Author Note: Well the excrement has hit the flames in this chapter. It starts out nice and happy then ends in pain and fire. Tune in next time for the fallout.
===xxx===xx
Dinner at Grimmould was a lively affair. Remus had made Bagna Cauda along with fresh bread. Sirius and he talking about the things that had gone on over the last week, about the upcoming World Cup.
"Hermione and I will be going on a trip with Dumbledore tomorrow about noon." Harry told his family.
"Ah. Another one of those things?"
"Possibly. We don't know for sure." Hermione explained.
"Lovely. What about you Luna? What are you going to be doing?"
"Father and I will be going to Spain. The Crumple Horned Snorkack is a relative of the American Jackalope so we will be shifting our search from the snowy mountain area to the more arid plateaus and plains. The nearest area like that would be in Spain." Luna explained.
"Well watch out for the rain, I hear it falls mainly in the plain." Sirius said trying to keep a straight face. Hermione and Remus both rolled their eyes and threw pieces of bread at him. Harry though looked blankly at them.
"My Fair Lady. The musical?" Hermione tried to explain.
"Sorry the Dursleys were not very cultural. Petunia thought Eastenders was highbrow."
"Oh dear lord." Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry Harry."
The ensuing discussion on the merits of the west end play versus the movie versus the original play Pygmalion took up the rest of the evening with Xeno joining in when he arrived.
Once they had finished chewing on that they moved over to the upcoming World Cup. Sirius was excited as this was the first he had seen since the seventies. Harry was just excited to go see one at all. Hermione was ambivalent but happy for Harry to be going with his godfather so was going with them. The Weasleys had been invited by Sirius but Arthur had a friend from work give him some tickets.
"So we are going to have a full house in our tent. I mean we might be able to squeeze Luna in if you really want since she's small enough." Sirius said with a wink, "But no one else."
"Thank you, but father and I will be spending the summer doing other things." Luna said politely.
"Yes we have a great deal of travel and exploration planned out. The Crumple horned snorckack will not be found by not looking." Xeno agreed.
"Oh. Okay. Well then we'll be sorry to not have you along but have fun on your trip." Sirius offered.
"We shall have more fun than you will." Luna sadly stated.
"Right okay." Sirius said cautiously.
"So who will be with us?" Harry asked to change the subject, even as a strange shiver went down his spine with the way Luna was acting.
"Well Dora will be coming. She's a big Quidditch fan and as an Auror you have a security escort built in. Especially as she can pretend to be anyone." Sirius wiggled his eyebrows.
Hermione sighed at his obvious display of salaciousness.
"Who else?"
"The Weasleys Arthur, Ron, Ginny and the Twins. Remus sadly won't be coming but we did find someone else who will be. She was a friend of your mothers but ran away from the wizarding world back then. She ran all the way to America, but she heard of what has been going on and your rising fame, so she made contact. Her name was Harriet Ambrose but she married and goes by Harriet Parker now."
"One of mum's friends?"
"Yes, one of the few muggle-borns or muggles she associated with that lived. He rather took special pleasure in hunting her friends down and killing them. The only reason your aunt survived was because he found out where your parents were hiding first."
"Why would he do that?"
"He was hoping to draw them out, Harry. Your mother was so kind and she was hurt by the deaths of her friends. Being unable to do anything about it because of the prophecy she almost went mad with grief. Especially when the McKinnons were killed. She was close to Marlene." Remus sighed sadly.
"Yeah, I think she got along more like a sister with Marlene than she did Tuny."
"Tuny?" Harry chuckled.
"Yeah a little pet name for your aunt I was never allowed to use around your mum. For all their disagreements she still loved her sister." Sirius was letting the melancholy show.
Xeno stood up. "Well it is getting late and Luna and I should go home and retire as we will be leaving for Spain in the morning."
"Say hello to the Spanish ladies for me." Sirius grinned.
Xeno raised his eyebrow spockishly, "I shall endeavor to do so."
Luna hugged her friends then flooed home with her father.
"Well we should probably go to bed as well since we have tomorrow to deal with."
"Yes we should research and practice a few spells in the morning." Hermione declared.
"Always with the research." Sirius said picking up the brandy and heading for the lounge.
"Well good night Sirius."
"Good night Harry, Hermione."
===xxx===xx
"Are you certain you do not wish to go with your friends to the World Cup?"
"Yes father. If I go they will be distracted trying to protect me and more people will die than should." Luna said in a wavery voice, trying not to cry it sounded like.
"You are worried about your lovers." He stated as he held her hand sitting in their lounge.
"They are not my lovers. Neither of them are even sexually aroused by me. When I was naked in front of Harry he was more interested in Bridget than myself. As was Hermione."
"Well Bridget does have a rather nice bottom if I recall." He said with a smile.
"Yes father she does and Harry would have loved to explore it. Hermione would have helped as a result of their unbreakable bond they are finding some of their interests merging."
"Not unexpected. That is one of the points and reasons the bond was created in the first place. To permit those who were bonded to gain a greater understanding and comprehension of their bondmate."
"I know father. There is no power in the mortal realm able to separate a bonded pair."
"Exactly so do not worry. You are still young and have several years to grow and develop. Your mother was a beautiful woman. I am certain you will favor her appearance far more than myself fortunately." He said gently.
"I know father. You miss her greatly."
"Yes but I will see her again soon enough. All that is lost can be found, all that is parted can be reunited." Xeno sighed looking into the distance.
"Reunited in the place where no shadows may fall." Luna quoted.
"Yes my little Moonbeam. Now good night we will have a lot to do this summer."
"Goodnight father. We do have a lot to prepare for."
"Yes we do, so how will this end Moonbeam?"
"In Fire." She said pausing on the stairs with a shuddering sigh.
===xxx===xx
Harry and Hermione enjoyed a nice morning. Sex then breakfast then off to the library to do some extra research. By lunch they had figured out a few spells and some information they might be able to us. Dumbledore arrived and joined them for a good meal prepared by Sirius. Remus had gone to a job he was working right now.
"Ahh Sirius I see your culinary exploits are still excellent." Albus said sitting down to the meal.
"Sitting and going over recipes all sorts of good memories is one of the ways I kept from going mad in the rock." Sirius explained sitting down with his own plate.
