The Seers' Truth: Beyond the Darkness

By Lady Lestrange

Chapter 18

Muddle See; Muggle Die

Thank you to my faithful and hardworking beta, ennui deMorte

15 reviews: I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 15 reviews thor this chapter, the next one will magically appear. Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to the reviews follow the story.

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and the previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is emant or implied. No money is made from this fanfic. Thanks JK

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Chapter 18

Muggle See; Muggle Die

(Author's Note: Anyone who becomes offended by the way the Muggles from your country are treated, before you flame, please remember this is VOLDEMORT and LUCIUS MALFOY's opinion of muggles—the filthy vermin…And if you still want to flame, well, Testudo! Incendio!)

Voldemort rarely associated with muggles. He usually left the necessary arrangements to Wormtail because Wormtail was so perfectly suited to dealing with the vermin. However Wormtail was dead and he didn't trust just anyone to handle the delicate operation.

I told you, you need more Ravenclaws," said Tom

Voldemort ignored the half-blood's chatter.

He took Lucius with him as his assistant to introduce him to handle any addional meetings, which might be necessary. They apparated outside of the Muggle building and as they approached the door, the guards moved aside.

"We have an appointment to see the Prime Minister," said Lucius. In any society, Lucius was a force to be reckoned with. With the slight push of Imperio, the Muggle had no chance to refuse. He clutched his head, as if he suddenly found himself with a headache, but made no move to try to stop Lucius or Voldemort. After all, what could he do?

The Prime Minister himself was a little stronger, but still, a Muggle and no match for the Dark Lord.. "We have found the weapon you have been seeking," said Voldemort.

"We have sought no weapon," said the Prime Miniters's aide carefully, and Voldemort eyes momentarily met the eyes of the man who had recognized his lie. They were a deep startling green, and he didn't flinch from Voldemort's stare. Curious, thought Voldemort. Not a Muggle then, a Squib, but still controllable by Imperio.

"We have no need—" began the Prime Minister. "The joint UK-Irish peace initiative is working. We are at peace."

"We were not speaking of North Ireland," said Lucius Malfoy.

The aide whispered in the Prime Minister's ear, but of course, Voldemort heard every word. "These men are here for some nefarious purpose, Sir. I think we should call the guards."

"I think you should dismiss your aide," said Voldemort softly, his eyes again catching the aide's stare.

"You are dismissed," the Prime Minister told his aide.

"But sir?" The Prime Minister waved him away and with a last futile glance at Voldemort, the man left his superior in Voldemort's hands.

"We are at peace," the Prime Minister said again, pushing his glasses up on his nose in a gesture reminiscent of Harry Potter.

"Not for long," said Lucius. "We have intelligence that tells of our enemy—"

"What enemy?" snapped the Prime Minister.

"Germany," said Voldemort.

"Germany?" answered John Major. The Prime Minister was confused. "We have not had any difficulties with Germany—"

"Since I last visited," said Voldemort smugly, thinking how easy it had been to prey upon the Muggle's prejudices, over something as silly as what color of hair or eyes the creatures wore. This time he might have to be more subtle.

Then becoming bored with the tediousness of the task of convincing the Prime Minister, he used imperio, saying, "This is what you will do."

"Perhaps you need more Hufflepuffs for these boring tasks," suggested Tom.

Voldemort and Lucius Apparated to their next victim.

"Germany is not as it was," warned Lucius. "The Muggles are more wary. They won't want to destroy each other simply because of eye color, and although belief in a supreme being still is important to some, for others it is not a matter to kill over, or die for."

"Money is still money, don't you agree?" said Voldemort.

"Yes," Lucius nodded. "And people who are greedy, do unaccountable things whether they are Muggle or Wizard."

"Yes, they do," Voldemort agreed.

When they were finished in Germany, they traveled to Russia and then China sowing the seeds of descent, and offering the means to end the war with biological weapons rather than the nuclear bombs that destroyed both cities, and of course Magic. Voldemort asked Lucius, "Do you have enough portkeys or do we need to return to the Snow Castle before out next outing?"

"Snow Castle," said Lucius,

Voldemort nodded once and they Disapparated.

After a short break at the Snow Castle, Voldemort and Lucius Apparated inside the muggle building and interrupted the Muggle at his breakfast. The guards were alerted to their presence but they only bowed appropriately putting their heads to the floor in prayer.. Voldemort did not acknowledge them. They were underlings. Of course even the man He greeted was an underling. He was a Muggle.

