Chapter Eleven
The week before break was hectic and flew by too fast for Harry's liking. Only he and two first years were staying over the Holiday from Gryffindor house. The Weasley's and Grangers were quite adamant about spending time with their children this year despite Ron and Hermione's desire to stay.
Harry was glad that Sirius had decided to commandeer Ron's bed so he wouldn't be alone in the tower for the entire Christmas break. He didn't even mind knowing that it was probably on Dumbledore's orders to keep him from breaking too many rules. The two of them played games, practiced dueling, and even sword fighting from time to time.
Harry's favorite thing to do on these long wintry days and nights was listening as Sirius told him stories of when this room had been his own dorm. The marauders had planned their escapades at the desk that Dean now used and hid their precious map in the base of Ron's four poster bed when it had been Sirius'.
Sirius also relished these times, reliving the experiences of his carefree youth. Though somewhat saddened that Harry's own education had been marred by Voldemort's return. On Christmas Eve they found themselves talking about the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff teams scheduled to play shortly after Christmas break.
The knocking on the door was almost imperceptible at first, until the hand creating it gained some nerve and added a voice.
"Harry, are you in there?" The woman's voice was muffled through the wood.
"Yes." Harry answered by way of invitation.
Slowly the door creaked open and long blond hair peeked in. Genevieve had displayed several emotions in front of Harry, control, depression, anger, happiness, among others, each of them extremely intense. As she slid into the room Harry was surprised to see her nervous and embarrassed made even more so when she saw Sirius. Her behavior starkly contrasted her apparel, a thick, rugged, wool lined leather traveling cloak.
"I'm sorry to interrupt. I'll come back later." She turned to leave but Sirius answered.
"No, I'll go if you want time alone."
"You can stay if you wish," she seemed to want to say more but unable to form the words. Then all at once her demeanor shifted with a few deep breaths steeling her nerve. She fixed the men with a purposeful stare. This was the Genevieve Harry knew, so capable and confident. She glided across the room and sat next to Harry on his bed.
"My parents and I had a tradition in which we opened our presents Christmas Eve. So, here." She snapped her fingers and held them out until a wooden crate she had left outside the door floated in to hover by her hand. It was nearly five feet long and two feet tall stuffed with loose dry straw that poked out between the boards. She set it on the ground between Harry and Sirius who looked curiously from the package to her and back.
Harry tried to pry the board with his fingers, and invited Sirius to help him. Though they both received splinters for their effort and failed to loosen the lid. Genevieve giggled at them.
"What are you laughing at?" asked Sirius, sucking in index finger, the latest casualty of his war with the wood.
"You are both wizards, have wands and the ability to use them. Why not just."
"Oh fine, be logical." Sirius said exasperated yet playful.
Harry retrieved his wand from his bed side table and popped the lid off the box with a simple charm. The straw, relieved to be set free of its bounds, spilled onto the floor before Harry even touched it. He dug through it until his fingers struck something smooth and thin and in one simple motion brushed the straw away.
"Pendragon" Harry whispered in unbelief.
Dutifully the handcrafted broomstick reacted to its name and floated out of the box. The handle was so meticulously polished Harry could see a distorted reflection of the room in it and the twigs comprising the end were straight and sleek. Memories of the one day he'd flown this fantastic broom flooded him with exhilaration. He turned it over in his hands repeatedly until he found words.
"But I thought it was lost in the forest, or broken for sure."
"It seems to resemble its rider in that respect, Pendragon is a survivor."
"Thank you." Harry finally managed to tear his eyes away from the fine workmanship to look at Genevieve. "I got you a present. Would you like to open it now or tomorrow?"
"We'd better make it now."
Harry placed his new broom carefully into Sirius' outstretched hand before opening his trunk, from which he pulled a small box wrapped in plain brown paper. She accepted it with an endearing smile and pulled off the twine that held it together. The paper fell away to reveal a gold cloak clasp of intertwined calla lilies and ivy, a pattern he knew to be her favorite.
"This is exquisite Harry, thank you." She exchanged it for the one on her cloak with a wide smile while tears of mixed emotions threatened to fill her eyes. "Thank you."
Harry reddened slightly at the tender exchange but let Christmas excitement take over.
"Dumbledore promised that tomorrow's feast will be the best ever, as there are so few students here. He said the house elves are working on a special surprise."
"I'm sure you and Sirius will enjoy it." Genevieve said, refusing to look either man in the eye. Sirius had been quiet until now, letting Harry bond with the woman he'd grown to love, but this caught his attention.
"What do you mean, won't you be there?" Sirius' brow furrowed in worry.
"Dumbledore's asked me to go find Voldemort and see what he's up to first hand." Harry's jaw dropped in shock.
"You can't go, not now. It's Christmas."
"Christmas is the reason I have to go. Growing up as Tom Riddle he always hated holidays because he was alone. So chances are he may do something careless or more likely ruthless because of it. The Aurors are not getting anywhere, we are all out of ideas for how to stop him. What we need now is more information and I'm the only one who can get close enough to get it without getting killed." Her tone was full of frustration tinted with fear.
"But" Sirius rose to his feet trying to find a good excuse for her not to go, but couldn't find one.
"I'll follow him as a bloody dormouse if I have to and stay safe. Don't worry about me I know how to take care of myself." Genevieve said firmly, standing inches away from his face.
