Pairings: Cedric/Krista

Warnings: AU Universe. Gender switch. OC characters. Some character bashing. Mature scenes. Violence.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters, but the OC characters belong to me

Chapter Twelve: The Downworlders

Blaise Zabini was nervous throughout the entire time when they're having dinner, and was barely paying any attention to the start-of-term notices that the Headmaster was giving out. He received quite a few odd looks from Draco Malfoy and Daphne Greengrass—with him having seated in between them both, and not far from the Downworlders' table.

Even Blaise heard quite a few murmurs and slurs about the Downworlders coming from all four tables; and not for the first time, he is honestly amazed at their self-control, since it is well known that the Downworlders are extremely prideful.

Even Blaise had heard about the treatment towards the Downworlders who have attended Hogwarts for the last five years due to the treaty; and he is honestly amazed that they haven't called off the entire peace treaty yet, with the treatment they get from both staff and students.

Only a mere handful of students and one or two members of the staff—not including the two Downworlders included amongst the staff were neutral towards the Downworlders. Probably the fact that they don't take most of the wanded lessons helps with dealing with the animosity.

"I am honestly amazed with their self-control." Draco Malfoy said with disgust even as their Prefect lead the Slytherin first years to where their common room is located, with the Downworlders probably heading to their own common room, since none of them have seen even one since the feast ended. Right on cue, all Slytherins heard the nasal, irritating voice of probably one of the Hufflepuff first years saying something about the Downworlders only to get told off by an irritated Susan Bones. "I did hear that the Downworlders as a whole are pretty prideful. I can't see them putting up with slurs from the entire school for long."

"They won't care if it's just words." The female fifth year Prefect, Gemma Farley, overheard Draco's words. "It takes a lot to anger a Downworlder. And honestly, most people know better than to do that—or at least, the smart ones does. There's a reason why Downworlders tend to fit in better with Slytherins."

Marcus Flint nodded with agreement. "You know the stories about the Downworlders. They don't need to touch someone to incite fear in them. They're predators for a reason. Though honestly, most of them are pretty decent people, and don't deserve the treatment they get. Even we Slytherins get treated better by the school, compared to the treatment the Downworlders receive." He added the last part.

Finally, they stopped in front of a portrait of a beautiful woman wearing an old-fashioned long black dress, reading a thick black tome.

"Password?" The portrait asked coolly, gazing at the collected students with a haughty expression in hazel eyes.

"Remember the password, first years. As it's the only thing that will grant you entrance into the Slytherin common room." Gemma told the first years before turning towards the portrait of the famed witch, Morgana Le Fey. "Salazar."

Morgana nodded. "Enter," she said, and the portrait swung forwards to admit the students entry into the Slytherin common room.

"Wow!" were the collective gasps from the first years as they got their first look at the Slytherin common room, and the older years smirked at each other as they remembered their own looks of awe when they first laid eyes on the place they'll be living in for the next seven years.

Due to being located in the dungeons, the Slytherin common room is completely made out of stone, being located half under the Black Lake. Blaise could even see some of the inhabitants that made the Black Lake their home through the windows of the common room. The windows gave an almost eerie glow thanks to the water. Despite that however, with the large fireplace located in the common room, it kept the place warm and toasty, and with a warm orange glow.

Elaborate snake carvings were visible on the walls as well, with two large stone statues of snakes on either side of the fireplace.

Gemma Farley was explaining to the first years patiently where everything are, and that the two staircases on either side of the common room entrance leads to the male and female dormitories respectively, with five students to one dormitory. Prefects regularly perform inspections on the dormitories every two weeks—often without warning, so they are to keep their sleeping places neat and tidy, or the transgressor would be serving detention for two weeks with Professor Snape, and being delegated as their dormitory's personal house elf.

House notices and schedules for house meetings could often be found pinned on the noticeboard in the common room, as well as a copy of Professor Snape's schedule so that the Slytherins could go to him if they need anything else. The first years were also warned that Professor Snape has a nifty spell cast on the entrance of the common room, so he does know if someone is out of bed after curfew, and may Merlin be with you once he catches you.

