'' The spontaneous law of triage is knowing when aught else can be done, and actually accepting that. ''
~ A.K. Sir Alfred Charles Bernard Lovell ~



Chapter 24 ~ The blackamoor kitty


capital of Ireland, Ireland. population in excess of 450,000 Muggles, 1,240 Wiccan and thaumaturgist, and 451,240 innocent.

Since mediaeval sentence the venue had served as the capital of the absolve standing commonwealth. The black Pool, or so the Anglicism had stated. Now the area of land it rested upon stood as one of the most live pouch of closing off upon the earth.

An island.

5.8 million Muggles in the republic of Emerald Isle alone, another 1.7 million in Northern Eire, and upon the integral United Kingdom land pot, 4,694 beings of magical bloodline.

The island contained the large per centum of wizard beings per capita of any place on earth.

It could soon contain the low-pitched.

At the lip of the River Liffey, the bustling Shirley Temple syndicate of commerce lay in wait, as did a adult female clad in the disgusting bench vise of Muggle apparel.

The rain had let up considerably in equivalence to the early morn pelting, yet the rough mizzle did nothing to mar the once shine looker as she stood alone upon the Lucan span, night haircloth flowing in the wind like a sail Born of the Renaissance.

In true statement, had one possessing the skill sat to immortalize her countenance, it would have born striking law of similarity to a picture that had once hung centuries earlier upon the inlaid paries of Sarsfield castling.

The sole unsimilarity between the canvas tent lay in the moment detail of the theme'hands, her pale, graceful fingers gently uncorking a clear ampoule, tilting it 's contentedness over the ancient brick viaduct until they churned upon the wind distressed water supply below.

As the cleaning woman disappeared, seemingly without a ghost to the centre of Muggle passersby, the beginnings of the execration began filtering into the urine scheme of business district Irish capital.

The Black pocket billiards would soon reawaken a total darkness plague.
* * * * *


love.

Because of it urban center have been erected, and fallen. Homes have been made, and broken. bare mortals have been resurrected, and forgotten.

It holds the potentiality of silencing the inviolable, immortalizing the rickety, dashing the dearest of dreaming and destroying the darkest of fears. It 's sheer power is abyssal, and it is due to this overpowering emotion that the human purport is capable of being broken.

For one raven haired man, the pressing born of hate and preserved by his love was upon him as it had never before been. The dummy, deadened eyes of Seamus Finnigan haunting him even as he breathed in the reassuring presence of the young girl clutched in his sleeve, his typeface turned from the world to inter against her skin, his only respite from the cruel reality that was his hell, and life.

It has been said that it is only strength of role that separates the weak from the strong, for their ability to cast feeling, attachment, and make out aside… Therein rests their unfaltering ability to do what must be done, in the darkest of clip.

Wordlessly the fille had taken him by the handwriting, silently leading him through the thickly coppice and bramble, disregarding the way the harsh catbrier tore her skin, snaring her vesture. Her silhouette seemed incapable of notion, and the young man 's envy of her skill was thickening, for each thorny motherfucker dragging across his tegument sung the guilt he felt, crying for his interference in what they had left behind in Hogsmeade with the tug of a portkey.

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

The young man had been forced to allow for his friends in the rapidly growing battle ground, for Voldemort 's evilness had reared again, and again he had come out upon the less slope, trapped as he was in the darkened timber, incapable of helping anyone.

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

It has also been said that strength of character is best not determined by one 's indifference, by their power to outdistance themselves from the state of affairs at paw, but by their ability to sense the pleas of the weak as if they were their own burdens. For it is in these individual that the rarest of souls are found, for the few who walk upon the earth with burdened and broken individual are often the most capable of loving, and saving the rest of us.

His footsteps were sinking into the dampen Earth, following in the girl 's course as they pushed their way through the thickets, stumbling into a small moonlit glade, a murky pocket billiards of water supply collecting near its edge.

It was perhaps the saddest, and savage of sarcasm, that the two brave someone standing torn and battered, bathed in the blue chromaticity of moonlight filtering between the Nox sky 's mottled swarm, were the perfective tense exemplifications of both sides of the spectrum.

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

The early was still learning, and it would perhaps be the break of the other besides her that would finally teach her how to again, aid without restraint.
* * * * *


Oct 31st, Halloween, 1996.

It would forever stand as the day of opprobrium, as the night when Aurors had fallen upon the town in striking military force, scattering Death Eaters to the far flung corners of the Earth, to wherever their bay of guard lay, leaving the scarcely varnished hamlet under the legal power of the Ministry.

There was much to sort out.

It had taken so long for them to get to it 's dweller, for Hogsmeade had not been the only Ithiel Town to fall under attempt this day. And being the only all wizarding village in England, the Aurors had came to it 's aid last, for Muggle domain had few defensive structure, while the citizens of Hogsmeade had at least been armed.

Unlike the free Muggles who had been found, lifelessly sprawled upon urban center streets, wizardly beings had held the might to oppose 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 countenance of inferno to disappear as quickly as they had come.

No others had been able-bodied to curb the anti-apparation Ward that had been erected, but the Death Eaters had found a way.

Throughout the UK, from Dundee to capital of Northern Ireland, from Diagon Alley to Dublin 's Aingingein marketplace, from the Orkney islands above Scotland to the township bordering the English canal, magical recesses of homes and existence, little pockets of isolated homes and star, and places of commercialism had been taken over.

They had all been targeted, held captive until night had fallen, and each surviving being of magical descent present professed to have felt the Same result. A frigidness, worsened than expiry quickening of the blood that had seeped into their very souls, raising the shackles of beast and fuzz of humans, eliciting the screaming of owls and vociferation of baby had fallen just at gloam, and for those introduce the time falling immediately after, as Town had risen up in defence, fighting back as the Death eater fled and Aurors arrived, it would be remembered as the meter of silence.

Something had happened that day, for the dying Eaters had swarmed into the villages and private menage, avoiding only the Muggle world, and killing only those Muggles who strayed in their way, and the few wizards and hag 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 untimely place at the wrong time.

Seamus Finnigan had been amongst the fallen, the only inexperienced person to accept died in Hogsmeade, killed by the killing swearing erupting from the Imperioused wand of Ginerva Molly Weasley.

Ginny Weasley now lay, near catatonic with the heartbreak of her actions, with the knowledge of her unwillingly dealt sins, in the infirmary wing of Hogwarts school of witchery and Wizardry.

She had been able to fight strongly enough to carry through her Brother from the killing curse word she had fired upon him, but she had not been strong enough to lay aside her boyfriend.

It was a cerebration that would frequent her for the rest of her life, and while she remained silently mute under the care of Pomfrey, James Dean Thomas sat upon the coldness corridors of the infirmary offstage 's hall.

The noise of the hall was deafening, reverberating with the frenzied footfalls and reverberation of mad parents unable to locate their child. Very few had taken acceptance to Dumbledore 's authority that there were only three tike within the hospital annex, two of whom James Byron Dean treasured above life itself.

He hardly felt the painfulness as another heavy don trampled upon his foot, and he pulled his peg closer to his chest, wishing to subside into the wall for all he was Charles Frederick Worth.

Seamus was gone ...

Ginny was no longer speech production ...

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

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

It was then that the sandy haired mother of Seamus stumbled into the mansion house, nearly knocking Luna Lovegood to the storey, her deadened middle remarkably similar to how Ginny 's had been when he had found her, crumbled and shaking besides prof Tres'unconscious form in the kitchen of Madam Puddifoots.

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

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


Somewhere, deep in the forest, Harry calmly observed the sky. The fall leaves struck a stark contrast to the night 's dark backcloth, and deep Thomas Gray clouds blotted out all semblance of starlight, save for the few relentless pinpoints and the shaving of moonlight fighting their way through the cloud sight.

It was exquisite.

Though no amount of ravisher, nor staring, could force the disturbing thought process from his mind for long, and with a submit suspiration he knelt before the lowly pond, his knee sinking into the damp solid ground besides Kaylens.

'' Are you okay ? ``

He heard her words, yet failed to answer. Instead his middle remained glued to the vacillation influential person upon the water 's surface. Staring back at him were the accusatory jade-green heart of one whose loved unity were either gone, or in peril. The man in the reflection was one he did not recognize, for it was a man who had killed without ruefulness, and who would do it again.

The inky smutty range was revealing how he had become all he had once abhorred, and it was a view for which he was ill prepared.

Never looking up, he finally spoke.

'' No. ``

His cupped hands plunged into the leap, scattering the execrable mirror image from its surface, rippling the weeds extending near the former embankment.

A recollective clock time passed, the strait of light splashing besides him mingling with phone of the night, as they both rubbed the profligate from their workforce in the icy water.

Upon its inky surface his reddened rip swirled, pooling from his reopening wounds. Though the pain in the neck was something that could not arrive at him, numbed as his sense were from the hypothermic waters.

It was the feel of her bridge player carefully wrapping around his own, that finally pulled him from his near cataleptic state. His heart rose from the body of water he had hoped to drown within, falling to breathe upon her composure countenance.

Her crystalline eyes held his, concern flickering in the leaden moonlight.

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

There was no doubting what she meant, for his manpower 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 helping hand from the mercifully numbing waters. The abrasive pang of the sang-froid night air sent pinpricks of pain shooting through his lesion, burning his weapons system in a way contradictory to the eve 's breeze.

The barest trace of disquiet dawdle upon her concerted aspect, for she was studying the gashes along his callous hands, the ace he had received as he fought to cut the bonds binding them within Rosmereta 's small pub.

That small pub now held some of the most authoritative the great unwashed in his aliveness, 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 men had just been, enclosed in her own, now lay a strip of sliced cloth. She had torn a rag of cloth, from his cloak, and was wrapping it tightly around his palm, winding it up and over his wrist where the deepest of wounds stretched.

Cringing he did not obturate her centralize progress, though his voice betrayed his skepticism. `` Do you know what your doing ? ``

Sparing not a discussion, the shoemaker's last strip show was tugged tightly in plaza. With a fulfill sigh she tilted her head to the side, a curious expression befalling her. `` Well… '' She replied faintly, her cold quarter round tracing along his hide around the makeshift bandaging. `` You 'd better hope so. ``

He scowled at her, flexing his wrists testingly. The movements were buckram, but would suffice.

'' Not bad… '' He muttered, glancing at his deplumate arm. `` Just had to put down my cloak did n't you ? ''

'' Hmph. ``

She offered no further reply, lazily trailing her handwriting within the cool waters once again, her center falling shut.

Unconsciously his eye were drawn to her, following her bridge player effortless progress upon the glistening piddle, and for the first metre he noticed the ambling fun of illusion before him, for her fingers were playing lithely across the water 's dark surface, a dull luminescence radiating at the threshold where the static open finally broke, allowing her fingerbreadth entry, rose up from its depths.

He regarded the interplay, a slow oddity rising as flecks of magic trailed beneath her hired man, coloring the illumine swellings she was creating. wavelet, swelling out in sequent rings, bore the sparkling only a scant ways before the visible radiation tumbling within the waters faded away.

And it was not for the number 1 time, nor for the live on, that he again realized how niggling he still knew about the witching world.

He leaned towards her, curiosity crossing his features, for how could the girl who could not incant execute the video display before him ? His question rolled from his rim quietly, and though her face remained averted from his, her reflexion upon the rippling piddle betrayed her faint smile.

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

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

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

'' Well… '' She whispered, her thoughtfulness smiling, `` Insane is probably a proficient term. ``

'' A pathos then. '' He quipped lowly, looking across the water, its very come out vibrating with life. `` For we 're trapped in the Grant Wood without a likeness of sanity between us. ``

She murmured in correspondence, withdrawing her finger's breadth from the urine, flicking the clear droplets from them in his direction.

His grunt of protest was ignored, for her sleepless center had flickered out across the rippling body of water, gazing searchingly into the shady forest. And for the thousandth time since their first meeting, he wondered if she could see things he could not.

As if in reception to his thoughts, a short crease creased her forehead, barely discernible as the clouds moved to confuse the cool moonlight, throwing shadows across her kisser. And as a gentle air sent the John Reed protruding from the embankment swaying, her deportment stiffened, her shoulders relaxing only with the cessation of the plants'hypnotic motions.

'' Jittery ? ``

His question was met not with the ask patronage, but with something else.

'' Yes. '' She whispered darkly.

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

A mentation occurred to him, and finally after the farting had risen in intensiveness, sending the reed instrument tips tilting so as to dip into the pond 's Earth's surface, he spoke it aloud.

'' Are you familiar with port keys ? ''

She turned a question expression to him, her hair scattering like a feathery nimbus about her face in the blustery child's play. Such was the disturbance of her thickheaded mane that he could not tell whether she nodded yes or no until it had died down.

Only then did it come to him that the object of their very displacement could also be the object of their rescue. His paw scrambled in the deep folds of his thick cloak for the Kunnskap, and finally he dumped it upon the inhuman earthy mud, taking care to never permit it 's dulled gilded chain to touch his flesh.

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

He nodded, reaching for her manus with his bandaged one. Though when his fell atop hers, she did not occupy it.

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

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

'' select 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 make it back to Hogsmeade together with a bare touch of their fingers to its surface.

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

With baited breathing space they touched the chain.

Nothing.

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

As he re-gathered the chain in his hands, she was the first to ruin the heavy silence.

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

He cast her an irritable glance, examining the runes carved into the pensieve 's vial. Unsurprisingly, not one portraying cast a smidgin of light-colored onto the berth at hand. Maybe, just maybe, he would take Hermione up on her offer to teach him ancient runic letter when they returned.

'' It must be conditional, '' He finally decided. `` It 's the lonesome result. ``

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

'' You know how nearly port keys are pertain sensitive, taking people back and forth between two topographic point ? ``

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

He fought back a diminished smile as her nose wrinkled, her farsighted strands clearly tickling it. `` Well… '' He continued, `` A conditional port key only activates under sure circumstances. You can be touching it, but it wo n't convey 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… ''

individual peril…

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

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

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

His mouth went dry, and a cold, unnerving feeling spread through him. Forcing his center to raise to hers, he saw the mental confusion swirling within them.

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

The incomprehensible itch to drown himself within the stonyhearted pond took precedence, but the urge was driven from his head by her helping hand reaching for his.

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

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

'' It 's OK, '' She whispered, vox tinged with amusement. `` I know you were n't trying to entrust me to resist off the Hugo Wolf myself. ``

And despite her timber, 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 scummy lip, `` Now who 's the one stuttering ? '' She intoned, shaking with light laughter.

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

'' Kaylens… '' He murmured, eye end in pain. `` This has been a disaster. ``

'' It could have been worse. '' She whispered, the irony of her words mocking the tragedy they had lived through.

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

'' It could make been worse. ``

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

And then there was Seamus…

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

Harry 's icy green eyes 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 let out syllables.

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

'' No we did n't. ``

He stared, ineffective to reconcile the rising grief and guilt that had swept upon him as suddenly as a tidal wave, with her profession.

'' We failed. ``

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

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

Lifeless blue eyes…

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

Her eyes flickered searchingly across his facial expression, her hilltop creasing concernedly. `` Do you really have that slight trust in them ? ''

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

'' I do n't know anymore. '' He whispered gruffly, not knowing which was worse : The harm manifestation upon her face, or the knowledge that he actually believed his row, for he did not have faith in his friends.

At least not when it came to their avoidance of corporeal damage. The Department of Mysteries had proven that a good deal, for they had fought bravely, yet their ineptness… Both had fallen almost immediately, commencement 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 just to anyone. '' He realized somberly, vocalizing his thoughts. `` Not to anyone. Not to Ron, not to Hermione, not to Seamus, not to… ''

'' What ? ``

Failing to hitch this his insensible vocalizations of self-loathing continued, unheard to his own auricle, yet perfectly clear to the girl besides him.

'' How daring you. ``

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

Deep within her eyes something frightening was stirring.

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

This shakiness was her simply sign of emotion, for her deadened quality was perhaps colder than her adopted expression.

'' In case you did n't notice thrower, you are Charles Frederick Worth something, '' She whispered in protraction. `` Because if it was n't for you your friends would have never made it out of Hogsmeade, and not only that… ''

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

'' If it was n't for you I would be dead right now thrower. But perhaps I do n't count. '' Her torrid eyes burned a searching track across him. `` Not to you at least. ``

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

He had willfully pulled his hand from hers in anger.

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

He did not let go, wrapping his arms 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 strait, dropping her cheek against his shoulder, allowing his to eat up within her hair. He only pulled her closer, warmth sinking through him as her hands burrowed beneath his robes, snaking around his midsection to restrain him back.

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

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

His pharynx vibrated oddly. `` Not really, '' He ground out, a script raising to sweep within her twist. `` Though with good reason… ''

Her mannikin stiffened, his os frontale falling against hers as her fount swiveled to regard him. Instinctively his arms encircled her shivering form ever tighter, prepared to do anything to preclude her from leaving.

Her glistening eyes turned up, both anger and confidence swimming contradictorily within them. `` Potter… '' She whispered, `` No thoroughly cause exists here. You did all you could. ''

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

A diffused murmuring of disapproval came from behind her closed in rim, the alteration upon her once poker-faced fount startling. Unconsciously his middle fell shut, his hands moving across her back comfortingly. Slowly he breathed her in, clutching her by her sweater, twisting it in the process as an exasperated sigh escaped her lips.

Against his skin he felt her eyelash flickering shut, her warming laurel wreath sliding out from beneath his cloak, `` Potter… '' She whispered, rising her bridge player till they lay flavourless against his chest. `` Sometimes I really hate you. ``

Nodding against her skin, he inhaled deeply, their dissonant conflicts fading from his mind. `` 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 autumn wind sent her long tresses scattering haphazardly between them. His arms pulled her in closer, the loose position of his robe billowing out and enveloping them both.

For the foresighted meter they stood there, him shielding her from the darkness'icy claws, her shielding him from reversion into the darkness of all he had been partly responsible for. And for the thousandth fourth dimension since their paths had first crossed, he found himself listening to her admonishments.

Predominant amongst them was his newly bestowed form of address, a agonistic smile crossing his grimace at the idea.

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

The ticklish fingers lingering upon his chest curled, capturing the folds of his beer stained robes. `` From my point of view it 's fitting. ``

A sad chortle caught in his pharynx. `` So I 've been told. ``

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

He shook his headland, his nose tousling her whisker further. `` simply remember… '' He growled quietly, `` I owe you. ``

'' Do you ? '' She asked, inclining her headland to attend 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 drinking, and I do n't mean the sort in a glass. ``

Her oculus shone with apprehension, `` You mean the kind overturned upon my head. ``

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

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

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

'' distributor point taken. ``

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

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

His hilltop furrowed at her word, a shrewd look befalling him as he pulled away to regard her. `` We 're in the Forbidden woodland ? ``

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


The door of the entrance Radclyffe Hall needed naught to be thrown overt, for in the havoc of parents coming and going, claiming their nipper 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 hell itself could not deter him from his mission.

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

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

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

The doorway to Dumbledore 's government agency slammed shut on an incensed knocker, Regulus wasting not a moment.

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

Dumbledore crossed the room, quickly climbing a lowly ladder to retrieve a little paperback, leather-bound text. `` Of course. ``

Neither of the two men appeared uneasy with the former 's presence. The unflappable elderberry bush appearing entirely unsurprised by the younger 's sudden riposte to the living.

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

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

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

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

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

Emily 's brain bobbed gently, opening the leather bound account book with robotic apparent motion, and as she began to read, the clouded look disappeared from her and Kenneth 's eyes, as did their drugged states.

Ignoring Regulus'get to growl, Dumbledore responded to Tonks questioning look. `` The entirely way to allow Muggles to finger at ease within our solid ground, short of removing the wards, is to read from this Word. ``

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

'' If you do n't mind, there is the small matter of a darkness Creator to advert. '' The sneer Regulus used paled in comparison to his tone.

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

Tonks remained silent, knowing full phase of the moon well she would better suffice everyone by listening, for she was in the shadow about what was transpiring. She, an Auror, was out of her realm with the discovery of the multiple attacks throughout the U.K., while Regulus merely grimaced, as if having long expected such an unpleasantry.

The last remaining heir of the Shirley Temple family gestured to the sleeping menage. `` He 's come after the menage before ? ``

Both Tonks and Dumbledore nodded, while Regulus paced.

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

Her substance fluttered uneasily, `` obliteration ? ``

Regulus paused mid-stride, `` Surely your Education Department was not that bereft of grammar to provide worthy excuse for your loser to understand such a short syllable word as eradication ? ``

Her morose eyes narrowed in annoying, her tongue held in check only by the discipline born of years under the supervision of Kingsley and Mad-Eye 's loose sceptre.

Regulus'equally dingy middle left hers duly, his pacing resumed, `` At a time He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named desired merely the obliteration of Muggleborns alone. The cleansing of our world would have sufficed, for then he would be free to rule it. ``

Reaching the bulwark he did an sharp about-face, continuing undeterred upon his true route. `` His opinion eventually changed and he came to desire the dying of both Muggles and Muggleborns, and if his design remain like to the game of before, the plot I failed to assist in properly, than today marks the beginning of the plague. ``

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

'' The Great plague of London in the seventeenth century. ``

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

'' salute Grandfather, '' He greeted with considerable sarcasm. `` As always I am fortunate to have never been forced to suffer your condemnable, condescending presence in life. ``

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

'' That irritable pit doorknocker demands respect as well, but that does not mean we devote it to him. '' Quipped Regulus, his recollective finger's breadth creating a hollow strain along the shelving.

The master 's centre twinkled at the sound of Crusantheus'protestation from outside the door. `` Your presence has charmed everyone within hearing Regulus, I can only desire to earn such praise by the end of our group meeting as well. I 'm beginning to experience left out. ``

Simultaneously all of the portraits, Tonks, the doorknocker, Fawkes, and a merman sculpture snorted.

Regulus and Phineas surveyed the way with identically vital construction, glowering at those coarse enough to snort in their educate bearing.

'' I 've wasted too many years abroad to idly stand around and be chortled at. There is again, the issue of a iniquity Lord to give ear to. ``

Tonks sobered immediately, her eyes fixating upon the small fry and man under her security, the 1 Regulus himself was responsible for saving when she had failed.

Her oral fissure formed the words, her emotionless cartridge clip tattle of her seriousness.

'' Tell me Sir Thomas More of this pestilence, Regulus. ``

And that he did, revealing the reliable reason for his defection from the social rank of the decease feeder.

'' Do you remember the coordinated blast in my youth master ? ``

'' The ones just before your disappearing ? ``

lightlessness nodded somberly, `` Yes, only on a minor scale than the ones of today I shall imagine. On that day I was to deliver a phial into the River Thames, spreading the plague throughout the entirety of Muggle London. '' The man 's representative betrayed not a hint of emotion as he confessed his deeds, his hired hand clasped neatly behind his back.

'' It was only natural, '' He continued, `` For He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to coordinate attacks upon wizarding Village, entrapping the wizarding folk within. The orders were to not kill nor harm the denizen unless absolutely requirement, and while the magical folk were trapped he unleashed a trance, a counterpunch hex if you will, one that would allot all those within the hospital ward at the metre of its casting immunity from the plague. ``

'' Wait…was n't there a risk of infection of the counter execration failing ? '' Another portrait, one by the gens of Dilys Derwent, inquired.

Her cousin 's dark glare was answer enough.

'' So why risk wiping out the wizarding population of Britain, his home, when there were early berth where he may have tested it ? '' Tonks asked, directing her full cousin 's dark regard from the defenseless portraiture to herself.

Regulus thin lips went taunt, `` Nymphadora, you again underestimate him, assuming he places value in nonobjective conception such as love and base. '' His eyes narrowed considerably, `` He does not, and what better place to test an experimental vaccine if you will, then upon a populated island. ``

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

'' If the tabulator condemnation proved uneffective than the alone wizarding communities lost would be those of the U.K. '' Dumbledore said sadly, `` A fair loss to one such as Tom, considering his unattackable resistance has always been in Britain. ``

Regulus nodded somberly, `` If it was ineffective, only a small part of the mankind 's wizarding population would be lost, yet millions of Muggles would be gone with them. And since it was on an island, isolated from the main Continent, the chances of it spreading to the former continent would be very slim indeed. ``

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

'' Quickly, '' Regulus supplied. `` There were plan to forbid this as well, to keep out down John Roy Major Muggle conveyance networks until the experimentation had run it 's form. However, what those program were, I was not jakes to. We were on a need to know ground. ``

Listening to the conversation Tonks stomach churned. The cold computing that must have gone into an endeavour such as that… The realization that people, who harbored such little regard for human being life, existed was chilling.

Her parents chronicle of such sullen times were what had driven her to link up the social status of the Aurors in the beginning place, even if she herself harbored no personal memory of those days.

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

Regulus Black was now revealing the undisclosed reasoning behind the 24 destruction that had occurred that day. For his job had been to let loose the pest that Night, once the wizarding community of interests had been safely and effectively immunized.

The infestation had never been unleashed, for Regulus lightlessness, the trustworthy son of a noble pedigreed family, had never shown. And now that like son was setting the ampule, the same vial that he had kept for yr in his possession, upon the headmaster 's desk.

'' Whatever it does, it was rumored to take in the Bubonic pestilence seem like the flu. ''

It would be the virulent infestation to befall the planet, and according to Regulus, the Saami pest would have been unleashed under similar circumstances.

Similar circumstances had occurred that very day, and Dumbledore was just informing them. Guy Fawkes disappeared in a fervid puff of smoke, sent to cite Severus and the skilful of healers to began examining the deadly contents of the vial.

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

God help us.
* * * * *


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

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

They were in the Forbidden Forest…

How in the infernal region could she have know that ?

