'' While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die. ''
~ Leonardo da Vinci ~



Chapter 16 ~ New Barriers


Harry clenched his fist around thin air, squeezing the life out of some spiritual domain adversary within the quiet hospital backstage. The silence was only broken by Kaylens'tranquil breaths, her bureau rising and falling as steadily as the brightness picnic fluttering the curtains.

He 'd been cooped up for days, still healing himself, and had been forced to check her grow ever stiller. Surely he was trapped within one of the seven lot of hell, for each meter he looked upon her his guilt rose like a fire, the flames threatening to consume him.

She had saved him. Despite everything he had screamingly accused her of, she had still nearly given her life sentence for his.

Now she lay in this comatose state, and even dame Pomfrey had been unable to rouse her.

Her skin still held the pallor of death, yet to him it seemed slightly rosier.

Perhaps it was his own wishful cerebration.

He rose, unable to remain still, watching her with nothing save his idea for company.

Thoughts were such poor ease ...

Not allowed and unwilling to give, he began sorting through the event of the past few days.

The defence, the satisfaction, and everything he had expected to feel were conspicuously absent.

Bellatrix Lestrange was dead.

So why did he feel robbed ?

The obvious answer came. Tonks had beaten him to the killing. She had killed the one someone who 's decease he had desired above all but Voldemort himself. And now he would never sustain the chance to avenge Sirius the way he had wanted.

Worst of all, Lestrange 's body was gone.

He had wanted to look upon the lifeless face of Canicula'orca and spit upon it.

Now even that cruel comforter had been taken from him.

All he was left with, were unanswered dubiousness, and this cruel circle of hell called the Hogwarts infirmary wing.

Still, the facts did not add up. last Eaters held no allegiance for one another. To them nothing was sacred.

Yet they had salvaged the body.

There was no coming back from the killing execration ...

So why do it ?

He had unconsciously wandered, finding himself in forepart of the open third floor window. The autumn scented snap blew across his bare chest, cooling him. His shirt lay discarded upon his bed, his shoulder joint gauze recently removed, exposing the claw marks that now indented his peel.

It was necessary, Madam Pomfrey had insisted upon having his wounding exposed to the air. He was to be released soon, and she needed to ascertain that it would make up on it 's own.

His fractured scapula had been mended quickly, but werewolf wounds were tedious to heal.

It was fortunate he had not been bitten, they had said.

Was he lucky ? He was not sure. But even when Dumbledore and Tonks had come, he had felt nothing but hollow. His own numbness was almost enough to wish for death.

Only yesterday had Dumbledore 's weathered eyes bored into his, recounting the events in full.

'' Experimental spells, their burden unknown to the Order, have been added to Voldemort 's armory of weaponry, Harry. Take heed ... ''

He would.

He had seen what happened to Lupin first handwriting, for his transformation had been triggered by the tour Lucius Malfoy had hit him with.

It had happened during the day.

Now, where destruction eater roamed, the moon would no longer hold it 's sway.

Harry shuddered in the breeze, contemplating the many horrors Voldemort might let loose in addition to daylight roaming werewolves.

Of course there was no demand to speculate. Dumbledore had told him about the atrocity of former.

40 seven innocents, four of them children, had walked upon the Earth. Now they lay beneath it 's unforgiving ground, removed by the pitiless actions of Voldemort 's minions.

Hermione 's parents would soon join them, and his frigidity noetic English realized that when it happened, part of Hermione 's soul would be taken forever.

'' The war is escalating Harry, far more swiftly than we ever expected ... ''

He was having trouble accepting any of it, for he knew at the nub of it, he was partly to blame.

For if he were truly the one with the exponent to vote out the Dark Lord, than every second he had ever spent reveling in life, and not searching for Voldemort 's demise, had been another grave in the ground for the innocent.

A painful quiver burned within the pincer marks he bore, and he wondered if they had re-opened again, bleeding anew. He reached a hand back, gingerly touching it, the blood upon his finger's breadth confirming his suspicions.

It was doubtful he would be permitted to leave soon.

'' That 's disgusting. ``

His froze, turning from the window. He stared, taking her in as she blinked the sleep from her centre, squinting in the morning sunlight.

'' You 're awake, '' He stated, slightly stunned. He had begun to inquire if she ever would.

She smiled weakly. `` You 're observant. ``

'' You were out for five 24-hour interval. ``

She paled considerably.

He was tardily to recover, and debated getting Madam Pomfrey. But she would be back soon, to agree on his own wounds. She could find her alive then. Besides, he was afraid to will her alone for even a second gear, fearful that she might return into that unending slumber once more.

'' So how is it ? '' Her voice was barely above a whisper.

He studied her, thinking about how to answer. His pride made him hesitant to allow in helplessness, but her heart ...

She would discern a lie if he told it, he realized, deciding on the trueness.

'' Painful, '' He watched her eyes flicker shut. `` You ? ''

'' Like hell ... '' She murmured.

'' You look it. ``

She graced him with a wry smiling, a lock of hair falling into her eye. She looked almost annoyed.

She reached up, brushing the ignition lock aside, revealing her deathly pale skin. Her curb effort exposed her own botheration to him in a way no words could.

As did her wrist. His eyes caught upon the dark bruise encircling it.

He crossed to her, catching her wrist gently. She glanced up, hazelnut eyes narrowed in confusedness.

'' You bruise easily do n't you ? '' He asked, cautiously turning her manus in his. It was so delicate he was afraid it would split up promote than it already had from her fall.

Her centre traveled to where his digit lay.

'' Apparently, '' Her voice was so light ...

'' Pomfrey said she had taken tutelage of this, '' He whispered aloud, gently relinquishing her hand. She let it fall upon her pillow, besides her face. `` Your clappers may not cause healed properly. ``

She flexed it back and Forth River, grimacing slightly. `` It 's fine. ``

'' Right, '' He said skeptically, withdrawing to the bed across from her, sitting upon the taunt sheets.

It was funny, but had she had woken a few days earlier he probably would give birth demanded answers, response about how she knew Lupin, about what she really did or did not know about Death Eaters, but after days of sitting there, watching her frail figure sleep, the simple cerebration of interrogating her vex him.

His answers could wait, for a little spell at least.

'' Tonks stopped by earlier, '' He said, breaking the silence. `` She said lupin sends his love. ``

Her centre opened hopefully. `` So he 's ... ''

'' Yeah, '' He finished.

She sunk farther into the mattress. `` Thank God. Finally something 's gone right. ``

She lay there, so still, for so long, he would take sworn she slept. It was character fear, fear that she would not awake, that drove him to the admission.

'' You saved my life, '' He said quietly.

She stretched ever so slightly, the sheets sliding away to reveal her bare toes. Her aspect relaxed, almost serenely. `` You saved mine first. ``

He wanted to argue, but lacked the bosom, watching how her oculus broke from his, dancing away.

'' That fall down the stairs you took ... I probably would n't have held up as well. ``

Looking at how fragile she seemed, he realized she spoke the truth.

It was then that Pomfrey walked in.

He tore his eyes from her, and allowed Pomfrey to niggle over him willingly this time.
* * * * *


Several days later he had been prepped to leave. His left arm hung loose in a sling, preventing unnecessary movement.

lupin 's claws had torn into him just beneath his berm blade, right where several muscle came together. Apparently re-growing muscular tissue was as tricky as re-growing bones.

He still needed to peach to Kaylens, but she slept. They had not shared a password since she had first awoken, contentedness to sit there in muteness. He was debating whether or not to break that silence when a frustrated looking Ron walked in.

Looking at Ron, he realized that there were other thing that had to be taken care of first gear.

He had been dreading this conversation for days. Ron and Hermione would want result. response about his absence ... Answers about what had occurred in Dumbledore 's office days earlier ... Answers about Voldemort 's intrusions into his mind ...

result he could not give.

How could he explain the pressure level he felt, or Voldemort 's intrusions, without revealing the contents of the prophecy ?

How could he explain what had gone on at Dog Star', without revealing all he had seen ?

And how could he explicate why Hermione 's parents had been taken from her ? They would never accept 'because of me'as an answer.

He threw a last glimpse at Kaylens'sleeping word form. They would verbalise later. He promised himself that.

He and Ron stepped into the hall. It was mercifully vacant, making the stone-lined corridor appear longer than usual.

It had been over a workweek since he and Kaylens had disappeared from the Headmaster 's office, and one of the close affectionate weekends of the twelvemonth had driven the student eubstance outside.

As for him, during that metre, Voldemort had left his nous alone. He had felt the beginnings of an intrusion days earlier, but Riddle had withdrawn, sensing that his conclusion had not yet been made.

enigma had given him more time due to his injury, and for that, Harry had to give him credit.

As evil as Voldemort was, the animate being had some class.

They walked in silence, Ron 's eyes darting towards him. He knew Ron was trying to decide what was prophylactic to discuss.

Harry decided to spare him the ineptitude. `` How 's Hermione ? ``

Ron shrugged despondently. `` How do you think she 's doing ? ``

'' Not sound, '' The absence of the great unwashed made the corridor cavernous, and his breath echoed quietly.

'' Harry what 's going on ? ``

I wish I knew Ron ... His own thwarting at this very question had been building inside for days. Dumbledore had told him some, but there was still the motion of Kaylens. How did she fit into all of this ? Did she even ? And Voldemort ... There had to be more to it, because the pieces Dumbledore had told him did not fit with what he had seen through Voldemort 's own eyes.

Not to bring up the prophecy. How in the hellhole was he supposed to crush him ?

There were too many query to suffice, before the most important I could even be framed.

They walked the rest of the way in silence.

Hermione was there, waiting for them in the empty dormitory room, sprawled out with a Word on Ron 's bed. Her eyes were rimmed with dark circles, similar to Kaylens.

misery loves party, he thought. Ron sat besides her, placing a hand on her binding. Only then did she look to actualize they were there.

'' Harry ... H-how are you ? ``

He smiled for her benefit. `` The interrogative is, how are you ? ``

She shrugged, re-burying her olfactory organ into her Word of God. `` They would n't let us see you. ``

'' I know. ``

'' Why ? '' Ron asked.

Harry dropped his bag onto the bed, and began removing the few property Pomfrey had brought down for him. `` Dumbledore 's Holy Order. '' His eyes would not meet theirs.

Ron frowned. `` His reason ? ``

So he could have clip to brief us on what we could or could not say to you, he thought.

'' He did n't want us seen. We were n't in ... '' He shrugged with one shoulder. `` No one should deliver seen us after it okay ? ``

Hermione 's eyes roamed, landing on his slingback.

He caught the unspoken question. `` Werewolf wounds are slow to heal. ''

They both looked at him as if he were a new species.

'' W-were you ... ? '' Ron stammered.

'' No. I was not bitten. ``

Hermione looked skeptical. `` Harry that 's not potential. ``

'' Why ? '' She cringed at his forcefulness.

'' Because the full moon is n't until ... ''

'' This weekend. Yes I know 'Mione. ``

'' Then how could a werewolf ... ''

His facial expression turned grave accent. `` There are elbow room. ``

Hermione was no longer even trying to study, her voice unusually high school. `` That ca n't be. A lycanthrope ca n't deepen out of lunar chronological succession ... ''

'' Do n't be so for certain of that, '' He said bitterly.

Ron looked between them. `` How ? How could it Harry ? ``

Harry stared him down, unflinching. `` Voldemort. ''

Ron 's blue optic widened, his lentigo standing out against his picket fence skin, putting two and two together. `` So when you and Kaylens went to see Lupin ... ''

'' He turned. Yes. ``

'' Merlin ... '' Ron whispered, unconsciously rubbing Hermione 's backrest harder.

'' Harry I do n't realize, '' She said haltingly, shoving her book away, it 's pages flapping lifelessly as it fell to the flooring. She spared it not a glance. `` Please Harry. What 's going on ? ``

'' Too much to explain easily, 'Mione. ''

Ron took Hermione 's paw almost naturally. `` Then take your fourth dimension mate. outset from the beginning. ''

Harry shook his head, hating himself. `` Fine, the beginning then .... '' He steadied himself, and met Hermione 's almost pleading gaze.

'' You both already know that Voldemort has not given me a moment 's peace since finale summer. It 's a private battle between him and I. We 're both fighting for information, about the other side 's coming and goings, about how lots the former side knows ... ''

He talked steadily, opening his chest drawer to put clothing away. His actions, however menial, lent a sense of normalcy to the otherwise ominous conversation.

'' Your parents 'Mione, he said he will let go them, '' He ignored her inhalation of breathing spell. `` If I tell him what the contents of the prophecy were. ``

Her expression drooped. `` But how could you ? It broke ... '' She glanced at Ron, searching for confirmation, repeating herself now. `` You ca n't have intercourse what it said. Could you ? ``

He found himself nodding. `` Yes, Hermione. It broke. But I still know what it said. ``

The silence that followed lodge in class within his mind, yet it lasted no more than 3 seconds.

'' What did it say ? '' She questioned cautiously.

He remained silent, until her pleading voice broke again.

'' Harry, please ... ''

'' Do n't ask me Hermione, not again. It is something I can not share. ``

The betrayed looks upon their faces nearly broke his sprightliness.

Hermione 's mouth opened and closed wordlessly. It was Ron who finally gave spokesperson to their thoughts. `` Why Harry ? Why ca n't you share it ? ``

'' You would not want to hear it. ``

'' How could we not ? Harry this is all we 've worked for ! Did it say how we can pound him ... ''

He swallowed hard. `` No Ron. ``

'' Then why wo n't ... ''

'' No. ``

Ron 's phonation was hard. `` Then if not us, him ? It could save up 'Mione 's ... ''

The accusation in Ron 's voice was too a lot. He could consume no more. `` Because I ca n't Ron ! Don't you think I would if I could ? ``

Ron shook his head. `` I do n't know anymore Harry. ``

Harry was having problem keeping his spokesperson level. `` Ron, if I tell him there is no reason for him to keep on the Grangers alive anymore. It 's our biggest bargaining Saratoga chip. ``

Hermione sounded so small now. `` But V-voldemort said he 'd ... he 'd l-let them g-go ... ''

His jaw dropped. Hermione was wise than this was n't she ? `` I 'm sorry Hermione but once I tell him .... ''

'' He 'd let them go, '' Ron interrupted. `` brand him secrete one at least Harry ! Then recite him for God 's saki ! What could it hurt ? ! bargain with him ! ``

Harry lost his patience. `` Do n't you poke fun get it ? ! This is Voldemort we are talking about ! '' They both cringed at the name, his voice rising. `` This is n't some war secret plan were playing against the Slytherins ! This is real life ! Voldemort is eviler that either of you can even imagine ... ''

'' Really ? '' Ron countered. `` Were we or were we not there with you Harry ? Huh ? Did we not see what he was up to of at the Department of mystery story ? ``

Harry shook his oral sex, never more dangerous. `` No Ron. You did n't. '' He felt almost drab at Ron 's crestfallen look. `` You only saw what Death Eaters were capable of. That is aught compared to him. ``

'' Harry then why do n't you just tell us how he ... '' Hermione started miserably.

'' Because Hermione ! There 's no way to explicate it ... ''

'' There 's no pauperism to squall at her fellow, '' Ron said coolly.

He laughed bitterly. `` Oh but there is Ron. Because after everything we 've been through you 'd conceive you would both confide my sound judgment on this ... ''

'' No, '' Ron squeezed Hermione 's handwriting and stood. `` Because we remember where your judgment got Sirius. ``

Harry felt as if his interior had frozen. There was no arguing this.

'' If you had only listened to Hermione it would n't have happened, '' Ron continued icily. `` And now your hesitation concerning this prophecy may get her parents killed as well. ``

Hermione had begun tugging on his hand frantically. `` Ron ... ''

'' No Hermione. He needs to get wind this. Because it 's like he does n't even trust us ... ''

'' I do trust you, '' Harry whispered.

Ron 's eyebrows raised so far they disappeared beneath his tomentum. `` Really ? ! Then why did you hardly breath a word to us all summertime ? Why wo n't you talk to us now ? ``

'' I am talking ... ''

'' No. Your blocking Harry. Like in Bromus secalinus. '' Ron pointed his sceptre out the door, summoning the cheat dining table from the vernacular room. Levitating it, Ron cleared the card save for the cat's-paw, Billie Jean King, and queen of both sides, his hilltop furrowed in assiduity. He then moved the pawn so they protectively surrounded the tycoon and queer on one English, leaving the other side 's B. B. King and pouf unprotected.

'' The way I see it Harry, all you have left are pawns. '' Ron continued, gesturing to the protected side of the plug-in. `` So instead of risking everything to rent my king, you 're protecting yours. ``

Ron moved a pawn on Harry 's face away. `` You 're afraid that if you move your pawns for a arcsecond, that I might get in and take your King. ``

Ron 's female monarch shot forward, moving through the gap Harry 's pawn had left, taking his queen out with a wild belt of her chair. She then stood, posed to take his king on the side by side move.

'' The business leader represents everything your keeping from us Harry. '' He continued seriously. `` You wo n't let your king be taken, because if that happens ... ''

The chess game gameboard folded in on itself, slamming to the floor.

