Harry Potter and the Curse of the Gypsy
Author's Note: Hi! I've written a lot on this story lately...sorry if I've neglected other stuff you want written! I am just on a writing frenzy with this story...I seem to be having one idea after another. As for my other stories, well, those I am having writer's block. So until I run out of ideas here or finally get ideas there...well, I guess I'll be here for awhile.
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter I'd be the happiest girl in the world. But I don't. And I'm not. So there.
Chapter the Next
"You have to try Zonko's Joke Shop!" Fred said enthusiastically. "I mean, the best stuff in the world is there. Well, you know, except for the things made by Weasley Wizard Wheezes."
"Well, that would have been made by the Wheezes." Ron said darkly.
"Don't worry, chap." George said, clapping him on the back. "We'll get the money back somehow. We'd better...I'd like to personally let Fudge 'test' our products in exchange for firing dad."
Cory grinned. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. He may be my godfather, but he isn't exactly my favorite person in the world." She shook her head. "But seriously, how's your father going to get work?"
Ron frowned. "Well, he's been doing some experimentation with charms for this Japanese wizard company---British sect. But he won't tell us what it's all about."
"Well, don't worry." She said cheerfully. "It'll turn out for the best, I'm sure of it."
"I hope you're right."
"Well, what do you say about going to the Three Broomsticks first? It's cold out here...I'd like something to warm up." Hermione said.
"Do they have Butterbeer? I haven't had the stuff in ages."
"Nobody makes it better than they do!" They all walked down to the inn, with the exception of Fred and George and their dates, who decided to visit Zonko's...checking out the competition, Fred said mischievously.
With the four of them, they occupied a whole table. They had just received their drinks when Neville walked in, Ginny at his side. They began navigating through the crowd, looking for a place to sit. "Neville!" Harry cried, waving at him. "Why don't you come sit here?"
"Uhm..." Neville paused, looking at Ron warily.
"Listen, if you'd like to sit with Harry, I can just go and hang out at Zonko's with my brothers..." Ron started. Neville shook his head.
"No, that's all right. I'll sit here. I mean, you did say you were sorry, right?" He smiled as he took a seat next to Cory. "I hope...I hope you're feeling better." He stuttered. Cory smiled.
"I only hit my head...not much there to damage anyway, right Harry?"
"Uhm..."
She grinned at him. "No, you don't have to answer that. Either way I'll kill you."
"Right." He took a sip of the drink and leaned back. "So Ron...game is in a week. Are you going to be all right on Charlie's old broom?"
Ron frowned. "Well, I think I can manage...though for some reason, I don't think I've ever really done as well as I did at the competition in the Starlight Festival. If my broom were a bit faster, I think I could make up for the problems..."
"That's what I was going to talk to you about." Harry said, leaning forward.
"What do you mean?" Ron said suspiciously, as if he were afraid Harry was going to take him off the team.
"Don't look like that." Harry said, smiling. "What I was going to suggest was...why don't you use the special attachments I have on my Firebolt?"
"Excuse me?" Ron said, goggling.
"Listen...they were made for the Firebolt, but the attachments work on any Nimbus or Cleansweep series...I read the box. You only need to broom to pick up a little speed, right?" Ron nodded. "Then it's settled."
"But...how are we going to get them on?" he asked after a moment.
"Madame Hooch. She's already agreed to do it, so long as I had your consent."
Ron smiled. "That's...that's terrific. Thanks a lot, Harry. I'm glad...we're not arguing anymore."
Neville sighed. "Me too." Everybody turned to him, and he blushed bright red. "Well, I am. I mean, I was upset by what you said, but...well, after a while, I think I understood why you said it. Gram told me about your dad's job and everything."
"Oh." Ron said, looking down at the table. "Well, that's...thanks for forgiving me, Neville. And Harry, and Cory."
"I think we're all just glad this is over with." Hermione said, grinning. "So now we can get on with our lives."
They finished up their drinks and wandered outside. They walked along the streets of Hogsmeade, Neville parting ways with Ginny to return to the castle and complete a Potions essay. They were halfway along the road when suddenly...
"I've seen that dog before." Cory said suddenly, halting. Harry glanced up quickly, seeing the black, shaggy form of a dog sitting in a yard four houses down, his tail wagging...he appeared to be staring directly at Harry. It was Sirius.
