Chapter 25:
I am bored.
We have been sitting in the dark, dank tunnel now for close to an hour.
I repeat, I am bored.
That last sentiment must have been aloud, for Lucius snorts, McNair hushes me, and the Dark Lord, in none of his glory, agrees with me.
I find it odd that the most feared wizard in the world is content to lean against a dirt-walled poorly lit tunnel, waiting for the signal from a servant who has proven himself unworthy, all for the chance to throw the killing curse at a seventeen year-old boy. Not to mention that this particular boy has already avoided the killing curse.
I turn my head to look at my supposed lord and master. His eyes are closed, his nostrils flaring and his tongue flicking in and out of his mouth, as though he is able to taste and smell everything around him. The skin, which is barely visibly in the tunnel is stretched far across the broad face.
It is an ugly face. All intelligence and charisma this wizard once possessed has eroded into madness and misplaced cunning. I know that years ago, when he was still mostly an orator on his way to becoming a politician, he was quite persuasive in his speeches. Severus took me to see him. By the end of the emotional speech I was quite drawn in. Fortunately then, as now, the drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy brought me to my senses.
"It is time. There is the signal from Severus. He will remain in his rooms, which we will seal from the outside. That way, the Old Fool cannot actually blame him for the attack." Lucius' comment is met with chuckles from all but me.
We move on, walking swiftly. The click of our boots on the dungeon floors echo loudly. As we pass Severus' door, Voldemort places a long fingered hand on my sleeve. "It would be best if you left the locking charm. Your magic will not cause a disturbance." I give a strong swish of my wand and we continue on. I have locked Severus in very well. I doubt even if it had the desire to leave he could.
As we cross the stone steps, my uncle's voice is heard from the top of the steps.
"You were not invited, Tom. I am willing, however, to allow you and those with you to leave immediately with no harm coming to any of you." he is magnificent. All his power is around him. I spy Minerva and Remus in the shadows behind him. I have not yet spotted Harry, but I know he is here, somewhere, to serve as bait at the critical moment.
Voldemort looks up at Albus, his red eyes flashing. "This does not concern you, old man. Where is the boy?"
I think by now, Voldemort understands, to some extent, that they knew we were coming. Whether it was from Severus, me, or the wards that this warning was issued is yet undecided.
Albus remains motionless. Remus shifts his weight slightly. Damn. MacNair lets loose with a curse. It hits Remus full in the chest. He falls. Minerva breaks rank and drops to his side. Determining he is all right, she stands, but in her distraction, Lucius has flung an obscure form of the cruciatus. It hits her. A strangled cry escapes her throat and she joins Remus on the floor.
I feel angry energy from behind me left, in the direction of the doors to the main hall. Harry. Dammit, Harry, I mentally scold him. Just a little while longer. Albus descends one step, drawing our attention away from Harry's direction. MacNair attempts a curse, but it merely bounces off Albus, who is pulsating with energy. The curse reflects back on the sadistic bastard, throwing him to the ground, where he remains motionless, but alive.
My eyes lock with my uncle's and we nod minutely to one another. In a flash my wand is out, throwing curse after curse towards Albus. He in return is casting them aside. I transfigure objects in the hall with the speed of summer lightning. He just as quickly spells them in another direction.
There is anger in my eyes, I know, and concentration. Apparently it satisfies the Dark Lord and Lucius, for they soon join me. Good, so far, everything is progressing to plan. I take a step up the stairs, our curses bouncing everywhere.
Quickly, Remus and Minerva stand up, having only been pretending to be injured. They begin to counter the curses. Too soon I hear Harry's voice above the din. Voldemort's attention, along with mine, is drawn to him.
Harry steps out from the shadows, wand raised. Voldemort stays on the bottom step, facing the boy. Behind us, Minerva, Remus, Lucius and MacNair are still battling. Albus has appeared with a swish of robes at Harry's side.
Voldemort stops at the appearance of my uncle. He turns and looks maliciously at me. "Well, well. A surprise, Dumbledore, to see her standing at my side?"
Albus schools his face to remain impassive. "I have yet to see any true proof of any anger directed at me because of you, Tom. I think you would find Bena is willing to attack me because of my past transgressions against her, not because of any true belief in your ideals."
Voldemort turns his eyes on mine. I return his stare with one I hope is equally as cold. He does not say anything. Harry meanwhile, has inched forward. That was not part of the plan. A few more inches and he will be out of the magical barrier Albus constructed for him. My attention is drawn to him and I step forward. At the same moment, a loud cry is heard behind me, I turn my head.
In my distraction, I misstep. Falling down the stairs, I feel a curse rip through my body, coupled with a flash of green light. Then nothing. I feel nothing.
