Hey everyone,
So to be honest, this is probably one of the few chapters in GoF – at least this portion – that I am going to not edit all that much or at all. I don't really think that I can add all that much to this upcoming chapter, simply because it's mostly just Voldemort talking, talking and talking some more. I could try to make it sound more interesting, but I think I can do a better job at that through the readers than the text.
All clear? Good,

Venquine1990

Chapter 06
A Book Switching Hands

24th of June 1995
Great Hall, Hogwarts
Sirius' POV

Today is not going the way I had expected. I hadn't expected a vampire of all things to try and attack my precious and powerful godson. I hadn't expected for this encounter to grant him a meeting with one of his two actual Soul Mates. I hadn't expected one of his soul mates to actually be from outer space. I hadn't expected his soul mate to have a whole team of warrior friends. And I hadn't expected some of those friends to not be human.
Still, I loved all of it – or most of it. I loved the little being called Chirithy creating books that will help me learn about my godson's past, present and future. I hadn't loved the fact that he created these to save a young man's life. I had loved the fact that the books proved that Harry would survive the tournament. I hadn't loved the fact that the latter three would also be full of strive and hardships. I had loved the chance to stay close to Harry.

And while I had temporarily seen a furious sense of red when I heard the name Wormtail and almost given into my instinct to, again, hunt that filthy rat down now that I knew his location, the twin shouts had brought me back to my senses. Harry had seen his chance and taken it and his defense of my innocence had been heartwarming. Susan Bones, Amy's niece, had instantly realized the full truth and I had seen my own chance this time.
I had transformed and had expected a lot of shock and fright. The fact that I only got shocked looks had been a pleasant surprise. And just like in the Shack, I had proven my willingness to see my innocence proven and the niece of the best Auror I have ever met – Moody not included – had proven why she was in Hufflepuff. After this I had kept mostly quiet and just kept close to Harry. And Bill scheming his plan had helped a lot.

Yet the notion that, in-book, my young charge is about to face the murderer of his parents one on one has me horribly frightened. At the same time, I still feel that nagging voice telling me to go and get that filthy rat. I shook my head slightly several times over now to get rid of it, yet this doesn't help anything. So instead, I decide to hit two Pixies with a single Stunner. Give myself a distraction and prove my disgust with Voldemort.
"I'll read next, Bill. I've basically dealt with monsters and beasts like that for as long as you have. Like Remus said earlier, I grew up with Walburga Blackfor a mother." And just like before I escaped Azkaban prison, just her name makes me suppress a shiver running down my spine. I know that a lot of teachers are still wary of me, yet they still cringe and wince in compassion. I head over to take the young man's spot and want to start reading.

"Anyone up for another soul-mate match-up?" Bill asks as he leaves the Owl Stand and suddenly Naminé declares that she votes for Ventus and Kairi. And this sudden statement shocks even her own group of friends. A lot of other kids also yelp as the girl has been quiet ever since she arrived and has only really been writing a few notes down here and there throughout the reading. Ventus and Kairi stare at each other for a moment and Ventus is the first to respond as he shrugs. Kairi accepts this as good enough and the two stand up.
This time Professor Sprout is the one to snap her fingers and the two youngsters indeed start to shine a mix of two of the same colors. A beautiful pearly white and a soft golden blonde aura envelops them both and softly flows across their skin and cloths. The two might have been okay with trying the spell, yet they still seem shocked to see the actual evidence of their bond. Yet when they turn from staring at themselves to each other, they smile.
At the same time I notice something else. While Aqua has a loving grin on her face, she seems to be fighting back tears as well. I'm not the only one who notices this as Terra scuttles closer and whispers something comforting in her ear. The young woman, who looks to be somewhere in her early twenties, gives her brunette friend a grateful smile and suddenly I wonder if they should be next. I store this thought away for later and start my chapter.

