Title: The Beginning of the End (21)
Author: Procella Nox noctis
Category: Mystery
Sub Category: Drama
Keywords: Hermione, Voldemort, Spies, Discoveries
Summary: Summer brake had been his favourite time of year. Until he had to spend it with Hermione Granger. And that was just the beginning of the story.
Sneak-peek: "Blaise, mate, stop the bloody pacing you're making me bloody nervous." Ron's voice came from a table where he was working on some sword techniques.
"Sorry." He mumbled back, continuing to pace.
"Blaise! Sit down!" Ginny's voice came from the fireplace where she was reading a book on quick healing spells.
"Sorry." He mumbled automatically, and kept pacing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and unfortunately never will. No money is being made out of this story, which is a pity, it's really good. Modesty isn't my forte.
A/N: DON'T SPEAR ME!!! Tch, I know, I know, what took me so long, eh? I'll give you a clue. Teenager's worst nightmare! School!!! Anyway, due to several pleas I am going to cut the crap with the several pairing each chapter, and just stick to the ones you luuuurve so much, namely Blaise and Hermione. More comments at the end. Yep. Let it rip! Emm...you know what I mean.
Twenty-one: Preparing For The Storm
Hermione opened her eyes tiredly. Well, as much as she could open her eyes considering all the bruises she had around them. Laying on her sides, due to the scars on her back, she examined her cage once more. The light bars were still there, meaning she couldn't escape, but even without them she wouldn't have a chance, she didn't have her wand and she was weak. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten, or the last time she had been tortured by one of Voldemort's lackeys. But she did remember something clearly. Blaise. She remembered him very well, his face, his turquoise eyes, his lips, his nose, his cheekbones, the sound of his voice, of his laugh, the warmth of his embraces, the love in his kisses, and his entire essence besides her.
"Blaise..." she whispered in a croaked voice. Oh, but how she missed him. How she missed her friends, how she missed everything. But most of all, how she missed Blaise.
The door to her cage opened with a creek. Engulfed by black mist, Voldemort made his presence known. Two guards lifted her up, her body barely being supported by their hands. Voldemort lifted her chin with his finger. In a desperate effort to get away from that poisonous hand, she ever so slightly turned her head to her left. Voldemort chuckled.
"Look at you. So weak you can't even resist our torture anymore. I warned you this would happen, Fake One. Now, release yourself from this position, and take the place that corresponds you. At my side."
Hermione's eyed widened as she tried to speak loud enough for them to hear her. The pain was unbearable, but somehow she found her voice. "I would rather...die...than support a half-blood of your dirty calibre." No sooner she finished, a hand collided with her cheek.
"How dare you? I should finish you off right here! You are scum, mudblood. You mean nothing!"
"Perhaps...but I am not a half-blood who tries to exterminate people who are more powerful than he is, simply because he's a coward. At least—" she was slapped again, but she continued, realising how much it angered the Dark Lord. "I bet half of the people that serve you have no fucking idea you're what you send them to kill. Am I right, Tom Riddle?" she asked looking him in the eyes.
Voldemort glared at her, then turned around and looked at near Death Eater. "Lableu, I think you can have her tonight."
The Death Eater took of her cloak, and bowed down elegantly. "My Lord." A feminine voice answered. The same way he entered, Voldemort left the cage, leaving Hermione inside with a masked woman who was pulling out a knife out of her pocket. Hermione observed from the floor as the woman searched every bits of the cage and the outsides of the cage. When she was sure it was deserted, she brought her knife on one of the bars. Hermione's eyes widened. That move...it can't be. Barely noticeable, but there nonetheless, was the fact that the light had softened.
The woman turned towards Hermione, and hunched down besides her. She lifted her knife, and brought it to her wrists, cutting through the ropes that held her. Hermione looked at her curiously. Slowly, the woman took her mask off to reveal the very person who Hermione had thought it was. Well, only the eyes, as it was the only thing she could discern, for the rest of the face was of another person. But she'd always recognize those red orbs.
"Don't say a word about this." The woman said seriously.
"How?" Hermione whispered astonished.
"Let's just say, Voldemort isn't the only one who knows how to brew a good lasting Pollyjuice Potion." She smiled, revealing two pointy teeth.
"But what about the real Lableu?"
