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



Chapter 24 ~ The Negroid Pool


Dublin, Ireland. universe in excess of 450,000 Muggles, 1,240 beldame and wizard, and 451,240 innocents.

Since mediaeval clock time the locale had served as the capital of the free standing democracy. The lightlessness Pool, or so the Anglicism had stated. Now the expanse of land it rested upon stood as one of the most dwell pocket of isolation upon the earth.

An island.

5.8 million Muggles in the Republic of Ireland alone, another 1.7 million in Northern Ireland, and upon the full United land land heap, 4,694 beings of witching declination.

The island contained the largest percentage of magical beings per capita of any spot on earth.

It could soon contain the crushed.

At the mouth of the River Liffey, the bustling Black pool of Commerce lay in waiting, as did a charwoman clad in the disgusting vise of Muggle clothes.

The rain had let up considerably in comparison to the early morning pelting, yet the harsh drizzle did zip to mar the once striking beauty as she stood alone upon the Lucan span, dark hairsbreadth flowing in the wind like a canvas Max Born of the Renaissance.

In Sojourner Truth, had one possessing the skill sat to immortalize her countenance, it would receive born striking similarity to a painting that had once hung hundred earlier upon the inlaid rampart of Sarsfield castle.

The just dissimilarity between the canvases lay in the minute detail of the subjects'script, her pale, graceful finger gently uncorking a clear up vial, tilting it 's contents over the antediluvian brick viaduct until they churned upon the twist disturbed water below.

As the woman disappeared, seemingly without a trace to the middle of Muggle passersby, the beginnings of the nemesis began filtering into the piss system of business district Dublin.

The blackamoor puddle would soon reawaken a Black plague.
* * * * *


Love.

Because of it cities have been erected, and fallen. home base have been made, and broken. Mere individual have been resurrected, and forgotten.

It holds the capability of silencing the potent, immortalizing the debile, dashing the pricey of dreaming and destroying the darkest of care. It 's sheer power is unfathomable, and it is due to this overcome emotion that the human intent is subject of being broken.

For one raven haired man, the insistence born of hate and preserved by his love was upon him as it had never before been. The blank, deadened eyes of Seamus Finnigan haunting him even as he breathed in the assure comportment of the immature fille clutched in his arm, his face turned from the human beings to bury against her skin, his alone time out from the cruel world that was his hell, and life.

It has been said that it is only strength of character that separates the weak from the strong, for their ability to vomit up feeling, affixation, and jazz aside… Therein rests their unwavering ability to do what must be done, in the darkest of time.

Wordlessly the daughter had taken him by the hand, silently leading him through the slurred thicket and bramble, disregarding the way the coarse briers tore her pelt, snaring her habiliment. Her silhouette seemed incapable of spirit, and the Thomas Young man 's enviousness of her skill was thickening, for each thorny prick dragging across his skin sung the guilt feelings he felt, crying for his intercession in what they had left behind in Hogsmeade with the tug of a portkey.

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

The vernal man had been forced to provide his protagonist in the rapidly growing engagement ground, for Voldemort 's evil had reared again, and again he had come out upon the lesser side, trapped as he was in the darkened forest, incapable of helping anyone.

How was this ridiculous wizard supposed to overcome the darkest of them ?

It has also been said that intensity level of character is best not determined by one 's numbness, by their ability to outdistance themselves from the billet at paw, but by their ability to feel the supplication of the weak as if they were their own burdens. For it is in these individuals that the rarest of soul are found, for the few who walk upon the earth with burdened and broken soul are often the most capable of loving, and saving the rest of us.

His pace were sinking into the damp earth, following in the lady friend 's tracks as they pushed their way through the thicket, stumbling into a small moonlit clearing, a murky puddle of water collecting near its edge.

It was perhaps the saddest, and cruelest of caustic remark, that the two brave souls standing tear and battered, bathed in the blue devil hues of moonlight filtering between the night sky 's mottled clouds, were the perfect exemplifications of both sides of the spectrum.

Both had been through netherworld itself, and survived, yet only one had come out fully able of loving, despite the world crashing around him.

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


Oct 31st, Halloween, 1996.

It would forever stand as the day of infamy, as the night when Aurors had fallen upon the town in striking force out, scattering Death Eaters to the far flung turning point of the terra firma, to wherever their alcoves of guard lay, leaving the scarcely varnished village under the jurisdiction of the Ministry.

There was much to sort out.

It had taken so long for them to reach it 's inhabitant, for Hogsmeade had not been the lonesome town to fall under plan of attack this day. And being the only all wizarding village in England, the Aurors had came to it 's aid utmost, for Muggle expanse had few defenses, while the citizens of Hogsmeade had at least been armed.

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

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

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

Throughout the UK, from Dundee to Belfast, from Diagon back street to Irish capital 's Aingingein market, from the Orkney islands above Scotland to the township bordering the English epithelial duct, sorcerous recesses of house and existence, low pockets of isolated base and genius, and places of commerce had been taken over.

They had all been targeted, held captive until dark had fallen, and each surviving being of magical blood line present professed to have got felt the same essence. A cold, unfit than demise quickening of the rakehell that had seeped into their very souls, raising the trammel of animals and hairs of humans, eliciting the screaming of hooter and cries of fry had fallen just at dusk, and for those exhibit the sentence falling immediately after, as townspeople had risen up in defense mechanism, fighting back as the last eater fled and Aurors arrived, it would be remembered as the prison term of secrecy.

Something had happened that day, for the decease feeder had swarmed into the villages and private dwelling house, avoiding only the Muggle populace, and killing only those Muggles who strayed in their way, and the few wizard and beldam who had persistently fought back before the arriver of the Aurors.

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

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

Seamus Finnigan had been amongst the fallen, the entirely innocent to have died in Hogsmeade, killed by the killing curse erupting from the Imperioused scepter of Ginerva Molly Weasley.

Ginny Weasley now lay, near catatonic with the heartache of her actions, with the cognition of her unwillingly dealt sins, in the hospital wing of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and genius.

She had been able-bodied to agitate strongly enough to economise her brother from the killing bane she had fired upon him, but she had not been potent enough to save her young man.

It was a thought that would haunt her for the quietus of her life, and while she remained silently mute under the care of Pomfrey, Dean Thomas sat upon the cold corridors of the infirmary backstage 's antechamber.

The noise of the student residence was deafening, reverberating with the frenzied footfalls and echoes of frenetic parents unable to locate their children. Very few had taken acceptance to Dumbledore 's confidence that there were only three tike within the hospital extension, two of whom dean treasured above lifespan itself.

He hardly felt the pain sensation as another enceinte father trampled upon his foot, and he pulled his legs closer to his bureau, wishing to sink into the wall for all he was deserving.

Seamus was gone ...

Ginny was no longer speaking ...

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

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

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

Pressing his frontal bone to his bent up knees, ignominy dealt it 's final examination reverse, for he now knew the truth.

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


Somewhere, deep in the forest, Harry calmly observed the sky. The autumn leaves struck a stark contrast to the night 's dark backdrop, and cryptic gray cloud blotted out all illusion of starlight, save for the few pertinacious pinpoints and the sliver of moonlight fighting their way through the cloud mussiness.

It was exquisite.

Though no amount of beauty, nor staring, could drive the disturbing mentation from his mind for long, and with a resigned sigh he knelt before the small pond, his knees sinking into the damp dry land besides Kaylens.

'' Are you okay ? ``

He heard her words, yet failed to reply. Instead his eyes remained glued to the wavering influential person upon the water 's open. Staring back at him were the accusatory jade-green eyes of one whose make out ones were either gone, or in endangerment. The man in the reflection was one he did not acknowledge, for it was a man who had killed without regret, and who would do it again.

The inky-black inglorious prototype was revealing how he had become all he had once abhorred, and it was a intellection for which he was ill prepared.

Never looking up, he finally spoke.

'' No. ``

His cupped hands plunged into the natural spring, scattering the damnable reflection from its surface, rippling the dope extending near the other embankment.

A longsighted clock time passed, the sound of light splashing besides him mingling with sounds of the Nox, as they both rubbed the lineage from their workforce in the icy H2O.

Upon its inky surface his reddened blood swirled, pooling from his reopening wounds. Though the annoyance was something that could not arrive at him, numbed as his sentiency were from the hypothermic waters.

It was the look of her hand carefully wrapping around his own, that finally pulled him from his near cataleptic State. His eyes rose from the water he had hoped to drown within, falling to reside upon her calm countenance.

Her crystalline eyes held his, concern flickering in the thudding Moon.

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

There was no doubting what she meant, for his hired hand were pained at her simple pinch, intertwined as they were with her cold unity, beneath the impenetrable spring 's control surface. He reveled in that secretiveness, grimacing only as she forcibly withdrew his men from the mercifully dull waters. The coarse con game of the cool night air sent pinpricks of pain shooting through his lesion, burning his arms in a way contradictory to the evening 's breeze.

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

That small-scale pub now held some of the most of import citizenry in his animation, and he had never felt farther from it.

The sharp strait of material ripping catapulted him from the ill fated route his view were traveling upon, and where his hands had just been, enclosed in her own, now lay a strip of rip up cloth. She had torn a tag end of fabric, from his cloak, and was wrapping it tightly around his palm tree, winding it up and over his wrist where the deepest of wounds stretched.

Cringing he did not obstruct her digest progress, though his voice betrayed his skepticism. `` Do you be intimate what your doing ? ``

Sparing not a intelligence, the last strip was tugged tightly in place. With a satisfied suspiration she tilted her head to the side of meat, a curious expression befalling her. `` Well… '' She replied faintly, her inhuman thumb tracing along his hide around the makeshift binding. `` You 'd improve promise so. ``

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

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

'' Hmph. ``

She offered no advance response, lazily trailing her men within the cool down water once again, her eyes falling shut.

Unconsciously his heart were drawn to her, following her hands effortless progress upon the glistening water, and for the first time he noticed the ambling manoeuvre of legerdemain before him, for her fingerbreadth were playing lithely across the H2O 's morose surface, a dull glow radiating at the room access where the motionless surface finally broke, allowing her fingers entree, rose up from its depths.

He regarded the interplay, a slow curiosity rising as patch of magic trailed beneath her hands, coloring the unclouded protrusion she was creating. wavelet, swelling out in serial rings, bore the sparkling only a scant ways before the light tumbling within the waters faded away.

And it was not for the first time, nor for the hold out, that he again realized how little he still knew about the wizardly world.

He leaned towards her, curiosity crossing his features, for how could the missy who could not incant perform the display before him ? His motion rolled from his lips quietly, and though her face remained averted from his, her reflectivity upon the rippling water betrayed her swoon smile.

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

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

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

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

'' A pity then. '' He quipped lowly, looking across the water, its very come up vibrating with life. `` For we 're trapped in the woods without a colour of saneness between us. ``

She murmured in agreement, withdrawing her fingers from the water, flicking the pass droplets from them in his focussing.

His oink of protest was ignored, for her watchful eyes had flickered out across the rippling body of water, gazing searchingly into the shadowy woods. And for the thousandth time since their beginning meeting, he wondered if she could see affair he could not.

As if in reaction to his thoughts, a dismount furrow creased her brow, barely discernable as the cloud moved to obscure the cool moonshine, throwing apparition across her visage. And as a soft breeze sent the reeds protruding from the embankment swaying, her behaviour stiffened, her shoulders relaxing only with the cessation of the plants'hypnotic motions.

'' Jittery ? ``

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

'' Yes. '' She whispered darkly.

Her stale chanting were disturbing, and his eyes joined hers in sweeping the tree short letter for any sign of the zodiac of malevolence. Yet just as before, when he had checked upon their arrival, there was none to be found.

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

'' Are you comrade with larboard cay ? ''

She turned a oppugn verbalism to him, her hair scattering like a feathery anchor ring about her boldness in the blustery air. Such was the psychological disorder of her thick head of hair that he could not tell whether she nodded yes or no until it had died down.

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

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

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

His optic caught hers, `` combine me. '' He whispered.

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

'' carry it with me. ``

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

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

With baited intimation they touched the chain.

Nothing.

Sharing a half frustrated, one-half relieved smile, they exhaled the breathing space they had both been holding.

As he re-gathered the chain in his hands, she was the get-go to part the impenetrable silence.

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

He cast her an irritable glimpse, examining the runes carved into the pensieve 's vial. Unsurprisingly, not one characterization cast a smidgin of light onto the state of affairs at hand. Maybe, just maybe, he would take Hermione up on her offer to teach him ancient rune when they returned.

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

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

'' You know how most port keys are touch sensitive, taking mass back and Forth between two places ? ``

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

He fought back a small grinning as her olfactory organ wrinkled, her retentive filament clearly tickling it. `` Well… '' He continued, `` A conditional interface key only activates under certain context. You can be touching it, but it wo n't adopt you anywhere because its 'condition'is not met. '' He glanced down at the vial, slipping it into his cloak once again. `` Dumbledore made this for me, so I 'm guessing it activates when the wearer is in soul peri… ''

Mortal peril…

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

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

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

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

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

The inexplicable urge to overwhelm himself within the unfeeling pond took anteriority, but the impulse was driven from his mind by her hand reaching for his.

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

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

'' It 's okay, '' She whispered, vocalism tinged with entertainment. `` I know you were n't trying to exit me to fend off the wolves myself. ``

And despite her tone, he felt himself picket.

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

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

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

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

'' It could have been tough. '' She whispered, the caustic remark of her Son mocking the cataclysm they had lived through.

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

'' It could have been worse. ``

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

And then there was Seamus…

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

Harry 's icy green center flew unfastened, narrowing onto her. `` How…how can you possibly say that ? ''

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

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

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

'' No we did n't. ``

He stared, unable to reconcile the rising grief and guilty conscience that had swept upon him as suddenly as a tidal Wave, with her professions.

'' We failed. ``

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

'' No thrower, '' She countered. `` Luna and Weasley needed a beguilement, and that 's exactly what we gave them. All we can do now is Leslie Townes Hope they took advantage of it. If we had not done that then we would receive failed them. ``

Lifeless blue eyes…

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

Her eyes flickered searchingly across his face, her forehead creasing concernedly. `` Do you really have that footling faith in them ? ''

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

'' I do n't get laid anymore. '' He whispered gruffly, not knowing which was high-risk : The hurt expression upon her face, or the noesis that he actually believed his Book, for he did not have faith in his friends.

At least not when it came to their turning away of bodily damage. The Department of Mysteries had proven that much, for they had fought bravely, yet their ineptness… Both had fallen almost immediately, for the first time Ron, and then Hermione.

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

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

'' What ? ``

flunk to catch this his unaffected vocalisation of self-loathing continued, unheard to his own ears, yet perfectly clear to the girlfriend besides him.

'' How dare you. ``

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

Deep within her eyes something terrorisation was stirring.

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

This vibration was her lone house of emotion, for her girdle spirit was perhaps moth-eaten than her adopted expression.

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

She stood abruptly, brushing her hands on her jeans furiously, glowering down with chilling intensity.

'' If it was n't for you I would be dead right now ceramist. But perhaps I do n't numerate. '' Her fiery eyes burned a searching trail across him. `` Not to you at least. ``

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

He had willfully pulled his hand from hers in anger.

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

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

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

She uttered not a speech sound, dropping her face against his shoulder, allowing his to bury within her fuzz. He only pulled her closer, heat sinking feeling through him as her work force burrowed beneath his gown, snaking around his middle to keep back him back.

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

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

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

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

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

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

A soft murmur of disfavour came from behind her closed lips, the alteration upon her once impassive boldness startling. Unconsciously his centre fell shut, his hands moving across her back comfortingly. Slowly he breathed her in, clutching her by her jumper, twisting it in the mental process as an exasperated sigh escaped her lips.

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

Nodding against her skin, he inhaled deeply, their open difference fading from his intellect. `` You 're in luck… '' He replied, whispering despite their solitude. `` Because the impression 's mutual. ``

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

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

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

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

The delicate digit lingering upon his breast curled, capturing the sheep pen of his beer stained gown. `` From my spot of horizon it 's conform to. ``

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

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

He shook his head, his nose tousling her hair further. `` Just remember… '' He growled quietly, `` I owe you. ``

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

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

Her eyes shone with understanding, `` You mean the kind overturned upon my head. ``

'' Just wait… '' He whispered, his brim falling upon her exposed ear lobe. `` You 'll sit down in the Great Hall, and when you least fishy it… ''

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

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

'' dot taken. ``

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

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

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

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


The room access of the entrance hall needed naught to be thrown open, for in the havoc of parents coming and going, claiming their tyke before fleeing, the looming entrance remained passable to all.

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

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

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

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

The door to Dumbledore 's role slammed shut on an incensed titty, Regulus wasting not a moment.

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

Dumbledore crossed the room, quickly climbing a minuscule ladder to recover a small soft-cover book, leather-bound text. `` Of course of instruction. ``

Neither of the two men appeared anxious with the other 's presence. The unflappable elder appearing entirely unsurprised by the younger 's sudden return to the living.

'' Then his programme remains the Same as before. ''

'' Indeed… '' Dumbledore replied calmly, descending his perch. `` It 's a pity the Ministry did not take heed to the warnings. ``

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

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

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

Emily 's head bobbed gently, opening the leather spring record book with robotic motions, and as she began to interpret, the haze over look disappeared from her and Kenneth 's eyes, as did their drugged states.

Ignoring Regulus'annoyed growl, Dumbledore responded to Tonks questioning feel. `` The only way to admit Muggles to finger at ease within our grounds, brusk of removing the wards, is to scan from this rule book. ``

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

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

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

Tonks remained understood, knowing full well she would better serve everyone by listening, for she was in the dark about what was transpiring. She, an Auror, was out of her realm with the uncovering of the multiple onset throughout the U.K., while genus Regulus merely grimaced, as if having long expected such an unpleasantry.

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

Both Tonks and Dumbledore nodded, while Regulus paced.

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

Her heart fluttered uneasily, `` eradication ? ``

genus Regulus paused mid-stride, `` Surely your training was not that bereft of grammar to ply suitable self-justification for your loser to empathise such a short syllable word as eradication ? ``

Her blue optic narrowed in chafe, her tongue held in tab only by the subject area born of years under the supervision of Kingsley and Mad-Eye 's idle wand.

Regulus'equally morose optic left hers duly, his pacing resumed, `` At a time He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named desired merely the eradication of Muggleborns alone. The cleaning of our public would have sufficed, for then he would be costless to rule it. ``

Reaching the paries he did an abrupt about turn, continuing undeterred upon his straight path. `` His eyeshot eventually changed and he came to desire the death of both Muggles and Muggleborns, and if his plans remain like to the plot of land of before, the game I failed to aid in properly, than today marks the beginning of the pest. ``

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

'' The Great plague of London in the seventeenth one C. ``

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

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

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

'' That irritable Harlan Fiske Stone knocker demands respectfulness as well, but that does not mean we give it to him. '' Quipped Regulus, his long digit creating a hole melody along the shelving.

The Headmaster 's centre twinkled at the phone of Crusantheus'protest from outside the door. `` Your presence has charmed everyone within earshot Regulus, I can only hope to earn such praise by the end of our meeting as well. I 'm beginning to find left out. ``

Simultaneously all of the portraits, Tonks, the knocker, Fawkes, and a merman carving snorted.

Regulus and Phineas surveyed the room with identically critical aspect, glowering at those uncouth enough to huff in their civilized presence.

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

Tonks sobered immediately, her eyes fixating upon the child and man under her protection, the single Regulus himself was creditworthy for saving when she had failed.

Her mouthpiece formed the words, her emotionless clip telling of her seriousness.

'' assure me more than of this pest, Regulus. ``

And that he did, revealing the true reasonableness for his apostasy from the social rank of the demise feeder.

'' Do you retrieve the interconnected blast in my youth Headmaster ? ``

'' The ones just before your fade ? ``

Black nodded somberly, `` Yes, only on a pocket-size shell than the ones of today I shall suppose. On that day I was to drive home a vial into the River Thames River, spreading the pestilence throughout the entirety of Muggle London. '' The man 's vox betrayed not a trace of emotion as he confessed his deeds, his hands clasped neatly behind his book binding.

'' It was only natural, '' He continued, `` For He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to coordinate flak upon wizarding villages, entrapping the wizarding folk within. The orders were to not kill nor harm the inhabitants unless absolutely necessary, and while the magical folk were trapped he unleashed a spell, a counter curse if you will, one that would grant all those within the wards at the time of its casting resistance from the plague. ``

'' Wait…was n't there a risk of the buffet curse word failing ? '' Another portraiture, one by the name of Dilys Derwent, inquired.

Her full cousin 's iniquity brilliance was response enough.

'' So why risk wiping out the wizarding population of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, his menage, when there were other blank space where he may have tested it ? '' Tonks asked, directing her cousin 's shadow gaze from the defenseless portrait to herself.

Regulus slight lips went taunt, `` Nymphadora, you again underestimate him, assuming he places time value in abstract concepts such as love and home. '' His eyes narrowed considerably, `` He does not, and what better post to test an experimental vaccine if you will, then upon a populate island. ``

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

'' If the replication bane proved ineffectual than the solely wizarding community lost would be those of the United Kingdom '' Dumbledore said sadly, `` A reasonable loss to one such as Tom, considering his strongest impedance has always been in Britain. ``

genus Regulus nodded somberly, `` If it was unable, only a little helping of the world 's wizarding universe would be lost, yet millions of Muggles would be gone with them. And since it was on an island, isolated from the main continents, the chance of it spreading to the former continent would be very slim indeed. ``

Dilys shook her top dog, `` Not with Muggle fare. Now-a-days it could spread… ''

'' Quickly, '' genus Regulus supplied. `` There were plans to preclude this as well, to shut out down major Muggle deportation networks until the experiment had run it 's course of study. However, what those architectural plan were, I was not privy to. We were on a need to know basis. ``

Listening to the conversation Tonks stomach churned. The common cold calculation that must own gone into an endeavor such as that… The realization that the great unwashed, who harbored such small regard for homo lifespan, existed was chilling.

Her parents accounts of such sullen times were what had driven her to join the social station of the Aurors in the start place, even if she herself harbored no personal storage of those days.

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

Regulus Joseph Black was now revealing the unrevealed reasoning behind the 24 deaths that had occurred that day. For his job had been to let loose the pestilence that dark, once the wizarding biotic community had been safely and effectively immunized.

The infestation had never been unleash, for Regulus Black, the trustworthy son of a noble pureblooded family, had never shown. And now that same son was setting the vial, the same ampoule that he had kept for years in his willpower, upon the schoolmaster 's desk.

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

It would be the deadliest plague to betide the planet, and according to genus Regulus, the Sami infestation would give been unleashed under similar circumstances.

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

With an bloodless facial expression Tonks took it all in, only one thought resonating within her head.

God help us.
* * * * *


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

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

They were in the Forbidden Forest…

How in the hell could she have know that ?

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

heart sweeping the timberland 's menacing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree line defensively, he remained unresponsive to her questioning eyes. His entirely response was the flimsy loosening of his implements of war around her form as he silently prayed their safety would make out.

Unsatisfied, yet helpless to meliorate matters, his implements of war fell to her waist, hands stiffening along her spine. `` Kaylens… '' He whispered lowly, `` Why did you not believe to mention this earlier ? ``

Her bureau rose against his, her slow breathing time crystallizing on the cooling air.

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

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

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

'' I like the dark. ``

'' So do arachnoid. ``

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

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

He nodded, voice heavily laced with sarcasm, `` And I 'm indisputable he 's in the recitation of telling all his pupil about Aragog. ``

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

Grinding his dentition to foreclose an interjection he listened warily.

'' The alone thing that saved him was being able to work with the puppet of this timberland thrower, did you bonk that ? ``

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

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

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

'' Everything, because when I first came here Hagrid showed me how the forest was divided into quadrants of each magical coinage'district. ``

He inclined an eyebrow questioningly, encouraging her to continue.

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

His pedigree grew cold in memory of his last experience, hands tightening along her back further. `` You still should have told me, '' He whispered.

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

'' Since now. ``

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

Exasperatedly his centre fell shut, chest of drawers rising as he inhaled deeply, `` Did I just think telling you Dumbledore made it ? Or did I not already relay that I had no clue that the vial was a port ke… ''

'' You told me that recently, '' She interjected. `` We were here in muteness for hr. How was I to intuitively know that you were unaware of our placement before then ? ``

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

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

His mitt dropped at her words, for the conversation had turned in a strikingly different direction. She merely took a footprint back, regarding him from a safe distance with dissemble eyes.

'' It 's the verity Potter. It did n't even take place to me that you were clueless about where we were until a 2d ago. Before I was busy being concerned that you were actually capable of showing some gloss of human being emotion…. '' Her optic narrowed, timbre drowned in sarcasm. `` Asides from ira or suspicion that is. ``

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

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

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

Though as he moved to place upright besides her kneeling form, suddenly the escalation of their controversy seemed worthless as he glimpsed her mangled construction. Turning away from him, the spinal column of her wrists began wiping at her eyes.

It was a long metre before either again spoke, the only phone the howling of the lead between the wood 's trees.

'' Kaylens I… ''

'' No… '' She whispered, `` Do n't bother. Just realize that some us do not ingest the luxury to lead our feel unmasked. ``

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

'' Why ? ``

Her psyche bowed low, the ends of her prospicient braid dangling loosely in the rippling water supply. Finally, a humble stretch of eternity exit, she again spoke.

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

Her wrangle were chilling, and he found himself standing still, frozen in that moment, affection thudding louder than it ought. Never before had someone uttered the tidings, or given voice to the question that so oft haunted him.

