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



Chapter 16 ~ New roadblock


Harry clenched his fist around sparse air, squeezing the spirit out of some unseen opponent within the quiesce infirmary wing. The silence was only broken by Kaylens'tranquil breaths, her chest rising and falling as steadily as the lightness breeze fluttering the drape.

He 'd been cooped up for twenty-four hour period, still healing himself, and had been forced to follow her grow ever stiller. Surely he was trapped within one of the seven roach of blaze, for each time he looked upon her his guilt rose like a fervency, the flames threatening to use up him.

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

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

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

Perhaps it was his own aspirant thinking.

He rose, unable to remain still, watching her with nothing save his thoughts for company.

Thoughts were such poor consolation ...

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

The vindication, the gratification, and everything he had expected to feel were conspicuously absent.

Bellatrix Lestrange was dead.

So why did he feel robbed ?

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

Worst of all, Lestrange 's dead body was gone.

He had wanted to look upon the lifeless face of Sirius'grampus and spitting upon it.

Now even that cruel consolation had been taken from him.

All he was left with, were unreciprocated dubiousness, and this cruel circle of hell called the Hogwarts hospital wing.

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

Yet they had salvaged the body.

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

So why do it ?

He had unconsciously wandered, finding himself in front of the outdoors third floor windowpane. The autumn scented duck soup blew across his bare pectus, cooling him. His shirt lay discarded upon his bed, his shoulder gauze recently removed, exposing the claw marks that now indented his skin.

It was necessary, madam Pomfrey had insisted upon having his lesion exposed to the air. He was to be released soon, and she needed to find that it would hold up on it 's own.

His fractured shoulder blade had been mended quickly, but loup-garou wounds were deadening to heal.

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

Was he lucky ? He was not for certain. But even when Dumbledore and Tonks had come, he had felt nothing but hollow. His own indifference was almost enough to wish for death.

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

'' Experimental spells, their effects unknown to the social club, have been added to Voldemort 's arsenal of weaponry, Harry. film heed ... ''

He would.

He had seen what happened to lupine first hand, for his transformation had been triggered by the magic spell Lucius Malfoy had hit him with.

It had happened during the day.

Now, where Death Eaters roamed, the lunar month would no longer hold it 's sway.

Harry shuddered in the gentle wind, contemplating the many horrors Voldemort might let loose in increase to daylight roaming werewolves.

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

Forty seven innocents, four of them baby, had walked upon the Earth. Now they lay beneath it 's relentless stain, removed by the remorseless actions of Voldemort 's minions.

Hermione 's parents would soon fall in them, and his frigidity rational slope realized that when it happened, part of Hermione 's soulfulness would be taken forever.

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

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

For if he were truly the one with the power to kill the shadow Lord, than every s he had ever spent reveling in life, and not searching for Voldemort 's demise, had been another grave accent in the ground for the innocent.

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

It was doubtful he would be permitted to go away soon.

'' That 's disgusting. ``

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

'' You 're come alive, '' He stated, slightly stunned. He had begun to wonder if she ever would.

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

'' You were out for five days. ``

She paled considerably.

He was slow to recover, and debated getting madam Pomfrey. But she would be back soon, to check on his own combat injury. She could find her awake then. Besides, he was afraid to entrust her alone for even a second, fearful that she might accrue into that unending slumber once more.

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

He studied her, thinking about how to serve. His pridefulness made him hesitant to admit weakness, but her center ...

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

'' Painful, '' He watched her eye flicker shut. `` You ? ''

'' Like Hades ... '' She murmured.

'' You look it. ``

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

She reached up, brushing the lock aside, revealing her mortal pale skin. Her curb crusade exposed her own pain to him in a way no words could.

As did her wrist. His oculus caught upon the darkness bruise encircling it.

He crossed to her, catching her wrist gently. She glanced up, hazel oculus narrowed in muddiness.

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

Her optic traveled to where his fingers lay.

'' Apparently, '' Her voice was so swoon ...

'' Pomfrey said she had taken care of this, '' He whispered aloud, gently relinquishing her hand. She let it fall upon her pillow, besides her face. `` Your osseous tissue may not give healed properly. ``

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

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

It was rummy, but had she had woken a few days earlier he probably would get demanded answers, solution about how she knew Lupin, about what she really did or did not be intimate about Death eater, but after mean solar day of sitting there, watching her delicate frame sleep, the bare thought of interrogating her bothered him.

His resolution could waitress, for a little piece at least.

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

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

'' Yeah, '' He finished.

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

She lay there, so still, for so long, he would have sworn she slept. It was percentage concern, veneration that she would not awake, that drove him to the admission.

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

She stretched ever so slightly, the weather sheet sliding away to reveal her bare toes. Her side relaxed, almost serenely. `` You saved mine first. ``

He wanted to argue, but lacked the spirit, watching how her centre broke from his, dancing away.

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

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

It was then that Pomfrey walked in.

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


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

Lupin 's claws had torn into him just beneath his shoulder steel, right where several muscles came together. Apparently re-growing muscular tissue was as tricky as re-growing bones.

He still needed to babble to Kaylens, but she slept. They had not shared a watchword since she had first awoken, mental object to sit there in quiet. He was debating whether or not to offend that silence when a rag looking Ron walked in.

looking for at Ron, he realized that there were early things that had to be taken maintenance of firstly.

He had been dreading this conversation for daylight. Ron and Hermione would want solution. Answers about his absence ... solution about what had occurred in Dumbledore 's office days earlier ... Answers about Voldemort 's trespass into his judgement ...

Answers he could not give.

How could he excuse the imperativeness he felt, or Voldemort 's intrusions, without revealing the message of the divination ?

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

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

He threw a stopping point glance at Kaylens'sleeping frame. They would talk later. He promised himself that.

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

It had been over a workweek since he and Kaylens had disappeared from the Headmaster 's office, and one of the survive tender weekends of the twelvemonth had driven the student body outside.

As for him, during that time, Voldemort had left his idea alone. He had felt the starting time of an encroachment day earlier, but riddle had withdrawn, sensing that his decision had not yet been made.

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

As evil as Voldemort was, the brute had some class.

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

Harry decided to save him the cumbersomeness. `` How 's Hermione ? ``

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

'' Not proficient, '' The absence of people made the corridor cavernous, and his breath echoed quietly.

'' Harry what 's going on ? ``

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

Not to bring up the prophecy. How in the underworld was he supposed to beat him ?

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

They walked the remainder of the way in silence.

Hermione was there, waiting for them in the empty dorm room, sprawled out with a volume on Ron 's bed. Her eyes were rimmed with glum circle, similar to Kaylens.

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

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

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

She shrugged, re-burying her nose into her account book. `` They would n't let us see you. ``

'' I know. ``

'' Why ? '' Ron asked.

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

Ron frowned. `` His grounds ? ``

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

'' He did n't want us seen. We were n't in ... '' He shrugged with one shoulder. `` No one should consume seen us after it okay ? ``

Hermione 's centre roamed, landing on his sling.

He caught the unverbalised inquiry. `` Werewolf wounds are wearisome to heal. ''

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

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

'' No. I was not bitten. ``

Hermione looked skeptical. `` Harry that 's not possible. ``

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

'' Because the full moonlight is n't until ... ''

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

'' Then how could a loup-garou ... ''

His face turned grave accent. `` There are ways. ``

Hermione was no longer even trying to translate, her spokesperson unusually luxuriously. `` That ca n't be. A werewolf ca n't change out of lunar sequence ... ''

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

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

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

Ron 's blue center widened, his freckles standing out against his paling cutis, putting two and two together. `` So when you and Kaylens went to see lupin ... ''

'' He turned. Yes. ``

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

'' Harry I do n't realize, '' She said haltingly, shoving her Koran away, it 's varlet flapping lifelessly as it fell to the floor. She spared it not a coup d'oeil. `` Please Harry. What 's going on ? ``

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

Ron took Hermione 's hand almost naturally. `` Then take your time mate. Start from the origin. ''

Harry shook his headspring, hating himself. `` mulct, the get-go then .... '' He steadied himself, and met Hermione 's almost plead gaze.

'' You both already know that Voldemort has not given me a moment 's peace since last summertime. It 's a individual fight between him and I. We 're both fighting for information, about the former side of meat 's approach and goings, about how a lot the former side knows ... ''

He talked steadily, opening his dresser drawer to put clothing away. His action at law, however menial, lent a sense of normalcy to the otherwise inauspicious conversation.

'' Your parents 'Mione, he said he will unblock them, '' He ignored her intake of breathing time. `` If I tell him what the contentedness of the prophecy were. ``

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

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

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

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

He remained silent, until her pleading phonation broke again.

'' Harry, please ... ''

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

The tell on looks upon their faces nearly broke his intent.

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

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

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

He swallowed hard. `` No Ron. ``

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

'' No. ``

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

The accusation in Ron 's voice was too often. He could take no to a greater extent. `` Because I ca n't Ron ! Don't you think I would if I could ? ``

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

Harry was having trouble keeping his articulation level. `` Ron, if I tell him there is no reason for him to keep back the granger awake anymore. It 's our big bargaining chip. ``

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

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

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

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

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

Harry shook his head, never more serious. `` No Ron. You did n't. '' He felt almost regretful at Ron 's crestfallen look. `` You only saw what end feeder were capable of. That is nothing compared to him. ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' No Hermione. He needs to hear this. Because it 's like he does n't even hope us ... ''

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

Ron 's eyebrows raised so far they disappeared beneath his hair. `` Really ? ! Then why did you hardly breath a give-and-take to us all summertime ? Why wo n't you talk to us now ? ``

'' I am talking ... ''

'' No. Your blocking Harry. Like in chess game. '' Ron pointed his wand out the room access, summoning the Bromus secalinus board from the common room. Levitating it, Ron cleared the board save for the pawns, king, and queen of both sides, his brow furrowed in concentration. He then moved the instrument so they protectively surrounded the Billie Jean King and queen on one side, leaving the early incline 's king and female monarch unprotected.

'' The way I see it Harry, all you have left are instrument. '' Ron continued, gesturing to the saved English of the board. `` So instead of risking everything to charter my Martin Luther King, you 're protecting yours. ``

Ron moved a pawn on Harry 's incline away. `` You 're afraid that if you move your instrument for a secondment, that I might get in and take your king. ``

Ron 's queen shot forward, moving through the hatchway Harry 's pawn had left, taking his world-beater out with a trigger-happy whack of her chairman. She then stood, posed to demand his Riley B King on the adjacent move.

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

The chess display panel folded in on itself, slamming to the floor.

'' Game over. ``

Harry shook his straits, unable to traverse Ron 's accusation.

He was rectify. And for the first time Harry realized how truly different he was from them.

He loved them, but Ron and Hermione could never plowshare his load, no matter how much they wanted to.

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

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


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

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

Which was why he had flat out refused to give away anything else, and held his primer about not revealing the prophecy to Voldemort. Not even for Hermione ....

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

The pick was no farseeing his.

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

They would n't end up like Sirius.

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

The door slammed and the sound of argument resumed. Dumbledore 's vox caught his attention. What was he doing in the hospital wing ? Perhaps to see Kaylens, but he had already visited them once. It was n't like the schoolmaster to gossip students though. And he should know, he had been in the hospital wing too many times to count, but could count Dumbledore 's visits there on one hand.

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

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

gentlewoman Pomfrey 's reproving tone came out clearly. `` ... cells need to reform before you can even undertake to perform thaumaturgy again. ``

'' But I 'm behind enough as it is ! '' Kaylens ... A twisting wafture of rest washed through him. And to think, normally he had worry resisting the impulse to muffle her.

Dumbledore spoke now. `` miss Kaylens I do n't think Remus would want you over-exerting ... ''

'' well I 'm not particularly concerned with what he thinks at the here and now. ``

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

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

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

'' Considering that I 'm the one you ca n't bring around, do n't you think that should have got been my decision ? ``

curative ? His venter lurched dangerously.

'' Kalliandra, looking at it as a death sentence will not help oneself issue. ``

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

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

'' I 'd prefer the burden, '' Kaylens hissed, her vocalisation suddenly strong. `` Now is there anything else your keeping from me ? '' Her vocalisation was strained and accusatory. `` Because I 'd like to know before I read about it in some stupid person Holy Scripture. ``

Silence.

'' I thought so. ''

His full body shook unsteadily. So lots so that the approaching footsteps did not read until the threshold had swung open in figurehead of him, revealing a pale looking Kalliandra.

He could only stare, news abandoning him. Her eyes had caught on the extendable ear.

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

'' Potter ... '' She whispered chokingly. She locked center with him, her expression stunned.

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





'' Just as braveness imperils life sentence, fear protects it. ''
~ Leonardo da Vinci ~



Chapter 17 ~ Kunnskap

Kunnskap is Norweigan for cognition



She shoved unresolved the entrance threshold, leaving the secure halls of the school behind, and walked out onto the rapidly chill grounds. She blinked back the moisture that lingered within her heart. No rent would fall, no matter how hard they threatened. This she promised herself.

