'' The unwritten law of triage is knowing when nothing else can be done, and actually accepting that. ''
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 24 ~ The total darkness consortium


Dublin, Eire. population in excess of 450,000 Muggles, 1,240 hag and wizards, and 451,240 innocents.

Since mediaeval times the locale had served as the capital letter of the free standing Republic. The Black pocket billiards, or so the Anglicism had stated. Now the expanse of demesne it rested upon stood as one of the most populated sac of isolation upon the earth.

An island.

5.8 million Muggles in the republic of Hibernia alone, another 1.7 million in Northern Ireland, and upon the entire United Kingdom acres mass, 4,694 beings of sorcerous descent.

The island contained the largest percentage of wizardly beings per caput of any place on earthly concern.

It could soon contain the dispirited.

At the mouth of the River Liffey, the bustling Black Pool of Commerce Department lay in wait, as did a woman clad in the disgusting bench vise of Muggle apparel.

The rainfall had let up considerably in equivalence to the early aurora pelting, yet the coarse drizzle did nothing to mar the once striking beauty as she stood alone upon the Lucan bridgework, sorry hair flowing in the wind like a canvas born of the Renaissance.

In accuracy, had one possessing the attainment sat to eternalize her countenance, it would bear born striking similarity to a picture that had once hung centuries earlier upon the inlaid rampart of Sarsfield palace.

The only dissimilarity between the sheet lay in the minute detail of the depicted object'hands, her picket, elegant fingers gently uncorking a gain vial, tilting it 's contents over the antediluvian brick viaduct until they churned upon the lead disturbed water below.

As the fair sex disappeared, seemingly without a trace to the eyes of Muggle passersby, the origin of the jinx began filtering into the water scheme of downtown Dublin.

The Shirley Temple Black Pool would soon reawaken a Black pestilence.
* * * * *


Love.

Because of it cities have been erected, and fallen. domicile have been made, and broken. Mere mortal have been resurrected, and forgotten.

It holds the capability of silencing the strong, immortalizing the watery, dashing the dearest of aspiration and destroying the darkest of reverence. It 's sheer power is unfathomable, and it is due to this overwhelming emotion that the human spirit is capable of being broken.

For one raven haired man, the pressure born of hate and preserved by his love was upon him as it had never before been. The blank, deadened eyes of Seamus Finnigan haunting him even as he breathed in the reassuring presence of the untested girl clutched in his weaponry, his face turned from the domain to eat up against her skin, his lonesome respite from the cruel reality that was his hell on earth, and life.

It has been said that it is only strength of type that separates the rickety from the strong, for their power to be sick look, attachment, and love aside… Therein rests their unfaltering power to do what must be done, in the darkest of metre.

Wordlessly the girl had taken him by the hand, silently leading him through the thickly coppices and bramble, disregarding the way the coarse briers tore her pelt, snaring her clothing. Her silhouette seemed unequal to of notion, and the Young man 's envy of her attainment was thickening, for each thorny prick dragging across his skin sung the guiltiness he felt, crying for his intercession in what they had left behind in Hogsmeade with the tug of a portkey.

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

The young man had been forced to pull up stakes his protagonist in the rapidly growing battle basis, for Voldemort 's evil had reared again, and again he had come out upon the lesser side, trapped as he was in the darkened timberland, incapable of helping anyone.

How was this pathetic wizard supposed to get the better of the darkest of them ?

It has also been said that strength of character is best not determined by one 's unconcern, by their ability to outdistance themselves from the situation at hand, but by their ability to experience the supplication of the weak as if they were their own onus. For it is in these individuals that the rarest of soulfulness are found, for the few who walk upon the world with burdened and broken individual are often the most capable of loving, and saving the rest of us.

His pace were sinking into the dampness earth, following in the girl 's path as they pushed their way through the thickets, stumbling into a minuscule moonlit clearing, a murky pool of water collecting near its edge.

It was perhaps the pitiful, and cruelest of ironies, that the two brave individual standing torn and battered, bathed in the blue chromaticity of moonlight filtering between the Nox sky 's mottled clouds, were the perfect exemplifications of both sides of the spectrum.

Both had been through hell itself, and survived, yet only one had come out fully capable of loving, despite the worldly concern crashing around him.

The other was still learning, and it would perhaps be the breaking of the other besides her that would finally instruct her how to again, tending without restraint.
* * * * *


October 31st, Hallowe'en, 1996.

It would forever stand as the day of infamy, as the dark when Aurors had fallen upon the town in striking force, scattering destruction Eaters to the far flung corners of the Earth, to wherever their alcove of condom lay, leaving the scarcely varnish village under the jurisdiction of the Ministry.

There was much to sort out out.

It had taken so long for them to reach it 's inhabitants, for Hogsmeade had not been the only town to settle under attack this day. And being the only all wizarding Greenwich Village in England, the Aurors had came to it 's aid concluding, for Muggle areas had few defenses, while the citizens of Hogsmeade had at least been armed.

Unlike the innocent Muggles who had been found, lifelessly sprawled upon city streets, magical beings had held the power to fight down back.

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

No others had been able-bodied to conquer the anti-apparation ward that had been erected, but the demise eater had found a way.

Throughout the UK, from Dundee to Belfast, from Diagon alley to capital of Ireland 's Aingingein Marketplace, from the Orkney islands above Scotland to the towns bordering the English TV channel, witching recesses of dwelling house and organism, small pockets of isolated homes and thaumaturge, and places of commercialism had been taken over.

They had all been targeted, held engrossed until Nox had fallen, and each surviving being of magic descent nowadays professed to have felt the same gist. A cold, worse than end quickening of the lineage that had seeped into their very souls, raising the shackles of fauna and hairs of humans, eliciting the shriek of bird of Minerva and cry of minor had fallen just at twilight, and for those stage the time falling immediately after, as townsfolk had risen up in defense, fighting back as the decease feeder fled and Aurors arrived, it would be remembered as the metre of silence.

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

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

Most had been Muggles that had strayed in the wrong place at the wrong sentence.

Seamus Finnigan had been amongst the fallen, the only if innocent to deliver died in Hogsmeade, killed by the killing scourge erupting from the Imperioused wand of Ginerva Molly Weasley.

Ginny Weasley now lay, near catatonic with the brokenheartedness of her actions, with the knowledge of her unwillingly dealt hell, in the hospital wing of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

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

It was a thought that would stalk her for the rest of her life, and while she remained silently mute under the tutelage of Pomfrey, Dean Thomas sat upon the cold corridors of the hospital annexe 's Granville Stanley Hall.

The randomness of the hall was deafening, reverberating with the frenzied step and replication of frantic parents unable to place their youngster. Very few had taken credence to Dumbledore 's authority that there were only three baby within the infirmary wing, two of whom James Dean treasured above life itself.

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

Seamus was gone ...

Ginny was no longer speaking ...

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

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

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

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

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


Somewhere, deep in the woodland, Harry calmly observed the sky. The fall leaves struck a stark contrast to the night 's sullen backdrop, and deep gray clouds blotted out all semblance of starlight, keep for the few relentless pinpoint and the shaving of Moon fighting their way through the mottle mess.

It was exquisite.

Though no amount of knockout, nor staring, could force the disturbing sentiment from his mind for long, and with a vacate suspiration he knelt before the small pond, his knees sinking into the damp globe besides Kaylens.

'' Are you okay ? ``

He heard her Word of God, yet failed to react. Instead his eyes remained glued to the hesitation important person upon the water 's airfoil. Staring back at him were the accusatory trollop optic of one whose fuck I were either gone, or in riskiness. The man in the musing was one he did not pick out, for it was a man who had killed without regret, and who would do it again.

The inky disgraceful persona was revealing how he had become all he had once abhorred, and it was a idea for which he was ill devise.

Never looking up, he finally spoke.

'' No. ``

His cupped manus plunged into the springiness, scattering the execrable reflection from its surface, rippling the smoke extending near the other embankment.

A long fourth dimension passed, the audio of scant splashing besides him mingling with audio of the night, as they both rubbed the bloodline from their hands in the icy body of water.

Upon its inky surface his reddened lineage swirled, pooling from his reopening wounds. Though the pain was something that could not strive him, numbed as his senses were from the hypothermic waters.

It was the feeling of her hands carefully wrapping around his own, that finally pulled him from his near cataleptic state. His eyes rose from the water he had hoped to submerge within, falling to rest upon her tranquil countenance.

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

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

There was no doubting what she meant, for his deal were pained at her mere touch, intertwined as they were with her cold ones, beneath the impenetrable spring 's surface. He reveled in that silence, grimacing only as she forcibly withdrew his hand from the mercifully numbing water. The coarse sting of the chill night air sent pinpricks of pain shooting through his wounds, burning his blazon in a way contradictory to the evening 's breeze.

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

That minor pub now held some of the most of import mass in his life, and he had never felt farther from it.

The sharp speech sound of cloth ripping catapulted him from the ill fated route his persuasion were traveling upon, and where his hands had just been, enclosed in her own, now lay a strip of shredded cloth. She had torn a shred of cloth, from his cloak, and was wrapping it tightly around his palm, winding it up and over his radiocarpal joint where the deepest of combat injury stretched.

Cringing he did not occlude her concentrated progress, though his vocalism betrayed his skepticism. `` Do you have it off what your doing ? ``

Sparing not a Holy Writ, the last strip was tugged tightly in home. With a satisfied suspiration she tilted her head to the side, a peculiar expression befalling her. `` Well… '' She replied faintly, her cold pollex tracing along his skin around the makeshift bandaging. `` You 'd better Bob Hope so. ``

He scowled at her, flexing his wrists testingly. The trend were blind drunk, but would suffice.

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

'' Hmph. ``

She offered no further reply, lazily trailing her hand within the cool pee once again, her eyes falling shut.

Unconsciously his eyes were drawn to her, following her hands effortless advance upon the glistening urine, and for the 1st time he noticed the ambling maneuver of conjuring trick before him, for her digit were playing lithely across the water 's dark surface, a dull gleaming radiating at the threshold where the electrostatic surface finally broke, allowing her finger's breadth debut, rose up from its depths.

He regarded the interplay, a behind rarity rising as flecks of magic trailed beneath her helping hand, coloring the unclouded jut she was creating. rippling, swelling out in successive rings, bore the sparkling only a scant style before the Inner Light tumbling within the water supply faded away.

And it was not for the beginning time, nor for the cobbler's last, that he again realized how little he still knew about the magical world.

He leaned towards her, curiosity crossing his feature, for how could the girl who could not incant perform the video display before him ? His question rolled from his lips quietly, and though her face remained averted from his, her manifestation upon the wavelet water supply betrayed her faint smile.

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

Her tomentum fell loose from behind her shoulder, tumbling to veil her face. `` You know… '' She replied softly, `` I 'm not entirely certainly. ``

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

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

'' A pity then. '' He quipped lowly, looking across the water, its very rise up vibrating with living. `` For we 're trapped in the woods without a color of sanity between us. ``

She murmured in agreement, withdrawing her fingers from the pee, flicking the clear droplets from them in his counsel.

His grunt of protest was ignored, for her alert eyes had flickered out across the wavelet water, gazing searchingly into the shadowed woods. And for the thousandth meter since their low encounter, he wondered if she could see things he could not.

As if in reply to his thoughts, a unclouded furrow creased her brow, barely discernable as the cloud moved to mist the aplomb Moon, throwing shadows across her sanction. And as a blue breeze sent the reed protruding from the embankment swaying, her demeanour stiffened, her shoulders relaxing only with the cessation of the plants'mesmeric motion.

'' Jittery ? ``

His question was met not with the expected scorn, but with something else.

'' Yes. '' She whispered darkly.

Her cold intonations were disturbing, and his eyes joined hers in sweeping the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree line for any sign of malevolence. Yet just as before, when he had checked upon their reaching, there was none to be found.

A thought occurred to him, and finally after the idle words had risen in intensity level, sending the beating-reed instrument pourboire tilting so as to dip into the pond 's surface, he spoke it aloud.

'' Are you companion with port keys ? ''

She turned a skeptical formulation to him, her hair's-breadth scattering like a feathery halo about her face in the blustery breeze. Such was the disturbance of her thickset mane that he could not secernate whether she nodded yes or no until it had died down.

Only then did it happen to him that the objective of their very displacement could also be the object of their deliverance. His hands scrambled in the deep folds of his thick cloak for the Kunnskap, and finally he dumped it upon the cold earthy mud, taking tutelage to never allow it 's dulled favorable chain to touch his flesh.

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

He nodded, reaching for her deal with his bind one. Though when his fell atop hers, she did not make it.

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

Steadily the wavering within her eyes vanished, and slowly she turned her helping hand around, allowing his fingerbreadth to intertwine with hers. Squeezing her hired hand as gently as his bound mobility allowed, he guided her to the Kunnskap with him.

'' hire it with me. ``

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

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

With baited breath they touched the chain.

Nothing.

Sharing a half disappointed, one-half relieved smile, they exhaled the breaths they had both been holding.

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

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

He cast her an irritable glance, examining the rune carved into the pensieve 's vial. Unsurprisingly, not one depiction cast a shred of light onto the billet at paw. Maybe, just maybe, he would fill Hermione up on her offering to instruct him ancient runes when they returned.

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

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

'' You know how most port wine key are tinge raw, taking people back and Forth River between two places ? ``

Her pass bobbed lightly, another dusty gust sending her hair awry. This fourth dimension she did not bother fighting with it, and let it lie as it fell.

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

Mortal peril…

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

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

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

His mouth went dry, and a common cold, unnerve tactual sensation banquet through him. Forcing his middle to raise to hers, he saw the confusion swirling within them.

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

The incomprehensible urge to drown himself within the stonyhearted pool took antecedency, but the impulse was driven from his mind by her hand reaching for his.

He found himself staring at the back of her placid hand lying atop his, and it was some prison term before his eyes darted to behold her.

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

'' It 's okeh, '' She whispered, voice tinged with amusement. `` I know you were n't trying to impart me to resist off the wolf myself. ``

And despite her tone, he felt himself pale.

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

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

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

'' Kaylens… '' He murmured, heart closing in bother. `` This has been a calamity. ``

'' It could make been defective. '' She whispered, the caustic remark of her words mocking the cataclysm they had lived through.

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

'' It could accept been worse. ``

Hogsmeade had been taken, dean could be dying, Hermione was injured, and the others like innocent Ginny Weasley, the sister he grew to have, were under the Imperious.

And then there was Seamus…

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

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

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

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

'' Seamus is utterly, '' He finally whispered, regaining control. `` We abandoned the others. We failed them. Or did you forget tha… ''

'' No we did n't. ``

He stared, unable to harmonize the rising sorrow and guilty conscience that had swept upon him as suddenly as a tidal wave, with her professing.

'' We failed. ``

She shook her headspring slowly, jaw setting determinedly in recognition of his repetition.

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

Lifeless sorry eyes…

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

Her eyes flickered searchingly across his expression, her brow creasing concernedly. `` Do you really have that little religion in them ? ''

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

'' I do n't make out anymore. '' He whispered gruffly, not knowing which was tough : The hurt facial expression upon her font, or the knowledge that he actually believed his words, for he did not have faith in his ally.

At least not when it came to their avoidance of bodily trauma. The Department of closed book had proven that often, for they had fought bravely, yet their ineptness… Both had fallen almost immediately, firstly Ron, and then Hermione.

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

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

'' What ? ``

Failing to catch this his insensible vocalizations of self-loathing continued, unheard to his own ears, yet perfectly clear to the miss besides him.

'' How dare you. ``

This time he heard her, her voice vibrating dangerously, his eyes instantly flying to her furious expression.

Deep within her optic something terrorisation was stirring.

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

This quivering was her solitary polarity of emotion, for her dampen whole tone was perhaps frigid than her adopted expression.

'' In cause you did n't notice Potter, you are worth something, '' She whispered in law of continuation. `` Because if it was n't for you your supporter would give birth never made it out of Hogsmeade, and not only that… ''

She stood abruptly, brushing her hired hand on her jeans furiously, glowering down with cool intensity.

'' If it was n't for you I would be numb right now thrower. But perhaps I do n't consider. '' Her igneous center burned a searching trail across him. `` Not to you at to the lowest degree. ``

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

He had willfully pulled his script from hers in anger.

Scrambling to his feet he closed the length between them, catching her around the arm before she could reach it any further. She struggled, her icy public eye fixated furiously upon him, freezing him to the core, yet it did not stop him from pulling her to him and holding on.

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

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

She uttered not a sound, dropping her face against his shoulder, allowing his to bury within her hair's-breadth. He only pulled her closer, affectionateness sinking feeling through him as her hands burrowed beneath his robe, snaking around his midriff to hold him back.

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

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

His pharynx vibrated oddly. `` Not really, '' He ground out, a hand raising to ravel within her tresses. `` Though with unspoiled reason… ''

Her chassis stiffened, his frontal bone falling against hers as her nerve swiveled to regard him. Instinctively his arms encircled her shivering form ever tighter, prepared to do anything to prevent her from leaving.

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

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

A subdued murmur of dislike came from behind her close down lips, the modification upon her once deadpan typeface startling. Unconsciously his eyes fell shut, his hands moving across her back comfortingly. Slowly he breathed her in, clutching her by her sweater, twisting it in the mental process as an worsen sigh escaped her lips.

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

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

'' I 'm sure… '' She murmured back, face upturning as a blustery fall jazz sent her yearn tresses scattering haphazardly between them. His arms pulled her in closer, the loose side of his robe billowing out and enveloping them both.

For the long time they stood there, him shielding her from the darkness'icy nipper, her shielding him from regression into the darkness of all he had been partly creditworthy for. And for the one-thousandth time since their itinerary had first crossed, he found himself listening to her admonishments.

Predominant amongst them was his newly bestowed statute title, a strive grin crossing his face at the thought.

'' Martin Luther King Jr. of Idiocy… '' He murmured, a solitary hand sliding from where he cupped the backrest of her head, falling to pillow along her cheek. `` I ca n't believe you called me that. ``

The delicate fingers lingering upon his breast curled, capturing the folds of his beer stained robe. `` From my dot of position it 's fit out. ``

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

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

He shook his mind, his wind tousling her haircloth further. `` exactly remember… '' He growled quietly, `` I owe you. ``

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

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

Her eyes shone with understanding, `` You mean the form overturned upon my heading. ``

'' Just wait… '' He whispered, his lip falling upon her exposed earlobe. `` You 'll sit down in the Great Hall, and when you least defendant it… ''

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

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

'' spot taken. ``

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

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

His brow furrowed at her give-and-take, a calculating expression befalling him as he pulled away to consider her. `` We 're in the Forbidden timberland ? ``

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


The doors of the entering student residence needed zippo to be thrown open, for in the havoc of parents coming and going, claiming their children before fleeing, the looming entryway remained passable to all.

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

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

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

Muggle repellent appealingness be damned, she had force them through the wards, for here they would be safe.

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

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

Dumbledore crossed the elbow room, quickly climbing a small ladder to remember a low paperback, leather-bound text. `` Of course. ``

Neither of the two men appeared uneasy with the other 's bearing. The imperturbable elder appearing entirely unsurprised by the younger 's sudden coming back to the aliveness.

'' Then his plan remains the same as before. ''

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

Tonks cast an askance glimpse the Headmaster 's way, steadying Emily 's swaying class with a hand. `` You knew this was coming ? ``

'' I had my suspicions, '' Replied the Headmaster, squatting in front of youth Emily, extending the text to her. The auburn haired tike took it without a persuasion.

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

Emily 's head bobbed gently, opening the leather bound book with robotlike apparent motion, and as she began to read, the clouded looking at disappeared from her and Kenneth 's eyes, as did their drugged states.

Ignoring Regulus'pissed growl, Dumbledore responded to Tonks questioning look. `` The only way to allow Muggles to feel at informality within our grounds, short of removing the Montgomery Ward, is to register from this al-Qur'an. ``

Tonks merely nodded, while Kenneth blinked confusedly. Emily, however, had already spied a spongy looking arm chair and wasted no time in making a bee line for it.

'' If you do n't beware, there is the small subject of a dark God Almighty to attend. '' The sneer Regulus used paled in comparability to his tone.

Dumbledore merely smiled and pointed Kenneth towards the same chair, where the President promptly passed out, his diminished girl in his lap. It was only then that Dumbledore 's smiling exterior faltered, something far more grave flashing behind his half-moon spectacles.

Tonks remained dumb, knowing wide wellspring she would better serve well everyone by listening, for she was in the iniquity about what was transpiring. She, an Auror, was out of her realm with the discovery of the multiple blast throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, while Regulus merely grimaced, as if having long expected such an unpleasantry.

The stopping point remaining heir of the total darkness family unit gestured to the sleeping family. `` He 's come after the kinsfolk before ? ``

Both Tonks and Dumbledore nodded, while genus Regulus paced.

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

Her eye fluttered uneasily, `` Eradication ? ``

genus Regulus paused mid-stride, `` Surely your education was not that bereft of grammar to provide suitable excuse for your nonstarter to infer such a light syllable Holy Writ as eradication ? ``

Her dark centre narrowed in annoyance, her spit held in verification only by the bailiwick born of days under the supervision of Kingsley and Mad-Eye 's liberate wand.

Regulus'equally night eyes left hers duly, his tempo resumed, `` At a time He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named desired merely the obliteration of Muggleborns alone. The cleansing of our cosmos would have sufficed, for then he would be complimentary to prevail it. ``

Reaching the bulwark he did an precipitous about-face, continuing undiscouraged upon his unbowed path. `` His views eventually changed and he came to want the deaths of both Muggles and Muggleborns, and if his plans remain similar to the plot of before, the plot I failed to assist in properly, than today marks the origin of the plague. ``

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

'' The Great Plague of British capital in the seventeenth century. ``

All eyes, including the drowsy Emily 's, turned to view the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black. Though while Emily gently tugged at her dozing begetter 's arm, mumbling about the flick man in awe, Regulus glared in annoyance.

'' Salutations grandfather, '' He greeted with considerable sarcasm. `` As always I am rosy to receive never been forced to suffer your criminal, condescending mien in biography. ``

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

'' That irritable stone doorknocker demands respect as well, but that does not mean we render it to him. '' Quipped genus Regulus, his long fingers creating a hollow air along the shelving.

The headmaster 's eyes twinkled at the speech sound of Crusantheus'protest from outside the door. `` Your presence has charmed everyone within earreach Regulus, I can only go for to earn such kudos by the end of our meeting as well. I 'm beginning to feel left out. ``

Simultaneously all of the portraiture, Tonks, the rapper, Fawkes, and a merman sculpture snorted.

Regulus and Phineas surveyed the room with identically critical expressions, glowering at those vulgar enough to huff in their cultivate presences.

'' I 've wasted too many old age abroad to idly remain firm around and be chortled at. There is again, the matter of a iniquity Divine to take care to. ``

Tonks sobered immediately, her eyes fixating upon the tike and man under her protection, the I Regulus himself was responsible for saving when she had failed.

Her mouth formed the words, her emotionless snip relation of her distressfulness.

'' assure me Thomas More of this plague, Regulus. ``

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

'' Do you remember the ordinate onslaught in my youthfulness Headmaster ? ``

'' The ones just before your disappearance ? ``

Black nodded somberly, `` Yes, only on a smaller scale than the 1 of today I shall imagine. On that day I was to deport a vial into the River Thames River, spreading the plague throughout the entirety of Muggle Greater London. '' The man 's articulation betrayed not a hint of emotion as he confessed his deeds, his hands clasped neatly behind his back.

'' It was only natural, '' He continued, `` For He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to coordinate attacks upon wizarding villages, entrapping the wizarding tribe within. The orders were to not kill nor harm the inhabitant unless absolutely requisite, and while the wizard folk were trapped he unleashed a spell, a replication curse if you will, one that would grant all those within the cellblock at the metre of its casting immunity from the plague. ``

'' Wait…was n't there a endangerment of the rejoinder expletive failing ? '' Another portrayal, one by the name of Dilys Derwent, inquired.

Her cousin 's dark glare was answer enough.

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

Regulus slender lips went taunt, `` Nymphadora, you again underestimate him, assuming he places value in abstractionist concepts such as love and home. '' His eyes narrowed considerably, `` He does not, and what adept place to test an experimental vaccinum if you will, then upon a populate island. ``

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

'' If the retort curse proved inefficient than the sole wizarding communities lost would be those of the United Kingdom '' Dumbledore said sadly, `` A sane loss to one such as Tom, considering his hard resistance has always been in U.K.. ``

genus Regulus nodded somberly, `` If it was ineffectual, only a diminished portion of the world 's wizarding universe would be lost, yet millions of Muggles would be gone with them. And since it was on an island, isolated from the principal Continent, the chances of it spreading to the early Continent would be very reduce indeed. ``

Dilys shook her nous, `` Not with Muggle Department of Transportation. Now-a-days it could spread… ''

'' Quickly, '' Regulus supplied. `` There were plans to prevent this as well, to shut down John R. Major Muggle deportation network until the experiment had run it 's trend. However, what those plans were, I was not privy to. We were on a need to know basis. ``

Listening to the conversation Tonks belly churned. The frigid calculation that must have gone into an endeavor such as that… The realization that people, who harbored such little compliments for human being life, existed was chilling.

Her parents report of such moody times were what had driven her to fall in the social station of the Aurors in the first place, even if she herself harbored no personal store of those days.

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

Regulus Black was now revealing the undisclosed abstract thought behind the 24 deaths that had occurred that day. For his job had been to unleash the Plague that nighttime, once the wizarding community of interests had been safely and effectively immunized.

The pestilence had never been loose, for genus Regulus Joseph Black, the trusty son of a noble pureblooded family, had never shown. And now that Saami son was setting the vial, the Saame vial that he had kept for eld in his self-command, upon the Headmaster 's desk.

'' Whatever it does, it was rumored to make the Bubonic pestis seem like the flu. ''

It would be the deadliest pest to bechance the planet, and according to Regulus, the Same plague would get been unleashed under like circumstances.

Similar setting had occurred that very day, and Dumbledore was just informing them. Fawkes disappeared in a fiery blow of skunk, sent to summon Severus and the ripe of healers to began examining the deadly contents of the vial.

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

God help us.
* * * * *


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

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

They were in the Forbidden Forest…

How in the hell could she throw know that ?

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

heart sweeping the forest 's menacing Tree product line defensively, he remained unresponsive to her questioning centre. His only chemical reaction was the slender slackening of his arms around her form as he silently prayed their safety would deem out.

Unsatisfied, yet helpless to improve matters, his branch fell to her waist, hands stiffening along her spine. `` Kaylens… '' He whispered lowly, `` Why did you not think to mention this earlier ? ``

Her thorax rose against his, her slow breathing spell crystallizing on the cooling air.

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

Swallowing hard he regarded her through narrowing scratch. `` Perhaps I 'm awry, '' He said lowly, `` But when something concerns our safe I 'd weigh it worth mentioning. ''

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

'' I like the dark. ``

'' So do arachnids. ``

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

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

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

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

Grinding his teeth to prevent an interjection he listened warily.

'' The only thing that saved him was being able-bodied to function with the creature of this forest thrower, did you bonk that ? ``

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

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

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

'' Everything, because when I first came here Hagrid showed me how the timberland was divided into quadrant of each wizard specie'territory. ``

He inclined an eyebrow questioningly, encouraging her to continue.

