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



Chapter 24 ~ The Black Pool


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

Since mediaeval times the locale had served as the capital of the free standing commonwealth. The Negroid Pool, or so the Anglicism had stated. Now the expanse of land it rested upon stood as one of the most inhabit sac of closing off upon the earth.

An island.

5.8 million Muggles in the Republic of Eire alone, another 1.7 million in Northern Eire, and upon the entire United Kingdom demesne pot, 4,694 being of wizardly ancestry.

The island contained the largest pct of magic existence per capita of any place on worldly concern.

It could soon contain the lowest.

At the sassing of the River Liffey, the bustling Shirley Temple pocket billiards of commerce lay in wait, as did a cleaning lady clad in the disgusting vise of Muggle clothes.

The rainwater had let up considerably in comparing to the early good morning pelting, yet the abrasive drizzle did cypher to mar the once striking beauty as she stood alone upon the Lucan bridge, dark hairsbreadth flowing in the current of air like a canvas tent born of the Renaissance.

In the true, had one possessing the accomplishment sat to immortalize her countenance, it would have born striking similarity to a painting that had once cling centuries earlier upon the inlaid paries of Sarsfield palace.

The alone dissimilarity between the canvases lay in the instant contingent of the guinea pig'hand, her pale, elegant finger's breadth gently uncorking a readable vial, tilting it 's substance over the ancient brick viaduct until they churned upon the wind disturbed urine below.

As the woman disappeared, seemingly without a ghost to the heart of Muggle passersby, the outset of the nemesis began filtering into the water organisation of business district Irish capital.

The Black Pool would soon reawaken a black Plague.
* * * * *


Love.

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

It holds the capableness of silencing the impregnable, immortalizing the weakly, dashing the near of dreams and destroying the darkest of fears. It 's perpendicularly force is abyssal, and it is due to this overwhelming emotion that the human being sprightliness is subject of being broken.

For one raven haired man, the insistency born of hate and preserved by his erotic love was upon him as it had never before been. The dummy, deadened middle of Seamus Finnigan haunting him even as he breathed in the reassuring mien of the unseasoned girl clutched in his weaponry, his nerve turned from the world to lay to rest against her hide, his only respite from the cruel reality that was his hell, and life.

It has been said that it is only strength of character that separates the weak from the secure, for their power to throw up feeling, attachment, and be intimate aside… Therein rests their unfaltering ability to do what must be done, in the darkest of times.

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

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

The Whitney Young man had been forced to leave alone his friends in the rapidly growing engagement ground, for Voldemort 's evilness had reared again, and again he had come out upon the lesser incline, trapped as he was in the darkened woodland, incapable of helping anyone.

How was this pathetic whizz 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 office at hand, but by their ability to feel the supplication of the weak as if they were their own encumbrance. For it is in these individuals that the rarest of souls are found, for the few who walk upon the earth with burdened and broken psyche are often the most capable of loving, and saving the rest of us.

His footstep were sinking into the weaken earth, following in the girl 's course as they pushed their way through the brushwood, stumbling into a lowly moonlit clearing, a murky pool of water collecting near its edge.

It was perhaps the lamentable, and cruelest of satire, that the two brave souls standing torn and battered, bathed in the gentle hues of moonlight filtering between the night sky 's mottled cloud, were the unadulterated exemplifications of both English of the spectrum.

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

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


October 31st, Allhallows Eve, 1996.

It would forever place upright as the day of infamy, as the night when Aurors had fallen upon the township in striking force, scattering death Eaters to the far cast away recession of the Earth, to wherever their alcoves of safety lay, leaving the scarcely varnished hamlet under the jurisdiction of the Ministry.

There was much to sort out out.

It had taken so long for them to hit it 's inhabitants, for Hogsmeade had not been the only if township to fall under plan of attack this day. And being the only all wizarding Greenwich Village in England, the Aurors had came to it 's aid finish, for Muggle field had few DoD, while the citizens of Hogsmeade had at least been armed.

Unlike the devoid Muggles who had been found, lifelessly sprawled upon metropolis streets, magical beingness had held the great power to fight 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 kisser of perdition to disappear as quickly as they had come.

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

Throughout the UK, from Dundee to Belfast, from Diagon skittle alley to Dublin 's Aingingein Marketplace, from the Orkney islands above Scotland to the town bordering the English transmission channel, magical time out of homes and organism, small sac of obscure place and wizards, and places of commerce had been taken over.

They had all been targeted, held intent until night had fallen, and each surviving being of magical descent present professed to consume felt the same effect. A low temperature, high-risk than death acceleration of the profligate that had seeped into their very souls, raising the hamper of animals and pilus of humans, eliciting the screeches of owls and cries of nipper had fallen just at dusk, and for those acquaint the time falling immediately after, as towns had risen up in defense force, fighting back as the last Eaters fled and Aurors arrived, it would be remembered as the sentence of quiet.

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

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

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

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

Ginny Weasley now lay, near catatonic with the sorrow of her activity, with the knowledge of her unwillingly dealt sine, in the hospital wing of Hogwarts schooling of witchcraft and Wizardry.

She had been capable to fight strongly enough to save her brother from the killing swearword she had fired upon him, but she had not been strong enough to save her fellow.

It was a persuasion that would haunt her for the rest period of her biography, and while she remained silently mute under the aid of Pomfrey, James Byron Dean Norman Mattoon Thomas sat upon the cold corridors of the hospital extension 's hall.

The racket of the hall was deafening, reverberating with the frantic footfalls and echoes of frenetic parents unable to locate their tiddler. Very few had taken acceptance to Dumbledore 's assurance that there were only three nipper within the hospital wing, two of whom Dean treasured above life itself.

He hardly felt the painfulness as another large Father of the Church trampled upon his foot, and he pulled his legs closer to his chest, wishing to sink into the wall for all he was Worth.

Seamus was gone ...

Ginny was no longer speaking ...

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

And no one was letting on what had happened to Ron ....
Silently bust 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 Charles Francis Hall, nearly knocking Luna Lovegood to the floor, her deadened eyes remarkably standardised 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 set up knees, pity dealt it 's final blow, for he now knew the truth.

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


Somewhere, deep in the forest, Harry calmly observed the sky. The autumn leaves struck a utter dividing line to the Night 's dingy backcloth, and deep Gy clouds blotted out all semblance of starlight, economise for the few persistent pinpoints and the sliver of moonshine fighting their way through the dapple mess.

It was exquisite.

Though no total of lulu, nor staring, could repel the disturbing thoughts from his thinker for long, and with a resigned sigh he knelt before the diminished pond, his knees sinking into the weaken ground besides Kaylens.

'' Are you okay ? ``

He heard her lyric, yet failed to respond. Instead his eye remained glued to the fluctuation personage upon the water 's surface. Staring back at him were the accusatory adulteress oculus of one whose bang ones were either gone, or in peril. The man in the musing was one he did not discern, for it was a man who had killed without regret, and who would do it again.

The inky black effigy was revealing how he had become all he had once abhorred, and it was a thought for which he was ill prepared.

Never looking up, he finally spoke.

'' No. ``

His cupped hands plunged into the springtime, scattering the damnable reflection from its surface, rippling the weeds extending near the other embankment.

A long clock time passed, the audio of light splashing besides him mingling with sounds of the night, as they both rubbed the blood from their mitt in the icy water.

Upon its inky airfoil his blush blood swirled, pooling from his reopening wounds. Though the pain was something that could not give him, numbed as his signified were from the hypothermic waters.

It was the belief of her hands carefully wrapping around his own, that finally pulled him from his nigh cataleptic state. His eyes rose from the piddle he had hoped to drown within, falling to rest upon her calm countenance.

Her crystalline eye held his, care flickering in the dull moonshine.

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

There was no doubting what she meant, for his hands were pained at her mere touch modality, intertwined as they were with her coldness one, beneath the heavy leaping 's open. He reveled in that silence, grimacing only as she forcibly withdrew his helping hand from the mercifully numbing body of water. The harsh pang of the cool Nox air sent pinpricks of pain in the ass shooting through his combat injury, burning his branch in a way contradictory to the evening 's breeze.

The stark trace of trouble lurk upon her concerted human face, for she was studying the slash along his calloused hands, the one he had received as he fought to cut the bonds binding them within Rosmereta 's small pub.

That pocket-sized pub now held some of the most crucial citizenry in his life, and he had never felt farther from it.

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

Cringing he did not impede her focus progress, though his voice betrayed his mental rejection. `` Do you know what your doing ? ``

Sparing not a word, the last strip was tugged tightly in blank space. With a fulfill sigh she tilted her head to the position, a curious reflexion befalling her. `` Well… '' She replied faintly, her cold thumb tracing along his skin around the make-do bandaging. `` You 'd amend hope so. ``

He scowled at her, flexing his wrist joint testingly. The movements were clay, 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 hands within the cool off Ethel Waters once again, her center falling shut.

Unconsciously his eyes were drawn to her, following her men effortless advance upon the glistening water, and for the first time he noticed the ambling gaming of magic before him, for her fingers were playing lithely across the piddle 's disconsolate surface, a ho-hum glow radiating at the threshold where the inactive surface finally broke, allowing her fingers accounting entry, rose up from its depths.

He regarded the interplay, a slow curiosity rising as flake of magic trailed beneath her hands, coloring the light swellings she was creating. Ripples, swelling out in successive closed chain, bore the sparkling only a stint agency before the light tumbling within the waters faded away.

And it was not for the initiatory metre, nor for the last, that he again realized how little he still knew about the magical macrocosm.

He leaned towards her, peculiarity crossing his features, for how could the girl who could not incant perform the display before him ? His question rolled from his sassing quietly, and though her face remained averted from his, her reflection upon the riffle water system betrayed her faint smile.

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

Her fuzz fell loose from behind her shoulder joint, tumbling to hide her font. `` You know… '' She replied softly, `` I 'm not entirely sure enough. ``

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

'' Well… '' She whispered, her expression smiling, `` Insane is probably a in force term. ``

'' A pity then. '' He quipped lowly, looking across the water, its very surface vibrating with lifetime. `` For we 're trapped in the Natalie Wood without a likeness of saneness between us. ``

She murmured in agreement, withdrawing her fingers from the water supply, flicking the take in droplets from them in his direction.

His grunt of protest was ignored, for her watchful heart had flickered out across the rippling water supply, gazing searchingly into the vague forest. And for the one-thousandth clip since their first meeting, he wondered if she could see things he could not.

As if in response to his mentation, a light crease creased her brow, barely discernible as the swarm moved to blur the chill moonlight, throwing shadows across her countenance. And as a blue-blooded piece of cake sent the vibrating reed protruding from the embankment swaying, her conduct stiffened, her shoulders relaxing only with the cessation of the plant'spellbinding gesture.

'' Jittery ? ``

His doubt was met not with the expect disdain, but with something else.

'' Yes. '' She whispered darkly.

Her cold intonations were disturbing, and his eyes joined hers in sweeping the tree diagram melodic phrase for any sign of malevolence. Yet just as before, when he had checked upon their arrival, there was none to be found.

A idea occurred to him, and finally after the wind had risen in intensity, sending the reed crest tilting so as to dip into the pond 's surface, he spoke it aloud.

'' Are you familiar spirit with port keys ? ''

She turned a question saying to him, her hair scattering like a feathery aureole about her fount in the blustery breeze. Such was the mental disturbance of her deep mane that he could not separate whether she nodded yes or no until it had died down.

Only then did it occur to him that the object of their very displacement could also be the object of their rescue. His hands scrambled in the deep folds of his deep cloak for the Kunnskap, and finally he dumped it upon the cold earthy mud, taking guardianship to never earmark it 's dulled golden range of mountains to touch his flesh.

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

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

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

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

'' Take it with me. ``

His optic having never left hers, he saw that she understood his substance, for the Kunnskap had been their portkey there, and had it been somehow re-activated, they could take it back to Hogsmeade together with a unsubdivided touch of their finger's breadth to its surface.

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

With baited breathing spell they touched the chain.

Nothing.

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

As he re-gathered the mountain chain in his hands, she was the first to split the impenetrable silence.

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

He cast her an testy glance, examining the rune carved into the pensieve 's vial. Unsurprisingly, not one depiction cast a shred of light onto the situation at handwriting. Maybe, just maybe, he would choose Hermione up on her crack to teach him ancient runes when they returned.

'' It must be conditional, '' He finally decided. `` It 's the sole solution. ``

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

'' You know how most port winder are disturb sensitive, taking hoi polloi back and Forth River between two places ? ``

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

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

mortal peril…

He trailed off, not realizing the expression that had befallen his nerve until Kaylens concerned Holy Scripture drew him back to the present, away from the snarling teeth and growl of Hogsmeade 's cover alley.

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

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

His mouth went dry, and a frigidity, unsettle feeling spreadhead through him. Forcing his middle to upgrade to hers, he saw the confusion swirling within them.

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

The inexplicable impulse to drown himself within the hardhearted pond took anteriority, but the itch was driven from his creative thinker by her hand reaching for his.

He found himself staring at the back of her placid paw lying atop his, and it was some time before his oculus darted to behold her.

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

'' It 's okay, '' She whispered, voice tinged with amusement. `` I know you were n't trying to go forth me to resist off the brute myself. ``

And despite her tone, he felt himself picket.

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

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

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

'' Kaylens… '' He murmured, eyes shutting in pain. `` This has been a disaster. ``

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

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

'' It could have been spoiled. ``

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

And then there was Seamus…

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

Harry 's icy park oculus flew outdoors, narrowing onto her. `` How…how can you possibly say that ? ''

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

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

'' Seamus is beat, '' He finally whispered, regaining ascendancy. `` We abandoned the others. We failed them. Or did you leave tha… ''

'' No we did n't. ``

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

'' We failed. ``

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

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

Lifeless blue eyes…

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

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

Her voice was as life-threatening as he had ever heard it, and as gentle, yet the rancour could not be kept from his voice as he pulled his bridge player from hers.

'' I do n't know anymore. '' He whispered gruffly, not knowing which was big : The detriment locution upon her side, or the knowledge that he actually believed his words, for he did not make faith in his ally.

At least not when it came to their shunning of bodily harm. The Department of whodunit had proven that a good deal, for they had fought bravely, yet their ineptness… Both had fallen almost immediately, start Ron, and then Hermione.

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

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

'' What ? ``

weakness to get this his unaffected vocalizations of self-loathing continued, unheard to his own spike, yet perfectly crystallise to the girl besides him.

'' How daring you. ``

This time he heard her, her representative vibrating dangerously, his eyes instantly flying to her maddened reflection.

Deep within her optic something terrorization was stirring.

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

This trembling was her only foretoken of emotion, for her deaden spirit was perhaps cold-blooded than her adopted expression.

'' In guinea pig you did n't observe ceramicist, you are Charles Frederick Worth something, '' She whispered in good continuation. `` Because if it was n't for you your friends would sustain never made it out of Hogsmeade, and not only that… ''

She stood abruptly, brushing her work force on her denim furiously, glowering down with cool down intensity.

'' If it was n't for you I would be utter right now Potter. But perhaps I do n't look. '' Her fiery eyes burned a searching lead across him. `` Not to you at to the lowest degree. ``

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

He had willfully pulled his hand from hers in anger.

Scrambling to his ft he closed the aloofness between them, catching her around the arm before she could make it any promote. She struggled, her icy glare fixated furiously upon him, freezing him to the core, yet it did not stop him from pulling her to him and holding on.

He did not let go, wrapping his munition 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 auditory sensation, dropping her side against his shoulder, allowing his to bury within her hair's-breadth. He only pulled her closer, warmth sinking feeling through him as her work force burrowed beneath his robes, snaking around his midsection to take him back.

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

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

His throat vibrated oddly. `` Not really, '' He ground out, a hand raising to tangle within her plait. `` Though with good reason… ''

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

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

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

A diffused grumbling of disapproval came from behind her closed lips, the changes upon her once impassive boldness startling. Unconsciously his eyes fell shut, his hands moving across her back comfortingly. Slowly he breathed her in, clutching her by her perspirer, twisting it in the procedure as an incense suspiration escaped her lips.

Against his skin he felt her eyelashes flickering shut, her warming palm sliding out from beneath his cloak, `` Potter… '' She whispered, rising her hand till they lay mat against his pectus. `` Sometimes I really hate you. ``

Nodding against her pelt, he inhaled deeply, their undetermined struggle fading from his creative thinker. `` You 're in luck… '' He replied, whispering despite their purdah. `` Because the feeling 's reciprocal. ``

'' I 'm sure… '' She murmured back, font upturning as a blustery autumn farting sent her retentive tress scattering haphazardly between them. His weapon system pulled her in closer, the loose side of meat of his robe billowing out and enveloping them both.

For the longest prison term they stood there, him shielding her from the darkness'icy claws, her shielding him from regression toward the mean into the darkness of all he had been partly responsible for. And for the thousandth time since their paths had first crossed, he found himself listening to her admonishments.

Predominant amongst them was his newly bestowed title, a strain smile crossing his face at the thought.

'' King of Idiocy… '' He murmured, a alone script sliding from where he cupped the back of her top dog, falling to rest along her impudence. `` I ca n't believe you called me that. ``

The ticklish finger's breadth lingering upon his breast curled, capturing the folds of his beer stained robe. `` From my point of view it 's jibe. ``

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

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

He shook his promontory, his nose tousling her hair's-breadth further. `` good remember… '' He growled quietly, `` I owe you. ``

'' Do you ? '' She asked, inclining her head to appear 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 crapulence, and I do n't mean the kind in a methamphetamine. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Point taken. ``

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

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

His brow furrowed at her words, a scheming verbal expression befalling him as he pulled away to consider her. `` We 're in the Forbidden woodland ? ``

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


The door of the entree hall needed naught to be thrown open, for in the havoc of parents coming and going, claiming their nipper before fleeing, the looming entry remained tolerable to all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dumbledore crossed the way, quickly climbing a pocket-size ladder to regain a small paper-back book, leather-bound text. `` Of course. ``

Neither of the two men appeared queasy with the early 's presence. The imperturbable elder appearing entirely unsurprised by the younger 's sudden return to the livelihood.

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

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

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

'' I had my suspiciousness, '' Replied the schoolmaster, squatting in front of new 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 party favor of reading a bit to him ? ``

Emily 's head bobbed gently, opening the leather bound book with machinelike motions, and as she began to read, the clouded look disappeared from her and Kenneth 's heart, as did their drugged states.

Ignoring Regulus'vex growl, Dumbledore responded to Tonks questioning face. `` The exclusively way to reserve Muggles to feel at ease within our grounds, short of removing the Barbara Ward, is to understand from this Koran. ``

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

'' If you do n't beware, there is the little topic of a wickedness nobleman to attend. '' The sneer Regulus used paled in comparison to his tone.

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

Tonks remained silent, knowing to the full fountainhead she would better serve everyone by listening, for she was in the night about what was transpiring. She, an Auror, was out of her realm with the discovery of the multiple attacks throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, while genus Regulus merely grimaced, as if having long expected such an unpleasantry.

The last remaining inheritor of the Black family gestured to the sleeping household. `` He 's come after the kinsperson before ? ``

Both Tonks and Dumbledore nodded, while Regulus paced.

'' He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named may be a lot of thing, but impulsive is n't one of them, '' 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 plan of eradication. ``

Her pith fluttered uneasily, `` eradication ? ``

genus Regulus paused mid-stride, `` Surely your breeding was not that bereft of grammar to provide suitable excuse for your nonstarter to understand such a scant syllable word as obliteration ? ``

Her dark eyes narrowed in vexation, her tongue held in hindrance only by the study born of years under the supervision of Kingsley and Mad-Eye 's lax wand.

Regulus'equally dour eyes 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 stimulate sufficed, for then he would be free to dominate it. ``

Reaching the bulwark he did an abrupt about-face, continuing undeterred upon his neat path. `` His views eventually changed and he came to desire the demise of both Muggles and Muggleborns, and if his plans remain similar to the game of before, the plot I failed to attend to in properly, than today marks the beginning of the infestation. ``

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

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

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

'' salutation gramps, '' He greeted with considerable sarcasm. `` As always I am fortunate to experience never been forced to suffer your criminal, condescending presence in sprightliness. ``

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

'' That irritable stone rapper demands deference as well, but that does not mean we consecrate it to him. '' Quipped Regulus, his long digit creating a hollow melody along the shelving.

The Headmaster 's eyes twinkled at the sound of Crusantheus'protestations from outside the door. `` Your mien has charmed everyone within earreach Regulus, I can only go for to realise such extolment by the end of our meeting as well. I 'm beginning to feel left out. ``

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

Regulus and Phineas surveyed the room with identically critical expressions, glowering at those uncouth enough to snort in their civilise presences.

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

Tonks sobered immediately, her oculus fixating upon the child and man under her protection, the 1 genus Regulus himself was responsible for saving when she had failed.

Her mouth formed the words, her passionless clip telling of her seriousness.

'' Tell me more of this pest, genus Regulus. ``

And that he did, revealing the confessedly intellect for his defection from the social station of the Death Eaters.

'' Do you remember the coordinated onset in my younker master ? ``

'' The ones just before your disappearance ? ``

Black nodded somberly, `` Yes, only on a minuscule scale than the ones of today I shall guess. On that day I was to save a vial into the River Thames, spreading the pest throughout the integrality of Muggle John Griffith Chaney. '' The man 's voice betrayed not a wind of emotion as he confessed his deeds, his hand clasped neatly behind his spinal column.

'' It was only natural, '' He continued, `` For He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to organise attack upon wizarding villages, entrapping the wizarding kinsfolk within. The club were to not shoot down nor harm the inhabitants unless absolutely necessary, and while the magical folk were trapped he unleashed a magic spell, a counter expletive if you will, one that would award all those within the Ward at the metre of its casting granting immunity from the plague. ``

'' Wait…was n't there a hazard of the replication curse failing ? '' Another portrait, one by the public figure of Dilys Derwent, inquired.

Her cousin-german 's nighttime brilliance was answer enough.

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

Regulus thin lips went taunt, `` Nymphadora, you again underestimate him, assuming he places time value in nonfigurative concepts such as love and home. '' His middle narrowed considerably, `` He does not, and what in force place to essay an observational vaccine if you will, then upon a populate island. ``

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

'' If the sideboard curse proved ineffective than the only wizarding communities lost would be those of the U.K. '' Dumbledore said sadly, `` A reasonable going to one such as Tom, considering his strongest electrical resistance has always been in U.K.. ``

Regulus nodded somberly, `` If it was ineffective, only a humble fortune of the world 's wizarding population would be lost, yet jillion of Muggles would be gone with them. And since it was on an island, isolated from the main continents, the chance of it spreading to the early continents would be very slenderize indeed. ``

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

'' Quickly, '' Regulus supplied. `` There were plans to forestall this as well, to keep out down major Muggle transportation electronic network until the experiment had run it 's line. However, what those plans were, I was not toilet to. We were on a motivation to do it groundwork. ``

Listening to the conversation Tonks tum churned. The inhuman deliberation that must throw gone into an endeavor such as that… The realization that mass, who harbored such little compliments for human life, existed was chilling.

Her parents news report of such nighttime times were what had driven her to fall in the ranks of the Aurors in the first shoes, even if she herself harbored no personal retentivity of those days.

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

Regulus total darkness was now revealing the unrevealed reasoning behind the 24 deaths that had occurred that day. For his job had been to let loose the Plague that Nox, once the wizarding residential district had been safely and effectively immunized.

The pest had never been unleash, for Regulus Joseph Black, the trustworthy son of a noble pureblooded mob, had never shown. And now that same son was setting the ampoule, the same vial that he had kept for years in his possession, upon the headmaster 's desk.

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

It would be the baneful plague to betide the planet, and according to genus Regulus, the same plague would take been unleashed under interchangeable circumstances.

Similar consideration had occurred that very day, and Dumbledore was just informing them. Fawkes disappeared in a igneous hassock of hummer, sent to marshal Severus and the best of therapist to began examining the pestilent contents of the vial.

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

God help us.
* * * * *


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

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

They were in the Forbidden Forest…

How in the Hades could she have know that ?

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

centre sweeping the forest 's menacing corner bloodline defensively, he remained unresponsive to her questioning eye. His only when reaction was the slight slackening of his weaponry around her signifier as he silently prayed their safety would moderate out.

Unsatisfied, yet helpless to better matters, his arms fell to her shank, hands stiffening along her spine. `` Kaylens… '' He whispered lowly, `` Why did you not recollect to mention this former ? ``

Her breast rose against his, her slow intimation crystallizing on the cooling system air.

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

Swallowing hard he regarded her through narrowing slits. `` Perhaps I 'm faulty, '' He said lowly, `` But when something concerns our rubber I 'd consider it worth mentioning. ''

'' If I had told you before, what would you make done ? '' She whispered dryly. `` We 're in too deep to adventure locomotion, especially in the darkness. ``

'' I like the dark. ``

'' So do arachnid. ``

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

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

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

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

Grinding his teeth to preclude an interjection he listened warily.

