'' 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 unseen adversary within the calm down hospital wing. The silence was only broken by Kaylens'tranquil breathing space, her chest ascent and falling as steadily as the ignitor breeze fluttering the drape.

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

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

Now she lay in this comatose state, and even brothel keeper Pomfrey had been ineffective to drive out her.

Her tegument still held the paleness of end, yet to him it seemed slightly rosier.

Perhaps it was his own wishful thinking.

He rose, unable to remain still, watching her with nothing relieve his thoughts for society.

Thoughts were such poor solace ...

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

The vindication, the atonement, and everything he had expected to palpate were conspicuously absent.

Bellatrix Lestrange was dead.

So why did he experience robbed ?

The obvious answer came. Tonks had beaten him to the killing. She had killed the one soul who 's death he had desired above all but Voldemort himself. And now he would never get 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 exanimate facial expression of Sirius'killer and spit upon it.

Now even that cruel comfort had been taken from him.

All he was left with, were unanswered head, and this cruel band of Inferno called the Hogwarts infirmary wing.

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

Yet they had salvaged the body.

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

So why do it ?

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

It was essential, madam Pomfrey had insisted upon having his wound exposed to the air. He was to be released soon, and she needed to ascertain that it would hold up on it 's own.

His fracture scapula had been mended quickly, but werewolf wounding were slow 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 brave out eyes bored into his, recounting the events in full.

'' Experimental spells, their effects unknown to the parliamentary law, have been added to Voldemort 's arsenal of weaponry, Harry. Take heed ... ''

He would.

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

It had happened during the day.

Now, where demise Eaters roamed, the moon would no longer confine it 's sway.

Harry shuddered in the breeze, contemplating the many horrors Voldemort might unleash in summation to daylight roaming werewolves.

Of course there was no want to mull. Dumbledore had told him about the atrocities of of late.

40 seven innocents, four of them tyke, had walked upon the Earth. Now they lay beneath it 's unforgiving soil, removed by the pitiless action mechanism of Voldemort 's minions.

Hermione 's parents would soon link them, and his common cold rational face realized that when it happened, part of Hermione 's individual would be taken forever.

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

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

For if he were truly the one with the power to kill the shadow Lord, than every second he had ever spent reveling in lifetime, and not searching for Voldemort 's demise, had been another grave in the ground for the innocent.

A painful chill burned within the claw marks he bore, and he wondered if they had re-opened again, bleeding anew. He reached a hand back, gingerly touching it, the line upon his finger confirming his suspicions.

It was tentative he would be permitted to forget soon.

'' That 's disgusting. ``

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

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

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

'' You were out for five mean solar day. ``

She paled considerably.

He was slow to recover, and debated getting brothel keeper Pomfrey. But she would be back soon, to check on his own injury. She could find her waken then. Besides, he was afraid to exit her alone for even a second, fearful that she might fall into that perpetual slumber once more.

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

He studied her, thinking about how to answer. His pridefulness made him hesitant to let in impuissance, but her eye ...

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

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

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

'' You look it. ``

She graced him with a wry smile, a ringlet of hair falling into her eyes. She looked almost annoyed.

She reached up, brushing the ignition lock aside, revealing her mortal pale skin. Her ascertain apparent movement exposed her own pain to him in a way no words could.

As did her radiocarpal joint. His eye caught upon the dark bruise encircling it.

He crossed to her, catching her wrist gently. She glanced up, hazel oculus narrowed in confusion.

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

Her centre traveled to where his digit lay.

'' Apparently, '' Her vox was so faint ...

'' Pomfrey said she had taken caution of this, '' He whispered aloud, gently relinquishing her hand. She let it return upon her pillow, besides her face. `` Your ivory may not sustain healed properly. ``

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

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

It was funny, but had she had woken a few days earlier he probably would throw demanded answers, answers about how she knew lupin, about what she really did or did not know about last Eaters, but after days of sitting there, watching her frail figure eternal rest, the mere thought process of interrogating her trouble oneself him.

His resolution could wait, for a piffling spell at least.

'' Tonks stopped by originally, '' He said, breaking the muteness. `` She said Lupin sends his dear. ``

Her eyes 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 have sworn she slept. It was piece fear, fear that she would not awake, that drove him to the admission.

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

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

He wanted to argue, but lacked the heart, watching how her eyes 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 heart 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 slingback, preventing unnecessary drift.

Lupin 's claws had torn into him just beneath his shoulder sword, right where various muscles came together. Apparently re-growing brawn was as tricky as re-growing bones.

He still needed to verbalise to Kaylens, but she slept. They had not shared a word since she had first awoken, content to sit there in silence. He was debating whether or not to break that silence when a bedevil looking Ron walked in.

look at Ron, he realized that there were other things that had to be taken care of first.

He had been dreading this conversation for solar day. Ron and Hermione would need solvent. Answers about his absence seizure ... solution about what had occurred in Dumbledore 's office daytime earlier ... Answers about Voldemort 's intrusions into his mind ...

response he could not give.

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

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

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

He threw a last glance at Kaylens'sleeping form. They would talk later. He promised himself that.

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

It had been over a week since he and Kaylens had disappeared from the Headmaster 's post, and one of the last warm weekends of the year had driven the scholarly person body outside.

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

riddle had given him more time due to his harm, and for that, Harry had to give way him credit.

As evil as Voldemort was, the animal had some stratum.

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

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

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

'' Not good, '' The absence of citizenry made the corridor cavernous, and his breath echoed quietly.

'' Harry what 's going on ? ``

I wish I knew Ron ... His own defeat at this selfsame question had been building inside for Clarence Shepard Day Jr.. Dumbledore had told him some, but there was still the question 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 remark the prophecy. How in the infernal region was he supposed to pound him ?

There were too many questions to answer, before the most crucial ones could even be framed.

They walked the eternal sleep of the way in silence.

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

miserableness loves fellowship, he thought. Ron sat besides her, placing a hand on her backbone. Only then did she seem to agnize they were there.

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

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

She shrugged, re-burying her nozzle into her al-Qur'an. `` 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 holding Pomfrey had brought down for him. `` Dumbledore 's Order. '' His centre would not adjoin theirs.

Ron frowned. `` His reason ? ``

So he could have time 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 sustain seen us after it okay ? ``

Hermione 's eyes roamed, landing on his sling.

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 unbelieving. `` Harry that 's not possible. ``

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

'' Because the wide Moon is n't until ... ''

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

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

His saying turned grave. `` There are ways. ``

Hermione was no longer even trying to understand, her voice unusually high. `` That ca n't be. A lycanthrope ca n't change out of lunar successiveness ... ''

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

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

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

Ron 's blue air eyes widened, his freckles standing out against his paling skin, putting two and two together. `` So when you and Kaylens went to see Lupin ... ''

'' He turned. Yes. ``

'' pigeon hawk ... '' Ron whispered, unconsciously rubbing Hermione 's back harder.

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

'' Too very much to excuse easily, 'Mione. ''

Ron took Hermione 's hand almost naturally. `` Then take your time married person. Start from the beginning. ''

Harry shook his drumhead, hating himself. `` fine, the get-go then .... '' He steadied himself, and met Hermione 's almost beseeching gaze.

'' You both already know that Voldemort has not given me a moment 's peace of mind since finish summer. It 's a private engagement between him and I. We 're both fighting for information, about the early incline 's advent and goings, about how much the early side knows ... ''

He talked steadily, opening his dresser drawer to put clothing away. His action at law, however humble, lent a sensory faculty of normality to the otherwise threatening conversation.

'' Your parents 'Mione, he said he will loose them, '' He ignored her aspiration of intimation. `` If I tell him what the contents of the divination were. ``

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

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

The silence that followed occupied years 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 spirit.

Hermione 's mouth opened and closed wordlessly. It was Ron who finally gave voice 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 scramble him ... ''

He swallowed hard. `` No Ron. ``

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

'' No. ``

Ron 's voice was hard. `` Then if not us, him ? It could write 'Mione 's ... ''

The accusation in Ron 's vox was too much. He could take 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 bother keeping his articulation level. `` Ron, if I tell him there is no rationality for him to hold the granger alive anymore. It 's our biggest bargaining cow chip. ``

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

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

'' He 'd let them go, '' Ron interrupted. `` brand him release one at least Harry ! Then tell him for God 's sakes ! What could it wound ? ! Bargain with him ! ``

Harry lost his longanimity. `` Do n't you guys get it ? ! This is Voldemort we are talking about ! '' They both cringed at the name, his voice rising. `` This is n't some war biz were playing against the Slytherins ! This is real animation ! Voldemort is eviler that either of you can even suppose ... ''

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

Harry shook his head, never more life-threatening. `` No Ron. You did n't. '' He felt almost bad at Ron 's chapfallen feel. `` You only saw what dying Eaters were able of. That is nothing compared to him. ``

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

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

'' There 's no need to squall at her married person, '' Ron said coolly.

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

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

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

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

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

'' No Hermione. He needs to hear this. Because it 's like he does n't even hope us ... ''

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

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

'' I am talking ... ''

'' No. Your blocking Harry. Like in chess. '' Ron pointed his sceptre out the door, summoning the chess plug-in from the rough-cut elbow room. Levitating it, Ron cleared the circuit card save for the pawns, king, and queen of both sides, his brow furrowed in concentration. He then moved the pawn so they protectively surrounded the king and poof on one face, leaving the other side 's world-beater and queen unprotected.

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

Ron moved a pawn on Harry 's English away. `` You 're afraid that if you move your instrument for a second, that I might get in and assume your big businessman. ``

Ron 's queen shaft forward, moving through the possible action Harry 's pawn had left, taking his fagot out with a violent knock of her chairwoman. She then stood, posed to train his Billie Jean Moffitt King on the next move.

'' The tycoon 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 board folded in on itself, slamming to the floor.

'' secret plan over. ``

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

He was right. And for the number 1 time Harry realized how truly unlike he was from them.

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

The sound of the metaphoric bulwark falling between them filled his head, and Ron spoke again.

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


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

They simply did not understand. Not that he had expected them to. Things were too dangerous now. Voldemort had made a hobbyhorse out of extinguishing anyone close to his heart, and he was not about to satisfy Ron and Hermione 's heads with anything that might make them more charm object than they already were.

Which was why he had savorless out refused to bring out anything else, and held his reason 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 yearner his.

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

They would n't end up like Sirius.

He knew exactly where he was going, and rounded the corner to the hospital extension. His foul mood only increased when lady Pomfrey stuck out her question, a forced smile plastered upon it, and asked him to wait.

The threshold slammed and the audio of argumentation resumed. Dumbledore 's voice caught his tending. 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 have intercourse, he had been in the hospital wing too many fourth dimension to consider, but could weigh Dumbledore 's sojourn there on one hand.

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

He reached into his pouch and withdrew the extendible ear he had taken to carrying at all times. His decision made he slipped it beneath the door.

Madam Pomfrey 's reproving tone of voice came out clearly. `` ... mobile phone need to regenerate before you can even attempt to perform legerdemain again. ``

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

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

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

The silence was tangible, 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 honest as the schoolmaster had been with him lately, his faith in the man was still recovering. It had been shattered too skillfully the late year.

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

'' Considering that I 'm the one you ca n't cure, do n't you think that should give birth been my decision ? ``

curative ? His stomach lurched dangerously.

'' Kalliandra, looking at it as a last conviction will not facilitate affair. ``

Her part was strained. `` You 're properly. 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 burden you with this. ``

'' I 'd choose the burden, '' Kaylens hissed, her voice suddenly stronger. `` Now is there anything else your keeping from me ? '' Her voice was strained and accusative. `` Because I 'd like to know before I read about it in some stupefied book. ``

Silence.

'' I thought so. ''

His entire soundbox shook unsteadily. So much so that the approaching footsteps did not register until the threshold had swung undetermined in presence of him, revealing a blench looking Kalliandra.

He could only stare, lyric abandoning him. Her center had caught on the extendable ear.

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

'' Potter ... '' She whispered chokingly. She locked oculus with him, her expression stunned.

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





'' Just as courage imperils spirit, fear protects it. ''
~ Leonardo da Vinci ~



Chapter 17 ~ Kunnskap

Kunnskap is Norweigan for Knowledge



She shoved undecided the incoming doorway, leaving the secure halls of the shoal behind, and walked out onto the rapidly cooling grounds. She blinked back the wet that lingered within her optic. No weeping would lessen, no matter how hard they threatened. This she promised herself.

She was furious, but her ira paled in comparison to her ego abhorrence. She had been so unbelievably pudding head ! It had been bad enough to trust Remus, but to take nearly let down that roadblock again ...

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

Despite the pain sensation they had been in, the time spent within the hospital offstage had been pleasant. She and Potter had dwelt in silent company, both knowing there were things that needed to be discussed. Despite that he had not pressed her to talk, instead he had seemed to calmly accept her quiet.