"Good day," Voldemort said to the Muggle who thought of himself as a king. He was clothed in an expensive Muggle suit, paid for with the embezzled funds from Gringotts vault, no doubt.

"Praise Allah, you have arrived!" he said in his lilting Muggle language, but Lucius had taken a translation potion and replied in his own language.

"Indeed we have," said Lucius dryly, "but I doubt that Allah had any thing to do with it".

Voldemort relied on his legilimency since his snake metabolism interfered with many potions and they had to be brewed accordingly. This Muggle was not worth the time to brew the specialized potion.

"Allah has given me and my people the task of cleansing the Earth. We are blessed," said the Muggle. "and I am blessed among the blessed."

"Yes," replied Voldemort in a bored tone, "Always pure." and the Muggle flinched with Voldemort's slightest touch on his mind. "We are united in the task of ridding the world of those who are impure." Voldemort turned and spoke to Lucius. "Give him the money he requires, and the list of the teachers who will instruct them on what they must know," said Volemort, anxious to get out of the company of the wretched being.

"They will not trust us," the Muggle contended. "They will not teach our people in the ways of war."

"Of course they will," replied Voldemort. "I have given you this gift."

The Muggle clapped his hands over his ears, the pain of simply having Voldemort touch his mind apparent in his face.

"The appropriate teachers have been chosen," said Lucius, "and the Imperios done," he continued for Voldemort's benefit.

"You have seen to this yourself, Lucius?" questioned Voldemort in an undertone.

"Yes, Master," said Lucius. "The Mulcibers did the first group. Narcissa and I finished the rest with Maura's and Gloria's help.

"Who are these women?" asked the Muggle suddenly.. "Women must not partake—"

"Don't worry," said Lucius. "They aren't women."

"They're angels," said Voldemort raising his hand and the Muggle backed away a sudden searing pain in his head.

"They are fragile," Lucius warned as the muggle collapsed. "My grandfather killed several before he found one that didn't become a babbling idiot within moments after he was imperioed."

"Curious," said Voldemort. "He never told me." And Voldemort frowned as he felt a flash of discomfort from Lucius. "What else?" asked Voldemort, turning to his trusted Death Eater.

"What else?" repeated Lucius, keeping his mind carefully on the current situation.

"What else are you keeping from me, Lucius?"

"About the Muggles? Nothing. It would not have been on your assignment that the imperio failed," said Lucius cooly. "Perhaps that's why no one ever mentioned it. If you use a very light touch, they can be controlled," said Lucius.

Voldemort didn't concern himself with the Death Eaters entertainment in the form of Muggle baiting. Apparently that is what Lucius meant when he said the imperio might not have been on His assignment. After all, He would have only been a child when Lucius grandfather stood with Grindlewald. It couldn't have anything to do with what they were planning now, could it?

Voldemort enervated the man and gave him the box of poison that Snape had made. This shall go in the drinking water of your enemies said Voldemort, and these shall allow you to go into your enemies lair to set your bombs, and to poison their water. You will not use nuclear weapons. That way, you will not destroy the Earth that Allah has created. Nor will you destroy the buildings and the property--only the enemies. Your martyrs will grasp it just as you did the earlier ones.

And must they also say "Praise Allah," before the miracle will work?" asked the Muggle.

"Exactly," said Voldemort, opening the box of portkeys. He smiled, wickedly pleased by the fact that their holy words were causing such destruction.

"Many are begging for the opportunity to serve," said the Muggle.

"Good," said Voldemort "I shall deny none of them. And now the matter of the women," said Voldemort.

My council was undecided," said the Muggle hesitantly.

"What!" snapped Voldemort. Thinking perhaps the man was going to try to renege on his deal. Twelve young women were in exchange for the poison and the portkeys and the money to fund their war. It was not an unfair price considering the men in this country considered the women as commodities anyway. Voldemort did not care about the women, either, but he did care about the Muggle's obedience. They needed to give up something important for the gift of victory, that he was handing to them. His face darkened in anger.

"No no, You misunderstand, Great One." The Muggle was on his knees, holding his head in obvious pain. "It is my decision, and mine alone. I will see that you have the women, but the council wished me to gain the certainty that the women will be allowed to continue their beliefs."

"Beliefs?" said Voldemort, not fully understanding. He reached out with his legilimency as gently as he could manage, but still the man cringed, Crying out and his hand went to his temple again.