"Oh...yeah, he runs around a lot. Thought he was a stray until we met his owner...a former professor of ours."
"Well...why don't we go on down and say hello?" she said, starting towards the yard.
"No!" Harry shouted. She turned to give him a strange look. "Erm...well, it's just that I don't think he likes having people drop by. He's a very private..."
"Harry! How are you?" Everybody turned to see Remus standing there at the door, waving at them merrily. His face looked tired, but he seemed happy enough...Harry guessed that, tiring as the werewolf transformation was, Remus was doing a lot better with a friend around to help him through it.
"Oh...hello, Remus." Harry said. Cory smiled and walked to the yard.
"Hello, Professor. I'm Harry's...friend. Cory Johnson." He smiled at her in surprise. Reluctantly, Hermione, Harry and Ron walked in behind her.
"Oh...hello, Miss Johnson. I hope you're doing well after what happened yesterday?"
"Yes..." she said, obviously uncomfortable. "But we were able to convince the nurse to let me come on down here...let me have a day off."
"That's good." He smiled, opening the door wider. "Harry...all of you, why don't you come in and have some tea?"
They all walked in, the dog following behind, looking at Cory with all the suspicion a dog could show in a glance. Remus led them to a comfortable looking couch and bade them to sit. Cory sat beside Harry, smiling. Remus excused himself for a moment, the dog following.
"He seems nice enough." Cory said. "Not exactly anti-social, Harry."
"Yes..." he said nervously, "well..."
"And you also could have mentioned it to me that he's a werewolf." Harry jumped when she said this. He turned to look at her. "How did...did you hear that at school?"
She shook her head. Hermione smiled brightly. "Well, of course you knew, didn't you Cory?" she said. The two girls shared a conspiratory smile.
"But how?"
"Gypsies, Harry. Remember...you're dating a gypsy."
"It's a feeling we get." She said, grinning. "It's only slight with Remus...or should I call him Professor? Anyway, it's a slight feeling you get...almost like I should dislike him. I'm able to overcome that feeling, but it's hard...in early days most gypsies feared the werewolves ate their young."
Harry grimaced. "That isn't good, is it?"
Cory grinned. "No, not really. But things changed a while back...a gypsy woman created the Wolfsbane potion."
"Giving these boys a history lesson, girls?" Remus said as he came back. Cory smiled.
"Of course, Professor..."
"Call me Remus."
Cory smiled again. "Yes, well...as I was just telling them, our kind have been enemies for a long time. Unfortunately, though most accept gypsies..."
Remus sighed. "Yes, of course. But you know how it is. At least the potion was made." He looked down suddenly when Sirius returned, still in dog form. He looked at Cory and gave her a low, rumbling growl.
"I...I don't think that dog likes me." Cory said nervously.
Frowning, Remus turned to Sirius. "Stop that...she's our guest and Harry's friend..."
Immediately the dog stopped and trotted up to Harry, lying down next to him. Cory sighed and set back.
Remus laid the tea he was carrying on the table. Cory took a glass and sipped at it. "So, you kids finally all make up?" Remus said after a moment. Harry blinked.
"Oh...you heard about that?"
"Hagrid told me. He was worried...of course, he does tend to get overly emotional sometimes."
"Well...it wasn't that big of a deal..." Ron muttered. Remus raised a brow.
"Wasn't that big of a deal? I heard that all of Gryffindor was divided in half...or was that just Hagrid exaggerating?" He grinned when he saw their perplexed expressions. "No, don't answer that. Just be glad it's over."
"We are." Harry said finally. "Everybody is...well, except for the Slytherins. Even Snape is probably glad...this way he can get mad at us for pranking the Slytherins, and not just each other."
"Of course. I was getting tired of it, after all. Especially with Cory on the other side...she can get vicious. Very, very much so." Hermione grinned at Cory, who returned the look.
"Oh, at least she only called you a know-it-all." Ron said. "My face still tingles where she gave me that smack."
Cory frowned. "Oh, I've told you I'm sorry, and believe me, I don't say that often. Believe me, I won't do it again unless you really manage to irritate me."
"I'll try not to." Ron retorted. "Of course, knowing you, you'll get insulted if I, I don't know, manage to breathe on you wrong."
"Hey." She grinned. "I like my air fresh and clean, thank you very much."
They chatted for a long while...Remus exchanging all the latest news with Harry, Hermione inserting a bit of her intelligence, as Ron and Cory half- listened while exchanging their own banter back and forth. Sirius sat, curled up, keeping a suspicious eye on Cory.
