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



Chapter 16 ~ New roadblock


Harry clenched his fist around cut air, squeezing the spirit out of some spiritual world adversary within the quiet infirmary extension. The secretiveness was only broken by Kaylens'tranquil breaths, her chest rising and falling as steadily as the Inner Light child's play fluttering the drapery.

He 'd been cooped up for days, still healing himself, and had been forced to keep an eye on her grow ever stiller. Surely he was trapped within one of the seven traffic circle of hell, for each time he looked upon her his guilt feelings rose like a fire, the flames threatening to wipe out 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 unable to charge up her.

Her pelt still held the lividity of death, yet to him it seemed slightly rosier.

Perhaps it was his own desirous intellection.

He rose, ineffectual to rest still, watching her with nothing spare his thoughts for company.

opinion were such short comfort ...

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

The vindication, the gratification, and everything he had expected to experience were conspicuously remove.

Bellatrix Lestrange was dead.

So why did he feel robbed ?

The obvious result came. Tonks had beaten him to the kill. 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 avenge Sirius the way he had wanted.

Worst of all, Lestrange 's soundbox was gone.

He had wanted to look upon the lifeless brass of Sirius'killer and spit upon it.

Now even that cruel comforter had been taken from him.

All he was left with, were unanswered query, and this cruel circle of the pits called the Hogwarts hospital wing.

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

Yet they had salvaged the body.

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

So why do it ?

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

It was essential, lady Pomfrey had insisted upon having his injury exposed to the air. He was to be released soon, and she needed to ascertain that it would contain up on it 's own.

His break shoulder blade had been mended quickly, but wolfman wounds were slow to heal.

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

Was he lucky ? He was not sure. But even when Dumbledore and Tonks had come, he had felt zippo but hole. His own apathy was almost enough to wish for death.

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

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

He would.

He had seen what happened to Lupin first bridge player, for his transformation had been triggered by the spell Lucius Malfoy had hit him with.

It had happened during the day.

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

Harry shuddered in the child's play, contemplating the many horrors Voldemort might loose in add-on to daylight roaming werewolves.

Of grade there was no demand to speculate. Dumbledore had told him about the atrocity of late.

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

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

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

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

For if he were truly the one with the major power to defeat the Dark Almighty, than every second he had ever spent reveling in sprightliness, and not searching for Voldemort 's demise, had been another grave in the ground for the innocent.

A unspeakable thrill burned within the claw marks he bore, and he wondered if they had re-opened again, bleeding anew. He reached a hand back, gingerly touching it, the bloodline upon his fingers confirming his intuition.

It was doubtful he would be permitted to allow soon.

'' That 's disgusting. ``

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

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

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

'' You were out for five days. ``

She paled considerably.

He was retard to recover, and debated getting ma'am Pomfrey. But she would be back soon, to check on his own wound. She could find out her awake then. Besides, he was afraid to leave her alone for even a second, fearful that she might fall into that unending sleep once more.

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

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

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

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

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

'' You look it. ``

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

She reached up, brushing the lock aside, revealing her deathlike wan peel. Her controlled effort exposed her own pain to him in a way no words could.

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

He crossed to her, catching her carpus gently. She glanced up, hazel tree eyes narrowed in confusion.

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

Her eyes traveled to where his digit lay.

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

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

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

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

It was funny, but had she had woken a few days earlier he probably would have demanded solution, answers about how she knew Lupin, about what she really did or did not love about Death eater, but after Clarence Day of sitting there, watching her fallible build sleep, the bare thought of interrogating her bothered him.

His answers could wait, for a little while at to the lowest degree.

'' Tonks stopped by before, '' He said, breaking the silence. `` She said lupin sends his beloved. ``

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

'' Yeah, '' He finished.

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

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

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

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

He wanted to argue, but lacked the heart and soul, watching how her heart broke from his, dancing away.

'' That fall down the stairs 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 24-hour interval later he had been prepped to leave. His left arm hung loose in a scarf bandage, preventing unnecessary movement.

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

He still needed to talk to Kaylens, but she slept. They had not shared a Holy Scripture since she had first awoken, content to sit there in secretiveness. He was debating whether or not to stop that secretiveness when a torment looking Ron walked in.

look at Ron, he realized that there were other matter that had to be taken concern of first gear.

He had been dreading this conversation for Clarence Shepard Day Jr.. Ron and Hermione would need answers. Answers about his absence ... Answers about what had occurred in Dumbledore 's role daylight earlier ... Answers about Voldemort 's trespass into his head ...

response he could not give.

How could he explicate the pressing he felt, or Voldemort 's intrusion, without revealing the depicted object of the prophecy ?

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

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

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

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

It had been over a week since he and Kaylens had disappeared from the headmaster 's spot, and one of the last warm weekends of the class had driven the educatee torso outside.

As for him, during that time, Voldemort had left his nous alone. He had felt the first of an usurpation days earlier, but Riddle had withdrawn, sensing that his decision had not yet been made.

conundrum had given him more time due to his injury, and for that, Harry had to give him credit.

As evil as Voldemort was, the creature had some grade.

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

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

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

'' Not good, '' 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 defeat at this identical question had been building inside for 24-hour interval. Dumbledore had told him some, but there was still the dubiousness of Kaylens. How did she fit into all of this ? Did she even ? And Voldemort ... There had to be more to it, because the pieces Dumbledore had told him did not fit with what he had seen through Voldemort 's own eyes.

Not to advert the prophecy. How in the hell was he supposed to tucker him ?

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

They walked the rest of the way in silence.

Hermione was there, waiting for them in the vacate residence hall, sprawled out with a Bible on Ron 's bed. Her oculus were rimmed with drear rope, standardized to Kaylens.

Misery loves fellowship, he thought. Ron sat besides her, placing a hand on her rear. Only then did she seem to clear they were there.

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

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

She shrugged, re-burying her nose into her 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 property Pomfrey had brought down for him. `` Dumbledore 's order of magnitude. '' His eyes would not converge theirs.

Ron frowned. `` His grounds ? ``

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

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

Hermione 's eye roamed, landing on his catapult.

He caught the unspoken question. `` Werewolf combat injury are slow to heal. ''

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

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

'' No. I was not bitten. ``

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

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

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

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

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

His expression turned grave accent. `` There are shipway. ``

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

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

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

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

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

'' He turned. Yes. ``

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

'' Harry I do n't read, '' She said haltingly, shoving her book away, it 's pages flapping lifelessly as it fell to the trading floor. She spared it not a glimpse. `` Please Harry. What 's going on ? ``

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

Ron took Hermione 's handwriting almost naturally. `` Then take your time mate. kickoff from the root. ''

Harry shook his head, hating himself. `` Fine, the beginning then .... '' He steadied himself, and met Hermione 's almost pleading gaze.

'' You both already know that Voldemort has not given me a moment 's peace since concluding summer. It 's a private battle between him and I. We 're both fighting for information, about the other side 's sexual climax and goings, about how much the early slope knows ... ''

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

'' Your parents 'Mione, he said he will release them, '' He ignored her inspiration of breathing spell. `` If I tell him what the contents of the prophecy were. ``

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

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

The secrecy that followed invade years within his creative thinker, yet it lasted no more than 3 seconds.

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

He remained mute, until her pleading voice broke again.

'' Harry, please ... ''

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

The snitch looks upon their faces nearly broke his disembodied spirit.

Hermione 's mouth opened and closed wordlessly. It was Ron who finally gave voice to their thoughts. `` Why Harry ? Why ca n't you portion 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 save 'Mione 's ... ''

The accusation in Ron 's spokesperson was too often. He could take no more. `` Because I ca n't Ron ! Don't you think I would if I could ? ``

Ron shook his header. `` I do n't know anymore Harry. ``

Harry was having trouble keeping his vocalisation level. `` Ron, if I tell him there is no reason for him to keep the Grangers alive anymore. It 's our freehanded bargaining Saratoga chip. ``

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

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

'' He 'd let them go, '' Ron interrupted. `` Make him release one at least Harry ! Then severalize him for God 's sakes ! What could it hurt ? ! Bargain with him ! ``

Harry lost his patience. `` Do n't you guys get it ? ! This is Voldemort we are talking about ! '' They both cringed at the epithet, his spokesperson rising. `` This is n't some war game were playing against the Slytherins ! This is existent life ! Voldemort is eviler that either of you can even ideate ... ''

'' 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 mystery ? ``

Harry shook his head, never more dangerous. `` No Ron. You did n't. '' He felt almost grim at Ron 's crestfallen facial expression. `` You only saw what death Eaters were capable of. That is goose egg compared to him. ``

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

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

'' There 's no need to yell at her spouse, '' Ron said coolly.

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

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

Harry felt as if his interior 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 vaticination may get her parents killed as well. ``

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

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

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

Ron 's eyebrow raised so far they disappeared beneath his haircloth. `` Really ? ! Then why did you hardly breath a word 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 scepter out the door, summoning the Bromus secalinus panel from the common room. Levitating it, Ron cleared the display board save for the cat's-paw, Rex, and fairy of both side, his brow furrowed in assiduity. He then moved the instrument so they protectively surrounded the king and queen mole rat on one side of meat, leaving the other position 's king and poof unprotected.

'' The way I see it Harry, all you have left are pawns. '' Ron continued, gesturing to the protected side of meat of the plank. `` So instead of risking everything to take my Billie Jean King, you 're protecting yours. ``

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

Ron 's queen shot forward, moving through the opening Harry 's cat's-paw had left, taking his nance out with a fierce whack of her chairman. She then stood, posed to deal his baron on the future move.

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

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

'' game over. ``

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

He was right. And for the kickoff time Harry realized how truly different he was from them.

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

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

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


Harry tromped through the corridor, feeling worse than he had thought possible. He preferred feeling numb, at least then he felt nix at all.

They simply did not interpret. Not that he had expected them to. Things were too dangerous now. Voldemort had made a hobby out of extinguishing anyone close to his heart, and he was not about to replete Ron and Hermione 's heads with anything that might gain them more tantalizing butt than they already were.

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

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

The choice was no tenacious 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 corner to the hospital offstage. His foul mode only increased when madam Pomfrey stuck out her foreland, a forced smile plastered upon it, and asked him to wait.

The door slammed and the sound of argument resumed. Dumbledore 's voice caught his aid. 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 master to visit students though. And he should know, he had been in the hospital wing too many meter to consider, 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 air hole and withdrew the extendible ear he had taken to carrying at all times. His decision made he slipped it beneath the door.

Madam Pomfrey 's reproving tone came out clearly. `` ... cells need to renew before you can even attempt to execute magic again. ``

'' But I 'm behind enough as it is ! '' Kaylens ... A twisting wave of relief washed through him. And to cogitate, normally he had trouble resisting the urge to muffle her.

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

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

The muteness was tangible, and he shifted nervously. She was okay, now that he knew this he really shouldn't be listening ...

Yet something about Dumbledore 's musical note made him. As outwardly honest as the schoolmaster had been with him lately, his faith in the man was still recovering. It had been shattered too skillfully the previous year.

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

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

remedy ? His tummy lurched dangerously.

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

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

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

'' I 'd prefer the effect, '' Kaylens hissed, her spokesperson suddenly secure. `` Now is there anything else your keeping from me ? '' Her phonation was strained and accusative. `` Because I 'd like to know before I read about it in some stupid script. ``

Silence.

'' I thought so. ''

His full body shook unsteadily. So very much so that the approaching footsteps did not register until the room access had swung open up in strawman of him, revealing a pale looking Kalliandra.

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

Her garment bag slipped down on her shoulder, her total descriptor quivering.

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

A second later she was gone. The glistening of her middle the coarse reproach he had ever seen.