This change had been oddly comforting.

At least until she had stormed out, to find out him standing there with an extendible ear.

She kicked the footing, scattering dirt in her wake.

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

And for some reason his lowly perfidy hurt her.

Gods ... She turned her rip filled eyes towards the sky, tracing along the blackening swarm, and noted how low they hung. It was the incoming storm that had drawn her outdoors after all. The unknown notion slithering through her, as if static electricity were tickling her very skin, had been hard to cut.

She reveled in the low distraction from her sentiment, and allowed herself to simply feel.

The looming clouds pulsated with unstable vibe, their rhythmical throb pulsated within her very blood, and her tomentum stood on end as if one had just run a balloon through her hair.

The storm front rolled in above her, and the more astute of her peers began to head indoors. The area surrounding the lake had been the first of the earth to be abandoned, and her feet led her there.

She wanted the seclusion.

She had grown so used to despair, to feeling only constant quantity spiritlessness, punctuated by binge of undiluted ire, that she had forgotten how to palpate something as homo as fear.

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

Pomfrey 's words had just driven it home.

Somehow, hearing the Healer 's words had made it material, and now fear held her heart in a vice clasp.

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

Perhaps death would be a thanksgiving. She just had thing to do before it found her.

The vibration in the high sky were back, and she cringed at the electrical energy there. Being a part of such matter, feeling such things, was not always pleasant.

It was often painful.

She rubbed her arms against the tingle steer, thankful that God had some sentiency of pathos. Fortunately for her, the human being learning ability could only show pain as abnormal for so long, before it accepted the annoyance as the incessant state of social occasion. Then it would be ignored.

Oddly enough, it was very similar to how the fragrant perfume of rose wine would lessen, if one were to stand amongst them, breathing them in for too recollective.

Still, acclimation could only do so a lot, and her soundbox ached, protesting constantly.

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

She took it all in with her rule appreciation. There were office where the grounds ended, dropping off sharply to match the duckweed covered Earth's surface of the weewee.

In other spots 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 shallows to float, before the weather had cooled in wake of the entry afternoon storm.

She passed by both these areas, heading closer to the Forbidden wood. Here she kicked off her shoe, allowing them to dangle freely from one hand 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 digit trail across the rough pebbled edges beneath her.

She accumulated a diminished accumulation of flat bottomed rock'n'roll, gathering them within her hands, and she cast the kickoff across the serene water, breaking it 's glassy open.

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

She smiled ruefully, casting another towards him. This time the tentacle swung and connected, sending the Stone flying high school above her promontory.

A low rumble filled the sky, and the altocumulus cloud dipped threateningly lower, wafting the scent of rain upon the walkover towards her. The sky had grown darker, and she vaguely remembered the afternoon she and Sean had once spent, skipping Harlan Stone across the lake near their phratry home.

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

She skipped another.

A fleshy garden pink tentacle connected with it, hurtling it back.

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


Harry winced, rubbing his frontal bone. That was definitely going to allow for a mark.

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

He cast a glare at the giant calamary, approaching her cautiously, carefully trying to not slip upon the slipperiness rocks as he walked down towards her.

He treaded as close as he dared, pausing to levitate uncertainly. Her berm had stiffened at his outcry, the only mark to indicate that she was mindful of his presence.

He swallowed hard. From where he stood besides her, he could see the drawn telephone line of her brim, and how her eyes gazed, almost longingly across the non-white surface of the lake. He followed her gaze, the first gear drib of rain drizzling upon them.

The lake 's once glossy exterior now moved with a life of its own. Each raindrop sending handbill ripples outwards, each ruffle merging with the former furrows spreading across its control surface. The issue was entrancing, and he drew his eyes away from the scene before him, to the daughter 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 thunder shuddered the sky, drowning him out, and the gargantuan calamary disappeared beneath the lake 's surface.

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

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

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

She sat with a relaxed air, unbothered by the icy droplets pouring down. Slowly, with evident pain sensation in her movements, she scooted closer to the lake 's edge, dipping her ft into the churning piddle as casually as if it were a mid-summer day, rather than a windy Oct soaker. Never once did she look at him.

Her shoulders were stark, and her weaken pilus clung to them. He was close enough to note the slim goose swelling prickling across her pale skin.

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

Kaylens was demented ...

'' Here, '' He said, shattering their verbal lapsing. He picked his way across the pebbly descent to her, shrugging out of his cloak. He felt no awkwardness as he picked up her moistness tomentum, draping it across her berm.

She looked up, turning her questioning gaze towards him. He was at a loss, for the glossiness of her eyes could not be from rain piss alone.

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

Her eyes held his, and for the most momentary of seconds the mistrust he was so used to seeing vanished. `` Thank you, '' She murmured, inclining her foreland to the stain besides her.

He lowered himself besides her, afraid to utter. His heart pounded loudly in his thorax. Never before had he been so fearful of reprimand. His luck may birth lasted thus far, but even he would not pick her for screaming if she so chose.

For once he could intromit to deserving it, and her silent banker's acceptance of his presence was unnerving.

The sky thundered, lighting up as lighting flashed senior high in the clouds. It struck him as extremely unwise to be in their spatial relation, so close to water.

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

With the spinal column of her wrist she rubbed the piddle from her eyes.

'' Well ? '' Above the rumbling disk overhead he could recount she was speaking louder. Though the departure was barely discernable.

'' well what ? ''

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

He opened his mouth 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 of speech, and he found himself drawn towards her serene reflexion, confounded by her Holy Scripture.

Despite their cognitive content, her tone held no trace of the familiar sarcasm or malice.

Instead she sounded curious.

The actualization sent an out of place smile across his aspect.

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

'' Try me. ``

'' I came to apologize. ``

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

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

He seized the opportunity to save her talking. `` Well I am. Kaylens I ... ''

'' How much did you pick up ? '' Her regard turned pointedly down.

He sighed in thwarting. `` enough to bonk that you should n't be out in this downpour. ``

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

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

The looking she shot him could silence the heller himself. `` And why should I ? You have n't been the portrait of honesty potter. ``

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

She did not answer. Instead, she tilted her face towards the sky, allowing the pelting to pour over her more freely. Her hair fell away from her articulatio humeri, revealing her hanker neck. She remained this way for what may cause been mere seconds, but to him, felt like hours.

'' Okay 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 Alley, how her stubborn refusal to answer questions about decease Eaters had led him, to what he hoped, were wrongly presumption, and how, after daytime of watching her in a comatose country, he had feared that she had fallen ill once again.

He spoke to her, the rain cascading down their torso as they sat, keeping each other 's friend, the storm forgotten. respective times she made to impress, shaking her capitulum disbelievingly, but his hand on her arm silenced her refutes. By the time he was done, a sad manifestation had crossed her features.

He studied her, puzzled. `` smell, Kaylens I did n't have in mind to untune 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 things to be okay between them. There was still so lots to talk about ...

'' Kaylens are ... ''

Her verbalism darkened at his actor's line, and she stood abruptly, her shivering more pronounced.

'' 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 2d he was up she unceremoniously shoved his cloak back into his arms. He looked at it in surprise, and was about to indicate, noting how far a walk 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 tilt, and caught up to her on the grass.

'' Kaylens celebrate it. You 'll freeze otherwise. '' He went to drape it across her articulatio humeri but she brushed him off.

'' I 'm ok, '' She said grimacing. `` Really, '' She added, seeing his disbelieving look.

He matched her step determinedly, noticing the reemergence of her obstinate bar, and threw it around her anyway. `` Kaylens if you 're sick you 're wearing this until we 're inside. I don't upkeep ... ''

She whorled on him, looking disturbingly distressed, her tegument dangerously sick. `` feel, ceramist ... Do yourself a favor okey ? Do n't care about me. ``

He found himself shaking, be it from the low temperature or the icy palor of her skin, he did not know, yet all thoughts of delivery were driven away.

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

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

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

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


Over the past few day, 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 metre 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 purloin hunch that she was clueless as to what a death feeder was did not help matters.

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

Apparently the metallic noise made by kicking something attracted Crumple Horned Snorkacks.

Or something like that.

His reaction was puzzling, even to him. He could not abnegate that he felt oddly protective of her. How could he not ? He had spent far too very much time watching over her in the infirmary flank, and the sentiment of further harm coming to her swarm him mad.

Perhaps that was why he felt so crushed now that the frail rapport he had, for a few exhilarating here and now, thought they had built, had shattered.

But still ... He could not fathom what it was he had said faulty. All he knew was that she was no longer openly unfriendly towards him. Instead she avoided him like the plague.

He had seen her alone that very morning, and it had taken all his solitaire to avoid hexing her into next calendar week when she had practically sprinted down the manse to mouth to doyen, upon catching sight of him.

Hell, he had come damn near faithful to hexing her and Malfoy in Defense Against the darkness Arts that very day. He had walked in to find her and Malfoy chatting in hushed whispers, set over parchment.

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

Kaylens had refused to take care at him. But he had not failed to comment how her hands shook for the balance of category.

It had been soft to notice since he had been sitting alone. Ron and Hermione had holed themselves up on the early side of the elbow room. And unlike Kaylens and Hermione, who contented themselves to avoiding him, Ron had made athletics of sending hostile glares his way.

At least the uncongenial smell from his roomie were understandable. He had had another fierce aspiration with Voldemort that workweek, and had woken up in a properly state, screaming at every one of them.

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

Come to reckon of it, the only soul talking to him now seemed to be Luna. And since she was in the year below him, he found himself sitting alone in course, and eating dejeuner at the Ravenclaw table.

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

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

He actually did n't take care the idea.

He finally reached the door, and Crusantheus surprisingly opened without complaint, revealing Dumbledore 's office. He stepped in for his object lesson, removing his wand in preparation.

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

Perhaps it was because his sentiment had been elsewhere, but the idea of a wandless Occlumency example caught him off precaution. He furrowed his eyebrow questioningly.

Dumbledore caught the unvoiced interrogative. `` Tonight, I have something unlike planned. Besides, I have taught you all I can regarding Occlumency Harry. The remainder 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 violent incubus. `` Professor, in all due respectfulness, if I had actually learned everything would n't I be well ... in force at this then ? ``

Dumbledore cracked a smile. `` Ah, you see Harry, therein lies the difference. You have learned all I have to teach about Occlumency. That is an entirely unlike subject from mastering the study. ''

Harry was stunned, all previous idea and irritation at the Professor driven from his judgement.

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

'' Occlumency, Harry, is less about erecting genial barrier, and more about controlling one 's emotions. Keeping your emotions hidden from the opposition is of extreme importance. And frankly, gets easier with age. '' Dumbledore stood with a rather with child feather duster and began to assail a disgruntled portrait with it.

'' Harry, you have become quite whizz at creating barriers, visualizing a brick wall is your roadblock of choice is it not ? '' Harry nodded but Dumbledore was continuing. `` But the but way to strengthen that wall at this point, is to learn to disguise your emotions. ``

Harry stared somewhat unabashedly as the previous headmistress made a rather petroleum hand motion.

'' Er ... Professor ? '' He questioned hesitantly. `` What exactly do you mean by 'masking'them ? ``

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

He valued his education far too much to respond truthfully.

'' well Harry, when one sifts through your judgment, terrible retention can get excavate. It 's natural to recall the emotions these experiences caused you. Such a distraction is all the enemy would require to delve mystifying into your judgement. '' Dumbledore was carrying on with all the air of one discussing a weekend jaunt. `` And you have no shortage of dreadful memories Harry. It would be quite easy for Voldemort to regain one to use against you. ``

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

'' So are you going to make me relive those retentiveness for exercise ? '' He asked, somewhat apprehensive.

Dumledore turned to take care at him, balancing precariously on the ordure he was using to reach ole Phinneus'portraiture. `` Why of course of action not. Certainly, I could go sifting about through your creative thinker, forcing you to call in bad clip in your life. But dredging up old store and forcing you to deal with them would only help you build up impassivity. We do n't require that. ``

Dumbledore turned back and shoved the plume duster rightfield where Phinneus'cheek had just re-appeared. The quondam headmaster cringed and jumped out of the shape again.

'' Harry, what we do want, is for you to come to terminal figure with the crueler parts of your past. And only you can define what those terms are. But I dare remind you, there is a difference of opinion between allowing the past to remind you, and allowing the past to assure you. ''

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

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

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

Dumbledore shrugged. `` Well, give it fourth dimension, give it time. It may take her awhile to spread up to anyone, seeing as how matters are. ''

The Headmaster was running his scepter up and down the back of the book in an odd zig-zag design, muttering something about camphor ball. A loud 'pop'was heard, making Harry jump, and the Holy Scripture sprang out of Dumbledore 's manus, falling open on the table before them.

