Chapter XIV – The Rescue
"Everything is in order?" Voldemort demanded as he glared across the room at Snape.
Snape nodded. "Yes, my Lord. It is all in order. The ritual will go as planned. However I feel that I must advise you about the possibility of the ritual not working and –"
"Not working, Severus? This potion will do what it has to do. This potion will give me the sight that that little brat possesses! She won't tell me what she sees, and for some reason I can't read them from her! I will take the visions, and make them my own! Do you understand?"
"Yes, my Lord. But I still feel that I must advise you … nothing like this has ever been done before … even if you do succeed in taking her eyes … you might not receive the visions or fully understand what it is your seeing. It might prove to be … well, worthless."
Voldemort sneered as he stirred the cauldron with his wand. "It will work or you will die. Any more questions?"
"No, my Lord."
"Good. Now tell Lucius to bring the girl to me. Oh, and let's bring Mr. Weasley along too, shall we?"
Snape paled. "Mr. Weasley? You've-you've had him here all along?"
Voldemort grimaced. "As if I tell you everything, Severus. Now go, do as you were told."
Snape backed slowly out of the room and gave the instructions to Lucius outside of the door before he slipped his hand in his pocket and gently rubbed his fingers over his Order coin. If they didn't get here soon, it wasn't only young Mira that was going to be in trouble.
Harry was crouched down in the bushes outside of the mansion in between Ginny and Hermione. He had felt the Order coin heat up in his pocket but he knew now wasn't the time to worry about it. He smiled down at Ginny when her hand found his.
"It's going to be alright, I just know it. We're going to bring Ron home. Mira too. I can feel it."
Hermione nodded but she didn't speak. Her eyes were solely focused on the mansion.
Harry watched as Gotto and Matata made their way through the front entrance, knocking out the two Death Eaters on guard watch before gesturing for Bill, Charlie, and Viktor to head in that general direction. The three of them stood up from their hiding spots in the bushes and followed the two Aurors into the mansion.
"First group has entered," James murmured as he crawled over to them. "As soon as Gotto comes out, you three are following Fred and George in, heading down to the dungeons to find Ron."
"We know, Da," Harry whispered.
James nodded, patting his son's back. "Just reminding you."
Gotto came back out of the mansion, putting Seamus and Dean on guard duty at the front and then the five of them headed inside, leaving James, Arthur, King, and Leila to wait for the final signal. Within five more minutes, all of them were in the mansion.
Ron stood up as soon as the cell door opened and he lifted Mira up into his arms. He knew that the Order members had to be working out some kind of plan to rescue them but it didn't make the wait any easier. He had stayed up all night trying to figure out just what it was that Voldemort had planned for Mira. However he had constantly come up with nothing. Mira had tried to reassure him as best as she could that it would all be alright but Ron couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was definitely going to happen before they got out.
He glared at Pettigrew as Mira snuggled a bit closer in his arms. "What do you want?"
Pettigrew grimaced. "Now, now, not nice. It's time to break up the two of you, permanently."
Lucius stepped up behind Pettigrew, a spiked strap in his hand. "What's the hurry, Wormtail? The Dark Lord needs a few minutes to prepare so I think we can have a bit of fun with Mr. Weasley first." He pointed his wand at Mira and sent her flying into Pettigrew's arms. "Won't we?"
Ron took a step back so that he was back against the wall. "This isn't over, Malfoy. If you think you can bully me into anything, you're wrong. I'm not a little boy and I can take care of myself."
Lucius grinned and used his wand to shackle Ron to the wall. "I might be, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts."
When he used the strap, Mira screamed.
Pettigrew yelped and dropped her to the ground before the sound shattered his eardrums. Mira raced across the room and her eyes, darker than midnight, flashed just before Lucius went flying across the room. When he stood up, the small girl held the whip in her hands as she stood over him.
"Untie him," she ordered, her tiny voice sounding wise and angry.
Lucius did as she asked before he managed to steal his wand back. He had her shackled so that she couldn't fight back. "Bring her to the Dark Lord, Wormtail. I've had enough of this nonsense. Once he has her eyes, it will be different."
"Eyes?" Ron asked; his voice shaky as he watched Pettigrew drag a struggling Mira from the room.
Lucius grinned. "Yes, her eyes. He's going to cut them out … and you get to watch." He put chains back on Ron before he led him out of the room after Pettigrew and Mira.
