Chapter Forty Nine
Hell Hath No Fury
The little cottage was in a secluded little town, just outside London. There were only fifteen houses, a shop, a pub, a bus stop, a train station and a hotel. In other words, a fine place to take children for a day out. And not a very obvious place to stash a Horcrux. Ginny entered the pub, where she found Hermione having a glass of sherry. Ginny was much better with beer herself.
"Well?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing around here that the local's know of that could hide a Horcrux. But I suppose we had better take a look for ourselves."
Finishing her drink, Hermione led them outside.
"I heard from Moody. Charlie and Ekria were both very beat up. So were Bagman and Rosmerta."
Ginny hissed.
"Are they all right?" she demanded.
"They'll live. Charlie shouldn't have, but it appears as if someone healed him before he and Ekria came round."
Ginny thought.
"And it wasn't Ekria?" she asked.
"No. Ekria can't remember what happened, except she was duelling Lady Maladi and then fell down a big hole. Most of the other missions have encountered various Lords and Ladies too."
Ginny pursed her lips.
"Who do you think we'll get?"
"If we're lucky, nobody. However, considering the way our lucks been going we'll probably get flipping Krayt."
Ginny snorted, and Hermione smiled. A small cluster of trees stood atop a hill, looking down at the little town.
"Up there, do you think?" Ginny asked.
"Only place it could be if its there. Come on."
The two friends headed up the hill, passing old dears away for an afternoon drink in the pub.
"Hermione, we've been at this for three days. Can we go home after this?" Ginny asked.
"I suppose so. Look at this. It's nearly February. Seems only yesterday that Dumbledore died." Hermione said grumpily.
"Things have been moving fast haven't they? It was only last month we were fighting for our lives and I was wiping out an entire species." Ginny said happily.
"Who's winning the count? Me, Harry and Ron are near the middle. The rest are all around us, but you and Lupin are in the lead aren't you?"
Ginny thought about it.
"I'm in the lead. We agreed that there were more Dementors than vampires. But he's a close second."
Hermione grinned.
"That has to be really galling to Ron. Outfought by his little sister."
"And to Harry. He's the Chosen One and the girl he's in love with is beating him."
They laughed, and went into the clump of trees. It was relatively dark under all the foliage. A quick cursory inspection told them what they needed to know.
"Nothing here." Ginny stated.
Hermione shook her head in exasperation.
"There's only one left but that blasted snake, and we can't find it. Where has he hidden it?"
Then, realising something was wrong, she looked around. There was no light coming in from the trees. Above it was pitch black.
"Ginny…"
"Weird. It was sunny a minute ago." Ginny sounded nervous.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, taking out her wand.
"That would be Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. The twin's product I believe."
Hermione and Ginny whirled, to see Lady Lumiya herself approach out of the trees.
"See? Rotten luck." Hermione muttered, and Ginny snorted.
"What do you want Lumiya?" Ginny asked.
"Usually, I would stay for a chat. However, you are far too dangerous to allow for pleasant niceties before a fight. Goodbye."
Her whip was already glowing green, and the two friends barely avoided her wild slash.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione shouted.
"Diffindo!" Ginny screeched.
Lumiya was gone before the spells got anywhere close to her, and she was suddenly behind them, her whip coming straight for them. Hermione turned into a cat and Ginny turned into an owl, avoiding the Dark Lady's slash. Lumiya grunted in frustration, as the two turned back to their usual forms. She then jumped into the air and crashed her foot into Ginny's chin, sending the Weasley girl spinning over herself and into a tree. Lumiya, looking sick with herself, brought the whip down. Until a spell slashed her arm. Turning, Lumiya flicked her whip, trying to take down Hermione. Hermione put up a good defence, but Lumiya could see she was wavering. Then, with another crack of her whip, the tendrils of her weapon got through, and Incendio burnt Hermione's leg, knocking her to the ground.
"An excellent effort. I will make this quick. And, I'm sorry I need to do this." Lumiya said sincerely.
Hermione wasn't listening. A small tornado was brewing inside the forest, and it was getting larger. Hermione was creating it. Lumiya looked at it in fear. Then, suddenly, it enlarged itself, making a massive roar as it did so. Then, Hermione directed it towards Lumiya.
"NO!" Lumiya screeched, as the wind picked her up, and threw her out of the clearing.
Hermione concentrated on the tornado for a few more minutes, then finished it with a gasp.
"Hermione! Did you do that?" Ginny asked.
Hermione looked worried.
"Yes. I did. The thing is, I'm not sure how I did it, or what it means."
Ginny grabbed her friend, and got them out of there.
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Lumiya yelled as she was hurtled through the sky. Then, abruptly, the tornado stopped. She plummeted downward, and then she saw where she was heading. She moaned, and then crashed through the roof of the Riddle House. She thudded to the floor, right in front of Voldemort. He peered over the top of his paper.
"Doors are where you come in through in this realm Lumiya. Not the roof." He said scathingly.
Lumiya told him to do something, made a rude hand gesture, and slumped to the floor in defeat.
