Chapter 4- Behind Enemy Hives

Author's Note: Here's the next chapter of the book! While Harry and Hermione are captured by the Carlisles, Gallardo and Ron need to use all they can to rescue them.

It is an intense chapter, and I should warn you that I've done something terrible. I didn't make the decision lightly, but I needed to show that this war has already led to terrible and unfortunate losses.

I hope you still enjoy the story, though.

Harry couldn't see where he had Apparated, his head was hooded like a condemned man about to be hanged. His knees struck the ground, making him wince in pain, but he was roughly pulled back on his feet and dragged forwards. He heard a muffled cry from his side, he knew who it belonged to. He couldn't reach out and comfort Hermione because his hands were bound behind him, and a soldier each side gripped his arms.

The captives were dragged through, what Harry guessed was a gate, and then a door to a building. Despite the seizing of the chilly wind, Harry still felt goosebumps attack his body. He was shoved on the ground and the hood was yanked from his head, prompting him to blink fiercely, as his eyes adjusted to the light.

He looked towards Hermione on his left, he realised that she was shivering, before catching a glimpse of where they were. In a very large and spacious lounge, sat before them on a spinning leather armchair was a woman with greying hair and red lipstick. Her grey eyes stung Harry and Hermione, as the whole room full of guests and archaic paintings fell into hush.

This woman rose and slowly approached the captives before smiling.

"Are these the contacts?" she asked.

"Yes, they are," Donald Carlisle confirmed. "What's more is that he is Harry Potter! The Chosen One!"

The whole room gasped in awe. Harry's heart thudded, this could all be over if they were about to do what he thought they were. Ron and Gallardo were not here, so he hoped that this was a good sign.

"But how many were there?" she asked.

"There were four, but the Rivarians took care of them, Lady Constance," another soldier declared.

"Thank you, Richard," Lady Constance replied. "You saw this?"

"No, we left the Rivarians to their share of the loot, it's the least those dogs could be offered for their bit!"

"There is no way that they could survive the Rivarians," Carlisle laughed.

Lady Constance nodded. "Very good, Donald, but I insist that we should interrogate them."

Harry swallowed as Lady Constance leaned over and pinched his chin with her cold fingers and forced him to look into her eyes.

"I am Lady Constance Carlisle, Lady of the Manor. You have already met my nephew. I am going to ask you a few questions and you will answer. Understood?"

Harry inhaled and nodded.

"Are you Harry Potter?" she asked.

"What do you think?" Harry shot back. "Can you not see the scar?" His remark was met by a kick in the side from Donald Carlisle.

"Leave him alone!" Hermione cried, as Harry winced from the blow.

"Witty tongue, loyal female," Lady Constance listed. "Tell me, who are you and how long you and the boy have been a couple for?" she said patronisingly.

"We're not a couple," Harry said. "And we're not telling you anything!" He was expecting another kick, but Carlisle relented.

"Hey, Potter! You realise we have someone else who will tell us?" Carlisle scoffed. He clicked his fingers and two soldiers left the room, returning with Vanessa Valkyrie a few minutes later. Her make up was smudged, especially around her eyes, her hair was in a mess and here skin had a bruise, just left of her nose.

Some of the guests began whispering, but the Carlisles ignored them and beckoned for her to come to the front. She obliged reluctantly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this whore is an informant who's been liasing with these people, who work for the Order of the Phoenix!" Carlisle declared. "All this time, pretending to be one of us!"

A murmur of disbelief and anger interjected from the guests.

"So, I am going to ask her some very simple questions. And she better give me exactly what I want," Carlisle said maliciously. "So, Vanessa, who are these people?"

Vanessa sniffed but did not answer.

"Shall we get Mary Clare to pay for your silence?" Carlisle growled. "Ford, get Mary Clare here, now!"

"No, please!" sobbed Vanessa. "H-Harry Potter... and Hermione Granger..." she said, looking down, avoiding their gaze, as Harry and Hermione held their breaths.

"Who else is working with them?" Lady Constance asked.

No reply.

"WHO- ELSE?" boomed Carlisle.

"R-Ron Weasely," squeaked Vanessa. "And Gallardo Eagle."

