DISCLAIMER: SEE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

DOUBLE TROUBLE

CHAPTER FIFTY

"Thomas. You and I need to have a talk."

Voldemort turned, flinching at the use of his given name, his lip curling back over his teeth as he hissed in response.

Harry smirked from his position, lounging against the doorjamb, "So, the Serpent dares to try and strike?"

"Little boy, I have no time for games." Voldemort's eyes narrowed. "Lucius, if you would be so kind?"

Lucius turned, smirking at the small boy in front of him. "It would be a pleasure, my Lord." Cocking his head to the side, he cracked his knuckles.

"Oh, no, I don't think so." Hermione stepped forward out of the shadows, a flicker of light playing about her body. "Lucius, you and I need to have a little talk." Crouching, she crooked her finger at the elder Malfoy.

"Oh, really?" Lucius turned his attention to the girl. "Girlie, you are nowhere near strong enough to take me on." Snorting, he flipped his hair over his shoulder.

"Care to test that theory?" Grinning madly, Hermione slunk forward, her limbs loose, her body relaxed.

"Peter. . ." Voldemort gestured. "Help Lucius, won't you boy?"

"Only if he can get through me first." A harsh hissing voice stopped Peter in his tracks. "We have a lot to discuss, Pettigrew. I never forgave you for masquerading as a dear pet of mine, Scabbers." Ron stretched languorously, smiling genially at the rat, his movements easy and fluid.

"My Lord. . .oh." A dark haired man stopped at the other door, glancing at the occupants of the room. He drew his wand. "Can I be of assistance."

"Certainly." Voldemort gestured almost in a tired fashion. "If you don't mind, Jacob."

XXX

Raya wrinkled her nose, shaking her brown hair back from her face. The stench of rotting flesh made her stomach turn. "Gods. . ." Leaning against the suspiciously slimy wall, she tried to control her gag reflex. If she hadn't stopped, then she would have probably never heard the whimper emanating from the other room.

Creeping softly along the floor, she pulled her magic to bear, just in case. What she saw made her recoil in disgust.

A girl, no more than eleven, was chained to the wall, her head hanging forward, her body clothed in rags. Blood was crusted in various places on her body, and she was thin, too thin.

Rushing forward, Raya dropped to her knees in front of the girl. "Who. . .who did this to you?" Brushing back the girls lanky blonde hair, she almost cried out. Where the girl's eyes should be was too leaking sockets staring at her. Quickly swallowing the bile, she bit back a cry.

The girl whimpered, blood pouring out her mouth as she tried to speak.

"Shh, no, no, it's okay, I'm here. I'll protect you." Reaching up, she touched the metal of the manacles that held the girl to the wall, exerting her will into the rusted iron. With a snap, the manacle fell apart, causing the girl to lurch forward, clumsily falling into Raya's arms as she worked her magic on the other manacle. "Gods, I'll get you safely home, honey. Don't worry."

Once that manacle snapped, the girl fell forward in a limp bundle of limbs and flesh, her head lolling back, a dozen bruises and cuts marring her once beautiful face. Gagging, the girl moaned softly, trying desperately to get away from Raya.

"It's okay, I'm here, I won't let anyone hurt you anymore. It's going to be okay. You're going to be just fine." Raya soothed, smoothing the girl's hair, drawing her closer in a tight embrace, swallowing her tears as the girl started to quiet.

"He won't be happy." The voice caused Raya to flinch, and she turned to the speaker, a little boy with wide blue eyes. "He doesn't like people to mess with his toys."

"Who doesn't?"

"Master." The boy replied simply, hanging his head as he whispered the word in a harsh voice.

"Is. . .is this your sister?"

The boy swallowed, then nodded slowly. "She was. . .until Master said that she was a blood traitor, and we are to hate blood traitors." The boy's lower lip trembled. "Will. . .will you help her? She's hurt." He pleaded softly, as if afraid of someone hearing him. "I asked him not to, but he said that if he didn't, then her. . . taint would spread."