"I know you can take care of yourself, but that doesn't mean I won't worry. I love you it's my job to worry." Sirius stopped when the woman's eyes grew large and bright, and he realized what he said.
"Y-you love me?" She questioned.
"I've loved you for a long time now, just didn't know how to say it."
"I love you too."
They quickly closed the gap between them and embraced. She buried her head into his shoulder, shuddering quietly. As they broke apart Sirius reached a hand out to Harry to include him in a group hug while Genevieve wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I'll be back in a few days, hopefully with just the information we need to stop Voldemort."
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Christmas morning at Hogwarts was more spectacular than Dumbledore had promised. Harry opened his presents at the foot of his bed with Sirius. He'd gotten a new sweater from Mrs. Weasely. Hermione had left him a bag of chocolate frogs and mars bars. Ron had charmed a card to whistle Christmas tunes once the sun rose on December 25th. Harry had to be impressed with his friends creativity which more than made up for his lack of funds.
Sirius also had a stash of gifts. Remus and Rebecca had gotten him an arm band that could detect Dark magic around him. Some girls from his past sent him trinkets with their pictures and floo numbers. These he tossed into the trash while shaking his head.
"Sorry Ladies, not interested," he said after yet another picture present. Harry was highly amused.
"It seems you've gone from chased convict to pursued bachelor in less than a year. Just goes to show what can happen when you get your name cleared and your picture in the paper." Harry chided.
"Next time a reporter comes around I'll be sure to tell them I am spoken for." Another picture fell into the waste basket. "Well, it is nearly lunch time. Shall we see what's in store for us downstairs."
The house elves had outdone themselves this time. Every inch of the castle had been decorated. Garland was strung between the portraits and around the hand rails leading down to the Entrance Hall, there a silvery glowing mist hung in the air. From it carols were quietly humming. The cloud hung low in the Great Hall too, also emitting cheerful hymns and it had the effect of masking the vast emptiness of the castle so one could no longer see the enchanted ceiling, making it a bit cozier.
The only table in the great hall was a round one in the center, large enough to seat 20. Three Hufflepuffs were already there looking hungry. Roger Raven, the only representative from Ravenclaw, came in shortly after Harry.
McGonagall entered singing along with the carols from the clouds wearing festive red robes along with Dumbledore in blue. Most of the other teachers had gone home to their families except for Snape with Veronica by his side. Remus and Rebecca were almost joined at the hip, talking excitedly, exchanging stories and loving glances making it easy to see why Genevieve set them up in the first place. Remus was wearing the new cloak Harry and Sirius had bought him.
Every one found seats around the table and soon the air was thick with laughter. Even Snape forgot to be sour while they ate and told stories, aided by several pitchers of Butterbeer for the students and stronger spirits for the adults.
Remus clanged his fork against his glass to call for everyone's attention. "I would like to make a little announcement to my friends around this table." He pulled Rebecca to standing and put his arm around her waist, as much out of affection as for help remaining upright while he was a bit tipsy. "Rebecca Marsh has graciously and mercifully agreed to spend the rest of her life with me.we're getting married." Cheers and congratulations lapped over the couple as they sat down.
"How romantic." The Hufflepuff girls chanted with a sigh.
"It was the most romantic proposal I'd ever heard, he got down on his knees last night and everything." Rebecca sighed. Veronica almost choked on her wine.
"Well, all you have to compare it with was Harrison's!"
Sirius perked his ears at the mention of Genevieve's late husband. Normally it was a taboo subject, but as Genevieve was not around he hoped to satisfy his curiosity with her friends.
"I'm guessing there is a story behind that." He prodded.
"O dear yes." Veronica and Rebecca said at the same time, then bubbled over laughing once they made eye contact. They argued for a minute as to who would tell it until resolving to tell it together. Harry marveled at how fluidly they could transition from one person to the other, such that even while watching it was hard to keep track of who said what.
(Becca) "He wasn't such a bad guy, for a muggle. When they met he was a stand up comedian at the crummiest bar in town. What was it called?"
(Nica) "Frankz. He tried to do magic tricks, cards, illusions that sort of thing. I dare say his act improved by leaps and bounds after Vieve became his assistant.
(Becca) "It's legal in the states, to use magic that way because the muggles think they are there to see illusions anyway. His comedy was pretty good, that's what we liked best about him. No matter what, when he was around we were all in stitches."
(Nica) "I didn't think that was enough for her to go and marry him based on a fortune cookie."
Sirius interrupted briefly.
"A fortune cookie? I didn't think she held much stock by divination let alone something like that."
(Nica) "She doesn't, but from time to time she'll justify doing something with a fortune cookie." She turned to face Becca again. "Remember the time she was so depressed and we went through an entire bag of fortune cookies before we could find one that cheered her up." They laughed together at the memory. "Where were we, oh, why she married Harrison."
(Becca) "You know she had to." She stopped when she saw eyes widen around the table. "Noooo, that didn't sound right, nothing like that. She didn't have the right papers to prove citizenship and the government was going to kick her out of the country.
(Nica) "Harrison didn't want to break up the act so, how did he put it. 'let's make our deal more permanent', something like that. Then they go out to eat at the Japanese place on 5th street, with the great sauce."
(Becca) "Oh, I love that sauce. You kept trying to date the cook to get the recipe." Nica tried to look scandalized and blushed for Snapes benefit, but he seemed to be enjoying the story.
