Disclaimer/Author Note/Rating: Please see Chapter 1 for full disclaimers, legal info, etc.
Go raibh maith agaibh:
Rushumble and Trina/Leonora… thanks for your input. You're my only reviewers for the last chapter. I guess everyone else must be on vacation. Read on and you'll find out more about the angry dead...
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Chapter 32: The Ghosts of Castlebann
"She's done what?" asked Ron.
"Shh! Keep your voice down," said Mr. Weasley. "Serena has summoned the angry dead. When someone dies violently, sometimes their spirit lingers because they want revenge. The Mortai Angerum spell pulls the angry dead through a vortex and brings them into this plane."
"And what do the ghosts do?" whispered Harry.
"That's the catch," said Arthur Weasley. "If the ghost doesn't find the person responsible for their death, it – or they – will turn on the person who summoned them."
Both Harry and Ron swallowed hard.
"And that," added Mrs. Weasley in a low voice, "is the only reason that this spell isn't labeled as an unforgivable curse by the Ministry of Magic. Serena must have some kind of proof that Malificus killed someone to dare use this spell…"
Out of the swirling, oozing colors of the vortex, eight different amorphous shapes rose into the air and began swirling around the room. As they roamed from person to person, they took on more defined shapes. Hermione started to tremble as one came up to them. It hovered in front of Tonks and peered around her.
The ghost was a woman. Her cheeks were sunken and her skin sagged from her bones. Her hair was dark, but it looked lank and dusty. But it was her eyes that frightened Hermione so much. They were shiny and alert, and looked at her with a hungry intensity that tore right through Hermione, leaving her chilled.
"Just say quiet and still," said Tonks. "Don't give her any reason to notice you more than she has."
The ghost swirled in the air when the Auror spoke and focused in on her. It came up close almost touching Tonks and they all admired how still she stayed when they all wanted to flee. Keeping her eyes down, Tonks said, "We have no business with you; we have done you no wrong."
The ghost backed away and quickly flew over to circle around Serena. Two others joined it; then some more joined them. They hovered and circled. Serena, unconscious in Severus' arms, never saw them.
"Sssssuummmonnnerrrr…" rasped the ghost. The others heard it and began to gather around Serena and Severus, too. The Potions Professor watched the ghosts warily, feeling the other worldly electric charge they carried. He might be able to defend himself and Serena against two, maybe three, but the more that gathered, the harder it would be – even with help from McGonagall and Dumbledore.
"She summoned you," he whispered, "to give you justice. Your prey is elsewhere. Through the portal and in the field. You'll find him there…"
The ghosts shot up in the air, spinning and twirling, emanating an increasing anger and heat. They swirled for a moment, seemingly unfocused until one stopped and stared towards the rift.
"Malliffficusss…" The voice was dry, parched, just barely above a whisper but there was no mistaking what the creature said. The other ghosts all turned to look as well and as a single entity, they surged towards the Death Eaters.
Two of the masked Death Eaters disappeared in a loud crack, not wanting to be anywhere near the angry dead summoned by Serena's spell. Malificus stood rooted to the ground and watched the ghosts draw closer.
Impossible! He thought. How could she…? She shouldn't have had enough power to channel a spell like that. First she masters thunder at Castlebann and now she summons the dead to try destroying me? He tried to move to the side, but he felt slow, lethargic, and then he realized it was because he was tethered to Serena. With the rift open, he couldn't move out of sight of Serena. He was trapped by his own spell.
Near the chest, Lucius saw what was happening. "Crabbe! Goyle!" he hissed. He hated to say their names, but there was no other way to talk to them right now. They both hurried over and joined him, sheltered by the oak tree.
"Stay quiet," he said. Behind the mask, his eyes narrowed angrily as he watched Malificus simply stand near the rift. "Do something you idiot! Else they will destroy you..."
"Should we help him?" asked Goyle.
"Not yet," said Lucius. "There are too many right now, and now that they've seen him, if we help, they will attack us just as fiercely. No, we need to wait. My brother will destroy some of them, and then we can take care of the rest."
As the ghosts swirled closer, Malificus realized he had no choice. To fight the dead, he had to sever the last of the Dominatus spell that bound him to Serena. He had to sever the cord or it was certain he'd die. He touched his wand to the red cord and grudgingly said, "Severatum." The cord released from his body with such force, he flew through the air. The cord slithered back to Serena, bringing the power he had stolen back to her.
