Harry Potter and the Blessed Blood
Vengeance
***Despite my plans to eventually own things, Harry Potter will never be one of them. ***
§ParselTongue§
***HPBB***
"Nothing is wrong, I just... nothing is wrong."
The three friends shared a concerned look as the raven-haired boy's attention turned back to studying for the end-of-year exams.
***HPBB***
"Master, please allow me the honor of serving you."
"You have already proven yourself to me Bellatrix, removing the blood traitor in your family has shown your allegiances without a doubt."
"Yes my master, but I wish to show my skill as your greatest follower, as your true lieutenant."
The pale monster gave a thoughtful hum, before nodding. "Very well Bellatrix, you know your target. I want you to... send a message, a warning at first. Let it be known what happens to those who dare to defy me, what the consequences of standing against the tide of my rage will be."
"Of course master! It shall be done!"
With that the deranged woman practically skipped off, throwing a dark smirk towards both Snape and Lucious Malfoy as she did so. Soon the Dark Lord would see her true worth, and would recognize her above all others.
***HPBB***
"Welcome Lord Potter"
The boy bowed to the Goblin, before taking the offered seat at sole table in the room.
"We are only waiting on a few others, please sit and relax until their arrival."
Glancing to his left the boy sent a small smile to his Transfiguration professor, who gave him a comforting nod back. Moments later the doors reopened, and in walked the one person Harry had been dreading to see more than anyone else.
Nymphadora Tonks, and a woman that appeared to be her mother.
Immediately, the boy bowed his head, trying to avoid even looking at the woman as his knuckles paled due to the force at which he was squeezing his hands together.
"Andromeda, Tonks how are you two?"
"I have been better Minerva, and yourself?"
"The same, I wish we were meeting on better circumstances."
"As do I... Nymphadora, are you alright?"
The younger woman had been staring at the boy in silence while the adults conversed, and was brought out of her thoughts by her mother, not even bothering to correct her on the use of her first name. "What? Yeah I'm fine..."
The two older women exchanged worried glances, before taking their seats.
"Now that all of the parties have assembled we will begin."
The Goblin brought out an official looking scroll, before clearing his throat.
I Sirius Orion Black, being of relatively sound mind and raw untamed awesome hereby give my last will and testament. All others proceeding this are thus null and void.
To Minerva McGonagall, my favorite teacher and the one woman who put up with my shit longer than anyone else in this world, I leave ten thousand Galleons for medical care due to mental anguish.
The woman smiled, and rolled her eyes at the man's antics, only he would give her money for the assumed 'mental anguish'. In reality the four boys had always been some of her favorite all time students.
To my dear, and favorite, cousin Andromeda Tonks I leave twenty thousand Galleons, along with a signed certificate of reinstatement into the Black Family if you so desire. Just make sure that the political climate is right before you make yourself a target.
The woman nodded, if she signed it now it would undoubtedly make her a target for the Dark Lord and his followers, but the gesture still brought a tear to her eyes.
To my favorite niece with the best first name in the whole wide world...
The Metamorph growled at the letter, silently threatening serious bodily harm on the deceased man.
I leave ten thousand Galleons, and the hopes that you marry my dumbarse best friend.
A second later the woman broke down silently, as tears flowed down her face. Obviously Sirius hadn't expected Remus to die with him when he had written this.
To my best friend in the entire world Remus Lupin, I leave fifty thousand Galleons, along with a summer home on the beach. Moony... stop being such a prat and let go of your damn pride! Lord the amount of time Prongs and I have tried to help you only for your stupid arseholery to get in the way... It is time you start taking care of yourself, my niece, and our godson.
Harry seemed to shrink in on himself even more while Tonks' face had turned red due to the stress and tears.
