Aw...Harry was so sweet to me last chapter! ::hugs Harry Potter plushie::

::grins:: Well I figured you two deserved some happiness.

Oh no!

What?

I'm being nice to you! ::runs away::

::mutters:: Brat.

Chapter 13

All throughout tea Lucius observed Aine closely. She was a lot like her aunt, in appearance and mannerisms, but unlike Meryll she was compassionate towards the mudbloods and muggles, singing the praises of Potter's mudblood companion when Andromeda questioned their worth.

"Muggle-borns an' 'alfbloods 'ave just as much magic as we do." She claimed passionately. "Sometimes more. Look at Vincent Crabbe an' Gregory Goyle. They're purebloods but I doubt they can speak more than five consecutive words at a time. Small words. Whereas 'Ermione Granger, a muggle-born, can 'old long conversations abou' almos' any topic under the sun. Now which is more fun te 'ang out with? Whenever I look at Crabbe and Goyle I feel my brain turnin' te mush."

"So you believe that all purebloods are mindless twits, Aine?" Lucius drawled.

"No." Aine replied. "I dinna say tha'. I simply believe tha' we shouldn' dismiss all muggle-borns an' 'alfbloods as below par. They're just as powerful as the rest o' us. An' when ye get righ' down te it, is na Voldemort a 'alfblood? D'ye na find it odd tha' 'e's campaignin' fer the abolition o' others like 'im? Personally I believe tha' like 'Itler, 'e found a small bu' powerful group o' people with prejudices an' set abou' usin' 'em fer 'is own advantage."Aine took a sip of her red wine. "Bu' I do na expect ye te change yer views because o' me," she continued, smirking. Her silver eyes had darkened to the colour of smoke in her amusement.

"You think that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has managed to fool the most powerful wizards of our age by spouting a few pretty words?" Lucius asked, dumbfounded.

Aine shrugged. "From wha' I've 'eard, Tom Riddle was a very charismatic boy. 'Twould stand te reason tha' tha' charisma followed 'im inte adult'ood. An' people like bein' told wha' they want te 'ear. So yes, I do think tha' 'e managed te fool some o' the most powerful wizards o' this time. I'd acutally be less surprised if 'e was tryin' te get rid o' purebloods since 'e must o' been given 'ell when 'e was 'ere, 'avin' tainted blood an' all. A psychologist could 'ave a field day with 'im, tha' much I ken."

Lucius nodded, signalling for the check. "Thank you for indulging me, Aine, you have given me much to think about."

The cool smile which sat upon Aine's face was pure Meryll. "Ye're welcome." She said.

Harry and Ginny packed up what was left of their picnic and headed back to the castle, chatting about school.

"I mean, I wish Snape would just get over himself." Ginny complained. "I'm good at Potions, excellent in fact, just like Mum used to be. But Snape insists on always hovering over me like some kind of black moth, watching me as though he expects me to pull a Percy and melt my cauldron."

"Pull a Percy?" Harry asked. "Then...Percy wasn't good at Potions?"

"Of course not. Why do you think he's so obsessed with cauldron bottoms...or he was. I dunno if he is anymore..." Ginny's large brown eyes glistened with tears and Harry squeezed her shoulders gently.

"Percy still hasn't apologised?" He asked.

Ginny shook her head. "He hasn't even contacted us, even though The Prophet retracted all that stuff it said about you and Dumbledore. I..." The tears which had previously been threatening to fall made their appearance.

Harry pulled his girlfriend into his arms, thanking whatever gods were watching over him that he'd witness so many of Hermione's crying fits and knew what to do. "Shh..." He whispered, "it's ok...just let it all out."

The two stod in the rapidly darkening twighlight, unaware of the eyes watching them from the Forbidden Forest...

"Eradicus adhys ex aquelo in aequo conversio onis sedesin indesenium." Bellatrix intoned, sprinkling the powdered yew over her lord's naked body. She supressed a shudder of revulsion at his emaciated form. She could remember a time when he was so beautiful that the female Death-Eaters - and some of the male ones too - used to nearly kill themselves for the chance to warm his bed.

