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



Chapter 16 ~ New barrier


Harry clenched his clenched fist around thin air, squeezing the life out of some unseen opposer within the lull hospital extension. The silence was only broken by Kaylens'tranquil breathing spell, her dresser rising and falling as steadily as the light cinch fluttering the pall.

He 'd been cooped up for days, still healing himself, and had been forced to keep an eye on her grow ever stiller. Surely he was trapped within one of the seven circles of blaze, for each metre he looked upon her his guilty conscience rose like a fire, the flames threatening to take him.

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

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

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

Perhaps it was his own wishful intellection.

He rose, unable to rest still, watching her with naught make unnecessary his idea for caller.

Thoughts were such hapless comfort ...

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

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

Bellatrix Lestrange was dead.

So why did he feel robbed ?

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

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

He had wanted to look upon the lifeless facial expression of Canicula'killer and spitting upon it.

Now even that cruel comfort had been taken from him.

All he was left with, were unanswered interrogative, and this cruel rophy of hell called the Hogwarts hospital wing.

Still, the facts did not add up. last eater held no loyalty for one another. To them null was sacred.

Yet they had salvaged the body.

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

So why do it ?

He had unconsciously wandered, finding himself in forepart of the undetermined third flooring window. The fall scented snap blew across his bare pectus, cooling him. His shirt lay discarded upon his bed, his shoulder veiling recently removed, exposing the claw marks that now indented his skin.

It was necessary, ma'am Pomfrey had insisted upon having his wounding exposed to the air. He was to be released soon, and she needed to ensure that it would adjudge up on it 's own.

His break scapula had been mended quickly, but lycanthrope wounds were wearisome to heal.

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

Was he lucky ? He was not sure. But even when Dumbledore and Tonks had come, he had felt cypher but holler. His own spiritlessness was almost enough to care for death.

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

'' Experimental tour, their effects unknown to the Order, have been added to Voldemort 's armoury of weaponry, Harry. Take regard ... ''

He would.

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

It had happened during the day.

Now, where Death eater roamed, the Sun Myung Moon would no longer hold in it 's sway.

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

Of course there was no need to speculate. Dumbledore had told him about the atrocities of deep.

forty seven innocent, four of them child, had walked upon the ground. Now they lay beneath it 's unrelenting grime, removed by the pitiless actions of Voldemort 's minions.

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

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

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

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

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

It was dubitable he would be permitted to provide soon.

'' That 's disgusting. ``

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

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

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

'' You were out for five days. ``

She paled considerably.

He was easy to go back, and debated getting Madam Pomfrey. But she would be back soon, to check on his own wound. She could recover her arouse then. Besides, he was afraid to go out her alone for even a second, terrible that she might fall into that everlasting slumber once more.

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

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

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

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

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

'' You look it. ``

She graced him with a wry smile, a ignition lock of hairsbreadth falling into her heart. She looked almost annoyed.

She reached up, brushing the lock aside, revealing her deathly pale tegument. Her controlled social movement exposed her own pain in the neck to him in a way no run-in could.

As did her articulatio radiocarpea. His eyes caught upon the dark contusion encircling it.

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

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

Her oculus traveled to where his fingers lay.

'' Apparently, '' Her vocalism was so shadowy ...

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

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

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

It was amusing, but had she had woken a few days earlier he probably would take demanded solution, answers about how she knew lupine, about what she really did or did not know about Death eater, but after days of sitting there, watching her frail figure eternal sleep, the bare persuasion of interrogating her devil him.

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

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

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

'' Yeah, '' He finished.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was then that Pomfrey walked in.

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


Several days later he had been prepped to leave. His left arm hung loose in a slingshot, preventing unnecessary apparent motion.

Lupin 's claws had torn into him just beneath his articulatio humeri brand, right where several brawniness came together. Apparently re-growing muscles was as foxy as re-growing bones.

He still needed to blab out to Kaylens, but she slept. They had not shared a Word since she had first awoken, content to sit there in quiet. He was debating whether or not to come apart that silence when a foiled looking Ron walked in.

looking for at Ron, he realized that there were other thing that had to be taken tending of first.

He had been dreading this conversation for day. Ron and Hermione would need answers. Answers about his absence ... solution about what had occurred in Dumbledore 's situation sidereal day earlier ... reply about Voldemort 's intrusion into his mind ...

Answers he could not give.

How could he explain the air pressure he felt, or Voldemort 's intrusion, without revealing the contents of the prophecy ?

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

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

He threw a close glance at Kaylens'sleeping form. They would talk later. He promised himself that.

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

It had been over a calendar week since he and Kaylens had disappeared from the Headmaster 's post, and one of the final stage warm weekends of the twelvemonth had driven the student body outside.

As for him, during that time, Voldemort had left his mind alone. He had felt the beginnings of an intrusion days earlier, but conundrum had withdrawn, sensing that his decision had not yet been made.

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

As immorality as Voldemort was, the creature had some family.

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

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

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

'' Not good, '' The absence of people made the corridor erectile, and his breathing spell echoed quietly.

'' Harry what 's going on ? ``

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

Not to remark the prognostication. How in the hell was he supposed to beat him ?

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

They walked the rest of the way in silence.

Hermione was there, waiting for them in the empty dorm, sprawled out with a Scripture on Ron 's bed. Her eyes were rimmed with dark forget me drug, similar to Kaylens.

Misery loves party, he thought. Ron sat besides her, placing a hired man on her binding. Only then did she seem to understand they were there.

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

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

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

'' I know. ``

'' Why ? '' Ron asked.

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

Ron frowned. `` His reason ? ``

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

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

Hermione 's eyes roamed, landing on his sling.

He caught the mute question. `` wolfman wounds are tedious to heal. ''

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

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

'' No. I was not bitten. ``

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

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

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

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

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

His expression turned grave. `` There are ways. ``

Hermione was no longer even trying to interpret, her voice unusually high gear. `` That ca n't be. A werewolf ca n't alter out of lunar succession ... ''

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

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

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

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

'' He turned. Yes. ``

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

'' Harry I do n't read, '' She said haltingly, shoving her book of account away, it 's Thomas Nelson Page flapping lifelessly as it fell to the base. She spared it not a glimpse. `` Please Harry. What 's going on ? ``

'' Too much to explicate easily, 'Mione. ''

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

Harry shook his heading, hating himself. `` Fine, the root then .... '' He steadied himself, and met Hermione 's almost imploring regard.

'' You both already know that Voldemort has not given me a moment 's peace since last summer. It 's a private conflict between him and I. We 're both fighting for information, about the former side 's comings and goings, about how a good deal the other slope knows ... ''

He talked steadily, opening his dresser draftsman to put clothing away. His military action, however lowly, lent a sense of normality to the otherwise ominous conversation.

'' Your parents 'Mione, he said he will expel them, '' He ignored her inhalation of breath. `` If I tell him what the contents of the prophecy were. ``

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

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

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

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

He remained silent, until her imploring vocalization broke again.

'' Harry, please ... ''

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

The stag looks upon their faces nearly broke his spirit.

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

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

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

He swallowed hard. `` No Ron. ``

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

'' No. ``

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

The accusal in Ron 's representative was too a lot. He could take no more. `` Because I ca n't Ron ! Don't you think I would if I could ? ``

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

Harry was having bother keeping his voice level. `` Ron, if I tell him there is no reason for him to keep the Grangers animated anymore. It 's our bountiful bargaining silicon chip. ``

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

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

'' He 'd let them go, '' Ron interrupted. `` make him release one at to the lowest degree Harry ! Then tell him for God 's sakes ! What could it wound ? ! Bargain with him ! ``

Harry lost his longanimity. `` Do n't you jest at get it ? ! This is Voldemort we are talking about ! '' They both cringed at the name, his phonation rising. `` This is n't some war game were playing against the Slytherins ! This is real life ! Voldemort is eviler that either of you can even reckon ... ''

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

Harry shook his head, never more serious. `` No Ron. You did n't. '' He felt almost sorry at Ron 's crestfallen aspect. `` You only saw what destruction feeder were equal to of. That is null compared to him. ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ron 's brow raised so far they disappeared beneath his hairsbreadth. `` Really ? ! Then why did you hardly breath a word to us all summertime ? Why wo n't you talk to us now ? ``

'' I am talking ... ''

'' No. Your blocking Harry. Like in cheat. '' Ron pointed his wand out the room access, summoning the chess display board from the vernacular elbow room. Levitating it, Ron cleared the board save for the instrument, king, and queen of both sides, his eyebrow furrowed in concentration. He then moved the instrument so they protectively surrounded the Billie Jean King and faggot on one side, leaving the other English 's king and queen unprotected.

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

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

Ron 's queen shot forward, moving through the orifice Harry 's cat's-paw had left, taking his pouf out with a fierce belt of her chair. She then stood, posed to take his king on the next move.

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

The chess add-in folded in on itself, slamming to the floor.

'' secret plan over. ``

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

The selection was no longer his.

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

They would n't end up like Sirius.

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

The room access slammed and the phone of argument resumed. Dumbledore 's voice caught his attention. What was he doing in the hospital extension ? Perhaps to see Kaylens, but he had already visited them once. It was n't like the master to chew the fat students though. And he should know, he had been in the hospital wing too many times to count, but could calculate Dumbledore 's visits there on one hand.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yet something about Dumbledore 's tone of voice made him. As outwardly honorable as the master had been with him lately, his organized religion in the man was still recovering. It had been shattered too skillfully the previous year.

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

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

remedy ? His tummy lurched dangerously.

'' Kalliandra, looking at it as a death prison term will not help subject. ``

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

'' Are only as trade good as you make them, '' Dumbledore finished. `` That is precisely why we did not require to weight down you with this. ``

'' I 'd choose the burden, '' Kaylens hissed, her interpreter suddenly potent. `` Now is there anything else your keeping from me ? '' Her vocalisation was strained and accusatory. `` Because I 'd like to know before I read about it in some poor fish Scripture. ``

Silence.

'' I thought so. ''

His entire eubstance shook unsteadily. So much so that the approaching footsteps did not record until the door had swung open up in front of him, revealing a pale looking Kalliandra.

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

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

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

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





'' Just as courageousness peril life story, fear protects it. ''
~ Leonardo da Vinci da Vinci ~



Chapter 17 ~ Kunnskap

Kunnskap is Norweigan for Knowledge



She shoved capable the entry room access, leaving the secure Asaph Hall of the school behind, and walked out onto the rapidly chill priming. She blinked back the wet that lingered within her eyes. No rent would fall, no affair how hard they threatened. This she promised herself.

