Secrets of the Past
Chapter Seven: A Friend
"He's…He's…angry! R…really….r-really angry!" strained Harry as he grabbed a hold of the scar on his forehead. The pain was so excruciating, he thought his head was going to explode because of it.
"Come on, Harry. Let's get you out of here," said Mr. Weasley in a worried tone. He and Ron helped Harry to his feet and placed him in the backseat of the car. Harry could barely open up his eyes, but he could see a blurred version of the figure turning around. When Harry got in the car, he was placed next to a still stunned Sirius, and Ron on the other side. Mr. Weasley ran around to the other side of the car and got in the front.
"Let's go!" he said to the one Minister who was behind the wheel. Mr. Weasley looked back to where the Death Eater were piled upon one another, and could see the cloaked figure begin to set off sparks. Harry's scar continued to burn a little, but the pain saw starting to subside.
"Harry, look!" said Ron as he looked out the back window. Harry spun around to see purple sparks fly in the air to form a phoenix, which later glowed a bright red and began to soar throughout the night sky. Suddenly Harry felt his stomach leap, but at the same time a scene of fear crept up, followed by and unmistakable feeling of hatred toward the vision and to something else.
Before Harry could even make out what all these feelings meant, he felt himself being pushed back into his seat at an angle. When Harry and Ron turned themselves toward the front of the car, they realized that they were now flying through the night sky. The last time Harry and Ron remembered being in a flying car, they nearly got themselves killed. When Harry looked back toward the ground, he could see the phoenix start to die out, but he couldn't see the figure any more.
"What the bloody hell was that?" asked Ron who was now trying to catch his breath. "Who was that person, in the cloak?"
"Not now Ron. I'll explain when we get home," said Mr. Weasley who was now a bright shade of red as he tried to calm himself down.
"But how did they know we were going to be there?" asked Harry. "How did that person…woman…know where we were?"
"I told you I'll tell you both when we get back to the Burrow," stated Mr. Weasley in a tone that both boys knew not to question. Harry and Ron looked at each other with slightly worried faces. Out the passenger window, both of them could see the other Ministry car flying next to them carrying Lupin, and the other two ministers.
"Harry, you alright'," asked Ron in a whisper.
"Yeah, I think so. My scar doesn't hurt that much anymore," whispered Harry as he rubbed his prickling scar.
"Do you have any idea who that person was?"
"Not a clue. But I think Lupin does. I heard that woman call him 'Moony'."
"Really? What do think that means? I mean isn't that the name that Sirius calls him?"
"Yeah, it's his nickname from when he was a Hogwarts with my dad and Sirius."
"Weird. But did you see the way she came out of nowhere and took on all those Death Eaters?"
"Yeah, but what about the way she disguised her voice? Who is she?"
"I don't know mate, but she seemed to know you."
"Who doesn't!" said Harry, but had a feeling that Ron was right. The more he thought about how the woman in the cloak spoke to him, he began to think that she did know him, and not just as the boy-who-lived. But how? How can that be possible? thought Harry but was interrupted when he felt Sirius stir next to him.
"Urgh…w-what….w-what happened," said Sirius groggily.
"Sirius are you o.k.?" asked Harry who was relieved to see his godfather awake.
"I think so, but…urgh…my head…it feels like its been stomped on by a hundred hippogriffs," groaned Sirius. "Where are we?" he asked as he saw that they were now flying over a small village out the window.
"Will be back at the Burrow in a few minutes. I think Molly has a potion for that headache. Oh, is she going to be in a fit when we get there." shuttered Mr. Weasley.
"Harry are you…mmph…o.k." inquired Sirius as he continued to rub his head and blink rapidly.
"Yeah, I'm alright' now. Uh…Sirius…you don't by any chance know who that person was in the cloak?"
"Person? What are you talking about? What…the figure," said Sirius as he began to remember the attack. "No, I don't think so. W-why do you ask?"
"Well…I heard her call Lupin 'Moony' when he broke the Cruciatus curse that Lucius Malfoy put on her."
"Well I don't know…wait did you say the figure was a 'her'?"
"Yeah," remarked Harry. He stared at his godfather and could almost see what he was thinking about. He was remembering when the figure took on the one Death Eater and was hit with the spell that unmasked her voice. All of a sudden, Harry saw his eyes become wide and fearful; he for sure now that Sirius did know or had a pretty good idea as to who their savior was.