"Dead." The woman answered shortly. "Now listen carefully. They will arrive soon Hermione. Please ask no questions now, all will be explained. I slashed a bar of the cage, it allows you to at least heal yourself minimally. When the time comes it will allow you to escape, all you have to remember is the destructor curse, and use it with all your force. The breach will allow you to use sorcerer powers. I can't stay longer." She said, and cut Hermione's arm. "To keep appearances." The woman smiled. "Take care, and wait to hear the phoenix's song."
Hermione nodded mutely, still amazed at the apparition. The woman placed a kiss on Hermione's temple, and stood up. Before leaving the cage completely, she turned around to look at her. "He misses you dearly. Stay alive for him." And with that she exited the cage.
Hermione caressed the gash the knife had made in her arm. This was something she didn't expect. She had been wrong, then, interpreting the Prophecy. The traitor discovered wasn't Snape, but someone who had used Pollyjuice Potion to pass over as Ms. Lableu. Smiling over at the last words Hermione laid down on the cold floor. He misses you dearly. Stay alive for him. She knew Blaise missed her. She missed him too. But they were coming, and in order for the Prophecy to be fulfilled, and for them to have a powerful weapon, she had to survive this, and play with death again later on.
"I'll stay alive for all of us...Amelia."
Hogwarts
A cloaked figure entered Dumbledore's office, silently combining with the shadows. The figure spotted Albus Dumbledore looking outside the window, with his back to the figure. A smile slowly crept around the figure's mouth, as it took out a knife from the pocket.
"I take it the mission went well? Dumbledore's voice sounded through his chambers as he turned around to face the figure, which was by now taking the cloak off.
"I just came back to return this midget." A feminine voice answered back, placing the knife on the table.
"Severus has done a wonderful job with that Potion, Ms. Lableu." Dumbledore chuckled.
"Yes, well, hopefully I will never have to play Lableu again, red is not my colour." The woman laughed, fiddling with a red hair strand.
"I'm sure Severus doesn't like red anymore than you do." The old man answered, smiling knowingly.
"You don't miss one, do you Albus?" the woman laughed.
"Not more than you do, my dear Amelia."
"I'll have to go thank Severus properly for the potion, Voldemort didn't suspect a thing. Hopefully by the time I reach him, I'll have my normal hair colour back."
"Ah yes, black suits you better. Have you seen her, then?" Albus asked with a sombre voice.
"I have. She's strong, she defied Voldemort in front of all his men. I'm surprised he didn't kill her, but he probably thought I was going to torture her badly enough. The Dark Lord still needs our Sweet. She seemed to lighten up when I told her we were going to come soon. How's the boy?"
"I informed him of our progress, and he's determined to follow us. I didn't want for this, but if the Prophecy is right, they all must follow us. Vivian has been working on a spell with Orion to figure out how we can transfer a bit of our power to each of the eight children without having to pass them through the ceremony. So far they have half of it, or more, but we need it sooner or later. I heard the boys are all training hard in sword fighting."
"Indeed they are. Weasley's bloody good at it too. I wouldn't be surprised if he could take me on."
"Exactly like a General should be. They're acting very mature. It's a pity their minds think of Hermione's situation. An enraged mind doesn't think well in battle."
"They will control themselves. I have trust in them. If you'll excuse me, Headmaster, I'd like to leave."
"Of course, Amelia. Give Severus my regards."
"Yes, sir." Amelia chuckled as she exited the chambers. Her next stop was the Potion's master's bedroom.
Before she could even reach her destination a hand grabbed her and pulled her into the shadows. She didn't struggle, being familiar with the touch. Lips nipped at her ears, teasing mercifully.
"Looking for me?" Severus' Snape voice whispered in her ear.
"As a matter of fact, I was." She said, turning around to look at her lover. "Hello, Severus." She smiled at him provocatively. The man hugged her to his chest hardly.
"You have no idea how worried I've been, thinking they could have discovered you."
"Yes, but I took a potion, brewed by my masterful potion master, so nothing could go wrong." She answered kissing his jaw. "Besides, if they discovered me, I could've simply bitten every each of them, and then the threat would be gone." She continued smiling in the crook of his neck.
"Wasn't I the only one allowed to be bitten by you?" he asked burying his nose in her now black hair.
"Mmmm...I think we should go to your bedroom, dear."
"I love it when you talk like that." He answered, and led her to his chambers hurriedly, covering his lower parts with his cloak, while Amelia laughed delighted.
Prefect tower
Blaise was restless. No scratch that. Blaise was bloody desperate. Okay, so he had little to no time at all before they attacked Voldemort for good. He couldn't believe two weeks had passed since they had kidnapped Hermione. He also couldn't believe how he kept on being sane.