Finally to my godson... Harry, there are no words to express how much I regret not being there for you. I can only hope that when this is read I have had an entire lifetime to make it up to you. I know that you do not care about money or possessions, but I want you to have a life where you do not need to worry about these things. The kind of life you always SHOULD have had. Thus I leave everything else to you pup. Live free, love those two girls of yours, have lots of children, laugh often, prank as much as you can, bring smiles and hope to those around you in the way that only you can. I love you Harry, and we are so very proud of you.
Sirius 'Padfoot' Orion Black
***HPBB***
"Harry..."
The boy turned, his eyes full of tears as his gaze found that of Tonks. She was standing awkwardly a dozen feet from him, her hand clasping the upper part of her opposite arm awkwardly, as if she was trying to figure out how to approach him.
"I... can't do this right now... I'm sorry." With that he practically fled from the room, leaving the Auror to desperately hold back a silent sob.
"Nymphadora..."
"He hates me mom... and why shouldn't he? I took away his godparents from him. I took away the only family he had left..."
"You did no such thing dear..."
"If I had been there... If I hadn't taken that stupid assignment..."
"Then there is a good chance you would be lying in a coffin as well, and then Harry would have one less person he could depend on. He is just trying to cope Nymphadora, give him a bit of time and space. I am sure he will come around."
"A-and if he doesn't? What happens if he... if he hates me forever..."
"Based on what I have heard about him from you I have no doubts that will not come to pass. Just give him time sweetheart, just as you need time to heal so does he."
The younger girl nodded, before turning and embracing her mother in a hug. She just hoped that the boy would allow himself to mourn with someone.
***HPBB***
"Mr. Potter"
"Director Bones"
"I have a few things I would like to discuss with you concerning the case against Albus Dumbledore. Would you be able to stop in tomorrow afternoon?"
The boy nodded at the image being projected in the Floo system.
"If you could also bring along Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood, and Mr. Longbottom I would appreciate it. I want to get a full accounting of everything that has happened concerning the old man and your fourth year. The incidents involving first through third are well documented but those involving the Tri-wizard Tournament are not."
"I thought there wasn't anything that could be done. That it was all in the rules."
"Perhaps, but you never know where the old man might have manipulated something to his own ends. I want to ensure that when he is caught he pays for every crime."
***HPBB***
Harry Potter sat down in his room, before retrieving the book he had hidden in a nearby dresser. It was something he had discovered in the Black Family library a few days prior and since then had devoted more than one sleepless night to studying it.
It concerned the mind arts, how to shield ones mind from intrusion and potentially even invade another person's memories. The aggressive part he wasn't interested in, at least not in actually performing it, but he did need to learn the methods of control. How to navigate another person's mind and memories, how to control the magic involved and to keep distinctions in ones' own mind between what the book referred to as 'self memories' and 'foreign memories'.
He needed this training, needed to understand before he could feel comfortable even touching someone again.
***HPBB***
The quartet of friends made their way down the empty halls towards the office of the DMLE. It was a bit later than they had originally planned, but with school still in session for a few more weeks they simply hadn't been able to leave any earlier.
Even then it had been difficult, and the temporary Headmaster had insisted that they Floo directly into the Ministry itself rather than risk any other forms of transportation.
"A bit creepy... walking around down here after hours..."
Luna nodded at the blonde boy, before moving just a bit closer to her boyfriend. It was beyond creepy to her. Something just didn't feel right.
"Well according to the directions Director Bones' office is right up..."
The four froze as hideous laughter echoed down the hallway, "Remember what we talked about Bonsey, and keep in mind that we do know where dear Susan goes to school... tah tah."
Peeking around the corner Neville froze as he watched Bellatrix Lestrange happily skip down the hallway from where she had emerged from the Director's office.
"B-Bellatrix..."
The growl of rage from behind was the only warning the Longbottom heir would receive, before Harry rounded the corner and chased after her, barely pausing to shout back at them to check on Susan's aunt.
Neville took charge immediately, directing Luna towards the room while he and Hermione chased after their friend, there was no chance in hell he was going to let Harry face that monster alone.