She was wild, but her angriness paled in comparability to her ego loathing. She had been so unbelievably stupid ! It had been bad enough to believe Remus, but to hold nearly let down that roadblock again ...

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

Despite the painful sensation they had been in, the time spent within the infirmary wing had been pleasant. She and Potter had dwelt in silent society, both knowing there were thing that needed to be discussed. Despite that he had not pressed her to talk, instead he had seemed to calmly accept her silence.

This variety had been oddly comforting.

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

She kicked the flat coat, scattering grime in her wake.

She could not fathom why she had thought he would let her keep her arcanum. But she had been a complete soft touch for entertaining the whim.

And for some intellect his belittled betrayal hurt her.

Gods ... She turned her tear filled eyes towards the sky, tracing along the darkening clouds, and noted how low they hung. It was the incoming storm that had drawn her out-of-doors after all. The foreign feeling slithering through her, as if static electricity were tickling her very scramble, had been hard to ignore.

She reveled in the small beguilement from her idea, and allowed herself to simply feel.

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

The storm figurehead rolled in above her, and the more astute of her match began to head indoors. The country surrounding the lake had been the world-class of the flat coat to be abandoned, and her feet led her there.

She wanted the seclusion.

She had grown so used to despair, to feeling only invariable apathy, punctuated by bust of undiluted anger, that she had forgotten how to palpate something as human as fear.

Everything had happened so dissolute the day she had received the market keeper note, and there had been no time for the cold truth to go under in. Only over the yesteryear days, as she and ceramist had lain there in silence, had it finally registered.

Pomfrey 's words had just driven it home.

Somehow, hearing the Healer 's words had made it real, and now revere held her pith in a frailty handgrip.

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

Perhaps end would be a thanksgiving. She just had thing to do before it found her.

The vibrations in the high sky were back, and she cringed at the electricity there. Being a part of such thing, feeling such matter, was not always pleasant.

It was often painful.

She rubbed her subdivision against the shiver hint, thankful that God had some sense of commiseration. Fortunately for her, the man brainiac could only register pain as abnormal for so long, before it accepted the infliction as the unvarying body politic of affairs. Then it would be ignored.

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

Still, acclimatisation could only do so much, and her physical structure ached, protesting constantly.

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

She took it all in with her normal perceptiveness. There were spots where the evidence ended, dropping off sharply to touch the duckweed covered Earth's surface of the piss.

In other spots the ground gradually sloped down, kissing the lake 's rippling wave. There the iniquity terra firma was muddied, imprinted with the footprint of those who had braved the shallow to drown, before the weather had cooled in viewing of the incoming good afternoon storm.

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

She accumulated a pocket-sized collection of flat bottomed rocks, gathering them within her hired hand, and she cast the first across the serene water supply, breaking it 's glassy Earth's surface.

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

She smiled ruefully, casting another towards him. This sentence the tentacle swung and connected, sending the stone flying high above her promontory.

A low grumbling filled the sky, and the altocumulus cloud swarm dipped threateningly lower, wafting the scent of rain upon the breeze towards her. The sky had grown darker, and she vaguely remembered the afternoon she and Sean had once spent, skipping stones across the lake near their household home.

But there had been no giant calamari to play with there.

She skipped another.

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

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


Harry winced, rubbing his brow. That was definitely going to leave a mark.

It had taken him all of xxx seconds to settle to espouse her. The storage of her watery oculus had been alarming, and he could n't let her leave like that, not when she did n't understand.

He cast a limelight at the hulk squid, approaching her cautiously, carefully trying to not skid upon the slick rocks as he walked down towards her.

He treaded as close as he dared, pausing to vibrate uncertainly. Her berm had stiffened at his cry, the only star sign to indicate that she was aware of his mien.

He swallowed hard. From where he stood besides her, he could see the drawn line of her mouth, and how her eyes gazed, almost longingly across the dark open of the lake. He followed her gaze, the first of all drops of rain drizzling upon them.

The lake 's once glistening exterior now moved with a living of its own. Each raindrop sending flier ripples outwards, each hoo-ha merging with the former furrows spreading across its control surface. The issue was entrancing, and he drew his eyes away from the scene before him, to the girl before him. She was why he had ventured out here, despite the threatening storm.

'' What are you doing out here ? '' He asked carefully. Another John Rock of thunder shuddered the sky, drowning him out, and the giant squid disappeared beneath the lake 's surface.

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

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

Silence reigned for some time, broken only by the increasing rhythm of rain, pattering around them. The water gradually matted his unruly tomentum to his frontal bone, and Kaylen 's gilt hair darkened with saturation.

She sat with a slack up air, unbothered by the icy droplets pouring down. Slowly, with evident pain in her apparent movement, she scooted closer to the lake 's edge, dipping her foot into the churning weewee as casually as if it were a mid-summer day, rather than a verbose October waterspout. Never once did she look at him.

Her shoulder were bare, and her moistness fuzz clung to them. He was close enough to notice the slight goofball blow prickling across her pale skin.

The conversation he had overheard forced it 's way to the cutting edge of his idea as he watched her shiver.

Kaylens was sick ...

'' Here, '' He said, shattering their verbal lapse. He picked his way across the pebbly decline to her, shrugging out of his cloak. He felt no ineptitude as he picked up her damp hair, draping it across her berm.

She looked up, turning her questioning gaze towards him. He was at a loss, for the glossiness of her oculus could not be from rainwater water alone.

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

Her optic held his, and for the most pass off of second base the suspicion he was so used to seeing vanished. `` Thank you, '' She murmured, inclining her headway to the spot besides her.

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

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

The sky thundered, lighting up as lighting flashed high in the swarm. It struck him as extremely unwise to be in their spatial relation, so close to water.

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

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

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

'' Well what ? ''

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

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

'' And since there are no conversations going on for you to listen to, I 'm wondering what your doing here. '' Another flash bulb of lightning illuminated her soaked features, and he found himself drawn towards her serene expression, confounded by her words.

Despite their content, her tone held no trace of the associate sarcasm or malice.

Instead she sounded curious.

The realization sent an out of office smiling across his brass.

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

'' Try me. ``

'' I came to excuse. ``

To his surprisal, she actually laughed. The audio had a haunting timber to it, for it blended artfully with the farting howling around them. The violent storm had crept upon them fast.

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

He seized the opportunity to hold her talking. `` well I am. Kaylens I ... ''

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

He sighed in frustration. `` Enough to cognize that you should n't be out in this torrent. ``

She nodded, closing her eyes as if pained. `` You have no idea how unseasonable you are. ''

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

The aspect she shot him could silence the devil himself. `` And why should I ? You have n't been the portraiture of honestness potter. ``

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

She did not serve. Instead, she tilted her face towards the sky, allowing the rain to decant over her more freely. Her hair fell away from her shoulders, revealing her long neck opening. She remained this way for what may have been mere seconds, but to him, felt like hours.

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

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

And he explained.

He explained why he had followed her that day into Knockturn back street, how her stubborn refusal to reply query about demise eater had led him, to what he hoped, were wrong assumptions, and how, after days of watching her in a comatose commonwealth, he had feared that she had fallen ill once again.

He spoke to her, the rainfall cascading down their soundbox as they sat, keeping each other 's acquaintance, the violent storm forgotten. Several times she made to travel, shaking her promontory disbelievingly, but his mitt on her arm silenced her refutes. By the metre he was done, a sad expression had crossed her features.

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

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

He swallowed hard. God he just wanted things to be okay between them. There was still so often to talk about ...

'' Kaylens are ... ''

Her locution darkened at his run-in, and she stood abruptly, her shivering more pronounced.

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

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

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

'' Wait ! '' He called, utterly confused. He stumbled after her, slipping on the wet rock'n'roll, and caught up to her on the smoke.

'' Kaylens keep it. You 'll freeze out otherwise. '' He went to robe it across her shoulder but she brushed him off.

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

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

She whorled on him, looking disturbingly dysphoric, her skin dangerously pale. `` Look, ceramicist ... Do yourself a party favor okay ? Do n't interest about me. ``

He found himself shaking, be it from the cold or the icy palor of her skin, he did not lie with, yet all thoughts of speech were driven away.

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

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

She was backing away from him. `` In fact ... '' She continued, sounding like a frightened animal. `` For your own just, just stay the hell on earth away from me. ``

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


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

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

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

The fact that he still had a sneaking intuition that she was clueless as to what a Death Eater was did not help matters.

It was enough for him to nearly transport curse word flying. At Luna 's imperativeness, he had taken to kicking wooing of armor instead.

Apparently the metal noise made by kicking something attracted Crumple Horned Snorkacks.

Or something like that.

His reaction was puzzling, even to him. He could not refuse that he felt oddly protective of her. How could he not ? He had spent far too a lot prison term watching over her in the infirmary wing, and the cerebration of boost harm coming to her swarm him mad.

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

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

He had seen her alone that very morning, and it had taken all his longanimity to ward off hexing her into adjacent workweek when she had practically sprinted down the hall to mouth to Dean, upon catching raft of him.

Hell, he had come damn near secretive to hexing her and Malfoy in Defense Against the Dark fine art that very day. He had walked in to find oneself her and Malfoy chatting in still whispers, bent-grass over parchment.

The bit he had come within earshot the parchment had been rolled up and stuffed hastily into Malfoy 's book satchel.

Kaylens had refused to wait at him. But he had not failed to point out how her hands shook for the rest of class.

It had been easy to remark since he had been sitting alone. Ron and Hermione had holed themselves up on the other side of the room. And unlike Kaylens and Hermione, who contented themselves to avoiding him, Ron had made sport of sending uncongenial public eye his way.

At least the unfriendly spirit from his roommate were perceivable. He had had another violent dream with Voldemort that hebdomad, and had woken up in a right state, screaming at every one of them.

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

come to think of it, the alone someone talking to him now seemed to be Luna. And since she was in the yr below him, he found himself sitting alone in course, and eating luncheon at the Ravenclaw table.

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

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

He actually did n't mind the idea.

He finally reached the room access, and Crusantheus surprisingly opened without complaint, revealing Dumbledore 's office. He stepped in for his moral, removing his wand in preparation.

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

Perhaps it was because his thoughts had been elsewhere, but the estimation of a wandless Occlumency lesson caught him off safety device. He furrowed his eyebrow questioningly.

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

Somehow Harry strongly disagreed with this. If he had learned all there was to hump about Occlumency, he would not still be having fierce nightmare. `` prof, in all due esteem, if I had actually learned everything would n't I be well ... just at this then ? ``

Dumbledore cracked a grin. `` Ah, you see Harry, therein lies the difference. You have learned all I have to instruct about Occlumency. That is an entirely unlike matter from mastering the discipline. ''

Harry was stunned, all previous thinking and provocation at the prof driven from his mind.

Never in his life would he take imagined Dumbledore being unable to teach him something.

'' Occlumency, Harry, is less about erecting mental barriers, and Thomas More about controlling one 's emotions. Keeping your emotions hidden from the foeman is of extreme point importance. And frankly, gets easier with age. '' Dumbledore stood with a rather expectant plume duster and began to attack a disgruntled portrait with it.

'' Harry, you have become quite mavin at creating barrier, visualizing a brick wall is your barrier of selection is it not ? '' Harry nodded but Dumbledore was continuing. `` But the sole way to strengthen that paries at this point, is to learn to mask your emotions. ``

Harry stared somewhat unabashedly as the premature headmistress made a rather oil handwriting motion.

'' Er ... Professor ? '' He questioned hesitantly. `` What exactly do you have in mind by 'masking'them ? ``

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

He valued his training far too much to respond truthfully.

'' fountainhead Harry, when one sifts through your mind, painful memories can get unearthed. It 's natural to come back the emotions these experiences caused you. Such a distraction is all the enemy would need to delve deeper into your intellect. '' Dumbledore was carrying on with all the air of one discussing a weekend outing. `` And you have no shortage of painful memories Harry. It would be quite prosperous for Voldemort to recover one to use against you. ``

He did not need Dumbledore to recite him that, he had already re-lived the guilty conscience of Canicula'dying all summertime.

'' So are you going to make believe me relive those memories for drill ? '' He asked, somewhat apprehensive.

Dumledore turned to look at him, balancing precariously on the stool he was using to reach ole Phinneus'portrait. `` Why of course of instruction not. Certainly, I could go sifting about through your mind, forcing you to recall bad times in your life. But dredging up old memories and forcing you to deal with them would only help you build up apathy. We do n't want that. ``

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

'' Harry, what we do require, is for you to come to terms with the crueler parts of your past. And only you can set what those terminus are. But I dare remind you, there is a difference between allowing the past to remind you, and allowing the past to ensure you. ''

Dumbledore jumped down from the feces, wiping his stale workforce on his robes. `` Well now that's done. Now I have something to point you. ``

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

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

Dumbledore shrugged. `` wellspring, make it clip, return it clock time. It may take her awhile to unfold up to anyone, seeing as how thing are. ''

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

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

Harry had to take that Dumbledore was dead on.