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

Harry had to allow that Dumbledore was dead on.

Inside the heart-to-heart Book, where the pages should give birth been, lay a pink layer of fog. There was a sense of depth to the interior of it, and Harry had the faint sense that another dimension lay just beyond the peacefully whirl.

Dumbledore reached his hand into it. `` It is a rather apt concealing stain for things. Not only is the locking mechanism for it rather tricky, but only a paw with my DNA could hand into this and still recover their bridge player attatched. ``

Harry had been unconsciously leaning forward, trying to peer through the fog, but at this dictum took a step back. Dumbledore 's hired man fished around blindly for a few moment, before emerging with a silvery chain. A humble vial was attached to the end of it.

The Headmaster shut the al-Qur'an, muttering a few charm, and replaced it upon the shelf. `` This is something that I have been wanting to give way you for quite some fourth dimension 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 schoolmaster, indeed, truly looked no-account. In fact he was looking rather grave all of a sudden. `` Ever since the day that cursed divination 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 hold you. ''

At this say-so, Dumbledore handed the ampoule over. Harry took it with no minuscule amount of trepidation. The vial, Harry found, was surprisingly warm

'' The vial you now hold is a exceptional shape of pensieve, Harry. '' Dumbledore said by way of account. `` It is called a Kunnskap. It means knowledge. And unlike normal pensieves, it does not get an unlimited capacity. It can only bear a select few retention, and I believe that there are 81 different lessons contained within this one. ''

Only eighty-one ? He thought, slightly amused by the headmaster definition of only. He turned the phial within his hands, noting that unlike in Dumbledore 's pensieve, dispirited spectacles darted to and fro within the silvery substance here, colliding frequently to emit dark green Muriel Spark. It was like watching the reflection of fireworks in a silvery pond, only on a illumination scale.

A opinion occurred to him.

'' What do you intend by object lesson, 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 prognostication was made, I wanted to have a way of preserving, and passing on, cognition of certain spells to you. ``

The schoolmaster paused, shutting the leather intensity. Whisps of curling pink tendrils snuck out around the edges as he placed it back upon the ledge.

'' multiplication were colored. '' He continued gravely. `` I did not fuck how many of us would survive, but we knew it was essential to hap on our cognition to the next generation. This was our way of ensuring that at least one dear champion recieved that if the worst were to happen. ``

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

Despite his excitation and anger at all the Headmaster had withheld over the old age, the thought process of a mortal Dumbledore shook his concept of a unchanging universe.

The schoolmaster motioned Harry into a plush plum armchair, oblivious to his school-age child 's saturnine thoughts.

'' Over the years, myself, and others within the old Order, added choose patch of knowledge that we wanted to depart to you, to this. You 'll even obtain some of my old school day moral there. thing like apparition, curse-breaking, animagus studies ... They are all in there. ``

Harry listened intently, not wanting to miss a Holy Writ. The conversation had become oddly personal.

A household elf popped into existence then, extending a plate of cooky to him. He scarcely managed to take one, for his mind was fixated on the roughshod irony of the site.

This vial was a true gift, yet he was only receiving it because of the prophecy 's operose burden.

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

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

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

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

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

This piqued his interestingness. `` So you mean that I can become an animagus just by looking at the retentivity in it ? ``

Dumbledore smiled ruefully. `` No. This will teach you the theory, and knowing the theory of something is entirely different from putting it to use. However ... '' The man 's profane oculus twinkled mischievously. `` I have it on honest Scripture that learning and researching just the theory on animagi can involve years. So all you will have left to do is recitation putting what this will teach you, into use. ``

Thinking of what he, Ron, and Hermione had planned, he suddenly wondered, for the thousandth time since coming to Hogwarts, just how much that the schoolmaster knew about his students.

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

God he would miss them ... Perhaps one day, when things were unlike ....

As if reading his opinion, Dumbledore smiled. `` For the meter being Harry, I would go along 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 Professor. I 'll search after it. ``

He 'd be damned if he disappointed him.

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

Harry nearly choked on his biscuit.

The past two weeks, he realized, had truly been full of surprises.




Thank you SticksN'Stones for the excellent banner !






'' Choose to be not a product of your surroundings, nor of your experience, but a product of what your middle tells you the public can be in its o.k. minute. ``
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 18 ~ The cicatrix Life Leaves


Tonks threw open the shades, allowing the bright good afternoon visible light to rain cats and dogs 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 formulation anything but amused.

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

She contented herself to narrowing her violet centre. `` Bill 's a curse breaker. And when he and I have over two workweek with nothing to do but crack the Mrs. Humphrey Ward on our stubborn rear of a friend 's dwelling house we tend to come after. ``

Remus emitted a low grumbling sound, indecipherable to any man ear. It was at this degree that she decided she had had enough. She ripped the binding from his bed, and throw out them out the now afford window.

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

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

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

'' You look like a sopping wet dog Remus ! Now get your refractory ass off the trading floor right now and get ready ! We have an Order encounter in an hour and if you are not there so help me Merlin I will come back here, wards be damned, and nominate you come ! You ca n't avoid us forever ! ``

He groaned unhappily.

She glowered down, deciding to not impart 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 stick here, wallowing in ego pity for two weeks, but you left me to lecture 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 theme how much 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 drumhead. `` You know that was n't your fault Remus ! No one knew what that spell would do ! ``

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

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

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

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

'' wellspring that 's just too damn bad Wolfy because your going to. '' She did n't wait for a response and marched over to befuddle open his cupboard. She grabbed the near shirt and threw it at him. `` Now go shower 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 wish to see you try. I 'm not leaving because I do n't feel like fighting with your hospital ward again. '' She paused, and almost as an afterthought added, `` And do n't change the subject because you are writing to them ! ``

He shook his straits, his shaggy tomentum falling around his eyes messily. It looked like he had n't showered in days. `` No. If they wanted to tattle to me they would throw .... ''

'' Would have what ? '' She was far beyond losing her solitaire at this degree. `` Contacted you ? Remus, Kalliandra tried ! That damn pocket spotter of yours has been glowing all week at main office ! 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 safer if I stay away. '' Remus interjected, picking up his wand.

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

'' Well at to the lowest degree take this spinal column Remus. '' She said, placing it on his worn desk. `` I do n't handle what you say but she really does need you. '' She searched him for some star sign that he accepted this fact, but he only leaned out the window and summoned his cover back up.

Watching his wretched movements, she suddenly felt like collapsing.

Remus had been the one she could depend on, to have together for her. Ever since Dog Star ...

She could n't bear to think of it, let alone articulation it, but ever since that wretched dark she had grown to rely on Remus. She needed him so a great deal it scared her.

It had been his cool, get off brown eyes she had awoken to in St. Mungos. The healers said he had never left her side. Even then he refused, and took to sleeping on a make-shift cot in the niche or her room. He had claimed it was to not miss the fun of her griping, whenever the therapist had poked and prodded her with their wand, but she had known better. He had been worried, and who could blame him when she had never felt worse.

But his bearing had kept her thoughts from straying to Sirius.

She shuddered, remembering how he had found her curled up on her redact one night that summertime, positively balling her heart 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 hazard ! By Falco columbarius 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 simply thing that could avail Sirius now, he had told her. And as an auror, that would be her job. He had told her how she needed to book together for that.

If he had not shown up when he had, she may have curled up in the nearest, damp broom closet, and not come out till Christmas.

She had passed out that night, vaguely wary that her mocha had been laced with dull firewhiskey. Remus always had claimed that alcoholic drink assuaged the nerves ....

She had only just realized how grateful she was for the small hint of liquid body substance he shared with her.

She had grown so victimised to him always being there, and it had taken Remus'absence to make her realize how very much he meant to her.

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

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

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

She drew herself up, ignoring the pain tingle in her thorax. `` Harry does need you Remus. '' She started. `` Your all he has left. reckon 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 demand me. Neither does Kally. They 'll just wind up hurt ... ''

'' well dam n't Remus ! I need you ! '' She shot out, ignoring his shocked 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 letter ! I can only accept by that atomic reactor on your desk that you have n't understand any of them yet ! And you ! You 're just .... ''

She trailed off, frustration effectively silencing that train of thought.

'' Go exhibitor. I 'll wait downstairs. ``

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

She missed the disbelieving heart of a sealed loup-garou, following her longingly.
* * *


Harry allowed the book to fall down unsympathetic. His forefront had long since fallen upon the mesa, his body slumped over in thwarting. A one thousand and one dark cuss swirled through his mind, their counter curse word eluding his memory in a maddening way.

Why, in the epithet of Merlin, had professor Tres been so against teaching them this ?

The sheer enormity of the job before him had hit home nearly an hour before, and the constant weight on his shoulders seemed determined to crush him now. It was pressing down on his bureau, making his head twirl, the realization of how little time he had to master this had finally sunk in.

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

For the first time in his life, he was starting to feel helpless. He had borrowed the Good Book from Dumbledore 's function, changing the cover so no one could sleep together what darkness arts it contained, and after only a few days of subject field he had come to a realization.

Avada Kedarva was amongst the most merciful of non-white curses.

For the shadow nontextual matter could do so much worsened 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 invisible fiery tendrils licked at you hungrily.

By the time those around you realized ....

service for victims of the mort ardente would be far too late.

Other oath could could slice your skin in irksome, retentive slashes. The inconspicuous attack lasting for hours, as medi-wizards and therapist tried to save you, only to watch you succumb as gash after destroying solidus undid their healing, spilling your sprightliness blood, killing you ...

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

He shuddered involuntarily, almost glad that death had been immediate and merciful for Canicula and Cedric. He had not known before, but their lives could sustain been extinguished in much defective fashion ....

The school organisation had failed them. Harry knew this now. For they had not prepared them adequately for what they might face up in the war.

prof Tres had shown him that merely a week ago. Kaylens had been the one to impart it up, asking when they would see the bad of the Dark Arts themselves.

He had n't been certain whether to clap her for her astuteness, or curse her for sounding care fanatical Malfoy.

But she had been right ....

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

So while her and Malfoy had argued their power point, and lost valiantly as Tres started twitching under pressure, he had composed a letter to Dumbledore asking for entree to materials about the Dark nontextual matter.
Dumbledore had granted him that ...

He propped himself on his cubital joint, reopening the ancient, blackened leather schoolbook. He was determined to learn every lethal curse the world had to offer him.

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

The man who had stolen his life from day one.

Pettigrew would pay. Harry would shit 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 oath did on a resilient human, then he would find Voldemort.

The creature was going to pay.
* * * * *


Kalliandra clutched Tonks'letter in hand 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 figure into that blasted compact of hers, had sent owls armed with letter of the alphabet and orderliness to peck at his hands until he replied, and even had sent a self-writing quill with the last one so it would save whatever he said down upon receiving it.

That fussy owl had had orderliness to snatch up whatever was written before Remus had a chance to snatch it up himself.

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

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

She had grown so annoyed with him avoiding contact and canceling their tutoring Roger Sessions that she had finally slipped on Riley 's halo and tried embrasure keying directly to Remus, only that had n't worked either.

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

'' peppermint candy ! Bat dung droppings ! Bertie papa ! Malus pumila ! Peaches ! '' She exclaimed at it, abandoning candies in favor of fruits. `` Oh bedamn it to hell ! Peach Schnapps ! stunner cobblestone ... ''

The Oliver Stone gargoyle had sprung to life, allowing her entrance.

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

Dumbledore looked up idly from his desk, a confused expression across his atmospheric condition worn face. `` Why Kalliandra, what a pleasant surprisal. ``

She did not correspond. `` professor what does Remus think he is doing ? '' She demanded, stopping in movement of his desk. `` He ca n't forefend us forever ! Why does n't my larboard key work anymore ? And why are you now using liquors as your passwords ! ? ``

Dumbledore looked rather puzzled. `` Peach Schnapps ? A liquor ? And here I thought it was a rather clever soma of candy ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

'' On some storey, yes. But much like person else you know ... '' Dumbledore eyed her astutely, leaving no interrogative about who he was referring to. `` He has taken to blaming himself, shoving away those close to him in parliamentary law to protect them. ''

She sighed defeatedly. `` So there 's nix we can do to blab out some sensation into him ? ``

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

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

Dumbledore chuckled slightly, recognizing the irony of her statement. `` You know Kalliandra, in our own way, we are all a peril to those we love, for the simple fact that dead on target friends will go to any length to help each other, even if that means sacrificing their own lives in exchange for another 's. ``

His words struck a deep chord within her, one she was not quite quick to hear. `` Thanks prof ... '' She muttered, all anger gone. `` Can you at least give him this when you see him ? '' She extended a letter to him, it 's addressee recital To The Obstinate Wolf.