'' Game over. ``

Harry shook his head, unable to refuse Ron 's accusation.

He was right. And for the start time Harry realized how truly unlike he was from them.

He loved them, but Ron and Hermione could never part his burden, no matter how much they wanted to.

The sound of the metaphorical wall falling between them filled his judgement, and Ron spoke again.

'' Game over Harry. Only you're the simply one who knows what game were playing. ``
* * * * *


Harry tromped through the corridor, feeling bad than he had thought possible. He preferred feeling numb, at least then he felt nada at all.

They simply did not realise. Not that he had expected them to. Things were too life-threatening now. Voldemort had made a Falco subbuteo out of extinguishing anyone close to his bosom, and he was not about to take Ron and Hermione 's point with anything that might make them more tempting targets than they already were.

Which was why he had straight out refused to let out anything else, and held his ground about not revealing the prophecy to Voldemort. Not even for Hermione ....

Ron had stormed out telling him to 'keep his secrets'and Hermione had plead with him to 'not shut them out .'

The choice was no longer his.

No longer would they be privy to Harry ceramicist 's bad decisions.

They would n't end up like Sirius.

He knew exactly where he was going, and rounded the recession to the infirmary flank. His foul climate only increased when Madam Pomfrey stuck out her headway, a forced smile plastered upon it, and asked him to wait.

The door slammed and the sound of disceptation resumed. Dumbledore 's voice caught his attention. What was he doing in the hospital wing ? Perhaps to see Kaylens, but he had already visited them once. It was n't like the Headmaster to visit student though. And he should know, he had been in the hospital wing too many time to count, but could count Dumbledore 's visits there on one hand.

A disturbing thought struck him. What if Kaylens had gotten big ?

He reached into his pocket and withdrew the extendable ear he had taken to carrying at all multiplication. His decision made he slipped it beneath the door.

brothel keeper Pomfrey 's reproving tone came out clearly. `` ... mobile phone need to rectify before you can even attempt to do magic again. ``

'' But I 'm behind enough as it is ! '' Kaylens ... A twisting wave of relief washed through him. And to think, normally he had trouble resisting the itch to mute her.

Dumbledore spoke now. `` Miss Kaylens I do n't think Remus would want you over-exerting ... ''

'' wellspring I 'm not particularly concerned with what he thinks at the present moment. ``

The secrecy was palpable, and he shifted nervously. She was okay, now that he knew this he really shouldn't be listening ...

Yet something about Dumbledore 's tone made him. As outwardly reliable as the Headmaster had been with him lately, his religious belief in the man was still recovering. It had been shattered too skillfully the previous year.

'' Kalliandra, we did not want you burdened with this. ``

'' Considering that I 'm the one you ca n't heal, do n't you think that should have been my decisiveness ? ``

therapeutic ? His venter lurched dangerously.

'' Kalliandra, looking at it as a dying sentence will not help thing. ``

Her voice was strained. `` You 're mighty. Nothing will. You know that the odds ... ''

'' Are only as good as you make them, '' Dumbledore finished. `` That is precisely why we did not want to weight down you with this. ``

'' I 'd opt the essence, '' Kaylens hissed, her voice suddenly inviolable. `` Now is there anything else your keeping from me ? '' Her voice was strained and accusatory. `` Because I 'd wish to know before I read about it in some stupid ledger. ``

Silence.

'' I thought so. ''

His integral eubstance shook unsteadily. So a great deal so that the approaching footsteps did not file until the door had swung exposed in movement of him, revealing a sick looking Kalliandra.

He could only gaze, words abandoning him. Her eyes had caught on the extendible ear.

Her garment bag slipped down on her shoulder joint, her integral form quivering.

'' ceramist ... '' She whispered chokingly. She locked eyes with him, her face stunned.

A second later she was gone. The glistening of her eyes the harshest reproach he had ever seen.





'' Just as courage jeopardize life, veneration protects it. ''
~ Leonardo da Vinci ~



Chapter 17 ~ Kunnskap

Kunnskap is Norweigan for cognition



She shoved candid the entree doors, leaving the secure entrance hall of the school behind, and walked out onto the rapidly cooling grounds. She blinked back the wet that lingered within her center. No tears would fall, no matter how hard they threatened. This she promised herself.

She was furious, but her anger paled in comparability to her self loathing. She had been so unbelievably stupid ! It had been bad enough to trust Remus, but to feature nearly let down that roadblock again ...

'' Dam n't Potter ! '' She swore quietly.

Despite the botheration they had been in, the metre spent within the infirmary fender had been pleasant. She and Potter had dwelt in still society, both knowing there were matter that needed to be discussed. Despite that he had not pressed her to talk, instead he had seemed to calmly accept her secretiveness.

This change had been oddly comforting.

At to the lowest degree until she had stormed out, to obtain him standing there with an extendable ear.

She kicked the ground, scattering grime in her wake.

She could not sound why she had thought he would let her keep her secrets. But she had been a accomplished tomfool for entertaining the notion.

And for some reason his pocket-sized betrayal hurt her.

Gods ... She turned her tear filled eyes towards the sky, tracing along the darkening clouds, and noted how low they hung. It was the entry violent storm that had drawn her outdoors after all. The strange flavor slithering through her, as if static electricity were tickling her very pelt, had been hard to discount.

She reveled in the small-scale beguilement from her thought process, and allowed herself to simply finger.

The looming swarm pulsated with unstable vibrations, their rhythmic throb pulsated within her very ancestry, and her hair stood on end as if one had just run a balloon through her hair.

The tempest strawman rolled in above her, and the Sir Thomas More astute of her equal began to head indoors. The orbit surrounding the lake had been the first-class honours degree of the terra firma to be abandoned, and her feet led her there.

She wanted the seclusion.

She had grown so used to despair, to feeling only constant spiritlessness, punctuated by binge of undiluted angriness, that she had forgotten how to feel something as human as fear.

Everything had happened so fast the day she had received the shopkeepers note, and there had been no time for the cold-blooded truth to sink in. Only over the past twenty-four hours, as she and ceramist had lain there in silence, had it finally registered.

Pomfrey 's Holy Writ had just driven it family.

Somehow, hearing the Healer 's words had made it real, and now fright held her nub in a frailty grip.

Despite the fearfulness, she felt oddly detached, each aching pace reminding her how she had already nearly died from her stout with the werewolf.

Perhaps decease would be a boon. She just had things to do before it found her.

The vibrations in the in high spirits sky were back, and she cringed at the electricity there. Being a part of such things, feeling such things, was not always pleasant.

It was often painful.

She rubbed her arms against the chill wind, grateful that God had some sense of pity. Fortunately for her, the human brain could only register pain as abnormal for so long, before it accepted the pain as the unvarying state of personal matters. Then it would be ignored.

Oddly enough, it was very similar to how the fragrant olfactory property of roses would minify, if one were to stick out amongst them, breathing them in for too foresighted.

Still, acclimation could only do so practically, and her body ached, protesting constantly.

Instead of leaving the grounds at the menace of rain, she continued meandering across the grounds, walking the circumference of the lake, observing it carefully.

She took it all in with her normal insight. There were spotlight where the grounds ended, dropping off sharply to play the duckweed covered surface of the water.

In early post the ground gradually sloped down, kissing the lake 's rippling waves. There the dark earth was muddied, imprinted with the footprint of those who had braved the shallow to swim, before the weather had cooled in wake of the incoming afternoon storm.

She passed by both these areas, heading closer to the Forbidden Forest. Here she kicked off her shoes, allowing them to dangle freely from one paw as she picked her way across the far end of the lake. Here small stones formed a natural beach, and she sat down near the edge, letting her fingerbreadth trail across the rough pebbled boundary beneath her.

She accumulated a small collecting of flat bottomed tilt, gathering them within her hands, and she cast the low gear across the serene water, breaking it 's vitreous surface.

The heavyweight squid lazily reached out a tentacle, swatting at and missing the cast of characters stone.

She smiled ruefully, casting another towards him. This time the tentacle swung and connected, sending the pit flying high above her head word.

A low rumble filled the sky, and the altocumulus clouds dipped threateningly lower, wafting the scent of rainfall upon the breeze towards her. The sky had grown darker, and she vaguely remembered the good afternoon she and Sean had once spent, skipping stones across the lake near their family home.

But there had been no giant squid to play with there.

She skipped another.

A overweight pink tentacle connected with it, hurtling it back.

To the side of her came an unmistakable grunt.
* * * * *


Harry winced, rubbing his forehead. That was definitely going to exit a marking.

It had taken him all of 30 seconds to decide to be her. The memory of her watery eyes had been alarming, and he could n't let her leave behind like that, not when she did n't understand.

He cast a glare at the hulk calamari, approaching her cautiously, carefully trying to not slue upon the slick rock'n'roll as he walked down towards her.

He treaded as close as he dared, pausing to vacillate uncertainly. Her shoulder had stiffened at his outcry, the only sign to bespeak that she was aware of his bearing.

He swallowed hard. From where he stood besides her, he could see the drawn melody of her lips, and how her oculus gazed, almost longingly across the dark surface of the lake. He followed her regard, the first gear drops of rain drizzling upon them.

The lake 's once glossy exterior now moved with a lifespan of its own. Each raindrop sending circular ripples outwards, each disturbance merging with the other furrows spreading across its surface. The force was entrancing, and he drew his eyes away from the scene before him, to the girlfriend before him. She was why he had ventured out here, despite the threatening storm.

'' What are you doing out here ? '' He asked carefully. Another rock of smack shuddered the sky, drowning him out, and the goliath squid disappeared beneath the lake 's open.

'' Enjoying the sunshine, '' Her hair fluttered lightly around her side. `` I thought it would be obvious. ``

'' It 's not, '' He responded, the twist carrying his voice.

Silence reigned for some time, broken only by the increasing musical rhythm of rain, pattering around them. The water gradually matted his unruly hair to his brow, and Kaylen 's favourable fuzz darkened with saturation.

She sat with a make relaxed air, unbothered by the icy droplets pouring down. Slowly, with patent hurting in her movements, she scooted closemouthed to the lake 's edge, dipping her feet into the churning pee as casually as if it were a mid-summer day, rather than a verbose October downpour. Never once did she calculate at him.

Her shoulders were stripped, and her damp whisker clung to them. He was close enough to point out the rebuff goose bumps prickling across her pale skin.

The conversation he had overheard forced it 's way to the head of his mind as he watched her shiver.

Kaylens was nauseated ...

'' Here, '' He said, shattering their verbal lapse. He picked his way across the pebbly diminution to her, shrugging out of his cloak. He felt no cumbersomeness as he picked up her damp hair, draping it across her berm.

She looked up, turning her questioning regard towards him. He was at a exit, for the burnish of her oculus could not be from rain down water alone.

'' You 'll er ... well you 're soaked ... ''

Her eyes held his, and for the most fleeting of secondment the distrust he was so used to seeing vanished. `` Thank you, '' She murmured, inclining her read/write head to the office besides her.

He lowered himself besides her, afraid to address. His middle pounded loudly in his bureau. Never before had he been so fearful of rebuke. His circumstances may have lasted thus far, but even he would not blame her for screaming if she so chose.

For once he could acknowledge to deserving it, and her silent acceptance of his presence was unnerving.

The sky thundered, lighting up as lighting flashed high in the clouds. It struck him as extremely unwise to be in their location, so last to water.

'' We should go in. '' His vocalism lacked conviction.

With the back of her carpus she rubbed the water from her eyes.

'' Well ? '' Above the rumbling command processing overhead time he could tell she was speaking louder. Though the difference was barely discernable.

'' Well what ? ''

'' I doubt you came here out of fear for my well being, '' She said, staring resolutely across the lake.

He opened his sassing to explain that that was exactly why he had come, but she went on.

'' And since there are no conversations going on for you to listen to, I 'm wondering what your doing here. '' Another flash of lightning illuminated her soaked feature film, and he found himself drawn towards her serene face, confounded by her discussion.

Despite their content, her tone held no touch of the familiar satire or malice.

Instead she sounded curious.

The realization sent an out of place smile across his cheek.

'' Kaylens, you would n't believe me if I told you. ``

'' Try me. ``

'' I came to apologise. ``

To his surprise, she actually laughed. The speech sound had a haunting quality to it, for it blended artfully with the flatus howling around them. The violent storm had crept upon them fast.

'' You 're right. '' She said, shaking her wet hair out in vain. `` I do n't. ``

He seized the chance to go on her talking. `` well I am. Kaylens I ... ''

'' How much did you get a line ? '' Her gaze turned pointedly down.

He sighed in frustration. `` plenty to know that you should n't be out in this downpour. ``

She nodded, closing her heart as if pained. `` You have no idea how incorrect you are. ''

He frowned. `` I would if you just talked to me. ``

The tone she shot him could silence the devil himself. `` And why should I ? You have n't been the portraiture of honesty Potter. ``

'' Perhaps if you would just listen you would find out. ``

She did not answer. Instead, she tilted her look towards the sky, allowing the rainwater to pour over her more freely. Her hair fell away from her shoulders, revealing her yearn cervix. She remained this way for what may have been mere seconds, but to him, felt like hours.

'' OK Potter, '' She finally breathed. `` Try me. ''

Such was his astonishment that for once, he did not hesitate.

And he explained.

He explained why he had followed her that day into Knockturn skittle alley, how her stubborn refusal to answer questions about Death feeder had led him, to what he hoped, were wrong Assumption, and how, after days of watching her in a comatose United States Department of State, he had feared that she had fallen ill once again.

He spoke to her, the rain cascading down their consistence as they sat, keeping each former 's acquaintance, the storm forgotten. several meter she made to run, shaking her head disbelievingly, but his hired man on her arm silenced her refutes. By the time he was done, a sad locution had crossed her features.

He studied her, puzzled. `` Look, Kaylens I did n't intend to tump over you if ... ''

She shivered noticeably, shaking her sopping hair. `` No, it 's not that potter ... '' She trailed off, showing no intent of finishing.

He swallowed hard. God he just wanted affair to be okay between them. There was still so much to talk about ...

'' Kaylens are ... ''

Her expression darkened at his Book, and she stood abruptly, her shivering more marked.

'' We should go in, '' She stated, interrupting him.

He nodded disappointedly, noting that the storm showed no sign of relenting soon, and stood with her. He already felt bad that they had stayed out there so long.

The indorsement he was up she unceremoniously shoved his cloak back into his blazonry. He looked at it in surprise, and was about to indicate, noting how far a manner of walking to the shoal it still was, when he realized that she had already spun and taken off into the downpour.

'' Wait ! '' He called, utterly confused. He stumbled after her, slipping on the wet rocks, and caught up to her on the grass.

'' Kaylens go along it. You 'll freeze otherwise. '' He went to drape it across her shoulders but she brushed him off.

'' I 'm delicately, '' She said grimacing. `` Really, '' She added, seeing his disbelieving flavour.

He matched her stride determinedly, noticing the reemergence of her stubborn run, and threw it around her anyway. `` Kaylens if you 're sick you 're wearing this until we 're inside. I don't care ... ''

She whorled on him, looking disturbingly distressed, her skin dangerously pale. `` Look, Potter ... Do yourself a party favor okay ? Do n't care about me. ``

He found himself shaking, be it from the coldness or the icy palor of her skin, he did not know, yet all thoughts of actor's line were driven away.

It was as if she were transforming before him. Her icy barriers that he had not even noticed to be missing before, were coming back. What had he done to have this ? A few seconds ago they had been on almost civil terms.

The thought of her hating him again churned his belly. He could n't allow it ...

She was backing away from him. `` In fact ... '' She continued, sounding like a frightened animal. `` For your own good, just stay the the pits away from me. ``

She took off, leaving him standing there stunned, his sopping wet cloak on the muddy ground.
* * * * *


Over the past few twenty-four hours, since Kaylens had left him standing there in the pouring rain, Harry 's mood had not improved.

He just did not understand what he had done, and every prison term he caught a glimpse of her he felt sick.

Everytime he had seen her, she had been with Draco Malfoy ...

The fact that he still had a cabbage misgiving that she was clueless as to what a Death feeder was did not aid matters.

It was enough for him to nearly post curse flying. At Luna 's insistence, he had taken to kicking suits of armor instead.

Apparently the metallic disturbance made by kicking something draw Crumple Horned Snorkacks.

Or something like that.

His chemical reaction was puzzling, even to him. He could not deny that he felt oddly protective of her. How could he not ? He had spent far too much clip watching over her in the infirmary wing, and the cerebration of further harm coming to her horde him mad.

Perhaps that was why he felt so crushed now that the fragile resonance he had, for a few exhilarating import, thought they had built, had shattered.

But still ... He could not sound what it was he had said legal injury. All he knew was that she was no longer openly hostile towards him. Instead she avoided him like the infestation.

He had seen her unequaled that very morning, and it had taken all his patience to avoid hexing her into next week when she had practically sprinted down the residence hall to babble out to Dean, upon catching spate of him.

netherworld, he had come damn near tightlipped to hexing her and Malfoy in defence force Against the shadow Arts that very day. He had walked in to find her and Malfoy chatting in hushed whispers, bent over parchment.

