Disclaimer/Author Note/Rating: Please see Chapter 1 for full disclaimers, legal info, etc.
Go raibh maith agaibh:
Wyall Jared… You'll eventually see what Snape thinks of Neville's comments.
Mercury Gray… A wee bit freaky indeed! You'll see what becomes of Malificus… eventually.
Trina/Leonora… This chapter should shed some light on a few of your questions.
Silverthreads… Well, at least the truth didn't cross the line into soppy.
Rushumble… Your "weird air" question shall be resolved. Read on…
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Chapter 31: Accio mortai angerum
The ripples in the air became more frequent and started to peel back like theatre curtains. Each one that pulled back made the scene beyond become clearer.
"For the love of…" gasped Tonks. "It's a rift. The creator of a Dominatus Crystal has to be within sight of his or her victim if the person isn't actively within a Crystal… The spell is opening a portal so they can see each other!"
Beyond the portal the group could see the circle of Death Eaters. In the midst of the circle, an iron chest that looked more like a casket was resting on the ground with mud dripping from its lid.
"Be ready," said Dumbledore. "We have to get the Rorret Medallion. They have the chest, but they haven't managed to open it yet. Severus, you'll have to protect Serena; she's too weak to face all of the Death Eaters by herself."
Have no fear of that, thought Severus, they won't touch her, and when I'm through, there won't be a single one left!
In the clearing, next to the old, gnarled oak tree, the earth finally erupted, expelling a large iron chest to the surface. Muck and slime dripped from the sides. At last, crowed Lucius, success! But his joy was short-lived as a ripple washed over the Death Eaters and a tearing sound lanced the air. To the side of the circle of Death Eaters, the air shimmered and tore itself asunder.
Suddenly, they found themselves looking at a group of wizards and witches – including Albus Dumbledore – standing in a Hogwart's classroom. The Death Eaters started to swarm, looking like a colony of angry ants.
Lucius Malfoy was the first one to see the red cord that joined Malificus and Serena. Behind his mask, Lucius' eyes grew wide. He knew what spell his brother had cast and now realized where the extra power had come from.
What were you thinking, Malificus? A Dominatus Crystal? You fool! But he didn't have more time to think about it as the members of the Order of the Phoenix leaped into action.
Dumbledore and McGonagall pointed their wands at the chest and shouted, "Finite Incantatum!" The spell clashed with the spell cast by the Death Eaters and the chest groaned.
One Death Eater charged towards Severus and Serena. "You traitor!" she screamed.
Snape's wand appeared in his hand instantly. "Petrificus Totalus!" he shouted. The spell not only knocked Hecate Underwood off her feet, but it knocked the mask off of her face as well. He glared at her stiff face, wishing he could have done far worse than petrify Hecate.
"Severus…" Serena pointed. Two masked Death Eaters were heading towards Dumbledore. He pointed his wand at the new target.
"Diffindo!"
The earth in front of the Death Eaters split and they stumbled, barely avoiding the crevasse. As they staggered back, they dropped their wands. As they scrambled to retrieve them, several voices chimed in at once.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" they and the Death Eaters' wands began to float away. Harry, Ron and Hermione all smiled at each other before they ducked back behind a table. There were too many spells flying around for them to stay out in the open long.
"Damn them all," snarled Malificus. "They've ruined my glorious debut. Banes of my existence, every one of them… Especially Serena."
"Malfoy!" The voice was younger, but not a child.
Malificus spun, and shouted, "Crucio!" before he even knew who'd spoken.
The Curse struck Wood in the chest and he flew up into the air. Malificus made a small gesture with his wand and the young man screamed. Malificus flung him to the ground and Oliver writhed in agony. It felt like thousands of worms crawled through him and each time they moved, they opened another razor-sharp cut inside him.
"Finite Incantatem!" Bill Weasley severed the Cruciatus Curse and saw his brothers, Fred and George, drag Oliver Wood back from the fray. Nearby, two more Death Eaters fell to the restraining spells of the Order of the Phoenix.
I have to finish this now, thought Malificus. He spun and behind his contorted black mask his eyes blazed. Serena saw him turn. She knew those eyes. With all the strength she could muster, she pushed herself away from Severus and up onto her knees.
"Serena…!" Severus tried to keep her from moving, knowing how weak she was.
"I have to make him break the spell!" Her voice was desperate. She pointed her wand at Malificus…
"Accio mortai angerum!"
Every head in the room – Order and Death Eater alike – spun to look at Serena when they heard her spell, shocked. A green light poured out of Serena's wand and began to swirl, creating a vortex. She sagged back into Severus' arms and a single tear escaped down her cheek.
"I have carried the weight of the angry dead for too long," she said softly. "Now they can have the revenge they desire."
Despite their shock, the members of the Order didn't waste any time. The words were barely out of Serena's mouth and Arthur and Molly Weasley and Tonks rushed over to one group of children. They put Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny up against the front of an overturned table. Arthur and Molly took up positions on either side, and Tonks stood in front of them.
In another part of the room, Lupin, Black and Bill Weasley rushed over to where Fred and George were trying to help the injured Oliver Wood. Severus, still cradling Serena in his arms, had his wand at the ready and felt Dumbledore and McGonagall come to stand somewhere behind him.
"Listen to me, children." Dumbledore's voice was deep and even the normally flippant twins could hear the gravity of his tone. "Whatever happens, stay very, very still. Your Dark Arts Professor has summoned the ghosts of Castelbann, and you do not want to attract the attention of the angry dead."