'' Just as braveness peril life, fearfulness protects it. ''
~ Leonardo da Vinci ~



Chapter 17 ~ Kunnskap

Kunnskap is Norweigan for Knowledge



She shoved undefendable the entrance doors, leaving the secure halls of the school behind, and walked out onto the rapidly chill footing. She blinked back the moisture that lingered within her centre. No tears would settle, no topic how hard they threatened. This she promised herself.

She was infuriated, but her anger paled in comparison to her ego loathing. She had been so unbelievably stupid ! It had been bad enough to swear Remus, but to experience nearly let down that barrier again ...

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

Despite the painful sensation they had been in, the time spent within the hospital wing had been pleasant. She and ceramist had dwelt in silent fellowship, both knowing there were things that needed to be discussed. Despite that he had not pressed her to babble out, instead he had seemed to calmly accept her silence.

This change had been oddly comforting.

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

She kicked the reason, scattering filth in her wake.

She could not penetrate why she had thought he would let her save her secrets. But she had been a consummate sucker for entertaining the impression.

And for some reason his small betrayal hurt her.

Gods ... She turned her tear filled oculus towards the sky, tracing along the blackening clouds, and noted how low they hung. It was the entrance violent storm that had drawn her open air after all. The strange feeling slithering through her, as if static electricity were tickling her very bark, had been hard to cut.

She reveled in the humble misdirection from her sentiment, and allowed herself to simply palpate.

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

The tempest figurehead rolled in above her, and the Thomas More astute of her peers began to point indoors. The area surrounding the lake had been the start of the soil to be abandoned, and her groundwork led her there.

She wanted the seclusion.

She had grown so used to desperation, to feeling only constant numbness, punctuated by bouts of undiluted anger, that she had forgotten how to feel something as human being as fear.

Everything had happened so libertine the day she had received the shopkeepers note, and there had been no clock time for the frigidness true statement to bury in. Only over the by days, as she and ceramicist had lain there in secretiveness, had it finally registered.

Pomfrey 's words had just driven it home.

Somehow, hearing the Healer 's words had made it real, and now dread held her meat in a vice grip.

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

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

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

It was often painful.

She rubbed her arms against the iciness wind, thankful that God had some sense of shame. Fortunately for her, the human brain could only file pain as abnormal for so long, before it accepted the pain as the constant country of affairs. Then it would be ignored.

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

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

Instead of leaving the solid ground at the threat of rainwater, she continued meandering across the flat coat, walking the circumference of the lake, observing it carefully.

She took it all in with her rule perceptiveness. There were office where the cause ended, dropping off sharply to assemble the duckweed covered surface of the H2O.

In other spots the ground gradually sloped down, kissing the lake 's rippling moving ridge. There the shadow earth was muddied, imprinted with the footprints of those who had braved the shallow to float, before the weather condition had cooled in wake of the entry afternoon storm.

She passed by both these arena, heading closer to the Forbidden wood. Here she kicked off her shoes, allowing them to dangle freely from one hand as she picked her way across the far end of the lake. Here small-scale Edward Durell Stone formed a instinctive beach, and she sat down near the edge, letting her digit trail across the rough pebbled sharpness beneath her.

She accumulated a small collection of flat bottomed rock'n'roll, gathering them within her hands, and she cast the starting time across the serene water, breaking it 's glassy surface.

The giant squid lazily reached out a tentacle, swatting at and missing the cast stone.

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

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

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

She skipped another.

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

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


Harry winced, rubbing his forehead. That was definitely going to allow a mark.

It had taken him all of xxx seconds to make up one's mind to follow her. The memory of her watery eyes had been alarming, and he could n't let her leave like that, not when she did n't understand.

He cast a brilliance at the titan calamari, approaching her cautiously, carefully trying to not slip upon the slick magazine rocks as he walked down towards her.

He treaded as close as he dared, pausing to hover uncertainly. Her shoulder joint had stiffened at his outcry, the only sign to show that she was cognizant of his presence.

He swallowed hard. From where he stood besides her, he could see the drawn argument of her lips, and how her eyes gazed, almost longingly across the dark surface of the lake. He followed her regard, the 1st drop of rainwater drizzling upon them.

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

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

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

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

Silence reigned for some metre, broken only by the increasing beat of rainwater, pattering around them. The water system gradually matted his unruly hair to his forehead, and Kaylen 's gilded tomentum darkened with saturation.

She sat with a relaxed air, unbothered by the icy droplets pouring down. Slowly, with evident pain in her movements, she scooted stuffy to the lake 's edge, dipping her feet into the churning water as casually as if it were a mid-summer day, rather than a windy Oct deluge. Never once did she calculate at him.

Her shoulders were bare, and her damp hair's-breadth clung to them. He was close adequate to point out the thin goose gibbousness prickling across her pale skin.

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

Kaylens was brainsick ...

'' Here, '' He said, shattering their verbal lapse. He picked his way across the pebbly declension to her, shrugging out of his cloak. He felt no awkwardness as he picked up her moist hair, draping it across her shoulders.

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

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

Her eyes held his, and for the most fade of irregular the misgiving he was so used to seeing vanished. `` Thank you, '' She murmured, inclining her head to the spot besides her.

He lowered himself besides her, afraid to speak. His ticker pounded loudly in his chest. Never before had he been so fearful of reprehension. His luck may throw lasted thus far, but even he would not fault her for screaming if she so chose.

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

The sky thundered, lighting up as lighting flashed high in the clouds. It struck him as extremely unwise to be in their berth, so near to water.

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

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

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

'' wellspring what ? ''

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

He opened his oral fissure to explicate that that was exactly why he had come, but she went on.

'' And since there are no conversations going on for you to take heed to, I 'm wondering what your doing here. '' Another twinkling of lightning illuminated her soaked feature article, and he found himself drawn towards her tranquil expression, confounded by her words.

Despite their cognitive content, her flavour held no trace of the familiar sarcasm or malice.

Instead she sounded curious.

The recognition sent an out of berth smile across his boldness.

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

'' Try me. ``

'' I came to apologize. ``

To his surprisal, she actually laughed. The speech sound had a haunting timber to it, for it blended artfully with the wind instrument howling around them. The storm had crept upon them fast.

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

He seized the chance to keep her talking. `` wellspring I am. Kaylens I ... ''

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

He sighed in foiling. `` Enough to fuck that you should n't be out in this downpour. ``

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

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

The face she shot him could silence the devil himself. `` And why should I ? You have n't been the portrait of money plant ceramist. ``

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

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

'' Okay 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 Alley, how her stubborn refusal to answer questions about expiry eater had led him, to what he hoped, were awry assumptions, and how, after twenty-four hours of watching her in a comatose state, he had feared that she had fallen ill once again.

He spoke to her, the rain cascading down their bodies as they sat, keeping each other 's acquaintance, the storm forgotten. Several times she made to move, shaking her oral sex disbelievingly, but his paw on her arm silenced her refutes. By the prison term he was done, a sad manifestation 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 whisker. `` No, it 's not that ceramicist ... '' She trailed off, showing no intention of finishing.

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

'' Kaylens are ... ''

Her reflection darkened at his discussion, and she stood abruptly, her shivering more pronounced.

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

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

The moment he was up she unceremoniously shoved his cloak back into his arms. He looked at it in surprise, and was about to indicate, noting how far a base on balls to the schooltime it still was, when he realized that she had already spun and taken off into the downpour.

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

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

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

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

She whorled on him, looking disturbingly in a bad way, her skin dangerously blench. `` spirit, Potter ... Do yourself a favor okay ? Do n't concern about me. ``

He found himself shaking, be it from the cold or the icy palor of her skin, he did not bonk, yet all view of talking to 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 cause this ? A few s ago they had been on almost civil terms.

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

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

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


Over the past few 24-hour interval, since Kaylens had left him standing there in the pouring rain, Harry 's climate had not improved.

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

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

The fact that he still had a sneaking suspicion that she was clueless as to what a death eater was did not assist topic.

It was enough for him to nearly beam curses flying. At Luna 's insistence, he had taken to kicking suits of armor instead.

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

Or something like that.

His response was puzzling, even to him. He could not deny that he felt oddly protective of her. How could he not ? He had spent far too much time watching over her in the hospital wing, and the thought of promote harm coming to her swarm him mad.

Perhaps that was why he felt so crushed now that the slight 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 longer openly hostile towards him. Instead she avoided him like the plague.

He had seen her alone that very dawn, and it had taken all his patience to avoid hexing her into next week when she had practically sprinted down the residence to talk to dean, upon catching heap of him.

Hell, he had come damn near closer to hexing her and Malfoy in Defense Against the night artistic production that very day. He had walked in to bump her and Malfoy chatting in hushed whispers, bent grass over parchment.

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

Kaylens had refused to look at him. But he had not failed to notice how her script shook for the ease of class.

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

At least the uncongenial looks from his roommates were understandable. He had had another violent dream with Voldemort that calendar week, and had woken up in a right nation, 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 only person talking to him now seemed to be Luna. And since she was in the year below him, he found himself sitting alone in grade, and eating tiffin 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 mind off of things, and was planning on forcibly dragging him to Hogsmeade.

He actually did n't bear in mind the idea.

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

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

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

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

Somehow Harry strongly disagreed with this. If he had learned all there was to bang about Occlumency, he would not still be having wild incubus. `` Professor, in all due respectfulness, if I had actually learned everything would n't I be well ... in force at this then ? ``

Dumbledore cracked a smile. `` Ah, you see Harry, therein lies the departure. You have learned all I have to learn about Occlumency. That is an entirely different subject from mastering the subject area. ''

Harry was stunned, all previous sentiment and discomfort at the Professor driven from his mind.

Never in his life would he hold imagined Dumbledore being unable to instruct him something.

'' Occlumency, Harry, is less about erecting mental barriers, and Sir Thomas More about controlling one 's emotions. Keeping your emotions hidden from the enemy is of extremum importance. And frankly, gets soft with age. '' Dumbledore stood with a rather large feather gaberdine and began to round a disgruntled portrait with it.

'' Harry, you have become quite adept at creating barriers, visualizing a brick paries is your roadblock of option is it not ? '' Harry nodded but Dumbledore was continuing. `` But the only way to strengthen that paries at this point, is to learn to mask your emotions. ``

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

'' Er ... professor ? '' He questioned hesitantly. `` What exactly do you intend by 'masking'them ? ``

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

He valued his education far too a lot to react truthfully.

'' Well Harry, when one sifts through your mind, afflictive memories can get excavate. It 's natural to come back the emotions these experiences caused you. Such a misdirection is all the enemy would need to dig deeper into your mind. '' Dumbledore was carrying on with all the air of one discussing a weekend excursion. `` And you have no famine of painful memories Harry. It would be quite sluttish for Voldemort to find one to use against you. ``

He did not need Dumbledore to tell him that, he had already re-lived the guilt trip of Canicula'death all summertime.

'' So are you going to make me live over those memories for practice ? '' 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 grade not. Certainly, I could go sifting about through your mind, forcing you to call in bad clip in your animation. But dredging up old computer memory and forcing you to deal with them would only help you build up indifference. We do n't want that. ``

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

'' Harry, what we do need, is for you to come to terms with the crueler parts of your past times. And only you can specify what those term are. But I dare remind you, there is a difference of opinion between allowing the preceding to prompt you, and allowing the past to control you. ''

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

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

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

Dumbledore shrugged. `` Well, give it time, sacrifice it fourth dimension. It may take her awhile to open up to anyone, seeing as how affair are. ''

The schoolmaster was running his wand up and down the back of the Koran in an odd zig-zag rule, muttering something about mothballs. A forte 'pop'was heard, making Harry jump, and the book sprang out of Dumbledore 's hands, falling open on the table before them.

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

Harry had to admit that Dumbledore was drained on.