"Sirius, who…"
"Harry, I um…I don't think I do. And stop asking me so many questions right now, would ya," said Sirius as he trailed off back into his thoughts. It couldn't be. She couldn't have been the one under the cloak. She couldn't have been that fool hearted to take on all those Death Eaters by herself. No it couldn't be her. She wouldn't act that stupidly. But that voice…No it couldn't be her. Could it?
Harry and Ron looked upon Sirius with skeptical eyes. They definitely knew now that there was more to this than what they were leading on too. After about a half hour of silence in the car, they finally reached their destination. Harry could see that almost all the lights in the Burrow were now on and that a stout, plump woman with red hair was standing on the porch waiting for them: Mrs. Weasley.
As Ron and Harry got out of the car, they could see Mrs. Weasley running toward them with her face all flustered.
"Oh, Ron! Harry! Thank goodness your both alright! ARTHUR WHAT WERE YOU THINKING! TAKING RON ALONG! Oh Arthur!…WHAT HAPPENED!? Are you all right? What…"
"I'm all right, Molly dear. We…er…just ran into…a bit of a…complication that's all," said Mr. Weasley as his ears started to turn pink.
"COMPLICATION! WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'COMPLICATION'? You mean you were…attacked?! And don't lie to me, I'll know! Oh, I told you not to take Ron along! It was too dangerous!"
"But mum, I wanted to go. Harry…"
"You stay out of this Ronald Weasley! I can't believe that I let you go! Oh, Harry, dear are you all right? Come on, now let's get you all into the house and out of the night air. I still can't believe you Arthur…" rambled Mrs. Weasley as she pushed Ron and Harry toward the house.
When the two of them entered into the house, they were both greeted with the warm smell of freshly baked bread and cookies that were sitting on the kitchen table cooling. Ron went to make a grab for one of the cookies, but quickly dropped it because of the heat. He continued to wince and shake his hand to cool it off when his mum walked in.
"Ron how many times have I told you not to touch the cookies when they are still on the sheet?"
"Sorry mum." he said in a low tone.
Harry backed out of the way as he watched Remus and one of the other Ministers bring in Sirius and one of the other Ministers who was a tall, bald, black man. They place Sirius in chair in the living room and the Minister on the couch. Harry could now see that the Minister's arm was slightly at an odd angle and that it slunk down farther than his other.
"All right now Arthur, tell me what happen!" said Mr. Weasley in a harsh tone.
"All right, all right, if you must know, yes we were attacked."
Mrs. Weasley gasped and all the color in her face drained away. "I knew it! Oh, Arthur…what did they do?"
"A small group of Death Eaters came out of nowhere and jumped us as we were getting to the cars. Now I'll tell you more later, but right now we need to fix them up," said Mr. Weasley as he went over to the Minister on the couch.
"Yes, of course." said Mrs. Weasley in a whisper and went over to a cabinet and got out a large box, which Harry assumed to be some sort of wizard first aid kit. Mrs. Weasley and Remus worked on the minister's broken arm and dislocated shoulder, while another minister with short brown hair started to make a potion for Sirius to drink. Mr. Weasley went over to a drawer and pull out a piece of parchment and began to write a letter.
"Harry would it be all right if I borrowed Hedwig to send Dumbledore a letter? I don't really trust Errol to make it there in one piece," said Mr. Weasley.
"Umm, yeah. Sure, go ahead." said Harry as he continued to watch everyone at work and began to wonder whether or not Sirius would recover or not.
After a few minutes of spells, incantations, and slight shouts of pain, both Sirius and the minister were all fixed up.
"Well that takes care of that. Now Arthur, tell me what exactly happened." said Mrs. Weasley as she turned to her husband, who was now in the kitchen with Harry and Ron making tea for everyone.
"In a second Molly. Here you two take this in there for everyone," said Mr. Weasley as he handed two trays of tea and cookies to Ron and Harry. The two boys carried the trays into the living room and placed them on the coffee table. Everyone was sitting around it with a roaring fire going in the hearth.
"Harry I don't think you have been properly introduced to everyone." said Remus as helped Mrs. Weasley distribute tea to everyone. "This is Corky Bluntter," he said pointing to the short brown haired wizard who was making the potion of Sirius.