The second he had come within earshot the parchment had been rolled up and stuffed hastily into Malfoy 's book satchel.

Kaylens had refused to look at him. But he had not failed to notice how her hands shook for the rest of course.

It had been well-heeled to comment since he had been sitting alone. Ron and Hermione had holed themselves up on the other side of the room. And unlike Kaylens and Hermione, who contented themselves to avoiding him, Ron had made sport of sending hostile limelight his way.

At to the lowest degree the hostile looks from his roommates were graspable. He had had another violent dream with Voldemort that calendar week, and had woken up in a right wing State Department, screaming at every one of them.

Even the suits of armour had taken to cursing him when he walked by. Apparently they did n't like attracting afore mentioned snorkacks.

Come to think of it, the only person talking to him now seemed to be Luna. And since she was in the year below him, he found himself sitting alone in classes, and eating lunch at the Ravenclaw table.

In little, the week had passed by in a dizzying haze.

Fortunately it would soon be over. Luna had already expressed her purport to get his intellect off of thing, and was planning on forcibly dragging him to Hogsmeade.

He actually did n't listen the idea.

He finally reached the door, and Crusantheus surprisingly opened without complaint, revealing Dumbledore 's part. He stepped in for his deterrent example, removing his sceptre in preparation.

'' That will be unnecessary today Harry. '' Dumbledore said, catching muckle of him from behind his desk.

Perhaps it was because his thoughts had been elsewhere, but the mind of a wandless Occlumency object lesson caught him off guard. He furrowed his brow questioningly.

Dumbledore caught the unspoken question. `` Tonight, I have something different planned. Besides, I have taught you all I can regarding Occlumency Harry. The rest is up to you. ``

Somehow Harry strongly disagreed with this. If he had learned all there was to know about Occlumency, he would not still be having wild incubus. `` prof, in all due respect, if I had actually learned everything would n't I be well ... good at this then ? ``

Dumbledore cracked a grinning. `` Ah, you see Harry, therein lies the deviation. You have learned all I have to teach about Occlumency. That is an entirely different matter from mastering the subject. ''

Harry was stunned, all previous thoughts and irritation at the prof driven from his nous.

Never in his life would he give birth imagined Dumbledore being unable to teach him something.

'' Occlumency, Harry, is less about erecting mental roadblock, and More about controlling one 's emotions. Keeping your emotions hidden from the enemy is of extreme importance. And frankly, gets well-heeled with age. '' Dumbledore stood with a rather with child feather duster and began to attack a dissatisfied portrait with it.

'' Harry, you have become quite adept at creating barriers, visualizing a brick rampart is your roadblock of choice is it not ? '' Harry nodded but Dumbledore was continuing. `` But the only way to tone up that wall at this spot, is to get wind to mask your emotions. ``

Harry stared somewhat unabashedly as the late headmistress made a rather earthy mitt gesture.

'' Er ... prof ? '' He questioned hesitantly. `` What exactly do you entail by 'masking'them ? ``

'' Ah, not explaining myself very well am I ? ``

He valued his pedagogy far too lots to react truthfully.

'' Well Harry, when one sifts through your psyche, painful memory board can get unearthed. It 's natural to echo the emotions these experiences caused you. Such a misdirection is all the enemy would need to delve deeper into your judgment. '' Dumbledore was carrying on with all the air of one discussing a weekend outing. `` And you have no shortage of painful memory Harry. It would be quite well-off for Voldemort to find one to use against you. ``

He did not want Dumbledore to recount him that, he had already re-lived the guilt trip of Sirius'death all summer.

'' So are you going to take in me relive those store for practice ? '' He asked, somewhat apprehensive.

Dumledore turned to look at him, balancing precariously on the stool he was using to arrive at ole Phinneus'portraiture. `` Why of course not. Certainly, I could go sifting about through your mind, forcing you to echo bad times in your aliveness. But dredging up old memory board and forcing you to trade with them would only assist you build up indifference. We do n't want that. ``

Dumbledore turned back and shoved the feather dust coat right wing where Phinneus'grimace had just re-appeared. The former headmaster cringed and jumped out of the chassis again.

'' Harry, what we do want, is for you to come to term with the crueler parts of your past. And only you can delineate what those price are. But I dare prompt you, there is a departure between allowing the preceding to prompt you, and allowing the preceding to control you. ''

Dumbledore jumped down from the BM, wiping his dusty hands on his robes. `` Well now that's done. Now I have something to evidence you. ``

He beckoned him to where he stood, withdrawing a worn, leather bound book from one of his ledge. `` You know, I almost lost this after that niggle yourself, Mr. Weasley, and Ms. Kaylens had the other day Harry. '' He peered down his spectacle at him. `` I trust that is now resolved ? ``

Harry found himself oddly stuttering. `` S-sort of ... ''

Dumbledore shrugged. `` Well, have it time, founder it clock time. It may take her awhile to spread up to anyone, seeing as how matters are. ''

The Headmaster was running his baton up and down the spine of the Holy Writ in an odd zig-zag pattern, muttering something about mothballs. A aloud 'pop'was heard, making Harry jump, and the script sprang out of Dumbledore 's hired man, falling open on the tabular array before them.

'' Now this Harry, is something you will not consume seen, nor heard of before. ``

Harry had to allow that Dumbledore was abruptly on.

Inside the open book, where the pageboy should take in been, lay a pink bed of fog. There was a sense of depth to the interior of it, and Harry had the obscure horse sense that another property lay just beyond the peacefully convolution.

Dumbledore reached his hand into it. `` It is a rather cunning hiding situation for things. Not only is the locking mechanism for it rather tricky, but only a deal with my DNA could contact into this and still find their hand attatched. ``

Harry had been unconsciously leaning forward, trying to peer through the fog, but at this say-so took a step back. Dumbledore 's hand fished around blindly for a few proceedings, before emerging with a silvery chain. A pocket-sized ampul was attached to the end of it.

The Headmaster shut the book, muttering a few charms, and replaced it upon the shelf. `` This is something that I have been wanting to give you for quite some metre Harry. But until recently, the chance had not presented itself. The fact that it had not, is entirely my fault, and for that I am sorry. ``

The Headmaster, indeed, truly looked sorry. In fact he was looking rather grave all of a sudden. `` Ever since the day that cursed prophecy was made Harry, myself and a few others have been working on this. I still feel that it is woefully inadequate, but for now, it is all I can give you. ''

At this pronouncement, Dumbledore handed the ampoule over. Harry took it with no small amount of trepidation. The vial, Harry found, was surprisingly warm

'' The vial you now hold is a limited form of pensieve, Harry. '' Dumbledore said by way of explanation. `` It is called a Kunnskap. It means noesis. And unlike formula pensieves, it does not bear an inexhaustible capacity. It can only hold in a select few memories, and I believe that there are 81 different lessons contained within this one. ''

Only eighty-one ? He thought, slightly amused by the master definition of only. He turned the ampule within his manus, noting that unlike in Dumbledore 's pensieve, blue specs darted to and fro within the silvery substance here, colliding frequently to utter dark green sparks. It was like watching the reflection of pyrotechnic in a silvery pool, only on a miniature scale.

A thought occurred to him.

'' What do you have in mind by moral, prof ? '' He asked curiously.

'' I was just getting to that. '' Dumbledore replied, looking strained. `` But given the danger that you have been in ever since that cursed vaticination was made, I wanted to have a way of preserving, and passing on, knowledge of certain charm to you. ``

The master paused, shutting the leather book. Whisps of curling pinko tendrils snuck out around the edges as he placed it back upon the shelf.

'' time were sinister. '' He continued gravely. `` I did not screw how many of us would pull through, but we knew it was crucial to excrete on our cognition to the adjacent generation. This was our way of ensuring that at least one upright wizard recieved that if the big were to hap. ``

Such a glum say-so chilled him, for in admitting that he had once prepared for the worst, Dumbledore had admitted to his own mortality.

Despite his annoying and anger at all the Headmaster had withheld over the years, the thought of a mortal Dumbledore shook his concept of a stable universe.

The Headmaster motioned Harry into a plush plum armchair, oblivious to his pupil 's dark thinking.

'' Over the old age, myself, and others within the old edict, added select spell of knowledge that we wanted to depart to you, to this. You 'll even find out some of my old shoal day lessons there. Things like phantom, curse-breaking, animagus studies ... They are all in there. ``

Harry listened intently, not wanting to lack a word. The conversation had become oddly personal.

A house elf popped into existence then, extending a plate of biscuits to him. He scarcely managed to take in one, for his brain was fixated on the cruel irony of the billet.

This phial was a true giving, yet he was only receiving it because of the prophecy 's wakeless burden.

Suddenly he felt rather blunt. `` Professor, you made this to help me figuer out how to shoot down Voldemort, did n't you ? ''

Dumbledore smiled sadly, sipping the tea that had materialized. `` We made it, because we still have hope. ``

Bob Hope ... Why could n't someone else have been wizarding sort 's hope ?

Dumbledore was mercifully oblivious to the dark thoughts still flitting through his mind.

'' Harry, the Kunnskap does not work like a formula pensieve. Instead of entering a memory, the remembering enters you. So once you unearth one, it 's knowledge will remain permanently yours. ``

This piqued his interest. `` So you mean that I can turn an animagus just by looking at the memory in it ? ``

Dumbledore smiled ruefully. `` No. This will learn you the theory, and knowing the possibility of something is entirely different from putting it to use. However ... '' The man 's blue eyes twinkled mischievously. `` I have it on skillful word that learning and researching just the theory on animagi can deal years. So all you will receive left to do is practice putting what this will instruct you, into use. ``

intellection of what he, Ron, and Hermione had planned, he suddenly wondered, for the thousandth prison term since coming to Hogwarts, just how very much that the Headmaster knew about his students.

Against his better judgment, he broke out into a small smile. Even Hermione, with all her convictions against taking brusk snub to learn something, would probably die for a look into this thing.

God he would omit them ... Perhaps one day, when things were dissimilar ....

As if reading his thoughts, Dumbledore smiled. `` For the clip being Harry, I would keep this to yourself. Because of the Kunnskap 's potential for misuse, only seven were made. We would not want this falling into the wrong hands. ``

Harry was taken aback. For once, Dumbledore was actually trusting him with something important. `` T-thanks prof. I 'll look after it. ``

He 'd be damned if he disappointed him.

Dumbledore smiled over his cup. `` I 'm surely you will Harry. Do try to use it in common soldier though. When one uses it they tend to look in a trance, and I would detest to see what your roommates would do if they stumbled upon you in such a country. And I would know, Mrs. Norris once caught me using this. ``

Harry nearly choked on his biscuit.

The past fortnight, he realized, had truly been wide-cut of surprisal.




Thank you SticksN'Stones for the splendid banner !






'' Choose to be not a ware of your environs, nor of your experience, but a merchandise of what your heart tells you the humans can be in its finest hr. ``
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 18 ~ The scratch Life Leaves


Tonks threw open the shade, allowing the lustrous afternoon light to stream in, filling the room with yellow chromaticity so bright that not even Remus, who was valiantly feigning sleep, could ignore them.

She marched to the side of his bed, throwing open the bed hangings.

'' Get up. '' She clipped, her verbalism anything but amused.

'' How did you get past the hospital ward ? '' Remus groaned, pulling his pillow over his head so he resembled a burrowing animal.

She contented herself to narrowing her reddish blue eyes. `` Bill 's a torment breakers. And when he and I have over two hebdomad with cypher to do but crack up the wards on our stubborn asshole of a acquaintance 's household we tend to come after. ``

Remus emitted a low mutter auditory sensation, unclear to any human ear. It was at this gunpoint that she decided she had had enough. She ripped the covering from his bed, and cast out them out the now open window.

'' Remus did you really think you could ward off us forever ! '' She hollered. `` What the perdition is the matter with you ? ``

At his lack of responsiveness she stomped her foot angrily, and began spraying him with water system from the tip of her wand.

Remus jerked so violently that he rolled right out of bed, landing in a heap on the storey. He blinked groggily, his face scrunched up and dripping. He looked extremely disgruntled.

'' You look like a sopping wet dog Remus ! Now get your stubborn ass off the floor right now and get ready ! We have an purchase order get together in an minute and if you are not there so help me Merlin I will hail back here, wards be damned, and arrive at you occur ! You ca n't quash us forever ! ``

He groaned unhappily.

She glowered down, deciding to not leave alone just yet. `` And you know what else Wolfy ? You are the singularly, most selfish individual that I have ever met ! ``

'' Mrmph ... ''

'' Do n't mrmph at me ! '' She practically shouted. `` As if it 's not bad enough for you to stay here, wallowing in ego pity for two weeks, but you left me to talk to Harry for you ! He deserved to see you there ! Not me ! Instead you hid here away from everyone acting like a baby ! ``

'' Go. Away. '' He interjected moodily.

'' NO I WO N'T ! '' She screeched in a very un-Tonks-like fashion. `` I am FAR from being DONE ! I have n't even started on Kalliandra ! Do you have any idea how practically she probably needs you right now ? ``

He apparently had found something fascinating underneath the bed, because now he had taken to staring beneath it.

'' She doesn't need me. I nearly got her killed. ``

Tonks stomped again, very near his head. `` You know that was n't your fault Remus ! No one knew what that trance would do ! ``

'' You should go. '' He mumbled morosely. `` I could still turn at any import. ``

Her jaw dropped. `` Is that what this self-induced isolation has been about ? You think your going to deform again ? ''

When he did n't respond she actually laughed. `` Remus you prat ! You turned within an hour of being hit with that spell ! Do you really think that it could possibly wrench you again ? Two workweek later no less ! ? ``

'' I ca n't risk it .... ''

'' fountainhead that 's just too blamed bad Wolfy because your going to. '' She did n't hold off for a response and marched over to hurl afford his closet. She grabbed the nearest shirt and threw it at him. `` Now go exhibitor and get dressed. I do n't have all day and so help me you are going to write to Harry and Kalliandra before we leave ! ``

He could be seen over his bed, fumbling with his shirt. `` When we leave ? Was n't I kicking you out now ? ``

'' I 'd like to see you try. I 'm not leaving because I do n't feel like fighting with your Montgomery Ward again. '' She paused, and almost as an reconsideration added, `` And do n't interchange the subject because you are writing to them ! ``

He shook his chief, his shaggy hair falling around his eyes messily. It looked like he had n't showered in days. `` No. If they wanted to talk to me they would deliver .... ''

'' Would receive what ? '' She was far beyond losing her patience at this gunpoint. `` Contacted you ? Remus, Kalliandra tried ! That damn pocket watch of yours has been glowing all hebdomad at military headquarters ! We tried sending it back to you but you keep sending it back ! Kalliandra probably thinks your ignoring her by now and Harry ... ''

'' Harry is good if I stay away. '' Remus interjected, picking up his wand.

She growled in defeat and yanked the pocket watch out of her sac. Mundungus had found it near one of the dead children after the attack.

'' Well at least take this back Remus. '' She said, placing it on his drawn desk. `` I do n't care what you say but she really does need you. '' She searched him for some house that he accepted this fact, but he only leaned out the window and summoned his blanket back up.

Watching his pitiful bm, she suddenly felt like collapsing.

Remus had been the one she could count on, to moderate together for her. Ever since Sirius ...

She could n't behave to think of it, let unaccompanied articulation it, but ever since that wretched Nox she had grown to rely on Remus. She needed him so lots it scared her.

It had been his assuredness, lightness brown eye she had awoken to in St. Mungos. The therapist said he had never left her side. Even then he refused, and took to sleeping on a make-shift cot in the corner or her room. He had claimed it was to not lack the fun of her gripes, whenever the healer had poked and prodded her with their verge, but she had known better. He had been worried, and who could blame him when she had never felt worse.

But his presence had kept her thinking from straying to Sirius.

She shuddered, remembering how he had found her curled up on her couch one night that summer, positively balling her middle out, the few pictures of Sirius she had spread out on her coffee table. If only she had stunned Bellatrix when she had had the chance ! By Merlin he would still be here !

With a cool cup of mocha Remus had sat with her, logically reminding her that hindsight is 20/20, and of the futility of blaming herself.

Catching the bastards was the only thing that could help oneself Sothis now, he had told her. And as an auror, that would be her job. He had told her how she needed to hold together for that.

If he had not shown up when he had, she may have curled up in the cheeseparing, damp broom cupboard, and not come out cashbox Christmas.

She had passed out that Nox, vaguely suspicious that her mocha had been laced with muffled firewhiskey. Remus always had claimed that alcohol assuaged the nerves ....

She had only just realized how grateful she was for the small traces of humor he shared with her.

She had grown so used to him always being there, and it had taken Remus'absence to pass water her realize how often he meant to her.

Never again, did she desire to see another fortnight like the one she had just had without him.

The thought of him wallowing in self pathos any longer made her physically ill, and she felt her shallow reserves of strength folding in.

She had to defy the urge to run over there and smack him.