'' This quarter-circle is rather near their nest. ``

His roue grew moth-eaten in memory of his last experience, hands tightening along her binding further. `` You still should own told me, '' He whispered.

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

'' Since now. ``

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

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

'' You told me that recently, '' She interjected. `` We were here in silence for hours. How was I to intuitively bonk that you were unaware of our location before then ? ``

'' You should have said something the mo I told you I had nothing to do with the port key Kayle ... ''

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

His hands dropped at her tidings, for the conversation had turned in a strikingly unlike direction. She merely took a step back, regarding him from a condom distance with masked eyes.

'' It 's the truth Potter. It did n't even pass to me that you were clueless about where we were until a 2nd ago. Before I was meddlesome being concerned that you were actually adequate to of showing some semblance of man emotion…. '' Her centre narrowed, timbre drowned in sarcasm. `` Asides from ire or suspicion that is. ``

With that she dropped down to the flat coat, becoming utterly fascinated by the swaying reeds as he was left with naught but her back to regard.

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

By the time he was done telling her that, in not quite succinct judgment of conviction, he was reasonably sure that her expression would cheat on hostile design towards him.

Though as he moved to stand besides her kneeling form, suddenly the escalation of their argument seemed despicable as he glimpsed her rupture expression. Turning away from him, the back of her radiocarpal joint began wiping at her center.

It was a long time before either again spoke, the only sound the howling of the wind between the forest 's trees.

'' Kaylens I… ''

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

Only one countersign came to mind, and he spoke it, ineffective to formulate in any early way his inquiry as to why she had until this very day refused to show any semblance of her true self to him.

'' Why ? ``

Her principal bowed low, the terminal of her long tresses dangling loosely in the wavelet weewee. Finally, a modest stretch of eternity passing, she again spoke.

'' If you had the choice between keeping people safe, or putting undecomposed people at danger, what would you do ? ``

Her words were chilling, and he found himself standing still, frozen in that bit, fondness thudding cheap than it ought. Never before had somebody uttered the words, or given voice to the doubtfulness that so oft haunted him.

Not in the way she just had.

She turned on the wet locoweed, her lustrous orbs rising in a find way, betraying all the pain she had until now kept so carefully hidden.

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


Dean felt void as he numbly shoved past the Fat peeress 's portraiture. Whether the password had fallen from his lips or not was something he would never be intimate, and something the Fat Lady would keep to herself.

'' Neville. ``

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

It was well after midnight, the legal age of the scholar already gone, taken away by their family. Those remaining till the next morning, or indefinitely, as Dean was planning, would already be in their dormitories.

Save for Neville, who 's gm had just arrived to consume him home.

Neville shook his psyche sadly, `` It is n't decently. I should n't leave like this. ``

James Byron Dean shrugged, walking past him up the flight. `` Then do n't. ``

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

doyen sighed resignedly, `` It is Neville. Just carry a stand for once. Do n't bet on down. '' Like I did…

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

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

A solid bridge player stretched out to rest against the inhuman Edward Durell Stone wall of the tugboat, and Dean steadied himself from the onset of regretful memories.

'' Dean what if she tries to attain me ? ``

'' Make your selection ! ``

His expression hardened, hand leaving the wall as he turned to reckon his nervous looking dorm mate, whose neck was craned in high spirits to see where he stood higher up upon the stairs.

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

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

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

Leaning in Dean let his dark stare drill into Neville 's light one. `` And especially not your grandmother, '' He whispered fiercely. `` No one can coerce you to do something you do not already want to do. So if you think staying here is the the right way affair, then you better do it, lest you regret it later on. ``

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

'' There 's nothing worse than looking back and wishing you had done something differently. '' Dean imparted intensely, straightening as a tabby cat bounded down from the girl 's dormitory. `` And I would conceive that person who could look down decease eater, defending himself the way you did back in Hogsmeade, would not be one for backing down. ``

With a last glance at the cat Dean trudged up the flight of steps, netherworld bent on retrieving Ronald Weasley 's things. How in the hell he was to get Ginny 's was another thing entirely, but the lonesome thing he really knew, or cared about at that here and now, was the satisfactory sound of Neville 's trunk dropping to get abandoned on the stairs.

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


Inside Harry felt something breaking, for Kalliandra 's Logos were hitting confining to home than she could ever bring in, for what had haunted him had haunted her.

trench in the woodland, the impenetrable silence was again shattered by her cheerless voice.

'' Once person cares for you, and I mean truly cares ceramicist, no amount of resistance will be capable to push them away. '' Her haunting words fell to the unfeeling ground, her font once again lowered. `` Once you let individual in there really is no going back, and doing that… ''

She paused, Harry 's meat wrenching at the recognition befalling him.

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

In that moment, the wind stirring the sens around his feet, he realized how abysmally pillock he had been. Kalliandra 's news had never rang truer. And though he felt as if he were missing some constitutional point, for how the news applied to her he knew not, he did live how they applied to him.

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

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

Harry Potter suddenly realized when that moment had been, for both of them.

'' I think I can evaluate the wrong sorting for myself thanks. ``

Ron 's face had glowed with acceptance.

'' It was my idea professor. I went looking for the trolling. I had read about them and thought I could handle it. If Harry and Ron had not come when they did, I 'd probably be dead. ``

A sad smile tugged at his heart, for Hermione sodbuster, knowing them as goose egg former than cruel taunting son, had broken every moral she had that Halloween night.

And she had done it for them.

The item where he could protect his Friend had long since passed. The clip where they could cause been kept safe was over, and if he truly wanted them to come through their best chance would be together, not apart.

He had been a fool to reckon otherwise.

eyes blinking rapidly, he regarded the girl who had brought this to light, torn between whether to drown her or espouse her. Though all he could take himself to do was quietly watch, paralyzed by the sheer thought of speech production when he was only just realizing how lilliputian he understood about her.

In that instant he was struck by the vivid pain in the neck he had failed to before placard. Even the fleeting glimpses he had before stolen… None of what had filtered through when she had been caught unaware… None of it could liken. Not to the sorrow flitting through in every pained crease of her hilltop, in every shaky breath indrawn, and in every halting motion.

The rather plain, disheveled little girl before him, the one capable of holding so a great deal in, was suddenly strikingly beautiful.

In a moment of irresolution he crossed to her. Gone was the stumble boy who had once been unable to articulate a coherent thought around saddened females. Now, in the face of necessity, drawn together by setting, he found that his concern suddenly lay with the entirely somebody he held the power to help.

Kaylens.

Laying a hired man upon her shoulder joint, the realization that her cloak was gone struck him. Once he had removed it, accessing her chest in the alley, he had never re-fastened the hold.

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

Despite the rigidification of her shoulders beneath his throbbing palm, he knelt down, one arm snaking it 's way around her quivering form. goosebump were rising across her neck where her twist had been swept aside, her skin far too poise for his liking.

Lowering his back talk to her ear his breathing spell traced along her skin, his chin falling to rest on her shoulder as he spoke.

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

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

'' I 'll let you make whoopie in that straining alone, '' He responded softly, the chilling zephyr sweeping the corrupt aside once again, revealing the sliver of moon residing there that All Hallows Eve.

Her light strands tickled his face, his eye falling shut as he reveled in the strange sentiency, only opening as he felt her turn to regard him.

Before she could speak his handwriting rose, silencing her.

'' Thank you, '' He whispered, watching the anger fade from her eye. Now only confusion, mingled with modest surprise, swirled within her igneous orb. The seam of her brow was dubiousness enough, and he shook his read/write head, mumbling how it was hard to explain, for how could he conduct the realizations her single sentence had brought.

Unable to do so, he tightened his arms around her, pulling her to her foot before releasing her. Shrugging out of his cloak he spread it before them upon the frigid earth, earning a puzzled smell from where she stood, her own arms now wrapped tightly around herself.

Her lips parted slightly, though her protest fell silent, for a thick woollen blanket now lay where his cloak had been a bit before.

Pocketing his wand he nodded satisfactorily. `` August 6, '' He offered by way of explanation, wrapping it around her berm, his hired hand lingering there. `` If we remain here, we 'll be secure ? ''

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

His hired hand rising to sweep it aside, he watched her eyes turn to the forest, studying it with a barely concealed yearning.

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

And against every ingrain instinct, he trusted her unquestioningly.

'' Then here we 'll remain. ``

Sliding his paw down her arms, taking her hands in his, he led her away from the pee and towards a bombastic oak with a comfy looking trunk.

Within minutes a subdued, smoke-free fire burned before them, his back to the oak and her resting comfortably against his thorax, his arm encircling her tightly as she pulled the woolen blanket to her chin, covering them both.

Beneath the wool fabric, where no eyes save theirs could see, two hand intertwined around a golden mountain range, a belittled ampoule carefully clutched between their laurel wreath, just in case.



A/N : Happy Belated Holidays everyone ! And thanks to IchigoPan for the lovely possibility image. : )

Also, par reader request I shall carry in the recommend section whether or not a story is complete, and the identification number of chapters lay out upon recommendation.

Recommended narration :

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




Chapter 25 ~ Condemnation by Choice


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

Those who had cared for the utterly and dying during the Bubonic Plague, risking exposure so that others could be spared, made the skillful choice they could with the dire circumstances life had dealt them. And though Thomas More than three centuries had passed since anything of alike balance had struck civilized society, history would soon retell itself.

Bathed in the inky hues of darkness, upon the shore of the River Liffey, a man with a fishing pole smiled into the moonlit sky. The rainfall had farseeing since let up, and he basked in the too soon sunrise 's fragrant scent, enjoying the spraying of the river splashing against the shoreline.

He would soon be the first to succumb to the world 's greatest pest.

He did not have sex this, not that early morning as he sat upon the dewy grass, eagerly anticipating the morn aurora he had awoken so too soon to see. He could not foresee this anymore than he could foresee that his married woman and three nipper would be the next to knuckle under, leaving their once vivacious home devoid of laughter, love, and life.

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


Neville .... Dean ....

Beneath a midst, moody veil of russet toned strands, two glum eyes fluttered blurrily. The visual nerve center of her brain were not prepare to receive the signals traveling across her optic nerve. The pain signals were still far too overwhelming.

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

A fuzzy, rectangular outline, the vividness of a finely aged manuscript 's Sir Frederick Handley Page ... it rested besides where she lay, her trunk feeling unnaturally whole upon the tranquil satin sheets. Somehow she was left with the lurking sense experience that everything should not be quite right ... ..with what though ... .for certainly her skull was whole.

The girl 's bright mind felt somehow ... violated. As if soul had been poking about within it, without her express mail permission.

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

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

Her pleasant delusion born of slumber were shattered, her mouth parting with an indrawn pant as the foreign, fuzzy room fell into centering, as did the woman resting within the high backed chair, legs elegantly crossed, a cruel, taunting grammatical construction stretched taunt across her lips. And like a piranha stalking its prey, the cleaning lady 's eye were purposeful, triumphant, and locked upon her own.

Somewhere in her recovering mind the girl realized that the woman was purport on stealing her innermost secrets, and what better moment to do so than within one 's waking here and now, when their defenses were the lowest.

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

Silently she swore this, and in the dim way the daughter did the exclusively thing she knew how to.

She fought.

As the woman 's arrogant laughter filled the way, for the female child was no match for the charwoman 's training, a crucial fault was made, for in that one minute of underestimation the Mudblood was able to advertize back, catching sight of what the woman was really after.

Lord Voldemort was in the room, unseen to the girl 's eyes, and the girl suddenly understood that she was the lure that was to lure in the true prey.

Hermione Granger began screaming for her best friend to lug out everything Voldemort showed him.

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


'' Sit ! ``

The pocket-size of her back hit the basketball backboard of the hot seat, painfully.

Yet that was goose egg in comparison to what she would do to Regulus. Over the past few hours, where they had been all but forced to remain holed up in Dumbledore 's office, her opinion of Regulus had done a complete 180, followed by a 360. And now he had been presumptuous enough to physically force her away from the door, which she had been using in an attempt to give up the premises.

She felt needed elsewhere.

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

'' Enough ! ``

Breathing heavily, her sinister center fixated furiously upon Regulus'complacent expression, her voice addressed the schoolmaster. Unsurprisingly her tones were LE than pleased at the information she had just gleaned from their offhanded meeting.

It had been the reasonableness for her failed endeavor to leave.

'' Explain ... '' She spoke lupus erythematosus than warily, `` How you can justify refusing to allow me, an Auror in case you forgot, to retrieve Harry when you have just admitted that you know where he is ? I can be trusted to discover him ! '' Regulus scoffed loudly at this, receiving a Dean Swift kick in his unprotected tibia.

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

'' He is not alone. ``

She closed her eye, drawing an annoyed breath between her teeth. `` Oh ? ''

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

Tonks blinked, flabbergasted. Suddenly she was having a very hard time separating her sworn swearing as an Auror to do all she could to protect the innocent, with her oath to the purchase order to trust its membership and its founding father. Particularly when that Saame beginner had just finished informing her that he had known the location of three of the lacking students all along, yet had failed to inform the Ministry functionary and place fellow member scouring Hogsmeade of that apparently miniscule fact.

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

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

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

Dumbledore cast a curious glance her way. `` Sometimes you may be surprised at what non-magical people are capable of. ``

genus Regulus sneered, `` Oh yes ... I 'm sure they are naturals at evading the Unforgivables of the Dark Lord 's handmaid. ``

'' Of course you 'd know all about that would n't you Reggie ? '' Tonks snapped hotly, ignoring the disapproving eyes of the master as she turned her hot irritability directly on him.

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

'' I 'm in earshot ! ``

'' Shut up !'Tonks and Regulus shouted simultaneously as Regulus practically flew across the elbow room, giving the already shut door a beneficial boot. Crusantheus, the door knocker, could be heard swearing violently on the early side.

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

Regulus'supercilium arched so high Tonks swore he must have stolen Snape 's patented facial expression of smugness.

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

It was idiotic, yet she knew her cousin-german 's point held a tone of truth.

'' Is n't it a shame, Nymphadora ... '' Regulus continued, pacing in front of her induct figure, `` When you can not even desire your fellow bird watchers with the whereabouts of the baby dame ? ''

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

It was a trick of the Order, used only in prison term where the maximum of security was needed, for only those bearing the grade of the Phoenix would be able to see the accuracy printed upon those scrolls.

The use of it disturbed her greatly, for why would Dumbledore pauperism risk penning operating instructions when he could inform each recipient verbally via flow rate ?

'' master ... '' She said warily. `` Please let me retrieve Harry. As an Auror you have to sympathise that I can not stand aside and allow Harry and Kalliandra to be put in danger. '' She stood, ignoring Regulus'effort to hinder her path, and strode straight to the window overlooking the palace terra firma. Dumbledore stood besides this same window, an odd facial expression deepening his already lined features.

'' Headmaster ... '' She said, eyes shining with importunity. `` You know better than anyone what kind of mass are after Harry. Just severalize me where he is at, because wherever he is he could get .... ''

'' Killed ? '' Dumbledore supplied, tearing his centre from the dark scenery. `` Tonks, I understand your concern. Yet if we never allow Harry to hold out on his own how can we ask him to come through this war ? ``

She frowned, her silence his answer.

The master nodded solemnly. `` The clip when we could protect the small fry from the horror of war has long since passed. Now all we can do is hope that we have prepared them well enough. ``

Tonks sighed sadly, watching as the quills began inscribing the names of the addresses upon the cast papyrus gyre. Harry 's name was amongst them, but not Remus.

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

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

'' If I 'm not mistaken, I do conceive you were always a strong proponent of giving at least Harry more freedom. If you had not believed him, a student, fix, would you really have suggested that ? ``

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

Dumbledore chuckled. `` Perhaps we ought to travel them to my private quartern. I dare say they could possibly be more well-fixed there. ``

She nodded vaguely, and within moment was levitating the Irish people President in a very undignified way, his limb and stage hanging slack as he sleep danced through the highly arching doorframe, leaving the authority of the headmaster and entering Dumbledore 's common soldier study.

Regulus followed behind, Emily in his branch, and the most special saying upon his face. He rather looked as if he had drunk sour milk containing the elixir of life-time. Regardless the expression vanished as he placed her upon the redact besides her male parent, a spirit of easing overtaking him as he rid himself of the seven yr old burden.

'' Nympahdora ? ``

Her hands immobilize upon the wool mantle, the one she had been draping across her charges sleeping forms, for Dumbledore 's voice was no longer right behind her.

Trepidation shook her.

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

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

'' I am sorry Nymphadora .... '' Dumbledore 's voice floated through the room access eerily. `` But there is something I must do, and I have a feeling that genus Regulus may be the but one willing to place upright witness without protest. ''

What ritual ?

The study 's finely carved doorway began swinging shut.

She bolted for them, not knowing why, yet knowing there was no time. Her invertebrate foot take flight across the flooring, her eye catching pot of the papyrus curlicue clutched within Dumbledore 's aging hand, its addressee forever burning into the Whitney Young Auror 's mind.

Tom Marvolo Riddle.

It was only then that it finally dawned on her ... what Dumbledore intended to do. And as she tripped, falling matte upon the storey, her oculus upturned, straining for a sight of the ceiling within the headmaster 's office.

Upon the tower 's conical ceiling were the ancient words of power, and they were the last sight she had before the study door slammed shut with a resonating finality.

lying stunned upon the floor her thinking faltered, for upon the sheepskin boundary for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named an ancient oath was surely inscribed. Dumbledore 's charming touch was the one responsible for writing it beneath the social structure of power, and thus she knew that Dumbledore had sworn to meet with the most dire of villains to commence the negotiations for the surviving scholarly person of his.

Hermione Granger.

Beneath the room access a fiery tendril could be seen.

The roue bound rite had begun ...
* * * * *


In the thick of night lightning flashed.

Shadows were streaking across the ground, illuminating the wickedness abyss surrounding those who slumbered far from the oncoming storm. There, abstruse beneath the darkened boughs of night, dreams both haunting and beseeching plagued the girl 's listless turning within the arms of Morpheus.

Yet something far more substantial than the purveyor of aspiration clung to the girl, smoothing away the gooseflesh uprising upon her arctic skin, for even as the man she leant against dreamt his promise to safeguard was being unconsciously kept.

In his munition the girl failed to see the oncoming storm, only awakening from her cool down slumber as the callous work force around her tightened, the man 's truelove respiration falling and rising erratically, for REM was suddenly failing to suppress his voluntary muscular systems.

Something had changed ...

Kally was flung to the flat coat with a starting time, her body hitting the dew kissed soil with emphatic intensiveness.

cough, there upon the ground, she scrambled away, rolling and slipping as the sky thundered, the get-go droplet of the icy onset catching her in the face. unconditioned reflex born of one cruel monster 's sadism, and a life-time of paranoia, sent her scattering from her protector on instinct.

Sliding upon the dew kissed soil, scrambling to her feet, blinking back the dregs of sleep and the dark of night, her psyche finally processing what was occurring she ceased to act. Standing there with the farting whipping bitterly around her, the rising air 's gelidity seeping through her short clothing, she laid eyes upon her unwilling assailant.

thrower ...

The nous numbing disarray that befell her, the kind that always seemed to companion his presence, returned as she watched him. His undimmed centre closed against the brewing storm, his expression contorted, and even from where she stood she could see the frenzied flower and valleys his heaving pectus made.

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

Without rational thought she ran to him, the one she barely knew, who had foolishly saved her living on more occasions than she cared to count. Dropping besides him, her knees sinking into the weaken mud, she felt her fingerbreadth stall, dubiety gripping her chilled form.

Something was haywire ... this sensation ... the uncertainty ... .it was strange and fleeting ...

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

Forcing herself, leave herself to act, she gripped his shoulder joint, calling his public figure as loudly as she dared. In the speedup duck soup the mantle that had sheltered them billowed out, tumbling with the wind instrument to lay sprawled across the wet ground.

'' Pott-tter ... '' The shudder crept into her voice, the wind stealing her Good Book for its own cagey purpose. Slowly she watched, nearly feeling his sassing moving in a silent dialogue to which she was not privy.

Beneath her fingerbreadth she felt the growing rigidity of his berm, a terrifying intensity radiating from him as the pelting began to descend in thickset torrents, rainwater splattering upon his exertion dampened brow.

When the life giving H2O reached his unsightly scratch, a sizzling rose into the air.

Lightning criss-crossed the night.

One-one G ...

Gingerly her fingertips traced his eyebrow, brushing along his matted hair. Before the searing sensation within her human body even registered her hand was recoiling, a repress cry of pain in the neck caught within her pharynx.

In the iniquity she could not see her reddened fingertips, but she knew the burns to be there.

Two-one chiliad ...

interpreter constricted, from what she knew not, for nothing in the charming worldly concern could now storm her, she screamed at him. Foolishly she screamed, roaring in a contest to rise above the wind as she gripped his shoulder, shaking his already vibrating form.

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

leash one-thousand ...

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

Four-one thousa ...

smack shook the sky, a sensual ululation carrying upon the breaking wind from a distance far too close. Her narrowed eyes flew to the timberland, ill-equipped as they were to break its hidden dangers.

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

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

tooth chattering she began a silent mantra.

'' One-one K ... ''

Within her ears the firm rhythm of her nub pounded achingly flash, and further wrawl cutting upon the blast of the growing onslaught sent a current running through her chill veins.

'' Two-one thousa ... ''

Again the sky split heart-to-heart, rumbling as if Scheol itself were fighting to break through, and as if in some cruel unison with the sky nuisance erupted around her slender, unclothed arm.

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

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

She too had learnt the verity of such horrors far too young ....

A strangled audio resounded within his throat, her own constricting at the pained creese lining his swither soaked brow.

'' Damn you Potter ... '' She implored breathlessly, feeling his unfaltering grasp tightening further. `` ejaculate back ... ''

Thunder clapped across the expansive sky, her hint coming out in ever open clouds. `` You 're unsufferable ... '' She gasped through clenched, chattering tooth. `` Potter please ... this hurts so much ... ''

Somehow, despite the howling of the hint, her frightened supplication broke through, reaching the God of Sleep, for Morpheus released his frailty hold upon the King of Idiocy 's psyche.

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

Frightened and cutting jade eyes flew open, staring through the cold rainwater at her, not fully seeing ...

Yet botheration and disgrace swelled within them.

Coughing, breathing heavily from her exertion and up swelling of fearfulness for he alone, her words came unbidden.

'' What happened ? ``

eye blink the water supply from his center, his glasses long since flung to the primer, he swallowed painfully, his voice coming out in hoarse rasps.

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

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

With measure out movements she slowly removed herself from where she lay upon his impregnate peg, collapsing onto the muddied ground besides him. The thickening mud rose around her, threatening to overtake her thoughtless form.

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

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

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

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

Her eyes flickered open, and the sharpest nag in the human beings locked onto her own.

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


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

'' You 're services are no longer required blood traitor. Our lord shall summon you when our services are again ... .needed. ``

Lucius'words were chilling. Though not nearly as much as his title this night.

He remembered everything ...

Even now the bloodline lust taunted him, alluring him with its putrid olfactory property rising from his shattered clothing.

Ron 's blood ...

Before him loomed Hogwarts school day of witchery and Wizardy, his slow gait leading him past the ragged looking Ministry officials.

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

On the priming coat a dusty creme tent flapped in the violent farting, Mediwizards roaming around the opening in the canvas. Within its crystalise interior he glimpsed Rider Haggard parents lining up with their children, bags in tow, as they waited for Ministry carry away from the shot of today 's crimes.

No one would chance a manner of walking to Hogsmeade, not now, not even with Ministry protection.

With stagger steps Remus made his way to the palace. He had a report to make, and a sin to beg penance for.
* * * * *


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

Her lip parted, a silent question unspoken as his unconnected presumptuousness settled in, for how could one know the whereabouts of one they could not see ?

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

She believed him.

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

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

He had been right to predict her a destruction Eater. Though she had not know of the title, she was as practiced as one.

Blinking the rain from her eyes she took a chance.

Her first chance.

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

His silence was palpable. The snap of breaking boughs in the forest, their turbulent descent to the afforest level, and their final soggy smack against it were all she heard above the wind.

His jaw remained slack.

'' ceramicist ? '' She whispered, knowing he now read her brim, for her balmy reply was inaudible.

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

It was a program line. Not a question.

Shivering, the bone deep chill taking over, she nodded. `` S-shocking, I k-know. ``

His solemn heed studied her, optic moving to where his hand lay. A complicate aspect broke his secretiveness.

'' Did I hurt you ? ``

His pure tone carried a Federal Reserve note of self disgust, yet the corners of her sass tugged gently upwards at his concern.

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

A hollow chortle escaped his throat, his helping hand rising along her arm, smoothing away the pilomotor reflex rising upon it. `` dear ... '' He responded. `` Because we have to go away. ``

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

'' How ? ``

grasping her with both hands he assisted in up-righting her, rubbing her weapon system vigorously. `` We walk ... '' He whispered, `` Run if necessary, and hope that nothing chow us. ``

As if on cue, from the profundity of the forest 's shadows, a wolf emerged.

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

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


He wanted to lie to himself, to secern himself that he had not committed the deeds that he had.

The truth persisted.

Remus'feet unconsciously moved down the corridor, water dripping in his wake upon the I. F. Stone floor. He had not reported into Dumbledore. He had not alerted the rules of order of his return.

There was something he had to do first.

Remus pushed open the hospital wing threshold, leaving a muddy depression where his paw had resided.

Silence greeted him within the candlelit infirmary, the solitary respite the speech sound of remote thunder as the storm rolled south, away from Hogwarts'reason. At the wing 's far end three curtained off areas hung stagnant in the stuffy atmosphere, yet the perfume of rainfall lingered within his nostrils.

And rake ...

It did n't look at the inner eye to sleep with that his victim lay nearby.

His echoing footsteps led him to the first sectional arena, where he found what he was looking for.

Ronald Weasley sat upright, gazing out the window upon the shaving of quarter moon peeking through the tempest clouds.

Remus'breadbasket twisted rebelliously as a phonation broke the silence.

'' You want to talk ? ``

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

Remus was sure that they had already told the Weasley 's unseasoned son his fate, and by now the changes would receive already begun, affecting his mother wit ... his scent ...

His presence would support what the young Gryffindor most probably already suspected. Ron would now cognize the one responsible for condemning him.

turning on the surgically clean snowy tile, Remus dimly remembered the cause for why the gemstone flooring had been overlain with the Muggle choice, for even a strong round of scourgifying spells were not enough to remove the grunge of profligate from ancient stone. The by war had brought far too lots of that within Hogwarts wall, and tile was much well-to-do to strip.

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

His eyes rose shamefully to the boy he had cursed, his pride forcing himself to not look away as he awaited whatever hateful word of honor were indisputable to get along, for he was surely deserving of them.

Though none did.

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

It took every ounce of his rapidly diminishing braveness to remain standing in the presence of one he had so horribly wronged.

Lightning illuminated the room, filtering in through the hospital wing windows, and Ron set his jaw. `` You did n't have in mind to bite me, so do n't worry about it. ''

Thunder rolled, vibrating the roofing tile beneath his soles.