"And what have you been telling them?"

"Nothing, just who I am, who we are."

"Liar!" challenged Carlisle. "Crucio!"

Vanessa's shrill scream pierced the room, before turning into a fit of sobs, which were very unpleasant to witness.

"She's telling the truth!" Hermione exclaimed. "That's all she's told us!"

Lady Constance grabbed her hair. "Well then, perhaps you would like to share the punishment?

"Ladies and gentlemen," she announced. "You are all in for a treat. Today, this traitor, Vanessa Valkyrie, along with Mudblood Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter, will be sharing the same fate. For their filthy work against the Wizarding World, they will be put into the Arena!" She grinned at the guests, who were nodding and murmuring in approval.

"Take them to the dungeons!" Carlisle barked, as six soldiers grabbed Harry, Hermione and Vanessa and pulled them on their feet and out of the lounge. This was not going well, and a knot in their stomachs told them that this was far from the worst.

The three were pushed into the creme carpeted hallway, where there was a staircase leading up, but that's not where they were heading. They were dragged to a stone stairway leading down, which was a guarded by an iron gate. This gate was unlocked and the friends were led down towards a cold and chilly basement. They were heaved in a cell, which imprisoned them by clicking the lock in place. The only comfort being that they were no longer bound at the hands.

It wasn't until that the Corporals had left the prisoners in peace, when they could breath a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry!" Vanessa sobbed. "I am so sorry that I told them! They threatened to hurt Mary Clare... I had-!"

"It's OK," Hermione sighed. "It doesn't matter now." She ran her fingers over the walls of the cell, which just had a small light on the roof and a bed made from hay. But she couldn't find any obvious weakness, nor could she Apparate as she had left her wand in Lewisham.

"Vanessa!" called a voice from outside the cell. A small girl, about nine or ten was stood clutching the bars.

"Mary Clare, how did you get in here?" Vanessa demanded.

"I followed you in and hid," she squeaked. "What's going to happen?" The fear in her voice betrayed her, and Harry and Hermione understood Vanessa's wish to protect her. But how could Carlisle even think of her harming, not only a child, but his own flesh and blood, all for the sake of fighting the Order?

"You need to go!" Vanessa ordered. "Go! Before they find you! Go to your room and stay there!"

"But-"

"Go!" cried Vanessa. Sure enough, the little girl turned on her heels and darted out of this place.

"Vanessa, what did they mean by putting us in the Arena?" Harry asked, trying to sound as calm as possible.

Suddenly, there was a roar from a nearby cell and the shackling of chains.

"What was that?" Hermione whispered.

Faintly, on the wall opposite their cell, she could make out the shadow of a tail with a hook like sting on it.

Vanessa gulped. "They meant that we're going to be set on by Manticores!"

In Lewisham, two men were gathering their belongings, including the two notebook communicators that their friends had left behind. They were to get rid of any traces of themselves at Room 34. They marched downstairs and into the street, where they met an Elf.

"Legorio, we need to find our friends, and fast!" Gallardo declared. "Will you help us?"

"Well, the platoon is under strict orders to not intervene in this war, but I don't see why I can't help get you to where you need to be."

"Thank you, Legorio."

"Where are the Carlisle's based? Denford?" Ron asked.

Gallardo drew his wand as they approached the Tudor Rose. "Yes, but we don't have time to look through the whole of Denford. "We need to talk to someone first."

The three saw the figure of Porthos Podmore exiting the tavern. Gallardo took a deep breath and strode behind Podmore. Grabbing him from behind, Podmore was shunted into an alleyway and punched in the stomach. Gallardo pointed his wand at his jugular vein.

"Don't even think about it!" growled Gallardo, his blood filling with rage. "Ron, take his wand!"

Ron obliged with a mixture of approval and alarm.

"Now, I'm going to ask you a few questions. Either you answer honestly, or I swear, I will actually castrate you, Podmore! Do you understand?"

"Gallardo-" Legorio began.

"No, Legorio, I don't want to hear it!" Gallardo snapped, to even his own dismay.

"Gallardo, please..." Podmore begged.

