Ravenstar: Chapter Eleven

[eaivalefay]

Chapter 11: Intermission from Hogwarts

Nalian was currently sitting on a soft, cream-colored sofa, contemplating how the meeting with the Council of Elders would go. Derek claimed it would go smoothly. But being an Elder himself, Derek didn’t seem to remember how intimidating thirteen old, powerful, and ultimately rather flippantly cruel, vampires could be.

They could be very intimidating, to say the least.

He wondered how Derek would prevent the others from demanding a mind-rape; where they forced their presence into his mind, viewing every memory Nalian possessed. Certainly the simple fact that he was a favorite of the dark elven king helped his case, but that wouldn’t stop them if they thought he was hiding something, or just plain forgetting something. Some of the Elders might demand it anyway, as seeing every memory of his would be a possible way for some of the discontent vampire leaders to declare war with the dark elves.

‘Not exactly how I wanted to spend my first trip home.’ Nalian thought wryly as the door to the parlor slid open. "Darian?" He asked incredulously as the elven king himself strode into the room.

"Nalian," Darian pulled him into a smothering hug. "I’ll admit I’ve missed you more than I thought I would."

"I’ll take that as a compliment," Came the muffled response. Shock was his first response. His family was very rarely emotional in more public areas and here he’d gotten two hugs in one night. "What are you doing here?"

"Don’t be daft." The elf snapped. "Do you think I’d let that flea-infested council anywhere near you without my presence?" Nalian smiled at his mentor. So that was how any mind intrusions would be prevented. The council would never do something like that without Darian’s full permission while Darian was present at the meeting. Going against a direct order pertaining to an innocent subject under Darian’s rule would be seriously stupid and would certainly damage the vampire-elf alliance.

There was a light cough. "I’m going to ignore that, Darian, since I’m nearly positive you were referring to my colleagues and not myself." Derek said.

Nalian smirked, "I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Darian insults everybody."

Derek nodded, smirking as well. "It’s a wonder he’s still king."

"It’s a wonder he ever became king." Caran muttered, having quietly followed Darian into the room.

"Why are you my advisor again?" The elf huffed.

"Because I’m the only one who could stand to be your advisor, sire?" Caran returned innocently.

Darian ignored him. "Let’s get this disguise off of you. I barely know you, looking like some redheaded human." A few minutes, and a lot of unnecessary chanting (elves liked to show off, even if there weren’t any onlookers to ooh and awe), later and Nalian was returned to his natural form. It felt as if he had removed a too tight costume and slipped into a pair of pajamas after a long day’s work.

"Now before we’re carted off to deal with those insipid opportunists I would like to speak with Nalian privately."

"We’ll wait outside." Caran literally dragged Derek from the room. Not that dragging on the vampire’s arm would have done any good if Derek hadn’t been willing to leave.

As soon as the door closed Darian demanded, "What’s wrong?"

"Wrong?" Came the pert response.

"Don’t play stupid, Nalian." Darian said. "Derek mentioned sensing something, but even if he hadn’t your indecision is all over your face."

"There’s nothing showing on my face. Even if there were a problem I’m too good at hiding things for it to be so obvious."

"Maybe not to others, but I can read you like an open book."

Nalian rolled his eyes, "arrogant."

"True, but I’m also right."

"It’s not important."

"If it weren’t important, you wouldn’t feel such need to hide it from me, would you?" Darian returned.

"Let me rephrase that, it’s not as important as seeing the elders." Nalian sighed at Darian’s look of immovable resolution. "Look, lets go see the flea-infested elders and if there’s time enough after we’ll talk, alright?"

"Fine, but there will be time enough afterward." Darian said, leading the way out of the room, more from habit than anything else.

Nalian rolled his eyes again, suspecting he’d be doing that a lot tonight, and followed his lord. ‘Damn stubborn elf. He’s too used to getting his way.’ Nalian thought. ‘But then so are you.’ A vengeful little voice said in the back of his mind. ‘Shut up.’ He told the voice before turning to Derek. "Is there anything I need to know?"

