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



Chapter 16 ~ New roadblock


Harry clenched his fist around thin air, squeezing the life out of some unobserved resister within the quiet down hospital backstage. The silence was only broken by Kaylens'tranquil breaths, her chest insurrection and falling as steadily as the light air fluttering the curtains.

He 'd been cooped up for days, still healing himself, and had been forced to find out her grow ever stiller. Surely he was trapped within one of the seven rope of hellhole, for each time he looked upon her his guilt rose like a fervency, the flames threatening to deplete him.

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

Now she lay in this comatose State, and even lady Pomfrey had been unable to excite her.

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

Perhaps it was his own wishful thinking.

He rose, ineffectual to stay on still, watching her with nothing save his thoughts for ship's company.

cerebration were such poor comfort ...

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

The vindication, the expiation, and everything he had expected to finger were conspicuously missing.

Bellatrix Lestrange was dead.

So why did he feel robbed ?

The obvious result came. Tonks had beaten him to the putting to death. She had killed the one someone who 's decease he had desired above all but Voldemort himself. And now he would never have the chance to avenge Sothis the way he had wanted.

Worst of all, Lestrange 's physical structure was gone.

He had wanted to depend upon the lifeless nerve of Canicula'killer and spitting upon it.

Now even that cruel ease had been taken from him.

All he was left with, were unrequited questions, and this cruel circle of hell called the Hogwarts hospital wing.

Still, the facts did not add up. death eater held no loyalty for one another. To them cypher was sacred.

Yet they had salvaged the body.

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

So why do it ?

He had unconsciously wandered, finding himself in figurehead of the unfastened third floor window. The autumn scented child's play blew across his bare chest, cooling him. His shirt lay discarded upon his bed, his shoulder joint gauze bandage recently removed, exposing the nipper marks that now indented his skin.

It was requirement, Madam Pomfrey had insisted upon having his combat injury exposed to the air. He was to be released soon, and she needed to see to it that it would admit up on it 's own.

His fractured shoulder blade had been mended quickly, but werewolf lesion were easy to heal.

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

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

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

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

He would.

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

It had happened during the day.

Now, where last Eaters roamed, the moon would no longer entertain it 's sway.

Harry shuddered in the snap, contemplating the many repugnance Voldemort might unleash in accession to daylight roaming werewolves.

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

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

Hermione 's parents would soon join them, and his cold intellectual side realized that when it happened, part of Hermione 's someone would be taken forever.

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

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

For if he were truly the one with the force to kill the Dark Lord, than every arcsecond he had ever spent reveling in life, and not searching for Voldemort 's demise, had been another tomb in the terra firma for the innocent.

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

It was doubtful he would be permitted to leave soon.

'' That 's disgusting. ``

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

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

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

'' You were out for five Day. ``

She paled considerably.

He was slow to recoup, and debated getting lady Pomfrey. But she would be back soon, to contain on his own lesion. She could find her awake then. Besides, he was afraid to leave her alone for even a minute, fearful that she might fall into that ageless sleep once more.

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

He studied her, thinking about how to serve. His pridefulness made him hesitant to take on failing, but her eyes ...

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

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

'' Like netherworld ... '' She murmured.

'' You look it. ``

She graced him with a wry smile, a whorl of hair's-breadth falling into her eyes. She looked almost annoyed.

She reached up, brushing the whorl aside, revealing her deathly blench hide. Her command motion exposed her own nuisance to him in a way no password could.

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

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

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

Her eyes traveled to where his finger's breadth lay.

'' Apparently, '' Her part was so swoon ...

'' Pomfrey said she had taken care of this, '' He whispered aloud, gently relinquishing her deal. She let it diminish upon her pillow, besides her face. `` Your bones may not have healed properly. ``

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

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

It was funny, but had she had woken a few years earlier he probably would throw demanded reply, answers about how she knew lupine, about what she really did or did not know about death Eaters, but after years of sitting there, watching her delicate figure slumber, the mere thought of interrogating her incommode him.

His answers could hold back, for a little patch at least.

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

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

'' Yeah, '' He finished.

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

She lay there, so still, for so long, he would have sworn she slept. It was component part fright, fear that she would not waken, that drove him to the admission.

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

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

He wanted to fence, but lacked the heart, watching how her centre broke from his, dancing away.

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

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

It was then that Pomfrey walked in.

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


Several sidereal day later he had been prepped to go away. His left arm hung loose in a slingback, preventing unnecessary crusade.

lupine 's claw had torn into him just beneath his shoulder joint brand, right where several brawn came together. Apparently re-growing heftiness was as foxy as re-growing bones.

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

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

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

Answers he could not give.

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

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

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

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

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

It had been over a workweek since he and Kaylens had disappeared from the Headmaster 's office, and one of the lowest lovesome weekends of the twelvemonth had driven the scholarly person dead body outside.

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

riddle had given him to a greater extent time due to his trauma, and for that, Harry had to give him credit.

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

They walked in silence, Ron 's heart darting towards him. He knew Ron was trying to resolve what was rubber to discuss.

Harry decided to save him the clumsiness. `` How 's Hermione ? ``

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

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

'' Harry what 's going on ? ``

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

Not to mention the prophecy. How in the infernal region was he supposed to outsmart him ?

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

They walked the rest period of the way in silence.

Hermione was there, waiting for them in the evacuate dorm, sprawled out with a book on Ron 's bed. Her eyes were rimmed with dismal circles, standardised to Kaylens.

Misery loves company, he thought. Ron sat besides her, placing a helping hand on her dorsum. Only then did she seem to realize they were there.

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

He smiled for her welfare. `` The query is, how are you ? ``

She shrugged, re-burying her nose into her book. `` They would n't let us see you. ``

'' I know. ``

'' Why ? '' Ron asked.

Harry dropped his bag onto the bed, and began removing the few belongings Pomfrey had brought down for him. `` Dumbledore 's order of magnitude. '' His eyes would not take on theirs.

Ron frowned. `` His ground ? ``

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

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

Hermione 's eyes roamed, landing on his catapult.

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

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

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

'' No. I was not bitten. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Then how could a wolfman ... ''

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

Hermione was no longer even trying to take, her vox unusually high. `` That ca n't be. A werewolf ca n't change out of lunar sequence ... ''

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

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

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

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

'' He turned. Yes. ``

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

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

'' Too a good deal to explicate easily, 'Mione. ''

Ron took Hermione 's hand almost naturally. `` Then involve your sentence mate. Start from the beginning. ''

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

'' You both already know that Voldemort has not given me a moment 's repose since last summer. It 's a private battle between him and I. We 're both fighting for information, about the other English 's approach and release, about how much the former side knows ... ''

He talked steadily, opening his dresser drawer to put clothing away. His actions, however humble, lent a sentiency of normalcy to the otherwise ominous conversation.

'' Your parents 'Mione, he said he will issue them, '' He ignored her intake of breath. `` If I tell him what the contents of the prophecy were. ``

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

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

The silence that followed occupied old age within his idea, yet it lasted no Thomas More than 3 seconds.

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

He remained mute, until her pleading voice broke again.

'' Harry, please ... ''

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

The betrayed looks upon their faces nearly broke his spirit.

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

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

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

He swallowed hard. `` No Ron. ``

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

'' No. ``

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

The charge in Ron 's representative was too much. He could take no Sir Thomas More. `` Because I ca n't Ron ! Don't you think I would if I could ? ``

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

Harry was having trouble keeping his voice story. `` Ron, if I tell him there is no ground for him to keep the husbandman alive anymore. It 's our handsome bargaining check. ``

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

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

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

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

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

Harry shook his head, never more serious. `` No Ron. You did n't. '' He felt almost sorry at Ron 's chapfallen look. `` You only saw what Death Eaters were equal to of. That is naught compared to him. ``

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

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

'' There 's no motive to yell at her mate, '' Ron said coolly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ron 's brow raised so far they disappeared beneath his hairsbreadth. `` Really ? ! Then why did you hardly breath a word to us all summer ? Why wo n't you utter to us now ? ``

'' I am talking ... ''

'' No. Your blocking Harry. Like in cheat. '' Ron pointed his wand out the door, summoning the cheat board from the common room. Levitating it, Ron cleared the board save for the pawns, world-beater, and fag of both sides, his supercilium furrowed in compactness. He then moved the pawns so they protectively surrounded the B. B. King and queen on one side, leaving the other side 's tycoon and poof unprotected.

'' The way I see it Harry, all you have left are cat's-paw. '' Ron continued, gesturing to the protected incline of the card. `` So instead of risking everything to hire my Billie Jean King, you 're protecting yours. ``

Ron moved a instrument on Harry 's side away. `` You 're afraid that if you move your pawns for a second, that I might get in and take your king. ``

Ron 's queer shaft forward, moving through the opening Harry 's instrument had left, taking his faggot out with a vehement whack of her chair. She then stood, posed to consume his baron on the future move.

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

The Bromus secalinus add-in folded in on itself, slamming to the floor.

'' plot over. ``

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

He was aright. And for the first time Harry realized how truly different he was from them.

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

The sound of the metaphorical rampart falling between them filled his creative thinker, and Ron spoke again.

'' plot over Harry. Only you're the merely one who knows what secret plan were playing. ``
* * * * *


Harry tromped through the corridor, feeling worse than he had thought possible. He preferred feeling numb, at least then he felt nothing at all.

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

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

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

The selection was no longer his.

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

They would n't end up like Sirius.

He knew exactly where he was going, and rounded the street corner to the hospital wing. His foul mood only increased when ma'am Pomfrey stuck out her forefront, a forced smile plastered upon it, and asked him to wait.

The door slammed and the audio of controversy resumed. Dumbledore 's voice caught his attending. What was he doing in the hospital wing ? Perhaps to see Kaylens, but he had already visited them once. It was n't like the Headmaster to confab students though. And he should know, he had been in the hospital wing too many sentence to enumerate, but could reckon Dumbledore 's visit there on one hand.

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

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

Madam Pomfrey 's reproving tone came out clearly. `` ... cells need to restore before you can even seek to perform magic again. ``

'' But I 'm behind enough as it is ! '' Kaylens ... A twisting wafture of alleviation washed through him. And to call up, normally he had trouble resisting the impulse to mute her.

Dumbledore spoke now. `` Miss Kaylens I do n't call back Remus would desire you over-exerting ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

Cure ? His stomach lurched dangerously.

'' Kalliandra, looking at it as a last judgment of conviction will not aid matters. ``

Her articulation was strained. `` You 're correctly. Nothing will. You know that the odds ... ''

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

'' I 'd prefer the burden, '' Kaylens hissed, her phonation suddenly solid. `` Now is there anything else your keeping from me ? '' Her voice was strained and accusatory. `` Because I 'd like to know before I read about it in some stupid record book. ``

Silence.

'' I thought so. ''

His entire torso shook unsteadily. So much so that the approaching footfall did not record until the room access had swung give in front end of him, revealing a pale looking Kalliandra.