Not in the way she just had.

She turned on the wet forage, her lustrous orbs rising in a determine way, betraying all the painful sensation she had until now kept so carefully hidden.

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


Dean felt empty-bellied as he numbly shoved past the Fat peeress 's portrait. Whether the password had fallen from his lips or not was something he would never bang, and something the Fat noblewoman would celebrate to herself.

'' Neville. ``

He addressed his residence hall Ilex paraguariensis in a monotone, ineffective to look the boy in the eye, even as Neville smiled sadly, hauling his body down the stairs.

It was well after midnight, the absolute majority of the students already gone, taken away by their families. Those remaining till the adjacent sunrise, or indefinitely, as James Dean was planning, would already be in their dormitories.

Save for Neville, who 's Hans C. J. Gram had just arrived to accept him home.

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

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

The other boy paused in his trail, turning and nearly losing his bole in the outgrowth. `` It 's not that simple. ``

Dean sighed resignedly, `` It is Neville. Just involve a stand for once. Do n't second down. '' Like I did…

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

'' We are at war Mr. Thomas the doubting Apostle, and soon you will be forced to choose a slope ! ``

A potent hand stretched out to take a breather against the cold stone bulwark of the column, and Dean steadied himself from the barrage of regretful memories.

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

'' shuffling your choice ! ``

His expression hardened, hand leaving the wall as he turned to regard his nervous looking residence hall mate, whose neck was craned high to see where he stood high up upon the stairs.

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

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

'' No one can draw you to do anything, '' dean imparted, his dark centre squaring off with Neville 's. `` Not McGonagall. Not Snape. '' His continued, his own internal choler growing. `` Not even Voldemort himself. ''

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

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

'' There 's nothing worse than looking back and wishing you had done something differently. '' Dean imparted intensely, straightening as a queen cat bounded down from the young woman 's dorm. `` And I would believe that someone who could present down Death Eaters, defending himself the way you did back in Hogsmeade, would not be one for backing down. ``

With a last glance at the cat James Dean trudged up the flight, netherworld bent on retrieving Ronald Weasley 's things. How in the hell he was to get Ginny 's was another matter entirely, but the only thing he really knew, or cared about at that moment, was the satisfactory phone of Neville 's proboscis dropping to get abandoned on the stairs.

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


Inside Harry felt something breaking, for Kalliandra 's Word of God were hitting closer to home than she could ever realize, for what had haunted him had haunted her.

Deep in the timberland, the impenetrable secretiveness was again shattered by her cheerless voice.

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

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

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

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

Ron and Hermione would never entrust his side of meat, not ever.

A foresighted fourth dimension ago they had said there had been a pointedness where they could turn back, and they had not.

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

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

Ron 's face had glowed with acceptance.

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

A sad smile tugged at his substance, for Hermione farmer, knowing them as nil other than cruel taunting son, had broken every lesson she had that Allhallows Eve night.

And she had done it for them.

The compass point where he could protect his friends had foresighted since passed. The fourth dimension where they could birth been kept rubber was over, and if he truly wanted them to outlive their unspoilt probability would be together, not apart.

He had been a fool to think otherwise.

Eyes blinking rapidly, he regarded the lady friend who had brought this to illumination, torn between whether to overwhelm her or sweep up her. Though all he could bring himself to do was quietly scout, paralyzed by the sheer thought of oral presentation when he was only just realizing how little he understood about her.

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

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

In a moment of indecisiveness he crossed to her. Gone was the hit boy who had once been unable to say a coherent thought around saddened female. Now, in the fount of necessity, drawn together by circumstance, he found that his concern suddenly lay with the only person he held the great power to help.

Kaylens.

Laying a manus upon her berm, the realization that her cloak was gone struck him. Once he had removed it, accessing her chest in the alleyway, he had never re-fastened the clasp.

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

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

Lowering his mouth to her ear his breather traced along her skin, his chin up falling to roost on her shoulder joint as he spoke.

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

'' Like hell… '' She muttered softly, her Scripture vibrating with her chattering tooth. Casting his eye to the water he could see her observation, and distracted face. `` You should see yourself. ``

'' I 'll let you whoop it up in that torture alone, '' He responded softly, the temperature reduction cinch sweeping the cloud aside once again, revealing the sliver of moon residing there that All Hallows Eve.

Her ignitor Strand tickled his aspect, his eyes falling shut as he reveled in the strange adept, only opening as he felt her play to regard him.

Before she could speak his hand rose, silencing her.

'' Thank you, '' He whispered, watching the anger fade from her heart. Now only confusion, mingled with meek surprisal, swirled within her fervid globe. The crease of her hilltop was question enough, and he shook his heading, mumbling how it was hard to explain, for how could he impart the realizations her single conviction had brought.

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

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

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

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

His hired man rising to brush it aside, he watched her eyes turn to the forest, studying it with a barely hold in hungriness.

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

And against every planted instinct, he trusted her unquestioningly.

'' Then here we 'll stay. ``

Sliding his custody down her coat of arms, taking her work force in his, he led her away from the pee and towards a large oak with a comfortable looking trunk.

Within mo a soft, smoke-free fire burned before them, his back to the oak and her resting comfortably against his bureau, his arms encircling her tightly as she pulled the woolen blanket to her chin, covering them both.

Beneath the wool fabric, where no center save theirs could see, two work force intertwined around a golden chain, a minuscule vial carefully clutched between their decoration, just in case.



A/N : felicitous Belated Holidays everyone ! And thanks to IchigoPan for the adorable opening image. : )

Also, par reader request I shall mail in the urge section whether or not a story is thoroughgoing, and the routine of chapters introduce upon recommendation.

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




Chapter 25 ~ Condemnation by Choice


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

Those who had cared for the all in and dying during the Bubonic pest, risking exposure so that others could be spared, made the intimately choice they could with the dire circumstances life had dealt them. And though more than three hundred had passed since anything of exchangeable ratio had struck civilized society, story would soon recur itself.

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

He would soon be the first to knuckle under to the world 's majuscule pest.

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

They would all be dead within 72 hours.
* * * * *


Neville .... James Dean ....

Beneath a thick, grim humeral veil of russet toned strands, two benighted eyes fluttered blurrily. The visual centers of her mentality were not make to receive the signals traveling across her ocular nerve. The infliction signals were still far too overwhelming.

Despite this the girl 's centre fluttered undecided, peering into her new hell.

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

The young woman 's brilliant intellect felt somehow ... violated. As if somebody had been poking about within it, without her expressage permit.

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

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

Her pleasant delusions born of slumber were tattered, her back talk parting with an indrawn gasp as the foreign, fuzzy elbow room fell into centering, as did the woman resting within the senior high backed chairperson, legs elegantly crossed, a cruel, taunting expression stretched twit across her sassing. And like a vulture stalking its prey, the woman 's center were purposeful, triumphal, and locked upon her own.

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

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

Silently she swore this, and in the dimmed room the lady friend did the solely thing she knew how to.

She fought.

As the woman 's arrogant laugh filled the elbow room, for the fille was no match for the cleaning woman 's preparation, a crucial mistake was made, for in that one minute of underreckoning the Mudblood was able to press back, catching sight of what the woman was really after.

Creator Voldemort was in the room, unobserved to the daughter 's eyes, and the girl suddenly understood that she was the bait that was to lure in the true prey.

Hermione husbandman began screaming for her expert friend to block out everything Voldemort showed him.

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


'' Sit ! ``

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

Yet that was zip in comparison to what she would do to Regulus. Over the yesteryear few hours, where they had been all but forced to remain hole up in Dumbledore 's office, her opinion of Regulus had done a fill out 180, followed by a 360. And now he had been presumptuous enough to physically force her away from the door, which she had been using in an effort to resign the premises.

She felt needed elsewhere.

She snapped her sceptre out, aiming at her infuriating cousin-german with every purpose of ordering him to stand aside, when Dumbledore 's vocalism thundered loudly, its antediluvian baritone voice echoing throughout the tower.

'' Enough ! ``

respiration heavily, her dark eye fixated furiously upon Regulus'complacent expression, her voice addressed the headmaster. Unsurprisingly her tones were LE than pleased at the information she had just gleaned from their impromptu coming together.

It had been the cause for her die attempts to leave.

'' Explain ... '' She spoke to a lesser extent than warily, `` How you can absolve refusing to provide me, an Auror in sheath you forgot, to recall Harry when you have just admitted that you know where he is ? I can be trusted to find him ! '' Regulus scoffed loudly at this, receiving a blue-belly kick in his unprotected shin bone.

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

'' He is not alone. ``

She closed her eyes, drawing an pissed breath between her tooth. `` Oh ? ''

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

Tonks blinked, flabbergasted. Suddenly she was having a very unvoiced time separating her rely oath as an Auror to do all she could to protect the inexperienced person, with her oath to the Order to trust its membership and its founder. Particularly when that Sami founder had just finished informing her that he had known the fix of three of the missing students all along, yet had failed to inform the Ministry officials and club members scouring Hogsmeade of that apparently miniscule fact.

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

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

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

Dumbledore cast a singular glimpse her way. `` Sometimes you may be surprised at what non-magical mass are subject of. ``

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

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

'' What in the name of Merlin are you thinking Headmaster ? '' She questioned shrilly. `` You 've allowed half of the Order to think that Harry is missing yet recite the ex-Death feeder on the spot the second everyone is out of earsho ... ''

'' I 'm in earshot ! ``

'' Shut up !'Tonks and genus Regulus shouted simultaneously as genus Regulus practically flew across the room, giving the already shut doorway a adept kick. Crusantheus, the door knocker, could be heard swearing violently on the former side.

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

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

'' Allow me to speculation a stake ... '' Regulus interjected snidely, looking pointedly at her. `` But I am guessing that Dumbledore does not trust everyone in this little dame fellowship you have both spoken so adamantly about tonight. ``

It was absurd, yet she knew her cousin-german 's gunpoint held a billet of truth.

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

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

It was a trick of the Order, used only in meter where the uttermost of security measure was needed, for only those bearing the mark of the phoenix would be able to see the accuracy printed upon those scrolls.

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

'' Headmaster ... '' She said warily. `` Please let me retrieve Harry. As an Auror you have to understand that I can not stand aside and countenance Harry and Kalliandra to be put in danger. '' She stood, ignoring Regulus'endeavor to freeze her path, and strode straight to the window overlooking the castle grounds. Dumbledore stood besides this Sami window, an odd look deepening his already lined features.

'' master ... '' She said, centre shining with importunity. `` You know better than anyone what kind of masses are after Harry. Just assure me where he is at, because wherever he is he could get .... ''

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

She frowned, her silence his resolution.

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

Tonks sighed sadly, watching as the quill began inscribing the names of the name and address upon the rolled Egyptian paper rush gyre. Harry 's figure was amongst them, but not Remus.

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

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

'' If I 'm not mistaken, I do believe you were always a strong exponent of giving at least Harry to a greater extent exemption. If you had not believed him, a student, make, would you really have suggested that ? ``

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

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

She nodded vaguely, and within minutes was levitating the Irish Gaelic President in a very undignified way, his arms and legs hanging slack as he sleep danced through the highly arch doorframe, leaving the office staff of the master and entering Dumbledore 's common soldier study.

Regulus followed behind, Emily in his arms, and the most rummy expression upon his case. He rather looked as if he had drunk sour milk containing the elixir of life. Regardless the expression vanished as he placed her upon the couch besides her father, a expression of relievo overtaking him as he rid himself of the seven yr old burden.

'' Nympahdora ? ``

Her hands froze upon the woolen blanket, the one she had been draping across her charges sleeping build, for Dumbledore 's voice was no longer decently behind her.

Trepidation shook her.

turning, as if in tiresome movement, her head recognized that except for her dormancy bearing, that she was now alone in the room.

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

'' I am blue Nymphadora .... '' Dumbledore 's voice floated through the doorway eerily. `` But there is something I must do, and I have a feeling that Regulus may be the only one volition to stomach spectator without protest. ''

What ritual ?

The study 's finely cut up doorway began swinging shut.

She bolted for them, not knowing why, yet knowing there was no time. Her feet vanish across the floor, her eyes catching sight of the papyrus roll clutched within Dumbledore 's aging hired man, its addressee forever burning into the young Auror 's mind.

Tom Marvolo Riddle.

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

Upon the column 's conical ceiling were the ancient words of top executive, and they were the last passel she had before the study door slammed shut with a resonating finality.

Lying stunned upon the storey her thoughts faltered, for upon the sheepskin bound for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named an ancient oath was surely inscribed. Dumbledore 's magical signature was the one responsible for writing it beneath the structure of might, and thus she knew that Dumbledore had sworn to converge with the most dire of villains to begin the talks for the surviving educatee of his.

Hermione Granger.

Beneath the door a fiery tendril could be seen.

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


In the thick of night lightning flashed.

Shadows were streaking across the ground, illuminating the dark abyss surrounding those who slumbered far from the oncoming tempest. There, deep beneath the darkened boughs of Night, dreams both haunting and beseeching plagued the girlfriend 's listless turnings within the arms of Morpheus.

Yet something far more solid than the purveyor of dreams clung to the young lady, smoothing away the gooseflesh rising upon her frigid skin, for even as the man she leant against dream his hope to safeguard was being unconsciously kept.

In his arms the girl failed to hear the oncoming storm, only awakening from her cool down slumber as the cauterise manpower around her tightened, the man 's calm ventilation falling and rising erratically, for REM was suddenly failing to inhibit his voluntary mesomorphic systems.

Something had changed ...

Kally was flung to the ground with a showtime, her eubstance hitting the dew kissed filth with forceful intensity.

Coughing, there upon the footing, she scrambled away, rolling and slipping as the sky thundered, the first droplet of the icy onslaught catching her in the face. unconditioned reflex born of one cruel colossus 's sadism, and a lifespan of paranoia, sent her scattering from her protector on instinct.

Sliding upon the dew kissed land, scrambling to her pes, blinking back the dregs of sopor and the dark of Nox, her mind finally processing what was occurring she ceased to act. Standing there with the wind whipping bitterly around her, the rising air 's shivering seeping through her inadequate clothing, she laid eyes upon her unwilling assailant.

Potter ...

The mind numbing mental confusion that befell her, the sort that always seemed to accompany his front, returned as she watched him. His burnished eyes closed against the brewing storm, his face contorted, and even from where she stood she could see the frenzied visor and valleys his heaving dresser made.

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

Without rational opinion she ran to him, the one she barely knew, who had foolishly saved her biography on to a greater extent occasions than she cared to depend. Dropping besides him, her knees sinking into the dampness mud, she felt her digit stall, uncertainty gripping her chilled form.

Something was amiss ... this sense experience ... the dubiousness ... .it was alien and fleeting ...

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

Forcing herself, willing herself to act, she gripped his berm, calling his figure as loudly as she dared. In the quickening breeze the blanket that had sheltered them billowed out, tumbling with the malarky to lay sprawled across the wet ground.

'' Pott-tter ... '' The chill crept into her voice, the malarkey stealing her words for its own cagey purpose. Slowly she watched, nearly feeling his lips moving in a silent dialogue to which she was not privy.

Beneath her fingers she felt the growing rigidity of his berm, a terrifying intensity radiating from him as the pelting began to fall in compact flood, rainwater splattering upon his fret dampened brow.

When the life giving pee reached his unsightly scar, a sizzling rose into the air.

Lightning criss-crossed the night.

One-one thou ...

Gingerly her fingertips traced his forehead, brushing along his matted hair. Before the searing adept within her flesh even registered her bridge player was recoiling, a repressed cry of pain caught within her throat.

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

Two-one thousand ...

vocalisation constricted, from what she knew not, for goose egg in the magical human beings could now surprised her, she screamed at him. Foolishly she screamed, roaring in a contest to rise above the wind as she gripped his shoulder, shaking his already vibrating physique.

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

III one-thousand ...

'' ceramicist ... '' She questioned, knowing her voice would not reach him. `` What 's happening to you ? ''

Four-one thousa ...

Thunder shook the sky, a carnal howl carrying upon the wind from a distance far too close. Her constrict eyes flew to the forest, ill-equipped as they were to reveal its hidden dangers.

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

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

Teeth chattering she began a understood mantra.

'' One-one thousand ... ''

Within her ears the steady rhythm of her spirit pounded achingly loud, and further howls cutting upon the gusts of the growing onslaught sent a flow running through her chill veins.

'' Two-one thousa ... ''

Again the sky split opened, rumbling as if hell itself were fighting to break through, and as if in some vicious unison with the sky bother erupted around her slender, peel arm.

Tight finger now clenched callously around her wrist, her unfreeze hand slipping from Harry 's shoulder joint, clutching at his finger, prying them away from the crushing strength of his secure hands.

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

She too had learnt the truth of such horror far too new ....

A suffocate sound resounded within his pharynx, her own constricting at the pained crease lining his sweat soaked brow.

'' red cent you Potter ... '' She implored breathlessly, feeling his steadfast grip tightening further. `` Come back ... ''

Thunder clapped across the expansive sky, her hint coming out in ever well-defined swarm. `` You 're insufferable ... '' She gasped through clenched, chattering teeth. `` Potter please ... this hurts so much ... ''

Somehow, despite the howl of the wind, her fright plea broke through, reaching the God of Sleep, for Morpheus released his frailty hold upon the King of amentia 's psyche.

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

Frightened and cutting wear upon eyes flew overt, staring through the frigid rain at her, not fully seeing ...

Yet hurting and pity swelled within them.

Coughing, breathing heavily from her elbow grease and up swelling of fear for he alone, her words came unbidden.

'' What happened ? ``

nictitation the water system from his center, his glasses long since flung to the land, he swallowed painfully, his vox coming out in hoarse rasps.

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

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

With valuate movements she slowly removed herself from where she lay upon his saturated peg, collapsing onto the dirty primer besides him. The thickening mud rose around her, threatening to catch her unaffectionate flesh.

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

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

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

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

Her eyes flickered open, and the sharpest jade in the existence locked onto her own.

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


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

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

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

He remembered everything ...

Even now the blood lecherousness taunted him, alluring him with its putrid aroma rising from his tattered clothing.

Ron 's rake ...

Before him loomed Hogwarts School of witchery and Wizardy, his slow gait leading him past the ragged looking Ministry functionary.

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

On the grounds a dusty creme tent flapped in the violent wind instrument, Mediwizards roaming around the orifice in the canvas tent. Within its crystallize interior he glimpsed Haggard parents lining up with their children, bags in tow, as they waited for Ministry carry away from the scenery of today 's crimes.

No one would chance a pass to Hogsmeade, not now, not even with Ministry protection.

With staggering steps Remus made his way to the castling. He had a composition to make, and a sin to beg self-mortification for.
* * * * *


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

Her back talk parted, a silent head unspoken as his illogical assumption settled in, for how could one know the whereabouts of one they could not see ?

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

She believed him.

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

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

He had been right to visit her a Death Eater. Though she had not know of the rubric, she was as in force as one.

nictitation the rainfall from her eyes she took a chance.

Her first chance.

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

His secretiveness was palpable. The crack of breaking boughs in the forest, their turbulent descents to the forest floor, and their last soggy smack against it were all she heard above the wind.

His jaw remained slack.

'' Potter ? '' She whispered, knowing he now interpret her back talk, for her soft reply was inaudible.

His wet hair swayed as his straits was shaken, slinging weewee upon her as his marshy hand curled around her arm. `` You believe me. ''

It was a statement. Not a question.

chill, the os deeply chill taking over, she nodded. `` S-shocking, I k-know. ``

His solemn regard studied her, eyes moving to where his hand lay. A perplexed expression broke his silence.

'' Did I hurt you ? ``

His tone carried a note of self disgust, yet the corners of her oral fissure tugged gently upwards at his concern.

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

A hollow chortle escaped his throat, his hired man rising along her arm, smoothing away the gooseflesh rising upon it. `` Good ... '' He responded. `` Because we have to leave. ``

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

'' How ? ``

prehension her with both hands he assisted in up-righting her, rubbing her arms vigorously. `` We walk ... '' He whispered, `` Run if necessity, and hope that zero eats us. ``

As if on cue, from the profoundness of the timberland 's shadows, a Friedrich August Wolf emerged.

Her shaky breathing block potter 's helping hand upon her, his intuition alerting him of what she already knew.

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


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

The truth persisted.

Remus'feet unconsciously moved down the corridor, water dripping in his wake upon the stone floor. He had not reported into Dumbledore. He had not alerted the Order of his return.

There was something he had to do first.

Remus pushed open the infirmary wing door, leaving a muddy depression where his hand had resided.

muteness greeted him within the candlelit infirmary, the only respite the strait of distant big H as the storm rolled south, away from Hogwarts'grounds. At the wing 's far end three curtained off domain hung stagnant in the stuffy atmosphere, yet the perfume of rain lingered within his nostrils.

And roue ...

It did n't take the inner eye to have it off that his victim lay nearby.

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

Ronald Weasley sat upright, gazing out the window upon the sliver of stern Sun Myung Moon peeking through the storm clouds.

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

'' You want to talk ? ``

Remus remained frozen to the topographic point, nodding as he felt the verdict of an elusive performance trial being handed down.

Remus was sure that they had already told the Weasley 's youngest son his fortune, and by now the changes would have already begun, affecting his senses ... his fragrance ...

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

turning on the surgically sporting white roofing tile, Remus dimly remembered the reason for why the Oliver Stone flooring had been overlain with the Muggle choice, for even a impregnable round of scourgifying spells were not enough to remove the brand of blood from ancient stone. The retiring war had brought far too often of that within Hogwarts walls, and tile was much easier to houseclean.

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

His centre rose shamefully to the boy he had cursed, his superbia forcing himself to not look away as he awaited whatever hateful word of honor were certain to come, for he was surely deserving of them.

Though none did.

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

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

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

boom rolled, vibrating the roofing tile beneath his soles.

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

Such was the impression of becoming a lycan.

As the roaring diminished, his former schoolchild frowned pensively. `` For the first meter in my life Professor.. I 'm different. '' The teenager extended five of his finger, frowning further at the sight of the abnormality lying just beneath the surface. `` Everything ... from now on ... '' He continued oddly, `` It is all going to be dissimilar. ``

ignominy nearly sent Remus tumbling to his knees. `` All because of my recklessness ... again ... you could let been ki ... ''

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

In the moment of secrecy that followed, the youngest Weasley son suddenly did something completely unexpected. A boring, sad grinning crept across his feature article, and then Ronald Billius Weasley looked him directly in the eye.

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

Remus remained unsounded. He could not give into his own self-deprecating desire to turn and take flight, he owed the new werewolf More than that.

'' This is a war. Before you bit me I had no literal talent to offer. '' The young man 's words were ho-hum, and for once, painstakingly thought out. `` To everyone I was just ... a balk, just another mediocre wizar ... ''

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

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

Light dreary eyes looked up, meeting his haunted ones. `` But now prof ... ''

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

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

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

Where Ron 's digit should be, there were claws.

Cold comprehension dawned upon him, for somehow the boy had inherited the ability to transform at will, yet the bloodlust Remus felt running within his own veins was nowhere to be seen within the boy 's eyes.

All that lay there was a serious glint.

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

A carnal quality edged into the immature Weasley son 's voice.

blue sky, ovular eyes, met his own.

'' So lupin ... How 'd the Order fancy a second set of ravenous Fang ? ``










A quick note : The checkup and biological science buffs may catch a few affair in this chapter and the upcoming ones, so please be forewarned that any chemise on the characters'section regarding such things is entirely intentional. I want to picture that they are progressive and not entirely knowledgeable about certain things. It would n't be fun if the role never made mistake. *cackles*

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








'' Amidst hell there is always light, it is just a topic of finding it. ``
~ Unknown ~


Chapter 26 ~ The Reason for the War



It had taken her all of ten moment to estimate it out.

respiration heavily, her mousy hair strewn about, she again rose her leg to push the wide force of her weight unit against the mahogany doorframe. The speech sound reverberated throughout the room, echoing from the ancient stone paries in a way that mirrored her increasing, self-directed anger.

She should have known.

Cursing she stepped back from the unmoving entryway, her feet stumbling clumsily across the uneven floor dining table. Her dark eyes swept the luxuriously raftsman criss crossing the cylindrical column, at a loss.

Dumbledore had farsighted since earned the deed normally reserved for Remus alone, for that 'damnable man'had thought of every conceivable escape try and blocked her progress at every turn. One thing was sealed : The Headmaster was surely against anyone knowing of his plan, and from the flavor of thing she would not be escaping any time soon. Certainly not in time to alert anyone before it was too late.

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

Her optic landed upon the dark window frame, her head briefly mulling over the possibility of growing her hair's-breadth into a foresighted enough twist to send Emily scurrying down.

She snorted. Even if the Bothans were not under an enamour rest Kenneth would surely skin her alert before allowing her to turn his daughter into an impromptu athletic chimpanzee. Of grade Emily had seemed rather taken by that showing at the Phoenix Park Zoo ...

As if reading her intellection Kenneth growled a little.

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

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

Rolling onto her rear, flopping like a Fish on the floor, her dark optic fixated furiously upon her cousin.

'' You ... '' She roared, kicking the threshold to the subject field shut with her infantry. She was not eager for Kenneth nor Emily to hear this if they awoke at this rather untimely interval.

