A/N:
Thank all who reviewed Chapters 1 and 2. I'm sorry to have taken so long before posting Chapter 3 but I've been sqeezing time out of my busy school life to write it. Somehow I regret having made the story so mysterious and complicated so I need time to sort things out and plan which characters appear and what details are uncovered in each chapter. Anyway, I'll finish the story as planned.
Some of the mysteries are uncovered in this chapter, so if you've forgotten the details in the previous parts, please quickly re-read Chapters 1 & 2 first.
~ Thanks Section ~
Pottermanic, you're right. Draco was suspicious. You'll learn a little bit more about him that may help you fit the parts in the puzzle in this chapter. f, to understand the story, it requires observation, organisation and analytical thinking. Please keep on reading. Then, you'll understand the story and I hope you'll enjoy the process. HGW, you won't be disappointed at the pairing. You just have to keep on reading until the end of the series. princess_katrina, you're observant and quick-witted and have worked out the identities of the two guys in the pub. Good on you! Sby, sorry if the pace of the story doesn't suit you but there're reasons why I put in so many details. Anyway, please keep on reading and reviewing. Ron's Babe, you've thought of a good adjective to describe Dean. w&m_law, Ayleeandra, Jessica and herm, I'm delighted that you're making guesses. =Skade=, Penguin's Angel, *Ice Lily*, k. c., lynet weasley, *~*Annika Byrnn*~*, Unshed Tears, Hermione Granger Weasley, Aggressive Romantic Fighter, Ziegod Lizski, Eliza, sara, Lucius, Karri Potter, Ingenious, College Girl, mayagurl, Snoopy2000, Lisa Cove and reader, thank you for your reviews and encouragement.
- CHAPTER THREE -
REGRET AND REQUEST
"I pushed her into that and now I regret it. So, Dean, don't make the same mistake."
Before he could see my face trembling, I turned away from him and walked back to my study, leaving him to think for Parvati and himself.
*
It was an hour past midnight. A soft white gleam was radiating from Wooded Hills and sparkling dots were moving slowly towards the lowland, making the valley brighter and brighter every second. It was such a breathtaking and astonishing sight! Looking closely, they were unicorns, the most beautiful magical creatures, the blood of which could keep any living things alive even if they were an inch from death. Their pearly-white mane was shimmering in the silver moonlight.
While admiring the splendid and rare scene, Seamus and Dean were on alert for any unusual motion or presence around but there was no sign of any Death Eater up to then. Has Ron got the right information? Has Voldemort changed his plan? they thought.
Suddenly, they heard a sound from behind and quickly whipped around, their wands pointing at a human figure. It was ... Ron!
"What're you doing here?" enquired Dean. "I could've hit you if I hadn't recognised you instantly."
"I've come to help," replied Ron.
"You shouldn't have come. It's Aurors' business to deal with Death Eaters. Without proper Auror training, you're putting yourself in danger here," said Seamus, wondering why Ron would be so unwise to appear then and there even if he cared about them very much.
"Don't underestimate me. I can defend myself and won't be a hindrance or worry to you. It's better to have three against one Death Eater. Perhaps I will be of help at the critical moment."
Dean and Seamus looked sideways at each other, as if asking, Should he stay?
"Petrificus Totalus! Petrificus Totalus!"
Before they could comprehend what was happening, Dean and Seamus had been hit by the full Body-Bind and fallen stiff to the ground. Only their mouths and eyes could move. They looked at Ron in horror.
"Why did you do that?" asked Dean, totally shocked.
Laughter echoed round the valley.
"You - are - not - Ronald Weasley!" spoke Seamus through clenched teeth.
"Polyjuice Potion!" Dean exclaimed.
"You've worked it out," mocked at them the impostor. "I hated redheads but the hair comes in handy now. The Dark Lord knew your plan and ordered me to kill you. Well, it'll be too boring to do it with just a killing curse. I'll have some fun before I finish you off. Crucio!"
Dean's painful shriek pierced the silent night, scaring the unicorns that were several hundred feet away.
Avada Kedavra, a quick kill, was more appealing than the Cruciatus curse then if there wasn't a third choice, thought Seamus, but the situation was giving him time to liberate himself. As part of the training, Aurors were trained to fight the Imperius curse. Seamus could do it, then the Body-Bind spell shouldn't be any different.