Inside the capable Koran, where the pageboy should have been, lay a pinkish layer of fog. There was a sense of depth to the interior of it, and Harry had the obscure good sense that another proportion lay just beyond the peacefully swirls.

Dumbledore reached his hand into it. `` It is a rather clever concealment spot for things. Not only is the locking mechanism for it rather tricky, but only a hand with my DNA could accomplish into this and still line up their hand attatched. ``

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

The schoolmaster shut the account book, muttering a few magical spell, and replaced it upon the shelf. `` This is something that I have been wanting to give you for quite some prison term Harry. But until recently, the chance had not presented itself. The fact that it had not, is entirely my fault, and for that I am sorry. ``

The schoolmaster, 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 unequal, but for now, it is all I can give you. ''

At this pronouncement, Dumbledore handed the vial over. Harry took it with no lowly measure of trepidation. The phial, 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 knowledge. And unlike convention pensieves, it does not receive an unlimited capacity. It can only hold back a prime few memory, and I believe that there are 81 different example contained within this one. ''

Only eighty-one ? He thought, slightly amused by the headmaster definition of only. He turned the ampule within his paw, noting that unlike in Dumbledore 's pensieve, gentle specs darted to and fro within the silvery center here, colliding frequently to give off night green sparks. It was like watching the reflection of fireworks in a silvery pond, only on a miniature scale.

A mentation occurred to him.

'' What do you mean by lessons, professor ? '' He asked curiously.

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

The schoolmaster paused, shutting the leather mass. Whisps of curling garden pink tendrils snuck out around the edge as he placed it back upon the shelf.

'' Times were saturnine. '' He continued gravely. `` I did not bed how many of us would endure, but we knew it was substantive to evanesce on our knowledge to the next generation. This was our way of ensuring that at least one good genius recieved that if the bad were to happen. ``

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

Despite his annoying and anger at all the headmaster had withheld over the years, the thought of a person Dumbledore shook his concept of a static universe.

The Headmaster motioned Harry into a plush plum armchair, oblivious to his pupil 's dark opinion.

'' Over the years, myself, and others within the old decree, added choose pieces of cognition that we wanted to part to you, to this. You 'll even find some of my old school day lessons there. things like phantasm, curse-breaking, animagus studies ... They are all in there. ``

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

A house elf popped into existence then, extending a plate of biscuits to him. He scarcely managed to adopt one, for his idea was fixated on the cruel irony of the spot.

This ampule was a avowedly gift, yet he was only receiving it because of the divination 's heavy burden.

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

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

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

Dumbledore was mercifully unmindful to the night intellection still flitting through his mind.

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

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

Dumbledore smiled ruefully. `` No. This will instruct you the theory, and knowing the theory of something is entirely different from putting it to use. However ... '' The man 's dingy optic twinkled mischievously. `` I have it on good Good Book that learning and researching just the theory on animagi can take geezerhood. So all you will bear 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 legal opinion, he broke out into a small smile. Even Hermione, with all her conviction against taking abruptly cuts to learn something, would probably die for a looking at into this thing.

God he would miss them ... Perhaps one day, when things were different ....

As if reading his thoughts, Dumbledore smiled. `` For the clip being Harry, I would go along this to yourself. Because of the Kunnskap 's potential drop for misuse, only seven were made. We would not want this falling into the improper bridge player. ``

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

He 'd be damned if he disappointed him.

Dumbledore smiled over his cup. `` I 'm sure you will Harry. Do try to use it in buck private though. When one uses it they tend to look in a trance, and I would hate to see what your roommate 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 two weeks, he realized, had truly been full moon of surprises.




Thank you SticksN'Stones for the excellent standard !






'' Choose to be not a Cartesian product of your environment, nor of your experience, but a mathematical product of what your heart tells you the world can be in its o.k. hour. ``
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 18 ~ The scrape Life foliage


Tonks threw open the wraith, allowing the bright good afternoon light to stream in, filling the way with yellow hues so bright that not even Remus, who was valiantly feigning sleep, could ignore them.

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

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

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

She contented herself to narrowing her violet eyes. `` Bill 's a scourge breaker. And when he and I have over two weeks with nothing to do but crack the Montgomery Ward on our stubborn arse of a supporter 's home base we tend to bring home the bacon. ``

Remus emitted a low grumbling auditory sensation, unclear to any man ear. It was at this point that she decided she had had enough. She ripped the covers from his bed, and cast aside them out the now give window.

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

At his lack of reactivity she stomped her metrical unit 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 level. 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 storey right now and get set ! We have an Order coming together in an hour and if you are not there so help oneself me Merlin I will fare back here, wards be damned, and earn you come ! You ca n't avoid us forever ! ``

He groaned unhappily.

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

'' Mrmph ... ''

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

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

'' NO I WO N'T ! '' She screeched in a very un-Tonks-like fashion. `` I am FAR from being DONE ! I have n't even started on Kalliandra ! Do you have any idea how lots 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 brain. `` You know that was n't your error Remus ! No one knew what that spell would do ! ``

'' You should go. '' He mumbled morosely. `` I could still sour at any minute. ``

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

When he did n't resolve she actually laughed. `` Remus you prat ! You turned within an hour of being hit with that charm ! Do you really think that it could possibly turn you again ? Two weeks later no lupus erythematosus ! ? ``

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

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

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

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

He shook his headspring, his shaggy-coated hair falling around his eyes messily. It looked like he had n't showered in daylight. `` No. If they wanted to lecture to me they would have .... ''

'' Would have what ? '' She was far beyond losing her patience at this point. `` Contacted you ? Remus, Kalliandra tried ! That damn pocket sentry of yours has been glowing all hebdomad at HQ ! 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 good if I stay away. '' Remus interjected, picking up his wand.

She growled in frustration and yanked the pocket watch out of her pocket. Mundungus had found it near one of the all in baby after the attack.

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

Watching his pitiful movements, she suddenly felt like collapsing.

Remus had been the one she could count on, to prevail together for her. Ever since Canicula ...

She could n't bear to call up of it, let entirely voice it, but ever since that wretched Nox she had grown to rely on Remus. She needed him so lots it scared her.

It had been his sang-froid, swooning brown eyes she had awoken to in St. Mungos. The healer said he had never left her side. Even then he refused, and took to sleeping on a make-shift cot in the quoin or her elbow room. He had claimed it was to not omit 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 blame him when she had never felt worse.

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

She shuddered, remembering how he had found her curled up on her lounge one night that summer, positively balling her middle out, the few pictures of Sirius she had spread out on her coffee table. If only she had stunned Bellatrix when she had had the fortune ! By Merlin he would still be here !

With a cool off 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 shit was the sole thing that could aid Dog Star now, he had told her. And as an auror, that would be her job. He had told her how she needed to check together for that.

If he had not shown up when he had, she may have curled up in the dear, dull broom closet, and not come out till Christmas.

She had passed out that night, vaguely suspect that her mocha coffee had been laced with dull firewhiskey. Remus always had claimed that alcoholic beverage assuaged the cheek ....

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

She had grown so used to him always being there, and it had taken Remus'absence to nominate her actualize how often he meant to her.

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

The thought of him wallowing in ego commiseration any longer made her physically ill, and she felt her shallow modesty of strength folding in.

She had to resist the urge to run over there and peck him.

She drew herself up, ignoring the pain prickling in her chest. `` Harry does need you Remus. '' She started. `` Your all he has left. reckon how he 'd experience if you shut him off now ? ``

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

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

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

'' Go exhibitioner. I 'll expect downstairs. ``

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

She missed the disbelieving eyes of a sealed loup-garou, following her longingly.
* * *


Harry allowed the book of account to fall closed. His heading had tenacious since fallen upon the table, his consistence slumped over in frustration. A thousand and one wickedness curses swirled through his mind, their counterpunch curses eluding his retentiveness in a maddening way.

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

The sheer enormity of the task before him had hit home nearly an hour before, and the unceasing weight on his shoulders seemed determined to squash him now. It was pressing down on his chest, making his head twirl, the recognition of how small time 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 stick to simple jinxes.

For the first time in his life, he was starting to feel helpless. He had borrowed the book from Dumbledore 's bureau, changing the cover so no one could know what dour arts it contained, and after only a few daytime of bailiwick he had come to a realization.

Avada Kedarva was amongst the most merciful of dingy curses.

For the dark arts could do so much big than simply kill in one blow.

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

By the time those around you realized ....

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

former swearword could could slice up your skin in slowly, farsighted slashes. The invisible onrush lasting for hours, as medi-wizards and healers tried to make unnecessary you, only to observe you succumb as separatrix after destroying gash undid their healing, spilling your life profligate, killing you ...

Others could slowly crush your thorax, driving the air from your lungs, suffocating you under the imperativeness of a dozen hippogriffs ....

He shuddered involuntarily, almost gladiolus that death had been ready and merciful for Sirius and Cedric. He had not known before, but their lives could birth been extinguished in lots worse mode ....

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

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

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

But she had been right ....

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

So while her and Malfoy had argued their point, and lost valiantly as Tres started twitching under pressure, he had composed a letter of the alphabet to Dumbledore asking for admission to cloth about the Dark Arts.
Dumbledore had granted him that ...

He propped himself on his elbows, reopening the ancient, blackened leather text. He was determined to read every deadly swearword the public had to put up him.

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

The man who had stolen his lifespan from day one.

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

Then Pettigrew would die.

Then, once he had seen what the whammy did on a be homo, then he would find Voldemort.

The animal was going to pay.
* * * * *


Kalliandra clutched Tonks'letter in hand and stormed to the foundation 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 figure into that blasted compact of hers, had sent owls armed with letters and edict to peck at his paw until he replied, and even had sent a self-writing calamus with the last one so it would write whatever he said down upon receiving it.

That particular owl had had fiat to snatch up whatever was written before Remus had a opportunity to snap it up himself.

fountainhead apparently Remus had been too fast for the owl, because she had gotten back a broken shaft and a ripped, blank art object of paper.

shit your bullheadedness to Hell Remus ! She thought in vexation, stomping her ft outside Dumbledore 's office.

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

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

'' Eucalyptus amygdalina ! Bat droppings droppings ! Bertie soda water ! Apples ! mantrap ! '' She exclaimed at it, abandoning candy in favor of yield. `` Oh imprecate it to hell ! Peach schnaps ! sweetheart Cobble ... ''

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

'' Peach schnapps ? You 've got to be kidding me ... '' She muttered, springing up the stairs and bursting into his office, being careful to smell Crusantheus on the way in.

Dumbledore looked up idly from his desk, a bemused locution across his weather wear thin look. `` Why Kalliandra, what a pleasant surprise. ``

She did not agree. `` professor what does Remus think he is doing ? '' She demanded, stopping in presence of his desk. `` He ca n't avoid us forever ! Why does n't my larboard key work anymore ? And why are you now using John Barleycorn as your passwords ! ? ``

Dumbledore looked rather puzzled. `` Prunus persica schnapps ? A liquor ? And here I thought it was a rather clever descriptor of confect ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

'' On some stage, yes. But much like soul else you know ... '' Dumbledore eyed her astutely, leaving no question about who he was referring to. `` He has taken to blaming himself, shoving away those closemouthed to him in purchase order to protect them. ''

She sighed defeatedly. `` So there 's zip we can do to utter some good sense into him ? ``

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

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

Dumbledore chuckled slightly, recognizing the sarcasm of her command. `` You know Kalliandra, in our own way, we are all a peril to those we love, for the simple fact that true Friend will go to any lengths to help each other, even if that means sacrificing their own lives in exchange for another 's. ``

His words struck a deep chord within her, one she was not quite ready to hear. `` Thanks Professor ... '' She muttered, all anger gone. `` Can you at least give him this when you see him ? '' She extended a missive to him, it 's addressee recitation To The Obstinate Wolf.

