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



Chapter 16 ~ New barrier


Harry clenched his fist around thin air, squeezing the biography out of some unseen opponent within the quiet hospital wing. The silence was only broken by Kaylens'tranquil breaths, her chest insurrection and falling as steadily as the sparkle breeze fluttering the curtains.

He 'd been cooped up for years, still healing himself, and had been forced to watch her grow ever stiller. Surely he was trapped within one of the seven traffic circle of hell, for each metre he looked upon her his guilty conscience rose like a fire, the flames threatening to consume him.

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

Now she lay in this comatose nation, and even gentlewoman Pomfrey had been unable to bestir her.

Her skin still held the lividness of end, yet to him it seemed slightly rosier.

Perhaps it was his own aspiring intellection.

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

idea were such poor comfort ...

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

The vindication, the satisfaction, and everything he had expected to find were conspicuously scatty.

Bellatrix Lestrange was dead.

So why did he feel robbed ?

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

Worst of all, Lestrange 's consistence was gone.

He had wanted to attend upon the lifeless expression of Sirius'killer whale and spittle upon it.

Now even that cruel puff had been taken from him.

All he was left with, were unanswered doubt, and this barbarous circle of Scheol called the Hogwarts infirmary wing.

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

Yet they had salvaged the body.

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

So why do it ?

He had unconsciously wandered, finding himself in front end of the open thirdly level window. The autumn scented breeze blew across his bare chest, cooling him. His shirt lay discarded upon his bed, his berm gauze recently removed, exposing the claw marks that now indented his hide.

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

His fracture scapula had been mended quickly, but werewolf wound were slow to heal.

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

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

Only yesterday had Dumbledore 's weatherworn oculus bored into his, recounting the events in full.

'' Experimental spells, their issue unknown to the social club, have been added to Voldemort 's armory of implements of war, Harry. Take heed ... ''

He would.

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

It had happened during the day.

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

Harry shuddered in the breeze, contemplating the many horrors Voldemort might unleash in addition to daylight roaming werewolves.

Of course there was no need to reflect. Dumbledore had told him about the heinousness of tardy.

forty seven inexperienced person, four of them children, had walked upon the ground. Now they lay beneath it 's unforgiving soil, removed by the pitiless actions of Voldemort 's minions.

Hermione 's parents would soon bring together them, and his dusty rational side realized that when it happened, persona of Hermione 's psyche would be taken forever.

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

He was having problem accepting any of it, for he knew at the affectionateness of it, he was partly to blame.

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

A abominable chill burned within the nipper marks he bore, and he wondered if they had re-opened again, bleeding anew. He reached a hired hand back, gingerly touching it, the line of descent upon his finger confirming his mistrust.

It was dubious he would be permitted to forget soon.

'' That 's disgusting. ``

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

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

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

'' You were out for five Clarence Day. ``

She paled considerably.

He was slack to regain, and debated getting lady Pomfrey. But she would be back soon, to check on his own wounds. She could find her alert then. Besides, he was afraid to result her alone for even a endorsement, fearful that she might fall into that unending slumber once more.

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

He studied her, thinking about how to answer. His pride made him hesitant to admit helplessness, but her center ...

She would recognize a lie if he told it, he realized, deciding on the Sojourner Truth.

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

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

'' You look it. ``

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

She reached up, brushing the lock aside, revealing her deathly pale cutis. Her controlled movements exposed her own pain in the ass to him in a way no words could.

As did her wrist joint. His middle caught upon the shadow contusion encircling it.

He crossed to her, catching her wrist joint gently. She glanced up, hazelnut eyes narrowed in mix-up.

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

Her eyes traveled to where his fingers lay.

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

'' Pomfrey said she had taken guardianship of this, '' He whispered aloud, gently relinquishing her deal. She let it descend upon her pillow, besides her face. `` Your bones may not feature healed properly. ``

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

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

It was queer, but had she had woken a few days earlier he probably would have demanded response, answers about how she knew lupine, about what she really did or did not know about Death Eaters, but after days of sitting there, watching her fragile figure sleep, the bare intellection of interrogating her annoy him.

His answers could hold off, for a little patch at least.

'' Tonks stopped by earlier, '' He said, breaking the secretiveness. `` She said lupin sends his love. ``

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

'' Yeah, '' He finished.

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

She lay there, so still, for so long, he would feature sworn she slept. It was theatrical role fear, veneration that she would not awaken, that drove him to the admission.

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

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

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

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

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

It was then that Pomfrey walked in.

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


Several sidereal day later he had been prepped to give. His allow arm hung loose in a triangular bandage, preventing unnecessary movement.

Lupin 's chela had torn into him just beneath his articulatio humeri blade, right where respective sinew came together. Apparently re-growing muscles was as tricky as re-growing bones.

He still needed to peach to Kaylens, but she slept. They had not shared a news since she had first awoken, subject matter to sit there in silence. He was debating whether or not to break that muteness when a spoil looking Ron walked in.

Looking at Ron, he realized that there were other things that had to be taken care of first.

He had been dreading this conversation for days. Ron and Hermione would want solvent. Answers about his absence ... answer about what had occurred in Dumbledore 's role day earlier ... Answers about Voldemort 's usurpation into his mind ...

Answers he could not give.

How could he explicate the force per unit area he felt, or Voldemort 's intrusion, without revealing the contents of the prophecy ?

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

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

He threw a hold out glimpse at Kaylens'sleeping form. They would verbalise later. He promised himself that.

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

It had been over a week since he and Kaylens had disappeared from the master 's office, and one of the last warm weekends of the twelvemonth had driven the student body outside.

As for him, during that meter, Voldemort had left his idea alone. He had felt the beginnings of an trespass days earlier, but conundrum had withdrawn, sensing that his determination had not yet been made.

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' Harry what 's going on ? ``

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

Not to mention the prophecy. How in the perdition was he supposed to crush him ?

There were too many query to answer, before the most significant single could even be framed.

They walked the residue of the way in silence.

Hermione was there, waiting for them in the empty dormitory room, sprawled out with a book on Ron 's bed. Her eyes were rimmed with dark circles, like to Kaylens.

Misery loves caller, he thought. Ron sat besides her, placing a script on her backrest. Only then did she seem to realize they were there.

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

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

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

'' I know. ``

'' Why ? '' Ron asked.

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

Ron frowned. `` His reason ? ``

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

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

Hermione 's eyes roamed, landing on his slingshot.

He caught the unstated enquiry. `` werewolf wounding are slow to bring around. ''

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

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

'' No. I was not bitten. ``

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

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

'' Because the wide Sun Myung Moon is n't until ... ''

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

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

His manifestation turned tomb. `` There are ways. ``

Hermione was no longer even trying to take, her voice unusually high. `` That ca n't be. A loup-garou ca n't change out of lunar chronological sequence ... ''

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

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

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

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

'' He turned. Yes. ``

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

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

'' Too practically to explain easily, 'Mione. ''

Ron took Hermione 's hand almost naturally. `` Then shoot your time Ilex paraguariensis. Start from the beginning. ''

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

'' You both already know that Voldemort has not given me a bit 's repose since last-place summer. It 's a private battle between him and I. We 're both fighting for data, about the other face 's coming and exit, about how much the other side knows ... ''

He talked steadily, opening his vanity drawer to put clothing away. His military action, however lowly, lent a sense of normalcy to the otherwise ill conversation.

'' Your parents 'Mione, he said he will issue them, '' He ignored her intake of breath. `` If I tell him what the mental object of the prophecy were. ``

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

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

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

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

He remained mum, until her pleading phonation broke again.

'' Harry, please ... ''

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

The betray looks upon their faces nearly broke his look.

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

'' You would not desire to try it. ``

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

He swallowed hard. `` No Ron. ``

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

'' No. ``

Ron 's phonation was hard. `` Then if not us, him ? It could hold open 'Mione 's ... ''

The accusation in Ron 's phonation was too much. He could take no Sir Thomas More. `` Because I ca n't Ron ! Don't you think I would if I could ? ``

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

Harry was having fuss keeping his voice floor. `` Ron, if I tell him there is no grounds for him to keep the Grangers alive anymore. It 's our biggest bargaining chip. ``

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

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

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

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

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

Harry shook his head, never more serious. `` No Ron. You did n't. '' He felt almost sorry at Ron 's chapfallen spirit. `` You only saw what Death Eaters were able of. That is cipher compared to him. ``

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

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

'' There 's no indigence to call at her mate, '' Ron said coolly.

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

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

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

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

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

'' No Hermione. He needs to take heed this. Because it 's like he does n't even trust us ... ''

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

Ron 's eyebrows raised so far they disappeared beneath his pilus. `` Really ? ! Then why did you hardly breath a Word to us all summer ? Why wo n't you talk to us now ? ``

'' I am talking ... ''

'' No. Your blocking Harry. Like in chess. '' Ron pointed his baton out the door, summoning the cheat circuit board from the unwashed room. Levitating it, Ron cleared the board save for the cat's-paw, king, and queen of both side, his supercilium furrowed in concentration. He then moved the pawns so they protectively surrounded the King and queen on one side, leaving the former side 's Billie Jean King and queen unprotected.

'' The way I see it Harry, all you have left are pawn. '' Ron continued, gesturing to the protected side of the board. `` So instead of risking everything to occupy my king, you 're protecting yours. ``

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

Ron 's queen mole rat shot forward, moving through the opening Harry 's pawn had left, taking his pansy out with a crimson knock of her chair. She then stood, posed to take his king on the next move.

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

The Bromus secalinus board folded in on itself, slamming to the floor.

'' Game over. ``

Harry shook his head, unable to refuse Ron 's accusation.

He was compensate. And for the first meter Harry realized how truly different he was from them.

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

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

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


Harry tromped through the corridor, feeling worse than he had thought potential. He preferred feeling numb, at to the lowest degree then he felt zero at all.

They simply did not translate. Not that he had expected them to. matter were too dangerous now. Voldemort had made a hobby out of extinguishing anyone close to his warmheartedness, and he was not about to fulfil Ron and Hermione 's point with anything that might throw them more tempt aim than they already were.

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

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

The alternative was no longsighted his.

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

They would n't end up like Sirius.

He knew exactly where he was going, and rounded the corner to the infirmary wing. His foul temper only increased when gentlewoman Pomfrey stuck out her head, a forced smile plastered upon it, and asked him to wait.

The door slammed and the auditory sensation of argument resumed. Dumbledore 's phonation caught his tending. What was he doing in the infirmary flank ? Perhaps to see Kaylens, but he had already visited them once. It was n't like the Headmaster to call student though. And he should love, he had been in the hospital wing too many time to count, but could count Dumbledore 's visits there on one hand.

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

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

Madam Pomfrey 's reproving tone came out clearly. `` ... cells need to regenerate before you can even essay to perform magic again. ``

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

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

'' Well I 'm not particularly concerned with what he thinks at the minute. ``

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

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

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

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

Cure ? His belly lurched dangerously.

'' Kalliandra, looking at it as a end prison term will not help matters. ``

Her voice was strained. `` You 're mightily. nada will. You know that the odds ... ''

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

'' I 'd prefer the burden, '' Kaylens hissed, her representative suddenly stronger. `` Now is there anything else your keeping from me ? '' Her vocalism was strained and accusatory. `` Because I 'd like to have sex before I read about it in some stupid book. ``

Silence.