He could only stare, words abandoning him. Her centre had caught on the extendable ear.

Her garment bag slipped down on her shoulder, her entire variant quivering.

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

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





'' Just as bravery peril life, fear protects it. ''
~ Leonardo da Vinci ~



Chapter 17 ~ Kunnskap

Kunnskap is Norweigan for Knowledge



She shoved open up the entrance doors, leaving the secure residence hall of the shoal behind, and walked out onto the rapidly cooling grounds. She blinked back the moisture that lingered within her eyes. No crying would fall, no issue how hard they threatened. This she promised herself.

She was furious, but her anger paled in comparison to her ego execration. She had been so unbelievably stunned ! It had been bad enough to desire Remus, but to have nearly let down that barrier again ...

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

Despite the annoyance they had been in, the time spent within the infirmary wing had been pleasant. She and potter had dwelt in silent companionship, both knowing there were things that needed to be discussed. Despite that he had not pressed her to babble out, instead he had seemed to calmly accept her silence.

This change had been oddly comforting.

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

She kicked the ground, scattering dirt in her wake.

She could not fathom why she had thought he would let her keep her secrets. But she had been a complete fool for entertaining the whimsy.

And for some intellect his humble betrayal hurt her.

Supreme Being ... She turned her split filled eyes towards the sky, tracing along the darkening swarm, and noted how low they hung. It was the incoming storm that had drawn her out-of-doors after all. The strange feeling slithering through her, as if static electricity were tickling her very cutis, had been hard to cut.

She reveled in the small distraction from her sentiment, and allowed herself to simply find.

The looming swarm pulsated with unsound shakiness, their rhythmic throbbing pulsated within her very blood, and her pilus stood on end as if one had just run a balloon through her hair.

The storm front rolled in above her, and the Sir Thomas More astute of her peer began to channelize indoors. The field surrounding the lake had been the starting time of the grounds to be abandoned, and her feet led her there.

She wanted the seclusion.

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

Everything had happened so fast the day she had received the market keeper note, and there had been no time for the cold trueness to settle in. Only over the preceding 24-hour interval, as she and Potter had lain there in secrecy, had it finally registered.

Pomfrey 's words had just driven it abode.

Somehow, hearing the therapist 's words had made it very, and now fear held her heart in a vice grip.

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

Perhaps end would be a blessing. She just had things to do before it found her.

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

It was often painful.

She rubbed her arms against the chill wind, grateful that God had some sentiency of pity. Fortunately for her, the human being wit could only register pain as abnormal for so long, before it accepted the pain as the constant province of affairs. Then it would be ignored.

Oddly enough, it was very similar to how the fragrant aroma of roses would subside, if one were to stand amongst them, breathing them in for too long.

Still, acclimation could only do so much, and her consistency ached, protesting constantly.

Instead of leaving the undercoat at the threat of rainwater, she continued meandering across the grounds, walking the perimeter of the lake, observing it carefully.

She took it all in with her rule perceptiveness. There were spots where the reason ended, dropping off sharply to fulfil the duckweed covered surface of the H2O.

In other spots the ground gradually sloped down, kissing the lake 's rippling wafture. There the wickedness dry land was muddied, imprinted with the footprints of those who had braved the shallows to drown, before the weather had cooled in wake of the incoming afternoon storm.

She passed by both these orbit, heading closer to the Forbidden woodland. Here she kicked off her shoes, allowing them to drop freely from one hand as she picked her way across the far end of the lake. Here minor Edward Durell Stone formed a natural beach, and she sat down near the boundary, letting her finger trail across the rough pebbled edge beneath her.

She accumulated a belittled appeal of flat bottomed stone, gathering them within her hands, and she cast the inaugural across the serene water, breaking it 's vitreous aerofoil.

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

She smiled ruefully, casting another towards him. This time the tentacle swung and connected, sending the Harlan Stone flying in high spirits above her read/write head.

A low gang fight filled the sky, and the altocumulus cloud cloud dipped threateningly humbled, wafting the scent of rain upon the gentle wind towards her. The sky had grown darker, and she vaguely remembered the afternoons she and Sean had once spent, skipping stones across the lake near their crime syndicate home.

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

She skipped another.

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

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


Harry winced, rubbing his brow. That was definitely going to give a mark.

It had taken him all of thirty second to make up one's mind to comply her. The memory of her reeking center had been alarming, and he could n't let her impart like that, not when she did n't understand.

He cast a public eye at the gargantuan squid, approaching her cautiously, carefully trying to not slip upon the glossy rocks as he walked down towards her.

He treaded as close as he dared, pausing to hover uncertainly. Her shoulders had stiffened at his cry, the only sign to indicate that she was aware of his comportment.

He swallowed hard. From where he stood besides her, he could see the drawn line of her lips, and how her eyes gazed, almost longingly across the benighted surface of the lake. He followed her gaze, the outset free fall of rain drizzling upon them.

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

'' What are you doing out here ? '' He asked carefully. Another rock of nose drops shuddered the sky, drowning him out, and the giant squid disappeared beneath the lake 's surface.

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

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

secrecy reigned for some time, broken only by the increasing rhythm of rain, pattering around them. The pee gradually matted his uncontrollable hair to his os frontale, and Kaylen 's golden hair darkened with saturation.

She sat with a unstrain air, unbothered by the icy droplets pouring down. Slowly, with evident pain sensation in her motility, she scooted closer to the lake 's bound, dipping her feet into the churning water as casually as if it were a mid-summer day, rather than a impractical Oct downpour. Never once did she calculate at him.

Her shoulders were plain, and her damp hair clung to them. He was close enough to observe the slight goose bumps prickling across her pale skin.

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

Kaylens was sickish ...

'' Here, '' He said, shattering their verbal reverting. He picked his way across the pebbly declension to her, shrugging out of his cloak. He felt no unwieldiness as he picked up her damp hair, draping it across her shoulder.

She looked up, turning her questioning stare towards him. He was at a red ink, for the glossiness of her eyes could not be from rain water alone.

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

Her centre held his, and for the most pass of second gear the suspicion he was so victimised to seeing vanished. `` Thank you, '' She murmured, inclining her head to the spot besides her.

He lowered himself besides her, afraid to speak. His heart pounded loudly in his chest of drawers. Never before had he been so fearful of reprimand. His chance may have lasted thus far, but even he would not blame her for screaming if she so chose.

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

The sky thundered, lighting up as lighting flashed heights in the swarm. It struck him as extremely unwise to be in their positions, so close-fitting to water.

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

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

'' Well ? '' Above the rumbling overhead he could say she was speaking louder. Though the deviation was barely discernable.

'' Well what ? ''

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

He opened his oral fissure to excuse that that was exactly why he had come, but she went on.

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

Despite their content, her shade held no shadow of the intimate sarcasm or malice.

Instead she sounded curious.

The recognition sent an out of place smile across his face.

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

'' Try me. ``

'' I came to apologize. ``

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

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

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

'' How much did you hear ? '' Her gaze turned pointedly down.

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

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

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

The look she shot him could silence the heller himself. `` And why should I ? You have n't been the portrayal of Lunaria annua thrower. ``

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

She did not answer. Instead, she tilted her face towards the sky, allowing the rainfall to pour over her more freely. Her whisker fell away from her shoulder, revealing her prospicient neck. She remained this way for what may have been simple s, but to him, felt like hours.

'' Okay potter, '' She finally breathed. `` Try me. ''

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

And he explained.

He explained why he had followed her that day into Knockturn Alley, how her stubborn refusal to suffice interrogative about Death eater had led him, to what he hoped, were incorrect supposition, and how, after solar day of watching her in a comatose province, he had feared that she had fallen ill once again.

He spoke to her, the pelting cascading down their organic structure as they sat, keeping each other 's acquaintance, the violent storm forgotten. several time she made to move, shaking her head disbelievingly, but his hand on her arm silenced her refutes. By the prison term he was done, a sad formula had crossed her features.

He studied her, puzzled. `` smell, Kaylens I did n't mean to upset you if ... ''

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

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

'' Kaylens are ... ''

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

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

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

The moment he was up she unceremoniously shoved his cloak back into his arms. He looked at it in surprise, and was about to fence, noting how far a walk to the schoolhouse it still was, when he realized that she had already spun and taken off into the downpour.

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

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

'' I 'm mulct, '' She said grimacing. `` Really, '' She added, seeing his disbelieving looking at.

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

She whorled on him, looking disturbingly hard-pressed, her tegument dangerously pale. `` expression, thrower ... Do yourself a favor okay ? Do n't concern about me. ``

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

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

The thought of her hating him again churned his stomach. He could n't take into account it ...

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

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


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

He just did not understand what he had done, and every time he caught a glimpse of her he felt unbalanced.

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

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

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

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

Or something like that.

His reaction was puzzling, even to him. He could not deny that he felt oddly protective of her. How could he not ? He had spent far too a lot time watching over her in the hospital wing, and the thought of further harm coming to her drove him mad.

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

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

He had seen her exclusively that very morning, and it had taken all his longanimity to avoid hexing her into next week when she had practically sprinted down the residence hall to talk to Dean, upon catching sight of him.

Scheol, he had come damn near closer to hexing her and Malfoy in defense reaction Against the Dark Arts that very day. He had walked in to line up her and Malfoy chatting in hushed whisper, knack over parchment.

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

Kaylens had refused to look at him. But he had not failed to discover how her hands shook for the residue of family.

It had been easy to note since he had been sitting alone. Ron and Hermione had holed themselves up on the other English of the way. And unlike Kaylens and Hermione, who contented themselves to avoiding him, Ron had made sport of sending uncongenial limelight his way.

At least the uncongenial looks from his roommates were apprehensible. He had had another violent ambition with Voldemort that workweek, and had woken up in a right state, screaming at every one of them.

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

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

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

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

He actually did n't mind the idea.

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

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

Perhaps it was because his thoughts had been elsewhere, but the approximation of a wandless Occlumency lesson caught him off precaution. He furrowed his supercilium questioningly.

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

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

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

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

Never in his animation would he make imagined Dumbledore being unable to teach him something.

'' Occlumency, Harry, is less about erecting genial barriers, and more about controlling one 's emotions. Keeping your emotions hidden from the opposition is of extreme importance. And frankly, gets well-to-do with age. '' Dumbledore stood with a rather large feather sirocco and began to attack a disgruntled portrait with it.

'' Harry, you have become quite wiz at creating barriers, visualizing a brick paries is your barrier of choice is it not ? '' Harry nodded but Dumbledore was continuing. `` But the but way to beef up that bulwark at this point, is to hear to mask your emotions. ``

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

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

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

He valued his education far too a lot to respond truthfully.

'' Well Harry, when one sifts through your thinker, dreadful store can get excavate. It 's natural to call up the emotions these experiences caused you. Such a distraction is all the enemy would need to cut into profoundly into your intellect. '' Dumbledore was carrying on with all the air of one discussing a weekend field day. `` And you have no shortage of atrocious remembering Harry. It would be quite easy for Voldemort to find one to use against you. ``

He did not need Dumbledore to tell him that, he had already re-lived the guilt trip of Dog Star'death all summer.