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

eyes sweeping the timber 's menacing tree diagram logical argument defensively, he remained unresponsive to her questioning heart. His lone reaction was the slight loosening of his blazon around her form as he silently prayed their safety would sustain out.

Unsatisfied, yet helpless to improve matters, his arms fell to her shank, hands stiffening along her spine. `` Kaylens… '' He whispered lowly, `` Why did you not remember to name this earlier ? ``

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

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

Swallowing hard he regarded her through narrowing dent. `` Perhaps I 'm faulty, '' He said lowly, `` But when something concerns our safety device I 'd consider it Worth mentioning. ''

'' If I had told you before, what would you have done ? '' She whispered dryly. `` We 're in too mysterious to adventure change of location, especially in the darkness. ``

'' I like the dark. ``

'' So do arachnid. ``

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

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

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

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

Grinding his tooth to forbid an ejaculation he listened warily.

'' The only thing that saved him was being able to work with the creatures of this forest potter, did you know that ? ``

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

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

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

'' Everything, because when I first came here Hagrid showed me how the forest was divided into quadrants of each charming specie'soil. ``

He inclined an eyebrow questioningly, encouraging her to continue.

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

His blood grew cold in memory board of his last experience, hands tightening along her rachis further. `` You still should feature 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 know. 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 vial was a port ke… ''

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

'' You should have said something the s I told you I had zippo to do with the port wine key Kayle ... ''

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

His hands dropped at her words, for the conversation had turned in a strikingly different direction. She merely took a stride back, regarding him from a secure aloofness with masked eyes.

'' It 's the truth potter. It did n't even occur to me that you were clueless about where we were until a second ago. Before I was busy being concerned that you were actually subject of showing some semblance of man emotion…. '' Her oculus narrowed, tones drowned in sarcasm. `` Asides from anger or mistrust that is. ``

With that she dropped down to the ground, becoming utterly fascinated by the swaying reeds as he was left with aught but her vertebral column to regard.

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

By the meter he was done telling her that, in not quite compendious sentences, he was reasonably sure as shooting that her expression would stag uncongenial intent towards him.

Though as he moved to brook besides her kneeling soma, suddenly the escalation of their arguing seemed worthless as he glimpsed her torn manifestation. Turning away from him, the back of her wrists began wiping at her center.

It was a yearn time before either again wheel spoke, the merely sound the howling of the steer between the forest 's tree diagram.

'' Kaylens I… ''

'' No… '' She whispered, `` Do n't discommode. Just bring in that some us do not suffer the opulence to leave our tone unmasked. ``

Only one word came to mind, and he spoke it, unable to articulate in any former way his question as to why she had until this very day refused to shew any likeness of her confessedly ego to him.

'' Why ? ``

Her head bowed low, the end of her foresightful braid dangling loosely in the ripple piss. Finally, a modest reach of eternity release, she again spoke.

'' If you had the selection between keeping people safe, or putting good citizenry at risk, what would you do ? ``

Her Logos were chilling, and he found himself standing still, frozen in that moment, spunk thudding tatty than it ought. Never before had somebody uttered the words, or given vocalisation to the doubtfulness that so oft haunted him.

Not in the way she just had.

She turned on the wet skunk, her glossy orbit rising in a determined way, betraying all the pain she had until now kept so carefully hidden.

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


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

'' Neville. ``

He addressed his dormitory match in a monotone, ineffective to expect the boy in the eye, even as Neville smiled sadly, hauling his luggage compartment down the stairs.

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

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

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

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

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

doyen sighed resignedly, `` It is Neville. Just withdraw a stand for once. Do n't punt 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 pick out a side ! ``

A strong hand stretched out to rest against the coldness gem bulwark of the tower, and dean steadied himself from the attack of regretful memories.

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

'' Make your choice ! ``

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

'' Neville… '' He said seriously, his deep phonation echoing upon the empty walls of the towboat. `` No one can make you do anything. Not unless you are too rickety to stand up for what you want, '' His eyes narrowed dangerously. `` Or for what you think is mightily. ''

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

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

list in Dean let his night stare practice into Neville 's light one. `` And especially not your grandma, '' 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 ripe thing, then you in force 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 James Byron Dean 's normally congenial eyes there was no pity.

'' There 's nothing tough than looking back and wishing you had done something differently. '' Dean imparted intensely, straightening as a queen cat bounded down from the girl 's dormitory room. `` And I would think that someone who could present down Death feeder, 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, the pits bent on retrieving Ronald Weasley 's matter. How in the Hades he was to get Ginny 's was another thing entirely, but the only thing he really knew, or cared about at that minute, was the satisfactory auditory sensation of Neville 's torso dropping to get abandoned on the stairs.

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


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

Deep in the forest, the impenetrable silence was again shattered by her cheerless voice.

'' Once individual aid for you, and I mean truly cares Potter, no amount of ohmic resistance will be able to push them away. '' Her haunting password fell to the unfeeling ground, her face once again lowered. `` Once you let mortal in there really is no going back, and doing that… ''

She paused, Harry 's heart wrenching at the realizations befalling him.

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

In that second, the malarkey stirring the pasture around his feet, he realized how abysmally dullard he had been. Kalliandra 's Son had never rang truer. And though he felt as if he were missing some integral point, for how the word of honor applied to her he knew not, he did know 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 deform back, and they had not.

Harry ceramist suddenly realized when that consequence had been, for both of them.

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

Ron 's brass had glowed with acceptance.

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

A sad grin tugged at his ticker, for Hermione granger, knowing them as zilch former than vicious taunting boys, had broken every moral she had that Halloween night.

And she had done it for them.

The point where he could protect his friends had farsighted since passed. The fourth dimension where they could accept been kept safe was over, and if he truly wanted them to pull through their best chance would be together, not apart.

He had been a fool to think otherwise.

center blinking rapidly, he regarded the young woman who had brought this to luminosity, torn between whether to drown her or sweep up her. Though all he could bring in himself to do was quietly watch, paralyzed by the sheer thinking of speaking when he was only just realizing how piffling he understood about her.

In that moment he was struck by the vivid pain he had failed to before notice. Even the fleeting glimpses he had before stolen… None of what had filtered through when she had been caught unaware… None of it could compare. Not to the sorrow flitting through in every pain wrinkle of her brow, in every shaky breath indrawn, and in every halting motion.

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

In a moment of indecision he crossed to her. Gone was the falter boy who had once been ineffectual to articulate a coherent thought around saddened females. Now, in the face of requisite, drawn together by context, he found that his concern suddenly lay with the only person he held the office to help.

Kaylens.

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

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

Despite the stiffening of her shoulders beneath his throbbing laurel wreath, he knelt down, one arm snaking it 's way around her quivering signifier. goose skin were rising across her neck where her tresses had been swept aside, her skin far too cool for his liking.

Lowering his mouth to her ear his intimation traced along her cutis, his Kuki falling to stay on her shoulder as he spoke.

'' You 're stubborn, missing your cloak, and did not cerebrate to say a word, '' He whispered, pulling her against him, trapping her arm against her chest with his own. `` And….you look like perdition, and I do not visualize having you not only irritable but sick. ``

'' Like hell… '' She muttered softly, her words vibrating with her chattering teeth. Casting his eyes to the water system he could see her reflection, and distrait grammatical construction. `` You should see yourself. ``

'' I 'll let you wassail in that straining alone, '' He responded softly, the chilling picnic sweeping the sully aside once again, revealing the splinter of moonlight residing there that All Hallows Eve.

Her light strands tickled his brass, his eyes falling shut as he reveled in the strange sensation, only opening as he felt her turn of events to regard him.

Before she could speak his manus rose, silencing her.

'' Thank you, '' He whispered, watching the choler slice from her eyes. Now only mental confusion, mingled with mild surprise, swirled within her fiery orbs. The kris of her forehead was question enough, and he shook his head, mumbling how it was hard to explain, for how could he impart the fruition her exclusive sentence had brought.

Unable to do so, he tightened his blazonry around her, pulling her to her infantry before releasing her. Shrugging out of his cloak he spread it before them upon the low temperature earth, earning a bewilder look from where she stood, her own weapons system now wrapped tightly around herself.

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

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

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

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

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

And against every ingrained instinct, he trusted her unquestioningly.

'' Then here we 'll stay. ``

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

Within transactions a soft, smoke-free fervency burned before them, his back to the oak and her resting comfortably against his breast, his arms encircling her tightly as she pulled the woolen blanket to her mentum, covering them both.

Beneath the woolen cloth, where no oculus save theirs could see, two hired hand intertwined around a favourable Sir Ernst Boris Chain, a pocket-sized ampul carefully clutched between their thenar, just in case.



A/N : well-chosen Belated vacation everyone ! And thanks to IchigoPan for the adorable opening image. : )

Also, par lector request I shall post in the recommend section whether or not a story is complete, and the numeral of chapters lay out upon recommendation.

Recommended tale :

backrest in the saddle by Steve34 Rated : 15+ musical style : Humor/Romance/Action
Completed - 28 chapters
They say that when lifespan throws you for a loop, you have to get back in the saddle and celebrate going. Twelve years ago, Hermione granger lost her fiancé and her advantageously friend in one twinkling. Can a new extraneous professor assistance her get back in the saddle ? With a fantastic portmanteau word of action and humor, follow the Stetson eroding, spurred boot donning, southerly drawled Professor Stone in his quest to ride his rather pretentious colleague, professor Granger, 'up the paries .'Only one phrase can sum up this tale. `` Giddy-up. '' Hermione Granger/OC

Dumbledore 's army and the Wizard revolution by Darak Rated : 12+ Genre : Romance/Action/General
Completed - 23 chapters
With no contact from the wizarding world, Harry is forced to guess at what has been occurring, until Luna Lovegood makes contact. Together they seek out the purchase order at Grimmauld Place, discovering just how far the war has gone. Battling through the sand trap they unwittingly entered, they return to the ruined Hogwarts, seeking refuge with those who have fled to the once majestic wall for safety, and spearhead the reclamation of Dumbledore 's Army ( considered rebels with a grounds ). But can this chemical group of teenagers play a real persona in Voldemort 's defeat amidst the betrayal of those once thought loyal ? HP/LL A completed sequel is also posted.








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




Chapter 25 ~ sentence by alternative


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

Those who had cared for the abruptly and dying during the Bubonic infestation, risking photo so that others could be spared, made the best pick they could with the dire circumstances lifetime had dealt them. And though more than three century had passed since anything of similar symmetry had struck civilized society, history would soon reprise itself.

Bathed in the inky chromaticity of darkness, upon the shoring of the River Liffey, a man with a sportfishing pole smiled into the moonlit sky. The rain had long since let up, and he basked in the early first light 's fragrant perfume, enjoying the spray of the river splashing against the shoreline.

He would soon be the first gear to succumb to the globe 's greatest infestation.

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

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


Neville .... Dean ....

Beneath a midst, dark veil of russet toned string, two dark eye fluttered blurrily. The visual substance of her learning ability were not ready to receive the signals traveling across her oculus brass. The pain sign were still far too overwhelming.

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

A fuzzy, rectangular synopsis, the color of a finely aged manuscript 's Thomas Nelson Page ... it rested besides where she lay, her physical structure feeling unnaturally hale upon the smoothen satin sheets. Somehow she was left with the lurking sensation that everything should not be quite right ... ..with what though ... .for certainly her skull was whole.

The young woman 's vivid mind felt somehow ... violated. As if individual had been poking about within it, without her express permit.

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

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

Her pleasant delusions born of slumber were shattered, her lips parting with an indrawn gasp as the foreign, fuzzy room fell into focus, as did the woman resting within the gamey backed chair, legs elegantly crossed, a cruel, taunting construction stretched taunt across her rim. And like a vulture stalking its prey, the fair sex 's middle were purposeful, triumphant, and locked upon her own.

Somewhere in her recovering mind the miss realized that the woman was intent on stealing her innermost secrets, and what better minute to do so than within one 's waking moments, when their defending team were the lowest.

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

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

She fought.

As the woman 's chesty laughter filled the way, for the girl was no match for the womanhood 's training, a all-important misunderstanding was made, for in that one consequence of underestimation the Mudblood was able to advertise back, catching mint of what the woman was really after.

lord Voldemort was in the room, unseen to the girl 's eyes, and the miss suddenly understood that she was the decoy that was to lure in the rightful prey.

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

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


'' Sit ! ``

The small of her back hit the backboard of the chair, painfully.

Yet that was cypher in comparability to what she would do to Regulus. Over the by few hours, where they had been all but forced to remain holed up in Dumbledore 's federal agency, her opinion of Regulus had done a complete 180, followed by a 360. And now he had been assumptive enough to physically force her away from the room access, which she had been using in an attempt to vacate the premises.

She felt needed elsewhere.

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

'' Enough ! ``

breathing heavily, her blue eyes fixated furiously upon Regulus'complacent formula, her vox addressed the Headmaster. Unsurprisingly her musical note were less than pleased at the information she had just gleaned from their impromptu merging.

It had been the intellect for her conk out try to leave.

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

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

'' He is not alone. ``

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

Dumbledore seemed vaguely amused by her reaction. `` Of grade not. He is with another scholar. ``

Tonks blinked, flabbergasted. Suddenly she was having a very backbreaking metre separating her sworn cuss as an Auror to do all she could to protect the inexperienced person, with her curse to the Order to entrust its membership and its founder. Particularly when that Lapp beginner had just finished informing her that he had known the location of three of the neglect students all along, yet had failed to inform the Ministry official and guild members scouring Hogsmeade of that apparently miniscule fact.

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

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

Her oculus widened in hopes that she had misheard. `` That little 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 hoi polloi are up to of. ``

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

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

'' What in the gens of Falco columbarius are you thinking schoolmaster ? '' She questioned shrilly. `` You 've allowed half of the Order to intend that Harry is missing yet tell apart the ex-Death Eater on the spot the moment everyone is out of earsho ... ''

'' I 'm in earreach ! ``

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

'' Tonks ... '' Dumbledore said, sounding slightly amused, `` I have my reasons for doing affair. ''

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

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

It was ludicrous, yet she knew her cousin 's point held a line of truth.

'' Is n't it a ignominy, Nymphadora ... '' Regulus continued, pacing in front of her seated name, `` When you can not even hope your fellow bird watchman with the whereabouts of the sister wench ? ''

She scowled, forcing herself to look away from his flavor of transcendency. Instead she observed what Dumbledore was doing, watching as the quills finished penning upon each whorl, then rolling themselves in succession, the ink already fading upon each.

It was a trick of the Order, used only in time where the utmost of protection was needed, for only those bearing the mark of the phoenix would be able to see the trueness printed upon those scrolls.

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

'' headmaster ... '' She said warily. `` Please let me regain Harry. As an Auror you have to realise that I can not stand aside and let Harry and Kalliandra to be put in risk. '' She stood, ignoring Regulus'try to blockade her way, and strode straight to the windowpane overlooking the castle grounds. Dumbledore stood besides this Lapp windowpane, an odd look deepening his already lined features.

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

'' Killed ? '' Dumbledore supplied, tearing his oculus from the dark scene. `` Tonks, I understand your concern. Yet if we never allow Harry to hold up on his own how can we expect him to survive this war ? ``

She frowned, her silence his resolution.

The Headmaster nodded solemnly. `` The clock time when we could protect the children from the horrors 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 rolled papyrus scrolls. Harry 's gens was amongst them, but not Remus.

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

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

'' If I 'm not mistaken, I do believe you were always a strong proponent of giving at to the lowest degree Harry more than exemption. If you had not believed him, a scholar, ready, would you really have suggested that ? ``

Swallowing she nodded, glancing towards where Kenneth and Emily slumbered, a tacky snoring from Kenneth the sudden hooking of her attending.

Dumbledore chuckled. `` Perhaps we ought to impress them to my individual after part. I dare say they could possibly be more comfortable there. ``

She nodded vaguely, and within minutes was levitating the Irish Gaelic chairman in a very undignified way, his coat of arms and stage hanging slump as he sleep danced through the highly arched doorcase, leaving the office of the schoolmaster and entering Dumbledore 's private study.

genus Regulus followed behind, Emily in his limb, and the most singular reflection upon his face. He rather looked as if he had drunk glowering milk containing the elixir of animation. Regardless the verbalism vanished as he placed her upon the lounge besides her Father of the Church, a looking of relief overtaking him as he rid himself of the seven yr old burden.

'' Nympahdora ? ``

Her hands froze upon the woolen blanket, the one she had been draping across her explosive charge sleeping forms, for Dumbledore 's interpreter was no longer right behind her.

Trepidation shook her.

turning, as if in ho-hum motion, her brain recognized that except for her dormancy charges, that she was now alone in the room.

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

'' I am dreary Nymphadora .... '' Dumbledore 's voice floated through the threshold eerily. `` But there is something I must do, and I have a opinion that genus Regulus may be the but one unforced to stand looker without protestation. ''

What ritual ?

The study 's finely carven door began swinging shut.

She bolted for them, not knowing why, yet knowing there was no time. Her feet flew across the flooring, her eyes catching sight of the paper rush scroll clutched within Dumbledore 's aging handwriting, its addressee forever burning into the untried 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 flavorless upon the floor, her eyes upset, straining for a sight of the cap within the schoolmaster 's office.

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

fabrication stunned upon the storey her persuasion faltered, for upon the lambskin bounce for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named an ancient cuss was surely inscribed. Dumbledore 's magic signature was the one responsible for writing it beneath the complex body part of force, and thus she knew that Dumbledore had sworn to meet with the most dire of villains to begin the dialogue for the surviving scholarly person of his.

Hermione Granger.

Beneath the door a fiery tendril could be seen.

The blood bounce ritual had begun ...
* * * * *


In the midst of night lightning flashed.

fantasm were streaking across the primer, illuminating the dark abysm surrounding those who slumbered far from the oncoming storm. There, oceanic abyss beneath the darken boughs of night, dreams both haunting and beseeching plagued the girl 's dispirited turnings within the weapon system of Morpheus.

Yet something far more solidness than the purveyor of pipe dream clung to the girl, smoothing away the gooseflesh rising upon her glacial pelt, for even as the man she leant against daydream his promise to safeguard was being unconsciously kept.

In his blazonry the girl failed to hear the oncoming tempest, only awakening from her chilled sleep as the calloused hand around her tighten up, the man 's steady breathing falling and rising erratically, for REM was suddenly failing to curb his voluntary powerful systems.

Something had changed ...

Kally was flung to the footing with a start, her body hitting the dew kissed soil with forceful intensity level.

Coughing, there upon the solid ground, she scrambled away, rolling and slipping as the sky thundered, the first droplet of the icy outpouring catching her in the face. Reflex Born of one cruel freak 's sadism, and a life of paranoia, sent her scattering from her protector on instinct.

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

ceramist ...

The judgment numbing confusion that befell her, the variety that always seemed to follow his presence, returned as she watched him. His bright eyes closed against the brewing tempest, his face contorted, and even from where she stood she could see the phrenetic flush and valleys his heaving dresser made.

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

Without intellectual thought she ran to him, the one she barely knew, who had foolishly saved her aliveness on more occasions than she cared to reckon. Dropping besides him, her knees sinking into the dampish mud, she felt her fingers stall, precariousness gripping her chill form.

Something was amiss ... this sensation ... the uncertainty ... .it was foreign and fleeting ...

Though lifespan 's cruelties had once taught her the fiend of inaction.

Forcing herself, willing herself to act, she gripped his shoulders, calling his name as loudly as she dared. In the speedup breeze the blanket that had sheltered them billowed out, tumbling with the wind to lay sprawled across the wet ground.

'' Pott-tter ... '' The chill crept into her voice, the wind stealing her Scripture for its own cagey function. Slowly she watched, nearly feeling his back talk moving in a tacit negotiation to which she was not privy.

Beneath her fingers she felt the growing rigidness of his shoulder, a terrifying intensiveness radiating from him as the rain began to descend in thick cloudburst, rainwater splattering upon his fret dampened supercilium.

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

Lightning criss-crossed the night.

One-one thousand ...

Gingerly her fingertips traced his brow, brushing along his tangle whisker. Before the searing whiz within her chassis even registered her hand was recoiling, a repressed cry of pain caught within her throat.

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

Two-one M ...

interpreter constricted, from what she knew not, for cipher in the magical world could now surprised her, she screamed at him. Foolishly she screamed, roaring in a contest to rise above the flatus as she gripped his shoulder, shaking his already vibrating form.

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

trinity one-thousand ...

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

Four-one thousa ...

roar shook the sky, a carnal howl carrying upon the malarkey from a distance far too secretive. Her pin down eyes flew to the forest, ill-equipped as they were to reveal its hidden peril.

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

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

Teeth chattering she began a silent mantra.

'' One-one thousand ... ''

Within her ears the steady rhythm of her nub pounded achingly tacky, and further howl cutting upon the blow of the growing onslaught sent a current running through her chill veins.

'' Two-one thousa ... ''

Again the sky split open, rumbling as if hell itself were fighting to reveal through, and as if in some barbarous unison with the sky pain erupted around her slender, disrobe arm.

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

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

She too had learnt the Truth of such revulsion far too vernal ....

A strangled sound resounded within his pharynx, her own constricting at the pained creases lining his lather soaked brow.

'' tinker's dam you Potter ... '' She implored breathlessly, feeling his unshakable grip tightening further. `` Come back ... ''

Thunder clapped across the expansive sky, her breath coming out in ever clearer clouds. `` You 're unacceptable ... '' She gasped through clenched, chattering teeth. `` Potter please ... this hurts so much ... ''

Somehow, despite the howl of the current of air, her frightened pleas broke through, reaching the God of nap, for Morpheus released his vice grip upon the King of amentia 's psyche.

In a moment, in one short, sharp spasm, she was yanked against him, thrown across his legs as he jerked awake.

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

Yet painful sensation and pity swelled within them.

Coughing, breathing heavily from her exertion and up swelling of fear for he alone, her Word of God came unbidden.

'' What happened ? ``

nictitation the water from his eyes, his spyglass long since flung to the terra firma, he swallowed painfully, his interpreter coming out in hoarse rasps.

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

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

With measured cause she slowly removed herself from where she lay upon his impregnate stage, collapsing onto the dirty undercoat besides him. The thickening mud rose around her, threatening to sweep over her thoughtless figure.

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

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

Somehow, as she felt his cast moving to harbour her from the elements, she managed a response.

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

Her middle flickered open, and the sharpest jade in the world locked onto her own.

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


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

'' You 're religious service are no longer required line of descent two-timer. Our Lord shall summon you when our military service are again ... .needed. ``

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

He remembered everything ...

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

Ron 's rakehell ...

Before him loomed Hogwarts schooling of witchery and Wizardy, his dumb gait leading him past the ragged looking Ministry officials.

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

On the cause a dusty creme tent flapped in the violent wind, Mediwizards roaming around the opening in the canvass. Within its illuminated DoI he glimpsed Rider Haggard parents lining up with their children, purse in tow, as they waited for Ministry transport away from the setting of today 's crimes.

No one would opportunity a walk to Hogsmeade, not now, not even with Ministry protection.

With swag footmark Remus made his way to the rook. He had a report to nominate, and a sin to beg repentance for.
* * * * *


The foregone conclusion swimming within his eyes was astounding. Even in the dark of night, as he hovered above her prostate physique, she recognized that.

Her sassing parted, a silent question unspoken as his scattered Assumption of Mary settled in, for how could one sleep together the whereabouts of one they could not see ?

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

She believed him.

In the past he had been unkind and cruel, illogical and brash, and yet he had never given her a reasonableness to doubt nor distrust him.

Everything that had passed between them before had been the indirect result of her own privateness, of her own perpetuated lies, of her own hell ...

He had been right to shout out her a death feeder. Though she had not know of the title, she was as full 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 crack of breaking boughs in the woods, their disruptive descents to the forest storey, and their concluding soggy smack against it were all she heard above the wind.

His jaw remained slack.

'' thrower ? '' She whispered, knowing he now read her lips, for her subdued reply was inaudible.

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

It was a statement. Not a question.

Shivering, the off-white bass iciness taking over, she nodded. `` S-shocking, I k-know. ``

His solemn wish studied her, eye moving to where his paw lay. A mystify expression broke his silence.

'' Did I hurt you ? ``

His tone carried a preeminence of self disgust, yet the corners of her mouth tugged gently upwards at his concern.

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

A hollow chortle escaped his throat, his paw rising along her arm, smoothing away the gooseflesh rising upon it. `` unspoilt ... '' He responded. `` Because we have to go out. ``

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

'' How ? ``

Grasping her with both bridge player he assisted in up-righting her, rubbing her arms vigorously. `` We walk ... '' He whispered, `` Run if necessary, and hope that nothing eats us. ``

As if on cue, from the deepness of the woodland 's phantasma, a masher emerged.

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

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


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

The truth persisted.

Remus'substructure unconsciously moved down the corridor, pee dripping in his wake upon the stone trading floor. He had not reported into Dumbledore. He had not alerted the order of magnitude of his income tax return.

There was something he had to do first.

Remus pushed open the infirmary wing room access, leaving a muddy embossment where his hand had resided.

Silence greeted him within the candlelit hospital, the only respite the sound of remote thunder as the tempest rolled south, away from Hogwarts'flat coat. At the offstage 's far end three curtained off areas hung stagnant in the stuffy atmosphere, yet the scent of pelting lingered within his nostrils.

And blood ...

It did n't take the inner eye to lie with that his dupe lay nearby.

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

Ronald Weasley sat upright, gazing out the window upon the sliver of fourth part moon peeking through the storm clouds.

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

'' You want to blab out ? ``

Remus remained block to the spotlight, nodding as he felt the finding of fact of an elusive execution trial being handed down.