"Hello there Harry," he said as he made a little bow.
"Over here is Kingsley Shackelbolt," Remus indicated to the bald, black wizard who now had his arm in a sling, and politely nodded. "And this is Mario Fictioner." nodding toward an older wizard with sandy colored hair, who was sitting near Sirius.
"Hello Harry. It's nice to meet you." said Mario as he shook Harry's hand.
"Nice to meet you too." said Harry. He and Ron later took a seat on the loveseat around the table like everyone else.
"All right now Arthur.."
"O.k. Molly o.k. Well like I said before we were attacked when we were walking toward the cars…"
As Mr. Weasley went into telling Mrs. Weasley about what happened when they were attacked, Harry noticed that three pieces of what looked to be fleshed colored string were hanging over the staircase. Mrs. Weasley noticed that Harry was staring at something. She turned around and looked toward the stairs, she also saw the fleshed colored strings hanging too.
"FRED! GEORGE! GINNY! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT LISTENING IN ON OTHER PEOPLE'S CONVERSATIONS?!" yelled Mrs. Weasley. Suddenly everyone in the room heard three people from the stairs start to groan and climbed down the stairs. Ron's twin brothers Fred and George and their little sister Ginny came down the stairs in their pajamas rubbing their ears and holding the long pieces of flesh colored string.
"Ya know, you didn't need to yell mum. We could hear you loud and clear." said George.
"Yeah, no need to go all mental on us mum. Hey there Harry!" said Fred as he went over and sat down on the arm of the loveseat next to Harry. George did the same and sat on the arm next to Ron. Ginny sat down on the floor between Fred and the chair that Sirius was sitting in.
"What is that thing?" inquired Harry as he continued to look at the string that Fred had in his hand.
"Extendable Ears. One of the new products that George and I invented," said Fred.
"Great for listening in on conversations." said George.
"I thought I told you two to stop making all those ridiculous items! What are you two going to do once your done with Hogwarts this year? Running a joke shop is not a very respectable job." said Mrs. Weasley whose face was beginning to turn a light shade of red.
"Yeah, mum we know," said Fred and George together.
"So, what happened dad? What did the Death Eaters do after they surrounded you?" asked Ginny eagerly.
"Well…"
"Hold it right there! Ginny, you and the rest of you lot need to go to bed. It's way past…"
"Oh come on mum!" cried Ginny.
"Why do we have to go? Were of age now!" protested Fred.
"Yeah, we even past our Apparation test!" exclaimed George.
"They've got a point there Molly," said Remus
"Besides, they'll hear about it anyway. One way or another." said Mr. Weasley has he rolled his eyes and glanced over at the Extendable Ears.
"Oh all right! Fine!" huffed a red faced Mrs. Weasley, seeing that there was no use in continuing on.
Mr. Weasley continued on with his story. He told them all about how the Death Eaters tied them up, but left out some parts (like how he and several others were placed under the Cruciatus Curse). When he got to the part about how the dark hooded figure came and rescued them, they were shocked and relieved that their father and that rest of them weren't forced to endure even more torture.
"Mr. Weasley? What was that figure in the sky when we left? What does it mean?' inquired Harry.
"That figure was the symbol of The Order of the Phoenix. It's a secret society that Dumbledore created the last time You-Know-Who was in power. Everyone here is a member, well except you lot," said Mr. Weasley. "Since your not of age yet."
"We are!" replied Fred and George.
"You're not done with school yet! Arthur, did you sat that the figure was a woman," asked Mrs. Weasley. Mr. Weasley nodded and took another sip of his tea.
"Yeah, it was weird. One minute it was this raspy, evil voice, and the next it's some woman's. It was wicked!" said Ron.
"Oh, Ron! Harry! You two must have been so scared!" cried Mrs. Weasley as she got up and went over to where Ron and Harry sat and gave them a great big bear hug.
"Molly, honey, don't strangle the poor boys." said Mr. Weasley.
"Oh, sorry," she said as she pulled away from Harry and Ron who now started to regain their normal color. "Well I think you lot need to get to bed."
"Aww but mum…"
"No buts. Now hurry along now."
