The End
Chapter 21: Breathe
Harry, Ginny, Neve, Ron, Hermione, and Aurora sat in the Gryffindor common room in total silence. None of them had been able to sleep and just decided to stay up for the rest of the night.
"You know, we should be sleeping. We still have to get up for training," Ginny said subconsciously. She was just thinking out loud. Harry sighed.
"It's kind of hard. Ava's mind hasn't been bound yet. What if something happens while we're asleep?" Harry asked, looking down at Ginny. Ginny shifted under his arm and looked over at Ron.
"I don't know about you all, but I'm not too keen on the idea of Hermione standing over me with a knife," he said. Harry nodded. Hermione sighed. The clock struck three in the morning. Aurora and Neve stood up.
"Well, we are going to get dressed. See you on the pitch," Aurora said. The rest of them nodded.
Outside, Aiko and Ferris stood waiting. Aiko was tapping her foot as she watched the group walk sluggishly up to the pitch. Cye and Darien were sitting on the ground. When they all lined up, they sat and looked at Aiko expectantly.
"Why do you six look like total shit?" Aiko asked, looking at Harry, Ginny, Aurora, Neve, Hermione, and Ron. Ron sighed deeply and shook his head. Ginny was the one who spoke up.
"Well, this might sound a bit strange, but, Aurora and Hermione were about to murder Ron and Harry. It is a long story," Ginny said. Aiko and Ferris looked at each other with questionable looks.
"Humor us," Ferris asked. Harry sighed.
"Ava was controlling Hermione and Aurora. Earlier, those two were seeing things that we weren't. Then, Ava tried to get them to kill us using her Telepathy mind-controlling powers," Harry said.
"Wow. That seems a little out of place. How was Ava controlling you while she is under that spell?" Aiko asked.
"The person who has Ava under that spell is obviously a Death Eater. While Ava is in their control, so are her powers of Telepathy. They can make her do anything they want. We're supposed to put a bind on her mind today. Fionnula is going to show Aurora how to do it," Ron said. Aiko nodded and looked at Aurora. Aurora looked as if she was about to pass out from sheer exhaustion. She immediately felt the girl's pain.
"Aurora, are you okay?" Cye asked. Aurora looked lazily at her.
"Yes. Just fine. I'm a little tired..." Aurora yawned. She was using Draco for support. Cye nodded and stood up, dusting herself off. Darien followed suit.
"Maybe, just this once, we could forego training. You six look as if you'll pass out on us at any moment. I admire you determination on getting out here in a timely fashion. Consider this a gift. You may go back to sleep until you need to get up for your classes," Darien said. The group brightened up considerably.
"Thanks, you guys. Tomorrow we'll be better rested. We promise," Harry said. Darien nodded. They all headed back to the school.
After their last class, Dueling and Defense Against the Dark Arts, Fionnula called Aurora to her office. Aurora looked back at Draco.
"I will meet you at dinner," she said. Draco nodded and walked out of the room with the rest of the group. Aurora went up the stairs to Fionnula's office. Fionnula was looking through her bookcase. She ran her fingers over the spines of the books. She stopped on a thick orange book. At least it looked like it used to be old. Age had taken its toll on the book. It was more of a dusty brown. It read "SPELLS AND CURSES OF THE MIND."
"Have a seat, Aurora," Fionnula said. She sat behind her desk. Aurora sat across from her slowly. She was still staring at the book. Fionnula opened it. She flipped to a page. The title read "BINDINGS." She started reading it. Aurora craned her neck to try and see the words. "I trust you know why have called you in here." Aurora nodded.
"Yes, Professor Shamus," Aurora said. Fionnula looked at her smiled slightly. Aurora blinked. She'd never seen Fionnula smile before.
"You can still call me 'Fionnula,' Aurora. I don't particularly like being called 'Professor.' It makes me sound old. I'm surprised you even remembered I was married. Well, back on subject. You are here to learn how to un-bind Ava's mind. I will be doing the initial binding. The binding requires an immense amount of power. Ava is one of the strongest Telepaths in the world. In order to un-bind her mind, you need to be temporarily stronger than her," Fionnula said the last sentence slowly. Aurora's eye widened.
"I cannot do that. She is ten times stronger than I am. I can't possibly..." Aurora began. She stopped when Fionnula put her hand up.
"I am very well aware of your abilities, Aurora. I DID train you in the beginning, did I not? There is a way that you can become temporarily stronger than Ava," Fionnula said. Aurora narrowed her eyes. Somehow, she knew exactly what Fionnula was suggesting.