"Oh, their religion," said Voldemort. "Oh, yes, I assure you," said Voldemort. "The women will be allowed to continue to pray. "In fact," He said in a dry voice. "I would wager, they will pray more in my land, than they do in yours "

"Where is your land, Master?" asked the Muggle.

"A place where you cannot go," replied Voldemort coldly.

The Muggle looked at him with an expression of rapt foolishness as he held his head with the pain of simply communicating with Voldemort. "I am blessed beyond blessed," he replied. With that, the Muggle delivered the women, wrapped in yards of cloth, so that Voldemort could barely tell what he was getting for his money, but it didn't matter.

"What are you going to do with the women?" Lucius asked after they had returned to the Snow Castle and were out of the Muggle's presence.

"Give them to my twelve best Death Eaters," said Voldemort, putting the women in Carman's care for the time being.

Lucius laughed. "Narcissa will not be amused," he predicted.

Voldemort raised an eyebrow wondering if Lucius was so sure that he was included in the twelve best. "I thought I would give one to Narcissa," said Voldemort. "They are much more graceful that house elves in serving tea." Voldemort smiled. "And I believe I will give one to your son," Voldemort said, thinking perhaps it would disrupt the annoying affection he had for Samara.

Lucius said nothing.

"One more stop," said Voldemort and then we can go home.

"The States?" said Lucius curling his lip in disgust.

"Yes Lucius," said Voldemort softly, they must be prevented from using their nuclear weapons. We must give them better ones, ones that will destroy the Muggles without destroying the Magic, and it won't hurt to stir up their mistrust of the others."

"Yes Master," said Lucius.

When they Apparated onto a hot, dusty lane, Lucius frowned. "This isn't Washington. It's too warm for mid-January," he said, staring at the estate that rivaled his own in massive beauty. It was hard to believe it belonged to a Muggle.

"No," replied the Dark Lord. "It's Tennessee, and this is the home of the Vice President."

"Vice President?" said Lucius. "Why the Vice President?"

"Don't you pay attention to your own Imperios, Lucius. The President will be dead by this time tomorrow."

"I'm sorry, Master. That may have been one of the ones we delegated to Gloria or Maura."

Voldemort nodded, understanding. "Well, let's go meet our ally, shall we?" The two men walked up the lane, as a group of Muggles on horseback cantered up the lane behind them. Lucius turned ready to protect the Dark Lord from an attack, but none was forthcoming. Instead the men dismounted and one of them, draping the reins over his left arm inclined his head respectfully toward the Dark Lord. "Lord Voldemort," The Muggle said. "I am so pleased to welcome you to my home. "You must be Mr. Malfoy." The Muggle stuck out his right hand to Lucius. In fact, instead of waiting for Lucius to take it, he folded his sweaty bare hand around Lucius' immaculate gloves.

"Ya'll are early," said the Muggle, "But no matter. We don't stand on ceremony here. You gentlemen, are about to be treated to the best in southern hospitality." He handed his horse to one of the other men, as the animal attempted to wipe its sweaty face on the Vice President's sleeve. The Vice President simply rubbed the animal's face himself, unmindful of the dirt and sweat. Several more Secret Service officers came forward to escort them to the house, while others took the horses.

The only thing worse than a Muggle, is an American Muggle, thought Lucius wrinkling his nose in distaste. At least I didn't touch it. I had gloves on—

A handful of Secret Service men and Lucius Malfoy followed Lord Voldemort and the Vice President onto the ornately carved redwood and Douglas fir verandah.

Voldemort glanced at Lucius, as slow smirk growing across his face as he thought about Lord Voldemort's words this time tomorrow, the US President would be dead. The impetus for World War Three was set in place.

The next day, the assignment at the White House started out well enough: Judson complaining as usual. "I don't see why the American wizards don't handle their own. It's not our job—"

"If the Dark Lord says it's our job, it's our job," hissed Bode

"Yes, well," drawled Lucius. "One can't achieve world domination by sitting home in the UK." He wrinkled his nose. "Of course, I have doubts that there is anything worth domininating outside of the UK, truthfully, outside of England."

"I dinna think ye should let the Master hear ye say it, Lucius. He has his heart set on that wee bit o property of Dumbledore's in Scotland." Said MacDonald

Lucius laughed heartily. "There is that," he said. "But that's still the UK. What's our time?"

