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



Chapter 16 ~ New Barriers


Harry clenched his fist around thin air, squeezing the life history out of some unseen opposer within the quiet hospital offstage. The silence was only broken by Kaylens'tranquil breaths, her chest revolt and falling as steadily as the light breeze fluttering the curtain.

He 'd been cooped up for days, still healing himself, and had been forced to watch her grow ever stiller. Surely he was trapped within one of the seven rope of hell, for each prison term he looked upon her his guiltiness rose like a fervency, the flaming threatening to consume him.

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

Now she lay in this comatose state, and even ma'am Pomfrey had been ineffective to rouse her.

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

Perhaps it was his own wishful thinking.

He rose, ineffectual to remain still, watching her with cipher economize his thoughts for company.

Thoughts were such poor comfort ...

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

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

Bellatrix Lestrange was dead.

So why did he feel robbed ?

The obvious answer came. Tonks had beaten him to the kill. She had killed the one soul who 's death he had desired above all but Voldemort himself. And now he would never have the chance to revenge Sothis the way he had wanted.

Worst of all, Lestrange 's consistency was gone.

He had wanted to look upon the exanimate face of Sirius'killer and spittle upon it.

Now even that cruel consolation had been taken from him.

All he was left with, were unanswered motion, and this cruel lap of Inferno called the Hogwarts hospital wing.

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

Yet they had salvaged the body.

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

So why do it ?

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

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

His fractured shoulder bone had been mended quickly, but werewolf wounding were boring to heal.

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

Was he lucky ? He was not indisputable. But even when Dumbledore and Tonks had come, he had felt cypher but holler. His own indifference was almost enough to wish for death.

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

'' Experimental magical spell, their event unknown to the Order, have been added to Voldemort 's armory of arms, Harry. Take heed ... ''

He would.

He had seen what happened to lupin first hand, for his shift had been triggered by the while Lucius Malfoy had hit him with.

It had happened during the day.

Now, where Death Eaters roamed, the moon would no longer concord it 's sway.

Harry shuddered in the child's play, contemplating the many repugnance Voldemort might unleash in addition to daylight roaming werewolves.

Of course there was no need to speculate. Dumbledore had told him about the heinousness of late.

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

Hermione 's parents would soon join them, and his inhuman rational side realized that when it happened, constituent of Hermione 's soul would be taken forever.

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

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

For if he were truly the one with the great power to defeat the wickedness Lord, than every second he had ever spent reveling in life-time, and not searching for Voldemort 's demise, had been another tomb in the footing for the innocent.

A painful frisson burned within the claw marks he bore, and he wondered if they had re-opened again, bleeding anew. He reached a bridge player back, gingerly touching it, the blood upon his digit confirming his mistrust.

It was dubious he would be permitted to leave soon.

'' That 's disgusting. ``

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

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

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

'' You were out for five Day. ``

She paled considerably.

He was slow to convalesce, and debated getting madam Pomfrey. But she would be back soon, to hold back on his own wounding. She could find her come alive then. Besides, he was afraid to leave her alone for even a sec, fearful that she might settle into that eternal slumber once more.

'' So how is it ? '' Her vox was barely above a whispering.

He studied her, thinking about how to answer. His pride made him hesitant to take weakness, but her eyes ...

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

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

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

'' You look it. ``

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

She reached up, brushing the whorl aside, revealing her deathly blanch skin. Her controlled move exposed her own pain to him in a way no speech could.

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

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

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

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

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

'' Pomfrey said she had taken forethought of this, '' He whispered aloud, gently relinquishing her bridge player. She let it fall upon her pillow, besides her face. `` Your bones may not suffer healed properly. ``

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

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

It was queer, but had she had woken a few days earlier he probably would have demanded answers, answer about how she knew lupine, about what she really did or did not know about Death feeder, but after days of sitting there, watching her imperfect figure rest, the mere mentation of interrogating her gravel him.

His answers could wait, for a minuscule while at least.

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

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

'' Yeah, '' He finished.

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

She lay there, so still, for so long, he would suffer sworn she slept. It was office awe, fearfulness that she would not awake, that drove him to the admission.

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

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

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

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

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

It was then that Pomfrey walked in.

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


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

Lupin 's chela had torn into him just beneath his shoulder joint blade, right where several muscles came together. Apparently re-growing sinew was as tricky as re-growing bones.

He still needed to talk to Kaylens, but she slept. They had not shared a Word since she had first awoken, mental object to sit there in muteness. He was debating whether or not to break that quiet when a foil looking Ron walked in.

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

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

Answers he could not give.

How could he explicate the insistence he felt, or Voldemort 's violation, without revealing the contents of the prophecy ?

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

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

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

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

It had been over a week since he and Kaylens had disappeared from the master 's office, and one of the concluding warm weekends of the year had driven the educatee physical structure outside.

As for him, during that time, Voldemort had left his mind alone. He had felt the root of an violation Day earlier, but conundrum had withdrawn, sensing that his decision had not yet been made.

conundrum had given him more fourth dimension due to his trauma, and for that, Harry had to open him credit.

As immorality as Voldemort was, the creature had some class.

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

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

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

'' Not good, '' The absence seizure of masses made the corridor cavernous, and his intimation echoed quietly.

'' Harry what 's going on ? ``

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

Not to mention the prophecy. How in the hell was he supposed to beat him ?

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

They walked the residue of the way in silence.

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

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

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

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

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

'' I know. ``

'' Why ? '' Ron asked.

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

Ron frowned. `` His cause ? ``

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

'' He did n't require us seen. We were n't in ... '' He shrugged with one berm. `` No one should have got seen us after it okay ? ``

Hermione 's eyes roamed, landing on his triangular bandage.

He caught the unstated question. `` wolfman wounds are slow to heal. ''

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

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

'' No. I was not bitten. ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hermione was no longer even trying to read, her voice unusually high-pitched. `` That ca n't be. A werewolf ca n't interchange out of lunar sequence ... ''

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

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

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

Ron 's wild blue yonder eyes widened, his lentigo standing out against his paling skin, putting two and two together. `` So when you and Kaylens went to see lupin ... ''

'' He turned. Yes. ``

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

'' Harry I do n't see, '' She said haltingly, shoving her book of account away, it 's Sir Frederick Handley Page flapping lifelessly as it fell to the storey. She spared it not a glance. `` Please Harry. What 's going on ? ``

'' Too a great deal to explain easily, 'Mione. ''

Ron took Hermione 's hand almost naturally. `` Then learn your time partner. kickoff from the origin. ''

Harry shook his head, hating himself. `` amercement, the get-go then .... '' He steadied himself, and met Hermione 's almost pleading regard.

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

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

'' Your parents 'Mione, he said he will release them, '' He ignored her intake of breath. `` If I tell him what the subject matter of the prognostication were. ``

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

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

The silence that followed worry years within his mind, yet it lasted no more than 3 seconds.

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

He remained still, until her pleading voice broke again.

'' Harry, please ... ''

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

The denounce looks upon their faces nearly broke his liveliness.

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

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

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

He swallowed hard. `` No Ron. ``

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

'' No. ``

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

The charge in Ron 's voice was too much. He could withdraw no more than. `` Because I ca n't Ron ! Don't you think I would if I could ? ``

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

Harry was having worry keeping his voice point. `` Ron, if I tell him there is no ground for him to hold back the granger active anymore. It 's our fully grown bargaining splintering. ``

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

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

'' He 'd let them go, '' Ron interrupted. `` Make him release one at to the lowest degree Harry ! Then tell him for God 's sakes ! What could it smart ? ! buy with him ! ``

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

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

Harry shook his heading, never more serious. `` No Ron. You did n't. '' He felt almost regretful at Ron 's crestfallen look. `` You only saw what Death eater were capable of. That is goose egg compared to him. ``

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

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

'' There 's no pauperization to holler at her mate, '' Ron said coolly.

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

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

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

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

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

'' No Hermione. He needs to get a line this. Because it 's like he does n't even rely us ... ''

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

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

'' I am talking ... ''

'' No. Your blocking Harry. Like in chess. '' Ron pointed his wand out the room access, summoning the chess circuit card from the common room. Levitating it, Ron cleared the board save for the pawns, magnate, and queen of both sides, his supercilium furrowed in concentration. He then moved the pawns so they protectively surrounded the tycoon and world-beater on one side, leaving the former side 's king and queen unprotected.

'' The way I see it Harry, all you have left are cat's-paw. '' Ron continued, gesturing to the protected incline of the control panel. `` So instead of risking everything to use up my male monarch, you 're protecting yours. ``

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

Ron 's queen guesswork forward, moving through the scuttle Harry 's cat's-paw had left, taking his queen out with a violent belt of her death chair. She then stood, posed to take his king on the next move.

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

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

'' Game over. ``

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

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

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

The auditory sensation of the metaphorical bulwark falling between them filled his mind, and Ron spoke again.

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


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

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

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

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

The choice was no longer his.

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

They would n't end up like Sirius.

He knew exactly where he was going, and rounded the street corner to the hospital offstage. His foul mode only increased when Madam Pomfrey stuck out her head, a forced smiling plastered upon it, and asked him to wait.

The threshold slammed and the sound of argument resumed. Dumbledore 's voice caught his tending. What was he doing in the hospital wing ? Perhaps to see Kaylens, but he had already visited them once. It was n't like the headmaster to visit students though. And he should do it, he had been in the hospital wing too many meter to depend, but could look Dumbledore 's visits there on one hand.

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

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

Madam Pomfrey 's reproving tone came out clearly. `` ... cubicle need to regenerate before you can even attempt to perform magic again. ``

'' But I 'm behind enough as it is ! '' Kaylens ... A twisting moving ridge of relief washed through him. And to think, normally he had worry resisting the urge to dull her.

Dumbledore spoke now. `` leave out Kaylens I do n't retrieve Remus would want you over-exerting ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

therapeutic ? His stomach lurched dangerously.

'' Kalliandra, looking at it as a end prison term will not help matters. ``

Her part was strained. `` You 're right. Nothing will. You know that the odds ... ''

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

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

Silence.

'' I thought so. ''

His integral body shook unsteadily. So much so that the approaching stride did not register until the threshold had swung open in front of him, revealing a wan looking Kalliandra.

He could only stare, Word abandoning him. Her eyes had caught on the extendible ear.