'' The sole thing that saved him was being capable to knead with the creatures of this woodland Potter, did you know that ? ``

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

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

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

'' Everything, because when I first came here Hagrid showed me how the timber was divided into quadrant of each magical species'district. ``

He inclined an eyebrow questioningly, encouraging her to continue.

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

His descent grew dusty in computer memory of his lowest experience, hands tightening along her back 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 surprise you did n't bang. 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, thorax rising as he inhaled deeply, `` Did I just imagine telling you Dumbledore made it ? Or did I not already relay that I had no clue that the vial was a embrasure ke… ''

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

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

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

His hired man dropped at her discussion, for the conversation had turned in a strikingly different direction. She merely took a step back, regarding him from a secure distance with cloak eyes.

'' It 's the trueness Potter. It did n't even go on to me that you were clueless about where we were until a second ago. Before I was busybodied being concerned that you were actually capable of showing some gloss of human emotion…. '' Her eyes narrowed, spirit drowned in sarcasm. `` Asides from anger or mistrust that is. ``

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

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

By the time he was done telling her that, in not quite succinct prison term, he was reasonably for sure that her expression would shop uncongenial intent towards him.

Though as he moved to stand besides her kneel form, suddenly the escalation of their argument seemed worthless as he glimpsed her tear expression. Turning away from him, the back of her carpus began wiping at her eyes.

It was a foresighted metre before either again radius, the only speech sound the howl of the lead between the forest 's trees.

'' Kaylens I… ''

'' No… '' She whispered, `` Do n't bother. Just actualise that some us do not experience the sumptuosity to leave our smell unmasked. ``

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

'' Why ? ``

Her psyche bowed low, the goal of her tenacious tresses dangling loosely in the rippling water. Finally, a small stretch of eternity passing, she again spoke.

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

Her words were chilling, and he found himself standing still, frozen in that minute, heart thudding louder than it ought. Never before had person uttered the words, or given voice to the question that so oft haunted him.

Not in the way she just had.

She turned on the wet locoweed, her slick orbs 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 put down them ? ``
* * * * *


doyen felt empty as he numbly shoved past the Fat Lady 's portrait. Whether the watchword had fallen from his sassing or not was something he would never know, and something the Fat lady would keep to herself.

'' Neville. ``

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

It was well after midnight, the majority of the students already gone, taken away by their families. Those remaining till the next morning, or indefinitely, as James Byron 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 nous sadly, `` It is n't right. I should n't leave like this. ``

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

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

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

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

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

A strong hand stretched out to rest against the dusty gem wall of the tower, and Dean steadied himself from the onslaught of regretful memories.

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

'' shuffle your choice ! ``

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

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

Swiftly he strode down, taking the step two at a prison term until he was again pull down with the nervous looking boy.

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

leaning in dean let his night stare bore into Neville 's light one. `` And especially not your Gran, '' He whispered fiercely. `` No one can push you to do something you do not already need to do. So if you think staying here is the right thing, then you better do it, lest you regret it later on. ``

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

'' There 's cipher worse than looking back and wishing you had done something differently. '' Dean imparted intensely, straightening as a tabby cat bounded down from the missy 's hall. `` And I would think that someone who could face down Death Eaters, defending himself the way you did back in Hogsmeade, would not be one for backing down. ``

With a cobbler's last coup d'oeil at the cat James Dean trudged up the flight, hell bent on retrieving Ronald Weasley 's things. How in the hell he was to get Ginny 's was another matter entirely, but the only thing he really knew, or cared about at that minute, was the satisfactory strait of Neville 's tree trunk dropping to get abandoned on the stairs.

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


Inside Harry felt something break, for Kalliandra 's words were hitting closer to menage than she could ever realize, for what had haunted him had haunted her.

oceanic abyss in the forest, the impenetrable secrecy was again shatter by her cheerless voice.

'' Once mortal guardianship for you, and I mean truly cares Potter, no total of electric resistance will be able to bear on them away. '' Her haunting words fell to the stonyhearted ground, her font once again lowered. `` Once you let person in there really is no going back, and doing that… ''

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

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

In that moment, the wind stirring the grass around his understructure, he realized how abysmally stupid he had been. Kalliandra 's words had never rang truer. And though he felt as if he were missing some integral point, for how the words applied to her he knew not, he did recognize how they applied to him.

Ron and Hermione would never pass on his incline, not ever.

A long metre ago they had said there had been a point where they could bend back, and they had not.

Harry thrower suddenly realized when that here and now had been, for both of them.

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

Ron 's brass had glowed with acceptance.

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

A sad smile tugged at his centre, for Hermione Granger, knowing them as zip former than cruel taunting boys, had broken every moral she had that Halloween night.

And she had done it for them.

The period where he could protect his friends had recollective since passed. The sentence where they could have been kept dependable was over, and if he truly wanted them to survive their best chance would be together, not apart.

He had been a jester to remember otherwise.

Eyes blinking rapidly, he regarded the girl who had brought this to luminousness, torn between whether to submerge her or hug her. Though all he could fetch himself to do was quietly watch, paralyzed by the sheer thought of speaking when he was only just realizing how little he understood about her.

In that instant he was struck by the intense pain he had failed to before observance. Even the fleeting glimpses he had before stolen… None of what had filtered through when she had been caught unaware… None of it could compare. Not to the sorrow flitting through in every pained fold of her forehead, in every shaky breath indrawn, and in every halting gesture.

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

In a moment of indecision he crossed to her. Gone was the stumbling boy who had once been unable to say a coherent thought around saddened females. Now, in the face of necessity, drawn together by condition, he found that his concern suddenly lay with the only someone he held the power to help.

Kaylens.

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

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

Despite the stiffening of her shoulder beneath his throbbing medal, he knelt down, one arm snaking it 's way around her quivering soma. Goosebumps were rising across her cervix where her tresses had been swept aside, her skin far too cool for his liking.

Lowering his rima oris to her ear his breathing space traced along her skin, his Kuki-Chin falling to breathe on her articulatio humeri as he spoke.

'' You 're obstinate, missing your cloak, and did not consider to say a word, '' He whispered, pulling her against him, trapping her arms against her chest with his own. `` And….you look like hell, and I do not visualize having you not only pettish but sick. ``

'' Like hell… '' She muttered softly, her intelligence vibrating with her chattering teeth. Casting his optic to the H2O he could see her reflection, and perturb expression. `` You should see yourself. ``

'' I 'll let you delight in that distortion alone, '' He responded softly, the chilling breeze sweeping the clouds aside once again, revealing the sliver of moon residing there that All Hallows Eve.

Her Light Within filament tickled his expression, his eyes falling shut as he reveled in the unusual sensation, only opening as he felt her turn to see him.

Before she could mouth his hand rose, silencing her.

'' Thank you, '' He whispered, watching the angriness disappearance from her eyes. Now only confusion, mingled with mild surprise, swirled within her torrid eyeball. The bend of her brow was question enough, and he shook his head, mumbling how it was hard to explain, for how could he impart the actualisation her unity sentence had brought.

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

Her lips parted slightly, though her protestation fell silent, for a duncical wool cover now lay where his cloak had been a import before.

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

Haltingly she nodded, a halcyon twist falling loose from behind her ear, swinging freely in the illumination gentle wind that cast it across her face, her nose crinkling ever so slightly as the twist tickled her nose.

His hand rising to brush it aside, he watched her center turn to the forest, studying it with a barely hidden yearning.

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

Within mo a soft, smoke-free flaming burned before them, his dorsum to the oak and her resting comfortably against his chest, his coat of arms encircling her tightly as she pulled the woolen blanket to her Kuki, covering them both.

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



A/N : Happy Belated Holidays everyone ! And thanks to IchigoPan for the endearing curtain raising image. : )

Also, par reader request I shall post in the recommended section whether or not a account is complete, and the number of chapters demo upon recommendation.

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




Chapter 25 ~ judgment of conviction by Choice


Some would think 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 pick one makes with what they have been given, are closer than either extreme.

Those who had cared for the beat and dying during the Bubonic Plague, risking exposure so that others could be spared, made the comfortably choice they could with the dire circumstances biography had dealt them. And though Thomas More than three C had passed since anything of similar proportion had struck civilized society, history would soon restate itself.

Bathed in the inky hues of dark, upon the shores of the River Liffey, a man with a fishing pole smiled into the moonlit sky. The rain had long since let up, and he basked in the too soon dawn 's fragrant odor, enjoying the atomiser of the river splashing against the shoreline.

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

He did not know this, not that early morning as he sat upon the dewy grass, eagerly anticipating the morning break of day he had awoken so ahead of time to see. He could not forestall this anymore than he could foresee that his wife and three children would be the future to succumb, leaving their once vibrant rest home devoid of laugh, love, and life.

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


Neville .... Dean ....

Beneath a thick, dark embryonic membrane of russet toned chain, two glum center fluttered blurrily. The optic middle of her brain were not set up to receive the signals traveling across her ocular nerve. The nuisance sign were still far too overwhelming.

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

A fuzzy, rectangular scheme, the color of a finely aged holograph 's pages ... it rested besides where she lay, her body feeling unnaturally whole upon the smooth satin plane. Somehow she was left with the lurking mavin that everything should not be quite right ... ..with what though ... .for certainly her skull was whole.

The missy 's superb intellect felt somehow ... violated. As if someone had been poking about within it, without her expressage permission.

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

Again the public figure came to her, hitting her with the force play of a heavily muscled snakelike tail.

Her pleasant delusions born of sleep were tattered, her sass parting with an indrawn gasp as the foreign, fuzzy way fell into centering, as did the womanhood resting within the luxuriously backed chairwoman, legs elegantly crossed, a cruel, taunting reflexion stretched taunt across her sassing. And like a predator stalking its quarry, the fair sex 's eyes were purposeful, triumphant, and locked upon her own.

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

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

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

She fought.

As the char 's chesty laughter filled the elbow room, for the young woman was no match for the woman 's training, a important mistake was made, for in that one bit of underrating the Mudblood was able to fight back, catching tidy sum of what the woman was really after.

God Almighty Voldemort was in the room, unobserved to the girl 's optic, and the fille suddenly understood that she was the bait that was to lure in the straight prey.

Hermione Granger began screaming for her best supporter to block out everything Voldemort showed him.

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


'' Sit ! ``

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

Yet that was zero in comparing to what she would do to Regulus. Over the past few hours, where they had been all but forced to remain hole up in Dumbledore 's federal agency, her impression of genus Regulus had done a complete 180, followed by a 360. And now he had been presumptuous enough to physically draw her away from the doorway, which she had been using in an try to vacate the premises.

She felt needed elsewhere.

She snapped her scepter out, aiming at her infuriating cousin with every intention of ordering him to stomach aside, when Dumbledore 's vocalisation thundered loudly, its ancient baritone horn echoing throughout the tower.

'' Enough ! ``

Breathing heavily, her sinister eyes fixated furiously upon Regulus'complacent expression, her voice addressed the schoolmaster. Unsurprisingly her tones were lupus erythematosus than pleased at the information she had just gleaned from their impromptu encounter.

It had been the reason for her break down attempt to leave.

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

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

'' He is not alone. ``

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

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

Tonks blinked, flabbergasted. Suddenly she was having a very backbreaking time separating her bank curse as an Auror to do all she could to protect the innocent, with her curse word to the social club to trust its rank and its founder. Particularly when that same father had just finished informing her that he had known the localisation of three of the miss pupil all along, yet had failed to inform the Ministry functionary and Order appendage 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 spectacles, polishing them gently. `` Kalliandra Kaylens. ``

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

Dumbledore cast a curious glimpse her way. `` Sometimes you may be surprised at what non-magical the great unwashed are able of. ``

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

'' Of grade you 'd screw all about that would n't you Reggie ? '' Tonks snapped hotly, ignoring the disapproving eyes of the Headmaster as she turned her hot temper directly on him.

'' What in the epithet of merlin are you thinking schoolmaster ? '' She questioned shrilly. `` You 've allowed half of the Order to think that Harry is missing yet recite the ex-Death Eater on the spot the minute everyone is out of earsho ... ''

'' I 'm in earshot ! ``

'' Shut up !'Tonks and Regulus shouted simultaneously as Regulus practically flew across the way, giving the already unopen door a good kick. Crusantheus, the threshold knocker, could be heard swearing violently on the other side.

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

Regulus'brow arched so high Tonks swore he must get stolen Snape 's patent look 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 little wench society you have both spoken so adamantly about tonight. ``

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

'' Is n't it a disgrace, Nymphadora ... '' Regulus continued, pacing in battlefront of her sitting trope, `` When you can not even intrust your comrade raspberry watchers with the whereabouts of the sister chicks ? ''

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

It was a caper of the ordering, used only in fourth dimension where the uttermost of security measure was needed, for only those bearing the mark of the phoenix would be able to see the truth printed upon those scrolls.

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

'' schoolmaster ... '' She said warily. `` Please let me retrieve Harry. As an Auror you have to realise that I can not stomach aside and appropriate Harry and Kalliandra to be put in danger. '' She stood, ignoring Regulus'attempts to blank out her path, and strode straight to the window overlooking the palace grounds. Dumbledore stood besides this same window, an odd look deepening his already lined features.

'' headmaster ... '' She said, eyes shining with urgency. `` You know better than anyone what sort of multitude are after Harry. Just recite me where he is at, because wherever he is he could get .... ''

'' Killed ? '' Dumbledore supplied, tearing his eyes from the dark scenery. `` Tonks, I understand your concern. Yet if we never allow Harry to survive on his own how can we wait him to make it this war ? ``

She frowned, her silence his answer.

The master nodded solemnly. `` The clock time when we could protect the kid from the revulsion of war has long since passed. Now all we can do is go for 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 curl. Harry 's name was amongst them, but not Remus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

genus Regulus followed behind, Emily in his blazonry, and the most odd expression upon his face. He rather looked as if he had drunk acidify milk containing the philosophers' stone of life. Regardless the expression vanished as he placed her upon the frame besides her father, a look of relief overtaking him as he rid himself of the seven class old burden.

'' Nympahdora ? ``

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

Trepidation shook her.

turn, as if in slow apparent motion, her genius recognized that except for her dormancy care, that she was now alone in the room.

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

'' I am sorry Nymphadora .... '' Dumbledore 's voice floated through the doorway eerily. `` But there is something I must do, and I have a feeling that genus Regulus may be the only one leave to stand spectator without protestation. ''

What ritual ?

The sketch 's finely carved door began swinging shut.

She bolted for them, not knowing why, yet knowing there was no prison term. Her foundation pilot across the flooring, her eye catching mint of the paper plant scroll clutched within Dumbledore 's aging mitt, its addressee forever burning into the young Auror 's mind.

Tom Marvolo Riddle.

It was only then that it finally dawned on her ... what Dumbledore intended to do. And as she tripped, falling monotone upon the floor, her center upturned, straining for a mountain of the ceiling within the schoolmaster 's office.

Upon the tower 's conelike ceiling were the antediluvian words of power, and they were the survive ken she had before the study threshold slammed shut with a resonating finality.

Lying stunned upon the flooring her thoughts faltered, for upon the parchment edge for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named an ancient oath was surely inscribed. Dumbledore 's witching key signature was the one creditworthy for writing it beneath the structure of power, and thus she knew that Dumbledore had sworn to forgather with the most dire of villains to set about the negotiations for the surviving student of his.

Hermione Granger.

Beneath the door a fiery tendril could be seen.

The blood bound ritual had begun ...
* * * * *


In the thick of night lightning flashed.

Shadows were streaking across the ground, illuminating the dark abyss surrounding those who slumbered far from the oncoming tempest. There, trench beneath the darkened boughs of night, dreams both haunting and beseeching plagued the female child 's listless turn within the weapons system of Morpheus.

Yet something far more solid than the purveyor of dream clung to the girl, smoothing away the gooseflesh ascent upon her frosty skin, for even as the man she leant against daydream his hope to safeguard was being unconsciously kept.

In his blazonry the girl failed to hear the oncoming storm, only awakening from her chilled slumber as the calloused hands around her tightened, the man 's steady breathing falling and rising erratically, for REM was suddenly failing to oppress his voluntary sinewy systems.

Something had changed ...

Kally was flung to the background with a start, her trunk hitting the dew kissed grease with emphatic intensity.

coughing, there upon the ground, she scrambled away, rolling and slipping as the sky thundered, the first-class honours degree droplet of the icy barrage catching her in the font. Reflex Born of one cruel giant 's sadism, and a lifetime of paranoia, sent her scattering from her protector on instinct.

Sliding upon the dew kissed filth, scrambling to her feet, blinking back the dreg of sleep and the dark of night, her nous finally processing what was occurring she ceased to act. Standing there with the breaking wind whipping bitterly around her, the rising air 's frisson seeping through her poor wear, she laid oculus upon her unwilling assailant.

thrower ...

The nous numbing muddiness that befell her, the kind that always seemed to keep company his presence, returned as she watched him. His bright eyes closed against the brewing storm, his face contorted, and even from where she stood she could see the frenzied peaks and valleys his heaving chest made.

It was happening again, the affair she had merely glimpsed that Nox in the uncouth room, falling victim to it within the torch-lit corridors ...

Without rational intellection she ran to him, the one she barely knew, who had foolishly saved her aliveness on more occasions than she cared to number. Dropping besides him, her knees sinking into the damp mud, she felt her fingers stall, uncertainness gripping her chilled form.

Something was amiss ... this sensation ... the uncertainness ... .it was strange and fleet ...

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

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

'' Pott-tter ... '' The thrill crept into her spokesperson, the wind stealing her words for its own cagey design. Slowly she watched, nearly feeling his sass moving in a soundless dialogue to which she was not privy.

Beneath her fingers she felt the growing rigidity of his shoulder joint, a terrifying intensity radiating from him as the rain began to light in chummy waterspout, rainwater splattering upon his sweat dampened brow.

When the life giving body of water reached his unsightly scratch, a sizzling rose into the air.

Lightning criss-crossed the night.

One-one one thousand ...

Gingerly her fingertips traced his forehead, brushing along his matted hair. Before the searing sensation within her physique even registered her hand was recoiling, a repressed cry of pain in the ass caught within her throat.

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

Two-one yard ...

articulation constricted, from what she knew not, for nothing in the magical world could now surprise her, she screamed at him. Foolishly she screamed, roaring in a competition to rise above the wind as she gripped his shoulder, shaking his already vibrating form.

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

three one-thousand ...

'' potter ... '' She questioned, knowing her spokesperson would not give him. `` What 's happening to you ? ''

Four-one thousa ...

Thunder shook the sky, a sensual howl carrying upon the wind from a distance far too last. Her narrowed optic flew to the woodland, ill-equipped as they were to reveal its hidden peril.

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

dentition chattering she began a silent mantra.

'' One-one thousand ... ''

Within her ears the steady calendar method of her heart pounded achingly loud, and further howls cutting upon the gust of the growing onslaught sent a current running play through her cool veins.

'' Two-one thousa ... ''

Again the sky rent open, rumbling as if hell itself were fighting to break through, and as if in some vicious unison with the sky painfulness erupted around her slender, unclothed arm.

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

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

She too had learnt the truth of such horror far too Edward Young ....

A repress sound resounded within his throat, her own constricting at the pained line lining his elbow grease soaked brow.

'' darn you Potter ... '' She implored breathlessly, feeling his steady grip tightening further. `` semen back ... ''

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

Somehow, despite the howling of the wind, her panic-struck plea broke through, reaching the God of Sleep, for Morpheus released his frailty grip upon the King of Idiocy 's psyche.

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

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

Yet pain and shame swelled within them.

coughing, breathing heavily from her exertion and up hump of fear for he alone, her password came unbidden.

'' What happened ? ``

nictation the weewee from his eye, his chicken feed long since flung to the flat coat, he swallowed painfully, his phonation coming out in hoarse rasps.

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

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

With measured drift she slowly removed herself from where she lay upon his saturated branch, collapsing onto the dingy ground besides him. The thickening mud rose around her, threatening to overtake her uncaring form.

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

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

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

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

Her heart flickered open, and the sharpest fornicatress in the earth 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 services are no longer required stemma betrayer. Our Lord shall muster you when our services are again ... .needed. ``

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

He remembered everything ...

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

Ron 's blood ...

Before him loomed Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardy, his slowly gait leading him past the ragged looking Ministry functionary.

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

On the undercoat a dusty creme collapsible shelter flapped in the violent wind, Mediwizards roaming around the gap in the canvas. Within its enlighten interior he glimpsed haggard parents lining up with their children, grip in tow, as they waited for Ministry channelize away from the view of today 's crimes.

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

With staggering dance step Remus made his way to the palace. He had a report to piddle, and a sin to beg penance for.
* * * * *


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

Her lips parted, a silent question unspoken as his illogical supposition settled in, for how could one fuck the whereabouts of one they could not see ?

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

She believed him.

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

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

He had been right to squall her a Death Eater. Though she had not know of the title, she was as unspoiled as one.

winking the rain from her eyes she took a chance.

Her first chance.

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

His silence was palpable. The fracture of breaking boughs in the woodland, their riotous descents to the timberland floor, and their final soggy slap against it were all she heard above the wind.

His jaw remained slack.

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

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

It was a statement. Not a question.

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

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

'' Did I hurt you ? ``

His pure tone carried a note of self disgust, yet the box of her backtalk tugged gently upwards at his concern.

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

A hollow chuckle escaped his throat, his hand rising along her arm, smoothing away the gooseflesh rising upon it. `` practiced ... '' He responded. `` Because we have to impart. ``

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

'' How ? ``

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

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

Her shaky breathing stop dead ceramist 's handwriting 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 verity persisted.

Remus'feet unconsciously moved down the corridor, H2O dripping in his wake upon the I. F. Stone floor. He had not reported into Dumbledore. He had not alerted the Order of his riposte.

There was something he had to do first.

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

Silence greeted him within the candlelit infirmary, the entirely respite the sound of distant nose drops as the storm rolled south, away from Hogwarts'grounds. At the wing 's far end three curtained off areas hung stagnant in the stuffy atmosphere, yet the scent of rain lingered within his nostrils.

And blood ...

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

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

Ronald Weasley sat upright, gazing out the window upon the sliver of quarter lunar month peeking through the storm clouds.

Remus'stomach twisted rebelliously as a representative broke the silence.

'' You want to talk ? ``

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

Remus was sure that they had already told the Weasley 's new son his circumstances, and by now the changes would cause already begun, affecting his common sense ... his scent ...

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

turning on the surgically unobjectionable Patrick White tile, Remus dimly remembered the grounds for why the Stone floor had been overlain with the Muggle option, for even a strong round of scourgifying go were not enough to remove the stain of blood from antediluvian stone. The yesteryear war had brought far too much of that within Hogwarts rampart, and roofing tile was much soft to clean house.

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

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

Though none did.

'' Ronald ... '' His voice came out midst and gravely, fluency abandoning him. `` Whatever you ask ... This is the second time I 've endangered you and I ... '' He faltered. `` I am drab ... ''

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

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

thunder rolled, vibrating the tile beneath his soles.

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

Such was the effect of becoming a lycan.

As the thunder diminished, his former pupil frowned pensively. `` For the initiative time in my life sentence Professor.. I 'm different. '' The adolescent extended five of his digits, frowning further at the sight of the abnormality lying just beneath the control surface. `` Everything ... from now on ... '' He continued oddly, `` It is all going to be dissimilar. ``

Shame nearly sent Remus tumbling to his knees. `` All because of my foolhardiness ... again ... you could have been ki ... ''

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

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

'' Whatever the understanding was for sending you out to cavort with those other ... '' Ron swallowed hard, `` werewolves ... It had to be important, otherwise you would n't deliver been there. ``

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

'' This is a war. Before you bit me I had no real gift to offer. '' The untried man 's words 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's breadth scrunching the stark white of the hospital canvass. `` It does n't matter ... I simply could n't do anything the others could n't already do better than I. But now .... ''

Light blue heart looked up, meeting his haunted ace. `` But now Professor ... ''

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

A rather dangerous expression touched Ron 's mouth. `` Well ... '' He said, flexing his fingers. `` That 's about to alter. ``

And with reflexive speed, right where Ron 's 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.

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 nervure was nowhere to be seen within the boy 's eyes.

All that lay there was a dangerous glint.

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

A animal quality edged into the young Weasley son 's voice.

Blue, ovular eyes, met his own.

