AN: Hey, everyone. I'm sorry that I took so long to get this chapter out. In addition to everything that's been going on in my personal life, I've had a difficult time with this chapter. I've rewritten it multiple times, and I just can't seem to work it out the way I want. However, I've already started the next chapter, and I'm liking it so far, so I should be getting back to normal updates. Thank you to everyone who has checked up on me and for those who have been patient. I WILL finish this story! I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter in a review. Thank you.
Aidan Jones enjoyed watching Moody's fake eye spin around and around in its socket. The speed at which it traveled didn't seem possible, but the more annoyed the gruff auror became, the faster it spun.
"I'd wipe that smirk off your face, Jones," Moody growled. "No less than two dozen dark artifacts were found in your Manor." Aidan's smirk grew, and he leaned back in his chair. "Don't smirk at me, boy!"
A low growl emanated from Moody's throat when Aidan continued to stare at him as though the situation did nothing but amuse him. "Don't answer my questions then," Moody said. Moody's face broke into a grin, highlighting the grotesque scar that ran down his right cheek. "A few nights in Azkaban will loosen your tongue."
A guttural laugh burst out of Aidan's throat. "I won't be seeing the inside of Azkaban."
Moody's eye began to twirl even faster and he opened his mouth, but before he could say a word a siren rang out. The blaring noise echoed around the room, the sound nearly deafening, and Aidan could see people running past the small window set in the door.
Moody's good eye narrowed and he jumped to his feet, surprisingly fast for someone so old. Moody pulled the door open and grabbed the arm of a young auror running past.
"What's going on, lad?" Moody barked.
The auror looked petrified, his eyes round as quaffles. The young man's eyes darted to Aiden then back at Moody. "There's been a breach in interrogation rooms one and two."
Moody growled as he limped out the door and slammed it shut behind him.
Aidan felt a tingle in the air, it was no doubt Moody putting up wards. 'Fool.' Aidan thought.
Aidan stood up, pushing the uncomfortable silver chair back as he did. He walked around the rectangular table and stood off to the side of the door. He looked out the window, and watched as three more aurors ran past.
The alarm grew louder. A tight sensation flooded his body and a tingle went down his spine. He smiled at the flare of magic. The metal door opened and closed, but there was no sign of anyone there, and there was no noise, not even a low rustle.
A flicker of the light and Rabastan Lestrange appeared, an invisibility cloak in his hands.
"It's good to see you," Aidan said, but then his smile faltered as his eyes narrowed onto the cloak. "Will we both fit?"
"Why would we both need to fit under the cloak?" Rabastan asked.
It took Aidan too long to recognize the sadistic gleam in Rabastan's eyes. Before he could think to run, Aidan found himself slammed against the wall. Pain radiated throughout his body, and his airway constricted. Rabastan tilted his head to the right and his eyes glowed an unearthly amber. Choking sounds escaped Aidan's lips as he raised his hands to his throat and began to claw at it.
"Can't b-b-breathe," Aidan gasped.
"That's the point," Rabastan said. The friendliness that used to lace his words when he spoke to Aidan was gone, replaced by the tone he used when torturing muggles. He looked at Aidan as though the two had never met. "The Dark Lord ordered all dark artifacts to be hidden, and for everyone to be careful. And what do you do? You leave illegal objects, darker than any wizard who wasn't up to something they shouldn't be wouldn't have." Aidan felt his throat constrict further. "You knew that the Ministry was going to conduct searches." Aidan's vision went blurry, and he had to force himself to stay semi-conscious. "You put yourself in a position to get caught. And worse? You put yourself in a position to compromise the Dark Lord."
Aidan's fingers dung into his flesh. He could feel warm, sticky blood coat begin to coat his fingers. He wanted to yell at Rabastan that he was wrong, that he would never compromise the Dark Lord, but he couldn't even manage to produce a whimper.
Rabastan smile grew as Aidan lost the little remaining color he had. Aidan felt his body go cold. His arms fell limply to his sides, and he looked at Rabastan with an empty expression.
"For that, Aidan, you must die," Rabastan said coldly.
The last thing Aidan saw before he suffocated was the look of merriment in Rabastan's eyes.