"That makes sense. Dementors make you relieve your worst pains so they can generate more despair which they feed on."
"So if you can generate enough positive emotions you could hurt them?"
"Possibly. The Patronus can drive them off but has yet been unable to kill any of the creatures." Albus considered.
"Perhaps if someone were to focus their feelings of love and happiness and one moment of perfect beauty in their life into their patronus."
"Yes Harry but sadly most people do not have such moments in their life. They are fleeting and easily lost in the darkness."
"The kind of emotional and mental strength that would require is difficult to maintain in their presence. You remember what happened when you last encountered one." Sirius pointed out gently.
Harry considered their words and nodded. "Still it is something to consider."
"Oh yes Harry. Dwelling on happy thoughts and the positive things in one's life is definitely preferable to the alternative." Dumbledore wistfully said. "A little nonsense, now and then, is relished by the wisest men."
"Here Here!" Sirius chimed in.
"So when we go to this where are we going to wind up?"
"Well there is a small building located not far from the waterfront that the Ministry reserves for use as an apporate location so we will go there. Then its a short walk to the cave along the beach. After that we will have to as you say wing it."
"Okay well I think we can handle that." Harry said with a nod from Hermione.
"Good luck guys. Take care and see you for dinner?"
"Perhaps. We are not sure how long it will take so expect us, when you see us." Dumbledore said with an amused grin.
===xxx===xx
They arrived in the Dover apparate arrivals building. A bored Auror and Ministry official stood by a desk in the corner. There was a large sign detailing current weather
"Hello welcome to Dover. Please observe all muggle dress and behavioral codes." The clerk said in a tired voice like he had said this a thousand times today already.
Dumbledore transfigured his robes into a fairly decent tweed suit that might have been stylish sometime around 1910. Harry and Hermione just smiled at him as they stepped out.
The short walk took them along the beach through some tidal pools and over some rocks.
"He must have been really determined to drag them out here." Hermione said as she slipped on some rocks and fell on her knees in a pool.
Dumbledore walking over the rocks just grunted in assent.
"Gee must suck to have to walk through all that stuff." Draco said showing up floating over their heads.
"You're late." Harry grumped to him. "I was expecting to put up with your snarking far earlier.
"Well I went by Grimmould earlier but you two were busy. By the way Potterette you're getting a lot better at not gagging. Keep up the practice there."
She threw a rock at Draco's head as harry sniggered a bit. "He does have a point."
She glared at him as Dumbledore found a starfish very interesting. "However we should not dwell on such things." harry said in a fair imitation of Dumbledore as they moved on."
"In other words you want her to keep doing that." Draco intoned with a smirk.
"Yeah that too." harry agreed.
"As long as he continues to reciprocate." Hermione smirked back.
"oh yeah." Harry nodded enthusiastically.
They had reached the cave entrance by this point. To a casual examination it appeared to be a smooth walled, rock and sand covered floor with a small stream running down the middle of it within the tidal range. There was carved and spray painted graffiti on the walls, a few pieces of flotsam that was caught on the rocks indicated that it was not unknown to the local teens.
A closer look though, especially reaching out through magical senses, showed that this cave was an ominous place. A sort of dark shadowy aura seemed to fill the space as they looked around.
"This place has known magic, dark magic, blood magic." Dumbledore whispered with a shudder.
"That's why it feels so unpleasant. Foreboding." Harry shivered as a cold wind came whipping out of the cave. Bringing with it a faint moan it almost sounded like.
"Uh sir did you hear that?"
"I heard something. I am not certain though what it was."
"Hey what's Grindelwald's logo doing on the wall?" Draco said pointing to a spot on the back wall just above where water seeped out through the rocks.
"Grindelwald's Logo?"
"His symbol. His gang sign. You know like the snake and skull, the crooked swastika, the hammer and sickle. The symbol of bad guys everywhere." Draco rattled off.
"Where is this symbol?" Dumbledore asked excitedly, not at all calmly.
"Draco's pointing to a spot on the back wall. Up and to the left of the water seep." Hermione described.
Dumbledore quickly made his way to that spot. Casting a light spell to illuminate the area of the wall. "Yes there it is. His mark. This must be where the door is located. Only it will demand a price. We shall have to make a sacrifice."
"Well I'm all out of shrubbery." Draco smirked.
Hermione sighed and smacked him. Pausing when her hand met resistance instead of his normal nothingness. Both of them looked at her hand strangely but Dumbledore and harry were focused on the wall.
"Uh did I just meet resistance?"
"Yeah. I felt that. It felt warm."
She reached out and touch his chest. "Its like touch soap foam or thick ectoplasm." She said as her fingers sunk into him
Draco reached out and grabbed her boob. "Hey do you mind."
"I could feel that!"
"You keep it up you'll feel something." Hermione frowned at him.
"Okay. Keep your knickers on. I'm a bit confused and concerned."
"I know Draco. I'm thinking." Hermione had begun to consider the variables of the situation. She saw Dumbledore and harry consulting as they touched and examined the wall.
[Hey Mione. The headmaster thinks its going to require a blood sacrifice.]
{And he wants you to be the one to do it since we regenerate.}
[Yeah that was the plan. What do you think?]
{I think we are in a very interesting location that might be a convergence with the plane of the dead, either that or a lot of necromantic energy has been expended here because Draco has become semi-solid.}
[Great. Okay well I'll cut my palm and put some blood on the wall.]
{Go for it. I'm ready.}
Harry turned back to Dumbledore and nodded as the headmaster drew a small brass knife. He reached out and slit a line across Harry's palm. Before he could regenerate and the wound close harry smeared his blood on the wall. There was a brief rumbling grinding noise and a small section of wall opened slowly. A smell of swampy, musty decay wafted out causing the living to wrinkle their nose. They carefully moved into the room. Looking at the vast chamber within they felt more than saw that there was a pool of water within. The grinding sound of the door shutting caused them to jump as the lights went completely out and darkness fell within except for the ball of light Dumbledore had conjured.
Draco had spun falling into Hermione knocking her on the ground.
"Draco what the hell? You're solid?" She said shoving him off her.
Touching himself he laughed excitedly. "I am. I am solid. How is this?"
"I do not know Mr Malfoy but it is pleasing to see you again." Dumbledore said.