"I think that we should get going to," suggested Mario. With that the three Ministers bid them all goodnight and left the Burrow for London. The Weasley children and Harry reluctantly started to ascend the stairs, but Sirius called Harry back.
"Harry are you sure your o.k." he asked.
"Yeah, I'll be all right. I think. But I just have one question?"
"Sure go ahead…ask away," said Sirius although he had a pretty good idea as to what the question was.
"Well…I was just wondering who that woman was? I know you know who it was or at least have some idea as to who she is?"
"Ah…yeah…that…well…she's…um…well she's…" stuttered Sirius as he ran he hand through his long black hair.
"She's a friend, Harry," stated Remus.
"A friend?" asked Harry in a skeptical tone.
"Yeah, s-she's just and old friend and a member of the Order. That's all," said Sirius.
"Oh,…o-o.k. Well, goodnight then." said Harry and he made his way up the steps to Ron's room at the top of the stairs. As he was climbing, he still got the feeling that there was more to that mystery woman than what they were leading on too. When he got to one of the higher landings, he saw that all the Weasley children were leaning over the banister holding Extendable Ears to their ears. George handed Harry an extra one and began to listen in on Sirius and Remus's conversation.
"Moony…was that.."
"Yeah, it was, Padfoot."
"What the devil was she thinking? Disguising her voice to sound like Voldemort's! Taking on all those Death Eaters, including Lucius!" whispered and outraged Sirius.
"I think she was trying to save us and not get us all killed in the process."
"Yeah, but she didn't need to disguise her voice like his!"
"Well what else was she suppose to do? Disguise it as Dumbledore's? Come on Sirius…think about it. She really didn't have a choice. You know that Lucius and the rest of them would have handed Harry over only to Voldemort. She had to do it."
"Yeah, but still. Wait…how did you know it was her before the spell was lifted?"
"I kind of guessed it was her. I mean Dumbledore said that he was going to France to get her. And when she called you 'Blackie'…well that kind of confirmed my theory. I mean there were only two people who really called you that in that type of tone."
"Yeah, I remember. I hated when she called me that. Both of them. God, why didn't I notice it when you did?"
"You were too worried about Harry, like she was…like we all were."
"Yeah, I guess your right. How do think Harry would have reacted if we told him the whole truth about Sparky?" chuckled Sirius.
"Don't know. Probably a little shocked."
"Yeah, Sparky always did have that effect on people."
"You're just lucky that she's not here now to hex you. You know she hated that name; even after Hogwarts. Just as much as you hated being called 'Blackie' if not more." chuckled Lupin.
"Yeah, I know." said Sirius in a sorrowful tone. "Well, I guess that he'll learn who she really is sooner or later."
"Probably sooner rather than later."
At that moment, Harry took out the Extendable Ear from his ear canal and looked over at Ron. They were both thinking the same thing: Why would Harry be shocked at finding out who this Sparky person is?
******************************
(Meanwhile…while all this happen…)
"What did you do now?" said Christine in a stern tone with her eyebrow raised and her arms crossed.
Miranda ignored Christine's question and proceeded to go up toward one of the spiral staircases that led to the study.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" yelled Christine as Miranda walked into the study. The room was filled with yet more books, both muggle and wizard. She walked over to the antique desk in the far corner of the study and pulled out a roll of parchment and a quill.
"What do you think you're doing? I asked you a question. What the hell happen?" asked Christine who was now in the round mirror across from where the fireplace was.
"I can't talk right now. I need to send this to Dumbledore." snapped Miranda as she continued to write the letter to Dumbledore.
"But I want to know! Come on tell me what happened!" cried Christine.
"Hey! You've got the direct line to the Ministry, remember? This place was once owned by it, wasn't it? Use it!" screamed Miranda as she looked over the part she had just written.
"Fine I will!" yelled Christine in a sarcastic tone. She closed her eyes and began to listen in on what was going on in the many offices in the Ministry of Magic. Miranda continued to finish writing her letter to Dumbledore briefly telling him what happened and that she would be at Hogwarts very soon. After a few moments, Christine opened her eyes wide, full of fear and surprise.
"Y-you…didn't? Did you," asked Christine barely above a whisper. Miranda got up from the desk and rolled up the parchment. She turned and saw the look on Christine's face full of fear and anguish. She couldn't bear to see that look on her own face. Miranda closed her eyes, nodded and said, "Yes, I did."