Dumbledore's eyes were narrowed in thought, his lips in a tight line, and his body so rigid it looked as though she had been petrified. His demeanor was that of a man deep in serious thought, and only his deathly pale skin gave away the worry he felt.
Tonks looked around the room, and everyone else wore a similar expression. Tonks' hands were shaking and she shoved them into her pockets. She could scarcely believe what had transpired. Even for Voldemort it was a sickening display of depravity.
Twenty five. That was the number of men and women murdered in the Ministry interrogation rooms in less than twenty minutes. People from various departments in the Ministry, of different age groups, and backgrounds. All had been found to own illegal objects, and suspected to be Death Eaters. All without a doubt, murdered on the orders of Voldemort. And that didn't include the aurors who had been killed. Two men with wives and children, who were merely doing their jobs.
Tonks' stomach twisted as a horrendously vivid memory from that morning flew unbidden into her mind.
***Six hours earlier***
Tonks rounded a corner and pulled open the door leading to the hall that housed the interrogation rooms. Immediately the smell of copper flooded her nostrils, and dread flooded her body. On instinct she pulled her wand out and her eyes landed on the bodies of two aurors, their wands laying at their sides. Tonks cursed and flicked her wrist, her wand swishing through the air, and an alarm sounded. A door at the end of the hall opened and several aurors flooded out, their wands at the ready. One of the aurors stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth fell open, and he was only shocked back into reality when another auror crashed into him.
"Check the interrogation rooms, and secure the suspects," Kingsley ordered sharply. His eyes flashing with pain momentarily when they landed on the dead aurors.
Tonks ran to the nearest room, pulling the heavy metal door roughly and sending a shooting pain up her arm. She bit her tongue as she stepped into the room, where she froze in shock and horror. Tonks' stomach flew into her throat and she stumbled sideways where she fell on her knees and dry heaved, never more thankful for skipping breakfast.
Tonks steadied herself with her left hand and slowly pushed herself up. Blood and something sour filed her nostrils and her chest heaved. Her breathing came out in ragged bursts. She swallowed hard and forced herself to turn around, her left hand flying up to her cover her nostrils.
Tonks couldn't bare to look at the eviscerated body for more than a few seconds, but she had seen enough to realize that whoever killed this woman had taken pleasure in it. Her intestines had been yanked out of her, and placed around her body, neatly, as though she were a piece of art on display. Her tongue had been sliced out of her mouth and tossed off to the side like garbage.
Her hand hardly helped block out the smell, and she could taste the copper in the air. She turned around quickly, stumbling over her own feet, and threw herself towards the door.
***Six hours earlier***
"We look like bloody fools!" Moody barked.
His harsh tone pulled Tonks back to the present.
"Alastor," Kingsley said calmly, but with a slight warning to his tone.
"No!" Moody yelled. "I will not be patronized, Kingsley." Moody slammed his fist onto the table and Tonks flinched. "Somehow Voldemort or his Death Eaters were able to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic and kill every single person we arrested. The Ministry is supposed to be secure now, how did they get in? How were two of our aurors slaughtered before they could sound the alarm?" Moody looked at everyone in turn, his good eye boring into them with suspicion. "These new laws were supposed to work in our favor, instead we now have Fudge demanding answers from Amelia, blaming her for what happened, and the citizens of Britain clamoring for answers. Merlin knows what the Daily Prophet will be saying about this in the morning!"
"As much as I hate to say it," Sirius said, his arms folded over his chest, and a sour look on his face "the old man's right." Moody's good eye narrowed on Sirius.
"Sirius," Remus sighed. "This isn't the time."
Sirius held up his hands.
"Alastor has a point," Arthur said. He took off his glasses and ran his hand down his face. "I too would like to know how the Ministry was infiltrated. It had to have been an inside job. No one from the outside would've known that the Ministry had moved two aurors to station that hall, when before it wasn't monitored. Had they not known, they wouldn't have made it past the guards."
"You think it was an auror," Tonks said in horror.
"Maybe," Arthur said, "or maybe it was someone who had gained inside information from an auror."
"As much as I don't want to admit it," Kingsley said, "Arthur is most likely right. We've all suspected that there are Death Eaters amongst the aurors, and this cements that."
