First of I would like to say sorry, again. I never meant to take this long in updating. It's just that time slipped away from me and before a knew it, itwas the end of Dec. I am such a slacker! Oh well, enjoy
Second off, you guys really need to give a huge thank you to my new beta reader scrapsandstitches who got me this chapter in record time and did I great job doing it! Thank you so much! Now enjoy!
Chapter 24: Into the Lair of the Snake
" . . . wake up! Come on, Harry; please don't do this to me. Wake up!"
"Mmm . . . what?" Harry asked groggily, as the pounding in his head still outweighed the voice trying to gain his attention.
"That's it Harry, now open your eyes, " the same desperate voice continued to encourage.
"Mmm . . .Ginny?" Harry questioned as he finally found the strength to push aside the darkness from within his mind and pry open his heavy eyelids. Only to find that it wasn't Ginny trying to gain his attention.
"Lady Diane?" Harry asked looking up in confusion into the eyes of his anxious mentor who was hovering above him.
"Oh Harry!" Lady Diane cried launching herself bodily on top of Harry, engulfing him in a tight hug.
Harry, who was now fully awake, was quite alarmed at seeing his usual happy go lucky mentor desperately clinging to him and on the verge of tears. Thinking fast, Harry quickly sat up and gentle disentangled Lady Diane from him before firmly demanding, "What's wrong?"
"Oh Harry, I don't even know where to begin! I have so much I need to explain to you, but not enough time to do so," Lady Diane said in distress. "Though I guess the first thing I need to tell you is that your magic's gone, though I guess you've already realized that. No don't interrupt, I simply don't have time to explain that little problem to you right now."
"Excuse me? What in Merlin's name could possible be more important than me not having my magic ?" Harry incredulously cried, interrupting her ranting anyway.
"Well, maybe the little fact that it was your magic shutting down on you that saved your life in the first place," Lady Diane all but yelled as she furiously started to pace. " I mean, of all the stupid, idiotic things for Dumbledore and the Founders to force upon you! It's not like you don't have enough responsibility to deal with without them adding to your burden. Granted, they didn't know this was going to happen, but still. Ok, so technically speaking, if you hadn't been captured and taken to that lunatic who thinks he should rule the world then things wouldn't be looking so bad for you. However, the fact remains you did get captured and taken to the lunatic who thinks he should rule the world and now you're in even more trouble than if your magic would have just let the elements kill you. If I ever get my hands on Dumbledore he'd better watch out! Granted, I've already taken care of those idiotic founders, which I must admit gave me some satisfaction."
"Ok, Diane you really need to stop now," Harry cried, gripping his forehead in annoyance as a slight headache was forming from watching Diane pace so frantically. "Could you rewind back to the part where you said 'magic shutdown' and me being captured by a lunatic?"
"What?" Diane asked as she stopped her pacing to look at Harry in disarray, before the look suddenly turned sheepish. "Sorry, Harry; guess I got a little ahead of myself. I'm just so mad and frustrated I don't know whether to cry or scream right now."
"So I see," Harry smiled slightly despite the seriousness of the situation.
"Brat, this is no time to be laughing at me," Diane said, cuffing him lightly on the back of the head.
"Too right," Harry said, his face turning serious again. "So, what seems to be the problem with my magic?"
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but your little magical problem is going to have to wait until we deal with the more pressing matter of the lunatic. No, don't argue with me," Lady Diane said firmly, as Harry opened his mouth to do just that.
"All right," Harry said through clenched teeth while massaging his aching temples. "But could you at least specify which lunatic we're talking about here?"
"Just how many mad lunatics do you know, Harry?" Lady Diane asked rhetorically as her frantic pacing started again.
"You'd be surprised," Harry muttered under his breath. "Professor Dumbledore being among the top three. But since technically he wouldn't hurt me or have need to capture me, that would only leave two possibilities."
Lady Diane stopped pacing so abruptly and turned to stare at Harry with a look of such incredulity on her face that Harry couldn't help the defensive "What?" that escaped his mouth.
"I don't believe this," Lady Diane muttered more to herself then Harry, before once again giving Harry a look of disbelief, "You really don't remember?"
"Remember what?" Harry asked, utterly frustrated. "The last thing I remember was running for my life when we realized the backlash of magic was going to hit us. Then Nico asking me to mesmerize us out of there, which as you know I couldn't and then . . . . . Oh great Merlin above, Sirius! Where is he? Is he all right? That idiot was protecting me when the explosion happened. If anything happens to him . . ."
"Harry, wow, calm down," Lady Diane commanded, gripping Harry's shoulders tightly. "Harry, HARRY! Look at me. Good, now I want you to listen to me carefully: Sirius. is. fine. Yes, he took most of the blast, and yes, he was knocked unconscious, but that was all. In fact, he is awake right now in a panicked rage, pacing a dungeon cell demanding to know where they are keeping you. If you're going to worry about anyone, then do us all a favor and worry about yourself for once."
"So, Sirius is fine?" Harry asked, looking into Diane's eyes making sure he heard correctly.
"Yes, Sirius is fine," Lady Diane confirmed.
"Thank Merlin," Harry said, visibly relaxing, before immediately tensing up again as all of what Lady Diane had told him finally penetrated his thick head.
"What do mean Sirius is locked up in a cell?" Harry demanded, before all the events of the night suddenly hit him like a cascading waterfall. "Oh, no no no . . . please tell me I was hallucinating and that Sirius and I were not really captured by Voldemort's two whacked out followers?"
"Ok, I won't tell you, but just for the record books I would like to point out that that is exactly what I have been trying to tell you for the last five minutes," Lady Diane said, giving Harry a satisfied smirk. "And though I'm officially not allowed to tell you this, I think you know who the two whacko's, as you so nicely put it, are that captured you."
"Yeah, I have a pretty good idea," Harry sighed wearily. "Mind telling me how they've managed to survive? Or better yet, how they got hooked up with Voldemort?"
"I can't Harry. Besides from been strictly forbidden not to interfere, I simply don't have the time," Lady Diane replied sadly. "Technically speaking, I was only sent to retrieve you for a small amount of time and give you a gift that will help you survive the next couple of painful hours."
"Then I'm to take it that I'll be without my magic for awhile?" Harry asked despairingly.
"I'm afraid so," Lady Diane sighed. " And to be honest with you Harry, I don't know when or even if you'll be getting it back."