"You can see see me sir? You can hear me?"
"Yes. It would seem this chamber touches the plane of the dead. The realm of the spirits. Somehow you are back solid, but do you breathe or have a pulse?"
Hermione checked him over quickly, "No. No respirations, no pulse, no heartbeat." She said professionally.
"yet I still move."
"Necromancy is involved. We must be careful. The dead do not suffer the living." Dumbledore warned.
Hermione gave Draco a quick hug, "Well, welcome back for as long as it lasts."
"Yeah thanks." he sighed hugging her back quickly, while grabbing a feel of her backside. Her and harry both made identical snorts of amusement. "Pervert." Hermione said in amusement.
As they began to explore the edges of the pool Hermione summoned a flaming aura over her right arm to add to the light. Harry had still not managed to develop that ability so summoned a lumos ball.
They found a long chain that seemed to pass into the water. Dumbledore and harry raised their lights higher and noticed something though. Floating just below the surface of the water was bodies. All kinds of bodies wearing clothes from the forties, fifties, sixties and seventies. Men, women and children all floated in the dark still pool.
"Flat as a mill pond. Yet as dangerous as a pit of vipers. Those are inferi." Dumbledore confirmed.
"Inferi? Also commonly called zombies?" Hermione breathlessly whispered.
"Yes. The movies are not entirely incorrect. The magical community has encouraged certain individuals to show the truthfulness about some things, although going for the head will not stop them. They must be completely destroyed for they feel no pain, no wound. Remove the head and they still move."
"Got it. We should probably not touch the water. That would disturbed and awaken them." She said.
"Agreed. Now how to cross the water to the small islet my eyes barely detect." Dumbledore pointed across the gloom. Their eyes having adjusted they saw a small glowing chamber across the pool. It seemed to be about 30 or so yards away but might as well have been on the moon.
"Maybe there is something attached to the chain that could help."
"Perhaps harry." Dumbledore said they began to pull the chain up. A small boat prow came out of the water, only the prow though as the rest of the boat seemed to have been smashed and broken off.
"Well that isn't going to work out too well." Harry observed.
"No it is not. We shall have to find an alternative means. Perhaps your flame ability?" Dumbledore suggested.
"Perhaps. I think I should fly over though and check it out. That way we don't land blindly in the middle of something bad."
"Good idea Harry." Hermione concurred with him.
Harry shifted to the phoenix form. He took off and circled around the low ceiling over land, spiraling further over the water before he finally moved towards the islet in the middle.
[Okay. The pool surrounds the island on all sides. Phoenix senses are a lot better than human or even your dear.]
{Yeah I can see that. Is that a basin or something at the pinnacle of the land?}
[Yeah it looks like it.]
"Sir. Harry has found a basin on the island."
"Well that would seem to be our destination then." Dumbledore declared.
"Yes sir."
Dumbledore sent a ball of light to the island illuminating it.
[Yeah there is a basin here, and a human skeleton.]
{Is it an inferi?}
[I don't know. It has some seventies clothes on it. I can land and poke it, see what happens.]
{Poking potential undead things is not always a good idea harry.} He could feel the this is a bad idea vibe through their link.
[Don't worry. I'll flame out at the first sign of trouble.]
{Assuming you can.}
[Well we can go in and out of Hogwarts like a House Elf why not here?] He said as he landed and shifted back to his human form. He carefully approached the skeleton and poked it with the toe of his left foot. When nothing happened he squatted by the head and tapped it on the skull. The light tap caused the skull to roll away from its shoulders and he caught it before it rolled into the water.
[I think it's safe.]
{You sound so sure of that dear.}
[Well considering how I'm playing Hamlet right now with his skull I'd say its not undead, just normally dead.]
Hermione took the headmaster and Draco by the arm and flamed over.
"Ahh. Taking up the classics harry?"
"No sir. I just didn't think it would be a good idea to let it roll into the water."
"Probably wise. So do you have any idea who the unfortunate soul was?"
Draco and Hermione examined the skeleton. She pulled the necklace out of the jumble of bones as well as a pocket watch, a ring with a heraldic symbol on it and a man's bracelet with a snake wrapped around a vine.
"R.A.B. The ring has the initials of R.A.B. On it." She said handing it to harry.
He carefully set the skull down and took the ring examining it. Suddenly he gasped.
"Hermione. This is Sirius' brother. Regulus. The symbol on the ring its the family crest for the Blacks. Sirius was showing me that. Remember over the fireplace in the lounge the plaque and the family tree on the wall?"
"Right. Okay well one mystery solved. I wonder what happened?"
Draco sighed, "He found out about the locket. He and his elf came to steal it but he was sloppy and got caught. Voldemort came behind him and killed the elf. Regulus made the mistake of trying to fight him but he lost and Voldemort killed him. He then took his locket and moved it."
"More of your special knowledge from the other side Mr Malfoy?"
"Yes sir. The dead know things. He speaks to me, wants me to tell his story."
"Why did he turn on Tom?" Albus wanted to know.
"He turned on the Dark Lord because the Dark Lord hurt his elf. Something as simple as that. The dark lord used his elf Kreacher as a test subject for the poison in the basin. He was expected to die but he lived and returned to Regulus. Told him what happened. When he recovered he took Regulus here only the Dark Lord found out about his efforts and followed him. He killed the elf and then tortured Regulus before killing him. He reclaimed the locket and left."
"So the Locket isn't here? This was all a waste." Harry growled.
"I don't think it was a waste Harry. We at least confirmed it is not here. We have also learned what happened to the poor soul Regulus Black. And we can put him to rest now."
Taking a deep breath harry calmed himself. "True sir. I'm sorry. Let's get him gathered up"
Hermione transformed a rock into a basket and they gathered the bones and effects up. Saying a small silent prayer as they did so.
"So where did he move it to?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know." Draco apologetically said.
Once they had completed their task they looked around. Finding nothing but the basin on the top of the low humped island and the Inferi. The basin itself had been drained and a half oyster shell sat in it.
"Well I guess we're done here." Harry said with a degree of resignation.
"What about the Inferi? We can't leave them here."
"Its not like they're going to get loose or anything." Draco pointed out.
"True but are the souls associated with the bodies at rest or are they still troubled. And what if the rock wall collapses or someone decides to go digging into this cavern." Hermione pointed out reasonably.
