Dark Days Pass But Are Never Forgotten
by: LogicalRaven
Ouch, another month gone. I apologize for my lacking of updates here
lately, and rest assure that this story will be complete before July
16th. I'm really proud of this chapter. It was a joy to write and I
think I'm over that nasty case of writer's block. Hope you guys aren't
too disappointed, but it will be another couple weeks at least before I
can update again. I'll be officially leaving the country Sunday, and
won't be able to even write
a word for nearly a week.
If you want to be added to my mailing list for a e-mail of my next update: LogicalRaven (at) Reading J
Luna sat in the shadows as she looked across at the four Aurors in training. It wasn't a mission she was on. She was looking out for the most important person, herself. She wasn't a Ravenclaw for nothing. While most of her colleagues were too foolish to have a backup plan, she intended to prove why the sorting hat had placed her in Ravenclaw.
She saw Michael Corner grab Harry's hood and pull it over his head as the group laughed. All the group, except for one dark haired girl that lingered towards the back. Her face was in a scowled, but her eyes were trained on Harry, on Potter.
Luna smirked, could it be that simple, that obvious? Suddenly another figure caught Luna's eyes, also watching the group from the shadows. Luna quickly ducked her head and pulled herself further into the darkness. It wasn't something she had foreseen. Nobody else in her cause would have the gall to detour from the cause. Questioning was a crime punishable by death.
The weakness of a Ravenclaw was curiosity. While a plan to gain entry back into the wizarding world was her main ambition incase her side failed, a separate plan to earn her favor with her master was also something she greatly desired. If her traitorous act was discovered, this information of another traitor could spare her life.
She exhaled loudly and summoned what courage she had and moved slowly and closely to the wall where she would have a better view of her fellow spy.
"It can't be?" Luna whispered so softly, that she barely could even hear herself.
The figure wasn't nearly as clever or as cautious. His light hair was slightly visible from his profile. His stock, his build… she knew exactly who he was. Luna pressed herself flatly against the wall and held her breath in trepidation. If she were seen she would certainly be killed. Even if she could lie her way out of what her true intentions would, Draco would assume she was tailing him. Either was enough to earn her a date with the killing curse.
After a few moments passed, Luna turned her eyes back to her master's son, and watched his eyes. Who was he watching? Harry was now scuffling back with Michael as Susan Bones hollered out catcalls. The dark haired girl straggled further behind. Luna tuned her eyes back to Draco, and followed his line of sight. A smile spread across her face as the realization of the situation presented it self.
"Get off me, Harry," Michael said with a laugh.
Harry backed off, "Well, if you're afraid that I'm going to embarrass you around Susan."
"On the contrary," Susan laughed.
Noel rolled her eyes; "We aren't here to play around."
"Lighten up, O'Riley," Michael said bitterly, "it isn't like we're on a serious mission."
"I take every mission seriously," Noel said snobbishly.
"Michael's right, we're getting trap fly powder for Master Wallace," Susan interjected as she tried to keep the peace.
Michael looked like he wanted to add something to his retort, but Harry jumped in.
"Noel is right, we're Aurors—we should be setting a better example."
Michael gave Harry a disgusted look, but refrained from speaking his mind. The four entered into the small dusty shop as began to peruse the shelves. Noel was the one who found the ingredient and slowly made her way to the counter.
"Becoming quite fond of Noel, aren't you mate?" Michael said in slightly more than a whisper as Harry continued looking through the vials of ingredients on the bottom shelf.
"She had a fair point," Harry commented, not looking up from his task.
Michael let out a disgruntled noise and started to turn.
"What is your problem?" Harry said sharply, feeling that familiar sensation of anger.
"You," Michael hissed.
"Me?" Harry said confused.
"Yes, you—you use to hate her? Now, you agree with everything she says," Michael continued.
Harry narrowed his eyes; "What am I suppose to do? The damn Academy insists she be my partner on every mission. Do you have any clue how difficult it is keeping a partner you can't keep peace with?"
"What a load, Potter. I'm not dumb, I'm not blind!" Michael spat acidly.
"Apparently you must be, because you aren't making much sense," Harry retorted.
Michael gritted his teeth; "You really think highly of yourself, and we're just suppose to suck it up and deal with your attitude. You two really are perfect for each other."
"What are you on about? Are you jealous, because that is just ridiculous," Harry snapped, "I thought you were over Noel?"