"What?!" Harry asked in alarm. "What do you mean 'if' I get it back?"
"Oh, Harry, this entire situation is so complicated and unperceivable that we honestly don't know how it's going to play out in the end," Lady Diane said miserably. "It just makes my blood boil knowing that all of this could have been avoided."
"But that fact is, it did happen," Harry said softly.
"Yes," Diane replied even more softly. "Yes, it did and now you must suffer the consequences for it."
"And just exactly what are those," Harry asked, not sure he really wanted to know.
"Probably nothing you really want to hear, but must nonetheless," Lady Diane said sadly, before bluntly coming out and stating, "Harry, your body is now rejecting all forms of magic."
Harry's eyes widened in disbelief as he managed to choke out one weak word, "What?"
"Oh, I think you heard and understood me quite clearly, my dear Harry," Lady Diane said gravely. "But just in case you didn't, let my put it another way. You are now completely allergic to magic. If your body comes in contact with spells, magical objects or magical beings, your body will literally reject them by means of pure physical pain. "
Harry blinked at Diane for several minutes before closing his eyes in weary contemplation.
After a minute of silence, Harry suddenly opened his eyes and asked, "If what you're saying is true, then won't I be in pain just being next to you? After all, aren't elves among the most powerful magical beings?"
"Well yes, that would be a correct assessment if you and I were currently on the living plane," Lady Diane acknowledged. "But since we are not on the living plane, physical properties simply don't apply to us."
"Living plane?" Harry choked out in horror. "Just what exactly did you do to me?"
"Oh, stop looking so horrified," Lady Diane scoffed. "I simply astral projected you here."
"Bull crap!" Harry exclaimed. "You just got finished telling me I didn't have my magic. So I ask again, how is it possible that you brought me here?"
"You never were one to just obey your elders and leave it at that, were you?" Lady Diane said disapprovingly.
Harry glared.
"Oh, all right. So I didn't exactly astral project you here," Lady Diane sighed in resignation.
"And what exactly did you do?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"I . . . well . . . I sort of . . . a . . . killed you and then pulled your spirit here," Lady Diane said, clearly a little nervous now.
Harry whose mouth had fallen open in absolute horror, quickly snapped it shut again and forced himself to take deep calming breaths before reopening it again and saying as calmly as he could through clench teeth, "Diane, I suggest you explain, before I lose what little patience I have left."
"And if you do? What could you possible to do to me? You have no magic." Lady Diane asked.
"You, Lady Diane would do good to remember that your husband did instruct me on how to fight without magic," Harry said smirkingly. "And right now I'm frankly not above hitting a Lady like you."
"Er . . . right," Lady Diane said before quickly launching into her explanation. "You see Harry earlier today while I was monitoring your magical progress, I noticed something seemed to be off. So I took a closer look and found that something was interfering with your magic at its core.
Worried, I asked the founders to take a look and they did, but even they couldn't identify what was causing it. So we decided to just watch and wait. Stupid yes, but what else could we do? It wasn't until later when your magic started to go haywire did we figure out what was causing the interference, only it was too late to do anything by then. In all honesty, Harry we really thought it was going to kill you. It was only extreme luck that caused your magic to realize there was a problem and shut down, thereby saving your life. And that leads us to the here and now; when you passed out I simply pulled your weakened spirit out of your body and brought it here, to the astral plane, and since,"
"The astral plane is a place for those lost souls who are stuck between life and death, not really sure if they should more forward or go back, you were able to bring me here," Harry finished in understanding. "A place for all lost souls, not just the magical."
"Exactly," Lady Diane said, smiling in relief that Harry understood. "So you see, you're not really dead. Just so long as I return you to your body within the allotted time."
"I see," Harry nodded thoughtfully. "I just have one question."
"Ok," Lady Diane said consulting her watch. "I think I have time for one."
"Good," Harry said. "Why hasn't Voldemort or the two twins realize they're carrying around a corpse?"
"Oh that's simple. The twins haven't informed Voldemort they have captured you yet and," Lady Diane said. "To anyone else it just appears that you are in a deep unconsciousness that their magic simply can't bring you out of."
"I see," Harry said, ginning. "Thanks for confirming that it was indeed the twins that took us."
"Why you little . . ." Diane said taking a swing at Harry, only to miss as Harry laughingly ducked.
"Jeez, relax Diane," Harry said. "It was just a simple little slip; besides I want to make sure I had at least one fact straight before you send me back to the snake."
"I sent that," Diane said indignantly.
"Oh, really. Then maybe I should tell you the facts, starting with the fact that you and the Founders have come to a conclusion of what has caused the interference with my powers, obviously something to do with the elements by what you said earlier, but are yet refusing to tell me what that something is?
"Very detective reasoning," Diane said nodding, impressed. "What else do you have?"
Harry raised his eyebrows and continued, "And even though you have this knowledge, that you won't share, you don't have the knowledge of fixing it."
"What makes you say that?" Diane asked.
"Jeez, I don't know? Maybe the fact you would have already told me how to get my magic back before sending me on my way," Harry answered sarcastically.
"Good point," Lady Diane said. "Anything else?"
Harry gave Diane a look that clearly said 'I really want all the answers,' before he finally sighed in defeat. "Diane, just promise me that you are going to eventually explain all this to me?"
"I promise Harry, as soon as you're a safe distance away from Voldemort, I will explain everything," Lady Diane promised. "But first we need to get you out of this big mess, preferably in one piece."
Sighing again, and really wanting to argue that if she wanted to get him out of there in one piece then telling him why his magic was suddenly gone was probably going to be her best bet. But seeing as how he had always trusted Diane's judgment and guidance, he didn't really want to start doubting her now. Sighing again he asked, "What do you need me to do?"
What Harry didn't expect was the tight hug Lady Diane suddenly wrapped him in while earnestly telling him "Thank you."
"Er . . . what for?" Harry asked a little embarrassed and confused.
"For still having trust in me," Lady Diane said, releasing Harry and holding him at arms length. "I know this isn't easy for you, especially since I won't give you all the answers, but here you are waiting for my instruction and still trusting in my guidance."
"Lady Diane, everyone makes mistakes, even you. Besides, if I stopped listening to your guidance I'd have to find myself a new mentor and I've already got you trained so well."
Lady Diane laughed, "Yes, I see your point."
"Good, but just in case you've forgotten, you haven't lead me astray yet. I mean, I'm still alive aren't I?" Harry asked before suddenly realizing what he had just said and chuckling softly.