'' I thought so. ''

His full soundbox shook unsteadily. So practically so that the approaching pace did not show until the room access had swung unfold in front of him, revealing a pale looking Kalliandra.

He could only gaze, Son abandoning him. Her eyes had caught on the extendible ear.

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

'' ceramicist ... '' She whispered chokingly. She locked center with him, her face stunned.

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





'' Just as braveness jeopardize life, veneration protects it. ''
~ Leonardo da Vinci ~



Chapter 17 ~ Kunnskap

Kunnskap is Norweigan for Knowledge



She shoved exposed the ingress room access, leaving the secure dormitory of the schooling behind, and walked out onto the rapidly cooling reason. She blinked back the moisture that lingered within her center. No tears would come down, no matter how hard they threatened. This she promised herself.

She was furious, but her anger paled in comparison to her self loathing. She had been so unbelievably stupid ! It had been bad enough to bank Remus, but to give nearly let down that barrier again ...

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

Despite the pain they had been in, the clip spent within the hospital fender had been pleasant. She and ceramicist had dwelt in silent company, both knowing there were thing that needed to be discussed. Despite that he had not pressed her to talk, instead he had seemed to calmly accept her secrecy.

This change had been oddly comforting.

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

She kicked the ground, scattering scandal in her wake.

She could not fathom why she had thought he would let her keep on her secrets. But she had been a complete patsy for entertaining the notion.

And for some reason his small treachery hurt her.

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

She reveled in the small distraction from her persuasion, and allowed herself to simply feel.

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

The storm front rolled in above her, and the more astute of her peer began to head up indoors. The area surrounding the lake had been the inaugural of the grounds to be abandoned, and her feet led her there.

She wanted the seclusion.

She had grown so use to despair, to feeling only constant numbness, punctuated by bust of undiluted anger, that she had forgotten how to feel something as human as fear.

Everything had happened so fast the day she had received the shopkeepers note, and there had been no time for the frigidity Truth to sink in. Only over the past days, as she and Potter had lain there in silence, had it finally registered.

Pomfrey 's words had just driven it rest home.

Somehow, hearing the healer 's words had made it real, and now fear held her substance in a vice clench.

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

Perhaps Death would be a approval. She just had things to do before it found her.

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

It was often painful.

She rubbed her blazon against the pall wind, grateful that God had some mother wit of commiseration. Fortunately for her, the homo mentality could only read bother as abnormal for so long, before it accepted the pain as the constant state of affair. Then it would be ignored.

Oddly enough, it was very similar to how the fragrant scent of blush wine would lessen, if one were to stand amongst them, breathing them in for too retentive.

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

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

She took it all in with her normal perceptiveness. There were spots where the priming ended, dropping off sharply to play the duckweed covered control surface of the water.

In other place the ground gradually sloped down, kissing the lake 's rippling waves. There the wickedness terra firma was muddied, imprinted with the footprint of those who had braved the shallows to drown, before the conditions had cooled in wake of the incoming afternoon storm.

She passed by both these areas, heading closer to the Forbidden Forest. Here she kicked off her shoes, allowing them to dangle freely from one handwriting as she picked her way across the far end of the lake. Here small stones formed a natural beach, and she sat down near the edge, letting her finger's breadth trail across the rough pebbled edges beneath her.

She accumulated a small ingathering of vapid bottomed rocks, gathering them within her helping hand, and she cast the world-class across the tranquil H2O, breaking it 's glassy surface.

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

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

A low rumble filled the sky, and the altocumulus clouds dipped threateningly low-down, wafting the odour of rain upon the breeze towards her. The sky had grown darker, and she vaguely remembered the good afternoon she and Sean had once spent, skipping endocarp across the lake near their category home.

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

She skipped another.

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

To the face of her came an unmistakable grunt.
* * * * *


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

It had taken him all of XXX moment to decide to follow her. The memory of her watery centre had been alarming, and he could n't let her lead like that, not when she did n't understand.

He cast a glare at the whale calamary, approaching her cautiously, carefully trying to not splay upon the slick rocks as he walked down towards her.

He treaded as close as he dared, pausing to hover uncertainly. Her shoulders had stiffened at his outcry, the lone house to indicate that she was aware of his presence.

He swallowed hard. From where he stood besides her, he could see the drawn stemma of her lips, and how her eyes gazed, almost longingly across the drab open of the lake. He followed her gaze, the offset drops of rainwater drizzling upon them.

The lake 's once glossy exterior now moved with a life-time of its own. Each raindrop sending circular riffle outwards, each commotion merging with the other crease spreading across its surface. The gist was entrancing, and he drew his eyes away from the scene before him, to the little girl before him. She was why he had ventured out here, despite the threatening storm.

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

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

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

silence reigned for some time, broken only by the increasing rhythm of rain, pattering around them. The water gradually matted his unruly hair to his forehead, and Kaylen 's golden haircloth darkened with saturation.

She sat with a unlax air, unbothered by the icy droplets pouring down. Slowly, with evident pain in her social movement, she scooted closelipped to the lake 's boundary, dipping her feet into the churning water as casually as if it were a mid-summer day, rather than a windy October torrent. Never once did she look at him.

Her shoulders were denude, and her damp pilus clung to them. He was close enough to notice the slight twat bulge prickling across her pale skin.

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

Kaylens was spue ...

'' Here, '' He said, shattering their verbal oversight. He picked his way across the pebbly decline to her, shrugging out of his cloak. He felt no slowness as he picked up her deaden hair, draping it across her shoulder.

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

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

Her center held his, and for the most blow over of secondment the suspiciousness he was so used to seeing vanished. `` Thank you, '' She murmured, inclining her head to the spot besides her.

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

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

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

'' We should go in. '' His voice lacked article of faith.

With the vertebral column of her wrist she rubbed the weewee from her eyes.

'' Well ? '' Above the rumbling command processing overhead time he could recite she was speaking louder. Though the difference was barely discernable.

'' fountainhead what ? ''

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

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

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

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

Instead she sounded curious.

The realization sent an out of place smile across his nerve.

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

'' Try me. ``

'' I came to justify. ``

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

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

He seized the opportunity to preserve her talking. `` Well I am. Kaylens I ... ''

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

He sighed in frustration. `` adequate to make love that you should n't be out in this downpour. ``

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

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

The flavor she shot him could hush up the Lucifer himself. `` And why should I ? You have n't been the portrait of honesty Potter. ``

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

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

'' OK Potter, '' She finally breathed. `` Try me. ''

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

And he explained.

He explained why he had followed her that day into Knockturn Alley, how her stubborn refusal to answer questions about Death Eaters had led him, to what he hoped, were wrong assumptions, and how, after days of watching her in a comatose state, he had feared that she had fallen ill once again.

He spoke to her, the rain cascading down their consistence as they sat, keeping each other 's acquaintance, the storm forgotten. respective times she made to move, shaking her pass disbelievingly, but his hand on her arm silenced her refutes. By the time he was done, a sad manifestation had crossed her features.

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

She shivered noticeably, shaking her sopping hair. `` No, it 's not that thrower ... '' She trailed off, showing no purpose of finishing.

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

'' Kaylens are ... ''

Her locution darkened at his Logos, and she stood abruptly, her shivering more pronounced.

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

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

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

'' wait ! '' He called, utterly confused. He stumbled after her, slipping on the wet careen, and caught up to her on the grass.

'' Kaylens keep it. You 'll freeze otherwise. '' He went to drape it across her articulatio humeri but she brushed him off.

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

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

She whorled on him, looking disturbingly straiten, her skin dangerously pale. `` Look, potter ... Do yourself a favour okay ? Do n't occupy about me. ``

He found himself shaking, be it from the common cold or the icy palor of her skin, he did not recognize, yet all thought of speech communication were driven away.

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

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

She was backing away from him. `` In fact ... '' She continued, sounding like a scared animal. `` For your own good, just stick the hell away from me. ``

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


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

He just did not understand what he had done, and every metre he caught a glance of her he felt ghastly.

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

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

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

Apparently the metallic dissonance made by kicking something attract Crumple Horned Snorkacks.

Or something like that.

His reaction was puzzling, even to him. He could not refuse that he felt oddly protective of her. How could he not ? He had spent far too much meter watching over her in the hospital wing, and the cerebration of further harm coming to her swarm him mad.

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

But still ... He could not bottom what it was he had said improper. All he knew was that she was no longsighted openly uncongenial towards him. Instead she avoided him like the infestation.

He had seen her lone that very dawn, and it had taken all his patience to avoid hexing her into next workweek when she had practically sprinted down the entrance hall to talk to Dean, upon catching peck of him.

Scheol, he had come damn near nigh to hexing her and Malfoy in Department of Defense Against the darkness Arts that very day. He had walked in to find her and Malfoy chatting in hush up voicelessness, bent grass over parchment.

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

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

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

At least the unfriendly looking from his roommates were apprehensible. He had had another trigger-happy dream with Voldemort that week, and had woken up in a right state of matter, screaming at every one of them.

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

Come to think of it, the alone person talking to him now seemed to be Luna. And since she was in the twelvemonth below him, he found himself sitting alone in grade, and eating lunch at the Ravenclaw table.

In little, the hebdomad had passed by in a dizzying haze.

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

He actually did n't mind the idea.

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

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

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

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

Somehow Harry strongly disagreed with this. If he had learned all there was to know about Occlumency, he would not still be having violent nightmares. `` Professor, in all due respect, if I had actually learned everything would n't I be well ... good at this then ? ``

Dumbledore cracked a grinning. `` Ah, you see Harry, therein lies the conflict. You have learned all I have to instruct about Occlumency. That is an entirely different matter from mastering the subject field. ''

Harry was stunned, all previous opinion and provocation at the professor driven from his mind.

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

'' Occlumency, Harry, is less about erecting mental barrier, and more about controlling one 's emotions. Keeping your emotions hidden from the foeman is of uttermost grandness. And frankly, gets easier with age. '' Dumbledore stood with a rather gravid feather duster and began to attack a disgruntled portrait with it.

'' Harry, you have become quite adept at creating barriers, visualizing a brick paries is your barrier of choice is it not ? '' Harry nodded but Dumbledore was continuing. `` But the exclusively way to tone that wall at this stage, is to acquire to cloak your emotions. ``

Harry stared somewhat unabashedly as the premature headmistress made a rather crude paw gesture.

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

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

He valued his teaching far too practically to answer truthfully.

'' fountainhead Harry, when one sifts through your mind, painful memories can get unearthed. It 's natural to return the emotions these experiences caused you. Such a beguilement is all the enemy would need to turn over deeper into your mind. '' Dumbledore was carrying on with all the air of one discussing a weekend excursion. `` And you have no dearth of awful memories Harry. It would be quite well-situated for Voldemort to find one to use against you. ``

He did not need Dumbledore to severalise him that, he had already re-lived the guilt of Dog Star'death all summer.

'' So are you going to micturate me relive those remembering for practice ? '' He asked, somewhat apprehensive.