'' So are you going to establish me live over those memories for practice ? '' He asked, somewhat apprehensive.

Dumledore turned to look at him, balancing precariously on the stool he was using to arrive at ole Phinneus'portrait. `` Why of course not. Certainly, I could go sifting about through your judgement, forcing you to recall bad sentence in your lifetime. But dredging up old memories and forcing you to deal with them would only help oneself you build up indifference. We do n't require that. ``

Dumbledore turned back and shoved the feather sandstorm rightfield where Phinneus'face had just re-appeared. The former schoolmaster cringed and jumped out of the frame again.

'' Harry, what we do want, is for you to come to terms with the crueler region of your past. And only you can delimitate what those terms are. But I dare prompt you, there is a remainder between allowing the past to remind you, and allowing the past to operate you. ''

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

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

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

Dumbledore shrugged. `` well, give it clip, give it time. It may take her awhile to open up to anyone, seeing as how subject are. ''

The Headmaster was running his wand up and down the spine of the record in an odd zig-zag pattern, muttering something about camphor ball. A loud 'pop'was heard, making Harry leap, and the book sprang out of Dumbledore 's paw, falling subject on the table before them.

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

Harry had to admit that Dumbledore was dead on.

Inside the open rule book, where the pages should bear been, lay a pinko stratum of fog. There was a common sense of profundity to the Interior of it, and Harry had the undefined sentience that another dimension lay just beyond the peacefully swirls.

Dumbledore reached his paw into it. `` It is a rather cunning hiding spot for things. Not only is the locking mechanism for it rather dodgy, but only a handwriting with my DNA could reach into this and still bump their hired man attatched. ``

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

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

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

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

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

Only eighty-one ? He thought, slightly amused by the schoolmaster definition of only. He turned the vial within his hands, noting that unlike in Dumbledore 's pensieve, downcast specification darted to and fro within the silvery essence here, colliding frequently to emit nighttime green sparks. It was like watching the reflection of fireworks in a silvery pond, only on a miniature scale.

A thinking occurred to him.

'' What do you think by lessons, prof ? '' He asked curiously.

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

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

'' Times were dark. '' He continued gravely. `` I did not cognise how many of us would survive, but we knew it was essential to pass on our knowledge to the next genesis. This was our way of ensuring that at to the lowest degree one skilful wizard recieved that if the worst were to happen. ``

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

Despite his botheration and wrath at all the headmaster had withheld over the geezerhood, the idea of a mortal Dumbledore shook his construct of a stable universe.

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

'' Over the years, myself, and others within the old Order, added choose pieces of knowledge that we wanted to depart to you, to this. You 'll even find some of my old schoolhouse day lessons there. Things like phantasm, curse-breaking, animagus discipline ... They are all in there. ``

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

A planetary house elf popped into existence then, extending a crustal plate of cooky to him. He scarcely managed to take one, for his head was fixated on the cruel sarcasm of the post.

This vial was a true natural endowment, yet he was only receiving it because of the prognostication 's lowering burden.

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

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

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

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

'' Harry, the Kunnskap does not work like a normal pensieve. Instead of entering a computer memory, the memory board enters you. So once you unearth one, it 's cognition will continue permanently yours. ``

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

Dumbledore smiled ruefully. `` No. This will instruct you the theory, and knowing the theory of something is entirely unlike from putting it to use. However ... '' The man 's blue eyes twinkled mischievously. `` I have it on honorable password that learning and researching just the theory on animagi can take years. So all you will have left to do is drill putting what this will teach you, into use. ``

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

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

God he would escape them ... Perhaps one day, when things were different ....

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

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

He 'd be damned if he disappointed him.

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

Harry nearly choked on his biscuit.

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




Thank you SticksN'Stones for the excellent banner !






'' Choose to be not a ware of your environment, nor of your experience, but a ware of what your heart tells you the mankind can be in its fine time of day. ``
~ A.K. Sir Bernard Lovell ~



Chapter 18 ~ The scar aliveness Leaves


Tonks threw open the shades, allowing the smart afternoon light to stream in, filling the room with yellow-bellied hues so bright that not even Remus, who was valiantly feigning sleep, could ignore them.

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

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

'' How did you get past the Aaron Montgomery Ward ? '' Remus groaned, pulling his pillow over his read/write head so he resembled a burrowing animal.

She contented herself to narrowing her violet optic. `` vizor 's a execration circuit breaker. And when he and I have over two calendar week with nothing to do but crack the wards on our stubborn butt of a Friend 's place we tend to succeed. ``

Remus emitted a low grumble auditory sensation, unclear to any human ear. It was at this point that she decided she had had enough. She ripped the natural covering from his bed, and flung them out the now give window.

'' Remus did you really think you could deflect us forever ! '' She hollered. `` What the hell is the topic with you ? ``

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

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

'' You look like a sopping wet dog Remus ! Now get your stubborn ass off the floor right now and get ready ! We have an Order confluence in an 60 minutes and if you are not there so help me Merlin I will add up back here, wards be damned, and make you come ! You ca n't avoid us forever ! ``

He groaned unhappily.

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

'' Mrmph ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' I ca n't take chances it .... ''

'' Well that 's just too blamed bad Wolfy because your going to. '' She did n't hold back for a response and marched over to contrive open up his wardrobe. She grabbed the nearest shirt and threw it at him. `` Now go shower and get dressed. I do n't let all day and so help me you are going to write to Harry and Kalliandra before we leave ! ``

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

'' I 'd like to see you try. I 'm not leaving because I do n't finger like fighting with your wards again. '' She paused, and almost as an second thought added, `` And do n't convert the subject area because you are writing to them ! ``

He shook his head, his shaggy-haired hair's-breadth falling around his oculus messily. It looked like he had n't showered in days. `` No. If they wanted to let the cat out of the bag to me they would receive .... ''

'' Would suffer what ? '' She was far beyond losing her patience at this pointedness. `` Contacted you ? Remus, Kalliandra tried ! That damn sac watch of yours has been glowing all week at central office ! We tried sending it back to you but you keep sending it back ! Kalliandra probably thinks your ignoring her by now and Harry ... ''

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

She growled in frustration and yanked the pouch sentinel out of her pocket. Mundungus had found it near one of the dead children after the attack.

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

Watching his piteous movements, she suddenly felt like collapsing.

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

She could n't bear to think of it, let alone voice it, but ever since that wretched night she had grown to swear on Remus. She needed him so often it scared her.

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

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

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

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

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

If he had not shown up when he had, she may have curled up in the approximate, damp Calluna vulgaris W.C., and not come out till Christmas.

She had passed out that night, vaguely shady that her mocha had been laced with pall firewhiskey. Remus always had claimed that alcohol assuaged the nervus ....

She had only just realized how thankful she was for the modest ghost of humor he shared with her.

She had grown so ill-used to him always being there, and it had taken Remus'absence to prepare her realize how much he meant to her.

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

The view of him wallowing in self pity any longsighted made her physically ill, and she felt her shallow reserves of specialty folding in.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Harry allowed the book to fall closed. His school principal had long since fallen upon the board, his body slumped over in foiling. A thousand and one dark curses swirled through his creative thinker, their counter bane eluding his memory in a maddening way.

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

The sheer enormity of the task before him had hit home nearly an hour before, and the constant weight on his shoulders seemed determined to shell him now. It was pressing down on his chest, making his oral sex spin, the fruition of how niggling time he had to master this had finally sunk in.

Voldemort could do for those he loved tomorrow, and somehow he doubted the fiend 's minions would stick to simple jinxes.

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

Avada Kedarva was amongst the most merciful of dark curses.

For the wickedness arts could do so much speculative than simply kill in one blow.

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

By the time those around you realized ....

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

Other curses could could slice your hide in dull, long stroke. The invisible attack lasting for hr, as medi-wizards and healers tried to economize you, only to determine you succumb as slash after destroying stroke undid their healing, spilling your life blood, killing you ...

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

He shuddered involuntarily, almost glad that Death had been speedy and merciful for Sirius and Cedric. He had not known before, but their lives could give birth been extinguished in much worse ways ....

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

Professor Tres had shown him that merely a workweek ago. Kaylens had been the one to bring it up, asking when they would learn the speculative of the Dark prowess themselves.

He had n't been sure whether to spat her for her shrewdness, or imprecate her for sounding like fanatical Malfoy.

But she had been right ....

If one did not be intimate what the curses sounded like, how could they guard themselves with precise counter-curses ?

So while her and Malfoy had argued their point, and lost valiantly as Tres started twitching under pressure sensation, he had composed a letter of the alphabet to Dumbledore asking for access to material about the Dark fine art.
Dumbledore had granted him that ...

He propped himself on his human elbow, reopening the ancient, blackened leather text. He was determined to pick up every lethal curse the worldly concern had to offer him.

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

The man who had stolen his life from day one.

Pettigrew would pay. Harry would make him finger all of the pain in the ass he had felt ever since his comer on the Dursley 's doorstep.

Then Pettigrew would die.

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

The puppet was going to pay.
* * * * *


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

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

That particular owl had had club to snap whatever was written before Remus had a chance to snatch it up himself.

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

Damn your obstinacy to netherworld Remus ! She thought in bother, stomping her foot outside Dumbledore 's post.

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

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

'' Peppermint ! Bat muck droppings ! Bertie Pops ! Apples ! Peaches ! '' She exclaimed at it, abandoning candy in favor of fruit. `` Oh imprecate it to hell ! peach schnapps ! Peach Cobble ... ''

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

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

Dumbledore looked up idly from his desk, a befuddled look across his weather fall apart boldness. `` Why Kalliandra, what a pleasant surprise. ``

She did not concur. `` professor what does Remus think he is doing ? '' She demanded, stopping in nominal head of his desk. `` He ca n't avoid us forever ! Why does n't my porthole key employment anymore ? And why are you now using John Barleycorn as your countersign ! ? ``

Dumbledore looked rather puzzled. `` Peach schnapps ? A liquor ? And here I thought it was a rather clever physique of confect ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

'' On some stage, yes. But much like someone else you know ... '' Dumbledore eyed her shrewdly, leaving no head about who he was referring to. `` He has taken to blaming himself, shoving away those close to him in order to protect them. ''

She sighed defeatedly. `` So there 's nothing we can do to talk some sense into him ? ``

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

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

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

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

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


Harry rested his brass against the worn surface of the table, letting his dank hair's-breadth drip over his grimace. The dripping water supply from his recent shower eased the dull aching that had begun in his scar.

Drip ....

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

Across the common room, far from where he sheltered in the dark of a undivided taper wick, the flak glowed warmly. various straggling seventh long time, no doubt putting in the surplus hours for NEWT preparation, remained there, blissfully oblivious to the previous hour.

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

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

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

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

The one he was looking at would tug air from the lungs slowly, till the soul could only claw at their neck in agony, blood vas in their eye bursting as oxygen left them.

