Title: The Poetry of Fragments
Author: olimakiella
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended."...you're the first one I'm coming after…" said by Rachel Weisz in The Mummy. "Big feet, big shoes" scene based on Notting Hill. Don't own Barbie.Boris Johnson Quote from:.org/wiki/City_Hall_(London).Architectural details of City Hall London from./gla/city_hall/city_hall_. The Metallica Mosh pit phrase: Been in one. Survived. "You are resisting I do not advise it" from Dante's Cove.
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco, Remus/Sirius, (past) Luna/Ron
Total Length: 20,210
Warning: AU, kind of a creature fic.
Summary: The city of London has seen its fair share of tragedies in the past few months but when a Muggle disease hits the Wizarding world, people start dying and rising again dramatically changed and fiendishly clever. A group of operatives are called in wipe London's slate clean but as they unravel the mystery they realise the Muggles aren't the only ones to blame. The action starts at Athena College Library in western London...
The Poetry of Fragments
Doctor Vector typed furiously into her computer as the tears sprouted from her eyes. The face of evil was staring at her hungrily, tapping a long fingernail on the glass. Cocking its head to the side, it eyed her and then the thick layer of glass that seemed to be separating it from her. She sobbed uncontrollably and wiped her eyes on her sleeve as she continued to key in her message. Her heart jumped every time she heard the tap-tap-tapping of the claw-like nails clunking against the window that stretched the height and width of the laboratory. The monster narrowed its eyes at her, growling. Her eyes snapped up immediately and she felt a deep stabbing tendril of terror strike through her spinal cord when it grinned at her. It displayed a neat row of teeth coloured red with blood. Inhaling sharply, she watched it pace backward barefoot, not watching where it was going but knowingly side-stepping the dead bodies it had dropped in its wake. Vector cried for them, they had been her colleagues, her friends. Flitwick's eyes were open and unseeing, staring up at her emptily as the naked figure walked over him easily, leaving bloody footprints on the polished, tiled floor.
Not wanting to waste time, the doctor quickly uploaded all the files into one large attachment. As she waited for it to finish, she couldn't help but fearfully track the movements of the thing that had practically eaten her department alive. She screamed as she watched the computer screen fly toward her from the other side of the glass. Instinctively, she recoiled. It bounced. Nothing. Vector let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in and glanced at the screen in front of her. Eighty percent. "Come on, please come on." Her foot was tapping, she couldn't help it. The percentage gradually increased. A chair crashed against the glass barrier along with a loud sharp cry from the killing machine as it realised, with frustration, that the glass was yet to dent. In the midst of it, Vector heard a jingle from the computer and looked back down to see the files had been completely uploaded. As she switched back to the email, she suddenly paused as movement caught her eye from the side of the room. It was Flitwick, he had moved, she was sure of it.
He blinked.
"Oh god, oh god, no." They had discussed this before, in endless meetings and cross-country conference calls. Without a means to test it on humans, however, as animals did not work, it had all been guesswork and estimations. Her hands trembled even more violently as she realised a lot more of them had begun to twitch and move stiffly. The beast either didn't notice or didn't care. It continued hurling objects at the screen roaring with impatience before it picked up the heavy steel table it had been laying on dead not half an hour before. The table must have easily weighed the equivalent of ten full-grown men, but it picked it up with ease and threw it as if it weighed no more than a small child. It flew and hit the direct centre of the glass barrier. The sliver of fear grew exponentially as she saw the crack and heard it crackle in a vein-like formation further and further to the top. She heard a huff of satisfaction and sobbed harder. It was over. Quickly, she ended her missive with a broken, I'm sorry, and pressed SEND as the beast took a running jump and careened its way into the screen, sending glass shattering as loud as her scream.
It was 9:27 when the email was confirmed as sent. The confirmation message went unheeded, however, as the writer was already dead.