"Two minutes," said Judson. Technically, this was Judson's operation. He was the liaison between the UK wizards and the American wizards, but Lucius and Narcissa were the only inner circle Death Eaters present.

Lucius glanced at Narcissa. He shouldn't have. She tucked her blonde hair under her hood more securely, and looked back at him. He could feel her magic from her tingling erotically across his skin even from this distance. He could see the smile in her eyes and the passion in the tenseness of her body, his own body and his own magic reacting to that smile. He anticipated a good night tonight when they were finished with the Muggles, but right now, he needed to keep his mind on the task at hand Even though they were only muggles, he couldn't allow himself to be distracted. He looked purposefully back at the other Death Eaters, but he still heard Narcissa's little snort of laughter.

Oh Narcissa, wait till I get you home, he thought, and then he studiously pushed that thought away. "OK everyone knows what they are supposed to do," said Lucius. Although he wasn't technically supposed to know who was with him, he had been on enough similar missions to recognize every single one of them in their Death Eater robes and masks. The secrecy was not for the Death Eater's benefit. It was for the Aurors. If caught, even under veritaserium, every Death Eater could answer truthfully that they didn't see their accomplice's face. Lucius glanced at each in turn. Bode, and Sturgis. He hadn't worked with either of them much, but Snape had vouched for both of them. There were the children, Alvin Nott, Gloria Snood, Maura Rosier, and Vincent Crabbe. He would have liked to leave Vincent Crabbe at home. He had drawn the line at Gregory Goyle who seemed to be joined at the hip to Vincent Crabbe. He didn't think the boys were gay. There was that incident with the Hufflepuff girl and Vincent in October. What was her name? Suzy? Sally? Yes. Sally, that was it. Lucius pulled his mind back to the task at hand, not that he really needed to concentrate. They were just Muggles. It was bad enough that he had to put up with the elder Goyle. It had taken a good bit of the Malfoy charm to convince the Dark Lord of Lucius' wisdom, but finally, the Dark Lord had relented, saying that he personally would take Gregory on a smaller mission to test his competence. Lucius had wanted to replace Gregory with his son Draco, but the Dark Lord had refused. He had been sending them on separate missions since the Prophecy Child incident. Perhaps it was just as well. Draco no longer took orders well from Lucius, and he couldn't have his authority questioned.

Maura and Gloria shuffled nervously, but didn't speak. They were alert and ready. Alvin and Vincent both looked a little more tentative, but ready too.

"The American Ministry has put up Apparition wards," said Judson, "But we can get through the front door with Imperio and the fake passes. Only one wizard is among the Secret Service that guards their president. One of his guards is imperioed to kill him as soon as the fighting starts."

Lucius nodded.

"And how are we getting out?" asked Narcissa.

"The heating vents," said Judson. "Just like we have at the London Ministry. As soon as we're clear, we apparate.

"Vents," sneered Narcissa. "That's so clich'. Don't these people ever think they should make vents too small to crawl through?"

"They are at Malfoy Manor," said Lucius, "and spelled against shrinking charms." Among other things, he added mentally thinking of some of the more vicious curses he had placed.

You four have your portkeys? Lucius asked the children. He didn't want to return without one of the Dark Lord's precious children when they forgot how to apparate in the heat of battle. "Remember," Lucius said. "The Imperio is 'look away' We don't want to cause a commotion. We just want the Muggles to ignore us. Never underestimate the power of stealth." Lucius frowned. He didn't like being relegated to the status of babysitter, but he knew better than to say anything like that to the Dark Lord. Lucius Malfoy knew when to keep his mouth shut.

"Now, let's go find the President. It was Judson's job to kill him. Bode and Sturgis went one way. MacDonald went the other. The children, following Judson were nearly at the mark when a loud voice called. "You there! Where are you taking those kids? The tour is that way. These corridors are off limits to civilians."

"Imperio!" Judson murmured to one of the President's security officers. No sooner had the words been spoken when one of the American Death Eaters said "Imperio. Look the other way."

"I don't think so," said the security guard pulling a wand from inside his suit pocket.

"You get demoted again, Bob?" called one of the American Death Eaters to the Security guard who was holding a wand. "Next you'll be directing traffic on the Muggle road." But the security guard wasn't baited into attacking the American wizard. Instead, he raised his wand. "Finite Incantum," he said, and several of the imperios collapsed including the Muggle that was pointing his gun at the president. This allowed a whole corridor of Muggle policemen to understand that they were intruders.

