Dark Days Pass But Are Never Forgotten
by: LogicalRaven
Only a short author's note. This was a difficult chapter for me to write, actually the hardest since I've started. Thanks to everyone who is following me, the next chapter is the big one. I'll get it up soon.
A special thanks to RavenGryffendor for helping me catch some of my major mistakes, make of this chapter what you will.
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Nothing is MY Own
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Thanks Again Everybody!!
A Diversion
Harry barely caught his footing in time as he gave Noel a cold glare for trying to throw him down the mountainside.
"Alright there Harry, you don't need to go tumbling down the mountain," Kingsley said with a puzzled expression, as Harry tried to play it off like he had slipped.
"Thanks Master Shacklebolt," Michael said quickly, as he grabbed Harry's arm and drug him off in the direction Kingsley had pointed.
"What are you two doing?" Harry hissed. "We should be going up the left side where the fighting is heaviest."
"Oh Harry, calm down mate. We aren't even supposed to be up here. The last thing we need is Master Shacklebolt asking questions. We'll simply go up the easier way and then make our way right."
Harry glanced at Noel, but she was nodding in agreement.
"Honestly, Potter, do you ever use that head of yours?" Noel spat acidly.
Noel turned her face away from him before he could respond; she had more important things on her mind. Her conversation with Malfoy played over and over in her mind, and she had a terrible feeling that Chang was the target of this attack. What could the dark forces be thinking? Did they honestly believe she knew that much? She also was anxious to find her not so wonderful mentor. She had a feeling he wasn't as innocent in this attack as he would claim either. In fact, it wouldn't surprise her if he was one the first on the scene.
"It wouldn't surprise me if Raymer had something to do with this," Harry said bitterly, as the three trudged up the hill.
Noel's head snapped around as she glared at Harry. How much did he know? How much did he suspect?
"Oh come on, Harry. Master Raymer may be a bit on the questionable side, but he'd never have a hand in an attack like this," Michael commented, as he tried to hoist himself over a steep pile of boulders.
"I wouldn't bet my life on it," Harry said bitterly. "Why is he always the first on the scene if Cho is attacked by vampires?"
"Because he's in love with her and probably stalking her," Michael replied casually.
Harry narrowed his eyes a bit more as he pulled himself up behind Michael. "I don't buy it. He knows too much."
Noel let out a loud breath. "It's his job to know too much. Do you honestly think Aurors just get lucky?"
Harry suddenly froze and turned to look at Noel. "Who is he in contact with?"
"I don't know," Noel replied honestly, as she tried to follow the boys, but slipped.
"Here, let me help you,' Michael offered, but Noel slapped away his hand.
"I can do it myself."
"You don't know?" Harry continued. "But you do know he has contacts."
"They all do, surely you knew that," Noel snapped, as she attempted to pull herself up again.
Michael shook his head as Noel slipped again. "Stop wasting time. If you can climb up yourself, then do it."
Harry flashed Michael a look before kneeling down to reach for Noel. "Stop being stubborn and give me your damn hand."
Noel flinched internally but outwardly she didn't seem moved. "I don't need your chivalry."
"It isn't chivalry," Harry spat. "I'm just tired of you wasting my time."
Noel glared hatefully as he finally accepted Harry's hand and hoisted herself up.
"I think it's this way," Michael pointed up the hill towards another pile of rocks.
As the group started in the direction Michael had suggested Harry suddenly grabbed Noel's arm. "Who
are his contacts? Is he in contact with Darthaynia?"
Noel snatched her arm back quickly. "Get your hands off me!"
"Shhh, do you want to give our position away?" Michael warned.
"WHO?" Harry said loudly, ignoring Michael's protest.
"I don't know," Noel repeated, "but I seriously doubt it is anybody with much power."
Michael bit his lip and glanced at Harry. "She's right mate. Master Blackfoot told me he has a contact that isn't necessarily part of the enemy, but knows a lot.
Even Dumbledore supposedly has a contact."