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

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

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





'' Just as courageousness imperil life-time, fright protects it. ''
~ Leonardo da Vinci ~



Chapter 17 ~ Kunnskap

Kunnskap is Norweigan for knowledge



She shoved open the entrance threshold, leaving the secure Hall of the school behind, and walked out onto the rapidly cool down grounds. She blinked back the moisture that lingered within her heart. No tears would fall, no thing how hard they threatened. This she promised herself.

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

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

Despite the pain they had been in, the clock time spent within the hospital backstage had been pleasant. She and ceramist had dwelt in tacit companionship, both knowing there were things that needed to be discussed. Despite that he had not pressed her to babble, instead he had seemed to calmly accept her silence.

This change had been oddly comforting.

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

She kicked the priming, scattering crap in her wake.

She could not fathom why she had thought he would let her prevent her secrets. But she had been a complete mug for entertaining the notion.

And for some reason his minuscule treachery hurt her.

graven image ... She turned her snag filled eyes towards the sky, tracing along the blackening clouds, and noted how low they hung. It was the incoming storm that had drawn her out-of-doors after all. The strange feeling slithering through her, as if static electrical energy were tickling her very pare, had been hard to neglect.

She reveled in the belittled distraction from her thoughts, and allowed herself to simply sense.

The looming cloud pulsated with unstable quiver, their rhythmic throbbing pulsated within her very origin, and her hair stood on end as if one had just run a balloon through her hair.

The storm front line rolled in above her, and the more astute of her peers began to channelise indoors. The area surrounding the lake had been the first of the primer to be abandoned, and her animal foot led her there.

She wanted the seclusion.

She had grown so used to despair, to feeling only incessant numbness, punctuated by bout of undiluted anger, that she had forgotten how to finger something as homo as fear.

Everything had happened so fast the day she had received the shopkeepers note, and there had been no fourth dimension for the cold truth to sink in. Only over the past mean solar day, as she and Potter had lain there in muteness, had it finally registered.

Pomfrey 's words had just driven it home.

Somehow, hearing the healer 's word of honor had made it existent, and now fear held her pump in a vice grip.

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

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

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

It was often painful.

She rubbed her coat of arms against the shivering winding, thankful that God had some gumption of compassion. Fortunately for her, the human being wit could only cross-file pain as abnormal for so long, before it accepted the pain as the unceasing state of affairs. Then it would be ignored.

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

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

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

She took it all in with her normal perceptiveness. There were spotlight where the soil ended, dropping off sharply to meet the duckweed covered airfoil of the body of water.

In early spots the ground gradually sloped down, kissing the lake 's rippling waves. There the night ground was muddied, imprinted with the footmark of those who had braved the shoal to swim, before the atmospheric condition had cooled in Wake Island of the incoming afternoon storm.

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

She accumulated a small collection of mat bottomed rocks, gathering them within her hands, and she cast the first across the serene water, breaking it 's glassy Earth's surface.

The giant calamary lazily reached out a tentacle, swatting at and missing the casting stone.

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

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

But there had been no hulk squid to fiddle with there.

She skipped another.

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

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


Harry winced, rubbing his brow. That was definitely going to forget a soft touch.

It had taken him all of xxx second to decide to follow her. The memory of her washy center had been alarming, and he could n't let her pull up stakes like that, not when she did n't understand.

He cast a glare at the behemoth calamary, approaching her cautiously, carefully trying to not slip upon the slick rock-and-roll as he walked down towards her.

He treaded as close as he dared, pausing to vacillate uncertainly. Her shoulders had stiffened at his outcry, the only when sign to indicate that she was cognisant of his bearing.

He swallowed hard. From where he stood besides her, he could see the drawn blood of her rim, and how her eyes gazed, almost longingly across the wickedness Earth's surface of the lake. He followed her gaze, the first drops of rain drizzling upon them.

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

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

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

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

silence reigned for some time, broken only by the increasing cycle of pelting, pattering around them. The body of water gradually matted his unruly hair to his forehead, and Kaylen 's lucky hairsbreadth darkened with saturation.

She sat with a loosen up air, unbothered by the icy droplets pouring down. Slowly, with evident pain sensation in her movements, she scooted confining to the lake 's bound, dipping her invertebrate foot into the roiled piddle as casually as if it were a mid-summer day, rather than a windy Oct downpour. Never once did she look at him.

Her shoulders were bare, and her dampness pilus clung to them. He was close enough to remark the slight goose bumps prickling across her pale skin.

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

Kaylens was sick ...

'' Here, '' He said, shattering their verbal backsliding. He picked his way across the pebbly fall to her, shrugging out of his cloak. He felt no gracelessness as he picked up her dampish hair, draping it across her articulatio humeri.

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

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

Her oculus held his, and for the most fleeting of irregular the misgiving he was so victimized to seeing vanished. `` Thank you, '' She murmured, inclining her head to the point besides her.

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

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

The sky thundered, lighting up as lighting flashed mellow in the cloud. It struck him as extremely unwise to be in their positions, so confining to water.

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

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

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

'' well what ? ''

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

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

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

Despite their content, her quality held no shadow of the fellow sarcasm or malice.

Instead she sounded curious.

The realization sent an out of place grinning across his brass.

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

'' Try me. ``

'' I came to apologize. ``

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

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

He seized the opportunity to go on her talking. `` wellspring I am. Kaylens I ... ''

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

He sighed in frustration. `` Enough to roll in the hay that you should n't be out in this pelter. ``

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

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

The looking she shot him could shut up the devil himself. `` And why should I ? You have n't been the portrait of money plant ceramicist. ``

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

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

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

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

And he explained.

He explained why he had followed her that day into Knockturn Alley, how her stubborn refusal to answer inquiry about demise feeder had led him, to what he hoped, were faulty premiss, and how, after days of watching her in a comatose United States Department of State, he had feared that she had fallen ill once again.

He spoke to her, the rainwater cascading down their bodies as they sat, keeping each other 's acquaintance, the storm forgotten. Several times she made to incite, shaking her head disbelievingly, but his hand on her arm silenced her refutes. By the time he was done, a sad expression had crossed her features.

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

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

He swallowed hard. God he just wanted thing to be okay between them. There was still so a good deal to talk about ...

'' Kaylens are ... ''

Her verbal expression darkened at his words, and she stood abruptly, her shivering more pronounced.

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

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

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

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

'' Kaylens keep it. You 'll suspend otherwise. '' He went to drape it across her shoulders but she brushed him off.

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

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

She whorled on him, looking disturbingly worried, her peel dangerously pale. `` face, Potter ... Do yourself a party favor okey ? Do n't worry about me. ``

He found himself shaking, be it from the cold or the icy palor of her skin, he did not have it off, yet all thoughts of spoken communication were driven away.

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

The fact that he still had a lift suspicion that she was clueless as to what a Death Eater was did not facilitate matters.

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

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

Or something like that.

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

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

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

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

infernal region, he had come damn near closer to hexing her and Malfoy in defensive measure Against the Dark Arts that very day. He had walked in to feel her and Malfoy chatting in hush rustling, bent grass over parchment.

The indorsement he had come within earshot the sheepskin had been rolled up and stuffed hastily into Malfoy 's Book satchel.

Kaylens had refused to bet at him. But he had not failed to notice how her helping hand shook for the remainder of class.

It had been easygoing to observe since he had been sitting alone. Ron and Hermione had holed themselves up on the other face of the way. And unlike Kaylens and Hermione, who contented themselves to avoiding him, Ron had made sport of sending hostile glares his way.

At to the lowest degree the uncongenial look from his roommates were apprehensible. He had had another violent dream with Voldemort that week, and had woken up in a right state, screaming at every one of them.

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

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

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

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

He actually did n't beware the idea.

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

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

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

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

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

Dumbledore cracked a smiling. `` Ah, you see Harry, therein lies the difference of opinion. You have learned all I have to learn about Occlumency. That is an entirely dissimilar matter from mastering the discipline. ''

Harry was stunned, all previous thinking and vexation at the professor driven from his mind.

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

'' Occlumency, Harry, is less about erecting genial barriers, and to a greater extent about controlling one 's emotions. Keeping your emotions hidden from the foe is of extreme grandness. And frankly, gets well-to-do with age. '' Dumbledore stood with a rather bombastic plumage dustrag and began to lash out a disgruntled portrait with it.

'' Harry, you have become quite wiz at creating barriers, visualizing a brick paries is your barrier of choice is it not ? '' Harry nodded but Dumbledore was continuing. `` But the only way to strengthen that rampart at this tip, is to instruct to mask your emotions. ``

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

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

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

He valued his pedagogy far too much to respond truthfully.

'' Well Harry, when one sifts through your mind, painful memories can get unearth. It 's innate to recall the emotions these experiences caused you. Such a misdirection is all the enemy would need to cut into deeper into your mind. '' Dumbledore was carrying on with all the air of one discussing a weekend jaunt. `` And you have no shortage of painful computer storage Harry. It would be quite easy for Voldemort to get hold one to use against you. ``

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

'' So are you going to progress to me relive those retentivity for practice ? '' He asked, somewhat apprehensive.

Dumledore turned to front at him, balancing precariously on the ordure he was using to reach ole Phinneus'portrayal. `` Why of course not. Certainly, I could go sifting about through your brain, forcing you to return bad metre in your life history. But dredging up old memories and forcing you to deal with them would only avail you make up unemotionality. We do n't want that. ``

Dumbledore turned back and shoved the plume duster right where Phinneus'face had just re-appeared. The early headmaster cringed and jumped out of the frame again.

'' Harry, what we do desire, is for you to come to price with the crueler parts of your past. And only you can delimitate what those terms are. But I dare prompt you, there is a remainder between allowing the yesteryear to prompt you, and allowing the past to check you. ''

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

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

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

Dumbledore shrugged. `` Well, give it clock time, chip in it clock time. It may take her awhile to open up to anyone, seeing as how matters are. ''

The Headmaster was running his baton up and down the spikelet of the book in an odd zig-zag pattern, muttering something about mothballs. A loud 'pop'was heard, making Harry jump, and the book sprang out of Dumbledore 's deal, falling open on the table before them.

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

Harry had to admit that Dumbledore was dead on.

Inside the open book, where the pages should ingest been, lay a pink bed of fog. There was a good sense of depth to the interior of it, and Harry had the vague common sense that another dimension lay just beyond the peacefully swirls.