One ghost reared up in front of him, shrieking in rage, and reached out and grabbed his face with a ghostly hand. Sharp nails dug into his skin and Malificus screamed as his flesh began to burn. Desperately, he pointed his wand at the ghost, and shouted, "Pello!"
The ghost groaned and shimmered as the banishing spell sent it back to the netherworlds it normally dwelled in. He heard its dry, hissing voice as it vanished, "Maliffficusssss…."
But even as it returned to its own dimension, more ghosts began to envelope Malificus, clawing at his flesh and pulling his hair. From where he sat with Serena, Snape's mouth opened slightly and his eyes widened. He could not have imagined a more horrible way to die. Everyone was riveted, terrified and fascinated, at the spectacle in the field.
"Now, Minerva! Before the portal closes! It will be our only chance." Dumbledore cast a spell that split the large iron cask open and Minerva McGonagall didn't waste the opportunity.
"Accio!" she cried and from inside the cask, a smaller box, bound by four iron straps with enormous, goblin-made locks, floated up and raced towards them. The box holding the Rorret Medallion shot through the air from the oak grove, through the portal, and into the classroom. It hit the ground and scrapped along the floor. Just behind it, the portal sealed shut, cutting off their view of the trees.
Everyone sagged in relief, but Snape didn't waste a moment. The spell might be broken, but Serena had come perilously close to death's edge. He scooped Serena up, and headed for the door. Her head lolled back and he shifted her weight so it fell on his shoulder.
"Severus!" said McGonagall.
"I've got to get her to Madame Pomfrey!" Without waiting for another person to speak, Severus rushed Serena out the door and toward the infirmary.
Back in the oak grove, the ghosts all raced around Malificus, hissing his name. He flung spells at them as best he could, but they were too fast, darting in and tearing at him. Abruptly, most of the ghosts pulled back and let one draw close. Breathing hard, Malificus took the opportunity to rest, but he kept his wand ready.
"Mallifficusss," one hissed. "Do you rememmberrr me?"
Slowly, Malificus raised his eyes. The spectral woman floated before him, her ratty and tattered hair clung to her head. Her lips were cracked and her eyes, while feverishly bright, were sunken into her head. Then he saw a little silver charm around her neck.
"Maggie Mulvaney…"
"I thought you loved me," she hissed. "You usssssed me. It wasss a long way to the ground…"
Malificus wand came up in a flash. "Pello!" he commanded and the ghost of Maggie Mulvaney returned to the void beyond with a blood-curdling shriek. The other ghosts swarmed in, howling and wailing. Some writhed at his feet and one clung to his back and he staggered forward and fell to the ground.
From behind the oak, Lucius saw the last of the portal shut. "Now there are none of those meddlesome idiots," he said. He leaped out from behind the tree and pointed his wand at one of the ghosts.
"Pello!" Lucius shouted.
The spell slammed into the ghost sending it flying back from Malificus before it slid back into the netherworld it came from. Crabbe and Goyle followed his lead, banishing two more phantoms. There were only three left; they shot up from Malificus' crumpled form, and raced towards Lucius and his cohorts.
The three men raised their wands at once and again sent the banishing spell out, creating a wall between them and the ghosts. The dead were traveling too fast to stop and they hissed and writhed, enraged, as they slammed into the spell and felt themselves begin to disappear.
"Malliffiicccusss…" one wailed.
"Revennnggeee…" hissed another.
Malificus was lying on the ground, staring up toward the sky. There was a red and angry burn mark in the shape of a hand on his cheek. His clothes were in shreds and there were scratches and bite marks all over his arms, shoulders and chest. His hands were blistered from where he tried to grab one of the ghosts.
Lucius put his hand on Malificus' chest. "He's still alive… barely," said the elder Malfoy. "You two get out of here and lay low for several days. We'll talk soon." He pulled his mask off and his outer cape and handed them to Goyle. "Take these, and don't let anyone see them. I'll retrieve them later."
Goyle nodded as he took the bundle and tucked it under his arm. With that, Lucius spoke one more word and both he and Malificus disappeared. The two other men followed immediately after. All that was left in the field was scorched grass, churned up soil, and empty iron casket and an odd, eerie howling in the wind that sounded like angry voices.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
The saga continues… Please read/review and let me know what you think!