Derek shook his head. "Be honest. They’ll know if you lie, but you already knew that."

"And if you give them cause to believe your lying they’ll demand to read your thoughts, which cannot be allowed." Caran reminded.

"I’m well aware." Nalian said snippily. "I’ve not been gone so long as to forget the century-old politics between ourselves and the vampires."

"Be polite." Darian advised. "I’m sure at least a couple of them will try to anger you."

"And this is where we part ways." Derek said before Nalian could give another irritated retort. "Caran will go with you the rest of the way, but won’t enter the room with you. Lord Darian and myself will be going in through a separate entrance."

Nalian nodded and sketched a small wave good-bye as Caran led him onward.

"Don’t look so worried. You’ll be fine." The older elf said. "What’s talking to a few vampires next to spying for months without reprieve?"

They stopped at a set of large, black double doors. They had to be at least three times as tall as Nalian was, and nearly as wide. "Nice intimidation technique." Nalian muttered. "Don’t worry, you say, but I feel as if I’m about to lose the contents of my stomach."

"You’ll be fine." Caran repeated. "I have to leave; only those who are summoned are allowed to stay when the doors open. Don’t enter until you’re called forward."

Nalian waved a hand at him, knowing that if he tried to speak he’d be unable to.

After ten minutes of worrying himself sick Nalian decided he really, truly despised waiting. Another five minutes went by before the doors slowly creaked open. In any other circumstance Nalian would’ve found the attempt at being ominous and foreboding hysterical, but right at that moment he felt it was a really successful ploy.

The door opened to blackness. He couldn’t see anything in the room at all, but he felt the eyes. ‘What, are they going to just sit there and watch me all night?’ He wondered in irritation. ‘All right, Nalian, it’s time to pull yourself together. I can do this. I’ve faced worse. I just can’t remember what that ‘worse’ is right now...’

It took them another five minutes before they finally called him forward.

He walked forward, back straight and head held high. ‘Show no weakness.’ That was rule number three in Darian’s book. Never show weakness to someone you don’t trust, unless it will further your cause.

The room was still pitch black when he walked into it, but his footsteps didn’t falter. He could feel the walls of the room, knew it was octagonal in shape, knew there was a tall dais ahead of him where fifteen currently sat: the thirteen elders, the king of the dark elves, and a clerk.

Now that the waiting was over, now that he had even the smallest bit of control over his situation, the anxiety left Nalian, leaving a detached sort of calm in its wake.

-------

"You are sure?"

"Positive, my lord." The short, stout man discreetly shifted away from the wizard pacing in front of the fireplace, rubbing his sweaty hands against his robes. This was a place he didn’t want to be at the moment.

Voldemort was angry. Well, that was really nothing new, but at this moment his anger had increased tenfold.

"I was assured," he ground out, "that I would have another sixty vampires at my side by next week!" He snarled. Something shattered in one of the many shadows of the room.

"The-they said they’d have more support, but it will take another month, sir." The man had not gotten where he was today by being at the wrong place at the wrong time. He always knew when he should avoid his lord, and therefore the wrath of his lord, and he definitely knew now was a good time to be anywhere but where he was currently standing.

Glowing red eyes met his. "Marshall, we do not have a month to wait." The voice spoke softly, but it wasn’t a tone to be comforted by. "I have plans to put into action." He paused. "I was promised a delivery I didn’t receive, and someone will pay."

"My lo-lord..." Marshall trailed off, but forced himself to start again, "we cannot upset the vampires, or they may choose to break the alliance. Th-the alliance is still too new yet."

"I’m well aware of that." Voldemort smirked. "However, at the moment I don’t think it matters who I vent on."

‘Oh, fuck.’ Was the last thought Eric Marshall had before the pain hit.

-------

Nalian slumped in the leather armchair, head thrown back to stare at the ceiling, deciding that patiently waiting for Darian to find him seemed like a fine idea. With effort he brought his sleeve up to wipe off the sweat from his forehead.