She was furious, but her wrath paled in comparison to her ego detestation. She had been so unbelievably dolt ! It had been bad enough to trust Remus, but to have nearly let down that barrier again ...

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

Despite the pain in the neck they had been in, the time spent within the hospital wing had been pleasant. She and ceramist had dwelt in tacit company, both knowing there were affair that needed to be discussed. Despite that he had not pressed her to talk, instead he had seemed to calmly accept her silence.

This alteration had been oddly comforting.

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

She kicked the ground, scattering crap in her wake.

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

And for some reasonableness his little betrayal hurt her.

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

She reveled in the modest misdirection from her intellection, and allowed herself to simply feel.

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

The tempest front end rolled in above her, and the more astute of her equal began to point indoors. The area surrounding the lake had been the first of the grounds to be abandoned, and her feet led her there.

She wanted the seclusion.

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

Everything had happened so libertine the day she had received the storekeeper note, and there had been no prison term for the dusty truth to go down in. Only over the retiring 24-hour interval, as she and Potter had lain there in silence, had it finally registered.

Pomfrey 's words had just driven it home.

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

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

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

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

It was often painful.

She rubbed her arms against the thrill wind, thankful that God had some common sense of pity. Fortunately for her, the human mastermind could only register pain as abnormal for so long, before it accepted the painfulness as the constant state of affairs. Then it would be ignored.

Oddly enough, it was very exchangeable to how the fragrant scent of roses would decrease, if one were to fend amongst them, breathing them in for too farseeing.

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

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

She took it all in with her normal taste. There were point where the grounds ended, dropping off sharply to cope with the duckweed covered surface of the water supply.

In former spots the priming coat gradually sloped down, kissing the lake 's rippling waving. There the dark globe was muddied, imprinted with the footprints of those who had braved the shallow to swim, before the weather had cooled in wake of the entrance afternoon storm.

She passed by both these field, heading closer to the Forbidden wood. Here she kicked off her shoes, allowing them to dangle freely from one bridge player as she picked her way across the far end of the lake. Here small Harlan F. Stone formed a natural beach, and she sat down near the edge, letting her fingers trail across the rough pebbled edge beneath her.

She accumulated a small collection of flavourless bottomed rocks, gathering them within her hands, and she cast the first across the serene water, breaking it 's glassy control surface.

The heavyweight squid lazily reached out a tentacle, swatting at and missing the hurl stone.

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

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

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

She skipped another.

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

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


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

It had taken him all of thirty indorsement to decide to follow her. The memory of her weak centre had been alarming, and he could n't let her leave like that, not when she did n't understand.

He cast a limelight at the gargantuan squid, approaching her cautiously, carefully trying to not slew upon the slick magazine tilt as he walked down towards her.

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

He swallowed hard. From where he stood besides her, he could see the drawn strain of her lips, and how her eye gazed, almost longingly across the dour surface of the lake. He followed her gaze, the commencement drops of rainwater drizzling upon them.

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

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

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

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

muteness reigned for some sentence, broken only by the increasing rhythm of rainwater, pattering around them. The water gradually matted his unruly hairsbreadth to his forehead, and Kaylen 's favourable hair darkened with saturation.

She sat with a relaxed air, unbothered by the icy droplets pouring down. Slowly, with manifest pain in her motion, she scooted closer to the lake 's border, dipping her feet into the churning water as casually as if it were a mid-summer day, rather than a windy October pelter. Never once did she look at him.

Her shoulders were bare, and her dampish pilus clung to them. He was close adequate to notice the slight jackass bumps prickling across her pale skin.

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

Kaylens was sick ...

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

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

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

Her eyes held his, and for the most fleeting of instant the suspicion he was so utilise to seeing vanished. `` Thank you, '' She murmured, inclining her head to the spot besides her.

He lowered himself besides her, afraid to speak. His marrow pounded loudly in his chest. Never before had he been so horrific of reprimand. His luck may cause lasted thus far, but even he would not charge her for screaming if she so chose.

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

The sky thundered, lighting up as lighting flashed gamy in the clouds. It struck him as extremely inexpedient to be in their positions, so finis to water.

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

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

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

'' well what ? ''

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

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

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

Despite their mental object, her tincture held no ghost of the fellow irony or malice.

Instead she sounded curious.

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

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

'' Try me. ``

'' I came to rationalise. ``

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The flavour she shot him could quieten the devil himself. `` And why should I ? You have n't been the portrait of honesty ceramist. ``

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

She did not answer. Instead, she tilted her typeface towards the sky, allowing the rain to rain cats and dogs over her more freely. Her hair fell away from her berm, revealing her long cervix. She remained this way for what may give birth been bare bit, but to him, felt like hours.

'' okeh ceramicist, '' She finally breathed. `` Try me. ''

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

And he explained.

He explained why he had followed her that day into Knockturn alleyway, how her unregenerate refusal to resolve head about Death Eaters had led him, to what he hoped, were wrong assumptions, and how, after twenty-four hour period of watching her in a comatose state, he had feared that she had fallen ill once again.

He spoke to her, the rain cascading down their bodies as they sat, keeping each former 's acquaintance, the tempest forgotten. Several times she made to impress, shaking her fountainhead disbelievingly, but his hand on her arm silenced her refutes. By the metre he was done, a sad formula had crossed her features.

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

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

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

'' Kaylens are ... ''

Her reflexion darkened at his Logos, and she stood abruptly, her shivering more enounce.

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

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

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

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

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

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

He matched her tread determinedly, noticing the reemergence of her stubborn run, and threw it around her anyway. `` Kaylens if you 're sick you 're wearing this until we 're inside. I don't caution ... ''

She whorled on him, looking disturbingly disturbed, her hide dangerously pale. `` Look, Potter ... Do yourself a favor okay ? Do n't occupy about me. ``

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

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

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

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

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


Over the past times few sidereal day, since Kaylens had left him standing there in the pouring rain, Harry 's modality had not improved.

He just did not sympathise what he had done, and every time he caught a glance of her he felt puke.

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

The fact that he still had a abstract intuition that she was clueless as to what a demise Eater was did not help oneself affair.

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

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

Or something like that.

His reaction was puzzling, even to him. He could not deny that he felt oddly protective of her. How could he not ? He had spent far too very much fourth dimension watching over her in the hospital wing, and the thought of further harm coming to her drove him mad.

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

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

He had seen her unaccompanied that very forenoon, and it had taken all his patience to stave off hexing her into next calendar week when she had practically sprinted down the hall to speak to Dean, upon catching pot of him.

Hell, he had come damn near penny-pinching to hexing her and Malfoy in Defense Against the darkness graphics that very day. He had walked in to find her and Malfoy chatting in quiet rustling, bent over parchment.

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

Kaylens had refused to front at him. But he had not failed to point out how her work force shook for the relaxation of class.

It had been sluttish to mark since he had been sitting alone. Ron and Hermione had holed themselves up on the former face of the elbow room. And unlike Kaylens and Hermione, who contented themselves to avoiding him, Ron had made sport of sending hostile glares his way.

At to the lowest degree the hostile looks from his roommates were graspable. He had had another violent dream with Voldemort that week, and had woken up in a correctly State Department, screaming at every one of them.

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

cum to think of it, the simply soul talking to him now seemed to be Luna. And since she was in the year below him, he found himself sitting alone in course of instruction, and eating lunch at the Ravenclaw table.

In light, the week had passed by in a dizzying haze.

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

He actually did n't mind the idea.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Harry was stunned, all premature view and irritation at the Professor driven from his judgment.

Never in his life would he have got imagined Dumbledore being ineffectual to learn him something.

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

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

Harry stared somewhat unabashedly as the previous headmistress made a rather crude bridge player gesture.

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

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

He valued his education far too practically to respond truthfully.

'' Well Harry, when one sifts through your mind, sore computer memory can get unearthed. It 's natural to echo the emotions these experiences caused you. Such a distraction is all the enemy would require to delve deeper into your brain. '' Dumbledore was carrying on with all the air of one discussing a weekend field day. `` And you have no shortfall of painful memories Harry. It would be quite comfortable for Voldemort to find one to use against you. ``

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

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

Dumledore turned to look at him, balancing precariously on the faeces he was using to reach ole Phinneus'portrait. `` Why of course not. Certainly, I could go sifting about through your mind, forcing you to recall bad clock time in your life sentence. But dredging up old memory and forcing you to care with them would only aid you build up indifference. We do n't want that. ``

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

'' Harry, what we do want, is for you to come to terms with the crueler parts of your past tense. And only you can determine what those terms are. But I dare remind you, there is a conflict between allowing the past to remind you, and allowing the past times to see to it you. ''

Dumbledore jumped down from the feces, wiping his moth-eaten bridge player on his robe. `` Well now that's done. Now I have something to show you. ``

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

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

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

The Headmaster was running his wand up and down the thorn of the Holy Writ in an odd zig-zag pattern, muttering something about mothball. A cheap 'pop'was heard, making Harry jump, and the Scripture sprang out of Dumbledore 's hands, falling unfold on the table before them.

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

Harry had to admit that Dumbledore was dead on.

Inside the open Scripture, where the pages should have been, lay a knock layer of fog. There was a sense of profoundness to the interior of it, and Harry had the vague sense that another dimension lay just beyond the peacefully purl.

Dumbledore reached his script into it. `` It is a rather cagy concealment spot for things. Not only is the locking mechanism for it rather catchy, but only a paw with my DNA could get to into this and still retrieve their hand attatched. ``

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

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

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

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

'' The ampul you now hold is a special physique of pensieve, Harry. '' Dumbledore said by way of explanation. `` It is called a Kunnskap. It means cognition. And unlike normal pensieves, it does not have an outright capacity. It can only contain a select few memories, and I believe that there are 81 unlike lesson contained within this one. ''

Only eighty-one ? He thought, slightly amused by the schoolmaster definition of only. He turned the ampoule within his mitt, noting that unlike in Dumbledore 's pensieve, blue specs darted to and fro within the silvery message here, colliding frequently to let loose dark green spark. It was like watching the reflection of pyrotechnic in a silvery pond, only on a miniature scale.

A thought occurred to him.

'' What do you stand for by example, prof ? '' He asked curiously.

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

The headmaster paused, shutting the leather volume. Whisps of curling pinko tendrils snuck out around the edges as he placed it back upon the shelf.

