HARRY POTTER AND THE SEERS TRUTH
BY LADY LESTRANGE
Chapter 52
The Birth of a Nightmare
10 REVIEWS. I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 10 reviews for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to reviews follow the story.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. THANKS JK.
--LADY LESTRANGE
(A/N: I've been reading a number of fanfics in installments like this one myself, and find it is sometimes hard to remember exactly what has happened before-In a fic as complex as this one is, I thought having a reminder may be helpful for you. If you want to skip it, just page down FIVE times. --Lady Lestrange)
UP TO THIS POINT: Parvati has been having dreams and visions about the Dark Lord, Harry and a Prophecy Child. So far, they are not sure who the prophecy child is, and it is important for them to find him/her. The Sorting Hat is not sorting, so the students have "little brothers and sisters" to show around. The dream team thinks that The Sorting Hat failing is a plot to hide the Prophecy child from the teachers and anyone who can help insure that he/she stays on the side of light. No one is sure that the brothers and sisters actually belong to the house they are currently in.
The Hogwarts Express has been attacked. Dark Marks have been in the sky. The floo network is compromised. The Minister of Magic has been turned. Snape is now teaching both Defense and Advanced Defense, but it looks like Advanced Defense is just an excuse to let the Slytherins and Ginny and Edward visit the Dark Lord. Mrs. Figg is teaching potions and we know very little about her so far, except that she was against Dumbledore's suggestion to make Poly Juice Potion.
Beatrice is an animagus, a bunny. Edward's granny looks like she could have given the Dursleys a few pointers on cruelty. Slytherin is a house at war according to Snape, divided between Death Eaters and those who want to stay on the side of light. Harry uses his Invisibility Cloak and finds out when it is ripped, the Invisibility spell ceases. There is an unwelcome addition to Myrtle's bathroom, Olive Hornby. Peeves is his usual annoying self, but the Baron seems to have a little less control over him.
Samara, for some reason, lofts some wicked, powerful curses. She doesn't look like she has total control over them, which isn't really surprising since she's learned magic on her own from a book, that Harry is sure is a dark book. She seems to like Draco, but don't assume this is a romance. It is not. Ginny is still hearing voices in her head. Harry's scar is hurting more, and neither he nor Ginny know what this means. Ginny is closer with Harry this year, but again, not romantically. There is Edward, the new Gryffindor, who seems interested in Ginny, but Ginny really hasn't gotten over Tom.
We find out about Neville's powerful auror parents. We learn that Neville has a memory charm that was put on him as a baby. He's a more powerful wizard than anyone ever thought as evidenced by his yew wand and the way he reacts to Snape's ministrations in trying to remove the memory charm. We might wonder why Snape is trying to do this himself, instead of enlisting the help of Madam Pomfrey. Sirius and Lupin are on "fieldtrips" with the sixth and seventh years.
Of course we can also wonder why Snape is so determined to teach his classes advanced spells like the Patronus, or we can just chalk it up to Snape, being mean. The Fifth year class starts apparition classes and we meet Professor Sinistra. We also visit Hufflepuff, where we see The Wall, and Slytherin house, where we discover, to our amazement, a magic room that Draco shares with Samara, but Samara has a very unslytherin use for the room. Ravenclaw to come next weekend.
The chapter, CHAINED AND CHARMED, takes place at the same time as DANCING IS AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE-when Samara was in Slytherin, dancing. It is Saturday afternoon. Harry and the Gryffindors examine Samara's Dark Book, after they come back from lunch. They find an extreme potion, and decide they need to make a trip to the Chamber of Secrets. Ghastly Ghostly Dinner is when Gryffindor's meet with Samara after her little trip to Slytherin. Samara and Beatrice are persuaded by Edward to help him steal his snake back from his brother Ethan. Things get a little out of hand, and Samara learns more about Slytherin than she ever wanted to know.
Now the Gryffindors are mad at her. Samara wants to make up and be friends with them, but is it possible to befriend both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy? How far will she go to make up, or will she just find some valuable information to store away for future use? (So, don't you want one of those Tee shirts?)
LIONS AND TIGERS: We see a very stressed out Snap both in Harry's memory of what happened with Snap and Neville and in the actual DADA class. We find out Trelawney doesn't want Samara in her class and Samara decides to take Ancient Runes instead. McGonagall assures Samara that Trelawney has done her a favor. McGonagall further talks to Samara about her experiences in Gryffindor, opening the door to give Samara someone to talk to, if she so chooses. We also learned lots more about animagi in McGonagall's class. Snape dismisses the Gryffifndors and keeps the Slytherins after class. We find out it's because Snape wants them to practice their patronus because the Slytherins are so lousy at the spell. Could it be because there are so few happy memories to chose from?
In DRAGON BREATH AND BLUDGER BATS, Ginny and Edward set the Slytherins up with fire mints, and Samara gets extremely angry at them both because they hurt her friends. In an effort to contain her anger, she goes to the Quiddich pitch where she meets Fred and George. After lobbing a few quaffles at them in her anger, they decide to ask her to be a Beater for Gryffindor. She refuses, but later when she talks to Draco, he is not very nice to her, (hey, who said Draco was a nice guy?) so she wonders whether or not she should take the Beater job.
In WISH IT REAL; WISH IT NOT we see into one of Ginny's dreams. If you don't remember this dream, go and re-read chapter 28. In Chapter 29, THE SPELLING BEE, Samara is feeling homesick and friendless until Draco invites Samara back to Slytherin. Also, includes a short intro into what's coming up in potions class.
In Chapter 30, CHILD OF GRYFFINDOR, Neville and Snape break the Imperio part of the Memory Charm. The trio discusses the Founders' spells, which put their gifts in the Sorting Hat; however they do not have the original parseltongue version of Salazar's spell. Ginny also sees Edward painting and the reader sees a bit of Ginny and Tom's relationship. In SLYTHERIN GAMES—Well, if you don't remember it, you better re-read. Voldemort is finally out and angry—burning and pillaging and we see a little-known inside version of Slytherin through Ginny's eyes. In STICKY SITUATIONS, Samara uses her adhere charm on the Weasley twins, Neville sticks Beatrice's wand to his with bubble gum, and Edward is sticking in Gryffindor.
In OW POST the Slytherins get even for the Dragon Breath Mints, among other things—
In the Ravenclaw chapter—I'm still trying to think of a good name for it—Help me please—we meet a number of Ravenclaws and find out a little more about the characters, in Ravenclaw as well as Edward and Samara. So do you think either of them are really Ravenclaws? Hmmmm? In chapter 35 we meet Sirius again who plans to have a talk with Dumbledore about his keeping Harry safe and of course what that nasty Snape is doing to poor Neville. The Quiddich Game and then more of Neville's awesome Auror parents.
The war is heating up and touching the lives of the children. This story is rapidly approaching –nasty things. Not for the faint of heart. Last chapter, we had a relaxing time at Hogsmeade. Samara bounces from friend to friend and Harry has some nasty dreams, and Harry is shocked to find out that Ron and Hermione are a couple. We knew that already though, right?
In THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS the trio did some exploring, but failed to find the basilisk eggs. They found other things though. Obviously, they have to go back, but first Ginny gives them some instructions.
In THE CHAMBER, THE WALL, THE WAND AND THE WINDOW, Ginny gives the trio some instructions about the Chamber, the Gryffindor boys are having trouble sleeping and Harry's talking to the Snake, Kauket. Parvati has yet another vision, about a muggle and the earlier one about the wand is explored. Trelawney tells Ginny she will open a window to the past—Didn't she already do that? Is Trelawney a little late with this prediction, or does it mean something else?
In NO MORE GAMES we return to ADADA class and Ginny finds out by using the Quick Quotes Quill that the class is more than she planned, but the notes are stolen, so she has no proof to go to Dumbledore with—So she takes matters into her own hands. In PERVIGILO ARMARO, we see part of Ginny's awesome ward. Doors are opened and Tom is out, but he isn't everything we thought he would be. Could it be that he's keeping secrets from us? Puppy Puffs and the Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw Quiddich game offer a little comic relief.
