A/N: Thank you to my reviewers. I'm thinking of letting Nightmare, Dreams,
and Sandman make some more appearances. Also, I need to know, should Harry
recognize Essie immediately or should I draw it out? I'm so conflicted! Oh
well, I'll figure it out. And as always.. Enjoy!!
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 and Prologue, please.
Dancing with the Lady Death
Chapter 2
After that dream of the night his parents died, Harry was constantly looking over his shoulder for the past week. The Weasley wouldn't let him be alone especially after he described the dream to them. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were convinced that it was some dark magic at work. Something deep in Harry's heart refused to believe that the lady was evil. She seemed happy to see him, like she cared about his safety.
Harry shook off the thoughts. He should be happy, his Hogwarts letter arrived today. Also Sirius was going to be visiting for the next few days. Harry perked up a little at the thought of his godfather coming. He missed Sirius greatly. Maybe Sirius would know what to do about his dreams. Then Harry remembered what happened last year with his scar and decided to keep it to himself. Everyone always seemed to overreact whenever something happened to him. He should keep it to himself. But she claimed to be Death herself, that wasn't a little thing. He should talk to someone, shouldn't he? He heaved a sigh and allowed himself to fight it out in his thoughts.
Ron and Hermione watched from a distance. It was hard seeing their friend withdraw from them. Ever since Cedric died, Harry became more and more introverted. They were worried about him. Hermione felt helpless, since drawing out a friend from their shell wasn't something that could be learned from a book. Ron knew what Hermione was feeling, he felt it too. His best friend was drawing more and more into his shell and nothing he could do to stop it.
"What can we do, Ron? He pushing us farther away." Hermione asked.
"I don't know, Mione. I just don't know. Maybe Sirius will know what to do. He is expected to visit any day now." Ron replied.
"Let's hope so. Come on, we should go and join him." Hermione sighed as she pulled Ron towards where Harry was.
Neither one noticed a raven watching them. It was waiting for the night when cowards come and attack the innocent. And it will be waiting. The Raven tucked it's head under it's wing and rested. Tonight was it's test set by the Council. It's mind drifted to sleep.
************************************************************
Voldemort sat in the study of the Riddle House. He was deep in thought. Thoughts of revenge paraded through his head. First, he needed the boy, the reason for his initial fall from power. Then after torturing the boy enough that his pain would be equal to that which he felt while in exile, the woman will come. Voldemort knew she would come to the boy's rescue, she always did. The only reason she wasn't there in the cemetery, was Voldemort didn't give her time to felt the boy's whereabouts. This time she will, oh how she will feel. Voldemort smiled at the thought of the long and painful death he had planned for both the woman and the boy. Normally, he wouldn't dare to try what he was about to do, but he now had help. His teacher promised to help his student, Voldemort, achieve what he wanted to most revenge and immortality.
A knock at the study door, interrupted Voldemort's thoughts. Voldemort sat up straighter, knowing this was the report he was waiting for. He summoned the Death Eaters to enter. Lucius Malfoy entered the room, with great confidence that his report will please his lord. Malfoy bowed to Voldemort and waited for the signal to rise. Voldemort gave it and Malfoy stood up.
"What is your report, Malfoy?" Voldemort asked.
"The boy left Pivet Drive a few days ago. My sources in the Ministry have confirmed that he is with the Weasleys. He will be staying there until the start of the school year. Then he will be under Dumbledore's care." Malfoy reported.
"Good. We'll strike before then. How are the Burrow's defenses?" Voldemort inquired urgently.
"Weasley is careless to begin with. I doubt he can put any defense that I can't break through." Malfoy boasted.
Don't underestimate your enemy. You'll be in for a nasty surprise. If you think you can get the boy, then strike tonight. The sooner we get the boy, the sooner she will come." Voldemort laughed.
"My lord, may I ask who is this she? The boy has no family that cares for him."
"She is the reason for my fall from power. She is the one that we must met sooner or later. However, I will cause her to fall from power. Go, Malfoy, and bring me the boy."
"As you wish, my lord."
Malfoy gave a short bow and strode out of the room. He pointed to a group of Deatheaters. He ordered them to prepared for a raid tonight. After they departed, Malfoy smiled to himself. Finally a chance to rid himself and the rest of the respectable wizarding world of the Weasleys.
************************************************************
Sirius stood at the top of the hill, overlooking the Burrow. The sun was beginning to set, casting a red haze over the Weasley House. He could hear the children's laughter from here. Sirius hoped to one day give Harry a home like this, someday when he didn't have a price on his head. Sirius shook his head, trying to throw off the thought. Swiftly he walked down the hill to where his godson waited.