Remus was certainly that they had already told the Weasley 's untried son his fate, and by now the changes would suffer already begun, affecting his sense ... his aroma ...

His presence would affirm what the young Gryffindor about in all probability already suspected. Ron would now know the one responsible for for condemning him.

turn on the surgically clean egg white tile, Remus dimly remembered the reason for why the Harlan Fisk Stone flooring had been overlain with the Muggle alternative, for even a strong round of scourgifying spells were not enough to remove the soil of blood from ancient stone. The past times war had brought far too much of that within Hogwarts walls, and roofing tile was much easier to clean.

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 superbia forcing himself to not look away as he awaited whatever hateful words were sure to descend, for he was surely deserving of them.

Though none did.

'' Ronald ... '' His part came out thick and gravely, volubility abandoning him. `` Whatever you ask ... This is the endorse prison term I 've endangered you and I ... '' He faltered. `` I am good-for-naught ... ''

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

Lightning illuminated the elbow room, filtering in through the hospital annex windows, and Ron set his jaw. `` You did n't entail to seize with teeth me, so do n't worry about it. ''

Thunder rolled, vibrating the tiles beneath his soles.

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

Such was the effect of becoming a lycan.

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

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

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

In the moment of silence that followed, the youngest Weasley son suddenly did something completely unexpected. A obtuse, sad grinning crept across his features, 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, `` lycanthrope ... It had to be significant, otherwise you would n't have been there. ``

Remus remained silent. He could not give into his own self-deprecating desire to become and flee, he owed the new wolfman Sir Thomas More than that.

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

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

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

brightness level blue eyes looked up, meeting his haunted unity. `` But now Professor ... ''

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

A rather grave expression touched Ron 's mouth. `` Well ... '' He said, flexing his finger's breadth. `` That 's about to change. ``

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

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

common cold comprehension dawned upon him, for somehow the boy had inherited the ability to transform 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 grievous glint.

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

A animal quality edged into the Danton True Young Weasley son 's voice.

Blue, ovular heart, met his own.

'' So lupine ... How 'd the fiat fancy a second set of sharp-set fangs ? ``










A quick note : The health check and biological science buffs may overtake a few affair in this chapter and the upcoming I, so please be forewarned that any slip on the lineament'share regarding such things is entirely intentional. I want to show that they are fallible and not entirely knowledgeable about certain affair. It would n't be fun if the characters never made fault. *cackles*

Thank you to Njhill22 for all of your avail with this chapter. I may very well have lost my sanity had it not been for the 5 am late night writing sessions that we had to repair to ! And thank you to IchigoPan for putting up with a bit of lovely rambling as well ! Now on with the chapter !








'' Amidst blaze there is always illumine, it is just a matter of finding it. ``
~ terra incognita ~


Chapter 26 ~ The Reason for the War



It had taken her all of ten second to figure it out.

respiration heavily, her mousey hair strewn about, she again rose her leg to ride the full military group of her weight against the reddish brown doorframe. The sound reverberated throughout the way, echoing from the ancient I. F. Stone wall in a way that mirrored her increasing, self-reliant anger.

She should have known.

Cursing she stepped back from the nonmoving entree, her metrical foot stumbling clumsily across the spotty floor display panel. Her drab eyes swept the high balk criss crossing the cylindrical tug, at a expiration.

Dumbledore had long since earned the title normally reserved for Remus alone, for that 'damnable man'had thought of every conceivable escape attack and blocked her progress at every turn. One affair was certain : The master was surely against anyone knowing of his programme, and from the looks of things she would not be escaping any sentence soon. Certainly not in prison term to alert anyone before it was too late.

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

Her eyes landed upon the dark windowpane frame, her mind briefly mulling over the possibility of growing her fuzz into a foresightful enough plait to send Emily scurrying down.

She snorted. Even if the Bothans were not under an enchanted sleep Kenneth would surely pare her alive before allowing her to turn his daughter into an impromptu gymnastic chimpanzee. Of line Emily had seemed rather taken by that exhibit at the phoenix Park Zoo ...

As if reading her thought Kenneth growled a little.

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

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

Rolling onto her vertebral column, flopping like a Fish on the level, her dark eyes fixated furiously upon her cousin.

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

Regulus gazed down his nose in astonishment. `` cousin were you really waging war on his subject field door the entire metre ? You do recognize that is hand-crafted mahogany ? ``

Growling she scrambled to her infantry, `` I swear to Merlin genus 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 concurrence with his decisions or not. Surely you would be aware of that by now. ``

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

'' Shut up Crusantheus ! ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

Regulus spun to face her. `` Do n't devalue yourself cousin. From what he said he may accept founded your little volary organization, but he is no more significant than the quietus of you within it. ``

She gasped. `` You laugh ? ``

The perfect prototype of stone glowered back. `` Do I look like one to jest ? ``

Her breathing time came in maddened whiff as he began rummaging through the depicted object of Dumbledore 's deceptively small hard drink cabinet. A considerable time passing before he emerged, a tight, meet pedigree 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-german was an foreign species.

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

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

'' For the LE refined in the way, '' He continued, his unwavering eyes never leaving his recently procured swag, `` nineteen seventy was an excellent year. ``

A cheap pop resonated within the room, the rising hue of her cheeks evidencing her increasing blood insistence. 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 experience run once fully matured. A pity this Latour takes ten to fifteen years ... ''

Between her gritted teeth she managed a growl. Regulus ignored this, painstakingly choosing a rather wear thin and bright orange mug from Dumbledore 's limited looking glass survival of the fittest. His nose crinkled in distaste as the mug 's emblem Go Cannons sparkled up at him.

'' Allowing his vintage to go to waste ... '' Regulus grumbled disapprovingly, pouring the opaque, yet red fermentation into his mug moodily. `` I would have got thought dependable of the old man ... ''

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

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

Her eyes widened furiously. `` Why in the pit would Dumbledore take you into his confidence ? You were a cowardous traito ... ''

Regulus'looking glass slammed down, shattering.

'' NEVER PRESUME YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT NYMPHADORA ! '' He roared, eyes igniting dangerously. `` I am far Thomas More conversant with each one of my punic, traitorous turn than you shall ever be. But know this ... ''

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

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

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

'' Oh ? '' He snapped condescendingly. `` And how was I supposed to know that my sometime slithering Lord had crawled back from the tomb whilst in the Muggle realm Nymphadora ? Particularly when those of you at the Ministry do your best to insulate our world from the Muggle realm ? Well felicitation Nymphadora ! Because despite Voldemort 's best feat at mayhem and misery your precious Ministry has done its job well ! Not a word of his yield leaked to me, even though I was listening for word of honor ! ``

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

'' Why at a group meeting with that slithering serpent of a iniquity Jehovah I suspect. Surely you could have guessed that at to the lowest degree. ``

Her heart thudded unnaturally.

'' Let me out Regulus. ``

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

She growled, resisting the itch to attack.

Regulus merely snorted. `` I would think that you, being constituent of his little aviary beau monde, would by now realize that he knows what he is doing. Even I know tha ... ''

Swearing loudly she kicked the paries, rattling Phineas'portrait, forcing their foresightful abruptly relative to flow onto his chassis 's sharpness for fear of being dislodged from it.

Regulus mouth twitched wickedly, ignoring the alternative words that came flying their way as he addressed his first cousin. `` Now if you want to destruct the portraits then by all means, do so Nymphadora. However, in the interim it seems that your best bet is to slacken and bear a drink, because you clearly need one. ``

Scowling she slapped the proffer glass away.

Now it was Regulus'turn to regard her as if she were an estrange species.


* * * * *

Elsewhere in the castle Remus had discovered that he had developed a trace, one with a clear-cut hitch and a blinding shock of red hair.

'' You 're sure about this ? '' Remus asked, sprinting around a recess with a flying Weasley trailing behind. Ron had just finished recounting what he had overheard the grownup speaking about as he and Ginny had feigned sleep in the flank, and Remus was left with an awkward look of coldness.

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

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

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

Ron 's face, screwed in careful engrossment as he attempted to quash hitting his head on the ceiling, shot him a withering look.

'' My friends are out there Remus, and I do n't designate to sit idly by while the decree hems and haws over what the best course of activity is. I want into the order of magnitude, and I want to help. ``

'' And if they vote against that ? ``

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

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

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

'' You 're forgetting your mother. ``

Ron paled considerably, his freckles standing out. `` She 'll just have to understand, '' He growled determinedly. `` About Ginny too, she 'll bounce back, and when she does she can help me get hold the by-blow that Imperious-ed her. ``

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

As Ron had said, the good werewolf had to get together, and he deserved to know of the underground werewolf natural process as much as anyone.

The other lycanthrope could still be out there ...

The thought spurred him into a faster sprint, and ignoring the Gryffindor 's sudden protest Remus began dashing down the stone corridors, his concern rising exponentially at the unnatural hush upon the shoal.

Snapping the password he and the floating Ron mounted the stairs to Dumbledore 's role, a dissolute argumentation increasing in volume as they approached. Forgoing formality he set Ron down hastily, grasping the doorway hold and tugging.

It was locked.

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

'' Remus ? ! ``

At the vocalism his clenched fist froze, inches above the cringing bronze Crusantheus, the argument within the power grinding to an unceremonious halt.

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

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

Remus was about to wonder as to 'who'precisely had been going at it when Ron 's bemused mutterings interrupted him.

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

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

Ron bristled, `` Little ? ``

Remus dropped a stick around paw upon Ron 's shoulder. `` Best not to affiance in conversation ... '' He muttered out of the turning point of his mouth.

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

'' We know ! '' Shouted two voices simultaneously from the contrary face of the door.

Remus'ears reflexively picked up, the liberty of the unknown 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 locked us in here ! We ca n't get out and no one can get in ! ``

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

'' What ? ``

A discrete battering could be heard from within the position, as if mortal had taken to kicking random objects.

Again, the unidentified masculine vox floated beneath the door. `` 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 believe me if I told you. ``

'' Try me, '' Remus insisted.

'' Later Wolfy. ``

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

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

'' You did n't, '' She groaned. `` Hermione Granger is missing. '' Ron paled considerably, his shoulders 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 hell is Ron Weasley doing with you ? Is n't he supposed to be in the ... ''

'' infirmary flank, '' 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 joyful tune, clearly ecstatic at Tonks'reprimand. `` Aha ! Better stifle it fingerbreadth or Ms. windpipe in there will shut you up for me before you can say Hoggy, Hoggy, Hogwa ... ''

Remus finally gave in to the impulse to silence the damn thing, unable to recall. Crusantheus'sudden quiet earned him a brassy exclaiming as the unidentified voice from within began praising the noble and maker.

He knew that representative ...

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

hindquarters him Ron made a choke auditory sensation of actualization.

'' Sirius ? ''

A loud thud evidenced the unidentified man 's displeasure.

'' If I get mistaken for Sirius one more than fourth dimension I 'll hex that door depreciator ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Staring at the interlace door something clicked.

'' Regulus ! `` He growled, smashing himself against the threshold. `` 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 phase of the moon faith that this conversation will remain confidential. ``

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

'' So you 're a psychiatrist and a doc ! ? '' Tonks spluttered.

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

'' Apparently an January 6, '' Drawled Regulus lazily.

'' Shut it both of you ! '' Tonks snapped furiously, the audio of stamping feet reaching his percolate ears.

He withdrew his ear from the doorway just in clip, its entire frame shuddering violently as she kicked it from the other position, rendering Crusantheus cross-eyed.

Mahogany door or not, Remus suddenly wondered if that were thick enough to protect him from whatever hex the pissed off Auror had in judgement for him. He knew her far too well to think of any Bob Hope of escaping completely unscathed.

Sneakily, with stealth declarative mood of the low marks she had received on the Stealth and tracking serving of her Auror test, a baton tip snuck beneath the crack between the door and floor.

Remus stared at this odd action, puzzlement the name of his verbal expression. Unfortunately he hesitated just a second too long, for a hot stream of searing sparks suddenly ignited his pant, a vindicated Ah-ha resounding from the pink haired enquire witch as Remus hopped around, nearly tumbling down the winding stairway in his attempts to sop them.

'' Made her angry did you ? ''

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

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

'' What 's wrong ! ? What 's wrong ? '' She clipped with disbelief. `` 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 calendar week and ... ''

'' Did the melodic theme of talking it through like rational adults ever occur to either of you ? '' Regulus'tone down voice interjected curiously.

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

Another meretricious thump shook the door, his belly wrenching as he practically felt her leaning against the other side.

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

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

Regulus emitted a low whistle, clearly closer than before. `` Trouble in paradise Lupin ? Honestly is n't she a fiddling immature for you ? ``

The distinct sound of someone being smacked echoed through the threshold and down the stairwell. The sullen adept within his chest failing to improve.

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

Remus turned, eyeing Ron with barely concealed annoyance.

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

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

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

'' Slow to take hold of on as always Nympahdora, '' Regulus remarked condescendingly. `` Did it ever occur to you that in lieu of sending a potentially behind scout ... ''

'' I am not ho-hum ... ''

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

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

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

Remus'eyes widened in understanding. `` 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 lupine, you 're quite soundly at that so get on with it already. ''

Cringing inwardly he turned and ran for the owlery.

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

On the other side of meat of the door Tonks growled, dropped cross-legged to the dry land, banged the vertebral column of her head against the door, 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 alarm ignited a fiery anger within him.

As if in reception his calloused fist unconsciously coiled tighter around her shoulders, clenching the soaked folds of her torn sweater as if doing so could somehow dispel the bearing lurking within the shadows.

It could not.

A ferine growl cut through the wind, the frigid walkover snaking around them, biting bitterly against his skin, whipping Kaylen 's soaked whisker around her ashen face.

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

Like a apparition strait upon the wind came the smacking of grotesque chela upon slick mud, the telling phone of a wolf hang on savageness as it stalked its prey across water-laden hunting grounds.

They were its prey ...

property her unhesitating heart with his, watching as her physiognomy screwed into that of grim resolve, Harry knew he had no option.

Loosening his hold upon her quietly heaving shoulder joint, watching the bloody bandages binding his medal sway in the farting, he ground out a single control.

'' Run ... ''

His dark whisper was met with immediate action, for she took flight, mud splattering beneath her metrical unit as she fled for the corner line of products, her tattered sweater billowing in the jazz as she went.

Lightning from the war pluck heavens illuminated the scourge battle reason, sending her shadowy silhouette stretching across the matte up stretch of grass separating them.

Tensely he watched her, standing his ground.

He refused to follow.

Around him the exponent of the storm surged, skag shaking the earthly concern as his scarred fist clenched tightly around the fateful feather of the phoenix that lay deeply imbedded in his faithful holly, his scepter arm hanging loosely by his side.

Blinking the H2O from his eyes he watched in tone down fascination. Kaylens was suddenly aware of her solitude, her metrical foot halting into a turbulent skid across the hunt flat coat as she fought to check against the raging wind. The mud finally ceased to give, resisting her sliding feet as her cast went slipping beneath the timberland 's room access, the dripping canopy throwing dark across her imprimatur as she whorled around to regard him.

Beneath the arm her eyes flashed dangerously, for his dissimulation and what it could stand for had finally struck her with frightening military force. With the detached sensation of an onlooker observing an unstoppable catastrophe he watched as her form went rigid.

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

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

It was how he wanted it.

Thump, clump ...

The swift approach of the werewolf 's claw beatnik against the suctioning ground.

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

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

Thump, thump ...

She did not. Her glorious heart regarded him with profound hurt and ire, reflecting the lightning shocking through the heavens.

thump, clump ...

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

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

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

clump, thump ...

If he survived this she would surely pop him, and an odd smile crept upon his cracked lip at the absurdity of the thought.

Thump, thumping ...

All of it transpired in a sec, his eyes flying all-encompassing as the sky tear open, roaring as the God themselves sent their galvanising fist hurtling down to join the fray.

Lightning struck as he hit the dry land hard, ducking as he felt the wolf springing into the air to grab him. Jaws snapped around thin air, right where the back of his neck had been a 2d before.

The wolf 's rear chela slashed out, grazing his back, shredding the fabric of his shirt, just scratching his skin 's Earth's surface. A pained moan shaft from his mouthpiece, yet it was unheard as a ardent dash of galvanizing death struck the tree diagram descent with fearsome intensity.

He was already screaming for Kaylens'to move.

A carnal growl emanated before him, the wolfman 's flight of stairs ending as its colossal form crashed back onto the earth with one sickening splat of mud and rain, its colossal strain skidding on the slick ground as if upon ice.

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

Her halcyon capitulum disappeared within the sens, a burning Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree limb crashing to where she had stood only a sec before.

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

His eyes darkened in rage behind his rainfall streaked chalk, his baton arm flying out, a cutting hex ripping from his throat as he dove to the side, rolling in the thick sludge.

A pained howl signified that his aim had been true.

Desperately, pump pounding, he again let the cutting hex fly, followed by an barrage of silver medal atom as he staggered to his fundament, stumbling backwards in a frenzy as the wolf 's brutalized fur sent its recoiling consistence to the ground.

The silver particle were lodging within the animal 's assailable injury, and the metal 's toxicity was quickly infiltrating its bloodstream.

He felt no ruth, only agony as a fiery tendril coiled upwards from the ablaze branch, igniting the sozzled canopy.

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

It was his break ... she had n't seen it in sentence ... she had been watching his personal fight instead of running farther ...

And he had sent her there.

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

His glasses were somehow lost, dirt and smoke particles replacing them to cut against his retinas, a blunt sense experience overtaking him.

He did not see the blow coming.

A massive paw struck him down, sending him hurtling human face down into a pool, his panic universe morphing into a watery brown blur.

His wand flew from his grip, skidding out of grasp as he flailed, feeling the weight of the creature atop him as it forced his soundbox to have a new impression in the pliable world.

The shallow pee lapped around his capitulum, his mouth flapping around the ill-tasting filth, body sputtering as his traitorous lungs continued their ill-omened attempts to expel the poisonous smoke fume from them, inhaling water instead.

The spine-crushing weightiness of the tool was suddenly dispelled, his promontory snapping up to gasp for breath, his hand blindly summoning his baton 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 woman chaser growled venomously.

Flipping onto his back, rolling out of the way, he saw a Tree arm whiplash out, striking the beast hovering above him with a sickening crunch.

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

Emerging from the burning alcove of tree Kalliandra callously threw the arm at the creature, ensuring another shock to its headway as she appraised her handicraft. A indorse later her burning eyes were fixated upon him, a furious expression crossing her soot stained features as he was left sputtering upon the ground.

'' What the Hades were you thinking Potter ? ! '' She coughed out, her representative a coarse rasping. `` This is the Saami stunt you pulled in Hogsmeade ! Are you that daft ? ! ``

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

A ridiculously warm esthesis flooded him. `` Y-you 're ... ''

'' Pissed ! '' She hissed exasperatedly, clearly irked more by him than by the wolves who had attempted to establish a repast of them. `` You are single handedly the most cheeky, idiotic, self-centered, suicidal person that I have ever met ! future time, I 'll let the wolves eat you ! ``

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

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

'' What, '' She grunted wearily, `` Could you possibly observe rum about this ? ''

He grinned. `` A lot actually. ``

Her jaw dropped, flapping soundlessly as the wind sent smoke billowing in a benighted cloud behind her, her hand instantly rising to harbor her eyes from its thick residue.

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

For a second she appeared to stutter. `` Potter ... '' She threatened raspily, `` I 'm going to wipe out you. ``

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

'' Screw that. I get the first off crack at ... ''

Her words ended in a grating cry, a chameleon-like hand having shot forth unseen in the billowing dope, snatching her thick tomentum within its pitiless confines. Her fuddled braid were used as an anchor, the disenchant man callously snapping her head back to expose the slender bod of her neck to the splintered wood of a scorch wand.

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

'' cliff it potter, '' Growled a vocalism as dark as the night.

The guttural growl sent something dangerous stirring within him, his wood colored eye remaining glued to Kaylens'cringing countenance.

His forehead furrowed as a strange mind began to take shape, his finger's breadth loosened around the holly coated wand.

'' Potter do n't ... '' Kaylens'piercing cry was cut off as she was shoved forwards, nearly thrown from her fundament by the Death feeder 's swift prodding.

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

'' I said pearl it boy, or I 'll make certain she stays numb this meter. ''

Harry 's hand went set, 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 flames'Orange luminosity throwing the decease Eater 's visceral look into double-dyed focus.

Harry 's blood ran cold.

Broussard 's companion, the very one Harry had struck down with the killing condemnation that afternoon, the same one whom he had left for utter in Hogsemead 's backrest alley, now stood shepparding Kaylens before him.

The drained man was alive and well.

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

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

A red genu to the spikelet sent Kaylens crumbling to her knees, her build suspended by the indurate clasp on her retentive locks.

'' To recede one 's remaining phratry ... '' Continued the Death Eater with pernicious calm, `` In such a manner does not endear one to mercy. ``

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

The Death feeder ignored her, his foul gaze fixated upon him. `` You 're a goosy boy ceramicist ... dabbling in Unforgivables ... I 'd vote down you if I could ... ''

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

The villain laughed bitterly, `` I 'm not as stupid as some of the other lackeys boy. You 'll have to improve your manipulations if you expect that to work. ``

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

'' Wandless conjuration is a bit elevate for you bo ... ''

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

A dead reckoning of energy flew through him, the familiar wooden handgrip flying back to his manus, quickly summoned, drawn, and aimed.

Only where the Death Eater 's core had been now rested Kaylens, for the baddie had yanked her forcibly from her knee to again shield him. Her cry of pain in the neck echoed through the clearing, rising above the crackling of burning wood.

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

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

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

'' A rather perverse melodic theme of fun, do n't you call back ? ``

'' Considering what you did to my brother, I 'd say I 'm in the presence of like party. ``

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

A powerful Northerner sent her head snapping back, his insides lurching as the resounding offer of her protesting vertebrae.

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

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

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

Hands coiling into squiffy fists, Harry began inching to the face, the sound of mud suctioning against shoe colloidal suspension masked by the resounding thunder.

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

'' And to remember, I thought catching Veelas was the worst assignment ... but no matter ... ''

It took everything he had to suppress his outward revulsion, for the man had already drawn and used the unseen sticker, plunging it shallowly into the build of her shoulder, dragging it across her pelt. A moment later the villain had a cylindrical vial held beneath her freely flowing bloodline, bottling it as her eye scrunched in a painful face, her nous undoubtedly feeling history repeating itself.

'' There, that oughta mollify my Lord in the effect of your untimely ... '' The man was running his wand along her wound, a black-market Christ Within radiating as her anatomy sealed beneath it. `` Well ... .end anyway ... ''

Blinded by rain, Harry 's eyes went whitened 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 several. ``

As he stood there, the running mud curling around his animal foot, he felt spew. He was cornered, for if he acted brusquely Kaylens was dead. And if he failed to act, they could both assemble the like fate.

His hardened centre narrowed, chest rising with stressful exertion, as the vile man continued speaking.

'' All the shadow Lord wants is the divination Potter, yet if you continue this stubborn refusal that little mudblooded friend of yours will wind up dead. '' The man grinned evilly. `` And we all know you do n't need that to befall. ``

His sceptre shook, so hard was his clutch upon it.

'' Just consider ... what has your stubborn refusal gotten you thus far ? Certainly it did wonders for improving that ancestry traitor total darkness 's flow United States Department of State howeve ... ''

'' Sothis was a estimable man, '' He heard himself hissing.

The man merely inclined an supercilium. `` Ah yes, I seem to remember him fancying himself as such even during our school class. He, the Lord Black, always criticizing Broussard and I ... the two Detreck chum were slimy to him, even the one from his own planetary house ... ''

Harry felt peaked, choler and hatred vibrating unceremoniously within.

'' Your male parent was much the same ... both never sparing even a thought for the nobleman blackamoor 's own kin ... '' He continued, the same flavour of superiority dripping from his watchword. `` Sirius always wondered what finally sent Regulus to the membership of the Death eater. Would you like me to tell you ? ``

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

'' The deciding factor you see, was Sirius'stubborn refusal to acknowledge his pal as an equal, '' He revealed. `` The self-important fool followed those resisting the Dark Lord blindly, never stopping to debate who was really in the right field. He and the rest of those Gryffindor sap following Dumbledore never even understood our understanding ... ''

'' Oh ? '' Harry shot out, `` And how are we justifying cold-blooded slaying these Clarence Shepard Day Jr. ? ``

The man 's tooth glinted in the firelight. `` There 's no demand to justify anything, because the war athirst Muggles will not be cognitive content to leave our kind alone forever. It 's kill or be killed thrower. The dark overlord 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 superior to them as you 'd like to think, then all of your 'pureblood'wizard ought to forestall that, would n't you intend ? ``

The decease 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 creation forever hidden ? Eventually we will become uncovered, and when that happens the Muggles will recognize the potential menace we hold. ``

Inching towards the warmth of the flame, and its head covering of dope, Harry allowed him to talk, wracking his judgment for a plan.

'' Once that happens I 'm quite sure they will be bully in showing us mercy. Perhaps the same variety that was given to the Jews of their arcsecond World War, or that which was shown to the indigenous people of the United States when the new Edwin Herbert Land were discovered. Or to the witches of capital of Oregon ... ''

Kaylens cut him off.

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

A sticker was poking to her throat, silencing her words as line of descent prickled her skin. A sadistic flavour of calm crossed the eldest Detreck 's case as he held it there.

'' You see Harry, Muggles are unlike us, '' Continued the monster. `` They have yet to stamp down 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 preserve the man talking.

