Chapter 11: The True Powers of Weasels
Ginny had felt her ropes loosen as she looked in shock at her brother who stood in the center of the circle. Trying to stay composed she thought of what this meant. The Dream Team was here in this room somewhere. Suddenly, another figure was pulled to the center and the blond hair and smug features of Draco Malfoy were revealed.
The reaction of shock Ginny felt was clearly equal to the reaction of the rest of the deatheaters surrounding her. She had thought after their last interaction that Draco might be in the crowd but certainly not here to help the dream team. Looking over to the spot he had been pulled from, she saw Nagendra laying face down, a bit of blood pooling around him. Well, Draco certainly wasn't here to be counted in silence.
Ginny would have dwelled on the fluttering feeling that gave her but Bellatrix and Lucious had stepped out of the circle. They were speaking with Voldemort but it was very had to hear over the buzzing that had begun in Ginny's ears. It was the same buzzing as when she had changed the werewolf back into a human. Now it grew increasingly loud making it so she could barely hear anything around her. But she could see and so she saw as Toffana raised a single eyebrow, not taking her eyes off of Ginny. Toffana seemed to be expecting something, waiting. Ginny could also see Lucious Malfoy as his eyes darted momentarily to Ginny, eyes pleading before he turned to face the task of killing his son. For a moment there was an interruption in the buzzing as Ginny heard Lucious Malfoy's voice in her mind pleading, "Save my boy. Don't let me kill him." Then the buzzing returned louder than before.
In a flash, Ginny had rushed forward and grabbed the wrists of both Draco and Ron, just as the green light left Lucious' and Bellatrix' wands. As if in slow motion, Ron turned his head to look at his little sister, a look of confusion on his face. Then the three teens were thrown across the room and Ginny was forced to release both of the wrists as they shot past her and hit the wall, falling motionless.
The buzzing had stopped in her ears as Ginny looked up from her new position on the floor, inches away from the wall. Lucious threw her a look that she could not read- it seemed mixed with horror and gratitude. But before anyone could say anything Wormtail rushed into the circle.
"My Lord," he gasped. "The Order approaches! Harry Potter is with them."
No sooner had this left Wormtail's fat mouth then the door burst open and a gold light shot through the crowd, hitting Wormtail and making him fall forward, petrified. A black dog pranced in, followed by twenty witches and wizards all hexing and jinxing. The dog traipsed up the petrified Wormtail and transformed back into Sirius Black, looking darkly down at Wormtail.
"I've been waiting ages to get to you," Sirius hissed, raising his wand. He flicked his wrist and reflected a spell sent from a nearby deatheater, sending them flying away. Lela rushed forward, dodging a stunning spell in her movements. With the flick of her wrist the closet near by swung open. With another swish, Wormtail's petrified body flew into the closet. She muttered, "stupefy" before the door closed.
Sirius looked at Lela with a smirk grabbing her arm as he reflected another spell away, this one hitting the now closed door where Wormtail lay.
"Have I mentioned I adore you lately," Sirius asked Lela. Lela hexed another deatheater as they attempted to attack, making them fall backwards to nurse their extra nose growing from their cheek.
"Now is not a good time," Lela laughed, slicking out of his grip and towards Ginny.
But Ginny felt a tug on her arm that nearly dislocated her shoulder. Just before she was pulled from the room completely she saw Bellatrix throw a nasty looking crucio at Remus, but Tonks met her with a hex that sent the wild haired woman falling. Tonks stupefied Bellatrix but not before making boils appear all over her face.
Looking up as she was being pulled, Ginny saw what appeared to be a giant hand wooshing her through the hallway away from the fight. Ginny attempted to grab a hold of something- a stone, a corner, anything- but to no avail and so in moments she was in a new room and the door closed behind her.
A single torch threw the whole area into extreme shadows as it lit the room. Before Ginny stood a bubbling cauldron releasing the smell of lilac. She peered about confused, but leapt up when she saw the yellow eyes and yellow-white teeth of her kidnapper appear in the far corner. Instinctively, she reached for her wand, but it had been removed from her possession. She frowned in thought. Turning she found that the other corner to her right held another man, this one middle aged, with large glasses and a smirk. He raised an eyebrow at her.