***HPBB***
"BELLATRIX!"
The crazed woman turned to look behind her, before giggling madly. "Oh look its wittle potty wotty. Aw are you sad cause mean old Bella took you pet from you? I can buy you a new one if you want."
The boy ignored her, continuing to charge full speed with hate filled eyes.
"Come on little potty, come and chase me, come avenge your furry friends."
"I am going to kill you!"
"That's the spirit! Come now better hurry, if I make it to the Floos you will never catch up!"
Gritting his teeth Harry pushed himself just a bit faster, as he struggled to close the distance between them.
***HPBB***
"Madam Bones!"
The woman groaned in agony as she struggled to reach her emergency contact switch. A young blonde girl came rushing in, Luna Lovegood if her briefly functioning memory was correct. Poor girl looked absolutely terrified.
"What can I do?"
"R-r-ribbon"
The teenager looked to where the woman was gesturing, and quickly pulled on the brightly colored red ribbon that was underneath the director's desk.
"Okay, now what?"
"C-c-cruciatus, j-just need some t-time..."
The girl nodded, before going to the nearby cabinet and retrieving a few pain dulling potions before returning to the older woman.
"These might help"
Nodding in gratitude the Bones matron allowed herself to be gently propped up, the Lovegood child had a future as a mediwitch with how gentle the girl was. Moments later her theory was only further strengthened as the young blonde helped her drink the concoction, helping to ease the pain and increase her focus.
"Aurors will be here shortly."
"I will stay with you until then."
"Y-your friends..."
"Harry will be fine, he promised me he will be fine..."
Amelia Bones could not help but notice the hint of fear that laced the innocent girl's tone.
***HPBB***
Harry stood in an empty hallway, his senses straining for any hint of movement or clue as to where the psychotic bitch had run off to. All of the door were closed, nothing was obviously disturbed but he knew that he had nearly caught up with her, that is until she had turned the corner and then simply vanished.
Did she have a cloak of invisibility? No, she would not have had time to pull it out. He also knew enough about magical transportation to know that the Ministry was warded against anything save for Floos.
Perhaps she had used an illusion charm. He could always use his magic and tear the hallway apart just to be sure. The boy slowly made his way towards the other end of the corridor, that is until the door on his right exploded violently, throwing him into the wall.
"Awww poor little potty, you fell down and hurt yourself didn't you? Why don't you let Auntie Bella help with that?"
The boy-who-lived replied with a growl, before launching a wave of magic into the woman and tossing her back into the room she had emerged from.
Down the hall Hermione and Neville finally had caught up with the pair of duelists.
"HARRY!"
Emerald eyes turned towards them for a moment, before a gesture caused the ceiling and walls of the hallway to collapse, blocking them from intervening.
"Bloody freaking shite! Hermione go around I'm going to try and get through."
The bushy-haired witch nodded, before dashing down a nearby hallway, ignoring her already labored breathing. They should have known Harry would prevent their interference and protect them against the psychotic woman.
***HPBB***
"Avada Kedavra!"
The green bolt of lightning arced towards the boy, before a sword was brought up in front of him, parting the energy like water and dissipating it into the air.
Bellatrix Lestrange stared in shock.
"Excalibur can cut through all things. Including magic."
Forcing down the fear that threatened to boil up through her chest the Death Eater immediately attempted to come up with an alternative plan.
"So are you going to cut me up then Potty? Your godfathers must be so proud of you!"
"Oh no, I am not going to use the sword on you Bellatrix, because I am going to kill you with my bare hands!"
The woman cackled madly, unfortunately for her in the process of doing so she missed the boy charging into her, landing them both further in the room she had emerged from.
A flick of her wrist threw him into a nearby wall, and allowed the boy to get a glimpse of their surroundings. It appeared as though they were in a Potions room, complete with dozens of vials of various fluids laid out on several large wooden tables which dominated the floor.