"Did you betray us to Carlisle?" Gallardo demanded.

"Vanessa Valkyrie told him where you were, not I."

"Did you blow her cover?"

No reply.

Gallardo did not have time for games. He aimed his wand at Podmore's inner thigh. "Diffindo!" he roared. Podmore gasped as a blood oozed out of his trousers.

"Do you think I'm joking?" Gallardo challenged. "Are you really going to test me?"

Podmore whimpered. "I had to save myself, you must understand!"

"How did Dasos Creek really die?" Ron asked. "Did he get too close to your secret?"

"I didn't want to," Porthos pleaded.

"You disgust me!" Gallardo snapped. "How about you do something honourable for once? Take us to the Carlisle Mansion!"

"It's protected by Fidelius Charm!" said Podmore.

"That's no problem for me!" Legorio declared. "As an Elf, I can bypass most Fidelius Charms. I can take us there."

"The Mansion will probably be guarded and have security," Ron pointed out.

"So we'll Apparate outside it and try and find a way in," Gallardo suggested, his voice regaining its usual calmer tone. He faced Podmore. "Because of you, a whole town has been put in danger, and three of our friend's lives are at stake. If I even feel that you've betrayed us again, then I won't hesitate to end your miserable life, you hear me?"

Porthos nodded. Ron and Legorio held on to him. Part of Gallardo felt revulsion at what he had done, but the lives of his friends were at stake and he had to do what he did, because Podmore had treated his victims with a lot more callousness.

Legorio spun on the step and with a cracking noise, they were transported to a completely different place.

They landed in what was a side garden of a mansion, which stood erected for many feet and was covered in stone gargoyles. Ron drew his wand and edged forwards but Legorio stopped him from advancing.

"This place is crawling with security! We have to be careful!" Legorio drew his scimitar and pointed it at a statue of a beast that looked like a lion's body, a scorpion's tail, a bat's wings and a man's face. Gallardo recognised this as a Manticore.

"Incenido!" Legorio hissed. The statue burst into flames.

"What the...?" Podmore said.

"It's an Elvian blade," Legorio said. "It can channel magic, just like a wand. Quickly! I need to put a Perception Filter Charm on us! Just don't draw attention to youself and you won't be seen! Tarados!"

Within a few moments, five wizards marched onto the scene, eagerly eyeing the burning statue.

"What the hell is going on here?" one of them said. It was only a few seconds, before a group of Stunning and Body Binding Jinxes took them all down.

"Quickly, this way," Legorio beckoned, as Ron followed pushing Podmore along.

"Can I have my wand back?" Podmore asked.

"No, you may not," Gallardo said abruptly.

[Gallardo! Ron! Help us!] a voice sounded in Gallardo's head, it was a female's. He turned to Ron, who seemed to have heard it too, judging by his confused expression.

"What's the matter?" Legorio asked.

"Didn't you hear that?" Gallardo said, raising his hand. "That voice."

"Vaguely," Legorio said.

"I think it's Vanessa," Gallardo said. They found an open window to an empty room. He motioned for Podmore to go through. The former turned to Legorio and sighed. "You don't have to come with us any further if Thrandol will think that you've deserted, you know?"

"No, I will come with you," Legorio pondered. "Your friends' lives need saving."

"Thanks," Ron nodded, stepping through the window. Gallardo and Legorio followed.

They noticed the barred gates around the property. They were behind enemy lines.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Harry muttered, his heart racing as he reached the barred gate that stood up a flight of stone stairs. He caught a glance of what was on the other side- an oval arena, with a single row of stands and seats, with a golden throne, right opposite where the prisoners were. The glass ceiling taunted them with a view of the grey sky, but preventing them from even trying to escape. On the right, left and directly behind the throne stood three large statues. Of an armoured man with a spear, helmet and shield; a beared man with a trident; and behind the throne was a woman with a diadem on her head. Harry realised that they were statues of Ares, Poseidon and Hera, respectively, which sent a chill down his spine, as the gate was flung open.

"The prisoners will enter the Arena now!" Carlisle boomed with an Amplifying Charm.

"Let's go," Harry said to a nervous looking Vanessa and a resigned Hermione.

