Disclaimer: All portions of the HP universe/worlds/characters are the property of JKR, the WB, and respective publishing companies. All portions of the Hunter x Hunter universe/worlds/characters are the property of Yoshihiro Togashi and Shueisha Inc. (publisher). This story is nothing more than a simple FanFiction that I have written for my own enjoyment. I have made no money from this or any of the other stories I have posted on this or other sites.
Warnings: Mild to moderate violence, character death, alternate universe (i.e. kiss canon goodbye – as if that wasn't already obvious since I swapped a few genders), angst, drama, some mild character bashing, and who knows what else.
AN: This story is self-beta'd; so there may be occasional grammatical or spelling errors that crop up every now and then and for those I apologize in advance.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Weddings x and x War
The second and third of August were both difficult days for Azalea as she dealt with the pain of leaving Kurapika. The near constant buzzing in her left ear helped her through those long hours as knowing that Kurapika was thinking of her let her know that she hadn't been forgotten. The constant companionship of the three Weasleys and Fleur also helped as they made certain to never leave her alone to wallow in her misery. Fawkes wasn't shy about singing during particularly rough moments either; the phoenix intimately aware of her many moods thanks to the bond they now shared and he never let her sink too far into despair.
The last thing that helped was making solid plans to deal with Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Bill had come back on Sunday evening after speaking to his supervisor with a positive answer for Azalea; she could lay claim to the vaults of those witches and wizards that she defeated (or killed) in battle. The only stipulations that the goblin had made was that she provide them with a memory of the battle (to prove her victory) and that it only apply to those witches and wizards that followed Voldemort. Plans were made to visit the bank the next day so that she could claim Riddle's vaults (which potentially included the Gaunt Vaults – something that was uncertain since that family had lost their fortune long before Tom was born) and the vault or vaults of the Death Eater that she'd killed the night of Dumbledore's murder.
The next morning, Bill escorted Azalea to see his supervisor and left her to present her case while he went to work. The ferocious goblin studied her intently the moment she entered the room; his eyes judging and weighing her. Azalea simply arched an eyebrow at the humanoid being while refusing to allow him to intimidate her; she'd been subjected to far worse glares, sneers, and leers through the years. The goblin then smiled a near predatory smile at her as he pulled out a rough carved pensieve and told her to place the first memory inside.
She started with her memory of the night Voldemort killed her parents, next was the memory of the night she killed Quirrell, after that she pulled out the fight with the basilisk and Riddle's shade, then came the night of Voldemort's rebirth, and lastly she drew out her encounter with Voldemort at the end of her fifth year where she'd broken off the Dark Lord's possession of her. After those finished playing out, she presented the goblin with Dumbledore's journal detailing the life of one Tom Marvolo Riddle aka the Dark Lord Voldemort.
Those memories netted her three vaults; the Gaunt Family Vault, Riddle's personal vault, and a vault registered to Lord Voldemort. The last two were actually still active as all Death Eaters were required to pay a monthly tribute to their Lord and Master from the moment they had signed up.
The old Gaunt Family Vault only held those things that the family had been unable to sell off; worthless junk in the eyes of most magicals and Azalea willingly paid the back fees to claim the vault (just in case it held clues). The Riddle Vault held close to two hundred thousand galleons along with some rare muggle artifacts that were worth a pretty penny; that vault had apparently been the one that Voldemort used for the legitimate business that he conducted. And Voldemort's evil overlord vault (as Azalea had dubbed the final vault) held over two million galleons since his Death Eaters had continued to deposit money into the vault even after the Dark Lord had been vanquished in nineteen-eighty-one.
Azalea's maniacal laughter after hearing that actually frightened the goblin because she had sounded rather insane.
In one fell swoop, the Girl-Who-Lived had just cut Voldemort's war funding; so she was feeling more than a little giddy. Azalea offered the goblin ten thousand galleons straight out of Voldemort's vault if he could keep the knowledge that she'd claimed all the three of Voldemort's vaults quiet for at least the rest of the month. The goblin readily agreed. She also asked that all of the money from both of the Dark Lord's vaults be moved into the Gaunt Vault to keep it safe from Riddle (the Dark Lord had never claimed the vault previously because he hadn't wanted to pay the fees).