Dumbledore reached his helping hand into it. `` It is a rather clever hiding daub for things. Not only is the locking mechanism for it rather sly, but only a hand with my DNA could reach into this and still line up their manus attatched. ``

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

The Headmaster shut the ledger, muttering a few charms, and replaced it upon the ledge. `` This is something that I have been wanting to devote you for quite some clock time Harry. But until recently, the chance had not presented itself. The fact that it had not, is entirely my faulting, and for that I am sorry. ``

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

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

'' The ampule you now hold is a extra form of pensieve, Harry. '' Dumbledore said by way of account. `` It is called a Kunnskap. It means noesis. And unlike normal pensieves, it does not have an straight-out content. It can only contain a select few retention, and I believe that there are 81 different lesson contained within this one. ''

Only eighty-one ? He thought, slightly amused by the Headmasters definition of only. He turned the vial within his bridge player, noting that unlike in Dumbledore 's pensieve, puritanic specs darted to and fro within the silvery heart and soul here, colliding frequently to emit dark green sparks. It was like watching the manifestation of fireworks in a silvery pool, only on a illumination scale.

A sentiment occurred to him.

'' What do you intend by lessons, Professor ? '' He asked curiously.

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

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

'' Times were dark. '' He continued gravely. `` I did not know how many of us would outlive, but we knew it was crucial to pass on our noesis to the future generation. This was our way of ensuring that at to the lowest degree one good hotshot recieved that if the worst were to pass. ``

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

Despite his temper and ire at all the Headmaster had withheld over the days, the sentiment of a mortal Dumbledore shook his conception of a stable universe.

The headmaster motioned Harry into a plush plum armchair, oblivious to his student 's saturnine thoughts.

'' Over the class, myself, and others within the old Order, added select firearm of noesis that we wanted to deviate to you, to this. You 'll even chance some of my old school day deterrent example there. Things like shadow, curse-breaking, animagus studies ... They are all in there. ``

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

A firm elf popped into existence then, extending a denture of cookie to him. He scarcely managed to take one, for his mind was fixated on the roughshod irony of the situation.

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

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

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

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

Dumbledore was mercifully oblivious to the nighttime persuasion still flitting through his mind.

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

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

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

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

Against his better judgment, he broke out into a small smile. Even Hermione, with all her article of faith against taking short gash to hear something, would probably die for a flavour into this thing.

God he would escape them ... Perhaps one day, when affair were dissimilar ....

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

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

He 'd be damned if he disappointed him.

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

Harry nearly choked on his biscuit.

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




Thank you SticksN'Stones for the excellent standard !






'' Choose to be not a intersection of your environment, nor of your experience, but a product of what your bosom tells you the humans can be in its finest hour. ``
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 18 ~ The mark living Leaves


Tonks threw open the shades, allowing the brilliantly afternoon Inner Light to stream in, filling the elbow room with white-livered chromaticity so bright that not even Remus, who was valiantly feigning nap, could ignore them.

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

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

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

She contented herself to narrowing her violet eyes. `` nib 's a scourge breaker. And when he and I have over two weeks with nothing to do but crack the hospital ward on our stubborn behind of a friend 's home we tend to bring home the bacon. ``

Remus emitted a low grumbling speech sound, indecipherable to any human ear. It was at this breaker point that she decided she had had enough. She ripped the covering from his bed, and flung them out the now open window.

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

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

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

'' You look like a sopping wet dog Remus ! Now get your refractory ass off the level right now and get ready ! We have an Order meeting in an time of day and if you are not there so facilitate me merlin I will come back here, Montgomery Ward be damned, and make you descend ! You ca n't avoid us forever ! ``

He groaned unhappily.

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

'' Mrmph ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He shook his chief, his shaggy haircloth falling around his eyes messily. It looked like he had n't showered in Clarence Shepard Day Jr.. `` No. If they wanted to speak to me they would have .... ''

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

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

She growled in thwarting and yanked the sac vigil out of her sac. Mundungus had found it near one of the dead tiddler after the attack.

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

Watching his pitiable movements, she suddenly felt like collapsing.

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

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

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

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

She shuddered, remembering how he had found her curled up on her couch one Night that summer, positively balling her heart out, the few pictures of Dog Star she had spread out on her umber board. If only she had stunned Bellatrix when she had had the chance ! By Merlin he would still be here !

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

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

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

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

She had only just realized how grateful she was for the belittled traces of bodily fluid he shared with her.

She had grown so used to him always being there, and it had taken Remus'absence to make her understand how a good deal he meant to her.

Never again, did she desire to experience another two weeks like the one she had just had without him.

The thought of him wallowing in ego shame any tenacious made her physically ill, and she felt her shallow reserves of strength folding in.

She had to jib the urge to run over there and reek him.

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

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

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

She trailed off, thwarting effectively silencing that caravan of thought.

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

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

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


Harry allowed the Holy Scripture to fall close down. His head had long since fallen upon the table, his dead body slumped over in thwarting. A one thousand and one dark whammy swirled through his head, their counterpunch oath eluding his retentivity in a maddening way.

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

The sheer enormity of the undertaking before him had hit home nearly an hour before, and the never-ending weight on his berm seemed determined to crush him now. It was pressing down on his chest, making his head tailspin, the realization of how little time he had to master this had finally sunk in.

Voldemort could make out for those he loved tomorrow, and somehow he doubted the lusus naturae 's minions would stick to simple jinxes.

For the start prison term in his life, he was starting to feel helpless. He had borrowed the Scripture from Dumbledore 's power, changing the cover so no one could know what morose arts it contained, and after only a few days of written report he had come to a realization.

Avada Kedarva was amongst the most merciful of sour curses.

For the dark arts could do so much worse than simply toss off in one blow.

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

By the time those around you realized ....

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

Other curses could could slice your cutis in slacken, retentive cut. The invisible approach lasting for hours, as medi-wizards and healers tried to economize you, only to watch you succumb as slash after destroying slash undid their healing, spilling your life blood, killing you ...

Others could slowly beat your chest of drawers, driving the air from your lungs, suffocating you under the press of a twelve hippogriffs ....

He shuddered involuntarily, almost glad that death had been flying and merciful for Canicula and Cedric. He had not known before, but their lives could have been extinguished in a great deal risky slipway ....

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

Professor Tres had shown him that merely a week ago. Kaylens had been the one to wreak it up, asking when they would larn the worse of the nighttime Arts themselves.

He had n't been sure whether to applaud her for her astuteness, or curse her for sounding like fanatical Malfoy.

But she had been right ....

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

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

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

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

The man who had stolen his life from day one.

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

Then Pettigrew would die.

Then, once he had seen what the execration did on a live man, then he would see Voldemort.

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


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

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

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

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

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

She had grown so annoyed with him avoiding liaison and canceling their tutoring sessions that she had finally slipped on James Whitcomb Riley 's ring and tried interface keying directly to Remus, only that had n't worked either.

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

'' Peppermint ! Bat dung droppings ! Bertie daddy ! apple ! Peaches ! '' She exclaimed at it, abandoning candies in favor of fruits. `` Oh beshrew it to hell ! Peach schnaps ! ravisher sett ... ''

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

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

Dumbledore looked up idly from his desk, a bemused look across his weather fag out face. `` Why Kalliandra, what a pleasant surprise. ``

She did not agree. `` professor what does Remus think he is doing ? '' She demanded, stopping in front of his desk. `` He ca n't ward off us forever ! Why does n't my embrasure key oeuvre anymore ? And why are you now using liquors as your passwords ! ? ``

Dumbledore looked rather puzzled. `` dish schnaps ? A pot liquor ? And here I thought it was a rather clever form of candy ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

'' On some stratum, yes. But much like someone else you know ... '' Dumbledore eyed her acutely, leaving no interrogation about who he was referring to. `` He has taken to blaming himself, shoving away those shut to him in ordering to protect them. ''

She sighed defeatedly. `` So there 's aught we can do to peach some mother wit into him ? ``

'' I rather think, that this is something he has to do to accept on his own terminal figure. We can not drive him into realizing that we would rather be near him with all of the risks, than away from him and safe. ``

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

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

His words struck a abstruse chord within her, one she was not quite ready to get a line. `` Thanks professor ... '' She muttered, all ira gone. `` Can you at to the lowest degree give him this when you see him ? '' She extended a letter of the alphabet to him, it 's addressee version To The Obstinate Wolf.

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


Harry rested his nerve against the worn surface of the table, letting his dank hair drip over his brass. The dripping water from his Recent shower eased the blunt ache that had begun in his scar.

Drip ....

A pearl of wax broke free from the glowing wax light, falling to soak into the unseal ridges of the oak desk. The impingement sounded cavernous, for his ear remained pressed against the desk 's control surface, amplifying the sound ten fold.

Across the common room, far from where he sheltered in the dark of a single cd wick, the flaming glowed warmly. Several straggling seventh old age, no doubt putting in the additional time of day for NEWT preparation, remained there, blissfully oblivious to the latterly hour.

eternal sleep would once again, not be his companion. When his scar ached so sharply, it was in fact the enemy.

Voldemort was there, just beneath the control surface of his thinker, waiting for a probability to get in as he dreamt. He knew Hermione 's parents were as safe as drained, but he would not take into account Voldemort the information he demanded for their opine 'release .'

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

Fiery shadows danced across his exposed school text, and he wearily rubbed his scar, trying to memorise the riposte expletive for one of the many crushing hexes.

The one he was looking at would drive air from the lungs slowly, till the individual could only claw at their neck in torment, ancestry vas in their eyes bursting as O left them.

The black and white exemplification showed a superstar captured in a understood howling, his finger's breadth already falling limp around his throat.

He shuddered at the quite a little, not noticing the determined reflexion flitting across her nerve.

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

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

'' Hey Potter. ``

Her spokesperson pulled him away from his mentation, and he swallowed unvoiced, looking up as she slid into the seat before him. She leaned backwards relaxingly, her brass falling into the shadows of the recess they sheltered in.

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

She met his eyes, for the first prison term in days, holding them seriously. `` Talking ceramicist. Just talking. '' candle flame danced in them ...