Regulus gazed down his nozzle in astonishment. `` Cousin were you really waging war on his study door the entire metre ? You do realize that is handmade burnt sienna ? ``

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

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

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

'' Shut up Crusantheus ! ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

Regulus spun to confront her. `` Do n't undervalue yourself full cousin. From what he said he may take founded your little bird sanctuary constitution, but he is no more of import than the eternal sleep of you within it. ``

She gasped. `` You gag ? ``

The perfect ikon of stone glowered back. `` Do I look like one to joke ? ``

Her breath came in furious comfort as he began rummaging through the contents of Dumbledore 's deceptively small pot liquor cabinet. A considerable time passing before he emerged, a tight, satisfied line straining his sass, and a garnet hued bottle in hand.

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

'' Le Vin de Chateau Latour ... '' Regulus commented admiringly, ignoring her as if nothing of significance had occurred. `` Dix-neuf soixante-dix, une belle année. ``

Her tooth earth so severely she swore to God he would be receiving the dental bill.

'' For the less refined in the room, '' He continued, his unfaltering optic never leaving his recently procured prize, `` Nineteen 70 was an splendid year. ``

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

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

Between her gritted teeth she managed a growl. Regulus ignored this, painstakingly choosing a rather have on and bright orange mug from Dumbledore 's limited chalk excerpt. His nozzle crinkled in distaste as the mug 's allegory Go Cannons sparkled up at him.

'' Allowing his vintages to go to ravage ... '' Regulus grumbled disapprovingly, pouring the opaque, yet red fermentation into his mug moodily. `` I would throw thought in force of the old man ... ''

'' That old man has Thomas More moral fibre than you could ever bid to possess, '' She snapped.

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

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

Regulus'glassful slammed down, shattering.

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

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

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

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

'' Oh ? '' He snapped condescendingly. `` And how was I supposed to acknowledge that my early slithering Lord had crawled back from the grave accent whilst in the Muggle realm Nymphadora ? Particularly when those of you at the Ministry do your advantageously to isolate our reality from the Muggle land ? wellspring praise Nymphadora ! Because despite Voldemort 's best effort at havoc and misery your precious Ministry has done its job well ! Not a intelligence of his return leaked to me, even though I was listening for Bible ! ``

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

'' Why at a meeting with that slithering serpent of a shadow nobleman I suspect. Surely you could take guessed that at least. ``

Her warmheartedness thudded unnaturally.

'' Let me out Regulus. ``

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

She growled, resisting the urge to attack.

genus Regulus merely snorted. `` I would think that you, being component of his piddling aviary club, would by now realize that he knows what he is doing. Even I know tha ... ''

Swearing loudly she kicked the paries, rattling Phineas'portrayal, forcing their long dead relative to hang onto his frame 's border for care of being dislodged from it.

genus Regulus oral cavity twitched wickedly, ignoring the choice lyric that came flying their way as he addressed his cousin. `` Now if you want to destroy the portraits then by all means, do so Nymphadora. However, in the interim it seems that your adept bet is to relax and induce a boozing, because you clearly need one. ``

Scowling she slapped the offer spyglass away.

Now it was Regulus'turn to affect her as if she were an foreigner species.


* * * * *

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

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

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

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

mollie Weasley would accept him shipped to St. Mungos in individually plastic wrapped opus if she ever caught wind of this.

Ron 's face, screwed in heedful absorption as he attempted to avoid hitting his point on the cap, shot him a withering look.

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

'' And if they vote against that ? ``

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

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

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

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

Ron paled considerably, his freckles standing out. `` She 'll just have to realise, '' He growled determinedly. `` About Ginny too, she 'll spring back, and when she does she can help oneself me find the bastard that Imperious-ed her. ``

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

As Ron had said, the secure werewolves had to stick together, and he deserved to hump of the underground werewolf activity as much as anyone.

The other werewolf could still be out there ...

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

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

It was locked.

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

'' Remus ? ! ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ron bristled, `` Little ? ``

Remus dropped a stay on hand upon Ron 's shoulder joint. `` Best not to plight in conversation ... '' He muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

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

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

Remus'spike reflexively picked up, the familiarity of the unknown vocalization unnerving. `` Tonks let us in, '' He shouted, frowning.

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

It took a instant for her Christian Bible to process correctly, and apparently it did for Ron as well because simultaneously they both voiced aloud their thoughts.

'' What ? ``

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

Again, the unidentified masculine phonation floated beneath the door. `` You might as well tell apart them ... ''

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

There was a pause.

A very long pause.

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

'' Try me, '' Remus insisted.

'' Later Wolfy. ``

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

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

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

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

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

'' hospital backstage, '' Remus supplied.

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

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

'' RONALD ! ``

Crusantheus bronze spit began clinking out a gleeful tune, clearly ecstatic at Tonks'reprimand. `` Aha ! wagerer stifle it finger's breadth or Ms. windpipe in there will shut you up for me before you can say Hoggy, Hoggy, Hogwa ... ''

Remus finally gave in to the urge to silence the anathemise thing, unable to think. Crusantheus'sudden silence earned him a loud exclaiming as the nameless representative from within began praising the lord and maker.

He knew that voice ...

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

fundament him Ron made a strangled sound of actualisation.

'' Dog Star ? ''

A loud thump evidenced the unidentified man 's displeasure.

'' If I get mistaken for Sirius one more time I 'll hex that door depreciator ... ''

Crusantheus began pounding his grip furiously, a panic-stricken look in his bronze eyes.

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

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

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

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

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

Remus'judgement spun, an Echo from the past striking a dissonant chord.

Staring at the lock in door something clicked.

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

'' Nymphadora were you and your Friend hit with a paranoia magic spell ? You can answer me honestly with full trust that this conversation will remain confidential. ``

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

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

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

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

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

He withdrew his ear from the door just in clock time, its stallion frame shuddering violently as she kicked it from the former side of meat, rendering Crusantheus cross-eyed.

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

Sneakily, with stealth indicative of the low marks she had received on the stealth and tracking helping of her Auror interrogation, a verge tip snuck beneath the cracking between the door and floor.

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

'' Made her wild did you ? ''

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

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

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

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

'' amercement ... Two calendar week and ... ''

'' Did the estimation of talking it through like intellectual adults ever occur to either of you ? '' genus Regulus'repress voice interjected curiously.

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

Another flashy thumping shook the threshold, his stomach wrenching as he practically felt her leaning against the former side.

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

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

Regulus emitted a low tin whistle, clearly closer than before. `` problem in promised land lupin ? Honestly is n't she a niggling young for you ? ``

The clear-cut auditory sensation of mortal being smacked echoed through the door and down the stairwell. The gravid sensation within his thorax failing to improve.

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

Remus turned, eyeing Ron with barely concealed annoyance.

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

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

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

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

'' I am not retard ... ''

'' Of course not, '' Regulus snorted. `` But rather than letting a search company gallivant around the area, risking boost loss of spirit, he did the impudent thing. ``

'' Which is ? '' Remus could get a line Tonks practically hiss through her teeth.

'' He sent the fastest messenger he could, '' He responded smugly. `` Surely you do n't picture yourself in the Saami form of hurrying as a phoenix, do you cousin ? ``

Remus'eye widened in savvy. `` He sent them a portkey. ``

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

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

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

He hesitated.

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

Cringing inwardly he turned and ran for the owlery.

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

On the former side of the room access Tonks growled, dropped cross-legged to the ground, banged the back of her head against the door, and extended a pointed mitt to Regulus.

Her full cousin smirked, filling her a well needed glass.


* * * * *



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

As if in response his thickened fists unconsciously coiled pissed around her shoulder, clenching the besotted folds of her lacerate perspirer as if doing so could somehow dispel the presence lurking within the shadows.

It could not.

A ferine growl cut through the confidential information, the frigid breeze snaking around them, biting bitterly against his peel, whipping Kaylen 's slopped hair around her ashen fount.

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

Like a phantom sound upon the twist came the smacking of monstrous claws upon slick mud, the talebearer speech sound of a animate being bent on savagery as it stalked its prey across water-laden hunting grounds.

They were its prey ...

property her resolute eyes with his, watching as her smiler screwed into that of grim resolve, Harry knew he had no selection.

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

'' Run ... ''

His darkness whisper was met with contiguous action, for she took escape, mud splattering beneath her feet as she fled for the tree line, her tattered perspirer billowing in the fart as she went.

Lightning from the war torn heavens illuminated the scourge battle ground, sending her shadowy silhouette stretching across the matted stretch of gage separating them.

Tensely he watched her, standing his ground.

He refused to follow.

Around him the mightiness of the storm surged, thunder shaking the Earth as his scarred clenched fist clenched tightly around the calamitous feather of the Phoenix that lay deeply imbedded in his fold holly, his wand arm hanging loosely by his side.

winking the water from his optic he watched in muted fascination. Kaylens was suddenly cognisant of her purdah, her feet halting into a tumultuous shoe across the hunting ground as she fought to stop against the raging confidential information. The mud finally ceased to chip in, resisting her sliding pes as her form went slipping beneath the timberland 's doorway, the dripping canopy throwing shadows across her imprimatur as she whorled around to regard him.

Beneath the branches her eyes flashed dangerously, for his deception and what it could mean had finally struck her with frightening force. With the detached horse sense of an looker-on observing an unstoppable cataclysm he watched as her conformation went rigid.

She knew there was no time to strive him. His ploy had worked.

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

It was how he wanted it.

Thump, thump ...

The swift plan of attack of the werewolf 's pincer rhythm against the suctioning priming coat.

The wolf was charging him, yet he did not move.

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

clump, clump ...

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

clunk, thump ...

He stood still, feeling death 's Dean Swift approach path for another mo, closing his eyes in resignation for whatever would follow to pass.

It was poor fish, it was brash, it was the act of a honest Gryffindor.

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

clump, thumping ...

If he survived this she would surely kill him, and an odd smile crept upon his cracked sassing at the absurdity of the view.

thud, thump ...

All of it transpired in a second, his eyes flying blanket as the sky rent open, roaring as the God themselves sent their electric clenched fist hurtling down to link up the ruffle.

Lightning struck as he hit the reason hard, ducking as he felt the Friedrich August Wolf springing into the air to seize him. Jaws snapped around thin air, right where the book binding of his neck had been a endorse before.

The wolf 's rear pincer slashed out, grazing his binding, shredding the fabric of his shirt, just scratching his pelt 's open. A pained moan dig from his sass, yet it was unheard as a fiery bolt of electrical decease struck the corner line of reasoning with fearsome intensiveness.

He was already screaming for Kaylens'to move.

A carnal growl emanated before him, the loup-garou 's escape ending as its colossal descriptor crashed back onto the earth with one sickening splat of mud and rainwater, its prodigious course skidding on the glossy soil as if upon ice.

'' Kaylens move ! '' He screamed, watching as a fiery shower bath of ember rained down from the split body upon her.

Her golden straits disappeared within the Mary Jane, a burning tree branch crashing to where she had stood only a second before.

His stomach lurched sickeningly, a choking screech tearing through him, silenced only as the wolf 's snarling honker reared around to face him again.

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

A anguish howl signified that his aim had been true.

Desperately, heart pounding, he again let the cutting hex fly, followed by an onslaught of Ag corpuscle as he staggered to his feet, stumbling backwards in a delirium as the woman chaser 's brutalized fur sent its recoiling soundbox to the ground.

The silver corpuscle were lodging within the animate being 's open wound, and the metal 's perniciousness was quickly infiltrating its bloodstream.

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

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

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

And he had sent her there.

The noxious smoke came hurtling at him upon an icy blow, choking his lungs, and her figure, which his lips had been expelling, came out instead as a take to task coughing.

His methamphetamine hydrochloride were somehow lost, dirt and Mary Jane particles replacing them to cut against his retinas, a numbing sensation overtaking him.

He did not see the blow coming.

A massive paw struck him down, sending him hurtling aspect down into a pool, his panicked world morphing into a watery brown fuzz.

His wand flew from his grip, skidding out of reach as he flailed, feeling the weightiness of the creature atop him as it forced his soundbox to get to a new embossment in the ductile globe.

The shallow weewee lapped around his ear, his sass flapping around the ill-tasting soil, consistency sputtering as his traitorous lungs continued their ill-fated attempts to expel the poisonous gage fume from them, inhaling weewee instead.

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

Above him a new masher growled venomously.

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

The secondment lycanthrope, the one he had failed to see in time, fell limp to the ground.

Emerging from the burning alcove of trees Kalliandra callously threw the offset at the creature, ensuring another blow to its head as she appraised her handwork. A second later her burning middle were fixated upon him, a furious expression crossing her soot stained feature of speech as he was left sputtering upon the ground.

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

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

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

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

He blinked exhaustedly up at her, chest heaving with offended exertion as the tousled, slightly charred miss above him ignored the insanely mud ridden, wolfman infested, ablaze reality around them, contenting herself with staring him down.

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

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

He grinned. `` A lot actually. ``

Her jaw dropped, flapping soundlessly as the wind sent roll of tobacco billowing in a night swarm behind her, her hand instantly rising to harbor her eye from its thick residue.

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

For a second she appeared to stutter. `` potter ... '' She threatened raspily, `` I 'm going to pop you. ``

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

'' turnkey that. I get the first crack at ... ''

Her words ended in a grating cry, a chameleon-like hand having shot Forth unseen in the billowing hummer, snatching her slurred pilus within its pitiless confines. Her soaked plait were used as an anchor, the disillusioned man callously snapping her head back to expose the slender flesh of her neck to the splintered wood of a blackened wand.

pelting droplets splattered eerily in mid-air against the unseen antagonist.

'' Drop it ceramicist, '' Growled a vocalism as dark as the night.

The pharyngeal consonant growl sent something grievous stirring within him, his timber colored eyes remaining glued to Kaylens'cringing countenance.

His brow furrowed as a strange thought began to guide shape, his fingers loosened around the holly coated wand.

'' ceramicist do n't ... '' Kaylens'sharp cry was cut off as she was shoved forwards, nearly thrown from her feet by the Death Eater 's Swift prodding.

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

'' I said drop it boy, or I 'll make sure she stays all in this clock time. ''

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

'' Attaboy. ``

The comeback of the disillusionment charm was muttered as the villain advanced through the coiling fume, holding Kalliandra ahead of him, the flame'orange igniter throwing the last eater 's visceral face into stark focus.

Harry 's blood ran cold.

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

The dead man was animated and well.

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

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

A red genu to the rachis sent Kaylens crumbling to her knee joint, her word form suspended by the callous traveling bag on her long locks.

'' To lose one 's remaining family ... '' Continued the destruction Eater with deadly calm, `` In such a style does not endear one to mercy. ``

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

The Death Eater ignored her, his foul gaze fixated upon him. `` You 're a goosy boy thrower ... dabbling in Unforgivables ... I 'd kill you if I could ... ''

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

The villain laughed bitterly, `` I 'm not as pudding head as some of the other lackey boy. You 'll have to meliorate your use if you expect that to work. ``

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

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

Something within him snapped, the unconscious mind legerdemain he had drawn upon in bit of need finally snapping into place.

A blastoff of free energy flew through him, the conversant wooden handgrip flying back to his hand, quickly summoned, drawn, and aimed.

Only where the Death Eater 's pith had been now rested Kaylens, for the villain had yanked her forcibly from her knees to again shield him. Her cry of pain echoed through the clarification, rising above the crackle of burning wood.

'' As intriguing as this is ceramist, we came to deliver a message. Nothing to a greater extent. ``

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

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

'' A rather contrary musical theme of fun, do n't you think ? ``

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

'' He 's zilch like you ! '' Kaylens shouted furiously.

A powerful Yankee-Doodle sent her head teacher snapping back, his insides lurching as the resounding pass of her protesting vertebrae.

'' calm girlie ! '' Hissed the villain, tongue dribbling as he spoke. `` You 're already an endangered species, I 'd hate for you to go out. ``

'' Ah yes, '' She spat scathingly, straining against the man 's arm. `` And I 'm sure your valued lord would be pleased with that. ''

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

Hands coiling into tight fists, Harry began inching to the side, the auditory sensation of mud suctioning against skid fillet of sole masked by the resounding thunder.

If he could get an slant around her, he could wee-wee his guesswork ...

'' And to suppose, I thought catching Veelas was the big duty assignment ... but no matter ... ''

It took everything he had to suppress his outward horror, for the man had already drawn and used the unseen dagger, plunging it shallowly into the flesh of her shoulder, dragging it across her skin. A second later the scoundrel had a cylindrical vial held beneath her freely flowing blood, bottling it as her middle scrunched in a painful grimace, her nous undoubtedly feeling account repeating itself.

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

Blinded by rainfall, Harry 's eyes went white with anger.

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

In the shadows the man smiled. `` It seems I 've already lie respective. ``

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

His hardened heart narrowed, pectus rising with trying exertion, as the vile man continued speaking.

'' All the dark nobleman wants is the prophecy thrower, yet if you continue this refractory refusal that little mudblooded protagonist of yours will wind up perfectly. '' The man grinned evilly. `` And we all know you do n't want that to go on. ``

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

'' Just think ... what has your unregenerate refusal gotten you thus far ? Certainly it did wonder for improving that blood betrayer Negroid 's electric current state of matter howeve ... ''

'' Sirius was a sound man, '' He heard himself hissing.

The man merely inclined an supercilium. `` Ah yes, I seem to call back him fancying himself as such even during our school years. He, the noble Black, always criticizing Broussard and I ... the two Detreck brothers were worthless to him, even the one from his own firm ... ''

Harry felt poorly, ira and hate vibrating unceremoniously within.

'' Your Padre was much the same ... both never sparing even a thought for the noble black 's own kin ... '' He continued, the Lapp tone of superiority dripping from his give-and-take. `` Sirius always wondered what finally sent Regulus to the ranks of the Death feeder. Would you care me to tell apart you ? ``

Kaylens attempted to turn away, the monolithic man easily batting her effort aside.

'' The deciding agent you see, was Canicula'stubborn refusal to acknowledge his brother as an peer, '' He revealed. `` The chesty jester followed those resisting the shadow Lord blindly, never stopping to think who was really in the right field. He and the balance of those Gryffindor muggins following Dumbledore never even translate our ground ... ''

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

The man 's dentition glinted in the firelight. `` There 's no need to absolve anything, because the war hungry Muggles will not be content to leave our sort alone forever. It 's kill or be killed ceramicist. The dark noble is simply acting preemptively, before those lousy Muggles get the opportunity. ``

'' And what of the anti-Muggle Barbara Ward ? '' Harry asked scathingly, thinking quickly. `` If you 're really as superior to them as you 'd like to believe, then all of your 'pureblood'legerdemain ought to forestall that, would n't you think ? ``

The end eater Detreck laughed. He actually laughed.

'' Tell me ceramist, with all of the inter-marrying between hotshot and Muggles, how would you offer keeping our populace forever hidden ? Eventually we will turn exposed, and when that happens the Muggles will recognize the possible threat we hold. ``

Inching towards the heating system of the fire, and its veil of bullet, Harry allowed him to talk, wracking his mind for a plan.

'' Once that happens I 'm quite sure they will be smashing in showing us mercy. Perhaps the Saami sort that was given to the Jews of their second base human race War, or that which was shown to the indigenous people of the U.S.A. when the new lands were discovered. Or to the beldame of Salem ... ''

Kaylens cut him off.

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

A dagger was thrust to her throat, silencing her Good Book as stock prickled her skin. A sadistic tone of calm crossed the firstborn Detreck 's side as he held it there.

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

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

'' Every war has casualties Potter, and in this one anyone good-hearted to those primitive creatures runs the endangerment of becoming one. ``

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

'' Yet they salary war upon other country, killing their own kind without persuasion, acti ... ''

'' Since Death feeder do the same thing I guess you would know. ``

'' Our killing is at least educated, and justified by Thomas More than wars over bound. ``

Harry 's voice shook with suppressed rage. `` nix can vindicate cold blooded murder ... ''

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

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

'' Despite what you think, you are very much alike us ceramist, and thus my God Almighty has a proposal of marriage of variety for you. ``

Watching the tenseness leave Kalliandra 's neck, her typeface slumping gratefully forward without fearfulness of impalement upon the knife 's blade, he grunted. `` So what lot is it this clip ? Join him and he spares my biography ? ``

'' No, simply expose the missing part of the divination in interchange for your protagonist 's household 's lives. ``

'' And Hermione ? ``

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

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

'' Yes. ``

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

His articulatio humeri stiffened, for he actually had.

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

In the cacophonous roar of rut and flame all company scattered, the smoke clearing in time for Harry to see Kaylens still in the villain 's vice clasp, her apparent bolt for freedom hindered by the man 's brawny arm which had tightened around her.

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

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

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

'' When you find that, and bring out its substance, only then will our Lord release your valued Mudblooded friend. ``

'' You 're lying, '' Harry pettifoggery, the bitter taste of sens on his tongue. `` If I told you, he 'd kill her anyway. ``

The man 's lips curled. `` Perhaps ... but if you had something else to bid him, something in addition to that ... something he very much desired ... than perhaps once you 'd break the second prognostication, he 'd return her if your word was given to disclose another once the exchange was made. ``

Harry shook his caput disbelievingly, `` Since when has ole conundrum trusted my watchword ? ``

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

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

Kalliandra 's head was suddenly yanked violently back, the wand again to her throat. All thoughts of traumatizing the decease Eater with jeering of its leader flew from his idea, his eyes glued to her pale, soaked face.

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

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

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

'' Then that Mudblood of yours dies. Unless you find something better to extend. ``

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

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

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

'' Then all these fifth wheel will come across the same fate as those imposing parents of yours. ``

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

There was simply no time left.

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

She understood.

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

'' Stupefy ... ''

Kalliandra went crumbling to the primer coat, her gimp contour lying in a ace mud-sodden passel, the Death feeder 's fount torture in surprise as another sweetheart flew from Harry 's wand.

He had done the one thing Detreck could not birth counted on. Injuring a comrade, thereby removing her from harms way while simultaneously clearing the path to the enemy.

His stunner struck the foeman directly in the thorax, a instant before a cruel representative resounded behind him.

'' Crucio. ``

Harry fell hard, his body imprinting the subdued ground as a K white hot knives sliced slowly, than brutally at his flesh. His visual sense was blinded, by mud, rainfall, and infliction, yet he still saw the haired man, half-way through the loup-garou transformation, walking around him, reviving Detreck ...

The lycanthrope Kaylens had taken out had awoken.

As he screamed, convulsing in hurting, rolling in the slick stream that had become the clearing 's grounds, he heard their arguing voices.

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

The never-ending suffering suddenly lifted, his anguished nerves still spasming as he somehow rolled to face them. His hand flopped around pathetically, finger's breadth closing without strength upon thin air, searching for the companion holly woodwind instrument he had lost a hold of during his convulsions.

'' You can macerate prison term chasing after us, or her ceramist. Think about it. ``

The wet air resonated with the sharp shot of disapparation, his mesomorphic synapses finally firing at his dictation. With soreness outshining the most arduous trials of human survival he thrust himself up, his hands sinking into the muddy grunge, eyes frantically scanning the clearing.

Kaylens was nowhere to be seen.

Heart lurching sickeningly, he stumbled to his groundwork. Sliding, staggering, he peered through the shadow, summoning his wand from where it had sunk beneath the exterminate grass.

Lightning flashed, casting an eerie gleam across the body of water.

Kaylens lay facedown, floating within it.

His metrical unit moved, faster than he would have thought potential, plunging into the chest abstruse water. Quickly he propelled himself to where she lay submerged, floating just below the open. Only her saltation wrists, pushed upwards by the entitle urine 's lapping, remained emerged in the air, her hair fanning out behind her foreland

His limb quickly sought her, wrapping around her shoulders to pull her out, letting her dead weight fall hard against him.

His hand fell to her bureau, his address Scripture a voicelessness against the storm.

'' Ennervate ... ''

The warmth banquet from between his fingers, his unconsciously done magic triggering no reaction in her.

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

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

defense mechanism lessons had taught him about more than countering spells, and he was already turning her gimp chassis to front him, using the piss 's airiness to cradle her as her face lolled back.

His numbing, pained fingerbreadth quickly wiped the plastered haircloth from her mouth, a throw up belief rising in his thorax as his eyes flickered across the vacant grounds.

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

heart and soul wrenching, he acted, pressing his mouth against hers as he pushed cherished O in, breathing for her, listening to the odd hiss of his breathing space making its way through her air passages.

Pulling away, waiting for the upgrade of her dresser against his, he felt nothing.

Panicked optic flickered over her passive face before his oral cavity once again descended, capturing her icy sass with his own in another breather of desperation. One arm was tightening around her, the early cradling her forefront as he pinched her nose.

Again he waited.

The upgrade in her chest as he had breathed had been barely discernable, and now there was nothing. A unmarried thinking flitted through his frightened creative thinker. He was doing this wrong.

In that single import of paralyzing horror he suddenly understood. Her air transition was clogged.

He had to open it.

He was already turning her limp signifier around, allowing her rachis to fall against him as his fists sought her midsection. With a undivided, powerful effort he thrust them in and upwards, feeling her trunk spasm in a humble shudder.

Again he repeated the move, thrusting forcefully. Her limp variant seized violently in reaction, her upper berth trunk falling forward as a racking cough shook her, the body of water expelling from her lungs. Harry lunged forward with her, branch wrapping around her chest, preventing her aspect from again hitting the treasonable water.

His forearms strained against her as she convulsed, choking on the confidential information, gasping as cough after shuddering cough shook her fragile physique. Shivering in the icy piddle his pounding centre calmed until she leaned loosely forward, gasping breathlessly.

Without a give-and-take he pulled her against him, clutching her quivering form heyday to his own, her nous falling against his articulatio humeri. Her shallow panting caressed his skin, the rising of her chest of drawers against his reassuring him in an inexplicable way.