The last thing she did was to make certain that the Black Family Vault was not still paying a tribute to Voldemort's vault because of Regulus's short stint as a Death Eater. It was, in addition to paying the tributes for Bellatrix and Narcissa as well but a single signature saw all three tributes revoked.
The next order of business was dealing with the Death Eater that she'd killed back in June. His identity was confirmed as Fenrir Greyback; a vicious and well known werewolf and blackmailer that turned out to be richer than Voldemort. His single vault had netted Azalea seven million galleons in blood money.
Azalea only took one million galleons of that money which was to be transferred into the Gaunt Vault and paid another fifty thousand galleons to the goblins to purchase their services in distributing the remainder of the money to his known victims (providing that they were not on Voldemort's payroll and didn't have the Dark Mark burned into their flesh). Remus's name was mentioned as a potential source of information on Greyback; he'd been the werewolf that had turned the Marauder.
The last order of business Azalea had with the goblin was to hire Bill's services in order to search for dark artifacts in all of the vaults she owned; the curse breaker the most logical choice since he had far more experience than she did in dealing with dangerous magic. That service would cost her five thousand galleons per vault searched with an additional five hundred galleons being paid for each dark artifact cleansed. A short debate and another three thousand galleons saw Fleur and a low level goblin both being hired to stand in as witnesses for the procedure, keep a detailed accounting of each dark item found and cleansed, and inventory the non-monetary items in each vault.
Bill's supervisor actually deigned to shake Azalea's hand after their business was concluded; the goblin more than a little pleased to have earned Gringotts several thousand galleons for a minimal amount of work. The fact that Azalea fully intended to seize more vaults through conquest only whetted the goblin's greed; especially since he knew Azalea would hire Gringotts' services to search each vault she claimed.
It helped that Azalea didn't blink an eye at the costs involved (she had more than enough money to cover the fees even before she'd taken control of the four vaults), that she hadn't flinched when the goblin had tested her the moment she stepped into the office, and that she'd unhesitatingly shaken the goblin's hand when he offered it to her.
She returned to the twins' apartment after that and wrote down the totals of what she'd gained from the meeting with the goblin and what she'd spent. She then sat down and drafted a letter to the Minister of Magic to request (read demand) information on all known or suspected Death Eaters. Azalea made certain to remind Minister Scrimgeour that he was under oath to cooperate with her and that any correspondence she sent to him was not to be shared with anyone for any reason before she sent it off with Fawkes (Hedwig still off delivering her letter to McGonagall).
The rest of the afternoon was then spent studying from the sixth year text books after she made a quick trip across the street to purchase the ones she didn't have on hand from Flourish and Blotts; she wanted to make certain she was prepared to take the sixth year tests if McGonagall allowed her to do so.
She was confronted by an exasperated Bill Weasley when he finished work; the wizard a little put out that she'd not warned him that she would be hiring both him and Fleur to basically inventory and search her vaults. She just shrugged and told him that she hadn't known she would be doing so until after she'd already done it. She was also smart enough to know that the wizard would have tried to talk her out of it if she'd warned him ahead of time.
He grumbled a bit before he thanked her for thinking of him as vault work always paid higher than his normal wage because he would earn a commission for each dark item he cleansed and for each goblin forged artifact he discovered during the search (the artifact would remain in the vault; he'd just make note of which ones were there for the goblins' records). That led to a discussion on how goblins viewed goblin made artifacts (such as the Sword of Gryffindor). After that discussion, Azalea asked how the goblins would react if she were to give some of the goblin made items back to the goblin nation and pay 'back rent' for those items that held meaning to her family.
