Hospital Wing

Viper raised an eyebrow. "Very well, a simple 'I don't want to tell you' would have sufficed, but whatever."

Kiara looked at Eglantine in concern.

"Still alive? you mean....."

Turning to Viper she raised her hand and motioned "one minute"

"He who must not be named...actually." Eglantine whispered.

Viper stiffened. "Professor, I know you have a pathetic sense of humor but don't you dare joke about that."

Kiara froze, and she felt her heart start to thump in her chest.

"Voldemort?" she asked her voice only slightly above a whisper.

Tears leaked from Eglantine's eyes. This was serious and Professor Viper thought she was joking.
"The letter said Tom Riddle has been brought back. Something about my nephew's school."

Viper turned to Kiara. "The horcruxes at Durmstrang, the dead student....they were reviving Voldemort."

Eglantine just nodded.

Kiara shot a glare at Viper before turning her attention back to Eglantine.

"Who sent you that letter?"

"My brother, Edmund Rosier." she closed her eyes. "He was asking me to..." she stopped, trying not to think about what the letter had said.

"To what?" urged Viper, terrified that Voldemort may be recruiting his old servant's descendants.

Kiara could feel what little colour she had left in her face leave.

"Eglentine what did he say?" she asked as calmly as she could.

Rolling her eyes in annoyance, Viper quickly summoned a revival and strengthening potion and jammed it down the Professor's throat.

Jostled greatly by Professor Viper's less than gentle potion administration, Eglantine gasped out the answer.

"To help him! He wanted me to join Him." She closed her eyes and sighed softly. Her little brother, the rosy cheeked little boy with short cropped blonde hair and a forever smile was now planning to restore Voldemort to power.

"You?" asked Viper in a tone mixed with horror and amusement at the thought that anyone would want Englantine to serve them.

Kiara shook her head.

"But it doesn't make sense, how can he be back after nearly 20 years? And the ministry said...." She stopped felt her hands shake as she reached into her pocket where she put her letter and pulled it out.

"No...no No! how could I have been so stupid. Riddle?? how could they have known that?"

Viper glared. "What did you do?" she asked accusingly.

"Do not speak that way to the Headmistress. Besides, Edmund sent one to you as well." she said softly.
She was not about to tell Professor Viper that she had taught Edmund almost everything he knew about magic and had studied and experimented with dark magic at Salem.

Viper froze. "What are you talking about? He did no such thing!"

"He said he did in the letter." Eglantine insisted, using the bed rail to pull herself off the bed and onto her feet. "Perhaps you have not received it yet."

"You're lying! You just want to distract us from the fact your brother is helping bring back Voldemort. Hell, for all we know you helped him!" Viper exclaimed indignatly.

Kiara crunched the letter in her hand.

She had read through the letter so many times she didn't stop to think how they had known her last name was Riddle. The only people who knew were now dead. or at least one of them was supposed to be. She had erased all traces of her name in the ministry, the was no way someone could have learned about.

The only person who could know and use it like this was her dear old cousin Lord Voldemort.

Kiara looked at Viper and said "You and I have more in common then you think" she glared at the letter and without the aid of her wand the letter caught fire.

Falling to her knees she couldn't help but sob.

Viper sighed in frustration. "These are great people to be around during a crisis.." she thought to herself.

"Pull yourself together, Kiara. You were an auror for Merlin's sake! Is this what they teach you there? To bawl your bloody eyes out during a crisis? Because if so then my tax galleons are poorly spent!" she snapped, her anger masking the cold icy fear within her.

Mae tried to make herself look small, so she wouldn't be spotted by the teachers, but a sob made her look over and she spotted her Headmistress crouched on the ground, Professor Viper looking rather annoyed at her and DeLanquar.

Deciding to make herself known, Mae called out a simple, "Are you all right Headmistress?"

Eglantine said nothing. There was nothing to say. With fluid like motions she knelt beside Kiara and pulled her into a motherly embrace, rubbing her back soothingly.

"Shut up, Professor." she warned Viper. "Kiara, tell us what the letter said." Eglantine whispered.