"This is a magically created and excavated cavern. Its not like anyone is going to come in here." Draco argued.
"Maybe, maybe not. But still it seems irresponsible to just leave all of them sitting around."
Harry had a sudden realization, "You want to try that one thing you were talking about."
"Well yeah maybe a little bit. I mean it does look interesting. And fire does seem to be something I have a bit of an affinity towards." She pouted a little bit as she stood looking cute.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, "What exactly is it you are talking about Mrs Potter?"
"The Fulgur Ignis Maxima spell" She smiled sweetly.
"And where did you learn about that?" Dumbledore's eyebrow tried to escape over the top of his head.
"Well Sirius has been letting me read anything in his library and it is a really fascinating library. Plus Narcissa and Magda let me have access to some of their books too." She ran her toe along the ground innocently.
Nodding carefully Dumbledore carefully said, "Yes well, Harry perhaps you and I should get Regulus and his artifacts back to his brother. I am sure that your lovely wife is going to be quite fine."
Harry chuckled [You are going to be fine right?]
{Of course I am Harry.} She reassured him.
Giving her a kiss he grabbed the basket and Dumbledore's arm. "You coming or staying Draco?"
Draco took a step then grabbed Hermione and kissed her on the lips before turning and grabbing Harry's arm.
"We'll discus that later Draco." Hermione said in a irritated voice.
"Sorry couldn't resist."
Harry shook his head then flamed out with a last "Have fun dear."
Hermione was alone in the cavern and felt the weight of the rock and darkness settle on her. She shivered briefly then steeled her nerves. She closed her eyes and willed a nimbus of flame around herself. It pushed back the darkness a little bit and made her feel a little bit better.
She walked down to the water and stirred it a little bit with her hand. Watching how the flames seemed to not be extinguished by the water. She was watching carefully so was able to leap backwards when the inferi tried to clasp her so it could drag her into the water. She ran back to the top of the hillock and balanced on the basin. Looking around at the bodies stirring in the water their forms swimming and moving, writhing through the water in an unnatural manner as they turned and gathered towards her. The only living being within the cavern she stood out like a beacon to their limited senses.
She ramped up her nimbus into a raging conflagration. The closest ones reduced to ash when they tried to grapple with her. She saw that a great many of the undead were beginning to gather so she smiled, it was time. Shouting "FULGUR IGNIS MAXIMA!" there was a crack of thunder as a swirling writhing vortex of blue white flame descended from the ceiling surrounding her. The flame a pleasurable feeling as it reduced the inferi to powder, flames swirling them into nothingness. She saw the water of the pool itself starting to bubble and hiss as it boiled in the presence of the tornado of pure elemental fire. The only spell more powerful was Fiendfyre which opened up the very gates of hell itself to summon living flame.
She could no longer see anything else moving in the chamber through the flames so she began to tamper them down. The whirling howling vortex calming and fading as she did.
===xxx===xx
Harry flamed into the kitchen of Grimmould place. Sirius and Remus were in the room moments later. Draco slid through Harry with a disappointed grunt.
"Oh hey Harry. Professor. Where's Hermione?"
"Uh she'll be along. She's just doing some housekeeping." Harry said checking on her.
"Ah okay." So whats in the bag.
"You might want to take a seat for this Sirius." Dumbledore said heading for the table.
"I'm not sure I like that tone."
"We, we found the skeleton of your brother in the cave." Harry said setting the ring and other pieces of jewelry on the table. He was biting his lip in concern about hurting Sirius with this.
Sirius stared for a moment at the items before he hesitantly picked up the ring. He looked at it blankly for long seconds before he began to choke back tears. Looking at harry he asked in a strained voice, "Do you know what happened?"
Harry nodded and looked at Draco who looked awkwardly back. "He turned on the Dark Lord because he hurt Kreacher. He found out about the locket and went to take it from him. Only Tom found out about it and followed him to the cave where he killed your brother and the house elf Kreacher."
"Reg turned on him?"
"At least in this. We do not know if he would have continued to work against him or not. He was never given the chance." Dumbledore explained.
"Amazing. I never knew Reg had it in him. I thought he was lost to the darkness forever. He was always the good son. The loyal one. The one mother actually loved." Sirius was close to openly weeping by now. Remus put his arm around him, pulling him into a comforting hug as Sirius finally broke down.
Remus let him cry on his shoulder as Harry leaned back and felt what was going on with Hermione. He smiled at the sheer exhilaration she was feeling at this. The flames obeying her will as they danced and whirled around her.
"Harry?" Dumbledore cleared his throat softly.
"Oh yeah sorry sir. Just Hermione is having fun."
"Ahh I see."
===xxx===xx
The flames died out leaving a cracking clinking sound as the rocks themselves cooled. She had not gotten it hot enough to actually soften or melt any of them but the cavern was no longer a damp chilly place. Which was a good thing as she was covered in a thin layer of ash instead of clothes that flaked off as she moved. Flaming out she went directly to their room in Grimmould. Heading for the shower she grinned happily and in extreme satisfaction.
{Well it worked out very nicely. Only I may have gotten a bit carried away.}
[Oh?]
{I lost another set of clothes. I swear this keeps up I might as well run around naked.}
[Tease.]
{How are things here?}
[Sirius is having a breakdown and Remus is trying to keep him calm.]
{Oh. Okay. I'll try and calm down in the shower before I go downstairs. You might want to try and tune me out as I will probably self-gratify some.}
[Alright.]
===xxx===xx
Sirius began to sob slower and slower until he pulled back from Remus and wiped his eyes. "Sorry about that."
Remus shrugged and cast a drying and cleaning charm on his shoulder. "Perfectly understandable."
"Is the. Is he. Is his remains in the bag?" Sirius asked carefully and slowly.
"Yeah. Uh what do you want to do?" Harry asked softly.
"Well we'll have to take him to Highgate and put him in the family plot." Sirius declared.
Dumbledore nodded and transfigured the bag into a small ornate box. Carved onto the box were many Victorian styled death motifs. Enameled into the lid was a small portrait of a young good looking man that Harry recognized from the albums Sirius had shown him as Regulus.
"When Hermione is ready we can go." Sirius said.
"I better get cleaned up and ready as well." Harry said as he flamed out.