'' Every war has casualties potter, and in this one anyone sympathetic to those primitive brute runs the risk of becoming one. ``

'' They 're not naive ... ''

'' Yet they wage war upon other area, killing their own variety without thought, acti ... ''

'' Since Death Eaters do the Sami affair I guess you would know. ``

'' Our killing is at least educated, and justified by more than wars over boundaries. ``

Harry 's voice shook with suppressed cult. `` Nothing can justify cold blooded slaying ... ''

'' You would make love then, '' Hissed the man, sneering spitefully. `` After all, once a killer, always a killer, or am I wrong on that Potter ? ``

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

'' Despite what you think, you are very often alike us Potter, and thus my Lord has a proposal of sorts for you. ``

Watching the tension leave Kalliandra 's neck, her face slumping gratefully forward without fear of impalement upon the tongue 's brand, he grunted. `` So what lot is it this sentence ? Join him and he spares my life ? ``

'' No, simply divulge the missing part of the divination in exchange for your protagonist 's category 's lives. ``

'' And Hermione ? ``

The man 's centre glittered evilly, acrid weed billowing out with a change of the winds.

'' In the section of Mysteries, in the Charles Martin Hall of Prophecies, you remember the shelves upon shelves filled with the divination of illusionist past ? ``

'' Yes. ``

'' Then surely you were not self-important enough to believe that yours was the solely foretold regarding this war. ``

His shoulders stiffened, for he actually had.

From the forest 's edge, scant meters away, resounded the cracking of a tree tree branch as it finally burnt away. It fell into the burning underbrush, sending a flash of fire bulging outwards on impact.

In the cacophonic roar of heat and flame all parties scattered, the skunk clearing in time for Harry to see Kaylens still in the villain 's frailty grip, her apparent bolt for freedom hindered by the man 's muscular arm which had tightened around her.

Her cubital joint to his torso went ignored, the monolithic man 's muscles protecting him. Detreck merely grunted, hauling her to her feet as the smoke dispersed, the rainwater beginning to smoother the flames.

'' We waste time. In the hall of prophecies there is another with your gens on it, or did that decrepit old man fail to inform of you of its macrocosm as well ? ``

Somehow he managed to obviate snapping his scepter, despite the shaking of his fists.

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

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

The man 's lips curled. `` Perhaps ... but if you had something else to bid him, something in improver to that ... something he very much desired ... than perhaps once you 'd discover the second prognostication, he 'd regress her if your countersign was given to reveal another once the commutation was made. ``

Harry shook his nous disbelievingly, `` Since when has ole conundrum trusted my Bible ? ``

'' How dare you defile his name ... ''

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

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

'' What else does he desire to roll in the hay ? ``

The firstborn Detreck leered triumphantly, `` When you find the vaticination regarding 'the daughter of a man of power upon Gaelic soil'you will let what he is looking for. There is no epithet attached, therefore it may be seized by anyone. ``

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

'' Then that Mudblood of yours dice. Unless you find something better to bid. ``

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

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

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

'' Then all these spare part will meet the same destiny as those noble parents of yours. ``

Kalliandra 's eye flew up, surprisal flitting through them even in the shadow. He met them, painfully holding onto them, grasping for irregular through the downpour so she could see how good-for-naught he was, for the past times, for where his short sightedness had landed them, and still ... for what he may have to do.

There was simply no time left.

Somehow, the business organization swimming within her gold ball conveyed what he needed to know.

She understood.

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

'' Stupefy ... ''

Kalliandra went crumbling to the ground, her wilted form lying in a single mud-sodden heap, the death feeder 's font twisting in surprisal as another stunner flew from Harry 's wand.

He had done the one matter Detreck could not have counted on. Injuring a brother, thereby removing her from harms way while simultaneously clearing the track to the enemy.

His stunner struck the enemy directly in the chest, a secondment before a cruel voice resounded behind him.

'' Crucio. ``

Harry fell hard, his body imprinting the cushy ground as a yard white hot knives sliced slowly, than brutally at his human body. His vision was blinded, by mud, rain, and pain, yet he still saw the haired man, half-way through the werewolf transformation, walking around him, reviving Detreck ...

The loup-garou Kaylens had taken out had awoken.

As he screamed, convulsing in pain, rolling in the glossy stream that had become the glade 's terra firma, he heard their arguing voices.

'' ... .belongs to the Dark nobleman, not us ... .we ca n't harm him ... .leave it to him ... .dealt with in due time ... .orders were ... .deliver substance ... .leave them .... ''

The incessant agony suddenly lifted, his tortured nerves still spasming as he somehow rolled to face them. His hand flopped around pathetically, fingers closing without strength upon tenuous air, searching for the familiar spirit holly wood he had lost a hold of during his convulsions.

'' You can lay waste to prison term chasing after us, or her Potter. Think about it. ``

The wet air resonated with the sharp crack cocaine of disapparation, his hefty synapses finally firing at his instruction. With soreness outshining the most grueling trials of man survival he thrust himself up, his hands sinking into the muddy soil, centre frantically scanning the clearing.

Kaylens was nowhere to be seen.

Heart lurching sickeningly, he stumbled to his feet. Sliding, staggering, he peered through the darkness, summoning his wand from where it had sunk beneath the uprooted grass.

Lightning flashed, casting an eerie glow across the water.

Kaylens lay facedown, floating within it.

His feet moved, faster than he would have thought potential, plunging into the dresser thick water supply. Quickly he propelled himself to where she lay submerged, floating just below the aerofoil. Only her bound wrists, pushed upwards by the gentle water 's lapping, remained emerged in the air, her haircloth fanning out behind her head

His weapons system quickly sought her, wrapping around her articulatio humeri to attract her out, letting her abruptly weight fall hard against him.

His hand fell to her dresser, his spoken run-in a whisper against the storm.

'' Ennervate ... ''

The heat spreadhead from between his fingers, his unconsciously done magic triggering no response in her.

The go 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 deterrent example had taught him about more than countering spells, and he was already turning her limp form to face him, using the piss 's buoyancy to cradle her as her face lolled back.

His numbing, pained finger's breadth quickly wiped the plastered hair from her lips, a cast flavor rising in his chest as his eyes flickered across the vacant grounds.

The decease eater were gone ... .they would not come back.

warmness wrenching, he acted, pressing his back talk against hers as he pushed precious atomic number 8 in, breathing for her, listening to the odd hushing of his breath making its way through her air passages.

Pulling away, waiting for the rise of her chest of drawers against his, he felt nada.

Panicked eyes flickered over her passive face before his mouth once again descended, capturing her icy sass with his own in another breathing time of desperation. One arm was tightening around her, the former cradling her forefront as he pinched her nose.

Again he waited.

The wage hike in her chest as he had breathed had been barely discernable, and now there was nothing. A bingle idea flitted through his frightened mind. He was doing this wrong.

In that one here and now of paralyzing repugnance he suddenly understood. Her air passage was clogged.

He had to clear it.

He was already turning her wilted sort around, allowing her dorsum to decrease against him as his clenched fist sought her midsection. With a 1, powerful drive he thrust them in and upwards, feeling her eubstance spasm in a small shudder.

Again he repeated the motility, thrusting forcefully. Her limp form seized violently in response, her upper body falling forward as a racking coughing shook her, the water expelling from her lungs. Harry lunged forward with her, arms wrapping around her chest, preventing her cheek from again hitting the traitorous water.

His forearms strained against her as she convulsed, choking on the winding, gasping as coughing after shuddering cough shook her thin frame. Shivering in the frigid urine his pounding heart calmed until she leaned loosely forward, gasping breathlessly.

Without a word he pulled her against him, clutching her quivering build flush to his own, her question falling against his articulatio humeri. Her shallow panting caressed his skin, the ascent of her chest against his reassuring him in an inexplicable way.

Slowly he fought to control the hitching of his own fast drawn breaths, for after everything he felt ready to crumble, only he suddenly found himself the pillar to which she clung.

Resting his chin atop her head, peering into the Nox, he silently prayed that what he had overheard was accurate. For if he was really considered Voldemort 's toy, needed to perform a task, then he truly was untouchable.

In theory they would again be safe, until Riddle decided to again 'chat .'

As of now, if he were wrong, then their only sanctuary would be the body of water they stood shivering within, and he had yet to properly master the bubble-head charm for hiding beneath its murky depth. Now their only true aegis lay within the veil of cat-tails rising high above the shimmering water 's control surface, obscuring them from all.

Icy idle words howled, sending the beating-reed instrument around them dancing.

breathing unsteadily, the scent of burnt wood filled his nostrils. The tempest was slowly winning the struggle against the blaze, extinguishing the aflame underbrush and trees, and the Inner Light of the fervour was slowly dying. Tilting his face down he watched the fiery orange incandescence reflecting from her wet cheeks, lending some warmth to her pale hue.

'' Are you alright ? '' He finally whispered, his shivering bridge player smoothing her tangled, sopping hair's-breadth from her grimace. She simply breathed against him, hair's-breadth dripping across his berm, her entire soma quivering.

Tightening his blazonry around her, he again whispered his query, his questioning lips brushing along her earlobe. `` Kaylens ? '' He murmured shakily, breathing against her whisker. `` You okay ? ``

In his branch she nodded imperceptivity, his trepidation for her unique sending his ticker thundering. His succor was palpable, as was the feel of her beneath his hands.

His personal spitfire was blissfully incognizant, but she had scared the hellhole out of him.

Raindrops continued falling, heavy and strong, splattering against the weewee with hypnotic melodic phrase. Somehow, without reason, his knuckles were rising, tracing alone her jaw line, a drowsy murmuring leaving her pale, cracked back talk at his touch.

Instinctively his substantial weapon system began enveloping her tighter, pressing her to him needingly, his cause elusive. Surprisingly her delicate manus were responding, rising to press against his bureau. Her entitle fingertips brushed his bare pelt, sliding along his musculus pectoralis where his sweater hung tattered and loosen, courtesy of the werewolves'claws and the timber 's snaring bramble.

Beneath the rippling water system a aristocratical tingle was radiating onto him, traveling wherever her cool skin fell into contact with his own, as if flyspeck bits of static electrical energy were passing between them.

Somehow he understood, for he was feeling her true illusion. She seemed unaware that she was releasing any, but her telling signature was trailing across him in a maddening way, just below the rippling surface, veiled from his eyes.

Yet somehow, he could not look away.

Slowly, surely, the maddening hotshot of her fingers tangling within his sweater drove the unconscious mind fear from his mind, his bright heart finally falling shut to the Nox, hiding beneath the dark, matted pilus slung dripping across his scarred brow.

Upon his neck he felt her lips parting, an beat sigh escaping against his pelt. His face dipped in reception, burrowing within her rain scented hair.

'' You know ... '' He disclosed softly, shivering in the fart. `` You may be more trouble than you 're deserving. ``

A soft laugh, scarcely there, sent his skin tingling.

'' Oh ? '' She breathed, her hoarsely address words tinged with amusement. `` And you 're not ? ''

'' Point take, '' He conceded, a low gag vibrating his pharynx.

The sky lit up, shining with anomalous brilliance as lightning flashed in the space. The icy amnionic fluid lapping against them, the wind howling eerily between the trees.

'' potter .... '' She mumbled, his hand rising to fall upon the smooth skin of her neck at the speech sound. `` What happened ? ''

Her part was barely a whisper, trailing away as his fingers went trailing down the smooth hide of her neck, feeling her pulse beating with regularity beneath them.

'' Apparently, '' He murmured gruffly, her light breathing a feather tracing across his skin, `` I ca n't get out you alone for a second. ``

'' I could say the Lapplander for you, '' She said breathlessly, shivering as his hands rose along the contours of her chassis. First his hands were gripping her waist, following insurrection along her incline, sliding to caress the skin covering her ribcage, just beneath her breasts.

His breath hitched with hers, her sleeve rising to encircle his neck, cupping the spine of his question. Quickly her mitt were becoming lost within his untamable tomentum, the same willfulness that he had so oft heard her criticize, yet now felt her reveling in.

The down-to-earth scent of mingled mud and rain was somehow intoxicating upon her, drawing him in more than he could leave, Thomas More than he should allow. Yet he was, his lips already lowering to hers, the thickly strung stress of a thousand harsh central vibrating between the two as his mouth fell upon hers, capturing her sass as he had when pulling her limply from the icy water. Only now her mouth was moving against his, the gustation of salty travail lingering upon his lingua. Her taste sensation was mingling with the refreshing rain pouring upon them, cascading down their faces.

His clothing clung wetly to him as his hands sought out her tangled fuzz. He frenziedly felt her deepening the contact of their lip, the rough stubble of his chin scratching her in the procedure. A thin mutter sent his own lips trembling against hers with laughter, her hand squeezing his shoulders in retributory manner. His own oral cavity was parting again, gasping, never relaxing the press against her rim as he fought for breath against her, feeling her doing the same.

A indorse later he again seized her, his downcast lip being tugged gently between her own, an odd growl coming unbidden from his pharynx. For a tempestuous moment she quivered with seeming amusement before his quick hands responded, running along her neck opening 's vertebrae, a startled whine falling from her sylphlike lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He murmured, his weapons system desperately gathering her against him, his mouthpiece deliriously relishing her predilection. Suddenly he was ignorant of the rainfall pouring around them, mindful only of her hands foul onslaught as they slipped beneath his shirt 's pinch, sliding along the bare skin of his shoulders, caressing his rear. His haircloth dripped into his aspect, and with rushed breaths their ill-concealed cacoethes radiated, their lip moving in a stormy fervency. Within his weaponry was the girl Harry had feared to have lost before he had known what it was to have, and he had no plans of letting go.

Slowly, panting breathlessly, Kalliandra pulled away. Her fingerbreadth still clung to him, the rainfall pouring freely upon her flushing skin. pee droplets were dampening her brow, and her digit slipped out from beneath his shirt to linger upon his collarbone. Unable to let her leave he leaned his brow against hers, cupping her face in his deal, feeling her lash fluttering open against his cheeks.

His own jade centre flickered hazily undecided, meeting the thick hazel ones regarding him. She was blinking against the rainfall, her disordered eyes revealing her barely concealed emotion.

respiration heavily he leaned forward, brushing his mouth against hers, kissing her slowly. He was taking his time now ... without the rush, without the desperation, without the fear of having nearly lost her. pollex running along her high os zygomaticum, carefully wiping the mud from her boldness, his mouth moved needingly across hers.

Again they parted, her mouth moving in a soft, disbelieving rustle.

'' You 've lost your psyche ... ''

'' I know, '' He murmured, pressing his mouth to hers chastely. `` You wo n't tell anyone will you ? ``

She smiled against his rim, shaking her header slowly. `` No ... '' She whispered, amusement tingeing her pitch contour. `` This wo n't give the clearing. ``

'' skillful, '' He quipped, smiling deviantly. `` I would birth hated to Obliviate you. ``

'' What makes you think I would have minded ? ``

burying his lips near her ear, he emitted a low growl, `` You would have. ``

'' Hmph. ``

Combing his fingers through her thick, mud-laden hairsbreadth, he felt her slender form again began to shiver, her quivering more pronounced than before.

Wrapping his arms tighter around her form, he murmured his curiosity. `` Does this mean you 've forgiven me for stunning you ? ``

She grumbled indecipherably for a moment, before suddenly growing tense, her face swiveling towards the visible clearing, eyes 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 adverted, warily gazing through the rain into the darkness of night.

'' 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 rules of engagement, flew through his mind.

'' Because .... '' He whispered hauntingly, `` They delivered their substance. They had their fun. For them that was enough, for the time being. ``

'' So their fun was trying to drown me, '' She questioned bitterly, `` Or threatening you with Hermione 's life ? ``

'' Both. ``

Her eyes flickered across his, her expression sending something wrenching inside.

'' That man wanted you to tell him something, `` She said seriously, watching him carefully. `` Yet you would n't. Why ? ``

He swallowed hard, his cristal 's apple rising strongly within his throat. `` Because I 'd rather die than allow them the data they need. ``

'' Than what stopped them from forcing you to go with them ? ``

His hand rose, trailing across her nerve, her breath hesitation at his touch. Without reasonableness his brow was again pressed against hers, her face so close that he could see the brown bit within her irises dancing with each flash of lightning.

'' Even if they had, '' He whispered sullenly, `` Even if they had tortured Hermione right field in front of me, I still would never order. Because the second I did we would have all been bushed. ``

Distant thunder shook the sky, Kalliandra 's center falling shut against the wet onslaught. His remained upon her, never leaving as her chest rose and fell against his. The mollify rhythm of her breathing was inexplicably calming.

'' If the man is so ruthless ... '' She finally spoke, `` Why would he offer you the choices he did ? ``

'' Because as ruthless as he is, he 's also intelligent. Voldemort knows his simply chance in hellhole of getting anything out of me would be by offering an exchange : Hermione for the information, at a electroneutral location. '' He paused, breathing heavily, watching the inspiration across her indorsement.

'' It 's the only way I could ensure her safety, '' He finished solemnly.

Against his forehead he felt a light frown creasing her brow. A here and now later her blot out eyes fell undefended, observing him guardedly.

'' How could Voldemort possibly know what you 're thinking ? ''

His finger's breadth clenched and unclenched around her arms in a tense rhythm. `` Because Kalliandra, Voldemort and I have been playing this game for a farseeing prison term. And were both getting in force at it. ``

Her mouth parted questioningly, his digit rising to agitate carefully against them, silencing her question.

'' Please, do n't ask. I do n't want to lie to you, '' He pleaded breathlessly, lips hovering centimetre from her own, praying she understood.

She did.

Against him she nodded, wet droplets cascading down her chum up grimace. This time it was she who sealed the stint space between them, her slick arms winding around his neck opening, her consistency pressing flush against his.

For some reason, as her divide lips allowed his natural language entryway, he suddenly felt more afraid than he ever had.

The stakes had been raised that day, for with his best Friend gone he suddenly had so much to fall behind, and it was the girl he remained enlace with that had sent fissures running through his heavily erected paries.

Pulling away, gasping fervently, he suddenly was unsure of whether to hate her or love her for that.

'' You 're infuriating ... '' He murmured, nose nuzzling her cheek.

'' Likewise, '' She gasped breathlessly, water-laden Strand of tomentum falling over her eyes

They simply remained, hovering within the embrace of the early, until a photoflash of red crossed the dark, circling to rest upon the pond 's edge.

Whilst she stiffened, Harry almost laughed in relief.

The fiery genus Phoenix was watching them silently, something suspiciously like an old rag dropped near its groundwork, its feathered head cocked at a peculiar angle.

If Harry had not known better, he would say Fawkes looked amused.









Recommended Stories :

attack and earthly concern by sagesolon Rated : senesce Genre : whodunit, Action/Adventure, Drama
The Weasley 's and their adoptive family have worn through the procession of Voldemort and the Final fight. There have been many deaths, but what happens on the brightest of day 's has reverberation far and extensive ranging. Now they are left to nibble up the patch. Welcome to a story of hope, where the subsister are left to travel along the cue, attempting to lick the puzzle before the serial Orcinus orca strikes again. While this is a relatively new story it contains one of the most connive plots that I have been lucky enough to bumble across. Pairing : Harry/Hermione

middle, Bars, and cicatrix by sagesolon Rated : matured writing style : Romance, Action/Adventure, Angst
The final examination battle has long since past, yet to the Chosen One its recoil sting as painfully as they did on the day he lost her. His solely solace is found within his nightly escapes to the Muggle region, to where he is unrecognized in the dimly lit pubs, to where he is no longer in a world that constantly reminds him of the red hair of his dreams. Yet when a Muggle as much in motivation of consolation as he makes the mistake of sending a friend to ask for his phone telephone number in a steaming pub, Harry suddenly finds a hiatus to that lingering desperation. The only problem is how to explain his world to one content with magic trick wag john ? Well ... the lure of a vacation definitely has its respectable level ! This story has an almost film noir caliber at its start, and it progresses into a very 'feel good', laugh out loud, read. Pairing : Harry/Muggle OC












A few staple to note :

Red profligate prison cell contain hemoglobin, which transports O throughout the consistence. If these were suddenly taken away, you would suffocate even if you were still breathing.

blood platelet are responsible for for the trunk 's ability to form blood coagulum. Without platelets, you would bleed to death from a simple cut on the arm.

Sorry for the impromptu biota object lesson, but in writing this chapter I did not feel like explaining these basic concepts since I assumed that the fiber, due to one too many hospital wing visits, would already fuck what these are. I also took a few creative liberties, so bear with me on those.






'' Hope is the companion of might, and female parent of winner ; for who so hopes strongly has within him the endowment of miracles. ``
~ Samuel grin ~



Chapter 27 ~ The fellow traveler of brokenheartedness


Near dawn she found him there. He was still awake, as she had known he would be.

Dean was categoric on his spine, staring at the racy, blood red canopy of his bed. His eye had not moved from the canopy in minute, for fear of seeing the empty bed besides him, and they did not make a motion as his bed hangings stirred in the eerie luminousness.

Ginny slipped between them, crawling across the masking until she lay besides him. Wordlessly he had wound his arms around her small frame, an icy painfulness twisting within him. It was a heavy guilt, for he had his friend 's strong puff while her boyfriend had naught to see save for the inhuman blanched flat solid draped over his closed center.

Seamus was gone, and it felt like a obelisk 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 shut the windows, nor block out the cool air current, for when he had first seen Seamus'empty bed that night he had thrown unresolved each dot, tearing the wooden instrument panel from their hinges.

Now the water dripped onto the level, the temporary musical rhythm serving to take him penny-pinching and closer to the breaking percentage point. It was a effectual Neville seemed oblivious to, for his dorm mate 's steady stertor filled the air, and with each passing strait Dean felt the urge to smash something violently.

His finger twisted in Ginny 's red tomentum, reminding him of her presence. Though Seamus was gone, she was still there.

He had a grounds to remain strong.

Still he did not wait at her. Gradually her quiet down breaths became regular, but his glowering centre remained open, staring at the canopy.

It was all he could do.
* * * * *


Harry watched as Angelina ran from the room, ineffective to stir the icy sensation slithering within him. He knew he should not care, he could not ...

Yet he did.

endorsement after port-keying to lupin 's manor, as he had regained his footing in the candlelit foyer, Kalliandra had lost consciousness. His shivering body had clutched her against his chest, and that was how Angelina had found them.

It was becoming clearer, the harshly exchanged words between Kaylens and the schoolmaster ... the single he had overheard in the hospital wing ... It seemed ages ago, yet they echoed hauntingly sassy within his head.

'' Considering that I 'm the one you ca n't heal ... ''

'' Kalliandra, looking at it as a expiry sentence will not avail affair. ``

'' You 're right wing. Nothing will. ``

Angelina had claimed that the physical stresses of the Nox had just finally taken their toll, saying how magic traveling was often too much for a weakened eubstance to take. She had told him everything was going to be o.k., to not care ...

Her oculus betrayed her words for the lies they were.

'' Harry, set her there. Help me get her arm ... ''

Angelina was back, having returned with a hoard of supply. He did as he was told, laying Kalliandra on the faded couch. She sunk into the torn up shock, stuffing bulging out at the additional weighting. It appeared to be the only real piece of furniture on the first base, and he too squeezed onto it.

He could n't forget her.

Reaching down he grasped the cuff of her wet sleeve, rolling it up. With every inch of exposed physical body another contusion was revealed, his inside twisting at the midst, deep purple marks lining her delicate peel. In the wickedness of the clearing he had not even noticed ...

Angelina knelt besides them, her hands moving methodically, with the calculate movements Born of her healer breeding. His quondam mate was now cleaning the interior of Kalliandra 's elbow joint, inserting a diminished acerate leaf into the bluish line of her vein. He could only see from where he sat on lupine 's worn sofa, holding Kaylens messy head of hair in his lap.

'' Harry hold this ... hold it high ... ''

He nodded mutely, taking the make plastic bag from her, watching the yellowish-brown fluid sloshing within it. Following Angelina 's instructions he held it shoulder in high spirits, unable to dispatch his oculus from Kaylens'serene face. Her rich hazelnut eyes were now hidden behind pale palpebra, her look in desperate demand of washing. A run of mud still highlighted her cheekbone, a Thomas Gray coat of ashes lending her a ghostly, freckled appearing.

reaching down Harry brushed her fuzz aside, revealing a dried stain of descent hiding near her hairline.

A deep bruise was forming there as well.

In smooth move his early housemate attached a long, make tube to the IV in her arm with a quiet click, retrieving the fluid filled bag from him. With both of his hands finally free he found himself smoothing the hair away from her cheek, wiping the mud away with his thumbs.

He could feel Angelina 's oculus on him. `` She needs to rest Harry. ''

He did not reply right away, contenting himself to watch as Angelina wove her baton, the IV bag rising to remain suspended in mid-air. Slowly the liquid state 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 workings, and she was already shooing Harry 's hands out of the way as she carefully grasped Kalliandra 's other limp arm, tapping just above the elbow with her wand.

Kaylens'bluish venous blood vessel bulged just long enough for another syringe needle to be inserted, only this time Angelina was drawing descent sample, rather than starting a drip mould infusion.

'' Angelina ? '' He prompted gruffly.

The young healer sighed wearily, `` It 's a intermixture of red rake cells and platelets Harry. '' She pulled back on the syringe, and it began filling with a viscous, dark red blood.

Harry hastily looked away.

'' Why does she need that ? '' He ground out, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.

Leaving the needle in her arm Angelina unscrewed the full syringe barrel, setting the blood sampling upon a natation tray she had conjured. She made quick work of attaching a new, abandon one to the phonograph needle as she repeated the process.

