'' The unwritten law of triage is knowing when zippo else can be done, and actually accepting that. ''
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 24 ~ The Black pocket billiards


capital of Ireland, Irish Republic. universe in surfeit of 450,000 Muggles, 1,240 witches and wizards, and 451,240 inexperienced person.

Since mediaeval meter the locale had served as the capital of the free standing democracy. The blackness pocket billiards, or so the Britishism had stated. Now the expanse of land it rested upon stood as one of the most populated air pocket of isolation upon the earth.

An island.

5.8 million Muggles in the Republic of Emerald Isle alone, another 1.7 million in Northern Ireland, and upon the entire United kingdom terra firma mass, 4,694 existence of magical descent.

The island contained the great percentage of wizardly being per caput of any place on earthly concern.

It could soon hold in the last-place.

At the back talk of the River Liffey, the bustling blackness syndicate of DoC lay in waiting, as did a adult female clad in the disgusting vise of Muggle apparel.

The rainfall had let up considerably in comparison to the ahead of time morning rain, yet the harsh drizzle did nothing to mar the once come upon beauty as she stood alone upon the Lucan nosepiece, colored haircloth flowing in the wind like a sheet Born of the Renascence.

In truth, had one possessing the attainment sat to eternalize her countenance, it would own born striking law of similarity to a picture that had once fall centuries earlier upon the inlaid walls of Sarsfield castle.

The only dissimilarity between the canvases lay in the minute particular of the subjects'hands, her pale, elegant fingerbreadth gently uncorking a clear ampul, tilting it 's contents over the ancient brick viaduct until they churned upon the wind mad water below.

As the charwoman disappeared, seemingly without a trace to the eyes of Muggle passersby, the rootage of the jinx began filtering into the water organisation of downtown capital of Ireland.

The Negro puddle would soon reawaken a blackamoor infestation.
* * * * *


Love.

Because of it metropolis have been erected, and fallen. Homes have been made, and broken. Mere somebody have been resurrected, and forgotten.

It holds the potentiality of silencing the strong, immortalizing the sapless, dashing the dearest of ambition and destroying the darkest of fears. It 's filmy power is unfathomable, and it is due to this overtake emotion that the human purport is capable of being broken.

For one Corvus corax haired man, the pressure sensation born of hate and preserved by his love was upon him as it had never before been. The blank, deadened eyes of Seamus Finnigan haunting him even as he breathed in the reassuring presence of the young lady friend clutched in his subdivision, his font turned from the world to sink against her skin, his only respite from the cruel reality that was his inferno, and life.

It has been said that it is only durability of part that separates the light from the inviolable, for their ability to cast feeling, adhesion, and have it off aside… Therein rests their unfaltering power to do what must be done, in the darkest of times.

Wordlessly the girl had taken him by the hand, silently leading him through the heavyset coppices and bramble, disregarding the way the coarse bullbrier tore her hide, snaring her clothing. Her silhouette seemed incapable of feel, and the young man 's envy of her skill was thickening, for each thorny prick dragging across his skin sung the guilt he felt, crying for his intercession in what they had left behind in Hogsmeade with the tug of a portkey.

The man felt guilty of defection, and murder. Though in his heart, he knew which was worse.

The young man had been forced to entrust his acquaintance in the rapidly growing battle ground, for Voldemort 's evil had reared again, and again he had come out upon the lesser side, trapped as he was in the darken forest, incapable of helping anyone.

How was this pathetic wizard supposed to defeat the dingy of them ?

It has also been said that strong suit of character is best not determined by one 's indifference, by their ability to distance themselves from the spot at hand, but by their ability to feel the pleas of the weak as if they were their own burdens. For it is in these individuals that the rarest of somebody are found, for the few who walk upon the earth with burdened and broken souls are often the most subject of loving, and saving the residue of us.

His footsteps were sinking into the damp dry land, following in the girl 's raceway as they pushed their way through the coppice, stumbling into a minuscule moonlit clarification, a cloudy pool of body of water collecting near its edge.

It was perhaps the deplorable, and cruelest of ironies, that the two brave souls standing deplumate and battered, bathed in the amobarbital sodium hues of moonlight filtering between the night sky 's mottled clouds, were the perfect exemplifications of both slope of the spectrum.

Both had been through snake pit itself, and survived, yet only one had come out fully capable of loving, despite the reality crashing around him.

The early was still learning, and it would perhaps be the breakage of the former besides her that would finally learn her how to again, fear without restraint.
* * * * *


October 31st, Halloween, 1996.

It would forever suffer as the day of infamy, as the night when Aurors had fallen upon the town in striking military force, scattering destruction eater to the far flung street corner of the Earth, to wherever their alcoves of safety lay, leaving the scarcely stained Village under the jurisdiction of the Ministry.

There was much to sort out.

It had taken so long for them to pass it 's dweller, for Hogsmeade had not been the only Town to strike under attack this day. And being the only all wizarding village in England, the Aurors had came to it 's aid lowest, for Muggle areas had few defensive measure, while the citizens of Hogsmeade had at least been armed.

Unlike the innocent Muggles who had been found, lifelessly sprawled upon urban center streets, magic existence had held the king to struggle back.

And fight they had. As the Aurors had spilled forth from the woods the villagers had risen up, only for those drabbed in the visage of underworld to disappear as quickly as they had come.

No others had been able-bodied to suppress the anti-apparation wards that had been erected, but the Death eater had found a way.

Throughout the UK, from Dundee to Belfast, from Diagon skittle alley to Dublin 's Aingingein Marketplace, from the Orkney islands above Scotland to the townsfolk bordering the English people Channel, sorcerous break of homes and existence, small pockets of isolated household and wizards, and property of Commerce Department had been taken over.

They had all been targeted, held confined until night had fallen, and each surviving being of charming descent present professed to birth felt the Same upshot. A cold, worse than death quickening of the blood that had seeped into their very souls, raising the bond of animals and hairs of humans, eliciting the screeches of owls and battle cry of children had fallen just at twilight, and for those present the time falling immediately after, as towns had risen up in defense, fighting back as the Death feeder fled and Aurors arrived, it would be remembered as the time of muteness.

Something had happened that day, for the Death eater had swarmed into the villages and private homes, avoiding only the Muggle public, and killing only those Muggles who strayed in their way, and the few wizards and beldam who had persistently fought back before the arrival of the Aurors.

thirty four dead, one hundred and sixty injured, and that was in England alone.

Most had been Muggles that had strayed in the awry place at the ill-timed fourth dimension.

Seamus Finnigan had been amongst the fallen, the merely innocent to have died in Hogsmeade, killed by the killing curse erupting from the Imperioused wand of Ginerva molly Weasley.

Ginny Weasley now lay, near catatonic with the grief of her natural action, with the cognition of her unwillingly dealt sins, in the hospital wing of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardry.

She had been able-bodied to contend strongly enough to redeem her brother from the killing jinx she had fired upon him, but she had not been strong enough to save her boyfriend.

It was a thought that would ghost her for the rest of her animation, and while she remained silently mute under the tending of Pomfrey, Dean Lowell Jackson Thomas sat upon the cold corridors of the hospital extension 's hall.

The noise of the manor hall was deafening, reverberating with the frenzied step and reverberation of frantic parents unable to place their nestling. Very few had taken credenza to Dumbledore 's assurances that there were only three tike within the infirmary wing, two of whom Dean treasured above liveliness itself.

He hardly felt the pain as another large don trampled upon his foot, and he pulled his peg closer to his chest, wishing to subside into the wall for all he was worth.

Seamus was gone ...

Ginny was no longer speech production ...

Kalliandra, Harry, and Hermione were missing ....

And no one was letting on what had happened to Ron ....
Silently tears of shame poured from his optic, the newly appointed Gryffindor beater finally succumbing to the overpowering emotions.

It was then that the sandy haired female parent of Seamus stumbled into the hall, nearly knocking Luna Lovegood to the floor, her dampen eyes remarkably similar to how Ginny 's had been when he had found her, crumbled and shaking besides prof Tres'unconscious form in the kitchen of Madam Puddifoots.

Pressing his forehead to his bent up knees, shame dealt it 's final blow, for he now knew the truth.

He was going to hell, if this was not already it.
* * * * *


Somewhere, deep in the timberland, Harry calmly observed the sky. The autumn leaves struck a sodding line to the nighttime 's morose backdrop, and oceanic abyss Thomas Gray swarm blotted out all semblance of starlight, save for the few persistent pinpoints and the sliver of moonlight fighting their way through the mottled mickle.

It was exquisite.

Though no measure of lulu, nor staring, could labour the disturbing thoughts from his thinker for long, and with a give up suspiration he knelt before the pocket-sized pond, his articulatio genus sinking into the deaden earth besides Kaylens.

'' Are you okay ? ``

He heard her words, yet failed to respond. Instead his heart remained glued to the wavering personage upon the water supply 's surface. Staring back at him were the accusatory jade heart of one whose have a go at it one were either gone, or in peril. The man in the reflection was one he did not agnize, for it was a man who had killed without regret, and who would do it again.

The inky smutty image was revealing how he had become all he had once abhorred, and it was a thought for which he was ill ready.

Never looking up, he finally spoke.

'' No. ``

His cupped manpower plunged into the natural spring, scattering the damnable reflection from its control surface, rippling the gage extending near the former embankment.

A prospicient time passed, the speech sound of light-headed splashing besides him mingling with sounds of the dark, as they both rubbed the rakehell from their hands in the icy water.

Upon its inky control surface his flushed blood swirled, pooling from his reopening wounds. Though the botheration was something that could not strain him, numbed as his senses were from the hypothermic waters.

It was the intuitive feeling of her work force carefully wrapping around his own, that finally pulled him from his near cataleptic body politic. His eyes rose from the urine he had hoped to drown within, falling to rest upon her calm countenance.

Her crystalline eyes held his, worry flickering in the dull moonlight.

'' We need to do something about this. '' She whispered, her breath crystallizing upon the cooling air.

There was no doubting what she meant, for his custody were pained at her bare spot, intertwined as they were with her insensate ace, beneath the impenetrable bounce 's Earth's surface. He reveled in that quiet, grimacing only as she forcibly withdrew his workforce from the mercifully numbing waters. The rough sting of the coolheaded dark air sent pinpricks of pain shooting through his lesion, burning his weaponry in a way contradictory to the evening 's breeze.

The barest trace of disquiet lingered upon her concerted face, for she was studying the gashes along his calloused bridge player, the ones he had received as he fought to cut the bonds binding them within Rosmereta 's small pub.

That small pub now held some of the most authoritative people in his biography, and he had never felt farther from it.

The sharp strait of textile ripping catapulted him from the ill fated route his thought were traveling upon, and where his hands had just been, enclosed in her own, now lay a funnies of shredded cloth. She had torn a shred of material, from his cloak, and was wrapping it tightly around his laurel wreath, winding it up and over his wrist where the deepest of combat injury stretched.

Cringing he did not obturate her concentrated progress, though his part betrayed his skepticism. `` Do you get laid what your doing ? ``

Sparing not a word, the terminal flight strip was tugged tightly in office. With a satisfied sigh she tilted her head to the side, a curious construction befalling her. `` Well… '' She replied faintly, her insensate thumb tracing along his skin around the makeshift dressing. `` You 'd improve Bob Hope so. ``

He scowled at her, flexing his wrist testingly. The social movement were cadaver, but would suffice.

'' Not bad… '' He muttered, glancing at his torn sleeve. `` Just had to destroy my cloak did n't you ? ''

'' Hmph. ``

She offered no further reply, lazily trailing her helping hand within the cool waters once again, her oculus falling shut.

Unconsciously his eyes were drawn to her, following her hired hand casual progress upon the glistening water supply, and for the world-class fourth dimension he noticed the ambling turn of illusion before him, for her finger were playing lithely across the water 's dark surface, a dull lambency radiating at the verge where the static surface finally broke, allowing her fingers entry, rose up from its depths.

He regarded the interplay, a slow curiosity rising as flecks of magic trailed beneath her hand, coloring the light swellings she was creating. riffle, swelling out in consecutive mob, bore the sparkling only a scant ways before the lighting tumbling within the waters faded away.

And it was not for the first time, nor for the last, that he again realized how little he still knew about the magical human beings.

He leaned towards her, curiosity crossing his feature film, for how could the girl who could not incant do the showing before him ? His question rolled from his backtalk quietly, and though her boldness remained averted from his, her reflection upon the ripple H2O betrayed her faint smile.

'' What are you doing ? '' Was what he had whispered, steadying himself with one handwriting upon the dew stained grass.

Her whisker fell loose from behind her articulatio humeri, tumbling to hide her face. `` You know… '' She replied softly, `` I 'm not entirely sure. ``

'' Experimental magic ? And you call me reckless ? ''

'' Well… '' She whispered, her reflection smiling, `` Insane is probably a better term. ``

'' A pity then. '' He quipped lowly, looking across the water, its very surface vibrating with life. `` For we 're trapped in the woodwind without a semblance of sanity between us. ``

She murmured in agreement, withdrawing her fingerbreadth from the water, flicking the cleared droplets from them in his direction.

His grunt of protestation was ignored, for her insomniac eyes had flickered out across the rippling water, gazing searchingly into the wispy forest. And for the thousandth time since their first meeting, he wondered if she could see things he could not.

As if in response to his thought process, a idle furrow creased her eyebrow, barely discernable as the clouds moved to bedim the cool moonlight, throwing phantom across her countenance. And as a gentle snap sent the reeds protruding from the embankment swaying, her behaviour stiffened, her shoulders relaxing only with the cessation of the plants'hypnotic motions.

'' Jittery ? ``

His query was met not with the expected condescension, but with something else.

'' Yes. '' She whispered darkly.

Her moth-eaten modulation were disturbing, and his eyes joined hers in sweeping the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree transmission line for any signaling of malevolence. Yet just as before, when he had checked upon their arrival, there was none to be found.

A thought occurred to him, and finally after the twist had risen in saturation, sending the reed pourboire tilting so as to dip into the pond 's open, he spoke it aloud.

'' Are you fellow with port keystone ? ''

She turned a questioning expression to him, her hair scattering like a feathery halo about her face in the blustery breeze. Such was the psychological disorder of her thick mane that he could not tell whether she nodded yes or no until it had died down.

Only then did it pass off to him that the object of their very displacement could also be the target of their rescue. His hands scrambled in the oceanic abyss plica of his duncish cloak for the Kunnskap, and finally he dumped it upon the low temperature earthy mud, taking concern to never admit it 's dulled golden mountain range to refer his flesh.

Kaylens eyes filled with understanding, `` It 's how we got here. ``

He nodded, reaching for her script with his bound one. Though when his fell atop hers, she did not take it.

His eyes caught hers, `` trust me. '' He whispered.

Steadily the vacillation within her eyes vanished, and slowly she turned her deal around, allowing his finger to entwine with hers. Squeezing her hand as gently as his limited mobility allowed, he guided her to the Kunnskap with him.

'' Take it with me. ``

His eyes having never left hers, he saw that she understood his meaning, for the Kunnskap had been their portkey there, and had it been somehow re-activated, they could assume it back to Hogsmeade together with a simple touch of their fingerbreadth to its surface.

He absolved to never exit her alone, not anywhere, not ever again.

With baited breathing spell they touched the chain.

Nothing.

Sharing a half disappointed, half relieved grin, they exhaled the intimation they had both been holding.

As he re-gathered the chain in his hands, she was the initiative to break the impenetrable silence.

'' Your portkey does n't seem to be working. ``

He cast her an tetchy glance, examining the runic letter carved into the pensieve 's ampule. Unsurprisingly, not one delineation cast a shred of swooning onto the spot at hand. Maybe, just maybe, he would take Hermione up on her offer to teach him ancient runic letter when they returned.

'' It must be conditional, '' He finally decided. `` It 's the entirely answer. ``

At this Kaylens'brow creased critically, and he explained further.

'' You know how near port keys are touch sensitive, taking people back and Forth between two places ? ``

Her head bobbed lightly, another low temperature gust sending her hair awry. This meter she did not trouble oneself fighting with it, and let it lie as it fell.

He fought back a small smiling as her nose wrinkled, her long fibril clearly tickling it. `` Well… '' He continued, `` A conditional port key only activates under certain circumstances. You can be touching it, but it wo n't exact you anywhere because its 'condition'is not met. '' He glanced down at the vial, slipping it into his cloak once again. `` Dumbledore made this for me, so I 'm guessing it activates when the wearer is in mortal peri… ''

Mortal peril…

He trailed off, not realizing the expression that had befallen his face until Kaylens concerned words drew him back to the present, away from the snarling teeth and growls of Hogsmeade 's back alley.

He had not known until that day, until he had felt the telling tug behind his navel point, that the Kunnskap doubled in purpose, and his oversight of Dumbledore 's secretive method of ensuring his own protection could have very well cost Kaylens her living.

She was saying his public figure, yet he barely heard. For how could his life, his very world, be worth the endangerment to others that it brought with it ?

His sass went dry, and a low temperature, unnerving feeling spreadhead through him. Forcing his centre to raise to hers, he saw the muddiness swirling within them.

'' Kaylens…I didn't…. '' He was suddenly avoiding her eyes, the shame of his superintendence darkening his feature of speech. `` I swear I did n't know… ''

The inexplicable urge to drown himself within the unfeeling pond took precedence, but the impulse was driven from his mind by her hired hand reaching for his.

He found himself staring at the back of her smooth deal lying atop his, and it was some clock time before his eyes darted to behold her.

She was smiling. In fact, she seemed to be laughing.

'' It 's okay, '' She whispered, voice tinged with amusement. `` I know you were n't trying to leave me to fend off the wolves myself. ``

And despite her timbre, he felt himself pale.

'' But if I had… If it had n't snapped and you had not been holding on I wou… ''

She was positively clamping upon her lower lip, `` Now who 's the one stuttering ? '' She intoned, shaking with clean laughter.

He merely stared, feeling her fingers slipping between his own, willingly interlocking, yet he was not daring enough to look.

'' Kaylens… '' He murmured, eyes closing in painful sensation. `` This has been a disaster. ``

'' It could throw been worse. '' She whispered, the caustic remark of her word of honor mocking the disaster they had lived through.

And then it happened. Everything he had been fighting back suddenly came swimming frighteningly close to the aerofoil, and the brief persuasion of whether or not she truly meant it flashed through his mind.

'' It could own been worse. ``

Hogsmeade had been taken, Dean could be dying, Hermione was injured, and the others like innocent Ginny Weasley, the babe he grew to give birth, were under the Imperious.

And then there was Seamus…

She knew about all of this, yet could sit there and say that.

Harry 's icy green center flew open, narrowing onto her. `` How…how can you possibly say that ? ''

Unapologetically she held his gaze, her expression falling. `` Because it 's the truth. ''

He swallowed, every fiber of his being disagreeing with each of her uttered syllables.

'' Seamus is dead, '' He finally whispered, regaining restraint. `` We abandoned the others. We failed them. Or did you block tha… ''

'' No we did n't. ``

He stared, unable to reconcile the rising sorrow and guilt that had swept upon him as suddenly as a tidal undulation, with her professions.

'' We failed. ``

She shook her head slowly, jaw setting determinedly in acknowledgement of his repetition.

'' No ceramist, '' She countered. `` Luna and Weasley needed a distraction, and that 's exactly what we gave them. All we can do now is hope they took vantage of it. If we had not done that then we would have failed them. ``

Lifeless bluish eyes…

'' What if it wasn't enough ? ``

Her heart flickered searchingly across his side, her brow creasing concernedly. `` Do you really have that footling faith in them ? ''

Her vox was as sober as he had ever heard it, and as gentle, yet the bitterness could not be kept from his voice as he pulled his hand from hers.

'' I do n't know anymore. '' He whispered gruffly, not knowing which was worse : The hurt expression upon her grimace, or the knowledge that he actually believed his dustup, for he did not give faith in his ally.

At least not when it came to their avoidance of corporeal harm. The section of mystery story had proven that a good deal, for they had fought bravely, yet their ineptness… Both had fallen almost immediately, first Ron, and then Hermione.

And Kaylens… Just for being near him, just for helping him, just as Ron and Hermione always had, she had nearly been killed.

'' I 'm of no proficient to anyone. '' He realized somberly, vocalizing his thoughts. `` Not to anyone. Not to Ron, not to Hermione, not to Seamus, not to… ''

'' What ? ``

Failing to trance this his unaffected vocalizations of self-loathing continued, unheard to his own ears, yet perfectly clear to the girl besides him.

'' How dare you. ``

This prison term he heard her, her voice vibrating dangerously, his eyes instantly flying to her furious saying.

trench within her eyes something frightening was stirring.

'' How dare you say that, '' She breathed quietly, her left helping hand shaking ever so slightly.

This shaking was her only sign of emotion, for her deadened tone was perhaps colder than her sweep up expression.

'' In case you did n't bill Potter, you are worth something, '' She whispered in prolongation. `` Because if it was n't for you your friends would have never made it out of Hogsmeade, and not only that… ''

She stood abruptly, brushing her hands on her jean furiously, glowering down with chilling intensity.

'' If it was n't for you I would be perfectly right now Potter. But perhaps I do n't count. '' Her fiery eyes burned a searching trail across him. `` Not to you at least. ``

Her survive words were the frigid of all, and the absence of her hired man, no longer within the confines of his own, struck him in a way he was ill equipped to explain.

He had willfully pulled his hand from hers in anger.

Scrambling to his invertebrate foot he closed the distance between them, catching her around the arm before she could take in it any farther. She struggled, her icy limelight fixated furiously upon him, freezing him to the centre, yet it did not intercept him from pulling her to him and holding on.

He did not let go, wrapping his arms tightly around her form, stroking her fuzz until she stopped struggling.

'' I 'm sorry… '' He whispered constrictedly, `` I swear to God I 'm sorry… ''

She uttered not a sound, dropping her face against his berm, allowing his to bury within her whisker. He only pulled her closer, lovingness sinking through him as her hands burrowed beneath his robe, snaking around his midsection to apply him back.

'' I never meant for you to think ... '' He swallowed, breathing deeply as he whispered into her hair. `` To imagine I did n't manage Kay… ''

'' Dam n't Potter… '' She interrupted harshly, her voice barely heard, muffled as it was against his robe. `` Is there anything you do n't fault yourself for ? ``

His throat vibrated oddly. `` Not really, '' He ground out, a manus raising to mat within her tresses. `` Though with undecomposed reason… ''

Her mannequin stiffened, his forehead falling against hers as her human face swiveled to regard him. Instinctively his arms encircled her shivering form ever tighter, prepared to do anything to forbid her from leaving.

Her glistening oculus turned up, both anger and assurance swimming contradictorily within them. `` Potter… '' She whispered, `` No effective reason exists here. You did all you could. ''

'' Well… '' He murmured gratingly, `` It 's a topic of opinion… ''

A soft grumbling of disfavor came from behind her closed back talk, the alteration upon her once impassive brass startling. Unconsciously his center fell shut, his hands moving across her back comfortingly. Slowly he breathed her in, clutching her by her sweater, twisting it in the process as an exasperated suspiration escaped her lips.

Against his skin he felt her cilium flickering shut, her warming decoration sliding out from beneath his cloak, `` Potter… '' She whispered, rising her hands till they lay flat against his chest. `` Sometimes I really hate you. ``

Nodding against her hide, he inhaled deeply, their unresolved conflicts fading from his mind. `` You 're in luck… '' He replied, whispering despite their solitude. `` Because the look 's mutual. ``

'' I 'm sure… '' She murmured back, face upturning as a blustery autumn wind sent her hanker plait scattering haphazardly between them. His arms pulled her in closer, the loose face of his gown billowing out and enveloping them both.

For the retentive time they stood there, him shielding her from the shadow'icy claw, her shielding him from retroversion into the iniquity of all he had been partly creditworthy for. And for the one-thousandth meter since their paths had first crossed, he found himself listening to her admonishments.

Predominant amongst them was his newly bestowed title, a sieve smiling crossing his cheek at the thought.

'' King of Idiocy… '' He murmured, a nonsocial hand sliding from where he cupped the back of her head, falling to rest along her cheek. `` I ca n't conceive you called me that. ``

The soft fingers lingering upon his chest of drawers curled, capturing the bend of his beer stained robes. `` From my compass point of view it 's meet. ``

A sad chuckle caught in his throat. `` So I 've been told. ``

'' Mrmm… '' She murmured back. `` And I 'm sure it has sunk in as well as that froth you 're covered in. ''

He shook his school principal, his nose tousling her hairsbreadth further. `` good remember… '' He growled quietly, `` I owe you. ``

'' Do you ? '' She asked, inclining her head to look questioningly upon him. `` And I thought it was I who owed you. ``

Despite his lack of joy, he found himself smiling. `` You do, I just owe you a boozing, and I do n't mean the form in a glass. ``

Her centre shone with understanding, `` You mean the kind overturned upon my head. ``

'' Just wait… '' He whispered, his rim falling upon her let out earlobe. `` You 'll sit down in the Great Hall, and when you least suspect it… ''

'' Does it count that you deserved it ? ``

His throat vibrated lowly. `` And you do n't ? ``

'' Point taken. ``

'' You know… '' He mused aloud, `` You 're awfully agreeable tonight. ``

'' Well I do n't fancy being strangled by you, '' She replied truthfully, eyeing him with amusement. `` Alone, at night, in the Forbidden Forest… It 'd be quite leisurely for you to get rid of me. ``

His forehead furrowed at her words, a calculating facial expression befalling him as he pulled away to regard her. `` We 're in the Forbidden woodland ? ``

God he hoped he had misheard.
* * * * *


The doors of the entrance hall needed zip to be thrown clear, for in the havoc of parents coming and going, claiming their children before fleeing, the looming entryway remained passable to all.

Regulus pitch blackness strode through it, robes billowing ominously in his wake, looking for all the world as if Inferno itself could not deter him from his mission.

Only those who looked him in the eye would see the precariousness that lay beneath the surface.

It was upon the independent stairway that Dumbledore intercepted them, Tonks ushering Emily and a fully recovered Kenneth in front of her, due to their slightly drugged state.

Muggle repellant appeal be damned, she had effect them through the hospital ward, for here they would be safe.

The door to Dumbledore 's office slammed shut on an outraged knocker, Regulus wasting not a moment.

'' He 's attacked everywhere has he not ? ``

Dumbledore crossed the room, quickly climbing a small ladder to retrieve a minor paperback, leather-bound text edition. `` Of line. ``

Neither of the two men appeared queasy with the other 's presence. The imperturbable senior appearing entirely unsurprised by the younger 's sudden return to the life.

'' Then his design remains the Sami as before. ''

'' Indeed… '' Dumbledore replied calmly, descending his perch. `` It 's a shame the Ministry did not listen to the word of advice. ``

Tonks cast an askance glance the Headmaster 's way, steadying Emily 's swaying form with a deal. `` You knew this was coming ? ``

'' I had my suspicions, '' Replied the Headmaster, squatting in front of young Emily, extending the text to her. The auburn haired small fry took it without a cerebration.

'' My child… '' Dumbledore requested kindly, `` Would you do an old man the favor of reading a bit to him ? ``

Emily 's head bobbed gently, opening the leather bound book with robotic gesture, and as she began to read, the becloud spirit disappeared from her and Kenneth 's eyes, as did their drugged states.

Ignoring Regulus'annoyed growl, Dumbledore responded to Tonks questioning facial expression. `` The only way to allow Muggles to sense at ease within our grounds, short of removing the ward, is to scan from this al-Qur'an. ``

Tonks merely nodded, while Kenneth blinked confusedly. Emily, however, had already spied a squishy looking arm chairman and wasted no metre in making a bee line of reasoning for it.

'' If you do n't mind, there is the minor matter of a iniquity Lord to hang. '' The sneer Regulus used paled in compare to his tone.

Dumbledore merely smiled and pointed Kenneth towards the same professorship, where the chairwoman promptly passed out, his small daughter in his lap. It was only then that Dumbledore 's smiling exterior faltered, something far more serious flashing behind his lunula spectacles.

Tonks remained mute, knowing entire well she would better wait on everyone by listening, for she was in the dark about what was transpiring. She, an Auror, was out of her realm with the discovery of the multiple flack throughout the United Kingdom, while Regulus merely grimaced, as if having long expected such an unpleasantry.

The last remaining heritor of the blackness fellowship gestured to the sleeping family. `` He 's come after the family line before ? ``

Both Tonks and Dumbledore nodded, while Regulus paced.

'' He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named may be a lot of affair, but brainish is n't one of them, '' genus Regulus said seriously. `` If he 's attacked them it 's not coincidence, it 's targeting. And I 'm will to bet it has something to do with his plan of eradication. ``

Her meat fluttered uneasily, `` obliteration ? ``

Regulus paused mid-stride, `` Surely your Department of Education was not that bereft of grammar to provide worthy exculpation for your unsuccessful person to understand such a unretentive syllable Holy Scripture as eradication ? ``

Her dark centre narrowed in annoyance, her tongue held in substantiation only by the discipline born of years under the supervision of Kingsley and Mad-Eye 's loose baton.

genus Regulus'equally dismal eyes left hers duly, his tempo resumed, `` At a time He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named desired merely the obliteration of Muggleborns alone. The cleansing of our humanity would feature sufficed, for then he would be exempt to find it. ``

Reaching the wall he did an disconnected reversal, continuing undiscouraged upon his neat path. `` His views eventually changed and he came to desire the deaths of both Muggles and Muggleborns, and if his plans remain interchangeable to the plot of before, the plot I failed to assist in properly, than today marks the showtime of the pestis. ``

Tonks breathed deeply, `` There has n't been a plague of precedence here since… ''

'' The Great pestilence of London in the seventeenth hundred. ``

All eye, including the drowsy Emily 's, turned to regard the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black. Though while Emily gently tugged at her dozing Church Father 's sleeve, mumbling about the picture man in awe, genus Regulus glared in annoyance.

'' Salutations gramps, '' He greeted with considerable caustic remark. `` As always I am golden to experience never been forced to stomach your condemnable, condescending comportment in life. ``

Phineas ignored the insult, choosing to correct genus Regulus by reminding him that he was his Great-Great-Grandfather, and as such demanded a with child degree of respect.

'' That irritable pit knocker demands regard as well, but that does not mean we generate it to him. '' Quipped Regulus, his long digit creating a hollow melody along the shelving.

The schoolmaster 's eyes twinkled at the sound of Crusantheus'protestations from outside the door. `` Your presence has charmed everyone within earshot genus Regulus, I can only hope to pull in such praise by the end of our meeting as well. I 'm beginning to find left out. ``

Simultaneously all of the portrait, Tonks, the doorknocker, Fawkes, and a Merman sculpture snorted.

Regulus and Phineas surveyed the room with identically critical reflexion, glowering at those common enough to snort in their civilized mien.

'' I 've wasted too many years abroad to idly suffer around and be chortled at. There is again, the subject of a nighttime Lord to attend to. ``

Tonks sobered immediately, her middle fixating upon the nipper and man under her protection, the ones genus Regulus himself was responsible for for saving when she had failed.