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

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

In hypothesis they would again be rubber, until conundrum decided to again 'chat .'

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

Icy wind howled, sending the reeds around them dancing.

Breathing unsteadily, the aroma of burned wood filled his nostrils. The tempest was slowly winning the battle against the blaze, extinguishing the aflame underbrush and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, and the light of the fire was slowly dying. Tilting his face down he watched the fiery orange glow reflecting from her wet cheeks, lending some affectionateness to her pale hue.

'' Are you alright ? '' He finally whispered, his shivering hands smoothing her entangle, sopping fuzz from her nerve. She simply breathed against him, tomentum dripping across his berm, her entire form quivering.

Tightening his arms around her, he again whispered his interrogation, his questioning brim brushing along her earlobe. `` Kaylens ? '' He murmured shakily, breathing against her fuzz. `` You okay ? ``

In his arms she nodded imperceptivity, his trepidation for her alone sending his fondness thundering. His relief was palpable, as was the feeling of her beneath his deal.

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

Raindrops continued falling, heavy and hard, splattering against the water system with hypnotic melody. Somehow, without reason, his knuckle were rising, tracing alone her jaw line, a drowsy murmur leaving her picket, cracked sassing at his speck.

Instinctively his unattackable arms began enveloping her tighter, pressing her to him needingly, his reason elusive. Surprisingly her delicate manpower were responding, rising to press against his dresser. Her entitle fingertips brushed his bare hide, sliding along his pectoral muscle where his sweater hung tattered and loose, courtesy of the werewolves'claws and the forest 's snaring bramble.

Beneath the rippling water a appease prickling was radiating onto him, traveling wherever her cool peel fell into tangency with his own, as if petite bits of static electricity were passing between them.

Somehow he understood, for he was feeling her truthful magic. She seemed incognizant that she was releasing any, but her notification signature tune was trailing across him in a exasperating way, just below the rippling surface, veiled from his eyes.

Yet somehow, he could not look away.

Slowly, surely, the maddening sensation of her fingers tangling within his jumper drove the unconscious business organisation from his mind, his burnished eyes finally falling shut to the nighttime, hiding beneath the dark, matted hair slung dripping across his mark supercilium.

Upon his neck he felt her back talk parting, an exhausted sigh escaping against his skin. His fount dipped in reply, burrowing within her rain scented hair.

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

A soft gag, scarcely there, sent his skin prickling.

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

'' Point withdraw, '' He conceded, a low laugh vibrating his pharynx.

The sky lit up, shining with anomalous splendour as lightning flashed in the distance. The icy urine lapping against them, the wind howling eerily between the trees.

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

Her vocalisation was barely a whisper, trailing away as his fingers went trailing down the smooth peel of her neck opening, feeling her pulsing beating with regularity beneath them.

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

'' I could say the same for you, '' She said breathlessly, shivering as his workforce rose along the contour line of her manakin. beginning his hands were gripping her waistline, succeeding rising along her sides, sliding to caress the tegument covering her ribcage, just beneath her breasts.

His breathing place hitched with hers, her weaponry rising to encircle his cervix, cupping the spine of his oral sex. Quickly her hands were becoming lost within his untamable hairsbreadth, the same fractiousness that he had so oft heard her criticize, yet now felt her reveling in.

The down-to-earth scent of mingled mud and pelting was somehow inebriate upon her, drawing him in more than he could reserve, more than he should allow. Yet he was, his mouth already lowering to hers, the thickly strung tension of a grand harsh substitution vibrating between the two as his sassing fell upon hers, capturing her lips as he had when pulling her limply from the icy water. Only now her lip was moving against his, the tasting of salty sweat lingering upon his tongue. Her taste was mingling with the refreshing pelting pouring upon them, cascading down their faces.

His clothing clung wetly to him as his hands sought out her tangled hair. He frenziedly felt her deepening the inter-group communication of their lips, the rough straw of his mentum scratching her in the procedure. A little grumble sent his own lips trembling against hers with laughter, her workforce squeezing his articulatio humeri in retaliatory fashion. His own mouthpiece was parting again, gasping, never relaxing the pressure against her back talk as he fought for breath against her, feeling her doing the same.

A second later he again seized her, his small lip being tugged gently between her own, an odd growl coming unbidden from his throat. For a furious import she quivered with seeming amusement before his agile hands responded, running along her neck 's vertebrae, a startled whimper falling from her lithe lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He murmured, his arms desperately gathering her against him, his sass deliriously relishing her taste. Suddenly he was ignorant of the rainfall pouring around them, cognizant only of her men unholy onslaught as they slipped beneath his shirt 's collar, sliding along the bare tegument of his shoulders, caressing his rachis. His pilus dripped into his face, and with rushed intimation their ill-concealed love radiated, their mouths moving in a stormy fervor. Within his blazon was the girl Harry had feared to hold lost before he had known what it was to have, and he had no programme of letting go.

Slowly, panting breathlessly, Kalliandra pulled away. Her fingers still clung to him, the rain pouring freely upon her flushing pelt. water supply droplets were dampening her brow, and her finger slipped out from beneath his shirt to linger upon his collarbone. Unable to let her leave he leaned his brow against hers, cupping her facial expression in his hands, feeling her eyelashes fluttering open against his cheeks.

His own fornicatress eyes flickered hazily out-of-doors, meeting the deep hazel ones regarding him. She was blinking against the rain, her confused eyes revealing her barely concealed emotion.

ventilation heavily he leaned forward, brushing his mouth against hers, kissing her slowly. He was taking his prison term now ... without the boot, without the desperation, without the fear of having nearly lost her. ovolo running along her in high spirits malar bone, carefully wiping the mud from her face, his lips moved needingly across hers.

Again they parted, her mouthpiece moving in a soft, disbelieving whisper.

'' You 've lost your mind ... ''

'' I know, '' He murmured, pressing his mouth to hers chastely. `` You wo n't tell anyone will you ? ``

She smiled against his sassing, shaking her heading slowly. `` No ... '' She whispered, entertainment tingeing her intonations. `` This wo n't leave the glade. ``

'' Good, '' He quipped, smiling deviantly. `` I would take in hated to Obliviate you. ``

'' What makes you think I would have minded ? ``

burial his lips near her ear, he emitted a low growl, `` You would stimulate. ``

'' Hmph. ``

Combing his fingers through her thick, mud-laden hair, he felt her slender material body again began to throb, her quivering more pronounced than before.

Wrapping his arms tighter around her soma, he murmured his curiosity. `` Does this mean you 've forgiven me for stunning you ? ``

She grumbled indecipherably for a present moment, before suddenly growing tense, her face swiveling towards the seeable clearing, middle flickering with sudden recollection.

'' Harry .... '' She whispered seriously, all lightness gone from her voice. `` What happened to the demise Eate ... ''

'' Gone, '' He assured softly, `` They 're gone. They wo n't be back. Minus the dead one. ``

Her centre remained adverted, warily gazing through the rainfall into the wickedness of night.

'' How can you be sure as shooting ? ``

He smiled sadly, the passion within him slowly dissipating as his war filled experiences, the one that had taught him the rules of engagement, flew through his mind.

'' Because .... '' He whispered hauntingly, `` They delivered their message. They had their fun. For them that was enough, for the metre being. ``

'' So their fun was trying to overwhelm me, '' She questioned bitterly, `` Or threatening you with Hermione 's life ? ``

'' Both. ``

Her centre flickered across his, her expression sending something wrenching inside.

'' That man wanted you to tell him something, `` She said seriously, watching him carefully. `` Yet you would n't. Why ? ``

He swallowed hard, his XTC 's apple rising strongly within his throat. `` Because I 'd rather die than allow them the information they need. ``

'' Than what stopped them from forcing you to go with them ? ``

His hand rose, trailing across her cheek, her breath falter at his tinge. Without cause his brow was again pressed against hers, her face so close that he could see the brown patch within her irises dancing with each flash of lightning.

'' Even if they had, '' He whispered sullenly, `` Even if they had tortured Hermione right in presence of me, I still would never tell. Because the second gear I did we would give birth all been dead. ``

Distant roar shook the sky, Kalliandra 's eyes falling shut against the wet onslaught. His rest upon her, never leaving as her chest rose and fell against his. The conciliate rhythm method of her breathing was inexplicably calming.

'' If the man is so pitiless ... '' She finally spoke, `` Why would he offer you the choices he did ? ``

'' Because as ruthless as he is, he 's also intelligent. Voldemort knows his solitary opportunity in hell of getting anything out of me would be by offering an exchange : Hermione for the information, at a inert location. '' He paused, breathing heavily, watching the stirring across her countenance.

'' It 's the solely way I could ensure her refuge, '' He finished solemnly.

Against his forehead he felt a swooning frown creasing her supercilium. A consequence later her veil optic fell spread, observing him guardedly.

'' How could Voldemort possibly know what you 're thinking ? ''

His fingers clenched and unclenched around her arms in a tense speech rhythm. `` Because Kalliandra, Voldemort and I have been playing this game for a long prison term. And were both getting upright at it. ``

Her mouthpiece parted questioningly, his finger's breadth rising to weigh carefully against them, silencing her interrogation.

'' Please, do n't ask. I do n't want to lie to you, '' He pleaded breathlessly, lips hovering centimeters from her own, praying she understood.

She did.

Against him she nodded, wet droplets cascading down her paling nerve. This fourth dimension it was she who sealed the scant distance between them, her sly weaponry winding around his neck, her body pressing flush against his.

For some understanding, as her split backtalk allowed his knife ledger entry, he suddenly felt more afraid than he ever had.

The stake had been raised that day, for with his considerably admirer gone he suddenly had so much to lose, and it was the lady friend he remained intertwined with that had sent fissures running through his heavily erected walls.

Pulling away, gasping fervently, he suddenly was unsure of whether to hate her or love her for that.

'' You 're infuriating ... '' He murmured, nose nuzzling her buttock.

'' Likewise, '' She gasped breathlessly, water-laden strands of hair falling over her eyes

They simply remained, hovering within the embrace of the other, until a instant of red crossed the nighttime, circling to rest upon the pond 's edge.

Whilst she stiffened, Harry almost laughed in relief.

The fiery Phoenix was watching them silently, something suspiciously like an old rag dropped near its human foot, its feathery head cocked at a peculiar angle.

If Harry had not known better, he would say Fawkes looked amused.









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The Weasley 's and their adopted household have worn through the boost of Voldemort and the Final engagement. There have been many last, but what happens on the brightest of day 's has repercussion far and wide ranging. Now they are left to plunk up the firearm. Welcome to a story of hope, where the survivors are left to abide by the clues, attempting to resolve the puzzle before the serial killer bang again. While this is a relatively new story it contains one of the most challenging patch that I have been lucky enough to stumble across. Pairing : Harry/Hermione

Hearts, cake, and Scars by sagesolon Rated : mature musical style : Romance, Action/Adventure, Angst
The final battle has long since past tense, yet to the Chosen One its repercussions sting as painfully as they did on the day he lost her. His only comfort is found within his nightly escapes to the Muggle realm, to where he is unrecognized in the dimly lit pubs, to where he is no longer in a universe that constantly reminds him of the red hair of his dreaming. Yet when a Muggle as much in need of solace as he makes the misunderstanding of sending a champion to ask for his sound number in a randy pub, Harry suddenly finds a respite to that lingering desperation. The only problem is how to explicate his world to one message with magic card tricks ? Well ... the lure of a vacation definitely has its good points ! This story has an almost movie noir quality at its start, and it progresses into a very 'feel secure', laugh out loud, read. Pairing : Harry/Muggle OC












A few basics to note :

Red ancestry mobile phone contain hemoglobin, which transports oxygen throughout the organic structure. If these were suddenly taken away, you would stifle even if you were still breathing.

Platelets are responsible for the organic structure 's ability to form rake coagulum. Without platelets, you would bleed to death from a elementary cut on the arm.

Sorry for the impromptu biological science deterrent example, but in writing this chapter I did not feel like explaining these basic concepts since I assumed that the fictitious character, due to one too many hospital wing visits, would already know what these are. I also took a few creative liberties, so hold with me on those.






'' Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success ; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles. ``
~ Samuel Smiles ~



Chapter 27 ~ The fellow of Grief


Near morning she found him there. He was still awake, as she had known he would be.

Dean was categoric on his spinal column, staring at the rich, profligate red canopy of his bed. His eyes had not moved from the canopy in hours, for concern of seeing the empty bed besides him, and they did not move as his bed hangings stirred in the eerie light.

Ginny slipped between them, crawling across the covers until she lay besides him. Wordlessly he had wound his arms around her low frame, an icy pain twisting within him. It was a heavy guilt, for he had his admirer 's warm puff while her swain had naught to see write for the frigidity white sheet draped over his closed eyes.

Seamus was gone, and it felt like a obelisk had been driven through him.

It dawned a night, gray-red dawn, and the sinister rain outside continued, pooling upon the windowpane Belle Miriam Silverman. He could not shut the windowpane, nor block out the chilled winding, for when he had first seen Seamus'empty-bellied bed that night he had thrown spread out each pane, tearing the wooden dialog box from their hinges.

Now the water dripped onto the base, the guerilla musical rhythm serving to drive him closer and closer to the breaking degree. It was a intelligent Neville seemed oblivious to, for his dorm mate 's unwavering snore filled the air, and with each passing sound Dean felt the urge to smash something violently.

His fingers twisted in Ginny 's red pilus, reminding him of her presence. Though Seamus was gone, she was still there.

He had a reason to remain strong.

Still he did not await at her. Gradually her tranquillise breaths became regular, but his dark eyes remained open, staring at the canopy.

It was all he could do.
* * * * *


Harry watched as Angelina ran from the room, unable to shake the icy sensation slithering within him. He knew he should not deal, he could not ...

Yet he did.

Seconds after port-keying to Lupin 's manor, as he had regained his footing in the candlelit foyer, Kalliandra had lost consciousness. His shivering soundbox had clutched her against his chest of drawers, and that was how Angelina had found them.

It was becoming clearer, the harshly exchanged words between Kaylens and the headmaster ... the single he had overheard in the hospital wing ... It seemed ages ago, yet they echoed hauntingly reinvigorated within his head.

'' Considering that I 'm the one you ca n't cure ... ''

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

'' You 're compensate. Nothing will. ``

Angelina had claimed that the physical stresses of the night had just finally taken their toll, saying how magical travel was often too much for a weakened consistence to strike. She had told him everything was going to be fine, to not care ...

Her eyes betrayed her run-in for the lies they were.

'' Harry, set her there. help oneself me get her sleeves ... ''

Angelina was back, having returned with a hoard of provision. He did as he was told, laying Kalliandra on the faded lounge. She sunk into the torn up cushions, stuffing bulging out at the additional exercising weight. It appeared to be the only very piece of furniture on the first floor, and he too squeezed onto it.

He could n't get out her.

Reaching down he grasped the handlock of her wet sleeve, rolling it up. With every inch of exposed build another contusion was revealed, his interior twisting at the thick, bass purple marks lining her delicate skin. In the dark of the clearing he had not even noticed ...

Angelina knelt besides them, her hands moving methodically, with the deliberate effort born of her healer training. His onetime teammate was now cleaning the inside of Kalliandra 's elbow joint, inserting a lowly needle into the bluish line of her vein. He could only watch from where he sat on Lupin 's wear down sofa, holding Kaylens messy school principal of hairsbreadth in his lap.

'' Harry hold this ... hold it high ... ''

He nodded mutely, taking the clear charge card bag from her, watching the yellowish-brown fluid sloshing within it. Following Angelina 's instructions he held it shoulder high school, ineffectual to remove his middle from Kaylens'serene aspect. Her deep hazel centre were now hidden behind pale palpebra, her face in desperate demand of washing. A streak of mud still highlighted her cheekbone, a gray coat of ashes lending her a ghostly, freckled appearance.

Reaching down Harry brushed her hair aside, revealing a dried vilification of blood concealment near her hairline.

A cryptic contusion was forming there as well.

In unstable motions his former housemate attached a recollective, clear electron tube to the IV in her arm with a quiet detent, retrieving the fluid filled bag from him. With both of his hands finally free he found himself smoothing the hairsbreadth away from her face, wiping the mud away with his thumbs.

He could feel Angelina 's eyes on him. `` She needs to rest Harry. ''

He did not answer right away, contenting himself to learn as Angelina wove her wand, the IV bag rising to remain suspended in mid-air. Slowly the liquid began dripping from the bag into a small, tube-like sleeping accommodation.

Swallowing hard, his regard rose pointedly to Angelina 's.

'' What are you giving her ? ``

Angelina never ceased working, and she was already shooing Harry 's handwriting out of the way as she carefully grasped Kalliandra 's other limp arm, tapping just above the human elbow with her wand.

Kaylens'blue nervure bulged just long enough for another syringe needle to be inserted, only this time Angelina was drawing rip sampling, rather than starting a drip mold infusion.

'' Angelina ? '' He prompted gruffly.

The young healer sighed wearily, `` It 's a mixture of red blood electric cell and platelet Harry. '' She pulled back on the syringe, and it began filling with a viscous, dark red blood.

Harry hastily looked away.

'' Why does she need that ? '' He ground out, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.

Leaving the needle in her arm Angelina unscrewed the full syringe barrel, setting the blood sample distribution upon a floating tray she had conjured. She made quick work of attaching a new, empty one to the needle as she repeated the process.

'' How about you Harry ? '' Angelina asked dismissively. `` Knowing you, you 've probably managed to bang yourself up good. ``

'' Do n't transfer the subject field. ``

Angelina 's dark eyes darted up, `` I 'm not. But I 'm a healer, that 's why Dumbledore left me to wait for you two. I just had to check. ``

His tired eyes turned to his own bridge player. He flipped them over, observing his healed, calloused palm. The mysterious slashes the broken glass had left were gone. Fawkes'snag had healed them, dripping into his wounds when he had reached through the midst rain to take the porthole key.

Before he even had a opportunity to wonder why Fawkes had bothered healing such minor injuries, the phoenix had flown away.

'' I 'm exquisitely, '' He replied staidly, realizing he meant it. No thirster could he experience the stinging scratches, torn by the werewolf 's hook, down his book binding. Even the bone deep thrill the icy rain had left was gone.

All that was left was the sick sensation churning within his abdomen, his alone moderation the girl in his lap, who was incapable of responding decent to alleviate his fears.

'' What 's wrong with her ? ``

In the empty-bellied, windowless elbow room, Angelina removed the needle from her arm.

'' zip that ca n't be treated, '' She responded quietly, rising from her human knee, apparently done.

'' That 's not what I asked. ``

He did not neglect the way her eyes avoided his.

'' zip that I can assure you. For what it 's worth ... I 'm no-good about that Harry. ''

He swallowed, the sound seeming much louder in the still air. He bowed his promontory, spying a spot of grayish ash near the corner of Kalliandra 's mouth. Without thought his quarter round wiped it away, his tight conduct relaxing as a sleepy murmur vowel emerged from her cold lips.

Angelina watched it all, silently placing each of the blood sample into a coolheaded carrying vitrine. For a moment her clinical nature vanished, a sad look overcoming her ebony features.

It was then that it all came together for Harry. Every lilliputian detail that she had let slip, every planetary house of fatigue duty, every word the end Eaters had said ...

'' It has to do with what she is, does n't it ? ''

Though he had asked, there was no question in his tone.

Angelina rose a doubting eyebrow, `` Then you do cognise ? ``

His eyes rose to hers, `` Yes. That 's why you could n't tell me. Dumbledore is n't aware I know. ``

She sighed tiredly, but he was already continuing. `` Ron and the others, you said they 're o.k. and that they were taken to Hogwarts. ''

She just nodded, earning a toilsome look from him.

'' Then why were we brought here ? ``

'' I wish I knew. All I know is that the Order is finally utilizing the safe houses it 's been setting up. ``

His supercilium crinkled, his paw unconsciously caressing Kalliandra 's muffle hair, which was strewn across his lap, leaving wet marks upon his trouser. `` There are early places asides from military headquarters ? ``

'' Of trend. Do n't ask where, because I do n't know. ``

His smile was strained, `` Clever really ... not letting any one soul live too often about anything in guinea pig they 're caught. ``

'' Exactly. ``

His lapse from the night matter plaguing him could stay on no longer, for the feeling of carefully controlled panic was rising.

Indicating the IV bag, he shot out a question. `` Why does she need that ? ``

'' Perhaps I 'm not the outdo individual to excuse that. ``

'' You 're a healer, '' He said in a carefully controlled look. `` Who better ? ``

Angelina opened her back talk, as if to reply, but she never got the chance.

'' Perhaps I can. If you would only reserve me. ``

Harry 's school principal spun, as did Angelina 's. Neither had heard the person 's arriver, and his heart was thundering at the fatalist possibilities that could have resulted from such a lapse on their parts.

His heart narrowed, anger mixing with relief as he saw another loved one intact and standing in the hall 's doorframe. A bitter joke broke his throat, and he gestured into the room.

'' By all means Professor, it is your house after all. ``

professor lupin stepped wearily into the elbow room, looking worse for the article of clothing. But then again, Harry reflected, did n't they all ? The view nearly sent Harry laughing. Instead he bit it back, another bitter sound growling inscrutable in his throat.

From the facial expression on Lupin 's face, Harry knew he had noticed. The mystifying lines on the man 's face betrayed an inner pain, one Harry felt all too acutely.

It was the pain of exit. Only Harry knew lupine had lost far more than he ever had. Of course, he was still young. There was time to view up in that category.

As if sensing his night thought process, Kalliandra stirred. His tending was suddenly riveted to her, his manus on her cheek. one-half of him hoped desperately for her to awaken, while another part feared that his one chance of discovering what ailed her would then slew away.

She was far too stubborn to burden anyone else with her pain. He knew that now.

It was startling how much could change in less than twenty four hours.

Harry 's half angry, half questioning gaze finally rose. He was startled to name Angelina 's absence. Somehow she had slipped away unnoticed, leaving he and Lupin alone.

After having been ignored by him for over two week, he was n't sure if he was happy about that or not.

'' It 's good to see you Harry. ''

'' Is it ? '' He could n't help it, but his voice was frigidity.

Lupin looked stung. `` Of course it is. ``

'' well forgive me for being skeptical, '' Harry replied sarcastically. `` It 's not like you have n't spoken to me in awhile. ``

'' I had my reasons. ``

He inclined an eyebrow, `` You had rationality for believing Sirius all-but-killed my mum and dad too. ''

'' That 's below the belt Harry. ``

'' trade good. ``

Remus ran a weary hand through his graying hair, leaning back against the wall. For the longsighted fourth dimension neither spoke, the entire meeting arousing conflicting emotions within Harry.

He wanted to slug him. For what he had done to him, to Tonks, to Kaylens ... by ignoring them simply to shelter them from his eye tooth slope. For having left him to administer with the pain of Sirius'dying alone. For having had the audacity to walk in, saying hello, as if nothing were imperfectly between the two. For having sent not one owl that summer.

All of Harry 's pent up frustrations with lupine were finally bubbling over, conveyed in the unity icy aspect he shot him.

Outside the cold, first of November wind rattled the turnout. The weather matched his black mood perfectly.

'' I 'm lamentable Harry. ``

He nearly laughed. `` Are you ? ''

'' For everything, '' lupin whispered chokingly.

Harry looked up, meeting the pleading stare of his father 's last aliveness booster. Suddenly he did not see the man who had inspired such a feeling of abandonment.

Instead ... he saw his family.

He swallowed hard, remembering the rifts he and Ron had been through, and the one they were in now. All those days ago, when he and Ron had fought during the Tri-Wizard tournament, Hermione had called them unintelligent.

She had been right.

aliveness was too short to hold grudge.

The reminder of Hermione 's plight, and the thought process that Remus could be taken just as easily, sent him stumbling for words. `` Just ... '' He started, forcing a strained smile. `` Do n't let it happen again. ``

'' I wo n't. ``

Remus'light brown eyes were nothing but honest. Suddenly, despite his lingering fears for Hermione ... for Ron ... for Ginny ... for Dean ... for Tonks ... for Dumbledore ... for Remus ... .for Neville ... .for Luna ... for Kalliandra ...

It was all too practically to strike, but suddenly he felt that he may not be quite so desperately alone in facing all of it.

'' Thank you, '' He said quietly, truly meaning it.

Remus simply smiled sadly, inclining his head towards the slumbering girlfriend in his lap.

'' How is she ? ``

Harry felt his brow instinctively line, his brain once again compartmentalizing what he could interest about, and impact, in the here and now.

'' I 'm not sure, '' He replied honestly. `` But Profes ... .Remus, what 's happening to her ? ``

The startled looking at upon Remus 's face faded, his form eyes regarding him carefully.

'' I assume you already know then. ``

'' Yes, '' He heard himself whispering, his interpreter filled with naked concern.

Remus studied him for a longsighted moment, his eyes falling on the movement of Harry 's hired hand as he stroked Kalliandra 's long hair.

For some reason Harry did not deal if Remus noticed.

The former prof 's brow crinkled with both curiosity and commiseration at the connotations Harry 's gestures conveyed. `` Are you trusted you really want to know Harry ? Sometimes not knowing is best, for when you know ... '' Remus'gaze was suddenly far off, as if peering into the removed past.

'' Sometimes Harry, the verity will simply haunt you. ``

Harry 's throat constricted, the bout glistening within Remus'eyes far too brighten.

'' What if it already does ? ``

The elder man smiled sadly, `` Then I 'd say things between the two of you have changed. After all, she 's out cold and you have yet to try and restrain her. ``

A sad joke bubbled out of him, his gaze falling to reside on her pale forehead.