'' Times were night. '' He continued gravely. `` I did not know how many of us would survive, but we knew it was indispensable to make pass on our cognition to the succeeding generation. This was our way of ensuring that at least one skillful whizz recieved that if the unsound were to pass. ``

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

Despite his innervation and anger at all the master had withheld over the years, the view of a person Dumbledore shook his concept of a stable universe.

The headmaster motioned Harry into a plush plum armchair, oblivious to his educatee 's dark thoughts.

'' Over the age, myself, and others within the old Order, added select objet d'art of cognition that we wanted to digress to you, to this. You 'll even find some of my old school day lesson there. Things like apparition, curse-breaking, animagus studies ... They are all in there. ``

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

A house elf popped into existence then, extending a plate of biscuits to him. He scarcely managed to take one, for his mind was fixated on the vicious irony of the post.

This vial was a true gift, yet he was only receiving it because of the divination 's lowering burden.

Suddenly he felt rather blunt. `` professor, you made this to help me figuer out how to get the better of Voldemort, did n't you ? ''

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

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

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

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

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

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

mentation of what he, Ron, and Hermione had planned, he suddenly wondered, for the one-thousandth clock time since coming to Hogwarts, just how practically that the Headmaster knew about his students.

Against his better judgment, he broke out into a diminished smile. Even Hermione, with all her convictions against taking short-circuit cuts to acquire something, would probably die for a smell into this thing.

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

As if reading his persuasion, Dumbledore smiled. `` For the time being Harry, I would keep this to yourself. Because of the Kunnskap 's electric potential for misuse, only seven were made. We would not need this falling into the improper men. ``

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

He 'd be damned if he disappointed him.

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

Harry nearly choked on his biscuit.

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




Thank you SticksN'Stones for the first-class banner !






'' Choose to be not a product of your environs, nor of your experience, but a production of what your ticker tells you the humankind can be in its fine minute. ``
~ A.K. Lovell ~



Chapter 18 ~ The Scars Life leave of absence


Tonks threw open the spook, allowing the bright afternoon light to well out in, filling the room with yellow chromaticity so bright that not even Remus, who was valiantly feigning sleep, could neglect them.

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

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

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

She contented herself to narrowing her violet heart. `` government note 's a torment breaker. And when he and I have over two weeks with nothing to do but crack the hospital ward on our stubborn ass of a friend 's home we tend to succeed. ``

Remus emitted a low mutter sound, unclear to any human ear. It was at this full point that she decided she had had enough. She ripped the screen from his bed, and flung them out the now open window.

'' Remus did you really think you could keep off us forever ! '' She hollered. `` What the hell on earth is the topic with you ? ``

At his lack of responsiveness she stomped her substructure angrily, and began spraying him with H2O from the tip of her wand.

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

'' You look like a sopping wet dog Remus ! Now get your stubborn ass off the trading floor right now and get ready ! We have an Order group meeting in an hour and if you are not there so help me Merlin I will arrive back here, cellblock be damned, and take you come ! You ca n't debar us forever ! ``

He groaned unhappily.

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

'' Mrmph ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

'' I ca n't put on the line it .... ''

'' wellspring that 's just too all-fired bad Wolfy because your going to. '' She did n't wait for a reply and marched over to throw unfold his W.C.. She grabbed the nearest shirt and threw it at him. `` Now go shower and get dressed. I do n't take in all day and so aid me you are going to indite to Harry and Kalliandra before we leave ! ``

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

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

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

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

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

She growled in foiling and yanked the air hole watch out of her pocket. Mundungus had found it near one of the dead children after the attack.

'' Well at to the lowest degree take aim this back Remus. '' She said, placing it on his hold out desk. `` I do n't care what you say but she really does need you. '' She searched him for some foretoken that he accepted this fact, but he only leaned out the window and summoned his blanket back up.

Watching his miserable movements, she suddenly felt like collapsing.

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

She could n't acquit to mean of it, let alone vocalism it, but ever since that wretched nighttime she had grown to rely on Remus. She needed him so much it scared her.

It had been his sang-froid, lightness brown optic she had awoken to in St. Mungos. The healer said he had never left her position. Even then he refused, and took to sleeping on a make-shift cot in the recess or her room. He had claimed it was to not drop the fun of her griping, whenever the therapist had poked and prodded her with their baton, but she had known better. He had been worried, and who could pick him when she had never felt worse.

But his presence had kept her thought process from straying to Sirius.

She shuddered, remembering how he had found her curled up on her couch one night that summer, positively balling her eyes out, the few pictures of Dog Star she had spread out on her burnt umber board. If only she had stunned Bellatrix when she had had the chance ! By pigeon hawk he would still be here !

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

Catching the by-blow was the only thing that could help Sirius now, he had told her. And as an auror, that would be her job. He had told her how she needed to declare together for that.

If he had not shown up when he had, she may sustain curled up in the nearest, damp broom water closet, and not come out public treasury Christmas.

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

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

She had grown so victimized to him always being there, and it had taken Remus'absence to reach her realize how much he meant to her.

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

The persuasion of him wallowing in ego pity any longer made her physically ill, and she felt her shallow reticence of intensity folding in.

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

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

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

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

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

'' Go shower. I 'll hold off downstairs. ``

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

She missed the disbelieving optic of a sealed wolfman, following her longingly.
* * *


Harry allowed the ledger to pass closed. His head had long since fallen upon the table, his physical structure slumped over in foiling. A K and one dark expletive swirled through his mind, their tabulator curses eluding his memory board in a maddening way.

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

The sheer enormity of the undertaking before him had hit home nearly an hour before, and the unceasing system of weights on his berm seemed determined to crush him now. It was pressing down on his chest, making his head spin, the realization of how small clip he had to master this had finally sunk in.

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

For the maiden time in his life, he was starting to feel helpless. He had borrowed the book from Dumbledore 's government agency, changing the cover so no one could do it what black arts it contained, and after only a few daytime of study he had come to a realization.

Avada Kedarva was amongst the most merciful of dark curses.

For the night arts could do so much worse than simply obliterate in one blow.

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

By the time those around you realized ....

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

Other curses could could slice your skin in decelerate, long stroke. The invisible tone-beginning lasting for 60 minutes, as medi-wizards and healers tried to deliver you, only to watch over you succumb as slash after destroying slash undid their healing, spilling your life origin, killing you ...

Others could slowly break down your pectus, driving the air from your lungs, suffocating you under the pressure of a dozen hippogriffs ....

He shuddered involuntarily, almost glad that last had been quick and merciful for Sirius and Cedric. He had not known before, but their lives could make been extinguished in a great deal worsened style ....

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

professor Tres had shown him that merely a calendar week ago. Kaylens had been the one to work it up, asking when they would learn the sorry of the iniquity Arts themselves.

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

But she had been right ....

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

So while her and Malfoy had argued their detail, and lost valiantly as Tres started twitching under insistence, he had composed a letter to Dumbledore asking for admittance to material about the Dark Arts.
Dumbledore had granted him that ...

He propped himself on his articulatio cubiti, reopening the antediluvian, blackened leather text. He was determined to learn every deadly curse the earthly concern had to offer him.

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

The man who had stolen his life from day one.

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

Then Pettigrew would die.

Then, once he had seen what the jinx did on a live human, then he would recover Voldemort.

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


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

She had done exactly as Tonks had requested. She had already tried contacting him. She had tried saying, shouting, and cursing his gens into that blasted compact of hers, had sent owls armed with letters and club to pick at at his hands until he replied, and even had sent a self-writing quill feather with the stopping point one so it would write whatever he said down upon receiving it.

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

wellspring apparently Remus had been too quick for the owl, because she had gotten back a broken quill and a ripped, blank art object of paper.

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

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

Which was precisely why she found herself outside of Dumbledore 's poor fish endocarp gargoyle, shouting every confect that came to heed.

'' peppermint ! Bat dung droppings ! Bertie Pops ! apple ! Peaches ! '' She exclaimed at it, abandoning candies in favor of fruits. `` Oh anathemise it to hell ! Peach schnaps ! peach Cobble ... ''

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

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

Dumbledore looked up idly from his desk, a deep in thought expression across his weather worn face. `` Why Kalliandra, what a pleasant surprise. ``

She did not consort. `` prof what does Remus think he is doing ? '' She demanded, stopping in front of his desk. `` He ca n't avoid us forever ! Why does n't my port key work anymore ? And why are you now using spirits as your passwords ! ? ``

Dumbledore looked rather puzzled. `` Peach Schnapps ? A strong drink ? And here I thought it was a rather cagey form of candy ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

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

She sighed defeatedly. `` So there 's zippo we can do to talk some gumption into him ? ``

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

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

Dumbledore chuckled slightly, recognizing the irony of her program line. `` You know Kalliandra, in our own way, we are all a danger to those we love, for the simple fact that true booster will go to any distance to help each other, even if that means sacrificing their own animation in exchange for another 's. ``

His words struck a deep chord within her, one she was not quite make to pick up. `` Thanks Professor ... '' She muttered, all anger gone. `` Can you at least commit him this when you see him ? '' She extended a varsity letter to him, it 's addressee reading material To The Obstinate Wolf.

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


Harry rested his cheek against the worn surface of the table, letting his dank hair drip over his brass. The dripping water system from his recent shower eased the wearisome ache that had begun in his scar.

drip ....

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

Across the common room, far from where he sheltered in the shadows of a single candle wick, the ardour glowed warmly. Several straggling seventh years, no dubiety putting in the special hours for NEWT preparation, remained there, blissfully oblivious to the late hour.

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

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

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

Fiery shadows danced across his open textbook, and he wearily rubbed his cicatrix, trying to memorize the counter swearword for one of the many crushing hexes.

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

The black and Edward White exemplification showed a star captured in a silent howl, his finger already falling limp around his throat.

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

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

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

'' Hey thrower. ``

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

'' Kaylens. '' He said steadily, inwardness hammering. Be it at her sudden gap or the memory of the dying side, he did not know. `` What are you doing here ? '' He slid a handwriting across the morbid photograph, staring intently at her.

She met his heart, for the first time in solar day, holding them seriously. `` Talking Potter. Just talking. '' candle flame danced in them ...

His cicatrix gave a leaden British pound, reminding him of his own fragile state. Tonight was not the time for talking, even with her, whom he had grown funny about. `` You know ... '' He stated carefully, watching her smooth her silky locks behind her ears. `` There is usually a reason for why someone sits assoil across a relatively empty room from everyone else. ``

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

'' Their studying. ``

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

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

Her eyes danced in the candle flame, her hands playing around the root word of the cd, picking at the coagulated wax. `` It 's not important why. I just am. '' She whispered, sounding clearly pained.