Go raibh maith agaibh:
Rushumble and Trina/Leonora… thanks for your input. You're my only reviewers for the last chapter. I guess everyone else must be on vacation. Read on and you'll find out more about the angry dead...
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Chapter 32: The Ghosts of Castlebann
"She's done what?" asked Ron.
"Shh! Keep your voice down," said Mr. Weasley. "Serena has summoned the angry dead. When someone dies violently, sometimes their spirit lingers because they want revenge. The Mortai Angerum spell pulls the angry dead through a vortex and brings them into this plane."
"And what do the ghosts do?" whispered Harry.
"That's the catch," said Arthur Weasley. "If the ghost doesn't find the person responsible for their death, it – or they – will turn on the person who summoned them."
Both Harry and Ron swallowed hard.
"And that," added Mrs. Weasley in a low voice, "is the only reason that this spell isn't labeled as an unforgivable curse by the Ministry of Magic. Serena must have some kind of proof that Malificus killed someone to dare use this spell…"
Out of the swirling, oozing colors of the vortex, eight different amorphous shapes rose into the air and began swirling around the room. As they roamed from person to person, they took on more defined shapes. Hermione started to tremble as one came up to them. It hovered in front of Tonks and peered around her.
The ghost was a woman. Her cheeks were sunken and her skin sagged from her bones. Her hair was dark, but it looked lank and dusty. But it was her eyes that frightened Hermione so much. They were shiny and alert, and looked at her with a hungry intensity that tore right through Hermione, leaving her chilled.
"Just say quiet and still," said Tonks. "Don't give her any reason to notice you more than she has."
The ghost swirled in the air when the Auror spoke and focused in on her. It came up close almost touching Tonks and they all admired how still she stayed when they all wanted to flee. Keeping her eyes down, Tonks said, "We have no business with you; we have done you no wrong."
The ghost backed away and quickly flew over to circle around Serena. Two others joined it; then some more joined them. They hovered and circled. Serena, unconscious in Severus' arms, never saw them.
"Sssssuummmonnnerrrr…" rasped the ghost. The others heard it and began to gather around Serena and Severus, too. The Potions Professor watched the ghosts warily, feeling the other worldly electric charge they carried. He might be able to defend himself and Serena against two, maybe three, but the more that gathered, the harder it would be – even with help from McGonagall and Dumbledore.
"She summoned you," he whispered, "to give you justice. Your prey is elsewhere. Through the portal and in the field. You'll find him there…"
The ghosts shot up in the air, spinning and twirling, emanating an increasing anger and heat. They swirled for a moment, seemingly unfocused until one stopped and stared towards the rift.
"Malliffficusss…" The voice was dry, parched, just barely above a whisper but there was no mistaking what the creature said. The other ghosts all turned to look as well and as a single entity, they surged towards the Death Eaters.
Two of the masked Death Eaters disappeared in a loud crack, not wanting to be anywhere near the angry dead summoned by Serena's spell. Malificus stood rooted to the ground and watched the ghosts draw closer.
Impossible! He thought. How could she…? She shouldn't have had enough power to channel a spell like that. First she masters thunder at Castlebann and now she summons the dead to try destroying me? He tried to move to the side, but he felt slow, lethargic, and then he realized it was because he was tethered to Serena. With the rift open, he couldn't move out of sight of Serena. He was trapped by his own spell.
Near the chest, Lucius saw what was happening. "Crabbe! Goyle!" he hissed. He hated to say their names, but there was no other way to talk to them right now. They both hurried over and joined him, sheltered by the oak tree.
"Stay quiet," he said. Behind the mask, his eyes narrowed angrily as he watched Malificus simply stand near the rift. "Do something you idiot! Else they will destroy you..."
"Should we help him?" asked Goyle.
"Not yet," said Lucius. "There are too many right now, and now that they've seen him, if we help, they will attack us just as fiercely. No, we need to wait. My brother will destroy some of them, and then we can take care of the rest."
As the ghosts swirled closer, Malificus realized he had no choice. To fight the dead, he had to sever the last of the Dominatus spell that bound him to Serena. He had to sever the cord or it was certain he'd die. He touched his wand to the red cord and grudgingly said, "Severatum." The cord released from his body with such force, he flew through the air. The cord slithered back to Serena, bringing the power he had stolen back to her.