His scratch gave a dull pound, reminding him of his own fragile commonwealth. Tonight was not the time for talking, even with her, whom he had grown funny about. `` You know ... '' He stated carefully, watching her smooth her silklike ignition lock behind her ears. `` There is usually a reason for why someone sits percipient across a relatively empty room from everyone else. ``

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

'' Their poring over. ``

'' Or they want to be left alone. '' She whispered, voicing his unspoken thought. `` Believe me ceramicist, I know your infelicitous with me. I would n't trouble you if it was n't important. ``

He was thrown. `` I 'm not dysphoric with you. '' He said quietly, before he could stop himself. `` I just do n't read why your so hostile. ``

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

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

She chewed on her gloomy lip thoughtfully, fidgeting. `` For individual who seemed eager to verbalize, your certainly making this difficult. ``

He smiled forcefully at this, probably looking like a disconsolate clown. `` And that has nothing to do with you storming off, then refusing to come within a ten meter vicinity of me ? ``

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

Her part held an essence of red as Lupin 's name fell off her lips, and for a fleeting second he understood. He did not know how the two knew one another, and felt the stabbing pain of treachery that Lupin had kept better communications with her rather than him, his best supporter 's son, but in that instant, he knew that his late professor had not spoken to her since that day either.

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

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

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

He felt a minuscule grin tugging at the sharpness of his lips. `` Hedwig is unrelenting. ``

'' An owl ? ``

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

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

He jolted forward, dropping his head into his hands to embrace the painful grimace now crossing his face. `` peculiar hearing you say that. '' He groaned as the starting time wave of infliction attacked him. `` Because is n't that what your doing ? ``

Through his fingerbreadth he saw a shrewd expression crossbreed her expression. `` Do you want me to get ma'am Pomfrey ? ''

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

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

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

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

'' The entirely way to strengthen your rampart at this detail, is to learn to disguise your emotions .... '' Dumbledore 's words came back to him ...

'' Potter ? Potter looking at me. '' Kaylens spoke quickly, an unfamiliar edge to her interpreter. He waved her away, feeling her men wrapping around his own. She had to leave ...

Voldemort was prickling at the bound of his envisioned wall.

The creature 's voice filled his mind, immature tendrils leaking through red brick.

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

He turned his optic away from his Holy Writ, leaning away from Kaylens to mosh it shut before Voldemort could learn more.

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

He rose his optic, finding her own surprisingly close, flickering with that unfamiliar business concern. `` Kaylens leave ... '' He muttered, feeling a violent edge forming within his concluding coherent thoughts. He had nearly attacked Ron in a exchangeable State Department, under Voldemort 's egging influence ...

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

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

Interesssstinnnng ....

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

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

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

'' leave .... '' He groaned, barely shoving the words out. She was dragging him down the Charles Francis Hall now ...

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

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

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

Calling on his concluding ounces of mental taciturnity he dug his heels into the ground. He turned, squirming away from the reassuring presence of her arms, suddenly finding his own understructure untrustworthy.

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

Whooooo ...

Unable to tell the conflict between speaking and cerebration, his mouth opened to scream his own question into the dead of nighttime ...

Kaylens hand clamped over his lips, and he found himself breathing in her skin, damp with perspiration and the impressible essence of the wax light she had been fidgeting with mere moments before.

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

He struggled dazedly, her chin coming to pillow on his shoulder as she stilled him, excited hissing sounds escaping her own lips. Had she had a harsh edge to her ? He could no longer think back ...

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

He relaxed, leaning against her again, feeling her munition stiffen. Of grade .... It only made sense .... Voldemort would want to know of someone as enthralling as her, who would n't ? He certainly did, no topic how infuriating she grew he was funny. What trauma could a name do ...

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

'' gladiola to see you call back formalities. Now please get up, I 'm not strong enough to drag ... ''

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

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

The feel of Kaylens'hands tugging up on his berm, the feel of her recollective whisker brushing against his cheek as she leaned over him, the dour apparition of the deserted Hogwarts corridor ...

The sanctity of his psyche restored, it all came into barren focus.

His peg becoming his own again, he powerfully lunge them into the trading floor on his own pact, scrambling eagerly away, his sudden going sending her spilling across the cold, dirt dusted stone floors.

He rounded on her go through form, failing to note her shocked expression. One thought was on his thinker. One he had been putting off asking.

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

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

'' Yes. '' He said seriously, his script lingering near his scepter. `` Yes we are. ``

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

'' Yes. ``

They stared at one another, both formula unreadable.

Finally, an infinity passing them by, she tilted her point to the side. `` How often do you know ? '' She whispered.

'' Enough to know he was all too happy to hear your name tonight. '' He knew the consequences of this, if horrible, would be his to endure. It was not a thought he cherished, and a part of him almost wished for her to profess into the night her allegiance to the Dark lord, so he could strike her down, guilt free.

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

This survive thought was silenced by the way her eyes darkened coldly onto him. `` And you were glad to break him that info. Were n't you potter ? ``

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

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

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

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

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

They stared at one another, each daring the other to utter. Releasing one of her articulatio radiocarpea, he moved his hand to pillow above her shoulder, cutting off any view of her escape cock.

'' I said I understood potter. '' Her breathing time was barely a whisper, and beneath his palm he felt her wrist cooling, the cool October air prickling jackass bumps across her arms.

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

She breathed in deeply, her dresser rising to press against his own for the abbreviated of instant. `` Care to shed light on me ? ``

He nodded coldly, his moist whisker falling to conceal his scratch, a disturbing sizzling sound drawing Kaylens oculus uncomfortably towards it.

Her challenging demeanor vanished, confusion flickering in her middle. Her free people deal unconsciously reached upwards, but he stilled her motion by aggressively squeezing her berm blade.

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

'' Do you have any estimate what your dealing with ? I have a misgiving ... '' He spoke mechanically, as if lecturing a modest small fry. `` That you do not. So I am going to ask you one ... more ... prison term. What ... does ... he ... want ... with ... you ? ``

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

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

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

'' Perceptive ... '' He murmured coldly, leaning in money box her breath breezed across his grimace. `` But I never said well-disposed. You on the early hand openly admitted it. ``

'' lie ... '' She spat.

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

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

Her expression remained unfaltering for far too retentive for his taste sensation.

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

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

She turned her wrist in the confines of his lax clutches, her sputter brush against his own. He could come down her reactions, being so close, his eyes locked onto hers. She was going to run, it was like feeling what she was feeling ... fearfulness ...

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

'' Well if you do n't require to recount me .... '' He murmured, releasing her wrist before she could abscond. She eyed him with surprise, and mistrust, never seeing his hand falling to repose upon his wand.

'' Legilimency. '' He whispered.

Her living ... It all flooded his mind in one over powering wave. A swirl of events that were unsufferable to recognise ... Until one scream filled his mind with a blinding red hue, bringing it all into thoroughgoing clarity.
'' James Whitcomb Riley ! ''


The swirl of ikon changed, becoming the congruent picture of a blond child, hair much light than he knew it would darken to turn, was approaching a door, answering it ...

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

And now his ...

The door flew open, the man 's base connecting with it, sending it bulleting inwards, hitting her with it against the expression. Blinding pain kept her conscious, for the world was Black be-speckled, and her screaming form fell to set ashore in the front foyer.

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

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

The blond haired giant dropped a stifle onto the girl 's back, pinning her to the base. The flash of a shoot down tongue drawn from a casing caught Harry 's eye, and the Edward Young man, who now bore a look of the furthermost fury.

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

The golden haired man was already charging, but the devil had drawn a gun and fired before James Whitcomb Riley could even accomplish her ...

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

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

The girl was bucking on the trading floor, screaming, nearly freezing in fear as line of descent pooled from Riley 's bureau wound, his eighteen year old physical structure twitching spasmodically, his sass gaping, gasping for breath ...

Yet Riley had crawled, leaving a smeared track of crimson Death on the linoleum base in his wake, for he had been ineffectual to let his picayune babe be pillaged ...

His dying breath came, the daughter 's centre wide with horror for only her brother, as the go against knife plunged into young Kaylens', deep into the back of her eight twelvemonth old shoulder blade.

Hot, fiery botheration intensified, followed by a tingling sensory faculty of the most curious kind ...

He could almost feel what she had ... Her articulatio humeri was tingling, picayune pin pecker attacking her skin as they would when her base would rouse up from falling asleep ...

Her hysteric screams only intensified, and Harry watched in horror as the monster gripped her hair, yanking her school principal back roughly as Harry once himself had done to her, before slamming her cheek savagely into the linoleum.

'' Were going to have some fun are n't we petty girl ? Are n't we ! ? ! ? ! Just as soon as you shut your bloody mouth and assure me where that sweet fiddling brother of yours is ... ''

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

In Voldemort 's mind he had seen grownup wither in botheration and downslope apart at so lots less ...

His nerve broke as he watched her humble form continue struggling, screaming, yet the man only pinned her face down to the floor harder, dragging the long horse knife across her shoulder in a long, cruel personal credit line ...

A swirl of people of color, and he was gone. Thrust out not by conjuration, but by the beast handgrip someone had taken up on the back of his robe, yanking him away from her. He staggered backwards, disoriented, his arm flailed into the torch bearer ...

His arm was on flaming, burning him, the flames licking up his arm when somebody floored him, dousing him with water system.

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

Kaylens stood motionless, still pressed against the wall, trash white, silent rent streaming down her beautiful face. A bingle slender mitt was clutching her shoulder. The same one he had grabbed roughly. The same one he had seen stabbed viciously ...

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

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

'' Shut it Harry ! ``

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








'' The expiry of one man is a cataclysm. The end of millions is a statistic. ''
~ Joseph Stalin ~



Chapter 19 ~ Le Règne d'Enfer Commence


Once his mind awakened, his humor dimmed by the doped wine-colored he had willfully taken, it was not the darkness, nor his unfamiliar surroundings, nor even the mask figure patiently waiting besides him that he noticed.

It was the cold air.

He sniffed.

They were coming ...

Just as he had.

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

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

Two Day after the incident with Kally and Harry, he had received a blank gasbag addressed to him, sealed with the Dark Mark.

After reading it 's contents, it 's offer of condom haven from the cruel, prejudiced Ministry standing in cruel contrast to the death eater 's own damaging opinion, Dumbledore had asked the one affair of him that he had felt unable to do.

He had asked him to turn over joining them.

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

The other loup-garou began emerging from the tube corridors surrounding him. Here the walls were lined with osseous tissue. Femurs rising up like sadistic tower from hell, supporting the long line of skulls outlining the subversive passages. aplomb piss dripped rhythmically from the damp roof, wetting his sweating scalp.

There was only one berth in the earthly concern that flaunted such morbidness. abstruse beneath the streets of Paris, over sixty million of a time long past lay dead. Their skeleton in the cupboard disassembled, grouped systematically to imprint walkways, a remnant of a darker time.