"So glad you finally arrived," said a silky voice from just behind the cauldron. Toffana stepped into the light just above the cauldron. The bubbling concoction sent flashes of pink light on her face. Ginny had two options, fight or flight. In her mind she could almost hear Draco saying, "Don't be a git. No wand? Run." In a flash Ginny reached the door and tugged but it was locked. No amount of turning would make it come undone.
Turning back to Toffana slowly, Ginny looked about unsure. Toffana's smile grew.
"I'm very impressed by you, Sanctifier. Very impressed indeed," Toffana spoke. Her siblings said nothing, merely moved their eyes from Ginny to Toffana.
"What do you want? There's nothing I can do without my wand. You've won," Ginny snapped stubbornly. For a moment Toffana's mouth twitched.
"Yes, if I wanted to kill you this would be the ideal moment," Toffana agreed. Ginny gave her a questioning look. "But, Ginny Weasley, this is not the case. I want you to kill me." There was a shocked silence as Ginny stood confused.
"Nagendra, that insufferable suck up, located my siblings and I months ago saying that you, a betrayer to the Dark Lord, showed signs of having those lost powers of the sanctifier," Toffana continued as if unperturbed by Ginny's confusion. "So I came back from my retirement to find out if you were powerful enough to do the task no other wizard can do."
"I don't understand," Ginny said, "why can't another wizard kill you?"
"All attempts to kill me would only be absorbed by my lineage, those who are the Sanctifiers' yang. Emily spoke to you about it I suppose," Toffana said as if bored. "It was foolish," Toffana explained, "when I was young and afraid of death I used my dark magic lineage to remake myself as an immortal. Imagine the power as a young Deatheater- Aurors attempted to hurt me but I felt nothing. No Avada Kedavra had any effect on me. But the problem with dark magic is it always takes its toll."
Toffana waved her wand and where there had once been a fifty year old, fairly attractive woman, now stood a haggard and wrinkled form. Practically a skelton with skin pulled across it. Ginny gasped, stepping back. With another wave of her wand, the original Toffana returned.
"Dark Magic as powerful and everlasting as that takes away from your being. Now I walk about in this mask," Toffana said, motioning to herself as she stood, "I thought if I retired from being a deatheater and making dark potions, I would return to my former beauty but I have not. Now I see what must be done. You, the Sancitfier, must destroy me."
"I can't," Ginny said desperately. "I don't even have a wand."
In an instant Toffana was an inch away from Ginny's face. "You don't need a wand. You need only will it as you did with the werewolf I sent after you."
"You sent Greyback," Ginny gasped.
Toffana waved her hand away impatiently. "Murphy broke Dumbledore's enchantments long before Nagini discovered it. How else would Sirius Black's wand have returned home? We knew that when the time came Dumbledore would relocate Draco back to Hogwarts, the safety zone. But you cannot apparate onto Hogwarts grounds; the forest is the quickest time. It is a tough bit of magic to do, but I made the moon full after sending Greyback to the forest. He transformed and you transformed him back. Purified him completely of his werewolf blood. I believe your friend Remus Lupin was very confused on his own transformation, but it had to occur," Toffana smirked. "I had to find out if you were powerful enough."
"So you tried to kill me," Ginny asked incredulously.
Toffana laughed, "How else does one test another's power? You even survived one of my strongest poisons. When I alerted the Dark Lord that Draco would return to Hogwarts he sent word to allies within the walls to keep an eye. Pansy Parkinson answered, begging to get Draco's favor back. The Dark Lord would never do such a thing but he lied, of course, and she volunteered to be the next test of your strength. The very poison that killed her through absorption only made you unconscious for a week. And it was even introduced into your blood stream! That is absurd power."
"I knew you were powerful enough then to do what I needed done. That was satisfactory enough for me and so I sent Shadow and Murphy to find of a time that was best to bring you to the Dark Lord," Toffana said motioning to the two men in the corners, "but you continued to impress. Saving both your brother and Draco Malfoy from the killing curse is not something I have ever seen- only read about. But you have managed it."
Ginny looked up in hopeful shock, "Draco and Ron are alive," she asked. Toffana nodded.
"Scarred but alive," she hissed, "Even now you prove yourself. Here we have been talking for the past thirty minutes and still my poison takes no effect. Then again, all poison takes some time."
Ginny's eyes widened, "what?"
