'Oh, it's a language,' said Lupin. 'It's got recognizable patterns. But I'm damned if I've ever seen anything like it before. And considering that I only have half my books here, and half of those have been ruined-'
'Speaking of books,' interrupted Sirius. 'Look, I've just been talking to the Ministry about you — '
'About me?' said Lupin, thunderstruck.
'I'd really like you to come and stay with us here at the Manor.'
Lupin stared. 'What does that have to do with the Ministry?'
Sirius sighed. 'The Aurors have been over this place with a fine-tooth comb — they've taken Lucius' papers, and all the Dark Arts items he collected. But they haven't touched the library. There are thousands of books in the library here, many of them the only editions still in existence. It would take them months to sort and catalogue, and several of the Aurors have admitted that they've never seen half the languages represented here. So I thought of you.
The Ministry is willing to pay you to assist in cataloguing Lucius' library-'
'I'm not an Auror,' Lupin protested.
'We don't need an Auror,' said Sirius. 'We need someone who specializes in Dark Arts studies. An academic. Someone like you.'
'I've got a job here, Sirius. I can't just leave.'
'This job pays better,' said Sirius. 'And Dumbledore's happy to let you go. He said he's already found a replacement willing to take over your class.'
'Who?' said Lupin, looking curious.
'Snape,' said Sirius, grinning more than ever.
This time Lupin grinned back. 'I can just see Fleur trying to lure him out of the office…'
'What?'
'Nothing.'
'So you'll come?'
'Of course I'll come.'
'This is an interesting turn of affairs,' said Slytherin, in his harsh, inhuman voice. He stood very calmly at the foot of the stairs, looking tall and pale and deathly. He wore different robes than he had earlier; these were a much richer green, and fell in thick folds to the hem, which was edged in gold. I wonder if he dressed up to impress me? thought Hermione, feeling ill.
She glanced quickly at Draco, expecting to see him looking horrified, shocked, or simply amazed. But he looked none of those things.
There was a look on his face that was strangely like — recognition. As if he'd bumped into someone he knew, someone he hadn't expected to ever see again.
'You,' he said, staring at Slytherin. 'I know you. But — you're dead.
And you're short.'
Slytherin gave him a cold smile.
'Oh yeah,' said Draco, in the tone of one remembering something.
'Platform boots, right?'
'Draco,' hissed Hermione warningly. 'Don't.'
'So,' said Draco, who seemed to be warming to his theme. 'How'd that selling your soul to the Devil thing work out for you in the end?
Because I can tell you, from where I've been standing, it didn't look like a terribly bright move.'
'You,' said Slytherin, not moving, 'you know who I am, then?'
'You're my ancestor,' said Draco. He reached behind him, and drew the sword out of its casing, holding it in front of him. 'And I think this is yours.'
'It is ours,' said Slytherin. 'You have my blood in you, boy. And now you have my dreams and my memories. Soon you will become me.'
Draco shook his head. 'I really don't see that happening,' he said, still holding the sword in front of him. Despite her horror, Hermione was impressed. He actually held it like he knew how to use it. Then she recalled the fencing-room at Malfoy Manor. Maybe he did know how to use it.
Slytherin smiled again, even more coldly. 'You're a child,' he said.
'You cannot recognize the workings of destiny. You think it is chance that brought that sword to you? Or brought you here? Or brought you to her?' he said, glancing at Hermione. 'I had thought she would love me. But that she should love you — that is even better. History repeating itself, the way it was meant to be.'
'Okay, there's one thing I didn't factor into this,' said Draco, staring at Slytherin. 'You're a thundering lunatic.'
Slytherin continued to smile.
'Hermione doesn't love me,' said Draco. 'Do you?' he said, swinging around and staring at her.
Hermione didn't say anything.
'Consider it a gift,' said Slytherin, looking at Draco. 'From me to you. Only one small example of what I can give you.'
'Hermione?' said Draco again, looking shocked. He stepped towards her, just as she turned towards him, and the hilt of the sword collided with her arm.
She shrieked and jumped back, holding her wrist, where a red welt was rising.