Chapter 44, MORS MORDRE. Ginny gets a dark mark. 'nouf said. BLOOD AND MAGIC MINGLED is Ginny reaction to Voldemort's Imperio curse, and a trip to the Chamber. In THE SEVENTH SUFFERING, We leave Ginny in the Chamber, while we go off with Samara to find out what happened to Ginny in Slytherin this morning, but Samara gets side-tracked, and she learns a personal secret of Draco's—so when is she going to share her secret? Speaking of secrets, Snape has a few, which he unwittingly shares in SNAPE'S SECRET AND SALAZAR'S TREASURE. In SECRETS KEPT AND THOUGHTS SHARED, we at last know what side Snape is on--almost—
And for all those Ginny lovers--awesome Ginny in WHAT IS A DARK WIZARD--where we at last, rejoin the Dark Lord. After that, aren't we all ready for a little fun and games with the Gryffindor/Slytherin Quiddich game? Harry finally confirms Edward's evil intent, although no one believes him, and now, once again Harry is privy to Slytherin secrets in NOTHING HALLOWED, on Halloween night. Halloween continues to the wee hours of the morning with THE BIRTH OF A NIGHTMARE.
Birth of a Nightmare
By Lady Lestrange
When Ginny opened her eyes it was still dark, but the blankets were quietly jostling her awake. She started to creep downstairs, when she heard voices. There was a clink of glasses and the shuffle of furniture being rearranged. As she peered into the common room, she saw Samara attempting to clean up a completely trashed common room. Harry was talking to her. "OK," he said. "We got the spiders, and put Seemus back to bed and---------
What are we missing?"
"The keisel," said Samara.
"What the heck is a keisel?" asked Harry.
"Donno," said Samara, attempting to remove a stain from the sofa.
"I wonder what happened," thought Ginny. "The mess in the common room didn't look like it could be made by two people, especially two people like Samara and Harry. More importantly, how on Earth was she going to get through the Gryffindor Common Room to Slytherin before her Dark Mark started to burn? She didn't want to consider being trapped here with that thing on her arm. She felt her heartbeat increase just thinking about it."
Ginny heard a squeak on the boys' side steps, and glanced up to see Edward frowning into the Common Room too.
"Why haven't they called the house elves?" wondered Tom.
"House elves! That's it," thought Ginny. She and Edward would just need them a little sooner than the other students. Ginny motioned for Edward to go back up the stairs. He shook his head, no. Ginny shrugged and yawning she walked right out into the Common Room.
"What happened?" she asked looking around at the mess.
"Slytherins happened," said Harry shortly.
"You're never going to get this cleaned up. Why haven't you called the house elves?"
Samara and Harry looked at each other. "Didn't think of it," said Harry sheepishly.
"Well, let me borrow your Invisibility cloak and I'll go get some. There are always a few awake in the kitchen."
"I—ah—" began Harry.
"Draco has it," said Samara.
"Has what?" asked Ginny.
"Harry's invisibility cloak."
"Ohmygosh," breathed Ginny.
"but he can't use it," said Harry pulling the ripped piece of fabric from his robe pocket, and showing it to Ginny. "The spell has been broken."
"You destroyed it rather than letting Draco have it?" questioned Ginny.
"Oh no, said Harry. "I ripped this before. Actually a book in the restricted section took a bite out of it, but it will repairo."
Ginny nodded. "OK. I'll take the tunnel down to the kitchen."
"You hate the tunnel," said Harry and Samara together.
"I'll go," said Harry.
Shit. Now what was she going to do, thought Ginny.
"You're a Gryffindor," coached Tom. "Shouldn't you conquer your fears or something?"
"No, I—I want to," said Ginny. "I'm a Gryffindor. I need to learn to face my fears."
==
When Ginny got to the kitchen it was completely silent. She looked around, hoping upon hope that they hadn't all already left. "Tully? Winky? Dobby? I need your help," she whispered.
Snape strode out of an alcove as if he had just appeared from thin air and the kitchen was suddenly bustling with house elves. She looked around for a familiar face, but they looked so much alike—
"Dobby and Dobby's friends is not making trouble tonight," said one of the house elves.
"What are you doing here, Miss Weasley," said Snape coldly. "You were to meet the others in Slytherin Common Room. We just got your wretched brothers out of here."
"We thought they's was coming back," interrupted another of the house elves. "We was hiding."
Snape scowled at it.
"Yes, Sir," said Ginny. "I understand, Sir, but there was a party in Gryffindor Common Room—"
If possible, his face grew even colder.
"Ah-- Samara and Harry are still cleaning the room. We can't get through without being seen. I need a few house elves to clean—"
"There are none available," said Snape, turning away. "And we are already late. He will be calling any moment—"
"But Edward—"
"Edward is resourceful. He will find a way—"
"But, Sir," Ginny interrupted, "I've already figured a way—"
"Fine," snapped Snape. "Do it. But hurry. Maximus!
An elderly elf popped in front of her. "Yes, Master."
"You know tonight's plan?"
"Yes, Master."
Snape nodded toward Ginny. "Do whatever she says."
"Yes, Master."
"Obey immediately as if it were me speaking."
"Yes, Master."
"And if you feel the need to punish yourself, forestall that action until after tonight's events."
"Yes, Master."
"I don't have time for any foolishness. Use what little wit you have." Snape strode away in a flurry of robes.
"Mistress," said the house elf, wide-eyed. "Please hurry."
"I need--maybe five house-elves—"
Pop. Pop. The house elf had disappeared and re-appeared almost instantaneously with four other house elves.
"How did you--" began Ginny.
"Mistress—" He covered his mouth with both hands, and then took them down and spoke again. "Maximus must not interrupt--but please hurry."
"OK. I need you to—no wait. Don't do anything until I finish telling you exactly what I need."
"Yes, Mistress."
The house elf shuffled impatiently as Ginny explained that she needed them to Pop her back to Gryffindor Common Room. She would then speak to Harry and Samara and pretend to go to bed. Then she needed—"Will you please stand still?" said Ginny and the house elf froze like a statue.
"Yes Mistress."
"I didn't mean to snap at you," said Ginny.
"Please continue, Mistress," urged the house elf.
"OK, Then I need you and the others to Pop me and Edward to Slytherin Common Room while taking the mess out of Gryffindor Common Room. Don't worry about finishing cleaning Gryffindor Common Room now," she explained. "You can come back and do it later, after Samara and Harry go to bed, but Harry and Samara must not know—"
"Yes, Mistress," said Maximus. "Maximus understands about stealth. Permission to touch, Mistress, please?"
"Of course, I—"
Pop!
Ginny arrived back in Gryffindor Common Room in a flash that reminded her of Colin Creevy's camera. She covered her eyes for a moment, seeing spots, and when she looked up, the room was alive with house elves popping in and out of the Common Room, cleaning frantically—surely there were more than five.
"Well," Ginny told Harry and Samara. "It looks like Gryffindor Common Room will be cleaned in no time. I'm going back to bed. You should too."
Yawning, Samara headed up the stairs.
Ginny saw Edward Pop from the stair well just before Harry Potter turned to go up it.
"I hope we got everything," muttered Harry. "I can't believe those Slytherins! Do you know what they did? Ginny was treated to a vivid explanation that was taking entirely too long. Snape had said to hurry. The house elves practically had the common room cleaned, and she was standing on the landing that separated the boys' dorm from the girls' dorm with Harry Potter.
"Kiss him goodnight already," said Tom, "and let's go!"
Ginny felt her face growing warm with a blush. Harry would wonder what she was thinking of that made her blush—And she blushed even more.
Tom chuckled.