Nalian was exhausted. He supposed it wasn’t all that surprising, considering he’d just gotten talked at by thirteen vampires at once while said thirteen vampires tried to secretly probe his mind. Fending off their little strands of magic on all sides, while giving coherent answers to their questions and allowing them access to the single memory of the Order meeting he and Draco saw, was bound to make anyone a little drowsy.

As it was, Nalian couldn’t care less if he spent all week in this armchair, in the corner of a very public hallway of the much-trafficked building where the council chamber was located.

"Well, if it isn’t the little human wretch." A voiced sneered above him.

Nalian pried his eyes open. "Malyx." He said coolly. "Climbed out from under your rock, have you? I wouldn’t have expected you to show your face around the same place it got bloodied to a pulp." He watched in disinterest as Malyx’s face turned pink with rage.

Malyx was a young vampire, not even half a century old, who was biased against humans. His opinion was that any human, even only a half-human, shouldn’t be allowed anywhere in the vampire community. Which was ironic, considering humans, as vampires’ food source amongst other things, were often taken as companions. Companions, who generally only the older and more powerful vampires had, were humans who chose to be bound to a certain vampire as a constant, reliable food source, and a confidant. In return, the companions were well cared for, given everything they needed, given protection against the other vampires, and their life period was extended by at least fifty years because of the bond.

Unsurprisingly, Nalian’s and Malyx’s opinion differed on this subject (and a great many others). After their first meeting and Malyx’s violent declaration of his opinion, Nalian wasn’t at all hesitant in returning the favor. Thus had begun their mutual dislike, and Nalian had to admit he enjoyed proving to the little bastard that humans could be just as powerful, if not more so, than vampires.

Nalian was, to say the least, on Malyx’s hate list.

However at the moment Nalian wasn’t sure he could win in a fight against him. In fact, he was pretty sure he couldn’t.

"Two old friends catching up I see." A voice rang behind Malyx.

‘Ah, Derek to the rescue.’ Nalian sighed gratefully. The idea of Malyx beating him to a bloody pulp while he sat helpless in a chair was not appealing.

Malyx had whirled around. "Yes, Lord."

"I’m sure you two can catch up some other time." Derek said. "For now, I must return Nalian to his guardian."

"Yes, Lord."

"If you would kindly move, novice?"

Malyx flushed and excused himself.

Nalian smirked. "Novice?" he asked.

"That is what he is." Derek said. "Can you stand?"

"No." Nalian made a face. "Keeping the elders at bay really drained me. I’d rather not move unless it’s entirely necessary."

"Unless you want to have private conversations publicly, it’s necessary." Derek said as he started to search for something in his pockets.

"I rather meant that unless the building is on fire, falling down, or being overtaken by some enemy, I’m not moving without some form of assistance." Nalian said.

"Then it’s a good thing I have a form of assistance." Derek placed a vial in his hand. "A concoction that will give you temporary energy. It will last at least until you return to your post, but after it wears off you’ll be beyond exhausted. Expect to pass out for at least a few hours."

"’Kay." Nalian swallowed the liquid, which tasted much better than anything Snape forced them to test in potions class. Energy rushed through him. "Much better. You sure it won’t last?" Nalian asked as he pulled himself out of the chair.

Derek gave half-smile. "Quite."

The walk back to the parlor was a silent one. Neither felt like talking in a place that always had ears open and mouths flapping. Vampires new the importance of secrets, and they also knew the importance of alliances, and both things were always flying around, shifting and morphing into new things. ‘Trustworthy’ wouldn’t be the first word used to describe the court of the vampires.

Darian was splayed out on the sofa, watching in amusement as Caran huffed around the room like a mother who just found out her kids painted the fence a lovely bright orange.

"All right there, Caran?" Nalian asked.

"Never you mind." Caran shot a glare at Darian before giving Nalian a tight hug. "I’m to leave now, but we’ll see each other again. Don’t do anything stupid while you’re away."

"Thanks for your confidence in me." Nalian rolled his eyes. "Give my regards to Geno, and Farra if you see her."

Nalian settled into a seat as Caran left and Derek got a drink and sat down in a chair.

Nalian wasn’t sure he wanted to discuss what he knew they wanted to discuss. "Are you sure we have time? I have to be back at Hogwarts before anyone is awake."