(Nica) "After diner her fortune cookie says, 'A deal', what was it again?"
(Becca) "A good deal is coming your way, grab it."
(Nica) "That's it, so she reads it, agrees to marry him and that's the whole mystery."
(Becca) "At least, most of it anyway." The girls melted into laughter at some inside jokes that only needed small glances to tell. "Harrison was sweet. It was like they'd known each other for years, when it had only been weeks." Snape, much to the surprise of the group, sighed.
"At least I can understand that. I felt the same way after just a few moments with Veronica. Like I knew everything there was to know about her." He picked up her wrist and kissed it tenderly.
Harry wondered how much the potions professor had to drink, and from the glances around the table everyone else was thinking the same thing.
Once Veronica repossessed her wrist, blushing brilliantly she smiled at her husband. "Maybe not everything, a girl has to keep one or two secrets to herself." She seemed to be considering continuing, when Snape pushed the issue.
"And what have you been keeping from me." His voice was still tender but not one that wanted to be crossed.
"Let's talk about it later, my dear." Veronica tried to strike up another conversation with Rebecca but Snape interrupted.
"I want to know now." Angry and verging on drunk his tone was now demanding. Veronica protested until she quelled under his severe gaze. She leaned close to his ear and whispered quietly, though the effect was explosive.
"You are a WHAT!" With strength born of adrenalin he stood and knocked the giant table over. Food and drink covered the rooms other occupants, while the table tipped toward Harry. "When.why didn't you tell me!" he yelled at his wife.
"Wizards marry muggles all the time, and don't tell them until after. I thought it wouldn't matter that I was a vampire." The younger students not acquainted with Veronica shrank back.
"That is no excuse for lying to me. I can not believe this, I never want to see you again!"
Not waiting for a response he stormed from the room shouting profanities dripping with displeasure and contempt. It wasn't until after the room settled down that Rebecca noticed Harry laying on the stone floor in the fetal position, clutching his scar with both hands and sobbing uncontrollably.
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After leaving Harry's dorm on Christmas Eve Genevieve flew through the forest toward the location the Death Eaters were last reported, less than 50 miles from the castle. She stumbled upon the camp before even she had expected it and back tracked quickly into the shadows.
It was a large area with snow covered tents every few feet blending into the trees. An enchanted fire blazed in the center of it all near the door of the largest tent. Death Eaters wandered everywhere but close to that fire or the tent. That must be where Voldemort is, Genevieve thought to herself.
Looking all around to make sure no one would discover her; Genevieve pulled a shiny new coin from her bag and inspected it closely. Content that it would do she held it inside her bag without allowing the coin to be sorted into its infinite depth.
"Recodre", she whispered as it spun. "Alright Dumbledore," she continued careful to keep her voice low. "Since I have every intention of returning alive you are now on notice. I will not be in the mood to report to you when I get back." She did not hide the regret in her voice caused by missing Christmas with Sirius and Harry. "So, to appease your curiosity everything that I hear, you will hear in all its exquisite boredom and completeness. Currently we are outside the Death Eater encampment. While wandering around let's see how many conversations are going on that may be helpful to you and please note, I would rather be a fly on the wall in the Great Hall than here."
Content that her displeasure had been voiced she transformed into a fly and buzzed around the camp. Most everything was quiet until sun rise and the only conversations that made it on the coin included the odd muggle- hating diatribe.
When morning came the camp snapped to life. For people who like to work in darkness these Death Eaters are early risers, Genevieve thought curiously. Looking around they seemed to be preparing for an attack. She continued to fly around looking for more information when two new faces joined the bustling crowd. Lucius Malfoy had his son Draco close by carrying several scrolls and rolls of parchment. Genevieve kept tabs on them hoping for a break.
"Come on Draco, hurry."
"Yes, Father." Draco was having a hard time keeping up because he couldn't see the rough forest floor around the bundle he carried. They entered a tent on the out skirts of the camp before Mr. Malfoy said any more.
"Alright Draco. You are in a very enviable position, but don't think for a moment that gives you the right to be cocky in front of our Master. You may or may not know something that the Dark Lord needs. Answer respectfully and quickly anything he may ask of you. Is that understood?" Mr. Malfoy snapped.
"Yes, Father." Draco looked terrified, but didn't let his voice waiver in the slightest. Mr. Malfoy gazed upon his son with a critical eye before speaking again.
"Get your notes in order then follow me." Draco rearranged a few of the scrolls in his bundle. When he unrolled one of them Genevieve saw they were the notes from her class. When he was done he gathered them up again and walked behind his father up to the large tent in front of the fire, with Genevieve close behind.
The inside of the tent was sparsely furnished. Only three wooden benches and a table sat in the middle, at which Wormtail's replacement as gofer for Voldemort, a young man by the name of Scott Avery, was reviewing some maps. Genevieve flew above the table and attached herself to the roof for a good look of everything.
"You are late" Avery accused them without looking up from the table.
"My timepiece says we are right on time." Mr. Malfoy shot back. Draco placed his notes on the table next to the maps and waited nervously for his father's further instructions.
"Bickering and back biting, just what I would expect from my servants." Lord Voldemort glided out of a shrouded corner and accepted the kneeling of the three men in the room. "Lucius, you say your boy was privy to a special class on Old Magic. Let us see how well he learned his lesson." Voldemort turned his gaze on Draco who could not get off his knees he was filled with so much fear. "Go on, boy." The Dark Lord demanded.