"I have to draw power from..."
"Exactly. You have to utilize your power of being Harry's opposite. Harry has basically the same amount of power as you. The problem is that he doesn't train hard enough to use it. I think he sees it as useless. All you need is to draw power from him. He will feel it, but it won't do any lasting damage to him," Fionnula replied. Aurora nodded.
"Well, now that we have gotten the basics out of the way, let's get the basics out of the way. When I bind Ava, I will be basically making her forget that she even has this power. She will realize what I am doing even if she is in that lifeless state. She can hear, feel, see, and smell everything going on around her. As you've probably already been told, she cannot react to anything."
"You will make her forget? How?"
"By entering her mind and drawing those specific memories away from her. It is rather simple. I will transfer these memories to you and you will be the one to put them back. The initial binding doesn't require much power. The reason you are the one to un-bind her is because you have the POTENTIAL to be more powerful than me. That power has just not been unlocked because you are holding back for some reason. No matter. We will release that soon enough. For now, you need to watch me." Fionnula took one last look at the book. She closed it as she stood and put it back in its place. "Follow me," she said. Aurora stood and nodded. Fionnula led her to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was removing a thing tube from Ava's throat.
"You are here to do the Binding, I presume?" she asked without looking at Fionnula.
"I am."
"If you do not mind me asking, what were you just doing?" Aurora asked. Madam Pomfrey turned and looked at her.
"I was feeding her. Because she cannot move, the only way to feed her is by a Muggle practice. You use a tube and put it down her throat. I just feed her by pouring a liquidated mixture of all the necessary things in order to keep her alive and from losing weight. When she comes out of that state, she will have a rather sore throat, but nothing that I cannot cure. Well, get on with it. If you need me, I will be in the front," Madam Pomfrey said. Fionnula nodded.
Aurora looked down at her friend. Ava's eyes were still a white-less black. She seemed to be just staring up at nothing. Aurora cringed when she thought of what Ava must be feeling at the moment. To be able to hear and see everything but not respond in any way would make Aurora go crazy. Fionnula walked up beside Ava.
"Watch me, Aurora. Watch very closely." Fionnula placed her hand on Ava's forehead. She closed her eyes. Aurora blinked as Ava closed her eyes also. "Leghi la mente," Fionnula whispered. A yellow light shone beneath Fionnula's hand. Suddenly, it was over as soon as it started. Fionnula opened her eyes and removed her hand. Ava's eyes popped back open.
"It is that simple?" Aurora asked. Fionnula nodded slowly, still looking down at Ava. She turned to face Aurora.
"I forgot to mention something. Reviving her memories will be painful."
"How painful?" Aurora asked, narrowing her eyes. Fionnula smirked.
"Let's just say that you, Harry, and Ava will be very, very unpleasant after you undo the binding. Instead of saying 'leghi,' you will say 'sciolga.' Are we clear?"
"Yes."
"Good. You may go to find your friends now," Fionnula said. Aurora nodded. She took one last look at Ava, then headed out of the hospital wing.
Jada opened her eyes. Steam was practically coming out of her ears. She growled something illegible. Nicola and Bellatrix smirked. Jada shot them evil looks, then turned to glare at Voldemort. Voldemort felt her eyes on him and raised his head to look at her.
"What is it, Jada?" he asked, sighing. Jada stood up from her seat.
"They've binded her. I can no longer use her Telepathy against them. What do you plan to do now?" Jada asked. Nicola stopped filing her nails and looked over at Voldemort.
"Yes. I would just love to hear your next plan of action, tom. This ought to be interesting," she said happily. Voldemort looked at her evilly. Then, an idea came to mind. He looked around the floor for one of the serpents who resided in his house.
"Nagini or Nyoka. Come to me," he said in Parseltongue. Nicola frowned. Unfortunately, she had not gained this gift like her sister. Giovanna was sitting across the room, looking very tired and sullen. Nyoka was curled up around her feet. The giant serpent looked up at her name. It slithered over to Voldemort. Nagini met Nyoka there. "I did not expect both of you to come. No matter. The more the merrier," he said. The snakes nodded. Giovanna stood up and walked over to Voldemort's chair.
"What are you planning to do, Tom?" she asked. Voldemort realized that she didn't want everyone else to know what this exchange was about. He smirked wickedly.
"I cannot keep having that Weasley brat interfere with my plans. So, she must be TAKEN out."
"You're going to kill her?"
"Yes."