Bill told her that giving most of them back with a small monetary gift to 'pay' for the 'theft' of the items would see the goblins far more willing to overlook the legality of some of her vault acquisitions if there was no clear indication that she defeated the owner of the vault. There was also a higher chance that they would give her better fee rates for services hired through the bank. Purchasing the rights to remaining items for the remainder of her lifetime and paying the 'back rent owed' would see them giving her preferential treatment each time she visited the bank.
Letting the goblins know that she would be willing to return those artifacts before he actually began the search would also go a long way to improving her future interactions with the goblins. After supper, Azalea didn't hesitate to write out a letter that Bill helped her to draft regarding the goblin made artifacts in all of the vaults bar the Potter Family Vault; stating that she wished to having an accounting of those that had been kept by the Potters so she could decide whether she'd give them back or 'rent' them and pay any money her family owed for them so that they could remain in the family. She'd ask Fawkes deliver the missive to Bill's supervisor first thing in the morning.
The fifth saw Azalea celebrating her birthday a second time as the twins threw her a small party; the two of them inviting the rest of the old Gryffindor Quidditch team (including those that had graduated like Oliver and Angelina), Luna and Neville (the two of them had not attacked Azalea in their letters, though she hadn't learned that until the party), Charlie, Remus, and Tonks from the Order (the only three members they knew wouldn't tattle on them about Azalea living with them), and the Delacours.
It was a nice gesture and it helped Azalea feel a little better knowing she had more friends than she'd thought she had left in the wizarding world and she enjoyed catching up with everyone. The ladies present (aside from Fleur) fawned over the ring on Azalea's finger while the boys promised to hex Kurapika if he ever hurt her. Snacks, drinks, and a cake were provided by Dobby and Kreacher; the new cake made in the shape and likeness of large white and pink azalea flowers complete with green leaves and stems.
After the cake, Azalea opened a small pile of gifts that included:
A professional grade Quidditch ball set collectively from Angelina, Alicia, Katie, and Oliver. A set of delicate silver and gold silk scarves and gloves from Fleur's parents. A crystal vase (charmed to extend the life of any flower placed inside of it) from Bill and Fleur. A blooming bonsai azalea bush in a ceramic pot from Neville. A large sachet of homemade potpourri and a handmade friendship bracelet (woven from the tail hairs of a unicorn, a thestral, and a winged horse) from Luna.
There was also a pair of tasteful ivory and crystal hair clips with roses and butterflies from the twins (that Verity had helped them pick out). A complete set of baby teeth from one of the Horntails that hatched from the nest of eggs that had belonged to the Horntail that Azalea had faced in her fourth year from Charlie. A rope-chain necklace with an azalea pendant made from opals and rubies from Tonks. And lastly there was half a dozen charmed crystal and gold roses from Remus.
When the party was over, Remus pressed three last presents and an envelope into her hands and told her to open them when she was alone; the werewolf softly letting her know that both the gifts and the card were from Sirius and that he'd been asked to personally deliver them to her on specific dates as per Sirius's wishes (though he'd been unable to do so sooner since he hadn't known where to find her at the proper time). Azalea waited until everyone else had gone to sleep before she opened the envelope first with shaky hands.
Little Fawn,
If you are reading this; then I am no longer there and for that I will apologize. And while
I know I can't ask you not to grieve for my death, I will ask you not to mourn me. I knew
there was a chance that I would not survive the war and took measures to insure that you
would be taken care of.
If you haven't already heard from the goblins, you can expect them to approach you the
next time you enter the bank in order to inform you of your status as my heir. I always
saw you as the daughter I never had and wish I could have been there for you when you
needed me most. I will always regret not taking you the night your parents died and while
I know the money won't make you feel any better; it will make me feel better to know that
you will never want for anything once you come of age.
I have also taken the time to purchase birthday and Christmas gifts for you up through to
your twenty-fifth birthday. I wanted to make certain that I never again failed to give you a
gift after having missed so many important dates. I gave Remus detailed instructions on
how to handle their distribution and he will deliver them to you at the appropriate times.