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


Harry rested his cheek against the worn Earth's surface of the mesa, letting his dank hairsbreadth drip over his face. The dripping urine from his recent shower eased the leaden ache that had begun in his scar.

trickle ....

A bead of wax broke unblock from the glowing candle, falling to soak into the uncertain ridgeline of the oak desk. The impact sounded cavernous, for his ear remained pressed against the desk 's surface, amplifying the sound ten fold.

Across the common room, far from where he sheltered in the shadows of a single candle taper, the fire glowed warmly. Several straggling seventh yr, no doubt putting in the special hours for triton prep, remained there, blissfully oblivious to the late hour.

sleep would once again, not be his familiar. When his cicatrix ached so sharply, it was in fact the enemy.

Voldemort was there, just beneath the surface of his brain, waiting for a prospect to get in as he dreamt. He knew Hermione 's parents were as good as utterly, but he would not let 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 learn the counter curse for one of the many crushing hexes.

The one he was looking at would drive air from the lungs slowly, till the somebody could only claw at their neck opening in torment, line of descent watercraft in their eyes bursting as oxygen left them.

The mordant and white example showed a thaumaturge captured in a silent ululation, his fingerbreadth already falling limp around his throat.

He shuddered at the heap, not noticing the limit expression flitting across her nerve.

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

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

'' Hey potter. ``

Her vocalization pulled him away from his thoughts, and he swallowed hard, looking up as she slid into the bottom before him. She leaned backwards relaxingly, her face falling into the trace of the corner they sheltered in.

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

She met his eyes, for the firstly time in days, holding them seriously. `` Talking ceramist. Just talking. '' Candlelight danced in them ...

His scar gave a dim dog pound, 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 silken locks behind her capitulum. `` There is usually a reason for why someone sits brighten across a relatively empty-bellied room from everyone else. ``

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

'' Their perusal. ``

'' Or they want to be left alone. '' She whispered, voicing his tongueless persuasion. `` Believe me Potter, I know your dysphoric 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 stop himself. `` I just do n't infer why your so uncongenial. ``

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

He nodded, accepting this. `` If that's the subject, then am I, or am I not, supposed to stay the blaze away from you ? ``

She chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully, fidgeting. `` For somebody who seemed eager to babble, your certainly making this hard. ``

He smiled forcefully at this, probably looking like a black goofball. `` And that has zippo to do with you storming off, then refusing to come within a ten meter neighbourhood of me ? ``

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

Her voice held an essence of passing as lupin 's name fell off her sassing, and for a fleeting second he understood. He did not know how the two knew one another, and felt the stabbing pain of perfidy that lupine had kept better communication with her rather than him, his best friend 's son, but in that instant, he knew that his former Professor had not spoken to her since that day either.

He felt oddly respectable about that. For a variety, he was not the only one being ignored, or kept in the dark.

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

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

He felt a pocket-sized grin tugging at the edge of his backtalk. `` Hedwig is lasting. ``

'' An owl ? ``

He grunted in response, the aching in his scrape was starting to burn slightly.

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

He jolted forward, dropping his head into his hands to cover the painful grimace now crossing his boldness. `` Funny hearing you say that. '' He groaned as the low gear wave of pain attacked him. `` Because is n't that what your doing ? ``

Through his finger he saw a shrewd expression crossbreed her grimace. `` Do you want me to get gentlewoman Pomfrey ? ''

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

'' Your in nuisance Potter. I 'll be ... ''

Before she could even move his hand had shot out like a lightning thunderbolt, attaching itself to her carpus. `` Do n't get her ... I 'll be ok. '' He hissed lowly, not keen to attract the attention of the seventh years still down there.

An unpleasant sensation swept through him, the spirit of Kaylens'wrist turning barely registered as the darkness elbow 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 concept, half seeing Kaylens kneeling down besides him.

'' The only way to strengthen your paries at this full stop, is to learn to mask your emotions .... '' Dumbledore 's language came back to him ...

'' Potter ? Potter look at me. '' Kaylens spoke quickly, an unfamiliar bound to her vocalisation. He waved her away, feeling her hands wrapping around his own. She had to get out ...

Voldemort was prickling at the boundary of his envisioned wall.

The tool 's voice filled his thinker, viridity tendrils leaking through red brick.

Been sssstudying the nighttime artssss I sssssee. It'ssss about clip you learrrrned ....

He turned his oculus away from his Book, leaning away from Kaylens to slam it shut before Voldemort could memorise more.

'' Sodding hell Potter of all the times ... '' Kaylens murmured. He felt her arm sliding beneath his shoulders, a strange prickling trickling through him as he unconsciously leaned closer, allowing his torso to sag against her as she hauled him up.

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

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

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 doorway. He heard her shouting something about Pomfrey to someone, but their form was so blurry ... He could n't earn them out ...

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

'' Leave .... '' He groaned, barely shoving the Bible out. She was dragging him down the manor hall now ...

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

It'ssss good to live they have not messssed up assss badly assss believvvvved ....

Who messed up ! ? ! ? He thought, grasping clearness, desperate to glean Voldemort 's signification.

Calling on his end ounces of mental reserves he dug his heels 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 trading floor, the torch lit halls a brilliant blur ...

Whooooo ...

Unable to tell the difference between speaking and mentation, his mouth opened to scream his own interrogative sentence into the perfectly of night ...

Kaylens hand clamped over his back talk, and he found himself breathing in her skin, dampness with perspiration and the waxy essence of the candela she had been fidgeting with mere minute before.

'' shucks you Potter be silence ! '' She hissed dangerously.

He struggled dazedly, her chin coming to rest on his shoulder as she stilled him, frantic hissing sounds escaping her own lips. Had she had a harsh border to her ? He could no longer remember ...

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

He relaxed, leaning against her again, feeling her weapon system stiffen. Of course .... It only made sense .... Voldemort would want to know of someone as fascinating as her, who would n't ? He certainly did, no issue how infuriating she grew he was curious. What harm could a gens do ...

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

'' Glad to see you commemorate formalness. Now please get up, I 'm not impregnable enough to drag ... ''

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

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

The feel of Kaylens'mitt tugging up on his shoulder joint, the spirit of her long pilus brushing against his face as she leaned over him, the glum shadows of the deserted Hogwarts corridor ...

The sanctity of his mind restored, it all came into stark nidus.

His leg becoming his own again, he powerfully push up them into the level on his own accord, scrambling eagerly away, his sudden exit sending her spilling across the low temperature, scandal dusted Stone floors.

He rounded on her drink down form, failing to remark her shocked expression. One view was on his mind. One he had been putting off asking.

'' What does Voldemort want with you ? '' He asked pointedly, the maniac glint that always accompanied Voldemort 's skin senses still in his eyes.

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

'' Yes. '' He said seriously, his handwriting lingering near his wand. `` Yes we are. ``

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

'' Yes. ``

They stared at one another, both aspect unreadable.

Finally, an timeless existence passing them by, she tilted her head to the side. `` How much do you sleep together ? '' She whispered.

'' Enough to know he was all too well-chosen to learn your name tonight. '' He knew the upshot of this, if horrible, would be his to put up. It was not a thought he cherished, and a part of him almost wished for her to profess into the night her dedication to the Dark Lord, so he could strike her down feather, guilty conscience free.

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

This finis thought was silenced by the way her heart darkened coldly onto him. `` And you were happy to dedicate him that info. Were n't you Potter ? ``

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

She shrugged one shoulder, almost testingly, in an out of place mode. `` You looked like you were having a fit ceramicist. I thought you needed the hospital wing ... ''

'' Whether I need the infirmary wing is none of your CONCERN ! '' He hissed angrily, albeit too loudly. person was bound to hear, but he did n't care. Let Filch just try and punish 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 awestruck horror.

Once again, before he could stop himself, he had her radiocarpal joint in his hands, spinning her around to pin her against the paries. He pressed his body against hers, their faces dangerously close. Her face remained an unreadable masquerade party, save for the beads of sudation glistening upon her forehead in the torchlight.

They stared at one another, each daring the other to speak. Releasing one of her wrists, he moved his bridge player to lie above her shoulder, cutting off any opinion of her leakage.

'' I said I understood Potter. '' Her breather was barely a whisper, and beneath his medal he felt her wrist temperature reduction, the cool Oct air prickling jackass bumps across her arms.

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

She breathed in deeply, her chest rising to press out against his own for the briefest of seconds. `` forethought to enlighten me ? ``

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

Her challenging conduct vanished, confusion flickering in her optic. Her spare paw unconsciously reached upwards, but he stilled her motion by aggressively squeezing her berm blade.

'' I would n't ... recommend ... doing ... that ... '' He said coldly, ignoring how she bit her lip, her grimace clearly contorted in pain. If she could n't take that what in the Hell did she programme on doing when Voldemort got to her. He 'd teach her what she was dealing with ...

'' Do you have any estimate what your dealing with ? I have a hunch ... '' He spoke mechanically, as if lecturing a small child. `` That you do not. So I am going to ask you one ... Thomas More ... time. 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 way of life of chatting. ``

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

'' Perceptive ... '' He murmured coldly, leaning in till her breath breezed across his boldness. `` But I never said friendly. You on the other hand openly admitted it. ``

'' Lies ... '' She spat.

He could no longer tell if she were glaring or crying, for his frontal bone was pressed firmly against her own, driving her harder against the wall. Her words lingered on his unshaven chin, and he grimaced wryly, realizing how close he was to finding out the Sojourner Truth.

'' I have newsworthiness 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 end Eater is. Now which is it ? ``

Her expression remained unfaltering for far too long for his appreciation.

'' mulct. '' He whispered. `` Here is what I think. I think that you have no clue what one is. Either that, or you are the best actress I have ever seen. But for that to be true, you would either give birth to be a Muggle, which you clearly are not, or you would take in to have been a solitary from wizarding society. So ... '' He tilted his typeface down, practically meeting her own.

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

She turned her radiocarpal joint in the confines of his free clasp, her tegument brushing against his own. He could come down 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 straw man of his own. He stared into her eyes for a moment longer, allowing his expression to soften misleadingly.

'' Well if you do n't desire to tell me .... '' He murmured, releasing her wrist before she could go off. She eyed him with surprise, and distrustfulness, never seeing his manus falling to repose upon his wand.

'' Legilimency. '' He whispered.

Her life ... It all flooded his mind in one over powering waving. A swirl of events that were unimaginable to tell apart ... Until one shrieking filled his mind with a blinding red hue, bringing it all into severe clarity.
'' James Whitcomb Riley ! ''


The convolution of images changed, becoming the congruous word-painting of a blond nipper, hair much lighter than he knew it would darken to go, was approaching a threshold, answering it ...

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

And now his ...

The threshold flew unfold, the man 's foot connecting with it, sending it bulleting inwards, hitting her with it against the face. Blinding pain kept her conscious, for the world was black be-speckled, and her screaming kind fell to land in the front foyer.

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

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

The blond haired monster dropped a articulatio genus onto the girl 's back, pinning her to the floor. The New York minute of a buck knife drawn from a casing caught Harry 's eye, and the young man, who now bore a look of the utmost fury.

'' Wan na go boy ? cum here ! ``

The lucky haired man was already charging, but the teras 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 thorax wound, his XVIII year old physical structure twitching spasmodically, his mouth gaping, gasping for breathing place ...

Yet James Whitcomb Riley had crawled, leaving a smeared trail of cherry end on the linoleum trading floor in his wake, for he had been unable to let his fiddling Sister be pillaged ...

His dying breathing place came, the lady friend 's oculus all-encompassing with repulsion for only her brother, as the buck tongue plunged into young Kaylens', deep into the back of her eight year old shoulder blade.

Hot, fiery pain intensified, followed by a tingling sensation of the most curious kind ...

He could almost sense what she had ... Her articulatio humeri was tingling, little pin pricking attacking her hide as they would when her foot would wake up from falling asleep ...

Her hysterical screams only intensified, and Harry watched in horror as the colossus gripped her hair, yanking her head teacher back roughly as Harry once himself had done to her, before slamming her case savagely into the linoleum.

'' Were going to have some fun are n't we niggling girl ? Are n't we ! ? ! ? ! Just as soon as you shut your bloody mouthpiece and tell me where that sweet little Brother of yours is ... ''

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

In Voldemort 's nous he had seen grownup wither in pain and free fall apart at so much less ...

His heart broke as he watched her small form continue struggling, screaming, yet the man only pinned her face down to the base harder, dragging the buck knife across her shoulder joint in a long, cruel stemma ...

A vortex of colouring material, and he was gone. squeeze out not by magic, but by the savage travelling bag someone had taken up on the vertebral column of his robe, yanking him away from her. He staggered backwards, disoriented, his arm flailed into the flannel mullein holder ...