The black and blank instance showed a mavin captured in a mute howling, his fingerbreadth already falling hitch around his throat.

He shuddered at the passel, not noticing the make up one's mind expression flitting across her face.

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

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

'' Hey thrower. ``

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

'' Kaylens. '' He said steadily, tenderness hammering. Be it at her sudden interruption or the remembering of the dying brass, he did not have a go at it. `` What are you doing here ? '' He slid a hand across the morbid exposure, staring intently at her.

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

His scratch gave a dull Cypriot pound, reminding him of his own fragile state. Tonight was not the clip for talking, even with her, whom he had grown curious about. `` You know ... '' He stated carefully, watching her smooth her sleek locks behind her pinna. `` There is usually a grounds for why someone sits crystalize across a relatively empty elbow room from everyone else. ``

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

'' Their studying. ``

'' Or they want to be left alone. '' She whispered, voicing his wordless thought. `` Believe me Potter, I know your distressed with me. I would n't devil you if it was n't significant. ``

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

Her centre danced in the candlelight, her helping hand playing around the basis of the taper, picking at the solidify wax. `` It 's not of import why. I just am. '' She whispered, sounding clearly pained.

He nodded, accepting this. `` If that's the case, then am I, or am I not, supposed to stick the hell away from you ? ``

She chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully, fidgeting. `` For someone who seemed aegir to speak, your certainly making this difficult. ``

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

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

Her vox held an meat of loss as Lupin 's name fell off her sassing, and for a fleeting irregular he understood. He did not have it away how the two knew one another, and felt the stabbing painful sensation of perfidy that lupine had kept better communicating with her rather than him, his best ally 's son, but in that instant, he knew that his former Professor had not spoken to her since that day either.

He felt oddly skilful about that. For a change, he was not the only one being ignored, or keep in the dark.

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

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

He felt a belittled grin tugging at the edges of his brim. `` Hedwig is persistent. ``

'' An owl ? ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

Before she could even be active his hand had shot out like a lightning bolt, attaching itself to her articulatio radiocarpea. `` Do n't get her ... I 'll be ticket. '' He hissed lowly, not keen to attract the attending of the 7th years still down there.

An unpleasant sensation swept through him, the spirit of Kaylens'wrist joint turning barely registered as the dark room spun. He was no longer fully there as his eyes flickered half shut, half seeing the rampart Dumbledore had taught him to so carefully conception, half seeing Kaylens kneeling down besides him.

'' The lonesome way to strengthen your wall at this period, is to learn to disguise your emotions .... '' Dumbledore 's words came back to him ...

'' potter ? Potter look at me. '' Kaylens spoke quickly, an unfamiliar edge to her voice. He waved her away, feeling her paw wrapping around his own. She had to leave ...

Voldemort was prickling at the edges of his visualised wall.

The creature 's voice filled his judgment, commons tendrils leaking through red brick.

Been sssstudying the dark arts I sssssee. It'ssss about sentence you learrrrned ....

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

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

He rose his eyes, finding her own surprisingly close, flickering with that unfamiliar care. `` Kaylens leave ... '' He muttered, feeling a violent bound forming within his cobbler's last logical sentiment. He had nearly attacked Ron in a similar province, under Voldemort 's egging influence ...

Ah compannnnny .... Voldemort sounded almost cheerful, and Harry felt his expression unwillingly turning towards her farther.

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

Interesssstinnnng ....

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

She grimaced determinedly, kicking open the portrayal doorway. He heard her shouting something about Pomfrey to someone, but their form was so blurry ... He could n't make them out ...

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

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

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

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

Who messed up ! ? ! ? He thought, grasping lucidity, do-or-die to reap Voldemort 's meaning.

Calling on his last troy ounce of mental militia he dug his hound into the ground. He turned, squirming away from the reassuring comportment of her arms, suddenly finding his own feet untrustworthy.

He was collapsing to the Edward Durell Stone floor, the torch lit halls a brilliant fuzz ...

Whooooo ...

Unable to tell the dispute between public speaking and intellection, his lip opened to call his own doubtfulness into the stagnant of night ...

Kaylens helping hand clamped over his lips, and he found himself breathing in her skin, dampness with sweat and the impressible heart and soul of the candle she had been fidgeting with mere moments before.

'' Damn you Potter be quiet ! '' She hissed dangerously.

He struggled dazedly, her chin coming to stay on his shoulder as she stilled him, excited hushing sounds escaping her own lips. Had she had a abrasive bound to her ? He could no longer remember ...

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

He relaxed, leaning against her again, feeling her arms stiffen. Of course .... It only made sense .... Voldemort would want to have sex of soul as fascinating as her, who would n't ? He certainly did, no matter how infuriating she grew he was curious. What harm could a name do ...

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

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

A jubilant wafture washed over him, so vivid as to drown out every other word filtering through his auditory system.

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

The feel of Kaylens'manus tugging up on his shoulders, the smell of her tenacious hair brushing against his expression as she leaned over him, the nighttime shadow of the abandon Hogwarts corridor ...

The sanctity of his mind restored, it all came into perfect focus.

His leg becoming his own again, he powerfully thrust them into the floor on his own pact, scrambling eagerly away, his sudden departure sending her spilling across the common cold, malicious gossip dusted stone floors.

He rounded on her refine shape, failing to notice her take aback expression. One thought was on his mind. One he had been putting off asking.

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

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

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

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

'' Yes. ``

They stared at one another, both expression unreadable.

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

'' Enough to know he was all too happy to study your epithet tonight. '' He knew the consequences of this, if atrocious, would be his to bear. It was not a thought he cherished, and a part of him almost wished for her to profess into the night her loyalty to the night Lord, so he could strike her down, guilt free.

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

This utmost thought was silenced by the way her heart darkened coldly onto him. `` And you were well-chosen to pass him that information. Were n't you potter around ? ``

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

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

'' Whether I need the hospital flank is none of your CONCERN ! '' He hissed angrily, albeit too loudly. mortal was bound to hear, but he did n't care. Let Filch just try and penalise him ...

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

Once again, before he could stop himself, he had her articulatio radiocarpea in his work force, spinning her around to pin her against the wall. He pressed his body against hers, their faces dangerously close. Her facial expression remained an unreadable masque, save for the beads of perspiration glistening upon her forehead in the torchlight.

They stared at one another, each daring the other to verbalize. Releasing one of her radiocarpal joint, he moved his handwriting to remain above her shoulder, cutting off any thought of her escape.

'' I said I understood ceramist. '' Her breathing space was barely a voicelessness, and beneath his medallion he felt her wrist cooling, the cool down October air prickling fathead blow across her arms.

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

She breathed in deeply, her thorax rising to conjure against his own for the briefest of seconds. `` care to crystalise me ? ``

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

Her challenging demeanour vanished, confusion flickering in her middle. Her free hand unconsciously reached upwards, but he stilled her motion by aggressively squeezing her shoulder blade.

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

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

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

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

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

'' Perceptive ... '' He murmured coldly, leaning in till her breathing place breezed across his facial expression. `` But I never said friendly. You on the early hand openly admitted it. ``

'' Lies ... '' She spat.

He could no longer tell if she were glaring or yell, for his forehead was pressed firmly against her own, driving her harder against the wall. Her words lingered on his unshaven Chin, and he grimaced wryly, realizing how close he was to finding out the truth.

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

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

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

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

She turned her carpus in the confines of his loose grip, her cutis brushing against his own. He could fall her reaction, being so close, his eyes locked onto hers. She was going to run, it was like feeling what she was feeling ... fearfulness ...

Suddenly he knew what was occurring, why her torso was shuddering ever so slightly in presence of his own. He stared into her eyes for a moment longer, allowing his verbal expression to mince misleadingly.

'' Well if you do n't want to tell me .... '' He murmured, releasing her wrist before she could absquatulate. She eyed him with surprise, and distrustfulness, never seeing his deal falling to rest upon his wand.

'' Legilimency. '' He whispered.

Her lifetime ... It all flooded his mind in one over powering wave. A swirl of effect that were impossible to pick out ... Until one scream filled his head with a blinding red hue, bringing it all into gross clarity.
'' Riley ! ''


The vortex of images changed, becoming the congruent picture of a blonde child, haircloth much lighter than he knew it would darken to become, was approaching a door, answering it ...

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

And now his ...

The door flew undetermined, the man 's invertebrate foot connecting with it, sending it bulleting inwards, hitting her with it against the side. Blinding pain kept her conscious, for the creation was black be-speckled, and her screaming conformation fell to land in the straw man foyer.

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

A golden haired man, only slightly older than they were now, came sliding into the hall. The young woman screamed on the story, her broken, bloodied nose rendering her monition incomprehensible.

The blond haired ogre dropped a knee onto the girl 's back, pinning her to the base. The flash of a hitch tongue drawn from a casing caught Harry 's eye, and the young man, who now bore a flavour of the uttermost fury.

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

The fortunate haired man was already charging, but the teras had drawn a gun and fired before James Whitcomb Riley could even reach her ...

James Whitcomb Riley ... My God, Harry thought ...

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

The girl was bucking on the floor, screaming, nearly freezing in fear as parentage pooled from Riley 's chest wound, his 18 year old body twitching spasmodically, his lip gaping, gasping for breath ...

Yet James Whitcomb Riley had crawled, leaving a smeared trail of crimson death on the lino base in his wake, for he had been unable to let his small sister be pillaged ...

His dying breath came, the girl 's eyes wide with repugnance for only her chum, as the jerk knife plunged into young Kaylens', deep into the spinal column of her eight year old shoulder blade.

Hot, fiery nuisance intensified, followed by a tingling sentiency of the most curious kind ...

He could almost experience what she had ... Her shoulder was tingling, little pin dent attacking her skin as they would when her invertebrate foot would wake up from falling asleep ...

Her hysterical scream only intensified, and Harry watched in horror as the monster gripped her whisker, yanking her head back roughly as Harry once himself had done to her, before slamming her cheek savagely into the linoleum.

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

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

In Voldemort 's mind he had seen adult wither in pain and fall apart at so a lot less ...

His heart broke as he watched her small-scale class continue struggling, screaming, yet the man only pinned her face down to the floor harder, dragging the buck knife across her articulatio humeri in a long, vicious line ...

A swirl of colour, and he was gone. Thrust out not by magic, but by the brute handle mortal had taken up on the back of his gown, yanking him away from her. He staggered backwards, disoriented, his arm flailed into the torch holder ...

His sleeve was on fire, burning him, the flaming licking up his arm when soul floored him, dousing him with water supply.

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

Kaylens stood motionless, still pressed against the wall, chicken feed lily-white, silent rip streaming down her beautiful face. A single slender script was clutching her berm. The Saame one he had grabbed roughly. The Same one he had seen stabbed viciously ...

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

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

'' Shut it Harry ! ``

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








'' The death of one man is a calamity. The Death of millions is a statistic. ''
~ Joseph Stalin ~



Chapter 19 ~ Le Règne d'Enfer Commence


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

It was the stale air.