"Well sort of alive," Harry amended. "So stop beating yourself up and tell me what I must do to survive, because if I do end up dying, there are going to be a lot of angry people after your blood."
"Jeez, thanks," Lady Diane said, grinning despite the comment, before pulling a crystal vial filled with sparkling white liquid from her pocket and presenting it to Harry in her outstretched hand. "Like I told you before, when I return you to your body it's going to react completely differently to magic. So instead of accepting it like it used to, it's going to be rejecting it by way of physical pain. The Cruciatus is going to feel like a picnic compared to what this is going to feel like."
"That was something I definitely could have gone without hearing," Harry groaned. "Besides, you've already told me this Diane. What I need to know is how to survive it."
"Well what do you suppose this vial's for?" Lady Diane asked.
"A potion to put me out of my misery?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Ha ha, real funny Harry," Diane said sourly. "No, this is a complicated potion that was brewed using all natural, smuggle plants. Thus, no magic used, no magic required for it to work."
"So what does it do?" Harry asked, eyeing the potion with curiosity.
"That's the neat thing," Diane said excitedly. "This potion will literally use your body's defenses to create a shield and place it within your body, thus not allowing the magic to get in. Of course, we're not entirely sure how long it's going to last, but it should give you at least a couple of good hours before wearing off. Which means before it does wear off, low grade curses and hexes won't be felt by you at all and as for the Cruciatus, it won't hurt nearly as bad as it usually does either. So I suggest getting your acting skills ready, because we don't want Voldemort getting suspicious, now do we? Oh, and another thing, the more magic that is used on or around you, the faster the potion will wear off. However, you will be able to feel this happening, as a dull ache will start in your head and then slowly start spreading throughout your entire body. Then, when all you feel is pain, you'll know the potion's worn off. Though we're really hoping the Order will have rescued you by then."
"Right," Harry said, swallowing hard and trying not to dwell on what was going to happen when the potion wore off. "Diane, not to burst your bubble, but really, a rescue in under two hours right after the disastrous events at that village? Seems a little too hopeful."
"All we can do is hope," Diane said, uncorking the vial and handing it to Harry. "But we can also rely on this potion for the next two hours."
Nodding in understanding, Harry took the offered vial without a word and downed it in one gulp before promptly gagging, "That has got to be the foulest tasting potion I have ever had."
"Yes I'm sure, as it was Slytherin that brewed it," Diane said off handedly.
"What?" Harry gasped. "You willingly allowed me to drink something that . . . that snake made?"
"Now, Harry, he may be a snake, but even I must admit he has a natural talent at potions. Actually, he even made a comment about your new potion discovery. It was a back handed complement, but a complement nevertheless. Oh, Harry, stop acting like a two year old, Rowena was with him the whole time."
"Hah! You just admitted you didn't even trust him to make the potion alone," Harry cried triumphantly.
"Of course not, especially after what you did to him the last time you saw him. But nevertheless, the fact still remains that we needed someone to make it fast, who was somewhat reliable and he was the only one available," Lady Diane said shrugging. "If you haven't dropped dead yet, I wouldn't worry too much about it."
"Jeez thanks, I feel so much better now," Harry said sarcastically. "Anything else I should know?"
"Let me think . . . oh, yeah this potion won't do anything for any physical torture they decide to inflict on you, so don't go thinking you're invincible or anything."
"Thanks for the warning," Harry said. "So when are you sending me back?"
"Now. I must send you back now," Lady Diane said suddenly and forcefully, pulling Harry into a tight hug. "Be strong Harry, you will make it through this."
Harry opened his mouth to reply only to find he didn't have the strength to, as his awareness was slowly slipping away from him and blackness enveloped him like a quilted blanket.
" . . . . . he's coming around. You know what needs to be done," Harry heard an unfamiliar female voice command. Harry heard retreating footsteps across a hardwood floor and the unmistakable sound of a door opening and softly closing.
Harry remained still and unmoving as he heightened his senses to try and figure out where he was. So starting with the softness he felt under him and the warmth bathing his face obviously coming from a nearby window, he knew he wasn't lying on a dungeon floor. Nor would Harry think that anyone would put hardwood floors down in a dungeon.
"I know you are awake. I can sense you my pet," Harry heard the same female voice announce coldly. "So why don't you do us both a favor and quit the act. I don't believe you'll like the consequences if you don't."
Harry who had been threatened more times in his life than he cared to count had never quite felt the chill of fear that went down his spine at the female's cold announcement. So, deciding it was not wise to play cat and mouse with this particular predator, he slowly opened his eyes, giving them plenty of time to adjust to the bright light before opening them fully.
"You are more than free to get up and stretch your legs my pet. I can assure you we haven't tied you down or anything," The female voice informed him once again.
Suspicious, but really needing to get up and stretch his aching body, Harry slowly and carefully sat up and true to her word, Harry could easily move without any trouble. Surprised, Harry immediately tried to locate his lady captor and after a quick sweep of the room he found her standing by the only window in the room, her back to him as she gazed out the open window. Therefore, the only features Harry could see of her was her long golden braid that hung down her back, her short pointy ears and the familiar black ninja outfit she still wore that Harry remembered from the city.
Harry continued to stare at her for awhile until he decided that she wasn't going to acknowledge him anymore and turned to check out the rest of his surroundings, which didn't turn out to be much.
He was in what appeared to be a bedroom, which really wasn't much bigger than the one he had at the Dursley's; the only differences being it was filled with ancient looking furniture that appeared to not have been dusted in over a century and a floor that was splintered and reeking terribly of molding wood. But worst of all had to be the white walls that were splattered with what Harry thought suspiciously looked like blood. Suddenly physically ill, Harry turned away and continued his search of the room, only to have his eyes come to rest on a closed door. A door that no one seemed to be guarding.
"Go ahead and try it. I dare you," The women's voice unexpectedly challenged, startling Harry out of his stupor.
"Try what?" Harry asked, turning his head towards the elf, only to find that she still had her back to him.
"There is no use in playing dumb with me, my pet. I know and see things others do not," came the women's cold, yet amused reply.
"I don't believe I understand what you're talking about," Harry said, his eyes unconsciously drifting back towards the door.
"Don't you?" The women chuckled softly. "Personally, I would love to see how far you could get. . . without the help of your magic."
Harry whipped around so fast that when his two green eyes unexpectedly met with two unseeing white ones, he couldn't stop the gasp of shock that escaped his lips.