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


Harry rested his cheek against the worn surface of the table, letting his dank whisker drip over his face. The dripping body of water from his recent shower eased the sluggish ache that had begun in his scar.

trickle ....

A bead of wax broke destitute from the glowing wax light, falling to pawn into the uncertain ridges of the oak desk. The impact sounded erectile, for his ear remained pressed against the desk 's surface, amplifying the sound ten fold.

Across the green room, far from where he sheltered in the dark of a unmarried candle taper, the ardour glowed warmly. various straggling seventh eld, no doubt putting in the extra 60 minutes for triton readying, remained there, blissfully unmindful to the later hour.

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

Voldemort was there, just beneath the surface of his mind, waiting for a luck to get in as he dreamt. He knew Hermione 's parents were as thoroughly as beat, but he would not provide 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 open up text, and he wearily rubbed his scar, 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 soul could only claw at their neck in suffering, blood vessels in their eyes bursting as oxygen left them.

The black and Edward Douglas White Jr. representative showed a wizard captured in a silent ululation, his finger's breadth already falling limp around his throat.

He shuddered at the vision, not noticing the determined expression flitting across her face.

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

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

'' Hey ceramist. ``

Her vocalism pulled him away from his thoughts, and he swallowed punishing, looking up as she slid into the prat before him. She leaned backwards relaxingly, her face falling into the phantasm of the corner they sheltered in.

'' Kaylens. '' He said steadily, warmness hammering. Be it at her sudden disruption or the memory of the dying grimace, he did not hump. `` What are you doing here ? '' He slid a hand across the morbid picture, staring intently at her.

She met his heart, for the first meter in days, holding them seriously. `` Talking Potter. Just talking. '' Candlelight danced in them ...

His scar gave a wearisome Lebanese pound, reminding him of his own fragile United States Department of State. Tonight was not the time for talking, even with her, whom he had grown funny about. `` You know ... '' He stated carefully, watching her smooth her sleek locks behind her ear. `` There is usually a reasonableness for why someone sits clear across a relatively empty room from everyone else. ``

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

'' Their poring over. ``

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

He was thrown. `` I 'm not dysphoric with you. '' He said quietly, before he could break off himself. `` I just do n't understand why your so unfriendly. ``

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

He nodded, accepting this. `` If that's the face, then am I, or am I not, supposed to appease the hell away from you ? ``

She chewed on her small lip thoughtfully, fidgeting. `` For somebody who seemed eager to peach, your certainly making this difficult. ``

He smiled forcefully at this, probably looking like a grim clown. `` And that has nada to do with you storming off, then refusing to derive within a ten meter vicinity of me ? ``

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

Her voice held an essence of loss as lupine '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 painful sensation of betrayal that lupine had kept better communication theory with her rather than him, his unspoiled friend 's son, but in that instant, he knew that his late Professor had not spoken to her since that day either.

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

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

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

He felt a small smile tugging at the bound of his mouth. `` Hedwig is dogged. ``

'' An owl ? ``

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

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

He jolted forward, dropping his head into his hands to report the abominable face now crossing his human face. `` Funny hearing you say that. '' He groaned as the first-class honours degree Wave of pain attacked him. `` Because is n't that what your doing ? ``

Through his fingerbreadth he saw a calculating expression hybridisation her look. `` Do you want me to get Madam Pomfrey ? ''

'' Why .... '' Picture the wall ... .The bricks ... Their rough texture stretching infinitely upwards .... `` Why would I want you to get the nurse ? '' He asked, barely guising the pain that was now coming Forth River in waves. She needed to pull up stakes. She needed to leave now, but not to get the nurse ...

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

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

An unpleasant sensation swept through him, the feel of Kaylens'wrist turning barely registered as the dark elbow 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 construct, one-half seeing Kaylens kneeling down besides him.

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

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

Voldemort was prickling at the border of his envisioned wall.

The creature 's phonation filled his mind, jet tendrils leaking through red brick.

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

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

'' Sodding hell Potter of all the clock time ... '' Kaylens murmured. He felt her arm sliding beneath his articulatio humeri, a unusual tingling trickling through him as he unconsciously leaned penny-pinching, allowing his eubstance to sag against her as she hauled him up.

He rose his center, finding her own surprisingly close, flickering with that unfamiliar fear. `` Kaylens leave ... '' He muttered, feeling a violent edge forming within his cobbler's last coherent opinion. He had nearly attacked Ron in a similar state of matter, under Voldemort 's egging influence ...

Ah compannnnny .... Voldemort sounded almost upbeat, 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 Hades out of here. ``

She grimaced determinedly, kicking open the portrayal door. He heard her shouting something about Pomfrey to person, but their bod was so muzzy ... He could n't make them out ...

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

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

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

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

Who messed up ! ? ! ? He thought, grasping lucidity, dire to glean Voldemort 's meaning.

Calling on his last ounces of mental reserves he dug his heels into the soil. He turned, squirming away from the reassuring front of her implements of war, suddenly finding his own pes untrustworthy.

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

Whooooo ...

Unable to tell the difference between speaking and thinking, his mouth opened to cry his own question into the short of night ...

Kaylens hand clamped over his lip, and he found himself breathing in her skin, dampness with perspiration and the waxy meat of the candle she had been fidgeting with mere moments before.

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

He struggled dazedly, her chin coming to repose on his berm as she stilled him, frantic hushing sounds escaping her own lips. Had she had a harsh edge to her ? He could no longer remember ...

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

He relaxed, leaning against her again, feeling her implements of war stiffen. Of course .... It only made sense .... Voldemort would want to live of soul as spellbind as her, who would n't ? He certainly did, no subject how infuriating she grew he was curious. What harm could a name do ...

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

'' Glad to see you retrieve formalities. Now please get up, I 'm not strong enough to embroil ... ''

A jubilant wave washed over him, so intense as to drown out every early word filtering through his auditory system.

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

The spirit of Kaylens'paw tugging up on his articulatio humeri, the flavour of her hanker hair brushing against his brass as she leaned over him, the dark dark of the deserted Hogwarts corridor ...

The sanctity of his creative thinker restored, it all came into perfect nidus.

His legs becoming his own again, he powerfully force them into the floor on his own conformity, scrambling eagerly away, his sudden departure sending her spilling across the cold, grunge dusted Harlan Stone floors.

He rounded on her downed variant, failing to notice her shocked expression. One thought was on his mind. One he had been putting off asking.

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

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

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

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

'' Yes. ``

They stared at one another, both expressions unreadable.

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

'' Enough to cognise he was all too felicitous to get wind your name tonight. '' He knew the effect of this, if horrible, would be his to stick out. It was not a view he cherished, and a portion of him almost wished for her to profess into the Night her loyalty to the Dark Lord, so he could strike her Down, guilt free.

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

This last thought was silenced by the way her eyes darkened coldly onto him. `` And you were glad to give him that entropy. Were n't you Potter ? ``

His own handwriting, 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 shoulder joint, almost testingly, in an out of place manner. `` You looked like you were having a fit ceramicist. I thought you needed the hospital wing ... ''

'' Whether I need the hospital offstage is none of your CONCERN ! '' He hissed angrily, albeit too loudly. someone was bound to hear, but he did n't give care. Let Filch just try and penalize him ...

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

Once again, before he could block himself, he had her radiocarpal joint in his helping hand, spinning her around to pin her against the wall. He pressed his body against hers, their faces dangerously close. Her face remained an unreadable masquerade, save for the bead of perspiration glistening upon her frontal bone in the torchlight.

They stared at one another, each daring the former to speak. Releasing one of her wrists, he moved his bridge player to rest above her berm, cutting off any thought of her escape.

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

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

She breathed in deeply, her chest rising to contract against his own for the abbreviated of seconds. `` maintenance to elucidate me ? ``

He nodded coldly, his moist hair falling to hide his cicatrix, a disturbing sizzling sound drawing Kaylens eyes uncomfortably towards it.

Her challenging demeanor vanished, confusedness flickering in her eyes. Her free hand unconsciously reached upwards, but he stilled her question by aggressively squeezing her shoulder blade.

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

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

She tilted her pass 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 way of chatting. ``

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

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

'' prevarication ... '' She spat.

He could no longer tell if she were glaring or crying, for his forehead was pressed firmly against her own, driving her harder against the wall. Her words lingered on his unshaved mentum, and he grimaced wryly, realizing how close he was to finding out the Truth.

'' I have newsworthiness for you. '' He whispered. `` You said you would rather be a Death 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 manifestation remained unfaltering for far too long for his tastes.

'' mulct. '' He whispered. `` Here is what I think. I think that you have no clew what one is. Either that, or you are the just actress I have ever seen. But for that to be genuine, you would either make to be a Muggle, which you clearly are not, or you would suffer to take in been a troglodyte from wizarding order. So ... '' He tilted his look down, practically meeting her own.

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

She turned her wrist in the confines of his loose hairgrip, her scrape brush against his own. He could precipitate her chemical reaction, being so close, his optic 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 physical structure was shuddering ever so slightly in front of his own. He stared into her eyes for a bit longer, allowing his expression to dampen misleadingly.

'' Well if you do n't want to tell me .... '' He murmured, releasing her wrist before she could bolt. She eyed him with surprise, and mistrust, never seeing his helping hand falling to pillow upon his wand.

'' Legilimency. '' He whispered.

Her life ... It all flooded his mind in one over powering wave. A swirl of events that were impossible to discern ... Until one thigh-slapper filled his mind with a blinding red hue, bringing it all into stark clarity.
'' RILEY ! ''


The vortex of images changed, becoming the congruent word picture of a blonde small fry, hair much clear than he knew it would darken to become, was approaching a door, answering it ...

A man smiled toothily down, removing his hat to divulge closely cropped, pestiferous blond hair, bowing slightly. The nestling smiled upwards, but the image of his grin froze, faltering, as if it had forever been burned into her memory.

And now his ...

The doorway flew open, the man 's foot connecting with it, sending it bulleting inwards, hitting her with it against the face. Blinding pain kept her conscious, for the cosmos was blackness be-speckled, and her screaming form fell to shoot down in the strawman foyer.

The guilt .... 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 Charles Francis Hall. The girl screamed on the story, her broken, bloodied nose rendering her word of advice incomprehensible.

The blonde haired fiend dropped a genu onto the fille 's cover, pinning her to the trading floor. The flash of a buck tongue drawn from a casing caught Harry 's eye, and the young man, who now bore a look of the level best fury.

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

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

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

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

The girl was bucking on the floor, screaming, nearly freezing in care as blood line pooled from Riley 's chest injury, his XVIII twelvemonth old physical structure twitching spasmodically, his sass gaping, gasping for intimation ...

Yet Riley had crawled, leaving a besmirch trail of reddish death on the lino floor in his viewing, for he had been unable to let his lilliputian Sister be pillaged ...

His dying breathing place came, the girl 's heart wide of the mark with repugnance for only her brother, as the Pearl Sydenstricker Buck knife plunged into young Kaylens', deep into the spinal column of her eight year old berm blade.

Hot, fiery pain intensified, followed by a tingling sensation of the most rummy kind ...

He could almost finger what she had ... Her berm was tingling, slight pin pricks attacking her skin as they would when her metrical unit would wake up from falling asleep ...

Her hysterical howler only intensified, and Harry watched in repulsion as the teras gripped her hair, yanking her head back roughly as Harry once himself had done to her, before slamming her typeface savagely into the linoleum.

'' Were going to throw some fun are n't we trivial little girl ? Are n't we ! ? ! ? ! Just as soon as you shut your bloody sass and recite me where that sweet short pal of yours is ... ''

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

In Voldemort 's intellect he had seen adults wither in pain and fall apart at so a good deal less ...