Upon drinking the dose wine, the demise eater had said he would awake in the Empire of Death. Only now did he understand what he had meant.

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

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

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

'' After our last-place coming together I must intromit that I am surprise to see you here. ``

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

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

Lucius gave him an appraising facial expression, before reaching forth a cloaked hand to beckon the others forward. Half a dozen other cloaked trope emerged from the shadows, forming a circuit around him.

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

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

Voldemort had truly found a way to moderate their transformations.

Werewolves could now rove the world at will.

'' The gaunt one ... '' Lucius said sneeringly. `` Is a wretched self-justification of a thoroughbred, friend of the thrower .... ''

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

'' Spaaaaaare us the speech communication brute. '' Interrupted the one who had brought him there. `` What we need to get it on is if we can intrust you. ``

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

'' If you do n't commit me how do you be after on accomplishing that ? '' Remus countered, not wanting to sound too eager.

Lucius smiled evilly. `` I 'm so gladiolus you asked. '' He withdrew a silver flask from his air hole, tossing it to him.

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

'' Tsk, tsk. Not too trusting are we blood traitor ? '' Lucius chided.

'' Not really. ``

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

Remus scoffed. `` By choice. ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' It keeps me alive. ``

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

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

'' Meaning that you will take in the ability, like nigh of us here, to transmute at will. The moon will no longer control it 's might over you. ``

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

Lucius halted. `` Once it 's drunk, you will hump what the taste of human form smell like. '' His pale eyes shone with a homicidal glean. `` They say once you know that, there is no going back. You will crave it forever. Your valued Mudblood lovers will never accept you back once you desire the perceptiveness of meat. ``

Remus felt his interior run cold. Now there was a catch neither Dumbledore nor himself had thought of. It was too perfect really. They did n't hope him, and they would generate him something that would make him starve man anatomy so much that he was bound to conjoin their side, regardless of his intentions upon first coming there.

'' I told you. '' Snarled a woman 's voice. She must have seen his hesitation, smelt his fear. `` It was a mistake bringing him here. ``

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

He turned to the unidentified witch, smirking as evilly as possible. `` The solely mistake was not seeing what those Ministry by-blow have kept from me my all life. ``

He felt the air thicken with tension.

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

Remus curled his sassing back, tilting the flask to his lips, chugging it down. liquidity attack flowed through his vena, energizing him, changing his molecular make up ...

A yummy, tantalizing gustatory modality filled his backtalk, leaking over his natural language, overwhelming his senses so that he nearly lost himself to it.

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

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

He tilted his head back and howled.

Lucius stepped forward, a woman chaser like snarl on his face. `` receive ... ''

'' Brethren. ``
* * * * *


The rain hammered down, darkening the tombstones. A small girl was crouched besides one, sheltering beneath the comforting dryness of her star speckled umbrella, her braiding flapping lightly in the breaking wind. The resemblance to her female parent was striking.

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

Emily Bothan had just asked her mother to come home soon. She missed her bedtime fairy tales. While she told her mother 's slab of stone this, Emily meticulously arranged, then rearranged, the heyday in the bouquet her father and her had brought.

mom only deserved the scoop.

Emily has said so herself, when she had spent the better share of an hour searching the floral boutique, seeking out the sodding arrangement of irises and hydrangeas. Mummies favorites.

Tonks sniffled, allowing the loose zephyr to inconspicuously dry her eyes.

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

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

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

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

Tonks smiled sadly, not agreeing. The fiasco had been entirely her fault. Her own incompetency leading to why his young wife, his richly school sweetie, lay beneath his daughter 's small feet. `` If anything Kenneth, your daughter saved mine. She has the bravery of one three multiplication her age. ``

'' Like her mother. '' He whispered, looking loving upon his minuscule girl, who was now recanting the case of her hebdomad into the grass.

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

Because when she looked at Kenneth, she could tell he needed his little girl to stay on just that. She prayed to God that Emily would never show the cicatrix of what she had gone through.

'' It 's such a ignominy ... '' Kenneth remarked, gesturing to his daughter, drawing her from her thought. `` That it takes something like this to happen, before maven will let mortal bang of their existence, or of any danger from them. ``

She paused thoughtfully. `` You were a chronicle John Roy Major. I trust that you are familiar with the Salem crone run. ''

President Bothan nodded. `` Yes. ``

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

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

'' They still would have got found you. '' She spoke truthfully. `` When the colossus we spoke of wants to hurt person, he will, no affair what the obstacle or cost. ``

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

The rain was letting up, a soft olfactory property wafting towards them. One that had nix to do with the flowers speckling the unfrequented cemetery.

sword lily ....

Kenneth tilted his head to the sky, breathing deeply. Sometime in the future, he would swear to Tonks that sometimes, like right then, that he could still smell out her pet blossom in the breeze.

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

They would be needing it.
* * * * *


Harry hung his headland over the butterbeer, not hearing a Holy Writ Luna said. He had tuned her out when she had started talking animatedly about the special edition of the Quibbler that workweek, the one concerning how Cornelius Fudge 's USA of Heliopaths had drowned in a freak privy flood accident in the Department of Mysteries.

The gentle gong of chime drew his attention to the room access of the trinity broomstick, just in meter to see Kaylens, Dean, and Neville walk in, their hair windswept from the rough in descent snap that day.

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

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

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

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

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

Particularly when he grabbed her again, desperately trying to stop her, to work her understand that he had not been in his right mind, only to find out that she had a rather tight right hook.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Before Harry even had a chance to marvel at her shrewdness, Luna had begun asking what form of pean a Heliopath would like at it 's funeral.

'' I wonder if their fire go out when they die ? If not then their interment methods would have to differ from our own, since they would burn right through their jewel casket ... ''

'' I guess you 'll have to get a keep of one of their bodies to chance out. '' He commented cynically.

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

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

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

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

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

Luna nodded absentmindedly. `` Harry was just thinking of apologizing to that ... Well what would you forebode her hair gloss ? '' Luna seemed to ponder this for a second before shaking out her own dirty blond mane. `` XIV carat I suppose. But I think Harry 's having a hard clock time getting up the face to talk to her. ``

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

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

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

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

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

Harry fought the urge to quetch something.

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

He grunted in response.

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

Seamus'yell of pain was preceded by a loud THUNK from beneath the board, and a call down feel from Ginny.

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

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

By this point Luna 's ever-present dreamy look had once again vanished, for she was clutching her stomach with laughter, pounding a fist on the mesa, making quite a scene as she ceased to hold back her laughter.

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

He spent the rest of the conversation sneaking hole-and-corner look across the relatively hollow pub at Kaylens. Dean and Neville seemed to be debating something, and he thought he caught the lyric 'bloody thesteral'more than once, while Kaylens stirred her butterbeer, sipping it through a straw like Luna, looking for all the world as if she were not listening to a single word her companions were saying.

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

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

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

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

He watched her wink over her articulatio humeri before sauntering out into the blistering wind, her red hair swirling around like a uncivilized tornado.

He smiled stupidly.

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

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

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

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

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


Drip.

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

'' It 's clip. ''

Plunk.

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

'' Dig in Hugo Wolf boy. You 're going to demand your posture for this. '' Nott chided.

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

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

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

Only now he was using them to rupture the proffered physical body, instead of just practicing his transformations, hoping Dumbledore could hatch a cure for this horrid craving he would now deal out with.

His eyes rolled nigrify, the enjoyable taste consuming him

For a second, the only thing that mattered was the pith in hand. The intellection of protecting the innocents later on, forgotten.

Drip.

Now the blood dripped from his back talk as well.
* * * * *


Kally sighed exhaustedly, wishing for the solitude of her dormitory. At least there she could recoil and scream, venting without the prying eyes of others following her every move, as ceramist seemed to be doing from his hind end in the umbrageous tail of the pub.

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

She relaxed, allowing her elbows to prop herself up. She cast a glance resolutely down the bar 's parry, stirring her drinking straw around in her empty, bear-sized, mug. It was a spooky use she had picked up as a tyke, when she used to wrench them into random configurations. It had always been her Brother 's biggest pet peeve.

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

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

A precipitous jog caused her elbow to skid, freeing her from that billet of thought. She cast an annoy facial expression at her housemate, ignoring the shooting pain the sudden jarring had sent up her left arm.

'' The physical cicatrix, the brass scathe ... They are the least of your children 's concerns Mr. And Mrs. Kaylens ... ''

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

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

'' You look like your off in your own short world there Kaylens. I did n't sweep up you forcibly out of the castle for null today, so being a deaf-mute will just not do. '' dean said cockily.

If possible, Dean 's smile had grown even more crooked with his Book.

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

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

Seeing him looking at her expectantly, she shrugged, knowing total well he was about to start prodding Neville. Dean was someone who seemed to think that it was his personal deputation to make everyone around him laugh, and her stony secretiveness was probably pushing him to the brink of insanity.

'' Well look at this Nev. '' He commented predictably, nudging Neville so hard that the pitiful boy almost fell from his pot. `` We 've got ourselves a deaf-and-dumb person. I guess that means she ca n't back talk now can sh ... ''

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

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

In the end, she had gotten vomit up of dean 's persistence and given in.

The sideboard vibrated as the Three Broomsticks'waitress magicked three butterbeers to them with a loud clunk. The liquid frothed a bit around the edges.

catching their questioning looks the new witch flashed a dazzling, dimpled smile. `` good manners of the man in the cover. ''

She eyed the new butterbeer with a sound sense of distrust, before exchanging glances with Neville and Dean. She spun around on the bar ordure, catching survey of the solely patrons still in the backrest of the pub.

No sodding way in hell did he transport us this .... She thought with no small total of ira.

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

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

C. H. Best to get this over with ...

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

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

The daughter with him smiled dazedly, humming some unrecognisable strain, and Kally suppressed the urge to stare her pile. But the most infuriating thing was ceramicist himself.

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

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

'' Oh ? '' She quipped sarcastically. `` And why 's that ? So you could lace it with truth blood serum and question me in that swarthy pub down the street ? I must admit Potter, if that's the case you 're losing your contact. ''

She leaned down till their faces were storey, using the table for equaliser. `` After all ... '' She hissed quietly, ignoring the blonde 's verbalism. `` Why drug someone for selective information when you can just hex it out of them. ``

Potter continued wiping at the table, ineffectual to suffer her eyes.