"What's the matter my pet?" The Elf asked mockingly as she slowly approached him, sending chills of dread down Harry's spine. "Surprised at the fact that I know you have no magic? Or maybe it's because I knew you were thinking of escaping? Or maybe yet it's because you've never seen an elf quite as . . . unique as myself?"
Harry, who couldn't seem to tear his gaze away from the elf's unseeing white eyes didn't give an answer, but couldn't help but thinking she had been right, on all three accounts.
"I believe I asked you a question," the elf said, launching herself forward and grasping an unsuspecting Harry painfully by his hair and yanking him forward, until their eyes were mere inches from each other.
"And I expect an answer," She finished venomously.
Harry, who wasn't sure if he was more afraid or angry at being jerked around so easily and effortlessly, executed his way out of her tight grip before using his feet to pushed the elf away from him, while at the same time giving him the momentum to execute a rolling back somersault right off the bed and causing him to land gracefully on his feet.
"Very impressive," the elf said, regaining her balance and staring icily at Harry. "But one would have thought your mother would have told you it isn't polite to hit a lady."
"I think you are very aware that I didn't have a mother while growing up," Harry spat. "And even if I did, the term "lady" would definitely not apply to you."
The elf's soft, cold features quickly constricted in rage as her unseeing eyes seem to blaze with power, "I don't think you quite realize who you're messing with here, my pet. I may be blind, but I am not inept."
"I never assumed you were," Harry said, watching the elf's every move carefully. "If memory serves me right, you had no problem getting around in that village tonight. One would almost think that you hadn't been blind at that time."
The elf's features softened once again as a soft amused chuckle escaped her lips, "You're a brilliant little child, aren't you? Though one wouldn't expect anything less from the wizarding world's Savior, would they? Tell me my pet, do you know who I am?"
"One would have to be stupid not to realize who you are, or should I say once were," Harry replied coldly. "Famous when they were babies, but feared when they were children and marked for death when they were adults. Given the elfin blessings and names when they were born and cherished when they were children. Though that still wasn't enough for them to stay. They coldly turned their backs on their world and quietly disappeared into the darkness, only to rise again in the wake of destruction. Legends they made of themselves, dark lords of their time, thus the Yang twins were born."
The elf chuckled again, but this time it had a dark tone to it. "That's a very interesting and exciting bedtime story I must admit, though I don't believe I've heard it before."
"No, I suppose you probably haven't. Then again, one wouldn't expect one to have heard the story if they had lived the story," Harry replied coldly, as he watched the elf return to her window gazing. "Wouldn't that be correct, Analis?"
The elf whirled around so fast that even though Harry had been watching her closely, he still didn't have time to react when a spell hit him square in the chest and hurled him back into the wall before he slid painfully to the floor.
"You have no right to utter that name. Only one holds that right and it's not you," Analis said in a dangerously low voice, while advancing on Harry.
"Why, because it reminds you of who you once were? A child that was loved and respected?" Harry asked, slowly climbing to his feet, all the while watching the enraged elf with careful eyes.
"Don't you dare speak to me about love and respect!" Analis yelled, her face constricting in rage. "You know absolutely nothing about my brother and me!"
"I know enough," Harry said disgustedly. "Enough to know that you should be dead, just like you deserv . . . humph!"
Harry suddenly and painfully found himself thrust up against the wall again, only this time he was held there as a sharp blade was pressed against his throat.
"You are a foolish child," Analis hissed in his face. "You would be wise not to antagonize the one who holds your fate in their hands."
"I'm not afraid of you," Harry said, looking determinedly into her unseeing eyes.
"Then you truly are a foolish child," Analis said, bringing her knife up and rubbing the dull edge slowly down his cheek. "For before I get through with you, you'll be begging me for your end."
"Never," Harry said fiercely. "You will get absolutely nothing but silence from me."
"We shall see, my dear pet. We shall see," Analis said, as this time she slowly dragged the sharp edge of the dagger down Harry's cheek, leaving a trail of crimson blood behind.
Harry didn't even flinch when the blade made contact with his skin. He simply keep staring into her unseeing eyes, desperately trying to figure out how she could sense him so well.
His musing, however, come to an abrupt halt when the door suddenly flew open and the other ninja-dressed elf strolled in. After spotting them, he frowned and gave Analis a disapproving look.
"I was just having a little bit of fun," Analis said, finally letting go of Harry and stepping away.
Her brother didn't say anything, just simply raised his eyebrows at her, causing Analis to sigh in annoyance.
"All right, all right," Analis visibly pouted, before turning her attention back towards Harry while reaching out to grip his upper arm painfully, "Come my pet, our Lord awaits you."
"Any luck?" Professor Dumbledore asked anxiously, as the last search team of the morning checked in.
"We didn't find Sirius or Harry, but we did find . . . someone," Said the head auror a little nervously.
"Well?" Albus asked impatiently. "Who did you find?"
"We're not entirely sure, but judging by his appearance, I'd say he was an elf," The same auror replied.
"Could be Lord Nico?" Demin spoke up beside Dumbledore.
"If it is, shouldn't Harry and Sirius be nearby?" Remus questioned hopefully on Dumbledore's other side.
"I sincerely hope not," a different auror muttered this time.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Dumbledore asked sharply.
"Well sir," The head auror said nervously while darting a glare at his subordinate. "The person we found is . . .well . . . dead."
A stunned silence met the auror's announcement and only the slight intake of breath from Kairi was heard.
"Are you absolutely sure?" Dumbledore finally questioned softly.
"Positive, sir. We were going to bring the body back with us, but we reckoned you would want to analyze the scene yourself," The auror replied. "Whoever killed him, did so intentionally."
"What do you mean?" Remus asked.
"I think it would be better if you just saw it for yourself," The auror replied, as he motioned for the group to follow him, which they did after a quick exchange of glances.
It took the small group several minutes of maneuvering and climbing over the rubble and debris to reach the place the auror was leading them to.
"The body's down there in the high grass," the auror said, pointing to a place beside a half crumbled house. "If you don't mind, I think I'll remain here."
"That's fine, Ben," Dumbledore said absently as he stepped around the auror and quickly made his way down the hill, followed closely by the others.
As soon as they saw the body, a quiet sob escaped Kairi's lips.
"Oh Merlin, I'm sorry," Remus whispered, as the body was indeed Lord Nico.