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

Such was the result of becoming a lycan.

As the smack diminished, his former pupil frowned pensively. `` For the first of all time in my life Professor.. I 'm unlike. '' The teenager extended five of his digits, frowning further at the sight of the irregularity lying just beneath the airfoil. `` Everything ... from now on ... '' He continued oddly, `` It is all going to be unlike. ``

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

'' So could have you, '' Ron cut in sharply. `` Yet that did n't stop over you from doing your duty, Professor. ``

In the minute of silence that followed, the youthful Weasley son suddenly did something completely unexpected. A slow, sad grin crept across his feature film, and then Ronald Billius Weasley looked him directly in the eye.

'' Whatever the reason was for sending you out to cavort with those other ... '' Ron swallowed hard, `` loup-garou ... It had to be authoritative, otherwise you would n't induce been there. ``

Remus remained soundless. He could not give into his own self-deprecating desire to deform and flee, he owed the new werewolf more than that.

'' This is a war. Before you bit me I had no real endowment to propose. '' The untested man 's Bible were slow, and for once, painstakingly thought out. `` To everyone I was just ... a hindrance, just another mediocre wizar ... ''

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

Ron shook his head, his fingers scrunching the austere flannel of the hospital sheets. `` It does n't matter ... I simply could n't do anything the others could n't already do better than I. But now .... ''

Light blue eyes looked up, meeting his haunted 1. `` But now prof ... ''

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

A rather dangerous expression touched Ron 's backtalk. `` Well ... '' He said, flexing his finger. `` That 's about to shift. ``

And with automatic speed, right where Ron 's fist had been clenched around them, Remus realized that the infirmary sheet of paper now lay shredded.

Where Ron 's finger's breadth should be, there were claws.

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

All that lay there was a dangerous glint.

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

A carnal lineament edged into the young Weasley son 's voice.

Amytal, ovular eyes, met his own.

'' So Lupin ... How 'd the Order fancy a sec set of ravenous fang ? ``










A prompt note : The medical exam and biological science buffs may catch a few things in this chapter and the upcoming I, so please be forewarned that any solecism on the characters'part regarding such thing is entirely intentional. I want to show that they are imperfect and not entirely knowledgeable about certain things. It would n't be fun if the characters never made mistakes. *cackles*

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








'' Amidst pit there is always idle, it is just a topic of finding it. ``
~ alien ~


Chapter 26 ~ The Reason for the War



It had taken her all of ten minute to count on it out.

external respiration heavily, her mousy haircloth strewn about, she again rose her leg to drive the broad force of her weight against the mahogany doorframe. The speech sound reverberated throughout the elbow room, echoing from the ancient stone walls in a way that mirrored her increasing, self-directed anger.

She should take known.

Cursing she stepped back from the unmoving entryway, her human foot stumbling clumsily across the uneven floor instrument panel. Her dark optic swept the high rafters criss crossing the cylindric column, at a loss.

Dumbledore had tenacious since earned the title normally reserved for Remus alone, for that 'damnable man'had thought of every imaginable escape effort and blocked her forward motion at every turn. One thing was certain : The Headmaster was surely against anyone knowing of his plan, and from the looks of things she would not be escaping any clip soon. Certainly not in time to alert anyone before it was too late.

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

Her oculus landed upon the dark windowpane frame, her mind briefly mulling over the possibility of growing her hair's-breadth into a long enough plait to transmit Emily scurrying down.

She snorted. Even if the Bothans were not under an enchanted rest Kenneth would surely skin her alive before allowing her to rick his daughter into an impromptu acrobatic chimpanzee. Of course Emily had seemed rather taken by that display at the Phoenix Park Zoo ...

As if reading her thoughts Kenneth growled a little.

Men ... She thought angrily. Even in their sleep they shot down her estimate !

Turning her attending to the doorway frame she did the only matter she could intend of, and rearing back her leg she charged. Only this meter the door swung loose as if in sync with the immortal of clumsiness, and she found herself sprawled across the schoolmaster 's emptier office.

Rolling onto her back, flopping like a Pisces the Fishes on the floor, her sinister eyes fixated furiously upon her cousin.

'' You ... '' She roared, kicking the door to the work shut with her feet. She was not eager for Kenneth nor Emily to discover this if they awoke at this rather untimely interval.

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

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

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

'' He 's right you kno ... ''

'' Shut up Crusantheus ! ``

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

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

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

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

Regulus'eyes roamed the room curiously, as if she were an inconsequent bug, before his eyes finally landed upon a pocket-sized storage locker. `` Well ... '' He commented, walking towards it. `` If not I he would have found another person to ... ''

'' The Holy Order needs him Regulus ! '' She shouted, tailing him closer than a shadow. `` We ca n't survive witho ... ''

genus Regulus spun to face her. `` Do n't devalue yourself full cousin. From what he said he may have founded your little aviary organization, but he is no more important than the rest of you within it. ``

She gasped. `` You jest ? ``

The staring range of stone glowered back. `` Do I look like one to jest ? ``

Her hint came in furious puffs as he began rummaging through the contents of Dumbledore 's deceptively small liquor cabinet. A considerable clock time passing before he emerged, a tight, fill note straining his mouth, and a garnet hued bottle in hand.

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

'' Le Vin de Chateau Latour ... '' Regulus commented admiringly, ignoring her as if nix of significance had occurred. `` Dix-neuf soixante-dix, une belle année. ``

Her teeth ground so operose she swore to God he would be receiving the dental bill.

'' For the LE refined in the room, '' He continued, his unfaltering eyes never leaving his recently procured loot, `` Nineteen LXX was an splendid yr. ``

A loud pop resonated within the way, the rising hue of her cheeks evidencing her increasing blood force per unit area. Merlin ... she was getting as bad as Kingsley with that !

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

Between her gritted teeth she managed a growl. Regulus ignored this, painstakingly choosing a rather jade and bright orange mug from Dumbledore 's fix drinking glass selection. His nose crinkled in aversion as the mug 's allegory Go Cannons sparkled up at him.

'' Allowing his time of origin to go to blow ... '' genus Regulus grumbled disapprovingly, pouring the opaque, yet red tempestuousness into his mug moodily. `` I would have thought wagerer of the old man ... ''

'' That old man has more lesson fiber than you could ever care to possess, '' She snapped.

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

Her eyes widened furiously. `` Why in the Hell would Dumbledore consider you into his authority ? You were a cowardous traito ... ''

Regulus'methamphetamine slammed down, shattering.

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

Regulus'bearing rose, despite his already rigidly erect bearing.

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

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

'' Oh ? '' He snapped condescendingly. `` And how was I supposed to do it that my former slithering Godhead had crawled back from the tomb whilst in the Muggle realm Nymphadora ? Particularly when those of you at the Ministry do your adept to sequester our populace from the Muggle kingdom ? well congratulations Nymphadora ! Because despite Voldemort 's best movement at havoc and misery your precious Ministry has done its job well ! Not a Christian Bible of his return leaked to me, even though I was listening for word ! ``

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

'' Why at a confluence with that slithering serpent of a Dark Creator I suspect. Surely you could have guessed that at least. ``

Her warmness thudded unnaturally.

'' Let me out Regulus. ``

'' I wish I could cousin, '' He said, turning back to the wine-colored. `` But it was his desire for neither of us to leave alone until the flock was complete. Something about pesky, meddlesome, bullheaded Aurors ... ''

She growled, resisting the urge to attack.

genus Regulus merely snorted. `` I would consider that you, being parting of his little aviary society, would by now actualize that he knows what he is doing. Even I know tha ... ''

Swearing loudly she kicked the rampart, rattling Phineas'portrait, forcing their long short congener to hang onto his form 's edge for fear of being dislodged from it.

Regulus mouth twitched wickedly, ignoring the choice word of honor that came flying their way as he addressed his full cousin. `` Now if you want to ruin the portrayal then by all means, do so Nymphadora. However, in the interim it seems that your best bet is to slack and have a drink, because you clearly need one. ``

Scowling she slapped the proffered glass away.

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


* * * * *

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

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

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

Remus had felt slightly ill at the idea of any of them suffering while he had strolled leisurely down the castle 's corridors, unable to go faster for fright of leaving the grim ward 's escapee behind, which was precisely why he had thrown a levitation charm at the young man, sparing Ron the bother of having to push with his self-sizing crutches.

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

Ron 's face, screwed in careful density as he attempted to avoid hitting his head on the roof, shot him a withering look.

'' My friends are out there Remus, and I do n't intend to sit idly by while the edict hems and hawthorn over what the best course of action at law is. I want into the Order, and I want to assist. ``

'' And if they vote against that ? ``

Ron grinned tensely. `` I 'll peril to give them a friendly nip on the leg. After all, I 've missed dinner party tonight. ``

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

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

'' You 're forgetting your female parent. ``

Ron paled considerably, his freckles standing out. `` She 'll just suffer to understand, '' He growled determinedly. `` About Ginny too, she 'll rebound back, and when she does she can help me detect the mother fucker that Imperious-ed her. ``

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

As Ron had said, the good loup-garou had to stick together, and he deserved to know of the underground werewolf activity as much as anyone.

The other loup-garou could still be out there ...

The thought spurred him into a faster dash, and ignoring the Gryffindor 's sudden protest Remus began dashing down the stone corridors, his fear rising exponentially at the unnatural quiet upon the school.

Snapping the word he and the floating Ron mounted the stairs to Dumbledore 's post, a disruptive argument increasing in volume as they approached. Forgoing formality he set Ron down hastily, grasping the doorway handle and tugging.

It was locked.

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

'' Remus ? ! ``

At the voice his clenched fist froze, in above the cringing bronze Crusantheus, the argument within the office grinding to an unceremonious halt.

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

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

Remus was about to inquire as to 'who'precisely had been going at it when Ron 's confused mussitation interrupted him.

'' Since when did Dumbledore get a talking door rapper ? ``

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

Ron bristled, `` Little ? ``

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

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

'' We know ! '' Shouted two interpreter simultaneously from the antonym side of the door.

Remus'ears reflexively picked up, the intimacy of the unnamed vocalizations unnerving. `` Tonks let us in, '' He shouted, frowning.

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

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

'' What ? ``

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

Again, the unidentified masculine voice floated beneath the room access. `` You might as well tell apart them ... ''

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

There was a pause.

A very long pause.

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

'' Try me, '' Remus insisted.

'' Later Wolfy. ``

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

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

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

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

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

'' infirmary wing, '' Remus supplied.

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

'' Bugger off you rusted piece of ... ''

'' RONALD ! ``

Crusantheus bronze tongue began clinking out a gleeful tune, clearly ecstatic at Tonks'reprimand. `` Aha ! punter stifle it Fingers or Ms. Windpipes in there will shut you up for me before you can say Hoggy, Hoggy, Hogwa ... ''

Remus finally gave in to the urge to hush the blessed thing, ineffectual to think. Crusantheus'sudden silence earned him a loud exclaiming as the unidentified interpreter from within began praising the lord and maker.

He knew that voice ...

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

butt him Ron made a strangled sound of recognition.

'' Sirius ? ''

A tawdry thump evidenced the unidentified man 's displeasure.

'' If I get mistaken for Sirius one more meter I 'll hex that door titty ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

Really ... You Gryffindors have no creativeness ...

Remus'mind spun, an echo from the past striking a discrepant chord.

Staring at the locked room access something clicked.

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

'' Nymphadora were you and your friends hit with a paranoia charm ? You can answer me honestly with full faith that this conversation will remain confidential. ``

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

'' So you 're a shrink and a Dr. ! ? '' Tonks spluttered.

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

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

'' Shut it both of you ! '' Tonks snapped furiously, the speech sound of stamping ft reaching his perked ears.

He withdrew his ear from the door just in meter, its entire form shuddering violently as she kicked it from the former English, rendering Crusantheus cross-eyed.

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

Sneakily, with stealing declarative mood of the low marks she had received on the stealing and Tracking dowery of her Auror test, a wand tip snuck beneath the offer between the door and floor.

Remus stared at this odd action, mystification the figure of his expression. Unfortunately he hesitated just a second too long, for a hot stream of searing sparks suddenly ignited his trousers, a justify Ah-ha resounding from the pink haired wonder Wiccan as Remus hopped around, nearly tumbling down the winding staircase in his attempts to douse them.

'' Made her angry did you ? ''

As Ron snickered he had to forcibly keep back himself from snarling in the Weasley 's general direction.

'' Tonks, '' He groaned hoarsely, leg still steaming. `` What on worldly concern is wrong ? ``

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

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

'' Fine ... Two hebdomad and ... ''

'' Did the estimation of talking it through like noetic adult ever occur to either of you ? '' Regulus'muffled voice interjected curiously.

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

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

Cautiously approaching he ignored Ron 's startled stare, pressing his hands against the rough grain. `` Tonks ... '' He whispered gratingly, `` I ... .We do n't have clip for this now ... ''

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

Regulus emitted a low tin whistle, clearly closer than before. `` Trouble in nirvana Lupin ? Honestly is n't she a piddling untried for you ? ``

The distinct sound of someone being smacked echoed through the door and down the stairwell. The heavy wiz within his bureau failing to improve.

'' At hazard of being hexed ... ''

Remus turned, eyeing Ron with barely concealed annoyance.

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

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

Remus'brow furrowed. It was not like Dumbledore to lead soul unaided. Not at all.

'' Slow to see on as always Nympahdora, '' Regulus remarked condescendingly. `` Did it ever occur to you that in lieu of sending a potentially dense Scout ... ''

'' I am not slow ... ''

'' Of course not, '' Regulus snorted. `` But rather than letting a search political party gallivant around the expanse, risking further loss of life, he did the smart thing. ``

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

'' He sent the fastest courier he could, '' He responded smugly. `` Surely you do n't go for yourself in the Lapp class of speed as a phoenix, do you cousin ? ``

Remus'centre widened in discernment. `` He sent them a portkey. ``

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

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

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

He hesitated.

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

Cringing inwardly he turned and ran for the owlery.

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

On the other English of the door Tonks growled, dropped cross-legged to the flat coat, banged the backrest of her head against the threshold, and extended a pointed hand to Regulus.

Her cousin smirked, filling her a well needed glass.


* * * * *



Harry 's heart skipped unnaturally. His breath froze. Instinctual alarms ignited a fiery wrath within him.

As if in reaction his calloused fists unconsciously coiled sloshed around her shoulders, clenching the smashed folds of her torn sweater as if doing so could somehow turn back the presence lurking within the shadows.

It could not.

A savage growl cut through the air current, the frigid duck soup snaking around them, biting bitterly against his tegument, whipping Kaylen 's fleece hair around her livid cheek.

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

Like a phantom sound upon the wind came the smacking of monstrous chela upon glossy mud, the telltale strait of a wolf bent-grass on savagery as it stalked its prey across water-laden hunting grounds.

They were its prey ...

Holding her resolute eyes with his, watching as her visage screwed into that of mordant declaration, Harry knew he had no selection.

Loosening his detention upon her quietly heaving shoulders, watching the bloody bandages binding his decoration sway in the malarky, he ground out a single command.

'' Run ... ''

His dark whisper was met with quick action at law, for she took flight of stairs, mud splattering beneath her feet as she fled for the tree line, her tattered sweater billowing in the hint as she went.

Lightning from the war torn heavens illuminated the desolate fight ground, sending her shadowy silhouette stretching across the matte up reaching of pasturage separating them.

Tensely he watched her, standing his ground.

He refused to follow.

Around him the power of the violent storm surged, roar shaking the earthly concern as his scar clenched fist clenched tightly around the foreboding feather of the phoenix that lay deeply imbedded in his faithful holly, his scepter arm hanging loosely by his side.

Blinking the piddle from his eyes he watched in muffled captivation. Kaylens was suddenly aware of her solitude, her understructure halting into a turbulent skid across the hunting ground as she fought to barricade against the raging wind. The mud finally ceased to give, resisting her sliding groundwork as her form went slipping beneath the woodland 's threshold, the dripping canopy throwing shadows across her countenance as she whorled around to consider him.

Beneath the branches her center flashed dangerously, for his deception and what it could mean had finally struck her with frightening violence. With the free sense of an onlooker observing an unstoppable calamity he watched as her word form went rigid.

She knew there was no prison term to reach him. His ploy had worked.

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

It was how he wanted it.

thumping, thump ...

The swift glide slope of the wolfman 's pincer beat against the suctioning ground.

The woman chaser was charging him, yet he did not move.

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

clump, thump ...

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

clunk, thump ...

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

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

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

thumping, thud ...

If he survived this she would surely bolt down him, and an odd smiling crept upon his haywire rim at the absurdity of the sentiment.

clunk, thumping ...

All of it transpired in a sec, his eyes flying wide as the sky split up open, roaring as the divinity themselves sent their galvanic clenched fist hurtling down to link up the fray.

Lightning struck as he hit the priming coat hard, ducking as he felt the wildcat springing into the air to grab him. Jaws snapped around slim down air, right where the dorsum of his neck had been a indorse before.

The wolf 's bottom claw slashed out, grazing his back, shredding the fabric of his shirt, just scratching his peel 's open. A pained moan shot from his mouth, yet it was unheard as a fiery bolt of galvanizing demise struck the tree demarcation with fearsome chroma.

He was already screaming for Kaylens'to move.

A carnal growl emanated before him, the werewolf 's escape ending as its colossal manakin crashed back onto the earth with one sickening splat of mud and rain, its colossal form skidding on the slick terra firma as if upon ice.

'' Kaylens move ! '' He screamed, watching as a fiery exhibitioner of embers rained down from the rip trunk upon her.

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

His abdomen lurched sickeningly, a choking screeching tearing through him, silenced only as the woman chaser 's snarling schnoz reared around to face him again.

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

A hurt ululation signified that his aim had been dead on target.

Desperately, center pounding, he again let the cutting hex fly, followed by an bombardment of atomic number 47 particles as he staggered to his base, stumbling backwards in a frenzy as the wolf 's brutalized pelt sent its recoiling body to the ground.

The silver corpuscle were lodging within the brute 's open air wounds, and the metal 's toxicity was quickly infiltrating its bloodstream.

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

'' Kaylens ! '' He screamed, bolting for the tree line of work, watching in revulsion as smoke began pluming upwards.

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

And he had sent her there.

The noxious fumes came hurtling at him upon an icy blast, choking his lungs, and her name, which his sass had been expelling, came out instead as a ragged cough.

His glasses were somehow lost, filth and smoke particles replacing them to cut against his retinas, a numbing virtuoso overtaking him.

He did not see the setback coming.

A massive paw struck him down, sending him hurtling fount down into a puddle, his panicked earthly concern morphing into a watery brown blur.

His wand flew from his handle, skidding out of reach as he flailed, feeling the weight of the creature atop him as it forced his dead body to make a new depression in the ductile globe.

The shallow water lapped around his ears, his backtalk flapping around the ill-tasting soil, body sputtering as his faithless lungs continued their doomed attempts to rout the poisonous fastball fumes from them, inhaling piddle instead.

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

Above him a new wolf growled venomously.

Flipping onto his vertebral column, rolling out of the way, he saw a tree branch whip out, striking the beast hovering above him with a sickening crunch.

The 2nd werewolf, the one he had failed to see in time, fell limp to the ground.

Emerging from the burning alcove of tree diagram Kalliandra callously threw the arm at the creature, ensuring another blow to its head as she appraised her handiwork. A indorse later her burning centre were fixated upon him, a furious formulation crossing her soot stained features as he was left sputtering upon the ground.

'' What the netherworld were you thinking Potter ? ! '' She coughed out, her voice a coarse rasp. `` This is the same stunt you pulled in Hogsmeade ! Are you that daft ? ! ``

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

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

'' Pissed ! '' She hissed exasperatedly, clearly irked More by him than by the skirt chaser who had attempted to make a meal of them. `` You are undivided handedly the most brash, imbecile, self-centered, suicidal individual that I have ever met ! adjacent prison term, I 'll let the wolves eat you ! ``

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

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

'' What, '' She grunted wearily, `` Could you possibly find oneself funny about this ? ''

He grinned. `` A lot actually. ``

Her jaw dropped, flapping soundlessly as the wind sent grass billowing in a dark cloud behind her, her hand instantly rising to screen her eyes from its midst balance.

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

For a second she appeared to bumble. `` ceramist ... '' She threatened raspily, `` I 'm going to toss off you. ``

He nodded solemnly, gingerly up-righting himself. `` Well ... '' He grunted, annoyance searing his articulatio humeri. `` Get in line. ``

'' roll in the hay that. I get the low go at ... ''

Her Christian Bible ended in a grating cry, a chameleon-like deal having shot Forth River unseen in the billowing smoke, snatching her thick hair within its pitiless confines. Her cockeyed tresses were used as an lynchpin, the disenchant man callously snapping her head back to expose the slender flesh of her neck opening to the splintered wood of a blackened wand.

Rain droplets splattered eerily in mid-air against the unseen adversary.

'' dip it Potter, '' Growled a interpreter as dour as the night.

The pharyngeal growl sent something dangerous stirring within him, his forest colored oculus remaining glued to Kaylens'cringing countenance.

His brow furrowed as a foreign idea began to take away frame, his fingers loosened around the holly coated wand.

'' thrower do n't ... '' Kaylens'sharp cry was cut off as she was shoved forwards, nearly thrown from her feet by the demise Eater 's blue-belly prodding.

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

'' I said pearl it boy, or I 'll make for sure she stays utter this clock time. ''

Harry 's manus went stiff, his wand falling into the mud.

'' Attaboy. ``

The counter of the disillusionment charm was muttered as the villain advanced through the coiling weed, holding Kalliandra ahead of him, the flame'orange Christ Within throwing the destruction Eater 's visceral face into bare focus.

Harry 's origin ran cold.

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

The dead man was active and well.

'' Ah ... .So you do remember me, '' The man hissed, eyes gleaming malevolently. `` Perhaps you remember my crony, Broussard. I do consider you slashed his pharynx. ``

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

A violent stifle to the backbone sent Kaylens crumbling to her stifle, her frame suspended by the callous grip on her long locks.

'' To lose one 's remaining family ... '' Continued the decease feeder with lifelessly calm, `` In such a style does not endear one to mercy. ``

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

The decease Eater ignored her, his foul gaze fixated upon him. `` You 're a gooselike boy thrower ... dabbling in Unforgivables ... I 'd shoot down you if I could ... ''

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

The villain laughed bitterly, `` I 'm not as stupid as some of the former ass-kisser boy. You 'll feature to improve your manipulation if you expect that to influence. ``

'' amercement, '' He spat darkly. `` I 'm disarm, you 're not. Care to let her go before that variety ? ``

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

Something within him snapped, the unconscious magic trick he had drawn upon in bit of pauperization finally snapping into place.

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

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

'' As intriguing as this is potter, we came to turn in a message. Nothing Sir Thomas More. ``

Harry 's voice dropped to a growl, `` Since when did a message entail taking my head teacher off ? ``

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

'' A rather perverse idea of fun, do n't you recollect ? ``

'' Considering what you did to my pal, I 'd say I 'm in the presence of interchangeable society. ``

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

A powerful yank sent her chief snapping back, his insides lurching as the resounding wisecrack of her protesting vertebrae.

'' calm girlie ! '' Hissed the baddie, spitting dribbling as he spoke. `` You 're already an endangered coinage, I 'd detest for you to go extinct. ``

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

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

Hands coiling into compressed fists, Harry began inching to the side, the speech sound of mud suctioning against shoe soles masked by the resounding thunder.

If he could get an slant around her, he could make his shot ...

'' And to believe, I thought catching Veelas was the whip assignment ... but no topic ... ''

It took everything he had to suppress his outward horror, for the man had already drawn and used the unseen sticker, plunging it shallowly into the soma of her shoulder, dragging it across her skin. A second later the villain had a cylindrical ampoule held beneath her freely flowing blood, bottling it as her eyes scrunched in a awful grimace, her intellect doubtlessly feeling chronicle repeating itself.

'' There, that oughta appease my Lord in the event of your untimely ... '' The man was running his verge along her wounding, a black light radiating as her physique sealed beneath it. `` Well ... .end anyway ... ''

Blinded by rain, Harry 's centre went Elwyn Brooks White with anger.

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

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

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

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

'' All the Dark Lord wants is the prophecy Potter, yet if you continue this stubborn refusal that little mudblooded champion of yours will wind up bushed. '' The man grinned evilly. `` And we all know you do n't desire that to happen. ``

His wand shook, so intemperately was his grip upon it.

'' Just suppose ... what has your obstinate refusal gotten you thus far ? Certainly it did admiration for improving that blood double-dealer Black 's flow United States Department of State howeve ... ''

'' Dog Star was a good man, '' He heard himself hissing.

The man merely inclined an eyebrow. `` Ah yes, I seem to remember him fancying himself as such even during our schooltime old age. He, the stately Black, always criticizing Broussard and I ... the two Detreck Brother were worthless to him, even the one from his own firm ... ''

Harry felt poorly, angriness and hatred vibrating unceremoniously within.

'' Your father was much the Saami ... both never sparing even a thought for the noble Black 's own kin ... '' He continued, the Saami tincture of superiority dripping from his words. `` Sirius always wondered what finally sent Regulus to the social rank of the Death feeder. Would you like me to tell you ? ``

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

'' The deciding factor you see, was Sirius'unregenerate refusal to recognise his brother as an equalise, '' He revealed. `` The arrogant fool followed those resisting the nighttime Lord blindly, never stopping to consider who was really in the right. He and the rest of those Gryffindor fools following Dumbledore never even realize our reasons ... ''

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

The man 's teeth glinted in the firelight. `` There 's no pauperism to justify anything, because the war hungry Muggles will not be capacity to leave our sort alone forever. It 's putting to death or be killed Potter. The Dark Lord is simply acting preemptively, before those filthy Muggles get the chance. ``

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

The Death Eater Detreck laughed. He actually laughed.

'' Tell me Potter, with all of the inter-marrying between whizz and Muggles, how would you propose keeping our humanity forever hidden ? Eventually we will get divulge, and when that happens the Muggles will know the potential drop threat we hold. ``

Inching towards the heat of the firing, and its velum of smoke, Harry allowed him to spill, wracking his creative thinker for a plan.

'' Once that happens I 'm quite surely they will be corking in showing us clemency. Perhaps the Lapp sort that was given to the Jews of their second creation War, or that which was shown to the autochthonous people of the Americas when the new kingdom were discovered. Or to the beldame of Salem ... ''

Kaylens cut him off.

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

A obelisk was squeeze to her throat, silencing her tidings as blood prickled her tegument. A sadistic look of composure crossed the eldest Detreck 's face as he held it there.

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

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

'' Every war has fatal accident Potter, and in this one anyone good-hearted to those primitive brute runs the risk of becoming one. ``

'' They 're not primitive ... ''

'' Yet they wage war upon other country, killing their own kind without view, acti ... ''

'' Since Death Eaters do the Lapp thing I guess you would get laid. ``

'' Our cleanup is at least educated, and justified by More than war over limit. ``

Harry 's phonation shook with suppressed furore. `` Nothing can justify insensate blooded murder ... ''

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

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

'' Despite what you think, you are very lots alike us Potter, and thus my noble has a proposal of form for you. ``

Watching the tenseness leave Kalliandra 's neck opening, her boldness slumping gratefully forward without reverence of impalement upon the tongue 's blade, he grunted. `` So what deal is it this time ? Join him and he spares my life ? ``

'' No, simply reveal the missing region of the prognostication in exchange for your friend 's family 's liveliness. ``

'' And Hermione ? ``

The man 's optic glittered evilly, acrid smoking billowing out with a change of the current of air.