She decided Tom was right. It was going to take Harry forever to kiss her, and that was obviously what he wanted to do. She leaned close to him, and he stopped talking about the Slytherins long enough to notice how near she was. He touched her cheek and then let his hand slip under her hair, as he pulled her in close to him. His lips touched hers, gently at first, and then he wrapped his arms completely around her, molding his body to hers and--.
The sudden fiery pain stabbed through her left arm, and she tightened her grip on him, nearly crying out with the pain of the Dark Mark, but Harry didn't seem to notice. He had pulled away from her, clutching his scar.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, holding his head. "Damn Voldemort!"
Ginny didn't trust herself to speak. If she took her gritted teeth apart, she was quite certain, that she would scream. She wanted to run—somewhere—She prayed the house elf had waited for her in her room. She squeezed Harry's hand sympathetically and then turned and sprinted for her room.
"Go!" urged Tom.
As she entered her room, she saw the elderly house elf tucking a sleeping Samara into bed. Whimpering, she reached immediately for the house elf, but he side stepped her, picking up her winter cloak which she had forgotten, and draping it over Ginny's shoulders.
He held out his hand, and as soon as Ginny's fingers touched his, she disapparated. The apparation felt different. It felt open and empty, like a vast precipice was stretching before her. When the apparition ended, the feeling of the void did not go away. She was not in Slytherin Common Room. She was on an endless barren rock—and on another island further out to sea stood a great and menacing castle--Azkaban.
The house elf beside her was shaking from head to foot.
"What's wrong?" Ginny wondered aloud. "Maximus?"
"Hogwart's wards," said Snape. "It disrupts even house elf magic, and the place we are going will not allow renewal. Go! Snape told the house elf. Restore your magic and come back to us here—We will be no longer than an hour.
"Thank you, Master," said the house elf, attempting to bow in a dignified manner.
"Go!" Snape said again, and with a Pop, the house elf was gone.
As Ginny absently rubbed her still stinging Dark Mark she noticed that not all of the wizards were allowing their house elves to disapparate, but most of them were. She assumed that it was more because the wizards wanted the house elf magic intact before they tried to apparate them off of the island, not for any care of the house elf.
Edward caught her hands. "I was worried—" he said. "When you didn't come to the Slytherin Common Room—Professor Snape has a lot of confidence in that house elf—"
"Apparently, it's well placed," Ginny said looking around. The island they were on was not far from Askaban. A low gray mist hung over the water and the biting wind blew the sea into white caps. It was cold. Ginny wrapped her heavy cloak tighter around herself, and was glad Maximus had remembered it for her. Boats were lined up along the shoreline, but no one was getting into them yet. They were milling around the island waiting—waiting Ginny realized for Voldemort's order.
She saw him talking to two other Death Eaters. One she was sure was Lucius. She could tell by the way he moved, like a pale, sleek cat. The other, she wasn't sure—
It seemed that he could feel her eyes on him, because as he turned and looked across the crowd to her. She felt her Mark tingle warmly, at their contact. He spoke softly to one of the Death Eaters with him, and then turned away. Ginny couldn't help thinking that his shoulder looked strangely empty without the massive snake, Nagini draped over it.
"Grandmother!" Edward saw her first and clasped her hand in his, kissing it.
"Good evening, Edward. Ethan. Virginia. Severus. The Lord Voldemort requests that families stay together to retrieve those who have been lost to us," said Carman. "Come. We will join Narcissa and Lucius and Draco." She turned and expecting them to follow, had already started to walk back to the Malfoys
"Go with them, Ginny Love," urged Tom.
Ginny hesitated confused. "She wasn't part of their family."
Carman turned. "Come, child," she ordered. "You will stay with us. Severus has enough work to do."
Ginny looked helplessly at Snape, but with a swirl of robes, he was already gone, striding to the front of the group and Voldemort.
Voldemort raised his hands for quiet and there was no longer any time to talk.
Using the Sonorus Spell, he addressed the crowd. "Our numbers are swelling. Witches and wizards are swarming to our cause anxious to save the world they know, but some cannot come. They are imprisoned. Unjustly imprisoned because they dared to try to right a wrong that was made fifteen hundred years ago. They are waiting. They have been waiting for a long time. I know that you ache to pay homage to me, to come to me, to touch my robes, because you are mine, but I will allow them to wait no longer. They shall not wait for petty rituals that can be accomplished without the wait. Are we united in the Mark?"
A cheer went up from the crowd.
Today, you will learn a new power of your Mark—the power of our Unity. Open yourselves up to me like each of you have done when you knelt and kissed my robe. Acknowledge that you no longer belong to yourself-- You belong—to the cause—to a greater good for the wizarding community--to me. And for that cause, allow a handful, only a handful of your power to pour through the Mark to me.
A great hush fell over the crowd and Ginny could feel the transfer of magic happening all around her. Little murmurs of amazement filled the air, and Ginny could sense some of the crowd's excitement, but what was happening frightened her. She wasn't sure why—She frowned.
"Remind you of the diary?" Tom wondered.
"Yes!" said Ginny. "It's like he's pulling away a part of them—"
"It's not like anything, Ginny Love. That's exactly what he is doing."
She closed herself off, sucking her magic close to her. She resisted the urge to put up a ward.
"But some of you resist," Voldemort continued blandly. "I know who you are."
Ginny had the feeling that she had just been kicked hard in the stomach. All of the air blew out of her lungs and she clutched her middle. When she looked up, she realized she hadn't been the only one to get this magical chastisement. Her eyes met Draco Malfoy's across the expanse. He too was clutching his stomach, and Alvin Nott. She counted one, two, seven, ten, maybe twelve other Death Eaters she didn't know—were clutching their stomachs. Twelve out of sixty or seventy Death Eaters.
Hard to tell for sure who they are, in their identical robes, thought Tom.
And then, Draco looked away. His mother had gripped his shoulder, and was whispering furiously to him. He shrugged her off.
Voldemort's voice rose again with the sonorus charm. Today, you will see and feel exactly what we are fighting to prevent. Once this island was a thriving magical community. Today it is dead. It is a vortex that sucks the magic out of the very rocks of the Earth! This is what muggles have done to our world. This is why muggles must die. I wouldn't send any of you in there alone, and yet our friends and family have lived—no existed in this hell for years—some of them have suffered for fourteen years." His voice dropped out of the sonorus charm, and yet it was so quiet, the crowd was so attentive, they heard him still, "It's time to bring them home." He turned and searched the faces of his Death Eaters. "Severus!" he said.
"Here, my Lord," replied Snape. As he came forward., Voldemort reached down and grasped his arm. He held their clasped arms high, and spoke with Sonorus. "Choose someone that you would walk into hell with—because that is where we are going!" He turned and stepped into one of the boats.
The Death Eaters came in pairs or threesomes. Edward took Ginny's hand, but Carman interrupted. "No," she said, stepping into the boat with her, and pushing off from the rock. "Go with Ethan."
"Yes, Grandmother," said Edward releasing her to Carman.
"Oh, no. No. No. No. This wasn't what I wanted to do—" thought Ginny, but the force of the current immediately began to suck the boat toward Azkaban. It was easy to see how they would get there, but not as easy to see how they would get back.
"You know there is no magic on Azkaban, Ginny Love. The only magic we will be able to feel is hers. That is why He said to go in pairs—"
"I don't want to feel her magic," thought Ginny.
"Maybe she wants to feel ours."
"That's your fault, Tom."
"Probably. I take full responsibility."
"What good does that do?"
"None, but I thought you'd like it—it sounded so-o Gryffindor."
"Go away, Tom."
"No. Absolutely not." Ginny could feel Tom's excitement as well as some trepidation.
"Are you the Prophecy child?" asked Carman, taking Ginny's hand in her own.
Ginny could feel the soft crackling of the magic between them. She resisted the urge to touch it. It was a dark thing—with a strange attraction—like picking a scab.
