After Hogwarts: A New Evil Emerges

Author's Notes: I messed up with Allesandra's eye color in earlier chapter. Her original eye color is green. Not blue. Sorry.

The Next Night

"Mother?"

Allesandra stiffened for a moment, then turned away from the window to see Mali standing at the entrance of a unused bedroom. "When did you get here?"

"Cana let me in about 10 minutes ago."Mali answered, stepping into the faint moonlight, her silver hair glinting off the moonlight. She slipped her cloak off, setting it on the bed.

"Why are you with your husband?"

"He's busy searching archives for Meta's and Illusioners. They got a small break in the case. He'll be home later." Mali glanced around the room. "I never been in this room before."

"It was Cassandra's. It's the first time I've been in here since her death,"Alle said quietly before turning back to look out the window.

"She like the color red huh?" Mali grinned. The whole room was shades of red, except for the floor rug which was white."

"Yes. Definitely favored it." Alle sighed. "You know what day it is today?"

"Of course. December 10th. Snow's almost here. Suppose to be arriving tomorrow. I'm going to have to let off the enchantments around the house, so Raven can enjoy the snow for a bit during the holidays." Mali joined her mother by the window.

Allesandra stared at her daughter briefly, wondering if Mali had known that she forced her daughter to drink a potion when she was younger to alter her looks somewhat. The potion had gradually changed her hair and eyes overnight. If she hadn't done that, she would of been looking at a female version of Tom Riddle before he had changed his appearance. When Mali was born she inherited her unwanted father's looks. Allesandra didn't want that on her conscience even more...so she found a way to prevent it. The potion itself created a new look for Mali as she aged. Malicia had just assumed that the powers that careening in Allesandra's body affected her as well and just went haywire on her hair and eyes.

"The new year will be upon us soon...and the anniversary of her..."Alle trailed off.

Malicia then understood. "Ah. Yes. It was on January first wasn't it when Voldemort sent her to you?"

Allesandra blanched for a moment. That was one her worst days in her life, next to coming home to her village and finding everyone dead. She had opened the front door, and lying on the ground....was Cassandra. She hated the beginning of every new year. She started it off by visiting her daughter's stone(Cassandra was given a Fire Funeral for her spying activities against Voldemort), and staying there for the whole day and night, basically withdrawing from the whole world. When Mali was younger, she learned not to bother her mother for about a week around that anniversary."

"It still hurts after so many years."

Mali nodded. "How many has it been?"

Alle blinked for a moment. "Many. I sent her to spy on Voldemort uh...six years before the Potter's death I believe. She kept it up for three. And of course as you full know thanks to that wretched man, I masqueraded as Marisol for about two...maybe two and half years. When I found out I was pregnant with you...I believe Lily Potter was getting ready to give birth to Harry. And you're in your..."

"I'm 46...thank you for bringing that up,"Mali said ruefully.

"You don't look like you're past 25,"Alle snapped. "And neither does Harry really. You both age very well. Then again our kind always did. So...3 years before the Potter's, 1977....it's 2027 now....it's been half a century since Cassie died."

"50 years Mother...don't you think...well don't you think it's best to let it go now? You shouldn't isolate yourself."

"It's my fault she's dead Mali."Alle said softly. "I sent her into the snake pit so to speak. She didn't have much practice with the Dark Arts, and I sent her in there nearly blind. She got too entrenched in them...Voldemort was showing her too much...she got obsessed with them... I couldn't get her out...and then Angel ratted her out..I never had the chance to save her." The old witch sighed, the weight of her actions finally bringing her down. "My isolation is my penance. And I will continue it."

"Mother..."

"Mali don't argue with me. If you had your way when you were younger I would probably have joined Cassandra. You still haven't fully forgiven me for keeping those terrible secrets from you. You had a very hard childhood because of me. You had to deal with the constant harrassment of having me as a mother, being judged before anyone knew you...and when it was let out that Voldemort was your...." Allesandra paused at that. She rarely spoke of the night she became pregnant, not because she didn't want to remember it...but because she didn't remember it. All she remembered was passing out after a group dinner...someone put something in her drink...then waking up the next morning in Voldemort's bed...naked.