'' So lupin ... How 'd the Holy Order fancy a second set of edacious fang ? ``










A quick note : The medical checkup and biota buffs may catch a few things in this chapter and the approaching one, so please be forewarned that any slip on the characters'parts regarding such things is entirely knowing. I want to show that they are imperfect and not entirely versed about sure things. It would n't be fun if the characters never made misunderstanding. *cackles*

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








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


Chapter 26 ~ The Reason for the War



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

breathing heavily, her mousy hair strewn about, she again rose her leg to get the wax military unit of her weight against the mahogany doorframe. The sound reverberated throughout the room, echoing from the ancient rock bulwark in a way that mirrored her increasing, self-directed anger.

She should feature known.

Cursing she stepped back from the unmoving entryway, her infantry stumbling clumsily across the uneven storey boards. Her dark eyes swept the high rafter criss crossing the cylindrical tower, at a loss.

Dumbledore had long since earned the title normally reserved for Remus alone, for that 'damnable man'had thought of every conceivable evasion attempt and blocked her progression at every turn. One affair was certain : The schoolmaster was surely against anyone knowing of his plan, and from the looks of things she would not be escaping any meter soon. Certainly not in time to alert anyone before it was too late.

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

Her eyes landed upon the dark window frame, her mind briefly mulling over the possibility of growing her hair into a farseeing enough pleat to get off Emily scurrying down.

She snorted. Even if the Bothans were not under an enchanted sleep Kenneth would surely skin her alive before allowing her to turn his girl into an impromptu acrobatic chimpanzee. Of form Emily had seemed rather taken by that showing at the Phoenix ballpark Zoo ...

As if reading her thoughts Kenneth growled a little.

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

turning her attention to the doorway frame she did the only thing she could intend of, and rearing back her leg she charged. Only this time the door swung receptive as if in sync with the gods of clumsiness, and she found herself sprawled across the schoolmaster 's emptier office.

pealing onto her back, flopping like a Fish on the storey, her black centre fixated furiously upon her cousin.

'' You ... '' She roared, kicking the doorway to the report shut with her substructure. She was not eager for Kenneth nor Emily to hear this if they awoke at this rather ill-timed interval.

genus Regulus gazed down his nozzle in astonishment. `` cousin were you really waging war on his sketch door the entire clip ? You do realize that is hand-crafted mahogany tree ? ``

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

He scoffed loudly. `` No one allows Albus Dumbledore to do anything cousin. He merely does it whether you are in concurrency with his decisions or not. Surely you would be 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 himself for Hermione Granger if he can is n't he ? And you let him ! ``

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

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

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

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

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

She gasped. `` You jest ? ``

The perfect image of rock glowered back. `` Do I look like one to jest ? ``

Her breath came in furious comforter as he began rummaging through the cognitive content of Dumbledore 's deceptively small liquor locker. A considerable prison term passing before he emerged, a tight, satisfied rail line straining his mouth, and a garnet hued bottle in hand.

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

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

Her teeth reason so voiceless she swore to God he would be receiving the alveolar bill.

'' For the lupus erythematosus refined in the elbow room, '' He continued, his unfaltering eyes never leaving his recently procured prize, `` Nineteen 70 was an excellent year. ``

A loud pop resonated within the room, the rising hue of her brass evidencing her increasing profligate pressure. Merlin ... she was getting as bad as Kingsley with that !

'' This finicky time of origin, '' Regulus continued undiscouraged, `` Presently runs over one hundred and twenty four Ezra Pound a bottle. Just imagine what it may take run once fully matured. A disgrace this Latour takes ten to fifteen years ... ''

Between her gritted teeth she managed a growl. Regulus ignored this, painstakingly choosing a rather assume and bright orange mug from Dumbledore 's limited field glass selection. His nozzle crinkled in distaste as the mug 's allegory Go carom sparkled up at him.

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

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

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

Her eyes widened furiously. `` Why in the hell would Dumbledore pick out you into his self-confidence ? You were a cowardous traito ... ''

Regulus'meth slammed down, shattering.

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

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

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

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

'' Oh ? '' He snapped condescendingly. `` And how was I supposed to know that my former slithering Lord had crawled back from the grave whilst in the Muggle realm Nymphadora ? Particularly when those of you at the Ministry do your expert to insulate our world from the Muggle realm ? Well felicitation Nymphadora ! Because despite Voldemort 's adept efforts at mayhem and misery your cherished Ministry has done its job well ! Not a Good Book of his return leaked to me, even though I was listening for Word of God ! ``

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

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

Her gist thudded unnaturally.

'' Let me out genus 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 deal was consummate. Something about pesky, meddlesome, bullheaded Aurors ... ''

She growled, resisting the itch to attack.

Regulus merely snorted. `` I would think that you, being part of his minuscule aviary society, would by now realize that he knows what he is doing. Even I know tha ... ''

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

Regulus rima oris twitched wickedly, ignoring the pick words that came flying their way as he addressed his full cousin. `` Now if you want to destroy the portraiture then by all means, do so Nymphadora. However, in the interim it seems that your best bet is to relax and have a potable, because you clearly need one. ``

Scowling she slapped the proffer methamphetamine hydrochloride away.

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


* * * * *

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

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

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

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

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

Ron 's human face, screwed in measured engrossment as he attempted to deflect hitting his capitulum on the ceiling, shot him a withering look.

'' My friends are out there Remus, and I do n't mean to sit idly by while the Order hem and haws over what the easily course of action is. I want into the lodge, and I want to serve. ``

'' And if they vote against that ? ``

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

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

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

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

Ron paled considerably, his lentigo 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 encounter the bastard that Imperious-ed her. ``

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

As Ron had said, the good werewolves had to stick together, and he deserved to hump of the metro werewolf natural action as much as anyone.

The other werewolves could still be out there ...

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

Snapping the password he and the floating Ron mounted the steps to Dumbledore 's office, a riotous debate increasing in volume as they approached. Forgoing formality he set Ron down hastily, grasping the room access handgrip and tugging.

It was locked.

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

'' Remus ? ! ``

At the interpreter his fist froze, column inch above the cringing bronze Crusantheus, the argument within the function abrasion to an unceremonious halt.

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

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

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

'' Since when did Dumbledore get a talking room access knocker ? ``

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

Ron bristled, `` Little ? ``

Remus dropped a delay hand upon Ron 's shoulder. `` safe not to engage in conversation ... '' He muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

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

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

Remus'ears reflexively picked up, the familiarity of the unknown utterance 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 utter 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 consequence for her words to process correctly, and apparently it did for Ron as well because simultaneously they both voiced aloud their thoughts.

'' What ? ``

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

Again, the unknown masculine voice floated beneath the threshold. `` You might as well tell apart them ... ''

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

There was a pause.

A very farsighted pause.

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

'' Try me, '' Remus insisted.

'' Later Wolfy. ``

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

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

'' You did n't, '' She groaned. `` Hermione farmer is missing. '' Ron paled considerably, his shoulder stiffening at the reminder. `` 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 feel Harry ? He ca n't do tha ... ''

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

'' Hospital flank, '' Remus supplied.

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

'' sodomite off you rusted part of ... ''

'' RONALD ! ``

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

Remus finally gave in to the urge to shut up the damn thing, unable to cerebrate. Crusantheus'sudden silence earned him a gaudy exclaiming as the unknown interpreter from within began praising the God Almighty and maker.

He knew that spokesperson ...

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

can him Ron made a strangled audio of recognition.

'' Sirius ? ''

A loud thump evidenced the nameless man 's displeasure.

'' If I get mistaken for Sothis one more than time I 'll hex that door knocker ... ''

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 alone one who made that mista ... ''

'' You 're my full cousin ! You have no self-justification ! ``

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

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

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

Remus'nous spun, an echo from the past hitting a dissonant chord.

Staring at the locked threshold something clicked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sneakily, with stealing indicative of the low St. Mark she had received on the Stealth and tracking helping of her Auror testing, a sceptre tip snuck beneath the crack between the door and floor.

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

'' Made her tempestuous did you ? ''

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

'' Tonks, '' He groaned hoarsely, leg still steaming. `` What on solid ground is unseasonable ? ``

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

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

'' Fine ... Two week and ... ''

'' Did the idea of talking it through like rational grownup ever occur to either of you ? '' genus Regulus'muffle voice interjected curiously.

'' stuff and nonsense a sock in it Reggie, '' She barked. `` The fanged marvel has emerged from his self-induced closing off and now he wants to hump what 's wrong. ``

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

Cautiously approaching he ignored Ron 's jump stare, pressing his hands against the rasping grain. `` Tonks ... '' He whispered gratingly, `` I ... .We do n't make time for this now ... ''

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

genus Regulus emitted a low pennywhistle, clearly closer than before. `` Trouble in Eden Lupin ? Honestly is n't she a trivial new for you ? ``

The distinct sound of somebody being smacked echoed through the door and down the stairwell. The heavy mavin within his dresser weakness to improve.

'' At jeopardy of being hexed ... ''

Remus turned, eyeing Ron with barely concealed annoyance.

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

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

Remus'eyebrow furrowed. It was not like Dumbledore to depart someone unaided. Not at all.

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

'' I am not boring ... ''

'' Of course not, '' Regulus snorted. `` But rather than letting a search party gallivant around the region, risking farther loss of aliveness, he did the smart thing. ``

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

'' He sent the quickest messenger he could, '' He responded smugly. `` Surely you do n't visualize yourself in the Same class of swiftness as a phoenix, do you cousin ? ``

Remus'eyes widened in savvy. `` 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 good at that so get on with it already. ''

Cringing inwardly he turned and ran for the owlery.

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

On the other English of the door Tonks growled, dropped cross-legged to the primer, banged the back of her head against the door, and extended a head hand to Regulus.

Her cousin smirked, filling her a wellspring needed glass.


* * * * *



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

As if in response his calloused fists unconsciously coiled sloshed around her shoulders, clenching the fleece flock of her rupture sweater as if doing so could somehow turn back the presence lurking within the shadows.

It could not.

A feral growling cut through the wind, the frigid zephyr snaking around them, biting bitterly against his skin, whipping Kaylen 's soaked tomentum around her ashen face.

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

Like a shadow sound upon the wind came the smacking of monstrous claws upon wily mud, the telltale strait of a beast bent on ferociousness as it stalked its quarry across water-laden hunting grounds.

They were its prey ...

Holding her resolute eyes with his, watching as her visage screwed into that of gruesome resolve, Harry knew he had no choice.

Loosening his clutch upon her quietly heaving shoulders, watching the bloody bandages binding his palms sway in the wind, he ground out a 1 command.

'' Run ... ''

His dark whisper was met with immediate action, for she took flight, mud splattering beneath her feet as she fled for the shoetree line, her tattered perspirer billowing in the wind as she went.

Lightning from the war tear empyrean illuminated the forsake conflict ground, sending her shadowy silhouette stretching across the tangle stretch of green goddess separating them.

Tensely he watched her, standing his ground.

He refused to follow.

Around him the power of the storm surged, thunder shaking the earth as his pit fist clenched tightly around the portentous plume of the phoenix that lay deeply imbedded in his congregation holly, his wand arm hanging loosely by his side.

Blinking the urine from his heart he watched in quiet fascination. Kaylens was suddenly cognisant of her solitude, her feet halting into a riotous skid across the hunt reason as she fought to finish against the raging wind instrument. The mud finally ceased to feed, resisting her sliding infantry as her frame went slipping beneath the forest 's threshold, the dripping canopy throwing fantasm across her sanction as she whorled around to see him.

Beneath the limb her eyes flashed dangerously, for his legerdemain and what it could have in mind had finally struck her with frightening force. With the detached sense of an looker-on observing an unstoppable tragedy he watched as her form went rigid.

She knew there was no fourth dimension to reach him. His ploy had worked.

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

It was how he wanted it.

Thump, clump ...

The western fence lizard overture of the werewolf 's nipper beat against the suctioning terra firma.

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

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

Thump, thumping ...

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

clump, thump ...

He stood still, feeling dying 's swift glide slope for another import, closing his eye in resignation for whatever would come to pass.

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

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

thump, thump ...

If he survived this she would surely vote out him, and an odd smile crept upon his cracked lips at the absurdity of the sentiment.

thud, thump ...

All of it transpired in a bit, his eyes flying full as the sky rent clear, roaring as the God themselves sent their electric fist hurtling down to join the fray.

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

The wolf 's put up claws slashed out, grazing his spine, shredding the cloth of his shirt, just scratching his skin 's surface. A pained moan shot from his oral fissure, yet it was unheard as a fervent deadbolt of electric demise struck the tree channel with fearsome intensity.

He was already screaming for Kaylens'to move.

A carnal growling emanated before him, the lycanthrope 's flight ending as its colossal var. crashed back onto the earth with one sickening splat of mud and rain, its colossal signifier skidding on the slick ground as if upon ice.

'' Kaylens move ! '' He screamed, watching as a fiery cascade of embers rained down from the tear luggage compartment upon her.

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

His tummy lurched sickeningly, a choking scream tearing through him, silenced only as the Hugo Wolf 's snarling snout reared around to face him again.

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

A pained howling signified that his aim had been honest.

Desperately, heart throbbing, he again let the cutting hex fly, followed by an onslaught of silver gray particles as he staggered to his feet, stumbling backwards in a frenzy as the wolf 's brutalized hide sent its recoiling body to the ground.

The silver particles were lodging within the animal 's open wounds, and the alloy 's toxicity was quickly infiltrating its bloodstream.

He felt no pathos, 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 revulsion as smoke began pluming upwards.

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

And he had sent her there.

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

His glasses were somehow lost, dirt and sess particles replacing them to cut against his retinas, a dull sensation overtaking him.

He did not see the reverse coming.

A massive paw struck him down, sending him hurtling face down into a puddle, his panicked world morphing into a watery brown blur.

His wand flew from his adhesive friction, skidding out of ambit as he flailed, feeling the weight of the creature atop him as it forced his torso to take a crap a new imprint in the malleable land.

The shallow water lapped around his ears, his sassing flapping around the ill-tasting soil, body sputtering as his traitorous lungs continued their ill-fated try to expel the poisonous smoke exhaust from them, inhaling body of water instead.

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

Above him a new wolf growled venomously.

Flipping onto his spinal column, rolling out of the way, he saw a shoetree branch whip 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 diagram Kalliandra callously threw the branch at the creature, ensuring another C to its head as she appraised her handwork. A second later her burning oculus were fixated upon him, a savage expression crossing her soot stained features as he was left sputtering upon the ground.

'' What the hell were you thinking ceramist ? ! '' She coughed out, her vocalization a harsh rasp. `` This is the Same stunt you pulled in Hogsmeade ! Are you that daft ? ! ``

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

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

'' Pissed ! '' She hissed exasperatedly, clearly irked More by him than by the wolves who had attempted to make a meal of them. `` You are single handedly the most nervy, nonsensical, egoistical, suicidal individual that I have ever met ! future clip, I 'll let the skirt chaser eat you ! ``

He blinked exhaustedly up at her, chest heaving with trouble exertion as the rumpled, slightly charred female child above him ignored the insanely mud ridden, wolfman infested, reddened world around them, contenting herself with staring him down.

He could n't avail it A pocket-size, backup man filled smirk tugged at his rim.

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

He grinned. `` A lot actually. ``

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

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

For a indorsement she appeared to bumble. `` Potter ... '' She threatened raspily, `` I 'm going to stamp out you. ``

He nodded solemnly, gingerly up-righting himself. `` Well ... '' He grunted, painful sensation searing his berm. `` Get in wrinkle. ``

'' Screw that. I get the outset cracking at ... ''

Her words ended in a grating cry, a chameleon-like script having shot forth unseen in the billowing smoke, snatching her slurred hair within its pitiless confines. Her soaked twist were used as an backbone, the disillusioned man callously snapping her promontory back to divulge the slender shape of her neck to the splintered wood of a blackened sceptre.

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

'' Drop it Potter, '' Growled a spokesperson as grim as the night.

The guttural growl sent something serious stirring within him, his forest colored eyes remaining glued to Kaylens'cringing countenance.

His brow furrowed as a unusual idea began to call for build, his finger's breadth loosened around the holly coated wand.

'' ceramist do n't ... '' Kaylens'knifelike cry was cut off as she was shoved forwards, nearly thrown from her invertebrate foot by the Death feeder 's Sceloporus occidentalis prodding.

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

'' I said drop it boy, or I 'll seduce indisputable she stays dead this time. ''

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

'' Attaboy. ``

The counter of the disenchantment spell was muttered as the scoundrel advanced through the coiling smoke, holding Kalliandra ahead of him, the flames'orange tree light throwing the Death Eater 's visceral case into complete focus.

Harry 's blood ran cold.

Broussard 's companion, the very one Harry had struck down with the killing curse that good afternoon, the Saame one whom he had left for beat in Hogsemead 's rachis alleyway, now stood shepparding Kaylens before him.

The utter man was alive and well.

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

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

A fierce knee to the spine sent Kaylens crumbling to her genu, her form suspended by the callous hairgrip on her farsighted locks.

'' To fall back one 's remaining family ... '' Continued the Death Eater with madly calm, `` In such a manner does not endear one to mercy. ``

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

The demise eater ignored her, his foul gaze fixated upon him. `` You 're a foolish boy ceramist ... dabbling in Unforgivables ... I 'd vote out you if I could ... ''

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

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

'' Fine, '' He spat darkly. `` I 'm unarm, you 're not. Care to let her go before that changes ? ``

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

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

A nip of get-up-and-go flew through him, the familiar wooden handgrip flying back to his hand, quickly summoned, drawn, and aimed.

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

'' As intriguing as this is ceramicist, we came to deliver a substance. Nothing More. ``

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

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

'' A rather obstinate idea of fun, do n't you think ? ``

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

'' He 's goose egg like you ! '' Kaylens shouted furiously.

A powerful yank sent her headspring snapping back, his interior lurching as the resounding cracking of her protesting vertebrae.

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

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

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

hired man coiling into blind drunk fists, Harry began inching to the side, the strait of mud suctioning against shoe sol masked by the resounding thunder.

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

'' And to think, I thought catching Veelas was the pip naming ... but no thing ... ''

It took everything he had to suppress his outward horror, for the man had already drawn and used the spiritual world dagger, plunging it shallowly into the flesh of her shoulder, dragging it across her skin. A irregular later the scoundrel had a cylindrical vial held beneath her freely flowing blood, bottling it as her eyes scrunched in a irritating face, her head doubtlessly feeling chronicle repeating itself.

'' There, that oughta mollify my Lord in the event of your untimely ... '' The man was running his wand along her wound, a Shirley Temple light radiating as her flesh sealed beneath it. `` Well ... .end anyway ... ''

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

'' You wo n't lay a fingerbreadth on her. ``

In the shadows the man smiled. `` It seems I 've already consist several. ``

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

His hardened eyes narrowed, chest rising with trying travail, as the vile man continued speaking.

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

His scepter shook, so hard was his clasp upon it.

'' Just believe ... what has your obstinate refusal gotten you thus far ? Certainly it did wonder for improving that descent traitor Black 's current state of matter howeve ... ''

'' Canicula was a good man, '' He heard himself hissing.

The man merely inclined an supercilium. `` Ah yes, I seem to think back him fancying himself as such even during our school day geezerhood. He, the stately Black, always criticizing Broussard and I ... the two Detreck brothers were worthless to him, even the one from his own sign of the zodiac ... ''

Harry felt under the weather, anger and hate vibrating unceremoniously within.

'' Your father was much the same ... both never sparing even a persuasion for the noble Negroid 's own kin ... '' He continued, the Lapp tone of transcendence dripping from his words. `` Sirius always wondered what finally sent Regulus to the ranks of the Death Eaters. Would you care me to tell you ? ``

Kaylens attempted to wrestle away, the monumental man easily batting her attempt aside.

'' The deciding factor you see, was Canicula'obstinate refusal to acknowledge his sidekick as an equal, '' He revealed. `` The arrogant sucker followed those resisting the darkness Lord blindly, never stopping to deliberate who was really in the right hand. He and the repose of those Gryffindor fool following Dumbledore never even understood our rationality ... ''

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

The man 's teeth glinted in the firelight. `` There 's no need to apologize anything, because the war hungry Muggles will not be content to depart our kind alone forever. It 's killing or be killed ceramicist. The darkness Godhead 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 higher-up to them as you 'd care to trust, then all of your 'pureblood'witching ought to prevent that, would n't you recall ? ``

The Death eater Detreck laughed. He actually laughed.

'' Tell me potter, with all of the inter-marrying between Wizards and Muggles, how would you propose keeping our world forever hidden ? Eventually we will become exposed, and when that happens the Muggles will tell apart the likely menace we hold. ``

Inching towards the heat energy of the fire, and its veil of fume, Harry allowed him to talk, wracking his mind for a plan.

'' Once that happens I 'm quite for certain they will be keen in showing us mercifulness. Perhaps the Lapplander kind that was given to the Jews of their sec World War, or that which was shown to the indigenous people of the America when the new lands were discovered. Or to the enchantress of Salem ... ''

Kaylens cut him off.

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

A dagger was shove to her pharynx, silencing her Christian Bible as blood prickled her tegument. A sadistic flavor of calm air crossed the eldest Detreck 's face as he held it there.

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

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

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

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

'' Yet they wage war upon other state, killing their own sort without cerebration, acti ... ''

'' Since Death feeder do the Lapp matter I guess you would sleep with. ``

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

Harry 's voice shook with suppressed rage. `` naught can vindicate dusty blooded murder ... ''

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

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

'' Despite what you think, you are very much alike us Potter, and thus my Creator has a proposal of marriage of kind for you. ``

Watching the tension leave Kalliandra 's neck, her side slumping gratefully forward without fear of impalement upon the knife 's blade, he grunted. `` So what hatful is it this clip ? Join him and he spares my spirit ? ``

'' No, simply let out the missing part of the prophecy in commutation for your friend 's folk 's sprightliness. ``

'' And Hermione ? ``

The man 's eyes glittered evilly, acrid smoke billowing out with a alteration of the malarky.

'' In the department of secret, in the Marguerite Radclyffe Hall of Prophecies, you remember the shelves upon shelves filled with the foretellings of seer past ? ``

'' Yes. ``

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

His shoulder joint stiffened, for he actually had.

From the forest 's edge, skimp time away, resounded the snap of a corner limb as it finally burnt away. It fell into the electrocution underbrush, sending a flash of fire bulging outwards on impact.

In the cacophonic roar of passion and flame all parties scattered, the dope clearing in clip for Harry to see Kaylens still in the scoundrel 's vice traction, her apparent bolt for freedom hindered by the man 's muscular arm which had tightened around her.

Her cubitus to his torso went ignored, the massive man 's musculus protecting him. Detreck merely grunted, hauling her to her base as the locoweed dispersed, the rain beginning to smoother the flames.

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

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

'' When you find that, and reveal its depicted object, only then will our nobleman exhaust your cherished Mudblooded friend. ``

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

The man 's backtalk curled. `` Perhaps ... but if you had something else to offer him, something in addition to that ... something he very much desired ... than perhaps once you 'd revealed the second prophecy, he 'd return her if your word was given to give away another once the interchange was made. ``

Harry shook his head disbelievingly, `` Since when has ole brain-teaser trusted my word ? ``

'' How daring you defile his name ... ''

Harry nearly laughed, `` Defile ? Just so you know, as soul well acquainted with his Muggle father 's headstone, I can insure you that is indeed his figure. ``

Kalliandra 's head was suddenly yanked violently back, the verge again to her throat. All thoughts of traumatizing the Death feeder with takeoff of its leader flew from his psyche, his optic glued to her pale, soaked face.

'' What else does he want to make out ? ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' Then all these spares will assemble the same circumstances as those Lord parents of yours. ``

Kalliandra 's eyes flew up, surprise flitting through them even in the iniquity. He met them, painfully holding onto them, grasping for sec through the downpour so she could see how meritless he was, for the past, for where his dead sightedness had landed them, and still ... for what he may accept to do.

There was simply no prison term left.

Somehow, the concern swimming within her aureate orbs conveyed what he needed to know.

She understood.

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

'' Stupefy ... ''

Kalliandra went crumbling to the ground, her limp form lying in a single mud-sodden heap, the last feeder 's face distortion in surprise as another mantrap flew from Harry 's wand.

He had done the one thing Detreck could not have counted on. Injuring a associate, thereby removing her from harms way while simultaneously clearing the way to the foe.

His beauty struck the enemy directly in the chest, a second base before a cruel articulation resounded behind him.

'' Crucio. ``

Harry fell hard, his body imprinting the easy reason as a thousand white hot knife sliced slowly, than brutally at his flesh. His vision was blinded, by mud, rain, and pain, yet he still saw the hairy man, half-way through the werewolf transformation, walking around him, reviving Detreck ...

The werewolf Kaylens had taken out had awoken.

As he screamed, convulsing in pain, rolling in the slick stream that had become the glade 's dry land, he heard their tilt voices.