"Oh!" Cory looked down at her watch and showed it to Hermione. "It's almost eight...we're due back at Hogwarts in a half-hour." She stood to leave. "We'd better start heading back."
"Yeah." Harry stood also, Hermione and Ron following. "Thanks for the tea and the dinner, Remus." He said. He felt bad about leaving without getting a chance to talk to Sirius and gave his godfather an apologetic glance.
"Yes, of course. Come back when you come to Hogsmeade again...and not a day before." Remus warned. Harry smiled in understanding as he turned to leave.
"Come on...let's..." He started out the door but paused when he realized Cory had been left behind. He turned. "Cory? Lets..."
"Harry..." she whispered. Her face was ashen. Harry rushed to her side.
"Cory? What is it?"
"Harry...it's...I can't...stop..." she began trembling and suddenly she jerked her arm back, dropping the teacup she still held in her hand. It shattered on the floor.
"What is it?!" he cried. Hermione and Ron had started over and were standing next to them.
She convulsed and her eyelids slid closed. Without a sound she slumped to the floor, her fall broken only by Harry catching her.
"What is it?" Remus said anxiously, running over.
"I don't know...maybe she's still weak after the attack." Hermione said nervously. "Maybe she was allergic to the medication the nurse gave her for the wound...I don't know, I can't remember the side-effects of it...I read it somewhere..."
"No matter!" Remus barked. "Get her to the couch!" He bustled over as Ron and Harry lifted her onto the couch. She shivered faintly, her skin clammy and cold.
"There's something wrong with her." Harry said. "Something's really wrong..."
He glanced up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Sirius was standing above him. "I don't know what this is...but I agree, there is something wrong. Perhaps...perhaps she isn't as guilty as I thought she was. But..."
Everybody froze when they heard the shriek. They glanced over at Cory, who was shaking, her entire body wracked with spasms. Harry put his hand on her arm, but she jerked him off. Everybody was standing around, and jumped when her eyes opened wide.
"Watch out!" she cried. "They're coming...he's coming! Watch...help, soon. Get help!"
"What is it?" Remus said anxiously.
Cory looked up, her eyes cold and blank. And she shrieked one final word before returning to the darkness.
"RUN!"
************************************************************************
Harry stood crouched against a wall, his wand held tight in his fist. Hermione and Ron were sitting near in much the same way. Remus and Sirius were on either side of the door, standing in wait. Standing in fear. They knew it was coming.
Cory was sitting on the floor, a blanket covering her. She rocked back and forth, a single tear running down her face. Harry felt like going over, holding her in his arms. He couldn't. Something was out there...waiting, waiting to take them all. Something evil.
Something ready to kill.
"Harry!" Remus hissed. He glanced up. "They're dementors...at least fifty of them. There are death eaters with them, also. I don't know how many..." he raked a hand through his sandy-brown hair, looking more tired than ever.
"What...what are they here for?" he asked nervously. "Are they...are they after me?"
"I don't think so." He said wearily. "I don't think they're after anything...I think this is a test, more than anything. But we have to be careful...there is something that isn't right. Do you think you could be ready to do a Patronus?"
"What?" he asked, looking up in surprise.
"In case...in case a dementor comes." Sirius sighed. "I don't have a wand Harry. I can't do magic..."
Harry nodded. "Right." He walked slowly to the door. As he did so he took a glance out the window. All was black, like night, with the tinge of red on the horizon. Hogsmeade was burning...it was on fire.
"Hermione...go to Cory." He heard Ron whisper. Hermione nodded and slipped over to Cory's side, to slip an arm around her shoulder. Cory didn't move. She only stared straight ahead, shivering.
"Wait a minute..." Remus placed his wand on the door and quietly muttered an incantation. He placed his ear against the wood. "I can hear...just barely, I can tell what they are saying..."
Suddenly he paled. "Harry, go. Out the back, now!"
"What?" Harry asked. "But..."
"YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!" he screamed, pulling away from the door. Hermione and Ron looked at him with fright and tried to pull Cory from the floor. She wouldn't move.
"Come on!" Ron said. "You have to go!"
"I'll get her!" Harry said quickly. "You two...just get out of here!"
"Not without you two!" Hermione said. With Harry's help, they managed to get her off the floor.