"B-b-but why?! Why would conger something like that? Are you insane? Do you have any idea what you just started?!" screeched a frustrated Christine.
"Don't start with me now, o.k.? And don't call me crazy, because I'm not." said Miranda.
"Well you sure fooled me. What if some muggles saw you create that? What if he saw…"
"He did. And he knows!" bellowed Miranda as she began to walk out of the study and head back down toward the living room. When she got down there, her three house elves (Blinky, Jewels, and Ribbon) quickly got up from the couch and stood ready for orders.
"Is everything all right, Miss Andy," squeaked Jewels. Miranda was about to answer her but was stopped.
"No everything is not all right!" roared Christine who was now back in the mirror about the fireplace. She looked at Miranda with her eyes wide and clear. "What do you mean 'he knows'? He wasn't there was he?"
"Yes. He was there, although I couldn't see him, I felt him. And so did Harry." Christine looked at her fearful with tears starting to form in her eyes. All three of the house elves and Christine began to breathe very shallow breaths as they took in what was really going on. There was an awkward moment of silence that was broken by another squeaky voice.
"D-does…miss…m-mean t-that…'He-W-who-Must-N-not-Be-N-named' has r-returned," stuttered Ribbon. Miranda simply nodded and caused all three of the house elves to gasp in horror.
"You know what this means now, Miranda. It means that he's going to come after you and then he's…" exasperated Christine.
"I know, Christine. I'm well aware of what could happen now." spat Miranda.
"Oh well good…so what should have them put on your tombstone? Hmm? 'Here lies Miranda Christine Starmenter: Beloved daughter, sister, and friend who was stupid enough to let 'You-Know-Who, her worst enemy, know that she had returned to the place she left before because of him!!!"
"Christine, save me the melodramatic speech would you. Besides that's not going to happen."
"How do you, huh? Nobody knows what the loon is going to do! But one thing's for sure. There are several people who he wants dead, and his top two people are you and that little brat of James and Lily's."
"And that's why I'm here. To make that that doesn't happen to Harry."
"And what about you? Miranda…you know that you can't stop You-Know-Who. No one can."
"That's not true. Voldemort can be stopped. One way or another."
"Don't say his name. You know I can't stand that." winced Christine.
"VOLDEMORT! VOLDEMORT! VOLDEMORT!!! God, you know you'd think that after all these years that you'd get use to hearing his name."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. 'Fear of the name only increases fear of the thing its self.' Yeah I've heard it enough from you and the rest of the Order…remember I was there too. But that doesn't mean I still don't like hearing that name. I know that I'm part you, but I'm also still part of your grandmother Andrea's mirror. I know that she wouldn't have liked hearing his name either."
"Whatever. Look I need to send this to Dumbledore and I need you three to pack up my things for Hogwarts. I'm eave tonight."
"Yes, Miss Andy," said Ribbon.
"We'll get on it," said Jewels.
"You can count on us lot," said Blinky. With that the three house elves ran quickly to the staircase and up to Miranda's room to pack her things. Miranda then went over to her pet owl Ariel. She was a beautiful gray and white owl with bright blue eyes.
"I need you take this to Professor Dumbledore immediately. I know it's asking a lot out of you Ariel, but could you please put a rush on it?" said Miranda as she tied the letter to Ariel's foot. She gave a soft hoot, an affectionate nip to Miranda's cheek, and flew off into the night sky toward Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"This is a mistake Miranda. We should just pack up and go back to France," said Christine as she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"And what about Harry? Huh? I'm not going to let him end up like his parents. I made a promise, and besides a few hours ago you were 'all glad to be home' and crap. Where is your sense of adventure?"
"Hey, I'm all for adventure, but what your talking about is suicide!" screamed Christine.
"If you come with me, I'll let you run through Hogwarts and spy on people. And I'll even let you get back at Peeves for that little present he gave you at the end of seventh year." sang Miranda.
Christine's eyes suddenly widen and an evil grin came across her face. "You're on."
"Good. Thought that would convince you. Now…get out of that mirror and help me pack." ordered Miranda, as she waved her wand and muttered a spell that allowed Christine to step out of the mirror and onto the living room floor.