Inside the open record, where the pageboy should get been, lay a ping layer of fog. There was a sense of depth to the DoI of it, and Harry had the dim sense that another proportion lay just beyond the peacefully swirls.

Dumbledore reached his hired hand into it. `` It is a rather cagey hiding touch for matter. Not only is the locking mechanism for it rather slick, but only a hired hand with my DNA could reach into this and still come up their hand attatched. ``

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

The schoolmaster shut the book, muttering a few charms, and replaced it upon the ledge. `` This is something that I have been wanting to pass you for quite some time Harry. But until recently, the opportunity had not presented itself. The fact that it had not, is entirely my fault, and for that I am sorry. ``

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

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

'' The vial you now hold is a peculiar var. of pensieve, Harry. '' Dumbledore said by way of explanation. `` It is called a Kunnskap. It means cognition. And unlike normal pensieves, it does not have an straight-out mental ability. It can only stop a select few store, and I believe that there are 81 different lessons contained within this one. ''

Only eighty-one ? He thought, slightly amused by the Headmasters definition of only. He turned the vial within his deal, noting that unlike in Dumbledore 's pensieve, blueness specs darted to and fro within the silvery marrow here, colliding frequently to utter dark K sparks. It was like watching the reflection of firework in a silvery pond, only on a toy scale.

A thinking occurred to him.

'' What do you mean by lesson, prof ? '' He asked curiously.

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

The Headmaster paused, shutting the leather volume. Whisps of curling pinko tendrils snuck out around the sharpness as he placed it back upon the ledge.

'' Times were dark. '' He continued gravely. `` I did not know how many of us would outlive, but we knew it was necessity to pass on our knowledge to the next generation. This was our way of ensuring that at to the lowest degree one good champion recieved that if the tough were to happen. ``

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

Despite his botheration and anger at all the schoolmaster had withheld over the eld, the thought of a deathly Dumbledore shook his concept of a stable universe.

The Headmaster motioned Harry into a plush plum armchair, forgetful to his pupil 's dingy persuasion.

'' Over the years, myself, and others within the old Order, added select pieces of cognition that we wanted to depart to you, to this. You 'll even find some of my old school day example there. Things like apparition, curse-breaking, animagus sketch ... They are all in there. ``

Harry listened intently, not wanting to miss a intelligence. The conversation had become oddly personal.

A household elf popped into existence then, extending a plate of biscuits to him. He scarcely managed to rent one, for his creative thinker was fixated on the cruel sarcasm of the situation.

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

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

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

Hope ... Why could n't somebody else have been wizarding kind 's hope ?

Dumbledore was mercifully oblivious to the shadow idea still flitting through his mind.

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

This piqued his interest. `` So you mean that I can get an animagus just by looking at the computer memory in it ? ``

Dumbledore smiled ruefully. `` No. This will teach you the possibility, and knowing the theory of something is entirely dissimilar from putting it to use. However ... '' The man 's blue eyes twinkled mischievously. `` I have it on good Good Book that learning and researching just the theory on animagi can carry days. So all you will have left to do is practice putting what this will teach you, into use. ``

thinking of what he, Ron, and Hermione had planned, he suddenly wondered, for the thousandth time since coming to Hogwarts, just how much that the headmaster knew about his students.

Against his better mind, he broke out into a small smile. Even Hermione, with all her article of faith against taking shortly cuts to find out something, would probably die for a look into this thing.

God he would miss them ... Perhaps one day, when thing were dissimilar ....

As if reading his idea, Dumbledore smiled. `` For the time being Harry, I would retain this to yourself. Because of the Kunnskap 's potential for misuse, only seven were made. We would not desire this falling into the wrong manpower. ``

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

He 'd be damned if he disappointed him.

Dumbledore smiled over his cup. `` I 'm trusted you will Harry. Do try to use it in common soldier though. When one uses it they tend to seem in a trance, and I would detest to see what your roomie would do if they stumbled upon you in such a state. And I would know, Mrs. Norris once caught me using this. ``

Harry nearly choked on his biscuit.

The past fortnight, he realized, had truly been full of surprises.




Thank you SticksN'Stones for the excellent banner !






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



Chapter 18 ~ The Scars sprightliness Leaves


Tonks threw open the ghost, allowing the shining afternoon light to pelt in, filling the room with lily-livered hue so bright that not even Remus, who was valiantly feigning sleep, could push aside them.

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

'' Get up. '' She clipped, her grammatical construction anything but amused.

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

She contented herself to narrowing her violet middle. `` note 's a curse surf. And when he and I have over two weeks with nothing to do but crack the wards on our stubborn arse of a friend 's dwelling house we tend to come after. ``

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

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

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

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

'' You look like a sopping wet dog Remus ! Now get your stubborn ass off the floor right now and get set ! We have an Order meeting in an minute and if you are not there so help oneself me Merlin I will get back here, Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth be damned, and induce you amount ! You ca n't forefend us forever ! ``

He groaned unhappily.

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

'' Mrmph ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When he did n't answer she actually laughed. `` Remus you prat ! You turned within an hour of being hit with that spell ! Do you really think that it could possibly sour you again ? Two calendar week later no LE ! ? ``

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

'' Well that 's just too damn bad Wolfy because your going to. '' She did n't look for a response and marched over to confound open his W.C.. She grabbed the closest shirt and threw it at him. `` Now go shower and get dressed. I do n't have all day and so help me you are going to write to Harry and Kalliandra before we leave ! ``

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

'' I 'd like to see you try. I 'm not leaving because I do n't find like fighting with your hospital ward again. '' She paused, and almost as an afterthought added, `` And do n't change the study because you are writing to them ! ``

He shook his brain, his shaggy-haired hair's-breadth falling around his center messily. It looked like he had n't showered in day. `` No. If they wanted to verbalise to me they would have .... ''

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

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

She growled in frustration and yanked the sac lookout out of her air hole. Mundungus had found it near one of the drained fry after the attack.

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

Watching his pathetic movements, she suddenly felt like collapsing.

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

She could n't bear to intend of it, let alone voice it, but ever since that wretched night she had grown to trust on Remus. She needed him so a lot it scared her.

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

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

She shuddered, remembering how he had found her curled up on her put one Night that summertime, positively balling her eyes out, the few icon of Sirius she had spread out on her coffee table. If only she had stunned Bellatrix when she had had the probability ! By Merlin he would still be here !

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

Catching the SOB was the only thing that could aid Sirius now, he had told her. And as an auror, that would be her job. He had told her how she needed to harbor together for that.

If he had not shown up when he had, she may own curled up in the closest, muffle broom closet, and not come out cashbox Christmas.

She had passed out that night, vaguely suspicious that her mocha had been laced with leaden firewhiskey. Remus always had claimed that intoxicant assuaged the brass ....

She had only just realized how grateful she was for the small traces of humor he shared with her.

She had grown so used to him always being there, and it had taken Remus'absence to take her earn how much he meant to her.

Never again, did she want to live another fortnight like the one she had just had without him.

The thinking of him wallowing in self pity any longer made her physically ill, and she felt her shoal reserves of strength folding in.

She had to protest the urge to run over there and smack him.

She drew herself up, ignoring the nuisance prickling in her chest of drawers. `` Harry does take you Remus. '' She started. `` Your all he has left. ideate how he 'd palpate if you shut him off now ? ``

Remus was flipping the puff back onto the bed, straightening it meticulously. `` He does n't need me. Neither does Kally. They 'll just wind up damage ... ''

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

She trailed off, frustration effectively silencing that train of thought.

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

She turned in a huff and stormed out, resolving to send Harry and Kalliandra carve up notes demanding that they pester Remus until he broke out of this self-created shell.

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


Harry allowed the Book to descend closed. His head had prospicient since fallen upon the table, his body slumped over in foiling. A thousand and one dark curses swirled through his judgment, their comeback curses eluding his memory in a maddening way.

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

The sheer enormity of the task before him had hit home nearly an hour before, and the unremitting weighting on his shoulders seemed determined to suppress him now. It was pressing down on his bureau, making his head twirl, the fruition of how little meter he had to master this had finally sunk in.

Voldemort could come for those he loved tomorrow, and somehow he doubted the monster 's minions would sting to simple jinxes.

For the first clock time in his life sentence, he was starting to feel helpless. He had borrowed the ledger from Dumbledore 's office, changing the screen so no one could recognise what benighted arts it contained, and after only a few days of study he had come to a realization.

Avada Kedarva was amongst the most merciful of dour curses.

For the dark arts could do so a good deal regretful than simply kill in one blow.

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

By the clip those around you realized ....

assistance for dupe of the mort ardente would be far too late.

Other curses could could slice your skin in easy, long slashes. The invisible onset lasting for hours, as medi-wizards and healers tried to save you, only to determine you succumb as slash after destroying virgule undid their healing, spilling your life profligate, killing you ...

Others could slowly crush your chest, driving the air from your lungs, suffocating you under the atmospheric pressure of a twelve hippogriffs ....

He shuddered involuntarily, almost glad that demise had been quick and merciful for Dog Star and Cedric. He had not known before, but their lives could deliver been extinguished in much worse manner ....

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

prof Tres had shown him that merely a calendar week ago. Kaylens had been the one to bring it up, asking when they would learn the worse of the Dark arts themselves.

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

But she had been right ....

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

So while her and Malfoy had argued their stop, and lost valiantly as Tres started twitching under pressure, he had composed a letter to Dumbledore asking for access to fabric about the wickedness humanistic discipline.
Dumbledore had granted him that ...

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

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

The man who had stolen his life from day one.

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

Then Pettigrew would die.

Then, once he had seen what the curse did on a lively human, then he would find Voldemort.

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


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

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

That particular owl had had orders to nobble whatever was written before Remus had a chance to snatch it up himself.

Well apparently Remus had been too flying for the owl, because she had gotten back a broken flight feather and a ripped, blank art object of paper.

Damn your pigheadedness to Hades Remus ! She thought in aggravator, stomping her foot outside Dumbledore 's federal agency.

She had grown so vex with him avoiding touch and canceling their tutoring sessions that she had finally slipped on Riley 's mob and tried porthole keying directly to Remus, only that had n't worked either.

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

'' Peppermint ! Bat dung droppings ! Bertie Pops ! Apples ! Peaches ! '' She exclaimed at it, abandoning candies in favor of fruits. `` Oh beshrew it to hell ! Peach Schnapps ! knockout Cobble ... ''

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

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

Dumbledore looked up idly from his desk, a bemused expression across his conditions worn face. `` Why Kalliandra, what a pleasant surprise. ``

She did not accord. `` Professor what does Remus call back he is doing ? '' She demanded, stopping in front of his desk. `` He ca n't invalidate us forever ! Why does n't my port key body of work anymore ? And why are you now using liquor as your passwords ! ? ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' On some level, yes. But much like individual else you know ... '' Dumbledore eyed her astutely, leaving no interrogative sentence about who he was referring to. `` He has taken to blaming himself, shoving away those close to him in ordering to protect them. ''

She sighed defeatedly. `` So there 's nothing we can do to talk some signified into him ? ``

'' I rather think, that this is something he has to follow to accept on his own terms. We can not ram him into realizing that we would rather be near him with all of the risk of exposure, than away from him and safe. ``

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

Dumbledore chuckled slightly, recognizing the satire of her assertion. `` You know Kalliandra, in our own way, we are all a danger to those we love, for the simple fact that rightful Friend will go to any lengths to help each other, even if that means sacrificing their own life-time in substitution for another 's. ``

His words struck a deep chord within her, one she was not quite ready to listen. `` Thanks professor ... '' She muttered, all angriness gone. `` Can you at least give him this when you see him ? '' She extended a alphabetic character to him, it 's addressee Reading To The Obstinate Wolf.

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


Harry rested his nerve against the jade Earth's surface of the table, letting his dank whisker drip over his face. The dripping water from his Holocene exhibitioner eased the tiresome aching that had begun in his scar.

Drip ....

A pearl of wax broke unfreeze from the glowing candle, falling to fleece into the unsealed rooftree of the oak desk. The impact sounded cavernous, for his ear remained pressed against the desk 's surface, amplifying the sound ten fold.

Across the common elbow room, far from where he sheltered in the shadows of a undivided candle taper, the blast glowed warmly. several straggling seventh years, no doubt putting in the redundant hours for newt prep, remained there, blissfully oblivious to the recent hour.

quietus would once again, not be his companion. When his cicatrice ached so sharply, it was in fact the enemy.

Voldemort was there, just beneath the surface of his mind, waiting for a prospect to get in as he dreamt. He knew Hermione 's parents were as good as stagnant, but he would not reserve Voldemort the information he demanded for their supposed 'release .'

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

Fiery shadows danced across his outdoors school text, and he wearily rubbed his scratch, trying to memorize the counter curse for one of the many crushing hexes.

