* * * * *


Releasing the wand for what he promised would be solitary moments, he continued sawing at his bindings, slowly, rhythmically, trying to gain precious cm of mobility ...

He was armed, and the realization had numbed him, his following motility horribly elusive.

With the rhythmical sawing of the shard, his head fell curiously blank for the first fourth dimension in what felt millenary.

His gaze fell upon her as she moved, shoving herself up from where she lay on the floor, arms shaking fiercely, be it from daze or the pain in the ass he knew she daily bore, he did not know.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered softly, grasping for something, anything familiar in the horror that was his life.

She fell into place besides him, so close, her bloodied sleeve nearly brushing against his hide. She was blocking Dolohov 's opinion of what he was doing, he knew it without even asking, for her eyes swept the room as those of the hunted would.

She was being as cautious as him, despite the slight sway to her stature.

Snap.

Another thread of the rope broke free, it 's acquittance masked by her sudden, purposeful coughing.

Her head fell forward, her coughs lingering long enough to appear literal, and her halcyon, tangled whorl came cascading down, falling over her eye, veiling her saying from all but him. To his eyes each shimmering chain, glinting in the thudding afternoon freshness, as well as her watery orbs, remained visible, as well as her bound wrists, white and lacerated from where she had frantically pulled, struggling for going in Dolohov 's arms.

The prick would never again lay a finger upon her.

He would never again lay a finger upon anyone.

Harry ceramist had a few shadow enchantment he was quite eagre to try out.

Snap.

'' How much longer do you think it 'll be till he finishes questioning the settlement Antonin ? ``

Dolohov sneered. `` Ludovic you are trying my solitaire as much as the half-blood and these ... '' The saturnine gaze of the man scanned the elbow room, taking in the few conscious educatee and the two sponsor bound and lined against the rampart. `` These spares. ``

'' But what if the ministry .... ''

Dolohov kicked the floor, sending shattered glass skittering across James Dean 's fallen conformation. `` We will be here and gone before those motley fool catch wind of this. Besides, these things are delicate subject ... ''

inquiring ? His ear listened, silently taking it all in. Besides him Kalliandra appeared to be doing the same, while Luna shifted the glass shards on the floor around with her feet.

Bagman seemed besides himself with questions. Harry mentally egged him on to be loose lipped.

'' Perhaps we could stun them all and take them back ourselves ? ``

Dolohov scowled in his guidance. `` He will not be needing all of them. And you would do well to keep your lip shut from now on or I will keep out it for you. ``

The word ended.

It was then that he heard it.

'' You ... ''

Only he had heard her whispered charge, for it could be nothing else. The sheer repugnance in that one, whispered give-and-take left goose egg to question.

Her eye had moved from Dolohov, drifting into the screen background beyond, liquified flack boiling beyond their deepness. Lifting his own he followed her gaze to where Ludo roadman stood, pouring himself another fidgety drink.

He turned his confusion upon her, noticing her chest 's rhythmical revolt as her breathing space came quicker, deeper, faster ...

Golden eyes flickered shut, a hurt expression falling across her.

'' How good-for-nothing were you ? '' She breathed to herself, only barely, for the hatred saturating her soft tones was not lost upon him.

It was chilling.

His own boiling blood froze as he studied her, taking advantage of the lull in activities.

'' Kaylens. '' He whispered, almost pleadingly.

Her hateful gaze burned right through him, straight to Bagman.

'' Kaylens please ... ''

Her eyes fell shut, her clenched fist opening and end on slenderize air. `` You 're bleeding Potter, are you alright ? '' She whispered shakily.

Gently brushing his arm against her own, he waited for some planetary house that she was alright.

Minutes passed, before soft eyelids flickered assailable, her centre alight with an aberrant glow.

'' Good. '' She murmured. `` Because I can only yield you a moment. ``

His mouth flapped wordlessly, shocked at the transmutation before him.

Where his tegument lightly touched her own, an unnatural tingling had begun.
* * * * *


The vigor reverberating from him drew her nearer, an eternity qualifying before she was able to forcibly line away.

His confusion radiated in startling quantities, but he would interpret soon enough.

They would all understand ...

She would not stray near him again, for her world was moving unnaturally slowly, as if the effect occurring around her were illusory, fleeting simulacrum from frightful dream that would surely fly with a waft of merciful knowingness.

Only no such merciful breeze came.

Her bound hired man rose from her lap, tracing the tender line of her jaw, feeling her cooling skin. Somewhere, amidst the fighting, she had fallen, shoved away by Dean. The dried daub of line along her boldness gave grounds to that.

She could feel the heat radiating from Dean 's limp form.

He was alive ...

Hermione ...

The small girl 's fingers had curled around fallen chunks of her bloodied, eradicate tomentum, as if the resolute Gryffindor had wanted something to hold onto, something solid state and tangible to prove the afflictions had been real.

They had ...

Her centre fell willfully shut once more, immersing herself in the peaceful obliviousness of swarthiness, where no monster save her own reigned.

The memories of a resurrected night, long due revenge, beckoned.

A limp hired hand lay splayed across the front corridor ... Blood trickling onto the wooden porch plank ...

'' God forgive me ... '' She breathed, the palpable chill filling her lungs.

She had made her decision.

The chilling pelting pelted down, something dark mixture with the marshy water licking at her nose ...

The tingling began softly, like a scant feather performing across her tegument, traversing it 's way upwards, inwards ...

It was their blood swirling within the puddle ... .Sean 's blank optic staring back ...

It was rolling in discrete waves, operating by it 's own indiscernible rules, pulsating from the living, evaporating from the dead.

A boyish aspect appeared above her, sympathy in his pelagic eyes. `` I 'm awfully sorry about this kid ... ''

His part had echoed through that Night, and again this day.

He had stood idly by once, and was again.

She squeezed her eyes shut ever tighter, involuntarily tremor traveling through her, the heady air pressure in the very air construction, pulsating in uncontrolled waves outwards.

The humans was taking on a hotter timbre, every nerve burning with fiery intensity as she began reaching, feeling ...

The acrid mien of Ludovic Bagman filled her, and she began drawing.

Her intent was to kill.



A/N : Please forgive the generator 's annotation, but I believe a proper thank you is in order.

Thank you for making this level the Number One Favorite Story on the web site, for making me the Number One favourite Author on the website, for making this the 7th most read account in the site 's history when it has been out for to a lesser extent than a class, and for making this the story with the Most Reviews Ever.

I honestly ca n't express how shocked I was to see that. I truly feel that I do not deserve such an honor, because having read many of the former level on this situation, I feel that my writing pales in comparing to the wealthiness of endowment displayed by others such as njill22, Edward Ollivander, The darkness Lord Nedved, KawaiiAce2003, IchigoPan, violet Gryfindor, Timeturner, BitterEpiphany, Ginny Weasely, Arios, Cocoapuffshooter, Winky, and too many others to name.

I have the beneficial readers in the world. I truly do.


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Photograph couresty of the previously mentioned public domain website. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.








'' Department of Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, merely changed and transformed from one configuration to another. ``
~ First Law of Thermodynamics ~



Chapter 21 ~ Amongst Us ~ Part 1


It was as it was before, the feeling.

She did not dread, could not, for it was her very nature.

Her cellular telephone were multiplying with frighten measure. She could almost feel them, enticing her breath to come in sharp, hurt pant. The easy titillation of prior, the feel of static lightly traversing across her tegument, had been long since vanquished, replaced by fiery tendrils of uncurbed energy weaving steadily through her, searing across her very skin like fiery, unkempt tendrils of hell.

The very corpuscle of her cells were moving in unnatural ways.

Pained eyes flickered unfastened upon the world, reflecting the light as only if she could see it. For the golden mist swirled throughout the room in thick, stifling electron swarm, sending fiery chills searing through the hollow shell of what she had once been.

The subatomic particle danced, shining from all that was alive, emitting softly from all that was utter, as vitality must do. The man eye had always been blind to the subtler forms of it 's majestic ballet, but it was a dance to which she was privy.

It was her curse.

She did not fear it, nor did she embrace it as she so ought. She simply breathed, allowing the palpable pall to satisfy her lungs, cooling her back talk as it passed.

His comportment filled her.

The hot corpuscle upon the once barely discernerable breeze vibrated, the fortunate mists forming tightly from her to him, flowing in a closed racing circuit between them, her will unconsciously directing the charged particles to trip the light fantastic within the rhythm of her domain.

Fiery cold, soothing pain ... Such were the sentience of electrocution, and all it 's conflicting ambiance.

An ambiance that beckoned, heeding her call as she pulled, drawing it from him, taking it upon herself without heed for consequence.

Besides her, drawing her cooperative concentration from the heavy world of her nous, she noticed Potter stirring, taking vantage of the small distraction her spent energy afforded them.

Ludovic ...

She could bear chosen to aggress the other Death eater, but it had to be him.

Ludovic, as the former had called him, had stood idly by, watching them butcher her family with barely a grimace.

He had not lifted a finger.

'' I 'm awfully sorry about this kid ... ''

He would regret it. They all would. She would see to it.

But Ludovic first.

ceramicist 's blazonry were moving now. She could palpate it despite her closed heart, as surely as she felt Ludovic 's own sapping strength.

She pulled Ludovic 's lastingness of aliveness into herself, as she had done twice before, robbing him. The Department of Energy driving his heart pounded frantically, pulling from her, recoiling like a panic-struck child until she finally had him in her grasp.

Smothering that fire of resisting life for as long as she could, she silently cried in pain sensation, feeling Ludovic do the same.

The indulgent strait of a body falling lifelessly upon the debris straw floor met her even before the backlash did.

Everything that had occurred, had taken place within a poorly closed racing circuit. Now the white hot thread of energy, the one that had vibrated so thickly between them, finally snapped.

The electricity flew from his fallen descriptor to her own kneeling one, leaving her no choice deliver to absorb it 's sudden release with a twisted sense of satisfaction.

Her eyes flicked open as the force of it hit her, revealing twinkle, cloudy chromaticity of aureate Inner Light dancing around her, fading away as the shroud of unconsciousness fell ever closer.

Besides her Potter was moving ... Standing ... Shouting ... All of this registered instinctively within, as she finally succumbed to the alluring swarthiness, beckoning with rest.
* * * * *


'' Stick with the pack, go astray and we will obliterate you ourselves. Brethren or not. ``

The multitude drawing card 's speech reverberated inside the wildcat 's pound skull, distracting it from the pungent scents tempting it 's olfactive senses, the townsman 's cruor teasing the pack, stimulating their bloodlust 's desire.

Yet the coterie controlled it, tramping as one across the outer boundary of what had once been the epitome of quaintness, before spreading out, fringing across the outskirts of the forest, taking cover in the timberland 's shadower. Here the coterie would press back the stragglers, catching any who sought to flee Hogsmeade before their task was complete.

The masher pawed the ground with overt savagery, the animal 's cult at being deprived it 's quarry apparent to the elder accompanying it. A menacing growl calmed it, forcing the Book of the multitude into it 's aching psyche, for the lure allure of the townsmen 's blood, located just within the wall of Hogsmeade, was causing the cuspid to lose itself.

It needed to feed.

The accompanied brute, driven nearly mad with desire, sniffed deeply, huffing the harsh bristles of it 's snout away angrily. The hirsuteness of the beast 's skin was coated in the sarcoid cruor that had coursed freely from it 's torn pelt, the tonic tears of it 's transmutation still ostensible, for a werewolf was prompt to transform, yet slow to heal.

Voldemort would fix that.

The cognition drifted through the animalistic viciousness plaguing the brute 's mind, forcing it to remember who it was, why it was here, what it 's job truly was beyond the desire brought about by the assume hunt.

He was Remus Lupin, acquaintance of those within the townspeople 's walls, the rampart sheltering beneath the very tree boughs he and the early werewolves hid below.

He was there to discover Voldemort 's intent, his plans, his faults.

The animal brain-teaser was reasoning in a way he could only woolgather of, for where generations of healers had failed in discerning the chemical mechanism of lyncanthropy, Voldemort had succeeded, and harnessed it 's roughshod might into something he could fully exploit.

When they had stood poised on the verge of Hogsmeade, seemingly ready to assault, he had been surprised. For their guild were not to defeat, maim, or bruise the town 's inhabitants in any way. They were merely to form a guard around the town 's circumference, ensuring that all wizarding occupants remained within it 's walls for a time.

And when that metre was over, they were to be gone, fleeing into the forest where a portkey would await their return to the Parisian catacombs.

The cause for this peculiar Death eater activity was unbeknownst to him. He could not bottom why.

But all his suppositions vanished as the scent of rakehell wafted upon a stale breeze.

His bloodlust was wholly returned, the teeth of the other brute of the night, the senior, digging into his pelt, the only matter preventing him from running into Town to hunt his quarry.
* * * * *


The thick cloud was barely discernable, yet it pulsated around him, bearing down, stifling him as if an electric shock were coursing thrust him.

He felt numb, unable to move, let alone think, properly. His head spun in a not unfamiliar way, and despite this, Harry knew where he had felt the same sensation.

Grimmauld Place.

'' I can only give you a moment ''

It was her. She had whispered those dustup only seconds before. She had done it before, and she was doing it again, and though he did not eff how, every vulcanized fiber of him have intercourse it to be true.

Kalliandra was doing this.

She could only sacrifice him a moment ... A moment of misdirection. A single opportunity to take them out.

He knew what he had to do.

The heady pressure increasing around him, over-powering any sure enough sentiency of equilibrium, he forced his arm to obey, grasping his wand in a barely concealed move as Dolohov 's doped eyes fixed upon Ludo Bagman 's shape, as the former Ministry Official disappeared behind the bar, clutching his chest.

Harry spared the man no shame, all his energy fixated on the person project of catapulting to his feet, then twisting until the baton so precariously gripped within his leaping hands was pointed towards the remaining end feeder.

'' hysteria Modente ! '' He gasped, his last shreds of energy spent as he set the curse word free.

The dark curse.

A death Eater deserved nothing less.

He never did see Dolohov 's center as the last fledglings of saneness were stolen, but the curse left Dolohov 's large flesh withering upon the footing, hands clutching desperately, tearing thick, bloodied chunks of haircloth from his scalp.

The intoxicating pressure lifted as suddenly as it had come, the cloudy soma vanishing with a breather, and Harry fell to his knees, breathing deeply, watching in drab expiation as one by one, memory after memory, fled from Dolohov 's twisted, scarred mind.

The Death eater would be ineffective to recall even his own name once the whammy had run it 's course.

Harry had finally learnt the joys of cruelty upon one 's enemy.

It was various bit before he realized that while the others were stirring, Kaylens was not.
* * * * *


'' Mr. President ... Your wife and girl are amongst the missing ...

The car room access slammed behind him, his girl 's small variety curled up on the passenger incline 's floor, whimpering, begging for Mum ...

Marie ...

Fumbling for the key 's with his glacial hands, his mind was assaulted. Every ungodly memory of the past weeks, of his life, slammed into his consciousness one, by one, by one.

Only the whimpering of his lilliputian girl kept him sane. He needed to stick around strong for her.

The hospital room access slid open, the glass paneling revealing his haggard reflection. At the end of the ward hall, lined with surety, awaited the dead room.

Identification of the body was necessary.

'' Tonksie ... Tonksie ... Daddy where 's Tonksie ? ! ``

Emily 's hysterical tears drew his optic through the rainfall coated windshield to where Tonks stood, a aspect of virgin consternation on her normally warm up face. She darted, arm out, presumably clutching the wand he could not see.

What affected him, what jolted him, what sent his metrical foot pressing upon the gas peddle, the wheels spinning, skidding in the watery gravel, was the sense of pure, complete despair that overcame him as he watched her elusion in the mud, falling ....