It was dark too, and Harry idly wondered if there was a law in place concerning Potion areas and the lack of outside light.
A soft pop forced the teen to launch himself out of the path of a barrage of spells, drawing his own wand as he returned fire while on the move. Unfortunately Bellatrix had decades of experience on him in terms of charms and hexes, meaning that anything he could throw at her she could block, counter, and return with more finesse.
A wordless blasting charm flipped the table Harry had been using as cover and he was disarmed a second later, but disarmed did not mean defenseless for the boy-who-lived, as Bellatrix soon learned. He crossed the distance between them faster that she thought would be possible, avoiding the few spells she had managed to throw at him.
Just as he swiped towards her face the woman backpedaled, to avoid the blow, then simply to put distance between them despite his pursuit. Eventually, though, she reached a wall and was just able to duck to the side in time to avoid his attack.
Gaping, as his hand tore through the stone wall like paper the Death Eater launched a handful of chairs and smaller tables at the boy, who either swatted them out of the way or simply crouched under them.
By this point she had, once again, managed to put a good deal of distance between them and begin her assault once more, only this time she aimed slightly lower, forcing him to completely change directions to avoid the onslaught rather than ducking or weaving out of the way.
***HPBB***
Harry Potter was beginning to run out of objects to use as protective cover, he needed to make a change, to get close enough that the woman wouldn't be able to use her more powerful verbal spells. A quick glance behind him earned a smile from the boy, as he pulled a few vials from a nearby cabinet. Luckily for him Remus had been able to teach him far more than he had ever learned in Snape's class.
***HPBB***
"Come out come out little Potty wotty, auntie Bella isn't going to hurt you... too much..."
The crazed woman silently made her way across the room to where she had last seen the boy, only to notice that a thick fog was beginning to cover the lower portion of the room, she waved her wand in an attempt to banish it, but whatever she removed was quickly replaced with more a second later.
"Clever little boy, wanting to play hide and seek hm?"
"Why not?" a voice answered her from behind, forcing her to spin and launch a wide angled cutting curse, which hit nothing but air until it sliced into the wall.
"I never had time for games as a child... so why not play now?" the voice echoed once more, seemingly coming from every direction at once.
The woman gritted her teeth, what fun was dueling someone if she couldn't watch them scream in agony?
The soft footsteps spun the woman around once more. Peering into the darkness to try and find her target she found that with the already shadowy room mixed with the fog that now lay at waist height it was a hopeless task. For a second the woman considered simply moving on, why waste time with some stupid little boy?
But she knew better. If she could kill, or better yet capture, the boy here and now she would be given praise beyond any others. There would be no doubt of whom the Dark Lord favored.
Her battle senses screamed out, and her wand sang as a spell was launched to intercept a vial that had been thrown at her. Another was thrown a second later, followed by another, faster and faster small glass bottles are launched from the darkness, carrying unknown and potentially volatile liquids inside. Each is targeted, and destroyed before they can close the gap, but they began to close the distance.
A growl escaped Bellatrix's lips, as she made a wide sweeping gesture, sending a wave of magic that destroyed the remaining with a bright flash. "Is that the best you can..."
One of the few remaining large wooden tables is pushed across the floor towards her, forcing the woman to vault over the object to avoid being slammed against the opposing wall.
Just what Harry had been anticipating.
He was already within arms reach of her by the time the woman's feet touched the floor. As her eyes widened in shock, and her wand raised he was already in action. Her weapon flew across the room with a sweep of his hand, landing somewhere in the darkness beyond them. Her body smashed back into the table by his own before she dropped to the ground a second later.
***HPBB***
Through the darkness, and the spots that appeared and vanished before her own eyes due to the force of the last blow, Bellatrix Lestrange spotted something, an object misplaced since the start of their duel, a tool forgotten about.
Potter's wand
It was close, tantalizingly so, less than ten feet away. But she had to be smart about it. The boy still stood over her, glaring down with hatred filled eyes as the fog began to thin and dissipate.