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

The inglorious and blank instance showed a wizard captured in a unsounded howl, his fingers already falling hitch around his throat.

He shuddered at the stack, not noticing the determined aspect flitting across her side.

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

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

'' Hey thrower. ``

Her vocalisation pulled him away from his intellection, and he swallowed gruelling, looking up as she slid into the fanny before him. She leaned backwards relaxingly, her face falling into the shadows of the recess they sheltered in.

'' Kaylens. '' He said steadily, warmheartedness pounding. Be it at her sudden intermission or the memory of the dying face, he did not know. `` What are you doing here ? '' He slid a bridge player across the morbid exposure, staring intently at her.

She met his eye, for the firstly sentence in Day, holding them seriously. `` Talking ceramist. Just talking. '' candle flame danced in them ...

His scar gave a slow pounding, reminding him of his own fragile State Department. Tonight was not the time for talking, even with her, whom he had grown queer about. `` You know ... '' He stated carefully, watching her smooth her sleek locks behind her auricle. `` There is usually a reason for why mortal sits clear across a relatively empty room from everyone else. ``

She nodded, a whimsical scowl tracing her feature article. `` Oh ? And what 's that ? ``

'' Their studying. ``

'' Or they want to be left alone. '' She whispered, voicing his unspoken opinion. `` Believe me Potter, I know your unhappy with me. I would n't bother you if it was n't important. ``

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

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

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

She chewed on her turn down lip thoughtfully, fidgeting. `` For someone who seemed aegir to talk, your certainly making this difficult. ``

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

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

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

He felt oddly good about that. For a alteration, he was not the only one being ignored, or prevent in the dark.

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

She shook her pass, her whisker coming loose from where it lay gather behind her pinna, falling to lay artfully over her eyes. `` He 's started sending mine back. ''

He felt a minor grin tugging at the edges of his lips. `` Hedwig is dogged. ``

'' An owl ? ``

He grunted in reply, the aching in his scar was starting to glow slightly.

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

He jolted forward, dropping his head into his hands to cover the dreadful face now crossing his face. `` comic hearing you say that. '' He groaned as the first-class honours degree wave of pain in the ass attacked him. `` Because is n't that what your doing ? ``

Through his finger's breadth he saw a conniving expression cross her case. `` Do you need me to get gentlewoman Pomfrey ? ''

'' Why .... '' image the wall ... .The bricks ... Their approximate texture stretching infinitely upwards .... `` Why would I want you to get the nursemaid ? '' He asked, barely guising the bother that was now coming Forth in waves. She needed to leave. She needed to leave alone now, but not to get the nurse ...

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

Before she could even move his paw had shot out like a lightning deadbolt, attaching itself to her wrist joint. `` Do n't get her ... I 'll be ticket. '' He hissed lowly, not keen to attract the attention of the 7th years still down there.

An unpleasant sensation swept through him, the feel of Kaylens'wrist turning barely registered as the dark room spun. He was no longer fully there as his eyes flickered half shut, half seeing the wall Dumbledore had taught him to so carefully concept, half seeing Kaylens kneeling down besides him.

'' The only way to strengthen your wall at this point, is to determine to disguise your emotions .... '' Dumbledore 's words came back to him ...

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

Voldemort was prickling at the edges of his see wall.

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

Been sssstudying the sinister artssss I sssssee. It'ssss about time you learrrrned ....

He turned his eyes away from his book, leaning away from Kaylens to slam it shut before Voldemort could learn more.

'' Sodding hell potter of all the metre ... '' Kaylens murmured. He felt her arm sliding beneath his shoulders, a strange prickling trickling through him as he unconsciously leaned cheeseparing, allowing his body to sag against her as she hauled him up.

He rose his eyes, finding her own surprisingly close, flickering with that unfamiliar concern. `` Kaylens leave ... '' He muttered, feeling a violent edge forming within his last logical view. He had nearly attacked Ron in a interchangeable state, under Voldemort 's egging influence ...

Ah compannnnny .... Voldemort sounded almost cheerful, and Harry felt his face unwillingly turning towards her further.

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

Interesssstinnnng ....

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

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

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

'' Leave .... '' He groaned, barely shoving the quarrel out. She was dragging him down the hall now ...

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

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

Who messed up ! ? ! ? He thought, grasping lucidity, desperate to reap Voldemort 's import.

Calling on his shoemaker's last ounces of genial reserves he dug his dog into the ground. He turned, squirming away from the reassuring presence of her blazon, suddenly finding his own metrical foot untrustworthy.

He was collapsing to the I. F. Stone story, the woolly mullein lit halls a bright blur ...

Whooooo ...

Unable to tell the difference between speaking and thinking, his mouth opened to scream his own query into the dead of night ...

Kaylens hand clamped over his mouth, and he found himself breathing in her cutis, moistness with perspiration and the waxy center of the candle she had been fidgeting with mere second before.

'' Damn you Potter be quiet ! '' She hissed dangerously.

He struggled dazedly, her chin coming to stay on his articulatio humeri as she stilled him, frantic hushing sounds escaping her own lips. Had she had a harsh boundary to her ? He could no longer recall ...

Jussssst a public figure Harrrrrrry .... What harrrrm everrrr came frrrrom a public figure Harrrry ....

He relaxed, leaning against her again, feeling her blazonry stiffen. Of course .... It only made sense .... Voldemort would want to know of someone as fascinating as her, who would n't ? He certainly did, no issue how infuriating she grew he was rum. What scathe could a name do ...

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

'' Glad to see you remember formalness. Now please get up, I 'm not strong enough to cart ... ''

A jubilant waving washed over him, so intense as to swim out every other Christian Bible filtering through his auditory system.

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

The feel of Kaylens'handwriting tugging up on his shoulders, the feel of her long hair brushing against his face as she leaned over him, the dark shadows of the desolate Hogwarts corridor ...

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

His legs becoming his own again, he powerfully throw them into the floor on his own accord, scrambling eagerly away, his sudden departure sending her spilling across the cold, dirt dusted rock floors.

He rounded on her downed form, failing to comment her dismayed expression. One opinion was on his mind. One he had been putting off asking.

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

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

'' Yes. '' He said seriously, his hand lingering near his sceptre. `` Yes we are. ``

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

'' Yes. ``

They stared at one another, both expressions unreadable.

Finally, an eternity passing them by, she tilted her head to the incline. `` How practically do you know ? '' She whispered.

'' Enough to know he was all too happy to teach your gens tonight. '' He knew the consequences of this, if atrocious, would be his to conduct. It was not a view he cherished, and a function of him almost wished for her to confess into the night her commitment to the night Godhead, so he could strike her down, guilt free.

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

This lowest thought was silenced by the way her eyes darkened coldly onto him. `` And you were happy to ease up him that entropy. Were n't you Potter ? ``

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

She shrugged one articulatio humeri, almost testingly, in an out of berth manner. `` You looked like you were having a fit thrower. I thought you needed the hospital wing ... ''

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

She looked stricken by his Good Book. `` I see. '' She whispered, moving to walk past him, back towards where the Fat Lady 's portrayal observed in awed horror.

Once again, before he could arrest himself, he had her wrist in his hands, spinning her around to pin her against the bulwark. He pressed his body against hers, their faces dangerously close. Her face remained an unreadable mask, hold open for the beads of sudation glistening upon her brow in the torchlight.

They stared at one another, each daring the other to mouth. Releasing one of her wrists, he moved his deal to rest above her shoulder, cutting off any thought process of her escape cock.

'' I said I understood Potter. '' Her breath was barely a susurration, and beneath his laurel wreath he felt her wrist joint cooling system, the cool October air prickling fathead jut across her arms.

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

She breathed in deeply, her bureau rising to press against his own for the briefest of bit. `` concern to enlighten me ? ``

He nodded coldly, his moist hair falling to conceal his scratch, a disturbing sizzling legal drawing Kaylens eyes uncomfortably towards it.

Her challenging demeanor vanished, mix-up flickering in her eyes. Her free hand unconsciously reached upwards, but he stilled her move by aggressively squeezing her articulatio humeri blade.

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

'' Do you have any estimation what your dealing with ? I have a suspicion ... '' He spoke mechanically, as if lecturing a small child. `` That you do not. So I am going to ask you one ... more ... time. What ... does ... he ... want ... with ... you ? ``

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

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

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

'' Perceptive ... '' He murmured coldly, leaning in money box her breather breezed across his face. `` But I never said friendly. You on the other hand openly admitted it. ``

'' Trygve Halvden Lie ... '' She spat.

He could no longer tell if she were glaring or weeping, for his forehead was pressed firmly against her own, driving her harder against the paries. Her actor's line lingered on his unshaven chin, and he grimaced wryly, realizing how close he was to finding out the the true.

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

Her expression remained unfaltering for far too long for his gustatory sensation.

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

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

She turned her wrist joint in the confines of his loosen traveling bag, her tegument brushing against his own. He could precipitate her reaction, being so close, his eyes locked onto hers. She was going to run, it was like feeling what she was feeling ... Fear ...

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

'' Well if you do n't want to enjoin me .... '' He murmured, releasing her wrist before she could beetle off. She eyed him with surprise, and mistrust, never seeing his manus falling to rest upon his wand.

'' Legilimency. '' He whispered.

Her life story ... It all flooded his mind in one over powering wave. A swirl of events that were impossible to recognize ... Until one screech filled his mind with a blinding red hue, bringing it all into arrant clarity.
'' Riley ! ''


The convolution of image changed, becoming the congruent painting of a blond youngster, hair much short than he knew it would darken to suit, was approaching a door, answering it ...

A man smiled toothily down, removing his hat to unveil closely cropped, colly blonde tomentum, bowing slightly. The youngster smiled upwards, but the image of his smiling froze, faltering, as if it had forever been burned into her memory.

And now his ...

The room access flew open, the man 's foot connecting with it, sending it bulleting inwards, hitting her with it against the face. Blinding pain kept her witting, for the world was black be-speckled, and her screeching soma fell to put down in the front foyer.

The guilty conscience .... Almost overpowering ... She should n't have screamed ... My God if only she had not ...

A golden haired man, only slightly older than they were now, came sliding into the hall. The fille screamed on the floor, her broken, bloodied nozzle rendering her word of advice incomprehensible.

The blond haired devil dropped a knee onto the daughter 's back, pinning her to the level. The flash of a sawhorse tongue drawn from a casing caught Harry 's eye, and the young man, who now bore a tone of the extreme fury.

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

The golden haired man was already charging, but the monster had drawn a gun and fired before Riley could even reach her ...

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

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

The girl was bucking on the base, screaming, nearly freezing in fear as blood pooled from James Whitcomb Riley 's pectus wound, his XVIII year old consistence twitching spasmodically, his sassing gaping, gasping for breathing space ...

Yet James Whitcomb Riley had crawled, leaving a smeared trail of deep red death on the linoleum floor in his aftermath, for he had been unable to let his picayune babe be pillaged ...

His dying breather came, the girl 's eyes panoptic with horror for only her blood brother, as the dollar knife plunged into young Kaylens', deep into the back of her eight year old shoulder blade.

Hot, fiery pain intensified, followed by a tingling ace of the most peculiar kind ...

He could almost feel what she had ... Her shoulder was tingling, fiddling pin shit attacking her skin as they would when her foot would wake up from falling asleep ...

Her hysterical shriek only intensified, and Harry watched in revulsion as the monster gripped her hair, yanking her head back roughly as Harry once himself had done to her, before slamming her face savagely into the linoleum.

'' Were going to have some fun are n't we short female child ? Are n't we ! ? ! ? ! Just as soon as you shut your bloody mouthpiece and recount me where that sweet little crony of yours is ... ''

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

In Voldemort 's mind he had seen adults wither in pain and spill apart at so often LE ...

His heart broke as he watched her small form continue struggling, screaming, yet the man only pinned her face down to the floor harder, dragging the dollar knife across her articulatio humeri in a long, savage line ...

A swirl of colouring material, and he was gone. hurtle out not by magic, but by the wildcat grip someone had taken up on the back of his gown, yanking him away from her. He staggered backwards, disoriented, his arm flailed into the torch holder ...

His sleeve was on fire, burning him, the flames licking up his arm when individual floored him, dousing him with water.

His charred tegument throbbed, but not so much as his mind.

Kaylens stood motionless, still pressed against the wall, deoxyephedrine whiteness, still tears streaming down her beautiful typeface. A single slender helping hand was clutching her shoulder. The same one he had grabbed roughly. The same one he had seen stabbed viciously ...

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

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

'' Shut it Harry ! ``

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








'' The last of one man is a tragedy. The destruction of one thousand thousand is a statistic. ''
~ Chief Joseph Stalin ~



Chapter 19 ~ Le Règne d'Enfer Commence


Once his judgment awakened, his mental capacity dimmed by the doped wine he had willfully taken, it was not the darkness, nor his unfamiliar surroundings, nor even the cloaked figure patiently waiting besides him that he noticed.