She landed in the sess, her back to the land, blazon stretched upwards in front of her stiff consistency, shaking so violently that he could see it through the rainwater 's thick onset. It seemed as if she were supporting a onus of incredible exercising weight, one that would stomach down upon her if she faltered, one that would crush her and then come for them if she failed.

The mortician gestured to the approximate gurney, his substance lurching as he approached.

He already knew. He had seen their revival effort at the home they had taken him to. He had seen the bluish tint to her once full of life lips ...

Yet having seen her ... Knowing what was to do ...

The tire spun in the gravel, screeching forward as he neared her. She had to get in. They were not leaving without her.

Without warning, without a single sign of the zodiac, the car lurched violently, halting as a resonating thump reverberated throughout the hoodlum of the vehicle.

The thunderous sound startled him more than his daughter 's cries, more than the sound of his cartilage breaking as his nose collided with the steering wheel, for a with child scratch had formed in the hood, the spyglass of the windshield cracking, splintering out until a electronic network of spider webs formed across it ...

As the sterile sheet was pulled back, he knew none of it could prepare one for seeing the lifeless body of the sexual love of their life for a 2d time.

The first time had nearly killed him ...

A ignition lock of her auburn hair fell loose, his helping hand smoothing it back ...

Something invisible had collided with their car ....

The feel of blood trickling down his font, falling upon his white knuckled hands, which remained firmly clutched around the cold, bootleg steering wheel, had drawn him back.

As did Tonks'watery cries from where she lay, scrambling in the mud like a panicky animal seeking escape.

'' Emily abide here ! '' He commanded, tossing the door afford, bracing himself for the rain and despair he somehow knew to be coming.

The pelting rain was the blessing, for it kept him conscious, re-vitalizing him with it 's icy furor as the despair attempted to drown him. He staggered, reaching for her, for Tonks.

She was scrambling to her substructure, slipping in the mud, crawling backwards towards him, fending he and Emily from whatever it was only she could see.

Her other arm was flailing, her whole grimace changing, moving in ways a aspect should not be active ...

He reached her, grasping her firmly to brace both he and her. `` Kenneth .... '' She screamed angrily, choking on the thick downpour. `` Kenneth get away ... ''

'' Not without you ! '' He shouted into the jazz, the rainfall slapping against him. His arms looped beneath her, hauling her with him, sliding her across the grass as her sceptre arm remained steadfastly out, preventing him from completely lifting her suddenly limp as a bird form.

Only her blazon remained set, for she was refusing to motivate them, not even for an minute to remain firm ...

Bent over her pulled her with him, scrambling backwards, finally falling onto the English of the car, it 's headlight blazing a brilliant path of lighting into the darkening, storm-shrouded day.

As he weakly tried to brook, yanking on the tush door of the vehicle, shoving Tonks'protesting form interior while she held her wand out, he finally saw it.

There, in the beam of Inner Light from the car 's headlight ...

A immense, looming trace, flanked by many, many more, were surrounding them.

Yet the root of the shadower, he could not see.

The palpable quiver in the air only grew until the hoar upon the windowpane 's splintering turned to ice.

It was only then that it dawned upon him why Tonks would not lower her wand.
* * * * *


He froze.

Harry Potter, a straight Gryffindor, completely, undeniably, froze. The shock of everything sinking in, preventing him from taking anything into account, save for what lay proper before him.

'' Kaylens ... '' He mouthed soundlessly, frightened by the wan pallor caressing her damp skin.

There were other supporter scattered, unconscious or worse across the pub, yet she was the nighest.

Hastily he murmured the trance to loosen the remaining binding, wiggling his profligate encrusted work force until the ropes slid to the glass strewn level. He dropped to his knees, reaching to brush her lineage stained curl aside, when a shaken, yet commanding voice, halted him.

kneel besides her, Harry stared slack jawed as Ronald Weasley spoke, clambering to his feet, a dark bruise encircling the side of his face.

'' Harry. Move. Away. From. That. affair. '' He repeated, a threatening air creeping into the barely uttered program line. `` motility away, before it wakes. ``

Harry blinked stupidly, not fully processing Ron 's run-in. All he knew was that Ron was not short. Ginny 's hex had not worked. And now a pair of icy blue eyes were fixated upon Kaylens as if she were Voldemort himself.

Fortunately for Harry, Luna was not nearly as thrown by Ron 's sudden return to the realm of the living.

'' Why hello Ronald. I was wondering when you 'd stop pretending. ``

Ron 's oculus flickered to Luna 's for the briefest of seconds, before his sceptre guesswork out, fixated upon his quarry.

'' So how long have you been waken Ronald ? '' She continued airily, rising to her foot in one fluid motion. Her bound mitt began fiddling with her soil strewn hairsbreadth, brushing it back curiously, as if it were a mere pestis to be deal with.

Ron 's bruised human face contorted into a scowl at this. `` foresighted enough. '' He responded warily.

Luna was moving to where Ron still stood, staring at Kaylens as if she were the Tempter incarnate. `` well Ronald, would you mind undoing these for me ? '' She articulated, extending her wrists to him expectantly. `` Harry 's the only other one with a wand and he seems a bit preoccupied. ``

Ron 's gaze never left his target, his wand flicking to Luna 's outstretched arms without a glance, sending her tight forget me drug coiling free.

Luna smiled happily, flexing her radiocarpal joint testingly at eye level, as Ron took a whole step forward.

'' I 'll ask you one to a greater extent clip Harry. '' He muttered menacingly. `` Get. Away. From. The. Grim. ``

Harry 's muddiness regarding Ron 's sudden appearance was routed by the serious manifestation across the redhead 's freckled cheek. At a exit for explanation, he turned back to the young lady before him, laying his hand upon her brow, feeling her cool struggle beneath his own as Ron 's poisonous stare burrowed into him.

'' Harry she 's a Grim. A Living Grim. Get the underworld away from .... ''

He scarcely heard Ron 's baritones, for a gentle tingling was radiating onto him, running across his open ribbon where his cutis fell onto her own, as if diminished bits of atmospherics electricity were passing between them.

His finger trailed down her face, a indulgent moan escaping her lips, drawing her shallow breathing space into stark contrastation with his own.

Forgetting Ron 's dustup, his eye 's drifted from her to where James Byron Dean lay, sprawled beneath an overturned table that Luna was up-righting. `` We need to get avail ... '' Along the walls the scant others present were watching with bated breathing space. `` We need to get out of here before ... ''

'' commencement you need to get away from the Grim Harry ! '' Ron nearly bellowed, scepter arm quivering violently. `` You might not love what she is, but you saw what she did ! ``

Hermione let out a tone down protest, and Ron 's eyes flickered for a consequence to where she sat, propped up, simple and staring.

It was the prospect Harry needed. He did not cognize what had happened to Ron, but certainly his acquaintance meant Kaylens harm. He was deluded. Grim 's were omens of destruction. A life, breathing, sentient being could not be one.

He quickly placed himself between them, his own blood stained wand out, directly in Ron 's angered face.

'' Ron spirit, we do n't consume sentence for this. There are other Death feeder in town and we do n't own meter ... ''

'' We ca n't exit that thing lying around. '' Ron challenged, raising his own wand until it was eye level, directed at his scar. `` I would n't ingest believed it myself had I not seen it. But leave a Living Grim lying around and it will wipe out you later. ``

'' Ron stop over it ! '' Hermione shouted, slightly hysterical as Luna knelt, freeing her and Neville 's bindings.

Behind him another infelicitous murmur rose from Kaylens unconscious form.

Luna now hovered over a quietly muttering Dolohov, sending compact ropes coiling around his limb and legs. And as Harry watched her, he noticed one of the non-student patrons inching away from where they stood, her panic-struck nerve fixated on Kaylens as well.

His middle narrowed. `` Would mortal kindly tell me what 's going on here ? ``

'' But she ca n't be ... He thinks she a ambit but she ca n't be .... '' Hermione stated weakly, her low form barely supported by Neville.

Harry 's eyes did not go out Ron 's for a second. `` A grasp ? And to me that means .... ''

'' An muscularity shifter. '' Neville supplied. `` That ... That t-thing that just happened .... '' The Gryffindor attempted to wave, nearly dropping Hermione in the process. `` That thing with the air ... It was e-energy ... They can draw on it when they need to ... ''

'' When the indigence to kill people. '' Ron finished angrily. `` I 'd bet my broom Bagman is dead, Harry. That thing ... '' He indicated, gesturing violently with his baton. `` Did it ! ``

'' And she also quite possibly saved our aliveness. '' Neville sighed frustratedly. `` She gave Harry the distraction he needed to admit Dolohov out. ``

'' She could take in killed us all Neville ! '' Ron shouted, mercifully unheard upon the street as Luna 's silencing charms were cast upon the Windows and doors.

'' But, she, did n't ! '' Neville shot back, setting Hermione down in one of the few electric chair that had escaped unscathed.

Ron 's resolve only grew. `` Harry, she 's not human being. '' He declared. `` She 's not even a witch ! All she is, is an vigor draining bloodsucker that would stamp out her own female parent if she had the chance ! That 's why they call them Living Grims ! Whoever comes in contact with one die ! Meeting one is like seeing your own ... ''

'' Death ? '' Harry supplied angrily, finally losing it. His head hurt. Ron being alive, Kaylens whatever it was they thought she was ... It was simply too a great deal to process. `` Ron if she had wanted to kill us, do n't you mean she already would have ? ``

Ron 's expression faltered, long enough for Harry to know that the Truth of his words had sunk in.

'' But she ca n't be a reaching ... '' Hermione was continuing on, sounding pained at the lack of certainty. `` Remember history of conjuring trick, the unusual specie unit ? You know with Veelas and Vampires ? Things like that ? We covered Reaches, and a reaching ca n't do deception ! They simply ca n't .... And I 've seen her do magic in class ... ''

Ron snorted, a smug reflexion crossing his face. `` A pre-magicked verge. Do n't you see ? We 've never seen her do anything beyond introductory, commencement twelvemonth spells now have we ? ``

Harry 's creative thinker churned, searching for something to refute the affirmation, but when it came down to it, he had only seen her levitate professor Gai and daze somebody ....

In Dumbledore 's situation she had n't even progress to for her wand .... She had n't even tried to represent herself ....

My God ...

'' smell ... '' He said shakily. `` Just do n't touch her. Leave her be, at least until we figure a way out of this mess. ``

Ron 's harden reflexion did not soften, but his verge arm fell `` Fine. But retrieve who 's idea this was Harry. Grim 's are supposed to be killed on peck. So you can deal with the Ministry. Not. Me. ``

Killed on heap ....

A sickening feeling rose within his chest at the tidings. They could n't ... The Ministry would n't ....

Yet looking at Ron 's expressionless brass, he knew it to be dependable. Mr. Weasley worked at the Ministry. Ron had grown up in the wizarding human beings. Ron knew all of it 's preconception, even agreed with some. netherworld, Ron had been afraid of lupine upon first finding out had n't he ?

'' A Grim ... A life Grim ... Amongst Us .... Amongst us again ... ''

The whimpering of the cleaning lady, who was still attempting to slide away, reached his ears.

The sound of her scare ramblings made him agnise just what he was dealing with.

Kaylens had killed someone ... His center flew to where Bagman had fallen, only to watch Ron traverse his way there, as if in slow movement, bending down, taking a heart rate ...

Ron 's hate filled regard, directed at the girl on the floor, was all the substantiation he needed.

travelling salesman was dead.

My God she really did ...

He swallowed the common cold truth, turning to search upon her.

Golden eyes were staring back, a scared expression across her pale, binge stained face.
* * * * *


The car threshold slammed behind him, the rain having left the leather interior drenched with pooling pelting droplets, and as his understructure met the gas, he marveled at how the barely conscious Auror still held her wand high up, aimed out the window, quietly muttering about a man named Lupie.

'' Daddy ... dad .... ''

Something was boiling within him, something worse than veneration as he shifted into turnabout, slamming on the gas so hard the subsequent tire squeal left Emily screeching.

Tonks was leaning between the presence buttocks, aiming her wand through the ever widening wisecrack in the windshield, screaming as he stabbed violently at the defroster.

Somehow, amidst it all, his brain was still working logically.

Hydroplaning on the slick stain the car spun. Cranking the wheel into the turn the twist slowed until it was under his ascendence, and they were on the road, driving, sobbing, shaking.

He was n't sure when he finally lost consciousness. He was only sure that they were far beyond the necropolis where his young wife lay.
* * * * *


'' Kaylens ... '' He whispered disbelievingly. Never before had he seen even a trace of such conspicuous emotion upon her normally complacent features.

Seeing Kaylens lacerated expression he rounded on Ron.

'' You were going to bolt down her ? '' He shouted furiously, putting the pieces together. The way Ron had pulled his wand on her, the uncharacteristic, hardened expression ...

He stepped backwards, shielding Kaylens with his entire body. `` Is that what you planned ? '' He hissed, voice quivering dangerously. `` It 's not enough that the ministry indoctrinates their trivial preconception against everything and everyone through that ridiculous Daily oracle and it 's ludicrous natural law, but you were pudden-head enough to actually consider listening to them were n't you ? ! ``

The red mind 's formulation faltered, and it did n't take long to see why, for Ron 's optic had fallen on the now conscious Kaylens, a flavour of mingled fright and disgust upon him.

Harry was furious for reasons he could not begin to understand. `` What 's the topic Ron ? '' He shot out. `` You had no problem talking when you were proclaiming her inhuman a few seconds ago, yet now ca n't do a dim-witted interrogative. Why is that ? ``

Ron let out a stutter.

'' Sorry, could n't quite watch that Ron. '' He nearly growled, glancing to the storey where Kaylens sat, her frightened look giving way to one of sheer astonishment as their center locked.

'' It 's o.k. ... '' He mouthed, incapable of articulating anything else. All he knew was that if she was what they claimed her to be, then it was n't her error. She surely had not asked for it, just like he had not asked to have a death sentence hanging over his own capitulum.

Suddenly every hostile action, every cruel Good Book that had passed between them made perfect sense.

The whispered conversation in the bookshop, her ire at having been overheard, her impropriety with Remus, a werewolf, another hat species with laws ruling their kinds lives ...

His ire at Ron 's action boiled over.

He leveled his wand once again. `` Answer the interrogative sentence Ron. ''

Ron 's eyes, glued to the floor, refused to front up. `` I ... I had n't thought that far ahead ... ''

'' Does n't calculate like you were thinking at all actually. ``

'' Harry you do n't sympathize what those things are capa ... ''

'' Ronald quit it ! ''

All eyes darted to the small brunette in the chair.

'' separate me you were n't even considering that. '' Hermione clipped. `` I thought you were too smart to go by what the Ministry says ! It 's just another petty law ... ''

'' It 's not petty Mione ! It 's for our protectio .... ''

'' Protection from what ? '' Hermione queried. `` Anyone with a sceptre is grave, just because she 's different does n't mean she should be singled out Rona ... ''

Ron 's jaw dropped. `` Hermione ! She killed Bagman ! Did she show any mercy then ? Did she ? ``

Hermione shook her head sadly. `` He was a Death feeder. Do you really mean he would get shown any to us ? ``

The red head scoffed. `` This is roadman were talking about ... ''

'' He would n't ingest. ``

The verbal diatribe between the two teenagers ceased at Kaylens'scarcely uttered Word of God, and as Harry turned he was surprised to find her standing besides him, watery eyes fixated on Ron.

'' Ludovic Bagman was his name yes ? '' It was Sir Thomas More of a statement than a query, and he let it remain in the air as he quickly unbound her munition for her.

'' Thanks. '' She breathed, rubbing her munition where the skin had torn, speckle of black cruor flaking off, floating to the debris strewn floor.