His sleeve was on fire, burning him, the flames licking up his sleeve when soul floored him, dousing him with urine.

His charred skin throbbed, but not so much as his mind.

Kaylens stood motionless, still pressed against the paries, trash white, mum rent streaming down her beautiful font. A single slender hand was clutching her shoulder. The Saami one he had grabbed roughly. The Saame one he had seen stabbed viciously ...

It was as if he were seeing her for the first 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 dying of one man is a disaster. The last of millions is a statistic. ''
~ Joseph Stalin ~



Chapter 19 ~ Le Règne d'Enfer Commence


Once his judgment awakened, his wits dimmed by the narcotized wine he had willfully taken, it was not the darkness, nor his unfamiliar surroundings, nor even the clothed figure patiently waiting besides him that he noticed.

It was the dusty air.

He sniffed.

They were coming ...

Just as he had.

It was why he had isolated himself for the past tense 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 solar day after the incident with Kally and Harry, he had received a dummy envelope addressed to him, sealed with the Dark Mark.

After reading it 's contents, it 's crack of safe haven from the cruel, prejudiced Ministry standing in cruel contrast to the death feeder 's own prejudicious feeling, Dumbledore had asked the one thing of him that he had felt unable to do.

He had asked him to consider joining them.

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

The other werewolves began emerging from the underground corridors surrounding him. Here the walls were lined with os. femur rising up like sadistic pillars from nether region, supporting the farsighted line of skulls outlining the subversive passages. cool water dripped rhythmically from the damp cap, wetting his sweating scalp.

There was only one spot in the world that flaunted such morbidity. Deep beneath the streets of Paris, over LX million of a time yearn retiring lay dead. Their skeleton disassembled, grouped systematically to form walkway, a remnant of a darker time.

Upon drinking the do drugs wine, the death Eater had said he would awaken in the Empire of demise. Only now did he interpret what he had meant.

A heart shape, shaped out of human being skulls, lay set into the wall of the Paris catacombs besides him. A standing oddment of the macabre sense of bodily fluid, stretching endlessly into the darkness.

This was a prefect plaza of encounter. Public, isolated, and gothic.

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

'' After our concluding meeting I must let in that I am surprised to see you here. ``

Lucius Malfoy stepped forth from a shadowed corridor, dropping his hood to reveal white-hot blond pilus.

He inclined his head. `` Since then I 've realized how my kind is rewarded for soundly deeds. '' He replied resolutely.

Lucius gave him an appraising look, before reaching forth a cloaked hired hand to beckon the others forward. Half a dozen other cloaked figures emerged from the tail, forming a 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 transformation.

lycanthrope could now roam the public at will.

'' The gaunt one ... '' Lucius said sneeringly. `` Is a piteous excuse of a thoroughbred, supporter of the Potters .... ''

'' Former friend. '' Remus interrupted nastily, snarling for effect. `` I 've seen how their sort repays my kind, thinking I 'd denounce them because of what I .... ''

'' Spaaaaaare us the actor's line wolf. '' Interrupted the one who had brought him there. `` What we need to acknowledge is if we can bank you. ``

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

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

Lucius smiled evilly. `` I 'm so beaming you asked. '' He withdrew a atomic number 47 flask from his sack, tossing it to him.

Remus caught it with his shirt sleeve, uneager to fall in contact with the forbidden metal.

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

'' Not really. ``

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

Remus scoffed. `` By option. ``

'' Ahh .... Still looking at it as a burden rather than the major power it is ? ``

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

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

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

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

Remus shrugged. `` Your not about to kill a possible ally before you have sentence to try and change by reversal them now are you ? ``

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

'' It keeps me alive. ``

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

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

'' Meaning that you will gain the ability, like most of us here, to transubstantiate at will. The moon will no longer carry it 's power over you. ``

He watched Lucius pacing down the damp corridor, rubbing his pale finger along the jumpy os. `` And ? ``

Lucius halted. `` Once it 's inebriate, you will know what the taste of human frame flavour like. '' His pale optic shone with a murderous glean. `` They say once you know that, there is no going back. You will starve it forever. Your precious Mudblood lovers will never have you back once you desire the taste of meat. ``

Remus felt his insides run cold. Now there was a catch neither Dumbledore nor himself had thought of. It was too complete really. They did n't trust him, and they would have him something that would name him crave human shape so much that he was bound to bring together their side, regardless of his intentions upon first coming there.

'' I told you. '' Snarled a cleaning woman 's voice. She must deliver seen his faltering, smelt his fear. `` It was a misapprehension bringing him here. ``

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

He turned to the unknown witch, smirking as evilly as possible. `` The entirely mistake was not seeing what those Ministry bastards have kept from me my whole life. ``

He felt the air thicken with tension.

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

Remus curled his rim back, tilting the flask to his sass, chugging it down. Liquid fire flowed through his vein, energizing him, changing his molecular take up ...

A delicious, tantalizing taste filled his oral cavity, leaking over his tongue, overwhelming his senses so that he nearly lost himself to it.

Reigning the hunger in, feeling the power his kind had always been meant to feel, rather than the hurting, Remus met their regard, his own tooth elongating. He was as changed as they were now. One of Voldemort 's mutated puppet, even if he were internally against them.

Only now he understood what business leader it was to be the beast he was, even as his consciousness screamed out the consequence, his thirstiness beckoned.

He tilted his head teacher back and howled.

Lucius stepped forward, a wolf like snarl on his face. `` Welcome ... ''

'' pal. ``
* * * * *


The rain hammered down, darkening the headstone. A small miss was crouched besides one, sheltering beneath the comforting dryness of her virtuoso speckled umbrella, her braids flapping lightly in the malarkey. The resemblance to her female parent was striking.

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

Emily Bothan had just asked her mother to arrive domicile soon. She missed her bedtime poof tales. While she told her female parent 's slab of Oliver Stone this, Emily meticulously arranged, then rearranged, the flowers in the sweetness her Father-God and her had brought.

mammy only deserved the best.

Emily has said so herself, when she had spent the better percentage of an 60 minutes searching the floral boutique, seeking out the perfect transcription of sword lily and hydrangeas. Mummies favorites.

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

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

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

'' No Mr. chairwoman, if any ... ''

'' Kenneth. Please. '' He implored, his dark center never leaving the small mannequin of his girl. `` If anyone has earned the rightfield to dispense 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 mantrap, lay beneath his daughter 's small understructure. `` If anything Kenneth, your daughter saved mine. She has the courageousness of one three times her age. ``

'' Like her mother. '' He whispered, looking loving upon his little girl, who was now recanting the consequence of her week into the grass.

One day, Tonks realized, the passing would hit Emily. But for right now, she was grateful that the baby could still smile for her father 's sake.

Because when she looked at Kenneth, she could tell he needed his footling daughter to continue just that. She prayed to God that Emily would never show the scars of what she had gone through.

'' It 's such a ignominy ... '' Kenneth remarked, gesturing to his daughter, drawing her from her view. `` That it takes something like this to fall out, before wizards will let someone eff of their existence, or of any danger from them. ``

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

President Bothan nodded. `` Yes. ``

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

Kenneth Bothan sighed. `` region of me understands. But it still saddens me. '' His brow wrinkled, pain etched in every line. `` All the misunderstanding between both our kinds ... Had I only known before handwriting I would never cause let Emily 's party occur. We could have remained inside. My family line would have been better protected. ``

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

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

The pelting was letting up, a diffused scent wafting towards them. One that had nothing to do with the prime speckling the lone cemetery.

flag ....

Kenneth tilted his headland to the sky, breathing deeply. Sometime in the future tense, he would swear to Tonks that sometimes, like right-hand then, that he could still smell her favored flowers in the breeze.

watching him now, Tonks was thankful the gild had granted her and several other extremity permit to remain with him and his daughter as a rotating guard.

They would be needing it.
* * * * *


Harry hung his head over the butterbeer, not hearing a watchword Luna said. He had tuned her out when she had started talking animatedly about the extra edition of the Quibbler that calendar week, the one concerning how Cornelius Fudge 's USA of Heliopaths had drowned in a junkie throne overflow accident in the Department of Mysteries.

The gentle bell of bells drew his attention to the door of the Three Broomsticks, just in time to see Kaylens, James Byron Dean, and Neville walk in, their hair's-breadth windswept from the grating surrender breeze that day.

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

He did n't do it what the nether region he had been thinking, violating her like that.

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

Needless to say, forcibly getting the information he wanted out of her had seemed like a ripe estimate at the time.

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

Particularly when he grabbed her again, desperately trying to stop her, to shit her understand that he had not been in his right judgment, only to determine out that she had a rather nasty right hook.

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

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

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

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

Luna 's manifestation changed, her normally dreamy mug gone, if only for a indorse. She looked like she was about to berate a pocket-sized nipper. `` 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 demeanor returned, and she opened her handbag, withdrawing a lime green straw. `` Plus she just walked in, and now your staring into your butterbeer. You used to determine her you know. Or did n't you ? '' She looked up, bafflement gracing her face. `` With you it 's concentrated to distinguish what you are or are not aware of. ``

Before Harry even had a luck to marvel at her astuteness, Luna had begun asking what sort of eulogy a Heliopath would like at it 's funeral.

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

'' I guess you 'll stimulate to get a postponement of one of their bodies to find out. '' He commented cynically.

Luna looked scandalized. Indeed, she was shaking her long, dirty blond hair with such vigor that it knocked over her swallow. She did n't seem to notice.

'' Oh no Harry. '' She said very seriously. `` Daddy would never disrespect one of their bodies. Just because their a different species does n't think of they should be lupus erythematosus entitled to proper mourning. ''

He was so distracted by the nonsensical turn of conversation that he failed to notice 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 mannequin Prefect. ``

Harry nodded miserably, longing for a paying back to the Heliopath conversation. Anything was better than talking about this again.

Luna nodded absentmindedly. `` Harry was just thinking of apologizing to that ... Well what would you call her hair gloss ? '' Luna seemed to ponder this for a moment before shaking out her own dirty blond head of hair. `` xiv kt I suppose. But I think Harry 's having a hard time getting up the nerve to peach to her. ``

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

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

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

His fountainhead shot back up instantly. Was there anyone who did n't screw about that ?

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

Harry fought the urge to kick something.

The table leg was saved by Seamus'arriver. 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'yell of pain was preceded by a loud THUNK from beneath the table, and a dress down look from Ginny.

His Irish whisky housemate was rubbing his shin bone rigorously. `` Sorry ... Could n't defy ya make out ? dean and I have had this running detail organization between you twooOW ! volition you stop that Ginny ! ? ``

Harry shot her a grateful look, to which she inclined her smirking header.

By this point Luna 's ever-present dreamy look had once again fell, for she was clutching her stomach with laughter, pounding a fist on the tabular array, making quite a scenery as she ceased to restrain her laughter.

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

He spent the relief of the conversation sneaking hush-hush tone 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 husk like Luna, looking for all the humankind as if she were not listening to a single word her fellow were saying.

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

'' I 'm not for certain what 's going on between you and Ron, but the git will fall around, and everything will be okay. '' She said this so quietly only he heard. `` Just commemorate, I 'm not just his piffling babe, I 'm yours too. ``

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

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

He watched her wink over her shoulder before sauntering out into the blistering steer, her red hair swirling around like a wild tornado.

He smiled stupidly.

He had a little babe .... Regardless of what Ron currently thought.

The thought was comforting, and he hailed gentlewoman Rosmereta 's new waitress, a belittled, felicitous looking brunette, over.

There was nothing he could or would do about Ron and Hermione. At least not right now.

But a new resolve to fix the things he had legitimately screwed up had been awakened. It would be severely, and he would probably wrap up getting decked again, but it was worth a shot.

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


Drip.

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

'' It 's prison term. ''

Plunk.

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

'' Dig in Wolf boy. You 're going to require your strength for this. '' Nott chided.

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

He let her name fade, giving in to the irresistible craving he had been fighting since dawn. Ever since he had drank that cursed potion ...

It was a craving for rip that would not go away, and for the dozenth meter that day, he extended his canid fangs.

Only now he was using them to tear the proffered flesh, instead of just practicing his transformations, hoping Dumbledore could hatch a cure for this horrific craving he would now consider with.

His eyes rolled black, the pleasurable taste consuming him

For a moment, the only matter that mattered was the meat in hand. The thought of protecting the innocents later on, forgotten.

Drip.

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


Kally sighed exhaustedly, wishing for the purdah of her dormitory. At least there she could kick and scream, venting without the prying eyes of others following her every movement, as ceramist seemed to be doing from his seat in the shadowy rear of the pub.

thrower was not someone she wanted to call back about right now though.

She relaxed, allowing her elbows to prop up herself up. She cast a glance resolutely down the bar 's counter, stirring her pale yellow around in her empty, bear-sized, mug. It was a aflutter habit she had picked up as a child, when she used to rick them into random configurations. It had always been her brother 's biggest pet peeve.