"Get the President out of here!" called one of them

"Mr. President," called another as the black clad security men closed ranks around the man the wizards were supposed to kill.

Lucius hissed in disappointment. There went the stealth they were supposed to be using. "Damned Americans." The room broke into confusion as several British and American Death Eaters fired off spells. Gunshots sounded like the loud cracks of apparitions of incompetent house elves and the room was green with Avada mist and the acrid smell of gunfire.

"Protect the children," ordered President Bill Clinton as the Muggle security herded him toward the door. "Where's there tour? Get the children out of the line of fire!" He shoved one of the security guards towards Gloria and Maura.

Judson reacted quickly grabbing Gloria around the neck and saying, "I have explosives. Back off or the girl dies, along with everyone in this room."

Those engaged with the Malfoys continued to fire, but some of the policemen were uncertain, holding their weapons trained on Judson. "Do your imperio," Judson urged in Gloria's ear.

"Put down your weapons," whispered Gloria. Only the lone wizard still had his wand out as Judson decided to make a break for it. Still dragging Gloria, he turned and ran, Maura, Vincent and Alvin right beside him.

Suddenly Gloria felt Judson's body stiffen as the green light surrounded them.

"Avada Kedavra!" shouted the American wizard.

Panic welled up in Gloria. He was a Ministry wizard. He wouldn't do Avada! They weren't allowed. No she amended. They weren't allowed in the UK. She was in this barbaric country across the ocean that actually let their aurors do Avada Kadavra.

"Auror Evocatiorum" barked the American wizard, firing his wand into the air above his head.

"What did you just do?" snapped Lucius Malfoy.

"Summoned every auror in the country," sneered the American.

Gloria felt the fullness of tears in her nose and chest as fear consumed her. She regained a little confidence as the wizard who killed Judson was blasted to bits by Lucius Malfoy. Now, there were only Muggles. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hurry!" Snapped Lucius. "Get out of here! Narcissa!"

"He did have explosives," cried one of the Muggle policemen. Then another had leveled his gun at Lucius. Gloria saw the bullet enter his body just in front of his upper arm and blast a hole under his opposite armpit.

Lucius dropped to the ground, blood pouring from the exit wound. Narcissa made a strangled cry and turned her wand on the policeman who had fired the Muggle gun as she tried to get back to Lucius.

In the confusion, the policemen tried to herd the children from the room, but Gloria wouldn't move. She stared in horror at the fallen Lucius and she felt strong arms wrap around her and carry her from the room, the other children following, surrounded by the policemen. Behind her, there was another flash of green light.

Gloria found herself shivering wondering what these barbarians would do to her. It took her several minutes and several harsh shakes from Maura before she realized they were not caught. They were not even under suspicion. They were in some sort of warded safe room. The sound of gunfire and spells were muted by the heavy door, which was closed against the fire.

She pulled abruptly away from the policeman who was holding her. "Let me go," she snapped.

"Oh, what a dah-lin accent," said another man, and she turned looking directly into the clear blue eyes of Bill Clinton, the American President, the man they were supposed to kill. "Don't worry," he said gently. "You will be safe here."

"But I want to go home," said Gloria petulantly and one of the men in the dark suits interrupted "Are you all British children?" he asked.

The group looked at each other tentatively. "Yes," said Vincent. "We're here for the tour. Where have they gone please?"

Maura, with her Bulgarian accent, wisely kept her mouth shut

"Oh dear," said one of the men in the dark suits. He leaned close to the president. "If these are British children, we may have an international incident."

"Their teacher must be frantic," said another man.

"As soon as we have the all clear," Mr. Clinton said to the children, "We will find your teacher."

The children exchanged glances again, and surreptitiously, they each put their hands in their pockets around their wands. They couldn't let these Muggles realize there was no teacher to find.

An alarm of some kind was ringing and Maura gestured with her eyes to the nearest Secret Service man. Vincent gave a barely perceptible nod, and Alvin glanced at the other one.

The third Secret Service man was droning on about how adorable their robes were. What was wrong with him? Wondered Gloria, and she was certain she didn't look at all like any kind of Muggle, if a Supreme Court Justice if it was some kind of Muggle. "With those robes," continued the Secret Service man, "You must have been doing some kind of role playing with your class, right?"

"Yes-" Gloria said tentatively, seeing Maura's small nod, and nodding back.