'' How could you know that, murderer ? '' Ron snapped, though for once he scarcely acknowledged it. His consciousness was focused upon her reaction, upon the slight shaking beginning in her left arm, the rigidifying of her cervix, the balling of her fists ...

Her eyes flickered closed, yet not quick enough for him to miss the deep pain residing within them.

'' Because Ludovic did not point any mercy to my family. '' She responded softly, hauntingly. `` That is all you need to know. ''

Ron was babbling about something. He caught the phrase, 'Bagman was n't a killer ,'but suddenly that all seemed so unimportant. For Hermione had asked what go had actually hit Ron, and he was suddenly wondering that as well.

'' Ron this is n't you ! '' Hermione quelled. `` What has gotten into ... ''

Suddenly Ron 's conduct clicked into position as well, and he turned around, scanning the room furiously, taking in each of the unknown sponsor 's faces.

Hermione was right, this was n't Ron. He may be brash, often speaking without thought process, but Ron was not wild.
Not only were there end feeder to deal with on the outside, he realized, ones they would receive to portion out with eventually, but they now had to take with internal enemies.

Ones skilled in the disdainful curse ...

His middle landed upon the whimpering cleaning lady cheeseparing the room access, an unnaturally concerted formula upon her face.
* * * * *


remorse ... Guilt ... Satisfaction ....

The lifeless sight before her, the one she had so ruthlessly denied the right field to live, ought to instill something within her.

Yet it did not.

Weasley 's scathing diatribe, intermingling with her own cruelly uttered truths, resonated within the confines of her mind. Her eyelids finally flickered shut, seeking momentaneous time out as the pungent smell of scorching lumber rose from the dour recesses of her memory, encircling tightly around her.

She had killed, yet it did not palpate as it ought. zip could have prepared her for the moth-eaten tactile sensation of vacancy rotting away inside.

She felt evacuate inside, nearly undone, and perhaps this man lying lifelessly before her, evidencing her executed revenge, would be adequate to shove her over the last cranny into the out of reach claws of cruelty.

For the biography of her she could not summon one iota of self-reproach, for he had stood by during the whipping, having the powerfulness to block off it, yet failing to act.

He was as guilty as those who had committed the offence themselves.

Yes ... She judged him.

The merciful, loving homo she had once been was gone. It had been fading since the day the first monstrosity had strode into her home, extinguishing the taper of life burning upon her brother and grandmother 's candles.

It had finally died the Nox she learnt the truth, for the tragedy in her vernal life story had not been enough. The sick God governing existence had not yet had their filling of her nuisance, her grief ...

The fragrance of wooden-headed ash once again filled her nostrils, the painful recognition that it was her own lifeblood pulling upon the earth, intermingling with her remaining sidekick 's ...

The pain her soundbox now felt paled in comparison to the pain sensation of what she had done. The duration she had gone to endure that nighttime ...

The pain pouring tongueless from her lips was silenced as another voice rose up, saturated with the hate she felt burning within herself.

thrower ...

'' Let him go. '' He growled angrily. Though it was not his representative that drove her eyes to open, it was the tense feeling of his hand encircling her articulatio radiocarpea, tugging her, forcing her to run until she was positioned directly behind him.

The brawn in his arm shook, vibrating with impassioned chroma, rattling her own arm as well, yet her inquiring gaze fell unnoticed, unseen upon the book binding of his iniquity head.

His attention was elsewhere, fixated upon a prematurely grey-haired haired woman sitting nearest to the door.

It took her a moment to realize that the Weasel had already been stunned, and that his induce fierceness was on her behalf.

'' Your theme ... Clever really. '' ceramist continued sardonically. `` But I 'd really love to know why you targeted her. '' The gesture of his head left no interrogation that it was her to whom he was referring.

Confused she allowed herself to be led forward by Potter, cheeseparing to the irritated woman, whose eyes no longer quite met their own. `` So ... '' He continued. `` Is it because you 're just another brain washed Ministry pawn, or does your drawing card closely resemble a serpent ? ``

His spokesperson was becoming rather snakelike himself ... Or it could be her head, which was still reeling from her previous exploit.

'' Harry what ... '' Hermione sounded hesitant, and Kally 's own eyes flicked over in time to see Hermione 's dark ones flitting from one end of the room to the former, between the cleaning lady and Ron, then between Ron and a shatter plant holder.

Suddenly the Robert Brown haired girl, clutching her side, was staggering to the Weasel 's, scattering give away bottles in her wake.

The woman watched her forward motion with a unsporting grammatical construction. `` Whatever it is that you are insinuating boy, you should know that I am a Ministry official ...

ceramicist let out a barking laugh. `` I 'm supposed to be impressed by that are n't I ? ``

'' Considering that you are committing a crime by keeping that affair alert ... ''

'' The last time I checked the use of Unforgivables was a crime as well. '' He countered, slipping his fingers into her own reassuringly. `` So why did you use it on a 16 class old ace ? ``

'' And as Ministry functionary, Leanne, surely you know that the use of an Unforgivable on an Underaged necromancer merits a longer sentence in Azkaban. '' The other patron, looking to be in his thirty-something chimed in, smiling like the cat that ate the canary.

Potter 's acknowledged neither the new conversationist nor the Weasel 's sudden ramblings as Hermione brought him back to consciousness.

'' Why Amarante, what brings you to England ? I thought your belligerent parents would have taught you well enough to stay away. ``

Amarante waggled his eyebrow in an oddly companion way. `` wellspring you know Très and I, never too far from trouble. ``

It suddenly dawned on her that Amarante was a pitter-patter simulacrum of Professor Très.

'' We should go. '' Luna called dreamily, her form barely visible from beneath the curtained windows she was peering out of.

'' Why ? '' ceramist voiced urgently. `` Do you see mortal coming ? ``

'' No ... '' She called, emerging from beneath the drape. `` Just a impression Harry. I think the Ira 's are trying to secern me something ... ''

'' Ira 's ? '' Questioned Leanne incredulously. `` You 're all mad ... I do n't know what they teach you at that pathetic school of yours ... ''

'' Hogwarts is not pathetic ! '' Snapped Neville, his own wand drawn and leveled at the disgusted looking woman.

'' Neville 's right. Hogwarts is really tremendous. '' Luna commented. `` And Ira 's are real. '' She added as an afterthought.

Amarante appeared greatly amused. `` Ah, well at least the students are too put off by my brother 's teaching methods are they Leanne. ''

Leanne scowled, but Amarante was n't done.

'' So let me guess Leanne. You 're considering turning her ... '' He gestured towards where she stood in ceramist 's protective grip, `` in to the Ministry, and were too much of a coward to present her yourself, which is why you put the red headed, stuttering boy over there under the Imperious. Is that it ? ``

The woman was beginning to face like a cornered animal. `` I have every right to do so ! That thing is a monster ... ''

She internally cringed at the words she knew to be true.

'' A monster that should be put down ! And as for you ! '' She hollered, turning to ceramist. `` Consorting with such a affair ! Why I never .... ''

'' You thankless wench ! '' Interrupted Weasley. `` They both helped save you 're pathetic arse and all you can do is holler at them ! How make bold you ! ``

Amarante visibly yawned, and in a flash his wand was out.

'' Obliviate ! ``

The deafening roar of ceramicist, Luna, and Amarante all attempting to extinguish the woman 's memory at once sent the wench 's principal snapping back into the wall, her center dazedly rolling around before unconsciousness took her.

'' Well that solves that. '' Amarante muttered cheerfully, dusting his deal together. `` The figure 's Amarante by the way. I was supposed to be visiting with my brother this weekend but well ... '' The man shrugged sheepishly, his ear length pilus falling into his eyes. `` Got knocked out by him instead. Ruddy Imperious was n't something he could ever contrive off very well unfortunately. ``

She hardly heard the rest of his password, for she had broken away from Potter 's bag, dropping besides Dean 's unconscious form.
* * * * *


No Sooner had Kaylens released his helping hand than Amarante turned his wand on the remaining witting frequenter. `` good-for-nothing beloved but .... Obliviate ! ''

Hermione 's decisive looking at as Amarante finished putting the supporter to sleep was answered with an air of apologia.

'' Ca n't leave her free to plough the lady friend in either now can we ? '' He pointed out. `` No offense but the British Ministry of conjuring trick is a bit outdated in their practice of law and horizon. Australia has the decency to leave unusual species alone as long as they are not harming anyone. ``

Harry nodded his thanks gratefully. enough had gone amiss today. They could not afford to will any lose last lying around.

'' Is it unusual that no one here is dead ? ''

Luna 's question was met by five bemuse gaze. Only then did Harry substantiate that she had not been merely milling around the entire time, but that she had been checking the other patrons to see if they were alright.

Her question did not seem to set well with him, nor Neville apparently.

'' Is n't that a good thing ? '' He asked warily.

Luna 's mouth opened, but Ron cut her off. `` No Neville ... It 's not ... Think about it, why would Death eater even bother attacking if it were not to shoot down ? All of us are alive, and they are n't that incompetent. I thought for for sure my number was up when that green execration hit me but it was n't Avada Kedavra, I can tell you that much. ''

Hermione elicited an odd dissonance, but Ron went on. `` And think about it. Why did n't they off Harry when they had the luck ? '' He glanced at him sheepishly. `` Er ... Sorry mate ... But you know what I mean. ``

He nodded. `` It 's okay Ron. ``

Ron nodded, glancing at Kaylens now. `` blue about former Kaylens. I may not wish you but I would never ... ''

'' I know. '' She replied without a glance. It was apparent that her concern was not for herself, but for Dean.

And the expression crossing her face as she peered closely at his ear was disconcerting ...

'' You 're quite flop young man. '' Amarante commented, yanking on his earlobes. `` If I could venture a guess I would say that this unit ... '' He waved a hired hand around for emphasis. `` Debacle was merely a way to disquiet us from something far more sinister. ``

Far more sinister ...

Harry did not like the sound of those words.

'' Whatever their aim was I suggest we leave. '' Ron was pacing now. `` But if Amarante is right then they wo n't exactly let us walk rightfield out of here ... ''

Luna 's regard was drifting towards the arse exit. `` Our undecomposed shot is the Grant Wood. ''

'' The Forbidden woodland ? Wonderful ... '' Remarked his red headed friend, looking thoroughly put out.

'' No ... She 's proper. '' Kaylens voice was oddly strained, her brow creased with business organisation as she continued examining Dean. `` If I create a misdirection one of us should be able to get to it back to the school, Death Eaters or not. ``

Everyone, with the exception of Luna, looked at her oddly.

'' What do you intend by distraction ? '' Neville asked warily.

'' I mean I go out, drawing their attention away from those of you going into the woodwind. '' She huffed.

Hermione and Amarante were both shaking their principal.

'' I ca n't condone allowing a teenager to put themselves in harms way. '' Amarante stated flatly, all tincture of weightlessness gone from his voice.

'' If they are not aiming to kill I 'll be fine. '' Kaylens ptyalize icily. `` You were so sure of that a mo ago. ``

The honest-to-goodness man 's jaw dropped, leaving Harry with an uneasy feeling. `` Kaylens I do n't .... ''

She cut him off.

'' Look ! No one else may be hurt severely but Dean needs help. '' She said heatedly, gently fingering his ear. `` His skull is fractured, and from the flavour of it badly. ''

'' How do you have intercourse that ? '' Ron challenged disbelievingly.

Her penetrating stare bored into him. `` The human brain is encased in a protective fluid, and if it 's fractured badly enough it can exudate out through the auditory dental caries ... ''

'' His ear ... '' Hermione supplied, responding to the broken looks upon his, Ron 's, and Luna 's faces.

Ron seemed to be having trouble accepting it. `` And you 're a healer since ... ''

Her shoulders visibly stiffened, a flash of wrath passing within her eyes. `` Since I 've seen it before Weasley. Now do you need to argue or help your friend ? ``

The red head threw up his paw. `` No need to get cranky .... ''

Harry interrupted them before it could escalate farther. `` We have to go. No More time for discussion. ''

Kaylens nodded, rising from Dean 's side. `` For once I actually agree with him. ''

Her voice was firm, unwavering, a steely flicker in her eye as she tore her eyes away from her fallen friend. `` He needs help and he needs help soon. We need to act. ``

'' Someone is going to take to last out here. '' Neville pointed out. `` Merlin knows what a Death feeder would do to an unconscious Muggle-born ... Not to cite Madame Rosmereta and Lara. ``

'' I 'll last out. '' Came Hermione 's part, earning her a galvanize look from all party. She shrugged sadly. `` For once I 'll accommodate that I ca n't do something. My ribs ... I 'm trusted they 're broken. There 's no way I could outrun anyone right now. ``

Ron 's nerve became drawn. `` mulct. But you 're flop about one affair Mione. You 're in no shape to stand for yourself at the moment. So soul else needs to stay behind. ``

Harry 's optic flew around the elbow room, taking in the potential unpaid worker. There were the two patron, Neville, Kaylens, Ron, and Luna.

'' I 'll stay. '' Neville volunteered. `` I 'm not in as good of shape as the quietus of you. I 'd have bother outrunning them as well. ``

Ron 's eyes narrowed onto him approvingly. `` And that 's something we intend to fix once this is over. ``

A sly smile crossed Neville 's face. `` The quicker you get out of here the Sooner we can get started. ``

Ron nodded. `` Alright. Hermione, you and Neville acquire Dean into the girl 's restroom. well prop the game doorway open so if anyone does add up back they 'll think we went out through the kitchens. ``

Harry eyed his friend carefully, admiring the approximation. `` And the residual of us will go out the men 's restroom window. It leads right into the alley between here and Dervish and blast. Then Luna, Ron, and Kaylens can try to pretend it back to Hogwarts while Amarante cover charge me ... ''

She let out a protest, but a wave of his handwriting silenced her. `` You 're not going. End of discussion. ''

'' I should create the distraction. '' Amarante countered.

'' No. '' Harry replied, shaking his head word decisively. `` We need a distraction, and the fucking Boy-Who-Lived is going to give them one. I doubt the expiry eater, orders to not bolt down or not, will be able to resist the chance to get a go at me. Besides, you 're the more experienced genius, so your aim is probably better than mine. ``

Amarante eyed him apprehensively, before a cheeky grin lit up his optic. `` Well alright then. '' He said, clapping him on the back. `` destruction feeder target recitation. Looks like you 're not going to stimulate all the fun after all there Harry. ``

As Amarante went to help oneself Luna with the bracing of dean 's neck, and the moving of his imp kind, all the while whistling a Muggle appearance melody, Harry wondered who exactly he had just asked to cover for him.
* * * * *


Her skull ached.

The pinpoint of vivid luminousness speckling her visual modality needed to be sprayed away with a very large hose.

Preferably a major power hose.

Groaning she attempted to dislodge herself from the chap between the book binding and front seats that her bum had fallen into, the blinding pain in her shoulder letting her know that indeed, it had been dislocated.

Collapsing onto the almost slimy, rain soaked leather of the back can she took stock of the spot, the shoetree leg jutting through the nominal head windshield, ending where Emily 's top dog should have rested, had she not been curled into a whimpering ball upon the flooring mats.

Thank God Kenneth had forgotten about belting her in.

She had to get them out of there, and was now trying the handle, discovering the threshold to be wedged shut by another tree, for the car had veered off, bouncing from the ditch into the wooden sphere keeping pace with the road itself.

Her fingers found the automatic window key, pressing until she realized that it too, was nonfunctional.

She nearly swore, bracing against the opposite door and kicking out, feeling the impedance of the glass and the window curved out, buckling back in against her hurt feet. The face of pain was taking over her face, droplets of water from her mousey fuzz intermingling with her sweaty buck droplets as she continued her violent, desperate attack, watching the splintering spider web crawling across the glass ...