"No—I don't know—I don't think so," replied Ginny.
Carman laughed. "Just the answer I expected from a Weasley," she said. "My Edward thinks that you are—why is that?"
"You should ask Edward." Said Ginny.
Carman's tone grew hard, the magic in her hand sharp as a razor, cutting straight through Ginny's hand—through bone and muscle and tendons." Ginny sucked in her breath with a little cry of pain and tried to pull her hand away, but Carman held her in an iron grip. "I asked you," she said with a smile on her lips.
Ginny looked down at her hand.
"Oh there's no blood, dear. Blood would be so messy—don't you think? I tried to teach Ethan that, but he's never had the perseverance to master it. Edward, on the other hand—well, you know Edward. You have shared magic with him."
Ginny felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Tom? How does she know that?"
"I don't think she does," Tom replied. "I think she's guessing. I could be wrong—"
"Now, my question. Why does Edward think you are the prophecy child?"
"Go ahead," Tom thought. "Tell her what you want to, but don't let her think I'm still with you. She'll tell Voldemort."
"I had a diary—" began Ginny.
"I know of it," said Carman.
"I don't have much left of what he was," said Ginny, "Except, the parseltongue." Ginny licked her lips and tasted the salt of the sea on them--salt and magic. It had a comforting familiarity and gave her courage. "I was sorted into Gryffindor, but what remains of Him in me might make it hard for me to be sorted now if I had to."
"Ahh—Fate put Ravenclaw brains in your head and Gryffindor bravery in your heart-
Slytherin ambition, cunning and guile, yet Hufflepuff love is his dread. Tell me, do you love Edward?"
"I—no," said Ginny, realizing that Carman was searching for dangers to her and her family—dangers which might be inherint if she was truly the prophecy child. More than once she had gone over these facts herself. How could she be the prophecy child? She came to Hogwarts in the wrong year. She wasn't muggle born. And yet if it wasn't her, who was it?
"Do you love—anyone?" Carman asked.
Ginny thought it an exceeding personal question for someone she had just met to ask her, but if she had any reservations, she kept her mouth shut. The throbbing still aching in her hand reminded her, this was not a woman to be triffled with.
The first thought into her mind, was Tom—his sardonic humor, his advice. She ached for him. She wanted so badly to fulfill the promise she had made in first year, a promise to restore him to life—escape the diary. She would give her life for him. In a way, she already had--
Tom, himself, broke into her thoughts, "Me?:
For just a moment she realized that he was shaken to the core of his being, and then the notion was gone. "You know this isn't exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted to escape the diary." Tom quipped.
But she loved others too—her parents, her brothers, she would give her life for them too. Hermione. And, of course, Harry. Her long ago crush invaded her thoughts. He had the same soft black hair and ready smile which still sent a rush of heat though her, Yes. She loved him too.
"Don't even attempt to explain this line of reasoning to Carman," said Tom dryly. "There is no point in both of us being sick."
A smile brushed her lips.
"I see you are thinking of someone," said Carman, Her eyes narrowed, trying to discern what the threat would be. "Harry Potter?" she guessed.
Ginny nodded, keeping Tom's council of not going into details with Carman.
Carman glanced at the rapidly approaching shoreline, and gripped Ginny's hands tighter, her eyes glittering under the heavy lids. "I would tell you to be ready," she said softly, "But nothing will prepare you for Azkaban." Abruptly, Carman began to pour her magic through her.
The boat touched the rock at the base of Azkaban and conversation ceased. Even insulated by Carman's magic, a huge cloud of emptiness engulfed her, swallowed her whole, and she sank into the darkness like a stone. When she awoke, Carman was holding her in her arms and dripping handfuls of the sea water onto her face. She was still covered with Carman's magic. Both Ethan and Edward were still passed out in their boat. They weren't the only ones. At least half of the Death Eaters were totally incapacitated by the lack of magic.
"It's awful," Ginny muttered. "How do people live here?"
"They don't," said Carman, pulling Ginny to her feet. "Let's see if we can rouse my grandsons. They won't want to miss all the fun."
"What should I do?"
"You'll think of something," said Carman with a wink.
"Tom? Ginny couldn't quite get over that this woman was Edward's grandmother. She didn't act like a grandmother. What should I do, Tom?"
"As the lady said, you'll think of something—"
Carman shook Ethan gently and then with more vigor. Finally she stepped into the fridgid seawater and she drew her wand With obvious concentration she said, ____tickling spell" It seemed to take a moment to work, but after a few seconds, Ethan was batting away imaginary hands, and soon he was awake.
Edward, Ginny decided to tickle the muggle way. It was easier than trying to draw a spell through a wand.
Once most of the Death Eaters were awake, the group began the climb to the castle. Voldemort expected that when they arrived the gates would be opened welcomingly, by Rookwood, keeper of the dementers. The gates were closed, and locked.
"Marshall!" called Voldemort. "Remove this impediment."
Marshall Avery hurried forward, an assortment of locks and keys and enchantments in his hand. Some of the objects were decidedly muggle; others were glowing with strange magics that Ginny had never seen before. Some were combinations of the two. It took only a few minutes to find the key, and Voldemort threw open the door. The room was swarming with dementers.
"Expecto Patronus!" shouted Avery, backing up as the spell failed to work in the Azkaban atmosphere, but Rookwood had already begun the binding charm that secured them in Pandora's box.
Evil and shadows return from whence you came
Pandora's box your darkness does claim
Return to your prison and there be held
Only to be released by Chaos' child
A Child born of hatred to set you free
To chase the souls of dreams that will never be
"Why was this binding not done?" shouted Voldemort.
"Perhaps you're not giving the orders here," said a sugary sweet voice. It belonged to an auror.
Standing inside of the vestibule were three aurors, they had been discussing security with Rookwood, a part of which was the release of dementers on regular intervals. All three turned, wands drawn, but by the time the spells decided to launch themselves, in the oppressive Azkaban air, the Death Eaters were already upon them.
"Avada—"began Voldemort, but Avery launched himself at the auror. He was followed by a dozen other Death Eaters.
With sheer strength of numbers, the aurors were defeated. Just before the last one died , Voldemort reached for him. He held the dying man for just a moment, and then dropped him unceremoniously on the stony entrance hall.
"They were warned," Voldemort announced. "They didn't believe it, but they were warned."
"Tom?" wondered Ginny. "Did he just read that man's mind?"
"Occlumency," said Tom. "Mind reading is such a muggle term."
"That's like what Pansy does," said Ginny.
"No," said Tom. "Telepathy presupposes that both parties agree to the communication. Occlumency does not."
Ginny shivered.
All of the dementers had been rounded up and put into Pandora's box . Rookwood stood at the doorway. Fawning and bowing, he assured Voldemort that no one could have warned the aurors. He swore that no one from his office even knew about this little night time visit. The aurors had been a last minute surprise trip, Rookwood told them.
"You are lying," said Voldemort coldly.
"OK, OK, you're right," blurted Rookwood, sweat beading on his brow, "But I thought they would come earlier. I thought I'd be rid of them before you arrived, and no harm done. Well," he laughed hesitantly. "No harm done anyway, is there?"
"Only to them," Voldemort said gesturing to the aurors. "So far—" Voldemort's nostrils flared "We have a spy," he said softy. "These aurors were warned., and even if the leakage of our plans caused no harm, the spy must be found and punished.
He surveyed the Death Eaters with narrowed eyes. His gaze resting on several of them a little longer than others. His nostrils were flared as if he could smell the scent of guilt.
"Mcnair!"
"Yes, Master."
"Find three Death Eaters who knew these blokes enough to be able to impersonate them." Voldemort gave one of the dead aurors a kick, turning her over and revealing a woman's face. "A stroke of luck," Voldemort said, "the Scimgoeur's. They were a husband and wife team I believe. Prepare the bodies to be used for polyjuice."