"It has nothing to with my feelings, or past feeling for Noel… it's about loyalty," Michael ranted, his voice rising slightly, "it has everything to do with what you feel you're entitled to."
"Entitled to?" Harry said looking stunned.
"First Ginny, then Cho," Michael continued, "What, do you plan on stealing every girl I show interest in?"
"Have you completely lost it? Did Master Blackfoot hit you over the head too hard with a hex?"
Michael growled, "I knew you'd deny it."
"Deny what?" Harry insisted, growing impatient with this pointless word game.
"That you're falling for Noel," Michael said in a vicious whisper.
Harry didn't know whether he felt like laughing or cursing.
"Admit it," Michael demanded, "Do you have any idea the humiliation she has caused me? I humiliated myself by asking her out. If only my last time would have been Potter."
"I'm not falling for Noel," Harry said firmly, "I'm marrying Cho."
"You're going to break Cho into a million pieces," Michael continued.
"I don't have time for this," Harry said bitterly rising from his crouched position.
"She's in love with you!' Michael said loudly enough to catch Susan's attention.
"That's her problem," Harry bite back.
Michael clinched his fist; "Do you care about anybody but yourself?"
"Apparently, I don't," Harry said quickly trying to control his temper, "Apparently I'm just a wanker who likes to steal your girls."
"Screw you, Potter," Michael hissed.
"What, is that what this fling with Bones is? Because she doesn't fancy me?" Harry berated, "don't forget she did agree to go out with me, so who is chasing whom girls?"
"Will you two stop it," Susan said sharply coming between the two friends.
Harry narrowed his eyes; "I'm not the one starting it. I don't know what his problem is."
"You're my problem!" Michael said loudly before storming out of the store.
Susan glanced at Harry then sighed; "He's been under a lot of stress lately."
Noel glanced over her shoulder at the mention of her name in time to see Harry and Michael at each other odds. She looked over at Susan for some explanation, but Susan was choosing to ignore the situation. Noel turned her attention back to the clerk who was taking her money to pay for the potion ingredient.
She quickly walked out the door with the purchase tucked tightly under her arm and took a seat on the corner of the porch. It seemed like only minutes later Michael stormed out past her in a fit of rage.
"Very professional, Corner," Noel bellowed after her.
"That's right, O'Riley, get your licks in," Michael hissed, "It isn't bad enough you've treated me like dirt and completely snubbed every attempted I made at getting to know you better. Run off after Potter. I guarantee Chang isn't going to let him go without a fight."
"Perhaps if you didn't whine so loudly, you'd find a girl and keep her. I'm sure Bones is getting rather annoyed with your juvenile behavior."
"You have a lot of gall," Michael said as he turned around and faced her, "Just who the hell do you think you are?"
Noel curled her lip as he rose from her seat; "That's enough. You're embarrassing yourself and drawing attention. You're an Auror, Corner, act like it."
If Michael rebuffed her accusation, she didn't hear it. She flipped her cloak in the wind and brushed past her fellow Auror trainee. She didn't have time for this foolishness. She wasn't sure what Corner was playing at, but it didn't matter. They were supposed to come straight to Diagon Alley and then back to the Academy. She had a training session with Eros Raymer that afternoon, and a practical training session with Potter that evening. The last thing she needed to concern herself with Corner's claim that she was in love with Potter.
Her knuckles involuntarily clenched as she thought about her mentor. He was a joke. She was better off not even having a mentor. She reached the Ministry of Magic in a quick apparation, and didn't let her feet slow until she reached the halls of the Academy.
The halls were crowded, but she paid the healer and auror trainees little mind. The new batch would be starting soon, and her group would no longer be the new recruits. They would soon be moving into the more comfortable dorms where they would have they own variety of port-keys to travel to and from the Academy at will.
Oh, how she longed for that day. Noel wasn't sure how much longer she could deal with this outlandish dramatics. She reached her dormitory and made her way inside. It was quite and it obvious that the other three were still wasting time in Diagon Alley.
Noel had barely had a chance to settle at her desk with the entrance opened and Terri Boot appeared.
"Where is everybody?" Terri asked as he threw his book satchel on his bed.
"Probably still bickering," Noel said with sass.
Terri shrugged, deciding not to push for more information. He'd ask Michael about it later for more accurate details.
"I have a message to deliver from your mentor," Terri started instead.
