Chapter 1- The Tale Begins

I failed.

As one of the four founders, and probably the most important one, I find it hard to admit that I failed. The discovery wasn't fully mine, but the responsibility…I can only blame myself.

The problem seems to be solved, for now. It was my sole duty to dispose of all the subjects created. I know I failed, because some them managed to run away. If they are able to breed, it

is my fault they will survive.

If they breed, they blood of future wizards will be polluted by the curse. I need to find them. I need to finish the Mirror. I need to finish them.

Selection from Salazar Slytherin journals

Two Aurors held her in a painfully harsh grip. They were careful to not get dirty, as she had blood on her hands, and on the front of her dress. She was still struggling, and she babbled some nonsense that they didn't want to hear.

Kingsley Shacklebolt was tired beyond belief. It was Harry Potter's turn to report the ones who were certainly dead.

Kingsley rubbed his eyes and noted Severus Snape. "This one deserves an explanation," said Harry, but Kingsley just waved him off.

"There will be time for explanations later," he dismissed Harry as he wrote the name on another list.

Kingsley was also responsible for making temporary quarters for Hogwarts students. The main priority was to neutralize any remaining Death Eaters or other sympathizers of Voldemort. He could say this name without fear now. Yes, he could say the name now, but would he want to? Would anyone?

Harry was about to leave, when two Aurors approached; they held the screaming and struggling woman.

"She's threatened to kill me," spat Harry. "I believe that you will consider it and make a proper decision." Harry left, and gave a glare to Katia Ivanov as he passed her. He's face showed utter disgust.

"You must listen to me! He will return!" screamed the woman.

Kingsley just shook his head. "Take her to Azkaban. She will wait for the process there; we can't afford to be careless this time."

Kingsley took a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket. The shaky handwriting said: Tonks and Lupin.

Tonks.

Tonks was dead.

Too many good people died while traitors like Malfoys, Parkinson, or Ivanov remained unscathed.

Diagon Alley, August 19, 1992

The tales she heard about Diagon Alley ware nothing compared to the crowded street with even more shops than she could have ever imagined.

Katia, more used to the peaceful and lazy atmosphere in the Ivanov Manor or very a different type of street, was now surrounded by a crowd of people, and didn't know where to go first; she wanted to see and touch everything.

A short man in his early fifties walked beside her and grabbed her hand as he smiled.

"Everything has its own time, sweetie," he said in a strange mixture of Russian, Polish and maybe one or two Slavonic languages.

"I know, but this place is truly amazing. I have never been in a marketplace such as this."

It was like day and night when she tried to compare the crowded marketplaces of Bulgaria, people would yell to attract customers to their stalls, wizards who drove muggle cars and would honk constantly, and children who were dressed in shorts and ran around to try to steal as much as they could, to Diagon Alley.

If she were still in Bulgaria, Katia would be sweating under the hot sun that would be relentless almost all day long, and there would be dust up to her knees.

But here in England, she felt cold, as if it was late Fall. There were thick clouds in the sky above her and she was grateful that her father had advised her to wear warmer clothes.

They visited shop after shop, buying supplies and books from the Hogwarts list. Her servant, Maria, followed their every step, and carried their purchases in big bags.

They stopped near "Flourish & Blotts", and Maria took a seat on a nearby bench.

The crowd inside this shop was impressive, and Wulfrick and Katia entered, careful to not bring too much attention to themselves.

She wasn't in the mood to answer tons of questions about who she was and why was she here. She was sure that the students of Hogwarts could recognize an unfamiliar face rather quickly.

Katia looked at the list of books and wrinkled her nose.

"Do I really need to buy all of this shit?"

Her companion patted her arm and furrowed his brows in annoyance. "A young lady like yourself should not be using such language in public."

The girl rolled her eyes and sighed, "Don't be so absurd, dad. They cannot understand a word."

"I understand."

They moved forward a little, but neither Katia nor Wulfrick were tall enough to see the reason of such a big crowd inside the bookshop. Katia tapped at Gilderoy's surname with her manicured finger.

"I can't believe that this retarded moron will be our teacher."

Wulfrick chuckled and smiled mischievously. "At least you will not have an opportunity to show how gifted you are with a wand."

"Funny, because I would like to show them right here, right now what an excellent dueler I am," she snorted in a mock angry tone.

The pair moved to the corner, and pretended that they were looking at the titles of the books on shelves, but both waited for an opportunity to see something more than people's backs.

A high voice, belonging to a mother most likely, was heard and after a while she was visible. People behind them pushed Katia and Wulfrick forward, for now they were able to see something or someone of interest.

"Weasleys," hissed a voice in her ear while she looked at the redheaded family. "Malfoy, behind them. And his son upstairs and-"

She interrupted, "Potter, I know."

She stood with her face towards Lockhart, but her eyes never left Lucius Malfoy.

"He is so handsome," she said in English. It would look suspicious if they were talking in foreign language standing so close to other students.

"Gilderoy Lockhart is SOOOO cute," replied a blonde girl with dreamy eyes who stood next to Katia. "We are so lucky that he will be our teacher," she continued.

The blonde started babbling and whenever Katia tried to speak, she received a new river of words from the girl.

Finally, Wulfrick had had enough.

"Tshort ty, poshol von," he hissed quietly, so only Katia and the blonde girl could hear him.

The girl retreated and Katia turned her head a little towards her companion.

"I know it's a bit early, but I want so much to-"

Anything she wanted to say was interrupted by a peal of laughter from Lockhart. Nevertheless, Wulfrick knew what she meant because he leaned to her a little and whispered, "I know child, but take your time."

"He will fulfill my needs, I can see it. It's his body, his eyes, his movements…" Her voice changed, becoming seductive as her eyes darkened. She felt a harsh grip on her left shoulder.

"It's not a sweet and you are not in a candy shop, so stop salivating this instance for Rasputin's sake!" Hissed Wulfrick angrily as he shook the girl by her arm.

In the mean time, Mrs. Weasley had made her way back through the crowd. She seemed very satisfied with her pile of books signed by Lockhart.

Wulfrick pulled Katia towards the salesman and they bought all the books on the list.

When they were finally outside, they handed the new bag to Maria and headed towards a nearby restaurant. Wulfrick and Maria ordered ice cream covered in lemon juice and cappuccino, Katia took a fruit salad with a glass of soy milk.

She interrupted the silence after a while.

"If an attribute of the Devil is temptation, than this man the Devil impersonated," she said as she closed her eyes for a moment and smiled as she remembered an oriental, musky scent of expensive perfume and a brush of velvet robes.

"Who is that?" asked Maria, as she swallowed a frozen grape with a grimace.

"If you still have to ask, girl, then you have a lot more to learn than I expected," answered Wulfrick with his all knowing smile.

"Lucius Malfoy, silly," explained Katia with a friendly tone and an understanding expression.

Maria colored and dropped her gaze. "Of course," she sighed, "I can be so stupid sometimes."

A/N:

Tshort ty, poshol von - transcribed Russian. It may contain minor mistakes in transcription, because I'm not a native English speaker and Russian isn't my first language too.

"Tshort" – the devil, "ty" – you, "poshol"- out, "von" – go away. In a free translation it means "Go away, you devil" which is an equivalent of "Go to the Hell"

Due to the environment in which Katia was raised, there will be some Polish, Bulgarian and Russian in her parts of dialogue, but not too often.

I am sure that most of you know who Grigori Rasputin was. I thought that he would make an excellent equivalent of a British Merlin.