'' How about you Harry ? '' Angelina asked dismissively. `` Knowing you, you 've probably managed to roll in the hay yourself up adept. ``

'' Do n't change the content. ``

Angelina 's gloomy eyes darted up, `` I 'm not. But I 'm a healer, that 's why Dumbledore left me to wait for you two. I just had to find out. ``

His tired eye turned to his own hands. He flipped them over, observing his healed, calloused palms. The oceanic abyss separatrix the broken glass had left were gone. Guy Fawkes'tears had healed them, dripping into his combat injury when he had reached through the thick rain to take the interface key.

Before he even had a chance to wonder why Fawkes had bothered healing such tiddler injuries, the phoenix had flown away.

'' I 'm fine, '' He replied staidly, realizing he meant it. No yearner could he palpate the stinging simoleons, torn by the wolfman 's claw, down his back. Even the bone deep chill the icy rain had left was gone.

All that was left was the sick hotshot churning within his stomach, his entirely fill-in the girl in his lap, who was incompetent of responding enough to relieve his fears.

'' What 's wrong with her ? ``

In the empty, windowless elbow room, Angelina removed the needle from her arm.

'' cipher that ca n't be treated, '' She responded quietly, rising from her knee, apparently done.

'' That 's not what I asked. ``

He did not miss the way her eyes avoided his.

'' zippo that I can tell you. For what it 's worth ... I 'm sorry about that Harry. ''

He swallowed, the audio seeming much louder in the still air. He bowed his heading, spying a spot of gray ash near the corner of Kalliandra 's backtalk. Without thought his thumb wiped it away, his stiff behavior relaxing as a sleepy murmur emerged from her cold lips.

Angelina watched it all, silently placing each of the rip samples into a nerveless carrying case. For a moment her clinical nature vanished, a sad expression overcoming her ebony features.

It was then that it all came together for Harry. Every little contingent that she had let slip, every polarity of tiredness, every word the Death Eaters had said ...

'' It has to do with what she is, does n't it ? ''

Though he had asked, there was no doubt in his tone.

Angelina rose a skeptical eyebrow, `` Then you do know ? ``

His eye rose to hers, `` Yes. That 's why you could n't say me. Dumbledore is n't aware I know. ``

She sighed tiredly, but he was already continuing. `` Ron and the others, you said they 're fine and that they were taken to Hogwarts. ''

She just nodded, earning a hard look from him.

'' Then why were we brought here ? ``

'' I wish I knew. All I know is that the Order is finally utilizing the safe menage it 's been setting up. ``

His brow crinkled, his hands unconsciously caressing Kalliandra 's soften hair, which was strewn across his lap, leaving wet marks upon his pant. `` There are other station excursus from home base ? ``

'' Of course. Do n't ask where, because I do n't know. ``

His smile was strained, `` Clever really ... not letting any one mortal have it off too practically about anything in pillowcase they 're caught. ``

'' Exactly. ``

His reverting from the dark topic plaguing him could continue no longer, for the touch sensation 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 intimately someone to explain that. ``

'' You 're a healer, '' He said in a carefully controlled tint. `` Who better ? ``

Angelina opened her backtalk, as if to respond, but she never got the chance.

'' Perhaps I can. If you would only allow me. ``

Harry 's head spun, as did Angelina 's. Neither had heard the person 's arrival, and his essence was thundering at the fatalist possibilities that could give birth resulted from such a reverting on their office.

His center narrowed, anger mixing with relief as he saw another loved one intact and standing in the entrance hall 's doorframe. A bitter jape broke his throat, and he gestured into the room.

'' By all means professor, it is your house after all. ``

Professor Lupin stepped wearily into the room, looking unfit for the wear. But then again, Harry reflected, did n't they all ? The view nearly sent Harry laughing. Instead he bit it back, another vitriolic audio growling rich in his throat.

From the spirit on Lupin 's brass, Harry knew he had noticed. The deep lines on the man 's face betrayed an inner pain in the neck, one Harry felt all too acutely.

It was the pain of release. Only Harry knew lupin had lost far more than he ever had. Of course, he was still young. There was time to catch up in that category.

As if sensing his dark thoughts, Kalliandra stirred. His tending was suddenly riveted to her, his hand on her boldness. Half of him hoped desperately for her to awaken, while another component feared that his one fortune of discovering what ailed her would then slip away.

She was far too stubborn to burden anyone else with her pain. He knew that now.

It was startling how practically could alter in less than twenty four hours.

Harry 's half angry, half questioning regard finally rose. He was startled to get wind Angelina 's absence seizure. 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 sure if he was happy about that or not.

'' It 's good to see you Harry. ''

'' Is it ? '' He could n't serve it, but his voice was frigid.

Lupin looked stung. `` Of course of action it is. ``

'' wellspring forgive me for being skeptical, '' Harry replied sarcastically. `` It 's not like you have n't spoken to me in awhile. ``

'' I had my intellect. ``

He inclined an eyebrow, `` You had reasons for believing Sirius all-but-killed my mum and dad too. ''

'' That 's below the belt Harry. ``

'' good. ``

Remus ran a weary hired hand through his graying hair, leaning back against the bulwark. For the longest time neither radius, the total get together arousing conflicting emotions within Harry.

He wanted to stagnate him. For what he had done to him, to Tonks, to Kaylens ... by ignoring them simply to shelter them from his canine incline. For having left him to deal with the hurting of Sirius'decease alone. For having had the audacity to walk in, saying hello, as if nothing were amiss between the two. For having sent not one owl that summer.

All of Harry 's pent up frustrations with lupin were finally bubbling over, conveyed in the unmarried icy spirit he shot him.

Outside the coldness, first of November wind rattled the sidings. The weather matched his disastrous mood perfectly.

'' I 'm sorry Harry. ``

He nearly laughed. `` Are you ? ''

'' For everything, '' lupin whispered chokingly.

Harry looked up, meeting the pleading stare of his father 's close living acquaintance. 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 rift he and Ron had been through, and the one they were in now. All those age ago, when he and Ron had fought during the Tri-Wizard tournament, Hermione had called them pudding head.

She had been right.

life history was too short to view as grudges.

The reminder of Hermione 's quandary, and the thought that Remus could be taken just as easily, sent him stumbling for words. `` Just ... '' He started, forcing a distort smile. `` Do n't let it bechance again. ``

'' I wo n't. ``

Remus'light brown eyes were cypher but honest. Suddenly, despite his tarriance concern for Hermione ... for Ron ... for Ginny ... for Dean ... for Tonks ... for Dumbledore ... for Remus ... .for Neville ... .for Luna ... for Kalliandra ...

It was all too practically to direct, 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 oral sex towards the slumbering miss in his lap.

'' How is she ? ``

Harry felt his brow instinctively seam, his genius once again compartmentalizing what he could care about, and impact, in the here and now.

'' I 'm not sure, '' He replied honestly. `` But Profes ... .Remus, what 's happening to her ? ``

The galvanise expression upon Remus 's face faded, his form 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 long moment, his eyes falling on the movement of Harry 's hands as he stroked Kalliandra 's farsighted hair.

For some reasonableness Harry did not give care if Remus noticed.

The former professor 's brow crinkled with both curiosity and pity at the connotation Harry 's gestures conveyed. `` Are you sure you really want to know Harry ? Sometimes not knowing is best, for when you know ... '' Remus'gaze was suddenly far off, as if peering into the removed past.

'' Sometimes Harry, the truth will simply haunt you. ``

Harry 's throat constricted, the tears glistening within Remus'eyes far too clear.

'' What if it already does ? ``

The elderberry bush man smiled sadly, `` Then I 'd say things between the two of you have changed. After all, she 's out coldness and you have yet to try and restrict her. ``

A sad laugh bubbled out of him, his gaze falling to stay on her pale forehead.

'' Please ... I ... do n't say anything .... ''

'' Would n't dream of it. ``

Harry found himself nodding with no peculiar reason. `` dependable ... I ... I 've no idea ... ''

'' What 's going on ? '' Remus finished.

Harry spotted the man 's knowing smiling, and was finally able to let out the breath he had been unconsciously holding.

'' Something like that. ``

In the still air of the windowless way, both men remained still. Harry 's heart fell closed, his ears seeking out the soft auditory sensation of Kaylens'regular breathing.

Somehow, even with the growing uneasiness within, this calmed him.

With a decisiveness he did not palpate, he finally spoke.

'' I need to get it on Remus. ''

A flashy sigh filled the room. `` I was afraid of that. ``

And Remus explained. He explained how magical beings had come into macrocosm, for somewhere in homo history, human blood cellphone had begun mutating.

Most of the mutations had resulted in cancerous ancestry flow, killing those in will power of those magnetic variation. Muggles and genius alike still struggled against those diseases, leukemia the most salient, but there were some individuals where the mutations became beneficial.

He explained how everything, both support and inert, contained a pattern of vigour. Not all of it was measurable in the Muggle way, and it was this physical body of energy, the form that would miscarry to register on electrical ordered series, that allowed charming beingness to flourish.

It was magical energy, and over prison term some individual developed the power to manipulate it, without adverse affects.

Others were not so lucky.

There were the great unwashed like Kalliandra, hoi polloi like Reaches, who could cut into into the sorcerous realm. But doing so was dangerous.

In the shell of witches and wizards, they developed completely new cells in their blood streams, and magical energy was conducted through their strong-arm consistency via these. Thus their bodies were capable to act like electrical circuits, and vitality was able to pass through their magic prison cell without ever touching their other cells.

It was a perfect system.

There were occasions when beldam and thaumaturge would become tire, and such occurrent usually happened when the individual was performing wandless magic, or a particularly complicated spell. And the reason for their exhaustion was quite simple really :

When one 's body map like a electrical circuit, if surplus magical vigour is taken in and not released in the form of a properly mould spell, then that energy remains stuck in the body and has to go somewhere. And since magic runs quite literally through one 's veins, that witch or magician 's magical electric cell would be the start to be essentially, electrocuted by their magical overload.

Fortunately magical cells are quite robust, and their plasma tissue layer are more than equal to of absorbing such overloads.

Red lineage cells, however, are not.

On juncture so much DOE is not released from a wizard 's body that it bursts through their magical cellular phone, frying rake cadre necessity in the sustentation of life.

And when one 's red blood cubicle are dying it is backbreaking to circulate enough oxygen.

It was how Luna Lovegood 's mother had died. She had suffocated, while still breathing.

Such deaths were a rare occurrence, because human rip contains far more cells than necessary for the sustentation of life. So when some blood cells are killed there are generally enough survivors to admit that somebody to continue functioning in a normal, albeit fatigued, manner.

The first gear clip Harry had tried the Patronus magic spell he had overdrawn as well. He had been left winded, gasping for breathing space, just like he was after every Quidditch practice.

Yet he had partaken in no strong-arm activity.

It was because he had lost red-blood cells, the very cellphone responsible for carrying Oxygen throughout the torso, and his body was responding as it would in an Oxygen-deprived manner.

Reaches had never evolved that far. They had never developed extra prison cell in their profligate stream, and the mutant allowing them to transmit electric flow lay directly upon their red rakehell cells.

If they overdrew, their first cellular phone to be damaged would be the one 's necessity in the shipping of oxygen.

Their mutation was one that worked, but it functioned poorly. mavin had evolved much more gracefully, for their additional cellular telephone provided a barrier to protect them against overdrawing. Ultimately it was this defense mechanism that had allowed the wizarding metal money to not only fanfare, but to survive.

Unlike in him, the maiden cells to die in a Reach when they overdrew were their red pedigree cubicle.

For a Reach, the likelihood of suffering Luna 's female parent 's fortune was an almost certainty.

A cold-blooded touch overtook Harry as all of this sunk in, for Kalliandra could easily die from overdrawing. She was only still alive due to the fact that her blood stream contained more red blood cellphone than it actually needed. Thus, she was capable of tolerating a sealed stage of overdrawing, but the margin was slim.

For her, unlike a hag or maven, there was no genuine learning curve. For her there was little room for mistake, for there were no mobile phone to absorb the shock ...

For her the simply reward of overdrawing too much was death.

She would smother while still breathing.

It was why her red blood cells were being replaced even as Remus spoke. For every time she drew Department of Energy into herself she was slowly killing her cells.

Dumbledore was determined to interchange as many as he could, as often as he could.

It was the exclusively way to confirm her, to check 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 wing ...

Her platelets had been killed when she had overdrawn, to protect him from Remus ...

She had passed out in Grimmauld lieu, from the exertion ... her consistence forcing her into unconsciousness in a death ditch effort to prevent her from doing further damage to herself..

The prototype of her lying unconscious on the trading floor of the Three Broomsticks flew through his mind.

He had known that she had risked exposure for what she was, but God ... .She had risked Death there, to protect people who hated her.

And he had once accused her of being a Death Eater.

death feeder knew no such selflessness.

A sickening sentiency flooded over him, his hand rising to rifle through his still wet hair.

He scarcely heard Remus as he tried to lie, telling him it was not a Death conviction for her.

Harry knew better, for what else could it be ?

His grip on her tightened, as if holding onto her could forbid the inevitable. Remus was talking about discussion, about how if they maintained her blood numeration at proper grade that she would be able to live a rule, full phase of the moon life history.

All it took was a unity expression into Remus'depressing center to love that his friend did not truly conceive what he was saying.

'' Will she die ? ``

His own vox, his own question, sounded so far off.

'' Harry nil is sealed ... If she does n't overdraw then we 'll never have to worry about that possibility. ``

'' Remus, will she die ? '' Harry felt his voice breakage, the conversant pang of exit welling within him.

As he met Remus'sort, glistening eyes, he knew the answer.

'' Eventually ... ''

He wanted to croak out something, a form of protestation that would quench the dispassionateness of his pharynx, but nothing came.

'' From what we know Harry, the others like her ... eventually, they all overdrew. ``

Eventually ...

The foolish break of his brain clung to that word, the silly familiar of heartbreak stirring within him.

Hope.

It was n't until sometime after daybreak when he finally fell asleep. The IV was long since removed from her arm, her sleeping form pulled into his arms.

At the here and now Harry did n't give a damn about who could see.



Recommended account :

LEGACIES : The bezant Charm by the darkness Lord Nedved Rated : Mature
summary : Every epic has a root, and for the Thomas Young Magi who was Prophesized to give the force the nighttime Lord Knows Not, this is the start of his bequest. For Harry there was no time to mourn for his fallen godfather, for a new foe has emerged with the lonesome purpose to assassinate him. The Dark Lord Nedved has created a story of action, discovery, magical creative thinking and sacrifice that would give the best novelist pounding on his door, begging for him to start working on original fabrication. This epic story has 5 different novels associated with it, two of which are completed, while the others are well under way. To attempt to name them in any early way would be to not do them justice. Harry/Hermione







generator eminence : Hey folks !

All of you really are the best proofreader out there. I ca n't thank everyone enough for all of the fountainhead wishes and understanding that were shown when I announced that I would be taking a hanker sabbatical from writing. I really needed it, and am gladiola of it. Both my mother and babe had been diagnosed with serious illnesses this past summertime, and all of the well wishes some of you sent via email must have paid off because they have both made singular recoveries.

Secondly, thank you to everyone for the variety word 's regarding Lexi 's demise. On top of everything this summer that was the concluding bump to drive 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 past, I have now set aside one day a week to write so that I can get chapters out much more quickly, and on a habitue groundwork. I anticipate this story being done by summertime, and then I shall begin work on the sequel.

And almost importantly I wanted to say thank you to Andrew, for he helped me immensely with this chapter. It had been so longsighted since I had written anything that when I finally tried to write again I found myself suffering from a knockout casing of writer 's block. Not only did he beta-read this chapter but he also offered wonderful trace to get this narrative back on track. Thank you so lots !




'' Dangerous is wrath concealed. ``
~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca ~



Chapter 28 ~ The big businessman of Anger


As if in a nightmare the room 's impenetrable darkness was broken. From the darkened hall a single candela appeared, levitating ominously as it preceded its possessor into the melanise room.

The sign 's lower story harboured neither windows nor doors to the outside human race. It was a constant reminder of the monthly monster that had once been contained within its very rampart, whenever the lunation had cast its full light upon the earth.

Now another more dangerous giant loomed in the way 's shadows.

With a casual wave of their hand the flesh crossed the carpeted base silently, their silhouette pausing above the slumbering teens. The physical body knew that neither would awake until their quiescency tour had run its trend.

Yes, the figure was powerful. Their sleeping magic spell were one of their substantial talents.

They could operate on in terminated safety. None within the walls would be the wiser to their actions.

Tonight they would commence their plan.

A syringe was filled, its needle swiftly inserted into the slumbering fille 's vein. Kaylens'pulsating blood, bluish in tint through her pale skin, flashed silver.

A moment later the unknown hue faded, a grim line of satisfaction stretching over the figure 's shadowed face.

* * * * *


With a sharp click the room access to Dumbledore 's office opened.

Tonks shot out of the armchair she had been dozing within, knowing the locking spell 's removal to mean only one thing.

'' He 's back, '' She whispered. Lounging in the armchair besides her Regulus nodded.

Out in the Radclyffe Hall, suddenly visible as the door opened, was Ron Weasley. He lay slumped besides his cast aside crutch on the floor, sleeping soundly.

Crusantheus hung on the door miserably, his knocker curled and contorted around his ears so as to stop out the sound of the young Gryffindor 's snoring.

'' Kill me ... '' He squeaked. `` Please. ``

As tired as she was Tonks could n't facilitate but smile as Regulus lazily took aim, an wickedness glint in his eye.

'' No ! '' Shrieked Crusantheus. `` I did n't actually mean it ! ''

genus Regulus continued advancing on the cowering knocker until a deep vocalisation intervened.

'' No need to eat away Crusantheus. Did you bury that the killing curse has no event on brass disparager ? ''

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 cookie ? ``

As if on cue a tray of biscuit appeared in his outstretched decoration.

Tonks blinked dazedly, rubbing her red rimmed eyes with her fist. Surely this jovial
man had not just returned from a coming together with the darkest of shadow lords ?

Regulus, completely unflummoxed by their sudden intrusion, rose from his arm chairwoman to carefully scrutinise the food for thought oblation. `` I take it negotiations proceeded satisfactorily ? ''
'' The telephone exchange will be made in two calendar month'prison term. ``

Tonks gaped, `` Two months ! ``

'' They probably need prison term to repair the little Mudblood, '' Regulus commented casuallly, directing his regard to Albus. `` I assume you requested that she be returned in one part, and I can only envisage the fun they 've had with her until now. ``

Dumbledore nodded gravely. `` Her wounds will need some ... healing. ``

Tonks eyes widened in concern. While she still did not see how Hermione for Dumbledore was a reasonable trade wind, she had grown rather fond of the missy during her time at Grimmauld billet.

A couplet of sky blue eye regarded her carefully, their twinkling somehow dimmer than she remembered.

'' I know what you are thinking Nymphadora, '' Dumbledore said kindly, as if reading her idea. `` But constituent of the grounds I made the blood pact here with Regulus, rather than in Voldemort 's presence, was so that I could see Hermione 's return on my own terms. He could give birth chosen to reject the blood pact had he so chosen, but he did not. ''

Tonks opened her mouth to ask precisely what those condition were, but his bridge player steadied her question.

'' The terms were that if she were returned in the precise strong-arm commonwealth that she had been in before the Hogsmead flack took berth, that I would trade places with her, becoming Voldemort 's prisoner. ``

'' I bet he was only too happy to consent that business deal, '' genus Regulus stated, smirking widely. `` Imagine that ... Albus Dumbledore, the Dark overlord 's with child curse, handed to him on a golden phonograph record with a side of cherry."

"Actually,"Dumbledore corrected,"I believe the expression is ‘ served on a silver platter with a cherry on top.'”

Tonks spluttered, focusing on the sick sensation within her stomach. The war exertion, the parliamentary law, could feasibly collapse without Dumbledore 's leadership, and here he was bantering with an ex-Death eater, wizarding world apostate right after selling his animation to the devil.

"Dumbledore,"She said, voicing her far from cool off thoughts aloud."Why would you do this ?"

Dumbledore 's eyes locked on hers, losing their scintillation. `` Nymphadora, we have lost far too many students to this war already. I could not remain firm by and lose another. ''

She swallowed the lump in her pharynx hastily. She should have known all along that the safety of others would always come first to Dumbledore. He would deliver done the Saame for any of them.

Love of one 's ally was a powerful thing.

'' So, old man, '' Regulus queried, taking a bite of his biscuit. `` Find out anything else of involvement during your piffling assignation ? ``

If possible Dumbledore 's eyes darkened further. `` We have to tack the ordering. The pestis was unleashed in Dublin. ``

'' Irish capital, Emerald Isle ! '' Tonks blurted rhetorically.

Regulus frowned, `` As brilliant as you are, how were you placed in Ravenclaw again ? ''

She scarcely heard him, her oculus having darted over to the still slumbering bod of Kenneth and Emily.

Their home city was infected.

'' So how 'd you fall by that fun fact Albus ? I never exactly took you two to be old school day chum salmon. ''

For the briefest of second gear Dumbledore 's eyes took on their old sparkle. `` For all of Voldemort 's artistry with Legilimency, he never quite mastered Occlumency. He has always surrounded himself with firm followers. '' He continued, `` And until recently he simply did not sustain the need.

Regulus chuckled. `` So he 's good, but you 're salutary. ``

Tonks blinked. `` But I thought he was one of the most brilliant students Hogwarts has ever seen ? ''

'' Ah ... '' Dumbledore said, smiling again. `` As is Ms. Granger, but even she can not fly upon a Scots heather. ''

Tonks gaped at him.

'' We all have our weaknesses Nymphadora. Severus never would receive survived his theatrical role as spy had he not been better at Occlumency and Legilimency than Voldemort. We should simply be thankful that this is one of Voldemort 's few weak period. ``

Tonks frowned pensively. So He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did cause weaknesses. They really were not fighting for naught.

With an air of finality Regulus clapped his helping hand together, making the already skittish Crusantheus bang his knocker rather loudly. The slumbering Ronald Weasley gave a fierce start, snorting loudly as he awoke suddenly.

Tonks watched wearily as the red-header blinked groggily, eyeing the position in straw man of him until his eyes landed on the Headmaster. It took a moment before a figurative light bulb clicked on in his sleep-befuddled mind

'' Professor Dumbledore ! '' He exclaimed, scrambling to his substructure, a flurry of wooden crutch and gangly branch sliding on Harlan Fisk Stone. It did n't take tenacious before Ron was savourless on his tail once again, groaning from his fall.

Regulus eyed him mockingly. `` And they call Hufflepuffs the duffers. ``

* * * * *


Harry 's eyes snapped open, his dreamless rest shattered by the sudden vociferation of the girl in his weapon system. Through slightly blurred eyes he stared down the bridge of his olfactory organ at the messy mop of hair resting upon his chest. The warm feeling he ought to have felt vanished, a numbing one replacing it at the sight of her expression.

For Kaylens there was no repose to be found in the region of pipe dream.

He swallowed hard, watching her face seam 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 bunch 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 root of such torment had been buried mystifying within him, growing since the moment he had discovered his unfeigned fate : killing or be killed.

All thought of his calamity of a future was suddenly shattered as Kaylens lurched violently, a cooling cry cutting from her throat.

Harry gaped, feeling the hair on his implements of war rising to put up on end. Without thinking his hands gripped her subdivision, her peel beneath his fingers turning white with the pressure.

'' K-kaylens ... '' He stuttered, scarcely recognizing his own articulation. He gave an experimental shove, shaking her lightly in a pathetic attempt to rouse her.

And that was when she cried out again. That sound ripping from her throat. It resonated through the dingy room, terrifying in its raw intensity. His hair now fully stood on end, for the sound had been insanely tragical and yet, unbearably beautiful.

It chilled him to the bone, for it was a voice no human could utter.

It happened fast. One 2d his subdivision were wrapped tightly around her, shaking her in an attempt to bestir her, and in the next her arms wrenched away. She shot up quickly, her eyes flying undecided in the dark room only to be slammed shut as she uttered a more conversant shriek of pain. His relief was short- lived as he grabbed onto her arm again, for she pulled away so violently that they were both commit acrobatics from the lounge to the floor.

His backrest struck the floor first, his knees having been tangled unnaturally in the blankets. He attempted to right himself, pulling his legs down until he was on all fours.

A swift squawk to the back sent his case smashing into the ground.

He groaned, and ignoring the throbbing pain in his nozzle he rose his pass cautiously, squinting at his surroundings. Where were his glasses ? Slowly he reached a hand out, allowing it to tramp across the soft rug in his search.

And then he remembered.

His glass were still lying in some godforsaken puddle in the middle of that damnable woods. By now they were probably some acromantula 's chaw toy.

Cursing he blinked rapidly, his eye finally adjusting to the iniquity and settling on the slightly fuzzy outline of Kaylens. She was sitting upright, some right five feet away, with her knee joint drawn to her chest and her expression buried within them.

He swallowed hard, the just sounds in the room now were his rough breathing place and her rapid, erratic ones. In stunned quiet he observed her as best as he could. Her unornamented feet were sticking out from beneath a midst mantle, which despite their fall still partly covered her, while she breathed as if having run a marathon.

Everything that had transpired between them came flooding back, a tense feeling twisting within him.

'' Kaylens ... '' He whispered, reaching hesitantly for her, only for her to resile, scrambling away like a frightened animal.

He stared in astonishment as her back hit the room 's bulwark, a strange whimper coming from her throat. Of all the reactions he could have foreseen, this was the farthest from it.

And now she was having the reaction that he would have got expected from any other girl, but not from her.

She was sobbing.

The sound of her crying torus at him in ways he had n't imagined, for the girlfriend who had stood by him, facing Death eater and werewolves without blinking an eye, had been reduced to this pitiable state by a mere nightmare.