The Death Eaters

Instantly those three words undo me and I growl: "Okay, forget it. I'm willing to read, but I am not going to do it up on this here Owl Stand. I'm taking this back to my seat. I don't recall any of us declaring that the reader had to be at the Owl Stand to read." A few students snort and snicker at this and others send me unimpressed looks. I ignore the latter and just return to my seat between Harry and Cedric before I read on.

Voldemort looked … and crying.

A First year makes a horrified exclamation as Sirius reads this, as if she feels sorry for the man that just killed a student and resurrected this horrible monster of a man. Yet while I partially agree with her, I only need to look up to see that Axel, Xion and Roxas aren't affected at all as they experienced similar treatment from the Organization. And Harry proves that Voldemort and Xemnas really are alike as he says That's Voldemort before Sirius reads on.

Voldemort turned … shall know…"

A brass-looking student on our table asks what Voldemort is talking about and before Dumbledore or Sirius can explain, Axel opens his mouth. "He's talking about his followers. He's going to call them to him and the book will describe who of his followers will be bold and chose their lives of the past several years over his services and who will fear him enough to join him again." The brass student shudders at Axel's dead tone.
And while Roxas and Xion agree with him, Roxas also twists himself so that he is leaning on the bench with both of his lower legs on either side of Axel. He runs one of his hands through Axel's hair and whispers: "Come back to me." And it's only then that I notice that Axel's eyes aren't their usual bright green, but that they've turned dull. The redhead shakes his head, proving he was lost in thought and the two cuddle as Sirius reads on.

He pressed … stay away?"

"He's got it backwards." Terra growls and a lot of us nod, Harry, Riku, Axel, Roxas, Xion and Remus all having the same look on their faces; that they agree with him due to their own experience. It breaks my heart that my godson has the same look on his face as my closest friend, yet I also feel curious what made these guys from these other worlds so experienced with all this. A young girl shrieks the question of how Terra can say that.
Terra sighs and raises a hand up. To the shock of many whisps and bits of smoke furl, swirl and twist around his hand. Aqua seems the most horrified of all at this, yet Ventus and Sora seem to look as if they expected this. Then Terra fists his hand and the smoke dissipates as he says: "True courage is to look your deepest fear in the face and say no, you walk away. I'm happy the way I am and you're not strong enough to destroy that.

And trust me, I speak from experience. Even Master Xehanort, an old man who was a Keyblade Master since he was just slightly older than all of you and who turned dark when he was around the same age as your Headmaster, was not able to extinguish the light inside my heart with his control over Darkness. All because I had accepted the darkness within my own heart and used it to fight him, even when he possessed my body."
This last bit especially horrifies me and the fact that Riku nods worsens things in my eyes. The young man stands up and says: "After that happened to you, I fell victim to Xehanort's Heartless. Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness. He was just a bodiless spirit, but he was able to persuade me and manipulate me. Even when Sora defeated him, some of his Darkness still lingered within me. But over time, I learned to face that Darkness and make it my own.

It's like I told DiZ after we left Castle Oblivion. I walk the Road to Dawn." The strength of the boy's confidence and pride are clear in his voice, of which the strength itself just astounds me. Then Sora happily and lovingly wraps his arms around Riku from the back and says: "And that's one of the reasons I love you, Riku. You were already amazing, but that darkness of yours is like an allure that draws me in and makes me want more."
Riku seems startled about this, but then he smiles and whispers a word of gratitude and Sora's name. Sora nods and the look on his face proves that he doesn't really see why Riku is so touched by this. I smile at the young brunette as the ease with which he lets people into his heart and the amazing way he cherishes them makes him really special. And the fact that he's best friends with my godson's soul mate has me reading on with a smile.

He began … dear mother.