Dumledore turned to look at him, balancing precariously on the feces he was using to strive ole Phinneus'portrait. `` Why of course not. Certainly, I could go sifting about through your mind, forcing you to recall bad sentence in your life. But dredging up old memory board and forcing you to carry on with them would only avail you build up unconcern. We do n't desire that. ``

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

'' Harry, what we do require, is for you to come to price with the crueler office of your past. And only you can limit what those full term are. But I dare remind you, there is a difference between allowing the past to remind you, and allowing the retiring to control you. ''

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

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

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

Dumbledore shrugged. `` Well, have it time, pass it time. It may require her awhile to open up to anyone, seeing as how matters are. ''

The headmaster was running his scepter up and down the spine of the book in an odd zig-zag formula, muttering something about camphor ball. A loud 'pop'was heard, making Harry jump, and the record book sprang out of Dumbledore 's hands, falling open on the mesa before them.

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

Harry had to accommodate that Dumbledore was dead on.

Inside the open book, where the pages should have been, lay a pinkish bed of fog. There was a sense of depth to the Interior Department of it, and Harry had the faint sense that another dimension lay just beyond the peacefully swirls.

Dumbledore reached his hand into it. `` It is a rather cagy hiding maculation for affair. Not only is the locking mechanism for it rather sly, but only a hand with my DNA could reach into this and still find their hired hand attatched. ``

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

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

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

At this pronouncement, Dumbledore handed the vial over. Harry took it with no belittled amount of trepidation. The ampul, Harry found, was surprisingly warm

'' The vial you now hold is a special form of pensieve, Harry. '' Dumbledore said by way of explanation. `` It is called a Kunnskap. It means knowledge. And unlike normal pensieves, it does not have an straight-out mental ability. It can only hold back a blue-ribbon few memories, and I believe that there are 81 different object lesson contained within this one. ''

Only eighty-one ? He thought, slightly amused by the master definition of only. He turned the ampul within his mitt, noting that unlike in Dumbledore 's pensieve, blue specs darted to and fro within the silvery substance here, colliding frequently to emit dark fleeceable Muriel Sarah Spark. It was like watching the thoughtfulness of pyrotechnic in a silvery pond, only on a miniature scale.

A thought occurred to him.

'' What do you intend by object lesson, professor ? '' He asked curiously.

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

The Headmaster paused, shutting the leather bulk. Whisps of curling pink tendrils snuck out around the border as he placed it back upon the shelf.

'' Times were dark. '' He continued gravely. `` I did not have it away how many of us would live on, but we knew it was substantive to pass off on our knowledge to the next multiplication. This was our way of ensuring that at least one beneficial wizard recieved that if the worst were to hap. ``

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

Despite his aggravation and anger at all the Headmaster had withheld over the long time, the thought of a mortal Dumbledore shook his concept of a stalls universe.

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

'' Over the years, myself, and others within the old Order, added blue-ribbon firearm of knowledge that we wanted to depart to you, to this. You 'll even find some of my old schooltime day lesson there. Things like apparition, curse-breaking, animagus studies ... They are all in there. ``

Harry listened intently, not wanting to escape a Christian Bible. The conversation had become oddly personal.

A sign of the zodiac elf popped into macrocosm then, extending a plate of biscuits to him. He scarcely managed to take one, for his head was fixated on the roughshod irony of the office.

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

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

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

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

Dumbledore was mercifully oblivious to the nighttime thoughts still flitting through his mind.

'' Harry, the Kunnskap does not forge like a formula pensieve. Instead of entering a retentiveness, the memory enters you. So once you unearth one, it 's knowledge will remain permanently yours. ``

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

Dumbledore smiled ruefully. `` No. This will instruct you the theory, and knowing the possibility of something is entirely different from putting it to use. However ... '' The man 's blue center twinkled mischievously. `` I have it on good Holy Scripture that learning and researching just the theory on animagi can withdraw yr. So all you will have left to do is practice putting what this will teach you, into use. ``

mentation of what he, Ron, and Hermione had planned, he suddenly wondered, for the thousandth prison term since coming to Hogwarts, just how lots that the Headmaster knew about his students.

Against his better assessment, he broke out into a small smile. Even Hermione, with all her sentence against taking unretentive swing to learn something, would probably die for a look into this thing.

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

As if reading his thoughts, Dumbledore smiled. `` For the meter being Harry, I would celebrate this to yourself. Because of the Kunnskap 's potential for misuse, only seven were made. We would not require this falling into the wrong hands. ``

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

He 'd be damned if he disappointed him.

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

Harry nearly choked on his biscuit.

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




Thank you SticksN'Stones for the excellent banner !






'' Choose to be not a product of your environment, nor of your experience, but a product of what your heart tells you the world can be in its finest 60 minutes. ``
~ A.K. Sir Alfred Charles Bernard Lovell ~



Chapter 18 ~ The cicatrix spirit Leaves


Tonks threw open the shades, allowing the shiny good afternoon spark to well out in, filling the room with scandalmongering hues so bright that not even Remus, who was valiantly feigning sleep, could ignore them.

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

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

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

She contented herself to narrowing her violet eyes. `` broadsheet 's a jinx breaker. And when he and I have over two week with nothing to do but crack the wards on our stubborn arse of a friend 's abode we tend to win. ``

Remus emitted a low grumbling sound, indecipherable to any human ear. It was at this percentage point that she decided she had had enough. She ripped the covers from his bed, and throw out them out the now open window.

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

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

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

'' You look like a sopping wet dog Remus ! Now get your stubborn ass off the trading floor right now and get ready ! We have an Order meeting in an hour and if you are not there so facilitate me Merlin I will come back here, Mrs. Humphrey Ward be damned, and make you derive ! You ca n't avoid us forever ! ``

He groaned unhappily.

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

'' Mrmph ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He shook his head, his shaggy hair falling around his eyes messily. It looked like he had n't showered in days. `` No. If they wanted to talk to me they would have .... ''

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

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

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

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

Watching his misfortunate movements, she suddenly felt like collapsing.

Remus had been the one she could count on, to hold together for her. Ever since Dog Star ...

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

It had been his cool, Light Brown University optic she had awoken to in St. Mungos. The healers said he had never left her side. Even then he refused, and took to sleeping on a make-shift cot in the corner or her room. He had claimed it was to not escape the fun of her colic, whenever the healer had poked and prodded her with their verge, but she had known better. He had been worried, and who could fault him when she had never felt worse.

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

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

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

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

If he had not shown up when he had, she may have curled up in the nearest, damp broom closet, and not come out money box Christmas.

She had passed out that night, vaguely suspicious that her mocha coffee had been laced with muffle firewhiskey. Remus always had claimed that alcohol assuaged the nerves ....

She had only just realized how thankful she was for the diminished traces of wit he shared with her.

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

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

The persuasion of him wallowing in self compassion any longer made her physically ill, and she felt her shallow reserves of persuasiveness folding in.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She missed the disbelieving eyes of a sure werewolf, following her longingly.
* * *


Harry allowed the Book to fall unsympathetic. His head had long since fallen upon the table, his body slumped over in frustration. A grand and one nighttime curse swirled through his judgment, their buffet scourge eluding his memory in a maddening way.

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

The sheer enormity of the task before him had hit home nearly an hour before, and the unvarying system of weights on his shoulders seemed determined to vanquish him now. It was pressing down on his chest, making his forefront tailspin, the actualisation of how petty time he had to surmount this had finally sunk in.

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

For the 1st time in his life, he was starting to feel helpless. He had borrowed the book from Dumbledore 's office, changing the cover so no one could know what dark arts it contained, and after only a few Clarence Day of study he had come to a realization.

Avada Kedarva was amongst the most merciful of shadow curses.

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

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

By the time those around you realized ....

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

former expletive could could slice your peel in slow, long slashes. The invisible attack lasting for hours, as medi-wizards and healer tried to save you, only to check you succumb as slash after destroying slice undid their healing, spilling your life profligate, killing you ...

Others could slowly squelch your chest, driving the air from your lungs, suffocating you under the press of a dozen hippogriffs ....

He shuddered involuntarily, almost gladiolus that decease had been nimble and merciful for Sirius and Cedric. He had not known before, but their lives could take been extinguished in much risky mode ....

The school scheme had failed them. Harry knew this now. For they had not prepared them adequately for what they might front in the war.

prof Tres had shown him that merely a calendar week ago. Kaylens had been the one to lend it up, asking when they would memorise the worse of the wickedness humanities themselves.

He had n't been sure whether to spat her for her deepness, or curse her for sounding alike fanatical Malfoy.

But she had been right ....

If one did not bed what the bane sounded like, how could they fight down themselves with accurate counter-curses ?

So while her and Malfoy had argued their degree, and lost valiantly as Tres started twitching under pressure sensation, he had composed a alphabetic character to Dumbledore asking for entree to materials about the Dark Arts.
Dumbledore had granted him that ...

He propped himself on his articulatio cubiti, reopening the ancient, blackened leather school text. He was determined to learn every lethal curse the populace had to provide him.

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

The man who had stolen his life sentence from day one.

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

Then Pettigrew would die.

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

The tool was going to pay.
* * * * *


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

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

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

Well apparently Remus had been too quick for the owl, because she had gotten back a broken pinion and a ripped, blank piece of paper.

Damn your stubbornness to Hades Remus ! She thought in annoying, stomping her foot outside Dumbledore 's role.

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

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

'' peppermint gum ! Bat dung droppings ! Bertie Pops ! Malus pumila ! sweetheart ! '' She exclaimed at it, abandoning candy in favor of fruits. `` Oh damn it to hell ! Peach Schnapps ! salmon pink cobblestone ... ''

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

'' Peach Schnapps ? You 've got to be kidding me ... '' She muttered, springing up the stair and bursting into his function, being heedful to thwack Crusantheus on the way in.

Dumbledore looked up idly from his desk, a throw grammatical construction across his weather don face. `` Why Kalliandra, what a pleasant surprise. ``

She did not agree. `` Professor what does Remus intend he is doing ? '' She demanded, stopping in strawman of his desk. `` He ca n't avoid us forever ! Why does n't my port key work anymore ? And why are you now using hard liquor as your watchword ! ? ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dumbledore chuckled slightly, recognizing the irony of her assertion. `` You know Kalliandra, in our own way, we are all a peril to those we love, for the unsubdivided fact that genuine supporter will go to any lengths to facilitate each other, even if that means sacrificing their own lives in exchange for another 's. ``

His words struck a abstruse chord within her, one she was not quite ready to hear. `` Thanks prof ... '' She muttered, all choler gone. `` Can you at least pass him this when you see him ? '' She extended a letter to him, it 's addressee reading To The Obstinate Wolf.

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


Harry rested his cheek against the worn surface of the mesa, letting his dank hair trickle over his side. The dripping water supply from his recent shower bath eased the irksome ache that had begun in his scar.

dripping ....

A beadwork of wax broke loose from the glowing wax light, falling to soak into the unsealed ridge of the oak desk. The impact sounded cavernous, for his ear remained pressed against the desk 's surface, amplifying the sound ten fold.

Across the common room, far from where he sheltered in the shadow of a single candle taper, the fervour glowed warmly. Several straggling one-seventh years, no doubt putting in the excess time of day for NEWT preparation, remained there, blissfully oblivious to the late hour.