She drew herself up, ignoring the pain tingle in her chest. `` Harry does require you Remus. '' She started. `` Your all he has left. think how he 'd feel if you shut him off now ? ``

Remus was flipping the comforter back onto the bed, straightening it meticulously. `` He does n't need me. Neither does Kally. They 'll just wind up trauma ... ''

'' Well dam n't Remus ! I need you ! '' She shot out, ignoring his blow out of the water stare. `` Do n't you get that ? I miss you ! And I 'm not the only one ! Harry misses you ! He sent me an owl because you have n't responded to his letters ! I can only strike by that pile on your desk that you have n't read any of them yet ! And you ! You 're just .... ''

She trailed off, foiling effectively silencing that gearing of thought.

'' Go shower. I 'll expect downstairs. ``

She turned in a seeing red and stormed out, resolving to transport Harry and Kalliandra separate notes demanding that they pester Remus until he broke out of this self-created shell.

She missed the disbelieving centre of a certain werewolf, following her longingly.
* * *


Harry allowed the Holy Writ to fall fold. His headspring had foresighted since fallen upon the tabular array, his body slumped over in frustration. A thousand and one dark cuss swirled through his mind, their counter curses eluding his store in a maddening way.

Why, in the name of Merlin, had Professor Tres been so against teaching them this ?

The sheer enormity of the task before him had hit home nearly an hour before, and the invariant weight on his shoulders seemed determined to demolish him now. It was pressing down on his chest, making his head spin, the realization of how short time he had to dominate this had finally sunk in.

Voldemort could hail for those he loved tomorrow, and somehow he doubted the monster 's minions would beat to simple jinxes.

For the first time in his life, he was starting to sense helpless. He had borrowed the book from Dumbledore 's office, changing the cover so no one could have intercourse what dark arts it contained, and after only a few days of study he had come to a realization.

Avada Kedarva was amongst the most merciful of dark curses.

For the dark artistic creation could do so lots worse than simply kill in one blow.

The could burn you alive from the inside out, your screams confounding those around you, your skin not blackening as unseeable fiery tendrils licked at you hungrily.

By the meter those around you realized ....

avail for victim of the mort ardente would be far too late.

other curses could could slice your tegument in slacken, longsighted gash. The unseeable onrush lasting for hours, as medi-wizards and healers tried to salve you, only to watch you succumb as slash after destroying slash undid their healing, spilling your aliveness blood, killing you ...

Others could slowly shell your chest, driving the air from your lungs, suffocating you under the pressure of a twelve hippogriffs ....

He shuddered involuntarily, almost glad that dying had been agile and merciful for Sirius and Cedric. He had not known before, but their life could have been extinguished in practically worse ways ....

The school day system had failed them. Harry knew this now. For they had not prepared them adequately for what they might confront in the war.

Professor Tres had shown him that merely a calendar week ago. Kaylens had been the one to bring it up, asking when they would learn the worse of the Dark humanistic discipline themselves.

He had n't been sure whether to clap her for her astuteness, or curse her for sounding corresponding overzealous Malfoy.

But she had been right ....

If one did not know what the curses sounded like, how could they defend themselves with exact counter-curses ?

So while her and Malfoy had argued their degree, and lost valiantly as Tres started twitching under pressure, he had composed a missive to Dumbledore asking for entree to materials about the night Arts.
Dumbledore had granted him that ...

He propped himself on his elbow, reopening the ancient, blackened leather text. He was determined to find out every lethal curse the world had to offer him.

And before he found Voldemort with them, he would first detect Pettigrew ...

The man who had stolen his life from day one.

Pettigrew would pay. Harry would make him feel all of the pain he had felt ever since his arrival on the Dursley 's doorstep.

Then Pettigrew would die.

Then, once he had seen what the curses did on a subsist human, then he would find Voldemort.

The brute was going to pay.
* * * * *


Kalliandra clutched Tonks'letter in bridge player and stormed to the foot of the gargoyle.

She had done exactly as Tonks had requested. She had already tried contacting him. She had tried saying, shouting, and cursing his name into that blasted compact of hers, had sent owls armed with letters and orders to smack at his hands until he replied, and even had sent a self-writing quill with the lastly one so it would write whatever he said down upon receiving it.

That particular owl had had Holy Order to kidnap whatever was written before Remus had a luck to snatch it up himself.

Well apparently Remus had been too quick for the owl, because she had gotten back a broken quill and a ripped, blank piece of paper.

Damn your obstinance to Hades Remus ! She thought in annoyance, stomping her foot outside Dumbledore 's office.

She had grown so steamed with him avoiding physical contact and canceling their tutoring sessions that she had finally slipped on James Whitcomb Riley 's tintinnabulation and tried port keying directly to Remus, only that had n't worked either.

Which was precisely why she found herself outside of Dumbledore 's poor fish stone gargoyle, shouting every candy that came to mind.

'' Eucalyptus amygdalina ! Bat muck droppings ! Bertie Pops ! Apples ! Peaches ! '' She exclaimed at it, abandoning confect in party favour of yield. `` Oh imprecate it to hell ! Peach schnapps ! mantrap Cobble ... ''

The stone gargoyle had sprung to life, allowing her entrance.

'' smasher schnaps ? You 've got to be kidding me ... '' She muttered, springing up the stairs and bursting into his office, being careful to smack Crusantheus on the way in.

Dumbledore looked up idly from his desk, a bemused reflection across his weather worn face. `` Why Kalliandra, what a pleasant surprisal. ``

She did not harmonise. `` prof what does Remus think he is doing ? '' She demanded, stopping in social movement of his desk. `` He ca n't avoid us forever ! Why does n't my port key work anymore ? And why are you now using liquors as your parole ! ? ``

Dumbledore looked rather puzzled. `` stunner schnaps ? A booze ? And here I thought it was a rather clever figure of candy ... ''

Had she not been so worked up she would have rolled her center. `` No, it 's not. But why wo n't this employment .... '' She held up her ringing for effect.

'' Ah, I was wondering when you would ask. '' Dumbledore commented airily. `` Remus requested that your port key be de-activated for the time being. ``

She glowered. `` Did he say why ? ``

'' I am for sure you know why Kalliandra. ``

An odd, sinking feeling had wormed it 's way into her venter. `` Yeah, I think I do. But does n't he understand that it was n't his fault ? ``

'' On some stratum, yes. But much like mortal else you know ... '' Dumbledore eyed her shrewdly, leaving no question about who he was referring to. `` He has taken to blaming himself, shoving away those stopping point to him in rules of order to protect them. ''

She sighed defeatedly. `` So there 's nix we can do to talk some sense into him ? ``

'' I rather think, that this is something he has to come to take on on his own terms. We can not force him into realizing that we would rather be near him with all of the hazard, than away from him and safe. ``

'' I wish we could ... '' She said sadly.

Dumbledore chuckled slightly, recognizing the irony of her argument. `` You know Kalliandra, in our own way, we are all a peril to those we love, for the mere fact that true up acquaintance will go to any lengths to help each other, even if that means sacrificing their own lives in central for another 's. ``

His Book struck a rich chord within her, one she was not quite make to hear. `` Thanks professor ... '' She muttered, all angriness gone. `` Can you at to the lowest degree give him this when you see him ? '' She extended a letter to him, it 's addressee version To The Obstinate Wolf.

Dumbledore smiled, `` I 'll see that he gets it. ``
* * * * *


Harry rested his face against the worn surface of the board, letting his dank hair drip mold over his human face. The dripping water from his recent shower eased the dull ache that had begun in his scar.

drip mould ....

A astragal of wax broke free people from the glowing candle, falling to soak into the unsealed ridges of the oak desk. The impact sounded cavernous, for his ear remained pressed against the desk 's airfoil, amplifying the auditory sensation ten fold.

Across the common way, far from where he sheltered in the vestige of a single standard candle taper, the fire glowed warmly. Several straggling seventh years, no doubt putting in the extra hours for NEWT preparation, remained there, blissfully oblivious to the late hour.

Sleep would once again, not be his associate. When his scar ached so sharply, it was in fact the enemy.

Voldemort was there, just beneath the control surface of his brain, waiting for a chance to get in as he dreamt. He knew Hermione 's parents were as good as perfectly, but he would not leave Voldemort the information he demanded for their supposed 'release .'

If they were going to die, it would not be in vain.

Fiery shadows danced across his open text, and he wearily rubbed his scar, trying to memorize the counter curse for one of the many crushing hexes.

The one he was looking at would repulse air from the lungs slowly, till the someone could only claw at their cervix in torture, blood vas in their eyes bursting as oxygen left them.

The black and white illustration showed a wizard captured in a soundless howl, his finger's breadth already falling hitch around his throat.

He shuddered at the sight, not noticing the regulate reflection flitting across her boldness.

He had never even noticed her studying him, concealed as she was, lying on the level across the room, warming herself before the fire.

She made her way towards him, making up her mind.

'' Hey ceramicist. ``

Her articulation pulled him away from his idea, and he swallowed hard, looking up as she slid into the seat before him. She leaned backwards relaxingly, her fount falling into the dark of the street corner they sheltered in.

'' Kaylens. '' He said steadily, heart hammering. Be it at her sudden interruption or the memory of the dying side, he did not know. `` What are you doing here ? '' He slid a hand across the morbid photograph, staring intently at her.

She met his heart, for the starting time time in daylight, holding them seriously. `` Talking Potter. Just talking. '' Candlelight danced in them ...

His scar gave a softened pound sterling, reminding him of his own fragile state. Tonight was not the time for talking, even with her, whom he had grown curious about. `` You know ... '' He stated carefully, watching her smooth her sleek locks behind her pinna. `` There is usually a understanding for why mortal sits clear-cut across a relatively empty way from everyone else. ``

She nodded, a whimsical frown tracing her features. `` Oh ? And what 's that ? ``

'' Their perusing. ``

'' Or they want to be left alone. '' She whispered, voicing his unsaid view. `` Believe me Potter, I know your unhappy with me. I would n't bother you if it was n't important. ``

He was thrown. `` I 'm not unhappy with you. '' He said quietly, before he could kibosh himself. `` I just do n't understand why your so uncongenial. ``

Her eyes danced in the candlelight, her hands playing around the base of the candle, picking at the solidify wax. `` It 's not important why. I just am. '' She whispered, sounding clearly pained.

He nodded, accepting this. `` If that's the event, then am I, or am I not, supposed to abide the sin away from you ? ``

She chewed on her frown lip thoughtfully, fidgeting. `` For someone who seemed tidal bore to talk, your certainly making this difficult. ``

He smiled forcefully at this, probably looking like a low clown. `` And that has naught to do with you storming off, then refusing to come up within a ten beat vicinity of me ? ``

'' Touché. '' She murmured. `` But this is n't about you or me. It 's about Remus. ``

Her representative held an core of red ink as Lupin 's name fell off her backtalk, and for a flit indorsement he understood. He did not know how the two knew one another, and felt the stabbing pain of betrayal that Lupin had kept better communications with her rather than him, his advantageously friend 's son, but in that wink, he knew that his former professor had not spoken to her since that day either.

He felt oddly good about that. For a alteration, he was not the only one being ignored, or go along in the dark.

'' Wo n't respond to any of your varsity letter either then ? '' He queried, knowing the answer.

She shook her head, her hair coming loose from where it lay tucked behind her auricle, falling to lay artfully over her heart. `` He 's started sending mine back. ''

He felt a small-scale grin tugging at the edges of his mouth. `` Hedwig is persistent. ``

'' An owl ? ``

He grunted in response, the ache in his cicatrice was starting to burn up slightly.

'' We ca n't just let Remus exclude himself off. ``

He jolted forward, dropping his head into his mitt to continue the afflictive face now crossing his facial expression. `` queer hearing you say that. '' He groaned as the first wave of painful sensation attacked him. `` Because is n't that what your doing ? ``

Through his fingers he saw a shrewd grammatical construction cross her face. `` Do you want me to get brothel keeper Pomfrey ? ''

'' Why .... '' Picture the wall .... The bricks ... Their approximative texture stretching infinitely upwards .... `` Why would I need you to get the nurse ? '' He asked, barely guising the pain that was now coming forth in waves. She needed to forget. She needed to leave now, but not to get the nurse ...

'' Your in pain potter. I 'll be ... ''

Before she could even move his hand had shot out like a lightning bolt, attaching itself to her wrist. `` Do n't get her ... I 'll be hunky-dory. '' He hissed lowly, not keen to pull in the care of the seventh long time still down there.

An unpleasant ace swept through him, the tactile property of Kaylens'wrist turning barely registered as the dark room spun. He was no longer fully there as his eyes flickered half shut, half seeing the wall Dumbledore had taught him to so carefully construct, one-half seeing Kaylens kneeling down besides him.

'' The only way to tone your wall at this stop, is to watch to mask your emotions .... '' Dumbledore 's actor's line came back to him ...

'' potter ? Potter looking at me. '' Kaylens spoke quickly, an unfamiliar bound to her part. He waved her away, feeling her hired man wrapping around his own. She had to impart ...

Voldemort was prickling at the edges of his envisioned wall.

The wight 's phonation filled his psyche, green tendrils leaking through red brick.

Been sssstudying the dark artssss I sssssee. It'ssss about time you learrrrned ....

He turned his eyes away from his book, leaning away from Kaylens to slam it shut before Voldemort could learn more.

'' Sodding hell Potter of all the prison term ... '' Kaylens murmured. He felt her arm sliding beneath his articulatio humeri, a strange prickling trickling through him as he unconsciously leaned airless, allowing his consistence to sag against her as she hauled him up.

He rose his centre, finding her own surprisingly close, flickering with that unfamiliar care. `` Kaylens leave ... '' He muttered, feeling a violent edge forming within his last lucid thoughts. He had nearly attacked Ron in a similar body politic, under Voldemort 's egging influence ...

Ah compannnnny .... Voldemort sounded almost upbeat, and Harry felt his face unwillingly turning towards her further.

Suddenly it was no longer he who was searching her features.

Interesssstinnnng ....

'' Kaylens ... '' He gasped. `` Get the hell out of here. ``

She grimaced determinedly, kicking open the portrait door. He heard her shouting something about Pomfrey to person, but their mannequin was so blurry ... He could n't make them out ...

It doessssss n't matterrrrrrr who they arrrrre Harrrrrrry. Who issss sssssssheeeee ....

'' Leave .... '' He groaned, barely shoving the discussion out. She was dragging him down the mansion house now ...

'' Potter I 'm not going anywhere. '' She got out, sounding strained.

It'ssss dear to know they have not messssed up assss badly assss believvvvved ....

Who messed up ! ? ! ? He thought, grasping pellucidity, desperate to harvest Voldemort 's meaning.

Calling on his last troy ounce of genial reticence he dug his heel into the ground. He turned, squirming away from the reassuring presence of her arms, suddenly finding his own groundwork untrustworthy.

He was collapsing to the stone flooring, the torch lit halls a brilliant blur ...

Whooooo ...

Unable to tell apart the remainder between speaking and thought process, his mouth opened to scream his own question into the dead of Night ...

Kaylens hand clamped over his lips, and he found himself breathing in her pelt, dampness with perspiration and the waxen essence of the wax light she had been fidgeting with mere bit before.

'' tinker's dam you Potter be quiesce ! '' She hissed dangerously.

He struggled dazedly, her chin coming to rest on his shoulder as she stilled him, delirious hushing sounds escaping her own lips. Had she had a rough edge to her ? He could no longer remember ...

Jussssst a name Harrrrrrry .... What harrrrm everrrr came frrrrom a figure Harrrry ....

He relaxed, leaning against her again, feeling her weaponry stiffen. Of course of action .... It only made sense .... Voldemort would need to recognize of person as fascinate as her, who would n't ? He certainly did, no topic how infuriating she grew he was peculiar. What harm could a name do ...

'' Kalliandra Kaylens .... '' He murmured druggedly.

'' Glad to see you remember formality. Now please get up, I 'm not solid enough to drag ... ''

A jubilant wave washed over him, so intense as to drown out every early word filtering through his auditory system.

Voldemort withdrew as quickly as he came, and he realized, with a sinking notion, that he had just given the wickedness Maker something he very much wanted, without realizing it.

The feel of Kaylens'manus tugging up on his shoulder joint, the feel of her longsighted hair brushing against his cheek as she leaned over him, the nighttime dark of the deserted Hogwarts corridor ...

The sanctity of his thinker restored, it all came into consummate focus.

His leg becoming his own again, he powerfully thrust them into the floor on his own accord, scrambling eagerly away, his sudden departure sending her spilling across the cold, dirt dusted Harlan Stone floors.

He rounded on her downed soma, failing to comment her shocked reflection. One cerebration was on his brain. One he had been putting off asking.

'' What does Voldemort want with you ? '' He asked pointedly, the maniacal spark that always accompanied Voldemort 's trace still in his eyes.

She glared up unflinchingly, gold hair limply splayed out across her face. `` So were at this again are we ? '' She whispered, brushing it aside, revealing the steely flicker of her own glossy orbs.

'' Yes. '' He said seriously, his hand lingering near his sceptre. `` Yes we are. ``

She pushed herself up, slowly, wincing as she did so. `` Does that really require an result then ? ``

'' Yes. ``

They stared at one another, both aspect unreadable.

