Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters created by JK Rowling or
anything else that might belong to her.
I can give it all back to you
-The waking of the sleeping beauties-
"Harry?"
"Where did he go?"
"Mister Potter!"
"Harry!"
Everyone was confused and a bit upset by what had just happened. No one had just yet understood that Harry had apparated away just before he fainted. They had just seen him start to fall only to disappear in mid air. Dumbeldore interrupted the fruitless calling for the missing hero by clearing his throat. His voice sounded old and very fragile.
"I will have to ask you all to stop searching for young mister Potter for a moment and think about what he said just before he left."
"He said that the Dark Lord and Mister Malfoy have become squibs. Is that possible, sir?" Everyone was a bit surprised to hear Hermione's voice. She had been very quiet during the whole event, only opening her mouth to cast healing spells on Draco. It was not surprising, however, that such a question came from her.
"I think it is quite possible for such a thing to have happened, especially considering the power in the spell Harry used."
"But what will we do with them when they wake up?" A reasonable question asked by the potions master. "Surely they can not stay here Albus, but we can't just let them go either!"
"No, Severus, you are right, we can not let them go."
At that moment everyone turned to look at the two men lying on the floor. They had started to wake up. The former Dark Lord was the first to open his eyes. Lucius just whimpered in his sleep and moved a bit. The eyes were no longer red, but a deep, smoky green colour. He focused and lifted his wand. He looked at it and then he looked at Albus.
"What did he do to me?" He was trying to sound forceful, but when he heard the youthfulness in his voice he just sounded confused. "What did he do to me?" He repeated with little bit more force.
"He, to put it in his own words, took your magic." Albus replied calmly. Voldemort's eyes wandered from person to person in the room with a blank expression and then his head fell to his chest.
"Took my magic, he took my magic. I can't feel it anymore. Empty." He mumbled quietly. "I have nothing anymore" he said a bit louder. "My magic made me who I was, my magic made me Lord Voldemort. Now I am nothing." He looked up, tears forming in his eyes for the first time in 30 years. "You can call me Tom Riddle now." No one had noticed Lucius waking up; everyone's eyes were fixed on the former Dark Lord, now broken. Lucius reached out his hand and gently touched his master's shoulder. The man leant in to the touch and fell asleep once again.
"What do you plan to do with us?" He simply asked, eyes flicking from Albus to Severus, to his son and back to Albus again. He completely ignored the others, as if they didn't exist. "You, Albus of all people, should know that I'd rather die than be a squib for the rest of my life and when I say that I think I speak for. Tom too. " His voice was filled with venom and hatred, but there was something else behind it, something almost desperate.
"I know mister Malfoy, I know, but I don't think Harry didn't kill you just so you could do it yourselves. I plan to keep you alive." The twinkle in Albus Dumbeldore's eyes was back with full force. Then he coughed and winced and almost fell only to be caught by Severus.
"Albus, I think we all need some rest. Most of us need to go to the hospital wing as well. Is it still intact?"
"Yes, Severus, you are right of course, but I am afraid that the only part of the castle that is still safe enough to rest in is the dungeons."
So, they all went down to the dungeons. They decided that the potions master's quarters would be the most comfortable since they had several fireplaces and furniture other than desks, bookcases and chairs. Severus took the lead followed by Hermione and Draco, Fred and George followed, levitating the soundly sleeping Tom Riddle between them. After them walked Lucius, closely followed by Ginny. She had her wand drawn just in case. She didn't trust Lucius even now that he seemed to be powerless. She would never trust him again after everything he had done to her family and friends. It was his Killing Curse that had hit Ron.
It was a quiet walk, there wasn't much to say at the moment and nobody felt like talking. Surely, the light side had won, but Harry Potter was gone and Hogwarts was rendered almost unrecognisable. There had been so many deaths the last few hours that it hurt even trying to count them. Ginny thought of everyone she had lost and she realized that she wanted to be as far from England and all that reminded her of her life there as possible. She silently promised herself that she would leave as soon as possible, maybe for the States. She'd always wanted to visit America.