Three rapiers lay across the wooden floor, which Harry quickly pulled up and handed to his friends.

It felt unreal, being watched by three long rows of guests, it was like being in a Quidditch match. But it wasn't any sports match. These people were here for the friends' humiliation and defeat, they would not be cheering them on. Harry knew that what awaited them from behind the opposite gate was no laughing matter. He swished his rapier, longing for his wand, but this will have to do.

"Hermione, is it possible to channel magic through this rapier?" he asked.

"I suppose... but it won't be as strong, Harry!" Hermione replied.

"Then that's what we'll settle for," Harry exhaled. He looked at Vanessa, who was shaking with fear. "Vanessa? Hey, Vanessa!"

She looked at him.

"We can get through this, if we just work together!" Harry promised.

"For their crimes and treachery against us!" Lady Constance announced, seating herself on her throne. "These three will suffer the sentence of death! Death by Manticore!"

The guests cheered, thrilled at seeing their enemies torn apart by a beast.

"Release him!" ordered Lady Constance, and the noise died down. "Open the gate!"

As the gate was magically pulled up, Harry, Hermione and Vanessa witnessed a pair of glaring red eyes in the shadows, before hearing a fearsome growl.

Within barely a second a lion with a scorpion's tail, bat wings and a barbarian's face, and dagger like teeth darted out, his footsteps echoing on the floor. He roared and lunged for his prey.

"Move! Spread out!" Harry bellowed. He darted to right and prayed that his next move would be successful. "Over here! Stupefy!" A spark of red shot propelled itself forwards and landed on the Manticore's paw. Rather than detering him, it infuriated the beast, which came thundering at Harry.

"Take off his stinger!" he commanded, stepping away from the girls. "Protego!" He held up his rapier. The stinger swang for him and clashed with his weapon, jolting a shock through his arm. Harry was thrown backwards, crying out in acute pain. "Do it now!"

Vanessa wrapped her arm around the tail, before attempting to slice the stinger off. However, the Manticore merely pulled it up, levitating her into the air, desperately clutching the tail but screaming.

Hermione went straight for the rump and struck her rapier with all her might. It took a few slashes, but the tail bone could be heard snapping, as the Manticore cried out in agony. He wheeled himself around and smacked Hermione's sword out of her hand, the impact sent her stumbling. The Manticore roared with rage and made a move towards Hermione, who had lost her footing.

"Get away from her!" Vanessa hissed, stabbing at his leg. He growled in pain and kicked her straight in the stomach. The sheer strength was enough to knock the air out of her as she landed on her back, gasping with shock.

This was enough for Harry to stab his rapier deep into the side of the Manticore's skull, toppling the beast over and covering Harry with blood. He cried out in anger and cursed the crowd as he pulled out his blade. He helped Hermione to her feet, who helped Vanessa.

Lady Constance began clapping, and the whole Arena followed. But soon enough, Carlisle raised his hand, as he looked at Harry's repulsed expression.

"They managed to kill one, can they survive against two?" he gloated.

Harry groaned. He didn't want to kill anything or anyone, but if he had to he would. How long could they last? If he was on his own, he would be challenging Carlisle to bring it on. But he was with Hermione, one of his best friends, and Vanessa, an informant who's cover had been blown because of them. He did not feel as bold as he would have liked to. He knew that it was only a matter of time, until the Manticores brought them all down, one by one.

"I never thought I'd die like this," Vanessa squeaked.

"Well, you're about to die side by side with friends, Vanessa," Hermione croaked, reaching over and squeezing her hand.

"Thank you," she whispered, squeezing back. "Both of you."

"Don't even think about it!" a new voice boomed. Harry and Hermione's faces lit up; the Carslisles jumped in surprise.

"Don't even think about opening the gate, and you should really hire some new security, people who don't sit around while your Manticore statue burns!"

"Who are you?" Lady Constance roared, raising her wand, frantically searching the source of the voice.

"Good question, my Lady Constance!" the voice answered cheekily. "I am Gallardo Eagle, and I want you to let my friends go. If you care about your reputation and don't want to be embarrassed, if you don't want the Order of the Phoenix to take down your house bit by bit, just do as I say!"