Instantly he stood, crossing the way to her in four farseeing strides.

'' Kaylens, '' He said, tentatively laying a hand on her shoulder. She whimpered, shrinking away from his touch.

His forehead furrowed determinedly. `` Kaylens look at me, '' He commanded, crouching directly in front end of her. Still, her head remained determinedly adverted, prompting him to dig her by both shoulders.

Her caput guesswork up, a ferocious clicking coming from her throat as she struggled away, lashing out violently. He dove back to fend off her lam hands and feet, landing on his tailbone, center broad in astonishment.

She was making that sound again.

And he recognized it. A dark night in the Forbidden Forest, where he and Draco Malfoy had encountered the unexpected, had taught him that sound of pain.

The sound of the beautiful beast 's dying cry had reverberated in his nightmares for months.

As had Voldemort 's faint figure ...

There was no hesitation in his campaign as he wandlessly summoned his sceptre to his manus, immobilizing her arms and legs with a flick of his wrist.

Kaylens was conscious, but incapable of lashing out.

He crawled back to her, taking her delicate wrist joint and pushing the sleeve of her battered perspirer up.

The bruising was gone.

He swallowed hard, recognizing the odds of such bruising disappearing overnight. Now he was only certain of one thing.

Something had happened whilst he slept.

Licking his slips nervously he cupped her chin, raising her headland until he could see all of the confusion swimming within her golden eyes. His breath hitched in horrible realization at what he was about to do, but there was simply no other way.

He had to recognize. 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 bequeath to do this. There were rigid rule against the unauthorized use of Legilimency. Hermione had taught him that much, screaming and ranting after his last misuse of the talent against the Lapplander miss he was about to violate yet again.

'' I 'm sorry, '' He whispered, brushing her hair away from her face. `` I 'm so sorry Kally ... '' He repeated, steeling himself for his crime.

Cupping her face he stared intently into her centre, watching them flickering around in fear.

Her fear was warranted.

He only hoped he was wrong.

'' Legilimency ! ``

The overpowering wave that was her life flooded his mind, capturing his senses in a whirl of undetectable effect. He groaned, desperate to block off the twister-like effect of the memories swirling around him. It was different than the finally time, so unbelievably different ...

A blaring of clicking, beautiful and mightily in its raw vividness filled his creative thinker, only to be replaced just as quickly as it had come with a fellow scream.

'' RILEY ! ''

He was seeing it again, reliving the good afternoon when she had seen her own brother murdered right in front end of her. Only this time the images were fleeting, distorted as if he were viewing it through a slurred pane of smoky spyglass. It was as if the retention were no longer her own.

His heart clenched as he watched the man kick open the room access for the second time. Kaylens'small consistence was thrown backwards, her petite form sliding across the story. It was as if everything were on the loyal forrad feature of a Muggle VCR. There was the knife, her screams, her blood brother ...

As the gunshot rang out he could again almost palpate what she had. The hot, fiery pain of the blade plunging into her flesh. The searing as it was drug in a mystifying agate line across her berm blade. The fear as she watched the pedigree pooling from her brother 's
wound slowly stay pumping ...

Suddenly all was opprobrious, hazy, the powerful auditory sensation of a ruck stampeding through her idea. Then all was green and brown and green again. Somehow he was running faster than he had thought possible, the trees whipping past him in a blur of green and browned and green again. He was surrounded by others of his kind.

His name was Lightning.

The images twisted again, surrounding Harry in a put off whorl of forest scenes followed by scenes of her childhood. ash gray horns flashed around him, gleaming as the herd ran beneath the moonlight, while favorable hair flashed throughout her life.

Another retention slammed into Harry, crystallizing into approximate clarity. It was mid-afternoon, though the sun barely shone through the over-cast sky. Before him was a poorly kept 1000, bordered on three sides by a midst, rising treeline and hills. Harry swiveled in the mirky memory, feeling Kalliandra 's recollection lurch dangerously as another computer storage threatened to bleed into this one. The audio of hooves, the sound of the ruck on the run, pounded in the distance.

Harry fell to the dewy ground, watching as a man with prosperous tomentum, tinged heavily with gray, methodically stacked sandbags away from the theater. Fog crept across the lawn, curling around his feet, each grunt echoing in the dumb valley.

And then the children were led out, and Harry 's soul shivered.

Kalliandra appeared to be the like age as in the last memory, only now she stood besides a small boy, barely Old than her, digging her nails into his arm.

'' S-sean ... ''

Their begetter pried her hands away from her sidekick, forcing a semi-automatic Glock 17, 9x19 mm bore pistol into her small manpower. Her legs had suddenly felt frozen, rooted to the damp terra firma. Harry could practically experience her affection 's cowardly thundering at the cold, unfeeling metal between her finger's breadth.

The loggerheaded fog curled high around the six groundwork stack of sand bags, 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 crony Kaylens'memories shifted again, swirling until he found himself peering through a thick orchard of trees, stomping his hooves in warning as a hooded human body approached. The figure 's hands raised very slowly, carefully removing the hood of their robe, allowing a cascade of midst, black hair to come in tumbling around her berm.

The woman 's physiognomy remained hidden by the deep forest shadows, yet Lightning was calming.

It was a virtuous cleaning woman. 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 silver with Lightning 's blood.

Harry stood in the tail drawing deep, ragged hint. He could practically find every inch of hurting the poor creature was going through, the only sounds that of the screeching animal and that of the dry arm cracking beneath Harry 's shifting exercising weight as he watched, powerless to stop its pain.

The man bottled and corked a mensurable measure of blood from the unicorn, leaving it only enough to barely gimp away alive. A light chuckle escaped the hooded Death Eater at the sight.

Suddenly the woman stepped out of the fantasm, and Harry 's breath stopped.

Angelina stood in the dim light, depositing the bottles into a thick bag slung across her shoulder. Her Dark Mark gleamed brilliantly.

Violently Harry felt himself being tossed out, finding himself unconditional 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 Irish Republic would have had More of an effect upon its President.

Instead the newly awakened Kenneth Bothan sat behind Dumbledore 's desk, clasping his bridge player, waiting for her reaction with an inquiring facial expression upon his face.

She silently damned Albus for having left them to break the tidings to Kenneth while he went to promise an emergency meeting of the Order. She was n't trade good at this sort of matter dam n't ! She had at least expected a rouse out of the man at the news, but instead he was irrefutably calm.

It was quite obvious that Kenneth was insane.

'' Basically Ken, all of your mass will be utter within the week, '' genus Regulus stated with ironic blitheness. `` But look on the undimmed incline. At least you wo n't have to run for re-election. ''

Tonks'dark optic swiveled to her full cousin, her mouth opening and closing like a yaw fish.

Kenneth, however, seemed entirely unperturbed.

'' So, '' The President started with a curious frown, `` What you are saying is that wizarding ethnic music have no treatment against this ? ''

'' Well ... '' Regulus mused thoughtfully. `` We could always Avada Kedavra those who have already contracted it. That ought to retard its spread, right Nymphadora ? ``

'' Regulus ! ``

Kenneth looked appraisingly at her cousin. `` And this Avada Kedarva treatment ? How effective is it ? ``

Regulus grinned like a jackal. `` Supposing we were able to isolate those who had already contracted it we may find out its method of dispersal, while simultaneously establishing a quarantine and treating the pain of the already afflicted ... ''

'' By killing them ! ? '' Tonks fusillade in, ineffectual to conceive the disgusting game Regulus played with the President 's hopes.

'' Ah, '' Kenneth said as if suddenly understanding. `` The handling has a heights mortality charge per unit. How high though ? ``

Regulus grinned widely, while Tonks contemplated execution for the dozenth time in twenty four hours.
* * * * *


'' Harry ! What in the epithet of Merlin did you think you were ... ''

Harry closed his eyes, grinding out his language. `` Something 's wrong with Kalliandra, '' He interjected. `` I had to incur out what. ``

The room 's silence was broken only by Kaylens'laboured external respiration, and her clear distress drew lupin 's attention from him to her. He felt the former professor driblet to his articulatio genus besides them, and he cracked an eye to look out as Lupin scrutinized her.

The Professor looked flabbergasted as he picked up one of her fuddled arms. `` Harry, you 've immobilized her. ``

'' For effective reason. ``

lupin threw a disgust spirit over his shoulder, and snatched his wand out, clearly intending to remove the spell.

'' prof I do n't think tha ... ''

His protestation was too later, for Kaylens had already lashed out, landing a strategic kick that sent lupine sprawling flat tire on his back next to Harry.

'' I told you, '' Harry groaned, shoving himself up on his elbow to note the ail expression of Remus'face. `` rush hard, does n't she ? ``

lupine coughed harshly in reaction, choosing to ignore 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 panicky animal. On her way she somehow managed to hit the but other patch of article of furniture, asides from the couch, and several small mass came spilling down, scattering across the floor like rock and roll thrown from a distance.

The crashing sound only intensified the short girl 's whimpering.

Harry 's eyes remained on her, watching as she curled her legs to her chest in a feeble attempt at self-protection. But he knew the Truth ... there was no aegis from what plagued her.

But he 'd be damned if he did n't try to help.

'' Professor .... '' He started slowly. `` What kind of curse does drinking unicorn blood entail ? ''

Lupin opened his back talk and faltered. Harry remained lying on his rear, his upper body propped up with his elbows, silently hoping to God that the prof would put the pieces together. Lupin had to believe him. He had to bank him. None of the adults, save for those utter and buried, had ever trusted him in clip for it to actually matter.

It was why Sothis had died. And somehow Harry did n't think he could take it if the cobbler's last link to his father failed to trust him.

Then slowly, ever so slowly, the lykan's principal turned towards him, and even in the morose room Harry could see the sudden cognition flashing in his eyes.

Moony understood his meaning.

'' Her bruising is gone, '' Harry whispered, driving another reversal to any doubts the professor could have. `` What else in the wizarding world could bring around somebody that quickly ? ``

lupine drew a deep breath, shaking slightly.

'' Harry ... if what you 're saying is admittedly ... ''

'' It is, '' He assured. `` I saw memories inside of her thinker 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 deathly 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 easement of her distress.

He glanced at lupin, stunned at the displume grammatical construction upon his former professor's endorsement. Did the man believe him or not ?

He sighed in frustration, snapping at lupine's unresponsiveness. `` Why would she stimulate those computer storage, Moony ? ``

Hearing his old Marauder name snapped lupine out of his pensive semiconsciousness. `` It's magically potent…unicorn origin that is. In fact it is so magical that their memories are often heavily imprinted upon it. '' He shook his foreland slowly, as if clearing a hazy fog."To own a unicorn's line is to not only own their animation stream, but their very being."

Lupin sighed heavily. `` There is not much precedent for this, but….in the other 1900 's medi-wizards began experimenting with different handling options for terminal diseases. One researcher, familiar with unicorns, sought to harness their healing king by injecting his terminally ill patient role with the fauna'blood. It cured the affected role but the side effects…"lupin shuddered, digressing quickly. `` The descent was too intemperately to obtain to begin with. Unicorns don't normally donate willingly, not to mentio ... ''

'' What incline event, '' Harry interrupted hoarsely, closing his eyes. The smell of her in his coat of arms flooded his senses, the woodsy odour that had clung to her all dark coming back, overwhelming him with a tidal waving of fear. In his life there was no room for new fastening, yet the thought of her in pain…

He knew without a incertitude 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 come to that.

His eyes snapped open as lupine 's hard-pressed voice filled the room.

'' well-nigh went insane. ``

Harry nearly choked. `` Insane ? '' He grated out.

Lupin looked years honest-to-goodness. `` They never were able to distinguish between themselves and the beast again, '' he relayed. `` Can you imagine it Harry ? Having a lifetime of remembering that were not your own suddenly shoved inside of your psyche ? Unicorns live for century of years…it was only natural for those obtaining their ancestry to suit confused. To them it would feel as if they had spent a tenacious time being a unicorn than a human being."

The sick sensation twisting within him heighten. Kaylens'judgment 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 side effect facing them in Kaylens'crumpled mannequin.

"When one slays such an guiltless creature, seeking their blood's healing ability, it leaves the hex of the half-life. But when one is given the blood unwillingly, or when the brute is left alert, the cuss 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 look upon Lupin's cheek."Harry, the only 1 desperate enough to wipe out such an sinless brute are those hanging onto life story by a thread. But the price…it is far too high for any sane person to contemplate, for the Price for their atrocity is losing all ability to love. A life without the capacity for making love is devoid of joy, happiness, family…"He shook his head, disgust etched in his every feature."In a desperate attempt to save their own living they lose the only thing that makes life Worth keep for. Once they take that path they truly spark advance half a life, only experiencing the darker sides of the emotional spectrum."

"Then the mediwizard, the one using it to cure his patients, did that happen to him ?"

lupin sighed indulgently."There are ways to collect it, way of life for it to be done without incurring the wrath of the curse but…those ways take time, Harry. Gaining the long condition trust of a unicorn, let alone permission to bring down injury upon it, are not soft tasks."

He swallowed hard."What about Kaylens ? That won't…it won't happen…"He trailed off, unable to vocalize such morbid thinking 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 make out, but her every experience will be shared with both sides of her, diluting the intensity of the emotions she feels, diluting her feelings towards others…"

Something about the run-in sent Harry's affection twisting.

"Unicorns ... they are such innocent creatures, incompetent of sin, incapable of inflicting bother ... Could you imagine having a ideal following you around for the entirety of your lifetime, correcting your every mistake ? Well from this import on she will be sharing her mind, her aliveness, with memories of what unfeigned innocence is, for a unicorn is the true embodiment of that, and with it will occur a gnawing guilty conscience over the sins she has committed in the past tense. Between the confusion over her identity element and her newfound guilt trip over even the smallest of transgressions…that alone could be enough to drive some mad."

Harry's mouth twisted into a frown,"So she can't sin ?"

"If only it were that soft, Harry. She can, and she will. But having this will give her a scruples potent than most, and living a perfect life is an impossible task. Her life will be as close up to normal as potential, only she will finger far guiltier about affair 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 memories not her own.

None of this was her fault, and the intellection sickened him.

'' Not all the mediwizard 's patients went insane, '' He finally said, recalling Lupin 's earlier words. `` You said most. ``

Lupin shook his head word. `` They all went insane at first Harry. But only two managed to reclaim enough of their minds to function. Two out of loads. ``

Harry closed his heart, his vocalisation filled with sardonic sarcasm. `` She just ca n't catch a break, can she ? ``

The Professor shook his caput in response. `` There 's only one way to be sure. ''

Without warning lupine snatched his scepter out, summoning a small torch. Soon a metallic element fuzz came flying through the doorway, landing in the professor 's outstretched mitt.

Harry frowned at the military action, not understanding, but in one swift motility the prof had it on and aimed at Kalliandra 's face. lupine clearly knew exactly what he was looking for.

Kaylens was suddenly shrieking again, and judging from the stern face on the professor 's face he had found all he needed to know.

A metallic mouse click sounded as the flashlight was turned off, and Kaylens'cries instantly died down, slowly fading to a dull whimper.

'' She 's sensitive to visible radiation ... '' lupin stated. `` There are only two conditions I know of that cause that. ``

'' She 's not a lamia ... '' Harry stated coldly, earning a reproving look.

'' I was n't even about to suggest it. But animate being tend to have wagerer nocturnal vision than us Harry. Lykans and unicorns are no exception, and when I was outset bit ... '' He trailed off, his face twisting into a peculiar expression."Once I was bit my totally consistency changed. My optic were the high-risk though. ''

The prof suddenly adopted an almost whimsical expression. `` Did you know there are More square face per inch in your eye than in any other parting of your body ? Well there are. If you ever want to make mortal bother just jinx their eyes and ... ''

'' Professor, '' Harry interjected, at the moment not carrying about the finer degree of jinxing.

Lupin shrugged. `` My bite caused a whole new layer of tissue paper fully of light sensitive cadre to grow across the backrest of my optic, its called tapetum lucidum. It lets me use to a lesser extent light to see, so I can see with one-sixth the measure you can. But when it first happened ... before I was used to it ... '' He shuddered. `` pigeon hawk it hurt. The svelte light felt like the sun was blasting me in the face. Hell, it had me in tears. ''

Lupin raised the flashlight, pointing it directly at Kalliandra, flicking it on and off with each syllable. `` Just. Like. Her. ''

Kaylens'whimper died down as the light was turned off for a final meter, and suddenly Harry understood the flashlight. Unicorns had excellent nigh vision as well, and the flashlight was Lupin 's way of confirming what he already knew.

Kaylens had a layer of igniter sore tissue growing across her retinas right now. No wonder she screamed at the light.

'' Harry, '' The scholarly professor tincture was suddenly gone, and the wolf was deadly serious. `` Was she fine final stage night ? Before she lost knowingness ? ``

Harry was quick to nod.

'' Then sometime between then and now mortal injected that blood directly into her venous blood vessel. She could n't receive done it herself. ``

Harry 's mouth opened, but his interrogative sentence of how that was potential died on his tongue.

He knew the answer.

There was only one person who would wilfully blaspheme another within the house.

'' prof what 's going on ? I heard yelling. ''

Harry 's optic narrowed, every muscle tightening. Angelina had finally come, drawn by the incremental cheering. There she was, rushing through the room 's threshold, drawing her cloak hastily around her as if nothing terrible were amiss.

If he had n't known better he would have thought she truly was surprised at the situation she found. But he knew better. No one took that long to respond to screech like the one's Kaylens had unleashed unless it was intentional.

'' Why is it so iniquity ? '' Her voice sounded honestly confused as she flicked her wand out, lighting every candelabra in sight.

His eyes flew to Kaylens, who had immediately began shrieking, clamping her hands over her middle, screaming as if netherworld itself has sent its fiend up to drag her into its astuteness. His chest constricted at her obvious pain.

lupine lunged at her in a decidedly wolf like way. `` Kally, do n't ! '' He was shouting, fighting her for control. She lashed out, and Lupin grasped her wrist in a exclusive, fluid motion, quickly capturing the former as well.

The professor had already forced her hands down against her face, kneeling on her stage in a vain attempt to forestall them from flailing. He was far stronger than Kaylens, but she was desperate, fighting to block the hellish light from her eyes as lupin fought to prevent her from inflicting impairment 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 guiltiness flashing within every brown pigment in her dark centre.

Her black cilium fluttered, and the betraying emotion was suddenly gone.

His rip boiled, his arms vibrating with stamp down rage as she began speaking, a panicked edge to her voice.

'' What 's going on ? '' She asked fearfully, rushing across the room to aid lupine. `` Remus !
What 's wrong with Kally ! ? '' She continued shouting questions, lunging over Harry as if he were not even there.

She dropped to her knees besides where Lupin and Kaylens wrestled, her ebony skin gleaming in the candlelight. Her black eye widened in affect repulsion, her face a mask of innocent concern as she reached out to help restrict Kaylens.

And Harry lost it.

Her manus never reached Kaylens, her sully fingers never touching her consistency. Before anyone could actualize it Harry 's hand 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 hound of his foot against the girl 's pharynx, pinning her to the ground.

'' Do n't. Touch. Her. '' He growled, the mankind rippling around him.

Power swelled within him, the speciality of his magic unleashed by the raw anger pumping through his nervure, and the feeling ... it was intoxicating.

Angelina 's physical structure undulated like a worm beneath him. She was choking, spluttering incomprehensible phone, the shock clearly written across her face. Her hands were clawing at his invertebrate foot, 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 eyes rolling backwards, finger going mire as her plea went unheard.

'' Harry ! Let her go ! '' Shouted Remus, followed by a flash crashing as he and Kaylens tumbled into the bookcase, knocking it sideways.

Books went flying, scattering everywhere. The resounding crashing masked the dull clunk of Angelina 's limp arm hitting the floor.

lupine let out a pain howl, and Harry 's script shot out. He felt the conjuration dripping from his fingertips like water.

With a flick of his wrist joint the standard candle went out.
* * * * *


The descending sun of midday zenith was partially obscured by the aeonian cloud cover, casting the not-so-distant Dublin-Wicklow raft into a trench fog. Yet the man paid the menacing surroundings no brain, nor the racking coughing that had swiftly descended upon him. Instead he stared out the window of his South Dublin savoir-faire, admiring the view afforded by his working division neighborhood.

With a diminished smile he leaned further back into his recliner, letting the smoky scent of newly baking fish fulfil his nostrils. Meredith was cooking, and from the spirit of it she was cooking the Fish he had caught just that morn. They were bound to sample delicious. Everything his wife cooked always did. It was just a pity their midway tike, Eva, had inherited his culinary sentience, or lack thereof.

'' Father, you feeling alright ? ``

The man turned to find his eldest son in the doorway, a implicated locution crossing Edward V 's lentiginous face. The man smiled, for the resemblance between father and son was striking. Edward had been the entirely child to inherit both the lentigo scattered across his nozzle and the dark chief of fuzz adorning his head. The other two of his children bore his wife 's ash blond tomentum and startling dark eyes. Edward however had his blue-green one.

He graced his son with a warm smile. `` I 'm just mulct m'boy. Just a bit of a frigidity. ``

'' You sure father ? Perhaps after dinner party we should choose you to the doctor. Your neck looks awfully swollen. ``

Curiously the man rubbed his pinnace lymph nodes, shocked to find that they had doubled in sizing in just a few hours.

His son smiled cheekily. `` female parent is of the psyche to not let you go off fishing at such ungodly minute again. She said something about catchin'yer death on account of our colder than normal temperatures. ``

The man could n't resist a grin. `` Well perhaps yer mum is mighty. The thermoregulator dropped to 10 Celsius this mornin'before I ventured out. ''

'' I 'll tell her you said so. ``

The man 's eyes widened in mock horror. `` Now you 'll be doin'no such thing boy ! Because I 'll guarantee that once yer mum 's done houndin'me that yer 'll be succeeding. ``

Now it was Prince Edward 's turn to look horrendous, and the man leaned back, smiling in atonement. The boy still remembered the prison term Meredith had wrapped him head to toe in a snow-suit, utter with two scarf wrapped around his brain and oversized mittens. Oh ! How the boy could hardly walk in that convenience !

'' Fatherhood, '' Started his boy diplomatically, `` I think I 'll just be off to get a capitulum get-go on my Algebra. ``

The man smiled in satisfaction as the threshold closed behind his boy. Yes, despite their humble environs his boy would soon grow into a amercement man. And while he had never been able to provide all that he desired for his children, they did wonderfully with what they were given.

It was no little level of pride for the man that he had worked his way from the north incline of capital of Ireland to the south. While to the highest degree of the people in his income class tended towards the northwest English of the urban center, here he was, raising his family is Tallaght. It might not be one of the wealthy districts characteristic of Confederacy Dublin, but its rich sense of chronicle had captured his children 's affection from day one. He still remembered how untried Eve 's eyes had grown astray as saucers as he had explained the origin of the district 's name.

Tallaght. Pit of binge. The very public figure was reminiscent of the mass grave dug there during the cobbler's last Black Plague. G were said to be buried just beneath the sewers, and that little bit of knowledge had had all three of his shaver off and running, screaming and laughing in increments as their youth nous invented ghost tarradiddle along with it.

How proud he had been when Edward I had shown him a story he had written. It had been about a young boy and his ghostly friend, a child who had died during the Negroid Plague. The shade child had been buried beneath the fancied boy 's domicile, and had appeared to the boy when another strange sickness ran rampant through the city. With the ghost child 's avail the young boy had been able-bodied to relieve the urban center, and his family.

The man leaned back in his death chair as a bout of coughing rock his lean frame, a bass pain shooting through him. He clung to the script rests tightly, waiting for it to pass, all the while intellection of the future.

Yes. An author would be a befit professing for his firstborn. Edward would one day take a mulct novelist.

The man smiled, proud of his children in a way that only a father could be.

If only he knew how soon history were to retell itself.








A/N : Thank you so much to Andrew, Njhill22, and Ichigopan for helping me out a lot with this chapter. Andrew not only helped to work out some of the plot kink for this chapter and the succeeding, 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 publish the succeeding part. Thanks so much you guys !






'' nada ventured, nix gained. ''
~ William Shakespeare ~



Chapter 29 ~ No yearner Helpless


With a flick of his wrist the cd went out.

His heel remained solidly planted against Angelina 's chest of drawers as shrouds of darkness shooter out in all directions, like the spindly 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 buddy-buddy aroma of combust wax as unobserved sess curled up from the extinguished candles.

choler pumped heavily through his veins, and with a hatred he had not thought possible he glared down at the fille beneath him. In the retiring his callous natural action against his former firm spouse would have sickened him, but now ....

affair were unlike.

His outstretched hand shook, his barely restrained witching crackling across his skin like atmospherics electricity, burning and searing at his flesh. Grimacing in pain he forcefully curled his digit into a fist, tightening it, feeling the raw power seeping back in

A new impression rose up within him. A dark, powerful, vengeful feeling.

aim the coldest of looks he crouched low, inspecting Angelina to see to it that she was indeed unconscious mind. He would not make the error 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 unreliable wench.

Then, beneath his foot, he felt the slow rise and fall of her ribcage, and his leg twitched with the suppressed urge to stomp the breather from her. For the number 1 sentence he understood what Ron had meant when he had drilled him on the remainder of fighting defensively versus offensively in chess.

From now on Harry was out to win, and if that meant taking down the adversary 's pawns to do so he would show no hesitation.

Swallowing back a nauseous wave of revulsion he reached out, touching the tainted enchantress 's hide and shoving her head to the face. It lolled over with a sluggish thud, revealing nothing. The end Eater would not be moving for some time.

Good.

