Chapter 23: Chapter 23 - Horned Serpent with a Flute
After saying quick goodbyes with Lily and her parents, Serena followed her mother, Eileen, out of platform 9 and three quarters into the bustling King's Cross Station.
Eileen's grip on her hand was tight, and Serena struggled to keep pace, her luggage bouncing along beside her.
"Mum," she began, her voice barely audible above the noise of the bustling station.
"Where are we going? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Eileen turned her gaze down to Serena, her eyes hard and her expression unreadable. "Quiet, Serena," she said, her voice sharp and commanding. "All will be explained in due time."
She was acting strangely, Serena had never seen her mother so... driven. So focused.
The crowded station seemed to swallow them whole as they weaved through the sea of people. Serena stole glances at her mother's face, noting the furrowed brow and the deep frown etched across her features.
Something was definitely amiss, and Serena's unease only grew with each passing moment.
Finally, they reached the exit, and Eileen led Serena onto the bustling streets of London. Serena's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of familiarity. The city was alive with the hustle and bustle of daily life, but Serena couldn't shake off the questions inside her head.
The grip on her hand tightened even further, and Serena winced, her fingers beginning to tingle from the lack of circulation.
They walked for what felt like an eternity until they arrived at the entrance of a narrow alleyway. Eileen paused, her grip on Serena's hand tightening once again. She glanced around, as if ensuring they hadn't been followed, before stepping into the alley. Serena followed suit.
The alley was dimly lit, with worn-out cobblestones beneath their feet. The air was heavy with the scent of magic, and Serena's curiosity mingled with her apprehension.
As they walked deeper into the alley, the sounds of the city faded away, replaced by the distant hum of magical activity. Serena's pulse quickened, and she couldn't help but steal glances at her mother's face, searching for any sign of explanation.
Finally, they reached a shabby-looking pub, Serena's eyes widened with familiarity. The Leaky Cauldron? Why were they here?
They entered the pub and Eileen led Serena towards the entrance of Diagon Alley, ignoring everyone around them, her steps purposeful and determined. Serena's mind buzzed with anticipation, expecting to step into the familiar hustle and bustle of the wizarding shopping district. But instead of entering Diagon Alley, like she expected, Eileen pulled out her wand and took hold of Serena's hand, ensuring a tight grip. Then all of the sudden, a disorienting sensation washed over her. The world spun, her stomach churned, and Serena felt a wave of nausea rising within her.
Thankful for her healing touch, Serena instinctively reached out to heal herself. A soft, warm glow emanated from her hands as she held them against her stomach, quelling the queasiness and steadying herself. With a sigh of relief, she regained her composure.
Once the dizziness subsided, Serena looked around, taking in her surroundings. They were no longer in the familiar entrance area of Diagon Alley. Instead, they stood in an open expanse on the outskirts of civilization, surrounded by nothing but vast, green land stretching as far as the eye could see.
Eileen Snape, a sharp contrast to the wide open greenery around them, stood tall and proud, her dark eyes twinkling in a way Serena had never seen before. Serena was still reeling from the sudden apparition when Eileen's voice pulled her back to reality.
"Serena, dear, you mustn't let your status show so openly. You've done so well up until now," Eileen admonished gently, her gaze flicking to the faint glow that had enveloped Serena's hands moments ago. "You're an Omega, but remember, the world believes you a Beta. You need to keep that image intact."
Serena pushed herself off the ground, brushing off her robes. She glanced at her hands, the glow now gone. "I know, mum," she responded automatically.
Eileen's eyes softened momentarily, something akin to pride flashing across her face. "You made good progress on your powers. Now, come along."
Serena hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting around the strange place they had apparated to. "Where are we, mum?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "This isn't… This isn't Cokesworth."
Eileen's silence hung heavy in the air as Serena's question echoed unanswered. The older woman's expression was unreadable as she pursed her lips, a distant look in her eyes. Serena watched her mother's profile with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.
Ignoring the tension building between them, Eileen turned her attention to the vast landscape before them. Her gaze fixated on a massive, solitary rock standing proudly amidst the sprawling green field. With a glance back at Serena, she moved forward, her footsteps confident and determined.
Serena, taken aback by her mother's sudden assertiveness, followed behind her, her eyes never leaving the older woman's back. As they approached the rock, Eileen paused, her wand held firmly in her right hand. For a moment, all was silent except for the soft rustling of the grass beneath their feet.
With a swift movement, Eileen pointed her wand at her own finger. A nonverbal spell passed through her lips, and a small line appeared on her finger, blood welling up from the cut. Serena's eyes widened in surprise but she remained silent, her gaze fixed on the spectacle unfolding before her.
Eileen then pressed her bloodied finger onto the surface of the rock. The blood smeared onto the stone, leaving a red mark. Then, something extraordinary happened.
The rock started to emit a faint glow, reacting to Eileen's blood. Simultaneously, the view in front of them began to change. It was as if an invisible veil was slowly being lifted.
Multiple magical wards, previously unseen, began to fade, revealing a grand castle-like mansion in the distance.