When they got to the potions master's quarters they quickly organized beds for everyone and Hermione who was a mediwitch in training started to heal what she could on those who needed it most. That is Albus and Tom Riddle. At first she was very reluctant to touch the latter at all, but eventually she patched him up, if only to have Lucius stop glaring at her. By the end of the evening she was exhausted and quickly fell asleep in an armchair beside Albus bed. Eventually everyone else fell asleep too, everyone but Ginny. She couldn't fall asleep for the life of her. She just kept twisting and turning and get tangled in the sheets. There was only one thing on her mind and that was to leave, to go far, far away from everything she knew. So she got up, very quietly not to disturb anyone, wrote a note that she left on her pillow, gathered some things she thought she might need and left.
Well outside the cold clear night hit her. The stars were glittering and the moon was unusually bright, not quite full though. She took a deep breath and started walking towards Hogsmeade. She drew her cloak tighter around her body as she saw the tents put up by survivors, probably tents where they healed their wounded and rested their sore bodies. She didn't want them to see her, she didn't want them to recognize her. She wanted to disappear.
The next morning in the dungeons, Fred and George awoke first. They were also the first to notice that Ginny were gone and it didn't take them long to find the note on her pillow. Once they hade read it several times each they shook some life into Draco, Hermione and Severus. They let the others sleep, Albus since he needed it and the former dark wizards since they really didn't like them. They all sat by the kitchen table when George read the letter out loud.
"Good morning everyone,
I hope you've slept well. I haven't, actually I couldn't sleep at all because I had some thoughts that wouldn't leave me alone. As you might have noticed I am gone, and don't worry I'm fine. Now I guess you want to know why I left. I'm not sure if you'll understand, but I am going to tell you anyway. I don't have anything in England that makes me want to stay here (no offence, you all have a place in my heart) so I decided to leave. It's just that everything here reminds me of everyone I've lost and it huts and scares me. I think that if I left it all behind for a while it will be easier once I decide to come back. It doesn't make any sense at all does it? But it feels right and it is really all that is on my mind right now. It is simply something I have to do. I will keep in touch and, please, don't worry about me I'll be fine.
Love,
Ginny Weasley
PS. I took some things (healing potions, some food, etc) that I thought I might need. I hope you don't mind Professor Snape. DS."
"That's it?" Hermione asked when George had finished reading. She had a concerned look on her face.
"Yes, that's all." George replied. "Poor little sister, sure hope you will be fine." He mumbled.
"She will be Georgiekins, she's strong, she's strong." Fred said in a comforting tone. He was trying to calm himself just as much as he was trying to calm his brother, but he could already feel the tears burn in his eyes.
Only Draco looked up when his father came in to the room but he quickly looked away and went to make some coffee. Not until Lucius cleared his throat did the others notice him. Fred and George looked at him through blurry tear filled eyes, as did Hermione. Severus face was blank but he didn't bother to hide the look of hateful pity in his eyes. No one said anything, Fred, George and Hermione went back to comforting each other, Draco made breakfast and Severus left to check on Albus. Lucius didn't move, he just stood there, watching them get along with their business. Eventually he asked if he could have some coffee. Hermione handed him a mug and told him to help himself. First he was startled, he wasn't used to doing things himself, but he figured things would be different from now on.
Later in the day, everyone, even Tom and Lucius, had gathered by Albus bed, which actually was Severus bed, but he had let the old man have it since he was injured and well, old. Everyone was awake and aware of what had happened the last few hours. Ginny had left them. They all accepted this, what else could they do, but they also missed her, some more than others. Fred and George had been to the battlefield and had some news about survivors and just how much damages that had been done to the surrounding area.
"As far as we know all the younger students are ok. Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonogal are bringing them here as soon as possible. They will stay in the dungeons too." Fred said.
"From the battlefields they have found a total of 156 survivors from both sides. The number is still rising, though. They hope to find at least 50 more people that they will be able to save." George continued.
"But only 156? There were so many, do you mean they are all dead?" Hermione asked with disbelief in her voice.