One ghost reared up in front of him, shrieking in rage, and reached out and grabbed his face with a ghostly hand. Sharp nails dug into his skin and Malificus screamed as his flesh began to burn. Desperately, he pointed his wand at the ghost, and shouted, "Pello!"
The ghost groaned and shimmered as the banishing spell sent it back to the netherworlds it normally dwelled in. He heard its dry, hissing voice as it vanished, "Maliffficusssss…."
But even as it returned to its own dimension, more ghosts began to envelope Malificus, clawing at his flesh and pulling his hair. From where he sat with Serena, Snape's mouth opened slightly and his eyes widened. He could not have imagined a more horrible way to die. Everyone was riveted, terrified and fascinated, at the spectacle in the field.
"Now, Minerva! Before the portal closes! It will be our only chance." Dumbledore cast a spell that split the large iron cask open and Minerva McGonagall didn't waste the opportunity.
"Accio!" she cried and from inside the cask, a smaller box, bound by four iron straps with enormous, goblin-made locks, floated up and raced towards them. The box holding the Rorret Medallion shot through the air from the oak grove, through the portal, and into the classroom. It hit the ground and scrapped along the floor. Just behind it, the portal sealed shut, cutting off their view of the trees.
Everyone sagged in relief, but Snape didn't waste a moment. The spell might be broken, but Serena had come perilously close to death's edge. He scooped Serena up, and headed for the door. Her head lolled back and he shifted her weight so it fell on his shoulder.
"Severus!" said McGonagall.
"I've got to get her to Madame Pomfrey!" Without waiting for another person to speak, Severus rushed Serena out the door and toward the infirmary.
Back in the oak grove, the ghosts all raced around Malificus, hissing his name. He flung spells at them as best he could, but they were too fast, darting in and tearing at him. Abruptly, most of the ghosts pulled back and let one draw close. Breathing hard, Malificus took the opportunity to rest, but he kept his wand ready.
"Mallifficusss," one hissed. "Do you rememmberrr me?"
Slowly, Malificus raised his eyes. The spectral woman floated before him, her ratty and tattered hair clung to her head. Her lips were cracked and her eyes, while feverishly bright, were sunken into her head. Then he saw a little silver charm around her neck.
"Maggie Mulvaney…"
"I thought you loved me," she hissed. "You usssssed me. It wasss a long way to the ground…"
Malificus wand came up in a flash. "Pello!" he commanded and the ghost of Maggie Mulvaney returned to the void beyond with a blood-curdling shriek. The other ghosts swarmed in, howling and wailing. Some writhed at his feet and one clung to his back and he staggered forward and fell to the ground.
From behind the oak, Lucius saw the last of the portal shut. "Now there are none of those meddlesome idiots," he said. He leaped out from behind the tree and pointed his wand at one of the ghosts.
"Pello!" Lucius shouted.
The spell slammed into the ghost sending it flying back from Malificus before it slid back into the netherworld it came from. Crabbe and Goyle followed his lead, banishing two more phantoms. There were only three left; they shot up from Malificus' crumpled form, and raced towards Lucius and his cohorts.
The three men raised their wands at once and again sent the banishing spell out, creating a wall between them and the ghosts. The dead were traveling too fast to stop and they hissed and writhed, enraged, as they slammed into the spell and felt themselves begin to disappear.
"Malliffiicccusss…" one wailed.
"Revennnggeee…" hissed another.
Malificus was lying on the ground, staring up toward the sky. There was a red and angry burn mark in the shape of a hand on his cheek. His clothes were in shreds and there were scratches and bite marks all over his arms, shoulders and chest. His hands were blistered from where he tried to grab one of the ghosts.
Lucius put his hand on Malificus' chest. "He's still alive… barely," said the elder Malfoy. "You two get out of here and lay low for several days. We'll talk soon." He pulled his mask off and his outer cape and handed them to Goyle. "Take these, and don't let anyone see them. I'll retrieve them later."
Goyle nodded as he took the bundle and tucked it under his arm. With that, Lucius spoke one more word and both he and Malificus disappeared. The two other men followed immediately after. All that was left in the field was scorched grass, churned up soil, and empty iron casket and an odd, eerie howling in the wind that sounded like angry voices.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
The saga continues… Please read/review and let me know what you think!