Harry Potter and the Grimoire of Darkness
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all associated characters and places do not belong to me. If they did Harry and Hermione would have been dating since 4th Year.
A/N My thanks to everyone who reviewed, put this story on alert or made it a favourite. This chapter may seem to be going off on a tangent but I promise it is important to the plot. We'll be back with Harry and co. next chapter.
Chapter 2: An Unexpected Visitor
It was with a weary sigh that Hestia Wellborne rose from her chair and headed towards the small kitchen of her cottage. After nearly an hour of procrastinating she had at last summoned up the will to make herself supper.
She actually had little appetite but knew she needed to eat. She was more tired than hungry, but then she often was tired these days, a consequence of her age.
Although witches and wizards were longer lived than muggles, this was mostly the result of magic being able to cure so many diseases against which muggle medicine was powerless. But ninety-eight was an advanced age even for a witch, and tonight Hestia was feeling her years.
As she was taking saucepans from the kitchen cupboard she heard the door of her cottage open and the sound of footsteps in the hallway.
"Rosie?" she called out." What have you come back for?"
She thought it was the young witch who came in the afternoons to help around the house. Rosie was a pleasant enough girl and Hestia did find her a great help, although the young woman's constant prattle about the latest village gossip and her seemingly endless parade of boyfriends was a little wearing.
Looking towards the kitchen door she saw a figure standing in the hallway and knew at once it was not Rosie. Although the intruder's face was shadowed she could tell by the silhouette it was a man, and a very tall man at that. Alarmed, Hestia reached for her wand.
In her youth Hestia had been an expert duellist, and had once been runner up in a national tournament. But that had been many years ago. Muscles once strong were now weak, reflexes once razor sharp were dulled by the verdigris of age. Before she could even point her wand at the intruder she was blasted back against the kitchen wall, the wand flying from her hand.
Hestia heard rapid footsteps approaching then screamed as a savage hand gripped her hair, forcing her to look up.
"No!" Hestia gasped in horror at the face of her assailant. She had recognised him at once. "No, it isn't possible, you're dead!"
"But as you can see witch, I am not dead!" The voice was dark and seductive, almost silky. It sent shivers of fear through her. "Now old woman, tell me the location of the Scroll of Ravenclaw!"
Dread gripped her heart as she realised what his purpose was. But she would not reveal this information, even if she had to give her life to protect it.
"I don't know what you mean," Hestia mumbled then cried out as she was struck viciously across the face.
"Do not lie to me, old woman." The hand that gripped her hair twisted it further, pulling her head back cruelly. "I know you were the Unspeakable who studied that artefact at the Department of Mysteries. I know you authored a secret report on it's location. Now tell me where to find it!" The hand that gripped her hair tightened again.
Tears of pain and fear trickled down Hestia's face but she remained defiant. "I'm not telling you anything!"
"We shall see!" He raised his wand, touching it to her forehead. "Legilimens!"
She felt the mental intrusion and reacted instantaneously. She was an accomplished Occlumens and although her body was weak, her mind was still strong. There was a brief but savage struggle then the man staggered slightly as she forced him out of her mind. Hestia felt elated, but her triumph was to prove short lived.
"Your mind is strong," he commented. "But even the strongest mind can be broken. Crucio!"
She screamed as intolerable agony flooded through her frail body. Again she felt his mental intrusion but distracted by the pain was unable to resist, unable to stop the memory he sought rising to the surface of her consciousness. Suddenly he released her and she collapsed to the floor sobbing, defeated and broken.
"How ingenious!" Dark laughter filled the little kitchen. "Hidden in the most obvious place, where no one would think to look!"
Painfully, Hestia looked up at him. Noticing her gaze he stepped back and pointed his wand at her.
She knew he was going to kill her, knew he would not allow her to survive and spread the knowledge of his purpose to the rest of the Wizarding World. Strangely, she felt no fear. She was old now and had led a full life, one of quiet pleasure and achievement. She had accomplished everything she wished to accomplish, and now she was prepared to face death and experience whatever lay beyond it.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Calmly, Hestia watched as the deadly green light sped towards her.
Then all was darkness.