"Wars are never easy my dear child." Before Albus had the time to say anything else, Hermione had turned around and was now pointing her wand at Tom Riddle.
"This is all your fault! All my friends are gone and it is all your fault! Thousands of people have died and you just sit here, alive." The last word she spit out as if it was the most disgusting thing she had ever tasted. Her eyes were flaming with rage and her hands were shaking. She stared Tom Riddle in the eyes, but saw nothing but emptiness.
"Believe me little girl," He said with a voice deader than any of the bodies on the battlefield. "I would give anything to just drop down dead right here and right now. Your little hero was clever enough to take away the one thing that would break me. I am nothing now. Do what you want with me." The last sentence was said in an almost challenging tone, as if Tom dared her to kill him. She got a grip of herself and lowered her wand.
"You will live, Tom Riddle." She said "Now that your body is young again we will keep it alive for as long as we can. You will live and you will be miserable." She whispered the last words and silently turned back to Albus where he lay, now talking to Severus and Draco.
It was decided that the former dark wizards were to be moved to a safe house along with Severus and Draco whom had agreed to look after them. Hogwarts was going to be rebuilt even if it took years and years, it was some day in the future going to be a place of learning again. Albus recovered rather quickly and soon he was ordering people around the ruins of his old school, telling them where to build and where raze. It was going to take time. Draco and Severus had contact with Albus every evening through the fireplace in the safe house about Tom's "condition". He seemed to remain blank whatever they said to him. He simply didn't respond, but he was conscious enough to take care of himself. Lucius was mostly quiet, but he didn't seem to have taken his becoming a squib just as hard, or in the same way as his master.
During all this time there were no news about Harry Potter. That is until a large black crow landed in front of Albus Dumbeldore when he was eating his lunch a sunny Saturday afternoon.
-------------
Nice cliffie I did there, don't you think? I love cliffies. Hopefully they will keep the readers interested. What do you think? I am dying to know. Shall I continue? You decide. Aaaaaagh, the next chapter is probably on its way anyway. But, a little encouragement is never out of place.
I can give it all back to you
-The waking of the sleeping beauties-
"Harry?"
"Where did he go?"
"Mister Potter!"
"Harry!"
Everyone was confused and a bit upset by what had just happened. No one had just yet understood that Harry had apparated away just before he fainted. They had just seen him start to fall only to disappear in mid air. Dumbeldore interrupted the fruitless calling for the missing hero by clearing his throat. His voice sounded old and very fragile.
"I will have to ask you all to stop searching for young mister Potter for a moment and think about what he said just before he left."
"He said that the Dark Lord and Mister Malfoy have become squibs. Is that possible, sir?" Everyone was a bit surprised to hear Hermione's voice. She had been very quiet during the whole event, only opening her mouth to cast healing spells on Draco. It was not surprising, however, that such a question came from her.
"I think it is quite possible for such a thing to have happened, especially considering the power in the spell Harry used."
"But what will we do with them when they wake up?" A reasonable question asked by the potions master. "Surely they can not stay here Albus, but we can't just let them go either!"
"No, Severus, you are right, we can not let them go."
At that moment everyone turned to look at the two men lying on the floor. They had started to wake up. The former Dark Lord was the first to open his eyes. Lucius just whimpered in his sleep and moved a bit. The eyes were no longer red, but a deep, smoky green colour. He focused and lifted his wand. He looked at it and then he looked at Albus.
"What did he do to me?" He was trying to sound forceful, but when he heard the youthfulness in his voice he just sounded confused. "What did he do to me?" He repeated with little bit more force.
"He, to put it in his own words, took your magic." Albus replied calmly. Voldemort's eyes wandered from person to person in the room with a blank expression and then his head fell to his chest.
"Took my magic, he took my magic. I can't feel it anymore. Empty." He mumbled quietly. "I have nothing anymore" he said a bit louder. "My magic made me who I was, my magic made me Lord Voldemort. Now I am nothing." He looked up, tears forming in his eyes for the first time in 30 years. "You can call me Tom Riddle now." No one had noticed Lucius waking up; everyone's eyes were fixed on the former Dark Lord, now broken. Lucius reached out his hand and gently touched his master's shoulder. The man leant in to the touch and fell asleep once again.