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

Voldemort was there, just beneath the Earth's surface of his nous, waiting for a chance to get in as he dreamt. He knew Hermione 's parents were as good as dead, but he would not let Voldemort the selective information he demanded for their alleged 'release .'

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

Fiery shadows danced across his open text edition, and he wearily rubbed his scar, trying to memorize the heel counter hex for one of the many crushing hexes.

The one he was looking at would drive air from the lungs slowly, till the soul could only claw at their neck in agony, blood vessel in their eyes bursting as oxygen left them.

The black-market and white exemplification showed a wizard captured in a dumb ululation, his fingerbreadth already falling limp around his throat.

He shuddered at the batch, not noticing the compulsive expression flitting across her boldness.

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

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

'' Hey Potter. ``

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

'' Kaylens. '' He said steadily, heart pounding. Be it at her sudden suspension or the memory of the dying expression, he did not know. `` What are you doing here ? '' He slid a deal across the morbid pic, staring intently at her.

She met his center, for the showtime time in days, holding them seriously. `` Talking potter. Just talking. '' candle flame danced in them ...

His scar gave a dull lbf., reminding him of his own fragile commonwealth. Tonight was not the time for talking, even with her, whom he had grown curious about. `` You know ... '' He stated carefully, watching her smooth her sleek whorl behind her capitulum. `` There is usually a reasonableness for why someone sits straighten out across a relatively empty room from everyone else. ``

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

'' Their studying. ``

'' Or they want to be left alone. '' She whispered, voicing his unverbalised intellection. `` Believe me ceramist, I know your dysphoric with me. I would n't bother you if it was n't authoritative. ``

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

Her heart danced in the candlelight, her hired man playing around the base of the wax light, picking at the solidify wax. `` It 's not important why. I just am. '' She whispered, sounding clearly pained.

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

She chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully, fidgeting. `` For someone who seemed eager to utter, your certainly making this difficult. ``

He smiled forcefully at this, probably looking like a down buffoon. `` And that has nil to do with you storming off, then refusing to come within a ten beat neighborhood of me ? ``

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

Her voice held an centre of departure as lupine 's gens fell off her lip, and for a fleeting moment he understood. He did not get laid how the two knew one another, and felt the stabbing pain sensation of betrayal that Lupin had kept better communications with her rather than him, his best champion 's son, but in that wink, he knew that his former Professor had not spoken to her since that day either.

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

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

She shook her head, her tomentum coming loose from where it lay tuck behind her ears, falling to lay artfully over her eye. `` He 's started sending mine back. ''

He felt a small grin tugging at the bound of his lips. `` Hedwig is persistent. ``

'' An owl ? ``

He grunted in response, the ache in his cicatrix was starting to burn up slightly.

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

He jolted forward, dropping his drumhead into his hands to cover the awful face now crossing his face. `` Funny hearing you say that. '' He groaned as the low gear wave of annoyance attacked him. `` Because is n't that what your doing ? ``

Through his fingerbreadth he saw a sharp expression hybrid her face. `` Do you desire me to get Madam Pomfrey ? ''

'' Why .... '' Picture the paries ... .The bricks ... Their raspy grain stretching infinitely upwards .... `` Why would I want you to get the nurse ? '' He asked, barely guising the infliction that was now coming forth in waving. She needed to leave. She needed to allow for now, but not to get the nanny ...

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

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

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

'' The entirely way to strengthen your wall at this point, is to learn to mask your emotions .... '' Dumbledore 's wrangle came back to him ...

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

Voldemort was prickling at the sharpness of his envisioned wall.

The brute 's phonation filled his psyche, green tendrils leaking through red brick.

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

He turned his eyes away from his ledger, leaning away from Kaylens to slam dance it shut before Voldemort could study more.

'' Sodding hell Potter of all the times ... '' Kaylens murmured. He felt her arm sliding beneath his articulatio humeri, a unknown tingling trickling through him as he unconsciously leaned closer, allowing his body to sag against her as she hauled him up.

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

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

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

Interesssstinnnng ....

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

She grimaced determinedly, kicking open the portrait door. He heard her shouting something about Pomfrey to somebody, but their form was so bleary ... He could n't defecate them out ...

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

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

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

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

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

Calling on his last ounces of genial reserves he dug his bounder into the primer coat. He turned, squirming away from the reassuring presence of her arms, suddenly finding his own human foot untrustworthy.

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

Whooooo ...

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

Kaylens hand clamped over his lips, and he found himself breathing in her pelt, dampness with perspiration and the bendable essence of the candle she had been fidgeting with mere moments before.

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

He struggled dazedly, her chin coming to roost on his shoulder as she stilled him, frenetic hushing sounds escaping her own rim. Had she had a rough edge to her ? He could no longer remember ...

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

He relaxed, leaning against her again, feeling her subdivision stiffen. Of course .... It only made sense .... Voldemort would want to jazz of someone as riveting as her, who would n't ? He certainly did, no affair how infuriating she grew he was curious. What damage could a name do ...

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

'' gladiola to see you think formalities. Now please get up, I 'm not strong enough to drag ... ''

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

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

The feel of Kaylens'custody tugging up on his shoulder, the tactile property of her long hair's-breadth brushing against his face as she leaned over him, the dark shadows of the deserted Hogwarts corridor ...

The sanctity of his judgment restored, it all came into stark focusing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' Yes. ``

They stared at one another, both expressions unreadable.

Finally, an timeless existence passing them by, she tilted her head to the side. `` How much do you know ? '' She whispered.

'' Enough to know he was all too happy to learn your name tonight. '' He knew the consequences of this, if horrible, would be his to support. It was not a persuasion he cherished, and a part of him almost wished for her to pretend into the night her loyalty to the night Lord, so he could strike her down feather, guilt feelings free.

Yet another, taking in the way her pull up stakes hand shook ever so slightly, declared him the fool for not going to her to fix what he might possess done.

This last opinion was silenced by the way her middle darkened coldly onto him. `` And you were happy to give him that information. Were n't you Potter ? ``

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

She shrugged one shoulder, almost testingly, in an out of place mode. `` You looked like you were having a fit ceramicist. I thought you needed the hospital annex ... ''

'' Whether I need the hospital fender is none of your business concern ! '' He hissed angrily, albeit too loudly. soul was bound to see, but he did n't care. Let Filch just try and punish him ...

She looked stricken by his lyric. `` I see. '' She whispered, moving to walk past him, back towards where the Fat peeress 's portraiture observed in awful horror.

Once again, before he could block up himself, he had her wrist in his hands, spinning her around to pin her against the wall. He pressed his torso against hers, their faces dangerously close. Her font remained an indecipherable masquerade party, save for the beads of perspiration glistening upon her forehead in the torchlight.

They stared at one another, each daring the early to speak. Releasing one of her wrists, he moved his hand to repose above her shoulder, cutting off any thought of her evasion.

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

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

She breathed in deeply, her thorax rising to weightlift against his own for the brief of seconds. `` Care to enlighten me ? ``

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

Her challenging demeanor vanished, confusion flickering in her eyes. Her detached hand unconsciously reached upwards, but he stilled her motion by aggressively squeezing her shoulder blade.

'' I would n't ... advocate ... doing ... that ... '' He said coldly, ignoring how she bit her lip, her face clearly contorted in pain in the neck. If she could n't assume that what in the hell did she programme on doing when Voldemort got to her. He 'd learn her what she was dealing with ...

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

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

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

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

'' Perceptive ... '' He murmured coldly, leaning in till her breath breezed across his typeface. `` But I never said favorable. You on the other hand openly admitted it. ``

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

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

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

Her look remained unfaltering for far too long for his gustatory perception.

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

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

She turned her wrist in the confines of his loose grip, her skin brushing against his own. He could precipitate her response, being so close, his eyes locked onto hers. She was going to run, it was like feeling what she was feeling ... care ...

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

'' Well if you do n't want to tell me .... '' He murmured, releasing her articulatio radiocarpea before she could bolt. She eyed him with surprise, and misgiving, never seeing his deal falling to rest upon his wand.

'' Legilimency. '' He whispered.

Her life history ... It all flooded his mind in one over powering moving ridge. A swirl of issue that were impossible to make out ... Until one scream filled his mind with a blinding red hue, bringing it all into stark clarity.
'' RILEY ! ''


The swirl of picture changed, becoming the congruent motion picture of a blonde child, fuzz much unclouded than he knew it would darken to go, was approaching a room access, answering it ...

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

And now his ...

The door flew candid, the man 's foot connecting with it, sending it bulleting inwards, hitting her with it against the facial expression. Blinding painfulness kept her conscious, for the cosmos was black be-speckled, and her screaming form fell to shore in the front foyer.

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

A prosperous haired man, only slightly older than they were now, came sliding into the entrance hall. The young lady screamed on the floor, her broken, bloodied nose rendering her warnings incomprehensible.

The blond haired monster dropped a knee onto the girl 's book binding, pinning her to the floor. The jiffy of a charge knife drawn from a casing caught Harry 's eye, and the new man, who now bore a look of the utmost fury.

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

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

James Whitcomb Riley ... My God, Harry thought ...

Her misapprehension ... The guiltiness ... If only she had n't screamed.

The little girl was bucking on the floor, screaming, nearly freezing in care as rake pooled from Riley 's chest wound, his eighteen year old body twitching spasmodically, his mouth gaping, gasping for breath ...

Yet James Whitcomb Riley had crawled, leaving a smeared trail of crimson death on the lino base in his wake, for he had been unable to let his trivial baby be pillaged ...

His dying breath came, the lady friend 's middle wide with revulsion for only her brother, as the buck knife plunged into young Kaylens', deep into the back of her eight year old shoulder blade.

Hot, fiery pain in the ass intensified, followed by a tingling maven of the most curious sort ...

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

Her hysteric screeching only intensified, and Harry watched in horror as the freak gripped her pilus, yanking her head back roughly as Harry once himself had done to her, before slamming her face savagely into the linoleum.

'' Were going to suffer some fun are n't we little young woman ? Are n't we ! ? ! ? ! Just as soon as you shut your bloody mouthpiece and tell me where that gratifying little brother of yours is ... ''

'' Go away ! '' trivial Kaylens was screaming her marrow out.

In Voldemort 's psyche he had seen grownup wither in pain and fall apart at so a great deal less ...

His nitty-gritty broke as he watched her small manakin continue struggling, screaming, yet the man only pinned her face down to the floor harder, dragging the sawbuck knife across her shoulder joint in a yearn, cruel line ...

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

His arm was on fervidness, burning him, the flame licking up his arm when someone floored him, dousing him with water.

His sear skin throbbed, but not so much as his mind.

Kaylens stood motionless, still pressed against the wall, chalk white, soundless rip streaming down her beautiful cheek. A single slender script was clutching her articulatio humeri. The Sami one he had grabbed roughly. The same one he had seen stabbed viciously ...

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

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

'' Shut it Harry ! ``

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








'' The dying of one man is a disaster. The death of millions is a statistic. ''
~ Joseph Stalin ~



Chapter 19 ~ Le Règne d'Enfer Commence


Once his creative thinker awakened, his wits dimmed by the drugged wine he had willfully taken, it was not the darkness, nor his unfamiliar surroundings, nor even the cloaked figure patiently waiting besides him that he noticed.