"We just adore a game," Toffana said inspecting her nails. "this potion you smell is one of the strongest in recorded history, kills on contact with even the smallest piece of skin. I applied it to the doorknobs and you managed to get it on your own hands while purifying the doorknob. Clever girl. Now it is a race of the clock I'm afraid."
The scent of Lilac was steadily growing stronger in the room as Ginny repeated, "A race of the clock?"
Toffana's face broke into one of glee as she replied, "You must kill me before the poison kills you or you shall perish."
Ginny sat down in thought; she needed to know where Draco was. What he would advise. She looked back at Toffana. "You need me to kill you," she repeated. Toffana nodded slowly, as if listening to Ginny closer then Ginny was use to.
"I need to check on someone," Ginny said moving back to the door. Toffana raised her eyebrow, a smile appearing on her face.
"Of course," Toffana smirked. "No harm will befall you here. Shadow, go block the outer door from our unwanted guests."
The yellow eyes narrowed and the yellow-white smile widened. In a flash, the figure was gone without even making the door move.
Ginny closed her eyes, sitting down. She imagined Draco and where he was, she imagined his grey eyes and soft lips and the way he said her name. It was as if her mind were searching through the Malfoy manor. She could see numerous wizards battling. George and Fred were in a destroyed living room- George quickly mending Fred's burnt hand. He paused to throw a dungbomb over the couch he had turned over as a shield and the room erupted into smoke. Then Ginny could see Hermione and Molly Weasley shooting curses and hexes at approaching deatheater. Hermione made a shield around them as they were backed against a portrait of Narcissa Malfoy looking snottily down at them. However just as the shield fell, the portrait opened and a graceful black robed arm pulled them within the safety of a secret room. One by one, she could see all of the Order who had been joined by Aurors from the ministry. Her minds eye paused momentarily as Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter had their wands pointed at Lord Voldemort in a room, an odd exchange about to occur. Then it jumped to Lela as she was hit by a curse that sent her flying against the far wall, hitting a torch. She hit the ground as a deatheater and Sirius Black took a step towards her. Lela appeared to be sleeping, but her eyes were ever so slightly open as blood appeared and began to pool. The deatheater who had taken a step forward ripped off his mask to reveal Severeus Snape who rushed to his sister's side as Sirius Black unleashed a stream of spells so fast that it was as if a rainbow flew from his wand. Finally, Ginny could see him.
Draco was running down the hall as he rebuttoned his robes to cover his stomach and the scar. He shook his head as Weasley Senior's voice echoed in his head, "the boy who lived." Note to self, Draco thought, never ever let Weasley refer to me as that again. Draco skidded to a halt in order to turn the corner but back-tracked just in time. There was a hissing sound as a spell sent by Nagendra hit the corner of the stonewall.
"Nice nose," called Draco. They were far from the fighting rooms, which had moved upstairs and outside, since Draco had woken up. Draco smirked at the cursing Nagendra let loose.
"Come out you coward," Nagendra hissed, sending another hex at the back wall. It ricocheted off of the mirror placed there and hit the wall just to the left of Draco. Draco used his own wand to angle the mirror away from him. He could see Nagendra's reflection, dried blood on his face from the broken nose he had inflicted earlier. No one else was in the narrow hall.
"You're looking for Ginny aren't you," Nagendra snarled, standing with his wand in a ready position. "I'm afraid she is with Toffana right now. But you have no idea where it is, do you."
"As if you do, you filthy Gryffindor," Draco drawled. Nagendra looked smug and his eyes shot to his right momentarily. That must be where Ginny was.
"Doubt you can say that now that you're a filthy blood traitor," Nagendra chuckled. Draco frowned in thought. Nagendra waved his wand suddenly and the mirror Draco had been angling to see around the corner burst into hundreds of pieces. Draco ducked out of the way, but a few nicked his hands. He made a hiss of pain that he attempted to keep quiet but in the empty hall it echoed, making Nagendra laugh.
"Weak. So very weak," Nagendra tutted.
Draco frowned, "of course I am," he muttered. He felt an odd prickling in the back of his mind as if someone were watching him. He turned and saw no one. As a precaution, he muttered a spell and a bubble of light rushed away from him down the hall. No one was revealed. If they were hidden by anything other than magic, they'd be knocked out now.