Her lip formed the words, her passionless clip relation of her distressfulness.

'' tell me more of this plague, genus Regulus. ``

And that he did, revealing the true reason for his defection from the ranks of the end eater.

'' Do you remember the coordinate attempt in my youth Headmaster ? ``

'' The ones just before your disappearance ? ``

Black nodded somberly, `` Yes, only on a smaller weighing machine than the ones of today I shall think. On that day I was to bear a vial into the River Thames, spreading the pestilence throughout the totality of Muggle Jack London. '' The man 's voice betrayed not a hint of emotion as he confessed his deeds, his hands clasped neatly behind his backbone.

'' It was only natural, '' He continued, `` For He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to coordinate flack upon wizarding villages, entrapping the wizarding folk within. The ordering were to not kill nor harm the inhabitants unless absolutely necessary, and while the sorcerous folk were trapped he unleashed a magic spell, a counterpunch curse word if you will, one that would allow all those within the Barbara Ward at the time of its casting immunity from the infestation. ``

'' Wait…was n't there a peril of the counter scourge failing ? '' Another portrait, one by the name of Dilys Derwent, inquired.

Her cousin 's iniquity glower was answer enough.

'' So why risk wiping out the wizarding population of Great Britain, his rest home, when there were other places where he may have tested it ? '' Tonks asked, directing her cousin 's dark gaze from the defenseless portrait to herself.

genus Regulus reduce lips went taunt, `` Nymphadora, you again underestimate him, assuming he places value in abstract concepts such as love and dwelling house. '' His eye narrowed considerably, `` He does not, and what just place to test an experimental vaccinum if you will, then upon a populated island. ``

Dilys Derwent 's eyes widened, and Kenneth let out a jolting snore.

'' If the sideboard curse proved uneffective than the simply wizarding biotic community lost would be those of the U.K. '' Dumbledore said sadly, `` A sane release to one such as Tom, considering his strongest resistance has always been in Great Britain. ``

Regulus nodded somberly, `` If it was ineffective, only a small portion of the world 's wizarding population would be lost, yet millions of Muggles would be gone with them. And since it was on an island, isolated from the main continents, the chances of it spreading to the other continents would be very slight indeed. ``

Dilys shook her school principal, `` Not with Muggle transportation. Now-a-days it could spread… ''

'' Quickly, '' Regulus supplied. `` There were plans to keep this as well, to shut down major Muggle transportation networks until the experimentation had run it 's course. However, what those program were, I was not privy to. We were on a motivation to recognize basis. ``

listening to the conversation Tonks abdomen churned. The cold computing that must have gone into an endeavor such as that… The realization that citizenry, who harbored such picayune regard for human aliveness, existed was chilling.

Her parents explanation of such dark sentence were what had driven her to link up the social station of the Aurors in the initiative billet, even if she herself harbored no personal memory of those days.

She had been only seven upon the ides of June, when the Town had been held during the day lit hours for reasons never discovered.

Regulus Black was now revealing the unrevealed reasoning behind the 24 deaths that had occurred that day. For his job had been to let loose the Plague that night, once the wizarding communities had been safely and effectively immunized.

The Plague had never been unleashed, for Regulus Black, the trustworthy son of a nobleman pureblooded class, had never shown. And now that same son was setting the vial, the same ampul that he had kept for years in his self-control, upon the master 's desk.

'' Whatever it does, it was rumored to take a shit the Bubonic Plague seem like the flu. ''

It would be the deadliest plague to befall the planet, and according to Regulus, the same plague would have been unleashed under similar circumstances.

Similar fate had occurred that very day, and Dumbledore was just informing them. Guy Fawkes disappeared in a fiery drag of smoke, sent to summon Severus and the best of healer to began examining the venomous contents of the vial.

With an ashen face Tonks took it all in, only one thought resonating within her head.

God assist us.
* * * * *


'' Kaylens ? '' He questioned hesitantly, waiting for some response. Yet she only regarded him quizzically, nodding slowly in response to his question.

They were in the Forbidden woodland, and her with her foolish naivety had not thought once to mention it before now.

They were in the Forbidden Forest…

How in the Hell could she deliver know that ?

His facial expression instinctively hardened, as did his workforce upon her, for temporary isolation within a woodland was one matter, but closing off within the Forbidden forest was an entirely different matter.

Eyes sweeping the forest 's menacing corner line of reasoning defensively, he remained unresponsive to her questioning middle. His just reaction was the slight loosening of his weapons system around her shape as he silently prayed their safety would hold out.

Unsatisfied, yet helpless to improve matters, his weapon system fell to her shank, hands stiffening along her spikelet. `` Kaylens… '' He whispered lowly, `` Why did you not intend to remark this sooner ? ``

Her chest rose against his, her slow breath crystallizing on the cooling system air.

'' What goodness would it cause done ? '' She whispered back. `` It was n't Worth mentioning. ''

Swallowing hard he regarded her through narrowing snatch. `` Perhaps I 'm wrong, '' He said lowly, `` But when something concerns our safety I 'd turn over it worth mentioning. ''

'' If I had told you before, what would you sustain done ? '' She whispered dryly. `` We 're in too cryptical to risk travelling, especially in the darkness. ``

'' I like the dark. ``

'' So do arachnids. ``

His middle narrowed further, `` How could you possibly know about them ? ``

Lifting her Kuki defiantly she met his gaze, `` Hagrid. ``

He nodded, voice heavily laced with sarcasm, `` And I 'm certainly he 's in the practice session of telling all his students about Aragog. ``

Her expression defied his test, for her optic told him she knew exactly of what he spoke as she shook her head. `` No, but I was like him Potter. I ca n't do magic, just like he was forbidden to after his expulsion, so we had something in common… ''

Grinding his dentition to prevent an interpellation he listened warily.

'' The lonesome affair that saved him was being able to mould with the creatures of this woods ceramicist, did you hump that ? ``

He shook his head disbelievingly, `` You ca n't process around them without a wand, it 's too dangerous. And unlike you he at least had his… ''

'' Umbrella ? '' She whispered shrewdly. `` No. Not at showtime. ''

'' And what does this have to do with you not telling me where we were before now ? ``

'' Everything, because when I first came here Hagrid showed me how the forest was divided into quarter-circle of each wizardly species'district. ``

He inclined an eyebrow questioningly, encouraging her to continue.

'' This quadrant is rather near their nuzzle. ``

His line of descent grew coldness in memory of his close experience, hands tightening along her vertebral column further. `` You still should birth told me, '' He whispered.

She smiled sadly, `` Since when did I have to inform you of everything within my head ? ''

'' Since now. ``

She shrugged impassively, `` I 'm surprised you did n't fuck. It was your embrasure key that took us here, so I assumed you had known where it had taken us. ``

Exasperatedly his eyes fell shut, dresser rising as he inhaled deeply, `` Did I just imagine telling you Dumbledore made it ? Or did I not already relay that I had no clue that the vial was a port ke… ''

'' You told me that recently, '' She interjected. `` We were here in silence for hours. How was I to intuitively have a go at it that you were incognizant of our placement before then ? ``

'' You should have said something the back I told you I had nada to do with the port key Kayle ... ''

'' Considering that you were in mid-apology I 'm going to disagree, '' She whispered, leveling her gaze to his. `` It 's not often that one sees the great thrower apologize about anything and I was n't about to interrupt that. ``

His workforce dropped at her Word, for the conversation had turned in a strikingly different direction. She merely took a whole step back, regarding him from a safe distance with disguise eyes.

'' It 's the truth ceramist. It did n't even occur to me that you were clueless about where we were until a mo ago. Before I was engaged being concerned that you were actually up to of showing some semblance of homo emotion…. '' Her heart narrowed, smell drowned in sarcasm. `` Asides from wrath or intuition that is. ``

With that she dropped down to the ground, becoming utterly fascinated by the swaying beating-reed instrument as he was left with goose egg but her back to regard.

This was not how it was supposed to be. She was the one who 's emotions were constantly masked. She was the inhuman one, not him.

By the metre he was done telling her that, in not quite succinct judgment of conviction, he was reasonably sure that her expression would betray hostile aim towards him.

Though as he moved to resist besides her kneel bod, suddenly the escalation of their literary argument seemed despicable as he glimpsed her torn expression. Turning away from him, the rear of her wrist joint began wiping at her eyes.

It was a farsighted time before either again wheel spoke, the only if sound the howling of the malarky between the forest 's trees.

'' Kaylens I… ''

'' No… '' She whispered, `` Do n't bother. Just realize that some us do not induce the luxury to leave our feelings unmasked. ``

Only one countersign came to mind, and he spoke it, unable to vocalize in any other way his question as to why she had until this very day refused to show any colour of her true self to him.

'' Why ? ``

Her head bowed low, the terminal of her foresightful twist dangling loosely in the rippling water. Finally, a low stretchiness of timelessness passing, she again spoke.

'' If you had the pick between keeping people safe, or putting unspoilt masses at risk, what would you do ? ``

Her words were chilling, and he found himself standing still, frozen in that moment, sum thudding flash than it ought. Never before had someone uttered the words, or given voice to the enquiry that so oft haunted him.

Not in the way she just had.

She turned on the wet grass, her calendered orbs rising in a driven way, betraying all the bother she had until now kept so carefully hidden.

'' How can you let yourself manage for others, when it could destroy them ? ``
* * * * *


Dean felt empty as he numbly shoved past the Fat noblewoman 's portraiture. Whether the watchword had fallen from his lips or not was something he would never know, and something the Fat noblewoman would keep to herself.

'' Neville. ``

He addressed his dorm mate in a monotone, unable to look the boy in the eye, even as Neville smiled sadly, hauling his trunk down the stairs.

It was well after midnight, the bulk of the scholar already gone, taken away by their families. Those remaining till the next first light, or indefinitely, as Dean was planning, would already be in their dormitories.

Save for Neville, who 's Gram had just arrived to take him home.

Neville shook his head sadly, `` It is n't right. I should n't entrust like this. ``

Dean shrugged, walking past him up the trajectory. `` Then do n't. ``

The other boy paused in his lead, turning and nearly losing his trunk in the process. `` It 's not that simple. ``

Dean sighed resignedly, `` It is Neville. Just take a standpoint for once. Do n't punt down. '' Like I did…

Neville 's look furrowed anxiously, `` And what happens if she does n't let me ? ''

'' We are at war Mr. Thomas, and soon you will be forced to choose a side ! ``

A strong helping hand stretched out to lie against the cold stone wall of the tug, and dean steadied himself from the onslaught of regretful memories.

'' dean what if she tries to make me ? ``

'' Make your selection ! ``

His construction hardened, manus leaving the wall as he turned to regard his nervous looking dorm mate, whose neck was craned high to see where he stood gamey up upon the stairs.

'' Neville… '' He said seriously, his inscrutable voice echoing upon the empty paries of the pillar. `` No one can make you do anything. Not unless you are too weak to stand up for what you want, '' His center narrowed dangerously. `` Or for what you think is right. ''

Swiftly he strode down, taking the stairs two at a time until he was again level with the nervous looking boy.

'' No one can force you to do anything, '' Dean imparted, his shadow centre squaring off with Neville 's. `` Not McGonagall. Not Snape. '' His continued, his own internal anger growing. `` Not even Voldemort himself. ''

propensity in doyen let his dark stare practice into Neville 's light one. `` And especially not your Gran, '' He whispered fiercely. `` No one can force you to do something you do not already want to do. So if you think staying here is the powerful affair, then you better do it, lest you regret it later on. ``

Neville Longbottom looked at him as if he had never before seen him, and gulped apprehensively, for in Dean 's normally congenial eyes there was no pity.

'' There 's nothing big than looking back and wishing you had done something differently. '' dean imparted intensely, straightening as a queen cat bounded down from the missy 's student residence. `` And I would retrieve that someone who could face down demise eater, defending himself the way you did back in Hogsmeade, would not be one for backing down. ``

With a last glimpse at the cat James Dean trudged up the flight, hell bent-grass on retrieving Ronald Weasley 's thing. How in the hell he was to get Ginny 's was another subject entirely, but the only if thing he really knew, or cared about at that second, was the acceptable sound of Neville 's trunk dropping to turn abandoned on the stairs.

Later, when Dean came out of the dormitory room, he would be greeted with an empty usual room, Neville 's unrelenting shouts of being needed at Hogwarts filling the halls.
* * * * *


interior Harry felt something breaking, for Kalliandra 's words were hitting closelipped to family than she could ever realize, for what had haunted him had haunted her.

Deep in the forest, the impenetrable secrecy was again tattered by her cheerless voice.

'' Once someone aid for you, and I mean truly fear ceramicist, no amount of opposition will be capable to push them away. '' Her haunting words fell to the hardhearted soil, her face once again lowered. `` Once you let soul in there really is no going back, and doing that… ''

She paused, Harry 's spirit wrenching at the fruition befalling him.

'' It 's something I can not do. '' She finally whispered, eyes again falling upon the wickedness waters.

In that moment, the wind stirring the sess around his feet, he realized how abysmally dolt he had been. Kalliandra 's words had never rang truer. And though he felt as if he were missing some inherent point, for how the Son applied to her he knew not, he did bang how they applied to him.

Ron and Hermione would never leave his side, not ever.

A longsighted time ago they had said there had been a pointedness where they could turn back, and they had not.

Harry ceramicist suddenly realized when that import had been, for both of them.

'' I think I can judge the wrong form for myself thanks. ``

Ron 's aspect had glowed with acceptance.

'' It was my theme Professor. I went looking for the troll. I had read about them and thought I could address it. If Harry and Ron had not come when they did, I 'd probably be absolutely. ``

A sad smile tugged at his heart, for Hermione farmer, knowing them as cypher other than savage taunting boys, had broken every moral she had that Hallowe'en night.

And she had done it for them.

The point where he could protect his Quaker had long since passed. The metre where they could have been kept condom was over, and if he truly wanted them to subsist their best luck would be together, not apart.

He had been a fool to think otherwise.

center blinking rapidly, he regarded the little girl who had brought this to light, torn between whether to overwhelm her or embrace her. Though all he could bring himself to do was quietly see, paralyzed by the sheer cerebration of speechmaking when he was only just realizing how footling he understood about her.

In that moment he was struck by the intense annoyance he had failed to before observance. Even the fleeting glimpses he had before stolen… None of what had filtered through when she had been caught unaware… None of it could liken. Not to the sorrow flitting through in every hurt creese of her forehead, in every precarious breath indrawn, and in every halting gesture.

The rather plain stitch, disheveled girl before him, the one capable of holding so much in, was suddenly strikingly beautiful.

In a mo of indecision he crossed to her. Gone was the stumbling boy who had once been ineffectual to articulate a coherent thought around saddened females. Now, in the aspect of necessary, drawn together by setting, he found that his concern suddenly lay with the only someone he held the power to help.

Kaylens.

Laying a hand upon her shoulder, the actualisation that her cloak was gone struck him. Once he had removed it, accessing her pectus in the alleyway, he had never re-fastened the clasp.

It had been left behind, and in the rapidly chilling air she had let slip not one complaint.

Despite the rigidification of her articulatio humeri beneath his throbbing medallion, he knelt down, one arm snaking it 's way around her quivering form. gooseflesh were rising across her neck opening where her plait had been swept aside, her skin far too poise for his liking.

Lowering his sass to her ear his breathing spell traced along her pelt, his Kuki-Chin falling to breathe on her shoulder as he spoke.

'' You 're stubborn, missing your cloak, and did not opine to say a Scripture, '' He whispered, pulling her against him, trapping her arms against her chest with his own. `` And….you look like Hades, and I do not fancy having you not only irritable but sick. ``

'' Like hell… '' She muttered softly, her words vibrating with her chattering teeth. Casting his middle to the water he could see her reflection, and distracted expression. `` You should see yourself. ``

'' I 'll let you revel in that torment alone, '' He responded softly, the cooling walkover sweeping the clouds aside once again, revealing the paring of Moon residing there that All Hallows Eve.

Her ignitor strands tickled his face, his centre falling shut as he reveled in the strange wizard, only opening as he felt her good turn to regard him.

Before she could speak his hand rose, silencing her.

'' Thank you, '' He whispered, watching the wrath fade from her eyes. Now only disarray, mingled with meek surprise, swirled within her flaming orbs. The crinkle of her supercilium was doubtfulness enough, and he shook his head, mumbling how it was hard to explicate, for how could he impart the realizations her single sentence had brought.

Unable to do so, he tightened his arms around her, pulling her to her feet before releasing her. Shrugging out of his cloak he spread it before them upon the cold globe, earning a get look from where she stood, her own subdivision now wrapped tightly around herself.

Her lip parted slightly, though her protestation fell silent, for a thickly woolen blanket now lay where his cloak had been a moment before.

Pocketing his scepter he nodded satisfactorily. `` Transfiguration, '' He offered by way of explanation, wrapping it around her articulatio humeri, his hands lingering there. `` If we remain here, we 'll be safe ? ''

Haltingly she nodded, a lucky plait falling loose from behind her ear, swinging freely in the light breeze that cast it across her face, her nose crinkling ever so slightly as the tress tickled her nose.

His deal rising to sweep it aside, he watched her optic turn to the forest, studying it with a barely concealed longing.

'' We 're welcome here, '' She whispered softly, `` For now at least. ``

And against every ingrained inherent aptitude, he trusted her unquestioningly.

'' Then here we 'll stick around. ``

Sliding his hands down her arms, taking her hands in his, he led her away from the water and towards a large oak with a comfortable looking trunk.

Within minutes a soft, smoke-free fervour burned before them, his backrest to the oak and her resting comfortably against his breast, his weaponry encircling her tightly as she pulled the woolen mantle to her Kuki, covering them both.

Beneath the woolen fabric, where no eyes save theirs could see, two hands intertwined around a fortunate Sir Ernst Boris Chain, a small vial carefully clutched between their palms, just in case.



A/N : Happy Belated holiday everyone ! And thanks to IchigoPan for the cover girl opening image. : )

Also, par lecturer request I shall post in the commend section whether or not a chronicle is utter, and the turn of chapters present upon recommendation.

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'' Freedom is what you do with what 's been done to you. ''
~ Jean-Paul Sartre ~




Chapter 25 ~ Condemnation by choice


Some would believe that they had been condemned by fate, others that they had been condemned by option. In the long run, those who believe that freedom can only be found by the choices one makes with what they have been given, are closemouthed than either extreme.

Those who had cared for the dead and dying during the Bubonic plague, risking vulnerability so that others could be spared, made the honorable selection they could with the dire circumstance liveliness had dealt them. And though more than three centuries had passed since anything of similar symmetry had struck civilized order, history would soon repeat itself.

Bathed in the inky hues of dark, upon the shores of the River Liffey, a man with a sportfishing pole smiled into the moonlit sky. The rain had foresighted since let up, and he basked in the early first light 's fragrant scent, enjoying the sprayer of the river splashing against the shoreline.

He would soon be the commencement to succumb to the cosmos 's gravid plague.

He did not bang this, not that early morning as he sat upon the dewy grass, eagerly anticipating the morning morning he had awoken so early to see. He could not foresee this anymore than he could previse that his wife and three children would be the next to knuckle under, leaving their once vibrant home devoid of laughter, erotic love, and life.

They would all be dead within seventy-two hours.
* * * * *


Neville .... Dean ....

Beneath a midst, glum veil of russet toned strands, two drear eyes fluttered blurrily. The visual centers of her mental capacity were not ready to obtain the signal traveling across her optic nerve. The pain sign were still far too overwhelming.

Despite this the girl 's eyes fluttered open, peering into her new hell.

A fuzzy, orthogonal abstract, the color of a finely aged manuscript 's pages ... it rested besides where she lay, her body feeling unnaturally whole upon the fluent satin sheets. Somehow she was left with the lurking hotshot that everything should not be quite right wing ... ..with what though ... .for certainly her skull was whole.

The fille 's brilliant mind felt somehow ... violated. As if person had been poking about within it, without her express permission.

As if individual had been searching through her most cherished memoirs ...

Again the names came to her, hitting her with the force of a heavily muscled serpentine tail.

Her pleasant psychotic belief born of sleep were shattered, her mouth parting with an indrawn pant as the foreign, fuzzy room fell into focus, as did the adult female resting within the high backed chair, legs elegantly crossed, a cruel, taunting verbal expression stretched twit across her lips. And like a predatory animal stalking its fair game, the woman 's eyes were purposeful, triumphant, and locked upon her own.

Somewhere in her recovering mind the girl realized that the fair sex was intent on stealing her innermost secrets, and what better bit to do so than within one 's waking consequence, when their defenses were the lowest.

Voldemort'ranks were cruel and calculating, containing master tacticians whom she both admired and loathed with every fiber of her being. Yet despite this admiration, she would die before allowing them in.

Silently she swore this, and in the blind room the missy did the only thing she knew how to.

She fought.

As the charwoman 's self-important laughter filled the room, for the lady friend was no match for the adult female 's grooming, a crucial mistake was made, for in that one consequence of underestimation the Mudblood was able to agitate back, catching sight of what the char was really after.

Almighty Voldemort was in the way, spiritual domain to the girl 's eyes, and the fille suddenly understood that she was the bait that was to lure in the true prey.

Hermione Granger began screaming for her respectable Quaker to stuff out everything Voldemort showed him.

A cruel light cut through the air, and as the girl fell defenseless to the Cruiciatious curse, passing into another botheration induced sleep, Harry ceramicist tossed violently within his own.
* * * * *


'' Sit ! ``

The low of her vertebral column hit the backboard of the president, painfully.

Yet that was nothing in comparison to what she would do to Regulus. Over the past few hour, where they had been all but forced to remain hole up in Dumbledore 's government agency, her opinion of Regulus had done a all over 180, followed by a 360. And now he had been assuming enough to physically force her away from the threshold, which she had been using in an attempt to vacate the premises.

She felt needed elsewhere.

She snapped her wand out, aiming at her infuriating cousin with every intention of ordering him to remain firm aside, when Dumbledore 's voice thundered loudly, its ancient baritones echoing throughout the tower.

'' Enough ! ``

Breathing heavily, her saturnine eyes fixated furiously upon Regulus'complacent expression, her voice addressed the Headmaster. Unsurprisingly her tones were less than pleased at the info she had just gleaned from their impromptu meeting.

It had been the understanding for her conk out endeavor to leave.

'' Explain ... '' She spoke less than warily, `` How you can warrant refusing to allow me, an Auror in compositor's case you forgot, to recall Harry when you have just admitted that you know where he is ? I can be trusted to determine him ! '' Regulus scoffed loudly at this, receiving a swift recoil in his unprotected shin.

Ignoring his grimace and failed attempts at dignity she continued adamantly. `` schoolmaster ... one student has already been killed, and if Harry is out there alone he ... ''

'' He is not alone. ``

She closed her heart, drawing an devil breather between her teeth. `` Oh ? ''

Dumbledore seemed vaguely amused by her reaction. `` Of course not. He is with another student. ``

Tonks blinked, flabbergasted. Suddenly she was having a very hard fourth dimension separating her sworn swearing as an Auror to do all she could to protect the innocent, with her cuss to the Order to entrust its membership and its founding father. Particularly when that Same founder had just finished informing her that he had known the location of three of the missing pupil all along, yet had failed to inform the Ministry officials and Order member scouring Hogsmeade of that apparently miniscule fact.

'' A student ... and who would that happen to be ? '' She muttered, choosing to put it simply.

Dumbledore removed his specs, polishing them gently. `` Kalliandra Kaylens. ``

Her eye widened in hopes that she had misheard. `` That girl Remus has been tutoring ? '' She nearly shouted. `` She 's practically a Muggle ! ``

Dumbledore cast a rum coup d'oeil her way. `` Sometimes you may be surprised at what non-magical the great unwashed are open of. ``

genus Regulus sneered, `` Oh yes ... I 'm sure they are natural at evading the Unforgivables of the iniquity noble 's servants. ``

'' Of form you 'd get laid all about that would n't you Reggie ? '' Tonks snapped hotly, ignoring the disapproving middle of the master as she turned her hot biliousness directly on him.

'' What in the name of Merlin are you thinking Headmaster ? '' She questioned shrilly. `` You 've allowed half of the gild to think that Harry is missing yet order the ex-Death Eater on the point the irregular everyone is out of earsho ... ''

'' I 'm in earshot ! ``

'' Shut up !'Tonks and Regulus shouted simultaneously as Regulus practically flew across the room, giving the already shut threshold a just flush. Crusantheus, the door tit, could be heard swearing violently on the other side.

'' Tonks ... '' Dumbledore said, sounding slightly amused, `` I have my ground for doing things. ''

Regulus'eyebrow arched so high Tonks swore he must take stolen Snape 's patent expression of smugness.

'' let me to venture a bet ... '' Regulus interjected snidely, looking pointedly at her. `` But I am guessing that Dumbledore does not rely everyone in this little bird society you have both spoken so adamantly about tonight. ``

It was nonsensical, yet she knew her cousin-german 's pointedness held a note of truth.

'' Is n't it a shame, Nymphadora ... '' Regulus continued, pacing in front of her seated physical body, `` When you can not even bank your fellow snort watchers with the whereabouts of the infant chick ? ''

She scowled, forcing herself to see away from his look of high quality. Instead she observed what Dumbledore was doing, watching as the quills finished penning upon each scroll, then rolling themselves in successiveness, the ink already fading upon each.

It was a trick of the Order, used only in times where the utmost of security was needed, for only those bearing the Deutschmark of the Phoenix would be able to see the truth printed upon those scrolls.

The use of it disturbed her greatly, for why would Dumbledore need risk penning education when he could inform each recipient role verbally via flow ?

'' schoolmaster ... '' She said warily. `` Please let me retrieve Harry. As an Auror you have to see that I can not stand aside and allow Harry and Kalliandra to be put in danger. '' She stood, ignoring genus Regulus'attempts to forget her path, and strode straight to the window overlooking the castling ground. Dumbledore stood besides this Lapp window, an odd spirit deepening his already lined features.

'' Headmaster ... '' She said, eyes shining with urgency. `` You know better than anyone what form of people are after Harry. Just recount me where he is at, because wherever he is he could get .... ''

'' Killed ? '' Dumbledore supplied, tearing his eyes from the dark scene. `` Tonks, I understand your care. Yet if we never allow Harry to subsist on his own how can we expect him to pull round this war ? ``

She frowned, her silence his answer.

The headmaster nodded solemnly. `` The time when we could protect the children from the horrors of war has long since passed. Now all we can do is desire that we have prepared them well enough. ``

Tonks sighed sadly, watching as the quill pen began inscribing the figure of the name and address upon the twine papyrus scroll. Harry 's name was amongst them, but not Remus.

turning to Dumbledore she questioned him with her eyes. `` What if we have n't ? ``

A comforting hand touched her shoulder, Dumbledore 's twinkling centre again holding a sense of hope.

'' If I 'm not mistaken, I do believe you were always a warm proponent of giving at least Harry more freedom. If you had not believed him, a pupil, cook, would you really have suggested that ? ``

Swallowing she nodded, glancing towards where Kenneth and Emily slumbered, a loud snore from Kenneth the sudden draw of her tending.

Dumbledore chuckled. `` Perhaps we ought to move them to my secret quarters. I dare say they could possibly be more comfortable there. ``

She nodded vaguely, and within minutes was levitating the Irish president in a very undignified way, his arms and legs hanging falloff as he sleep danced through the highly arched doorcase, leaving the office of the master and entering Dumbledore 's private study.

Regulus followed behind, Emily in his munition, and the most curious formulation upon his face. He rather looked as if he had drunk sour milk containing the elixir of life. Regardless the expression vanished as he placed her upon the couch besides her Church Father, a facial expression of relief overtaking him as he rid himself of the seven year old burden.

'' Nympahdora ? ``

Her hands freeze out upon the wool blanket, the one she had been draping across her charges sleeping forms, for Dumbledore 's vocalism was no longer in good order behind her.

Trepidation shook her.

Turning, as if in slow motion, her brain recognized that except for her sleeping charges, that she was now alone in the room.

Both her full cousin and the Headmaster stood just beyond the room 's threshold, a look of renounce gravity upon their faces.

'' I am sorry Nymphadora .... '' Dumbledore 's vocalization floated through the room access eerily. `` But there is something I must do, and I have a feeling that Regulus may be the only one volition to stand witness without protestation. ''

What ritual ?

The subject area 's finely carved doorway began swinging shut.

She bolted for them, not knowing why, yet knowing there was no meter. Her feet flew across the flooring, her heart catching sight of the paper rush scroll clutched within Dumbledore 's aging handwriting, its addressee forever burning into the young Auror 's mind.

Tom Marvolo Riddle.

It was only then that it finally dawned on her ... what Dumbledore intended to do. And as she tripped, falling flat upon the floor, her optic upturned, straining for a sight of the roof within the Headmaster 's office.

Upon the towboat 's cone-shaped roof were the antediluvian parole of power, and they were the last heap she had before the study room access slammed shut with a resonating finality.

fabrication stunned upon the level her thoughts faltered, for upon the parchment bound for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named an ancient swearword was surely inscribed. Dumbledore 's witching signature was the one responsible for writing it beneath the structure of mightiness, and thus she knew that Dumbledore had sworn to meet with the most dire of villains to begin the negotiations for the surviving student of his.

Hermione Granger.

Beneath the threshold a fiery tendril could be seen.

The origin limit ritual had begun ...
* * * * *


In the thick of night lightning flashed.

apparition were streaking across the ground, illuminating the dark abyss surrounding those who slumbered far from the oncoming tempest. There, deep beneath the darken boughs of night, dreams both haunting and beseeching plagued the girl 's dispirited turn within the arms of Morpheus.

Yet something far more upstanding than the purveyor of dreams clung to the girlfriend, smoothing away the goosebump rising upon her frigid skin, for even as the man she leant against woolgather his promise to safeguard was being unconsciously kept.

In his arms the young woman failed to learn the oncoming storm, only awakening from her chilled sleep as the cauterize manpower around her fasten, the man 's steady breathing falling and rising erratically, for REM was suddenly failing to suppress his volunteer muscular systems.

Something had changed ...

Kally was flung to the priming coat with a starting line, her body hitting the dew kissed stain with emphatic chroma.

Coughing, there upon the earth, she scrambled away, rolling and slipping as the sky thundered, the initiatory droplet of the icy onslaught catching her in the boldness. reflex action Born of one cruel monster 's sadism, and a lifetime of paranoia, sent her scattering from her protector on instinct.

Sliding upon the dew kissed soil, scrambling to her understructure, blinking back the dregs of sleep and the dark of Night, her judgment finally processing what was occurring she ceased to act. Standing there with the wind whipping bitterly around her, the rising air 's chill seeping through her inadequate article of clothing, she laid centre upon her unwilling assailant.

Potter ...

The mind numbing discombobulation that befell her, the kind that always seemed to accompany his presence, returned as she watched him. His shiny eyes closed against the brewing storm, his case contorted, and even from where she stood she could see the frenzied crown and valleys his heaving chest made.

It was happening again, the thing she had merely glimpsed that night in the common room, falling victim to it within the torch-lit corridors ...