"Let me guess. The fool has decided to send you as a messenger to tell me he isn't going to meet with me today."
"Said Moody had a last minute assignment that was too dangerous to involve you in. Do you think it's another attack?" Terri asked.
Noel rolled her eyes; "Highly unlikely, Moody is too intelligent to send Eros on any mission of importance."
Terri crammed a cracker into her mouth and gave a quick stretch; "I've got to run. I have to cover the mid shift at St. Mungo's."
"The door's there, nobody is stopping you," Noel said curtly.
Terri looked taken back for a second then left speechless.
Noel grabbed her wand polishing cloth off her night table and cleaned a few fingerprints off her wand. She glanced around the room and decided not to waste the afternoon.
Noel glanced behind her as she entered into the practice room. She couldn't explain it but it felt almost as if someone where following her.
"Terry?" She called out?
When no sound followed she pushed open the training room door. The room was dark so she quickly lit a few candles and pulled a large dusty curtain open to bring in some diminishing sun light. Noel glanced around before walking to the large book case and extracting a large green book. She scanned a few pages before stopping at one that greatly detailed a logger head charm. She bit her lip in concentration as she pulled out her wand to begin to experiment with the appropriate motions. Suddenly the lights flickered out, though there was no breeze. Noel promptly rose to her feet, and scanned the room with a meticulous eye.
"Who's there?" Nobody answered.
There was still enough light to make out the shapes and forms in the room. Having no other choice she aimed her wand at one of the candles. A firm grip seized her shoulders and spun her around, and a pair of lips landed firmly on her lips.She froze for an instant as her mind raced with confusion, but rapidly she came to her sense and placed a rigid hand on her attackers chest, and shoved hard aiming her wand in the same motion.
"Ah, O'Riley, I though you'd be a better sport that that."
"You thought wrong," she hissed, as her heart pounded in her chest.
The figure was on the floor and his head cover just enough to conceal his identity. She could hear the smirk in his voice; "Would you have pushed me away if I had been Potter?"
"Malfoy," Noel said as the voice suddenly registered with her.
"How sentimental, our first intimate moment," Draco said in a tone that matched her own.Noel narrowed her eyes while keeping her wand motionless; "I could end your meager existence with a flick of my wand and nobody would question it."
"Ah, but what fun would that present for you?" Noel didn't move, and neither did Malfoy for an exaggerated eternity.
"Curious what happened to your mentor?" Malfoy finally taunted."If you think I'm gullible to believe you had something to do with him not being present at the moment…"
"A raid," Malfoy interrupted, "I had to make certain that we would have a moment to discuss my proposal. You carry a very busy schedule."
"I told you last time, the answer is no."
"Did you?" Malfoy questioned as he slowly made a motion to stand.
Noel threw her wand against his shoulder to warn him; "I didn't say you could move."
"Afraid you might like it if I kissed you again?" Malfoy teased as she rose in heed of her warning.
Noel backed up slowly; "How did you get in here?"
"You can thank the former Minister of Magic for supplying me with a port key, incase I needed to have a closer inspection of our training techniques."
"I can solve that problem," Noel said bitterly pulling her wand back slowly.
"Ah, so predictable," Draco dared as he rose to his feet and straighten his dark robes.
"Give me one reason, and I'll slay you where you stand," Noel warned, not moving her wand off him.
Draco sneered; "Like I said, predictable."
"Why all the trouble, what do you want to talk to me for. I'm not interested in marrying you and I'm surely not interested in any deals you wish you make with me."
"Curiosity killed the cat," Draco said lightly, "but not the snake. The bottom line is I always get what I want and I'm willing to bargain with you. Strike a deal you might say."
"Is that the way your kind works, arrangements?" Noel scowled, "I've already told you, I'm not interested in marriage. Regardless of any deal you would offer."
"What if I could promise fame, glory? What if I could guarantee that you would be the most famed and powerful Auror that ever lived? You could be revered and remembered?"
Noel twitched slightly; "Immortality isn't something I crave."
"But what you could do with that power? Destroy the half blood filth that had desecrated our race…"
Noel glanced at the door, determined not to look at Draco; "If you're discovered here by Potter, it won't be something to be looked upon fondly."
"Ah yes, Potter… I can't promise you his heart, but I can guarantee his life…his safety. I promise no harm will come to him if you entertain my proposal. However, there are stipulations. You will be his partner as an Auror, but he can never touch you. I am a very jealous man."