In the event that the old wolf does not survive the war, arrangements have already been
made for the goblins to take over the delivery of your gifts as they are all in a special vault
within Gringotts all wrapped and waiting for their day of delivery.
Silly, maybe, but it was very important for me to not slack off again on my godfatherly
duties. I know those gifts will never be enough for me to make up for leaving you but I
do hope they at least bring you a little happiness and allow you to remember me fondly
once in a while.
The last thing I wish to tell you is that I have always seen you as a daughter and that I
love you very, very much. I also know that you will grow up to be a very beautiful young
lady and only wish I could be there to see you blossom. And I will hex any would be
suitors from beyond the grave if they even think of taking liberties with you or if they dare
hurt you in any way.
Love you always,
Sirius
Azalea laughed softly through her tears over the idle threat at the end of the letter; her godfather had already given her his blessings in her relationship with Kurapika, after all. But it was so like him to threaten her non-existent suitors from the afterlife. She took a moment to wipe her face before she tucked the letter back into the envelope and put it inside of one of her books until she could add it to her photo album so that it wouldn't get ruined.
She then turned her attention to the three gifts and opened them in order according to the dated tags that were stuck the top of each one. The first one was supposed to have been given to her on her sixteenth birthday and contained a ruby and gold headband that matched the set she'd been given for her fifteenth birthday along with another set of earrings; these ones exactly like the first pair but with the addition of a pair of diamond shaped diamonds strung from a pair of shorter chains than the diamond shaped ruby and a jacket of alternating diamond shaped diamonds and rubies around the post in the shape of a diamond.
The second gift, meant for Christmas of ninety-six, was a pair of books titled Planning Perfect Pranks and Pugnacious Pranking Spells for Prospective Pranksters (both books written by Padfoot and Prongs and edited by Moony) and a triangular shaped locket with a single diamond shaped ruby in the center surrounded by alternating diamonds and rubies on a gold chain. The locket held two pictures inside; one of her parents holding her on the day she was born and one of Sirius holding her and Remus standing beside him from the same day.
The note in the gift said both books were the original manuscripts that Sirius had finished writing over the course of her fifth year with Remus's help and that she could either hold onto them for herself as keepsakes or she could publish them if she so desired. Azalea was torn about what to do with the books; on one hand they had been written by her father and godfather and therefore something to be treasured but on the other hand, what better legacy to leave behind for both men than to have them published?
Sighing, she turned her attention to the final gift (the one intended for her seventeenth birthday) and found a dainty lady's watch with tiny rubies marking the hours and the tips of both hands with alternating rubies and diamonds circling the face and a ring with a single ruby bracketed by a pair of smaller diamonds. Both pieces were obviously part of the same set as the rest of the jewelry that Sirius had given her; all of the gemstones cut into the shape of a diamond and several of the larger rubies made to look like diamond shaped chain links.
Azalea took a moment to put on the ring (on her right ring finger), the watch (on her left wrist with the bracelet), and the locket around her neck before she tucked everything else into her book bag and went to bed. Her dreams that night were filled with old nightmares of Sirius's death mixed in with memories of meeting Sirius during her temporary death.
The rest of the week was spent studying or researching; either reading through her text books or going through the files the Minister had sent her on the Death Eaters (which included the trial transcripts from nineteen-eighty-one and eighty-two). She would receive a reply from McGonagall on the seventh with the news that she had an appointment at the school to take her tests on the twenty-first to determine if she would be held back a year or not. The twins promised to help make certain she was well prepared for the tests by helping her practice the sixth year spells and potions.
The moment they saw what wand Azalea was using, the two nineteen year olds demanded to know why she had Dumbledore's wand. She explained about taking it off Draco and forgetting about it in her pockets and then how it had bonded to her the next time she touched it; much like her original wand had. Knowing wands will sometimes choose another wizard if their original owner was defeated, they let the matter drop after that; suspecting that Draco had won the wand first and that then she'd won the wand from him.
To prevent others from recognizing it quite so easily, Azalea stained the wood of the wand red and the handle gold like her bokken; few wizards ever bothered looking beyond the obvious.