"Yea, Snape, but he's dead," Harry retorted bitterly.
Michael looked like he was about to say something else, but his body suddenly went rigid and he fell over with a look of agony on his face.
"MICHAEL!" Harry cried before dropping low.
Noel already was aiming her wand over near the tree line they had emerged from and casting a stunner.
"Is he alright?" Noel asked quickly, as she scanned the forest for more movement and bound her victim tightly with ropes.
Michael looked up at Harry with heavy breaths, clinching his back. "I think it's broke."
Harry glanced at Noel before carefully rolling Michael over. It didn't look good; there was a large gash where Michael had been hit, exposing tender muscle and flesh.
"Good news or bad?" Harry asked.
Michael flinched as Harry rolled him back over. "This isn't the time to joke."
"It isn't broken, but it looks like a nasty gash," Harry informed him, as he rolled up the sleeves to his robe.
"You'll need to clean it out before you mend it," Noel reminded him, causing Harry to send her yet another cold glare.
"Scourgify ," Harry recited, as stream of bubbled liquid came from his wand.
Michael let out a cry of pain, and Noel bent lower to grab his hand.
"Mendo Finita ," Harry said with a deep breath, and the wound sealed up with a juicy squish.
Noel released Michael's hand, and Harry helped him to his feet. "You alright?"
Michael nodded, but the pain hadn't subsided enough to allow him to speak yet.
Noel nodded towards a small path that they had overlooked before, and the three started up without speaking, in fear it would prompt another attack. As they emerged from the top, Harry looked back and motioned for them to have their wands ready.
"Expelliarmus," Harry shouted, as he noticed a figure crouched down behind a tree.
The reaction was immediate and unpredictable. The figure's wand flew from her hand, and another figure sitting beside her quickly retrieved it with a summoning charm, and then sent a stunner into the group.
Harry was about to shoot another spell when Noel seized his wand hand and shot white flares from hers.
The two figures returned the white flares and comprehension dawned on both Harry and Michael.
The three crouched lowly as they made their way over, and suddenly relief spread over Harry's face.
"Cho, Master Tonks" Harry exclaimed, as he realized whom he had disarmed.
"What are you three doing up here?" Tonks
demanded. "You aren't trained."
"Neither is she," Noel spat, as she pointed at Cho.
"Keep your voices down," Cho warned. "Do you want them to start attacking again."
"Where is Raymer?" Harry asked in a hushed voice. "Master Shacklebolt said he was with you."
"We got separated," Tonks answered. "I haven't seen him in a while. He may have been hit."
"We didn't see him coming up," Michael replied.
Cho suddenly pointed her wand back into the trees in front of them and released a series of silver arrows. "We've got to get to the top."
"Why?" Noel snapped. "What's up at the top?"
"My father," Cho countered. "Tonks and I have been trying to break the enemy's defenses for awhile now, but they're onto us."
"What do you suggest?" Harry asked, as he watched her nervously.
"You three stay here and cause a diversion while Tonks and I sneak past them," Cho replied quickly, knowing Harry would never go with this idea without objecting.
"Are you bloody insane?" Harry said before he could stop himself. "I'm not letting you go off by yourself."
"Harry," Tonks warned. "Cho is right, you three don't need to be in this fighting yet."
"I've fought more Death Eaters than half the Aurors than the entire Ministry!" Harry protested.
Cho took in a deep breath and took Harry's hand. "Please, trust me, just this once."
Harry's face twisted as Cho leaned up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before ducking into a nearby bush with Tonks. Harry could barely make out their movement as they disappeared from sight.
"They're right you know," Michael commented, as he glanced from behind his position and used Cho's arrow spell, so he wouldn't draw attention that the opposing side that the opponents had changed.
Harry slammed his fist to the ground. "They're going to get themselves killed."
Noel was watching the ground they had disappeared into with almost as much worry as Harry. Her gut was
telling her she shouldn't have let Cho out of her sight.
"We're in the action guys," Michael argued. "That's what we wanted."