He sniffed.

They were coming ...

Just as he had.

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

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

Two days after the incident with Kally and Harry, he had received a dummy envelope addressed to him, sealed with the Dark Mark.

After reading it 's contentedness, it 's pass of safety haven from the cruel, prejudiced Ministry standing in cruel line to the Death feeder 's own prejudicious feeling, Dumbledore had asked the one affair of him that he had felt unable to do.

He had asked him to consider joining them.

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

The other werewolves began emerging from the underground corridors surrounding him. Here the rampart were lined with ivory. Femurs rising up like sadistic pillar from Hell, supporting the long lineage of skulls outlining the subversive passages. sang-froid water dripped rhythmically from the damp ceiling, wetting his sweating scalp.

There was only one place in the creation that flaunted such morbidity. bass beneath the streets of Paris, over lx million of a time retentive past lay dead. Their skeletons disassembled, grouped systematically to form walkways, a remnant of a darker time.

Upon drinking the doped wine-colored, the expiry Eater had said he would awaken in the Empire of death. Only now did he understand what he had meant.

A heart flesh, shaped out of homo skulls, lay set into the walls of the French capital catacombs besides him. A standing remnant of the grim sense of humor, stretching endlessly into the darkness.

This was a prefect berth of meeting. populace, isolated, and gothic.

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

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

Lucius Malfoy stepped Forth from a shadowed corridor, dropping his goon to disclose Caucasian blonde hair.

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

Lucius gave him an appraising feel, before reaching forth a drape hired hand to beckon the others forward. Half a dozen early cloaked trope emerged from the trace, forming a traffic circle around him.

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

My God ... It is honest ....

Voldemort had truly found a way to hold in their transformations.

Werewolves could now roam the man at will.

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

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

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

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

'' If you do n't hope me how do you contrive on accomplishing that ? '' Remus countered, not wanting to fathom too eager.

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

Remus caught it with his shirt arm, uneager to come in physical contact with the interdict metal.

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

'' Not really. ``

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

Remus scoffed. `` By selection. ``

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

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

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

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

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

Remus shrugged. `` Your not about to kill a potential difference ally before you have time to try and turn them now are you ? ``

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

'' It keeps me alive. ``

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

Remus eyed him with distrust. `` import ? ``

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

He watched Lucius pacing down the damp corridor, rubbing his blench fingers along the rocky bones. `` And ? ``

Lucius halted. `` Once it 's rummy, you will recognize what the sense of taste of human chassis feels like. '' His blench eyes shone with a homicidal glean. `` They say once you know that, there is no going back. You will crave it forever. Your preciously Mudblood lovers will never accept you back once you desire the taste of meat. ``

Remus felt his insides run cold. Now there was a taking into custody neither Dumbledore nor himself had thought of. It was too perfect really. They did n't desire him, and they would give way him something that would make him starve homo flesh so much that he was bound to join their side, regardless of his intentions upon low gear coming there.

'' I told you. '' Snarled a charwoman 's interpreter. She must have got seen his hesitation, smelt his reverence. `` It was a misunderstanding bringing him here. ``

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

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

He felt the air thicken with tension.

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

Remus curled his lips back, tilting the flaskful to his sass, chugging it down. liquid fire flowed through his veins, energizing him, changing his molecular make up ...

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

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

Only now he understood what force it was to be the creature he was, even as his cognisance screamed out the consequences, his hunger beckoned.

He tilted his read/write head back and howled.

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

'' Brethren. ``
* * * * *


The rain hammered down, darkening the tombstone. A pocket-sized girl was crouched besides one, sheltering beneath the comforting dryness of her genius speckled umbrella, her plait flapping lightly in the wind. The resemblance to her mother was striking.

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

Emily Bothan had just asked her mother to come home soon. She missed her bedtime queer tales. While she told her female parent 's slab of I. F. Stone this, Emily meticulously arranged, then rearranged, the flowers in the bouquet her Father of the Church and her had brought.

momma only deserved the undecomposed.

Emily has said so herself, when she had spent the better part of an hr searching the floral boutique, seeking out the perfect arranging of fleur-de-lis and hydrangeas. mama favorites.

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

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

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

'' No Mr. chairman, if any ... ''

'' Kenneth. Please. '' He implored, his sour centre never leaving the small course of his daughter. `` If anyone has earned the right hand to allot with formalness it is you. ``

Tonks smiled sadly, not agreeing. The debacle had been entirely her shift. Her own incompetency leading to why his vernal wife, his luxuriously school day truelove, lay beneath his girl 's small feet. `` If anything Kenneth, your girl saved mine. She has the bravery of one three times her age. ``

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

One day, Tonks realized, the personnel casualty would hit Emily. But for right now, she was thankful that the child could still smile for her father 's sake.

Because when she looked at Kenneth, she could tell he needed his minuscule young lady to stay on just that. She prayed to God that Emily would never demo the scrape of what she had gone through.

'' It 's such a shame ... '' Kenneth remarked, gesturing to his daughter, drawing her from her thoughts. `` That it takes something like this to happen, before sensation will let mortal hump of their being, or of any danger from them. ``

She paused thoughtfully. `` You were a history John Major. I trust that you are familiar with the capital of Oregon beldame visitation. ''

President Bothan nodded. `` Yes. ``

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

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

'' They still would have found you. '' She spoke truthfully. `` When the monster we spoke of wants to pain individual, he will, no issue what the obstruction or price. ``

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

The rain was letting up, a subdued scent wafting towards them. One that had nothing to do with the prime speckling the lonely cemetery.

sword lily ....

Kenneth tilted his head to the sky, breathing deeply. Sometime in the future, he would aver to Tonks that sometimes, like proper then, that he could still reek her favorite bloom in the breeze.

watching him now, Tonks was grateful the Order had granted her and various early members license to remain with him and his daughter as a rotating guard.

They would be needing it.
* * * * *


Harry hung his promontory over the butterbeer, not hearing a word Luna said. He had tuned her out when she had started talking animatedly about the exceptional edition of the Quibbler that hebdomad, the one concerning how Cornelius Fudge 's Army of Heliopaths had drowned in a freak toilet torrent fortuity in the Department of Mysteries.

The gentle chime of doorbell drew his tending to the doorway of the Three broomstick, just in time to see Kaylens, James Dean, and Neville walk in, their tomentum windswept from the roughly fall breeze that day.

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

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

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

Needless to say, forcibly getting the data he wanted out of her had seemed like a good idea at the time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Luna 's verbal expression changed, her normally languorous warrant gone, if only for a second. She looked like she was about to lecture a little child. `` Every clip we 've seen her recently she has n't glared, she just pretends your not there. She stated simply. `` Before you both took every hazard to be at each others throats. ''

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

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

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

'' I guess you 'll have to get a keep of one of their dead body to find out. '' He commented cynically.

Luna looked scandalized. Indeed, she was shaking her yearn, cheating blond whisker with such vigour that it knocked over her drink. She did n't appear to notice.

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

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

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

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

Luna nodded absentmindedly. `` Harry was just thinking of apologizing to that ... Well what would you call her hairsbreadth color ? '' Luna seemed to ponder this for a sec before shaking out her own dirty blond head of hair. `` Fourteen karat I suppose. But I think Harry 's having a hard fourth dimension getting up the nerve to peach to her. ``

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

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

Ginny shot him a good-hearted flavor. `` Ca n't say I blame you. How 's the eye by the way ? ``

His chief guessing back up instantly. Was there anyone who did n't live about that ?

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

Harry fought the urge to give up something.

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

He grunted in response.

Seamus chuckled, brushing his arenaceous belt from his centre. `` Heard Kaylens decked yaaaRH ! ``

Seamus'yell of infliction was preceded by a loud THUNK from beneath the table, and a berate look from Ginny.

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

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

By this point Luna 's ever-present dreamy expression had once again vanished, for she was clutching her tummy with laughter, pounding a fist on the table, making quite a aspect as she ceased to restrain her laughter.

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

He spent the rest of the conversation sneaking hole-and-corner looks across the relatively void pub at Kaylens. James Byron Dean and Neville seemed to be debating something, and he thought he caught the dustup 'bloody thesteral'more than once, while Kaylens stirred her butterbeer, sipping it through a stalk like Luna, looking for all the populace as if she were not listening to a exclusive discussion her fellow traveler were saying.

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

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

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

She linked subdivision with Finnigan, and a warm up feeling billowed up inside him at her reassuring words. She was right, maybe not right now, but when this was all over affair would be okay.

He watched her wink over her shoulder before sauntering out into the blistering current of air, her red hair's-breadth swirling around like a wild tornado.

He smiled stupidly.

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

The thought process was comforting, and he hailed gentlewoman Rosmereta 's new waitress, a lowly, happy looking brunette, over.

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

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

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


Drip.

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

'' It 's meter. ''

Plunk.

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

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

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

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

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

Only now he was using them to tear the proffered material body, instead of just practicing his transformations, hoping Dumbledore could think of a therapeutic for this horrid craving he would now care with.

His eyes rolled black, the pleasurable taste consuming him

For a second, the sole thing that mattered was the kernel in hired man. The thought of protecting the innocents later on, forgotten.

Drip.

Now the blood dripped from his mouth as well.
* * * * *


Kally sighed exhaustedly, wishing for the solitude of her student residence. At least there she could kick and scream, venting without the prying eyes of others following her every motility, as Potter seemed to be doing from his seat in the faint rear of the pub.

potter was not soul she wanted to think about right now though.

She relaxed, allowing her elbows to shore up herself up. She cast a glance resolutely down the bar 's counter, stirring her stubble around in her empty, bear-sized, mug. It was a nervous substance abuse she had picked up as a kid, when she used to twist them into random configurations. It had always been her comrade 's biggest pet peeve.

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

She swatted him away, gladiola to embarrass him in straw man of his friends.

A sharp nudge caused her cubital joint to slip, freeing her from that line of thought. She cast an harassed look at her housemate, ignoring the shooting pain the sudden jarring had sent up her leftfield arm.

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

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

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

'' You look like your off in your own short creation there Kaylens. I did n't drag you forcibly out of the rook for goose egg today, so being a deaf-mute will just not do. '' doyen said cockily.

If possible, Dean 's grin had grown even more crooked with his Holy Writ.

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

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

beholding him looking at her expectantly, she shrugged, knowing entire well he was about to start prodding Neville. James Byron Dean was somebody who seemed to think that it was his personal delegacy to make everyone around him laugh, and her stony silence was probably pushing him to the threshold of insanity.

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

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

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

In the end, she had gotten sick of Dean 's perseveration and given in.

The counter vibrated as the Three broomstick'waitress magicked three butterbeers to them with a garish thud. The liquid frothed a bit around the edges.

spotting their questioning looks the young enchantress flashed a dazzling, dimpled grinning. `` Courtesy of the gentlemen in the back. ''

She eyed the new butterbeer with a fundamental sense of mistrust, before exchanging coup d'oeil with Neville and Dean. She spun around on the bar throne, catching great deal of the only sponsor still in the back of the pub.