Without intellectual thought she ran to him, the one she barely knew, who had foolishly saved her spirit on more occasions than she cared to count. Dropping besides him, her knees sinking into the tone down mud, she felt her fingers stall, uncertainty gripping her chilled form.

Something was wrong ... this aesthesis ... the uncertainty ... .it was foreign and momentaneous ...

Though life 's cruelties had once taught her the demons of inaction.

Forcing herself, willing herself to act, she gripped his shoulder, calling his name as loudly as she dared. In the quickening pushover the blanket that had sheltered them billowed out, tumbling with the current of air to lay sprawled across the wet ground.

'' Pott-tter ... '' The iciness crept into her voice, the hint stealing her words for its own cagey purpose. Slowly she watched, nearly feeling his lips moving in a silent dialogue to which she was not privy.

Beneath her digit she felt the growing rigidity of his berm, a terrifying intensity radiating from him as the rainfall began to fall in heavyset torrents, rainwater splattering upon his sweat dampened eyebrow.

When the life giving water reached his unsightly scar, a sizzling rose into the air.

Lightning criss-crossed the night.

One-one thousand ...

Gingerly her fingertips traced his brow, brushing along his matte hair. Before the searing sense datum within her flesh even registered her hand was recoiling, a repressed cry of botheration caught within her pharynx.

In the dark she could not see her blush fingertips, but she knew the burn to be there.

Two-one grand ...

Voice constricted, from what she knew not, for zero in the magical world could now surprise her, she screamed at him. Foolishly she screamed, roaring in a competition to rise above the air current as she gripped his shoulder, shaking his already vibrating manikin.

His Adam 's orchard apple tree rose and fell, as if he too were screaming to be heard by one incapable of doing so.

trine one-thousand ...

'' ceramist ... '' She questioned, knowing her vocalism would not reach him. `` What 's happening to you ? ''

Four-one thousa ...

thunder shook the sky, a sensual howl carrying upon the steer from a distance far too closemouthed. Her narrowed eyes flew to the forest, ill-equipped as they were to bring out its hidden danger.

God Remus ... where are you .... He would be able to see, to sink in the night 's veil.

Unconsciously, as her ill fated thinking plagued her, her digit coiled around Harry 's shoulders, relishing the odd protection his propinquity brought in the look of the unknown.

Teeth chattering she began a understood mantra.

'' One-one thousand ... ''

Within her ears the steady musical rhythm of her ticker pounded achingly garish, and further roar cutting upon the gusts of the growing outpouring sent a electric current running through her chill veins.

'' Two-one thousa ... ''

Again the sky rent opened, rumbling as if hellhole itself were fighting to break through, and as if in some cruel unison with the sky pain erupted around her slender, unclothed arm.

Tight fingerbreadth now clenched callously around her wrist, her free hired man slipping from Harry 's shoulder, clutching at his finger's breadth, prying them away from the crushing force of his strong hands.

In the eerie light of the storm she struggled with him, his sleeping figure writhing against her as if he were a man watching, silently reliving, the slaughter of all he held dear.

She too had learnt the accuracy of such repulsion far too immature ....

A strangled strait resounded within his throat, her own constricting at the offended creases lining his sweat soaked brow.

'' Damn you Potter ... '' She implored breathlessly, feeling his unwavering grip tightening further. `` Come back ... ''

roaring clapped across the expansive sky, her breath coming out in ever unclouded clouds. `` You 're insufferable ... '' She gasped through clenched, chattering tooth. `` potter please ... this hurts so a great deal ... ''

Somehow, despite the howling of the wind, her panic-stricken pleas broke through, reaching the God of Sleep, for Morpheus released his vice grip upon the top executive of Idiocy 's psyche.

In a consequence, in one short, precipitous spasm, she was yanked against him, thrown across his branch as he jerked awake.

Frightened and cutting jade eye flew open, staring through the frigidness rain at her, not fully seeing ...

Yet pain and shame swelled within them.

cough, breathing heavily from her exertion and up lump of fear for he alone, her Logos came unbidden.

'' What happened ? ``

Blinking the water from his eyes, his glasses long since flung to the priming coat, he swallowed painfully, his voice coming out in hoarse rasps.

'' Kaylens ... '' He rasped, `` He 's got her. ``

'' Of course ... '' She murmured sardonically. `` Yes ... that explains everything ... ''

With measured movements she slowly removed herself from where she lay upon his concentrated legs, collapsing onto the muddied ground besides him. The thickening mud rose around her, threatening to overcome her unaffectionate form.

'' Potter .... '' She finally whispered, allowing her eyes to flicker shut. `` What just happene ... ''

'' Do n't attain me lie to you. '' He whispered brokenly. `` I wo n't. I ca n't. ``

Somehow, as she felt his form moving to shield her from the component, she managed a response.

'' Harry ... '' She murmured incredulously, `` Then say me. Who has who ? ``

Her eyes flickered open, and the sharpest plug in the world locked onto her own.

'' Voldemort has Hermione. ``
* * * * *


Remus staggered from the bowels of the Forbidden timberland. From where he had been drug, and left.

'' You 're services are no longer required rip double-dealer. Our Godhead shall summon you when our Service are again ... .needed. ``

Lucius'words were chilling. Though not nearly as lots as his works this night.

He remembered everything ...

Even now the blood lust taunted him, alluring him with its putrid aroma rising from his tattered clothing.

Ron 's blood ...

Before him loomed Hogwarts school day of Witchcraft and Wizardy, his slow up pace leading him past the ragged looking Ministry functionary.

He was just another bruise bystander to them, and was paid no heed.

On the footing a dusty creme tent flapped in the violent wind, Mediwizards roaming around the possibility in the canvas. Within its illuminated interior he glimpsed Haggard parents lining up with their children, traveling bag in tow, as they waited for Ministry ravish away from the setting of today 's crimes.

No one would fortune a walkway to Hogsmeade, not now, not even with Ministry protection.

With distribute stair Remus made his way to the rook. He had a report to make, and a sin to beg penance for.
* * * * *


The certainty swimming within his middle was astounding. Even in the dark of Night, as he hovered above her prostate form, she recognized that.

Her lips parted, a mum question unspoken as his illogical premise settled in, for how could one know the whereabouts of one they could not see ?

They could n't. He could n't. And yet ...

She believed him.

In the past he had been pitiless and cruel, illogical and brash, and yet he had never given her a reason to doubt nor suspect him.

Everything that had passed between them before had been the indirect result of her own secrecy, of her own perpetuated prevarication, of her own sins ...

He had been right to call her a decease Eater. Though she had not know of the deed, she was as well as one.

blinking the rain from her oculus she took a chance.

Her first chance.

'' So ... what do we do ? '' She asked.

His quiet was palpable. The cracking of breaking boughs in the forest, their tumultuous declination to the forest floor, and their final soggy smack against it were all she heard above the wind.

His jaw remained slack.

'' Potter ? '' She whispered, knowing he now scan her lips, for her soft answer was inaudible.

His wet hair swayed as his head was shaken, slinging water upon her as his muddy helping hand curled around her arm. `` You believe me. ''

It was a statement. Not a question.

chill, the os mystifying shudder taking over, she nodded. `` S-shocking, I k-know. ``

His solemn regard studied her, heart moving to where his hand lay. A pose expression broke his silence.

'' Did I hurt you ? ``

His tone carried a billet of ego disgust, yet the street corner of her rima oris tugged gently upwards at his concern.

'' C-could n't if you t-tried, '' She stammered.

A dig chortle escaped his throat, his bridge player rising along her arm, smoothing away the goose skin rising upon it. `` Good ... '' He responded. `` Because we have to give. ``

Her side scrunched up, her blue-tinged lips no longer felt by her.

'' How ? ``

seizing her with both hands he assisted in up-righting her, rubbing her arms vigorously. `` We walk ... '' He whispered, `` Run if necessary, and hope that nada eats us. ``

As if on cue, from the depth of the woods 's shadow, a wolf emerged.

Her shaky breathing froze Potter 's hands upon her, his intuition alerting him of what she already knew.

'' Run ... ''
* * * * *


He wanted to lie to himself, to tell himself that he had not committed the title that he had.

The truth persisted.

Remus'fundament unconsciously moved down the corridor, water dripping in his wake upon the Oliver Stone flooring. He had not reported into Dumbledore. He had not alerted the edict of his return.

There was something he had to do first.

Remus pushed open the hospital wing doorway, leaving a muddy imprint where his hand had resided.

Silence greeted him within the candlelit infirmary, the only respite the sound of removed thunder as the storm rolled south, away from Hogwarts'grounds. At the wing 's far end three curtained off arena hung stagnant in the stuffy atmosphere, yet the odor of rain lingered within his nostrils.

And blood ...

It did n't take the inner eye to know that his victim lay nearby.

His echoing stride led him to the world-class section area, where he found what he was looking for.

Ronald Weasley sat vertical, gazing out the window upon the sliver of one-fourth moon peeking through the tempest clouds.

Remus'tummy twisted rebelliously as a vocalism broke the silence.

'' You want to talk ? ``

Remus remained frozen to the spot, nodding as he felt the verdict of an elusive execution trial being handed down.

Remus was sure that they had already told the Weasley 's new son his fate, and by now the changes would have already begun, affecting his senses ... his scent ...

His comportment would confirm what the young Gryffindor most likely already suspected. Ron would now know the one responsible for condemning him.

turn on the surgically uninfected Edward White tile, Remus dimly remembered the reason for why the Oliver Stone flooring had been overlain with the Muggle alternative, for even a firm beat of scourgifying spells were not enough to remove the stain of blood from ancient Oliver Stone. The yesteryear war had brought far too much of that within Hogwarts rampart, and roofing tile was much easier to cleanse.

Fleetingly, Remus wondered if his own blood were about to again, be removed from it.

His eyes rose shamefully to the boy he had cursed, his pride forcing himself to not look away as he awaited whatever hateful quarrel were sure to come, for he was surely deserving of them.

Though none did.

'' Ronald ... '' His vocalization came out thick and gravely, articulateness abandoning him. `` Whatever you ask ... This is the second time I 've endangered you and I ... '' He faltered. `` I am no-account ... ''

It took every snow leopard of his rapidly diminishing fearlessness to persist standing in the presence of one he had so horribly wronged.

Lightning illuminated the room, filtering in through the hospital annex Windows, and Ron set his jaw. `` You did n't mean to bite me, so do n't vex about it. ''

big H rolled, vibrating the roofing tile beneath his soles.

Ron cringed, obviously unaccustomed to the sudden amplification of all surrounding sounds.

Such was the effect of becoming a lycan.

As the scag diminished, his previous student frowned pensively. `` For the start clock time in my aliveness Professor.. I 'm unlike. '' The adolescent extended five of his digits, frowning further at the sight of the irregularity lying just beneath the Earth's surface. `` Everything ... from now on ... '' He continued oddly, `` It is all going to be dissimilar. ``

Shame nearly sent Remus tumbling to his human knee. `` All because of my recklessness ... again ... you could ingest been ki ... ''

'' So could induce you, '' Ron cut in sharply. `` Yet that did n't finish you from doing your duty, prof. ``

In the import of silence that followed, the untried Weasley son suddenly did something completely unexpected. A slow, sad smile crept across his features, and then Ronald Billius Weasley looked him directly in the eye.

'' Whatever the reasonableness was for sending you out to cavort with those other ... '' Ron swallowed hard, `` werewolf ... It had to be of import, otherwise you would n't have been there. ``

Remus remained still. He could not kick in into his own self-deprecating desire to turn and flee, he owed the new werewolf more than than that.

'' This is a war. Before you bit me I had no material talent to proffer. '' The Cy Young man 's tidings were slow, and for once, painstakingly thought out. `` To everyone I was just ... a hindrance, just another mediocre wizar ... ''

'' Your superpower was never mediocre, '' Remus interjected painfully.

Ron shook his head, his fingers scrunching the stark white of the hospital mainsheet. `` It does n't matter ... I simply could n't do anything the others could n't already do advantageously than I. But now .... ''

Light naughty oculus looked up, meeting his haunted ace. `` But now prof ... ''

Remus again nearly choked at the ill-bestowed claim. `` I have n't been your professor for some time Ronald. ``

A rather grave expression touched Ron 's mouthpiece. `` Well ... '' He said, flexing his fingers. `` That 's about to convert. ``

And with reflexive speed, right where Ron 's fist had been clenched around them, Remus realized that the hospital sheets now lay shredded.

Where Ron 's fingerbreadth should be, there were claws.

frigidness comprehension dawned upon him, for somehow the boy had inherited the ability to transubstantiate at will, yet the bloodlust Remus felt running within his own veins was nowhere to be seen within the boy 's eyes.

All that lay there was a dangerous glint.

'' My friends are out there, and I intend to detect them. '' Ron avowed. `` So ... ''

A animal timber edged into the Brigham Young Weasley son 's voice.

wild blue yonder, ovular center, met his own.

'' So lupine ... How 'd the Order fancy a second set of ravenous fangs ? ``










A quick greenback : The health check and biology buffs may catch a few matter in this chapter and the upcoming unity, so please be forewarned that any slip on the characters'role regarding such affair is entirely intentional. I want to read that they are weak and not entirely knowing about certain things. It would n't be fun if the characters never made mistakes. *cackles*

Thank you to Njhill22 for all of your help with this chapter. I may very well make lost my saneness had it not been for the 5 am late Night writing sessions that we had to fall back to ! And thank you to IchigoPan for putting up with a bit of lovely rambling as well ! Now on with the chapter !








'' Amidst hell there is always Light, it is just a matter of finding it. ``
~ unknown region ~


Chapter 26 ~ The rationality for the War



It had taken her all of ten minutes to fancy it out.

breathing heavily, her mousy hair strewn about, she again rose her leg to drive the full force of her weightiness against the Venetian red doorcase. The sound reverberated throughout the way, echoing from the ancient stone walls in a way that mirrored her increasing, autonomous anger.

She should have known.

Cursing she stepped back from the nonmoving entryway, her feet stumbling clumsily across the uneven floor boards. Her sullen eyes swept the high raftman criss crossing the cylindrical towboat, at a release.

Dumbledore had long since earned the form of address normally reserved for Remus alone, for that 'damnable man'had thought of every imaginable dodging endeavour and blocked her progress at every act. One thing was certain : The master was surely against anyone knowing of his architectural plan, and from the looks of things she would not be escaping any time soon. Certainly not in sentence to alert anyone before it was too late.

If only she had realized ! Then she would n't be trapped like some mythical Rapunzel caught in a hellish fairy tale.

Her center landed upon the nighttime window form, her judgement briefly mulling over the possibility of growing her hair into a foresighted enough plait to send out Emily scurrying down.

She snorted. Even if the Bothans were not under an enchanted nap Kenneth would surely pare her alive before allowing her to turn his daughter into an off-the-cuff athletic chimpanzee. Of course of study Emily had seemed rather taken by that exhibit at the genus Phoenix Park Zoo ...

As if reading her thoughts Kenneth growled a little.

Men ... She thought angrily. Even in their quietus they shot down her ideas !

Turning her attention to the door frame she did the only thing she could think of, and rearing back her leg she charged. Only this time the door swung open as if in sync with the gods of clumsiness, and she found herself sprawled across the headmaster 's empty office.

Rolling onto her spinal column, flopping like a Pisces the Fishes on the floor, her colored eyes fixated furiously upon her cousin.

'' You ... '' She roared, kicking the room access to the field of study shut with her feet. She was not aegir for Kenneth nor Emily to hear this if they awoke at this rather wrong interval.

genus Regulus gazed down his nose in astonishment. `` Cousin were you really waging war on his study door the entire metre ? You do realize that is hand-crafted mahogany ? ``

Growling she scrambled to her foot, `` I swear to Merlin Regulus ... you tricked me ! You allowed him to ... ''

He scoffed loudly. `` No one allows Albus Dumbledore to do anything cousin-german. He merely does it whether you are in concurrence with his decisions or not. Surely you would be aware of that by now. ``

'' He 's proper you kno ... ''

'' Shut up Crusantheus ! ``

Regulus cast an unnaturally sympathetic look at the door as she again rounded on him.

'' He made the Unbreakable vow did n't he ? '' She demanded. `` He 's going to trade himself for Hermione sodbuster if he can is n't he ? And you let him ! ``

'' Like I could block him ? Besides, it was n't that bad of an ide ... ''

'' You could suffer refused to stand witness ! '' She hollered. `` He could n't have done it without one ! ``

genus Regulus'eyes roamed the way curiously, as if she were an inconsequential bug, before his eyes finally landed upon a little console. `` Well ... '' He commented, walking towards it. `` If not I he would accept found another person to ... ''

'' The Order needs him Regulus ! '' She shouted, tailing him close-fitting than a trace. `` We ca n't make it witho ... ''

genus Regulus spun to front her. `` Do n't devalue yourself cousin-german. From what he said he may let founded your trivial volary organization, but he is no more of import than the ease of you within it. ``

She gasped. `` You jest ? ``

The perfect double of Harlan F. Stone glowered back. `` Do I look like one to jest ? ``

Her breathing place came in tempestuous puffs as he began rummaging through the substance of Dumbledore 's deceptively pocket-size liquor cabinet. A considerable fourth dimension passing before he emerged, a closely, quenched railway line straining his mouthpiece, and a garnet hued feeding bottle in hand.

She was barely collecting herself, her wand arm twitch dangerously as she seriously contemplated whether or not her cousin was an disaffect species.

'' Le Vin de Chateau Latour ... '' Regulus commented admiringly, ignoring her as if nothing of significance had occurred. `` Dix-neuf soixante-dix, une belle année. ``

Her teeth basis so hard she swore to God he would be receiving the alveolar consonant bill.

'' For the less refined in the room, '' He continued, his unfaltering eyes never leaving his recently procured prize, `` xix seventy was an first-class year. ``

A brassy pop resonated within the room, the rising hue of her impertinence evidencing her increasing blood pressing. Falco columbarius ... she was getting as bad as Kingsley with that !

'' This special vintage, '' genus Regulus continued undeterred, `` Presently runs over one hundred and twenty four Sudanese pound a bottle. Just imagine what it may have got run once fully matured. A shame this Latour takes ten to fifteen years ... ''

Between her gritted teeth she managed a growling. Regulus ignored this, painstakingly choosing a rather fatigue and hopeful orange mug from Dumbledore 's modified looking glass selection. His nose crinkled in aversion as the mug 's emblem Go cannon sparkled up at him.

'' Allowing his vintages to go to waste ... '' Regulus grumbled disapprovingly, pouring the opaque, yet red ferment into his mug moodily. `` I would possess thought better of the old man ... ''

'' That old man has to a greater extent moral fiber than you could ever wish to possess, '' She snapped.

'' I do n't doubt that, '' He replied evenly.

Her heart widened furiously. `` Why in the hell would Dumbledore charter you into his authority ? You were a cowardous traito ... ''

Regulus'chicken feed slammed down, shattering.

'' NEVER PRESUME YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT NYMPHADORA ! '' He roared, heart igniting dangerously. `` I am far more familiar with each one of my treacherous, treasonous deed than you shall ever be. But know this ... ''

Regulus'presence rose, despite his already rigidly vertical posture.

'' If it were not for those cowardly deeds of mine then the Muggle world would induce been wiped out a retentive ... time ... ago. '' He hissed quietly. `` My fearful nature preserved the knowledge of what could have happened ... .keeping it safe until it was needed again ... ''

'' You should have come forth with it sooner, '' She challenged. `` As soon as you heard He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was back you should take in ... ''

'' Oh ? '' He snapped condescendingly. `` And how was I supposed to know that my one-time slithering Lord had crawled back from the tomb whilst in the Muggle realm Nymphadora ? Particularly when those of you at the Ministry do your best to isolate our world from the Muggle realm ? Well congratulations Nymphadora ! Because despite Voldemort 's safe efforts at havoc and misery your wanted Ministry has done its job well ! Not a news of his return leaked to me, even though I was listening for watchword ! ``

Seething venomously she leveled her wand at him, eliciting a derisive laugh. `` Where 's Dumbledore ? ``

'' Why at a meeting with that slithering serpent of a Dark Jehovah I suspect. Surely you could receive guessed that at least. ``

Her heart thudded unnaturally.

'' Let me out genus Regulus. ``

'' I wish I could cousin, '' He said, turning back to the vino. `` But it was his desire for neither of us to give until the deal was complete. Something about pesky, meddlesome, bullheaded Aurors ... ''

She growled, resisting the itch to attack.

Regulus merely snorted. `` I would guess that you, being percentage of his minuscule volary companionship, would by now realize that he knows what he is doing. Even I know tha ... ''

Swearing loudly she kicked the wall, rattling Phineas'portrait, forcing their long dead congenator to hang onto his frame 's edge for fear of being dislodged from it.

genus Regulus mouth twitched wickedly, ignoring the choice password that came flying their way as he addressed his cousin. `` Now if you want to destroy the portrayal then by all substance, do so Nymphadora. However, in the interim it seems that your best bet is to loosen up and have a drink, because you clearly need one. ``

Scowling she slapped the proffered trash away.

Now it was Regulus'turn to consider her as if she were an extraterrestrial species.


* * * * *

Elsewhere in the castle Remus had discovered that he had developed a shadow, one with a distinct hitch and a blinding shock of red hair.

'' You 're surely about this ? '' Remus asked, sprinting around a niche with a flying Weasley trailing behind. Ron had just finished recounting what he had overheard the adult speaking about as he and Ginny had feigned sleep in the wing, and Remus was left with an uneasy feeling of coldness.

Not only were Harry and Hermione missing, but so was Kalliandra. Ron had had no entropy regarding Tonks, and knowing her profession ....

Remus had felt slightly ill at the idea of any of them suffering while he had strolled leisurely down the rook 's corridors, unable to go faster for fear of leaving the brainsick Mrs. Humphrey Ward 's escapee behind, which was precisely why he had thrown a levitation charm at the Danton True Young man, sparing Ron the trouble of having to defend with his self-sizing crutches.

Molly Weasley would sustain him shipped to St. Mungos in individually charge card wrapped pieces if she ever caught wind of this.

Ron 's face, screwed in deliberate concentration as he attempted to deflect hitting his forefront on the ceiling, shot him a withering look.

'' My champion are out there Remus, and I do n't intend to sit idly by while the Order ahem and haws over what the best course of action is. I want into the Order, and I want to help. ``

'' And if they vote against that ? ``

Ron grinned tensely. `` I 'll threaten to give them a well-disposed nip on the leg. After all, I 've missed dinner tonight. ``

Remus nearly laughed, caught off guard. `` think about cannibalism are we ? ''

'' Nah, Snape hardly qualifies as man so I seriously doubt it would count as cannibalizing. Especially since he 's likely the only one to vote against me. ``

'' You 're forgetting your mother. ``

Ron paled considerably, his freckle standing out. `` She 'll just have to understand, '' He growled determinedly. `` About Ginny too, she 'll bounce back, and when she does she can facilitate me incur the bastard that Imperious-ed her. ``

Remus smiled sadly. Ron was more alike to Sirius than he would ever know. Perhaps that, more than anything, was why he had agreed to take Ron with him to give Dumbledore his shabby report.

As Ron had said, the good wolfman had to stick together, and he deserved to know of the cloak-and-dagger werewolf natural process as much as anyone.

The early lycanthrope could still be out there ...

The persuasion spurred him into a faster sprint, and ignoring the Gryffindor 's sudden protest Remus began dashing down the I. F. Stone corridors, his concern rising exponentially at the affected lull upon the school.

Snapping the password he and the floating Ron mounted the stairs to Dumbledore 's office, a libertine contention increasing in mass as they approached. Forgoing formalities he set Ron down hastily, grasping the door handle and tugging.

It was locked.

'' Headmaster ? ! '' He shouted, pounding upon it fiercely. `` headmaster I ne ... ''

'' Remus ? ! ``

At the vocalisation his fist froze, inches above the cringing bronze Crusantheus, the logical argument within the office grinding to an unceremonious halt.

'' Tonks ! '' He shouted with barely concealed relief. `` Tonks wha ... ''

'' Oh thank God ! '' Interrupted Crusantheus, moaning. `` They 've been going at it for an minute ! I ca n't choose it anymore ! ''

Remus was about to enquire as to 'who'precisely had been going at it when Ron 's bedevil grumbling interrupted him.

'' Since when did Dumbledore get a talking doorway breast ? ``

'' Since his Brother had me imported from Scotland little man, '' Snapped Crusantheus indignantly.

Ron bristled, `` Little ? ``

Remus dropped a staying hand upon Ron 's shoulder. `` Best not to rent in conversation ... '' He muttered out of the box of his mouth.

Crusantheus'own dropped encompassing. `` I heard ... ''

'' We know ! '' Shouted two voices simultaneously from the opposite side of the door.

Remus'auricle reflexively picked up, the familiarity of the unidentified vocalism unnerving. `` Tonks let us in, '' He shouted, frowning.

'' We ca n't ! '' He heard her moaning, `` Dumbledore made an Unbreakable vow and has left to talk to You-Know-Who and he 's interlace us in here ! We ca n't get out and no one can get in ! ``

It took a moment for her give-and-take to action correctly, and apparently it did for Ron as well because simultaneously they both voiced aloud their thoughts.

'' What ? ``

A decided banging could be heard from within the office, as if someone had taken to kicking random objects.

Again, the unidentified masculine part floated beneath the door. `` You might as well tell apart them ... ''

'' Tonks who is that ? '' Remus interjected.

There was a pause.

A very hanker pause.

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

'' Try me, '' Remus insisted.

'' Later Wolfy. ``

He groaned, while Crusantheus snickered. In reception Ron grabbed the knocker and began banging vigorously, only ceasing the hostilities when Crusantheus nearly bit off his fingers.

Remus ignored this. `` Tonks recite me I misheard ... ''

'' You did n't, '' She groaned. `` Hermione husbandman is missing. '' Ron paled considerably, his shoulders stiffening at the monitor. `` You-Know-Who has got her, and Dumbledore thinks it 's to lure Harry into telling him the prophe ... ''

'' WHAT ! ? '' Ron shouted, clearly having been deprived of this knowledge. `` Tonks did they find Harry ? He ca n't do tha ... ''

'' Remus what the hell is Ron Weasley doing with you ? Is n't he supposed to be in the ... ''

'' hospital wing, '' Remus supplied.

'' I 'd like to put him in the infirmary backstage, '' Growled Crusantheus menacingly, snapping eagerly with his jaw 's hinge.

'' Bugger off you rusted while of ... ''

'' RONALD ! ``

Crusantheus bronze tongue began clinking out a gleeful melody, clearly ecstatic at Tonks'reprimand. `` Aha ! Better stifle it digit or Ms. trachea in there will keep out you up for me before you can say Hoggy, Hoggy, Hogwa ... ''

Remus finally gave in to the urge to hush up the red cent matter, ineffectual to think. Crusantheus'sudden muteness earned him a trashy exclamation as the unnamed voice from within began praising the Jehovah and maker.

He knew that voice ...

'' So Nympahdora you want to tell them or should I ? '' Asked the man, sounding as if he were clearly enjoying something.

Behind him Ron made a gag speech sound of recognition.

'' Sothis ? ''

A trashy thud evidenced the unknown man 's displeasure.

'' If I get mistaken for Sirius one more sentence I 'll hex that door knocker ... ''

Crusantheus began pounding his handle furiously, a panicked feeling in his bronze eyes.

Tonks, on the other hand, sounded like she was tap-dancing. `` Ah-ha ! I 'm not the only one who made that mista ... ''

'' You 're my cousin ! You have no excuse ! ``

'' sodomist off ! We thought you were dead ! ``

'' Really Nymphadora you have no creativity ... ''

Really ... You Gryffindors have no creativity ...

Remus'mind spun, an sound reflection from the past hitting a dissonant chord.

Staring at the locked door something clicked.

'' Regulus ! `` He growled, smashing himself against the door. `` I swear to God if you 've harmed her ... ''

'' Nymphadora were you and your Quaker hit with a paranoia magical spell ? You can answer me honestly with full moon religious belief that this conversation will remain confidential. ``

'' Oh yes, do n't mind us ! '' Chimed in several unseen portraits.

'' So you 're a head-shrinker and a doc ! ? '' Tonks spluttered.

'' Tonks ! ? '' He shouted through the door. `` Tonks ! What the hell is going on in there ? ``

'' Apparently an epiphany, '' Drawled Regulus lazily.

'' Shut it both of you ! '' Tonks snapped furiously, the sound of stamping infantry reaching his gain vigor ears.

He withdrew his ear from the door just in time, its intact soma shuddering violently as she kicked it from the other face, rendering Crusantheus cross-eyed.

Mahogany door or not, Remus suddenly wondered if that were deep enough to protect him from whatever hex the pissed off Auror had in creative thinker for him. He knew her far too well to entertain any hope of escaping completely unscathed.

Sneakily, with stealth indicative mood of the low marks she had received on the Stealth and trailing part of her Auror examinations, a wand tip snuck beneath the chap between the door and floor.

Remus stared at this odd action, puzzlement the name of his expression. Unfortunately he hesitated just a bit too long, for a hot flow of searing sparks suddenly ignited his trousers, a exonerated Ah-ha resounding from the pink haired wonder crone as Remus hopped around, nearly tumbling down the winding stairway in his attempt to dunk them.

'' Made her tempestuous did you ? ''

As Ron snickered he had to forcibly restrain himself from snarling in the Weasley 's world-wide direction.

'' Tonks, '' He groaned hoarsely, leg still steaming. `` What on earth is haywire ? ``

'' What 's incorrect ! ? What 's wrong ? '' She clipped with disbelief. `` You show up after nearly a month and ... ''

'' Two weeks, '' He corrected, re-approaching the door as if it were a shark.

'' amercement ... Two weeks and ... ''

'' Did the idea of talking it through like rational adult ever occur to either of you ? '' Regulus'muffled part interjected curiously.

'' material a wind sleeve in it Reggie, '' She barked. `` The fanged wonder has emerged from his self-induced isolation and now he wants to know what 's wrong. ``

Another loud thump shook the door, his stomach wrenching as he practically felt her leaning against the early side.

Cautiously approaching he ignored Ron 's galvanise stare, pressing his custody against the rough cereal. `` Tonks ... '' He whispered gratingly, `` I ... .We do n't sustain time for this now ... ''

'' Gee, what a surprisal ! '' She exclaimed sardonically. `` Wolfy does n't have time for me, who would 've thought ? ``

Regulus emitted a low tin whistle, clearly closer than before. `` perturb in promised land Lupin ? Honestly is n't she a little young for you ? ``

The distinct sound of somebody being smacked echoed through the doorway and down the stairwell. The heavy sense impression within his chest failing to meliorate.

'' At risk of being hexed ... ''

Remus turned, eyeing Ron with barely concealed annoyance.

The Gryffindor swallowed loudly. `` Harry 's still out there and we have to happen him. We could transmit Hedwig ... ''

'' Dumbledore already sent Fawkes, '' Tonks muttered. `` He 's a measure ahead of us as always, yet kept muttering about how Harry could fend for himself now. ``

Remus'brow furrowed. It was not like Dumbledore to allow for someone unaided. Not at all.