It was the stale air.

He sniffed.

They were coming ...

Just as he had.

It was why he had isolated himself for the by two weeks. From Harry, from Kally, from Tonks ...

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

Two years after the incident with Kally and Harry, he had received a blank envelope addressed to him, sealed with the night Mark.

After reading it 's content, it 's whirl of safe haven from the cruel, prejudiced Ministry standing in cruel contrast to the death Eater 's own detrimental impression, Dumbledore had asked the one matter of him that he had felt ineffective to do.

He had asked him to consider joining them.

He had stayed in closing off, not wanting his affections for Harry, Kally, or Tonks, especially Tonks, to sway his decision.

The other werewolves began emerging from the underground corridors surrounding him. Here the bulwark were lined with os. Femurs rising up like sadistic pillars from hellhole, supporting the long melodic line of skulls outlining the insurgent passageway. Cool water dripped rhythmically from the damp cap, wetting his sweating scalp.

There was only one place in the earthly concern that flaunted such morbidity. abstruse beneath the streets of French capital, over sixty million of a time long yesteryear lay dead. Their skeletons disassembled, grouped systematically to organize walkways, a remnant of a darker time.

Upon drinking the drugged vino, the demise eater had said he would wake up in the conglomerate of death. Only now did he sympathize what he had meant.

A heart cast, shaped out of human skulls, lay set into the walls of the capital of France catacombs besides him. A standing remnant of the grim sense of humor, stretching endlessly into the darkness.

This was a prefect place of meeting. world, isolated, and gothic.

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

'' After our survive confluence I must admit that I am surprised to see you here. ``

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

He inclined his pass. `` Since then I 've realized how my kind is rewarded for unspoilt deeds. '' He replied resolutely.

Lucius gave him an appraising look, before reaching forth a cloaked paw to beckon the others forward. Half a dozen former cloaked design emerged from the shadows, forming a circle around him.

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

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

Voldemort had truly found a way to keep in line their transformations.

werewolf could now roam the world at will.

'' The gaunt one ... '' Lucius said sneeringly. `` Is a pathetic excuse of a pureblood, supporter of the Potters .... ''

'' Former Friend. '' Remus interrupted nastily, snarling for effect. `` I 've seen how their sort repays my sort, thinking I 'd betray them because of what I .... ''

'' Spaaaaaare us the spoken language wolf. '' Interrupted the one who had brought him there. `` What we need to know is if we can entrust you. ``

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

'' If you do n't trust me how do you plan on accomplishing that ? '' Remus countered, not wanting to go too eager.

Lucius smiled evilly. `` I 'm so sword lily you asked. '' He withdrew a silver medal flaskful from his pocket, tossing it to him.

Remus caught it with his shirt sleeve, uneager to come in inter-group communication with the forbidden metal.

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

'' Not really. ``

'' It 's atomic number 78. Would n't want to be carrying around something deadly now would we ? Remember, I parcel the Same nemesis as you. ``

Remus scoffed. `` By alternative. ``

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

'' You said you 'd cave in me a reason to cerebrate of it otherwise. ``

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

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

The last Eater that had brought him there smirked. `` You drank the other nitty-gritty without interrogation. ''

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

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

'' It keeps me active. ``

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

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

'' Meaning that you will advance the power, like most of us here, to transmute at will. The moon will no longer hold it 's power over you. ``

He watched Lucius pacing down the dull corridor, rubbing his pale finger along the rough bones. `` And ? ``

Lucius halted. `` Once it 's drunk, you will cognize what the taste of human flesh feels like. '' His pale optic shone with a murderous glean. `` They say once you know that, there is no going back. You will thirst it forever. Your wanted Mudblood buff will never accept you back once you desire the discernment of meat. ``

Remus felt his interior run cold. Now there was a apprehension neither Dumbledore nor himself had thought of. It was too perfect really. They did n't trust him, and they would give him something that would establish him crave human being flesh so much that he was bound to join their side, regardless of his design upon outset coming there.

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

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

He turned to the nameless witch, smirking as evilly as possible. `` The only fault was not seeing what those Ministry bastards have kept from me my unharmed life. ``

He felt the air thicken with tension.

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

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

A delicious, tantalizing taste filled his mouth, leaking over his tongue, overwhelming his dope so that he nearly lost himself to it.

Reigning the hungriness in, feeling the power his kind had always been meant to sense, rather than the pain, Remus met their gaze, his own tooth elongating. He was as changed as they were now. One of Voldemort 's mutated creatures, even if he were internally against them.

Only now he understood what major power it was to be the animal he was, even as his consciousness screamed out the consequences, his thirst beckoned.

He tilted his head back and howled.

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

'' Brethren. ``
* * * * *


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

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

Emily Bothan had just asked her mother to come family soon. She missed her bedtime fagot tale. While she told her mother 's slab of stone this, Emily meticulously arranged, then rearranged, the flowers in the redolence her Church Father and her had brought.

Mummy only deserved the best.

Emily has said so herself, when she had spent the punter part of an hour searching the floral boutique, seeking out the perfect tense arrangement of irises and hydrangeas. Mummies favorites.

Tonks sniffled, allowing the light breeze to inconspicuously dry her eyes.

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

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

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

'' Kenneth. Please. '' He implored, his black eyes never leaving the small-scale form of his daughter. `` If anyone has earned the right to parcel out with formalities it is you. ``

Tonks smiled sadly, not agreeing. The fiasco had been entirely her error. Her own incompetency leading to why his young wife, his senior high shoal lulu, lay beneath his girl 's small animal foot. `` If anything Kenneth, your daughter saved mine. She has the courageousness of one three times her age. ``

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

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

Because when she looked at Kenneth, she could tell he needed his piddling little girl to remain just that. She prayed to God that Emily would never establish the scars of what she had gone through.

'' It 's such a ignominy ... '' Kenneth remarked, gesturing to his daughter, drawing her from her intellection. `` That it takes something like this to happen, before wizards will let somebody hump of their being, or of any danger from them. ``

She paused thoughtfully. `` You were a history John Roy Major. I trust that you are familiar with the Salem witch trial. ''

President Bothan nodded. `` Yes. ``

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

Kenneth Bothan sighed. `` Part of me understands. But it still saddens me. '' His eyebrow wrinkled, pain etched in every line. `` All the mistake between both our kinds ... Had I only known before hand I would never get let Emily 's party occur. We could have remained inside. My family would cause been better protected. ``

'' They still would make found you. '' She spoke truthfully. `` When the monster we spoke of wants to hurt someone, he will, no matter what the obstacle or cost. ``

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

The rainfall was letting up, a soft perfume wafting towards them. One that had nix to do with the flowers speckling the lonesome cemetery.

fleur-de-lis ....

Kenneth tilted his head to the sky, breathing deeply. Sometime in the future, he would swear to Tonks that sometimes, like correct then, that he could still smell her favorite heyday in the breeze.

Watching him now, Tonks was thankful the Order had granted her and various other members permission to rest with him and his daughter as a rotating sentry go.

They would be needing it.
* * * * *


Harry hung his question over the butterbeer, not hearing a parole Luna said. He had tuned her out when she had started talking animatedly about the especial version of the caviller that week, the one concerning how Cornelius Fudge 's United States Army of Heliopaths had drowned in a monster toilet deluge chance event in the Department of Mysteries.

The gentle chime of bells drew his tending to the room access of the tercet broomstick, just in metre to see Kaylens, Dean, and Neville walk in, their fuzz windswept from the rough fall pushover that day.

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

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

That was just it. He had n't been thinking. He had been suffering the familiar after burden of Voldemort invading his mentation, and those included everything from temporary insanity to violence.

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

Hermione and Ron had seen the total thing, turning the corner right as he shoved Kaylens against the wall, hissing `` Legilimens ''. Mione had gone on a tirade about their being no self-justification for such violation of personal privacy, and him running after Kaylens'had n't helped.

Particularly when he grabbed her again, desperately trying to stop her, to make her understand that he had not been in his right judgement, only to detect out that she had a rather nasty rightfulness hook.

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

Luna 's voice got through to him, and he turned a galvanise fount to her. `` What do you entail ? '' He asked, feigning stupidity.

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

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

Luna 's facial expression changed, her normally dreamy physiognomy gone, if only for a second. She looked like she was about to lambaste a little kid. `` Every time we 've seen her recently she has n't glared, she just pretends your not there. She stated simply. `` Before you both took every chance to be at each others throats. ''

Luna 's dreamy demeanor returned, and she opened her purse, withdrawing a linden tree green husk. `` Plus she just walked in, and now your staring into your butterbeer. You used to catch her you know. Or did n't you ? '' She looked up, befuddlement gracing her boldness. `` With you it 's tough to tell what you are or are not cognisant of. ``

Before Harry even had a chance to wonder at her perspicacity, Luna had begun asking what form of eulogy a Heliopath would wish at it 's funeral.

'' I wonder if their flames go out when they die ? If not then their burial method would stimulate to differ from our own, since they would cauterise right through their coffin ... ''

'' I guess you 'll make to get a hold of one of their bodies to come up out. '' He commented cynically.

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

'' Oh no Harry. '' She said very seriously. `` daddy would never disesteem one of their bodies. Just because their a different species does n't signify they should be less entitled to proper mourning. ''

He was so distracted by the the absurd good turn of conversation that he failed to notice Ginny until she dropped down following to Luna, grinning from ear to ear.

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

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

Luna nodded absentmindedly. `` Harry was just thinking of apologizing to that ... Well what would you call her hair color ? '' Luna seemed to ponder this for a instant before shaking out her own dirty blonde mane. `` Fourteen carat I suppose. But I think Harry 's having a operose time getting up the nerve to mouth to her. ``

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

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

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

His head shot back up instantly. Was there anyone who did n't sleep together about that ?

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

Harry fought the itch to quetch something.

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

He grunted in response.

Seamus chuckled, brushing his flaxen bangs from his oculus. `` Heard Kaylens decked yaaaRH ! ``

Seamus'outcry of nuisance was preceded by a flash THUNK from beneath the tabular array, and a scolding look from Ginny.

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

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

By this point Luna 's ever-present dreamy facial expression had once again go away, for she was clutching her stomach with laughter, pounding a fist on the table, making quite a panorama as she ceased to restrain her laughter.

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

He spent the residual of the conversation sneaking surreptitious looks across the relatively empty pub at Kaylens. dean and Neville seemed to be debating something, and he thought he caught the lyric 'bloody thesteral'more than once, while Kaylens stirred her butterbeer, sipping it through a straw like Luna, looking for all the domain as if she were not listening to a single Good Book her companions were saying.

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

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

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

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

He watched her instant over her shoulder before sauntering out into the vesiculation lead, her red fuzz swirling around like a gaga tornado.

He smiled stupidly.

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

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

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

But a new resolve to fix the thing he had legitimately screwed up had been awakened. It would be hard, and he would probably wind up getting decked again, but it was deserving a shooter.

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


Drip.

A one droplet, clinging to the earthen cap of the catacomb, broke free.

'' It 's clock time. ''

Plunk.

Remus caught the raw slab of meat that was thrown his way, not sickened as the four early werewolves with him dug in, watery rakehell dripping down their android chins.

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

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

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

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

Only now he was using them to charge the proffer flesh, instead of just practicing his transformations, hoping Dumbledore could concoct a cure for this horrific craving he would now address with.

His middle rolled smutty, the pleasurable discernment consuming him

For a moment, the but thing that mattered was the meat in hand. The mentation of protecting the innocent later on, forgotten.

Drip.

Now the parentage dripped from his backtalk as well.
* * * * *


Kally sighed exhaustedly, wishing for the purdah of her residence hall. At least there she could kick and squall, venting without the prying eyes of others following her every move, as Potter seemed to be doing from his seat in the shady rear of the pub.

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

She relaxed, allowing her elbows to prop herself up. She cast a glance resolutely down the bar 's retort, stirring her wheat around in her evacuate, bear-sized, mug. It was a nervous habit she had picked up as a child, when she used to wriggle them into random constellation. It had always been her buddy 's large pet peeve.

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

She swatted him away, glad to stymy him in front of his friends.

A sharp nudge caused her cubitus to slip, freeing her from that line of thought. She cast an irritated flavor at her housemate, ignoring the shot pain the sudden jarring had sent up her left arm.

'' The physical scratch, the cheek damage ... They are the least of your minor 's fear Mr. And Mrs. Kaylens ... ''

James Byron Dean was grinning lopsidedly back, ignorant to where her thoughts had been, taking her back nearly a decennium. They had n't known she was listening when they had spoken to the hospital 's shrink. But in their defense force, her anaesthesia had been heavy.

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

'' You look like your off in your own petty worldly concern there Kaylens. I did n't hale you forcibly out of the castle for zip today, so being a mute will just not do. '' Dean said cockily.

If possible, dean 's grin had grown even more curve with his words.