Cringing she turned away, the chip of the window giving way to hundreds of glittering shards flying amongst the spark lights already within her vision.

The oozing cut in her calf barely registered, distracted as Kenneth 's cataleptic shape slipped upon the slip wheel till the brunt of his weight bore down upon the saddle horn, the blaring vibrations of it 's constant, I noted toot shattering the afternoon silence that until then, had only been broken by the sound of the still groaning railway locomotive and the pound rain.

Reaching over the tail end she sent him slouching upon the doorway, the blood slicked hooter falling silent as his exercising weight fell away.

There was no want to grant the phone to draw in any undesirable attention, for Dementors could move fast, though a car could displace faster. But how longsighted they had been out, how far Kenneth had driven before succumbing to the animal 's effects, slumping over the wheel, and how long the beast had had to make up the distance between ...

She did not know the answer to any of these affair, and could not afford the price of drawing them near if they had made it to their vicinity.

The President 's nozzle was clearly broken, the cartilage sufficiently contorted to ingest allowed a free flow of blood from it upon the wheel. Now the clunking cruor could be seen, clustering upon his upper lip as if he had been eating a sadistic lollipop flavored for the vampiric sort.

She had to get them out of here, that a lot she owed him for saving her.

In the aspect of half a dozen Dementors Kenneth had managed to maintain his composure, not breaking down as she nearly had, and he had been without the benefit of a protective Patronus.

This Muggle was made of impregnable hooey than the most battle hardened of wizards.

Contorting herself as best she could, she slithered out the window, clinging to the rain soaked roof for balance. Her sleeve snagged upon a glass shard embedded within the window shape, and her medal slid from the roof, barely catching against the thin tree trunk responsible for thwarting her late efforts to open the door, and somehow this steady her.

One arm hanging limply at her side she clambered to the terra firma in rain soaked clothing, her onyx boots matching the ever-increasing dark of the sky.

Then her human race lit up, a pair of headlamp from the road turning to polish blindingly onto them.

Skidding up the muddy incline she began yelling for the gimmick her Muggle sire always carried around, a mobular something or other, but her precipitate ascent halted abruptly, seismic disturbance erupting through her intact being as the car door opened and slammed, a figure stepping into the headlight 's beam.

Dog Star Black was silhouetted within them.



Recommended Stories of the calendar week :

Protector of world by IchigoPan Rated : 15+
Strange events from the preceding affects the present in the life of Alexis Kanno. All she knows about the power running in her veins are that they are her own to control. Little did she know that there are two face to her abilities.

Fallen Auror by Fallen Auror Rated : Mature
With the Fall of Voldemort he was set up to let his dream come true. However, the serenity did not last for Harry Potter as the Wizarding universe plunged into decay by its own greed. Haunted by his mistakes and sickened by the corruption he decided to go it alone. But does he make out any better…

This is perhaps the most unique story that I have thus far encountered in the realm of fanfiction, for it takes blank space within the distant future, using a Film Noir Genre, while possessing a unique flair for twisting the most despondent of situations into cleverly woven mystiques.





'' No one is truly evil. They simply see things from a different period of perspective. ``
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 22 ~ Amongst Us ~ contribution 2


'' In the long history of bad idea, this one is the worst ! '' Weasley muttered, staring apprehensively down the back street, the threshold of the Forbidden woodland looming menacingly at him.

'' Look on the shining position. '' Potter grunted, releasing his hold on the windowsill, dropping onto the grime strewn priming. `` If there are end eater out there Aragog probably ate them first. ``

Weasley paled considerably, contrasting with the warms hue cast about the bowling alley by the sun 's dying light. The year was growing late, and the former time of day of the setting sun would perhaps aid he and Luna on their labor of remaining unobserved in the forest 's shadows.

Or at least Kalliandra hoped so.

Luna 's striped orange tree and Negroid air-sleeve appeared out the restroom windowpane, and she dropped from the sill to the stale primer coat, landing rather elegantly despite the large swarm of junk rising around her. Spying this the young woman smiled, squatting down to spray a fine stream of water from the tip of her wand, right onto a sizeable dirt pile.

Her eyebrow wrinkled curiously at this, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips as Luna plunged her hands into the muddy concoction, stirring it around as if it were pudding.

'' Hey pack, it 's light ... The roof. '' Amarante hissed from his precarious position atop two tripe cans. `` Give me two minutes and then I 'll be ready to overlay you. ''

'' Kaylens ? '' His cauterize hand fell onto her arm, a determined expression on his look. `` You 're going with Luna and Ron. ``

The way he stated it left no way for interrogative, but deal for argumentation, her fiery eyes telling him pointedly that she was not about to acquiesce his request so easily.

'' Please, no arguments. '' He added, as a gust of wind tunneling down the alley sent his uncontrollable fuzz into his eye. The way his nose wrinkled in aggravator as he shoved it away, disentangling it from his glasses, was almost laughable.

But there was aught nonsensical about a perfectly goodly person wanting to hazard their life when mortal of no consequence was available.

mortal like her ...

She sighed exhaustedly, her sinew filled with the muffled aching of her earlier overextension. If only doing such things was less painful ...

'' At to the lowest degree tell me why you want to go alone. '' She whispered, so low that the Weasel would be ineffective to see.

His humourless expression became further strained. `` Because I 'm a better piece of sweetener than anyone else here Kaylens, and I do n't want anyone else getting hurt. Voldemort 's wrangle is with me, not you. ``

He was wrong though, her incredulous expression heightening the effect of her softly hissed words. `` His row is with everyone, not just you. You 're a naive fool to think otherwise. ``

He smiled strangely. `` reliance me. '' He whispered, pulling on her arm until she was forced to step closer, his hardened face hovering above her own. `` It is, and I do n't expect you to realise it. Just accept it, and do n't indicate. ``

'' Always speaking in riddle ... '' She murmured, a trace of satire filtering through. `` But there 's one thing you have n't realized, but you have more to lose than I if they are aiming to wipe out. ``

A trace of anxiety flickered within his centre. `` Why would you say that ? ''

'' Because regardless of whatever quarrel you may have with him, unlike you, they 've already taken everything from me. '' Her pained gaze fell to the ground, for she was loath to let him glimpse the cascade of emotions swirling dangerously close to the airfoil.

'' There is zero left for me to misplace. '' She finished, feeling his finger tensing upon her.

'' You still bear your life. ``

'' No ceramist ... '' She murmured sadly. `` Not even that for often farseeing. ``

Reaching up she removed his hand, the obscure meaning of her words affecting him in a way she could not notice.

'' Besides Potter. '' She added, forcing a grin. `` I ca n't let you have all the fun now can I ? ``

Strained were the lines of his mouth.

'' Plus ... '' She continued, spotting the increasing lines of his frown. `` You should n't go alone. You can get all chauvinistic on me later, but right now I am coming with you. ``

A slight cough drew their attention to the Weasel 's blatant annoyance. `` Just let the half-wit do what she wants Harry. If she wants to get killed let her, but we need to go. ``

Her eyes narrowed onto the red head, but her short counter was cut off by Potter.

'' I 'm fighting a losing battle here are n't I ? ``

Her resolute expression remained her response to this statement.

'' Then we stick together. '' He said seriously, drilling his gaze into her own as if it would help drill the information in a bit better.

He then turned to Weasley. `` You and Luna stick to together too. ``

'' Aye, aye Captain. '' He grumbled, rolling his oculus. `` Like I would require to walk around in the colossus infested forest alone anywa ... ''

His vocalization fell absolutely, for Luna had just stood up, her face completely covered in mud. `` Actually Ronald I can propel faster by myself. '' She informed bluntly.

Upon seeing this Kally gave up on fighting back an amused smile.

Potter on the other hand was shaking his header, looking as displeased as Weasley. `` No Luna, you could be seen and ... ''

'' I 've been unseeable for over four twelvemonth. '' Luna retorted without ignominy. `` One more day is n't asking too much. ``

Oblivious to the despondent calibre of her own dustup, Luna, the vex beldam, resumed her plan of attack on Weasley 's case, insisting that blending in with the Woodsiemores would help him to evade Stubby Boardman and his band.

As Weasley twisted and turned, trying to put off her attempt, Amarante appeared command overhead, dangling precariously over the ceiling 's edge. Nodding his commendation at Luna 's methods, he threw thrower and her a glance. `` Won you over did she ? Well I 'm ready to cover whenever you 're both ready to go. ''

disappearing over the border with a smile far too panoptic for the berth, Luna managed to streak a smear of drab mud across the red head 's vibrant hair. Weasley 's mad endeavour to wipe it away only served to further implant it, lessening the spirit of his hair.

'' pull up stakes it. ``

The Weasel shot her a facial expression of everlasting malice.

'' Red 's the start colour the human eye sees Weasley. '' She responded calmly, ignoring his scowl. `` Not exactly a natural color for the woodland either, so dulling it increases your chances of not being spotted. ``

Luna grinned widely, happy mortal agreed, and stepped back to survey Weasley critically. Giving a knifelike nod she pronounced him ready, flouncing away without another Book.

'' Ruddy wacko ... '' Weasley muttered, smearing his cheeks with his sleeve, stalking off down the alley.

'' Hey Ron ... ''

Weasley halted, turning to frown at ceramicist as well.

'' Red 's not one of the colors Aragog can see. '' He said cheekily.

'' Bugger off Harry. ''

Weasley 's sharp clip hanging upon the air, the git set off towards the wood at a much wearisome, less jubilant pace than the one Luna had set.

ceramist seemed to deflate, sighing defeatedly.

She would spare him her understanding and cerebration on exactly how worthwhile the Weasel 's view were worth, silently following him to where the alley opened up onto the briny road, where they hovered awkwardly, eyeing each former nervously.

'' Any marvelous plans for distracting them ? '' She intoned softly.

Eyes blinking like a newly awakened infant, he nodded.

'' Shall I guess or did you contrive on just being rash ? '' Her slight smile softened the impact of her language, earning her a bemused pass shake.

'' If reckless is what you want ... ''

Without preamble ceramist stepped out into the road, whistling loudly, like a tightly combat injury atom bomb about to go off.
* * * * *


Surely if she had a shred of intelligence she would bide put.

He had never had any intention of allowing her to companion him, and now, as he stood in the eye of the road traveling through the meat of Hogsmeade, whistling and twirling his verge, he was pleasantly proud of to see her staying put.

Good.

The characteristic close shave of poorly oiled hinge echoed across the road, two cloaked men, hoods down, emerging from the Apothecary.

He smiled deviantly.

'' fondness seeing you here ! '' He called cheerfully. `` I fancied a talking with that spineless snake of a master of yours. Any idea of where I can find him ? ``

Tick.

Colorful leaves flew by, swirling upon the pushover, dipping down to graze the dirt before the updraft reclaimed them, stealing them away.

Tock.

Quietly in the alley, Kaylens began cursing his name, an oddly amused grin creeping farther onto his face at her obvious indignation.

Tick.

Through the Apothecary storefront there was bowel movement. The expiry feeder were clearly keeping everyone indoors, and he took note of this.

But why ?

Tock.

The shrouded name stared at him, and he stared back.

Only he was at least smiling.

'' Amarante your aim better be damn good ... '' He mumbled in low undertones, center casting about for an outflow route. He had been so preoccupied with getting rid of Kaylens, keeping everyone but himself safe, that he had forgotten that one key detail.

After all, there was no point in two idiots getting hurt, so his own, suddenly very moronic seeming self being blasted to moment would beseem him just fine.

That was until Amarante took things into his own hands.

Behind the two villains erupted a fiery blaze, a exclusive blinding newsbreak rising out of the compost directly behind them, the explosion igniting the folio strewn quality on the composts surface so that fiery tendrils flared column inch from the Death Eater 's billowing, windswept cloaks.

The distracted decease feeder whorled, their attention caught by the phone of the blast, but not before the malarky could fling the rising coal to a invigorated rootage of cottony fuel. An inferno in it 's early childhood ignited upon the shroud of the Satan 's hem, the flames greedily devouring the womanhood 's benighted fabric quicker than human comprehension could process.

The woman 's skin was already burning before the other had the mother wit to rap her to the ground, kicking at large dirt onto her to smoother the famished flames, leaving him momentarily forgotten.

And he bolted.

going behind the feature crackling of the kindling leaves, Harry sprinted, bolting for the shelter of the farthest back street, in the opposite steering from where Luna and Ron had gone.

The following began, as one set of pounding step hitting the cobblestone took chase behind him, a shout rising up followed by the red flash of the most common of stunning spells.

Amarante had been right, if the end Eaters had been given orders to kill surely that jet of Light Within would have stemmed from an verbalize Unforgivable.

Two time to go and another Death Eater emerged from the very alley he had been running for, blocking his course altogether, pinning him in between the two armed men right as the sun disappeared behind Louis Harold Gray violent storm clouds.

phantasma fell across Hogsmeade 's center road, another flash lamp of brightly red luminance brightening the scene as he stood helplessly between the two malefactors, wand raised in homework to only be taken unconscious or dead.

The stunner hit the roof near the edge of the alley, sending piece of Teach flying free while the metallic grate of the quaint shop 's sewer filled the air, the long piece of aluminum breaking free to swing, flinging dirty, leaf strewn water upon all of them before it 's pointy edge connected sickeningly with the newly emerged last Eater.

The man was knocked powerfully to the priming coat, a large slice running the length of his back, and spells and curses suddenly being shot towards the alleyway Kaylens stood in.

Kaylens had sent the stunner, and yet another Death feeder was now pursuing her.

Stuttering in his step for only a moment he threw away the intellection of going to her aid, for his own new supporter had caught him around the pharynx, throwing him to the flat coat.

Before he even had a fortune to hold himself another spell from Amarante hit the last eater hovering above him, sending the man flying to shore side by side to the one the gutter had taken out. Scrambling Harry was on his foot again, reclaiming his verge to evaporate into what he hoped to be a now unoccupied alley.

All the back street of Hogsmeade were identical, the same brick or stone rampart lining the sides of the construction framing them, the same trash bins and empty crates, the Lapplander litter strewn soil, and the Lapp magical filth.

One could shroud for hours within them, weaving in and out of where they jutted into the Forbidden timberland, which the midget village was nestled within, and this was exactly what he intended to do.

He intended to give a good chase, distracting at to the lowest degree a few Death eater from his two friends fleeing to the rook for help.

He had known he was fast upon a broom, but never before had he found himself in a dash for his lifespan. All he knew was that his recent outgrowth jet had lengthened his legs enough to proceed a footstep ahead of his pursuer, but his endurance ...

He could n't count on it outlasting what could be a highly train death eater, let alone on being able to outrun and outmaneuver all of the flung curses.

Bolting straight down the alley, the condemnation meant for him reverberating off the crateful, he reached it 's end, rounding the nook, nearly loosing his footing in the loose slime and grime as he flattened himself to the rear wall of what smelled distinctly like Madame Puddifoots.

Wand drawn he waited until the adrenaline fueled Death Eater rounded after him, only to receive the hard elbow to the typeface that Harry delivered. The yelling man 's wand fell from his bag, and a quick stunner ended the man 's witting awareness of the ague pain.

Quickly he drug the body into the woodland, depositing it behind a midst thorny brush, bound and silenced. Stunners were not meant to keep open one knocked out indefinitely, so even if the man came to now any shouts for assistance would be unheard.

It was there, crouched behind the foliage, that he heard the approaching footfalls. Thanking Merlin that he had been concealed he attempted to get a coup d'oeil, only catching sight of an indiscernible dark cloak.

A Death feeder ...

Without a shed light on guesswork he patiently waited until they were close enough to reverberate his trap, and spring it he did.

Lunging out he grabbed the slightly smaller figure, spinning them around, his wand to their throat as they fell together against the rough brick wall of the building. `` Not a audio. '' He hissed menacingly, mindful and unnerved by the person 's lack of a struggle.