Bill and Fleur helped with Azalea's lessons as well whenever they were around; which was less and less the closer it got to their wedding date as they often made trips to the Burrow to help set up everything for the wedding and to the Hotel where the Delacours were staying to spend time with her family. Azalea actually tagged along a couple of times to have lunch or supper with Fleur's parents and younger sister at their request. On those occasions the seventeen year old was introduced to a number of Fleur's cousins that had come to England in order to attend her wedding; she'd never quite remember who was who because they all looked very much alike (meaning they were all blonde and beautiful).
Azalea spent the night with the Delacours on the eighth so that the ladies could help her with her hair and makeup (something no one had ever done for her before; not even for the Yule Ball in her fourth year when she attended as the date of Viktor Krum). The next morning, Apolline Delacour (Fleur's mother) had Azalea up an hour before dawn so she could be given a 'veela' spa treatment along with the rest of the ladies. This basically involved a dozen different potions used to give each of the ladies a proper facial treatment that removed dead skin, cleansed the pores, smoothed the skin, reduced stress lines, removed blemishes (such as pimples, ingrown hairs, or dark circles) and invigorated the ladies.
Additionally, there were potions that cleaned and repaired one's hair, brought out the natural shine of one's hair, and tamed even the wildest of locks. Azalea's hair was then pulled partially back from her face (bar her fringe) and held back by the ruby headband (which was made up of ruby links like her bracelet and choker) she'd been given a couple of nights earlier. The rest of her hair had been teased into a natural mess of wavy locks that didn't quite want to lay flat. The new look was rather flattering though and allowed her to show off her earrings (the stud in her right ear and the original pendant earring in the left).
Next, they applied a thin layer of makeup; using subtle colors that flattered and enhanced her natural beauty. A special whitening paste brightened up her teeth and breath freshening mouth paste guaranteed that she'd have minty fresh breath for a full eighteen hours no matter what she ate or drank. At that point, Azalea was told to put on the undergarments she'd be wearing for the day so that comfort charms could be applied.
She was greatly embarrassed over the attention her scars drew; especially the six new ones just above and between her breasts (the five puncture wounds from Killua's hand and the long incision from her subsequent surgery). Thankfully, the robes Fleur had picked for her would cover said scars completely as Azalea didn't fancy allowing just anyone to see those marks.
Apolline had tisked under her breath when she saw the scars and muttered dire things in French that would have worried Azalea if Fleur hadn't been right there providing a summary of who her mother would like to skin for allowing a young woman to be so marked. The woman had then promised to provide Azalea with a scar reduction cream that would help smooth the skin and make the scars far less noticeable. It wouldn't do much good for the older scars but the ones on her chest and the palm of her right hand were still recent enough that they could be reduced to almost nothing.
By that time it was nearing twelve o'clock and they ate a light lunch that mainly consisted of a garden salad, fresh fruit, and raw vegetables (breakfast had been croissants and fruit filled crepes). After the meal, Apolline concentrated on helping Fleur into her dress while a couple of Fleur's cousins helped Azalea and each other get dressed without mussing their hair or makeup.
The dress part of Azalea's robes looked much like an a-line formal gown with a sleeveless, high necked bodice made from velvet with a silk skirt that flared out in three layers from her waist (each layer a third shorter and just a hair lighter in color than the layer beneath it). It came with a long sleeved open fronted over robe that was slightly darker than the lowest skirt in color and would frame the dress when worn. The silver threads woven through the material glinted in the light and Azalea couldn't help but blush when she was finally allowed to look at herself in the mirror.
She looked nothing like the scrawny little waif she'd always looked like before; helped in part by the twenty pounds that she'd gained from the diet that Kurapika and Dr. Mackle had insisted she follow. She'd even gained half a cup size over the past six months and it showed in the way she filled out the dress. In short; her reflection showed her the image of an unexpectedly beautiful young woman.