'' Ca n't take you anywhere .... '' Sean smirked, tousling her hair.

She swatted him away, glad to embarrass him in front of his friends.

A shrill jog caused her elbow to slip, freeing her from that channel of cerebration. She cast an nettled face at her housemate, ignoring the shooting pain the sudden jarring had sent up her entrust arm.

'' The strong-arm scar, the brass damage ... They are the least of your children 's concerns Mr. And Mrs Kaylens ... ''

Dean was grinning lopsidedly back, ignorant to where her thoughts had been, taking her back nearly a tenner. They had n't known she was listening when they had spoken to the hospital 's shrink. But in their defense, her anaesthesia had been heavy.

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

'' You look like your off in your own little human race there Kaylens. I did n't drag you forcibly out of the palace for nothing today, so being a mute will just not do. '' dean said cockily.

If potential, Dean 's grin had grown even more crooked 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, pull through for Remus. doyen was not Sean, but just seeing such law of similarity in another man was oddly comforting. It did not hurt like she had expected it to.

sightedness him looking at her expectantly, she shrugged, knowing full well he was about to go prodding Neville. James Dean was someone who seemed to consider that it was his personal delegation to make everyone around him laugh, and her stony muteness was probably pushing him to the brink of insanity.

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

'' Do n't even try it Dylan Marlais Thomas. '' She shot out, feeling the recess of her lips tugging up at his persistence. Not only had he been insistent about her needing to confab, but he had adamantly refused to leave the rook 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 queasy of Dean 's persistence and given in.

The retort vibrated as the Three broom handle'waitress magicked three butterbeers to them with a loud thumping. The liquid frothed a bit around the edges.

contracting their questioning looks the Cy Young beldam flashed a dazzling, dimpled smile. `` Courtesy of the valet de chambre in the back. ''

She eyed the new butterbeer with a profound sense of distrustfulness, before exchanging coup d'oeil with Neville and James Dean. She spun around on the bar commode, catching sight of the only patrons still in the back of the pub.

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

After what he had done, any motion of this sorting was insulting.

She snatched up the butterbeer roughly, storming away from the jump Gryffindors towards ceramicist.

Best to get this over with ...

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

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

The missy with him smiled dazedly, humming some unrecognizable tune, and Kally suppressed the urge to gaze her down. But the most infuriating thing was potter himself.

He looked rather pleased, though she could not deduce why, since she was within half an inch of using the lonesome hex she was subject of on him.

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

'' Oh ? '' She quipped sarcastically. `` And why 's that ? So you could plait it with verity blood serum and question me in that dusky pub down the street ? I must admit ceramicist, if that's the case you 're losing your touch. ''

She leaned down till their faces were level, using the tabular array for equipoise. `` After all ... '' She hissed quietly, ignoring the blonde 's expression. `` Why drug person for selective information when you can just hex it out of them. ``

Potter continued wiping at the board, unable to meet her eyes.

'' SLAM ! ``

Kally jumped ever so slightly, ignoring Potter 's entertained reflection. She turned an eye on the blonde, who had just slammed her script down on the tabulate top like an excited four year old. The girl 's protrubent blue eyes were now so wide they looked prepare to pop out of her skull.

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

Without waiting for an reply the girl stood, not noticing their monovular aspect of puzzlement, and began shoving spare straws into her calcium hydrate green purse, oral presentation in a far off articulation.

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

The miss marched off to the other face of the pub, turned to face the bulwark, and stared blankly at it. Kally caught a few glance of pale blue eyes flickering their way, and each prison term this would encounter the blonde girl would grunt unhappily, pigeonhole her foot, and resume staring at the wooden siding as if frustrated.

What the perdition was that abo ...

'' aspect Kaylens ... ''

His intrusion brought her dorsum to the berth at helping hand, and she narrowed her eyes shrewdly. `` Ah your famous furrow. '' She whispered harshly. `` So which personality do I get today ceramicist ? Because really, this split personality matter is getting to be a bit of a worry. ``

Potter 's eyes rose, meeting her own in a way she had thought the Sir Noel Pierce Coward incapable of, and for a 2d his pleased flavour faltered. He blinked oddly, drawing in a deep, audible 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 thickset skull of yours, that I might not grant a damn whether you apologized or not ? ``

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

Trust him to fetch that up, she thought angrily, quick to labor back the insurrection of disgrace within herself.

She swallowed hard. `` Glad to see your not quite that oblivious potter. '' She muttered, forcing her voice icy. `` I would think by now that any make up apologies would be a damp breaker point. ``

She felt more than heard him drawing in a oceanic abyss, disappointed breathing spell. Jut like she felt, more than saw him leaning finisher to where she stood. `` I was n't lying to you when I said I was sorry for all of those early things Kaylens. ``

He spoke so seriously, too seriously for someone their age. `` And I did n't even get the prospect to apologize for the former night ... '' He continued, his Robert Adam 's apple rising rhythmically. `` Since I did n't take to getting decked again, I figured sending you a potable was the best apology I could come up with on shortstop notice. At least the best one that could retain me a safe distance away, while getting you to come over here. ''

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

He began to stimulate his head in the negatively charged but she cut him off, the entire weight of his insulting, woefully poor motion sinking in.

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

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

'' That's what I think of your pathetic apology. '' 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.

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

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

It was shaking.

Inside he felt a horrible, twisting hotshot, recalling precisely why her hand shook thus. How could he have failed to notice before ?

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

His sass flapped wordlessly, his Word never reaching her ear, for Madame Rosmerta 's dismay cry stole the parole from his lips.

'' Lara what are yo.. '' Rosmerta questioned shrilly. Her center were fixated in confusedness upon the young waitress, the well-disposed one from whom he had ordered deglutition earlier.

The same dimpled girl now had her scepter drawn, a blank expression drawn upon her features, striking a horrifying similarity to a porcelain doll.

'' Stupefy ! '' She hissed mechanically.

As if in slow motion, Rosmerta fell, her limp form disappearing behind the bar 's wooden retort. The glass she had been cleaning took flight, hovering in mid-air for a lowly infinity, before breaking free of it 's spiritual pause, shattering across the tabulator.

For the first clock time in it 's account, the Three broom handle fell silent. Only the howl of the October tip, leaking in through the windows, proved to him that he had not fallen into some horrific silent photographic film.

The assuage 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 apparent motion oddly halting.

Hours seemed to cause passed, but the clock registered simple seconds.

beholding Ginny 's verge haltingly salary increase, her movements faltering, as if some unseeable strength were yanking her arm forcibly up against her will, was what finally broke him free of his sluggish apparent motion daydream.

His blood ran cold at her blank expression.

'' EVERYBODY DOWN ! '' He shouted, overturning the table. liquid state splattered, and their empty-bellied clay mugs had not even struck ground before the first K cuss flew from Ginny 's wand.

His own already drawn, he screamed a looker, watching the killing curse fille Ron 's appal font by inches.

Ginny position 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 head as a quite a little of wooden shards whizzed by, an onslaught from the now smoldering chairperson before her.

A stunner grazed his ear, and his body jerked instinctively away from the heat, and in that single second he lost spate of her.

Somewhere in the dim background of his brain the shriek of the early patron began to register.

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

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

Très could not hear their plea, with his ear length pilus flung over his eye, his arm jerkily fired blindly at students, patrons, masses ...

Grabbing the side of the overturned, daily round board, Harry heaved it to the side, rolling it with all his specialty, scrambling behind it like a rat until it hunkered to a halt. Unable to go any farther, for an unconscious physical structure 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 dependable cover until he was right on them ...

He dove for it, leaving the cover of his table behind, rolling across broken electric chair ramification and glass until he came to a scrunch behind it.

The waitress was hiding derriere it as well, firing cuss over the counter.

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

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

He scampered down the length of it, snatching both their verge up, passing wine bottles, clean fall guy, and entrepot sphere as he went.

Reaching the end near the shade covered Windows, he hastily pocketed the wands in his trouser, leaping to his feet, the disarming spell partially formed on his lips.

His intelligence died there.

The jet of green light erupted from Ginny 's wand like a volcano of decease, lupus erythematosus than an arm 's length from where he stood.

Across the elbow room Ron leapt to his feet, abandoning the irregular shelter of a countermand bench to dash to where Hermione and Luna fought unaided.

There was no time to think, to douse, to respond.

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

Hermione 's brown eyes widened, her mouth caught in a strangled, tacit wail, and Luna only just pulled her to the undercoat before the future K spell whizzed by.

Time froze.

All was still.

The blank look of the Imperious jinx faltered upon Ginny Weasley 's face, unabashed pain replacing it for but a second.

The masquerade party was re-erected, his own verge turning to her, bout of ira streaming down his side at what had been just done to the only pal and babe he had ever had.

Before the disarming spell could leave his lips, a voiceless clenched fist collided with his skull, sending the earth blurring until it 's hellish aura faded to black.
* * * * *


The sound of small pes, pattering in the rain, accompanied Emily 's return. The sound of her repose hum lingered like a breath of fresh air upon Tonks'pinna.

The small shaver stepped out onto the pebbled path, quickly shutting her tiny umbrella before scurrying to huddle beneath Tonks'.

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

But for now, Kenneth gave her a minuscule, anguish grin, before setting off across the soggy cemetery grass.

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

She adjusted the umbrella so the overflow would not drip onto the little princess'straits, never noticing the thoughtful looking that suddenly passed across Emily 's tiny face.

Feeling the insistent tugging on her arm she looked down, two small brown heart 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 houri. ``



Le Règne d'Enfer Commence is Gallic for The sovereignty of Hell Begins

Recommended history of the Week :

Never tickling a Sleeping Dragon by Edward Ollivander ( He has a fabulous and creative 6th twelvemonth fan fiction featuring a HP/GW pairing, and it is completed. )

Dark propensity by Two Sadists ( They have a 7th year fan fiction featuring a HP/OC coupling. )

picture couresty of the previously mentioned world domain site. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.






Disclaimer : All fibre, places, and ideas taken from the Harry potter record book series are attribute of JKR. However, the idea of a Reach is owned by me, since I have taken the approximation of a reaching from a serial that I am writing, and adapted it ever so slightly to fit this fan-fiction serial.






'' Some believe that the benefit of decease, is that it is possible to see farther on the other English. ``
~ A.K. Sir Bernard Lovell ~



Chapter 20 ~ Nowhere to Run


'' Tonksie are you okay ? ''

Emily 's sweet voice carried upon the wind, nearly drowned out by the sound of pelting pounding upon the umbrella.

She could only shake her head, shaken as a chill duck soup swirled around them. Thankfully such subtleties of verbalism were lost upon the tiddler, who 's mind was tilted back, her mouth all-embracing open air, catching rain drops.

'' The waaaateeer 's driiiippiiiing on meeee. '' Emily gurgled gaily.

Tonks shivered, straightening out the umbrella she had unknowingly allowed to tilt. It had hung so low that a sudden shower of water had fallen down like Victoria Falls onto young Emily 's head.

'' Sorry Em ... '' She gasped out, her interpreter wavering.

'' It 's all right I like the rainfall. '' Emily declared, darting out from beneath the umbrella, stomping her feet merrily in the collecting pool. `` I like puddle too ! ``

Tonks blinked in surprise. The child 's mother had been drowned in one barely a two weeks ago.

'' Your supporter are in trouble nymph. ``

Emily 's sopping wet braiding swung about her human face, her arms held out as she spun in roach, her head tilted skyward catching the rain.

'' Tonksie come play ! ``

Tonksie ... Only Remus called her Nymph.

'' My God ... '' She whispered, her body 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 sloppy cemetery grass. His married woman 's grave lay before him, the carefully placed irises scattering in the laboured wind.

'' Kenneth ! We have to leave here now ! ``
* * * * *


Remus'ovular middle opened upon the spoiled of sights.

Hogsmeade ...

It 's discharge locale lay before him, drained leaves billowing across the stale nerve tract leading through the heart of the village.

Not a soul was in sight.

Ghost town ...

It was here Nott and the others had spoken of. It was here the recruiting had been done. It was here where the decease feeder would make their first stand. Here in the village, so close to the school ...

Too close.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend.

'' Merlin ... '' He whispered, staggering, the Oct breeze biting chilly contrast across his peel.

Werewolves had no use for clothing.

Roughly, an unclothed forearm scratched across his Chin. chip of dried blood flaked away, sprinkling the terra firma with a sinister looking detritus. It 's morbidness was a staring reminder of his recently fulfilled thirst.

'' Surprised half-breed ? ``

Instinctually, angrily, his claws extended, breaking his skin with a fiery pain in the ass. He did not respond Nott, instead he growled lowly, extending his spike into long points.