"We learned that Old Magic is based on nature." Draco managed to stutter.
"I know that. What did you learn to do with it?"
"Wandless magic. Professor Carrington said that once we learn to do it properly we would no longer rely on traditional wands." He continued reciting, skipping the basics when Voldemort demanded he do so. Genevieve was impressed at how much the boy had retained from the first term, although she felt sorry for him as well while hours passed and he was still regurgitating what he had learned.
Taking a risk, Genevieve flew down to see what she could make out of the maps Avery was still studying. Upon closer inspection they were of two separate places. One was a muggle town, the center of it an orphanage Genevieve supposed was where Voldemort grew up as Tom Riddle. The other was Hogsmeade and Hogwarts castle, at least the outskirts of it as both locations were technically unplottable. Avery was meticulously writing their plan in the margins. Two Death Eaters were going to be sent to the orphanage. While there they would kill and destroy everything in the vicinity, thus distracting the ministry. After the Christmas feast, when everyone was lethargic from eating too much food, the rest of the Death Eaters would attack Hogwarts. It's sparse staffing and students should prove easy pickings for their large army and then Hogwarts would belong to Voldemort.
Genevieve whispered quietly what she was reading to record it on the coin. Looking up Draco was just showing the ball he had grown to an overly eager Voldemort.
"Sorry Dumbledore, no time to warn you just yet, but don't worry, I have an idea." She landed softly on Voldemort's shoulder blade and crept as close to his ear as she could without being seen.
"Hello Tommy." She buzzed.
"What! Who's there?" Voldemort turned around and Lucius pulled Draco a step back while his master raised his wand to thin air. They could not hear Genevieve's taunting.
"Oh, is little Tommy Riddle scared?"
"Who has invaded my tent?" Voldemort roared. He shot curses of increasing intensity at a beam of light that had leaked into the tent, ripping a hole through the material.
"You never liked Holidays did you, Enigma. Sorry, you never liked being called that." Voldemort's wand erupted with more curses stunning a Death Eater passing by. Lucius tried to entreat his master to explain his behavior but was instantly silenced with a glare from those red eyes.
"I don't know who you are or how you got here, but prepare to die, slowly and painfully." Voldemort's eyes narrowed as he appraised each object in the room. A mouse scampering across the floor was soon met with "Avada Kedavara."
"Poor, mouse. You'll have to look higher than that to find me." Genevieve continued her mocking.
"I shall find you." He stood in the hole he had created in the side of his tent and ordered near by Death Eaters to secure the perimeter. "Speak to me. What do you want?"
Genevieve knew he only wanted her to keep talking so he could follow her voice, but gave him want he wanted.
"You should have thought about what I wanted before you killed my family, as well as countless others. Now, I get my revenge."
"Crucio, Crucio." Voldemort shouted pointing his wand at random targets. He continued, without caring that his followers were dropping like flies, writhing in the dirt. Lucius and Draco looked at each other with matched expressions that clearly said 'he's gone mad'.
"Nice try, icle Tommy poo." Voldemort stormed back into the tent still searching for his insulter.
"Come out and fight like a man." He commanded.
"No, as much fun as that sounds I think I'll just stay inside your head. It's quiet interesting in here, though you may want to try dusting from time to time. The cob webs are getting out of hand." From the safety of her perch Genevieve rather enjoyed goading Voldemort. She levitated a few objects in the room and laughed as he murdered each one with Avada Kedavera.
"Now that's what I call over kill." Genevieve didn't care much for her bad pun, and neither did Voldemort. Spells flew from his wand as fast as he could cast them, until the tent fell in on him. Draco managed to untangle himself from the falling material but Lucius was not so fortunate. Looking back Draco saw his father's face grow ridged and he fell to the earth surrounded by green light. The young Slytherin almost stopped to save the fallen body but scrambled behind a log when Voldemort stepped through a new tear in the tent.
The man looked beyond murderous. Confusion ran as fast as the campers could flee their deranged master. He killed anything that moved, whether it be man, beast or rustling leaves in the trees. Were it possible he would have killed the wind.
Genevieve started to fly away, secure in the knowledge that his depleted force could not hope to invade Hogwarts when she saw Draco peek out from his hiding place. Voldemort still livid raised his wand to the movement and shouted "crucio." Light ruptured from his wand toward its victim, while Genevieve, retook human form and beat it there without waiting to hear which curse it was.
Pushing the boy out of the way she raised her hands to the encroaching curse. It slowed slightly, but built in intensity when Voldemort saw her standing there. He kept his wand outstretched to fortify his effort, wishing only that it had been the killing curse. Draco's normally immaculate robes were now covered in filth as he lay on the ground watching the power struggle. Genevieve had now managed to push the curse back a few feet and chanced a look in Draco's direction. "Run, Draco." She yelled, so he did.
"You will die, painfully and at my hand I swear it." Voldemort cackled. A gleam caught Genevieve's eye, a Death Eater was stirring.
"Not today, Tom." She smiled viciously at her foe then swiftly changed the angle of her hands from pushing back the curse to redirecting it toward the movement. The curse shot through her hands burning them deeply but there was not time to care. Grabbing her broom she exploded into the air, zig zagging to avoid further curses, until she was far enough away to fall to the damp earth and pass out from pain and exhaustion.