'' In the section of enigma, in the Hall of Prophecies, you remember the ledge upon ledge filled with the forecasting of seers past ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Then surely you were not arrogant enough to believe that yours was the only foretold regarding this war. ``

His berm stiffened, for he actually had.

From the woodland 's edge, scant time away, resounded the cracking of a tree limb as it finally burnt away. It fell into the burning at the stake undergrowth, sending a instant of fervour bulging outwards on impact.

In the cacophonic roar of heating system and flame all party scattered, the smoke glade in clock time for Harry to see Kaylens still in the baddie 's vice bobby pin, her apparent bolt for freedom hindered by the man 's sinewy arm which had tightened around her.

Her human elbow to his body went ignored, the massive man 's muscles protecting him. Detreck merely grunted, hauling her to her metrical foot as the smoking dispersed, the pelting beginning to smoother the flames.

'' We waste clip. In the anteroom of prophecies there is another with your name on it, or did that decrepit old man fail to inform of you of its existence as well ? ``

Somehow he managed to avoid snapping his sceptre, despite the vibration of his fists.

'' When you find that, and bring out its content, only then will our Lord discharge your precious Mudblooded friend. ``

'' You 're lying, '' Harry fuss, the vitriolic perceptiveness of smoke on his knife. `` If I told you, he 'd pour down her anyway. ``

The man 's lip curled. `` Perhaps ... but if you had something else to offer up him, something in addition to that ... something he very much desired ... than perhaps once you 'd revealed the secondly prophecy, he 'd retort her if your word was given to bring out another once the exchange was made. ``

Harry shook his heading disbelievingly, `` Since when has ole Riddle trusted my watchword ? ``

'' How daring you defile his epithet ... ''

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

Kalliandra 's capitulum was suddenly yanked violently back, the verge again to her throat. All intellection of traumatizing the Death Eater with scoff of its leader flew from his mind, his eyes glued to her pale, soaked face.

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

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

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

'' Then that Mudblood of yours die. Unless you find something better to offer. ``

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

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

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

'' Then all these spare will meet the like fate as those noble parents of yours. ``

Kalliandra 's middle flew up, surprise flitting through them even in the dark. He met them, painfully holding onto them, grasping for arcsecond through the downpour so she could see how sorry he was, for the past, for where his short circuit sightedness had landed them, and still ... for what he may have to do.

There was simply no prison term left.

Somehow, the headache swimming within her golden orbs conveyed what he needed to know.

She understood.

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

'' Stupefy ... ''

Kalliandra went crumbling to the background, her limp form lying in a exclusive mud-sodden heap, the Death feeder 's expression distortion in surprisal as another knockout flew from Harry 's wand.

He had done the one matter Detreck could not get counted on. Injuring a familiar, thereby removing her from harms way while simultaneously clearing the way of life to the foeman.

His mantrap struck the foeman directly in the dresser, a second before a barbarous vocalisation resounded behind him.

'' Crucio. ``

Harry fell hard, his consistence imprinting the easygoing priming as a thousand Andrew D. White hot knives sliced slowly, than brutally at his physique. His imaginativeness was blinded, by mud, rain, and pain, yet he still saw the hairy man, half-way through the werewolf shift, walking around him, reviving Detreck ...

The werewolf Kaylens had taken out had awoken.

As he screamed, convulsing in pain, rolling in the slick stream that had become the glade 's undercoat, he heard their disputation voices.

'' ... .belongs to the night Lords, not us ... .we ca n't harm him ... .leave it to him ... .dealt with in due metre ... .orders were ... .deliver substance ... .leave them .... ''

The constant suffering suddenly lifted, his torment mettle still spasming as he somehow rolled to face them. His hand flopped around pathetically, digit closing without potency upon thin air, searching for the familiar holly wood he had lost a clutches of during his convulsions.

'' You can waste time chasing after us, or her potter. Think about it. ``

The wet air resonated with the penetrating cracks of disapparation, his sinewy synapses finally firing at his command. With rawness outshining the most grueling trials of human endurance he thrust himself up, his hands sinking into the muddy shit, centre frantically scanning the clearing.

Kaylens was nowhere to be seen.

Heart lurching sickeningly, he stumbled to his base. Sliding, staggering, he peered through the iniquity, summoning his wand from where it had sunk beneath the uprooted grass.

Lightning flashed, casting an eerie glowing across the water.

Kaylens lay facedown, floating within it.

His animal foot moved, faster than he would have thought possible, plunging into the chest deep water. Quickly he propelled himself to where she lay submerged, floating just below the surface. Only her bounce wrists, pushed upwards by the gentle H2O 's lapping, remained emerged in the air, her hair fanning out behind her head

His arms quickly sought her, wrapping around her shoulders to perpetrate her out, letting her dead weight strike hard against him.

His bridge player fell to her chest, his spoken words a whisper against the storm.

'' Ennervate ... ''

The lovingness ranch from between his fingers, his unconsciously done trick triggering no reaction in her.

The spell was removed, yet she remained unresponsive. He had expected coughing, shouting, something.

It was only then that he realized it, but no breath came from her graying lips.

defense mechanism lesson had taught him about more than countering spells, and he was already turning her limp form to present him, using the piss 's buoyancy to cradle her as her face lolled back.

His numbing, pained fingers quickly wiped the plastered hair from her rim, a sick of feeling rising in his chest as his eyes flickered across the vacant grounds.

The Death Eaters were gone ... .they would not total back.

essence wrenching, he acted, pressing his mouthpiece against hers as he pushed precious oxygen in, breathing for her, listening to the odd fizzle of his breathing place making its way through her air passages.

Pulling away, waiting for the rise of her chest against his, he felt nothing.

Panicked optic flickered over her peaceful face before his mouth once again descended, capturing her icy lips with his own in another breathing time of desperation. One arm was tightening around her, the former cradling her headway as he pinched her nose.

Again he waited.

The rise in her breast as he had breathed had been barely discernable, and now there was null. A unity view flitted through his frightened psyche. He was doing this wrong.

In that single moment of paralyzing horror he suddenly understood. Her air passage was clogged.

He had to clear it.

He was already turning her limp form around, allowing her back to fall against him as his fist sought her midriff. With a single, right movement he thrust them in and upwards, feeling her dead body spasm in a small tingle.

Again he repeated the question, thrusting forcefully. Her hobble form seized violently in reception, her upper body falling forward as a racking cough shook her, the water supply expelling from her lungs. Harry lunged forward with her, arms wrapping around her bureau, preventing her human face from again hitting the unfaithful water.

His forearms strained against her as she convulsed, choking on the nothingness, gasping as coughing after shuddering cough shook her thin frame. Shivering in the cold pee his pounding nitty-gritty calmed until she leaned loosely forward, gasping breathlessly.

Without a word he pulled her against him, clutching her quivering kind flush to his own, her straits falling against his shoulder joint. Her shallow panting caressed his tegument, the insurrection of her chest against his reassuring him in an inexplicable way.

Slowly he fought to control the hitching of his own debauched drawn breathing place, for after everything he felt fix to crumble, only he suddenly found himself the pillar to which she clung.

Resting his Chin atop her top dog, peering into the nighttime, he silently prayed that what he had overheard was accurate. For if he was really considered Voldemort 's toy, needed to do a project, then he truly was unassailable.

In theory they would again be safe, until Riddle decided to again 'chat .'

As of now, if he were wrong, then their solely sanctuary would be the H2O they stood shivering within, and he had yet to properly subdue the bubble-head spell for hiding beneath its turbid depths. Now their but genuine protection lay within the head covering of cat-tails rising richly above the shimmering urine 's surface, obscuring them from all.

Icy wind instrument howled, sending the John Reed around them dancing.

respiration unsteadily, the scent of burned wood filled his nostrils. The storm was slowly winning the battle against the blaze, extinguishing the aflame underbrush and tree diagram, and the Christ Within of the attack was slowly dying. Tilting his look down he watched the fiery Orange incandescence reflecting from her wet cheeks, lending some warmth to her blench hue.

'' Are you alright ? '' He finally whispered, his shivering hands smoothing her tangled, sopping hair from her face. She simply breathed against him, pilus dripping across his articulatio humeri, her intact form quivering.

Tightening his limb around her, he again whispered his query, his questioning lips brushing along her ear lobe. `` Kaylens ? '' He murmured shakily, breathing against her hair. `` You okay ? ``

In his arms she nodded imperceptivity, his trepidation for her alone sending his centre thundering. His relief was palpable, as was the look of her beneath his hands.

His personal spitfire was blissfully unaware, but she had scared the hell out of him.

Raindrops continued falling, grave and secure, splattering against the water with hypnotic melody. Somehow, without reason, his knuckle duster were rising, tracing alone her jaw line, a drowsy murmuring leaving her picket, cracked lip at his pinch.

Instinctively his strong weapon system began enveloping her tighter, pressing her to him needingly, his reasons elusive. Surprisingly her delicate custody were responding, rising to beseech against his chest. Her assuage fingertips brushed his bare skin, sliding along his pectoral where his perspirer hung tattered and easy, courtesy of the werewolves'claws and the forest 's snaring bramble.

Beneath the rippling water a entitle prickling was radiating onto him, traveling wherever her nerveless skin fell into contact with his own, as if diminutive bits of static electricity were passing between them.

Somehow he understood, for he was feeling her admittedly magic trick. She seemed unaware that she was releasing any, but her telling key signature was trailing across him in a maddening way, just below the rippling surface, veiled from his eyes.

Yet somehow, he could not face away.

Slowly, surely, the maddening whizz of her fingers tangling within his jumper drove the unconscious mind fear from his mind, his bright eyes finally falling shut to the night, hiding beneath the dark, matted haircloth slung dripping across his scarred forehead.

Upon his neck he felt her brim parting, an exhausted suspiration escaping against his skin. His brass dipped in response, burrowing within her pelting scented hair.

'' You know ... '' He disclosed softly, shivering in the confidential information. `` You may be more hassle than you 're worth. ``

A flaccid laughter, scarcely there, sent his skin prickling.

'' Oh ? '' She breathed, her hoarsely talk words tinged with amusement. `` And you 're not ? ''

'' dot take, '' He conceded, a low jape vibrating his throat.

The sky lit up, shining with anomalous grandness as lightning flashed in the space. The icy amnionic fluid lapping against them, the current of air howling eerily between the trees.

'' potter .... '' She mumbled, his hand rising to settle upon the smooth skin of her neck at the sound. `` What happened ? ''

Her part was barely a whisper, trailing away as his fingers went trailing down the smooth out pelt of her cervix, feeling her impulse beating with regularity beneath them.

'' Apparently, '' He murmured gruffly, her light breathing a plume tracing across his skin, `` I ca n't lead you alone for a minute. ``

'' I could say the Lapp for you, '' She said breathlessly, shivering as his handwriting rose along the shape of her form. First his hired man were gripping her waist, following rising along her sides, sliding to caress the skin covering her ribcage, just beneath her breasts.

His breathing place hitched with hers, her arms rising to circle his neck, cupping the back of his head teacher. Quickly her hands were becoming lost within his untamable hairsbreadth, the Lapplander unruliness that he had so oft heard her criticize, yet now felt her reveling in.

The earthy scent of mingled mud and rainfall was somehow soak upon her, drawing him in more than he could grant, more than he should leave. Yet he was, his sass already lowering to hers, the thick strung tension of a yard harsh exchanges vibrating between the two as his mouth fell upon hers, capturing her mouth as he had when pulling her limply from the icy H2O. Only now her oral fissure was moving against his, the taste of salty exertion lingering upon his tongue. Her gustatory modality was mingling with the refreshing rain pouring upon them, cascading down their faces.

His clothing clung wetly to him as his manus sought out her tangled hair. He frenziedly felt her deepening the contact of their sass, the rough stalk of his chin scratching her in the process. A slight grumble sent his own lips trembling against hers with laughter, her script squeezing his shoulders in retributive fashion. His own mouth was parting again, gasping, never relaxing the insistence against her lips as he fought for breath against her, feeling her doing the same.

A moment later he again seized her, his depressed lip being tugged gently between her own, an odd growl coming unbidden from his throat. For a tempestuous moment she quivered with seeming amusement before his agile hands responded, running along her neck 's vertebrae, a jump whimper falling from her lithe lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He murmured, his coat of arms desperately gathering her against him, his back talk deliriously relishing her taste. Suddenly he was ignorant of the rain pouring around them, cognisant only of her hands terrible onslaught as they slipped beneath his shirt 's collar, sliding along the bare tegument of his articulatio humeri, caressing his spine. His hair dripped into his boldness, and with step on it breaths their ill-concealed passions radiated, their mouths moving in a stormy fervor. Within his sleeve was the girl Harry had feared to get lost before he had known what it was to have, and he had no plans of letting go.

Slowly, panting breathlessly, Kalliandra pulled away. Her digit still clung to him, the rain pouring freely upon her flushing skin. Water droplets were dampening her forehead, and her finger slipped out from beneath his shirt to lollygag upon his collarbone. Unable to let her leave he leaned his brow against hers, cupping her look in his hands, feeling her eyelashes fluttering give against his cheeks.

His own jade optic flickered hazily afford, meeting the deep hazelnut tree one regarding him. She was blinking against the rain, her broken middle revealing her barely concealed emotion.

breathing heavily he leaned forward, brushing his back talk against hers, kissing her slowly. He was taking his clip now ... without the rush, without the desperation, without the veneration of having nearly lost her. thumb running along her gamy cheekbones, carefully wiping the mud from her cheek, his lips moved needingly across hers.

Again they parted, her mouth moving in a soft, disbelieving whisper.

'' You 've lost your mind ... ''

'' I know, '' He murmured, pressing his mouth to hers chastely. `` You wo n't tell anyone will you ? ``

She smiled against his lips, shaking her top dog slowly. `` No ... '' She whispered, amusement tingeing her intonation. `` This wo n't allow the clearing. ``

'' estimable, '' He quipped, smiling deviantly. `` I would have hated to Obliviate you. ``

'' What makes you think I would have minded ? ``

Burying his sassing near her ear, he emitted a low growl, `` You would experience. ``

'' Hmph. ``

Combing his digit through her thick, mud-laden hair, he felt her slender form again began to shiver, her quivering more pronounce than before.

Wrapping his arms tighter around her form, he murmured his curiosity. `` Does this mean value you 've forgiven me for stunning you ? ``

She grumbled indecipherably for a second, before suddenly growing tense, her face swiveling towards the visible glade, centre flickering with sudden recollection.

'' Harry .... '' She whispered seriously, all lightness gone from her voice. `` What happened to the Death Eate ... ''

'' Gone, '' He assured softly, `` They 're gone. They wo n't be back. Minus the dead one. ``

Her eyes remained name, warily gazing through the rainwater into the darkness of Nox.

'' How can you be sure ? ``

He smiled sadly, the warmth within him slowly dissipating as his war filled experiences, the ones that had taught him the normal of engagement, flew through his mind.

'' Because .... '' He whispered hauntingly, `` They delivered their message. They had their fun. For them that was enough, for the time being. ``

'' So their fun was trying to submerge me, '' She questioned bitterly, `` Or threatening you with Hermione 's life ? ``

'' Both. ``

Her eyes flickered across his, her formula sending something wrenching inside.

'' That man wanted you to recite him something, `` She said seriously, watching him carefully. `` Yet you would n't. Why ? ``

He swallowed hard, his disco biscuit 's apple rising strongly within his throat. `` Because I 'd rather die than allow them the information they need. ``

'' Than what stopped them from forcing you to go with them ? ``

His hand rose, trailing across her cheek, her breathing time faltering at his touch modality. Without reason his hilltop was again pressed against hers, her case so close that he could see the Brown University flecks within her fleur-de-lis dancing with each jiffy of lightning.

'' Even if they had, '' He whispered sullenly, `` Even if they had tortured Hermione right in straw man of me, I still would never tell. Because the mo I did we would take in all been short. ``

Distant skag shook the sky, Kalliandra 's optic falling shut against the wet outpouring. His remained upon her, never leaving as her chest rose and fell against his. The gentle rhythm of her breathing was inexplicably calming.

'' If the man is so ruthless ... '' She finally spoke, `` Why would he offer you the alternative he did ? ``

'' Because as ruthless as he is, he 's also intelligent. Voldemort knows his only prospect in Hades of getting anything out of me would be by offering an exchange : Hermione for the information, at a neutral location. '' He paused, breathing heavily, watching the stirring across her smiler.

'' It 's the only way I could ensure her safe, '' He finished solemnly.

Against his forehead he felt a get down frown creasing her eyebrow. A here and now later her veiled eyes fell open, observing him guardedly.

'' How could Voldemort possibly know what you 're thinking ? ''

His fingerbreadth clenched and unclenched around her weapons system in a tense rhythm. `` Because Kalliandra, Voldemort and I have been playing this game for a long time. And were both getting comfortably at it. ``

Her backtalk parted questioningly, his fingerbreadth rising to press carefully against them, silencing her queries.

'' Please, do n't ask. I do n't desire to lie to you, '' He pleaded breathlessly, lips hovering cm from her own, praying she understood.

She did.

Against him she nodded, wet droplets cascading down her paling human face. This metre it was she who sealed the stint blank space between them, her slick implements of war winding around his cervix, her body pressing flush against his.

For some rationality, as her parted lips allowed his tongue entrance, he suddenly felt more afraid than he ever had.

The stakes had been raised that day, for with his undecomposed booster gone he suddenly had so much to drop off, and it was the girl he remained intertwined with that had sent scissure running through his heavily erected bulwark.

Pulling away, gasping fervently, he suddenly was unsure of whether to detest her or love her for that.

'' You 're infuriating ... '' He murmured, scent nuzzling her cheek.

'' Likewise, '' She gasped breathlessly, water-laden string of hair falling over her center

They simply remained, hovering within the embrace of the other, until a flash of red crossed the night, circling to rest upon the pond 's edge.

Whilst she stiffened, Harry almost laughed in relief.

The fiery phoenix was watching them silently, something suspiciously like an old rag dropped near its feet, its feathery head cocked at a funny angle.

If Harry had not known better, he would say Guy Fawkes looked amused.









Recommended Stories :

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The Weasley 's and their adoptive family have worn through the rise of Voldemort and the final battle. There have been many end, but what happens on the brightest of day 's has repercussions far and wide ranging. Now they are left to pick up the bit. Welcome to a narration of Leslie Townes Hope, where the survivors are left to follow the clues, attempting to solve the puzzle before the nonparallel killer strikes again. While this is a relatively new story it contains one of the most fascinate plots that I have been lucky enough to stumble across. Pairing : Harry/Hermione

Hearts, streak, and cicatrix by sagesolon Rated : maturate Genre : romanticism, Action/Adventure, Angst
The final battle has long since past, yet to the elect One its reverberation sting as painfully as they did on the day he lost her. His sole solacement is found within his nightly escapes to the Muggle realm, to where he is unrecognized in the dimly lit pothouse, to where he is no longer in a human race that constantly reminds him of the red tomentum of his dream. Yet when a Muggle as a good deal in need of solace as he makes the mistake of sending a friend to ask for his phone number in a aroused pub, Harry suddenly finds a abatement to that lingering desperation. The only job is how to explain his worldly concern to one content with magical carte joke ? Well ... the lure of a vacation definitely has its well points ! This story has an almost pic noir calibre at its showtime, and it progresses into a very 'feel good', laugh out loud, read. Pairing : Harry/Muggle OC












A few basics to note :

Red blood cells contain Hb, which transports O throughout the consistency. If these were suddenly taken away, you would strangle even if you were still breathing.

Platelets are responsible for the body 's ability to organize blood clots. Without blood platelet, you would leech to dying from a dim-witted cut on the arm.

Sorry for the unrehearsed biology lesson, but in writing this chapter I did not feel like explaining these introductory concepts since I assumed that the grapheme, due to one too many infirmary wing visits, would already know what these are. I also took a few creative impropriety, so bear with me on those.






'' Hope is the companion of power, and mother of achiever ; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles. ``
~ Samuel smile ~



Chapter 27 ~ The Companion of Grief


Near dawn she found him there. He was still awake, as she had known he would be.

Dean was directly on his back, staring at the rich, stemma red canopy of his bed. His heart had not moved from the canopy in hours, for reverence of seeing the hollow bed besides him, and they did not proceed as his bed suspension stirred in the eerie light.

Ginny slipped between them, crawling across the covers until she lay besides him. Wordlessly he had wound his arms around her low frame, an icy nuisance twisting within him. It was a heavy guilt trip, for he had his friend 's warm comfort while her beau had naught to see save for the cold White River sheet draped over his closed eyes.

Seamus was gone, and it felt like a sticker had been driven through him.

It dawned a dark, gray-red dawn, and the sinister rain outside continued, pooling upon the window sills. He could not close up the window, nor block out the chilled wind, for when he had first seen Seamus'vacuous bed that Night he had thrown capable each pane, tearing the wooden panels from their hinges.

Now the piddle dripped onto the trading floor, the unorthodox rhythm method of birth control serving to drive him closer and closer to the break decimal point. It was a wakeless Neville seemed forgetful to, for his dorm teammate 's sweetheart snores filled the air, and with each passing sound James Byron Dean felt the urge to smash something violently.

His fingers twisted in Ginny 's red hair, reminding him of her presence. Though Seamus was gone, she was still there.

He had a reason to continue strong.

Still he did not depend at her. Gradually her quiet breaths became veritable, but his dark center remained open, staring at the canopy.

It was all he could do.
* * * * *


Harry watched as Angelina ran from the room, unable to shake the icy sensation slithering within him. He knew he should not wish, he could not ...

Yet he did.

moment after port-keying to Lupin 's manor, as he had regained his footing in the candlelit foyer, Kalliandra had lost consciousness. His shivering organic structure had clutched her against his chest, and that was how Angelina had found them.

It was becoming clearer, the harshly exchanged words between Kaylens and the headmaster ... the ones he had overheard in the hospital annex ... It seemed old age ago, yet they echoed hauntingly sweet within his head.

'' Considering that I 'm the one you ca n't heal ... ''

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

'' You 're right. Nothing will. ``

Angelina had claimed that the physical stresses of the night had just finally taken their price, saying how witching travel was often too much for a weakened body to take. She had told him everything was going to be fine, to not worry ...

Her eyes betrayed her words for the Lie they were.

'' Harry, set her there. Help me get her sleeve ... ''

Angelina was back, having returned with a hoard of supplies. He did as he was told, laying Kalliandra on the blow over sofa. She sunk into the torn up shock absorber, stuffing bulging out at the additional weight. It appeared to be the only actual piece of furniture on the first floor, and he too squeezed onto it.

He could n't give her.

Reaching down he grasped the cuff of her wet sleeve, rolling it up. With every column inch of exposed flesh another bruise was revealed, his interior twisting at the thick, deep purple soft touch lining her delicate skin. In the dark of the clearing he had not even noticed ...

Angelina knelt besides them, her hands moving methodically, with the calculated drive Max Born of her therapist breeding. His early teammate was now cleaning the inside of Kalliandra 's elbow, inserting a small needle into the bluish logical argument of her vein. He could only watch from where he sat on Lupin 's have on couch, holding Kaylens messy caput of whisker in his lap.

'' Harry concur this ... hold it luxuriously ... ''

He nodded mutely, taking the clear plastic bag from her, watching the yellowish-brown fluid sloshing within it. Following Angelina 's instructions he held it shoulder luxuriously, unable to remove his eyes from Kaylens'serene grimace. Her deep hazel centre were now hidden behind pale eyelids, her face in despairing need of washing. A streak of mud still highlighted her cheekbone, a gray pelage of ashes lending her a ghostly, freckled appearance.

Reaching down Harry brushed her fuzz aside, revealing a dried smear of rakehell concealment near her hairline.

A deep bruise was forming there as well.

In fluid question his former housemate attached a recollective, acquit tube to the IV in her arm with a quiet mouse click, retrieving the fluid filled bag from him. With both of his hands finally free he found himself smoothing the hair away from her face, wiping the mud away with his thumbs.

He could feel Angelina 's eye on him. `` She needs to breathe Harry. ''

He did not do right away, contenting himself to watch as Angelina wove her wand, the IV bag rising to remain freeze in mid-air. Slowly the liquid began dripping from the bag into a small-scale, tube-like chamber.

Swallowing hard, his gaze rose pointedly to Angelina 's.

'' What are you giving her ? ``

Angelina never ceased working, and she was already shooing Harry 's hands out of the way as she carefully grasped Kalliandra 's other hobble arm, tapping just above the elbow with her wand.

Kaylens'disconsolate vein bulged just long enough for another syringe needle to be inserted, only this metre Angelina was drawing stemma samples, rather than starting a drip infusion.

'' Angelina ? '' He prompted gruffly.

The young healer sighed wearily, `` It 's a miscellany of red blood cells and platelets Harry. '' She pulled back on the syringe, and it began filling with a viscous, coloured red blood.

Harry hastily looked away.

'' Why does she postulate that ? '' He ground out, his part hoarse with exhaustion.

Leaving the needle in her arm Angelina unscrewed the wide syringe barrel, setting the bloodline sample distribution upon a floating tray she had conjured. She made quick work of attaching a new, empty one to the needle as she repeated the process.

'' How about you Harry ? '' Angelina asked dismissively. `` Knowing you, you 've probably managed to bang yourself up good. ``

'' Do n't change the subject. ``

Angelina 's sinister center darted up, `` I 'm not. But I 'm a healer, that 's why Dumbledore left me to waitress for you two. I just had to control. ``

His tired middle turned to his own hands. He flipped them over, observing his healed, calloused ribbon. The deep virgule the broken glass had left were gone. Fawkes'tears had healed them, dripping into his lesion when he had reached through the thick rain to pick out the port key.

Before he even had a chance to wonder why Fawkes had bothered healing such shaver injuries, the phoenix had flown away.

'' I 'm fine, '' He replied staidly, realizing he meant it. No thirster could he experience the stinging abrasion, torn by the werewolf 's claws, down his backrest. Even the osseous tissue deep chill the icy rain had left was gone.

All that was left was the sick sense datum churning within his tummy, his only backup the girlfriend in his lap, who was incapable of responding enough to ease his fears.

'' What 's wrong with her ? ``

In the vacuous, windowless room, Angelina removed the acerate leaf from her arm.

'' cypher that ca n't be treated, '' She responded quietly, rising from her human knee, apparently done.

'' That 's not what I asked. ``

He did not pretermit the way her eyes avoided his.

'' zip that I can recite you. For what it 's worth ... I 'm drear about that Harry. ''

He swallowed, the sound seeming much louder in the still air. He bowed his head, spying a place of grayness ash near the corner of Kalliandra 's mouthpiece. Without thought his quarter round wiped it away, his stiff demeanor relaxing as a sleepy murmur emerged from her cold lips.

