Chapter Twelve: The Diabolical Plan
The group trekked through the snow, cold and tired they had almost reached the point where they believed the wolves had stopped. Everyone was moaning and groaning but they knew that they had to catch up with Hermione. The phoenix flock had flown ahead to search through the snowy air.
A grunt echoed followed by a soft thud, Draco had fallen into the snow. He pulled himself up and gasped.
"There! In the snow!" he said, staring ahead of him where a large indention lay, "It's from a wolf!"
Everyone became keyed up as the prospect of being close came to mind. They began to examine the terra around them desperately in hopes of finding Hermione and the others. They looked everywhere, except, that is, to the one place where they should have.
Hermione, meanwhile, had turned into her wolven form to keep herself warm. Her auds flicked backwards at the voices of others. She knew those voices, even without opening her orbs she knew them. Should I go to them? she asked herself, They abandoned me in my time of need…
"Go to them…they are your friends no matter what. After all, they did come to look for you." Said a raspy voice.
Hermione turned her dial up to see the emerald orbs of the packs Lead Epsilon, Blaze. She took note of how much this wolfs orbs were like Harry's eyes.
"You are right…You two, take Kalina and Cazador and prepare for battle." Hermione said to two of the wolves.
"No…" Ceros said.
"What?" Hermione questioned, eyes blazing in a frenzy of anger, her friends were on their way and this wolf chose now to challenge her?
"I said 'no' you half-breed! Now then take yourself back to your friends and leave us be. You've already pained Kalina, leave the rest of us to live on!" he replied with a snarl.
Hermione snapped at Ceros who jumped back, slipping a little on the snow. Blaze jumped between them and blocked him from Hermione.
"Ceros…I am disappointed." Blaze whispered.
Silence answered the vixen. Hermione snarled again before jerking back at a sound.
"Hey Hermione, calm down already I don't think that snarl sounded threatening!" Draco called from atop the hill.
Hermione changed back to her human form and looked at him curiously, he seemed…happy. Her head was tilted to the side as he continued to come nearer and nearer to her.
"Why are you here?" she questioned, keeping her eyes down.
"Well…uh-"
"Hey, we're friends till the end, eh?" Chorused Harry and Ron.
Hermione's eyes filled with tears at the sight of her friends coming back for her. They were reunited once again and now could continue on the journey that called them onward towards the home of the darkest wizard of all time.
"So I see you decided to find me." Hermione stated casually, as if she was often left alone.
"Yeah…we're really sorry Hermione." Harry said.
"No problem," she replied, "Just so long as you guys didn't really plan on leaving me out here."
Hermione turned behind her to see the brute who had earlier challenged her now following her orders. Kalina and Cazador were still out, this would be a long trip if the two did not revive soon. Her gaze was diverted as a hand touched her own.
"Yes?" she questioned expectantly.
Looking around she could see that almost everyone was in front of them, they were making good time.
"I'm really sorry." Draco whispered.
"For what?"
"Not coming with you. I should have volunteered instead of lead the search party for you."
"Hermione!" Katherine called from in front of the group, "There's a castle ahead but it has some sort of…barrier over it!"
The wheels in her head had begun turning, how to break a barrier. Why would there even be a barrier? Voldemort wouldn't think of something like that, there had to be someone helping him out. But who? No others were known followers unless they had hidden themselves. It must have been a long tedious process though, to hide yourself for so long. Her thoughts were interrupted as the small cream colored wolf known as Miroku stepped up.
"Master Hermione, is there perhaps a way that I may speak to the phoenixes alone?" he questioned shyly.
Though doubtful, Hermione led the wolf up towards the phoenix flock and sought out Aldebaran. She had to nudge to wolf before he would approach. She shook her head lightly and walked off before he had spoken.
"Sir, it is a legend that the phoenix holds is strong enough to break barriers. Is that true?" he questioned.
"Indeed." Aldebaran nodded, "Do not fret, we will break the barrier. I simply wanted the others to search around and see if we should avoid any obstacles." He stated.
Miroku nodded and became quiet as everyone had begun to catch up. They stared in awe at the purplish pinkish glow around the old castle. It seemed as if it dated back to the days of valiant knights and regal kings. It looked like it hadn't been taken care of since then as well. Vines were all over the place, holes had been eaten in the roof. Where there were no holes, moss grew wildly in the perfect environment. Holes were in the thick walls that bore many red stains, most likely from gory battles long since past.
"Assume formation!" called Skyfire.
The floack took to the skies once again, surrounding the castle. The barrier faltered slightly at the power radiating from them. Aldebaran led them in an ancient song. One by one they joined in the chorus until the entire surrounding area was filled with a chilling melody. The barrier began to slowly fade away until it had completely disappeared.
"Well come on then!" Hermione said cheerfully.
"You! You should have finished this long ago! Why did it not work right?" Wormtail questioned angrily.
"Quiet you! Do you think you have authority over me? You're wrong there mister. Now then I suggest you learn your place and leave me be!" said a feminine voice.
Wormtail observed quietly as the woman worked over a cauldron which was now bubbling to the brim with purple foam. She had been working on this potion for days and yet it had just now begun to take effect. He was curious of this new girl that the Dark Lord had hired. She always wore a hood to hide her face but occasionally a strand of dark hair would slide out, giving him his one and only clue to her identity. His eyes roamed over the cauldron with curiosity. Why would she have only affected a few of the members of the group? Why not harm all or those arrogant little buggers?
"Why not go and inform out Master that the dark deed he requested it complete." She said silkily as she added a final ingredient, causing the potion to spurt a cloud of smoke that formed into the Dark Mark.
His eyes widened at the skull now disintegrating from the air above the cauldron. He shook a bit; the mere thought of what this potion could do sent shivers down his spine. Wormtail nodded obediently and scurried quickly away, the Master would be pleased to hear the news.
The woman watched as Wormtail exited. Pathetic scum… she thought, Even with all the power our Lord has given him he is still a worthless coward. She turned back to the potion with a loving smile, her creation was finally complete. Days of toil and sweat had finally paid off. She had put her body and soul into this, and it was, at last, complete.
"Now my dearest…arise from your slimy home and do my bidding." She whispered.
Suddenly the water from the cauldron began to ripple and the cauldron shook violently. A chilling laugh echoed through the small, dark room as the creature arose from the foamy purple water. The woman ran a slender hand along the creatures form.
"Nice…very nice. Now then, what is your mission?" she asked.
"I am to destroy…" the creature replied, its voice rough and sticky.
"Who is it that you are to destroy my wonderful pet?" she asked again.
The creature remained quiet, as if thinking about the answer, though it already knew what if was supposed to say. It looked away from the woman and around the room, taking in ever little detail and putting it into the depths of its mind for later use. The woman glared at the monster and it suddenly found the time right to speak. It smiled crookedly before opening its mouth to speak…
"…Hermione Granger…" the creature growled in reply, rather smugly.
