Chapter Two: Part One: Invisibility is NOT Always Guaranteed.
As they prepared for the night�s event the bats above them clicked and prepared for their own hunt. The bats didn�t even bother to live in the roof anymore; instead they just hung from the heavily exposed beams. Osanna had lectured them on toilet training shortly after they moved in and on the whole they were very well behaved and often brought them news of the night.
Finally they were ready, all in black, or at least almost all black, almost everything they owned was improved by Ivy. So basic black garments never stayed that way for long.
Ivy looked as an angel of death would if he had an overabundance of style. A leather dress that while tight fitting in the bodice to emphasize her figure flowed around her hips down to her ankles like a shimmering black river. Her cloak would have made even Snape smile in its ability to make her more imposing than ever.
Osanna had contained her usual flamboyant colors down to a basic pair of black leather trousers and a matching leather corset style bodice. She did however fail with the cloak, yes it was of black velvet, but the lining was made of silver snakeskin, which caught the light enhancing her already avian features.
Ivy quirked her lips at her friends attire.� I know,� said Osanna seeing her amusement,�But its impossible, I just cant wear all one color."
"Well, they should know already that we aren�t conventional� Ivy laughed, handing her a mask. Picking up her own mask and Slytherin cane that she never went anywhere without, Ivy led them to the door.
Behind them they heard a clatter of claws on wood, then a yelp and rolling thuds as George fell down the stairs.
"Damn" said Osanna, "He thinks were going out herb gathering."
They often went out after sunset to gather ingredients and George loved to come on these midnight rambles, hunting out pupils to scare. They left quickly, closing the door behind them while the little dragon was still trying to untangle his legs from his tail at the bottom of the stairs.
They didn�t bother to lock the door. The aura of the house and the lingering presence of Ivy and Osanna took care of the security. Besides, the last student who had tried to break in on a dare had found himself turned into a warthog, thanks to Ivy�s improved protection. The students now took to safer pastimes like snake baiting or shark swimming.
George, angry at being left behind, formed a plan of his own. He climbed back up the stairs and into Osannas room. He sat on the sill of the open window, flapped his wings hard, closed his eyes and jumped. He might be a part of the night�s action yet.
The night was suitably quiet. Little moved in the dense brush that lined the path that led towards Malfoy mansion, save for the occasional unicorn or white stag, everything else thought it safer to stay inside with these two women on the prowl.
Ivy�s cane and boots tapped out a steady, forceful rhythm on the path, "Were being tracked" Osanna whispered. Turning to face her friend, Ivy followed her glance upwards to the owl that was hovering above them.
�Whose is it?" She queried
"Looks like one of Snapes"
"Trust him� Ivy removed her wand from her cane. "Dissapatum" she commanded, and the two women faded out of sight.
The owl circled three times searching for them, then flew off in the direction of Snapes quarters.
They continued and soon came upon the grand house with elegantly landscaped gardens surrounding it.
�What about showing them a little of what we can do?� Ivy said as a thin cunning smile formed on her lips. Osanna read her mind and answered "Leave the invisibility on and cause a little chaos?"
Ivy nodded and they set off across the gardens with a new purpose
Together the two made their way across the sprawling Gardens of Malfoy Mansion.
"We can't just open the door," Ivy stated in a whisper. "It will draw FAR to much attention, then they may see through the invisibility, if they have no reason to suspect it however...they will not."
Osanna nodded and began to look for an alternate route in.
"There." Osanna pointed. "Someone left a window open"
Ivy grinned and the two women made their way towards the window in perfect silence.
Ivy listened to make sure no one was near the window, and then she crept through, carefully making sure she didn�t make the SLIGHTEST bit of noise at all. Osanna followed suit while Ivy waited on the other side once her friend was through the two turned in unison to stare at the mansion.
It was dripping with richness and splendor, the carpet, thick enough to drown in was a rich black, trimmed in emerald green tile. Paintings of the Malfoy family lined the walls; a plush couch of green velvet, over-stuffed and luxurious sat a foot from them. Osanna's eyes widened and Ivy seemed impressed also, though she hid it well. Neither girl spoke only stared in awe.
It was in that moment, somewhere between admiring the chandelier and the HUGE mahogany wood table that they heard footfalls on the winding, spiral staircase. Ivy quirked her brows and stared up at the emerging shadow.
She recognized him and yet she knew him not.... but it had to be Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father...the hair, the face...the same snotty, pretentious look. Her eyes widened and yet again she pretended not to be impressed.
He made his way down the stairs in a suit of black silk, a cane that could have been a twin to Ivy's in his right hand. Osanna knew the look on her friends face and tried not to chuckle...
"Splendidly well done Ladies, you DID just what I thought you would...welcome to my home."