Here I stop and growl: "I can't read on, not this part. Lily and James are too dear to me and their deaths are still too fresh on my mind. I can't read him insulting them. I know I'll do something rash if I do." Strangely enough, from the corner of my eye I notice Albus looking as if he just lost his chance and trying to hide a grimace over this. Yet I ignore this as a young red-haired girl offers to read in my stead. I give her the book and listen.
But then the girl looks up and says: "He doesn't continue. It was just that one line. The rest seems to be him revealing his actual origins." I growl at this and snarl that this must be because the man feels sure that Harry will die in the book, that my godson will take the secret to his grave. The girl whitens in fright at this notion, but I remind her of the other books that follow this one. The girl sighs and nods in relief and I retake the book.

But they … family returns…"

While I read this last bit, I noticed Chirithy whispering something in the ear of the old man that arrived after the friends of my godson's soul mate did. And now that I finish my sentence, the man stands up and declares: "For those of you who recognize family mentioned in these chapters, I have a message. If, by chance, your family chose to return to Voldemort's side to protect you, I will offer them sanctuary instead.
All they need to do is meet with me sometime either before or after the Third Task. I will discuss living arrangements with them and will prove that I can provide them a location where they can live the lives they have lived this past decade without fearing for what Voldemort will do if they refuse to return to his side. It is noble of your family to wish to side with this man to protect you, but this does not need to be their only option."
A lot of mouths are gaping and even I can barely believe what the man is saying. And thanks to my own personal memories of what I went through against some of these fiends, I can't help but ask about the chance of them having already been criminals. Master Yen Sid seems to contemplate this and says that he will judge each person that approaches him on the value of their heart. I'm not entirely happy with this answer, yet I read on.

The air … eternal loyalty?"

"Because they realized they could live better, happier and obviously healthier lives if they stayed away. Because they decided to be selfish and pick their own futures over his tyrannical rule. Wow, this guy might remind me of Xemnas, but he sure doesn't have the old Nobody's subtlety. At least with Xemnas you were left guessing of what he was planning until the last minute or so." Axel growls, clearly annoyed and I read on.

No one … mortal death?

Instantly Bill is on high alert and growls three words. I knew it. His mother asks how he could have and Bill sighs. And while he was only eleven when I last saw him in '81, the man looks closer to my own age as he sighs and growls: "Because in the almost seven years that I've worked for Gringotts in Egypt, I've dealt with a total of 156 of these low-lives. People who think that, just because the magic exists, they can evade death.
I've dealt with idiots who were teenagers and came across the intel in their family library and then performed the magic on a drunken dare of one of their friends and with disgusting creeps who had already lived for two to four-hundred years. I even dealt with someone who had let others kill him and then forced his wife – or better said wives – to resurrect him. And he had already done that a total of 3 dozen times. Don't ask." I don't as I just read on.

They, who … ignored them.
He also ignored Harry who bit back a snort at the notion that even Voldemort had been fooled by Dumbledore's persona. Or perhaps Voldemort was using Dumbledore's persona to turn these people away from the Light. That did sound more like Voldemort than him being fooled by trickery.

"Mr. Potter, what exactly do you mean by that?" Minerva angrily almost accuses my godson. Harry ignores her for a moment as he stares at Chirithy. The little floating kitten like plush nods and Harry replies: "Just that, according to Chirithy and Lady Destiny, I was led down the Path of Darkened Light by someone else, Professor. And while it pains me, I apparently followed their lead and did the same with this world."
The woman looks utterly horrified by this and I also notice Dumbledore having a lot of trouble trying to suppress how angry Harry's words make him. Yet thanks to what I now know of my incarceration I find myself agreeing with the boy, who seems to suddenly have an epiphany. "And thanks to fame I never wanted, it will even be easy for me to do so later on, apparently." Harry loftily ends and a lot of students gape at him as I read on.

"It is … not, Wormtail?"

I really shouldn't and yet I can't help myself. A strong sense of sick pleasure overcomes me as I feel vindicated over the fact that people who once vouched for these murderous beasts are now getting to see the fruits of their labors be revealed before their eyes. Yet because of how weird he's been behaving, I don't feel at all bad about the fact that this includes Dumbledore. The man seems to have regained his calm as I read.