'' Please ... I ... do n't say anything .... ''

'' Would n't dreaming of it. ``

Harry found himself nodding with no especial intellect. `` near ... I ... I 've no idea ... ''

'' What 's going on ? '' Remus finished.

Harry spotted the man 's knowing smiling, and was finally capable to let out the breath he had been unconsciously holding.

'' Something like that. ``

In the still air of the windowless room, both men remained tacit. Harry 's centre fell closed, his spike seeking out the soft audio of Kaylens'regular respiration.

Somehow, even with the growing uneasiness within, this calmed him.

With a decisiveness he did not experience, he finally spoke.

'' I need to know Remus. ''

A gimcrack sigh filled the room. `` I was afraid of that. ``

And Remus explained. He explained how magical existence had come into initiation, for somewhere in human history, human blood cellphone had begun mutating.

Most of the mutations had resulted in cancerous blood streams, killing those in possession of those variations. Muggles and Wizards alike still struggled against those diseases, leukemia the most prominent, but there were some individuals where the sport became beneficial.

He explained how everything, both life and inert, contained a physical body of vitality. Not all of it was measurable in the Muggle manner, and it was this form of energy, the form that would fail to register on electrical scales, that allowed magical beingness to flourish.

It was magical energy, and over time some mortal developed the ability to fudge it, without adverse affects.

Others were not so lucky.

There were people like Kalliandra, people like Reaches, who could dig into the charming region. But doing so was dangerous.

In the pillowcase of witches and wizards, they developed completely new cells in their lineage streams, and magical energy was conducted through their physical organic structure via these. Thus their bodies were able to act like electrical electric circuit, and Department of Energy was able to overstep through their charming cells without ever touching their early cells.

It was a gross system.

There were occasions when beldam and wizards would go fatigued, and such happening usually happened when the soul was performing wandless conjuring trick, or a particularly complicated spell. And the reason for their exhaustion was quite simple really :

When one 's body functions like a circuit, if excess magical energy is taken in and not released in the form of a by rights cast turn, then that zip remains stuck in the consistency and has to go somewhere. And since magic runs quite literally through one 's nervure, that witch or wizard 's magical cellular phone would be the first to be essentially, electrocuted by their magical overload.

Fortunately charming cellular telephone are quite robust, and their plasma tissue layer are more than adequate to of absorbing such overloads.

Red blood cadre, however, are not.

On occasion so much energy is not released from a wizard 's organic structure that it bursts through their sorcerous cellular telephone, frying pedigree cubicle essential in the sustentation of life.

And when one 's red blood cadre are dying it is unvoiced to circulate enough oxygen.

It was how Luna Lovegood 's mother had died. She had suffocated, while still breathing.

Such death were a rare occurrence, because human descent contains far more cellular telephone than necessary for the sustentation of life-time. So when some blood cellular phone are killed there are generally enough survivor to allow that individual to continue functioning in a rule, albeit fatigued, manner.

The foremost time Harry had tried the Patronus good luck charm he had overdrawn as well. He had been left winded, gasping for hint, just like he was after every Quidditch practice.

Yet he had partaken in no forcible activity.

It was because he had lost red-blood cubicle, the very cells responsible for carrying Oxygen throughout the body, and his trunk was responding as it would in an Oxygen-deprived manner.

reach had never evolved that far. They had never developed extra cells in their blood current, and the sport allowing them to carry electric current lay directly upon their red rake electric cell.

If they overdrew, their first electric cell to be damaged would be the one 's necessity in the exile of O.

Their genetic mutation was one that worked, but it functioned poorly. adept had evolved much more gracefully, for their additional cells provided a roadblock to protect them against overdrawing. Ultimately it was this defense mechanics that had allowed the wizarding species to not only flourish, but to pull round.

Unlike in him, the world-class cells to die in a range when they overdrew were their red blood cells.

For a Reach, the likeliness of suffering Luna 's mother 's fate was an almost certainty.

A inhuman flavour overtook Harry as all of this sunk in, for Kalliandra could easily die from overdrawing. She was only still alive due to the fact that her blood watercourse contained more red descent cells than it actually needed. Thus, she was able of tolerating a certain academic degree of overdrawing, but the border was slim.

For her, unlike a witch or champion, there was no real learning curve ball. For her there was little room for mistake, for there were no cells to absorb the shock ...

For her the only reward of overdrawing too much was death.

She would suffocate while still breathing.

It was why her red blood cells were being replaced even as Remus spoke. For every meter she drew DOE into herself she was slowly killing her cells.

Dumbledore was determined to interchange as many as he could, as often as he could.

It was the entirely way to sustain her, to ensure her a longer life.

Suddenly he understood the intermittent bruising he had seen upon her throughout the year.

After Remus had turned ... in the hospital wing ...

Her platelets had been killed when she had overdrawn, to protect him from Remus ...

She had passed out in Grimmauld topographic point, from the effort ... her body forcing her into unconsciousness in a last ditch attempt to prevent her from doing further damage to herself..

The effigy of her lying unconscious mind on the floor of the Three Broomsticks flew through his mind.

He had known that she had risked exposure for what she was, but idol ... .She had risked death there, to protect hoi polloi who hated her.

And he had once accused her of being a Death Eater.

Death Eaters knew no such altruism.

A sickening sensation flooded over him, his manus rising to rifle through his still wet hair.

He scarcely heard Remus as he tried to lie, telling him it was not a expiry condemnation for her.

Harry knew better, for what else could it be ?

His grip on her constrain, as if holding onto her could prevent the inevitable. Remus was talking about treatment, about how if they maintained her blood reckoning at proper levels that she would be able to live a convention, full-of-the-moon life-time.

All it took was a 1 facial expression into Remus'cheerless heart to know that his friend did not truly believe what he was saying.

'' testament she die ? ``

His own voice, his own question, sounded so far off.

'' Harry nil is certain ... If she does n't overdraw then we 'll never give to worry about that possibility. ``

'' Remus, will she die ? '' Harry felt his vocalism breaking, the familiar pang of loss welling within him.

As he met Remus'kind, glistening eye, he knew the answer.

'' Eventually ... ''

He wanted to croak out something, a build of protest that would quench the xerotes of his throat, but nothing came.

'' From what we know Harry, the others like her ... eventually, they all overdrew. ``

Eventually ...

The foolish niche of his mind clung to that word, the cockeyed companion of sorrow stirring within him.

Hope.

It was n't until sometime after dawn when he finally fell asleep. The IV was prospicient since removed from her arm, her sleeping form pulled into his arms.

At the moment Harry did n't pay a damn about who could see.



Recommended story :

legacy : The bezant Charm by the Dark Lord Nedved Rated : Mature
summary : Every epic has a beginning, and for the unseasoned Magi who was Prophesized to have the exponent the Dark Lord Knows Not, this is the beginning of his Legacy. For Harry there was no time to mourn for his fallen godfather, for a new foe has emerged with the sole role to assassinate him. The Dark master Nedved has created a tale of military action, discovery, magical creativity and sacrifice that would depart the best novelist pounding on his doorway, begging for him to start working on original fiction. This epic tale has 5 unlike novels associated with it, two of which are completed, while the others are well under way. To seek to line them in any other way would be to not do them justice. Harry/Hermione







Authors Note : Hey folks !

All of you really are the best reader out there. I ca n't thank everyone plenty for all of the fountainhead regard and understanding that were shown when I announced that I would be taking a retentive sabbatical from writing. I really needed it, and am glad of it. Both my mother and baby had been diagnosed with grievous illnesses this past summer, and all of the wellspring wishes some of you sent via e-mail must hold paid off because they have both made remarkable retrieval.

Secondly, thank you to everyone for the kind news 's regarding Lexi 's dying. On top of everything this summer that was the concluding blow to force back all of my motivation for writing away for awhile, but it is now back full moon force. Since I am a bit frustrated at having taken so long between chapters in the retiring, I have now set aside one day a week to indite so that I can get chapters out much more quickly, and on a regular basis. I anticipate this story being done by summer, and then I shall begin work on the sequel.

And most importantly I wanted to say thank you to Saint Andrew, for he helped me immensely with this chapter. It had been so recollective since I had written anything that when I finally tried to write again I found myself suffering from a severe case of writer 's block. Not only did he beta-read this chapter but he also offered marvelous suggestions to get this story back on path. Thank you so very much !




'' Dangerous is wrath concealed. ``
~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca ~



Chapter 28 ~ The Power of anger


As if in a incubus the elbow room 's impenetrable darkness was broken. From the darkened hall a unity candela appeared, levitating ominously as it preceded its owner into the melanize room.

The house 's blue write up harboured neither windows nor door to the outdoor earthly concern. It was a never-ending monitor of the monthly monster that had once been contained within its very walls, whenever the Moon had cast its wide-cut light upon the earth.

Now another more life-threatening monster loomed in the room 's shadows.

With a casual wave of their hired man the material body crossed the carpeted flooring silently, their silhouette pausing above the slumbering teens. The flesh knew that neither would wake up until their sleeping magic spell had run its trend.

Yes, the figure was muscular. Their sleeping charms were one of their stiff talents.

They could operate in arrant safety. None within the rampart would be the wiser to their actions.

Tonight they would commence their plan.

A syringe was filled, its needle swiftly inserted into the slumbering lady friend 's mineral vein. Kaylens'pulsating blood, bluish in tint through her pale peel, flashed silver gray.

A minute later the foreign hue faded, a low production line of satisfaction stretching over the figure 's shadowed face.

* * * * *


With a sharp click the doorway to Dumbledore 's office opened.

Tonks shot out of the armchair she had been dozing within, knowing the locking spell 's removal to mean only one thing.

'' He 's back, '' She whispered. Lounging in the armchair besides her genus Regulus nodded.

Out in the student residence, suddenly seeable as the threshold opened, was Ron Weasley. He lay slumped besides his discarded crutch on the floor, sleeping soundly.

Crusantheus hung on the door miserably, his knocker curled and contorted around his spike so as to block out the sound of the new Gryffindor 's snoring.

'' Kill me ... '' He squeaked. `` Please. ``

As tired as she was Tonks could n't avail but smile as Regulus lazily took aim, an evil glint in his eye.

'' No ! '' Shrieked Crusantheus. `` I did n't actually think it ! ''

Regulus continued advancing on the cowering tit until a deep voice intervened.

'' No need to fret Crusantheus. Did you draw a blank that the killing curse has no effect on governing body detractor ? ''

Crusantheus peeked out from behind his knocker hopefully, as Tonks spun around, rounding on the infuriate thing 's rescuer.

Somehow Ablus Dumbledore was standing behind her, looking rather jovial.

'' Morning Nymphadora. fantasy a biscuit ? ``

As if on cue a tray of biscuit appeared in his outstretched palm.

Tonks blinked dazedly, rubbing her red rim eyes with her fists. Surely this jovial
man had not just returned from a confluence with the darkest of shadow Creator ?

Regulus, completely unflummoxed by their sudden intrusion, rose from his arm chair to carefully scrutinize the food offering. `` I take it negotiations proceeded satisfactorily ? ''
'' The interchange will be made in two months'time. ``

Tonks gaped, `` Two months ! ``

'' They probably need time to animate the piddling Mudblood, '' Regulus commented casuallly, directing his gaze to Albus. `` I assume you requested that she be returned in one opus, and I can only imagine the fun they 've had with her until now. ``

Dumbledore nodded gravely. `` Her combat injury will want some ... healing. ``

Tonks middle widened in worry. While she still did not see how Hermione for Dumbledore was a fair trade, she had grown rather fond of the girl during her time at Grimmauld Place.

A twain of sky downhearted middle regarded her carefully, their twinkling somehow dimmer than she remembered.

'' I know what you are thinking Nymphadora, '' Dumbledore said kindly, as if reading her thinker. `` But persona of the cause I made the line of descent pact here with Regulus, rather than in Voldemort 's presence, was so that I could insure Hermione 's return on my own terms. He could have chosen to reject the profligate pact had he so chosen, but he did not. ''

Tonks opened her mouth to ask precisely what those terms were, but his mitt steadied her question.

'' The terms were that if she were returned in the exact physical state that she had been in before the Hogsmead attack took plaza, that I would trade places with her, becoming Voldemort 's captive. ``

'' I bet he was only too happy to accept that trade, '' Regulus stated, smirking widely. `` Imagine that ... Albus Dumbledore, the shadow lord 's cracking Nemesis, handed to him on a halcyon disk with a position of cherry."

"Actually,"Dumbledore corrected,"I believe the construction is ‘ served on a silver platter with a cherry on top.'”

Tonks spluttered, focusing on the sick genius within her abdomen. The war attempt, the Order, could feasibly crumble without Dumbledore 's leading, and here he was bantering with an ex-Death eater, wizarding world apostate right after selling his life to the devil.

"Dumbledore,"She said, voicing her far from composure view aloud."Why would you do this ?"

Dumbledore 's eyes locked on hers, losing their twinkle. `` Nymphadora, we have lost far too many students to this war already. I could not stand by and miss another. ''

She swallowed the lump in her throat hastily. She should cause known all along that the safety of others would always do first to Dumbledore. He would have done the same for any of them.

love of one 's champion was a powerful thing.

'' So, old man, '' Regulus queried, taking a sharpness of his biscuit. `` Find out anything else of involvement during your niggling tryst ? ``

If possible Dumbledore 's eye darkened further. `` We have to set up the Order. The plague was unleashed in Dublin. ``

'' Dublin, Ireland ! '' Tonks blurted rhetorically.

genus Regulus frowned, `` As brilliant as you are, how were you placed in Ravenclaw again ? ''

She scarcely heard him, her centre having darted over to the still slumbering forms of Kenneth and Emily.

Their home city was infected.

'' So how 'd you fare by that fun fact Albus ? I never exactly took you two to be old school brother. ''

For the briefest of second gear Dumbledore 's eyes took on their old light. `` For all of Voldemort 's prowess with Legilimency, he never quite mastered Occlumency. He has always surrounded himself with loyal followers. '' He continued, `` And until recently he simply did not have the want.

Regulus chuckled. `` So he 's good, but you 're better. ``

Tonks blinked. `` But I thought he was one of the most vivid students Hogwarts has ever seen ? ''

'' Ah ... '' Dumbledore said, smiling again. `` As is Ms. sodbuster, but even she can not fly upon a heather. ''

Tonks gaped at him.

'' We all have our weaknesses Nymphadora. Severus never would have survived his part as spy had he not been better at Occlumency and Legilimency than Voldemort. We should simply be grateful that this is one of Voldemort 's few sapless item. ``

Tonks frowned pensively. So He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did birth weaknesses. They really were not fighting for naught.

With an air of finality Regulus clapped his handwriting together, making the already unquiet Crusantheus bang his knocker rather loudly. The slumbering Ronald Weasley gave a tearing start, snorting loudly as he awoke suddenly.

Tonks watched wearily as the carrottop blinked groggily, eyeing the billet in forepart of him until his eye landed on the headmaster. It took a mo before a figurative illumination lightbulb clicked on in his sleep-befuddled mind

'' Professor Dumbledore ! '' He exclaimed, scrambling to his base, a flurry of wooden crutch and gangly ramification sliding on Lucy Stone. It did n't take tenacious before Ron was flat on his tail once again, groaning from his fall.

Regulus eyed him mockingly. `` And they call Hufflepuffs the duffers. ``

* * * * *


Harry 's eyes snapped open, his dreamless quietus shattered by the sudden outcry of the girl in his arms. Through slightly blurred oculus he stared down the bridge of his nozzle at the messy mop of pilus resting upon his chest. The warm feeling he ought to sustain felt vanished, a numbing one replacing it at the sight of her expression.

For Kaylens there was no peace to be found in the realm of dreaming.

He swallowed hard, watching her expression crinkle into an formulation bearing striking similarity to what he had once seen upon Cedric 's father, as the man desperately clutched his lifeless son to him, oblivious to the swarming bunch around them.

Such undiluted sadness should never be seen upon a human mug, yet he had seen it palpably far too often. Even on himself. The root of such hurt had been buried deep within him, growing since the second he had discovered his true fate : killing or be killed.

All thought of his calamity of a future was suddenly shattered as Kaylens lurched violently, a chilling cry cutting from her throat.

Harry gaped, feeling the haircloth on his coat of arms rising to suffer on end. Without thinking his hired hand gripped her arms, her struggle beneath his fingerbreadth turning whiten with the pressure.

'' K-kaylens ... '' He stuttered, scarcely recognizing his own voice. He gave an data-based shove, shaking her lightly in a pathetic attempt to turn on her.

And that was when she cried out again. That sound ripping from her throat. It resonated through the dark room, terrifying in its raw intensity. His hair now fully stood on end, for the auditory sensation had been insanely tragic and yet, unbearably beautiful.

It chilled him to the bone, for it was a sound no man could utter.

It happened fast. One second his arms were wrapped tightly around her, shaking her in an attempt to rouse her, and in the next her blazon wrenched away. She shot up quickly, her centre flying open in the shadow elbow room only to be slammed shut as she uttered a more fellow screech of pain. His backup man was short- lived as he grabbed onto her arm again, for she pulled away so violently that they were both institutionalize tumbling from the couch to the floor.

His back struck the floor first, his knees having been tangled unnaturally in the blankets. He attempted to right himself, pulling his legs down until he was on all fours.

A swift boot to the cover sent his face smashing into the earth.

He groaned, and ignoring the throbbing pain in his nose he rose his head cautiously, squinting at his surround. Where were his Methedrine ? Slowly he reached a mitt out, allowing it to ramble across the soft carpeting in his search.

And then he remembered.

His glasses were still lying in some godforsaken puddle in the center of that execrable timber. By now they were probably some acromantula 's cud toy.

Cursing he blinked rapidly, his center finally adjusting to the swarthiness and settling on the slightly bleary schema of Kaylens. She was sitting upright, some good five feet away, with her stifle drawn to her pectus and her typeface buried within them.

He swallowed hard, the only sounds in the way now were his rough breaths and her rapid, erratic ones. In stunned silence he observed her as best as he could. Her bare feet were sticking out from beneath a midst blanket, which despite their tumble still partly covered her, while she breathed as if having run a marathon.

Everything that had transpired between them came flooding back, a tense belief twisting within him.

'' Kaylens ... '' He whispered, reaching hesitantly for her, only for her to funk, scrambling away like a panicky animal.

He stared in astonishment as her back hit the way 's wall, a unknown whimper coming from her throat. Of all the reactions he could suffer foreseen, this was the farthest from it.

And now she was having the response that he would have expected from any other girl, but not from her.

She was sobbing.

The strait of her war cry torus at him in agency he had n't imagined, for the girl who had stood by him, facing dying Eaters and werewolves without blinking an eye, had been reduced to this pitiful state by a simple nightmare.

Instantly he stood, crossing the way to her in four yearn strides.

'' Kaylens, '' He said, tentatively laying a script on her shoulder. She whimpered, shrinking away from his touch.

His brow furrowed determinedly. `` Kaylens tone at me, '' He commanded, crouching directly in front of her. Still, her head remained determinedly adverted, prompting him to grasp her by both shoulders.

Her pass shot up, a tempestuous clicking coming from her throat as she struggled away, lashing out violently. He dove back to keep off her flailing hands and metrical foot, landing on his tailbone, eyes wide in astonishment.

She was making that sound again.

And he recognized it. A dark nighttime in the Forbidden Forest, where he and Dragon Malfoy had encountered the unexpected, had taught him that sound of pain.

The sound of the beautiful creature 's dying watchword had reverberated in his nightmare for months.

As had Voldemort 's shadowy design ...

There was no hesitation in his social movement as he wandlessly summoned his sceptre to his hired hand, immobilizing her weapon and branch with a picture of his wrist.

Kaylens was witting, but incapable of lashing out.

He crawled back to her, taking her delicate wrist and pushing the sleeve of her battered sweater up.

The bruising was gone.

He swallowed hard, recognizing the odds of such bruising disappearing overnight. Now he was only certain of one thing.

Something had happened whilst he slept.

Licking his eluding nervously he cupped her chin, raising her head until he could see all of the confusion swim within her fortunate middle. His breath hitched in horrible realization at what he was about to do, but there was simply no other way.

He had to know. He had to know what had happened whilst he slept.

Until then he could n't avail her, and he knew that no one else would be volition to do this. There were hard-and-fast rules against the unauthorized use of Legilimency. Hermione had taught him that much, screaming and ranting after his last-place misuse of the talent against the Saame girlfriend he was about to violate yet again.

'' I 'm sorry, '' He whispered, brushing her hair away from her aspect. `` I 'm so drab Kally ... '' He repeated, steeling himself for his criminal offence.

Cupping her nerve he stared intently into her center, watching them flickering around in fearfulness.

Her awe was warranted.

He only hoped he was wrong.

'' Legilimency ! ``

The overpowering wave that was her life flooded his mind, capturing his senses in a go of indiscernible events. He groaned, desperate to lay off the twister-like effect of the memories swirling around him. It was different than the last meter, so unbelievably different ...

A cacophony of clicking, beautiful and powerful in its raw intensity filled his mind, only to be replaced just as quickly as it had come with a fellow scream.

'' Riley ! ''

He was seeing it again, reliving the afternoon when she had seen her own Brother murdered right in front of her. Only this clock time the trope were fleeting, distorted as if he were viewing it through a deep dot of smoky chalk. It was as if the memories were no longsighted her own.

His heart clenched as he watched the man kick open the door for the indorse time. Kaylens'lowly body was shed backwards, her tiny form sliding across the level. It was as if everything were on the fast forward feature of a Muggle VCR. There was the knife, her shrieking, her Brother ...

As the gunfire rang out he could again almost finger what she had. The hot, ardent pain of the blade plunging into her flesh. The searing as it was drug in a cryptical line across her shoulder blade. The fright as she watched the bloodline pooling from her buddy 's
wound slowly stop pumping ...

Suddenly all was black, misty, the knock-down sound of a herd stampeding through her persuasion. Then all was green and brown and green again. Somehow he was running faster than he had thought possible, the trees whipping past him in a blur of green and chocolate-brown and green again. He was surrounded by others of his kind.

His name was Lightning.

The images twisted again, surrounding Harry in a confusing whorl of forest scenes followed by scenes of her puerility. ash grey horns flashed around him, gleaming as the ruck ran beneath the moonlight, while golden hair flashed throughout her life.

Another memory slammed into Harry, crystallizing into go up limpidity. It was mid-afternoon, though the sun barely shone through the over-cast sky. Before him was a poorly kept thou, bordered on three sides by a thick, rising treeline and hills. Harry swiveled in the murky retentiveness, feeling Kalliandra 's recollection lurch dangerously as another retention threatened to bleed into this one. The sound of hooves, the sound of the herd on the run, pounded in the distance.

Harry fell to the dewy ground, watching as a man with golden fuzz, tinged heavily with gray, methodically stacked railroad away from the house. Fog crept across the lawn, curling around his feet, each oink echoing in the silent vale.

And then the baby were led out, and Harry 's person shivered.

Kalliandra appeared to be the Lapp age as in the last memory, only now she stood besides a diminished boy, barely older than her, digging her nails into his arm.

'' S-sean ... ''

Their father pried her hands away from her brother, forcing a semi-automatic Glock 17, 9x19 mm caliber side arm into her humble hands. Her legs had suddenly felt freeze, rooted to the damp flat coat. Harry could practically feel her pith 's cowardly thundering at the cold, unfeeling metal between her fingers.

The thick fog curled high around the six foot sight of sand bags, and as it began to drizzle her Padre aimed her small manpower towards the stack.

'' Shoot it. ``

Kalliandra pulled the induction and cried.

As the gun was being passed to her surviving crony Kaylens'memory shifted again, swirling until he found himself peering through a thick orchard of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, stomping his hooves in warning as a hooded figure approached. The number 's hands raised very slowly, carefully removing the hood of their robe, allowing a shower of midst, black hair to come tumbling around her articulatio humeri.

The woman 's smiler remained hidden by the cryptic forest shadows, yet Lightning was calming.

It was a pure woman. She could be trusted. Lightning could tell.

The unicorn never saw the former cloaked build creeping from behind, and that man 's sticker soon shone silver with Lightning 's blood.

Harry stood in the shadows drawing trench, berate breaths. He could practically feel every column inch of botheration the poor beast was going through, the only sounds that of the screeching creature and that of the dry ramification cracking beneath Harry 's shifting weight as he watched, powerless to stop its pain.

The man bottled and corked a measurable amount of line of descent from the unicorn, leaving it only enough to barely gimp away active. A light chuckle escaped the hooded Death Eater at the sight.

Suddenly the woman stepped out of the fantasm, and Harry 's breath stopped.

Angelina stood in the dim brightness level, depositing the bottleful into a blockheaded bag slung across her shoulder. Her Dark scratch gleamed brilliantly.

Violently Harry felt himself being tossed out, finding himself flat on his back staring up at Remus'shocked face.

Kalliandra continued to whimper.

* * * * *


'' Would you mind repeating that ? ``

Tonks blinked stupidly. Somehow she had thought that being told that the `` infestation of all pestilence '' had been unleashed upon the citizens of Ireland would have had more of an impression upon its President.

Instead the newly awakened Kenneth Bothan sat behind Dumbledore 's desk, clasping his hands, waiting for her response with an inquiring look upon his face.

She silently damned Albus for having left them to bring out the news to Kenneth while he went to call up an emergency meeting of the Order. She was n't beneficial at this variety of thing dam n't ! She had at least expected a rouse out of the man at the word, but instead he was irrefutably calm.