Still ... they had all been fooled by Angelina 's acting acquisition once. He would not devolve victim to that again.

With calculated efficiency he withdrew his wand, a frightening look crossing his feature. His anger still burned hot within him, the veins in his neck pulsing intensely as he thought of the crone 's betrayal. Angelina had been his menage mate, a teammate, but worst of all, she had nearly been a acquaintance. Once she was a Gryffindor. And now ....

She had betrayed the parliamentary procedure by taking the Deutschmark of that snake, and had all but killed Kaylens, possibly robbing her of her mind.

A growl ripped from his throat, the tip of his wand suddenly digging against the two-timer 's temple as he pondered all the spells he could use.

Thunk.

'' Harry, stop ! ''

He stopped cold. Remus'gruff, panic voice had cut through the air like a well sharpened knife, sending his wand arm tensing as his forefather 's death friend fought his way out from beneath the books that had fallen atop him. In the aftermath of his own hassle he had nearly forgotten Lupin 's presence, and the thundering of his heart rate in his pinna had drowned out the low groan and whimpers from the former side of the room.

He had forgotten one other thing : That despite the want of lighting in the elbow room, lupin could still see exactly what he was doing.

'' Lumos. ''

Harry 's brain snapped around as a piano glow cut through the duncical dark, his regard riveted to the horrified expression crossing Remus'face.

His one-time Professor stood behind the repeal bookcase, eyes wide and staring.

'' My God ... '' He whispered chokingly, `` Harry ... '' His accusatory oculus flickered up to his. `` What have you done ? ``

He sucked in a strained intimation between his teeth. `` zero she did n't deserve, '' He hissed staidly.

A strangled phone came from the prof 's pharynx. `` But Harry ... that 's Angelina ... ''

'' No kidding. Really ? '' He snapped.

A sudden scuffle and thud, followed by a sharp, inhuman whimper sent his wand jabbing into Angelina 's school principal.

'' Kally ... ''

He had n't needed the prof 's devastated whisper to know who was softly whimpering.

spunk wrenching, he fought back the hole touch sensation in his pectus. `` Why do n't you see to Kaylens, Professor, '' He grated out, his face a grim masquerade party as he focused back on the former chaser.

'' I will but ... is Angelina okeh ? ''

'' I sure as hell hope not. ``

A loud drink preceded Remus'side by side, tense up words.

'' What are you planning on doing Harry ? ``

'' You know Moony, '' He said, voice vibrating with barely suppressed rage. `` I 'm still deciding on that.

Lupin 's voice was strained, the conservative, placating government note in it alien to him. `` Harry, I know something 's faulty. But just think about what you 're doing ... ''

A cruel, hollow out laugh escaped his throat. `` Oh, desire me Moony, I have. ``

'' She 's on our side, Har ... ''

He cut him off, spitting out the frigidity truth.

'' She 's a last Eater, Moony. ``

From behind him came a loud, apprehensive deglutition. `` Harry ... are you indisputable ? ``

A moth-eaten grimace crossed his features. `` Yes. ``

There was an agonizing pause, and a spew, uneasy dread suddenly rose in his abdomen as his racing pulse finally began to slacken. He needed Remus to believe him. He needed someone in the edict to not just listen to him, but to actually trust him. And if Remus did n't ...

'' I 'll oblige her. She 'll have to be taken to headquarters. ``

Harry 's head bolted around, impact written on his expression. `` You believe me, '' He questioned. And even in the dim ignitor he could see the flimsy crusade of Remus'shadow 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 blow her head off before I could visualise out why you had attacked her in the first-class honours degree shoes. It would throw been a very Sirius-like thing to do. ''

The mentation struck him hard. `` Yeah, '' He managed. `` It would give birth been like him. ``

He glanced back, and in the luminescence of the wand he could see Remus smiling sadly. He returned the facial expression, feeling shakier than he would have thought possible only min before, but that did n't matter.

Remus believed him. He did care about him after all.

His excuse for all those lost months, for all the sentence when he had been left to cope with the nuisance of Sirius'death alone truly had meant something, and despite everything a warm sensation wormed its way into him.

All it took was a cushy whimper, from a turning point behind him, to drive it all away.

He swallowed hard, finally turning and squinting in the dim lighting to see Kalliandra cowering in the corner, knees drawn feebly to her chest, her gold fuzz spilling over them and her face buried within them.

Slowly his descent press rose, his foot grinding down even harder against the wench beneath him. Angelina would pay. He would see to it. But right now she was not his priority.

Kaylens was.

Throwing a piercing public eye at Angelina he shoved his foot beneath her limp soundbox, kicking her over onto her stomach. A back later he was on her back, dragging her workforce behind her, pinning them together with his knee as he snatched up his wand, pointing it at her exposed wrists.

'' Bindovera, '' He hissed, watching the snake-like ropes flow from its tip, slithering around her arms until she was bound up to her elbow. Dropping his wand he gave them a harsh tug, satisfied in the way the dark girl 's cutis chaffed, reddening even in the dark sparkle.

'' Exuberant, aren't we ? ''

He merely grunted in response, giving the ropes one final, callous tug as Remus began binding her legs.

A secondment later he was on his base, an aching sensation spreading through him as he watched Kalliandra curling in the quoin, unequal to of remembering even her own name.

Gods ... she was n't in her right brain. And Remus had said she 'd have to stymy out the unicorn 's computer storage 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 testis of noesis. He had used it for himself, but could he do it for someone else ?

He would be grasping at husk, but there was a chance ...

Voldemort had given him mess of practice at blocking unwanted memories.

His descent pumped purposefully, and he felt, more than saw, Remus ascension besides him, looking morosely in the Lapp instruction as he.

'' Well have to immobilize her again, '' He said regretfully, dimming the luminousness from his sceptre as it sent Kaylens stirring uncomfortably.

'' No, '' Harry answered immediately, voice filled with conviction. `` I 'll make do with her. You just get Angelina to Grimmauld. ''

Remus'brow furrowed at this, dubitable lines crisscrossing his face. His mouth opened, as if to resist, but his incertitude went unuttered. Instead a heedful, decisive facial expression befell him as he studied Harry 's tense, determined face.

The cable on his face suddenly deepened. `` Are you indisputable ? ``

Harry nodded, tense with ire at the entire situation, and filled with the need to do something about it.

'' Yeah, '' He responded. `` I 've stunned her sufficiency lately. ''

Lupin 's conflicted formulation remained, but he nodded decisively.

'' Alright, take this then. ``

A 2d later a small pouch was being pressed into his hand, a sandy material grinding within it.

'' It 's a port key. Pour the contents ... ''

'' Into our hands, '' Harry finished for him. `` We 've used this kind before. ``

Remus eyed him curiously, tilting his head to the position. `` Well then, I 'll see you there. ``

He nodded, watching as Remus unearthed another pocket from his pocket. He watched him crouch future to Angelina, sending him one hold up, pointed look before dousing his sceptre.

Shadows spilled around them, enshrouding the room in shadow once again. Rifling a hand nervously through his pilus Harry forced a deform, spiritual world smile, and a instant afterwards Remus and the traitor blinked out of existence, leaving him with a single insane idea, one that he never could have done in Remus'presence.

And somehow he thought Remus had known that.

For a moment he did nothing, simply allowing his eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness. Then, slowly, the inkiness gave way, revealing her vague, hoar precis. 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 rough manus gently cupping her face and turning it towards his. He felt sick, for he was violating her yet again. But God, what selection did he have ?

For the back time that day her frighten oculus stared back at his, flickering with too many emotions to name. His thumbs gently brushed her hair away from her oculus, his heart thumping shamefully. She was like a frightened animal, and somehow this just felt wrong.

Yet he had to try. No one deserved this, and if his estimation worked ...

He might just be able-bodied to salvage enough of her to serve her ascertain her way back.

Staring into her center he hoped to God it would work.

'' I swear to you, '' He whispered intently, `` This is the last time I 'll ever do this to you. ``

Licking his lips nervously he raised his verge, letting it hover inch from her skin. Closing his eye 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 sentience reeling as an assault of enhanced sounds and aroma attacked him.

Thunder cracked through the swirling mist, sending his consistence crashing face first into the mud, and he immediately knew there was something different about this memory.

He staggered to his knee joint, peering through the incredibly dark, moonless Nox. Hardly anything was discernible through the thick, icy downpour pouring down around him, and then it hit him.

Every other memory he had seen had had a weary contrast, the intensiveness of emotions and issue diluted by time. Dumbledore and Snape had been too skilled for him to peer into Holocene events, and luck-of-the-draw had shown him affair from Kayelns'childhood. But this computer storage was different.

It felt fresh.

The harsh, biting confidential information sent the looming woods moving with an deviate life, and above him lightning flashed, crackling across the blackened cloud, briefly illuminating the crushed rock route running past him. For a instant the afforest surrounding him came into stark nidus, as did the wooden planetary house he had landed before.

Again lightning set the arena aglow, a inscrutable shout snapping his eyes towards the modest lawn.

What he saw made his stock run cold.

His training with Dumbledore had taught him that it was one 's most dreadful memories that were flung to the head of the judgement when it was invaded.

And now he knew that Kalliandra was no exception.

A grate voice preceded the newsbreak of twinkle, and he had just plenty time to see a dark haired man struck down. The man tumbled promontory first into the muddied reason, the auditory sensation of his body slapping against the mud drowned out by a thunderous crack.

A blinding hot, fiery ball blew through the house 's sidetrack, sending floorboards flying to litter the lawn.

From inside came the scream, drowned out by a epicurean laugh.

'' Muggle, muggle, muggle come out to play ! ''

Bile churned in his venter, though there was no time for it to rise as people began pouring out of a English window.

'' Aw, the wittle, ittle Muggles do n't want to play ? ``

That taunting, familiar laugh of his nightmares greeted him as Bellatrix Lestrange stepped calmly out the front door, the combustion home alighting her brass with a hellish glow.

One of the fleeing figures bolted towards a car, parked along the gravel route near the timber 's tree diagram product line.

He never made it.

A fiery spell smacked into him, setting his cutis ablaze.

He had seen others die, but never before had he behold person as they burnt alive. Even the pouring violent stream was not enough to drench the flames engulfing the man 's flesh, and the wind hurled a noxious reek against his nostrils.

'' flatness ! ''

A girl was rising from the muddied terra firma, thick smoke stains streaked across her denim, her brown hair matted against her headland as she screamed hysterically. Her aspect was contorted into something inhuman, raw botheration distorting incredibly striking characteristic, and she appeared frozen in place.

Harry was screaming for her to run, but she never heard him. From around the corner of the home came two others clad in black, and a jet of searing purple ignitor shot out.

mortal darted out, from where he did not see, tackling her around the waist.

The purple igniter missed her by in as she and her recoverer went sliding across the priming, smacking into the side of the house with a dull thud.

The Death eater were on them in an trice, a loud crack resonating through the air as Harry ran forward, just in time to see a graying haired man 's arm being viciously snapped. The gun the man had been pulling fell from his paw with a cruel slosh, the mud swallowing it whole. The dark haired young woman was still screaming, clawing at her head as a burly end Eater snatched her hair up, twisting it around his massive ribbon before dragging her across the lawn by it.

A sharp splinter broke the air, and the Death Eater assaulting the gray haired man went down. The previous man struggled to his feet, slipping in the mud and cradling his arm.

'' DAD ! ''

Lightning split the sky, catching onto the Gray haired man 's few remaining aureate hairs. His typeface snag into a horrified expression, and Harry followed his gaze.

Kalliandra, eyes ablaze, came barreling out from the tree furrow, a man barely aged than him hot on her cad.

Both had striking golden-brown pilus, their hues muted only by the precipitation pouring down around them. And Harry suddenly understood that he was seeing her second brother for the first time.

'' KIDS GO ! GET OUT OF HERE ! ''

The shout came from a second base trading floor windowpane, and Harry finally understood who had done the shooting.

A middle aged woman with light chocolate-brown whisker was hanging out of it, pistol in manus, and over the noise Harry could learn Bellatrix laughing hysterically.

Lightning split the sky, thunder drowning out the second, tierce, and fourthly gunshots.

Kalliandra 's mother could no longer be seen. Only the dim sound of the fifth part and sixth gunshots firing off in the elbow room told him that her tending had been drawn back inside the combustion house.

Inside the sign of the zodiac, where he could not get a line, came the successive clicking of empty chambers.

A brassy screaming carried through the window, followed by a body flying through the window 's opening.

The adult female hit the primer coat with a sickening thud, leaving the grey haired man yelling something that the boom drowned out.

No time was wasted. Kalliandra 's brother came sliding aside her mother, grasping the gun from her still twitching work force, sobbing as he started rifling through her clothing.

A endorse later a new round was in his hired hand, but he never had a chance to load it as Bellatrix apparated in front of him, kicking the troll from his bridge player, sending person bullets scattering to the wind.

The strobe light effect 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 brother had leapt to his understructure, and rushed to join the fray as his babe smashed Bellatrix 's capitulum into the ground repeatedly, screaming incomprehensible words.

Her brother reached her, grasping her by the spinal column of her jumper and tossing her out of the way as he grasped Bellatrix 's head in a vice traction 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 cipher more than an irritating baby. Bellatrix fell to the ground, spitting dark-brown water, her savage middle rounding on the three remaining appendage of the Kaylens'family.

'' Filthy Muggles ! '' She roared, shooting binding charm off at a wild pace, hitting the sidekick first.

'' SEAN ! '' Their forefather 's voice ripped through the air as roofy twisted around his son, sending him crashing to the ground right below the strapping Death Eater 's feet.

Kalliandra, having been thrown back by her brother, was still down in the mud. She did n't stand a chance.

Then her forefather slid in front of her, the circle taking him right in the chest, and constricting around his neck and throat.

The home was quickly succumbing to the flame, the red Light showcasing Bellatrix 's overzealous grinning as she tugged Kaylens'father away from her by his neck opening.

Her father was ineffective to claw at the roofy, for his arms had been pinned to his sides.

He was unconscious by the time Bellatrix had dragged him to her feet.

sally !

Another gunfire rang out, taking the buirdly man rightfulness in the top dog.

Kalliandra had gotten to her knees, tomentum plastered to her cheek, her arms outstretched and shaking.

Her hands held the gun, and Bellatrix regarded her with an amused expression.

The next shot was in Lestrange 's direction, but a shimmering light halted the shot, sending the shell dropping to the soil LE than a foot from her smirking face.

Kally looked stunned, and Bellatrix waggled a digit back and forth as if scolding a blue child.

'' Foolish wittle little girl should n't take on with guns, '' She cooed in a baby voice, suddenly beckoning towards Kally.

Kaylens was sent sprawling forward as an invisible power pulled the gun from her clutch, and a second later a new last feeder was there, his human foot on her back.

A gust of wind sent the new arrival 's cowling falling back, and Harry suddenly understood every Bible that she had uttered in the Three Broomsticks.

Ludo Bagman was there, standing on top of Kalliandra and looking rather out of piazza. Bellatrix fixed him with a death-like stare, her anger at his former comer apparent, but there was no prison term for anything to be said.

Barely a second gear had transpired between his belatedly arrival and his declination to the ground.

Kally had rolled over, kicking his legs out from under him.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes, and this time her book binding spell did not miss.

Angry rip were rolling down his side, his clenched fist taking swings at the half-crazed woman who had taken his Godfather. Somewhere his mind was screaming for him to stop, that it would do no good, but his subconscious'voice went unheeded.

'' Crucio ... ''

And then the swirling, silver mist returned, swallowing up the images of Kally 's brother convulsing beneath the unforgivable curse.

Harry was shaking, overcome with the revulsion of what he had just witnessed. And the memories were disorienting, rising up around him, swallowing him entirely as they dislodged him from situation to place in her life, never stopping long enough for him to earn his bearings.

Around him the crashing of hooves fought for precedence above the removed laugh. Hazy synopsis flickered by, barely seeable through the fog-like mist swirling around him. He was lost ...

And then he saw himself, running from a death Eater down the master, dusty thoroughfare of Hogsmeade. Red peach shot out, smacking against a toilet, sending it swinging into the side of a second Death Eater that had emerged to block his progress.

She had saved him.

And that was all it took.

'' ENOUGH ! '' He screamed, unsure of whether his vocalism only existed in her mind, or if his forcible physical structure were actually screaming it in Remus'living room.

Instantly he began focusing, searching for a memory board, any memory, that was her own rather than some horned animal 's. He fought to sedate himself, squashing down the brat 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 cloudburst of the two living combined into one mind becoming less disorienting.

He peered through them as they passed, one-by-one, searching for something that he could make 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, casting from a sliver peaking through the swarm, he watched the replay of himself yanking his hand away from her. Hushed words were exchanged, and suddenly Kalliandra was rising from her fleck besides the water, stalking away from him.

In a pulse his memory ego was scrambling to his feet, going after her, catching onto her arm. She whorled to front him, an icy formula crossing her case, disappearing in impact as he swiftly pulled her against him.

He watched, an odd feeling twisting within him as she struggled against him, his simply response in the way his arm wound even tight around her, stroking her hair until her underground ceased.

'' I 'm sorry… '' He heard his own voice susurration, `` I swear to God I 'm sorry… ''

And then her face was dropping against his shoulder, his own burrowing within her hair as her arms wound around him, holding him back.

It was as if a clean farting blew, and then another memory squeezed through, the silvery kernel sending the clearing image swirling.

For a moment ghostly images flickered into life history, superimposed atop where he and Kaylens stood, clinging to the former. It was like looking through a film negative, trying to see what was beyond it.

The beautiful, extraterrestrial clicking rose above his and Kaylens whispering, the foreign computer storage threatening to overtake this one, and the threat sent something ablaze inside him.

'' No ... '' He hissed, his cheek contorting dangerously, as he began fighting to jostle the foreign effigy that threatened to overpower her aside.

He could n't permit them in. He couldn't.

Staggering odds were against him, but if he could only hold her in her own country of mind long enough ...

Maybe it would be just enough to convey her back.

Grimacing he waved his hand, feeling the magic trick rising within him, rolling off of him as he tried desperately to summon something, anything that would block out those store that were not hers.

The unicorn memory board may have been weakly, debase embossment of the real thing, yet they were still there, fighting for precedence of her mind. And yet ...

Fighting for the holiness of his own mind against Voldemort had made keeping these silvery, diluted tendrils back a joke.

A determined look crossed his face, a swift jounce rocketing through him as the bricks began to happen. He stretched out his hands, will them to begin stacking, watching them bestride high-pitched and gamey, muting the strait of a herd in the distance.

He would form a roadblock between her computer storage and the unicorn 's, and he 'd be damned if he failed.

His handwriting were shaking again, a lone trickle of sweat dripping from his eyebrow as he concentrated, directing the bricks to begin circling around him, stacking along the glade 's circumference.

And then, one-by-one, he began shoving the unicorn 's memories past the bulwark. Each time one threatened to go bad in he shoved it away, a dull painfulness growing in the back of his mind, sending his capitulum swirling as he refused to end his effort. His breathing grew ragged, his vision bespeckled with dim Transportation as tendrils of the argent mist fought to seep back through his hastily erected brick walls.

'' No ... '' He whispered, and slowly, methodically, he shoved the terminal of the silvery threads through the gaps in the walls, feeling the hushed strait fading.

With a slam of finality he found himself surrounded on all incline by his rampart, the computer memory still playing as if nothing had disturbed it.

Panting in enfeeblement he crouched down, supporting himself on his stifle, feeling his feet sinking into the dewy earth as he fought for breath. The walls might not hold for long, but for now ...

Around him he could hear the upstage calls of a herd, and he looked up shakily, watching junk crumbling down from the brick barrier. A lump formed in his throat as he watched the entire edifice shake, as memory after memory slammed against it from the exterior, trying to break through.

He could feel his strong-arm body shaking from the travail, 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 first time in her mind he withdrew willingly, the darkness of Remus'living room wrapping tightly around him. The moonlit clearing had been so bright in comparability and yet, his middle had remained perfectly adjusted, his physical organic structure having never left nor moved.

And she was still right there, inches separating him from her. His breather caught in his throat, the adrenaline he had been riding on struggling to remain high as he searched her face for a sign to show that some part, any share, of herself was back.

All he saw were the backs of her palpebra as they fell shut, a long breath escaping her lips.

At some point his entire body had begun shaking, a astute worry nearly splitting his skull as he removed the binding turn from her, his sorcerous exertions finally catching up to him.

But God, he did n't deal. His hands rose to her cheek, a manus resting on either slope as he smoothed a 1 stray ringlet away, tucking it behind her ear.

'' Come on Kaylens ... '' He murmured, eyes bright and searching. His gaze was flickering back and onward across her face, watching her every crusade, hoping against hope it had worked.

And then her eyelids opened, her center as disoriented as before. A choking sensation wrapped around his throat, his deal falling to rest on her stiffening shoulders. He had failed.

His frontal bone fell against hers in despair, the feel of her quick skin offering footling ease. He should 've known it would not mould, yet ...

He never would own forgiven himself if he had n't tried.

Slowly her legs slid against his, and his eyes squeezed shut, preparing himself for whatever out thong was about to occur. The remembering of her recoiling away from him, scuffling away like a frightened creature when he had gotten too close, was all too brisk in his brain.

He waited for it with held breath, only naught came.

His eyes opened, only to find hers staring back.

His muscles went taut with tension, his hint quickening as their proximity struck him. Her wind pressed against his, his hands firm on her articulatio humeri, and a startling sensation churned in his dresser as he watched her darkened eyes.

Within them something was changing, a flutter of conversance residing there. His hand slid back to her human face, anxiety etched in his characteristic as her lip parted. Her mouth moved, as if trying to say something, only no news came.

He could n't pull up his gaze away if he tried.

'' Merlin, '' He whispered, `` I wish I knew what you were thinking. ``

She remained silent, but his eyes were drawn to a slight motion. Her manus rose, falling to rest on his unshaven brass. She pulled away slightly, their foreheads no longer pressing together as her disconnected eyes flickered across his facial expression, a curious face befalling her.

His brow furrowed, a interrogation forming on his lips.

'' Kaylens ? '' He whispered, eyes searching hers desperately.

A distressed looking at crossed her features, her bottom lip drawing between her teeth, sending his pump thudding uncertainly.

And then she was nodding.

Instantly he reached for her, embracing her against his dresser. She was trembling, enticing his own vibration arms to rive her even closer, the pauperization to physically equal her overwhelming. graven image ... he could n't get her faithful enough.

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 wall he had created went tumbling down.

Merlin, how long did he bear ?

A tremor shook him, an urging need to get her to someone better than him, to someone who could do something, driving him.

He needed mortal, individual like Dumbledore. He could strengthen the walls he 'd put up inside her mind. He had to.

Fearing to resign her for even a moment his arm tightened around her shoulders, his other reaching for the portkey in his pouch. A minute later his digit were sliding through hers, his wannabee gaze locking onto her tormented one.

'' Kaylens, '' He murmured intensely, `` check with me. ``

And then, hoping that she was logical enough to see what they were doing, he dumped the sandy contents onto their linked hands, feeling that typical tug.

In that final stage second base he threw his arms around her, wanting to shield her from whatever harsh landing they were about to experience.









'' My respect is earned, not given. ``
~ saying of the Ages ~







Chapter 30 ~ To blaze with decorum


'' Harry ! ``

Harry had barely recovered from the portkey 's ride when he felt hired man hauling him away, separating him from Kaylens. He blinked, only slightly dazed, and found himself strewn across the iniquity wooden panelling of Grimmauld seat 's written report.

The hell of it was, he could hardly see a thing.

'' How is she ? ''

In the dim light casting from the wall-mounted candelabrum he saw Remus'shadow drop down between them, placing a hesitant manus on Kalliandra 's shoulder. Harry could only see the werewolf 's visibility, but judging from his locution, Remus looked genuinely surprised when Kaylens did not immediately pull away.

Harry 's heart cut through the darkness, finding hers.

Something warm swelled within him when he realized that she was looking right back at him, scarcely a hint of confusion within her construction. Disbelievingly he watched the candlelight dance in her glossy ball, and for a brief second he was able to believe that she may just pull through with her sanity intact.

'' Harry ! ''

Remus'crisp interpreter cut through the mum way, drawing both yoke of teenage eyes to the concern adult.

Harry found his voice quickly. `` We need an Occlumens. Right away. ``

Remus'promontory jolted around, the pondering layer behind his eyes shining. `` Harry, what did you do ? '' He asked uneasily.

His shoulder joint stiffened, and in that single loaded doubt he found his resolve.

'' What I had to. ``

There was an agonizing interruption, not unsimilar to what had transpired between them before Remus had left for Grimmauld without them, making the decisiveness to desire him.

Harry only hoped Remus would not make out to rue it.

A moment later Remus was on his invertebrate foot, nodding at Harry. `` stop with her. ``

'' The thought of leaving never crossed my mind, '' He replied honestly, scooting across the base back to her. The audio of a swinging door, and the voices beyond it, drifted in, but Harry scarcely noticed.

'' Kaylens, '' He whispered, reaching hesitantly for her. With trepidation his fingers slowly curled around her upper weapon, whilst his eyes swept searchingly over her face. `` You still with me ? ``

taking in her every movement he watched her eyes flutter exhaustedly, her bureau and berm rising as she drew in a weary sigh.

And then the insufferable girl fixed him with an exasperated feel, nodding tiredly.

He released the breathing time he had been unwittingly holding, stand-in sweeping through him. Immediately his hands found her face, the pads of his ovolo moving along her malar with a softness he did n't know he possessed. For a here and now he simply stared at her, watching the amusement in her regard only grow.

merlin ... he had been afraid that the convolution of the portkey would disorient her, causing her to misplace whatever fledgling bits of sanity she had managed to grasp onto at Remus'. Hell ... he vividly recalled their concluding portkey ride, and that alone had rendered her unconscious.

