AUTHOR'S NOTE: notsing and so ends the last bit of the stuff with George as far as this ordeal is concerned. *will delete message once you read it*
Somehow, leaving the battle was actually more strenuous than having fought it. Partially, it was due to having to carry two petrified people through apparation, but the largest part was how fatigued the wizards had become and knowing that more vampires were certainly on the way. When everyone had relaxed enough to think upon the events, it had appeared strange that a single vampire had ventured out alone. Brad, not being allergic to sunlight, made sense to have shown by himself, but why would the superior creature have done so?
Perhaps they would soon find out, as the curses were being healed now that both men were properly restrained. Sometimes it was easy to forget that those under the petrifying spell remained conscious and aware, since they were completely paralyzed. Upon remembering, it always made handling them much more awkward. Nonetheless, proper cells had been constructed to contain each of the being's individual powers. That being said, both prisons were exceedingly similar. They were honestly exactly the same except for one minor detail.
The vampire and the demon had limitless brawn though Gerald had to shift to his second form to achieve that strength. So the cells needed to be durable enough to withstand any pressure they could put to it. This was the simplest part, really. Fortified steel bars lined with sharp spikes did the trick nicely while the in-betweens were charmed with shields to defend against such might as well as any energetic beam Gerald might produce. Keeping the cages small further aided in making it difficult for him to become the demon.
The difference between the two was that while the vampire was free to move about within his square, Gerald's hands were bound behind his back so tightly that he was incapable of even twitching them. The chain was then attached through to the underside of the bricks comprising the floor. It had to be entirely uncomfortable and it may not have been necessary with the shields layering the walls themselves, but the Ministry was not taking chances with his wandless abilities.
The aurors and their family had spent the time at the burrow sitting in the company of the Minister and relaying the events to him. Shackelbolt was, by most accounts, a stoic man, but he seemed greatly relieved to know that the case had almost reached its end. The dark wizard was in custody as well another whose capture might lend aid in ceasing any further attack from the vampires and their ilk.
"I have to admit," Harry started, "I am curious as to what Gerald was talking about."
"He was probably just trying to get under your skin, mate," Ron insisted, "Besides," he laughed, "He's got to be awake at this point and I'm betting he'd chat with you now."
"Hm," the Minister hummed, "With freedom being so important to him, he might, but I don't want anyone speaking with him or the vampire for another day. Let both of them stew and give yourselves time to rest."
"Fair enough," the lead auror nodded.
"Well," Shackelbolt rose to stand, "This should please the Malfoys and the public which should do with diminishing your stress," he ginned, looking over to the twin, "And George is amongst loved ones again."
The room smiled as Molly leaned to the side, ignoring the burning wound on her shoulder, and rubbed her son's back. He gave a sort of smirk to show slight embarrassment at the attention. Upon returning, revelio charms were performed in addition to a quick physical inspection to be certain he was free of bites. It was, without doubt, their beloved George and he appeared to have not been harmed. It also felt as if he was a bit less depressed than he had been before this adventure.
After the Minister had departed, Arthur put his gaze on his found son, "We're glad to have you here again."
"I'm glad as well," the twin's reply was sincere yet he also seemed preoccupied as he looked back down at his lap.
"Is there something on your mind, George?" Hermione approached carefully.
George took in a deep breath...and exhaled slowly, "I just wanted to thank all of you," his face was up again, "I know you've meant well," he smiled, "So you deserve to know...to hear what Gerald meant about me...from me."
The room grew solemn. It was on all of their minds, but none of them wanted to push their depressed brother and son. The entirety of recent events had left them questioning how was best to treat him- what should be done for him. Now they were sure that letting the twin get whatever he was thinking off his chest quickly, and talk to them as he felt he needed, was what was best.
Another inhale, "I asked them to take me...more or less," he said, eyes darting from one person to the next as he awaited their judgement. "I mean, when I was in the field, checking the traps...a vampire almost killed me and I screamed. I screamed Fred's name. I don't know why...but he stopped and stared at me...and in that hesitation, I just blurted, 'All I want is to see my brother again."
George paused. It was clear it was stressing him to tell the story in the first place and the recollection of the instant he cried to his enemy, a new tear fell. He tore his vision away from his family and sniffed. After a moment, he continued, "I had been thinking about it pretty much since I first heard you talking about Gerald and his magic," the twin looked at Harry. "It's stupid, I know, but I just couldn't help to wonder if he could...if necromancy was real, then..."
It had been an idea the others had already flirted with upon witnessing George's reactions to the topic of the dark wizard. It had been eventually abandoned, Ron being the first to dismiss the possibility that his brother would search for such a way to bring Fred back. Something about the realization that the twin had contemplated it so deeply was alarming. Even knowing that he now saw his own error in judgement.
"I was surprised when, instead of slicing my throat as the vampire had started to, he asked me what happened to my brother," George shook his head, "It was so odd. Two more of them had halted around me as well. I didn't understand why they cared. I guess they really didn't," he shrugged, "But I told him Fred had died and it was like he read my mind. 'You're looking for Gerald,' the vampire said. I could only nod... The next thing I knew, I was bound and being carried away."
There was a short silence. George slowly scanned the other sets of eyes in the room as they studied him as well. Harry couldn't tell if the twin fully saw that they didn't think he was terrible for what happened. Although, he had displayed a moment of weakness that could have ended his life, he had done nothing wrong. What happened with his kidnapping and the imposter that took his place had not been his fault. From the way he told it, his outcry may have actually saved his life. The rest of their curiosity had already been answered.