"Tom, that's just cruel. Why do you need to kill her? Can't you just maim her?" Giovanna asked. Voldemort looked thoughtful for a moment, then shook his head.
"No," he said simply. Giovanna crossed her arms. Voldemort smiled wryly. He looked down at Nyoka. "Nyoka, go and find the Weasley. Kill her," Voldemort said. Nyoka nodded its head and began to slink out. Giovanna glared after it.
"I'm going with Nyoka. She needs to get there somehow within the next few days," Giovanna said. Voldemort nodded. He knew very well what Giovanna was going to do. It was the exact reason he did not change his mind. Giovanna planned on twisting Nyoka's orders.
"Have fun," he said. Giovanna glared at him. She started to walk out. When she got to the door, she looked back at Voldemort. His snakelike eyes just stared at her sternly. She could read his every look, but this one was foreign to her. She turned her gaze on Chaylse and Nicola.
"You two come with me," she said. Nicola stood up. Chaylse looked over at Consuelo. He nodded and Chaylse stood. She followed Giovanna and Nicola out.
Three days later, the group sat outside. Harry and Draco were going at it yet again. Neither would ever admit it, but they really liked sparring with each other and they both held a great respect for the other in terms of their ability. Ginny and Aurora watched them.
"They never get tired of blasting each other senseless., do they?" Aurora asked, sighing. Ginny shook her head. Her head was buried in a book. She was studying for a test in Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall had become next to impossible to impress with the answers to the essay questions on her almost impractical tests. She felt a presence coming closer to them. One she'd only felt once at the beginning of the school year. She looked over in the direction of the lake.
Neve and Tommy plopped down next to them. Neve was eating a piece of apple pie. Tommy was eating a petit cake.
"What's going on?" she asked. Aurora nodded towards Harry and Draco. Neve immediately understood. Draco looked over at Tommy and got a splendid idea.
"Hey, Zaviera! Why don't you come and join me? Potter's not proving to be a REAL challenge anyway," Draco said. Harry glared at Draco. Draco looked at him and winked slowly. Harry immediately understood and backed down.
"I'm starting to get a little tired. I don't know where Malfoy gets all this bloody power," Harry said, lowering his wand. Draco nodded happily. Tommy looked at Neve. She nodded.
"Go show that prick what you're made of, Tommy," she said, kissing his cheek. Aurora glowered at her sister. Neve just smiled innocently.
"Draco is NOT a prick, Neveah," she said.
"Yeah, whatever," Neve said, taking another piece of her pie. Aurora continued to frown at her, then turned her attention to Harry. He was sauntering happily over to The group. Tommy cleaned his hands and stood up. He pulled his wand and walked over to face Draco.
"Somehow, I think this fight is going to turn sour and it is going to do it pretty fast," Aurora said, watching worriedly. Harry shook his head.
"It is plain to see that they both can't stand each other."
"How do you know?" Neve asked. Harry shrugged.
"Look at their faces. Draco and I used to look at each other exactly like that. That was before sixth year, though. Now, we look at each other with a certain amount of mutual respect. I guess you could call it friendship in a weird sort of way," Harry said, relaxing next to Ginny. She was still staring toward the lake. "Something wrong, Gin?"
"I just feel a powerful presence approaching us."
"I'm sure it is probably just a teacher or someone," Harry said. Ginny nodded in agreement and went back to studying.
Draco and Tommy stared at each other malevolently.
"Ready?" Tommy asked. Draco nodded and got on his guard. Before a curse could be muttered, a voice was heard across the lawn.
"What exactly do you think you are doing, Tomás?" the voice said. Tommy flinched when he realized whose voice it was. He turned around and saw his mother standing there. She was carrying a large bag and she did not look happy. She stalked up to her son. "Well? Explain yourself," she said. Tommy lowered his head.
"I was just about to duel," he said quietly. Draco was snickering to himself quietly. Giovanna shot him a devilish look. Draco pretended to be coughing.
"I think not. Shouldn't you be studying or something?" she asked. Tommy nodded.
"What are you doing here?"
"Dumbledore sent me an owl about your twin. I came to see her. I'll only be here for today. I'm glad I came, too; to catch you about to duel outside of class. You both should be ashamed of yourselves. Come along, Tomás," Giovanna said. Tommy nodded and followed his mother inside the school. Neve got up and went with them. The others watched him go.
"Wow. She's pretty strict," Aurora said. They all nodded in agreement. Draco walked over to them, looking disappointed.