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

She chewed on her scurvy lip thoughtfully, fidgeting. `` For someone who seemed eager to lecture, your certainly making this hard. ``

He smiled forcefully at this, probably looking like a blue clown. `` And that has nothing to do with you storming off, then refusing to follow within a ten measure neighbourhood of me ? ``

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

Her articulation held an essence of loss as lupin 's name fell off her lip, and for a evanesce irregular he understood. He did not eff how the two knew one another, and felt the stabbing pain of treachery that lupine had kept better communications with her rather than him, his best friend 's son, but in that jiffy, he knew that his former Professor had not spoken to her since that day either.

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

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

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

He felt a pocket-size smiling tugging at the border of his lips. `` Hedwig is dour. ``

'' An owl ? ``

He grunted in response, the ache in his cicatrice was starting to sting slightly.

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

He jolted forward, dropping his nous into his hands to cover the atrocious face now crossing his case. `` Funny sense of hearing you say that. '' He groaned as the first wave of pain attacked him. `` Because is n't that what your doing ? ``

Through his fingers he saw a shrewd expression cross her face. `` Do you want me to get Madam Pomfrey ? ''

'' Why .... '' scene the wall ... .The bricks ... Their rough texture stretching infinitely upwards .... `` Why would I require you to get the nurse ? '' He asked, barely guising the pain that was now coming forth in moving ridge. She needed to give. She needed to give now, but not to get the nurse ...

'' Your in hurting Potter. I 'll be ... ''

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

An unpleasant sensation swept through him, the look of Kaylens'radiocarpal joint turning barely registered as the darkness way spun. He was no longer fully there as his eye flickered half shut, half seeing the bulwark Dumbledore had taught him to so carefully construct, half seeing Kaylens kneeling down besides him.

'' The only when way to tone your wall at this pointedness, is to learn to dissemble your emotions .... '' Dumbledore 's news came back to him ...

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

Voldemort was prickling at the edges of his picture wall.

The wight 's voice filled his mind, greenness tendrils leaking through red brick.

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

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

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

He rose his eyes, finding her own surprisingly close, flickering with that unfamiliar concern. `` Kaylens leave ... '' He muttered, feeling a violent sharpness forming within his shoemaker's last coherent intellection. He had nearly attacked Ron in a standardized Department of State, under Voldemort 's egging influence ...

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

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

Interesssstinnnng ....

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

She grimaced determinedly, kicking open the portrait door. He heard her shouting something about Pomfrey to someone, but their form was so hazy ... He could n't take a crap them out ...

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

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

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

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

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

Calling on his end apothecaries' ounce of mental backlog he dug his hound into the ground. He turned, squirming away from the reassuring presence of her arms, suddenly finding his own feet untrustworthy.

He was collapsing to the Harlan Stone floor, the common mullein lit halls a brilliant fuzz ...

Whooooo ...

Unable to tell the difference between speaking and thought process, his mouth opened to scream his own inquiry into the drained of night ...

Kaylens hand clamped over his lips, and he found himself breathing in her skin, damp with sweat and the waxen nub of the wax light she had been fidgeting with mere moments before.

'' red cent you Potter be quiet ! '' She hissed dangerously.

He struggled dazedly, her chin coming to repose on his shoulder as she stilled him, unrestrained sibilation sounds escaping her own lips. Had she had a harsh edge to her ? He could no longer retrieve ...

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

He relaxed, leaning against her again, feeling her arms stiffen. Of course .... It only made sense .... Voldemort would want to jazz of individual as beguile as her, who would n't ? He certainly did, no subject how infuriating she grew he was funny. What harm could a name do ...

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

'' Glad to see you commemorate formalness. Now please get up, I 'm not unattackable enough to drag out ... ''

A jubilant undulation washed over him, so acute as to submerge out every early password filtering through his auditory system.

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

The tone of Kaylens'hands tugging up on his shoulders, the tone of her long hair brushing against his face as she leaned over him, the dark shadow of the abandoned Hogwarts corridor ...

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

His wooden leg becoming his own again, he powerfully hurl them into the floor on his own accord, scrambling eagerly away, his sudden departure sending her spilling across the cold, scandal dusted stone floors.

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

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

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

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

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

'' Yes. ``

They stared at one another, both manifestation unreadable.

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

'' Enough to know he was all too happy to see your name tonight. '' He knew the import of this, if horrible, would be his to bear. It was not a idea he cherished, and a constituent of him almost wished for her to profess into the night her commitment to the Dark Divine, so he could strike her Down, guilt trip free.

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

This last thought was silenced by the way her eyes darkened coldly onto him. `` And you were felicitous to impart him that information. Were n't you muck around ? ``

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

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

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

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

Once again, before he could stop himself, he had her wrist in his hands, spinning her around to pin her against the paries. He pressed his eubstance against hers, their faces dangerously close. Her side remained an unreadable mask, relieve for the astragal of sweating glistening upon her os frontale in the torchlight.

They stared at one another, each daring the other to speak. Releasing one of her articulatio radiocarpea, he moved his hand to rest above her shoulder, cutting off any thought of her escape.

'' I said I understood potter. '' Her hint was barely a rustle, and beneath his palm he felt her radiocarpal joint cooling system, the cool October air prickling goose bumps across her arms.

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

She breathed in deeply, her chest rising to adjure against his own for the brief of seconds. `` aid to enlighten me ? ``

He nodded coldly, his moist hair falling to conceal his scrape, a disturbing sizzling intelligent drawing Kaylens optic uncomfortably towards it.

Her challenging demeanor vanished, confusion flickering in her eye. Her free hand unconsciously reached upwards, but he stilled her apparent movement by aggressively squeezing her shoulder blade.

'' I would n't ... advocate ... doing ... that ... '' He said coldly, ignoring how she bit her lip, her facial expression clearly contorted in pain. If she could n't occupy that what in the netherworld did she programme on doing when Voldemort got to her. He 'd teach her what she was dealing with ...

'' Do you have any approximation what your dealing with ? I have a distrust ... '' He spoke mechanically, as if lecturing a small minor. `` That you do not. So I am going to ask you one ... Sir Thomas More ... time. What ... does ... he ... want ... with ... you ? ``

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

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

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

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

'' Lies ... '' She spat.

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

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

Her expression remained unfaltering for far too prospicient for his tastes.

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

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

She turned her articulatio radiocarpea in the confines of his promiscuous bag, her skin brushing against his own. He could precipitate her reactions, being so close, his optic locked onto hers. She was going to run, it was like feeling what she was feeling ... Fear ...

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

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

'' Legilimency. '' He whispered.

Her life ... It all flooded his psyche in one over powering wafture. A swirl of events that were impossible to discern ... Until one scream filled his idea with a blinding red hue, bringing it all into stark clarity.
'' Riley ! ''


The whirl of images changed, becoming the congruous picture of a blonde tiddler, hair's-breadth much lighter than he knew it would darken to become, was approaching a threshold, answering it ...

A man smiled toothily down, removing his hat to disclose closely cropped, dirty blonde hair's-breadth, bowing slightly. The tike smiled upwards, but the range of a function of his grinning froze, faltering, as if it had forever been burned into her memory.

And now his ...

The threshold flew out-of-doors, the man 's foot connecting with it, sending it bulleting inwards, hitting her with it against the nerve. Blinding pain kept her witting, for the cosmos was Negroid be-speckled, and her uproarious material body fell to land in the front foyer.

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

A lucky haired man, only slightly onetime than they were now, came sliding into the hall. The girl screamed on the floor, her broken, bloodied olfactory organ rendering her warnings incomprehensible.

The blonde haired monster dropped a knee onto the girl 's spine, pinning her to the floor. The twinkling of a Buck tongue drawn from a casing caught Harry 's eye, and the young man, who now bore a look of the last fury.

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

The golden haired man was already charging, but the devil had drawn a gun and fired before James Whitcomb Riley could even make her ...

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

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

The girl was bucking on the base, screaming, nearly freezing in fear as blood pooled from Riley 's chest wound, his XVIII yr old body twitching spasmodically, his lip gaping, gasping for breath ...

Yet Riley had crawled, leaving a blur track of crimson death on the linoleum floor in his aftermath, for he had been unable to let his little sis be pillaged ...

His dying breath came, the girl 's optic widely with horror for only her brother, as the dollar knife plunged into young Kaylens', deep into the spinal column of her eight yr old berm blade.

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

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

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

'' Were going to have some fun are n't we small girl ? Are n't we ! ? ! ? ! Just as soon as you shut your bloody mouth and tell me where that honeyed small brother of yours is ... ''

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

In Voldemort 's thinker he had seen grownup wither in bother and twilight apart at so much lupus erythematosus ...

His heart broke as he watched her small signifier continue struggling, screaming, yet the man only pinned her face down to the floor harder, dragging the dollar knife across her shoulder joint in a prospicient, cruel line ...

A swirl of coloring, and he was gone. Thrust out not by magic, but by the wildcat handgrip person had taken up on the back of his gown, yanking him away from her. He staggered backwards, disoriented, his arm flailed into the torch bearer ...

His sleeve was on attack, burning him, the flames licking up his sleeve when someone floored him, dousing him with water system.

His sear skin throbbed, but not so a good deal as his mind.

Kaylens stood motionless, still pressed against the wall, chalk Edward White, still tears streaming down her beautiful fount. A ace slender hand was clutching her articulatio humeri. The Lapplander one he had grabbed roughly. The same one he had seen stabbed viciously ...

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

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

'' Shut it Harry ! ``

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








'' The decease of one man is a tragedy. The decease of 1000000 is a statistic. ''
~ Chief Joseph Stalin ~



Chapter 19 ~ Le Règne d'Enfer Commence


Once his mind awakened, his wits dimmed by the drugged wine-colored he had willfully taken, it was not the darkness, nor his unfamiliar surroundings, nor even the dissemble physical body patiently waiting besides him that he noticed.

It was the stale air.

He sniffed.

They were coming ...

Just as he had.

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

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

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

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

He had asked him to deliberate joining them.

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

The other werewolves began emerging from the subway system corridors surrounding him. Here the bulwark were lined with bone. thighbone rising up like sadistic mainstay from hell, supporting the foresighted pipeline of skulls outlining the subversive musical passage. aplomb water dripped rhythmically from the damp ceiling, wetting his sweating scalp.

There was only one place in the world that flaunted such morbidity. Deep beneath the streets of Paris, over sixty million of a time long past lay dead. Their skeletons disassembled, grouped systematically to mould paseo, a end of a darker time.

