It wasn�t a large house, but it certainly had plenty of room for the two women, their menagerie of animals and the numerous items that they had collected over the years.
It was old and had stood on the property even before Hogwarts was built. Wild roses and Ivy climbed the broken brickwork and framed the windows and doors with green foliage. A small tree grew next to the blackened chimney. Behind it stood a great Oak whose branches scraped the slate roof. The door was of oak and studded with iron. In the light of the first new moon of the year sigils of protection shone softly.
Ivy had of course added a few of her own when they moved in.
The house had stood uninhabited for the past hundred years as it exuded an evil feel, yet they feared to raze it. Many of the professors would even utter spells of protection if they so much as passed through its shadow, of course they would not admit this aloud.
But to Ivy and Osanna it was perfect and allowed them to be free of the chaos of the pupils. They had enough chaos of their own to deal with.
They opened the door to the disgruntled grunt of George who had been sleeping on the mat behind the door.
George was a dragon. A great Wyrm who were normally the largest and most powerful Dragons in the world. George was the exception, a genetic throwback and orphaned at hatching, he was no bigger than the average Labrador and preferred sleeping to eating virgins.
Osanna scratched him behind the ears as she pushed him out of the way, "go light the fire" she told him and he trotted off to the kitchen, his tail dragging in the dust behind him.
Ivy bent and picked up a slightly singed envelope form the mat where George had lain.
The envelope was made of parchment paper and in flowing, if slightly suspicious, handwriting, was written their names.
Walking into the kitchen, she tossed the letter onto the table and sat down while Osanna prepared their coffee.
Handing her a cup of strong, thick black coffee that a spoon would run away from. Osanna sat, lit a cigarette and gestured to the envelope, "what�s that about?"
Ivy looked up from her ebony and silver cigarette case, that was being especially reluctant in opening and shrugged, "well lets open it and see" she replied as the case finally opened and sent a shower of cigarettes to the floor.
"You don�t think it�s like the cursed chain letter we sent around Spellworthy Academy before they threw us out do you?" worried Osanna
"If it is I can deal with it" and Ivy picked up the envelope and opened it
Ivy turned the letter over several times, inspecting it, half afraid it was a dammn howler, and half afraid it may bite her. After a moment however, she noted the letter was sealed with a serpent crest, very similar to that of her former house, Slytherin. She made an "Hmmph" noise under her breath and opened it with one long, black nail.
"Welllllllll what is it?" Osanna asked, peering at Ivy from the table as she paced the floor, as if staring hard enough would enable her to read the letter as well.
Ivy' thin, ebony brows arched up so high it looked for a moment like they may leap off her forehead.
"WHAT?" Osanna said, now actually looking over Ivy's shoulder.
Ivy cleared her throat.
"Dearest Miss October and Miss Cariad,
It has been brought to our attention by various means that you are interested in our "organization". We find this interesting, and request your presence tonight to be properly introduced to our number, and gain some answers to WHOM and WHAT you seek. A owl shall be at your residence shortly bearing two objects, we demand that each of you wear one tonight as you join us...along with these objects will be a location and time, your identity must remain secret, send a owl back if you will attend. Dress all in black.
Sincerely
Us"
Osanna took a deep breath and peered at Ivy, she opened her mouth as if to speak when they saw a large Eagle Owl fluttering outside their window, a package tied to it's leg.
Ivy breezed across the room and opened the window, the owl fluttered in and perched on the table, Ivy un-tied the package as Osanna gave the creature some water.... the owl waited, it had obviously been ordered to receive a reply.
Ivy un-tied the black silk bag, and two plain white, ghostly looking porcelain masks were revealed, ivy un-rolled the scroll and gasped softly.
"The meeting will take place at Malfoy mansion, arrive no later than midnight or consider the invitation revoked."
Osanna gaped at Ivy as she gingerly touched one of the masks.
"DeathEaters" Ivy responded as if reading Osanna's mind. "Lord Voldermort."
The owl hooted in irritation and ruffled it's feathers.
"We have to send...a reply,� Osanna said, picking up a raven-feathered quill in one hand.
"Of course" Ivy muttered, snapping back to reality with an almost audible "POP".
She took the quill and dipped into a bottle of emerald green ink.
"Whom it may concern,
Both Osanna and I will be in attendance tonight.
Signed
Lady Ivy Cariad"
She then carefully tied the scroll around the owl's leg and enchanted the scroll so if it were usurped and read it would appear to be a friendly, gossipy letter, she then carried the bird back to the window and set it loose.
"DeathEaters" Osanna repeated, as if in disbelief.
Ivy nodded and picked up the masks. "Well that settles it, we leave tonight."
Osanna shot Ivy a smile, somewhere between malicious and nervous. Ivy tapped the mask and chuckled.
"All I can say is it's about time."
Osanna's eyes glinted and she nodded. "Oh indeed, I think it is about time."