Mcnair blanched. "But they're wizarding folk—we're not—creamating them?"
"They have a more pressing use," said Voldemort. He didn't take his eyes from Mcnair. "They are not so different than magical creatures, Walden," Voldemort said gently. "They do not deserve to rest just yet." Voldemort reached forward and squeezed Walden Mcnair's shoulder. "Perhaps you should take the place of the other auror," suggested Voldemort.
"I have commitments! I would be missed, sir at Magical Creatures."
"Of course you would," said Voldemort blandly. "That's because you do your job so well. I would miss you too if you ceased to do your job well—"
"Yes, Master."
"I'll attend to it right away, Master."
"Perhaps Mulciber if he still has his finisse with the imperio curse—and someone else from this wretched place. They will not have to account for their whereabouts to anyone."
"Yes, Master. Right away, Master."
"Good. Let's go," he said marching boldly into the heart of the castle. They traveled in small groups, looking for their own relatives and unlocking the doors as they went.
"NO, that's not it," said Marshall, explaining once again how to open the door with the hand held device that released it. "It's a puzzle, see?" said Marshall. "It's scrambled. If you put it back together correctly, you will release the lock."
"Just like the Ravenclaw puzzles," commented Edward. "The Ravenclaws say nobody plays with them after first and second year
"OH, I know what those are, " said Ginny. "Samara went on and on about them when she visited Ravenclaw. She loved them. She said she never saw objects with auras. She wondered how they were made. Every piece looks exactly the same, right?"
"Yes," said Edward. "You have to feel the magic of the pieces to put them in the correct place. Here, where there is no magic, I wonder how that would work."
"Oh there could be magic contained in the pieces," said Carman. "It's in such a tiny amount, I doubt it would make a difference, Edward."
"So Samara played with those silly Ravenclaw puzzles?" wondered Edward.
"Yes," said Ginny. "She said they were fascinating.."
Really? Drawled a bored voice.
"Hey Draco! Did you have a nice sleep?" asked Edward.
"I did not faint," said Draco.
Ethan smirked at him.
Draco glanced behind him at Vincent and Gregory who stepped up next to them.
"Boys," said Carman softly, and the tension immediately went out of the situation.
They reached the cells—they were dark dank places of horror. House elves were busily cleaning up supper dishes, popping in and out of the cells. They did not, however, clean the cells. It was supposed to be a place of punishment, and house elves knew intimately what punishments should look like. The house elves themselves belonged to the Ministy and were answerable to the Ministry. They wore the Ministry crest on the towel-like layers of cloth that covered them.
Like in Hogwarts, House elf apparation within the wards was no problem, but apparating through it was a different thing. Even for the house elves. It was difficult, but not impossible, and of course, no one cared if a few of the house elves died trying to apparate through it. Voldemort had actually lost six of his own trying to get the apparation just right before sending any of his Death Eaters through to Azkaban with the house elves. They understood what was required of them now. They only had to get the Death Eaters off of the island. One trip through the wards was not usually too much for them.
"Valeriana!" whispered Narcissa. "Sister!" and the little group became silent. Lucius moved back a step with Draco, allowing Carman to step closer to the cell. Narcissa gripped her sister's hand through the bars as Marshall struggled to open her cell.
"This one's a bit more complecated," he said. "You must have given them more trouble than most—Valeriana."
"Of course," Valeriana said, her voice low and rasping.
Ginny couldn't take her eyes off of the woman. She was so different from Carman and yet so much the same. Ginny could see the resemblance in the facial features, especially her dark, heavy lidded eyes, but everything else was different. Narcissa and Carman were both slender, fragile looking women, although their power as witches belayed that information. Valeriana on the other hand, must have taken after her father. She was tall and more powerfully built. She was thin to the point of gauntness and yet there was a preditor air about her—hungry—in more ways than one. She looked like a sleek panther, pacing her cage until she took Narcissa's hand,then she softened, but only slightly, as if she expected something to dive out of the shadows and drive hope away—dementers!" thought Ginny. "That's what gave her that haunted look.
Her fingers played over Narcissa's for several moments while Marshall struggled with the lock. Then she reached her other hand through the bars to Carman. Ginny realized that she was seeking the residual magic that was in her mother's and sister's hands. At last, the lock clicked open and for just a moment, pure glee shown on Valeriana's face, and then she recovered herself, reached forward pushed the door open and walked sedately out into the group of Death Eaters. Although her eyes glittered with a mad light, she looked more sane than any of the other released prisoners. Her hands were filthy, but relatively clean, in comparision with the other prisoners. And although the rest of her body was dirty, and her hair was combed—or at least pulled back in a crooked plait. She surveyed the group, her eyes resting on Ginny for more than a moment. Her eyes darted to Narcissa and Lucius and Draco and then back to Ginny again, her face a mass of confusion. "She's not—yours—sister?"
Draco choked and Lucius sucked in his breath. "No!" shouted Narcissa, and then more sedately she added, "our girl child—is no more."
"Girl child?" thought Ginny. "Draco had a sister? Girl child? What did that mean? Why had Narcissa not called the little witch by her name."
"Because," Tom's thought was hesitant. "She was a squib. Slytherins don't say it—"
"But—" began Ginny amazed.
"Watch Valeriana," Tom ordered, drawing back from her.
Valeriana's eyes had found the twins. Here she at last loosed the tight hold that she had on her dignity, shaking with emotion she threw her arms around them both at the same time . They didn't look like they knew what to do with this sudden display of emotion. She buried her face in their hair taking long deep breaths—Which one? She murmured. Then she looked into Ethan's eyes. "You," she said. "You put the Dark Mark in the air on September first—my Ethan—I felt your magic--and my Edward." They stood, uncomfortable in her embrace.
Ginny was spell bound. This woman had not seen her children for years, and yet she knew the twins apart. A tiny part of her wondered why her own mother always mixed up Fred and George.
After a moment Valeriana backed up looking around nervously. Ginny wasn't sure if she was looking for dementers or she was just edgy. Ginny, Draco and Lucius stood a little apart, not speaking and avoiding eye contact.
Then Ginny realized for whom she was looking. As her eyes lit on Voldemort, she seemed transformed.
"Valeriana," The Dark Lord said softly, and she disentangled herself from her family, turning slowly, her eyes locked on his, she sank to her knees in front of him. "We were faithful, Master," she said. "Desmond and I—Desmond?"
"I know," he said. "You and your husband were faithful, and great rewards will be yours."
"Desmond—is he alive?"
"He is alive."
She would have spoken again, but he held up his hand for her silence. "Think of what reward you want to be yours," he said. "You do not have to tell me your wishes now. Think about it."
"I have thought about it my Lord. It is all I have thought about—"
He turned her palm upright in his own hand and traced the furrows there. "What happened here?" he asked, looking at the deep scars etched into her hands.
"Sometimes when the dementers—Sometimes, I failed." She licked her lips furtively, looking at the ground. "I gave in to the despair. I thought you had abandoned us," she whispered, and then the words came in a rush. " I knew such thoughts were dangerous. It was wrong—punishable—but I had no magic—No way to repair--my broken dreams—"
"I see," said Lord Voldemort, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small jar of silvery ointment. He put two of his own fingers into the jar and pulled out a bit of it and spread it carefully on her hands. The scars disappeared immediately. "You know now, if I could have come sooner, I would have."
"Yes, Master," she said.
"You are forgiven," He said, drawing a finger down the side of her cheek.
He looked at her for another moment, as if debating whether to speak again, then he turned and walked down the corridor, greeting other newly freed Death Eaters.
They gathered at the shoreline and waited for the house elves to Pop them outside of the Azakaban wards. A cold wind was blowing off of the ocean, making Ginny shiver, but Valeriana stood unheeding in the frigid spray. After a moment she walked into the water. When she was knee deep, she raised her hands and attempted to call the elementals. It was a painstaking business, and Ginny was uncertain whether or not Valeriana actually managed to do it until a steady stream of sparks began issuing from her finger tips, hissing as they fell into the cold water.