Serena's breath hitched in her throat as she took in the sight. The mansion was beautiful, a grand architectural marvel that looked both ancient and majestic. It was nestled amidst lush greenery, seemingly untouched and undisturbed by the passage of time. The sight was so breathtaking, so unexpected, that Serena momentarily forgot her confusion and worry.
Eileen stood beside her, a small smile playing on her lips as she watched her daughter's awe-struck expression. Serena turned her head to look at her mother, her eyes reflecting a thousand questions.
But Eileen simply squeezed her hand and began to lead Serena towards the revealed mansion. The path ahead was unknown and filled with uncertainty, but Serena knew she had no choice but to follow her mother's lead. As she took one last look at the now glowing rock, she knew that her life was about to change in ways she could never have imagined.
~~~
Eileen, with a tight grip on Serena's hand, moved forward with purpose. Her eyes were fixed on the mansion, a sense of relief and perhaps even triumph flickering in her gaze.
Serena, however, was still trying to process what was happening. The sudden apparition, the unfamiliar landscape, the hidden mansion, and now this family crest—it was all so unexpected. Yet, she could not deny the sense of familiarity the crest invoked in her.
The Horned Serpent, a symbol associated with the house of Slytherin, was something Serena recognized from her past life as Severus Snape. Yet, the flute was a mystery to her. The snake body was wrapped around the flute and its horned head facing the front with its fangs on display.
The Prince family crest.
Her heart started to beat faster at the realization.
As they neared the mansion, Serena couldn't help but take in the grandeur of it all.
The manor was regal and intimidating in its magnificence, a stark contrast to the humble house in Spinner's End she had grown up in.
Eileen finally stopped in front of the large entrance door, turning to look at Serena.
She crouched down in front of Serena, her hands reaching out to hold Serena's smaller ones. Their eyes locked, and Serena could see a mixture of anticipation, fear, and hope in her mother's gaze. Eileen's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her words filled with a vulnerability that Serena had rarely witnessed.
"Serena," Eileen began, her voice soft and earnest. "I know there's so much I haven't told you, so much I've kept hidden. But today, everything changes. We're here, at our ancestral home, where you rightfully belong."
Serena's heart skipped a beat at her mother's words. The weight of the moment settled upon her. She wanted to know more, to understand her past and her place in this world. But before Eileen could say anything more, the large, fancy entrance door swung open with a slow, deliberate motion.
A figure emerged from the doorway, commanding attention with his straight back, sophisticated robes, and piercing sky-blue eyes that seemed to penetrate the very depths of Serena's being. His presence exuded authority and power.
Serena glanced towards her mother for answers. Eileen, who was still kneeling before her, tensed and then rose to her feet.
There was a palpable air of tension between them, a complex history that Serena was only beginning to unravel. Eileen's voice quivered as she addressed the old man.
"Father."
The word seemed to hang in the air, heavy and fraught with emotion.
The old man's gaze was fixed on Eileen, his eyes unblinking, as if studying every inch of her. The silence stretched on, pregnant with unspoken words and emotions. Serena stood beside her mother, feeling the weight of the moment pressing upon her.
Serena could see a complicated emotion flicker across the old man's features, quickly replaced by a steely calm. His gaze flicked from Eileen to Serena, and his eyes widened ever so slightly. Eileen released Serena's hands, meeting her father's gaze with a stubborn defiance that Serena had never seen before.
"Father," Eileen repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've brought her back."
For a moment, the only sound was the distant chattering of birds, and then the old man, whom Serena realized must be her grandfather, stepped back, opening the door wider.
Finally, her grandfather spoke, "Come in," he said, his voice a deep rumble that resonated through the grand entrance hall.
Eileen nodded and took a step forward, pulling Serena with her. Serena followed, her mind whirling with more questions. She glanced back at her grandfather as they entered, his gaze never leaving them. He was a dominant presence, even in silence, his sky-blue eyes assessing and calculating.
She could see a hint of the same defiance she'd seen in her mother, mixed with an underlying warmth that was entirely his own.
The mansion was as grand inside as it was outside, filled with rich tapestries and intricate carvings. There was a sense of history and tradition that Serena could practically feel seeping from the walls. But as she followed her mother through the opulent halls, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered. This was a world she had never known, a legacy she'd thought lost. Now, it was all too real, and she wasn't sure how she fit into it.
As they moved deeper into the mansion, Eileen finally broke the silence. "Serena," she began, her voice shaky. "There's a lot I need to tell you, about your grandparents, about our family. But first, I want you to meet someone."
They stopped in front of a large wooden door at the end of the hallway. Eileen knocked softly, then pushed it open to reveal a dimly lit room. A figure lay in the bed, frail and small. As they approached, Serena saw what she assumed to be her grandmother for the first time. Her eyes, a mirrored reflection of her own, looked up at them and a weak smile formed on her lips.
"Serena," she rasped, reaching out a trembling hand. "I've waited so long to meet you."
And Serena, once again, took the outreached hand.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone