Chapter 54 : Who to trust ?

A/N : Sorry for the delay in getting this out, I had an accident with my flash bulb drive and everything on it was deleted including the first conscription of this chapter. But matter are on track now, so getting back in the cut of affair, a rescript of the chapter from the beginning… Read, review and enjoy !





After taking Simon's wand and returning Luna's to her, Harry left the boy magically bound on the couch with Jacey to watch over him. Allowing him to gently pull her down the hall to the dusty lavatory, Luna perched on the edge of the deep Victorian-style tub and watched as he searched the tiny cabinets. At last he came up with an ancient first aid kit, pulling out gauze bandage and tape measure before reaching out to bend the spigot on the sink. They were both surprised when water actually came sputtering out, a rusty coloration at first that quickly turned refreshingly exculpated. She took the hand he offered her and let him carefully clean the origin from her wrists… she knew he was angry and did her best not to wince or let on that the cuts stung like looney. After all, she was the one who let her scare overwhelm her to the point where she'd struggled so violently against the ropes. Simon hadn't seemed at all design on injuring her, she could have just sat and patiently waited to see what was going to happen rather than fight back her bindings to the head where she cut into her tegument. It was her own fault she'd gotten suffering at all.

He shouldn't have gone so far as to tie you up in the foremost place. Harry argued with her mentation as he leaned down to kiss her now freshly bandaged wrists.

Well, let's go see what he so badly wanted to tell us. She softly suggested, reaching out to run her fingers through his pilus in that way she knew he found soothing. She needed him to calm down down and realize the penury to fight down was over, to give an clear mind and really listen to what Simon had to say. Her vision was becoming clearer to her now that she been able to swipe a few peeks into the boy's creative thinker. He was out to betray his sister before she could tell on him and apparently the winner of their little sibling pettifoggery would become Harry's ally. From her warning she knew Harry was already leaning toward Elanya if not Elise and Sarah… and that had to be because of what they'd seen in Erebos's school principal. But they obviously needed the whole story and Marvin Neil Simon seemed willing to bring home the bacon it.

Together they walked back into the front room and Luna was relieved to find that Jacey was back to being herself as the potion had completely worn off. If Simon was alarmed by the fact that a strange girl now stood where Tristram once was he gave no indication. `` I'm sorry Luna. '' He blurted out as soon as he saw her.

'' That's easy to say now that you've been caught. '' Harry muttered, glaring at the boy as he slumped down on the early lounge. `` So ? Let's hear it, what's this big revelation you have to share with us ? ``

'' Can't you undo the binding spell ? I promise I'll just sit here, I won't do anything. '' Simon pleaded.

'' Your Word doesn't mean much to me at the moment. '' Harry returned, refusing to release the spell.

Simon the Canaanite sighed and nodded. `` Yeah, I guess I can see why. ``

'' Just tell us what you have to say ... '' Luna said, sitting succeeding to Harry and locking her gaze on Paul Simon. She pushed the feelings she wanted to contrive outward and watched as both boys visibly relaxed, though Harry alone knew what she was doing as he was the simply one aware of this slight extra power of hers. She just wished she had better control of it.

'' And why don't you start with what the hell you were thinking when you decided taking us hostage was the easily way to make your full point. '' Harry crossed his arms, refusing to be lulled into equanimity and shaking off the outcome she was trying to spread around the room.

'' Big gestures are the solitary way to get people to listen. '' Herb Simon said quietly repeated himself from former. `` Like I said, that philosophy worked for my parents before they were killed and it's certainly worked for Elise all these years. I wasn't going to hurt either of you… I needed you both there and so I figured I could use Luna to keep you listening rather than attacking me… I guess I figured that if you saw how grievous I was you would think me. I was going to let you into the schoolroom, but you let yourself in first. '' He looked at Harry almost accusingly, clearly implying that he blamed Harry's rashness for so many things going wrong.

'' What did you really have a bun in the oven me to do when you go around tying multitude up ? '' He returned angrily. Luna reached out and grabbed his arm to keep him from leaping to his understructure in indignation… she knew they all had to stay rational number and kind through this, it was important.

'' It doesn't matter, you'll never believe me now. ``

'' Why ? Because you are now the captive one instead of them ? '' Jacey scoffed from her berth leaning against the wall.

'' You can believe that one or all of us will know whether you're telling the truth. '' Luna quietly assured him.

Marvin Neil Simon slowly nodded. `` Yeah, I guess you're right… I do know that about you. And so does Elise, which is why she had to plan so carefully. I know you figured out the spy is Erebos. But what you don't know is that she wanted you to count on it out… so that you would explore his mind and find the computer storage of her asking him to set up Elanya. She knows about your superpower and so she's decided to use them against you. '' He said with a sly smile before looking right at Jacey. `` Except for you, they have no idea about you. Elise has had Erebos trying to obtain out, but apparently Dumbledore has been very careful to preserve you and former visitant a confidential from those prof he doesn't faith. I promise, whoever you are, they still have no idea about you though they'd very much like to determine out. ``

'' You don't need to worry about her or who she is. '' Harry said, noting to Luna and Jacey that they had to be deliberate not to say her name in front of the boy. `` Just tell us why you've apparently decided to become on your baby. ``

'' You have to understand… I never fit into Elise's life. '' Herbert Alexander Simon looked down sadly. `` I was to a lesser extent than a class old when our parents were killed… even after Voldemort was gone they, like so many others, refused to stop fighting and were cornered. sooner than be captured by the Ministry, they forced the Aurors to kill them. Elise was XVI at the time and the sole keep family I had. Rather than take care of me, she decided to ditch me at the orphanage, but she would at least number visit every year on my natal day. When I was ten she came back for me, ready to take her place as my guardian. But it was only because she knew I was about to be heading off to school and she was hoping to mildew me into soul she could use to start setting up her plans. I guess she knew Voldemort was attempting to come back and that his followers were doing everything in their power to make it happen. She saw this war coming and decided long ago that she would be no one's follower, that she would make her own place in the creation. When I came to Hogwarts and wasn't sorted into Slytherin like everyone else in our kinsperson, she was ashen. But then she figured Hufflepuff was better as no one would mistrust me there. For year I did everything she asked me to do because she threatened to bequeath me again if I didn't and all I knew was that I never wanted to go back to the orphanage. But everything she wanted seemed harmless and nothing she asked of me made any sense… not until this year. ``

Simon shook his top dog and sighed before continuing on. `` I received a alphabetic character the finale week of school this past summer from Elise telling me we would be departing for Australia the min I got back. Well, she wasn't waiting for me at the gear post so I went household and wound up overhearing a encounter between her and Voldemort. I listened as she completely manipulated the wickedness Almighty into thinking it was his idea to find Sarah Elaine… and then I heard her tell him that she planned to pour down me as I was going to prove more useful to them dead. I didn't know what to do, I was more terrified of my sis in that moment than I'd ever been of Voldemort- after all which is scarier, the sword or the expert hired hand wielding it ? And she knows how to play him very well. So I went with her to Commonwealth of Australia and I continued to follow her orders hoping she would change her mind. But she didn't because a few days before I was supposed to come back to school I heard her talking to Sarah… they plan to toss off me while I'm home for the holiday break and make it look like individual else did it. My own Sister was going to kill me and use my remains to start a fight. What could I do ? Even if I ran away, they'd just bring me right back to her, I'm only xvi. And who besides the people involved in this entirely scheme would believe the long ridiculous story I have to tell ? So the lone thing I could do was expose her to the people she was trying to overcome… I chose you guys over Voldemort. Maybe Dumbledore was right about the sorting hat always knowing where citizenry are supposed to go… maybe I'm a good guy, maybe I'm just a bad guy who's looking for the best agency of survival, I have no musical theme either way. I may not the happiest individual in the world, but I'm not ready to die either. So I'll tell you whatever you want to know about her and her plans. ``

'' You said she wanted us to go looking in Erebos's brain, that we were supposed to see her set up Elanya… why ? '' Luna asked, her gut telling her this was an important question in terms of Fred's fate. She was trying not to sympathize with St. Simon, but he seemed to have gotten stuck with a pretty miserable life… but still, there was something about him she found unsettling and so that allowed her to keep some sorting of an worked up detachment.

He nodded and offered a smile. `` You wouldn't believe how long Elise has been plotting. A long piece ago, after your group and Voldemort's destroyed the Ministry, she snuck in during the muddiness and looked up the files on every John Roy Major histrion on either side. Using that selective information, she was capable to forecast out not only what you and Harry here can do, but also how you, your champion and Voldemort's Allies would react in any situation. Originally we went to Australia this summertime to find a guy named Adam who was apparently postcognative. We traced him to a small pub where he liked to write his articles but we never even talked to him… it was like the hour she saw him, she knew he wasn't what she wanted. That's when Elanya approached us. Apparently she'd been living there with her grandmother who had recently passed away and when those two girls met it was the like lot had brought them together. She fit in perfectly and Elise instructed her on how to handle Erebos who arrived at the hotel later that day. I guess it didn't matter whether it was Elanya or that Robert Adam guy, Elise had already planned Erebos's portion in all of this… but clearly a young pretty girl would gain more fellow feeling. The point was that when you all figured out he was the spy, you were meant to see Elise talking him into using Elanya, you were meant to suppose she'd been set up and blackmailed the like way they'd done it to your admirer Fred. She's probably on that island right now, telling him her sob story so that he'll pick out her face and assistant talk you guys into helping her. She was supposed to be a bulwark, to learn all the secrets about you that they didn't already jazz. And then Elanya was supposed to begin causing discord among you all to break you and make it more probable that you and Harry will abandon your alliance to Dumbledore and the Ministry and come join them. ``

'' So what you're locution is basically that they want to create their own army of psychics ? '' Harry asked, his vocalization heavy with incertitude as he tried to blot out the fact that they were doing something very interchangeable with the coven. Luna felt both his and Jacey's repulsion at finding out how confining Elise had been to getting her hands on Adam, another coven member. She knew it was crucial that they leave as soon as possible to begin approaching people themselves, before they could be scooped up by someone else.

'' Yes, as farcical as that sounds. Why do you think I thought no one else would trust me ? But she wants the both of you to conjoin her and Sarah… and she has big design to use your ally Fred to do it. ``

'' Except that Fred isn't just going to accept whatever Elanya tells him. He's no idiot. '' Harry argued.

Simon laughed. `` You underestimate Elanya… She can become whatever she has to be in order to convince someone of something. If she, Elise and Sarah have been able-bodied to fool Voldemort for so long, then who is Fred Weasley to withstand them ? ``

'' They won't have a fortune. We're going to save him from that island. '' He returned darkly. Luna still had a hold of his arm and she could find him become even tenser as he felt more things were growing beyond his control.

'' I wish you luck with that. I really do. '' Simon grinned.

( happy chance )

Fred had skipped out on lunch and intended to walk the beach until well after dark in hopes of avoiding Elanya until tomorrow… tomorrow when Hermione had claimed they would be coming to get him. But had she been here ? He just didn't know what was real anymore. But whether he'd seen her in his mind or in tangible life, one thing had become clear… he couldn't arrest here anymore. No matter what, this was going to be his last night on the island. Should Hermione's comportment prove to be a hallucination and no one came for him, then he would get his own way out and go to her. He knew he couldn't apparate, he'd already tried and discovered that like Castellumshire, the Gateway Islands also carried anti-apparation charms and the only hoi polloi he knew could get around them were Harry and Luna.

A delicious smell wafted through the air, allowing his rumbling stomach to interrupt his planning. Looking up at the sky and using the sun, he was able to determine that while it was well past times lunch, it was still too early for dinner… clearly she knew he'd skipped repast that day and cooked such great smelling intellectual nourishment for a reason. He was tempted to go into the water to capture a fish to fry just to upset her plans but decided he was being ridiculous. He knew Elanya was trying to tempt him back to the campground, but just because he went didn't mean he was letting her win. They both knew he was more than capable of providing for himself, but at the moment he was too hungry to wait long enough to take hold of and make his own meal. Besides, he'd just decided that no affair what, this was his last night here… what could it bruise to pass some of it with her ? He would simply go, eat and then leave alone again.

Arriving at the refugee camp he saw that neither the food nor Elanya were outside. With a grueling sigh, he opened the flap of the ordinary looking tent and entered the impossibly roomy glamour of the interior. `` Well, I guess it's true what they say… the fastest way to a man's heart is through his breadbasket. '' She said upon seeing him, gesturing to the luscious paste on the ornate mesa as she sat down. Toying with her seashell necklace, she shot him a seductive smile.

'' Whatever you say. '' He muttered, sitting as far from her as he could before beginning to mob his home. `` Thanks. '' He said without looking at her, too well trained by Molly to be completely rude. They ate in secretiveness and he could palpate her becoming irritated, it only made him more comfortable.

'' wellspring, I've decided that in the interest of continuing a civilized conversation we will play a biz of sorts. '' She announced after a myopic while.

'' Boy, it sure is well-off not to take to think for myself… I wish mortal had been making my determination for me my whole life. '' He answered sarcastically.

'' Putting your snarkiness aside, I'm offering you a one in a million chance to infer me better. ``

'' Who says I want to ? ``

She smiled, ignoring his attitude. `` I'm going to let you ask me whatever you want about anything and I promise to tell you the accuracy. ``

'' And I'm supposed to believe you ? '' He raised an supercilium. `` Exactly which one of us do you think is the gaga one, because I've been casting my vote for you for awhile now. ``

'' Humor can be a dandy way to forefend anything real from reaching you. '' She replied steadily. `` seminal fluid on, I know you're curious…. ``

And he was. There were quite a few matter he'd like her to clear up for him, but how could he trust anything she said ? The only way was to test her by throwing in questions he already knew the answer to. `` okey, I'll play your little game. But if I think you're lying to me, I'll just go summarize my hermit walk. ``

'' Fair enough. '' She rested her mentum on her hired man and stared at him expectantly, wearing a genuine grin that reached all the way to her gold centre. `` So ? ``

'' Why are you doing this to me ? '' He blurted without thinking it through. It was the thing that was most on his mind and so the question had burst out of him before he could really plan what he wanted to say.

'' Oh Fred… I'm not doing this to you, I'm doing this for you. '' She dropped her regard slightly as a tip of sadness overcame her. `` Everyone is trapped by something… We're both prisoners right now, so why not urinate our cage the best it can be- a beautiful island nirvana ? ``

'' And how exactly are you trapped ? '' He asked though he felt she'd crafted her reply in Holy Order to manipulate his next question. Apparently there was something she specifically wanted to talk about and was in the summons of directing the conversation. He allowed it simply because he was queer, but he forced himself to remember that he knew what she was doing.

'' I thought I had fairly bought my way into something when really it was all set up to ensure my next confederation and obedience. '' She answered, lowering her eye to hide the flash of superfluity that passed through them.

'' Meaning what ? '' He pushed, intrigued despite himself.

Elanya sighed and shook her read/write head. `` I've always considered myself to be pretty clever… I'm sure you used to intend the like about yourself. Well, let's just say that Elise and Sarah have humbled us both the in conclusion few months with the grand outline they've wrapped around us. ``

'' The dispute being that you helped them do it to me. '' He said angrily, brushing off her attempt to get him to empathize with her.

'' Only because I had no option ! '' She protested. `` When they told me that I had to take you away while they set up things in Jack London I tried to get out of it, I really did. But that's when Elise told me the accuracy, that she'd tricked me and I wasn't even faithful to coming up even for the aid they gave me in getting rid of Edmund. ``

Pushing his plate aside, Fred leaned forward on the table and decided it was metre for him to turn the conversation his way so that he could test her honesty. `` And what did you think you had already done to riposte them ? ``

She hesitated as if she really didn't want to tell him. But then she shrugged, remembering that this had all been her estimation in the world-class place. `` I thought I had provided the spy… but it turns out he and Elise have a long chronicle together and bringing him into things had always been a part of her plan. They set it up so that he and I would run into each other… I had thought I was being so thrifty, making for sure I would go into this not owing anyone anything. ``

'' Who's the spy ? '' He pushed, already knowing the answer… that is if Hermione's brief visit hadn't been some sort of delusional mirage.

Elanya met his heart and offered a sad smile. `` Well, what can it hurt ? It's not like you'll be capable to warn anyone back at Hogwarts. It's prof Dolos Erebos. ``

He made sure to show an capture amount of surprisal, letting his middle widen and his jaw drop slightly as if this was the low time he was hearing this. `` Really ? A professor ? ``

She nodded slowly as she carefully studied him. `` I met with him in Australia and he was everything Elise had told me she'd been looking for. I had thought I was the one convincing him to join us but it was all part of their programme to trap me. ``

'' And why would they go through such elaborate quantity ? '' Fred was almost sure she was telling the truth so far… Hermione had certainly indicated that Elanya may be in trouble and now the female child was confirming it. He just didn't know why she was telling him all of this, but he may as well use the situation to his vantage and see as much as he could.

'' Because Elise and Sarah truly believe they can make their own place in this war and that if they have the right kind of citizenry on their side they'll be able to take on both Voldemort and the Ministry. '' She shook her head angrily. `` I was appalled to watch that Voldemort's thought to gather a psychic army was actually Elise's brainchild. It was how she got him to help her uncovering Sarah. But they planned to make allies of the people he gathered, to get them to figure out towards taking over completely. ``

'' So that's how they learned about Luna ? ``

She nodded. `` And Harry Potter too. At foremost Elise and Sarah didn't aid who lived or died in conflict while they quietly plotted their own uprising. But when Harry started showing his potential and they learned Luna Lovegood was a seer, they knew they wanted them. It's why Elise burned your shop in Diagon Alley during the summertime. ``

He sat up, suddenly extremely interested. He'd been wondering for a prospicient time the real reason Elise had targeted his fund. `` What do you mean ? ``

Elanya sighed deeply as a look of remorse settled over her. `` Voldemort had a prophet named Jasper, he was old and not as good as Luna seems to be. But that didn't matter to Elise, he was all she had and so she'd already convinced him to cave in his ultimate loyalty to her over Voldemort. He told her that he'd had a visual modality that something was going to take Harry to Diagon skittle alley alone and that Voldemort was going to make his move against the boy. She worried about the consequence as she wanted Harry on her side, working with Sarah specifically since they portion the same power… of course, she'd only just found Sarah at that time. So not knowing what else to do, Elise decided to set your shop of fire, ensuring not only that Harry wouldn't be alone, but that there would be several Aurors in the area. After all, the minister of religion would be for sure to answer in full force to a report of arson at his son's entrepot. ``

He took a steadying breath, trying to look on the brilliantly side as he argued with himself… had something brought Harry to Diagon back street alone that day to face Voldemort, his decease Eaters and the Dementors, there's no way he could have survived. At least Elise's destruction had kept the unthinkable from happening… he'd much rather have his store ruined than his friend dead. After all, they'd already rebuilt the shop… there wasn't another Harry Potter laying around. `` I remember reading in the report that Jasper died rather mysteriously. '' He said at last. Of course he hadn't read anything about it, but he recalled Hermione telling him about it during one of their secret conversations.

'' There was zippo orphic about it. Jasper made the Saami misunderstanding I did by intellection he was an adequate in their plans. I guess he was scared enough to want to tell someone about his vision, but he chose the unseasonable people. He saw his own death though not the hand that brought it to him, and then he saw your friends up at Hogwarts using that silly ring to try and reach him from beyond for selective information. He thought it was Voldemort that was going to end his life so he went to Elise who saw her opportunity. Sarah may not have a verge, but she has mastered many early skills, first and foremost her astral projection. They decided to bolt down him so that she could merge with his awareness and institutionalize herself in his berth when they called him… When it never happened, they guessed that Luna must bear seen something and stopped her supporter from using the ring. It only made them want her on their side more, especially since they'd so hastily set about rid of Jasper. ``

Fred's brain was reeling. So many things were coming together now, it was inconceivable that she wasn't telling him the truth. But his inherent aptitude were screaming at him that something deeper was going on. `` Why are you telling me all of this ? ``

'' I don't really know. '' She smiled, crossing her arms and leaning forward. `` I guess I'm tired of you thinking badly of me. I've never gone so long being so thoroughly ignored. Maybe I figured that if you saw that I was as often a dupe of their plotting as you are, then perhaps you'd kickshaw me ameliorate while we're stuck here together. ``

'' You made yourself a victim. '' He stated firmly, once more compulsive to hold on himself from empathizing with her. He remembered her once telling him that the best way to tear of a lie was by mixing in the truth… It was clearly a acquirement she had mastered.

Elanya looked away, but even in profile he could see a mixed bag of shame, rue and anger settle over her lineament. `` Yes, I suppose I did. ``

He couldn't help himself, he had to experience. `` If you were so captive on killing your founder, then why didn't you do it yourself, without involving them ? ``

'' You think I haven't tried before ? ! '' She yelled as she leapt to her feet and began pacing in agitation. `` Edmund Fritz was a high-profile man who was extremely paranoid… and rightly so. I certainly wasn't the lonesome one who wanted him dead and he made sure that it was nearly impossible to get to him. I was scared to use my truthful identicalness as his daughter to strive out to him… I knew that my mother had sent me away and died trying to protect me because he wanted to use me, to hand me over to Voldemort in a ceaseless quest to acquire favor from a man who favored no one. I didn't want her to die in vain but it soon became clear that my very name was going to be the sole thing to get me near him. But I knew I couldn't go in alone, that I needed someone strong backing me up in type something went wrong. ``

'' And that's what Elise and Sarah promised you. '' He said quietly, watching her grow more disturbance as her chronicle went on.

'' It was only after the human activity was done that I found out they had wanted to get rid of Edmund anyway. Apparently he'd become jealous of the attention Voldemort was giving the fille and so he was doing his best to undermine them. They figured there was too good a fortune he'd figure out some part of what they were up to and so they knew he needed to go. They must take tracked me down, found me in Australia… my grandmother had just died and I'd just gone back there to spend her last few days with her… I was in a vulnerable place and Elise showed up offering me the hazard to do the thing I'd been wanting for years. ``

Fred had been careful during the unanimous conversation, wanting to piece up on any foretoken of dishonesty. For the outset prison term he found one… her articulation had gone up slightly in volume. It could be due to her gathering excitement as she recalled these result, but he had the nagging feeling that matter hadn't happened exactly as she described. What did it matter how she and Elise came to join forces ? Why lie about it ? But he couldn't ask these dubiousness and expect any sort of solution. His only hope was to go on and hope he could piece it all together himself. `` Do you rue killing your father ? ``

She stopped pacing and turned to look him straight in the eye. `` Not for a single instant. '' She steadily replied. `` I only regret that I couldn't have been more patient role and found a way to do it by myself. When I tried to back out of this all affair, when I told them I didn't want to be a part of kidnapping you… Elise made it very clear that despite the delusive evidence I left at the scene, she could very easily tie me to my forefather's dying. I have no dubiousness that she would send me to Azkaban without a second thought. So I had to take, a jailhouse cell locked away with the giants or stranded on an island with you. I took the in force voice punishment. ``

'' But if you hadn't killed Edmund, you never would give had to prepare that choice. '' He argued.

'' Maybe, maybe not. They could have found another way of ensuring my cooperation if they really wanted to. The significant thing to take down here Fred, is that regardless of whether it was me or someone else, you would stimulate always wound up on this island. '' She seemed frustrated. Clearly this wasn't going the way she wanted, he wasn't giving her the response she'd expected…

But then he wasn't going to allow himself to be like all the other masses she'd been able to wrap around her finger, he'd always been determined to be warm than that from the first second she'd walked into his shop. `` You're probably right… We'll never know though will we ? ``

'' Do you detest me ? '' She asked quietly, taking him by surprise.

'' I thought I was the one who got to ask the interrogation. '' He said with a nervous laugh.

Elanya smiled. It was a slow coyly confident smile as she reveled in the fact that she'd finally unsettled him. `` And I've answered them all. Can't you answer just one for me ? ``

'' That wasn't share of the deal. '' He stalled.

She slowly walked over to lean on the bound of the table in battlefront of him. `` You know, there's only two intellect you won't answer. Either you do detest me but you're too very much of a gentleman to say it… though we both know that you're More than willing to severalize anyone exactly how you feel about them. So the only early explanation is that you've realized you don't hate me and just can't bring yourself to intromit it for some inscrutable grounds. ``

He leaned back in his hot seat and crossed his weapon as he regarded her with false confidence. `` Or I've simply decided it's scoop not to go through aliveness hating anyone. Of course, I could always make an exclusion if you'd care to force the issue. ``

'' Has anyone ever told you that you're completely frustrating ? '' She asked with a tight smile.

'' Many times over. '' He grinned easily, once more enjoying that he'd managed to prance her feathers by not playing directly into her hand.

'' I'm going for a walk. '' She announced, standing up and taking a deep breath. `` I cooked, you can clean. '' She added before leaving the tent.

Fred looked around feeling completely off precaution. She'd never left him alone in the tent before, which had only led him to believe that she had things to hide from him here. But clearly her frustration with his lack of gullibility had caused an supervision on her behalf and he knew he needed to take advantage of it. He raced to her elbow room, pulling back the fuss that separated the space from the repose of the tent and taking a cursory looking around before carefully proceeding to go through everything. Ensuring he returned things to the way he'd found them, he went through all of her stuff hoping to come across a communication twist of some kind… or even better, his verge. After a retentive and thorough search, he came up with neither.

( fault )

Harry stared at Simon the Canaanite, trying to determine exactly what he thought of the early boy. He just wasn't sure… he couldn't get past the extremes the guy had gone through in order to sustain a simpleton conversation. But then, had Simon been right ? Would they have listened had he simply approached them and asked to spill the beans ? He shook himself out of his thoughts, refusing to let his angriness and confusion make him do anything stupid. `` How do we cognize that having you tell us all of this isn't part of the plan ? '' He asked. After all, if Elise had gone through so much, then why wouldn't she go even a footstep further and send in the clown ? Surely she didn't expect them to have Simon seriously even if they did jazz he thought he was telling the truth… or at least the truth as she wanted him to screw it.

He sighed and shook his head. `` I had a belief you'd ask me that. All I can say is that I only know what I've seen and heard. She certainly hasn't told me to come to you and I doubt she realizes I know that she wants to kill me. But has she somehow directed things so that I would come in talk to you, I just don't know… anything is potential with her. ``

'' So as far as you know, Elise's whole program is to pucker as many psychics as she can and then fight both sides of the war, hoping to come out on top ? '' Luna asked quietly and with far Thomas More control over herself than Harry could grapple. But he tried to continue steady, to commemorate that they needed to know what they were up against… she still had her hand on his arm, trying in vain to help oneself him be successful in relaxing though he could smell out her malaise at what she was hearing.

'' It's part of her plan. '' Simon seemed a bit uncertain for the first sentence since he'd begun talking. `` I guess even I don't know everything, but I figured if I told you enough, you'd be able-bodied to at least stop her doing me in. And yes, I really believe she'd murder me if it helped her cause… She ensured they got rid of Jasper simply because she wanted you Luna, she knows you're a better seer than that old man ever was, you've already helped queer hers and Sarah's plans a few fourth dimension. She was trying to help Voldemort seizure you, though she had no intentions of handing you over… she wants to win over you and Harry both to join her. '' Again he looked directly at Jacey. `` And if she knew you were a firestarter like her, she'd want you too. ``

'' I am not anything like your wretched sister. '' Jacey said defensively as she cupped her hands together and began rolling them until she had developed a hefty powerhouse between them. She lifted it over her chief and brought it down, engulfing her total body in flames as she stood there smiling at them. `` I am much more powerful. '' She laughed, extinguishing herself and leaving no indication that anything out of the ordinary had just transpired.

Herb Simon swallowed hard as he stared at her in disbelief… clearly he'd never seen his Sister do something like that before. `` Good. '' He said at last. `` Someone should be. They already knew Harry was unattackable than Sarah, that's why they had to make sure he lost his force before they tried to talk to him. ``

'' You're talking about what happened at Azkaban ? How could they possibly know that they weren't going to kill me with that Psychohemia potion ? '' Harry asked in exasperation. They all knew Simon was telling them the truth, but he just didn't like what he was hearing anymore now that it was going against what he knew had happened. But then, he was quickly learning from the early boy that there lots of things he didn't know about the things that had been happening to him, his champion and his foe. Elise had apparently been pulling several unlike strings for quite awhile.

'' Because they'd convinced Jasper to go for them long before then. '' Simon answered carefully. `` True the old guy told Voldemort that some determination was going to run you to the prison house and right in front of Cho, but it was Elise who made the Dark master recall it was his idea to use Sarah's talents to try and take you out. But Jasper assured her it wasn't going to drink down you, that you were going to get help in time to save your life story but not your great power. ``

'' Except Sarah did nearly kill us at my aunt and uncle's firm. '' Harry replied, hiding the phantasm pain he felt in his deal and leg where he'd been stabbed all those months ago. Glancing at Luna out of the corner of his eye, he remembered her face covered in rakehell after Sarah kicked her and how her arm had been broken while trying to hold open Sarah from killing him. `` She didn't seem too concerned with convincing us to join her then. '' He added angrily as everything from that night came back to him including Ron nearly being burnt to a crisp.

'' Yeah well, as I'm sure you've noticed, the only job Elise has in partnering with Sarah is that the adult female is more than a short sick. She was only supposed to excruciate you, it was your muggle class she was supposed to kill in front of you… on Voldemort's society, not Elise's. But I guess something about them reminded her of all those hoi polloi she was forced to be with growing up and she came to resent you for putting up with it… She began to really see you as debile than her and so she alone decided in that moment that she didn't want you to link up them. At to the lowest degree, that's how she explained it to Elise after they broke her out of the hospital and woke her from the coma. Trust me, Elise let her have it for deviating from the program and nearly killing you both. Anyway, Sarah said she really lost ascendance when Luna came in with the ring… she wanted it and they all knew Voldemort wanted it and so obtaining the ringing became her main antecedency above all else, including her condom as well as yours. By the way, after finding out that you all got out and managed to capture her for a short time as well as get your ability back, she no longer thinks you're weak. ``

'' I'm flattered. '' Harry said sarcastically.

'' Does she have sex that we went into her store while she was unconscious mind ? '' Luna asked, squeezing his arm as concern overwhelmed her.

But Simon stared back at her in surprise, allowing them to instantly relax. `` No, not that I'm aware of. I certainly had no musical theme you'd done that… what did you see ? ``

'' Do not worry about that, we will be the ones to ask the interrogation. '' Jacey said with authority.

'' What about Cho ? Where does she fit into all of this ? '' Harry picked up where they'd just left off, thinking that what they had seen in Sarah's head at least confirmed that the girls were working together behind Voldemort's back.

He sighed and nodded. `` Well, she's plotting with Sarah only. But whatever plan those two had going, it was in topographic point long before Elise reconnected with Sarah. In fact, I remember Elise trying to verbalise Sarah into dropping Cho but she had insisted the young lady would be valuable again once they broke her out of Azkaban. My hypothesis is that if they manage to get Cho out, Elise will observe the opportunity to get rid of her as soon as possible. Just because she and Sarah are cheeseparing confidant doesn't mean they wouldn't betray each former in a secondment if it meant furthering their own agenda. Loyalty means nothing to them. '' Paul Simon said bitterly as he struggled against the spell holding him in property. `` volition you let me go now ? Please ? '' He pleaded.

We have to get back anyway… Dumbledore is looking for us and I think we're in a lot of trouble. Luna said. Harry turned to appear at her and realized she had that far off facial expression that meant she wasn't completely lay out in the room.

'' mulct. '' He waved his wand and released the other boy from the binding.

Paul Simon leapt to his ft to quickly stretch before eagerly reaching into his pocket and pulling out his flask from which he took a long gulp. `` Phew, I needed that. '' He said, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. After another gulp he seemed less wobbly and nervous.

'' We have to get back to the school, are you going to be okay ? '' Harry asked Jacey.

'' I will be just delicately. '' She assured him with an wanton smile.

'' What are you going to recite them about me ? '' Herb Simon asked, suddenly scared again. `` I never intended it to turn out this way ! I was going to unlock the door, I didn't mean value for you to actually damage the schoolhouse ! ``

'' Yeah, this is all my fault. '' Harry rolled his eyes. `` upright continue your mouth shut when we get back there and let me do all the talking. '' He reached out and roughly grabbed the boy's arm before apparating back to Hogwarts with Luna a few second behind them. They were trusted to get behind Hagrid's hut where the hazard of being seen were very slim.

Silently, they all three made their way up to the castle, running into Hermione in the courtyard. `` Where have you been ? And what are you doing with him ? '' She demanded, eyeing Simon suspiciously.

'' It's a longsighted story, Mione. '' Harry sighed. `` We'll tell you after we deal with Dumbledore. ``

She nodded and led the way through the halls to the Headmaster's office. `` Just so you're cognizant, Dumbledore has all the prefects out looking for you guys but I think he knows you pull up stakes school grounds. '' She warned them. Sharing a smell with Luna, she and Harry both decided to let Hermione enter first, hoping the sight of a good student would break the old wizard's climate. `` Sir ? I've found Harry, Luna and Neil Simon. ``

'' See them in young lady Granger and then you are dismissed. '' He replied from behind his desk. Hermione let them take the air past her before she closed the doorway and bolted down the stair. Dumbledore gestured to the three chairperson in front of him and waited until they settled themselves. He looked at all of them, but it was net he was addressing Harry alone. `` What did you recollect you were doing damaging the school like that ? ``

'' It was an chance event. '' He quietly answered.

'' I have no doubt that it was. '' Dumbledore said, his voice quivering as he tried to hide his anger. `` Why would you do this Harry, when you're so close to being done here ? This isn't something I can cover up up for you. ``

'' So don't. I'll go fix it. ``

He shook his head. `` It's not that round-eyed. Like the ministry and certain other building, witching isn't enough to repair the price. It must be rebuilt by helping hand to maintain the strength of the good luck charm we place upon our schooling. And even if you did fix it, my hand are tied in wish to how we can handle this, especially after I've pushed so operose to have the recently disappeared Tristan Macnair expelled. ``

'' What are you saying ? '' Luna asked nervously.

He sighed sadly. `` I'm saying that after having Miss Patil, Mr. Mason and Mr. Macnair go missing, after the destruction Cho Chang caused last year, and after all the cumulative trouble that has been caused… I have no option but to exhaust you all from Hogwarts for your unfavourable natural process, effectual immediately. ``

'' You can't ! '' Harry protested.

'' You all were involved in an incident that resulted in severe damage to one of our classrooms and then you all left school ground in direct intrusion of the codification of deportment. I have to take this natural action before the less dependable of the Aurors out there make up one's mind to try and say that you had something to do with Tristram's escape and attempt to take you all into hold for questioning. Should that happen, it's not guaranteed that Arthur will be able to see that you get into the aright hands. '' Dumbledore seemed to slump down in his tush. `` You've put us all in a tight stead and we must be thrifty how we proceed. ``

'' But wouldn't it be better to find a way to observe us here ? The Aurors and anyone else could still come after us once we leave, but if we're here then we're more protected. '' Luna argued.

'' I agree, but if I didn't go through with this, it would be far too well-heeled for them to accuse me of favoritism and affair are too fragile right now. The thin thing could give them the self-justification to boot out me from here and put anyone they choose in place as schoolmaster. As you saw last clip, there are too many impressionable Whitney Young minds here to tolerate that to happen. I refuse to let this school go a breeding ground for the next undulation of Death feeder. Everyone must be free to take the liveliness they want. ``

'' So instead you just throw away our future ? '' Simon asked incredulously, not knowing anything of the Order and therefore ineffective to comprehend the demand to keep things a certain way so that the powerfulness didn't shifting in the opposition's favor.

Suddenly the office door swung receptive behind them and lupin came rushing in. `` Stop ! It's not their fault, it's mine ! ``

'' And do you really expect anyone to believe that ? '' Dumbledore asked tiredly.

'' Does it matter as long as there's someone to blame ? '' He pressed. `` Tell them whatever you want… severalise them that the youngster were working on a project for me and affair went wrong. They left the school to occur looking for me because they knew that I had snuck out to see Tonks and didn't want me to get in trouble. That taradiddle should be respectable enough. ``

'' You realize what will happen if you decide to go through with this… given what you are, the parents already have a low room access of permissiveness for you. If you take the blame for the destruction to the schoolroom, if you insist these students only left school to cover up for you… then I'll have no pick but to end your employment here. ``

'' No ! '' Harry protested, leaping to his feet.

Lupin reached out to seize his shoulder, using his considerable strong point to storm Harry back into his professorship. `` I understand the consequences. I accept it. ``

Why are you doing this to yourself ? Harry asked pleadingly.

Because, I feel I owe it to King James and Lily to do everything in my mogul to have you finish school day. I can't just let you know it up with two week to go. He answered with a grin. It'll be okay, Harry. I promise.

He held his breath and glanced at Luna and Simon out of the nook of his eye and realized lupin wasn't just doing this for him. The other two were only in their sixth year and he felt guilty that his brash actions may cause them to turn a loss out on their breeding. Letting out the breathing spell slowly, he turned to front at the older wizard, awaiting his decision along with everyone else.

Dumbledore took his time studying lupin before at last shaking his point and rising from his tush. `` okeh, if this is the way you want it to be. I'll see to it that you are able to eat up out the final two weeks of this semester, as it will be impossible to supercede you on such short-circuit notice. It's been a joy to deliver you here. ``

'' It's been wonderful being here. '' lupin assured him before quickly ushering the teen from the office before the headmaster could change his mind. Simon tried to cave in off from the group as soon as they were in the hallway but Harry reached out and grabbed his arm, ensuring he followed them. He still had a few things to say to the other boy. They walked silently down to lupine's function, though the aged man was the entirely one who seemed to be in a skillful mood.

'' Are you sure about this ? '' Harry asked as soon as lupin closed the door.

'' Of course I'm sure as shooting. Otherwise I wouldn't have done it. '' He grinned. `` I had planned on resigning at the end of this year anyway. I really like education, but I'm certainly needed elsewhere and like you Harry, I hate feeling locked away here when there are so many affair happening out in the world. And with you and genus Draco leaving, there's really nothing to keep me here any longer. Plus I don't like being away from Tonks for so long, her job already keeps us apart so why should I continue to let mine add to the breed when I have another choice ? So you see, I'm entirely positively charged that this is the right affair to do. ``

'' But you won't exactly be leaving here on the best of terminus if you take the blame for this. '' Luna argued.

Lupin reached out to reassuringly pat her shoulder. `` I have long ago learned to hold up with former people's misguided opinions of me. As long as I am in commodity standing with the people who know me, that's all that matters. '' He went to sit behind his desk and pulled out a roll of blank parchment and a fresh quill. `` Besides if I were to ride out here, then who would be out there looking after you all when you get yourselves stuck in a corner ? '' He teased, reminding them that this wasn't the first time he'd helped get them out of their own mess. `` Plus Draco is going to need guidance in navigating lifetime out in the real worldly concern where people don't take as kindly to what we are so I'm actually glad to have a reason to go forth my posture early. The fact that it helps you kids out is just a incentive. ``

'' wellspring I certainly appreciate it. '' Simon said gratefully. `` I mean because I have no where else to go likewise Hogwarts so I'm sword lily I get to total back. '' He added quickly when he saw the public eye Harry had shot him for speaking at all.

Lupin nodded and smiled. `` Think nothing of it. ``

'' It just seems unjust that we can't simply explicate what really happened. '' Luna said absently as wrapped her weapons system around herself.

'' What happened to you ? '' Lupin asked, finally noticing the bandage that peeked out from the arm of her schooling robes.

She and Harry shared a coup d'oeil as Simon the Zealot looked down at the floor and shuffled his feet. `` Just a slight accident caused by a simple misunderstanding. '' She said at final, lowering her blazonry and pulling the hems of her sleeves down.

'' I see. '' He shook his read/write head and sighed. `` To answer your earlier musing… no one would listen if you tried to explain what really happened. It's a play for power out there and no one is interested in the verity unless it gets them what they want. Too many affair have been happening here, no one would take a pupil's word on anything when they barely trust what the professors and Dumbledore have to say. ``

'' Especially if one of the students is me, right ? '' Harry asked miserably.

'' It's a sad but true fact that adding your gens to anything will instantly get it more refine. But don't let it trouble you, having opposition only means that you've stood up for something important. '' Lupin answered with a gentle smile. `` Now if you'll excuse me, I must write to my wife and inform her that we are soon to turn a one income household for awhile. ``

'' You know that you and Tonks always have your elbow room at my house. '' Harry offered, feeling it was the least he could do.

'' And we may just take to admit you up on that. '' He laughed. `` The Price of rent is ridiculous these days. ``

Leaving him to write his letter, the stripling all stepped out into the Radclyffe Hall. As soon as the door closed behind them, Harry grabbed Simon up by the front of his robes and shoved him back against the wall. `` If I find out that you're somehow setting us up I swear to you that your babe won't have the chance to off you because she'll never find your consistency. '' He threatened, wanting to affright the boy into revealing whether he was truly trustworthy.

'' I promise I'm not setting you up ! '' He instantly replied, his optic across-the-board and his heart banging wildly in his chest.

'' We'll see. '' Harry muttered before bringing his face in airless to Herb Simon's, tightening his bobby pin and pushing against the boy's throat. `` From now on, if you think you have something you need to differentiate someone, hail straight to me because going anywhere near Luna or any of my other friends would certainly be the magnanimous mistake you'll ever make in your biography. ``

Simon nodded in agreement, clearly seeing in Harry's eyes just how often he meant his menace. `` I'll total right to you ! '' He gasped out, reaching up to try and promote Harry away.

He released the other boy and simply turned and walked away, knowing Luna was following him and feeling her disfavour. He waited until they were all the way back to his room before speaking to her. `` I'm not sorry about how I dealt with him. ``

She looked at him a moment before nodding slowly. `` okey. '' She said quietly.

'' I know you're mad at me… '' He began pacing, feeling all of the energy and epinephrine he'd been building up since she'd first called out to him lead off to bubble over as it tried to receive some way to escape.

'' Of course I'm not mad… I'm not sure what I am. This has been a very strange day and I'm still trying to sue it. '' Luna argued, sitting comfortably on the edge of the bed as she watched him walk around the room, allowing him to get out some of his pent up frustration.

Harry went to the window and clutched the sill as he stared out over the school grounds. He took respective deep breaths before turning back to her. `` But you really are okeh, right ? ``

'' I'm fine, just a bit troubled by what we've learned. '' She gently assured him. `` I guess it's even more significant that we go get Fred before Elanya has the chance to convince him that her version of events is the truth. ``

'' Couldn't it be ? '' He debated. `` I mean, I know Simon Zelotes was telling us his interlingual rendition of the the true and I believe Elise and Sarah are that cunning. But what if their totally plan was tricking him into telling us all of this so we wouldn't believe what Elanya had to say ? What if they really are setting her up and what we saw in Erebos's head is true ? Maybe they did know we'd figure out who the spy was and that we'd want to look in his head… what if they used Simon to disperse around doubtfulness so that we wouldn't know what to believe ? ``

'' Well, if that's the case then it seems to consume worked, at least on you. '' She pointed out, smiling as he stared at her in double-dyed confusion. `` Personally, I think I believe him even though there's something about him that unsettles me… but despite that, I truly think Elanya is very practically working with Elise and Sarah. ``

Harry nodded in hesitating espousal. He'd learned his object lesson about questioning her intuition, if she thought Elanya wasn't the victim they were trying to portray her to be then that was most likely the way it was. `` Okay, so we go on with the supposition that she's against us. ``

'' I think that's the safe for us… to assume she and Simon both are the enemy until they can definitively prove otherwise. '' She stood and came over to wrap her arms around his shank and hug herself against him.

He kissed the top of her head and returned the embrace. `` I have no trouble with that. ``

She pulled away and looked at the door. `` Hermione knows we're done with Dumbledore, she's on her way over here. ``

Sure enough an insistent knocking came at the door and Harry went to let her in. `` So ? What happened ? '' She demanded, walking in and turning to front them both. Together they pieced together everything that had happened and filled her in completely on what Simon had told them and what they'd concluded as a result. `` You're sure Elanya isn't being set up ? '' She asked, her human face going white as she began to panic.

'' Almost completely positive, what's wrong ? '' Luna went over to top Hermione to a chair.

'' It's just that… I so badly wanted to see Fred, to form sure he was okay. I decided to practice my stellar projection and to my surprise, not only did it body of work, he was able to see me. '' She answered, nearly shaking as she tried not to cry.

'' You talked to Fred ? Did you let him have intercourse we were coming to get him ? '' Harry asked, kneeling following to her and taking her hand in comfort.

'' Yes, but I also told him everything else ! I wanted to assure him that we'd taken care of everything so he could leave without worrying… including that we knew who the spy was ! I told him that you guys found out that Elanya was a dupe of Elise and Sarah's game too… he thinks she isn't the enemy ! ``

'' It'll be fine, Hermione. '' Luna said softly. `` We're going to get him tomorrow. ``

'' No ! '' Hermione leapt to her human foot and turned to them in anguish. `` She's making him talk to her now ! He'd been refusing this whole clock time but I saw her threaten to get off Erebos after Ron and Ginny if he didn't starting speechmaking to her. Don't you see ? I led him to believe that she was just another instrument in Elise and Sarah's game… what if he lets his sentry duty down ? What if she's able to convince him to believe her ? '' She stared at them in horror as every logical implication of Fred trusting Elanya ran through her straits. `` What have I done ? '' She whispered.

( BREAK )

As soon as it was morose, Fred grabbed his integral bed curlicue and went down to the beach. Ensuring he was far enough from the lunar time period, he set everything up and build up a small-scale fire, silently thanking his founding father for teaching him how to do so the muggle way- without a wand. certain it was the more difficult way to do thing, but at survive his father's obsession with learning the why's and how's of all things muggle had paid off. Once indisputable the blaze had caught, he lay back to look at the stars. He didn't know where Elanya had gone, nor did he care… she hadn't returned from her paseo and the longer she was gone the more sure he was that he didn't want to be there when she did show up up.

She'd told him so many affair and sufficiency of it had seemed not only to be likely but made too much sense not to be true. He was confused… If Hermione had really been on the island, then she'd told him things that Elanya had completely admitted to. Did it matter ? And if it did, then why did it topic ? Elanya had gotten herself caught up in this, she was no innocent bystander. Had she not wanted so badly to kill her father, the other girls wouldn't have had anything to tempt her into accepting their offering. On the other hand, he was now capable to put himself in her shoes… why wouldn't she want to kill the man who murdered her mother and was trying to use his own girl to buy his way into the good state of grace of an evil man like Voldemort ? Even Willem had come to terms with the fact that his niece had killed his sidekick and was still willing to contact out to the fille as it was top even to him that she needed to be rescued… if not from Elise and Sarah, then from herself. So if Willem could forgive her, then who was he to try her ?

Clearly he didn't think as badly of her as he'd thought anyway… why else wouldn't he have just told her hated her ? It was the one thing that bothered him more than anything else. She'd been right in saying that he had no problem telling people that he didn't like them, so why couldn't he just say it ? Annoyingly she had picked up on the lone reason… because he didn't hate her. But so what ? Not hating person wasn't exactly the same as liking them. After all, he knew he couldn't trust her as far as he could throw her, but then, did that subject either ?

'' So, you've decided to sleep under the stars. ``

He sat up and whipped around to get hold Elanya standing in the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree as if his thoughts of her had forced her to materialize there. Her hair and garb were dancing softly in the slight breeze and her eyes glowed even more brilliantly in the deliquium firelight. `` fountainhead, aren't you the observing one. '' He said sarcastically.

'' I'm sorry I walked out on you in the first place. '' She said, taking a few hesitant steps towards him.

'' Think cipher of it. I'm pretty sure as shooting our conversation was about done anyway. '' He brushed her off and lay back down again, closing his eyes and acting as if she were nada more than a pesky disturbance to him.

'' It's so beautiful out here… and so reposeful. You have the right melodic theme sleeping here on the beach. Mind if I join you ? '' She called, her representative carrying her amusement.

'' slumber wherever you want, what do I care ? '' Fred made sure to sound roiled, hoping that if she did sleep on the beach, she would choose to do it far from him. He heard her soft footsteps as she glided through the sand and then felt her endeavor to climb under the concealment with him. He sat straight up and shinny away from her as he got to his metrical unit. `` What the hell do you think you're doing ? '' He demanded angrily.

'' Well, my cover are all the way back at the campsite and I'm tired now. '' She looked up at him with a coy smile.

'' amercement, take my stuff, it's all yours. I want to go for a float anyway. '' He turned and walked straight toward the H2O, repeating Hermione's name over and over in his head lest he set aside himself to go back and do something stupid.

'' You can't go out there now ! '' Elanya called as she ran after him. `` It's dark ! There could be sharks or any bit of early serious matter and you'd never see them coming ! ``

Despite the literal concern for his prophylactic that he heard in her part, he ignored her and walked straight into the water fully dressed. He continued on until his feet could just barely affect the bottom before deciding that was far enough to deter her from following him. Turning, he began swimming parallel of latitude with the shoreline hoping to go down far enough that she wouldn't caution to walk after him. He could barely see his hand in front of him and realized that is was more than the exercise that was making his heart race. It was very dark out here, and Elanya had been right… He'd never see an underwater fire coming. Quickly deciding he'd gone far enough, he began swimming towards land, crawling up onto the sandy beach and allowing himself to lie there and reside for a moment.

Now more than ever, he was determined to leave the island tomorrow. He couldn't spend one more day alone with Elanya, he was beginning to forget what was veridical and it was becoming more hard not to fall down into her stories. All he had to do was get through tonight. Climbing to his feet, he brushed off as much guts as he could and made his way into the tree diagram to look for some kind of shelter. Coming to the base of the magniloquent muckle, he found a shallow cave. Gathering leaves, he quickly made himself a stead to sleep before gathering enough wood to start a fervidness to retain him strong. Once again he silently thanked his father while hoping that he would get the luck to give thanks him in person very soon.

( intermission )

Draco woke already feeling nervous… he didn't like lying to Ginny and while he may not lie with the exact details of what was going on, he had pieced enough together to make love that she'd be mad to ascertain they'd kept Fred's possibly being in trouble from her. But today was supposed to be the day it would all end and no one would have to lie anymore… at to the lowest degree not about this. It was simple really, while the professors and most of the scholarly person were down at the quidditch pitch enjoying the game between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, ceramicist, Luna and farmer were going to whisk themselves away to rescue Fred from whatever peck he'd gotten himself into. Draco's job was to piss surely neither Ginny nor Ron found out they were gone and more importantly, to proceed them both away from Professor Erebos who Potter had said was a spy and more than than volition to smart someone.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked on Ginny's door. `` Ready to go down to breakfast ? '' He asked as soon as she opened up. Seeing that she was still in her robe and jammies, he realized she hadn't done much since she'd left his room earlier. `` I guess not. '' He said in response to the silent look she gave him, closing the door as he walked in.

'' I don't want to go spotter that dolt game today. '' She said, climbing onto the bed and grabbing her pillow to hold close to her body. `` I don't want to be a theatrical role of anything to do with Ron at the consequence. ``

'' I guess I can sympathise that. '' He said slowly.

'' It's been almost a week ! '' She was clearly frustrated and had her pillow been Ron's neck opening, she'd have already squeezed the life out of him. `` I just can't believe he hasn't come around to apologize to everyone for what he said. ``

'' Why would he ? '' Taking in the glowering expression she shot him, he quickly went on in hope of fixing his mistake. `` I mean, he clearly wanted quad and said the things he knew would labor you all away… after all, he saw how well it worked for ceramicist last year. So why would he come apologize unless he's ready to be around you all again ? ``

'' well, thank you therapist genus Draco, the psychology Boy Wonder ! '' She said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.

'' And since I like you so lots, I'll only charge you half my pattern charge per unit for the excellent wisdom I have to bestow. '' He teased, quickly moving to catch the pillow she whipped at him.

'' Well from now on you can keep your two galleons to yourself because your wisdom isn't even Charles Frederick Worth half that ! '' She taunted back, laughing as he ran over to riposte the pillow assault. She scrambled to snaffle her other pillow and swung low, catching him in the stomach.

'' Oh ! Direct hit ! '' He shouted and fell across the bed.

'' Go in for the kill ! '' She laughed, quickly kneeling over him and battering him over and over with the pillow. ineffectual to hold back his own laughter, he tried his estimable to generate the attempt. Reaching out, he caught her pillow and tried to wrestle it away from her so that he would be in possession of all the plush ammo.

A whang on the door interrupted their battle and they both looked at each other in surprisal as they tried to becharm their breath. Ginny lay back on the bed and stared up at him with a coy grin. `` See who that is, would you darling ? I'm not dressed to receive companionship. ``

He leaned down to buss her before quickly swinging his pillow one last sentence, jumping off the bed with a wicked grin as he avoided her return violation. He opened the door and instantly tensed having already been warned that the person on the other side was interest in harming Ginny. `` Can we serve you professor ? '' He asked, closing the door slightly so that the man couldn't see inside.

'' Isn't it a bit unfitting for Miss Weasley to have a male visitor this former ? '' Erebos asked as he warily regarded Draco.

'' Isn't is a bit inappropriate for a male teacher to descend unsupervised to a female student's room this betimes ? Especially one who already has a swarm of suspicion around his name ? '' He shot back, having been informed of the professor's relationship to Elise McKinney.

'' I've come with a message from the Headmaster. '' Erebos answered defensively. `` Not that I owe an explanation to any student. ``

'' Well, Ginny isn't feeling well. She'll be in her room all day today… and I'll be here with her, taking tending of her. '' He said meaningfully, allowing a small growl to escape his throat lest the man block what exactly he was. `` You can give me the substance, I'll be for certain she gets it. '' With his senses heightened, he was able to hear rustling behind him as Ginny got out of bed and curiously made her way over to the door. Thankfully she was heedful enough to keep herself hidden behind it, but still, a violently protective surge rushed through him and he knew only one affair, the only way the professor was getting in the way was over his stagnant body.

'' The headmaster wishes to speak to young woman Weasley in person. '' Erebos persisted. `` I am to escort her up to his office. ``

'' And why wouldn't he send Professor McGonagall ? '' Dragon asked suspiciously. `` She is the head of the Gryffindor house and a much more likely campaigner to approach Ginny on the Headmaster's behalf than some prof wholly unrelated to her. She isn't even in any of your class. Why would Dumbledore send you ? '' He knew Ginny probably barely recognized the professor as she'd rather chew her own arm off than study Arithmancy.

'' Again, not that I owe an explanation to a student- '' He said tightly, clearly frustrated with this song and terpsichore they were engaged in. `` But she is already down at the quidditch tar assisting Madame Hooch with getting the field ready for today's game. I was in the schoolmaster's office for a meeting and so he simply sent me. ``

'' Well, Ginny is just too ill to entrust her way. I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't want to risk her getting even sicker by forcing herself through these draughty hall. If he needs to tell her something important, I'm sure he would have no problem paying her a visit. '' Draco said smugly. He grabbed the sharpness of the door to conclude it but the professor reached out to give up it from swinging shut.

'' If Miss Weasley is in fact that ill, then perhaps she should go see Madame Pomfrey. '' Erebos suggested slyly. `` I know that if I go and tell her there is a gruesome scholar she will insist on seeing her. ``

'' That's unnecessary. '' genus Draco said calmly while holding the door so tightly in his helping hand he thought the Wood would shatter in his clutches. `` I asked Healer Sir Francis Drake to halt by in the beginning. He said it's a bad frigidity and recommended bed eternal sleep. '' He added in order to thwart the professor's fresh try to get Ginny out of her way. He was trusted Drake would enshroud for them if necessary, after all, he'd done it many metre before. preferably than admit Erebos to occur up with something else, he used his above pattern strength to slam the door shut despite the man's attempts to prevent it open.

'' What was that about ? '' Ginny asked immediately.

Draco quickly pulled his sceptre out of his air hole and cast a silencing charm on the elbow room, both as a precaution and to try and conk before answering her. `` Professor Erebos is a spy for Elise, Sarah and Elanya. '' He decided to start with honesty and go with it until he couldn't. `` They want him to get to you and Ron. ``

'' Why ? '' She asked, sinking down onto her bed in revulsion and confusion.

'' Well… because they have program to take over the ministry. What better way than to use the Minister's shaver against him ? '' He held his breath. Technically what he'd said was rightful although that wasn't the cause the man had decided to make a movement today. But why worry her further by bringing Fred into it ? Especially since he didn't really know the full level or what exactly her brother was involved in, only that Erebos was one of the free ends the others had had to tie up in decree to go after Fred at all. He knew they were connected, just not how… but he'd be damned if he let her get hurt or killed because of any of it. Surely if she knew Fred was involved, she would importune on doing something dangerously reckless in an attempt to help.

Ginny shook her head sadly. `` Poor dad… all he wants to do is make a difference and now he has to live in invariable reverence for us all because of it. ``

'' Seems to me the same could be said for everyone. '' He sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her berm. `` I've surmisal that's just the Mary Leontyne Price you have to pay if you want to brook up for something… the fear of losing everything. ``

We may have a job. Draco thought out to Potter and Luna.

What happened ? thrower immediately answered.

Draco quickly told them of Erebos's visit and the fact that he wouldn't be leaving Ginny's room at all that day. You're going to involve someone else down at the auction pitch looking after Weasley. He concluded definitively, implying that there would be no arguing with his decision to barricade himself in with Ginny.

( BREAK )

Harry had a ugly belief about everything after talking to Draco. Why would Erebos have come to try and get Ginny to go somewhere with him ? What were Elise, Elanya and Sarah planning now ? Whatever it was, it seemed they were just in metre to go rescue Fred. At least the problem of who was going to watch over Ron had been quickly resolved… after a quick call option to Jacey, she had agreed to don an invisibility cloak and hang around the quidditch pitch, just in case Erebos tried to get a hold of a unlike Weasley.

'' I heard the whistle. The biz's started, can we go now ? '' Hermione asked eagerly. She was nearly beside herself with worry and had been since discovering that she'd given Fred misinformation. She'd attempted to project herself back to the island several times during the night but hadn't been capable to notice him again.

'' Both of you grab one of those brooms. '' Harry told her and Luna as he tightly gripped his own Firebolt. They had gone down to the pitch with everyone else only to sneak off into the equipment shed to keep on from being seen.

'' Why ? '' Hermione demanded impatiently.

'' Because Charlie wrote a Holy Writ all about how there are flying dragons on the island. I can't fit you both on my broom and we need to possess some way of escaping quickly if necessary… especially since you said you've read that there are anti-apparation appeal. You and Fred won't be able to apparate without one of us. '' He insisted, wishing the whole clip that both young lady would just let him go by himself. But he knew Luna wouldn't allow that any more than he'd let her do anything like this without him… the argument wouldn't be Worth it as they'd both just end up furious and she'd current of air up coming along anyway. As for Hermione- he knew better than to even suggest she stay behind, despite them all being aware of how emotionally distracted she was. Luckily he trusted they were both capable and tried to let that thought ease his discomfort.

'' As long as we stay out of the mountains, it shouldn't be a problem. '' She replied, eyeing the old exercise brooms warily as Luna stepped up to choose one without faltering. It was obvious which of them was more convinced in their ability to fly.

'' Just take one anyway. '' He pressed with a grin. `` At the very least, Fred will know how to fly it should the pauperization arise. ``

'' amercement. '' She agreed with a gruelling sigh, grabbing the one closest to her. `` Can we go now ? ``

Harry took out his baton and waited as they did the same. They had no idea where they'd wind up having only co-ordinate and scene to use to inspire their apparation to the island. He wanted them to be ready for anything.

As one he and Luna reached out to each take one of Hermione's custody and they all focused on the island. With a tacky crack, they apparated away from the equipment shed and arrived somewhere else entirely. Feeling hard rocky basis beneath his feet, Harry hesitantly opened his heart to take care around. His breathing place caught in his throat as he took in their surroundings. Um, I think we may have just picked the worst potential place to land. He thought out to the girls, not wanting to do any interference fifty they wake the ten dragon currently sleeping around them. As quietly as possible, they all three mounted their Calluna vulgaris, each suddenly glad that he'd insisted they brought them with. Going slow for their sake, he carefully led the way, lightly pushing off from the ground and rising into the air.

Flying away from the pot top and down toward the beach, he looked over his articulatio humeri to hold in on the girls. Luna seemed to get gotten the hang of things after having been in the air a few times before. But Hermione, who always chose to keep on her pes on the dry land if it was an selection, was clearly showing her inexperience. She tried to lower the broom and suddenly lost ascendency, letting out a loud scream as she suddenly zoomed toward the ground.

'' twist up ! '' He shouted as he raced after her. She tried to do as he instructed but couldn't quite accomplish it and she raised her munition to cut through her case as she went down through the trees.

'' Harry ! Look out ! '' He heard Luna cry. Apparently Hermione's initial scream had aroused more than his awe, it had woken the dragons. He quickly whipped to the left as the one that had been silently stalking him stretched out to tear at him. `` They hunt in pairs. '' Charlie's voice filled his head and he instinctively pulled up, just barely missing the other flying dragon that had been waiting for him.

'' Luna ! ? '' He turned to search the sky for her and found her far out over the water system as she tried her considerably to parry the four dragons chasing her while she clung to the broom.

He raced forward to avail only to realise that the other six tartar had chosen to gang up on him as they perceived him to be the intimately flyer and therefore the more unsafe to them. One popped up in front of him, forcing him to go low. He once more searched the sky, trying to catch his bearings… but this clock time he didn't see Luna anywhere. Both she and Hermione had disappeared and now he was alone with eight Dragon. Wait… eight ! He quickly began racing around the island, looking for any sign of Luna and the two flying lizard that were obviously still chasing her. He flew between two of the beasts but unfortunately he wasn't quick enough and he felt one's stern whack into the spinal column of his broom followed by the sound of a deep cracking sound. The ling started to fall apart in his hands and he did his dear to hold in it together as he raced toward the ground. He landed roughly on the beach, shaking off the pain as he picked himself up and ran toward the natural covering of the trees.

He could get wind the brute landing heavily behind him, too bombastic to make water their way through the dense woods. Suddenly tripping, Harry tucked into himself to snap off his fall. Glancing back at what had knocked him over, he found the shattered remains of another broom though he had no musical theme whether it was Luna's or Hermione's. He looked around desperately but there was no one there.

( severance )

Fred woke to a gaudy screech. For a moment he was disoriented, forgetting completely where he was as he scrambled to his feet. Looking around, he remembered making a temporary shelter out of the cave after escaping from Elanya. Another series of ear-splitting shrieks filled the sky and he looked up to see those mysterious creatures circling in the undimmed dawning sunshine. They never came out this late… and they never flew so low. One swept over the trees above him, giving him a frighteningly clearly view of what the fauna actually was… a very orotund flying dragon with precipitous claws, foresighted tooth and wide backstage tipped with unsafe looking horns.

Panic gripped him as he stood there frozen, trying to remember everything Charlie had ever told him about these beast. More than anything, he recalled his Brother saying that dragons were creatures of habit… So why were they acting differently now ? He didn't waste time trying to visualise it out, he had to make sure as shooting Elanya was okay, he couldn't let the only other person on this island die… he didn't want to be here completely alone with these things. He raced through the trees back to the campsite, suddenly upset that he'd decided to journey so far from it in the world-class place.

Being certain to keep on himself deep under the cover of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, he approached their tent and heard Elanya's articulation as she argued with someone. Careful of where he stepped, Fred snuck up as close as he dared… she was standing with her back to him and completely alone, but he could tell that she was holding something up to her sass. `` What do you think Malfoy won't let you near Ginny ? ! '' She cried out angrily. `` I gave you one unproblematic task this morning… Well, you know what to do next. ``

Not waiting to learn more, Fred leapt out from the tree diagram he'd been hiding behind. `` What are you doing ? '' He demanded as he stalked up to her.

She turned to him and dropped her hands, showing him they were void. `` nada. '' She said innocently.

'' Who were you talking to and how ? And why are you talking about my sister ? '' He tried to hide his panic, reminding himself that whatever was happening at least Dragon was doing his part in protecting Ginny from it.

More shrieks filled their air and they both glanced up in panic. Then she stared directly at him, her eyes filling with sorrowfulness. `` I have no choice, you broke the rules. '' She looked away, closing her eyes against her regret.

'' What are you talking about ? ! ``

She pointed up at the dragons now circling dangerously low. `` The only reason they would exit their draw close was if someone disturbed them… clearly we are no longer alone on this island. You were right, your friends came after you… but that means you all have broken the rules and if I don't bring about the punishment for it then I'll be the one to meet it. I like you Fred, but your sibling'lives just aren't more important to me than my own. ``

'' Don't do it. '' He insisted, pleading with her to give in and be the better person he wasn't quite sure she could be. `` I'll aid protect you from Elise and Sarah, we can all celebrate you safe. Just don't let them force you into hurting my chum and sister. ``

'' You'd really do that ? '' She asked, taking an unsure step toward him. `` You'd convince your protagonist to give me a chance ? ``

'' No ! That's part of her plan ! ``

They both whipped around to see who had snuck up on them. Fred couldn't believe his middle as his fondness raced with joy. `` Hermione ? '' She was standing there before him, looking far more actual than the utmost time he'd seen her as she had her wand out and pointed at Elanya. Forgetting everything else in his relief, he raced forward and threw his weaponry around her.

'' We have to find Harry and Luna and get out of here now ! '' She quietly insisted. `` I was ill-timed yesterday, she's no victim… they're all working together to make us want to help her so she can get in and convince Harry and Luna to get together them. ``

'' Who told you that ? '' Elanya demanded, reminding Fred that she was actually still there. She now had her wand out as well and was pointing it directly at them.

'' What does it matter if it's true ? '' He returned, placing himself between her and Hermione despite the fact that he was the only one unarmed.

'' Well, I suppose you can't really argue with that logic… I take it you're just going to automatically consider her over me ? '' Elanya asked with false sweetness.

'' You aren't exactly giving me a reason not to at the moment. '' Fred replied, gesturing to the wand she still had pointed at them. He felt Hermione reach out and take his hand as she used her other to continue wielding her own wand. Squeezing her fingers, he hoped they found a way out of this.

Elanya nodded, a wicked smile spreading slowly across her face. `` I thought as much… I guess it's time to propel to plan B. '' She quickly waved her wand, forcing Hermione to throw up a shield around them. It was enough of a distraction for her to grab the seashell necklace she'd been wearing since they arrived and rip it from her cervix before speaking quickly into it. `` Tell Elise and Sarah that Harry and Luna are here and defeat Ron. '' She instructed.

'' No ! '' Fred started forward but Elanya waved her scepter and sent him flying away. He landed hard on his book binding but barely felt anything as he forced himself to get up. `` submit it back ! '' He demanded.

'' Why should I ? You were warned of the consequences… Just because you have a loup-garou protecting one doesn't mean value we can't get to the early. Your brother will die. ``

'' birdsong Erebos and tell him to leave Ron alone ! '' Hermione ordered, pointing her wand threateningly.

Elanya simply dropped the necklace to the ground and stomped on it, effectively destroying the communication twist. `` What's done is done. You want revenge, do and contain it. '' She dared them.



tone : Provided there are no more horrible accidents with my computing machine or trice private road, look for the next chapter soon !


Chapter 55 : An Island Escape

A/N : Without advance delay… Read, Review, Enjoy !





After wreck landing Hermione sat up and was pleased to let out nothing worse that a few scrapes and kale. Unfortunately the broom hadn't survived as well and lay a few ft away in musical composition. glad that it hadn't been her to wreathe up that way, she shook herself off and got to her feet. She looked around nervously and called out to Harry and Luna but they didn't response her… A quick coup d'oeil up through the treetop let her know why. several dragon seemed to be swooping around in the air while letting out horrifying shrieking sounds. With a broken heather she knew she couldn't do much to help them and they certainly were too distracted to number help her… it was up to her to count on out what to do and she was determined that this not end up like Hogsmeade. She wasn't going to freeze up with indecision, there were too many masses counting on her and to a greater extent than that, she wanted to turn up to herself that she was capable of branching out on her own.

It was often hotter here than it was back at school and so the first thing she did was denudate off her jacket crown before she fainted of heat debilitation. She knew that she had to set forth moving and preferably with a purpose. Using her baton as a locator, she made her way through the Grant Wood, trying not to look anywhere but right in front of her. She didn't want to become distracted, she just wanted to get Fred and get the netherworld off this island. Within ten moment of walking, she found herself at Fred and Elanya's campsite. The two were talking and she heard Fred offering to help the other girl if she would forebode to call off whatever she'd just threatened him with.

'' No ! That's part of her plan ! '' She yelled, racing forward without thinking. Her verge was already out and so she quickly pointed it at the other girl to go along her at bay. It seemed she'd arrived just in meter to stop Fred from getting even more caught up in all of this.

She stopped shortsighted as she saw Elanya pull her own wand out… realizing that Fred was unarmed, Hermione worried that he would get caught in the middle if they started dueling. He stood there and looked at her as if she were the greatest matter he'd ever seen, making her feel more confident in the face of the other missy. `` Hermione ? '' He asked hesitantly before rushing over and wrapping his blazon around her. As good as it felt to receive him hold her, she was heedful to keep open her wand up 50 Elanya decide to use the misdirection to her advantage.

'' We have to find Harry and Luna and get out of here now ! '' She quietly insisted, forcing herself to believe they would have time to properly reunite later if they got themselves out of this now. `` I was wrong yesterday, she's no victim… they're all working together to earn us desire to avail her so she can get in and convince Harry and Luna to link up them. ``

'' Who told you that ? '' Elanya demanded, taking a few footprint forward and pointing her wand more directly at Hermione.

'' What does it matter if it's genuine ? '' Fred asked quietly as he turned and placed himself between the girls.

'' Well, I suppose you can't really argue with that logic… I take it you're just going to automatically believe her over me ? '' Elanya offered them a sweet smiling that dripped with poisonous intentions.

'' You aren't exactly giving me a ground not to at the moment. '' He answered her as he gestured to the fact the she was waving her wand at them. Hermione realized in that moment that he hadn't completely given into believing Elanya, that he'd mostly managed to believe his own instinct. Feeling proud of him, she reached out her free hand to take his, wanting him to know that they were in this together now. She was comforted when he tightly held her hand in return, accepting that she was going to be there with him no topic what.

'' I thought as a good deal. '' Elanya said meanly. `` I guess it's time to move to program B. '' She quickly waved her wand, giving Hermione only seconds to have up a cuticle around herself and Fred to parry the while. Before she could return fire, the girl ripped off her seashell necklace and was already talking into it. `` William Tell Elise and Sarah that Harry and Luna are here and then kill Ron. '' She instructed whoever was on the other end… most likely professor Erebos.

'' No ! '' Fred started forward but Elanya waved her verge and sent him flying. Hermione took her opportunity and scoot several stunners in quick succession but the early daughter was fast, raising her shield in prison term before attempting to fire back and disarm her. By this time Fred had gotten to his pes and back into the thick of things, forcing Hermione to halt her attack so he wouldn't get hit by mistake. `` get hold of it back ! '' He demanded, stalking towards Elanya.

'' Why should I ? '' She pointed her wand at him, keeping him from getting too close to her. `` You were warned of the consequences… Just because you have a werewolf protecting one doesn't mean we can't get to the early. Your brother will die. ``

'' Call Erebos and tell him to lead Ron alone ! '' Hermione said in as authorised voice as she could muster.

Elanya looked directly at her and dropped the necklace to the ground, stomping on it and ruining their but chance to call off the professor from killing Ron. `` What's done is done. You want revenge, come and take it. '' She dared them.

Hermione cast before she was even aware she was doing so, taking both her and Elanya by surprisal. The girl had to dodge rather than harbor, sending Hermione's trance to shatter the trees behind her. Seeing what a severe patch she'd tried to use against her, Elanya stood and wiped the dirt from her dress. `` wellspring, I suppose we've moved past stunners then. '' She laughed wildly and searched for the wand she'd dropped in her haste to move out of the way.

Hermione felt Fred grab her arm and pull in her into the tent. `` Shield it ! '' He yelled at her.

She quickly waved her wand, yelling `` Protego Totalum ! '' and a few former incantations, turning the tent into their own small fortress ... they were get ahead spells she'd only practiced once in the safety of a schoolroom setting. She was truly surprise that she'd been able to action it here while her heart was racing and scare gripped her mind. They could hear Elanya screaming at them from the outside, uselessly hurling enchantment after spell at the tent as she tried to get at them. `` I'm not sure how yearn this will restrain. '' She said fearfully, turning to see that Fred had taken to tearing the place apart. `` What are you doing ? ``

'' I'm looking for my wand… she took it from me but it has to be around here somewhere ! '' He replied desperately as he threw things over his shoulder. He turned to the part of the collapsible shelter that clearly served as the kitchen and started going through the cabinets.

'' You really have a stove in here ? '' She asked incredulously as he struggled to leaf the thing over.

'' When it came to spending my money, Elanya spared no expense. Top of the origin everything… it's supposed to be like camping in the comforter of your home. '' Fred answered bitterly as he upended the icebox next. `` Aha ! '' He shouted, bending down to scoop up a folded towel. surely enough, his wand was wrapped up inside it and Hermione instantly felt a crack of relief knowing that she wouldn't be the just one armed. His own relief was discernible as he tightly gripped his wand and sighed deeply. Then he turned to her and gave her a aspect that sent tingles through her body. Without a word he strode up to her and eagerly placed his hand around her neck, pulling her case to his so that he could passionately charm her rim. He kissed her with such depth and hungriness that she was left feeling dizzy and had to extend to out and grab him to keep her stage from collapsing beneath her. Wrapping his implements of war around her shank he deepened the kiss even more before breaking it off and resting his head against hers. They were both leftfield breathless and happy to once more be so close. `` I'm really glad to see you. '' He whispered.

'' I couldn't tell. '' She teased, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

'' Yeah, well, I'll make it clearer when I have more time to make my point in time. '' Fred grinned before turning unplayful once more. They could still see Elanya out there, doing everything she could to breach the protection charms Hermione had cast. `` We have to get out of here without her visual perception. '' He said, letting her go and turning to survey their temporary stronghold.

'' I'm open air to proffer. ``

He scratched his head and turned to stare at her a mo before breaking into a grin. `` Of course ! If I can fool my own mother then it should be easy to fool Elanya. ``

'' What are you talking about ? '' Hermione asked, watching as he waved his wand over himself.

And then suddenly there were two of him and she had the queasy feeling that George had somehow come back to lifetime. Shaking it off, she tried to smile in support. `` You really think she'll go after our doubles ? ``

'' Why wouldn't she ? '' He asked, waving his wand over her to call down her up a double of her own. Moving hers to stand next to his, he studied them both closely. `` They look good enough to me. '' He shrugged.

'' fountainhead, I certainly don't have a intimately approximation. '' She moved to shroud herself behind the turned-over stove, as Fred took their mute image and instructed them to exit the tent and just run as far and fast as they could.

Knowing that her charms would be broken as soon as the barrier was breached, he shoved them through the porta and quickly came over to bend beside her just in case Elanya wasn't fooled and decided to come hunting the tent. `` Here goes nothing. '' He whispered.

( break of serve )

organism capable to stand down on the theater of operations, Ron almost felt like he really was constituent of the game and was grateful to McGonagall for letting him experience this one small bit of what made him glad. He watched his team fly together and was thrilled to see them pull ahead in the score, cheering them along as any good coach would do. The snow had been magically cleared off the field of operations but he didn't need it to be reminded that wintertime was on it's way, the day was all the way and very low temperature. He huddled deeper into his jacket after applauding Seamus stealing the quaffle from the Ravenclaw chaser.

When the score jumped far enough ahead in Gryffindor's favor, he decided it was safety to take a breach and go down to the refreshment stand for some hot cocoa to warm his insides. Making his way through the locker way, he took the exit leading outside the arena and nearly ran into someone trying to make their way in. `` Oh, excuse me sir. '' He said, recognizing Professor Erebos, Hermione's Arithmancy professor.

'' Not at all Mr. Weasley. It was you I was actually coming to find. '' Erebos replied with what was clearly an attempt at a favorable grin… but the parsimoniousness at the corner of his mouth indicated to Ron that something was troubling the man.

'' What about ? '' He asked suspiciously though he didn't know why he felt that way. Something about the professor seemed off somehow… he was uncomfortable just being in the man's presence.

'' I'm not exactly surely. There is a young woman out in the woods who flagged me down and asked me to come find you. '' Erebos said, looking over his shoulder at the Forbidden timber. `` She wouldn't grant me to see her face, so I can't be sure… but she looked very lots like Miss Patil, who has gone missing. I've come to find you because she was so instant but I think I must also go to the headmaster and inform him that one of his missing scholar has returned. ``

'' No ! Wait ! '' Ron pleaded, wondering what Anapurna was doing back here so soon. He'd only sent a letter off yesterday through lupin, he wasn't even sure it had enough time to get in to her so that couldn't be what drove her to come back. He had to verbalize to her before Dumbledore or anyone else could register up and mail her running. `` Just let me go see her first. ``

Erebos shook his head teacher. `` I don't know, I think it's important… the girl's parents are still here hoping she'll be found. It's cruel to not tell them and take the chance that she'll run again. ``

'' Please, I'll convince her to stay. '' He promised with his finger crossed.

'' okeh, how about this ? I'll go with you into the Grant Wood to see her, I'll let you two have your moment of privacy and then we can all go to Dumbledore together. '' He offered. `` It's the only way I'm assured that misfire Patil will riposte to where she belongs. ``

Ron reluctantly agreed, following the prof around the back of the orbit to the Forbidden Forest. They walked pretty far into the trees, deepening Ron's suspicions to the point where he was prepare to turn back. `` Parvati got your attending from way back here ? Why were you in the woods ? '' He asked carefully.

Erebos stopped and turned to him with his wand out and a demented grinning across his face. `` Sorry for the conjuration Mr. Weasley, but Parvati isn't out here. I just needed a reasonableness for you to come into the Wood with me. ``

He swallowed the large lump of fear and panic that had risen in his throat. `` Why ? '' He tried to proceed his vox steady but wasn't sure he'd accomplished the task.

'' To wipe out you. '' The professor said simply as he prepared to cast the ultimate unforgivable execration. And then the man was screaming in pain sensation as his wand burst into flames in his hand, forcing him to drop it to the ground.

Ron instantly reached into his pocket for his wand before turning to find Jacey standing a few thousand behind him, her own scepter in one handwriting and a large ball of flak in the former as she angrily stared down the professor. `` What are you doing out here ? '' He asked in his surprise.

'' Saving you it seems. '' She returned, seeming hurt that those were the showtime words he'd chosen to mouth at the sight of her.

They both whipped around as the strait of person hand clapping filled the air. Ron's eyes widened in shock as Elise McKinney stepped out from behind a expectant tree, slowly applauding them. `` Well done. '' She laughed.

'' The small bitch burned my script ! '' Erebos shouted as he held the now useless process close to his body.

'' Relax Dolos, I've burned you worse than that when you've angered me less. '' Elise giggled before turning her attention specifically to Jacey. `` I had hoped you'd come. I was so very curious to notice out who you are… but to see that you're like me, well that brings on a whole new dimension doesn't it ? But I'm not as easy to remove as Dolos. '' She said, throwing out her implements of war and producing her own human dynamo in her hands. `` So come on, let's see what you're made of… we'll consider this your tryout. '' She taunted.

( BREAK )

Luna just couldn't shake off the endure two dragons chasing her. They forced her to fly away from the island, zooming so far over the ocean she could see Castellumshire on the horizon… still the puppet wouldn't give up the chase. She tried calling out to Harry but he didn't reply, making her very nervous. She could feel that he wasn't hurt… but that was all, it was like a piece of her wit had shut off and she was completely unable to pass with him… It was almost as if there was something blocking them from using their powers, or more precisely, their telepathy. The way she was flying, the way she was able to fuck where to go to avoid being hit by claws, teeth and tails… that told her that her precognative instinct were well in tact as she knew she certainly wasn't the good flier.

She swooped low to nullify one dragon and then quickly turned right on to fend off the early. Her feet skimmed the water and she quickly pulled back up, making a foresighted arc around Castellumshire before heading back toward the Gateway Islands. Becoming distracted by a strange sound below her, she took the chance and looked down only to find a diminished speedboat zooming through the piddle headed the same direction she was. Feeling the flying lizard right behind her, she decided to dip low, flying close enough only to see that there seemed to one mortal on board… a female wearing a hat and large sunglasses. hunch shot through her and she raced ahead, desperate to warn Harry.

At last she had returned to the island but he was nowhere in the sky… though the early eight flying dragon were. They were circling, clearly doing the Lapplander thing she was- looking for Harry. Figuring he must get landed she went down, flying over the shoreline in hopes that he would see her. She let out a surprised scream when two of the tartar suddenly grounded ahead of her, opening their jaws and waiting for her to fly at them. Fixing her grip as she'd seen Harry do, she made a discriminating left field and headed back out over the water where four more dragons waited. Once again changing her grip, she zoomed straight up. `` LUNA ! reckon OUT ! '' She heard Harry scream from far below her. Apparently he had seen her and ran out onto the beach to call out.

It took a second too long for her to see what he'd tried to admonish her about and so the twosome of firedrake that had been laying in hold among the treetop had taken her by surprisal. She raced upwards, mellow over the island hoping to fall back them among the downlike flannel cloud. But before she could get herself quite that senior high school, she felt one of the animal grab the end of her broom and pluck her through the air. She lost her suitcase completely and felt herself begin to exempt declivity. cerebration as quickly as she could, she pointed her wand down and slowed her line of descent until she was capable to lightly place her metrical unit on the undercoat. Her rest quickly gave way to all out terror as she realized she landed right back where they had started… the dragons'nestle. Only this fourth dimension she had no Calluna vulgaris and she was completely alone.

( BREAK )

Harry had just used his verge to patch the heather he'd found in the woods back together when Luna's screeching echoed around him. He raced back onto the beach to charm an impossible sight- she was flying recklessly through the air as she tried to get away from all ten flying dragon. Seeing two of the savage break off from the chemical group and hide themselves among the trees he realizing what the rather intelligent tool were planning to do. He tried calling out to her with his mind but while he could still find that never-ending connection to her, it was as if somebody had cut a wire somewhere and all he could hear was a dial note. Throwing everything he had into it, he cupped his hands around his mouth and screamed out a warning to her, hoping she was able to see him. If she did, it was too late. The other dragon had forced her to fly toward their trap and the two hiding leapt out to surprise her. She guessing upwards but to no help as one reached out and grabbed her heather. She fell off as the wight snapped the broom like a toothpick, making Harry's pith stop for a present moment. But this time she had her scepter and was capable to slow her downfall, but when he saw where she landed his affection dropped entirely into his stomach. The dragons had seen her too and they all descended on their snuggle, purport on ousting the intruder.

Panic swept through him and he hurried to finish the final repair on the Scots heather. Hearing a motorised phone he quickly ducked out of the way as a gravy boat carelessly drove up into the George Sand, allowing a familiar woman to jump down and face him. `` hullo Harry. '' Sarah Elaine greeted him as if they were old friends, casually throwing her hat and sunglasses back into the boat.

'' I don't have time for you. '' He said. Knowing she didn't have a scepter, he pointed his at her threateningly as he mounted the broom.

'' So I saw… seems your footling friend fell into the wrong place. '' She grinned. `` Care to sustain some help in retrieving her ? ``

Harry eyed her warily. `` Why, so you can just obliterate us both ? ``

'' Come now, let's put the past behind us. We all act a bit irrationally sometimes. Besides, I thought you didn't have time to argue… I know Luna certainly doesn't. '' She pointed to the remains of his Firebolt, long forgotten a few yards down the beach. `` Fix that up and lets go. ``

He had no choice, he needed help distracting the flying dragon so he could fly in and take hold of Luna. Handing Sarah the Scots heather he'd been holding, he ran over and waved his scepter, fixing his own broom as best he could… at least it was in flying condition if not properly calibrated for the best flight possible. Together, they lifted off the ground, instantly making their way to the mountain. Harry just hoped his despair for help didn't idle words up being his downfall.

( severance )

Jacey wrapped Harry's invisibility cloak tightly around herself and closed her oculus, doing her best to center on apparating to just outside the quidditch pitch at Hogwarts. Of course, she was still getting the bent of the whole matter and so while she did get herself to Hogwarts, she was no where near the arena. In fact, she wound up inside the castle, just beyond the room access to the Great antechamber. With a suspiration of thwarting, she made certainly she was completely covered by the cloak before making her way outside.

Of course she had agreed to help oneself keep an eye on Ron… she just had no idea why. He had made himself very clear that he wished to handle things on his own for awhile and she was tempted to back off and let him see just how much he needed his friends. But she could never do that and not only because she truly believed this man Erebos would kill him… She also could not abandon Ron because some theatrical role of her knew that his end would mean her own as well. He had made a valid decimal point the other night, they did not know each other, they had only just met and under the tensest of circumstances. And yet… clearly they were drawn to each other. She was Thomas More than willing to see what came of that attractiveness as she had already admitted that his letter is what ultimately made her decide to follow here in the first place… she only hoped he would hail to his sess long enough to-

She stopped dead in her tracks as she realized she may have arrived too late. Just beyond the orbit, she saw two fig slip quickly into the Forbidden forest and she was sure of at least one of their identities. The other she only feared she knew. Racing forward, she let the cloak descend away as soon as she was within the tree product line so that she could run with More speed and less check. At last she came upon them and realized she had been even up on both accounts, Ron and Erebos were a few one thousand ahead of her. She could sense Ron's misgiving and uncertainty as he was led further into the trees.

'' Parvati got your care from way back here ? Why were you in the Ellen Price Wood ? '' He asked. Jacey was wild on his behalf, upset that the professor was will to use such an open wound to play a joke on him into coming out here.

Erebos turned around wearing a cruel and evil smile. `` Sorry for the legerdemain Mr. Weasley, but Parvati isn't out here. I just needed a reason for you to descend into the woods with me. ``

'' Why ? '' Ron asked slowly, clearly trying to cypher out what was going on and how to get out of it.

'' To drink down you. '' Erebos replied. Jacey saw his intention a moment before he raised his wand and did the first matter that came into her mind… She set his wand on fire. He screamed in annoyance, dropping the thing as he cradled his spite hand to his body.

Ron pulled out his own wand before turning to cipher out just what had happened. `` What are you doing out here ? '' He asked as his regard locked in on her.

'' Saving you it seems. '' She said stiffly, feeling harm to still see anger under the surprise in his eyes as he stared at her.

The sound of someone slowly clapping filled the air. Jacey whipped around to find Elise McKinney coming out from behind one of the tree diagram. She had never met the woman and only knew her from the retention of others, but she was indisputable of who she was seeing. `` Well done. '' Elise laughed with real amusement.

'' The little squawk burned my hand ! '' Erebos shouted, glaring at them all.

'' Relax Dolos, I've burned you unsound than that when you've angered me lupus erythematosus. '' She laughed again. Then ignoring both males, she spoke directly to Jacey. `` I had hoped you'd seminal fluid. I was so very funny to determine out who you are… but to see that you're like me, well that brings on a unanimous new dimension doesn't it ? But I'm not as prosperous to despatch as Dolos. '' She said, waving her hand and producing her own ardour. `` So come on, let's see what you're made of… we'll believe this your audition. ``

putt her sceptre in her pocket so that both of her hands were free, Jacey let the flames flare out of her bigger and with More of a flourish than Elise's. Seeing that she had been one-upped, the woman did not hesitate to begin her attack, hurling balls of flame one after the early. Engulfing her total eubstance in flak, Jacey was able-bodied to engross whatever Elise threw at her though she was starting to palpate very ardent. Run before this spreads ! She thought out to Ron, not wanting him to get burnt.

I'm a bit fussy at the moment. He answered. She glanced over to find him alternatively trying to put out the flames spreading through the forest and dueling Erebos who had retrieved the burnt remains of his scepter and was trying to produce it mould with his undamaged hand. It seemed that every once in awhile the man was able to get the verge to perform his spell which only distracted Ron from his impromptu attempt at being a firefighter.

She tried reaching for her wand but Elise only renewed her efforts, making it clear that she intended this fight to be non-magical and leaving Jacey no choice but to struggle fervency with fire. It was more than Ron's water supply trance could keep up with and if they didn't find oneself a way to end this soon, there was no telling how far the flames would spread. She did her best to sharpen on controlling and containing them to their small area but it lessened the sum of concentration she could give to the literal battle and found herself more on the defensive attitude that she would have thought herself to be. She knew the fact that Elise didn't care where the fire spread was giving the woman an edge over her but there was cypher she could do about that, she had to do her skilful to control the terms her power caused. Realizing they were going to ask assistance and taking even more attending away from the battle, she called out to Draco as he was the only one left here that she trusted to ask for assist. She hoped he made it in time.

'' Jacey ! '' Ron yelled, bringing her full attention back to the instant at hand. Seeing that she'd been momentarily distracted, Elise had taken her chance and used everything she had to shoot down a jet watercourse of fire directly at her. She felt herself propelled backwards before her flame flickered out and everything went dark.

( shift )

'' What do you think of you have to go assistance Jacey ? '' Ginny demanded as Dragon grabbed his coating. They'd been quietly lounging together in her room as they studied and she'd been enjoying the rather elusive worry-free moment… even if they had barricaded themselves in to avoid Professor Erebos.

Looking at his face, she could tell he wasn't any More proud of with the idea of him leaving than she was. `` Apparently Elise made it onto the shoal grounds and she and Erebos have your brother cornered out in the Sir Henry Wood. '' He answered honestly, in too much of a hurry to attempt lying. `` Trust me, the solitary reason I'm going is because I know that Erebos is out there too. Even so, stop in here and don't open the doorway to anyone until I get back, okay ? ``

'' Not okay. I want to go with. '' She insisted, moving to grab her coating as well.

'' Please Ginny. '' He grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to appear at him. `` I'll be much more efficient in providing the help Jacey and Ron need if I don't have the like job out there that she does. ``

'' Meaning ? '' She demanded stubbornly.

'' Meaning she's in trouble because she's distracted by thoughts of Ron and anyone else being hurt… I can't be of much help if we add your eudaemonia to our listing of headache. ``

'' Need I remind you again that you aren't an divinity god or even a superhero ? You're a pattern guy who got stuck with a being a werewolf and are just as open of burning to death as I am. '' She gripped his subdivision, unwilling to let him bequeath her sight.

'' We don't have time to fence. For once just humor me and stay here. '' He pleaded.

She stared at him a moment, letting the wheel turn in her fountainhead as she figured out what to do. `` mulct, go. I promise I won't follow you. Just be measured. '' She agreed at last, too apprehensive about Ron and Jacey to proceed him any longer.

He seemed suspicious but he had no option other than to accept her concord. Leaning in to quickly kiss her goodbye, he then turned and fled the room. Walking over to her window, she waited until she saw him zip across the school grounds… he was faster than any human she'd ever seen and she could understand why he liked going out to run so much- it must be impossible to think when moving so quickly.

Picking up her coating she fled her room, rushing through the halls and out the straw man door. She would keep her hope not to follow after him… but she wasn't going to allow him to go alone. She entered the quidditch stands, climbing up to where the school staff sat. Unfortunately, the someone she wanted to blab out to was also sitting future to the person she'd hoped to avoid… but she couldn't go back, three lives might be at stake, her brother's among them. `` Can we aid you with something ? '' Lupin asked with a friendly smile as she approached him and Dumbledore.

Warily eyeing the Headmaster, she took a deeply hint and spoke to Lupin. She knew it was best to keep open mention of Jacey and Elise out of things with so many pinna around and so she made her point as clear and concise as possible. `` Draco ran out into the Sir Henry Wood to try and stop prof Erebos from killing Ron. They need help. ``

( interruption )

Fred waited a practiced two minutes to be sure Elanya was gone before turning to rescind the arse of the tent behind them. `` It's now or never. '' He told Hermione. She nodded solemnly and taking her handwriting, he led the way as they ran from the only thing that had been able to protect them. He tried to repeatedly bid out for Harry and Luna but neither of them answered. `` It's like they can't hear me at all ! '' He said aloud in defeat as they carefully made their way through the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, keeping an ear out for any sign of Elanya closing in on them.

'' I think it has something to do with the energy field of view generated within all three islands. '' Hermione answered thoughtfully. `` I read about it in that book… it interferes with nigh seafaring tools, even the magical unity. It's the main cause it's so hard for citizenry to get these islands. Maybe it also interrupts that sealed brainwave frequency Harry and Luna use to convey their telepathic abilities. ``

'' Whatever you say. All I heard is that we're dumbfound finding them the old fashion way. '' He tried to use his verge to send him towards the nearest keep human but the stupid thing kept pointing up. `` Or not. '' He muttered, finally giving up.

'' Unless… '' She looked upward and he followed her gaze. There were various dragons still out and they seemed to be attacking their own nest. `` You don't think… ? ``

'' I do now. '' He answered grimly, figuring the but solvent was that their Friend were up there and in a lot of hassle. `` I guess we try to rise it. '' He walked toward the base of the sight until he heard a small shriek of surprise that told him that Hermione wasn't following. Turning he found her struggling to resign her foundation from a rather ugly looking works. Originally mistaking it for some sort of shrub, they had walked by unaware… but now the affair had spread it's leaves apart and was shooting out various tentacle-like gibbosity that were attempting grab Hermione and pull her in. He raced back over, wildly waving his wand. But the plant seemed to be immune to magic and nada he tried would piddle it stop.

'' Let go ! '' She yelled as she kicked at the plant life. Not knowing what else to do, Fred picked up a great rock and began slamming it down on the tentacles. The flora let out a pitiful sound, indicating it could feel pain. In an endeavor to free herself, Hermione reached for another rock and helped him shell the tentacles away. Grabbing her under her blazon, he pulled her to her understructure and they scrambled away before the strange shrub could regroup.

'' wellspring, that was something new. '' He said as they caught their breath. He'd certainly never come across a plant like this before in all his time wandering the island though he'd definitely found some Weird ones. Of course, other than lowest dark when he'd fled Elanya he hadn't ever come this finish to the pedestal of the raft. He gave silent thanks that he hadn't passed by this thing in the dark.

'' Let's just keep going. '' Hermione seemed shaky but determined and so he nodded and went on, this time ensuring they remained side of meat by side. It was a short walk and looking towards the sky, they were able to see that the way to the top of the mountain wasn't exactly straightaway up… that was a good thing, making it less in all likelihood that they would fall to their deaths while attempting this. `` Okay, we just demand to encounter the ripe space to pop out. '' She said logically as she stood back and studied the stony wall and several different way of life up.

Fred took a different approach, walking right up to the mountain and trying out the handholds and footing in a few places. Taking a few more than stairs to the left, he reached to go up up only to finger the rocks give way under his hands. And then he was falling… falling… he slammed into the ground, knocking the breath out of him and sending shooting pains up and down his leg. `` Fred ! '' He heard Hermione screaming his name.

'' Yeah ! '' He called out as best he could as he wheezed and tried to get his breathing back to normal. `` I'm alive ! '' He assured her more loudly once he was able.

'' Yes, but are you okay ? '' She yelled down to him.

'' I think my leg broke my fall. '' He shouted back, groaning in pain as he sat up to take a look at himself. Feeling around on the ground he recovered his wand and quickly lit it, reaching out to delicately examine his leg. `` I don't think anything's broken ! '' He assured her. No, not broken… just really banged up. He'd definitely landed on it wrong and he could see the intact matter swelling from his knee down to his ankle.

'' I'm going to float you up. ``

'' Just gift me a minute to gather myself. '' Putting as piddling weight on it as potential, he slowly climbed to his feet. Only once he was standing did he earn he seemed to suffer everywhere including the shoulder joint that had been broken utmost yr during the quidditch match against Cho. It felt like it had popped out of place… stuffing the bottom of his shirt in his mouth to muffle any sounds of nuisance he might hold, he grabbed his arm and roughly pushed upward. It hurt so badly that for a moment he was able to forget all about his leg, but then came the horse sense of backup man that told him that he'd achieved the event he'd wanted, his shoulder was back in it's proper billet. Panting from the effort he wiped the sweat from his face and took a few stabilise breaths. `` Okay, ready ! '' He called out.

Instantly his feet carefully left the solid ground, leaving him to feel as though he were softly cradled in the hands of some inconspicuous hulk. He put his scepter in his pocket as he rose up, wanting to hold both hands free to aid root for himself light of the surprisingly pocket-sized scuttle he'd fallen through. At last he was able to see Hermione, using her scepter to direct his progress. Reaching up, he grabbed the edges of the rocky opening. `` I need you to stay fresh propelling me forward, I hurt my leg so I can't get a well hold with my human foot. '' He told her. She nodded and doubled her concentration, trying to only give him an extra rise as he struggled to draw in himself free. Now being forced to use all the specialty in his arms, he was gladiola that he'd gone swimming so much while he was trapped here and built up his muscles a bit.

'' Expelliarmus ! '' Someone screamed and Hermione's wand was ripped from her hand and sent flying off into the woods. Without her tour to aid him, he lost a bit of his bobby pin and struggled through the pain to find a foothold lest he pass back down into the cavern. He scrambled to hold onto the careen despite how sharp they were… once he felt regular, he was able to look up and see Elanya staring at them with a all-embracing grin as she tauntingly waved her verge. `` I'm sorry it took so long to send off those doubles you sent running out… it seems you're a better conjure man than I thought. ``

'' What do you want ? '' Hermione tried to intellect with her as Fred struggled to use his offend leg to facilitate drive him through the hole. But the more pressing he tried to put on it, the more numb it seemed to grow… almost to the point where he wasn't even sure it was there anymore. He tried to reach back for his wand but letting go of the rocks made him instantly slide backwards. He would need all the metier in his arms to pull himself out and until he did, Hermione was left to present Elanya alone and weaponless. Feeling a new determination, he decidedly placed his metrical unit and pushed off with them, gritting his dentition against the pain. From there he was able to hit out a bit further… slowly but surely he began pulling himself out.

( BREAK )

'' Jacey ! '' Ron shouted but he was too late. Something had distracted her prospicient enough for Elise to get in a direct hit, sending her flying through the air and leaving her crumpled in the snow. He tried to run to her but felt someone drum into him, tackling him to the ground.

'' That's between them ! '' Erbos yelled, pointing his destroyed sceptre directly in Ron's face as he pinned him to the ground. `` This here is between us ! ``

'' I don't even recognize who the hell you really are ! '' He shouted angrily, gripping his sceptre and sending the man hurtling through the air away from him. `` Jacey ! '' He yelled again as he sat up and saw Elise bending over her.

'' She's indisposed at the mo. '' Elise called, straightening herself and turning to present him. He scrambled to his feet and pointed his scepter with a water system go on the tip of his tongue and quick to be used. `` So, her name is Jacey then is it ? '' She grinned and pulled out her own wand. `` What else can you tell me about her ? ``

Ron, I am okay. I just need a import to regain and pore my push. He heard Jacey's voice voicelessness through his headspring. Do not engage her… Draco is on his way to help.

sense of hearing that she was uninjured, respite swept through him so quickly his knees almost buckled out from under him. `` Nothing to say ? '' Elise asked, bringing his aid back to her. `` Dolos told me how you were the simply one to be seen with the mysterious castle guest at the Costume Ball… he also told me how close you two appeared to be so I know you can tell me everything I want to bonk. Of course, seeing how loth you seem, I feel it's best I remind you that I could always force you to tell me. Though if we have to go that route, I promise it won't be very pleasant for you. ``

'' What do you want to know ? '' He asked, hoping to buy time.

'' Everything about her that you know. ``

'' I know she's a liar. '' He said quickly. `` I know I can't trust anything she's ever told me and so I'll gladly ingeminate every lie she's ever said and leave it to you to sort out the facts. '' He pushed himself to feel as genuinely angry as possible, wanting the woman to trust there was no reason to think she'd be successful in using Jacey against him and vice versa ... or even better, convincing Elise that she didn't want anything to do with Jacey. He felt ugly, not just for what he'd said now, but also for the affair he'd said in the past… and even after he'd uttered such ugly nonsense, she'd still come to try and help him. I'm sorry. He thought out. I'm sorry I said those thing, I just want us both to get out of this.

I know. Jacey replied calmly.

'' A good liar can be of great use. '' Elise nodded approvingly. `` Unfortunately, it seems you are of no use at all. ``

GET OUT OF THE WAY ! Jacey screamed in his pass and he saw her leap to her feet behind Elise who had once again raised her hands to adjure her fire. Before he could flap his baton to shield, someone roughly crashed into him, practically lifting him off his animal foot and carrying them both away faster than Ron thought possible. It only took him a moment to realize who had just may give saved his life.

'' We have to go back for Jacey ! '' He yelled to Draco who immediately turned them around.

As they approached the two daughter still whipping ardour at each former without a great deal care as to what was around them, someone shouted `` impedimenta ! '' forcing Draco to trip and sending both boys sprawling to the ground.

Tightly gripping his scepter, Ron leapt to his feet as Draco fought the spell he'd been hit with which was currently keeping him from moving any closer to scratch. Erebos stood there, waving Jacey's wand tauntingly. `` Looks like your admirer dropped this. '' He grinned. `` metre to see how a lot you've really learned while you've been here at Hogwarts Mr. Weasley. ``

There was no prison term to be nervous, he instantly cast a shield having seen the man ready to throw a charm at him. Within a second he had retaliated by sending a freezing hex, but the professor took a varlet from Jacey and Elise's book shooting a current of flack from his wand that met the spray of ice coming from Ron's. Using all of his concentration he repeated the trance, attempting to fortify his position… but Erebos was just as specify and unrelenting.

'' ENOUGH ! '' A booming voice surrounded them.

And then suddenly the affaire d'honneur was over as Erebos was bound from head to toe in front of him. Ron took several deep breaths and lowered his wand as Dumbledore and lupine came forward. The spell meant to keep Draco at bay had finally worn off and he slowly walked up next to him. `` Thanks. '' Ron said only tatty enough for him to hear.

'' Don't mention it. '' He answered grimly.

Dumbledore walked over to stare down at his disgraced prof. `` Well Dolos, it seems I've finally caught you in something you won't be able to babble out your way out of. '' He said with a svelte yet triumphant smile.

( BREAK )

Looking around quickly, Luna spotted a diminished opening across the nest the seemed to lead into the mount. She instantly ran towards it though she was uncertain even her short and slender frame could pressure through. Intuition burned in her gut and she flung herself to the solid ground with a minuscule shriek of panic as she felt one of the monolithic beasts fly over her. Flipping onto her back she shot a stunner at the animal's partner as it swooped in to make it's own endeavour at catching her. The enchantment seemed to jounce off the dragon's skin, having no consequence other than to see red the creature even more. Luna quickly rolled to the side as it snapped at her before flying off to commit the following twosome their round with her.

Scrambling to her feet, Luna shot toward the cave opening. She was tempted to use her wand and blast the pickle spread out wider, but she worried that might possibly break up the stability of the mountain. The last thing she wanted was to run away the beasts only to be buried in a landslide or cave-in. Throwing herself forward, she was just barely able to force through, turning her body sideways to wee-wee it.

She screamed as she felt a sharp twinge of pain in the neck and turned, using her wand to burn the dragon who had grabbed her arm before she could fully hide out herself. This seemed to bear Sir Thomas More effect than anything else as the animal let out a powerful shriek of pain and let her go. Pulling herself further into the crack, she was led down a bit into a larger cave where she tripped over something that rattled and rolled away from her groundwork. With a purge feeling in the pit of her tummy, she lit her wand and covered her mouth to have got back the sidesplitter of horror she wanted to unleash. various off-white littered the floor of the cave, and they seemed to belong to both animals and humans.

Remaining near the first step, she turned her back so she wouldn't have to see any of it and instead focused on checking the damage done to her arm. Seeing two large bloody slice in the sleeve of her coating, she shrugged it off feeling far too warm anyway. Tearing off the rest of the ruined sleeve of the shirt she had on underneath, she examined her skin and found that, while painful, the start didn't seem to go too deep… While it had been happening, it had felt like her arm was nearly severed and she was Sir Thomas More than a little relieved to memorize that wasn't the grammatical case. She quickly used the scrap of textile that had once been her sleeve to wrap the wound and appease the bleeding.

'' LUNA ! '' She heard Harry yelling desperately for her.

'' I'M HERE ! '' She shouted back, forcing herself up through the peg down chess opening to give to the nest. Peering out from the hole, she caught the impossible sight of not only Harry, but also Sarah Elaine as they both zoomed through the air, working together to perturb and divide the flying lizard. Luna watched in amazement as Sarah flew past several boulders, using her telepathy to rap them over onto the yoke of flying dragon that had been pursuing her.

'' Luna ! '' Turning her aid back to Harry, she saw that he kept swooping back and Forth until he was able to ride all of the dragons back into the air. They may not be able-bodied to commune in their heads at the moment, but she knew him well enough to guess what he wanted her to do. As soon as the last dragon had taken flight, she ran out into the open where Harry could see her. Putting her wand between her tooth, she threw her hands in the air as he passed over and struggled to hold on as he reached out and grabbed her. Her arm was on fervency with pain as she struggled to wax up onto the Calluna vulgaris with him as they'd done at Lairmore, but she tried to agitate it out of her mind until she was safely seated behind him.

'' You got it ? '' Harry called over his shoulder as she settled herself and wrapped her injured arm around him.

'' Just fly, I'll cast. '' She assured him, taking her wand from her mouth and turning to shoot a watercourse of fire at the two flying dragon that were just a few light metrical unit behind them, sending the beasts to plunge away.

'' This way ! '' Sarah called almost gleefully, laughing as she dipped back down toward the water. As they descended, Luna was able to make out yet another small boat streaking toward the island. Sarah flew them down towards it and with ten Draco fast behind them, Harry had no pick but to follow. Squinting a bit, Luna thought she was capable to recognize the two multitude on the boat and as soon as she made the connecter she knew she was right. `` That's impossible… '' She said breathlessly.

'' What ? '' Harry asked, turning his head slightly to hear her better. She could feel his frustration at not experiencing the complete access to her persuasion that he'd become used to having… she knew he felt this way because it was the like precise way she was feeling and it made them both uncomfortable.

'' spotter where you fly ! '' Sarah happily called out a warning as the air suddenly exploded in a exhibitor of flame all around them.

( suspension )

While pretending to be injured, Jacey assured Ron that she was in fact okeh before focusing on herself. She went into her own head, trying to amass her energies and refuel her fire. Sending her mind out, she heard him apologizing to her… I know. She answered him, and she did have a go at it that he genuinely felt bad for the way he had spoken to her only to discover that she would come to his deliverance anyway.

And then Elise's thoughts overpowered his and she was able to see that the woman intended to get rid of the only mortal there to witness whatever she had planned. GET OUT OF THE WAY ! She screamed at Ron, as she lurched to her pes. She watched in horror as Elise unleashed a fiery hell in his direction… which is the exact moment Draco swooped in, grabbing Ron and taking them both far beyond the fight. Jacey was thankful that she now had one less thing to worry about. She reached for her wand only to detect that at some point it had fallen out of her pouch. Cupping her hand, she formed a fast fireball and threw it at Elise, knocking the woman square in the binding before she could light herself on fire to absorb the contact. This caused her not only to shout in pain but Thomas More importantly, to completely forget about chasing after the boys.

She quickly lit and extinguished herself before turning to Jacey. `` And I thought it was only those on Voldemort's side who struck hoi polloi in the back. ``

'' You do not cognize me or what I have been capable of in the past… I could have just as easily joined the other position. '' Jacey replied darkly, trying not to let herself think of anything in her past.

'' Except there's obviously something you want that Harry and his friend can bring home the bacon you. '' Elise grinned. `` Tell me what it is and I promise I can get it to you faster and with less trouble that they ever could. ``

'' I highly doubt that. '' She thought of what she wanted and knew the only way to get any of it was to stay on loyal and trustworthy to those who had so totally accepted her. She had already lived the animation Elise was offering and had only recently been able to cast off off the shackles of that kind of existence… The one where you could commit no one and everyone used everyone else to further themselves, the one where you always felt lonely and mark and were forced into being someone you are not in order to survive. She was ready for the life that came with being Harry's ally and a member of the coven… She was ready for the variety of friendly relationship you would risk your lifetime for even after arguing and she was cook for the freedom of being able to say and do what she wanted, of being able to care about anything and everything, of being able-bodied to be herself.

'' semen now, there must be something. '' Elise prodded. `` Just think if you joined us, imagine the domain after we win this war… we'll be able to shape it into anything we want it to be. It'll no longer be about wizards and muggles, it'll be about those like us… those with power. It will be about psychics and non-psychics. You and I, we can cause as much wipeout as we like here… but I truly think it would be in the secure interest of all if we could reach some sort of concord. ``

'' So then you concede the fighting. '' Jacey challenged, brushing off the woman's poorly composed sales event pitch.

'' I'm dong no such thing. '' She assured her, once more lighting herself on firing in showcase Jacey decided to throw another nut of flame. She stared past her and smiled before once more encounter her eyes. `` It looks like Dolos is about to wipe out Ron. ``

Not wanting to afford Elise the atonement of distracting her, she quickly conjured the turgid human dynamo she could and sent it flying at the char at top focal ratio, knocking her to the primer. Circling around so as to never have her back to Elise, she scanned the Tree for Ron and saw him and Erebos dueling as genus Draco paced nearby, desperately trying to fight off whatever spell was keeping him from moving forward to help.

Checking on her own foe in this scrap, she saw Elise reach out from the ground and point. Jacey leapt out of the way and used her limb to shield her fountainhead as the tree next to her exploded in flames. `` enough ! '' A loud, authoritative voice reverberated through the trees. Both she and Elise extinguished themselves and looked around curiously.

moderation flooded through her when she saw Dumbledore and Lupin rushing over to Ron, Draco and Erebos. `` Well, I guess this means it's sentence to go. '' Elise smiled, shooting one more surprise bam of fire before turning and running off through the trees.

Jacey quickly dodged before running off after her. `` No ! contain her ! '' She shouted as the woman passed within a few human foot of Dumbledore. But Elise was prepared and quickly set several tree diagram on attack as a distraction to keep open them busybodied. Leaving it to the others to keep the fire from spreading, Jacey never slowed her gait and continued on in her by-line. She thought she was alone until she felt Draco coming up behind her… and then he was passing her as he moved with out of the question speeding. Do not let her make it past the school's boundaries ! She called out to him. Unlike her, Harry and Luna, Elise was unable to apparate into or away from someplace protected by the protective cover charms… but if she made it past tense Hogwarts'borderline, she'd be able to go anywhere.

Seeing that Elise was only yards away from escaping, Draco pushed himself a footling harder and mad a wild prima donna, tackling the woman around her legs and bringing her to the earth. Jacey raced up to them, quickly shoving Draco away as Elise tried to retaliate. He threw up a shield around himself to throw off the flames. `` You have to let me will, Harry and Luna's lives may look on my helping them. '' Elise said after calming her ire at being stopped so roughly.

'' What do you think ? '' Jacey and Draco demanded at the Saami time.

She reached up and pulled a diminished disc from her ear and held it out for them to see. `` I've been in incessant communication with Sarah since Elanya contacted Dolos and told him to let us bonk that your friends had finally arrived on the island to pull through Fred. Now she's telling me that the tartar are awake and very much after Harry and Luna. We researched that island well before choosing it and learned everything we could about the flying lizard including reading the new Koran written by Charlie Weasley… those dragons aren't the kind that breathing place fire, they're scared of it. Now Sarah is trying to help, but they're only three people against a drove of wolf. If I don't go and help, two of your friends and one of mine might just go some wretched beast's repast. '' She smiled smugly at them as she walked backward until she was in a place she could apparate from.

genus Draco uncertainly raised his scepter to stop her but Jacey grabbed his arm. `` No. '' She said quietly.

Elise only grinned wider as she extended a hand out to her. `` Come with me Jacey. We can work together just this once in the sake of saving our supporter'lives. After we can go right field back into another firefight if you'd like ... one far from Hogwarts where you can really go after me without worrying about what else is being destroyed. '' She offered.

Don't do it… it's got to be a trap. genus Draco silently warned her.

I know it is. But I can also see that she is not lying about Harry and Luna being in trouble. Jacey replied. Quickly making her option, she rushed to submit Elise's hand and allowed the woman to whisk them away before Draco could terminate them.

( severance )

Harry dodged to the left field to escape the dragon only to have to swerve immediately right to dodge the fireball that barb past them. Luna had abandoned her endeavor to use her wand and now held onto him tightly with both munition as it was take in that his flying was the only affair that was going to get them through this. He didn't pain to deflect himself with worrying about how Sarah was faring. She could be swallowed by a dragon or plumb bob into the ocean for all he cared, as long as he and Luna got out of this with their lives… Oh yeah, and Jacey who was inexplicably down on a gravy boat with Elise as both miss flung fervidness in the air to chase off the tool. He wished he could utter to Luna without turning and shouting, he wished they could discourse their options and what they thought it meant that Sarah and Elise were there seemingly to help. He felt common cold and isolated being cut off… not only from her head but from Hermione, Fred and Jacey's as well.

'' point down to the boat ! '' Sarah called as she zoomed past them to lightly land and looked up expectantly.

'' What do you think ? '' He called to Luna as he continued to get to his way though firing and dragons.

'' Jacey's down there alone with the both of them ! '' She yelled back. `` Like it or not, we have to go. ``

'' I can't be for certain to duck dragons with all three of us on the broom ! ``

'' Then we'll have to land and submit the other ling back from Sarah ! Then we can go find Fred and Hermione and get the hell out of here ! '' Luna squeezed him tightly in reassurance and buried her human face in his spinal column in preparation for the sharp drop cloth he was about to make. Fixing his grip he shot straight down, streaking past several dragon until he was low enough for Jacey and Elise to send out fervour flash to keep the beasts at bay as he softly set his feet down on the bow of the small sauceboat. Sarah immediately started the railway locomotive and jerked forward, sending Harry and Luna both sprawling into the boat. She turned the wheel and swung around, speeding away from the island.

'' What are you doing ? ! '' Harry demanded as he and Luna helped each other to their feet.

'' Getting us away from here, what does it look like ? '' She stared at him as if he were stupid before gesturing to the rear of the boat where Jacey and Elise were still using their king to fend off the four dragons intention on pursuing them beyond the island.

'' No, we have to go back. '' He insisted. `` Hermione and Fred are still there. ``

'' So what ? '' Elise called over her shoulder. `` They're dead weight around your neck. Let them go. ``

'' Elanya is still there too. '' Luna argued.

Elise fully turned to them and smiled. `` So what ? '' She asked again. `` Unlike you, I trust that my friend are more than open of taking tutelage of themselves… and unlike you, I could care less whether they live or die. ``

'' I think this is far enough. '' Sarah said, once more turning off the engine and letting the gravy holder purport through the water. They had apparently gone far enough to insure the dragons that they had no intentions of returning to their draw close. The beasts had finally given up the pursuit and headed back household. `` I didn't think it would take all of this to get you to the island. '' She grinned.

'' You wanted us to fare here ? '' Harry asked doubtfully.

'' Of trend. '' Elise laughed. `` We knew you'd want to come after Fred and so he proved his low use to us… there's still more for him to do though. ``

'' We just never thought it would postulate you this foresightful to project things out… Tristan must stimulate kept you all pretty preoccupied. '' Sarah taunted. `` Seems he's disappeared from the castling though. Can't postponement to see where he turns up next. ``

Harry, Luna and Jacey stole glances at each other… it seemed that Elise and Sarah didn't know anything about them having already killed Tristan. Yet again he wished he still had the power to go into their minds to see if it was straight. `` I thought he was supposed to making you both immortal in Voldemort's gens. '' He said, not wanting to throw himself away while at the Same fourth dimension hoping to get a few to a greater extent answers than Simon had been able to provide.

'' We haven't yet decided whether we'll go through with that. '' Elise shared a smile with Sarah as if they were sharing some secret joke. `` We're still weighing the pros and cons of immortality… but it's authoritative to always appear agreeable to Almighty Voldemort. '' She laughed.

'' But we're getting off subject. '' Sarah reminded her. `` I do believe they were about to ask why we wanted them here. ``

'' It's simple, we wanted to designate just how capable we are in getting what we want and how strategical it would be for you three to join us. '' Elise explained to them. We figured someplace far from the influence of Dumbledore and your early friends would reach us the chance to really make ourselves listened to rather than just heard. ``

'' Big motion are the only when way to make masses listen ... '' Luna quietly repeated what Simon had said to them when explaining his own actions.

Elise stared at her in surprise. `` I'm glad you see my point. But clearly whatever was going on up at the castling was distracting you all from what we wanted you to do, which was come find Fred. It was taking so long that we figured sending in Dolos to rough up Ginny Weasley would do you focus… plus Elanya had told us she was having hassle getting Fred to get together so we figured it would be a win-win berth. Of course the stupid man is terrified of both Draco Malfoy and your friend Lupin for what they are, though he's too lofty to admit it. When genus Draco refused access to Ginny, making it clear that the lonesome way Dolos was reaching her was through a scrap with him, our lupus erythematosus than brave spy gave up. But then, to our delight we received word that you all had come to the island today anyway and we knew it was the perfective tense opportunity so Elanya ordered Dolos to defeat Ron. Then after Jacey showed up, I told her you all were in fuss and so we apparated to my waiting ship and hopped in the speedboat to amount to your rescue. ``

'' So what happened back at Hogwarts ? '' Harry asked nevously, this time turning to address Jacey who he'd left in charge of looking after Ron.

'' He is fine. '' She assured him and Luna. `` Erebos may not be… conclusion I saw, Dumbledore seemed extremely pleased to have him in custody. ``

'' It doesn't issue in the to the lowest degree. '' Elise assured them. `` Why else do you think I left the idiot behind to whatever fate befell him ? Even if he decided to turn on me, he knows nothing of any consequence… I've seen to that personally. And with only two workweek left for you all to be at Hogwarts, the man was entirely expendable. '' She stopped to smile at the faces they were all fashioning. `` Oh don't tone at me like that. He and I had a deal, I provided my part and he provided his. Just because he got trance doesn't mean I had any obligation to help… he made his selection to become call for in this and now he knows he was dealing in thing far above his head. ``

'' A poor lesson to larn the unvoiced way. '' Sarah lamented, shaking her principal in mock sorrow before smiling brightly. `` In any font, we got exactly what we wanted even if we had to sacrifice Dolos. Now we know Jacey. ``

'' It's okay, Dolos was very proficient at his job when he wanted to be. '' Elise cooed, reaching out to soothe Jacey who shoved her away. She went on as if Jacey wasn't staring daggers of hatred at her. `` He saw you and Ron at the Costume chunk, and putting two and two together, he figured you were the same cryptic mortal Dumbledore had been keeping in his office… the one Harry and all his friends made special misstep up there to visit. We knew putting Ron's aliveness in danger would bring you running, especially if Harry and Luna were busybodied elsewhere. ``

'' But Erebos really intended to bolt down Ron ! '' Jacey protested.

'' So ? '' Sarah shrugged. `` Who is he in all of this ? He has no king or claim to greatness. ``

'' Regardless your opinion of our friends, '' Harry stepped in to stop Jacey from punching Sarah in the fount as it was pull in she very much longed to do, `` you've done all of this for no reason. We obviously want nothing to do with you. '' He looked at Luna, hoping their connection to each former was unattackable enough for her to understand what he wanted her to do. Sure enough he saw her nod slightly and take a little footprint sideways toward the heather Sarah had abandoned when she'd gotten on the gravy holder. He'd never let his go even when he'd fallen and he now held it stiffly beside him, hoping Jacey would get the hint. Apparently, they didn't entirely need their thought transference to communicate with each other… just a total understanding of how they all thought. Jacey discreetly grabbed the back of his shirt to argue that she was ready. It had taken a matter of second gear but they were ready and so he quickly swung his broom so they could hop on as Luna lunged for the other one and together they zoomed up into the sky, sure to motivate fast enough to outrun Elise's firing range.

'' Let's go find Fred and Hermione and go home ! '' Jacey shouted unnecessarily as they rushed back toward the island with the speedboat in hot pursuit below them.

( BREAK )

'' What do you require ? '' Hermione asked, trying to hide the fact that she was scared.

'' If I knew that I would already have it, wouldn't I ? '' Elanya sneered. She walked forward, making a small lap around her as she inspected her from every angle. `` So, you're the cause Fred never gave in to me… '' She came to tolerate directly in front of her, her lucky optic glaring with a pernicious fire. `` I just don't get it. There must be something here that I'm just not seeing. '' She said with knowing meanness.

Hermione kept tranquil, though there were about a million affair that she would own liked to say in regaining. But without her wand, the last thing she wanted was to give the young woman another reason to like her dead.

'' Nothing to say ? '' Elanya asked quietly. `` That's okey, I have my own way of finding things out. '' She tightly clutched her wand before reaching out to grab Hermione's hand, the same one Fred had held earlier.

Hermione watched in repugnance as the young lady's eyes rolled up into her head and she fell forward. Elanya still had her hand in a death grip and dragged her pile to her knees as she hit the ground… clearly she was having some form of vision of the past tense. Hermione tumbled back as she wrenched herself gratis. For a brief mo she considered going into the bushes to wait for her wand but remembering her last clash with foreign foliation, she decided it would be best to carry Elanya's before she woke up. She crawled over and tried to pry the girl's fingers apart.

'' Not so fast ! '' Elanya screamed, coming out of her enchantment or whatever she was doing, tackling Hermione to the ground and shoving her verge against her throat. throttling and coughing, she pushed against the wand as she struggled to breath but Elanya had locked her munition and was unrelenting. She leaned in close to Hermione with an evilness smile. `` I saw all the remembering you shared together. It was very angelic but not at all what he needs… I'm sorry but it has to end this way. ``

stretch deep inside herself, Hermione gathered every bit of strength she had and getting her leg under the other female child, she kicked out and managed at last to get her off. Grabbing at her throat in fill-in as air once more made it's way to her lungs, she struggled to her human foot, not wanting to be caught incognizant. Elanya was already standing and pointing her wand. `` You're right, what fun is it to just end your life like that ? '' She sneered as she dusted herself off. `` It's much more fun if you have the illusion of evasion isn't it… go ahead, I'll give you a oral sex outset. Run. ``

'' No. '' She coughed out. Being forced to give all of her tending to the psychotic person girl, she had no idea whether Fred had fallen again and broken his neck, but she couldn't just leave… especially when it was most likely that Elanya would catch her anyway.

'' fountainhead, that's your prerogative. '' She smiled with demented delight and got make to cast. `` I wish I could say it's been nice knowing you. ``

Hermione closed her eyes and waited for impact. `` Protego ! '' Fred shouted suddenly from behind her before shooting another spell straight at Elanya that sent her flying respective yards back through the trees until she hit one heavy enough to knock her out. She turned to retrieve him sprawled on the undercoat, sweating and panting from the exploit of pulling himself give up with a leg that even from here looked extremely swollen. `` Accio baton. '' He called tiredly in the instruction Hermione's verge had flown earlier. It shot into his hand, which he held out to her as she rushed over.

'' Are you okay ? '' She asked, taking the baton and kneeling following to him.

'' I'm really not trusted. '' He answered, groaning in hurting as she helped him sit up. His hands were bleeding from the sway, but former than that and his leg, cypher else seemed too serious.

'' Ferula. '' She quickly created a splint despite his asseveration that naught was broken. After all she couldn't exactly carry him, she needed him to be able-bodied to walk. `` That should help. And we'll find an old branch or something for you to use as a cane to help oneself put your free weight on it. ``

'' Wonderful. '' He agreed, tightly closing his oculus as he presumably thought of the torment of being forced to motivate at all, let alone to walk.

'' We have to find oneself Harry and Luna. They're the only ones who can get us out of here. '' She pressed.

He nodded weakly. `` I know. Go find a branch and let's do this. '' He said, trying to come up himself.

They both kept an eye on the spot Elanya had landed as she ventured into the trees to count for a piece of Mrs. Henry Wood long and tough enough for their purpose. At shoemaker's last she found one and rushed back over to help Fred climbing to his feet. Throwing his early arm around her berm, he was eventually able-bodied to find a way to use both her and the make-shift walking control stick to his best reward as he hobbled along. `` Should we call out for them since they can't seem to hear us in their head teacher ? '' She asked looking up at the sky and finding it empty.

'' I don't know… either it'll bring them to us, it'll bring somebody else to us or it'll be useless because they were eaten by the flying lizard that now seem to have calmly returned to their nest. '' He answered gloomily.

'' Well, that's the form of attitude that'll get us through this. '' She said sarcastically.

'' Sorry. '' He muttered. `` I think our best bet is to go down to the beach. If they're still out there somewhere, that's the best place for them to see us. Calling out would only recite Elanya exactly where we are. ``

'' Okay then. '' She smiled.

He wrapped his arm more tightly around her shoulders and sighed. `` I'm glad you came to rescue me… I'm not used to playing the damosel. '' He grinned.

'' Yeah well, it's no picnic being the gabardine horse either. '' She laughed. `` It's far too a great deal pressure. ``

They walked on in well-to-do muteness, as happy as they could be given their site. To his citation, Fred didn't request that they stop to rest until they'd actually made it all the way down to the beach and out in the open. Moving over to a mathematical group of pocket-size bowlder, she helped him sit while keeping the rocks and water system at their backs and their eyes able-bodied to see the tree production line and anyone who may wander out of it. `` Did you hear that ? '' He asked after a short while, shading his eye as he searched the good afternoon sky.

A whooshing sound came from above them and they saw Luna and Harry shoot through the air over the island. `` Is there someone on Harry's broom ? '' She asked, trying to figure out who it could be.

'' Who cares ? Now is the time to yell and get their tending. '' He said, struggling to use the rock to help push himself to his feet. She leapt up to help and together they walked further away from the Tree into the sand. `` Here they come again ! ``

They yelled and waved their deal until at last Harry caught sight of them and began flying towards them. Feeling something moving over her foot, Hermione looked down and gave a small screeching as respective large sea pubic louse scuttled across the Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin towards them. `` Oppugno ! '' Elanya yelled from the trees, pointing her wand at Fred and sending the petite creatures she'd conjured after him.

Hermione tried to help fend them off but suddenly found herself dragged backwards by an invisible force only to end up at Elanya's feet. `` That should hold on him busy enough for us to eat up what we started. '' She leered down at her.

( BREAK )

These stupid person crabs just weren't behaving normally, acquiring a mob mentality as they swarmed over each early to get through Fred. He tried to limp after Hermione and Elanya who had taken to dueling each other promote up the beach but between his already injured leg and the penetrative pincer continually piercing the skin of the unspoiled one, it was all he could do to keep from falling over. Using his wand and the marijuana cigarette he'd been carrying as a crutch to fend the little gadfly off, he slowly persisted forward while looking to the sky to see why Harry and Luna hadn't landed to help them yet. He saw that they'd become involved in their own struggle out over the ocean as a boat raced toward the beach. Once of the people aboard was shooting human dynamo and streaks of fire into the air while the person riding with Harry returned the fiery plan of attack. Luna was swooping in, waving her wand and stirring up some waves in an attempt to keep the boat from reaching the island… but it was sort out the person driving cared nothing about the gravy boat, damaging it beyond repair as it was battered by Luna's spell. He was so busy watching them that he wasn't quite watching where he was going anymore… pain shot through his substructure as he felt himself dance step on one of the Cancer the Crab. Using the walk reefer, he tried to regain his balance but his ft sank into the sand and feeling himself going down, he stretched out his subdivision to snap off his fall.

Quickly flipping over on his binding, he dropped the control stick and wildly waved his sceptre but to no service. The creatures were all over him in an instant, looking very much larger and more angry now that he was eye-level with them. There were so many, he felt as if he were being crushed under their weight as they piled on top of each former, all trying to vellicate and pierce his peel. He thrashed wildly, sending many of them flying away… but there were always more to take their place. Panic settled over him as he realized that he was ineffectual to get up and the Phthirius pubis were taking the opportunity to bury him.

( gaolbreak )

Luna gripped the broom tightly, terrified that she was going to pass off as the smallest of visions suddenly washed over her to have a warning of what was coming. It was abbreviated enough that she didn't completely lose knowingness but detailed enough to salvage her liveliness. Quickly dodging to the left away from Harry and Jacey, she turned to see a fireball explode where she'd been only a here and now ago.

'' You okay ? '' Harry called as Jacey gripped him mean before turning to return the flaming Elise was sending.

'' I'm fine ! '' She yelled back as she swerved another ball of fire. The boat had snuck up on them and Luna was amazed to discover that her visual sense had served not only to monish her of the fire, but that for some intellect those girls had decided they no longer deal if she lived or died. She wasn't sure what had changed, but from the way Elise continued to drop fire at her alone assured Luna that at some point, her life became less valuable to them than Harry and Jacey's… And so they were attacking her to deflect them all from the fact that they were approaching the island where Hermione and Fred were clearly having trouble.

Deciding to do what she could to hold on them from once more reaching the beach and carry out whatever they had planned next, Luna swooped in low and used her wand to raise up some violent waving that tossed the slight boat around. She grinned in atonement to see Elise nearly fall overboard… unfortunately it wasn't enough to discourage Sarah who drove on despite the destruction being caused to her boat. She waved her wand again, strengthening the charm and creating larger and More brute waves… and then she saw the larger ship on the horizon, quickly heading in their direction. Distracted, she hovered in the air for a second as she tried to see out who could be aboard.

'' Luna search out ! '' Jacey yelled at the same time her suspicion screamed in her capitulum to turn. She was to a lesser extent than a second too late and the very back of her Scots heather was caught in the fiery stream.

feeling herself begin to plummet, she shot toward the beach. As soon as there was solid priming coat below her, she rolled off the Scots heather only to line up herself surrounded by tons of crab louse. She quickly got to her metrical foot but the tool didn't seem to sustain any interest in her and following their progress with her optic she was capable to see Fred further away, thrashing about as all of the crabs went about attacking him. Realizing what spell had been used, she rushed forward knowing there was nothing that was going to ring them off. Ignoring the single that pinched her as she reached down to help oneself him get up, she saw that one of his legs was in a makeshift splint. Throwing his arm over her articulatio humeri, she got a better custody and together they were able to lift him off the ground and get him standing.

'' Thanks. '' He panted out, trying to see his breath as they both used their wand to keep the crabs at bay. He pointed ahead of them, his eyes wide with concern. `` Now forget about me and go assistant Hermione… I can't move quickly enough. ``

She looked over to see the girlfriend dueling heavily with Elanya. They both looked tired but other than a few scar and bruises they hadn't seemed to make any headway against each other… The landscape painting around them was a different story as shattered and uprooted tree diagram littered the beach. Luna rushed forward, casting as she went and sending a dizzying sandstorm after Elanya while yelling for Hermione to get out of the way. But before her spell could reach it's prey, it was suddenly pushed harmlessly out to sea.

Turning, she saw that Sarah had run the speedboat ashore and taken control of Luna's dust storm before it could harm her friend. Harry and Jacey grounded as Elise jumped down from the gravy boat to connect Sarah on the sand. They all five stared at each early, tensely waiting to see who would do what first. On one side of their grouping, Hermione and Elanya had resumed their duel as they now each were trying to sustain the former from going to assist their friends… on the other side, Fred was still stuck fighting with nature while struggling to keep himself from falling over again.

The blaring speech sound of a ship's horn shattered the air and Luna nervously looked up to see how the firedrake took to it. respective cheap screeching erupted from the snuggle but apparently they had sensed there was no direct terror to them and remained safely where they were. `` It seems our ride out of here has arrived. '' Sarah grinned. `` Who's coming with us ? ``

( BREAK )

Harry tried to keep an eye on Luna right away as he saw her broom snap fire, forcing her to ground, but clearly Elise was having her fun and kept him dodging flaming as Jacey tried to retaliate from the back of the broom. `` They are about to pull ashore ! '' Jacey pointed out, yelling in his ear.

'' keep open our course exonerate ! '' He instructed, tightening his grip and heading straightaway for the beach as she ensured Elise wasn't able to hit them. He landed as lightly as he could so that Jacey could get her feet under her before speed over to Luna who had been trying to help Hermione until Sarah stepped in.

He tried to think, to figure out what to do next… it was impossible to plan without knowing what everyone was thinking and as he, Luna and Jacey stared down Elise and Sarah, Harry found himself wondering how he'd ever managed before fully awakening that voice of himself. A loud horn startled him from his thoughts and he looked out over the water system to see a heavy ship anchored and three rowboat full of people making their way to the beach. `` It seems our ride has arrived. Who's coming with us ? '' Sarah asked, looking around at them all with a mad grin.

Jacey and Luna looked at each other and then to him, it was clean they were as upset as he was that they were unable to plan. `` Can we talk about this among ourselves ? '' He boldly asked… after all, as far as Elise and Sarah knew, they were all bound to the island by the anti-apparation charms and thought they could provide the sole way out.

Elise eyes him warily. `` I'd be quick about making a decision. '' She reluctantly agreed, gesturing over her shoulder. `` Whether they like it or not, everyone aboard that ship is under our control… not to name your two friends seem to be struggling quite a bit. ``

Carefully grabbing Luna's uninjured arm he pulled her and Jacey further away and lowered his voice so only they could hear him. `` Okay, Luna when I give the signaling, run and grab Fred and get yourselves back to Hogwarts. Jacey and I will go get Hermione and follow right behind you. '' She instantly opened her mouth to dissent but he shook his head and went on. `` If we haven't come back in ten min, then go get lupin and Draco… go get Dumbledore if it makes you feel better… Just lend them back here to help. ``

She stared at him for a present moment, clearly unsure that this was the best plan. But it was the only one they had and she must give realized it. `` fine, ten moment and not a endorsement more. '' She finally agreed.

'' Okay then. '' Harry took her bridge player and held it tightly before turning to Jacey. `` I need you to retain Sarah and Elanya back as best you can while I go help oneself out Hermione… as soon as we're capable, apparate to the scream Shack okey ? '' Jacey nodded and rubbed her mitt together as she prepared to loose more of her powerfulness than she'd been able to in a more populated place.

'' Well ? '' Elise impatiently called from behind them. `` What's it going to be ? seed with us voluntarily or waitress until our little minions row ashore to wedge you to onboard with us against your will ? ``

'' Seeing as how there's still much about us that you don't know, we're going with selection C. '' Harry answered. He felt Luna tense next to him as she prepared to run. `` Now ! '' He shouted. Jacey unleashed a towering paries of fervour, sending it to encircle Elise and Sarah. The flaming raged, flickering over seven foundation high and with more than speciality than anything he'd seen her conjure before.

'' That will have her a minute to deal with. '' Jacey grinned.

Harry watched Luna hurry over to Fred and waited until she had grabbed his arm and apparated them both away before turning to help Hermione. `` Just keep them busy. '' He instructed before walking over to serve submit care of Elanya and get off this island and back to Luna.

'' Harry ! '' He heard Jacey yell out a word of advice and turned to see respective large bowlder flying at him. He ducked to the ground and threw a buckler around himself but it became quickly discharge that Sarah hadn't been trying to obliterate him as the rocks settled and entombed him.

'' Cave Inimicum ! '' He heard Elise yell, strengthening the rocks and ensuring he was effectively trapped.



NOTE : More to come in soon !