The house elves began to arrive on the shore. One of them, a large, misshapen house elf waded out, up to his neck in the cold water. "Mistress," he croaked, and Valeriana turned, showering him with sparks and hot water. "What is it, creature?" she snapped, her dark hooded eyes filled with anger at being interrupted, the magic whipping around her filling her with a confidence she didn't have a moment ago.
"Kreature comes to take Mistress away from here. Mistress must go to the Snow Castle," he said, hesitantly holding out his hand. "Mistress must, touch Kreature.
She recoiled.
"Valeriana," said Carman. "The wards do not allow prisoners to leave. Your magical essese is recognized by the ward. The creature's magic will protect you. Isn't that what house elves do? Protect and serve their masters?"
"I have to touch it?" asked Valeriana, showering sparks which blew in the wind and igniting briefly and then fizzling into nothingness on the barren rock of Azkaban.
Narcissa pulled a wand from her robe and handed it to her sister. "I was going to wait to give it to you," she said, brushing the sparks which were smoldering on her robe. "But I think you need it already."
Valeriana took the wand carefully, as if it were a treasure. As she wrapped her hand around it, she smiled. "How can this be?" she said. "Mine was broken—Wait—it's Laurel's, isn't it?"
"Yes," said Narcissa. "I had it shortened by an inch—"
Valeriana turned, waded back into the frigid water.
"Mistress?" The house elf was still waiting for Valeriana to touch it and apparate.
She looked at the house elf and then she looked around the shoreline. Apparently Valeriana was not the only one with an abhorrence of touching house elves. A number of the freed Death Eaters and even some of those who had come willingly, were hesitant to touch the house elves.
Voldemort, talking with Snape, did not seem to be aware of a problem.
"Valeriana?" said Carman.
She frowned at Carman and then seemed to gather the tiny remnants of magic around herself. She stood a little taller, watching the indecision play on her fellow Death Eater's faces. Magic once again whipped all around her, bits of fire, and wind and water. How she had managed to pull anything from this desert's edge was a mystery to Ginny, even standing knee deep in the ocean. Suddenly Valeriana raised her hands above her head and shouted. "I told you he would come for us!"
Murmurs of agreement met her statement.
"Today, He has come for us!"
Some of the freed Death Eaters turned to listen to her.
"He has come at last," she continued. "I will not fail him. Who is with me?"
While all eyes were on her, she took several steps out of the water and turned to Kreature and spoke in a loud voice. "Take me where the Dark Lord wishes, creature," she said holding out her hand, and Pop! They were gone.
It was like she had opened a doorway. The house elves began apparating the wizards and witches off of Azkaban island.
Ginny turned to find Maximus and a group of house elves at her elbow. "Maximus will take Mistress to the Snow Castle," he said. "All students go now."
Ethan and Edward exchanged excited glances.
"We aren't going back to Hogwarts?" asked Ginny.
"Maximus will take Mistress to the Snow Castle," Maximus repeated.
Ginny glanced at Snape who was still talking with several adult Death Eaters, and she nodded. "I don't suppose that was a request," she muttered as she touched Maximus' hand.
"No, mistress."
Pop!
==
When they got to the Snow Castle, it was a party atmosphere. The house elves were doing what they did best—cooking and serving food.
Ginny wanted nothing more than to go back to Hogwarts and go to sleep.
"Not in a party mood, Ginny Love?"
"No Tom."
Edward sneaked up behind her and surprised her by dropping snow down her back. She shrieked and pushed him away when he tried to make up by kissing her. "Come outside with us," he begged, wind blowing his hair and robes madly around him. He leaned in to kiss her again, but his icy wet robe whipped around both of them, stinging, and flecks of ice fell from his hair onto her face.
"Where's your wand?" asked Ginny.
"I don't need a wand," Edward insisted.
"You either need a wand or a snowblower," retorted Ginny.
Edward looked at her blankly.
"What's a snowblower?" asked Tom.
Muggle invention. My dad had one once. It didn't work.
"Come on, Ginny. Come outside. You can see the Aurora. It's beautiful," said Gloria.
"It's freezing," said Ginny.
"Not a problem," said Ethan showering them with sparks.
"Quit it, Ethan, if you set his carpet on fire, He'll kill us," spat Edward.
"Not us," said Gloria, planting a finger in the center of Ethan's chest. "Just you."
They finally convinced Ginny to come outside with them and she met with some of the students from Drumstrang including the ones she had brought to him. She found out they were all actually second year students. They had a rollicking good snowball battle, using the air elemental to cause the snowballs to speed up or slow down erratically, but Ethan kept accidentally melting them. When they were soaking wet, and seriously silly with wandless magic they decided to go back into the Castle.
"Where's Hilda?" asked Ginny, remembering that she had brought nine people out of Drumstrang, and she now only saw eight.
"Avada," said _Maura_softly.
"No," said Ginny, stopping in her tracks.
Maura nodded. "He had asked us all if we were willing to serve him. When he asked Hilda, she also said yes, but He said, "You're lying. I have no use for you. Avada Kadara!"
Ginny stared open-mouthed.
"Shocked, Ginny Love? Have you forgotten who we are dealing with here? I hope you had fun," Tom continued. "Playtime is over."
"What?"
Maximus had just popped into their midst. "Master says: 'Get those bloody brats in here before He blames me for their absence.' Young ones will hurry."
Amid rapid cleaning and drying spells, the group of teenagers entered the marble floored Hall of the Snow Castle.
Lord Voldemort had gathered all of the newly released Death Eaters around him in the center of the room.
"Azkaban is ours," he said.
"I know to some of you, it seems to be a remote and useless piece of rock. Why would we want it? Soon. Soon you will understand. I cannot tell you yet, although I long to share this additional victory with you. We have allies, my friends. Powerful allies. And although they are powerful, no live creature would want to live near these allies." He chuckled softly. "So now, we have a place for them. But I shall not tell you, because we have a spy among us."
His eyes traveled the expanse of the room, resting on some, passing over others. No one was safe.
"But, I shall not spoil this festive occasion. We do have some unpleasant business that needs to be taken care of though—Most of those at Azkaban have at least some semblance of their minds intact. There are three, however, that need our assisstance. The first of them is, Desmond Lestrange. Voldemort nodded to the Death Eaters at his side who brought a crumpled, babbling form of a man out to the center of the circle. This is your decision, Voldemort told Valeriana, yours and your sons. I do not think Desmond had any other relatives that are here tonight, does he?
Silence greeted his question.
"Very well, then. The current wizarding law requires that you confine such wizards as this to St. Mongo's Hospital for Magical Maladies until such time as their death or a cure is found. What do you say, Valeriana Lestrange? What do you think Desmond would want?"
"Master, he has been confined for the past fourteen years," she said, tears creeping into her eyes. She dashed them away.
Voldemort nodded. "Do you want to release him to the Elements, or shall I?"
"Master, please. He would be honored if you would—"
Voldemort pulled his wand.
"Wait!" Valeriana looked at her husband, curled in a twitching fetal ball in the center of the room. "He's a wizard," she said softly. "He should die with magic in his hands."
Voldemort nodded.
Valeriana went to her husband in the center of the room, and took his hand. "Desmond? Des—It's Valeriana." His head lolled to one side, and spittle had collected in the corner of his mouth. His eyes stared sightlessly ahead. "Des—" She wiped the drool from his mouth, and kissed him gently on the cheek. He gave no response. She wrapped her arms around him putting herself in a dangerous position with regards to Voldemort's possible spell. Everyone in the room could feel the vibrations from the massive amount of Elemental magic she was pulling through him. A faint smile crossed his face. In that instant, the room exploded with green light.