The two of them then carried the trunk from upstairs back down to the living room. Miranda unlocked three of the five locks that were on her trunk to allow the empty compartments to be filled. Christine went to the bookshelves and began to toss random Defense Against the Dark Arts books into the trunk as well as books on potions, charms, and several romance novels that she enjoyed reading. Miranda went to a nearby cabinet and began to put different ingredients used to make complicated potions. Wolf's bane, eye of newts, liver of squid, and several other items went flying to one of the compartments of the trunk, including a box with a label that read "Do not use incase of extreme circumstances: contains something most people would never dream of taking. Remember to take on a slightly empty stomach and not to go swimming for at least and hour after consumption. Enjoy!"
"Are you ready yet," inquired Christine as she finished empting one of the shelves on the second floor.
"Just a sec I have to go and get something." called Miranda as she finished emptying out her potions cabinet. She then ran up the staircase to her bedroom. There she went over to her closet and pulled out an old jewelry box and opened it. Inside was full of little charms, necklaces, and bracelets, that haven't been worn in years and were slightly out dated. Miranda took out a medium sized black box and a silver charm bracelet. On the bracelet were a little witch, a little racing broom, and a star charm, and I in between the charms were little blue stones in a loving setting. She put the bracelet on and started to close the jewelry box when something caught her eye, a silver heart locket on a thin silver chain. In the center of the locket was a small red jewel cut into the shape of a heart. Miranda looked at the old and slightly tarnished necklace, and remembered how she hardly ever took it off…and who gave it to her.
"ANDY ARE YOU READY YET?" shouted Christine at the bottom of the stairs. "You know some people can only stay out of a mirror so long before they start disappear!"
"Coming!" yelled Miranda, as she grabbed the necklace and put into her pocket.
"About time!" said Christine as Miranda came down the stairs. The sight of Christine nearly caused Miranda to trip on the steps. Christine's legs and part of her body were completely gone and the rest of her started to become see through as if she were a ghost.
"Oops, sorry! Forgot about that." said Miranda sheepishly as she helped Christine toward the mirror.
"Oh, really? Gee I hadn't noticed," said Christine. "Oh, maybe it's because of the fact that I'm almost completely invisible!?"
"I said I was sorry. God, you don't need to go all mental on me. You know it's been awhile since I had to ask you to come out," said Miranda in an apologetic tone as she helped Christine back in to the mirror over the fireplace and cast the sealing spell.
"Oh, all right. Ah, much better. Thanks! Now let's get going so that I can start planning my revenge on that meddlesome poltergeist once and for all." cackled Christine as an evil grin came across her face while she rubbed her hands together.
"Calm down, Chris. You know that you're going to be doing more than just getting back a Peeves."
"Yeah, I know. But seeing him squirm will be better than spying on a few patronizing little brats, and strict teachers." said Christine as Miranda took the mirror off the wall and placed it in the trunk. Once Miranda had all the locks on her trunk locked, she saw that her three house elves had appeared with two more bags of Miranda's things, including her trusty Comet Two Sixty. "Thanks! You three have been a big help."
"I was our pleasure Miss," said all three of them in unison as two of them took a deep bow, while the other one curtsied.
Miranda walked over to the fireplace and placed her head into the hearth. She then, through some floo powder into the fire, and shouted "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" After a few moments of her head spiraling, Miranda opened her eyes and found that she was looking at the great office of the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Miranda could see that there was someone in the office sitting in one of the nearby chairs.
"Hello? Professor Dumbledore?" The person gave a small scream look toward the fire. It was not Professor Dumbledore, but the deputy headmistress Professor McGonagall.
"Oh! Ms. Starmenter? Is that you?"
"Hello, Professor. Er-is Professor Dumbledore there?"
"I'm sorry but you just missed him. He went to the Ministry to sort out what happen this evening with the move." said Professor McGonagall as she raised her eyebrow to Miranda's head, and gave her a stern look. "What in the name of Merlin possessed you to do such a thing?"
"Er- well, I thought it would be good distraction for Vol…I mean 'You-Know-Who'." said Miranda awkwardly. "But I'll explain all that later. Right now I need to get to Hogwarts, the only problem is that I don't have enough floo powder for myself and my things to get there."
"What can I do to help," asked Professor McGonagall with a determined look on her face.