Majority of the House were already within the common room, and more than one of them looked exhausted by then—with the long train ride and then the feast all taking its toll on them.

"Hang on for a bit before heading up to your dorms." Marcus told the already tired looking first years, "Professor Snape normally has something to say before settling in."

The entrance to the common room swung opened again, and Professor Severus Snape swept in, nodding to Marcus and Gemma. He took a glance around the common room before turning towards Marcus again. "Where are the Downworlders?"

"They're—"

"Right here," said a soft voice.

As one, nearly the entire Slytherin House jumped about a foot in the air—even the normally composed purebloods, as there was a ripple in the air, and the Downworlders that were sorted into Slytherin appeared—standing next to the entrance of the common room.

"Don't do that!" Marcus huffed, holding onto his heart like he's afraid it's going to jump out of his chest, glaring at Luca who only grinned. "You do that every single year! I told you to give some warning if you're already here!"

"Well, we don't fancy having to deal with jabbed elbows all the way down to the Slytherin common room; so we normally ended up cloaking ourselves." Luca answered Marcus's unasked question.

The older years gave each other annoyed looks at the treatment that one of their own received whilst the younger years looked angry. Draco Malfoy for one looked ready to spit nails.

Professor Snape cleared his throat loudly, and the entire House gave their undivided attention to their Head of House. "Thank you. Welcome to Slytherin House, first years," he said. "I am your Head of House, Professor Snape, and I am also the Potions Professor at Hogwarts…"

He then launched into his normal start of term speech, giving the rules, adding more to what Gemma hadn't yet told the first years, the normal behaviour expected of his House as well as other important information.

"Now, I normally tell this to my House every single year." Professor Snape said at last, glancing at the Downworlders sorted into Slytherin before turning his attention back to the rest. "No doubt I'm sure that all of you would have known how most of the school treats the few Downworlders that we have here." There were nods from all around. "Slytherin House always keep a united front, as we have as much the same problems that the Downworlders does. But no matter what you witnessed being done to them or said to them, let them fight their own battles."

"Professor—"

"That's actually a request from us." Luca interrupted the protests breaking out, looking at Marcus that had near gotten into serious trouble the year before because some Gryffindor tried to throw a hex at Luca's back in plain sight of Marcus, and he had retaliated. "We can fight our own battles. Slytherin House already had a bad enough reputation. Don't besmirch it more. Not even for us." Luca added sternly, seeing Marcus about to argue.

"You shouldn't even be putting up with it." One of the older years grumbled, and the rest of the House nodded with agreement.

"Anyway, that's all for the start of term notices." Professor Snape cut in when it sounds like there's going to be another argument starting up soon. "If you have any further questions about where everything is, your Prefects will tell you about it. I'll leave you to get settled in. And if our Prefects could show the first years to their dorms, I'll be back shortly to speak to them."

He nodded to the Prefects of the House before sweeping back out again. Blaise watched as the Downworlders followed in his wake, with the last to leave being Krista Nightray. She caught his eye and nodded even as she left.

"Just what business do you have with the Downworlders of all people?" Draco's soft voice spoke next to Blaise, and the Italian turned only to see the blonde staring at him with a raised brow even as the common room slowly emptied as the entire House retreated to their dorms.

"Pardon?"

"Krista Nightray gave me a message to pass onto you just before we left the Great Hall earlier." The Malfoy scion answered Blaise. "She said to remain in the common room after curfew, and not to let anyone know."

"Well…"

"I don't want to know." Draco interrupted, seeing Blaise about to open his mouth. "I got a feeling I'll be better off not knowing. I'll cover for you if I have to." He told Blaise. "Just come back to the dorm before everyone wakes up."

Blaise managed a weak grin even as he followed Draco up to the first year boys' dormitory that they shared together with Theodore Nott, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. As Heirs of pureblood houses, all of them have been acquainted with each other at some point in their lives, and knew each other since early childhood.

All of them were already half-asleep on their feet; and thus, they just unpacked their trunks that the school's house elves must have brought up for them from the Hogwarts Express, before changing into their pyjamas and falling into their beds.