"Who can we trust?" Tonks asked.
"Ourselves alone," Remus answered. "Anyone outside of the Order is suspect."
Moody grunted. "Pettigrew was in the Order."
Sirius jumped to his feet. "Don't you dare bring him into this."
Remus put a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "Sirius, he didn't mean anything by it. He just meant that anyone can be a Death Eater. That's something you know just as well as anyone."
Sirius' hands clenched into fists, but he didn't say anything.
"What are we going to do?" Tonks asked in a bid to defuse the tension.
"Once she's done being reprimanded by Fudge," Kingsley answered, "Amelia's going to increase auror patrols, and once again increase recruitment efforts. And I'll be calling an emergency meeting for this evening, I don't want aurors to patrol in less than a group of three."
"That's all?" Sirius asked incredulously. "More auror patrols? This will be the third time this year Amelia has done that, and look how much good that has done."
"Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do," Kingsley admitted. "We can attempt to increase the number of auror members, but we need to be careful when doing so."
Dumbledore, who had remained silent until now, stood up and said, "I think that's all we have to discuss for now. You all know what you're supposed to do." He turned to Kingsley. "May I have a word?"
Tonks' brow wrinkled at the hesitant look that flashed in Dumbledore's eyes, but she said her goodbyes.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Kingsley watched as everyone left the room except for Dumbledore and Moody. He glanced at Moody who was staring at him with both eyes, his jaw clenched, making his scar more pronounced than usual.
"You want to know if I've given it any more thought?" Kingsley asked without preamble.
Dumbledore looked at him over his half-moon glasses. "I know your concerns, Kingsley, but Alastor is right. I've tried to put it off for as long as I can, and as much as I dislike the idea…" Dumbledore steepled his hands. "It's for the greater good."
Kingsley sighed. "The greater good is an excuse people use to justify their actions."
Dumbledore remained silent, his chin came to rest on his hands. In that moment, Dumbledore looked older than he had ever seen. The lines in his face were deep grooves, and even his lips were pale.
"It's going to happen whether or not you approve," Moody grunted. "But out of respect we want you involved." He leaned on his staff. "We will never win as long as we play by the rules Voldemort expects us to. This is no longer about doing what's right. It's about doing what needs to be done to ensure future generations even have a choice. If we do nothing I give it a year before Voldemort declares himself Minister of Magic."
Kingsley looked at Moody with disapproval. He didn't like what they had suggested. It wasn't safe for anyone involved. But he couldn't deny that what they were currently doing wasn't working. All of the auror patrols in the world wouldn't stop Voldemort. The madman grew stronger by the day, and soon there would be nothing they could do. They needed inside information, and they needed it now.
"Do you have someone in mind?" Kingsley asked.
Moody grinned, making his scar look more sinister than ever.
Harrison stood with his body pressed against a giant oak tree, he was as silent and still as a petrified mouse. Very few people came this way, but he couldn't risk being heard or seen. His father had been in a foul mood ever since the Ministry had arrested twenty-three Death Eaters nearly two weeks previously. Everywhere from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley was crowded with aurors, people were terrified to go out, and even the students at Hogwarts were on edge. Now Tom wanted his plans to progress quicker which is why Harrison found himself underneath an invisibility cloak on a Saturday afternoon, waiting for Viktor and Ginny to come.
Harrison didn't know why they always met on the far side of the Black Lake when everyone knew they were dating, but Harrison assumed it was for privacy. Even though Viktor had been at Hogwarts since October, girls, and even some boys, fawned over him everywhere he went.
Harrison heard a twig crack in the distance followed by quiet arguing.
"Why not?" Ginny asked.
Harrison could hear a faint trace of accusation in her tone.
"You have nothing in common," Viktor snapped.
"But Daphne was nice enough to invite me," Ginny said.
"You don't know her," Viktor said ominously.
Harrison's eyes narrowed and anger surged through him. Viktor was supposed to be convincing Ginny to spend time with his friends, not the opposite. Harrison's right hand twitched. Betrayal and anger coursed through his body, and it took great effort to remain calm. Viktor was supposed to be his friend, and a loyal supporter of his father. Luna's words flooded into his mind. 'You will be betrayed by ones you call friend.' Harrison shook the words away, Viktor had always been loyal, he had to have a reason.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing," Viktor said.