Noel sighed, "Do you honestly think that I would be allowed to remain an Auror carrying your traitorous name?"
Draco frowned, "The Malfoy name is strong, and you will clear my name. I will walk again in civilized society, and be respected."
"Then you aren't in touch with reality," Noel snapped.
"Bottom line, except my offer or Potter will die before the next full moon. You can either have everything, or nothing. It's your choice. You have my word as a wizard that Potter will not be touched until your answered is delivered as a measure of my good faith."
Draco made a motion to stroke Noel's face but she shoved the tip of her wand into his chest as a warning.
"Until our paths cross again…. Do not forget the power my causes possess. To not take my offer serious would prove to be a fatal mistake."
Noel drew a deep angry breath, but before she could decide what curse to throw, Malfoy was gone. The port-key had been on him the entire time.
"Damn it!" Noel swore loudly as she collapsed and allowed her head to fall into her hands.
"There is another traitor, I feel it Dumbledore…" Moody croaked as the two aging wizards moved around Dumbledore Manor in preparations for the Order meetings.
"Ah, Alastor… this situation is not as grave as before. It is obvious the mistakes that Lucius is making. He was not around during the time of Grindelwald, he does not know the price for using the Reverse Patronus."
"Dementors…" Moody barked, "They all become Dementors."
"Precisely, but that secret is well guarded. Very few are aware of that fate. I believe that Lucius has found Voldemort's memoirs. It is realistic that Tom researched the techniques that Grindelwald used and since the Reverse Patronus was the cause of Grindelwald's falling, he never used it. Instead he developed the killing curse to take its place.. It has become apparent that Lucius is not aware of the price of the curse is."
"Three times, and the caster is cursed to a life of searching for souls. Grindelwald kept his secret close so he could use it not only on his enemies but also on those he didn't trust within his ranks. It's a shame the Ministry employed the Dementors to guard Azkaban after Grindelwald's fall."
Dumbledore nodded; "Something I strongly protest, given the nature of the creatures."
"Still, what about the other power, the one that Grindelwald never truly was able to release? What if Lucius has discovered how to control time itself?" Moody said solemnly.
Dumbledore smiled slightly; "As far as official Auror reports, Lucius Malfoy is dead. His body was discovered."
"There are many ways to fake ones death, Dumbledore.," Moody pointed out.
"Precisely, meaning our first challenge is to convince the wizarding community that it is Lucius Malfoy behind this rising, and not Voldemort."
Moody shook his head; "Impossible, have you read the Prophet? They make it sound like Voldemort without a shadow of a doubt."
"Which is why I have asked Rita Skeeter to compose an article explaining why Voldemort must be dead," Dumbledore revealed.
Moody shook his head; "I always say if it isn't a mission you can do yourself that its predestined to fail. You can't trust that Skeeter woman, Dumbledore. She'll spin the news to her advantage."
"And what does she have to gain, Alastor?" Dumbledore asked.
"You're minister, Albus! You can issue a Ministry decree explaining that Voldemort is dead."
Dumbledore frowned, "You can lead a griffin to water, but can't force the creature to drink. No, I'm afraid the teacher appears when the student is ready. The truth must come slowly, it cannot be forced upon them."
"Hogwash!" Moody barked, "People want to be told, leave them to their own devices and they'll always make a muck of a situation. People believe what they read. The populous cannot be trusted to arrive at the correct truth."
Dumbledore waved off the comment; "I feel this rebellion is nearing its end. Young Master Malfoy is already deviating from his father's wishes."
"How do you know that?"
Dumbledore chuckled; "Contant vigilance. Also, I learned long ago to always have ears on the inside of every situation."
December smiled lightly as she watched Cho fiddling with paperwork on her desk. She let out a long sigh.
"Keeping busy?"
Cho nodded; "The paper work is murder itself."
December chuckled slightly; "So what are you trying to get off your mind?"
Cho let out a long breath; "Harry and I are going to visit my father this weekend. I'm not sure he'll behave."
"Your father or Harry?"
Cho shrugged; "Either, both…"
"I'm sure things will be fine. You're father knows you aren't a child anymore, and Harry has earned his respect," December said softly as she took a seat across her former student.
Cho frowned; "I just have this feeling. I can't really describe it. It is like something isn't right. Do you know what I mean?"