Avada Kadavra!
Valeriana laid his body gently on the floor. It seemed to have relaxed a little in death, his arms loosely at his sides instead of curled in upon himself. Valeriana took a step back, and raised her wand. "Incendio!" she said.
The fire was an instant explosion. Ginny had never seen such a strong Incendio. She didn't know you could do it like that. In less than 30 seconds, Desmond Lestrange's body was a pile of ash, cremated in the wizard way, and unusable for any Dark purpose.
Ginny felt sick.
"Have you never seen someone die, Ginny Love?"
"Only—Only in the Chamber, thought Ginny.
"Ah—and you could pretend that the clone that died really wasn't a person."
"I guess so."
"You're not going to make much of a Death Eater, Ginny Love."
"I didn't want to be a Death Eater. I just wanted to save you, Tom."
"You can avoid this if you really want to," said Tom.
"How? I don't think he'll let me leave--"
"You could allow me to take care of things here, and you could retreat to some pleasant memory."
"Let you take me over?"
"I—we don't have to call it that."
"What would you call it?" asked Ginny incensed.
"Helping you," said Tom.
"Forget it."
"I'm not going to forget it."
Ginny suffered through two more deaths. She wished Edward could be with her. She felt lost and out of place, but Edward was with his mother and Ethan in the center of the circle.
Voldemort was announcing the names of all of the freed Death Eatersa and their families. Valeriana Ethan and Edward Lestrange, are reunited with their mother," said Voldemort. He paused to allow the boys to come to him and their mother. Elizabeth Snood united with her husband, Charles."
Ginny wondered whether Gloria was related to the newly freed Charles Snood.
"Undoubtedly," Tom surmised. "Probably cousin or uncle."
Voldemort continued naming Death Eaters and their relatives. Several Drumstrang students stood in the center with their parents and two Beaubaxtons students.
And now, the circle is nearly full. He traveled around the circle speaking occasionally to the Death Eaters. When he came to Ginny, he asked, "Have you found my emerald yet?"
"No, Master."
He frowned. "Look harder," he demanded. His eyes narrowed. I expect you will have found it by next time you come to me."
"But, master I don't understand the poem," Ginny burst out.
"Do you plan to end everyone of our little get togethers with Crucio?" he asked her.
She paled. "Please—"
"Begging does not effect my decision," he said, drawing his finger along her cheek.
She closed her mouth and stood shaking with fear, thinking it took him a thousand years of looking and He hadn't found it!
He chuckled softly. "No, I haven't found it," he said, "But when I realized it had to be found by a red-haired parselmouth," He took a lock of her hair in his fingers as he spoke. " I realized I wasn't the right person to find it. You, on the other hand, are." He snaked the fingers of his other hand under the sleeve of her robe and brushed his finger against her Dark Mark. "Remember," he said, "It is your choice whether this Mark brings you pleasure or pain." The Mark tingled for a long time after his touch.
When he had finished his trip around the circle, he announced, " I have a treat. I was going to wait to share it with you, but since we are only missing one in this circle now, I think we should complete it. You know that I can call you by the Dark Mark. I can make the pain nearly unbearable, but some wizards through stupidity or force of will can resist it for a while. I've always been mindful of when I call for those of you who have businesses that take you in the public eye or those of you who are students. I have been considerate, but some have still resisted. Resisting the call is no longer a choice. When you chose this Mark, you chose to suffer, and if necessary die for the cause. You made a binding wizarding promise. You have before you tonight those who have suffered for their faithfulness. They didn't plead insanity, or imperious or any other excuse." There was a slight shuffling of the circle as some of the Death Eaters avoided the Dark Lord's eye, but he ignored them and continued speaking. "These my faithful ones, went to Azkaban! I think you deserve to take your revenge on the one who put so many of you there.
Mors Mordre!
Ginny sucked in her breath and clutched her arm. What did he want from them?
"You now all feel the Mark. This is mildly painful. It gets your attention and makes you want to come to me, so that you can feel the release—The pain abruptly stopped.
Mors Mordre Igor Karkarov!
Karkarov the traitor is now feeling twice the pain that you just felt.
Mors Mordre Igor Karkarov! Ten times the pain that you just felt. If left this way, Igor will either disapparate and come to me or he will attempt to tear off his arm, but there is no point in my making him suffer. I want him here. I have a new spell. I will not just call him. I will summon him.
Mors Mordre Accio Igor Karkarov! Voldemort began counting, "One, two, three, four—"
Igor Karkarov appeared in their midst. His arm was on fire like a flaming torch.
Voldemort pronounced the Flame Freezing charm and smiled. "Hello Karkarov."
He looked around in a panic. He didn't move. He didn't speak. He cradled his charred and ruined arm in front of him, a sob caught in his throat.
"Come, Come, Karkarov. Have your forgotten your manners so soon?"
"My Lord—" he began to crawl on one hand and his knees toward Voldemort to kiss his robes. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I'm sorry."
"Don't tell me." said Voldemort. Tell these my faithful, just released from Azkaban.
Karkarov went even whiter and whimpered.
Voldemort spat the names of those Karkarov had turned over to the Ministry.
Dolohov
Travers
McKinnon
Mulciber
Rookwood
Snape
Evan Rosier is dead, but his daughter is alive. Step forward dear. Ginny saw the little girl from Drumstrang with the adder draped over her shoulder—Maura Rosier.
Voldemort hissed, telling the snake how beautiful it was, and then he turned back to Karkarov who was openly sobbing. "Azkaban. I couldn't go there. I just couldn't. There was no other way for me to escape. I didn't mean to—"
"Oh, look," said Voldemort as if he just discovered something of delight. "There are seven of you. The perfect number to gain some sort of use for you Karkarov. Even though you life was wasted while you lived, it will bring me some satisfaction in your death. Aren't you glad that your death won't be as meaningless as your life?"
Karkarov continued to sob.
"I asked you a question," said Voldemort.coldly. He paused, but Karkarov didn't try to answer.
"Incendio!" said Voldemort, and the right sleeve of Karkarov's robe caught on fire, the flames climbing to the ceiling.
Karkarov screamed batting wildly at his arm, like a muggle. He didn't even try to use magic to stop the spell—of course neither did anyone else. They waited until Voldemort decided to stop it.
"Aren't you glad your death won't be as meaningless as your life?" the Dark Lord said.
"Yes. Yes. I'm glad." Sobbed Karkarov.
Voldemort stalked among the chosen Death Eaters speaking to each of them, taking extra time with the little girl. We will start with you, Maura Rosier," said Voldemort.
She raised her wand and looked directly at Karkarov. "You took my mother and my father from me," she said coldly. "Crucio!"
Ginny closed her eyes and tried to block out the screaming. What was the name of that deafness charm? she wondered.
"Dolohov," said Voldemort, and the Death Eater stepped forward, wand raised.
"Crucio!"
"Travers."
"Crucio!"
"McKinnon."
"Crucio!"
"Mulciber."
"Crucio!"
"Rookwood."
"Crucio!"
"Snape." Said Voldemort, and Ginny opened her eyes. Although the Death Eater mask covered most of his face, she could see his glittering dark eyes glaring out of the slits.
"Crucio!" he said, his voice cold and merciless, Karkarov's shrieks no less tortured. She closed her eyes again, and did not see the Death Eater that spoke the final spell.
"Avada Kadavra!"
"Incendio!"
The smell of burning flesh filled the air, and Ginny swallowed reflexively.
"You can do it, Ginny Love. Think of something else."
"How can I think of something else, Tom! A man just was tortured to death!"
"Think of the Air Elemental. Fresh, sweet, clean-smelling air—"
"Open your eyes," hissed a voice in parseltongue—His voice.
Her eyes flew open to see him watching her from across the circle, flicking that snake tongue. She was filled with panic. He would know she didn't belong here. He had to know that already—Why hadn't He killed her?"