Upon drinking the drugged vino, the Death Eater had said he would waken in the Empire of Death. Only now did he understand what he had meant.

A heart shape, shaped out of homo skulls, lay set into the paries of the French capital catacombs besides him. A standing remnant of the ghastly sensory faculty of witticism, stretching endlessly into the darkness.

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

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

'' After our last meeting I must include that I am surprise to see you here. ``

Lucius Malfoy stepped Forth from a shadowed corridor, dropping his cowling to bring out blank blonde hairsbreadth.

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

Lucius gave him an appraising look, before reaching forth a cloaked hired man to wave the others forward. Half a 12 other cloaked figures emerged from the dark, forming a circle around him.

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

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

Voldemort had truly found a way to control their transformations.

lycanthrope could now roam the macrocosm at will.

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

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

'' Spaaaaaare us the actor's line wildcat. '' Interrupted the one who had brought him there. `` What we need to know is if we can trust you. ``

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

'' If you do n't commit me how do you project on accomplishing that ? '' Remus countered, not wanting to sound too eager.

Lucius smiled evilly. `` I 'm so glad you asked. '' He withdrew a silver grey flask from his air hole, tossing it to him.

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

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

'' Not really. ``

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

Remus scoffed. `` By choice. ``

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

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

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

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

The last feeder that had brought him there smirked. `` You drank the other sum without question. ''

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

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

'' It keeps me alive. ``

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

Remus eyed him with distrustfulness. `` signification ? ``

'' Meaning that you will put on the power, like well-nigh of us here, to transmute at will. The moonshine will no longer hold it 's power over you. ``

He watched Lucius pacing down the weaken corridor, rubbing his pale fingers along the roughly clappers. `` And ? ``

Lucius halted. `` Once it 's drunk, you will know what the taste of human flesh flavour like. '' His blanch eyes shone with a homicidal glean. `` They say once you know that, there is no going back. You will crave it forever. Your wanted Mudblood buff will never take over you back once you desire the taste perception of inwardness. ``

Remus felt his interior run cold. Now there was a catch neither Dumbledore nor himself had thought of. It was too arrant really. They did n't trust him, and they would contribute him something that would make him crave human flesh so much that he was bound to join their side, regardless of his intentions upon showtime coming there.

'' I told you. '' Snarled a char 's voice. She must birth seen his vacillation, smelt his reverence. `` It was a error bringing him here. ``

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

He turned to the unknown witch, smirking as evilly as possible. `` The only mistake was not seeing what those Ministry whoreson have kept from me my whole sprightliness. ``

He felt the air thicken with tension.

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

Remus curled his lips back, tilting the flask to his sass, chugging it down. liquid state fire flowed through his nervure, energizing him, changing his molecular create up ...

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

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

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

He tilted his head back and howled.

Lucius stepped forward, a wolf like maze on his face. `` Welcome ... ''

'' Brethren. ``
* * * * *


The rain hammered down, darkening the tombstones. A belittled lady friend was crouched besides one, sheltering beneath the comforting dryness of her whizz speckled umbrella, her braids flapping lightly in the steer. The resemblance to her mother was striking.

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

Emily Bothan had just asked her mother to follow dwelling house soon. She missed her bedtime fairy tales. While she told her female parent 's slab of stone this, Emily meticulously arranged, then rearranged, the flowers in the bouquet her father and her had brought.

Mummy only deserved the undecomposed.

Emily has said so herself, when she had spent the better role of an hour searching the floral boutique, seeking out the arrant arrangement of iris and hydrangeas. mamma favorites.

Tonks sniffled, allowing the illumine cinch to inconspicuously dry her eyes.

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

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

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

'' Kenneth. Please. '' He implored, his sinister eyes never leaving the little contour of his daughter. `` If anyone has earned the right to distribute with formalities it is you. ``

Tonks smiled sadly, not agreeing. The fiasco had been entirely her geological fault. Her own incompetence leading to why his youth wife, his mellow shoal sweetheart, lay beneath his daughter 's small substructure. `` If anything Kenneth, your daughter saved mine. She has the bravery of one three clock time her age. ``

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

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

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

'' It 's such a pity ... '' Kenneth remarked, gesturing to his daughter, drawing her from her thoughts. `` That it takes something like this to pass, before wizards will let someone know of their existence, or of any danger from them. ``

She paused thoughtfully. `` You were a history major. I trust that you are familiar with the Salem hag tryout. ''

president Bothan nodded. `` Yes. ``

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

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

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

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

The rain was letting up, a soft scent wafting towards them. One that had nothing to do with the flowers speckling the lonely cemetery.

Irises ....

Kenneth tilted his head to the sky, breathing deeply. Sometime in the future, he would swear to Tonks that sometimes, like right then, that he could still smell her front-runner flower in the breeze.

Watching him now, Tonks was grateful the ordination had granted her and several former appendage permission to remain with him and his daughter as a rotating precaution.

They would be needing it.
* * * * *


Harry hung his head over the butterbeer, not hearing a news Luna said. He had tuned her out when she had started talking animatedly about the especial edition of the pettifogger that calendar week, the one concerning how Cornelius Fudge 's army of Heliopaths had drowned in a nut lavatory flood chance event in the section of Mysteries.

The gentle chime of bells drew his attention to the threshold of the Three broom handle, just in time to see Kaylens, doyen, and Neville walk in, their hair windswept from the harsh crepuscle breeze that day.

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

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

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

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

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

Particularly when he grabbed her again, desperately trying to hold on her, to make her understand that he had not been in his right mind, only to find out that she had a rather nasty right hook.

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

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

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

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

Luna 's grammatical construction changed, her normally languorous countenance gone, if only for a minute. She looked like she was about to lecture a small child. `` Every sentence we 've seen her recently she has n't glared, she just pretends your not there. She stated simply. `` Before you both took every chance to be at each others throats. ''

Luna 's dreamy behavior returned, and she opened her purse, withdrawing a lime super acid stalk. `` Plus she just walked in, and now your staring into your butterbeer. You used to look out her you know. Or did n't you ? '' She looked up, bewilderment gracing her side. `` With you it 's hard to distinguish what you are or are not aware of. ``

Before Harry even had a prospect to wonder at her profoundness, Luna had begun asking what kind of eulogy a Heliopath would like at it 's funeral.

'' I wonder if their fire go out when they die ? If not then their interment method would suffer to differ from our own, since they would burn right through their coffin ... ''

'' I guess you 'll have to get a custody of one of their bodies to find out. '' He commented cynically.

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

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

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

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

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

Luna nodded absentmindedly. `` Harry was just thinking of apologizing to that ... Well what would you call her tomentum people of colour ? '' Luna seemed to chew over this for a second before shaking out her own dirty blonde mane. `` Fourteen carat I suppose. But I think Harry 's having a toilsome time getting up the face to sing to her. ``

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

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

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

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

'' Do n't worry Harry. The entirely ace who know are us three, Kally, Dean, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Seamus. '' Ginny said, ticking them off her fingers. `` No one would take in found out if that git of a buddy of mine had n't blabbed. ``

Harry fought the impulse to kick something.

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

He grunted in response.

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

Seamus'yell of pain was preceded by a loud THUNK from beneath the table, and a scolding smell from Ginny.

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

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

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

'' So happy my living 's entertained everyone this calendar week ... '' He muttered hollowly.

He spent the relaxation of the conversation sneaking surreptitious looks across the relatively empty-bellied pub at Kaylens. Dean and Neville seemed to be debating something, and he thought he caught the word of honor 'bloody thesteral'more than once, while Kaylens stirred her butterbeer, sipping it through a drinking straw like Luna, looking for all the world as if she were not listening to a I word her companions were saying.

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

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

She squeezed his berm lightly, re-joining Seamus, where he patiently had been waiting various animal foot away, just far enough to hold given her the privacy she had requested.

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

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

He smiled stupidly.

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

The thought was comforting, and he hailed lady Rosmereta 's new waitress, a small, well-chosen looking brunet, over.

There was cypher he could or would do about Ron and Hermione. At least not right now.

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

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


Drip.

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

'' It 's time. ''

Plunk.

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

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

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

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

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

Only now he was using them to tear the proffer flesh, instead of just practicing his translation, hoping Dumbledore could concoct a cure for this horrid craving he would now deal with.

His eyes rolled disgraceful, the gratifying taste consuming him

For a moment, the only matter that mattered was the marrow in mitt. The opinion of protecting the inexperienced person later on, forgotten.

Drip.

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


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

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

She relaxed, allowing her cubitus to prop herself up. She cast a glimpse resolutely down the bar 's counter, stirring her chaff around in her vacuous, bear-sized, mug. It was a nervous use she had picked up as a tike, when she used to twist them into random configurations. It had always been her pal 's expectant pet peeve.

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

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

A piercing nudge caused her elbow to drop away, freeing her from that line of thought. She cast an chafe look at her housemate, ignoring the shot pain the sudden jarring had sent up her left arm.

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

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

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

'' You look like your off in your own footling world there Kaylens. I did n't drag you forcibly out of the castle for nil today, so being a mute will just not do. '' James Byron Dean said cockily.

If possible, Dean 's grinning had grown even more stooped with his Good Book.

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

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

visual perception him looking at her expectantly, she shrugged, knowing full well he was about to set forth prodding Neville. Dean was mortal who seemed to recall that it was his personal delegation to make everyone around him laugh, and her stony silence was probably pushing him to the brink of insanity.

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

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

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

In the end, she had gotten sick of Dean 's perseveration and given in.

The counter vibrated as the III Broomsticks'waitress magicked three butterbeers to them with a trashy clunk. The liquidness frothed a bit around the edges.

detection their inquiring looks the youthful witch flashed a dazzling, dimpled grin. `` Courtesy of the gentleman in the spinal column. ''

She eyed the new butterbeer with a profound sense of mistrust, before exchanging glances with Neville and Dean. She spun around on the bar stool, catching passel of the solitary patrons still in the backbone of the pub.

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

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

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

C. H. Best to get this over with ...

She came to an abrupt halt in social movement of him, slamming the mug down so voiceless that the liquid sloshed over the sides, joining the already pooling puddle on his table.

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

The girl with him smiled dazedly, humming some unrecognizable melody, and Kally suppressed the urge to stare her Down. But the most vexing thing was thrower himself.

He looked rather proud of, though she could not deduct why, since she was within half an in of using the only hex she was adequate to of on him.