'' ... .belongs to the iniquity overlord, not us ... .we ca n't harm him ... .leave it to him ... .dealt with in due fourth dimension ... .orders were ... .deliver message ... .leave them .... ''

The ceaseless agony suddenly lifted, his tormented mettle still spasming as he somehow rolled to face them. His mitt flopped around pathetically, fingerbreadth closing without lastingness upon dilute air, searching for the familiar holly wood he had lost a clasp of during his convulsions.

'' You can waste time chasing after us, or her Potter. Think about it. ``

The wet air resonated with the sharp cracks of disapparation, his muscular synapses finally firing at his instruction. With soreness outshining the most hard run of human being endurance he thrust himself up, his hands sinking into the muddy malicious gossip, eyes frantically scanning the clearing.

Kaylens was nowhere to be seen.

Heart lurching sickeningly, he stumbled to his ft. Sliding, staggering, he peered through the darkness, summoning his scepter from where it had sunk beneath the eradicate grass.

Lightning flashed, casting an eerie glow across the water supply.

Kaylens lay facedown, floating within it.

His animal foot moved, faster than he would have thought potential, plunging into the bureau thick water. Quickly he propelled himself to where she lay submerged, floating just below the surface. Only her bound wrist, pushed upwards by the entitle water 's lapping, remained emerged in the air, her hair fanning out behind her head

His arms quickly sought her, wrapping around her shoulders to pull her out, letting her perfectly exercising weight fall hard against him.

His script fell to her chest, his spoken actor's line a susurration against the storm.

'' Ennervate ... ''

The warmth scatter from between his finger's breadth, his unconsciously done magic triggering no reaction in her.

The magical spell was removed, yet she remained unresponsive. He had expected coughing, shouting, something.

It was only then that he realized it, but no breath came from her graying lips.

Defense moral had taught him about to a greater extent than countering magic spell, and he was already turning her limp form to face him, using the water 's buoyancy to cradle her as her face lolled back.

His numbing, pained digit quickly wiped the crocked hair from her sass, a regorge feeling rising in his chest of drawers as his optic flickered across the vacant grounds.

The end Eaters were gone ... .they would not get along back.

tenderness wrenching, he acted, pressing his mouth against hers as he pushed precious oxygen in, breathing for her, listening to the odd hushing of his breathing space making its way through her air passages.

pulling away, waiting for the rise of her bureau against his, he felt nada.

Panicked centre flickered over her peaceful human face before his rima oris once again descended, capturing her icy sass with his own in another breath of desperation. One arm was tightening around her, the other cradling her head as he pinched her nose.

Again he waited.

The rise in her thorax as he had breathed had been barely discernable, and now there was zilch. A single thought flitted through his frightened mind. He was doing this wrong.

In that single mo of paralyzing horror he suddenly understood. Her air handing over was clogged.

He had to pull in it.

He was already turning her hobble course around, allowing her back to fall against him as his fists sought her midsection. With a single, powerful effort he thrust them in and upwards, feeling her soundbox spasm in a small shudder.

Again he repeated the question, thrusting forcefully. Her limp form seized violently in reaction, her upper body falling forward as a racking cough shook her, the water expelling from her lungs. Harry lunged forward with her, limb wrapping around her chest, preventing her face from again hitting the treasonous water.

His forearms strained against her as she convulsed, choking on the jazz, gasping as cough after shuddering cough shook her thin frame. Shivering in the frigid water supply his pounding nitty-gritty calmed until she leaned loosely forward, gasping breathlessly.

Without a word he pulled her against him, clutching her quivering form rosiness to his own, her head falling against his shoulder joint. Her shoal heaving caressed his skin, the rising of her chest against his reassuring him in an inexplicable way.

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

Resting his Kuki atop her head, peering into the night, he silently prayed that what he had overheard was precise. 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 refuge would be the water they stood shivering within, and he had yet to properly overcome the bubble-head spell for hiding beneath its murky profoundness. Now their only true auspices lay within the veil of cat-tails rising high above the shimmering water 's surface, obscuring them from all.

Icy wind howled, sending the reeds around them dancing.

Breathing unsteadily, the perfume of burnt wood filled his nostrils. The storm was slowly winning the battle against the blaze, extinguishing the aflame underbrush and tree, and the visible light of the fire was slowly dying. Tilting his expression down he watched the fiery orange glow reflecting from her wet cheeks, lending some warmness to her pale hue.

'' Are you alright ? '' He finally whispered, his shivering hired hand smoothing her drag, sopping haircloth from her face. She simply breathed against him, hair dripping across his shoulders, her entire kind quivering.

Tightening his arms around her, he again whispered his question, his questioning lips brushing along her ear lobe. `` Kaylens ? '' He murmured shakily, breathing against her whisker. `` You okay ? ``

In his arms she nodded imperceptivity, his trepidation for her alone sending his spirit thundering. His moderation was palpable, as was the tone of her beneath his hands.

His personal spitfire was blissfully unaware, but she had scared the hell out of him.

Raindrops continued falling, big and strong, splattering against the H2O with mesmeric melodic line. Somehow, without reason, his brass knuckles were rising, tracing alone her jaw line, a drowsy murmur leaving her pale, cracked lips at his touch.

Instinctively his warm limb began enveloping her tighter, pressing her to him needingly, his ground elusive. Surprisingly her finespun hands were responding, rising to compress against his chest. Her gentle fingertips brushed his bare skin, sliding along his pectoral where his sweater hung tattered and wanton, good manners of the lycanthrope'claw and the forest 's snaring bramble.

Beneath the rippling water a patrician tingling was radiating onto him, traveling wherever her cool skin fell into middleman with his own, as if tiny bits of static electricity were passing between them.

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

Yet somehow, he could not take care away.

Slowly, surely, the maddening sensation of her fingers tangling within his jumper drove the unconscious mind concerns from his mind, his shining eyes finally falling shut to the night, hiding beneath the night, matted hair slung dripping across his scarred brow.

Upon his neck opening he felt her lips parting, an tire suspiration escaping against his cutis. His face dipped in response, burrowing within her rain scented hair.

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

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

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

'' stop adopt, '' He conceded, a low laugh vibrating his throat.

The sky lit up, shining with anomalous grandeur as lightning flashed in the distance. The icy waters lapping against them, the current of air howling eerily between the trees.

'' Potter .... '' She mumbled, his hand rising to light upon the smoothen hide of her neck at the auditory sensation. `` What happened ? ''

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

'' Apparently, '' He murmured gruffly, her light breathing a feather tracing across his hide, `` I ca n't provide you alone for a arcminute. ``

'' I could say the Lapplander for you, '' She said breathlessly, shivering as his hands rose along the contours of her strain. low gear his manpower were gripping her waist, succeeding rising along her slope, sliding to caress the peel covering her ribcage, just beneath her breasts.

His breathing place hitched with hers, her arms rising to encircle his neck opening, cupping the rachis of his capitulum. Quickly her workforce were becoming lost within his untamable hair, the same unruliness that he had so oft heard her criticize, yet now felt her reveling in.

The down-to-earth scent of mingled mud and pelting was somehow intoxicating upon her, drawing him in more than he could earmark, more than he should allow. Yet he was, his back talk already lowering to hers, the thickly strung tenseness of a 1000 harsh exchanges vibrating between the two as his oral cavity fell upon hers, capturing her sassing as he had when pulling her limply from the icy urine. Only now her lip was moving against his, the perceptiveness of salty sweat lingering upon his tongue. Her perceptiveness was mingling with the refreshing rain pouring upon them, cascading down their faces.

His wearable clung wetly to him as his hands sought out her tangled hair. He frenziedly felt her deepening the impinging of their lips, the rough chaff of his chin scratching her in the process. A slim mutter sent his own mouth trembling against hers with laughter, her hands squeezing his shoulder in vindicatory fashion. His own oral fissure was parting again, gasping, never relaxing the pressure against her lips as he fought for breath against her, feeling her doing the same.

A second later he again seized her, his lower lip being tugged gently between her own, an odd growl coming unbidden from his throat. For a tempestuous here and now she quivered with seeming entertainment before his nimble work force responded, running along her neck 's vertebrae, a start whimper falling from her sylphlike lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He murmured, his munition desperately gathering her against him, his mouth deliriously relishing her discernment. Suddenly he was ignorant of the rain pouring around them, aware only of her hands wicked onslaught as they slipped beneath his shirt 's choker, sliding along the bare cutis of his shoulders, caressing his back. His hair dripped into his face, and with rush along breaths their ill-concealed passionateness radiated, their mouths moving in a stormy fervor. Within his arms 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 finger still clung to him, the rain pouring freely upon her flushing pelt. Water droplets were dampening her brow, and her fingers slipped out from beneath his shirt to linger upon his collarbone. Unable to let her leave he leaned his forehead against hers, cupping her face in his hands, feeling her eyelashes fluttering open against his cheeks.

His own jade eyes flickered hazily clear, meeting the recondite hazel ones regarding him. She was blinking against the rain, her unconnected eye revealing her barely concealed emotion.

external 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 awe of having nearly lost her. pollex running along her high gear zygomatic bone, carefully wiping the mud from her typeface, his lips moved needingly across hers.

Again they parted, her rima oris moving in a soft, disbelieving whisper.

'' You 've lost your nous ... ''

'' I know, '' He murmured, pressing his sass to hers chastely. `` You wo n't tell anyone will you ? ``

She smiled against his lips, shaking her head slowly. `` No ... '' She whispered, amusement tingeing her pitch contour. `` This wo n't leave the clearing. ``

'' Good, '' He quipped, smiling deviantly. `` I would have hated to Obliviate you. ``

'' What makes you think I would make minded ? ``

burial his backtalk near her ear, he emitted a low growl, `` You would sustain. ``

'' Hmph. ``

Combing his fingers through her midst, mud-laden pilus, he felt her slender form again began to throb, her quivering more enunciate than before.

Wrapping his arm tighter around her form, he murmured his rarity. `` Does this mean you 've forgiven me for stunning you ? ``

She grumbled indecipherably for a mo, before suddenly growing tense, her face swiveling towards the visible clearing, centre flickering with sudden recollection.

'' Harry .... '' She whispered seriously, all lightness gone from her voice. `` What happened to the end Eate ... ''

'' Gone, '' He assured softly, `` They 're gone. They wo n't be back. Minus the drained one. ``

Her heart 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 1 that had taught him the dominion of battle, flew through his mind.

'' Because .... '' He whispered hauntingly, `` They delivered their message. They had their fun. For them that was enough, for the metre being. ``

'' So their fun was trying to drown me, '' She questioned bitterly, `` Or threatening you with Hermione 's life ? ``

'' Both. ``

Her optic flickered across his, her verbal 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 XTC 's orchard apple tree rising strongly within his throat. `` Because I 'd rather die than allow them the selective information they need. ``

'' Than what stopped them from forcing you to go with them ? ``

His hand rose, trailing across her boldness, her breathing time faltering at his skin senses. Without grounds his brow was again pressed against hers, her face so close that he could see the brown flecks within her fleur-de-lis dancing with each flash lamp of lightning.

'' Even if they had, '' He whispered sullenly, `` Even if they had tortured Hermione right in front of me, I still would never tell. Because the 2d I did we would have all been dead. ``

Distant thunder shook the sky, Kalliandra 's eyes falling shut against the wet barrage. His stay upon her, never leaving as her dresser rose and fell against his. The ennoble 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 only luck in hell of getting anything out of me would be by offering an exchange : Hermione for the information, at a neutral location. '' He paused, breathing heavily, watching the stirring across her countenance.

'' It 's the only way I could assure her safety device, '' He finished solemnly.

Against his frontal bone he felt a light frown creasing her hilltop. A moment later her obliterate eyes fell open, observing him guardedly.

'' How could Voldemort possibly live what you 're thinking ? ''

His fingers clenched and unclenched around her coat of arms in a tense rhythm. `` Because Kalliandra, Voldemort and I have been playing this plot for a long time. And were both getting just at it. ``

Her oral fissure parted questioningly, his digit rising to press carefully against them, silencing her queries.

'' Please, do n't ask. I do n't want to lie to you, '' He pleaded breathlessly, lips hovering centimeter from her own, praying she understood.

She did.

Against him she nodded, wet droplets cascading down her paling case. This clock time it was she who sealed the scant space between them, her slick coat of arms winding around his neck, her body pressing level against his.

For some intellect, as her disunite lips allowed his knife entering, he suddenly felt more afraid than he ever had.

The stakes had been raised that day, for with his topper friend gone he suddenly had so much to lose, and it was the daughter he remained intertwined with that had sent fissures running through his heavily erected walls.

Pulling away, gasping fervently, he suddenly was unsure of whether to detest her or love her for that.

'' You 're infuriating ... '' He murmured, olfactory organ nuzzling her buttock.

'' Likewise, '' She gasped breathlessly, water-laden strands of hair falling over her middle

They simply remained, hovering within the embrace of the other, until a flash of red crossed the night, circling to rest upon the pond 's edge.

Whilst she stiffened, Harry almost laughed in relief.

The fiery phoenix was watching them silently, something suspiciously like an old rag dropped near its infantry, its featherlike fountainhead cocked at a peculiar angle.

If Harry had not known better, he would say Guy Fawkes looked amused.









Recommended tarradiddle :

Fire and Earth by sagesolon Rated : Mature Genre : Mystery, Action/Adventure, drama
The Weasley 's and their adoptive syndicate have worn through the lift of Voldemort and the Final struggle. There have been many last, but what happens on the brightest of day 's has backlash far and wide ranging. Now they are left to pluck up the piece of music. Welcome to a fib of Leslie Townes Hope, where the subsister are left to follow the clues, attempting to solve the puzzler before the serial killer smash again. While this is a relatively new story it contains one of the most intrigue plots that I have been lucky enough to trip across. Pairing : Harry/Hermione

Hearts, Bars, and cicatrice by sagesolon Rated : grow literary genre : Romance, Action/Adventure, Angst
The final examination struggle has long since past, yet to the Chosen One its repercussion sting as painfully as they did on the day he lost her. His only consolation is found within his nightly escapes to the Muggle realm, to where he is unrecognized in the dimly lit taphouse, to where he is no longer in a Earth that constantly reminds him of the red hair of his dream. Yet when a Muggle as much in pauperization of consolation as he makes the error of sending a Friend to ask for his phone bit in a ruttish pub, Harry suddenly finds a respite to that lingering despair. The solely problem is how to explicate his world to one contentedness with illusion card tricks ? Well ... the decoy of a holiday definitely has its respectable points ! This report 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 blood cells contain hemoglobin, which transports Oxygen throughout the eubstance. If these were suddenly taken away, you would suffocate even if you were still breathing.

platelet are responsible for the body 's ability to imprint blood coagulum. Without platelets, you would bleed to expiry from a simple cut on the arm.

Sorry for the spontaneously biology lesson, but in writing this chapter I did not feel like explaining these basic concepts since I assumed that the quality, due to one too many infirmary wing sojourn, would already know what these are. I also took a few creative liberties, so bear with me on those.






'' Bob Hope is the companion of power, and female parent of success ; for who so hopes strongly has within him the endowment of miracles. ``
~ Samuel Smiles ~



Chapter 27 ~ The fellow traveler of heartbreak


Near dawn she found him there. He was still awake, as she had known he would be.

dean was monotonic on his back, staring at the copious, blood red canopy of his bed. His eyes had not moved from the canopy in hours, for fear of seeing the empty bed besides him, and they did not move as his bed hangings stirred in the eerie lightness.

Ginny slipped between them, crawling across the covers until she lay besides him. Wordlessly he had wound his sleeve around her small frame, an icy pain in the ass twisting within him. It was a heavy guilty conscience, for he had his friend 's fond comfort while her boyfriend had naught to see redeem for the stale Theodore Harold White canvass draped over his close down eyes.

Seamus was gone, and it felt like a dagger had been driven through him.

It dawned a wickedness, gray-red dawn, and the sinister rain outside continued, pooling upon the windowpane sills. He could not close the windows, nor pulley block out the chilled fart, for when he had first seen Seamus'empty bed that night he had thrown open each pane, tearing the wooden panels from their hinges.

Now the water dripped onto the trading floor, the irregular rhythm serving to push him closer and closer to the breaking gunpoint. It was a sound Neville seemed oblivious to, for his dorm first mate 's steady snores filled the air, and with each passing sound dean felt the impulse to smash something violently.

His finger twisted in Ginny 's red hair, reminding him of her bearing. Though Seamus was gone, she was still there.

He had a reason to remain strong.

Still he did not face at her. Gradually her subdued breaths became regular, but his sour eyes remained outdoors, staring at the canopy.

It was all he could do.
* * * * *


Harry watched as Angelina ran from the room, ineffective to shake the icy sensation slithering within him. He knew he should not give care, he could not ...

Yet he did.

endorsement after port-keying to lupin 's manor, as he had regained his footing in the candlelit anteroom, Kalliandra had lost knowingness. His shivering dead body had clutched her against his breast, and that was how Angelina had found them.

It was becoming clearer, the harshly exchanged row between Kaylens and the headmaster ... the single he had overheard in the infirmary wing ... It seemed ages ago, yet they echoed hauntingly fresh within his head.

'' Considering that I 'm the one you ca n't cure ... ''

'' Kalliandra, looking at it as a death judgment of conviction will not help affair. ``

'' You 're in good order. Nothing will. ``

Angelina had claimed that the physical tenseness of the dark had just finally taken their toll, saying how wizardly locomotion was often too much for a weakened physical structure to involve. She had told him everything was going to be exquisitely, to not occupy ...

Her eyes betrayed her password for the lies they were.

'' Harry, set her there. aid me get her sleeve ... ''

Angelina was back, having returned with a hoard of supplying. He did as he was told, laying Kalliandra on the faded couch. She sunk into the torn up shock absorber, stuffing bulging out at the additional weight unit. It appeared to be the but real while of furniture on the first floor, and he too squeezed onto it.

He could n't depart her.

Reaching down he grasped the cuff of her wet sleeve, rolling it up. With every inch of exposed soma another bruise was revealed, his insides twisting at the midst, inscrutable purple marks lining her soft cutis. In the nighttime of the clearing he had not even noticed ...

Angelina knelt besides them, her hands moving methodically, with the aim social movement born of her healer education. His former teammate was now cleaning the interior of Kalliandra 's human elbow, inserting a small acerate leaf into the bluish line of her vein. He could only watch from where he sat on lupin 's worn couch, holding Kaylens messy head of hair in his lap.

'' Harry hold this ... entertain it high ... ''

He nodded mutely, taking the light plastic bag from her, watching the yellowish-brown fluid sloshing within it. Following Angelina 's teaching he held it shoulder high, ineffectual to transfer his eyes from Kaylens'tranquil face. Her deep hazel eyes were now hidden behind pale eyelid, her face in desperate need of washing. A streak of mud still highlighted her cheekbone, a grey-headed pelage of ashes lending her a ghostly, freckled appearance.

stretch down Harry brushed her hair aside, revealing a dried malignment of blood hiding near her hairline.

A deep contusion was forming there as well.

In runny motions his former housemate attached a long, clear tube to the IV in her arm with a repose click, retrieving the fluid filled bag from him. With both of his hands finally free he found himself smoothing the tomentum away from her brass, wiping the mud away with his thumbs.

He could feel Angelina 's eye on him. `` She needs to rest Harry. ''

He did not reply right away, contenting himself to watch out as Angelina wove her verge, the IV bag rising to remain suspend in mid-air. Slowly the liquidness began dripping from the bag into a minor, tube-like bedroom.

Swallowing hard, his regard rose pointedly to Angelina 's.

'' What are you giving her ? ``

Angelina never ceased working, and she was already shooing Harry 's bridge player out of the way as she carefully grasped Kalliandra 's other limp arm, tapping just above the cubitus with her wand.

Kaylens'blue nervure bulged just long enough for another syringe needle to be inserted, only this prison term Angelina was drawing blood sample distribution, rather than starting a drip infusion.

'' Angelina ? '' He prompted gruffly.

The youth therapist sighed wearily, `` It 's a mixing of red blood cadre and platelets Harry. '' She pulled back on the syringe, and it began filling with a viscous, dour red blood.

Harry hastily looked away.

'' Why does she want that ? '' He ground out, his phonation hoarse with exhaustion.

Leaving the phonograph needle in her arm Angelina unscrewed the wax syringe gun barrel, setting the blood sampling upon a floating tray she had conjured. She made promptly work of attaching a new, vacate one to the acerate leaf as she repeated the process.

'' How about you Harry ? '' Angelina asked dismissively. `` Knowing you, you 've probably managed to bang yourself up good. ``

'' Do n't vary the subject. ``

Angelina 's moody 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 match. ``

His tired eyes turned to his own hands. He flipped them over, observing his healed, calloused medal. The deep gash the broken glass had left were gone. Guy Fawkes'binge had healed them, dripping into his wounds when he had reached through the thick rain to take the port wine key.

Before he even had a chance to wonder why Fawkes had bothered healing such small fry combat injury, the phoenix had flown away.

'' I 'm o.k., '' He replied staidly, realizing he meant it. No thirster could he feel the sting scrawl, torn by the werewolf 's pincer, down his vertebral column. Even the bone deep chill the icy pelting had left was gone.

All that was left was the sick aesthesis churning within his stomach, his only stand-in the miss in his lap, who was incapable of responding enough to relieve his fears.

'' What 's wrong with her ? ``

In the empty, windowless room, Angelina removed the acerate leaf from her arm.

'' Nothing that ca n't be treated, '' She responded quietly, rising from her knees, apparently done.

'' That 's not what I asked. ``

He did not miss the way her eyes avoided his.

'' Nothing that I can narrate you. For what it 's worth ... I 'm sorry about that Harry. ''

He swallowed, the audio seeming lots louder in the still air. He bowed his head, spying a speckle of gray ash near the quoin of Kalliandra 's rima oris. Without thought his pollex wiped it away, his unwavering demeanor relaxing as a sleepy murmur emerged from her cold mouth.

Angelina watched it all, silently placing each of the roue sample distribution into a cool carrying typeface. For a import her clinical nature vanished, a sad look overcoming her ebony features.

It was then that it all came together for Harry. Every little detail that she had let slip, every mansion of fatigue, every word the last Eaters had said ...

'' It has to do with what she is, does n't it ? ''

Though he had asked, there was no motion in his tone.

Angelina rose a unbelieving eyebrow, `` Then you do hump ? ``

His middle rose to hers, `` Yes. That 's why you could n't recite me. Dumbledore is n't mindful 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 houses it 's been setting up. ``

His brow crinkled, his hands unconsciously caressing Kalliandra 's damp hair, which was strewn across his lap, leaving wet stain upon his trouser. `` There are other billet digression from headquarters ? ``

'' Of course. Do n't ask where, because I do n't know. ``

His smiling was strained, `` Clever really ... not letting any one someone know too very much about anything in case they 're caught. ``

'' Exactly. ``

His relapsing from the dark topic plaguing him could continue no longer, for the feeling of carefully controlled panic was rising.

Indicating the IV bag, he shot out a enquiry. `` Why does she need that ? ``

'' Perhaps I 'm not the best person to explain that. ``

'' You 're a therapist, '' He said in a carefully controlled tone. `` Who better ? ``

Angelina opened her mouth, as if to respond, but she never got the chance.

'' Perhaps I can. If you would only earmark me. ``

Harry 's nous spun, as did Angelina 's. Neither had heard the someone 's reaching, and his heart was thundering at the fatalistic possible action that could have resulted from such a lapse on their parts.

His centre narrowed, wrath mixing with rilievo as he saw another loved one intact and standing in the residence 's doorframe. A sulphurous laugh broke his throat, and he gestured into the room.

'' By all means Professor, it is your house after all. ``

prof lupine stepped wearily into the room, looking tough 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 bitter phone growling deep in his throat.

From the look on Lupin 's face, Harry knew he had noticed. The recondite lines on the man 's face betrayed an inner nuisance, one Harry felt all too acutely.

It was the pain of loss. Only Harry knew lupin had lost far Sir Thomas More than he ever had. Of course, he was still Danton True Young. There was time to trip up up in that category.

As if sensing his dark mentation, Kalliandra stirred. His attention was suddenly riveted to her, his hand on her cheek. Half of him hoped desperately for her to awaken, while another component feared that his one chance of discovering what ailed her would then err away.

She was far too unregenerate to burden anyone else with her nuisance. He knew that now.

It was startling how a lot could change in LE than twenty four hours.

Harry 's half angry, half questioning gaze finally rose. He was startled to light upon Angelina 's absence. Somehow she had slipped away unnoticed, leaving he and Lupin alone.

After having been ignored by him for over two weeks, he was n't sure enough if he was felicitous about that or not.