His affection broke as he watched her small form continue struggling, screaming, yet the man only pinned her face down to the floor harder, dragging the buck knife across her shoulder joint in a farsighted, barbarous line ...

A whirl of coloration, and he was gone. Thrust out not by magic, but by the savage grip someone had taken up on the rear of his robe, yanking him away from her. He staggered backwards, disoriented, his arm flailed into the torch holder ...

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

His charred skin throbbed, but not so a great deal as his mind.

Kaylens stood motionless, still pressed against the paries, methamphetamine Edward Douglas White Jr., silent tear streaming down her beautiful human face. A ace slender hand was clutching her articulatio humeri. The Same one he had grabbed roughly. The like 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 expiry of one man is a tragedy. The end of millions is a statistic. ''
~ Joseph Joseph Stalin ~



Chapter 19 ~ Le Règne d'Enfer Commence


Once his psyche awakened, his brain dimmed by the narcotized wine he had willfully taken, it was not the darkness, nor his unfamiliar environment, nor even the cloak number 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 past fortnight. From Harry, from Kally, from Tonks ...

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

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

After reading it 's contents, it 's offering of prophylactic haven from the cruel, prejudiced Ministry standing in cruel contrast to the Death eater 's own prejudicial beliefs, Dumbledore had asked the one thing of him that he had felt ineffective to do.

He had asked him to debate joining them.

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

The other wolfman began emerging from the secret corridors surrounding him. Here the walls were lined with os. femur rising up like sadistic pillars from Scheol, supporting the longsighted line of skulls outlining the subversive passages. cool water dripped rhythmically from the damp ceiling, wetting his sweating scalp.

There was only one blank space in the world that flaunted such morbidity. inscrutable beneath the streets of genus Paris, over sixty million of a metre long yesteryear lay dead. Their underframe disassembled, grouped systematically to organise walkways, a leftover of a darker time.

Upon drinking the narcotized wine-coloured, the Death Eater had said he would awaken in the Empire of decease. Only now did he empathise what he had meant.

A heart figure, shaped out of human skulls, lay set into the paries of the Paris catacombs besides him. A standing remnant of the grisly sense of humor, stretching endlessly into the darkness.

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

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

'' After our lastly meeting I must admit that I am surprised to see you here. ``

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

He inclined his head. `` Since then I 've realized how my kind is rewarded for in force title. '' He replied resolutely.

Lucius gave him an appraising look, before reaching forth a cloaked hand to beckon the others forward. Half a dozen early cloaked form emerged from the shadows, forming a forget me drug around him.

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

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

Voldemort had truly found a way to control their translation.

Werewolves could now range the world at will.

'' The gaunt one ... '' Lucius said sneeringly. `` Is a piteous alibi of a pureblood, admirer of the potter .... ''

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

'' Spaaaaaare us the voice communication wildcat. '' Interrupted the one who had brought him there. `` What we need to know is if we can confide you. ``

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

'' If you do n't trust me how do you design 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 flask from his pocket, tossing it to him.

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

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

'' Not really. ``

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

Remus scoffed. `` By pick. ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' It keeps me alive. ``

'' So. It. Does. '' He said coldly. `` That substance ... '' Lucius indicated the flaskful. `` leave 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 gain the power, like most of us here, to transform at will. The moon will no longer hold it 's power over you. ``

He watched Lucius pacing down the weaken corridor, rubbing his blanch fingerbreadth along the rough bone. `` And ? ``

Lucius halted. `` Once it 's drunk, you will know what the taste of human flesh feels like. '' His pale eyes shone with a homicidal glean. `` They say once you know that, there is no going back. You will lust it forever. Your preciously Mudblood lover will never take on you back once you desire the sense of taste of meat. ``

Remus felt his insides run cold. Now there was a catch 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 take in him crave human being flesh so much that he was bound to join their side, regardless of his design upon first coming there.

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

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

He turned to the unnamed witch, smirking as evilly as possible. `` The only mistake was not seeing what those Ministry dickhead have kept from me my solid life. ``

He felt the air thicken with tension.

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

Remus curled his brim back, tilting the flask to his brim, chugging it down. liquidness fire flowed through his vena, energizing him, changing his molecular prepare up ...

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

Reigning the thirst in, feeling the index his sort had always been meant to feel, rather than the pain, Remus met their regard, his own teeth elongating. He was as changed as they were now. One of Voldemort 's mutated creature, even if he were internally against them.

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

He tilted his nous back and howled.

Lucius stepped forward, a Friedrich August Wolf like snarl on his face. `` receive ... ''

'' comrade. ``
* * * * *


The pelting hammered down, darkening the headstone. A small-scale girl was crouched besides one, sheltering beneath the comforting dryness of her wizard speckled umbrella, her braids flapping lightly in the wind. The resemblance to her mother was striking.

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

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

Mummy only deserved the Charles Herbert Best.

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

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

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

The thin out billet of Kenneth Bothan 's sassing gave away his carefully hidden despair. He was a man of private mourning.

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

'' Kenneth. Please. '' He implored, his dark eye never leaving the humble form of his daughter. `` If anyone has earned the right field to deal with formalities it is you. ``

Tonks smiled sadly, not agreeing. The fiasco had been entirely her fault. Her own incompetency leading to why his young married woman, his high school sweetheart, lay beneath his daughter 's small fundament. `` If anything Kenneth, your daughter saved mine. She has the fearlessness of one three fourth dimension her age. ``

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

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

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

'' It 's such a shame ... '' Kenneth remarked, gesturing to his daughter, drawing her from her thoughts. `` That it takes something like this to pass off, before necromancer will let mortal cognise of their existence, or of any peril from them. ``

She paused thoughtfully. `` You were a history major. I trust that you are associate with the Salem witch trials. ''

President of the United States 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. `` component of me understands. But it still saddens me. '' His brow wrinkled, bother etched in every line. `` All the misunderstanding between both our kinds ... Had I only known before hand I would never have let Emily 's political party occur. We could have remained inside. My kinsfolk would take been better protected. ``

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

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

The rain was letting up, a easy scent wafting towards them. One that had zippo to do with the flowers speckling the lonely cemetery.

fleur-de-lis ....

Kenneth tilted his principal to the sky, breathing deeply. Sometime in the future, he would assert to Tonks that sometimes, like rightfulness then, that he could still sense her deary blossom in the breeze.

Watching him now, Tonks was thankful the rules of order had granted her and several other members permission to rest with him and his daughter as a rotating guard.

They would be needing it.
* * * * *


Harry hung his head over the butterbeer, not hearing a give-and-take Luna said. He had tuned her out when she had started talking animatedly about the special edition of the Quibbler that week, the one concerning how Cornelius Fudge 's USA of Heliopaths had drowned in a freak toilet rising tide accident in the section of Mysteries.

The docile chime of bell shape drew his tending to the door of the trine broomstick, just in prison term to see Kaylens, Dean, and Neville walk in, their hair windswept from the unsmooth declivity piece of cake that day.

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

He did n't know what the inferno 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 essence of Voldemort invading his intellection, and those included everything from temporary insanity to violence.

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

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

Particularly when he grabbed her again, desperately trying to end her, to make her understand that he had not been in his rightfulness mind, only to encounter out that she had a rather cruddy right hook.

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

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

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

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

Luna 's construction changed, her normally dreamy indorsement gone, if only for a second. She looked like she was about to take to task a small youngster. `` Every meter we 've seen her recently she has n't glared, she just pretends your not there. She stated simply. `` Before you both took every hazard to be at each others throats. ''

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

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

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

'' I guess you 'll induce to get a cargo area of one of their bodies to feel out. '' He commented cynically.

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

'' Oh no Harry. '' She said very seriously. `` dad would never disesteem one of their bodies. Just because their a unlike specie does n't mean they should be less entitled to proper mourning. ''

He was so distracted by the ridiculous turn of conversation that he failed to notice Ginny until she dropped down side by side 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 mannikin Prefect. ``

Harry nodded miserably, longing for a proceeds to the Heliopath conversation. Anything was better 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 indorse before shaking out her own dirty blonde mane. `` Fourteen carat I suppose. But I think Harry 's having a backbreaking time getting up the nerve to talk to her. ``

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

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

Ginny shot him a sympathetic spirit. `` 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 get laid about that ?

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

Harry fought the urge to kick something.

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

He grunted in response.

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

Seamus'vociferation of pain sensation was preceded by a tatty THUNK from beneath the board, and a objurgation look from Ginny.

His Irish housemate was rubbing his shin rigorously. `` Sorry ... Could n't resist ya roll in the hay ? 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 breaker point Luna 's ever-present dreamy smell had once again vanished, for she was clutching her stomach with laughter, pounding a fist on the table, making quite a scenery as she ceased to restrain her laughter.

'' So beaming my life 's entertained everyone this hebdomad ... '' He muttered hollowly.

He spent the repose of the conversation sneaking surreptitious tone across the relatively empty pub at Kaylens. Dean and Neville seemed to be debating something, and he thought he caught the words 'bloody thesteral'more than once, while Kaylens stirred her butterbeer, sipping it through a husk like Luna, looking for all the Earth as if she were not listening to a 1 word her companions were saying.

He jumped, clearly startled when Ginny leaned down future to him, balancing on his shoulder. 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 okeh. '' She said this so quietly only he heard. `` Just remember, I 'm not just his little sister, I 'm yours too. ``

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

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

He watched her wink over her shoulder before sauntering out into the blistering hint, her red hair swirling around like a wild tornado.

He smiled stupidly.

He had a niggling baby .... Regardless of what Ron currently thought.

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

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

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

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


Drip.

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

'' It 's time. ''

Plunk.

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

'' Dig in woman chaser boy. You 're going to need your strength 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 dawn. Ever since he had drank that cursed potion ...

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

Only now he was using them to tear the offer physical body, instead of just practicing his transformations, hoping Dumbledore could concoct a cure for this horrid craving he would now cover with.

His eye rolled black, the pleasurable taste consuming him

For a moment, the lone thing that mattered was the meat in deal. The mentation of protecting the innocents later on, forgotten.

Drip.

Now the blood dripped from his mouth as well.
* * * * *


Kally sighed exhaustedly, wishing for the solitude of her dormitory. At least there she could kvetch and scream, venting without the prying eyes of others following her every move, as ceramicist seemed to be doing from his seat in the shadowy tooshie of the pub.

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

She relaxed, allowing her elbow to prop up herself up. She cast a glance resolutely down the bar 's counter, stirring her husk around in her discharge, bear-sized, mug. It was a nervous use she had picked up as a nestling, when she used to twine them into random contour. It had always been her brother 's full-grown pet peeve.

'' Ca n't choose you anywhere .... '' Sean smirked, tousling her whisker.

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

A sharp nudge caused her elbow joint to slip, freeing her from that line of thought. She cast an miffed look at her housemate, ignoring the shooting pain the sudden jarring had sent up her depart arm.

'' The strong-arm scars, the brass damage ... They are the least of your children 's vexation Mr. And Mrs. Kaylens ... ''

James Byron Dean was grinning lopsidedly back, ignorant to where her persuasion had been, taking her back nearly a tenner. They had n't known she was listening when they had spoken to the hospital 's psychiatrist. But in their defense, 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 little populace there Kaylens. I did n't drag you forcibly out of the rook for nothing today, so being a mute will just not do. '' Dean said cockily.

If potential, Dean 's smiling had grown even more crooked 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. Dean was not Sean, but just seeing such similarity in another man was oddly comforting. It did not hurt like she had expected it to.

Seeing him looking at her expectantly, she shrugged, knowing full well he was about to initiate prodding Neville. Dean was person who seemed to think that it was his personal mission to construct everyone around him laugh, and her stony silence was probably pushing him to the threshold of insanity.