Finally, an eternity passing them by, she tilted her head to the side. `` How much do you know ? '' She whispered.

'' Enough to sleep together he was all too happy to learn your name tonight. '' He knew the effect of this, if atrocious, would be his to pay. It was not a thought he cherished, and a part of him almost wished for her to profess into the Nox her allegiance to the darkness Divine, so he could strike her down, guilt free.

Yet another, taking in the way her left over hand shook ever so slightly, declared him the mark for not going to her to fix what he might throw done.

This last thought was silenced by the way her middle darkened coldly onto him. `` And you were glad to give him that information. Were n't you Potter ? ``

His own hands, now balled in fist, shook with suppressed rage at himself for doing so. `` None of this would have happened if you had just listened to me. Why did n't you leave when I told you to ? ``

She shrugged one berm, almost testingly, in an out of billet style. `` You looked like you were having a fit Potter. I thought you needed the hospital wing ... ''

'' Whether I need the hospital extension is none of your business organisation ! '' He hissed angrily, albeit too loudly. Someone was bound to hear, but he did n't care. Let Filch just try and penalize him ...

She looked stricken by his words. `` I see. '' She whispered, moving to walk past him, back towards where the Fat Lady 's portrait observed in awed horror.

Once again, before he could check himself, he had her wrist in his handwriting, spinning her around to pin her against the wall. He pressed his body against hers, their faces dangerously close. Her face remained an unreadable mask, save for the beads of perspiration glistening upon her forehead in the torchlight.

They stared at one another, each daring the other to speak. Releasing one of her articulatio radiocarpea, he moved his hand to reside above her berm, cutting off any thought of her escape.

'' I said I understood thrower. '' Her breath was barely a whisper, and beneath his palm he felt her wrist cooling, the cool Oct air prickling bozo bumps across her arms.

'' No ... '' He said quietly. `` I do n't think you do. Not really ... ''

She breathed in deeply, her thorax rising to press against his own for the brief of moment. `` caution to elucidate me ? ``

He nodded coldly, his moist hair falling to conceal his scar, a disturbing sizzling sound drawing Kaylens eyes uncomfortably towards it.

Her challenging demeanor vanished, confusedness flickering in her eyes. Her devoid bridge player unconsciously reached upwards, but he stilled her motion by aggressively squeezing her shoulder blade.

'' I would n't ... advocate ... doing ... that ... '' He said coldly, ignoring how she bit her lip, her face clearly contorted in nuisance. If she could n't require that what in the inferno did she program on doing when Voldemort got to her. He 'd teach her what she was dealing with ...

'' Do you have any idea what your dealing with ? I have a suspicion ... '' He spoke mechanically, as if lecturing a small child. `` That you do not. So I am going to ask you one ... more ... fourth dimension. What ... does ... he ... want ... with ... you ? ``

She tilted her headway up to his slightly. `` What makes you think that he wants anything with me at all ? ``

He smiled cruelly. `` Let 's just say we have ways of chatting. ``

Her eyes instantly narrowed, her trunk tensing beneath his. `` Are you saying your involved with him ? ''

'' Perceptive ... '' He murmured coldly, leaning in cashbox her breath breezed across his expression. `` But I never said friendly. You on the former mitt openly admitted it. ``

'' Trygve Halvden Lie ... '' She spat.

He could no longer differentiate if she were glaring or battle cry, for his frontal bone was pressed firmly against her own, driving her harder against the rampart. Her Book lingered on his unshaven chin, and he grimaced wryly, realizing how close he was to finding out the truth.

'' I have news program for you. '' He whispered. `` You said you would rather be a destruction eater than be like me. So you either are one of his followers, or you are clueless as to what a Death feeder is. Now which is it ? ``

Her face remained unfaltering for far too long for his tastes.

'' Fine. '' He whispered. `` Here is what I think. I think that you have no cue what one is. Either that, or you are the Best actress I have ever seen. But for that to be true, you would either have to be a Muggle, which you clearly are not, or you would have to have been a recluse from wizarding society. So ... '' He tilted his grimace down, practically meeting her own.

'' Which one is it ? '' He breathed, tension reverberating in the still hall 's air.

She turned her wrist in the confines of his liberal grip, her skin brushing against his own. He could precipitate her reactions, being so close, his eyes locked onto hers. She was going to run, it was like feeling what she was feeling ... Fear ...

Suddenly he knew what was occurring, why her body was shuddering ever so slightly in forepart of his own. He stared into her eyes for a bit longer, allowing his expression to soften misleadingly.

'' Well if you do n't want to tell me .... '' He murmured, releasing her carpus before she could run off. She eyed him with surprise, and suspicion, never seeing his bridge player falling to remain upon his wand.

'' Legilimency. '' He whispered.

Her liveliness ... It all flooded his mind in one over powering wave. A vortex of result that were unimaginable to discern ... Until one scream filled his judgment with a blinding red hue, bringing it all into unadulterated clarity.
'' Riley ! ''


The swirl of image changed, becoming the congruent motion picture of a blonde tike, pilus much igniter than he knew it would darken to become, was approaching a room access, answering it ...

A man smiled toothily down, removing his hat to reveal closely cropped, dirty blond hair, bowing slightly. The nestling smiled upwards, but the image of his smile froze, faltering, as if it had forever been burned into her memory.

And now his ...

The door flew open, the man 's invertebrate foot connecting with it, sending it bulleting inwards, hitting her with it against the side. Blinding pain kept her conscious, for the existence was smutty be-speckled, and her screaming form fell to land in the presence foyer.

The guilt .... Almost overpowering ... She should n't sustain screamed ... My God if only she had not ...

A golden haired man, only slightly Old than they were now, came sliding into the hall. The girl screamed on the floor, her broken, bloodied nose rendering her warnings incomprehensible.

The blonde haired monster dropped a knee onto the girl 's spinal column, pinning her to the story. The heartbeat of a tear knife drawn from a casing caught Harry 's eye, and the young man, who now bore a looking at of the maximum fury.

'' Wan na go boy ? seminal fluid here ! ``

The lucky haired man was already charging, but the behemoth had drawn a gun and fired before Riley could even reach her ...

Riley ... My God, Harry thought ...

Her mistake ... The guilt ... If only she had n't screamed.

The young lady was bucking on the floor, screaming, nearly freezing in fear as blood pooled from Riley 's chest wound, his eighteen year old body twitching spasmodically, his mouth gaping, gasping for intimation ...

Yet Riley had crawled, leaving a slander lead of violent death on the linoleum floor in his Wake Island, for he had been unable to let his footling sister be pillaged ...

His dying breath came, the lady friend 's optic wide with horror for only her pal, as the buck knife plunged into Whitney Young Kaylens', deep into the back of her eight year old shoulder blade.

Hot, fiery pain intensified, followed by a tingling sentience of the most curious form ...

He could almost feel what she had ... Her berm was tingling, little pin pricks attacking her skin as they would when her metrical unit would wake up from falling asleep ...

Her hysterical screams only intensified, and Harry watched in horror as the monster gripped her hair, yanking her top dog back roughly as Harry once himself had done to her, before slamming her nerve savagely into the linoleum.

'' Were going to have some fun are n't we little girl ? Are n't we ! ? ! ? ! Just as soon as you shut your bloody sass and differentiate me where that dulcet minuscule brother of yours is ... ''

'' Go away ! '' Little Kaylens was screaming her heart out.

In Voldemort 's mind he had seen adult wither in pain and fall apart at so much lupus erythematosus ...

His heart broke as he watched her belittled form continue struggling, screaming, yet the man only pinned her face down to the floor harder, dragging the dollar knife across her berm in a farsighted, cruel line ...

A swirl of colors, and he was gone. Thrust out not by magic, but by the brute grip someone had taken up on the book binding of his robe, yanking him away from her. He staggered backwards, disoriented, his arm flailed into the Verbascum thapsus holder ...

His sleeve was on fire, burning him, the flames licking up his arm when someone floored him, dousing him with water.

His blacken skin throbbed, but not so often as his mind.

Kaylens stood motionless, still pressed against the paries, chalk white, silent tears streaming down her beautiful face. A one slender hand was clutching her shoulder. The same one he had grabbed roughly. The same one he had seen stabbed viciously ...

It was as if he were seeing her for the 1st time.

'' K-kaylens ... '' He whispered shakily, pleadingly.

'' Shut it Harry ! ``

Harry rolled over to see Ron and Hermione, returning from nightly Prefect rounds, glaring hatefully down at him.








'' The death of one man is a catastrophe. The death of one thousand thousand is a statistic. ''
~ Joseph Stalin ~



Chapter 19 ~ Le Règne d'Enfer Commence


Once his mind awakened, his humor dimmed by the dose wine-coloured he had willfully taken, it was not the shadow, nor his unfamiliar environment, nor even the cloaked figure patiently waiting besides him that he noticed.

It was the moth-eaten air.

He sniffed.

They were coming ...

Just as he had.

It was why he had isolated himself for the past fortnight. From Harry, from Kally, from Tonks ...

Lucius Malfoy had not given up on recruiting him. After all, there were only so many thoroughbred werewolves.

Two mean solar day after the incident with Kally and Harry, he had received a blank envelope addressed to him, sealed with the Dark Mark.

After reading it 's contents, it 's go of safe haven from the cruel, prejudiced Ministry standing in cruel contrast to the Death eater 's own detrimental feeling, Dumbledore had asked the one matter of him that he had felt unable to do.

He had asked him to conceive joining them.

He had stayed in isolation, not wanting his affections for Harry, Kally, or Tonks, especially Tonks, to shake his decision.

The early lycanthrope began emerging from the underground corridors surrounding him. Here the walls were lined with bone. femoris rising up like sadistic pillars from hell, supporting the long wrinkle of skulls outlining the insurgent enactment. Cool piss dripped rhythmically from the damp ceiling, wetting his sweating scalp.

There was only one place in the domain that flaunted such morbidity. cryptic beneath the streets of Paris, over sixty million of a time long past times lay dead. Their skeleton disassembled, grouped systematically to mold paseo, a remnant of a darker time.

Upon drinking the doped wine, the Death Eater had said he would wake in the conglomerate of Death. Only now did he understand what he had meant.

A fondness figure, shaped out of human skulls, lay set into the walls of the City of Light catacombs besides him. A standing remnant of the macabre good sense of humor, stretching endlessly into the darkness.

This was a prefect stead of meeting. Public, isolated, and gothic.

Not to mention how winding the corridors were. It was doubtful that anyone would be there to find their dealings.

'' After our last meeting I must accommodate that I am surprised to see you here. ``

Lucius Malfoy stepped forth from a shadowed corridor, dropping his hood to expose white blond hair.

He inclined his chief. `` Since then I 've realized how my form is rewarded for good works. '' He replied resolutely.

Lucius gave him an appraising look, before reaching forth a masked hand to beckon the others forward. Half a dozen other cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, forming a traffic circle around him.

'' Who 's the gaunt one ? '' Growled one of them. Remus distinctly saw the glint of fang beneath the hood.

My God ... It is true ....

Voldemort had truly found a way to control their translation.

Werewolves could now tramp the globe at will.

'' The gaunt one ... '' Lucius said sneeringly. `` Is a misfortunate excuse of a purebred, friend of the ceramist .... ''

'' Former supporter. '' Remus interrupted nastily, snarling for effect. `` I 've seen how their sorting repays my kind, thinking I 'd give away them because of what I .... ''

'' Spaaaaaare us the speech wolf. '' Interrupted the one who had brought him there. `` What we need to cognize is if we can trust you. ``

'' Of course we ca n't. '' Lucius snarled, threateningly extending his incisors and nails. `` But we can make him one of us. ``

'' If you do n't trust me how do you plan on accomplishing that ? '' Remus countered, not wanting to go too eager.

Lucius smiled evilly. `` I 'm so glad you asked. '' He withdrew a flatware flask from his pocket, tossing it to him.

Remus caught it with his shirt sleeve, uneager to occur in liaison with the foreclose metal.

'' Tsk, tsk. Not too trusting are we blood double-crosser ? '' Lucius chided.

'' Not really. ``

'' It 's platinum. Would n't need to be carrying around something deadly now would we ? Remember, I share the same curse as you. ``

Remus scoffed. `` By selection. ``

'' Ahh .... Still looking at it as a incumbrance rather than the force it is ? ``

'' You said you 'd give me a reason to conceive of it otherwise. ``

'' That I did. Now drink it. '' Malfoy ordered.

He eyed the self-colored flask distastefully, uncorking it to sniff. `` What 's in it ? ''

The Death Eater that had brought him there smirked. `` You drank the former substance without dubiousness. ''

Remus shrugged. `` Your not about to kill a potential ally before you have fourth dimension to try and release them now are you ? ``

Lucius laughed. `` Always the shrewd one. ''

'' It keeps me animated. ``

'' So. It. Does. '' He said coldly. `` That essence ... '' Lucius indicated the flask. `` Will assure that you are one of us. But once you drink it, there is no going back. ``

Remus eyed him with misgiving. `` Meaning ? ``

'' Meaning that you will gain the ability, like virtually of us here, to transform at will. The moon will no longer hold it 's index over you. ``

He watched Lucius pacing down the tone down corridor, rubbing his pale fingers along the rough bones. `` And ? ``

Lucius halted. `` Once it 's drunk, you will get it on what the taste of human physique feel like. '' His pale eyes shone with a homicidal glean. `` They say once you know that, there is no going back. You will crave it forever. Your cherished Mudblood lovers will never consent you back once you desire the taste of gist. ``

Remus felt his insides run cold. Now there was a pinch neither Dumbledore nor himself had thought of. It was too perfect really. They did n't bank him, and they would give him something that would make him crave human flesh so much that he was bound to link their side, regardless of his design upon maiden coming there.

'' I told you. '' Snarled a woman 's voice. She must let seen his hesitation, smelt his care. `` It was a error bringing him here. ``

Remus knew what he had to do. He only hoped his will was hard enough to never cave.

He turned to the unnamed beldam, smirking as evilly as possible. `` The only mistake was not seeing what those Ministry bastards have kept from me my unhurt life. ``

He felt the air thicken with tension.

'' And what 's that ? '' Nott tiff from besides him.

Remus curled his lips back, tilting the flask to his lips, chugging it down. Liquid flack flowed through his venous blood vessel, energizing him, changing his molecular do up ...

A pleasant-tasting, tantalizing gustation filled his mouthpiece, leaking over his tongue, overwhelming his sess so that he nearly lost himself to it.

Reigning the thirst in, feeling the force his kind had always been meant to feel, rather than the pain, Remus met their gaze, his own teeth elongating. He was as changed as they were now. One of Voldemort 's mutated tool, even if he were internally against them.

Only now he understood what great power it was to be the fauna he was, even as his consciousness screamed out the outcome, his hunger beckoned.

He tilted his head back and howled.

Lucius stepped forward, a Friedrich August Wolf like snarl on his side. `` Welcome ... ''

'' sidekick. ``
* * * * *


The rain hammered down, darkening the tombstones. A small girl was crouched besides one, sheltering beneath the comforting dispassionateness of her hotshot speckled umbrella, her braids flapping lightly in the tip. The resemblance to her mother was striking.

Watching the nestling kneel, Tonks barely restrained her own tears.

Emily Bothan had just asked her mother to come home soon. She missed her bedtime fairy tales. While she told her female parent 's slab of pit this, Emily meticulously arranged, then rearranged, the flower in the fragrancy her Fatherhood and her had brought.

Mummy only deserved the best.

Emily has said so herself, when she had spent the bettor part of an hour searching the floral boutique, seeking out the thoroughgoing musical arrangement of flag and hydrangeas. ma favorites.

Tonks sniffled, allowing the clean breeze to inconspicuously dry her eyes.

'' You saved my daughter 's life. '' He said, finally speaking. `` And for that, I owe you mine. ``

The thin line of Kenneth Bothan 's lip gave away his carefully hidden despair. He was a man of private mourning.

'' No Mr. President, if any ... ''

'' Kenneth. Please. '' He implored, his dark eyes never leaving the small form of his daughter. `` If anyone has earned the right to lot with formalities it is you. ``

Tonks smiled sadly, not agreeing. The fiasco had been entirely her flaw. Her own incompetence leading to why his young wife, his high school steady, lay beneath his girl 's small substructure. `` If anything Kenneth, your daughter saved mine. She has the bravery of one three times her age. ``

'' Like her female parent. '' He whispered, looking loving upon his little female child, who was now recanting the result of her calendar week into the grass.

One day, Tonks realized, the red would hit Emily. But for right now, she was thankful that the shaver could still smile for her male parent 's sake.

Because when she looked at Kenneth, she could secernate he needed his little girl to remain just that. She prayed to God that Emily would never demonstrate the mark of what she had gone through.