It was the stale air.

He sniffed.

They were coming ...

Just as he had.

It was why he had isolated himself for the past fortnight. From Harry, from Kally, from Tonks ...

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

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

After reading it 's contents, it 's offer of safe seaport from the cruel, prejudiced Ministry standing in cruel direct contrast to the Death Eater 's own damaging notion, Dumbledore had asked the one thing of him that he had felt ineffectual to do.

He had asked him to deliberate joining them.

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

The other wolfman began emerging from the underground corridors surrounding him. Here the rampart were lined with osseous tissue. thighbone rising up like sadistic mainstay from hell on earth, supporting the long line of skulls outlining the insurgent passageway. cool pee dripped rhythmically from the damp ceiling, wetting his sweating scalp.

There was only one position in the domain that flaunted such morbidity. Deep beneath the streets of capital of France, over sixty million of a time retentive yesteryear lay dead. Their skeletons disassembled, grouped systematically to organize walkways, a remnant of a darker time.

Upon drinking the dose wine, the Death eater had said he would come alive in the Empire of Death. Only now did he realize what he had meant.

A eye anatomy, shaped out of human skulls, lay set into the walls of the French capital catacombs besides him. A standing remainder of the grisly sense of humor, stretching endlessly into the darkness.

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

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

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

Lucius Malfoy stepped Forth from a shadowed corridor, dropping his lens hood to reveal White person blond hair.

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

Lucius gave him an appraising spirit, before reaching forth a cloaked manus to beckon the others forward. Half a dozen other cloaked trope emerged from the phantasma, forming a rophy around him.

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

My God ... It is unfeigned ....

Voldemort had truly found a way to control their transformations.

Werewolves could now roam the world at will.

'' The gaunt one ... '' Lucius said sneeringly. `` Is a pathetic alibi of a pureblood, protagonist of the ceramist .... ''

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

'' Spaaaaaare us the speech Hugo Wolf. '' Interrupted the one who had brought him there. `` What we need to know is if we can trust you. ``

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

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

Lucius smiled evilly. `` I 'm so glad you asked. '' He withdrew a ash gray flaskful from his pocket, tossing it to him.

Remus caught it with his shirt sleeve, uneager to total in contact with the foreclose metal.

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

'' Not really. ``

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

Remus scoffed. `` By choice. ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' It keeps me alive. ``

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

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

'' Meaning that you will arrive at the power, like nigh of us here, to transform at will. The moon will no longer oblige it 's power over you. ``

He watched Lucius pacing down the moist corridor, rubbing his pallid fingers along the rough bones. `` And ? ``

Lucius halted. `` Once it 's sot, you will know what the gustatory sensation of human frame feels like. '' His pale middle shone with a murderous glean. `` They say once you know that, there is no going back. You will crave it forever. Your precious Mudblood lovers will never take on you back once you desire the taste of substance. ``

Remus felt his insides run cold. Now there was a grab neither Dumbledore nor himself had thought of. It was too perfect really. They did n't trust him, and they would founder him something that would make him crave human flesh so much that he was bound to join their side, regardless of his design upon number 1 coming there.

'' I told you. '' Snarled a fair sex 's phonation. She must have seen his hesitancy, smelt his fear. `` It was a mistake bringing him here. ``

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

He turned to the unidentified witch, smirking as evilly as possible. `` The exclusively misunderstanding was not seeing what those Ministry motherfucker have kept from me my whole life. ``

He felt the air thicken with tension.

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

Remus curled his back talk back, tilting the flask to his sass, chugging it down. Liquid firing flowed through his veins, energizing him, changing his molecular make up ...

A pleasant-tasting, tantalizing taste perception filled his mouth, leaking over his knife, overwhelming his sense so that he nearly lost himself to it.

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

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

He tilted his caput back and howled.

Lucius stepped forward, a masher like tangle on his face. `` Welcome ... ''

'' buddy. ``
* * * * *


The rain hammered down, darkening the tombstones. A small girl was crouched besides one, sheltering beneath the comforting dryness of her lead speckled umbrella, her gold braid flapping lightly in the wind. The resemblance to her female parent was striking.

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

Emily Bothan had just asked her female parent to number plate soon. She missed her bedtime fagot taradiddle. While she told her mother 's slab of Harlan Fisk Stone this, Emily meticulously arranged, then rearranged, the peak in the bouquet her father and her had brought.

mamma only deserved the best.

Emily has said so herself, when she had spent the well contribution of an minute searching the floral dress shop, seeking out the perfect arranging of irises and hydrangeas. mommy favorites.

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

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

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

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

'' Kenneth. Please. '' He implored, his grim oculus never leaving the small form of his daughter. `` If anyone has earned the right to dispense with formalities it is you. ``

Tonks smiled sadly, not agreeing. The fiasco had been entirely her fault. Her own incompetence leading to why his unseasoned wife, his richly school sweetheart, lay beneath his daughter 's small fundament. `` If anything Kenneth, your daughter saved mine. She has the bravery of one three metre her age. ``

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

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

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

'' It 's such a disgrace ... '' Kenneth remarked, gesturing to his girl, drawing her from her persuasion. `` That it takes something like this to happen, before mavin will let someone know of their existence, or of any risk from them. ``

She paused thoughtfully. `` You were a chronicle major. I trust that you are familiar with the capital of Oregon beldam run. ''

President Bothan nodded. `` Yes. ``

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

Kenneth Bothan sighed. `` Part of me understands. But it still saddens me. '' His brow wrinkled, pain etched in every line. `` All the misapprehension between both our sort ... Had I only known before deal I would never let let Emily 's company occur. We could possess remained inside. My class would have been better protected. ``

'' They still would stimulate found you. '' She spoke truthfully. `` When the monster we spoke of wants to anguish person, he will, no matter what the obstacle or price. ``

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

The rainfall was letting up, a delicate aroma wafting towards them. One that had cypher to do with the flower speckling the unfrequented cemetery.

Irises ....

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

Watching him now, Tonks was thankful the Order had granted her and several other members permission to remain with him and his daughter as a rotating safety.

They would be needing it.
* * * * *


Harry hung his head over the butterbeer, not hearing a Christian Bible Luna said. He had tuned her out when she had started talking animatedly about the special variant of the quibbler that week, the one concerning how Cornelius Fudge 's army of Heliopaths had drowned in a freak out toilet inundation fortuity in the Department of Mysteries.

The gruntle gong of bells drew his tending to the door of the III Broomsticks, just in time to see Kaylens, Dean, and Neville walk in, their hair windswept from the rough in decline breeze that day.

He instantly looked back down into his mug, not wanting to let a repeat of their in style confrontation.

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

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

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

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

Particularly when he grabbed her again, desperately trying to stop her, to ca-ca her understand that he had not been in his rightfield mind, only to determine out that she had a rather nasty right hook.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Before Harry even had a chance to marvel at her astuteness, Luna had begun asking what kind of pean a Heliopath would like at it 's funeral.

'' I wonder if their flame go out when they die ? If not then their burial method would ingest to dissent from our own, since they would burn right through their casket ... ''

'' I guess you 'll take to get a cargo hold of one of their bodies to find out. '' He commented cynically.

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

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

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

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

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

Luna nodded absentmindedly. `` Harry was just thinking of apologizing to that ... Well what would you call off her hair colouring ? '' Luna seemed to ponder this for a sec before shaking out her own dirty blonde mane. `` XIV carat I suppose. But I think Harry 's having a voiceless time getting up the spunk to talk to her. ``

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

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

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

His drumhead guesswork back up instantly. Was there anyone who did n't know about that ?

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

Harry fought the urge to give up something.

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

He grunted in response.

Seamus chuckled, brushing his sandy bangs from his eyes. `` Heard Kaylens decked yaaaRH ! ``

Seamus'yell of pain was preceded by a loud THUNK from beneath the table, and a have words look from Ginny.

His Irish whiskey housemate was rubbing his shin bone rigorously. `` Sorry ... Could n't refuse ya bonk ? Dean and I have had this running stage system between you twooOW ! will you stop that Ginny ! ? ``

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

By this point Luna 's ever-present dreamy look had once again vaporize, for she was clutching her stomach with laughter, pounding a fist on the mesa, making quite a scene as she ceased to bound her laughter.

'' So sword lily my life 's entertained everyone this calendar week ... '' He muttered hollowly.

He spent the rest of the conversation sneaking secret looks across the relatively vacate pub at Kaylens. dean and Neville seemed to be debating something, and he thought he caught the words 'bloody thesteral'more than once, while Kaylens stirred her butterbeer, sipping it through a straw like Luna, looking for all the world as if she were not listening to a single word her fellow were saying.

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

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

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

She linked arms with Finnigan, and a warm belief billowed up inside him at her reassuring word. She was right, maybe not right now, but when this was all over affair would be okay.

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

He smiled stupidly.

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

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

There was nothing he could or would do about Ron and Hermione. At to the lowest degree not right now.

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

Luna smiled knowingly, humming Weasley is our King far too loudly for anyone 's taste but his. Except at the here and now he thought it should be Thomas More along the pedigree of Weasley is our Queen.
* * * * *


Drip.

A 1 droplet, clinging to the earthen cap of the catacomb, broke free.

'' It 's fourth dimension. ''

Plunk.

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

'' Dig in wolf boy. You 're going to need your strength for this. '' Nott chided.

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

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

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

Only now he was using them to snap the proffered material body, instead of just practicing his shift, hoping Dumbledore could concoct a therapeutic for this hideous craving he would now deal with.

His eye rolled black, the pleasurable taste consuming him

For a mo, the entirely affair that mattered was the meat in hired hand. The thought of protecting the innocent later on, forgotten.

Drip.

Now the ancestry dripped from his sass as well.
* * * * *


Kally sighed exhaustedly, wishing for the solitude of her dormitory. At least there she could complain and cry, venting without the prying eyes of others following her every relocation, as Potter seemed to be doing from his seat in the shadowy rump of the pub.

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

She relaxed, allowing her elbow joint to prop herself up. She cast a glimpse resolutely down the bar 's counter, stirring her husk around in her empty, bear-sized, mug. It was a nervous habit she had picked up as a nipper, when she used to twist them into random constellation. It had always been her brother 's biggest pet peeve.

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

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

A sharp nudge caused her elbow joint to slip, freeing her from that argument of persuasion. She cast an annoyed look at her housemate, ignoring the shot pain the sudden jarring had sent up her go away arm.

'' The physical cicatrice, the nerve damage ... They are the least of your children 's concerns Mr. And Mrs. Kaylens ... ''

Dean was grinning lopsidedly back, ignorant to where her intellection had been, taking her back nearly a decade. They had n't known she was listening when they had spoken to the hospital 's psychiatrist. But in their defense mechanism, her anesthesia had been heavy.

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

'' You look like your off in your own little cosmos there Kaylens. I did n't drag you forcibly out of the castle for nothing today, so being a mute will just not do. '' dean said cockily.

If possible, Dean 's grin had grown even more round-shouldered with his password.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the end, she had gotten sick of doyen 's persistence and given in.

The counter vibrated as the Three Broomsticks'waitress magicked three butterbeers to them with a tatty clunk. The liquidity frothed a bit around the edges.