They walked up the stone steps with nothing but the sounds of the chains on Ron's ankles dragging across the floor. They entered into a brightly lit hallway before they came into a large room. Within moments Ron was shoved to his knees in front of Voldemort.
Voldemort sneered down at him and placed his hand on his head. "Nice of you to join us, Mr. Weasley, as you are in for a great treat. Today you shall witness my rebirth. Not my physical rebirth, as young Mr. Potter managed to see, but my spiritual rebirth. I'm going to gain the gift of the sight."
Ron glared up at him. "Do you really think doing that horrible thing to her is going to give you what you want? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. You won't get it … and she'll be even more powerful and more special because of it."
The force of the slap sent Ron across the room, crashing into a table.
Voldemort was on his feet now. "You fool! Do you really think I'm going to let you talk to me that way? I know what I am doing and when this ritual is complete you won't be able to block me out any longer, and if you still can then you will die! There are other ways to get the information I need!"
Ron snorted. "If that were true, I'd be dead already."
Voldemort raised his wand just as the door opened.
"My lord, she is ready."
Voldemort glared at Ron, his wand raised. "Send her in, Wormtail. It looks like it's your lucky day, Mr. Weasley." He flicked his wand and Ron went flying back against the wall, his chains shackled to the wall. "For now."
Mira was wheeled into the room strapped down on a table. She struggled a bit with the straps and sobbed quietly. Ron's heart reached out to her.
"Let her go!" He demanded.
Voldemort laughed. "Right." He placed a silencing charm on Ron before he stood over Mira. "My dear, today is your lucky day."
"Phoenix," she murmured. "I need my phoenix."
Ron closed his eyes at those words. He had promised her that he wouldn't let anything happen to her but here he was, sitting by and doing nothing. His hands clenched into fists at his sides and his eyes popped open when Voldemort spoke.
"Now let's do this."
Voldemort leaned over her, the blade in his hand. Ron watched because he couldn't tear his eyes away from the horror in front of him and even though he couldn't hear his own screams, he could hear hers and they sent chills down his spine.
What felt like hours later, but was really only minutes, Voldemort stepped back from the table and dropped something into the cauldron. Ron knew by the plopping sound exactly what they were. His eyes found Mira and tears rolled down his cheeks as he looked at her. The blood was dripping down her face and she was still screaming in pain.
"Shut her up, Wormtail!" Voldemort demanded as he leaned over his potion. "It's almost ready."
The door flew open, slamming back against the wall and Pettigrew whimpered. "My Lord, intruders!"
Voldemort turned and glared at the people who had just entered the room. "Ah, gentlemen, I'm afraid you're too late. I've got what I needed."
Bill grinned as he stepped into the room. "Doesn't mean that we're going to let you walk away with it, dumbass."
"Well, another brave Weasley man. Tell me, does everyone in your family still refuse to talk under extreme torture?" He waved his wand to take off the silencing charm. "Eh, Ronald? Shall I use the hot poker again? Maybe a few more stabs will get you talking. Or maybe I should try them out on your brother?"
Ron glared. "Piss off!"
Charlie grinned. "Nice one, Ron, now what do you say? Want to kick some old Moldieshorts' ass?" He used his wand to unchain Ron and tossed him his own wand.
Ron grinned as he stood up, catching his wand. "More than ever."
Viktor went to stand next to Ron. "You are alright to vight, Ron?"
Ron grinned up at him. "I'm ready."
Voldemort grabbed Pettigrew and slapped his hand over his forearm where the Dark Mark rested. "Well then, if we're going to have a duel then I think we need more fighters."
Two Death Eaters crashed through the door at that moment, bleeding and collapsing to the floor. James and Arthur stepped in behind them.
"Hopefully you weren't needing them anytime soon," James replied. "They were sadly lacking in skill."
Voldemort grimaced. "This isn't over." With a crack he Disapparated from the spot.
Pettigrew whimpered as he backed up against the wall. Lucius pulled out his wand, as more Death Eaters hurried into the room. A dark-haired man came in backwards as he duelled heavily with Kingsley. It took only moments for the man to hit the ground and for King's eyes to find Mira, who was still strapped down to the table, bleeding and crying.
"Mira," King murmured.
James grabbed his friend's arm. "Get her out, King, we'll handle the cavalry."