Blaise must have lain awake for hours, waiting for his dorm mates to fall asleep, which didn't really take all that long. Crabbe and Goyle's low snores soon filled their dormitory room; and Blaise slipped out of bed carefully and quietly, glancing over at Draco's bed as he stood by the door of their dorm, having pulled on his dressing gown as he did so.

The blond had drawn the drapings around his bed; and all that Blaise could make out is the unmistakable form in his bed, his back facing Blaise; though Blaise is a hundred and one percent certain that Draco is still awake.

The Italian then slipped out of his dormitory carefully and quietly, closing the door shut behind him and taking the stairs down to the common room area. He even spelled his feet to be silent just in case any in his House are light sleepers—particularly the Prefects.

The common room area is deathly silent—still with the fire going on in the fireplace. There is no one else around, and Blaise cast a tempus spell only to see that it's currently nearly midnight. No doubt even the Professors would be having an early night today.

"Blaise Zabini?"

Poor Blaise nearly leapt out of his skin at the sound of his name being spoken right behind him; and only years of pureblood training and etiquette stopped him from squealing like a little girl.

He turned around only to see the grinning face of the older Downworlder—Luca or something, standing behind him.

"I'm starting to think that you're doing this on purpose." Blaise grumbled, pressing a hand to his chest to calm his heart.

"The reactions of mere mortals are always fun to see." Luca grinned. He then got serious. "Krista sent me. I'm taking you to our dormitory."

"How are we going to get there unseen?" Blaise asked. "And I'm sure that Professor Snape has some sort of spell on the entrance so that he will know when one of us is out of bed after curfew."

"Don't worry about that." Luca grinned at Blaise before grasping the Italian by his shoulder and muttering a string of unfamiliar sounding words in a language that Blaise isn't familiar with.

Much to his surprise, he then found his hands and body gradually fading away like some sort of ghost. This is nothing like any disillusion spell that he had heard of. Blaise looked in front of him where he presumed Luca is, as he could still feel the older Downworlder's hand still clamping down on his shoulder, but there is nothing in front of him.

"What is this…?"

"Downworld sorcery." Luca's voice floated back to Blaise. "I'm going to keep ahold of you until we get there, or no one will ever find you."

Blaise swallowed nervously; he had heard rumours of the sorcery and magic of the Downworlders, and that most of them don't even require wands. It is why the Downworlders in Hogwarts had foregone the wanded classes and only took the classes that doesn't require wands; amongst which included Potions and even Herbology.

"A-All right."

Blaise allowed himself to be led by Luca. Much to his surprise, Luca didn't use the portrait to get out of the common room. Instead, they headed to the patch of wall in between the entrance of the common room and the entrance to the stairs of the boys' dormitory. Then, much to Blaise's astonishment, he felt Luca phasing through the wall. And as Luca is still holding onto his arm, Blaise was pulled after him as well.

The initial sensation of phasing through the wall was uncomfortable—but not as uncomfortable as using the Floo or even side-along Apparition that he'd used several times in the past as a child. It felt rather like the sensation when one passes through the barrier at the train platform.

Blaise blinked when he found himself standing outside the entrance of the Slytherin common room. The portrait of Morgana Le Fey was asleep, breathing gently. Blaise felt Luca give a gentle tug on his arm.

"This way." Luca whispered. "And try to keep quiet. Others can still hear us even if they can't see us."

Blaise nodded, despite the fact that he knew Luca can't see him.

The Italian allowed Luca to lead him around; especially as he doesn't know his way around the school just yet. The school was silent, with not a soul in sight, even the ghosts. Blaise wonders for a moment if the ghosts even sleep at night.

Down a passageway. Taking a right. Another left. Then another right. Up five flights of stairs. Passing countless sleeping portraits—even one that Blaise is pretty certain is that of Salazar Slytherin himself.

Finally, they came to a stop before a gigantic painting of a beautiful, almost ethereal-looking woman wearing an old-fashioned black dress, with the background of that of a full moon night and a forest, with a black raven perched on her shoulder. Blaise recognised the painting of that of the Lady Morrigan, the Mother Goddess that depicted war in the Old Religion.