Fleur imperiously ordered her mother to take pictures of Azalea when the older witch caught sight of her staring at herself in the mirror. More pictures were taken after her graphorn cloak was cleaned and donned. Most of the older witches present grumbled about how it was inappropriate to wear dueling robes to a wedding but Azalea firmly insisted upon wearing them because of her luck. They at least were new enough that they could be passed off as just a really nice cloak which helped mollify most of the witches.
Fleur's ready acceptance also helped as the young bride was well aware of just how big of a trouble magnet Azalea was after listening to a few of her adventures over the past week.
Azalea and the rest of those present that were not in the bridal party left at two fifteen in order to grab their seats for the ceremony. Azalea traveled first to the twins' apartment where she met up with the twins and Angelina so that they could travel to the Burrow together. George lamented over the fact that Azalea was already spoken for the moment he laid eyes on her before asking her how she was hiding her wings (a subtle compliment that compared her to an angel); Azalea laughed and blushed over the flattering remark.
The four of them then grabbed hold of their invitation (which doubled as a portkey to the Burrow) and they were whisked away in a swirl of blue light. The seventeen year old witch nearly tossed up her lunch and barely stayed on her feet and Azalea bemoaned the fact that magicals couldn't come up with a mode of transportation that didn't make one sick. Angelina laughed at her and helped her straighten up her robes and made sure her makeup hadn't been smudged.
She also handed the younger witch a peppermint chew to help ease the nausea caused by all the spinning. The twins then escorted the ladies to the large pavilion that had been set up to hold the ceremony where they were quickly seated towards the front of the tent on the bride's side (due to the large number of family that was expected to turn up from the Weasley side). Fred and George then headed off to help seat the guests while Angelina and Azalea saved them seats and chatted with Fleur's cousins that had been seated just a few minutes before them.
More than once Azalea wished that Kurapika could have been there at her side and only the knowledge that she was protecting her lover from those that would take offense to his non-magical heritage helped her hold back her misery. Well, that and the fact that she didn't want to ruin Bill and Fleur's big day by being a wet blanket. At least no one had recognized her as of yet (outside of the twins and Fleur's family); her improved health, new glasses, change of hairstyle, light makeup, and flattering outfit making her look far different than normal.
In fact, the first one to recognize her was Viktor Krum; her former fellow Tri-Wizard champion, Yule date (as friends after they'd both been chased into the library by rabid fans seeking to be their dates), and friend. Viktor seemed a little disappointed when he learned that she was being escorted by one of the twins and that she was no longer single but he cheered up when she readily agreed to save him at least one dance after the ceremony. Horatio recognized her next and quickly passed the news onto Ron, who had started to storm over to confront her only to back off when he saw who she was sitting with.
Viktor had been seated on the bride's side of the room and the Bulgarian had taken the open seat on Azalea's left side (George's seat saved between her and Angelina with Fred's seat on Angelina's right); Ron had never forgiven the famous Quidditch player for taking Azalea to the Yule Ball or Azalea for going as the older wizard's date for that matter.
The last of the guests were seated just a few minutes before three and Bill took his place up at the front of the tent with Charlie (his best man) and a couple of friends he knew from work (his groomsmen). Fred and George joined the two witches right after they'd finished their duties; both of them cordially greeting Viktor as they took their seats. The ceremony began just a minute after that as the clock struck three and as one, the entire audience turned to face the entrance as music began to play and the bridesmaids filed in sprinkling white rose petals down the aisle. Fleur entered on the arm of her father next and Azalea thought she looked absolutely stunning in her white dress.
The rest of the ceremony was nothing but one long blur in Azalea's mind as she fantasized about marrying Kurapika for the first time. The reception afterwards was pretty much a blur as well as she danced with George, Fred, Bill, Charlie, Mr. Delacour, Mr. Lovegood, Remus, Moody, Viktor (several times after he saved her from her former friends and Mrs. Weasley more than once during the course of the night), and a small number of Fleur's male cousins. She did dance once with Mr. Weasley as well but George cut in the moment he had attempted to coax her into apologizing to Ron and Ginny (the two youngest had told their parents that Azalea turned on them for no reason at all).