The fuzz germination, prickling his head ears, brought the deathly quiet village to lifetime. Farther off ... In the heart of town .... Pleas ... .. Offers of salvation in rally for loyalty ... ..

'' That fool of an old man will never know what hit him. '' Nott 's guttural vocalism was flooded late with hate. `` Well be here and gone before he even gets out his walker. ``

Not if I can help it ...

Lucius'undecipherable growl cut in, breaking through his angry thought process, arousing something far darker ...

It was time to change.

An unnatural rut filled his veins.

Upon the ground where Remus Lupin had been, now stood a wolfman, the pungent fragrance of freshly spilled blood inundating it 's common sense.

The wildcat pawed the footing eagerly.
* * * * *


His body, felt like it was being drug across glass. It ached, splintering as individual shards sliced his skin.

fragment .... Shards ... He tried to grasp onto the countersign to no help. It 's elusive signification fled from his pounding skull.

The tight grip on his mortise joint disappeared, and his feet dropped unceremoniously to the floor. A minute later the reverberations in the story dining table indicated another dead body being dumped besides him.

Ron ...

With a jerk he was awake, the salty split of anguish tainting his lips.

It could n't be real. It could n't birth happened. Not again ...

He turned his head in a vain search, struggling to make sense of the blurred world before him. A flash of the palest of yellow caught his eye.

Drifting in and out of focus was Luna Lovegood, sitting cross legged, her wrists tightly bound within her lap, moony blueness eyes fixated upon him concernedly.

'' Why hello Harry. '' She said congenially.

Just thinking sent a crisp 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 story, a stabbing pain ripping his fist.

He did not ask Luna 's proclamation to bed that a shard of glass now stuck from his hand. The lovingness welling from it, trickling down his fingertips, was enough to inform him.

A I deep red drop fell free, it 's intelligent reverberating through his holler chest.

Drip.

The suffocating weight of despair struck him operose, paralyzing him.

Drip.

Ron was gone.

Drip.

Ginny 's unwilling hired man had done the unthinkable.

Drip.

expiry feeder were in Hogsmeade.

Drip.

A strangulate sob shattered the silence.

Drip.

His fists snapped shut, tugging at the book binding. His eyes, blurred with rage, searched the ruined pub, taking it in with stale calculation.

Drip.

The floor now resembled a greenhouse, a shattered plant holder had sent land strewing across it.

Drip.

Butter beer and other concoction pooled together in frothy pool, broken chairs and overturned tables creating hazardous paths.

Drip.

Broken field glass glittered in the good afternoon sunlight, casting surreal spectrums across the floor.

Drip.

He squeezed his fist, the lineage flowing down, and began counting.

Drip.

In the quad where neither shabu nor soil lay, sponsor did.

Drip.

Half a 12, either unconscious or dead, lay upon the base at scattered separation.

Drip.

The rest, the conscious, had been bound and lined up against the walls.

Drip.

'' poor fish crying Mudblood ! ``

Hermione ...

She lay collapsed against the far rampart, her arms bound like his own.

Drip.

Before her towered a ranting fig clad in black, and clenched within the cruel confines of the Death Eater 's fist trailed long locks of bushy hair.

A large contusion ran the length of her bust stained cheek.

'' I should have finished the job when I had the chance you filth. '' Scowled the Death Eater, throwing back his hood.

His breathing place caught in his throat.

Dolohov.

The image of Hermione 's limp course in the section of Mysteries flashed through his thinker. She had nearly died at Dolohov 's hands ...

'' What do you mean here Ludovic ? Should I finish her off ? '' The Death eater called out, kneeling in front of her. `` Or what about you Mudblood ? Care to bring together your slimy red-headed friend over there ? '' Dolohov chided, poking her like a slug with the end of his wand.

Hermione 's sparkling optic met Dolohov 's unflinchingly, her lips curling back to spit in his face.

He recoiled, a look of the perfect revulsion over-sweeping his bony feature film. `` Oh you filthy ... '' He muttered, frantically wiping his font in the folds of his cloak.

'' Hey Antonin ! '' An overly cheery voice called out, stopping Dolohov 's hand mid-strike. `` Since were only supposed to watch the kiddies until He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gets back, what do you think of ... ''

Dolohov whorled on the cloaked figure of speech, who had just emerged from behind the bar, waving a salvaged firewhiskey bottle.

'' Ludovic he is our master and shall be addressed as such ! '' Dolohov roared dangerously. `` One more than slip and I 'll make sure the Mudblood lover is n't the only corpse in here ! ''

Ludovic appeared unconcerned, and began filling two whiskey spyglass. `` Antonin what you need is a good, stiff drink. ''

Dolohov scowled, quickly aiming a muscular kicking to Hermione 's midsection. The crevice of her ribs echoed between the pub 's bulwark, as did Harry and Neville 's outcry of protest.

'' Now Antonin was that really necessary ? '' Ludovic asked nervously.

Dolohov turned, his verge raised threateningly. `` One. More. give-and-take. Ludovic. Just. One. ``

Ludovic raised his hands in a conciliatory fashion, knocking his toughie from his face in the process.

'' Now Dolohov she 's just a missy. All I was saying is tha .... '' But the rest of his parole were lost upon Harry, for beneath the vise of the glum hood was the boylike expression of Ludo Bagman.
* * * * *


Kenneth Bothan 's nous shot up, while Tonks ran forward, wrapping a protective arm around Emily. The accrue umbrella lay forgotten, spinning in concentric circles upon the pebbled ground, a toy of the billowing wind.

'' Kenneth we should leave ! '' She cried, hoisting Emily into her arms.

Her barely concealed urging rang true within the President 's spike, for he was already sprinting back to where they stood.

He was a man who understood the existence 's dangers.

Emily squirmed, her auburn psyche following her father 's progress towards them. `` papa, your knees are all muddy. '' She scolded seriously.

Kenneth smiled grimly, his jaw set. `` I can take her. ''

Tonks nodded, relinquishing the miss to call in her wand. The ever-increasing chill was closing in. It would n't be long ...

'' What 's going on ? '' Kenneth asked urgently.

'' No time to excuse. '' She responded, taking off down the path. She could find out Kenneth 's heavy footfall behind her, splashing in the muddy water.

They rounded the bending in the footpath, the great woodlet of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree falling away to let on the dismal lot. The car, their safety valve, was in plenty, yet heavy despair drenched her soul.

Nymphadora 's groundwork slid in the gravely mud, and she came to a stay, throwing out an arm out to cease what was left of the Bothan family.

It was right then that niggling Emily Bothan began to wail.

Kenneth 's dark eyes quickly blinked away body of water. `` Tonks what 's thi ... ''

'' pa we need to run. Please papa run. '' Emily was pleading hysterically, her face buried into Kenneth 's shoulder.

Staring ahead at the looming trope, Tonks could only shake her foreland.

'' I do n't think we have time to run. ``
* * * * *


'' YOU ! ''

Ludo Bagman 's bluish eyes turned on him, a please smile replacing his previously perplexed one. `` Ah ... Harry boy. I was wondering when you 'd come around. ``

Dolohov scoffed. `` Precious Potter indeed. assure me Potter, how was your wittle frizzy ? ``

'' So tell me Harry, '' Ludo interjected, seeming determined to steer the conversation his way. `` How accept things been ? ''

'' Yes wittle Potter. How have matter been without that mangy old dog of yours ? ``

'' Antonin .... '' Ludo sounded distinctly uncomfortable.

In the distant desktop he could get a line Neville 's choked stuttering.

'' H-how have they been ? '' Harry repeated, dumbfounded. How have they been ! ?

'' Not too unspoiled Mr. commercial traveller. '' Luna 's brumous articulation 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 position and betraying him, I trust you can see why. '' Luna continued casually.

traveling salesman was suddenly refilling his drink.

'' After all, Harry does n't want anyone else to die, and when citizenry he trusts start killing multitude ... ''

travelling salesman 's glass stopped halfway to his backtalk, eyes widening defensively. It was a minute before his calm returned.

'' Now I 've never actually killed anyone per say miss .... ''

'' Lovegood. '' She supplied.

'' Lovegood. '' He continued. `` It 's just that .... ''

A foreign calm air had overtaken him, the slight shaking of his own handwriting lost upon him. `` It 's just that your content with allowing others to do it for you. '' He said disdainfully. `` Your content with being a Sir Noel Pierce Coward, with siding with what is prosperous rather than what is rightfulness. ``

roadman eyed him apprehensively, swallowing hard. `` Now Harry, you know how the Ministry is. '' He began imploringly. `` They never support anyone but themselves ... ''

'' At to the lowest degree they do n't kill anyone ! '' Harry bellowed, blazonry shaking with oppress delirium.

'' But Harry j-just think about this for a s-second. He-Who-Must-Not ... I mean my Jehovah .... '' He quickly corrected himself, spying the malevolent look of Dolohov. `` He just desires the Ministry 's precipitation. So long as hoi polloi stay out of his way no one will get hurt. Now I ask you Harry, my boy, is that really so bad ? ``

'' Replacing one dictatorship with another. Sounds logical to me. '' He retorted sarcastically.

Besides him Luna nodded favourable reception, her fingerbreadth drumming against her dressing to some unrecognizable tune.

'' When you disappeared my gramme 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 near than Bellatrix you slime ! ''

The poignant accusal hung thickly in the air, no one speaking. Bagman had become very concern in his potable, shifting uncomfortably under the raging eyes of all save for Dolohov.

For soul to turn their rachis, on even the Ministry, in favour of Voldemort ...

It was unforgivable.

Drip.

He had nearly forgotten how his own deal bled, the light headed feeling out of place for the post. Fortunately the disengage stream of ruby-red life was slowing, his curdling component finally kicking in.

Harry shook his head, ignoring the slight whirl of the creation. `` You were acquitted once Bagman. '' He hissed, eyes scanning the room for a way out. `` So tell me, were you a namby-pamby Sir Noel Pierce Coward back then too, or just stupid ? ``

Bagamn cringed. `` Harry I was never a Death feeder ! ''

'' But you are now. '' His voice quivered. `` So separate me, why 'd you do it ? ''

Dolohov 's self-satisfied expression betrayed even his interest in the response, and Harry was not about to let the Death Eaters distraction go to waste.

Keep them talking ... Keep them distracted ...

His script began roaming across the level behind him, feeling for another discriminating sliver 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 forehead creased curiously.

'' semen to think of it you probably do n't Harry. But it 's not fun business sector, goblin debt collectors that is. And since the Ministry was n't about to increase my salary these boys 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 think that but ... ''

'' BUT WHAT ! ? '' Neville roared.

Luna inconspicuously sent a expose bottle slice sliding his way, his finger coiling around it like a snitch.

'' But these Death Eaters, they 're not so bad. ``

Harry very nearly dropped the shard, his eye bulging out.

'' Not so bad ? '' He repeated gruffly.

commercial traveller nodded vigorously. `` No ! Not at all Harry ! In fact their rather ... ''

'' Tell that ... '' He hissed lowly. `` To my mum and dad. recite that to Sirius. assure that to Ron ! ''

An odd face crossed commercial traveler 's face. `` Now Harry really .... ''

Harry 's brim parted, accusal dripping as thick as the blood from his spiral fists, only the sound never came.

The flabby sound, and spark of apparent motion upon the floor, drew the breathing space heterosexual person from his lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He breathed softly. He had nearly forgotten ...

'' Ah another one to join the fray ? '' Dolohov called cheerfully, sauntering over to where she lay, partially concealed by an overturned mesa.

The Death feeder reached her, roughly dragging her squirming form up.

'' Ca n't result you free to roam around now can we ? '' He hissed, drawing unnaturally close to her.

Harry 's stomach lurched wretchedly as Dolohov 's sass grazed her line of descent stained cheek.

'' After all, fiery tempers like you ... ''

'' Get. Your handwriting. Off. Her. '' Harry spat dangerously, drawing Dolohov 's attention to him. Anything to get him away from her ... She looked set to collapse ...

The destruction Eater regarded him coldly. `` Or you 'll do what exactly ? ``

'' You do n't want to bed. '' He hissed lowly, ceasing the sawing movement upon his binding. He could n't afford to let Dolohov see ....

'' Oh but I do ! '' He said menacingly, a cruel smile lighting his dead eyes. `` I 'd very much like to know what Precious Potter thinks he could do to me. ``

His oculus narrowed, a cruel smile of his own crossing his features.

'' I could show you why Voldemort is so afraid of me. '' He whispered threateningly.

The cords winding around Kaylens'wrists snapped fast, Dolohov 's tense grip betraying his agitation.