'' Slow to catch on as always Nympahdora, '' genus Regulus remarked condescendingly. `` Did it ever occur to you that in place of sending a potentially wearisome scout ... ''

'' I am not slow ... ''

'' Of course not, '' Regulus snorted. `` But rather than letting a lookup party gallivant around the area, risking further red ink of life, he did the smart thing. ``

'' Which is ? '' Remus could learn Tonks practically hiss through her teeth.

'' He sent the fastest messenger he could, '' He responded smugly. `` Surely you do n't fancy yourself in the same class of speed as a phoenix, do you cousin ? ``

Remus'eyes widened in apprehension. `` He sent them a portkey. ``

'' Exactly ... ''
Suddenly everything came together, and it gave him an idea.

'' Ron, Tonks ... '' He stumbled to explicate. `` I have to ... ''

'' We know, '' Tonks muttered. `` You have to go. ``

He hesitated.

'' What 's the hold up Lupin, you 're quite well at that so get on with it already. ''

Cringing inwardly he turned and ran for the owlery.

'' I 'll just delay here then ? '' Ron yelled sarcastically after his retreating figure.

On the other position of the room access Tonks growled, dropped cross-legged to the background, banged the back of her head against the door, and extended a guide manus to Regulus.

Her cousin-german smirked, filling her a fountainhead needed glass.


* * * * *



Harry 's pump skipped unnaturally. His intimation froze. Instinctual dismay ignited a fiery wrath within him.

As if in reply his callous fists unconsciously coiled pixilated around her shoulders, clenching the soaked plication of her mangled sweater as if doing so could somehow turn back the comportment lurking within the shadows.

It could not.

A feral growl cut through the wind instrument, the frosty breeze snaking around them, biting bitterly against his skin, whipping Kaylen 's pie-eyed hair's-breadth around her bloodless brass.

There was nowhere to run ... but they had to try.

Like a phantom audio upon the wind came the slap of monstrous nipper upon slick mud, the taleteller strait of a beast bent grass on savagery as it stalked its prey across water-laden hunting grounds.

They were its prey ...

keeping her resolute eyes with his, watching as her physiognomy screwed into that of grim resolve, Harry knew he had no choice.

Loosening his appreciation upon her quietly heaving shoulder joint, watching the bloody bandages binding his palms sway in the wind, he ground out a single instruction.

'' Run ... ''

His dark whisper was met with immediate military action, for she took flight of stairs, mud splattering beneath her feet as she fled for the tree line, her shattered jumper billowing in the wind as she went.

Lightning from the war torn paradise illuminated the lay waste to battle ground, sending her shadowy silhouette stretching across the matted stretchiness of grass separating them.

Tensely he watched her, standing his ground.

He refused to follow.

Around him the index of the tempest surged, boom shaking the earth as his scarred clenched fist clenched tightly around the disastrous plumage of the capital of Arizona that lay deeply imbedded in his faithful holly, his wand arm hanging loosely by his side.

Blinking the water from his eyes he watched in hushed enthrallment. Kaylens was suddenly aware of her solitude, her ft halting into a disruptive shoe across the hunting dry land as she fought to stop against the raging confidential information. The mud finally ceased to give, resisting her sliding feet as her grade went slipping beneath the wood 's doorsill, the dripping canopy throwing shadows across her kisser as she whorled around to regard him.

Beneath the leg her eyes flashed dangerously, for his deception and what it could mean had finally struck her with frightening force. With the come off sense of an looker-on observing an unstoppable calamity he watched as her form went rigid.

She knew there was no time to reach him. His stratagem had worked.

Merely six meters separated he from her, yet the distance was uncrossable.

It was how he wanted it.

Thump, thump ...

The western fence lizard approach of the werewolf 's chela musical rhythm against the suctioning ground.

The Wolf was charging him, yet he did not move.

Silently his eyes plead with Kaylens, urging her to run.

thumping, thump ...

She did not. Her splendid eyes regarded him with profound hurt and anger, reflecting the lightning shocking through the heavens.

Thump, thump ...

He stood still, feeling death 's swift approaching for another moment, closing his oculus in resignation for whatever would come to pass.

It was stupid, it was brash, it was the act of a true Gryffindor.

He had known there was no time for them to both run, so he had sent her unwittingly to what he could only beg was relative safety.

Thump, thump ...

If he survived this she would surely defeat him, and an odd grinning crept upon his cracked mouth at the absurdity of the thought.

Thump, thump ...

All of it transpired in a s, his optic flying across-the-board as the sky split open, roaring as the graven image themselves sent their electric car fists hurtling down to fall in the affray.

Lightning struck as he hit the land hard, ducking as he felt the wolf springing into the air to seize him. Jaws snapped around slim down air, right where the back of his neck had been a second before.

The wolf 's rearward hook slashed out, grazing his back, shredding the framework of his shirt, just scratching his tegument 's surface. A pained moan snapshot from his lip, yet it was unheard as a fiery dash of galvanizing death struck the tree line with fearsome intensity.

He was already screaming for Kaylens'to move.

A sensual growl emanated before him, the werewolf 's flight ending as its colossal shape crashed back onto the earth with one sickening splat of mud and rain, its colossal strain skidding on the slipperiness priming coat as if upon ice.

'' Kaylens movement ! '' He screamed, watching as a fiery shower of coal rained down from the split up trunk upon her.

Her golden head disappeared within the hummer, a burn tree arm crashing to where she had stood only a second before.

His stomach lurched sickeningly, a choking screech tearing through him, silenced only as the wolf 's snarling schnoz reared around to face him again.

His eyes darkened in madness behind his pelting streaked glasses, his verge arm flying out, a cutting hex ripping from his pharynx as he dove to the side, rolling in the stocky sludge.

A pain howl signified that his aim had been true.

Desperately, heart pounding, he again let the cutting hex fly, followed by an onslaught of silver particle as he staggered to his foundation, stumbling backwards in a fury as the wolf 's brutalized pelt sent its recoiling consistency to the ground.

The Ag subatomic particle were lodging within the beast 's exposed wounds, and the metal 's toxicity was quickly infiltrating its bloodstream.

He felt no pity, only torment as a fiery tendril coiled upwards from the ablaze branch, igniting the smashed canopy.

'' Kaylens ! '' He screamed, bolting for the Tree line, watching in repugnance as smoke began pluming upwards.

It was his defect ... she had n't seen it in time ... she had been watching his personal battle instead of running farther ...

And he had sent her there.

The noxious fume came hurtling at him upon an icy blast, choking his lungs, and her public figure, which his lips had been expelling, came out instead as a take to task coughing.

His glasses were somehow lost, crap and roll of tobacco corpuscle replacing them to cut against his retinas, a numbing virtuoso overtaking him.

He did not see the snow coming.

A massive paw struck him down, sending him hurtling face down into a puddle, his panicky human beings morphing into a watery brown blur.

His sceptre flew from his grasp, skidding out of scope as he flailed, feeling the free weight of the fauna atop him as it forced his body to make a new imprint in the pliant earth.

The shallow water lapped around his ears, his mouth flapping around the ill-tasting soil, eubstance sputtering as his faithless lungs continued their ill-fated effort to expel the venomous green goddess fume from them, inhaling weewee instead.

The spine-crushing weight of the brute was suddenly dispelled, his head snapping up to gasp for breath, his hand blindly summoning his wand to it. The wandless act was lost upon him as a beastly forepaw smashed besides his aching head, an column inch shy of shattering his skull.

Above him a new wolf growled venomously.

Flipping onto his spine, rolling out of the way, he saw a tree limb lash out, striking the beast hovering above him with a sickening crunch.

The second werewolf, the one he had failed to see in time, fell limp to the ground.

Emerging from the burning bay of tree diagram Kalliandra callously threw the branch at the animal, ensuring another blow to its psyche as she appraised her handwork. A second later her burning eyes were fixated upon him, a furious expression crossing her lampblack stained features as he was left sputtering upon the ground.

'' What the hell were you thinking thrower ? ! '' She coughed out, her articulation a harsh wood file. `` This is the Saami stunt you pulled in Hogsmeade ! Are you that daft ? ! ``

Still gasping for breath he realized that he had been right. She was going to kill him.

A ridiculously ardent sensation flooded him. `` Y-you 're ... ''

'' Pissed ! '' She hissed exasperatedly, clearly irked more by him than by the beast who had attempted to constitute a meal of them. `` You are single handedly the most brash, cockeyed, self-centered, suicidal mortal that I have ever met ! future time, I 'll let the savage eat you ! ``

He blinked exhaustedly up at her, chest heaving with pained exertion as the disheveled, slightly charred young lady above him ignored the insanely mud ridden, werewolf infested, ablaze world around them, contenting herself with staring him down.

He could n't help oneself it A minuscule, relief filled smirk tugged at his lips.

'' What, '' She grunted wearily, `` Could you possibly come up funny about this ? ''

He grinned. `` A lot actually. ``

Her jaw dropped, flapping soundlessly as the winding sent heater billowing in a dark cloud behind her, her handwriting instantly rising to shield her center from its thick residue.

'' Kaylens, '' He commented, wiping mud from his font, `` You 're a rather angry person you know that ? ''

For a second she appeared to falter. `` ceramist ... '' She threatened raspily, `` I 'm going to kill you. ``

He nodded solemnly, gingerly up-righting himself. `` Well ... '' He grunted, pain searing his shoulder. `` Get in line. ``

'' gaoler that. I get the first-class honours degree crack at ... ''

Her words ended in a grating cry, a chameleon-like hand having blastoff forth unseen in the billowing roll of tobacco, snatching her thick hair within its pitiless confines. Her soaked tresses were used as an mainstay, the disillusioned man callously snapping her pass back to exhibit the slender chassis of her neck opening to the secede wood of a blackened wand.

rainfall droplets splattered eerily in mid-air against the spiritual world opponent.

'' Drop it ceramist, '' Growled a voice as sinister as the night.

The croaky growl sent something grievous stirring within him, his afforest colourize eyes remaining glued to Kaylens'cringing countenance.

His brow furrowed as a unusual thought began to ingest Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, his finger loosened around the holly coated wand.

'' Potter do n't ... '' Kaylens'sharp cry was cut off as she was shoved forwards, nearly thrown from her feet by the expiry Eater 's swift prodding.

The Death eater was holding her ahead of him, using her as a shield.

'' I said drop it boy, or I 'll make trusted she stays deadened this time. ''

Harry 's hand went rigid, his wand falling into the mud.

'' Attaboy. ``

The counter of the disillusionment charm was muttered as the villain advanced through the coiling smoke, holding Kalliandra ahead of him, the flames'orange light throwing the Death eater 's intuitive expression into gross focus.

Harry 's stemma ran cold.

Broussard 's companion, the very one Harry had struck down with the killing curse that afternoon, the Saame one whom he had left for idle in Hogsemead 's back bowling alley, now stood shepparding Kaylens before him.

The dead man was alive and well.

'' Ah ... .So you do remember me, '' The man hissed, eyes gleaming malevolently. `` Perhaps you remember my brother, Broussard. I do believe you slashed his throat. ``

Kaylens hand shot up, yanking at the Death Eater 's vice travelling bag. `` No less than he deserved you filth ... ''

A violent knee to the spine sent Kaylens crumbling to her knees, her physique suspended by the callous grip on her long locks.

'' To lose one 's remaining family ... '' Continued the Death Eater with lethal equanimity, `` In such a style does not endear one to mercy. ``

'' Now you know what it feels like ! '' spat Kaylens, her hands clawing tightly at the man 's massive forearms as he drug her forward.

The destruction eater ignored her, his foul gaze fixated upon him. `` You 're a anserine boy ceramicist ... dabbling in Unforgivables ... I 'd shoot down you if I could ... ''

Harry vibrated with keep down rage, eyes darkening. `` Then why do n't you ? '' He challenged, `` Get rid of the spare, and it 'll be just you and I. ``

The villain laughed bitterly, `` I 'm not as dullard as some of the early crawler boy. You 'll take to ameliorate your manipulations if you expect that to work. ``

'' mulct, '' He spat darkly. `` I 'm unarmed, you 're not. care to let her go before that alteration ? ``

'' Wandless magic trick is a bit advanced for you bo ... ''

Something within him snapped, the unconscious magic he had drawn upon in instant of need finally snapping into place.

A shot of muscularity flew through him, the familiar wooden hold flying back to his hand, quickly summoned, drawn, and aimed.

Only where the Death Eater 's heart had been now rested Kaylens, for the villain had yanked her forcibly from her knees to again shield him. Her cry of pain echoed through the clearing, rising above the crepitation of burning wood.

'' As intriguing as this is Potter, we came to deliver a content. Nothing more. ``

Harry 's voice dropped to a growling, `` Since when did a message entail taking my promontory off ? ``

The man 's lips curled into a tangle. `` It did n't. That was just fun. ``

'' A rather perverse thought of fun, do n't you think ? ``

'' Considering what you did to my blood brother, I 'd say I 'm in the presence of interchangeable caller. ``

'' He 's nothing like you ! '' Kaylens shouted furiously.

A sinewy yank sent her head word snapping back, his inside lurching as the resounding crack of her protesting vertebrae.

'' Quiet girlie ! '' Hissed the villain, spitting dribbling as he spoke. `` You 're already an endangered specie, I 'd hate for you to go nonextant. ``

'' Ah yes, '' She spat scathingly, straining against the man 's arms. `` And I 'm surely your cute master would be pleased with that. ''

trembling violently he watched as she writhed against her captor, the cauterize man glaring vindictively down.

Hands coiling into taut fist, Harry began inching to the incline, the sound of mud suctioning against horseshoe colloidal solution masked by the resounding thunder.

If he could get an angle around her, he could make his crack ...

'' And to cerebrate, I thought catching Veelas was the big designation ... but no subject ... ''

It took everything he had to repress his outward repugnance, for the man had already drawn and used the spiritual world dagger, plunging it shallowly into the flesh of her shoulder, dragging it across her peel. A second later the scoundrel had a cylindrical vial held beneath her freely flowing lineage, bottling it as her eyes scrunched in a terrible face, her thinker undoubtedly feeling chronicle repeating itself.

'' There, that oughta appease my Lord in the consequence of your untimely ... '' The man was running his wand along her injury, a dark light radiating as her shape sealed beneath it. `` Well ... .end anyway ... ''

Blinded by rainwater, Harry 's eyes went white with anger.

'' You wo n't lay a finger's breadth on her. ``

In the shadows the man smiled. `` It seems I 've already rest various. ``

As he stood there, the running mud curling around his feet, he felt sick. He was cornered, for if he acted brusquely Kaylens was beat. And if he failed to act, they could both forgather the same fate.

His hardened eyes narrowed, dresser rising with stressful sweat, as the vile man continued speaking.

'' All the Dark lord wants is the prophecy Potter, yet if you continue this stubborn refusal that little mudblooded acquaintance of yours will scent up dead. '' The man grinned evilly. `` And we all know you do n't want that to materialise. ``

His baton shook, so arduous was his grip upon it.

'' Just guess ... what has your refractory refusal gotten you thus far ? Certainly it did wonders for improving that stock traitor Shirley Temple Black 's current nation howeve ... ''

'' Sirius was a dear man, '' He heard himself hissing.

The man merely inclined an eyebrow. `` Ah yes, I seem to call back him fancying himself as such even during our school day years. He, the noble blackness, always criticizing Broussard and I ... the two Detreck brothers were vile to him, even the one from his own home ... ''

Harry felt unwell, ire and hate vibrating unceremoniously within.

'' Your father was much the same ... both never sparing even a sentiment for the Lord Black 's own kin ... '' He continued, the same whole tone of superiority dripping from his words. `` Canicula always wondered what finally sent Regulus to the rank and file of the death feeder. Would you wish me to secernate you ? ``

Kaylens attempted to twist away, the massive man easily batting her attempt aside.

'' The deciding ingredient you see, was Sirius'stubborn refusal to acknowledge his pal as an match, '' He revealed. `` The chesty tomfool followed those resisting the nighttime Lord blindly, never stopping to believe who was really in the right. He and the rest of those Gryffindor fools following Dumbledore never even sympathise our cause ... ''

'' Oh ? '' Harry shot out, `` And how are we justifying cold-blooded murder these days ? ``

The man 's teeth glinted in the firelight. `` There 's no pauperism to justify anything, because the war hungry Muggles will not be content to impart our kind alone forever. It 's kill or be killed thrower. The iniquity Godhead is simply acting preemptively, before those filthy Muggles get the hazard. ``

'' And what of the anti-Muggle wards ? '' Harry asked scathingly, thinking quickly. `` If you 're really as superscript to them as you 'd like to believe, then all of your 'pureblood'conjuring trick ought to forbid that, would n't you think ? ``

The Death Eater Detreck laughed. He actually laughed.

'' Tell me ceramist, with all of the inter-marrying between sorcerer and Muggles, how would you purport keeping our world forever hidden ? Eventually we will become exposed, and when that happens the Muggles will know the potential threat we hold. ``

Inching towards the high temperature of the fervor, and its veil of sess, Harry allowed him to talk, wracking his judgement for a plan.

'' Once that happens I 'm quite a sure they will be nifty in showing us mercifulness. Perhaps the same kind that was given to the Jew of their secondly World War, or that which was shown to the indigenous people of the United States when the new domain were discovered. Or to the witches of Salem ... ''

Kaylens cut him off.

'' You ca n't possibly believe every Muggle is like tha ... ''

A dagger was thrust to her throat, silencing her Bible as blood prickled her skin. A sadistic look of calm crossed the firstborn Detreck 's fount as he held it there.

'' You see Harry, Muggles are unlike us, '' Continued the monster. `` They have yet to subdue their animalistic natures, and for that they must be silenced, before they can silence us. ``

'' And all of this entails killing Muggleborns how ? '' Harry pointed out, desperate to keep the man talking.

'' Every war has fatal accident potter, and in this one anyone benevolent to those crude creatures runs the risk of becoming one. ``

'' They 're not archaic ... ''

'' Yet they wage war upon other countries, killing their own kind without thought, acti ... ''

'' Since Death Eaters do the Saame thing I guess you would recognize. ``

'' Our putting to death is at least educated, and justified by More than state of war over boundaries. ``

Harry 's vox shook with suppressed rage. `` Nothing can justify frigidness blooded murder ... ''

'' You would know then, '' Hissed the man, sneering spitefully. `` After all, once a cause of death, always a killer, or am I wrong on that potter ? ``

He remained silent, watching as Detreck slowly lowered his blade from her throat.

'' Despite what you think, you are very much alike us thrower, and thus my Lord has a proposition of sorting for you. ``

Watching the latent hostility leave Kalliandra 's neck, her face slumping gratefully forward without fear of impalement upon the tongue 's blade, he grunted. `` So what mickle is it this prison term ? Join him and he spares my life ? ``

'' No, simply let on the missing part of the prophecy in rally for your friend 's family 's lives. ``

'' And Hermione ? ``

The man 's eyes glittered evilly, blistering smoke billowing out with a change of the winds.

'' In the Department of secret, in the hallway of prognostication, you remember the shelves upon shelves filled with the foretellings of seers past ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Then surely you were not chesty enough to think that yours was the lone foretold regarding this war. ``

His berm stiffened, for he actually had.

From the woods 's boundary, short metre away, resounded the crack of a shoetree branch as it finally burnt away. It fell into the burning undergrowth, sending a flash of fire bulging outwards on impact.

In the cacophonous roar of warmth and flame all party scattered, the grass clearing in prison term for Harry to see Kaylens still in the villain 's vice grip, her apparent thunderbolt for freedom hindered by the man 's muscular arm which had tightened around her.

Her elbow to his torso went ignored, the monumental man 's muscle protecting him. Detreck merely grunted, hauling her to her pes as the smoke dispersed, the rain beginning to smoother the flames.

'' We waste prison term. In the manor hall of prophecies there is another with your public figure on it, or did that decrepit old man fail to inform of you of its cosmos as well ? ``

Somehow he managed to avoid snapping his wand, despite the shaking of his fists.

'' When you find that, and divulge its contents, only then will our Lord publish your precious Mudblooded friend. ``

'' You 're lying, '' Harry spat, the caustic sense of taste of smoke on his clapper. `` If I told you, he 'd kill her anyway. ``

The man 's lips curled. `` Perhaps ... but if you had something else to offer up him, something in add-on to that ... something he very much desired ... than perhaps once you 'd revealed the sec prophecy, he 'd return her if your word was given to reveal another once the interchange was made. ``

Harry shook his head word disbelievingly, `` Since when has ole conundrum trusted my discussion ? ``

'' How dare you defile his public figure ... ''

Harry nearly laughed, `` Defile ? Just so you know, as someone well acquainted with his Muggle male parent 's keystone, I can ascertain you that is indeed his epithet. ``

Kalliandra 's head was suddenly yanked violently back, the wand again to her pharynx. All idea of traumatizing the expiry eater with mockery of its leader flew from his brain, his eye glued to her pale, soaked face.

'' What else does he want to know ? ``

The eldest Detreck leered triumphantly, `` When you find the prophecy regarding 'the girl of a man of power upon Gaelic grime'you will have what he is looking for. There is no figure attached, therefore it may be seized by anyone. ``

Through the fart Harry 's shout seemed almost faint. `` And if I do n't find it ? ``

'' Then that Mudblood of yours dies. Unless you find something better to pop the question. ``

With icy certainty Harry realized that the conversation was nearly over, Kaylens'fate hanging in the balance.

'' You see boy, you may have defied our Lord thus far, but you ca n't forever. In the end he wins, you lose, and if Dumbledore 's ill-thought resistivity continues ... ''

A prod in the shoulder sent Kaylens stumbling forward, her hands suddenly bound.

'' Then all these spare will meet the Saame circumstances as those nobleman parents of yours. ``

Kalliandra 's eyes flew up, surprise flitting through them even in the darkness. He met them, painfully holding onto them, grasping for instant through the torrent so she could see how sorry he was, for the past, for where his inadequate eyesight had landed them, and still ... for what he may induce to do.

There was simply no time left.

Somehow, the business organization swimming within her halcyon orbs conveyed what he needed to know.

She understood.

His jaw set determinedly, he re-aimed his wand.

'' Stupefy ... ''

Kalliandra went crumbling to the earth, her limp bod lying in a ace mud-sodden heap, the Death feeder 's face twisting in surprise as another stunner flew from Harry 's wand.

He had done the one thing Detreck could not induce counted on. Injuring a familiar, thereby removing her from impairment way while simultaneously clearing the course to the opposition.

His stunner struck the enemy directly in the chest, a second before a brutal vocalization resounded behind him.

'' Crucio. ``

Harry fell hard, his dead body imprinting the mild ground as a thousand white hot tongue sliced slowly, than brutally at his build. His vision was blinded, by mud, pelting, and pain, yet he still saw the hairy man, half-way through the werewolf shift, walking around him, reviving Detreck ...

The werewolf Kaylens had taken out had awoken.

As he screamed, convulsing in pain, rolling in the slick current that had become the clearing 's grounds, he heard their arguing voices.

'' ... .belongs to the Dark Almighty, not us ... .we ca n't harm him ... .leave it to him ... .dealt with in due clock time ... .orders were ... .deliver content ... .leave them .... ''

The never-ending agony suddenly lifted, his tormented brass still spasming as he somehow rolled to face them. His bridge player flopped around pathetically, finger's breadth closing without military posture upon dilute air, searching for the familiar holly wood he had lost a hold of during his convulsions.

'' You can emaciate time chasing after us, or her potter. Think about it. ``

The wet air resonated with the sharp pass of disapparation, his muscular synapses finally firing at his bidding. With soreness outshining the most grueling trials of human endurance he thrust himself up, his hands sinking into the muddy grunge, eyes frantically scanning the clearing.

Kaylens was nowhere to be seen.

Heart lurching sickeningly, he stumbled to his metrical unit. Sliding, staggering, he peered through the shadow, summoning his wand from where it had sunk beneath the eradicate grass.

Lightning flashed, casting an eerie luminescence across the weewee.

Kaylens lay facedown, floating within it.

His groundwork moved, faster than he would have thought potential, plunging into the pectus deeply water. Quickly he propelled himself to where she lay submerged, floating just below the airfoil. Only her bound wrist, pushed upwards by the soft water 's overlapping, remained emerged in the air, her pilus fanning out behind her head

His coat of arms quickly sought her, wrapping around her shoulders to commit her out, letting her dead weightiness fall arduous against him.

His deal fell to her chest, his verbalize give-and-take a whisper against the storm.

'' Ennervate ... ''

The warmth ranch from between his fingerbreadth, his unconsciously done deception triggering no reaction in her.

The go was removed, yet she remained unresponsive. He had expected cough, shouting, something.

It was only then that he realized it, but no breathing time came from her graying lips.

Defense object lesson had taught him about more than countering tour, and he was already turning her wilted shape to front him, using the water 's airiness to cradle her as her look lolled back.

His numbing, pained finger quickly wiped the slopped fuzz from her lips, a sick intuitive feeling rising in his chest as his eyes flickered across the vacant grounds.

The last Eaters were gone ... .they would not come back.

Heart wrenching, he acted, pressing his mouth against hers as he pushed valued oxygen in, breathing for her, listening to the odd snort of his breath making its way through her air passages.

Pulling away, waiting for the wage hike of her chest against his, he felt zip.

Panicked eye flickered over her peaceable face before his mouth once again descended, capturing her icy lips with his own in another breathing place of desperation. One arm was tightening around her, the other cradling her head as he pinched her nose.

Again he waited.

The rising in her chest as he had breathed had been barely discernable, and now there was nothing. A single view flitted through his frightened mind. He was doing this wrong.

In that undivided consequence of paralyzing horror he suddenly understood. Her air enactment was clogged.

He had to clear it.

He was already turning her hobble form around, allowing her back to accrue against him as his clenched fist sought her midsection. With a single, powerful drive he thrust them in and upwards, feeling her body spasm in a small shudder.

Again he repeated the movement, thrusting forcefully. Her limp form seized violently in response, her pep pill body falling forward as a racking cough shook her, the urine expelling from her lungs. Harry lunged forward with her, arms wrapping around her chest, preventing her face from again hitting the treasonable water.

His forearms strained against her as she convulsed, choking on the wind, gasping as coughing after shuddering cough shook her thin frame. Shivering in the frigid water his pounding heart calmed until she leaned loosely forward, gasping breathlessly.

Without a word of honor he pulled her against him, clutching her quivering word form flower to his own, her head falling against his shoulder. Her shallow panting caressed his skin, the rising of her chest against his reassuring him in an inexplicable way.

Slowly he fought to control the hitching of his own debauched drawn breaths, for after everything he felt ready to crumple, only he suddenly found himself the pillar to which she clung.

Resting his chin atop her head teacher, peering into the dark, he silently prayed that what he had overheard was accurate. For if he was really considered Voldemort 's toy, needed to perform a chore, then he truly was unobtainable.

In theory they would again be good, until riddle decided to again 'chat .'

As of now, if he were wrong, then their exclusively recourse would be the water they stood shivering within, and he had yet to properly master the bubble-head charm for hiding beneath its murky depths. Now their only straight protection lay within the velum of cat-tails rising senior high school above the shimmering water 's control surface, obscuring them from all.

Icy wind howled, sending the beating-reed instrument around them dancing.

external respiration unsteadily, the perfume of incinerate woodwind instrument filled his anterior naris. The tempest was slowly winning the conflict against the blaze, extinguishing the aflame undergrowth and tree diagram, and the light of the fire was slowly dying. Tilting his face down he watched the fiery orange glow reflecting from her wet nerve, lending some warmth to her pallid hue.

'' Are you alright ? '' He finally whispered, his shivering hands smoothing her tangled, sopping tomentum from her nerve. She simply breathed against him, hair dripping across his articulatio humeri, her integral word form quivering.

Tightening his weaponry around her, he again whispered his question, his questioning rim brushing along her ear lobe. `` Kaylens ? '' He murmured shakily, breathing against her hair. `` You okay ? ``

In his arms she nodded imperceptivity, his trepidation for her alone sending his essence thundering. His backup was palpable, as was the smell of her beneath his bridge player.

His personal spitfire was blissfully unaware, but she had scared the hell out of him.

Raindrops continued falling, heavy and unassailable, splattering against the body of water with mesmerizing melody. Somehow, without intellect, his brass knuckles were rising, tracing alone her jaw line, a drowsy mussitation leaving her pale, cracked lips at his contact.

Instinctively his strong arms began enveloping her tighter, pressing her to him needingly, his reasonableness elusive. Surprisingly her soft hands were responding, rising to press against his dresser. Her entitle fingertips brushed his bare pelt, sliding along his pectorals where his sweater hung tattered and loose, good manners of the werewolves'hook and the forest 's snaring bramble.

Beneath the ripple water a ennoble tingling was radiating onto him, traveling wherever her coolheaded skin fell into impinging with his own, as if tiny bits of atmospheric static electricity were passing between them.

Somehow he understood, for he was feeling her true magic. She seemed unaware that she was releasing any, but her telling theme song was trailing across him in a maddening way, just below the rippling surface, veiled from his eyes.

Yet somehow, he could not look away.

Slowly, surely, the maddening sensation of her fingerbreadth tangling within his sweater drove the unconscious concerns from his mind, his shiny optic finally falling shut to the night, hiding beneath the dark, matted hairsbreadth slung dripping across his scarred brow.

Upon his neck he felt her lips parting, an exhausted suspire escaping against his pelt. His face dipped in reply, burrowing within her pelting scented hair.

'' You know ... '' He disclosed softly, shivering in the wind. `` You may be more trouble than you 're worth. ``

A soft laugh, scarcely there, sent his pelt tingling.

'' Oh ? '' She breathed, her hoarsely verbalize words tinged with amusement. `` And you 're not ? ''

'' breaker point take, '' He conceded, a low laugh vibrating his pharynx.

The sky lit up, shining with anomalous genius as lightning flashed in the distance. The icy piss lapping against them, the breaking wind howling eerily between the trees.

'' potter .... '' She mumbled, his hand rising to fall upon the bland peel of her neck at the phone. `` What happened ? ''

Her voice was barely a rustle, trailing away as his fingers went trailing down the smooth skin of her neck, feeling her pulse beating with regularity beneath them.

'' Apparently, '' He murmured gruffly, her light breathing a feather tracing across his skin, `` I ca n't pull up stakes you alone for a minute. ``

'' I could say the Saame for you, '' She said breathlessly, shivering as his paw rose along the conformation of her form. beginning his hands were gripping her waist, side by side ascension along her position, sliding to caress the tegument covering her ribcage, just beneath her breasts.

His hint hitched with hers, her arms rising to circle his neck, cupping the back of his pass. Quickly her hands were becoming lost within his untamable hairsbreadth, the Saame fractiousness that he had so oft heard her criticize, yet now felt her reveling in.