Nagendra had obviously not heard any of this as he called, "come again, Ferret?"
Draco could almost hear Ginny's voice in his mind hissing something. The prickly grew stronger.
"Still alive back there, Malfoy," Nagedra asked.
"He's backing away towards the door," hissed Ginny's voice inside Draco head. Draco looked about confused. Still seeing no one he checked his robe pockets. Ah, there it was. In the folds of Goyles robes was the family heirloom Goyle had showed Draco all those years ago when he had visited the Goyle Manor during summer break. The pocket watch was just as shiny and polished as it had been then.
Opening it, Draco angled it slowly around the corner. He could see Nagendras shape moving slowly towards the door. Draco pointed his wand at the figure, taking into account the angles and math. "This hero stuff is much more complicated then I imagined," Draco muttered. He felt as if he heard a slight chuckle. But turning once again, he found no one.
Draco shook his head and muttered, "expelliarmus."
The light bounced off of the pocket watch and shot to Nagendra, just hitting his hand and sending his wand flying. Draco rolled his eyes as he jumped around the corner with his wand out. Thank goodness Nagendra never moved his hand- Draco's math had been terribly off. He had been aiming for Nagendra's chest. Nagendra looked surprised to see Draco there and his wand gone. But he recovered quickly.
"No matter," he hissed reaching into his robes. He pulled out a dagger with the Malfoy crest on it.
"Found this when the Dark Lord and I were waiting for Bellatrix to be done torturing Ginny Weasley," Nagendra explained. His eyes seemed to dance more at the look of anger that covered Draco's face.
"Your little girlfriend may not be able to be killed by dark magic, but the muggle way will do just fine," he hissed.
"You've had enough contact with Ginny for my liking," Draco hissed. He raised his want to shout the first spell that came to mind.
As he he called out, "pantolones poopicus," a jet of brown shot from his wand. But before it hit Nagendra, Nagendra had touched the doorknob leading to Ginny.
The spell hit Nagendra as he dropped the Malfoy dagger, hand still gripping the knob. Nagendra's eyes began to roll into the back of his head as he blinked furiously, foam and blood appearing in his mouth. Draco took a step back horrified as the shadowy figure with yellow eyes appeared from beneath the door, looking at Nagendra. Shadow seemed to make a sniffing sound before squinting his eyes in disgust, then with a push of his unseen hands, Nagendra fell down, dead.
"I wouldn't touch the doorknobs," Shadow said, revealing yellow-white teeth as he smiled. But his voice was not that of a man. Draco did not know how he knew, but in the back of his mind he could hear Ginny's voice say, "Toffana's voice."
Shadow's smile widened as he said, "clever girl you've got. Won't you join the party? A simply alohamora will suffice. I'll close the doors after."
Draco picked up the dagger Nagendra had dropped, putting it into his pocket as he walked through the door, feeling sure that he had officially left Slytherin and walked into the charging Gryffindor den.
Ginny opened her eyes with a gasp, sitting up completely to look at Toffana. Toffana smiled as Shadow returned from under the door. Shadow retook his spot in the corner opposite Murphy.
"They are," Ginny gasped, looking at Murphy and Shadow, "you?"
"Yes, well immortality costs you a soul I suppose," Toffana hissed. "But think how easy that makes your job. Destroy me and you destroy the poison in you, on the doorknobs, and these two. You have no choice but to destroy me."
"I don't understand," Ginny gasped. The smell of Lilac seemed to be coming from her now. The poison must be taking effect because the world seemed a lot groggier. The look on Toffana's face seemed to affirm this.
"Do it now Sanctifier," hissed Toffana, moving forward and placing Ginny's hands on her arm. "Will it."
Ginny closed her eyes. It was becoming harder to concentrate with the lilac smell filling her nose so heavily.
When Ginny next opened her eyes, it was to find Toffana flicking her cheek. Ginny knew it hurt, but it seemed such a distant hurt.
"This game is so tiring," sighed Toffana. A few minutes must have passed in the time that Ginny thought was only a blink because Murphy now stood by the cauldron, holding Draco Malfoy up effortlessly. Draco looked at Ginny worriedly. He seemed to be saying something but it was so muffled. He repeated himself.
"Ginny! Are you alright," Draco's voice called. It was as if he were across a canyon.