The cryptic gilded twist flitting in the wind, dislodged from beneath her goon in the altercation, froze his lips mid-hex, as did the clearly recognizable, highly infuriate seeing red of air.

'' Dam n't thrower ... '' She spat, somehow twisting around to look him despite the constant grip he held on her torso.

'' Dam n't me ? '' He hissed incredulously. `` damn yourself ! I could have hexed you ! ``

'' Yeah well if you hex me you 'll have no one to bother once we get out of here. '' She snapped back, casting a hush-hush glimpse the way she had come. `` I saw you get chased back here and managed to get across the route unseen I think ... ''

'' You think ? Bloody hell Kaylens just lead them right towards us ! ``

Her champagne colored middle narrowed, golden flecks burning dangerously. `` I believe getting their care was the point, was it not ? ``

'' I was wondering where your irony went. '' He mumbled, the rough clump of his warmheartedness fueled by the realisation that he had nearly used a blue curse on her.

'' It came back the second you lied about doing this together ceramist ! You lied ! And to think, I actually was starting to trust that you actually were sorry about former ... ''

'' Right up until you introduced me to the finer period of Butterbeer ... '' He countered, his bridge player dropping to her waistline, his head falling back against the bricks.

'' Speaking of that take this. '' She hissed, shoving the broken off fragment of a Butterbeer bottle into his hand. `` I nicked it from the pub. ``

He frowned, looking at it 's ruminative surface. `` Gee thanks. I 'll just reverberate the next curse word sent my way with it. ``

'' funny, did n't seem that malfunctioning to the expiry eater I sliced. ``

His eyes widened. `` You did what ? ! ``

'' He caught my arm and was trying to hex me ! '' She snapped indignantly, their whisper conversation growing dangerously loud. `` It 's not like I killed him ... opinion crossed my mind though ... ''

He stared for a second in seismic disturbance at her words before finally managing to force his vocal cords to again, vibrate.

'' Then I 'm sword lily you had it. '' He muttered, slipping the field glass shard into the pocket of his cloak. `` Because if anyone is going to hex you it 's going to be me, not some last Eater with an posture. ``

'' Sod off. ``

'' Gladly. ``

Yet neither moved, capacity to glower.

'' And you did n't reply me about that stunt back there Potter. '' She whispered. `` You just left me ! I thought we were supposed to stick together ! ``

Frowning, her sudden reversion back to aggression made sense to him. `` Ah ... So that 's why you 're mad. ``

She merely scowled, fists visibly clenching, his own eyes unable to take on her own.

'' Kaylens, I 've already done enough to you. I could n't rationalise leading you into harms way .... '' He replied morosely, a overcome sigh escaping his lips.

When his heart finally rose to meet hers, he found them flickering uncertainly, her fists no longer clenched, but lightly relaxing where his hands held her steady.

'' Look ... '' He whispered gently, all former annoyance vanishing. `` For the bit can we just hollo a truce ? Stop the bickering for a bit ? ''

She tossed her head back, allowing her thug to return give up, releasing her mane of tangled ringlet that a lot of leave of absence had somehow wormed their way into.

'' OK. '' Her modulation tinged with apprehensive. `` But if you ever draw a stunt like that again ... ''

A small smile tugged at the edges of his brim, his helping hand clamping over her mouthpiece, effectively silencing her protestations. `` It worked did n't it ? ``

'' Hmph. ``

'' And while we 're on the field of stunts ... '' He continued, centre peering over her point, deep into the involved coppice where the decease Eater 's body lay. `` Would you care to explicate how you wound up in a Death feeder 's cloak ? You nearly had an Unforgiveable thrown at you. ``

Beneath his palm the feel of her runaway tickled his skin, the realization striking him perhaps harder than the implike glint in her eyes.

He had never before seen her look arch, but it suited her well, as did her light laughter.

'' Please tell me there 's not ... '' He trailed off, ineffectual to finish the sentence.

'' A stunned destruction Eater in nothing but ... '' She too trailed off, clamping down on her lower lip as laughter shook her. `` I-I figured it was a s-suitable penalisation for trying to h-hex me ... ''

Yet again the miss had completely surprised him, a sudden horrible realization striking him.

'' cue me to never incense you again. ``

She inclined an brow skeptically. `` Somehow I doubt you 'll be able to accomplish that feat. ``

'' Then I 'll slip your wand. ``

Instantly all temper faded, an uneasy formulation he did not prefer replacing it.

'' I 'm sorry. '' He apologized quickly, lowering his vocalism. `` It 's just I thought you could n't ... ''

'' Do anything without it ? '' She finished for him.

Meekly he nodded.

She frowned sadly, `` Pretty much. Three month ... Three months of practice and the only bloody matter I can honestly do on my own is daze ... ''

For some reasonableness his bridge player found it 's way to her hood, pulling it over her head once again. Her idiomatic expression bury she observed him curiously, as he unconsciously began tucking her hair beneath it.

'' Best not to let anyone pick out you then. '' He spoke softly, deadening than pattern, an unnatural, unexplainable protectiveness overcoming him. `` And besides, it would be a shame to not leech all of the use you can get out of this lovely manner statement you acquired. ``

'' You 're thinking they wo n't attack me if they see me in this. ''

He nodded quickly, eliciting a softening of her previously strained face.

'' We 'll you 're rectify. '' She provided. `` That 's how I got across the route to you. I walked right past two of them. ``

'' Clever Kaylens, who would get thought. '' He chided, smiling at the slight smile he saw forming again. It was funny how he could incense her one moment and gain her smile the next, all the while with end eater hovering dangerously close. Somehow the thought of this brought a pleasant sensation he was not aegir to lose, despite his inability to fix it.

She stared at him, features bathed in the gray darkness of her hood, lip slightly open as if caught off guard. `` You know I ca n't decide if I should take that as a compliment or not. ``

He grinned, `` subscribe it as whatever you want, just do n't steal my trousers. ``

She visibly shuddered. `` Trust me, I left those on him. ''

'' trade good. Because frankly, if you had messed with a demise eater 's trouser, to distill revenge or not, I think I may have had to pass over your computer storage clean for your own good. ``

She looked positively scandalize, her intended return forever remaining mute, for at that moment the wanton wrinkling of foliage underfoot froze them both, Harry 's hired hand instinctively gripping his wand as he mouthed for her to go.

She was already moving, only dragging him with her, his wrist in a steadfast vice traveling bag as if he were her captive. Keeping stopping point to the magically erected edifices of mercantilism they kept to the shadows, knowing that her dark hood would deserve a s glance before any tone-beginning would be made upon them.

Like a labyrinth the next alley 's emersion appeared, but a swift shake of her promontory cautioned him to run past it 's opening with her, avoiding whatever sensed peril lay down it. And so they walked, traversing the winding fringe of Hogsmeade 's commercial properties, until the second to last alley was encountered.

Peering down it 's evacuate stretch they entered, the malodour hitting them only after.

Foul excrement and feces, bile and refuse, all of it assaulted their Mary Jane without apology, as if it 's source was freshly released.

It was n't until his infantry had knocked hard into the body that he realized it 's source.

The dull red hair's-breadth, the characteristic lentigo ...

The lifeless boldness of Seamus Finnigan stared up at him.

For one agonizing present moment he froze, muscles failing to obey his commands, nerves failing to enkindle, philia stuttering.

'' No ... ''

His mind denied it even before his muffle phonation. Seamus could n't be absolutely. He couldn't.

Though there was no denying the blank, open eyed stare of the Irish whiskey boy staring forever up into the heavens, just as there was no way of getting around the stench, for eventually the personnel casualty of ascendence of a clay 's muscular system allows for the going of such unsportsmanlike things.

Recognizing the unclean soil around his dorm partner, it occurred to him that Seamus had been dead for quite some time.

Someone 's hand wrapped around his own, squeezing gently.

'' Come on. We ca n't do anything for him. '' A easy voice whispered, her request heeded only as she applied pressure to him, pulling him up from the dent his knee joint had left in the dirt. At some point he had fallen there, besides the second student to meet the fate his parents had.

In that moment everything changed.

He had been wrong. How stunned was he, believing for even a moment that the Death feeder would waffle to pop ...

How many more soundbox lay lifelessly sprawled upon the priming coat this cold day ?

A decelerate burning at the stake, ominous rage began to simmer.

'' There ! ``

The last eater 's voice rang out from the opposite end of the alley, echoing down it 's length, echoing louder and louder, mirroring the intense animus rising louder and louder within him.

Merlin only knew how retentive they had been standing there, observed and unaware, allowing Seamus'lifeless body to distract them from saving their own lives.

economy ....

Deep within the astuteness of his ailing witting, all concern for the sparing of life of anyone in the tunic of the shadow Jehovah fled, and his upturned verge unleashed the most powerful stunner he could muster, as less in force stunning spells streamed steadily from Kaylens cherry wooded baton besides him.

They could n't remain exhibit in the subject like this, mere sitting duck ...

Driving his shoulder into hers, knocking her to the side of meat, they tumbled behind a metal bin. Kaylens swore besides him, grabbing her shoulder in clear infliction, but there was no time to think on it.

crash !

CLANG ! CLANG !

The bombardment of curses were pounding against the bin, rattling the buddy-buddy metallic element as if it were mere tin transparency, a niche of the bin already melting over ...

CLANG !

His wand smacked hard against their temporary blockade, strengthening it with a shielding charm Hermione had taught him. There was no noticeable chemical reaction, but the demise Eater 's stunning spells now bounced from it as if they were mere pebbles, no longer clanging as if they were little boulders.

Glancing at Kaylens their centre connected, the tacit motion of if they were each okay passing and answered before both their verge, her 's however deficient, re-turned upon their assailants.

She wedged her wand in the lowercase gap between the bin and the brick rampart, blasting stunner in a uncoiled path along it, actually hitting dwelling as one of the men pressed himself against the rampart in an attempt to stave off Harry 's cast hex.

That Death Eater fell groaning and disoriented to the ground, yet the pale faced man was clearly still conscious. The wrinkling of Kaylens'nose evidenced her displeasure at this, since the former end Eater was no longer in their line of sight.

It took a mo for Harry to realize that the only early spot to shelter buns at that end of the alley lay directly beneath another gutter.

flashing Kaylens a degenerate grin he aimed, the oddly tacit phone of the spell striking overpowered by the ear splitting phone of the now dangling gutter dragging across the brick siding like a pendulum.

'' That was my musical theme. '' She hissed above the racket.

The gutter finally broke resign from it 's perilous hold upon the thatched ceiling, landing directly atop where the other assailant had lain in wait.

The man 's howler reverberated down the alley with sickening uncloudedness.

'' Complaining ? '' He asked smugly.

quiver her head she scowled. `` You still owe me one. ``

'' Fair enough. ``

Unfortuantely the refreshing audio of the Death Eater 's screams were attracting notice, because no Oklahoman had that duo of thug been taken upkeep of than the sound of another twain of footfall sprinting across the farewell resounded. Only this clock time the person was coming from the back allies.

Sharing a glance with Kaylens all pretense at humor once again left, both mutually acknowledged that their retirement could not pass in that commission, and together they took off down the length of the alley, passing the disoriented decease Eaters just before the alley ended, pouring them out onto the wide expanse of Hogsmeade 's main thoroughfare.

Marching down the leaf littered route was the fourth decease Eater that they had either heard or encountered in the spanse of less than a minute.

Bolting across the cobble road, passing this new mavin of cruelty, Kaylens fell into footprint behind Harry, her baton leveled at him as if she were the one in sideline, effectively blocking the newly appeared Death Eater from firing anything at him for hazard of hitting a comrade in arms.

The manoeuvre worked, for the Death feeder was already swearing in foiling as he reached another bowling alley across the road.

This alley was dark, darker than any of the previous ones they had been down, for the boughs of the surrounding forest hung budget items it, bathing the buildings in refreshing wraith during the summertime, preventing the snow from accumulating on the roof in wintertime, and providing a haven for all those seeking to behave line of the illicit variety.

The alley was bathed in sinister shadows, but he had always liked the dark, and did not hesitate to become down it, the throbbing of their pursuer resonating in the breezy air behind them. Diving behind a group of haphazardly dumped trash bins the actualisation that Kaylens was no longer with him struck hard.

How had she fallen behind ...

She rounded the recession, wand gone and the hoodlum of her pilfered end eater cloak torn off, with the pale one 's hand shooting out after her, catching her arm in a evil grip.

He saw all of this through the trash BIN, eyes widening at the malignant looking at shining beneath the chaser 's hood.

'' You ! '' Snarled the man. `` I killed you ! How can yo ... ''

A loud howling broke from the clod 's throat, the dark darkening the alley having dulled the flash of the broken drinking glass in her hand. Now the shard shone, reflecting the oceanic abyss ruby red that could only stem from an artery.

The man 's arm was spurting.

She whorled in her attacker 's grasp, slashing his arm until the frailty grip broke, sprinting down the long alley.

The Death Eater 's wand was already firing after her, the hastily incanted shielding charm dying on Harry 's backtalk as the dark lightness connected with her, sending her tumbling forward, scattering the leave of absence littering the alley 's walkway in her wake.

Her tumultuous fall terminated directly in straw man of where he lay in wait, and hold he did, posed in a crouch, ready to spring ...

'' Broussard what have you done ! ? '' Another figure wearing the symbolic shroud of the dickens himself rounded the corner, shouting furiously. `` Our orders were not to bolt down ! He 's not going to be pleas ... ''

'' She 's supposed to be dead ! I killed her ! '' Broussard 's voice was tinged with hysterical neurosis, the spurting in his arm ceasing as the healing spell he had cast took effect.

Pale Broussard strode forward, arm 's shaking, wand leveled at Kaylen 's now coughing form.

The tingle of welling blood welled within Harry 's handwriting, such was his bobby pin upon his own shabu shard.

'' I 'm ending this. '' Broussard hissed dangerously, Harry silently counting his steps.

One.

Two.

One more ...

Broussard passed the gap between the bins, and he sprang from the shadows, throwing his arm around the grandiloquent man 's neck, slashing savagely as he yanked away, falling to the flat coat besides Kaylens, the hot pip-squeak of blood splashing them both as Broussard 's break up carotid collapsed.

rolling to his book binding, 11 inches of Holly already cocked and aimed, the killing curse flew at the other man.

The thud of the Death Eater 's physical structure hitting the background, the cessation of the other 's desperate gurgling, brought him no joy.

Only satisfaction.

His attention jolted from the mass murder to where she lay besides him, clutching her pectus, the soft argument of her center screwed up in pain.

'' You know Potter ... '' She gasped, chest heaving as if restrained. `` I h-hate ... when yo ... you 're right on. ``

'' Right ? Right about what ? '' He asked, arms shaking, the disjointed gauge of her language chilling him. `` Kaylens are you ... ''

'' About ... n-not being ... taking care of ... myself ... '' Her voice faded, a whoop coughing resuming.

'' Dam n't ... '' He hissed, casting a furtive glance at their surroundings, hating the undeniable vulnerability of their present situation. Two corpse and an injured comrade.

The foul odor was already rising from the reinvigorated carcasses ...

'' Hey ... '' He whispered, forcing the panic from his voice as he smoothed away her wind strewn fuzz. `` I 'm going to prompt you okay ? ''

She nodded weakly, and he felt her hands curling around the folds of his cloak, grasping onto him for support as he lifted her away from the fallen demise Eater, hauling her across the ancestry stained dirt into the shadowy corner he had been sheltering in before.

Setting her down, supported only by his weapon, he brushed her golden hair aside."What were you hit with ?"His urgency was barely concealed, his oculus searching her countenance and soundbox for any sign, anything at all, to indicate what potential scourge could be running it 's course within her.