"What's your name?" Raya tried to sound cheerful, but failed miserably.

"My name is Eric. I am the property of Jacob Parkinson, the Lord of this estate. My. . .father and mother. . .I don't quite remember who they are. . .but I know that Master took us in." He said this all so fast, Raya almost had a hard time understanding.

"Come here, Eric, I need you to do me a huge favor, okay sweetheart?"

The little boy nodded, biting his lower lip.

"Okay, I need you to talk to your sister, keep her company as I check the rest of this part of the dungeons. . .can you do that for me, honey?"

Again, the little boy nodded, shuffling forward. "You will come back, won't you?"

"Yes, I'll come back, and I'll make sure no one ever hurts you again, Eric. You or your sister." Carefully, she laid the girl onto the floor, resting her head against something that looked to be hay, but Raya didn't want to ponder it to closely. "Now, just talk to her. Make sure she's comfortable." She rocked back onto her heels, climbing to her feet and continuing into the next chamber.

Stopping, she stared. A young woman sat in the center of the room, tied to a table, obviously very pregnant. Proceeding cautiously, she approached the table, humming softly, so as not to startle the woman.

"Are you. . .okay?" Raya asked the girl.

The girl turned her head, her vacant dark eyes boring into Raya's, her lips breaking into a manic smile as she arched against her bindings. "Sweet Lady! Have you come for me? Has the Master sent you? Please, tell me he has. . .Please tell me that he wishes for my company again."

Swallowing hard, Raya shook her head. "I'm here to rescue you."

"Rescue?" The woman's face fell. "Rescue me from what, Fair Lady? My Master would be displeased if he knew that you were in his rooms. I am to bear his child. He loves me, he wants me. He told me so." The woman continued in a conspiratorial whisper. "So, are you here to take me to ready myself for him? These ropes are awfully tight. Funny how they bite into my wrists, not pleasant at all, but Master says that I'll get used to it. I don't think I will though, but I'd never tell him that. I would not wish to disappoint him."

Raya walked forward, taking out her wand and slicing the ropes with an incantation. "Can you stand?"

"Yes, of course." The woman stood, only to collapse. "How silly of me, Master won't be very pleased." She regained her feet, stumbling forward, into Raya. "Oh, you're very pretty. Would you like to be my Maid of Honor? I would ask my sister, but I don't think she'd want to. She doesn't approve of my relationship. She told me just the other day. . .I think. She might have told me. Um. . .actually, this is so silly, I don't remember talking to her recently. Perhaps she has shunned me. Do you think she has, Sweet Lady?"

XXX

Ginny stumbled up the walk to Hogwarts, running as fast as she could. "Damned. . .anti-apparition. . .godforsaken. . .stupid. . ." She mumbled, wheezing softly as she reached the steps up to the castle.

Throwing open the doors, she rushed into the school, ignoring the strange looks she received from her fellow students. Why did it not feel like it should be morning? Why? Only a few hours had passed. Shaking her head, she skidded down the hall to Dumbledore's office.

Standing before the Gargoyle, she pondered quickly. "Lemon drops. . .Sugar Quills. . .Blood Suckers. . .Fizzing Whizbee's. . ." She named off almost every sweet in Honeydukes. "Damn it!" She threw a kick at the Gargoyle, who hissed in response. "You damned statue, let me in, it's urgent! I need to speak with. . ." Screaming in frustration, she hurled herself at the statue, flailing limbs and appendages. "LET ME IN!!!"

"Miss Weasley, I trust you have some explanation as to why you are attacking my Gargoyle?"

Stopping, Ginny slid off the Gargoyle, turning to face the Headmaster. "Listen here you meddling old fool, To the Parkinson Mansion, now, the Order, now! If you don't call them I swear to the Gods, I will. . ."

"Calm down."