"Throw the idiot in. She is not as strong as we hoped," hissed Toffana. This hit Ginny as if it was a slap in the face. Her eyes focused suddenly and her hand clenched onto Toffana's arm. The buzzing in her ear erupted.
"No," yelped Ginny. But the sound was drowned out by the yell from Toffana. Ginny looked at Draco who Murphy still held above the cauldron filled with pink poison. Draco's face looked horrified and disgusted. Ginny turned to see the mask Toffana had magicced on begin to split as light shown through the cracks. Then it fell away to reveal the skeleton with skin pulled over it. The yelling continued but now became a chorus. It was not Toffana who screamed but Shadow and Murphy. They fell to the floor, making the cauldron topple as Draco used the rim to push himself away from the spilled poison. Draco slid the Malfoy dagger to Ginny but Ginny felt far away once again. Perhaps she had not purified Toffana soon enough. Shadow and Murphy burst into black smoke, leaving nothing but Murphy's glasses behind and a singe on the stone floor.
Draco rushed over to Ginny as her vision went in and out of focus. He helped to steady her as Toffana let out a final sigh before the arm Ginny held turned to dust. Ginny brought her hand back to her, "oh," she muttered, moving her fingers to get rid of the vile dust. Draco pushed a strand of hair from Ginny's face.
"Have I told you lately that I adore you," he muttered. Ginny laughed.
"You stole that from Sirius," Ginny beamed weakly. Draco rolled his eyes.
"I never steal someone else's lines," he drawled with a smirk, but his eyes seemed concerned. Ginny felt another hand on her forehead. She assumed it was Draco's until she saw a hand the color of ebony pass Draco the dagger with the Malfoy crest. Draco looked worriedly at the person who was just out of Ginny's view.
"Will she be alright," Draco asked the figure, placing the dagger on the floor and taking his now free hand to hold Ginny's. There was no answer for a moment, and then Ginny felt warmth on her forehead as she blinked her eyes and she fell into darkness.
In the darkness, everything smelled like lilac. "This is a lovely way to drift to sleep," Ginny thought vaguely. Her own voice sounded far off. Then, she felt a sneeze coming on. She sneezed and sat up. The smell of lilac had disappeared. She felt better than she had in Hogsmeade all those hours ago.
Looking around, Ginny found she was still in the room, a pile of dust next to her, Draco looking at her in shock and admiration. Next to her, Emily removed her hand from Ginny's forehead and looked in her hazel eyes. "Always trying to do things before you're trained to," Emily sighed, shaking her head and making her braids hit one another. Ginny blinked.
"Did you stab Toffana," asked Ginny. Emily nodded.
"You made her mortal again," Emily said handing Ginny some water she conjured, "very impressive."
"And you," Ginny said turning to Draco. He looked at her expectantly, a smug look coming over his face. "The first spell you can think of is to make Nagendra poop in his pants?"
Draco's face fell slightly. "I was under a lot of pressure! How about a ' thanks for trying to save me, Draco darling. You're such a dashing boy. I love you forever,'" Draco drawled. But his annoyed tone was ruined by the smile that broke across his face midsentence.
"Well, you are rather dashing," Ginny conceded, "for a ferret."
"I will have you know," Draco said snootily, helping Ginny stand, "That I am a Dragon, Ms. Weasel." Ginny smirked kissing Draco's cheek softly.
"I just want you to know, when you are shopping for way to buy my forgiveness for that scene you caused by the shrieking shack," Ginny smirked, "it shouldn't have a bit of anything smelling like lilac."
Draco smirked and looked at Emily quickly. Emily rolled her eyes and turned momentarily to allow the couple the privacy for a kiss unobserved.
The next day the headlines rang out praises for Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom who had come together and defeated Lord Voldemort. The dream team, Neville, Hagrid, and Sirius all arrived to check in on Ginny, Lela, and Severus Snape. Many of the other injured members had been taken to St. Mongus Hospital. And while a few Aurors had been lost, none of the order had died, though George would certainly have a nice scar.
"Not as nice as Harry and Ron's twin scars of course," George had joked on seeing Ron's chest.
"Numerous deatheaters have also been arrested and sit in Azkaban awaiting trial. Though there are clear cases of guilt in the mix, some have been vouched for such as Severus Snape and Lucious Malfoy," Harry read aloud from the Daily Prophet.