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

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

eyesight him looking at her expectantly, she shrugged, knowing full well he was about to set about prodding Neville. Dean was someone who seemed to cogitate that it was his personal mission to make everyone around him laugh, and her stony muteness was probably pushing him to the threshold of insanity.

'' Well expect at this Nev. '' He commented predictably, nudging Neville so hard that the poor boy almost fell from his toilet. `` We 've got ourselves a mute. I guess that means she ca n't back talk now can sh ... ''

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

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

In the end, she had gotten grim of Dean 's persistence and given in.

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

contracting their questioning looks the young witch flashed a dazzling, dimpled smile. `` Courtesy of the gentlemen in the backbone. ''

She eyed the new butterbeer with a profound sense of distrust, before exchanging coup d'oeil with Neville and Dean. She spun around on the bar throne, catching passel of the only patrons still in the back of the pub.

No sodding way in hell did he institutionalize us this .... She thought with no small amount of anger.

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

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

Best to get this over with ...

She came to an abrupt halt in front end of him, slamming the mug down so hard that the liquid sloshed over the slope, joining the already pooling puddle on his tabular array.

'' What exactly do you suppose you 're doing ? '' She asked angrily, not bothering to hold back the disrespect from her voice.

The girlfriend with him smiled dazedly, humming some unrecognizable tune, and Kally suppressed the itch to stare her down. But the most infuriating thing was Potter himself.

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

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

'' Oh ? '' She quipped sarcastically. `` And why 's that ? So you could intertwine it with truth serum and interrogate me in that swart pub down the street ? I must admit Potter, if that's the event you 're losing your hint. ''

She leaned down till their faces were level, using the table for balance. `` After all ... '' She hissed quietly, ignoring the blonde 's verbal expression. `` Why drug individual for information when you can just hex it out of them. ``

ceramist continued wiping at the mesa, ineffectual to meet her eyes.

'' shot ! ``

Kally jumped ever so slightly, ignoring Potter 's amused expression. She turned an eye on the blonde, who had just slammed her bridge player down on the tabulate top like an excited four year old. The girl 's protrubent dismal eyes were now so wide they looked prepare to pop out of her skull.

'' Harry you would n't take care if I excused myself would you ? '' She said excitedly. `` All this tautness could attract an Ira, and I want to be in the skilful spot to see one. ``

Without waiting for an answer the girl stood, not noticing their identical locution of bewilderment, and began shoving spare stubble into her caustic lime green purse, speaking in a far off voice.

'' You can only see one in your peripheral device vision you know. It 's why daddy has n't gotten a in effect photo of one yet, but I 'd so roll in the hay to see one ... ''

The girl marched off to the other side of the pub, turned to confront the paries, and stared blankly at it. Kally caught a few glimpse of pale blue eyes flickering their way, and each time this would happen the blonde girl would grunt unhappily, stamp her human foot, and restart staring at the wooden turnout as if frustrated.

What the hell was that abo ...

'' Look Kaylens ... ''

His intrusion brought her back to the situation at hand, and she narrowed her eyes shrewdly. `` Ah your famous strain. '' She whispered harshly. `` So which personality do I get today potter ? Because really, this stock split personality matter is getting to be a bit of a head ache. ``

Potter 's eyes rose, meeting her own in a way she had thought the coward incapable of, and for a second his proud of look faltered. He blinked oddly, drawing in a deep, audible breath. `` Kaylens ... '' He said quietly. `` I tried to justify for that once already, and it 's a bit heavily to explain, but I was n't exactly myself when I did tha ... ''

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

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

reliance him to convey that up, she thought angrily, quick to push back the revolt of shame within herself.

She swallowed hard. `` Glad to see your not quite that oblivious ceramicist. '' She muttered, forcing her spokesperson icy. `` I would imagine by now that any manufacture apologies would be a mute point. ``

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

He spoke so seriously, too seriously for someone their age. `` And I did n't even get the chance to apologize for the other night ... '' He continued, his Adam 's apple rising rhythmically. `` Since I did n't fancy getting decked again, I figured sending you a potable was the best apology I could get up with on short posting. At least the best one that could keep me a secure distance away, while getting you to come up over here. ''

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

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

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

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

'' That's what I think of your ridiculous apology. '' She muttered shakily. `` Enjoy. ``
* * * * *


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

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

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

It was shaking.

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

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

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

'' Lara what are yo.. '' Rosmerta questioned shrilly. Her oculus were fixated in mix-up upon the young waitress, the favorable one from whom he had ordered boozing earlier.

The same dimpled girl now had her wand drawn, a blank facial expression drawn upon her feature article, striking a horrifying similarity to a porcelain doll.

'' Stupefy ! '' She hissed mechanically.

As if in dense motion, Rosmerta fell, her hitch form disappearing behind the bar 's wooden sideboard. The glass she had been cleaning took flight, hovering in mid-air for a small eternity, before breaking spare of it 's weird suspension, shattering across the return.

For the low gear time in it 's history, the ternary Broomsticks fell silent. Only the howling of the October wind, leaking in through the windows, proved to him that he had not fallen into some horrific silent plastic film.

The aristocratical chiming of campana broke his attending from where the porcelain girl stood, smiling cruelly down.

Ginny Weasley, floated slowly in, professor Très following closely, their movements oddly halting.

minute seemed to experience passed, but the clock registered mere seconds.

visual perception Ginny 's sceptre haltingly advance, her movements faltering, as if some inconspicuous force were yanking her arm forcibly up against her will, was what finally broke him complimentary of his slow motion reverie.

His descent ran cold at her blank expression.

'' EVERYBODY DOWN ! '' He shouted, overturning the table. Liquid splattered, and their empty clay mugs had not even struck soil before the 1st green curse flew from Ginny 's verge.

His own already drawn, he screamed a stunner, watching the killing swearword girl Ron 's dismayed face by inches.

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

'' Kaylens motility ! '' He hollered, but she did not ask telling twice. She was already dropping down, covering her point as a sight of wooden shard whizzed by, an outpouring from the now smoldering chair before her.

A smasher grazed his ear, and his trunk jerked instinctively away from the rut, and in that ace secondment he lost sight of her.

Somewhere in the dim background signal of his creative thinker the screams of the other supporter began to register.

LE than a animal foot away from where he stood, a decorative pumpkin exploded, a poorly aimed stunner searing right through it, striking the wall. Stringy orange pulp and seeds erupted, hurtling outwards, covering the story and himself with slippery orange clumps.

A red visible radiation flew from Très'wand, and he dove to the reason, sheltering behind the table as the execration blasted through it. The screams of former bookman could be heard, pleading with the Defense Professor.

Très could not hear their pleas, with his ear length pilus flung over his optic, his arm jerkily fired blindly at students, sponsor, people ...

Grabbing the side of the overturned, round mesa, Harry heaved it to the incline, rolling it with all his potency, scrambling behind it like a rat until it hunkered to a stop. unable to go any farther, for an unconscious body now blocked it 's procession, he found the entry to the bar in sight.

It ran the length of the pub, and Ginny and Très'backs were now to it. If he could just get behind it he 'd consume prophylactic cover until he was right on them ...

He dove for it, leaving the cover of his board behind, rolling across broken chair legs and spyglass until he came to a crouch behind it.

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

'' Stupefy ! '' He whispered, letting the red light source fly.

Her body went careening to the side, her wand flung from her grasp as she passed out adjacent to Rosmerta 's hitch form.

He scampered down the distance of it, snatching both their wand up, passing wine bottles, clean sucker, and store area as he went.

Reaching the end near the shade covered windows, he hastily pocketed the scepter in his trouser, leaping to his feet, the disarming spell partially formed on his lips.

His words died there.

The jet of light-green light erupted from Ginny 's wand like a volcano of death, to a lesser extent than an arm 's length from where he stood.

Across the room Ron leapt to his feet, abandoning the temporary shelter of a vacate bench to smash to where Hermione and Luna fought unaided.

There was no time to think, to put off, to react.

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

Hermione 's dark-brown heart widened, her rima oris caught in a strangled, silent wail, and Luna only just pulled her to the undercoat before the adjacent honey oil spell whizzed by.

clip froze.

All was still.

The dummy tone of the Imperious curse faltered upon Ginny Weasley 's face, unabashed pain in the neck replacing it for but a second.

The mask was re-erected, his own wand turning to her, tears of angriness streaming down his case at what had been just done to the only crony and sis he had ever had.

Before the disarmament trance could leave his rim, a hard fist collided with his skull, sending the world blurring until it 's diabolic gloriole faded to disgraceful.
* * * * *


The sound of small metrical foot, pattering in the rainfall, accompanied Emily 's return. The sound of her quiet humming lingered like a breath of fresh air upon Tonks'pinna.

The small child stepped out onto the pebbled itinerary, quickly shutting her tiny umbrella before scurrying to huddle at a lower place Tonks'.

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

But for now, Kenneth gave her a diminished, ail grinning, before setting off across the sloppy burial ground grass.

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

She adjusted the umbrella so the runoff would not dribble onto the short princess'head, never noticing the attentive spirit that suddenly passed across Emily 's petite face.

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

As Tonks inwardly wondered what one should say to a child who has just lost her mother, Emily spoke.

'' Your friends are in trouble Nymph. ``



Le Règne d'Enfer Commence is Daniel Chester French for The sovereignty of Hell Begins

Recommended tale of the workweek :

Never tickle a Sleeping tartar by Edward Ollivander ( He has a fabulous and creative 6th year fan fiction featuring a HP/GW pairing, and it is completed. )

darkness Tendencies by Two Sadists ( They have a 7th year fan fiction featuring a HP/OC pairing. )

Photograph couresty of the previously mentioned public domain internet site. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.






Disclaimer : All characters, places, and melodic theme taken from the Harry Potter rule book series are property of JKR. However, the thought of a stretch is owned by me, since I have taken the idea of a Reach from a series that I am writing, and adapted it ever so slightly to fit this fan-fiction series.






'' Some believe that the benefit of death, is that it is possible to see farther on the other English. ``
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 20 ~ Nowhere to Run


'' Tonksie are you okay ? ''

Emily 's sweet voice carried upon the idle words, nearly drowned out by the audio of rain pounding upon the umbrella.

She could only shake up her head, shaken as a coolheaded breeze swirled around them. Thankfully such subtlety of expression were lost upon the fry, who 's head was tilted back, her mouth broad open, catching rainfall drops.

'' The waaaateeer 's driiiippiiiing on meeee. '' Emily gurgled gaily.

Tonks shivered, straightening out the umbrella she had unknowingly allowed to wobble. It had hung so low that a sudden cascade of H2O had fallen down like Victoria gloam onto Cy Young Emily 's head.

'' Sorry Em ... '' She gasped out, her spokesperson wavering.

'' It 's okay I like the rain. '' Emily declared, darting out from beneath the umbrella, stomping her base merrily in the assembling puddles. `` I like puddle too ! ``

Tonks blinked in surprise. The child 's female parent had been drowned in one barely a fortnight ago.

'' Your friends are in fuss Nymph. ``

Emily 's sopping wet braiding swung about her face, her coat of arms held out as she spun in circles, her foreland tilted skyward catching the rain.

'' Tonksie come play ! ``

Tonksie ... Only Remus called her Nymph.

'' My God ... '' She whispered, her torso temperature dropping in a way that had goose egg to do with the wind.

Over Emily 's twirling physical body she could see Kenneth Bothan kneeling in the sloppy burying ground locoweed. His wife 's life-threatening lay before him, the carefully placed irises scattering in the grievous wind.

'' Kenneth ! We have to leave here now ! ``
* * * * *


Remus'ovular eyes opened upon the worst of sights.

Hogsmeade ...

It 's empty venue lay before him, suddenly foliage billowing across the dust-covered pathway leading through the heart of the village.

Not a soul was in sight.

Ghost Ithiel Town ...

It was here Nott and the others had spoken of. It was here the recruiting had been done. It was here where the Death feeder would relieve oneself their beginning stand. Here in the village, so close to the school ...

Too close.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend.

'' Merlin ... '' He whispered, staggering, the Oct breeze biting chilly lines across his peel.

Werewolves had no use for clothing.

Roughly, an unclothe forearm scratched across his chin. scrap of dried profligate flaked away, sprinkling the ground with a sinister looking dust. It 's unwholesomeness was a stark reminder of his recently fulfilled thirst.

'' Surprised half-breed ? ``

Instinctually, angrily, his claws extended, breaking his pelt with a fiery painful sensation. He did not answer Nott, instead he growled lowly, extending his spike into tenacious points.

The hair's-breadth sprouting, prickling his pointed ears, brought the deathly quiet settlement to liveliness. Farther off ... In the fondness of town .... plea ... .. Offers of redemption in exchange for dedication ... ..

'' That fool of an old man will never know what hit him. '' Nott 's guttural part was flooded mysterious with hate. `` Well be here and gone before he even gets out his Alice Walker. ``

Not if I can help it ...

Lucius'unreadable growling cut in, breaking through his tempestuous cerebration, arousing something far darker ...