"Blaise, mate, stop the bloody pacing you're making me bloody nervous." Ron's voice came from a table where he was working on some sword techniques.
"Sorry." He mumbled back, continuing to pace.
"Blaise! Sit down!" Ginny's voice came from the fireplace where she was reading a book on quick healing spells.
"Sorry." He mumbled automatically, and kept pacing.
The portrait opened and in stepped Draco, Pansy and Harry, each one with a pile of books in their hands. Harry gave Blaise a look, and went to sit next to Luna, who was scribbling something on a paper.
"Still the same way we left you then." Draco said, taking a seat next to Ginny.
"Keep it up, and you'll end up on the lower floor." Pansy reproached him, while she looked over Ron's shoulder at his sketches. "These are good." She admitted, kissing his head softly and sitting beside him.
"I'm trying to figure out a way to make everybody understand the moves I saw Amelia perform." Ron answered proudly.
"Well they're good. I found those books you asked me about the Founders' swords. Turns out only Slytherin and Gryiffindor had swords, whilst Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had something else. What? Beyond me." Pansy told everyone.
"It's a good start. Better than what we have on the Prophecy so far!" Ron answered.
A book fell to the floor, making all of them jump. They looked over to the fireplace, where Ginny stood with a solemn expression. Draco caressed her hand slightly, and the girl looked at him as if pleading something. They barely caught Draco when he shook his head negatively. Ginny cleared her throat loudly, and retrieved her book from the floor.
Harry was about to ask what went wrong when Luna let a squeal of joy and grabbed his hand. In turn, the green eyed boy looked at the Ravenclaw who was pointing at the same Prophecy they were talking about.
"What's wrong, Luna?" he asked concerned.
"In know who the Sweet is." The girl answered, happy at her discovery.
While the others gathered around the blonde, Ginny grabbed Draco's hand harder, and looked at him preoccupied. He only gave her a soft kiss, and joined the others in the circle, hoping they didn't have the right person.
"Who is it then?" Blaise asked impatiently.
"Well, I analyzed the situation, and began digging through my memories. And I think the Sweet is in reality—"before Luna could finish her verdict, the portrait opened with a bang, showing them a rather preoccupied Millicent.
"I need help. Now. It's Neville."
The group immediately decided to postpone the revealing of the Sweet and followed Millicent outside. Draco and Ginny lingered for a moment behind.
"We were lucky enough this time. The next time they will surely know who it is." Ginny scolded him.
"Look, Gin. If we manage to keep this hidden for a while longer, then the others won't be as worried as they will be when, and if, they discover it." Draco answered, taking her hand and following the others.
"I hope you're right, Draco. Because I wouldn't want to be you if they find out you knew and kept it a secret." She whispered.
The group stopped in front of the Forbidden Forest, panting after the run. Harry was the first to speak:
"What, in Merlin's name, was Neville doing near the Forbidden Forest?"
"We were looking for a rare plant he needed for a potion we were studying. It's supposed to literally freeze a person and leave it immune to every spell cast upon it, including the Enervate. In other words, it would freeze you for life. Neville wanted to make an antidote for it as well, but he needed the Moon Flowers for it, and they only grow at night. I agreed to wait for him at the edge, because he didn't want me to enter, the bloody idiot, and well...I heard a shout, or something, and I called you." Millicent answered in two breaths.
"A permanent freezing potion, bloody hell, he's good. Well, we should enter and look for him. We'll beat him up after we find him." Ron decided.
"I'm joining." Millicent declared, as they adventured into the forest.
After about five minutes of walking they reached a meadow where Neville stood surrounded by Centaurs. Harry stepped forwards, and bowed down in front of the creatures.
"Please, we meant no harm. Neville only needed some plants. If you could let him go."
"Silence!" Bane snapped. "We captured the human to bring you here, Harry Potter. We have a message for you. Hear it, and you can take your friend and leave."
"Okay. A message? What would that be?" Harry asked confused.
"Mars is shinning brightly tonight." The Centaur declared, letting the words sink in. Harry paled considerably, and muttered "So soon?" the Centaurs, true to their word, released Neville and left the youngsters to themselves. Harry turned around brusquely and left back to the castle in a hasty pace.
Millicent resumed in scolding Neville, while the other boy grinned satisfied, showing her the plants. The girl smiled softly, and followed the rest.
"What the bloody hell does Mars shines brightly tonight supposed to mean?" Draco whispered to them.