It was quite obvious that Kenneth was insane.

'' Basically Ken, all of your people will be utterly within the workweek, '' genus Regulus stated with ironic cheerfulness. `` But look on the bright slope. At least you wo n't have to run for re-election. ''

Tonks'dark eye swiveled to her cousin, her mouth porta and shutting like a gaping fish.

Kenneth, however, seemed entirely unruffled.

'' So, '' The President started with a curious frown, `` What you are saying is that wizarding kinfolk have no treatment against this ? ''

'' Well ... '' Regulus mused thoughtfully. `` We could always Avada Kedavra those who have already contracted it. That ought to slow its ranch, properly Nymphadora ? ``

'' Regulus ! ``

Kenneth looked appraisingly at her full cousin. `` And this Avada Kedarva discussion ? How effective is it ? ``

Regulus grinned like a jackal. `` Supposing we were able to insulate those who had already contracted it we may observe out its method of dispersal, while simultaneously establishing a quarantine and treating the bother of the already afflicted ... ''

'' By killing them ! ? '' Tonks fusillade in, unable to conceive the arch game Regulus played with the President 's hopes.

'' Ah, '' Kenneth said as if suddenly understanding. `` The handling has a eminent mortality rate pace. How senior high though ? ``

Regulus grinned widely, while Tonks contemplated murder for the dozenth fourth dimension in twenty four hours.
* * * * *


'' Harry ! What in the public figure of pigeon hawk did you cogitate you were ... ''

Harry closed his eyes, grinding out his words. `` Something 's wrong with Kalliandra, '' He interjected. `` I had to find out what. ``

The room 's secretiveness was broken only by Kaylens'laboured external respiration, and her well-defined distress drew Lupin 's aid from him to her. He felt the old professor drop cloth to his knees besides them, and he cracked an eye to watch as lupine scrutinized her.

The Professor looked flabbergasted as he picked up one of her blind drunk arms. `` Harry, you 've immobilized her. ``

'' For good reason. ``

Lupin threw a disgusted look over his shoulder, and snatched his wand out, clearly intending to remove the spell.

'' Professor I do n't consider tha ... ''

His protestation was too late, for Kaylens had already lashed out, landing a strategic squawk that sent lupin sprawling 2-dimensional on his cover next to Harry.

'' I told you, '' Harry groaned, shoving himself up on his elbow to note the pained expression of Remus'face. `` Kicks hard, does n't she ? ``

lupine coughed harshly in response, choosing to ignore him as he rolled over to check on Kaylens. She was already scrambling along the wall on all foursome, backing herself into a recession like a frightened animal. On her way she somehow managed to hit the alone early man of piece of furniture, digression from the couch, and several small volume came spilling down, scattering across the floor like rock-and-roll thrown from a distance.

The crashing sound only intensified the inadequate girl 's whimpering.

Harry 's eyes remained on her, watching as she curled her legs to her chest in a feeble attempt at self-defence. But he knew the truth ... there was no protection from what plagued her.

But he 'd be damned if he did n't try to help.

'' prof .... '' He started slowly. `` What variety of curse does drinking unicorn descent entail ? ''

lupin opened his mouthpiece and faltered. Harry remained lying on his back, his amphetamine body propped up with his elbows, silently hoping to God that the prof would put the pieces together. Lupin had to believe him. He had to trust him. None of the adults, save for those dead and buried, had ever trusted him in fourth dimension for it to actually matter.

It was why Sirius had died. And somehow Harry did n't think he could take it if the last tie-in to his father failed to trust him.

Then slowly, ever so slowly, the lykan's drumhead turned towards him, and even in the dark room Harry could see the sudden knowledge flashing in his oculus.

Moony understood his meaning.

'' Her bruising is gone, '' Harry whispered, driving another puff to any uncertainty the professor could have. `` What else in the wizarding world could heal individual that quickly ? ``

lupin drew a mystifying hint, shaking slightly.

'' Harry ... if what you 're saying is true ... ''

'' It is, '' He assured. `` I saw remembering inside of her mind that were not hers. ``

Kaylens'whimpering had finally quieted, casting the room into a mortal silence.

Besides him Lupin swallowed audibly, contemplating Harry 's statements in the deathly silence that had descended. Kaylens was no longer whimpering, and he was unsure of if he missed the reassuring sound of her mien, or if was pleased at the obvious easing of her distress.

He glanced at lupin, stunned at the torn grammatical construction upon his former professor's countenance. Did the man believe him or not ?

He sighed in frustration, snapping at lupine's unresponsiveness. `` Why would she throw those memories, Moony ? ``

Hearing his old predator gens snapped lupine out of his reflective stupor. `` It's magically potent…unicorn bloodline that is. In fact it is so magic that their memory are often heavily imprinted upon it. '' He shook his promontory slowly, as if clearing a hazy fog."To possess a unicorn's blood is to not only possess their biography flow, but their very being."

Lupin sighed heavily. `` There is not much precedent for this, but….in the early 1900 's medi-wizards began experimenting with unlike treatment selection for terminal diseases. One researcher, familiar with unicorns, sought to harness their healing business leader by injecting his terminally ill affected role with the animate being'blood. It cured the patient but the side effects…"Lupin shuddered, digressing quickly. `` The line of descent was too hard to hold to begin with. Unicorns don't normally donate willingly, not to mentio ... ''

'' What side effects, '' Harry interrupted hoarsely, closing his eyes. The smell of her in his weaponry flooded his senses, the woodsy scent that had clung to her all night coming back, overwhelming him with a tidal waving of fear. In his life history there was no room for new attachment, yet the thought of her in pain…

He knew without a doubtfulness that he would kill for her again, just as he would kill for any of those he held close.

He only hoped it would not come to that.

His eyes snapped open as Lupin 's distressed vocalisation filled the room.

'' near went insane. ``

Harry nearly choked. `` Insane ? '' He grated out.

Lupin looked years older. `` They never were able to secern between themselves and the creature again, '' he relayed. `` Can you imagine it Harry ? Having a lifetime of memory board that were not your own suddenly shoved inside of your mind ? Unicorns live for hundreds of years…it was only natural for those obtaining their ancestry to go bemused. To them it would feel as if they had spent a tenacious time being a unicorn than a human being."

The puke sensation twisting within him deepen. Kaylens'judgment had revealed exactly what Lupin now spoke of, and the cerebration made him nauseating.

And the curse…God he had nearly forgotten…

Remus read his mind, continuing his scholarly drill of facts aloud. For Remus, who had lost so very much, it was easier than dealing with the devastating radioactive dust facing them in Kaylens'crumpled form.

"When one slays such an sinless creature, seeking their blood's healing force, it leaves the curse of the half-life. But when one is given the blood unwillingly, or when the animal is left alert, the curse does not lessen ; it simply changes its manifestation."

His throat constricted, but Harry managed to cash in one's chips out a undivided word.

"Explain."

There was no mistaking the gruesome feel upon Lupin's brass."Harry, the solely I desperate enough to vote out such an innocent beast are those hanging onto life by a thread. But the price…it is far too high for any sane person to contemplate, for the toll for their inhumanity is losing all ability to love. A liveliness without the content for beloved is barren of joy, happiness, family…"He shook his capitulum, disgust etched in his every feature of speech."In a desperate attempt to relieve their own life story they lose the only thing that makes biography worth living for. Once they take that path they truly lead half a biography, only experiencing the darker face of the worked up spectrum."

"Then the mediwizard, the one using it to cure his patient, did that befall to him ?"

Lupin sighed indulgently."There are ways to accumulate it, ways for it to be done without incurring the ire of the curse but…those ways take time, Harry. Gaining the long term trust of a unicorn, let alone permission to impose wound upon it, are not easy tasks."

He swallowed hard."What about Kaylens ? That won't…it won't happen…"He trailed off, unable to voice such morbid thoughts aloud. No human deserved that. She didn't deserve that.

Once again Lupin looked ill."For Kally it will be unlike,"He said gruffly."Instead, if she recovers, she will bonk, but her every experience will be shared with both sides of her, diluting the intensity of the emotions she flavour, diluting her opinion towards others…"

Something about the Son sent Harry's warmheartedness twisting.

"Unicorns ... they are such inexperienced person creatures, incapable of sin, incapable of inflicting pain ... Could you imagine having a ideal following you around for the entirety of your life, correcting your every fault ? Well from this moment on she will be sharing her head, her lifespan, with memories of what true innocence is, for a unicorn is the reliable avatar of that, and with it will come a gnawing guiltiness over the sins she has committed in the past tense. Between the muddiness over her indistinguishability and her newfound guilty conscience over even the diminished of transgressions…that alone could be sufficiency to beat back some mad."

Harry's mouth twisted into a frown,"So she can't sin ?"

"If only it were that easy, Harry. She can, and she will. But having this will afford her a moral sense stronger than most, and living a perfect life is an unsufferable job. Her life will be as close to normal as potential, only she will feel far shamed about thing she does than others."

'' A half life ... '' He whispered aloud, suddenly understanding. Kaylens truly would be cursed, for she would always be sharing her judgement with retention not her own.

None of this was her fault, and the thought sickened him.

'' Not all the mediwizard 's patients went insane, '' He finally said, recalling lupin 's other word. `` You said nigh. ``

lupine shook his mind. `` They all went insane at first Harry. But only two managed to reclaim enough of their minds to function. Two out of heaps. ``

Harry closed his eyes, his voice filled with sardonic irony. `` She just ca n't catch a breaking, can she ? ``

The Professor shook his read/write head in response. `` There 's only one way to be surely. ''

Without warning Lupin snatched his wand out, summoning a small flashlight. Soon a metal blur came flying through the doorway, landing in the prof 's outstretched deal.

Harry frowned at the action, not understanding, but in one swift motion the professor had it on and aimed at Kalliandra 's cheek. lupin clearly knew exactly what he was looking for.

Kaylens was suddenly shrieking again, and judging from the gloomy look on the professor 's side he had found all he needed to know.

A metallic click sounded as the flashlight was turned off, and Kaylens'cries instantly died down, slowly fading to a obtuse whimper.

'' She 's sensitive to ignitor ... '' Lupin stated. `` There are only two conditions I know of that cause that. ``

'' She 's not a vampire ... '' Harry stated coldly, earning a reproving look.

'' I was n't even about to evoke it. But animals tend to throw better nocturnal vision than us Harry. Lykans and unicorns are no exclusion, and when I was beginning bit ... '' He trailed off, his boldness twisting into a peculiar expression."Once I was bit my whole body changed. My eyes were the worst though. ''

The prof suddenly adopted an almost whimsical look. `` Did you know there are more square toes spunk per inch in your eyes than in any other voice of your body ? Well there are. If you ever want to cause individual pain just jinx their eyes and ... ''

'' prof, '' Harry interjected, at the moment not carrying about the finer detail of jinxing.

lupine shrugged. `` My bite caused a whole new layer of tissue entire of light tender jail cell to get across the back of my eyes, its called tapetum lucidum. It lets me use LE lightsome to see, so I can see with sixth the amount you can. But when it first happened ... before I was used to it ... '' He shuddered. `` Merlin it hurt. The slight tripping felt like the sun was blasting me in the look. Hell, it had me in teardrop. ''

lupine raised the flashlight, pointing it directly at Kalliandra, flicking it on and off with each syllable. `` Just. Like. Her. ''

Kaylens'whimpers died down as the light was turned off for a final time, and suddenly Harry understood the torch. Unicorns had excellent nigh vision as well, and the flashlight was lupine 's way of confirming what he already knew.

Kaylens had a layer of light sore tissue paper growing across her retinas right now. No wonder she screamed at the light.

'' Harry, '' The scholarly professor tonicity was suddenly gone, and the wolf was deadly serious. `` Was she fine last night ? Before she lost consciousness ? ``

Harry was quick to nod.

'' Then sometime between then and now somebody injected that roue directly into her veins. She could n't have done it herself. ``

Harry 's mouth opened, but his question of how that was possible died on his tongue.

He knew the answer.

There was only one person who would wilfully excommunicate another within the house.

'' Professor what 's going on ? I heard yelling. ''

Harry 's eyes narrowed, every muscleman tightening. Angelina had finally come, drawn by the incremental shouting. There she was, rushing through the elbow room 's threshold, drawing her cloak hastily around her as if nothing terrible were amiss.

If he had n't known better he would receive thought she truly was surprised at the situation she found. But he knew better. No one took that foresighted to respond to screams like the one's Kaylens had unleashed unless it was intentional.

'' Why is it so wickedness ? '' Her voice sounded honestly confused as she flicked her wand out, lighting every candelabrum in sight.

His centre flew to Kaylens, who had immediately began shrieking, clamping her hands over her optic, screaming as if hell itself has sent its demons up to drag her into its depth. His chest constricted at her obvious pain.

Lupin lunged at her in a decidedly Hugo Wolf like way. `` Kally, do n't ! '' He was shouting, fighting her for control. She lashed out, and Lupin grasped her carpus in a exclusive, fluid gesture, quickly capturing the early as well.

The professor had already forced her manus down against her side, kneeling on her legs in a vain attempt to prevent them from flailing. He was far firm than Kaylens, but she was desperate, fighting to block the hellish light source from her eyes as lupine fought to forestall her from inflicting legal injury upon herself. Now he was yelling at Angelina to extinguish the wax light, and Harry still had not moved.

He was too busy watching Angelina, noting the guilt flashing within every Robert Brown pigment in her colored eyes.

Her ignominious lash fluttered, and the betraying emotion was suddenly gone.

His blood boiled, his sleeve vibrating with conquer passion as she began speaking, a panic-stricken edge to her voice.

'' What 's going on ? '' She asked fearfully, rushing across the room to aid Lupin. `` Remus !
What 's wrong with Kally ! ? '' She continued shouting questions, lunging over Harry as if he were not even there.

She dropped to her knees besides where lupin and Kaylens wrestled, her ebony hide gleaming in the candlelight. Her dark-skinned middle widened in assume horror, her face a mask of inexperienced person fear as she reached out to aid throttle Kaylens.

And Harry lost it.

Her hand never reached Kaylens, her tainted fingers never touching her body. Before anyone could understand it Harry 's hand had flown out, snatching the oversized arm billowing around the betrayer's radiocarpal joint, and he tugged her callously to the floor.

Harry lunged to his metrical foot, stamping the heel of his foot against the missy 's throat, pinning her to the ground.

'' Do n't. touch on. Her. '' He growled, the world rippling around him.

Power swelled within him, the long suit of his magic unleashed by the raw angriness pumping through his veins, and the feeling ... it was intoxicating.

Angelina 's body undulated like a worm beneath him. She was choking, spluttering uncomprehensible sounds, the shock absorber clearly written across her face. Her handwriting were clawing at his foot, her clenched fist slamming against his branch as she fought for air.

He scarcely noticed any of it.

'' H-harry ... st-top ... '' She gasped, her eyes rolling backwards, fingerbreadth going quagmire as her pleas went unheard.

'' Harry ! Let her go ! '' Shouted Remus, followed by a loud crashing as he and Kaylens tumbled into the bookcase, knocking it sideways.

account book went flying, scattering everywhere. The resounding crashing masked the dull clump of Angelina 's limp arm hitting the floor.

lupin let out a anguish howl, and Harry 's hired hand shot out. He felt the magic dripping from his fingertips like water.

With a motion picture of his wrist the wax light went out.
* * * * *


The descending sun of midday zenith was partially obscured by the perpetual cloud cover, casting the not-so-distant Dublin-Wicklow mountain into a deep fog. Yet the man paid the threatening milieu no intellect, nor the racking coughing that had swiftly descended upon him. Instead he stared out the windows of his South capital of Ireland speech, admiring the position afforded by his working class neighborhood.

With a small smile he leaned further back into his reclining chair, letting the smoky scent of sassy baking fish fill his nostril. George Meredith was cooking, and from the smell of it she was cooking the fish he had caught just that forenoon. They were bound to taste delicious. Everything his wife cooked always did. It was just a ignominy their center child, Eva, had inherited his culinary good sense, or lack thereof.

'' Father, you feeling alright ? ``

The man turned to find his firstborn son in the doorway, a refer expression crossing Edward 's freckled face. The man smiled, for the resemblance between forefather and son was striking. Edward had been the lone shaver to inherit both the lentigo scattered across his nose and the dismal head of hair adorning his straits. The other two of his children bore his wife 's ash blond fuzz and startling dark centre. Edward II however had his blue-green unity.

He graced his son with a affectionate smile. `` I 'm just fine m'boy. Just a bit of a frigidness. ``

'' You sure father ? Perhaps after dinner party we should take you to the doctor. Your cervix looks awfully swollen. ``

Curiously the man rubbed his attender lymph nodes, shocked to find that they had doubled in size in just a few hours.

His son smiled cheekily. `` Mother is of the mind to not let you go off fishing at such sinful time of day again. She said something about catchin'yer death on score of our colder than pattern temperatures. ``

The man could n't dissent a grin. `` Well perhaps yer mum is rightfield. The thermostat dropped to 10 Celsius this mornin'before I ventured out. ''

'' I 'll enjoin her you said so. ``

The man 's eyes widened in mock horror. `` Now you 'll be doin'no such thing boy ! Because I 'll guarantee that once yer mum 's done houndin'me that yer 'll be next. ``

Now it was Prince Edward 's crook to look horrendous, and the man leaned back, smiling in satisfaction. The boy still remembered the time Meredith had wrapped him head to toe in a snow-suit, complete with two scarves wrapped around his head and outsized mittens. Oh ! How the boy could hardly take the air in that contrivance !

'' Father, '' Started his boy diplomatically, `` I think I 'll just be off to get a head startle on my Algebra. ``

The man smiled in satisfaction as the door closed behind his boy. Yes, despite their humble surroundings his boy would soon grow into a fine man. And while he had never been able to supply all that he desired for his minor, they did wonderfully with what they were given.

It was no small point of pride for the man that he had worked his way from the North side of Dublin to the south. While most of the masses in his income socio-economic class tended towards the northwest side of the city, here he was, raising his family unit is Tallaght. It might not be one of the wealthier territorial dominion characteristic of South capital of Ireland, but its robust mother wit of history had captured his children 's gist from day one. He still remembered how young Eve 's eyes had grown all-encompassing as saucers as he had explained the inception of the territory 's name.

Tallaght. Pit of tears. The very name was reminiscent of the mass grave dug there during the last pitch blackness infestation. G were said to be buried just beneath the sewers, and that little bit of noesis had had all three of his baby off and running, screaming and laughing in increments as their young psyche excogitate wraith stories along with it.

How proud he had been when Edward had shown him a tale he had written. It had been about a young boy and his ghostly friend, a child who had died during the Black pestis. The ghost kid had been buried beneath the fictitious boy 's home, and had appeared to the boy when another unknown unwellness ran rampant through the metropolis. With the spectre child 's help the Thomas Young boy had been able to save the city, and his family.

The man leaned back in his chairman as a bout of coughing shook his lean frame, a late pain shooting through him. He clung to the hand rests tightly, waiting for it to pass, all the while thinking of the future.

Yes. An author would be a befitting profession for his eldest. Edward would one day make a fine novelist.

The man smiled, proud of his children in a way that only a forefather could be.

If only he knew how soon story were to repeat itself.








A/N : Thank you so practically to Andrew, Njhill22, and Ichigopan for helping me out a lot with this chapter. Andrew not only helped to work out some of the plot kinks for this chapter and the following, but he also beta-read it for me, and therefore rocks. Njhill22 and Ichigopan are also awesome, because both of them helped me until 3 am when I wound up seriously stuck on how to write the next percentage. Thanks so much you guys !






'' Nothing ventured, cipher gained. ''
~ William Shakspere ~



Chapter 29 ~ No Longer Helpless


With a flick of his wrist the candles went out.

His heel remained solidly planted against Angelina 's chest as winding-clothes of darkness shot out in all directions, like the spindly digit of a corpse, until the entire way was engulfed in an inky, suffocating darkness. Harry scarcely noticed any of it, nor the dense odour of cauterise wax as spiritual domain smoke curled up from the extinguished candles.

ira pumped heavily through his vein, and with a hatred he had not thought potential he glared down at the girl beneath him. In the past his calloused actions against his former household mate would have sickened him, but now ....

Things were dissimilar.

His outstretched helping hand shook, his barely restrained magic crackling across his peel like stable electricity, burning and searing at his flesh. Grimacing in annoyance he forcefully curled his digit into a fist, tightening it, feeling the raw power seeping back in

A new feeling rose up within him. A dark, sinewy, vengeful feeling.

Bearing the coldest of looks he crouched low, inspecting Angelina to ensure that she was indeed unconscious. He would not make the error of thinking a dying Eater subdued when they were not, but her death would do him no good.

He intended to find out all he could from the treacherous wench.

Then, beneath his foot, he felt the sluggish rise and fall of her ribcage, and his leg twitched with the suppressed urge to stomp the breath from her. For the first fourth dimension he understood what Ron had meant when he had drilled him on the departure of fighting defensively versus offensively in chess.

From now on Harry was out to win, and if that meant taking down the opposer 's pawns to do so he would show no hesitation.

Swallowing back a noisome wave of revulsion he reached out, touching the sully witch 's hide and shoving her head teacher to the side. It lolled over with a mute clunk, revealing zero. The Death feeder would not be moving for some time.

Good.

Still ... they had all been fooled by Angelina 's acting skills once. He would not fall victim to that again.

With work out efficiency he withdrew his wand, a terrible look crossing his features. His wrath still burned hot within him, the veins in his neck pulsing intensely as he thought of the witch 's betrayal. Angelina had been his house mate, a teammate, but worst of all, she had nearly been a friend. Once she was a Gryffindor. And now ....

She had betrayed the Order by taking the marking of that Snake, and had all but killed Kaylens, possibly robbing her of her mind.

A growl ripped from his throat, the tip of his wand suddenly digging against the traitor 's temple as he pondered all the spells he could use.

Thunk.

'' Harry, stop ! ''

He stopped cold. Remus'gruff, panicked voice had cut through the air like a well sharpened knife, sending his sceptre arm tensing as his father 's last acquaintance fought his way out from beneath the books that had fallen atop him. In the aftermath of his own scuffle he had nearly forgotten Lupin 's presence, and the thundering of his pulse rate in his ears had drowned out the low groans and whimper from the other side of the room.

He had forgotten one other thing : That despite the want of lighting in the way, Lupin could still see exactly what he was doing.

'' Lumos. ''

Harry 's pass snapped around as a soft glow cut through the thick dark, his regard riveted to the alarm expression crossing Remus'face.

His one-time prof stood behind the overturned bookcase, eyes wide and staring.

'' My God ... '' He whispered chokingly, `` Harry ... '' His accusatory eyes flickered up to his. `` What have you done ? ``

He sucked in a strained breath between his teeth. `` zero she did n't deserve, '' He hissed staidly.

A strangled sound came from the prof 's throat. `` But Harry ... that 's Angelina ... ''

'' No kidding. Really ? '' He snapped.

A sudden scuffle and clump, followed by a acute, cold whimper sent his scepter jabbing into Angelina 's foreland.

'' Kally ... ''

He had n't needed the Professor 's devastated whisper to sleep together who was softly whimpering.

Heart wrenching, he fought back the hollow feeling in his chest. `` Why do n't you see to Kaylens, prof, '' He grated out, his face a downcast masque as he focused back on the former chaser.

'' I will but ... is Angelina okeh ? ''

'' I sure as hell Bob Hope not. ``

A garish swallow preceded Remus'next, strain words.

'' What are you planning on doing Harry ? ``

'' You know Moony, '' He said, voice vibrating with barely suppressed rage. `` I 'm still deciding on that.

lupin 's voice was strained, the cautious, placating note in it foreign to him. `` Harry, I know something 's ill-timed. But just think about what you 're doing ... ''

A cruel, hollow laugh escaped his throat. `` Oh, trust me Moony, I have. ``

'' She 's on our side, Har ... ''

He cut him off, spitting out the coldness truth.

'' She 's a dying Eater, Moony. ``

From behind him came a loud, apprehensive sup. `` Harry ... are you sure enough ? ``

A common cold face crossed his characteristic. `` Yes. ``

There was an agonizing pause, and a sick, uneasy dread suddenly rose in his tummy as his racing pulse finally began to slow. He needed Remus to think him. He needed someone in the Order to not just listen to him, but to actually commit him. And if Remus did n't ...

'' I 'll bind her. She 'll deliver to be taken to headquarters. ``

Harry 's head bolted around, impact written on his construction. `` You believe me, '' He questioned. And even in the dim light he could see the slight movement of Remus'tincture nodding.

'' Harry, '' He said, sounding almost hurt. `` I always believe you. ``

His supercilium instantly wrinkled in confusion. Remus had just been talking to him as if he were some half-cocked gun about to go off. `` Then why ... ''

'' Because I thought you might blow her pass off before I could figure out why you had attacked her in the first position. It would suffer been a very Sirius-like thing to do. ''

The thinking struck him voiceless. `` Yeah, '' He managed. `` It would have been like him. ``

He glanced back, and in the glow of the sceptre he could see Remus smiling sadly. He returned the aspect, feeling shakier than he would get thought possible only minutes before, but that did n't matter.

Remus believed him. He did care about him after all.

His apologia for all those lost calendar month, for all the clock time when he had been left to address with the pain of Sirius'end alone truly had meant something, and despite everything a affectionate sense wormed its way into him.

All it took was a soft whimper, from a corner behind him, to drive it all away.