"No," Harry said viciously, "It isn't want I wanted. I've been in enough action."
"Lets go after her then," Noel suggested. "Michael can hold this position."
"Are you mad?" Michael protested. "I can't fend off a group of Death Eaters alone."
'Avada Kedavra ,'shot out of the trees, as if to illustrate Michael point.
"Just don't give them a clear target," Noel
snapped. "They aren't going to advance because they don't know how many of us there are."
Michael gave her a sarcastic grin. "Oh bloody brilliant idea. You two aren't leaving me."
"Tonks and Cho can't take on the mountain alone," Harry argued.
"I can't hold this position alone," Michael countered.
"We'll be back before anything happens," Noel attempted.
Michael shot another silver arrow spell into the tree line and shook his head. "Go then, if you two are so determined to leave me to die."
Harry ducked low into the bush and glanced back one last time at Michael. "Be careful, mate."
Michael sneered as he ducked a bit lower into his cover.
Harry could feel Noel at his heels as he pulled himself across the ground in a snake like fashion, hoping he wouldn't be spotted. They finally reached a clearing and attentively stood on their feet.
"Which way do you think they went?" Harry whispered, and Noel seemed to be thinking along the same lines.
After a quick scan of the surroundings, she pointed to a trail that seemed to lead upwards. Noel and Harry traveled with caution knowing their next step could be their last. A few spells cracked the air ahead of them, and they carefully quickened their pace.
"Crucio ."
Harry's heart sank as he heard a shriek of terror, and he suddenly broke through the thick shrubbery with his wand aimed and ready.
"Finite," Noel screamed over Harry's shoulder before he could get it off his tongue, and the torturous curse was lifted off Tonks as she slumped to the ground unconscious.
Cho was on her back as she popped her head up to see who had come to her rescue. "GET DOWN!"
Noel and Harry both instantly dropped to their knees as the killing cursed flew inches over their heads.
"Are you alright?" Harry hollered over.
"Just perfect," Cho replied. "How did you get past that tree line?"
"Michael is holding the position," Noel spat back.
"You left him alone, are you mad?" Cho said, as her mouth dropped open.
Harry suddenly noticed red ooze pouring out of Cho's leg, and Harry suddenly realized the reason she was on her back. "You're hurt."
Cho looked down at her leg and winced. "I think it's broke, but don't come any closer. It's a trap."
"Stay right there, I'm coming to get you," Harry said, as if he hadn't heard her warning.
"Didn't you hear her, she said it's a trap," Noel snapped.
"Then cover me," Harry retorted. He quickly moved in a catlike fashion across the ground until he finally reached Cho's side.
"Hey," he greeted.
"You are the most stubborn, reckless, boy I've ever seen," Cho said with frustration.
Harry grinned in spite of himself and tried to examine her leg. "It looks like you've been hit with the same curse Michael was hit with earlier."
Harry lifted his wand as he prepared to clean out the wound when he felt the sensation of a thousand hot knives piercing into his skin at once.
"HARRY," he heard Cho cry, but he couldn't move. It didn't matter how many times he had felt the effects of the Cruciatus Curse, he was never prepared for it.
Finally, the sensation lifted, and he slumped to the ground in a dry thud.
"Harry," Cho said, as she attempted to poke him.
Harry groaned. "I'm alright."
"Get away from me before they do it again," Cho snapped.
Harry shook his head. "Let me see your leg."
Before Cho had a chance to argue, Noel was on her feet shouting her most powerful banishing charm. It was like a moment frozen in time. Harry looked at that precise moment to see what Noel was banishing and saw a dark cloaked and masked figure with his wand pointed at Cho. The killing curse hit merely inches from her arm as the cloaked figure was thrown into a tree and rendered unconscious.
Cho took a deep breath as she looked at the scorch mark inches from her hand and then glanced back at Noel. "Thanks for that."
"Get up," Noel snapped, as Harry quickly mended her leg and revived Tonks.