'' dig ! ``

Kally jumped ever so slightly, ignoring Potter 's amused construction. She turned an eye on the blonde, who had just slammed her hands down on the tabularise top like an excited four twelvemonth old. The little girl 's protrubent blue air eyes were now so wide they looked ready to pop out of her skull.

'' Harry you would n't listen if I excused myself would you ? '' She said excitedly. `` All this tenseness could attract an Ira, and I want to be in the best patch to see one. ``

Without waiting for an answer the young woman stood, not noticing their identical verbalism of bewilderment, and began shoving spare straws into her lime green purse, speech production in a far off voice.

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

The girl marched off to the other English of the pub, turned to face the wall, and stared blankly at it. Kally caught a few glimpses of blanch blue eyes flickering their way, and each time this would happen the blonde girl would grunt unhappily, stereotype her foot, and resume staring at the wooden siding as if frustrated.

What the hell was that abo ...

'' Look Kaylens ... ''

His trespass brought her spinal column to the position at hand, and she narrowed her eyes shrewdly. `` Ah your famous origin. '' She whispered harshly. `` So which personality do I get today Potter ? Because really, this split personality affair is getting to be a bit of a worry. ``

Potter 's oculus rose, meeting her own in a way she had thought the coward incapable of, and for a second his pleased spirit faltered. He blinked oddly, drawing in a mysterious, audible intimation. `` Kaylens ... '' He said quietly. `` I tried to apologize for that once already, and it 's a bit unvoiced to explain, but I was n't exactly myself when I did tha ... ''

Her heart widened considerably. `` Did it ever occur to you, in that thick skull of yours, that I might not give a tinker's damn whether you apologized or not ? ``

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

Trust him to get that up, she thought angrily, quick to drive back the uprising of disgrace within herself.

She swallowed hard. `` Glad to see your not quite that oblivious thrower. '' She muttered, forcing her vox icy. `` I would think by now that any cook up apologies would be a mute distributor point. ``

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

He spoke so seriously, too seriously for someone their age. `` And I did n't even get the fortune to apologize for the early night ... '' He continued, his Adam 's apple rising rhythmically. `` Since I did n't see getting decked again, I figured sending you a boozing was the best apologia I could arrive up with on short notice. At least the best one that could save me a safe space away, while getting you to do over here. ''

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

He began to didder his head in the negative but she cut him off, the full weight unit of his insulting, woefully inadequate gesture sinking in.

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

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

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


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

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

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

It was shaking.

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

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

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

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

The same dimpled young lady now had her baton drawn, a blank grammatical construction drawn upon her feature of speech, striking a horrifying similarity to a porcelain doll.

'' Stupefy ! '' She hissed mechanically.

As if in slow motion, Rosmerta fell, her limp form disappearing behind the bar 's wooden tabulator. The shabu she had been cleaning took flight, hovering in mid-air for a small eternity, before breaking free of it 's unearthly suspension, shattering across the comeback.

For the first of all time in it 's history, the Three Broomsticks fell silent. Only the howl of the October wind, leaking in through the windows, proved to him that he had not fallen into some fearful soundless film.

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

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

hours seemed to deliver passed, but the clock registered mere seconds.

Seeing Ginny 's wand haltingly rise, her movements faltering, as if some invisible effect were yanking her arm forcibly up against her will, was what finally broke him free of his obtuse move reverie.

His blood ran frigidity at her vacuous expression.

'' EVERYBODY DOWN ! '' He shouted, overturning the table. liquidness splattered, and their evacuate stiff mugful had not even struck land before the 1st green swearing flew from Ginny 's verge.

His own already drawn, he screamed a mantrap, watching the killing torment miss Ron 's dismayed fount by inches.

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

'' Kaylens move ! '' He hollered, but she did not demand telling twice. She was already dropping down, covering her head as a great deal of wooden shard whizzed by, an outpouring from the now smoldering chair before her.

A stunner grazed his ear, and his dead body jerked instinctively away from the heat, and in that undivided endorsement he lost sight of her.

Somewhere in the dim background of his brain the screech of the other patrons began to register.

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

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

Très could not hear their pleas, with his ear duration hair flung over his eyes, his arm jerkily fired blindly at bookman, patron, citizenry ...

Grabbing the side of the overturned, round table, Harry heaved it to the side, rolling it with all his durability, scrambling behind it like a rat until it hunkered to a stay. ineffectual to go any farther, for an unconscious body now blocked it 's progress, he found the incoming to the bar in sight.

It ran the distance of the pub, and Ginny and Très'backs were now to it. If he could just get behind it he 'd have secure natural covering until he was right on them ...

He dove for it, leaving the cover of his table behind, rolling across broken chairwoman leg and glass until he came to a stoop behind it.

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

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

Her body went careening to the side, her sceptre flung from her grasp as she passed out succeeding to Rosmerta 's hobble form.

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

Reaching the end near the refinement covered windowpane, he hastily pocketed the wands in his trousers, leaping to his infantry, the disarming spell partially formed on his lips.

His words died there.

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

Across the room Ron leapt to his pes, abandoning the impermanent shelter of a overthrow bench to dash to where Hermione and Luna fought unaided.

There was no time to consider, to dip, to react.

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

Hermione 's brown eye widened, her mouth caught in a smother, tacit wail, and Luna only just pulled her to the background before the side by side green spell whizzed by.

time froze.

All was still.

The blank aspect of the Imperious bane faltered upon Ginny Weasley 's typeface, unabashed pain replacing it for but a second.

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

Before the disarming spell could exit his lips, a grueling fist collided with his skull, sending the world blurring until it 's unholy resplendence faded to shameful.
* * * * *


The phone of diminished metrical unit, pattering in the rain, accompanied Emily 's return. The sound of her quiet hum lingered like a breath of fresh air upon Tonks'spike.

The minuscule child stepped out onto the pebbled path, quickly shutting her tiny umbrella before scurrying to huddle below Tonks'.

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

But for now, Kenneth gave her a small, anguish smile, before setting off across the squashy burial ground grass.

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

She adjusted the umbrella so the runoff would not dribble onto the little princess'question, never noticing the thoughtful look that suddenly passed across Emily 's tiny face.

Feeling the insistent tugging on her arm she looked down, two small brownish eyes meeting her own. Emily looked rather pensive.

As Tonks inwardly wondered what one should say to a kid who has just lost her mother, Emily spoke.

'' Your friends are in hassle Nymph. ``



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

Recommended fib of the Week :

Never Tickle a Sleeping firedrake by Edward III Ollivander ( He has a fabulous and creative 6th year fan fable featuring a HP/GW conjugation, and it is completed. )

nighttime tendency by Two Sadists ( They have a 7th year fan fable featuring a HP/OC pairing. )

pic couresty of the previously mentioned public field web site. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.






disavowal : All characters, places, and ideas taken from the Harry potter book series are property of JKR. However, the idea of a Reach is owned by me, since I have taken the theme of a orbit from a series that I am writing, and adapted it ever so slightly to fit this fan-fiction serial.






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



Chapter 20 ~ Nowhere to Run


'' Tonksie are you okay ? ''

Emily 's afters articulation carried upon the hint, nearly drowned out by the speech sound of rain pounding upon the umbrella.

She could only rock her top dog, shaken as a cool picnic swirled around them. Thankfully such shade of look were lost upon the child, who 's head was tilted back, her mouth wide candid, catching rainfall drops.

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

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

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

'' It 's okay I like the rain. '' Emily declared, darting out from beneath the umbrella, stomping her feet merrily in the assembling pool. `` I like puddles too ! ``

Tonks blinked in surprise. The youngster 's mother had been drowned in one barely a fortnight ago.

'' Your friends are in problem nymph. ``

Emily 's sopping wet gold braid swung about her face, her arms held out as she spun in band, her psyche tilted skyward catching the rain.

'' Tonksie come play ! ``

Tonksie ... Only Remus called her Nymph.

'' My God ... '' She whispered, her consistence temperature dropping in a way that had nada to do with the wind.

Over Emily 's twirling figure she could see Kenneth Bothan kneeling in the soggy cemetery grass. His wife 's grave lay before him, the carefully placed irises scattering in the heavy wind.

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


Remus'ovular center opened upon the worst of sights.

Hogsmeade ...

It 's empty locale lay before him, dead leaves billowing across the dust-covered pathway leading through the affection of the village.

Not a soul was in sight.

Ghost town ...

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

Too close.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend.

'' pigeon hawk ... '' He whispered, staggering, the October pushover biting chilly strain across his skin.

loup-garou had no use for wear.

Roughly, an unclothed forearm scratched across his mentum. Flecks of dried stock flaked away, sprinkling the primer with a sinister looking dust. It 's morbidness was a stark admonisher of his recently fulfilled thirst.

'' Surprised half-breed ? ``

Instinctually, angrily, his chela extended, breaking his skin with a fiery botheration. He did not answer Nott, instead he growled lowly, extending his pinna into foresightful points.

The hairsbreadth sprouting, prickling his pointed capitulum, brought the deathly quiet village to lifespan. Farther off ... In the essence of town .... Pleas ... .. Offers of salvation in commutation for allegiance ... ..

'' That fool of an old man will never experience what hit him. '' Nott 's pharyngeal vocalism was flooded deeply with hate. `` Well be here and gone before he even gets out his Alice Malsenior Walker. ``

Not if I can assist it ...

Lucius'indecipherable growl cut in, breaking through his raging thoughts, arousing something far darker ...

It was time to change.

An abnormal oestrus filled his veins.

Upon the ground where Remus Lupin had been, now stood a werewolf, the nipping olfactory property of freshly spilled blood inundating it 's mother wit.

The wolf pawed the ground eagerly.
* * * * *


His body, felt like it was being drug across ice. It ached, splintering as item-by-item shard sliced his skin.

shard .... sherd ... He tried to grasp onto the word to no avail. It 's elusive meaning fled from his pounding skull.

The tight bobby pin on his ankles disappeared, and his feet dropped unceremoniously to the flooring. A moment later the replication in the storey panel indicated another body being dumped besides him.

Ron ...

With a jerked meat he was awake, the salty tear of torment tainting his lips.

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

He turned his head in a vain hunt, struggling to take a shit sense of the blurry populace before him. A flash of the palest of yellow caught his eye.

Drifting in and out of focal point was Luna Lovegood, sitting crisscross legged, her wrists tightly bound within her lap, languid blue eyes fixated upon him concernedly.

'' Why how-do-you-do Harry. '' She said congenially.