His robes were still magnificently spread around him, his face peaceful even in death. The only thing that was not right about the whole scene was the silver dagger that was pierced straight through his heart.
No one said anything for a minute, as no one knew exactly what to say or do; that was until Demin suddenly stepped forwards and got down on his knees and leaned over the body.
"Demin, what are you doing?" Kairi asked bewildered.
"He's not dead," Demin announced bluntly.
Another stunned silence met that remark, though this time it didn't last long as exclamations of 'what?' quickly followed it.
"You heard me," Demin repeated slowly and clearly as if he were talking to a small child. "He's not dead."
"Er . . . Demin, you've lost me," Remus said hesitantly. "Because as far as I know, a dagger through anyone's heart would definitely kill them."
"That would be true, if this was a normal dagger," Demin said.
And before anyone could so much as breathe, let alone protest, Demin reached forward and grabbed hold of the dagger's silver handle and harshly yanked it out of Lord Nico's body.
"Demin! What . . .what the hell is wrong with you?" Kairi cried, completely appalled.
"Just watch," Demin said, stopping any further protest.
And so the others did, having very little choice but to. And to their utter amazement and bewilderment, Lord Demin's wound slowly and expertly started to heal, his heart once again started to beat, and his air starved lungs once again took in a much needed breath of air.
"Demin . . . what . . . how?" Kairi asked, total mystified.
"This," Demin said swiftly, and angrily getting to his feet, gripping the dagger tightly in his hand. "Is the Living Death dagger. Another one of the twins' sick little toys they so enjoy using."
"I know I'm going to regret asking this, but how exactly does the dagger work?" Remus asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Demin sighed and ran a hand through his hair angrily. "Just like you, when we found our people lifeless, a dagger through their heart, we figured them for dead. We didn't understand the twins' magic at the time, so we didn't want to risk what could possible happen if we removed the daggers, so we just left them, left them like idiots. Do you have any idea how many people we buried alive before we realized what the daggers really did? Do you know how many people we killed? How many people I murdered?"
"How can you say that?" Kairi exclaimed, horrified. "How can you blame yourself for something that wasn't your fault? For something that was beyond your control?"
"Because it wasn't beyond my control," Demin cried. "I should have removed the daggers, damning the consequences! I should have known better. The Yang twins thrived on the pleasure of watching us end up killing our own people. We knew this. I knew this. But, because we were afraid of their magic, we did nothing."
"Demin you can't,"
"Don't Kairi, just don't," Demin told his sister sternly.
"All right, but this conversation isn't over," Kairi said stubbornly.
"Yes, it is," Demin said.
Albus, who had simply been listening and watching the entire exchange in silence, finally spoke up, "Demin, how exactly does the dagger's magic work?"
"If the dagger is placed exactly in the right spot near the heart, it will simply freeze over your entire body's systems at the right temperature, suspending you in time," Demin replied. "Once removed, then you will remain unconscious for about five minutes before reawakening."
"If that's true, then wouldn't the people you buried still be alive?" Remus asked.
"No," Demin said bitterly. "The spell only suspends the person in time for so long. We estimated about two months, give or take. After that, the dagger's spell wears off naturally."
"So you mean all those people . . .?" Kairi asked, looking extremely sick. "They were . . .were?"
"Yes," Demin said, answering her unasked question. "They woke up, only to find themselves six feet underground in a casket with no air and not enough time to get out."
"Oh Mythusei," Kairi murmured, as she wavered on her feet. "I think I'm going to be sick."
Remus, who was closest to Kairi, quickly caught her before she fell and slowly helped her to her knees, keeping her upright and her hair back as she promptly threw up.
"Are you all right?" Remus inquired after she had had time to compose herself.
"No," Kairi said. "And I don't think I will be anytime soon. Though I might feel a little bit better if my fingers were tightly wrapped around the Yang twins' necks."
Remus nodded in understanding as he gently helped her back to her feet.
"Kairi?" Demin asked.
"I'm fine," Kairi said, giving her brother a quick nod before a troubled look suddenly appeared on her face. "There's something I don't understand. Why didn't the twins just kill Lord Nico? I
Mean, they would of had to have known you knew the dagger's secret and that you wouldn't bury Nico alive. So why let him live?"
"Because," Demin said tightly. "The twins were sending me a message."
Kairi still looked confused for a minute, before a dawning understanding lit her eyes and a strangled 'no' escaped her mouth.
"What?" Remus asked, looking between brother and sister anxiously. "What am I missing?"
"The twins have taken Harry and Sirius to Voldemort," Demin said, the anger in his voice barely concealed, as his magic flared up dangerously around him and his eyes frosted over.
"Demin?" Kairi asked uneasily, taking an unconscious step backwards, never having seen her brother so angry or so close to losing control of his magic before. "Demin, I think you need to calm down. We will get them back, but not if you kill us first."
"You don't understand, Kairi. They're going to play their sick, twisted little games with Harry and Sirius before slowly and painfully killing them. And they're doing all this because they want revenge for the what I DID to them twenty years ago! Harry's going to suffer for the things I did!" Demin finished in a yell, finally losing what little control he had left as he viscously hurled the dagger into a nearby tree, embedding it clear to it's hilt and splitting the tree in two.
"Merlin, we need to find them," Remus said, who was pale and shaking. "We need to find them, now."
"How?" Demin asked. "We don't even know where to start."
"Like you said, Voldemort has them. So if we find him, we'll find them," Albus replied calmly.
"And just how do you suppose we go about finding him?" Demin asked angrily.
"We won't have to," Dumbledore replied. "The answer should be coming to us."
Once Harry was dragged out of the bedroom, he was roughly led down a dimly lit hallway that looked just as neglected as the room he had just vacated. No decorations hung on the walls, no windows were present, and every room they passed had its door firmly closed as if they were trying to hide some deep secret. Frankly, it gave Harry the creeps.
Deciding he could spare a minute, Harry quickly turned his attention inward and to his magic. He knew it was stupid, but he just had to see for himself that his magic was truly gone. So, going deep inside himself, where he knew the core of his magic was, he tried to take a look, only to find out he couldn't, as he was firmly barricaded from it. Before he could even wonder how or why, he was unexpectedly and unceremoniously hurled out of his mind.
Harry was so shocked and bewildered he didn't even realize he had physically stumbled, until a sharp jerk almost yanked his shoulder out of it's socket.