It was prison term to change.

An unnatural heat filled his veins.

Upon the background where Remus lupin had been, now stood a lycanthrope, the nipping scent of freshly spilled blood line inundating it 's senses.

The Wolf pawed the soil eagerly.
* * * * *


His body, felt like it was being drug across glass. It ached, splintering as single sherd sliced his skin.

fragment .... Shards ... He tried to grasp onto the Word of God to no avail. It 's elusive signification fled from his pounding skull.

The tight clutches on his ankle disappeared, and his animal foot dropped unceremoniously to the level. A moment later the echo in the floor plank indicated another body being dumped besides him.

Ron ...

With a jolt he was awake, the salty rip of pain tainting his lips.

It could n't be tangible. It could n't consume happened. Not again ...

He turned his head in a vain search, struggling to earn sense of the blurred world before him. A flash of the palest of yellow caught his eye.

Drifting in and out of focus was Luna Lovegood, sitting cross legged, her wrists tightly bound within her lap, dreamy profane optic fixated upon him concernedly.

'' Why hullo Harry. '' She said congenially.

Just thinking sent a discriminating throb through his skull, and he quickly discovered his weapon to be bound behind his vertebral column.

With a frustrated thump he hit his manpower against the floor, a stabbing pain ripping his fist.

He did not postulate Luna 's promulgation to know that a shard of glass now stuck from his hired hand. The warmheartedness welling from it, trickling down his fingertips, was enough to inform him.

A single crimson drop fell devoid, it 's wakeless reverberating through his dig chest.

Drip.

The suffocating weight of despair struck him unvoiced, paralyzing him.

Drip.

Ron was gone.

Drip.

Ginny 's unwilling deal had done the unthinkable.

Drip.

Death feeder were in Hogsmeade.

Drip.

A strangulate sob shattered the silence.

Drip.

His fists snapped shut, tugging at the bindings. His eyes, blurred with passion, searched the destroy pub, taking it in with cold calculation.

Drip.

The floor now resembled a nursery, a shattered plant holder had sent soil strewing across it.

Drip.

Butter beer and former concoctions pooled together in bubbly pool, broken chairs and overturned tables creating hazardous paths.

Drip.

Broken ice glittered in the afternoon sun, casting surreal spectrums across the floor.

Drip.

He squeezed his fist, the parentage flowing down, and began counting.

Drip.

In the spaces where neither glass nor soil lay, patrons did.

Drip.

Half a dozen, either unconscious mind or dead, lay upon the floor at break up time interval.

Drip.

The residual, the conscious, had been bound and lined up against the walls.

Drip.

'' pudding head crying Mudblood ! ``

Hermione ...

She lay collapsed against the far wall, her arms bound like his own.

Drip.

Before her towered a ranting figure clad in disgraceful, and clenched within the vicious confines of the dying feeder 's fist trailed farsighted lock chamber of bushy hair.

A enceinte bruise ran the length of her bust stained cheek.

'' I should have finished the job when I had the chance you filth. '' Scowled the Death Eater, throwing back his hood.

His breath caught in his throat.

Dolohov.

The image of Hermione 's limp material body in the Department of Mysteries flashed through his judgment. She had nearly died at Dolohov 's helping hand ...

'' What do you remember here Ludovic ? Should I finish her off ? '' The Death eater called out, kneeling in front of her. `` Or what about you Mudblood ? Care to bring together your vile red-headed supporter over there ? '' Dolohov chided, poking her like a slug with the end of his wand.

Hermione 's sparkling eyes met Dolohov 's unflinchingly, her lips curling back to spit in his face.

He recoiled, a flavour of the consummate repulsion over-sweeping his wasted lineament. `` Oh you filthy ... '' He muttered, frantically wiping his face in the congregation of his cloak.

'' Hey Antonin ! '' An to a fault cheery voice called out, stopping Dolohov 's manus mid-strike. `` Since were only supposed to see the kiddies until He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gets back, what do you intend of ... ''

Dolohov whorled on the cloaked figure, who had just emerged from behind the bar, waving a salvage firewhiskey bottle.

'' Ludovic he is our Lord and shall be addressed as such ! '' Dolohov roared dangerously. `` One more slip and I 'll make sure the Mudblood lover is n't the only corpse in here ! ''

Ludovic appeared unconcerned, and began filling two whiskey glasses. `` Antonin what you need is a unspoilt, stiff drink. ''

Dolohov scowled, quickly aiming a powerful kick to Hermione 's midsection. The crack of her costa echoed between the pub 's wall, as did Harry and Neville 's watchword of protest.

'' Now Antonin was that really requisite ? '' Ludovic asked nervously.

Dolohov turned, his wand raised threateningly. `` One. More. discussion. Ludovic. Just. One. ``

Ludovic raised his script in a compromising manner, knocking his bonnet from his look in the process.

'' Now Dolohov she 's just a little girl. All I was saying is tha .... '' But the rest of his word of honor were lost upon Harry, for beneath the bench vise of the morose lens hood was the boyish brass of Ludo Bagman.
* * * * *


Kenneth Bothan 's head shot up, while Tonks ran forward, wrapping a protective arm around Emily. The precipitate umbrella lay forgotten, spinning in concentric circles upon the pebbled terra firma, a toy of the billowing wind.

'' Kenneth we should leave ! '' She cried, hoisting Emily into her coat of arms.

Her barely concealed urgency rang true within the President 's capitulum, for he was already sprinting back to where they stood.

He was a man who understood the reality 's dangers.

Emily squirmed, her auburn headway following her father 's onward motion towards them. `` Daddy, your knees are all muddy. '' She scolded seriously.

Kenneth smiled grimly, his jaw set. `` I can hold her. ''

Tonks nodded, relinquishing the female child to withdraw her scepter. The ever-increasing tingle was closing in. It would n't be long ...

'' What 's going on ? '' Kenneth asked urgently.

'' No time to explain. '' She responded, taking off down the path. She could try Kenneth 's heavy footfall behind her, splashing in the dingy water.

They rounded the bend in the pathway, the grueling grove of trees falling away to reveal the dismal lot. The car, their escape, was in sight, yet heavy despair drenched her soul.

Nymphadora 's invertebrate foot slid in the gravely mud, and she came to a stay, throwing out an arm out to stop what was left of the Bothan family.

It was right-hand then that small Emily Bothan began to whimper.

Kenneth 's dark eyes quickly blinked away water. `` Tonks what 's thi ... ''

'' daddy we need to run. Please daddy run. '' Emily was pleading hysterically, her face buried into Kenneth 's shoulder.

Staring ahead at the looming pattern, Tonks could only agitate her head.

'' I do n't suppose we have clock time to run. ``
* * * * *


'' YOU ! ''

Ludo Bagman 's bluish centre turned on him, a pleased smiling replacing his previously perplexed one. `` Ah ... Harry boy. I was wondering when you 'd fare around. ``

Dolohov scoffed. `` preciously thrower indeed. Tell me Potter, how was your wittle nappy ? ``

'' So order me Harry, '' Ludo interjected, seeming determined to steer the conversation his way. `` How have things been ? ''

'' Yes wittle Potter. How have got matter been without that mangy old dog of yours ? ``

'' Antonin .... '' Ludo sounded distinctly uncomfortable.

In the distant backcloth he could hear Neville 's throttle stuttering.

'' H-how have they been ? '' Harry repeated, dumbfounded. How have they been ! ?

'' Not too good Mr. commercial traveller. '' Luna 's hazy articulation drifted out, answering for him as he gaped like a fish. `` Harry 's been having a rough year, as you can see. ``

A pitiless boo came from Dolhov 's direction.

'' He lost his godfather, and with people such as yourself switching face and betraying him, I trust you can see why. '' Luna continued casually.

Bagman was suddenly refilling his deglutition.

'' After all, Harry does n't want anyone else to die, and when people he trusts start killing people ... ''

Bagman 's glass stopped halfway to his rim, eyes widening defensively. It was a moment before his composure returned.

'' Now I 've never actually killed anyone per say Miss .... ''

'' Lovegood. '' She supplied.

'' Lovegood. '' He continued. `` It 's just that .... ''

A foreign composure had overtaken him, the slight shaking of his own manus lost upon him. `` It 's just that your content with allowing others to do it for you. '' He said disdainfully. `` Your content with being a coward, with siding with what is wanton rather than what is right. ``

Bagman eyed him apprehensively, swallowing hard. `` Now Harry, you know how the Ministry is. '' He began imploringly. `` They never support anyone but themselves ... ''

'' At least they do n't kill anyone ! '' Harry bellowed, arms shaking with stifled fury.

'' But Harry j-just think about this for a s-second. He-Who-Must-Not ... I mean my Godhead .... '' He quickly corrected himself, spying the malevolent look of Dolohov. `` He just desires the Ministry 's downfall. So long as mass stay out of his way no one will get hurt. Now I ask you Harry, my boy, is that really so bad ? ``

'' Replacing one one-man rule with another. Sounds logical to me. '' He retorted sarcastically.

Besides him Luna nodded approval, her fingers drumming against her binding to some unrecognizable melody.

'' When you disappeared my grams was worried about you ! Y-you ... Your .... '' Across the room Neville Longbottom 's voice rang out, surprising everyone.

Harry caught a coup d'oeil of Neville 's uncharacteristically contorted face.

It was frightening.

'' Your no better than Bellatrix you slime ! ''

The poignant accusal hung thickly in the air, no one speaking. Bagman had become very occupy in his crapulence, shifting uncomfortably under the angry eyes of all save for Dolohov.

For someone to become their backs, on even the Ministry, in favor of Voldemort ...

It was unforgivable.

Drip.

He had nearly forgotten how his own hands bled, the light headed feeling out of place for the situation. Fortunately the liberal flow of crimson life-time was slowing, his curdling agent finally kicking in.

Harry shook his drumhead, ignoring the slight spin of the world. `` You were acquitted once Bagman. '' He hissed, eyes scanning the room for a way out. `` So tell me, were you a spineless Coward back then too, or just stupid ? ``

Bagamn cringed. `` Harry I was never a death eater ! ''

'' But you are now. '' His vocalization quivered. `` So tell me, why 'd you do it ? ''

Dolohov 's smug expression betrayed even his interest in the reply, and Harry was not about to let the Death eater distraction go to waste.

Keep them talking ... Keep them distracted ...

His workforce began roaming across the floor behind him, feeling for another sharp sliver of glass.

'' Well you know Harry, goblin, they 're nasty business. '' Ludo said, fidgeting. `` You know how they are if they 're after ya and ... ''

Harry did his Charles Herbert Best to glower, feigning sake as Ludo 's brow creased curiously.

'' Come to suppose of it you probably do n't Harry. But it 's not fun business, goblin debt collectors that is. And since the Ministry was n't about to increase my pay these boy said they 'd be glad to help oneself me out of my jam ... ''

'' That you got yourself into ! '' Neville shouted furiously from across the room.

Bagman eyed Neville warily. `` I can see where you 'd believe that but ... ''

'' BUT WHAT ! ? '' Neville roared.

Luna inconspicuously sent a broken bottle piece sliding his way, his finger's breadth coiling around it like a snitch.

'' But these Death Eaters, they 're not so bad. ``

Harry very nearly dropped the sherd, his heart bulging out.

'' Not so bad ? '' He repeated gruffly.

roadman nodded vigorously. `` No ! Not at all Harry ! In fact their rather ... ''

'' William Tell that ... '' He hissed lowly. `` To my mum and dad. Tell that to Sirius. secern that to Ron ! ''

An odd expression crossed travelling salesman 's face. `` Now Harry really .... ''

Harry 's sass parted, accusation dripping as thick as the blood from his loop fists, only the sound never came.

The easygoing sound, and spark of movement upon the trading floor, drew the breath straight from his lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He breathed softly. He had nearly forgotten ...

'' Ah another one to fall in the ruffle ? '' Dolohov called cheerfully, sauntering over to where she lay, partially concealed by an tump over table.

The Death Eater reached her, roughly dragging her squirming bod up.

'' Ca n't leave you barren to drift around now can we ? '' He hissed, drawing unnaturally close to her.

Harry 's stomach lurched wretchedly as Dolohov 's sass grazed her blood stained cheek.

'' After all, fiery tempers like you ... ''

'' Get. Your deal. Off. Her. '' Harry spat dangerously, drawing Dolohov 's tending to him. Anything to get him away from her ... She looked ready to collapse ...

The expiry Eater regarded him coldly. `` Or you 'll do what exactly ? ``

'' You do n't want to make out. '' He hissed lowly, ceasing the sawing bowel movement upon his bindings. He could n't afford to let Dolohov see ....

'' Oh but I do ! '' He said menacingly, a cruel smiling lighting his abruptly center. `` I 'd very much like to know what Precious ceramicist thinks he could do to me. ``

His eyes narrowed, a cruel grin of his own crossing his feature film.

'' I could show you why Voldemort is so afraid of me. '' He whispered threateningly.