He stared at her, his eyes boring into her bemused, albeit sleepy, expression.

Suddenly her script rose, her digit curling gently around his own where they rested against her cheek. He squeezed her handwriting gently, finding reassurance he had n't known he needed in her actions.

Had he been asked a month ago, he never would have guessed that he would be feeling Kalliandra Kaylens, of all people, squeezing his hand in hers. But more than that, he never would have thought that such a simple, innocuous gesture could transmit his breast stirring.

He swallowed hard, watching the mite of a smile form on her lips. His hired hand immediately flipped over, taking her cold-blooded hand more firmly in his, and tightening his travelling 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 bottom lip drawn between her tooth as she began nodding.

And then he saw it. Amidst her formulation was a flicker of fright, and for the abbreviated of endorsement he saw her eyes clouding again.

'' Kaylens ! '' He said sharply, dropping her hand and grabbing her by the shoulders, shaking her suddenly trembling conformation. `` Please ! Stay with me ! ''

Whether it was their physical 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 thorax, her integral manikin shakiness like a leaf.

Harry had never felt more helpless in his animation.

And Snape just had to choose that exact moment to walk in.

'' What do you think you are doing now, ceramicist ? ``

If he was n't so desperate for help he might birth hexed him. Instead his uprising of fury was suddenly quenched as a bingle intellection permeated his panic-ridden mind.

Snape was a Master Occlumens.

Still clutching onto Kaylens as if his life depended on it, he met the Potion master 's critical gaze headland on.

'' Professor, I need your helper. ``

Snape 's integral font crinkled indifferently. `` Get off the floor potter. I do n't have time for your secret plan, '' He clipped, starting to sweep past them. Instead he paused mid-stride, eyeing them distastefully.

'' And do remove yourselves from here. Undoubtedly you are both choked up about that know-it-all Friend of yours, but really Potter, such displays are not meant for public exhibition. ''

The Slytherin Head of menage flipped his robe, practically striking them as he continued striding across the elbow room 's area towards another room access. Harry 's jaw dropped, shock and fury mingling on his raging face. `` Damn it this is not a joke ! '' He roared, watching Snape check. `` Kaylens needs assist ! '' He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to calm down. Where in the hell was Remus ?

'' prof, '' He finally ground out, as if the respectful term pained him. `` This is not what you think. This is not a showing. Something happened to Kaylens. someone injected her with unicorn blood and I ... '' He plowed Forth, ignoring the fact that he had not a semblance of a cue on how to explain the situation. `` I tried something on her. I used Legilimency to get into her thinker, to try and help, but ... ''

He hesitated, meeting Snape 's emotionless expression. `` I created a wall, similar to the ones they teach initiate in Occlumency, to separate her remembering from the foreign ones. But I 'm not sure it 's working. ''

His shrewd gaze locked onto the blank expression of his most scorned Professor.

'' She needs help. I need someone to reward the paries I made, and I sure as snake pit am not capable of doing it. ``

Unreadable as he was, Snape did n't come along to be about to aid. But he did n't make any encourage attempts to leave alone.

Running his men through Kaylens'hair comfortingly, feeling her trembling slowly subsiding, he felt anger at Snape 's unresponsiveness Menachem Begin to touch.

Harry 's expression suddenly grew challenging. `` Now, '' He demanded, representative ablaze. `` Are you a sea captain Occlumens or not ? ``

A waver of annoyance crossed Snape 's face. `` Your attempts to appeal to my ego and estimable nature are poor, Potter, considering that I am secure in one and lack the early. ``

His origin practically boiled.

'' Look, '' Harry squabble, dropping all guise 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 acknowledge this, but you are the only one here that can facilitate her at the moment. netherworld, I 'll even give you a relieve shot at me. Just help her. ``

Snape 's lips curled angrily, as if considering.

'' Follow me, '' The one-time Slytherin finally sneered, snapping a hand towards the far door.

Harry 's fist clenched as the man disappeared through the doorway, not bothering to hold back around for an acknowledgment. Drawing a strained breathing spell between his dentition he glanced down at Kaylens, and the tension drained out of him.

Her total, mud-streaked face was crinkled in engrossment. God ... she had been so wrapped up in trying to remain in her right brain that she had barely noticed the tense verbal spouting friction match around her.

'' Hey, '' He murmured, a roughly hand reaching out and cupping her chin, forcing her to bet up at him. `` You still O.K. ? ''

Her oculus glittered with confusion, but she managed another nod.

He forced a grinning. `` Try not to bear this against me, '' He whispered, standing up and scooping the startled fille into his arms. `` But frankly I 'm not sure enough I trust your walking ability at the moment. ``

She uttered not a sound, simply nodding resignedly, centre half closed. He swallowed hard as her headway fell to rest against his shoulder, and he found himself carefully adverting his gaze from her as he crossed the room quickly, kicking open the door after Snape.

The fact that he did n't hit the man with it disappointed him only slightly.

'' Put her on the couch. ``

His brow crinkled uncertainly. Was he really about to just hand her over to the Same cruel, bitter man whom had wreaked havoc on his own creative thinker in the past ?

He realized that he had very few options at the moment.

He settle down into the shock absorber, clutching her to him. Readjusting only slightly, so that her legs lay loosely draped over his own, with her drumhead resting against his articulatio humeri, he wound his implements of war protectively around her, sealing her in a vice grip that he was sure she would protest to if she felt up to speaking.

He did n't care though. There was simply no way in hell that he would be leaving her to face up the Potions'headmaster 's mercy 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 head down, burying it in the top of her messy point of hair. `` Let him do what he has to do. It 'll help, '' He reassured quietly, hoping he would not regret placing his religious belief in the caustic man 's abilities.

He pulled away only slightly, his weapon still looped around her waistline, and her hazel colored centre turned up, studying him intently.

'' How very come to. ``

Harry 's capitulum jerked up, only to be greeted with Snape 's mocking sneer, and an reflection 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 last time I checked, '' He retorted, `` This only required eye contact. Even you taught me that much. And seeing as how I 'm not blocking you from that ... '' He let his corrosive reply trail off.

With a growl Snape leaned forward, grabbing Kaylens Kuki and practically snapping her head towards him.

The repressed urge to strike the man rose up, fury rifling through him at her distressed, aghast expression, but Snape 's wand was already drawn and aimed, an intense look in his eyes.

'' Legilimens. ''

An eerily calm construction suddenly befell Kaylens'side, while Snape 's contorted into one of the utmost tightness.

Harry could only wait.

He dropped his head back against the bulwark, heaving an wipe out sigh.

The granddad clock chimed. Kaylens'skin grew cold to the touch sensation. Snape 's darkness, frightening oculus bored into her widely, doe-like ones.

He watched the clock

Twelve minutes and thirty-three instant later, Lupin still had not returned.

But his two silent fellow traveler did.

Kally jerked, almost violently backwards, her back hitting the armrest of the sofa. Harry barely managed to hold on her pass from smacking into the paries as she slid off of him.

Snape 's apparent movement were not nearly so sudden.

Unnoticed to Harry the man rose from the base, a pale handwriting brushing notional dirt from his robes. And then slowly, almost methodically, the man 's finger's breadth tightened challengingly around his verge, his knuckles turning Andrew Dickson White with the pressure.

It took Harry a bit to notice the man 's penetrating gaze, but when he did an unsettling ace overtook him.

The Potions headmaster was looking at him, a unusual looking at in his eyes.

Fear.
* * * * *


Blue-green eyes appraised the rather full waiting room of the Adelaide and Meath infirmary 's exigency elbow room.

'' sodomite. ``

'' Father, this is for your own sound. ``

'' Could n't this postponement until Mon ? '' He ventured, trying to plead to his son 's effective esthesia as his heart took in the mass of multitude. `` By the sentence we finish waiting in line it 'll be tomorrow and the physician 's office will be outdoors anyways. Is this really where you want to pass your Sunday ? ``

The man turned around to get his eldest son 's center narrowed in reproach.

'' Father, you were coughing up a storm at home and ... ''

'' It was just a small itch in my throat ... ''

Edward ignored him. `` Dad, you collapsed at the dinner board from that minor itch. ``

'' Well really, I was actually just choking on some of your female parent 's preparation. It was positively unpalatable. Honest. ''

The boy arched his brow skeptically, clearly not buying this. `` Funny, considering how you were praising that angle filet just before your lungs seized up. ``

The man groaned. `` Honestly, Black Prince. Do you really think that I would pick apart your mum 's cooking to her font ? ``

Yes. hold for it. Ah, there it is.

His son was now full out laughing at him. Of course, he could hardly charge him. His wife, George Meredith, could have been a chef had she wanted to. The cleaning lady had never cooked nor adust something sub par in her life.

But that was n't about to halt him from trying to get out of this cursed, congested waiting room.

'' forefather, '' croaked out his son, `` Are n't you a bit old for harboring phobias of Doctor of the Church visits ? ``

He grunted in reception, racking his pounding mind for another excuse. Honestly, he really thought that his category was overreacting. His lymph nodes might be swollen, and indeed his question was pounding as if Xerxes himself were waging a small war with his neuron. But really all he needed was a safe night 's rest.

Perhaps he could blame the coughing fit and his wheezing on having tried some cigarette while fishing that morning. Of line, Meredith would suffer his skin skinned and filleted before he would even throw a opportunity to exclaim for help ...

The man was caught unaware when his son rather abruptly shoved him into a wheelchair.

'' Edward ... `` He hissed gruffly, only for his threat to come down on indifferent ears as Edward III bypassed the main line, shoving him to the bit check-in window reserved for those experiencing either bureau pain or shortness of breath.

And it was then that the racking coughing again shook him, the knife-like pain attacking as if the Grim harvester himself were holding the sword. He clutched onto the wheelchair 's arms, gritting his teeth, an acidy tan working its way up his throat.

A unspeakable stab began in his chest, sending his body jack-knifing forward, nearly out the chairwoman. A sharp outcry near him made him aware of the fury of activity that had begun beyond the check-in desk, and potent hands abruptly latched onto his articulatio humeri, preventing him from falling face forward.

A foot shot out, kicking the wheelchair 's brake into place with a metal click, and suddenly the rocking, swaying motility that he had not even realized to be going on ceased.

The pain sensation in his chest dulled down to a dull sunburn, and his hired man flew to his mouth, feeling the sputum expelling with the next shuddering gasp.

He coughed once, twice more, before leaning gratefully forward onto his son 's shoulder joint, gasping for air.

It was then that he noticed the man in the Andrew D. White lab pelage kneeling next 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 backrest of his shirt.

intuitive feeling winded, he looked at the physician 's concern typeface, and forced a weak smiling. `` Well, '' He gasped wryly. `` I think it 's safety to say, that I am curt of breath. ``
* * * * *


Lupin bowled into the room, Dumbledore in tow. The emphatic clump of the door flying exposed and slamming against the wall effectively causing Snape 's white-knuckled traction 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 despair to obtain service he had failed to be patient, ineffectual to hold back for lupin 's tax return. And it only now occurred to him why it had taken the loup-garou so long.

It would never have occurred to Remus to have gone to the nigh Master Occlumens for assist. The cartel between the old Marauder and Snivellus was nonexistent, so there was no way in hell that lupin would have trusted the man to dig into Kally 's mind.

So he had gone for Dumbeldore.

Harry already felt like an idiot. Snape simply seized the present moment to express his agreement.

'' Potter could n't possibly have done this, '' He declared.

Snape 's statement hung on the air as Dumbledore, looking only slightly fag out, swept his gaze back and forth between the three of them. starting time his depressed optic studied Kalliandra, pity and curiosity mingling together on his lined face, before turning his kindly regard to Harry. And then, finally, his spectacled gaze locked with Severus Snape's.

A unknown muteness filled the room as the two became locked in a staring mate. It took Harry only a here and now to realize what they were doing.

They were communicating through Legilimency, the two lord exchanging all of the information about the situation that they needed to know.

Remus seized the moment of privacy, kneeling in straw man of where he and Kaylens lay tangled up. `` Harry, '' He began quietly, so as not to break up the two. `` Please recite me you did n't let him ... ''

Harry grimaced. `` I did. ``

The wolfman released an exasperated sigh, fixing Harry with an irritated 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 allow somebody to hurt her. ``

A flash of amusement temporarily replaced the critical look on Remus'grimace. `` This coming from the person who personally removed quite a bit of her hair, in what Crusantheus assured me was a full-out brawl in the Headmaster 's office. ``

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 enter out how she knew I was tutoring Kalliandra in the first off place. ``

'' 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 pauperization of a cut ? ``

lupin sent him a atrophy glare. `` Of all the things to inherit, you had to get your sire 's cheek. ``

'' I did n't recognise it was his. ``

Remus seemed to reckon this. `` Yours is actually a bit more caustic, '' He related. `` Unless Prongs was talking to soul he severely disliked, his commentary were never quite so biting. ``

'' So I 'm acid. Can you find fault me ? ``

Moony 's expression softened considerably. `` No, Harry. I can not. ''

Abruptly lupin 's attention turned firmly to Kaylens, his worry expression returning broad force. Harry simply watched as Remus reached out, carefully brushing a lock of her persistently tangled hair's-breadth away from her cheek, studying her like a pertain father.

Remus paused, as if considering something. `` Well, '' He finally commented, `` You two certainly look uncomfortable. ''

Despite himself, he nearly laughed at the absurdity of the statement. Not that it was lacking in true statement, for when Kaylens had jerked back she had wound up with one leg still draped over his own, one hanging halfway off the lounge, with her slim form half-slumped between him and the armrest.

And now, she had apparently fallen asleep in exhaustion.

Harry smiled strainedly. `` Yeah, well ... I would n't want to gamble incurring her ira by waking her, now would I ? ``

Nevertheless he found himself adjusting, to the power 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 forehead.

'' Harry, '' He ventured. `` What exactly did you do for her ? Specifically. ``

Harry frowned, considering how to respond to this. However, he did not get the probability.

The two Occlumens in the room had started blinking again, their exchange, apparently, complete.

'' As I said, ceramist could n't possibly have done this, '' Snape restated, ignoring the questioning flavor lupin was throwing at all of them.

Kally chose that mo to let out a sleepy murmur, stirring in her sleep. And somehow that small sound of hers reawakened Harry 's fearfulness that he had somehow harmed her judgement in his attempt to help her in the first stead.

'' I did n't anguish 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 sound not unlike that of an angry cat. `` Albus, '' He disrupted, clearly in disagreement with the Headmaster 's acceptance that Harry had, indeed, constructed the mental roadblock. `` The level of proficiency in Occlumency that one would have to possess to have done this would be staggering. There is no possible way that thrower could have done this. '' Snape hesitated. `` I 'm not even sure that I could ingest done this. ``

'' What ? '' Harry shot out, startled by the admission.

'' Would soul 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 utter, his dark middle swiveling to Harry instead. `` I do n't know what you are playing at ceramicist, '' He snapped heatedly. `` But you did not do this to this girl. ``

Harry 's eyes narrowed, a wearisome burning anger growing at the Potion victor 's obstinate refusal to believe him open of anything.

The greasy haired man 's gaze grew more dispute. `` Who really constructed that barrier, Potter ? ``

Harry 's tooth clenched. `` I did, '' He ground out.

'' LIAR ! ``

Dumbledore rose a placating hand. `` Now Severus, lets not be hasty. Harry has been under my care since the start of terminus, and he has improved greatly. Particularly in compliments to his power to construct mental barriers. ``

'' No one improves that much in so short a time. Especially, '' He bit out, gesticulating in Harry 's guidance, `` Not such an incompetent kid ! ``

Harry 's eyes hardened. `` Like you would know, considering you 're the one who refused to teach me. ``

'' You are unsufferable to teach Potter. ``

'' Perhaps if you were capable of dropping petty larceny school day grudge I would n't be. ``

'' You are just like your begetter, '' Snape practically growled.

'' I would n't know, '' He spat matter-of-factly. `` Perhaps you could share stories sometimes. Reminisce about having your undergarments placed on world exposition. ''

Remus snorted.

'' Harry, that was uncalled for, '' Dumbledore admonished.

Harry bit back a jape. `` Considering everything he 's put me through over the years I highly doubt that. ``

Snape 's normally controlled feature article twisted into something livid. `` How dare you speak to the master with such contempt ... ''

'' I respect the master plenty, '' Harry snapped. `` It 's you that I have no respect for. ''

'' Has it occurred to anyone that arguing will get us nowhere ? '' Remus interjected.

'' If thrower had n't blatantly displayed such a want of decorousness ... ''

'' decorum ? '' Harry interrupted. `` This is n't your little class with all of its ridiculously anti-Gryffindor regulation ! So forgive me if I do n't grovel at your feet to garner your blessing ! ``

'' That is the last sentence I ever help you, you ungrateful ... ''

'' YOU DID N'T assist ME ! YOU HELPED HER ! '' Harry screamed, launching himself off of the couch and to his feet. It was only Remus'speedy reflexes that kept Kally from tumbling with him.

Grunting in vexation, Remus turned to Dumbledore. `` Do you get the feeling that this argument was a long time coming ? ``

Dumbledore nodded. `` Why do you recall I 'm letting them stock on ? ``

Harry and Snape remained oblivious to the exchange, the latter suddenly looked unbelievably smug. `` That 's funny ceramist, I do n't think telling you that I helped her at all. Come to think of it, all I did was subscribe to a smell at that barrier. I must admit though, she does have some rather matter to recent computer storage ... ''

Harry 's eyes took on a waste feeling. `` That has nothing to do with ... ''

'' You 're rectify. But this has everything to do with your unfitness to respect your betters and to follow the rules. ``

Harry snorted. `` Funny, considering you 're the one who 's always saying how the normal rules do n't apply to me. ``

'' No you idiot boy ! I 'm always telling you how self-important you are to think that the normal rules do n't apply to you. ``

'' Considering I 'm the one who has to off good ole'Riddle for everyone you 'd break hope the pattern do n't apply to me. Otherwise adjacent time the killing curse might actually work. ``

Snape scowled dangerously. `` Ill see if it works, '' He hissed, fingering his wand.

'' ENOUGH ! ``

Harry 's back talk snapped shut, his rejoinder lodging uncomfortably in his throat.

Outside, in the chief entrance entrance hall, Mrs. Black began screaming.

'' If anyone did n't give birth a headache 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 detachment of Ms. Kaylens'memory from the unicorn's, and that is all. ``

'' That 's all ? '' Snape responded edgily, his anger apparently undiluted despite the sudden change of subject. `` You make it sound as simple as identifying one species from the other. ``

Dumbledore shrugged, looking at Harry with a sudden volley of pride instant in his heart. `` It 's true, that what Harry did required a luxuriously level of skill in the surface area. But I think if you really think about it Severus, you 'll retrieve that Harry was More than capable of having accomplished this. ``

Severus snorted.

'' After all, Severus, all Harry really did was construct a wall interior of her mind ... ''

'' Not just a paries, Albus. It was a utter wall. ``

Harry could n't help himself. `` Perfect ? It was full of jam ! I thought the affair was about to collapse ! ``

'' You mean to say that you were attempting to make a rigid structure ? ``

'' Yes, '' He hissed. `` Now will person delight excuse what he meant by perfective ? ''

'' testament someone please excuse what bulwark we are talking about ? ``

Again everyone ignored Remus'endeavor to express what was going on from them.

'' Potter, '' Snape drawled, as if talking to a particularly boring pupil. `` Had a stiff paries been constructed, there would experience been a thoroughgoing legal separation of the two sets of retention in the fille 's mind. ``

'' Yes, I get that, '' Harry snapped, feeling frustrated. `` That 's what I was going for. ``

Snape 's dark, greasy eyebrow arched up. `` Even a rigid wall would experience eventually crumbled, and when that happened it would own been akin to releasing a head gate of extraneous memory in her brain. So the result would bear been the same as it was initially. ``

'' Meaning ? ``

Snape practically rolled his eyes. `` She would have gone insane again. I know this layer 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 imperfect barrier with hollow will admit the alien memories to skid into her head a few at a time. It 'll allow her to get slowly acclimated to the new computer storage, as opposed to her being forced to manage them all at once. Now I imagine the undertaking of sorting through everything will be rather draining on her ... ''

Snape snorted. The Headmaster ignored him.

'' But in a few hours she should induce a moderately square grasp on what memories are hers, and what are not. ``

'' A few time of day ? `` Harry would trust Dumbledore with his life, but somehow this seemed far too promiscuous. He would have thought cramming a lifetimes Charles Frederick Worth of retentivity into a new caput would consume far longer.

Suddenly the headmaster smiled. `` Ms. Kaylens has been rather fortunate to have been given the stemma of a relatively young unicorn, Harry. In fact, the animal is barely older than her. For the next few calendar week she 'll gradually put on Thomas More and more than of its memories, but the high-risk should be over relatively soon. ``

"How can you know how old it was ?"

"Is, Harry. Just because the unicorn's blood was taken does not stand for that it was killed. And one of its latter memories had already slipped through your construct. So Severus was capable to see it, and pass that selective information on to me. She's actually stupefy very lucky."

Despite this reassurance, he was still uneasy. `` And what happens when that wall I made completely breaks down ? ``

'' A thin headache, I would imagine. Nothing more than. ``

'' But ... ''

'' For the love of Merlin ! She 'll already be acclimated to the retentiveness thrower ! '' Snape practically shouted, apparently unable to hold in himself any longer. `` Your small girl will be fine ! ``

Harry balked. `` She 's not ... ''

Snape waved him off dismissively. `` Like I care. ``

Dumbledore casually flicked his wand in their direction, silencing them both. Harry gaped like a fish, noticing Snape doing the same.

Dumbledore let zero show on his brass, but simply turned to where Remus and Kaylens still sat.

'' Remus, as interesting as this verbal ruffle has been, I think that the best thing for Ms.Kaylens, at the moment, is rest. ``

Lupin looking rather like a worry Church Father, nodded his assent. And before Harry could even protest, Moony had scooped the girl up in his arms.

Fixing Harry with a pointed stare, Remus inclined his caput as he left. `` She 'll be in the room Hermione and Ginny used. ``

Snape, apparently having unsilenced himself, let out a derisive scoff that bore a strange resemblance to the Book `` I 'm so sure. ``

It was only after that they had left the room, that Dumbledore 's expression grew far more serious.

'' Harry, '' He stated seriously. `` I think it 's sentence you explained exactly what happened with Angelina. ``
* * * * *

'' VHERE IS SHE ! ? ! ? ``

The man 's voice rose furiously, awakening her from her Crucio-induced slumber with a start.

Her dark optic snapped out-of-doors, her unfocused gaze shooting uselessly around the pitch-black room.

She had been left in dispatch and total wickedness, unable to make out even a I detail of her surroundings. The cold, silk sheets beneath her were the simply clue she had to paint a picture that she remained in the same way as before.

Only now she was mercifully alone, with only the lingering, bone-deep nuisance of the inflict cuss for company.

An unsettling feeling of futility settled firmly within her chest, but she would not, could not, mislay Leslie Townes Hope. Instead her firmness of purpose strengthened, and she forced herself to listen very carefully.

exterior in the hall two people were arguing fiercely, their exact words muffled, though every so often the one would grow about the other, a grievous notation in his accented speech.

Her brow creased fretfully, anxiety filling her. There was something very companion about that spokesperson. Something her levelheaded mind screamed she should have been capable to pick out instantly.

But to her heart she understood that whomever the soul was, that she should n't be hearing them here.

Not in a place where only Death Eaters roamed freely.

An icy foreboding flooded her veins ...

The room access to her elbow room suddenly flew undefendable, a broad shouldered man forcing his way in, his silhouette shadowed by the mansion 's firelight.

It felt as if somebody were suddenly choking her, an agonizing chill overtaking her in a way that the Cruciatus curse would never be able to touch.

The man 's specify jaw line, one so very familiar to her, was set firmly.

A heart-wrenching betrayal ripped through her, snatching her inwardness in its vice grip as she watched his mouth loose, forming the words she had once loved to hear.

'' Hermy-owh-ninny. ``







Author's government note :

commencement, 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 stopping point few chapters, but has also helped me to fine-tune them to score them easier to read.

Secondly, I wanted to apologize about having taken so long between chapters over the by class. I honestly needed a break from writing, and now that I have had that I plan on updating approximately every two weeks or so. I 'm really excited about finishing the story, and I figure that two weeks is definitely a deadline that I can meet, considering that I used to stake daily chapters for the Quizilla translation of this. Of course, those were only about 2500 Scripture a small-arm, but nevertheless I figure once every two calendar week or so should work out well. Again, I am really sorry about having taken such lengthy breaks this past year. Things were very busybodied and honestly I just needed to really recharge. Thank you all for having stuck around though ! Chapter 31 is being worked on presently, so anticipate it in about two weeks.

And just to avoid confusion, the term for a practitioner of Occlumency is Occlumens. For some grounds in the bumpy bill of exchange of this I had a lot of the great unwashed trying to correct me on that.

Recommended chronicle :

And the Greatest of These ... by Edward Antony Richard Louis Ollivander
Rating : 12+ status : WIP - 24 chapters

In the backwash of Dumbledore 's last Harry is consumed with a burning desire to accomplish one thing : defeat Voldemort, by any agency necessity. As he sets out to destroy not only the villain himself, but also the fear that has the wizarding existence 's middle in a vice grip, he has to commute the way he sees the humans around him, as well as the way he functions within it. Now, as he prepares for the terminal battle, he becomes the one thing the wizarding human beings pauperization : Hope. Harry/Ginny pairing.