"What now Bellatrix?" Before she could even sneer an answer the teen spoke for her, "I will tell you. I am going to choke the life out of you. You are going to die staring into my eyes with my hands around your neck. But it isn't going to be fast, oh no. You don't deserve that. For my godfathers, for Neville's parents, for everyone you have killed and will try to kill in the future... I am going to make you suffer, to make you scream and struggle for as long as I possibly can. I want you to feel the terror as your life slips away from you."
She began crawling away from him, looking to distance herself from him.
Just a few more feet.
"Is that all Potter? After everything I took from you? Why make it fast? Why not make me suffer hm?"
So close, she could almost touch it.
"Why not use me hm? Show those Purebloods whose boss? Abuse me, rape me, make me suffer, make me scream your name. The Dark Lord would be enraged, he would be so angry at you for touching what is his. You want that don't you Potter? To defile me after I have given my body to him? To take what he declared to be his and his alone? Even my husband may not touch me now Potter, but you could. You could take me."
It was a desperate gamble but had worked for her in the past before. Get the target's mind clouded with hatred and lust, get those dark thoughts obscuring their sense of battle and instincts, then when she did strike it would be disastrous.
His eyes glowed, whether at the thought, or in rage of the words she spoke, neither were quite sure. It didn't matter though, her fingers reached the wand and...
He took two steps, his foot crashing down on her hand painfully.
"You didn't think I misplaced this... did you?"
Fear swelled in her chest, he had been toying with her. Powerful hands gripped her shoulders, throwing her up and onto the table as if she was made of feather. Fingers were wrapped around her throat as the teen loomed over her, practically pressing himself into her in the process, allowing for no leverage or means of escape.
A quiet voice, one that had been ignored for countless years, whispered that she had pushed too far, that her sins were finally catching up to her. This was quickly overshadowed by the instinctive fear of having one's air supply cut off.
She flailed and kicked, trying to desperately dislodge the boy, but he held firm. Her fingers scratched at his face, up until he freed one of his arms to hold hers above her head, bending low enough that she could see the rage in his eyes, feel his breath on her face.
Then he squeezed just a little harder.
***HPBB***
By the time that the Auror reinforcements arrived Amelia Bones had recovered enough to give them an annoyed glare at their response time, and to follow this up with orders to go after the Death Eater and Harry.
They located him a few minutes later, helping Neville Longbottom clear away the rubble just in time to catch Hermione Granger entering the hallway from the other end.
A quick sweep located their target, with Neville quietly walking in so as not to startle anyone. His best friend was sitting on one of the few chairs not destroyed in an otherwise chaotic room, the teen's head was bowed, his clothing torn, and more than a few cuts and bruises littered the visible skin.
Still he was alive, and the three remaining teenagers rushed forward, with Luna quickly capturing him in a hug. Meanwhile Moody slowly approached a nearby body on the floor.
"Harry... are you okay?"
"Yeah..."
"Are you injured? Do you need a medic?"
He shook his head, before slowly raising his face towards his male friend. "I... I'm sorry Neville..."
"Harry, it is okay you didn't do anything wrong... Bellatrix she... she was a monster Harry. No one is going to blame you." the Longbottom heir gave a glare back at the Aurors, earning a soft chuckle from the director.
"Quite right Mr. Potter, self-defense if ever there was a case of it. Plus the bitch had it coming."
"I... didn't kill her..."
All eyes directed on the boy, up until the retired Auror gave a rough kick to the woman's leg, earning a groan of confirmation.
"Boy's right, bitch ain't dead."
"Harry, why were you apologizing if..."
"I know what she did to you Neville, what she did to my godfathers. I just... I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill her."
"Harry..." Hermione whispered softly, while Luna continued to cling to him, crying softly in relief. "You don't need to apologize for that. There is nothing to be ashamed for in not taking a life."