"I'm glad you asked. I was wondering if it would be alright if I sent my things, while I'll apparate to Hogsmeade."
"Do you think that's a wise idea Mr. Starmenter? Considering there are Death Eaters out looking for you as we speak."
"It's the only one I can think of. Besides, I'll be careful…but I really need to get my trunk to Hogwarts. If anything does happen to me, Dumbledore will need some of the items I have." said Miranda. God I fell like I'm back in school asking her for permission! she thought.
"Very well. Send your things, and I'll inform the headmaster when he arrives that you are on your way." said Professor McGonagall with a worried look upon her face.
"Thank you, Professor."
"You can thank me when you get here in one piece. Please be careful dear!" With that Miranda took her head out of the fireplace. She then placed her trunk and bags into the fireplace and sent them to Hogwarts. As she watched the green flames engulf her things, she could hear Christine shout something from within the trunk. "Peeves here I come!"
Miranda then turned around toward her house elves who were now hanging their heads. "Now I want you three to raise the security measures once I'm gone. I might be back in a few days, but until then I want you to keep your guard up, o.k.? And don't let anyone in that you don't know."
"Please don't go Miss Andy!" cried Ribbon as he ran toward Miranda and clung on to her right leg.
"Ribbon I'm sorry but I have too." said Miranda in a soft tone.
"Miss Andy doesn't have to go! It isn't safe!" cried Jewel as she grabbed a hold of Miranda's other leg.
"Yes, what if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named catches Miss and…OH MISS ANDY PLEASE DON'T GO!!" sobbed Blinky as he too grabbed a hold of a part of Miranda. Miranda then bent down and pulled them gently off her.
"Listen to me, all three of you, I'll be fine, but I have to go. If I don't help Dumbledore and the others, then Voldemort will destroy everything. Come here." she said as she pulled all three of them into a group hug. "I love you all, but if I don't go then I don't even want to imagine what he would do. Especially to you house elves. I'll be fine."
"Miss must promise us that she'll return to Blinky, Ribbon, and Jewel in one piece!" crocked Jewel.
"I've told you, I'll be…"
"MISS MUST PROMISE!!" shouted Blinky and Ribbon. "PROMISE?"
"All right, I promise. I'll come back in one piece."
"Are you sure?" asked Blinky.
"Cross my heart." said Miranda as she crossed her heart and pulled them into another hug. "I'm going to miss you."
"We'll miss Miss too." they all sobbed in unison. With that Miranda got up and walked over to her window. She turned around and at that moment, Midnight jumped into her arms. "You want to come along too?" With that Midnight simply purred which Miranda took as yes.
"Oh all right then. I'll come back for you later Amber." she said as she looked over at Amber who was sitting by the window stretching. "In the mean time, I want you to keep eye out for anything. And if something should come up, I want you to let me know immediately o.k.?"
"Meow." said Amber as she blinked her pale blue eyes.
"All right then. Take care," and with that Miranda and Midnight apperated to The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade.
There was no one really in the pub except for a few people who were playing cards and having drinks. Some of the people were asleep at tables still holding their tankers. Miranda and Midnight quietly walked out of the pub and into the foggy night air. All the shops were now dark and eerie looking as they walked past them and out of Hogsmeade. A large cloud now hid the little bit of moonlight that did manage to break through the fog. "Lumos!" muttered Miranda as her wand light up. As the two of them walked along the path toward Hogwarts, Miranda got the funny feeling that she was being watched.
"Guess we should have taken the tunnel in Shrieking Shake, huh Midnight?"
"Meow!" said Midnight. As they got closer to Hogwarts, Miranda could still feel that she was being followed. Suddenly Midnight jumped in front of her and began to hiss.
"What is it Midnight?" Suddenly red beam of light came out of nowhere nearly hitting Miranda. As she looked around to see where the sparks came from, she suddenly realized that she was once again surround by a group of Death Eaters.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't little Ms. Miranda Starmenter. Out for an evening stroll are we?" said one of the Death Eaters who sounded vaguely familiar to her.
"What's it to you?" spat Miranda.
"The Dark Lord wishes to speak to you," said another Death Eater on the other side of Miranda.
"Oh really? He does now does he? Well, you can tell him that I have nothing to say to him and whatever he has to say I'm not interested."
"I don't think you understand," chuckled another Death Eater. "The Dark Lord will not take no for an answer."