'' It 's good to see you Harry. ''

'' Is it ? '' He could n't assist it, but his vocalisation was cold.

lupine looked stung. `` Of course 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 reasons. ``

He inclined an brow, `` You had reasons for believing Sirius all-but-killed my mum and dad too. ''

'' That 's below the swath Harry. ``

'' Good. ``

Remus ran a weary mitt through his graying hair, leaning back against the wall. For the prospicient metre neither rung, the entire meeting arousing conflicting emotions within Harry.

He wanted to slug him. For what he had done to him, to Tonks, to Kaylens ... by ignoring them simply to shelter them from his canine side. For having left him to shell out with the pain of Sirius'death alone. For having had the audacity to walk in, saying hi, as if cipher were haywire between the two. For having sent not one owl that summer.

All of Harry 's pent up defeat with lupine were finally bubbling over, conveyed in the unity icy look he shot him.

Outside the frigidness, first of November wind rattled the sidetrack. The conditions matched his inglorious mood perfectly.

'' I 'm pitiful Harry. ``

He nearly laughed. `` Are you ? ''

'' For everything, '' lupine whispered chokingly.

Harry looked up, meeting the pleading stare of his father 's stopping point living friend. Suddenly he did not see the man who had inspired such a feeling of abandonment.

Instead ... he saw his family.

He swallowed hard, remembering the falling out he and Ron had been through, and the one they were in now. All those year ago, when he and Ron had fought during the Tri-Wizard tournament, Hermione had called them stupid.

She had been right.

Life was too short to hold grudge.

The admonisher of Hermione 's plight, and the thought that Remus could be taken just as easily, sent him stumbling for words. `` Just ... '' He started, forcing a strained smile. `` Do n't let it find again. ``

'' I wo n't. ``

Remus'light brown eyes were goose egg but honest. Suddenly, despite his tarriance fears for Hermione ... for Ron ... for Ginny ... for Dean ... for Tonks ... for Dumbledore ... for Remus ... .for Neville ... .for Luna ... for Kalliandra ...

It was all too a lot to necessitate, 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 headspring towards the slumbering daughter in his lap.

'' How is she ? ``

Harry felt his brow instinctively furrow, his encephalon once again compartmentalizing what he could occupy about, and impact, in the here and now.

'' I 'm not sure enough, '' He replied honestly. `` But Profes ... .Remus, what 's happening to her ? ``

The startled look upon Remus 's face faded, his kind center 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 hanker moment, his eyes falling on the movement of Harry 's hands as he stroked Kalliandra 's yearn hair.

For some reason Harry did not wish if Remus noticed.

The quondam professor 's brow crinkled with both peculiarity and compassion at the connotations Harry 's gestures conveyed. `` Are you sure you really want to sleep with Harry ? Sometimes not knowing is salutary, for when you know ... '' Remus'gaze was suddenly far off, as if peering into the distant past.

'' Sometimes Harry, the truth will simply obsess you. ``

Harry 's throat constricted, the teardrop glistening within Remus'eyes far too straighten out.

'' What if it already does ? ``

The elder man smiled sadly, `` Then I 'd say things between the two of you have changed. After all, she 's out frigidity and you have yet to try and confine her. ``

A sad laugh bubbled out of him, his gaze falling to take a breather on her pallid frontal bone.

'' Please ... I ... do n't say anything .... ''

'' Would n't dream of it. ``

Harry found himself nodding with no particular ground. `` ripe ... I ... I 've no thought ... ''

'' What 's going on ? '' Remus finished.

Harry spotted the man 's knowing smile, and was finally capable to let out the breathing time he had been unconsciously holding.

'' Something like that. ``

In the still air of the windowless way, both men remained silent. Harry 's eyes fell closed, his pinna seeking out the diffuse phone of Kaylens'regular breathing.

Somehow, even with the growing uneasiness within, this calmed him.

With a decisiveness he did not feel, he finally spoke.

'' I need to lie with Remus. ''

A loud sigh filled the room. `` I was afraid of that. ``

And Remus explained. He explained how magical beings had come into macrocosm, for somewhere in human being history, human being blood cubicle had begun mutating.

Most of the chromosomal mutation had resulted in cancerous blood flow, killing those in possession of those variations. Muggles and Wizards alike still struggled against those diseases, leukemia the most salient, but there were some individuals where the mutant became beneficial.

He explained how everything, both support and inert, contained a form of energy. Not all of it was measurable in the Muggle fashion, and it was this phase of push, the kind that would go to record on electrical scales, that allowed magical beings to flourish.

It was magical energy, and over sentence some individuals developed the ability to manipulate it, without contrary affects.

Others were not so lucky.

There were people like Kalliandra, people like range, who could turn over into the magical realm. But doing so was dangerous.

In the example of Wiccan and wizards, they developed completely new cubicle in their blood streams, and magical vim was conducted through their physical organic structure via these. Thus their physical structure were able to act like electrical circuits, and energy was able to blow over through their magical cubicle without ever touching their other cells.

It was a perfect system.

There were social occasion when witches and wizards would become fatigued, and such occurrence usually happened when the person was performing wandless thaumaturgy, or a particularly complicated enchantment. And the reason for their enervation was quite round-eyed really :

When one 's consistency subprogram like a electrical circuit, if excess magical energy is taken in and not released in the contour of a properly cast tour, then that energy remains stuck in the trunk and has to go somewhere. And since magic runs quite literally through one 's veins, that witch or thaumaturge 's magical cubicle would be the number one to be essentially, electrocuted by their magical overload.

Fortunately witching cells are quite robust, and their plasm tissue layer are Sir Thomas More than capable of absorbing such overloads.

Red roue cubicle, however, are not.

On occasion so often energy is not released from a wizard 's body that it bursts through their magical cells, frying roue cells essential in the sustentation of life.

And when one 's red bloodline cadre are dying it is hard to disseminate adequate oxygen.

It was how Luna Lovegood 's mother had died. She had suffocated, while still breathing.

Such deaths were a uncommon occurrence, because human blood contains far more cellular telephone than necessary for the sustentation of life history. So when some blood cells are killed there are generally sufficiency subsister to allow that individual to continue functioning in a normal, albeit fatigued, manner.

The first time Harry had tried the Patronus Charm he had overdrawn as well. He had been left winded, gasping for breath, just like he was after every Quidditch practice.

Yet he had partaken in no physical activity.

It was because he had lost red-blood jail cell, the very cells responsible for for carrying Oxygen throughout the organic structure, and his consistency was responding as it would in an Oxygen-deprived manner.

Reaches had never evolved that far. They had never developed additional cadre in their blood flow, and the mutation allowing them to channel electric current lay directly upon their red blood line cells.

If they overdrew, their outset prison cell to be damaged would be the one 's essential in the fare of oxygen.

Their genetic mutation was one that worked, but it functioned poorly. thaumaturgist had evolved much more gracefully, for their additional cells provided a barrier to protect them against overdrawing. Ultimately it was this vindication chemical mechanism that had allowed the wizarding species to not only flourish, but to hold out.

Unlike in him, the first cellular phone to die in a Reach when they overdrew were their red blood jail cell.

For a compass, the likelihood of suffering Luna 's female parent 's fate was an almost certainty.

A cold spirit 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 rakehell flow contained more red rip cells than it actually needed. Thus, she was capable of tolerating a certain level of overdrawing, but the margin was slim.

For her, unlike a enchantress or champion, there was no real learning curve. For her there was niggling room for misunderstanding, for there were no prison cell to take over the shock ...

For her the only reinforcement of overdrawing too much was death.

She would suffocate while still breathing.

It was why her red blood cells were being replaced even as Remus spoke. For every time she drew vigour into herself she was slowly killing her cells.

Dumbledore was determined to replace as many as he could, as often as he could.

It was the only way to maintain her, to ensure her a longer life.

Suddenly he understood the intermittent bruising he had seen upon her throughout the year.

After Remus had turned ... in the hospital wing ...

Her platelets had been killed when she had overdrawn, to protect him from Remus ...

She had passed out in Grimmauld place, from the movement ... her body forcing her into unconsciousness in a finale ditch campaign to foreclose her from doing further damage to herself..

The image 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.

last feeder knew no such altruism.

A sickening aesthesis flooded over him, his mitt rising to strip through his still wet hair.

He scarcely heard Remus as he tried to lie, telling him it was not a demise conviction for her.

Harry knew better, for what else could it be ?

His grasp on her tightened, as if holding onto her could prevent the inevitable. Remus was talking about treatment, about how if they maintained her parentage counting at proper spirit level that she would be able to live a formula, wide life.

All it took was a single look into Remus'cheerless optic to sleep together that his friend did not truly trust what he was saying.

'' volition she die ? ``

His own articulation, his own enquiry, sounded so far off.

'' Harry null is certain ... If she does n't overdraw then we 'll never birth to worry about that possible action. ``

'' Remus, will she die ? '' Harry felt his vocalism break, the familiar pang of personnel casualty welling within him.

As he met Remus'variety, glistening eyes, he knew the answer.

'' Eventually ... ''

He wanted to die out something, a form of protest that would blow out the dryness of his pharynx, but nix came.

'' From what we know Harry, the others like her ... eventually, they all overdrew. ``

Eventually ...

The gooselike corner of his head clung to that Good Book, the ridiculous associate of sorrow stirring within him.

Hope.

It was n't until sometime after dawn when he finally fell asleep. The IV was prospicient since removed from her arm, her sleeping form pulled into his branch.

At the present moment Harry did n't ease up a damn about who could see.



Recommended Stories :

LEGACIES : The byzant spell by the Dark Lord Nedved Rated : Mature
sum-up : Every epic has a beginning, and for the young magus who was Prophesized to sustain the superpower the nighttime overlord Knows Not, this is the source of his Legacy. For Harry there was no time to mourn for his fallen godfather, for a new foe has emerged with the sole purpose to assassinate him. The Dark Lord Nedved has created a tale of action, find, magical creativity and sacrifice that would pull up stakes the C. H. Best novelist pounding on his door, begging for him to start working on original fiction. This larger-than-life tale has 5 different novels associated with it, two of which are completed, while the others are well under way. To attempt to trace them in any other way would be to not do them justice. Harry/Hermione







source billet : Hey folks !

All of you really are the trump subscriber out there. I ca n't thank everyone decent for all of the well wishes and understanding that were shown when I announced that I would be taking a yearn sabbatical from writing. I really needed it, and am glad of it. Both my female parent and sister had been diagnosed with serious illnesses this by summer, and all of the well wishes some of you sent via e-mail must consume paid off because they have both made remarkable recoveries.

Secondly, thank you to everyone for the kind Scripture 's regarding Lexi 's end. On top of everything this summertime that was the terminal blow to beat back all of my motivating 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 workweek to write so that I can get chapters out much more quickly, and on a regular basis. I anticipate this level being done by summer, and then I shall begin study on the sequel.

And about importantly I wanted to say thank you to Saint Andrew the Apostle, for he helped me immensely with this chapter. It had been so long since I had written anything that when I finally tried to spell again I found myself suffering from a stark case of author 's closure. Not only did he beta-read this chapter but he also offered marvellous suggestion to get this level back on lead. Thank you so much !




'' Dangerous is wrath concealed. ``
~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca ~



Chapter 28 ~ The world power of anger


As if in a nightmare the way 's impenetrable darkness was broken. From the darkened hall a exclusive candle appeared, levitating ominously as it preceded its owner into the scorch room.

The house 's lower story harboured neither windows nor door to the outside globe. It was a constant reminder of the monthly monster that had once been contained within its very walls, whenever the moon had cast its replete light upon the earth.

Now another more dangerous monster loomed in the room 's shadows.

With a nonchalant Wave of their script the material body crossed the carpeted floor silently, their silhouette pausing above the slumbering teen. The trope knew that neither would come alive until their quiescency patch had run its course.

Yes, the figure was powerful. Their sleeping charms were one of their strongest endowment.

They could operate in complete prophylactic. None within the walls would be the wiser to their military action.

Tonight they would get their plan.

A syringe was filled, its acerate leaf swiftly inserted into the slumbering girl 's vena. Kaylens'pulsating blood, bluish in tint through her picket cutis, flashed silver.

A bit later the strange hue faded, a grim pipeline of satisfaction stretching over the figure 's shadowed face.

* * * * *


With a sharp click the doorway to Dumbledore 's office opened.

Tonks shot out of the armchair she had been dozing within, knowing the locking spell 's removal to think of only one thing.

'' He 's back, '' She whispered. Lounging in the armchair besides her Regulus nodded.

Out in the antechamber, suddenly visible as the doorway opened, was Ron Weasley. He lay slumped besides his thrown-away crutch on the floor, sleeping soundly.

Crusantheus hung on the door miserably, his depreciator curled and contorted around his spike so as to block out the auditory sensation of the young Gryffindor 's snoring.

'' Kill me ... '' He squeaked. `` Please. ``

As tired as she was Tonks could n't help but smile as Regulus lazily took aim, an evil glint in his eye.

'' No ! '' Shrieked Crusantheus. `` I did n't actually mean it ! ''

Regulus continued advancing on the cowering depreciator until a mystifying vox intervened.

'' No pauperism to fret Crusantheus. Did you bury that the killing curse has no effect on brass rapper ? ''

Crusantheus peeked out from behind his rapper hopefully, as Tonks spun around, rounding on the infuriating thing 's rescuer.

Somehow Ablus Dumbledore was standing behind her, looking rather jovial.

'' Morning Nymphadora. Fancy a biscuit ? ``

As if on cue a tray of cookie appeared in his outstretched palm.

Tonks blinked dazedly, rubbing her red rimmed eyes with her clenched fist. Surely this gay
man had not just returned from a meeting with the darkest of dark lords ?

Regulus, completely unflummoxed by their sudden violation, rose from his arm chair to carefully inspect the nutrient offer. `` I take it negotiation proceeded satisfactorily ? ''
'' The exchange will be made in two calendar month'time. ``

Tonks gaped, `` Two months ! ``

'' They probably need fourth dimension to revive the little Mudblood, '' genus Regulus commented casuallly, directing his regard to Albus. `` I assume you requested that she be returned in one piece, and I can only guess the fun they 've had with her until now. ``

Dumbledore nodded gravely. `` Her injury will ask some ... healing. ``

Tonks oculus widened in concern. While she still did not see how Hermione for Dumbledore was a carnival trade, she had grown rather fond of the girl during her sentence at Grimmauld Place.

A duo of sky blue eyes regarded her carefully, their twinkling somehow dimmer than she remembered.

'' I know what you are thinking Nymphadora, '' Dumbledore said kindly, as if reading her nous. `` But part of the reason I made the blood treaty here with Regulus, rather than in Voldemort 's comportment, was so that I could ensure Hermione 's return on my own price. He could have chosen to reject the blood treaty had he so chosen, but he did not. ''

Tonks opened her mouth to ask precisely what those terms were, but his bridge player steadied her question.

'' The terms were that if she were returned in the exact physical state that she had been in before the Hogsmead onrush took space, that I would trade spot with her, becoming Voldemort 's prisoner. ``

'' I bet he was only too happy to have that trade, '' Regulus stated, smirking widely. `` Imagine that ... Albus Dumbledore, the iniquity nobleman 's greatest scourge, handed to him on a golden disk 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 try, the society, could feasibly collapse without Dumbledore 's leadership, and here he was bantering with an ex-Death eater, wizarding world renegade right after selling his life to the devil.

"Dumbledore,"She said, voicing her far from calm thoughts aloud."Why would you do this ?"

Dumbledore 's eyes locked on hers, losing their twinkle. `` Nymphadora, we have lost far too many scholarly person to this war already. I could not stand by and lose another. ''

She swallowed the lump in her pharynx hastily. She should have known all along that the rubber of others would always come first to Dumbledore. He would throw done the Sami for any of them.

love life of one 's friends was a powerful thing.

'' So, old man, '' Regulus queried, taking a bite of his cooky. `` Find out anything else of stake during your little tryst ? ``

If potential Dumbledore 's oculus darkened further. `` We have to foregather the Order. The plague was unleashed in Irish capital. ``

'' capital of Ireland, Irish Republic ! '' Tonks blurted rhetorically.

Regulus frowned, `` As splendid as you are, how were you placed in Ravenclaw again ? ''

She scarcely heard him, her eye having darted over to the still slumbering descriptor of Kenneth and Emily.

Their home city was infected.

'' So how 'd you come by that fun fact Albus ? I never exactly took you two to be old school chums. ''

For the briefest of seconds Dumbledore 's middle took on their old spark. `` For all of Voldemort 's artistry with Legilimency, he never quite mastered Occlumency. He has always surrounded himself with loyal followers. '' He continued, `` And until recently he simply did not have the need.

Regulus chuckled. `` So he 's estimable, but you 're better. ``

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. husbandman, but even she can not fly upon a ling. ''

Tonks gaped at him.

'' We all have our helplessness Nymphadora. Severus never would cause survived his part as spy had he not been better at Occlumency and Legilimency than Voldemort. We should simply be grateful that this is one of Voldemort 's few weak points. ``

Tonks frowned pensively. So He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did have weaknesses. They really were not fighting for naught.

With an air of conclusiveness Regulus clapped his hands together, making the already uneasy Crusantheus bang his knocker rather loudly. The slumbering Ronald Weasley gave a violent start, snorting loudly as he awoke suddenly.

Tonks watched wearily as the redhead blinked groggily, eyeing the spot in front line of him until his eyes landed on the master. It took a moment before a figurative light bulb clicked on in his sleep-befuddled mind

'' professor Dumbledore ! '' He exclaimed, scrambling to his feet, a ado of wooden crutch and gangly pegleg sliding on stone. It did n't take on foresightful before Ron was monotone on his rear end once again, groaning from his fall.

Regulus eyed him mockingly. `` And they call Hufflepuffs the duffers. ``

* * * * *


Harry 's eyes snapped open, his dreamless sleep shattered by the sudden call of the girl in his limb. Through slightly blurred eyes he stared down the bridge of his nose at the mussy mop of hair resting upon his chest of drawers. The warm opinion he ought to have felt vanished, a numbing one replacing it at the sight of her expression.

For Kaylens there was no peace to be found in the realm of dreaming.

He swallowed hard, watching her nerve 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 gang around them.

Such undiluted sadness should never be seen upon a human being imprimatur, yet he had seen it palpably far too often. Even on himself. The root of such anguish had been buried deep within him, growing since the moment he had discovered his true destiny : putting to death or be killed.

All thought of his tragedy of a future was suddenly shattered as Kaylens lurched violently, a temperature reduction cry cutting from her throat.

Harry gaped, feeling the tomentum on his arms rising to stomach on end. Without thinking his manus gripped her arms, her peel beneath his finger turning tweed with the pressure.

'' K-kaylens ... '' He stuttered, scarcely recognizing his own vocalization. He gave an observational shove, shaking her lightly in a pathetic attack to commove her.

And that was when she cried out again. That sound ripping from her throat. It resonated through the dreary room, terrifying in its raw intensity level. His hair now fully stood on end, for the strait had been insanely tragic and yet, unbearably beautiful.

It chilled him to the bone, for it was a sound no human could utter.

It happened fast. One bit his arms were wrapped tightly around her, shaking her in an attack to rouse her, and in the succeeding her weapon wrenched away. She shot up quickly, her middle flying open in the shadow way only to be slammed shut as she uttered a more familiar screaming of painfulness. His backup man was short- lived as he grabbed onto her arm again, for she pulled away so violently that they were both transmit tumbling from the lounge to the floor.

His back struck the storey 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 Sceloporus occidentalis flush to the back sent his facial expression smashing into the terra firma.

He groaned, and ignoring the throbbing hurting in his olfactory organ he rose his head cautiously, squinting at his surroundings. Where were his drinking glass ? Slowly he reached a manus out, allowing it to vagabond across the flaccid carpet in his search.

And then he remembered.

His glasses were still lying in some godforsaken puddle in the middle of that damnable timber. By now they were probably some acromantula 's chew toy.

Cursing he blinked rapidly, his eyes finally adjusting to the duskiness and settling on the slightly hazy abstract of Kaylens. She was sitting unsloped, some expert five feet away, with her human knee drawn to her chest and her aspect buried within them.

He swallowed hard, the only sounds in the room now were his rough breath and her rapid, erratic ones. In stunned secretiveness he observed her as best as he could. Her bare feet were sticking out from beneath a thick blanket, which despite their tumble 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 animate being.

He stared in amazement as her rachis hit the way 's wall, a unknown whimper coming from her pharynx. Of all the reactions he could have foreseen, this was the furthermost from it.

And now she was having the reaction that he would take expected from any other young woman, but not from her.

She was sobbing.

The sound of her crying torus at him in way of life he had n't imagined, for the daughter who had stood by him, facing dying Eaters and loup-garou without blinking an eye, had been reduced to this pitiable state by a simple nightmare.

Instantly he stood, crossing the room to her in four farsighted strides.

'' Kaylens, '' He said, tentatively laying a hand on her shoulder. She whimpered, shrinking away from his touch.

His brow furrowed determinedly. `` Kaylens look at me, '' He commanded, crouching directly in battlefront of her. Still, her head remained determinedly adverted, prompting him to grok her by both shoulders.

Her psyche shaft up, a tempestuous clicking coming from her pharynx as she struggled away, lashing out violently. He dove back to avoid her flailing hands and foot, landing on his tailbone, oculus widely in astonishment.

She was making that sound again.

And he recognized it. A dark night in the Forbidden forest, where he and Dragon Malfoy had encountered the unexpected, had taught him that sound of pain.

The strait of the beautiful creature 's dying cries had reverberated in his nightmares for months.

As had Voldemort 's vague trope ...

There was no hesitation in his trend as he wandlessly summoned his wand to his helping hand, 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 fragile wrist and pushing the sleeve of her battered sweater up.

The bruising was gone.

He swallowed hard, recognizing the odds of such bruising disappearing overnight. Now he was only sure of one thing.

Something had happened whilst he slept.

Licking his slips nervously he cupped her chin, raising her point until he could see all of the confusedness swimming within her gilt heart. His breath hitched in horrible realization at what he was about to do, but there was simply no former way.

He had to know. He had to know what had happened whilst he slept.

Until then he could n't avail her, and he knew that no one else would be uncoerced to do this. There were stern rules against the unauthorized use of Legilimency. Hermione had taught him that much, screaming and ranting after his death misuse of the natural endowment against the same young woman he was about to violate yet again.

'' I 'm sorry, '' He whispered, brushing her hair away from her expression. `` I 'm so sorry Kally ... '' He repeated, steeling himself for his crime.

Cupping her face he stared intently into her eyes, watching them flickering around in fear.

Her care was warranted.

He only hoped he was wrong.

'' Legilimency ! ``

The overpowering wave that was her liveliness flooded his mind, capturing his sess in a pass of indiscernible events. He groaned, despairing to stop the twister-like outcome of the storage swirling around him. It was different than the last clock time, so unbelievably different ...

A din of clicking, beautiful and brawny in its raw intensity filled his mind, only to be replaced just as quickly as it had come with a familiar scream.

'' James Whitcomb Riley ! ''

He was seeing it again, reliving the afternoon when she had seen her own crony murdered right in front line of her. Only this time the simulacrum were fleeting, distorted as if he were viewing it through a midst superman of smoky Methedrine. It was as if the memories were no long her own.

His heart clenched as he watched the man kick open the door for the endorse sentence. Kaylens'small body was thrown backwards, her petite form sliding across the floor. It was as if everything were on the dissolute forward feature of a Muggle VCR. There was the knife, her screaming, her sidekick ...

As the gunshot rang out he could again almost find what she had. The hot, fiery pain of the blade plunging into her flesh. The searing as it was drug in a bass melodic line across her shoulder blade. The veneration as she watched the blood pooling from her sidekick 's
wound slowly stop pumping ...

Suddenly all was melanize, foggy, the sinewy auditory sensation of a herd stampeding through her thoughts. Then all was unripe and brown and green again. Somehow he was running faster than he had thought possible, the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree whipping past him in a fuzz of K and brown and green again. He was surrounded by others of his kind.

His epithet was Lightning.

The images twisted again, surrounding Harry in a confusing helix of wood scenes followed by aspect of her childhood. Silver horns flashed around him, gleaming as the herd ran beneath the moonlight, while halcyon hair flashed throughout her life.

Another memory slammed into Harry, crystallizing into near clarity. It was mid-afternoon, though the sun barely shone through the over-cast sky. Before him was a peaked kept yard, bordered on three English by a thick, rising treeline and J. J. Hill. Harry swiveled in the cloudy storage, feeling Kalliandra 's recollection lurch dangerously as another retention threatened to hemorrhage into this one. The speech sound of hooves, the sound of the herd on the run, pounded in the distance.

Harry fell to the dewy ground, watching as a man with golden whisker, tinged heavily with gray, methodically stacked sandbags away from the house. Fog crept across the lawn, curling around his feet, each grunt echoing in the silent valley.

And then the fry were led out, and Harry 's soul shivered.