King hurried forward to scoop Mira up into his arms. She curled into him and he held her close as she continued to cry out in pain. King held her closer as he swore to himself that the bastard was going to pay for what he had done to her. With that last thought he hurried from the room, hoping to bring her to safety.
"I'm telling you, he's not down here," Fred insisted as they broke open cell door after cell door. "He has to be upstairs in all of the chaos."
Harry nodded. "I think you're right, but we still have to check. I'm not taking any chances."
George broke open the next door and Hermione gasped causing them all to look over. "Hermione?" George asked.
She hurried into the room, falling to her knees as she scooped something up into her hands. "He was here," she murmured.
Harry stood over her and realized it was Ron's Hogwarts' cloak. "Now I think he was brought up stairs."
Ginny reached for Harry's hand as she pointed at the far wall. "Harry."
He turned to where she was pointing and he gasped. Chains and shackles hung on the wall as well as a table of torture instruments that was turned over. Splatters of blood outlined the wall and floor and he wondered why they hadn't smelt it – that salty coppery smell – when now it invaded his senses.
Hermione stood up now, her entire being shaking as she clutched the cloak tightly. "What did they do to him?"
Fred wrapped his arms around her waist and turned her away and into him. "It doesn't matter, honey, he's okay. Come on, let's go get him."
Hermione stayed close in Fred's arms as they hurried her out of the room.
Harry continued to stare at the wall for a moment. "He's going to pay, Gin."
Ginny nodded, tugging gently on his hand. "I know he will, but today isn't the day. We have to bring Ron home."
Harry sighed and followed her out of the room as George trailed behind them. "Which direction should we head? They could be anywhere in this house."
A huge bang erupted over their heads and George grinned.
"I'm thinking we should go to where the battle sounds are coming from. Let's go!"
As curses and bangs and shouts continued to erupt overhead, the five of them hurried towards the noise.
Ron had his wand trained on Pettigrew now, his back against the wall. "This time we're not going to go through this whole 'let's make Ron look dead and kidnap him deal'. This time, we're going to work on making you suffer, you shit-head!"
Pettigrew grimaced. "If you think you could actually do it! You're nothing but a coward, you know that? The whole time I lived with you I wondered why it was that your family kept you. You have no special powers; you're shadowed under the image of your best mate; the girl you love doesn't know you love her because you're too stupid to tell her. Your life stinks!"
Bill came up to stand beside Ron then. "As opposed to yours, you little whimp? You betrayed your best friends … and let me tell you this, the moment James Potter gets those Death Eaters off of his back, who do you think he's going after next?"
Pettigrew whimpered and Disapparated on the spot.
"Damn it, Bill! I wanted to really hurt him!"
Bill swung his arm over his brother's shoulders. "You will, but now is not the time."
Ron grinned. "Alright."
Bill grinned back. "Alright, you take the one on the left and I got the one on the right. We're going to get out of here, Ron." Another Death Eater collapsed in front of them as Charlie stepped forward.
"We need you back, you annoying little ponce."
Ron laughed. "Good to hear."
He turned to take control of the Death Eater on his left just as he collapsed in front of him and he heard Bill mutter 'what the –' from behind him. Then he grinned as Hermione rushed towards him.
"Ron! Oh, Ron! You're here! You're alive!" She jumped right into his arms and he gasped at the pain of the full body contact but he didn't let her pull away. It felt so good to hold her, to smell her, and to feel her.
"Mione," he murmured as he hugged her close.
Bill grinned. "Looks like Hermione and Firefly took out our DE's. So, who's next?"
James stunned another Death Eater and he collapsed to the ground. "No one. Voldemort wasn't expecting an attack. Ten Death Eaters is nothing."
Arthur nodded; his eyes on Ron who was still holding Hermione in his arms. "Yes but let's get out of here before more arrive." He pulled a portkey from his pocket. "Everyone gather around."
"Wait!" Ginny exclaimed. "Harry and Leila were duelling in the hall and they were-"
"Here." Harry replied as he stepped into the room with Leila, Seamus, Dean, Gotto, and Matata. His eyes sought Ron's who was still clinging to his girlfriend and he grinned. "Hey, mate."
Ron grinned back. "Hey."
They all gathered around the portkey and in moments had all disappeared from the mansion.