Catching their questioning looks the young Wiccan flashed a dazzling, dimpled smiling. `` good manners of the gentlemen in the back. ''

She eyed the new butterbeer with a unplumbed sentiency of misgiving, before exchanging glance with Neville and Dean. She spun around on the bar stool, catching quite a little of the only patrons still in the book binding of the pub.

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

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

She snatched up the butterbeer roughly, storming away from the startled Gryffindors towards ceramicist.

Best to get this over with ...

She came to an abrupt hitch in front man of him, slamming the mug down so hard that the liquid sloshed over the side, joining the already pooling puddle on his table.

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

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

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

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

'' Oh ? '' She quipped sarcastically. `` And why 's that ? So you could lace it with accuracy serum and interrogate me in that swarthy pub down the street ? I must accommodate Potter, if that's the case you 're losing your touch. ''

She leaned down till their faces were level, using the board for balance. `` After all ... '' She hissed quietly, ignoring the blond 's formula. `` Why drug individual for data when you can just hex it out of them. ``

Potter continued wiping at the table, unable to meet her eyes.

'' SLAM ! ``

Kally jumped ever so slightly, ignoring thrower 's diverted face. She turned an eye on the blonde, who had just slammed her hands down on the prorogue top like an turn on four yr old. The girl 's protrubent blue eyes were now so spacious they looked ready to pop out of her skull.

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

Without waiting for an answer the girl stood, not noticing their selfsame expressions of bewilderment, and began shoving plain drinking straw into her lime super C pocketbook, speech production in a far off representative.

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

The young woman marched off to the other side of the pub, turned to confront the rampart, and stared blankly at it. Kally caught a few glimpses of pale sorry eyes flickering their way, and each time this would happen the blonde girl would grunt unhappily, stamp her substructure, and resume staring at the wooden siding as if frustrated.

What the blaze was that abo ...

'' looking Kaylens ... ''

His trespass brought her spine to the situation at hand, and she narrowed her middle shrewdly. `` Ah your noted line. '' She whispered harshly. `` So which personality do I get today Potter ? Because really, this split personality thing is getting to be a bit of a headache. ``

ceramicist 's centre rose, meeting her own in a way she had thought the Coward incapable of, and for a bit his pleased flavor faltered. He blinked oddly, drawing in a deep, audible breathing spell. `` Kaylens ... '' He said quietly. `` I tried to apologize for that once already, and it 's a bit intemperate to explain, but I was n't exactly myself when I did tha ... ''

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

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

corporate trust him to bring that up, she thought angrily, flying to push back the uprising of shame within herself.

She swallowed hard. `` Glad to see your not quite that unmindful Potter. '' She muttered, forcing her representative icy. `` I would think by now that any fancied apology would be a tone down point. ``

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

He spoke so seriously, too seriously for individual their age. `` And I did n't even get the chance to apologize for the other dark ... '' He continued, his go 's Malus pumila rising rhythmically. `` Since I did n't picture getting decked again, I figured sending you a drink was the best apology I could come up with on inadequate notice. At to the lowest degree the honest one that could restrain me a condom space away, while getting you to come over here. ''

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

He began to shake his head in the negative but she cut him off, the full weight unit of his insulting, woefully inadequate motion sinking in.

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

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

'' That's what I think of your pathetic apologia. '' She muttered shakily. `` Enjoy. ``
* * * * *


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

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

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

It was shaking.

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

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

His mouth flapped wordlessly, his countersign never reaching her ears, for Madame Rosmerta 's appall cry stole the Good Book from his lips.

'' Lara what are yo.. '' Rosmerta questioned shrilly. Her middle were fixated in mental confusion upon the Pres Young waitress, the friendly one from whom he had ordered boozing earlier.

The same dimpled lady friend now had her scepter drawn, a blank expression drawn upon her feature article, striking a horrifying similarity to a porcelain doll.

'' Stupefy ! '' She hissed mechanically.

As if in tiresome movement, Rosmerta fell, her limp form disappearing behind the bar 's wooden counter. The glass she had been cleaning took flight, hovering in mid-air for a small timelessness, before breaking free of it 's spiritual suspension, shattering across the comeback.

For the first of all fourth dimension in it 's story, the Three broom handle fell silent. Only the howl of the October wind, leaking in through the window, proved to him that he had not fallen into some horrific tacit picture.

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

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

minute seemed to own passed, but the clock registered simple seconds.

seeing Ginny 's wand haltingly rise, her cause faltering, as if some invisible force out were yanking her arm forcibly up against her will, was what finally broke him free of his dull gesture air castle.

His rake ran cold at her vacuous expression.

'' EVERYBODY DOWN ! '' He shouted, overturning the table. liquid state splattered, and their hollow Henry Clay mugs had not even struck ground before the starting time unripened torment flew from Ginny 's baton.

His own already drawn, he screamed a stunner, watching the killing curse miss Ron 's dispirit face by inches.

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

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

A stunner grazed his ear, and his consistency jerked instinctively away from the heat, and in that single secondment he lost visual sense of her.

Somewhere in the dim desktop of his brain the screams of the other patrons began to register.

Less than a human foot away from where he stood, a decorative Cucurbita pepo exploded, a poorly aimed stunner searing right through it, striking the wall. Stringy orangeness pulp and seeds erupted, hurtling outwards, covering the floor and himself with slippery orange tree clumps.

A red light flew from Très'verge, and he dove to the ground, sheltering behind the board as the cuss blasted through it. The screech of early students could be heard, pleading with the Defense Professor.

Très could not hear their pleas, with his ear length hair flung over his centre, his arm jerkily fired blindly at student, patrons, people ...

Grabbing the side of the overturned, stave table, Harry heaved it to the side, rolling it with all his strength, scrambling behind it like a rat until it hunkered to a check. ineffective to go any farther, for an unconscious consistency now blocked it 's progress, he found the entrance to the bar in sight.

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

He dove for it, leaving the covering of his table behind, rolling across broken hot seat stage and glass until he came to a crouch behind it.

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

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

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

He scampered down the length of it, snatching both their wands up, passing wine bottles, fair fall guy, and storehouse country as he went.

Reaching the end near the subtlety covered windowpane, he hastily pocketed the wands in his trousers, leaping to his understructure, the disarming piece partially formed on his lips.

His words died there.

The jet of green twinkle erupted from Ginny 's verge like a volcano of demise, less than an arm 's length from where he stood.

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

There was no sentence to think, to duck, to react.

The gullible luminance hit Ron mid-stride, flinging his consistence backwards against the wall.

Hermione 's brown eyes widened, her backtalk caught in a strangled, dumb wail, and Luna only just pulled her to the ground before the succeeding green spell whizzed by.

time froze.

All was still.

The white look of the Imperious curse faltered upon Ginny Weasley 's expression, unabashed hurting replacing it for but a second.

The mask was re-erected, his own wand turning to her, tears of anger streaming down his face at what had been just done to the only pal and baby he had ever had.

Before the disarming spell could leave alone his mouth, a hard clenched fist collided with his skull, sending the existence blurring until it 's hellish glory faded to black.
* * * * *


The speech sound of small feet, pattering in the rain, accompanied Emily 's counter. The sound of her hushed humming lingered like a breather of refreshful air upon Tonks'ears.

The small-scale child stepped out onto the pebbled itinerary, quickly shutting her flyspeck umbrella before scurrying to huddle below Tonks'.

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

But for now, Kenneth gave her a modest, ail grinning, before setting off across the soggy cemetery grass.

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

She adjusted the umbrella so the runoff would not dribble onto the little princess'head, never noticing the thoughtful look that suddenly passed across Emily 's tiny face.

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

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

'' Your friends are in trouble houri. ``



Le Règne d'Enfer Commence is French for The sovereignty of hell Begins

Recommended news report of the hebdomad :

Never tickle a sleeping firedrake by Edward Ollivander ( He has a fabulous and creative 6th year fan fable featuring a HP/GW pairing, and it is completed. )

Dark disposition by Two Sadists ( They have a 7th year fan fabrication featuring a HP/OC pairing. )

Photograph couresty of the previously mentioned populace domain website. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.






disavowal : All character, places, and approximation taken from the Harry thrower book of account series are property of JKR. However, the idea of a Reach is owned by me, since I have taken the estimate of a reaching from a series that I am writing, and adapted it ever so slightly to fit this fan-fiction series.






'' Some believe that the benefit of death, is that it is possible to see farther on the former position. ``
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 20 ~ Nowhere to Run


'' Tonksie are you okay ? ''

Emily 's sweet articulation carried upon the wind, nearly drowned out by the sound of rain pounding upon the umbrella.

She could only shake her read/write head, shaken as a cool breeze swirled around them. Thankfully such subtleties of expression were lost upon the child, who 's caput was tilted back, her mouth widely open, catching rainfall drops.

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

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

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

'' It 's approve I like the pelting. '' Emily declared, darting out from beneath the umbrella, stomping her pes merrily in the collecting puddle. `` I like puddles too ! ``

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

'' Your admirer are in hassle Nymph. ``

Emily 's sopping wet plait swung about her face, her munition held out as she spun in circles, her head tilted skyward catching the rain.

'' Tonksie come play ! ``

Tonksie ... Only Remus called her Nymph.

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

Over Emily 's twirling figure she could see Kenneth Bothan kneeling in the boggy graveyard Gunter Wilhelm Grass. His wife 's dangerous lay before him, the carefully placed irises scattering in the threatening wind.

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


Remus'ovular eyes opened upon the worst of sights.

Hogsmeade ...

It 's vacate locus lay before him, dead leaves billowing across the dust-covered pathway leading through the bosom of the village.

Not a soul was in sight.

shade townspeople ...

It was here Nott and the others had spoken of. It was here the recruiting had been done. It was here where the Death Eaters would make their first stand. Here in the village, so close to the school ...

Too close.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend.

'' merlin ... '' He whispered, staggering, the October breeze biting chilly lines across his skin.

loup-garou had no use for clothing.

Roughly, an strip down forearm scratched across his Kuki-Chin. dapple of dried rip flaked away, sprinkling the land with a sinister looking dust. It 's morbidity was a arrant admonisher of his recently fulfilled thirst.

'' Surprised half-breed ? ``

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

The hair sprouting, prickling his signal ear, brought the deathly quietly settlement to lifespan. Farther off ... In the heart of townspeople .... plea ... .. Offers of redemption in substitution for allegiance ... ..

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

Not if I can help it ...

Lucius'unreadable growling cut in, breaking through his angry thoughts, arousing something far darker ...

It was sentence to change.

An unnatural heat filled his veins.

Upon the ground where Remus Lupin had been, now stood a loup-garou, the pungent odor of freshly spilled stock inundating it 's senses.

The wolf pawed the footing eagerly.
* * * * *


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

Shards .... Shards ... He tried to grasp onto the word to no service. It 's elusive meaning fled from his pounding skull.

The tight grip on his ankles disappeared, and his substructure dropped unceremoniously to the floor. A moment later the reverberations in the floor plug-in indicated another body being dumped besides him.

Ron ...

With a dork he was awake, the salty weeping of anguish tainting his lips.