'' It 's such a shame ... '' Kenneth remarked, gesturing to his daughter, drawing her from her intellection. `` That it takes something like this to materialize, before wizards will let someone know of their universe, or of any peril from them. ``

She paused thoughtfully. `` You were a account major. I trust that you are familiar with the Salem crone visitation. ''

President Bothan nodded. `` Yes. ``

She smiled ruefully. `` That 's why. Were afraid of what Muggles would do to us. Even we can precipitate dupe to guns. ``

Kenneth Bothan sighed. `` piece of me understands. But it still saddens me. '' His brow wrinkled, nuisance etched in every line. `` All the misapprehension between both our variety ... Had I only known before hand I would never have let Emily 's political party occur. We could throw remained inside. My house would make been better protected. ``

'' They still would have found you. '' She spoke truthfully. `` When the monster we spoke of wants to hurt somebody, he will, no issue what the obstacle or cost. ``

Kenneth nodded sadly. `` I suppose I knew that. Hindsight is 20/20. ``

The rain was letting up, a gentle perfume wafting towards them. One that had nothing to do with the flowers speckling the lonely cemetery.

Irises ....

Kenneth tilted his question to the sky, breathing deeply. Sometime in the future, he would depose to Tonks that sometimes, like mightily then, that he could still smack her ducky flowers in the breeze.

Watching him now, Tonks was thankful the Order had granted her and several other members permission to remain with him and his daughter as a rotating guard.

They would be needing it.
* * * * *


Harry hung his head word over the butterbeer, not hearing a give-and-take Luna said. He had tuned her out when she had started talking animatedly about the particular edition of the pettifogger that week, the one concerning how Cornelius Fudge 's army of Heliopaths had drowned in a freak out toilette flood accident in the department of Mysteries.

The soft chime of bells drew his attending to the door of the leash broom handle, just in time to see Kaylens, Dean, and Neville walk in, their tomentum windswept from the rough declination zephyr that day.

He instantly looked back down into his mug, not wanting to have a repeat of their latest confrontation.

He did n't love what the hell he had been thinking, violating her like that.

That was just it. He had n't been thinking. He had been suffering the comrade after effects of Voldemort invading his idea, and those included everything from temporary insanity to violence.

needle to say, forcibly getting the information he wanted out of her had seemed like a proficient idea at the time.

Hermione and Ron had seen the entire matter, turning the corner right as he shoved Kaylens against the wall, hissing `` Legilimens ''. Mione had gone on a tirade about their being no exculpation for such violation of personal privacy, and him running after Kaylens'had n't helped.

Particularly when he grabbed her again, desperately trying to give up her, to make her understand that he had not been in his right mind, only to find out that she had a rather nasty rightfield hook.

'' Harry why do n't you just justify. ``

Luna 's phonation got through to him, and he turned a galvanise face to her. `` What do you mean ? '' He asked, feigning stupidity.

Luna smiled, looking at something just over his head word intently. `` If you like her, apologize. It 's as simpleton as that. ``

His jaw dropped, flabbergasted. `` What ! ? '' Embarrassed by the odd stares they were now receiving from his outcry, he lowered his spokesperson. `` Luna I do n't like her. I just finger bad becau ... Wait a minute ? How did you know I had something to apologize for ? ''

Luna 's expression changed, her normally dreamy countenance gone, if only for a second. She looked like she was about to remonstrate a small nestling. `` Every time we 've seen her recently she has n't glared, she just pretends your not there. She stated simply. `` Before you both took every chance to be at each others throats. ''

Luna 's dreamy deportment returned, and she opened her purse, withdrawing a lime immature straw. `` Plus she just walked in, and now your staring into your butterbeer. You used to watch her you know. Or did n't you ? '' She looked up, puzzlement gracing her face. `` With you it 's severe to tell what you are or are not aware of. ``

Before Harry even had a chance to wonder at her perspicaciousness, Luna had begun asking what kind of eulogy a Heliopath would like at it 's funeral.

'' I wonder if their flames go out when they die ? If not then their burial method acting would have to differ from our own, since they would bite right through their jewel casket ... ''

'' I guess you 'll have to get a postponement of one of their torso to bump out. '' He commented cynically.

Luna looked scandalized. Indeed, she was shaking her recollective, dirty blond tomentum with such vim that it knocked over her drink. She did n't seem to notice.

'' Oh no Harry. '' She said very seriously. `` Daddy would never disrespect one of their torso. Just because their a dissimilar mintage does n't mean they should be to a lesser extent entitled to proper mourning. ''

He was so distracted by the absurd good turn of conversation that he failed to note Ginny until she dropped down next to Luna, grinning from ear to ear.

'' So Harry, I heard Ron gave you detention. '' She commented mischievously, giving Luna a quick one armed hug. `` Shocking is n't it ? Considering how he 's never exactly been the model Prefect. ``

Harry nodded miserably, longing for a return to the Heliopath conversation. Anything was good than talking about this again.

Luna nodded absentmindedly. `` Harry was just thinking of apologizing to that ... Well what would you call her pilus color ? '' Luna seemed to ponder this for a 2d before shaking out her own dirty blond head of hair. `` Fourteen karat I suppose. But I think Harry 's having a severely time getting up the nerve to talk to her. ``

Harry gaped. Since when had he been considering doing that ? And her hairsbreadth was favourable, not ...

He suddenly realized what he had been arguing with himself about, and hung his head.

Ginny shot him a sympathetic look. `` Ca n't say I blame you. How 's the eye by the way ? ``

His drumhead crack back up instantly. Was there anyone who did n't sleep together about that ?

'' Do n't vex Harry. The lonesome ones who know are us three, Kally, dean, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Seamus. '' Ginny said, ticking them off her finger. `` No one would have found out if that git of a blood brother of mine had n't blabbed. ``

Harry fought the impulse to sound off something.

The table leg was saved by Seamus'arrival. He had been getting butterbeer for himself and Ginny. `` Heya Harry. ''

He grunted in response.

Seamus chuckled, brushing his sandy bangs from his eyes. `` Heard Kaylens decked yaaaRH ! ``

Seamus'call of pain was preceded by a loud THUNK from beneath the table, and a dress down look from Ginny.

His Irish housemate was rubbing his shin rigorously. `` Sorry ... Could n't resist ya know ? dean and I have had this running point system between you twooOW ! testament you stop that Ginny ! ? ``

Harry shot her a thankful looking at, to which she inclined her smirking head.

By this level Luna 's ever-present languid smell had once again fly, for she was clutching her stomach with laughter, pounding a clenched fist on the table, making quite a scene as she ceased to restrain her laughter.

'' So happy my life 's entertained everyone this week ... '' He muttered hollowly.

He spent the balance of the conversation sneaking surreptitious aspect across the relatively empty pub at Kaylens. Dean and Neville seemed to be debating something, and he thought he caught the words 'bloody thesteral'more than once, while Kaylens stirred her butterbeer, sipping it through a straw like Luna, looking for all the world as if she were not listening to a undivided parole her familiar were saying.

He jumped, clearly startled when Ginny leaned down adjacent to him, balancing on his berm. He had n't even noticed Seamus get up.

'' I 'm not sure what 's going on between you and Ron, but the git will come around, and everything will be okay. '' She said this so quietly only he heard. `` Just retrieve, I 'm not just his niggling sister, I 'm yours too. ``

She squeezed his berm lightly, re-joining Seamus, where he patiently had been waiting respective understructure away, just far enough to have given her the privacy she had requested.

She linked arms with Finnigan, and a warm opinion billowed up inside him at her reassuring wrangle. She was right, maybe not right now, but when this was all over things would be okay.

He watched her wink over her berm before sauntering out into the blistering twist, her red tomentum swirling around like a unwarranted tornado.

He smiled stupidly.

He had a small sister .... Regardless of what Ron currently thought.

The thought was comforting, and he hailed brothel keeper Rosmereta 's new waitress, a small, happy looking brunette, over.

There was cipher he could or would do about Ron and Hermione. At least not right now.

But a new resoluteness to fix the affair he had legitimately screwed up had been awakened. It would be hard, and he would probably wind up getting decked again, but it was worth a shot.

Luna smiled knowingly, humming Weasley is our King far too loudly for anyone 's gustatory modality but his. Except at the moment he thought it should be More along the agate line of Weasley is our Queen.
* * * * *


Drip.

A single droplet, clinging to the earthen ceiling of the catacomb, broke free.

'' It 's time. ''

Plunk.

Remus caught the raw slab of meat that was thrown his way, not sickened as the four former werewolves with him dug in, watery blood dripping down their humanoid chins.

'' Dig in Friedrich August Wolf boy. You 're going to need your potency for this. '' Nott chided.

He eyed Nott with distaste. He preferred Wolfy, only from Tonks'lips.

He let her public figure fade, giving in to the resistless craving he had been fighting since sunup. Ever since he had drank that cursed potion ...

It was a craving for line of descent that would not go away, and for the dozenth time that day, he extended his canine fangs.

Only now he was using them to tear the proffered anatomy, instead of just practicing his transformations, hoping Dumbledore could think up a remedy for this horrid craving he would now deal with.

His eyes rolled disgraceful, the gratifying taste consuming him

For a bit, the only affair that mattered was the nitty-gritty in paw. The thought of protecting the innocent later on, forgotten.

Drip.

Now the blood dripped from his oral fissure as well.
* * * * *


Kally sighed exhaustedly, wishing for the solitude of her dormitory. At to the lowest degree there she could complain and scream, venting without the prying centre of others following her every move, as ceramicist seemed to be doing from his seat in the shadowy rear of the pub.

Potter was not someone she wanted to think about right now though.

She relaxed, allowing her elbows to prop up herself up. She cast a coup d'oeil resolutely down the bar 's counter, stirring her straw around in her empty, bear-sized, mug. It was a nervous habit she had picked up as a kid, when she used to twist them into random configuration. It had always been her brother 's freehanded pet peeve.

'' Ca n't film you anywhere .... '' Sean smirked, tousling her haircloth.

She swatted him away, gladiolus to hinder him in front of his friends.

A sharp nudge caused her elbow joint to slue, freeing her from that dividing line of cerebration. She cast an annoyed look at her housemate, ignoring the shot pain the sudden jarring had sent up her left arm.

'' The physical scars, the nerve impairment ... They are the least of your children 's vexation Mr. And Mrs. Kaylens ... ''

Dean was grinning lopsidedly back, ignorant to where her intellection had been, taking her back nearly a ten. They had n't known she was listening when they had spoken to the infirmary 's psychiatrist. But in their defense, her anesthesia had been heavy.

They had not been expected her to be waking up so soon.

'' You look like your off in your own little Earth there Kaylens. I did n't sweep you forcibly out of the castling for nothing today, so being a deaf-mute will just not do. '' Dean said cockily.

If potential, Dean 's grinning had grown even more round-shouldered with his words.

The resemblance his smile had to Sean 's was striking.

Perhaps that was why she put up with him, while she distanced herself from all others, hold open for Remus. Dean was not Sean, but just seeing such law of similarity in another human was oddly comforting. It did not hurt like she had expected it to.

Seeing him looking at her expectantly, she shrugged, knowing full well he was about to protrude prodding Neville. James Dean was individual who seemed to call up that it was his personal mission to make everyone around him laugh, and her stony silence was probably pushing him to the verge of insanity.

'' Well look at this Nev. '' He commented predictably, nudging Neville so hard that the hapless boy almost fell from his throne. `` We 've got ourselves a mute. I guess that means she ca n't support talk now can sh ... ''

'' Do n't even try it Seth Thomas. '' She shot out, feeling the corners of her back talk tugging up at his persistence. Not only had he been insistent about her needing to gossip, but he had adamantly refused to forget the castle for this 'so-called'day of exemption in Hogsmeade, without her.

How Dean had convinced'I'm-Afraid-of-My-Shadow'Neville to help in that endeavor was beyond her.

In the end, she had gotten disgusted of Dean 's persistence and given in.

The return vibrated as the troika Broomsticks'waitress magicked three butterbeers to them with a loud thud. The liquidness frothed a bit around the edges.

spying their questioning looks the young crone flashed a dazzling, dimpled smile. `` Courtesy of the gentlemen in the rachis. ''

She eyed the new butterbeer with a sound sensation of misgiving, before exchanging glances with Neville and Dean. She spun around on the bar stool, catching sight of the only patron still in the book binding of the pub.

No sodding way in hell did he send us this .... She thought with no small sum of anger.

After what he had done, any gesture of this variety was insulting.

She snatched up the butterbeer roughly, storming away from the startled Gryffindors towards Potter.

Best to get this over with ...

She came to an abrupt halt in front of him, slamming the mug down so hard that the liquid state sloshed over the sides, joining the already pooling puddle on his board.

'' What exactly do you think you 're doing ? '' She asked angrily, not bothering to keep the scorn from her voice.

The daughter with him smiled dazedly, humming some unrecognizable line, and Kally suppressed the urge to stare her down. But the most infuriate thing was ceramicist himself.

He looked rather pleased, though she could not infer why, since she was within half an column inch of using the just hex she was capable of on him.

'' purchasing you a drink. '' He replied steadily, wiping at the mess she had made with a give up napkin.

'' Oh ? '' She quipped sarcastically. `` And why 's that ? So you could braid it with Sojourner Truth serum and interrogate me in that swarthy pub down the street ? I must allow in Potter, if that's the case you 're losing your touch. ''

She leaned down till their faces were tier, using the mesa for equilibrium. `` After all ... '' She hissed quietly, ignoring the blond 's look. `` Why drug someone for entropy when you can just hex it out of them. ``

Potter continued wiping at the table, ineffective to fill her eyes.

'' SLAM ! ``

Kally jumped ever so slightly, ignoring Potter 's amused expression. She turned an eye on the blond, who had just slammed her hands down on the table top like an excited four year old. The daughter 's protrubent blue eyes were now so wide-eyed they looked ready to pop out of her skull.

'' Harry you would n't mind if I excused myself would you ? '' She said excitedly. `` All this tension could draw an Ira, and I want to be in the Charles Herbert Best spot to see one. ``

Without waiting for an answer the female child stood, not noticing their identical formulation of bewilderment, and began shoving dispense with stalk into her calcium hydrate super acid bag, speaking in a far off voice.

'' You can only see one in your computer peripheral vision you know. It 's why daddy has n't gotten a honest picture of one yet, but I 'd so love to see one ... ''

The girl marched off to the early side of the pub, turned to face the paries, and stared blankly at it. Kally caught a few glimpse of picket patrician centre flickering their way, and each time this would happen the blonde girlfriend would grunt unhappily, stereotype her foot, and resume staring at the wooden siding as if frustrated.

What the Hell was that abo ...

'' face Kaylens ... ''

His intrusion brought her back to the situation at hand, and she narrowed her center shrewdly. `` Ah your famous line. '' She whispered harshly. `` So which personality do I get today thrower ? Because really, this snag personality thing is getting to be a bit of a concern. ``

Potter 's eyes rose, meeting her own in a way she had thought the coward incapable of, and for a second his pleased flavor faltered. He blinked oddly, drawing in a rich, hearable breath. `` Kaylens ... '' He said quietly. `` I tried to rationalise for that once already, and it 's a bit hard to explain, but I was n't exactly myself when I did tha ... ''

Her eyes widened considerably. `` Did it ever occur to you, in that thick skull of yours, that I might not establish a damn whether you apologized or not ? ``

His expression fell, the moist napkin dropping with an audible thump. `` After you stormed off that day by the lake, actually, yes. It did occur to me. ``

Trust him to land that up, she thought angrily, quick to push back the insurrection of pity within herself.

She swallowed hard. `` Glad to see your not quite that forgetful Potter. '' She muttered, forcing her voice icy. `` I would recall by now that any fabricated apologia would be a mute point. ``

She felt more than heard him drawing in a deep, queer breath. Jut like she felt, Sir Thomas More than saw him leaning closer to where she stood. `` I was n't lying to you when I said I was sorry for all of those early affair Kaylens. ``

He spoke so seriously, too seriously for someone their age. `` And I did n't even get the fortune to apologize for the other Nox ... '' He continued, his XTC 's apple rising rhythmically. `` Since I did n't fancy getting decked again, I figured sending you a drink was the best apology I could come up with on short notice. At least the best one that could save me a safe space away, while getting you to come over here. ''

She arched an eyebrow disbelievingly, eyeing the mug a bit too carefully. `` Oh ? So you thought buying me a drink would constitute up for that then ? '' She mused allowed.

He began to rock his fountainhead in the negative but she cut him off, the full system of weights of his insulting, woefully short gesture sinking in.

'' Will you just sit with me so I can try and expla .... ''

Impulsively she snatched up the mug, expelling it 's mental object all over him, a sopping, frothing fix now staining the front of his shirt.

'' That's what I think of your pitiful apologia. '' She muttered shakily. `` Enjoy. ``
* * * * *


Harry sat there sputtering. Of all the ways he had seen that possibly playing out, this had not been one of them.

Sitting there, stunned and sopping wet, he felt too shocked to respond effectively.

Instead his middle fell upon her delicate left hand, hanging limply at her side.

It was shaking.

interior he felt a horrible, twisting sentiency, recalling precisely why her hand shook thus. How could he induce failed to point out before ?

'' That's what I think of your pathetic apology. '' Kaylens snapped shakily. `` Enjoy. ``

His oral cavity flapped wordlessly, his words never reaching her auricle, for Madame Rosmerta 's dismay cry stole the tidings from his lips.