"Obviously it means something or you wouldn't have said it," Ginny said, her words clipped.
"Ginny," Viktor began.
"Forget it," Ginny snapped, hurt.
Harrison heard footsteps stomping against the frozen leaves, followed by a heavy sigh. Harrison pulled his invisibility cloak off.
"What the hell was that, Viktor?" Harrison said lowly.
Viktor spun around, his eyes going wide momentarily, as shock and fear flashed briefly in their depths.
"Harrison," Viktor said in surprise. "Vat are you doing here?"
"My father can't afford to have you fail in your mission, and I was sent to ensure it's success," Harrison's wand fell into his hand. "And it seems that was for the best." He pointed his wand at Viktor.
"Harrison," Viktor said slowly.
"Don't," Harrison said coldly. "I'm going to give you one chance to tell me why you were trying to convince Ginny not to go with the girls to Hogsmeade, and if you lie it will be the last thing you ever do."
Harrison could see Viktor swallow thickly, his adams apple bobbed up and down.
"She isn't ready yet," Viktor said quickly. His voice pleading. It was strange to hear coming from him. "She's heard nothing but bad things about them from her housemates. We haven't been together very long, I don't think she'll believe me when I tell her that they're good people. She'll be suspicious."
"We need them to become friends, to feel a bond," Harrison said, "not get married and ride off into the bloody sunset."
"Harrison," Viktor said.
"Enough," Harrison said. He lowered his wand.
Harrison looked at Viktor and his father's words floated into his mind. 'Love. Lust. It doesn't matter. To the common fool they're the same thing, and either will make a person do things they never thought possible.'
Harrison smiled. "You care for her, don't you?"
Viktor opened his mouth and Harrison's eyes narrowed with a deathly promise.
"Yes," Viktor said.
Harrison wanted to strangle Viktor with his bare hands. Out of all of his friends he never would've thought Viktor would fall for his assignment. His father would not be happy to find out about this. For some reason they needed that foolish girl on their side, and Viktor wasn't going to ruin it. Viktor would hate him for it, but the Durmstrang champion would either have to understand or die. In this moment, Harrison was too angry to care which.
"You're lucky I'm not my father," Harrison said, and held up his hand when Viktor went to speak. "Go back to your ship, lock yourself in your room, and stay there until morning. Speak to no one."
"Vat are you going to do?" Viktor asked. Concern thick in his voice.
"Don't worry," Harrison said coldly, "Ginny needs to stay alive."
Viktor looked as though he wanted to argue, but he clenched his jaw, nodded his head, and walked away.
Blaise laughed, it was colder than a Siberian winter, and his eyes glowed with sadistic pleasure.
"And Viktor has no idea?" Cass asked.
"He'll find out soon enough," Harrison said.
"He deserves nothing less," Leo said. "What he did is nothing short of betrayal."
"You're father's going to kill him," Daphne said.
"Maybe, maybe not," Harrison said. "If this works we'll still need him alive."
"Going against your father's wishes?" Draco said. "It doesn't matter if he needs to be alive, you know he'll still pay."
"When Viktor finds out about this, I think it'll be punishment enough," Jenna said. Her nose wrinkled in disgust.
"Don't tell me you feel bad for the blood traitor?" Cass asked in shock.
"Merlin, no," Jenna said, an insulted note in her voice. "But I do feel slightly dirty about it."
"I don't know why you would, Leo is the one who should," Cass said with a smirk.
Leo scrunched up his face. "Unfortunately."
Harrison rolled his eyes and poured a thick brown potion into a goblet. Emeralds sparkled from the golden goblet as Harrison handed it to Leo.
"Remember, although this potion has been altered to give you more time, you'll still only have three hours," Harrison said.
"That's more than enough time," Leo said smugly.
Cass snorted, and Leo glared at her before downing the potion. He grimaced at the awful taste. A tingling sensation began in his fingers, and he felt oddly detached from his body. He barely noticed Harrison looking at the Marauders Map to find Ginny, or his other friends looking at him in fascination. He felt his chest widen, his legs lengthen, and his head felt like it was being massaged as his hair shortened.