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

He turned his head in a vain hunt, struggling to ready sense of the blurred universe before him. A fanfare of the palest of yellows caught his eye.

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

'' Why howdy Harry. '' She said congenially.

Just thinking sent a sharp-worded throb through his skull, and he quickly discovered his arms to be bound behind his backbone.

With a torment thumping he hit his men against the storey, a stabbing painfulness ripping his fist.

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

A single deep red dip fell disengage, it 's wakeless reverberating through his hollow chest.

Drip.

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

Drip.

Ron was gone.

Drip.

Ginny 's unwilling workforce had done the unthinkable.

Drip.

Death Eaters were in Hogsmeade.

Drip.

A strangled sob shattered the silence.

Drip.

His fists snapped shut, tugging at the bindings. His centre, blurred with cult, searched the ruined pub, taking it in with cold calculation.

Drip.

The floor now resembled a greenhouse, a shattered plant holder had sent land strewing across it.

Drip.

Butter beer and former confection pooled together in frothy puddles, broken chairs and vacate tables creating hazardous paths.

Drip.

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

Drip.

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

Drip.

In the quad where neither glass nor soil lay, sponsor did.

Drip.

half a twelve, either unconscious or dead, lay upon the base at scattered intervals.

Drip.

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

Drip.

'' Stupid crying Mudblood ! ``

Hermione ...

She lay collapsed against the far wall, her munition bound like his own.

Drip.

Before her towered a ranting physical body clad in black, and clenched within the cruel confines of the decease Eater 's fist trailed long locks of bushy hair.

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

'' I should hold finished the job when I had the chance you filth. '' Scowled the destruction eater, throwing back his hood.

His breathing spell caught in his throat.

Dolohov.

The image of Hermione 's limp form in the section of mystery flashed through his judgement. She had nearly died at Dolohov 's hands ...

'' What do you think here Ludovic ? Should I finish her off ? '' The death Eater called out, kneeling in front of her. `` Or what about you Mudblood ? Care to join your ugly red-headed friend over there ? '' Dolohov chided, poking her like a slug with the end of his wand.

Hermione 's sparkling middle met Dolohov 's unflinchingly, her lips curling back to spit in his face.

He recoiled, a flavor of the complete revulsion over-sweeping his wasted characteristic. `` Oh you filthy ... '' He muttered, frantically wiping his face in the plica of his cloak.

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

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

'' Ludovic he is our Lord and shall be addressed as such ! '' Dolohov roared dangerously. `` One more slip of paper and I 'll ready sure the Mudblood devotee is n't the only corpse in here ! ''

Ludovic appeared unconcerned, and began filling two whiskey glasses. `` Antonin what you need is a expert, stiff drunkenness. ''

Dolohov scowled, quickly aiming a potent bang to Hermione 's midsection. The crack of her costa echoed between the pub 's wall, as did Harry and Neville 's cries of protest.

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

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

Ludovic raised his hands in a conciliatory manner, knocking his hood from his face in the process.

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


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

'' Kenneth we should leave ! '' She cried, hoisting Emily into her subdivision.

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

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

Emily squirmed, her auburn capitulum following her father 's forward motion towards them. `` Daddy, your knees are all muddy. '' She scolded seriously.

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

Tonks nodded, relinquishing the girl to retire her sceptre. The ever-increasing chill was closing in. It would n't be long ...

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

'' No time to explain. '' She responded, taking off down the itinerary. She could try Kenneth 's threatening footfall behind her, splashing in the dirty water.

They rounded the crook in the tract, the heavy grove of trees falling away to reveal the dismal lot. The car, their escapism, was in sight, yet heavy despair drenched her soul.

Nymphadora 's feet slid in the gravely mud, and she came to a stoppage, throwing out an arm out to block what was left of the Bothan family.

It was right then that little Emily Bothan began to mewl.

Kenneth 's sorry heart quickly blinked away water. `` Tonks what 's thi ... ''

'' Daddy we need to run. Please papa run. '' Emily was pleading hysterically, her face buried into Kenneth 's shoulder.

Staring ahead at the looming human body, Tonks could only didder her head.

'' I do n't remember we have prison term to run. ``
* * * * *


'' YOU ! ''

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

Dolohov scoffed. `` cherished Potter indeed. Tell me Potter, how was your wittle crisp ? ``

'' So tell me Harry, '' Ludo interjected, seeming determined to steer the conversation his way. `` How have things been ? ''

'' Yes wittle potter. How have things been without that mangy old dog of yours ? ``

'' Antonin .... '' Ludo sounded distinctly uncomfortable.

In the distant scope he could see Neville 's decease stuttering.

'' H-how have they been ? '' Harry repeated, dumbfounded. How have they been ! ?

'' Not too good Mr. roadman. '' Luna 's misty voice drifted out, answering for him as he gaped like a Pisces the Fishes. `` Harry 's been having a rough twelvemonth, as you can see. ``

A pitiless snort came from Dolhov 's direction.

'' He lost his godfather, and with people such as yourself switching sides and betraying him, I trust you can see why. '' Luna continued casually.

traveling salesman was suddenly refilling his boozing.

'' After all, Harry does n't want anyone else to die, and when mass he trusts start killing people ... ''

roadman 's glass stopped halfway to his lip, eyes widening defensively. It was a present moment before his calm returned.

'' Now I 've never actually killed anyone per say Miss .... ''

'' Lovegood. '' She supplied.

'' Lovegood. '' He continued. `` It 's just that .... ''

A strange calm had overtaken him, the svelte shaking of his own hands lost upon him. `` It 's just that your content with allowing others to do it for you. '' He said disdainfully. `` Your contentedness with being a coward, with siding with what is easy rather than what is right. ``

Bagman eyed him apprehensively, swallowing hard. `` Now Harry, you know how the Ministry is. '' He began imploringly. `` They never support anyone but themselves ... ''

'' At least they do n't toss off anyone ! '' Harry bellowed, arm shaking with strangled delirium.

'' But Harry j-just think about this for a s-second. He-Who-Must-Not ... I mean my Lord .... '' He quickly corrected himself, spying the malevolent feel of Dolohov. `` He just desires the Ministry 's downfall. So long as people stay out of his way no one will get hurt. Now I ask you Harry, my boy, is that really so bad ? ``

'' Replacing one dictatorship with another. Sounds logical to me. '' He retorted sarcastically.

Besides him Luna nodded approval, her finger's breadth drumming against her bindings to some unrecognizable tune.

'' When you disappeared my grams was worried about you ! Y-you ... Your .... '' Across the way Neville Longbottom 's voice rang out, surprising everyone.

Harry caught a glimpse of Neville 's uncharacteristically contorted face.

It was frightening.

'' Your no better than Bellatrix you slime ! ''

The poignant accusation hung thickly in the air, no one speaking. Bagman had become very concern in his deglutition, shifting uncomfortably under the angry optic of all save for Dolohov.

For someone to turn over their rear, on even the Ministry, in party favour of Voldemort ...

It was unforgivable.

Drip.

He had nearly forgotten how his own bridge player bled, the light headed feeling out of topographic point for the place. Fortunately the free flow of flush life was slowing, his curdling factors finally kicking in.

Harry shook his head, ignoring the slim spin of the mankind. `` You were acquitted once Bagman. '' He hissed, center scanning the room for a way out. `` So tell me, were you a wishy-washy Coward back then too, or just stupid ? ``

Bagamn cringed. `` Harry I was never a Death feeder ! ''

'' But you are now. '' His part quivered. `` So say me, why 'd you do it ? ''

Dolohov 's self-satisfied formulation betrayed even his stake in the resolution, and Harry was not about to let the Death Eaters distraction go to waste.

Keep them talking ... Keep them distracted ...

His hands began roaming across the floor behind him, feeling for another sharp sliver of glass.

'' Well you know Harry, hobgoblin, they 're nasty byplay. '' Ludo said, fidgeting. `` You know how they are if they 're after ya and ... ''

Harry did his best to glare, feigning interest as Ludo 's eyebrow creased curiously.

'' Come to cogitate of it you probably do n't Harry. But it 's not fun business, goblin debt aggregator that is. And since the Ministry was n't about to increase my salary these boys said they 'd be glad to help me out of my jam ... ''

'' That you got yourself into ! '' Neville shouted furiously from across the room.

bagman eyed Neville warily. `` I can see where you 'd guess that but ... ''

'' BUT WHAT ! ? '' Neville roared.

Luna inconspicuously sent a come apart bottleful piece sliding his way, his fingerbreadth coiling around it like a snitch.

'' But these expiry Eaters, they 're not so bad. ``

Harry very nearly dropped the shard, his centre bulging out.

'' Not so bad ? '' He repeated gruffly.

Bagman nodded vigorously. `` No ! Not at all Harry ! In fact their rather ... ''

'' Tell that ... '' He hissed lowly. `` To my mum and dad. distinguish that to Sirius. Tell that to Ron ! ''

An odd formula crossed Bagman 's brass. `` Now Harry really .... ''

Harry 's mouth parted, charge dripping as thick as the blood from his coil fist, only the speech sound never came.

The soft sound, and flicker of movement upon the level, drew the breather straight from his lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He breathed softly. He had nearly forgotten ...

'' Ah another one to bring together the affray ? '' Dolohov called cheerfully, sauntering over to where she lay, partially concealed by an overturned mesa.

The Death feeder reached her, roughly dragging her squirming signifier up.

'' Ca n't leave you justify to roam around now can we ? '' He hissed, drawing unnaturally close to her.

Harry 's stomach lurched wretchedly as Dolohov 's lips grazed her parentage stained cheek.

'' After all, impassioned peevishness like you ... ''

'' Get. Your work force. Off. Her. '' Harry spat dangerously, drawing Dolohov 's attention to him. Anything to get him away from her ... She looked ready to break ...

The Death feeder regarded him coldly. `` Or you 'll do what exactly ? ``

'' You do n't want to know. '' He hissed lowly, ceasing the sawing effort upon his bandaging. He could n't afford to let Dolohov see ....

'' Oh but I do ! '' He said menacingly, a cruel smile lighting his dead optic. `` I 'd very much like to know what Precious ceramist thinks he could do to me. ``

His eyes narrowed, a cruel grin of his own crossing his characteristic.

'' I could show you why Voldemort is so afraid of me. '' He whispered threateningly.

The cord winding around Kaylens'radiocarpal joint snapped tight, Dolohov 's tense hairgrip betraying his agitation.

Harry went on, the way swaying unnaturally as he spoke with malicious measure. `` Or you could do yourself a favor Dolohov, and leave. allow for before you make me really wild. ''

Dolohov shifted uncomfortably, mirroring Bagman 's movements. He took the opportunity to slowly fade at his back yet again.

The ice, slick with his own rake, nearly fell from his travelling bag. Thankfully the error was lost upon the demise Eater, for Dolohov had chosen that second to turn Kaylens around, hissing something into her embroil tresses furiously.

His wrist rung with the pain in the neck, brought about by another slip of the shabu, as Kaylens body was tossed besides him.

His sawing movements halted, his middle drawn to where she lay, panting faintly besides him.

'' There ... `` Dolohov sneered. `` Enjoy your mudblood champion precious Potter. Once our Lord gets here we 'll see how brave out you really are. ``

He swallowed hard, watching Kaylens'eyes flicker spread out. He wanted to say something, anything ...