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

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

How dean had convinced'I'm-Afraid-of-My-Shadow'Neville to serve in that endeavor was beyond her.

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

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

spying their questioning looks the young witch flashed a dazzling, dimpled smiling. `` Courtesy of the gentlemen in the vertebral column. ''

She eyed the new butterbeer with a profound horse sense of mistrust, before exchanging glances with Neville and Dean. She spun around on the bar faeces, catching sight of the alone patron still in the back of the pub.

No sodding way in nether region did he ship us this .... She thought with no small amount of anger.

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

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

best to get this over with ...

She came to an abrupt halt in front of him, slamming the mug down so backbreaking that the liquid sloshed over the sides, joining the already pooling pool on his table.

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

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

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

'' purchasing you a beverage. '' He replied steadily, wiping at the spate she had made with a spare napkin.

'' Oh ? '' She quipped sarcastically. `` And why 's that ? So you could plait it with truth blood serum and interrogate me in that dusky pub down the street ? I must allow Potter, if that's the shell you 're losing your touch. ''

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

potter continued wiping at the table, ineffectual to adjoin her eyes.

'' slam ! ``

Kally jumped ever so slightly, ignoring potter 's divert reflection. She turned an eye on the blond, who had just slammed her hands down on the board top like an excited four twelvemonth old. The missy 's protrubent blue center were now so widely they looked ready to pop out of her skull.

'' Harry you would n't mind if I excused myself would you ? '' She said excitedly. `` All this tension could pull an Ira, and I want to be in the easily spot to see one. ``

Without waiting for an response the miss stood, not noticing their indistinguishable expressions of puzzlement, and began shoving spare straws into her linden tree unripened purse, speaking in a far off voice.

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

The girl marched off to the early side of the pub, turned to face the wall, and stared blankly at it. Kally caught a few coup d'oeil of pale blue eye flickering their way, and each time this would chance the blonde daughter would grunt unhappily, pigeonhole her metrical foot, and resume staring at the wooden siding as if frustrated.

What the Hades was that abo ...

'' Look Kaylens ... ''

His invasion brought her back to the place at helping hand, and she narrowed her centre shrewdly. `` Ah your famous seam. '' She whispered harshly. `` So which personality do I get today thrower ? Because really, this split personality thing is getting to be a bit of a headache. ``

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

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

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

corporate trust him to land that up, she thought angrily, quick to crusade back the rebellion of pity within herself.

She swallowed hard. `` Glad to see your not quite that oblivious potter. '' She muttered, forcing her vocalism icy. `` I would conceive by now that any fabricated apology would be a unspoken point. ``

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

He spoke so seriously, too seriously for someone their age. `` And I did n't even get the luck to apologize for the other night ... '' He continued, his hug drug 's apple rising rhythmically. `` Since I did n't envision getting decked again, I figured sending you a drink was the best apologia I could come up with on short observation. At least the best one that could retain me a condom distance away, while getting you to come over here. ''

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

He began to stir his promontory in the damaging but she cut him off, the full weight of his insulting, woefully poor gesture sinking in.

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

Impulsively she snatched up the mug, expelling it 's cognitive content all over him, a sopping, frothing quite a little now staining the front man of his shirt.

'' That's what I think of your pathetic 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 mitt, hanging limply at her side.

It was shaking.

inside he felt a horrible, twisting hotshot, recalling precisely why her handwriting shook thus. How could he have failed to notice before ?

'' That's what I think of your piteous apologia. '' Kaylens snapped shakily. `` Enjoy. ``

His mouth flapped wordlessly, his run-in never reaching her pinna, for Madame Rosmerta 's appall cry stole the Scripture from his lips.

'' Lara what are yo.. '' Rosmerta questioned shrilly. Her center were fixated in confusion upon the offspring waitress, the well-disposed one from whom he had ordered drinks earlier.

The like dimpled miss now had her wand drawn, a lacuna formulation drawn upon her feature, striking a horrifying similarity to a porcelain doll.

'' Stupefy ! '' She hissed mechanically.

As if in obtuse motion, Rosmerta fell, her limp build disappearing behind the bar 's wooden counter. The glass she had been cleaning took escape, hovering in mid-air for a little eternity, before breaking free of it 's uncanny suspension system, shattering across the counter.

For the low gear meter in it 's account, the trey Broomsticks fell silent. Only the howl of the Oct wind, leaking in through the windows, proved to him that he had not fallen into some horrific silent film.

The gentle chiming of ship's bell broke his attention from where the porcelain girl stood, smiling cruelly down.

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

Hours seemed to feature passed, but the clock registered mere seconds.

beholding Ginny 's wand haltingly upgrade, her movements faltering, as if some inconspicuous force were yanking her arm forcibly up against her will, was what finally broke him absolve of his dim motion daydream.

His blood ran common cold at her blank expression.

'' EVERYBODY DOWN ! '' He shouted, overturning the table. Liquid splattered, and their empty the Great Compromiser mark had not even struck primer coat before the first immature curse flew from Ginny 's wand.

His own already drawn, he screamed a sweetheart, watching the killing curse miss Ron 's shocked aspect by inches.

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

'' Kaylens move ! '' He hollered, but she did not need telling twice. She was already dropping down, covering her head as a pot of wooden shards whizzed by, an onslaught from the now smoldering chair before her.

A knockout grazed his ear, and his body jerked instinctively away from the heat, and in that individual second he lost sight of her.

Somewhere in the dim desktop of his judgement the howler of the other sponsor began to register.

lupus erythematosus than a foot away from where he stood, a decorative pumpkin exploded, a poorly aimed lulu searing right through it, striking the wall. Stringy orange pulp and seed erupted, hurtling outwards, covering the floor and himself with slippery orange clumps.

A red igniter flew from Très'baton, and he dive to the ground, sheltering behind the table as the curse blasted through it. The screams of other students could be heard, pleading with the defense lawyers Professor.

Très could not pick up their plea, with his ear length hair flung over his optic, his arm jerkily fired blindly at students, sponsor, masses ...

Grabbing the side of the overturned, unit of ammunition mesa, Harry heaved it to the slope, rolling it with all his force, scrambling behind it like a rat until it hunkered to a halt. Unable to go any farther, for an unconscious torso now blocked it 's progression, he found the entrance to the bar in sight.

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

He dove for it, leaving the cover of his tabular array behind, rolling across broken chairperson legs and chicken feed until he came to a crouch behind it.

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

'' Stupefy ! '' He whispered, letting the red lightness fly.

Her physical structure went careening to the English, her scepter flung from her clutches as she passed out next to Rosmerta 's limp form.

He scampered down the length of it, snatching both their wands up, passing wine feeding bottle, clean and jerk mugs, and storage areas as he went.

Reaching the end near the shade covered window, he hastily pocketed the wands in his trousers, leaping to his substructure, the disarming spell partially formed on his lips.

His words died there.

The jet of honey oil visible light erupted from Ginny 's wand like a volcano of death, to a lesser extent than an arm 's distance from where he stood.

Across the room Ron leapt to his ft, abandoning the temporary worker shelter of a overturned bench to scoot to where Hermione and Luna fought unaided.

There was no prison term to think, to dodge, to oppose.

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

Hermione 's brownness eyes widened, her mouth caught in a strangled, understood lament, and Luna only just pulled her to the primer before the next green spell whizzed by.

Time froze.

All was still.

The blank look of the Imperious curse faltered upon Ginny Weasley 's face, unabashed painfulness replacing it for but a second.

The mask was re-erected, his own sceptre turning to her, rip of choler streaming down his font at what had been just done to the only brother and baby he had ever had.

Before the disarmament magical spell could give his lips, a operose clenched fist collided with his skull, sending the Earth blurring until it 's diabolical glorification faded to inkiness.
* * * * *


The audio of humble infantry, pattering in the rain, accompanied Emily 's return. The speech sound of her quieten humming lingered like a breath of fresh air upon Tonks'capitulum.

The minor small fry stepped out onto the pebbled path, quickly shutting her flyspeck umbrella before scurrying to huddle at a lower place Tonks'.

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

But for now, Kenneth gave her a little, pained smiling, before setting off across the squashy graveyard grass.

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

She adjusted the umbrella so the runoff would not drip onto the picayune princess'top dog, never noticing the thoughtful look that suddenly passed across Emily 's tiny face.

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

As Tonks inwardly wondered what one should say to a tyke who has just lost her mother, Emily spoke.

'' Your friends are in trouble Nymph. ``



Le Règne d'Enfer Commence is French for The Reign of infernal region Begins

Recommended Stories of the hebdomad :

Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon by Duke of Windsor Ollivander ( He has a fabulous and creative 6th year fan fiction featuring a HP/GW sexual union, and it is completed. )

Dark disposition by Two Sadists ( They have a 7th yr fan fable 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 role, property, and melodic theme taken from the Harry ceramist Scripture serial publication are property of JKR. However, the idea of a Reach is owned by me, since I have taken the musical theme of a compass from a series that I am writing, and adapted it ever so slightly to fit this fan-fiction serial publication.






'' Some believe that the benefit of expiry, is that it is potential to see farther on the early side. ``
~ A.K. Sir Alfred Charles Bernard Lovell ~



Chapter 20 ~ Nowhere to Run


'' Tonksie are you okay ? ''

Emily 's afters spokesperson carried upon the twist, nearly drowned out by the sound of rain pounding upon the umbrella.

She could only shake her head, shaken as a cool breeze swirled around them. Thankfully such subtlety of face were lost upon the tyke, who 's heading was tilted back, her mouth wide open, catching rain drops.

'' The waaaateeer 's driiiippiiiing on meeee. '' Emily gurgled gaily.

Tonks shivered, straightening out the umbrella she had unknowingly allowed to tilt. It had hung so low that a sudden cascade of water had fallen down like capital of Seychelles Falls onto Cy Young Emily 's head.

'' Sorry Em ... '' She gasped out, her interpreter wavering.

'' It 's okay I like the rain. '' Emily declared, darting out from beneath the umbrella, stomping her feet merrily in the collecting puddles. `` I like puddles too ! ``

Tonks blinked in surprise. The kid 's mother had been drowned in one barely a fortnight ago.

'' Your friends are in trouble Nymph. ``

Emily 's sopping wet braids swung about her face, her arms held out as she spun in rotary, her head tilted skyward catching the rain.

'' Tonksie come looseness ! ``

Tonksie ... Only Remus called her Nymph.

'' My God ... '' She whispered, her body temperature dropping in a way that had nothing to do with the wind.

Over Emily 's twirling build she could see Kenneth Bothan kneeling in the marshy memorial park grass. His married woman 's grave lay before him, the carefully placed iris diaphragm scattering in the toilsome wind.

'' Kenneth ! We have to result here now ! ``
* * * * *


Remus'ovular heart opened upon the worst of sights.

Hogsmeade ...

It 's empty locale lay before him, all in leaves billowing across the moth-eaten pathway leading through the heart of the village.

Not a somebody was in sight.

ghostwriter 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 Eaters would make their first-class honours degree stand. Here in the village, so close to the school day ...

Too close.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend.

'' Merlin ... '' He whispered, staggering, the October breeze biting chilly argumentation across his skin.

werewolf had no use for clothing.

Roughly, an strip down forearm scratched across his chin. Flecks of dehydrated stemma flaked away, sprinkling the ground with a sinister looking dust. It 's morbidity was a gross admonisher of his recently fulfilled thirst.

'' Surprised half-breed ? ``

Instinctually, angrily, his nipper extended, breaking his skin with a fiery pain. He did not answer Nott, instead he growled lowly, extending his pinna into hanker points.

The fuzz sprouting, prickling his taper auricle, brought the deathly quiet village to living. Farther off ... In the heart of town .... supplication ... .. Offers of salvation in exchange for commitment ... ..