Sirius chuckled softly, sadly, "Oh Reg. If only you had asked us to help."
===xxx===xx
Harry and Hermione took a few moments to help her calm down before cleaning up and dressing in some decent clothes. Hermione transfigured them into black mourning garb. Coming downstairs they found Dumbledore in black robes as well as Professor McGonnegal.
"Professor." Harry said politely in greeting.
"Well it is good to see that the two of you are unscathed after your adventure."
"Yes ma'am."
"How did the spell go?" Dumbledore asked.
"It worked really well. The Inferi and the pool are no more." Hermione said with a grin that made McGonnegal a bit concerned about her.
"Ahh yes. Well that must have required a bit of high temperatures."
"Well I did burn my clothes off but I didn't melt any of the rock. The flames were bluish white though." She excitedly described the effects of the spell and what happened. Minerva's eyes grew wide but Albus merely seemed to be taking mental notes.
"Well it would seem your resistance to flames is quite powerful."
"So it would seem. I felt warm and good." She said.
Remus and Sirius came down at that point so they all composed themselves. Taking the box with Regulus' remains the group apparated to Highgate Cemetery. As it was one of the older burying grounds in the London area a great many of the older wizarding families had mausoleums there. So the ministry kept a small building disguised as a chapel for apparating within.
They went to the Black family mausoleum and Sirius performed the appropriate magic to open the locked gate. Entering Draco slid in behind the living and quietly observed. He tried to touch harry but his hand went through him causing harry to look at him with a curious expression.
Sirius opened the vault with his brother's name on it and placed the box within. Sealing the vault behind it.
"Who was the fool, who the wise man, who the beggar or the emperor? Whether rich or poor, all are equal in death." Remus intoned briefly.
"Goodbye Reg. I should have been a better brother. It seems like I never. I failed everyone who was a brother to me." Sirius' voice was little more than a whisper but in the stillness of the stone sepulcher it carried like he was shouting. "I miss you. I should have treated you better. I should have tried harder to keep in touch with you, save you."
Sirius broke down crying again. Remus nodded and held him, letting the tall black haired man cry on his shoulder.
"Maybe we should go now." Draco said softly.
Harry patted Sirius on the shoulder, "Hey. Its okay Sirius. I'm sure he understood." Harry glanced at Draco who remained impassive. "He did a good thing in the end."
"Thanks Harry. Could I have a few minutes alone please."
"Sure."
The rest of the party stepped out and moved among the other stone structures. Seeing names like Goyle, Greengrass, Parkinson harry frowned. "Why did your family have a mausoleum so far away from London, Draco?"
"Big fish in a small pond or medium fish in a big pond? Which do you think my family would choose Potter?" Draco pointed out unemotionally.
"That surprisingly makes sense." Hermione agreed.
===xxx===xx
The group eventually went back to Grimmould where Remus made a dinner for everyone and they spent the evening listening to Sirius talk about his brother. Eventually Sirius wound down and went to bed. The professors returned to Hogwarts leaving the Potters and Remus sitting up quietly.
"Will Sirius be alright?" Harry asked in concern.
Remus thought for a moment, "He will recover. He has a lot of repressed guilt over what happened with your parents, and his departure from this house and his family was not amicable. So he is feeling the pain of that as well."
"Is there anything we can do?"
"Not really more than we are doing. Be there for him, be his family, be his friends. He will need some time. We just have to be patient." Remus sighed.
===xxx===xx
The next several weeks leading up to the Quidditch world cup saw harry and Hermione, along with Remus working to help Sirius feel better. As part of that Sirius took Harry and Hermione to Godric's Hollow to visit the grave of James and Lily. The three of them exploring the village afterwards and looking at the war memorial, the ruins of the Potter House and a few other places in the village.
Sirius began to come around and return to his normal self so Harry and Hermione began to visit their friends again. The Weasleys, Neville, and the Grangers.
===xxx===xx
Narcissa was in her office frowning. She had been trying to find a way to get Macnair fired, or in criminal trouble. He had managed to be very careful and not do or say anything to give any hints that he harbored support for the old gang. He kept to himself and made no waves at the Ministry at all. He had no dark artifacts or even questionable items in his possession.
The Carrows on the other hand were about to go down. Muggle-baiting and abuse as well as possession of dark artifacts. Their twin daughters would stay together but would be given to a grey family. She wasn't sure if it was the Greengrass or Rittenhouse families that would get them but it didn't matter.
She was also frowning as Emma had grown huge. Far larger than what would have been expected for carrying triplets. Daniel was attentive and hovered over her like a house elf which slightly made Narcissa jealous. None of her male friends treated her that way, they were about their needs first. Snape was the only one that came close, at least treating her as an equal but he was still obsessed with his precious Lily. Occasionally calling out her name in his sleep when she permitted him to remain for the night. Emma had confided in her that Dan made sure she was satisfied before he allowed himself to achieve release. How to get a man like that Narcissa pondered. She doubted Emma would be willing to share Dan, so that option was out. Normally she would have seduced him and add him to a long list of lovers, however she actually had grown to like and respect Emma too much to do that.
Shaking her head as she returned to her list. Karkaroff was headmaster of Durmstrang. A few coins into the right pocket and he would have an unfortunate accident. She sent a note to the right person to make that happen.
Yaxley and Jugson had also been keeping their noses clean. It would take some effort to get some hard evidence faked that would hold for the two of them and Macnair. She was concerned though that there might not be enough time as her informants were discussing that something big was coming up. Something that might be involving the World Cup.
===xxx===xx
The Potters took Sirius and their gear to the Burrow to meet with the Weasleys before they went to the site.
"Hey guys. You ready to go?" Harry asked as their friends came out.
"Yes we are. Thank you for letting us share your tent." Arthur said.
"No problem. Its big enough. Although I wonder where Harriet and her husband are. I told them to meet us here." Sirius happily said.
"I don't know. The only one to arrive was Nymphadora earlier. She's in in the floo making a few last minute arrangements right now. Something about security protocols are on high." Arthur explained.
"Oh that's not cool. Well with that many people coming and going and showing up it makes sense they would be."
"Indeed. Only they are having some issues as there was an attack of Rumack's syndrome taking a great many Aurors off duty on sick leave. Plus there has been some threats on London itself." Arthur said as he shook his head.