"How do I look?" Leo asked, and Viktor's voice came out. His accent thick and heavy.
"Like a world famous quidditch player," Pansy said with a smirk.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Ginny sat with her legs up to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them. She watched as the snow fell from the sky and she shivered. She felt like a fool. From the moment he had first spoken to her, Ginny had felt that Viktor was too good for her. Too rich. Too famous. Too everything. But slowly she had begun to allow herself to think that maybe he wasn't too good for her. That maybe he was just right for her.
Then he told her not to hang out with his friends and she couldn't remember ever feeling so horrible. Was he embarrassed of her? Sure she was only fourteen, but she wasn't stupid. She knew she wasn't the prettiest girl in the entire world, and she knew that her B cups weren't impressive, and that they hadn't done more than kiss, but she thought that Viktor didn't care. Apparently he did.
A tear fell down her cheek and she wiped at it with the back of her hand.
"Don't cry," a heavily accented voice said. "You're too beautiful to cry."
A shock jolted through Ginny and she jumped up and stumbled over her feet. Strong arms grabbed her around the waist to stop her from falling.
"Viktor," Ginny said in shock. "What are you doing here?" She frowned. "How did you find me? No one comes up to the seventh floor."
Leo looked at her sheepishly and let go of her waist. "I asked the ghosts to help me find you. I vas vorried about you."
"You were?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah," Leo said. "I didn't mean to upset you. I vas…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Jealous."
Ginny couldn't help it, she laughed. "You were jealous?"
Leo blushed. "Ven I found out Daphne and the others vanted to spend time vith you I thought that if you vere to become friends I vould be replaced." He shrugged and looked at her imploringly. "I'm sorry, Ginny."
Ginny looked up at Viktor and he smiled at her. He raised his hand to her cheek and leaned down, his lips gently touching hers. Ginny felt herself melt.
"You don't have anything to be jealous of Viktor," Ginny said. She took a deep breath and steeled herself for what she was going to say. Something she had felt since Christmastime. She took a shuddering breath. "I think I'm falling in love with you."
Leo smiled at her, it was a grin so large it threatened to split his face in half.
"Do you mean that, Ginny?" Leo asked.
"Yes," Ginny said.
Leo grabbed her hand, "I feel the same for you."
Ginny's cheeks turned as red as her hair, and her chest swelled with emotion. She had read dozens of magazines about this moment, but she never though she'd experience it with someone like Viktor. She felt strongly for him and she would do anything to make them work.
"Come with me," Leo said.
"Where?" Ginny asked.
"Trust me," Leo said.
Ginny nodded and followed Viktor down the hall. They stopped in front of a bare patch of wall. A giant painting with trolls dancing around in tutus was the only one nearby.
"Close your eyes," Viktor said.
Ginny looked confused, but she closed her eyes. Less than a minute later she felt him grab her hand again and he led her forward.
"Open," Viktor said.
Ginny gasped. They were standing in a room as large as the Gryffindor common room. The walls were made of gray stone, the floor was white marble, and black fur rugs were littered across the floor. A fireplace taller than Ginny stood against one wall, and next to it was a large bed covered by a thick red comforter and gold pillows.
"Viktor, where are we?" Ginny asked.
Ginny felt Leo come up behind her, and he pressed his body flush against hers. His right hand came to rest on her hip, and his left arm wrapped around her stomach. He lowered his lips to her hear and a shiver ran up her spine when he spoke.
"Tonight it's our place," Leo said in a low voice.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Leo spun Ginny around before she could say a word and kissed her. He used his tongue to part her lips and he wound his hand in her hair. Ginny made a slight mewling sound before relaxing into him and grabbing his shirt. Leo found her to be a mediocre kisser at best and he wanted to tell her that she needed to learn to use her tongue, but he forced himself to make a sound of pleasure.