'' That fool of an old man will never know what hit him. '' Nott 's guttural vox was flooded deep with hatred. `` Well be here and gone before he even gets out his walker. ``

Not if I can assist it ...

Lucius'unreadable growl cut in, breaking through his furious persuasion, arousing something far darker ...

It was time to change.

An abnormal passion filled his veins.

Upon the undercoat where Remus lupin had been, now stood a wolfman, the barbed scent of freshly spilled blood inundating it 's senses.

The brute pawed the priming coat eagerly.
* * * * *


His consistency, felt like it was being drug across ice. It ached, splintering as individual shards sliced his skin.

Shards .... Shards ... He tried to grasp onto the Logos to no avail. It 's elusive significance fled from his pounding skull.

The tight grip on his ankles disappeared, and his invertebrate foot dropped unceremoniously to the story. A moment later the sound reflection in the base add-in indicated another body being dumped besides him.

Ron ...

With a jerk he was awake, the salty rent of torture tainting his lips.

It could n't be existent. It could n't have happened. Not again ...

He turned his head in a vain search, struggling to make sense of the blurred existence before him. A wink of the palest of yellow caught his eye.

Drifting in and out of focussing was Luna Lovegood, sitting cross legged, her carpus tightly bound within her lap, woolgathering blue middle fixated upon him concernedly.

'' Why hello Harry. '' She said congenially.

Just thinking sent a sharp throb through his skull, and he quickly discovered his sleeve to be bound behind his vertebral column.

With a torment thump he hit his work force against the level, a stabbing pain in the neck ripping his fist.

He did not involve Luna 's proclamation to know that a shard of methamphetamine now stuck from his hand. The heat welling from it, trickling down his fingertips, was enough to inform him.

A single crimson drop fell free, it 's profound reverberating through his hollow chest.

Drip.

The suffocating weight unit of despair struck him hard, paralyzing him.

Drip.

Ron was gone.

Drip.

Ginny 's unwilling bridge player had done the unthinkable.

Drip.

Death eater were in Hogsmeade.

Drip.

A strangled sob shattered the silence.

Drip.

His fist snapped shut, tugging at the dressing. His eyes, blurred with rage, searched the ruined pub, taking it in with cold calculation.

Drip.

The floor now resembled a greenhouse, a shattered plant bearer had sent grease strewing across it.

Drip.

Butter beer and other confection pooled together in frothy puddle, broken chairs and revolutionize tables creating hazardous paths.

Drip.

Broken drinking glass glittered in the afternoon sunlight, casting surreal spectrums across the floor.

Drip.

He squeezed his fist, the blood flowing down, and began counting.

Drip.

In the spaces where neither glass nor land lay, patrons did.

Drip.

one-half a twelve, either unconscious mind or dead, lay upon the storey at garbled separation.

Drip.

The rest, the conscious, had been bound and lined up against the walls.

Drip.

'' poor fish crying Mudblood ! ``

Hermione ...

She lay collapsed against the far paries, her arms bound like his own.

Drip.

Before her towered a ranting chassis clad in black, and clenched within the fell confines of the Death Eater 's fist trailed yearn locks of shaggy hair.

A large bruise ran the length of her bout stained cheek.

'' I should consume finished the job when I had the fortune 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 judgement. She had nearly died at Dolohov 's hands ...

'' What do you think here Ludovic ? Should I finish her off ? '' The Death Eater called out, kneeling in movement of her. `` Or what about you Mudblood ? forethought to join your ugly red-headed friend over there ? '' Dolohov chided, poking her like a biff 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 look of the virginal repugnance over-sweeping his wasted feature film. `` Oh you filthy ... '' He muttered, frantically wiping his case in the folds of his cloak.

'' Hey Antonin ! '' An overly cheery representative called out, stopping Dolohov 's paw mid-strike. `` Since were only supposed to watch the kiddies until He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gets back, what do you recollect of ... ''

Dolohov whorled on the cloaked figure, who had just emerged from behind the bar, waving a salvaged firewhiskey bottle.

'' Ludovic he is our lord and shall be addressed as such ! '' Dolohov roared dangerously. `` One more mooring and I 'll take in sure the Mudblood lover is n't the lone corpse in here ! ''

Ludovic appeared unconcerned, and began filling two whiskey shabu. `` Antonin what you need is a good, stiff swallow. ''

Dolohov scowled, quickly aiming a sinewy kick to Hermione 's midsection. The sally of her ribs echoed between the pub 's walls, as did Harry and Neville 's outcry of protest.

'' Now Antonin was that really necessary ? '' Ludovic asked nervously.

Dolohov turned, his wand raised threateningly. `` One. More. Word. Ludovic. Just. One. ``

Ludovic raised his helping hand in a flexible fashion, knocking his hood from his boldness in the cognitive process.

'' Now Dolohov she 's just a girl. All I was saying is tha .... '' But the residual of his Logos were lost upon Harry, for beneath the vise of the blue exhaust hood was the boyish face of Ludo Bagman.
* * * * *


Kenneth Bothan 's mind shot up, while Tonks ran forward, wrapping a protective arm around Emily. The decrease umbrella lay forgotten, spinning in concentrical circles upon the pebbled earth, a toy of the billowing wind.

'' Kenneth we should result ! '' She cried, hoisting Emily into her arms.

Her barely concealed urgency rang true within the President 's ears, for he was already sprinting back to where they stood.

He was a man who understood the world 's dangers.

Emily squirmed, her auburn head following her Fatherhood 's onward motion towards them. `` dad, your knees are all muddy. '' She scolded seriously.

Kenneth smiled grimly, his jaw set. `` I can take her. ''

Tonks nodded, relinquishing the girlfriend to withdraw her wand. The ever-increasing chill was closing in. It would n't be long ...

'' What 's going on ? '' Kenneth asked urgently.

'' No time to explicate. '' She responded, taking off down the path. She could hear Kenneth 's heavy footfalls behind her, splashing in the muddied water.

They rounded the Bend in the nerve pathway, the heavy woodlet of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree falling away to reveal the drab lot. The car, their evasion, was in plenty, yet fleshy despair drenched her soul.

Nymphadora 's ft slid in the gravely mud, and she came to a halt, throwing out an arm out to hold on what was left of the Bothan family.

It was right then that piddling Emily Bothan began to whimper.

Kenneth 's iniquity eyes quickly blinked away H2O. `` 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 image, Tonks could only shake her point.

'' I do n't think we have sentence to run. ``
* * * * *


'' YOU ! ''

Ludo Bagman 's blueish eyes turned on him, a pleased smile replacing his previously perplexed one. `` Ah ... Harry boy. I was wondering when you 'd come around. ``

Dolohov scoffed. `` cute Potter indeed. Tell me potter, how was your wittle napkin ? ``

'' So order me Harry, '' Ludo interjected, seeming determined to direct the conversation his way. `` How have thing been ? ''

'' Yes wittle Potter. How have things been without that mangy old dog of yours ? ``

'' Antonin .... '' Ludo sounded distinctly uncomfortable.

In the aloof ground he could hear Neville 's choked stuttering.

'' H-how have they been ? '' Harry repeated, dumbfounded. How have they been ! ?

'' Not too right Mr. commercial traveller. '' Luna 's hazy voice drifted out, answering for him as he gaped like a fish. `` Harry 's been having a fierce yr, as you can see. ``

A pitiless boo came from Dolhov 's direction.

'' He lost his godfather, and with people such as yourself switching sides and betraying him, I trust you can see why. '' Luna continued casually.

roadman was suddenly refilling his crapulence.

'' After all, Harry does n't require anyone else to die, and when people he trusts start killing people ... ''

commercial traveller 's crank stopped halfway to his lips, eyes widening defensively. It was a consequence before his calmness 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 hands 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 Noel Coward, with siding with what is wanton rather than what is right-hand. ``

commercial traveller 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 pop anyone ! '' Harry bellowed, arms shaking with subdue fury.

'' But Harry j-just think about this for a s-second. He-Who-Must-Not ... I mean my Maker .... '' He quickly corrected himself, spying the malevolent look of Dolohov. `` He just desires the Ministry 's downfall. So long as people stay out of his way no one will get hurt. Now I ask you Harry, my boy, is that really so bad ? ``

'' Replacing one dictatorship with another. Sounds coherent to me. '' He retorted sarcastically.

Besides him Luna nodded approval, her digit drumming against her bindings to some unrecognizable melodic phrase.

'' When you disappeared my Hans C. J. Gram 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 proficient than Bellatrix you slime ! ''

The poignant accusation hung thickly in the air, no one public speaking. roadman had become very worry in his crapulence, shifting uncomfortably under the angry eyes of all save for Dolohov.

For mortal to turn their spinal column, on even the Ministry, in favor of Voldemort ...

It was unforgivable.

Drip.

He had nearly forgotten how his own deal bled, the light headed feeling out of home for the situation. Fortunately the free flow of scarlet lifespan was slowing, his curdling factors finally kicking in.

Harry shook his principal, ignoring the slight twirl of the Earth. `` You were acquitted once Bagman. '' He hissed, middle scanning the way for a way out. `` So tell me, were you a gutless Noel Coward back then too, or just stupid ? ``

Bagamn cringed. `` Harry I was never a Death feeder ! ''

'' But you are now. '' His representative quivered. `` So tell me, why 'd you do it ? ''

Dolohov 's smug formula betrayed even his pursuit in the answer, and Harry was not about to let the death eater distraction go to waste.

Keep them talking ... maintain them distracted ...

His hands began roaming across the floor behind him, feeling for another sharp shaving of glass.

'' fountainhead you know Harry, hob, they 're awful line. '' Ludo said, fidgeting. `` You know how they are if they 're after ya and ... ''

Harry did his secure to glower, feigning pastime as Ludo 's brow creased curiously.

'' ejaculate to suppose of it you probably do n't Harry. But it 's not fun business concern, hob debt aggregator that is. And since the Ministry was n't about to increase my salary these boys said they 'd be glad to help 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 retrieve that but ... ''

'' BUT WHAT ! ? '' Neville roared.

Luna inconspicuously sent a broken nursing bottle piece sliding his way, his fingers coiling around it like a snitch.

'' But these demise Eaters, they 're not so bad. ``

Harry very nearly dropped the shard, his optic bulging out.

'' Not so bad ? '' He repeated gruffly.

bagman nodded vigorously. `` No ! Not at all Harry ! In fact their rather ... ''

'' Tell that ... '' He hissed lowly. `` To my mum and dad. tell apart that to Sothis. evidence that to Ron ! ''

An odd look crossed bagman 's face. `` Now Harry really .... ''

Harry 's lips parted, accusal dripping as thick as the origin from his spiral fist, only the sound never came.

The diffused sound, and spark of movement upon the floor, drew the breather straight from his lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He breathed softly. He had nearly forgotten ...

'' Ah another one to join the fray ? '' Dolohov called cheerfully, sauntering over to where she lay, partially concealed by an overturned board.

The Death feeder reached her, roughly dragging her squirming form up.

'' Ca n't allow for you free to range around now can we ? '' He hissed, drawing unnaturally close to her.

Harry 's stomach lurched wretchedly as Dolohov 's sassing grazed her blood stained cheek.

'' After all, fervid mood like you ... ''

'' Get. Your Hands. Off. Her. '' Harry spat dangerously, drawing Dolohov 's care to him. Anything to get him away from her ... She looked ready to collapse ...

The Death feeder regarded him coldly. `` Or you 'll do what exactly ? ``

'' You do n't want to know. '' He hissed lowly, ceasing the sawing campaign upon his binding. He could n't afford to let Dolohov see ....

'' Oh but I do ! '' He said menacingly, a cruel smile lighting his stagnant eye. `` I 'd very much like to know what Precious Potter thinks he could do to me. ``

His eyes narrowed, a cruel smile of his own crossing his features.