The walls of Athena College Library were lit with artificial sconces that shone lamplight throughout the narrow aisles of books. It smelled like old paper, hidden crisp packets and polished wood. These were all things Draco Malfoy had known most of his life since he'd been visiting his cousin there as a toddler onwards. Sirius Black was a relative on his mother's side and rebel to the family that most didn't care for. Sirius Black, however, was one who didn't take well to being swept under the carpet. He'd shown up at various family events since he'd been thrown out revelling in the awkward silences and coughs of discomfort and disapproval. Draco admired him for it and thus modelled his behaviour after him. This was mainly because of the one lesson he had been taught by his cousin that had stuck with him for life: "Live as you wish to and fuck all others" Since Draco had never wanted to live his father's way, it appealed to him greatly. So, if his father told him to go to a Wizarding University, he went to a muggle one. If he told him to cut his hair, he grew it out. If he told him to marry a rich pureblood girl... Well, that was another reason he admired his cousin so much. He'd willingly been thrown out of the family solely for his school friend, Remus Lupin, who above all else, was a werewolf. It had shocked the family to no end and at once he'd been forbidden to see him.
In true Sirius Black style and, in a manner Draco could only wish he had been a witness to, Sirius Black had kindly told the family to fuck off, and went to see him anyway.
Needless to say when Draco had come out of his own stylishly designed closet, the family had gone up in arms. Ultimatums were set and accounts were frozen but Draco hadn't cared. Sirius and Remus both told him he was welcome to stay with them on campus at any time. With the money he had in his own accounts and enough credential to take out a student loan, Draco had enlisted into Athena College in West London – Muggle London – and was working part time in the library during his studies to help pay off his loan. Since the pandemic had broken out in Muggle London, though, the halls and library were empty after the mass evacuation London officials had executed last week. Only those of Wizarding decent had opted to stay and hidden themselves away to avoid catching it. Draco's entire day was now filled with his alone time. He'd graduated summer gone and was now just spending his time relaxing in the large cushy green chairs next to an alcove by the window. The chairs had all been packed on top the tables, which had been nailed down last summer vacation to stop students who wanted to join tables together. They never put them back and Draco was sick to death of moving them around. He'd appealed to have them cemented down but the Board had opted for nailing, which was just as good, really.
Draco sighed and burrowed deeper into the chair with his cup of hot chocolate. His robe scrunched up behind him and he wriggled to get it back down and folded his sock-covered feet under him to stop the cold air from reaching him in the empty library. Sirius and Remus had long since vacated the room to go to bed. With Remus being the Head Librarian and Sirius... well, Sirius wasn't really anything beside a boarder, actually – they had a set of rooms for themselves, almost like a suite next to the library. It was accessible through the office behind a very clichéd bookshelf. Draco smiled to himself as he remembered how they both feigned sleepiness to get out of the room quickly by seven. Draco had just rolled his eyes and continued stacking chairs. After a long, hot shower, though, he did feel a bit tired.
Draco put down the Sun. It was a few weeks old due to the fact no news-seller was out and about since the big evacuation of London. Most of the city had vacated north where threat of the disease was low. Muggles took that kind of thing seriously, Draco noticed, the disease was killing them after all. The paper blasted off news of a virus going round and to steer clear of it by washing your hands every three seconds or some such rubbish. It was dated less than a week before the full blown epidemic was on their hands and muggles were dropping down in the streets like flies. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes before putting them back on. It was times like these he was glad for being a wizard. One swish and flick could have any virus running miles from him if he so wished.
Draco's head snapped up as a short cheery jingle made itself known. He rolled his eyes wondering what insane person would be sending emails at one in the morning. He got up and tightened his dressing robe around himself. The polished wooden floor was chilled under his feet and he shivered for a second before he reached the computer behind the counter. He pulled up the browser and winced at the amount of emails they had. He hadn't checked them today because he had felt extra lazy. As he checked through, he saw some orders had come in from a Wizarding publisher in Australia. – sans animate charms (so completely muggle safe) – and were waiting for Remus to sign them and fax them back. Ah so not so late at night after all then, not for Australians anyway.