Harry went on, the room swaying unnaturally as he spoke with malicious mensuration. `` Or you could do yourself a party favor Dolohov, and leave. Leave before you make me really angry. ''

Dolohov shifted uncomfortably, mirroring Bagman 's movements. He took the opportunity to slowly slice at his bindings yet again.

The ice, slick with his own rake, nearly fell from his grip. Thankfully the error was lost upon the last feeder, for Dolohov had chosen that mo to plow Kaylens around, hissing something into her tangled twist furiously.

His wrist rundle with the pain, brought about by another slickness of the methamphetamine hydrochloride, as Kaylens consistency was tossed besides him.

His sawing drift halted, his eyes drawn to where she lay, panting faintly besides him.

'' There ... `` Dolohov sneered. `` Enjoy your mudblood friends wanted potter. Once our Lord gets here we 'll see how brave you really are. ``

He swallowed hard, watching Kaylens'optic flicker open. He wanted to say something, anything ...

He had failed her ...

Hermione 's soul wrenching step brought a grimace of veneration to both their features.

'' Brave ? '' Hermione 's feeble voice chided from where she sat, propped against the wall. `` You ask him about bravery ? He 's sixteen, not even a fully qualified maven, yet you fear him so much as to demilitarize him and bind him. ''

She spat all of this into Dolohov 's approaching face, just before his handwriting reared back, slapping her roughly to the floor.

She let out not a cry, peering upwards through her specialise, swelling eyes, just in meter to see a dreary thrill rearing back.

'' Hey Dolohov ! ``

Dolohov 's foundation froze mid-kick, hate-filled eyes flying towards Neville 's pudgy human face.

'' You do n't require to do that. ''

Dolohov 's thick eyebrows disappeared beneath his mangey hair. `` You presume to parliamentary law me around boy ? ''

Neville shrugged casually. `` You can contaminate yourself if you want. '' He sounded uncharacteristically Slytherin. `` I did n't bring in dirty blood suited a Death feeder. ``

Dolohov laughed roughly, buying Harry more time.

Neville you 're a saint ...

A astragal of salty sweat broke free from his forehead, rolling into his mouth. Setting his jaw he worked, the Methedrine shard digging into his thickset cover.

Snap.

The sherd slid so low, so fast, he nearly cut too deep, the breath of pain catching fasting in his throat.

The bindings were looser.

Twisting his handwriting testingly, he found with the start fibre 's severing had come a greater range of drift.

optic locked onto Dolohov 's fist, slamming into Neville 's jaw, he twisted his radiocarpal joint, ignoring the burning whizz of dry out wounding ripping undefended. Warm, thick life story rip welled from these dapple, his scabbed over fingers feeling in his cloak ...

They had taken his baton, but Rosmereta 's ... The waitress'...

Polished mahogany brushed beneath his boisterous skin, Kaylens'luminous eye meeting his own, inclusion shining within their fervent depth ...

He could hit the sequestered wands.

He was armed.
* * * * *


'' pumpkin vine ... Honey mummy needs you to do mummy a party favour. Can you do that dearest ? ``

She whimpered, her face buried in her Father 's pelting soaked causa. She wanted to look away, but she could n't. The frigidness feel was there. She could find out her mum, she wanted to see her, to hug her, but she was too scared to appear away from the safety of her father 's arms.

'' Do you miss your mummy little girl ? Would you like to see her ? ``

Emily squeezed her eyes harder, uncoerced the part away. `` It 's not momma ... '' She whispered. `` I ca n't see mommy ... ''

Ah, ah, ah, ah ... fiddling darling your mum is busy now. Ca n't you see that ? ``

She shook her head frantically, squeezing her dad 's neck opening. `` No ... No .... ''

'' Open your eyes you small gripe ! ``

The cruel lady 's disconsolate eyes danced in her mind. She did n't want to see the dame again. She did n't want to.

'' dada ... '' She whimpered frightfully.

'' No not daddy. mama ! You wanted to see her little little terror, so here, LOOK ! ''

Daddy would afford his eye ... He would. He was n't afraid of anything. Maybe if she opened her eye the lady would go away again.

Emily swallowed, counting heavily to ten.

'' Please mum ... ''

Emily 's watery center opened, a glowering courting pelage staring back.

mamma needed up. She needed air. The beggarly man was there again, shoving her face into the puddle. Her mom did n't care water.

Emily cried out, screeching, shaking her top dog back and Forth, throwing the range of a function away. She wanted them to go. Her damp, rain-soaked braiding flung into her Church Father 's aspect 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 whimper rang in her capitulum, her icy hands shaking her mum. Whey was n't mama waking ? She had to ... `` No ... ''

'' Tonksie ! '' Had she shouted ? Could the decent noblewoman discover her ?

'' Kenneth get to the car. driving force away. ``

'' Tonks I ca n't leave ... ''

'' I 'll be ok. Just go. NOW ! ``

Emily 's reeling world reeled more, for her father had taken off at fast dash, splashing water over her legs.

In the dim background, somewhere beyond her mother 's screeching, she could get wind the nice Lady shouting something.

Her world dimmed away as a silvery dog ran past.

mommy always liked bounder ...
* * * * *


Releasing the scepter for what he promised would be simply moments, he continued sawing at his bindings, slowly, rhythmically, trying to put on precious centimeters of mobility ...

He was armed, and the realization had numbed him, his following motility horribly elusive.

With the rhythmic sawing of the shard, his mind fell curiously white for the firstly time in what felt millenary.

His gaze fell upon her as she moved, shoving herself up from where she lay on the floor, arms shaking fiercely, be it from stupor or the pain he knew she daily bore, he did not know.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered softly, grasping for something, anything familiar in the horror that was his life.

She fell into berth 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 eyes swept the room as those of the hunted would.

She was being as timid as him, despite the flimsy careen to her stature.

Snap.

Another ribbon of the roofy broke free, it 's press release masked by her sudden, purposeful coughing.

Her head fell forward, her coughs lingering long enough to seem genuine, and her golden, embroil lock chamber came cascading down, falling over her eyes, veiling her facial expression from all but him. To his center each shimmering Strand, glinting in the dull afternoon glow, as well as her watery orb, remained visible, as well as her saltation carpus, lily-white and torn from where she had frantically pulled, struggling for sack in Dolohov 's arms.

The mother fucker would never again lay a finger upon her.

He would never again lay a finger upon anyone.

Harry Potter had a few dark spells he was quite bore to try out.

Snap.

'' How much farseeing do you think it 'll be till he finishes questioning the hamlet Antonin ? ``

Dolohov sneered. `` Ludovic you are trying my longanimity as much as the half-blood and these ... '' The dismal gaze of the man scanned the room, taking in the few witting student and the two patrons bound and lined against the rampart. `` These fifth wheel. ``

'' But what if the ministry .... ''

Dolohov kicked the floor, sending shattered glass skittering across Dean 's fallen form. `` We will be here and gone before those chump catch hint of this. Besides, these things are delicate topic ... ''

Questioning ? His ears listened, silently taking it all in. Besides him Kalliandra appeared to be doing the Same, while Luna shifted the drinking glass shard on the floor around with her feet.

Bagman seemed besides himself with doubtfulness. Harry mentally egged him on to be relax lipped.

'' Perhaps we could daze them all and take them back ourselves ? ``

Dolohov scowled in his centering. `` He will not be needing all of them. And you would do well to continue your mouth shut from now on or I will shut it for you. ``

The word ended.

It was then that he heard it.

'' You ... ''

Only he had heard her whispered accusation, for it could be naught else. The sheer revulsion in that one, whispered word left nothing to question.

Her middle had moved from Dolohov, drifting into the background beyond, liquid blast boiling beyond their depths. Lifting his own he followed her regard to where Ludo Bagman stood, pouring himself another fidgety drink.

He turned his confusion upon her, noticing her chest 's rhythmic rising as her breaths came quicker, deeper, faster ...

Golden middle flickered shut, a pained grammatical construction falling across her.

'' How sorry were you ? '' She breathed to herself, only barely, for the hatred saturating her soft whole step was not lost upon him.

It was chilling.

His own stewing blood froze as he studied her, taking advantage of the lull in activities.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered, almost pleadingly.

Her hateful gaze burned right through him, straight to Bagman.

'' Kaylens please ... ''

Her eyes fell shut, her fist opening and closing on reduce air. `` You 're bleeding ceramicist, are you OK ? '' She whispered shakily.

Gently brushing his arm against her own, he waited for some sign that she was alright.

minute of arc passed, before delicate eyelids flickered surface, her eyes alight with an aberrant glow.

'' Good. '' She murmured. `` Because I can only give you a moment. ``

His sassing flapped wordlessly, shocked at the transformation before him.

Where his cutis lightly touched her own, an unnatural tingling had begun.
* * * * *


The energy reverberating from him drew her nearer, an eternity going before she was able-bodied to forcibly force away.

His confusion radiated in startling quantities, but he would understand soon enough.

They would all understand ...

She would not rove near him again, for her macrocosm was moving unnaturally slow, as if the consequence occurring around her were illusive, fleeting images from horrible dream that would surely disappear with a waft of merciful cognizance.

Only no such merciful child's play came.

Her bound hands rose from her lap, tracing the tender line of her jaw, feeling her chilling skin. Somewhere, amidst the combat, she had fallen, shoved away by Dean. The dried smear of lineage along her brass gave evidence to that.

She could feel the estrus radiating from Dean 's limp form.

He was live ...

Hermione ...

The small girl 's fingers had curled around fallen ball of her bloodied, extirpate fuzz, as if the resolute Gryffindor had wanted something to hold up onto, something solid state and tangible to prove the afflictions had been material.

They had ...

Her eyes fell willfully shut once more, immersing herself in the peaceful oblivion of wickedness, where no daemon save her own reigned.

The memories of a upraise night, long due revenge, beckoned.

A limp handwriting lay splayed across the front corridor ... lineage trickling onto the wooden porch boards ...

'' God forgive me ... '' She breathed, the palpable chill filling her lungs.

She had made her decision.

The chilling rain pelted down, something obscure mixture with the muddy water licking at her nozzle ...

The tingling began softly, like a alight plume playing across her skin, traversing it 's way upwards, inwards ...

It was their blood swirling within the puddle ... .Sean 's space middle staring back ...

It was rolling in discrete waves, operating by it 's own insensible rules, pulsating from the sustenance, evaporating from the dead.

A boyish face appeared above her, sympathy in his Eastern Malayo-Polynesian optic. `` I 'm awfully sorry about this kid ... ''

His voice had echoed through that dark, and again this day.

He had stood idly by once, and was again.

She squeezed her eyes shut ever fuddled, involuntarily shudders traveling through her, the heady pressure in the very air building, pulsating in uncontrolled wave outwards.

The public was taking on a hotter timber, every face burning with torrid vividness as she began reaching, feeling ...

The acrid comportment of Ludovic commercial traveler filled her, and she began drawing.

Her intent was to kill.



A/N : Please forgive the generator 's government note, but I believe a proper thank you is in order.

Thank you for making this tarradiddle the turn One favorite Story on the situation, for making me the telephone number One favourite Author on the site, for making this the 7th most show report in the website 's history when it has been out for less than a twelvemonth, and for making this the story with the Most Reviews Ever.

I honestly ca n't express how shocked I was to see that. I truly feel that I do not deserve such an honor, because having read many of the other chronicle on this internet site, I feel that my writing pales in comparison to the wealthiness of talent displayed by others such as njill22, Edward VIII Ollivander, The Dark master Nedved, KawaiiAce2003, IchigoPan, violet Gryfindor, Timeturner, BitterEpiphany, Ginny Weasely, Arios, Cocoapuffshooter, Winky, and too many others to name.

I have the respectable proofreader in the world. I truly do.


Recommended Stories of the workweek :

To Not Forget by Njhill22 Rated : 15 +
The result of that day will forever be etched into Harry Potter 's mind. As the age pass though, the rest of the wizarding world 's attention turns elsewhere, allowing those events to fade away with time. Some events are not meant to be forgotten ... and this is one of them. A beautiful protection to the upshot of September 11th, 2001.

Chronicles of life sentence by BitterEpiphany Rated : Mature
Follow the trials and tribulations of a unseasoned Wiccan who has exiled herself to the Muggle creation, only to be pulled back into the realm of magic in the darkest of fourth dimension. Only the man who rescued her, never expected her to get involved in the fighting against the shadow rising to magnate. The lifespan of an Auror is shortly, the only motion is, how prospicient can Lexi survive ?

The female child Who Lived by Masami Rated : 15+
This is the story of Elizabeth Barkovsky, a non-magical fry who nearly died in horrific accident, only to be saved, through a twist of fate, by a man once known as 'The boy who lived'. The story is set in 2011, and if you are a fan of tale following original characters through their Hogwarts'Years, this is a great one.

Photograph couresty of the previously mentioned public domain website. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.