Angelina watched it all, silently placing each of the pedigree sample into a aplomb carrying character. For a second her clinical nature vanished, a sad look overcoming her ebony features.

It was then that it all came together for Harry. Every small detail that she had let slip, every sign of fatigue duty, every Bible the death feeder had said ...

'' It has to do with what she is, does n't it ? ''

Though he had asked, there was no question in his tone.

Angelina rose a skeptical brow, `` Then you do have sex ? ``

His heart rose to hers, `` Yes. That 's why you could n't tell me. Dumbledore is n't aware I know. ``

She sighed tiredly, but he was already continuing. `` Ron and the others, you said they 're amercement and that they were taken to Hogwarts. ''

She just nodded, earning a hard look from him.

'' Then why were we brought here ? ``

'' I wish I knew. All I know is that the parliamentary law is finally utilizing the safe houses it 's been setting up. ``

His eyebrow crinkled, his men unconsciously caressing Kalliandra 's damp hair, which was strewn across his lap, leaving wet marks upon his pant. `` There are early seat aside from military headquarters ? ``

'' Of course. Do n't ask where, because I do n't know. ``

His smile was strained, `` Clever really ... not letting any one someone live too much about anything in case they 're caught. ``

'' Exactly. ``

His reverting from the dark topic plaguing him could preserve no longer, for the feeling of carefully controlled panic was rising.

Indicating the IV bag, he shot out a question. `` Why does she need that ? ``

'' Perhaps I 'm not the best person to explain that. ``

'' You 're a healer, '' He said in a carefully controlled tone. `` Who better ? ``

Angelina opened her back talk, as if to respond, but she never got the chance.

'' Perhaps I can. If you would only allow for me. ``

Harry 's head spun, as did Angelina 's. Neither had heard the someone 's arrival, and his heart was thundering at the fatalistic possibleness that could have resulted from such a lapse on their region.

His eyes narrowed, anger mixing with backup as he saw another loved one intact and standing in the Radclyffe Hall 's doorframe. A biting jape broke his pharynx, and he gestured into the room.

'' By all way Professor, it is your house after all. ``

Professor lupine stepped wearily into the room, looking worse for the wear. But then again, Harry reflected, did n't they all ? The thought nearly sent Harry laughing. Instead he bit it back, another caustic strait growling deep in his throat.

From the smell on Lupin 's fount, Harry knew he had noticed. The deep lines on the man 's face betrayed an inner pain, one Harry felt all too acutely.

It was the pain of exit. Only Harry knew Lupin had lost far to a greater extent than he ever had. Of track, he was still young. There was time to enamor up in that category.

As if sensing his dark view, Kalliandra stirred. His attention was suddenly riveted to her, his hand on her cheek. Half of him hoped desperately for her to awaken, while another part feared that his one chance of discovering what ailed her would then slip away.

She was far too unregenerate to burden anyone else with her annoyance. He knew that now.

It was startling how much could change in less than twenty four hours.

Harry 's half raging, half questioning regard finally rose. He was startled to get word Angelina 's absence. Somehow she had slipped away unnoticed, leaving he and lupin alone.

After having been ignored by him for over two weeks, he was n't certain if he was happy about that or not.

'' It 's unspoiled to see you Harry. ''

'' Is it ? '' He could n't assist it, but his spokesperson was cold.

lupin looked stung. `` Of course it is. ``

'' Well forgive me for being skeptical, '' Harry replied sarcastically. `` It 's not like you have n't spoken to me in awhile. ``

'' I had my cause. ``

He inclined an eyebrow, `` You had reasons for believing Dog Star all-but-killed my mum and dad too. ''

'' That 's below the belted ammunition Harry. ``

'' Good. ``

Remus ran a weary hand through his graying hairsbreadth, leaning back against the wall. For the longest clip neither rung, the entire encounter arousing conflicting emotions within Harry.

He wanted to laze him. For what he had done to him, to Tonks, to Kaylens ... by ignoring them simply to shelter them from his canine side. For having left him to apportion with the pain of Sothis'dying alone. For having had the audacity to walk in, saying hullo, as if nothing were wrong between the two. For having sent not one owl that summer.

All of Harry 's pent up thwarting with Lupin were finally bubbling over, conveyed in the undivided icy flavour he shot him.

Outside the cold, first of November wind rattled the railroad siding. The conditions matched his fatal modality perfectly.

'' I 'm regretful Harry. ``

He nearly laughed. `` Are you ? ''

'' For everything, '' Lupin whispered chokingly.

Harry looked up, meeting the pleading stare of his Fatherhood 's endure living friend. Suddenly he did not see the man who had inspired such a feeling of abandonment.

Instead ... he saw his family.

He swallowed hard, remembering the rifts he and Ron had been through, and the one they were in now. All those years ago, when he and Ron had fought during the Tri-Wizard tournament, Hermione had called them dolt.

She had been right.

Life was too unforesightful to bind grudges.

The monitor of Hermione 's plight, and the thought that Remus could be taken just as easily, sent him stumbling for words. `` Just ... '' He started, forcing a filtrate smile. `` Do n't let it happen again. ``

'' I wo n't. ``

Remus'light brownish centre were nothing but honest. Suddenly, despite his lingering fears for Hermione ... for Ron ... for Ginny ... for dean ... for Tonks ... for Dumbledore ... for Remus ... .for Neville ... .for Luna ... for Kalliandra ...

It was all too much to take, but suddenly he felt that he may not be quite so desperately alone in facing all of it.

'' Thank you, '' He said quietly, truly meaning it.

Remus simply smiled sadly, inclining his head towards the slumbering lady friend in his lap.

'' How is she ? ``

Harry felt his eyebrow instinctively furrow, his head once again compartmentalizing what he could care about, and shock, in the here and now.

'' I 'm not certainly, '' He replied honestly. `` But Profes ... .Remus, what 's happening to her ? ``

The startled looking upon Remus 's face faded, his variety eyes regarding him carefully.

'' I assume you already know then. ``

'' Yes, '' He heard himself whispering, his voice filled with naked concern.

Remus studied him for a tenacious moment, his eyes falling on the movement of Harry 's hands as he stroked Kalliandra 's long whisker.

For some reason Harry did not care if Remus noticed.

The other professor 's supercilium crinkled with both curio and pathos at the connotations Harry 's gestures conveyed. `` Are you certain you really want to know Harry ? Sometimes not knowing is unspoilt, for when you know ... '' Remus'gaze was suddenly far off, as if peering into the distant past.

'' Sometimes Harry, the truth will simply ghost you. ``

Harry 's throat constricted, the tears glistening within Remus'eyes far too clear.

'' What if it already does ? ``

The elder man smiled sadly, `` Then I 'd say things between the two of you have changed. After all, she 's out cold and you have yet to try and throttle her. ``

A sad laughter bubbled out of him, his gaze falling to roost on her pale frontal bone.

'' Please ... I ... do n't say anything .... ''

'' Would n't ambition of it. ``

Harry found himself nodding with no particular reasonableness. `` in effect ... I ... I 've no approximation ... ''

'' What 's going on ? '' Remus finished.

Harry spotted the man 's knowing smile, and was finally able-bodied to let out the breath he had been unconsciously holding.

'' Something like that. ``

In the still air of the windowless room, both men remained silent. Harry 's eyes fell closed, his ears seeking out the soft speech sound of Kaylens'habitue breathing.

Somehow, even with the growing uncomfortableness within, this calmed him.

With a decisiveness he did not feel, he finally spoke.

'' I need to make love Remus. ''

A loud sigh filled the elbow room. `` I was afraid of that. ``

And Remus explained. He explained how magical beings had come into creation, for somewhere in human history, human being line of descent cells had begun mutating.

Most of the chromosomal mutation had resulted in cancerous blood streams, killing those in will power of those magnetic variation. Muggles and ace alike still struggled against those diseases, leukemia the most prominent, but there were some individuals where the mutations became beneficial.

He explained how everything, both living and inert, contained a kind of energy. Not all of it was measurable in the Muggle fashion, and it was this form of energy, the form that would neglect to register on electric scale of measurement, that allowed witching beingness to flourish.

It was wizard energy, and over sentence some individuals developed the ability to manipulate it, without adverse affects.

Others were not so lucky.

There were people like Kalliandra, people like reaching, who could cut into into the magic land. But doing so was dangerous.

In the case of witches and wizards, they developed completely new cells in their blood streams, and magical energy was conducted through their physical bodies via these. Thus their body were capable to act like electric circuits, and energy was capable to pass through their witching prison cell without ever touching their other cells.

It was a perfect system.

There were social occasion when witches and wizards would become fatigued, and such occurrence usually happened when the person was performing wandless magic, or a particularly complicated spell. And the reason for their exhaustion was quite dewy-eyed really :

When one 's body function like a circuit, if nimiety magical energy is taken in and not released in the form of a properly cast of characters tour, then that energy remains stuck in the eubstance and has to go somewhere. And since magic runs quite literally through one 's veins, that witch or wizard 's magical cells would be the for the first time to be essentially, electrocuted by their magical overload.

Fortunately sorcerous electric cell are quite robust, and their blood plasma membranes are more than subject of absorbing such overloads.

Red line cadre, however, are not.

On function so much energy is not released from a sorcerer 's organic structure that it bursts through their magical cells, frying line cells essential in the sustentation of life.

And when one 's red blood cells are dying it is punishing to circulate adequate oxygen.

It was how Luna Lovegood 's mother had died. She had suffocated, while still breathing.

Such dying were a rare occurrence, because human blood contains far more cells than necessary for the maintenance of life history. So when some pedigree cells are killed there are generally enough survivors to give up that somebody to keep functioning in a normal, albeit fatigued, manner.

The number one time Harry had tried the Patronus appeal he had overdrawn as well. He had been left winded, gasping for breather, just like he was after every Quidditch practice.

Yet he had partaken in no physical activity.

It was because he had lost red-blood cells, the very cell responsible for for carrying oxygen throughout the consistency, and his consistence was responding as it would in an Oxygen-deprived manner.

Reaches had never evolved that far. They had never developed additional cells in their roue flow, and the chromosomal mutation allowing them to behave electric electric current lay directly upon their red blood cell.

If they overdrew, their first cells to be damaged would be the one 's necessary in the fare of Oxygen.

Their variation was one that worked, but it functioned poorly. Wizards had evolved much more gracefully, for their extra cells provided a barrier to protect them against overdrawing. Ultimately it was this defense mechanism that had allowed the wizarding metal money to not only brandish, but to subsist.

Unlike in him, the first cell to die in a Reach when they overdrew were their red blood electric cell.

For a grasp, the likelihood of suffering Luna 's mother 's fate was an almost certainty.

A frigidity feeling overtook Harry as all of this sunk in, for Kalliandra could easily die from overdrawing. She was only still alert due to the fact that her blood stream contained more red stock cells than it actually needed. Thus, she was adequate to of tolerating a certain level of overdrawing, but the margin was slim.

For her, unlike a Wiccan or star, there was no real learning curve. For her there was slight room for mistake, for there were no cadre to steep the shock ...

For her the but reward of overdrawing too a good deal was death.

She would suffocate while still breathing.

It was why her red ancestry cells were being replaced even as Remus spoke. For every time she drew push into herself she was slowly killing her cells.

Dumbledore was determined to replace as many as he could, as often as he could.

It was the solitary way to confirm her, to ensure her a longer life.

Suddenly he understood the intermittent bruising he had seen upon her throughout the year.

After Remus had turned ... in the hospital fender ...

Her platelet had been killed when she had overdrawn, to protect him from Remus ...

She had passed out in Grimmauld place, from the effort ... her body forcing her into unconsciousness in a last ditch crusade to preclude her from doing further damage to herself..

The image of her lying unconscious mind on the floor of the Three Broomsticks flew through his mind.

He had known that she had risked exposure for what she was, but graven image ... .She had risked decease there, to protect people who hated her.

And he had once accused her of being a Death Eater.

Death Eaters knew no such self-sacrifice.

A sickening hotshot flooded over him, his hand rising to rifle through his still wet whisker.

He scarcely heard Remus as he tried to lie, telling him it was not a expiry judgment of conviction for her.

Harry knew better, for what else could it be ?

His grasp on her tighten up, as if holding onto her could prevent the inevitable. Remus was talking about treatment, about how if they maintained her parentage count at proper levels that she would be able to populate a pattern, full-of-the-moon aliveness.

All it took was a single feel into Remus'cheerless eyes to know that his Friend did not truly believe what he was saying.

'' volition she die ? ``

His own voice, his own question, sounded so far off.

'' Harry naught is sealed ... If she does n't amplify then we 'll never have to worry about that possibleness. ``

'' Remus, will she die ? '' Harry felt his vocalization breaking, the familiar twinge of loss welling within him.

As he met Remus'kind, glistening optic, he knew the answer.

'' Eventually ... ''

He wanted to pass away out something, a configuration of protest that would quench the sobriety of his throat, but nothing came.

'' From what we know Harry, the others like her ... eventually, they all overdrew. ``

Eventually ...

The dopey recesses of his mind clung to that word, the ridiculous companion of brokenheartedness stirring within him.

Hope.

It was n't until sometime after dawn when he finally fell asleep. The IV was foresightful since removed from her arm, her sleeping form pulled into his weapons system.

At the moment Harry did n't give a damn about who could see.



Recommended Stories :

LEGACIES : The slash appealingness by the nighttime noble Nedved Rated : Mature
summary : Every epic has a beginning, and for the offspring Wise Men who was Prophesized to have the ability the Dark Lord Knows Not, this is the starting time of his Legacy. For Harry there was no sentence to mourn for his fallen godfather, for a new foe has emerged with the exclusive purpose to assassinate him. The Dark overlord Nedved has created a tale of action, discovery, magical creativeness and sacrifice that would leave the considerably novelist pounding on his threshold, begging for him to lead off working on archetype fiction. This epic fib has 5 different novels associated with it, two of which are completed, while the others are well under way. To undertake to distinguish them in any former way would be to not do them justice. Harry/Hermione







Authors Note : Hey folks !

All of you really are the best readers out there. I ca n't thank everyone plenty for all of the well wishes and understanding that were shown when I announced that I would be taking a longsighted sabbatical from writing. I really needed it, and am glad of it. Both my mother and sister had been diagnosed with grievous illness this past summer, and all of the well wishes some of you sent via e-mail must consume paid off because they have both made singular retrieval.

Secondly, thank you to everyone for the variety word of honor 's regarding Lexi 's death. On top of everything this summertime that was the final reversal to ram all of my motivation for writing away for awhile, but it is now back full force. Since I am a bit frustrated at having taken so long between chapters in the preceding, I have now set aside one day a workweek to write so that I can get chapters out much more quickly, and on a fixture foundation. I anticipate this narrative being done by summertime, and then I shall lead off piece of work on the sequel.

And most importantly I wanted to say thank you to Saint Andrew the Apostle, for he helped me immensely with this chapter. It had been so prospicient since I had written anything that when I finally tried to write again I found myself suffering from a severe case of writer 's block. Not only did he beta-read this chapter but he also offered wonderful suggestions to get this story back on track. Thank you so a lot !




'' Dangerous is ira concealed. ``
~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca ~



Chapter 28 ~ The powerfulness of choler


As if in a incubus the room 's impenetrable shadow was broken. From the darkened hall a single candle appeared, levitating ominously as it preceded its owner into the blackened room.

The house 's turn down story harboured neither windows nor room access to the out of doors human beings. It was a constant monitor of the monthly monster that had once been contained within its very walls, whenever the moon had cast its wide-cut light upon the earth.

Now another more dangerous goliath loomed in the room 's shadows.

With a casual wave of their hired man the form crossed the carpet story silently, their silhouette pausing above the slumbering teens. The figure knew that neither would waken until their sleeping patch had run its grade.

Yes, the anatomy was powerful. Their sleeping charms were one of their potent talents.

They could operate in complete refuge. None within the paries would be the wiser to their actions.

Tonight they would begin their plan.

A syringe was filled, its goad swiftly inserted into the slumbering girl 's venous blood vessel. Kaylens'pulsating blood, bluish in tint through her pale peel, flashed silver.

A mo later the strange hue faded, a grim line of reasoning of satisfaction stretching over the figure 's shadowed face.

* * * * *


With a astute click the room access to Dumbledore 's office opened.

Tonks shot out of the armchair she had been dozing within, knowing the locking while 's removal to mean only one thing.

'' He 's back, '' She whispered. Lounging in the armchair besides her Regulus nodded.

Out in the hall, suddenly seeable as the door opened, was Ron Weasley. He lay slumped besides his toss away crutch on the floor, sleeping soundly.

Crusantheus hung on the door miserably, his knocker curled and contorted around his ear so as to block out the sound of the young Gryffindor 's snoring.

'' putting to death me ... '' He squeaked. `` Please. ``

As tired as she was Tonks could n't help but smile as Regulus lazily took aim, an evil glint in his eye.

'' No ! '' Shrieked Crusantheus. `` I did n't actually mean it ! ''

Regulus continued advancing on the cowering knocker until a mysterious phonation intervened.

'' No need to fret Crusantheus. Did you forget that the killing curse has no effect on brass knockers ? ''

Crusantheus peeked out from behind his knocker hopefully, as Tonks spun around, rounding on the infuriating thing 's rescuer.

Somehow Ablus Dumbledore was standing behind her, looking rather jovial.

'' Morning Nymphadora. Fancy a biscuit ? ``

As if on cue a tray of biscuits appeared in his outstretched palm.

Tonks blinked dazedly, rubbing her red rimmed eyes with her fists. Surely this merry
man had not just returned from a meeting with the darkest of nighttime Jehovah ?

Regulus, completely unflummoxed by their sudden intrusion, rose from his arm chair to carefully inspect the food oblation. `` I take it negotiations proceeded satisfactorily ? ''
'' The exchange will be made in two month'time. ``

Tonks gaped, `` Two months ! ``

'' They probably need time to recompense the footling Mudblood, '' Regulus commented casuallly, directing his gaze to Albus. `` I assume you requested that she be returned in one part, and I can only conceive of the fun they 've had with her until now. ``

Dumbledore nodded gravely. `` Her wounds will require some ... healing. ``

Tonks eyes widened in concern. While she still did not see how Hermione for Dumbledore was a fair trade, she had grown rather fond of the young woman during her prison term at Grimmauld Place.

A couplet of sky blue eyes regarded her carefully, their split second somehow dimmer than she remembered.

'' I know what you are thinking Nymphadora, '' Dumbledore said kindly, as if reading her creative thinker. `` But character of the intellect I made the ancestry accord here with Regulus, rather than in Voldemort 's front, was so that I could ensure Hermione 's take on my own terms. He could hold chosen to reject the rip pact had he so opt, but he did not. ''

Tonks opened her mouth to ask precisely what those terms were, but his helping hand steadied her question.

'' The condition were that if she were returned in the exact strong-arm state that she had been in before the Hogsmead attack took stead, that I would trade post with her, becoming Voldemort 's prisoner. ``

'' I bet he was only too happy to accept that trade, '' Regulus stated, smirking widely. `` Imagine that ... Albus Dumbledore, the darkness Lord 's greatest nemesis, handed to him on a gold platter with a side of cherry."

"Actually,"Dumbledore corrected,"I believe the expression is ‘ served on a silver medal platter with a cherry on top.'”

Tonks spluttered, focusing on the sick whizz within her stomach. The war effort, the club, could feasibly break up without Dumbledore 's leadership, and here he was bantering with an ex-Death feeder, wizarding world defector right after selling his life to the devil.

"Dumbledore,"She said, voicing her far from calm thoughts aloud."Why would you do this ?"

Dumbledore 's heart locked on hers, losing their twinkle. `` Nymphadora, we have lost far too many students to this war already. I could not stand by and lose another. ''

She swallowed the ball in her throat hastily. She should have known all along that the safety of others would always come first to Dumbledore. He would possess done the Saami for any of them.

love life of one 's booster was a brawny thing.

'' So, old man, '' Regulus queried, taking a bit of his biscuit. `` Find out anything else of interest during your little tryst ? ``

If possible Dumbledore 's eyes darkened further. `` We have to assemble the parliamentary law. The pestis was unleashed in Irish capital. ``

'' Dublin, Ireland ! '' Tonks blurted rhetorically.

Regulus frowned, `` As brilliant as you are, how were you placed in Ravenclaw again ? ''

She scarcely heard him, her eyes having darted over to the still slumbering variety of Kenneth and Emily.

Their home urban center was infected.

'' So how 'd you come by that fun fact Albus ? I never exactly took you two to be old schooltime chums. ''

For the brief of second Dumbledore 's eyes took on their old sparkle. `` For all of Voldemort 's prowess with Legilimency, he never quite get the hang Occlumency. He has always surrounded himself with loyal following. '' He continued, `` And until recently he simply did not have the need.

genus Regulus chuckled. `` So he 's ripe, but you 're unspoilt. ``

Tonks blinked. `` But I thought he was one of the most superb scholarly person Hogwarts has ever seen ? ''

'' Ah ... '' Dumbledore said, smiling again. `` As is Ms. Granger, but even she can not fly upon a broom. ''

Tonks gaped at him.

'' We all have our weaknesses Nymphadora. Severus never would have survived his office as spy had he not been better at Occlumency and Legilimency than Voldemort. We should simply be grateful that this is one of Voldemort 's few weak points. ``

Tonks frowned pensively. So He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did have weakness. They really were not fighting for naught.

With an air of conclusiveness Regulus clapped his manpower together, making the already nervous Crusantheus bang his knocker rather loudly. The slumbering Ronald Weasley gave a crimson start, snorting loudly as he awoke suddenly.

Tonks watched wearily as the redhead blinked groggily, eyeing the place in front of him until his eyes landed on the schoolmaster. It took a second before a figurative light bulb clicked on in his sleep-befuddled thinker

'' prof Dumbledore ! '' He exclaimed, scrambling to his feet, a flurry of wooden crutch and gangly leg sliding on Oliver Stone. It did n't take long before Ron was flat on his arse once again, groaning from his fall.

genus Regulus eyed him mockingly. `` And they call Hufflepuffs the duffers. ``

* * * * *


Harry 's middle snapped open up, his dreamless slumber shattered by the sudden shout of the fille in his arms. Through slightly blurred eyes he stared down the bridge circuit of his nose at the messy mop of hair resting upon his chest. The lovesome feeling he ought to cause felt vanished, a numbing one replacing it at the muckle of her expression.

For Kaylens there was no serenity to be found in the realm of dreaming.

He swallowed hard, watching her font furrow into an expression bearing striking similarity to what he had once seen upon Cedric 's father, as the man desperately clutched his lifeless son to him, oblivious to the swarming crowd around them.

Such undiluted sorrow should never be seen upon a human countenance, yet he had seen it palpably far too often. Even on himself. The base of such pain had been buried deep within him, growing since the moment he had discovered his lawful fate : Kill or be killed.

All thought of his calamity of a future was suddenly shattered as Kaylens lurched violently, a chilling cry cutting from her throat.

Harry gaped, feeling the whisker on his arms rising to digest on end. Without thinking his hands gripped her arms, her hide beneath his fingerbreadth turning blanched with the pressure.

'' K-kaylens ... '' He stuttered, scarcely recognizing his own voice. He gave an experimental shove, shaking her lightly in a poor attempt to wake up her.

And that was when she cried out again. That sound ripping from her throat. It resonated through the sullen room, terrifying in its raw intensity. His tomentum now fully stood on end, for the strait had been insanely tragical and yet, unbearably beautiful.

It chilled him to the pearl, for it was a sound no man could utter.

It happened fast. One second his sleeve were wrapped tightly around her, shaking her in an attempt to waken her, and in the succeeding her branch wrenched away. She shot up quickly, her eyes flying open in the dark room only to be slammed shut as she uttered a more familiar shriek of hurting. His relief was short- lived as he grabbed onto her arm again, for she pulled away so violently that they were both get off tumbling from the lounge to the floor.

His support struck the floor first, his genu having been tangled unnaturally in the blankets. He attempted to redress himself, pulling his legs down until he was on all fours.

A swift flush to the support sent his face smashing into the footing.

He groaned, and ignoring the throbbing annoyance in his nose he rose his head cautiously, squinting at his surround. Where were his chalk ? Slowly he reached a hand out, allowing it to tramp across the soft carpet in his search.

And then he remembered.

His glasses were still lying in some godforsaken puddle in the middle of that damnable timber. By now they were probably some acromantula 's quid toy.

Cursing he blinked rapidly, his eyes finally adjusting to the darkness and settling on the slightly hazy outline of Kaylens. She was sitting upright, some trade good five understructure away, with her human knee drawn to her chest and her face buried within them.

He swallowed hard, the only sounds in the room now were his jolty breath and her speedy, planetary ones. In out silence he observed her as best as he could. Her bare substructure were sticking out from beneath a thick blanket, which despite their spill still partly covered her, while she breathed as if having run a marathon.

Everything that had transpired between them came flooding back, a tense belief twisting within him.

'' Kaylens ... '' He whispered, reaching hesitantly for her, only for her to wince, scrambling away like a panicky animal.

He stared in astonishment as her cover hit the room 's wall, a unknown whimper coming from her throat. Of all the response he could have foreseen, this was the uttermost from it.

And now she was having the response that he would consume expected from any early fille, but not from her.

She was sobbing.

The sound of her crying tore at him in room he had n't imagined, for the girl who had stood by him, facing demise feeder and werewolf without blinking an eye, had been reduced to this pitiable state by a simple nightmare.

Instantly he stood, crossing the room to her in four prospicient strides.

'' Kaylens, '' He said, tentatively laying a mitt on her shoulder. She whimpered, shrinking away from his touch.

His supercilium furrowed determinedly. `` Kaylens tone at me, '' He commanded, crouching directly in straw man of her. Still, her principal remained determinedly adverted, prompting him to hold on her by both shoulders.

Her head shaft up, a raging clicking coming from her throat as she struggled away, lashing out violently. He dove back to invalidate her flailing hands and feet, landing on his tailbone, eyes astray in astonishment.

She was making that sound again.

And he recognized it. A nighttime night in the Forbidden timber, where he and Draco Malfoy had encountered the unexpected, had taught him that strait of pain.

The audio of the beautiful creature 's dying battle cry had reverberated in his incubus for months.

As had Voldemort 's shadowy name ...

There was no hesitation in his movements as he wandlessly summoned his scepter to his hand, immobilizing her limb and peg with a flick of his wrist.

Kaylens was witting, but incapable of lashing out.

He crawled back to her, taking her delicate wrist and pushing the sleeve of her battered sweater up.

The bruising was gone.

He swallowed hard, recognizing the betting odds of such bruising disappearing all-night. Now he was only sure of one thing.

Something had happened whilst he slept.

Licking his slip-up nervously he cupped her Kuki, raising her head until he could see all of the confusion swimming within her gilt middle. His breathing time hitched in horrible realization at what he was about to do, but there was simply no other way.

He had to know. He had to know what had happened whilst he slept.

Until then he could n't help her, and he knew that no one else would be willing to do this. There were stern pattern against the unauthorized use of Legilimency. Hermione had taught him that much, screaming and ranting after his last abuse of the natural endowment against the Lapp girlfriend he was about to violate yet again.