He pulled back and looked down at her. She looked up at him as though he were a God, her lips pink and her cheeks tomato red. Ginny was the opposite of his type. She looked to be barely a b-cup and he knew that she was a virgin. It wasn't in his nature to be gentle, but she would be expecting Viktor to be caring for her first time. But all he wanted to do was force her down and finish this. He didn't like Ginny, and he didn't trust her. The idea of hurting her didn't bother him one bit, but he couldn't fail his Lord or Harrison. He forced himself to smile.
xxXXxxXXxxXXxxXX
Ginny nervously slipped her bra off, not daring to look up at Leo. A finger raised her chin and she looked into his dark eyes.
"You're perfect," Leo said, as he brushed a thumb over her nipple.
Ginny flushed and a shiver ran through her as though she'd been electrocuted. Leo pulled her body against his and lowered her to the bed. Ginny's breathing quickened as his hand trailed from her collar bone, over her bare breast and down below her waist.
"Viktor," Ginny moaned, as Leo burrowed his face into her chest.
Leo walked into the room just as the polyjuice potion began to wear off. He felt his legs begin to shorten and he almost stumbled to much laughter from his friends.
"Shut up," Leo said through gritted teeth.
"Such a bad mood for someone who just got laid," Blaise smirked.
Leo shot his friend a filthy look as he slumped backwards onto a chair. Everyone looked at him expectantly.
"I don't know what Viktor sees in her," Leo said with a grimace. "I don't know how I got it up."
Cass wrinkled her nose. "I'm going to pretend I never heard that."
"What was your excuse for leaving after?" Harrison asked over Draco and Blaise's laughter.
"I told her that Karkaroff was expecting me back," Leo said.
"Good," Harrison said. "Now she'll be even more infatuated with Viktor, and she'll forget about yesterday afternoon."
"What if Viktor says something to her?" Pansy asked.
Harrison's face hardened. "If he knows what's good for both of them he won't say anything."
Ginny's face hurt from smiling so much. As she walked to the Great Hall for breakfast her head was held high and her eyes were sparkling. She had stayed up all night going over what had happened with Viktor, and she still couldn't believe it. Her, Ginny Weasley, had lost her virginity to Viktor Krum.
Ginny was too busy thinking about Viktor's hands on her that she didn't realize when he stepped right in front of her.
"Sorry," Viktor said, as he caught her from falling.
"Viktor," Ginny said happily.
Ginny threw herself into his arms and kissed him. She felt Viktor freeze and she pulled back.
"Are you ok?" Ginny asked.
"Am I ok? Viktor asked. "I thought you vere mad at me. I hurt—"
"Oh," Ginny interrupted, her cheeks staining pink. "It didn't hurt." She frowned and looked around to make sure they were alone. "Well, it did, but not as much as I thought losing my virginity would."
Viktor froze and Ginny's frown deepened. "Viktor are you ok?"
xxXXxxXXxxXXxx
Viktor swallowed as Ginny's words sunk in. The moment the words had left her lips anger coursed through him and only years of occlumency stopped him from exploding. He didn't have to be told, he knew exactly what had happened. Why Harrison had told him to stay on his ship. So that he could… Viktor couldn't even bring himself to think about it.
He had never meant to fall for Ginny. She had been just a young girl, a simple assignment. But he had fallen for her quick wit, her shy smiles, and her occasional bursts of confidence. And because of that her innocence had been stolen by someone who was supposed to be Viktor's friend. Viktor should have been her first, or a nice boy, not in such a twisted way. Viktor's hands clenched into fists.
He had thought he could see her get hurt. He had thought he could do his Lord's bidding. He was wrong about the former, so was he wrong about the latter? He had never before cared about causing people pain, but knowing that Ginny could've been hurt, it made him feel like throwing up. He didn't know if he could continue on doing this.
Why had Harrison done it? As punishment for Viktor falling for Ginny? Because Viktor had tried to keep Ginny away from the Slytherins? Viktor knew that he would be punished for going against the Dark Lord's wishes, but he had never thought Ginny would be the one to suffer.
A gentle touch pulled him out of his thoughts, and he looked into light brown eyes. He knew he couldn't tell her the truth, or both of their lives would be forfeit.
"Ginny," Viktor said in response to her concerned look. "I'm glad I didn't hurt you." He grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry, but I have to be somewhere this morning, it's for the second task." He smiled at her. "Ve vill meet for lunch, yes?"