"No." Ginny replied petulantly. "I had to deal with Stan Shunpike's lecherous advances, I had to ride a bus just to get here as fast as possible. Harry is in danger, as is the rest of the OCD, and four of our Professors, because Hermione and Ari was kidnapped. Now, old man, I would suggest you get into gear. I thought you were supposed to know everything!"

Dumbledore merely smiled. "Finished."

"Not close, but I won't stand here all day insulting you. I just had a brilliant idea!" Turning, Ginny took off for the Owlery, ignoring the bemused Dumbledore she left behind. "Remember, the Parkinson Manor!"

XXX

Gritting his teeth, Draco stumbled out of the room, his eyes darkening. The feeling of helplessness was slowly starting to lift, only to be replaced by a righteous anger. How DARE they?! How dare they presume to take her?!

XXX

Danielle glanced at Skylar. "Okay, did you find anything. . .or anyone?"

Skylar shook her head, brushing a wisp of blonde hair off her forehead. "No, I didn't. Where's Raya?"

"She's. . .I dunno, actually."

"I'm right here."

Danielle jumped, startled. Turning, she gasped, rushing forward to help her sister. "What. . .happened?"

"I don't know, but if I EVER lay eyes on this Jacob Parkinson, I'll kill him, I swear!" Stumbling forward, Raya clutched the girl close to her, to assuage her whimpering. "We have to help her or she won't make it out." Raya's voice was low, so she didn't upset the boy.

Skylar nodded. "Lay her down, I'll see what I can do."

XXX

Remus crept out onto the grounds, keeping to the shadows. Carefully, he gestured for Sirius and Bill to follow him.

The elder Weasley boy stepped out, regardless of cover. Remus gestured frantically for him to take cover, but the boy ignored him, stalking over to some shadow that clung to the wall opposite of them, his expression murderous.

"Bill. . .!" Sirius hissed, trying to get the boy's attention, but failed. "Damn it Moony, what is he doing?!"

Remus shrugged, as Bill grabbed the shadow, roughly pulling it backward. The shadow yelped, before it was effectively silenced. "What the HELL are you doing here!?"

Remus craned his head, hoping to see something, anything, but he couldn't make out the shadow.

"It's alright Bill." Charlie detached himself from the wall, pulling Elizabeth along with him. "He's explained everything already. He was undercover."

Bill glanced at Charlie, before pulling the shadow to his feet. Percy Weasley glared at his older brother. "Was THAT necessary?!"

"Keep your voice down!" Remus growled, skirting the shadows to join the happy little Weasley reunion. "If you've forgotten, we're supposed to be looking for Deatheaters!"

"And it looks like you found em."

Charlie glanced at the speaker, before sighing heavily. "Don't you guys do anything different?" Raising a brow. "All black, all doom and gloom, I mean, c'mon, it's the new century, a little color would liven your crew up."

Ophelia Parkinson gazed at the Weasley boy haughtily. "Is it any of your business, sweetheart, what we do or not?"

"Actually. . ." Percy turned, glaring at the older woman. "It is."

"Oh, really? How pathetic. I always knew you'd turn out to be a turncoat. Just couldn't keep your hands off those mudbloods, could you, darling?" Ophelia pointed her wand at Percy. "So let's see if you can dance. Crucio!" She swung her wand, the curse flying towards Bill. Percy flung himself in front of his older brother, the curse hitting him head on.

Percy fell to the ground, his limbs seizing on themselves, his body curling and arching as a fiery agony swept through him.

"Finite Incantatum." Ophelia smirked, watching the boy roll about in agony, his screams dying away. The ten Deatheaters behind her laughed.

Elizabeth tore her gaze away from the horrible scene before her, the distant sound of wings causing her hair to stand on end. Even as Charlie rushed forward with Bill, Remus, and Sirius, she was turning to find the cause of the sound.

She stumbled away from the battle, into the woods, knowing exactly what she would find.

XXX

Hermione arched her back, lazily gesturing at Lucius. "Child of Darkness, come." The voice that emanated from her wasn't her own, but she didn't care, she lounged back, staring at Lucius with cold eyes, a flickering of light sparkling about her lithe body.