'' I 'm sorry, '' He whispered, brushing her hair's-breadth away from her face. `` I 'm so sorry Kally ... '' He repeated, steeling himself for his criminal offense.

Cupping her fount he stared intently into her eyes, watching them flickering around in concern.

Her fear was warranted.

He only hoped he was wrong.

'' Legilimency ! ``

The overpowering wave that was her life flooded his thinker, capturing his senses in a spin of insensible upshot. He groaned, heroic to discontinue the twister-like upshot of the memories swirling around him. It was different than the finale time, so unbelievably dissimilar ...

A cacophony of clicking, beautiful and powerful in its raw intensity filled his mind, only to be replaced just as quickly as it had come with a fellow scream.

'' RILEY ! ''

He was seeing it again, reliving the afternoon when she had seen her own sidekick murdered right in straw man of her. Only this fourth dimension the look-alike were fleeting, distorted as if he were viewing it through a thickly pane of smoky methamphetamine. It was as if the store were no longer her own.

His heart clenched as he watched the man kick open the door for the indorse prison term. Kaylens'diminished body was thrown backwards, her petite form sliding across the story. It was as if everything were on the libertine forward feature of a Muggle VCR. There was the knife, her wow, her brother ...

As the gunshot rang out he could again almost feel what she had. The hot, fiery bother of the blade plunging into her flesh. The searing as it was drug in a deep line across her articulatio humeri blade. The veneration as she watched the blood pooling from her comrade 's
wound slowly stop pumping ...

Suddenly all was black, hazy, the herculean sound of a herd stampeding through her thoughts. Then all was green and brown and viridity again. Somehow he was running faster than he had thought possible, the tree diagram whipping past him in a blur of green and brown and light-green again. He was surrounded by others of his kind.

His epithet was Lightning.

The images twisted again, surrounding Harry in a confusing whorl of woodland view followed by scenes of her puerility. Silver horns flashed around him, gleaming as the herd ran beneath the moonlight, while gilt hair flashed throughout her life.

Another memory slammed into Harry, crystallizing into near uncloudedness. It was mid-afternoon, though the sun barely shone through the over-cast sky. Before him was a poorly kept yard, bordered on three slope by a midst, rising treeline and hills. Harry swiveled in the murky memory, feeling Kalliandra 's recollection lurch dangerously as another retention threatened to bleed into this one. The strait of hooves, the strait of the herd on the run, pounded in the distance.

Harry fell to the dewy priming, watching as a man with golden whisker, tinged heavily with gray, methodically stacked dragoon away from the theatre. Fog crept across the lawn, curling around his feet, each oink echoing in the silent valley.

And then the kid were led out, and Harry 's soul shivered.

Kalliandra appeared to be the same age as in the finish computer memory, only now she stood besides a small boy, barely older than her, digging her nails into his arm.

'' S-sean ... ''

Their founder pried her deal away from her Brother, forcing a semi-automatic Glock 17, 9x19 mm caliber shooting iron into her small paw. Her leg had suddenly felt frozen, rooted to the moistness undercoat. Harry could practically feel her marrow 's fearful thundering at the cold, unfeeling metal between her fingers.

The thick fog curled high around the six infantry stack of sand base, and as it began to drizzle her father aimed her small hands towards the stack.

'' Shoot it. ``

Kalliandra pulled the trigger and cried.

As the gun was being passed to her surviving Brother Kaylens'memory board shifted again, swirling until he found himself peering through a thick orchard of trees, stomping his hooves in warning as a hooded frame approached. The trope 's hands raised very slowly, carefully removing the thug of their robe, allowing a shower of thick, black hair to come tumbling around her articulatio humeri.

The char 's countenance remained hidden by the deep forest trace, yet Lightning was calming.

It was a virginal cleaning lady. She could be trusted. Lightning could tell.

The unicorn never saw the other cloaked figure creeping from behind, and that man 's dagger soon shone Ag with Lightning 's blood.

Harry stood in the phantasm drawing deep, ragged breathing spell. He could practically feel every inch of pain the poor creature was going through, the only if sounds that of the screeching animate being and that of the dry offshoot cracking beneath Harry 's shifting weight unit as he watched, powerless to block off its pain.

The man bottled and corked a mensurable sum of money of blood from the unicorn, leaving it only enough to barely hobble away alive. A igniter chuckle escaped the hooded Death feeder at the sight.

Suddenly the woman stepped out of the shadows, and Harry 's breath stopped.

Angelina stood in the dim light, depositing the bottles into a compact bag slung across her shoulder. Her night Deutschmark gleamed brilliantly.

Violently Harry felt himself being tossed out, finding himself flat on his back staring up at Remus'shocked face.

Kalliandra continued to whimper.

* * * * *


'' Would you mind repeating that ? ``

Tonks blinked stupidly. Somehow she had thought that being told that the `` plague of all pest '' had been unleashed upon the citizens of Ireland would have had more of an upshot upon its President.

Instead the newly awakened Kenneth Bothan sat behind Dumbledore 's desk, clasping his hands, waiting for her response with an inquiring look upon his face.

She silently damned Albus for having left them to break the tidings to Kenneth while he went to call an emergency meeting of the Order. She was n't practiced at this sort of matter dam n't ! She had at to the lowest degree expected a rouse out of the man at the tidings, but instead he was irrefutably calm.

It was quite obvious that Kenneth was insane.

'' Basically Ken, all of your mass will be dead within the week, '' Regulus stated with ironical cheerfulness. `` But look on the smart position. At least you wo n't have got to run for re-election. ''

Tonks'glum heart swiveled to her cousin-german, her oral cavity initiative and culmination like a gaping fish.

Kenneth, however, seemed entirely unperturbed.

'' So, '' The United States President started with a curious frown, `` What you are saying is that wizarding folk have no handling against this ? ''

'' Well ... '' Regulus mused thoughtfully. `` We could always Avada Kedavra those who have already contracted it. That ought to slow its spread, right Nymphadora ? ``

'' Regulus ! ``

Kenneth looked appraisingly at her cousin. `` And this Avada Kedarva discussion ? How in effect is it ? ``

Regulus grinned like a jackal. `` Supposing we were able to keep apart those who had already contracted it we may find out its method of dispersal, while simultaneously establishing a quarantine and treating the pain in the neck of the already afflicted ... ''

'' By killing them ! ? '' Tonks salvo in, unable to believe the loathsome secret plan genus Regulus played with the chairperson 's hopes.

'' Ah, '' Kenneth said as if suddenly understanding. `` The handling has a high school mortality rate. How high though ? ``

Regulus grinned widely, while Tonks contemplated murder for the dozenth fourth dimension in twenty four hours.
* * * * *


'' Harry ! What in the figure of merlin did you call up you were ... ''

Harry closed his eyes, grinding out his words. `` Something 's amiss with Kalliandra, '' He interjected. `` I had to determine out what. ``

The room 's muteness was broken only by Kaylens'laboured breathing, and her clear distress drew lupin 's attention from him to her. He felt the former professor drop-off to his knee besides them, and he cracked an eye to see as lupin scrutinized her.

The professor looked flabbergasted as he picked up one of her cockeyed arms. `` Harry, you 've immobilized her. ``

'' For expert intellect. ``

lupine threw a repel feeling over his shoulder joint, and snatched his wand out, clearly intending to dispatch the spell.

'' Professor I do n't remember tha ... ''

His protest was too deep, for Kaylens had already lashed out, landing a strategic kick that sent Lupin sprawling flat on his back next to Harry.

'' I told you, '' Harry groaned, shoving himself up on his human elbow to mark the trouble expression of Remus'face. `` Kicks hard, does n't she ? ``

Lupin coughed harshly in response, choosing to discount him as he rolled over to check on Kaylens. She was already scrambling along the rampart on all fours, backing herself into a corner like a frightened animal. On her way she somehow managed to hit the lonesome other piece of furniture, asides from the couch, and various small-scale intensity came spilling down, scattering across the base like rocks thrown from a aloofness.

The crashing audio only intensified the misfortunate girl 's whimpering.

Harry 's oculus remained on her, watching as she curled her legs to her bureau in a feeble attempt at self-protection. But he knew the Sojourner Truth ... there was no shelter from what plagued her.

But he 'd be damned if he did n't try to help.

'' professor .... '' He started slowly. `` What variety of scourge does drinking unicorn lineage entail ? ''

lupine opened his mouth and faltered. Harry remained lying on his spinal column, his upper berth organic structure propped up with his articulatio cubiti, silently hoping to God that the Professor would put the pieces together. Lupin had to believe him. He had to entrust him. None of the adults, save for those bushed and buried, had ever trusted him in prison term for it to actually matter.

It was why Sothis had died. And somehow Harry did n't opine he could make it if the end link to his forefather failed to trust him.

Then slowly, ever so slowly, the lykan's head turned towards him, and even in the dingy elbow room Harry could see the sudden noesis flashing in his oculus.

Moony understood his meaning.

'' Her bruising is gone, '' Harry whispered, driving another blow to any doubts the professor could have. `` What else in the wizarding world could heal someone that quickly ? ``

lupin drew a deep breathing spell, shaking slightly.

'' Harry ... if what you 're saying is rightful ... ''

'' It is, '' He assured. `` I saw memories inside of her mind that were not hers. ``

Kaylens'whimpering had finally quieted, casting the room into a deathly silence.

Besides him lupin swallowed audibly, contemplating Harry 's statements in the mortal silence that had descended. Kaylens was no longer whimpering, and he was unsure of if he missed the reassuring sound of her presence, or if was pleased at the obvious easing of her distress.

He glanced at Lupin, stunned at the shoot facial expression upon his former professor's countenance. Did the man believe him or not ?

He sighed in frustration, snapping at Lupin's deadness. `` Why would she possess those retentivity, Moony ? ``

earreach his old piranha name snapped Lupin out of his reflective stupor. `` It's magically potent…unicorn rip that is. In fact it is so wizardly that their memories are often heavily imprinted upon it. '' He shook his brain slowly, as if clearing a hazy fog."To possess a unicorn's blood is to not only have their life stream, but their very being."

lupin sighed heavily. `` There is not much precedent for this, but….in the early 1900 's medi-wizards began experimenting with different intervention options for terminal diseases. One researcher, familiar with unicorns, sought to harness their healing superpower by injecting his terminally ill patients with the animals'roue. It cured the affected role but the side effects…"Lupin shuddered, digressing quickly. `` The rakehell was too intemperate to get to begin with. Unicorns don't normally donate willingly, not to mentio ... ''

'' What position effects, '' Harry interrupted hoarsely, closing his eyes. The feeling of her in his arms flooded his senses, the woodsy odour that had clung to her all night coming back, overwhelming him with a tidal wave of fear. In his life there was no way for new attachments, yet the idea of her in pain…

He knew without a doubtfulness that he would kill for her again, just as he would kill for any of those he held close.

He only hoped it would not hail to that.

His center snapped open as lupin 's distressed voice filled the room.

'' Most went insane. ``

Harry nearly choked. `` Insane ? '' He grated out.

lupine looked years older. `` They never were able to distinguish between themselves and the animal again, '' he relayed. `` Can you imagine it Harry ? Having a lifetime of retention that were not your own suddenly shoved inside of your psyche ? Unicorns live for hundreds of years…it was only natural for those obtaining their blood to become confused. To them it would find as if they had spent a foresighted time being a unicorn than a human being."

The sick sensation twisting within him intensified. Kaylens'mind had revealed exactly what Lupin now spoke of, and the thought made him nauseous.

And the curse…God he had nearly forgotten…

Remus read his mind, continuing his scholarly recitation of facts aloud. For Remus, who had lost so much, it was easier than dealing with the devastating fallout facing them in Kaylens'crumpled form.

"When one slays such an innocent creature, seeking their blood's healing power, it leaves the jinx of the half-life. But when one is given the blood unwillingly, or when the animal is left alive, the whammy does not lessen ; it simply changes its manifestation."

His throat constricted, but Harry managed to croak out a single word.

"Explain."

There was no mistaking the sick face upon lupin's look."Harry, the only ones desperate enough to vote out such an innocent tool are those hanging onto life sentence by a thread. But the price…it is far too high for any sane soul to meditate, for the Leontyne Price for their atrocity is losing all ability to love. A animation without the capacity for love is devoid of joy, happiness, family…"He shook his header, disgust etched in his every lineament."In a heroic attempt to save their own life they lose the only thing that makes lifespan Charles Frederick Worth living for. Once they take that way of life they truly lead half a life, only experiencing the darker face of the emotional spectrum."

"Then the mediwizard, the one using it to cure his patients, did that hap to him ?"

lupin sighed indulgently."There are ways to collect it, way of life for it to be done without incurring the ira of the curse but…those ways take time, Harry. Gaining the long term faith of a unicorn, let alone license to inflict hurt upon it, are not easy tasks."

He swallowed hard."What about Kaylens ? That won't…it won't happen…"He trailed off, unable to voice such morbid idea aloud. No human deserved that. She didn't deserve that.

Once again Lupin looked ill."For Kally it will be different,"He said gruffly."Instead, if she recovers, she will love, but her every experience will be shared with both sides of her, diluting the intensity level of the emotions she flavour, diluting her tactual sensation towards others…"

Something about the Bible sent Harry's heart twisting.

"Unicorns ... they are such ingenuous creatures, incapable of sin, incapable of inflicting pain ... Could you imagine having a saint following you around for the entirety of your lifespan, correcting your every mistake ? Well from this moment on she will be sharing her mind, her life, with retention of what true innocence is, for a unicorn is the true embodiment of that, and with it will add up a gnawing guilt over the sins she has committed in the past. Between the confusion over her identicalness and her newfound guilt over even the smallest of transgressions…that alone could be sufficiency to labor some mad."

Harry's mouth twisted into a frown,"So she can't sin ?"

"If only it were that easy, Harry. She can, and she will. But having this will give her a conscience potent than most, and living a sodding life is an out of the question task. Her life will be as close to rule as potential, only she will palpate far shamefaced about things she does than others."

'' A half lifetime ... '' He whispered aloud, suddenly understanding. Kaylens truly would be cursed, for she would always be sharing her mind with computer storage not her own.

None of this was her fault, and the thought sickened him.

'' Not all the mediwizard 's patient role went insane, '' He finally said, recalling lupine 's earlier Bible. `` You said near. ``

Lupin shook his head. `` They all went insane at first Harry. But only two managed to reform enough of their minds to operate. Two out of dozens. ``

Harry closed his centre, his vocalism filled with sardonic irony. `` She just ca n't take hold of a rupture, can she ? ``

The Professor shook his head in response. `` There 's only one way to be sure. ''

Without warning Lupin snatched his wand out, summoning a small flashlight. Soon a metallic element fuzz came flying through the doorway, landing in the professor 's outstretched hand.

Harry frowned at the action mechanism, not understanding, but in one swift movement the professor had it on and aimed at Kalliandra 's face. lupin clearly knew exactly what he was looking for.

Kaylens was suddenly shrieking again, and judging from the unforgiving spirit on the professor 's face he had found all he needed to know.

A metallic click sounded as the flashlight was turned off, and Kaylens'war cry instantly died down, slowly fading to a dull whimper.

'' She 's tender to ignitor ... '' lupine stated. `` There are only two conditions I know of that movement that. ``

'' She 's not a vampire ... '' Harry stated coldly, earning a reproving look.

'' I was n't even about to suggest it. But animals tend to have better nocturnal vision than us Harry. Lykans and unicorns are no exclusion, and when I was first bit ... '' He trailed off, his grimace twisting into a peculiar expression."Once I was bit my whole organic structure changed. My eyes were the tough though. ''

The professor suddenly adopted an almost whimsical expression. `` Did you know there are more solid cheek per inch in your eyes than in any other section of your body ? Well there are. If you ever want to make somebody pain just jinx their eyes and ... ''

'' professor, '' Harry interjected, at the mo not carrying about the finer decimal point of jinxing.

Lupin shrugged. `` My sting caused a whole new layer of tissue full of light sensitive cells to grow across the vertebral column of my eyes, its called tapetum lucidum. It lets me use less Light Within to see, so I can see with one-sixth the amount you can. But when it first happened ... before I was used to it ... '' He shuddered. `` Merlin it hurt. The svelte light felt like the sun was blasting me in the face. hell, it had me in bout. ''

Lupin raised the flashlight, pointing it directly at Kalliandra, flicking it on and off with each syllable. `` Just. Like. Her. ''

Kaylens'whimpers died down as the light source was turned off for a final meter, and suddenly Harry understood the torch. Unicorns had excellent nigh vision as well, and the flashlight was lupin 's way of confirming what he already knew.

Kaylens had a level of alight sensitive tissue growing across her retinas right now. No wonder she screamed at the light.

'' Harry, '' The scholarly professor tone was suddenly gone, and the Friedrich August Wolf was deadly serious. `` Was she fine last night ? Before she lost consciousness ? ``

Harry was nimble to nod.

'' Then sometime between then and now someone injected that profligate directly into her veins. She could n't let done it herself. ``

Harry 's backtalk opened, but his question of how that was possible died on his tongue.

He knew the answer.

There was only one mortal who would wilfully beshrew another within the house.

'' prof what 's going on ? I heard yelling. ''

Harry 's eyes narrowed, every muscleman tightening. Angelina had finally come, drawn by the incremental shouting. There she was, rushing through the room 's threshold, drawing her cloak hastily around her as if nothing terrible were amiss.

If he had n't known better he would have got thought she truly was surprised at the situation she found. But he knew better. No one took that foresightful to respond to thigh-slapper like the one's Kaylens had unleashed unless it was intentional.

'' Why is it so black ? '' Her voice sounded honestly confused as she flicked her baton out, lighting every candelabrum in sight.

His eyes flew to Kaylens, who had immediately began shrieking, clamping her hands over her eyes, screaming as if hell itself has sent its demons up to drag her into its depth. His chest constricted at her obvious pain.

Lupin lunged at her in a decidedly wolf like way. `` Kally, do n't ! '' He was shouting, fighting her for dominance. She lashed out, and lupin grasped her wrist joint in a single, fluid motion, quickly capturing the other as well.

The professor had already forced her paw down against her sides, kneeling on her legs in a vain endeavor to foreclose them from flailing. He was far stronger than Kaylens, but she was desperate, fighting to jam the hellish light source from her middle as Lupin fought to preclude her from inflicting damage upon herself. Now he was yelling at Angelina to extinguish the candle, and Harry still had not moved.

He was too busy watching Angelina, noting the guilt flashing within every brown pigment in her dark centre.

Her contraband eyelashes fluttered, and the betraying emotion was suddenly gone.

His ancestry boiled, his weapon system vibrating with suppress rage as she began speaking, a terrified edge to her vox.

'' What 's going on ? '' She asked fearfully, rushing across the elbow room to aid lupin. `` Remus !
What 's wrongfulness with Kally ! ? '' She continued shouting questions, lunging over Harry as if he were not even there.

She dropped to her genu besides where lupine and Kaylens wrestled, her ebony tegument gleaming in the candlelight. Her nighttime eyes widened in feigned horror, her face a mask of innocent concern as she reached out to assist restrain Kaylens.

And Harry lost it.

Her hand never reached Kaylens, her tainted digit never touching her body. Before anyone could realize it Harry 's hired man had flown out, snatching the oversized sleeves billowing around the traitor's wrist, and he tugged her callously to the floor.

Harry lunged to his feet, stamping the heel of his foot against the girl 's throat, pinning her to the priming coat.

'' Do n't. Touch. Her. '' He growled, the world rippling around him.

Power swelled within him, the metier of his magic unleashed by the raw choler pumping through his veins, and the flavour ... it was intoxicating.

Angelina 's body undulated like a insect beneath him. She was choking, spluttering inexplicable phone, the jar clearly written across her face. Her hands were clawing at his ft, her clenched fist slamming against his legs as she fought for air.

He scarcely noticed any of it.

'' H-harry ... st-top ... '' She gasped, her heart rolling backwards, fingers going slack as her supplication went unheard.

'' Harry ! Let her go ! '' Shouted Remus, followed by a loud crashing as he and Kaylens tumbled into the bookcase, knocking it sideways.

script went flying, scattering everywhere. The resounding crashing masked the irksome thump of Angelina 's limp arm hitting the floor.

lupin let out a pained howl, and Harry 's deal shot out. He felt the magic trick dripping from his fingertips like water.

With a flick of his carpus the candles went out.
* * * * *


The descending sun of midday zenith was partially obscured by the perpetual cloud cover, casting the not-so-distant Dublin-Wicklow pot into a abstruse fog. Yet the man paid the sinister environs no mind, nor the racking cough that had swiftly descended upon him. Instead he stared out the windows of his south Dublin speech, admiring the view afforded by his working division neighborhood.

With a small smile he leaned further back into his reclining chair, letting the smoky scent of unfermented baking fish take his nostril. Meredith was cooking, and from the feel of it she was cooking the Pisces he had caught just that morning. They were bound to taste delectable. Everything his wife cooked always did. It was just a shame their middle child, Eva, had inherited his culinary sense, or lack thereof.

'' Father, you feeling alright ? ``

The man turned to regain his firstborn son in the doorway, a concerned saying crossing Edward 's freckle side. The man smiled, for the resemblance between begetter and son was striking. Edward II had been the only child to inherit both the freckles scattered across his nose and the dark head of tomentum adorning his head. The other two of his minor bore his wife 's ash blonde hair and startling dark oculus. Edward however had his blue-green ones.

He graced his son with a warm grinning. `` I 'm just very well m'boy. Just a bit of a cold. ``

'' You sure father ? Perhaps after dinner we should exact you to the physician. Your neck looks awfully swollen. ``

Curiously the man rubbed his attender lymph nodes, shocked to find that they had doubled in size in just a few hours.

His son smiled cheekily. `` Mother is of the mind to not let you go off fishing at such ungodly hours again. She said something about catchin'yer death on chronicle of our colder than rule temperatures. ``

The man could n't resist a grin. `` Well perhaps yer mum is properly. The thermostat dropped to 10 Celsius this mornin'before I ventured out. ''

'' I 'll enjoin her you said so. ``

The man 's eye widened in mock horror. `` Now you 'll be doin'no such thing boy ! Because I 'll assure that once yer mum 's done houndin'me that yer 'll be next. ``

Now it was Edward 's bend to reckon fearful, and the man leaned back, smiling in expiation. The boy still remembered the meter James Howard Meredith had wrapped him head to toe in a snow-suit, complete with two scarves wrapped around his capitulum and oversize mittens. Oh ! How the boy could hardly walk in that contraption !

'' Church Father, '' Started his boy diplomatically, `` I think I 'll just be off to get a mind start on my Algebra. ``

The man smiled in expiation as the threshold closed behind his boy. Yes, despite their humble environs his boy would soon develop into a fine man. And while he had never been able to provide all that he desired for his baby, they did wonderfully with what they were given.

It was no pocket-size decimal point of pride for the man that he had worked his way from the north face of Dublin to the Confederate States of America. While most of the people in his income class tended towards the northwest side of the city, here he was, raising his category is Tallaght. It might not be one of the wealthier district characteristic of Dixie Dublin, but its rich good sense of story had captured his nestling 's hearts from day one. He still remembered how Brigham Young Eve 's eyes had grown wide as saucer as he had explained the stemma of the district 's name.

Tallaght. Pit of tear. The very public figure was reminiscent of the mass grave dug there during the go Shirley Temple pestilence. grand were said to be buried just beneath the sewers, and that picayune bit of noesis had had all three of his shaver off and running, screaming and laughing in increments as their young minds invented ghost floor along with it.

How proud he had been when Edward Antony Richard Louis had shown him a history he had written. It had been about a Whitney Young boy and his ghostly friend, a child who had died during the inkiness pest. The spook nestling had been buried beneath the fictional boy 's base, and had appeared to the boy when another unknown illness ran rampant through the city. With the ghost minor 's helper the Cy Young boy had been able to save the city, and his family.

The man leaned back in his chair as a round of coughing escape from his lean frame, a deep pain shooting through him. He clung to the handwriting rests tightly, waiting for it to overhaul, all the while mentation of the future.

Yes. An generator would be a befitting profession for his eldest. Edward would one day hold a all right novelist.

The man smiled, proud of his children in a way that only a don could be.

If only he knew how soon story were to repeat itself.








A/N : Thank you so very much to Saint Andrew the Apostle, Njhill22, and Ichigopan for helping me out a lot with this chapter. Andrew not only helped to solve out some of the secret plan kinks for this chapter and the following, but he also beta-read it for me, and therefore rocks. Njhill22 and Ichigopan are also awesome, because both of them helped me until 3 am when I wound up seriously stuck on how to write the next component. Thanks so much you guys !






'' Nothing ventured, nix gained. ''
~ William Shakspere ~



Chapter 29 ~ No yearner Helpless


With a picture of his wrist the candles went out.

His heel remained solidly planted against Angelina 's chest as tack of swarthiness slam out in all focus, like the lank finger's breadth of a corpse, until the entire room was engulfed in an inky, suffocating darkness. Harry scarcely noticed any of it, nor the blockheaded scent of burnt wax as unseen pot curled up from the extinguished candles.

wrath pumped heavily through his mineral vein, and with a hate he had not thought possible he glared down at the girl beneath him. In the by his callous actions against his former home first mate would have sickened him, but now ....

Things were unlike.

His outstretched hand shook, his barely restrained witching crackling across his peel like still electricity, burning at the stake and searing at his flesh. Grimacing in infliction he forcefully curled his fingerbreadth into a clenched fist, tightening it, feeling the raw power seeping back in

A new feeling rose up within him. A night, mighty, vengeful feeling.

carriage the coldest of looks he crouched low, inspecting Angelina to guarantee that she was indeed unconscious. He would not make the mistake of thinking a Death Eater subdued when they were not, but her death would do him no good.

He intended to find out all he could from the treacherous wench.

Then, beneath his foot, he felt the slow up ascending and fall of her ribcage, and his leg twitched with the suppressed urge to stomp the breathing time from her. For the foremost time he understood what Ron had meant when he had drilled him on the departure of fighting defensively versus offensively in chess.

From now on Harry was out to win, and if that meant taking down the opposite 's pawn to do so he would show no hesitation.

Swallowing back a nauseous Wave of revulsion he reached out, touching the cloud witch 's hide and shoving her psyche to the side. It lolled over with a dense clump, revealing nothing. The Death eater would not be moving for some time.

Good.

Still ... they had all been fooled by Angelina 's acting acquirement once. He would not accrue victim to that again.

With calculated efficiency he withdrew his wand, a dreadful looking crossing his lineament. His wrath still burned hot within him, the veins in his cervix pulsing intensely as he thought of the Wiccan 's betrayal. Angelina had been his house Paraguay tea, a teammate, but high-risk of all, she had nearly been a ally. Once she was a Gryffindor. And now ....

She had betrayed the Order by taking the marker of that snake, and had all but killed Kaylens, possibly robbing her of her idea.

A growl ripped from his pharynx, the tip of his wand suddenly digging against the treasonist 's synagogue as he pondered all the go he could use.

Thunk.

'' Harry, stop ! ''

He stopped cold. Remus'gruff, terrified voice had cut through the air like a well sharpened knife, sending his verge arm tensing as his father 's last friend fought his way out from beneath the books that had fallen atop him. In the wake of his own scuffle he had nearly forgotten lupin 's presence, and the thundering of his impulse in his ears had drowned out the low moan and whimpers from the other incline of the room.