He looked … don't you?"

"So this guy gets some kind of weird, sick and twisted kick out of physically hurting others whereas Xemnas and Xehanort used to manipulate both their allies and their enemies. Different, yet the same." Sora mumbles and when Riku growls that both should be taken down, a lot of those around us nod. Bill gleefully reminds us that he's got a plan to do just that and almost the entire hall beams at him in pride as I continue to read.

"Yes, Master," … said Voldemort.

Axel deadpans that the hand is cursed and a lot of people nod. Remus growls that Voldemort expects Pettigrew to betray him and I growl: "Of course he does. That filthy little rat betrayed 11 solid years of friendship with four people who were actually able to resist him. Of course he expects that rat to betray him the second we prove to have the upper hand. It's the way that rat works." Remus growls again and I sigh as I read.

"No, my … your master?"

This time I just can't help the sadistic smirk that I know adorns my face. I hear Fudge and a few others gasp in disbelief. Yet someone else, a young girl, shouts the word Finally at the top of her lungs. Instantly the younger Malfoy wants to aim his wand at her, but Harry steps in: "Sit down, Malfoy. Sit down and see just what your father is really like, when his mask is down." The blonde glares furiously, but he complies and I read on.

"My Lord … prevented me –"
Harry instantly knew that the slippery man was lying. Only two years ago Dumbledore had claimed to know that Voldemort was hiding in Albania and if he knew that, any Death Eater worth their mark would know too. And while it sickened Harry, Voldemort proved that they were on the same wavelength of thought and mind.

Bill interrupts me in shock and asks Dumbledore a set of questions I hadn't even thought about. "Headmaster, if that's true then, why didn't you contact Charlie? The Romanian Reserve have dragons that can control where they aim their fiery breath. The Dragon Riders could have burned his hiding place to shreds. And if you add the right Curse Breakers, they could have made sure that the fire would destroy his path to immortality.
This whole book – and even the ones that followed it – could have been prevented. If you knew where he was hiding, why keep that information to yourself? Why only share it with those who can't do anything with it?" Dumbledore seems to actually hesitate with his answer before he says that this is not the time and place for this discussion. The fact that the man can't come up with an acceptable excuse concerns me and I read.

"And yet … thank you…"
Harry idly wondered how "merciful" Voldemort would be once he found out what Malfoy had done with his diary two years ago. Though at the same time, after watching Pettigrew and Avery suffer his wrath, Harry preferred not to find out personally. Right now, all he wanted was to get to Cedric and get out of the graveyard.

A Snake snorts and asks if the Darkest, most dangerous and lethal Dark wizard of all times really owned a diary. Personally I don't really see the problem, though a twist forms in my stomach at the fact that I started keeping one myself after I finally escaped my mother's clutches over Christmas in my Sixth. Yet then something happens that, even with me knowing that Sora and the others are from another world, I really hadn't expected.
A small cricket with a fancy suit and a bit of an English accent jumps out of Sora's hood and declares that having a journal is more useful than you might think, young man. The student in question gapes at the sight of the cricket and Sora holds up a strange metallic device as he says: "Yeah, we all have Jiminy's journal stored on our Gummi Phones. And Jiminy has been writing down most of our adventures for the past two years."

A lot of stares are aimed at the weird metallic device, yet then Hermione asks Sora if he'd mind her turning the device on. "It's because of what Harry revealed about electricity and magic actually being able to work together. I know he found out through his Walkman, but I want to see for myself." Sora nods and smiles widely as he asks if we want to take a photo as a group. Instantly I have Harry pulled up besides me and I am grinning widely.
Sora reacts quickly and aims the back of the device my way. I really don't know what to expect, so I just keep grinning and from the corner of my eye, I notice Harry sending a big grin my way as well. Then a sound comes from the device and Sora compliments us. He hands me the device and my grin widens when I see the picture on the weird little screen. And the way that Harry smiles at me in the picture makes it even better.
I'm sure others also want to take pictures and I'm quite sure a few students might even want to take the device for themselves so that they can take their own pictures. But while Mickey promises that, after the reading, he'll get in contact with the makers of the Gummi Phones, I remember that we still need to keep reading. And while I deeply enjoy these random moments where people try to distract themselves, I focus back on the book.