As he walked down he passed a raven perched like a sentry. It stared at him from it's high perched. Padfoot stared back at it. Sirius was unnerved by the color of storm clouds in it's eyes. The raven crowed and turned away to keep watched. Sirius kept walking, feeling as if the raven gave him the okay. It seem to know that he wasn't a real dog. He looked back, but the raven never moved. All of Sirius's fears disappeared as he enveloped in his godson's arms.
"I missed you, Snuffles." Harry greeted, "The rest are waiting."
Sirius licked Harry's face and followed him back to the house where the Weasleys stood.
That night, Sirius sat with Molly And Arthur Weasley. Sirius just made his report about the latest word on the street. Molly gasped while Arthur was deep in thought. This was serious if the Deatheaters were on the move again. They could be searching for Harry.
"There something else." Sirius added as he sipped his coffee, "There is a woman involved. She is connected to Harry in some way. Voldemort is searching for her as well."
"But why?" Molly thought out loud. Sirius shrugged in response. Arthur stood up.
"We'll have to keep an extra eye out for anything. I hate to it, but the kids will have to given some restrictions. All of them." Arthur sighed, "We will also have to keep watch at all hours."
"I'll take tonight." Sirius offered to which Molly agreed.
"I'll inform the children." Molly said as she started from the room.
"No, Molly. We'll tell them in the morning. No sense in inspiring any more heroics from them. Let them have a peaceful night for once. They'll need it especially Harry."
Arthur protested softly. Molly nodded knowing he was right.
Sirius left the happy couple alone. It pulled at his heart seeing them together. Sirius remembered his own days at Hogwarts. His playboy days with James. They could have had almost all the girls at Hogwarts. Sirius usually did while James pined away for a Ravenclaw named Lily Evans.(You can guess what happen to the crush.)Out of all the Marauders, Sirius was the one who never fell in love. James had Lily. Remus had Liberty, even after he chased her away. Remus still loved her even after fifteen years of separation. Sirius often wondered why Moony didn't just track her down and see how she is doing. If Sirius ever fall in love he wouldn't let her go so easily. However, Sirius never fell in love, and being a fugitive he probably never will.
Sirius stepped outside and transformed before anyone could spot him. He lumbered around the house checking for any suspicious creatures. Satisfied there wasn't any, he laid down at the front door and fell into a light sleep.
The clock down in St. Otter Catchhole chimed the time of midnight, the witching hole. The raven lifted it's head and stretched it's wings and crowed. Sirius woke up. And saw a group of Deatheaters approach the house. Sirius growled and began to bark loudly. One of the wizard cursed him with a full body bind. Sirius watched in horror as they continued to the house. Then the unexpected happened.
The raven left it's post and flew around the Deatheaters, halting their progress. He could hear a few of them curse at the bird, but they had no effect. The raven swooped down towards the ground like it was going to crash. Before it hit, the bird emitted a bright light, nearly blinding everyone. Where the bird once was, now stood a raven haired woman. She was wearing a pair of jeans and black shirt with the first two buttons undone. Her tresses were long and wavy. Her eyes seemed to glow silver. The only jewelry she wore was a silver and onyx bracelet. She smiled wickedly at the Deatheaters who were in shock at the sight of her. A few were backing away a little.
"Hello, boys." the lady smiled, "You weren't about to get started without me, would you? I would be very disappointed if I wasn't invited."
Lucius Malfoy found his voice first, "Out of our way, woman. We are here on noble business."
The woman threw her head back and laughed at them. Lucius's temper began to rise. Who did this woman think she was? Finally, she stopped laughing and just shook her head. Her next words caught them off guard.
"Slaughtering an innocent family is noble business now a days, huh? I hate to see what is dirty business to you." she remarked.
Lucius's temper finally exploded. This woman was mocking them and their master. It was too much. Before he could think of what he was getting himself in to, he shout at her.
"They are a disgrace to the respectable wizard world. Dealing with Muggles and Mudbloods. Dead is the only proper state for them. Now, OUT OF MY WAY." Lucius roared.
The woman's smile disappeared. She held out the wrist with the bracelet. Quietly she began to chant in a language that no one present had ever heard before. The lady's eyes and the bracelet began to glow with an unnatural light. The bracelet changed into a very deadly looking scythe. The woman twirled around her body until her held it in a leisurely way. She no longer looked happy, but very menacing. Especially with half of her face covered by a mask. The Deatheaters began to back away, drawing their wands. A burst of wind knocked the wands out their hands. The wands flew into the woman's hand. Promptly she snapped them in half.