Harry glanced at Hermione and Vanessa, goosebumps erupting all over him.

"Bring it on, Eagle!" Carlisle dared.

"Legorio, sting them a little bit," Gallardo muttered, from where he actually was.

From the North side, straight opposite the throne, was a door that led to a balcony, which encircled the Arena. An arrow was fired, it flew deep into Hera's neck and there was a flash of light. The Arena convulsed, as the head of the statue began to crack. There was a moment of silence, except for the trickling of stone sediments. Suddenly, the head toppled off and fell right in front of the throne, causing Lady Constance to dodge by leaping to her left, as most of the head bounced and crashed into the Arena floor.

Gallardo patted Legorio on the back. "Cover me," he said, stepping out from the Upper North Door. He inhaled and saw the dead Manticore and his living friends. The cavalry had indeed come on time, and he vowed to himself to get his friends out.

Aiming his wand, he fired an Earthquake Charm at Hera's remaining part of the statue, making it quake as it became crippled. "Inferno!" he bellowed; a ball of red fire erupted from his wand and charged at the statue, causing it to fragment and emit hot ash below, forcing the Carlisles to run from the throne. Down tumbled the statue, snapping in half over the edge of the railing. The upper half fell into the Arena, while the other blocked the path to the throne.

The prisoners' hearts jumped as Ron Weasely, followed by Porthos Podmore (who carried a red rectangular shield), entered through the East side door. Fortunately, the lower half of the statue and its fiery smoke blinded the Carlisle loyalists. There had been only a few of them sitting on the East side, so Ron and Gallardo easily jinxed them.

Gallardo darted across the balcony, evading and deflecting a few curses. Legorio fired down arrows at the goons who tried to hinder the rescue, maiming them with the enchanted arrows. Once they were spent, he fired jinxes using his Elvian scimitar.

Gallardo leapt on to Ares' arm, he needed to plan this right. Edging towards the hand, he grabbed the spear, which was thin enough for what he wanted. He loosened his grip with his legs and slid down to the lower stands.

"Filthy Half-bloods! Blood traitors!" Lady Constance barked, climbing over the stone over her golden throne.

"Aqua Eructo!" Gallardo thought, sending a jet of water into her face, causing her to flinch away, swearing loudly, disappearing from view.

"Ron, now!" Gallardo commanded, deflecting his enemies' curses back at them.

Ron undid the rope around his shoulder and tied one end around the railing and threw the other down. A big grin crept up on his face. "Grab on!"

Harry burst out laughing; he motioned for Hermione and Vanessa to take hold.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron yelled. The rope jerked up, perhaps a little too vigorously. Harry, Hermione and Vanessa were flung over the barrier and landed on Ron and Porthos.

Vanessa quickly got up, avoiding eye contact with the man who had abused her. She hugged Gallardo, who had cast a Shield Charm against the Corporals.

"Thank you, Gallardo the Gallant!"

"My pleasure, Vanessa the Wise!"

Hermione had landed on top of Ron. He winced and smiled at her. "Hi," he whispered.

She blushed before mumbling something back.

"Crisis, mate!" Gallardo exclaimed chuckling, as he helped Harry to his feet.

"I can't believe how happy I am to see you!" Harry said, shoulder bashing Gallardo, who hugged Hermione when she had gotten up.

"Our pleasure," Gallardo replied, handing Harry and Hermione their wands. "Ron, show them where they need to go!"

"Shall we get out of here?" Ron suggested. He reached out his hand and Hermione took it eagerly. "Let's go!" he roared, leading Hermione out of the Arena through the East door.

"Release the Manticores!" Carlisle ordered his men. As he worked on the Shield Charm, the Arena gates were heard creaking up. The Manticore's roar crept through the air, as some of the Corporals climbed Poseidon to try and fire their curses.

Harry and Vanessa darted for the door, while Donald Carlise, Richard and a few more Corporals overcame the barrier.

Harry and Gallardo retaliated with an Earthquake Charm, sending Carlisle and his team flying back over the stone barricade. Harry and Vanessa flew for the door and Gallardo made to follow.