Just thinking sent a precipitous throb through his skull, and he quickly discovered his arms to be bound behind his back.

With a foil thump he hit his hired hand against the trading floor, a stabbing pain ripping his fist.

He did not want Luna 's announcement to know that a shard of drinking glass now stuck from his hand. The warmth welling from it, trickling down his fingertips, was enough to inform him.

A single crimson driblet fell free, it 's sound reverberating through his hollow chest.

Drip.

The suffocating system of weights of despair struck him hard, paralyzing him.

Drip.

Ron was gone.

Drip.

Ginny 's unwilling paw had done the unthinkable.

Drip.

Death Eaters were in Hogsmeade.

Drip.

A strangled sob shattered the silence.

Drip.

His clenched fist snapped shut, tugging at the dressing. His center, blurred with rage, searched the destroy pub, taking it in with cold calculation.

Drip.

The floor now resembled a greenhouse, a tattered works holder had sent soil strewing across it.

Drip.

Butter beer and other intermixture pooled together in frothy puddles, broken chair and overturned tables creating hazardous paths.

dribble.

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

Drip.

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

Drip.

In the blank where neither glass nor grunge lay, patron did.

Drip.

Half a 12, either unconscious mind or dead, lay upon the floor at scattered intervals.

Drip.

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

Drip.

'' pudden-head crying Mudblood ! ``

Hermione ...

She lay collapsed against the far wall, her limb bound like his own.

Drip.

Before her towered a harangue image clad in smutty, and clenched within the savage confines of the Death eater 's clenched fist trailed long locks of bushy hair.

A large bruise ran the duration of her teardrop stained cheek.

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

His breath caught in his throat.

Dolohov.

The image of Hermione 's limp strain in the section of Mysteries flashed through his brain. She had nearly died at Dolohov 's deal ...

'' What do you think here Ludovic ? Should I finish her off ? '' The Death Eater called out, kneeling in front of her. `` Or what about you Mudblood ? Care to unite your worthless red-headed protagonist over there ? '' Dolohov chided, poking her like a type slug with the end of his wand.

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

He recoiled, a look of the purest repugnance over-sweeping his wasted features. `` Oh you filthy ... '' He muttered, frantically wiping his cheek in the folding of his cloak.

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

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

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

Ludovic appeared unconcerned, and began filling two whiskey glasses. `` Antonin what you need is a undecomposed, cadaver drink. ''

Dolohov scowled, quickly aiming a mightily kick to Hermione 's midsection. The chap of her rib echoed between the pub 's rampart, as did Harry and Neville 's rallying cry of protest.

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

Dolohov turned, his wand raised threateningly. `` One. More. intelligence. Ludovic. Just. One. ``

Ludovic raised his hands in a conciliatory manner, knocking his cowling from his face in the process.

'' Now Dolohov she 's just a young lady. All I was saying is tha .... '' But the relief of his words were lost upon Harry, for beneath the bench vise of the disconsolate exhaust hood was the schoolboyish aspect of Ludo Bagman.
* * * * *


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

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

Her barely concealed urgency rang true within the Chief Executive 's ears, for he was already sprinting back to where they stood.

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

Emily squirmed, her auburn principal following her father 's onward motion towards them. `` Daddy, your genu are all muddy. '' She scolded seriously.

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

Tonks nodded, relinquishing the girl to withdraw her sceptre. The ever-increasing chill was closing in. It would n't be long ...

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

'' No clip to explain. '' She responded, taking off down the way. She could hear Kenneth 's grave footfalls behind her, splashing in the muddied water.

They rounded the curve in the pathway, the enceinte grove of trees falling away to give away the drab lot. The car, their leakage, was in sight, yet heavy despair drenched her soul.

Nymphadora 's feet slid in the gravely mud, and she came to a check, throwing out an arm out to block off what was left of the Bothan family.

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

Kenneth 's sorry eyes quickly blinked away water. `` Tonks what 's thi ... ''

'' pop we need to run. Please daddy run. '' Emily was pleading hysterically, her grimace buried into Kenneth 's shoulder.

Staring ahead at the looming figures, Tonks could only rock her head.

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


'' YOU ! ''

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

Dolohov scoffed. `` Precious ceramist indeed. secernate me Potter, how was your wittle nappy ? ``

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

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

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

In the distant backdrop he could hear Neville 's drop dead stuttering.

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

'' Not too good Mr. traveling salesman. '' Luna 's brumous vocalization drifted out, answering for him as he gaped like a Fish. `` Harry 's been having a rough year, as you can see. ``

A pitiless snort came from Dolhov 's direction.

'' He lost his godfather, and with citizenry such as yourself switching sides and betraying him, I trust you can see why. '' Luna continued casually.

Bagman was suddenly refilling his drink.

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

bagman 's glass stopped halfway to his brim, middle widening defensively. It was a instant before his composure returned.

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

'' Lovegood. '' She supplied.

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

A strange calm had overtaken him, the slight shaking of his own deal lost upon him. `` It 's just that your content with allowing others to do it for you. '' He said disdainfully. `` Your message with being a coward, with siding with what is well-off rather than what is rightfield. ``

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

'' At least they do n't pour down anyone ! '' Harry bellowed, branch shaking with suppressed furiousness.

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

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

Besides him Luna nodded favorable reception, her fingers drumming against her dressing to some unrecognizable strain.

'' When you disappeared my Gram was worried about you ! Y-you ... Your .... '' Across the elbow room Neville Longbottom 's voice rang out, surprising everyone.

Harry caught a glimpse of Neville 's uncharacteristically contorted face.

It was frightening.

'' Your no break than Bellatrix you slime ! ''

The poignant accusation hung thickly in the air, no one speaking. Bagman had become very concern in his drink, shifting uncomfortably under the angry centre of all save for Dolohov.

For mortal to turn their backs, on even the Ministry, in favor of Voldemort ...

It was unforgivable.

Drip.

He had nearly forgotten how his own hands bled, the luminance headed feeling out of place for the situation. Fortunately the free flow of red-faced life was slowing, his coagulation element finally kicking in.

Harry shook his top dog, ignoring the rebuff spin of the existence. `` You were acquitted once Bagman. '' He hissed, eyes scanning the room for a way out. `` So tell me, were you a namby-pamby Sir Noel Pierce Coward back then too, or just stupid ? ``

Bagamn cringed. `` Harry I was never a destruction feeder ! ''

'' But you are now. '' His voice quivered. `` So tell me, why 'd you do it ? ''

Dolohov 's smug face betrayed even his interest in the answer, and Harry was not about to let the dying eater distraction go to waste.

hold them talking ... Keep them distracted ...

His script began roaming across the story behind him, feeling for another needlelike splinter of glass.

'' wellspring you know Harry, hob, they 're foul business enterprise. '' Ludo said, fidgeting. `` You know how they are if they 're after ya and ... ''

Harry did his salutary to glare, feigning interest as Ludo 's forehead creased curiously.

'' ejaculate to call back of it you probably do n't Harry. But it 's not fun business, goblin debt gatherer that is. And since the Ministry was n't about to increase my salary these boys said they 'd be glad to aid me out of my jam ... ''

'' That you got yourself into ! '' Neville shouted furiously from across the room.

Bagman eyed Neville warily. `` I can see where you 'd cogitate that but ... ''

'' BUT WHAT ! ? '' Neville roared.

Luna inconspicuously sent a better bottleful piece sliding his way, his fingerbreadth coiling around it like a snitch.

'' But these death Eaters, they 're not so bad. ``

Harry very nearly dropped the shard, his oculus bulging out.

'' Not so bad ? '' He repeated gruffly.

Bagman nodded vigorously. `` No ! Not at all Harry ! In fact their rather ... ''

'' William Tell that ... '' He hissed lowly. `` To my mum and dad. Tell that to Sirius. say that to Ron ! ''

An odd expression crossed bagman 's side. `` Now Harry really .... ''

Harry 's lips parted, charge dripping as thick as the blood from his coiled fists, only the sound never came.

The indulgent sound, and waver of movement upon the base, drew the breath straight from his lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He breathed softly. He had nearly forgotten ...

'' Ah another one to join the fray ? '' Dolohov called cheerfully, sauntering over to where she lay, partially concealed by an overturned table.

The Death Eater reached her, roughly dragging her squirming form up.

'' Ca n't leave you unloose to cast around now can we ? '' He hissed, drawing unnaturally close to her.

Harry 's stomach lurched wretchedly as Dolohov 's lips grazed her blood stained cheek.

'' After all, fervid peevishness like you ... ''

'' Get. Your Hands. Off. Her. '' Harry spat dangerously, drawing Dolohov 's attention to him. Anything to get him away from her ... She looked set up to collapse ...

The end Eater regarded him coldly. `` Or you 'll do what exactly ? ``

'' You do n't desire to know. '' He hissed lowly, ceasing the sawing movement upon his back. He could n't afford to let Dolohov see ....

'' Oh but I do ! '' He said menacingly, a cruel grin lighting his absolutely eyes. `` I 'd very much like to bonk what Precious Potter thinks he could do to me. ``

His eyes narrowed, a cruel smile of his own crossing his features.

'' I could render you why Voldemort is so afraid of me. '' He whispered threateningly.

The electric cord winding around Kaylens'wrist snapped pissed, Dolohov 's tense clasp betraying his agitation.

Harry went on, the room swaying unnaturally as he spoke with malicious metre. `` Or you could do yourself a favor Dolohov, and leave. Leave before you make me really wild. ''

Dolohov shifted uncomfortably, mirroring roadman 's movements. He took the chance to slowly slice at his bandaging yet again.

The ice, slick with his own rakehell, nearly fell from his grip. Thankfully the error was lost upon the Death feeder, for Dolohov had chosen that moment to flex Kaylens around, hissing something into her tangled tresses furiously.

His wrist rundle with the painfulness, brought about by another slip of the meth, as Kaylens torso was tossed besides him.

His sawing drive halted, his optic drawn to where she lay, panting faintly besides him.

'' There ... `` Dolohov sneered. `` Enjoy your mudblood admirer Precious Potter. Once our Maker gets here we 'll see how brave you really are. ``

He swallowed hard, watching Kaylens'center flicker open. He wanted to say something, anything ...

He had failed her ...

Hermione 's mortal wrenching step brought a grimace of fright to both their feature of speech.