They collapsed to the ground in the middle of the common room at Grimmauld Place. Molly screamed, rushing towards them. She pushed everyone out of the way and pulled Ron into her arms.
"My baby!" She murmured as she covered his face in kisses.
Ron hugged her close and kissed her cheek. "I'm fine, Mum, really." After a few moments when she still hadn't let go he cleared his throat. "Mum, seriously, let go."
Molly pulled back, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Oh, Ron!"
Hermione stepped up, ripping open Ron's shirt. "He's hurt, Molly."
Ron grimaced as Hermione worked at pulling his shirt off. "I'm alright; I've pretty much become used to the pain."
"Fred, George, help Ron upstairs. Hermione, get some hot water and a warm cloth to clean his wounds. I'll be right up." Molly said her voice cracking a bit.
Arthur stepped forward to kiss his son's forehead. "Welcome home."
Ron smiled up at him. "I'm fine, Dad. Please, go make sure Mum's not blubbering."
Arthur grinned. "Got it." He reached for his wife, pulling her close into his arms as they watched their sons' help their youngest one up the stairs. "He's alright, Molly. He's safe."
Molly nodded, curling into him. "I know." Then she broke down into tears.
Harry pulled Ginny into the kitchen. "Let's leave your parents alone for a few minutes."
Ginny nodded. "Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Do you know if they found Mira?"
Leila nodded from behind them. "We found her. King is upstairs with her right now. He … Voldemort took her eyes."
Ginny paled. "He what?"
"He took her eyes. She won't stop screaming from the pain, or the horror … we can't be sure." Leila explained, tears in her eyes. "We don't know what to do. There's a healer up there with her now, and he says he can't do anything about her eyes being gone, he can't heal them."
Emma raced down the stairs then, her hands covered in blood. "Ginevra, Harry, thank Merlin, you're both still here! We need you up here immediately!"
Harry and Ginny hurried up the stairs after Emma and gasped when they stepped into the room with Mira. She was still bleeding heavily and the healer was working over her.
"He can't stop it, Ginevra. There's no spell of any sort that can be done to give her back her eyes. The only thing is maybe some glass eyes." Emma explained.
"The poor child," Harry murmured as Ginny's hand found his.
Emma nodded. "Harry, between you and Ginevra you have extraordinary power. I think that between the two of you … you can bring her eyes back and heal her. Maybe not to the full extent, but I think that you can help her."
Ginny nodded. "How?"
Emma shrugged. "I don't know, but I know you two can do it. Connect your magic and … you'll know what to do. Leila and I will be here to ground you both if it's needed. I'll give you a few moments."
Harry watched her walk away before he turned his attention to Ginny. "Do you think we can really-? I mean … her eyes?"
Ginny nodded. "Yes, I think we can. It was part of a ritual so it wasn't … I mean, her eyes probably weren't damaged. We have to at least try."
"Yeah, we do." He took her hand in his as they headed over to the bed. "We'll try."
Emma smiled. "Good. You sit on this side and Ginevra on the other. I'll be here to ground Ginevra and Leila will be there for you. But I don't know how much help we'll actually be. This is your thing."
Ginny nodded. "Alright. Thanks, Emma."
The four of them got into position and Ginny closed her eyes, clasping Harry's hand tightly in hers, as Leila and Emma each held a hand over their legs. The power ripped through them and where their palms were joined it crackled and spit. Ginny reached forward to place her hand on the side of Mira's face and the pain of it ripped through them both.
It was something she could never imagine feeling. The blade cut deep and quick. He had been rough, not bothering to use anything to numb the pain. He had loved the screaming. It had taken only moments but the pain hadn't stopped. She gasped as the potion came into her view.
She squeezed Harry's hand a bit harder and the eyes followed her. A huge glow of white light erupted around them. When it vanished, Ginny collapsed into Harry's arms.
"Did you see?"
Harry nodded. "And I felt."
They both looked over towards Mira and grinned. The bleeding had stopped and her eyes were closed now as if she was sleeping.
Emma gasped. "You did it."
Leila rushed forward to hug them both. "Oh, thank Merlin!"
"How is it possible for us to have … I mean …" Harry trailed off as he looked down at the sleeping girl.
Emma smiled. "Because the two of you have incredible power, and partly because it was a ritual with the eyes so they were still very much intact. Now, let's bring the healer back in here."