"Get out now!" Remus said. "They're getting closer! They're almost..."
Remus flew back as the door was blasted open. Standing there was a woman, a black hood pulled low over her face. She walked in slowly, taking long, slow strides. "Hello, Harry Potter. So, it appears I finally meet you. At long last..." she muttered, her voice an echo of something Harry struggled to remember.
"Who...who are you?" he said slowly. He saw the faint motion of a grin from the shadows of her hood.
"I am...I am the one who will teach you what it means to oppose the dark lord." She said slowly as she came closer. She screamed when she felt the hand at her throat.
"Not if I can help it!" Sirius said angrily. She choked as he tightened his hold.
But she didn't relent. Instead...she began laughing. A dark, throaty laugh that held Harry in awe and fear. Slowly, she reached a hand to the hood of her cloak and drew it down from her face.
"Isabelle..." Sirius said, choking on the word. He loosened his hold for just a minute, but it was enough. A black light surrounded her and sent Sirius crashing towards the wall to land next to Remus.
"Isabelle?" Harry said nervously. "You killed...you killed his brother?"
"I did more than that, boy." She murmured. "I helped Lord Voldemort become what he was...and what he has become again. If you had not ruined things...well, it does not matter, because all is as it should be." She smiled, a smile both beautiful and terrifying. "And now...now it shall all be as it should have been, fourteen years ago..."
Harry raised his wand. "I...I won't let you."
"Don't worry, boy." She muttered. "It has been proven magic alone isn't enough to kill you." She sneered. She reached into her robes and pulled out something shining and silver. Harry and Hermione froze, realizing what it was. Ron goggled, unsure of what to make of it.
Harry could not move as she raised the gun. He heard the hammer click, and his heart pounded into action just as the expression on her face told him what she was about to do.
But it was too late. Harry saw black as the gun exploded between his eyes.
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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! I think this is the most truly evil thing that I have ever done! So, what do you think? An evil cliffie, eh? Hehehe...tell me what you think, all right? Will Harry live? Won't he? Ooh...what a dilemma for me...tee-hee...
Well, enough of that...just a note to PLEASE read and review! I love to hear your opinions, ideas, even your criticism! Just don't be mean, okay?
LOL! Megx
Author's Note: Hi! I've written a lot on this story lately...sorry if I've neglected other stuff you want written! I am just on a writing frenzy with this story...I seem to be having one idea after another. As for my other stories, well, those I am having writer's block. So until I run out of ideas here or finally get ideas there...well, I guess I'll be here for awhile.
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter I'd be the happiest girl in the world. But I don't. And I'm not. So there.
Chapter the Next
"You have to try Zonko's Joke Shop!" Fred said enthusiastically. "I mean, the best stuff in the world is there. Well, you know, except for the things made by Weasley Wizard Wheezes."
"Well, that would have been made by the Wheezes." Ron said darkly.
"Don't worry, chap." George said, clapping him on the back. "We'll get the money back somehow. We'd better...I'd like to personally let Fudge 'test' our products in exchange for firing dad."
Cory grinned. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. He may be my godfather, but he isn't exactly my favorite person in the world." She shook her head. "But seriously, how's your father going to get work?"
Ron frowned. "Well, he's been doing some experimentation with charms for this Japanese wizard company---British sect. But he won't tell us what it's all about."
"Well, don't worry." She said cheerfully. "It'll turn out for the best, I'm sure of it."
"I hope you're right."
"Well, what do you say about going to the Three Broomsticks first? It's cold out here...I'd like something to warm up." Hermione said.
"Do they have Butterbeer? I haven't had the stuff in ages."
"Nobody makes it better than they do!" They all walked down to the inn, with the exception of Fred and George and their dates, who decided to visit Zonko's...checking out the competition, Fred said mischievously.
With the four of them, they occupied a whole table. They had just received their drinks when Neville walked in, Ginny at his side. They began navigating through the crowd, looking for a place to sit. "Neville!" Harry cried, waving at him. "Why don't you come sit here?"
"Uhm..." Neville paused, looking at Ron warily.
"Listen, if you'd like to sit with Harry, I can just go and hang out at Zonko's with my brothers..." Ron started. Neville shook his head.
"No, that's all right. I'll sit here. I mean, you did say you were sorry, right?" He smiled as he took a seat next to Cory. "I hope...I hope you're feeling better." He stuttered. Cory smiled.