Trying to push such thoughts away - she needed to concentrate - Bellatrix dipped the Thestral-hair paintbrush in the vial containing phoenix blood, and, the most impotan ingredient, Memoir Ink, the same type that Lord Voldemort had used in the diary he kept as a young boy. It would have been better to extract ink from the Diary itsself, but it had been lost, something which had made Lord Voldemort rant and rage for days on end.

Shivering once again, this time with remembered fear, Bellatrix daubed her lord's pulse points with the dark red-almost black liquid. It glosed slightly as it soaked into his skin, and Bellatrix used the brush to change her daubings into the runes of renewal and rebirth. "Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, let the Anointed One be reborn." She chanted. "Let him take on the form this potion remembers. Eris, Goddess of Darkness, hear my plea. Morrigan, ruler of the UnSeelie Court, obey my command. By the power of my blood," Bellatrix cut her palm with the obsidian athame, smearing the bright red liquid onto the runes, "sweat," she wiped her brow and transfered the salty water to the marks, "and tears, I have proved my devotion. Powers of Dakness, help your servant!" She moved back from the alter, stepping outside the circle.

There was a crash of thunder, and black lightning blew a hole in the roof, hittine Lord Voldemort's body, and the floor around him.

When the smoke and dust cleared Bellatrix hurried closer, and caught her breath. There he was, the black-haired grey-eyed man she'd fallen in love with. She knelt before him, her forehead touching the floor. "My Lord." She murmured reverently.

"Did it work?" He demanded.

Bellatrix stood, tears of happiness in her eyes. "Yes, my Lod," she said, "it did!" She procured a mirror from her robes and handed it to him.

Lord Voldemort traced his reflection in the mirror with slender fingers, oh, it made Bellatrix's heart beat faster to remember what those fingers could do, smirking. "You did well, Bellatrix."

"Thank you, my Lord!"

"Well, well, well," A dark, honey-like voice said, "You're looking better than when I last saw you, Tom."

Bellatrix whirled around and glared at the beautiful woman walking towards them.

She was long-limbed, with curly black hair and almond-shaped purple eyes. She walked with the grace of a cat, and the clothing she wore, a black halter top and a brown calf-length leather skirt, only enhanced her beauty and feline dangerousness.

Bellatrix moved in front of Lord Voldemort, glaring at the newcomer. "Leave." She snarled. "You aren't welcome here."

The woman raised a delicately arched eyebrow. "You must be Bellatrix Lestrange." She said in a Southern drawl. "I am Cleo de Duclair. Since we have not met before I shall give you one warning. Move."

"No."

"Very well. Invero." The American flicked her wand casually in Bellatrix's direction.

Bellatrix screamed as white-hot pain shot up her legs. She crumpled to the floor, pulling up her robes. What she saw would have turned the stomach of a more sensitive person. The bitch had turned her knee-caps around!

"Next time," Cleo said, "it will be your whole body. And not just your bones." She stepped delicately around Bellatrix, leaning down to kiss Lord Voldemort full on the mouth.

Such presumption shocked Bellatrix, even through her haze of pain.

"Shall we try out your new body, Tom?" Cleo purred.

"Certainly, Cleo." Lord Voldemort stood, taking Cleo's arm in his own. The two walked out of the room, leaving Bellatrix alone and in pain.

zenni: Thanks so much for the review.

searching4romeo: Thanks. I must admit, there were a few mistakes in the last chapter... ::hits computer:: Also, I didn't get the story! ::cries:: Maybe you could try sending it again? ::hopeful look::

nameless: ::blush:: Thanks, I'm really glad that you like it.

Author's Note: Um...not sure when the next chapter will be out, could be in a few days, could be in a couple of weeks. I'm on hols as of tomorrow, so although I might be writing, I don't know when I'll get to a computer. Sorry!