"Bloody hell. That's not good. So who's minding the store?"
"They've brought in reserves and I'm going to have to do double duty as security and a fan." Arthur said.
"Well guys. Keep your eyes and ears open. Unless you want to call it?"
"Wha and miss the biggest event of the decade? No way!" Ron enthusiastically exclaimed.
The twins were just as ebullient in their support of going. Ginny was a bit more subdued but was still voting to go.
"Alright then guys. The tent has its own ward system so we should be okay."
Nymphadora came out of the house causing Sirius to grin, "DORA!" He said throwing his arms wide as she glared at him.
"Uncle Sirius the mood I am in right now is not the time to be cheerful."
"Why what's wrong?" Harry asked.
"Well I am on duty assigned as your personal protection. You are officially a person of special consideration."
"Me?"
"Yeah you."
"Great. Just wonderful." Harry grumbled.
"Tell me about it. If the shit shoe drops I'm hiding behind you." She joked. At least Harry hoped she was joking.
"Well we might as well get this merry band on the road. The portkey is where?"
"Right down the road."
===xxx===xx
As they walked down the road Ron, Ginny and Harry were discussing the relative merits of Viktor Krum the Bulgarian Seeker and Sarah Tillane the Irish Seeker. Hermione was talking to Dora about security plans and potential threats. The twins had some sort of discussion going on with Sirius about a joke shop they wanted to develop some day.
Harry felt Hermione suddenly react and looked up. Approaching from the other direction was Cedric Diggory and someone who was probably his father. They were wearing muggle clothes and laughing about something. The light falling through the trees along the lane dappled off Cedric making him glow.
[Down girl. Behave or you'll have to change your knickers.] Harry sent with some amusement.
{Oh hush. Like you're not at half mast since he walked up. And who said I was wearing any?}
[Naughty girl. I'll have to spank you later.]
{Really? Nice. But Cedric is rather gorgeous.}
[Only because he's tall, has long lashes, a pouty smoldering smile and strong long legs from broom riding.]
{Now who needs a cold shower?}
[Well when we get the tent set up you can help.]
"Hello Arthur. I see the gang is pretty substantial."
"Hello Amos. Hello Cedric. You know Harry, Hermione and the rest of the crew."
Greetings had been exchanged and the groups reached a mangy old Wellington boot. "Well we better grab on and get ready."
Everyone took and touched the boot, it was rather crowded and some only had a finger on the boot but due to the way the magic of a portkey worked all one had to be was making contact with it when it activated. Professor Flitwick had explained what a portkey was in passing when discussing magical means of transportation. Binns had also mentioned the first portkey back in Merlin's time, but that was all Harry could remember about that. When the boot suddenly glowed and took off with all of them attached to it. Harry and Hermione screamed out in excitement at the thrill of rocketing across the sky while the others either maintained a stoic grimace or made different strange noises.
===xxx===xx
When they landed Harry and Hermione due to their enhanced reflexes landed on their feet and help catch the others. Harry had to laugh that Hermione caught Cedric in such a manner that she managed to grab his backside.
[So that is Hogwart's backside indeed.]
{Oh yeah.}
Coming to the security checkpoint they were scanned, identified and given a pass to enter the field after presenting their tickets.
As they were walking past an obvious muggle farm Hermione had to ask, "What happened to them?"
Arthur explained to her, "They won an all expense paid cruise in the Mediterranean. Keeps them out of the way and we don't have to muddle their minds up."
"Oh that's pretty nice."
"Yes. They get a nice trip out of it, we get a muggle free zone and one less potential problem." Amos agreed.
The Diggorys parted ways as they headed for their campsite. Hermione and harry both watched Cedric walk away for a moment before Sirius snickered.
"What? He has a nice arse." Hermione unashamedly said to much laughter.
They arrived at their campsite and started setting up. Sirius pulled a large black box out of his backpack and set it in the middle of the site. He pulled a lever up, rotated it then pushed it back down. He backed off as the box started unfolding and growing. Its size shifted as walls sprung out and moved until a small cottage with a slate roof, strong windows and a brick chimney was standing there.
"Well home away from home. Sorry its so sparse." He said as he unlocked the door and entered.
The entry way had teak and mahogany floors with the Black family crest inlaid into the walls in marble. The lounge they entered had a fireplace, large oriental rugs on the polished black marble floor with over stuffed Victorian furniture.
Looking at the highly polished floor Dora smirked, "Well good thing I'm not wearing a skirt."
"Oh posh Dora. You know as a shapeshifter it would be no threat to you." Sirius teased.
"Maybe but I bet Hermione would be upset."
Hermione looked down, "No not really. Others can look, Harry's the only one who gets to touch." She said sticking her tongue out with a wink.
"Oh Harry get your woman to a nunnery now!" Dora laughed.
"I think I'd rather get her to our room." he chuckled putting his arm around her waist.
"Hey wait! We still have to assign rooms guys." Sirius clapped his hands for attention.
"Girls get the bedroom at the top of the stairs on the right. Boys get the one on the left. Arthur and I get the one downstairs by the bathroom."
Grumbles and good natured joking resulted as everyone got settled in. Harry and Hermione flamed out for a twenty minutes before they came back a lot calmer and cheerful. They explored the market area where the sellers hawked their souvenirs, omnioculars, foods of all kinds, body paint and face paint for some of the fans and clothing including uniform reproductions. Harry bought Ron a set of omnioculars when Ron put them back. Hermione just shrugged. Ron used his money to buy some snacks for them and a small Krum Action figure and poster.
As they were walking through the crowds with Dora at their side Harry noticed that there was a large number of Aurors walking around as well. "Wow. A lot of aurors around."
"Yeah. Everyone is pulling a lot of overtime right now. Fudge is freaked out."
A tall bearded man wearing a black uniform and auror's badge smiled at Harry as he walked by. "Who was that?"
"That was Walden Macnair. I'm really not fond of him. He normally works in Regulation of Magical Creatures but he got pressed into helping out the aurors for this." Dora said with a disgusted look at the man's back.
"He doesn't exactly seem the most cheerful." Hermione agreed.
By dinner Harry was a bit concerned, "Sirius I thought you said my mother's friend would be here?"