"Oops," Draco said biting his lip. He then shook off his guilt. He was tired of telling them both, especially Sirius, to take the computer course they'd forced him into so that things like this didn't go unnoticed. He scrolled down. "Ads, ads, ads, ads, ads – oh," he said stopping when he saw one from a dated three days ago, "And who are you, Dr. Vector?" he said clicking on it. He knew various Doctors and Scientists kept in touch with Remus because of the Medical Sciences faculty they'd just opened up. Remus was trying to get as many medical books as possible pertaining to the medical field and if a deal had been made, he'd need to know about it.
Draco read through it, preparing himself for the multitude of words he'd not be able to pronounce or understand but furrowed his eyebrows continuously when the message he read was unlike what he'd expected. His worry increased as he continued on to the end where the missive ended with a simple "I'm sorry". It sounded like a hoax, but a muggle Bio-Molecular Engineering Company would not know names such as 'Minister Fudge', and words such as 'Transfiguration' and 'Potions'.
In Trafalgar Square, three operatives were perched around the top rim of Nelson's Column, their ropes attached to the concrete with a strong sticking charm. "Where the fuck are they going?" The first said as she tracked the cluster of rabid shadows running along the ground. The night was quiet and the streets empty because of the exodus staged last week. She was glad the Londoners had listened to them. If they had any chance of catching these things, walking snacks were just going to slow the team down. It didn't matter right now though, right now all that mattered was the group they'd been stalking and chasing over two miles since they'd spotted them.
"They're heading West," they all heard through the clear signal of their radios. It was their team leader and the head of twenty-four teams stationed all around London watching similar cases like this. Most had finished their tasks and reported back, already on their way home to base. "South-western, do you have them?"
"Affirmative." The deep rich baritone that responded, she knew, belonged to the second in command, Lieutenant Thomas. He was a brilliant marksman so if he said he had them, with one word they'd be done for.
"On my mark." There was silence on the line. Then, suddenly, another voice rang in.
"Sir, we have a problem." Sergeant Finnigan's thick Irish brogue was noticeable anywhere. Stationed a little to the west of them, over the side of the Square, he was tracking a group that had broken free at their last rescue and detainment mission.
The three of them heard the Majors frustrated sigh over the airwaves. "If we have a problem Finnigan don't tell me we have one and just tell me the problem."
"Alright, they're all heading West while one's climbing the power line."
There was silence. All of them on station two paused trying to figure out if what they heard was correct and wondered what would cause these creatures to do such a thing. And they were creatures,monsters, if the term could be used. One team had found one hiding under the bed in some child's room. It was made funnier by the fact that there was no one in the house. All that waiting for nothing. One thing for sure, they were not human. Not anymore. "Say that again?"
"Shit!" Thomas yelled as multitudes of sparks rose from the south and short fiery explosions sounded.
Suddenly, the world of London in the south and west went completely dark.
"You have got to be shitting me," their leader mumbled.
"Fuck!" Draco said as the power went, switching off the lights. The surge protector connected to the computer kept the computer on long enough for him to save all the documents they had open. When the computer was logging off, something furry and decidedly feline jumped onto the counter and meowed. If it wasn't for the fact that she continuously did this, he would have jumped out of his skin. Sirius hadn't gotten used to her at all; must be the Animagus in him.
"Minerva, I've told you not to do that," he reprimanded her as he stroked her fur. "What if Sirius had been here, huh? You'd have scared the Merlin out of him," he said knowing that if she could, she would have smiled. It was almost as if she enjoyed tormenting the man. He shook his head and picked her up continuing to pet her. He walked through the short aisle in the dark, knowing the place by heart. He intended to get his book and feel his way out. He'd just reached the squishy chair when he heard something fall.
Through the new night-vision charm their researchers had developed, the team of seven were weaving their way through the street with ease. "Still heading West, Major," Thomas said quietly into his headpiece. "It looks like their heading for Athena."