"I got harrassed, judged even more."Mali finished. "Mainly due to the fact Harry and I were involved. Of course they dug up my past indiscretions, getting expelled from 12 schools, finally being homeschooled by you. Yes. I still haven't fully forgiven you for lying to me about my parentage, but I also understand now."

Allesandra nodded and then quickly changed the subject. "So should Raven and James be coming home soon?"

Mali rolled her eyes. "Yes. In about a week or so. Or course James wants to stay at Hogwarts but he's not. Draca and Damien should be coming to spend the holidays with Savannah and Draco. And from what I heard from Ron, the Weasley's will be having a huge gathering as usual. Looks like another stop for Harry and us."

"The Weasley's are his second family. Haven't they accepted you yet?"

Mali smiled. "In a sense. Mainly for Harry's sake." Mali shrugged. "I know in Molly's eyes I'm just a substitute for Ginny. But for the rest of them, I don't really care."

"Yes you do. You're just better than most when it comes to putting on a face."Allesandra cupped her daughter's cheek. "You always wanted to be accepted Mali. I watched you when you were younger, desperately trying to get accepted by the other children...by your teachers."

"I had friends."

"Very few. And you didn't associate with them very much. When you got older I had noticed that you stopped verbally seeking acceptance, and just seemed to accept the fact that no one would trust you because of me. In a very good way I am glad Harry came into your life. The Weasleys may not have fully accepted you, the wizarding world itself may not of fully accepted you, but they now trust you."

"Maybe it helps that I don't speak Parseltongue?"Mali joked,trying to lighten the mood.

Allesandra snorted. "I don't either....and it may of hurt Harry's reputation at first, but it doesn't now. Do either of the children speak Parselongue?"

"If they do, they haven't told anyone. I know Damien can speak Draconic. He's the first wizard in 600 years to be discovered speaking the dragon language. Apparently he's decided to work with dragons after he gets out of Hogwarts. Draco doesn't like it."

"Not surprising. Does James have any idea what he's doing after he graduates this year?"

"He's gotten an offer to play seeker for 4 different Quidditch teams, an offer by the MOM in England to become an Auror, and AWC has offered him an apprenticeship for the MMIA. No decision yet...truly unlike his sister."

"Oh?"Allesandra raised an eyebrow. "Only four years into schooling and she knows what she wants to do?"

Mali grinned. "She wants to be part of The Renegades."

"Oh dear Merlin. Has she told Harry?"

"During the summer. A rip roaring argument followed that remark. Why do you think she ran here? I tell you, the secret passageway you got between our home and here sometimes helps."

Both women laughed for a few moments. "So I take it Harry doesn't approve?"

"Not one fucking bit. I think this is one thing father and daughter don't really see eye to eye on."

"No parent ever really sees eye to eye with their children."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two Days Later
Hogwarts


"Damn it, why won't it form?"

"You have to think of a happy memory, Longbottom. That's the way a Patronus works!"

"Easier said than done."

"Oh shut up. And say the incantation right. Expecto Patronum!"

"What we need is a dementor."

"Like fucking hell we do!"

"It'll just make it easier, that's all I'm saying."

"Sure. And let's everyone suddenly feel suicidal while we're at it. No one here needs to feel happy."

"We could use a boggart."

"It won't take the form of a dementor, unless someone here truly fears a dementor. Hey lets bring Raven up here! Didn't she have a nasty incident with one a couple years ago?"

"I doubt she'd like to be reminded of that."

"Expecto Patronum!....Damn it! I almost had it!"

"You almost had it like you almost had Nancy Triton in your bed last night Finnegan."

"Hey!"

James looked at Lorena who shook her head. Her patronus, a cat was perfectly formed.

"The things that are said during the DA,"She muttered as she passed him, going over to the shelves of books.

Yes. The things that are said. Too many people talking so therefore a lot of stuff got said. In fact too much.

"Hey Longbottom, you almost got a form!"

"Really?"

"No."

"Stuff it Norris! At least I can do a proper reducto curse!"

"Now that's going low Longbottom. Proud of you. Finally dished out a real insult."

James had enough. If Nigel Norris and Longbottom continued, he might end up having a fight on his hands. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled"Okay, so who's staying over for the holidays?"

Silence. Blessed silence.