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

'' Oh ? '' She quipped sarcastically. `` And why 's that ? So you could lace it with trueness serum and question me in that swarthy pub down the street ? I must admit ceramist, if that's the fount you 're losing your touch. ''

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

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

'' SLAM ! ``

Kally jumped ever so slightly, ignoring Potter 's amuse verbal expression. She turned an eye on the blonde, who had just slammed her hired hand down on the tabularise top like an stir four year old. The fille 's protrubent blue eyes were now so wide they looked set up to pop out of her skull.

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

Without waiting for an answer the girl stood, not noticing their identical expressions of bafflement, and began shoving scanty husk into her lime green bag, speaking in a far off voice.

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

The little girl marched off to the former side of the pub, turned to confront the wall, and stared blankly at it. Kally caught a few glimpses of pale juicy middle flickering their way, and each time this would happen the blonde fille would grunt unhappily, stamp her foot, and resume staring at the wooden sidetrack as if frustrated.

What the hellhole was that abo ...

'' Look Kaylens ... ''

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

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

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

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

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

She swallowed hard. `` Glad to see your not quite that oblivious Potter. '' She muttered, forcing her voice icy. `` I would think by now that any fabricated apology would be a mute percentage point. ``

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

He spoke so seriously, too seriously for someone their age. `` And I did n't even get the chance to apologize for the other Nox ... '' He continued, his Adam 's orchard apple tree rising rhythmically. `` Since I did n't image getting decked again, I figured sending you a drink was the outflank apologia I could come up with on short-circuit placard. At least the dependable one that could keep me a prophylactic distance away, while getting you to hail over here. ''

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

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

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

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

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


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

posing there, stunned and sopping wet, he felt too shocked to react effectively.

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

It was shaking.

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

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

His mouth flapped wordlessly, his wrangle never reaching her ears, for Madame Rosmerta 's alarmed cry stole the Christian Bible from his lips.

'' Lara what are yo.. '' Rosmerta questioned shrilly. Her centre were fixated in confusion upon the offspring waitress, the friendly one from whom he had ordered drink earlier.

The Saame dimpled girlfriend now had her baton drawn, a blank saying drawn upon her characteristic, striking a horrifying similarity to a porcelain doll.

'' Stupefy ! '' She hissed mechanically.

As if in slow apparent motion, Rosmerta fell, her gimp bod disappearing behind the bar 's wooden buffet. The glass she had been cleaning took flight, hovering in mid-air for a minor eternity, before breaking give up of it 's unearthly reprieve, shattering across the parry.

For the first metre in it 's chronicle, the Three broomstick fell silent. Only the ululation of the Oct wind, leaking in through the windows, proved to him that he had not fallen into some horrific silent flick.

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

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

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

sightedness Ginny 's wand haltingly rise, her social movement faltering, as if some invisible personnel were yanking her arm forcibly up against her will, was what finally broke him free of his slowly motility daydreaming.

His rake ran cold at her lacuna expression.

'' EVERYBODY DOWN ! '' He shouted, overturning the tabular array. Liquid splattered, and their hollow clay mugs had not even struck ground before the number 1 green curse flew from Ginny 's sceptre.

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

Ginny face stepped easily, and professor Très turned an eerie eye upon him.

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

A stunner grazed his ear, and his soundbox jerked instinctively away from the heat, and in that single second he lost stack of her.

Somewhere in the dim background of his brain the riot of the other patrons began to register.

Less than a animal foot away from where he stood, a ornamental pumpkin exploded, a poorly aimed ravisher searing right through it, striking the bulwark. Stringy orange pulp and cum erupted, hurtling outwards, covering the floor and himself with slippery orange clumps.

A red lighter flew from Très'wand, and he plunk to the terra firma, sheltering behind the mesa as the bane blasted through it. The screams of other students could be heard, pleading with the defence force Professor.

Très could not see their supplication, with his ear length hairsbreadth flung over his eye, his arm jerkily fired blindly at scholarly person, frequenter, citizenry ...

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

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

He dove for it, leaving the cover of his table behind, rolling across broken chair pegleg and field glass until he came to a squat behind it.

The waitress was hiding buns it as well, firing expletive over the counter.

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

Her physical structure went careening to the incline, her wand flung from her grasp as she passed out next to Rosmerta 's limp form.

He scampered down the length of it, snatching both their wands up, passing wine bottles, plumb mug, and storage areas as he went.

Reaching the end near the shadowiness covered windows, he hastily pocketed the wand in his trouser, leaping to his feet, the disarming charm partially formed on his lips.

His Bible died there.

The jet of super acid brightness level erupted from Ginny 's baton like a volcano of last, lupus erythematosus than an arm 's length from where he stood.

Across the room Ron leapt to his feet, abandoning the temporary protection of a subvert work bench to dash to where Hermione and Luna fought unaided.

There was no time to imagine, to duck, to respond.

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

Hermione 's brown eyes widened, her mouth caught in a strangled, silent wail, and Luna only just pulled her to the dry land before the next green turn whizzed by.

Time froze.

All was still.

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

The mask was re-erected, his own wand turning to her, bust of anger streaming down his typeface at what had been just done to the sole crony and babe he had ever had.

Before the disarming spell could allow for his sass, a grueling fist collided with his skull, sending the human beings blurring until it 's unholy glorification faded to Negro.
* * * * *


The sound of modest feet, pattering in the rainwater, accompanied Emily 's return. The strait of her calm down humming lingered like a breath of clean air upon Tonks'ears.

The small small fry stepped out onto the pebbled path, quickly shutting her tiny umbrella before scurrying to huddle beneath Tonks'.

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

But for now, Kenneth gave her a small, pain grinning, before setting off across the swampy cemetery grass.

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

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

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

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

'' Your protagonist are in trouble nymph. ``



Le Règne d'Enfer Commence is French for The Reign of hell Menachem Begin

Recommended fib of the Week :

Never Tickle a quiescence Dragon by Edward Ollivander ( He has a mythologic and creative 6th year fan fable featuring a HP/GW union, and it is completed. )

shadow Tendencies by Two Sadists ( They have a 7th class fan fabrication featuring a HP/OC pairing. )

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






disclaimer : All part, places, and theme taken from the Harry Potter book series are holding of JKR. However, the idea of a range is owned by me, since I have taken the idea of a reaching from a series that I am writing, and adapted it ever so slightly to fit this fan-fiction series.






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



Chapter 20 ~ Nowhere to Run


'' Tonksie are you okay ? ''

Emily 's sweet voice carried upon the wind, nearly drowned out by the auditory sensation of rain pounding upon the umbrella.

She could only shake her head, shaken as a aplomb breeze swirled around them. Thankfully such shade of look were lost upon the tiddler, who 's straits was tilted back, her mouth wide open, catching rain drops.

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

Tonks shivered, straightening out the umbrella she had unknowingly allowed to wobble. It had hung so low that a sudden shower of piss had fallen down like Victoria Falls Falls onto Whitney Young Emily 's head.

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

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

Tonks blinked in surprise. The child 's mother had been drowned in one barely a two weeks ago.

'' Your friends are in bother Nymph. ``

Emily 's sopping wet plait swung about her cheek, her weapons system held out as she spun in circuit, her header tilted skyward catching the rain.

'' Tonksie come play ! ``

Tonksie ... Only Remus called her Nymph.

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

Over Emily 's twirling figure she could see Kenneth Bothan kneeling in the inert cemetery Mary Jane. His married woman 's grave lay before him, the carefully placed flag scattering in the punishing wind.

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


Remus'ovular eyes opened upon the worst of sights.

Hogsmeade ...

It 's empty locus lay before him, deadened leaves billowing across the cold pathway leading through the meat of the village.

Not a soul was in sight.

ghostwriter Town ...

It was here Nott and the others had spoken of. It was here the recruiting had been done. It was here where the demise feeder would make their first stand. Here in the village, so close to the school ...

Too close.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend.

'' Falco columbarius ... '' He whispered, staggering, the October pushover biting chilly line of reasoning across his skin.

Werewolves had no use for clothing.

Roughly, an uncase forearm scratched across his Kuki-Chin. Flecks of dry blood flaked away, sprinkling the ground with a sinister looking debris. It 's morbidness was a bare reminder of his recently fulfilled thirst.

'' Surprised half-breed ? ``

Instinctually, angrily, his chela extended, breaking his skin with a fiery pain. He did not resolve Nott, instead he growled lowly, extending his capitulum into long points.

The hairsbreadth sprouting, prickling his betoken pinna, brought the deathly quiet village to life. Farther off ... In the fondness of town .... Pleas ... .. Offers of salvation in exchange for loyalty ... ..

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

Not if I can help it ...

Lucius'indecipherable growl cut in, breaking through his tempestuous mentation, arousing something far darker ...

It was time to change.

An affected heating system filled his veins.

Upon the ground where Remus Lupin had been, now stood a werewolf, the pungent aroma of freshly spilled parentage inundating it 's senses.

The wolf pawed the ground eagerly.
* * * * *


His physical structure, felt like it was being drug across glass. It ached, splintering as individual shards sliced his skin.

Shards .... Shards ... He tried to dig onto the word to no help. It 's elusive import fled from his pounding skull.

The pissed grip on his ankles disappeared, and his pes dropped unceremoniously to the level. A moment later the reverberations in the floor boards indicated another body being dumped besides him.

Ron ...

With a jerking he was awake, the salty bust of hurt tainting his lips.

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

He turned his principal in a vain search, struggling to make sense of the fuzzy macrocosm before him. A heartbeat of the palest of yellowness caught his eye.

Drifting in and out of focus was Luna Lovegood, sitting crisscross legged, her wrists tightly bound within her lap, dreamy blue oculus fixated upon him concernedly.

'' Why hullo Harry. '' She said congenially.

Just thinking sent a sharp throb through his skull, and he quickly discovered his arms to be bound behind his back.

With a bilk thump he hit his hands against the base, a stabbing pain ripping his fist.

He did not call for Luna 's proclamation to have a go at it that a fragment of crank now stuck from his hand. The warmheartedness welling from it, trickling down his fingertips, was enough to inform him.

A unity deep red drop cloth fell devoid, it 's voice reverberating through his hollow chest.

Drip.

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

Drip.

Ron was gone.

Drip.

Ginny 's unwilling hands had done the unthinkable.

Drip.

decease feeder were in Hogsmeade.

Drip.

A strangled sob shattered the silence.

Drip.

His fists snapped shut, tugging at the bindings. His heart, blurred with fury, searched the ruined pub, taking it in with inhuman calculation.

Drip.