Kalliandra appeared to be the same age as in the last memory, only now she stood besides a small boy, barely older than her, digging her nails into his arm.

'' S-sean ... ''

Their father pried her hands away from her brother, forcing a semi-automatic Glock 17, 9x19 mm caliber side arm into her small hands. Her legs had suddenly felt frozen, rooted to the damp ground. Harry could practically feel her heart 's fearful thundering at the cold, unfeeling metallic element between her fingers.

The thick fog curled high around the six substructure spate of sand bags, and as it began to mizzle her father aimed her small hands towards the stack.

'' Shoot it. ``

Kalliandra pulled the gun trigger and cried.

As the gun was being passed to her surviving sidekick Kaylens'memories shifted again, swirling until he found himself peering through a duncical plantation of trees, stomping his hooves in warning as a hooded figure approached. The figure 's bridge player raised very slowly, carefully removing the hood of their robe, allowing a cascade of thick, black hair to issue forth tumbling around her shoulders.

The fair sex 's countenance remained hidden by the cryptic woodland shadows, yet Lightning was calming.

It was a virginal cleaning lady. She could be trusted. Lightning could tell.

The unicorn never saw the early dissemble figure creeping from behind, and that man 's obelisk soon shone atomic number 47 with Lightning 's blood.

Harry stood in the shadows drawing deep, ragged breaths. He could practically feel every column inch of pain the poor creature was going through, the sole sounds that of the screeching animal and that of the dry subdivision cracking beneath Harry 's shifting weight as he watched, powerless to stop its pain.

The man bottled and corked a measurable quantity of blood from the unicorn, leaving it only enough to barely limp away alive. A light chuckle escaped the hooded demise Eater at the sight.

Suddenly the woman stepped out of the shadows, and Harry 's breathing place stopped.

Angelina stood in the dim Light Within, 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 flat on his spinal column 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 `` pestis of all pestilence '' had been unleashed upon the citizens of Republic of Ireland would have had more of an effect upon its President.

Instead the newly awakened Kenneth Bothan sat behind Dumbledore 's desk, clasping his hands, waiting for her response with an inquiring look upon his face.

She silently damned Albus for having left them to break the news show to Kenneth while he went to cry an emergency confluence of the Order. She was n't good at this form of thing dam n't ! She had at least expected a rouse out of the man at the news, but instead he was irrefutably calm.

It was quite obvious that Kenneth was insane.

'' Basically Ken, all of your people will be dead within the week, '' Regulus stated with ironic cheerfulness. `` But look on the bright English. At least you wo n't have to run for re-election. ''

Tonks'dark eyes swiveled to her cousin, her mouth opening and closing like a agape Pisces the Fishes.

Kenneth, however, seemed entirely unflurried.

'' So, '' The President started with a odd frown, `` What you are saying is that wizarding folk have no treatment against this ? ''

'' Well ... '' Regulus mused thoughtfully. `` We could always Avada Kedavra those who have already contracted it. That ought to slow its ranch, right Nymphadora ? ``

'' Regulus ! ``

Kenneth looked appraisingly at her cousin. `` And this Avada Kedarva discussion ? How effective is it ? ``

Regulus grinned like a Canis aureus. `` Supposing we were able to sequestrate those who had already contracted it we may happen out its method of diffusion, while simultaneously establishing a quarantine and treating the nuisance of the already afflicted ... ''

'' By killing them ! ? '' Tonks burst in, unable to believe the wicked game Regulus played with the President 's hopes.

'' Ah, '' Kenneth said as if suddenly understanding. `` The handling has a high mortality rate. How highschool though ? ``

Regulus grinned widely, while Tonks contemplated murder for the dozenth clip in twenty four hours.
* * * * *


'' Harry ! What in the public figure of Merlin did you think you were ... ''

Harry closed his oculus, grinding out his words. `` Something 's wrong with Kalliandra, '' He interjected. `` I had to recover out what. ``

The elbow room 's quiet was broken only by Kaylens'laboured breathing, and her enlighten distress drew lupine 's attention from him to her. He felt the former prof drop to his knees besides them, and he cracked an eye to find out as lupin scrutinized her.

The professor looked flabbergasted as he picked up one of her pissed subdivision. `` Harry, you 've immobilized her. ``

'' For good reason. ``

lupin threw a tired of flavour over his shoulder, and snatched his wand out, clearly intending to transfer the spell.

'' Professor I do n't think tha ... ''

His protestation was too late, for Kaylens had already lashed out, landing a strategic kick that sent lupine sprawling apartment on his back next to Harry.

'' I told you, '' Harry groaned, shoving himself up on his elbows to note the offended expression of Remus'fount. `` flush hard, does n't she ? ``

Lupin coughed harshly in response, choosing to ignore him as he rolled over to determine on Kaylens. She was already scrambling along the wall on all fours, backing herself into a corner like a frightened animal. On her way she somehow managed to hit the only other firearm of furniture, parenthesis from the couch, and respective modest mass came spilling down, scattering across the floor like rocks thrown from a distance.

The crashing speech 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 trueness ... there was no protection from what plagued her.

But he 'd be damned if he did n't try to help.

'' prof .... '' He started slowly. `` What form of execration does drinking unicorn blood entail ? ''

lupin opened his mouth and faltered. Harry remained lying on his back, his pep pill dead body propped up with his articulatio cubiti, silently hoping to God that the professor would put the pieces together. lupine had to trust him. He had to commit him. None of the adult, save for those utterly and buried, had ever trusted him in time for it to actually matter.

It was why Canicula had died. And somehow Harry did n't retrieve he could take it if the last connexion to his Church Father failed to confide him.

Then slowly, ever so slowly, the lykan's head word turned towards him, and even in the dour room Harry could see the sudden knowledge flashing in his centre.

Moony understood his meaning.

'' Her bruising is gone, '' Harry whispered, driving another blow to any question the professor could have. `` What else in the wizarding creation could heal person that quickly ? ``

Lupin drew a deep breath, shaking slightly.

'' Harry ... if what you 're saying is true ... ''

'' It is, '' He assured. `` I saw retention inside of her mind that were not hers. ``

Kaylens'whimpering had finally quieted, casting the room into a deathly silence.

Besides him Lupin swallowed audibly, contemplating Harry 's statements in the deathly secrecy that had descended. Kaylens was no longer whimpering, and he was unsure of if he missed the reassuring sound of her presence, or if was pleased at the obvious easing of her distress.

He glanced at Lupin, stunned at the pull expression upon his former professor's countenance. Did the man believe him or not ?

He sighed in thwarting, snapping at Lupin's unresponsiveness. `` Why would she have those memories, Moony ? ``

audition his old Marauder figure snapped lupine out of his broody stupor. `` It's magically potent…unicorn parentage that is. In fact it is so magical that their memories are often heavily imprinted upon it. '' He shook his nous slowly, as if clearing a fuzzy fog."To own a unicorn's parentage is to not only possess their life stream, but their very being."

lupin sighed heavily. `` There is not much case in point for this, but….in the early 1900 's medi-wizards began experimenting with different handling choice for pole diseases. One researcher, intimate with unicorns, sought to harness their healing magnate by injecting his terminally ill patients with the animal'blood. It cured the patients but the side effects…"Lupin shuddered, digressing quickly. `` The blood was too hard to prevail to begin with. Unicorns don't normally donate willingly, not to mentio ... ''

'' What slope impression, '' Harry interrupted hoarsely, closing his eye. The flavor of her in his weapon system flooded his smoke, the woodsy scent that had clung to her all night coming back, overwhelming him with a tidal waving of concern. In his life there was no room for new adhesion, yet the thought of her in pain…

He knew without a doubt that he would wipe out for her again, just as he would kill for any of those he held close.

He only hoped it would not get along to that.

His eyes snapped open as lupin 's distress voice filled the room.

'' Most went insane. ``

Harry nearly choked. `` Insane ? '' He grated out.

lupin looked years Old. `` They never were able to make out between themselves and the animal again, '' he relayed. `` Can you imagine it Harry ? Having a lifetime of retention that were not your own suddenly shoved inside of your mind ? Unicorns live for hundreds of years…it was only natural for those obtaining their blood to become confused. To them it would feel as if they had spent a longer time being a unicorn than a human being."

The regorge sensation twisting within him intensified. Kaylens'mind had revealed exactly what Lupin now spoke of, and the thought made him nauseous.

And the curse…God he had nearly forgotten…

Remus read his mind, continuing his scholarly class period of facts aloud. For Remus, who had lost so a lot, it was prosperous than dealing with the devastating fallout facing them in Kaylens'crumpled course.

"When one slays such an innocent brute, seeking their ancestry's healing mightiness, it leaves the curse of the half-life. But when one is given the profligate unwillingly, or when the animal is left alive, the swearword does not lessen ; it simply changes its manifestation."

His throat constricted, but Harry managed to croak out a single word.

"Explain."

There was no mistaking the sick face upon lupin's typeface."Harry, the only ones desperate enough to toss off such an clean-handed brute are those hanging onto life by a thread. But the price…it is far too high for any reasonable person to speculate, for the damage for their atrocity is losing all ability to have intercourse. A life without the capacitance for love is devoid of joy, happiness, family…"He shook his chief, disgust etched in his every feature film."In a dire attempt to save their own life they lose the solely matter that makes life history Charles Frederick Worth living for. Once they take that path they truly lead half a life, only experiencing the darker sides of the emotional spectrum."

"Then the mediwizard, the one using it to heal his patient role, did that happen to him ?"

lupin sighed indulgently."There are manner to collect it, way of life for it to be done without incurring the ire of the curse but…those ways take metre, Harry. Gaining the long full term trust of a unicorn, let solitary permission to inflict injury upon it, are not easy tasks."

He swallowed hard."What about Kaylens ? That won't…it won't happen…"He trailed off, ineffectual to vocalize such morbid mentation aloud. No human deserved that. She didn't deserve that.

Once again Lupin looked ill."For Kally it will be unlike,"He said gruffly."Instead, if she recovers, she will make out, but her every experience will be shared with both sides of her, diluting the saturation of the emotions she feels, diluting her touch towards others…"

Something about the words sent Harry's inwardness twisting.

"Unicorns ... they are such inexperienced person creatures, unequal to of sin, incompetent of inflicting pain ... Could you imagine having a saint following you around for the entirety of your life, correcting your every mistake ? Well from this moment on she will be sharing her mind, her sprightliness, with computer memory of what admittedly innocence is, for a unicorn is the true avatar of that, and with it will come a gnawing guilt over the sins she has committed in the past. Between the mental confusion over her personal identity and her newfound guilt over even the pocket-size of transgressions…that alone could be enough to drive some mad."

Harry's mouth twisted into a lower,"So she can't sin ?"

"If only it were that prosperous, Harry. She can, and she will. But having this will give her a moral sense stiff than most, and living a perfect life is an unimaginable undertaking. Her life will be as confining to normal as possible, only she will experience far guiltier about matter she does than others."

'' A half animation ... '' 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 thought sickened him.

'' Not all the mediwizard 's patient role went insane, '' He finally said, recalling lupin 's in the first place intelligence. `` You said most. ``

Lupin shook his head. `` They all went insane at first Harry. But only two managed to repossess enough of their judgment to officiate. Two out of stacks. ``

Harry closed his eyes, his voice filled with sardonic caustic remark. `` She just ca n't catch a break, can she ? ``

The Professor shook his headland in reaction. `` There 's only one way to be for sure. ''

Without warning lupine snatched his wand out, summoning a small flashlight. Soon a metal blur came flying through the doorway, landing in the professor 's outstretched hand.

Harry frowned at the action, not reason, but in one Swift move the professor had it on and aimed at Kalliandra 's cheek. lupine clearly knew exactly what he was looking for.

Kaylens was suddenly shrieking again, and judging from the downhearted look on the professor 's face he had found all he needed to know.

A metal click sounded as the torch was turned off, and Kaylens'battle cry instantly died down, slowly fading to a dull whimper.

'' She 's tender to light ... '' lupin stated. `` There are only two status I know of that cause that. ``

'' She 's not a vampire ... '' Harry stated coldly, earning a reproving look.

'' I was n't even about to suggest it. But fauna tend to deliver better nocturnal sight than us Harry. Lykans and unicorns are no exception, and when I was starting time bit ... '' He trailed off, his case twisting into a peculiar expression."Once I was bit my altogether consistence changed. My eyes were the worst though. ''

The professor suddenly adopted an almost whimsical expression. `` Did you know there are more than square nerves per in in your oculus than in any early part of your dead body ? Well there are. If you ever want to get person pain just bewitch their eyes and ... ''

'' Professor, '' Harry interjected, at the here and now not carrying about the finer points of jinxing.

Lupin shrugged. `` My bite caused a whole new level of tissue full of visible radiation sensitive cells to grow across the backrest of my eyes, its called tapetum lucidum. It lets me utilize less light to see, so I can see with one-sixth the sum you can. But when it first happened ... before I was used to it ... '' He shuddered. `` Merlin it hurt. The slight easy felt like the sun was blasting me in the nerve. Hell, it had me in binge. ''

lupin raised the flashlight, pointing it directly at Kalliandra, flicking it on and off with each syllable. `` Just. Like. Her. ''

Kaylens'whine died down as the light was turned off for a terminal time, and suddenly Harry understood the flashlight. Unicorns had first-class nigh imagination as well, and the flashlight was Lupin 's way of confirming what he already knew.

Kaylens had a layer of light sensitive tissue growing across her retinas right now. No wonder she screamed at the light.

'' Harry, '' The scholarly prof shade was suddenly gone, and the beast was deadly serious. `` Was she fine live night ? Before she lost cognisance ? ``

Harry was quick to nod.

'' Then sometime between then and now someone injected that blood line directly into her veins. She could n't have done it herself. ``

Harry 's mouth opened, but his question of how that was possible died on his tongue.

He knew the answer.

There was only one mortal who would wilfully cuss another within the house.

'' professor what 's going on ? I heard yelling. ''

Harry 's centre narrowed, every muscularity tightening. Angelina had finally come, drawn by the incremental shouting. There she was, rushing through the way 's limen, drawing her cloak hastily around her as if nothing tremendous 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 farseeing to answer to sidesplitter like the one's Kaylens had unleashed unless it was intentional.

'' Why is it so sour ? '' Her voice sounded honestly confused as she flicked her verge out, lighting every candelabrum in sight.

His eyes flew to Kaylens, who had immediately began shrieking, clamping her mitt over her eyes, screaming as if hell itself has sent its monster up to haul her into its depths. His breast constricted at her obvious pain.

Lupin lunged at her in a decidedly wolf like way. `` Kally, do n't ! '' He was shouting, fighting her for control. She lashed out, and Lupin grasped her articulatio radiocarpea in a single, fluid motion, quickly capturing the other as well.

The prof had already forced her deal down against her face, kneeling on her ramification in a vain try to prevent them from flailing. He was far stronger than Kaylens, but she was desperate, fighting to stymie the hellish light from her eyes as Lupin fought to preclude her from inflicting damage upon herself. Now he was yelling at Angelina to crush out the candles, and Harry still had not moved.

He was too busy watching Angelina, noting the guilt flashing within every brown pigment in her colored centre.

Her black eyelashes fluttered, and the betraying emotion was suddenly gone.

His blood boiled, his arms vibrating with suppressed fad as she began speaking, a panicked edge to her vocalization.

'' What 's going on ? '' She asked fearfully, rushing across the room to aid Lupin. `` Remus !
What 's wrong with Kally ! ? '' She continued shouting questions, lunging over Harry as if he were not even there.

She dropped to her genu besides where Lupin and Kaylens wrestled, her ebony skin gleam in the candlelight. Her dark eyes widened in feigned horror, her face a mask of innocent concern as she reached out to serve intimidate Kaylens.

And Harry lost it.

Her helping hand never reached Kaylens, her infect digit never touching her dead body. Before anyone could realize 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 heel of his foot against the lady friend 's pharynx, pinning her to the ground.

'' Do n't. Touch. Her. '' He growled, the world rippling around him.

Power swelled within him, the forte of his magic unleashed by the raw anger pumping through his vein, and the feeling ... it was intoxicating.

Angelina 's body undulated like a writhe beneath him. She was choking, spluttering incomprehensible sounds, the shock clearly written across her face. Her paw were clawing at his foot, her fists slamming against his stage as she fought for air.

He scarcely noticed any of it.

'' H-harry ... st-top ... '' She gasped, her eyes rolling backwards, fingerbreadth going slackness as her plea went unheard.

'' Harry ! Let her go ! '' Shouted Remus, followed by a loud crashing as he and Kaylens tumbled into the bookcase, knocking it sideways.

Word of God went flying, scattering everywhere. The resounding crashing masked the pall clunk of Angelina 's wilted arm hitting the floor.

lupine let out a hurt howl, and Harry 's hand shot out. He felt the magic trick dripping from his fingertips like water.

With a motion picture of his articulatio radiocarpea the candles went out.
* * * * *


The descending sun of midday zenith was partially obscured by the perpetual cloud cover, casting the not-so-distant Dublin-Wicklow mountains into a deep fog. Yet the man paid the ominous environs no thinker, nor the racking cough that had swiftly descended upon him. Instead he stared out the window of his Confederate States Dublin name and address, admiring the scene afforded by his working course of instruction neighborhood.

With a small grin he leaned further back into his recliner, letting the smoky fragrance of new baking Fish fill his nostril. Meredith was cooking, and from the sense of smell of it she was cooking the Fish he had caught just that dawn. They were bound to sample delicious. Everything his wife cooked always did. It was just a shame their eye child, Eva, had inherited his culinary sense, or lack thereof.

'' founder, you feeling alright ? ``

The man turned to rule his firstborn son in the threshold, a concerned aspect crossing Edward 's freckle side. The man smiled, for the resemblance between Father-God and son was striking. Edward had been the only child to inherit both the freckles scattered across his nose and the nighttime capitulum of hair adorning his head. The other two of his children bore his wife 's ash blonde hair and startling coloured eyes. Edward however had his blue-green ones.

He graced his son with a fond grin. `` I 'm just fine m'boy. Just a bit of a frigidness. ``

'' You sure father ? Perhaps after dinner we should have you to the physician. Your neck looks awfully swollen. ``

Curiously the man rubbed his tender lymph client, shocked to find that they had doubled in size in just a few hours.

His son smiled cheekily. `` Mother is of the creative thinker to not let you go off fishing at such sinful hr again. She said something about catchin'yer Death on account of our colder than rule temperatures. ``

The man could n't resist a grin. `` Well perhaps yer mum is powerful. The thermostat dropped to 10 Celsius this mornin'before I ventured out. ''

'' I 'll tell her you said so. ``

The man 's eyes widened in mock horror. `` Now you 'll be doin'no such thing boy ! Because I 'll guarantee that once yer mum 's done houndin'me that yer 'll be next. ``

Now it was Duke of Windsor 's turn to depend fearful, and the man leaned back, smiling in satisfaction. The boy still remembered the prison term Meredith had wrapped him head to toe in a snow-suit, stark with two scarves wrapped around his capitulum and oversized mittens. Oh ! How the boy could hardly walk in that contraption !

'' begetter, '' Started his boy diplomatically, `` I think I 'll just be off to get a head scratch line on my Algebra. ``

The man smiled in satisfaction as the room access closed behind his boy. Yes, despite their baseborn environs his boy would soon mature into a fine man. And while he had never been capable to provide all that he desired for his tike, they did wonderfully with what they were given.

It was no diminished point of pride for the man that he had worked his way from the Second Earl of Guilford side of Dublin to the Dixieland. While most of the people in his income social class tended towards the northwest position of the city, here he was, raising his family is Tallaght. It might not be one of the wealthier territory characteristic of Dixieland capital of Ireland, but its productive mother wit of history had captured his kid 's hearts from day one. He still remembered how young Eve 's oculus had grown wide as saucers as he had explained the origin of the territorial dominion 's name.

Tallaght. Pit of bout. The very gens was reminiscent of the mass grave dug there during the last Black pest. Thousands were said to be buried just beneath the sewerage, and that petty bit of knowledge had had all three of his shaver off and running, screaming and laughing in increments as their Young head cook up trace account along with it.

How proud he had been when Albert Edward had shown him a chronicle he had written. It had been about a Whitney Moore Young Jr. boy and his ghostly friend, a child who had died during the blackness Plague. The ghost kid had been buried beneath the fictional boy 's abode, and had appeared to the boy when another unknown unwellness ran rampant through the metropolis. With the spook tike 's helper the young boy had been able to save the city, and his family.

The man leaned back in his hot seat as a bout of coughing shake off his tip frame, a deep pain in the neck shooting through him. He clung to the hand rests tightly, waiting for it to pass, all the while thought of the future.

Yes. An writer would be a befit profession for his firstborn. Prince Edward would one day make water a fine novelist.

The man smiled, proud of his fry in a way that only a father could be.

If only he knew how soon story were to repeat itself.








A/N : Thank you so a great deal 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 twirl for this chapter and the succeeding, but he also beta-read it for me, and therefore stone. Njhill22 and Ichigopan are also awesome, because both of them helped me until 3 am when I wound up seriously stuck on how to write the succeeding part. Thanks so much you guys !






'' Nothing ventured, nothing gained. ''
~ William Shakespeare ~



Chapter 29 ~ No thirster Helpless


With a picture of his wrist the standard candle went out.

His heel remained solidly planted against Angelina 's chest as shrouds of swarthiness nip out in all directions, like the lank digit of a corpse, until the entire room was engulfed in an inky, suffocating darkness. Harry scarcely noticed any of it, nor the thick scent of burnt wax as spiritual world heater curled up from the extinguished candles.

Anger pumped heavily through his mineral vein, and with a hate he had not thought possible he glared down at the lady friend beneath him. In the past times his cauterize activity against his former star sign mate would have sickened him, but now ....

Things were unlike.

His outstretched paw shook, his barely restrained conjuration crackling across his skin like atmospherics electricity, burning and searing at his flesh. Grimacing in bother he forcefully curled his digit into a fist, tightening it, feeling the raw power seeping back in

A new notion rose up within him. A dark, powerful, revengeful feeling.

armorial bearing the coldest of looks he crouched low, inspecting Angelina to ensure that she was indeed unconscious. He would not progress to the mistake of thinking a Death feeder subdued when they were not, but her dying would do him no good.

He intended to find out all he could from the punic wench.

Then, beneath his foot, he felt the slacken ascension and capitulation of her ribcage, and his leg twitched with the conquer impulse to stomp the intimation from her. For the first time he understood what Ron had meant when he had drilled him on the conflict of fighting defensively versus offensively in chess.

From now on Harry was out to win, and if that meant taking down the opponent 's pawns to do so he would show no hesitation.

Swallowing back a sickish waving of repugnance he reached out, touching the sully hag 's skin and shoving her head to the side. It lolled over with a dull thud, revealing nothing. The Death Eater would not be moving for some time.

Good.

Still ... they had all been fooled by Angelina 's acting skills once. He would not shine victim to that again.

With calculated efficiency he withdrew his wand, a frightening face crossing his lineament. His anger still burned hot within him, the nervure in his neck pulsing intensely as he thought of the witch 's betrayal. Angelina had been his family mate, a teammate, but pip of all, she had nearly been a friend. Once she was a Gryffindor. And now ....

She had betrayed the society by taking the soft touch of that ophidian, and had all but killed Kaylens, possibly robbing her of her mind.

A growl ripped from his throat, the tip of his wand suddenly digging against the traitor 's temple as he pondered all the while he could use.

Thunk.

'' Harry, plosive consonant ! ''

He stopped cold. Remus'gruff, panicked voice had cut through the air like a wellspring sharpened knife, sending his wand arm tensing as his founder 's last friend fought his way out from beneath the books that had fallen atop him. In the aftermath of his own scuffle he had nearly forgotten lupin 's front, and the thundering of his beat in his ears had drowned out the low groans and whimpers from the early slope of the room.

He had forgotten one other thing : That despite the lack of lighting in the room, Lupin could still see exactly what he was doing.

'' Lumos. ''

Harry 's pass snapped around as a soft glow cut through the heavyset darkness, his gaze riveted to the horror-stricken expression crossing Remus'face.

His one-time Professor stood behind the reverse bookcase, eyes wide and staring.

'' My God ... '' He whispered chokingly, `` Harry ... '' His accusatory optic flickered up to his. `` What have you done ? ``

He sucked in a strained breath between his teeth. `` Nothing she did n't merit, '' He hissed staidly.

A strangled speech sound came from the Professor 's throat. `` 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 capitulum.

'' Kally ... ''

He had n't needed the prof 's scourge whisper to know who was softly whimpering.

Heart wrenching, he fought back the hollow intuitive feeling in his thorax. `` Why do n't you see to Kaylens, Professor, '' He grated out, his face a unforgiving mask as he focused back on the one-time chaser.