About 10 hands went up, in the midst of 60 students. James sighed. Well so much for the DA practicing during the holidays. Jade glanced up from one of the defense books she was reading and arched an eyebrow.

"Sorry James. Remember? The whole gang of Weasley's are getting together."

"Merlin, that ought to be a sight," one of the Hufflepuffs said in amazement.

"What is it Jade? About 40 off us I'm assuming?"

"If Uncle Bill comes, it'll be 50 I think."

"Hey, we can start our own army!"

The gang of red haired students burst out laughing as James shook his head. Other students started going around talking about their plans for the holidays. Lorena Granger was apparently taking some sort of notes,for she was in the corner with Duncan Weasley, Charlie's eldest. In his year as well.

The DA ended up being an intricate part of the school. Famously, and secretly started by his own father and his friends, the DA had quickly caught on. After the fall of Voldemort, new students who heard about it from the others decided to get it together again, with the help of a certain house-elf named Dobby.

He led the new students, every year to the Room of Requirement. It was stated that any third year and up were allowed to join. When James, Lorena, and Jade made it into their third year, the three of them took over the DA from the last three leaders. Although the teachers knew what went on at least twice a week, they never let on. The Headmistress herself had actually shown up for a couple meetings.

A lot of students had joined this year, eager to learn new jinxes, hexes, protections spells and of course to try and pull of a patronus. James's patronus took the form of an eagle. Rumor had it around school that Raven could do one as well and it took the form of her namesake. This year a lot of Ravenclaws,and Hufflepuffs had joined, including 3 Slytherins.

Historically, the past couple decades the Slytherin's never joined in. They had their own dueling club and pretty much left things to their own. But this year seemed to have brought in a couple defected Slytherins.

Speaking of the Slytherin's, James turned to his right to see the three of them in a corner, going over a potions book. Georgina Weasley, much to Uncle George's dismay was a Slytherin and a 5th year, and she was joined by Katrina Jacobsen, an american and 4th year, and Nicolas Carlucci, another seventh year and a beater on the Slytherin Quidditch team.

"Mom's taking us to Egypt,"A third year said as James passed her and three others.

"We're going to Japan. Cousins or something over there."

"California."

"France. And then Italy. After that we'll be going to Spain."

"I hate you Lowell."

"Oh well. I'll add your name to the list of people that already do."

James made his way over to the Slytherins."I already know about the family gathering Geogina,"James interrupted the three of them, "but are either of you two staying for the holidays?"


Nicolas and Katrina shook their heads. "Going to France and Kat's going to Italy. What about you Potter?"

"Going home as well," he answered grumpily. "Was kind of hoping Mom could talk Dad into letting me stay here, but he's a little busy...dealing with this new dark witch and everything."

"Yeah I heard the Malfoys and Raven talking about it in the common room. Apparently your sister isn't too keen on going home either. And apparently after her request to stay here got shot down, she asked then if she could stay with your grandmother."

"Any response to that?"

"None that we know of. I dragged Mr Nosy out of there so we wouldn't be late." Katrina interrupted. "Hey did you know there's a potion called the Irreversible Polyjuice Potion?"

"No."

"Apparently, it's like the regular Polyjuice Potion, you know taking the form of someone else for an hour, but in this one, the person who takes it can't reverse the effects. He or she is stuck as that person they took the form as for...like ever."Katrina flipped the page. "The only way to reverse it and give the drinker back to his or her's original form is for the drinker to die and have his or her body burned during the ancient honor Fire Funeral." She paused. "Although you still wouldn't be able to tell, because the body is burning...you can't see shit."

"Can't you tell if the person keeps on saying they aren't who they look like?" Georgina asked, picking up a dueling book. James frowned.

"I suppose. But people probably still wouldn't believe. I mean even potions can't reverse this one. Maybe some really old magic. But the book doesn't say what." Kat looked up. "Pretty nasty if you ask me. You could be forced to take the form of an insane murderer and end up paying for his or her crimes. And the person who forced the other to drink it is off scot free." She glanced back down at the book. "Of course it's nearly impossible to make. It's even harder to brew than the original potion. A lock of unicorn hair, a drop of Basilisk poison, a vial of a Chinese Fireball's blood, a crushed up claw of a werewolf...you gotta be fucking suicidal or have a death wish in order to make this."