"I thought she was too. I gave her and her husband tickets. Quidditch isn't as popular in America as it is here but she still wanted to meet you. I asked around but she didn't pick up the security pass at the gate."
"Do you think anything happened?"
Sirius shrugged, "I have no idea. Maybe something came up."
"Maybe." Harry frowned as he and hermione shared a look.
"What you think something is going to happen?" Dora asked interested.
"Well Luna dropped some hints that something was going to happen, all of the aurors getting sick, its all kinda suspicious." Hermione pointed out.
Dora shrugged, "I don't know. Fudge is freaking out. So its all hands on deck. Like he heard something too."
"Well it wasn't just the aurors that got sick. The commissary in the Ministry served some contaminated fish. So anyone who ate the fish got Rumack's syndrome."
"What does that do again Mr Weasley?"
"Its a severe sort of food poisoning. It can be fatal without treatment, but fortunately its just a simple potion and you're back up and at em after a day recovering. Although everyone should stay upwind for a few days." The red headed patriarch said with a wry grin.
===xxx===xx
The game began that evening at dusk. The Bulgarian cheerleaders were luscious beautiful females with long flowing blonde hair. They looked like they all could have been sisters.
[Mione can you see them?]
{Yeah and I'm about ready to go wild for them. Damn they are sexy.}
[Show some resistance dear.]
{I know. I have you. Although I know you are not exactly unaffected.} She said gripping his hand tightly.
[Wanna go take care of this?]
{Maybe later. I wanna watch them. Maybe I'll get some ideas.}
[Good suggestion.]
Ron and the twins though were gazing longingly drooling at them, as was Ginny Harry noticed glancing around the box. The adult males were looking at the cheer routine being performed with very happy grins but otherwise not drooling.
"Sirius what is going on with them?"
"The cheerleaders are Veela. They have an allure power that on the virginal is incredibly powerful. The experienced are still affected but not as badly, unless they turn it on."
"Right now they are not allowed to do that or they would get in deep trouble." Arthur explained though.
"This is just them passively being alluring?" Harry squeaked a bit as Hermione reached out and grabbed Ginny from leaping over the railing. Pulling the red-haired girl into her lap. Squirming the ginger only stopped when Hermione whispered something in her ear.
"As you can see it can have quite the effect." Sirius laughed.
[What did you tell her to calm down?]
{That if she would behave I might consider letting her have a snog session with you.}
[Well thanks for volunteering me.]
{What you don't wanna make out with her. She has a nice bottom.}
[Well why don't you and I get to feel it.]
{Kinky. We actually haven't done anything with anyone else. I wonder how it would feel?}
[Maybe we can experiment when she's not under the effects of some kind of magic allure. I kinda get turned on by consent you know.]
{I know. Me too.}
They had enjoyed the cheer routine only for the Irish team's cheerleaders to take the field. They were Leprechauns who danced a jig and scattered gold across the crowd. Making them shout and laugh and a few fights break out before security stopped them.
Ron was scooping coins up and dancing. "Here you go Harry I told you I'd pay you back for the scopes!" Ginny seemed to realize she was on Hermione's lap and jumped up blushing bright scarlet.
The game began and it was some of the finest flying harry had seen. Ron was enthralled by Krum and watched him with the omnioculars far more than any other players.
The next two days fell into a good routine. Harry and Hermione would go off and relax a bit together. Come back and spend time with their friends. Teasing Ron about his crush on Krum. Hermione had tried to talk to Ginny about what happened the first night with the Veela but she awkwardly changed the subject quite often. Although she was far more comfortable and relaxed around them, now that Luna wasn't with them Hermione noticed. Harry did give her a deep kiss on the lips as a thank you for not leaping over the edge of the box. Causing her to blush bright enough to signal Hogwarts her brothers teased. Ron turned to Hermione and asked where his kiss was and she reminded him that harry felt everything she felt which caused him to back off when Harry smacked his lips.
===xxx===xx
The third day of the cup was almost done and the final score stood Ireland 275 Bulgaria 195 but they caught the snitch with a twisting Immelman Wronski Feint performed by Krum. Ending the game before the clock ran out and Bulgaria suffered an even more ignoble defeat.
They were celebrating in the stands and streets of the campground. Aurors were having trouble dealing with the sheer chaos. Harry was walking trying to hold Hermione's hand as well as Ginny's. Hermione was holding Ron's and Dora was on Ron's other side.
[Maybe we should] Harry began when a crossbow bolt struck him in the chest and a small crump noise was heard as his chest exploded. He had a brief surprised expression on his face before a moment later he exploded into the regeneration pyre. Hermione and Ginny both dove in different directions. Hermione flaming Ron and Dora to the tent before turning and going back for Harry's killer.
"What the hell just happened?" Ron shrieked as Dora drew her wand.
"I dunno get inside and stay there." She said as a trio of masked Death Eaters was coming down the lane. Flinging and pushing people out of the way.
"There they are! Get them." The leader of the trio shouted as Dora turned and fired off a high powered stunner that was parried.
Ron drew his wand and tried to help as best he could. The trio managed to come closer and closer before he felt a heavy body land on him and his neck suddenly was on fire as he felt fangs sinking into his flesh. Claws tore at his chest.
"Get off him you bastard!" Dora fired a knock-back jinx on the body causing them to release Ron but also knocking him down and across the lane as he caught part of the blast.
The tall ugly furry being stood up to his full 8 foot height, fangs bared in a distorted mockery of a wolf human head, mangy dirty fir covered limbs and torso exposed with torn and shredded clothes over them. Dora recognized the being as Fenrir Greyback. He had fully embraced the curse of Lycanthropy and had a small pack of fellows he had taught how to form a hybrid form. She had dismissed them as rumors and fairy tales to scare new recruits. She upgraded them to nightmares as she stared into his glowing amber eyes.
Ron stumbled to his feet picking his wand up in his left hand as his right was useless due to the nerves in the shoulder being torn out. He was bleeding heavily but backed up next to Dora. "What do we do? What do we do?"
"We try to survive. Use your most lethal spells."
"I don't have ANY!"
"Then improvise!" She said shifting her form into as large and muscular creature as she could. The metamorphmagus ability allowing her to ease her muscles and size by three fold. She threw the most powerful cutting and burning spells she could at the were wolf as Ron turned and shakily faced the Death Eaters who had been burning and destroying the nearby tents.