"Ok," Ginny said, she looked confused. "If you're sure your ok."
"Positive," Viktor said.
He leaned down and kissed Ginny gently. He watched as she walked away before storming towards the Black Lake. Harrison and Fleur always went for walks down there on Sunday mornings and Viktor wanted answers.
Fleur's laughter sounded like a tinkling wind chime, but it died in her throat when she saw the look on Harrison's face. Harrison was looking over her shoulder, his emerald eyes hard as stone. She spun around and saw Viktor striding towards them, his face etched with fury, and his body wound tight.
"Harrison," Fleur said, "what's going on?"
Harrison didn't answer which sent a wave of concern over Fleur.
"Vhat the hell, Harrison?" Viktor snarled.
Harrison didn't flinch as Viktor stormed up to him, stopping a mere inches from Harrison's face.
"Viktor," Harrison said quietly. "Before you say or do anything else, remember who it is you're standing in front of."
Viktor was breathing heavily as he looked at Harrison. Fleur looked at the Durmstrang champion in shock.
"Viktor, what are you doing?" Fleur asked.
"Vhy don't you ask your boyfriend," Viktor said through clenched teeth. Harrison's eyes sparked. "You didn't tell her, did you? That you spent last night sleeping with my girlfriend."
Nothing could be heard but the rustling of the wind for several seconds before Fleur burst into laughter. It wasn't the beautiful tinkling sound that normally rang out from her lips, but a haughty chuckle.
"Harrison and Ginny?" Fleur asked. "What are you talking about?" Her French accent was heavy with disbelief.
Fleur looked at Harrison who said nothing, he merely continued to look at Viktor. Fleur felt her stomach drop as disbelief waved over her. She never thought that Harrison would cheat on her. But he refused to look at her, and her throat went dry. Fleur took a step backwards.
"Harrison," Fleur said in a strangled voice. "What is he talking about?"
"I didn't touch her, Fleur," Harrison said.
Fleur saw dawning comprehension flash in Viktor's eyes.
"Of course," Viktor said, and he took a step backwards, "you vouldn't do the dirty vork yourself. Vhy rip away Ginny's innocence when you could have someone do it for you. Vho vas it?"
"Does it matter?" Harrison asked coldly.
"Harrison, what is—" Fleur's voice died in her throat.
A horrified look began to form on Fleur's face, as the meaning behind Viktor's words became clear to her.
"I merely facilitated what needed to be done," Harrison said with no remorse. "Viktor refused to play his part, and Ginny was about to be lost to us. We need her to trust you. To love you. To blindingly follow you."
"So you had one of your friends pretend to be me and sleep vith her!" Viktor snapped, sounding both furious and devastated.
"Harrison," Fleur said in a strangled voice.
"We need her," Harrison said. "I won't apologize for it. It was for the best. Had you not fallen for her, had you done the job my father had entrusted you with none of it would've happened."
Viktor looked as if he'd been punched.
"If that is vat you believe, then there's nothing more for us to say," Viktor said.
"There is one more thing," Harrison said. "My father wants to see you. Now."
Fleur could feel the fear radiate off of Viktor.
"I too von't apologize for what I've done," Viktor said.
Viktor glanced at Fleur. "This is the real Harrison. It always has been."
Harrison's eyes flashed and Viktor walked away, his shoulders tense.
Silence descended once more and Fleur looked at Harrison who watched as Viktor walked towards the Durmstrang ship.
"Don't say it Fleur," Harrison said. "You know who my father is. You know that things like this happen."
"She didn't know it wasn't Viktor," Fleur said quietly. "That's…" A tear fell down her cheek. "Since the beginning of time my people, the veela, have been raped and forced into marriages. Forced into—"
"This is different. She willingly slept with him," Harrison said coldly.
"She willingly slept with Viktor, not whoever was pretending to be him," Fleur said with emphasis.
"This is why I didn't tell you," Harrison said. "You don't need to worry about it."
"Harrison," Fleur said. "That's going too far, you aren't a Death Eater."
"No, but I am the son of Lord Voldemort," Harrison said, his eyes and voice devoid of emotion.
Fleur took a step back.
Harrison sighed and stepped towards her, and she took another step back and stumbled into a tree. She hissed in pain and Harrison rushed towards her.
