broke. They did not need to get up right away and were fine just as they were. Each one wanting their moment to last a while said nothing, just listening to the quiet.
“As much as we both would love to lay around in bed all day, we do have things to take care of before we leave today.” Lucius finally spoke.
“No.” Severus replied snuggling closer to the warm body.
Lucius chuckled, “I am afraid so. After all, plans do need to be made if I am going to have extra rooms ready.”
“What do you mean? I was left responsible for Cintha, not you.”Severus said.
“I know but I can’t have you taking her back to that place you call home. Not when I have enough rooms for you all.” Lucius replied with a smirk.
“Ah, then by all means, right your letters from here. I for one am not ready to get up.” Severus replied with a smirk of his own.
Lucius’s sat up in the bed as Severus made himself more comfortable on Lucius. He summand his quill and parchment and began to write the letters he needed. As he wrote, Severus grew bored and ended up laying on top of Lucius. He began to kiss his neck and slowly made his way down. Lucius did his best to concentrate on the letters but soon lost his focus. He sat the letter down and flipped them over so that he was on top.
“Two can play that game.” Lucius smiled as he began to kiss the younger man. Soon, all thoughts of the plans that needed to be made where gone, only thoughts of pleasure remand.