"Now!" cried Alvin and there was a flurry of motion as each of the children hit a different security guard with a spell. Alvin, Gloria and Vincent had used Stupefy, but Maura had used a more powerful stunning spell, which caused the guard to seizure. The fifth guard was the victim of Koschi's venom.

Bill Clinton jumped to his feet seeming at last to realize that the four children who had sought refuge with him were dangerous. "Petrificus Totalus!" barked Gloria causing Mr. Clinton to snap to attention and fall to the ground like a board.

Alvin had used the leg locker curse on the secretary and when she started to scream, Maura muted her.

"What should we do now," wondered Vincent.

"He was supposed to die," said Maura gesturing to the President. "Any of you want to do it?"

"The guards will be right back," said Alvin "And when they realize that is no British tour, we're in trouble. If we're going to kill him, we'd better hurry."

"He wasn't our responsibility," said Gloria moodily "Judson was supposed to take him out."

"Right," agreed Vincent. "I'm more interested in getting out of here alive. The place is crawling with those policemen."

"And the America aurors could be here by now," said Alvin. "I never thought I'd wish for my box back."

"The aurors will probably ask these Muggles where we went if we leave them alive," said Maura. "A confundus charm might buy us some time. If we kill them all, they will just hunt us down that much faster."

"So what should we do?" wondered Vincent.

"I have an idea," said Alvin, levitating the secretary on top of the president. "We won't kill him. Just discredit him. Denudare!." He grinned wickedly as the president's trousers were removed in one action. We'll do the confundus too," said Alvin as he began arranging the Muggle's clothes or lack of clothes.

"Doesn't he have a wife?" asked Maura.

"Not when we're done with him," said Alvin with a leering grin.

"I wish we knew some sort of love spell," bemoaned Maura. "Once we take off the Petrificus totalus, they'll just go right back to hunting for us or our tour. I'm not even sure about obliviating him."

"Oh I can obliviate him," said Vincent. "Valeriana has been working with me on memory spells."

"But first, we have to finish what we started here," said Alvin. "You can do a good Imperio, can't you Maura? One that will hold even after we leave?"

"Yes," said Maura.

"Good," said Alvin. "This is what to have the secretary do." He dropped his voice to a whisper explaining.

"What!" shouted Maura, her face turning bright red. "People? Muggles, I mean? Do that?" She exclaimed.

Alvin grinned at her. "Some wizards too."

"That's disgusting. Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," said Alvin.

"I'll do the confundus nd then I'll obliviate the earlier stuff," said Vincent.

"Are you sure you can do it, Vincent?" asked Maura.

"When I'm done with him," boasted Vincent, "He won't even know what 'is' is—"

Maura sniggered. "Really! You're sure. You can do this?"

"I'm not stupid you know," said Vincent. "Of course, he might be when I'm done with him."

"What about her? What should she remember?" asked Gloria.

"Oh, everything," suggested Maura. "Then she'll not only seem like a slut, but she'll look like a deranged slut and about old enough to be his daughter too," said Maura with a frown.

"Nah—" said Alvin. "His daughter's younger. She's close to our age." He gestured to Vincent and himself, as they levitated each other up to the heating vent.

"We have to crawl North for about sixty meters until we get to the outside wall," said Alvin. "There are no wards outside of the building."

As they were crawling, Vincent suddenly froze.

"What's the matter Vincent," sneered Alvin. "Did you get stuck?"

Maura and Gloria began giggling. "A couple too many chocolate frogs," said Gloria, but Vincent shushed them. "Did you hear that?" he asked.

"What?" asked Alvin. "I didn't hear anything." But all of them lay quite still listening and a familiar voice drifted up to the vent where the children were hidden.

"Alas, Julian. I would have thought you had a little more brains than to get yourself mixed up with Death Eaters. You had such potential as a child." The soft voice murmured, "Tsk, tsk," in sadness. "I never had anything against Slytherins. I would have—"

"Back up," whispered Vincent to his companions, "before he hears us." They all recognized the voice as belonging to Dumbledore.

"Ha!" snorted Julian Bode as the children started to move through the vent. "Dumbledore, you know, you always sided against me and Peter when your precious Potter was involved. Gryffindor over Slytherin every time."

"I'm sorry, Julian," said Dumbledore. "Take them away, Alistair. Do we have any other British wizards or are the rest American?"

"American," growled Moody, "Except for Judson, and he's dead. Do you want to take the pieces home?"

"Alas, yes, Such a waste," breathed Dumbledore.