The earthy perfume of mingled mud and rain was somehow intoxicating upon her, drawing him in more than he could appropriate, more than than he should allow. Yet he was, his lips already lowering to hers, the densely strung latent hostility of a thousand harsh commutation vibrating between the two as his mouth fell upon hers, capturing her back talk as he had when pulling her limply from the icy piddle. Only now her mouth was moving against his, the taste of salty lather lingering upon his knife. Her predilection was mingling with the refreshing rain pouring upon them, cascading down their faces.

His habiliment clung wetly to him as his hands sought out her tangled pilus. He frenziedly felt her deepening the contact of their brim, the rough shuck of his Kuki scratching her in the operation. A svelte grumble sent his own lips trembling against hers with laughter, her hands squeezing his shoulders in retributive fashion. His own mouth was parting again, gasping, never relaxing the pressure against her lips as he fought for breath against her, feeling her doing the same.

A second later he again seized her, his humbled lip being tugged gently between her own, an odd growl coming unbidden from his throat. For a tempestuous moment she quivered with seeming amusement before his quick hands responded, running along her neck 's vertebrae, a startled whine falling from her lithe sass.

'' Kaylens ... '' He murmured, his arms desperately gathering her against him, his mouth deliriously relishing her mouthful. Suddenly he was ignorant of the rain pouring around them, aware only of her handwriting prankish onslaught as they slipped beneath his shirt 's shoe collar, sliding along the bare skin of his shoulders, caressing his spine. His hair dripped into his face, and with rushed hint their ill-concealed cacoethes radiated, their mouths moving in a stormy fervor. Within his arms was the missy Harry had feared to have lost before he had known what it was to have, and he had no plans of letting go.

Slowly, panting breathlessly, Kalliandra pulled away. Her finger's breadth still clung to him, the rain pouring freely upon her flushing skin. Water droplets were dampening her brow, and her fingers slipped out from beneath his shirt to linger upon his clavicle. Unable to let her go forth he leaned his brow against hers, cupping her typeface in his hands, feeling her eyelashes fluttering open against his cheeks.

His own jade eyes flickered hazily open, meeting the deep Pomaderris apetala I regarding him. She was blinking against the rain, her confused center revealing her barely concealed emotion.

respiration heavily he leaned forward, brushing his mouth against hers, kissing her slowly. He was taking his fourth dimension now ... without the rush, without the desperation, without the fear of having nearly lost her. Thumbs running along her high malar, carefully wiping the mud from her face, his lips moved needingly across hers.

Again they parted, her back talk moving in a delicate, disbelieving rustling.

'' You 've lost your mind ... ''

'' I know, '' He murmured, pressing his oral cavity to hers chastely. `` You wo n't tell anyone will you ? ``

She smiled against his sass, shaking her psyche slowly. `` No ... '' She whispered, amusement tingeing her intonations. `` This wo n't forget the clarification. ``

'' Good, '' He quipped, smiling deviantly. `` I would give hated to Obliviate you. ``

'' What makes you think I would have minded ? ``

Burying his lip near her ear, he emitted a low growling, `` You would throw. ``

'' Hmph. ``

Combing his fingers through her midst, mud-laden hair, he felt her slender form again began to shiver, her quivering more pronounced than before.

Wrapping his arms tighter around her flesh, he murmured his curiosity. `` Does this mean you 've forgiven me for stunning you ? ``

She grumbled indecipherably for a moment, before suddenly growing tense, her look swiveling towards the visible clearing, eyes flickering with sudden recollection.

'' Harry .... '' She whispered seriously, all lightness gone from her articulation. `` What happened to the expiry Eate ... ''

'' Gone, '' He assured softly, `` They 're gone. They wo n't be back. Minus the suddenly one. ``

Her eyes remained adverted, warily gazing through the rain into the dark of night.

'' How can you be sure ? ``

He smiled sadly, the fondness within him slowly dissipating as his war filled experiences, the ones that had taught him the normal of involvement, flew through his mind.

'' Because .... '' He whispered hauntingly, `` They delivered their content. They had their fun. For them that was enough, for the time being. ``

'' So their fun was trying to overwhelm me, '' She questioned bitterly, `` Or threatening you with Hermione 's life ? ``

'' Both. ``

Her optic flickered across his, her look sending something wrenching inside.

'' That man wanted you to recount him something, `` She said seriously, watching him carefully. `` Yet you would n't. Why ? ``

He swallowed hard, his Adam 's apple rising strongly within his throat. `` Because I 'd rather die than allow them the information they need. ``

'' Than what stopped them from forcing you to go with them ? ``

His hand rose, trailing across her cheek, her breath faltering at his sense of touch. Without reason his brow was again pressed against hers, her case so close that he could see the brown speckle within her irises dancing with each flash of lightning.

'' Even if they had, '' He whispered sullenly, `` Even if they had tortured Hermione right in straw man of me, I still would never state. Because the second I did we would have all been idle. ``

Distant thunder shook the sky, Kalliandra 's centre falling shut against the wet attack. His remained upon her, never leaving as her chest rose and fell against his. The gentle musical rhythm of her breathing was inexplicably calming.

'' If the man is so ruthless ... '' She finally spoke, `` Why would he pop the question you the choices he did ? ``

'' Because as ruthless as he is, he 's also intelligent. Voldemort knows his only probability in hell of getting anything out of me would be by offering an exchange : Hermione for the data, at a electroneutral location. '' He paused, breathing heavily, watching the stirring across her sanction.

'' It 's the only way I could ensure her safety, '' He finished solemnly.

Against his brow he felt a light frown creasing her brow. A moment later her veiled optic fell open up, observing him guardedly.

'' How could Voldemort possibly bed what you 're thinking ? ''

His fingers clenched and unclenched around her arms in a tense rhythm. `` Because Kalliandra, Voldemort and I have been playing this game for a long prison term. And were both getting better at it. ``

Her mouth parted questioningly, his finger rising to press carefully against them, silencing her question.

'' Please, do n't ask. I do n't want to lie to you, '' He pleaded breathlessly, mouth hovering centimeters from her own, praying she understood.

She did.

Against him she nodded, wet droplets cascading down her paling side. This prison term it was she who sealed the short space between them, her slick weapons system winding around his neck, her consistence pressing peak against his.

For some reason, as her parted lips allowed his tongue entry, he suddenly felt more afraid than he ever had.

The interest had been raised that day, for with his best friend gone he suddenly had so a great deal to fall behind, and it was the girl he remained tat with that had sent fissures running through his heavily erected wall.

Pulling away, gasping fervently, he suddenly was unsure of whether to hate her or enjoy her for that.

'' You 're infuriating ... '' He murmured, olfactory organ nuzzling her cheek.

'' Likewise, '' She gasped breathlessly, water-laden chain of haircloth falling over her eyes

They simply remained, hovering within the embracement of the other, until a wink of red crossed the night, circling to pillow upon the pond 's edge.

Whilst she stiffened, Harry almost laughed in relief.

The fiery capital of Arizona was watching them silently, something suspiciously like an old rag dropped near its foundation, its feathery head cocked at a peculiar angle.

If Harry had not known better, he would say Fawkes looked amused.









Recommended Stories :

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The Weasley 's and their adoptive menage have worn through the upgrade of Voldemort and the Final fight. There have been many deaths, but what happens on the smart of day 's has reverberation far and wide ranging. Now they are left to pick up the pieces. Welcome to a story of promise, where the subsister are left to survey the clues, attempting to solve the puzzle before the serial killer strike again. While this is a relatively new history it contains one of the most scheme plots that I have been favourable enough to stumble across. Pairing : Harry/Hermione

Hearts, parallel bars, and Scars by sagesolon Rated : get on Genre : Romance, Action/Adventure, Angst
The final battle has long since past, yet to the chosen One its reverberation sting as painfully as they did on the day he lost her. His only solace is found within his nightly escapes to the Muggle region, to where he is unrecognized in the dimly lit pubs, to where he is no longer in a world that constantly reminds him of the red haircloth of his dream. Yet when a Muggle as much in need of comfort as he makes the mistake of sending a friend to ask for his telephone phone number in a steaming pub, Harry suddenly finds a hiatus to that lingering despair. The merely problem is how to explain his world to one content with magic card whoremonger ? Well ... the decoy of a vacation definitely has its good points ! This story has an almost moving-picture show noir timber at its start, and it progresses into a very 'feel good', laugh out loud, read. Pairing : Harry/Muggle OC












A few basics to mark :

Red blood cellular telephone contain hemoglobin, which transports Oxygen throughout the eubstance. If these were suddenly taken away, you would suffocate even if you were still breathing.

thrombocyte are responsible for the soundbox 's ability to organise blood coagulum. Without platelet, you would bleed to death from a simpleton cut on the arm.

Sorry for the impromptu biology lesson, but in writing this chapter I did not feel like explaining these basic concepts since I assumed that the characters, due to one too many infirmary wing visits, would already know what these are. I also took a few creative indecorum, so bear with me on those.






'' Hope is the associate of index, and mother of success ; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles. ``
~ Samuel Smiles ~



Chapter 27 ~ The associate of sorrow


Near dawn she found him there. He was still awake, as she had known he would be.

Dean was flat on his book binding, staring at the copious, descent red canopy of his bed. His eye had not moved from the canopy in hours, for fear of seeing the empty bed besides him, and they did not move as his bed suspension stirred in the eerie light.

Ginny slipped between them, crawling across the blanket until she lay besides him. Wordlessly he had wound his arms around her small frame, an icy pain twisting within him. It was a heavy guilt, for he had his friend 's warm comfort while her boyfriend had naught to see save for the insensate white tack draped over his closed eyes.

Seamus was gone, and it felt like a dagger had been driven through him.

It dawned a shadow, gray-red sunup, and the sinister rainwater outside continued, pooling upon the window sills. He could not close the windows, nor block out the chill wind, for when he had first seen Seamus'empty bed that Nox he had thrown afford each panelling, tearing the wooden jury from their hinges.

Now the water dripped onto the floor, the guerrilla rhythm serving to ram him closer and closer to the breaking point. It was a well-grounded Neville seemed oblivious to, for his dorm mate 's calm snores filled the air, and with each passing voice Dean felt the urge to bang up something violently.

His fingers twisted in Ginny 's red tomentum, reminding him of her mien. Though Seamus was gone, she was still there.

He had a understanding to persist strong.

Still he did not calculate at her. Gradually her quiet breath became regular, but his gloomy eye remained open, staring at the canopy.

It was all he could do.
* * * * *


Harry watched as Angelina ran from the room, unable to sway the icy esthesis slithering within him. He knew he should not like, he could not ...

Yet he did.

minute after port-keying to lupine 's manor, as he had regained his basis in the candlelit foyer, Kalliandra had lost knowingness. His shivering body had clutched her against his chest, and that was how Angelina had found them.

It was becoming clearer, the harshly exchanged words between Kaylens and the headmaster ... the unity he had overheard in the hospital fender ... It seemed years ago, yet they echoed hauntingly fresh within his head.

'' Considering that I 'm the one you ca n't heal ... ''

'' Kalliandra, looking at it as a destruction sentence will not avail affair. ``

'' You 're redress. Nothing will. ``

Angelina had claimed that the physical stresses of the night had just finally taken their price, saying how charming travel was often too very much for a weakened body to engage. She had told him everything was going to be fine, to not care ...

Her eyes betrayed her watchword for the Trygve Lie they were.

'' Harry, set her there. Help me get her arm ... ''

Angelina was back, having returned with a stash of provision. He did as he was told, laying Kalliandra on the faded couch. She sunk into the torn up shock absorber, stuffing bulging out at the additional weight. It appeared to be the solely substantial piece of furniture on the first floor, and he too squeezed onto it.

He could n't go forth her.

Reaching down he grasped the handlock of her wet sleeve, rolling it up. With every inch of exposed flesh another bruise was revealed, his insides twisting at the thick, mysterious purpleness bell ringer lining her delicate skin. In the iniquity of the glade he had not even noticed ...

Angelina knelt besides them, her hands moving methodically, with the calculate movements Born of her therapist training. His former teammate was now cleaning the inside of Kalliandra 's elbow, inserting a small needle into the blue demarcation of her venous blood vessel. He could only watch from where he sat on Lupin 's careworn sofa, holding Kaylens mussy head of haircloth in his lap.

'' Harry hold this ... entertain it high school ... ''

He nodded mutely, taking the assoil plastic bag from her, watching the yellowish-brown fluid sloshing within it. Following Angelina 's instruction manual he held it shoulder high, unable to get rid of his eyes from Kaylens'serene cheek. Her cryptical hazelnut tree eyes were now hidden behind pale palpebra, her face in heroic need of washing. A stripe of mud still highlighted her zygomatic bone, a gray coating of ashes lending her a ghostly, freckled appearance.

Reaching down Harry brushed her hair aside, revealing a dehydrated smear of descent hiding near her hairline.

A cryptic contusion was forming there as well.

In liquid motions his early housemate attached a longsighted, clearly tube to the IV in her arm with a quiet dog, retrieving the fluid filled bag from him. With both of his deal finally free he found himself smoothing the hair away from her face, wiping the mud away with his thumbs.

He could feel Angelina 's eyes on him. `` She needs to breathe Harry. ''

He did not answer right away, contenting himself to catch as Angelina wove her verge, the IV bag rising to continue suspended in mid-air. Slowly the liquid began dripping from the bag into a small, tube-like chamber.

Swallowing hard, his regard rose pointedly to Angelina 's.

'' What are you giving her ? ``

Angelina never ceased workings, and she was already shooing Harry 's hired man out of the way as she carefully grasped Kalliandra 's other limp arm, tapping just above the elbow with her wand.

Kaylens'patrician vena bulged just long enough for another syringe needle to be inserted, only this time Angelina was drawing blood samples, rather than starting a drip infusion.

'' Angelina ? '' He prompted gruffly.

The young healer sighed wearily, `` It 's a salmagundi of red blood cells and platelets Harry. '' She pulled back on the syringe, and it began filling with a gluey, coloured red blood.

Harry hastily looked away.

'' Why does she need that ? '' He ground out, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.

Leaving the phonograph needle in her arm Angelina unscrewed the full syringe barrel, setting the line sampling upon a floating tray she had conjured. She made ready work of attaching a new, empty one to the phonograph needle as she repeated the process.

'' How about you Harry ? '' Angelina asked dismissively. `` Knowing you, you 've probably managed to eff yourself up good. ``

'' Do n't change the national. ``

Angelina 's dark eyes darted up, `` I 'm not. But I 'm a healer, that 's why Dumbledore left me to await for you two. I just had to train. ``

His tired middle turned to his own hands. He flipped them over, observing his healed, calloused palms. The deep virgule the broken methamphetamine hydrochloride had left were gone. Fawkes'tears had healed them, dripping into his wounding when he had reached through the thick rainfall to take the port key.

Before he even had a chance to inquire why Fawkes had bothered healing such pocket-sized injuries, the phoenix had flown away.

'' I 'm mulct, '' He replied staidly, realizing he meant it. No longer could he feel the stinging scratches, torn by the loup-garou 's claws, down his back. Even the os deep chill the icy rain had left was gone.

All that was left was the fed up sense impression churning within his stomach, his only if relief the girl in his lap, who was incapable of responding sufficiency to ease his fears.

'' What 's wrong with her ? ``

In the empty-bellied, windowless room, Angelina removed the needle from her arm.

'' Nothing that ca n't be treated, '' She responded quietly, rising from her knees, apparently done.

'' That 's not what I asked. ``

He did not omit the way her eyes avoided his.

'' Nothing that I can say you. For what it 's worth ... I 'm sorry about that Harry. ''

He swallowed, the sound seeming lots louder in the still air. He bowed his head, spying a topographic point of white-haired ash near the recess of Kalliandra 's mouthpiece. Without thought his pollex wiped it away, his wet demeanor relaxing as a sleepy murmur emerged from her cold lips.

Angelina watched it all, silently placing each of the blood sample distribution into a sang-froid carrying case. For a moment her clinical nature vanished, a sad feel overcoming her ebony features.

It was then that it all came together for Harry. Every picayune detail that she had let slickness, every mansion of fatigue, every word the Death eater had said ...

'' It has to do with what she is, does n't it ? ''

Though he had asked, there was no question in his tone.

Angelina rose a questioning eyebrow, `` Then you do bed ? ``

His eyes rose to hers, `` Yes. That 's why you could n't tell me. Dumbledore is n't aware I know. ``

She sighed tiredly, but he was already continuing. `` Ron and the others, you said they 're fine and that they were taken to Hogwarts. ''

She just nodded, earning a hard feeling from him.

'' Then why were we brought here ? ``

'' I wish I knew. All I know is that the rules of order is finally utilizing the safe sign it 's been setting up. ``

His brow crinkled, his hands unconsciously caressing Kalliandra 's break hair, which was strewn across his lap, leaving wet marks upon his trouser. `` There are other places excursus from headquarters ? ``

'' Of course. Do n't ask where, because I do n't jazz. ``

His smile was strained, `` Clever really ... not letting any one mortal know too a good deal about anything in instance they 're caught. ``

'' Exactly. ``

His lapse from the dark subject plaguing him could preserve no longer, for the feeling of carefully controlled panic was rising.

Indicating the IV bag, he shot out a question. `` Why does she need that ? ``

'' Perhaps I 'm not the best person to explicate that. ``

'' You 're a healer, '' He said in a carefully controlled tone. `` Who better ? ``

Angelina opened her sassing, as if to respond, but she never got the chance.

'' Perhaps I can. If you would only allow me. ``

Harry 's head spun, as did Angelina 's. Neither had heard the person 's comer, and his heart and soul was thundering at the fatalistic possibilities that could let resulted from such a lapse on their portion.

His eye narrowed, ire mixing with relief as he saw another loved one intact and standing in the hall 's doorframe. A bitter laugh broke his throat, and he gestured into the room.

'' By all mean Professor, it is your house after all. ``

Professor Lupin stepped wearily into the room, looking bad for the article of clothing. But then again, Harry reflected, did n't they all ? The thought nearly sent Harry laughing. Instead he bit it back, another bitter sound growling bass in his throat.

From the smell on lupine 's face, Harry knew he had noticed. The deep communication channel on the man 's cheek betrayed an inner hurting, one Harry felt all too acutely.

It was the pain of going. Only Harry knew Lupin had lost far more than he ever had. Of row, he was still young. There was time to becharm up in that category.

As if sensing his night sentiment, Kalliandra stirred. His attending was suddenly riveted to her, his hand on her cheek. Half of him hoped desperately for her to wake, while another part feared that his one luck of discovering what ailed her would then slip away.

She was far too stubborn to burden anyone else with her infliction. He knew that now.

It was startling how lots could change in less than twenty four hours.

Harry 's half angry, half questioning regard finally rose. He was startled to discover Angelina 's absence seizure. Somehow she had slipped away unnoticed, leaving he and lupin alone.

After having been ignored by him for over two calendar week, he was n't sure if he was happy about that or not.

'' It 's good to see you Harry. ''

'' Is it ? '' He could n't help it, but his voice was cold.

Lupin looked stung. `` Of course of action it is. ``

'' well forgive me for being skeptical, '' Harry replied sarcastically. `` It 's not like you have n't spoken to me in awhile. ``

'' I had my rationality. ``

He inclined an eyebrow, `` You had reasons for believing Dog Star all-but-killed my mum and dad too. ''

'' That 's below the belt Harry. ``

'' Good. ``

Remus ran a fag out hand through his graying hair, leaning back against the wall. For the farsighted time neither wheel spoke, the entire confluence arousing conflicting emotions within Harry.

He wanted to slug him. For what he had done to him, to Tonks, to Kaylens ... by ignoring them simply to shelter them from his canine side. For having left him to deal with the pain in the neck of Canicula'death alone. For having had the temerity to walk in, saying hullo, as if nothing were amiss between the two. For having sent not one owl that summer.

All of Harry 's pent up frustrations with Lupin were finally bubbling over, conveyed in the single icy looking at he shot him.

Outside the cold, first of Nov wind rattled the sidings. The weather condition matched his black mood perfectly.

'' I 'm sorry Harry. ``

He nearly laughed. `` Are you ? ''

'' For everything, '' lupine whispered chokingly.

Harry looked up, meeting the pleading stare of his father 's lowest living friend. Suddenly he did not see the man who had inspired such a feeling of abandonment.

Instead ... he saw his family.

He swallowed hard, remembering the rifts he and Ron had been through, and the one they were in now. All those years ago, when he and Ron had fought during the Tri-Wizard tournament, Hermione had called them stupid.

She had been right.

spirit was too short to take grudge.

The reminder of Hermione 's plight, and the thought that Remus could be taken just as easily, sent him stumbling for words. `` Just ... '' He started, forcing a strive smile. `` Do n't let it happen again. ``

'' I wo n't. ``

Remus'light John Brown eyes were nothing but honest. Suddenly, despite his lingering fears for Hermione ... for Ron ... for Ginny ... for Dean ... for Tonks ... for Dumbledore ... for Remus ... .for Neville ... .for Luna ... for Kalliandra ...

It was all too much to take, but suddenly he felt that he may not be quite so desperately alone in facing all of it.

'' Thank you, '' He said quietly, truly meaning it.

Remus simply smiled sadly, inclining his top dog towards the slumbering fille in his lap.

'' How is she ? ``

Harry felt his brow instinctively furrow, his brain once again compartmentalizing what he could vex about, and shock, in the here and now.

'' I 'm not trusted, '' He replied honestly. `` But Profes ... .Remus, what 's happening to her ? ``

The galvanize look upon Remus 's brass faded, his kind eyes regarding him carefully.

'' I assume you already know then. ``

'' Yes, '' He heard himself whispering, his vocalization filled with naked concern.

Remus studied him for a foresighted moment, his center falling on the movement of Harry 's mitt as he stroked Kalliandra 's long pilus.

For some rationality Harry did not care if Remus noticed.

The late professor 's brow crinkled with both wonder and pity at the connotations Harry 's motion conveyed. `` Are you sure you really want to make out Harry ? Sometimes not knowing is trump, for when you know ... '' Remus'gaze was suddenly far off, as if peering into the distant past.

'' Sometimes Harry, the truth will simply haunt you. ``

Harry 's throat constricted, the bout glistening within Remus'eyes far too clear.

'' What if it already does ? ``

The elder man smiled sadly, `` Then I 'd say things between the two of you have changed. After all, she 's out cold and you have yet to try and strangulate her. ``

A sad jape bubbled out of him, his regard falling to breathe on her blench forehead.

'' Please ... I ... do n't say anything .... ''

'' Would n't pipe dream of it. ``

Harry found himself nodding with no particular cause. `` Good ... I ... I 've no thought ... ''

'' What 's going on ? '' Remus finished.

Harry spotted the man 's knowing smile, and was finally able to let out the breathing spell he had been unconsciously holding.

'' Something like that. ``

In the still air of the windowless room, both men remained tacit. Harry 's eyes fell closed, his capitulum seeking out the soft phone of Kaylens'regular ventilation.

Somehow, even with the growing uneasiness within, this calmed him.

With a decisiveness he did not feel, he finally spoke.

'' I need to live Remus. ''

A loud sigh filled the elbow room. `` I was afraid of that. ``

And Remus explained. He explained how magical organism had come into Creation, for somewhere in human history, man blood cells had begun mutating.

Most of the mutations had resulted in cancerous blood current, killing those in self-will of those mutation. Muggles and Wizards alike still struggled against those diseases, leukemia the most striking, but there were some individuals where the mutations became beneficial.

He explained how everything, both livelihood and inert, contained a form of zip. Not all of it was measurable in the Muggle fashion, and it was this form of energy, the variety that would bomb to show on electrical scales, that allowed magical organism to flourish.

It was charming vim, and over time some somebody developed the ability to manipulate it, without untoward affects.

Others were not so lucky.

There were the great unwashed like Kalliandra, mass like scope, who could delve into the magic realm. But doing so was dangerous.

In the type of witches and wizards, they developed completely new cells in their rakehell streams, and charming energy was conducted through their strong-arm bodies via these. Thus their consistency were able to act like electric circuits, and muscularity was able to pass through their magical cells without ever touching their former cells.

It was a perfective system.

There were occasions when Wiccan and hotshot would become fatigued, and such occurrences usually happened when the person was performing wandless thaumaturgy, or a particularly complicated magical spell. And the understanding for their exhaustion was quite childlike really :

When one 's body functions like a electric circuit, if excess sorcerous Energy is taken in and not released in the form of a properly plaster bandage trance, then that energy remains stuck in the torso and has to go somewhere. And since legerdemain runs quite literally through one 's veins, that enchantress or wizard 's wizardly cells would be the start to be essentially, electrocuted by their magical overload.

Fortunately witching electric cell are quite full-bodied, and their blood plasma tissue layer are more than capable of absorbing such overloads.

Red parentage prison cell, however, are not.

On occasion so much energy is not released from a wizard 's body that it bursts through their magical cells, frying blood cells essential in the upkeep of life.

And when one 's red blood cells are dying it is hard to circulate sufficiency oxygen.

It was how Luna Lovegood 's mother had died. She had suffocated, while still breathing.

Such deaths were a rare natural event, because human rake contains far more jail cell than necessary for the maintenance of life history. So when some blood cadre are killed there are generally enough survivor to take into account that individual to remain functioning in a normal, albeit fatigued, manner.

The number one time Harry had tried the Patronus Charm he had overdrawn as well. He had been left winded, gasping for breath, just like he was after every Quidditch practice.

Yet he had partaken in no forcible activity.

It was because he had lost red-blood cell, the very cellular telephone responsible for carrying Oxygen throughout the consistency, and his body was responding as it would in an Oxygen-deprived manner.

Reaches had never evolved that far. They had never developed additional cellphone in their pedigree current, and the variation allowing them to conduct electric current lay directly upon their red blood cellphone.

If they overdrew, their first cells to be damaged would be the one 's requirement in the transportation of oxygen.

Their mutant was one that worked, but it functioned poorly. Wizards had evolved much more gracefully, for their additional cells provided a roadblock to protect them against overdrawing. Ultimately it was this defense mechanism that had allowed the wizarding metal money to not only brandish, but to hold up.

Unlike in him, the initiatory cells to die in a Reach when they overdrew were their red blood cells.

For a Reach, the likeliness of suffering Luna 's mother 's fate was an almost certainty.

A cold opinion overtook Harry as all of this sunk in, for Kalliandra could easily die from overdrawing. She was only still alive due to the fact that her blood flow contained more red line cellular telephone than it actually needed. Thus, she was capable of tolerating a sure stage of overdrawing, but the border was slim.

For her, unlike a witch or mavin, there was no veridical learning curvature. For her there was piddling room for misunderstanding, for there were no cells to absorb the shock ...

For her the only advantage of overdrawing too a lot was death.

She would smother while still breathing.

It was why her red blood cells were being replaced even as Remus spoke. For every fourth dimension she drew energy into herself she was slowly killing her cells.

Dumbledore was determined to replace as many as he could, as often as he could.

It was the only way to substantiate her, to ensure her a longer life.

Suddenly he understood the intermittent bruising he had seen upon her throughout the year.

After Remus had turned ... in the hospital offstage ...

Her platelets had been killed when she had overdrawn, to protect him from Remus ...

She had passed out in Grimmauld place, from the effort ... her body forcing her into unconsciousness in a survive ditch effort to prevent her from doing farther damage to herself..

The image of her lying unconscious mind on the story of the triad Broomsticks flew through his mind.

He had known that she had risked exposure for what she was, but gods ... .She had risked death there, to protect the great unwashed who hated her.

And he had once accused her of being a Death Eater.

last Eaters knew no such selflessness.

A sickening sensation flooded over him, his mitt rising to rifle through his still wet fuzz.

He scarcely heard Remus as he tried to lie, telling him it was not a death sentence for her.

Harry knew better, for what else could it be ?

His grip on her tightened, as if holding onto her could prevent the inevitable. Remus was talking about treatment, about how if they maintained her blood count at proper floor that she would be able to live on a rule, full life.

All it took was a unmarried look into Remus'uncheerful eyes to know that his ally did not truly believe what he was saying.

'' testament she die ? ``

His own representative, his own head, sounded so far off.

'' Harry nothing is certain ... If she does n't overdraw then we 'll never ingest to occupy about that possibility. ``

'' Remus, will she die ? '' Harry felt his voice breaking, the associate pang of loss welling within him.

As he met Remus'kind, glistening eyes, he knew the answer.

'' Eventually ... ''

He wanted to kick the bucket out something, a chassis of protest that would snuff out the sobriety of his throat, but cipher came.

'' From what we know Harry, the others like her ... eventually, they all overdrew. ``

Eventually ...

The foolish recesses of his idea clung to that word, the ridiculous companion of grief stirring within him.

Hope.

It was n't until sometime after sunrise when he finally fell asleep. The IV was yearn since removed from her arm, her sleeping form pulled into his arms.

At the moment Harry did n't give a damn about who could see.



Recommended Stories :

bequest : The Solidus Charm by the Dark Divine Nedved Rated : Mature
sum-up : Every epos has a kickoff, and for the vernal magus who was Prophesized to have the superpower the Dark Lord Knows Not, this is the source of his bequest. For Harry there was no time to mourn for his fallen godfather, for a new foe has emerged with the only determination to assassinate him. The Dark Lord Nedved has created a tarradiddle of military action, discovery, wizard creativity and sacrifice that would pass on the dear novelist pounding on his door, begging for him to set forth working on original fiction. This epic fib has 5 different novels associated with it, two of which are completed, while the others are well under way. To attempt to describe them in any early way would be to not do them justice. Harry/Hermione







Authors bank bill : Hey folks !

All of you really are the best readers out there. I ca n't thank everyone sufficiency for all of the well wishes and understanding that were shown when I announced that I would be taking a foresightful sabbatic from writing. I really needed it, and am glad of it. Both my female parent and sister had been diagnosed with serious illness this past summer, and all of the well wishes some of you sent via e-mail must consume paid off because they have both made remarkable recuperation.

Secondly, thank you to everyone for the kind Bible 's regarding Lexi 's demise. On top of everything this summertime that was the final exam coke to drive all of my motivation for writing away for awhile, but it is now back full force out. Since I am a bit frustrated at having taken so long between chapters in the past, I have now set aside one day a week to compose so that I can get chapters out much more quickly, and on a even basis. I anticipate this narration being done by summer, and then I shall start work on the sequel.

And most importantly I wanted to say thank you to Andrew, for he helped me immensely with this chapter. It had been so long since I had written anything that when I finally tried to compose again I found myself suffering from a severe case of writer 's auction block. Not only did he beta-read this chapter but he also offered wonderful hypnotism to get this history back on racetrack. Thank you so a great deal !




'' Dangerous is wrath concealed. ``
~ Lucius Annaeus Lucius Annaeus Seneca ~



Chapter 28 ~ The Power of wrath


As if in a nightmare the room 's impenetrable shadow was broken. From the darkened hall a 1 candle appeared, levitating ominously as it preceded its owner into the char way.

The house 's lower story harboured neither Windows nor doorway to the outdoor world. It was a constant reminder of the monthly monster that had once been contained within its very walls, whenever the Moon had cast its total light upon the earth.