"Do watch your step, my pet. We wouldn't want you getting hurt before the fun even begins." Analis said, releasing his now sore arm and continuing to lead the way down the hall, her brother taking up guard behind them.
Harry rubbed his sore arm as he ignored the twins once again and turned his thoughts back towards his magic, wondering why he couldn't even get close to it's core. Was is because of Diane's potion? Or was it part of his no magic problem? Well, either way, Harry suddenly realized that Lady Diane's potion was working, as he hadn't felt the magic from either twin.
"Are you ready, my pet?" Analis gleeful voice asked, effectively startling Harry out of his thoughts once again.
"Er," Harry said, looking around and realizing they had stopped in front of a huge oak door.
"Not paying attention again, where you, my pet?" Analis said silkily. "That's ok, my pet, you don't have a choice in the matter anyway."
And with that, the doors suddenly burst open and Analis forcefully pushed him into the darkened room.
"For the last time, Black, SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!" Snape yelled, finally losing his patience with his ranting and restless prisoner.
"And for the last time Snape, SCREW YOU!" Sirius shouted as he approached the cell bars until his face was pressed right up against the bars. "I promise you, Snape, if anything happens to Harry . . ."
"You'll what, Black?" Severus interrupted snidely. "Severely hurt me? Torture me? Kill me?"
"All the above, Snape," Sirius said dangerously. "And it will be the most painful thing you've ever experienced, I assure you."
"That would first require you getting out of that cell, Black," Snape sneered.
Sirius snarled, "You'll have to let me out of here sooner or later, Snape, and when you do . . ."
"I'm real scared, Black," Snape leered, as he strolled forward until he was standing just inches from the cell bars and Sirius.
"Do you know where they're keeping Harry?" Sirius asked in a low voice, his tone completely different from what it had been.
"No, I haven't seem him since they hauled the two of you in here," Severus said in the same low voice. "I believe he's being kept in one of the upstairs bedrooms."
"Any chance of getting to him?" Sirius asked.
"Not without putting us all in danger," Severus replied.
"Shit," Sirius muttered. "Emergency portkey?"
"Won't work, the whole place is warded against such magic."
"Damn," Sirius swore again. "Did you at least send word?"
"Do I look stupid, Black?" Severus hissed angrily. "I know my duty, word was sent."
"How long?" Sirius asked, ignoring Snape's attitude.
"Do I look like an oracle?" Snape hissed again. "All I know is once they get here it will take them at least an hour to break through the wards the Dark Lord has around this place."
"We don't have hours!" Sirius cried loudly.
"Will you be quiet, Black?" Snape hissed, gripping the front of Sirius's robes. "This conversation is dangerous enough as it is."
"Harry will be dead before this hour is up," Sirius hissed urgently. "We've got to figure something out or Harry's not going to make it through this."
"I'm sure Potter will come up with something, he always does." Severus sneered.
"That's just it, Harry can't do a thing," Sirius cried in a urgent whisper. "Harry doesn't have his magic anymore."
Snape blinked, an unreadable expression appearing on his face, "Explain quickly, Black."
"I can't," Sirius said, knowing he was giving Snape a lot of trust. "All I know is the last time I saw Harry, he had no magic abilities. If he's going to make it out of this alive, it's going to be up to us."
"Do you know what you're asking of me Black?" Snape asked tightly.
"Yes, I'm asking you to act like a real human being for once and do what is right," Sirius hissed before quickly backing away from the cell bars as the dungeon door swung open and another masked Death Eater was admitted.
"It is time," The figure said to Snape. "Bound him and bring him."
As Harry stumbled into the darkened room, he was immediately on alert. Magic or not, he wasn't going down without a fight.
"Relax, my pet. The real fun won't even be starting for . . . awhile yet." Analis chuckled wickedly as she continued to stroll further into the room, candles randomly flickering to life behind her as she went.
It wasn't until he felt a painful nudge to his backside that Harry remembered the other twin that had been lurking behind him. After another nudge and a glare from the silent shadow, Harry gritted his teeth in annoyance and turned and followed Analis further into the room.
Once the small group reached what Harry assumed was the center of the room, Analis stopped and abruptly turned to face him, a smile that could only be described as pure evil alighting her face.
"Now my pet, it's time to . . . play," Analis said, clapping her hands together and causing the whole room to suddenly become alight, forcing Harry to shield his eyes with his arms.
"Oh, my pet, there's no need to be so bashful," Analis whispered, coming right next to Harry's ear, causing him to jump back in surprise and removing his arms from his eyes. "After all, you are 'our' guest of honor."
'Our,' Harry thought, looking around the room expecting to find Voldemort, but froze instantly when he caught sight of the entire room.
"Surprised, my pet?" Analis asked.
'That's one way of putting it,' Harry thought to himself as he looked around the vast room that reminded him greatly of Hogwart's Great Hall. Only it was missing the windows, the tables, the enchanted ceiling, the cozy atmosphere, and well, you get the picture. But even though the room was creepy in and of itself, what made Harry's insides go numb were the rows of death eaters that lined the entire room, all down on their knees, heads bowed to the floor in submission.
Harry, knowing that the slime balls would only be bowing to one person, quickly did a sweep of the room, trying to locate where their slimy, Dark Lord was hiding when Analis grasped his chin and forced him to turn his attention to her.
"You look a little worried, my pet, though you shouldn't be. Our Lord has not joined us yet, so instead of fearing a shadow, maybe you should open your eyes and fear the one before you," Analis said, as she viciously dug her nails into Harry's cheeks, only pulling away when she drew blood.
"I can see the fear in your eyes, my pet. Plain and simple fear and it amuses me so." Analis chuckled as she stepped away from Harry.
"I think you've been blind for too long, lady. You only see what you wish to see," Harry said scoffingly, earning him a solid backhand across the face from Analis.
"Foolish child," Analis hissed. "Do you not listen when others speak to you? Are you that arrogant? I don't need eyes to see your secrets; all I need is your soul. Then, everything you desire, everything you hide is mine."
Harry's breath hitched as he stared into those white eyes that held so much truth for her words. It was then that it hit him, whatever Analis may be, she wasn't a liar.
"Good, I see you understand now. Things should be much more fun that way," Analis replied more calmly before turning and walking towards a side door that had just opened to admit three more figures. Two being death eaters and the third . . .
"Sirius," Harry sighed in relief, immediately making his way towards his Godfather, only to be stopped short as a hand painfully clamped down on his shoulders from behind.