"We have time." Darian stared pointedly at him, "you’re not getting out of this conversation that easily."

"So," Derek crossed his legs and linked his hands over his stomach. "Care to just tell us what is on your mind or do we have to drag it out of you?"

Nalian sighed. "All right, I’ll tell you, if you two promise not to get overly upset and do something rash."

Darian sat up. "It’s that serious? Why didn’t you write one of us?"

"No, it’s not that serious." Nalian said. "But knowing you two, you’ll overreact about this." He looked at his guardian. "Especially you, Darian. This has always been a, touchy, subject for you."

"We’ll both do our best to behave." Derek said. "Go on."

Nalian sent a hesitant look towards Darian, aware that Darian had promised nothing about behaving, "it has to do with some people I met at Hogwarts. You two both know Lily Potter has asked I translate some books for her?" At their nods he continued, "I found out recently that... I found out that Lily and James Potter are my..." Nalian took a deep breath and looked straight at Darian, "They’re my parents."

The dead silence that met this statement didn’t really surprise Nalian. He knew it would be unexpected news for them. It was after the silence that concerned him; the decisions they’d make regarding this new turn of events.

"Do they know?" Darian’s soft voice seemed to ring loudly in the small room.

"No." Nalian said, "but Dumbledore does. He recognized my magical signature. He wants me to tell them."

Derek caught his gaze. "And will you?"

Nalian blinked. "You’re sending me back then?"

Darian scowled at the wall, "we really don’t have much choice. I still need as many of the artifacts as you can collect, and this new information about vampires joining that Voldemort creature... Well, as I said, we don’t have much choice. We need a spy, an ally, among the humans."

"I see." Nalian hadn’t thought of it like that. Darian could’ve sent someone else in to burgle any items. But Nalian had a background there, a family, a reason to be there, friends, a, albeit fake, history in the form of ‘Nalian Morthen’. Dumbledore trusted him at least to some degree; enough to translate potentially devastating books. He was in the perfect position for a spy.

"You didn’t answer my question, either." Derek said.

"Will I tell them?" Nalian sighed. "I’m afraid if I don’t, Dumbledore will. I’m in no particular rush though. What do you two think?"

"I’d rather you not tell them." Derek said flatly. "It could cause too many problems in the long run."

"Neither does it seem you have a choice." Darian pointed out, talking more to Derek than Nalian. "How do you feel about all this, Nali? You’re the one suffering the consequences."

"It’s weird, you know?" Nalian said. "I never really thought about my parents before. They’re family, and a link to my past, but at the same time they’re not my family, and I’m not sure they ever could be. I don’t want to tell them, because I don’t want things to change, yet a part of me wants to acknowledge them and be acknowledged in return."

"They aren’t my family." Nalian said finally. "But I think they could be."

-------

Derek and Nalian were once again standing in a clearing in the Forbidden Forest, with three vampires behind them.

Derek pulled him into a brief hug of farewell. "You can get back to castle on your own?"

Nalian smiled and returned the hug, "I’ll be fine."

Derek nodded and released his charge. "Remember, whatever you choose to do you have our blessing. We both trust your judgment."

Nalian nodded. "Walk with the shadows, Lord Derek, and be protected."

Derek kissed his brow, "walk with the shadows and be protected, Nalian."

Nalian watched them disappear before starting the long trek back to Hogwarts. On the edge of the forest he met with familiar faces.

How was your night? Nalian asked.

Uneventful. Chaos said.

The forest was quiet tonight. Order explained.

You will return with me to the castle? He asked.

Yes. Chaos slithered onto his left arm. Perhaps we will find more interesting things inside.

They returned to the Slytherin dorms as the sky started turning gray right before dawn. Nalian collapsed into bed still fully dressed, energy fading rapidly. ‘Huh.’ Nalian thought fuzzily. ‘Derek was serious when he said I’d become beyond exhausted.’ That was his last conscious thought for the next six hours. He didn’t even so much as twitch at Draco’s attempts to wake him for classes.

-------

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