"What do you plan to do with us?" He simply asked, eyes flicking from Albus to Severus, to his son and back to Albus again. He completely ignored the others, as if they didn't exist. "You, Albus of all people, should know that I'd rather die than be a squib for the rest of my life and when I say that I think I speak for. Tom too. " His voice was filled with venom and hatred, but there was something else behind it, something almost desperate.
"I know mister Malfoy, I know, but I don't think Harry didn't kill you just so you could do it yourselves. I plan to keep you alive." The twinkle in Albus Dumbeldore's eyes was back with full force. Then he coughed and winced and almost fell only to be caught by Severus.
"Albus, I think we all need some rest. Most of us need to go to the hospital wing as well. Is it still intact?"
"Yes, Severus, you are right of course, but I am afraid that the only part of the castle that is still safe enough to rest in is the dungeons."
So, they all went down to the dungeons. They decided that the potions master's quarters would be the most comfortable since they had several fireplaces and furniture other than desks, bookcases and chairs. Severus took the lead followed by Hermione and Draco, Fred and George followed, levitating the soundly sleeping Tom Riddle between them. After them walked Lucius, closely followed by Ginny. She had her wand drawn just in case. She didn't trust Lucius even now that he seemed to be powerless. She would never trust him again after everything he had done to her family and friends. It was his Killing Curse that had hit Ron.
It was a quiet walk, there wasn't much to say at the moment and nobody felt like talking. Surely, the light side had won, but Harry Potter was gone and Hogwarts was rendered almost unrecognisable. There had been so many deaths the last few hours that it hurt even trying to count them. Ginny thought of everyone she had lost and she realized that she wanted to be as far from England and all that reminded her of her life there as possible. She silently promised herself that she would leave as soon as possible, maybe for the States. She'd always wanted to visit America.
When they got to the potions master's quarters they quickly organized beds for everyone and Hermione who was a mediwitch in training started to heal what she could on those who needed it most. That is Albus and Tom Riddle. At first she was very reluctant to touch the latter at all, but eventually she patched him up, if only to have Lucius stop glaring at her. By the end of the evening she was exhausted and quickly fell asleep in an armchair beside Albus bed. Eventually everyone else fell asleep too, everyone but Ginny. She couldn't fall asleep for the life of her. She just kept twisting and turning and get tangled in the sheets. There was only one thing on her mind and that was to leave, to go far, far away from everything she knew. So she got up, very quietly not to disturb anyone, wrote a note that she left on her pillow, gathered some things she thought she might need and left.
Well outside the cold clear night hit her. The stars were glittering and the moon was unusually bright, not quite full though. She took a deep breath and started walking towards Hogsmeade. She drew her cloak tighter around her body as she saw the tents put up by survivors, probably tents where they healed their wounded and rested their sore bodies. She didn't want them to see her, she didn't want them to recognize her. She wanted to disappear.
The next morning in the dungeons, Fred and George awoke first. They were also the first to notice that Ginny were gone and it didn't take them long to find the note on her pillow. Once they hade read it several times each they shook some life into Draco, Hermione and Severus. They let the others sleep, Albus since he needed it and the former dark wizards since they really didn't like them. They all sat by the kitchen table when George read the letter out loud.
"Good morning everyone,
I hope you've slept well. I haven't, actually I couldn't sleep at all because I had some thoughts that wouldn't leave me alone. As you might have noticed I am gone, and don't worry I'm fine. Now I guess you want to know why I left. I'm not sure if you'll understand, but I am going to tell you anyway. I don't have anything in England that makes me want to stay here (no offence, you all have a place in my heart) so I decided to leave. It's just that everything here reminds me of everyone I've lost and it huts and scares me. I think that if I left it all behind for a while it will be easier once I decide to come back. It doesn't make any sense at all does it? But it feels right and it is really all that is on my mind right now. It is simply something I have to do. I will keep in touch and, please, don't worry about me I'll be fine.