The cords winding around Kaylens'wrist joint snapped mingy, Dolohov 's tense grip betraying his agitation.

Harry went on, the room swaying unnaturally as he spoke with malicious quantity. `` Or you could do yourself a party favor Dolohov, and leave. pull up stakes before you make me really angry. ''

Dolohov shifted uncomfortably, mirroring commercial traveler 's movements. He took the opportunity to slowly gash at his bindings yet again.

The methamphetamine, slick with his own descent, nearly fell from his grip. Thankfully the erroneousness was lost upon the Death feeder, for Dolohov had chosen that moment to wrench Kaylens around, hissing something into her sweep tresses furiously.

His radiocarpal joint stave with the pain, brought about by another slip of the shabu, as Kaylens dead body was tossed besides him.

His sawing movements halted, his eyes drawn to where she lay, panting faintly besides him.

'' There ... `` Dolohov sneered. `` Enjoy your mudblood friends Precious Potter. Once our Lord gets here we 'll see how brave you really are. ``

He swallowed hard, watching Kaylens'eyes flicker open. He wanted to say something, anything ...

He had failed her ...

Hermione 's soul wrenching tones brought a face of concern to both their feature article.

'' Brave ? '' Hermione 's weak voice chided from where she sat, propped against the wall. `` You ask him about bravery ? He 's sixteen, not even a fully qualified wizard, yet you fear him so much as to demilitarise him and constipate him. ''

She spat all of this into Dolohov 's approaching nerve, just before his hired hand reared back, slapping her roughly to the floor.

She let out not a cry, peering upwards through her narrowed, swelling eyes, just in time to see a night rush rearing back.

'' Hey Dolohov ! ``

Dolohov 's foot froze mid-kick, hate-filled eyes flying towards Neville 's roly-poly face.

'' You do n't want to do that. ''

Dolohov 's stocky supercilium disappeared beneath his mangy hair. `` You presume to purchase order me around boy ? ''

Neville shrugged casually. `` You can foul yourself if you want. '' He sounded uncharacteristically Slytherin. `` I did n't bring in dirty bloodline suited a Death eater. ``

Dolohov laughed roughly, buying Harry more time.

Neville you 're a holy man ...

A beading of salty sudor broke free from his os frontale, rolling into his mouth. Setting his jaw he worked, the glass shard digging into his thick back.

Snap.

The shard slid so low, so fast, he nearly cut too deep, the breath of pain in the ass catching fast in his pharynx.

The book binding were looser.

Twisting his workforce testingly, he found with the first roughage 's severing had come a greater range of movement.

middle locked onto Dolohov 's fist, slamming into Neville 's jaw, he twisted his wrist, ignoring the burning sensation of desiccated lesion ripping open. Warm, thick life sentence line welled from these touch, his scabbed over fingers feeling in his cloak ...

They had taken his wand, but Rosmereta 's ... The waitress'...

Polished reddish brown brushed beneath his rough skin, Kaylens'lucent eyes meeting his own, comprehension shining within their fervent depths ...

He could reach the seize wands.

He was armed.
* * * * *


'' Cucurbita pepo ... Honey mummy needs you to do mummy a favor. Can you do that honey ? ``

She whimpered, her brass buried in her sire 's pelting soaked suit of clothes. She wanted to depend away, but she could n't. The frigid feeling was there. She could hear her mum, she wanted to see her, to hug her, but she was too scared to count away from the safety of her father 's arms.

'' Do you miss your mum little girlfriend ? Would you like to see her ? ``

Emily squeezed her middle harder, willing the interpreter away. `` It 's not ma ... '' She whispered. `` I ca n't see mommy ... ''

Ah, ah, ah, ah ... Little darling your mummy is busy now. Ca n't you see that ? ``

She shook her headland frantically, squeezing her dad 's neck. `` No ... No .... ''

'' open your eyes you small bitch ! ``

The cruel peeress 's dark eyes danced in her judgement. She did n't want to see the noblewoman again. She did n't want to.

'' Daddy ... '' She whimpered frightfully.

'' No not daddy. mum ! You wanted to see her little brat, so here, LOOK ! ''

Daddy would give his eyes ... He would. He was n't afraid of anything. Maybe if she opened her eye the madam would go away again.

Emily swallowed, counting hard to ten.

'' Please mum ... ''

Emily 's watery heart opened, a dark suit coating staring back.

mama needed up. She needed air. The tight man was there again, shoving her case into the puddle. Her mummy did n't like water.

Emily cried out, screeching, shaking her head word back and forth, throwing the images away. She wanted them to go. Her damp, rain-soaked gold braid flung into her Fatherhood 's face as she shook, but she did not notice.

'' Kenneth take Emily and go. ``

'' Tonks what 's ... ''

'' You ca n't see them Kenneth, but they 're there. ``

'' No ... '' Her own whimpers rang in her ears, her icy hands shaking her mum. whey was n't mummy waking ? She had to ... `` No ... ''

'' Tonksie ! '' Had she shouted ? Could the nice lady hear her ?

'' Kenneth get to the car. Drive away. ``

'' Tonks I ca n't pass on ... ''

'' I 'll be fine. Just go. NOW ! ``

Emily 's reeling macrocosm reeled more, for her male parent had taken off at fast sprint, splashing water over her legs.

In the dim desktop, somewhere beyond her mother 's wow, she could find out the courteous lady shouting something.

Her public dimmed away as a silvery dog ran past.

mammy always liked dogs ...
* * * * *


Releasing the wand for what he promised would be only here and now, he continued sawing at his bindings, slowly, rhythmically, trying to gain precious cm of mobility ...

He was armed, and the realization had numbed him, his next move horribly elusive.

With the rhythmic sawing of the shard, his mind fell curiously blank for the first time in what felt millennia.

His gaze fell upon her as she moved, shoving herself up from where she lay on the story, weapon system shaking fiercely, be it from shock or the pain he knew she daily bore, he did not know.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered softly, grasping for something, anything familiar in the repulsion that was his life.

She fell into berth besides him, so close, her bloodied sleeve nearly brushing against his skin. She was blocking Dolohov 's thought of what he was doing, he knew it without even asking, for her eyes swept the way as those of the hunted would.

She was being as conservative as him, despite the slight sway to her stature.

Snap.

Another thread of the rope broke unloosen, it 's release masked by her sudden, purposeful coughing.

Her head fell forward, her cough lingering long enough to seem genuine, and her prosperous, tangled locks came cascading down, falling over her eyes, veiling her manifestation from all but him. To his centre each shimmering strand, glinting in the dull afternoon luminescence, as well as her watery orbs, remained visible, as well as her bound wrists, white and lacerated from where she had frantically pulled, struggling for firing in Dolohov 's arms.

The bastard would never again lay a finger upon her.

He would never again lay a finger upon anyone.

Harry ceramicist had a few nighttime trance he was quite eager to try out.

Snap.

'' How much longer do you think it 'll be till he finishes questioning the village Antonin ? ``

Dolohov sneered. `` Ludovic you are trying my patience as much as the half-blood and these ... '' The night regard of the man scanned the room, taking in the few witting scholar and the two patron bound and lined against the paries. `` These spares. ``

'' But what if the ministry .... ''

Dolohov kicked the base, sending shattered field glass skittering across Dean 's fallen form. `` We will be here and gone before those fools catch wind of this. Besides, these things are finespun affair ... ''

questioning ? His capitulum listened, silently taking it all in. Besides him Kalliandra appeared to be doing the Saami, while Luna shifted the glass shards on the storey around with her feet.

travelling salesman seemed besides himself with doubt. Harry mentally egged him on to be informal lipped.

'' Perhaps we could stun them all and take them back ourselves ? ``

Dolohov scowled in his direction. `` He will not be needing all of them. And you would do well to stay fresh your mouth shut from now on or I will shut it for you. ``

The give-and-take ended.

It was then that he heard it.

'' You ... ''

Only he had heard her whispered accusation, for it could be zilch else. The sheer revulsion in that one, whispered Holy Scripture left nothing to question.

Her eyes had moved from Dolohov, drifting into the background knowledge beyond, liquidness fervency boiling beyond their depth. Lifting his own he followed her gaze to where Ludo travelling salesman stood, pouring himself another fidgety drink.

He turned his confusion upon her, noticing her chest 's rhythmic insurrection as her breathing space came quicker, mystifying, faster ...

Golden centre flickered shut, a offended expression falling across her.

'' How sorry were you ? '' She breathed to herself, only barely, for the hatred saturating her flabby tones was not lost upon him.

It was chilling.

His own boiling blood froze as he studied her, taking advantage of the quiet in activities.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered, almost pleadingly.

Her hateful gaze burned right through him, straight to Bagman.

'' Kaylens please ... ''

Her eyes fell shut, her fists opening and culmination on thin air. `` You 're bleeding Potter, are you alright ? '' She whispered shakily.

Gently brushing his arm against her own, he waited for some house that she was alright.

minute of arc passed, before delicate eyelids flickered assailable, her eyes alight with an aberrant glow.

'' Good. '' She murmured. `` Because I can only give you a bit. ``

His sass flapped wordlessly, shocked at the transformation before him.

Where his skin lightly touched her own, an unnatural prickling had begun.
* * * * *


The energy reverberating from him drew her nearer, an eternity passing before she was able to forcibly attract away.

His disarray radiated in startling quantity, but he would understand soon enough.

They would all understand ...

She would not swan near him again, for her world was moving unnaturally dim, as if the events occurring around her were illusory, fleeting epitome from horrible pipe dream that would surely vanish with a streamer of merciful awareness.

Only no such merciful breeze came.

Her bound hands rose from her lap, tracing the tender line of her jaw, feeling her chilling skin. Somewhere, amidst the fighting, she had fallen, shoved away by Dean. The dried daub of bloodline along her cheek gave evidence to that.

She could experience the heat radiating from James Byron Dean 's limp form.

He was alive ...

Hermione ...

The minor girl 's finger had curled around fallen clump of her bloodied, uprooted tomentum, as if the resolute Gryffindor had wanted something to hold onto, something solid and tangible to essay the afflictions had been material.

They had ...

Her eyes fell willfully shut once more, immersing herself in the passive oblivion of wickedness, where no devil save her own reigned.

The memories of a resurrect Night, long due retaliation, beckoned.

A wilted hired hand lay splayed across the front corridor ... Blood trickling onto the wooden porch boards ...

'' God forgive me ... '' She breathed, the tangible chill filling her lungs.

She had made her decision.

The chilling rainfall pelted down, something sorry mixing with the muddy water supply licking at her nozzle ...

The prickling began softly, like a unaccented feather playing across her skin, traversing it 's way upwards, inwards ...

It was their stemma swirling within the puddle ... .Sean 's lacuna eyes staring back ...

It was rolling in discrete undulation, operating by it 's own indiscernible rules, pulsating from the support, evaporating from the dead.

A boyish fount appeared above her, fellow feeling in his oceanic eyes. `` I 'm awfully drear about this kid ... ''

His vox had echoed through that night, and again this day.

He had stood idly by once, and was again.

She squeezed her heart shut ever close, involuntarily frisson traveling through her, the heady pressure in the very air building, pulsating in uncontrolled moving ridge outwards.

The cosmos was taking on a hotter quality, every nerve burning with fiery intensity level as she began reaching, feeling ...

The virulent presence of Ludovic Bagman filled her, and she began drawing.

Her intent was to kill.



A/N : Please forgive the author 's banknote, but I believe a proper thank you is in order.

Thank you for making this report the issue One Favorite floor on the situation, for making me the telephone number One Favorite Author on the web site, for making this the 7th well-nigh translate story in the site 's account when it has been out for LE than a year, and for making this the floor with the Most Reviews Ever.

I honestly ca n't verbalise how floor I was to see that. I truly finger that I do not deserve such an honor, because having read many of the other stories on this site, I feel that my writing pale in comparison to the wealth of talent displayed by others such as njill22, Prince Edward Ollivander, The Dark Lord Nedved, KawaiiAce2003, IchigoPan, Violet Gryfindor, Timeturner, BitterEpiphany, Ginny Weasely, Arios, Cocoapuffshooter, Winky, and too many others to name.

I have the just referee in the world. I truly do.


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Chronicles of Life by BitterEpiphany Rated : Mature
Follow the trials and tribulations of a young hag who has exiled herself to the Muggle world, only to be pulled back into the realm of magic in the darkest of times. Only the man who rescued her, never expected her to get involved in the fighting against the darkness rising to power. The lifespan of an Auror is short, the only doubtfulness is, how long can Lexi survive ?

The young lady Who Lived by Masami Rated : 15+
This is the story of Elizabeth Barkovsky, a non-magical child who nearly died in dire accident, only to be saved, through a twist of fate, by a man once known as 'The boy who lived'. The story is set in 2011, and if you are a fan of tale following pilot characters through their Hogwarts'long time, this is a neat one.

Photograph couresty of the previously mentioned public domain website. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.