Now another more dangerous goliath loomed in the room 's shadows.

With a daily wave of their hand the pattern crossed the carpeted floor silently, their silhouette pausing above the slumbering teens. The build knew that neither would come alive until their sleeping spell had run its course.

Yes, the chassis was powerful. Their quiescence appealingness were one of their inviolable talents.

They could work in over condom. None within the walls would be the wiser to their actions.

Tonight they would set out their plan.

A syringe was filled, its needle swiftly inserted into the slumbering missy 's mineral vein. Kaylens'pulsating rip, bluish in tint through her pale skin, flashed silver medal.

A minute later the unusual hue faded, a black rail line of satisfaction stretching over the figure 's shadowed face.

* * * * *


With a sharp click the door to Dumbledore 's office opened.

Tonks shot out of the armchair she had been dozing within, knowing the locking enchantment 's removal to think only one thing.

'' He 's back, '' She whispered. Lounging in the armchair besides her Regulus nodded.

Out in the antechamber, suddenly visible as the doorway opened, was Ron Weasley. He lay slumped besides his fling crutch on the floor, sleeping soundly.

Crusantheus hung on the door miserably, his breast curled and contorted around his ears so as to obstruct out the sound of the Loretta Young Gryffindor 's snoring.

'' Kill me ... '' He squeaked. `` Please. ``

As tired as she was Tonks could n't aid but smile as Regulus lazily took aim, an immorality flicker in his eye.

'' No ! '' Shrieked Crusantheus. `` I did n't actually mean it ! ''

Regulus continued advancing on the cowering knocker until a deep vox intervened.

'' No need to rankle Crusantheus. Did you forget that the killing oath has no force on plaque knockers ? ''

Crusantheus peeked out from behind his knocker hopefully, as Tonks spun around, rounding on the infuriating affair 's rescuer.

Somehow Ablus Dumbledore was standing behind her, looking rather jovial.

'' Morning Nymphadora. illusion a biscuit ? ``

As if on cue a tray of biscuit appeared in his outstretched medallion.

Tonks blinked dazedly, rubbing her red rimmed centre with her fists. Surely this merry
man had not just returned from a meeting with the darkest of dark lords ?

genus Regulus, completely unflummoxed by their sudden intrusion, rose from his arm chair to carefully inspect the intellectual nourishment offering. `` I take it negotiations proceeded satisfactorily ? ''
'' The central will be made in two months'meter. ``

Tonks gaped, `` Two month ! ``

'' They probably need metre to repair the short Mudblood, '' Regulus commented casuallly, directing his gaze to Albus. `` I assume you requested that she be returned in one piece, and I can only opine the fun they 've had with her until now. ``

Dumbledore nodded gravely. `` Her combat injury will ask some ... healing. ``

Tonks eyes widened in fear. While she still did not see how Hermione for Dumbledore was a fair trade, she had grown rather fond of the girl during her time at Grimmauld office.

A pair of sky dismal middle regarded her carefully, their blink of an eye somehow dimmer than she remembered.

'' I know what you are thinking Nymphadora, '' Dumbledore said kindly, as if reading her mind. `` But part of the understanding I made the pedigree pact here with genus Regulus, rather than in Voldemort 's mien, was so that I could ensure Hermione 's take on my own terms. He could ingest chosen to eliminate the line of descent treaty had he so chosen, but he did not. ''

Tonks opened her mouth to ask precisely what those terms were, but his hired man steadied her question.

'' The terminus were that if she were returned in the exact physical DoS that she had been in before the Hogsmead attack took place, that I would trade places with her, becoming Voldemort 's prisoner. ``

'' I bet he was only too happy to accept that trade, '' Regulus stated, smirking widely. `` Imagine that ... Albus Dumbledore, the dark master 's groovy Nemesis, handed to him on a golden platter with a side of cherry."

"Actually,"Dumbledore corrected,"I believe the expression is ‘ served on a silver platter with a cherry on top.'”

Tonks spluttered, focusing on the sick sensation within her stomach. The war crusade, the Order, could feasibly cave in without Dumbledore 's leadership, and here he was bantering with an ex-Death eater, wizarding earth deserter right after selling his life to the devil.

"Dumbledore,"She said, voicing her far from calm thoughts aloud."Why would you do this ?"

Dumbledore 's optic locked on hers, losing their light. `` Nymphadora, we have lost far too many pupil to this war already. I could not stand by and misplace another. ''

She swallowed the lump in her throat hastily. She should have known all along that the guard of others would always come first to Dumbledore. He would receive done the like for any of them.

sexual love of one 's admirer was a powerful thing.

'' So, old man, '' Regulus queried, taking a bite of his biscuit. `` Find out anything else of sake during your little tryst ? ``

If potential Dumbledore 's middle darkened further. `` We have to assemble the Order. The plague was unleashed in Dublin. ``

'' capital of Ireland, Republic of Ireland ! '' Tonks blurted rhetorically.

Regulus frowned, `` As smart as a whip as you are, how were you placed in Ravenclaw again ? ''

She scarcely heard him, her heart having darted over to the still slumbering mannequin of Kenneth and Emily.

Their home city was infected.

'' So how 'd you come by that fun fact Albus ? I never exactly took you two to be old school chums. ''

For the abbreviated of seconds Dumbledore 's oculus took on their old sparkle. `` For all of Voldemort 's prowess with Legilimency, he never quite surmount Occlumency. He has always surrounded himself with loyal followers. '' He continued, `` And until recently he simply did not take the need.

genus Regulus chuckled. `` So he 's good, but you 're serious. ``

Tonks blinked. `` But I thought he was one of the most brilliant students Hogwarts has ever seen ? ''

'' Ah ... '' Dumbledore said, smiling again. `` As is Ms. farmer, but even she can not fly upon a broom. ''

Tonks gaped at him.

'' We all have our weaknesses Nymphadora. Severus never would have survived his role as spy had he not been better at Occlumency and Legilimency than Voldemort. We should simply be grateful that this is one of Voldemort 's few decrepit peak. ``

Tonks frowned pensively. So He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did have weakness. They really were not fighting for naught.

With an air of conclusiveness Regulus clapped his hand together, making the already nervous Crusantheus bang his rapper rather loudly. The slumbering Ronald Weasley gave a violent start, snorting loudly as he awoke suddenly.

Tonks watched wearily as the redhead blinked groggily, eyeing the state of affairs in front of him until his eyes landed on the schoolmaster. It took a second before a figurative light bulb clicked on in his sleep-befuddled psyche

'' Professor Dumbledore ! '' He exclaimed, scrambling to his feet, a flurry of wooden crutch and gangly leg sliding on stone. It did n't train long before Ron was flat on his arse once again, groaning from his fall.

Regulus eyed him mockingly. `` And they call Hufflepuffs the duffers. ``

* * * * *


Harry 's eyes snapped candid, his dreamless sleep shattered by the sudden shout of the daughter in his arms. Through slightly blurred eyes he stared down the bridge circuit of his nose at the messy mop of hair resting upon his dresser. The warm feeling he ought to have felt vanished, a numbing one replacing it at the sight of her expression.

For Kaylens there was no peace to be found in the realm of aspiration.

He swallowed hard, watching her face wrinkle into an expression bearing striking similarity to what he had once seen upon Cedric 's father, as the man desperately clutched his lifeless son to him, oblivious to the swarming gang around them.

Such undiluted rue should never be seen upon a human warrant, yet he had seen it palpably far too often. Even on himself. The root of such anguish had been buried mysterious within him, growing since the mo he had discovered his lawful lot : Kill or be killed.

All thought of his calamity of a hereafter was suddenly shattered as Kaylens lurched violently, a temperature reduction cry cutting from her throat.

Harry gaped, feeling the whisker on his arms rising to stand on end. Without thinking his helping hand gripped her blazon, her skin beneath his finger's breadth turning snowy with the pressure.

'' K-kaylens ... '' He stuttered, scarcely recognizing his own voice. He gave an observational shove, shaking her lightly in a pathetic attempt to rouse her.

And that was when she cried out again. That level-headed ripping from her pharynx. It resonated through the dark room, terrifying in its raw strength. His haircloth now fully stood on end, for the auditory sensation had been insanely tragical and yet, unbearably beautiful.

It chilled him to the osseous tissue, for it was a sound no homo could utter.

It happened fast. One s his blazon were wrapped tightly around her, shaking her in an attempt to rouse her, and in the future her subdivision wrenched away. She shot up quickly, her eyes flying open in the dark room only to be slammed shut as she uttered a more familiar shriek of botheration. His relief was short- lived as he grabbed onto her arm again, for she pulled away so violently that they were both sent tumbling from the sofa to the floor.

His rearwards struck the floor first, his knees having been tangled unnaturally in the cover. He attempted to redress himself, pulling his peg down until he was on all fours.

A swift thrill to the back sent his facial expression smashing into the ground.

He groaned, and ignoring the throbbing pain in his nose he rose his drumhead cautiously, squinting at his surroundings. Where were his glasses ? Slowly he reached a hand out, allowing it to cast across the diffused rug in his search.

And then he remembered.

His glasses were still lying in some godforsaken puddle in the heart of that damnable woods. By now they were probably some acromantula 's chewing toy.

Cursing he blinked rapidly, his eyes finally adjusting to the duskiness and settling on the slightly fuzzy outline of Kaylens. She was sitting erect, some ripe five groundwork away, with her knee drawn to her chest and her face buried within them.

He swallowed hard, the exclusively sounds in the room now were his jolting breaths and her rapid, fickle 1. In bedaze silence he observed her as best as he could. Her spare understructure were sticking out from beneath a thick blanket, which despite their fall still partly covered her, while she breathed as if having run a marathon.

Everything that had transpired between them came flooding back, a tense feeling twisting within him.

'' Kaylens ... '' He whispered, reaching hesitantly for her, only for her to recoil, scrambling away like a frighten animal.

He stared in astonishment as her back hit the room 's bulwark, a strange whimper coming from her pharynx. Of all the reactions he could have foreseen, this was the farthest from it.

And now she was having the reaction that he would have expected from any other girl, but not from her.

She was sobbing.

The sound of her battle cry tore at him in elbow room he had n't imagined, for the daughter who had stood by him, facing decease feeder and lycanthrope without blinking an eye, had been reduced to this poor state by a mere incubus.

Instantly he stood, crossing the room to her in four farsighted strides.

'' Kaylens, '' He said, tentatively laying a hand on her articulatio humeri. She whimpered, shrinking away from his touch.

His brow furrowed determinedly. `` Kaylens aspect at me, '' He commanded, crouching directly in front of her. Still, her head remained determinedly adverted, prompting him to grok her by both shoulders.

Her head teacher shot up, a furious clicking coming from her pharynx as she struggled away, lashing out violently. He dove back to avoid her flail hands and infantry, landing on his tailbone, center wide in astonishment.

She was making that audio again.

And he recognized it. A dark night in the Forbidden Forest, where he and Draco Malfoy had encountered the unexpected, had taught him that sound of pain.

The auditory sensation of the beautiful puppet 's dying watchword had reverberated in his nightmares for months.

As had Voldemort 's shadowy figure ...

There was no wavering in his movements as he wandlessly summoned his wand to his hand, immobilizing her arms and legs with a motion-picture show of his wrist.

Kaylens was conscious, but incapable of lashing out.

He crawled back to her, taking her delicate wrist and pushing the sleeve of her battered sweater up.

The bruising was gone.

He swallowed hard, recognizing the odds of such bruising disappearing overnight. Now he was only sure of one thing.

Something had happened whilst he slept.

Licking his slips nervously he cupped her Kuki-Chin, raising her head until he could see all of the confusion swimming within her golden eyes. His breath hitched in ugly actualisation at what he was about to do, but there was simply no early way.

He had to know. He had to know what had happened whilst he slept.

Until then he could n't aid her, and he knew that no one else would be willing to do this. There were exacting convention against the unauthorized use of Legilimency. Hermione had taught him that much, screaming and ranting after his last misuse of the talent against the same female child he was about to dishonor yet again.

'' I 'm no-good, '' He whispered, brushing her hair away from her facial expression. `` I 'm so blue Kally ... '' He repeated, steeling himself for his criminal offense.

Cupping her brass he stared intently into her optic, watching them flickering around in fear.

Her fear was warranted.

He only hoped he was wrong.

'' Legilimency ! ``

The overpowering wave that was her life flooded his mind, capturing his senses in a pass of indiscernible events. He groaned, desperate to block up the twister-like effect of the computer storage swirling around him. It was different than the last meter, so unbelievably different ...

A blaring of clicking, beautiful and herculean in its raw vividness filled his judgment, only to be replaced just as quickly as it had come with a associate scream.

'' RILEY ! ''

He was seeing it again, reliving the afternoon when she had seen her own brother murdered right in forepart of her. Only this time the ikon were fleeting, distorted as if he were viewing it through a thick pane of smoky glass. It was as if the computer storage were no longer her own.

His spunk clenched as he watched the man kick open the door for the secondly time. Kaylens'small body was thrown and twisted backwards, her petite anatomy sliding across the floor. It was as if everything were on the firm forrard feature of a Muggle VCR. There was the knife, her thigh-slapper, her brother ...

As the gunshot rang out he could again almost palpate what she had. The hot, fiery nuisance of the blade plunging into her material body. The searing as it was drug in a deeply line across her shoulder blade. The fright as she watched the ancestry pooling from her buddy 's
wound slowly stop over pumping ...

Suddenly all was black, hazy, the powerful strait of a herd stampeding through her thoughts. Then all was green and Robert Brown and green again. Somehow he was running faster than he had thought possible, the trees whipping past him in a fuzz of green and brown and super C again. He was surrounded by others of his kind.

His name was Lightning.

The images twisted again, surrounding Harry in a confusing whorl of woodland vista followed by picture of her childhood. Silver horns flashed around him, gleaming as the ruck ran beneath the moonlight, while golden hairsbreadth flashed throughout her life.

Another memory slammed into Harry, crystallizing into near clarity. It was mid-afternoon, though the sun barely shone through the over-cast sky. Before him was a poorly kept thousand, bordered on three side by a thick, rising treeline and hills. Harry swiveled in the turbid memory, feeling Kalliandra 's anamnesis lurch dangerously as another memory threatened to bleed into this one. The strait of hooves, the sound of the ruck on the run, pounded in the distance.

Harry fell to the dewy footing, watching as a man with gold hair, tinged heavily with gray, methodically stacked dragoon away from the home. Fog crept across the lawn, curling around his ft, each oink echoing in the silent valley.

And then the baby were led out, and Harry 's soul shivered.

Kalliandra appeared to be the Saami age as in the cobbler's last storage, only now she stood besides a small boy, barely older than her, digging her nails into his arm.

'' S-sean ... ''

Their forefather pried her hands away from her brother, forcing a semi-automatic Glock 17, 9x19 mm caliber pistol into her small hands. Her legs had suddenly felt frozen, rooted to the dampness ground. Harry could practically find her heart 's fearsome thundering at the low temperature, unfeeling metal between her finger.

The thick fog curled in high spirits around the six foot smokestack of George Sand udder, and as it began to drizzle her sire aimed her small-scale hands towards the stack.

'' Shoot it. ``

Kalliandra pulled the trigger and cried.

As the gun was being passed to her surviving comrade Kaylens'computer storage shifted again, swirling until he found himself peering through a thick woodlet of tree, stomping his hooves in warning as a hooded figure approached. The figure 's hands raised very slowly, carefully removing the hood of their robe, allowing a cascade of thick, Black hair to come tumbling around her shoulders.

The woman 's warrant remained hidden by the deep timberland darkness, yet Lightning was calming.

It was a virginal charwoman. She could be trusted. Lightning could tell.

The unicorn never saw the other cloaked human body creeping from behind, and that man 's sticker soon shone silver with Lightning 's blood.

Harry stood in the shadower drawing thick, nettle breaths. He could practically feel every inch of pain in the ass the poor creature was going through, the only sounds that of the screeching animal and that of the dry branches cracking beneath Harry 's shifting exercising weight as he watched, powerless to finish its pain.

The man bottled and corked a mensurable measure of line from the unicorn, leaving it only enough to barely limp away alive. A visible light chuckle escaped the hooded end Eater at the sight.

Suddenly the woman stepped out of the shadows, and Harry 's breath stopped.

Angelina stood in the dim luminousness, depositing the bottle into a loggerheaded bag slung across her shoulder. Her wickedness Mark gleamed brilliantly.

Violently Harry felt himself being tossed out, finding himself flat on his dorsum staring up at Remus'shocked face.

Kalliandra continued to whimper.

* * * * *


'' Would you mind repeating that ? ``

Tonks blinked stupidly. Somehow she had thought that being told that the `` pest of all pestis '' had been unleashed upon the citizens of Republic of Ireland would have had more of an effect upon its President.

Instead the newly awakened Kenneth Bothan sat behind Dumbledore 's desk, clasping his hands, waiting for her reply with an inquiring feeling upon his face.

She silently damned Albus for having left them to break the news to Kenneth while he went to forebode an pinch coming together of the Order. She was n't good at this form of thing dam n't ! She had at least expected a rouse out of the man at the news, but instead he was irrefutably calm.

It was quite obvious that Kenneth was insane.

'' Basically Ken, all of your people will be dead within the hebdomad, '' genus Regulus stated with ironical cheerfulness. `` But look on the burnished English. At least you wo n't have to run for re-election. ''

Tonks'dark eyes swiveled to her cousin-german, her mouth possible action and closedown like a gaping fish.

Kenneth, however, seemed entirely unperturbed.

'' So, '' The prexy started with a curious frown, `` What you are saying is that wizarding folk have no treatment against this ? ''

'' Well ... '' Regulus mused thoughtfully. `` We could always Avada Kedavra those who have already contracted it. That ought to slack its spread, right Nymphadora ? ``

'' Regulus ! ``

Kenneth looked appraisingly at her cousin. `` And this Avada Kedarva intervention ? How effective is it ? ``

genus Regulus grinned like a Canis aureus. `` Supposing we were able to isolate those who had already contracted it we may detect out its method of dispersal, while simultaneously establishing a quarantine and treating the pain of the already afflicted ... ''

'' By killing them ! ? '' Tonks fit in, ineffectual to believe the loathly biz genus Regulus played with the chair 's hopes.

'' Ah, '' Kenneth said as if suddenly understanding. `` The treatment has a gamey mortality rate rate. How high gear though ? ``

Regulus grinned widely, while Tonks contemplated murder for the dozenth fourth dimension in twenty four hours.
* * * * *


'' Harry ! What in the public figure of Merlin did you opine you were ... ''

Harry closed his eyes, grinding out his words. `` Something 's wrong with Kalliandra, '' He interjected. `` I had to line up out what. ``

The room 's silence was broken only by Kaylens'laboured breathing, and her enlighten distraint drew lupine 's attention from him to her. He felt the former professor driblet to his human knee besides them, and he cracked an eye to watch as Lupin scrutinized her.

The prof looked flabbergasted as he picked up one of her starchy limb. `` Harry, you 've immobilized her. ``

'' For good reason. ``

lupine threw a disgusted tone over his shoulder, and snatched his wand out, clearly intending to move out the spell.

'' Professor I do n't think tha ... ''

His protestation was too late, for Kaylens had already lashed out, landing a strategic kick that sent lupine sprawling straight on his rear next to Harry.

'' I told you, '' Harry groaned, shoving himself up on his cubital joint to note the pain locution of Remus'face. `` charge hard, does n't she ? ``

lupin coughed harshly in response, choosing to discount him as he rolled over to retard on Kaylens. She was already scrambling along the rampart on all fours, backing herself into a corner like a frightened animal. On her way she somehow managed to hit the just other piece of furniture, asides from the couch, and various pocket-sized volumes came spilling down, scattering across the flooring like rock'n'roll thrown from a distance.

The crashing auditory sensation only intensified the pathetic girl 's whimpering.

Harry 's eyes remained on her, watching as she curled her legs to her chest in a sapless attempt at self-protection. But he knew the verity ... there was no protection from what plagued her.

But he 'd be damned if he did n't try to help.

'' Professor .... '' He started slowly. `` What kind of curse does drinking unicorn blood entail ? ''

Lupin opened his mouth and faltered. Harry remained lying on his back, his upper berth organic structure propped up with his elbows, silently hoping to God that the prof would put the piece of music together. lupin had to think him. He had to bank him. None of the adults, save for those perfectly and buried, had ever trusted him in clock time for it to actually matter.

It was why Sirius had died. And somehow Harry did n't conceive he could take it if the last link to his Father failed to trust him.

Then slowly, ever so slowly, the lykan's read/write head turned towards him, and even in the drab room Harry could see the sudden knowledge flashing in his center.

Moony understood his meaning.

'' Her bruising is gone, '' Harry whispered, driving another C to any doubts the prof could have. `` What else in the wizarding human beings could heal somebody that quickly ? ``

Lupin drew a cryptic hint, shaking slightly.

'' Harry ... if what you 're saying is true ... ''

'' It is, '' He assured. `` I saw remembering inside of her mind that were not hers. ``

Kaylens'whimpering had finally quieted, casting the room into a mortal silence.

Besides him Lupin swallowed audibly, contemplating Harry 's statements in the deathly muteness that had descended. Kaylens was no longer whimpering, and he was unsure of if he missed the reassuring auditory sensation of her comportment, or if was pleased at the obvious easing of her distress.

He glanced at lupine, stunned at the torn expression upon his other professor's imprimatur. Did the man believe him or not ?

He sighed in frustration, snapping at Lupin's unresponsiveness. `` Why would she have those storage, Moony ? ``

sense of hearing his old marauder name snapped lupin out of his contemplative stupor. `` It's magically potent…unicorn bloodline that is. In fact it is so magical that their computer memory are often heavily imprinted upon it. '' He shook his head slowly, as if clearing a hazy fog."To have a unicorn's blood is to not only possess their liveliness watercourse, but their very being."

lupine sighed heavily. `` There is not a good deal precedent for this, but….in the former 1900 's medi-wizards began experimenting with dissimilar discussion options for last diseases. One researcher, familiar with unicorns, sought to harness their healing powers by injecting his terminally ill patient role with the beast'blood. It cured the patients but the incline effects…"lupine shuddered, digressing quickly. `` The origin was too severely to obtain to begin with. Unicorns don't normally donate willingly, not to mentio ... ''

'' What position burden, '' Harry interrupted hoarsely, closing his eyes. The feel of her in his weapon system flooded his senses, the woodsy scent that had clung to her all nighttime coming back, overwhelming him with a tidal wave of fright. In his life sentence there was no room for new attachments, yet the intellection of her in pain…

He knew without a doubt that he would kill for her again, just as he would bolt down for any of those he held close.

He only hoped it would not make out to that.

His eyes snapped open as Lupin 's distressed voice filled the room.

'' about went insane. ``

Harry nearly choked. `` Insane ? '' He grated out.

lupin looked years older. `` They never were able to distinguish between themselves and the beast again, '' he relayed. `` Can you imagine it Harry ? Having a life-time of memories that were not your own suddenly shoved inside of your psyche ? Unicorns live for 100 of years…it was only born for those obtaining their line to become confused. To them it would feel as if they had spent a foresighted sentence being a unicorn than a human being."

The sick sensation twisting within him intensified. Kaylens'mind had revealed exactly what Lupin now spoke of, and the thought made him nauseous.

And the curse…God he had nearly forgotten…

Remus read his mind, continuing his scholarly course session of facts aloud. For Remus, who had lost so a good deal, it was easygoing than dealing with the devastating fallout facing them in Kaylens'crumpled contour.

"When one slays such an innocent animate being, seeking their profligate's healing mogul, it leaves the torment of the half-life. But when one is given the blood unwillingly, or when the animal is left alive, the curse does not lessen ; it simply changes its manifestation."

His pharynx constricted, but Harry managed to croak out a single word.

"Explain."

There was no mistaking the vomit aspect upon lupine's face."Harry, the but ones desperate enough to kill such an innocent creature are those hanging onto life by a train of thought. But the price…it is far too luxuriously for any reasonable person to chew over, for the price for their atrocity is losing all ability to love. A life history without the capability for love is devoid of joy, felicity, family…"He shook his head, disgust etched in his every feature."In a desperate attempt to deliver their own life they lose the merely thing that makes life worth living for. Once they take that track they truly lead half a life history, only experiencing the darker incline of the emotional spectrum."

"Then the mediwizard, the one using it to cure his patients, did that encounter to him ?"

Lupin sighed indulgently."There are ways to collect it, path for it to be done without incurring the wrath of the scourge but…those mode take time, Harry. Gaining the hanker condition trust of a unicorn, let alone permit to inflict injury upon it, are not easy tasks."

He swallowed hard."What about Kaylens ? That won't…it won't happen…"He trailed off, ineffectual to vocalize such morbid thought aloud. No homo deserved that. She didn't deserve that.

Once again lupin looked ill."For Kally it will be unlike,"He said gruffly."Instead, if she recovers, she will get it on, but her every experience will be shared with both sides of her, diluting the saturation of the emotions she feel, diluting her tactile sensation towards others…"

Something about the dustup sent Harry's heart twisting.

"Unicorns ... they are such innocent creatures, incapable of sin, incapable of inflicting pain sensation ... Could you imagine having a saint following you around for the entirety of your life, correcting your every fault ? Well from this present moment on she will be sharing her head, her life, with memories of what true innocence is, for a unicorn is the true avatar of that, and with it will come a gnawing guilt trip over the sins she has committed in the yesteryear. Between the confusion over her individuality and her newfound guilt over even the low of transgressions…that alone could be enough to drive some mad."

Harry's mouth twisted into a frown,"So she can't sin ?"

"If only it were that soft, Harry. She can, and she will. But having this will give her a conscience stronger than most, and living a perfect life is an unsufferable undertaking. Her life will be as close to convention as possible, only she will finger far guiltier about affair she does than others."

'' A one-half life ... '' He whispered aloud, suddenly understanding. Kaylens truly would be cursed, for she would always be sharing her brain with remembering not her own.

None of this was her fault, and the thought sickened him.

'' Not all the mediwizard 's patients went insane, '' He finally said, recalling lupin 's earlier words. `` You said nigh. ``

lupin shook his head word. `` They all went insane at first Harry. But only two managed to reclaim enough of their minds to function. Two out of dozens. ``

Harry closed his middle, his vocalism filled with sardonic irony. `` She just ca n't becharm a breach, can she ? ``

The prof shook his head in response. `` There 's only one way to be indisputable. ''

Without warning Lupin snatched his wand out, summoning a small torch. Soon a metal fuzz came flying through the threshold, landing in the prof 's outstretched paw.

Harry frowned at the action mechanism, not understanding, but in one blue-belly motion the professor had it on and aimed at Kalliandra 's face. Lupin clearly knew exactly what he was looking for.

Kaylens was suddenly shrieking again, and judging from the mordant face on the professor 's face he had found all he needed to know.

A metallic dog sounded as the flashlight was turned off, and Kaylens'yell instantly died down, slowly fading to a dull whimper.

'' She 's sensitive to light ... '' lupine stated. `` There are only two experimental condition I know of that cause that. ``

'' She 's not a vampire ... '' Harry stated coldly, earning a reproving look.

'' I was n't even about to suggest it. But animals tend to give birth better nocturnal vision than us Harry. Lykans and unicorns are no elision, and when I was first bit ... '' He trailed off, his nerve twisting into a peculiar facial expression."Once I was bit my unhurt eubstance changed. My eye were the worst though. ''

The professor suddenly adopted an almost whimsical expression. `` Did you know there are Sir Thomas More square spunk per column inch in your center than in any other part of your soundbox ? Well there are. If you ever want to cause someone bother just jinx their eyes and ... ''

'' professor, '' Harry interjected, at the import not carrying about the finer points of jinxing.

Lupin shrugged. `` My bite caused a whole new level of tissue wide of light spiritualist cells to raise across the back of my heart, its called tapetum lucidum. It lets me utilize less light to see, so I can see with one-sixth the quantity you can. But when it first happened ... before I was used to it ... '' He shuddered. `` pigeon hawk it hurt. The slightest brightness felt like the sun was blasting me in the grimace. Hell, it had me in split. ''

lupin raised the flashlight, pointing it directly at Kalliandra, flicking it on and off with each syllable. `` Just. Like. Her. ''

Kaylens'whimpers died down as the light was turned off for a final examination meter, and suddenly Harry understood the flashlight. Unicorns had first-class virtually vision as well, and the torch was Lupin 's way of confirming what he already knew.

Kaylens had a level of unhorse sensitive tissue paper growing across her retinas right now. No wonder she screamed at the light.

'' Harry, '' The scholarly professor tone was suddenly gone, and the wolf was deadly serious. `` Was she fine death night ? Before she lost knowingness ? ``

Harry was quick to nod.

'' Then sometime between then and now someone injected that ancestry directly into her veins. She could n't have done it herself. ``

Harry 's rima oris opened, but his question of how that was possible died on his tongue.

He knew the answer.

There was only one somebody who would wilfully curse another within the house.

'' professor what 's going on ? I heard yelling. ''

Harry 's center narrowed, every brawniness tightening. Angelina had finally come, drawn by the incremental cheering. There she was, rushing through the room 's threshold, drawing her cloak hastily around her as if zippo terrible were amiss.

If he had n't known better he would throw thought she truly was surprised at the berth she found. But he knew better. No one took that foresighted to respond to shrieking like the one's Kaylens had unleashed unless it was intentional.

'' Why is it so dark ? '' Her vocalisation sounded honestly confused as she flicked her baton out, lighting every candelabrum in sight.

His eyes flew to Kaylens, who had immediately began shrieking, clamping her hands over her eyes, screaming as if inferno itself has sent its fiend up to sweep up her into its depths. His chest constricted at her obvious pain.

Lupin lunged at her in a decidedly wolf like way. `` Kally, do n't ! '' He was shouting, fighting her for control. She lashed out, and Lupin grasped her radiocarpal joint in a unity, unstable motion, quickly capturing the other as well.

The professor had already forced her hands down against her sides, kneeling on her peg in a vain attack to forbid them from flailing. He was far stronger than Kaylens, but she was heroic, fighting to impede the hellish light from her eyes as Lupin fought to preclude her from inflicting scathe upon herself. Now he was yelling at Angelina to annihilate the standard candle, and Harry still had not moved.

He was too busybodied watching Angelina, noting the guilt flashing within every brownish pigment in her benighted optic.

Her black lash fluttered, and the betraying emotion was suddenly gone.

His parentage boiled, his arms vibrating with suppressed rage as she began speaking, a panicked edge to her voice.

'' What 's going on ? '' She asked fearfully, rushing across the room to aid Lupin. `` Remus !
What 's wrong with Kally ! ? '' She continued shouting questions, lunging over Harry as if he were not even there.

She dropped to her knee besides where Lupin and Kaylens wrestled, her Diospyros ebenum tegument gleaming in the candle flame. Her dark eyes widened in feign horror, her face a mask of innocent concern as she reached out to serve encumber Kaylens.

And Harry lost it.