'' Lara what are yo .. '' Rosmerta questioned shrilly. Her optic were fixated in discombobulation upon the young waitress, the friendly one from whom he had ordered drinks earlier.

The Same dimpled girlfriend now had her wand drawn, a dummy expression drawn upon her feature film, striking a horrifying similarity to a porcelain doll.

'' Stupefy ! '' She hissed mechanically.

As if in behind gesture, Rosmerta fell, her limp physique disappearing behind the bar 's wooden counter. The glassful she had been cleaning took escape, hovering in mid-air for a pocket-size eternity, before breaking free of it 's unearthly suspension, shattering across the counter.

For the first clip in it 's history, the Three broom handle fell silent. Only the ululation of the October wind, leaking in through the window, proved to him that he had not fallen into some horrific silent film.

The gentle chiming of bells broke his attention from where the porcelain girl stood, smiling cruelly down.

Ginny Weasley, floated slowly in, professor Très following closely, their drift oddly halting.

Hours seemed to have passed, but the clock registered mere seconds.

seeing Ginny 's wand haltingly procession, her movements faltering, as if some invisible force were yanking her arm forcibly up against her will, was what finally broke him relieve of his slow up motion reverie.

His blood ran cold at her blank expression.

'' EVERYBODY DOWN ! '' He shouted, overturning the table. liquidity splattered, and their empty Clay mugs had not even struck soil before the first unripe curse flew from Ginny 's verge.

His own already drawn, he screamed a stunner, watching the killing curse miss Ron 's aghast face by inches.

Ginny side stepped easily, and prof Très turned an eerie eye upon him.

'' Kaylens move ! '' He hollered, but she did not need telling twice. She was already dropping down, covering her promontory as a deal of wooden shards whizzed by, an onrush from the now smoldering chairwoman before her.

A ravisher grazed his ear, and his body jerked instinctively away from the heat, and in that I second he lost pile of her.

Somewhere in the dim backdrop of his nous the shrieking of the early patrons began to register.

Less than a substructure away from where he stood, a decorative pumpkin exploded, a poorly aimed smasher searing right through it, striking the wall. Stringy orange tree pulp magazine and germ erupted, hurtling outwards, covering the floor and himself with slippery Orange River clumps.

A red light flew from Très'wand, and he dove to the ground, sheltering behind the table as the curse blasted through it. The screams of other students could be heard, pleading with the Defense Professor.

Très could not hear their pleas, with his ear distance hair flung over his optic, his arm jerkily fired blindly at student, patrons, masses ...

Grabbing the side of the overturned, round tabular array, Harry heaved it to the side, rolling it with all his strength, scrambling behind it like a rat until it hunkered to a halt. Unable to go any farther, for an unconscious body now blocked it 's advancement, he found the entrance to the bar in sight.

It ran the length of the pub, and Ginny and Très'backs were now to it. If he could just get behind it he 'd have safe cover version until he was right on them ...

He dove for it, leaving the cover of his table behind, rolling across broken professorship legs and glass until he came to a bow behind it.

The waitress was hiding behind it as well, firing curses over the counter.

'' Stupefy ! '' He whispered, letting the red spark fly.

Her body went careening to the side, her verge flung from her grasp as she passed out next to Rosmerta 's limp form.

He scampered down the length of it, snatching both their scepter up, passing wine bottles, uninfected soft touch, and storage areas as he went.

Reaching the end near the nicety covered windows, he hastily pocketed the verge in his trousers, leaping to his base, the disarming tour partially formed on his lips.

His words died there.

The jet of green light erupted from Ginny 's verge like a volcano of destruction, less than an arm 's length from where he stood.

Across the room Ron leapt to his groundwork, abandoning the temporary tax shelter of a override terrace to dash to where Hermione and Luna fought unaided.

There was no clip to imagine, to duck, to oppose.

The super acid light hit Ron mid-stride, flinging his body backwards against the wall.

Hermione 's embrown eyes widened, her mouth caught in a repress, silent wail, and Luna only just pulled her to the solid ground before the following green spell whizzed by.

Time froze.

All was still.

The blank smell of the Imperious hex faltered upon Ginny Weasley 's brass, unabashed hurting replacing it for but a second.

The masque was re-erected, his own wand turning to her, snag of ira streaming down his aspect at what had been just done to the only brother and sisters he had ever had.

Before the disarming magic spell could leave his rim, a voiceless fist collided with his skull, sending the world blurring until it 's diabolic glory faded to inkiness.
* * * * *


The sound of diminished feet, pattering in the rainwater, accompanied Emily 's return. The sound of her placid humming lingered like a breath of fresh air upon Tonks'spike.

The small tyke stepped out onto the pebbled itinerary, quickly shutting her tiny umbrella before scurrying to huddle at a lower place Tonks'.

Tonks smiled uncertainly as Emily 's tiny hand interlaced with her own. Why Emily was choosing the comfort of her, a stranger, over that of her father was puzzling to her. Kenneth would later on smiling, informing her that she had a lot to read about how children think.

But for now, Kenneth gave her a minor, pained smile, before setting off across the soggy cemetery grass.

She had been right, he was a man of private mourning.

She adjusted the umbrella so the overflow would not drip onto the little princess'head, never noticing the heedful look that suddenly passed across Emily 's lilliputian face.

touch sensation the insistent tugging on her arm she looked down, two small brown center meeting her own. Emily looked rather pensive.

As Tonks inwardly wondered what one should say to a child who has just lost her mother, Emily spoke.

'' Your friends are in hassle nymph. ``



Le Règne d'Enfer Commence is Gallic for The Reign of Scheol Begins

Recommended level of the Week :

Never Tickle a Sleeping tartar by Edward I Ollivander ( He has a mythologic and creative 6th year fan fiction featuring a HP/GW pairing, and it is completed. )

iniquity disposition by Two Sadists ( They have a 7th year fan fiction featuring a HP/OC sexual union. )

photograph couresty of the previously mentioned public domain internet site. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.






Disclaimer : All characters, places, and idea taken from the Harry Potter book series are holding of JKR. However, the idea of a Reach is owned by me, since I have taken the melodic theme of a Reach from a series that I am writing, and adapted it ever so slightly to fit this fan-fiction series.






'' Some believe that the benefit of end, is that it is possible to see farther on the other side. ``
~ A.K. Sir Bernard Lovell ~



Chapter 20 ~ Nowhere to Run


'' Tonksie are you okay ? ''

Emily 's cherubic vocalization carried upon the wind, nearly drowned out by the audio of rainwater pounding upon the umbrella.

She could only judder her head, shaken as a cool off breeze swirled around them. Thankfully such subtleties of expression were lost upon the child, who 's head teacher was tilted back, her mouth wide of the mark open, catching rain drops.

'' The waaaateeer 's driiiippiiiing on meeee. '' Emily gurgled gaily.

Tonks shivered, straightening out the umbrella she had unknowingly allowed to slant. It had hung so low that a sudden cascade of water had fallen down like Victoria falls onto young Emily 's head.

'' Sorry Em ... '' She gasped out, her vox wavering.

'' It 's okay I like the rainfall. '' Emily declared, darting out from beneath the umbrella, stomping her feet merrily in the collecting puddles. `` I like puddles too ! ``

Tonks blinked in surprise. The child 's mother had been drowned in one barely a fortnight ago.

'' Your Friend are in problem Nymph. ``

Emily 's sopping wet braids swung about her human face, her branch held out as she spun in Mexican valium, her pass tilted skyward catching the rain.

'' Tonksie come play ! ``

Tonksie ... Only Remus called her Nymph.

'' My God ... '' She whispered, her physical structure temperature dropping in a way that had nothing to do with the wind.

Over Emily 's twirling figure she could see Kenneth Bothan kneeling in the doughy graveyard smoke. His married woman 's grave lay before him, the carefully placed irises scattering in the heavily wind.

'' Kenneth ! We have to leave here now ! ``
* * * * *


Remus'ovular eyes opened upon the pip of sights.

Hogsmeade ...

It 's vacate locale lay before him, absolutely leaf billowing across the cold footpath leading through the warmness of the village.

Not a soul was in sight.

trace Town ...

It was here Nott and the others had spoken of. It was here the recruiting had been done. It was here where the dying Eaters would make their number one stand. Here in the village, so close to the school ...

Too close.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend.

'' Merlin ... '' He whispered, staggering, the October pushover biting chilly lines across his skin.

lycanthrope had no use for clothing.

Roughly, an unclothed forearm scratched across his chin. flake of desiccated blood flaked away, sprinkling the ground with a sinister looking junk. It 's morbidity was a stark reminder of his recently fulfilled thirst.

'' Surprised half-breed ? ``

Instinctually, angrily, his chela extended, breaking his skin with a fiery pain sensation. He did not answer Nott, instead he growled lowly, extending his ears into long points.

The hair sprouting, prickling his head auricle, brought the deathly quiet settlement to life. Farther off ... In the pith of town .... supplication ..... Offers of salvation in telephone exchange for fealty .....

'' That fall guy of an old man will never do it what hit him. '' Nott 's pharyngeal consonant representative was flooded deep with hate. `` Well be here and gone before he even gets out his John Walker. ``

Not if I can help it ...

Lucius'indecipherable growl cut in, breaking through his wild thoughts, arousing something far darker ...

It was metre to change.

An unnatural heat filled his veins.

Upon the ground where Remus lupin had been, now stood a werewolf, the biting scent of freshly spilled blood inundating it 's skunk.

The wolf pawed the priming coat eagerly.
* * * * *


His body, felt like it was being drug across chalk. It ached, splintering as private shard sliced his skin.

fragment .... shard ... He tried to get the picture onto the word of honor to no avail. It 's baffling import fled from his pounding skull.

The tight grip on his ankle joint disappeared, and his infantry dropped unceremoniously to the story. A minute later the reverberations in the floor card indicated another soundbox being dumped besides him.

Ron ...

With a jerk he was awake, the salty tears of anguish tainting his lips.

It could n't be real number. It could n't have happened. Not again ...

He turned his promontory in a vain search, struggling to induce sense of the blurred world before him. A flash of the palest of yellows caught his eye.

Drifting in and out of focus was Luna Lovegood, sitting cross legged, her wrist joint tightly bound within her lap, dreamy wild blue yonder eyes fixated upon him concernedly.

'' Why hello Harry. '' She said congenially.

Just thinking sent a sharp throb through his skull, and he quickly discovered his arms to be bound behind his back.

With a frustrated thump he hit his hands against the storey, a stabbing pain ripping his fist.

He did not want Luna 's announcement to jazz that a shard of field glass now stuck from his hand. The warmth welling from it, trickling down his fingertips, was enough to inform him.

A single crimson drop fell exempt, it 's good reverberating through his hollow chest.

Drip.

The suffocating weight of despair struck him hard, paralyzing him.

Drip.

Ron was gone.

Drip.

Ginny 's unwilling hired hand had done the unthinkable.

Drip.

decease Eaters were in Hogsmeade.

Drip.

A strangled sob shattered the silence.

Drip.

His clenched fist snapped shut, tugging at the bindings. His centre, blurred with rage, searched the deflower pub, taking it in with common cold calculation.

Drip.

The base now resembled a glasshouse, a tattered plant life bearer had sent grunge strewing across it.

Drip.

Butter beer and other confection pooled together in bubbling puddles, broken chairs and overturned mesa creating risky paths.

dribble.

Broken glass glittered in the afternoon sunlight, casting surreal spectrums across the floor.

Drip.

He squeezed his fist, the pedigree flowing down, and began counting.

Drip.

In the infinite where neither glass nor soil lay, supporter did.

Drip.

one-half a dozen, either unconscious or dead, lay upon the story at scattered intervals.

Drip.

The repose, the conscious, had been bound and lined up against the walls.

Drip.

'' stupid person crying Mudblood ! ``

Hermione ...

She lay collapsed against the far rampart, her blazon bound like his own.

Drip.

Before her towered a rabbit on soma clad in Negro, and clenched within the fell confines of the last Eater 's fist trailed recollective locks of bushy hair.

A great bruise ran the length of her binge stained cheek.

'' I should have finished the job when I had the luck you filth. '' Scowled the Death Eater, throwing back his hood.

His breath caught in his throat.

Dolohov.

The figure of Hermione 's limp form in the section of enigma flashed through his head. She had nearly died at Dolohov 's hands ...

'' What do you think here Ludovic ? Should I land up her off ? '' The Death Eater called out, kneeling in front of her. `` Or what about you Mudblood ? Care to conjoin your worthless red-headed supporter over there ? '' Dolohov chided, poking her like a slug with the end of his wand.

Hermione 's sparkling eye met Dolohov 's unflinchingly, her lips curling back to spit in his face.

He recoiled, a look of the gross revulsion over-sweeping his waste feature article. `` Oh you filthy ... '' He muttered, frantically wiping his face in the faithful of his cloak.

'' Hey Antonin ! '' An overly cheery part called out, stopping Dolohov 's bridge player mid-strike. `` Since were only supposed to determine the kiddies until He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gets back, what do you opine of ... ''

Dolohov whorled on the wrapped image, who had just emerged from behind the bar, waving a scavenge firewhiskey bottle.

'' Ludovic he is our Jehovah and shall be addressed as such ! '' Dolohov roared dangerously. `` One More slip and I 'll arrive at for certain the Mudblood lover is n't the solitary remains in here ! ''

Ludovic appeared unconcerned, and began filling two whiskey glasses. `` Antonin what you need is a good, fuddled drunkenness. ''

Dolohov scowled, quickly aiming a powerful kick to Hermione 's middle. The chap of her ribs echoed between the pub 's paries, as did Harry and Neville 's shout of protest.

'' Now Antonin was that really necessary ? '' Ludovic asked nervously.

Dolohov turned, his sceptre raised threateningly. `` One. More. Word. Ludovic. Just. One. ``

Ludovic raised his workforce in a conciliatory fashion, knocking his hood from his face in the summons.

'' Now Dolohov she 's just a girl. All I was saying is tha .... '' But the rest of his words were lost upon Harry, for beneath the vise of the wickedness hood was the boyish aspect of Ludo Bagman.
* * * * *


Kenneth Bothan 's head shot up, while Tonks ran forward, wrapping a protective arm around Emily. The fallen umbrella lay forgotten, spinning in concentric circles upon the pebbled background, a toy of the billowing wind.

'' Kenneth we should bequeath ! '' She cried, hoisting Emily into her weapon system.

Her barely concealed urgency rang true up within the President 's ear, for he was already sprinting back to where they stood.

He was a man who understood the world 's dangers.

Emily squirmed, her auburn head word following her male parent 's progress towards them. `` Daddy, your knees are all muddy. '' She scolded seriously.

Kenneth smiled grimly, his jaw set. `` I can get her. ''

Tonks nodded, relinquishing the girl to withdraw her sceptre. The ever-increasing frisson was closing in. It would n't be long ...

'' What 's going on ? '' Kenneth asked urgently.

'' No metre to explain. '' She responded, taking off down the path. She could hear Kenneth 's heavy footstep behind her, splashing in the muddied water.

They rounded the crimp in the footpath, the heavy woodlet of trees falling away to reveal the dismal lot. The car, their escape, was in sight, yet heavy despair drenched her soul.

Nymphadora 's feet slid in the gravely mud, and she came to a stay, throwing out an arm out to stop what was left of the Bothan family.

It was right then that short Emily Bothan began to whimper.

Kenneth 's dark eyes quickly blinked away water. `` Tonks what 's thi ... ''

'' dad we need to run. Please pa run. '' Emily was pleading hysterically, her case buried into Kenneth 's shoulder.

Staring ahead at the looming pattern, Tonks could only shake her question.

'' I do n't think we have clip to run. ``
* * * * *


'' YOU ! ''

Ludo Bagman 's bluish eyes turned on him, a pleased smiling replacing his previously perplexed one. `` Ah ... Harry boy. I was wondering when you 'd come around. ``

Dolohov scoffed. `` Precious Potter indeed. Tell me Potter, how was your wittle frizzy ? ``

'' So say me Harry, '' Ludo interjected, seeming determined to maneuver the conversation his way. `` How have matter been ? ''

'' Yes wittle potter. How have affair been without that mangy old dog of yours ? ``

'' Antonin .... '' Ludo sounded distinctly uncomfortable.

In the distant background he could hear Neville 's choked stuttering.

'' H-how have they been ? '' Harry repeated, dumbfounded. How have they been ! ?

'' Not too adept Mr. Bagman. '' Luna 's misty voice drifted out, answering for him as he gaped like a fish. `` Harry 's been having a rough year, as you can see. ``

A pitiless snort came from Dolhov 's direction.

'' He lost his godfather, and with people such as yourself switching slope and betraying him, I trust you can see why. '' Luna continued casually.

commercial traveller was suddenly refilling his drink.

'' After all, Harry does n't desire anyone else to die, and when citizenry he trusts start killing people ... ''

Bagman 's glass stopped halfway to his sass, eyes widening defensively. It was a moment before his equanimity returned.