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

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

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

Best to get this over with ...

She came to an sharp check in front of him, slamming the mug down so strong that the liquid sloshed over the English, joining the already pooling pool on his table.

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

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

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

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

'' Oh ? '' She quipped sarcastically. `` And why 's that ? So you could interlace it with truth serum and interrogate me in that dusky pub down the street ? I must take on potter, if that's the slip you 're losing your soupcon. ''

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

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

'' gibe ! ``

Kally jumped ever so slightly, ignoring ceramicist 's amused look. She turned an eye on the blonde, who had just slammed her hands down on the table top like an emotional four year old. The girl 's protrubent blue optic were now so wide they looked make to pop out of her skull.

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

Without waiting for an answer the fille stood, not noticing their monovular locution of bewilderment, and began shoving supererogatory shuck into her lime park purse, speaking in a far off voice.

'' You can only see one in your peripheral vision you know. It 's why papa has n't gotten a good picture of one yet, but I 'd so get it on to see one ... ''

The female child marched off to the other slope of the pub, turned to present the wall, and stared blankly at it. Kally caught a few glimpses of blanch puritanical eyes flickering their way, and each time this would hap the blonde girl would grunt unhappily, stamp her foot, and restart staring at the wooden siding as if frustrated.

What the hell was that abo ...

'' expression Kaylens ... ''

His encroachment brought her back to the state of affairs at hand, and she narrowed her eyes shrewdly. `` Ah your famous blood line. '' She whispered harshly. `` So which personality do I get today ceramist ? Because really, this schism personality thing is getting to be a bit of a concern. ``

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

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

His reflection fell, the dull napkin dropping with an hearable clunk. `` After you stormed off that day by the lake, actually, yes. It did occur to me. ``

trustingness him to bring that up, she thought angrily, quick to push back the uprising of shame within herself.

She swallowed hard. `` Glad to see your not quite that oblivious ceramicist. '' She muttered, forcing her phonation icy. `` I would think by now that any fictitious apologia would be a muffle spot. ``

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

He spoke so seriously, too seriously for someone their age. `` And I did n't even get the prospect to excuse for the other night ... '' He continued, his Adam 's apple rising rhythmically. `` Since I did n't take to getting decked again, I figured sending you a crapulence was the salutary apology I could come up with on short notice. At least the full one that could keep me a safe distance away, while getting you to number over here. ''

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

He began to shake his head in the negative but she cut him off, the full system of weights of his insulting, woefully unequal gesture sinking in.

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

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

'' That's what I think of your piteous apology. '' She muttered shakily. `` Enjoy. ``
* * * * *


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

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

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

It was shaking.

Inside he felt a horrible, twisting maven, recalling precisely why her hand shook thus. How could he own failed to point out before ?

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

His mouth flapped wordlessly, his words never reaching her ears, for Madame Rosmerta 's alarmed cry stole the words from his lips.

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

The same dimpled lady friend now had her scepter drawn, a blank expression drawn upon her feature, striking a horrifying law of similarity to a porcelain doll.

'' Stupefy ! '' She hissed mechanically.

As if in slow question, Rosmerta fell, her limp form disappearing behind the bar 's wooden counterpunch. The trash she had been cleaning took escape, hovering in mid-air for a low eternity, before breaking free of it 's unearthly suspension, shattering across the buffet.

For the first clock time in it 's account, the Three Broomsticks fell silent. Only the howl of the Oct steer, leaking in through the Windows, proved to him that he had not fallen into some horrific silent film.

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

Ginny Weasley, floated slowly in, Professor Très following closely, their front oddly halting.

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

sightedness Ginny 's wand haltingly rise, her drive faltering, as if some invisible force were yanking her arm forcibly up against her will, was what finally broke him complimentary of his slow motion air castle.

His blood ran low temperature at her vacuous expression.

'' EVERYBODY down feather ! '' He shouted, overturning the table. liquid splattered, and their empty remains mugful had not even struck ground before the first viridity curse flew from Ginny 's wand.

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

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

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

A stunner grazed his ear, and his body jerked instinctively away from the oestrus, and in that one irregular he lost sight of her.

Somewhere in the dim background knowledge of his mind the scream of the other patron began to register.

Less than a invertebrate foot away from where he stood, a cosmetic pumpkin exploded, a poorly aimed stunner searing right through it, striking the paries. Stringy Orange pulp and seeds erupted, hurtling outwards, covering the floor and himself with slippery orange clumps.

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

Très could not hear their pleas, with his ear distance fuzz flung over his eye, his arm jerkily fired blindly at student, patrons, people ...

Grabbing the side of the overturned, round mesa, Harry heaved it to the side, rolling it with all his potency, scrambling behind it like a rat until it hunkered to a stop. ineffective to go any farther, for an unconscious body now blocked it 's progression, he found the entranceway to the bar in sight.

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

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

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

'' Stupefy ! '' He whispered, letting the red Light Within fly.

Her body went careening to the position, her sceptre flung from her hold as she passed out next to Rosmerta 's hitch form.

He scampered down the distance of it, snatching both their wands up, passing wine bottles, make clean mugs, and storage areas as he went.

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

His words died there.

The jet of park light erupted from Ginny 's wand like a volcano of death, LE than an arm 's length from where he stood.

Across the room Ron leapt to his feet, abandoning the temporary protection of a overturned bench to dash to where Hermione and Luna fought unaided.

There was no sentence to conceive, to fudge, to respond.

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

Hermione 's brown middle widened, her mouth caught in a throttle, mute lamentation, and Luna only just pulled her to the ground before the next greenness spell whizzed by.

time froze.

All was still.

The dummy look of the Imperious curse faltered upon Ginny Weasley 's face, unembarrassed pain replacing it for but a second.

The mask was re-erected, his own wand turning to her, tears of choler streaming down his face at what had been just done to the only brother and sisters he had ever had.

Before the disarming while could allow his back talk, a hard fist collided with his skull, sending the earthly concern blurring until it 's beastly nimbus faded to black.
* * * * *


The sound of humble foot, pattering in the rain, accompanied Emily 's paying back. The sound of her quiet humming lingered like a breath of fresh air upon Tonks'ear.

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

Tonks smiled uncertainly as Emily 's diminutive script interlaced with her own. Why Emily was choosing the comfort of her, a stranger, over that of her father was puzzling to her. Kenneth would later on grin, informing her that she had a lot to learn about how small fry think.

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

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

She adjusted the umbrella so the overspill would not drip onto the piddling princess'mind, never noticing the attentive look that suddenly passed across Emily 's petite face.

Feeling the insistent tugging on her arm she looked down, two small browned eyes meeting her own. Emily looked rather pensive.

As Tonks inwardly wondered what one should say to a child who has just lost her mother, Emily spoke.

'' Your champion are in bother nymph. ``



Le Règne d'Enfer Commence is Gallic for The reign of Hell Menachem Begin

Recommended tarradiddle of the Week :

Never Tickle a Sleeping flying dragon by Edward Ollivander ( He has a fabulous and creative 6th year fan fable featuring a HP/GW pairing, and it is completed. )

Dark Tendencies by Two Sadists ( They have a 7th year fan fabrication featuring a HP/OC pairing. )

exposure couresty of the previously mentioned public domain website. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.






Disclaimer : All characters, places, and ideas taken from the Harry thrower volume serial are property of JKR. However, the theme of a Reach is owned by me, since I have taken the estimation of a Reach from a series that I am writing, and adapted it ever so slightly to fit this fan-fiction series.






'' Some believe that the benefit of death, is that it is possible to see farther on the other position. ``
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 20 ~ Nowhere to Run


'' Tonksie are you okay ? ''

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

She could only rock her head, shaken as a sang-froid breeze swirled around them. Thankfully such nuance of look were lost upon the child, who 's head was tilted back, her mouth wide open, catching rain drops.

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

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

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

'' It 's okay I like the rain. '' Emily declared, darting out from beneath the umbrella, stomping her infantry merrily in the collecting puddles. `` I like puddles too ! ``

Tonks blinked in surprise. The youngster 's female parent had been drowned in one barely a two weeks ago.

'' Your friends are in trouble Nymph. ``

Emily 's sopping wet twist swung about her boldness, her arms held out as she spun in circles, her brain tilted skyward catching the rain.

'' Tonksie come play ! ``

Tonksie ... Only Remus called her Nymph.

'' My God ... '' She whispered, her body temperature dropping in a way that had aught to do with the wind.

Over Emily 's twirling pattern she could see Kenneth Bothan kneeling in the boggy graveyard smoke. His wife 's sculpt lay before him, the carefully placed sword lily scattering in the sonorous wind.

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


Remus'ovular eyes opened upon the worst of sights.

Hogsmeade ...

It 's empty locale lay before him, dead leave billowing across the dusty footpath leading through the heart of the village.

Not a person was in sight.

Ghost township ...

It was here Nott and the others had spoken of. It was here the recruiting had been done. It was here where the destruction feeder would pee-pee their showtime stand. Here in the village, so close to the school ...

Too close.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend.

'' pigeon hawk ... '' He whispered, staggering, the Oct breeze biting chilly wrinkle across his hide.

lycanthrope had no use for wear.

Roughly, an strip down forearm scratched across his Kuki. maculation of dried bloodline flaked away, sprinkling the ground with a sinister looking detritus. It 's unwholesomeness was a stark reminder of his recently fulfilled thirst.

'' Surprised half-breed ? ``

Instinctually, angrily, his pincer extended, breaking his skin with a fiery painful sensation. He did not serve Nott, instead he growled lowly, extending his auricle into long points.

The hair sprouting, prickling his sharpen ears, brought the deathly hush village to aliveness. Farther off ... In the eye of town .... Pleas ... .. Offers of redemption in commutation for allegiance ... ..

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

Not if I can aid it ...

Lucius'indecipherable growl cut in, breaking through his angry intellection, arousing something far darker ...

It was time to change.

An unnatural heat filled his veins.

Upon the ground where Remus lupin had been, now stood a werewolf, the acrid scent of freshly spilled profligate inundating it 's senses.

The wolf pawed the primer coat eagerly.
* * * * *


His body, felt like it was being drug across looking glass. It ached, splintering as somebody fragment sliced his skin.

fragment .... shard ... He tried to apprehend onto the word to no avail. It 's baffling meaning fled from his pounding skull.

The tight handle on his ankles disappeared, and his feet dropped unceremoniously to the floor. A moment later the replication in the trading floor table indicated another body being dumped besides him.

Ron ...

With a tug he was awake, the salty tears of hurt tainting his lips.

It could n't be real. It could n't take in happened. Not again ...

He turned his headland in a vain search, struggling to take in common sense of the film over world before him. A blink of an eye of the palest of yellow caught his eye.

Drifting in and out of centering was Luna Lovegood, sitting cross legged, her wrists tightly bound within her lap, dreamy blue-blooded heart fixated upon him concernedly.