I am dead.
I am bored.
We have been sitting in the dark, dank tunnel now for close to an hour.
I repeat, I am bored.
That last sentiment must have been aloud, for Lucius snorts, McNair hushes me, and the Dark Lord, in none of his glory, agrees with me.
I find it odd that the most feared wizard in the world is content to lean against a dirt-walled poorly lit tunnel, waiting for the signal from a servant who has proven himself unworthy, all for the chance to throw the killing curse at a seventeen year-old boy. Not to mention that this particular boy has already avoided the killing curse.
I turn my head to look at my supposed lord and master. His eyes are closed, his nostrils flaring and his tongue flicking in and out of his mouth, as though he is able to taste and smell everything around him. The skin, which is barely visibly in the tunnel is stretched far across the broad face.
It is an ugly face. All intelligence and charisma this wizard once possessed has eroded into madness and misplaced cunning. I know that years ago, when he was still mostly an orator on his way to becoming a politician, he was quite persuasive in his speeches. Severus took me to see him. By the end of the emotional speech I was quite drawn in. Fortunately then, as now, the drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy brought me to my senses.
"It is time. There is the signal from Severus. He will remain in his rooms, which we will seal from the outside. That way, the Old Fool cannot actually blame him for the attack." Lucius' comment is met with chuckles from all but me.
We move on, walking swiftly. The click of our boots on the dungeon floors echo loudly. As we pass Severus' door, Voldemort places a long fingered hand on my sleeve. "It would be best if you left the locking charm. Your magic will not cause a disturbance." I give a strong swish of my wand and we continue on. I have locked Severus in very well. I doubt even if it had the desire to leave he could.
As we cross the stone steps, my uncle's voice is heard from the top of the steps.
"You were not invited, Tom. I am willing, however, to allow you and those with you to leave immediately with no harm coming to any of you." he is magnificent. All his power is around him. I spy Minerva and Remus in the shadows behind him. I have not yet spotted Harry, but I know he is here, somewhere, to serve as bait at the critical moment.
Voldemort looks up at Albus, his red eyes flashing. "This does not concern you, old man. Where is the boy?"
I think by now, Voldemort understands, to some extent, that they knew we were coming. Whether it was from Severus, me, or the wards that this warning was issued is yet undecided.
Albus remains motionless. Remus shifts his weight slightly. Damn. MacNair lets loose with a curse. It hits Remus full in the chest. He falls. Minerva breaks rank and drops to his side. Determining he is all right, she stands, but in her distraction, Lucius has flung an obscure form of the cruciatus. It hits her. A strangled cry escapes her throat and she joins Remus on the floor.
I feel angry energy from behind me left, in the direction of the doors to the main hall. Harry. Dammit, Harry, I mentally scold him. Just a little while longer. Albus descends one step, drawing our attention away from Harry's direction. MacNair attempts a curse, but it merely bounces off Albus, who is pulsating with energy. The curse reflects back on the sadistic bastard, throwing him to the ground, where he remains motionless, but alive.
My eyes lock with my uncle's and we nod minutely to one another. In a flash my wand is out, throwing curse after curse towards Albus. He in return is casting them aside. I transfigure objects in the hall with the speed of summer lightning. He just as quickly spells them in another direction.
There is anger in my eyes, I know, and concentration. Apparently it satisfies the Dark Lord and Lucius, for they soon join me. Good, so far, everything is progressing to plan. I take a step up the stairs, our curses bouncing everywhere.
Quickly, Remus and Minerva stand up, having only been pretending to be injured. They begin to counter the curses. Too soon I hear Harry's voice above the din. Voldemort's attention, along with mine, is drawn to him.
Harry steps out from the shadows, wand raised. Voldemort stays on the bottom step, facing the boy. Behind us, Minerva, Remus, Lucius and MacNair are still battling. Albus has appeared with a swish of robes at Harry's side.
Voldemort stops at the appearance of my uncle. He turns and looks maliciously at me. "Well, well. A surprise, Dumbledore, to see her standing at my side?"
Albus schools his face to remain impassive. "I have yet to see any true proof of any anger directed at me because of you, Tom. I think you would find Bena is willing to attack me because of my past transgressions against her, not because of any true belief in your ideals."
Voldemort turns his eyes on mine. I return his stare with one I hope is equally as cold. He does not say anything. Harry meanwhile, has inched forward. That was not part of the plan. A few more inches and he will be out of the magical barrier Albus constructed for him. My attention is drawn to him and I step forward. At the same moment, a loud cry is heard behind me, I turn my head.
In my distraction, I misstep. Falling down the stairs, I feel a curse rip through my body, coupled with a flash of green light. Then nothing. I feel nothing.
I am dead.