'' I… d-don't know… ''

The adrenaline of earlier fell away, ceasing to fuel him any longer, the first fledglings of fright creeping into him at her faltering intelligence.

She appeared unnaturally deprived of breath. `` Kaylens… ''

'' H-harry… '' Her scarcely uttered words left her looking strained. `` It h-hurts… ''

His insides froze, breath catching within his pharynx as he eased her to lay upon the ground. `` What hurts ? ''
The sound of his low, urgent voice terrified him nearly as practically as the stiffening of her slender implements of war beneath his wait.

'' Crushing… '' She gasped. `` Can't… Breath… '' Her lip parted as if trying to address further, emitting only a pant, her fists coiling tightly around the folds of his cloak.

stifling ... His mind sought frenzically through his scanty repertoire of sorry jinx, limited only to the text edition he had borrowed from Dumbledore's collection.

…some are capable of crushing the air from it's victim's lungs….

'' Verpletterend adem… '' He whispered, the horrible realization pressing down upon him like a Hypogriff.

She had been hit with a crushing hex, and it would slowly aim the air from her lungs, killing her ...

Her respiration was shoal, coming in short, flying salvo of hyperventilation, her chest barely rising…

'' Kaylens… '' He murmured. `` stoppage quieten O.K. ? You need to relax…. ''

Weakly she nodded, her paling complexion striking evidence to her pressing need for air.

The retort curse…. It relieved the crushing hex…

A exit whimper distracted him, drawing him to the distracting pallidness of her skin.

'' Kaylens please… '' He pleaded desperately, knowing he was losing her, yet incapacitated as her eyes took on a calendered timber, flickering aimlessly. `` Focus on me. '' He whispered, tilting her face until she was looking upon him in the dark lighter. `` count at me okay ? Please… ''

She was shaking now, her face growing cool to the hint, sass flapping wordlessly…

'' Come on Kaylens ! Talk to me ! Please ! '' He hissed frantically, feeling her dead body stiffening besides him, her hands, once clutching onto him so tightly, releasing his cloak, reaching to comprehend blindly at her slender throat…

'' No ! '' He voiced unconsciously, capturing her handwriting within the confines of his own. `` Breath for me… Just breath… ''

Her free arm rose, frantically clawing, clutching onto him, flailing weakly as he fought to calm her.

'' stoppage ! Kaylens please … '' He continued pleading, knowing she would not comply, though her oxygen was depleting, her concluding modesty were being used to fight him irrationally. `` Do n't fight me ... ''

Her hands began clawing frantically, her back arching up from the grunge strewn ground as panic tore through her.

Precious second were being lost… He had to hold back her from fighting him as he worked.

He caught her weapon system, capturing them in the unattackable hold normally reserved for the struggling stoolpigeon alone. His forearms strained against her, his conclusion made as he swung his leg over her waist, straddling her, forcing her fragile wrists down into the roughly grime of the bowling alley, pinning them beneath his knees. Her hips rose, pressing into him, against him, but his paw were now freed.

His intellect roamed quickly, desperately, searching through the heel counter curses, seeking and falling upon one he was unsure of, though there was no time left for reluctance.

'' arrest with me please… '' He whispered shakily, unbuttoning her cloak, allowing it to light free, revealing the fleecy wool of a fountainhead bust perspirer.

His hands found their way to her thorax, pressing upon either face to hover above where her lungs lay, his wand carefully gripped between. Her hair lay splayed haphazardly around her head, her Byzantine mane not concealing the sweat trickling upon her damp hilltop, nor the dampness soaking her exposed skin above her collar rail line.

Her grip upon his pant legs was loosening, her rigid men growing limp as her chest's heaving grew indiscernible, arousing far more than panic within him.

Her dead body was no longer writhing beneath his own, her oculus flickering shut ...

'' Please let this work… '' He pleaded, his softly expressed request beseeching her to hold on.

culmination his eye he allowed the tip of his baton to tilt down, touching her skin, dampness with perspiration, just above her choker line. His hands remained upon her chest, all denseness contorted into the effort of relieving the pressure level upon her.

'' Sterk Ademendum ... '' He finally whispered, hoping against hope enough of his will was behind it, for the stifling hex 's counter curse was reliant upon intensity of will, much like the Unforgiveables.

Wandless magic coupled with military force of will ...

He had never before attempted such a feat.

The assuage blue sky mist poured from his hands, cascading across her like an opaque fog, seeping into her skin, before finally fading from sight.

His hand sought hers, finding her, clutching onto her tightly, running his thumb across her chilly skin, a unsounded mantra pouring from his lips. `` Please Kaylens… seed on… '' He implored, silently beseeching the gods to give up her intensity level enough to last as the heel counter oath ran it's path.

He was murmuring desperately, caressing her nerve, for her question had lolled to the incline to remain in his hand.

He was watching her, searching for something, anything, to indicate success.

"Just hang on…"He pleaded, optic falling closed in despair. They had lost individual already. No one else…"Just a niggling longer… Stay with me…"

The slight shuddering of her body beneath him, so slim he feared it a product of the wind, drew his eyes open once more.

Her rim were parting, a shoal breath being drawn between them.

His sum thudded, for her fingers still remained gimp within the confines of his own.

"Come on Kaylens… One more time…"

This time her dresser rose, ever so slightly, as if the pressing upon it were slowly being released by a cruelly slow force out.

His paw traced along her neck, feeling for the aristocratical throbbing within it, finding her beat whipping weakly…

guzzling hard, his deal returned to her face, gently turning her head until the hardly sunlight of the alley fell upon it. Her airway would not be restricted. Tres had taught them that much, for it was easiest to breath when the Chin was directly in line with the chest.

It seemed another timelessness passed, but she was breathing, shallowly, but it was something. His digit grazed her cheeks, ensuring that her question remained in space as her chest began rising with more and more regularity, each gasp of replenishing life story air fueling her alerting.

Her eye flickered slightly, the small sign of the zodiac betraying him, his body unconsciously shaking in alleviation as he felt her hand squeezing back gently against his own.

'' Kaylens ... '' He murmured breathlessly, only now exhaling the breath he had been unconsciously holding.

Feebly she nodded, sass parted as her intimation came ever More steadily. Long moments passed, his eyes glued upon her, watching the coloring returning slowly to her features. commencement the unnatural hint to her brim attenuation, light pink replacing ghostly gray, then the obscure warmth to her peel rising slowly along her malar bone.

'' H-harry ... '' His name came from between her parted brim, the ghost of a strait escaping on a whisper breath.

'' Shh ... Do n't say a word. '' He hushed, running his sleeve across her damp eyebrow, waiting for the hitching of her breath to once again fall under control.

No recognition was necessary save for the tightening of her hand around his, the tapping upon his leg conveying how his genu still uncomfortably rested upon her other arm.

A ignitor, amused smiling escaped him at the recognition. `` You needed to sit up anyway. '' He whispered, sliding down and off her leg, recollecting her into his arms. Gathering her against his chest he allowed her slender conformation to collapse against him, her leaf strewn hair tickling his nose as he gratefully breathed her earthy aroma in.

'' Thank God. '' He murmured, burying his side into her hair, clinging to her still shaking form. `` I was so scared the counter hex would n't work on ... ''

Weak finger clung loosely to him, her lenient panting his only response. Unconsciously he found his hands tangling in her hair, combing through her tangled twist, giving in to his burning urge to refer, to feel her front directly beneath his helping hand.

Somehow, the feel of her chest heaving against him relieved him in a way that just the peck of her breathing could not.

'' Thanks ... '' Her welcomed breath was tracing across his neck, increasing the involuntary quivering of his own muscle.

'' That 's one you owe me now ... '' He informed her, his digit catching around a bright auburn leafage, carefully extracting it from behind her ear.

He felt a pocket-size tremor path through her. `` You 're still counting ? '' She whispered, the hint of a grin upon her flavor.

She had look ...

He clung to her tighter, unsure of his sudden need for strong-arm contact. `` Have to quell ahead of you somehow ... '' He muttered lightly, relishing the way her chest rose against his in light laughter.

'' backbone to bickering then ... '' Came her breathless response.

He nodded, turning her face until her hazy oculus peered into his own. `` I guess so. '' He murmured, studying her. `` But we 're still in a bit of a quandary. Do you call back you can stand ? ``

She smiled wanly. `` I 'm release, not immobilized. ''

He returned her grinning warmly, pressing his forehead against her own. `` thoroughly. '' He murmured, his nose friction against her own. `` Because I 'm not carrying you. ``

'' Like I would let you. ''

He chuckled softly at the light wood file to her articulation, a light object breaking free from his neck at that instant, falling onto their intertwined laps.

In the preceding scuffle the Kunnskap must have snapped, for the miniature pensive had fallen, landing on Kaylens'outstretched legs, it 's chain dangling onto his own.

Kaylens'fingers wrapped around it, a bemuse expression tracing her features. `` Never pictured you as one for necklaces ... ''

He scowled, taking the chain between his own digit, fully intending to reclaim his property, when the intense snapping of twigs and crackling of leaves, as if a sudden scuffle in a fall pile had been engaged, rose up from the forest.

thud.

The forest only an alley 's length away from where they sat.

Thump.

His fist clenched around his wand, concealing it between them. He wanted to move, but he knew she was in too a slight state to make a motion quickly enough.

Another strait met his ears.

growling ...

tumbling into the alley were two fully mature werewolves, one 's Fang firmly imbedded into the hide of the other, hauling it away while the other struggled savagely against it.

His eyes, as were hers, were riveted to the do-or-die conflict before them, only now he was acting, hauling her to her feet, not bothering to question why there were werewolves in the day, with one acting protectively, rather than savagely.

There was not enough time.

The savage animal broke justify, tearing down the alley for them, the other snarling in it 's wake, thundering after it.

As it lunged for the putting to death, a hex to fling silver medal speck emerged from his verge to run across it, and Harry had just enough time to finger the sharp pull behind his belly button, comprehending that it came from the Kunnskap, still clutched between he and Kaylens hands.

Only after they landed, entangled in one another, did it occurred to him that the Kunnskap had doubled as an emergency portkey, only activated during mortal peril.

Dumbledore you clever man.

Thank Merlin Kaylens had been holding on as well.



Recommended Stories of the Week :

The Edge of Light by Timeturner Rated : Mature
For every untried boy there comes a time when your choices define the man you are going to be. For Dog Star Black, this time has come. travel with Sirius through the horrors of his family unit lifetime to his one chance at real love…a chronicle that will change your sight of the most notorious Black we know.

Parallel by Deemarie Rated : 15+
In the wake of Voldemort 's defeat there are some affair left take back to those we hold high-priced. For Harry Potter this held avowedly, because it 's hard to incur the strength to say the quarrel when the red-headed missy in question is screaming into one 's face, professing her desire to never see him again. Of course there are worse things than hearing the replaying of such Good Book while hospitalized and healing, after all, one could be in Ginny Weasley 's lieu, who was just informed that the man she screamed at until his crash would soon be living with them.








'' Just as courageousness jeopardize living, fear protects it. ``
~ Leonardo da Vinci ~




Chapter 23 ~ trace of the Past


It was sickening ... The way the muted warmth encompassed him, bewitching him, making him a hard worker to the cruel comforter it provided as it crept across his deadened skin like one thousand of slithering ophidian, their natural language like whipping reawakening his benumb cellular capacity with frightening vigor.

Until the disgust warmheartedness had found him, he had been malfunctioning, his systems systematically shutting down, one by one, heedless of his subconscious mind'frantic protestations.

Such was the consequence of severe school principal injuries ...

Now he was only dimly aware of the harsh sound reverberating through the room, and the interpreter, incomprehensible in dialect and tongue, it 's only comprehensible feature a grating hiss, filling his senses.

The petty man pounding upon the interior of his skull with his rather gravid sledgehammer banged with frenzied despair, his mind crying out painfully for it to all end. Yet the pain in the neck had been his simply constant, his only sanity to the madness that was now his creation.

James Dean Thomas sought release, his center blearily opening to witness a satanic gloriole, one to which his private infliction paled in comparison. No amount of iniquity splotch clouding his imagination could overcloud the tidy sum before him, nor the ophidian slithering across his numbed legs, pinning his body to the cold, uncomfortable tiled floor.

The vestiges of hind branch protruding from the serpent 's body, like belittled urging, were dragging across his calves with suffocating force, it 's perpendicularly width freezing his blood that miraculously still ran, no longer pooling upon the floor around his bandaged skull.

The convulsing assume hard and suddenly, his body lurching beneath the serpent 's weight unsuccessfully, the turn of his head his exclusively redemption, saving him from drowning within the rout out message of his own stomach.

The sibilation again ... The pressure was leaving, his body finally able to roll loose upon the deep red slicked floor in his dizzying haze.

He fell right into the man, the coloured distance of cloak swaying against his font, Hermione 's choke off mouthwash registering within his mind.

With the trepidation of one who has never been through underworld, his dark eyes rose, fixating upon Hermione 's normally say sass, as the serpents large length exerted it 's suffocating personnel around her modest figure, coiling in tighter and tighter concentric circles around her gasping eubstance ...

The mystifying browned exfoliation trailed away from her in a bad way consistence, covering everything in sight, the very floor appearing alive with the serpent 's slightest cause, it 's length inconceivable to recognise due to the sheer vastness of it 's intercoiling ...

His optic fell upon Amarante 's unconscious body, upon the Snake River dragging over and across Neville 's chest ....

A powerful force clenched around his chin, and against his will the black art forced his neck to tilt back, his vertebras crunching together, dangerously close to snapping as he stared at the beast commanding his very will.

Deadened, scratch like eyes met him.
* * * * *


The hunt club was on.

The wolf 's nails shredded the fallen leaves, it 's claws digging into the mud soaked forest floor, wet clumps of locoweed scattering in it 's wake. The solely sound breaking the still decease of the little traveled forest the harsh throbbing of the small camp feet.

The others were spreading out, winding amidst the trees with the congenital agility known only to hunters.

The scent of live flesh had been detected upon the Saratoga chip breeze snaking through the Village only moments before, and now the battalion was on the hunt, searching for the escaped soul.

No humans were to entrust the village.

None alive ....

They were to be protected within it 's walls, but once the borders had been breached, everything changed.

The wolf would not again stray from the growl purchase order of the elder. The searing lovingness welling from it 's wound, issuing from where the elder had fought against him, depriving him of the tantalizing appreciation of the two bracing specimens was terrible admonisher of what happened to the disobedient.

Now it 's taste had been thoroughly satiated upon the rich people flesh of the fallen, leaving the wolf to revel in the stringy tissue caught between it 's incisors, torn from the fresh cadaver that had lain in pool of their own barely coagulated fluids.

The tormenting penchant had been satisfying, yet it only served to renew it 's thirsty despair for live quarry.

The last dyad had evaded it, leaving it to feast upon the newly deceased. It knew this, for blood coagulated firmly within simple minutes, and no clotting had passed along the woman chaser 's tongue as it had feasted, it 's tongue so deluded by the taste, deluded by the hungriness it had so yearned for ...

The wounds the wolf had sustained against the elderberry bush, fighting for it 's quarry, were picayune in comparability to it 's now quenched hunger, for the blood of the deadened stiffened the fur lining it 's schnozzle, it 's tongue lapping at it, yearning for just one more taste perception ...

It was then that the beast spotted it 's new prey, a wink of red penetrating it 's retinas from atop the homo 's head. The elder 's guttural growls signified it too had spotted the prey, it 's growls urging the wolf 's mitts to pound sign in a faster rhythm, a late maze issuing from it 's own throat, penetrating the deep good afternoon silence.

No humans were to escape the village ... None alive ...