Tonks wasn't very pleased to see Harry and Noel and was even more displeased that they had left Michael alone to fend for his self.
"You never leave a Auror alone," Tonks lectured. "Both of you will go back to that position at once."
"If we hadn't have come, both of you would have been dead," Harry argued.
"That may be so, but now Michael might very well be dead now," Tonks retorted. "Now go before I have your ranks."
"Cho Lei," Mr. Chang cried, as he emerged from the forest.
"Father," Cho said in a single breath as he grabbed his daughter and pulled her into a hug.
Mr. Chang looked older and for the first time that Harry could remember, afraid.
"I thought I would never see you again," Mr. Chang cried, as he released his daughter.
Tonks nodded as she decided it was time to break up the family reunion. "Are their any more survivors up there?"
Mr. Chang's eyes glazed over as he shook his head. "No, I barely made it out myself."
"What happened father?" Cho asked, as he tried to dust the dirt off his robes.
"There was an attack, and they set your mother's corpse on fire. The next thing I knew they were killing everyone in sight and doing the same thing to their corpses. It was horrible." He let out a light shiver as he relived the memories. "They desecrated the temple of our ancestors."
Cho pulled her father into another hug as the old man cried into his child's shoulder.
"We've got to go," Tonks finally said, as the five of them walked back into the tree line and down the hillside to where they had left Michael.
"It's going according to plan father," Draco revealed, as he kneeled slightly, mostly to keep himself from cringing at his father's appearance.
"Good, we must keep the battle up for at least another twelve hours," Lucius Malfoy said coldly, as his red eyes glimmered like hot coals. "It must be done."
"We've suffered many causalities father. I don't know how many more hours we can keep up this pace."
"Use the giants then. They are not worth much to us," Lucius said with a wicked tone.
Draco took in another breath, "We have father, but they are easily repelled. If we could use the vampires..."
"They are preoccupied," Lucius snapped, "Are the Une Sombrer loyal to us yet?"
"They are loyal to the Le Gardien de la Connaissance, but we are working on it," Draco answered.
Lucius sneered. "Excellent, the two organizations will become one and will be unstoppable. It won't matter how many followers we lose in this attack, the Le Gardien del la Connaissance, who holds the secrets of Grindelwald, has a strong following, and they are in need of new leadership."
"Father it isn't that simple. They do not trust our agenda," Draco argued with caution in his voice.
Lucius simply laughed. "Should they, my son?"
"There can only be one Dark Lord, for power is not shared by those who seek it."
Draco bowed humbly as his father continued; "You shall sit high as the Prince of the new dark reign, the reign of the Dragon Lord."
"Father, what if our master returns?" Draco finally asked, suddenly realizing the humble sense of loyalty was now nowhere within his father.
Lucius' eyes did not register fear or regret; instead he said with a stead voice, "He won't, but if he does, he will serve us."
"Do you believe you could take on you know who?" Draco asked, looking slightly taken back.
Lucius snapped his cold eyes on his son. "Voldemort is my lord, no more. I serve no one."
Hermione collapsed into a nearby chair, hoping to grab a moments rest before starting again. Terry took a seat beside her and touched Hermione's shoulder as he gave her a comforting nod.
"You did alright," Terry said with a forced smile, as he splashed some water over his face.
"I don't know how you do it..." Hermione muttered, as she glanced out of a small crack in the side of the tent. "I can fight in any battle with the best of them, but to actually see the aftermath like this, to actually have the lives of others in the palm of your hand. The way we had to decide who lives and who dies...."
"Hermione, this isn't like you. I've never known you to be afraid of anything," Terry said lightly, as he watched Hermione rambling at the memories she had just created.
"Except failing," Hermione whispered. "This isn't class, or knowledge you can learn from a book. You have to act on your gut, and you can never know for certain if you made the right choice."
"It isn't about making the right or wrong choice, just the best choice at the given time," Terry answered.
"That's what bothers me. How do you know if you've failed?"
"You don't," Terry replied, as Hermione dropped her head.