"Because if there is the slightest chance that you are the Prophecy Child, he cannot kill you," said Tom.
It seemed to take forever, even with Tom's coaching for Ginny to get control of herself. When she finally did she was alerted to a disturbance in the center of the Death Eaters circle. Voldemort, and Valeriana appeared to be speaking. Rookwood was on his knees, clutching at the Dark Lord's robes and begging.
All the others were watching in amazement, and curiosity got the better of Ginny. She stared too. It appeared that Rookwood was begging for his life.
"I have promised rewards for those who suffered in Azkaban," announced Voldemort. "Thus far only one Death Eater has claimed her reward: Valeriana Lestrange. It is a simple reward. One that I would have granted even without her suffering had I known what was happening in Azkaban."
Rookwood was inching towards the edge of the Death Eater's circle, but Ginny did not see how he could escape—or why he needed to--
"Expellaramus!" pronounced Voldemort, and Rookwood's wand flew toVoldemort. He tossed it to one of the other Death Eaters. "Perhaps one of the rescued loyal Death Eaters can use this," he said. Voldmort turned back to his spell-bound audience.
"I was loyal," Rookwood screamed.
"Then why were aurors present when we arrived at Azkaban?" asked Voldemort.
"That wasn't my doing! That was Severus!"
Snape took a single step forward and then stopped, leaving the final decision about himself in Voldemort's hands.
"Snape's in Dumbledore's pocket," screeched Rookwood. "He didn't go to Azkaban for you. He sang to Dumbledore, and Dumbledore gave him his freedom. Handed it to him in exchange for information about you and the Circle."
Ginny could see nothing of either Snape's nor Voldemort's reaction to Rookwood's words. She had no idea of how she could help him, or even if she should try.
"Just wait. Be patient," said Tom.
"This isn't about whether or not you're the spy," said Valeriana. "It's about your disloyalty to the Dark Lord. You never should have treated me like dirt. I've had a long time to think about my revenge. A long time to think that you are nobody's master--"
Rookwood turned back to Voldemort studdering in fear. "I-I-it was a game we p-played. Sh-she called me Master when I brought her some thing-- I meant no disrespect to you. Please."
Vodlemort ran one long finger down the side of Rookwood's face. "You lie," he said softly.
An inarticulate sound came from Rookwood, as Voldemort breathed, "Crucio."
Rookwood suffered in silence for almost thirty seconds before he started to scream. In another thirty, Ginny thought her eardrums would burst. She closed her eyes.
At last there was silence. After a few moments, Ginny opened her eyes. Rookwood was trembling on the ground.
"I'm the keeper of Pandora's box." He shouted. "Without me the dementers will be uncontrollable. You need me!" he screeched. "I am the child of Chaos!"
"I do not need you," stated the Dark Lord ominously. He turned back to his audience. "Imagine, my loyal Death Eater, Valeriana Lestrange, listening to Rookwood who doubted my return. Imagine her despair when he taunted her, saying that he—He—the little worm-- would be her Dark Lord for she would never leave Azkaban. Imagine having to swear allegiance to none other than this piece of dragon dung! Imagine, day after day playacting for his entertainment just so that she could survive. Survive, for the day when she could take her vengeance." A slow smile creased Voldemort's face. "That day has arrived."
Rookwood no longer inched, he stood and ran for the edge of the circle, straight towards Ginny's side of the circle, but Valeriana's spell caught him before he got to his goal.
"Crucio!"
The force of the spell, threw him face down in the dirt as the Death Eaters scattered away from Valeriana's fury. She held the crucio for an impossibly long period of time, Rookwood's screams echoing off of the barren landscape. When she released him, she was sweating profusely and she staggered slightly under the strain of the nights' events and performing the crucio spell. The Dark Lord caught her hand, supporting her. Narcissia stepped forward, and grasped her other arm. "Sister," she admonished. "It is too soon for you to attempt this. It can wait."
"No. It has been too long already."
"Stand up," ordered Valeriana. 'As long as you are standing, I won't use crucio."
Rookwood struggeld to his feet. "My beautiful—"
"Sectum!" The spell cut through the mid section of his robes and flesh. Blood spurted everywhere.
"Oh, dear," said Tom. "Ginny Love. It looks like you're going to need another new black robe."
Rookwood crumpled to the ground and Valeriana switched spells to crucio.
When she relaeased the spell she was panting and leaning heavily upon her sister and the Dark Lord.
No one bothered to ask about the welfare of the shivering mass of flesh that was Rookwood, but Ethan and Edward joined the little group. "Mother," said Edward. "Let us help."
"We too deserve to be a part of your revenge," said Ethan.
Voldemort looked at Valeriana. "What do you wish?" he asked. "I leave the choice to you. I can keep him at the Snow Castle until you are ready to continue or you can finish this now."
"It would be good to share a spell with my sister again," said Valeriana grasping Narcissia's hand. "And my sons."
Ethan stepped forward, and kicked Rookwood's shivering body over onto his back. He was unconscious and blood was trickling out of his mouth.
"Medico!' pronounced Edward.
"Enervate!" said Ethan.
Ginny started to edge away from the gruesome scene. It seemed to take forever, although both Ethan and Valeriana seemed to be doing serious damage with their crucio instead of just causing pain. Ginny was sure Rookwood's screams would haunt her nightmares forever.
"Well, Ginny Love, that's better than it being your screams, in your nightmares, isn't it?" asked Tom with his eternal logic.
==
At last it was over. Vodlemort stood alone in the center of the circle again. The cloying smell of blood and burning flesh hanging in the air. Ginny felt like she could never draw a clean breath again.
"I wanted to allow the children a little bit of time with their newly acquired friends and relatives," Voldemort said, "but now it is time for those who are still doing my will at Hogwarts to return there. And time for the other children who are my guests to seek their rest. It is late. Sleep well. There is still much work to do." He switched to parseltongue, just for her ears, "And Virginia remember you must find my emerald."
She shuddered as she looked into those hideous red eyes.
"Yes, Master," she hissed.
Voldemort nodded to the house elves which hurried forward to apparate the children back to Hogwarts.
"What about Professor Snape?" Ginny wondered aloud. Looking in his direction, she saw Snape, Lucius Malfoy and a few other adult Death Eaters in an intense conversation with Voldemort. As she watched, Carman, Valeriana and Narcissa joined them.
"Master will not come for many hours," said Maximus, a crease of worry furrowing the elf's face. "He requires Master to stay."
Answers to reviews
Kemenran: Thanks for your insights. Of course Ron and Hermione are going to help.
ennui2 I know I have Draco/Samara right when ennui is jumping up and down and yelling at me. Thanks for all your work at the Yahoo site. Please go and visit it. You now have a chance to post links to your own stories if you have read and reviewed mine.
Silverfox1 You are right. I don't believe they did trick or treat, but it was too fun a chapter to just scrap. Please forgive me. And Britian, you should change your custom. Trick and Treat is great fun. (Can't you just see the Dursley's locking Harry in the cupboard and taking Dudderkins out for candy? Yuk.
Sky : Glad you liked—Here's your Tom/Ginny interaction, and more to come.
smiles Was that a prophecy?
Tania Nightqueen Re-read the prologue and you will understand.
Taju`akiel Of course I will finish the book, but not for you—for me. In fact it's already done. I'm working on the sequel. The only reason you have to wait for the next chapter is because you guys are so slow in reviewing.
Trillium Freaky I like. Depressing, no.
Bill: Glad to hear from you. Thanks for calling my fic a masterpiece. Author jumps around excitedly. OK, Lady Lestrange. Here's your wand. Calm down.
Ennui deMorte Thanks for the yahoogroup.
and the changed review, but you can't count as the tenth review when you have already reviewed.
Joda: Thanks for the kudos.
(A/N: Are you worried about Severus? Heehehe. I know. I'm evil. 10 reviews gets the anwer.)