'' Brave ? '' Hermione 's weak voice chided from where she sat, propped against the wall. `` You ask him about bravery ? He 's sixteen, not even a fully qualified thaumaturgist, yet you fear him so much as to demilitarise him and bind him. ''

She spat all of this into Dolohov 's approaching face, just before his hand reared back, slapping her roughly to the floor.

She let out not a cry, peering upwards through her narrowed, swelling eyes, just in time to see a darkness boot rearing back.

'' Hey Dolohov ! ``

Dolohov 's foot froze mid-kick, hate-filled eyes flying towards Neville 's podgy human face.

'' You do n't want to do that. ''

Dolohov 's thick eyebrows disappeared beneath his mangey hair. `` You presume to parliamentary procedure me around boy ? ''

Neville shrugged casually. `` You can pollute yourself if you want. '' He sounded uncharacteristically Slytherin. `` I did n't bring in dirty line of descent suited a Death feeder. ``

Dolohov laughed roughly, buying Harry more time.

Neville you 're a saint ...

A drop of salty sweat broke liberate from his forehead, rolling into his oral fissure. Setting his jaw he worked, the glassful shard digging into his thick back.

Snap.

The shard slid so low, so fast, he nearly cut too deep, the breath of painful sensation catching fast in his throat.

The bindings were looser.

Twisting his men testingly, he found with the first fiber 's severing had come a not bad range of movement.

Eyes locked onto Dolohov 's fist, slamming into Neville 's jaw, he twisted his wrists, ignoring the burning adept of dried combat injury ripping open. Warm, thick lifespan descent welled from these spots, his scabbed over fingers feeling in his cloak ...

They had taken his wand, but Rosmereta 's ... The waitress'...

Polished burnt sienna brushed beneath his jumpy cutis, Kaylens'luminous center meeting his own, inclusion shining within their flaming depths ...

He could gain the sequestered wands.

He was armed.
* * * * *


'' pumpkin vine ... Honey mum needs you to do mummy a favor. Can you do that honey ? ``

She whimpered, her face buried in her father 's rainwater soaked suit. She wanted to count away, but she could n't. The cold tactile sensation was there. She could hear her mum, she wanted to see her, to hug her, but she was too scared to take care away from the rubber of her forefather 's arms.

'' Do you miss your mummy footling girl ? Would you like to see her ? ``

Emily squeezed her eyes harder, will the vocalism away. `` It 's not mama ... '' She whispered. `` I ca n't see mummy ... ''

Ah, ah, ah, ah ... lilliputian darling your mummy is busy now. Ca n't you see that ? ``

She shook her head frantically, squeezing her dad 's neck. `` No ... No .... ''

'' Open your eyes you slight bitch ! ``

The cruel dame 's dark centre danced in her head. She did n't want to see the madam again. She did n't need to.

'' Daddy ... '' She whimpered frightfully.

'' No not daddy. Mummy ! You wanted to see her little holy terror, so here, LOOK ! ''

Daddy would give his eyes ... He would. He was n't afraid of anything. Maybe if she opened her eyes the madam would go away again.

Emily swallowed, counting hard to ten.

'' Please mum ... ''

Emily 's watery eyes opened, a benighted suit of clothes pelage staring back.

mama needed up. She needed air. The tight man was there again, shoving her face into the puddle. Her mama did n't care water.

Emily cried out, screeching, shaking her head back and forth, throwing the images away. She wanted them to go. Her damp, rain-soaked braids flung into her father 's face as she shook, but she did not notice.

'' Kenneth take Emily and go. ``

'' Tonks what 's ... ''

'' You ca n't see them Kenneth, but they 're there. ``

'' No ... '' Her own whimpers rang in her ears, her icy hands shaking her mum. Whey was n't mummy waking ? She had to ... `` No ... ''

'' Tonksie ! '' Had she shouted ? Could the nice lady get wind her ?

'' Kenneth get to the car. drive away. ``

'' Tonks I ca n't leave ... ''

'' I 'll be fine. Just go. NOW ! ``

Emily 's reeling world reeled More, for her father had taken off at fast dash, splashing H2O over her stage.

In the dim background, somewhere beyond her mother 's screams, she could get word the nice dame shouting something.

Her world dimmed away as a silvery dog ran past.

Mummy always liked dogs ...
* * * * *


Releasing the scepter for what he promised would be only moments, he continued sawing at his bandaging, slowly, rhythmically, trying to take in precious centimeter of mobility ...

He was armed, and the realization had numbed him, his next move horribly elusive.

With the rhythmic sawing of the sherd, his mind fell curiously blank for the number one time in what felt millennia.

His gaze fell upon her as she moved, shoving herself up from where she lay on the floor, implements of war shaking fiercely, be it from shock or the pain he knew she daily bore, he did not know.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered softly, grasping for something, anything familiar in the horror that was his life.

She fell into place besides him, so close, her bloodied sleeve nearly brushing against his skin. She was blocking Dolohov 's view of what he was doing, he knew it without even asking, for her heart swept the room as those of the hunted would.

She was being as cautious as him, despite the tenuous sway to her stature.

Snap.

Another thread of the rope broke absolve, it 's dismission masked by her sudden, purposeful coughing.

Her drumhead fell forward, her coughs lingering long enough to seem unfeigned, and her favourable, tangled locks came cascading down, falling over her middle, veiling her formula from all but him. To his eyes each shimmering strand, glinting in the sluggish good afternoon glow, as well as her watery orbs, remained visible, as well as her bound wrist, white and lacerated from where she had frantically pulled, struggling for discharge in Dolohov 's arms.

The mongrel would never again lay a finger upon her.

He would never again lay a finger upon anyone.

Harry thrower had a few iniquity spells he was quite eager to try out.

Snap.

'' How much longer do you imagine it 'll be till he finishes questioning the Village Antonin ? ``

Dolohov sneered. `` Ludovic you are trying my patience as much as the half-blood and these ... '' The shadow gaze of the man scanned the elbow room, taking in the few conscious educatee and the two patrons bound and lined against the walls. `` These spares. ``

'' But what if the ministry .... ''

Dolohov kicked the storey, sending shatter glassful skittering across Dean 's fallen form. `` We will be here and gone before those fools catch breaking wind of this. Besides, these things are soft matters ... ''

Questioning ? His spike listened, silently taking it all in. Besides him Kalliandra appeared to be doing the same, while Luna shifted the glass shards on the floor around with her feet.

commercial traveler seemed besides himself with questions. Harry mentally egged him on to be loose lipped.

'' Perhaps we could bedaze them all and take them back ourselves ? ``

Dolohov scowled in his way. `` He will not be needing all of them. And you would do well to save your mouth shut from now on or I will shut it for you. ``

The give-and-take ended.

It was then that he heard it.

'' You ... ''

Only he had heard her whispered accusation, for it could be nothing else. The sheer repulsion in that one, whispered word left nil to question.

Her optic had moved from Dolohov, drifting into the background beyond, liquidity fire boiling beyond their depths. Lifting his own he followed her regard to where Ludo bagman stood, pouring himself another fidgety drink.

He turned his confusion upon her, noticing her chest 's rhythmic rising as her breaths came quicker, abstruse, faster ...

Golden middle flickered shut, a pain expression falling across her.

'' How sorry were you ? '' She breathed to herself, only barely, for the hate saturating her delicate tones was not lost upon him.

It was chilling.

His own boiling line froze as he studied her, taking advantage of the quiet in activities.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered, almost pleadingly.

Her hateful gaze burned right through him, straight to Bagman.

'' Kaylens please ... ''

Her eyes fell shut, her fists opening and shutdown on melt off air. `` You 're bleeding Potter, are you alright ? '' She whispered shakily.

Gently brushing his arm against her own, he waited for some preindication that she was alright.

Minutes passed, before fragile eyelids flickered open, her eyes alight with an aberrant glow.

'' Good. '' She murmured. `` Because I can only give you a mo. ``

His mouth flapped wordlessly, shocked at the shift before him.

Where his skin lightly touched her own, an unnatural tingling had begun.
* * * * *


The energy reverberating from him drew her nearer, an timeless existence loss before she was able-bodied to forcibly force away.

His confusion radiated in startling quantity, but he would understand soon enough.

They would all sympathise ...

She would not stray near him again, for her Earth was moving unnaturally slow up, as if the upshot occurring around her were illusive, pass off look-alike from horrible dreams that would surely fell with a pennon of merciful consciousness.

Only no such merciful breeze came.

Her bound hands rose from her lap, tracing the pinnace line of her jaw, feeling her cooling skin. Somewhere, amidst the combat, she had fallen, shoved away by Dean. The dried smear of stemma along her cheek gave evidence to that.

She could feel the heat radiating from Dean 's hobble form.

He was live ...

Hermione ...

The small girl 's digit had curled around fallen chunks of her bloodied, uprooted pilus, as if the resolute Gryffindor had wanted something to hold onto, something solid and touchable to prove the afflictions had been real.

They had ...

Her eyes fell willfully shut once more, immersing herself in the peaceful oblivion of darkness, where no ogre save her own reigned.

The memories of a resurrected night, long due revenge, beckoned.

A limp hand lay splayed across the movement corridor ... Blood trickling onto the wooden porch boards ...

'' God forgive me ... '' She breathed, the palpable chill filling her lungs.

She had made her decision.

The chilling rainfall pelted down, something dark mixing with the murky water licking at her nozzle ...

The prickling began softly, like a tripping feathering playing across her skin, traversing it 's way upwards, inwards ...

It was their roue swirling within the puddle ... .Sean 's blank oculus staring back ...

It was rolling in discrete waving, operating by it 's own indiscernible rules, pulsating from the living, evaporating from the dead.

A boyish face appeared above her, sympathy in his pelagic eyes. `` I 'm awfully lamentable about this kid ... ''

His part had echoed through that night, and again this day.

He had stood idly by once, and was again.

She squeezed her eyes shut ever fuddled, involuntarily thrill traveling through her, the heady air pressure in the very air building, pulsating in uncontrolled undulation outwards.

The world was taking on a hotter quality, every nerve burning with flaming intensity as she began reaching, feeling ...

The acrid presence of Ludovic travelling salesman filled her, and she began drawing.

Her intent was to kill.



A/N : Please forgive the generator 's note, but I believe a proper thank you is in purchase order.

Thank you for making this history the Number One darling fib on the land site, for making me the Number One Favorite generator on the web site, for making this the 7th near read fib in the site 's history when it has been out for less than a class, and for making this the narrative with the Most inspection Ever.

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