"My brother would like me to inform you that you are to stay where you are or he will be forced to make you stay," Analis informed Harry, not even turning around as she continued to walk towards the other small group.
Deciding not to test the other twin's temper, Harry remained where he was and watched with narrow eyes as Analis approached his Godfather, stopping only briefly to dismiss the two death eaters before stopping right in front of Sirius.
"Finally, I get to met the infamous Godfather of the Boy-Who-Lived," Analis said, circling Sirius like a predator stalking it's pray. "Tell me, what's it like trying to raise such a famous child?"
"Nerve-wracking and trying," Sirius answered honestly, while watching the elf with his own narrowed eyes as she continued to size him up. "But I wouldn't trade you or anyone else for a minute of it."
"Is that so?" Analis chuckled darkly. "Something tells me that you are going to be wishing you were someone else's Godfather in the next couple of hours."
"Go to hell, lady," Sirius spat.
"Been there, done that and I'm afraid I don't like the place overly much. I must say I much prefer the company of wizards. You are far more entertaining and fun to be around." Analis said, smiling
predatorily as she released Sirius's hands from his bonds and stepped aside. "But alas, the entertainment can not begin until My Lord arrives. So go, Mr. Black. Go see your foolish Godson . . . one last time."
Sirius shot the elf a hard, suspicious look before wasting no more time in covering the distance between him and his Godson and enveloping him in a tight hug.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked his Godfather as soon as he released him.
"I believe I'm the one who should be asking you that," Sirius said softly.
"I'm fine," Harry said.
"Oh, really," Sirius asked, reaching up and gently touching his slightly bleeding cheek.
Harry flinched, "It's nothing, Sirius, I'm fine."
Sirius opened his mouth to argue when a sudden chill swept through the room, taking his breath away and causing the candles to flicker dangerously.
"Our Lord has finally arrived," Analis said, a rapturous smile appearing on her face.
"And so I have, my dear, so I have," a silky voice that Harry would recognize anywhere spoke from somewhere within the darkness.
"Come, My Lord, and see the gifts my brother and I have fetched for your entertainment," Analis said clapping her hands in child-like glee. "I assure you, you won't be disappointed.
"No, I don't think I shall," Lord Voldemort said, emerging from the shadows a few feet from Harry and Sirius, his red eyes shining with malice. "I must say, the rumors that have been flying around this place have peaked my curiosity, but now that I've confirmed who our guests are I must say that more then my curiosity has been peaked. You have done me well, my twins, and it won't go un-awarded."
"Thank you, my Lord, you have honored us," Analis said, bowing slightly as she stepped aside to allow Voldemort full access to his guests.
"Yes," Voldemort repeated as his eyes firmly looked on Harry. "You have done very well."
"You'd do well to back off, you filthy, slimy snake," Sirius said angrily as he stepped in front of Harry his fists clenched at his side.
This caused Voldemort to chuckle lightly, "I believe it's a little too late to be playing the protective Godfather, Black. If memory serves me right, you failed at that fifteen years ago."
"You can go to hell, Voldemort," Sirius said flushing in anger.
"You first, Black," Voldemort said, leveling his wand at Sirius and with a spell, sent him flying away from Harry.
"Sirius!" Harry cried immediately, moving to see if his Godfather was all right, only to freeze when he heard Voldemort's next words.
"Move another inch, Potter and you will find yourself without a guardian again and your Godfather will find himself with your parents," Voldemort sneered angrily as he advanced quickly on Harry. "I have waited a long time for this moment, Potter and no one will stand in my way."
"I'm not afraid of you," Harry reported furiously. "You have failed in every attempt to kill me thus far. What makes you think this time will be any different?"
"Foolish, insolent child," Analis said, gripping Harry's hair from behind and yanking it back. "I will not stand here and allow you to show such disrespect to my Lord."
"Your Lord is nothing more then an arrogant half-blood that doesn't deserve to walk this earth, let alone receive respect," Harry spat his eyes flashing.
"Why you filthy, self imposed . . . you will pay dearly for that," Analis said, moving for her knife only to be gently stopped by Voldemort.
"Now, now, my dear there is no need for such violence," Voldemort said, releasing her one hand before removing her other one from Harry's hair, only to swiftly strike Harry himself across the back of the neck.
Harry, who was caught completely off guard by the attack, saw black dots dancing in his vision as he collapsed to the ground in anguish.
"Now that, my dear, is how violence should be done," Voldemort told her.
"Of course, my Lord, you are absolutely right," Analis said, stepping up to Harry and jabbing him in his side. "Get to your feet, my pet."
Harry, who was still trying to recover from Voldemort's last cheap shot, groaned as he slowly struggled to get up, only making it to his knees before he received a hard, swift kick to his abdomen, sending him sprawling across the floor once again.
"I told you to get up and I expect to be obeyed," Analis hissed angrily above him.
Harry groaned again, never realizing a girl could hit so hard. Sure, Kairi packed quite a punch, but it was nothing compared to what Analis had just delivered. Man, did he really miss his shield.
"Get to your feet, Potter, I'm not telling you again," Analis said above him.
Harry grunted and struggled to his feet, surprised when an arm wrapped gently around his torso to help him.
"Are you ok?" Sirius asked softly when Harry was finally on his feet.
"I'll live, you?" Harry asked, as his Godfather slowly looked him over before letting go.
"I've had worse," Sirius said, locking his attention firmly on Voldemort.
"Well, if that isn't the most nauseous thing I've ever seen," Analis voiced.
"That it is," Voldemort said. "But I believe it is time to stop playing and get down to business."
"Of course, my Lord," Analis said, as she once again took her place behind Harry and next to her brother.
"Arise, my Death Eaters and take your place, it is time to begin," Voldemort said, as he turned and swept down the hall to take his place upon a throne that was situated at the end of the hall.
It wasn't until after Voldemort had taken his seat that the Death Eaters rise from their positions and moved to take their places, which quickly and efficiently formed a tight, imposing circle around Sirius and Harry, blocking all hope of escape.
"Now, my followers, I have several items of business that need to be taken care of today," Lord Voldemort said, his wand gripped firmly in his hand as he looked out over his death eaters. "It seems that you have three very slippery and very untrustworthy death eaters among you. Three very foolish wizards who thought they could infiltrate my group and use what little information I allowed them to receive and pass it on to that muggle-loving fool. And to think they all thought I was stupid enough to believe they were loyal. Then again, I don't think any of you have realized the tools and powers I have at my control, but you will soon. But first, I believe I will deal with the traitors; I am in the mood for a little entertainment. Analis?"