He swallowed hard, finally turning and squinting in the dim lighting to see Kalliandra cowering in the corner, genu drawn feebly to her chest of drawers, her halcyon hairsbreadth spilling over them and her face buried within them.

Slowly his blood pressure level rose, his human foot grinding down even harder against the doll beneath him. Angelina would pay. He would see to it. But right now she was not his priority.

Kaylens was.

Throwing a piercing glare at Angelina he shoved his foot beneath her limp consistence, kicking her over onto her tum. A second later he was on her back, dragging her hands behind her, pinning them together with his knee as he snatched up his verge, pointing it at her exposed wrists.

'' Bindovera, '' He hissed, watching the snake-like ropes stream from its tip, slithering around her arms until she was bound up to her elbows. Dropping his wand he gave them a rough tug, satisfied in the way the dismal missy 's pelt chaffed, reddening even in the shadow twinkle.

'' Exuberant, aren't we ? ''

He merely grunted in response, giving the ropes one final, callous tug as Remus began binding her ramification.

A back later he was on his animal foot, an aching sense spreading through him as he watched Kalliandra curling in the corner, incapable of remembering even her own name.

graven image ... she was n't in her right-hand idea. And Remus had said she 'd take to block out the unicorn 's memories before she ever could be. How could anyone possibly ...

And then it hit him.

She 'd sustain to block them out.

The idea ignited swiftly, the things Dumbledore had taught him about Occlumency all coming together in a cohesive clump of noesis. He had used it for himself, but could he do it for someone else ?

He would be grasping at chaff, but there was a chance ...

Voldemort had given him plenty of practice session at blocking unwanted computer storage.

His descent pumped purposefully, and he felt, Thomas More than saw, Remus rise besides him, looking morosely in the like counselling as he.

'' Well have to block her again, '' He said regretfully, dimming the light from his verge as it sent Kaylens stirring uncomfortably.

'' No, '' Harry answered immediately, voice filled with conviction. `` I 'll handle with her. You just get Angelina to Grimmauld. ''

Remus'brow furrowed at this, doubtful lines crisscrossing his face. His mouth opened, as if to protest, but his incertitude went surd. Instead a thoughtful, critical formulation befell him as he studied Harry 's tense, determined face.

The assembly line on his face suddenly deepened. `` Are you certainly ? ``

Harry nodded, tense with anger at the full situation, and filled with the pauperization to do something about it.

'' Yeah, '' He responded. `` I 've stunned her enough lately. ''

Lupin 's conflicted reflexion remained, but he nodded decisively.

'' Alright, take this then. ``

A back later a humble pouch was being pressed into his paw, a sandy material grinding within it.

'' It 's a porthole key. Pour the contents ... ''

'' Into our hands, '' Harry finished for him. `` We 've used this kind before. ``

Remus eyed him curiously, tilting his head to the position. `` Well then, I 'll see you there. ``

He nodded, watching as Remus unearthed another pouch from his pocket. He watched him hunker next to Angelina, sending him one last, pointed aspect before dousing his baton.

Shadows spilled around them, enshrouding the room in darkness once again. Rifling a hand nervously through his hair Harry forced a filter, unseen smile, and a second belated Remus and the traitor blinked out of existence, leaving him with a one insane melodic theme, one that he never could have done in Remus'presence.

And somehow he thought Remus had known that.

For a second he did naught, simply allowing his heart to conform to the sudden darkness. Then, slowly, the blackness gave way, revealing her vague, gray synopsis. Yet even in the phantasm he saw the way her silhouette trembled.

He pulled his baton and immobilized her in one Sceloporus occidentalis motion. Strangely he felt aught, when even the intellection of stunning her again had sent his tum wrenching.

He crossed the room and knelt besides her, his rough handwriting gently cupping her aspect and turning it towards his. He felt sick, for he was violating her yet again. But God, what choice did he consume ?

For the second clip that day her frightened eyes stared back at his, flickering with too many emotions to diagnose. His thumbs gently brushed her hair away from her eyes, his heart thumping shamefully. She was like a scared animal, and somehow this just felt wrong.

Yet he had to try. No one deserved this, and if his estimate worked ...

He might just be able to scavenge enough of her to help her find her way back.

Staring into her eyes he hoped to God it would sour.

'' I swear to you, '' He whispered intently, `` This is the last prison term I 'll ever do this to you. ``

Licking his mouth nervously he raised his wand, letting it loom inch from her hide. Closing his center he waited, allowing his mind to realize, calming himself.

Occlumency was not meant to be done with raw emotion.

His optic snapped opened. He was ready.

'' Legilimens ! ``

The twister-like burden of her nous seized him without remorse, sending his sense reeling as an ravishment of enhanced sounds and smells attacked him.

Thunder cracked through the swirl mist, sending his trunk crashing aspect first into the mud, and he immediately knew there was something different about this memory.

He staggered to his knees, peering through the incredibly darkness, moonless night. Hardly anything was discernable through the thick, icy soaker pouring down around him, and then it hit him.

Every other computer storage he had seen had had a worn direct contrast, the saturation of emotions and effect diluted by time. Dumbledore and Snape had been too skilled for him to peer into Recent epoch result, and luck-of-the-draw had shown him things from Kayelns'puerility. But this memory was different.

It felt fresh.

The harsh, biting breaking wind sent the looming forest moving with an aberrant lifetime, and above him lightning flashed, crackling across the blackened cloud, briefly illuminating the gravel route running past him. For a arcsecond the forest surrounding him came into stern nidus, as did the wooden household he had landed before.

Again lightning set the area aglow, a cryptical shout snapping his centre towards the small lawn.

What he saw made his line run cold.

His education with Dumbledore had taught him that it was one 's most awful computer storage that were flung to the forefront of the mind when it was invaded.

And now he knew that Kalliandra was no exception.

A grating vocalization preceded the flare of light, and he had just enough time to see a dark haired man struck down. The man tumbled head first into the muddied flat coat, the sound of his trunk slapping against the mud drowned out by a thundery crack.

A blinding hot, fiery ball blew through the house 's railroad siding, sending floorboard flying to litter the lawn.

From inside came the scream, drowned out by a hedonistic laugh.

'' Muggle, muggle, muggle come out to play ! ''

Bile churned in his tummy, though there was no fourth dimension for it to rise as multitude began pouring out of a side window.

'' Aw, the wittle, ittle Muggles do n't want to play ? ``

That taunting, familiar laugh of his nightmare greeted him as Bellatrix Lestrange stepped calmly out the front door, the burning dwelling alighting her boldness with a hellish glow.

One of the fleeing physical body bolted towards a car, parked along the crushed rock route near the forest 's tree line.

He never made it.

A fiery magical spell smacked into him, setting his pelt ablaze.

He had seen others die, but never before had he beheld someone as they burnt alert. Even the pouring torrent was not enough to douse the flames engulfing the man 's shape, and the malarky hurled a noxious stink against his nostrils.

'' matte ! ''

A miss was rising from the muddied primer coat, deep supergrass stains streaked across her jeans, her brownish hair matted against her oral sex as she screamed hysterically. Her face was contorted into something inhuman, raw pain distorting incredibly striking characteristic, and she appeared frozen in place.

Harry was screaming for her to actuate, but she never heard him. From around the corner of the home came two others clad in nigrify, and a jet of searing purplish luminosity shot out.

someone darted out, from where he did not see, tackling her around the waist.

The purple light missed her by inch as she and her rescuer went sliding across the ground, smacking into the incline of the house with a muted thud.

The destruction Eaters were on them in an instant, a loud cranny resonating through the air as Harry ran forward, just in time to see a graying haired man 's arm being viciously snapped. The gun the man had been pulling fell from his hand with a cruel slosh, the mud swallowing it hale. The dark haired young woman was still screaming, clawing at her head as a burly dying Eater snatched her hair up, twisting it around his monumental palms before dragging her across the lawn by it.

A piercing splinter broke the air, and the last Eater assaulting the Thomas Gray haired man went down. The older man struggled to his fundament, slipping in the mud and cradling his arm.

'' DAD ! ''

Lightning split the sky, catching onto the gray haired man 's few remaining gilded hairsbreadth. His face split into a horrified expression, and Harry followed his regard.

Kalliandra, eyes ablaze, came barreling out from the corner line, a man barely aged than him hot on her bounder.

Both had striking golden-brown hair, their hues muted only by the hurriedness pouring down around them. And Harry suddenly understood that he was seeing her second Brother for the first time.

'' minor GO ! GET OUT OF HERE ! ''

The outcry came from a second floor window, and Harry finally understood who had done the shooting.

A middle aged woman with light brownish hair was hanging out of it, pistol in hand, and over the noise Harry could hear Bellatrix laughing hysterically.

Lightning split the sky, thunder drowning out the minute, third, and fourth gunshots.

Kalliandra 's mother could no longer be seen. Only the dim sound of the fifth and sixth gunshots firing off in the room told him that her attention had been drawn back inside the burning star sign.

Inside the house, where he could not take heed, came the sequential clicking of empty chambers.

A gaudy riot carried through the window, followed by a body flying through the window 's opening.

The woman hit the land with a sickening thump, leaving the Louis Harold Gray haired man yelling something that the roaring drowned out.

No time was wasted. Kalliandra 's brother came sliding aside her female parent, grasping the gun from her still twitching hands, sobbing as he started rifling through her clothing.

A mo later a new daily round was in his mitt, but he never had a chance to laden it as Bellatrix apparated in front of him, kicking the rung from his paw, sending individual smoke scattering to the farting.

The stroboscope burden of the lightning shielded what transpired next, but when it flashed again Bellatrix and Kalliandra were sliding to the primer coat, Kaylens clearly having tackled her.

'' KALLY, NO ! ``

Her crony had leapt to his invertebrate foot, and rushed to join the fray as his Sister smashed Bellatrix 's headway into the solid ground repeatedly, screaming incomprehensible words.

Her crony reached her, grasping her by the back of her sweater and tossing her out of the way as he grasped Bellatrix 's head in a vice grip from behind, preparing to get around it.

The unheard pop of apparation prevented this as the burly man appeared behind him, swatting him away as if he were nothing Thomas More than an vex child. Bellatrix fell to the ground, spitting brownish water, her enraged heart rounding on the three remaining extremity of the Kaylens'family.

'' Filthy Muggles ! '' She roared, shooting binding magical spell off at a ferocious step, hitting the brother first.

'' SEAN ! '' Their father 's voice ripped through the air as rophy twisted around his son, sending him crashing to the solid ground right below the burly Death Eater 's feet.

Kalliandra, having been thrown back by her brother, was still down in the mud. She did n't bear a chance.

Then her father slid in front of her, the ropes taking him right in the chest, and constricting around his neck opening and throat.

The house was quickly succumbing to the flaming, the red light showcasing Bellatrix 's overzealous smile as she tugged Kaylens'beginner away from her by his neck.

Her father was unable to claw at the rope, for his arms had been pinned to his sides.

He was unconscious mind by the time Bellatrix had dragged him to her feet.

CRACK !

Another gunshot rang out, taking the burly man right in the psyche.

Kalliandra had gotten to her knees, hair plastered to her fount, her arms outstretched and shaking.

Her hands held the gun, and Bellatrix regarded her with an amused expression.

The side by side shot was in Lestrange 's direction, but a shimmering light halted the shot, sending the case dropping to the solid ground less than a animal foot from her smirking face.

Kally looked stunned, and Bellatrix waggled a finger back and forth as if scolding a naughty child.

'' Foolish wittle girl should n't play with guns, '' She cooed in a infant voice, suddenly beckoning towards Kally.

Kaylens was sent sprawling forward as an invisible force pulled the gun from her grasp, and a irregular later a new end Eater was there, his infantry on her back.

A blast of wind sent the new comer 's hood falling back, and Harry suddenly understood every word that she had uttered in the troika Broomsticks.

Ludo traveling salesman was there, standing on top of Kalliandra and looking rather out of place. Bellatrix fixed him with a death-like stare, her anger at his of late comer apparent, but there was no prison term for anything to be said.

Barely a second had transpired between his previous arrival and his pin to the ground.

Kally had rolled over, kicking his stage out from under him.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes, and this sentence her bandaging go did not miss.

Angry split were rolling down his face, his fists taking lilt at the crazed cleaning lady who had taken his Godfather. Somewhere his judgement was screaming for him to bar, that it would do no respectable, but his subconscious mind'voice went unheeded.

'' Crucio ... ''

And then the swirling, silver mist returned, swallowing up the images of Kally 's crony convulsing beneath the unforgivable curse.

Harry was shaking, overcome with the horror of what he had just witnessed. And the memories were disorienting, rising up around him, swallowing him unscathed as they dislodged him from billet to place in her lifespan, never stopping long enough for him to gain his bearings.

Around him the crashing of hooves fought for precedence above the distant laughter. Hazy schema flickered by, barely seeable through the fog-like mist swirling around him. He was lost ...

And then he saw himself, running from a demise Eater down the principal, dusty thoroughfare of Hogsmeade. Red stunners shot out, smacking against a gutter, sending it swinging into the side of a second Death feeder that had emerged to stuff his progress.

She had saved him.

And that was all it took.

'' ENOUGH ! '' He screamed, unsure of whether his voice only existed in her judgment, or if his physical body were actually screaming it in Remus'life room.

Instantly he began focusing, searching for a memory board, any storage, that was her own rather than some horned animal 's. He fought to calm himself, squashing down the threat of what had happened to her to the backbone of his brain, and then he felt a change.

The swirling mist around him was slowing down, the uncontrolled torrent of the two lives combined into one mind becoming less disorienting.

He peered through them as they passed, one-by-one, searching for something that he could make out.

And then he found one.

He charged through the mist, falling out into the Forbidden Forest 's clearing.

The one they had left before this had happened to her ...

In the dim moonlight, cast from a splinter peaking through the cloud, he watched the rematch of himself yanking his hand away from her. Hushed word of honor were exchanged, and suddenly Kalliandra was rising from her situation besides the water system, stalking away from him.

In a trice his memory ego was scrambling to his feet, going after her, catching onto her arm. She whorled to face him, an icy formulation crossing her nerve, disappearing in shock as he swiftly pulled her against him.

He watched, an odd tone twisting within him as she struggled against him, his only reception in the way his arms wound even tighter around her, stroking her tomentum until her electrical resistance ceased.

'' I 'm sorry… '' He heard his own vocalisation whispering, `` I swear to God I 'm sorry… ''

And then her face was dropping against his shoulder, his own burrowing within her fuzz as her coat of arms wound around him, holding him back.

It was as if a illume wind blew, and then another memory squeezed through, the silvery substance sending the clarification image swirling.

For a mo ghostly images flickered into life, superimposed atop where he and Kaylens stood, clinging to the early. It was like looking through a moving picture disconfirming, trying to see what was beyond it.

The beautiful, alien clicking rose above his and Kaylens whispering, the foreign memories threatening to catch this one, and the threat sent something ablaze inside him.

'' No ... '' He hissed, his face contorting dangerously, as he began fighting to shove the alien picture that threatened to overpower her aside.

He could n't allow them in. He couldn't.

Staggering odds were against him, but if he could only hold her in her own state of idea long enough ...

Maybe it would be just enough to bring her back.

Grimacing he waved his hand, feeling the magic rising within him, rolling off of him as he tried desperately to summons something, anything that would draw a blank out those memory board that were not hers.

The unicorn remembering may have been weakly, diluted embossment of the real matter, yet they were still there, fighting for priority of her judgment. And yet ...

Fighting for the sanctitude of his own psyche against Voldemort had made keeping these silvery, diluted tendrils back a joke.

A determine aspect crossed his nerve, a swift jerk rocketing through him as the bricks began to happen. He stretched out his script, willing them to start out stacking, watching them mount in high spirits and mellow, muting the strait of a herd in the distance.

He would form a barrier between her memories and the unicorn 's, and he 'd be damned if he failed.

His hands were shaking again, a lone dribble of perspiration dripping from his brow as he concentrated, directing the bricks to lead off circling around him, stacking along the clearing 's circumference.

And then, one-by-one, he began shoving the unicorn 's memories past the bulwark. Each time one threatened to break in he shoved it away, a deadening bother growing in the back of his mind, sending his head swirling as he refused to cease his effort. His breathing grew ragged, his vision bespeckled with black dots as tendrils of the silvery mist fought to seep back through his hastily erected brick walls.

'' No ... '' He whispered, and slowly, methodically, he shoved the last of the silvery threads through the interruption in the walls, feeling the hushed speech sound fading.

With a slam of finality he found himself surrounded on all sides by his wall, the memory still playing as if nothing had disturbed it.

heaving in enervation he crouched down, supporting himself on his stifle, feeling his pes sinking into the dewy ground as he fought for intimation. The paries might not hold for long, but for now ...

Around him he could hear the distant calls of a herd, and he looked up shakily, watching detritus crumbling down from the brick barriers. A lout formed in his pharynx as he watched the full edifice shake, as memory after memory slammed against it from the outside, trying to violate through.

He could feel his physical body shaking from the travail, and as much as he desired to do to a greater extent an unfeeling Sojourner Truth struck him.

He did n't get it on what else he could do.

And for the low gear time in her judgment he withdrew willingly, the shadow of Remus'animation way wrapping tightly around him. The moonlit clearing had been so vivid in comparability and yet, his eyes had remained perfectly adjusted, his forcible soundbox having never left nor moved.

And she was still right there, in separating him from her. His breath caught in his throat, the adrenaline he had been riding on struggling to remain high as he searched her face for a sign to testify that some share, any percentage, of herself was back.

All he saw were the book binding of her eyelids as they fell shut, a tenacious hint escaping her mouth.

At some point his integral body had begun shaking, a sharp headache nearly splitting his skull as he removed the dressing spell from her, his magical exertions finally catching up to him.

But God, he did n't give care. His hands rose to her human face, a paw resting on either face as he smoothed a single stray lock away, tucking it behind her ear.

'' Come on Kaylens ... '' He murmured, centre bright and searching. His gaze was flickering back and forth across her face, watching her every apparent motion, hoping against promise it had worked.

And then her eyelids opened, her oculus as disoriented as before. A choking sensation wrapped around his throat, his hands falling to catch one's breath on her stiffening shoulder joint. He had failed.

His os frontale fell against hers in despair, the flavour of her warm hide offer footling solace. He should 've known it would not do work, yet ...

He never would have forgiven himself if he had n't tried.

Slowly her branch slew against his, and his eyes squeezed shut, preparing himself for whatever out lash was about to hap. The memory of her recoiling away from him, scuffling away like a frightened brute when he had gotten too close, was all too fresh in his mind.

He waited for it with held breath, only nix came.

His optic opened, only to find hers staring back.

His muscular tissue went taut with tension, his breath quickening as their proximity struck him. Her olfactory organ pressed against his, his paw business firm on her shoulders, and a startling virtuoso churned in his chest as he watched her darkened eyes.

Within them something was changing, a flicker of familiarity residing there. His hired hand slid back to her face, anxiety etched in his features as her backtalk parted. Her rima oris moved, as if trying to say something, only no Holy Scripture came.

He could n't deplumate his gaze away if he tried.

'' Merlin, '' He whispered, `` I wish I knew what you were thinking. ``

She remained silent, but his eyes were drawn to a slight motion. Her hand rose, falling to perch on his unshaven buttock. She pulled away slightly, their foreheads no longer pressing together as her confused center flickered across his face, a curious formulation befalling her.

His forehead furrowed, a question forming on his sass.

'' Kaylens ? '' He whispered, centre searching hers desperately.

A distressed flavor crossed her lineament, her rump lip drawing between her teeth, sending his heart thudding uncertainly.

And then she was nodding.

Instantly he reached for her, embracing her against his chest. She was trembling, enticing his own shaking arms to pull her even closer, the need to physically touch her overwhelming. god ... he could n't get her close sufficiency.

The shock was finally hitting him, frightening him on too many levels to key out as he realized how fleeting this could be.

She was with him again, but only until the walls he had created went tumbling down.

merlin, how long did he own ?

A earth tremor shook him, an urging motivation to get her to someone salutary than him, to someone who could do something, driving him.

He needed someone, individual like Dumbledore. He could strengthen the walls he 'd put up inside her mind. He had to.

Fearing to resign her for even a present moment his arm tightened around her shoulders, his early reaching for the portkey in his pocket. A mo later his fingerbreadth were sliding through hers, his wannabe gaze locking onto her tormented one.

'' Kaylens, '' He murmured intensely, `` Stay with me. ``

And then, hoping that she was coherent enough to interpret what they were doing, he dumped the sandlike contents onto their linked hired hand, feeling that distinctive tug.

In that last mo he threw his coat of arms around her, wanting to screen her from whatever harsh landing they were about to experience.









'' My obedience is earned, not given. ``
~ Saying of the Ages ~







Chapter 30 ~ To Hell with Decorum


'' Harry ! ``

Harry had barely recovered from the portkey 's ride when he felt hands hauling him away, separating him from Kaylens. He blinked, only slightly dazed, and found himself strewn across the dark wooden pane of Grimmauld Place 's study.

The hell on earth of it was, he could hardly see a thing.

'' How is she ? ''

In the dim light casting from the wall-mounted candelabras he saw Remus'vestige drop down between them, placing a hesitant manus on Kalliandra 's articulatio humeri. Harry could only see the loup-garou 's profile, but judging from his expression, Remus looked genuinely surprised when Kaylens did not immediately displume away.

Harry 's eye cut through the iniquity, finding hers.

Something warm swelled within him when he realized that she was looking right back at him, scarcely a suggestion of confusion within her expression. Disbelievingly he watched the candle flame dance in her glistening ball, and for a abbreviated second gear he was able to believe that she may just pull through with her saneness integral.

'' Harry ! ''

Remus'sharp voice cut through the mute room, drawing both pairs of teenage eyes to the worried grownup.

Harry found his articulation quickly. `` We need an Occlumens. rightfulness away. ``

Remus'head jolted around, the musing layer behind his eyes shining. `` Harry, what did you do ? '' He asked uneasily.

His shoulder joint stiffened, and in that single loaded dubiousness he found his resolve.

'' What I had to. ``

There was an agonizing pause, not unsimilar to what had transpired between them before Remus had left for Grimmauld without them, making the decision to trust him.

Harry only hoped Remus would not come to rue it.

A moment later Remus was on his feet, nodding at Harry. `` Stay with her. ``

'' The opinion of leaving never crossed my idea, '' He replied honestly, scooting across the base back to her. The sound of a swinging door, and the voices beyond it, drifted in, but Harry scarcely noticed.

'' Kaylens, '' He whispered, reaching hesitantly for her. With trepidation his finger slowly curled around her upper implements of war, whilst his eyes swept searchingly over her look. `` You still with me ? ``

taking in her every movement he watched her eyes flutter exhaustedly, her bureau and shoulders rising as she drew in a outwear sigh.

And then the insufferable girl fixed him with an exasperated look, nodding tiredly.

He released the breath he had been unwittingly holding, stand-in sweeping through him. Immediately his paw found her font, the lodgings of his quarter round moving along her malar with a gradualness he did n't know he possessed. For a instant he simply stared at her, watching the amusement in her gaze only grow.

Merlin ... he had been afraid that the vortex of the portkey would disorient her, causing her to lose whatever fledgling chip of sanity she had managed to grasp onto at Remus'. Hell ... he vividly recalled their last portkey ride, and that alone had rendered her unconscious.

He stared at her, his center boring into her bemused, albeit sleepy, face.

Suddenly her hired hand rose, her fingers curling gently around his own where they rested against her brass. He squeezed her handwriting gently, finding reassurance he had n't known he needed in her action.

Had he been asked a month ago, he never would have guessed that he would be feeling Kalliandra Kaylens, of all masses, squeezing his hand in hers. But to a greater extent than that, he never would have thought that such a simple, innocuous gesture could send his chest stirring.

He swallowed hard, watching the wind of a smile phase on her backtalk. His deal immediately flipped over, taking her cold hand more firmly in his, and tightening his grip on her.

'' You 're finding this amusing, are n't you ? '' He accused quietly, his voice unnaturally constricted.

Her mouth parted, only to shut again, her bottom lip drawn between her teeth as she began nodding.

And then he saw it. Amidst her aspect was a glint of fear, and for the briefest of irregular he saw her oculus clouding again.

'' Kaylens ! '' He said sharply, dropping her mitt and grabbing her by the articulatio humeri, shaking her suddenly trembling form. `` Please ! halt with me ! ''

Whether it was their physical middleman or his vocalism, he would never know. But suddenly she had gained some good sense of herself again, and she had hurtled herself against his dresser, her entire form vibration like a foliage.

Harry had never felt more helpless in his life.

And Snape just had to choose that claim mo to take the air in.

'' What do you think you are doing now, potter ? ``

If he was n't so desperate for help he might take in hexed him. Instead his uprising of wildness was suddenly quenched as a undivided thought permeated his panic-ridden mind.

Snape was a Master Occlumens.

Still clutching onto Kaylens as if his life depended on it, he met the Potion headmaster 's critical gaze principal on.

'' Professor, I need your assistance. ``

Snape 's total face crinkled indifferently. `` Get off the floor ceramist. I do n't have meter for your games, '' He clipped, starting to brush past them. Instead he paused mid-stride, eyeing them distastefully.

'' And do take yourselves from here. Undoubtedly you are both choked up about that know-it-all champion of yours, but really ceramicist, such presentation are not meant for public exhibition. ''

The Slytherin Head of House flipped his robes, practically striking them as he continued striding across the way 's expanse towards another door. Harry 's jaw dropped, blow and fury mingling on his angry font. `` Damn it this is not a joke ! '' He roared, watching Snape freeze. `` Kaylens needs help ! '' He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to tranquilize down. Where in the hell was Remus ?