Voldemort moved … all fear…"

Bill speaks up and mentions that that is exactly the problem. Everyone turns to him and says: "The first emotion that most British feel when they even hear the term Werewolf, Vampire or even Elf, is fear. But with most other countries, at least 30% in just the European Continent and even more-so in Africa, Asia and North America, the first emotion felt is respect. Because of this, Voldemort is able to thrive here, but not there.
There werewolves aren't feared, but their strength is used for powerful jobs and even sports. They follow strict regimens and large chunks of woodland and forest lands are privatized for their use on the full-moon. They're no harm to civilians, because they have a place to let their inner wolf out to play without risking or endangering anyone. Same with Vampires, outside of the few rogues like that bastard that attacked Harry.

But that's exactly the problem. Hundreds are being punished for the sins of four or five. I did a calculation when I was in my second year of working for Gringotts and out of the almost 700 werewolves that live in Europe – only 20 actually joined Voldemort. And as vicious as Greyback is, he wasn't able to get even a foothold with any of his other brethren, because they already lived perfectly acceptable lives."
The whole time the younger adult speaks, I can't help myself, I stare at Remus and gauge his reaction. Naturally, the man seems utterly flabbergasted and in awe over this news, proving he's never set a foot outside the English borders. This, again, makes me wonder where the man had been while Harry was raised with Muggles, but I decide to ask that question another time. Fudge asks Bill if he still has this report. Bill nods to confirm and I read on.

Yet before I do, I look up at Bill and ask: "But you can still agree that his plans to break nutcases like my bloody cousin out of prison need to be stopped, right? That that crazy hag just doesn't deserve even the freedom of the Azkaban court in the center of the castle?" Bill nods and states that that's another reason he's determined to see his plan through; to foil any plans Voldemort might try to have if he were to return. I nod and read.

He walked … murmured Macnair.

Fudge now looks positively horrified and mumbles how he worked together with the man just a year ago now. A few of those seated at the table with him wince and send him looks of sympathy. Harry seems to have another epiphany and says: "Minister, you might want to reevaluate that case. Either that or wait until we get to the Third Book. I think you'll find that there's a side to that story that you don't know." I grin and read as Fudge consents to this.

"And here" … said Voldemort.
Harry didn't know whether to grin or be sick. Voldemort sounded as if he was pleased with Nott's declaration, but his eyes proved his disgust and annoyance. Obviously, the monster just wanted to gloat, he didn't feel like sharing the spotlight with those he considered beneath him.
Harry didn't know "how" he knew, but he was sure of one thing. Voldemort was putting up a performance and he wanted to continue playing. If not for that, Nott would have followed in Avery's earlier example and would have been screaming and twitching in pain on the ground.

"And again this guy reminds me of Xehanort, Ansem and Xemnas. Not surprising considering they're all, basically, one and the same person, but still. Are we sure this guy isn't just another piece of Xehanort?" Roxas asks angrily and Chirithy nods as he says Positive, unfortunately. And his next words are horrifying as he says that Voldemort existed before Xehanort found out he could split heart from body. I feel repulsed as I read.

He had … my service."

I'm sure I can guess at least one of the three mentioned at the start and voice this. Mrs. Weasley asks me about this and I answer: "It's the way he says it. Dead in my service. That doesn't mean they died for his cause, it means that he killed them because they were no longer of use to his cause. And I'm sure that one of them – is my little brother, Regulus." The woman gasps and several others join her in this before I read on, a grimace on my face.