"No need for those. You need experience your deaths like those you've killed." she said off-handily as she tossed the pieces over her shoulder, "Besides you obviously don't have the sense of responsibility to even be allowed to keep them."
"You will suffer for this outrage." one Death Eaters shouted at her.
"You can try. Your master did once. Foolish wizards. You need to be taught a lesson. And as always it falls to me." The woman sighed.
"You are going to kill us, aren't you?" another asked.
The lady smiled, "Now you're catching on."
"We will not be dissuade by useless threats. That family will die." Lucius growled.
That was the finally straw for the lady. The wind picked up, kicking up dust. It started to form a cloud. The woman took a stance and roared at them," Who the hell do you think you are? Who are you to decide who will live or die? Are you a god? Are you that superior to other that you believe you have the right to control others lives? You, worthless mortals, have played with the power of death for too long. And now you come here with the intent to harm the one who is under my protection. Not while I am the Guardian of Death."
Before any of them can react, the dust cloud engulfed them. Death jumped into it. All Sirius could hear was screams of pain and agony. Who was she? Why was she here? He could tell that they were talking, but he couldn't hear what was said.
Finally, the dust settled. Several Deatheaters swirmed around in pain A few were dead never standing a chance. In the center the woman held Lucius Malfoy above the ground. Malfoy was crying and begging. The woman looked disgusted.
"Please spare me. I didn't mean…" Malfoy cried.
"Stow it, will you? I've heard it before. I'm sparing you because you are to play a bigger role later on. In over a year, you will die, so I'm only delaying the inevitable. Now," The lady growled as she tossed Malfoy away, "Scram. If I see you around here again. I'll not only kill you, but I'll show what I can really do with this Scythe."
Malfoy apparated away for the burrow. The woman shook her head. Sirius began to thrash around as best he could. The lady walked over to him. Sirius stared at her face that he could see. She was beautiful and she saved not only his life, but everyone who currently was asleep in the house. She murmured something in Latin and Sirius's constriction were gone. A smile touched her face.
"Such a brave boy. I mean no one in the house harm. I hope we can be allies in protecting them. I must go." The lady said as she stood back up.
Suddenly, all the lights in the Weasley household lit up. The lady ran into the woods. Arthur came upon a still shaky Sirius in dog form. Sirius barked, indicating the field of dead Deatheaters.
"Molly, call the Ministry and Albus Dumbledore as well. We have a problem out here." Arthur shouted as his eyes beheld the horrors of a battle.
A/N Moral: Don't piss off the Lady Death.
Working on the next chapter as we speak.
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 and Prologue, please.
Dancing with the Lady Death
Chapter 2
After that dream of the night his parents died, Harry was constantly looking over his shoulder for the past week. The Weasley wouldn't let him be alone especially after he described the dream to them. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were convinced that it was some dark magic at work. Something deep in Harry's heart refused to believe that the lady was evil. She seemed happy to see him, like she cared about his safety.
Harry shook off the thoughts. He should be happy, his Hogwarts letter arrived today. Also Sirius was going to be visiting for the next few days. Harry perked up a little at the thought of his godfather coming. He missed Sirius greatly. Maybe Sirius would know what to do about his dreams. Then Harry remembered what happened last year with his scar and decided to keep it to himself. Everyone always seemed to overreact whenever something happened to him. He should keep it to himself. But she claimed to be Death herself, that wasn't a little thing. He should talk to someone, shouldn't he? He heaved a sigh and allowed himself to fight it out in his thoughts.
Ron and Hermione watched from a distance. It was hard seeing their friend withdraw from them. Ever since Cedric died, Harry became more and more introverted. They were worried about him. Hermione felt helpless, since drawing out a friend from their shell wasn't something that could be learned from a book. Ron knew what Hermione was feeling, he felt it too. His best friend was drawing more and more into his shell and nothing he could do to stop it.
"What can we do, Ron? He pushing us farther away." Hermione asked.
"I don't know, Mione. I just don't know. Maybe Sirius will know what to do. He is expected to visit any day now." Ron replied.
"Let's hope so. Come on, we should go and join him." Hermione sighed as she pulled Ron towards where Harry was.
Neither one noticed a raven watching them. It was waiting for the night when cowards come and attack the innocent. And it will be waiting. The Raven tucked it's head under it's wing and rested. Tonight was it's test set by the Council. It's mind drifted to sleep.
************************************************************
Voldemort sat in the study of the Riddle House. He was deep in thought. Thoughts of revenge paraded through his head. First, he needed the boy, the reason for his initial fall from power. Then after torturing the boy enough that his pain would be equal to that which he felt while in exile, the woman will come. Voldemort knew she would come to the boy's rescue, she always did. The only reason she wasn't there in the cemetery, was Voldemort didn't give her time to felt the boy's whereabouts. This time she will, oh how she will feel. Voldemort smiled at the thought of the long and painful death he had planned for both the woman and the boy. Normally, he wouldn't dare to try what he was about to do, but he now had help. His teacher promised to help his student, Voldemort, achieve what he wanted to most revenge and immortality.