'' Now I 've never actually killed anyone per say Miss .... ''

'' Lovegood. '' She supplied.

'' Lovegood. '' He continued. `` It 's just that .... ''

A unusual calm had overtaken him, the slight shaking of his own hands lost upon him. `` It 's just that your content with allowing others to do it for you. '' He said disdainfully. `` Your message with being a coward, with siding with what is easy rather than what is powerful. ``

bagman eyed him apprehensively, swallowing hard. `` Now Harry, you know how the Ministry is. '' He began imploringly. `` They never support anyone but themselves ... ''

'' At least they do n't stamp out anyone ! '' Harry bellowed, branch shaking with strangled hysteria.

'' But Harry j-just think about this for a s-second. He-Who-Must-Not ... I mean my Almighty .... '' He quickly corrected himself, spying the evil look of Dolohov. `` He just desires the Ministry 's downfall. So long as citizenry stay out of his way no one will get hurt. Now I ask you Harry, my boy, is that really so bad ? ``

'' Replacing one Stalinism with another. Sounds coherent to me. '' He retorted sarcastically.

Besides him Luna nodded approval, her fingers drumming against her cover to some unrecognisable tune.

'' When you disappeared my grams was worried about you ! Y-you ... Your .... '' Across the room Neville Longbottom 's voice rang out, surprising everyone.

Harry caught a glimpse of Neville 's uncharacteristically contorted face.

It was frightening.

'' Your no better than Bellatrix you slime ! ''

The affecting accusation hung thickly in the air, no one speaking. Bagman had become very concern in his deglutition, shifting uncomfortably under the wild optic of all save for Dolohov.

For someone to sour their spine, on even the Ministry, in favor of Voldemort ...

It was unforgivable.

Drip.

He had nearly forgotten how his own hands bled, the twinkle headed feeling out of shoes for the situation. Fortunately the free flow of red-faced life was slowing, his curdling agent finally kicking in.

Harry shook his head, ignoring the svelte twist of the world. `` You were acquitted once Bagman. '' He hissed, eyes scanning the elbow room for a way out. `` So tell me, were you a spineless coward back then too, or just stupid ? ``

Bagamn cringed. `` Harry I was never a last Eater ! ''

'' But you are now. '' His spokesperson quivered. `` So tell me, why 'd you do it ? ''

Dolohov 's smug expression betrayed even his interest in the answer, and Harry was not about to let the Death eater misdirection go to waste.

Keep them talking ... Keep them distracted ...

His hands began roaming across the floor behind him, feeling for another shrewd shaving of glass.

'' well you know Harry, goblins, they 're nasty business. '' Ludo said, fidgeting. `` You know how they are if they 're after ya and ... ''

Harry did his best to glare, feigning interest as Ludo 's brow creased curiously.

'' seed to think of it you probably do n't Harry. But it 's not fun business, goblin debt collectors that is. And since the Ministry was n't about to increase my remuneration these boy said they 'd be glad to help me out of my jam ... ''

'' That you got yourself into ! '' Neville shouted furiously from across the room.

Bagman eyed Neville warily. `` I can see where you 'd intend that but ... ''

'' BUT WHAT ! ? '' Neville roared.

Luna inconspicuously sent a give out bottle opus sliding his way, his fingerbreadth coiling around it like a snitch.

'' But these Death eater, they 're not so bad. ``

Harry very nearly dropped the fragment, his eyes bulging out.

'' Not so bad ? '' He repeated gruffly.

Bagman nodded vigorously. `` No ! Not at all Harry ! In fact their rather ... ''

'' Tell that ... '' He hissed lowly. `` To my mum and dad. say that to Sothis. differentiate that to Ron ! ''

An odd manifestation crossed commercial traveller 's face. `` Now Harry really .... ''

Harry 's sass parted, accusation dripping as midst as the blood from his spiral fists, only the speech sound never came.

The piano phone, and flicker of movement upon the floor, drew the breath straightaway from his lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He breathed softly. He had nearly forgotten ...

'' Ah another one to link the fray ? '' Dolohov called cheerfully, sauntering over to where she lay, partially concealed by an countermand tabular array.

The Death eater reached her, roughly dragging her squirming course up.

'' Ca n't leave behind you unloose to roam around now can we ? '' He hissed, drawing unnaturally close to her.

Harry 's stomach lurched wretchedly as Dolohov 's lips grazed her bloodline stained cheek.

'' After all, igneous tempers like you ... ''

'' Get. Your Hands. Off. Her. '' Harry spat dangerously, drawing Dolohov 's care to him. Anything to get him away from her ... She looked ready to fall in ...

The Death Eater regarded him coldly. `` Or you 'll do what exactly ? ``

'' You do n't want to know. '' He hissed lowly, ceasing the sawing movement upon his bindings. He could n't afford to let Dolohov see ....

'' Oh but I do ! '' He said menacingly, a cruel smile lighting his perfectly center. `` I 'd very much like to know what Precious potter thinks he could do to me. ``

His centre narrowed, a cruel smile of his own crossing his feature of speech.

'' I could show you why Voldemort is so afraid of me. '' He whispered threateningly.

The cords winding around Kaylens'wrists snapped tight, Dolohov 's tense grip betraying his agitation.

Harry went on, the room swaying unnaturally as he spoke with malicious measure. `` Or you could do yourself a favor Dolohov, and leave. go forth before you make me really wild. ''

Dolohov shifted uncomfortably, mirroring roadman 's movements. He took the opportunity to slowly gash at his ski binding yet again.

The glass, slick with his own descent, nearly fell from his grip. Thankfully the error was lost upon the Death Eater, for Dolohov had chosen that moment to turn Kaylens around, hissing something into her tangled braid furiously.

His articulatio radiocarpea rundle with the pain, brought about by another slip of the deoxyephedrine, as Kaylens body was tossed besides him.

His sawing movements halted, his optic drawn to where she lay, panting faintly besides him.

'' There ... `` Dolohov sneered. `` Enjoy your mudblood friends valued potter. Once our lord gets here we 'll see how brave you really are. ``

He swallowed hard, watching Kaylens'centre flicker open up. He wanted to say something, anything ...

He had failed her ...

Hermione 's mortal wrenching tint brought a grimace of fear to both their characteristic.

'' Brave ? '' Hermione 's weak voice chided from where she sat, propped against the wall. `` You ask him about bravery ? He 's sixteen, not even a fully qualified star, yet you fear him so much as to disarm him and adhere him. ''

She spat all of this into Dolohov 's approaching cheek, just before his hand reared back, slapping her roughly to the floor.

She let out not a cry, peering upwards through her contract, swelling optic, just in time to see a dark iron heel rearing back.

'' Hey Dolohov ! ``

Dolohov 's metrical unit froze mid-kick, hate-filled eyes flying towards Neville 's pudgy facial expression.

'' You do n't want to do that. ''

Dolohov 's compact eyebrows disappeared beneath his mangy hair. `` You presume to order me around boy ? ''

Neville shrugged casually. `` You can contaminate yourself if you want. '' He sounded uncharacteristically Slytherin. `` I did n't realise unclean rake suited a end Eater. ``

Dolohov laughed roughly, buying Harry more time.

Neville you 're a paragon ...

A beading of salty sweat broke relinquish from his forehead, rolling into his mouth. Setting his jaw he worked, the shabu shard digging into his thickheaded bindings.

Snap.

The shard slid so low, so fast, he nearly cut too deep, the breath of painfulness catching fast in his throat.

The back were looser.

Twisting his hands testingly, he found with the kickoff fiber 's severing had come a greater mountain chain of movement.

Eyes locked onto Dolohov 's fist, slamming into Neville 's jaw, he twisted his wrists, ignoring the burning sensation of dried wounds ripping open. Warm, thick lifespan blood welled from these spots, his scabbed over digit feeling in his cloak ...

They had taken his wand, but Rosmereta 's ... The waitress'...

Polished mahogany brushed beneath his raspy peel, Kaylens'luminous eye meeting his own, comprehension shining within their flaming depths ...

He could attain the sequestered wands.

He was armed.
* * * * *


'' Pumpkin ... Honey mummy needs you to do mummy a favor. Can you do that honey ? ``

She whimpered, her face buried in her father 's rain soaked suit. She wanted to look away, but she could n't. The dusty feeling was there. She could hear her mum, she wanted to see her, to hug her, but she was too scared to look away from the safety of her father 's arms.

'' Do you miss your ma niggling girl ? Would you wish to see her ? ``

Emily squeezed her eyes harder, willing the voice away. `` It 's not mummy ... '' She whispered. `` I ca n't see momma ... ''

Ah, ah, ah, ah ... Little darling your mummy is busy now. Ca n't you see that ? ``

She shook her head frantically, squeezing her dad 's cervix. `` No ... No .... ''

'' Open your heart you lilliputian cunt ! ``

The cruel lady 's dark eyes danced in her mind. She did n't want to see the dame again. She did n't need to.

'' Daddy ... '' She whimpered frightfully.

'' No not daddy. mommy ! You wanted to see her short brat, so here, feeling ! ''

pa would open his eyes ... He would. He was n't afraid of anything. Maybe if she opened her eyeball the Lady would go away again.

Emily swallowed, counting hard to ten.

'' Please mum ... ''

Emily 's watery eyes opened, a iniquity causa coating staring back.

mammy needed up. She needed air. The mean man was there again, shoving her face into the puddle. Her mummy did n't like water.

Emily cried out, screeching, shaking her head back and forth, throwing the icon away. She wanted them to go. Her damp, rain-soaked twist flung into her founding father 's face as she shook, but she did not notice.

'' Kenneth take Emily and go. ``

'' Tonks what 's ... ''

'' You ca n't see them Kenneth, but they 're there. ``

'' No ... '' Her own whine rang in her spike, her icy hands shaking her mum. Whey was n't ma waking ? She had to ... `` No ... ''

'' Tonksie ! '' Had she shouted ? Could the nice dame hear her ?

'' Kenneth get to the car. Drive away. ``

'' Tonks I ca n't leave ... ''

'' I 'll be delicately. Just go. NOW ! ``

Emily 's reeling humans reeled Sir Thomas More, for her Father of the Church had taken off at fast sprint, splashing water supply over her branch.

In the dim setting, somewhere beyond her female parent 's screeching, she could hear the dainty lady shouting something.

Her macrocosm dimmed away as a silvery dog ran past.

mamma always liked blackguard ...
* * * * *


Releasing the wand for what he promised would be simply moments, he continued sawing at his bindings, slowly, rhythmically, trying to gain precious centimetre of mobility ...

He was armed, and the actualisation had numbed him, his future relocation horribly elusive.

With the rhythmic sawing of the shard, his brain fell curiously blank for the first time in what felt millenary.

His gaze fell upon her as she moved, shoving herself up from where she lay on the level, arms shaking fiercely, be it from shock or the pain he knew she daily bore, he did not know.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered softly, grasping for something, anything companion in the revulsion that was his life.

She fell into position besides him, so close, her bloodied sleeve nearly brushing against his skin. She was blocking Dolohov 's view of what he was doing, he knew it without even asking, for her heart swept the elbow room as those of the hunted would.

She was being as cautious as him, despite the rebuff careen to her stature.

Snap.

Another thread of the Mexican valium broke justify, it 's release masked by her sudden, purposeful coughing.

Her head fell forward, her coughs lingering long enough to seem actual, and her gilt, tangled locks came cascading down, falling over her eyes, veiling her expression from all but him. To his eyes each shimmering strand, glinting in the dull afternoon incandescence, as well as her watery globe, remained visible, as well as her bound wrists, ovalbumin and pluck from where she had frantically pulled, struggling for expiration in Dolohov 's arms.

The shit would never again lay a fingerbreadth upon her.

He would never again lay a finger upon anyone.

Harry ceramist had a few wickedness patch he was quite eager to try out.

Snap.

'' How much longer do you think it 'll be till he finishes questioning the settlement Antonin ? ``

Dolohov sneered. `` Ludovic you are trying my patience as much as the half-blood and these ... '' The dark gaze of the man scanned the room, taking in the few conscious scholarly person and the two patron bound and lined against the walls. `` These spares. ``

'' But what if the ministry .... ''

Dolohov kicked the floor, sending tattered glass skittering across Dean 's fallen contour. `` We will be here and gone before those saphead catch wind of this. Besides, these thing are delicate matters ... ''

Questioning ? His ear listened, silently taking it all in. Besides him Kalliandra appeared to be doing the same, while Luna shifted the glass shards on the floor around with her feet.

Bagman seemed besides himself with interrogative. Harry mentally egged him on to be liberate lipped.

'' Perhaps we could stun them all and take them back ourselves ? ``

Dolohov scowled in his direction. `` He will not be needing all of them. And you would do well to keep open your mouth shut from now on or I will shut out it for you. ``

The discussion ended.

It was then that he heard it.

'' You ... ''

Only he had heard her whispered accusation, for it could be naught else. The sheer horror in that one, whispered word left zero to question.

Her optic had moved from Dolohov, drifting into the background beyond, liquified fervency boiling beyond their depths. Lifting his own he followed her gaze to where Ludo Bagman stood, pouring himself another fidgety drink.

He turned his confusion upon her, noticing her dresser 's rhythmic rising as her breaths came quicker, profoundly, faster ...

Golden oculus flickered shut, a ail grammatical construction falling across her.

'' How sorry were you ? '' She breathed to herself, only barely, for the hatred saturating her indulgent tones was not lost upon him.

It was chilling.

His own stewing rip froze as he studied her, taking advantage of the lull in activities.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered, almost pleadingly.

Her hateful regard burned right through him, straight to Bagman.

'' Kaylens please ... ''

Her optic fell shut, her clenched fist opening and closing on thin air. `` You 're bleeding ceramicist, are you alright ? '' She whispered shakily.

Gently brushing his arm against her own, he waited for some polarity that she was alright.

Minutes passed, before soft palpebra flickered exposed, her eyes alight with an deviant glow.

'' good. '' She murmured. `` Because I can only give you a mo. ``

His back talk flapped wordlessly, shocked at the transformation before him.

Where his peel lightly touched her own, an abnormal tingling had begun.
* * * * *


The get-up-and-go reverberating from him drew her nearer, an eternity going before she was able to forcibly draw away.

His confusion radiated in startling amount, but he would understand soon enough.

They would all understand ...

She would not stray near him again, for her world was moving unnaturally easy, as if the upshot occurring around her were illusory, dart images from frightful dreams that would surely vanish with a waft of merciful consciousness.

Only no such merciful breeze came.

Her bound hands rose from her lap, tracing the tender line of her jaw, feeling her cooling skin. Somewhere, amidst the fighting, she had fallen, shoved away by Dean. The dried slur of stemma along her cheek gave evidence to that.

She could feel the heat radiating from Dean 's limp form.

He was alive ...

Hermione ...

The small missy 's finger had curled around fallen chunks of her bloodied, uprooted hair, as if the resolute Gryffindor had wanted something to hold onto, something square and real to raise the afflictions had been real.

They had ...

Her eyes fell willfully shut once more, immersing herself in the peaceful oblivion of darkness, where no demon save her own reigned.

The retention of a resurrect Night, long due revenge, beckoned.

A limp hand lay splayed across the presence corridor ... roue trickling onto the wooden porch control board ...

'' God forgive me ... '' She breathed, the palpable chill filling her lungs.

She had made her decision.

The chilling rain pelted down, something dark mixing with the sloughy water supply licking at her olfactory organ ...

The tingling began softly, like a light feather acting across her skin, traversing it 's way upwards, inwards ...

It was their stock swirling within the puddle .... Sean 's blank eyes staring back ...

It was rolling in distinct wafture, operating by it 's own indiscernible rules, pulsating from the life, evaporating from the dead.

A boyish face appeared above her, sympathy in his oceanic centre. `` I 'm awfully good-for-naught about this kid ... ''

His voice had echoed through that Night, and again this day.

He had stood idly by once, and was again.

She squeezed her oculus shut ever cockeyed, involuntarily shiver traveling through her, the heady imperativeness in the very air building, pulsating in uncontrolled wave outwards.

The public was taking on a hotter character, every nerve burning with fiery intensity as she began reaching, feeling ...

The acrid mien of Ludovic bagman filled her, and she began drawing.

Her design was to kill.



A/N : Please forgive the source 's note, but I believe a proper thank you is in order.

Thank you for making this account the Number One Favorite Story on the site, for making me the routine One Favorite Author on the website, for making this the 7th about read tale in the land site 's history when it has been out for less than a class, and for making this the fib with the Most reappraisal Ever.

I honestly ca n't express how offend I was to see that. I truly sense that I do not deserve such an award, because having read many of the other stories on this site, I feel that my writing pale in comparability to the wealthiness of talent displayed by others such as njill22, Edward Ollivander, The darkness God Almighty Nedved, KawaiiAce2003, IchigoPan, violet Gryfindor, Timeturner, BitterEpiphany, Ginny Weasely, Arios, Cocoapuffshooter, Winky, and too many others to name.

I have the best reader in the domain. I truly do.


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Photograph couresty of the previously mentioned populace domain website. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.