While the Minister was still around and George was being inspected, Shackelbolt had inquired as to what had happened during his stay with the vampires. The twin stopped to think about it before sharing that nothing had really occurred. He had not been bitten and he had not been talked to. He said he had been kept in a room, not a cell though it had next to no furniture and there were no windows. There was a tiny bathroom, a mattress, and four walls. Apparently one night as he slept, someone came in and left a thick blanket atop him. Outside of that, the only contact was an occasional entry for hairs to be plucked from his head, presumably for the polyjuice potion. Sometimes, he said, he was sure the person was a vampire and sometimes he couldn't tell, but they always remained silent.
"Did you ever speak to Gerald?" Ginny asked softly.
"No," her brother replied, "Not until today."
"Was he the one that freed you?" Harry wondered.
George nodded, "I don't think he knew I was there at first. Earlier...I didn't have anything to do, hadn't come up with any plans for escape...so I was sleeping. I jolted awake with the feeling of someone grabbing me. It was him. He had his hand over my mouth," the twin's brow furrowed as if reliving the experience, "I jumped at him. I didn't even think about not having my wand...and he pushed back against me, conjuring a gag in my mouth.
"Stay quiet and come with me if you want out of here," Gerald whispered.
George couldn't obey. He didn't understand what was going on, what the dark wizard wanted...or if he still wanted something from the white-haired man himself. Instead, the redhead leapt for Gerald again, ignoring the cloth tied between his jaws, knowing that he should act upon his enemy before worrying with speech. But he was too slow to do any good.
The dark wizard immediately cast 'expuslo' to push the other man away, and then 'incarcerous' to wrap his hands. This time, it was Gerald who didn't waste his time talking. He simply circled around the younger wizard, taking hold of the rope hanging from his wrists. He pulled at the cuff and led the boy from the room, carefully looking each way and peering around corners as they went.
At that point, George didn't bother with fighting. He was fully aware it would do no good and whatever the dark wizard was up to...it appeared he was helping him. The building they traveled through looked like an empty mansion wing. There was hardly any furniture and nearly every step or other small movement caused an echo. Yet still, they went unnoticed.
The last stretch was different. It appeared very much lived in and George could hear a couple of voices coming from behind a nearby door that was cracked slightly open. Gerald stopped then, eyes on the door, breathing deeply in and out. When a burst of laughter sounded from the room, the dark wizard tugged at the twin again, scurrying for another, larger door that took them outside.
The twin saw that they were in the mountains, but couldn't tell if it was nearing the evening or just overcast. Gerald spun around quickly once they had taken several giant paces away from the building behind. George tried to turn and take in the structure they had left. However, the dark wizard was already facing him and had clutched tightly onto his wrist. The next instant, they disapparated, reappearing in a similar landscape except there were no homes or people nearby.
It was then that Gerald stepped away from his unwilling companion and lifted his hands to do away with the ropes and the gag, "Get on out of here," he commanded.
George, catching his breath, turned to see the white-haired wizard again and deciding to go forward with his old thoughts, "You can speak to the dead? The ones we can't see?" the twin accused more than inquired, "You can bring them back?"
Gerald's vision thinned. It was obvious he wasn't amused with the twin's rambling.
"Help me see my brother again," George asked, "Please."
"No," the dark wizard stated plainly.
"Huh?" the redhead took back, "Wh-why not?!" he growled.
"Go on home," Gerald ignored the question, "You have no idea what the fuck you are asking."
George looked down at his lap again, allowing a few silent moments to pass before raising his head and resting sights on his family. The others gazed back, each contemplating what to say and also making sure the man was done talking for the time being. None of them blamed him. None wanted anything other than to comfort him and have him understand that nothing had changed.
Truly, the only thing about the story they pondered was Gerald's actions. It couldn't be coincidental that within the same day that Alan broke free from vampiric control and directly after him doing so, Gerald had freed George. But why?
You can't betray them like that.
Brad had warned against defying the vampires...had then acted to stop Gerald... The aurors were clueless as to what they wanted with the necromancer. However, they did know that Gerald had been resistant to helping them from the beginning. It took Brad's choosing the vampires' side and the threat of danger to Oliver as well as Gerald's own capture for him to finally agree. Surely, in his brain, he was betraying nobody as he had been coerced into allying with the creatures.
Still...that didn't answer the question. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' didn't exactly fit Gerald's way of thinking either, especially since technically speaking George was his enemy as well, for being on the side of the aurors. If anything, Gerald would have ignored the twin's captivity and left it up to those involved instead of interjecting himself and risking his own hide and interests for the safety of an innocent party. But then, perhaps he felt saving the twin would put himself in better favor with the Ministry.
Harry sighed. How come every time they figured the wizard out, it came right around to doubting his intentions again? and in the same ways? The only thing they really had to go on was his confession to Oliver regarding Lucius' death and those of several others who had thus far gone unnamed. Now that the dark wizard was in a position where he absolutely had to talk because inaction would mean surrender to likely indefinite imprisonment, the auror wondered if he would deny his crimes or just try to excuse them.
"We've all lost people who were dear to us," Harry shuffled his other thoughts away and focused on the twin, "And gone through some horrible things... Even so, none of us can comprehend your exact pain."
"It's true..." Hermione chimed in with a logical approach, "Everyone's experience is different even if it's similar."
"But the important thing is that we understand you're hurt and we're all here for you," Arthur smiled.
And George, weary as he was...let a grin slowly crawl onto his face. He then said something that assured everyone he would, at some point, be okay again. "You guys are a bunch of saps. Should I bring some gigglewater to lighten you up?"