'' I could indicate you why Voldemort is so afraid of me. '' He whispered threateningly.

The corduroys winding around Kaylens'wrists snapped squiffy, Dolohov 's tense handgrip betraying his upheaval.

Harry went on, the room swaying unnaturally as he spoke with malicious measurement. `` Or you could do yourself a party favor Dolohov, and leave. Leave before you make me really furious. ''

Dolohov shifted uncomfortably, mirroring commercial traveller 's movements. He took the opportunity to slowly slice at his back yet again.

The glass, glossy with his own pedigree, nearly fell from his grip. Thankfully the error was lost upon the Death Eater, for Dolohov had chosen that moment to turn Kaylens around, hissing something into her tangled tresses furiously.

His wrist joint rung with the painful sensation, brought about by another slip of the chicken feed, as Kaylens 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 ceramist. Once our Lord gets here we 'll see how weather you really are. ``

He swallowed hard, watching Kaylens'eyes flicker overt. He wanted to say something, anything ...

He had failed her ...

Hermione 's soul wrenching tones brought a grimace of fear to both their lineament.

'' Brave ? '' Hermione 's weak representative chided from where she sat, propped against the paries. `` You ask him about bravery ? He 's 16, not even a fully qualified star, yet you fear him so much as to disarm him and bandage him. ''

She spat all of this into Dolohov 's approaching facial expression, just before his hand reared back, slapping her roughly to the floor.

She let out not a cry, peering upwards through her narrowed, swelling heart, just in time to see a gloomy boot rearing back.

'' Hey Dolohov ! ``

Dolohov 's invertebrate foot froze mid-kick, hate-filled middle flying towards Neville 's pudgy face.

'' You do n't require to do that. ''

Dolohov 's stocky eyebrow disappeared beneath his mangy hair. `` You presume to edict me around boy ? ''

Neville shrugged casually. `` You can pollute yourself if you want. '' He sounded uncharacteristically Slytherin. `` I did n't pull in dirty origin suited a Death eater. ``

Dolohov laughed roughly, buying Harry more time.

Neville you 're a nonesuch ...

A drop of salty sweat broke spare from his forehead, rolling into his mouth. Setting his jaw he worked, the glass fragment digging into his thick book binding.

Snap.

The fragment slid so low, so fast, he nearly cut too deep, the intimation of pain catching fast in his throat.

The binding were looser.

Twisting his deal testingly, he found with the first fibre 's severing had come a slap-up range of movement.

Eyes locked onto Dolohov 's fist, slamming into Neville 's jaw, he twisted his articulatio radiocarpea, ignoring the burning sensation of dehydrated lesion ripping unfold. Warm, thick life blood welled from these spots, his scabbed over fingerbreadth feeling in his cloak ...

They had taken his scepter, but Rosmereta 's ... The waitress'...

Polished mahogany brushed beneath his rough skin, Kaylens'luminous eyes meeting his own, inclusion shining within their ardent depth ...

He could reach the sequestered wands.

He was armed.
* * * * *


'' Pumpkin ... Honey mum needs you to do mummy a favor. Can you do that honey ? ``

She whimpered, her font buried in her sire 's rainfall soaked suit. She wanted to calculate away, but she could n't. The frigidness flavour was there. She could see her mum, she wanted to see her, to hug her, but she was too scared to search away from the refuge of her father 's arms.

'' Do you lack your mommy little miss ? Would you like to see her ? ``

Emily squeezed her eyes harder, leave the voice away. `` It 's not mummy ... '' She whispered. `` I ca n't see mummy ... ''

Ah, ah, ah, ah ... Little darling your mummy is busy now. Ca n't you see that ? ``

She shook her headspring frantically, squeezing her dad 's neck. `` No ... No .... ''

'' Open your eyes you little bitch ! ``

The cruel lady 's dark eyes danced in her psyche. She did n't require to see the peeress again. She did n't want to.

'' Daddy ... '' She whimpered frightfully.

'' No not daddy. mommy ! You wanted to see her slight terror, so here, looking at ! ''

daddy would open his oculus ... He would. He was n't afraid of anything. Maybe if she opened her eyes the noblewoman would go away again.

Emily swallowed, counting concentrated to ten.

'' Please mum ... ''

Emily 's watery center opened, a dark suit coat staring back.

Mummy needed up. She needed air. The think of man was there again, shoving her cheek into the puddle. Her mummy did n't like water.

Emily cried out, screeching, shaking her head back and Forth River, throwing the images away. She wanted them to go. Her dampness, rain-soaked plait flung into her father 's face as she shook, but she did not notice.

'' Kenneth take on Emily and go. ``

'' Tonks what 's ... ''

'' You ca n't see them Kenneth, but they 're there. ``

'' No ... '' Her own whine rang in her spike, her icy hands shaking her mum. Whey was n't mummy waking ? She had to ... `` No ... ''

'' Tonksie ! '' Had she shouted ? Could the dainty lady see her ?

'' Kenneth get to the car. movement away. ``

'' Tonks I ca n't go away ... ''

'' I 'll be alright. Just go. NOW ! ``

Emily 's reeling populace reeled more, for her begetter had taken off at fast dash, splashing water over her pegleg.

In the dim background, somewhere beyond her mother 's screams, she could hear the nice lady shouting something.

Her world dimmed away as a silvery dog ran past.

Mummy always liked frank ...
* * * * *


Releasing the sceptre for what he promised would be only moments, he continued sawing at his book binding, slowly, rhythmically, trying to gain precious centimeters of mobility ...

He was armed, and the realization had numbed him, his future move horribly elusive.

With the rhythmic sawing of the shard, his thinker fell curiously lacuna for the offset fourth dimension in what felt millennia.

His gaze fell upon her as she moved, shoving herself up from where she lay on the story, blazonry shaking fiercely, be it from shock or the pain in the neck he knew she daily bore, he did not know.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered softly, grasping for something, anything conversant in the horror that was his life.

She fell into topographic point besides him, so close, her bloodied sleeve nearly brushing against his hide. She was blocking Dolohov 's view 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 timid as him, despite the slight sway to her stature.

Snap.

Another thread of the rope broke free, it 's tone ending masked by her sudden, purposeful coughing.

Her head fell forward, her coughs lingering long enough to seem genuine, and her golden, convoluted whorl came cascading down, falling over her eyes, veiling her aspect from all but him. To his eyes each shimmering strand, glinting in the dull afternoon glow, as well as her watery orbs, remained visible, as well as her bound carpus, bloodless and mangled from where she had frantically pulled, struggling for release in Dolohov 's arms.

The son of a bitch would never again lay a finger upon her.

He would never again lay a finger upon anyone.

Harry potter had a few iniquity magic spell he was quite aegir to try out.

Snap.

'' How much thirster do you remember it 'll be till he finishes questioning the small town Antonin ? ``

Dolohov sneered. `` Ludovic you are trying my patience as much as the half-blood and these ... '' The drear regard of the man scanned the room, taking in the few conscious students and the two patrons bound and lined against the walls. `` These fifth wheel. ``

'' But what if the ministry .... ''

Dolohov kicked the base, sending shatter glass skittering across Dean 's fallen form. `` We will be here and gone before those fool catch winding of this. Besides, these affair are ticklish matters ... ''

inquiring ? His ear listened, silently taking it all in. Besides him Kalliandra appeared to be doing the same, while Luna shifted the glass shards on the floor around with her feet.

Bagman seemed besides himself with questions. Harry mentally egged him on to be loose lipped.

'' Perhaps we could stun them all and take on them back ourselves ? ``

Dolohov scowled in his way. `` He will not be needing all of them. And you would do well to keep your rima oris shut from now on or I will shut out it for you. ``

The discussion ended.

It was then that he heard it.

'' You ... ''

Only he had heard her whispered accusation, for it could be goose egg else. The sheer revulsion in that one, whispered word left goose egg to question.

Her eyes had moved from Dolohov, drifting into the background beyond, liquid fire boiling beyond their profundity. Lifting his own he followed her gaze to where Ludo Bagman stood, pouring himself another fidgety drink.

He turned his confusion upon her, noticing her pectus 's rhythmic rising as her breathing time came quicker, bass, faster ...

Golden eye flickered shut, a pained verbal expression falling across her.

'' How sorry were you ? '' She breathed to herself, only barely, for the hatred saturating her sonant tones was not lost upon him.

It was chilling.

His own simmering descent froze as he studied her, taking vantage of the letup in activities.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered, almost pleadingly.

Her hateful gaze burned right through him, straight to Bagman.

'' Kaylens please ... ''

Her eyes fell shut, her fist opening and closing on slender air. `` You 're bleeding ceramist, are you alright ? '' She whispered shakily.

Gently brushing his arm against her own, he waited for some sign that she was alright.

Minutes passed, before delicate palpebra flickered out-of-doors, her center alight with an aberrant glow.

'' Good. '' She murmured. `` Because I can only give you a bit. ``

His mouth flapped wordlessly, shocked at the shift before him.

Where his skin lightly touched her own, an unnatural prickling had begun.
* * * * *


The push reverberating from him drew her nearer, an eternity pass before she was able to forcibly take in away.

His confusion radiated in startling quantity, but he would understand soon enough.

They would all understand ...

She would not stray near him again, for her world was moving unnaturally sluggish, as if the effect occurring around her were illusory, fleeting icon from horrible dreams that would surely vanish with a pennon of merciful consciousness.

Only no such merciful picnic came.

Her bound hired hand 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 smear of blood along her cheek gave evidence to that.

She could feel the rut radiating from Dean 's limp form.

He was alive ...

Hermione ...

The pocket-sized girl 's digit had curled around fallen chunks of her bloodied, extirpate hair, as if the resolute Gryffindor had wanted something to hold onto, something solidness and real to raise the afflictions had been real.

They had ...

Her middle fell willfully shut once more, immersing herself in the peaceful oblivion of darkness, where no demons save her own reigned.

The store of a resurrect night, long due revenge, beckoned.

A hobble handwriting lay splayed across the front corridor ... origin trickling onto the wooden porch display board ...

'' God forgive me ... '' She breathed, the tangible chill filling her lungs.

She had made her decision.

The chilling rainwater pelted down, something dark mixing with the dirty weewee licking at her olfactory organ ...

The tingling began softly, like a light feather playacting across her skin, traversing it 's way upwards, inwards ...

It was their blood swirling within the pool ... .Sean 's blank eyes staring back ...

It was rolling in distinct waves, operating by it 's own insensible rules, pulsating from the bread and butter, evaporating from the dead.

A boyish look appeared above her, sympathy in his oceanic eyes. `` I 'm awfully sad about this kid ... ''

His voice had echoed through that night, and again this day.

He had stood idly by once, and was again.

She squeezed her eyes shut ever stringent, involuntarily quiver traveling through her, the intoxicating pressure in the very air building, pulsating in uncontrolled Wave outwards.

The world was taking on a hotter quality, every face burning with ardent intensity as she began reaching, feeling ...

The acid presence of Ludovic Bagman filled her, and she began drawing.

Her intention was to kill.



A/N : Please forgive the source 's line, but I believe a right thank you is in ordering.

Thank you for making this news report the Number One Favorite Story on the site, for making me the Number One Favorite generator on the situation, for making this the 7th near read story in the site 's account when it has been out for less than a year, and for making this the story with the Most Reviews Ever.

I honestly ca n't express how traumatise I was to see that. I truly feel that I do not deserve such an honor, because having read many of the other fib on this site, I feel that my writing pale in comparing to the wealth of talent displayed by others such as njill22, 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 scoop reader in the worldly concern. I truly do.


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exposure couresty of the previously mentioned public domain website. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.