A unit of soldiers, led by a fierce looking wizard, approached from the Southern side of the Arena, prompting Porthos Podmore to yelp in fear.

"I was forced by them!" he screamed. "Charles, they made me! Look, I've got him!" Podmore dropped his shield and grabbed Gallardo by the neck. The latter, in a moment of rage, slipped his leg behind and struck Podmore very sharply where he had cut him, forcing an agonised cry.

"Impedimenta!" Gallardo thought, which blasted Podmore right into Charles and some of his men, who all toppled over the edge and fell into the Arena with a thud.

Time froze as the roar of two Manticores could be heard. Gallardo's heart skipped a beat as Charles pushed Podmore towards the beasts that approached him.

"Gallardo!" he cried out. "Help me!"

Gallardo just breathed for a moment, before noticing a jet of red fly at him, which he dodged by ducking. "No," he replied simply and ran.

"NOOOOOOO!" Porthos Podmore's frantic screeches could be heard, as he made an attempt to run, but the two Manticores had already made their mind up.

He caught up with Harry and Vanessa, who had just stunned a few Corporals, before looking up at the top of the stairs to see Ron, Hermione and Legorio stood next to a little girl was sheltering behind Ron.

"Mary Clare, what on earth are you doing out here?" Vanessa cried, running forwards to hug her.

"She helped us find a good spot to rescue you!" Ron informed. "Honestly, without Mary Clare, we wouldn't be here."

"You filthy blood traitor Mudbloods!" snarled Donald Carlisle, running out of the Arena, his face red with anger and blood.

"Run!" Gallardo commanded.

"Make for a safe place!" Legorio said. "We'll Apparate from there!"

The seven dashed up the stairs, evading the wizards that chased them. Gallardo, Harry, Vanessa and Hermione stayed back to protect the others, by firing jinxes at the angry mob that chased after them. The erratic firing of the mob felled a statue, which gave the companions enough time to run far ahead and reach the landing.

Just when they were about to grab on to Legorio, to Apparate, fate seemed to have different ideas.

The glass door on their side exploded, giving them all a few grazes, but that was the least of their problems. Two seven feet tall statues of Ares and Poseidon stepped in between them, silently and eerily stinging them with their deathly stares.

"Mary Clare!" Vanessa yelled, trying to edge forwards, but the Lord of the Seas swung his trident, knocking her back. Ares pursued Harry, Legorio, Ron and Mary Clare.

Poseidon attempted to finish Vanessa off, only to be impeded by Gallardo's wand lock, which resisted Poseidon's enchanted trident.

Ron and Hermione's Stunning Spells merely chipped Poseidon's stoneworks, as his blue chi locked with Gallardo's green. The latter felt his muscles burn and strain with heat and tension. Gallardo heard Harry scream a "no!", but yelled to focus. He attempted to redirect the lock, but Poseidon got there first, by slamming a stinging hot energy beam into Gallardo, causing him to be blasted back in pain.

Ron slid underneath the former's legs and yelled: "Stupefy!" Surprisingly, Poseidon jumped back, grunting.

Gallardo rose to his feet, fully prepared. "Yodo!" he bellowed. Hermione, Ron and Vanessa joined in and focused their energy to lift Poseidon up into the air and heave him with all their conjoined might, over the bannister he fell. The whole Mansion quaked violently.

Ares struggled to balance, as he dropped to his knee.

"Now!" Legorio said, charging back down the stairs. He stopped a few yards away and held out his hands, which the companions raced to reach.

The last thing Gallardo saw before he was pulled into a completely different place, was Ares charging at them, his spear raised high. But the ground beneath Gallardo was pulled away with a crack.

A spurt of fresh air and the trickling of a nearby river welcomed the companions. They had landed on an open field. Towards the west, where the sun was gradually travelling, was a river flowing behind a crowd of reeds. A flock of birds raced across the sky, noisily flapping and cooing.

"Oh!" Ron groaned. "It's good to be out of harms way!"

"Look at that!" Gallardo huffed, as they all dropped to a sitting position. "Here we all are, alive and well!"

"Thank you, you three," Vanessa said, rising.