"Snivellus always gets away somehow doesn't he," Sirius sighed. He was laying on top of the covers of one of the beds in the Hospital wing where the group of Gryffindors and one slytherin now sat.
Professor Snape shot him a dark look from his bed, as Madam Pomfrey applied a second coating of burn potion.
"You be nice to my brother," Lela muttered, half asleep from the bed Sirius lay on. Sirius turned slightly to look at Lela whose raven hair was spread out on the pillow.
"Are you alright," Sirius asked kindly, seeming to ignore Professor Snape's darkening look.
"Yes," Lela yawned, rubbing her head where a bandage was. "Were you worried?"
Sirius smirked, "it would be just like you to wait until I come back and am discovered alive and then to choose to die. You're worst then burnt toast, Lela Snape."
Lela pouted looking up at the man invading her bed.
"Why are you such a meany head," she whined, pushing him in the rib. He flinched and Madam Pomfrey looked up alert. Sirius waved his hand as if shooing a fly.
"It's fine I promise," Sirius grunted, grabbing Lela's hand so she would stop shoving him. She pouted.
"If I let go, you have to promise to stop pushing me," Sirius said as if speaking to a child. Lela's pout deepened but she conceded. Sirius released Lela's hand.
In a nearby bed, waiting her turn to be checked out and listening in amusement was Ginny Weasley. She saw the flash of something shiny from Lela's hand. A moment later, Lela saw it as well and she sat up so fast that Madam pomfrey made a tutting noise.
"What is this," Lela demanded, shoving her hand under Sirius' face so he could see the shiny diamond ring on her finger. Sirius shrugged smirking.
"Looks like an engagement ring to me," he said innocently.
Lela's eyes widened and Sirius moved nervously as the room watched them silently.
"Don't you like it," Sirius asked. "I bought it for you before Lily and James died but- well you know how that whole thing went."
Lela had not taken her eyes from Sirius as she said, "oh, Sirius."
"Don't leave me squirming here, Lela," Sirius whined, "I've adored you for ages. Say yes already, please?"
Lela smiled at his discomfort, "it's every girls dream to be proposed to in the hospital wing when she wakes up from a head injury. I'd adore marrying you, Padfoot."
Sirius' face broke into a grin as Lela shot her exasperated brother an apologetic look.
"We're family Sevvy," Sirius called to the Professor Snape as Madam pomfrey finished applying the potion.
The potionmaster sighed and muttered, "so disgusting."
Ginny joined in with the others as they clapped and cheered and Lela kissed Sirius. Then the door opened and the room fell slightly quiet as Draco Malfoy entered the room. He raised his blond eyebrow skeptically looking around.
"Malfoy," Hermione said finally after a pause, "I've written your mother a thank you for pulling me and Mrs. Weasley into the portrait after we were attacked. Could you get it to her?"
Draco nodded then looked at Sirius' look of elation and Professor's Snape look of stubborn annoyance. Draco made a sound of disappointment as he plopped next to Ginny in her bed, bringing his arm around her as Madam pomfrey began her check out. "I've missed the proposal haven't I," whined Draco.
Ginny grinned as Lela took off her ring and handed it to Sirius. They replayed the skit with much more melodramatic flair then originally done. Draco smirked and rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the warning," he muttered to Ginny, poking her side.
She stuck out her tongue in response. "By the way," Draco hissed, "I'm thinking of spending a bit of time at a summer cottage. Care to join?" Ginny gave him an excited look but Ron's voice cut in.
"Alone," Ron asked annoyed. Hermione elbowed him quickly and Ron corrected himself, "I mean, ask mum."
"Draco, I'd love to," Ginny said with a smile as Madam pomfrey gave her the ok.
"And I love you so it's perfect," Draco muttered running his thumb across her cheek.
"That's not what I said," Ginny giggled.
"Yes, well," Draco said haughtily, "I have selective hearing."
"Of course you do," Ginny grinned and kissed him, making Ron groan. Professor Snape turned to look at the red head saying, "just get use to the absurdity. It never stops when your sister likes an idiot."
Lela and Ginny laughed as Sirius gave Professor Snape a dark look as Professor Snape turned over again, still pouting about the wedding he would soon have to attend.
The end.