"You're stressed. Nothing bad is going to happen. You are going to get married, and live a long happy life with Harry by your side. The uprising is disappearing. Dumbledore hasn't called a full meeting of the Order in nearly a month. In a year everything will be forgotten and Harry will be remembered at the boy who destroyed you know who."
Cho shook her head with skepticism, "The world didn't become perfect and without fault the moment Dumbledore became minister."
"It was a win for our side," December said bluntly. "You haven't been in the circle the entire time, you have no idea how difficult Fudge made it on those who questioned him."
"But Fudge is gone, that doesn't mean the threat is. I fought them December. This wasn't a loosely organized rebellion."
December sighed, "We've lived in very dark times. Sometimes you have to try to look positively towards the future. I just want you and Harry to be happy."
"What about you? December, you haven't been happy in years. You haven't even showed interest in your personal life since I've known you."
"An Auror doesn't have time for a personal life," December said seriously.
"But you aren't an Auror any longer," Cho pointed out, "You deserve happiness too. Of could it be you know that I speak the truth and that the uprising is not contained and the worse is yet to come."
December forced a smile; "I don't have time for a personal life. Also, I never said the uprising was contained."
"What about Remus Lupin," Cho started.
"Remus and I had our time," December said sharply, "It's past."
Cho frowned; "Still it wouldn't hurt for you to get out a socialize more often. You're still a young woman. You certainly aren't dead yet."
Hermione sat on her bed flipping through old photos from Hogwarts.
Photos of Harry, photos of herself…photos of Ron. She hadn't gone into
work, and except for a few correspondence with Ginny Weasely, she had
no contact with the Wizarding World.
It wasn't a world she felt a part of any longer.
"Why don't you go out, you haven't been out in weeks," suggested Beatrice as she sat next to her older sister.
Hermione shook her head; "I'm really not in the humor to entertain."
"You haven't talk to any of your friends in weeks," Beatrice pointed out, "You can't keep hiding like this. Ron wouldn't have wanted you to."
"I've talked to Ginny," Hermione said sharply, "I received an owl from her just last week."
"And?" Beatrice pushed.
Hermione shook her head; "I don't belong in the wizarding world right now. This is a choice I've made."
"For selfish reason," Beatrice retorted.
"No, because its too dangerous for someone like me. I'm a muggle born, by staying in the Wizarding world, I put you and our entire family in danger," Hermione argued. "Do you think I want to give up my dreams? Do you think I want to go into hiding?"
"What about your friend Harry? Don't you think he'll need you?" Beatrice tried.
"Harry has Cho, he has his own life and he doesn't need me complicating."
"Do you realize what I'd give to be you? I would love to have magical abilities, and you're just going to throw them away and become…" Beatrice ranted.
Hermione narrowed her eyes; "Do you? You want to see people you love die? You want to be hunted just because your parents aren't magical? It doesn't matter how much talent I have, or how much I prove I'm a good as any other witch or wizard-- I'm still going to be treated different."
"If that is the cost, yes. I would kill to have a tenth of the talent you do. Do you know how hard it is growing up in your shadow? I'm the one treated differently, I'm the only who will never live up to mum and dad's expectations," Beatrice fired back.
"Is that what you think? You think mum and dad want you to be magical too?" Hermione laughed, "Well, you don't have a dead boyfriend killed by magic. None of you know how horrible magic can be."
"How can we? You've always told us how wonderful it was," Beatrice argued, "Now, one tragedy, and you want to turn your back on who you are."
Hermione suddenly felt her eyes well up tears as her emotional barrier broke.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," Beatrice apologized, pulling her sister into a hug.
Hermione sobbed; "He was the one, Beatrice. We were suppose to be together forever."
"Thing happen, regardless if you're a witch or a muggle. You can't stop terrible things from happening," Beatrice said softly.
Hermione took a deep breath; "I never told you the horrors in the wizarding world, little sister. I never told you about Voldemort and how he wants to kill all muggle borns and half bloods."
Beatrice look puzzled.
"They say he's back, but he's not. I saw him die, I saw Harry destroy him. It was suppose to be over, the war you see—but it isn't. It's never going to be over. As long as there are witches and wizards that hate people like me, I can never go back. I can never live a normal life as a witch. I was born a muggle and that is where I belong."
"But, you aren't a muggle either," Beatrice pointed out.
Update: Soon :(