Hermione finally rose back to her feet. "Do you think the battle is over?"
Terry shrugged. "It's getting quieter."
Like Terry had summoned evil with a his comment, the tent beside the two collapsed with a terrible rip. Hermione let out a blood-curdling scream as the heavy material pinned her and Terry to the floor. Another loud thud landed only feet from the heads as something on the outside thrashed around in a monstrous rage.
"Don't make a sound," Terry said in a whisper, as Hermione reacted by pinning her lips together to try to suppress her screams and whimpers.
The two instinctively froze as the thuds and thrashing moved further down from them, tearing down more of the tent. Hermione looked around and could make out
Terry's form crawling towards her, and he locked eye with her and motioned for them to move. Slowly, Hermione felt herself crawl until they came to an opening, and she and Terry rustled out from under the fallen tent.
As the two healers stood, the scene that greeted them was horrid. Hermione's hands flew to her mouth, and Terry let out a series of swear words.
There where fourteen or fifteen giants pounding clubs without mercy as the victims inside screamed.
"We've got to do something," Hermione cried, as she grabbed Terry by the arm and pulled him towards the massacre.
Terry resisted at first, but Hermione was persistent.
"What can we do, they're giants?" Terry argued.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Exactly they're giants. Haven't you learned how to defend yourself against anything?"
Terry shook his head. "I heal things, and I don't dismember things."
"Just stun them," Hermione snapped. "Do you think you can handle that?"
Terry scowled but nodded as he pulled his wand out from beneath his robe. The two approached cautiously when another robed figured jumped in their path and started shouting spells and hexes and the thrashing giants.
"GET DOWN!" December O'Riley roared at Hermione and Terry, who stood motionless.
Terry was the first to collect his sense, and he tugged Hermione off in the opposite direction. "Let the Aurors handle the situation; we need to tend to the patients."
Hermione hesitated a moment before conceding and rushing off towards the abandoned sections of the medical tent. When the two reached the area that had been crushed, they started trying to tear their way through the mesh of material and bring the buried victims back up to daylight.
The battle with the giants continued as the Aurors shot stunner and binding ropes at the massive creatures. Giants had extremely tough skin, and although they had no magical defenses, it took several powerful spells to knock one out.
Susan rushed past Terry and Hermione with a troubled expression, "Oh dear, oh my."
"Susan, what's wrong?" Hermione demanded, as she seized the young Auror by the shoulder.
Susan glanced at the battling Auror and then back at Hermione. "Have you seen Harry or Michael?"
Terry's eyes widened as comprehension dawned on his face. "Where did they go, what did they do?"
Susan pointed towards the hill and nodded.
"And you didn't try to stop them?" Terry asked, looking stunned.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Honestly, Harry doesn't stop to think before acting, not even for a second."
"We were supposed to be guarding the tents. I've been battling a giant at the edge of the forest. I wasn't able to hold the rest of them back," Susan cried as she wiped a bit of blood from her forehead where a branch had scratched her.
Hermione made a loud agitated noise. "Well, it looks like the Aurors have the situation under control."
Susan shook her head in a gesture of panic, and December raced over towards the young
Auror. "Where are the other three? Are they injured?"
Susan sucked in a large breath of air as she looked towards the tree line with an uncertain expression.
"Susan, did they go up the mountain?" December demanded.
Susan laughed nervously. "It's funny you should ask that question."
"Funny?" December snapped.
"Expecto Patronum," Hermione yelled, as something approached quickly from behind.
December jolted quickly as the coldness flooded the group. The Dementors were emerging on them, and Hermione's otter wasn't going to hold them off for long.
December casted her own patronus spell at another cluster of Dementors and a semi-welcomed sight joined her ghostly eagle owl patronus. A stag from the tree line rushed forward, and its owner was quick behind it.
Harry, Noel, Michael, Cho, and Tonks all raced forward, each sending their own patronus to fend off the Dementors. It didn't take long before the giants and Dementors retreated again into the thick of the trees. Mr. Chang was close behind, but soon collapsed from exhaustion.