Her helping hand never reached Kaylens, her tainted fingers never touching her body. Before anyone could realize it Harry 's hand had flown out, snatching the oversized sleeves billowing around the treasonist's wrist, and he tugged her callously to the floor.

Harry lunged to his feet, stamping the heel of his animal foot against the girl 's throat, pinning her to the ground.

'' Do n't. partake. Her. '' He growled, the world rippling around him.

exponent swelled within him, the strength of his magic unleashed by the raw anger pumping through his vein, and the opinion ... it was intoxicating.

Angelina 's body undulated like a squirm beneath him. She was choking, spluttering incomprehensible audio, the jolt clearly written across her cheek. Her manus were clawing at his foot, her fists slamming against his wooden leg as she fought for air.

He scarcely noticed any of it.

'' H-harry ... st-top ... '' She gasped, her eyes rolling backwards, fingers going slack as her supplication went unheard.

'' Harry ! Let her go ! '' Shouted Remus, followed by a loud crashing as he and Kaylens tumbled into the bookcase, knocking it sideways.

Books went flying, scattering everywhere. The resounding crashing masked the benumb thud of Angelina 's hitch arm hitting the floor.

Lupin let out a pained howl, and Harry 's handwriting shot out. He felt the magic dripping from his fingertips like water.

With a moving picture of his articulatio radiocarpea the wax light went out.
* * * * *


The descending sun of midday zenith was partially obscured by the perpetual cloud screen, casting the not-so-distant Dublin-Wicklow heap into a deep fog. Yet the man paid the minacious surroundings no mind, nor the racking cough that had swiftly descended upon him. Instead he stared out the Windows of his South Dublin address, admiring the sentiment afforded by his working stratum neighborhood.

With a small smile he leaned further back into his recliner, letting the smoky scent of fresh baking Fish take his nostrils. Meredith was cooking, and from the smell of it she was cooking the fish he had caught just that dayspring. They were bound to sample Delicious. Everything his wife cooked always did. It was just a pity their midsection child, Eva, had inherited his culinary sensory faculty, or lack thereof.

'' Father, you feeling alright ? ``

The man turned to find his eldest son in the doorway, a bear on expression crossing Edward 's freckle face. The man smiled, for the resemblance between Father and son was striking. Edward V had been the lone child to inherit both the freckles scattered across his nose and the glum head of hair adorning his fountainhead. The other two of his children bore his wife 's ash blonde hair and startling sorry heart. Edward however had his blue-green I.

He graced his son with a strong smile. `` I 'm just delicately m'boy. Just a bit of a cold. ``

'' You sure father ? Perhaps after dinner we should look at you to the MD. Your neck opening looks awfully swollen. ``

Curiously the man rubbed his tender lymph nodes, shocked to find that they had doubled in size in just a few hours.

His son smiled cheekily. `` Mother is of the mind to not let you go off fishing at such ungodly hours again. She said something about catchin'yer last on account statement of our colder than pattern temperatures. ``

The man could n't resist a grin. `` Well perhaps yer mum is right. The thermostat dropped to 10 Celsius this mornin'before I ventured out. ''

'' I 'll tell her you said so. ``

The man 's eyes widened in mock horror. `` Now you 'll be doin'no such affair boy ! Because I 'll vouch that once yer mum 's done houndin'me that yer 'll be following. ``

Now it was Edward V 's crook to attend fearful, and the man leaned back, smiling in atonement. The boy still remembered the time Meredith had wrapped him head to toe in a snow-suit, complete with two scarf wrapped around his question and oversized mittens. Oh ! How the boy could hardly walk in that gadget !

'' Father, '' Started his boy diplomatically, `` I think I 'll just be off to get a headland start on my Algebra. ``

The man smiled in satisfaction as the doorway closed behind his boy. Yes, despite their abase environment his boy would soon grow into a finely man. And while he had never been able to provide all that he desired for his children, they did wonderfully with what they were given.

It was no modest point of pride for the man that he had worked his way from the northwards face of capital of Ireland to the south. While most of the people in his income class tended towards the northwestward side of the city, here he was, raising his family is Tallaght. It might not be one of the wealthier districts characteristic of South Dublin, but its rich sentience of history had captured his children 's bosom from day one. He still remembered how immature Eve 's eyes had grown extensive as saucers as he had explained the origin of the dominion 's name.

Tallaght. Pit of tears. The very epithet was reminiscent of the mountain grave dug there during the last Black pestilence. Thousands were said to be buried just beneath the sewers, and that trivial bit of knowledge had had all three of his children off and running, screaming and laughing in increments as their young minds formulate touch news report along with it.

How proud he had been when Edward had shown him a narration he had written. It had been about a young boy and his ghostly friend, a small fry who had died during the Black Plague. The ghost kid had been buried beneath the fictional boy 's dwelling house, and had appeared to the boy when another unknown illness ran rampant through the city. With the trace nestling 's help the untested boy had been able to save the city, and his family.

The man leaned back in his chairperson as a binge of coughing shook his lean skeletal system, a deep pain shooting through him. He clung to the hand rests tightly, waiting for it to pass, all the while cerebration of the future.

Yes. An author would be a befitting profession for his eldest. Edward would one day gain a fine novelist.

The man smiled, proud of his children in a way that only a father could be.

If only he knew how soon history were to repeat itself.








A/N : Thank you so much to Saint Andrew the Apostle, Njhill22, and Ichigopan for helping me out a lot with this chapter. St. Andrew not only helped to work out some of the plot kink for this chapter and the adjacent, but he also beta-read it for me, and therefore rocks. Njhill22 and Ichigopan are also awesome, because both of them helped me until 3 am when I wound up seriously stuck on how to write the next region. Thanks so much you guys !






'' Nothing ventured, aught gained. ''
~ William Shakespeare ~



Chapter 29 ~ No Longer Helpless


With a moving-picture show of his wrist the standard candle went out.

His hound remained solidly planted against Angelina 's chest of drawers as cerement of wickedness shot out in all directions, like the lank digit of a corpse, until the entire room was engulfed in an inky, suffocating swarthiness. Harry scarcely noticed any of it, nor the thickheaded aroma of burnt wax as unseen pot curled up from the extinguished candles.

Anger pumped heavily through his vein, and with a hate he had not thought potential he glared down at the girl beneath him. In the past times his callous actions against his former menage spouse would have got sickened him, but now ....

Things were different.

His outstretched hand shook, his barely restrained magic crackling across his skin like inactive electricity, burning and searing at his soma. Grimacing in annoyance he forcefully curled his finger's breadth into a fist, tightening it, feeling the raw power seeping back in

A new look rose up within him. A dark, mightily, vengeful feeling.

comportment the coldest of looks he crouched low, inspecting Angelina to assure that she was indeed unconscious. He would not take a shit the mistake of thinking a destruction eater subdued when they were not, but her death would do him no good.

He intended to ascertain out all he could from the treacherous wench.

Then, beneath his foot, he felt the slack climb and fall of her ribcage, and his leg twitched with the suppressed urge to stomp the breath from her. For the inaugural time he understood what Ron had meant when he had drilled him on the difference of fighting defensively versus offensively in chess.

From now on Harry was out to win, and if that meant taking down the opponent 's cat's-paw to do so he would establish no hesitation.

Swallowing back a nauseous wave of revulsion he reached out, touching the cloud witch 's skin and shoving her capitulum to the side. It lolled over with a damp thumping, revealing nada. The Death Eater would not be moving for some time.

Good.

Still ... they had all been fooled by Angelina 's acting science once. He would not settle dupe to that again.

With calculate efficiency he withdrew his baton, a horrendous tone crossing his feature. His ira still burned hot within him, the venous blood vessel in his neck pulsing intensely as he thought of the Wiccan 's treachery. Angelina had been his house mate, a mate, but regretful of all, she had nearly been a friend. Once she was a Gryffindor. And now ....

She had betrayed the purchase order by taking the chump of that serpent, and had all but killed Kaylens, possibly robbing her of her mind.

A growl ripped from his throat, the tip of his wand suddenly digging against the traitor 's temple as he pondered all the spells he could use.

Thunk.

'' Harry, stop ! ''

He stopped cold. Remus'gruff, panicked vocalization had cut through the air like a fountainhead sharpened knife, sending his wand arm tensing as his father 's last friend fought his way out from beneath the books that had fallen atop him. In the consequence of his own scuffle he had nearly forgotten Lupin 's bearing, and the thundering of his pulse in his ears had drowned out the low groans and whimpers from the other English of the room.

He had forgotten one other thing : That despite the lack of lighting in the room, Lupin could still see exactly what he was doing.

'' Lumos. ''

Harry 's head snapped around as a soft glow cut through the compact wickedness, his gaze riveted to the horrified expression crossing Remus'face.

His one-time Professor stood behind the overturned bookcase, eyes widely and staring.

'' My God ... '' He whispered chokingly, `` Harry ... '' His accusatory oculus flickered up to his. `` What have you done ? ``

He sucked in a separate out breath between his tooth. `` zip she did n't deserve, '' He hissed staidly.

A strangle auditory sensation came from the Professor 's pharynx. `` But Harry ... that 's Angelina ... ''

'' No kidding. Really ? '' He snapped.

A sudden scuffle and thump, followed by a sharp, inhuman whimper sent his wand jabbing into Angelina 's head.

'' Kally ... ''

He had n't needed the professor 's devastated whisper to know who was softly whimpering.

tenderness wrenching, he fought back the hollow tactual sensation in his chest. `` Why do n't you see to Kaylens, Professor, '' He grated out, his face a grim mask as he focused back on the old chaser.

'' I will but ... is Angelina okey ? ''

'' I sure as netherworld hope not. ``

A gimcrack swallow preceded Remus'side by side, tense words.

'' What are you planning on doing Harry ? ``

'' You know Moony, '' He said, vocalization vibrating with barely suppressed fury. `` I 'm still deciding on that.

lupin 's voice was strained, the cautious, placating notation in it strange to him. `` Harry, I know something 's wrong. But just believe about what you 're doing ... ''

A cruel, hollow jape escaped his throat. `` Oh, trust me Moony, I have. ``

'' She 's on our side, Har ... ''

He cut him off, spitting out the moth-eaten truth.

'' She 's a Death Eater, Moony. ``

From behind him came a loud, apprehensive swallow. `` Harry ... are you trusted ? ``

A frigidity grimace crossed his features. `` Yes. ``

There was an agonizing pause, and a vomit, uneasy dread suddenly rose in his stomach as his racing pulse finally began to slow. He needed Remus to think him. He needed mortal in the Order to not just listen to him, but to actually trust him. And if Remus did n't ...

'' I 'll bind her. She 'll have to be taken to headquarters. ``

Harry 's head bolted around, blow written on his grammatical construction. `` You believe me, '' He questioned. And even in the dim light he could see the tenuous effort of Remus'shadow nodding.

'' Harry, '' He said, sounding almost hurt. `` I always believe you. ``

His forehead instantly wrinkled in confusion. Remus had just been talking to him as if he were some half-cocked gun about to go off. `` Then why ... ''

'' Because I thought you might blow her fountainhead off before I could figure out why you had attacked her in the first piazza. It would accept been a very Sirius-like thing to do. ''

The call back struck him heavy. `` Yeah, '' He managed. `` It would have been like him. ``

He glanced back, and in the freshness of the wand he could see Remus smiling sadly. He returned the expression, feeling shakier than he would have thought possible only minutes before, but that did n't matter.

Remus believed him. He did care about him after all.

His apologies for all those lost calendar month, for all the fourth dimension when he had been left to deal with the annoyance of Sirius'death alone truly had meant something, and despite everything a warm sensation wormed its way into him.

All it took was a soft whine, from a corner behind him, to drive it all away.

He swallowed hard, finally turning and squinting in the dim lighting to see Kalliandra cowering in the niche, knees drawn feebly to her chest of drawers, her golden pilus spilling over them and her brass buried within them.

Slowly his blood pressure rose, his foot grinding down even harder against the skirt beneath him. Angelina would pay. He would see to it. But right now she was not his priority.

Kaylens was.

Throwing a piercing glare at Angelina he shoved his foot beneath her limp body, kicking her over onto her breadbasket. A secondment later he was on her back, dragging her hands behind her, pinning them together with his stifle as he snatched up his wand, pointing it at her exposed wrists.

'' Bindovera, '' He hissed, watching the snake-like roofy stream from its tip, slithering around her arms until she was bound up to her human elbow. Dropping his scepter he gave them a rough tug, satisfied in the way the dark young woman 's peel chaffed, reddening even in the iniquity light.

'' Exuberant, aren't we ? ''

He merely grunted in response, giving the ropes one last, callous tug as Remus began binding her legs.

A second later he was on his feet, an aching adept spreading through him as he watched Kalliandra curling in the corner, incompetent of remembering even her own name.

Gods ... she was n't in her properly mind. And Remus had said she 'd have to stuff out the unicorn 's computer memory before she ever could be. How could anyone possibly ...

And then it hit him.

She 'd give to parry them out.

The musical theme ignited swiftly, the things Dumbledore had taught him about Occlumency all coming together in a cohesive glob of noesis. He had used it for himself, but could he do it for someone else ?

He would be grasping at husk, but there was a chance ...

Voldemort had given him mickle of recitation at blocking undesirable memories.

His lineage pumped purposefully, and he felt, more than saw, Remus wage hike besides him, looking morosely in the Lapplander direction as he.

'' Well have to immobilise her again, '' He said regretfully, dimming the light from his sceptre as it sent Kaylens stirring uncomfortably.

'' No, '' Harry answered immediately, voice filled with article of faith. `` I 'll deal with her. You just get Angelina to Grimmauld. ''

Remus'forehead furrowed at this, tentative lines crisscrossing his face. His mouth opened, as if to protest, but his uncertainties went unvoiced. Instead a thoughtful, critical formula befell him as he studied Harry 's tense, determined human face.

The line of products on his face suddenly deepened. `` Are you sure ? ``

Harry nodded, tense with anger at the integral situation, and filled with the need to do something about it.

'' Yeah, '' He responded. `` I 've stunned her sufficiency lately. ''

Lupin 's run afoul expression remained, but he nodded decisively.

'' Alright, take this then. ``

A sec later a small pouch was being pressed into his hand, a sandy textile grinding within it.

'' It 's a embrasure key. Pour the contents ... ''

'' Into our helping hand, '' Harry finished for him. `` We 've used this kind before. ``

Remus eyed him curiously, tilting his head to the side. `` Well then, I 'll see you there. ``

He nodded, watching as Remus unearthed another pouch from his pocket. He watched him crouch next to Angelina, sending him one death, pointed expression before dousing his wand.

shadower spilled around them, enshrouding the room in darkness once again. Rifling a hand nervously through his hair Harry forced a laboured, unseen smile, and a instant afterwards Remus and the double-crosser blinked out of existence, leaving him with a single insane estimate, one that he never could have done in Remus'comportment.

And somehow he thought Remus had known that.

For a bit he did nothing, simply allowing his eye to adjust to the sudden darkness. Then, slowly, the total darkness gave way, revealing her vague, gray outline. Yet even in the shadows he saw the way her silhouette trembled.

He pulled his wand and immobilized her in one swift motion. Strangely he felt zero, when even the thought of stunning her again had sent his stomach wrenching.

He crossed the room and knelt besides her, his rough mitt gently cupping her face and turning it towards his. He felt sick, for he was violating her yet again. But God, what selection did he have ?

For the secondly time that day her scared eye stared back at his, flickering with too many emotions to describe. His thumbs gently brushed her hair away from her eyes, his heart thumping shamefully. She was like a frightened creature, and somehow this just felt wrong.

Yet he had to try. No one deserved this, and if his mind worked ...

He might just be capable to salvage enough of her to help her discover her way back.

Staring into her eyes he hoped to God it would cultivate.

'' I swear to you, '' He whispered intently, `` This is the last meter I 'll ever do this to you. ``

Licking his mouth nervously he raised his scepter, letting it hover column inch from her skin. Closing his center he waited, allowing his nous to brighten, calming himself.

Occlumency was not meant to be done with raw emotion.

His eyes snapped opened. He was ready.

'' Legilimens ! ``

The twister-like effect of her judgement seized him without compunction, sending his senses reeling as an Assault of enhance sounds and feeling attacked him.

roar cracked through the swirling mist, sending his consistency crashing face first into the mud, and he immediately knew there was something different about this memory.

He staggered to his knees, peering through the incredibly dark, moonless nighttime. Hardly anything was discernable through the thick, icy torrent pouring down around him, and then it hit him.

Every other memory he had seen had had a worn contrast, the intensity of emotions and outcome diluted by prison term. Dumbledore and Snape had been too skilled for him to peer into Recent events, and luck-of-the-draw had shown him things from Kayelns'puerility. But this retentivity was different.

It felt fresh.

The harsh, biting wind sent the looming forest moving with an aberrant spirit, and above him lightning flashed, crackling across the blackened clouds, briefly illuminating the gravel route running past him. For a second gear the timberland surrounding him came into stark direction, as did the wooden house he had landed before.

Again lightning set the area aglow, a thick shout snapping his eyes towards the pocket-size lawn.

What he saw made his blood run cold.

His breeding with Dumbledore had taught him that it was one 's most terrible computer storage that were flung to the forefront of the judgment when it was invaded.

And now he knew that Kalliandra was no exception.

A grating voice preceded the flash of light, and he had just decent time to see a dark haired man struck down. The man tumbled head first into the muddied ground, the strait of his body slapping against the mud drowned out by a deafening crack.

A blinding hot, fiery ball blew through the house 's turnout, sending floorboards flying to litter the lawn.

From inside came the screaming, drowned out by a hedonistic laugh.

'' Muggle, muggle, muggle come out to play ! ''

Bile churned in his belly, though there was no time for it to originate as people began pouring out of a side window.

'' Aw, the wittle, ittle Muggles do n't require to diddle ? ``

That taunting, familiar gag of his nightmares greeted him as Bellatrix Lestrange stepped calmly out the strawman doorway, the burning rest home alighting her face with a unholy glow.

One of the fleeing figures bolted towards a car, parked along the gravel route near the forest 's corner line.

He never made it.

A fiery spell smacked into him, setting his skin ablaze.

He had seen others die, but never before had he behold mortal as they burnt live. Even the pouring flood was not enough to douse the fire engulfing the man 's chassis, and the wind hurled a noxious stench against his nostrils.

'' MATT ! ''

A girl was rising from the muddied ground, chummy sens stains streaked across her jeans, her brown whisker matted against her question as she screamed hysterically. Her face was contorted into something inhuman, raw pain in the neck distorting incredibly striking lineament, and she appeared frozen in place.

Harry was screaming for her to motivate, but she never heard him. From around the street corner of the home came two others clad in black, and a jet of searing purple Light shot out.

soul darted out, from where he did not see, tackling her around the waistline.

The purple luminousness missed her by column inch as she and her rescuer went sliding across the ground, smacking into the side of the house with a dull clump.

The demise Eaters were on them in an wink, a loud crack resonating through the air as Harry ran forward, just in time to see a graying haired man 's arm being viciously snapped. The gun the man had been pulling fell from his hand with a cruel slosh, the mud swallowing it whole. The night haired girl was still screaming, clawing at her headland as a beefy death feeder snatched her hair up, twisting it around his massive palms before dragging her across the lawn by it.

A sharp splinter broke the air, and the Death Eater assaulting the Robert Gray haired man went down. The old man struggled to his invertebrate foot, slipping in the mud and cradling his arm.

'' DAD ! ''

Lightning split the sky, catching onto the gray haired man 's few remaining lucky hairs. His face split into a appall expression, and Harry followed his gaze.

Kalliandra, eyes ablaze, came barreling out from the tree line, a man barely older than him hot on her cad.

Both had striking golden-brown hair, their hues muted only by the precipitation pouring down around them. And Harry suddenly understood that he was seeing her back brother for the for the first time time.

'' KIDS GO ! GET OUT OF here ! ''

The call came from a second story window, and Harry finally understood who had done the shooting.

A middle aged char with brightness brown hair was hanging out of it, pistol in helping hand, and over the noise Harry could hear Bellatrix laughing hysterically.

Lightning split the sky, boom drowning out the second, third, and one-quarter gunshots.

Kalliandra 's mother could no longer be seen. Only the dim sound of the fifth and sixth gunshots firing off in the elbow room told him that her attention had been drawn back inside the burning home.

Inside the planetary house, where he could not see, came the sequential clicking of empty bedchamber.

A brassy belly laugh carried through the window, followed by a body flying through the window 's opening.

The cleaning woman hit the ground with a sickening clunk, leaving the gray haired man yelling something that the thunder drowned out.

No prison term was wasted. Kalliandra 's brother came sliding aside her mother, grasping the gun from her still twitching hired hand, sobbing as he started rifling through her clothing.

A second later a new cycle was in his hand, but he never had a chance to load it as Bellatrix apparated in straw man of him, kicking the round from his handwriting, sending case-by-case bullets scattering to the tip.

The stroboscope core of the lightning shielded what transpired adjacent, but when it flashed again Bellatrix and Kalliandra were sliding to the background, Kaylens clearly having tackled her.

'' KALLY, NO ! ``

Her brother had leapt to his pes, and rushed to join the disturbance as his sister smashed Bellatrix 's head into the flat coat repeatedly, screaming incomprehensible words.

Her crony reached her, grasping her by the binding of her jumper and tossing her out of the way as he grasped Bellatrix 's head in a vice grip from behind, preparing to conk out it.

The unheard pop of apparation prevented this as the burly man appeared behind him, swatting him away as if he were nothing Sir Thomas More than an vex child. Bellatrix fell to the ground, spitting dark-brown water, her furious eyes rounding on the three remaining members of the Kaylens'family.

'' Filthy Muggles ! '' She roared, shooting binding go off at a furious pace, hitting the brother first.

'' SEAN ! '' Their father 's voice ripped through the air as ropes twisted around his son, sending him crashing to the ground right below the strapping last eater 's feet.

Kalliandra, having been thrown back by her brother, was still down in the mud. She did n't put up a chance.

Then her founding father slid in front of her, the roach taking him right in the chest, and constricting around his neck and throat.

The home was quickly succumbing to the flame, the red luminosity showcasing Bellatrix 's fanatical smile as she tugged Kaylens'founder away from her by his cervix.

Her Father-God was unable to claw at the roofy, for his weapon system had been pinned to his sides.

He was unconscious by the prison term Bellatrix had dragged him to her feet.

crack cocaine !

Another gunfire rang out, taking the burly man rightfield in the promontory.

Kalliandra had gotten to her knees, hair plastered to her face, her arms outstretched and shaking.

Her hands held the gun, and Bellatrix regarded her with an amused expression.

The next shot was in Lestrange 's direction, but a shimmering light halted the shot, sending the casing dropping to the priming less than a foot from her smirking face.

Kally looked stunned, and Bellatrix waggled a finger back and forth as if scolding a blue child.

'' Foolish wittle girls should n't playact with guns, '' She cooed in a sister voice, suddenly beckoning towards Kally.

Kaylens was sent sprawling forward as an invisible force play pulled the gun from her clutch, and a second later a new last Eater was there, his foot on her back.

A gust of breaking wind sent the new arrival 's hood falling back, and Harry suddenly understood every word that she had uttered in the Three Broomsticks.

Ludo commercial traveller was there, standing on top of Kalliandra and looking rather out of shoes. Bellatrix fixed him with a death-like stare, her ira at his previous arriver apparent, but there was no clip for anything to be said.

Barely a second had transpired between his deep arrival and his fall to the ground.

Kally had rolled over, kicking his legs out from under him.

Bellatrix rolled her centre, and this time her binding go did not overleap.

Angry tears were rolling down his look, his fist taking baseball swing at the crazed charwoman who had taken his Godfather. Somewhere his nous was screaming for him to stop, that it would do no good, but his subconscious'vocalization went unheeded.

'' Crucio ... ''

And then the swirling, silver mist returned, swallowing up the images of Kally 's blood brother convulsing beneath the unforgivable curse.

Harry was shaking, overcome with the horror of what he had just witnessed. And the retentivity were disorienting, rising up around him, swallowing him whole as they dislodged him from office to place in her life, never stopping long enough for him to advance his bearings.

Around him the crashing of hooves fought for precedence above the distant laugh. Hazy lineation flickered by, barely visible through the fog-like mist swirling around him. He was lost ...

And then he saw himself, running from a Death feeder down the main, dusty thoroughfare of Hogsmeade. Red stunners shot out, smacking against a gutter, sending it swinging into the side of a 2nd Death feeder that had emerged to forget his progress.

She had saved him.

And that was all it took.

'' ENOUGH ! '' He screamed, unsure of whether his part only existed in her mind, or if his physical body were actually screaming it in Remus'living room.

Instantly he began focusing, searching for a memory, any store, that was her own rather than some horned beast 's. He fought to cool it himself, squashing down the terror of what had happened to her to the spinal column of his judgement, and then he felt a change.

The swirling mist around him was slowing down, the uncontrolled torrent of the two lives combined into one mind becoming to a lesser extent disorienting.

He peered through them as they passed, one-by-one, searching for something that he could form out.

And then he found one.

He charged through the mist, falling out into the Forbidden timber 's clearing.

The one they had left before this had happened to her ...

In the dim moonlight, cast from a sliver peaking through the clouds, he watched the replay of himself yanking his script away from her. Hushed words were exchanged, and suddenly Kalliandra was rising from her spot besides the pee, stalking away from him.

In a instant his memory self was scrambling to his feet, going after her, catching onto her arm. She whorled to face him, an icy construction crossing her expression, disappearing in seismic disturbance as he swiftly pulled her against him.

He watched, an odd impression twisting within him as she struggled against him, his alone response in the way his branch wound even tighter around her, stroking her hair until her opposition ceased.

'' I 'm sorry… '' He heard his own voice whispering, `` I swear to God I 'm sorry… ''

And then her face was dropping against his shoulder, his own burrowing within her hair as her arms wound around him, holding him back.

It was as if a ignite wind blew, and then another memory board squeezed through, the silvery substance sending the clearing image swirling.

For a second ghostly images flickered into biography, superimposed atop where he and Kaylens stood, clinging to the other. It was like looking through a movie negative, trying to see what was beyond it.

The beautiful, alien clicking rose above his and Kaylens whispering, the foreign remembering threatening to overtake this one, and the menace sent something ablaze inside him.

'' No ... '' He hissed, his face contorting dangerously, as he began fighting to shove the foreign images that threatened to overtake her aside.

He could n't allow them in. He couldn't.

Staggering odds were against him, but if he could only hold her in her own state of mind farsighted enough ...

Maybe it would be just enough to bring her back.

Grimacing he waved his bridge player, feeling the conjuring trick rising within him, rolling off of him as he tried desperately to summon something, anything that would block out those computer storage that were not hers.

The unicorn memory may give birth been weak, stretch imprints of the real thing, yet they were still there, fighting for precedency of her thinker. And yet ...

Fighting for the sanctitude of his own psyche against Voldemort had made keeping these silvery, diluted tendrils back a joke.

A determined facial expression crossed his face, a swift jerk rocketing through him as the bricks began to materialize. He stretched out his hired man, willing them to start out stacking, watching them mount gamy and higher, muting the sounds of a herd in the space.

He would form a roadblock between her memories and the unicorn 's, and he 'd be damned if he failed.

His manpower were shaking again, a lone dribble of elbow grease dripping from his hilltop as he concentrated, directing the bricks to set about circling around him, stacking along the clarification 's circumference.

And then, one-by-one, he began shoving the unicorn 's retention past the rampart. Each meter one threatened to break in he shoved it away, a dull pain growing in the cover of his intellect, sending his nous swirling as he refused to cease his travail. His external respiration grew ragged, his vision bespeckled with black-market dots as tendrils of the silvery mist fought to ooze back through his hastily erected brick walls.

'' No ... '' He whispered, and slowly, methodically, he shoved the last of the silvery threads through the break in the rampart, feeling the subdued sounds fading.

With a slam of finality he found himself surrounded on all side of meat by his bulwark, the memory still playing as if nothing had disturbed it.

Panting in exhaustion he crouched down, supporting himself on his knees, feeling his ft sinking into the dewy earth as he fought for breath. The walls might not hold for long, but for now ...

Around him he could take heed the distant vociferation of a ruck, and he looked up shakily, watching dust crumbling down from the brick barriers. A lump formed in his throat as he watched the entire edifice shake, as memory after retentiveness slammed against it from the outside, trying to break through.

He could feel his physical body shaking from the exertion, and as much as he desired to do to a greater extent an stonyhearted truth struck him.

He did n't have sex what else he could do.

And for the first clip in her brain he withdrew willingly, the shadow of Remus'keep room wrapping tightly around him. The moonlit clarification had been so bright in equivalence and yet, his center had remained perfectly adjusted, his physical body having never left nor moved.

And she was still right there, in separating him from her. His breath caught in his throat, the epinephrine he had been riding on struggling to continue high as he searched her aspect for a signboard to show that some character, any part, of herself was back.

All he saw were the backs of her lid as they fell shut, a farseeing breathing place escaping her lips.

At some point his entire body had begun shaking, a astute headache nearly splitting his skull as he removed the binding spell from her, his magical exertions finally catching up to him.

But God, he did n't care. His hands rose to her face, a bridge player resting on either incline as he smoothed a undivided stray lock away, tucking it behind her ear.

'' come on Kaylens ... '' He murmured, eyes bright and searching. His gaze was flickering back and away across her face, watching her every movement, hoping against Bob Hope it had worked.

And then her eyelids opened, her eyes as disoriented as before. A choking wiz wrapped around his throat, his hand falling to rest on her stiffening shoulders. He had failed.

His forehead fell against hers in despair, the look of her ardent skin offering little puff. He should 've known it would not go, yet ...

He never would have forgiven himself if he had n't tried.

Slowly her legs slid against his, and his middle squeezed shut, preparing himself for whatever out lash was about to take place. The retentiveness of her recoiling away from him, scuffling away like a frightened animal when he had gotten too tightlipped, was all too fresh in his mind.

He waited for it with held breath, only nothing came.

His eyes opened, only to find hers staring back.

His heftiness went taut with tension, his breath quickening as their proximity struck him. Her nose pressed against his, his bridge player firm on her shoulder joint, and a startling sensation churned in his chest as he watched her darkened eyes.

Within them something was changing, a flicker of familiarity residing there. His hand slid back to her side, anxiety etched in his feature article as her lips parted. Her back talk moved, as if trying to say something, only no word of honor came.

He could n't pull his gaze away if he tried.

'' pigeon hawk, '' He whispered, `` I wish I knew what you were thinking. ``

She remained silent, but his eye were drawn to a slim motility. Her handwriting rose, falling to pillow on his unshaven cheek. She pulled away slightly, their foreheads no longer pressing together as her disjointed eyes flickered across his face, a curious facial expression befalling her.

His brow furrowed, a interrogative sentence forming on his lips.

'' Kaylens ? '' He whispered, middle searching hers desperately.

A distressed face crossed her feature of speech, her bottom lip drawing between her teeth, sending his heart thudding uncertainly.

And then she was nodding.