The Death … here tonight…

Instantly my stomach plummets through the stone floor beneath me and I turn to Harry. Not just in an effort to remind myself that my godson is right here with me and not really, actually, with that maniac, but also to ask him if he's going to use his full arsenal. Harry shakes his head and says: "I'm pretty sure I decided against that the minute Malfoy spoke up. I'm just surprised it didn't get mentioned." I grimace at the answer and read on.

"Yes," said … to us…"

My eyes widen and my eyebrows disappear into my hairline as I whisper: "That sneaky little snake. He – he's lying through his teeth. He doesn't consider Voldemort's return a miracle. He wanted to use some other word. His bloody self-preservation skills are keeping him from actually speaking his mind." I notice Master Yen Sid nodding and he says that he will speak with Lucius as soon as possible before I continue reading.
Yet then Malfoy jumps up and shouts that his father is not a traitor to the cause of the Dark Lord. Yet to this Aqua stands up and coldly asks him: "Would you rather he be a traitor to a murderer or a traitor to your health, young man? Or did it not occur to you that your father might be lying to this monster – to spare you and your mother this monster's wrath?" I look from her to Snape and notice him silently agreeing with her as I read on.

"Ah, what … Death Eaters.

I read this section through gritted teeth, with my nails digging into the cover of the book and my eyes trying not to tear up with tears of rage, disgust and pain over what my godson is going through in the book. I quickly turn to Bill and the man gives me a solemn nod. He will get whatever is in Harry's scar out of him so that this can be prevented. And I don't need to look at Lea, Sora or the others to know that they feel the same.

"I miscalculated … done it.

"One or more, that sick, twisted moron." Bill whispers, almost so quietly I have trouble hearing him. Yet every eye still turns to him and to the shock of many, a cynical grin actually forms on his face. "You know, if not for the fact that he got my uncles killed, I would have felt sorry for him. He has no idea what he did to himself. He thinks his experiments made him stronger, but the opposite is true. How fortunate – for us." I grin at the end and read.

Nevertheless, I … in vain…"

"Another mistake of his. If he had just given up on that need to exist, he would have entered limbo. There he would have been judged and – well, depending on how many of these experiments he made, he might have been offered the chance of reincarnation. Total rebirth as a child, an infant, with most of his memories blocked until he was the proper age. And for those of you curious, it's how Gringotts' Soul Hunter Section was founded.
The Founder of this section actually performed the ritual for these experiments, got almost killed, attempted the same thing, but then gave up and entered limbo. He was reborn and once he had his memories back, he wrote down everything. Though these days, those journals are only available to Curse Breakers, sorry." A lot of students pout, moan and whine about this, yet I only feel intrigued before I read on.

The shiver … Harry Potter…"

"I BEG YOUR PARDON!" I scream at the top of my lungs alongside Fudge, Bagman, Remus, Bill and Mrs. Weasley. "VOLDEMORT WAS INSIDE THIS VERY CASTLE, UNDER YOUR DAMNED CROOKED NOSE AND YOU DIDN'T INFORM ANYONE? WHAT WERE –?" But then my ailing health catches up with me and I start to cough violently. Instantly Harry is upon me with a glass of water.
A few others also have glasses of water ready for me and while I'm grateful for this, Harry's glass is enough to alleviate the pain in my soar throat. At the same time it doesn't seem as if the others think that I have properly voiced their own furious rage. But before any of them can start, Harry interjects and states: "You want to get a reason to get mad at him? Then let's read the First book after this one. That will reveal all."
The group that is still glaring at Dumbledore with such ferocity I'm surprised he hasn't combusted or died yet seem reluctant to accept this. Yet then Chirithy reminds them that, while we're reading, no one here who is guilty will be able to escape their justified punishment. Dumbledore grimaces at this, even though he looked relieved when Harry spoke. At the same time I hand the book back over to Ginny and the girl startles all as she reads.