December was quick to approach the group with fury fresh on her mind.
"Where have the three of you been?" December snapped quickly, anger flashing dangerously in her eyes.
Hermione and Terry continued trying to repair the tent and Susan bit her lip and tried to become invisible.
Harry swallowed hard. "Well, we thought..."
"You thought you'd disobey a direct order because you knew better than I did about battles and attacks," December accused.
"Master O'Riley, if it hadn't been for Harry and Noel..." Cho started.
"Miss Chang, would you and Tonks please go check on the injured victims from the giants' recent attack to the medical tent," December snapped, not allowing her student to finish her defense.
Cho and Tonks both nodded, and Cho gave Harry a supportive look.
"We disobeyed, but if we hadn't, then Tonks and Chang would both be dead," Noel argued, looking defiant in her aunt's wake.
December locked eyes on her niece. "That may be so, but my orders were to protect the medical tents. Thanks to your negligence, we've suffered no telling how many more causalities. Your duty was to protect the tent; instead you left your colleague to defend against an army of giants. "
Susan muttered something, but December chose to ignore it.
"We didn't think there was any danger present when we left," Harry protested.
December then reared on him. "That isn't for you to decide, now is it? This program is not a democracy, and you are not allowed to make a judgment call on your own. Your actions were careless and reckless. You placed innocent people in danger. HEALERS ARE NOT TRAINED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES!"
"Master," Michael tried.
"Hold your tongue! The three of you should be tossed out of the Academy. In fact, I should place a reprimand on your personal records to make certain you can't ever have an important job to screw up again!"
Harry flinched as December blew up a bit more with each word. "What were the three of you thinking?"
"Master," Noel began.
"I told you to hold your tongue," December said viciously.
"The three of you are on a three week suspension. This is your last screw up, and I do mean last. Next time the three of you decide to go jolly vaunting off on your own little adventure, don't. This isn't Hogwarts any more gentlemen, I suggest the three of you grow-up and learn to actually accept responsibility. If you can't obey simple orders, then perhaps you're in the wrong profession."
"Yes, Master O'Riley," Michael and Harry both muttered.
December then reared on Susan. "As for you, while your actions and loyalty are noble, they aren't appreciated and were destructive. Two weeks suspension."
Susan trembled as tears built in her eyes, but she nodded without objection.
December shook her head. "The three of you go assist the Healers with repairing the tent. Noel, I need a word with you."
Noel stood motionless as her aunt glared at her with suspicion. Harry, Michael, and Susan quickly rushed off to help the healer, and only Harry glanced back to make certain Noel was going to be all right.
"Is there something you wish to discuss with me Master O'Riley?" Noel asked flatly, hiding all traces of emotion from her face.
December motioned for her to follow her out of earshot of anyone and then reared on her. "How much do you know about potion making?"
If Noel flinched at the question, she did not outwardly show it. Instead, she merely raised one eyebrow and responded with a cool tone. "Just what I have been
taught."
"Binding potions?" December asked.
Noel shrugged. "I've learned the complex equations to many potions since the beginning of my magical education."
December sighed loudly. "I have reason to believe that you are responsible for the attack that occurred on Harry Potter at the Academy."
"Reason to believe, but no evidence," Noel countered.
December narrowed her eyes. "I will find evidence. I've never been wrong, and I certainly am not wrong about this. Why, Noel? Why did you give Potter a binding potion and then try to cover it up?"
Noel's expression did not change. "Answering that question would be confessing I did such an act."
"What are you hiding?" December asked slowly, as the leaks in Noel's mind poured out her guilt.
Noel grinned. "Many secrets, but none I wish to reveal to you."
"I should have your training terminated for your subordination, but I'm not. Are you infatuated with Potter?" December continued in a somber tone. "It's alright if you are, there isn't anything to be ashamed of."
Noel couldn't help but laugh. "That is what you think I'm hiding? A mere crush?"