"Fleur, are you ok?" Harrison asked.
Fleur looked at him, and for a moment fear shone in her eyes, and Harrison flinched backwards.
"I would never hurt you," Harrison said gently.
Fleur looked at him, her blue eyes full of confusion and hurt. Harrison stepped forward, placing his hands on the large tree trunk, one hand on either side of her. He leaned in to kiss her, his lips landed on hers and for a moment she wanted to give in, to wrap her arms around him and just accept what he had done, but she couldn't shake the thought of Ginny and a polyjuiced Viktor. His hands left the tree, one flew to her waist and the other underneath her right breast. Fleur felt as though ants were crawling over her skin and nausea hit her like a wave. Fleur turned her head, and Harrison sighed.
"I need time to think," Fleur said, as a single tear tell down her cheek.
Harrison took two steps back, and Fleur ran towards the Beauxbatons carriage.
Viktor hissed in pain when he tried to stand up. His entire body felt as though it were on fire, and his right arm kept twitching. It took him five minutes to stand up, but he lost his balance almost immediately and fell onto his back.
"Get up," hissed Voldemort.
Viktor raised himself onto his knees then crawled to a nearby chair. He was slowly able to stand up, and he used the chair to remain balanced. His eyes spasmed, and he coughed sending blood down his chin.
"I hope our talk here has shown you the error of your ways," Voldemort said lowly. "And I hope you realize that nothing but death awaits those who stand against me. Do you stand against me, Viktor?"
"N-no, My L-lord," Viktor said, his words slurred. "I ap-polo-g-g-ize for my actions, m-my L-lord."
Voldemort's red eyes flashed, and his nostrils flared. He reached out his right hand to pet Nagini, whose tongue flicked in and out at a dizzying pace.
"I will give you one last chance Viktor, because the Weasley girl is in love with you, but know this," Voldemort pointed his wand at Viktor, "if you fail, or deviate from my orders even once, I will kill you and Ginny Weasley. Do you understand?"
Viktor looked at Voldemort, and he swallowed the blood in his mouth. Before this moment he hadn't realized the extent of his feelings for Ginny. He didn't merely have strong feelings for her. He turned to the right where his father was standing, disappointment and disgust written on his face. Anger obliterated his pain. As usual, his father chose the Dark Lord over him. He looked back to Voldemort and bowed his head.
"I d-do, m-my L-lord," Viktor said.
"Good," Voldemort smiled. "Crucio!"
Viktor fell to the ground, pain flooded his body, as he jerked and twisted on the ground. The pain was so intense that it threatened to obliterate all thought. The only thing that penetrated his mind as he lay on the ground writhing and screaming in pain, his throat ripping, was that he had made a grave mistake, and he needed to save Ginny, no matter the cost.
Auror Thomas Davies looked over his shoulder before pulling up the hood of his cloak. Ezekiel Smith following right behind him. They made a sharp right and turned down a dark alley, stepping over puddles and a broken bottle. They walked until they hit a dead end then Thomas pulled out his wand and tapped the tenth brick from the bottom three times in a row. The wall began to bubble, as if the bricks were melting, and a minute later a doorway appeared.
Thomas and Ezekiel walked through the doorway into a small coffee shop, the chairs were up on the tables, and the lights were dimmed. The shop was closed, so there was no one behind the counter. They walked towards the back of the shop and up the narrow staircase that led to a small attic. Thomas pushed open the small door and stepped into a brightly lit room. The change in lighting momentarily blinded him.
"Took you long enough," Moody barked.
"We had to make sure we weren't followed," Thomas said, his blue eyes scanning the dingy room. "I thought you'd understand given you're always going on about constant vigilance and whatnot."
Thomas noticed Ezekiel's grimace and looked down to see that his fellow auror had stepped on a broken bottle.
Moody barked a laugh then turned serious. "It's been three weeks, did it work? Are you in?"
Thomas' lips pursed, and he slowly raised his arm. He rolled up his sleeve to reveal a new tattoo. A snake slithering through a skull. Moody looked at Ezekiel who enthusiastically did the same. Moody smiled. They were in.
AN: Please Review!