Lucius smirked, striding forward. "Child of Light." He inclined his head, throwing his wand to the side, an action that Hermione mimicked.

For a moment, at least, they had everyone's attention.

"You still recovering from that battle?" She smirked as he reflexively clenched the hand on his hurt arm.

"Still need someone else fight your fights?" Lucius sneered in return.

"Oh, Lucius, I'm a big girl now." The storm Magi sauntered forward, pursing her lips as she regarded him caustically. "I never needed anyone to fight my fights."

Lucius grabbed hold of her, his dark magic swirling about him like a vortex of ill intent. "Oh, really?"

"Really." Hermione felt a rush of power as her body neared his. She closed her eyes, the image of the lost little girl with crimson eyes coming unbidden.

"Alimana!"

Hermione's body began curling in on itself as a wave of pain flowed through her. Steeling herself, she gritted out the counter-curse.

"Tipinli."

Again, a wave of pain caused her body to react. Lucius drew her ever closer, feeding off her power as it flowed into his dark vortex. "You can't defeat me little girl, you never could. I'm stronger than you are, I'm better than you are, and I'm going to make you beg for death. Limint Carese!

Hermione screamed, a lance of lightning screeching through her skull. "No, no!"

George started from the doorway, intent on killing Malfoy, when Harry stopped him. "She has to do this."

"Yes!" Lucius slowly lowered his head, pressing his lips to hers in a parody of a lover's kiss.

Hermione felt her body screaming, felt herself becoming weaker as he took away all the power of her Magi.

'Hermione. . .I chose you for what you do not pride yourself on. . .your heart.'

'Choose, Hermione, it's time. Choose. . .to fight or not. To embrace this part of yourself. The choice is yours alone.'

Forcing her head from Malfoy's, Hermione screamed. "I CHOOSE ME!" Her body began to shiver as she felt the release of something in her system.

The floor beneath their feet bucked in response, and Voldemort leveled his gaze on Harry, who drew his wand. "Tis time, young Potter!"

XXX

Elizabeth stumbled into the clearing, stopping to stare a moment at the large Dragon and the rider astride it. After a moment, she recognized the man, and she fell to her knees.

"Rohan!" Both rider and Dragon turned their attention to her. "You. . .they. .. now!" She wheezed, pressing a hand to her stomach as a fierce pain passed through her. "NOW! GO!"

XXX

Melody lifted her head, screaming suddenly, a sound that scared Minerva and Severus. She wriggled out of Minerva's grasp, sliding down the woman's body and curling up on the floor.

"She has chosen." The words were no more out of the toddler's mouth, when she disappeared with a snap.

XXX

'The focus of the Elements.'

Skylar threw her head back, her body slowly curling in on itself. Both Raya and Danielle began shivering, their magics swirling about their bodies in a maelstrom of power.

Screaming, all three girls disappeared with a snap.

XXX

The house vibrated suddenly, the walls about them crumbling with a crash. Harry threw himself backward as the light from Hermione's body began enveloping things about them.

Ron stumbled to the side, dragging George with him into the relative safety of the corner.

Everyone stared at the girl with a mixture of awe and terror.

The roof of the house was suddenly blown off, revealing the early morning sky in it's glory. The rays of the newly risen sun shone softly against the landscape.

Hermione's body went limp, as did Lucius', and slowly, they both began to rise into the sky.

XXX

Some innate sixth sense told Charlie to look up. He wasn't sure what it was, but he did anyway, and what he saw made his knees weak.

XXX

'You have chosen, my child.'

Hermione ignored the voice, intent on only feeling. A strange primal force pulled at her, twisted her, caused her to writhe about in pain and pleasure. With a scream, Hermione pushed Lucius Malfoy off her, arching her back as she rose into the air. She didn't hear the elder Malfoy as he crashed into the ground with a sickening thud, she didn't hear the screams of the people below her, her whole attention was focused on this Primal Emotion.