It was Ron who answered, and left them all more than a little panicked. "Last time Harry heard that premonition was in his first year. It means Voldemort is close."
"We don't have much time, then." Blaise finished, and followed Harry to Dumbledore's office, where they would tell him what they all dreaded to hear: The War was at the doorstep.
E/N: God! Finally I'm done with this one!!! As you can see, the mystery increases. About the Mars shining thingy, in the 1st book you might have realized, it meant Voldemort was close, because, right after the Centaurs said that, Harry had the fight with Voldemort. So I took that idea and translated it here. I left a big bloody cliffy, and we are slowly, but steadily reaching the effing end of this effing story. Just kidding. But we really are reaching the end, I'm thinking maybe...two or three more chapters, depending on how long the final battle will take, plus the epilogue of course. Emmm, personally I'm rather proud off the Amelia/Snape pairing, because they're bloody(no pun intended) perfect for each other. And I included bits and moments for each pairing. And more Hermione! And more Prophecy. Look, I made a good chapter, so leave me alone. I have to do stupid homework and try to kill myself with a fork. Hope you liked.
Thank you to:
Kori. (Read in a cooing voice) Of course I put your OTP in it to try to cheer you, anything for my dear dear, dear beta. No really, I like you, so I want you happy, because it was the time about the hurricanes, so I wanted to cheer you up and...yeah. Anyway, thank you, you're the best. I'm still waiting for fictionalley to accept the chapter. Cross fingers!!!
ShimmeringEvil. Weren't you doing a Blaise/Hermione as well? You were weren't you? Ah yeah, you kept calling him Zambini. I remember my reviews to you, scolding about that. Hope you weren't offended, but I have a deep love for Blaise's sexy surname (Zabini) so I tend to get criticizing when someone puts Zambini. Anyway, thank you for reviewing; I'm glad you liked my story. And please update your story as well, eh? Just because I send a very criticizing review doesn't mean it's bad, I was just giving my opinion, which is what reviews are for. Like yours.
DarkGurly819. Whoot! Yet another one who loves this! To think, at first I didn't expect more than, what? ten reviews or so? But, look at his, I'm heading 200!!! Yaaay me! Anyway, ahem, thank you for reviewing, not only this one but the others as well. You rawk. Tiz all.
Rain4life. That's what I hate the most! People making those two wonderful guys complete jerks. Don't worry, I'm in contra of that, so you won't be seeing them like that in my stories. Pansy/Ron has grown up on me, dunno why, but it has. And, trust me, I think they could happen. Actually, that's the ship's motto: "Pansy/Ron...Dream...It could happen." I announced it in several chapter that it's gonna have a happy ending. About those errors, thank you for saying it. I'll try and eliminate them or something. Thanks for the review.
Sw33tVi3t. What can I tell you that we haven't already talked about? Keep trying with the death-threats, you're getting better. You're welcome for the chapter, here's the new chapter. Be seeing you around.
Funky-faerie87. What's this? You inspired me! We barely finished the conversation, and I started writing. I think I'm sending these two (B/Hr) to Queensland on their honey moon. If they have one. I put some more Hermione-thinking-bout-Blaise action, just for you, because I wouldn't want you to leave this story. Alright then, be hearing from you...dude. Thank you.
Ehlonna. Thought you'd like the Sirius bit. Thank you for sticking with this story. You're one of the reviewers who review every chapter, and those are my favourites! Thank you, and kudos to you.
Pippin1177. Okay, no prob, I won't worry. Besides, I wasn't worrying either, I was just joking as well. Phhrtttt...yeah right. Anyway, thanks for reviewing.
Dark Angel, Child Of The Night. You have the longest penname I ever had to write. No wait...there was...nope, you're the longest. Anyway, thank you for reviewing, keep reading, eh?
Artemis1000. They are very adorable, I know!!! I have another story coming in which they are more adorable! Thanks for reviewing, le grand finale is coming soon, and it'll be bloody happy, as you like it.
If you like this story read:
Shared Heaven by JeanB;
Sometimes by Sokorra Lewis;(and review for Pete's sake! They're brilliant work here people!)
To love a Gryffindor by Sokorra Lewis;
Of Lust And Pie by SkooksiePants;
Slytherin Vengeance by Metallicafangilrl.
Shorty by ShimmeringEvil.
And the other B/Hr stories I have, of course.
Enjoy, and become a shipper, mate. Arrgh! And long live Longbottom Silver!