The next outburst actually originated between Viktor and Mr. Lovegood over the symbol that Mr. Lovegood was wearing; the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. Azalea learned much about the Hallows and Grindelwald from both Viktor and Mr. Lovegood during the course of their short, but intense argument that night. Then there was a small fight between one of Mrs. Weasley's relatives and one of Dumbledore's old friends and Azalea learned that Rita Skeeter would soon be publishing a scandalous biography on the life of Albus Dumbledore.
The brunette witch wasn't certain how she felt about that; on one hand she had once respected Dumbledore and on the other she still didn't know if she could forgive him for the meddling he'd done in her life.
She didn't have much time to ponder the matter as the reception was interrupted on the heels of that argument by the arrival of a glowing silvery-white patronus in the shape of a lynx that gravely announced the fall of the Ministry of Magic, the death of Rufus Scrimgeour, and a warning that the Death Eaters were on their way to Ottery St. Catchpole in Kingsley Shacklebolt's deep voice. Panic filled the tent until Azalea let out a loud whistle to gain everyone's attention while buttoning up her dueling robes. The witch then began handing out orders to all of those present right alongside wandless Stinging Hexes to anyone that dared to argue with her or her orders.
Dobby, Kreacher, and Fawkes were brought in to evacuate those that could not fight while those that could were quickly organized to provide cover for those being evacuated. Azalea herself then drew the attention of the Death Eaters when they arrived and tossed up anti-transportation spells (that thankfully wouldn't affect the two elves or the phoenix) in order to buy time for most of the guests to be evacuated. Fred, George, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Remus, Moody, Tonks, and Viktor covered her back as she ran headlong into the fight like an avenging angel with her bokken dealing out physical and magical damage right and left and her aura visibly swirling around her in response to her anger.
Five of the dozen and a half Death Eaters had fallen to Azalea's spells or blades before the rest of them fled from the Burrow sporting an assortment of injuries courtesy of the other witches and wizards that had kept the Death Eaters from getting too close to the guests or splitting up to surround Azalea. Once the fight was over, Azalea walked up and unmasked all five downed Death Eaters, cut off their left sleeves to verify that they all carried the Dark Mark, and briefly scanned their minds to confirm their intentions before she methodically killed each one using her Emitter's aura to stop their hearts with a bullet made of Nen.
Her actions horrified some of those that were still present but she merely sneered at them and belittled them for allowing the problems in their society to propagate for decades by allowing murdering scum to walk free with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. She loudly reminded those still left that the Death Eaters had just taken over their government and that they were effectively at war with the Death Eaters and Voldemort. She went on to ask them how long they thought the Death Eaters would allow them to live unmolested now that the Ministry had fallen and how many innocents would need to die before they stood up and fought back.
Fawkes then flashed her out of there while the two house elves collected the dead bodies of the Death Eaters (all five of which would be delivered to Bill's supervisor for identification purposes so that she could claim their vaults – she'd provide him with the memory of the short fight later). Azalea ended up at Grimmauld Place and she promptly ran to the nearest bathroom to toss up her supper as she recalled how she'd killed those five men (teens in two cases) in cold blood. The terrible memories she'd seen in their mind only added to the churning in her stomach.
She eventually ended up in Sirius's old bedroom where she curled up on the bed and cried herself to sleep once she had stopped vomiting.
Moody would be the one to discover Azalea hidden away in Sirius's old bedroom after a frantic two hour search to locate the missing witch when the twins didn't find her at their place after they finished helping their parents clean up the messes from both the wedding and the attack. The crotchety old auror let the others know where she was but told them not to bother her because she was sleeping off her exhaustion; the witch had thrown around some serious magic during the fight.
Fawkes's soft singing throughout the night was the only thing that kept the nightmares from Azalea's dreams that night.
11-01-15: Minor edits made to chapter to fix spelling/grammar mistakes and removed unnecessary author's notes.