The week before break was hectic and flew by too fast for Harry's liking. Only he and two first years were staying over the Holiday from Gryffindor house. The Weasley's and Grangers were quite adamant about spending time with their children this year despite Ron and Hermione's desire to stay.
Harry was glad that Sirius had decided to commandeer Ron's bed so he wouldn't be alone in the tower for the entire Christmas break. He didn't even mind knowing that it was probably on Dumbledore's orders to keep him from breaking too many rules. The two of them played games, practiced dueling, and even sword fighting from time to time.
Harry's favorite thing to do on these long wintry days and nights was listening as Sirius told him stories of when this room had been his own dorm. The marauders had planned their escapades at the desk that Dean now used and hid their precious map in the base of Ron's four poster bed when it had been Sirius'.
Sirius also relished these times, reliving the experiences of his carefree youth. Though somewhat saddened that Harry's own education had been marred by Voldemort's return. On Christmas Eve they found themselves talking about the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff teams scheduled to play shortly after Christmas break.
The knocking on the door was almost imperceptible at first, until the hand creating it gained some nerve and added a voice.
"Harry, are you in there?" The woman's voice was muffled through the wood.
"Yes." Harry answered by way of invitation.
Slowly the door creaked open and long blond hair peeked in. Genevieve had displayed several emotions in front of Harry, control, depression, anger, happiness, among others, each of them extremely intense. As she slid into the room Harry was surprised to see her nervous and embarrassed made even more so when she saw Sirius. Her behavior starkly contrasted her apparel, a thick, rugged, wool lined leather traveling cloak.
"I'm sorry to interrupt. I'll come back later." She turned to leave but Sirius answered.
"No, I'll go if you want time alone."
"You can stay if you wish," she seemed to want to say more but unable to form the words. Then all at once her demeanor shifted with a few deep breaths steeling her nerve. She fixed the men with a purposeful stare. This was the Genevieve Harry knew, so capable and confident. She glided across the room and sat next to Harry on his bed.
"My parents and I had a tradition in which we opened our presents Christmas Eve. So, here." She snapped her fingers and held them out until a wooden crate she had left outside the door floated in to hover by her hand. It was nearly five feet long and two feet tall stuffed with loose dry straw that poked out between the boards. She set it on the ground between Harry and Sirius who looked curiously from the package to her and back.
Harry tried to pry the board with his fingers, and invited Sirius to help him. Though they both received splinters for their effort and failed to loosen the lid. Genevieve giggled at them.
"What are you laughing at?" asked Sirius, sucking in index finger, the latest casualty of his war with the wood.
"You are both wizards, have wands and the ability to use them. Why not just."
"Oh fine, be logical." Sirius said exasperated yet playful.
Harry retrieved his wand from his bed side table and popped the lid off the box with a simple charm. The straw, relieved to be set free of its bounds, spilled onto the floor before Harry even touched it. He dug through it until his fingers struck something smooth and thin and in one simple motion brushed the straw away.
"Pendragon" Harry whispered in unbelief.
Dutifully the handcrafted broomstick reacted to its name and floated out of the box. The handle was so meticulously polished Harry could see a distorted reflection of the room in it and the twigs comprising the end were straight and sleek. Memories of the one day he'd flown this fantastic broom flooded him with exhilaration. He turned it over in his hands repeatedly until he found words.
"But I thought it was lost in the forest, or broken for sure."
"It seems to resemble its rider in that respect, Pendragon is a survivor."
"Thank you." Harry finally managed to tear his eyes away from the fine workmanship to look at Genevieve. "I got you a present. Would you like to open it now or tomorrow?"
"We'd better make it now."
Harry placed his new broom carefully into Sirius' outstretched hand before opening his trunk, from which he pulled a small box wrapped in plain brown paper. She accepted it with an endearing smile and pulled off the twine that held it together. The paper fell away to reveal a gold cloak clasp of intertwined calla lilies and ivy, a pattern he knew to be her favorite.
"This is exquisite Harry, thank you." She exchanged it for the one on her cloak with a wide smile while tears of mixed emotions threatened to fill her eyes. "Thank you."
Harry reddened slightly at the tender exchange but let Christmas excitement take over.
"Dumbledore promised that tomorrow's feast will be the best ever, as there are so few students here. He said the house elves are working on a special surprise."
"I'm sure you and Sirius will enjoy it." Genevieve said, refusing to look either man in the eye. Sirius had been quiet until now, letting Harry bond with the woman he'd grown to love, but this caught his attention.
"What do you mean, won't you be there?" Sirius' brow furrowed in worry.
"Dumbledore's asked me to go find Voldemort and see what he's up to first hand." Harry's jaw dropped in shock.
"You can't go, not now. It's Christmas."
"Christmas is the reason I have to go. Growing up as Tom Riddle he always hated holidays because he was alone. So chances are he may do something careless or more likely ruthless because of it. The Aurors are not getting anywhere, we are all out of ideas for how to stop him. What we need now is more information and I'm the only one who can get close enough to get it without getting killed." Her tone was full of frustration tinted with fear.
"But" Sirius rose to his feet trying to find a good excuse for her not to go, but couldn't find one.
"I'll follow him as a bloody dormouse if I have to and stay safe. Don't worry about me I know how to take care of myself." Genevieve said firmly, standing inches away from his face.