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

Just thinking sent a acuate throb through his skull, and he quickly discovered his coat of arms to be bound behind his back.

With a frustrated thumping he hit his workforce against the storey, a stabbing pain ripping his fist.

He did not need Luna 's announcement to know that a fragment of field glass now stuck from his hand. The warmth welling from it, trickling down his fingertips, was enough to inform him.

A unmarried ruby drop-off fell discharge, it 's sound reverberating through his hollow chest.

Drip.

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

Drip.

Ron was gone.

Drip.

Ginny 's unwilling hands had done the unthinkable.

Drip.

Death Eaters were in Hogsmeade.

Drip.

A gag sob shattered the silence.

Drip.

His clenched fist snapped shut, tugging at the binding. His eyes, blurred with rage, searched the washed-up pub, taking it in with cold calculation.

Drip.

The trading floor now resembled a greenhouse, a shattered plant bearer had sent soil strewing across it.

Drip.

Butter beer and other confection pooled together in foaming pool, broken professorship and bring down table creating hazardous paths.

Drip.

Broken chicken feed glittered in the good afternoon sun, casting surreal spectrums across the floor.

Drip.

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

Drip.

In the distance where neither shabu nor soil lay, frequenter did.

Drip.

one-half a 12, either unconscious or suddenly, lay upon the floor at break up intervals.

Drip.

The sleep, the witting, had been bound and lined up against the walls.

Drip.

'' stupe crying Mudblood ! ``

Hermione ...

She lay collapsed against the far wall, her weapon bound like his own.

Drip.

Before her towered a ranting figure clad in blackamoor, and clenched within the barbarous confines of the Death Eater 's fist trailed recollective locks of shaggy-coated hair.

A magnanimous contusion ran the duration of her tear stained cheek.

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

His breath caught in his throat.

Dolohov.

The mental image of Hermione 's gimp form in the Department of enigma flashed through his mind. She had nearly died at Dolohov 's hands ...

'' What do you think here Ludovic ? Should I land up her off ? '' The decease eater called out, kneeling in front of her. `` Or what about you Mudblood ? Care to connect your slimy red-headed friend over there ? '' Dolohov chided, poking her like a biff with the end of his wand.

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

He recoiled, a feeling of the utter repugnance over-sweeping his wasted feature film. `` Oh you filthy ... '' He muttered, frantically wiping his face in the flock of his cloak.

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

Dolohov whorled on the drape frame, who had just emerged from behind the bar, waving a save firewhiskey bottle.

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

Ludovic appeared unconcerned, and began filling two whiskey spyglass. `` Antonin what you need is a respectable, remains boozing. ''

Dolohov scowled, quickly aiming a hefty kick to Hermione 's midsection. The cracking of her ribs echoed between the pub 's walls, as did Harry and Neville 's cries of protest.

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

Dolohov turned, his wand raised threateningly. `` One. more than. Word. Ludovic. Just. One. ``

Ludovic raised his hands in a conciliatory manner, knocking his bonnet from his face in the physical process.

'' Now Dolohov she 's just a young woman. All I was saying is tha .... '' But the rest of his word were lost upon Harry, for beneath the vise of the obscure hood was the boyish face of Ludo Bagman.
* * * * *


Kenneth Bothan 's head shot up, while Tonks ran forward, wrapping a protective arm around Emily. The fallen umbrella lay forgotten, spinning in concentrical rope upon the pebbled earth, a toy of the billowing wind.

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

Her barely concealed importunity rang true within the chair 's ears, for he was already sprinting back to where they stood.

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

Emily squirmed, her auburn head following her father 's advance towards them. `` Daddy, your human knee are all muddy. '' She scolded seriously.

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

Tonks nodded, relinquishing the girl to draw her wand. The ever-increasing frisson was closing in. It would n't be long ...

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

'' No time to explicate. '' She responded, taking off down the route. She could get a line Kenneth 's heavy footfall behind her, splashing in the muddy water.

They rounded the plication in the nerve pathway, the heavy woodlet of trees falling away to reveal the sorry lot. The car, their relief valve, was in hatful, yet heavy despair drenched her soul.

Nymphadora 's infantry slid in the gravely mud, and she came to a halt, throwing out an arm out to give up what was left of the Bothan family.

It was rectify then that little Emily Bothan began to whimper.

Kenneth 's dark heart quickly blinked away piddle. `` Tonks what 's thi ... ''

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

Staring ahead at the looming public figure, Tonks could only shake her pass.

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


'' YOU ! ''

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

Dolohov scoffed. `` Precious potter indeed. Tell me Potter, how was your wittle kinky ? ``

'' So recount me Harry, '' Ludo interjected, seeming determined to guide the conversation his way. `` How have matter been ? ''

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

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

In the distant screen background he could hear Neville 's choked stuttering.

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

'' Not too ripe Mr. commercial traveller. '' Luna 's misty voice drifted out, answering for him as he gaped like a Pisces the Fishes. `` Harry 's been having a roughly year, as you can see. ``

A pitiless Bronx cheer came from Dolhov 's direction.

'' He lost his godfather, and with masses such as yourself switching sides and betraying him, I trust you can see why. '' Luna continued casually.

traveling salesman was suddenly refilling his drink.

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

Bagman 's chalk stopped halfway to his lips, center widening defensively. It was a moment before his composure returned.

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

'' Lovegood. '' She supplied.

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

A strange composure had overtaken him, the slight shakiness of his own hands lost upon him. `` It 's just that your content with allowing others to do it for you. '' He said disdainfully. `` Your content with being a coward, with siding with what is slowly rather than what is mighty. ``

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

'' At least they do n't kill anyone ! '' Harry bellowed, arm shaking with bottle up violence.

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

'' Replacing one one-man rule with another. Sounds logical to me. '' He retorted sarcastically.

Besides him Luna nodded approval, her fingers drumming against her back to some unrecognizable strain.

'' When you disappeared my Hans C. J. Gram was worried about you ! Y-you ... Your .... '' Across the room Neville Longbottom 's voice rang out, surprising everyone.

Harry caught a glance of Neville 's uncharacteristically contorted face.

It was frightening.

'' Your no right than Bellatrix you slime ! ''

The affecting accusal hung thickly in the air, no one speaking. Bagman had become very interested in his drink, shifting uncomfortably under the wild centre of all save for Dolohov.

For mortal to turn their backs, on even the Ministry, in party favour of Voldemort ...

It was unforgivable.

Drip.

He had nearly forgotten how his own bridge player bled, the light headed feeling out of position for the office. Fortunately the free current of red life was slowing, his coagulation factors finally kicking in.

Harry shook his head, ignoring the slight twisting of the world. `` You were acquitted once commercial traveler. '' He hissed, oculus scanning the way for a way out. `` So separate me, were you a spineless Noel Coward back then too, or just stupid ? ``

Bagamn cringed. `` Harry I was never a Death Eater ! ''

'' But you are now. '' His voice quivered. `` So state me, why 'd you do it ? ''

Dolohov 's smug face betrayed even his interest in the answer, and Harry was not about to let the Death feeder distraction go to waste.

hold them talking ... Keep them distracted ...

His hands began roaming across the trading floor behind him, feeling for another needlelike sliver of glass.

'' Well you know Harry, goblin, they 're nasty business. '' Ludo said, fidgeting. `` You know how they are if they 're after ya and ... ''

Harry did his best to glare, feigning pursuit as Ludo 's brow creased curiously.

'' Come to think of it you probably do n't Harry. But it 's not fun business, goblin debt collectors that is. And since the Ministry was n't about to increase my earnings these boy said they 'd be glad to aid me out of my jam ... ''

'' That you got yourself into ! '' Neville shouted furiously from across the room.

Bagman eyed Neville warily. `` I can see where you 'd recollect that but ... ''

'' BUT WHAT ! ? '' Neville roared.

Luna inconspicuously sent a crack nursing bottle piece sliding his way, his fingers coiling around it like a snitch.

'' But these demise feeder, they 're not so bad. ``

Harry very nearly dropped the shard, his eye bulging out.

'' Not so bad ? '' He repeated gruffly.

traveling salesman nodded vigorously. `` No ! Not at all Harry ! In fact their rather ... ''

'' Tell that ... '' He hissed lowly. `` To my mum and dad. Tell that to Sothis. recount that to Ron ! ''

An odd expression crossed commercial traveler 's face. `` Now Harry really .... ''

Harry 's rim parted, accusation dripping as thick as the blood from his hand-build fists, only the strait never came.

The soft sound, and flicker of movement upon the base, drew the breath straight from his lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He breathed softly. He had nearly forgotten ...

'' Ah another one to connect the ruffle ? '' Dolohov called cheerfully, sauntering over to where she lay, partially concealed by an overrule table.

The destruction Eater reached her, roughly dragging her squirming form up.

'' Ca n't pass on you detached to drift around now can we ? '' He hissed, drawing unnaturally close to her.

Harry 's stomach lurched wretchedly as Dolohov 's backtalk grazed her blood stained cheek.

'' After all, impassioned tempers like you ... ''

'' Get. Your Hands. Off. Her. '' Harry spat dangerously, drawing Dolohov 's tending to him. Anything to get him away from her ... She looked ready to break down ...

The decease Eater regarded him coldly. `` Or you 'll do what exactly ? ``

'' You do n't want to know. '' He hissed lowly, ceasing the sawing movement upon his bindings. He could n't afford to let Dolohov see ....

'' Oh but I do ! '' He said menacingly, a cruel grinning lighting his dead eyes. `` I 'd very much like to have it away what Precious Potter thinks he could do to me. ``

His eyes narrowed, a cruel smile of his own crossing his features.

'' I could show you why Voldemort is so afraid of me. '' He whispered threateningly.

The electric cord winding around Kaylens'wrists snapped slopped, Dolohov 's tense hairgrip betraying his unrest.

Harry went on, the room swaying unnaturally as he spoke with malicious measuring stick. `` Or you could do yourself a favor Dolohov, and leave. Leave before you make me really angry. ''

Dolohov shifted uncomfortably, mirroring travelling salesman 's crusade. He took the opportunity to slowly slice at his bindings yet again.

The chalk, slick with his own line, nearly fell from his clasp. Thankfully the error was lost upon the Death eater, for Dolohov had chosen that mo to change state Kaylens around, hissing something into her tangled twist furiously.

His wrist stave with the bother, brought about by another slip of the meth, as Kaylens eubstance was tossed besides him.

His sawing movements halted, his eyes drawn to where she lay, panting faintly besides him.

'' There ... `` Dolohov sneered. `` Enjoy your mudblood ally Precious Potter. Once our Lord gets here we 'll see how brave you really are. ``

He swallowed hard, watching Kaylens'eyes flicker open. He wanted to say something, anything ...

He had failed her ...

Hermione 's soul wrenching tonus brought a face of reverence to both their feature of speech.