'' professor, '' He finally ground out, as if the venerating term pained him. `` This is not what you think. This is not a display. Something happened to Kaylens. Someone injected her with unicorn blood and I ... '' He plowed Forth River, ignoring the fact that he had not a semblance of a clue on how to explain the situation. `` I tried something on her. I used Legilimency to get into her mind, to try and assist, but ... ''

He hesitated, meeting Snape 's emotionless expression. `` I created a bulwark, exchangeable to the ones they teach beginners in Occlumency, to come apart her memories from the strange ones. But I 'm not for sure it 's working. ''

His precipitous gaze locked onto the blank face of his most hated prof.

'' She needs help. I need someone to reinforce the wall I made, and I sure as underworld am not capable of doing it. ``

Unreadable as he was, Snape did n't look to be about to help. But he did n't make any further attempts to will.

Running his hands through Kaylens'hair comfortingly, feeling her trembling slowly subsiding, he felt anger at Snape 's unresponsiveness Menachem Begin to stir.

Harry 's grammatical construction suddenly grew challenging. `` Now, '' He demanded, articulation ablaze. `` Are you a Master Occlumens or not ? ``

A spark of aggravator crossed Snape 's face. `` Your attempts to attract to my ego and advantageously nature are pathetic, thrower, considering that I am secure in one and lack the other. ``

His descent practically boiled.

'' looking, '' Harry spat, dropping all pretence of respectfulness. `` You hate me. I hate you. I get that. But this is n't about either of us, and I 'll be damned to admit this, but you are the only one here that can help her at the moment. Hell, I 'll even give you a free pellet at me. Just help her. ``

Snape 's lips curled angrily, as if considering.

'' Follow me, '' The former Slytherin finally sneered, snapping a script towards the far doorway.

Harry 's fist clenched as the man disappeared through the room access, not bothering to wait around for an acknowledgment. Drawing a puree breath between his tooth he glanced down at Kaylens, and the tenseness drained out of him.

Her intact, mud-streaked face was crinkled in assiduousness. God ... she had been so wrapped up in trying to remain in her right mind that she had barely noticed the tense verbal spouting match around her.

'' Hey, '' He murmured, a rough hand reaching out and cupping her chin, forcing her to look up at him. `` You still okay ? ''

Her optic glittered with confusion, but she managed another nod.

He forced a grin. `` Try not to hold this against me, '' He whispered, standing up and scooping the startled girl into his blazon. `` But frankly I 'm not sure enough I trust your walking ability at the here and now. ``

She uttered not a sound, simply nodding resignedly, oculus half closed. He swallowed hard as her head fell to rest against his shoulder, and he found himself carefully adverting his gaze from her as he crossed the room quickly, kicking open the room access after Snape.

The fact that he did n't hit the man with it disappointed him only slightly.

'' Put her on the couch. ``

His brow crinkled uncertainly. Was he really about to just hand her over to the same cruel, bitter man whom had wreaked mayhem on his own mind in the past tense ?

He realized that he had very few option at the moment.

He drop down down into the cushion, clutching her to him. Readjusting only slightly, so that her legs lay loosely draped over his own, with her caput resting against his shoulder, he wound his arms protectively around her, sealing her in a vice grip that he was sure she would protest to if she felt up to speaking.

He did n't care though. There was simply no way in hellhole that he would be leaving her to front the Potions'Master 's clemency alone. And irrational as it was, his exhausted, battered mind somehow equated squeezing her to easing whatever ordeal the Occlumens was about to put her through.

He tilted his chief down, burying it in the top of her mussy headland of hair. `` Let him do what he has to do. It 'll help, '' He reassured quietly, hoping he would not rue placing his faith in the acerbic man 's abilities.

He pulled away only slightly, his arms still looped around her shank, and her hazel colored heart turned up, studying him intently.

'' How very touching. ``

Harry 's header jerked up, only to be greeted with Snape 's mocking sneer, and an expression that clearly told him to get the nether region out of the way.

'' movement aside boy. ``

Harry 's eyes hardened, his grip reflexively tightening around her. `` No. ``

Snape practically twitched. `` Insolent minor, move. I will not be doing this with you in the way. ``

'' The last sentence I checked, '' He retorted, `` This only required eye liaison. Even you taught me that a good deal. And seeing as how I 'm not blocking you from that ... '' He let his caustic reply track off.

With a growl Snape leaned forward, grabbing Kaylens mentum and practically snapping her caput towards him.

The repressed itch to collide with the man rose up, fierceness rifling through him at her distressed, offend expression, but Snape 's scepter was already drawn and aimed, an intense flavor in his eyes.

'' Legilimens. ''

An eerily calm construction suddenly befell Kaylens'facial expression, while Snape 's contorted into one of the level best denseness.

Harry could only wait.

He dropped his psyche back against the rampart, heaving an exhausted sigh.

The gramps clock chimed. Kaylens'hide grew coldness to the touch. Snape 's iniquity, frightening eye bored into her wide-eyed, doe-like ones.

He watched the clock

12 minutes and thirty-three instant later, Lupin still had not returned.

But his two silent fellow traveler did.

Kally jerked, almost violently backwards, her back hitting the armrest of the couch. Harry barely managed to stop her pass from smacking into the paries as she slid off of him.

Snape 's movements were not nearly so sudden.

Unnoticed to Harry the man rose from the flooring, a pale hired hand brushing fanciful dirt from his robe. And then slowly, almost methodically, the man 's finger's breadth tightened challengingly around his wand, his knuckles turning whitened with the pressure.

It took Harry a second to notice the man 's penetrating regard, but when he did an enervate mavin overtook him.

The Potions maestro was looking at him, a strange facial expression in his eyes.

Fear.
* * * * *


Blue-green eyes appraised the rather wide-cut waiting room of the Adelaide and Meath infirmary 's emergency room.

'' sod. ``

'' Father, this is for your own good. ``

'' Could n't this postponement until Monday ? '' He ventured, trying to plead to his son 's better sensibilities as his eyes took in the peck of people. `` By the time we finish waiting in line it 'll be tomorrow and the medico 's office will be open anyways. Is this really where you want to spend your Lord's Day ? ``

The man turned around to determine his firstborn son 's eyes narrowed in reproach.

'' Father, you were coughing up a storm at house and ... ''

'' It was just a minuscule itch in my throat ... ''

Edward ignored him. `` Dad, you collapsed at the dinner party table from that small urge. ``

'' Well really, I was actually just choking on some of your mother 's cooking. It was positively unpalatable. Honest. ''

The boy arched his eyebrow skeptically, clearly not buying this. `` funny, considering how you were praising that fish fish filet just before your lungs seized up. ``

The man groaned. `` Honestly, Edward VIII. Do you really think that I would criticise your mum 's cooking to her face ? ``

Yes. Wait for it. Ah, there it is.

His son was now full out laughing at him. Of course, he could hardly blame him. His wife, Meredith, could cause been a chef had she wanted to. The char had never cooked nor baked something sub par in her life.

But that was n't about to break him from trying to get out of this cursed, congested waiting way.

'' Father, '' croaked out his son, `` Are n't you a bit old for harboring phobias of doc visits ? ``

He grunted in response, racking his pounding head for another excuse. Honestly, he really thought that his family was overreacting. His lymph client might be swollen, and indeed his head was pounding as if Xerxes himself were waging a small war with his nerve cell. But really all he needed was a good night 's rest.

Perhaps he could find fault the cough fit and his wheezing on having tried some coffin nail while fishing that morning. Of course of action, Meredith would have his skin skinned and filleted before he would even have a chance to shout for assistant ...

The man was caught unaware when his son rather abruptly shoved him into a wheelchair.

'' Edward VII ... `` He hissed gruffly, only for his threat to come on deaf pinna as Edward VIII bypassed the chief line, shoving him to the secondly check-in window reserved for those experiencing either chest pain or shortness of breath.

And it was then that the racking coughing again shook him, the knife-like bother attacking as if the Grim reaper himself were holding the brand. He clutched onto the wheelchair 's arms, gritting his teeth, an acidy tan working its way up his pharynx.

A painful stab began in his chest, sending his body jack-knifing forward, nearly out the chair. A shrill shout near him made him cognizant of the frenzy of activity that had begun beyond the check-in desk, and strong hands abruptly latched onto his berm, preventing him from falling face forward.

A foot stab out, kicking the wheelchair 's brake into home with a metal click, and suddenly the rocking, swaying motion that he had not even realized to be going on ceased.

The pain in his chest dulled down to a softened burn, and his hand flew to his mouth, feeling the sputum expelling with the next shuddering gasp.

He coughed once, twice more, before leaning gratefully forward onto his son 's articulatio humeri, gasping for air.

It was then that he noticed the man in the white lab pelage kneeling future to him, and it dawned on him that the cold, metal feeling on his back was the stethoscope, which the doc had already managed to slip beneath the backrest of his shirt.

tactual sensation winded, he looked at the physician 's concerned typeface, and forced a weakly smiling. `` Well, '' He gasped wryly. `` I think it 's safe to say, that I am short-change of breath. ``
* * * * *


lupine bowled into the room, Dumbledore in tow. The forceful thud of the door flying open and slamming against the bulwark effectively causing Snape 's white-knuckled grip on his verge to loosen.

Harry 's regard snapped to where Remus stood, asking him what had happened.

He barely heard him, suddenly feeling so, so incredibly stupid. In his desperation to obtain supporter he had failed to be affected role, ineffective to expect for Lupin 's return. And it only now occurred to him why it had taken the werewolf so long.

It would never ingest occurred to Remus to give gone to the cheeseparing victor Occlumens for help. The trustfulness between the old vulture and Snivellus was nonexistent, so there was no way in hell that lupine would give trusted the man to dig into Kally 's mind.

So he had gone for Dumbeldore.

Harry already felt like an retard. Snape simply seized the moment to utter his agreement.

'' Potter could n't possibly experience done this, '' He declared.

Snape 's statement hung on the air as Dumbledore, looking only slightly weary, swept his gaze back and forth between the three of them. First his blue eyes studied Kalliandra, compassion and curiosity mingling together on his draw face, before turning his kindly gaze to Harry. And then, finally, his spectacled gaze locked with Severus Snape's.

A strange secretiveness filled the room as the two became locked in a staring match. It took Harry only a instant to understand what they were doing.

They were communicating through Legilimency, the two overlord exchanging all of the information about the situation that they needed to know.

Remus seized the moment of seclusion, kneeling in front end of where he and Kaylens lay tangled up. `` Harry, '' He began quietly, so as not to interrupt the two. `` Please tell me you did n't let him ... ''

Harry grimaced. `` I did. ``

The lycanthrope released an exasperated suspiration, fixing Harry with an miffed stare. `` I 'm not even going to ask what you were thinking. It 's quite obvious that you were n't. ``

'' He is a Master Occlumens, '' He argued, feeling almost dirty at having just defended Snape. `` I would n't willingly grant someone to ache her. ``

A flash of amusement temporarily replaced the critical look on Remus'case. `` This coming from the somebody who personally removed quite a bit of her tomentum, in what Crusantheus assured me was a full-out brawl in the Headmaster 's office. ``

Harry cringed. `` You heard about that, huh ? '' He asked sheepishly, glancing to where Kalliandra lay, looking for all the globe as if she were sleeping.

Remus followed his regard. `` Hermione actually wrote me about that. Something about wanting me to talk some sense into the both of you. Personally, I 'm still trying to visualise out how she knew I was tutoring Kalliandra in the outset place. ``

'' You were tutoring her ? ``

Remus nodded, looking at him curiously. `` How did you think we were acquainted ? ``

'' She was a professional groomer and Moony was in need of a cut ? ``

lupin sent him a atrophy glare. `` Of all the things to inherit, you had to get your founder 's nerve. ``

'' I did n't understand it was his. ``

Remus seemed to consider this. `` Yours is actually a bit more acerbic, '' He related. `` Unless Prongs was talking to somebody he severely disliked, his comment were never quite so biting. ``

'' So I 'm sulfurous. Can you fault me ? ``

Moony 's expression softened considerably. `` No, Harry. I can not. ''

Abruptly lupine 's attention turned firmly to Kaylens, his concerned feeling returning full force. Harry simply watched as Remus reached out, carefully brushing a ringlet of her persistently tangled hair away from her aspect, studying her like a concerned father.

Remus paused, as if considering something. `` Well, '' He finally commented, `` You two certainly look uncomfortable. ''

Despite himself, he nearly laughed at the absurdity of the statement. Not that it was lacking in truth, for when Kaylens had jerked back she had wound up with one leg still draped over his own, one hanging halfway off the sofa, with her thin form half-slumped between him and the armrest.

And now, she had apparently fallen asleep in exhaustion.

Harry smiled strainedly. `` Yeah, well ... I would n't need to risk incurring her wrath by waking her, now would I ? ``

Nevertheless he found himself adjusting, to the point where he felt rather secure in knowing that if he let go of her, that she would no longer be in danger of sliding down to the floor.

Remus simply watched this, a crease forming across his frontal bone.

'' Harry, '' He ventured. `` What exactly did you do for her ? Specifically. ``

Harry frowned, considering how to respond to this. However, he did not get the chance.

The two Occlumens in the room had started blinking again, their exchange, apparently, complete.

'' As I said, Potter could n't possibly stimulate done this, '' Snape restated, ignoring the questioning spirit Lupin was throwing at all of them.

Kally chose that here and now to let out a sleepy mussitation, stirring in her nap. And somehow that small speech sound of hers reawakened Harry 's veneration that he had somehow harmed her mind in his attempt to facilitate her in the firstly place.

'' I did n't bruise her, did I ? '' He blurted out, earning a needlelike stare from Remus.

Fortunately Dumbledore responded quickly.

'' No, Harry. You did not. ``

Snape let out a sound not unlike that of an wild cat. `` Albus, '' He disrupted, clearly in divergence with the master 's acceptance that Harry had, indeed, constructed the mental roadblock. `` The floor of proficiency in Occlumency that one would have to possess to have done this would be staggering. There is no potential way that potter could have done this. '' Snape hesitated. `` I 'm not even certain that I could feature done this. ``

'' What ? '' Harry shot out, startled by the admission.

'' Would someone terribly mind filling me in on what exactly the three of you are talking about ? '' Interjected lupine, sounding only mildly annoyed.

Snape acted as if the man had not even talk, his dark center swiveling to Harry instead. `` I do n't sleep together what you are playing at ceramicist, '' He snapped heatedly. `` But you did not do this to this girl. ``

Harry 's eyes narrowed, a slow burning choler growing at the Potion Master 's stubborn refusal to trust him capable of anything.

The greasy haired man 's gaze grew more thought-provoking. `` Who really constructed that barrier, Potter ? ``

Harry 's dentition clenched. `` I did, '' He ground out.

'' LIAR ! ``

Dumbledore rose a placating hand. `` Now Severus, lets not be headlong. Harry has been under my tutelage since the start of term, and he has improved greatly. Particularly in gaze to his power to construct genial barrier. ``

'' No one improves that much in so short a time. Especially, '' He bit out, gesticulating in Harry 's focusing, `` Not such an incompetent child ! ``

Harry 's eyes hardened. `` Like you would know, considering you 're the one who refused to instruct me. ``

'' You are impossible to teach Potter. ``

'' Perhaps if you were capable of dropping petty school day grievance I would n't be. ``

'' You are just like your father, '' Snape practically growled.

'' I would n't cognize, '' He spat matter-of-factly. `` Perhaps you could share narrative sometimes. Reminisce about having your undergarment placed on public exhibition. ''

Remus snorted.

'' Harry, that was uncalled for, '' Dumbledore admonished.

Harry bit back a laugh. `` Considering everything he 's put me through over the years I highly doubt that. ``

Snape 's normally controlled features twisted into something livid. `` How dare you speak to the master with such disrespect ... ''

'' I respect the Headmaster mountain, '' Harry snapped. `` It 's you that I have no esteem for. ''

'' Has it occurred to anyone that arguing will get us nowhere ? '' Remus interjected.

'' If Potter had n't blatantly displayed such a lack of decorousness ... ''

'' Decorum ? '' Harry interrupted. `` This is n't your little class with all of its ridiculously anti-Gryffindor rules ! So forgive me if I do n't grovel at your feet to realize your favourable reception ! ``

'' That is the last metre I ever help you, you ungrateful ... ''

'' YOU DID N'T help oneself ME ! YOU HELPED HER ! '' Harry screamed, launching himself off of the sofa and to his feet. It was only Remus'spry inborn reflex that kept Kally from tumbling with him.

Grunting in irritation, Remus turned to Dumbledore. `` Do you get the feeling that this line of reasoning was a prospicient clip coming ? ``

Dumbledore nodded. `` Why do you think I 'm letting them contain on ? ``

Harry and Snape remained oblivious to the commutation, the latter suddenly looked unbelievably self-satisfied. `` That 's shady ceramist, I do n't call in telling you that I helped her at all. Come to retrieve of it, all I did was take a look at that barrier. I must admit though, she does receive some rather worry Recent epoch memories ... ''

Harry 's eyes took on a wild expression. `` That has nothing to do with ... ''

'' You 're mightily. But this has everything to do with your inability to prize your betters and to come after the dominion. ``

Harry snorted. `` funny story, considering you 're the one who 's always saying how the normal regulation do n't apply to me. ``

'' No you idiot boy ! I 'm always telling you how arrogant you are to recollect that the normal linguistic rule do n't apply to you. ``

'' Considering I 'm the one who has to off upright ole'conundrum for everyone you 'd better hope the dominion do n't apply to me. Otherwise next clock time the killing torment might actually work. ``

Snape scowled dangerously. `` Ill see if it works, '' He hissed, fingering his wand.

'' ENOUGH ! ``

Harry 's oral cavity snapped shut, his retort lodging uncomfortably in his pharynx.

Outside, in the main entree dorm, Mrs. black began screaming.

'' If anyone did n't have a worry before, they certainly will now, '' Remus practically groaned.

'' Severus, '' Addressed the Headmaster, absentmindedly nodding his agreement with lupin. `` From what you 've shown me, it looks like all that was done was a separation of Ms. Kaylens'memories from the unicorn's, and that is all. ``

'' That 's all ? '' Snape responded edgily, his angriness apparently undiluted despite the sudden variety of subject. `` You make it sound as simple as identifying one coinage from the early. ``

Dumbledore shrugged, looking at Harry with a sudden fit of pride twinkling in his eyes. `` It 's true, that what Harry did command a high degree of skill in the region. But I think if you really think about it Severus, you 'll get hold that Harry was more than than capable of having accomplished this. ``

Severus snorted.

'' After all, Severus, all Harry really did was conception a wall inside of her nous ... ''

'' Not just a bulwark, Albus. It was a consummate rampart. ``

Harry could n't help oneself himself. `` Perfect ? It was full of pickle ! I thought the thing was about to collapse ! ``

'' You mean to say that you were attempting to create a rigid structure ? ``

'' Yes, '' He hissed. `` Now will person please explain what he meant by perfective tense ? ''

'' volition somebody please explain what wall we are talking about ? ``

Again everyone ignored Remus'attack to distil what was going on from them.

'' ceramist, '' Snape drawled, as if talking to a particularly slow pupil. `` Had a unbending rampart been constructed, there would have been a fill out separation of the two sets of memories in the girl 's nous. ``

'' Yes, I get that, '' Harry snapped, feeling frustrated. `` That 's what I was going for. ``

Snape 's dark, greasy eyebrows arched up. `` Even a stiff wall would suffer eventually crumbled, and when that happened it would hold been akin to releasing a sluicegate of foreign memories in her mind. So the effect would have been the same as it was initially. ``

'' signification ? ``

Snape practically rolled his middle. `` She would throw gone insane again. I know this floor of conversing is a bit of a strain on your mental facilities, but please, do try and continue up. ``

'' That 'll be enough, Severus, '' interjected Dumbledore. `` What he means to say, Harry, is that a weak roadblock with holes will allow the foreign retention to drop away into her psyche a few at a time. It 'll countenance her to turn slowly acclimated to the new remembering, as opposed to her being forced to manage them all at once. Now I imagine the task of sorting through everything will be rather draining on her ... ''

Snape snorted. The Headmaster ignored him.

'' But in a few 60 minutes she should consume a pretty solid compass on what memories are hers, and what are not. ``

'' A few hours ? `` Harry would trust Dumbledore with his life, but somehow this seemed far too easy. He would throw thought cramming a life-time worth of computer memory into a new question would take far longer.

Suddenly the Headmaster smiled. `` Ms. Kaylens has been rather fortunate to have been given the blood of a relatively Cy Young unicorn, Harry. In fact, the beast is barely aged than her. For the future few workweek she 'll gradually win more and more of its computer storage, but the worst should be over relatively soon. ``

"How can you have sex how old it was ?"

"Is, Harry. Just because the unicorn's blood was taken does not think that it was killed. And one of its latter store had already slipped through your concept. So Severus was able to see it, and pass that info on to me. She's actually receive very lucky."

Despite this reassurance, he was still uneasy. `` And what happens when that wall I made completely breaks down ? ``

'' A tenuous headache, I would imagine. Nothing More. ``

'' But ... ''

'' For the erotic love of Falco columbarius ! She 'll already be acclimated to the memories Potter ! '' Snape practically shouted, apparently unable to comprise himself any longer. `` Your little girlfriend will be fine ! ``

Harry balked. `` She 's not ... ''

Snape waved him off dismissively. `` Like I care. ``

Dumbledore casually flicked his wand in their direction, silencing them both. Harry gaped like a fish, noticing Snape doing the same.

Dumbledore let nothing appearance on his expression, but simply turned to where Remus and Kaylens still sat.

'' Remus, as occupy as this verbal fray has been, I think that the undecomposed thing for Ms.Kaylens, at the moment, is respite. ``

Lupin looking rather like a worried begetter, nodded his assent. And before Harry could even protest, Moony had scooped the girl up in his arms.

Fixing Harry with a maneuver stare, Remus inclined his head as he left. `` She 'll be in the way Hermione and Ginny used. ``

Snape, apparently having unsilenced himself, let out a derisive mockery that bore a unusual resemblance to the password `` I 'm so sure. ``

It was only after that they had left the room, that Dumbledore 's expression grew far more serious.

'' Harry, '' He stated seriously. `` I think it 's time you explained exactly what happened with Angelina. ``
* * * * *

'' VHERE IS SHE ! ? ! ? ``

The man 's voice rose furiously, awakening her from her Crucio-induced slumber with a start.

Her sorry eyes snapped open, her unfocused regard shooting uselessly around the pitch-black way.

She had been left in complete and add up swarthiness, unable to discern even a single detail of her surroundings. The coldness, silk plane beneath her were the only clue she had to propose that she remained in the like room as before.

Only now she was mercifully alone, with only the lingering, bone-deep pain in the neck of the inflicted whammy for company.

An unsettling feeling of futility settled firmly within her thorax, but she would not, could not, lose promise. Instead her declaration strengthened, and she forced herself to listen very carefully.

Outside in the student residence two people were arguing fiercely, their exact words muffled, though every so often the one would arise about the other, a dangerous promissory note in his accented speech.

Her brow creased fretfully, anxiety filling her. There was something very intimate about that voice. Something her intelligent idea screamed she should have been able to discern instantly.

But to her effect she understood that whomever the person was, that she should n't be hearing them here.

Not in a place where only Death feeder roamed freely.

An icy boding flooded her venous blood vessel ...

The door to her room suddenly flew open, a liberal shouldered man forcing his way in, his silhouette shadowed by the hall 's firelight.

It felt as if someone were suddenly choking her, an agonizing chill overtaking her in a way that the Cruciatus curse would never be able to touch.

The man 's defined jaw line, one so very familiar to her, was set firmly.

A heart-wrenching betrayal ripped through her, snatching her center in its vice grasp as she watched his mouth overt, forming the words she had once loved to hear.

'' Hermy-owh-ninny. ``







source's Note :

number 1, I just wanted to say thank you to Andrew for having helped me out so much with this chapter. He has not only beta-read the conclusion few chapters, but has also helped me to tweak them to cause them well-situated to read.

Secondly, I wanted to apologize about having taken so long between chapters over the yesteryear year. I honestly needed a break of serve from writing, and now that I have had that I plan on updating approximately every two weeks or so. I 'm really excited about finishing the story, and I figure that two weeks is definitely a deadline that I can forgather, considering that I used to post daily chapters for the Quizilla version of this. Of course, those were only about 2500 words a patch, but nevertheless I figure once every two hebdomad or so should work out well. Again, I am really sorry about having taken such prolonged breaks this past twelvemonth. thing were very officious and honestly I just needed to really reload. give thanks you all for having stuck around though ! Chapter 31 is being worked on presently, so expect it in about two weeks.

And just to debar confusion, the term for a practitioner of Occlumency is Occlumens. For some reason in the jumpy draft of this I had a lot of the great unwashed trying to correct me on that.

Recommended Story :

And the Greatest of These ... by Edward Ollivander
Rating : 12+ status : WIP - 24 chapters

In the wake of Dumbledore 's last Harry is consumed with a burning desire to achieve one thing : Defeat Voldemort, by any substance necessary. As he sets out to destroy not only the baddie himself, but also the fearfulness that has the wizarding human beings 's heart in a frailty hold, he has to change the way he sees the world around him, as well as the way he functions within it. Now, as he prepares for the final battle, he becomes the one matter the wizarding domain motivation : promise. Harry/Ginny pairing.