A knock at the study door, interrupted Voldemort's thoughts. Voldemort sat up straighter, knowing this was the report he was waiting for. He summoned the Death Eaters to enter. Lucius Malfoy entered the room, with great confidence that his report will please his lord. Malfoy bowed to Voldemort and waited for the signal to rise. Voldemort gave it and Malfoy stood up.
"What is your report, Malfoy?" Voldemort asked.
"The boy left Pivet Drive a few days ago. My sources in the Ministry have confirmed that he is with the Weasleys. He will be staying there until the start of the school year. Then he will be under Dumbledore's care." Malfoy reported.
"Good. We'll strike before then. How are the Burrow's defenses?" Voldemort inquired urgently.
"Weasley is careless to begin with. I doubt he can put any defense that I can't break through." Malfoy boasted.
Don't underestimate your enemy. You'll be in for a nasty surprise. If you think you can get the boy, then strike tonight. The sooner we get the boy, the sooner she will come." Voldemort laughed.
"My lord, may I ask who is this she? The boy has no family that cares for him."
"She is the reason for my fall from power. She is the one that we must met sooner or later. However, I will cause her to fall from power. Go, Malfoy, and bring me the boy."
"As you wish, my lord."
Malfoy gave a short bow and strode out of the room. He pointed to a group of Deatheaters. He ordered them to prepared for a raid tonight. After they departed, Malfoy smiled to himself. Finally a chance to rid himself and the rest of the respectable wizarding world of the Weasleys.
************************************************************
Sirius stood at the top of the hill, overlooking the Burrow. The sun was beginning to set, casting a red haze over the Weasley House. He could hear the children's laughter from here. Sirius hoped to one day give Harry a home like this, someday when he didn't have a price on his head. Sirius shook his head, trying to throw off the thought. Swiftly he walked down the hill to where his godson waited.
As he walked down he passed a raven perched like a sentry. It stared at him from it's high perched. Padfoot stared back at it. Sirius was unnerved by the color of storm clouds in it's eyes. The raven crowed and turned away to keep watched. Sirius kept walking, feeling as if the raven gave him the okay. It seem to know that he wasn't a real dog. He looked back, but the raven never moved. All of Sirius's fears disappeared as he enveloped in his godson's arms.
"I missed you, Snuffles." Harry greeted, "The rest are waiting."
Sirius licked Harry's face and followed him back to the house where the Weasleys stood.
That night, Sirius sat with Molly And Arthur Weasley. Sirius just made his report about the latest word on the street. Molly gasped while Arthur was deep in thought. This was serious if the Deatheaters were on the move again. They could be searching for Harry.
"There something else." Sirius added as he sipped his coffee, "There is a woman involved. She is connected to Harry in some way. Voldemort is searching for her as well."
"But why?" Molly thought out loud. Sirius shrugged in response. Arthur stood up.
"We'll have to keep an extra eye out for anything. I hate to it, but the kids will have to given some restrictions. All of them." Arthur sighed, "We will also have to keep watch at all hours."
"I'll take tonight." Sirius offered to which Molly agreed.
"I'll inform the children." Molly said as she started from the room.
"No, Molly. We'll tell them in the morning. No sense in inspiring any more heroics from them. Let them have a peaceful night for once. They'll need it especially Harry."
Arthur protested softly. Molly nodded knowing he was right.
Sirius left the happy couple alone. It pulled at his heart seeing them together. Sirius remembered his own days at Hogwarts. His playboy days with James. They could have had almost all the girls at Hogwarts. Sirius usually did while James pined away for a Ravenclaw named Lily Evans.(You can guess what happen to the crush.)Out of all the Marauders, Sirius was the one who never fell in love. James had Lily. Remus had Liberty, even after he chased her away. Remus still loved her even after fifteen years of separation. Sirius often wondered why Moony didn't just track her down and see how she is doing. If Sirius ever fall in love he wouldn't let her go so easily. However, Sirius never fell in love, and being a fugitive he probably never will.
Sirius stepped outside and transformed before anyone could spot him. He lumbered around the house checking for any suspicious creatures. Satisfied there wasn't any, he laid down at the front door and fell into a light sleep.