"Well, until Voldemort decides to come here and talk to me face to face, my answer is still no. Unless he's to afraid of me or that someone might recognize him." laughed Miranda.
"How dare you mock the Dark Lord! You don't even deserve to say his name. Now I'll say it again, the Dark Lord would like a word with you." said the first Death Eater in a slightly raised voiced.
"I say that Voldemort can kiss my ass, because I have nothing to say to him," said Miranda with a smile. "So…if you all don't mind, I have more pressing matters to attend to." She took a few steps forward but was blocked by two large Death Eaters.
"Don't make this difficult now, Miranda," snarled one of the Death Eaters in front of her whose voice sounded familiar too.
"No! You know the master ordered us not to harm her," warned the first Death Eater.
"Oh what? Voldemort has gone soft? What he doesn't want to show me the same kind of 'hospitality' that he showed to all of my friends the last time?" mocked Miranda in a hurt tone.
"You're coming with us, now!" ordered the frustrated wizard in front of her.
"Make me."
"That can be arranged. Crucio!" cried the wizard. Miranda narrowly missed the curse that the Death Eater cast, as she ducted and rolled to the ground.
"No, Macnair! You idiot!" cried one of the Death Eaters.
"Expelliarmus!" cried Miranda and disarmed the Macnair and the other Death Eater. One of the cloaked figures from behind Miranda started to charge at her but was stopped when Midnight jumped at the person and clawed at the Death Eater's face.
"OW! GET OFF YOU STUPID CAT!" cried a female voice as the Death Eater grabbed a hold of Midnight and hurtled her into the night sky.
"Hey!" cried Miranda as she cast a spell that sent the witch flying through the air. "Pick on someone your own size!"
"SEIZE HER!" cried one of the Death Eaters.
"Come on Midnight!" yelled Miranda as she got up and started to run with Midnight right at her heels. "Yep, definitely should have taken the tunnel!" Random stunning spells shot toward Miranda nearly hitting her here and there. She called out different spells pointing her wand over her shoulder while she continued to run for her life. She could hear the groans and shouts of pain that let Miranda know that some of her spells had hit a few Death Eaters. Her and Midnight weaved in and out among some nearby trees trying to avoid getting hit. Some of the trees shriveled up and died, while others exploded into flames. Miranda having know clue where she was now, continued to run through the fog looking for some form of protection. She knew that she was probably close to Hogwarts now, but had no idea which direction it was in. Suddenly, Miranda realized that not that many stunning spells were being cast. 'They've split up.' thought Miranda as she gripped onto her wand even tighter now. She stopped for a few seconds to catch her breath and thought she saw some place where she could hide out for a few minutes. Seeing that the cost was clear, she made a break for it.
"CRUCIO!" hissed a voice. White-hot pain coursed throughout Miranda's entire body causing her to scream out in pain and fall flat on her face, dropping her wand at the same time. The pain was so excruciating Miranda could barely breathe. When the wizard finally lifted the curse off her, she gasped for breath and frantically searched for her wand, while she violently shook. She saw that her wand had been thrown several feet from where she was.
"Well, well, well, I guess the great Miranda isn't as quick as she once was." said Macnair from under his hood. She turned over to find that Macnair was a few feet away from her pointing his wand straight at her. Fear and panic started to rise in her as she tried to crawl away but was still feeling the effects of the Cruciatus Curse on her. She was alone, unarmed, and unable to protect herself. She knew that she was now going to be taken to the monster that has haunted her nightmares for most of her life, where she would most likely meet her demise.
"My master will be pleased with me once I've handed you over to him. But…on second thought I think I'll take even more pleasure in seeing you die before me now for what you've done to me and my family! Avada Kedavra!"
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A/N- Dun dun dun…oh no what'll happen next? Sorry it took so long to put this out. I'm all ready starting to write chapter eight now, so I'm hoping to finish that and put it out with in a couple of days. Thanks to everyone who reviewed so far, and to Kel for helping think up of a good way to end this chapter. Please review; I don't care if it's good, bad, or whatever. I'll take any and all forms of criticisms, and any ideas as to what should happen next.
Disclaimer: All the original Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. "Jo" Rowling. She's the one you want to go not me. I only own the characters I made up and this story's plot.