Love,
Ginny Weasley
PS. I took some things (healing potions, some food, etc) that I thought I might need. I hope you don't mind Professor Snape. DS."
"That's it?" Hermione asked when George had finished reading. She had a concerned look on her face.
"Yes, that's all." George replied. "Poor little sister, sure hope you will be fine." He mumbled.
"She will be Georgiekins, she's strong, she's strong." Fred said in a comforting tone. He was trying to calm himself just as much as he was trying to calm his brother, but he could already feel the tears burn in his eyes.
Only Draco looked up when his father came in to the room but he quickly looked away and went to make some coffee. Not until Lucius cleared his throat did the others notice him. Fred and George looked at him through blurry tear filled eyes, as did Hermione. Severus face was blank but he didn't bother to hide the look of hateful pity in his eyes. No one said anything, Fred, George and Hermione went back to comforting each other, Draco made breakfast and Severus left to check on Albus. Lucius didn't move, he just stood there, watching them get along with their business. Eventually he asked if he could have some coffee. Hermione handed him a mug and told him to help himself. First he was startled, he wasn't used to doing things himself, but he figured things would be different from now on.
Later in the day, everyone, even Tom and Lucius, had gathered by Albus bed, which actually was Severus bed, but he had let the old man have it since he was injured and well, old. Everyone was awake and aware of what had happened the last few hours. Ginny had left them. They all accepted this, what else could they do, but they also missed her, some more than others. Fred and George had been to the battlefield and had some news about survivors and just how much damages that had been done to the surrounding area.
"As far as we know all the younger students are ok. Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonogal are bringing them here as soon as possible. They will stay in the dungeons too." Fred said.
"From the battlefields they have found a total of 156 survivors from both sides. The number is still rising, though. They hope to find at least 50 more people that they will be able to save." George continued.
"But only 156? There were so many, do you mean they are all dead?" Hermione asked with disbelief in her voice.
"Wars are never easy my dear child." Before Albus had the time to say anything else, Hermione had turned around and was now pointing her wand at Tom Riddle.
"This is all your fault! All my friends are gone and it is all your fault! Thousands of people have died and you just sit here, alive." The last word she spit out as if it was the most disgusting thing she had ever tasted. Her eyes were flaming with rage and her hands were shaking. She stared Tom Riddle in the eyes, but saw nothing but emptiness.
"Believe me little girl," He said with a voice deader than any of the bodies on the battlefield. "I would give anything to just drop down dead right here and right now. Your little hero was clever enough to take away the one thing that would break me. I am nothing now. Do what you want with me." The last sentence was said in an almost challenging tone, as if Tom dared her to kill him. She got a grip of herself and lowered her wand.
"You will live, Tom Riddle." She said "Now that your body is young again we will keep it alive for as long as we can. You will live and you will be miserable." She whispered the last words and silently turned back to Albus where he lay, now talking to Severus and Draco.
It was decided that the former dark wizards were to be moved to a safe house along with Severus and Draco whom had agreed to look after them. Hogwarts was going to be rebuilt even if it took years and years, it was some day in the future going to be a place of learning again. Albus recovered rather quickly and soon he was ordering people around the ruins of his old school, telling them where to build and where raze. It was going to take time. Draco and Severus had contact with Albus every evening through the fireplace in the safe house about Tom's "condition". He seemed to remain blank whatever they said to him. He simply didn't respond, but he was conscious enough to take care of himself. Lucius was mostly quiet, but he didn't seem to have taken his becoming a squib just as hard, or in the same way as his master.
During all this time there were no news about Harry Potter. That is until a large black crow landed in front of Albus Dumbeldore when he was eating his lunch a sunny Saturday afternoon.
-------------
Nice cliffie I did there, don't you think? I love cliffies. Hopefully they will keep the readers interested. What do you think? I am dying to know. Shall I continue? You decide. Aaaaaagh, the next chapter is probably on its way anyway. But, a little encouragement is never out of place.