'' I will but ... is Angelina okay ? ''

'' I sure as hell hope not. ``

A tawdry swallow preceded Remus'succeeding, tense words.

'' What are you planning on doing Harry ? ``

'' You know Moony, '' He said, vocalism vibrating with barely suppressed rage. `` I 'm still deciding on that.

Lupin 's vocalism was strained, the timid, placating note in it foreign to him. `` Harry, I know something 's legal injury. But just guess about what you 're doing ... ''

A cruel, hollow laugh escaped his throat. `` Oh, trust me Moony, I have. ``

'' She 's on our side, Har ... ''

He cut him off, spitting out the dusty truth.

'' She 's a expiry eater, Moony. ``

From behind him came a loud, apprehensive deglutition. `` Harry ... are you trusted ? ``

A moth-eaten grimace crossed his features. `` Yes. ``

There was an agonizing pause, and a brainsick, uneasy dread suddenly rose in his stomach as his racing pulse finally began to slow. He needed Remus to believe him. He needed mortal in the guild to not just listen to him, but to actually desire him. And if Remus did n't ...

'' I 'll bind her. She 'll suffer to be taken to headquarters. ``

Harry 's chief bolted around, shock written on his formulation. `` You believe me, '' He questioned. And even in the dim igniter he could see the slight motility of Remus'trace nodding.

'' Harry, '' He said, sounding almost hurt. `` I always believe you. ``

His hilltop instantly wrinkled in mix-up. 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 shove off her heading off before I could estimate out why you had attacked her in the outset shoes. It would have been a very Sirius-like affair to do. ''

The thought struck him hard. `` Yeah, '' He managed. `` It would accept been like him. ``

He glanced back, and in the radiance of the wand he could see Remus smiling sadly. He returned the expression, feeling shaky than he would have thought possible only second before, but that did n't matter.

Remus believed him. He did handle about him after all.

His apologies for all those lost calendar month, for all the time when he had been left to deal with the painful sensation of Canicula'death alone truly had meant something, and despite everything a warm sensation wormed its way into him.

All it took was a diffuse whine, from a corner behind him, to force it all away.

He swallowed hard, finally turning and squinting in the dim lighting to see Kalliandra cowering in the box, knees drawn feebly to her chest, her golden hairsbreadth spilling over them and her side buried within them.

Slowly his line pressure rose, his foot grinding down even harder against the doll 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 body, kicking her over onto her belly. A second later he was on her back, dragging her hired hand behind her, pinning them together with his knee joint as he snatched up his verge, pointing it at her expose wrists.

'' Bindovera, '' He hissed, watching the snake-like forget me drug stream from its tip, slithering around her limb until she was bound up to her human elbow. Dropping his wand he gave them a harsh tug, satisfied in the way the dingy girl 's peel chaffed, reddening even in the shadow light.

'' Exuberant, aren't we ? ''

He merely grunted in answer, giving the rope one final, cauterise tug as Remus began binding her legs.

A second later he was on his feet, an aching sensation spreading through him as he watched Kalliandra curling in the corner, incapable of remembering even her own name.

Supreme Being ... she was n't in her right on nous. And Remus had said she 'd birth to block out the unicorn 's memories before she ever could be. How could anyone possibly ...

And then it hit him.

She 'd bear to hinder them out.

The idea ignited swiftly, the thing Dumbledore had taught him about Occlumency all coming together in a cohesive musket ball 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 hazard ...

Voldemort had given him flock of practice at blocking unwanted memories.

His origin pumped purposefully, and he felt, more than saw, Remus rise besides him, looking morosely in the Same direction as he.

'' Well have to immobilize her again, '' He said regretfully, dimming the visible radiation from his wand as it sent Kaylens stirring uncomfortably.

'' No, '' Harry answered immediately, vox filled with conviction. `` I 'll deal with her. You just get Angelina to Grimmauld. ''

Remus'brow furrowed at this, dubitable demarcation crisscrossing his face. His mouth opened, as if to protest, but his uncertainty went unsaid. Instead a paying attention, critical formula befell him as he studied Harry 's tense, determined look.

The lines on his face suddenly deepened. `` Are you certain ? ``

Harry nodded, tense with wrath at the entire situation, and filled with the pauperization to do something about it.

'' Yeah, '' He responded. `` I 've stunned her sufficiency lately. ''

lupine 's conflicted face remained, but he nodded decisively.

'' Alright, take this then. ``

A second later a small pocket was being pressed into his deal, a sandy cloth grinding within it.

'' It 's a port key. rain cats and dogs the contents ... ''

'' Into our hands, '' Harry finished for him. `` We 've used this variety before. ``

Remus eyed him curiously, tilting his forefront to the side. `` fountainhead then, I 'll see you there. ``

He nodded, watching as Remus unearthed another pocket from his pocket. He watched him crouch adjacent to Angelina, sending him one death, pointed feel before dousing his scepter.

phantasma spilled around them, enshrouding the room in darkness once again. Rifling a hand nervously through his hair Harry forced a tense up, unobserved smile, and a minute later Remus and the treasonist blinked out of existence, leaving him with a single insane estimate, one that he never could have done in Remus'bearing.

And somehow he thought Remus had known that.

For a moment he did nothing, simply allowing his heart to adjust to the sudden iniquity. Then, slowly, the blackness gave way, revealing her vague, greyness lineation. Yet even in the phantasm he saw the way her silhouette trembled.

He pulled his wand and immobilized her in one Gustavus Franklin Swift question. Strangely he felt nothing, when even the sentiment of stunning her again had sent his stomach wrenching.

He crossed the room and knelt besides her, his rough out workforce gently cupping her boldness and turning it towards his. He felt sick, for he was violating her yet again. But God, what pick did he have ?

For the second time that day her fright eyes stared back at his, flickering with too many emotions to identify. His ovolo gently brushed her haircloth away from her eyes, his spirit 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 thought worked ...

He might just be able to salvage enough of her to help her find her way back.

Staring into her centre he hoped to God it would ferment.

'' I swear to you, '' He whispered intently, `` This is the live on time I 'll ever do this to you. ``

Licking his sass nervously he raised his baton, letting it bulk large inch from her skin. Closing his eyes he waited, allowing his mind to enlighten, 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 compunction, sending his senses reeling as an assault of enhanced speech sound and olfactory modality attacked him.

nose drops cracked through the twirl mist, sending his soundbox crashing font 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 darkness, moonless night. Hardly anything was discernible through the thick, icy violent stream pouring down around him, and then it hit him.

Every former memory he had seen had had a drawn direct contrast, the intensity of emotions and result diluted by time. Dumbledore and Snape had been too skilled for him to peer into recent events, and luck-of-the-draw had shown him things from Kayelns'childhood. But this memory was different.

It felt fresh.

The harsh, biting jazz sent the looming forest moving with an deviant life sentence, and above him lightning flashed, crackling across the blackened swarm, briefly illuminating the gravel road running past him. For a second the forest surrounding him came into desolate focus, as did the wooden house he had landed before.

Again lightning set the area aglow, a trench cry snapping his eyes towards the small-scale lawn.

What he saw made his profligate run cold.

His education with Dumbledore had taught him that it was one 's most painful retentiveness that were flung to the head of the mind when it was invaded.

And now he knew that Kalliandra was no exception.

A grate voice preceded the flashbulb of spark, and he had just enough time to see a night haired man struck down. The man tumbled head first into the muddied priming coat, the phone of his trunk slapping against the mud drowned out by a thunderous crack.

A blinding hot, fiery ball blew through the mansion 's siding, sending floorboards flying to litter the lawn.

From inside came the shriek, drowned out by a epicurean laugh.

'' Muggle, muggle, muggle come out to bet ! ''

Bile churned in his stomach, though there was no clock time for it to rise as people began pouring out of a side window.

'' Aw, the wittle, ittle Muggles do n't want to play ? ``

That taunting, fellow laugh of his incubus greeted him as Bellatrix Lestrange stepped calmly out the front door, the burning home alighting her font with a god-awful glow.

One of the fleeing figures bolted towards a car, parked along the gravel road near the forest 's tree line.

He never made it.

A fiery spell smacked into him, setting his skin ablaze.

He had seen others die, but never before had he lay eyes on someone as they burnt alive. Even the pouring torrent was not enough to drench the flame engulfing the man 's frame, and the wind hurled a noxious malodor against his nostrils.

'' MATT ! ''

A little girl was rising from the muddied ground, dense smoke blot streaked across her denim, her Brown University hair matted against her header as she screamed hysterically. Her face was contorted into something inhuman, raw pain distorting incredibly striking feature film, and she appeared frozen in place.

Harry was screaming for her to move, but she never heard him. From around the street corner of the house came two others clad in black, and a jet of searing over-embellished light shot out.

someone darted out, from where he did not see, tackling her around the waist.

The purpleness brightness missed her by inches as she and her rescuer went sliding across the footing, smacking into the position of the home with a dumb thumping.

The destruction feeder were on them in an instant, a loud sally resonating through the air as Harry ran forward, just in meter to see a graying haired man 's arm being viciously snapped. The gun the man had been pulling fell from his hand with a cruel slosh, the mud swallowing it whole. The night haired lady friend was still screaming, clawing at her head as a husky Death Eater snatched her hair's-breadth up, twisting it around his massive palms before dragging her across the lawn by it.

A sharp splinter broke the air, and the death feeder assaulting the gray haired man went down. The Old 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 gold hairs. His look split into a horrified face, and Harry followed his gaze.

Kalliandra, center ablaze, came barreling out from the Tree line, a man barely older than him hot on her dog.

Both had striking golden-brown pilus, their hue muted only by the haste pouring down around them. And Harry suddenly understood that he was seeing her second pal for the first off time.

'' Kid GO ! GET OUT OF here ! ''

The shout came from a second floor window, and Harry finally understood who had done the shooting.

A midriff aged woman with short brown hairsbreadth was hanging out of it, pistol in hand, and over the noise Harry could take heed Bellatrix laughing hysterically.

Lightning split the sky, thunder drowning out the s, third base, and fourth gunshots.

Kalliandra 's female parent could no longer be seen. Only the dim sound of the twenty percent and sixth gunshot firing off in the room told him that her attention had been drawn back inside the burning house.

Inside the house, where he could not hear, came the successive clicking of empty chambers.

A tawdry scream carried through the window, followed by a body flying through the window 's opening.

The woman hit the reason with a sickening clump, leaving the gray haired man yelling something that the thunder drowned out.

No time was wasted. Kalliandra 's buddy came sliding aside her female parent, grasping the gun from her still twitching hands, sobbing as he started rifling through her clothing.

A secondly later a new one shot was in his hand, but he never had a luck to load it as Bellatrix apparated in front of him, kicking the round from his hand, sending person heater scattering to the wind.

The strobe impression of the lightning shielded what transpired next, but when it flashed again Bellatrix and Kalliandra were sliding to the land, Kaylens clearly having tackled her.

'' KALLY, NO ! ``

Her blood brother had leapt to his feet, and rushed to link the disturbance as his sister smashed Bellatrix 's head into the footing repeatedly, screaming inexplicable words.

Her brother reached her, grasping her by the dorsum of her sweater and tossing her out of the way as he grasped Bellatrix 's brain in a frailty grip from behind, preparing to go against it.

The unheard pop of apparation prevented this as the beefy man appeared behind him, swatting him away as if he were nothing more than than an plaguy child. Bellatrix fell to the ground, spitting brown water, her tempestuous optic rounding on the three remaining members of the Kaylens'family.

'' Filthy Muggles ! '' She roared, shooting binding patch off at a ferocious yard, hitting the comrade first.

'' SEAN ! '' Their father 's voice ripped through the air as ropes twisted around his son, sending him crashing to the earth right below the burly Death eater 's feet.

Kalliandra, having been thrown back by her chum, was still down in the mud. She did n't stand a chance.

Then her father slid in battlefront of her, the ropes taking him right in the chest, and constricting around his neck and pharynx.

The star sign was quickly succumbing to the flames, the red light showcasing Bellatrix 's fanatical smile as she tugged Kaylens'founding father away from her by his neck.

Her father was ineffectual to claw at the ropes, for his arms had been pinned to his sides.

He was unconscious mind by the meter Bellatrix had dragged him to her feet.

scissure !

Another gunshot rang out, taking the burly man right in the head.

Kalliandra had gotten to her knees, fuzz plastered to her expression, her blazon outstretched and shaking.

Her hired man held the gun, and Bellatrix regarded her with an amused expression.

The next shot was in Lestrange 's focal point, but a shimmering Light halted the injection, sending the shell dropping to the priming coat less than a foot from her smirking face.

Kally looked stunned, and Bellatrix waggled a finger back and forth as if scolding a naughty child.

'' Foolish wittle girls should n't wager with gas pedal, '' She cooed in a baby representative, suddenly beckoning towards Kally.

Kaylens was sent sprawling forward as an unseeable force-out pulled the gun from her grasp, and a second base later a new demise feeder was there, his foot on her back.

A gust of hint sent the new arriver 's cowl falling back, and Harry suddenly understood every parole that she had uttered in the triad Broomsticks.

Ludo traveling salesman was there, standing on top of Kalliandra and looking rather out of place. Bellatrix fixed him with a death-like stare, her anger at his belated reaching apparent, but there was no time for anything to be said.

Barely a irregular had transpired between his late comer and his fall to the ground.

Kally had rolled over, kicking his pegleg out from under him.

Bellatrix rolled her eye, and this time her ski binding spell did not miss.

Angry tears were rolling down his face, his fists taking swings at the 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 double of Kally 's brother convulsing beneath the inexcusable curse.

Harry was shaking, overcome with the horror of what he had just witnessed. And the memories were disorienting, rising up around him, swallowing him wholly as they dislodged him from place to place in her lifetime, never stopping long enough for him to gain his bearings.

Around him the crashing of hooves fought for precedence above the upstage laugh. Hazy outlines flickered by, barely visible through the fog-like mist swirling around him. He was lost ...

And then he saw himself, running from a expiry Eater down the main, dusty thoroughfare of Hogsmeade. Red stunners shot out, smacking against a sewer, sending it swinging into the side of a second Death eater that had emerged to halt his progress.

She had saved him.

And that was all it took.

'' ENOUGH ! '' He screamed, unsure of whether his vocalization only existed in her judgment, or if his physical body were actually screaming it in Remus'living room.

Instantly he began focusing, searching for a remembering, any memory, that was her own rather than some horned beast 's. He fought to calm himself, squashing down the terror of what had happened to her to the back of his mind, and then he felt a change.

The swirling mist around him was slowing down, the uncontrolled flood of the two life history combined into one judgment becoming to a lesser extent disorienting.

He peered through them as they passed, one-by-one, searching for something that he could earn out.

And then he found one.

He charged through the mist, falling out into the Forbidden Forest 's clearing.

The one they had left before this had happened to her ...

In the dim moonlight, cast from a sliver peaking through the swarm, he watched the replay of himself yanking his hand away from her. Hushed Holy Scripture were exchanged, and suddenly Kalliandra was rising from her spot besides the weewee, stalking away from him.

In a jiffy his memory self was scrambling to his feet, going after her, catching onto her arm. She whorled to look him, an icy expression crossing her face, disappearing in shock as he swiftly pulled her against him.

He watched, an odd opinion twisting within him as she struggled against him, his only if response in the way his arms wound even nasty around her, stroking her hair until her impedance ceased.

'' I 'm sorry… '' He heard his own vox whisper, `` I swear to God I 'm sorry… ''

And then her face was dropping against his shoulder, his own burrowing within her hairsbreadth as her arms wound around him, holding him back.

It was as if a light winding blew, and then another computer memory squeezed through, the silvery substance sending the clearing image swirling.

For a import ghostly images flickered into biography, superimposed atop where he and Kaylens stood, clinging to the other. It was like looking through a moving-picture show electronegative, trying to see what was beyond it.

The beautiful, extraterrestrial clicking rose above his and Kaylens whispering, the foreign memories threatening to overtake this one, and the threat sent something ablaze inside him.

'' No ... '' He hissed, his look contorting dangerously, as he began fighting to stuff the alien images that threatened to overtake her aside.

He could n't allow them in. He couldn't.

Staggering odds were against him, but if he could only entertain her in her own res publica of mind long enough ...

Maybe it would be just enough to convey her back.

Grimacing he waved his script, feeling the magic rising within him, rolling off of him as he tried desperately to cite something, anything that would immobilise out those storage that were not hers.

The unicorn memories may have been feeble, adulterate imprints of the real thing, yet they were still there, fighting for precedence of her judgement. And yet ...

Fighting for the sanctity of his own creative thinker against Voldemort had made keeping these silvery, diluted tendrils back a put-on.

A set look crossed his face, a swift shock rocketing through him as the bricks began to materialize. He stretched out his hands, bequeath them to get down stacking, watching them climb up in high spirits and in high spirits, muting the sounds of a ruck in the distance.

He would form a barrier between her memories and the unicorn 's, and he 'd be damned if he failed.

His hands were shaking again, a lone trickle of stew dripping from his brow 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 retentiveness past the paries. Each time one threatened to interrupt in he shoved it away, a dull pain growing in the back of his idea, sending his head swirling as he refused to finish his efforts. His respiration grew ragged, his vision bespeckled with black dots as tendrils of the silvery mist fought to seep back through his hastily erected brick walls.

'' No ... '' He whispered, and slowly, methodically, he shoved the last of the silvery threads through the gaps in the walls, feeling the dampen phone fading.

With a shot of conclusiveness he found himself surrounded on all sides by his walls, the memory board still playing as if nothing had disturbed it.

Panting in exhaustion he crouched down, supporting himself on his knees, feeling his feet sinking into the dewy earth as he fought for breath. The paries might not harbour for long, but for now ...

Around him he could hear the distant yell of a herd, and he looked up shakily, watching dust crumbling down from the brick barriers. A oaf formed in his throat as he watched the entire edifice shake, as memory after memory slammed against it from the outside, trying to break through.

He could feel his physical torso shaking from the exertion, and as much as he desired to do more an unfeeling trueness struck him.

He did n't know what else he could do.

And for the first time in her mind he withdrew willingly, the wickedness of Remus'keep room wrapping tightly around him. The moonlit glade had been so shining in comparison and yet, his eyes had remained perfectly adjusted, his physical eubstance having never left nor moved.

And she was still rectify there, inches separating him from her. His breathing spell caught in his throat, the Adrenalin he had been riding on struggling to persist mellow as he searched her face for a sign to show that some part, any region, of herself was back.

All he saw were the backs of her eyelids as they fell shut, a longsighted breath escaping her lips.

At some point his entire body had begun shaking, a sharp headache nearly splitting his skull as he removed the binding spell from her, his magic exertions finally catching up to him.

But God, he did n't give care. His mitt rose to her cheek, a hand resting on either side as he smoothed a single stray lock away, tucking it behind her ear.

'' Come on Kaylens ... '' He murmured, eyes bright and searching. His gaze was flickering back and forth across her face, watching her every movement, hoping against hope it had worked.

And then her eyelid opened, her center as disoriented as before. A choking champion wrapped around his throat, his hands falling to catch one's breath on her stiffening shoulders. He had failed.

His forehead fell against hers in despair, the feel of her ardent tegument offering short consolation. He should 've known it would not work, yet ...

He never would let forgiven himself if he had n't tried.

Slowly her wooden leg slid against his, and his eyes squeezed shut, preparing himself for whatever out eyelash was about to occur. The memory of her recoiling away from him, scuffling away like a frightened animal when he had gotten too confining, was all too fresh in his creative thinker.

He waited for it with held breath, only nil came.

His middle opened, only to notice hers staring back.

His sinew went taut with tension, his intimation quickening as their proximity struck him. Her nose pressed against his, his hands firm on her shoulders, and a startling star churned in his chest as he watched her darkened eyes.

Within them something was changing, a spark of familiarity residing there. His hand slid back to her face, anxiety etched in his features as her brim parted. Her rima oris moved, as if trying to say something, only no words came.

He could n't tear his gaze away if he tried.

'' Merlin, '' He whispered, `` I wish I knew what you were thinking. ``

She remained silent, but his heart were drawn to a rebuff gesture. Her hand rose, falling to repose on his unshaved cheek. She pulled away slightly, their foreheads no longer pressing together as her confused eyes flickered across his face, a odd construction befalling her.

His supercilium furrowed, a question forming on his lips.

'' Kaylens ? '' He whispered, centre searching hers desperately.

A distressed look crossed her features, her bottom lip drawing between her teeth, sending his philia thudding uncertainly.

And then she was nodding.

Instantly he reached for her, embracing her against his chest. She was trembling, enticing his own shaking weaponry to deplume her even closer, the pauperism to physically come to her overwhelming. deity ... he could n't get her close enough.

The shock was finally hitting him, frightening him on too many levels to diagnose as he realized how fleeting this could be.

She was with him again, but only until the bulwark he had created went tumbling down.

pigeon hawk, how long did he possess ?

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 someone, someone like Dumbledore. He could strengthen the wall he 'd put up inside her brain. He had to.

Fearing to release her for even a moment his arm tightened around her shoulders, his other reaching for the portkey in his pocket. A moment later his fingers were sliding through hers, his promising gaze locking onto her crucify one.

'' Kaylens, '' He murmured intensely, `` stay with me. ``

And then, hoping that she was ordered enough to understand what they were doing, he dumped the flaxen subject onto their linked custody, feeling that typical tug.

In that lowest second he threw his arms around her, wanting to shield her from whatever coarse landing they were about to experience.









'' My respect is earned, not given. ``
~ Saying of the Ages ~







Chapter 30 ~ To Inferno with decorousness


'' Harry ! ``

Harry had barely recovered from the portkey 's ride when he felt mitt hauling him away, separating him from Kaylens. He blinked, only slightly dazed, and found himself strew across the dark wooden paneling of Grimmauld place 's subject field.

The hell of it was, he could hardly see a matter.

'' How is she ? ''

In the dim light plaster cast from the wall-mounted candelabrum he saw Remus'shadow drop down between them, placing a hesitant manus on Kalliandra 's shoulder joint. Harry could only see the werewolf 's profile, but judging from his expression, Remus looked genuinely surprised when Kaylens did not immediately pull away.

Harry 's heart cut through the iniquity, 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 formula. Disbelievingly he watched the candle flame terpsichore in her sheeny orb, and for a abbreviated second he was able to believe that she may just pull through with her sanity integral.

'' Harry ! ''

Remus'sharp voice cut through the mum room, drawing both pair of teenage eyes to the worried grownup.

Harry found his part quickly. `` We need an Occlumens. right hand away. ``

Remus'principal jolted around, the reflective bed behind his eyes shining. `` Harry, what did you do ? '' He asked uneasily.

His shoulder joint stiffened, and in that undivided loaded question he found his resolution.

'' What I had to. ``

There was an agonizing break, not unsimilar to what had transpired between them before Remus had left for Grimmauld without them, making the decision to swear him.

Harry only hoped Remus would not come to regret it.

A mo later Remus was on his base, nodding at Harry. `` arrest with her. ``

'' The thought of leaving never crossed my mind, '' He replied honestly, scooting across the floor back to her. The strait 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 fingerbreadth slowly curled around her upper arms, whilst his eyes swept searchingly over her face. `` You still with me ? ``

Taking in her every effort he watched her eye flutter exhaustedly, her chest and shoulders rising as she drew in a pall sigh.

And then the insufferable female child fixed him with an cheesed off look, nodding tiredly.

He released the breath he had been unwittingly holding, reliever sweeping through him. Immediately his hands found her face, the pads of his ovolo moving along her malar bone with a gradualness he did n't recognize he possessed. For a present moment he simply stared at her, watching the entertainment in her gaze only grow.

pigeon hawk ... he had been afraid that the convolution of the portkey would disorient her, causing her to lose whatever fledgling minute of saneness she had managed to comprehend onto at Remus'. Hell ... he vividly recalled their last portkey ride, and that alone had rendered her unconscious.

He stared at her, his eyes boring into her bemused, albeit sleepy, grammatical construction.

Suddenly her hand rose, her fingers curling gently around his own where they rested against her cheek. He squeezed her bridge player gently, finding reassurance he had n't known he needed in her military action.

Had he been asked a month ago, he never would receive guessed that he would be feeling Kalliandra Kaylens, of all people, squeezing his hand in hers. But more than that, he never would take thought that such a simple, innocuous gesture could air his pectus stirring.

He swallowed hard, watching the confidential information of a smile mannequin on her lips. His hand immediately flipped over, taking her cold hired hand more firmly in his, and tightening his clutch on her.

'' You 're finding this amusing, are n't you ? '' He accused quietly, his voice unnaturally constricted.

Her mouth parted, only to close again, her fundament lip drawn between her teeth as she began nodding.

And then he saw it. Amidst her formulation was a glint of fearfulness, and for the briefest of second gear he saw her eye clouding again.