"Damn it! I really wanted to light his sorry arse on fire," he said. Aurora kicked him in the shins.
"Oh, do shut up, Draco," she said. She looked back off in the direction that Giovanna, Tommy, and Neve had walked off into.
"The funny thing about it is that Tommy doesn't resemble his mother at all," Ginny said. Harry nodded.
"Not one little bit. He does have a rather familiar face, though. Just can't place where I've seen it before," Harry said. Aurora almost said something, but stopped herself.
Inside the hospital wing, Giovanna looked down at her daughter. She seemed to be at rest. She touched her forehead. Ava's skin was cold as ice.
"This is all my fault," Giovanna whispered, barely audible. Tommy said nothing. "I'm so sorry, Avarielle. I hope you can forgive me," Giovanna continued. She stood up straight and looked at her son. "I'll be leaving tomorrow. If there is anything you need, send an owl here." She gave Tommy a small piece of parchment. Tommy nodded. Giovanna kissed her daughter's forehead, then kissed Tommy's cheek.
They walked outside the wing and saw Neve standing there.
"Hello. You must be Neveah. Tomás has told me so much about you," Giovanna said to Neve. Neve smiled.
"I hope they were all good things," she said, laughing.
"Yes, they were. You're prettier in person. The picture that Tommy gave me doesn't do you any justice whatsoever," Giovanna said. Neve blushed a little and looked at Tommy. He was looking off into space. Giovanna looked at her pocket watch. "Well, I've got to be going. Tomás, I will see you later," she said. With that, she was off.
"Your mother is nice," Neve said. Tommy nodded.
"Yeah. I guess I should be happy that she likes you," Tommy said. Neve looked at him with high regard.
"She thinks I am beeau-tee-ful," she said happily. Tommy rolled his eyes.
When Giovanna got outside of the school, she looked around. Making sure that no one was watching she opened the large bag she was carrying. Nyoka slithered out and looked up at her mistress.
"Remember what I told you, Nyoka. Do not disappoint me," Giovanna said. Nyoka nodded its head and slithered off to find her prey.
Later that day, Tommy sat, looking down at Ava. Sighing, he got up. Neve sat next to him, dozing. She stirred as he stood. Tommy looked down at her, and then towards Ava. He grabbed her by the shoulders. He no longer cared what his father thought or ordered him to do. He could not watch his sister suffer any longer. He could only imagine what she was thinking or feeling at the moment.
"Ava, breathe," he said quietly. Ava did not flinch. He shook her hard. "Ava, breathe," he said a little louder. Ava still did not move. Neve's eyes fluttered open. She looked at Tommy. He was shaking his sister.
"Tommy, what the hell are you doing?" she asked, standing up. Tommy did not seem to hear her. He continued shaking Ava. Neve started to look worried.
"Ava, breathe!" he yelled. Ava still did not respond. Neve looked at Ava. He noticed her eyes were starting to change color. The deep black they once were was now a dark gray. "Ava, fight it! Breathe! Damn it, breathe!" Tommy continued to shake her and yell. Neve watched Ava. Her right hand flinched. Madam Pomfrey came around the curtain.
"Mr. Zaviera! Release her at once! She can't hear you!" she yelled at Tommy. She started to reach for him, but Neve stopped her.
"No. Wait a minute. I think he's actually getting through to her."
"Ava, fight it! You are stronger than this! Fight it!" Tommy continued yelling. The color of Ava's eyes was now a lighter shade of gray. Her hand flinched again. Tommy smiled a little, noticing it for the first time. Ava blinked.
"She blinked!" Neve said. Madam Pomfrey just watched in awe.
"Ava, breathe! Come on! Breathe!" he yelled. The color of Ava's eyes was now solid white. Suddenly, she began coughing violently. She closed her eyes. Blood started to come up with each cough. Tommy did not stop holding her. Ava continued to cough.
"I don't believe it," Madam Pomfrey whispered. Ava stopped coughing. She leaned against her brother for support. Tommy hugged her tightly, determined not to let her go.
"Ava?" he asked. Ava just seemed to be in her own little world. She was just staring at the bed. Neve kneeled down to look at her.
"Ava?" Neve said. Ava's eyes moved to her. She blinked.
"Neve..." she said, her voice scratchy. Neve smiled. Tommy let out a breath he had been holding. A tear ran down his right cheek. Ava coughed again, more blood coming up.
"How do you feel?" Neve asked. Ava sighed heavily, then realized that that was a very painful thing to do.
"My throat hurts. Why am I coughing up blood?" she asked.