Instantly he reached for her, embracing her against his pectus. She was trembling, enticing his own shaking arms to commit her even closer, the need to physically affect her overwhelming. graven image ... he could n't get her close enough.

The shock absorber was finally hitting him, frightening him on too many levels to name as he realized how fleeting this could be.

She was with him again, but only until the walls he had created went tumbling down.

Merlin, how long did he have ?

A tremor shook him, an urging pauperization to get her to someone undecomposed than him, to somebody who could do something, driving him.

He needed mortal, someone like Dumbledore. He could fortify the wall he 'd put up inside her mind. He had to.

Fearing to release her for even a consequence his arm tightened around her shoulder, his other reaching for the portkey in his pocket. A consequence later his fingerbreadth were sliding through hers, his hopeful regard locking onto her rag one.

'' Kaylens, '' He murmured intensely, `` stay with me. ``

And then, hoping that she was consistent enough to interpret what they were doing, he dumped the sandy content onto their linked hands, feeling that classifiable tug.

In that last second he threw his branch around her, wanting to shield her from whatever abrasive landing they were about to experience.









'' My respect is earned, not given. ``
~ saying of the Ages ~







Chapter 30 ~ To underworld with Decorum


'' Harry ! ``

Harry had barely recovered from the portkey 's ride when he felt hands hauling him away, separating him from Kaylens. He blinked, only slightly dazed, and found himself straw across the dark wooden panelling of Grimmauld post 's study.

The hell of it was, he could hardly see a matter.

'' How is she ? ''

In the dim light cast from the wall-mounted candelabrum he saw Remus'shadow drop down between them, placing a hesitant hand on Kalliandra 's shoulder. Harry could only see the werewolf 's profile, but judging from his facial expression, Remus looked genuinely surprise when Kaylens did not immediately attract away.

Harry 's middle cut through the duskiness, finding hers.

Something warm swelled within him when he realized that she was looking right back at him, scarcely a tip of confusion within her locution. Disbelievingly he watched the candlelight dance in her glossy orbs, and for a brief second he was able-bodied to believe that she may just pull through with her sanity intact.

'' Harry ! ''

Remus'acuate representative cut through the unsounded room, drawing both duo of teen centre to the disturbed adult.

Harry found his phonation quickly. `` We need an Occlumens. rightfulness away. ``

Remus'caput jolted around, the pensive layer behind his eyes shining. `` Harry, what did you do ? '' He asked uneasily.

His shoulder stiffened, and in that unmarried loaded interrogative sentence he found his declaration.

'' What I had to. ``

There was an agonizing pause, not unsimilar to what had transpired between them before Remus had left for Grimmauld without them, making the conclusion to trust him.

Harry only hoped Remus would not hail to regret it.

A moment later Remus was on his feet, nodding at Harry. `` Stay with her. ``

'' The opinion of leaving never crossed my mind, '' He replied honestly, scooting across the storey back to her. The sound of a swinging door, and the spokesperson beyond it, drifted in, but Harry scarcely noticed.

'' Kaylens, '' He whispered, reaching hesitantly for her. With trepidation his fingers slowly curled around her upper weapons system, whilst his middle swept searchingly over her nerve. `` You still with me ? ``

Taking in her every movement he watched her middle flutter exhaustedly, her chest and berm rising as she drew in a fatigued sigh.

And then the unacceptable girlfriend fixed him with an browned off look, nodding tiredly.

He released the breath he had been unwittingly holding, stand-in sweeping through him. Immediately his mitt found her face, the pads of his thumbs moving along her cheekbones with a mildness he did n't sleep together he possessed. For a moment he simply stared at her, watching the amusement in her gaze only grow.

Merlin ... he had been afraid that the convolution of the portkey would disorient her, causing her to lose whatever fledgling bits of saneness she had managed to grasp onto at Remus'. hellhole ... he vividly recalled their last portkey ride, and that alone had rendered her unconscious.

He stared at her, his eyes boring into her bemused, albeit sleepy, locution.

Suddenly her hand rose, her finger curling gently around his own where they rested against her impudence. He squeezed her script gently, finding reassurance he had n't known he needed in her activeness.

Had he been asked a month ago, he never would have guessed that he would be feeling Kalliandra Kaylens, of all the great unwashed, squeezing his helping hand in hers. But Thomas More than that, he never would sustain thought that such a simple, unobjectionable motion could send his chest stirring.

He swallowed hard, watching the hint of a smile word form on her lips. His hired man immediately flipped over, taking her common cold hand more firmly in his, and tightening his clutches on her.

'' You 're finding this amusing, are n't you ? '' He accused quietly, his voice unnaturally constricted.

Her mouth parted, only to keep out again, her undersurface lip drawn between her tooth as she began nodding.

And then he saw it. Amidst her aspect was a flicker of fear, and for the briefest of seconds he saw her eyes clouding again.

'' Kaylens ! '' He said sharply, dropping her hand and grabbing her by the shoulders, shaking her suddenly trembling build. `` Please ! stop with me ! ''

Whether it was their physical contact or his vox, he would never cognize. But suddenly she had gained some signified of herself again, and she had hurtled herself against his chest, her entire form vibration like a foliage.

Harry had never felt more helpless in his life history.

And Snape just had to choose that demand consequence to walk in.

'' What do you think you are doing now, Potter ? ``

If he was n't so desperate for help he might have hexed him. Instead his uprising of frenzy was suddenly quenched as a single thought permeated his panic-ridden mind.

Snape was a sea captain Occlumens.

Still clutching onto Kaylens as if his life sentence depended on it, he met the Potion passe-partout 's vital gaze psyche on.

'' Professor, I need your assist. ``

Snape 's entire face crinkled indifferently. `` Get off the floor Potter. I do n't have time for your games, '' He clipped, starting to brush past them. Instead he paused mid-stride, eyeing them distastefully.

'' And do dispatch yourselves from here. Undoubtedly you are both choked up about that know-it-all friend of yours, but really thrower, such displays are not meant for public exhibition. ''

The Slytherin Head of planetary house flipped his gown, practically striking them as he continued striding across the room 's expanse towards another threshold. Harry 's jaw dropped, shock and fury mingling on his raging face. `` Damn it this is not a prank ! '' He roared, watching Snape stoppage. `` Kaylens needs service ! '' He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to sedate down. Where in the hell was Remus ?

'' Professor, '' He finally ground out, as if the venerating term pained him. `` This is not what you think. This is not a display. Something happened to Kaylens. Someone injected her with unicorn blood and I ... '' He plowed forth, ignoring the fact that he had not a colour of a cue on how to explain the post. `` I tried something on her. I used Legilimency to get into her idea, to try and help, but ... ''

He hesitated, meeting Snape 's emotionless expression. `` I created a wall, similar to the ace they teach founder in Occlumency, to furcate her memories from the foreign ones. But I 'm not sure enough it 's working. ''

His incisive gaze locked onto the vacuous expression of his most hated Professor.

'' She needs help. I need soul to reenforce the bulwark I made, and I sure as hell am not capable of doing it. ``

Unreadable as he was, Snape did n't appear to be about to help. But he did n't create any further attempt to leave alone.

Running his hands through Kaylens'hair comfortingly, feeling her trembling slowly subsiding, he felt anger at Snape 's unresponsiveness begin to arouse.

Harry 's expression suddenly grew challenging. `` Now, '' He demanded, voice ablaze. `` Are you a original Occlumens or not ? ``

A flicker of annoying crossed Snape 's aspect. `` Your attack to attract to my ego and better nature are pathetic, ceramicist, considering that I am secure in one and lack the other. ``

His blood practically boiled.

'' Look, '' Harry tiff, dropping all pretense of respectfulness. `` You hate me. I hate you. I get that. But this is n't about either of us, and I 'll be damned to allow this, but you are the but one here that can help her at the moment. Hell, I 'll even give way you a free shooter at me. Just help her. ``

Snape 's back talk curled angrily, as if considering.

'' Follow me, '' The former Slytherin finally sneered, snapping a deal towards the far door.

Harry 's fist clenched as the man disappeared through the doorway, not bothering to wait around for an acknowledgment. Drawing a laboured hint between his teeth he glanced down at Kaylens, and the tension drained out of him.

Her full, mud-streaked face was crinkled in concentration. God ... she had been so wrapped up in trying to stay on in her right idea that she had barely noticed the tense verbal spouting match around her.

'' Hey, '' He murmured, a rough hand reaching out and cupping her chin, forcing her to take care up at him. `` You still sanction ? ''

Her eyes glittered with confusion, but she managed another nod.

He forced a smile. `` Try not to maintain this against me, '' He whispered, standing up and scooping the startle girl into his arms. `` But frankly I 'm not sure I trust your walking ability at the moment. ``

She uttered not a strait, simply nodding resignedly, eye one-half closed. He swallowed hard as her head fell to rest against his articulatio humeri, and he found himself carefully adverting his regard from her as he crossed the room quickly, kicking open the door after Snape.

The fact that he did n't hit the man with it disappointed him only slightly.

'' Put her on the couch. ``

His brow crinkled uncertainly. Was he really about to just hand her over to the Sami cruel, acerbic man whom had wreaked mayhem on his own mind in the past ?

He realized that he had very few selection at the moment.

He sunk down into the shock absorber, clutching her to him. Readjusting only slightly, so that her legs lay loosely draped over his own, with her head resting against his shoulder, he wound his weapons system protectively around her, sealing her in a vice grip that he was sure she would protest to if she felt up to speaking.

He did n't care though. There was simply no way in hell that he would be leaving her to face the Potions'Master 's mercy alone. And irrational as it was, his exhausted, battered judgment somehow equated squeezing her to easing whatever ordeal the Occlumens was about to put her through.

He tilted his head down, burying it in the top of her messy head of hair. `` Let him do what he has to do. It 'll help oneself, '' He reassured quietly, hoping he would not regret placing his faith in the acerbic man 's ability.

He pulled away only slightly, his arms still looped around her waist, and her hazel colored eyes turned up, studying him intently.

'' How very tinct. ``

Harry 's head word jerked up, only to be greeted with Snape 's mocking leer, and an expression that clearly told him to get the hell out of the way.

'' Move aside boy. ``

Harry 's eyes hardened, his traveling bag reflexively tightening around her. `` No. ``

Snape practically twitched. `` Insolent youngster, move. I will not be doing this with you in the way. ``

'' The last clip I checked, '' He retorted, `` This only requisite eye striking. Even you taught me that a lot. And seeing as how I 'm not blocking you from that ... '' He let his caustic reply trail off.

With a growl Snape leaned forward, grabbing Kaylens chin and practically snapping her foreland towards him.

The repressed urge to impinge on the man rose up, Fury rifling through him at her distressed, appal expression, but Snape 's wand was already drawn and aimed, an vivid look in his eyes.

'' Legilimens. ''

An eerily calm expression suddenly befell Kaylens'face, while Snape 's contorted into one of the utmost absorption.

Harry could only wait.

He dropped his question back against the bulwark, heaving an exhausted sigh.

The gramps clock chimed. Kaylens'skin grew cold to the spot. Snape 's dark, frightening eyes bored into her astray, doe-like ones.

He watched the clock

Twelve arcminute and thirty-three seconds later, lupin still had not returned.

But his two silent companion did.

Kally jerked, almost violently backwards, her back hitting the armrest of the couch. Harry barely managed to stop over her chief from smacking into the paries as she slid off of him.

Snape 's move were not nearly so sudden.

Unnoticed to Harry the man rose from the floor, a pale bridge player brushing imaginary crap from his gown. And then slowly, almost methodically, the man 's finger tightened challengingly around his wand, his brass knuckles turning White person with the pressure.

It took Harry a endorsement to notice the man 's penetrating regard, but when he did an unnerve superstar overtook him.

The Potions overlord was looking at him, a strange aspect in his eyes.

awe.
* * * * *


Blue-green center appraised the rather wide waiting room of the Adelaide and Meath Hospital 's hand brake elbow room.

'' sodomist. ``

'' Father, this is for your own respectable. ``

'' Could n't this wait until Mon ? '' He ventured, trying to plead to his son 's proficient sensibilities as his eyes took in the multitude of people. `` By the fourth dimension we finish waiting in production line it 'll be tomorrow and the MD 's billet will be unresolved anyways. Is this really where you want to pass your Sunday ? ``

The man turned around to find oneself his eldest son 's centre narrowed in reproach.

'' Father, you were coughing up a storm at home plate and ... ''

'' It was just a small itch in my pharynx ... ''

Duke of Windsor ignored him. `` Dad, you collapsed at the dinner table from that small itching. ``

'' Well really, I was actually just choking on some of your mother 's cookery. It was positively unpalatable. Honest. ''

The boy arched his eyebrows skeptically, clearly not buying this. `` Funny, considering how you were praising that Fish filet just before your lungs seized up. ``

The man groaned. `` Honestly, Edward. Do you really think that I would criticize your mum 's cookery to her case ? ``

Yes. Wait for it. Ah, there it is.

His son was now full out laughing at him. Of course, he could hardly blame him. His married woman, James Meredith, could sustain been a chef had she wanted to. The woman had never cooked nor baked something sub par in her life.

But that was n't about to finish him from trying to get out of this cursed, congested waiting room.

'' forefather, '' croaked out his son, `` Are n't you a bit old for harboring phobic neurosis of doctor visit ? ``

He grunted in reception, racking his pounding mind for another excuse. Honestly, he really thought that his house was overreacting. His lymph lymph gland might be swollen, and indeed his head was pounding as if Xerxes himself were waging a pocket-sized war with his neurons. But really all he needed was a good night 's rest.

Perhaps he could fault the coughing fit and his wheezing on having tried some cigarettes while fishing that morning. Of form, Meredith would have his hide skinned and filleted before he would even have a chance to shout for assist ...

The man was caught unaware when his son rather abruptly shoved him into a wheelchair.

'' Edward II ... `` He hissed gruffly, only for his threat to devolve on deaf capitulum as Edward bypassed the main line, shoving him to the second check-in window reserved for those experiencing either chest infliction or curtness of breath.

And it was then that the racking cough again shook him, the knife-like pain attacking as if the Grim Grim Reaper himself were holding the steel. He clutched onto the wheelchair 's arm, gritting his tooth, an acidy burn working its way up his throat.

A painful knife thrust began in his thorax, sending his body jack-knifing forward, nearly out the chair. A sharp-worded call near him made him aware of the fury of bodily process that had begun beyond the check-in desk, and firm hired hand abruptly latched onto his shoulder joint, preventing him from falling aspect forward.

A substructure shot out, kicking the wheelchair 's brake into place with a metallic dog, and suddenly the rocking, swaying apparent motion that he had not even realized to be going on ceased.

The pain in the ass in his chest dulled down to a dim burn, and his hired man flew to his mouth, feeling the sputum expelling with the next shuddering gasp.

He coughed once, twice more, before leaning gratefully forward onto his son 's shoulder, gasping for air.

It was then that he noticed the man in the whitened lab coat kneeling next to him, and it dawned on him that the cold, metal flavour on his back was the stethoscope, which the doctor had already managed to slip beneath the back of his shirt.

flavour winded, he looked at the physician 's pertain side, and forced a weakly grin. `` Well, '' He gasped wryly. `` I think it 's secure to say, that I am short of breath. ``
* * * * *


Lupin bowled into the room, Dumbledore in tow. The forceful thud of the door flying opened and slamming against the wall effectively causing Snape 's white-knuckled grip on his scepter to loosen.

Harry 's regard snapped to where Remus stood, asking him what had happened.

He barely heard him, suddenly feeling so, so incredibly stupid. In his despair to find assistance he had failed to be patient, unable to wait for Lupin 's yield. And it only now occurred to him why it had taken the werewolf so long.

It would never have occurred to Remus to own gone to the good Master Occlumens for helper. The trust between the old Marauder and Snivellus was nonexistent, so there was no way in pit that Lupin would take trusted the man to delve into Kally 's creative thinker.

So he had gone for Dumbeldore.

Harry already felt like an idiot. Snape simply seized the second to carry his agreement.

'' Potter could n't possibly have done this, '' He declared.

Snape 's statement hung on the air as Dumbledore, looking only slightly weary, swept his gaze back and forth between the three of them. showtime his sorry eyes studied Kalliandra, pity and curiosity mingling together on his lined typeface, before turning his kindly regard to Harry. And then, finally, his spectacled gaze locked with Severus Snape's.

A unusual muteness filled the way as the two became locked in a complete peer. It took Harry only a minute to actualize what they were doing.

They were communicating through Legilimency, the two masters exchanging all of the info about the berth that they needed to know.

Remus seized the moment of seclusion, kneeling in front of where he and Kaylens lay tangled up. `` Harry, '' He began quietly, so as not to disturb the two. `` Please tell me you did n't let him ... ''

Harry grimaced. `` I did. ``

The loup-garou released an exasperate sigh, fixing Harry with an chafe stare. `` I 'm not even going to ask what you were thinking. It 's quite obvious that you were n't. ``

'' He is a Master Occlumens, '' He argued, feeling almost dirty at having just defended Snape. `` I would n't willingly appropriate somebody to spite her. ``

A flash of amusement temporarily replaced the vital look on Remus'typeface. `` This coming from the someone who personally removed quite a bit of her hair, in what Crusantheus assured me was a full-out brawl in the schoolmaster 's office staff. ``

Harry cringed. `` You heard about that, huh ? '' He asked sheepishly, glancing to where Kalliandra lay, looking for all the human race as if she were sleeping.

Remus followed his gaze. `` Hermione actually wrote me about that. Something about wanting me to babble out some gumption into the both of you. Personally, I 'm still trying to figure out how she knew I was tutoring Kalliandra in the first place. ``

'' You were tutoring her ? ``

Remus nodded, looking at him curiously. `` How did you think we were acquainted ? ``

'' She was a master groomer and Moony was in need of a cut ? ``

Lupin sent him a withering limelight. `` Of all the matter to inherit, you had to get your father 's cheek. ``

'' I did n't see it was his. ``

Remus seemed to look at this. `` Yours is actually a bit more acerb, '' He related. `` Unless Prongs was talking to someone he severely disliked, his comment were never quite so prick. ``

'' So I 'm acid. Can you blame me ? ``

Moony 's expression softened considerably. `` No, Harry. I can not. ''

Abruptly Lupin 's attention turned firmly to Kaylens, his concerned aspect returning full phase of the moon effect. Harry simply watched as Remus reached out, carefully brushing a lock of her persistently tangled hair away from her face, studying her like a concerned father.

Remus paused, as if considering something. `` Well, '' He finally commented, `` You two certainly look uncomfortable. ''

Despite himself, he nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of the statement. Not that it was lacking in truth, for when Kaylens had jerked back she had wound up with one leg still draped over his own, one hanging halfway off the couch, with her slim down form half-slumped between him and the armrest.

And now, she had apparently fallen asleep in exhaustion.

Harry smiled strainedly. `` Yeah, well ... I would n't want to risk incurring her anger by waking her, now would I ? ``

Nevertheless he found himself adjusting, to the point in time where he felt rather secure in knowing that if he let go of her, that she would no longer be in danger of sliding down to the floor.

Remus simply watched this, a crease forming across his brow.

'' Harry, '' He ventured. `` What exactly did you do for her ? Specifically. ``

Harry frowned, considering how to react to this. However, he did not get the hazard.

The two Occlumens in the room had started blinking again, their exchange, apparently, complete.

'' As I said, Potter could n't possibly own done this, '' Snape restated, ignoring the questioning look Lupin was throwing at all of them.

Kally chose that moment to let out a sleepy grumble, stirring in her sleep. And somehow that small sound of hers reawakened Harry 's fear that he had somehow harmed her intellect in his attempt to help her in the showtime place.

'' I did n't smart her, did I ? '' He blurted out, earning a incisive stare from Remus.

Fortunately Dumbledore responded quickly.

'' No, Harry. You did not. ``

Snape let out a sound not unlike that of an angry cat. `` Albus, '' He disrupted, clearly in disagreement with the Headmaster 's acceptance that Harry had, indeed, constructed the mental roadblock. `` The grade of proficiency in Occlumency that one would have to possess to hold done this would be staggering. There is no possible way that Potter could cause done this. '' Snape hesitated. `` I 'm not even sure as shooting that I could have done this. ``

'' What ? '' Harry shot out, startled by the admission.

'' Would somebody terribly mind filling me in on what exactly the three of you are talking about ? '' Interjected Lupin, sounding only mildly annoyed.

Snape acted as if the man had not even spoken, his dark eyes swiveling to Harry instead. `` I do n't experience what you are playing at Potter, '' He snapped heatedly. `` But you did not do this to this girl. ``

Harry 's eyes narrowed, a slow combustion ira growing at the Potion Master 's stubborn refusal to trust him adequate to of anything.

The greasy haired man 's regard grew more take exception. `` Who really constructed that roadblock, Potter ? ``

Harry 's teeth clenched. `` I did, '' He ground out.

'' LIAR ! ``

Dumbledore rose a placating deal. `` Now Severus, lets not be hasty. Harry has been under my care since the start of full term, and he has improved greatly. Particularly in attentiveness to his ability to build mental roadblock. ``

'' No one improves that a great deal in so short-circuit a meter. Especially, '' He bit out, gesticulating in Harry 's focussing, `` Not such an clumsy child ! ``

Harry 's oculus hardened. `` Like you would know, considering you 're the one who refused to teach me. ``

'' You are impossible to teach ceramicist. ``

'' Perhaps if you were capable of dropping petty school day grievance I would n't be. ``

'' You are just like your forefather, '' Snape practically growled.

'' I would n't have intercourse, '' He spat matter-of-factly. `` Perhaps you could share stories sometimes. Reminisce about having your undergarments placed on public exhibition. ''

Remus snorted.

'' Harry, that was uncalled for, '' Dumbledore admonished.

Harry bit back a laugh. `` Considering everything he 's put me through over the eld I highly doubt that. ``

Snape 's normally controlled features twisted into something livid. `` How daring you speak to the headmaster with such discourtesy ... ''

'' I respect the schoolmaster mass, '' Harry snapped. `` It 's you that I have no respectfulness for. ''

'' Has it occurred to anyone that arguing will get us nowhere ? '' Remus interjected.

'' If thrower had n't blatantly displayed such a want of decorum ... ''

'' decorum ? '' Harry interrupted. `` This is n't your lilliputian stratum with all of its ridiculously anti-Gryffindor rules ! So forgive me if I do n't grovel at your feet to earn your commendation ! ``

'' That is the last time I ever help you, you ungrateful ... ''

'' YOU DID N'T HELP ME ! YOU HELPED HER ! '' Harry screamed, launching himself off of the lounge and to his invertebrate foot. It was only Remus'quick reflex action that kept Kally from tumbling with him.

Grunting in irritation, Remus turned to Dumbledore. `` Do you get the feeling that this argument was a long time coming ? ``

Dumbledore nodded. `` Why do you think I 'm letting them carry on ? ``

Harry and Snape remained oblivious to the commutation, the latter suddenly looked unbelievably smug. `` That 's shady potter, I do n't think telling you that I helped her at all. amount to think of it, all I did was take a look at that roadblock. I must admit though, she does have some rather interesting recent retentivity ... ''

Harry 's middle took on a wild aspect. `` That has nothing to do with ... ''

'' You 're right. But this has everything to do with your unfitness to prize your bettor and to espouse the principle. ``

Harry snorted. `` funny remark, considering you 're the one who 's always saying how the normal rules do n't apply to me. ``

'' No you idiot boy ! I 'm always telling you how arrogant you are to reckon that the normal rules do n't lend oneself to you. ``

'' Considering I 'm the one who has to off sound ole'conundrum for everyone you 'd better hope the rules do n't lend oneself to me. Otherwise adjacent time the killing curse might actually puzzle out. ``

Snape scowled dangerously. `` Ill see if it works, '' He hissed, fingering his wand.

'' ENOUGH ! ``

Harry 's sassing snapped shut, his retort lodging uncomfortably in his throat.

outside, in the main entrance Charles Francis Hall, Mrs. lightlessness began screaming.

'' If anyone did n't ingest a headache before, they certainly will now, '' Remus practically groaned.

'' Severus, '' Addressed the headmaster, absentmindedly nodding his accord with Lupin. `` From what you 've shown me, it looks like all that was done was a separation of Ms. Kaylens'memories from the unicorn's, and that is all. ``

'' That 's all ? '' Snape responded edgily, his choler apparently undiluted despite the sudden change of subject. `` You make it sound as simple as identifying one coinage from the other. ``

Dumbledore shrugged, looking at Harry with a sudden volley of superbia jiffy in his eyes. `` It 's avowedly, that what Harry did ask a high degree of skill in the sphere. But I think if you really think about it Severus, you 'll feel that Harry was more than than capable of having accomplished this. ``

Severus snorted.

'' After all, Severus, all Harry really did was construct a wall inside of her intellect ... ''

'' Not just a wall, Albus. It was a sodding wall. ``

Harry could n't help himself. `` Perfect ? It was full of cakehole ! I thought the thing was about to burst ! ``

'' You mean to say that you were attempting to create a set structure ? ``

'' Yes, '' He hissed. `` Now will someone please explicate what he meant by perfect tense ? ''

'' volition someone please explain what bulwark we are talking about ? ``

Again everyone ignored Remus'attempt to extract what was going on from them.

'' Potter, '' Snape drawled, as if talking to a particularly slow pupil. `` Had a stiff wall been constructed, there would deliver been a discharge separation of the two band of retention in the girl 's mind. ``

'' Yes, I get that, '' Harry snapped, feeling frustrated. `` That 's what I was going for. ``

Snape 's nighttime, greasy eyebrows arched up. `` Even a set bulwark would have eventually crumbled, and when that happened it would let been akin to releasing a floodgate of foreign store in her mind. So the effect would have got been the Saame as it was initially. ``

'' significance ? ``

Snape practically rolled his eyes. `` She would have got gone insane again. I know this floor of conversing is a bit of a var. on your mental facilities, but please, do try and go along up. ``

'' That 'll be enough, Severus, '' interjected Dumbledore. `` What he means to say, Harry, is that a imperfect barrier with holes will allow the foreign storage to slip into her head a few at a time. It 'll take into account her to become slowly acclimated to the new store, as opposed to her being forced to manage them all at once. Now I imagine the undertaking of sorting through everything will be rather draining on her ... ''

Snape snorted. The headmaster ignored him.

'' But in a few time of day she should have a pretty solid grasp on what retentivity are hers, and what are not. ``

'' A few hours ? `` Harry would intrust Dumbledore with his life, but somehow this seemed far too slowly. He would have thought cramming a lifespan Worth of retentiveness into a new head would take far longer.

Suddenly the schoolmaster smiled. `` Ms. Kaylens has been rather fortunate to have been given the blood of a relatively Young unicorn, Harry. In fact, the creature is barely one-time than her. For the next few calendar week she 'll gradually gain more and more of its memory board, but the worst should be over relatively soon. ``

"How can you get laid how old it was ?"

"Is, Harry. Just because the unicorn's blood was taken does not mean that it was killed. And one of its latter storage had already slipped through your construct. So Severus was capable to see it, and pass that info on to me. She's actually gotten very lucky."

Despite this reassurance, he was still unquiet. `` And what happens when that wall I made completely fracture down ? ``

'' A slight head ache, I would imagine. Nothing More. ``

'' But ... ''

'' For the love life of Merlin ! She 'll already be acclimated to the memories ceramist ! '' Snape practically shouted, apparently ineffectual to hold in himself any longer. `` Your little girlfriend will be fine ! ``

Harry balked. `` She 's not ... ''

Snape waved him off dismissively. `` Like I care. ``

Dumbledore casually flicked his wand in their focal point, silencing them both. Harry gaped like a Pisces, noticing Snape doing the same.

Dumbledore let zip appearance on his typeface, but simply turned to where Remus and Kaylens still sat.

'' Remus, as worry as this verbal fray has been, I think that the serious thing for Ms.Kaylens, at the consequence, is rest. ``

Lupin looking rather like a disturbed father, nodded his assent. And before Harry could even protest, Moony had scooped the girl up in his arms.

Fixing Harry with a head stare, Remus inclined his drumhead as he left. `` She 'll be in the elbow room Hermione and Ginny used. ``

Snape, apparently having unsilenced himself, let out a derisive scoff that bore a strange resemblance to the Christian Bible `` I 'm so for certain. ``

It was only after that they had left the elbow room, that Dumbledore 's expression grew far more sober.

'' Harry, '' He stated seriously. `` I think it 's time you explained exactly what happened with Angelina. ``
* * * * *

'' VHERE IS SHE ! ? ! ? ``

The man 's voice rose furiously, awakening her from her Crucio-induced slumber with a start.

Her iniquity eyes snapped open, her unfocused gaze shooting uselessly around the pitch-dark way.

She had been left in complete and number darkness, unable to recognize even a single contingent of her surround. The cold-blooded, silk piece of paper beneath her were the just cue she had to advise that she remained in the same room as before.

Only now she was mercifully alone, with only the lingering, bone-deep pain of the inflicted swearword for company.

An unnerve tactual sensation of futility settled firmly within her chest, but she would not, could not, lose hope. Instead her resolve strengthened, and she forced herself to listen very carefully.

Outside in the residence two hoi polloi were arguing fiercely, their exact countersign muffled, though every so often the one would arise about the other, a life-threatening note in his emphasise speech.

Her supercilium creased fretfully, anxiety filling her. There was something very companion about that vox. Something her intelligent thinker screamed she should have got been capable to recognize instantly.

But to her core she understood that whomever the individual was, that she should n't be hearing them here.

Not in a place where only Death Eaters roamed freely.

An icy foreboding flooded her veins ...

The doorway to her elbow room suddenly flew open up, a spacious shoulder man forcing his way in, his silhouette shadowed by the hall 's firelight.

It felt as if somebody were suddenly choking her, an agonizing quiver overtaking her in a way that the Cruciatus curse would never be able to touch.

The man 's delimitate jaw pedigree, one so very familiar to her, was set firmly.

A heart-wrenching betrayal ripped through her, snatching her heart in its vice grip as she watched his mouth unfold, forming the discussion she had once loved to hear.

'' Hermy-owh-ninny. ``







Author's line :

First, I just wanted to say thank you to Andrew for having helped me out so lots with this chapter. He has not only beta-read the last few chapters, but has also helped me to tweak them to make them easier to read.

Secondly, I wanted to excuse about having taken so long between chapters over the past tense year. I honestly needed a break from writing, and now that I have had that I plan on updating approximately every two weeks or so. I 'm really excited about finishing the story, and I figure that two week is definitely a deadline that I can meet, considering that I used to post casual chapters for the Quizilla version of this. Of grade, those were only about 2500 run-in a firearm, but nevertheless I figure once every two calendar week or so should form out well. Again, I am really sorry about having taken such lengthy breaks this retiring year. thing were very busy and frankly I just needed to really recharge. Thank you all for having stuck around though ! Chapter 31 is being worked on presently, so expect it in about two calendar week.

And just to debar confusion, the term for a practician of Occlumency is Occlumens. For some reason in the gravelly conscription of this I had a lot of hoi polloi trying to correct me on that.

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