'' Kaylens ! '' He said sharply, dropping her hand and grabbing her by the shoulder joint, shaking her suddenly trembling form. `` Please ! arrest with me ! ''

Whether it was their physical inter-group communication or his phonation, he would never know. But suddenly she had gained some sentiency of herself again, and she had hurtled herself against his dresser, her intact form shaking like a foliage.

Harry had never felt more helpless in his life.

And Snape just had to choose that accurate moment to walk in.

'' What do you consider you are doing now, Potter ? ``

If he was n't so desperate for help he might have hexed him. Instead his uprising of fury was suddenly quenched as a single thought permeated his panic-ridden mind.

Snape was a passe-partout Occlumens.

Still clutching onto Kaylens as if his lifetime depended on it, he met the Potion sea captain 's critical gaze principal on.

'' prof, I need your help. ``

Snape 's total human face crinkled indifferently. `` Get off the floor Potter. I do n't have time for your games, '' He clipped, starting to brush past them. Instead he paused mid-stride, eyeing them distastefully.

'' And do bump off yourselves from here. Undoubtedly you are both choked up about that know-it-all champion of yours, but really Potter, such display are not meant for populace exhibition. ''

The Slytherin top dog of planetary house flipped his gown, practically striking them as he continued striding across the elbow room 's surface area towards another door. Harry 's jaw dropped, shock and frenzy mingling on his raging face. `` Damn it this is not a joke ! '' He roared, watching Snape stay. `` Kaylens needs help ! '' He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to still down. Where in the blaze was Remus ?

'' Professor, '' He finally ground out, as if the respectful full term pained him. `` This is not what you think. This is not a display. Something happened to Kaylens. Someone injected her with unicorn blood and I ... '' He plowed forth, ignoring the fact that he had not a colour of a cue on how to explain the situation. `` I tried something on her. I used Legilimency to get into her mind, to try and help, but ... ''

He hesitated, meeting Snape 's passionless expression. `` I created a wall, similar to the single they teach father in Occlumency, to split up her remembering from the foreign ones. But I 'm not surely it 's working. ''

His sharp regard locked onto the blank expression of his most hated professor.

'' She needs help. I need someone to reinforce the wall I made, and I sure as hell am not able of doing it. ``

Unreadable as he was, Snape did n't seem to be about to aid. But he did n't prepare any promote endeavour to go away.

Running his bridge player through Kaylens'fuzz comfortingly, feeling her trembling slowly settling, he felt anger at Snape 's unresponsiveness begin to conjure up.

Harry 's expression suddenly grew challenging. `` Now, '' He demanded, voice ablaze. `` Are you a Master Occlumens or not ? ``

A glint of vexation crossed Snape 's face. `` Your effort to appeal to my ego and upright nature are pathetic, potter, considering that I am secure in one and miss the other. ``

His blood practically boiled.

'' Look, '' Harry spat, dropping all pretending of respectfulness. `` You hate me. I hate you. I get that. But this is n't about either of us, and I 'll be damned to allow this, but you are the only if one here that can help her at the here and now. hellhole, I 'll even leave you a liberate shot at me. Just assistant her. ``

Snape 's sassing curled angrily, as if considering.

'' Follow me, '' The former Slytherin finally sneered, snapping a hand towards the far doorway.

Harry 's fist clenched as the man disappeared through the room access, not bothering to look around for an acknowledgement. Drawing a strained breath between his dentition he glanced down at Kaylens, and the tensity drained out of him.

Her entire, mud-streaked face was crinkled in assiduity. God ... she had been so wrapped up in trying to rest in her right mind that she had barely noticed the tense verbal spouting match around her.

'' Hey, '' He murmured, a rough hand reaching out and cupping her Kuki, forcing her to look up at him. `` You still O.K. ? ''

Her eyes glittered with disarray, but she managed another nod.

He forced a grinning. `` Try not to hold this against me, '' He whispered, standing up and scooping the start missy into his limb. `` But frankly I 'm not sure I trust your walking power at the moment. ``

She uttered not a sound, simply nodding resignedly, eyes one-half closed. He swallowed hard as her drumhead 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 doorway after Snape.

The fact that he did n't hit the man with it disappointed him only slightly.

'' Put her on the couch. ``

His eyebrow crinkled uncertainly. Was he really about to just hand her over to the same cruel, bitter man whom had wreaked havoc on his own thinker in the past ?

He realized that he had very few pick at the moment.

He sunk down into the shock, clutching her to him. Readjusting only slightly, so that her legs lay loosely draped over his own, with her head resting against his shoulder joint, he wound his limb protectively around her, sealing her in a vice grip that he was surely she would protest to if she felt up to speaking.

He did n't give care though. There was simply no way in Scheol that he would be leaving her to confront the Potions'Master 's clemency alone. And irrational as it was, his exhausted, battered mind somehow equated squeezing her to easing whatever ordeal the Occlumens was about to put her through.

He tilted his school principal down, burying it in the top of her messy headspring of fuzz. `` Let him do what he has to do. It 'll aid, '' He reassured quietly, hoping he would not regret placing his trust in the acerbic man 's ability.

He pulled away only slightly, his arms still looped around her shank, and her hazel colored eyes turned up, studying him intently.

'' How very touching. ``

Harry 's head jerked up, only to be greeted with Snape 's mocking sneer, and an verbal expression that clearly told him to get the hell out of the way.

'' Move aside boy. ``

Harry 's optic hardened, his suitcase reflexively tightening around her. `` No. ``

Snape practically twitched. `` Insolent nipper, motility. I will not be doing this with you in the way. ``

'' The terminal time I checked, '' He retorted, `` This only expect eye striking. Even you taught me that lots. And seeing as how I 'm not blocking you from that ... '' He let his acrid answer trail off.

With a growl Snape leaned forward, grabbing Kaylens chin and practically snapping her head word towards him.

The reduce itch to strike the man rose up, furiousness rifling through him at her distressed, shocked verbal expression, but Snape 's wand was already drawn and aimed, an intense look in his eyes.

'' Legilimens. ''

An eerily calm verbal expression suddenly befell Kaylens'face, while Snape 's contorted into one of the utmost assiduousness.

Harry could only wait.

He dropped his chief back against the wall, heaving an exhausted suspiration.

The gramps clock chimed. Kaylens'skin grew insensate to the soupcon. Snape 's dark, frightening optic bored into her wide, doe-like ones.

He watched the clock

Twelve arcminute and thirty-three seconds later, Lupin still had not returned.

But his two silent familiar did.

Kally jerked, almost violently backwards, her back hitting the armrest of the couch. Harry barely managed to stop her head from smacking into the wall as she slid off of him.

Snape 's move were not nearly so sudden.

Unnoticed to Harry the man rose from the floor, a wan hand brushing complex quantity stain from his gown. And then slowly, almost methodically, the man 's fingers tightened challengingly around his wand, his knuckles turning white with the pressure.

It took Harry a second gear to notice the man 's penetrating gaze, but when he did an unsettling aesthesis overtook him.

The Potions Master was looking at him, a unknown facial expression in his eyes.

Fear.
* * * * *


Blue-green eyes appraised the rather fully waiting room of the Adelaide and Meath Hospital 's pinch room.

'' sod. ``

'' Father, this is for your own good. ``

'' Could n't this time lag until Mon ? '' He ventured, trying to plead to his son 's better sensibilities as his middle took in the mass of mass. `` By the time we finish waiting in line it 'll be tomorrow and the physician 's office will be open anyways. Is this really where you want to spend your Billy Sunday ? ``

The man turned around to find his firstborn son 's heart narrowed in reproach.

'' Father, you were coughing up a violent storm at home and ... ''

'' It was just a small itch in my pharynx ... ''

Edward ignored him. `` Dad, you collapsed at the dinner board from that low itch. ``

'' Well really, I was actually just choking on some of your mother 's cooking. It was positively unpalatable. Honest. ''

The boy arched his eyebrow skeptically, clearly not buying this. `` funny, considering how you were praising that fish filet just before your lungs seized up. ``

The man groaned. `` Honestly, Edward. Do you really think that I would knock your mum 's cooking to her expression ? ``

Yes. waiting for it. Ah, there it is.

His son was now good out laughing at him. Of course, he could hardly blame him. His married woman, Meredith, could give birth been a chef had she wanted to. The woman had never cooked nor baked something sub par in her life.

But that was n't about to stop him from trying to get out of this cursed, congested waiting room.

'' Father, '' croaked out his son, `` Are n't you a bit old for harboring phobia of doctor visit ? ``

He grunted in response, racking his pounding headland for another self-justification. Honestly, he really thought that his crime syndicate was overreacting. His lymph nodes might be swollen, and indeed his head was pounding as if Xerxes himself were waging a little war with his neuron. But really all he needed was a good Nox 's rest.

Perhaps he could fault the coughing fit and his wheezing on having tried some cigarettes while fishing that morning. Of course of action, Meredith would have his hide skinned and filleted before he would even have a chance to cry for aid ...

The man was caught unaware when his son rather abruptly shoved him into a wheelchair.

'' Edward ... `` He hissed gruffly, only for his threat to precipitate on indifferent ears as Edward bypassed the independent tune, shoving him to the second check-in window reserved for those experiencing either chest pain or gruffness of breath.

And it was then that the racking cough again shook him, the knife-like pain attacking as if the Grim Reaper himself were holding the blade. He clutched onto the wheelchair 's implements of war, gritting his teeth, an acidy burn working its way up his throat.

A painful stab began in his chest, sending his body jack-knifing forward, nearly out the death chair. A astute shout near him made him cognisant of the delirium of activeness that had begun beyond the check-in desk, and strong hands abruptly latched onto his shoulder, preventing him from falling face forward.

A foot dig out, kicking the wheelchair 's bracken into lieu with a metal mouse click, and suddenly the rocking, swaying motion that he had not even realized to be going on ceased.

The infliction in his chest dulled down to a dull burn, and his hand flew to his oral fissure, feeling the sputum expelling with the next shuddering gasp.

He coughed once, twice more, before leaning gratefully forward onto his son 's berm, gasping for air.

It was then that he noticed the man in the white lab coat kneeling next to him, and it dawned on him that the frigidness, alloy smell on his binding was the stethoscope, which the doctor had already managed to slip beneath the spine of his shirt.

Feeling winded, he looked at the physician 's touch face, and forced a weak grin. `` Well, '' He gasped wryly. `` I think it 's safe to say, that I am short of breath. ``
* * * * *


lupin bowled into the room, Dumbledore in tow. The forceful thud of the doorway flying open and slamming against the bulwark effectively causing Snape 's white-knuckled grip on his wand to loosen.

Harry 's regard snapped to where Remus stood, asking him what had happened.

He barely heard him, suddenly feeling so, so incredibly stunned. In his desperation to obtain service he had failed to be patient, ineffectual to hold off for Lupin 's return. And it only now occurred to him why it had taken the werewolf so long.

It would never let occurred to Remus to have gone to the near Master Occlumens for help. The reliance between the old vulture and Snivellus was nonexistent, so there was no way in underworld that lupin would have trusted the man to delve into Kally 's mind.

So he had gone for Dumbeldore.

Harry already felt like an changeling. Snape simply seized the moment to convey his agreement.

'' potter could n't possibly have done this, '' He declared.

Snape 's statement hung on the air as Dumbledore, looking only slightly weary, swept his gaze back and forth between the three of them. First his blue optic studied Kalliandra, pity and oddity mingling together on his lined face, before turning his kindly gaze to Harry. And then, finally, his spectacled gaze locked with Severus Snape's.

A unusual secrecy filled the way as the two became locked in a staring match. It took Harry only a moment to agnize what they were doing.

They were communicating through Legilimency, the two Edgar Lee Masters exchanging all of the information about the situation that they needed to know.

Remus seized the moment of privacy, kneeling in front of where he and Kaylens lay tangled up. `` Harry, '' He began quietly, so as not to interrupt the two. `` Please assure me you did n't let him ... ''

Harry grimaced. `` I did. ``

The loup-garou released an exasperated sigh, fixing Harry with an annoyed stare. `` I 'm not even going to ask what you were thinking. It 's quite obvious that you were n't. ``

'' He is a master key Occlumens, '' He argued, feeling almost dirty at having just defended Snape. `` I would n't willingly leave someone to wound her. ``

A New York minute of amusement temporarily replaced the decisive looking at on Remus'look. `` 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 berth. ``

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 forecast out how she knew I was tutoring Kalliandra in the first place. ``

'' You were tutoring her ? ``

Remus nodded, looking at him curiously. `` How did you think we were acquainted ? ``

'' She was a pro groomer and Moony was in need of a cut ? ``

Lupin sent him a withering spotlight. `` Of all the things to inherit, you had to get your begetter 's cheek. ``

'' I did n't see it was his. ``

Remus seemed to consider this. `` Yours is actually a bit more erosive, '' He related. `` Unless Prongs was talking to someone he severely disliked, his comments were never quite so bite. ``

'' So I 'm bitter. Can you fault me ? ``

Moony 's face softened considerably. `` No, Harry. I can not. ''

Abruptly Lupin 's attention turned firmly to Kaylens, his concerned look returning full-of-the-moon force. Harry simply watched as Remus reached out, carefully brushing a lock of her persistently tangled hair away from her brass, studying her like a concern 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 financial statement. Not that it was lacking in truth, for when Kaylens had jerked back she had wound up with one leg still draped over his own, one hanging halfway off the lounge, with her thinly pattern half-slumped between him and the armrest.

And now, she had apparently fallen asleep in enervation.

Harry smiled strainedly. `` Yeah, well ... I would n't want to risk incurring her wrath by waking her, now would I ? ``

Nevertheless he found himself adjusting, to the point where he felt rather secure in knowing that if he let go of her, that she would no longer be in danger of sliding down to the floor.

Remus simply watched this, a plication 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 chance.

The two Occlumens in the room had started blinking again, their substitution, apparently, complete.

'' As I said, Potter could n't possibly have done this, '' Snape restated, ignoring the questioning looking at 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 auditory sensation of hers reawakened Harry 's reverence that he had somehow harmed her thinker in his try to avail her in the outset piazza.

'' I did n't hurt her, did I ? '' He blurted out, earning a tart 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 banker's acceptance that Harry had, indeed, constructed the mental barrier. `` 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 potter could have done this. '' Snape hesitated. `` I 'm not even for sure that I could have done this. ``

'' What ? '' Harry shot out, startled by the admission.

'' Would individual 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 speak, his non-white eyes swiveling to Harry instead. `` I do n't sleep together what you are playing at thrower, '' He snapped heatedly. `` But you did not do this to this miss. ``

Harry 's center narrowed, a slow burning anger growing at the Potion lord 's stubborn refusal to believe him capable of anything.

The greasy haired man 's regard grew more thought-provoking. `` Who really constructed that barrier, Potter ? ``

Harry 's tooth clenched. `` I did, '' He ground out.

'' LIAR ! ``

Dumbledore rose a placating manus. `` Now Severus, lets not be hasty. Harry has been under my tutelage since the start of term, and he has improved greatly. Particularly in gaze to his power to build mental barriers. ``

'' No one improves that much in so short a prison term. Especially, '' He bit out, gesticulating in Harry 's focussing, `` Not such an incompetent child ! ``

Harry 's oculus hardened. `` Like you would live, considering you 're the one who refused to teach me. ``

'' You are impossible to instruct thrower. ``

'' Perhaps if you were equal to of dropping subaltern school day day grudges I would n't be. ``

'' You are just like your sire, '' Snape practically growled.

'' I would n't bonk, '' He spat matter-of-factly. `` Perhaps you could share stories sometimes. Reminisce about having your undergarments placed on public exhibition. ''

Remus snorted.

'' Harry, that was uncalled for, '' Dumbledore admonished.

Harry bit back a jape. `` Considering everything he 's put me through over the days I highly doubt that. ``

Snape 's normally controlled features twisted into something livid. `` How daring you speak to the Headmaster with such disrespect ... ''

'' I respect the Headmaster mint, '' 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 Potter had n't blatantly displayed such a lack of decorum ... ''

'' Decorum ? '' Harry interrupted. `` This is n't your little class with all of its ridiculously anti-Gryffindor dominion ! So forgive me if I do n't grovel at your feet to take in your favourable reception ! ``

'' That is the last time I ever help you, you ungrateful ... ''

'' YOU DID N'T HELP ME ! YOU HELPED HER ! '' Harry screamed, launching himself off of the couch and to his feet. It was only Remus'warm reflexes that kept Kally from tumbling with him.

Grunting in infliction, Remus turned to Dumbledore. `` Do you get the smell that this argumentation was a long fourth dimension coming ? ``

Dumbledore nodded. `` Why do you recollect I 'm letting them sway on ? ``

Harry and Snape remained oblivious to the telephone exchange, the latter suddenly looked unbelievably smug. `` That 's funny Potter, I do n't recall telling you that I helped her at all. fare to think of it, all I did was take a look at that barrier. I must admit though, she does stimulate some rather interesting recent memory ... ''

Harry 's eyes took on a untamed tone. `` That has zilch to do with ... ''

'' You 're right-hand. But this has everything to do with your unfitness to honour your betters and to play along the rules. ``

Harry snorted. `` funny story, considering you 're the one who 's always saying how the rule rules do n't apply to me. ``

'' No you idiot boy ! I 'm always telling you how arrogant 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 rules do n't apply to me. Otherwise next time the killing jinx might actually work. ``

Snape scowled dangerously. `` Ill see if it works, '' He hissed, fingering his wand.

'' ENOUGH ! ``

Harry 's mouth snapped shut, his retort lodging uncomfortably in his pharynx.

exterior, in the main entree student residence, Mrs. inkiness began screaming.

'' If anyone did n't have a headache before, they certainly will now, '' Remus practically groaned.

'' Severus, '' Addressed the Headmaster, absentmindedly nodding his understanding with lupine. `` From what you 've shown me, it looks like all that was done was a separation of Ms. Kaylens'memories from the unicorn's, and that is all. ``

'' That 's all ? '' Snape responded edgily, his wrath 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 burst of pridefulness split second in his eyes. `` It 's honest, that what Harry did postulate a high point of skill in the field. But I think if you really think about it Severus, you 'll find that Harry was more than adequate to of having accomplished this. ``

Severus snorted.

'' After all, Severus, all Harry really did was construct a rampart inside of her mind ... ''

'' Not just a wall, Albus. It was a perfect wall. ``

Harry could n't help himself. `` Perfect ? It was full of holes ! I thought the thing was about to give ! ``

'' You mean to say that you were attempting to create a rigid structure ? ``

'' Yes, '' He hissed. `` Now will someone please excuse what he meant by perfective ? ''

'' testament someone please explain what wall we are talking about ? ``

Again everyone ignored Remus'effort to evoke what was going on from them.

'' thrower, '' Snape drawled, as if talking to a particularly easy pupil. `` Had a rigid paries been constructed, there would have been a perfect interval of the two circle of memories in the daughter 's mind. ``

'' Yes, I get that, '' Harry snapped, feeling frustrated. `` That 's what I was going for. ``

Snape 's dark, greasy eyebrows arched up. `` Even a rigid rampart would have eventually crumbled, and when that happened it would throw been akin to releasing a floodgate of strange computer storage in her mind. So the result would give birth been the same as it was initially. ``

'' Meaning ? ``

Snape practically rolled his eye. `` She would have gone insane again. I know this stage of conversing is a bit of a nervous strain on your mental facilities, but please, do try and retain up. ``

'' That 'll be enough, Severus, '' interjected Dumbledore. `` What he means to say, Harry, is that a fallible roadblock with holes will take into account the foreign retention to mistake into her mind a few at a prison term. It 'll set aside her to become slowly acclimated to the new memories, as opposed to her being forced to manage them all at once. Now I imagine the task of sorting through everything will be rather draining on her ... ''

Snape snorted. The Headmaster ignored him.

'' But in a few minute she should have a pretty substantial grasp on what memories are hers, and what are not. ``

'' A few 60 minutes ? `` Harry would trust Dumbledore with his biography, but somehow this seemed far too slow. He would have thought cramming a life worth of memories into a new head would postulate far longer.

Suddenly the master smiled. `` Ms. Kaylens has been rather fortunate to have been given the pedigree of a relatively Pres Young unicorn, Harry. In fact, the animal is barely elderly than her. For the adjacent few weeks she 'll gradually derive more and Thomas More of its remembering, but the worst should be over relatively soon. ``

"How can you get laid how old it was ?"

"Is, Harry. Just because the unicorn's parentage was taken does not mean that it was killed. And one of its latter memories had already slipped through your construct. So Severus was able to see it, and passport that information on to me. She's actually commence very lucky."

Despite this reassurance, he was still queasy. `` And what happens when that wall I made completely expose down ? ``

'' A cold-shoulder headache, I would imagine. Nothing more. ``

'' But ... ''

'' For the love of pigeon hawk ! She 'll already be acclimated to the retentiveness Potter ! '' Snape practically shouted, apparently unable to contain himself any longer. `` Your piffling girlfriend will be finely ! ``

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 nothing show on his face, but simply turned to where Remus and Kaylens still sat.

'' Remus, as interesting as this verbal ruffle has been, I think that the skilful thing for Ms.Kaylens, at the second, is respite. ``

Lupin looking rather like a worried don, nodded his assent. And before Harry could even protest, Moony had scooped the girl up in his arms.

mend Harry with a pointed stare, Remus inclined his promontory as he left. `` She 'll be in the room Hermione and Ginny used. ``

Snape, apparently having unsilenced himself, let out a jeering scoff that bore a strange resemblance to the words `` I 'm so sure as shooting. ``

It was only after that they had left the elbow room, that Dumbledore 's formulation grew far more serious.

'' Harry, '' He stated seriously. `` I think it 's clip you explained exactly what happened with Angelina. ``
* * * * *

'' VHERE IS SHE ! ? ! ? ``

The man 's vox rose furiously, awakening her from her Crucio-induced slumber with a start.

Her sorry eyes snapped give, her unfocused gaze shooting uselessly around the pitch-dark room.

She had been left in complete and total wickedness, unable to tell apart even a unity detail of her surroundings. The cold, silk canvass beneath her were the entirely clue she had to suggest that she remained in the same room as before.

Only now she was mercifully alone, with only the lingering, bone-deep pain of the inflict curses for company.

An faze intuitive feeling of futility settled firmly within her chest, but she would not, could not, fall back promise. Instead her resolve strengthened, and she forced herself to mind very carefully.

exterior in the hall two people were arguing fiercely, their demand words muffled, though every so often the one would rise about the former, a grave annotation in his accented speech.

Her eyebrow creased fretfully, anxiety filling her. There was something very familiar about that vocalism. Something her healthy mind screamed she should give been able to recognize instantly.

But to her core she understood that whomever the person was, that she should n't be hearing them here.

Not in a place where only Death Eaters roamed freely.

An icy foreboding flooded her veins ...

The door to her room suddenly flew undefendable, a liberal shouldered man forcing his way in, his silhouette shadowed by the manor hall 's firelight.

It felt as if someone were suddenly choking her, an agonizing chill overtaking her in a way that the Cruciatus condemnation would never be able to touch.

The man 's defined jaw blood line, one so very familiar to her, was set firmly.

A heart-wrenching betrayal ripped through her, snatching her warmheartedness in its frailty grip as she watched his lip open, forming the words she had once loved to hear.

'' Hermy-owh-ninny. ``







Author's Note :

First, I just wanted to say thank you to Andrew for having helped me out so very much with this chapter. He has not only beta-read the last few chapters, but has also helped me to pull off them to make them well-situated to read.

Secondly, I wanted to justify about having taken so long between chapters over the past year. I honestly needed a break from writing, and now that I have had that I plan on updating approximately every two weeks or so. I 'm really excited about finishing the tale, and I figure that two weeks is definitely a deadline that I can meet, considering that I used to post everyday chapters for the Quizilla version of this. Of course, those were only about 2500 words a piece, but nevertheless I figure once every two workweek or so should work out well. Again, I am really dismal about having taken such protracted breaks this past times year. Things were very engaged and honestly I just needed to really reload. Thank you all for having stuck around though ! Chapter 31 is being worked on presently, so expect it in about two weeks.

And just to ward off muddiness, the term for a practitioner of Occlumency is Occlumens. For some reason in the rough draft of this I had a lot of people trying to correct me on that.

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In the wake of Dumbledore 's Death Harry is consumed with a burning desire to accomplish one thing : Defeat Voldemort, by any agency requisite. As he sets out to destroy not only the villain himself, but also the fear that has the wizarding worldly concern 's heart in a vice travelling bag, he has to deepen the way he sees the worldly concern around him, as well as the way he functions within it. Now, as he prepares for the final engagement, he becomes the one affair the wizarding world pauperization : Bob Hope. Harry/Ginny pairing.