"I only hit my head...not much there to damage anyway, right Harry?"
"Uhm..."
She grinned at him. "No, you don't have to answer that. Either way I'll kill you."
"Right." He took a sip of the drink and leaned back. "So Ron...game is in a week. Are you going to be all right on Charlie's old broom?"
Ron frowned. "Well, I think I can manage...though for some reason, I don't think I've ever really done as well as I did at the competition in the Starlight Festival. If my broom were a bit faster, I think I could make up for the problems..."
"That's what I was going to talk to you about." Harry said, leaning forward.
"What do you mean?" Ron said suspiciously, as if he were afraid Harry was going to take him off the team.
"Don't look like that." Harry said, smiling. "What I was going to suggest was...why don't you use the special attachments I have on my Firebolt?"
"Excuse me?" Ron said, goggling.
"Listen...they were made for the Firebolt, but the attachments work on any Nimbus or Cleansweep series...I read the box. You only need to broom to pick up a little speed, right?" Ron nodded. "Then it's settled."
"But...how are we going to get them on?" he asked after a moment.
"Madame Hooch. She's already agreed to do it, so long as I had your consent."
Ron smiled. "That's...that's terrific. Thanks a lot, Harry. I'm glad...we're not arguing anymore."
Neville sighed. "Me too." Everybody turned to him, and he blushed bright red. "Well, I am. I mean, I was upset by what you said, but...well, after a while, I think I understood why you said it. Gram told me about your dad's job and everything."
"Oh." Ron said, looking down at the table. "Well, that's...thanks for forgiving me, Neville. And Harry, and Cory."
"I think we're all just glad this is over with." Hermione said, grinning. "So now we can get on with our lives."
They finished up their drinks and wandered outside. They walked along the streets of Hogsmeade, Neville parting ways with Ginny to return to the castle and complete a Potions essay. They were halfway along the road when suddenly...
"I've seen that dog before." Cory said suddenly, halting. Harry glanced up quickly, seeing the black, shaggy form of a dog sitting in a yard four houses down, his tail wagging...he appeared to be staring directly at Harry. It was Sirius.
"Oh...yeah, he runs around a lot. Thought he was a stray until we met his owner...a former professor of ours."
"Well...why don't we go on down and say hello?" she said, starting towards the yard.
"No!" Harry shouted. She turned to give him a strange look. "Erm...well, it's just that I don't think he likes having people drop by. He's a very private..."
"Harry! How are you?" Everybody turned to see Remus standing there at the door, waving at them merrily. His face looked tired, but he seemed happy enough...Harry guessed that, tiring as the werewolf transformation was, Remus was doing a lot better with a friend around to help him through it.
"Oh...hello, Remus." Harry said. Cory smiled and walked to the yard.
"Hello, Professor. I'm Harry's...friend. Cory Johnson." He smiled at her in surprise. Reluctantly, Hermione, Harry and Ron walked in behind her.
"Oh...hello, Miss Johnson. I hope you're doing well after what happened yesterday?"
"Yes..." she said, obviously uncomfortable. "But we were able to convince the nurse to let me come on down here...let me have a day off."
"That's good." He smiled, opening the door wider. "Harry...all of you, why don't you come in and have some tea?"
They all walked in, the dog following behind, looking at Cory with all the suspicion a dog could show in a glance. Remus led them to a comfortable looking couch and bade them to sit. Cory sat beside Harry, smiling. Remus excused himself for a moment, the dog following.
"He seems nice enough." Cory said. "Not exactly anti-social, Harry."
"Yes..." he said nervously, "well..."
"And you also could have mentioned it to me that he's a werewolf." Harry jumped when she said this. He turned to look at her. "How did...did you hear that at school?"
She shook her head. Hermione smiled brightly. "Well, of course you knew, didn't you Cory?" she said. The two girls shared a conspiratory smile.
"But how?"
"Gypsies, Harry. Remember...you're dating a gypsy."
"It's a feeling we get." She said, grinning. "It's only slight with Remus...or should I call him Professor? Anyway, it's a slight feeling you get...almost like I should dislike him. I'm able to overcome that feeling, but it's hard...in early days most gypsies feared the werewolves ate their young."
Harry grimaced. "That isn't good, is it?"
Cory grinned. "No, not really. But things changed a while back...a gypsy woman created the Wolfsbane potion."