"I know you can take care of yourself, but that doesn't mean I won't worry. I love you it's my job to worry." Sirius stopped when the woman's eyes grew large and bright, and he realized what he said.
"Y-you love me?" She questioned.
"I've loved you for a long time now, just didn't know how to say it."
"I love you too."
They quickly closed the gap between them and embraced. She buried her head into his shoulder, shuddering quietly. As they broke apart Sirius reached a hand out to Harry to include him in a group hug while Genevieve wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I'll be back in a few days, hopefully with just the information we need to stop Voldemort."
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Christmas morning at Hogwarts was more spectacular than Dumbledore had promised. Harry opened his presents at the foot of his bed with Sirius. He'd gotten a new sweater from Mrs. Weasely. Hermione had left him a bag of chocolate frogs and mars bars. Ron had charmed a card to whistle Christmas tunes once the sun rose on December 25th. Harry had to be impressed with his friends creativity which more than made up for his lack of funds.
Sirius also had a stash of gifts. Remus and Rebecca had gotten him an arm band that could detect Dark magic around him. Some girls from his past sent him trinkets with their pictures and floo numbers. These he tossed into the trash while shaking his head.
"Sorry Ladies, not interested," he said after yet another picture present. Harry was highly amused.
"It seems you've gone from chased convict to pursued bachelor in less than a year. Just goes to show what can happen when you get your name cleared and your picture in the paper." Harry chided.
"Next time a reporter comes around I'll be sure to tell them I am spoken for." Another picture fell into the waste basket. "Well, it is nearly lunch time. Shall we see what's in store for us downstairs."
The house elves had outdone themselves this time. Every inch of the castle had been decorated. Garland was strung between the portraits and around the hand rails leading down to the Entrance Hall, there a silvery glowing mist hung in the air. From it carols were quietly humming. The cloud hung low in the Great Hall too, also emitting cheerful hymns and it had the effect of masking the vast emptiness of the castle so one could no longer see the enchanted ceiling, making it a bit cozier.
The only table in the great hall was a round one in the center, large enough to seat 20. Three Hufflepuffs were already there looking hungry. Roger Raven, the only representative from Ravenclaw, came in shortly after Harry.
McGonagall entered singing along with the carols from the clouds wearing festive red robes along with Dumbledore in blue. Most of the other teachers had gone home to their families except for Snape with Veronica by his side. Remus and Rebecca were almost joined at the hip, talking excitedly, exchanging stories and loving glances making it easy to see why Genevieve set them up in the first place. Remus was wearing the new cloak Harry and Sirius had bought him.
Every one found seats around the table and soon the air was thick with laughter. Even Snape forgot to be sour while they ate and told stories, aided by several pitchers of Butterbeer for the students and stronger spirits for the adults.
Remus clanged his fork against his glass to call for everyone's attention. "I would like to make a little announcement to my friends around this table." He pulled Rebecca to standing and put his arm around her waist, as much out of affection as for help remaining upright while he was a bit tipsy. "Rebecca Marsh has graciously and mercifully agreed to spend the rest of her life with me.we're getting married." Cheers and congratulations lapped over the couple as they sat down.
"How romantic." The Hufflepuff girls chanted with a sigh.
"It was the most romantic proposal I'd ever heard, he got down on his knees last night and everything." Rebecca sighed. Veronica almost choked on her wine.
"Well, all you have to compare it with was Harrison's!"
Sirius perked his ears at the mention of Genevieve's late husband. Normally it was a taboo subject, but as Genevieve was not around he hoped to satisfy his curiosity with her friends.
"I'm guessing there is a story behind that." He prodded.
"O dear yes." Veronica and Rebecca said at the same time, then bubbled over laughing once they made eye contact. They argued for a minute as to who would tell it until resolving to tell it together. Harry marveled at how fluidly they could transition from one person to the other, such that even while watching it was hard to keep track of who said what.
(Becca) "He wasn't such a bad guy, for a muggle. When they met he was a stand up comedian at the crummiest bar in town. What was it called?"
(Nica) "Frankz. He tried to do magic tricks, cards, illusions that sort of thing. I dare say his act improved by leaps and bounds after Vieve became his assistant.
(Becca) "It's legal in the states, to use magic that way because the muggles think they are there to see illusions anyway. His comedy was pretty good, that's what we liked best about him. No matter what, when he was around we were all in stitches."
(Nica) "I didn't think that was enough for her to go and marry him based on a fortune cookie."
Sirius interrupted briefly.
"A fortune cookie? I didn't think she held much stock by divination let alone something like that."
(Nica) "She doesn't, but from time to time she'll justify doing something with a fortune cookie." She turned to face Becca again. "Remember the time she was so depressed and we went through an entire bag of fortune cookies before we could find one that cheered her up." They laughed together at the memory. "Where were we, oh, why she married Harrison."
(Becca) "You know she had to." She stopped when she saw eyes widen around the table. "Noooo, that didn't sound right, nothing like that. She didn't have the right papers to prove citizenship and the government was going to kick her out of the country.
(Nica) "Harrison didn't want to break up the act so, how did he put it. 'let's make our deal more permanent', something like that. Then they go out to eat at the Japanese place on 5th street, with the great sauce."
(Becca) "Oh, I love that sauce. You kept trying to date the cook to get the recipe." Nica tried to look scandalized and blushed for Snapes benefit, but he seemed to be enjoying the story.
