She looked almost like a ghost but she wasn't floating. She was faint but he could see her. Tamblin stumbled and fell on his butt.
"Poor boy, you've had a rough time too. Don't worry, honey. Mommy will make it all better. Soon you'll be fine."
Tamblin gaped.
"How? Is that what you are trying to ask? Goodness, didn't I teach you better manners than to stand around with your mouth hanging open?"
Tamblin closed his mouth with an effort of will.
"That's better. As for how, you know. You may associate with this stupid cow but you aren't dumb, my darling boy."
"You are using Cascata to get back. Somehow you are making her your anchor. Taking my place."
"Yes. When your idiot father got himself killed I was lost. I was bled of everything. My will, my flesh, my mind. It was all taken from me. I was here an eternity. Unable to do anything except watch the world move on without me."
"You were always here?"
"Yes." The hatred in that single syllable stunned Tamblin.
"Right. Here. Watching you grow up. Seeing you forsake your birthright. Watching you whimper and cower for the Ministry. I saw your power start to develop. And then you brought this..." She leaned close to Cascata who moaned and tried to cram herself more into the corner, "wonderful, charming, perceptive piece of filth into my home to cavort and flirt with. I had just realized that your mudblood trollop had a use when you almost killed her with the Amphisbaen.
"But you couldn't even kill right. You blubbered and blundered your way into keeping her alive. And then you struck that Ministry man in the head and I thought I could almost like you. But you're a failure. You've failed to live up to even your father's pitiful legacy, much less my greatness. My lord wouldn't have accepted you, and neither will I."
Tambin swallowed. "Your lord was a psychopath and failed to kill a helpless infant."
Her face clenched in fury.
"A child of greatness wants to play in the mud instead of being a god! You wouldn't even exist if it weren't for my Lord Voldemort! You whining pathetic worm! I've finally found something you are good for. You'll take my place. You can watch the grey world now. Watch what your mother can do."
Tamblin stood up. Cascata was peering at him from between the arms she was using to shield herself.
"You were not always the abomination you have become, but I know no way to heal you. I rebuke you, mother, and consign you to the punishment you have come to earn."
Tamblin drew his wand from his cloak.
His mother laughed.
"I'm not yet in the world enough for you to harm with your petty magics, and by the time I am you will be too far gone. Perhaps my next child will not be such a disappointment."
"Goodbye, mother."
Tamblin turned the wand on Cascata. Her eyes grew wide.
"OBLIVIATE!"