"Giving these boys a history lesson, girls?" Remus said as he came back. Cory smiled.
"Of course, Professor..."
"Call me Remus."
Cory smiled again. "Yes, well...as I was just telling them, our kind have been enemies for a long time. Unfortunately, though most accept gypsies..."
Remus sighed. "Yes, of course. But you know how it is. At least the potion was made." He looked down suddenly when Sirius returned, still in dog form. He looked at Cory and gave her a low, rumbling growl.
"I...I don't think that dog likes me." Cory said nervously.
Frowning, Remus turned to Sirius. "Stop that...she's our guest and Harry's friend..."
Immediately the dog stopped and trotted up to Harry, lying down next to him. Cory sighed and set back.
Remus laid the tea he was carrying on the table. Cory took a glass and sipped at it. "So, you kids finally all make up?" Remus said after a moment. Harry blinked.
"Oh...you heard about that?"
"Hagrid told me. He was worried...of course, he does tend to get overly emotional sometimes."
"Well...it wasn't that big of a deal..." Ron muttered. Remus raised a brow.
"Wasn't that big of a deal? I heard that all of Gryffindor was divided in half...or was that just Hagrid exaggerating?" He grinned when he saw their perplexed expressions. "No, don't answer that. Just be glad it's over."
"We are." Harry said finally. "Everybody is...well, except for the Slytherins. Even Snape is probably glad...this way he can get mad at us for pranking the Slytherins, and not just each other."
"Of course. I was getting tired of it, after all. Especially with Cory on the other side...she can get vicious. Very, very much so." Hermione grinned at Cory, who returned the look.
"Oh, at least she only called you a know-it-all." Ron said. "My face still tingles where she gave me that smack."
Cory frowned. "Oh, I've told you I'm sorry, and believe me, I don't say that often. Believe me, I won't do it again unless you really manage to irritate me."
"I'll try not to." Ron retorted. "Of course, knowing you, you'll get insulted if I, I don't know, manage to breathe on you wrong."
"Hey." She grinned. "I like my air fresh and clean, thank you very much."
They chatted for a long while...Remus exchanging all the latest news with Harry, Hermione inserting a bit of her intelligence, as Ron and Cory half- listened while exchanging their own banter back and forth. Sirius sat, curled up, keeping a suspicious eye on Cory.
"Oh!" Cory looked down at her watch and showed it to Hermione. "It's almost eight...we're due back at Hogwarts in a half-hour." She stood to leave. "We'd better start heading back."
"Yeah." Harry stood also, Hermione and Ron following. "Thanks for the tea and the dinner, Remus." He said. He felt bad about leaving without getting a chance to talk to Sirius and gave his godfather an apologetic glance.
"Yes, of course. Come back when you come to Hogsmeade again...and not a day before." Remus warned. Harry smiled in understanding as he turned to leave.
"Come on...let's..." He started out the door but paused when he realized Cory had been left behind. He turned. "Cory? Lets..."
"Harry..." she whispered. Her face was ashen. Harry rushed to her side.
"Cory? What is it?"
"Harry...it's...I can't...stop..." she began trembling and suddenly she jerked her arm back, dropping the teacup she still held in her hand. It shattered on the floor.
"What is it?!" he cried. Hermione and Ron had started over and were standing next to them.
She convulsed and her eyelids slid closed. Without a sound she slumped to the floor, her fall broken only by Harry catching her.
"What is it?" Remus said anxiously, running over.
"I don't know...maybe she's still weak after the attack." Hermione said nervously. "Maybe she was allergic to the medication the nurse gave her for the wound...I don't know, I can't remember the side-effects of it...I read it somewhere..."
"No matter!" Remus barked. "Get her to the couch!" He bustled over as Ron and Harry lifted her onto the couch. She shivered faintly, her skin clammy and cold.
"There's something wrong with her." Harry said. "Something's really wrong..."
He glanced up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Sirius was standing above him. "I don't know what this is...but I agree, there is something wrong. Perhaps...perhaps she isn't as guilty as I thought she was. But..."
Everybody froze when they heard the shriek. They glanced over at Cory, who was shaking, her entire body wracked with spasms. Harry put his hand on her arm, but she jerked him off. Everybody was standing around, and jumped when her eyes opened wide.
"Watch out!" she cried. "They're coming...he's coming! Watch...help, soon. Get help!"
"What is it?" Remus said anxiously.