"Is it deeper than that?" December asked, as she desperately tried to crack her niece's mind. She stared deep into her eyes, but saw nothing.
"Much."
"I can't help you unless you allow me to," December pleaded. "I want to be there for you. I know I haven't always been the aunt I should have been, and I know that you and I disagree on a great many things..."
"Your motherly comments are appreciated, but are unnecessary Aunt December," Noel responded with a sarcastic tone.
"Four weeks," December handed down, "You're suspended for four weeks from your training, and unless you can give me a reason not to, I'm opening an official investigation about Potter's accident and naming you as the main suspect."
Noel's face changed briefly before she replied, "What do you want me to say? That I did it? That I gave Potter that binding potion because I fancied him? Well, I didn't, not for that reason."
"What reason?" December pushed.
"Potter is an idiot, he took the potion by accident. I was conducting an experiment to see if I could use a binding potion in interrogation, it was a potion's project Susan and I were working on. Potter stumbled across it, and felt a bit thirsty I suppose. Ask Susan, she'll tell you the reason I was working on the potion, she was assisting me," Noel said shaking her head. "I never meant for the potion to be used on Potter. After he took it, there was nothing I could do."
"So why did you leave him in the room?" December questioned.
Noel closed her eyes. "I thought he just needed to sleep it off. I stayed with him for awhile, and then I thought it would be safe to leave, the effects of the potion were only suppose to last an hour."
"Why didn't you come to me with this?" December continued.
Noel bit her lip. "You wouldn't have understood; you wouldn't have believed me."
December frowned at her niece's words and gazed upon her face that reminded her so much of her brother.
"I'm extremely disappointed in you. From now on, all your potions are to be strictly monitored. Binding potions are forbidden, even for use in interrogative procedures. If you would have asked before deciding to make it, you would have known."
December glanced back at the young Aurors helping with the mess. "Can I trust you with Potter?"
"Of course, I don't fancy him if that is what you're implying," Noel spat.
December nodded. "I'm going to overlook this, but I have my eye on you. So help me, if you attempt to pull a stunt like this again, I will not be willing to overlook it again, and you will have to live with the consequences."
Padma's desk was small, but then so was her office in the lower levels of the Ministry of Magic. She adjusted her papers and rattled her nails across her desk. It was her first official day on the job, and she had nothing to do.
She wasn't technically supposed to start until after the first of the year, but due to an attack of some sort, she had been called into work early. She never would have thought she could have been an Unspeakable, but here she was. All the others who worked in her department were off scampering around, trying to solve unsolvable mysteries.
Mr. Haggifield, an Unspeakable with large round spectacle and a pointed hooked nose, was muttering something about Brain Tentacles being used as a defensive measure if Dementors attacked the Ministry.
Padma shook her head as she recalled the comment, "What in Merlin's name were Brain Tentacles?"
It wasn't the first odd thing she had heard that day, but it was the one that stood out the most in her mind.
She herself was going to work on prophecy
deciphering; something she thought was more suited to Parvati's skills than her own. There was a whole room with rows upon rows of prophecy eggs. She was the only one besides the people directly mentioned in the prophecy who was allowed to hear them. Once the meaning of the prophecy was, it was sealed up, so there were many she could not even listen to.
When she had told Neville about her new position, he had seemed rather strange about it. He had specifically used the word 'egg' like he had seen, maybe even knew, what a prophecy was like. Padma brought her quill up her mouth and began to chew on its end. Her wheels were turning as she allowed her Ravenclaw mind work.
"Miss Patil, have you seen the election owls? They were supposed to arrive today so be prepared," said an older witch, whose name Padma didn't remember.
Padma shrugged, "I haven't seen them."
"It's a conspiracy, somebody had taken the owls," the old woman ranted.
"Perhaps they just haven't arrived yet," Padma suggested.
The old Unspeakable shook her head. "Minute owls, deary, minute owls."
Padma bit her lip with uncertainty as the woman began to madly flap her wing. "I bet the vampires have attacked the sweet little birds."