XXX

Elizabeth cried out as she rose from the ground, her magic forcing itself from her body, being drawn out of her by some force that she couldn't name. She could feel herself being drained, but some sort of euphoria began working on her, and the hysterics were forgotten.

She closed her eyes, allowing the strange pleasure wash over her. Somehow, she felt connected to the Earth in a way she never was before.

XXX

Melody stood beneath the five girls, in her hands the orb she usually played with, her cobalt blue eyes shining. She lifted the orb, her childish face illuminated by the light of the four elements and Hermione's Magic.

In the center of the orb, a light flickered, burning brightly as the power overhead intensified. Melody opened her mouth and closed her eyes, a pure shining note escaping from her, a high keening wail that echoed eerily over the landscape.

XXX

Ginny glanced at all the Dragonets, before loosing them all from their cages. "Fly!"

XXX

Cupping the orb in her hands, Melody opened her eyes, the note dying off as suddenly as it sprung up. "What the Goddess provides, no one may take away, and what she gives, none may undo. Blood has been shed, and in that blood is written the names of those that will follow. Thomas Marvolo Riddle, come forward."

Voldemort stared at the toddler with amazement, but stalked forward as commanded.

"Harry James Potter, come forward."

Harry mimicked Voldemort's actions.

"Thomas, in this boy's eyes, you will find your death. I suggest you look now, because it will be the last thing you see."

Voldemort drew his wand, aiming it at the tiny girl. "Ava—"

"Avada Kedavra!" Harry lurched forward, engaging Voldemort before he could finish the curse on the girl.

Above, Hermione arched her back, her body reacting suddenly. A flash of light enveloped all four girls, and suddenly, a high pitched wail rang out, even as the two below them engaged in battle.

Screaming, Hermione felt her body grow hot, and she called out. "Goddess, grant me your strength, your wisdom! Grant me the ability to give my power to he that needs it most!"

The four Elementals moaned simultaneously as Hermione's magic latched onto each of them, binding them together with tendrils of power. She lifted one hand in supplication to her Goddess, and the other the held over Harry, her palm flat.

A tendril of magic shot from her as the boy stumbled back from the onslaught of Voldemort. The magic hit him in the chest, surrounding his body in a wash of white, his hands gripping the wand tightly.

He channeled the energy into this wand without thinking, using this newfound power to advance on the enemy. Slowly stalking forward, he ignored the fact that the wood of his wand was beginning to smolder. He concentrated solely on stepping forward.

Voldemort's eyes widened as the boy continued stalking forward, and step by step, he drew back, trying to escape from the murderous rage he saw in the green eyes that haunted him. "No. . .no!"

"Yes. You will pay for all that you have put me, my family, my friends, my World through! You are no longer a Lord, Thomas, you are a corpse, you just don't know it yet." Pressing forward, Harry shoved his wand towards the manic Wizard, screaming in rage and hatred.

Voldemort stumbled as the power of the universe pulsed through his body, disintegrating his outer skin. His scream was lost among the thunder of a raging maelstrom. The face of every life he had taken began swimming before his dying vision.

Before the world went black, two emerald eyes stared at him with pity and hatred, eyes so like the Boy-who-lived, so eerily similar. They gave him an almost accusatory glance, before winking out of existence. It was then that he remembered the last words of a redheaded woman with emerald eyes.

'Goddess, protect my boy. My life is given in lieu of his, so make sure he will survive. Do not let him be harmed, give him my love and my life. . .Athena, I beg you.' He heard the gasping, dying words in his head, and then everything was black.

XXX

Athena stared at the woman, her eyes sad. "My daughter, your wish has been granted."

Lily smiled softly, her face shining with the radiant joy of a proud mother. "Goddess, thank you."

Athena dropped a kiss onto Lily's head. "Anything for the Child of my Heart."

XXX

A/N: Okay, one more chapter should do this up. I don't think there's going to be a sequel to this one. Maybe. . .I doubt it though. Hugs N Kisses. . .

Love,

Me