Silence once … of me…"

"Why should they? He treats them worse than garbage and makes it sound as if their only goal in life is to obey him. He cares nothing for them and uses fear to dominate their own strong wills. And he obviously enjoys playing with them, proving that he doesn't even respect their human rights or anything of the sort. They really are better off without him." Xion argues, her voice utterly cold and void of emotion before Ginny reads on.

One or … his master.

Again the name Wormtail is spoken and again I see red. I grunt and try to fight it and Harry's presence helps a lot in this. But then Harry notices this and turns his head as he says: "Bill, you need to check on Sirius. Something's wrong with him. He keeps grunting every time that traitor's name comes up." Bill instantly moves over and yet Harry moves away as he approaches. I pull my arm loose from his form and grip the bench instead.
Bill calls my name and I growl as I tell him that just hearing that name makes me want to make the same mistake I made all those years ago, that Harry's presence is the only reason I haven't done so yet. Harry whitens and Bill instantly starts to wave, weave and twist his wand across my form. For a split second I notice his eyes hide a glimmer of shock before he says: "You're cursed, Sirius, but I can't determine the caster.

Still, doesn't mean I can't get rid of this little spell. It's placement is quite genius, I'll give the caster that, but the spellwork itself almost seems sloppy. It's as if the guy was either in a hurry to get this spell on you or as if it was his first time casting a spell of this sort. I can't really determine that either." I shrug and just request that he gets it off of me. Bill nods and asks me to pull up my robe. I feel confused, but I comply.
And to my shock Bill pulls an actual birthmark off of my side, one that I recognize not to be a birthmark, but a spot of dirt that had plastered itself against my skin like a birthmark. "Shame, the transfigurations that turn this mud into the birthmark keep me from determining the caster, but – at least this damned spell is out of your system, Sirius." I nod gratefully, yet also to convey that I got his hidden message. Ginny didn't as she reads.

He sought … possessed them…

Bill has returned to his seat and he shakes his head in disbelief at this before he says that Voldemort really is digging his own grave more and more. He grumbles how increasing one's life span or decreasing that of another doesn't get you any favors with Death. And when he's asked how he knows this, the lad grins cheekily and says: "You'd be surprised what you learn when you learn the origin behind the tale – of the Three Brothers."
A lot of students look at him astounded and Bill nods as he says: "Yeah, I always thought it nothing but a kid's tale myself. Turns out, I was wrong. The whole story has been slightly altered and – at least at the start – been made more kid-friendly. In truth, the bridge collapsed and Death met them in Limbo. There are also a few details about the three brothers and their confrontations with death that aren't entirely truthful, but – I'll leave that for later.
Let's just say that the intelligence and resourcefulness of the youngest brother is incredibly downplayed in the story. Oh, and for those of you curious, the original brothers actually wrote whole manuscripts. Certain bits of those scripts are, just like the reports of the Founder of Soul Hunters, available to the Curse Breakers, though most have been lost to time." Mostly the Ravenclaws grimace at this and Ginny reads.

"But his … of Magic.

Several adults at the Head Table whiten, yet I ignore them. I focus on Remus, who I know had a bit of a crush on Bertha until she started idolizing people like Rita Skeeter. The man looks saddened, but the look on his face also proves that he already knew. Instantly I feel curious as to whether or not Dumbledore might have informed him. At the same time, for some reason, I worry for how he got told before Ginny reads on.

"Now see … from him –

Ginny halts and then declares three words. That's a lie. Everyone looks at her and she says: "He proved it himself earlier. With the silver hand. He knows that Wormtail (the girl falters and looks at me, yet I feel nothing and I just smile at her) will use every resource available to him to survive. He knows that the man has no loyalty whatsoever other than to himself. He's insulting him in order to keep him submissive."
Someone at another table asks how she could possibly know this. Ginny shrugs and answers that, when you grow up with six very different older brothers, you learn to distinguish truth from lie and fake from real. A lot of students laugh when she mentions her twin brothers and agree, but I'm not fooled. The girl has another source that helped her learn this. The tone of her voice as she spoke and as she reads confirms this.