Cory looked up, her eyes cold and blank. And she shrieked one final word before returning to the darkness.
"RUN!"
************************************************************************
Harry stood crouched against a wall, his wand held tight in his fist. Hermione and Ron were sitting near in much the same way. Remus and Sirius were on either side of the door, standing in wait. Standing in fear. They knew it was coming.
Cory was sitting on the floor, a blanket covering her. She rocked back and forth, a single tear running down her face. Harry felt like going over, holding her in his arms. He couldn't. Something was out there...waiting, waiting to take them all. Something evil.
Something ready to kill.
"Harry!" Remus hissed. He glanced up. "They're dementors...at least fifty of them. There are death eaters with them, also. I don't know how many..." he raked a hand through his sandy-brown hair, looking more tired than ever.
"What...what are they here for?" he asked nervously. "Are they...are they after me?"
"I don't think so." He said wearily. "I don't think they're after anything...I think this is a test, more than anything. But we have to be careful...there is something that isn't right. Do you think you could be ready to do a Patronus?"
"What?" he asked, looking up in surprise.
"In case...in case a dementor comes." Sirius sighed. "I don't have a wand Harry. I can't do magic..."
Harry nodded. "Right." He walked slowly to the door. As he did so he took a glance out the window. All was black, like night, with the tinge of red on the horizon. Hogsmeade was burning...it was on fire.
"Hermione...go to Cory." He heard Ron whisper. Hermione nodded and slipped over to Cory's side, to slip an arm around her shoulder. Cory didn't move. She only stared straight ahead, shivering.
"Wait a minute..." Remus placed his wand on the door and quietly muttered an incantation. He placed his ear against the wood. "I can hear...just barely, I can tell what they are saying..."
Suddenly he paled. "Harry, go. Out the back, now!"
"What?" Harry asked. "But..."
"YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!" he screamed, pulling away from the door. Hermione and Ron looked at him with fright and tried to pull Cory from the floor. She wouldn't move.
"Come on!" Ron said. "You have to go!"
"I'll get her!" Harry said quickly. "You two...just get out of here!"
"Not without you two!" Hermione said. With Harry's help, they managed to get her off the floor.
"Get out now!" Remus said. "They're getting closer! They're almost..."
Remus flew back as the door was blasted open. Standing there was a woman, a black hood pulled low over her face. She walked in slowly, taking long, slow strides. "Hello, Harry Potter. So, it appears I finally meet you. At long last..." she muttered, her voice an echo of something Harry struggled to remember.
"Who...who are you?" he said slowly. He saw the faint motion of a grin from the shadows of her hood.
"I am...I am the one who will teach you what it means to oppose the dark lord." She said slowly as she came closer. She screamed when she felt the hand at her throat.
"Not if I can help it!" Sirius said angrily. She choked as he tightened his hold.
But she didn't relent. Instead...she began laughing. A dark, throaty laugh that held Harry in awe and fear. Slowly, she reached a hand to the hood of her cloak and drew it down from her face.
"Isabelle..." Sirius said, choking on the word. He loosened his hold for just a minute, but it was enough. A black light surrounded her and sent Sirius crashing towards the wall to land next to Remus.
"Isabelle?" Harry said nervously. "You killed...you killed his brother?"
"I did more than that, boy." She murmured. "I helped Lord Voldemort become what he was...and what he has become again. If you had not ruined things...well, it does not matter, because all is as it should be." She smiled, a smile both beautiful and terrifying. "And now...now it shall all be as it should have been, fourteen years ago..."
Harry raised his wand. "I...I won't let you."
"Don't worry, boy." She muttered. "It has been proven magic alone isn't enough to kill you." She sneered. She reached into her robes and pulled out something shining and silver. Harry and Hermione froze, realizing what it was. Ron goggled, unsure of what to make of it.
Harry could not move as she raised the gun. He heard the hammer click, and his heart pounded into action just as the expression on her face told him what she was about to do.
But it was too late. Harry saw black as the gun exploded between his eyes.
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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! I think this is the most truly evil thing that I have ever done! So, what do you think? An evil cliffie, eh? Hehehe...tell me what you think, all right? Will Harry live? Won't he? Ooh...what a dilemma for me...tee-hee...
Well, enough of that...just a note to PLEASE read and review! I love to hear your opinions, ideas, even your criticism! Just don't be mean, okay?
LOL! Megx