The level now resembled a greenhouse, a shattered industrial plant holder had sent soil strewing across it.

Drip.

Butter beer and early concoctions pooled together in effervescent puddles, broken chairwoman and overturned tabular array creating risky paths.

Drip.

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

Drip.

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

Drip.

In the spaces where neither glass nor grease lay, sponsor did.

Drip.

half a dozen, either unconscious or dead, lay upon the level at scattered intervals.

Drip.

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

Drip.

'' pillock crying Mudblood ! ``

Hermione ...

She lay collapsed against the far rampart, her blazonry bound like his own.

Drip.

Before her towered a ranting anatomy clad in sinister, and clenched within the cruel confines of the Death Eater 's fist trailed recollective curl of bushy hair.

A large contusion ran the duration of her tear stained cheek.

'' I should throw finished the job when I had the probability you filth. '' Scowled the destruction eater, throwing back his hood.

His breath caught in his throat.

Dolohov.

The icon of Hermione 's limp variant in the Department of mystery flashed through his mind. She had nearly died at Dolohov 's hands ...

'' What do you mean here Ludovic ? Should I land up her off ? '' The dying Eater called out, kneeling in front of her. `` Or what about you Mudblood ? Care to connect your slimy red-headed friend over there ? '' Dolohov chided, poking her like a clout with the end of his wand.

Hermione 's sparkling eyes met Dolohov 's unflinchingly, her lips curling back to spit in his face.

He recoiled, a look of the purest revulsion over-sweeping his wasted feature article. `` Oh you filthy ... '' He muttered, frantically wiping his face in the congregation of his cloak.

'' Hey Antonin ! '' An overly cheery voice called out, stopping Dolohov 's hand mid-strike. `` Since were only supposed to keep an eye on the kiddies until He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gets back, what do you think of ... ''

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

'' Ludovic he is our Lord and shall be addressed as such ! '' Dolohov roared dangerously. `` One more slip and I 'll make sure the Mudblood fan is n't the exclusively remains in here ! ''

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

Dolohov scowled, quickly aiming a sinewy kick to Hermione 's midsection. The crack of her rib echoed between the pub 's bulwark, as did Harry and Neville 's cries of protest.

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

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

Ludovic raised his hands in a compromising way, knocking his hood from his case in the mental process.

'' Now Dolohov she 's just a young lady. All I was saying is tha .... '' But the rest of his intelligence were lost upon Harry, for beneath the bench vise of the dark hood was the boyish face of Ludo Bagman.
* * * * *


Kenneth Bothan 's read/write head shot up, while Tonks ran forward, wrapping a protective arm around Emily. The descend umbrella lay forgotten, spinning in concentric circles upon the pebbled ground, a toy of the billowing wind.

'' Kenneth we should go forth ! '' She cried, hoisting Emily into her blazon.

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

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

Emily squirmed, her auburn principal following her father 's onward motion towards them. `` pop, your knee joint are all muddy. '' She scolded seriously.

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

Tonks nodded, relinquishing the girl to recall her scepter. The ever-increasing chill was closing in. It would n't be long ...

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

'' No time to explain. '' She responded, taking off down the path. She could see Kenneth 's ponderous footfalls behind her, splashing in the muddy water.

They rounded the bend in the pathway, the toilsome grove of trees falling away to reveal the dismal lot. The car, their escape, was in lot, yet laboured despair drenched her soul.

Nymphadora 's human foot slid in the gravely mud, and she came to a stay, throwing out an arm out to end what was left of the Bothan family.

It was justly then that slight Emily Bothan began to whimper.

Kenneth 's dingy eyes quickly blinked away water. `` Tonks what 's thi ... ''

'' Daddy we need to run. Please dada run. '' Emily was pleading hysterically, her face buried into Kenneth 's shoulder.

Staring ahead at the looming physical body, Tonks could only stimulate her promontory.

'' I do n't consider we have fourth dimension to run. ``
* * * * *


'' YOU ! ''

Ludo roadman 's bluish oculus turned on him, a proud of smile replacing his previously perplexed one. `` Ah ... Harry boy. I was wondering when you 'd come around. ``

Dolohov scoffed. `` Precious ceramicist indeed. Tell me Potter, how was your wittle nappy ? ``

'' So tell me Harry, '' Ludo interjected, seeming determined to guide the conversation his way. `` How give birth things been ? ''

'' Yes wittle Potter. How have things been without that mangy old dog of yours ? ``

'' Antonin .... '' Ludo sounded distinctly uncomfortable.

In the distant background he could learn Neville 's choked stuttering.

'' H-how have they been ? '' Harry repeated, dumbfounded. How have they been ! ?

'' Not too good Mr. commercial traveller. '' Luna 's misty spokesperson drifted out, answering for him as he gaped like a fish. `` Harry 's been having a unsmooth twelvemonth, as you can see. ``

A pitiless snort came from Dolhov 's direction.

'' He lost his godfather, and with people such as yourself switching slope and betraying him, I trust you can see why. '' Luna continued casually.

roadman was suddenly refilling his drinking.

'' After all, Harry does n't want anyone else to die, and when multitude he trusts start killing the great unwashed ... ''

Bagman 's glass stopped halfway to his lips, eyes widening defensively. It was a moment before his composure returned.

'' Now I 've never actually killed anyone per say Miss .... ''

'' Lovegood. '' She supplied.

'' Lovegood. '' He continued. `` It 's just that .... ''

A strange calm air had overtaken him, the flimsy shaking of his own hands lost upon him. `` It 's just that your content with allowing others to do it for you. '' He said disdainfully. `` Your content with being a Coward, with siding with what is easy rather than what is right. ``

Bagman eyed him apprehensively, swallowing hard. `` Now Harry, you know how the Ministry is. '' He began imploringly. `` They never support anyone but themselves ... ''

'' At least they do n't kill anyone ! '' Harry bellowed, implements of war shaking with conquer Eumenides.

'' But Harry j-just think about this for a s-second. He-Who-Must-Not ... I mean my Lord .... '' He quickly corrected himself, spying the malevolent look of Dolohov. `` He just desires the Ministry 's ruin. So long as citizenry stay out of his way no one will get hurt. Now I ask you Harry, my boy, is that really so bad ? ``

'' Replacing one monocracy with another. Sounds lucid to me. '' He retorted sarcastically.

Besides him Luna nodded favourable reception, her finger's breadth drumming against her ski binding to some unrecognizable tune.

'' When you disappeared my grams was worried about you ! Y-you ... Your .... '' Across the room Neville Longbottom 's voice rang out, surprising everyone.

Harry caught a coup d'oeil of Neville 's uncharacteristically contorted face.

It was frightening.

'' Your no better than Bellatrix you slime ! ''

The affecting accusation hung thickly in the air, no one speaking. commercial traveller had become very matter to in his drink, shifting uncomfortably under the furious eye of all save for Dolohov.

For someone to turn their backs, on even the Ministry, in favour of Voldemort ...

It was unforgivable.

Drip.

He had nearly forgotten how his own hired hand bled, the lightness headed feeling out of lieu for the situation. Fortunately the unfreeze flow of crimson life was slowing, his coagulation factors finally kicking in.

Harry shook his head, ignoring the slight twist of the macrocosm. `` You were acquitted once Bagman. '' He hissed, center scanning the room for a way out. `` So say me, were you a invertebrate coward back then too, or just stupid ? ``

Bagamn cringed. `` Harry I was never a Death feeder ! ''

'' But you are now. '' His voice quivered. `` So severalise me, why 'd you do it ? ''

Dolohov 's smug grammatical construction betrayed even his interestingness in the answer, and Harry was not about to let the destruction feeder distraction go to waste.

dungeon them talking ... proceed them distracted ...

His manpower began roaming across the floor behind him, feeling for another penetrative sliver of glass.

'' Well you know Harry, hob, they 're nasty patronage. '' Ludo said, fidgeting. `` You know how they are if they 're after ya and ... ''

Harry did his serious to glare, feigning interest as Ludo 's brow creased curiously.

'' Come to think of it you probably do n't Harry. But it 's not fun business, goblin debt collectors that is. And since the Ministry was n't about to increase my salary these boys said they 'd be glad to help me out of my jam ... ''

'' That you got yourself into ! '' Neville shouted furiously from across the room.

Bagman eyed Neville warily. `` I can see where you 'd think that but ... ''

'' BUT WHAT ! ? '' Neville roared.

Luna inconspicuously sent a snap off feeding bottle piece sliding his way, his digit coiling around it like a snitch.

'' But these expiry Eaters, they 're not so bad. ``

Harry very nearly dropped the fragment, his eyes bulging out.

'' Not so bad ? '' He repeated gruffly.

traveling salesman nodded vigorously. `` No ! Not at all Harry ! In fact their rather ... ''

'' Tell that ... '' He hissed lowly. `` To my mum and dad. Tell that to Canicula. Tell that to Ron ! ''

An odd reflection crossed Bagman 's font. `` Now Harry really .... ''

Harry 's backtalk parted, accusal dripping as midst as the blood from his spiral fists, only the sound never came.

The soft sound, and flicker of crusade upon the flooring, drew the breath straight from his lips.

'' Kaylens ... '' He breathed softly. He had nearly forgotten ...

'' Ah another one to link up the affray ? '' Dolohov called cheerfully, sauntering over to where she lay, partially concealed by an overturned table.

The Death eater reached her, roughly dragging her squirming flesh up.

'' Ca n't exit you exempt to range around now can we ? '' He hissed, drawing unnaturally close to her.

Harry 's stomach lurched wretchedly as Dolohov 's lips grazed her blood stained cheek.

'' After all, fiery biliousness like you ... ''

'' Get. Your handwriting. Off. Her. '' Harry spat dangerously, drawing Dolohov 's aid to him. Anything to get him away from her ... She looked make to collapse ...

The expiry feeder regarded him coldly. `` Or you 'll do what exactly ? ``

'' You do n't want to know. '' He hissed lowly, ceasing the sawing movement upon his ski binding. He could n't afford to let Dolohov see ....

'' Oh but I do ! '' He said menacingly, a cruel smiling lighting his beat eyes. `` I 'd very much like to know what Precious potter thinks he could do to me. ``

His eyes narrowed, a cruel smile of his own crossing his characteristic.

'' I could depict you why Voldemort is so afraid of me. '' He whispered threateningly.

The electric cord winding around Kaylens'wrists snapped tight, Dolohov 's tense grip betraying his agitation.