He concentrated really hard and, after a few seconds, could feel his fingers able to move freely. The impostor might possess skills and cruelty but was too careless not to have killed the enemies immediately or at least disarmed them, thought the Auror. Seamus sprang to his feet with his wand firmly held and shouted, "Expelliarmus! Petrificus Totalus!"
The impostor was hit in his wrist and his chest and a wand flew out of his grasp, but Dean had already passed out because of the torture. It was the impostor's turn to be petrified.
No matter how much the hateful Death Eaters deserved to die a hundred times, Aurors were not allowed to use the killing curse on dark wizards. Seamus approached the impostor who was lying flat on the ground, two wands, his and the impostor's, in his hand, and wanted to search if the Death Eater had any more wands. He slipped his free hand under the prisoner's robe and reached out to a mysterious object protruding from his chest under the garment.
Suddenly, something flashed between them. The next thing Seamus knew was that a shining dagger was stuck deep in his chest, the hilt held by the Death Eater. Seamus backed away in pain and had snatched the mysterious object which was oval, flat and hard with a blend of blood-red and burgundy. It was a rare Hex-Absorption Stone! The impostor had not been bound by his spell!
Blood was flooding non-stop and Seamus fell backwards onto the ground, a hand pressing the small but fatal wound. The dark wizard strode towards him, dagger in hand, hoping to finish the enemy off before he could chant a spell. Seeing that, Seamus yelled, "Reducto!"
Without the Hex-Absorption Stone, the Death Eater received the spell in full, flew ten feet into the air and fell with a smack to a big grey rock, his head landing on the hard granite surface first. The face of the impostor began to change. The freckles were disappearing. The flaming red hair was withdrawing into the scalp, turning into thin, colourless hair and there was a large bald patch on top. The tall, thin body started to shrink to a short and plump form. The man was ... Wormtail! There was no life in him, definitely. That was confirmed by the transformation as any potion and charm would wear off when the person to which it was given or cast died.
Bearing the pain, Seamus crept towards the unconscious Dean, leaving a long red trail on the grass. He wrapped his arms round his friend and teammate. Energy was draining away from him, but he was determined to get what could be his last spell right. Leaving some of their body parts there wouldn't be a pleasant sight. Faintly, but carefully, he uttered, "Appareo!"
*
Parvati and I had been waiting anxiously for two hours. Just before I was close to a decision to go search for them, Seamus and Dean Apparated to the house, lying, weak and bloody. Parvati gasped and nearly froze in place. I motioned her to help me separate them. After inspecting their condition within seconds, I ran to the fireplace, started a flame, grabbed a bottle on the mantelpiece and tried to pour some powder into the fire. Damn! The bottle was empty. I had forgotten to refill it because of all the planning of that night's attack in the previous week. I couldn't use Fire Talking when it was such an emergency!
"Parvati, go get help from the Accident and Emergency Squad at Bucharest. Ask for mediwizards who also know Muggle medicine. Quick!"
She was gone at once.
Dean's condition was not that serious. He was weak and unconscious, probably having been hit by the Cruciatus curse. But I wasn't optimistic about Seamus. His robe was soaked with blood. His face was paler than a sheet and his body freezingly cold. Even with both my hands pressing hard to his wound, trying to stop him bleeding, blood was still streaming from in between my fingers. I could feel his heartbeat slowing down. There was nothing I could help him with magic as he had been wounded in a barbarous, Muggle way. My heart ached for my childhood friend.
Seamus winced and panted, "It was... Wormtail... I killed him... accidentally... out of self-defence...The unicorns... are safe..."
"Don't talk. Save your breath. There'll be help soon."
"It's... no use... My time is... coming... Ron... do something... for me... please?"
Both of us knew it and I couldn't curb the hot tears. I nodded affirmingly to show him I would do my best to fulfil his last wish.
"Give this... to... Lavender..." He took off the ring that I had seen him playing mindlessly that afternoon from the fourth finger. "Tell her... I'm no longer... angry with her... In fact... I have always... loved her... thought of her... After I die... if she chooses... to remarry... I don't mind... I just want her... to be happy...hereafter..."