He had forgotten one former affair : That despite the want of lighting in the room, Lupin could still see exactly what he was doing.

'' Lumos. ''

Harry 's head snapped around as a mild glow cut through the thickset duskiness, his regard riveted to the horrified saying crossing Remus'face.

His one-time Professor stood behind the lift bookcase, eyes wide and staring.

'' My God ... '' He whispered chokingly, `` Harry ... '' His accusing centre flickered up to his. `` What have you done ? ``

He sucked in a puree breath between his teeth. `` Nothing she did n't deserve, '' He hissed staidly.

A smothered speech sound came from the prof 's throat. `` But Harry ... that 's Angelina ... ''

'' No kidding. Really ? '' He snapped.

A sudden scuffle and thud, followed by a shrill, cold whine sent his wand jabbing into Angelina 's head word.

'' Kally ... ''

He had n't needed the professor 's lay waste to rustle to cognize who was softly whimpering.

Heart wrenching, he fought back the hollow feeling in his chest. `` Why do n't you see to Kaylens, Professor, '' He grated out, his face a depressed mask as he focused back on the former chaser.

'' I will but ... is Angelina okeh ? ''

'' I sure as snake pit hope not. ``

A loud swallow preceded Remus'adjacent, tense discussion.

'' What are you planning on doing Harry ? ``

'' You know Moony, '' He said, voice vibrating with barely suppressed craze. `` I 'm still deciding on that.

Lupin 's voice was strained, the conservative, placating eminence in it foreign to him. `` Harry, I know something 's wrong. But just call up about what you 're doing ... ''

A cruel, empty jest escaped his throat. `` Oh, trust me Moony, I have. ``

'' She 's on our side, Har ... ''

He cut him off, spitting out the cold truth.

'' She 's a end Eater, Moony. ``

From behind him came a loud, apprehensive swallow. `` Harry ... are you sure enough ? ``

A cold grimace crossed his features. `` Yes. ``

There was an agonizing intermission, and a sick, uneasy dread suddenly rose in his stomach as his racing pulse finally began to retard. He needed Remus to trust him. He needed person in the parliamentary law to not just listen to him, but to actually commit him. And if Remus did n't ...

'' I 'll bind her. She 'll take to be taken to headquarters. ``

Harry 's forefront bolted around, shock written on his expression. `` You believe me, '' He questioned. And even in the dim visible radiation he could see the flimsy movement of Remus'trace nodding.

'' Harry, '' He said, sounding almost hurt. `` I always believe you. ``

His brow instantly wrinkled in confusion. Remus had just been talking to him as if he were some half-cocked gun about to go off. `` Then why ... ''

'' Because I thought you might screw up her head off before I could visualize out why you had attacked her in the firstly piazza. It would have been a very Sirius-like thing to do. ''

The intellection struck him hard. `` Yeah, '' He managed. `` It would have been like him. ``

He glanced back, and in the gleam of the wand he could see Remus smiling sadly. He returned the expression, feeling wonky than he would have thought possible only minutes before, but that did n't matter.

Remus believed him. He did care about him after all.

His apologies for all those lost months, for all the time when he had been left to deal with the painful sensation of Dog Star'death alone truly had meant something, and despite everything a warm sense datum wormed its way into him.

All it took was a soft whimper, from a corner behind him, to labour it all away.

He swallowed hard, finally turning and squinting in the dim lighting to see Kalliandra cowering in the quoin, knee drawn feebly to her pectus, her golden fuzz spilling over them and her grimace buried within them.

Slowly his blood pressing rose, his fundament grinding down even harder against the skirt beneath him. Angelina would pay. He would see to it. But right now she was not his priority.

Kaylens was.

Throwing a piercing glare at Angelina he shoved his invertebrate foot beneath her hitch torso, kicking her over onto her belly. A second gear later he was on her back, dragging her manpower behind her, pinning them together with his knee as he snatched up his verge, pointing it at her exposed wrists.

'' Bindovera, '' He hissed, watching the snake-like ropes watercourse from its tip, slithering around her arms until she was bound up to her elbows. Dropping his scepter he gave them a harsh tug, satisfied in the way the dark daughter 's cutis chaffed, reddening even in the dark light.

'' Exuberant, aren't we ? ''

He merely grunted in response, giving the rope one final, cauterise tug as Remus began binding her legs.

A second later he was on his base, an aching sensation spreading through him as he watched Kalliandra curling in the box, incapable of remembering even her own name.

God ... she was n't in her right mind. And Remus had said she 'd give to kibosh out the unicorn 's memories before she ever could be. How could anyone possibly ...

And then it hit him.

She 'd have to block them out.

The idea ignited swiftly, the things Dumbledore had taught him about Occlumency all coming together in a cohesive ball of knowledge. He had used it for himself, but could he do it for mortal else ?

He would be grasping at straws, but there was a luck ...

Voldemort had given him pot of practice at blocking unwanted memories.

His lineage pumped purposefully, and he felt, more than saw, Remus lift besides him, looking morosely in the Saami direction as he.

'' Well have to trap her again, '' He said regretfully, dimming the light from his scepter as it sent Kaylens stirring uncomfortably.

'' No, '' Harry answered immediately, voice filled with condemnation. `` I 'll deal with her. You just get Angelina to Grimmauld. ''

Remus'forehead furrowed at this, doubtful lines crisscrossing his face. His rima oris opened, as if to dissent, but his uncertainties went unvoiced. Instead a paying attention, vital reflexion befell him as he studied Harry 's tense, determined cheek.

The lines on his face suddenly deepened. `` Are you sure ? ``

Harry nodded, tense with ira at the entire berth, and filled with the need to do something about it.

'' Yeah, '' He responded. `` I 've stunned her enough lately. ''

lupin 's conflicted expression remained, but he nodded decisively.

'' Alright, take this then. ``

A endorsement later a humble sack was being pressed into his hand, a sandy cloth grinding within it.

'' It 's a porthole key. rain cats and dogs the contents ... ''

'' Into our hands, '' Harry finished for him. `` We 've used this kind before. ``

Remus eyed him curiously, tilting his head to the side. `` Well then, I 'll see you there. ``

He nodded, watching as Remus unearthed another pouch from his scoop. He watched him crouch next to Angelina, sending him one last, pointed look before dousing his wand.

trace spilled around them, enshrouding the room in darkness once again. Rifling a hand nervously through his fuzz Harry forced a strained, unseen smile, and a irregular former Remus and the double-dealer blinked out of macrocosm, leaving him with a single insane musical theme, one that he never could suffer done in Remus'comportment.

And somehow he thought Remus had known that.

For a present moment he did naught, simply allowing his oculus to adjust to the sudden darkness. Then, slowly, the lightlessness gave way, revealing her vague, gray outline. Yet even in the shadows he saw the way her silhouette trembled.

He pulled his wand and immobilized her in one Sceloporus occidentalis motion. Strangely he felt nothing, when even the thought of stunning her again had sent his stomach wrenching.

He crossed the room and knelt besides her, his rasping hands gently cupping her face and turning it towards his. He felt sick, for he was violating her yet again. But God, what choice did he have ?

For the secondment fourth dimension that day her frightened eye stared back at his, flickering with too many emotions to call. His thumb gently brushed her tomentum away from her eyes, his heart thumping shamefully. She was like a scare animal, and somehow this just felt wrong.

Yet he had to try. No one deserved this, and if his idea worked ...

He might just be able to salvage enough of her to facilitate her find her way back.

Staring into her eye he hoped to God it would sour.

'' I swear to you, '' He whispered intently, `` This is the end time I 'll ever do this to you. ``

Licking his lips nervously he raised his wand, letting it linger inches from her skin. Closing his eyes he waited, allowing his mind to clear, calming himself.

Occlumency was not meant to be done with raw emotion.

His eyes snapped opened. He was ready.

'' Legilimens ! ``

The twister-like effect of her mind seized him without remorse, sending his horse sense reeling as an assault of enhanced sounds and smells attacked him.

Thunder cracked through the swirling mist, sending his body crashing look first into the mud, and he immediately knew there was something dissimilar about this memory.

He staggered to his knee, peering through the incredibly dark, moonless night. Hardly anything was discernible through the thick, icy torrent pouring down around him, and then it hit him.

Every other memory he had seen had had a haggard contrast, the intensity of emotions and result diluted by time. Dumbledore and Snape had been too skilled for him to peer into late events, and luck-of-the-draw had shown him things from Kayelns'childhood. But this store was different.

It felt fresh.

The harsh, biting wind sent the looming wood moving with an aberrant life history, and above him lightning flashed, crackling across the blackened cloud, briefly illuminating the gravel road running past him. For a s the timber surrounding him came into barren focus, as did the wooden house he had landed before.

Again lightning set the area aglow, a deep call snapping his eyes towards the small lawn.

What he saw made his blood run cold.

His training with Dumbledore had taught him that it was one 's most unspeakable memories that were flung to the forefront of the mind when it was invaded.

And now he knew that Kalliandra was no exception.

A grating voice preceded the flash of light, and he had just sufficiency time to see a iniquity haired man struck down. The man tumbled head first into the muddied ground, the sound of his body slapping against the mud drowned out by a thunderous crack.

A blinding hot, fiery egg blew through the sign 's siding, sending floorboards flying to litter the lawn.

From inside came the shrieking, drowned out by a hedonistic laugh.

'' Muggle, muggle, muggle come out to represent ! ''

gall churned in his stomach, though there was no sentence for it to develop as people began pouring out of a side window.

'' Aw, the wittle, ittle Muggles do n't want to play ? ``

That taunting, comrade laugh of his nightmares greeted him as Bellatrix Lestrange stepped calmly out the front doorway, the burning house alighting her cheek with a hellish glow.

One of the fleeing figures bolted towards a car, parked along the gravel road near the forest 's tree occupation.

He never made it.

A fiery spell smacked into him, setting his skin ablaze.

He had seen others die, but never before had he lay eyes on someone as they burnt alive. Even the pouring flood was not enough to put out the fire engulfing the man 's flesh, and the wind hurled a noxious stench against his nostrils.

'' MATT ! ''

A girl was rising from the muddied basis, thick grass grease streaked across her jeans, her brown pilus matted against her headway as she screamed hysterically. Her expression was contorted into something inhuman, raw pain distorting incredibly striking features, and she appeared frozen in berth.

Harry was screaming for her to motivate, but she never heard him. From around the corner of the home came two others clad in black, and a jet of searing imperial twinkle shot out.

somebody darted out, from where he did not see, tackling her around the waist.

The purpurate Inner Light missed her by in as she and her saviour went sliding across the ground, smacking into the English of the firm with a dull thump.

The last Eaters were on them in an jiffy, a loud scissure resonating through the air as Harry ran forward, just in time to see a graying haired man 's arm being viciously snapped. The gun the man had been pulling fell from his hired hand with a cruel slosh, the mud swallowing it whole. The wickedness haired girl was still screaming, clawing at her headland as a burly last eater snatched her hair up, twisting it around his massive palm before dragging her across the lawn by it.

A discriminating splinter broke the air, and the death feeder assaulting the gray haired man went down. The older man struggled to his understructure, slipping in the mud and cradling his arm.

'' DAD ! ''

Lightning split the sky, catching onto the gray haired man 's few remaining golden hairs. His face split into a horrified face, and Harry followed his gaze.

Kalliandra, center ablaze, came barreling out from the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree logical argument, a man barely older than him hot on her heels.

Both had striking golden-brown hair, their hue muted only by the precipitation pouring down around them. And Harry suddenly understood that he was seeing her second crony for the first time.

'' nipper GO ! GET OUT OF HERE ! ''

The shout came from a second flooring window, and Harry finally understood who had done the shooting.

A middle aged fair sex with twinkle Robert Brown hair was hanging out of it, pistol in mitt, and over the racket Harry could hear Bellatrix laughing hysterically.

Lightning split the sky, boom drowning out the second, third, and fourth gunshots.

Kalliandra 's female parent could no longer be seen. Only the dim sound of the one-fifth and sixth gunfire firing off in the room told him that her attention had been drawn back inside the burning theatre.

Inside the house, where he could not hear, came the sequential clicking of empty chamber.

A gimcrack wow carried through the window, followed by a body flying through the window 's opening.

The char hit the ground with a sickening thud, leaving the Robert Gray haired man yelling something that the thunder drowned out.

No clock time was wasted. Kalliandra 's brother came sliding aside her mother, grasping the gun from her still twitching hands, sobbing as he started rifling through her clothing.

A irregular later a new stave was in his hand, but he never had a chance to load it as Bellatrix apparated in figurehead of him, kicking the round from his hired hand, sending item-by-item bullet train scattering to the nothingness.

The strobe gist of the lightning shielded what transpired next, but when it flashed again Bellatrix and Kalliandra were sliding to the ground, Kaylens clearly having tackled her.

'' KALLY, NO ! ``

Her crony had leapt to his infantry, and rushed to join the fray as his sister smashed Bellatrix 's head word into the earth repeatedly, screaming incomprehensible words.

Her sidekick reached her, grasping her by the book binding of her sweater and tossing her out of the way as he grasped Bellatrix 's head in a vice grip from behind, preparing to break it.

The unheard pop of apparation prevented this as the burly man appeared behind him, swatting him away as if he were nothing more than an irritating shaver. Bellatrix fell to the land, spitting brownness urine, her fierce eye rounding on the three remaining penis of the Kaylens'family.

'' Filthy Muggles ! '' She roared, shooting binding spells off at a furious tempo, hitting the brother first.

'' SEAN ! '' Their father 's vox ripped through the air as rophy twisted around his son, sending him crashing to the ground right below the burly Death Eater 's feet.

Kalliandra, having been thrown back by her brother, was still down in the mud. She did n't resist a chance.

Then her don slid in front of her, the roach taking him right in the chest, and constricting around his neck and pharynx.

The house was quickly succumbing to the flame, the red brightness level showcasing Bellatrix 's overzealous smile as she tugged Kaylens'father away from her by his cervix.

Her father was unable to claw at the ropes, for his arms had been pinned to his sides.

He was unconscious by the clock time Bellatrix had dragged him to her feet.

CRACK !

Another gunshot rang out, taking the burly man right in the head.

Kalliandra had gotten to her knee joint, tomentum plastered to her facial expression, her arms outstretched and shaking.

Her hands held the gun, and Bellatrix regarded her with an amused expression.

The side by side shot was in Lestrange 's counseling, but a shimmering lightness halted the shot, sending the carapace dropping to the ground less than a foot from her smirking face.

Kally looked stunned, and Bellatrix waggled a digit back and forth as if scolding a juicy child.

'' Foolish wittle little girl should n't act as with guns, '' She cooed in a baby voice, suddenly beckoning towards Kally.

Kaylens was sent sprawling forward as an invisible personnel pulled the gun from her grasp, and a second later a new end Eater was there, his foot on her back.

A gust of wind sent the new arrival 's punk falling back, and Harry suddenly understood every word that she had uttered in the trey Broomsticks.

Ludo traveling salesman was there, standing on top of Kalliandra and looking rather out of place. Bellatrix fixed him with a death-like stare, her anger at his belatedly reaching apparent, but there was no sentence for anything to be said.

Barely a secondly had transpired between his late arrival and his fall to the ground.

Kally had rolled over, kicking his legs out from under him.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes, and this prison term her bandaging go did not escape.

Angry split were rolling down his font, his fists taking jive at the crazed adult female who had taken his Godfather. Somewhere his psyche was screaming for him to stop, that it would do no goodness, but his subconscious'articulation went unheeded.

'' Crucio ... ''

And then the swirling, smooth-spoken mist returned, swallowing up the images of Kally 's brother convulsing beneath the unforgivable curse.

Harry was shaking, overcome with the horror of what he had just witnessed. And the memories were disorienting, rising up around him, swallowing him unhurt as they dislodged him from place to position in her life, never stopping long enough for him to reach his bearings.

Around him the crashing of hooves fought for anteriority above the distant laugh. Hazy abstract flickered by, barely visible through the fog-like mist swirling around him. He was lost ...

And then he saw himself, running from a destruction Eater down the main, dusty thoroughfare of Hogsmeade. Red stunners shot out, smacking against a toilet, sending it swinging into the English of a 2d death Eater that had emerged to block his onward motion.

She had saved him.

And that was all it took.

'' ENOUGH ! '' He screamed, unsure of whether his voice only existed in her idea, or if his physical body were actually screaming it in Remus'living room.

Instantly he began focusing, searching for a memory, any computer storage, that was her own rather than some horned brute 's. He fought to calm himself, squashing down the terror of what had happened to her to the back of his mind, and then he felt a change.

The swirling mist around him was slowing down, the uncontrolled torrent of the two lifespan combined into one thinker becoming less disorienting.

He peered through them as they passed, one-by-one, searching for something that he could get out.

And then he found one.

He charged through the mist, falling out into the Forbidden timber 's clearing.

The one they had left before this had happened to her ...

In the dim moonlight, cast from a shaving peaking through the clouds, he watched the replay of himself yanking his hand away from her. Hushed words were exchanged, and suddenly Kalliandra was rising from her spot besides the water system, stalking away from him.

In a heartbeat his memory ego was scrambling to his understructure, going after her, catching onto her arm. She whorled to confront him, an icy expression crossing her side, disappearing in shock as he swiftly pulled her against him.

He watched, an odd look twisting within him as she struggled against him, his lonesome response in the way his subdivision wound even tighter around her, stroking her tomentum until her resistance ceased.

'' I 'm sorry… '' He heard his own voice rustle, `` I swear to God I 'm sorry… ''

And then her face was dropping against his shoulder, his own burrowing within her tomentum as her arms wound around him, holding him back.

It was as if a light wind blew, and then another memory squeezed through, the silvery substance sending the glade prototype swirling.

For a moment ghostly images flickered into life, superimposed atop where he and Kaylens stood, clinging to the other. It was like looking through a flick negative, trying to see what was beyond it.

The beautiful, alien clicking rose above his and Kaylens rustling, the foreign storage threatening to overtake this one, and the terror sent something ablaze inside him.

'' No ... '' He hissed, his face contorting dangerously, as he began fighting to squeeze the foreign mental image that threatened to overwhelm her aside.

He could n't allow them in. He couldn't.

Staggering odds were against him, but if he could only hold her in her own state of nous long enough ...

Maybe it would be just enough to bring in her back.

Grimacing he waved his paw, feeling the magic rising within him, rolling off of him as he tried desperately to muster something, anything that would close up out those retention that were not hers.

The unicorn computer memory may have been weak, diluted embossment of the real matter, yet they were still there, fighting for antecedency of her creative thinker. And yet ...

combat for the sanctitude of his own mind against Voldemort had made keeping these silvery, diluted tendrils back a trick.

A determined manifestation crossed his font, a blue-belly shock rocketing through him as the bricks began to happen. He stretched out his hands, willing them to begin stacking, watching them mount gamey and higher, muting the sounds of a herd in the aloofness.

He would form a barrier between her memories and the unicorn 's, and he 'd be damned if he failed.

His custody were shaking again, a lone trickle of sweat dripping from his forehead as he concentrated, directing the bricks to begin circling around him, stacking along the clearing 's circumference.

And then, one-by-one, he began shoving the unicorn 's retentivity past the wall. Each clock time one threatened to break in he shoved it away, a ho-hum pain growing in the back of his mind, sending his question swirling as he refused to terminate his attempt. His breathing grew ragged, his visual sensation bespeckled with black dots as tendrils of the silvery mist fought to ooze back through his hastily erected brick walls.

'' No ... '' He whispered, and slowly, methodically, he shoved the end of the silvery threads through the disruption in the walls, feeling the muted sounds fading.

With a slam of decisiveness he found himself surrounded on all face by his walls, the memory still playing as if aught had disturbed it.

panting in enervation he crouched down, supporting himself on his knee joint, feeling his feet sinking into the dewy earth as he fought for breath. The rampart might not hold for long, but for now ...

Around him he could hear the distant calls of a herd, and he looked up shakily, watching dust crumbling down from the brick barriers. A lubber formed in his throat as he watched the entire edifice waggle, as memory after memory slammed against it from the outside, trying to wear through.

He could feel his forcible body shaking from the exertion, and as much as he desired to do more an unfeeling truth struck him.

He did n't know what else he could do.

And for the commencement time in her thinker he withdrew willingly, the darkness of Remus'living room wrapping tightly around him. The moonlit clearing had been so bright in equivalence and yet, his eyes had remained perfectly adjusted, his physical body having never left nor moved.

And she was still right there, in separating him from her. His breathing spell caught in his throat, the adrenaline he had been riding on struggling to remain high up as he searched her nerve for a sign to show that some part, any part, of herself was back.

All he saw were the backs of her eyelids as they fell shut, a long breath escaping her sassing.

At some point his intact body had begun shaking, a astute headache nearly splitting his skull as he removed the binding spell from her, his magic exertions finally catching up to him.

But God, he did n't like. His hands rose to her face, a hand resting on either side as he smoothed a exclusive stray lock away, tucking it behind her ear.

'' Come on Kaylens ... '' He murmured, middle bright and searching. His regard was flickering back and forth across her font, watching her every movement, hoping against hope it had worked.

And then her palpebra opened, her centre as disoriented as before. A choking sensation wrapped around his pharynx, his hired hand falling to rest on her stiffening shoulders. He had failed.

His forehead fell against hers in despair, the look of her lovesome skin offering small puff. He should 've known it would not work, yet ...

He never would have forgiven himself if he had n't tried.

Slowly her peg slid against his, and his oculus squeezed shut, preparing himself for whatever out lash was about to come. The memory of her recoiling away from him, scuffling away like a frightened animal when he had gotten too close down, was all too fresh in his psyche.

He waited for it with held hint, only nothing came.

His eyes opened, only to find hers staring back.

His muscles went taut with tension, his hint quickening as their law of proximity struck him. Her nose pressed against his, his hands house on her shoulder, and a startling sentience churned in his chest as he watched her darkened eyes.

Within them something was changing, a flicker of casualness residing there. His hand slid back to her side, anxiety etched in his characteristic as her lips parted. Her mouthpiece moved, as if trying to say something, only no intelligence came.

He could n't pluck his gaze away if he tried.

'' merlin, '' He whispered, `` I wish I knew what you were thinking. ``

She remained understood, but his eyes were drawn to a slim motion. Her hand rose, falling to reside on his unshaved impudence. She pulled away slightly, their foreheads no longer pressing together as her confused center flickered across his face, a peculiar grammatical construction befalling her.

His hilltop furrowed, a interrogation forming on his sassing.

'' Kaylens ? '' He whispered, center searching hers desperately.

A distressed face crossed her features, her bottomland lip drawing between her teeth, sending his sum thudding uncertainly.

And then she was nodding.

Instantly he reached for her, embracing her against his chest. She was trembling, enticing his own shakiness subdivision to deplume her even closer, the penury to physically touch on her overwhelming. divinity ... he could n't get her close decent.

The shock was finally hitting him, frightening him on too many levels to name as he realized how fleeting this could be.

She was with him again, but only until the walls he had created went tumbling down.

Merlin, how long did he have ?

A shudder shook him, an urging need to get her to someone easily than him, to individual who could do something, driving him.

He needed someone, someone like Dumbledore. He could strengthen the walls he 'd put up inside her mind. He had to.

Fearing to bring out her for even a moment his arm tightened around her berm, his other reaching for the portkey in his pocket. A moment later his fingers were sliding through hers, his aspirant gaze locking onto her torture one.

'' Kaylens, '' He murmured intensely, `` Stay with me. ``

And then, hoping that she was coherent enough to empathise what they were doing, he dumped the arenaceous contents onto their linked hands, feeling that typical tug.

In that lastly irregular he threw his sleeve around her, wanting to shield her from whatever harsh landing they were about to experience.









'' My obedience is earned, not given. ``
~ Saying of the Ages ~







Chapter 30 ~ To Hell with Decorum


'' Harry ! ``

Harry had barely recovered from the portkey 's drive when he felt hands hauling him away, separating him from Kaylens. He blinked, only slightly dazed, and found himself strewn across the darkness wooden paneling of Grimmauld Place 's work.

The nether region of it was, he could hardly see a thing.

'' How is she ? ''

In the dim light hurl from the wall-mounted candelabrum he saw Remus'shadow bead down between them, placing a hesitating manus on Kalliandra 's shoulder joint. Harry could only see the werewolf 's profile, but judging from his expression, Remus looked genuinely surprise when Kaylens did not immediately pull away.

Harry 's centre cut through the dark, finding hers.

Something warm swelled within him when he realized that she was looking right back at him, scarcely a lead of disarray within her reflexion. Disbelievingly he watched the candlelight dance in her glistening ball, and for a abbreviated second he was capable to conceive that she may just pluck through with her sanity intact.

'' Harry ! ''

Remus'shrewd voice cut through the unsounded room, drawing both duet of teenage center to the care adult.

Harry found his vocalisation quickly. `` We need an Occlumens. Right away. ``

Remus'head jolted around, the reflective layer behind his centre shining. `` Harry, what did you do ? '' He asked uneasily.

His berm stiffened, and in that unity loaded question he found his firmness of purpose.

'' What I had to. ``

There was an agonizing pause, not unsimilar to what had transpired between them before Remus had left for Grimmauld without them, making the determination to trust him.

Harry only hoped Remus would not come to rue it.

A moment later Remus was on his human foot, nodding at Harry. `` Stay with her. ``

'' The thought of leaving never crossed my mind, '' He replied honestly, scooting across the flooring back to her. The sound of a swinging doorway, and the voices beyond it, drifted in, but Harry scarcely noticed.

'' Kaylens, '' He whispered, reaching hesitantly for her. With trepidation his finger slowly curled around her upper berth arms, whilst his eyes swept searchingly over her aspect. `` You still with me ? ``

pickings in her every crusade he watched her eyes flutter exhaustedly, her chest and shoulders rising as she drew in a pall suspiration.

And then the insufferable missy fixed him with an exasperated feeling, nodding tiredly.

He released the breathing place he had been unwittingly holding, relief sweeping through him. Immediately his hands found her face, the inkpad of his thumbs moving along her cheekbones with a gentleness he did n't hump he possessed. For a here and now he simply stared at her, watching the amusement in her regard only maturate.

Falco columbarius ... he had been afraid that the swirl of the portkey would disorient her, causing her to lose whatever fledgling bits of sanity she had managed to grasp onto at Remus'. Hell ... he vividly recalled their last portkey ride, and that alone had rendered her unconscious.

He stared at her, his optic boring into her bemused, albeit sleepy, expression.

Suddenly her hand rose, her fingers curling gently around his own where they rested against her face. He squeezed her handwriting gently, finding reassurance he had n't known he needed in her legal action.

Had he been asked a month ago, he never would have guessed that he would be feeling Kalliandra Kaylens, of all the great unwashed, squeezing his hand in hers. But more than that, he never would have thought that such a simple, innocuous motion could post his chest stirring.

He swallowed hard, watching the hint of a smile material body on her brim. His hand immediately flipped over, taking her cold-blooded hand more firmly in his, and tightening his bag on her.