"Well, shit. Just like They said." There was a sigh on the airwaves. "Alright, move in. Twenty minutes and we're out of there. Get to all of them, I don't care how by now. And call for back-up."
"Copy that," Finnigan said with glee.
The one thing about large empty libraries was that everything echoed. Even the smallest sound became loud and ominous. Draco frowned and looked around in the eerie blue light cast by the computer shutting down. He picked up his book and walked back to the counter but stopped suddenly at the large arched window, his breath catching as he heard heavy breathing. It wasn't close but... it wasn't far either. Then the computer shut down completely. Draco stood in the light of the moon that shone through the high arched windows as he heard the breathing accompanied by quick footsteps. They were very close to him when the shattering sound of glass penetrated his senses and he looked toward the window in time to see a dark human shape coming toward him. It knocked him down and kept him there before turning abruptly. All Draco heard then were gunshots. He hadn't really heard them before. They were a lot louder than they usually were on the television. He covered his ears idly noticing that Minerva was scampering away from him as he lay in his position on the floor.
"They're all over, Major, we got some survivors but it looks like they just got in the way."
"Okay, look for anyone else near the library. Send word. We blow the place in ten."
"Copy that."
In his anxiety, all Draco really heard was the part about blowing up the place. He turned his head sharply to look at the person that had him on the ground. As he did, he noticed a gruesome face staring at him hungrily in the shadows and his eyes widened in terror. The unsightly features were highlighted by the slip of moonlight that came in through the once magnificent window. Draco would have sighed in grief – that window had been drawn and studied by many an Art and History major – but at the moment he just screamed. He knew faces like that. They only meant one thing.
Suddenly, he was grabbed at the scruff of his dressing gown and dragged quickly across the room. He screamed more because in his trail the human-like creature followed him a lot quicker than Draco thought possible. As if having Draco dangled in front of him was just too much to handle. With a strength Draco didn't know any human could possess, he was practically thrown toward a table – the man using his momentum for Draco to travel the distance – and Draco was tossed a round, shiny object as he slid the rest of the way under the nailed down furniture. The ball that spun in his hand as he caught it then emitted a bright light that rose to the height of the table, spreading out to create a barrier around the table's edge. It sealed itself just in time for the creature to slam against it. Draco jumped in startled terror, sure it would get through. He wisely kept the shiny ball in his hand, though – he recognised a lifesaver when he saw one – and watched the monster cry out in pain as it began to convulse spastically on the ground. Soon, it stilled.
"Stay," he heard after another set of gunshots and looked to the person dressed all in black. His voice sounded English but he had on a helmet that hid his face. The entire outfit was black leather and near invisible in the darkness. He supposed that was the point of such outfits. Soon though, the head was gone and Draco only saw the man jump onto the table's surface above him, shooting at anything that moved in the shadows. Draco couldn't see anything or hear anything except for vicious cries and the thud of dropping bodies. He tried to cover his ears to it but the sound still crept through.
"Is there going to be any back-up for me soon?" Draco uncovered his ears to hear the man's voice.
"We're bringing the helicopters in, Major. There will be an exit route soon."
Between shots, Draco heard the man say, "I take it that means there isn't a ground level exit anymore." Draco felt his blood run cold.
"Well, you can take it if you want, Major, just don't come crying to me when you die. They've multiplied. I've never seen so many at once."
There was suddenly a banging sound of the library doors bursting open and a cascade of gunfire. "Over here," came the shout from above the table. There were more footsteps, these determined and focused in his direction. Draco crouched down further. "Span the area." Draco barely noticed the dark shapes moving around and even one going behind the counter into the office due to the faint light of the moon. He paused a brief moment to remember Sirius and Remus, hoping they were alright. His thoughts of guilt for not worrying about Remus or Sirius sooner were drowned out, however, by the sound of a helicopter approaching.
"Major, if you or your team are anywhere near the centre of the library, I suggest you move to the edges."There was a pause before the Major on the table above him yelled for his team to move.
Seconds later the ceiling exploded.
tbc...