Seamus closed his eyes and frowned. Whether it was out of pain or other reasons, I was not sure. He continued, "Tell Draco Malfoy... I hate him... but if he truly... wants my forgiveness... then... take good care of Lavender... or... I will haunt him... for the rest... of his life..."
I was taken aback by his last statement. As far as I knew, the last time Draco saw him was at Seamus and Lavender's wedding and the reunion afterwards. Suddenly, lots of things raced through my head, including what Pansy said about Draco the other night, and then the jigsaw puzzles seemed to be put into place. I finally understood why Seamus wanted to become an Auror and never returned home: He had been trying to avoid the origin of his misery in the past seven years.
I gaped at my friend as he mouthed, "Lavender..." His heartbeat finally stopped.
I couldn't believe he just died like that! I applied pressure to his heart with both hands for... I don't remember... so long, but it was useless. Staring into his face, at his open eyes, like the windows of a deserted house, I knew nothing could bring him back to life.
Just then, Parvati and three mediwizards popped into my house. I don't remember what I said. I just saw two mediwizards rushing to the side of Seamus' body and then standing up, eyes wide. I couldn't remember the rest of the night, except the blank and expressionless face of Seamus' that has burnt to my memory forever.
*
With Parvati by his side, looking after him day and night, Dean recovered completely after one week. He filled us with what he recalled had happened in Wooded Hills on that fateful night. I thought it over with what had taken place recently again and again the following days. Though there wasn't any proof yet, I believed I had an idea of who informed Voldemort of our plan and how that person had got a bit of me. I felt Seamus' death was partly my fault, first the Polyjuice Potion, then the lack of Fire Talking Powder.
*
Dean and Parvati left on a sunny day. That morning, they asked me who would break the news to Lavender. I said I would tell her in person, bringing with Seamus' last words. Of course I kept the content of the message from them.
Then, I pulled Dean aside and asked, "What're you going to do next?"
"Report to Dumbledore, and see what the next mission is."
"What about Parvati?"
"I'll take her with me."
I raised an eyebrow.
He continued, 'Like you said, nothing's impossible. Having a wife can't stop me from fighting dark wizards. Without her this time, I doubt whether I might get through it so quickly."
I couldn't help feeling jealous as I saw him slip his arm round Parvati's waist, both smiling at each other, and leave on a broom. Once, I could've been like Dean but, not knowing why, I failed to grasp at the chance.
*
Ever since Dean and Parvati had left, it had been raining. Every time it rained, I thought of her.
In the first two years after graduation, I had to go to-and-fro between England and France for C.A.V.E frequently. One thing always bewildered me. Every time I left her for France, it rained. She said it was because she was unhappy and, for an innumberable number of times, she begged me to let her come with me but I refused. The last time she asked me, I turned her down with a very lame excuse. Later, she married my friend. I hurried home on her wedding night.
- Flashback -
"My answer will always be the same. I won't go with you." A bride in a flimsy nightgown held by thin shoulder-straps was sitting on the edge of a four-poster bed, talking to a red-haired man who had just hit the groom with a Stunner. She tried to sound calm, but her clutch on the sheets was giving her away.
"What can you see in him? You've never loved him." The man was standing with his back to the moonlight, throwing a long shadow over her. His face could not be seen clearly in the darkness, but his voice was full of doubt and pain.
"I love the way he loves me. At least, he's not a coward. He's not afraid to express his true feelings for me. He returns my feelings passionately even if what I do for him is trivial. He would never push me away but take me along wherever he goes. He would let me stay by his side instead of having me worry about him all the time. And most importantly," she sounded dry, "he had never led me on for years and then, one day, said he'd always regarded me as a friend, only a friend, and no more than that. He's the type of man I want!"
"He's the type of man you want? But is he the man you want? I know better than you. You don't love him and you'll never love him. You'll be the unhappiest person on earth if you stick to him!"
"I may not love him enough now but I'll learn to love him as much as he loves me. Thank you for your concern, if any, for me but I'll be happy because he and I will love each other mutually. I'm sick of always being the one who gives. I've been so blind not to have seen him before. He's loved me for years and has the strongest feelings for me." She meant the last part to be a revenge for what he had said to her the last time he left her on a mission.