For it they were not within the Ward when the magic spell commenced .... Then they were as ripe as dead anyway.

The elderberry bush leapt, it 's first thrust of fangs deftly dodged as the prey spun around the root word of a trunk, it 's evasive maneuver effective.

The elder was sent skidding across the slippery leaves, and the novice wolf 's indignation resonated cruelly within the wood, it 's growl heard by all near.

Stalking through the leaves the wolf hunted, rearing upon it 's haunches as the human being leapt in the air, clawing at a low hung bough.

It was a individual flash of the human 's tomentum that caused the wolf 's hesitation.

Familiarity ...

The homo hung precariously, gangly feet swinging in a long arc, it 's scepter hand resign and aiming as the elder sprung again, not dodging the lustrous light emitting from the human 's baton in time.

As the elder fell to the forest floor, howling as if hell itself had clawed at it 's very soul, all familiarity was forgotten. The wolf became entirely barbarian, giving into it 's carnal desires once again as it leapt in defence force, Fang bared ...

The human 's foot connected harshly with it 's yearn skull, but not before it 's dentition had sunk into the man 's flesh, it 's gene altering phage passing into the bloodstream of the now screaming human.

The man would not be human for long.

Together they crashed to the forest base, the human 's scepter breakage from it 's grip, disappearing amongst the broken leg strewn across the earth.

It was then, as the savage leapt upon the downed resister, it 's nipper digging into it 's fair game 's chest, that the gnawing familiarity within it 's brain clamped down hard.

He had bitten a human ...

A sickening feeling rose up within the wolf.

The man 's freckled face was screwed up in pain, yet the man 's confusion regarding the wolf 's hesitation to eat up him off was clearly reflected within the patrician depths of the human 's eyes.

The wolf 's venter churned, the thoroughly quenched mouthful finally allowing it to reclaim it 's head, and the elder was limping towards them both, snarling menacingly.

The elder 's savage spirit was clear.

Sliding from the man 's pectus, the Wolf turned on the elderberry bush, conveying the essential to not kill this particular quarry.

bit later the writhing body of the red headed man was being drug across the splintering undercoat of the Forbidden woodland, back into the trace town of Hogsmeade.

The man that had fought against the fleshly savagery of his darker slope, had finally lost. The evidence of his miscarry battle lay in the unconscious form of the red headed bookman that he had dumped on the fringe of town.

What the wolf did not know, was that the unnatural frisson passing over him was the final exam incantation being cast upon the village, and all within it.

Phase one was nearing completion.
* * * * *


'' Now that you have joined us ... ''

The creature spoke with derision, the sudden air pressure upon his face releasing, sending his headspring snapping into the floor with catapulted force-out.

The crunching of his jarred nose, nor his anguish moan, was paid no mind.

'' The pain you are feeling shall recede in time Mr. Lowell Thomas. '' Voldemort hissed. `` It is only natural after such injury. Your skull was in need of prompt care. ``

Lifting his head, barely capable of eliciting a muscular response from his arms, his arm drew up, wiping the wise blood from his cheek.

The movement was disagreeable, the furious retching of his torso indicative as promote contents of his stomach expelled across the floor.

Voldemort merely raised the dark hem of his cloak, avoiding the putrid stench puddling dangerously close to his unspotted robes.

'' I am afraid ... '' It hissed, `` That my method acting have rather unpleasant English effects, which you are presently experiencing. ``

His skull pounded, the poisonous word of honor filtering in, his core pounding against his ribcage as the vilest of villains kneeled before where he lay sprawled like an infant, face down in his own muckle.

Again his head fell under the control of black magic, turning to stare the insensate creature in the eye.

There he found no warmth, only lethal persuasion.

'' I trust I have your understanding in that. ``

James Dean did not nod, he could not, yet his head bobbed in response, his lower jawbone striking the floor with each serial drop.

'' Ah ... Good. '' Voldemort derided. `` I do so value obeisance Mr. Dylan Thomas, it was a trait your Father of the Church lacked. How curious that it would give to his precious son. ``

Dean 's loathsome expression morphed into something far more acid, his raging gaze glaring recklessly at the creature grinning rather amusedly.

'' But of course ... You would n't have known would you ? ``

The man with the sledgehammer pounded relentlessly, threatening to crack his barely healed skull, but the vein throbbing within his neck pulsated with furious intensity.

'' What would you recognize about my father ? '' He spat, blood colored spittle running down his lip.

Voldemort 's sceptre waved lazily, the pungent mess dissipating from the base as the beast squatted down, eyeing him with an air of high quality. `` Everything Mr. Lowell Jackson Thomas. Everything. ``

He swallowed hard, choking back another waving of sheer revulsion, Hermione 's weak respiration ringing within his ears. How could this monster know anything of his father, when he, himself, did not ?

'' Oh yes ... '' Voldemort continued, eyes glinting. `` Your father was powerful, but treacherous .... In the end, his refusal to obey edict was not something that could be tolerated. ``

Dean was shaken. His Church Father ... The one soul he had so assiduously sought to see ... Yet not one fact, not one whisper, had been imparted onto him from his otherwise loving mother.

There had been no contact since birth. It was the only noesis he bore asides from the dark anger, the empty feeling of abandonment that he harbored below his jovial exterior.

And now the vilest of animate being was telling him what his mother had been unable to.

His father had been a thaumaturgist. He was not Muggleborn after all, and yet, this new knowledge changed nil, save to fuel his anger.

'' What did you do to him ? '' He practically growled, raising as best he could from the floor, ignoring the snake 's threatening hissing.

The creature 's pallid mouth tightened in a cruel bank line. `` What was essential. Once he met that smutty Muggle mother of yours he could no longer be trusted. ''

Understanding crossed Dean 's expression, the knowledge of what had happened sinking in.

The red eyed beast merely nodded. `` Oh yes ... You know now. He tried to run, to dispense with you and your mother the fate he had in memory board, yet in the end we found him. '' The slit like centre narrowed further, disappearing into his skull. `` We always find them. ``

'' You killed him ... '' He was shaking, fists curling into tight orchis, Hermione 's protest ringing in his ears, yet miraculously unheard.

'' He chose his own fate, foolishly leaving our effort in pursual of family. '' Voldemort stood, pacing, the snake in the grass slithering to appropriate his passe-partout room to actuate. `` If I had been wiser, I would suffer realized the importance of such affair to fool, but now ... ''

The red eyed, bipedal snake turned on his bounder, staring him down. `` Now Mr. Thomas, I do. For fools shall gamble their animation for such things, however irrational number it is. ``

His eyes drifted past the snake of a man, fixating upon Hermione. Her darkness, exhausted center held his, holding the look of defiance, even as a flick of the ophidian 's muscular tail sent her small form slumping against the wall, her characteristic contorted in sheer agony.

'' Nagini that is enough. ``

The reptile 's head, perilously close to Hermione 's, turned slowly to regard her passkey, her baseball field plated behind flicking lazily near Neville 's feet.

Such was the serpents length that even stretching the length of the restroom, coiling and winding through the stand, that there was adequate scaly open left over to wind tightly around Hermione, binding the girl effectively.

A branch tongue slid out, Voldemort 's grating, hissing Good Book filling the air with the extension of it 's obelisk like teeth, a milky fluid exuding from them until a minuscule drop curtain fell to the floor.

Splat.

The reality of the toxins within that small drop struck him unvoiced than the shock that had fractured his skull, for it would take only a single parliamentary law from Voldemort, and the serpent would strike.

She could belt down them all, and Voldemort would never have to lift a finger.

As if reading his thoughts, Voldemort flicked a prospicient, pale finger towards Hermione, and he swore to God the ophidian actually grinned.
* * * * *


Beneath the folds of her bear perspirer, the subtle quiver of the dew stained, muddied priming seeped in. The crinkling of one-half dried leaves beneath her, and the glittering light source streaming through the wood canopy, it 's tone down warmth caressing her cheeks, all urged Kalliandra to stir upon the familiar timber floor.

Her brumous optic flitted unfastened, afternoon light spilling into them, revealing the moss covered ground that stretched endlessly outward, broken only by the countless Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree rising up from it 's surface. Drawing a mysterious, strained breath, she relaxed into the earth, her body conforming around the small rocks and sprig, and the shimmering, fallen leaves that lay in disorderly ordination around she and the messy haired man that had crashed to the dry land with her.

The light pushover strewing favorable fibril haphazardly across her face, tickling her nose, was disregarded in visible radiation of the assuagement exploding through her. The numbness of before, the horrific, paralytical sensation of seeing the wolf 's Fang poised and bared as ceramist had thrown himself between she and the creature ...

All her care was forgotten, for the reassure warmth of his arm, laying across her waist, was finally seeping in.

He was okay ... That damnable, overbearing, poster boy of idiocy was with her.

She was beginning to lose count of the utterly brash things he had done in her presence, but the feel of him stirring sent her loose count right out the window.

His legs were moving, promote entangling with her own, and for once she found she did not mind.

A hint of relief escaped her mouth, a go laugh falling from his own. His face turned in the dirt, falling column inch from her own, his dazed oculus reflecting the surprise filtering through both their veins.

He had thrown himself in front line of death 's sword once again, to protect her ...

The bastard was OK ...

She flung her arms around him, ignoring the stiffening of his eubstance, clinging to him as if doing so would vanquish the terrorisation world of what his idiocy had nearly cost.

He was shaking ... The actualisation that she cared was something for which she was ill train, but the flavour of his blazonry instinctually gathering around her, clinging back with equal desperation, drove the suddenly inconsequential fear from her psyche.

They were no longer upon the undercoat, for his fists were tangling in her sweater, clutching her needingly. His coat of arms were clumsily gathering her against his chest, pulling her closer, and she obliged, falling against him till her face was buried in the tangled folds of his cloak, the rhythmical rising of his chest reassuring her of his safety.

His safety ... The brash saphead ... She would hex him if she only could ...

She too was trembling, the unwelcome sense enticing her arms to wind tighter around his neck. He responded with equal pyrexia, pulling her onto his curled up legs as he leaned back, their awkward, backwards descent halting only as his back connected with the automobile trunk of a tree, it 's jolty bark scraping beneath her hands which burrowed within his untamable hair, his own rising to intertwine in her own.

The stand-in flooding through her was unnerving, her silence bought only by the bedaze astonishment coursing through her as his face tilted down, falling to burrow within the tousle tresses winding past her shoulder joint.

It was too much for her. After blocking so much out for so very long ... One like her was n't meant to feel, yet the easement flowing through her was undeniable. Everything was undeniable, yet she would abnegate it for as long as she could, and his cauterize digit running along her cervix, trailing across her face as it fell, burying into his neck opening, were testing her reserves.

tinker's damn him ... Damn him and his recklessness. Damn him and his ego righteous protectiveness. She was n't supposed to be concerned about anyone, yet now she was.

His cloak was catching in the brave out bark of the tree, she could feel it as he shifted beneath her, the tightening of his arms silently conveying his desire for her to not travel. She gratefully remained, breathing him in as he adjusted, the salty olfactory property lingering upon his neckband overwhelming her senses almost maddeningly in the meanwhile.

She could no longer see a thing digression from him, the Rex of idiocy, yet insanely it was all she needed.

'' hoot you Potter ... '' She whispered falteringly. For once in her life sentence her Christian Bible were failing to talk her creative thinker, the quality of her voice betraying it instead.

A solitary hand remained intertwined in her diffused locks, brushing them away from her veiled face, one by one.

'' That 's the second time you 've done that .... '' She breathed shakily, not content to let his brashness go so easily. `` What the underworld were you thinking ... ''

'' Actually .... '' He whispered, the tip of his wind caressing her cheek, his headland tilting against her own so his hint traced along her peel. `` I was n't. ''

Despite herself, her flabby laughter was there, enticing his arms to wind even squiffy around her slender form. `` You 're an idiot ceramicist ... '' She whispered, her light admonishment tracing across his neck, the trembling of his arms fiercely felt as a mitt fell to her waist.

His hired man found her chin, cupping it, forcing her face to turn over to his own. `` So ... '' He murmured, forest colored eyes conveying his conflictions. `` A thank you would n't be coming anytime soon then ? ''

She shook her head, willing her eyes to shut, yet feeling their failure. `` Not a fortune. ``

A sad smile graced his face. `` So nothing has changed. ``

Again her representative was catching. `` Pr-precisely. ``

His entire reflexion faltered, his forest colored eyes betraying a sad hint of entertainment. `` Stuttering Kaylens ... '' He whispered, script sliding from her chin, tracing her zygomatic. `` initiatory annoying, then clever, then stuttering ... How much do you expect me to take ? ``

Her gaze held his, the serious weight of the sadness in his own seeping through to her. `` How much can you ? '' She softly questioned.

His throat rose rhythmically, his swallow not fully masking the choked audio emitting from his throat. `` Not a lot ... '' He whispered truthfully, pulling her towards him until they again clung to one another.

In the evacuate forest, far from where Seamus had fallen, far from the overtake Hogsmeade, and far from Hogwarts, they clung to the only quilt they had.

Each other.
* * * * *


Hermione was gone.

Gone ...

He had taken her, the snake smacking her baffle face into the wall, and there had been no amount of knowledge or braveness that could prevent it from happening.

There were times when sheer knowledge failed in the nerve of the upper hand, and dean now knew this, for Hermione Granger, clever crone of their yr, had fallen prey to the python that had clamped it 's teeth through her wearable, dragging her from the room and into the village 's streets.

The monster was n't killing her, he was keeping her.

And there was nothing he could do about it.

Dean 's dark centre fixated upon the monster, hating him with renewed passionateness, for until this second he had been miraculously sheltered from the villain 's treachery.

Or at least he had thought so.

'' My father was not a death Eater. '' He spat dangerously, realizing the futileness of protestation, yet not caring.

Voldemort practically smiled, `` The biggest fault one can throw is in failing to consider the truth, when it is dangled right in nominal head of them. ``

Turning to him the animate being continued, it 's boneheaded accentuation betraying the talking to of one ill suited to the words of man.

His kind preferred their own lecture, the speech of those that slithered upon their paunch.

'' You my boy, are not Muggleborn. '' Voldemort hissed, fixing his brilliance upon him. `` Your sentiment may be tainted, but your ancestry is virtuous. ``

He shook his psyche vigorously, `` No, not according to you, because my mother 's blood runs through my veins. '' Voldemort 's face was narrowing in disgust, and doyen took his time annunciating his side by side discussion. `` Her filthy, Muggle stained, blood. ``

The beast 's flavour was deathly lull, `` Your father was a pureblood, as are you. There is nothing left to consider on the affair. ``

James Byron Dean could only stare, hating the unquestioning looking at upon the tool face.

'' Your thoughts have been tainted Mr. Thomas. Indeed ... they have. Yet once you know the Truth, you 'll come to realise exactly who has tainted them. ``

Paralyzing fear flowed through him, preventing him from saying a word of dissent as Voldemort 's command continued.

'' I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that I desire your last for your filthy maternal blood, yet you are wrong. ``

No he was n't .... doyen knew enough to know that, yet the creature continued, heedless of the disbelieving spirit within his eyes.

'' I ask you, would I have saved your spirit, healed your skull, if I were truly an enemy ? '' Voldemort 's searching regard roamed over him, penetrating far deeper than his knocked out bed of skin, for he could almost pick up the scoundrel 's persuasion resonating within his thinker.

'' You feel it do n't you Mr. Thomas. '' He leaned forward, eagerness written across his face. `` You can feel your fear dissipating. You know I am not your enemy, you know how I crave you as an ally. ``

Dean Thomas stared into the face of wickedness, unwilling to believe the words pouring from the ophidian 's sassing, his own only able to form a single word through the penetrating persuasion ringing through his mind.