"Hello little worm. You blood traitors are all going to pay now!" The tall one on the left said as he drew a wicked looking knife. He and the one on his right stepped forward in unison. Ron tried to throw his spells to defend himself only for most of them to be parried. He felt a cruciatus briefly hit him causing every nerve to explode into flame. He briefly thought for a moment he might have been set on fire but when he opened his eyes he was laying on the ground. He saw Dora and the werewolf struggling as she tried to avoid getting grappled by him. Using tent poles and other things as weapons. A large stake protruded from beast's chest briefly but he pulled it out with a howl and threw it aside.
Ron felt himself being rolled over onto his back by the death eater with the knife. The other one pulled his trousers down exposing his wedding tackle. The knife wielder put the blade against the base of his gear, "Well at least one Weasley won't bring any more vermin into the world." he hissed.
Hermione flamed back into the location at that moment with Sirius and Arthur. Arthur was cradling his left arm which ended just above the elbow. Sirius helping him stay standing. A stark naked Harry flamed in beside her a moment later. The death eater pulled his knife from Ron's equipment and stood.
[Mione help Dora!] Harry shouted over their link as he leapt on the knife wielder.
The knife wielder had been trying to apparate out and wound up taking harry along with him.
Hermione turned and screamed at Fenrir "HEY UGLY! Your mother fucked a poodle!"
He turned and saw her standing there unarmed and alone it seemed like. A hungry snarl came from his throat as he turned and dropping onto all fours began to charge her.
Hermione took a deep breath and summoned the flame nimbus around her. "Fulgur Ignis Linea!" She screamed as the flames came up around her. A gout of blue white flame shot from her hands in a line striking the charging wolf-man. He stumbled and fell as the outer layers of his skin burned and crackled, his lungs charring. He weakly tried to arise as she stalked forward. The flames crackling over her she closed her eyes visualizing his location as he struggled to regenerate the damage.
"Incendus Totalis!" She calmly said in a cold voice that reverberated across the night.
A pillar of the same blue white flames shot down from the heavens above. Fenrir was briefly illuminated in it. Highlighted by it before he flared and vanished like a moth in a blowtorch.
She dropped the nimbus as she turned and ran to Ron. He was weakly trying to pull himself up. Dora ran over beside her.
"Ron! Oh my god, you're hurt!"
"He bit me! The bastard bit me. I'm going to be a werewolf! Just let me die Hermione. Just let me die." he was screaming barely coherently.
She shook her head and shifted into her phoenix form. Singing a song to calm him down she communicated through gestures to Dora to get him to lay down as she cried on his shoulder. The wound bubbling and fizzing, a dark reddish brown fluid mixing with the foam. He was soon unconscious with a minor scar at the junction of his neck and shoulder.
Hermione shifted back to her human form. "Get him inside. I need to go to Harry!." She said before she vanished in a gout of flame.
===xxx===xx
Harry had reappeared on the lawn of a large ancient Norman mansion that had fallen into ruin. He had no idea where he was but did know he was still holding the struggling form of the tall Death Eater with the knife. He felt the man's knife plunge into his side, tearing a lung. This made him very cross as he headbutted the man cracking his mask.
Ripping the mask off he saw the man that Dora had called Macnair. He was trying to get his eyes to focus after Harry's headbutt so Harry took the opportunity to put his hand on the man's forehead and cast a stupefy. At that range though the magical energy did more than just knock him out it cracked his skull and sent fragments into his frontal lobes. His face exploded into a squishy mess. Harry was surprised but didn't have time to consider that as he felt a spell brush his back leaving a large welt.
He rolled off Macnair and saw the other two who had been with him holding wands awkwardly before the one decided that apparating out would be a better idea. Harry grinned at the one left. "What's the problem? I'm naked and unarmed."
"Yeah right. Look you better just surrender and come with me."
"Really? I'm not sure you're my type. How do you feel about long walks along the beach?"
"What? You've.. No. Look we have your girlfriend. Come with me peacefully and nothing bad will happen to her." His voice was screaming he was afraid, his entire body posture was not of someone who felt he had an advantage.
"You had better leave and warn your friends. If you harm Ginny I will come for them. I will come for them all and I will bring the fires of hell with me." He said walking forward. He did not have the flame nimbus Hermione did but the cold reptilian stare he had made the man far more scared. Harry's voice had dropped to a soft sibilant hiss. "I sshall causse you all to ssuffer!" His eyes glowed as green as the Avada Kedavra as he approached the man. The man apparated out leaving a hint of stale ammonia on the breeze.
Hermione flamed in beside Harry. She looked at Macnair and growled. "Where are they?"
"The lassst one ran away. He claimss they have Ginny." Harry hissed trying to calm down.
"We need to take this one back and check on Ron before we try to find her. We'll get them and rescue her." She said putting her hand on his shoulder.
He just nodded as he turned and hefted the unconscious form over his shoulder. Flaming back to Sirius' cottage at the world cup as Hermione followed.
===xxx===xx(Review Responses)
Firebird-Fennix: I prefer not having my knee hurt when it rains. I have not decided who will end up with whom by the end of the story. Right now they are teens, hormones are kicking in and they flirt. Harry and Hermione's bond is not able to be broken (I put that in this chapter for confirmation) So relax and if you don't like the way I'm going with this then fine, if you like it fine.
Kallanit: If Luna gets a relationship upgrade I will label it as such. As of right now I am engaging in a lot of ship tease so haven't decided. I have, as I said, not decided on who will wind up with whom or even if they will wind up with anyone, except maybe as a one night or friends with benefits situation. They are two hormonal teens whose lives are about to begin to focus on things other than sex. Also like I said if you enjoy the story fine if you don't fine. That's why there are four hundred types of fast food.
Blcoachmac: True and the ectoplasm is so staining on the carpet...
Jadesabrexiv: Yes indeed. Some of the threads have caught fire and will be revealed. And so it begins.
Voldiesbedroomslippers: Thanks you for the compliment.
DennisUD: Thank you. I am enjoying the way these characters are meshing out too. They are definitely becoming less like canon but with reflections and hints still there. So by the end of the sleigh ride it's going to be a whole new world.