Her intention was achieved. Desperately, he said, "He's not the only one who's loved you for years and definitely he's not the one who loves you most!"
"If he's not, who is that person?" She confronted him.
"I..." The truth was on the tip of his tongue but underneath his heavy breathing waves of emotions were battling against a cliff of self-control. Finally, he approached her and what came out from his mouth was a hoarse whisper, "I ask you the last time. Will you come with me?"
"No, I won't go with you!" she said determinedly.
The patience and restraint he had tried to keep for the past ten minutes finally snapped. He grabbed her wrist and tried to drag her away, but she yanked out of his grip. As a result of imbalance, she fell backwards onto the bed but quickly propped herself up on her elbows. Shooting a fierce glare at him, she said firmly, spitting every syllable through clenched teeth.
"Listen. I was wedded an hour ago. From now on, only one person can touch me and that's Neville. Get out of my sight. I don't want to see you anymore."
He couldn't believe his ears. Upon hearing those words, he dashed forward and pressed her down on the bed, eyes burning with rage. This time, he had a very firm grip on her arms and was sitting on top of her, crushing her struggle successfully. There was no way for her to escape.
"What are you do-" Before she could finish the sentence, he had already sealed her mouth with the most brutal kiss she had ever experienced, with such a force that might knock loose their front teeth. It was hard to tell whether it was a punishment for what she had said or an act out of repressed emotion and desire that had finally exploded. His tongue was probing and lips were sucking hers so feverishly as if he couldn't get enough of her. His grip on her arms had loosened while his sense was being absorbed in her warmth and fragrance.
She knew she should push him away then but part of her was stopping herself from doing so. She hated herself for being weak and indecisive, and him for stirring up feelings that she thought had been cremated or at least buried. What was to come between them could be predicted if she didn't put a stop to what they were doing. Her dream since she first set eyes on him when they were still in their teens would soon come true, but snapping back to reality, it was only her wedding night, not their wedding night as she had always fantasised until she had given up on him a year before. Meanwhile, the moral, sensible and coolheaded self was reminding her that her lawfully wedded husband was lying unconscious in the living room and she would eventually hate herself for having let another man lay hands on her. Besides, deep down in her heart, she was still angry with the man on top of her for not having done anything to be with her when he had had loads of chance since their schooldays. Tears of confusion and self-contempt were swelling up in her eyes.
The tip of his nose felt drops of tears rolling down her face and the fire of fury and resentfulness was immediately extinguished. His heart was pounded up by guilt. He had taken her tears as a result of the hurt and pain he had caused her in the past. His mouth parted from her lips. He whispered, "I'll never break your heart again," and then started kissing every tear of hers. His hands slid upwards from her arms over her creamy, porcelain skin, along her shoulders, her neck, her jawbone, at last one hand settling on and caressing her cheek tenderly and the other stroking her brown wavy hair that had fanned out on the wrinkled sheets. Everything had been removed from his mind except her and the want to soothe his fragile, vulnerable and precious girl, but little did he know that such gentle act and overwhelming passion were the last straw on her.
**
A/N:
Questions for Your Thought:
- Who was a spy for Voldement?
- How did Wormtail get a bit of Ron?
- Who was the bride?
- What else had happened on the wedding night?
Thank you for reading Chapter 3. Some of your questions from the previous two chapters are answered, right?
I know it came as a shock to some of you that Ron's love married Neville when many of you guessed or preferred it was Harry, but there're reasons why I do this. First, considering the personality of each character and the relationships revealed up to GoF, Neville fits in the role in this story better though I have to admit that 'Mrs. XXX Longbottom' sounds tediously long. Second, after estimating the proportion of Harry's fans and Neville's fans out there, I want fewer people to be depressed later. Oh, it seems I'm giving part of the plot away!
Apart from that, what do you think of this chapter? Please comment and tell me your concern and how much you understand so far.
In the first three chapters, many events take place in Romania. Well, we'll be back to England starting from Chapter 4.
As the hit counts are no longer available, to make sure there are still people who read my story, I wish there would be at least another 10 reviews before Chapter 4 is up. If you can't think of anything to write in the review, then simply type 'I want to read Chapter 4.' But of course it'd be better if you express your opinion, voice your concern or give suggestions. Thank you.
Copyright © Mabel 2001