"But I should have..."
"She is right Harry, it just shows you are still you. That no matter what you will stay you and not let those monsters affect you."
"I hate to say it Mr. Potter, but we are going to need to have another talk about what happened. Standard procedure and I assure you that you are not in trouble." Bones called out from where she was leaning against a nearby wall to help support her weight.
"Quite right, plus I wouldn't mind sitting in either Amelia. Apparently my 'replacement' promised the boy a bit of training his fourth year and after this... well I might even consider coming out of retirement if it stays this interesting." Moody laughed, before giving a gentle squeeze of the boy-who-lived's shoulder.
***HPBB***
"Harry, are you..."
The boy bolted before Tonks could even finish her sentence, leading to a depressed half-sob from the woman. A hand gently found her arm a moment later, and the Auror turned to notice Hermione Granger standing next to her.
"He hates me..."
"No, he doesn't. I don't know what is going on with him right now but he doesn't hate you."
"She is right, Harry tends to bottle up his emotions until someone forces him to talk about them, but I have never known him to hate anyone. Except maybe the people who try to kill him." Luna added from Tonks' other side.
"I took his godparents from him, first by being with them when they chose me instead of him and now..."
"Tonks, he doesn't blame you for that. He wouldn't run away if he did. Harry has been many things but he has never fled from something that he hates. He has run from fear, run from himself, and run from us to try and save us... but never from hate."
"He is probably just trying to protect you. Maybe he feels responsible for their deaths and since you were so close to them... well you know that Dumbledore threatened him so he might want to try and keep you safe."
The woman half-laughed half-cried at the Longbottom's analysis. It would be just like him to try and protect her even now.
"We will try and talk to him about it again. Maybe he will open up this time."
"Just... don't force him okay? I don't want to hurt anything between you four. He needs you now more than ever."
"He needs you as well" the bushy-haired witch noted, "and I think you are starting to realize that you need him just as much. We are relying on each other Tonks, all of us. We want you to be involved in our lives, especially after this war is over."
"I want that too, I just hope Harry shares this desire."
***HPBB***
"Neville"
"Yeah Harry?"
It was the last day of class before summer, which meant a few minor ending ceremonies, that none of the four cared about, and the train ride back. Harry himself had already spoken with Shacklebolt about skipping the Hogwarts Express. His argument had been brief and simple, the Dark Lord was making him a target, and so the less he was around the other students the safer they would be. The temporary Headmaster had agreed, and permitted the boy to use the Floo system for travel.
"You know Amelia Bones pretty well right?"
The blonde nodded, "I had a lot of time to get to know her when I was with Susan over the summers. Why?"
"Do you trust her?"
Neville blinked in surprised, not the question he had ever expected being asked. "Uh, yeah I trust her. Why?"
"I mean really trust her Neville. That she is one of the good guys. That she doesn't have Death Eater ties. This is serious Neville, if you have any doubts..."
"I don't"
The teens head nodded, "I need to setup another meeting with her."
***HPBB***
"Mr. Potter, first and foremost I want to thank you again for your timely rescue. Although you might not have realized it at the time we heard your voices from down the hall, which was the only reason that Bellatrix decided to cut our 'chat' short. That and she had been threatening my niece, Merlin knows what she would have done if..."
"I am glad I could help, you don't mind that I brought my friends along do you? I don't like keeping secrets from them."
"I understand completely Mr. Potter. Is it okay if Moody and Tonks join us?"
The boy seemed to hesitate for a moment, looking rather uncomfortable which created more than a little concern for the elderly woman.
"If you don't..."
"No... no it is okay."
A few minutes later the other two individuals entered the room, with Tonks staying back at a far wall to create a bit of space between her and the boy-who-lived.
"Now then Mr. Potter, what did you wish to speak to me about?"
"I have a question for you, what would you do if you had a massive amount of information on Death Eaters?"
***HPBB***