A/N: I don't think this chapter is written very well, besides, it's short.

Chapter 14: Tempests

The Ruins of Cladia were not a pleasant place. Walls were always crumbling; weeds and grass forced their way through the flagstone floors. No room had a complete roof above it. Even the ballroom, which retained the most cover, had many holes in it that let in the rain. Most of it though came through the towering broken windows. In a corner of the room where it was relatively dry, a small figure, hunched over, stared out one of the shattered windows. In the shadows, a taller figure crept, wand extended. The smaller man turned around, facing the active shadow.

"Hello. Severus, I might have known." The silent shadow continued on. "Very cute trick, but do you think you could fool our master? He's seen through your façade, but he plays along. Even the destined ruler of the world must find amusement someway. Nothing to say, Severus? Perhaps you have finally found your place."

Out of the darkness, the Potions Master's voice bellowed, "Crucio!"

A blaze of orange light emitted from the end of the unseen wand and in an instant illuminated the whole of the room, revealing Snape's twisted features of rage and hate. Peter Pettigrew held up a hand and the curse sizzled and crackled as it was absorbed into the silver palm. Wormtail laughed, "Nice try, Severus Snape, but as you see, the Dark Lord rewards all his truly loyal servants."

"Oh, really?" Snape growled. "Just as he rewarded Quirrell? He left him for dead, just as he will leave all of you when it suits him." Severus finally approached Pettigrew and if Peter had been taller, they would have been face to face. Thunder and lightening continued around them, wind and rain whipped their faces. "I don't care what power you think you have," Snape snarled, "you are, were, and always will be without any real power."

"Is that what you think?" Pettigrew grabbed Snape's hand and easily crushed it. The bones snapped, crackled, and popped under the pressure.

Snape grimace at the pain but had to fight for breath as Pettigrew proceeded to lift him by the throat, and crushed his trachea. Snape's mind only concentrated on the act of breathing, so he briefly thought the loud bang was more thunder, but when he felt himself crumple to the wet, cold, stone floor, he heard a familiar voice not too far away.

"Leave him, Pettigrew, it is I who you are to face."

Snape managed to open his eyes and fear gripped him as surely Wormtail previously had. He saw Mallory standing behind Pettigrew. Only, she looked different. Her gold tresses were tossed madly by the wind. Her eyes, although he always felt their glow, actually were emitting a pale blue light. Her garb was alien. A flowing purple skirt whipped about her legs, her torso was armoured by a silver chest plate, and gauntlets encased her wrists. In her hand, she held a sword. Severus desperately wanted to get up, to help her, but he still had trouble breathing and had to surrender, simply watching the horrible scene unfold before him.

"I have no quarrel with you, girl." Peter had to shout over the storm that was outside and was coming in through the holes and cracks of the old castle.

"I have come for vengeance!"

Pettigrew laughed. "Oh please, can we stop with the corny declarations? I know who you are. Must be O'Kenly's brat. What's this, want to join your daddy?" He pulled his arm with the silver hand back and with a great force brought it forward and a bolt of energy was flung from it. Mallory instantly brought up the sword and deflected the attack, creating a hole in the nearest wall. The newly blasted opening let in more of the torrential rain. All three inhabitants quickly became drenched.

Mallory twirled the sword in her hand with the skill of an experienced warrior. She raised it above her head, holding it so the point seemed to pierce the air and sky. She silently called upon powers greater then her own. A blue thunder bolt met the blade and its energy flowed through it, into its owner. The electricity and power surged through both vessels, yet it harmed neither one. Mallory brought her gaze down to Pettigrew, and he backed away, fearful. Even Snape, just regaining some measure of composure, was frightened of the spirit before him.

Pettigrew never had a chance; she was on him like a viper. She grabbed his shoulder and turned him so they were eye to eye. Her eyes cast a blue light on the older man's horrified, trembling face, while hers was stoic as she brought the sword up. It plunged into him just below the ribs. The blue energy she conducted flowed from her into the blade, to Pettigrew. His choked scream of pain resonated above the thunder. His silver hand disintegrated into a fine powder, sprinkling onto the ground. His skin began to split, blister, and bleed. The putrid, burnt, flesh was an unspeakable odor. Pettigrew's eyes and tongue melted within his skull, finally silencing the screaming.

Still, Mallory held onto the corpse, long after its demise, the lightning still surging through her. Finally, Snape managed to get to his feet and scrambled to her. He grabbed her waist to pull her back. A last burst of energy broke the connection, and they were flung across the room. Severus recovered more quickly this time. He stood, with Mallory not far from him. She was still clad in the strange dress, silver sword in hand. Her eyes went unfocused. Before he could catch her, she collapsed.

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A/N: A very extra-special thanks to my lovely Beta. I can't do action, but she helped.