The clock down in St. Otter Catchhole chimed the time of midnight, the witching hole. The raven lifted it's head and stretched it's wings and crowed. Sirius woke up. And saw a group of Deatheaters approach the house. Sirius growled and began to bark loudly. One of the wizard cursed him with a full body bind. Sirius watched in horror as they continued to the house. Then the unexpected happened.
The raven left it's post and flew around the Deatheaters, halting their progress. He could hear a few of them curse at the bird, but they had no effect. The raven swooped down towards the ground like it was going to crash. Before it hit, the bird emitted a bright light, nearly blinding everyone. Where the bird once was, now stood a raven haired woman. She was wearing a pair of jeans and black shirt with the first two buttons undone. Her tresses were long and wavy. Her eyes seemed to glow silver. The only jewelry she wore was a silver and onyx bracelet. She smiled wickedly at the Deatheaters who were in shock at the sight of her. A few were backing away a little.
"Hello, boys." the lady smiled, "You weren't about to get started without me, would you? I would be very disappointed if I wasn't invited."
Lucius Malfoy found his voice first, "Out of our way, woman. We are here on noble business."
The woman threw her head back and laughed at them. Lucius's temper began to rise. Who did this woman think she was? Finally, she stopped laughing and just shook her head. Her next words caught them off guard.
"Slaughtering an innocent family is noble business now a days, huh? I hate to see what is dirty business to you." she remarked.
Lucius's temper finally exploded. This woman was mocking them and their master. It was too much. Before he could think of what he was getting himself in to, he shout at her.
"They are a disgrace to the respectable wizard world. Dealing with Muggles and Mudbloods. Dead is the only proper state for them. Now, OUT OF MY WAY." Lucius roared.
The woman's smile disappeared. She held out the wrist with the bracelet. Quietly she began to chant in a language that no one present had ever heard before. The lady's eyes and the bracelet began to glow with an unnatural light. The bracelet changed into a very deadly looking scythe. The woman twirled around her body until her held it in a leisurely way. She no longer looked happy, but very menacing. Especially with half of her face covered by a mask. The Deatheaters began to back away, drawing their wands. A burst of wind knocked the wands out their hands. The wands flew into the woman's hand. Promptly she snapped them in half.
"No need for those. You need experience your deaths like those you've killed." she said off-handily as she tossed the pieces over her shoulder, "Besides you obviously don't have the sense of responsibility to even be allowed to keep them."
"You will suffer for this outrage." one Death Eaters shouted at her.
"You can try. Your master did once. Foolish wizards. You need to be taught a lesson. And as always it falls to me." The woman sighed.
"You are going to kill us, aren't you?" another asked.
The lady smiled, "Now you're catching on."
"We will not be dissuade by useless threats. That family will die." Lucius growled.
That was the finally straw for the lady. The wind picked up, kicking up dust. It started to form a cloud. The woman took a stance and roared at them," Who the hell do you think you are? Who are you to decide who will live or die? Are you a god? Are you that superior to other that you believe you have the right to control others lives? You, worthless mortals, have played with the power of death for too long. And now you come here with the intent to harm the one who is under my protection. Not while I am the Guardian of Death."
Before any of them can react, the dust cloud engulfed them. Death jumped into it. All Sirius could hear was screams of pain and agony. Who was she? Why was she here? He could tell that they were talking, but he couldn't hear what was said.
Finally, the dust settled. Several Deatheaters swirmed around in pain A few were dead never standing a chance. In the center the woman held Lucius Malfoy above the ground. Malfoy was crying and begging. The woman looked disgusted.
"Please spare me. I didn't mean…" Malfoy cried.
"Stow it, will you? I've heard it before. I'm sparing you because you are to play a bigger role later on. In over a year, you will die, so I'm only delaying the inevitable. Now," The lady growled as she tossed Malfoy away, "Scram. If I see you around here again. I'll not only kill you, but I'll show what I can really do with this Scythe."
Malfoy apparated away for the burrow. The woman shook her head. Sirius began to thrash around as best he could. The lady walked over to him. Sirius stared at her face that he could see. She was beautiful and she saved not only his life, but everyone who currently was asleep in the house. She murmured something in Latin and Sirius's constriction were gone. A smile touched her face.
"Such a brave boy. I mean no one in the house harm. I hope we can be allies in protecting them. I must go." The lady said as she stood back up.
Suddenly, all the lights in the Weasley household lit up. The lady ran into the woods. Arthur came upon a still shaky Sirius in dog form. Sirius barked, indicating the field of dead Deatheaters.
"Molly, call the Ministry and Albus Dumbledore as well. We have a problem out here." Arthur shouted as his eyes beheld the horrors of a battle.
A/N Moral: Don't piss off the Lady Death.
Working on the next chapter as we speak.