"It was no problem," Gallardo whispered.

"Oh, it feels so good to be alive!" Hermione cheered, before facing Harry and Legorio, who forced a smile. "What's wrong?"

Harry tried to speak, but his throat barricaded the words.

"Where's Mary Clare?" Vanessa asked, dreading the answer.

"She couldn't make it," Legorio muttured.

"Harry, tell me that's not true," Ron said.

"When you were fighting Poseidon and we were facing Ares, we had to shield her. But we didn't realise that there was a soldier behind us. He fired a Killing Curse; I managed to stun him, but I was too late." Harry swallowed, his voice began to die towards the end, leaving a ghost of a tear.

"She didn't feel any pain, though, did she?" Gallardo croaked, before inhaling deeply. The air seemed to freeze, as a few leaves were blown across the grass, yet they seemed like ashes- dead, used and shrivelled.

"No!" Vanessa cried. "NOOOO!" She began weeping loudly.

Hermione and Ron were shedding silent tears, for the girl who had helped them with the rescue, who had been caught in the crossfire.

"We should have sent her away, should have sent her back to her room," Gallardo pondered painfully, struggling to hold back angry tears. How dare you try to play God? Did you really think your actions would have no consequences?

"Hermione, protective charms, please," Gallardo rose to his feet, snapping out of his thoughts. He looked to Legorio, who was looking sullen and pained, gazing into the abyss. "Legorio, take my bag, we need to set up camp. Vanessa?" He looked at the sobbing girl and put his hand on her shoulder. "You need to get up, for me, please."

"Can't she have just one minute?" Ron snapped.

"The sooner we do this the better," Harry said, helping Legorio take out the camping equipment from the enchanted bag. "It's not safe for us to be seen or heard."

"S-she should't have died!" Vanessa lamented. "It's my fault!"

"Vanessa, listen to me! Donald Carlisle is a truly heartless wizard!" Gallardo implored, as a light drizzle began. "He would have tried recruiting her, making her self herself to Riddle and Diablus! I'm so sorry that she died, but we have to go on! It was so wrong what happened today, but we have to keep fighting! F-for Mary Clare's memory," he croaked the last sentene and had to breath to steady himself.

"You should come inside," Hermione said quietly.

Vanessa sniffed more quietly, but refused to move.

"Vanessa, you're going to get cold," Hermione pointed out.

"I don't care! I just want to hold her one more time and tell her that I'm sorry!"

"Look, it wasn't your fault-" Gallardo began.

"Don't tell me that it wasn't my fault!" Vanessa roared.

"It wasn't you fault, Vanessa, but if you want we can hold a memorial for her, to say goodbye," he said. He drew his wand and whispered: "Navicula."

Vanessa looked up and saw a small polished wooden boat with white sails, in his hand. She wiped her eyes and looked into his eyes, and smiled briefly before nodding.

He helped her to his feet and placed his jacket over her black sweat shirt. Followed by Ron, Harry, Hermione and Legorio, they walked to the river.

Vanessa lowered the boat into the water and held on as the wind tugged at its white sails.

"It's time to let go," Gallardo whispered.

"Goodbye, Mary Clare," croaked Vanessa, as she let the current carry the boat away. All the companions watched in silence, as the small boat was swept away, with its proud sails open as it made its journey away from them. Gallardo held Vanessa's hand as the boat travelled further and further into the distance, under the watchful eye of the setting sun. The rain seized falling, and for a second it seemed as if the spirit of the unfortunate and innocent child stood in the horizon. She smiled and waved at them, before turning on her heels and skipping away, her long red hair blowing in the wind.

"There is no triumph without loss, no victory without suffering, and no freedom without sacrifice"

Tag line for the film Lord of the Rings- the Return of the King.

AN: Thank you for reading, it was a difficult chapter to write, I eventually decided that this way the extent of the cruelty of the Carlisles could be seen. I would welcome your thoughts on that.

On a lighter note, you might have noticed something developing between Gallardo and Vanessa, which you may or may not agree with. My answer to you would be: be patient and you'll see where it leads (if anywhere).

Please leave a comment and I hope you stay around for the next chapter!