Convinced Bertha … of information.

To my shocked disgust someone at the Gryffindor Table jumps up and wants to declare poor Bertha a traitor. But the girl next to him jumps up and shouts: "ARE YOU INSANE OR SOMETHING? For merlin's sake, use your damned brain, Peterdows! Do you really think a monster like this used something like Veritaserum or that Jorkins didn't try and resist him?" The kid from before winces and Ginny grimaces as she reads.

"She told … of her."

The kid that had almost made his accusations now whitens even more. And while some of those in the Great Hall follow his example, others turn green. Sora turns to Chirithy as he sees this and says: "Chirithy, I think you need to alter the spell on the book. I think it might be better if some students don't hear this, but that they get told an abbreviated version afterwards, by friends." Chirithy – and a lot of students – nod as Ginny reads.

Voldemort smiled … old strength.

I remember Bill's words about the mistakes made during the ritual while a frightful first year asks the staff if Voldemort really looked this way back then. I feel quite impressed with the small sport as she looks like the youngest and most timid of those she's sitting with, yet she still said the name. Dumbledore sighs and says: "I admit that the resemblance is uncanny to what I remember, but – no, not quite, Miss Traits." Traits sighs and Ginny reads.

"I knew … veins too…

Suddenly I notice that Bill is staring at Harry quite intensely. The others notice the same and Bill shocks us all as he mutters that – Voldemort is wrong. "Blood protection of the kind that he describes leaves a certain magical trace. But I can't detect this. Still, I get the strange feeling that – he's not entirely wrong. The protection is linked to your blood somehow, just – not like that." The man seems unable to continue and so Ginny does instead.

"But how … take him?

I want to draw comfort and reassurance out of Voldemort voicing his quandary, but I can't. For one, because we are able to hear about his quandary due to Book-Harry being in his grasp. But also because Harry rolls his eyes and says: "He managed to lure me to him not once, but twice and both times were inside Hogwarts. This is just the first time we met outside the castle. Doubt it'll be the last though." His words horrify me as Ginny reads.

"Why… by … wand. "Crucio!"

Instantly Ginny drops the book and the sound of the large bundle of paper hitting the wood of the table breaks me out of my horrified stupor. In my whole life I've been under my mother's Cruciatus four times and under Voldemort's own Cruciatus once. While under the latter, I actually mentally begged to have been under the former, so the notion that my godson is going through this tears at my heart and tears it into a million pieces.
"No way, no chance, nuh-uh, nope! I am not reading that! You can't make me." The girl tries to sound brave and deviant, but anyone who looks at her sees the truth; the defiance is her way to mask the horror that she is feeling, it's her way to keep herself from succumbing to her fear. What intrigues me is that no Snake seems willing to read either. Then, not to my surprise, Karkaroff sighs, summons the book and he reads.

It was … his wand."

Karkaroff's voice had sounded off-handed and distant for only the first two words. Afterwards, even the former Death Eater had been unable to mask the pain and anguish he felt from his voice as the description must have reminded him of the pain he had been under all those years ago. And to my own personal surprise and the shock of many Snakes, Karkaroff had sounded disdainful and disgusted when quoting his former master.
Yet apparently his time reading the chapter is cut short as the man lies the book down after he reads of Voldemort ordering Wormtail to release my godson and give him back his wand. Many faces light up with relief at this and others even sigh or mutter words of relief. But while I remind myself of the fact that there are still books after this one, I don't join in this. Simply because Harry's confession rings in my ears and I continue to fear for him.

Just a little more, Sirius,
Okay, you guys tell me if I'm making William too OP. To be honest, I just want to have one character stand out every book and Bill just seemed like the right guy. Also, I'm thinking of something that – if you guys agree on it, will make me adapt the previous chapter a bit. Should I have Book-Harry – insert the Basilisk venom into the potion instead of his own blood. Trust me, I have plans for this.
Let me know,

Venquine1990
Wordcount: 7050 words