(Nica) "After diner her fortune cookie says, 'A deal', what was it again?"
(Becca) "A good deal is coming your way, grab it."
(Nica) "That's it, so she reads it, agrees to marry him and that's the whole mystery."
(Becca) "At least, most of it anyway." The girls melted into laughter at some inside jokes that only needed small glances to tell. "Harrison was sweet. It was like they'd known each other for years, when it had only been weeks." Snape, much to the surprise of the group, sighed.
"At least I can understand that. I felt the same way after just a few moments with Veronica. Like I knew everything there was to know about her." He picked up her wrist and kissed it tenderly.
Harry wondered how much the potions professor had to drink, and from the glances around the table everyone else was thinking the same thing.
Once Veronica repossessed her wrist, blushing brilliantly she smiled at her husband. "Maybe not everything, a girl has to keep one or two secrets to herself." She seemed to be considering continuing, when Snape pushed the issue.
"And what have you been keeping from me." His voice was still tender but not one that wanted to be crossed.
"Let's talk about it later, my dear." Veronica tried to strike up another conversation with Rebecca but Snape interrupted.
"I want to know now." Angry and verging on drunk his tone was now demanding. Veronica protested until she quelled under his severe gaze. She leaned close to his ear and whispered quietly, though the effect was explosive.
"You are a WHAT!" With strength born of adrenalin he stood and knocked the giant table over. Food and drink covered the rooms other occupants, while the table tipped toward Harry. "When.why didn't you tell me!" he yelled at his wife.
"Wizards marry muggles all the time, and don't tell them until after. I thought it wouldn't matter that I was a vampire." The younger students not acquainted with Veronica shrank back.
"That is no excuse for lying to me. I can not believe this, I never want to see you again!"
Not waiting for a response he stormed from the room shouting profanities dripping with displeasure and contempt. It wasn't until after the room settled down that Rebecca noticed Harry laying on the stone floor in the fetal position, clutching his scar with both hands and sobbing uncontrollably.
****************************
After leaving Harry's dorm on Christmas Eve Genevieve flew through the forest toward the location the Death Eaters were last reported, less than 50 miles from the castle. She stumbled upon the camp before even she had expected it and back tracked quickly into the shadows.
It was a large area with snow covered tents every few feet blending into the trees. An enchanted fire blazed in the center of it all near the door of the largest tent. Death Eaters wandered everywhere but close to that fire or the tent. That must be where Voldemort is, Genevieve thought to herself.
Looking all around to make sure no one would discover her; Genevieve pulled a shiny new coin from her bag and inspected it closely. Content that it would do she held it inside her bag without allowing the coin to be sorted into its infinite depth.
"Recodre", she whispered as it spun. "Alright Dumbledore," she continued careful to keep her voice low. "Since I have every intention of returning alive you are now on notice. I will not be in the mood to report to you when I get back." She did not hide the regret in her voice caused by missing Christmas with Sirius and Harry. "So, to appease your curiosity everything that I hear, you will hear in all its exquisite boredom and completeness. Currently we are outside the Death Eater encampment. While wandering around let's see how many conversations are going on that may be helpful to you and please note, I would rather be a fly on the wall in the Great Hall than here."
Content that her displeasure had been voiced she transformed into a fly and buzzed around the camp. Most everything was quiet until sun rise and the only conversations that made it on the coin included the odd muggle- hating diatribe.
When morning came the camp snapped to life. For people who like to work in darkness these Death Eaters are early risers, Genevieve thought curiously. Looking around they seemed to be preparing for an attack. She continued to fly around looking for more information when two new faces joined the bustling crowd. Lucius Malfoy had his son Draco close by carrying several scrolls and rolls of parchment. Genevieve kept tabs on them hoping for a break.
"Come on Draco, hurry."
"Yes, Father." Draco was having a hard time keeping up because he couldn't see the rough forest floor around the bundle he carried. They entered a tent on the out skirts of the camp before Mr. Malfoy said any more.
"Alright Draco. You are in a very enviable position, but don't think for a moment that gives you the right to be cocky in front of our Master. You may or may not know something that the Dark Lord needs. Answer respectfully and quickly anything he may ask of you. Is that understood?" Mr. Malfoy snapped.
"Yes, Father." Draco looked terrified, but didn't let his voice waiver in the slightest. Mr. Malfoy gazed upon his son with a critical eye before speaking again.
"Get your notes in order then follow me." Draco rearranged a few of the scrolls in his bundle. When he unrolled one of them Genevieve saw they were the notes from her class. When he was done he gathered them up again and walked behind his father up to the large tent in front of the fire, with Genevieve close behind.
The inside of the tent was sparsely furnished. Only three wooden benches and a table sat in the middle, at which Wormtail's replacement as gofer for Voldemort, a young man by the name of Scott Avery, was reviewing some maps. Genevieve flew above the table and attached herself to the roof for a good look of everything.
"You are late" Avery accused them without looking up from the table.
"My timepiece says we are right on time." Mr. Malfoy shot back. Draco placed his notes on the table next to the maps and waited nervously for his father's further instructions.
"Bickering and back biting, just what I would expect from my servants." Lord Voldemort glided out of a shrouded corner and accepted the kneeling of the three men in the room. "Lucius, you say your boy was privy to a special class on Old Magic. Let us see how well he learned his lesson." Voldemort turned his gaze on Draco who could not get off his knees he was filled with so much fear. "Go on, boy." The Dark Lord demanded.