"I request entrance, my Lady." Luca spoke, and Blaise gave a start, turning to where he assumed Luca to be—especially as he couldn't understand a single word that he'd just spoken.

The painting of the Morrigan only smiled and nodded before the portrait swung forward, admitting them entrance.

"Come on."

Luca tugged Blaise gently on the arm, and the Italian followed Luca through the portrait hole and into the Downworlders' dormitory.

"All right, hold still." Luca muttered a string of unfamiliar words, and then, Blaise saw his hands and then his body coming back into view, as is Luca. Luca grinned at Blaise, pulling down the hood from around his face. "Welcome to the Moon Dorm."

Blaise only managed a smile back as he stared around in awe at the dormitory and common room of the Downworlders.

For one thing, the interior reminds Blaise more of the Zabini mansion. It is more like some kind of mansion or apartment with closed walnut doors leading to what Blaise is sure are the rooms of the Downworlders.

The common area is extremely cosy looking, with carpets and black and cream coloured comfortable looking couches with pillows. There is even a fireplace like the one in the Slytherin common room, though there is the symbol of the Morrigan hanging above the fireplace with a few offering-like items resting on the mantelpiece. There is even a small bookcase in a corner of the common area, as well as weapon racks with what Blaise is certain are real weapons hanging on the walls.

A few of the Downworlders are nestled in the couches, seemingly waiting for their arrivals. Blaise recognised Krista Nightray at once. Like the others, she is already in her sleepwear, with a dressing gown on, though she is facing a mirror and speaking with the person visible on it.

"—something not right about him," Krista was telling the person on the mirror. "There's something a bit off."

"If you say so, then I'm sure something is wrong." The person on the mirror responded with a frown. "Just keep an eye and ear out. And be careful, Krista."

"I will."

Krista then waved a hand over the mirror, and it blanked out. She then looked at Luca and Blaise, with the other Downworlders in the room following her gaze, and nodded to Luca and Blaise.

"Hello Zabini." Krista greeted with a small smile. "Why don't you take a seat? We've just reported about this…matter to the Avalon Council, and they wish for us to bring you with us when we return for Yule."

Blaise choked even as he took the vacant couch next to Luca. "Just like that?"

Aren't they being a little too trusting? It sure contradicts everything that he'd heard about his father's side of the family from his mother.

"Just like that." Helen Youngblood nodded, echoing his words. "Because honestly, if you have any bad intentions, the wards around Avalon won't allow you entrance either way. And well…" Helen glanced at Krista and Nathaniel. "The High Warlocks wish to meet with you. Because we're fairly sure that there must be a reason why House Zabini is approaching us."

Blaise nodded hesitantly. "It's only something…I can tell to the Head of House Nightray," he said at last. Surprisingly, none of the Downworlders looked very surprised. In fact, they looked as if they'd expected this answer.

"Am I to assume that this is something to do with the Dark Lord that had near wrecked havoc on Wizarding Britain during the last war?" Lenox questioned, and Blaise nodded.

"I can't say anymore than that." Blaise said apologetically.

"We understand." Luca reassured Blaise. Even though the younger boy showed none of his unease on his face; all Downworlders could smell the unease and worry wafting from him. "And if you're worried about whether any Downworlder in our home country might have sided with that delusional mortal with illusions of grandeur, you can rest assured that there wouldn't be." Blaise looked at Luca with curiosity. "This is only something we've heard from our elders. But the few Downworlders that sided with the Dark Lord during the last war were renegades. Traitors. Those that were thrown out of their individual clans for certain reasons."

"No Downworlder would willingly side with wizards and mortals. Especially during a war. It is entirely too easy for the tide of the war to change. And if Downworlders sided with the 'wrong side' so to speak, the entire race would get wiped out by the winning side in revenge." Krista explained, and Blaise could only nod at that comment.

After all, look what had happened during the last war. Everyone thought that the Dark Lord will win; and he ended up being vanquished by the Potter Heiress—the one who ended up dying alongside those monsters in a fire.