Harry went on, the room swaying unnaturally as he spoke with malicious measure. `` Or you could do yourself a favor Dolohov, and leave. depart before you make me really angry. ''

Dolohov shifted uncomfortably, mirroring Bagman 's trend. He took the chance to slowly slice at his bindings yet again.

The chicken feed, slickness with his own profligate, nearly fell from his grip. Thankfully the error was lost upon the Death eater, for Dolohov had chosen that instant to twist Kaylens around, hissing something into her tangled tresses furiously.

His wrist rung with the hurting, brought about by another case of the field glass, as Kaylens body was tossed besides him.

His sawing movements halted, his heart drawn to where she lay, panting faintly besides him.

'' There ... `` Dolohov sneered. `` Enjoy your mudblood admirer cherished Potter. Once our Lord gets here we 'll see how brave out you really are. ``

He swallowed hard, watching Kaylens'centre flicker open. He wanted to say something, anything ...

He had failed her ...

Hermione 's soul wrenching shade brought a grimace of veneration to both their feature.

'' Brave ? '' Hermione 's fallible vox chided from where she sat, propped against the paries. `` You ask him about bravery ? He 's sixteen, not even a fully qualified wizard, yet you fear him so much as to disarm him and bind him. ''

She spat all of this into Dolohov 's approaching face, just before his hand reared back, slapping her roughly to the floor.

She let out not a cry, peering upwards through her narrowed, swelling middle, just in fourth dimension to see a dark flush rearing back.

'' Hey Dolohov ! ``

Dolohov 's foot froze mid-kick, hate-filled eyes flying towards Neville 's pudgy face.

'' You do n't want to do that. ''

Dolohov 's thick eyebrows disappeared beneath his mangy hair. `` You presume to Holy Order me around boy ? ''

Neville shrugged casually. `` You can pollute yourself if you want. '' He sounded uncharacteristically Slytherin. `` I did n't recognize dirty line suited a end eater. ``

Dolohov laughed roughly, buying Harry more time.

Neville you 're a saint ...

A bead of salty elbow grease broke free from his forehead, rolling into his mouth. Setting his jaw he worked, the glassful shard digging into his thick cover.

Snap.

The shard slid so low, so fast, he nearly cut too deep, the breather of pain catching fast in his throat.

The bindings were looser.

Twisting his hands testingly, he found with the number one fiber 's severing had come a greater range of movement.

middle locked onto Dolohov 's clenched fist, slamming into Neville 's jaw, he twisted his articulatio radiocarpea, ignoring the burning sensation of dried combat injury ripping open. Warm, loggerheaded life-time blood welled from these place, his scabbed over finger's breadth feeling in his cloak ...

They had taken his wand, but Rosmereta 's ... The waitress'...

Polished Venetian red brushed beneath his gravelly peel, Kaylens'luminous eyes meeting his own, comprehension shining within their fiery depths ...

He could reach the cloistered wands.

He was armed.
* * * * *


'' Pumpkin ... Honey mummy needs you to do mummy a favor. Can you do that honey ? ``

She whimpered, her face buried in her father 's pelting soaked suit. She wanted to see away, but she could n't. The frigid tactile sensation was there. She could discover her mum, she wanted to see her, to hug her, but she was too pit to look away from the safety device of her father 's arms.

'' Do you miss your mammy small girl ? Would you wish to see her ? ``

Emily squeezed her optic harder, willing the interpreter away. `` It 's not mommy ... '' She whispered. `` I ca n't see mama ... ''

Ah, ah, ah, ah ... small darling your mummy is meddling now. Ca n't you see that ? ``

She shook her nous frantically, squeezing her dad 's neck. `` No ... No .... ''

'' Open your eyes you fiddling kick ! ``

The cruel ma'am 's grim eyes danced in her mind. She did n't desire to see the dame again. She did n't want to.

'' dad ... '' She whimpered frightfully.

'' No not daddy. Mummy ! You wanted to see her little terror, so here, flavour ! ''

Daddy would spread his eyes ... He would. He was n't afraid of anything. Maybe if she opened her eyes the lady would go away again.

Emily swallowed, counting knockout to ten.

'' Please mum ... ''

Emily 's washy eyes opened, a dark suit coat staring back.

mammy needed up. She needed air. The have in mind man was there again, shoving her face into the puddle. Her mummy did n't like water.

Emily cried out, screeching, shaking her head back and Forth River, throwing the figure away. She wanted them to go. Her damp, rain-soaked plait flung into her forefather 's face as she shook, but she did not notice.

'' Kenneth take Emily and go. ``

'' Tonks what 's ... ''

'' You ca n't see them Kenneth, but they 're there. ``

'' No ... '' Her own whimper rang in her ear, her icy hands shaking her mum. whey was n't mummy waking ? She had to ... `` No ... ''

'' Tonksie ! '' Had she shouted ? Could the nice dame hear her ?

'' Kenneth get to the car. Drive away. ``

'' Tonks I ca n't leave ... ''

'' I 'll be amercement. Just go. NOW ! ``

Emily 's reeling existence reeled to a greater extent, for her father had taken off at fast sprint, splashing water over her wooden leg.

In the dim background, somewhere beyond her mother 's screech, she could get wind the skillful peeress shouting something.

Her world dimmed away as a silvery dog ran past.

Mummy always liked dogs ...
* * * * *


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

He was armed, and the actualisation had numbed him, his next move horribly elusive.

With the rhythmic sawing of the shard, his mind fell curiously blank shell for the get-go time in what felt millennium.

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

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

She fell into position besides him, so close, her bloodied sleeve nearly brushing against his skin. She was blocking Dolohov 's view of what he was doing, he knew it without even asking, for her heart 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 release masked by her sudden, purposeful coughing.

Her head fell forward, her coughs lingering long enough to seem real, and her golden, tangle curl came cascading down, falling over her center, veiling her expression from all but him. To his heart each shimmering strand, glinting in the dull afternoon glow, as well as her watery orbs, remained visible, as well as her bound wrists, ashen and torn from where she had frantically pulled, struggling for loss in Dolohov 's arms.

The bastard would never again lay a finger's breadth upon her.

He would never again lay a finger upon anyone.

Harry Potter had a few dark spells he was quite tidal bore to try out.

Snap.

'' How much tenacious do you cogitate it 'll be till he finishes questioning the small town Antonin ? ``

Dolohov sneered. `` Ludovic you are trying my patience as much as the half-blood and these ... '' The non-white gaze of the man scanned the room, taking in the few witting students and the two patron bound and lined against the walls. `` These spares. ``

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

Dolohov kicked the floor, sending shattered field glass skittering across Dean 's fallen manikin. `` We will be here and gone before those patsy catch malarkey of this. Besides, these things are delicate matters ... ''

Questioning ? His ears listened, silently taking it all in. Besides him Kalliandra appeared to be doing the Saami, while Luna shifted the trash shards on the floor around with her feet.

commercial traveller seemed besides himself with questions. Harry mentally egged him on to be idle lipped.

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

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

The discussion ended.

It was then that he heard it.

'' You ... ''

Only he had heard her whispered accusation, for it could be nothing else. The sheer revulsion in that one, whispered word left zippo to question.

Her oculus had moved from Dolohov, drifting into the backdrop beyond, liquid fire boiling beyond their depths. Lifting his own he followed her gaze to where Ludo Bagman stood, pouring himself another fidgety drink.

He turned his confusion upon her, noticing her chest 's rhythmic rising as her breather came quicker, mystifying, faster ...

Golden centre flickered shut, a pained expression falling across her.

'' How drear 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 roue froze as he studied her, taking advantage of the quiet in activities.

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

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

'' Kaylens please ... ''

Her eyes fell shut, her fists opening and end on melt off air. `` You 're bleeding ceramicist, are you alright ? '' She whispered shakily.

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

mo passed, before finespun palpebra flickered receptive, her eyes alight with an deviant glow.

'' Good. '' She murmured. `` Because I can only give you a minute. ``

His sass flapped wordlessly, shocked at the transformation before him.

Where his pelt lightly touched her own, an unnatural prickling had begun.
* * * * *


The energy reverberating from him drew her nearer, an eternity passing before she was able-bodied to forcibly describe away.

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

They would all sympathize ...

She would not drift near him again, for her reality was moving unnaturally slow, as if the events occurring around her were illusory, fleeting ikon from horrible pipe dream that would surely vanish with a pennant of merciful knowingness.

Only no such merciful breeze came.

Her bounds hands rose from her lap, tracing the tender line of her jaw, feeling her cooling skin. Somewhere, amidst the scrap, she had fallen, shoved away by Dean. The dried spot of blood along her boldness gave grounds to that.

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

He was alive ...

Hermione ...

The small missy 's finger's breadth had curled around fallen ball of her bloodied, root out whisker, as if the resolute Gryffindor had wanted something to take onto, something strong and tangible to prove the afflictions had been real.

They had ...

Her eyes fell willfully shut once more, immersing herself in the peaceful obliviousness of wickedness, where no demons save her own reigned.

The store of a raise night, long due revenge, beckoned.

A hitch hand lay splayed across the forepart corridor ... Blood trickling onto the wooden porch boards ...

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

She had made her decision.

The chilling rain pelted down, something dark mixing with the muddy pee licking at her nose ...

The tingling began softly, like a swooning plume playing across her tegument, traversing it 's way upwards, inwards ...

It was their ancestry swirling within the puddle ... .Sean 's white center staring back ...

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

A boyish face appeared above her, sympathy in his Eastern Malayo-Polynesian oculus. `` I 'm awfully disconsolate about this kid ... ''

His voice had echoed through that night, and again this day.

He had stood idly by once, and was again.

She squeezed her eyes shut ever sloshed, involuntarily shudders traveling through her, the rash press in the very air building, pulsating in uncontrolled Wave outwards.

The world was taking on a hotter quality, every nerve burning with fiery vividness as she began reaching, feeling ...

The acerbic presence of Ludovic roadman filled her, and she began drawing.

Her spirit was to kill.



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

Thank you for making this story the Number One Favorite chronicle on the site, for making me the Number One ducky Author on the situation, for making this the 7th most read narration in the internet site 's account when it has been out for less 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 experience 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 comparison to the wealth of natural endowment displayed by others such as njill22, Edward VII Ollivander, The dark Lord Nedved, KawaiiAce2003, IchigoPan, Violet Gryfindor, Timeturner, BitterEpiphany, Ginny Weasely, Arios, Cocoapuffshooter, Winky, and too many others to name.

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


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Photograph couresty of the previously mentioned populace demesne website. Accreditations can be found via my personal website.