He had failed her ...

Hermione 's individual wrenching tones brought a grimace of fear to both their feature of speech.

'' Brave ? '' Hermione 's infirm vocalisation chided from where she sat, propped against the wall. `` You ask him about bravery ? He 's sixteen, not even a fully qualified necromancer, yet you fear him so much as to disarm him and bind him. ''

She spat all of this into Dolohov 's approaching expression, just before his hand reared back, slapping her roughly to the floor.

She let out not a cry, peering upwards through her pin down, swelling center, just in fourth dimension to see a dark charge rearing back.

'' Hey Dolohov ! ``

Dolohov 's groundwork froze mid-kick, hate-filled heart flying towards Neville 's pudgy face.

'' You do n't want to do that. ''

Dolohov 's thick supercilium disappeared beneath his mangey tomentum. `` You presume to order me around boy ? ''

Neville shrugged casually. `` You can pollute yourself if you want. '' He sounded uncharacteristically Slytherin. `` I did n't substantiate dirty line suited a Death feeder. ``

Dolohov laughed roughly, buying Harry more time.

Neville you 're a apotheosis ...

A drop of salty sweat broke free from his forehead, rolling into his mouth. Setting his jaw he worked, the trash fragment digging into his thick bindings.

Snap.

The shard slid so low, so fast, he nearly cut too cryptic, the breath of painfulness catching fast in his throat.

The bindings were looser.

Twisting his hands testingly, he found with the first roughage 's severing had come a gravid grasp of movement.

optic locked onto Dolohov 's fist, slamming into Neville 's jaw, he twisted his wrists, ignoring the burning sense of desiccated wounds ripping open. Warm, thick life story blood welled from these spots, his scabbed over fingerbreadth feeling in his cloak ...

They had taken his wand, but Rosmereta 's ... The waitress'...

Polished mahogany brushed beneath his grating cutis, Kaylens'luminous optic meeting his own, comprehension shining within their perfervid profoundness ...

He could reach the sequestered wands.

He was armed.
* * * * *


'' Cucurbita pepo ... honey mummy needs you to do mummy a favor. Can you do that love ? ``

She whimpered, her look buried in her beginner 's rainwater soaked suit. She wanted to look away, but she could n't. The cold feeling was there. She could hear her mum, she wanted to see her, to hug her, but she was too fright to look away from the rubber of her Padre 's arms.

'' Do you miss your mom footling girl ? Would you care to see her ? ``

Emily squeezed her heart harder, volition the representative away. `` It 's not ma ... '' She whispered. `` I ca n't see mummy ... ''

Ah, ah, ah, ah ... lilliputian darling your mamma is busybodied now. Ca n't you see that ? ``

She shook her caput frantically, squeezing her dad 's neck opening. `` No ... No .... ''

'' Open your eye you fiddling bitch ! ``

The cruel lady 's dark oculus danced in her head. She did n't want to see the dame again. She did n't want to.

'' daddy ... '' She whimpered frightfully.

'' No not daddy. ma ! You wanted to see her fiddling brat, so here, spirit ! ''

Daddy would open his optic ... He would. He was n't afraid of anything. Maybe if she opened her eyeball the lady would go away again.

Emily swallowed, counting concentrated to ten.

'' Please mum ... ''

Emily 's watery eyes opened, a dark suit coating staring back.

mom needed up. She needed air. The have in mind man was there again, shoving her face into the puddle. Her mummy did n't like water.

Emily cried out, screeching, shaking her straits back and Forth River, throwing the images away. She wanted them to go. Her damp, rain-soaked tress flung into her father 's aspect as she shook, but she did not notice.

'' Kenneth subscribe Emily and go. ``

'' Tonks what 's ... ''

'' You ca n't see them Kenneth, but they 're there. ``

'' No ... '' Her own whimper rang in her ears, her icy hands shaking her mum. whey was n't mama waking ? She had to ... `` No ... ''

'' Tonksie ! '' Had she shouted ? Could the skillful ma'am hear her ?

'' Kenneth get to the car. Drive away. ``

'' Tonks I ca n't leave ... ''

'' I 'll be fine. Just go. NOW ! ``

Emily 's reeling world reeled more, for her Padre had taken off at fast sprint, splashing water over her legs.

In the dim screen background, somewhere beyond her mother 's thigh-slapper, she could hear the nice lady shouting something.

Her macrocosm dimmed away as a silvery dog ran past.

Mummy always liked wiener ...
* * * * *


Releasing the wand for what he promised would be only moments, he continued sawing at his bindings, slowly, rhythmically, trying to put on cute centimeters of mobility ...

He was armed, and the realisation had numbed him, his side by side move horribly elusive.

With the rhythmic sawing of the shard, his mind fell curiously blank for the first time in what felt millenary.

His gaze fell upon her as she moved, shoving herself up from where she lay on the story, arms shaking fiercely, be it from shock or the pain he knew she daily bore, he did not know.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered softly, grasping for something, anything familiar spirit in the horror that was his life.

She fell into berth besides him, so close, her bloodied sleeve nearly brushing against his skin. She was blocking Dolohov 's view of what he was doing, he knew it without even asking, for her eye swept the room as those of the hunted would.

She was being as cautious as him, despite the slender rock to her stature.

Snap.

Another thread of the rope broke free, it 's release masked by her sudden, purposeful coughing.

Her principal fell forward, her coughs lingering long enough to seem true, and her prosperous, tangled locks came cascading down, falling over her eyes, veiling her reflexion from all but him. To his centre each shimmering strand, glinting in the leaden afternoon incandescence, as well as her watery orb, remained seeable, as well as her bound wrists, E. B. White and deplumate from where she had frantically pulled, struggling for release in Dolohov 's arms.

The bastard would never again lay a finger upon her.

He would never again lay a finger upon anyone.

Harry Potter had a few dark turn he was quite aegir to try out.

Snap.

'' How much longer do you think it 'll be till he finishes questioning the village Antonin ? ``

Dolohov sneered. `` Ludovic you are trying my patience as much as the half-blood and these ... '' The sour regard of the man scanned the way, taking in the few witting students and the two sponsor bound and lined against the rampart. `` These spare. ``

'' But what if the ministry .... ''

Dolohov kicked the floor, sending shattered glass skittering across James Dean 's fallen anatomy. `` We will be here and gone before those fools catch air current of this. Besides, these things are delicate matters ... ''

inquiring ? His ears listened, silently taking it all in. Besides him Kalliandra appeared to be doing the same, while Luna shifted the glass shards on the floor around with her feet.

Bagman seemed besides himself with questions. Harry mentally egged him on to be light lipped.

'' Perhaps we could stun them all and take them back ourselves ? ``

Dolohov scowled in his direction. `` He will not be needing all of them. And you would do well to retain your mouth shut from now on or I will shut it for you. ``

The discussion ended.

It was then that he heard it.

'' You ... ''

Only he had heard her whispered accusal, for it could be zip else. The sheer revulsion in that one, whispered word left cipher to question.

Her eyes had moved from Dolohov, drifting into the background beyond, liquid fire boiling beyond their depths. Lifting his own he followed her gaze to where Ludo Bagman stood, pouring himself another fidgety drink.

He turned his confusion upon her, noticing her chest of drawers 's rhythmic rising as her breaths came quicker, thick, faster ...

Golden eye flickered shut, a pained expression falling across her.

'' How sorry were you ? '' She breathed to herself, only barely, for the hatred saturating her indulgent tones was not lost upon him.

It was chilling.

His own boiling blood froze as he studied her, taking advantage of the quiet in activities.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered, almost pleadingly.

Her hateful regard burned right through him, straight to Bagman.

'' Kaylens please ... ''

Her eyes fell shut, her fist opening and windup on thin air. `` You 're bleeding Potter, are you alright ? '' She whispered shakily.

Gently brushing his arm against her own, he waited for some sign that she was alright.

Minutes passed, before delicate eyelids flickered open, her centre alight with an deviate glow.

'' good. '' She murmured. `` Because I can only give you a moment. ``

His mouth flapped wordlessly, shocked at the transformation before him.

Where his skin lightly touched her own, an affected prickling had begun.
* * * * *


The zip reverberating from him drew her nearer, an timelessness passing before she was able to forcibly line away.

His muddiness radiated in startling quantities, but he would understand soon enough.

They would all see ...

She would not stray near him again, for her Earth was moving unnaturally sluggish, as if the effect occurring around her were illusory, dart images from horrible dreams that would surely go away with a pennant of merciful consciousness.

Only no such merciful pushover came.

Her bounds men rose from her lap, tracing the legal tender personal credit line of her jaw, feeling her cooling system tegument. Somewhere, amidst the fighting, she had fallen, shoved away by Dean. The dried cytologic smear of bloodline along her buttock gave grounds to that.

She could feel the heat radiating from doyen 's hitch form.

He was alive ...

Hermione ...

The modest missy 's digit had curled around fallen chunks of her bloodied, extirpate pilus, as if the resolute Gryffindor had wanted something to oblige onto, something unanimous and tangible to prove the afflictions had been real.

They had ...

Her oculus fell willfully shut once more, immersing herself in the peaceful limbo of darkness, where no demons save her own reigned.

The store of a revive nighttime, long due revenge, beckoned.

A limp hand lay splayed across the front corridor ... rake trickling onto the wooden porch circuit card ...

'' God forgive me ... '' She breathed, the palpable shivering filling her lungs.

She had made her decision.

The chilling rain pelted down, something dark mixing with the boggy urine licking at her nose ...

The tingling began softly, like a Christ Within feathering playacting across her skin, traversing it 's way upwards, inwards ...

It was their blood swirling within the puddle ... .Sean 's blank eyes staring back ...

It was rolling in distinct moving ridge, operating by it 's own indiscernible ruler, pulsating from the living, evaporating from the dead.

A boyish aspect appeared above her, sympathy in his pelagic eyes. `` I 'm awfully bad about this kid ... ''

His voice had echoed through that Night, and again this day.

He had stood idly by once, and was again.

She squeezed her center shut ever pixilated, involuntarily shudder traveling through her, the heady pressure sensation in the very air building, pulsating in uncontrolled waves outwards.

The worldly concern was taking on a hotter quality, every nerve burning with flaming intensity as she began reaching, feeling ...

The acrid presence of Ludovic traveling salesman filled her, and she began drawing.

Her intent was to kill.



A/N : Please forgive the author 's banknote, but I believe a proper thank you is in edict.

Thank you for making this story the figure One favourite Story on the site, for making me the Number One pet Author on the internet site, for making this the 7th most read account in the site 's account when it has been out for less than a year, and for making this the story with the Most Reviews Ever.

I honestly ca n't evince how shocked I was to see that. I truly sense that I do not deserve such an honor, because having translate many of the early stories on this situation, I feel that my writing pale in comparison to the wealth of gift displayed by others such as njill22, Edward I Ollivander, The wickedness Maker Nedved, KawaiiAce2003, IchigoPan, reddish blue Gryfindor, Timeturner, BitterEpiphany, Ginny Weasely, Arios, Cocoapuffshooter, Winky, and too many others to name.

I have the proficient reviewer in the world. I truly do.


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