"We normally kept out of any wars or conflicts that the wizards and mortals have amongst themselves." Nathaniel Krauss added. "Downworlders don't answer to anyone but the Lady Morrigan. We have no mistress save one."

Blaise felt a lot better upon hearing that. Much like Daphne's family, Blaise knew that his family is strictly neutral in the war between Light and Dark. But there have been whispers in the past—that the Dark Lord isn't truly dead. And now that it's revealed that the child who had vanquished him is dead, there have been whispers that some of his followers who have kept out of Azkaban by using the Imperius card have been seeking him out.

It is likely why Blaise's mother had told him to seek out House Nightray for their protection—in the hopes that they will protect one of their own. Blaise wasn't sure about it initially, as even he knew that there were some Downworlders on the Dark Lord's side during the last war from what he'd learned from his studies.

But after hearing as much from the Downworlders gathered in this room now, he felt a lot better.

"Honestly, the Light isn't any better than the Dark." Blaise admitted. "It is why we've always stayed neutral—the Zabini House. Daphne's family is the same as well."

"Can't deny that. We have first hand experience of the bigotry from those from the 'Light' side." Helen shrugged. "Honestly, in some ways, the Dark has the right idea—there is just no sense in banning everything, and declaring them 'evil'."

"It is why the current Minister is working on changing things." Luca reminded his fellow Downworlders, and they only groaned.

"Don't remind us." Krista grumbled. "I don't see any way that this 'peace treaty' will work out unless the entire population of Wizarding Britain get a good wake up call." She looked at Blaise who only smiled at the banter going on. And despite herself, she can't help smiling either. "That's all that we called you here for. As we obviously couldn't be seen conversing with you in full view of the entire school—"

"I don't see any problems with that." Blaise interrupted. "Prefect Flint is friends with Luca, isn't he?"

Luca looked startled at being addressed but nodded. "We do have friends amongst the student population. Just not a lot. Those that are publically known as our friends tend to get singled out by the rest of the school. It's not a risk that most students would take—befriending a Downworlder. Not to mention that three quarters of the school detest us on sight."

Blaise was about to say something when he was cut off from a sudden yawn.

"All right. I should take him back." Luca got to his feet. "It wouldn't do for you to oversleep or sleep in your first day of classes, after all." He told Blaise, yanking the younger boy to his feet, and then repeating the same spell he'd used to get Blaise to the Downworlders' dormitory unseen. "I'll be right back." Luca told his fellow Downworlders, now invisible even to them, though they could sense him still.

Every single Downworlder in the room watched as the portrait entrance swung opened and then closed once more. They then exchanged looks with each other.

"What are the odds?" Nathaniel asked quietly. "A Warlock appearing out of nowhere that has been raised amongst the wizards; and during the year that Krista started at Hogwarts—which is also coincidentally the year that Kristina Potter would have attended."

"And politically wise, this is also the year when the Minister and his group are planning on more action against Dumbledore and whatever cronies he still had left in the Ministry and the Wizengamot." Helen said thoughtfully. "I think Lord Charlus Potter is also filing a court case against Dumbledore and the gamekeeper, isn't he? He's collected enough evidence from his grandchild's 'kidnapping'?" She looked at Krista for answers, and she nodded grimly.

"And not to mention that Magical Defence professor? Quirrell or something?" Lyssandra piped up. "It's not just you, Krys. All of us can tell that something's off about him."

Krista bit on her bottom lip, looking from face to face. "We just have to be careful, that's all," she said at last, and the rest of the Downworlders nodded. "We have to keep a close eye on Blaise Zabini as well. He wasn't taught like the rest of us to keep our nature under control. He might accidentally oust himself if under extreme stress."

"I'm a little concerned about everything that's happening." Nathaniel admitted. "And the announcements at the feast about the third floor corridor?" He frowned. "What's going on in this school?"

A/N: Sorry for the long hiatus, people. In my defence, I simply don't have the motivation or the desire to want to update the last few months for personal reasons. This chapter is more Blaise centric, and sorry, no Cedric in this.

I hope that you like this chapter, and please read and review! Reviews give me inspiration to update!