"When you started breathing, you started coughing. In order to feed you, I had to use a tube. I couldn't let you go without eating. You would've gotten malnutrition. So, the tube was the only way. It probably scratched up your throat," Madam Pomfrey said in an almost trance-like state. Ava finally acknowledged her brother.
"Can we be alone for a moment?" Ava asked. Neve and Madam Pomfrey nodded.
"I will be back. I'm going to get the others," Neve said. Madam Pomfrey went off to find Dumbledore. Ava did not move, but just held her brother.
"Merci (Thank you)," Ava whispered almost indistinctly. Tommy's eyes widened. "Je sais que vous n'avez aucun choix dans que vous faites (I know you have no choice in what you are doing)," she said. Tommy squeezed his eyes shut.
"Je ne mérite rien de vous, Ava. C'est ma faute que vous étiez dans cette position. Comment êtes-vous revenus ? Dumbledore a dit que la seule voie pour vous pour revenir consiste en ce si la personne qui vous a mis sous cela l'a cassé (I don't deserve anything from you, Ava. It is my fault that you were in that position. How did you come back? Dumbledore said the only way for you to come back is if the person who put you under the spell broke it)."
"Je l'ai entendu. Je ne comprends pas comment il est arrivé, cependant Je pourrais entendre tout, mais il était normalement emmitouflé les sons. Quand je vous ai entendus m'appelant, au début, vous avez semblé très loin. Dans mon esprit, il a ressemblé je grimpais une montagne. Alors vous avez dit que j'étais plus fort que j'agissais. Cela m'a aidé beaucoup. Maintenant, ici je suis (I heard that. I don't understand how it happened, though. I could hear everything, but it was normally a muffled sounding thing. When I heard you calling me, at first, you sounded very far away. In my mind, it was like I was climbing a mountain. Then you said that I was stronger than what I doing. That helped me a lot. Now, here I am)," Ava said. Tommy nodded.
Outside, Neve almost slipped and fell as she came to a stop. Aurora looked at her with a questioning look.
"What is your problem?" Draco asked. Neve glared at him, then smiled.
"Ava's awake. Tommy broke the spell," she panted. Everyone just stared at her for a moment. Ginny was the first to respond.
"Seriously?"
"How did he do that?" Harry asked. Neve shrugged.
"He just started shaking her all violently and stuff. He yelled at her to breathe. Eventually, she did. Now, she's awake," Neve said. "Come see her," she said giddily. Everyone stood. Ginny felt something sting her ankle as she stood.
"Ow!" she yelled in pain. Harry looked at her. Ginny was examining her ankle.
"What's wrong?"
"It feels like something just bit me," Ginny said. Her sock was torn and two bite marks were there. Harry looked off into the grass and saw nothing. Ginny sighed. "I'm sure it was just an ant or something. Let's go," Ginny said. Harry nodded vaguely.
When they reached the hospital wing, Ava was sitting back in her bed, talking to Dumbledore. Ron, Hermione, Tommy, Rina, Lina, Neville, and Luna were already there. Ava finished just as the others entered. He smiled at the group.
"Well, your friends are here, Miss Zaviera. I will leave you all alone. Do not stay too long, though. Avarielle needs her rest." Dumbledore led Madam Pomfrey out. The woman left begrudgingly. All the questions came at once for Ava.
"What did it feel like?" Rina asked. Ava shook her head.
"In general, it felt terrible. I wanted to go crazy because I couldn't communicate with anyone. I heard you all, but it was a little muffled. I could see, but it was sort of blurry and I could feel you all touch me," Ava said.
"Did you feel them using your mind?"
"Yes, and I knew what I was doing. I felt terrible and I wanted to cry, but I couldn't." After answering countless questions, Ron pulled out Harry's camera.
"I think this calls for a picture," he said. Madam Pomfrey walked back over to them.
"All right. All of you, out now," she said.
"Just a moment. Could you take a picture of all of us together?" Ron asked. Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow, then agreed. She took the camera from Ron. They all gathered around Ava's bed.
"Ready? Say cheese," she said.
"CHEESE!" they all yelled. Madam Pomfrey snapped the picture. Little did they know that this was the last time they would all be seen together in one piece...
As Ginny and Harry walked out, Ginny's vision began blurring. She stopped walking. Harry looked at her.
"Ginny?"
"I feel sick, Harry. My head hurts. I feel weak." Ginny passed out cold on the ground.
"Oh no. MADAM POMFREY!" Harry yelled.