Harry hurried out to get the healer. They watched him stare at Mira, in complete shock. He then rushed to examine her.
"Well?" Leila asked. "How is she?"
The healer smiled. "She's very wonderful. Her eyes will never be one hundred percent, and she's partially blind in her left eye, but she's doing well. I'm going to give her this potion it will make her sleep and dim some of the pain that she's probably still feeling from the memories, at least for the night."
Emma stepped out into the hall with Harry and Ginny as Kingsley rushed in there. "Well, I know that you two want to go see Ron, so thank you."
Harry nodded. "Thank you, as well."
Ginny smiled. "Don't you want to see Ron?"
Emma smiled. "Of course I do. But first I'm going to go see Charlie and then I'll drag him up there. I'll be there in a few minutes."
Harry and Ginny watched her head downstairs before they made their way down to the room where Ron was being treated. They stepped inside, and Ginny gasped a bit at the bowl of bloody water next to Hermione.
"Ron?" She murmured.
Ron's eyes sought hers and he grinned. "I'm fine, Gin."
Molly was leaning over him with Madam Pomfrey on the other side. "We'll have him good as new soon enough, don't you worry."
Madam Pomfrey nodded. "We need a little space, though, I'm afraid you two will have to come back later."
Harry nodded as he grinned at his friend. "You're alright?"
Ron grinned back. "I'm alright. See you later, mate."
Harry grinned as he tugged Ginny out of the room. Ron was going to be okay, and Mira was safe … for once, good had come out of it.
King stood over Mira's bed with Leila standing next to him, her hand in his. He knew she was going to be fine medically, but there was still the emotional damage of what she had been through to deal with. He took her hand in his and rubbed it gently as her eyes fluttered open.
"Don't leave me alone, please."
Kingsley smiled and kissed her cheek. "Never. Leila and I are going to protect you."
She smiled as she looked up at them. "Can I stay here with you?"
King grinned. "As long as you want. I would love it if you let me adopt you, then you could live with me forever."
"Would you be my mum and dad?"
Leila smiled now, grinning at the keen perception of the girl. "Only if you wanted us to be."
Mira smiled as she cuddled into her pillow. "I do." Then she drifted off to sleep.
King grinned at Leila. "Us?"
She smiled. "Now we have to get married." She kissed him softly. "We'll take care of her King, together."
He nodded. "Yeah, together." He squeezed Leila's hand gently in his before he grinned. "Oh, and Leila?"
"Hmm?" She asked.
"We're going to elope."
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm not complaining." Then she covered his mouth with hers.
Pettigrew whimpered from where he lay on the ground, bleeding and broken, as Voldemort stood over him. Lucius lay next to him, though he was silent in his pain.
"Both of you failed me!" Voldemort exclaimed. "It was a simple task, yet not only did those wretched Order members discover where we were, but they also disarmed most of you in under ten minutes. It was disgraceful!"
"I fought, my Lord! I fought until I couldn't fight anymore. I was stunned!" Lucius exclaimed.
Voldemort glared at him. "Yes, you did do as I asked, but you, Wormtail!" Pettigrew shuttered a bit. "You ran away! You ran from your old friend, knowing that he would kill you. That was disgraceful!"
The Cruciatus Curse ripped through him and he screamed. When the screaming stopped and nothing could be heard but Pettigrew's rapid breathing Voldemort spoke.
"You may both go. Wormtail, if you fail me again, I will kill you. Do you understand?"
Pettigrew whimpered a response before he hurried from the room.
Voldemort stared down into his empty cauldron and he glared at it. He had not only lost two valuable prisoners, but his ritual had failed. Letting out a loud scream, he threw the cauldron across the room as Bella stepped inside.
"My Lord?"
Voldemort stared at her for a moment before he gestured her forward. "Bella, what can I do for you?"
She smiled seductively as she knelt down in front of him as if bowing before a king. She stood up again and her eyes met his. "No, my Lord, it is what I can do for you."
Voldemort smiled at her. "Good. Undress and meet me in my chamber."
He watched her leave, and sighed as he looked out the window. He still had a lot of information; he just needed to interpret it. Prophecies we're getting to be ridiculous lately. He pushed the thought from his mind and headed to his bedchamber. For now, he would think of other things and worry about how to best kill Harry Potter tomorrow. But for now, he would take his comfort from Bella.