"And he says he has a plan to stop that?" Alex nodded again.
"And you're going to meet up with him at the Winter Festival to talk about it?" Another nod. "That, Necromancy thing."
and
the
ghost
"Mmmmm." Her grandfather pursed his lips. "Well, as much as it pains me to say it, that does sound like the kind of thing my son would do and I don't need to say that even were the threat small, we cannot let any threat to the library stand." He stroked his beard. "On the other hand, you must be careful. Slytherin could well be using the opportunity, whether real or made up, for his own ends in such a fashion that might not be in the best interests of House Black. Do not allow yourself to be trapped."
Alex straightened and nodded.
"Having said that," Orion continued, "Slytherin is going far out of his way to get in your good graces—" "But he still won't teach me," Alex couldn't help butting in.
Orion sighed. "Child, you cannot expect a Lord to just drop everything he's doing to personally teach you."
"He's teaching Weasley," she muttered.
Orion raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "The one who laid you out without even meaning to?"
Alex grumbled under her breath.
"There are only so many hours in the day. Priorities have to be made. If the Weasley girl is more advanced than you, obviously he wants to spend his limited time on her."
"But… but if he is… you know…" She blushed. "Talking to me because of that, then shouldn't he at least meet me in person?"
"He should. But that is not the point here. Regardless of your personal feelings on the matter, Slytherin is doing far more for you than you currently appreciate, and if he can protect the Black library when both yourself or I cannot, then you will be even more in his debt. Do you think your friend, the Lovegood girl, would be able to teach you if she hadn't already been taught be him?"
"I guess not."
Her grandfather leaned forward in his chair. "You should look for some way to balance things out a bit."
Alex opened her mouth. "I know you're helping him with his ghost friend," he quickly added, "and that is a good start, but you should find something else too, preferably something that benefits both of you."
Alex thought for a few moments, then slowly nodded.
Alex and Luna leaned over a table in the Black Library, going over the details of their plan one last time. The Dendromancer's Doomsday Book was on the table, open to a page that listed all the magical trees and their current states in the county of Cumbria. One line read, 'Whomping Willow, Died 17th May 1990 — Greengrass Forest Hilltop'
Alex jabbed a finger at a parchment with lots of scribbles on it. "The wards around the manor will always track us, so the Winter Festival is the perfect time. Yes, we'll be there, but so will several hundred other witches and wizards."
Luna nodded.
"Once the main part of the ritual is complete, I can practise subduing the tree until I'm magically exhausted, or at least fifteen minutes."
Luna nodded again.
"And once I fail to bring the tree under control, we'll just blow leaves over it and get the hell out of there. The ritual magics will run down quickly, and so long as no one pumps more magic into the ritual—and who'd be dumb enough to do that—it'll all be fine."
Luna nodded yet again. "And before you know it, the blood will all be washed away and no one will be any the wiser."
Luna smiled. "That's the plan."
Alex grinned. "And if it goes well, we can make it a regular thing. I'll soon have the knack of it, and you can have some Five-X magical creature duelling partners."
Luna's smile widened. "Just no dragons, Alex, we don't have anywhere to put them."
Alex pouted.
Alex sneaked around Grimmauld Place, poking her nose into the various storage rooms and having a general good root around.
Something to balance things out. Something that could Slytherin…
benefit
both
her and Lord
She reached into one paper lined box and drew out what looked to be a pair of hand mirrors. One of her father's many Hogwarts stories came, unbidden, to mind. She smiled.
The mist engulfed Greengrass manor and the surrounding forest in a perpetual obscuring charm. Alex stomped her feet in bring some warmth to them and hefted the huge bag she had slung over one shoulder. She'd been waiting for ages. If they didn't get a move on, the hunt would start and they'd never be able to get out of the forest in time.
"Hi, Alex." Luna appeared out of the mists.
"Luna! Where have you been?"
Luna smiled. "Manor shopping with my lord."
"Manor?" Alex said, startled. "He's buying a Manor? Where?"
"The manor is not built yet. My lord says it won't be done until next Winter Festival. It'll be on an island off Scotland. It's beautiful and has this wonderful hill you can roll down."
Alex took in Luna's slightly ruffled appearance. "Yeeeesss, I can see that…" She straightened and looked around. "So, are you ready?"
Luna smiled brightly. "Yep! I just finished getting our permits."
Alex stilled. Dread trickling into her stomach. "Permits?" Her voice rose. "Luna, did you tell Greengrass!?" Luna tilted her head. "Of course I did, Alex. Daphne is my future sister and these are her family's lands."
"But! But!"
"Alex," Luna said in a soothing stepping closer and hugging her.
She stiffened.
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