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Can't wait to hear what you think. Please read/review and let me know…
Go raibh maith agaibh:
Wyall Jared… You'll eventually see what Snape thinks of Neville's comments.
Mercury Gray… A wee bit freaky indeed! You'll see what becomes of Malificus… eventually.
Trina/Leonora… This chapter should shed some light on a few of your questions.
Silverthreads… Well, at least the truth didn't cross the line into soppy.
Rushumble… Your "weird air" question shall be resolved. Read on…
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Chapter 31: Accio mortai angerum
The ripples in the air became more frequent and started to peel back like theatre curtains. Each one that pulled back made the scene beyond become clearer.
"For the love of…" gasped Tonks. "It's a rift. The creator of a Dominatus Crystal has to be within sight of his or her victim if the person isn't actively within a Crystal… The spell is opening a portal so they can see each other!"
Beyond the portal the group could see the circle of Death Eaters. In the midst of the circle, an iron chest that looked more like a casket was resting on the ground with mud dripping from its lid.
"Be ready," said Dumbledore. "We have to get the Rorret Medallion. They have the chest, but they haven't managed to open it yet. Severus, you'll have to protect Serena; she's too weak to face all of the Death Eaters by herself."
Have no fear of that, thought Severus, they won't touch her, and when I'm through, there won't be a single one left!
In the clearing, next to the old, gnarled oak tree, the earth finally erupted, expelling a large iron chest to the surface. Muck and slime dripped from the sides. At last, crowed Lucius, success! But his joy was short-lived as a ripple washed over the Death Eaters and a tearing sound lanced the air. To the side of the circle of Death Eaters, the air shimmered and tore itself asunder.
Suddenly, they found themselves looking at a group of wizards and witches – including Albus Dumbledore – standing in a Hogwart's classroom. The Death Eaters started to swarm, looking like a colony of angry ants.
Lucius Malfoy was the first one to see the red cord that joined Malificus and Serena. Behind his mask, Lucius' eyes grew wide. He knew what spell his brother had cast and now realized where the extra power had come from.
What were you thinking, Malificus? A Dominatus Crystal? You fool! But he didn't have more time to think about it as the members of the Order of the Phoenix leaped into action.
Dumbledore and McGonagall pointed their wands at the chest and shouted, "Finite Incantatum!" The spell clashed with the spell cast by the Death Eaters and the chest groaned.
One Death Eater charged towards Severus and Serena. "You traitor!" she screamed.
Snape's wand appeared in his hand instantly. "Petrificus Totalus!" he shouted. The spell not only knocked Hecate Underwood off her feet, but it knocked the mask off of her face as well. He glared at her stiff face, wishing he could have done far worse than petrify Hecate.
"Severus…" Serena pointed. Two masked Death Eaters were heading towards Dumbledore. He pointed his wand at the new target.
"Diffindo!"
The earth in front of the Death Eaters split and they stumbled, barely avoiding the crevasse. As they staggered back, they dropped their wands. As they scrambled to retrieve them, several voices chimed in at once.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" they and the Death Eaters' wands began to float away. Harry, Ron and Hermione all smiled at each other before they ducked back behind a table. There were too many spells flying around for them to stay out in the open long.
"Damn them all," snarled Malificus. "They've ruined my glorious debut. Banes of my existence, every one of them… Especially Serena."
"Malfoy!" The voice was younger, but not a child.
Malificus spun, and shouted, "Crucio!" before he even knew who'd spoken.
The Curse struck Wood in the chest and he flew up into the air. Malificus made a small gesture with his wand and the young man screamed. Malificus flung him to the ground and Oliver writhed in agony. It felt like thousands of worms crawled through him and each time they moved, they opened another razor-sharp cut inside him.
"Finite Incantatem!" Bill Weasley severed the Cruciatus Curse and saw his brothers, Fred and George, drag Oliver Wood back from the fray. Nearby, two more Death Eaters fell to the restraining spells of the Order of the Phoenix.
I have to finish this now, thought Malificus. He spun and behind his contorted black mask his eyes blazed. Serena saw him turn. She knew those eyes. With all the strength she could muster, she pushed herself away from Severus and up onto her knees.
"Serena…!" Severus tried to keep her from moving, knowing how weak she was.
"I have to make him break the spell!" Her voice was desperate. She pointed her wand at Malificus…
"Accio mortai angerum!"
Every head in the room – Order and Death Eater alike – spun to look at Serena when they heard her spell, shocked. A green light poured out of Serena's wand and began to swirl, creating a vortex. She sagged back into Severus' arms and a single tear escaped down her cheek.
"I have carried the weight of the angry dead for too long," she said softly. "Now they can have the revenge they desire."
Despite their shock, the members of the Order didn't waste any time. The words were barely out of Serena's mouth and Arthur and Molly Weasley and Tonks rushed over to one group of children. They put Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny up against the front of an overturned table. Arthur and Molly took up positions on either side, and Tonks stood in front of them.
In another part of the room, Lupin, Black and Bill Weasley rushed over to where Fred and George were trying to help the injured Oliver Wood. Severus, still cradling Serena in his arms, had his wand at the ready and felt Dumbledore and McGonagall come to stand somewhere behind him.
"Listen to me, children." Dumbledore's voice was deep and even the normally flippant twins could hear the gravity of his tone. "Whatever happens, stay very, very still. Your Dark Arts Professor has summoned the ghosts of Castelbann, and you do not want to attract the attention of the angry dead."
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Can't wait to hear what you think. Please read/review and let me know…