"My Lord?" Analis asked stepping forward.
"Will you and your brother retrieve two of the traitors for me?" Voldemort asked, relaxing back in his chair.
"It would be an honor," Analis said, as both she and her brother snapped their fingers in unison, depositing two masked Death Eaters ungracefully at their Lord's feet in a tangled heap.
"Ah, my unfaithful death eaters, how you have disappointed me," Voldemort said, shaking his head. "Running straight to Dumbledore when you lost your nerve. But you have caught me on a very good day and in a very rare mood. After all, my number one enemy is standing just feet from me and will be dead before too long. Therefore, I am willing to grant you forgiveness for your . . . misdirection."
"Thank you, my Lord, you are most generous," One of the masked Death Eater's said, groveling at Voldemort's feet.
"So I've been told," Voldemort said as he rose from his seat. "Of course, forgiveness is not free my unfaithful, it comes at a price. A very high price."
"I will pay your price, my Lord, just don't kill me," The same death eater groveled pitifully.
"Um, what about you, Chev? I have heard no begging for mercy from you?" Voldemort said, turning sharply to the other unfaithful Death Eater who had risen to his feet.
"I have lost everything to you, my family, my life, and I will not lower myself to you again and lose my dignity," the masked death eater's voice rang clearly through the room.
"So be it," Voldemort said, raising his wand. "Do tell your family 'hello' for me. Avada Kedavra!"
And the death eater was dead before he hit the floor.
"That's one down," Voldemort said with no emotion. "And two to go. Analis, do clean up this mess."
"Of course my Lord," Analis said and with another snap of her fingers the dead death eater was gone.
"Now, Markus, what shall I do with you?" Voldemort said, circling around the cowering Death Eater. "I think there is hope for you, but I will have to devise a punishment that you will not soon forget. You followers don't seem to learn much from the Cruciatus curse. This will take some time to consider; in the meantime, you can think about your betrayal in the pits."
"My Lord, please not there, anywhere but there," The death eater begged, clinging to his master's robs.
"You dare touch me, you filthy swine, Crucio! " Voldemort yelled. "Analis take care of this!"
"My pleasure," Analis hissed as she snapped her fingers and the death eater was gone, no doubt Harry figured, to the pits.
"Now," Voldemort said, staring coolly out over the death eaters. "Does anyone else harbor feelings of betrayal and deceit? I didn't think so. Now, to deal with the other swine; Analis, bring him forth."
"Yes, my lord," Analis said, though this time she didn't use her magic to do so. She actually went into the throng of death eaters and physically dragged the traitor out by hand and led him to the
Dark Lord before brutally kicking his legs out from under him so that he was kneeling in his lord's presence.
"You, my unfaithful, have been my biggest disappointment. No, there will be no forgiveness for you. For you returned to me with only one purpose in mind and that was to spy for the muggle-loving fool, Dumbledore. No, there will be no forgiveness for you," Voldemort said, using his wand to 'accio' the Death Eater's mask right off his face, to revel none other than Severus Snape to all those assembled.
Harry and Sirius, who had been expecting this ever since Voldemort had announced he knew who the traitors were, didn't make a move to help the professor as they had both decided to wait and see how things played out.
"I see that the boy and his Godfather are not surprised by my discovery, nor do I see them rushing to your aid. Such a pity. You gave up your loyalty to me only to join a side that hates and despises you for what you are," Voldemort said, tsking.
"I don't need their friendship or their trust," Snape sneered, getting to his feet. "I have the trust of the one who is important."
"Is that so?" Voldemort asked, turning and reclaiming his seat. "Tell me, Snape, what is Dumbledore going to think of you when he receives the information you sent him on how to find this place only to be led to the other side of the country and into an ambush?"
Snape, who had been listening to Voldemort's speech with no emotion whatsoever, couldn't help the unconscious step he took backwards or the paleness his skin took on as the knowledge that Albus had no idea where they were sunk in. Nor could Harry or Sirius mask their reactions.
"I see I have crushed all your hope at a rescue," Voldemort said lazily. "But what you fail to realize, Snape, is that you are going to be marked as a traitor by Dumbledore and no one is going to be around to contradict the last murderous action you have sent your fellow colleagues on."
"No matter what you do, Dumbledore will know it wasn't me," Snape sneered, though inside he wasn't so sure.
"We shall see," Voldemort said vindictively, while giving a signal with his hand. "But now it is time I provided my loyal death eaters with some entertainment."
And with that Harry, suddenly found himself grabbed from behind, his arms being firmly yanked back before he was literally dragged forwards and away from his Godfather who was being restrained by Analis.
"Hey, let me go!" Harry cried, struggling to break free of the persistent grip, to no avail.
"Relax, my pet, your time to play will come," Analis said merrily as she watched her brother continuing to drag Harry down the hall until he forced him to his knees beside Voldemort's chair.
"Now, my loyal Death Eaters, since I'm in such a good mood, even though I didn't allow Snape to beg for his forgiveness, I'm going to allow him to fight for it," Voldemort informed his stunned death Eaters. "All Snape has to do is duel off against Black . . . and win."
"What?" Harry choked out in horror.
"Why, my dear boy, even I know you are not as brainless as you appear to be at times, but I will humor you today," Voldemort said silkily as he grasped Harry's chin. "Your Godfather and your professor are being given the rare opportunity to try and save their own pathetic lives. The only trouble is that only one of them is going to walk away from this . . . alive."
"You can't do this!" Harry cried, struggling against his capturer's hold.
"Oh, I believe I can Potter," Voldemort said, releasing his chin and turning his attention to the now extremely pale, wide-eyed adults. "Now, the only question is, which one is going to live long enough to witness Potter's death? Analis, release them and return their wands."
You guys can blame my sister for the evil cliffhanger, she told me to cut it off there! Jeez I wonder who I should kill off! He He this is sooooooooooooooooooo much fun! Until next time (Which hopefully will be sometime next month)!
THANKS AGAIN TO SCRAPSANDSTITCHES WHO IS BETA READING FOR ME!
ALSO THANKS TO NATURAL ANTHEMWHO BETA READ MY OTHER CHAPTERS! SO IF YOU'RE OUT THERE NATURAL THANKS!