"We learned that Old Magic is based on nature." Draco managed to stutter.
"I know that. What did you learn to do with it?"
"Wandless magic. Professor Carrington said that once we learn to do it properly we would no longer rely on traditional wands." He continued reciting, skipping the basics when Voldemort demanded he do so. Genevieve was impressed at how much the boy had retained from the first term, although she felt sorry for him as well while hours passed and he was still regurgitating what he had learned.
Taking a risk, Genevieve flew down to see what she could make out of the maps Avery was still studying. Upon closer inspection they were of two separate places. One was a muggle town, the center of it an orphanage Genevieve supposed was where Voldemort grew up as Tom Riddle. The other was Hogsmeade and Hogwarts castle, at least the outskirts of it as both locations were technically unplottable. Avery was meticulously writing their plan in the margins. Two Death Eaters were going to be sent to the orphanage. While there they would kill and destroy everything in the vicinity, thus distracting the ministry. After the Christmas feast, when everyone was lethargic from eating too much food, the rest of the Death Eaters would attack Hogwarts. It's sparse staffing and students should prove easy pickings for their large army and then Hogwarts would belong to Voldemort.
Genevieve whispered quietly what she was reading to record it on the coin. Looking up Draco was just showing the ball he had grown to an overly eager Voldemort.
"Sorry Dumbledore, no time to warn you just yet, but don't worry, I have an idea." She landed softly on Voldemort's shoulder blade and crept as close to his ear as she could without being seen.
"Hello Tommy." She buzzed.
"What! Who's there?" Voldemort turned around and Lucius pulled Draco a step back while his master raised his wand to thin air. They could not hear Genevieve's taunting.
"Oh, is little Tommy Riddle scared?"
"Who has invaded my tent?" Voldemort roared. He shot curses of increasing intensity at a beam of light that had leaked into the tent, ripping a hole through the material.
"You never liked Holidays did you, Enigma. Sorry, you never liked being called that." Voldemort's wand erupted with more curses stunning a Death Eater passing by. Lucius tried to entreat his master to explain his behavior but was instantly silenced with a glare from those red eyes.
"I don't know who you are or how you got here, but prepare to die, slowly and painfully." Voldemort's eyes narrowed as he appraised each object in the room. A mouse scampering across the floor was soon met with "Avada Kedavara."
"Poor, mouse. You'll have to look higher than that to find me." Genevieve continued her mocking.
"I shall find you." He stood in the hole he had created in the side of his tent and ordered near by Death Eaters to secure the perimeter. "Speak to me. What do you want?"
Genevieve knew he only wanted her to keep talking so he could follow her voice, but gave him want he wanted.
"You should have thought about what I wanted before you killed my family, as well as countless others. Now, I get my revenge."
"Crucio, Crucio." Voldemort shouted pointing his wand at random targets. He continued, without caring that his followers were dropping like flies, writhing in the dirt. Lucius and Draco looked at each other with matched expressions that clearly said 'he's gone mad'.
"Nice try, icle Tommy poo." Voldemort stormed back into the tent still searching for his insulter.
"Come out and fight like a man." He commanded.
"No, as much fun as that sounds I think I'll just stay inside your head. It's quiet interesting in here, though you may want to try dusting from time to time. The cob webs are getting out of hand." From the safety of her perch Genevieve rather enjoyed goading Voldemort. She levitated a few objects in the room and laughed as he murdered each one with Avada Kedavera.
"Now that's what I call over kill." Genevieve didn't care much for her bad pun, and neither did Voldemort. Spells flew from his wand as fast as he could cast them, until the tent fell in on him. Draco managed to untangle himself from the falling material but Lucius was not so fortunate. Looking back Draco saw his father's face grow ridged and he fell to the earth surrounded by green light. The young Slytherin almost stopped to save the fallen body but scrambled behind a log when Voldemort stepped through a new tear in the tent.
The man looked beyond murderous. Confusion ran as fast as the campers could flee their deranged master. He killed anything that moved, whether it be man, beast or rustling leaves in the trees. Were it possible he would have killed the wind.
Genevieve started to fly away, secure in the knowledge that his depleted force could not hope to invade Hogwarts when she saw Draco peek out from his hiding place. Voldemort still livid raised his wand to the movement and shouted "crucio." Light ruptured from his wand toward its victim, while Genevieve, retook human form and beat it there without waiting to hear which curse it was.
Pushing the boy out of the way she raised her hands to the encroaching curse. It slowed slightly, but built in intensity when Voldemort saw her standing there. He kept his wand outstretched to fortify his effort, wishing only that it had been the killing curse. Draco's normally immaculate robes were now covered in filth as he lay on the ground watching the power struggle. Genevieve had now managed to push the curse back a few feet and chanced a look in Draco's direction. "Run, Draco." She yelled, so he did.
"You will die, painfully and at my hand I swear it." Voldemort cackled. A gleam caught Genevieve's eye, a Death Eater was stirring.
"Not today, Tom." She smiled viciously at her foe then swiftly changed the angle of her hands from pushing back the curse to redirecting it toward the movement. The curse shot through her hands burning them deeply but there was not time to care. Grabbing her broom she exploded into the air, zig zagging to avoid further curses, until she was far enough away to fall to the damp earth and pass out from pain and exhaustion.