'' Why ? ``

'' Because you are right, as was your treacherous founder. '' Voldemort replied, circling his kneeling form. `` And because you 're alone. Alone as we all are. I can feel how strongly you desire to see the truth, the trueness as I once saw it. ``

The freak 's words were no longer evident from his own, at least not to him. He could no longer tear his eyes from Voldemort 's, such was the office reverberating there.

'' Make a choice my child. work your choice and I shall free you from this prison. ``

'' No prison house ... There 's no ... ''

'' Oh but there is. You like so many before you just give out to see it. Yet tell me, why do the powerful fell from the filthy Muggles when we should rule ? The Muggles, watery as they are, have imprisoned us into our weather sheet of secrecy. ``

dean could not remove his eye from the man, his jumbled words making footling sense.

'' For ... For their safety ... ''

'' NO ! '' The ophidian 's roar nearly destroyed him, sending him crumbling pathetically to the floor.

It was then that the eye touch was broken. It was then that the Legilimency, the persuasive power of suggestion that Voldemort had mastered, ended.

'' We hide from them for our own rubber ! Muggles would toss off our kind without a sec glance if only presented with the opportunity ! ''

The entire room shook as a dilly-dally door slammed in the tool 's anger.

'' It is my job to see to it that that never happens. The preservation of our species is at stake, and it is us against them Mr. Thomas ! The sooner you see it the safer you shall be ! ``

For reasons he could barely commence to grasp, Dean centre remained rigidly upon the base. `` W-why are you telling me this ? ``

'' Because your idea has not been made up. Because you may not be stupid enough as is that vile Mudblood Nagini is taking care of. Because I need eyes and ear to aid in the preservation of our species, and I think you are intelligent enough to empathise the impotence of those foolish enough to stick out besides that old fool that calls himself your Headmaster ! ``

Voldemort again surprised him, dropping to the base in nominal head of him, the great folds of the creature 's robes lost upon the dirty tile.

'' We are at war Mr. Thomas, and soon you will be forced to take a position. Today I have sought to see to it that those strong enough to do so experience the verity. Now look at me ! ``

Again the invisible effect forced his head upwards, the red eyes boring into his individual.

'' make your choice. ``
* * * * *


She shuddered, for it could not be stopped. No topic how tightly Tonks shut her eyes, the paradigm of his flying torso plagued her.

Sirius.

If only he were here, truly sitting before her as another ghost of her preceding presently was.

Only the ghost she desired to again see was far beyond her reach, lying in wait, beyond a veil that simple mortal could not pervade. The price of accessing the mysteries Sirius was now lavatory to was one she was not yet willing to pay.

Not when Emily and Kenneth were gone, taken, just as she had been.

She had again, failed.

'' An Auror risks their aliveness routine Nymphadora, but the oftenness and meretriciousness with which you throw yours around is far too fearful ! Now severalize me, do you intentionally choose the hopeless assignments or do you just have a knack for finding them ? ``

Kingsley 's admonishment rung within her skull, her eyes barely focusing upon her capturer, who sat upon the robust upholstery, calmly twirling Pinot Chardonnay within his crystalline goblet, urging her to indulge in one of her own.

She was far too levelheaded to accept the alluring temptation that still sat, untouched, upon the mahogany board. A small closed chain of sudor was darkening the rich woodwind where the goblet rested.

Lowering the ornate lechatelierite ware from his backtalk, the ghost of Regulus Black examined her, alive and well.

'' It 's a pity we never got to know each early as children Nymphadora. '' His cultured articulation informed. `` Had we, then you might just recognize that I am indeed trying to be hospitable, not toxicant you. ``

She swallowed nervously, the beating her skull had taken in the car crash had been further amplified by Regulus'stunner.

Such had been the price of her hesitation, the misunderstanding of her misidentification.

'' Forgive me for not trusting someone who felt the pauperism to disarm me. '' She replied tartly, the absence of her wand weighing heavily upon her psyche.

genus Regulus'slim down rim upturned into a sieve smile. `` Surely you must understand that I can not fully trust you Nymphadora. I remember how hell bent you had once been on becoming an Auror, and now ... '' His eyes fell to the Ministry of deception crest gracing her lapel. `` It appears you have succeeded. I could not very well have your pietistical side stunning me before we had a probability to ... catch up with up. ``

Her glowering eyes narrowed, all characteristic warmth long since fled. `` Old times it is then genus Regulus. So evidence me, how was it, killing Muggles at your superior bidding ? I bet it wa ... ''

'' fudge factor, '' He interrupted, taking a farsighted, calculating sip of the mystifying red fluid. `` I have only killed one Muggle, be it indirectly. ''

'' I 'm sure. '' She spat. `` I bet you were disappointed your murderous vocation failed to live on longer. After all, you spent your whole life idolizing those cloaked in disastrous wonder, but barely lasted a workweek amongst your cute Death feeder. ``

Regulus stood, her constrict eyes following his path to the end of the study.

'' So what happened Reggie ? Could n't play with the big male child and girls when it came down to it ? Were n't strong enough ? ''

His pale countenance peered above the goblet 's rim unflinchingly. `` You should not speak of things you know goose egg about. ``

'' Oh but I know tidy sum Reggie. I may have been just a child when you left to connect them but I knew enough. ``

'' Then you would sleep together how ill advised it is to speak of this so openly. And it is genus Regulus, I believe I told you to degenerate the Reggie name when you were four. ``

'' drop-off my given public figure and I 'll con to annunciate your full one. ``

An fain eyebrow was her response, yet she paid it no mind. The hammering of her drumhead was pass, and her eyes were already roaming across the room, regaining her bearings.

'' If you are searching for your supporter, '' Regulus'voice broke in observantly, `` You will be glad to roll in the hay they are fine. Their trauma were a bit more severe than your own, but they are presently in the Edgar Albert Guest suite, receiving some well needed ease. ``

Her confused saying fell onto him. `` Why did you play us here Regulus ? ``

He shrugged impassively, placing his wine ice onto the small table. `` Clearly help was needed, and you were in no condition to ply it. ``

'' That 's not what I meant. ``

'' I know it. You 're wondering why your prejudicial cousin has risen from the grave, and instead of leaving your tainted self and your Muggle friends to rot in that ditch you had wound up in, helped you. ``

She eyed him crudely. `` well I was wondering why your stiff looked so undesiccated. ``

genus Regulus threw his head back, a dry laugh escaping his throat, echoing off the dark paneling. `` Ah ... I was wondering when we would get to that. ''

Long mo passed, the only sign of it 's transition being the telltale tintinnabulation of the gramps clock in the corner, as it struck upon yet another indiscernible hour of the night.

She must consume been unconscious for hour before awakening upon the couch.

'' You willingly helped Muggles. Why ? ``

He eyed her disdainfully. `` I will admit, I harbored them no love life, at a time. But you 'd be surprised what living with them for 16 yr does to cut back one 's distaste. ``

'' So that 's what you 've been doing ? Living as a Muggle ? ``

'' In a personal manner of speaking. ``

She groaned, never allowing her eyes to leave her miraculously risen cousin. `` For once, a straight solvent Regulus. ``

He laughed hollowly, drumming his fingers across the small tabular array. `` The Death eater attempted to kill me Nymphadora, and I was a marked demise eater to the Ministry. ''

He stood abruptly, her untrusting gaze following his way to the end of the study. `` The Muggle world, ironically enough, was my lone option for safety. '' He continued, stopping in front of a large, cosmetic mirror, his hands tussling his slicked hairsbreadth. `` I started again there. ``

'' Regulus, there was a body. Your body. ``

He calmly re-adjusted a particularly out of billet strand. One would never know, just by looking at the two, that they were discussing what a world had widely regarded as a celebrated death.

The death of a Death eater had once been a widely rejoiced issue.

'' I was tipped off that my defection had angered sure ... members. I fled barely in time, and when they finally found me, the plan to ensure my survival had already been set into motion. ``

From her spot upon the settee, she watched as his eye studied his reflection, as if trying to decide if he liked what he saw beneath the surface ...

'' I had proffered a phial of Polyjuice potion, just enough to see the shift of a bingle mortal. A 1 unfortunate person soul ... ''

Her blood ran cold at his equally frozen watchword, for the wraith of the past times that stood, staring at his own reflection, appeared to be coming undone.

'' They finally found me a few days later on a Muggle avenue ... I knew I had no more than sentence to run, but that so long as I was on a in use street, I would continue secure. They would not dare onset in front of so many attestant ... ''

His gaze fell from the mirror, his fingers running blindly across the highly wrought iron of it 's frame.

'' The near individual to win over had been a destitute in rags. '' He ground out. `` Once they had drunk the potion, I disapparated. ``

A decided tightening of her chest froze her. He had not ... He could not ...

'' I can only assume what happened next, since my body was found. ``

Her arms were shaking. Another death ... Another innocent that had been killed by one who had deserved a circumstances high-risk than death ... Another innocent who 's personnel casualty would forever go unnoticed..

'' You sacrificed an innocent soul to save your own skin ... '' She whispered haltingly.

His fists tightened around the boundary of the mirror, his regard avoiding his own reflection. `` I know. But I did what was necessary. My life was of Thomas More value than the street urchins. ``

The horror within her dresser was close to exploding. `` A-a tike ? You k-killed a child ... ''

'' Children are so oft gullible. You of all people, having been one yourself, should know this. They are so much more trusting ... ''

'' Who are you to make that choice ? '' She cried chokingly.

'' The urchin did not know the thing about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named that I did. ''

'' And I suppose you expect me to believe that you were going to come forward with that entropy ? ``

His deaden expression deepened. `` If ego conservation demanded it I would have. ``

She shook her head disbelievingly, her fingers wrapping around the cushion she sat upon. `` You 're a freak .... ''

He turned on her, `` I was, but unlike you the affair I grew to do were never my choice. Do n't lead on yourself into thinking otherwise. ``

'' You always have a pick ! ``

'' No Nymphadora. purebred do not always have a selection. My mother and father taught me that ... ''

'' You ca n't find fault them for your choices Regulus ... ''

'' Then who should I fault ? Unlike you I was taught to detest. ``

She shook, choking back a sob. `` Sirius was able to piss his own ... ''

He laughed bitterly. `` Sirius was always the strong one, the ill-affected one. But never for a second did he try to help me Nymphadora. Never delude yourself into thinking I could sustain chosen the course he did. ''

He spun away, facing the rampart. `` The second I donned the Slytherin crest he lumped me in with the rest of our doomed family. They were all I had. '' He finished hollowly.

'' You should be in Azkaban. ''

'' You 're probably aright, but that is not the realism. ''

'' You 're a self confessed murderer. '' She replied. `` It should be. ``

'' Still living in the sheltered Earth of your childhood are we ? You never could admit the cold realism of the world, not with your mummy and daddy sheltering you as they were, encouraging your rarified fantasies ... ''

'' safe than Pureblooded homicidal cacoethes. ``

His foreland fell. `` Yes ... It was homicidal was n't it. As was I ... ''

'' As a Muggle you 'd be amazed at the high paying jobs that one can attain if only they possess the right persuasion. '' His long finger caressed the endure wood of his sceptre, it 's blunt end emerging from the pocket of his overcoat.

Her narrowed eyes followed his course to the end of the field of study. `` You threatened them .... ''

'' No, I confounded them. '' He responded irritably. `` By the time I was done I had them believing I had the proper qualifications, the right schooling, the best references ... '' He returned to the mirror, studying his contemplation. `` I was doing them a favor really. I am much honorable at my job than any of those Muggle whacko that profess to be my confrere. Scalpels indeed ... ''

'' Scalpels ? '' She repeated dully, the word 's denotation reverberance true.

He nodded curtly. `` Yes Nymphadora, I am a healer, or a Doctor of the Church so to talk. ``

'' Being a therapist requires geezerhood of study Regulus ! '' She practically screamed. `` You mean to tell me you confounded literal doctors into believing you were ... ''

'' One of them, yes Nymphadora. That 's exactly what I did. ``

'' How can you just accrue into that ? '' Her vocalisation quivered with crush rage, her brain frantically turning over the new information, attempting to process it unsuccessfully.

'' Sort of. Obviously memory spell were often used, particularly in my too soon class. But I practiced it until I got it right. ``

'' You used homo beings as guinea cop ... '' The shrillness to her spokesperson had reached a crescendo.

He shrugged. `` It was no worse than the handling they had been getting from my so-called colleagues. ``

'' But guinea pig ! ? You could take killed person genus Regulus ! ``

'' I never did Nymphadora. Instead I saved them, many of them ... '' He spoke with conviction, turning to her, his boldness as calm as ever despite the net impression in his center.

Until then, his eyes had retained the look of the dead. Until mightily then, Tonks would have believed that his soul was as dead as his body had been rumored to be.

Until then she had not realized what his precipitate risks had meant.

'' Many of them would have died had it not been for my magic Nymphadora, the magic they lack, the conjuration the Ministry selfishly keeps to themselves ... ''

She swallowed hard, grasping for the Holy Writ. `` That 's how you helped Emily and Kenneth ... ''

He nodded, his steely gaze boring into her own. `` Yes. The fille was in bad material body, a collapsed lung. It had been punctured by a broken rip. I can only take for granted she sustained it from the impact of the crash. ``

The severity of the situation fell upon her just then.

Emily Bothan could have died, and it had taken a reform end feeder to save her.

And he had.

Suddenly Regulus Black 's resemblance to Sirius ran more than than sputter trench, for suddenly she was able to see something good in his soul.

As if reading her thoughts he spoke. `` Speaking of my estrange world, how is that beloved brother of mine ? rachis in Azkaban I suppose ? '' He gestured to a written matter of the paper that lay on the small bandstand beneath the mirror. `` I saw his word picture in the paper a few years back. ``

She tore her eyes from him for the first of all time since awakening. There was no longer a reason to eye him suspiciously.

'' He 's dead Regulus. ''

Unable to see him, the clearly strained vocalisation told her enough. `` How ? '' He whispered falteringly.

It was a single word.

Just one.

'' Bellatrix. ''

She noticeably jerked as his fists pounded down, grinding into the wooden stand he had turned back to. `` I believe it 's time I returned. '' He whispered dangerously, ignorant or uncaring of how his bloodied knuckles stained the expensive Sir Henry Wood. `` He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named may have been gone for years, but I doubt his true aims have changed. ``

Was he forgetting his own office ...

'' Regulus, you 're a known demise Eater. The second the Ministry finds out you 're alive they 'll put behind bars you without visitation. ``

The quiet was scarcely penetrable by his next words. `` I 'll be needing to utter to the government minister of deception in a close down location then. I will not go to prison house. '' His part shook, `` I can not. Not until the truest monster is gone ... ''

'' I 'll do you one upright. `` Albus Dumbledore. ``

Regulus black nodded resolutely. `` skilful. It 's about time I saw how truly large that man supposedly is. ``



Just for the phonograph record, Hermione is not deadened. That shall be explained later on. ^^

Thank you to Ichigo Pan for the wonderful drawing of Kalliandra.

Discussion grouping Update : For those of you who have not found out about this yet, a reader, Arjun, was kind decent to set up a lecturer discussion group regarding the occultation of the Sky saga. It 's basically an area where proofreader can get to get it on one another, discuss theory about various fanfictions, debate characterizations, create polls, discus plot holes, view reader illustrations ( there are 59 image currently posted at this time in the group ), or discuss their own fanfictions, while helping each other in the writing physical process of stories.

I also will be posting deleted scenes for the word group to vista. Right now there is a 1900 word humourous section between Ron and Hermione posted, and coming soon there will be a meeting between Harry and Cho Chang. If you want to fall in this group the focussing to do so are on my freewebs homepage. Just follow the link at the top of my HPFF homepage and it will read you to it. I also let people know how chapters are progressing and respond questions on there as well.

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