"All ya'll think ye can come waltzing in here and beat us," yelled a female voice. The children could hear her struggling against the restraints of the American Wizards. "Ya'll can't. We ain't beaten. The Dark Lord lives, and he will destroy the Muggle vermin. Ye done nuthin, here, Brit!"

"On the contrary," said Dumbledore quietly. "We've just averted World War Three."

"Yes, you have," said an American voice. "Thank you for coming Albus. We owe you one."

"No debt is uncured," said Dumbledore, and then the voices faded as the children slunk back into the vent to an empty room.

"What should be do now?" asked Maura.

"Where's Sturgis and the Malfoys," wondered Alvin.

Vincent snorted. "They can take care of themselves. We have to get outside."

"Once we are outside, we can apparate, right?" asked Gloria.

"Yes," said Alvin, "But how do we get outside?"

"Well, this is an outside wall, isn't it?" asked Vincent.

"Yes," said Maura, "But I don't think—"

"Reductor!" cried Vincent attempting to blow a hole in the wall. Although a sizable chunk of stone fell from the wall, it remained intact. Fresh alarms blared in the building.

"Bloody hell! You are an idiot!" shouted. Alvin. "Maura, watch the door," called Alvin as he and Vincent both attempted to blast through the wall.

"Imperio! Pass this room," whispered Maura. "Imperio! Pass this room. Hurry up," she called over her shoulder. I'm getting tired."

No one needed to say if Dumbledore came, they were finished, but it was on all of their minds.

"Move," Gloria demanded of Alvin and Vincent, and they complied.

"What are you going to do?" asked Alvin, but she didn't answer. She took a deep breath and directed a steady stream of Elemental fire against the mortar, which after a few moments began to melt from the heat. The door was almost open when Maura collapsed.

"Bloody hell," muttered Vincent as he looked over his shoulder at Maura. He could see the guards passing the door looking for the disturbance. "They're going to come," he predicted as Alvin grabbed Gloria's hand and joined his magic to hers. Within moments the entire perimeter of a small doorways was dripping with molten mortar.

"Alvin?" said Gloria, as rather stunned; she shook off the effects of the shared magic.

"Now, try your reductor," called Alvin and Vincent blasted the loosened bricks from the wall.

"Maura!" said Vincent.

"Leave her," called Gloria as she regained her composure and sprinted out of the open hole. She immediately Apparated. Vincent looked back at Maura and then followed Gloria, but Alvin turned back scooping Maura into his arms and rushing for the opening. "Please let me be able to apparate both of us," he murmured to no one in particular, before remembering that he had a portkey. No one looked back for the snake hissing among the burning embers.

"(Mistress!)" hissed Koschei. "(Mistress!)"

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Answers to Reviewers

trillium: Mixture of shameless and clueless, what a description, can I use it somewhere ?

Akiel: More Tom and Ginny coming, but I have to make your really, really want it first. And if you are in a fog, I wonder if you read THE SEERS TRUTH: a Broken Beginning

Ennui demorte: Yes, this was definitely a "Ron" chapter.

Susire: Glad you decided to review. Welcome. Is Ginny going back to Hogwarts? Ever? Is that a tricky way of asking if Harry rescues her? Not telling.

Christina: Love your long reviews. While there's absolutely nothing wrong with Harry kissing his girlfriend, it wrong to use her just for that. I have to tell you, this is so reminiscent of my relationship with my boyfriend it's pathetic, but neither of us was claiming undying love, so I think we both felt it was ok. If either of us had been in love, I realize it would have been very unfair.

About McGonagall's transfig class. The Slyths don't have that class with the gryffs, but I'm sure she said something like this before to them.

Kemenran: More coming

Silverfox1: Well, you've had your quota of late. You have to face the music now.

Cara the Mord Sith: Ugh, I really don't like Cho, especially as Harry's "girlfriend." Me either, can you tell? Sniggers. Enjoy the funny, there's not much "funny" in later chapters.

XMuted-Faithx: What do you mean I "finally" updated. I always update in a timely fashion. It's not my fault that it takes 100 readers to get 15 reviews. In fact, the last 5 chapters I have put up before you guys have managed to get to 10 reviews! It's not my fault the updates take so long. If you get me 15 reviews today, the next chapter will be up today. How's that sound? Anyway, love your long reviews. Glad you laughed. Don't get used to it though. Not much laughter ahead. Muhahahaha!

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