"Vampires don't attack owls," Padma said quickly.
"Don't? Or haven't before? There is always a first time. What better way of sabotaging the elections? First a distraction in China to lure our defenses away and now attack our voting system..."
Padma sighed. "Should I come find you if the owls arrive?"
"The owls won't arrive, they're dead, child, DEAD!" the old woman hissed. "I bet they'll murder the Minster next, probably heading towards the Ministry now that they've killed the owls."
"What are you talking about?" Padma snapped with frustration.
"Don't wander out, we're quite well protected in our underground burrow. Safe and tucked in-- they can't break our codes, we've worked them out to a science. Dumbledore himself couldn't get past our gates."
"Gates?" Padma asked.
"Yes, deary, the maze you have to crack before you can get into our department. You just know the shortcut."
Padma glanced back at her door and then made a split second decision as the old woman began mumbling and rocking forwards and back again.
"I have some paperwork I need to take upstairs," Padma said, as she excused herself.
The old woman's eyes glazed over, and she pulled a clove of garlic from her robe. "Take this. If one of them bats attack, peg them in the head."
Padma's feet carried her quickly out of the Department of Mysteries and into the lifter and up several floors. What did the Department of Mysteries do to people? Perhaps Neville knew something about the department that she didn't.
"Miss Patil, how are you doing this evening?" asked a friendly voice, as she arrived on the floor with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
"Mr. Weasley," Padma said, as she shook her head. "I'm looking for someone who might be able to help me locate the election owls."
"Have they not arrived yet in the Department of Mysteries?" Arthur asked.
Padma shook her head. "Ms.?"
"Tillmore?" Mr. Weasley offered.
"Yes, Ms. Tillmore was thinking something may have happened to them," Padma confirmed.
"I haven't heard of any attacks, but I'm not a Auror or Law Enforcement agent. I'm simply deal with the misuse of Muggle artifacts," Mr. Weasley explained.
Padma glanced around the room. "Is everyone still at the attack in China?"
Mr. Weasley nodded. "Last I heard, but I think they're getting everything under control."
"Is it usual for us to rush off to help a neighbor like this?" Padma asked. "You don't think it's a diversion or something?"
"I wouldn't worry. Ms. Tillmore is full of crazy ideas sometimes. I'm sure the owls will arrive shortly," Mr. Weasley assured.
Padma forced a smile. "Do you think it would be alright if I went to ask the Minister if he has heard about the owls?"
Mr. Weasley nodded politely. "I'll come with if you'd like, since I don't believe you've had the pleasures of being introduced to Minister Fudge."
Padma followed Mr. Weasley to Minister Fudge's office with a comfortable feeling. There was a peace at knowing that Ms. Tillmore was a loony. It made the whole conversation with her seem irrelevant and pointless.
"Now, Minister Fudge can be a bit impatient, so don't take anything he says personally," Mr. Weasley said calmly.
Padma was about to respond, but Arthur Weasley was knocking at the Minster's door.
"Minister?" Arthur called out, as he rapped a bit louder.
Padma glanced at Arthur's reaction, and her hand immediately lingered near her wand.
"That's odd, I know he's here," Arthur said with a confused expression. He seemed to be contemplating his next move as he slowly reached for the door handle and twisted it open.
"Minister?"
Padma's hands flew to her face as Arthur quickly pulled out his wand. The creature inside hissed loudly flashing his bloody teeth. Arthur threw a spell, but he wasn't quick enough. The creature was gone, and in his place was a flying bat. Padma ducked her head as the bat flew out past them and then out a window.
"Cornelius?" Arthur cried, as he raced to the fallen
Minister's side. "Cornelius, can you hear me?"
The Minister's eyes flickered open, then rolled back again.
"Go get a Healer," Arthur barked. "The Minister has been attacked."
Padma stood frozen for a moment as Ms. Tillmore's words flooded back into her mind. She shook head, collecting herself, and then apparated to St. Mungo's.
NEXT UPDATE 10-10-04