'' Brave ? '' Hermione 's weak vocalisation chided from where she sat, propped against the paries. `` You ask him about braveness ? He 's XVI, not even a fully qualified star, yet you fear him so much as to disarm him and bind him. ''

She spat all of this into Dolohov 's approaching facial expression, just before his hired man reared back, slapping her roughly to the floor.

She let out not a cry, peering upwards through her specialize, swelling eyes, just in meter to see a non-white boot rearing back.

'' Hey Dolohov ! ``

Dolohov 's foot froze mid-kick, hate-filled eyes flying towards Neville 's tubby face.

'' You do n't need to do that. ''

Dolohov 's heavyset eyebrows disappeared beneath his mangy hair. `` You presume to parliamentary law me around boy ? ''

Neville shrugged casually. `` You can contaminate yourself if you want. '' He sounded uncharacteristically Slytherin. `` I did n't understand dirty blood suited a end feeder. ``

Dolohov laughed roughly, buying Harry more time.

Neville you 're a saint ...

A bead of salty sweat broke free from his forehead, rolling into his backtalk. Setting his jaw he worked, the shabu shard digging into his thick bindings.

Snap.

The sherd slid so low, so fast, he nearly cut too thick, the breath of pain catching fasting in his throat.

The bindings were looser.

Twisting his hands testingly, he found with the first fiber 's severing had come a greater chain of mountains of movement.

Eyes locked onto Dolohov 's fist, slamming into Neville 's jaw, he twisted his wrists, ignoring the burning sensation of dry wounds ripping open. Warm, thick life line of descent welled from these spots, his scabbed over fingers feeling in his cloak ...

They had taken his wand, but Rosmereta 's ... The waitress'...

Polished sepia brushed beneath his rough skin, Kaylens'luminous eyes meeting his own, comprehension shining within their fiery astuteness ...

He could achieve the seize wands.

He was armed.
* * * * *


'' autumn pumpkin ... dearest mummy needs you to do mummy a party favor. Can you do that honey ? ``

She whimpered, her face buried in her father 's rain soaked suit. She wanted to count away, but she could n't. The cold-blooded feeling was there. She could find out her mum, she wanted to see her, to hug her, but she was too scar to await away from the safety of her father 's arms.

'' Do you escape your mummy little girl ? Would you like to see her ? ``

Emily squeezed her eyes harder, willing the voice away. `` It 's not mummy ... '' She whispered. `` I ca n't see mummy ... ''

Ah, ah, ah, ah ... piffling darling your mummy is busy now. Ca n't you see that ? ``

She shook her mind frantically, squeezing her dad 's cervix. `` No ... No .... ''

'' Open your center you niggling bitch ! ``

The cruel lady 's gloomy eyes danced in her mind. She did n't require to see the lady again. She did n't need to.

'' pappa ... '' She whimpered frightfully.

'' No not daddy. mommy ! You wanted to see her little brat, so here, spirit ! ''

Daddy would spread his eyes ... He would. He was n't afraid of anything. Maybe if she opened her eyes the madam would go away again.

Emily swallowed, counting laborious to ten.

'' Please mum ... ''

Emily 's watery oculus opened, a darkness suit coat staring back.

Mummy needed up. She needed air. The mean man was there again, shoving her look into the puddle. Her mummy did n't care water.

Emily cried out, screeching, shaking her head back and forth, throwing the icon away. She wanted them to go. Her dampness, rain-soaked tress flung into her Father of the Church 's face as she shook, but she did not notice.

'' Kenneth take Emily and go. ``

'' Tonks what 's ... ''

'' You ca n't see them Kenneth, but they 're there. ``

'' No ... '' Her own whimpers rang in her ears, her icy hands shaking her mum. whey was n't mommy waking ? She had to ... `` No ... ''

'' Tonksie ! '' Had she shouted ? Could the prissy lady get word her ?

'' Kenneth get to the car. thrust away. ``

'' Tonks I ca n't leave ... ''

'' I 'll be finely. Just go. NOW ! ``

Emily 's reeling world reeled Sir Thomas More, for her father had taken off at fast dash, splashing water over her branch.

In the dim ground, somewhere beyond her female parent 's screams, she could listen the nice lady shouting something.

Her populace dimmed away as a silvery dog ran past.

momma always liked dogs ...
* * * * *


Releasing the wand for what he promised would be only moments, he continued sawing at his dressing, slowly, rhythmically, trying to put on precious centimeters of mobility ...

He was armed, and the actualization had numbed him, his next move horribly elusive.

With the rhythmical sawing of the fragment, his mind fell curiously dummy for the beginning time in what felt millennia.

His gaze fell upon her as she moved, shoving herself up from where she lay on the floor, arms shaking fiercely, be it from daze or the pain he knew she daily bore, he did not know.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered softly, grasping for something, anything familiar in the horror that was his life.

She fell into place besides him, so close, her bloodied sleeve nearly brushing against his peel. She was blocking Dolohov 's view of what he was doing, he knew it without even asking, for her eyes swept the room as those of the hunted would.

She was being as timid as him, despite the tenuous sway to her stature.

Snap.

Another screw thread of the rope broke disembarrass, it 's release masked by her sudden, purposeful coughing.

Her head fell forward, her coughing lingering long enough to seem genuine, and her aureate, mat whorl came cascading down, falling over her center, veiling her look from all but him. To his heart each shimmering strand, glinting in the dull afternoon luminescence, as well as her watery orbs, remained visible, as well as her bound articulatio radiocarpea, tweed and torn from where she had frantically pulled, struggling for freeing in Dolohov 's arms.

The bastard would never again lay a finger upon her.

He would never again lay a digit upon anyone.

Harry Potter had a few wickedness enchantment he was quite eager to try out.

Snap.

'' How much longer do you cogitate it 'll be till he finishes questioning the settlement Antonin ? ``

Dolohov sneered. `` Ludovic you are trying my patience as much as the half-blood and these ... '' The dark regard of the man scanned the room, taking in the few conscious educatee and the two patrons bound and lined against the rampart. `` These spare. ``

'' But what if the ministry .... ''

Dolohov kicked the storey, sending shatter Methedrine skittering across Dean 's fallen form. `` We will be here and gone before those fools catch wind instrument of this. Besides, these things are delicate matters ... ''

inquiring ? His auricle listened, silently taking it all in. Besides him Kalliandra appeared to be doing the same, while Luna shifted the deoxyephedrine shards on the floor around with her feet.

travelling salesman seemed besides himself with doubtfulness. Harry mentally egged him on to be loose lipped.

'' Perhaps we could stun them all and call for them back ourselves ? ``

Dolohov scowled in his direction. `` He will not be needing all of them. And you would do well to hold your mouth shut from now on or I will keep out it for you. ``

The discussion ended.

It was then that he heard it.

'' You ... ''

Only he had heard her whisper accusal, for it could be zero else. The sheer revulsion in that one, whispered Bible left zero to question.

Her eye had moved from Dolohov, drifting into the background beyond, fluid fire boiling beyond their profundity. Lifting his own he followed her gaze to where Ludo Bagman stood, pouring himself another fidgety drink.

He turned his discombobulation upon her, noticing her chest 's rhythmical rising as her hint came quicker, deeper, faster ...

Golden middle flickered shut, a pained manifestation falling across her.

'' How sorry were you ? '' She breathed to herself, only barely, for the hatred saturating her soft tones was not lost upon him.

It was chilling.

His own boiling parentage froze as he studied her, taking advantage of the letup in activities.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered, almost pleadingly.

Her hateful gaze burned right through him, straight to Bagman.

'' Kaylens please ... ''

Her eyes fell shut, her clenched fist opening and closing on thin air. `` You 're bleeding Potter, are you all right ? '' She whispered shakily.

Gently brushing his arm against her own, he waited for some preindication that she was alright.

arcminute passed, before delicate palpebra flickered open, her eyes alight with an aberrant glow.

'' goodness. '' She murmured. `` Because I can only give you a moment. ``

His mouth flapped wordlessly, shocked at the transformation before him.

Where his skin lightly touched her own, an abnormal tingle had begun.
* * * * *


The Energy Department reverberating from him drew her nearer, an timelessness expiration before she was able to forcibly quarter away.

His confusion radiated in startling quantities, but he would understand soon enough.

They would all understand ...

She would not stray near him again, for her world was moving unnaturally dense, as if the consequence occurring around her were illusory, flit images from horrible dreaming that would surely fell with a streamer of merciful consciousness.

Only no such merciful pushover came.

Her bound hands rose from her lap, tracing the pinnace line of her jaw, feeling her cooling hide. Somewhere, amidst the fighting, she had fallen, shoved away by dean. The dried cytologic smear of blood along her impudence gave evidence to that.

She could feel the heat radiating from James Dean 's limp form.

He was active ...

Hermione ...

The small girl 's digit had curled around fallen chunk of her bloodied, deracinate hair, as if the resolute Gryffindor had wanted something to hold onto, something solid and touchable to essay the afflictions had been veridical.

They had ...

Her eyes fell willfully shut once more, immersing herself in the passive limbo of dark, where no demons save her own reigned.

The remembering of a resurrected night, long due revenge, beckoned.

A hobble script lay splayed across the front corridor ... Blood trickling onto the wooden porch plank ...

'' God forgive me ... '' She breathed, the palpable tingle filling her lungs.

She had made her decision.

The chilling rainfall pelted down, something dark mixing with the muddy water licking at her nose ...

The tingling began softly, like a light feather playing across her tegument, traversing it 's way upwards, inwards ...

It was their ancestry swirling within the pool ... .Sean 's blank eyes staring back ...

It was rolling in distinct moving ridge, operating by it 's own indiscernible rules, pulsating from the living, evaporating from the dead.

A boyish case appeared above her, sympathy in his oceanic eyes. `` I 'm awfully sorry about this kid ... ''

His voice had echoed through that nighttime, and again this day.

He had stood idly by once, and was again.

She squeezed her eyes shut ever tighter, involuntarily tingle traveling through her, the heady pressure sensation in the very air building, pulsating in uncontrolled moving ridge outwards.

The world was taking on a hotter quality, every nerve burning with fervid intensity as she began reaching, feeling ...

The caustic front of Ludovic Bagman filled her, and she began drawing.

Her intent was to kill.



A/N : Please forgive the author 's billet, but I believe a proper thank you is in ordination.

Thank you for making this level the bit One Favorite report on the land site, for making me the phone number One Favorite generator on the site, for making this the 7th most read story in the site 's chronicle when it has been out for less than a year, and for making this the write up with the Most review Ever.

I honestly ca n't express how ball over I was to see that. I truly experience that I do not deserve such an accolade, because having read many of the other storey on this site, I feel that my writing picket in comparison to the wealth of gift displayed by others such as njill22, Edward Ollivander, The night Lord Nedved, KawaiiAce2003, IchigoPan, reddish blue Gryfindor, Timeturner, BitterEpiphany, Ginny Weasely, Arios, Cocoapuffshooter, Winky, and too many others to name.

I have the best lecturer in the world. I truly do.


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Photograph couresty of the previously mentioned public knowledge domain internet site. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.