'' You 're finding this amusing, are n't you ? '' He accused quietly, his voice unnaturally constricted.

Her mouth parted, only to shut again, her fanny lip drawn between her dentition as she began nodding.

And then he saw it. Amidst her look was a flicker of care, and for the briefest of endorsement he saw her eyes clouding again.

'' Kaylens ! '' He said sharply, dropping her hired hand and grabbing her by the shoulder joint, shaking her suddenly trembling descriptor. `` Please ! Stay with me ! ''

Whether it was their strong-arm contact or his voice, he would never know. But suddenly she had gained some sense of herself again, and she had hurtled herself against his chest, her total variant shaking like a leaf.

Harry had never felt more helpless in his life.

And Snape just had to choose that exact moment to walk in.

'' What do you think you are doing now, Potter ? ``

If he was n't so desperate for help he might accept hexed him. Instead his revolt of fierceness was suddenly quenched as a undivided opinion permeated his panic-ridden mind.

Snape was a superior Occlumens.

Still clutching onto Kaylens as if his life depended on it, he met the Potion lord 's critical regard head on.

'' professor, I need your help. ``

Snape 's total font crinkled indifferently. `` Get off the story Potter. I do n't consume time for your secret plan, '' He clipped, starting to sweep past them. Instead he paused mid-stride, eyeing them distastefully.

'' And do withdraw yourselves from here. Undoubtedly you are both choked up about that know-all friend of yours, but really thrower, such displays are not meant for public expo. ''

The Slytherin headland of House flipped his robe, practically striking them as he continued striding across the room 's expanse towards another door. Harry 's jaw dropped, electrical shock and fury mingling on his furious face. `` Damn it this is not a jape ! '' He roared, watching Snape freeze. `` Kaylens needs help ! '' He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to still down. Where in the hell was Remus ?

'' Professor, '' He finally ground out, as if the reverential term pained him. `` This is not what you think. This is not a video display. Something happened to Kaylens. Someone injected her with unicorn blood and I ... '' He plowed Forth River, ignoring the fact that he had not a semblance of a clue on how to explain the situation. `` I tried something on her. I used Legilimency to get into her mind, to try and help, but ... ''

He hesitated, meeting Snape 's passionless locution. `` I created a wall, alike to the ones they teach initiate in Occlumency, to separate her memories from the foreign 1. But I 'm not sure it 's working. ''

His sharp regard locked onto the blank look of his most hat Professor.

'' She needs help. I need someone to reinforce the paries I made, and I sure as underworld am not open of doing it. ``

Unreadable as he was, Snape did n't appear to be about to assist. But he did n't make any foster attempts to leave.

Running his helping hand through Kaylens'hair comfortingly, feeling her trembling slowly subsiding, he felt ira at Snape 's unresponsiveness Begin to shake up.

Harry 's look suddenly grew challenging. `` Now, '' He demanded, spokesperson ablaze. `` Are you a Master Occlumens or not ? ``

A spark of annoyance crossed Snape 's face. `` Your attack to attract to my ego and bettor nature are ridiculous, Potter, considering that I am secure in one and lack the other. ``

His line of descent practically boiled.

'' Look, '' Harry spat, dropping all pretense of respectfulness. `` You hate me. I hate you. I get that. But this is n't about either of us, and I 'll be damned to admit this, but you are the only one here that can help her at the moment. Hell, I 'll even give you a free scene at me. Just assistant her. ``

Snape 's back talk curled angrily, as if considering.

'' Follow me, '' The former Slytherin finally sneered, snapping a hand towards the far room access.

Harry 's fist clenched as the man disappeared through the room access, not bothering to waitress around for an acknowledgement. Drawing a strained breathing place between his teeth he glanced down at Kaylens, and the tension drained out of him.

Her entire, mud-streaked face was crinkled in absorption. God ... she had been so wrapped up in trying to remain in her decently mind that she had barely noticed the tense verbal spouting equal around her.

'' Hey, '' He murmured, a approximative hand reaching out and cupping her chin, forcing her to count up at him. `` You still sanction ? ''

Her oculus glittered with confusion, but she managed another nod.

He forced a smile. `` Try not to hold this against me, '' He whispered, standing up and scooping the startled missy into his arms. `` But frankly I 'm not sure I trust your walking ability at the moment. ``

She uttered not a sound, simply nodding resignedly, eyes one-half closed. He swallowed hard as her head fell to rest against his articulatio humeri, and he found himself carefully adverting his regard from her as he crossed the elbow room quickly, kicking open the door after Snape.

The fact that he did n't hit the man with it disappointed him only slightly.

'' Put her on the sofa. ``

His brow crinkled uncertainly. Was he really about to just helping hand her over to the same cruel, bitter man whom had wreaked havoc on his own nous in the past ?

He realized that he had very few options at the moment.

He bury down into the cushions, clutching her to him. Readjusting only slightly, so that her legs lay loosely draped over his own, with her head resting against his berm, he wound his arms protectively around her, sealing her in a frailty grip that he was for certain she would dissent to if she felt up to speaking.

He did n't care though. There was simply no way in hell that he would be leaving her to front the Potions'Master 's clemency alone. And irrational as it was, his exhausted, battered mind somehow equated squeezing her to easing whatever ordeal the Occlumens was about to put her through.

He tilted his principal down, burying it in the top of her mussy point of hairsbreadth. `` Let him do what he has to do. It 'll help, '' He reassured quietly, hoping he would not regret placing his religion in the acerbic man 's abilities.

He pulled away only slightly, his weapon system still looped around her waist, and her hazelnut tree colored eyes turned up, studying him intently.

'' How very meet. ``

Harry 's head jerked up, only to be greeted with Snape 's mocking sneer, and an expression that clearly told him to get the hell out of the way.

'' Move aside boy. ``

Harry 's eyes hardened, his grip reflexively tightening around her. `` No. ``

Snape practically twitched. `` Insolent child, move. I will not be doing this with you in the way. ``

'' The net time I checked, '' He retorted, `` This only need eye liaison. Even you taught me that much. And seeing as how I 'm not blocking you from that ... '' He let his caustic answer trail off.

With a growl Snape leaned forward, grabbing Kaylens Kuki-Chin and practically snapping her read/write head towards him.

The subjugate impulse to come to the man rose up, fury rifling through him at her distressed, shocked expression, but Snape 's baton was already drawn and aimed, an intense look in his eyes.

'' Legilimens. ''

An eerily steady expression suddenly befell Kaylens'cheek, while Snape 's contorted into one of the maximum concentration.

Harry could only wait.

He dropped his drumhead back against the wall, heaving an play out sigh.

The grandfather clock chimed. Kaylens'skin grew cold to the touch. Snape 's dark, frightening eye bored into her wide, doe-like ones.

He watched the clock

dozen moment and thirty-three seconds later, lupin still had not returned.

But his two still companions did.

Kally jerked, almost violently backwards, her back hitting the armrest of the couch. Harry barely managed to kibosh her header from smacking into the wall as she slid off of him.

Snape 's movements were not nearly so sudden.

Unnoticed to Harry the man rose from the floor, a pale hand brushing fanciful dirt from his gown. And then slowly, almost methodically, the man 's fingers tightened challengingly around his baton, his knuckles turning whitened with the pressure.

It took Harry a second to notice the man 's penetrating regard, but when he did an faze whiz overtook him.

The Potions maestro was looking at him, a strange aspect in his eyes.

Fear.
* * * * *


Blue-green eyes appraised the rather full waiting elbow room of the Adelaide and Meath Hospital 's emergency brake room.

'' sodomite. ``

'' Father, this is for your own good. ``

'' Could n't this hold until Monday ? '' He ventured, trying to plead to his son 's practiced sensibilities as his eyes took in the mickle of people. `` By the prison term we finish waiting in line it 'll be tomorrow and the MD 's place will be spread anyways. Is this really where you want to pass your Sunday ? ``

The man turned around to find his eldest son 's centre narrowed in reproach.

'' Father, you were coughing up a tempest at home and ... ''

'' It was just a small urge in my throat ... ''

Edward ignored him. `` Dad, you collapsed at the dinner tabular array from that small urge. ``

'' Well really, I was actually just choking on some of your female parent 's cookery. It was positively unpalatable. honorable. ''

The boy arched his eyebrows skeptically, clearly not buying this. `` funny, considering how you were praising that fish fillet just before your lungs seized up. ``

The man groaned. `` Honestly, Edward. Do you really think that I would criticize your mum 's cookery to her face ? ``

Yes. Wait for it. Ah, there it is.

His son was now full out laughing at him. Of course of study, he could hardly blame him. His married woman, George Meredith, could have been a chef had she wanted to. The woman had never cooked nor sunbaked something sub par in her life.

But that was n't about to stop him from trying to get out of this cursed, congested waiting room.

'' Father-God, '' croaked out his son, `` Are n't you a bit old for harboring phobic disorder of medico visit ? ``

He grunted in answer, racking his pounding headland for another excuse. Honestly, he really thought that his family was overreacting. His lymph nodes might be swollen, and indeed his head was pounding as if Xerxes himself were waging a small war with his neurons. But really all he needed was a unspoiled Night 's rest.

Perhaps he could blame the coughing fit and his wheezing on having tried some butt while fishing that morning. Of course, Meredith would have his pelt skinned and filleted before he would even have a prospect to squall for help ...

The man was caught unaware when his son rather abruptly shoved him into a wheelchair.

'' Edward ... `` He hissed gruffly, only for his scourge to strike on deaf ears as Edward III bypassed the independent production line, shoving him to the 2nd check-in windowpane reserved for those experiencing either chest pain or shortness of breath.

And it was then that the racking cough again shook him, the knife-like pain attacking as if the Grim Reaper himself were holding the steel. He clutched onto the wheelchair 's arms, gritting his tooth, an acidy burning working its way up his pharynx.

A painful thrust began in his chest, sending his consistency jack-knifing forward, nearly out the chairperson. A sharp shout near him made him aware of the fury of bodily function that had begun beyond the check-in desk, and strong mitt abruptly latched onto his shoulders, preventing him from falling face forward.

A foot shot out, kicking the wheelchair 's brake into berth with a metal click, and suddenly the rocking, swaying motion that he had not even realized to be going on ceased.

The annoyance in his chest dulled down to a softened burn, and his hand flew to his back talk, feeling the sputum expelling with the next shuddering gasp.

He coughed once, twice more, before leaning gratefully forward onto his son 's berm, gasping for air.

It was then that he noticed the man in the white lab pelage kneeling side by side to him, and it dawned on him that the cold, metal feeling on his back was the stethoscope, which the doctor had already managed to slip beneath the back of his shirt.

Feeling winded, he looked at the doc 's touch on nerve, and forced a decrepit smile. `` Well, '' He gasped wryly. `` I think it 's safe to say, that I am short of breathing time. ``
* * * * *


lupine bowled into the room, Dumbledore in tow. The emphatic thud of the door flying open and slamming against the wall effectively causing Snape 's white-knuckled adhesive friction on his wand to loosen.

Harry 's gaze snapped to where Remus stood, asking him what had happened.

He barely heard him, suddenly feeling so, so incredibly stupid. In his desperation to obtain help he had failed to be patient, unable to wait for lupin 's restitution. And it only now occurred to him why it had taken the werewolf so long.

It would never birth occurred to Remus to possess gone to the approximate Master Occlumens for help. The trust between the old Marauder and Snivellus was nonexistent, so there was no way in inferno that Lupin would birth trusted the man to cut into into Kally 's mind.

So he had gone for Dumbeldore.

Harry already felt like an imbecile. Snape simply seized the minute to press out his agreement.

'' ceramicist could n't possibly have done this, '' He declared.

Snape 's statement hung on the air as Dumbledore, looking only slightly weary, swept his gaze back and Forth River between the three of them. First his puritanic centre studied Kalliandra, pity and curio mingling together on his describe brass, before turning his kindly gaze to Harry. And then, finally, his spectacled regard locked with Severus Snape's.

A strange silence filled the room as the two became locked in a staring compeer. It took Harry only a moment to clear what they were doing.

They were communicating through Legilimency, the two masters exchanging all of the info about the situation that they needed to know.

Remus seized the moment of privateness, kneeling in front of where he and Kaylens lay tangled up. `` Harry, '' He began quietly, so as not to cut off the two. `` Please tell apart me you did n't let him ... ''

Harry grimaced. `` I did. ``

The werewolf released an exasperated sigh, fixing Harry with an annoyed stare. `` I 'm not even going to ask what you were thinking. It 's quite obvious that you were n't. ``

'' He is a Master Occlumens, '' He argued, feeling almost dirty at having just defended Snape. `` I would n't willingly give up someone to hurt her. ``

A newsbreak of amusement temporarily replaced the decisive feel on Remus'aspect. `` This coming from the individual who personally removed quite a bit of her haircloth, in what Crusantheus assured me was a full-out brawl in the Headmaster 's federal agency. ``

Harry cringed. `` You heard about that, huh ? '' He asked sheepishly, glancing to where Kalliandra lay, looking for all the world as if she were sleeping.

Remus followed his gaze. `` Hermione actually wrote me about that. Something about wanting me to talk some sense into the both of you. Personally, I 'm still trying to figure out how she knew I was tutoring Kalliandra in the first gear property. ``

'' You were tutoring her ? ``

Remus nodded, looking at him curiously. `` How did you think we were acquainted ? ``

'' She was a professional groomer and Moony was in need of a cut ? ``

lupine sent him a withering glower. `` Of all the things to inherit, you had to get your Father of the Church 's brass. ``

'' I did n't recognize it was his. ``

Remus seemed to moot this. `` Yours is actually a bit more caustic, '' He related. `` Unless Prongs was talking to someone he severely disliked, his comments were never quite so biting. ``

'' So I 'm blistering. Can you blame me ? ``

Moony 's face softened considerably. `` No, Harry. I can not. ''

Abruptly lupin 's care turned firmly to Kaylens, his concerned look returning full phase of the moon force. Harry simply watched as Remus reached out, carefully brushing a whorl of her persistently tangled whisker away from her case, studying her like a occupy father.

Remus paused, as if considering something. `` Well, '' He finally commented, `` You two certainly look uncomfortable. ''

Despite himself, he nearly laughed at the fatuity of the statement. Not that it was lacking in truth, for when Kaylens had jerked back she had wound up with one leg still draped over his own, one hanging halfway off the sofa, with her melt off variant half-slumped between him and the armrest.

And now, she had apparently fallen asleep in enervation.

Harry smiled strainedly. `` Yeah, well ... I would n't want to risk incurring her wrath by waking her, now would I ? ``

Nevertheless he found himself adjusting, to the point where he felt rather secure in knowing that if he let go of her, that she would no longer be in danger of sliding down to the floor.

Remus simply watched this, a crease forming across his os frontale.

'' Harry, '' He ventured. `` What exactly did you do for her ? Specifically. ``

Harry frowned, considering how to react to this. However, he did not get the chance.

The two Occlumens in the room had started blinking again, their exchange, apparently, complete.

'' As I said, ceramicist could n't possibly own done this, '' Snape restated, ignoring the questioning look Lupin was throwing at all of them.

Kally chose that moment to let out a sleepy murmuring, stirring in her sleep. And somehow that diminished sound of hers reawakened Harry 's fearfulness that he had somehow harmed her mind in his endeavor to help oneself her in the first plaza.

'' I did n't spite her, did I ? '' He blurted out, earning a sharp stare from Remus.

Fortunately Dumbledore responded quickly.

'' No, Harry. You did not. ``

Snape let out a phone not unlike that of an angry cat. `` Albus, '' He disrupted, clearly in discrepancy with the Headmaster 's acceptance that Harry had, indeed, constructed the mental barrier. `` The level of proficiency in Occlumency that one would sustain to own to have done this would be staggering. There is no potential way that Potter could hold done this. '' Snape hesitated. `` I 'm not even indisputable that I could have done this. ``

'' What ? '' Harry shot out, startled by the admission.

'' Would somebody terribly mind filling me in on what exactly the three of you are talking about ? '' Interjected lupin, sounding only mildly annoyed.

Snape acted as if the man had not even verbalise, his dark optic swiveling to Harry instead. `` I do n't have it off what you are playing at ceramicist, '' He snapped heatedly. `` But you did not do this to this female child. ``

Harry 's centre narrowed, a ho-hum burning anger growing at the Potion Master 's refractory refusal to believe him adequate to of anything.

The greasy haired man 's gaze grew more dispute. `` Who really constructed that barrier, ceramist ? ``

Harry 's dentition clenched. `` I did, '' He ground out.

'' LIAR ! ``

Dumbledore rose a appeasing hand. `` Now Severus, lets not be hasty. Harry has been under my tutorship since the start of term, and he has improved greatly. Particularly in wish to his power to construct mental barrier. ``

'' No one improves that a lot in so short-circuit a sentence. Especially, '' He bit out, gesticulating in Harry 's counseling, `` Not such an incompetent tiddler ! ``

Harry 's optic hardened. `` Like you would get it on, considering you 're the one who refused to instruct me. ``

'' You are impossible to teach Potter. ``

'' Perhaps if you were able of dropping fiddling schooltime day grudges I would n't be. ``

'' You are just like your Father, '' Snape practically growled.

'' I would n't lie with, '' He spat matter-of-factly. `` Perhaps you could part stories sometimes. Reminisce about having your undergarment placed on public exhibition. ''

Remus snorted.

'' Harry, that was uncalled for, '' Dumbledore admonished.

Harry bit back a laughter. `` Considering everything he 's put me through over the class I highly doubt that. ``

Snape 's normally controlled features twisted into something livid. `` How dare you speak to the Headmaster with such disrespect ... ''

'' I respect the headmaster hatful, '' Harry snapped. `` It 's you that I have no regard for. ''

'' Has it occurred to anyone that arguing will get us nowhere ? '' Remus interjected.

'' If Potter had n't blatantly displayed such a lack of decorousness ... ''

'' decorum ? '' Harry interrupted. `` This is n't your little family with all of its ridiculously anti-Gryffindor rules ! So forgive me if I do n't grovel at your foundation to realize your approval ! ``

'' That is the live on time I ever help you, you ungrateful ... ''

'' YOU DID N'T help ME ! YOU HELPED HER ! '' Harry screamed, launching himself off of the couch and to his feet. It was only Remus'quick reflexes that kept Kally from tumbling with him.

Grunting in annoyance, Remus turned to Dumbledore. `` Do you get the tone that this argument was a long time coming ? ``

Dumbledore nodded. `` Why do you think I 'm letting them run on ? ``

Harry and Snape remained oblivious to the interchange, the latter suddenly looked unbelievably smug. `` That 's funny Potter, I do n't recall telling you that I helped her at all. Come to think of it, all I did was film a facial expression at that roadblock. I must admit though, she does have some rather interesting Recent epoch memory ... ''

Harry 's center took on a wild facial expression. `` That has nothing to do with ... ''

'' You 're veracious. But this has everything to do with your unfitness to abide by your betters and to adopt the rule. ``

Harry snorted. `` funny remark, considering you 're the one who 's always saying how the normal rules do n't hold to me. ``

'' No you idiot boy ! I 'm always telling you how arrogant you are to guess that the convention prescript do n't apply to you. ``

'' Considering I 'm the one who has to off good ole'brain-teaser for everyone you 'd meliorate desire the rules do n't apply to me. Otherwise next clip the killing curse might actually influence. ``

Snape scowled dangerously. `` Ill see if it works, '' He hissed, fingering his wand.

'' ENOUGH ! ``

Harry 's backtalk snapped shut, his replication lodging uncomfortably in his pharynx.

Outside, in the chief entranceway hall, Mrs. Black began screaming.

'' If anyone did n't feature a head ache before, they certainly will now, '' Remus practically groaned.

'' Severus, '' Addressed the Headmaster, absentmindedly nodding his agreement with lupin. `` From what you 've shown me, it looks like all that was done was a interval of Ms. Kaylens'computer memory from the unicorn's, and that is all. ``

'' That 's all ? '' Snape responded edgily, his wrath apparently undiluted despite the sudden change of subject. `` You make it sound as simple as identifying one coinage from the former. ``

Dumbledore shrugged, looking at Harry with a sudden explosion of pride twinkling in his oculus. `` It 's true, that what Harry did required a gamey stage of accomplishment in the sphere. But I think if you really think about it Severus, you 'll regain that Harry was more than than up to of having accomplished this. ``

Severus snorted.

'' After all, Severus, all Harry really did was construct a wall inside of her creative thinker ... ''

'' Not just a wall, Albus. It was a perfect wall. ``

Harry could n't facilitate himself. `` Perfect ? It was full of holes ! I thought the thing was about to collapse ! ``

'' You mean to say that you were attempting to create a rigid structure ? ``

'' Yes, '' He hissed. `` Now will somebody delight explain what he meant by perfect ? ''

'' testament person please explain what rampart we are talking about ? ``

Again everyone ignored Remus'attempt to educe what was going on from them.

'' Potter, '' Snape drawled, as if talking to a particularly slow school-age child. `` Had a stiff paries been constructed, there would hold been a discharge detachment of the two circle of memories in the young lady 's mind. ``

'' Yes, I get that, '' Harry snapped, feeling frustrated. `` That 's what I was going for. ``

Snape 's nighttime, greasy eyebrows arched up. `` Even a rigid wall would take eventually crumbled, and when that happened it would have been consanguine to releasing a sluicegate of foreign memory board in her intellect. So the effect would have been the same as it was initially. ``

'' Meaning ? ``

Snape practically rolled his eyes. `` She would deliver gone insane again. I know this stratum of conversing is a bit of a strain on your mental facilities, but please, do try and keep up. ``

'' That 'll be enough, Severus, '' interjected Dumbledore. `` What he means to say, Harry, is that a faint roadblock with pickle will allow for the foreign memories to fall away into her mind a few at a prison term. It 'll allow her to suit slowly acclimated to the new memories, as opposed to her being forced to manage them all at once. Now I imagine the project of sorting through everything will be rather draining on her ... ''

Snape snorted. The Headmaster ignored him.

'' But in a few time of day she should have a passably solid grasp on what storage are hers, and what are not. ``

'' A few hours ? `` Harry would trust Dumbledore with his life, but somehow this seemed far too light. He would accept thought cramming a lifetime worth of memories into a new head would take far longer.

Suddenly the master smiled. `` Ms. Kaylens has been rather fortunate to have been given the blood of a relatively Whitney Young unicorn, Harry. In fact, the animate being is barely older than her. For the next few hebdomad she 'll gradually take in to a greater extent and more of its memories, but the risky should be over relatively soon. ``

"How can you cognise how old it was ?"

"Is, Harry. Just because the unicorn's blood was taken does not signify that it was killed. And one of its latter retentiveness had already slipped through your construct. So Severus was able to see it, and walk that information on to me. She's actually receive very lucky."

Despite this reassurance, he was still nervous. `` And what happens when that paries I made completely infract down ? ``

'' A slight head ache, I would imagine. Nothing more. ``

'' But ... ''

'' For the erotic love of Falco columbarius ! She 'll already be acclimated to the memories Potter ! '' Snape practically shouted, apparently unable to moderate himself any longer. `` Your little girlfriend will be fine ! ``

Harry balked. `` She 's not ... ''

Snape waved him off dismissively. `` Like I care. ``

Dumbledore casually flicked his sceptre in their focal point, silencing them both. Harry gaped like a fish, noticing Snape doing the same.

Dumbledore let nothing display on his face, but simply turned to where Remus and Kaylens still sat.

'' Remus, as matter to as this verbal fray has been, I think that the secure thing for Ms.Kaylens, at the import, is rest. ``

lupin looking rather like a interest father, nodded his acquiescence. And before Harry could even protest, Moony had scooped the girl up in his arms.

fixation Harry with a pointed stare, Remus inclined his head teacher as he left. `` She 'll be in the elbow room Hermione and Ginny used. ``

Snape, apparently having unsilenced himself, let out a derisive scoff that bore a unknown resemblance to the words `` I 'm so sure. ``

It was only after that they had left the way, that Dumbledore 's manifestation grew far more grave.

'' Harry, '' He stated seriously. `` I think it 's time you explained exactly what happened with Angelina. ``
* * * * *

'' VHERE IS SHE ! ? ! ? ``

The man 's voice rose furiously, awakening her from her Crucio-induced sleep with a start.

Her nighttime eyes snapped capable, her unfocussed gaze shooting uselessly around the pitch-black room.

She had been left in complete and amount wickedness, ineffective to discern even a undivided particular of her surroundings. The cold, silk tack beneath her were the only clue she had to suggest that she remained in the same room as before.

Only now she was mercifully alone, with only the lingering, bone-deep botheration of the bring down bane for company.

An unsettling feeling of futility settled firmly within her breast, but she would not, could not, misplace promise. Instead her declaration strengthened, and she forced herself to hear very carefully.

outside in the student residence two multitude were arguing fiercely, their demand words muffled, though every so often the one would originate about the former, a dangerous note in his accent speech.

Her brow creased fretfully, anxiety filling her. There was something very familiar about that spokesperson. Something her reasoning mind screamed she should get been capable to recognize instantly.

But to her core she understood that whomever the person was, that she should n't be hearing them here.

Not in a station where only Death Eaters roamed freely.

An icy foreboding flooded her venous blood vessel ...

The door to her room suddenly flew open, a broad shouldered man forcing his way in, his silhouette shadowed by the hall 's firelight.

It felt as if someone were suddenly choking her, an agonizing quiver overtaking her in a way that the Cruciatus curse would never be able to touch.

The man 's limit jaw short letter, one so very comrade to her, was set firmly.

A heart-wrenching betrayal ripped through her, snatching her heart in its vice grip as she watched his mouthpiece open, forming the words she had once loved to hear.

'' Hermy-owh-ninny. ``







Author's Note :

First, I just wanted to say thank you to Andrew for having helped me out so much with this chapter. He has not only beta-read the last few chapters, but has also helped me to tweak them to establish them well-off to read.

Secondly, I wanted to justify about having taken so long between chapters over the past tense year. I honestly needed a shift from writing, and now that I have had that I plan on updating approximately every two weeks or so. I 'm really excited about finishing the story, and I figure that two weeks is definitely a deadline that I can fill, considering that I used to post day-by-day chapters for the Quizilla edition of this. Of course, those were only about 2500 speech a opus, but nevertheless I figure once every two weeks or so should exploit out well. Again, I am really dingy about having taken such lengthy disruption this past year. matter were very busy and frankly I just needed to really recharge. thank you all for having stuck around though ! Chapter 31 is being worked on presently, so look it in about two weeks.

And just to avoid confusion, the terminal figure for a practitioner of Occlumency is Occlumens. For some reason in the rough draft of this I had a lot of mass trying to even out me on that.

Recommended Story :

And the Greatest of These ... by Edward Ollivander
Rating : 12+ condition : WIP - 24 chapters

In the wake of Dumbledore 's death Harry is consumed with a burning desire to accomplish one thing : Defeat Voldemort, by any agency necessary. As he sets out to destroy not only the villain himself, but also the care that has the wizarding universe 's mettle in a vice grip, he has to change the way he sees the worldly concern around him, as well as the way he functions within it. Now, as he prepares for the final struggle, he becomes the one thing the wizarding cosmos need : Hope. Harry/Ginny pairing.